Tuesday Tidbits...

Hope you liked the warmth yesterday, because it's back to winter weather for today (and the rest of the week, according to the forecasts).
All the snow is gone which means all OUR side streets are passable again (until the NEXT snowfall).
And, the sidewalks are all clear as well, which means that NATURE is more efficient than the city.
Who'da thunk THAT?
Our Hoosierland weather for today finds us with partly to mostly cloudy skies (might see the sun peek through), some gusty winds (left over from late yesterday) and temps only reaching up to around 34 degrees.
So, let's pour ourselves a hot cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa, as we take a look at what has been going on elsewhere...
*** First off of the frozen puddles is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
DECEMBER 27 -
---Today is National Fruitcake Day

(they're really not as "bad" as people make them out to be - they make good door stops)
And that's all for today, boys and girls.
*** Next, as is the case for Tuesdays, time to look at ALL the police calls that the media apparently didn't feel we should know about:

SHOTS FIRED ((113)) / ARMED ROBBERY((53)) CALLS - 12/19 - 12/25
((23,113 - vandalism by gunfire))
=======================================
DEC 19 - 
((NO shots fired))
16F171633 12/19/2016 06:11pm 53 ARMED ROB 4200 LAFAYETTE ST S & MCKINNIE AVE
DEC 20 -
16F171734 12/20/2016 12:43am 113 SHOTS FIRED 2600 DREXEL AVE
16F171844 12/20/2016 10:38am 113 SHOTS FIRED 300 DUPONT RD E
16F172014 12/20/2016 05:07pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 4700 WEISSER PARK AVE  
16F172051 12/20/2016 06:19pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1900 CONNAUGHT CT
16F171726 12/20/2016 12:12am 53 ARMED ROB 100 DEWALD ST W HOAGLAND 
16F172124 12/20/2016 10:14pm 53 ARMED ROB 4300 ANTHONY BLVD S
16F171735 12/20/2016 12:45am 58 SHOOTING 1300 GREENE ST
DEC 21 -
16F172167 12/21/2016 12:15am 113 SHOTS FIRED 6800 BRIARCLIFF DR
16F172557 12/21/2016 10:45pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1700 CRESCENT AVE
DEC 22 -
16F172629 12/22/2016 08:01am 113 SHOTS FIRED 6300 EMMONS DR
16F172920 12/22/2016 10:57pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2300 REED ST
16F172711 12/22/2016 01:04pm 23,113 700 DREXEL AVE
DEC 23 -
16F172968 12/23/2016 02:42am 113 SHOTS FIRED 4100 HOAGLAND AVE
16F172974 12/23/2016 03:18am 113 SHOTS FIRED 2600 COVINGTON COMMONS DR  
16F173251 12/23/2016 06:38pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 3000 RAYMOND AVE & EDSALL AVE
16F173309 12/23/2016 09:53pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1600 HILLSIDE AVE & SALLIE AVE
16F173206 12/23/2016 04:27pm 23,113 6400 EMMONS DR
DEC 24 -
16F173387 12/24/2016 02:39am 113 SHOTS FIRED 3100 DEXTER DR
16F173392 12/24/2016 03:01am 113 SHOTS FIRED 6800 SELKIRK DR & RICHFIELD LN
16F173446 12/24/2016 08:27am 113 SHOTS FIRED 3300 DIPLOMAT DR
16F173506 12/24/2016 12:30pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 4200 WARSAW ST & MCKINNIE AVE
16F173671 12/24/2016 09:52pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2400 HAZELWOOD AVE
16F173692 12/24/2016 10:45pm 53 ARMED ROB 5800 LIMA RD & WASHINGTON CTR RD
DEC 25 -
16F173740 12/25/2016 01:59am 113 SHOTS FIRED 5200 PLAZA DR
16F173751 12/25/2016 03:46am 113 SHOTS FIRED 3100 STELLHORN RD & HOBSON RD
16F173872 12/25/2016 04:12pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 4300 WARSAW ST & SENATE AVE
===========================
FIREWORKS CALLS 12/19 - 12/25
===========================
NONE (again? - now that IS amazing)
*** Next up, seems that the idiots out there have returned from their holiday vacation and brought us a whole bunch of STUPID with them.
Let's take a look, shall we?
---Another dollar store was robbed last night.

Here's the link:
http://wane.com/2016/12/26/police-search-for-armed-robbery-suspect-3/

Originally reported as TWO robbers, but now we're down to just ONE.
This took place at the Family Dollar, located in the 100 block of E. Rudisill Ave (SE - where else?) around 2145 hrs.
A man (most likely black) walked in with a handgun and I heard he got away with cash, although this story doesn't allude to it. Not much else is known at this time (like suspect description...DUH!)
---And from the "Some narcissists just can't shut the f*ck up" Department, there's this:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/us/Obama-says-he-would-have-won-17000965

Sorry, NEVER gonna happen.

Obummer thinks (and that's his problem) that IF he could have sought a THIRD term, he would have won.
Gee, dictator much?
Our founding documents (and subsequent amendments) were put in place JUST SO people like HIM could not become "rulers", but remain 2-term presidents. And with some, 2 terms is two TOO many.
---Post holiday shoppers got more than they "bargained" for at a few malls. Here's the story:
http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2016/12/26/mall-fights-send-post-holiday-shoppers-scrambling-for-exits.html
Fights broke out at several malls across America yesterday.

"Weaindoonenuffin" (yeah, right)

Police is Cleveland say the incident there appears to have been "loosely organized on social media." Gotta hand it to technology...every time.
And from what I can make out in the few pictures available, looks to be mostly blacks who may have instigated this.

A blast from the recent past.

Sounds like those crowds (flash mobs - remember those?) we had a few years back who looted stores in malls (like the Galleria in Philly). Many of those involved young blacks. Helluva way to get "reparations".
*** Next up, and getting away from all the stupid, there's this gem:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/indiana/Advocates-pushing-to-abolish-gun-licenses-16989514

Finally, this bill may be able to get some traction. It's an Indiana bill that would abolish the requirement of having a LICENSE (CCP) to carry a handgun in the state. Seven other states already have this - Maine, Arizona, Kentucky, Wyoming, Alaska, Vermont, and Missouri (so far).
About time we got the law-abiding citizens on the SAME level as the criminal when it comes to carrying a handgun (because crims don't follow any laws to begin with).
That would save me $125 by not having to get a lifetime one. I do see a valid point for HAVING such a permit though:
((Currently police officers may legally ask a person found with a weapon to produce a permit. In agreement was Republican LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd, who said a valid handgun license also shows a police officer that a person does not have a felony, conviction, history of violence, certain mental illnesses or other factors that could signal danger.))

Yeah, I can understand. It protects the LEO, and alerts him/her to a potential issue. How can they tell if a person is law-abiding or not? Well, one way is to run their ID through the system and see what shakes out.
The technology available to law-enforcement today is a far cry from that 20 years ago, and should be more than adequate to check out any person (AFIS, for example), license or not, as long as the person would state they are carrying, or the officer can see the weapon. Got a few kinks to work out ere, but should still pass (imho).
*** Next, here's a "novel" idea:
http://www.journalgazette.net/features/To-protect-kids-in-wired-world--try-talk-16718022

Looks like it's "back to basics" when it comes to parenting children in a social-media-driven, technologically-wired world. Now who could NOT have seen this coming?
TALKING to kids - the art of CONVERSATION seems to be the way to go...wow, just like it was in MY day (and times long before that). That's astounding.
Now, what's REALLY astounding is that we have articles like THIS that have to TELL PEOPLE how to parent in times when technology (and government) has taken the place of many parenting "skills".
Cripes, if this keeps up, we might return our society to a more productive and POSITIVELY-INFLUENCED one.
*** Next, let's stop on by "Kitten Corner"...

"It's MY turn to keep watch., Violet"

Our feline twosome were enjoying their Christmas bounty (toy-wise), yesterday. I only had to chase Gallifrey out of the tree ONCE (using my "outdoor" voice). Violet just watched.
I think they're like a sniper team - one takes the shot, while the other is a spotter.

"...zzzzzz...."

Still, it was nice to have them climb on the couch with me last evening. I watched TV, and they dozed.
You rub them, they purr, and then you become calmer...a nice fit all around.
*** Last back to the trading post...sure would be great if people could TALK more.

I don't mean just idle chit-chat, either. I mean really converse...they way many of us used to do.
In this age of technological marvels, gimmicks, and gadgets, what becomes of many of our basic human qualities?

We already are seeing cursive writing going toe way of the passenger pigeon, and conversation has been losing it's place in society for some time, The rise in violent crimes such as domestics, batteries, and such are evident of that.
World powers seek to rattle sabers, rather than sit down and talk...AND actively LISTEN to one another, than just hear the words being spoken.
Words STILL have meaning, as well as power. THAT we do see when people seek to BAN words because they are insensitive, or that they may hurt someone's feelings.
Words are supposed to do that INSTEAD of resorting to physical violence, although in a world where talking is no longer the first resort, can often lead TO that violence, when one party or another refuses to talk things out.

There are those who say "talk is cheap", and in one respect, I can understand that meaning.
But, if words are inexpensive, shouldn't we be using them MORE, rather than less?
And, if actions speak LOUDER than words, perhaps we're not choosing our words carefully enough.
Just a little something to ponder, that's all.

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