Weekend Roundup...

I gave Sgt. Joe Friday the rest of the year off...he deserves it.
But he will return next year...have no doubts.
Our weather today (and most of the weekend) will be...COLD.
If temps break freezing, I'd be amazed.
The overnight lows will bottom out in the teens, so keep those long-johns (or your significant other) nearby.
And always have the hot cocoa on at the ready.
Meanwhile, back at the fireplace...
*** A great warrior, American patriot and a great man has passed on.

General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, also known as "The Bear" and "Stormin' Norman" died yesterday in Tampa, FL, after complications from pneumonia.
He was 78.
Naturally, we have a WIKI on him, as I featured him in my Military Quote of the Week more than once:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Schwarzkopf,_Jr.

This is definitely worth a read...

An Associated Press article in today's local paper (Journal Gazette) had his birthday as August 24th, but every other reference has it as August 22nd!

(as well it should - that's also MY birthday, and I better know who ELSE was born on that day, right?)

Kinda weird to lose someone who was also born on "your day", I can tell you.

Like losing a relative of sorts (again).
I remember my co workers would cheer him on during the first Gulf War...a brilliant strategist, and also a member of MENSA.
(well, that explains something about me...I suppose...LOL)

And the General graced the cover of TIME magazine TWICE...two issues that WOULD be worth reading, as opposed to those with Obama on the cover (or Stalin).

Not too bad for someone born in Trenton, NJ.

Schwarzkopf once stated about Sen. John Kerry:
"Senator Kerry has a record of weakness that gives me no confidence in his ability to fight and win the War on Terror."
(But now, Kerry is in line to become Secretary of State...)
See, you have to really PAY ATTENTION to those that not only KNOW history, but have become PART OF IT...such as the General.
I would have to consider him close to being the "Patton" of OUR time.
He came, he saw, and he then kicked some ass.

He retired from active service back in 1991, and penned his autobiography entitled: It Doesn't Take A Hero, which was published the following year.
Godspeed, general...heaven just got themselves another great leader.
*** Here's a big surprise for those living in or around Ft. Wayne...BURGLARIES are on the rise.

And here's the link to the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20121228/LOCAL07/312289981
Geez, tell me something I DON'T know, Rusty.
I get to see men in P.O.S. pickups driving through my area DAILY with ALL sorts of "stuff" in the beds...probably recently freed from someone else's house, I'd bet. And your department never seems to get these people...why IS that, hmm?
These drivers canvass the alleys regularly, and it wasn't that long ago that we were advised to NOT keep grills out back for fear of someone liberating them from our property.
Well, I keep our patio furniture on our patio, and other than levitating it all up and out of the back, no one would be able to wrest the items from our patio (I tie them together nicely to secure them).

Copper theft seems to be the big ticket item, and these scrappers aren't careful at all. That's why we often hear of houses EXPLODING...the wires and pipes were ripped out and gas leaks into the dwelling until...BOOM!
How good a job is being done catching that A/C condenser unit thief from that apartment complex, hmm?
Anyone tracking ALL the metals that go into the recycle sites?
And if not...WHY NOT?
Oh wait...the officers are too busy chasing the radio....sorry, my mistake.
Too busy answering ALL those butt-dials of cell phones calling 911...got it.
Maybe...if the department would ALSO cruise areas these pickup drivers frequent, it might accidentally STUMBLE onto a scrapper...or SEVEN...you don't know until you TRY, right, Rusty?
*** Been a good solid TWO days and not one city snow plow has rumbled along our streets.

You can see a NICE glaze instead of cleared asphalt or concrete...helluva job, people...NOT!
Well, at least the plethora of boomcars has been diminished nicely...maybe we need MORE snow. Then I could get something I used to call a good night's sleep...or peace and quiet.
I also know that not ONE citation will be coming from all the sidewalks that have NOT been cleared, either.
Every year I go over this, and every year, the same sh* happens...nothing.

City ordinance clearly states that sidewalks should be cleared by 0900 hrs. (or after the snow abates)
I think the only reason I still bother, is because I like to live in a CIVILIZED WORLD...with NORMAL PEOPLE...not that I can see or find such things where we live these days (except under OUR roof).
Still, everyone NEEDS to be held accountable to whatever laws are put forth. THAT is fair...and equal...for ALL people.
*** Lastly today, we all need not have to be a Norman Schwarzkopf to become a great person.

His greatness came in his ability to command vast forces, deploy them to the best advantage, and then pursue the enemy until victory was achieved.
Yeah, not too many of US can do such noble and historical things.
But, we CAN do the things that produce a level of "greatness" in our OWN lives, or the lives of our families.
Just being an honest and good person is a great start.
Aspiring to become better today then you were yesterday is another way.
Allowing yourself to become challenged and thereby able to understand more than school could ever teach you is yet another.
There are a myriad of ways YOU can become great, even if it's just in your own house.

History measure greatness one way, while the common man (or woman) measures it in another.

I had GREAT parents, and some really GREAT friends, but none of them will ever achieve historical "greatness".

I enjoy great music and might read a great book...it's ALL relativistic in nature.
And sometimes, just being called a good person in life makes one feel great.
Let me leave you today with a marvelous quote from the late general:
"The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it."
If we only had a dime for every time that applied to us all....

Do have yourselves a fantastic weekend.

Be well, make a difference to someone today, and as always...

Stay SAFE out there, America.