Monday Musings...

I hope you prefer your day more on the "soft" side (that would be wet), because that's exactly what is in store today.
You have to remember, it IS a Monday, after all.
Rare is the week when we start with sunshine and lollipops, isn't it?
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us scattered rian and possibly thunderstorms through most of the day (and it's pretty much how we will greet tomorrow morning).
Temps will top out only around 70 degrees, so that's a blessing for those who like it comfy outside (like myself).
And, we won't feel the humidity near as much if it were warmer. Not a bad start at all.

Now, what say we all get that morning drink poured, as we see to this day and take a look at what else has been going on, hmm?
*** First off of the umbrella stand is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
MAY 21 -
---It's National American Red Cross Founder's Day

(sure glad someone founded it)
---It's National Memo Day

(unlike me, make sure you get ALL of yours...heh)
---It's National Strawberries and Cream Day

(good for breakfast, lunch of dinner)
---It's National Waitstaff Day

(the unsung heroes of restaurants who have toi pout up with the idiot diners)
*** Next up, yes, we just HAD to have another shooting in the Summit City over the weekend.

Here's the lowdown:
http://www.wane.com/news/local-news/multiple-people-injured-in-downtown-shooting/1188066360

Makes you wonder how SAFE it is DOWNTOWN, when two people are shot, and the City-County building gets a few "souvenirs" (bullet holes) in it's windows and facade. Dress that area up all you want...you're STILL going to have the numbnuts who just HAVE to settle any dispute over drugs, women, or whatever with gunplay.
Just remember, it's NOT the fault of the GUN,  but rather the person wielding it. Always has been and always will be.
*** Next, a somewhat related article about how residents of our fair city are feeeling about the latest school shooting in Texas:
http://www.wpta21.com/story/38226585/fort-wayne-residents-sound-off-about-how-to-fix-school-violence-crisis

The problems with a LOT of schools these days is the number of "access points" the buildings have...as in too many.
It's fine to have the proper fire exits and such, but when it comes to ENTRANCES< there should be a designated one (like we had in my high school in the 60s). All other doors are locked from the inside, so no entry from outside is permitted.
The other point to this is keeping guns out of the hands of people with "mental issues", but there is a caveat here.

(("Who's going to put them on this list where they can't have a gun, are they mentally ill? How do you, how do you define that. There needs to be some solid definition," said Jacob Hoger, who took classes at IPFW.))
Aye, there's the rub, as Shakespeare would say.
*** Next up, if you want to talk bullshit, I found a good candidate for any form of so-called "debate". Here's the story:
http://www.autonews.com/article/20180510/OEM/180519983/bill-ford-earnings-annual-meeting-hackett

So, the CEO of Ford wants to "reinvent the automobile"? Is that the BEST he can come up with considering his company has had financial troubles over the last several years?
Here's another take on this:
http://www.insidercarnews.com/ford-has-gotten-sensitive-about-killing-the-car/

Seems when you mention anything about "killing the car", those in the ivory towers of the auto industry get a bit "touchy".
But maybe it's not THEIR "fault" here...how about THIS thought:
http://www.drivingsales.com/news/are-millennials-killing-the-car-industry/

Yes...perhaps the MILLENNIALS are really to blame here?
Granted, they do have a very different way of looking at things, and their habits are not those of their parents...or grandparents.
But there will come a time when they need an automobile.
To me, all of this is another one of those "shoehorn" tactics designed to FORCE people to get what they don't want...like the lightbulbs...or televisions...or whatever else came along to suit the bottom line of manufacturers and their stockholders.
I can't wait to see what comes along to take the place of music CDs and movie DVDs...have to change up our personal media again...right? Let's not try this with our cars.
*** Next, Chris and Laurie stopped down to visit on Saturday, and it was another good time that passed way too fast (as it always does).

A busy time at the "Fortress"...

We had cake (for their birthdays), and exchanged a couple gifts, and then set about chatting...and that's what causes the time to fly by.

Wifey and I never miss a chance to have REAL people visiting us - the type of folks you can commune with, and people who make you feel that you're not alone when it comes to decency and honesty. That's something sorely missing from OUR area these days, save for those within the four walls of our "Fortress".
Chris dropped off a couple Golden Monkey beers (made in Downingtown, PA...of all places).

Pretty good stuff. Holds a head well, pours smoothly, and kicks like a small mule. Alcohol content of over 9%, but it has a GOOD taste (hint ot banana with a nutty-hops overtone.)
Chris got these at a Kroger Marketplace - something ELSE we DON'T have down where we live.
Our cats were a bit on the shy side. He was nowhere to be found, but she DID come out and played a bit. The outdoor cats wanted to run and hide, but I took food out to them.
The rain kinda messed things up a bit, but not enough to spoil the whole day, thank God.
*** Next up, and speaking of cats...time to stop by our "Kitten Corner"...

Visitors are gone, now I can relax...

Our kids didn't do bad over the weekend, in spite of their shyness when Chris and Laurie stopped by. After they left, the cats came right back out, so that was good to see (little stinkers).

Those people taste pretty good

Violet was warming up to our visitors, but Gallifrey played "seek and find", and didn't want to make friends. He's going to be that "two-person" cat we read about. One outta two isn't bad, right?

As the weekend was winding down, it was time to concentrate on more important things...like napping.
*** Next, let's check back in with "Midnight and Company"...

Our furry twosome spent most all the weekend close by the house, and that's fine, especially since I heard three (nearby) loud gunshots around 2241 hrs last night. I spent some time with the cats outside, to see if they were scared.

Both of them were there and came right over. Made me feel at ease, and seeing a couple FWPD cruisers in the area after those gunshots was a welcome sight as well.
*** Last back to the woodshed...there is an article in today's paper that says something I've been talking about for well over 15 years (and a lot right here). Here's the link to this:
http://www.journalgazette.net/features/20180521/trying-to-cut-out-all-that-racket

Yeah...Excessive noise shown to be detrimental to health...really?
REALLY???
Well, no shit, Sherlock. Tell me something I DIDN'T know!
Now, I will say the story makes some excellent points...all of which have been documented (in the past), so I can't fault their homework.

But, it DOES stop short of mentioning the penchant of those with boomcars who "share" their noise to all hours in those "poorer" neighborhoods (which have been created by design to keep all the "locals" in ONE area of a city). Sorry, but that crap IS spreading to other locations and with it, the crime which seems to go hand-in-hand with noise.
Phoenix has a good solution to road noise (and one which has been around for decades, but not every state utilizes it, due to cost). Elkhart looks to be enforcing THEIR noise ordinance...something I wish to hell Fort Wayne would do with greater gusto, because we still get several thousand per year past our place.

As in anything in life, solutions ARE readily available, but putting them into PRACTICE is quite another matter.
But perhaps  if people took the time to educate THEMSELVES as to such problems, then maybe they could START making better choices. That would be a wonderful huge step forward, would it not?

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