Friday Follies...

We made it to another weekend, and a rather important one, "time-wise".
And next week, we're supposed to reach into the FIFTIES (and not for oldies)...it's a for-real WARM UP.
(thought that would never get here)
Today's Hoosierland weather starts off with MINUS temps, but will eventually climb into the mid-twenties, with a slight breeze.
That should keep wind chills around for a while.
It looks to be a nice sunrise coming our way, too.
A rather good end to an extremely bland week (unless you're on the committee investigating Hillary Clinton for using NON-government email accounts while Secretary-of-State...but that's a whole other animal).
Go and get yourselves a nice hot cup of Friday fortitude and together we'll see what has been going on elsewhere...
*** First off the iceberg is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
March 6 - 
---Today is DENTISTS DAY...(ow!)

You DON'T wanna hear "Drill, baby, drill" HERE!

Well, with all those other sweet treat days past, you just KNEW this was coming, right?
---It's also NATIONAL FROZEN FOOD DAY...

LMAO - Picked a good day for that, hmm?
Damn near everything's frozen today.
---And, it's EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY.

To me, that should be EVERY damn day, and I know I'm not along thinking THAT.
A story farther down speaks to this somewhat.
---It's also NATIONAL SALESPERSON DAY.

Such an "honor"

I celebrate this by telling them to go bother someone else, because I KNOW what I'm looking for, but if I need assistance, I'll find THEM.
That always seems to work out.
*** We can't forget the weekend, either, so here we go...
March 7 -
---Saturday is NATIONAL CROWN ROAST OF PORK DAY.

Now that sets the mouth to watering, doesn't it?
Oh, yeah...pass me some taters.
March 8 - 
Sunday is BE NASTY DAY...
It's GOD'S day...how can I be nasty on a Sunday?

That's supposed to be a day of REST (even from nastiness)
Still...(neighbors of mine beware...Bwaahahahaha)
---It's also INTERNATIONAL (WORKING) WOMEN'S DAY

On a Sunday?
Shouldn't they have the day OFF???
There you go...all the fun you can manage...
*** Next up, the FWPD arrests six on meth lab charges.

Welcome to Poplar St. Pass the donuts.

Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/3-arrested-at-meth-lab
I suppose to some people POISON looks better if cooked in a Mountain Dew bottle.

Yep, there's drain cleaner in that mess

Nice to see SOMEONE getting busted...
Lord knows I'm not seeing ANYONE cited down here.
*** Delta flight almost winds up in the water.
Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/us/Jet-skids-off-runway--all-aboard-safe-5386932

What? No Shuttle Bus?

Talk about a tense moment...trying to land at NYC's LaGuardia Airport nearly had everyone on board this flight taking an impromptu  "polar bear plunge" into Jamaica Bay.
Thankfully, the airliner managed to stop within FEET of the water.
Only several minor injuries to passengers was reported.
*** And speaking of landing airplanes, actor Harrison Ford was injured (yesterday) when his vintage Ryan PT-22 trainer made an emergency landing in a Venice golf course near the Santa Monica Airport, where he had just taken off from.
Here's the story link:
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/03/05/harrison-ford-reportedly-injured-in-calif-plane-crash/

Just like The Last Crusade...without "Dad".

The plane developed engine trouble, and Ford managed to turn the plane around and try to make the airport.
Have to hand it to "Indiana Jones"...any landing you survive is a good one in my book.
In case you were wondering, Ford is an accomplished pilot and is qualified and licensed to fly numerous types of aircraft.
*** Next, a bit closer to home...still having troubles with FWCS buses and kids and funds and sidewalks. Here's the story link:
http://wane.com/2015/03/05/fwcs-parent-concerned-about-two-mile-walk/
Now, I have to wonder...I thought that these soon to be implemented NO TRANSPORTATION ZONES were to be WITHIN ONE MILE of the schools...and not TWO miles.

All cleared off, and NOBODY uses it.

And I have to wonder WHY large portions of the SE side STILL have no sidewalks for the kids to walk along?
Plus, even WHEN there are sidewalks, the kids PREFER to walk down the MIDDLE of the damn streets anyway...
Who EXACTLY is supposed to ENFORCE that to protect the children, hmm?
Or, do we add THIS to the LONG list of OTHER unenforceable laws and ordinances this city has forgotten about?
Personally, I think the NTZs are a good idea, because streets like the ones near us NEVER were designed for school buses...or two-way traffic, for that matter.
That's why they're called residential, and are some of the OLDER areas of the city...when everyone WALKED to school, and people had (if they were lucky or wealthy) ONE car per household.

Pretty tight fit if you ask me...

Another thing...when it SNOWS (and we know all about that, right?) WHO is going to enforce the ordinance that states the sidewalks are to be CLEARED by 9 AM (too late for school in the morning, unless there's a delay)?
I have YET to see NCE lift a finger to write a ticket for ANYONE not clearing their walkways, and much of the NTZs will include residents AND businesses. The story makes the point of kids having to trudge through ankle-deep snow (knowing what the hell BOOTS are would be a help).
This is the kind of thing that comes across as being only HALF-thought through.
Might even have to add some CROSSING GUARDS at a few busier intersections...or a cop with a way to control the traffic signals.
That would make sense, so you can figure this might not be the way it will pan out.
*** Next up, someone is disturbing the "good old boy network": at City Hall...can't have THAT, can we? Here's the story link:
http://wane.com/2015/03/05/parks-employees-say-new-policies-are-unfair/
A new set of policies that some employees claim are unfair  set the ears to burning, and the questions to asking.

Wherefore art thou?

These policy changes appear to inflict more harm than good to people who actually LIKE their job and want to remain at them.
Well, that's not a good way to keep morale up, is it ...(*cough*...Rusty York, former FWPD chief).
Seems to be an issue with certain departments downtown, and perhaps now, we're seeing the forest for the trees when it comes to "how things work"...or how the "king" wants them to work.
I've had my share of upper management "run-ins", and I spoke my mind when there was something amiss.
Nothing wrong with being called on the carpet, as long as the "brass or suits" are willing to LISTEN, and not just "hear" what you have to say, and will work with you to resolve honest issues.
In this case, management seems more intent on finding out things related to the exposure of information, rather than the content OF that information.
That's not a good sign for the "rank and file".
Be fun to see how this is solved, and who is elected as the "scapegoat", because you know every situation like this creates one.
*** Last back to the barn...yes, there are a lot of people out there that take their job seriously, are damn good at it, and see it wrong to change things that don't NEED changing.
I know...I'm one of them, as was my father and his father before him
Maybe it's genetics...or a sense of professional morality..call it what you will.
When someone takes a chance of YOU, it's YOUR job to be the best person they hired...prove to them that "they" made the right choice.
Because, as I always am saying here,  life is about making such choices, isn't it?
The problem arises when those higher up "the food chain" decide on something mainly designed to feather THEIR cap...make THEM look good, sometimes, at the company's expense.

It's all about these micro-power-trips by such people.
All the employees want to do is a good job, garner decent wages as a result, and produce a quality product or service.
Hardly seems like a monumental task, does it?

Well, there are those that LOVE to change things...mostly for the SAKE of change, with no regard for the long-term effect on the business, productivity, efficiency, or even...the way a city operates.
It's all about MONEY (in their pocket, not yours), and POWER, and being "better than the other guy".

Bend over - here it comes again.

While it's desired to be the BEST nation on the planet and we have PROVED that), we're not happy to settle for being the BEST 2nd place city or business..gotta play "keep up with the Joneses"...nah, we'll blow the wad to be #1, and the problem with that is that all the OTHERS are shooting for the EXACT same thing. Everyone at the top eventually succumbs to the next guy.
Yes, in smaller situations, it's very  lonely "at the top", and sooner or later, those that want it and get it...find that much out.
*** Don't forget to set your clocks and watches AHEAD ONE HOUR (0200 hrs Sunday morning) as we go back into the DARKNESS until the fall.

Sorry...you LOSE an hour of sleep.
Not my fault...OR my choice.
Have yourselves a good weekend.

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

Thoughts For Thursday...

We're nearly there...the weekend is calling.
The good news is that there is NO snow predicted...the bad news is that it's STILL EFFIN COLD.
Our Hooiserland weather finds us with a high today ONLY into the upper TEENS.
Plenty of partly cloudy skies to go around, too. Not expecting anything to melt today, so be wary of black ice...it's still there.
And dress appropriately...you can still get frostbite.
I hear that NEXT week, we'll be getting back to more moderate temps for this time of year.
Seeing (and feeling) IS believing in MY book, folks.
With that over with, you get your cup of morning happiness and I;ll get mine (dosed well enough with a nice Canadian whiskey), and let's see what else is going on, fair enough?
*** First out of the maelstrom is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"A government for the people must depend for it's success on the intelligence, the morality, the justice, and the interest of the people themselves."
This was spoken by none other than the 22nd AND 24th President of these United States, Grover Cleveland (18 March 1837 - 24 June 1908).
And here is his WIKI:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grover_Cleveland
Cleveland was the leader of the "Bourbon Democrats" who opposed high tariffs, inflation, imperialism and subsidies to business, farmers, or veterans.
(Geez, that's a switch from all the other DEMS today who want subsidies for everything AND everyone)
He won praise for his HONESTY, SELF-RELIANCE, and INTEGRITY (wow, something ELSE lacking from MOST democrats today).

Cue the Darth Vader theme

His 2nd term saw the Great Panic of 1893, which in essence was a national depression, and was unable to recover from it.
This resulted in the Republican Landslide of 1894, and this evolved into a political realignment that ended the third party system and launched the fourth party systems and the (horrors!) PROGRESSIVE ERA.
The WIKI is a good read and demonstrates the rise of such people like Woodrow Wilson and how that caused the federal government to increase while certain liberties once enjoyed by we, the people, were starting to be "controlled" by those in D.C.
*** Next up is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
March 5 - 
---Today is MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DAY...

Gets crowded in there sometimes.

Now THAT is something to celebrate, if any of us are the type to "reinvent" ourselves on a semi-regular basis.

We ALL have another side.

Then again, aren't we supposed to strive to become BETTER people than we were yesterday?
If THAT is true, then we ALL have changing (or multiple) personalities, right?

Just pick a nice one.

Surely none of us are the persons we were when we were young, in school, in love, or whatever else...are we?
Moving on...
*** Yes, we had another shooting on the city's (where else?) SOUTHEAST SIDE yesterday afternoon.

And here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/Shooting-leaves-victim-critical-5368387

"It's a wonderful day in the Ghettohood..."

Now, the story says this happened around 1630 hrs where police found a victim in the 1000 block of Buchanan St, suffering from a gunshot wound in his vehicle (looks to be a silver Nissan Altima) at the Chapel Oaks Apartments, where the altercation was alleged to have occurred.

"What? No rubbernecking lookie-loos?"

Weird thing, the police were ORIGINALLY called to the Greentree Ct. location.
---Now, when Wifey was coming home yesterday afternoon, she saw a car matching the description of the one at Chapel Oaks BLOCKING Creighton Ave, near the old police HQ.

Sure seems so...STILL.

And the apartment complex closest to THAT area is...Eden Green Apartments.
(a usual hot-spot).
I asked her if she called it into dispatch, which she did not.
I wonder if any of that information was forthcoming from the victim, who was initially listed in serious, but later downgraded to critical condition?
Just goes to show that you don't have to look for trouble down here...it finds you in some manner easily enough.
NO description of the victim, the shooter or information regarding motive (probably has to do with drugs) is available at this time.
*** Next up, several fires earlier in the day, not far from the shooting..
Here's the story on this:
http://wane.com/2015/03/04/fire-forces-street-closures-on-fort-waynes-east-side/

Before                                   After

This is the building next to the old Coach Room bar...right at the curve at Pontiac and Coliseum.
And a motorcycle "club:" was using it "after hours"...yeah, right.
*** Next, shoplifters don't HAVE to get jail time.
Here's this story:
http://wane.com/2015/03/04/some-stores-offering-shoplifters-fine-online-course-instead-of-calling-the-cops/
Nice to know we're just a "kinder, gentler" society, and we don;t consider crimes THAT important.
In some nations, they cut off your HAND if you're convicted of being a THIEF!
Which might be more of a deterrent to such things, more so than a "class" and fine.

Stash dat tequila. Shakeisha...!!!

Naturally, Karen Richards, Allen County prosecutor doesn't subscribe to that plan in the story.
She says "we have our own programs in place"...yeah, it's called turn them lose on their own recognizance...JUST like all the damn DUIs you don't bother to arrest people for, even if they're HABITUAL offenders...no bail, just walk out and come back for your next court date.
*** Next, something on the OTHER side of the fence, so to speak...
I wanted to expound a bit on yesterday's HOLY EXPERIMENT gig the Quakers had in PA back in the 1680s.
((CAUTION - EDUCATIONAL ALERT - you may learn something...!))

Billy Penn was the "boss" of Pennsy, and was granted the land by Charles II of Merry Olde England.
So, Billy let the Quakers "do their thing" with certain tenets set aside.
---Fair treatment of Native Americans - something other colonies had problems with.
---NO military - other colonies battled with the Indians, and therefore had militia as well as British troops available.
---A new approach to government - Quakers would govern themselves without intervention from England - as long as Billy Penn paid "rent" to the king (beaver pelts and 20% of any gold or silver)
---Freedom of Religion - disavowing the rule by the Church of England where there was persecution to those not following in step.
---An enlightened penal code - A system where not only punishment but REFORM was administered. Prisoners would (no choice) learn a TRADE and work after leaving prison. The only death sentence was for MURDER or TREASON.

Quaker Meeting House - Philadelphia

---Work for everyone - Jobs in agriculture and trades were made MORE available which made Pennsylvania "the best poor man's country".
---Education for everyone - Girls and boys were ALL to be educated alike, and was considered innovative for the time. The education was to be useful AND practical, so that all could find employment.
---A widened franchise - All men were to be given the vote, whereas  in England ONLY property owners could vote, so this too, was innovative.

Early map of Colonial Philadelphia.

--- Town planning for healthy living - Philadelphia was set on a grid pattern, with wide areas for parks and public squares.
Penn had seen the Great Plague in London, and the fire that followed, and he was determined to have his "greene countie towne" be a place that would be healthy and safe.
This same pattern for cities was emulated ALL over America.
So now you tell me if THIS overall model for a free (and separate) society wasn't in some part copied when the Founders penned our  Declaration of Independence,. as well as our Constitution.
And now you know something more about the start of our nation.
*** Last back to the farmhouse...America has indeed come a very long way from it's beginnings.

NOT the AMERICAN WAY...

And while there are those who claim we need some type of "fundamental transformation", I believe the manner in which this country was evolving was well enough, without external intervention.
Hell, we don't need any more dissent among us these days...got enough to go around, thanks to all the wrong people in positions they don't deserve.
If anything, we need to get back to being a lot more unified as a society and as a nation.

This is NOT progress.

But, as long as we continue to deviate from what we USED to have in place when it came to laws, values and principles, the farther from WHO we are (or once were) becomes clear.
There needs to be a return to basics, not only in schools, but in every one of us.
We have to stop "rewarding" bad behavior, or criminals, or anyone else who claims unfairness.
This is the MOST fair nation on the damn planet, and it's time people started realizing that in greater numbers.
Trouble is, there are those who want it to be MORE fair to some...than others.
That doesn't seem like REAL equality, or REAL freedom for that matter, does it?

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

Humpday Happenings...

Welcome back to our middle of the week crisis known as Wednesday.
We seem to have a break in this nasty snow-laced winter that doesn't seem to want to leave us, with a one-day warm-up...or sorts.
Our Hooiserland weather will find us with mostly cloudy skies today (no sunrise, unless you're at 30,000 ft) and a high somewhere just BELOW the freezing mark. Hey, at least we're getting bypassed by more snow, which slid south of our area, right?
From Indy on down, they're getting whacked with several inches of snow...be grateful.
So, go grab a warm cup of your favorite morning beverage and let's see what else is taking place...
*** First out of the thawing wasteland is our WHO SAID THAT? quote of the week:
"A government for the people must depend for it's success on the intelligence, the morality, the justice, and the interest of the people themselves."
Now, if you think this was spoken by someone who spent time in our nation's capital...you're halfway home.
Who said this anyway?
The answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
Meanwhile, back on the picket lines of the Pullman Company...
*** Next, is the "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
March 4 - 
---Today is HUG A G.I. DAY...

Makes me wonder if they even CALL our troops "GIs" any longer.
But, if you know one or meet one...what the hell, right?
(they have SURELY earned it)
---It's also HOLY EXPERIMENT DAY (...Batman?)...

Actually, this has to do with the QUAKERS, and here's a WIKI to spell it all out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Experiment
And since I come from the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, let me tell you that THERE was where this all started.

Started out well enough...but let's just say the French and Indian Wars contributed to making this plan, or "experiment" of self-governance without dissension or persecution fail, but on the good side, it did lead to the American Revolution.
It's a very interesting premise on some levels...
*** Next up, The speech given by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was (to me) one of the best and truthful speeches I have heard issue forth from the floors of our Congress for quite some time.

Nice to hear someone say what needs to be said, even if it's not from our OWN government top-dogs.
Naturally, the lame-stream media is dismissing much of it (as could be expected).
Pelosi was in tears...but NOT because it was a moving speech...she was "insulted".
Damn cry-baby...
This is what you get when the libtards DON'T get THEIR OWN WAY...and get it IMMEDIATELY.
Bunch of damn spoiled brats if you ask me.
*** Next, two projects coming to the SE side of Ft. Wayne...

(Hold on, don't sound the trumpets or loose the pigeons YET)
Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/Development-projects-gain-support-from-housing-group-5343526
Now, coming from Philly, whenever I hear the words PROJECTS and THE CITY...I think low-income housing...sorry, it's just what I've come to know.
And, HERE, it looks to be much the same.
TWO projects...BOTH of them HOUSING ones are being batted about and naturally, the the Fort Wayne Housing and Neighborhood Development Services (that name gets longer every damn year) is smiling like a Cheshire Cat over this one, mostly to be funded by state and federal funds (that means TAXPAYERS).
Both are located near McMillian Park (deep in ghettoland), and are "supposed" to be for "Scholar House development".
That means "families" (not in the traditional sense, mind you) who are pursuing education while raising children...in other words - single parent baby-mamas (and whatever boyfriends they have this month). Sounds about normal for this part of the ghettohood.

When the city doesn't care...SLUM happens.

The development will include daycare services, and is said to be "transformative" in nature.
Well, I have to say that there ARE those who HAVE "transformed" our part of the city...to no small end into what can soon be called a SLUM.
So on that point, I suppose those people are right.
The other development is a REMODEL on an existing complex, with more open areas (to escape), separate unit entrances, and added privacy to the rear of each unit.
Both projects are being done by out-of-town developers.
Thing is, we really don't need HOUSING as much as we need CRIME to go away...and RETAIL to come back, and other amenities that every other part of Fort Wayne have in abundance and take for granted...because that's what normal neighborhoods enjoy.
Then again, with all the mooks that burn rental cribs down on such a regular basis, maybe a more "controlled" environment might be in order.
*** Next, just another reason to say the city is FAILING our part of town...
Early this morning, around 0220 hrs., some jerkoff in a white Suburban decided it would be okay to "share" his loud music...
Well, that woke me right up, and I grabbed the spotlight and lit his ass up as he neared our corner.
He turned north and I kept the light on him...screw this crap.
He back up into the intersection and proceeded back west on the side street. by this time, I had the venerable green laser in his window and my 9mm in hand, ready to make sure SOMEONE got put to sleep if needed.
We turned north on the next street over and did not come back (lucky for him).

This is WINTER...when we rarely had ANYONE booming, but now, since we have both a black police chief AND quadrant commander, the locals must feel it's okay to break the noise laws eve  more.
I can't imagine what spring through fall will invite around here, but it won;t be quiet, that's for sure.
What is the purpose of having laws (and police to enforce them) when these laws are NOT ENFORCED?
It seems a study in counter-logic.
The city must think "we have laws, so let's not bother to make them pay into the coffers by enforcing them".
I can't see any other reasoning.
(but I will be watching for "Mr Suburban"...rest assured.
*** Last back to the hangar...we've got a lot of people out there in the world (and especially in our own nation) who seem devoid of being able to POLICE THEMSELVES...and that's pretty damn sad.

Flip it "180", and you have the SE side.

These people (and they can of ANY ethnicity) operate on the condition that "if it feels good - do it."
Talk about some counter-culture shock, hmm?

Sounds like the "locals".

These "creatures" that manage to get the free-pass in much of their pitiful lives have NO idea what it means to be mindful of OTHERS.
To them, those "others" ONLY consist of like-minded lemmings...there are no other classes or types of people.
And these idiots have no sense of regard when it comes to SHARING a community...it's ALL THEIRS, or so they think.
If a community is to thrive, then EVERYONE gets on the same page when it comes to such simple concepts as CIVILITY...or MORALITY...or even ETHICAL BEHAVIOR.

I'm tired of the demands, too.

That's why we have GHETTOS across America's big cities...the vast majority of those living in them take to having NO RULES placed upon them, except what they place upon themselves, and the number one rule happens to be:
"What's YOURS is MINE, and what's MINE is MY OWN."
Helluva way to go through life, isn't it?
And this a a FAR cry from what those Quakers envisioned all those years ago.
Thing is, would it really kill any of them to TRY to adopt some of the principles that make living better for everyone?
Apparently for some, that IS the tallest of orders.
For people like us...it's common sense.

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