Thoughts For Thursday...

Looks to be a carbon copy of yesterday in some ways.
And, I'm already starting to remove dandelions from the back yard lawn...can't wait to do the other lawns.
Talk about dread (argh).
Our Hoosierland weather for today being us partly to mostly cloudy skies, temps reaching to around 63 degrees (again), and the possibility of some scattered rain showers coming through, so keep that umbrella handy.

Who needs a cup or saucer?

Now, what say we get that morning cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa made (and parked close by) as we see what else has been taking place since last we convened, hmm?
*** First out of the daffodil patch is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"Those who forget good and evil and seek only to know the facts are more likely to achieve good than those who view the world through the distorting medium of their own desires."

This was spoken by Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS (18 May 1872 – 2 February 1970) who was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, writer, social critic, political activist and Nobel laureate.
And here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertrand_Russell
((At various points in his life he considered himself a liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist, but he also admitted that he had "never been any of these things, in any profound sense",))
Amazing what some people will say about you...even if it's NOT true. Some things never change, I guess.

((In the early 20th century, Russell led the British "revolt against idealism". He is considered one of the founders of analytic philosophy along with his predecessor Gottlob Frege, colleague G. E. Moore, and protégé Ludwig Wittgenstein. He is widely held to be one of the 20th century's premier logicians.))
Since this is a rather lengthy read, I'll leave it to all of you to bone up on him. I think you will find it one of the more intriguing historical accounts of someone who was quite influential on mathematics, logic, set theory, linguistics, artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and computer science. He was one busy individual, that's for sure.
And, at least HE got HIS Nobel Prize (literature) for doing SOMETHING.
*** Next up, is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
APRIL 13 -
---It's National make Lunch Count Day

(let's forget all those free ones from FWCS for the kids of lazy parents)
---It's National Peach Cobbler Day

(not really into peaches here...or Herb...LOL)
---It's National Scrabble Day

(try playing in a different language...like Klingon...heh)
---It's National Thomas Jefferson Day

(avoid any revisionist history here)
*** Next, it would appear that we have notched HOMICIDE NUMBER EIGHT in county Allen (Fort Wayne).

Here's what is known so far:
http://wane.com/2017/04/13/1-detained-1-dead-after-shooting-at-ramada-hotel/

This took place at the Ramada Plaza Inn, located at 305 East Washington Center Road around 2307 hrs.
Police found one male dead from gunshot wounds. A second male, described as "a person of interest" was detained for questioning. This place was formerly known as Hotel Fort Wayne.
*** Next up, a man poses as an excise officer (for reasons unknown. Here's the story:
http://wane.com/2017/04/12/man-arrested-for-impersonating-excise-officer-at-club/
Montrel Davis, 22, was arrested on a felony warrant for Impersonating a Public Servant.
According to a release from Indiana State Excise Police, Davis showed a badge and said he was an excise officer to employees at Early Bird’s Ultra Lounge at 4201 N. Wells St. 
Wow, the FWPD didn't even get a chance to bust his sorry ass.
((Actual officers went to the nightclub and found Davis with a gold badge with the words “Security Enforcement Officer” emblazoned on it in his wallet, the release said.)) Imagine that...a "rent-a-cop" from a security agency being a POSER.
Takes a SPECIAL kind of stupid for that, right?
*** Next, a tale of another savage beast (not found in our zoo, either). Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20170413/man-accused-of-beating-girlfriend

Tyray Bradley, Jr, 19, of the 3500 block of Abbott Street (sounds like a south-sider to me) is cooling his heels in the local hoosegow, after beating his girlfriend of one month (and killing her hamster).
Brutality seems to be a hallmark of such people these days.
((During the daylong ordeal Monday, police were called to the woman's home several times, the first around 11 a.m. Bradley was then banned from the address and told not to return, but he reappeared about 1:30 p.m. and again about 2:45 p.m., court records said.)) At least the police finally DID something after the THIRD call...better than nothing, right?
The woman could have wound up on a coroner's table just as easily.
Bradley's bond was set at $15,750. If the woman was smart, she might want to take out an R.O. (restraining order) on this jerk...not that they always prevent further contact (or violence).
*** Next, you can tell it's Springtime on the SE side very easily.

TNB at it's "finest".

Some dumbass decided to toss some half-eaten fast food items from their car along our street yesterday afternoon, and these idiots NEVER take into account any consequences of such actions. That's ONE of their many problems.
Take the black cat  we saw nibbling away at this early THIS morning (too dark to get a decent picture).
The cat did finally take the hell off, but it was a prime candidate for being run over, considering the manner in which these "locals" drive around here (like speeding...and still never get ticketed).
*** Next up, and speaking of cats, let's stop on by "Kitten Corner"...

Yes, he can sing as well as dance.

I was watching some of the Doctor Who episodes yesterday, choosing to listen to my own words and just try to get my calm back, when Gallifrey came in, rubbed against my hand and then climbed onto one of the chairs to nap.
Wasn't long after that that Violet came in, did the rubbing thing, and climbed onto the sofa and went to sleep between my legs.

She just wants a comfy place to snooze.

I felt wonderfully spoiled to have them both in the room with me...seemed like "old times" with our former cats.
Talk about waxing nostalgic. Naturally, when it was time to eat, it all abruptly ended...lol.
Still, some time is better than no time, right?
*** Last back to the hyacinth garden...trying to maintain one's stability (and sanity) is difficult when it seems like you're stuck in a damn asylum.

At least THESE guys aren't all THAT bad.

The worst part is that the inmates have been running it for WAY too long.
When you see the lack of humanity that people display on a daily basis, you have to wonder where the hell it all went wrong.

People today have become so set on instant gratification, and when they don't seem to get it, look out.
We've at least one generation of kids growing up this way, and many parents are NOT doing much to dissuade it.

Isn't everything a CHOICE?

Add to that an (established) entitlement mindset, and you're creating some marvelously dysfunctional people.
Make no mistake...that will place this nation on a collision course with a SPECIFIC destiny, and we may not enjoy the ride, and definitely won't like the end result.

When you have kids who "mark time" in school and still expect passing grades...you've got a problem.
When you have people entering the workforce and are wanting outlandish pay for entry-level jobs...you've got a problem.
And when you all but condone bad behavior by ignoring all the (small) infractions of the laws we have in place, sending a message that it's okay to "get away with it"...you've got a problem.
I suppose the most hideous aspect to all of this is that is when such things become commonplace and "acceptable" because "everyone's doing it".
That was a poor excuse when I was growing up, and it STILL is today.

My folks didn't give a damn what OTHERS did...it was what you did that mattered (so you better do right). And it should still be that way.
When you take the time to define the problem, THEN you can seek a solution to it...not before.
There lies our greatest obstacle, AND our greatest challenge.

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