Friday Follies...

Once again, we've beaten the odds and made it to the end of another week.
And, we're not "supposed" to get any additional snow today, I'm not holding my breath..
We're actually going to warm up a bit over the next couple days, which will rid us of most all the crap on the roads, streets and highways.
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us mostly cloudy skies, temps reaching to around 32 degrees, and higher winds, gusting to about 30 MPH.

So, without any further ado, let's get that cup of coffee, tea. or cocoa poured and parked close by as we take a look at what's been going on elsewhere...
*** First out of the kettle is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
DECEMBER 15 -
---It's Bill of Rights Day

(would it be that MORE people took the time to READ and UNDERSTAND them, hmm?)
---It's Cat Herder's Day

(which is always much easier with a laser pointer)
---It's Free Shipping Day

(rather self-explanatory)
---It's National Lemon Cupcake Day

(haven't had those in a LONG time. I want some.)
---It's National Wear Your Pearls Day

(sorry, don;t have any and wouldn't wear 'em if I did)
*** Next, and since the end of the week is officially here, let's see what we can observe over the following 48 hours...
DECEMBER 16 -
---Saturday is Barbie and Barney Backlash Day

(wow, that is SO last century, isn't it?)
---It's National chocolate-covered Anything Day

(I can think of a LOT of things that should NOT be covered in chocolate...like engine parts and dead bodies)
---It's National Wreaths Across America Day

(the picture is worth a thousand words here)
DECEMBER 17 -
---Sunday is National Maple Syrup Day

(which means either french toast, waffles or pancakes for my breakfast)
---It's Wright Brothers Day

(remember that 2 WRONGS don't make a right, but 2 WRIGHTS can make an airplane)
So there you go...lots of things to keep you out of jail. And always take time to observe responsibly.
*** Next up, This is one of those stories that makes me laugh my ass off.

Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/courts/20171214/protesters-sue-city-over-noise-ordinance

Some tree-huggers are suing the city over it's noise ordinance.
((At issue is a portion of the city law that prohibits using machines such as amplifiers “in a manner that produces sound plainly audible to a person with normal hearing” more than 50 feet from the source of the sound in a public place.))
And the problem is???
((Rowan Greene and Jain Young argue in court documents filed with U.S. District Court in Fort Wayne the prohibition is unreasonable because “normal sounds of the city” – traffic, construction noise, people talking loudly – can also be heard from more than 50 feet away.
The ordinance “does not represent a reasonable time, place, and manner restriction on expressive conduct and therefore violates the First Amendment to the United States Constitution,” court documents say.))

Yes, this is a BOOM-TRIKE!

Normal sounds...like thumping boom cars and assorted loud "music" that shake my house?
One could HARDLY call THAT kind of cacophony NORMAL.

(( Greene and Young are represented by Indianapolis-based ACLU lawyers Kenneth Falk, Gavin Rose and Jan Mensz.))
Funny that the ACLU jumps on this bandwagon at the drop of a hat, but I can't even GET the damn city to ENFORCE the damn noise ordinance where we live, because it's such a LOW PRIORITY call into the FWPD.
It take usually up to 45 minutes for a response, and by then, the noise-maker is LONG gone.

Shut THIS one the hell up!

And we are talking LOUD music from vehicles. I keep track of who, when and where this occurs.
Every year it's the same thing...literally THOUSANDS of incidents of loud music in clear violation of that exact same ordinance that NEVER gets cited in any way...maybe a warning now and then, and that does no damn good at all.
Yet, this loon and his leftist friends get to sue the city. Maybe I should think about doing the same thing.
But, that might put ME in the same boat as these goofballs...sorry, I'll have to pass.
*** Next, the two dead men at the Calhoun St,. house were ID'd. Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20171215/2-men-in-calhoun-murder-suicide-idd

((Joseph Shah Hurley III, 56, died as a result of a gunshot wound to the chest, the coroner's office said following autopsies. His death has been ruled to be the 38th homicide of the year in the county.
Roger Edward Shubert, 57, died as the result of a gunshot wound to the chest, and his death has been ruled a suicide, the coroner said.))
Two older men...not the usual situation,. Perhaps a "domestic" quarrel?
Stranger things have happened in this city.
*** Next up, and unless you were busy coralling banthas on Tatooine, there's this story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/entertainment/movies/20171215/latest-chapter-epitomizes-ethos-of-franchise

Yes, the NEXT installment of STAR WARS is at hand, and don't be surprised if it contains some changes in the saga that bother fans young and old.
We know Carrie Fisher passed away earlier this year, so her part in this comes to an end.
Don't expect to see Han Solo either. And Luke Skywalker has his own "swan song" as it were.

Will you guys PLEASE put the lightsabers down 

Personally, I don't think there should ever be a "last Jedi". If anything, I think there should be a resurgence in their numbers.
I mean, if the Force is that powerful, there HAS to be more potential "padawans" out there.
What bothers me, is that who will find them and train them?
(I know MY dance card is filled at the moment...lol)

The FORCE is with Obi-Bob.

Also, as far as a "LAST" Jedi? Nah, there were some (as in more than a couple) who escaped the "purging" after Palpatine's Order 66. That's a given, so there has to be a few left in the galaxy (besides Luke). it IS a pretty big galaxy after all, right?

Just don't give them coffee!

I really hope the franchise doesn't lightsaber itself into a corner it can't extricate itself from.
I want to give them more credit than that.
It should be less about "the franchise" and more about the mythology and good old story-telling.
Perhaps they should use the Force.
*** Next, time to see what's going on at our "Kitten Corner"...

The "children" were trying to get into stuff yesterday, and the old laser pointer came out to divert their attention.
Overall, they don't do bad...they just act bad.
And, they do eventually run themselves down and get back to napping, which gives me a break from making sure they're not doing things they shouldn't be doing.
The bird-watching only lasts as long as there is seed in the feeders, so even that isn't an all-day affair.
But, some calm is better than none at all, isn;t it?
*** Next up, time to check in with "Midnight and Company"...
Our furry twosome were parked at the patio door as usual, and they rush up when I open the door to take their food out. I have to tell them to move, so I can get to their plates with the kibbles.
And, I also have to thaw the water dish out and replace it with LIQUID water (rather than the solid variety).
Midnight was out front for a time, but came around when I shook my keys.
Whiskers missed the midday, but came by later, so she didn't wander far.

It's always good to have them about, and we even got in some "hand-held" treats at last call.
It wasn't snowing like the day before, so it all worked out.
*** Last back to the coffee maker...Wifey makes her return toi the "Fortress" after attending her uncle's funeral down in Vincennes.

The "Fortress" needs all it's residents.

And that means this old house will seem less empty once again.
And we will spend part of the weekend putting up decorations and our tree. How that will go depends on the cats and how they react this year. Last year wasn't bad, as they were small and easily chased away.
Now that they're older and more "experienced" at finding ways to annoy, it should be interesting.
They don't mean to be that way. It's just something else to play with. The thing is to find other ways to occupy thier time other than playing with ornaments and lights.

We'll probably tone it down from years past until such time when the "kids" can behave and not get into stuff.
As to everything else...well, it comes down to getting into that Christmas spirit, and trying our best to not allow the external intrusions to become internal ones.
You know, if others thought along similar lines, maybe...just maybe the holiday and all it entails would be received in a much better demeanor by everyone.
We can always hope, can't we?
Do have yourselves a good weekend.

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