Humpday Happenings...

Nothing like a soggy-ass day to great you when you get up, is there?
And, it's been heavy at times, but it's scheduled to stop sometime this morning.
After that, it might turn out to be a half-decent day.
Our Hoosierland weather will bring us mostly cloudy skies, temps reaching to around 66 degrees (comfy), and this rain will be tapering off as the day goes on.

I think it's time we got that (hot or cold) refreshing drink to get our weary selves started, as we see what has been going on elsewhere...
*** First off of the rain-washed street is our WHO SAID THAT? quote for the week:

"Morality without religion is only a kind of dead reckoning - an endeavor to find our place on a cloudy sea by measuring the distance we have run, but without any observation of the heavenly bodies."
This quote, while highly applicable in light of what transpires daily, will also figures into today's post (like you thought otherwise).
So, who said that? The answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
Meanwhile, back at Bowdoin College...
*** Next up, time for the "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
OCTOBER 11 -
---It's General Pulaski Memorial Day

(this was a  bigger deal back east)
---It's National Sausage Pizza Day

(Never met one I didn't like)
---It's National Fossil Day

(finally, a day all to myself...lol)
---It's National Coming Out Day

(as long as you're coming out with a sausage pizza, no problem)
BTW, it seems we're seeing at least one LGBT-BS observance per month anymore...what's up with that?
How about some (specified) STRAIGHT observances?
*** Next, our local electric utility is pushing this 20% rate hike and held a public meeting. Here's the story:
http://wane.com/2017/10/10/customers-say-im-rate-hike-proposal-too-much-to-pay/

And they heard from WE, the people...a LOT.
(with good reason)
This boils down to a dollar a day payout (per customer) to AEP...and for what?

Yeah, you BETTER take notes, pal.

The company hacks "say" it's for infrastructure improvement.
And you've NOT been improving anything as the years have passed...WHY?
Here's the J-G story (which sheds more light on the issue):
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/20171011/im-gets-an-earful-over-rate-hike-plan

Don't see ANY smiling faces here.

All of a sudden (now), you NEED improvements to a utility you SHOULD have been improving as you go along - making needed changes to keep the power flowing (which is tenuous as hell when bad weather comes along anyway)?
((“This rate hike is only to benefit AEP, and the poor decisions they have made,” Customer Andrea Hamman said. “Flat out greed.”))
Sure sounds that way.
((While many here talked about what the increase would mean for those who are living paycheck to paycheck, others criticized what the money would go toward. I&M said it’s needed for maintenance and operational costs which include infrastructure improvements, new meters, and construction projects at Southern Indiana’s Rockport coal plant.))

NO thank you.

If by "new meters" you means SMART meters (my archival posts from 20 May 2010 and 29 Jan 2013)...count ME the hell OUT.
I don't want the utility to "control" my usage.
I'll pay for whatever the hell I decide to use.
This is just another case where you have to watch BOTH HANDS of this utility...just like NIPSCO (who is also pushing a natural gas rate hike).
*** Next up, more proof of domestic battery in the Summit City. Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20171011/man-accused-of-hitting-family

LOSER!!!

Gary Jefferies, 55, of the 7600 block of Regina Drive, was arrested Saturday around 2230 hrs and charged with seven felony counts of domestic battery, a misdemeanor for driving while intoxicated and another misdemeanor for resisting law enforcement. What an upstanding citizen he is (NOT!).
((The problem started about 4:30 p.m. when Jeffries started drinking, according to court documents. About 9:15 p.m., Jeffries got into an argument with his wife fueled by the fact that he had left several times during the evening to go to the liquor store to get more alcohol, she told police.))
Somehow, being 6'3" and 320 lbs, doesn't tell me he's WORKING at all. In fact, I'm willing to bet he's on SOME kind of disability (at least), or another form of "government-sponsorship"...typical.
But, this turdbucket CAN drink...and drive. Nothing but the police seemed to stop that.
Jeffries was being held at the Allen County Jail in lieu of $26,500 bail, according to a jail spokesman.
*** Next, Fort Wayne has made ANOTHER list. Here's that story:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/news/local-news/2017/10/09/fort-wayne-makes-list-as-top-10-hipster-market/

Recycle Serenade

We're part of the "hipsters", now...don'cha just feel all warm and fuzzy over this?
((In rank order, the Hottest Hipster Markets in America are Columbus, Seattle, San Diego, Fort Wayne, Rochester, N.Y., San Francisco, Long Beach, Calif., Louisville, Ky., Grand Rapids, Mich. and Colorado Springs, Colo.))
That's some "scary" company we're in, if you ask me.
*** Next up, and speaking of scary, there's this editorial from Walter Williams:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/opinion/commentary/2017/10/11/walter-e-williams-our-broken-moral-compasses/

Yes, our moral compass DOES seem to be broken...said that for a good while now.
This  is a very good read, and I encourage all of you to take a minute to glean the truth found within it.
*** Next, time to visit "Kitten Corner"...

My turn on the box...

It was a pretty calm day with both cats spending much of the time lounging about. Violet was more "herself", so whatever ailed her seems to be gone for now...that's good.
As for Gallifrey...he never seems to miss a step. In fact, I still have to chase him away from Violet's food dish, because she always eats slower than he does (he's the gobble-guts of the pair).

Now, it's my turn...zzzz...

Within our walls, everyone gets the same treatment. Good gets rewarded, and bad gets punished.
Other than that, it's always time for affection.
*** Next up. let's check in with "Midnight and Company"...

"I will be looking for this shelter you speak of..."

Wifey and I headed to Menards yesterday morning to get more supplies for the winter shelters for our furry duo. We now have everything we need to make Midnight and Whiskers a place to get out o the cold when winter hits.
And, the Latinos in the purple house behind us (helluva color for an exterior...except when you live in Mexico) took down the metal shed they had in back of their place (which we've called "the bunker" for years due to cinder block construction), so perhaps Midnight has one less place to hang out after dark.

I'll be watching for mine, too..

As for Whiskers and where she goes? That's anyone's guess for now.
Soon, neither of them will have to go elsewhere.
*** Last back to the downspout...We, as a society, are adrift in a sea of immorality.

Pretty simple to comprehend.

And that's the LAST place to not have a functioning moral compass, isn't it?
How we got to this point could fill volumes.
How we extricate ourselves from this ongoing debacle will most likely fill even more.
When we sacrifice moral integrity, we lose a lot of who we are, or rather, who we should be.
You can pick up any paper, turn on any news channel and see the results.
And, the funny part about much of this...we have permitted this to take place.
We have fully allowed that which we used to shy away from to take center stage.
Bad behavior? Just acting up. Consequences? Not important. Responsibility? Doesn't matter.
Well, guess what, folks - It's NOT, it IS, and it DOES...period.

THERE is something to think about...

When we allow those who we have chosen to have a level of power over us (in any degree) a similar "free-pass", we're not helping matters...we're making it even worse.
It's little wonder that many of us feel so damn out of place these days.
We didn't change (and in many cases never had to)...the WORLD changed around us, and not for the better.
What bothers me greatly, is how far we have to fall down this rabbit hole before we hit bottom and then realize, we need to climb the hell back out and get right with ourselves and our Creator.
You'd think by now, many would not want to continue on the path this nation seems to be on.
Sooner or later, they'll figure that much out. Just not today, sadly.
Maybe tomorrow, perhaps.

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