The PA-IN-Erudition

21 January 2019

Monday Musings - Sub-Zero Edition...

Okay, boys and girls...now THIS is a "stage-3" kinda cold, as Dad would put it.
1 was COLD, 2 was DAMN cold, and 3 used to be EFFIN COLD!
THIS is the kind of cold that can HURT...in a lot of ways.
There is a wind-chill advisory (here) until noon.

Don't be like Jack, here.

If you don't have to be out in it..stay IN.
To everyone else...be REAL careful out there.
Thirty minutes can cause frostbite in this weather (sounds like McMurdo AFB).

Yep, this is McMurdo.

Wonder what all the "global warmists" are doing today?

I thought so.

Our climate SURE as hell changed, didn't it? Just as it ALWAYS does.

Our Hoosierland weather today brings us sunny skies to start with, temps climbing ALL the way up to a "balmy" TEN DEGREES, and with wind chills, it won't even feel above ZERO.

What say we get the day started with a huge, honkin' hot cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa, as we see what else has been happening (while trying not to freeze) out there, hmm?
*** First out of the arctic base is our "What the hell is freezing...I mean HAPPENING today. Bob?" feature:
JANUARY 21 -
---It's Martin Luther King Jr. Day

(I'll be observing this INDOORS, if you don't mind)
---It's National Granola Bar Day

(gonna need more than that to keep warm outside)
---It's National Hugging Day

(now THIS is more in tune with the weather)
---It's Squirrel Appreciation Day

( I appreciate they're not being eaten by community cats)
*** Next, and speaking of doing something REALLY stupid, there was an armed robbery earlier this morning. Here's the details (so far):

The robbery took place at the Speedway up on Sherman Blvd around 0300 hrs.
Police are not sure if the robber got away with anything and a K-9 was unable to get a track (doesn't surprise me in such cold).
*** Next, one person was seriously hurt in a shooting. Here's what's known:
https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/one-hurt-in-shooting-near-4th-and-wells-streets/1712004725

This took place on 4th St. east of Wells around 0145 hrs.
((Police said the victim said the shooting happened near a business in the 1500 block of Wells Street; although, officers said the business was not cooperating with their investigation. ))

Well, that's not nice of them, is it?
*** Next up, I read where a couple people had fallen through ice while fishing.

They SHOULD know better. Just because we get a couple cold days, that doesn't mean the ice would be thick enough to support a human. You need a few days with weather like TODAY'S to make it safe enough, and DNR officers are warning about that.
How about posting some signage?
That's what they used to do up at Washington's Crossing in PA (along the canals).
Good (and free) ice skating up there, btw.
*** Next, time to stop by our "Kitten Corner"...

Mommy got groceries before the snow started.

The kids were being their usual selves, and that was good. I was trying to "impress" upon them both how fortunate they were to be INDOOR cats, compared to those who ahd to fend for themselves in such weather.

Got it. Wake me when the food's ready...

Considering that cats are pretty smart (they train us damn well), I'd like to think I made some headway.
I can't imagine these two staying outside. Somehow, they don't seem the "outdoors" type, unlike our community cats.
*** Next up, let's check in with "Midnight and Whiskers"...

Glad we got some warm food.

Our furry twosome were doing their best to avoid the cold and that gave me pause to start to worry. Midnight was MIA most of Saturday, and Whiskers was MIA for most of Sunday...go figure.

Nice job clearing the snow for us.

And, we had to find another water dish, as the original one developed a crack which leaked and froze all around it. I patched it and hope it works, but for the time being, we found another dish we can use.
Have to thaw it out several times a day so both of them have LIQUID water to drink.

Hey, it's NOT frozen solid!

As far as food goes...plenty of "warm" wet food for them.
I found two old carpeted floor mats from the former Wifeymobile, and I stuck them under the table, so the cats won't have to have their paws on cold CONCRETE.

Good idea with the carpet stuff.

The snow blew onto the mats, but they're easily cleaned back off.
And yes, the shelters are still there for them both.
*** Last back to the igloo...today is MLK day, and I always wonder what happened to his dream.

Every year there is a call for "unity" and every year, we seem to be moving father from that aspect of humanity.
Whether we choose to believe it or not, mankind IS inherently a SOCIAL creature.
(not necessarily a "social media" creature).
Yet, we all seem to get caught up in some form of infotainment, as if this is to supplant the need (or desire) to delineate the difference between being INFORMED and being ENTERTAINED.
I'm an old-fashioned kinda guy - I like my information to be INFORMATIVE and my entertainment to be ENTERTAINING...and never attempt to merger the two, and thereby dilute them both into brain-pablum.

Dr. King was a person who preached the truth, and to that end was informative to the masses; those of ALL races, faiths, etc.
We look to this day NOT to be entertained, but to realize that what he spoke about all those years ago STILL HAVE MEANING.

And they apply to EVERYONE EQUALLY.
I believe that is a lesson we can always learn from, and one which shall live on long after we are gone.
That's something to really think about.

Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE (and keep warm) out there, America.

4 comments:

CWMartin said...: Yeah, let's thank God that MLK wasn't a naturalist...

In the height of the snow, I watched a squirrel running across the roof of the building across the way... I appreciated his stupidity.

(Which my phrasing became funnier when the next line read was "and speaking of doing something really stupid...)

What kind of business doesn't cooperate with a police investigation?

What good does signage do when an experienced fisherman who lives in the area for years still decides to be stupid? Horse, here's water...

Questions, questions, but no answers...; 21 January, 2019 12:21
Bob G. said...: Chris:
---MLK may not have been a perfect man (who is, right?), but "naturalist" would never be on HIS list of accomplishments.
---Maybe he was looking for nuts...probably the ONLY ones he might find didn't have four legs. Didja see those out JOGGING in this stuff???
---A business that does NOT want to cooperate with the po-po would have to be doing something "less than reputable"...right? I can't see any other reason.
---Maybe if there was an "app" for that, he might pay more attention?
We're losing touch with what used to make us a lot more human, aren't we?
(that would explain a myriad of things going wrong with society these days)
---There is one answer (as a black Baptist minister used to tell me):
"They needs JESUS!"
Best answer I've come across.

Hey, thanks much for skating on by today and commenting.

Stay safe (and stay warmn) up there, brother.; 21 January, 2019 13:20
Susan Kane said...: Oh, David Tennant, where are you?!

Snow. What can be said about it?

Your kitties seem well-insulated in fur, awfully beautiful. Who wouldn't love nummy warm food?!

It is difficult to even describe how amazing and world changing MLK was and still is. I grew up in "white bread" mid-Illinois where I never even saw a black person until I went to college. It was a place where no black person would even drive through it, let alone stay at night. So, when MLK was assassinated, the reaction of the community was "interesting". But I had an American history teacher who brought a TV into class, where we watched the event. It was a silent room.

Still, there is still a lot of discrimination to anyone of color: India, Spanish, or any brown person.

Thank you for presenting the changes MLK made and is still making.; 21 January, 2019 14:29
Bob G. said...: Susan:
---David Tennant redefined Doctor Who (for me), and I've been a Tom Baker fan forever (well, since 1975).
---What CAN be said is not for mixed company...LOL.
I can take it in smaller amounts, thank you.
(that's why I won't live back on the east coast)
---We try to spoil them, and I think we're doing a good job so far.
They adopted US quite readily, getting as much attention as our indoor cats.
---I grew up in Philly and had black friends from high school forward...and I got called lots of names (by whites) for doing so.
Didn't make no nevermind...they were FRIENDS first. That's what we all came away with through Dr. King.
---Times have changed, and so have generations of people.
MLK day is viewed more as a "day off" than a day to reflect on one man's vision of a better nation and people.
REAL history needs to be taught and embraced, and we should never forget the contributions that King made not just to civil rights, but for America and ALL her people.
But, that's just my opinion.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and comment.
Much appreciated.

Stay safe (and stay warm) out there.; 21 January, 2019 16:26