Thoughts For Thursday...

August finally comes to it's inevitable end. Sorry to see it go (I like birthday cake).
But, I am enjoying the weather out there...nice and comfy. Haven't had to turn on the A/C until the afternoons and not every day. Always good to save a few bucks here and there. Now, it's time to bid farewell to summer conditions and say hello to autumn, which will arrive sooner than we think.
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us mostly cloudy skies with the possibility of some brief showers, temps only reaching to around 72 degrees,

Not a bad way to end the month.
Now, let's get that favorite beverage to to refresh our body and spirit, as we see what's been going on elsewhere...
*** First off of the window sill is the answer to yesterday's Who Said That? quote:
"Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble." 
This is attributed to another someone I know little about...one Rabbi Yehuda Berg, and here is the very brief WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yehuda_Berg
Seems the only thing of note is a lawsuit for malicious behavior while co-director of the Kabbalah Centre (founded by his father).
Here is the WIKI on the Kabbalah Centre:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabbalah_Centre
Now, while some of the teachings seem to go a bit off the rails, this particular quote lends itself to a lot of truth.

Let's just say the Kabbalah Centre seems more "new age" than Old Testament, and has it's share of celebs who are followers, such as Mick Jagger, Demi Moore, and yes, even Ariana Grande.
I'd say focus on the truth of the quote, and the power of the words.
*** Next up, time to end this month with our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
AUGUST 31 -
---It's National Diatomaceous Earth Day

(sounds like a tree-hugger thing)
---It's National Matchmaker Day

(and I thought it was a manufacturing thing...lol)
---It's National South Carolina Day

(still doesn't mean much in Indiana)
---It's National Trail Mix Day

(I do have an affinity for this stuff)
*** Next, the police caught one of the suspects robbing the cell phone stores. Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20170831/man-admits-role-in-heists

BUSTED!

Alonta J. Walker, 20, of the 2700 block of Curdes Avenue, is the latest "guest" of the Allen County lockup (and I'm sure looks resplendent in ORANGE).
Walker was charged with burglary and was being held in lieu of $10,000 bail along with a no-bond order on another charge, according to a jail spokesman.
As of Wednesday afternoon, there was no word from police about whether the other person had been arrested.
*** Next, an Op-Ed column about this proposed opioid treatment center. Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/editorials/20170831/communityconcern

Sure, it's needed...I suppose...maybe.
And might well wind up on the south side of the city (because we know this is about the ONLY type of thing we can mange to place in these parts nowadays.
But, is this REALLY needed?
For those who became addicted thanks to prescripts, that should be handled (imho) on the HOSPITAL/DOCTOR level.

For everyone else who makes the wonderfully bad CHOICE to get addicted to drugs (usually of the street pharmaceutical kind), maybe whatever jail time they get for any related crimes serve as a form of "cold turkey".

That's how a LOT of people got off such poison "back in the day".
It's not pretty, but it works, and for a lot less than treatment "centers".
There is also the Darwin aspect to this - or as Dickens put it "decrease the surplus population".
Sounds a bit callous, but it places charity in a better light for those truly in need (like those in Houston)
That's just my take on it...from someone who didn't get into the whole drug-culture (by design or by choice).
*** Next up, time for another installment of "What on God's green earth has Bob bought on eBay now?"

Well, this time I scored a major coup...got myself an Avengers "Cycle-Blast" Quinjet from the Age of Ultron movie. It is for AGES 4+, so I figured I'm safe at MY age...heh.
And it only cost $11 total ($8.29 + sales tax and shipping).
It's a pretty decent copy of the (fictional) movie aircraft, and features a motorcycle-riding Captain America figure that can be "launched" from the jet with the push of a button.

You can also open the canopy and place up to four figures in the cockpit.
Considering I've seen this going for about $20 (or more, mostly more), I'd call this one a win for the good guys (and a nice addition to my mini upstairs toy museum.
*** Next, the Internet is FULL of games of all sorts, and I found one that I like...called Supermechs.

Yeah, big honking robots you arm up and take into combat in a venue not unlike Street Fighter (which is one game I find boring and dumb).
Been playing Supermechs now for a week, and upgrading the mech is the cool part, although it takea a while to get anything worth pummeling the opposition into oblivion. You can also play other players (from other countries). Have to admit some of them been playing a LOT longer and have mechs that could turn you into a stain on the arena floor by just looking at you (I avoid those).

The battles you take on are varied and lead to harder battles (don't they all?) with better upgrades.
The thing I don't like is that you can PURCHASE additional items for real currency (USD).
I also avoid that. I like the free stuff in the game, and don't want to incur additional costs for anything on the Internet. That costs a lot already.
*** Next up, let's keep things light with a visit to "Kitten Corner"...

Yes, she IS asleep, but not for long.

The kids were working off their crazies, and indulged in a bout of calm yesterday. A welcome change for Wifey and myself.

Nap time is the best time.

I suppose they have to go through such a phase (not unlike children), and that when they find out that better behavior nets rewards, they get with the program and settle down.
*** Next, let's see what's been going on with "Midnight and Company"...

Keeping an eye on things.

Midnight was the one who stayed around the "Fortress" all day, while Whiskers decided to take over the patrol duty...after helping me with some electric string-trimmer work around the garden/lawn areas...

Let me help untangle that cord, Bob.

She later came back for her afternoon and evening eats...and spent time being cute.

Peek-a-boo. I see you.

How can you not find such creatures anything BUT...right?
*** Last back to the garden gate...history is perhaps the best "teacher" when it comes to repetitive behavior.

It's also a great source of the TRUTH, as long as the revisionists keep their primate paws off of it.
Take for example the recent "debate" over left and right extremist groups.
They sure aren't like their counterparts from the past.
Anyone remember a little get-together called the Democratic Convention of 1924, held at Madison Square Garden?

The "Roaring" Twenties?

It was also known as "The Klanbake", and it was under Calvin Coolidge's administration.
It was also eluded that Coolidge was a Klansman (no definitive proof), but the KKK has a history of attaching themselves to politicians, unlike those who actually WERE in the Klan, like democrat senator Robert Byrd, or Theodore Bilbo (D, MS), Edward Jackson (R, IN) governor of the state in 1926, and other assorted politicos, mainly democrat.
How about the pro-Nazi rally held at Madison Square Garden back in 1939 under FDR's watch? Ring any bells?
Now THOSE particular rallies might have ruffled some feathers, but they were huge (tens of thousands) compared to the similar-themed "rallies" today, and a lot LESS violent.

I'm not condoning EITHER venue for any reason, but I'm stating that what has gone around has come back around...with a more violent intent, and only to serve it's own agenda, and never the greater good of this nation OR it's people.

We're in the middle of dealing with a natural disaster along the gulf coast, and we need to stop this in-fighting. Moreover, we need to stop allowing fringe groups to get the attention and traction they are receiving (in the name of tolerance).
We can still be tolerant, but not to the point of becoming stupidly complacent (as a nation), as we seem to be headed.
History will guide us, if we are willing to spend the time and effort to become knowledgeable of it.

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

See 'ya next month.