Tuesday Tidbits...

Here we are, inching ever closer to Christmas, and the weather outside isn't AS "frightful" as yesterday.
Local weather-people are saying it's warmer out there this morning.
I prefer to say "less freezing" than yesterday. It's STILL cold.
And most of our residential streets down here are simply craptastic.
Our block is still snow and ice covered.
As soon as you get to a MAIN street, it's much better for driving about.
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us partly to mostly cloudy skies and higher temps, with a high of about 29 degrees. Wow, a freaking heatwave.

Now, how about we all get a nice hot drink poured and parked close by, as we see to this day and whatever it may have in store for us, hmm?
*** First off of the snow-fort is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
DECEMBER 20 -
---Today is National Sangria Day

(warm some up - it's a good choice for such weather)
---It's also Mudd Day

(not Harry Mudd from Star Trek, but Dr. Samuel Mudd of the Lincoln assassination aftermath)
*** Next up, and because it's a Tuesday, let's see what our WEEKLY dose of stupid looked like from the blotter of the FWPD (because the media can't be bothered):

SHOTS FIRED ((113)) / ARMED ROBBERY((53)) CALLS - 12/12 - 12/18
((23,113 - vandalism by gunfire))
=======================================
DEC 12 - 
16F168436 12/12/2016 07:28am 113 SHOTS FIRED 800 BELLE AVE & FOX AVE
16F168777 12/12/2016 08:37pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 800 STATE BLVD W & SHERMAN BLVD
16F168833 12/12/2016 11:24pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1400 OAKLAND ST
DEC 13 -
16F168957 12/13/2016 10:49am 113 SHOTS FIRED 2500 RIVER PARK DR
16F169192 12/13/2016 07:50pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 3200 CALHOUN ST S
16F169195 12/13/2016 07:55pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2800 FOX AVE & HOME AVE 
16F168854 12/13/2016 01:24am 53 ARMED ROB 1300 OXFORD ST & ROBINWOOD DR
16F169167 12/13/2016 06:59pm 53 ARMED ROB 1700 PAULDING RD E & ANTHONY BLVD
DEC 14 -
((NO shots fired))
16F169364 12/14/2016 08:36am 53 ARMED ROB 4100 HESSEN CASSEL RD
16F169672 12/14/2016 10:39pm 53 ARMED ROB 1200 STATE BLVD E
DEC 15 -
((NO shots fired))
16F169719 12/15/2016 02:15am 53 ARMED ROB 2400 HARRISON ST S
16F169823 12/15/2016 10:52am 58 SHOOTING 7700 HIGHTOWER PL
DEC 16 -
16F170168 12/16/2016 07:18am 113 SHOTS FIRED 400 CALHOUN ST S
16F170480 12/16/2016 09:08pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2900 SCHELE AVE
16F170503 12/16/2016 10:27pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 800 SALLIE AVE & ST JOSEPH BLVD
16F170514 12/16/2016 10:59pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1700 ST JOSEPH BLVD
16F170517 12/16/2016 11:04pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1500 MAPLECREST RD
16F170504 12/16/2016 09:58pm 23,113 5900 VANCE AVE
DEC 17 -
16F170842 12/17/2016 04:54pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1300 COLERICK ST & HOLTON AVE
16F170883 12/17/2016 06:27pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2700 MANFORD ST
16F170918 12/17/2016 07:36pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2600 DODGE AVE
16F170963 12/17/2016 09:50pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1100 ELMWOOD AVE
16F170966 12/17/2016 09:57pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2400 TRENTMAN AVE
16F170628 12/17/2016 07:19am 53 ARMED ROB 900 COLISEUM BLVD W
16F170743 12/17/2016 01:11pm 53 ARMED ROB 1200 MAUMEE AVE
16F170895 12/17/2016 06:42pm 58 SHOOTING 1000 COLISEUM BLVD N
DEC 18 -
16F171301 12/18/2016 09:20pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 7600 HOPE DR
=============================================================
===========================
FIREWORKS CALLS 12/12 - 12/18
===========================
NONE (well, that's freaking amazing!)
*** Next up, let's see about our DAILY dose of stupid in the Summit City.

-- Our first story takes us to a very familiar place for the typical behavior. Here's the story link:
http://wane.com/2016/12/20/2-shot-in-fort-wayne-apartment-building/

Yep, good old EDEN GREEN Apartments...I mean "The Villages At Hanna".
Not a damn thing has changed at that place, except the name, for all the good it's not done to date.
A double shooting took place around 0045 hrs this morning in an apartment building located in the 1300 block of Greene St. When police got on scene, they found two people shot.

One was listed in serious condition, and the other in good condition.
And, despite several people (lookie-loos) walking around, there were no witnesses (no one saw NUFFIN), and that means a suspect description is unavailable.
Yeah, I can see that "initiative" I spoke about (Iric Headley) really making progress so far.
You're not going to change the stripes of such beasts...unless they're PRISON stripes.
---Next story has to do with pizza. Here's that link:
http://wane.com/2016/12/20/armed-robbers-get-cash-from-pizza-delivery-driver/

Hiring DRIVERS? You crazy?

This took place around midnight in the 100 block of W. DeWald St when a Domino's delivery man was robbed by two men with guns. The only description in the story says the men were wearing Carhart jackets.
Be nice if we had an ethnicity, just in keeping with a "holiday spirit", mind you.
The robbers got away with cash. Now, either Domino's pizza sucks or the robbers might not have been black, because they LOVE to snatch the pizzas, too.
Ask Papa John Drivers.
It's like snagging a carton of Newports or Kools when robbing a convenience store...typical behavior.
---This story has it's own "unique" take on stupidity. Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/Passenger-line-to-Chicago-closer-to-reality-16911046

Ft. Wayne was a stop on the old PRR

High Speed rail got approval for the $350K "study" for the feasibility (what...again?)
How much money will be spent even BEFORE a single rail is dropped, anyway?
The stupid (here) comes by way of the "You used to HAVE passenger rail in and around this city, morons" Department.
 Look up your city's HISTORY. You people are trying to reinvent the wheel here.
And you wonder why I, a rail-fan from decades ago am even against this.
Wonder no longer.
---The stupid here is just TOO obvious:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/frank-gray/Rare-glimpse-at-how-needle-swap-works-16909789

The whole idea of a needle-swap sure LOOKS good at first, and while the people connected to this say they're NOT encouraging drug use, then what EXACTLY are they encouraging?
To me, this is not the best way to accomplish the result you're looking for.
How about getting RID of the damn drugs and punishing doctors who over-medicate?
Sure, it keeps HIV and Hep C down, but don't the people with specific addictions know what they're getting into?
Sorry, but anyone can carry such altruism too far, and this (to me) is a stretch.
*** Next up, no more stupid, as, starting today, there is a DOCTOR WHO TAKEOVER on BBC AMERICA.

Yep, right through into Christmas night when the new special airs at 9PM.
The trailer looks pretty good.

Over 100 episodes should help to make MY season bright.
*** Next, let's bop on over and see what took place at "Kitten Corner"...

Violet stalks Gallifrey.

The kids were really well-behaved for most of the day. Violet likes damn near any toy that rolls, while Gallifrey has taken to this green glitter stuffed ball thingy. Problem is, She sees him playing and takes it away from him.
He does get it back (sometimes, with my intervention).
When Wifey got home, THEN they started getting back into the damn Christmas tree. She chased them out of it a few times. All day they were fine...WTH is going on here anyway?
Thankfully, later in the evening, they both came in the living room and settled down. She's in the chair with the stuffed bear and he is either in my chair (and lap) or lays down alongside my chair.
We'll try some ornaments today and see how well that goes (cross yer fingers)...
*** Last back to the skating rink...we can see it doesn't take long for the "locals" to get back into the swing of things when it comes to crime.

That's a pretty sad commentary on one's race, especially when a minority is committing a majority OF the crime.
This is NOT the time of year to breed chaos on our streets. Actually there is NO good time to pursue such activities. At least not in a civilized society.
Perhaps that's where the problem (for us) lies - being CIVILIZED.
We claim to be that way, but too many people, by their own actions, refute that notion.

That should disturb a lot of us who don't chase after such ignorance.
Now, none of us are perfect, but that's where our personal challenge in life, and of life can be found.
What is so wrong with wanting to be better...to be more than we were yesterday, and I mean that in a positive manner?

Why do such lowlifes resort to taking when giving is so much more satisfying, especially at this time of year?
Personally, I can't see a bad side to being an idealist now and then.
And Christmas is the perfect time to practice such idealism...right alongside a ample dose of humility.

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