Monday Musings...
Welcome to APRIL, and the showers that come with it...or so they say.
Supposed to have a nice day in the Heartland, with a chance of showers later this evening.
But, we've plenty of things to attend to this spring morning, and with today's post packed tighter than Ron Jeremy's BVDs, we should get busy checking it all out. (but I'll pass on the BVDs thing)
Oh, and just so you know...we DID NOT hit that mega-lottery, so if you were expecting that huge gift from us...sorry, wasn't our fault.
*** First up a very good OP-ED in today's paper about how Al Sharpton (one of only several men in America that sets back the black race EVERY time he opens his mouth) is not exactly "helping" the whole Trayvon martin search for justice.
Here's the link to the original editorial from the Bloomberg Report:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-27/dear-al-sharpton-leave-trayvon-martin-alone.html
It's a decent read and and chronicles the gaffes perpetrated by Sharpton over the years, going way back to the 1987 Tawana Brawley incident (in and of itself quite a troubling story)...and yet people STILL buy into his rhetoric.
How soon we even forget the DUKE LACROSSE TEAM mishandling and "rush to judgment" led by Sharpton.
Now, I tend to embrace a few "lost causes" in my OWN right...like trying to get the FWPD to patrol MY area sufficiently to quell the ever-rising number of boomcars (which we'll discuss a little later here), and to shut down various houses where drugs play an important part of fostering a continuance of illicit activities, but at least in MY situation, the END RESULT is actually a BETTER neighborhood than when I started...IF those in City hall would heed my rallying cry and get off their asses and DO something.
*** Next, we have another very good article by Bob Aldridge, a local firearms instructor.
The article is about carrying a firearm in it's holster UNLESS and UNTIL you are presented with a clear and present danger.
Guns are not for "show and tell" he says...and he's correct.
Deaths from improper handling of weapons under such circumstances have resulted from such displays.
Your responsibility is NOT to have "public safety demonstrations" with your firearm...
I know that just having a HOLSTERED piece on your hip is often quite sufficient to dissuade some braggart, especially when you lean your hand upon the holster...and SMILE...a lot.
Word to the wise time here...and it works.
*** Next, we have a situation.that just SCREAMS "WTF???"
Are ICE CREAM TRUCKS too loud?
Does that repetitive melody of "Pop Goes the Weasel" (aside from conjuring up memories of grade school OR the Three Stooges) make you cringe in terror, or cause you to turn up YOUR TV or stereo in your house?
Apparently, some folks ARE bothered by this...and to some degree.
Here are some links you'll find very interesting:
http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/north/12004785305861/methuen-ice-cream-truck-driver-fined-for-loud-music/
(That was in Massachusetts back in 2011)
And this one:
http://www.kansas.com/2010/07/25/1418052/ice-cream-trucks-not-music-to.html
(That story was from back in 2010)
Now, you have to understand that (apparently) ICE CREAM TRUCKS are EXEMPT from noise regulations...
Yes Virginia, they can play "Turkey in the Straw" repeatedly at loud levels
And here's the proof:
http://heraldbanner.com/local/x1451000710/Ice-cream-trucks-exempt-from-noise-regulations
They just can't play the music TOO loud...
Wonder what constitutes "too" loud anyway?
Someone out there with a DECIBEL METER, checking things out?
Amazing that ice cream trucks get a pass...for music that doesn't have a THUMPING BASS while ALL these damn boomcars get ignored, isn't it?
Oh, wait...SOME cities actually DO cite noise violators, and some EVEN confiscate the VEHICLES...just not here in Fort Wayne (unless you're thumping in a NICE neighborhood or near a city official's house...THEN you get busted).
A marvelous DUPLICITY at work here, is it not?
*** And that brings us to the center of today's shrubbery maze.
Boomcars...I hate them...honestly.
Actually, I hate those that drive them, because of their blatant disregard and disrespect for OTHERS.
We ALL have our likes and dislikes, but when it comes to things we REALLY like, do most of us go and FORCE such things on others with no reason or excuse other than we CAN do it?
Certainly not, otherwise, I'd have a lot of people around here that were choked to death when I poured hot coffee down their throats as they walked my streets (because I LIKE it...they have to also, right?). We (meaning most of us) tend to be a lot more CIVIL in that regard...and admittedly so.
We were brought up with VALUES and PRINCIPLES...and BOUNDARIES.
We didn't bother anyone when we played outside...or we were called inside, PRONTO.
We just didn't scream our lungs out because we could...or run slipshod over everyone else's property becasue it was simply THERE.
That was THEIRS...and we had our OWN property to play on.
Same goes for music - to each...his (or her) own.
Now, I find it astounding that the ONLY music that exclusively is played at decibel levels rivalling jet aircraft ramping up for takeoff is (c) RAP music.
Well, there is some rock and roll, but none of the pure exclusivity that rap "enjoys" (and I do not).
In all my years, I have NEVER heard SAMMY DAVIS JR being played loud enough to shake my house.
Same goes for SARA EVANS...or FRANK SINATRA...or even the STAR WARS SOUNDTRACK or TED NUGENT, and Ted begs to be played loud. I know...I attended a sh*tload of his concerts - great performer with a lot of class.
So WHY this infringement upon OUR ears and our lives (and rights), with seemingly NO intervention BY the local constabulary, hmm?
They can cite an ICE CREAM man in Boston, but they can't (or won't) ticket the thousands of boomcar violations here in Fort Wayne?
Yep...DUPLICITY at it's FINEST, folks.
Wonder how those loudass drivers would take to MY "hobby" of PAINT BALLING their obnoxious vehicles...and how long that would last before *I* was arrested for expressing MY self while "having fun" on my OWN property?
*** Lastly today, got to watch a lot (read marathon) of Three Stooges features yesterday on our "Antenna TV" station, along with some classic BENNY HILL later on...not a bad April Fool's Day.
I did have a "joke" of sorts indirectly played upon me...courtesy of all those local boomers driving past the house.
When I went outside to turn on the garage lights, one of the floods didn't go on. I figured it was blown out, as they tend to do over time...
So, out I go with ladder in one hand, replacement bulb in the other.
UP the ladder I go, and when I went to remove the bulb, I rotated it slightly the wrong way (tighten), and lo and behold, the light CAME BACK ON...!
Apparently, the bulb was VIBRATED loose enough to break the contact and keep it from going on...imagine that.
Nah, those boomcars don't bother anyone...just cultural "expression"...MY ASS!
It makes me wonder if the CITY would back up their claims to such nonsense when I send them a bill for the slight cracks that are appearing in our plaster walls INSIDE out house from all that (non-existent, yet cultural) vibratory expression.
I don't plan to hold MY breath waiting...
But I DO Plan on continuing my fight (read open war) against these loudasses, because people have a right to that "quiet-repose" our mayor is SO keen on reminding us that we HAVE...or in our case, have NOT.
Have yourselves a great (and hopefully noise-free) week.
Remember it is HOLY WEEK, not that those boomcars will take kindly to THAT one.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.