Tuesday Tidbits...

We end the month on a rather soggy note, and that's fine by me.
I mean, everyone seems to have greenery poking through the ground with all the mild weather we've had.
Our hyacinths are trying their damnedest to follow suit.
At this rate, I expect to see the crocuses any day now.
The Hoosierland weather for today will find us with rain continuing into the evening and overnight, with possible severe conditions (high winds) and chance of a thunderstorm. Skies will be cloudy, scattered rain, and our temps will rise to around 64 degrees. That's about all we need to know, right?
So, what say we stop all the farting around and get that morning drink poured as we take a look at what's been going on elsewhere, hmm?
*** First out of the topsoil is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
FEBRUARY 28 -
---Today is Fat Tuesday

(yes, it's finally Mardi Gras)
---It's National Chocolate Souffle Day

(well, it DOES have chocolate in it)
---It's National Floral Design Day

(feel free to indulge)
---It's National Public Sleeping Day

(funny, we used to call that being a bum, or not getting enough sleep AT HOME)
---It's National Tooth Fairy Day

(don't think they mean Dwayne Johnson here)
---It's Rare Disease Day USA
(these I try to actively avoid)

---It's Spay Day USA

(ditto)
*** Next up, since it IS Tuesday, let's see all the police calls that we SHOULD have head about, but did noit, because the media was too busy nit-picking at useless stuff...

SHOTS FIRED ((113)) / ARMED ROBBERY((53)) CALLS - 02/20 - 02/19
((23,113 - vandalism by gunfire))
=======================================
FEB 20 - 
17F021129 02/20/2017 06:05pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1100 STATE BLVD W
17F021146 02/20/2017 06:41pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 3800 WINTER ST & RUDISILL BLVD E
17F021205 02/20/2017 08:58pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2500 WEBSTER ST
((NO armed robberies))
FEB 21 -
17F021306 02/21/2017 03:53am 113 SHOTS FIRED 2000 RIEDMILLER AVE
17F021312 02/21/2017 05:06am 113 SHOTS FIRED 600 PROSPECT AVE
17F021612 02/21/2017 08:12pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 6600 LAURELWOOD CV
((NO armed robberies))
FEB 22 -
17F022029 02/22/2017 08:58pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 4500 WARSAW ST
17F021733 02/22/2017 07:37am 53 ARMED ROB 600 DEWALD ST W
17F022011 02/22/2017 07:44pm 58 SHOOTING 7400 ANTHONY BLVD S
FEB 23 -
17F022098 02/23/2017 02:30am 113 SHOTS FIRED 8500 MAYHEW RD
17F022463 02/23/2017 09:15pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2900 GOSHEN RD
17F022472 02/23/2017 09:42pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2800 TRENTMAN AVE
17F022480 02/23/2017 10:16pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 4200 HANNA ST S & MCKINNIE AVE
17F022496 02/23/2017 10:57pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 6700 HANNA ST S
((NO armed robberies))
FEB 24 -
17F022830 02/24/2017 05:38pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 7600 PATRIOT XING
17F022894 02/24/2017 08:13pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2400 HARRISON ST S
((NO armed robberies))
FEB 25 -
17F023010 02/25/2017 01:08am 113 SHOTS FIRED 6400 ALVAREZ DR
((NO armed robberies))
A crapload of TRAFFIC STOPS, though
FEB26-
17F023398 02/26/2017 12:44am 113 SHOTS FIRED 5100 TRUEMPER WAY  
17F023405 02/26/2017 01:06am 113 SHOTS FIRED 1800 TECUMSEH ST
17F023443 02/26/2017 03:29am 113 SHOTS FIRED 2400 OXFORD ST
17F023704 02/26/2017 09:46pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2100 HOAGLAND AVE & DEWALD ST W
((NO armed robberies))
===========================
FIREWORKS CALLS 02/20 - 02/26
===========================
17F021279 02/21/2017 12:36am 44FW 2000 DREXEL AVE
Now, I have to say that the police didn't seem to have THAT much to do (for a change), but I'm probably wrong. It's just that the local morons MUST have all taken a drive back to their "mutha (f*cka) land" of Chicago to cause mayhem. How else can you explain the lack of shots fired HERE, right?
A shame we didn't more patrols down here as a result...
*** Next up, I think this story might classify as being STUPID, although the main message behind it surely is not.

Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/Black-church-leaders-confront-AIDS-18013315

Good jazz hands

Yes, the AIDS "epidemic" has been going on for over 30 years, and NOW, black church leaders plan to "confront" it?
Isn't that being a little late to this party?
Local black pastors attended a luncheon yesterday called “The Black Church and HIV: The Social Justice Imperative,” a health initiative sponsored by the national office of the NAACP.
Okay, now THAT troubles me.
Whenever I see or hear the phrase "social justice", the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Seems whenever we hear that mentioned it ALWAYS has to do with minorities.

Our entire nation is a "social" one, so why not make it unified by being more INCLUSIVE of all races?
((African Americans remain at increased risk for infections with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. That’s so, she said, because of social factors – including poverty, lack of education, lack of access to quality health care, high rates of incarceration and drug use, among others.))
It's ALWAYS the old "poverty" song, isn't it? Last time I checked, there were more poor WHITES in America (because there are more white people in general - it's another law of averages thing.

Lack of education? Try lack of participation to WANT to get an education.
Health care? Everyone has the SAME access to health care, just like education.
High rates of incarceration? Try NOT COMMITTING the amount of crimes you people do.
Drug use? Try NOT USING drugs...and while you're all at it, try NOT screwing anything with two legs that comes along.
See? Simple solutions to obvious problems...

And the best part...it comes down to MORALITY, doesn't it?
They just DO NOT (want to) get it...even after thirty years.
Just throw another crapload of money at it...that's SURE to solve everything, right?
*** Next, The FWCS continues to humor me, especially with stories like THIS one:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/schools/FWCS-affirms-safe-setting-for-immigrants-18015019

Sure, why NOT have a SAFE learning environment for students...hell, THAT makes sense.
What is troubling here is the immigrant issue, because of how this is being stated.
While "the district will provide a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students, regardless of immigration status" sounds so noble, it basically says that ILLEGALS (who broke the law by coming into our nation and such, are undocumented) get a free pass (again)...WTH is up with this?
FWCS touts their "hands-off" policy by stating as much in this resolution. ((The resolution states, in part, that the board “recognizes the tremendous value and diversity that immigrant students and families bring to the district” and “finds that immigration-enforcement activities at our schools would significantly disrupt the learning environment and interfere with our students’ rights to be free from unreasonable search and seizure.”))

If anyone is here illegally, they broke our immigration laws when they BYPASSED THEM...plain and simple. Maybe if they "learned" to OBEY THE LAW, we wouldn't even be having this discussion, would we?
Sorry, I have no pity on anyone that all but demands they get EQUAL treatment as American citizens as those born and naturalized legally)already receive.
If you're going to politicize our educational system, then be prepared for some push-back on this, because you could be aiding and abetting law-breakers, however old (or young) they may be.
*** Next up...Internet trolls...you hate 'em, right? I know I do. They spoil things for everyone else.

Well be at ease, you're not alone, and you have good reason to feel that way.
Here's one story that "splains" things nicely:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/your-online-secrets/201409/internet-trolls-are-narcissists-psychopaths-and-sadists
And, while we're at it, try this article on for size, too:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/your-online-secrets/201608/why-internet-trolls-enjoy-making-you-feel-bad
Sounds like Jennifer Golbeck, PhD  "gets it".
And, it's even spread to across the pond:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3408616/Internet-trolls-sadistic-psychopaths-kick-abusing-people-online-Video-reveals-traits-cause-people-post-mean-comments-web.html

Now, how about that?
I know there are several who comment on Disqus for no other reason than to flex their Oppositional Defiance Disorder "muscles", that I would love to have drawn and quartered...
I see it this way: If you don't have anything useful or substantive to ADD to any conversation, discussion, or debate, then just STFU and STFD.
*** Next, let's stop by "Bobby G's Kitten Wrangler Academy" and see what's going on...

She's a good girl...almost all the time

Well, Violet decided to somehow get INTO the lazy-Susan again, and nothing could lure her back out, so when I spotted her, I grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and hauled her out. No pictures...sorry.
No harm done either, though...a few treats and all was forgiven. The problem has been taken care of with a new thicker piece of cardboard to use as a shim.
And I did have to chase Gallifrey out of the hamper only once.

And he's a good boy...almost all the time.

The rest of the day was wonderfully sedate...for them AND for me.
And, it's always good to have both of them around, especially when they follow me into a room and just stay close by, and definitely when Wifey's not here.
*** Last back to the fertilizer bag...people are a very creative species.

And I don't necessarily mean that everything that is created (by people) is for the good of mankind.
Want proof? Try nuclear bombs...that sure was a game-changer for humanity, wasn't it?
The ignorance of sanitary conditions led to numerous plagues through the Middle Ages.
The quest for power has allowed way too many wars to get started.
And rampant technology has created a whole new "sub-species" of humanity that makes it even easier to become a predator where none should be allowed to exist.
People create their OWN problems, if not solely for themselves, than certainly for others.

You would think by now, that the alleviation of such problems would have the easiest of solutions at-hand.
Apparently not, because people still seek answers to questions they refuse to define.
Sorry, but I'm a realist in these matters. I also know what is meant by civility, and morality.
Perhaps it's high time that those who NEED such aspects in their lives start chasing after them.
The world would be a lot better off, wouldn't it?

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