Monday Musings...

And we're off once again at the start of another week, sure to excite both young and old (he said sarcastically). Here's (also) hoping I manage to get a comment or two today (everyone took Friday off, it seemed)...lol.
At least we didn't have hoards of aimlessly wandering children asking where's my daddy on Father's Day.
We also survived that rain event over the weekend, small as it was. Sure jacked up the humidity.
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us partly to mostly cloudy skies, temps only (?) reaching up top around 77 degrees, and that chance of rain in the afternoon. It's not as hot (and humid). That's a good thing.

So, what say we kick off the week with a nice refreshing beverage to wet our whistle, as we see what's been going on elsewhere, hmm?
*** First off the rails is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
JUNE 19 -
---it's National FreeBSD Day

(look it up - it's not as free as you might think)
---It's National Martini Day

(It's an acquired taste, and not a favorite of mine, but it's not bad with the right ingredients)
---It's National Watch Day

(yes, it's a timey-wimey thing)
---It's Juneteenth

(I'll make this one easy for 'ya...here's the link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneteenth
---Cripes, I almost forgot...today is a special day for America's favorite feline.
It's Garfield's Birthday.

Have to admit he still looks good for his age.
And may he enjoy MANY more (save me a slice of cake).
*** Next up, what's up with our destroyer being rammed by a container ship (killing 7 sailors) in the middle of the night, anyway?

Here's the story link:
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/world/2017/06/17/us-sailors-found-dead-destroyer-collision-freighter-japan

What I find totally weird, is that the Arleigh-Burke-class destroyer (of which the USS Fitzgerald is one) has a fantastic radar system that allows objects to be spotted up to hundreds of miles away, and that included in the air, below the sea, and (in this case) ON the damn sea. So WTH went wrong?
A ship the size of several football fields was certainly not a stealthy craft by ANY means.

So, why didn't the destroyer notice it, and ran it off, take evasive action, or just sail the hell out of the way?
I mean our ship could (literally) sail circles around a cargo ship (and do it at 30+ knots).
Something just does not add up here.
*** Next up, we lost actor Stephen Furst over the weekend, from complications from years of diabetes. He was 63 years old.

Here's his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Furst

Wifey and I got to meet him once at a sci-fi con, and he signed a photo from Babylon 5 for her.
A very jovial person, and someone who did a very good job as an actor.
Sure, everyone remembers him as "Flounder" in Animal House, but he did more than that.

His B5 character, Vir Cotto was one who evolved through the 5-year story-line, and yes, they made an action figure of that character (2 variants, in fact). We have both of those.
For a series that aired in the 1990s, many cast members have left us too soon.
And, it was one of the best told stories in small screen science fiction, thanks to J. Michael Straczynski.
*** Next up, I read that Whole Food (markets) was bought by Amazon, and that's got grocery chains (and others) a bit nervous.

Here's just one story:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2017/06/18/amazon-whole-foods-deal-is-bad-news-for-store-cashiers-and-the-fight-for-15-minimum-wage/1#3a392b257513

Now, I guess Kroger wants to get a jump on all this by saying they're lowerinbg prices in their stores for basic items.
Well, I can tell you, that I noticed NONE of that going on (this weekend). Milk was still $2.69 a gallon, and eggs were still $1.59 doz. Margarine is still 99 cents (Imperial and Blue Bonnet).
Kroger's going to have to up the ante is they want to stay ahead of Amazon...ditto for places like Walgreens, Target, Walmart, Menards, Aldi, Family Dollar, Dollar General, Save-a-lot and damn near every convenience store, because THEY also seel basics like MILK and eggs, and such.
*** Next up, let's take a stroll over to "Kitten Corner"...

The kids really got into bird-watching over the weekend, and that seemed to wind them up more than usual. The word "frenetic" comes to mind.
Still, they always calm back down, and get to being cute and adorable (he's cute, she's adorable).

There are times when they become a handful, and that's when Wifey pulls out a laser and runs them around tiring them out.
Why not, right?
*** Next, time for our "Tales of Midnight"...

Our furry buddy spends a bit more time away from our house of late. Have no idea where he goes, but he DOES come back for food, and sometimes just to hang out until it starts getting dark.

Maybe he's got a girlfriend, who can say.
I do know he's always out by the patio door each morning for eats, and that's good.
*** Last back to the station house...again, we see more changes that we're told we WANT. It might not be what we NEED, but that never seems to matter these days.

Everyone wants to do less, and that means making such mundane things as grocery shopping EASIER. Like people don't ant to bother making a list, and then driving to a store, picking items by hand from shelves and then paying for it...
Nah, that's too much or an encumbrance to manage. Nation of wusses, that's what we're heading toward.
Maybe that's why the judicial system is as effed up as it is...plea deals are easier than working for a honest conviction?

We are being led in a particular direction.

That's why we have rolling computers instead of vehicles these days...all the frills and bells and whistles of living at home INSIDE your car or SUV...how quaint. Just stay the hell home, then.
We talk about autonomous cars, drones delivering items we purchase (online), and then have the audacity to bitch a fit when the tech fails or gets hacked. You can't have all this stuff and not expect it ALL to be totally foolproof, can you?
This isn't the 24th century...yet.
And the scary part, is that all this tech is far outpacing OUR ability to both keep up with it, and educate ourselves on how to properly USE it for the purpose it was intended.
Where it will all end, I have no frigging idea, but I sure hope WE are prepared to work with it, and not wind up with it running our lives. We might not enjoy how THAT would turn out.

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