Monday Musings...

Welcome to the start of another week, and wherever you find yourself,  may life be treating you kindly.
You can also be sure that no matter how good the day begins, someone is sure to come along and try to screw it all up.
A shame that our society has come to that. Still, it can ALWAYS be worse.
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us increasingly cloudy skies, temps rising to around 82 degrees (again?) and a chance of rain and thunderstorms by this afternoon.
Be on the safe said . Take the umbrella and drive accordingly.

"Puny drink."

So, let's put our best forward and get ourselves a refreshing beverage, as we see what else has been going on...
*** First out of the powder room is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
AUGUST 20 -
---It's National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day

(that looks sinfully good and I wish I had some)
---It's National Radio Day

(Charly Butcher picked the right day here with this)
*** Next, from our "Can You Lend Me An Ear?" department, we have this:
https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/man-s-ear-nearly-cut-off-in-bar-fight/1382634623

This fight took place at Las Lomas Mexican Grill located at 2202 Fairfield St. (near Creighton) around 0145 hrs. this morning.
Yep, that's the south side of town, folks.
The suspects fled before police got there (typical), and the victim's injuries are non-life threatening.
Police detained two men that fit the description not long afterwards.
No word on whether they were arrested.
*** Next ip, a WHITE guy robs a credit union (for a change).:
http://www.wpta21.com/story/38912594/police-search-for-suspect-in-saturday-morning-bank-robbery

((It happened at Partners First Credit Union on West Jefferson Blvd around noon Saturday. Police describe the suspect as a male white in his 40's in a baseball cap.
He is believed to be driving a 2013 white Silverado with "Browning Chapman" written on the side. The license plate number is TK691NJU.))

Nothing like stealing a truck with a business name on it.
Still, he got what he wanted...no muss, no fuss.
*** Next, another weekend - another bunch of Chicago shootings:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/14-hours-in-chicago-26-people-shot-including-3-year-old-boy/ar-BBM4fE1?ocid=spartanntp

Idea for a new reboot/sequel: "Escape From Chicago"
Yeah, build a damn high wall AROUND the city. and then move all the decent people OUT.

I think Kurt Russell might be available, as well.
*** Next, and while we're talking SHOOTINGS, we did start OUR weekend off (in Ft. Wayne with the usual "BANG!":
http://www.wfft.com/content/news/Man-shot-near-Creighton-and-Warsaw-491118711.html

This took place Friday near Creighton and Warsaw around 1200 hrs.
A person in a red Kia fired several shots, striking the victim (who was standing by hios girlfriend's car). The victim's condition is unknown.
Funny how NO other news source reported this, isn't it?
*** Next up, let's take a minute and stop by our "Kitten Corner"...

Our kids had a pretty good weekend. Believe it or not, there was not that much "chasing around" to speak of. But there was a couple "bug hunts", as we had a cricket find it's way into the house (he was caught by me and released back outside).

And they found one of those "ball bugs" (they roll up when touched), and he was dispatched quickly.
Then, it was back to eating, napping and cuddling (with some laser-play tossed in).
*** Next, let's do our daily check in with "Midnight and Whiskers"...

I LIKE this dish.

Our furry twosome (each) got an unexpected "gift" - their own FOOD DISHES.
A trip to Menards (and a good eye from the Missus) found them blue and pink plastic food bowlss.

I know. These are cool!

No more earthenware plates, and no messes from spilled food.

No one takes the food dish.

And, it seems they both like them...probably they like what's IN the dishes more, but what the heck, right?
There's nothing wrong with spoiling these two once in a while (more like daily, actually)...lol
*** Last back the the futon...what happened to the south side of Fort Wayne?

That, my friends is a very loaded question. And the answers you get depends on the people you speak to.
Some will point to International Harvester closing. Others (like myself) will point to a rise in crime.
Others still will suggest (subsequent) "white flight".

Give 'em an "F"!

I think it's actually more than all of these put together. The REAL problem lies with our SOCIETY.

Where once people would work two jobs and pull themselves up by their OWN "boot straps", we now have entitlements that supplant work with slothful behavior (seems to reward it really).
Where once we had people who actively cared about where they lived, we now have a pall of apathy hanging over the entire south side (with a few dwindling areas of exception).
Where once money flowed FROM the south side of Fort Wayne into city coffers, we now have money being poured INTO the south side as a way to shore up the deterioration and thereby make the city administration feel good about itself.

I think city planners and developers need to stop wondering how to bring businesses BACK to the south side, and (instead) start wondering WHY the hundreds of businesses we once had here LEFT in the first place.
Answer THOSE questions and you'll start to find the cause...we already know the effect, all too well.
This "process" is reversible...IF the city chooses to do so. Anything less will just spread our problems elsewhere (as we are starting to see).

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