Thoughts For Thursday...

The month of March is fast winding down, and looks to go OUT the same way it came in...like a lion...A rather SOGGY lion, but a lion nonetheless.
Hope we didn't exhaust our reserves of April showers for next month...heh.
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us some rain (as if you couldn't hear the thunder and see the lightning already), temps reaching back up into the mid-50s and windy conditions.

Do plan accordingly and drive with care.
By the way, today's post has more links than a bloody chain factory, too. You have been cautioned...heh.
Lots of reading for all of you out there.
So, how's about we all get that nice hot cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa, as we take a look at all the stuff that's been going on elsewhere, hmm?
*** First out of the umbrella shop is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:

"When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself." 
This was spoken by another "newbie" here, one Tecumseh (March 1768 – October 5, 1813) who was a leader of the Shawnee Native Americans.  And here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tecumseh
It was he who led a confederation of various tribes against the United States during what became known as "Tecumseh's War" which, prior to the War of 1812, caused this confederation to side with the British.
((Tecumseh grew up in the Ohio Country during the American Revolutionary War and the Northwest Indian War, where he was constantly exposed to warfare. With Americans continuing to move west after the British ceded the Ohio Valley to the new United States in 1783, the Shawnee moved farther northwest. In 1808, they settled Prophetstown in present-day Indiana.))
If you're into native-American history (especially in and around Indiana), this is a pretty good read.
A shame that Tecumseh was killed in 1813, at what was called The Battle of the Thames.

Here's the WIKI for that:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Thames
This was also known as the Battle of Moraviantown, located near present day Chatham, Ontario Canada.
It's good to read about our 2nd war with England and how we won that.
*** Next up, time for our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
MARCH 30 -
---It's National Doctor's Day

(A doctor is one thing...THE Doctor is quite the other)

And WE should know...

---It's National I Am In Control Day

(I don't think the world is READY to have ME in control...lol)
---It's National Pencil Day

(God bless Ticonderoga #2s)
---It's National Take A Walk In The Park Day

(damn, have to go ELSEWHERE to find a park in the city where I won't potentially be assaulted)
---It's National Turkey Neck Soup Day

(sorry, I never ingest anything I tend to throw out)
*** Next up, when it's Springtime, the hyacinths, crocuses and daffodils, along with the assorted STUPID all begin to bloom anew.

And when that happens, we enlighten you with some news briefs (no boxers):
((Please note - The Journal-Gazette links MIGHT NOT work. I'm having problems accessing them all of a sudden. Someone screwed something up somewhere and it wasn't me. Let me know if there's a problem. Thanks. ))
1) Downtown building to get MAJOR makeover? Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/Makeover-underway-downtown-18496182

Metro Bldg - downtown (or course)

Oh, okay...blow the wad revamping THAT building, but go right ahead and write off the (historical) Bowser buildings.
Why the hell not...I mean the METRO building IS after all...DOWNTOWN.
2) A Frank Gray column talks about the Bowser facility:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/frank-gray/Bowser-Pump-building-is--not-a-gold-mine--18474986

The ONLY part worth saving?

Okay, so it's not a "gold mine"...does that mean our part of town HAS to get "the shaft" (again anyway),  though? It COULD be saved, IF the crime rate was lowered.
3) Indiana's school voucher bill (House bill 1384) advances through the legislature, but beware...
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/indiana/Voucher-schools-bill-advances-18499337
And here's an OP-ED that clarifies things:
http://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/Voucher-bill-drops-standards-further-18461516

So, we increase voucher spending to INCLUDE failing schools?
How "novel" that is...(rewarding "bad behavior" once again) and even proves more costly to our public education system.
I can see more snowballs being kicked down more mountains with this. Gonna need MORE tax money from someplace to continue "feeding the beast", right?
*** Next, and in keeping with the mode of STUPID around the city, we have THIS story:
http://wane.com/2017/03/29/man-found-guilty-in-october-2015-shooting-death/

Yes, 25-year-old Hosayfa Sultan is looking at life in prison (what? NO death sentence?) after a jury found him guilty of gunning down one man and injuring another back in October of 2015 at a (where else?) SE side home.
And, as predictable as ever, the "tribe" got restless after hearing the verdict.
Typical (you-know-what) behavior.
*** Next up, some fun with armed robberies in the city.
1) A liquor store was held up last night:
http://wane.com/2017/03/30/fwpd-investigating-liquor-store-armed-robbery/

S&V Liquors, located at 2035 Broadway around 2342 hrs last night was targeted by a man wearing a ski mask.
((A police K-9 officer attempted to track the suspect but was unsuccessful. Other officers canvassed the neighborhood but were not able to locate the suspect. Police did not release a description of the man believed to have robbed the store.))
There you go...no mention of a weapon, no suspect description, and no mention if he took any booze. He DID get away with an undisclosed amount of cash. Not a total loss.
2) A gas station is robbed...once again:
http://wane.com/2017/03/30/n-clinton-street-gas-station-robbed-at-gunpoint/

This is the Eddie's Quick Mart/Marathon station located at 4233 N. Clinton St.
The robbery took place around 0300 hrs this morning.
Funny thing, the place HAD been closed during overnight hours due to previous armed robberies but had since opened back up to offer 24/7 service.
So much for offering around-the-clock convenience.
Only takes one idiot to ruin things for so many others, does it not?
*** Next up, What say we dump the stupid and instead, drop by "Kitten Corner"...

Gallifrey in the window.

The kids still get a bit wound up mid-morning, and sometimes after Wifey comes home and we've eaten dinner. Guess the little furballs have to run off all that excess energy. Still, it makes for a pleasant time when they do settle back down.

Violet napping in the window.

Hopefully, as they age, they'll both come to know what a human LAP is for, and just stay in one spot long enough for us to stroke their fur as they purr away.
*** Last back to the mud room...People CAN be predictable. VERY predictable.

All YOU have to do is be a good OBSERVER, right?
With years comes knowledge, and with knowledge comes experience, and with experience comes the ability to make better decisions, choices, and assessments of various situations.
It's just a logical progression of the human condition.
So when warmer weather comes, it's no surprise that crimes rise in proportion to the outside conditions.
I mean, who robs businesses when you've got a foot of snow outside anyway, right?
(the dumbest of the dumb, usually)

And, with nice weather comes the tried and true (human) complacency. People relax their guard, and can become scatter-brained. Then, they wonder why their vehicle was broken into (when the door was left unlocked). Same can be said for residential burglaries.
People don't tend to leave things unlocked when it's well below freezing...see how this works?
Life is about many things...one of which is something called "patterns".

People follow patterns. Call them routines, rituals, habits...whatever.
Many ARE actually good for you...others, not so much.
Your choice (as always) is to discern one from the other, isn't it?

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