Tuesday Tidbits...

Well, the mornings are more fall-like, that's for sure. I am liking the afternoons, though.
I'm sure that will change soon enough...we are 5 weeks away from Christmas, after all.
Our Hoosierland weather for today will be partly cloudy with a high of near 60 degrees.
No rain is forecast, and the skies clear up by nightfall.
Okay, so let's wet our whistle and get that morning drink poured as we see what' going on elsewhere...
*** First out of the shower is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
NOVEMBER 15 -
---Today is National Bundt Day.

(glad they included the cake inside the bundt pan)
---It's National Philanthropy Day

(a nice day to be nice)
---It's National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day.

(say bye to all those wrapped "mystery" foods which are now science experiments)
---It's National Spicy Hermit Cookie Day

(wish they had some around here...haven't seen a one)
---It's National Raisin Bran Cereal Day

(only two scoops of raisins?)
---And, it's America Recycles Day

(yes, we're in the 34% that DOES recycle down here in the ghettohood)
*** Next up, time for all those police calls that should mean something to those of us who like to avoid assholes as much as possible. The media never reports THOSE...wonder why?

=============================
SHOTS FIRED ((113)) / ARMED ROBBERY((53)) CALLS - 11/07 - 11/13
((23,113 - vandalism by gunfire))
====================================
NOV 7 -
16F152953 11/07/2016 10:23pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1000 ROCKHILL ST
16F152689 11/07/2016 01:08pm 53 ARMED ROB 1900 TILLMAN RD E
NOV 8 -
16F153301 11/08/2016 07:33pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 500 CREIGHTON AVE W & FAIRFIELD AV
16F153339 11/08/2016 08:58pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 4500 OLIVER ST
NOV 9 -
16F153420 11/09/2016 02:44am 113 SHOTS FIRED 4000 WINTERFIELD RUN
16F153704 11/09/2016 05:49pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2600 STATE BLVD E  
16F153826 11/09/2016 11:44pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2000 HOBSON RD
NOV 10 -
16F154259 11/10/2016 11:30pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 4000 PHILLEY AVE
16F153834 11/10/2016 12:13am 113 SHOTS FIRED 2300 CHARLOTTE AVE & CAREW S
16F153869 11/10/2016 03:09am 113 SHOTS FIRED 2400 THOMPSON AVE & HUESTIS AVE
16F154117 11/10/2016 05:25pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2800 OLD WILLOW PL
16F154108 11/10/2016 04:54pm 23,113 3600 GOSHEN RD
NOV 11 -
16F154284 11/11/2016 01:27am 113 SHOTS FIRED 3300 BOWSER AVE
16F154363 11/11/2016 08:39am 113 SHOTS FIRED 1500 ST JOE RIVER DR & ADDISON AVE
16F154460 11/11/2016 01:42pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 800 THIRD ST & SHERMAN BLVD
16F154575 11/11/2016 05:59pm 53 ARMED ROB 2000 REDWOOD AVE
16F154585 11/11/2016 06:10pm 53 ARMED ROB 5800 CLINTON ST N
NOV 12 -
16F154769 11/12/2016 08:27am 113 SHOTS FIRED 1800 THOMPSON AVE & STOPHLET ST
16F154963 11/12/2016 06:39pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 300 REXFORD DR & CASINO DR
16F154966 11/12/2016 06:43pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 4500 SPATZ AVE
16F155006 11/12/2016 08:18pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2600 CARVER CT & COVINGTON R
16F155028 11/12/2016 09:14pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1900 HOBSON RD
16F155043 11/12/2016 09:44pm 53 ARMED ROB 5500 STELLHORN RD
16F155040 11/12/2016 09:35pm 58 SHOOTING 700 WALNUT ST
NOV 13 -
16F155112 11/13/2016 01:27am 113 SHOTS FIRED 300 OAKDALE DR W
16F155140 11/13/2016 03:27am 113 SHOTS FIRED 3400 ANTHONY BLVD S & OXFORD ST
16F155298 11/13/2016 02:52pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 8300 BRIDGEWAY BLVD
16F155427 11/13/2016 09:32pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 900 BERRY ST E
16F155454 11/13/2016 11:04pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2900 MAPLE GROVE AV E 
16F155301 11/13/2016 03:01pm 23,113 2000 DREXEL AVE
16F155324 11/13/2016 04:14pm 23,113 900 EASTLAWN DR
============================
Not a bad week, overall, considering the human flotsam that causes all this in the first place.
And we can'rt forget the fireworks calls, can we?
FIREWORKS CALLS 11/07 - 11/13
NONE!!! 
Now THAT is astounding!
*** Next up, this just in from The "Are You Effin Serious?" Department.
http://www.journalgazette.net/business/Soda-tax-gaining-traction-16318716

Former mayor Bloomberg is sticking his nose in it again, joining certain municipalities with this SODA TAX bullshit.
Don't we have MORE important things to address in this nation than THIS crap?
Whatta freakin' LOON!
Then again, Frisco IS pushing this according to voters there.
Other cities that passed sugary drink "per ounce taxes" last week were Oakland and Albany, California, and Boulder, Colorado. They follow Berkeley, California, in 2014, and Philadelphia this summer. Bloomberg Philanthropies said it will help others that come forward.
Funny, Bloomberg LOST the same fight in the city he was mayor of...New York City.

Some people carry philanthropy a bit TOO far, and spoil things for others.
And MAYBE we need responsible parents who can LIMIT the amount of such drinks to their kids(just as OUR parents did in the day)...'ya think?
*** Next, did you know that Allen County inmates need underwear?

Here's the proof:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/frank-gray/Underwear-needed-for-jail-inmates-16319094
“This is a human need. It’s a disgrace to take their underwear away from them as they come in. We shouldn’t lock them up without underwear. This isn’t a concentration camp", says Jan Watts, who is leading a fundraiser for the undies.

If we HAVE to provide undies, make 'em all PINK!

Well, it isn't a retirement home either, cupcake. People don't NEED underwear...look at all those who prefer to "go commando" (for inmates, it's an "ease of access" thing).
What people NEED is to stop breaking laws that cause incarceration, don't they? Let's work on THAT instead.
*** Next, another "study" that deserves a bit more scrutiny than is evidenced. Here's the link:
http://wane.com/2016/11/14/brightpoint-study-poverty-up-unemployment-down/

Okay, so poverty is UP (yet unemployment is down)? Wonder why?
Could the last 8 years of liberal rule be a contributing factor here? (most likely)
Brightpoint, a nonprofit organization, recently updated its Community Needs Assessment.

The report reveals 15.6% of the population is at or below the poverty guideline. That’s compared to 14.7% in last year’s report. All total, 22% of those living in poverty are children.
So, lemme ask the OBVIOUS question: "What happens when you RAISE the poverty rate (dollar amount)"?
Right, MORE people appear to be at or below the "poverty level". Simple to figure out, hmm?
Once again, we're seeing that children are the primary "victims" here, and aren't getting daily meals (because what passes for a parent still can't figure out the cereal-bowl-milk-spoon gig. Talk about DEPLORABLE.

All these "giveaways" by the federal and state governments (with a poverty level of about $40K for a family of 4!) and no progress in lowering the number of those in poverty? Gimme a break.
Try LOWERING the poverty RATE for a damn change (and halt the artificial inflation of statistics).
*** Next, and last back to the bathtub...I want to continue my "therapy session" by tossing a couple words out there for you to dwell upon.

That's a new one - a GRIEVING angel.

GRIEF - ANGUISH - HEARTBREAK - SORROW - PAIN - MOURNING - LOSS (you kinda get the idea, hmm?)

All of this is defined as a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune suffered by oneself OR others. Sound about right? Anyone out there who has NOT experienced this in their lives?

(congratulations if you haven't - you're in a very select few, or lying your ass off...heh).
Now, here's a word I'm sure you've heard a LOT about over the last decade or so - PTSD.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and, yes, there is a WIKI on this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posttraumatic_stress_disorder

Now, while we always hear that such a disorder is attributable to a COMBAT scenario, it reaches a lot farther into the CIVILIAN realm...and we usually DON'T hear about that, do we?
If you were in a car accident, or been a rape victim, or bullied as a child, or were otherwise abused (physically or mentally) as a child, if you've experience anything that was TRAUMATIC to you...you have suffered some form of PTSD.
Many of us have had multiple exposures to traumas over time, and each situation is different in many respects.
If you had a near-drowning incident, you have had PTSD.
If there was an accident at the workplace, you may have suffered some PTSD, even if it was another worker who as injured. You don't have to be the INITIAL recipient of a trauma to suffer this.
And, such encounters in life tend to be CUMULATIVE in nature. All those small traumas can add up over time, increasing the severity of your reaction as you get older.

Does this mean we're all manic-depressives capable of nothing other than suicidal thoughts and rage?
Certainly not.
Personal safety systems (and beliefs) prevent such actions in a LOT of cases.
Other people, sadly,  are not as fortunate.
Does this also mean we all need to seek professional help?
Depends on how debilitating the events become.
In my particular case (with my feline situation), I'm still functional - everything works, and I am as rational as I can be most all the time (as are we all, right?), but in every instance of PTSD, there are things called "stressors" that will trigger an emotional response from us to whatever trauma we have experienced. No getting around that one.
I want you to all think on these things, because they DO affect us all, unless you're heartless and devoid of emotions along with other God-given traits like empathy, morality, and compassion, which serve to make us all too human.
We'll pick this up further tomorrow, so stay tuned. We might learn something in the process.

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