Isn't It ODD...
Now I want you all to focus in on the word ODD today, and with the state of affairs both here and abroad, that shouldn't be TOO difficult.
We've got more than enough "odd" to go around, don't we?
But I promise we'll have a "happy ending" to this post.
** Case in point...those wacky DANES and their "climate summit".
Again, we see a dubious pall hanging over the summit.
Undeveloped nations are pitching a fit because THEY will be the ones MOST affected by reduction of greenhouse gases, as opposed to developed nations (like us).
Well, let's face it...who the hell is producing the most gases anyway?
Underdeveloped nations are just like WE were...about 150 years ago (or more).
Some nations can't even be bothered, as their economy (if you can call it that) cannot support the needed infrastructure to markedly reduce such gases.
Granted, those in Copenhagen said outright that America has seen COOLING, while other nations maintain that THEY are getting warmer. Isn't this what I said in earlier posts regarding the EARTH taking care of itself?
I mean, when you stop and think that the vast desert known as the SAHARA once USED to be a lot more tropical in nature, and supported a lot more life than we see there today, some of this "earth-shift" science starts to make some sense...doesn't it?
We certainly don't affect this planet in it's course NEARLY as much as people say we do, nor can we ever hope to.
There are a lot greater forces at work here, and like I said before...we're just "along for the ride".
Whether we choose to acknowledge it, or remain in denial, hoping WE, as a species can change things in the universe at the snap of our collective fingers will determine our future in no certain terms.
Now, if you don't find all this climate change "stuff" odd enough for you...how about this?
** FWPD have arrested the SECOND suspect in the shooting death of the pizza delivery man back on 29 November.
Andre Washington is now a "guest" of the Allen County lockup (until he posts $1000 bail and gets back out) for the robbery of the Advance Auto Parts store at 4309 S.Lafayette St. just last week
Here's the link to the entire article:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20091209/LOCAL07/312099963#
Now I find it REALLY ODD that this "person" seems to be the same one that might have also robbed the Dairy Queen nearby. The M.O. fits like a damn glove - similar clothing, brandishing a knife, accompanied by a 2nd individual.
But, I'll wager that the prosecutor's office won't be able to make the slam dunk and keep this guy off our streets. Hope I get proved wrong.
He'll get back out somehow (they always seem to), and probably move down here to lose himself until his next crime spree.
Funny how THIS story ties directly into this next one, though...stay with me on this.
** Last night's City Council meeting was a bit on the "heated" side.
Seems that about FIFTY members of the BLACK community were in attendance (amazing - nothing was being GIVEN away) to protest the placing of a trash recycling sorting facility in their neighborhood on Pontiac St.
They complained (and rightly so) about such things as the smell, rodent infestation, and the noise and traffic from all the trucks coming and going. (gee, sounds a LOT like MY part of the city, only we have gunshots, reckless driving, and drug dealing and usage, too).
One black minister hit the nail on the damn head.
He stated: "You go up NORTH, you see STORES. You go up NORTH, you see good schools. You go up NORTH, you have good neighborhoods. It's all up NORTH".
Well, Rev...that's kinda how the city sees it, too.
All those amenities are found ANYWHERE ELSE but DOWN HERE.
I've said that since I created this blog over THREE years ago...
I've KNOWN it since I moved here a DOZEN years ago.
And some of the blame can be directly traced to the BLACK COMMUNITY itself. Didn't see anyone stand up and bitch when drugs infiltrated the neighborhoods. Didn't hear anyone bemoan all the RENTALS and the human refuse that inhabits them. Didn't see anyone taking to our streets to stop gang violence all that much...only after someone gets KILLED, do we ever see any outpouring of concern (for a few days...and then things go back to "normal").
But I'm not the ONLY one noticing this...the CITY has been paying attention as well, and they've been taking steps (creating blame) to ensure that THIS part of town receives as LITTLE help as possible. That's why developers go up NORTH...or WEST.
Who wants to improve an area that has demonstrated time and again that it is simply NOT WORTHY of that improvement?
And just because I'd like to see some real improvement, NO developer gives a rat's ass about what ONE person thinks.
Thankfully, I've made a few allies within certain city departments that allows my specific area to keep from falling further down those ten layers of Dante's hell. But I'm still only ONE person, and I sure ain't 25 years old any longer.Wish to hell I was.
But one has to realize that living down here means that generally-speaking, the city will all but ignore you.
You want to go shopping...you have WAL-MART...or K-Mart...that's it.
Book store? Yeah, right. Go elsewhere.
Ditto for a real music store...or clothing store...or sporting good store...or hobby shop...or comic store...or furniture store (unless you rent as most all the locals around here do, but that's another tale for another time)...you've got relatively NOTHING in the way of REAL shopping...just those two I mentioned along with assorted "dollar stores"...helluva choice, huh?
Got plenty of fast food places, rib joints, wheel rim joints, a few car parts places, smoke shops and an overabundance of LIQUOR STORES.
Keep the unwashed masses smoking, drunk, entertained and ignorant...and they're by and large content...and free to rob citizens and what few stores are still down here at THEIR leisure...after all, there are no JOBS down here to speak of, so they live off the taxpayers (or embellish their monthly checks with selling illegal drugs).
Wow...kinda sounds like a ghetto, doesn't it?
But: "We don't want TRASH in our neighborhoods", says Councilman Glynn Hines...
Really, Glynn...REALLY?
Then tell YOUR PEOPLE to stop tossing it out THEIR car windows, and dropping it from THEIR hands, because I sure as hell ain't dumping ANY around here.
I find it so damn ODD that we have such double-standards in place here.
We don't WANT a trash facility on Pontiac St, BUT we still are going to toss trash on other people's properties and in the streets (when we're not pulling a "short dump" on some vacant lot, that is).
You folks allowed this to happen...you wore the blinders...you get YOUR sh*t in gear.
Time to ante up and get with the program if you ever hope to revitalize THIS part of Fort Wayne.
** If you ever want to find yourself in arguments you can never hope to win, even if you have stacks of facts and sundry sources to back YOUR side up...just go online...LOL!
(or buy Glenn's book...you're gonna NEED it...a LOT)
People WILL display forms of O.D.D. (Oppositional Defiance Disorder), and that is just TOO damn odd.
You will never see such a hodgepodge of nonsensical buffoonery as you will when you comment on various blogs. Now such isn't the case HERE, in spite of the fact that I now "moderate" the comments.
This is done just to keep those people I just mentioned out of the loop, as they have nothing constructive to contribute to any conversation or debate.
Take for example the issue of DISCIPLINE in schools.
I commented about re instituting corporal punishment back into the classrooms, and one person took it as an open door to ABUSE of children. Face it, we've got at least ONE generation of kids that have respect issues with teachers, parents, police, and anyone who looks at them the "wrong" way. We have students striking educators, because that poor teacher tried to BREAK UP a fight in the classroom.
We have parents that allow their kids to roam free like some wild animals in the Veldt.
And we have the audacity to even think about looking to these SAME kids as the future "leaders" of America?
WTF is wrong with that picture?
Used to be a time when teacher was considered one of GOD'S assistants while you were in class. You did not act up, because the wrath of the heavens would descend like a ton of bricks...on YOU.
Used to be a time when young people respected their "elders"...now, they just rob them of their social security checks, or break into their homes to steal them blind.
Used to be a time when being drug by the scruff of the neck down to the PRINCIPAL'S office WAS a "big deal"...and you dreaded having your parents find out, because that multiplied the situation.
Just not seeing that happen these days.
And I've taught kids in Sunday school...I've seen the homes they come from, and I've worked with them to help them along. I think kids are great people, and deserve every chance to succeed that is possible.
I also believe that without a structured environment for them to grow up in, and without proper discipline (where and when needed and applied) you are not raising any child in a manner which will benefit them later in life.
But people think that means I'm into abusing children...what a crock!
Discipline and proper punishment NOW (when they're young) very often negates the need for incarceration later in life.
When it comes to children, there has never been a sadistic bone in my body, but I don't feel the need to defend myself here, or anywhere else for that matter. I know who I am better than anyone else.
** Finally today, I saw a really good seasonal "special" last night right after watching Charlie Brown's Christmas.
And I have to say, it may become one of my yearly "must-sees"...it was that good.
It was called "Lanny & Wayne: Prep and Landing", done by Disney by the same people that must have done Toy Story and Polar Express.
It's the story of two elves who are part of of the "pre-arrival" team that Santa has to ensure his flight to the houses of children goes without any glitches.
The elves have all the "para-military" prerequisites to "infil" a house (candy cane grappling hooks), determine such things as milk & cookies ( chocolate chip-no nuts) , tree height (for presents) and secure the "LZ" for Santa and his sleigh (on the rooftop, complete with landing lights).
Of course, the progress is monitored at a central hub (north pole) that has all the trappings of the NORAD center, including an always-nervous, and hot chocolate gulping "air-boss".
I've got to see if anyone will be showing it later this season, or if they have the DVD of it...it IS worth it, and even this 57 year old "kid" found it a wonderful addition to the Christmas season.
Here's a preview of it...enjoy.
http://disney.go.com/partners/prepandlanding/
They even have some games for the kids (or YOU) to play with.
We do live in truly unique times...and that includes the GOOD unique, as well as the BAD unique.
It is the job of every one of us to remain steadfast in our beliefs, values and principles.
There will be those who would seek to distract us.
They will not succeed.
We can make every day a new day, and not a warmed-over version of the previous one..
We can...and we should.
Stay safe out there, America.