Tuesday Tidbits...

Here we go once again. We're knee-deep in that season we call "Spring", and yet, we have this persistent light snow shower thing going on. Must be that damn global warming bedeviling us.
You might want to take a little more care out there this morning, as road conditions are ripe for those "slick spots", and you don't want to meet strangers "by accident", right?
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us partly to mostly cloudy skies, temps reaching only to around 41 degrees, and yes, more chances for non-accumulating snow showers.

Now, what say we all get that comforting hot cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa made, as we take a look at what's been going on elsewhere, hmm?
*** First out of the living room is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
APRIL 17 -
---It's National Bat Appreciation Day

(I thought it had to do with a certain superhero or Louisville Slugger)
---It's National Cheeseball Day

(beats a hairball ANY day)
---It's National Ellis Island Family History Day

(when immigration was a LEGAL deal. I miss that)
---It's National Haiku Poetry Day

(not a big fan of this...seems so disjointed)
*** Next up...since we are once again at Tuesday's door, let's look into ALL the FWPD calls we never heard about, because everyone seemed too focused on a certain former FBI boss...

APR 9 - APR 15:
SHOTS FIRED ((113)) - ARMED ROBBERY((53)) 
((23,113 - vandalism by gunfire))
=======================================
18F039975 04/10/2018 01:11am 113 SHOTS FIRED 2100 NUTTMAN AV
18F039981 04/10/2018 02:14am 113 SHOTS FIRED 3200 S CALHOUN ST
18F040397 04/11/2018 02:26am 113 SHOTS FIRED HOAGLAND AV & W LEITH ST
18F040398 04/11/2018 02:28am 113 SHOTS FIRED ST JOE RD & ST JOE CENTER RD
18F040416 04/11/2018 05:19am 113 SHOTS FIRED 1400 ECKART ST
18F040774 04/11/2018 08:38pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2900 WEBSTER ST FAIRFIELD
18F040805 04/11/2018 10:17pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2700 HOAGLAND AV
18F040807 04/11/2018 10:20pm 113 SHOTS FIRED E BUTLER ST & S CLINTON ST
18F040887 04/12/2018 05:26am 113 SHOTS FIRED 1300 ZOLLARS AV
18F040889 04/12/2018 05:53am 113 SHOTS FIRED 200 W DEWALD ST HOAGLAND 
18F041171 04/12/2018 06:17pm 113 SHOTS FIRED WALL ST & COLLEGE ST
18F041295 04/12/2018 10:23pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 4000 WARSAW ST
18F041297 04/12/2018 10:29pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 4500 SPATZ AV
18F041328 04/13/2018 12:06am 113 SHOTS FIRED ST MARYS AVE & GREENLAWN AV
18F041393 04/13/2018 06:11am 113 SHOTS FIRED 7400 GLEN GELDER CIR  
18F041478 04/13/2018 11:17am 113 SHOTS FIRED HOLTON AV & COLERICK ST
18F041641 04/13/2018 05:06pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 5700 HEATHERVIEW LN  
18F041722 04/13/2018 09:44pm 113 SHOTS FIRED HESSEN CASSEL RD & MCKINNIE AV
18F041755 04/13/2018 10:45pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1000 E RUDISILL BLVD
18F041757 04/13/2018 10:51pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 500 E CREIGHTON AV
18F041792 04/14/2018 12:30am 113 SHOTS FIRED 3000 FAIRFIELD AV
18F041825 04/14/2018 01:55am 113 SHOTS FIRED 200 W CREIGHTON AV
18F042148 04/14/2018 09:29pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2900 S ANTHONY BLVD
18F042174 04/14/2018 10:26pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 5500 PLAZA DR
18F042227 04/15/2018 12:39am 113 SHOTS FIRED 4100 S HARRISON ST
18F042547 04/15/2018 10:15pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2800 FRUEHAUF DR
================================================================
18F041617 04/13/2018 04:09pm 23,113 1100 N ANTHONY BLVD
18F039681 04/09/2018 10:22am 23,113 2200 LAKE AV
18F039812 04/09/2018 05:06pm 23,113 3300 OLIVER ST
18F039994 04/10/2018 05:13am 23,113 300 KILLEA ST
18F040156 04/10/2018 03:19pm 23,113 4600 E WASHINGTON BLVD
18F040779 04/11/2018 08:41pm 23,113 300 KILLEA ST
18F040900 04/12/2018 07:29am 23,113 2000 WEBSTER ST
18F040913 04/12/2018 08:14am 23,113 300 MURRAY ST
================================================================
18F041572 04/13/2018 02:54pm 53 ARMED ROB 3700 E WASHINGTON BLVD
18F041835 04/14/2018 02:19am 53 ARMED ROB 1500 E PONTIAC ST  
18F041868 04/14/2018 05:11am 53 ARMED ROB 2700 W COLISEUM BLVD
18F040825 04/11/2018 11:16pm 53 ARMED ROB 3500 BROADWAY
================================================================
18F041981 04/14/2018 01:15pm 56 MOLESTING 700 BROADWAY
18F040140 04/10/2018 02:46pm 56 MOLESTING 400 E STATE BLVD
18F040274 04/10/2018 07:04pm 56 MOLESTING 1600 SPY RUN AV
18F040711 04/11/2018 05:52pm 56 MOLESTING 900 W JEFFERSON BLVD  
18F040755 04/11/2018 07:45pm 56 MOLESTING 6800 ROSNER XING
================================================================
18F042301 04/15/2018 06:52am 58 SHOOTING 2700 CHESTNUT ST
================================================================
18F041384 04/13/2018 05:09am 61 RAPE 2100 EBY AV
18F041392 04/13/2018 06:00am 61 RAPE 700 BROADWAY
18F039932 04/09/2018 10:30pm 61 RAPE 1300 FERGUSON AV
18F039972 04/10/2018 12:59am 61 RAPE 4500 S HANNA ST
18F040004 04/10/2018 06:35am 61 RAPE 2200 RANDALLIA DR
================================================================
18F042028 04/14/2018 03:20pm 75 PURSUIT MCDOUGAL AV & HILLSIDE AV
================================================================
Plus 23 narcotics calls
================================================================
FIREWORKS CALLS - APR 9 - APR 15:
18F039909 04/09/2018 08:58pm 44FW 3600 LOGAN AV
Yes, there ALWAYS seems to be ONE idiot.
*** Next, Kevin Leininger had a good column the other day that addressed an issue on a lot of our minds of late, Here's the link:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/news/local-news/2018/04/14/kevin-leininger-carnage-in-london-shows-killer-are-smarter-than-politicians-did-mayor-tom-henry-keep-his-parking-promise/
That's a pretty good devil's advocate take on the gun-control deal some are trying to shove down our throats. And it makes you wonder how FAR some places will go with the entire "control" thing. London's mayor is already doing a KNIFE-BAN thing...what's next, kitchen strainers and soup spoons?
How easy too many forget that when you sacrifice freedom for security, you might well wind up with NEITHER.
And yes, criminals are "creative" enough to see through all this and "adapt" accordingly.
*** Next, there seems to be a problem with a certain airline that happens to serve our fair city. Here's the story link:
https://www.wowo.com/allegiant-air-under-fire-after-60-minutes-safety-report/

I didn't see the "60 minutes" spot on this, but after reading the story, I can see what's going on clearly enough.
And these are the same planes that happen to overfly OUR abode at an altitude that I would consider TOO LOW for comfort, should something happen on the approach to our airport.
Sounds like this needs to be looked at BEFORE something bad occurs.
*** Next up, a story about a museum that is outgrowing it's digs. Here's the link:
http://wsbt.com/news/local/elkhart-has-worlds-largest-superhero-museum-but-maybe-not-for-much-longer

Yes, the Hall of Heroes Museum out in Elkhart is looking for a larger building to house ALL the displays and exhibits. Chris Martin visited there last year, and had a great post about it.
You can stop by their website and if you want to contribute to this mission to preserve the legacy of superheroes, here's a link:
https://hallofheroesmuseum.com/help-us-grow

The owner/operator of the museum does want to stay IN Elkhart, and I can understand why.
It's the whole small-town aspect that brings attention to such venues.
*** Next, and speaking of small town charm, another story from Elkhart caught my eye:
http://wsbt.com/news/local/elkhart-county-leaders-say-roadside-trash-is-getting-out-of-hand

Roadside litter - the bane of the urbanization of America.
Anyone remember that old litter commercial with the Indian in it? I do.

Such litter also happens to be one of the FIRST windows that gets "broken" with that all-too-familiar "theory" you hear me speak about.
We have street-side as well as alley and lawn litter, and in greater abundance every year, thanks to the uncaring among us.
*** Next up, Night Court's Harry Anderson passed away at the age of 65 (my age).

Here's his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Anderson
I recall seeing him on television before his acting career took off...as a magician (card tricks) on the Tonight Show (Carson years).

He was also on Cheers as a recurring con-man character.
He had that special brand of comedy that seems to be missing these days. It will be hard to find anyone in today's world with a similar way of making us laugh without using blue language constantly.
*** Next, time to stop by "Kitten Corner"...

Violet loves the shopping bags.

Good cats all day...how did they manage that one?
Well, it's not from a lack of trying (and some laser pointer play).

And I love napping (big surprise).

And the kids didn't even have to be asleep to be good...
*** Next up, let's check back in with "Midnight and Company"...

I'm getting snowed on here...in April!

Our furry twosome were on the patio for breakfast (while it snowed).
When lunchtime came, Whiskers was M.I.A.
She finally showed up over an HOUR later (where she was I've no idea).

Better late than never, right?

Midnight was there for all the meals, although I had to jingle my keys to get him to come around (no bird-chasing, buster).
After last call, she went into the smaller shelter, and God only knows where he went.
Just as long as they (both) remember their way back HERE for eats, there's not a problem.
*** Last back to the dining room...how's your privacy these days?

When was the last time you felt like you even HAD the privacy you used to enjoy?
I ask this because we, as a society have lost a LOT of privacy, and much of it is BY DESIGN.

All the technology we have at our disposal (and a lot of it belongs IN the disposal, imho), is meant for others to "keep track" of US in some manner.
Your cell phone, GPS, the black box in your newer vehicles, street cameras (in some cities) smart TVs, the Internet, home security systems...ALL meant to let someone else know what you're doing, when you're doing it, and even who you're doing it with (whatever "it" might be).
Then, there's the specific SECURITY aspect to all this. Yes, we want to feel secure, so we have monitoring systems in place to do that.
We have a right to privacy (to be let alone) as former justice Louis Brandeis once stated, and yet, we HAVE to abrogate that right to keep the barbarians from our gates. Seems we're almost damned no matter what road we choose to walk.

There has to be a balance between our privacy and our security. We can have both, but we dare not tip the scales in either direction.
Too much privacy and we may come under scrutiny by people wondering what we might be "up to". Too much security, and yes, we lose our freedom and liberty.
This is a sword that cuts BOTH ways, and we need to handle it with the care it demands.
To act otherwise is asking for trouble, and we've enough of that as it is, right?

Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.