Summer's last Hurrah...

It's going to feel like that today, if the weather has anything to do with it.
After that we're due for a milder end of week, with temps into the upper 70s only (...sweet).
The Hooiserland weather TODAY will find us closer to a repeat of yesterday, but with temps reaching into the upper 80s, and a fair amount of humidity, but I'm not hearing much about any rain in the immediate picture, so it won't feel like the sub-tropics.
But, it will be warmer outside...that's a fact.
And, in case you were wondering (and who isn't?) today is also .
NATIONAL WILDLIFE DAY...!
That does not mean go out and hug a rabid raccoon, however.

We only hug our "dinner".

Nor does it mean I have to celebrate or otherwise acknowledge ANY of my "neighbors"...LOL.
(they're all wild enough as it is without any encouragement)
So, with that behind us, let's open our daily Pandora's Box and see what stares back at us...
*** First out of the outhouse is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles.".

An original "selfie"

This is attributed to one William Hazlitt (who?), an English writer (10 April 1778 - 18 September 1830), remembered for his humanistic essays and literary criticism.
He was also considered the greatest art critic of his time.
Included in his resume` is drama critic, social commentator, and philosopher.
I guess one might say he was a keen observer of humanity.
Here is his WIKI:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hazlitt
While now considered one of the great critics and essayists of the English language and placed in the company of Samuel Johnson and George Orwell, most of his works are little read and out of print.
The WIKI is rather extensive, so I will leave it up to you to find out more about a man who studied and rubbed elbows with many other people whose names you will immediate know. BTW, he was also an accomplished painter (when did he have the time?).
In 2012, Random House of Canada founded an online magazine called HAZLITT, named after the writer, whom they characterize as "The original blogger".
Moving on...
*** We had a DOUBLE shooting in our city near the time schools were letting out...how about that.

Here's the story link:
http://wane.com/2014/09/03/police-on-the-scene-of-a-shooting-near-downtown/
This happened yesterday around 1600 hrs in the 1400 block of E. Lewis St. (closer to downtown these days).

Police found one person suffering gunshot wounds - a woman shot in the torso, and a man showe up at hospital shortly afterward and was shot in the leg.
She's was in serious condition, while he was in good condition.

No suspect, no motive, and not much else to tell about this...mum's the word these days, hmm?
But it has been released that the shooter was a BLACK guy (figured as much from looking at the neighborhood - and the woman shot was waiting for the school bus...whatta world).
*** Police (again) need "OUR" help looking for a perp that stole some credit cards from a woman's car in the parking lot at CORK N CLEAVER (nice eatery) and went on a shopping spree..way back on JUNE 17...why take SO damn long to bring this to the public's attention?
Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140904/LOCAL07/309039929/1043/LOCAL07
I did my best to blow up the picture and enhance it, but I'm not exactly the FBI, so there 'ya are.

(still, not that bad)
The suspect (and a female accomplice) drive away in what is believed to be a Yukon SUV (nice ride...crime must pay for them.
*** This is one those "smiling Bobby G." stories, and you'll know why when you read the link HERE:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20140904/NEWS03/309049984/0/SEARCH

Now, ain't that a kick in the head....nostalgia's a GOOD thing after all.
What am I always saying about those "good old days", hmm?

Nice road to "get lost" on...

It appears that thinking of such times IS a good thing...for all of us...whatta freaking epiphany!
Maybe if we went one step further, and hearkened BACK to such times, we might solve a lot of problems that society suffers from today.

Music time-machine

And yes, that would certainly include a SMALLER government with a lot LESS personal intrusion in our lives.
The story is a very decent read, even if the researchers worked solely with music, but, it's a good place to start.
Chris Martin's TIME MACHINE is a prime example of how GOOD music USED to be, and how we always seem to be pulled back to those days when it was new and refreshing to hear on the radio.
The songs are no longer new, but they STILL remain refreshing when contrasted to what passes for music these days (original soundtrack music not included...there are STILL some great composers out there today).
Guess what's old is always new again...to most people...when they care to stop and take note.
*** Last back to the jukebox today...I can find nothing wrong with embracing much of what we once enjoyed both as a nation and as a people in times past. Those were BETTER times...there I said it (again).
Maybe it wasn't anything close to a "golden age" of (modern) mankind, but it has to be close to a SILVER age.Think about it...
People were a LOT more civil in general and to one another, kids were a LOT more obedient AND respectful to damn near everyone, schools taught subject MATTER and not specified agendas, politicians were a lot LESS corrupt and interested more in their constituents, instead of just being re-elected and feathering their own nests.

Waxing nostalgic for nicer times

We had a military power that was second to none and not afraid to employ it were needed.
We had lower prices for everything, and everything in greater abundance.
People were a lot more SELF-reliant, and SELF-sufficient, as opposed to being a "ward of the state".
Welfare was unheard of, and job-wanted ads made up the THICKEST section of our newspapers.
All of this, and so much more were things we remember with fondness...and why is that?

Bet you do too.

Because they were GOOD for us, and we didn't mind putting in the time needed to get to that enjoyment, rather that whiling away our lives on some couch waiting for that "gub'ment" check to arrive.
We did for ourselves...and our families...and by God, that worked.
Maybe it's time to come BACK to where we once belonged...a long time ago, the Beatles told us to "...get back to where you once belonged".
Perhaps there is more truth in those lyrics that we used to think, hmm?

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