Thoughts For Thursday...

We are quickly heading towards the Labor day weekend...the "traditional" last gasp of summer.
And, it's somewhat of a replay of the past two days outside.
Our Hoosierland weather will have us seeing mostly sunny skies, temps reaching into the upper 80s once again, and yes, humidity that will make it feel even more "close" outside.
Also, don't forget the chance of some late afternoon or evening showers.
We did get some light rain yesterday, but nothing of real note. Didn't help things outside except to water the plants and lawns a smidge.
So, you go and get your morning drink, I'll get mine, and together, we'll see what is going on elsewhere...
*** First out of the comedy club is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies."

"Just say the secret woid"

This was spoken NOT by a politician, NOT by an industrialist, and NOT by a master of classic literature.
It was spoken by none other than GROUCHO MARX (never to be confused with Karl Marx), born Julius Henry Marx (2 October 1890 - 19 August 1977), and he was a comedian, film and television star, as well as author.
And here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groucho_Marx
It's a lengthy read, and chronicles not only his upbringing in Manhattan, but does a fine job of telling stories from his professional life through early stage shows to movies (at paramount studios) and through the television years.
And he was not the OLDEST Marx brother...that was LEONARD (Chico).
Thirteen feature films were made with The Marx Brothers, and every one is considered a classic.
Groucho was the only brother to have a successful solo career, that being a quiz show host in You Bet Your Life.

President Firefly from "Duck Soup".

And if you were wondering, Groucho was Jewish (in fact, so was the whole family...lol)
He was also an interim host of The Tonight Show (between Jack Paar and Johnny Carson), and introduced Carson to all of us.
Now, while the Marx Brothers made 13 movies, Groucho appeared in 26, with the first being a 1921 silent film that was never released.
The WIKI also tells how he developed his "look" for the movies - the greasepaint mustache, glasses and eyebrows.
And to this day, those novelty joke shop "fuzzy puss" plastic nose, glasses and mustache have Julius Marx to thank for that.

Still popular

A great book on the Marx Brothers is WHY A DUCK...check it out.
What is also memorable are the anecdotes remembered by fellow actors and friends in the industry.
Yet, in spite of the success and such, Marx called himself a liberal democrat...interesting to note, because his take on politics sounds less the liberal and more like a conservative, but those were days when the far left bat-shit crazy democrats were a lot FEWER in number.
What's amazing is the LEGACY that Groucho left us - everything from those Vlasic pickle commercials with the stork that looks and sounds like Groucho, to John Astin's portrayal of Gomez Addams on the TV show, to 2 albums from Brit rock group Queen (A Night At The Opera and A Day At The Races). And in 1982, Gabe Kaplan starred in a stage show GROUCHO, with a film version appearing on PBS.
You have to say that they truly broke the mold when they made Groucho.

He was probably the only person who, when watching a performance of the crucifixion scene in Jesus Christ Superstar declared (in the theater)  "This is sure to offend the Jews!"
And the laughter he brought us continues...
*** Next up is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
September 3 -
---=Today is U.S.BOWLING LEAGUE DAY

(kinda miss the day when you could bowl for cheap and NOT have to be in any league)
---It's also WELSH RAREBIT DAY

I could not find a single mention of bunnies in the description - mostly toasted bread and cheeses , and maybe bacon.

That's a relief to hear, doc.

So, it's not to be confused with any form of RABBIT, right Bugs?
*** Next up, a very good column by Kevin Leininger from 1 September that tells a story not many people know about in Fort Wayne...but should, as it could happen to them.

Here's the story link:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/news/local/Man-learns-the-bullets-don-t-have-to-hit-you-to-leave-lasting-scars-Man-learns-the-bullets-don-t-have-to-hit-you-to-leave-lasting-scars

A man's house hit by bullets...and guess where?
Yes, the SOUTHEAST SIDE.
And this man is ALSO not planning to leave...on principle.
This is a fantastic read, and addresses the plight of those who decide that THEIR HOME is THEIRS and not something to be handed over to the street thugs and gangstas who would seem to run many of the neighborhoods.
In some ways, the story is scary, but brings a sobering message to this attitude that many of the "locals" (you know who I'm talking about there) embrace - that which all but screams that NO LIVES MATTER.
Fortunately, our "Fortress" hasn't been  stuck by stray bullets (yet), but we HAVE had a rock tossed through one window, had the house shot with paintballs (green), and hit with eggs (one was so high, I couldn't get the crap off, and it stained the siding black).
But, the way the city continues to ignore our part of town and practices reactive policing, it may only be a matter of time.
(one thing about that...I will shoot back)
The man in the story (name withheld to protect himself, no doubt) is a contemporary of mine. He's 60 years old (I'm only 3 years older).
What is startling are the statistics that show the number of SHOTS FIRED...as of last week, about EIGHT HUNDRED (that's 800) calls of this type came into the FWPD, with 52 percent coming from JUST the SOUTHEAST side.
That leaves the OTHER three quadrants to divide up the remaining 48 percent.

Not a good thing.
The SE accounts for at least half of such calls EVERY year, according to the story.
That alone should be a red flag to City Hall and the FWPD chief...yeah, it SHOULD.
The man in the story says that "more patrols would help"...I know, it sounds like the man is ME, doesn't it?
Personally, I think MORE stories like this need to get out there and people all over the city NEED to know this, because the way a lot of low-income housing has been scattered, the same thing might occur in ANY area of the city...and sooner than we think.
*** Next up, Our "prez" catches a salmon up in Alaska...and it promptly pisses (or was that shoots a load?) on his shoes...LOL.
Here's the story:
http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2015/09/02/obamas-fish-tale-salmon-spawning-on-his-shoes
Heh, that fish knows the score, even this late in the game.

The word IRONY comes to mind

Yeah, that fish "was happy to see me"...bullshit.
It's ALWAYS about "him"...damn narcissist!
You can take the activist out of the ghetto, but....(you fill in the rest).
*** Last back to the holding cell...sometimes, you just have to laugh...at the absurd.

And there is certainly nothing MORE absurd these days than the things that go on at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
When you stop and see all what goes on , and then think back to BEFORE 2008, although even then, it wasn't a walk in the park, but at least you weren't mugged WHILE taking that walk
This (self) proclaimed fundamental changer posed as someone who would bring together all Americans... instead, we wound up with The Great Divider in the Oval Orifice.
How did so many people get taken to the cleaners on this, and why are so many still following this guy?
Black people in general are no better off (especially in their own communities) than they were before 2008...and they still kill one another (with great abandon) in record numbers, claiming poverty as the overwhelming factor as to WHY deaths are up...we all know THAT to be a falsehood. I now hear climate change is also to blame...ROFL!
Hell, over 70% of all immigrants here (legal or illegal) are on SOME type of "government assistance".
And a like number of illegals are here with criminal records, a majority from Mexico itself.
The southern border remains porous, we've downsized our military, given all sorts of "free stuff" to many undeserving lazy-asses, and STILL nothing gets any better...WTH is wrong with that?
Toss in financial woes from a country (China) that holds a crapload of OUR bonds, because this administration has forced trillions more debt upon our OWN nation, in a futile search to "level the playing field".
Not exactly a stellar presidency...hell, not even a lousy one. It's worse than that.
We're not beyond help or redemption...not yet, anyway.
As long as hope exists, and people of courage step up, we will work through this.
It just might take more time than we originally thought, that's all.

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