Thoughts For Thursday...

Now THIS seems a lot more like winter outside this morning.
Had us some snow yesterday, and although it didn't amount to much, it's nice to have it look a bit more "seasonal".
Naturally, in a couple days, it will be back into the 50s (before it gets cold once again)...crazy stuff, huh?
The east coast is bracing for more snow than we had...lucky them?
Our Hoosierland weather for today finds us with COLD conditions (that damn wind chill makes it feel like single digits), mostly cloudy skies, scattered flurries and a high of around 23 degrees.
Might get to see the sun today.

We're certainly going to need that hot cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa to get us warmed up, so let's all get cracking, as we take a lok at what else has been going on elsewhere...
*** First off of the slat truck is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"Anyway, no drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power."

This is attributed to another newbie here, one Patrick Jake  "P. J." O'Rourke (born November 14, 1947) who is an American political satirist and journalist. O'Rourke is the H. L. Mencken Research Fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute and is a regular correspondent for The Atlantic Monthly, The American Spectator, and The Weekly Standard.
Here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._J._O'Rourke
And here is his website:
http://www.pjorourke.com/
He is the author of 20 books, the best known of which are Holidays in Hell, a compilation of O'Rourke's articles as a free-lance foreign correspondent,

His education and life are a good read, as I always find the history of satirists engrossing. In some ways, we're becoming too "thin-skinned" to appreciate the humor involved.
For example, in 2009, O'Rourke described the Presidency of Barack Obama as "the Carter administration in better sweaters". And while he endorsed Clinton over Trump in this last election, he stated that his endorsement included her "lies and empty promises," and said, "She's wrong about absolutely everything, but she's wrong within normal parameters."
Take a few minutes and read up on him.
*** Next up, is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
FEBRUARY 9 -
---Today is National  Bagel Day

(I smell a "two-fer" coming - pizza bagels, anyone?)
---It's National Pizza Day

(hell ANY day is good for that for me)
---And, it's National Toothache Day

(shouldn't that be right after national CANDY day?)
*** Next up, As indicated, I went online and got us a new washer yesterday (Best Buys), and I thought it would be just as easy as when I purchased our fridge last year...
Well, everything "seemed" fine, and the order went through...at least it appeared to.

Right after I placed the order, the phone rang. It was the credit card company (recorded voice message) telling me there was "unusual activity" on my card...
I was like "WTF???"
What's unusual about buying a damn washing machine?
I mean, the LAST time I used that card was when we spent $60 at the ACSPCA to get our kitties (adoption fee).
And, I KNOW the limit on that card is $10K, so I'm definitely NOT close to that.
Anywho, I call the CC outfit and walk through the recorded voice procedures...
This was a case where I MISREAD that damn small print "security number" on the back of the card. (they really need to make them MORE legible, imho)
By the time I was finished with that phone call (of which I never did get to talk to a "warm body"), all was set back to rights and card usage was approved once again.

So, I had to go back to the Best Buy site and CORRECT things there.
The washer SHOULD be delivered on Valentine's Day...problem solved (I hope) and one helluva gift, but it'll last longer than either roses or chocolates, right?
*** Next, Huntington County had it's share of "fun" yesterday when police there were involved in a high-speed pursuit that eventually led to a shooter's suicide.

Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/Huntington-crime-spree-ends-with-chase--suicide-17699710

I say that moron saved the city and county a lot of money...good for him. One less idiot to take up space in their jail.
Always love a happy ending...when fate steps in and lends justice a hand.
*** Next, neighbors near the old Elmhurst school have some trepidation. Here's the story link:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/news/local/Neighbors-concerned-about-what-may-move-in-if-FWCS-sells-Elmhurst-H-S--site

What they're bugged about is the "secrecy" involved with the sale of the FWCS property.
A good idea would be a Christian school or something similar, but any industrial would not be good, as the area has plenty of that going on already.
I wonder how neighbors would feel about more low-income housing for say...Burmese or others?

With little common sense.

---Also, along school lines, with today's conditions outside, all schools BUT FWCS have 2-hour delays.
Yeah, FWCS can delay for FOG but not for slick roads...talk about another "WTF???" moment. That school system is consistent in only ONE area - INCONSISTENCY.
Wifey is going to take her time getting to her school.
*** Next up, let's kick back and see what's going on at "Kitten Corner"...
Well, that pizza-disk shim has worked marvelously. No entry into our lazy-Susan since I used it yesterday.

My "ta-da" moment of the week...lol.

Now that was a good idea, and "on the fly" to boot.

"Pretty slick wha'cha did with the cabinets, Daddy..."

As for the balance of the day...eating, sleeping, dashing about...the usual stuff, but when the weather gets bad, I'm glad these little cats are living HERE, rather than being outside.

And yes, I still think about Hobo when lousy weather stops by, as well as the other cats I've seen around.
I always out some cat food out, even if the birds get to it. Hopefully, a stray will stop and get some.
*** Last back to the fireplace...common sense seems to be on the back burner for too many people.

Think about it.
The lack of a delay for FWCS is a prime example (same can be said of most of City Hall)...and for much of our political arena.
And definitely, it can said for most all of our workplaces.
Often, the "grunts in the trenches" know more than those supposedly leading them, and it would do those leaders good to pay attention to the "troops" once in a while.
You can't help but see this all around you.
Technology plays a major part in all this, but not in the manner you'd think,
While tech can (and should) be used as a TOOL, it has become more like a crutch...a "fall back" that takes the place of common sense. The fact that people will buy into anything that comes along in the media is proof of that.

People will look to something easy...or convenient, rather than practice that common sense that people used to use a lot more often...and it shows.
Perhaps in order to move forward, taking a couple steps back once in a while might be in order.
I often say that many people don't even have the sense they were born with.
This is one instance where I wouldn't mind being wrong more often than right.

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