Thoughts For Thursday...

Okay then...here we stand in a brand new month - that of October and we're starting out on a rather "brisk" foot this morning.
Gonna need a sweater or jacket, so ditch the satin shorts (sorry, was talking to the "locals" down here...heh)
Our Hoosierland weather has us seeing mostly clear skies, and temps ONLY getting up to around the 63-degree mark.
Now THIS is a fall month.
And I'm sure the leaves will start their journey to the ground soon enough.
I just hope we get some nice foliage colors in the interim (around the 17-18 would be real nice).
Now, let's all get our cup or glass of morning bliss poured and see what is going on elsewhere...
*** First off of the cider press is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:

"Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. 
Protracted and patient effort is needed to develop good character."
This is attributed to that pre-Socratic and still quite deceased Greek philosopher, Heraclitus (525 -475 BCE).
Don't you like it when you die in a year numbered EARLIER than when you were born?
And here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraclitus
He regarding himself as self-taught and a pioneer of wisdom.
(Hey, aren't MOST of us?)
Heraclitus was most noted for his insistence on ever-present change in the universe (thank God it wasn't "hope and change").
This was stated in his famous saying: "No man steps into the same river twice".
(Sounds kinda profound when you think about it)
Interesting that he was born at Ephesus, a site of one of the Pauline epistles (also a letter to the church in the book of Revelation) in the New Testament.
That was a pretty large city in the area, and boasts a lot of beautiful ruins from that era. Think of it as an Aegean "seaside" venue in what we now call Turkey.
Anyway, the WIKI is pretty long on the philosophical aspects of the life and writings of Heraclitus, so that's YOUR assignment - to bone up on him, and see how his contributions to the human condition have continued to this very day.
Moving on...
*** It's now time to see what this MONTH has in store for us:
October:
=======================
Month-long observances:
Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Dwarfism/Little People Awareness Month 
Eczema Awareness Month 
(Ir's not as bad as it looks and is NOT contagious)
National Arts & Humanities Month (United States)
National Cyber Security Awareness Month (in United States)
(Hell, I'm constantly aware of such things.)
International Walk to School Day (International) 
(we did, and all the time...and survived)
National Adopt A Shelter Dog Month (United States)

Domestic Violence Awareness Month
(no tossing bowling balls at your girlfriend, got it?)
National Pizza Month
( I say we make EVERY month run with this one)

National Popcorn Poppin’ Month
(As long as a decent movie is on to enjoy it with)
National Pork Month (United States)

National Sausage Month
(Kinda goes with pork month nicely)

American Cheese Month
(I'm thinking grilled cheese sandwiches here)
=======================
Week-long observances:
National Walk Your Dog Week: 1-7

Fire Prevention Week: 4-10

Mental Illness Awareness Week: 4-10
(We need to be more aware of the loons in our MIDST)
National Carry A Tune Week: 4-10 
(Some still carry them in bags...heh)
Customer Service Week: 5-9 

National Chemistry Week:18-24 
National School Bus Safety Week: 14-23
(yeah, no swatting spiders and jumping from your car)
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week: 18-24
(this is becoming fairly obsolete these days)
International Magic Week: 25-31
( I know some people I'd LOVE to make disappear...lol)
=======================
And now for our daily dose of "What the hell happens today, Bob?":
October 1 -
---Today is NATIONAL FIRE PUP DAY

(What? We don't have fire DOGS anymore?)
---It's also NATIONAL HOMEMADE COOKIES DAY

(I guess it's okay to cheat and use some pre-mixed dough, right?)
---It was on THIS day WAY back in 1949 when my parents got married in the Arch St. Methodist Church in Philly.

A LONG aisle to walk (to change your mind), too.

Little did they know the world would not be ready for my arrival several years alter...LOL.
And that covers that for today.
*** Next up, the PILOT of that crashed plane has been ID'ed, but there's still some "mystery" attached to this crash. Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/Plane-s-pilot-ID-d--injured-during-crash-9101477

Helluva landing.

It's not disclosed as to WHY he left the scene, but he WAS injured and was being treated at an "undisclosed" location...
WTH? Is this an  Area 51 cover-up or something?
Someone has some "splainin" to do and would seem has something they don't want know (other than the fact that the registration for the aircraft expired prior to the fateful flight.

When it was airworthy.

Right now, the pilot is using hos LAWYER as his "mouthpiece".
*** Next up., the government show more of it's true colors - it allows the government to "stay open" AND also keeps funding Planned parenthood.

Just step down, you rino!

So, I guess the voice OF the people still doesn't amount to a damn hill of beans, right?
Here's this story:
http://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2015/09/28/senate-set-to-act-on-stopgap-spending-bill-to-avoid-shutdown
It would seem that one political party is not THAT much different than the other (except for wearing different color neckties).

Sure LOOKS that way.

Thank goodness the "unwashed masses" have ALL that social media BS to keep them occupied while our nation goes to Hades in a hand-basket.
*** Next up, if there is ONE THING that is consistent when it comes to City Hall here in Fort Wayne, it's the INCONSISTENCY.

What? AGAIN???

Take yesterday...when for no reason that I could locate anywhere in media sources, a street close to us was apparently CLOSED.
This forced traffic from a MUCH busier street a block away to roll THROUGH our neighborhood.

I am guessing there was some PAVING work being done, for I did see an asphalt machine roll over the side street, with a FWPD cruise close behind as an "escort".

What's annoying about this is that even TRAA and the FWPD had to use our street, running with lights and sirens...and that tends to shake up the day a bit.

Then there were the Citilink buses, school buses - technically, (for FWCS) this IS a "no-transportation zone", and cars that have their stereos BLASTING.
See, when they're a block away, we tend NOT to hear them AS MUCH.
I never saw ANY traffic report concerning ANY detours, road closings, water main breaks, sewer work, or the like.
That's kinda disturbing...like we're NOT worth being advised of traffic pattern changes.
The city is never at a loss to create new ways to be IGNORANT, right?

THIS looks about right.

If this continues today, I will call into the city's traffic divisions and find out what's going on.
I mean, we ALMOST had ONE really good accident, and more than a few other "close calls" at our intersection.
There needs to be some signage, or temporarily have people park OFF-STREET.
The street is narrow ENOUGH now. It's funny to see two vehicles PASS each other when there's barely enough room for two lanes.
Add parked cars and people have to WAIT until traffic passes to proceed...talk about a bottle-neck.
But, that's why we always get the shit end of every stick in this town .
(and why I wear gloves a lot)
*** Last back to the apple orchards...there are many things that contribute to a stable environment in any neighborhood.

We SURE as hell don't have THIS.

The residents are a HUGE part of it - good neighbors make good neighborhoods, while bad ones, well, you know from reading this blog how THAT story goes, right?
We call it the ghettohood for a reason (and they can be found infesting most of the houses around here).

Well, it's NOT the Avengers Initiative, is it?

Next, we have the infrastructure, which in no small part tends to allow for a better place to live.
Who wants work crews in THEIR area because the streets are falling apart due to all the traffic?
That's what happens when something called "proper planning" is not in place...the "anything goes" mentality.
Then you have the level of crime...(sighs)

Now THAT'S more like it.

A crime-ridden area is usually NOT in the top ten choices for regular folks when it comes to living accommodations, is it?
Just allow windows to become broken, and soon, it will gravitate to much larger and more deadly scenarios.

You tell 'em, Karl!

If ignorance is bliss, then why are neighborhoods that are much more blissful than ours NEVER ignored?
Seems to be some sort of misplaced attention somewhere.
We (down here) are almost always given the "cold shoulder", and it definitely shows.
There is this sense of the "wild west" taking place with all the shootings, burglaries, rapes, assaults, fights. homicides, and so on.
All this COULD be alleviated...IF the city leaders got off their good old boy asses and did something.
Still, it's hard to worry about closing the tent flaps when the whole damn camel is already inside, hmm?
It leaves things to a very few people who still give a damn about the area, and honestly want to see things become better.
And those few people won't be around forever.
Then, what happens to our part of town...or other parts that are starting to see the beginnings of similar situations evolve?
That's one scary premise, is it not?

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