Friday Follies...

(( Prologue - Since BLOGGER has decided to place it's HEAD UP IT'S ASS today, I cannot post ANY pictures...dunno why. Please bear with me until they solve their cranial-rectal inversion...thank you.))

(( Update - 0950 Hr: I CAN add pictures if I use HTML...one at a time, and THEN update and modify picture size and location...helluva way to do things, but it's better than NOTHING, so thank you in advance for your patience.))

We now return you to your regularly-scheduled blog post:

Here we are...the FIRST weekend of the new year, and that means all those taxpayer-sponsored EBT cards have been "recharged", so expect longer lines at checkouts, as well as lots of uneducated people asking dumb questions of the cashiers and trying to get even more stuff for "nuffin".

The weather today will be seasonal, with temps topping out near (but neither at nor above) the freezing mark, with some sun and some clouds.

So get comfy, relax and we'll see what's been going on since last we met here.

*** First out of the gate today, some "splainin" by our chief of police over WHY only THREE homicides were solved last year (out of THIRTY).

Oh, and by the way, the CRIMESTOPPERS "commercial" was looking for tips regarding JOSHUA FRISBY'S HOMICIDE...imagine that!

Now, if I figure the math right (which I always do), we can ADD Frisby's death to the OTHER THIRTY we already had, so in FACT, we REALLY had THIRTY-ONE homicides last year...but no one else is saying that...maybe THEY need some remedial math courses?

Anywho, back to Rusty...

Here's the lowdown (with video from WANE):

http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/local/fort-wayne-police-chief-explains-why-only-3-of-22-homicides-were-solved-last-year-mre

My FIRST contention with the story is that we already KNOW there were THIRTY homicides...it was listed in the Journal-gazette, for God's sake.

And, if we ADD Josh Frisby's death, it becomes THIRTY ONE...how simple is THAT?

But where does anyone come up with TWENTY-TWO, anyway?

Talk about "fuzzy math"...

The THREE that were solved were TWO listed as police-action shootings (by an officer) and one other a homicide-suicide...THERE is/are your "three".

So, that leaves TWENTY-SEVEN unaccounted for (or is that 28?) right?

And two DOZEN is 24...last time I checked, unless it's two BAKER'S dozen, which would be 26.

See...you HAVE to follow up on this sh*t...otherwise you wind up believing incorrect "facts".

The TWO (least they got THAT number right) major problems with solving these homicides are:

1) WITNESSES...as in they dummy up and "dinsee nuffin"...typical.

2) EVIDENCE PROCESSING...which is sent elsewhere in the state to ISP (state police) locations and can cost SIX months of lost time.

York also goes on to say that MANY of the homicides were either DRUG or GANG related...

Really?

REALLY???

I thought only a COUPLE of the deaths were GANG-related...changing the story (again), huh?

I've been saying you have a drug AND gang problem down here for...let's see...EVER!

Not seeing it addressed all that much. We still have the movers and shakers.

Much as I hate to say it, if it wasn't for FEDERAL agencies aiding in some (read most) of these cases, the overall tally would be lower still.

York has to REALLY start active patrolling in hot spots...keep these perps off their guard...let THEM know that the POLICE are around 24/7/365...

Time for a (here I go again for the umpteenth time)...PROACTIVE approach instead of a REACTIVE one.

Make penalties for the smaller sh*t HIGHER, so it doesn't escalate to the BIG sh*t...like HOMICIDES.

It's either THAT...or watch this city become a mini- Detroit...right under your primate noses.

*** Next up, a little more info on Mr. "ORANGE JULIUS" (nice jumpsuit) aka the USPS robber.

Here's the story:

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130104/LOCAL03/301049937/0/SEARCH

Seems that the perp who was caught, left a "calling card"...actually, he left the whole damn PHONE behind...LOL.

WHATTA DUMBASS F$CKTARD!

Guess those saggy-baggy drawers ARE good for something...like dumping your pocket contents at a crime scene when hopping counters.

(that's when you're NOT waddling down the streets like a f$cking drunken PENGUIN)

Investigators traced the dropped phone back to Lawson, through fingerprints and friend "contacts".

Lawson faces one count of attempting to rob a person having custody of any mail matter, money, or property of the UNITED STATES.

Good luck trying to duck THIS one, sh*t for brains!

*** And last up today....a rare visit from the avian world...

Wednesday afternoon, we were graced by the presence of something we don't see all that often, and when we do, we need binoculars to view it properly, as they tend to never get close to the ground, let alone on our patio furniture.

A COOPER'S HAWK paid us a nice visit for the better part of 15 minutes...it was AWESOME!

Naturally, we had to snap any pictures from INSIDE the house, so as not to scare him off.

Otherwise known as a "chicken hawk", this is one beautiful bird...must have stood about 18-20 inches tall with about a 3 ft. wingspread.

No wonder the other birds, squirrels and rabbits were nowhere to be found.
The bird was a male (we have a huge book on birds that Wifey's Dad left us), and very well-marked.
He had these huge golden eyes that didn't seem to miss a move anywhere.
Now, I'm not a big one for superstition, but I DO believe in a higher power...and that we are being watched over.
I also believe in appreciating and respecting the EARTH and it's CREATURES (except when ants, roaches or spiders come into the house...a man's gotta have his limits...and I will NEVER 'hug a tree"...just so's you know...lol), so perhaps I share some sort of kinship with Native Americans.
There are some interesting beliefs when it comes to Indians and the hawk.
I gleaned the following from the several Internet sources:
(( The hawk - as totem animal - which means that you are connected in some way....
This means that you either see hawks in your dreams, or see the hawk, often, in your waking state, and you can even have an affinity for the hawk and not know why, feeling in some way a part of or connected on some level, when you think about or gaze upon the hawk.
The hawk itself, is a sign of the great mystery, they carry with them signs and wonders from the world beyond. It is also said that they fly directly, back to the land of the grandfathers, in some Indian lore.
Hawks are helpers, helping us to understand our dreams, don't be surprised if they appear in our dream state, often, bringing messages, that increase our psychic awareness and spirituality. The hawk is showing up to make sure that you proceed with your journey on this earth plane, within the bounds of spiritual balance..))

Now, although I can predict with accuracy the number of homicides in the city most years, and am rarely wrong on other criminal aspects around here...doesn't make me psychic in any way.
But I was told once by someone who knew a Miami Shaman that it's a sign that someone is watching over you...like stopping by to say "hi".
And far be it for me to question a Shaman.
In addition, the lore of the hawk continues:
(( Hawk’s Message: The hawk is a messenger of insight, adaptability and openness, it is also about visionary power and guardianship. Hawk’s meaning teaches us to be observant and to pay attention to what we may overlook. This could mean a talent we don’t use, a blessing for which we haven’t expressed gratitude, or a message from the universe.
The hawk has keen eyesight, it is about opening our eyes and seeing that which is there to guide us. Hawk awakens vision and inspires us to a creative life purpose. Look to the world around you for there are symbols buried in everything.))
Now THAT I can get on board with...and it seems I speak to such things in the epilogues of my posts...all about bettering oneself, and being grateful in life.
I can't find a flaw in any of that.

I've always been one of those God-fearing people that NEVER discounts the METHODS that God can (and often will) use to convey HIS thoughts to every one of us.
It's the whole "...entertaining angels unaware." thing to me.
Anyway, it was a very uplifting experience to have this feathered visitor spend a few minutes at our humble "Fortress", deep down in the crotch of this city.
And if I came away with anything from the event, it was a sense of hope...that things work out through patience and persistence.
-- Now, if only FRONTIER (FIOS) CABLE company would quit messing around with our channels and turn (back) on the ones were paying for (their screwup - not ours)...so we can watch them.
(that's another story for another day, my friends)
DO have yourselves a great weekend.

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

Stay SAFE out there, America.