Humpday Happenings...

Here we are...middle of the week once again.
And yes, Tuesday was a hot one outside. As for today...more of the same...pretty much.
Our Hoosierland weather will see us with partly cloudy skies, temps reaching up to around 85 degrees, and a lot of gusty winds. Maybe that will blow some of the locals scum off of the area...I can always hope.
Now, you get your morning drink and I'll get mine, so we can together get a look at what's been going on elsewhere...
*** First out of the refrigerator is our WHO SAID THAT? quote for the week:

"There is no greater impediment to progress in the sciences than the desire to see it take place too quickly." 
This is one of those quotes that definitely gets you thinking, and especially when the word SCIENCES is used...it's PLURAL, which means physics, biology and quite a few more inclusive disciplines.
So, who said that? The answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
meanwhile, back at the "Compass of Motives"...
*** Next up, is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
MAY 17 -
---It's National Cherry Cobbler Day

(if it's pastry, I'm mostly there.)
---It's National Pack Rat Day

(and here I was looking for Sinatra and the gang)
---It's National Walnut Day

(and what IS a day without a few nuts, hmm?)
*** Next, watched another good show on Nat-Geo last night: Breakthrough.

Can't believe the show premiered back in 2015...where they been hiding it?
Here's the series site:
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/breakthrough-series/

The episode focused on the fight against leukemia using our body's own immune system. A group of "maverick" doctors theorized that taking HIV cells, removing the bad aspects of them, and then genetically modifying them to work as CAR-T cells in the body, they would eradicate cancer cells.
Funny thing, it worked in mice, but what about a more complex system like HUMANS?
Let's just say that going against conventionality and massive regulations, these doctors managed to get to clinical trials (no easy feat) and the patients selected for the trials have shown remarkable recoveries...nothing short of miraculous, in fact.

What the docs are trying for next, is to produce  "universal" CAR-T celsl for humans which doe not need a donor, and yet won't be rejected by the host body or take to destroying healthy cells in the host.
Truly fascinating stuff, and such which could be called REAL progress. Definitely worth a watch.
*** Next up, a letter to the editor that I think mirrors my thoughts on a recent hot topic.

(( Promoting Overdoses
Why are we seeing so many overdoses in Fort Wayne and Allen County? Is it free needles from the Allen County Board of Health? Free, clean needles to drug addicts only promotes overdoses, and it's like giving a kid a loaded handgun. If a drug addict gets free needles, are those free needles evidence against them in court since the county is the provider?
Harold Luttman - Fort Wayne ))
Okay then, Harold...I do believe YOU "get it".
*** Next,  as can be expected, let's look at some of the STUPID going around.

---Here's a tale about one less drug dealer off our streets (for a while):
http://wane.com/2017/05/16/heroin-dealer-sentenced-in-9k-drug-bust/

((A Fort Wayne man has been sentenced to 151 months for possession with intent to distribute heroin, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Marlon D. Cole, also known as Terrence Cole, was arrested in July 2016 after Fort Wayne detectives found about 44 grams of heroin, five grams of cocaine, and 24 yellow pink, purple and green pills, some of which contained ecstasy, inside his home, according to court documents.
Officers also found two semi-automatic handguns and $15,220.
Cole, who had a previous conviction for cocaine dealing in 2009, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute less than 100 grams of heroin, a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office said today.))

Welcome back hone, homey!

They finally got this buck sentenced...and a pretty good length of time. Refer to my archive post from 22 JULY 2016 for the source story regarding the initial arrest.
---If you think you're safe in a senior living facility, you might wish to rethink that.
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20170517/aide-sought-in-ripoff-of-patient

Yeah, an 87-year old woman (with memory loss and physical impairment) ripped off by a "worker" there (posing as a worker, actually).

((The elderly woman's wallet contained her Chase Bank debit card, $40 in cash and an antique gold and diamond round-face watch worth $400. At 10:48 a.m. June 4, Kwanya Hollopeter – aka Kwanya Montgomery and Kwanya Smith – entered the patient's home. She was wearing the familiar purple uniform scrub shirt of Sunshine Home Health Care, even though she had been recently terminated from her job as an aide, according to court documents. A warrant has been issued for her arrest.

Hollopeter, 43, of the 4600 block of Smith Road, has been charged with exploitation of an endangered adult, theft with a prior conviction and fraud. Her bond is $7,500, according to an Allen County Jail spokeswoman.))
ONLY $7500 bond? That's not a decent slap on the wrist. Stealing from the aged...that's how these people seem to roll.
Might want to check that ADDRESS, too...nothing but nothing along that stretch  (of Smith Road) near Engle Rd.
Check the maps for yourself.
My guess, based on the perp's name would be the 4600 block of SMITH STREET (and not road)...between Senate and Capitol on the (where else?) SE side, where a lot of women wear scrubs and "work" at local healthcare facilities around town, so they can get Section-8 housing status by showing employment for a brief time (and availing themselves of other's stuff along the way, no doubt).
*** Next up...progress (of sorts) on our water main work.

Nice dirt pile you got.

Well, we were without water (again) for a couple hours yesterday, but I did get a heads-up from one worker and managed to  secure 4 gallons before the cutoff...just in case.
All they basically did was dig a deep hole and then...fill it the hell back up.

(shades of Cool Hand Luke...LOL)

That's SO government-sponsored ghetto, folks!

Naturally, the local  two-legged "wildlife" had to get involved (after school), using a patio roof as an ad hoc "monkey bars"...Sea monkeys? Nah, I SEE monkeys...heh.

WAY too close to construction gear...no supervision and no cops.

Someone could have gotten hurt (baby-mama wasn't home as usual).
And THIS is why we call them GHETTOS, people (I still like "beleaguered").
*** Next, time to leave this mess, and stop on by "Kitten Corner"...

"Why are standing SIDEWAYS, Daddy?"

The kids behaved themselves for the most part, Gallifrey just busied himself by sleeping (and looking cute) while Violet carried her "fuzzy toy" about the house...and acted adorable.
I think I also know why Wifey loves Baby Groot so much...

"I am Violet.                    "I am Groot."

He's got Violet's EYES...LOL.
Have to admit, there is a similarity there.
*** Next up, time to see some "Tales of Midnight"...
Our homeless buddy spent most of the day close to our "Fortress".

"Wish I had a zipper for this coat".

I changed his water early on, so he could have something cool to drink before things got hot. And with black fur, that can be uncomfortable in such weather, especially when said fur has NO means of removal and storage until winter.
*** Last back to the air conditioner...progress is not something to fear, provisionally-speaking.

I'm not going against what I previously stated...I just believe that anything done for the sake of itself comes with it's own set of problems. Change for change sake...progress for the sake OF progress (alone) are the prime examples.
If you have a suitable method of procedure or a manner in which to perform specific tasks, and they work well enough, then WHY change them at all?
No one can really re-invent the wheel, right?
But, we can make it better...THAT is the key.

Not doing things because we can do them, but doing things with purpose...to achieve a better goal and result than was once thought. That is the way to proceed with almost anything in today's world.
There do come times when theory can produce result, like with advancements in medicine (the story and program above), but these are the rarity and not the typical.
People of vision are behind such progress...the real, true progress we earnestly desire.
Such people can be found throughout history, be they in politics, science, religion...whatever.
If anything lasting can be said about these people, it should be noted that they were THINKERS...who became DOERS.
And that's where everything begins in life...with a thought...an idea.

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