Friday Follies...

We made it...to another wonderful weekend.
And to start it off, we have another great day, weather-wise. The highs in the low 80s, lots of sun, and low humidity.
Now that's not bad in anyone's book, is it?
So, without any further ado, let's crank it up and see what's shaking...
*** First off the line today is this whole Zimmerman trial. I've tried to avoid it, but it's all over the news, and I have to say, as one who prefers FACTS in any case, rather than conjecture, this trial has been nothing short of a kangaroo court.

Even before the trial began, we had a police chief FIRED because he didn't "just arrest" Zimmerman soon enough (before the facts came out), and we had Revs Jackson and Sharpton wanting THEIR pound of flesh...making it racially-motivated...again, without knowing the FACTS as they were presented.
Finally, we hear about (certain) people wanting to go out and "shoot whitey" if Zimmerman gets off...obviously, part of the LOW-INFORMATION Darwinian castoffs.

And to make bad matters worse in the pursuit of TRUE JUSTICE, the JUDGE in this case has been rude, and rather HOSTILE towards the defense. I've seen more than a few cases, and this one takes the cake in that regard. I'd call to have her removed from the case for acting in such a prejudicial manner.
And the FL police down there are advising people to use their VOICE and not their FISTS when it comes to any gatherings or "rallys" after the case ends in a verdict OTHER than what some people demand.
Now, I don't believe we'll see the wholesale rioting that came in the aftermath of the Rodney King case, but someone really wants to light the fuse to this potential powder-keg...and that can't be good.
You just can't predict WHAT will happen with some people...others are all TOO predictable.
Moving on...
*** As a public service, I like to showcase those people out there that take the time to send their thoughts to the opinion page of the newspapers.
Today, there was a really GOOD letter to the editor regarding "personal" fireworks.
And here's the link to the page:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130712/EDIT09/307129997/1021/EDIT
God BLESS you, Kathi Weiss...you truly "get it"!
-- Also in the OP-ED section, there seems to be a rather large consensus of folks that think that chunk of "artwork" that was stuck by a drunk last month needs to be removed.
But there is "always one" that thinks the opposite.

Looks the same AFTER it was hit.

Need proof? Here it is:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130712/EDIT05/307129991/1021/EDIT
The story labels the piece "reviled"...now, to me, that's a lot closer to home, and I was an art MAJOR in high school.
Maybe this art teacher would prefer the artwork on HIS front lawn???
*** This just in...Venezuelan dictaor Hugo Chavez is STILL dead...!
(made 'ya smile)
*** By now, most of you should know I am a comic book fan, or rather a fan of the people that MADE them, and this refers to times past, like what is referred to as "The Silver Age". 
There were some fantastic artists and writers out there that allowed us young boys to believe in extraordinary people doing even MORE extraordinary things...all meant to "save the world", or at least America.
I've been a fan of IRON MAN since the mid-60s, and there were few artists back then who could capture this superhero properly.
One of them was the late Gene Colan.
He was, and probably always will be MY personal favorite.
When the first movie came out, I was blown away, by the modern take on the armor...I think the production designers did a great job of bringing the Golden Avenger to life in the most unique way.
And I have acquired some of the action figures with one of them being a "classic" version FROM my days of youth...not bad at all.
So, you can imagine my joy when I came across THIS 18x24 tin sign, which I now own...at our local MENARDS of all places.
Yep, that's Gene's work from the late 60s in all it's glory.
I cannot help but think BACK to those days of waiting in the drug store with my pals...waiting for the delivery of that stack of magazines and comics, and then checking the list on top that showed us WHAT the store received...and then seeing that ONE comic we were waiting for, because LAST MONTH had a damn "cliffhanger" ending.
A month seemed forever back then, and that 12 cents was stashed away solely for the purpose of purchasing THAT comic when it arrived.
Made doing the chores worthwhile.
Amazing the things you really miss...when you set your mind to it, eh?
*** Lastly today, there is a certain level of contentment one can derive from looking back to your past, whether it's to remember family trips to "nowhere" on Sunday afternoons, that one comic you waited for, or just hanging with your friends.
And "hanging out" in OUR day was a far cry from what goes on today, that's for sure.
We were busy playing with army men, or playing AS army men, digging out the cap guns and playing "pretend" as it was called, which served a few purposes.

When's Bobby coming out?

It was EXERCISE, running all over, and yet never onto people's lawns, flowers, or anything that did not belong to us. No climbing on cars, streetlights, or railings, either. We were told where we could go and where we could NOT go, what time to be HOME, and God help us if we strayed from such demands put upon us by our parents...and yet we ALL survived.
Sassing back wan't an option, as was disregarding your parents wishes.
They were God's right hand in many cases, and they would easily PROVE it to you.
Yet, none of us felt as though we were treated unfairly, unless we misbehaved.
Today, not only are too many kids getting into the WRONG stuff, but they're brought up by "parents" who are ALSO getting into (or have gotten into) the wrong stuff.
A child's upbringing should never include having the police come by to arrest your parent.
Neither should a child be abused by a parent (or whoever is watching them) on drugs, drunk all the time, or too damn lazy to ACT like the parent they have become .
Learn to sleep in the bed you make...it's that simple.

THERE is where people fail the kids in America.
And that leads to the kids failing themselves later on.
As I said yesterday, we're BETTER than that, or least we SHOULD be...or TRY to be.
Do have yourselves a great weekend.
The Fort Wayne THREE RIVERS FESTIVAL begins today (and our Three Ghetto Festival runs ALL YEAR down there), so get out and enjoy yourselves.

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