Tuesday Tidbits...

Now THIS is the kind of morning where you definitely TAKE YOUR TIME.
With that snow/sleet/freezing rain mix we had overnight, even walking can become treacherous, so be advised, and be careful this morning.
Schools have (wisely) chosen to go on a 2-hour delay (as I predicted to Wifey yesterday). Most have closed, except for FWCS..
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us cloudy skies, gusty winds, and rain showers. Our high will reach up to around 47 degrees (you heard right - forty-seven). A semi-decent end to a lousy start, right?
So, what way we brace ourselves early on with a hot cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa as we take a look at what's going on elsewhere, hmm?
*** First off of the slip 'n slide is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
JANUARY 10 -
---Today is National Oysters Rockefeller Day

(well, maybe not for breakfast)
---It's National Bittersweet Chocolate Day

(okay, it's chocolate. Need I say more?)
---It's National Cut Your Energy Costs Day

(Can I take that to mean that a NAP is considered "energy cost conservation"?)
---And, it's National Save the Eagles Day

(the BIRD and NOT the Philly football team - nothing can really save them...lol)
*** Next up, and because today is Tuesday, it's time to see last week's FWPD calls that we should have been made aware of, but the media was busy showing us how Meryl Streep can be such a good actress but SUCH a lousy human being.

SHOTS FIRED ((113)) / ARMED ROBBERY((53)) CALLS - 01/02 - 01/08
((23,113 - vandalism by gunfire))
=======================================
JAN 02 - 
17F000448 01/02/2017 04:16am 113 SHOTS FIRED 3900 MCKINNIE AVE
17F000777 01/02/2017 11:36pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 800 COLISEUM BLVD W & SHERMAN BLVD
17F000628 01/02/2017 03:53pm 53 ARMED ROB 10100 ILLINOIS RD & SCOTT RD S
17F000508 01/02/2017 10:57am 58 SHOOTING 2200 RANDALLIA DR
17F000778 01/02/2017 11:37pm 58 SHOOTING 1000 COLISEUM BLVD W
JAN 03 -
17F001064 01/03/2017 05:30pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 3300 WEBSTER ST
17F001182 01/03/2017 11:18pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2300 FAIRFIELD AVE
17F000821 01/03/2017 03:30am 23,113 400 PETTIT AVE W
JAN 04 -
17F001349 01/04/2017 12:43pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1800 TAMERA GARDEN AVE
17F001216 01/04/2017 02:47am 53 ARMED ROB 1500 FAYETTE DR
JAN 05 -
((NO shots fired))
17F001957 01/05/2017 10:21pm 23,113 5200 GAYWOOD DR
((NO armed robberies))
JAN 06 -
17F002015 01/06/2017 05:43am 113 SHOTS FIRED 1400 KENTUCKY AVE & TENNESSEE AVE
17F002333 01/06/2017 08:50pm 58 SHOOTING 4200 OLIVER ST
JAN 07 -
17F002427 01/07/2017 01:11am 113 SHOTS FIRED 1000 SHORE DR
17F002702 01/07/2017 07:51pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 4600 SCHMUCKER DR
17F002605 01/07/2017 03:09pm 53 ARMED ROB 900 COLISEUM BLVD W
17F002661 01/07/2017 05:56pm 58 SHOOTING 1600 PAULDING RD E
JAN 08 -
17F002819 01/08/2017 12:58am 113 SHOTS FIRED 4100 MONUMENT DR
17F002857 01/08/2017 02:59am 113 SHOTS FIRED 4000 COVENTRY LN
17F002922 01/08/2017 10:35am 23,113 3600 MONROE ST S
=============================================================
That wasn't too bad as far as this city goes.
===========================
FIREWORKS CALLS 01/02 - 01/08
JAN 2 -
17F000416 01/02/2017 12:06am 44FW 3800 NEWPORT AVE
===========================
Just ONE asshole...how lucky can we get?
*** Next up, we got us a new GOVERNOR for the Hoosier state.. Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/indiana/Holcomb-focused-on-future-17195436

And he's focused on the FUTURE...well, aren't we ALL?
As long as you don't forget your past and what you learned from it, things should work out well enough. Save more, spend less, right?
He's a "pre-K" guy, so that's bothersome to me.
Hope he minimizes school vouchers, too.
Now, let's see if he's got the chops to do what's RIGHT for Indianans, instead of what's "popular".
*** Next...I FINALLY get to say this - Our outgoing president gets to give his farewell speech tonight (I'll be watching something else on some channel NOT carrying this last gasp of narcissism). I really don't want to hear his final touting of what HE has done for this country.

 Most of us already KNOW what he's done TO this country over the last 8 years, right?
The list of "anti-accomplishments" has become quite long in that time.

Just keep on steppin'...

It sure has seemed like a LONG eight years, that's for sure.
And I SO hope the door hits him in the ass on his way OUT!
*** Next up, you've all heard the song that mentions we "pave paradise, and put up a parking lot", right?

Well, Fort Wayne is reversing that - they're UN-paving a parking lot near (where else?) downtown. Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/City-looks-at-developing-underused-parking-lot-17197188

An UNDERUSED parking lot? That's a new one on me. I always thought that downtown parking was at a PREMIUM?
Fort Wayne's "Redevelopment Commission" is at it again, apparently. They want to have “an integrated mixed-use development with retail at street level along both Main and Harrison streets” and retail, commercial, hospitality, office and/or residential space on upper floors.
A tall order, yes?
(( The successful proposal, according to the RFP, will bring more private investment to downtown and will further the city’s efforts to position downtown as a destination for families and businesses – a place where people want to live, work and play.))
Funny...I don't want to live, work OR play downtown...what about you?
I expect another rubber stamp push-through on this...as usual.
*** Next, if you couldn't make it to the Detroit Auto Show (and who REALLY wants to go to Detroit for ANYTHING these days?), then here's a brief summary of what was going on with the new car models.

Don't forget your wallet.
http://www.journalgazette.net/business/Diversity-dominating-auto-show-17198428

It's not comprehensive, but gives you an idea of how we have "diversity" there now, too.
(got news for them...diversity is what DRIVES automakers - no pun intended. I hate "cookie-cutter" vehicles, anyway)
I will say that nowadays we LACK the REAL diversity we USED to have when we had more auto companies (and GM divisions) in America. I miss Oldsmobile and REALLY miss Pontiac. And, I miss more 2-door models.
American cars with 2 doors are the Mustang, Camaro, and Challenger...one from each of the "big three". That's IT!
Expect even more bells and whistles on newer vehciles, as well as electric and self-driving technologies.
(both of which I find useless, because electric cars run on fossil fuels  that generate the electricity needed to power them and driverless cars serve little purpose, except to exempt regular people from paying attention while DRIVING).

Now, if someone wants to produce a MR. FUSION package for any vehicle, sign me up.
*** Next up, time to check out the antics at "Kitten Corner"...

"We wanna watch you shave, Daddy."

Yesterday was a day you could consider "boring" as in the cats were a lot less rambunctious, and that made having to check what they were getting into a lot easier.

Any old (table) corner will do for a nap.

They really kept it nice and calm around the "Fortress".
(I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop...lol)
Nah, they're really well-behaved for kittens, but I still have to constantly look down to make sure I'm not stepping on one of them, usually Gallifrey. He's my new "shadow". Violet is quite content to remain in plain sight, and that's fine.
Now, if I can get one or both of them to give me their paw (like a dog)...that would be very cool.
*** Last back to the outhouse...it's nice to not have to report violence in our city.

My concern is that you never know how long such a thing will last, given the nature of the cretins infesting various parts OF out city. You just KNOW they won't stay quiet for long.
Someone will have a domestic, or someone will want to rob a store or residence, and there you go, off to the races again.

That's where your instincts kick in.

Times may change, but the basic instincts that drives certain people never seems to change at all.
The GOOD instincts tend to serve most of us well. It's the BAD instincts that get others in trouble (or even get them killed). Gotta learn to discern one from the other.

Perhaps it's time to place our instincts in their proper place, and not allow them to run our lives.
Being able to temper instinctual behavior with a good sense of morality certainly wouldn't hurt anyone.
And, it always comes down to making good choices, doesn't it?
Choose well, and you are a better person. Choose poorly, and expect a whole bunch of bad to follow you.
Sometimes, I think the hardest thing for people to figure out are the easiest things to acquire, like a sense of ethics, civility, and even good old common sense. Like riding a bike...you get better at it the more you do it, and you never forget HOW to do it.
A good lesson for anyone...at any time.

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