Friday Follies...

It's the end of our holiday-shortened week at last.
Bet'cha didn't think we were going to get here, hmm?
(we have our ways)
And that string of 80-degree days will be coming to it's end after today (for a little while).
Our Hoosierland weather will see us with sunny skies, temps reaching to about 83 degrees, and some rain that's forecast for sometime tomorrow into early Sunday. Not a bad weekend we're staring at (for June).
So what say we all get that  cup or glass of Friday Fortitude poured and parked nearby, as we take a look at what's been going on elsewhere?
*** First out of the toaster is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
June 3 -
---Today is NATIONAL CHOCOLATE MACAROON DAY

(you could combined it with "regular" macaroon day)
---It's also NATIONAL REPEAT DAY

(that's national repeat day, folks)
---It's NATIONAL DOUGHNUT DAY

(and police cheered all across the realm)
*** Since we're at week's end, let us see what will be going on over the subsequent 48 hours.
June 4 -
---Saturday is NATIONAL PRAIRIE DAY

(recognizing our rich ecosystems)
---It's also NATIONAL SAFE DAY

(has to do w/ responsible gun ownership around the house)
---It's NATIONAL CHEESE DAY

(that does include Babybels...lol)
---And, it's NATIONAL COGNAC DAY

(all we need now is some crusty French bread and we got us a picnic)
---It's NATIONAL OLD MAID'S DAY

(and you thought it referred to the card game...sorry)
---And, it's NATIONAL TRAILS DAY

(oh, and BLOOD trails don't count with this one)
June 5 -
---Sunday is NATIONAL GINGERBREAD DAY

(now I'm in a Christmas mood)
---It's also NATIONAL CANCER SURVIVORS DAY

(when you can beat the big "C", you're doing something)
---And, it's NATIONAL MOONSHINE DAY

(yep, we're talking backwoods HOOCH here)
There you have it...plenty of things to keep you busy and out of trouble.
*** Next up, as expected (or was that PREDICTED by yours truly?), Charles Benson was finally found GUILTY yesterday. Didn't take all that long, either.

F*cking LOSER!

The justice system DOES work, just not as OFTEN as it should with the Allen County Prosecutor's office.
That shithead's going away for about 60+ years. NO more plea deals here.
Not bad for a 26 year old with nothing to show for his pitiful thug life thus far.
God, I so love happy endings.
*** Next, another shooting in the Summit City.

Here's the story link:
http://www.21alive.com/news/local/Fort-Wayne-Police-investigating-after-man-shot-in-leg--381713551.html
(and before you ask, YES, it was on the SE side...AGAIN)
This took place in the 6100 block of Holgate Dr. around 1600 hrs.

A man was shot in the leg as the result of a robbery attempt at the Stop and Go located on Hessen Cassel.
As usual, no suspects, no description of the shooter and (apparently) no other witnesses.
*** Next, another case of someone not being able to keep things in their (saggy?) pants.
Here's the story link:
http://www.21alive.com/news/local/Former-Concordia-High-School-football-player-charged-with-rape-sexual-battery-381659581.html

A former Concordia H.S. football player is looking at rape and sexual battery charges.
Tariq Orrone Jackson, 18 was charged earlier in May (and we're just hearing about this NOW...love the level of communications to the public in this city) for the crimes.
The rape happened even farther back...in JANUARY.
No one ever said that in THIS city, the wheels of justice move swiftly, right?
Nice mug shot for a teenager. Say "cheese".
*** Next up, here's the proof that crime in Fort Wayne is, in fact going UP, and not DOWN as the FWPD chief (the last two) and the Public Safety Director and even our "king" have been telling us for a while:
http://www.21alive.com/news/local/Police-see-an-increase-in-burglaries-381715191.html
For close to 15 years, we were fed bullshit and told that crime went down 13%...and that was every damn year for a dozen years.

Plenty to go around this city.

That would "technically" mean that we have MINUS numbers when it comes to crime.
You can always check this link out:
http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/in/fort-wayne/crime/
This site has some good data, and looks to be on track.

Everybody loses on this with rising crime.

Anyway, since I'm from the OLD days when we actually LEARNED math in school, I crunched those figures and found out the city "leaders" were hilariously WRONG.
So, we have the truth coming out from at least one media source, yet nothing about how WRONG all these people were in reporting the crime stats over the years. Typical.
Rusty York (who refuses to just retire and make stained glass stuff) is pointing to BURGLARIES as the focus of rising crime. Hell, I've told all you here that burglaries were UP...as were vehicle thefts, rapes, robberies...you name it.
So, if there is a point to be made, let it be this one:
You SHOULD have been taking care of the small shit FIRST, so it wouldn't turn into the BIGGER shit, kapeesh?

Yep, it's the old tried and true BROKEN WINDOW THEORY that was NOT practiced that has led us to this uptick in crime across the board and throughout the entire city.
And none of you downtown couldn't figure that the hell out...(that's inexcusable...and pathetic)!
I figured it out, and close to 15 years ago...no one paid attention then.
Let's just say they are NOW. Better LATE than NEVER, right?
And the FWPD is sending THIRTY-FIVE officers to the RNC in Cleveland? WHY? We need them HERE, especially now.
*** Next up, this was really weird to hear about.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/02/politics/military-plane-crash/
(once in a while, CNN is good for something...lol)

I've seen the Blue Angels several times (in several different aircraft) and in all my life NEVER have I heard of this kind of tragedy happening.
Both military stunt flying teams suffer crashes within hours of one another.The Thunderbirds pilot got out safely, but the Blue Angels pilot was unfortunately killed in his crash.
Truly a sad day for both services and teams.
*** Next up, someone came by and knocked over some trash bins along our side street last evening. Becoming a common occurrence around town, isn't it?

This is what happens when you put your damn bin OUT on the WRONG day.
And, it's why I never put ours out until the day of our pickup.
Ghetto living...not for the faint-of-heart, that's for sure.
Be nice if these kids had someplace to go (aside from hell, which is where many of them will wind up).
Oh, wait...they DO have places.
They're just too damn lazy to go there.
*** Next, and to lighten things up a bit, here's some recent pics of what's been taking place within the confines of our "Fortress".

Welcome to "Iris Corner".

The Japanese maple is still doing well.

Roses...meet Clematis.

Squirt says: "Hey, don't leave ME out!"

We are getting there. At least ONE residence in our area looks nice.
And we don't have our hands out to any government agency.
*** Last back to the butter dish...there are some things you will never live long enough to figure out.
I can't help but wonder what goes through the primate minds of some of these mooks around here.
When did it become "commonplace" to think it okay to trash up a neighborhood?
When did it become "vogue" to want to disrespect people every single day?
When did things go so wrong, that it seems as if we'll never pull ourselves back from the edge of the nearest precipice?
If I knew those answers, I could be a much better man, but I haven't the longevity of Methuselah, and certainly not the patience of Job, and definitely not the wisdom of Solomon...but I am trying.
What the rest of these people are doing...is NOT trying (at all), and that shows.

We see that our FWPD will be "changing tactics" to address the crimes , especially on the SE side...good luck with that. You have had over a decade to get that deal done, and you sat on your hands.
We also see that as long as people are denied the truth, they won't much take a shine to actively LOOK for it, and that's not a good thing.
I spoke about diversions, and how many of us fall prey to such ploys. Many are content to wear those blinders. Some of us are not, nor will ever be.

What we should do is find some way to get us ALL on the same page when it comes to our communities and this country, and that means all working toward the common GOOD of everyone, and also not allowing evil to get it's nose in the tent or it's foot in the door.
When we can accomplish THAT, we'll be back on the right road again - the road that this country should have never deviated from in the first place.
Do have yourselves a good weekend.

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