Baby, It's COLD Outside...

..."Heeeerrrrre's Johnny...!"

And never truer words were spoken about a day such as this.
So, HOW cold is it REALLY?
Well, I"d consider this a "SHINING" kind of cold...as in colder than a witch's teat in a brass brassiere kinda cold.
We're staring at a relative temp of...ZE-RO, with a combined wind chil making it feel like MINUS FIFTEEN.
But, never fear, the high (?) today will reach a "balmy" SEVENTEEN DEGREES...and that's about it.
Stay inside if you can, and if you positively have to venture outside, make your exposure as LIMITED as you can, because we are looking at the potential for (yes, it's true) FROSTBITE.
And DO dress accordingly, protecting your extremities and face
It's time to put on the long underwear...UNDER the OTHER long underwear...lol.
In the meantime, let's heat up that morning beverage and see how the rest of the world is doing, shall we?
*** First out of the arctic today is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"The secret of freedom lies in the education of the people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant."

This was spoken by none other than Maximillien de Robespierre -  (6 May 1758 - 28 July 1794). and was considered one of the MOST influential persons of the French Revolution.
And HERE is his WIKI:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilien_de_Robespierre
This is a pretty decent read.
Interestingly enough, he was a member of the Committee of Public Safety (is that like a DIRECTOR of Public Safety, Bob?) and was an important person during the "Reign of terror", which curiously ended a few months after his arrest and execution.
In school, he embraced the idea of the Roman Republic and the rhetoric of Cicero, Cato, and other classical figures.
He was also exposed to and adopted much of the philosophical principles of John Rousseau.
During his early days in politics, Max also was a frequent speaker at the Constituent Assembly, voicing many ideas for the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Constitutional Provisions, which led to him becoming a member of the Jacobin Club, which increasingly admitted member of the Parisian bourgeoisie.

They COULD have just cribbed from OUR Constitution...

When faced with the prospect of France waging war with Austria, Max believed the internal stability of France was more important, and countered  by saying: "A revolutionary war must be waged to free subjects and slaves from unjust tyranny, not for the traditional reasons of defending dynasties and expanding frontiers...", and that such a war would favor those forces of counter-revolution.
France went to war with Austria anyway, and Robespierre took to reducing the influence of the officer class, while arguing for the common soldiers.
France suffered some disastrous defeats and numerous defections early in the war, and Max feared the possibility of a coup d'etat, led by the Marquis de Lafayette (yes, the same one who helped us in OUR revolution).

Cake? What cake?

Late in 1792, there was a declaration of a French Republic, and that left Old King Louis XVI with a nasty fate.
It was Robespierre that argued that even since Louis was dethroned, he could still become a threat to liberty and national peace.
So, the death penalty was invoked due to documents that admitted to Louis's conspiracy and attacks on public safety.
He was executed on 21 January, 1793 by guillotine at the Place de la Concorde, called the place de la revolution (then).
This was the beginning of a protracted civil war.
Robespierre continued his oratory, and had the ability to change the minds of his audience by his speeches.
He believed that terror was virtuous, and in that belief, was prepared to die for the revolution.
He also believed that terror was only justice prompt, severe and inflexible, seeing no room for mercy.
Max wasn't limited to speaking out for the revolution...he was strongly opposed to the Pope, the Catholic church and it's power, and especially opposed to the church's celibacy policies.
Having denounced the excesses of "dechristianization", Robespierre sought to instill a spiritual resurgence for his nation, based on DEIST beliefs.

Off with his head...done deal.

This was "the cult of the supreme being", an official religion.
In 1794, there was an attempt on his life by a woman with two knives.and this changed the laws regarding execution of SUSPECTED people.
Late July of the same year, a deputy called for his arrest, which left Max at a loss for words (for once).
As the Constituent Convention broke down, Robespierre was alleged to have tried to shoot himself, but instead had his arm shattered by a bullet.
Max was taken to a room at the convention to await his execution, and on the following day, 28 july 1794, he was guillotined without a trial.
His own brother and other followers were also summarily executed.
To this day, Robespierre continues to fascinate people around the world with his bio, and I have to admit I'm one of them
Sliding onward...
*** Yes, even in THIS weather, crime never takes a holiday (sure as hell wish it would for a change).
And here's the proof:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20131212/LOCAL07/312129962/1002/LOCAL

Yepper, TWO people charged with theft and misuse of credit cards (guess the EBTs aren't ENOUGH?)
This is what happens when some SE side thug asks to use your phone, then pulls out a gun and makes off with your purse, ladies.
And even if you report this to police and call your credit card companies to deactivate the cards, they can STILL be used as this woman's were...FIVE TIMES.
The ghettohood thieves move THAT fast...like our Whiner-in-Chief, Obummer, they can sure spend OTHER PEOPLES' money faster  than you can shake a stick at.
This less-than-dynamic duo were found to have made a purchase at AJ's Locker Room at Southgate Plaza, in the 100 block of E. Pettit Ave, and that the card was BEING USED at the Radio Shack nearby in the same plaza.

Price and Harris

THAT is where the FWPD did a "cuff 'n stuff" on 20-year old Dominic Price of the 5900 block of Waycross Drive, and 20-year old De'Vana Harris, of the 5500 block of Buell Drive. Young thugs...sure ain't no Bonnie and Clyde, were they?
When police were permitted to search the vehicle of this pair, they found merchandise bought with the stolen cards, AND a Glock 17, which appeared to be damaged (???).

Now how the HELL do you damage a damn Glock, anyway, other than smacking the crap out of it with a 20 lb sledgehammer?
You can DRIVE over the damn things, and they still go "bang" when you squeeze the trigger.
Maybe it wasn't a REAL Glock, but a look-alike airsoft pistol?
I can't say, but I would love to see the "firearm" myself...just out of curiosity.
Anyway, the GOOD news is that they get some EARLY Christmas gifts from the city of Fort Wayne...a POLICE RECORD and a COURT DATE...!
God, I LOVE Happy Endings.
*** And then there was this story about another armed robbery
http://www.wane.com/news/crime/broadway-grill-robbed-at-gunpoint

"Did they take any NEWPORTS?"

This took place around 0100 hrs this morning at Dan's Broadway Grill, located at 1420 Broadway.
A man entered the bar, showed a gun and demanded money (which he got, as they always seem to).
When police arrived (after the fact, as THEY always seem to) they canvassed the area with a K-9 unit, but found no track to follow.
So, no suspect, no description, and no cash in the till...welcome to the SW side of town, where crime is learning to live.
*** Lastly today...I've been reading the daily SPOT-CRIME emails seeing WHERE the crime is lurking with 3 miles of our "Fortress of Reason", and you can almost PREDICT where such sh*t will occur.
It's like watching a person's chest rise and fall with every breath...one day the crimes expand OUTWARD, and the next, they are more concentrated, happening closer to our place.

"Dem perps SHO been bizzy"

And although we don't "personally" hear any gunfire (thank God for that much), there ARE more than a few reports of shots fired every single day.
But we don't hear about all THOSE in the media...or see results of an arrest that manages to NET some firearms used in the commission of these numerous police calls.
Mark my words, with the holidays FAST approaching, it will become a time for even MORE crime around town, and YOU, as a concerned citizen need to be aware of what goes on around you.
Don't LOOK like a victim is probably the easiest thing to do when preventing crime, and never set yourself up TO be a victim.
Lock your vehicle when in parking lots, take your keys WITH you (you'd be amazed how many people lock the keys IN the damn vehicle), walk with confidence, and ladies, hang ON to that purse...if possible, sling it over your shoulder UNDER your coat.
We'll get more into such things tomorrow, because it WILL be another Friday the 13th, and we need all the luck we can muster to go along with all that experience we've acquired.

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