Thoughts For Thursday...

Got ourselves a nice light covering of snow on the cars and grass out there this morning, don't we?
Adds a touch of December to the week.
Sure glad it's not the weather out in Colorado.
And speaking of such, our Hoosierland weather won't be that bad to take.
We're looking at partly sunny skies with temps reaching up to around the low 40s.
Just be careful driving out there anyway...it's not summer, got it?
Now, let's all get our comforting morning drinks nearby as we see what's been going on elsewhere...
*** First off of the porch is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"You've got enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something sometime in your life."

This was spoken by our good (and often quoted) friend, Winston Churchill (30 Nov 1974 - 24 Jan 1965).
And if you haven't read it yet, here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill

THIS is what a REAL war-leader looks like

It's people like him, who refused to surrender, that helped inspire Britain during WW2.
It was he who warned about the rise of Nazi Germany in the 1930s, and had the right to tell everyone around that "I told you so" when war broke out in Europe.
After the war, and when the conservative party lost the 1945 election, he became "leader of the opposition" to the labour government. It was during this time that he warned about an "iron curtain" of Soviet influence in Europe.
Churchill won the 1951 election and was again PM, concentrating on foreign policies such as the Malayan Emergency, the Mau-Mau uprising, Korean War, and the UK-backed coup in Iran.
He suffered a serious stroke in 1953, and retired as PM in 1955. He remained on as a member of Parliament until 1964. He was awarded a state funeral by Elizabeth the Second after his death in 1965, and in a 2002 poll, was called the "greatest Briton" of all time (take that Elton John).
And he is still considered one of THE most influential people in British history.
*** Next, we have our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
December 3 -
---Today is NATIONAL ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD DAY

(Wonder how that shakes out for the homeless among us?)
---And, it's also INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

(right on the heels of a mass shooting at a facility FOR disabled cops...there's irony in that)
*** Next up, I'm not going to belabor this latest mass shooting in San Bernardino, but I have a few things to say about it. And I hope to hell it pisses off the leftards to no small degree.
First of all, although this was committed by two "American" citizens, the man and wife team were of MIDDLE EAST descent and ID'ed as Syed Rizwan Farook, age 28,  (a "devout Muslim") and the "missus", Tashfeen Malik, age 27 (neither one sounds "white" to me).

Crime scene and the primary shooter.

But Farook was born in the U.S., although Malik's status was not available (foreign bride perhaps?)
The center where the shooting took place (which killed 14 and injured at least a dozen more) was a rehab facility for disabled POLICE (wow, that sounds ominous - like some grudge against law-enforcement?).
Here's more about this from FOX news:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/12/03/2-suspects-killed-shootout-san-bernardino-massacre-14-killed/
So, the guy spends a month in Saudi Arabia and gets hitched? Met her online maybe?

Interestingly, Bill O'Reilly called this one last night by saying that the FBI stated that they were not ruling OUT terrorism (but also not admitting to it), which he said meant that such activity was somehow inclusive of this situation.
Don't wanna hear ANY bullshit about "workplace-violence".
I mean, no one with no agenda doesn't suddenly leave a holiday party, gears up, and then comes back to shoot up the place and the people inside WITHOUT some prior (and possibly external) "motivation" right?
What pissed me off was how all the libtards came out from under their rocks (like Diane Feinstein) calling AGAIN for more GUN control, when it's perfectly clear that it was the PEOPLE who carried and shot those guns who are SOLELY to blame here...more knee-jerking, especially by our :Whiner-in-Chief, who had to open his mouth without knowing a damn thing about the situation, just to push gun control.
Hey, moron, 2 of the 4 guns were LEGALLY purchased, and somehow, this lunatic found a way to fly UNDER the radar, so unless you want to go the way of Orwell, just STFU and STFD.
Perhaps we need to look at ANYONE that has ties to the BAD part of the Middle East?
We might just have (in our midst) a nice little group of Manchurian Candidates.
So, HOW do you find them and flush them out, hmm?
THAT will be the test of time for our country, won't it?

And we can avoid scenes like THIS.

Maybe we need to look at the PEOPLE rather than the weapons, as we SHOULD be doing.
Moving on...
*** Next, our own mayor (for life?) "King" Henry holds a presser to announce plans for some "new" SOUTH SIDE RETAIL.
(oh, puh-lease, gimme a damn break)

Always GOOD to be "king".

This same old song-and-dance gets real old real fast, folks.
Anyway, here's the story link (from the J-G):
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/City-hopes--first-step--lures-retail-growth-to-south-side-10247645
And here is the link from WANE (decent video):
http://wane.com/2015/12/02/city-hires-retail-recruitment-firm-to-attract-business-to-south-side/
Now, before we go ANY further, let's cite our monarch for having a very BAD memory.
If you recall...WAY back when the old Southtown Mall property was sold, it was to a "development firm" based out of (take a guess)...MICHIGAN.
And that developer did NOTHING with that property for damn near FIVE years.
It was then mayor Graham Richard who claimed eminent domain to take the property back, raze it, and then have a Wal Mart and Menards able to settle in there. We also got an expensive PSA in the process that would have a rough time paying for itself over the years (as was demonstrated). Damn shame, too. Been there, and it's a great facility.
So WHO do we get to come in and recruit (new) retail for the south side?
An outfit from (you guessed it)...MICHIGAN.
At this point (and with the previous track record) I would RUN FROM anyone from Michigan who wanted to develop ANYTHING in our city. But, we DO have a DEMOCRAT mayor, so you already know what that means.
More talk, more money spent (read wasted) and less action...there 'ya go.

This guy from INDIGO CENTERS started talking about changing the local and national PERCEPTION about retail in our part of town. Not one f$cking word mentioned about the CRIME down here that has chased well over 100 businesses away for close to TWO decades.

Wish we HAD some QUALITY-of-life.

PERCEPTION is one thing, REALITY is another, unless that perception is BASED in reality, which in this case is true.
CRIME most certainly IS a REALITY down here, and business owners KNOW that much.
Just go back to my archive posts from 2 June and 14 July (this year), or FARTHER back to my posts of 5 Aug 2010 or 26 Feb 2007 to see some REALITY.
You cannot JUST get a bunch of businesses to "buy into" this part of town with the reputation it ALREADY has concerning the criminal element...that toilet just ain't gonna flush.

Business owners are not as stupid as (certain) city mayors, and won't build in blighted areas with higher crime. That's a given.
That would make no sense at all, would it?
King Henry is like a LOT of Dumbocrats - got this "fantasyland" mentality, and won't take off the blinders to see what is REALLY going on...typical.

He oughta try living down HERE for just a month...I dare him and every other liberal downtown to walk in someone else's shoes and climb out of their ivory tower.
*** Last back to the patio...the level of stupidity that some people display never ceases to amaze me.
Take the person who has posed as our president for the last 7 (LONG) years...calling for more gun control.

What a dumbass statement to make.
That's like a man (with carpentry background) who wields a hammer and proceeds to kill some schoolkids, and then have someone saying we need MORE HAMMER CONTROL...or the butcher who kills his fellow employees in the meat market and the call goes out for MORE KNIFE or CLEAVER CONTROL.

It's not about whatever DEVICE is used in the commission of a crime...it's about the PERSON who holds that device. And, it's about control OF the people.
It ALWAYS is, and ALWAYS will be.

But, for those living in "Rio Linda", it's about whatever DEVICE is used during a crime, and not a damn thing about those holding or using those devices, be they guns, knives, baseball bats, tire irons, or sock monkeys.
They don't ever define the PROBLEM, but always find some "solution".

And to fall into lockstep and BELIEVE such tripe starts us all down a road we need not tread, for that road is laced with untruths, fallacies, innuendos, and outright lies.
To seek the TRUTH is what we ALL need to do. Stop with all the PC-BS, stop the lies, and stop the leftist socialist rhetoric, for God's sake.
Real Americans desire (and many times demand) the truth. And we won't settle for less.
No sugar-coating required, right?.
We are adults, and need to remember that.
We're not all a bunch of wussified pansies, and should never aspire to become one.
Tell us the truth NOW, because sooner or later, we WILL find it out for ourselves, and then we will hold accountable those who not ONLY deny us that truth, but also LIED to us by telling us something else.
THAT, my friends, you can take to the bank, because it's THE TRUTH.

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

Humpday Happenings...

And the countdown clock to Christmas is in full swing...a mere 23 days left.
How the time does fly.
(damn shame we see it as being LINEAR in nature.)
If you like changeable forecasts, you've stopped at the right place.
(and you might need a pair of those 3-D glasses...lol)
Our Hoosierland weather will see us with some sun this morning, turning cloudy later and then we get a "winter-mix" of rain and snow, although no accumulation is expected (well, maybe some on grassy areas).
Highs today into the lower to mid 40s.
Could be some interesting driving this evening, so take the proper precautions.
(you know how some people always think roads are good all the time)
Now, let's get our nicely warmed (or chilled) drinks at-hand, as we see what's going on in some other places...
*** First off of the frosty windshield is our WHO SAID THAT? quote of the week:
"You've got enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something sometime in your life."
We all have our own "adversaries" in life, and they don't all have to be physical ones. How we address the lack of vision (of our enemy) when we choose to do the right and just thing is something we need to be reminded of, right?
So, WHO said that? The answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
Meanwhile, back on 10 Downing St....
*** Next up is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
December 2 -
---Today is NATIONAL MUTT DAY

He's a goooooood boy!

(this has to mean the four-legged canines and not the former Vietnam-era vehicle)
---It's also NATIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION DAY

Not AS special as it USED to be.

(I could do several posts JUST on this subject, but let's say that Washington D.C. should be remanded to a few semesters of that)
---And, it's the INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY

Trading one set of chains for another.

(Again, several posts about this could be written. Curiously, those whose ancestors might have been slaves have found modern-day equivalents to physical bondage, so they've come full-circle)
It's also NATIONAL FRITTERS DAY

YUM!

(can be stiffed with damn near anything, too)
Moving on...
*** Next up, our resident monarch ("King Henry" of Fort Wayne) has his eye on wanting to revive RETAIL on the south side of the city (took him long enough).

STILL good to be king.

There is supposed to be a presser today to "splain" it to his subjects.
This ought to be interesting (if not totally hilarious).
And, I'll wager that NOTHING will be done to make the area SAFE for retail...as many have already said must be done FIRST (yours truly included).
But, he's also got this downtown riverfront gig going on, so he needs to get all those nasty-ass HOMELESS people out from under the bridges, because who wants to see THOSE people when boating along the river, hmm?
Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/Council-apprised-on-homeless-issues-10233074

Movin' on UP in gov't.

And whenever I see oir hear the name of Heather Presley-Cowan, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
She has become elevated (over the years) to Deputy Director of Community Development (obviously not OUR community). And she's the one that wants all this NEW housing for people not deserving of the prior places they've already destroyed) more stuff for free or cheap for HER people).
She just wraps it in a nicer package, but she doesn't fool this guy. They all sing the same song.
Oh, and while he's at it, our "king" is also working on something ELSE we no longer have down on the SOUTH side - DINING.
Here's this story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/Council-OK-with-dining-district-10229747

More grandiose plans

Yeah, it's NOT enough that we already have more than adequate DINING downtown, they have to EXPAND it to include the (upcoming) RIVERFRONT area.
Okay, but what about ALL the sit-down restaurants WE USED TO HAVE on the SOUTH side that went belly up (thanks to rising crime)? We're still left hung out to dry here, aren't we? (typical)
Now tell me sire, HOW MUCH REVENUE did the SOUTH side of Fort Wayne USED to generate when it was still a VITAL part of the city, and not the ghetto it has been allowed to devolve into? Might have to go back a few decades to find those numbers.
Then, tell me how MUCH revenue COULD be generated by all this riverfront development.
(this would be speculative, of course)

Anyone downtown care to FIX all these?

Then, bounce one number against the other and tell me WHICH is a more profitable scenario for the city.
(I always say, chase away the crime, and OUR part of town WILL come back and make money for the city once again...but not before)
*** Next up, looks like the CITIZENS of Fort Wayne are doing a better job of ID'ing criminals than the FWPD.

Here's the lowdown:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/Witness-s-pics-bring-robbery-suspect-to-stop-10231878
A robbery at the Speedway located at 6033 W. Jeferson Blvd happened Tuesday morning, and although the perp never displayed a weapon, he said he had one. Musta been enough for the clerk who handed over an undisclosed amount of money from the till.
But, as he ran from the store, a WITNESS followed the robber.
The witness actually followed the perp's car to the area of Covington Rd and South Bend Drive, where they took pictures of the car and license plate.

"LOSER!!!"

Ballsey as hell...I like this person.
The witness returned to the store, met with arriving police and showed them the pics.
A BOLO went out over the air and within minutes police found the Nissan.
When other cruisers filed in behind the trailing police car, the driver was instructed to pull over.
Police saw cash, a black ski mask and hypo needles in the car.
Suffice it to say, 24-year old Trent Cunningham is NOW a guest of the local lockup facing FELONY charges.
See?
It's the PUBLIC assisting the police that got this asshole caught.
And in this case, one witness decided to inform THEMSELVES and did the right thing. People CAN effect change for the better.
*** Last back to the defroster vents... the last story shows how some people STILL give a damn, and will step up and do what needs to be done to make life better and safer for others.

And they DON'T wear a shield, have a service pistol on a duty belt, or even wear a uniform.
But they DO perform a necessary service for their community...they WATCH...and LISTEN...and PAY the hell attention. And they do this for free, take their own time, and never ask for compensation.
This is not a specifically "unique" thing...just the RIGHT thing.
Such people assist public safety more often than we know, and none of them are "on the payroll".
It's the person that decides that a robber is not getting away scott-free, or the person that notices smoke from a window and calls the fire department, or even the person who notices a dog out in the cold, with no food or water.It's the person who spots a wandering toddler and gets involved to find where they live.
These people are not "busy-bodies"...they're CONCERNED (probably about the lack of care and humanity others express towards their fellow man or any other creature on God's earth).

I would welcome such people (a lot sooner than I would want unvetted refugees from some country tens of thousands of miles away) because those are OUR PEOPLE...and what they do is what ALL real Americans would (and should) do. They give a damn (and accept no substitutes)
After all, they don't refer to us as the UNITED states for no reason, right?
Let that be our guidepost for the day.

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

Tuesday Tidbits...

Welcome to the final month of the Year of Our Lord 2015...and it's been one helluva year so far, hasn't it?
Can't recall a year with this much strife since I was born, and that's a lot of years, folks.
Our Hoosierland weather today will not seem like December, with temps climbing into the upper 40s.
Even heard we have some fog out there this morning.
Not seeing all that much of it.
And since we had some light rain overnight, I'm not expecting much in the way of sunshine today.
So what say we all grab our morning drinks and see what's been going on elsewhere, hmm?
*** First out of the laundry chute is our "What the hell happens today, bob?" feature:
And since it's DECEMBER, let's take a look at ALL that's going on this month:
======================
Monthly Events, Holidays
--Awareness Month of Awareness Months Month
--World Aids Month
--Bingo’s Birthday Month
--National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month
(should be EVERY month, if you ask me)
--National Write A Business Plan Month
--National Tie Month

--Operation Santa Paws (1-24)
--Quince and Watermelon Month
--Root Vegetables and Exotic Fruits Month
--Safe Toys and Gifts Month

--Spiritual Literacy Month
--Take a New Year’s Resolution to Stop Smoking (TANYRSS) (1217 – 2/5)
--Tomato and Winter Squash Month
--Universal Human Rights Month
--Worldwide Food Service Safety Month
======================
Weekly Holidays, Events
--Clerc-Gallaudet Week: 1-7 (First Week)
--Cookie Cutter Week: 1-7
National Handwashing Awareness Week: 1-7 Link (First Week)

Oh, good lord, got common sense?.

--Recipe Greetings For The Holidays Week: 7-13
 (First Full Week)
--Tolerance Week: 1-7

--Human Rights Week: 10-17
--Halcyon Days: 14-28 
(Always 7 days before and 7 days after the Winter Solstice)
--Christmas Bird Count Week: 14-1/5
--Gluten-free Baking Week: 14-20 
(Week Before Christmas)
--Posadas: 16-24
--Saturnalia: 17-23
--It’s About Time Week: 25-31
--Kwanzaa: 26-1/1
=========================
Now, let's get a bit more "specific", shall we?
December 1 -
---Today is ROSA PARKS DAY

And we know how many blacks have not appreciated what she did)
---It's  also NATIONAL EAT A RED APPLE DAY

(I'll stick to apple sauce, juice and cider, thank you)
---And, it's NATIONAL PIE DAY

(every day's a wonderful day for pie)
---It's also BIFOCALS AT THE MONITOR LIBERATION DAY

(I use reading glasses, PLUS I make the type fonts LARGER)
---It's WORLD AIDS DAY

(Tell Charlie Sheen)
---And, it's also the DAY WITHOUT ART DAY

(stupidly contrived, but there's no crucifixes in pee-jars, thank GOD)
And there it is...everything YOU need to know to get through this month (like we didn't have enough stuff concerning us, right?).
Moving on...
*** Since it's a TUESDAY, let's take a gander at ALL the shots fired and armed robbery calls that the local media doesn't want to tell you about...

SHOTS FIRED / ARMED ROBBERY CALLS - 11/23 - 11/29
===============================================
NOV 23 -
15F155139 16:07:25 113 SHOTS FIRED 3300 BOWSER AVE
15F155192 17:44:28 113 SHOTS FIRED 4200 TAMARACK DR
15F155220 19:12:11 113 SHOTS FIRED 2300 CLINTON ST S
15F155305 23:13:26 113 SHOTS FIRED 500 GREENWOOD AVE & ILLINOIS ST
((NO armed robberies))
NOV 24 - 
15F155700 22:23:34 113 SHOTS FIRED 2600 REED ST & PONTIAC ST E
((NO armed robberies))
NOV 25 -
15F156046 15:59:49 113 SHOTS FIRED 900 BUCHANAN ST
15F156095 17:23:29 113 SHOTS FIRED 8300 BRIDGEWAY DR
15F155756 02:20:24 58 SHOOTING 1900 RUDISILL BLVD E & CENTRAL DR
((NO armed robberies))
NOV 26 -
15F156308 03:58:22 113 SHOTS FIRED 100 CONGRESS AVE & CALHOUN ST S
15F156336 07:17:33 113 SHOTS FIRED 9500 CRESTRIDGE DR
15F156403 12:10:54 113 SHOTS FIRED 7900 SERENITY DR
15F156411 12:36:41 113 SHOTS FIRED 7400 ANTHONY BLVD S & DECATUR RD
15F156412 12:44:44 113 SHOTS FIRED 2700 SWEET CIDER RD
15F156506 17:57:26 113 SHOTS FIRED 5700 CALHOUN ST S & PAULDING RD E
15F156511 17:58:43 113 SHOTS FIRED 3900 OLD MILL RD & RUDISILL BLVD W
15F156509 17:59:05 113 SHOTS FIRED 5600 WOODHURST BLVD
15F156547 19:41:46 113 SHOTS FIRED 2300 FLORIDA DR
15F156624 23:52:42 113 SHOTS FIRED 4900 SMITH ST
((NO armed robberies - HAPPY THANKSGIVING))
NOV 27-
15F156684 02:42:28 113 SHOTS FIRED 4500 MONROE ST S & SHERWOOD TERR E
15F156702 05:11:57 113 SHOTS FIRED 4500 DEFOREST AVE & ALLEGANY AVE
15F156704 05:16:01 53 ARMED ROB 700 BROADWAY
15F156860 12:51:04 53 ARMED ROB 1900 MAUMEE AVE
15F156940 16:18:03 58 SHOOTING 7900 JEFFERSON BLVD W
NOV 28 -
15F157138 00:41:28 113 SHOTS FIRED 2900 GOSHEN RD
15F157157 02:06:35 113 SHOTS FIRED 4100 WOODSTOCK DR
15F157181 03:39:53 53 ARMED ROB 2300 SHERMAN BLVD
15F157194 04:50:46 53 ARMED ROB 2700 DUPONT RD E
15F157311 13:20:33 53 ARMED ROB 4800 CALHOUN ST S
NOV 29 -
15F157611 02:28:49 113 SHOTS FIRED 1900 MAIN ST W
15F157614 02:54:09 113 SHOTS FIRED 900 RUDISILL BLVD E & GAYWOOD DR
15F157588 01:15:46 53 ARMED ROB 2200 RANDALLIA DR
15F157779 14:46:04 53 ARMED ROB 00 MAIN ST E
================================
FIREWORKS CALLS - 11/23 - 11/29
============================
NOV 26 -
15F156507 17:57:20 44FW 4700 MANISTEE DR
((there just HAS to be ONE f$cking idiot))
*** Next up, there's a world summit for climate change (here we freaking go again) in Paris, and our Cry-Baby-in-Chief is trying to lead this pack of ill-informed political hacks (all 140 of them) in ways to lower emissions.

Aw cripes...not AGAIN

Well, they could all STOP SHOOTING THE SHIT for a few weeks...just shut the hell up.
THAT would be a damn good start.
You have to understand that these global-warmists use computer MODELS and not actual data to come to those "conclusions", and while computers might be good for playing chess, I wouldn't trust them with how our planet works as far as I could toss the Chrysler Building in NYC.
There are ALWAYS (unpredictable) variables on Earth that can shift or skew their data, and you can never accurately predict (or add) this into the mix, because you don't KNOW when shit's gonna hit some fan across the globe, and NOT because of global warming..
Some island nations are bitching because water levels are rising...ever think that MAYBE your frigging ISLAND IS SINKING???
Most ALL those islands in the Pacific are built upon VOLCANIC ROCK (and are kinda POROUS).
Yeah, I paid attention when I was in science class in school - something many of these "experts" didn't
Hey, maybe "we" can take ALL THOSE people in as "refugees", too?
Such lunacy should never be given the time of day.
*** Next up, all I seemed to hear on the news (since last week) was the FACT that retail shopping took a big hit thanks to ONLINE shopping.

Gee, seems I read that somewhere...like HERE. That was a no-brainer.
Some reports were saying that the markdowns at stores were to get rid of old merchandise.
REALLY?
(read that here, too).
The big ploy is to mark UP items prior to the holiday shopping rush, then discount them and then pass those "savings" on to YOU.
Again, I said that much here.
And I'm not an economist...imagine that.
It's called being a savvy consumer.
*** Next up, Christmas shopping does get a bit harder as you get older...make no mistake about that. What you want versus what you need, right? Kinda cavalier in nature.
And while I might make a "list", there's not much that catches my eye these days, at last nothing within the realm of affordability (yeah, that Aston-Martin will always be out of reach...LOL)

Where for art thou?

As someone who is never far from his "inner-child", I always take a look at what passes for TOYS for children these days. While the high-tech stuff is "cute", most all of it doesn't have the IMAGINATION VALUE that toys of my era enjoyed.

There is ALWAYS the LEGO stuff, but most all of that is "pre-modeled" items that you build. Whatever happened to all the "free-form" things you COULD build?
None of that around anymore?
And I don't recall seeing ERECTOR sets and DEFINITELY no chemistry sets for boys.
(Jihadists are busy with their own chemistry sets)

Must be all the confusion from figuring out whether to go to the BOYS room or the GIRLS room in schools as well as some parents willing to allow the state to raise their child,
Yeah, it's all taking their minds off of being WHO THEY ARE...children.
I might have to do a post about toys - then and now before the holiday.
*** Last back to the clothes hamper...remember that thing about life being "complex"?

Sounds pretty STRAIGHT-FORWARD.

Well, apparently we no longer wait for adulthood to start the confusion, do we?
Seems it's better to indoctrinate the CHILDREN at earlier ages - get them befuddled (thanks to developing minds) with enough PC-BS and manufactured tripe, that they have no place to go but where the powers that be wish to lead them.

Try growing a BACKBONE.

Not exactly the BEST way to grow a society, is it?
And certainly not a good way to maintain a moral and proper society.
Better to set children at ODDS with their parents through rewriting history, turning facts into ambiguities, and retail marketing, because they just HAVE to have the latest "gimmick", right?
Get them used to being "distracted", so they can grow up and be even MORE distracted as adults - perfect. A malleable society pre-made since damn near infancy.
Hey, I was a child once, and we were told the truth and the facts. Moreover, we were also told that it was important TO TELL THE TRUTH (lest one get caught in a lie).
WTH ever happened to THAT principle, hmm?
Got tossed out with the bath water?
There needs to be a return to what we called TRADITIONAL values and principles. It never hurt anyone, bypassed a lot of unnecessary confusion, and made us all stronger individuals in the process.
And at THIS time of year, that should be something we can all "hang our hats" on, because, if for no other reason...we need it.

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