Tuesday Tidbits...

Not trying to rush things here...

Amazing that I did not hear the idiot that woke me up yesterday around 4AM...guess the stupid CAN be taught. (as long as you "light them up" once in a while.)
Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends (there's a song in there, someplace), and we've got a LOT of ground to cover, so let's have at it.
Our Hoosierland weather will see a cooler day today, with temps barely getting to 70 degrees. And yes, that is cloud cover you're seeing, don't expect the sun to be shining near as much as it was yesterday. Toss in some breezes, too and a lot less humidity.
Now, let us all get a glass or cup of our morning drink, because blogs (and reading them) are thirsty work...
*** First out of the tree house is our "What the hell happens today,Bob?" feature:
August 25 -
---Today is NATIONAL KISS AND MAKE UP DAY

(which would seem to apply only if you had a recent tiff with a significant other?)
---It's also NATIONAL WHISKEY SOUR DAY

( Now I can do that, just not for breakfast - great source of vitamin C)
---And, it's NATIONAL BANANA SPLIT DAY.

(I'm sure they mean the ice cream treat and NOT the old TV show)

La la laaa, la la la laaa (sing along)

Yeah, you remember THOSE banana splits, right?
---It's also NATIONAL SECONDHAND WARDROBE DAY.

Second hand Rose with her second hand clothes.

(makes sense, considering we just had a national THRIFT SHOP DAY - time to wear what you bought)
*** Next up, as is usual for Tuesday, we have the police blotter reports for all the calls the media SHOULD be letting you know about...and don't.

SHOTS FIRED and ARMED ROBBERY CALLS - 8/17 -8/23
===========================================
AUG 17 -
15F107909 04:41:34 113 SHOTS FIRED 2400 WEBSTER ST
15F108083 14:23:05 53 ARMED ROB 100 BRANNING AVE E
AUG 18 - 
15F108835 23:42:43 113 SHOTS FIRED 5800 CALHOUN ST S
((no armed robberies))
AUG 19 -
((activity)) Whaa??? Are you f$cking KIDDING ME???
AUG 20 - 
15F109358 02:47:48 113 SHOTS FIRED 8300 LAKESIDE CT
15F109731 20:02:42 113 SHOTS FIRED 2200 COOK RD W & LEWIS RD
((no armed robberies))
AUG 21 -
15F110337 22:40:43 113 SHOTS FIRED 2700 BELLE VISTA BLVD
15F110350 23:06:28 113 SHOTS FIRED 3800 SMITH ST & RUDISILL BLVD E
15F110260 20:18:14 58 SHOOTING 4000 BOWSER AVE & BAXTER ST
AUG 22 -  (they were all celebrating my birthday...ROFLMAO)
15F110393 00:40:31 113 SHOTS FIRED 600 HUFFMAN ST & KELLY DR
15F110828 22:00:59 113 SHOTS FIRED 3500 GAYWOOD DR
15F110840 22:13:57 113 SHOTS FIRED 900 HAMILTON AVE
15F110846 22:23:34 113 SHOTS FIRED 2400 NUTTMAN AVE & MEDA PASS
15F110847 22:24:40 113 SHOTS FIRED 3500 PORTAGE BLVD
15F110849 22:30:03 113 SHOTS FIRED 900 HAMILTON AVE
15F110853 22:33:11 113 SHOTS FIRED 1800 MCKINNIE AVE & ANTHONY BLVD S
15F110870 22:58:46 113 SHOTS FIRED 300 WILLIAMS ST W & HOAGLAND AVE
15F110882 23:15:10 113 SHOTS FIRED 400 BUCHANAN ST
AUG 23 -
15F111006 04:27:29 113 SHOTS FIRED 3500 SOUTHWAYNE AVE
15F111011 05:16:17 113 SHOTS FIRED 300 TABER ST W
15F111416 23:46:11 113 SHOTS FIRED 1700 HILLSIDE AVE
15F111355 20:16:57 53 ARMED ROB 3100 STATE BLVD E
================================
Oh, yes, there are STILL some assholes with fireworks, but they seem to be running out (finally):

=========FIREWORKS CALLS - 8/17 - 8/23=======
AUG 17 -
none
AUG 18 -
none
AUG 19 -
none
AUG 20 -
15F109819 22:56:10 44FW 2100 EDEN ST
AUG 21 -
15F110336 22:19:43 44FW 1500 LUDWIG PARK DR
AUG 22 - (Yeah, it;s a birthday thing...HA!)
15F110681 17:08:38 44FW 6600 MAYWOOD CIR
15F110784 20:32:15 44FW 5700 SMITH ST & PAULDING RD E
15F110829 21:21:38 44FW 4100 PAUL SHAFFER DR & COLISEUM BL
15F110868 22:47:39 44FW 200 ESSEX LN W
AUG 23 -
none
============================
*** Next up, the update on the perps that TRIED to rob that Dollar General on State Blvd.
Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/Suspect-shot-by-police-had-resisted-in-past-8412482

Gant and Johnson - BUSTED|!!!

Anthony Gant, 43,of 1733 Hobson rd (apt 2) is the robber who caught that bullet the FWPD officer tossed Sunday night.
He remains in hospital in critical condition (nice shooting)
The other one, Christopher D. Johnson, 31, of 3615 Stafford Drive, was taken into custody a short distance away after a brief foot chase.
I guess that Black CRIME Matters for a change.
Gant and Johnson were known to be "resisters".
Both of them are no strangers to the penal system, and have multiple arrests.
 Gant had some outstanding warrants and was seen with a handgun on the store video, so the shooting was justified. (sounds like Rusty York got a bit of a backbone for a change)
The story describes the events that took place and should provide information as to whether this twosome were in fact the ones that committed similar robberies at other dollar stores around the city.
*** Next, if you want to read about the state of the black community from someone OTHER than me, then head over to read Dr. Ben Carson's "critique" in an editorial he wrote for USA Today yesterday.
I heard about this on The Kelly File last night and it is BRILLIANT (and truthful to boot).

Dr. Carson ":gets it".

Here's the link to the website:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/08/24/blacklivesmatter-sanders-clinton-anger-column/32055507/
Much of what Carson (a GOP presidential candidate for 2016) says mirrors what I have spoken about, and since he is ALSO black such truth SHOULD resonate through black communities everywhere, especially when he speaks about the "black lives matter" movement, false as it has been represented.
It's a really GOOD read, and worth your time.
*** Next up, FIFI lands in the Fort...and I didn't see overfly our house.

Funny, the commercial airliners come over LOW enough, but a plane I WANT to see...nope, not at all. Maybe the "ride-flights" will net a glance and maybe a picture? We shall see.
Here's the lowdown on her visit to our city:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/Still-a-mighty-fortress-8410042
There's a good video with the story, which also has memories with airmen from WW2 who flew in planes similar to this one.

I WOULD have liked to have driven out to the airport to drop $10 and take a tour (did a walkthrough of two B-17s (one on EACH coast) and B-24 already), and get some pics, but alas, the Batmobile is in the shop...and is the focus on our next topic coming up.

B-29 "office" - That's one helluva view.

Considering she is the ONLY airworthy B-29 at this time (there is another being restored as we speak), it's rather iconic in nature, and serves as a piece of :"living history", as it were.
*** Now, for the status of the Bobby G. Batmobile...

(cue up some Danny Elfman music because black CARS matter!)

This NEVER happens - an EMPTY "Batcave".

I drove down to Yeoman's at 0700 hrs, and a couple hours later got the call from them - the car has terminal transmission problems, as in they had trouble shifting it after they drove it, put it up on the lift and brought it down...and that means a transmission "transplant".

In other words, by the grace of God I made it down there. If it was farther away, I would have been stranded...talk about a "close one".
Kinda odd, considering the car doesn't even have 60K on the odometer, but the trans that's IN there wasn't known for it's reliability, according to many sources.
The GM TH200C was a lightweight version of the venerable TH350 - a 3-speed automatic (we used to call them "slushboxes"...lol).
And I can thank the first oil embargo of 1973 for the reason I have that "200" in my car...GM was trying to save weight for better mileage to meet FEDERAL regs..

Not one of GM's better ideas.

Thing is, when you use ALLOYS rather than solid STEEL, things go wrong...like the fact that the transmission cannot bleed off excessive heat well enough and causes the fluid to break down, OR that the bands slip more than usual during shifting and tend to wear out faster...lots of technical stuff that, if you know what you're reading, and know your car, tend to keep you more cautious than usual.
Well, the verdict was to have the trans rebuilt...original cost was around $1400, and it would take a week for the job to be completed.
That's okay, I live a somewhat "pedestrian" life on the SE side...LOL.
(look up the definition, and you'll KNOW that it has more than one meaning)
So, I run a few ideas past Donny (owner's son who knows his sh*t) at Yeoman's and we decide to run with a rebuilt from Russ Moore (local), and the cost is around $1200 AND I might have the car back by Friday...if all goes well.

...And we DO.

Now that sounds like a plan, considering we had talked options which included a re-manufactured trans versus rebuilt, and/or changing the trans from a TH200 to a TH350 (mostly compatible, with some modifications, which would cost MORE - $1900+).
We chose a straight rebuild.
Not a bad way to go (3 yr-75K warranty), and the thing I like about Yeoman's... they are always willing to look at options and will discuss ANY and ALL concerns you might have. Goes to show they are a CLASS ACT in my book.
So, there we are...hopefully, after lessening our "financial burden:" by $1200, I should be good to go once again. I look at it as "Investing in the retail aspect of the SE side of town"
We;'re doing OUR part...LOL.
Add that to the money spent on new eyeglasses, and I COULD have gotten a nicely tricked out AR-15...!!! (not THIS year, that's for sure).
No sense in griping about it...it's a NEEDED expense, unless I prefer to walk ALL over this part of town or take the bus...(neither prospect appeals to me one damn bit)!
*** Last back to the playground...life has this curious way of tossing you some "change-up" pitches every now and then.

You should know who THIS is, Chris...

And we all have to wind up taking a swing at them, usually missing the "ball" altogether.

It's always worth a shot...

I prefer to try and BUNT, maybe I can get to base without being thrown out.
But the fact that we even have the opportunity to "get at bat" should be the focus, and the pitch we might or might not take a swing at.

Many people in life spend too much time on the damn bench, while others lean into a pitch, hoping to get hit and get to base under a false premise.
There are those specific sports that can teach us much about life in general, if we're willing to take time to learn.
The analogy to baseball seems most appropriate, considering WE are the nation that INVENTED the sport.
(We also invented basketball, but I see little if any analogy there...must be all that shoving...lol)
Hell, the fact that we're even on the TEAM to start with says much about us.
But, it is always up to US to make or break a crucial play now and then.
How we deal with a win is also as important as how we deal with a loss.
And, if we follow that analogy further, anyone who thinks life is merely a "spectator sport" is being woefully misled, and will miss out on so much that life has to offer every one of us, but we need to "get in the game" as it were to enjoy it, and not just cheer from the stands.

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