Thoughts For Thursday...

Well, those diminished winds sure didn't seem THAT diminished yesterday, did they?
That's fine...we're supposed to get some SNOW flurries today (and more into the weekend, with possible accumulation). How "wintery" is that, hmm?
Time to find those shovels...just in case.
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us mostly cloudy skies, temps reaching 28 degrees, and that "chance" of snow flurries. The winds persist, but ONLY around 20-25 MPH (joy).
This should prove interesting along the streets and roads in our area (where people always seem to drive around like it's summer with little regard for ACTUAL conditions).

In the meantime, let's get something hot inside us like a cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa, as we see what else has been going on...
*** First out of the kettle is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world." 
This was spoken by someone we only featured ONCE (but have quoted other times)...John Milton (9 December 1608 – 8 November 1674) who was an English poet, polemicist, man of letters, and civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell.
And here (again) is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Milton
((He wrote at a time of religious flux and political upheaval, and is best known for his epic poem Paradise Lost (1667), written in blank verse.))
It's a rather lengthy read, but it gives you some insight as to his writings as well as a nice little history lesson.

Anyone who has read Paradise Lost will find it interesting. And even if you didn't, it might inspire you to grab a copy and read it anyway. It is a classic.
*** Next up, time for our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
DECEMBER 7 -
---It's Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

(and signaled our entry as a nation into World War 2 - a day of infamy.)
---It's National Cotton Candy Day

(never was a big fan of this - I take my sugar in "bulk"...lol)
---It's National Illinois Day

(a shame they have to include Chicago in there)
*** Next, time to see what the "locals" are up to...
1) An armed carjacking takes place up north.

Here's the story link:
http://wane.com/2017/12/06/surveillance-photos-of-carjacking-suspect-released/
This took place Monday around 1830 hrs at the Canterbury Green Apartments complex in the 2600 block of Northgate Boulevard parking area.

((A man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt approached the victim with a gun and pulled him from the car. The gunman took the victim's keys, phone and wallet and told him to walk away, police said.))
The gunman then drove off in the victim's car, police said. Clearly not a happy holiday season for the unfortunate victim.The gunman was described as 5 foot 11 to 6 feet with a thin build and no facial hair, black and 20 to 24 years old.

((Shortly after the robbery, the victim's phone was sold at a grocery store eco-ATM kiosk, police said. Detectives were able to recover the cellphone and while doing so obtained video footage from the grocery store of two men.)) I tried to clean up the photos as best as I could.
2) Alyssa Ivanson had a very good spot regarding unsolved homicides in Fort Wayne.

Here's the story:
http://wane.com/2017/12/06/balloon-launch-remembers-homicide-victim-on-the-year-anniversary/

The statistics don't lie when it comes to how MANY murders have been solved...and that number is excessively LOW by any standards. The clearance rates for homicides state the obvious - It was 36 percent in 2015, 44 percent in 2016 and 21 percent so far this year. Those aren't very good stats, but then again, the lack of witness involvement says a lot.
Evidence is one thing, but with no one to hang this stuff on, it's hard to arrest and prosecute, even if you KNOW who did it. Citizens have to speak the hell up...simple as that.
*** Next, some people keep wanting to redefine what it means to graduate (high school, that is).

Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/indiana/20171207/diplomas-soon-wont-be-enough
This is another case of something being shoved down the throats of taxpayers wuthout figuring out the minutiae, and we all know how "well" that works, don't we?
Diplomas just won't be enough, these folks tell us.

Not so fast, boys and girls...

((The State Board of Education voted 7-4 Wednesday to institute additional graduation requirements – despite hours of testimony against the plan.))
Rubber stamp...anyone?
((“A high school diploma is no longer the finish line,” said Alicia Kielmovitch, a state board staff member.))

Really? It's the finish line as far as PRIMARY EDUCATION is concerned.
Back in my day, school was there to provide the BASICS in multiple disciplines.
They taught such anachronisms as what a BANK ACCOUNT was, how to balance a checkbook, what a MORTGAGE was, how to get credit and loans, and that was in our math classes. We also had tech courses like wood, metal and auto shops. We had drafting classes, cooking classes and the like. This was in addition to learning American and world history which included politics and civics. We also learned basic science and English (as a first and only language). We had electives (including foreign languages) which supplemented the basic core courses. It didn't get any easier than that.

And, we had a college prep curriculum (for the overly-scholared among us).
Is that too much for schools (today) to be permitted to teach? It would seem so.
That means another reinvention of the damn wheel, kids.
*** Next up, let's calm down and take time to drop in on our "Kitten Corner"
Another well-behaved day for the kids...they must know that Santa is on his way.

That's fine. Whatever gets the job done.
Last evening they both were napping on the living room sofa...almost spooning with one another. That was damn cute (and wonderfully quiet).
They always seem to wind up in the same room I happen to sit. Maybe they enjoy the same shows I watch the television? I doubt that. I think they don't want to have the person feeding them to get out of sight...lol.
*** Next, time to check in with "Midnight and Company"...
The furry twosome were making due with the windy conditions, staying close by the house.

He was next to the garage in his "nest" at ground level, and I told him he needs to use the shelter we made. She often comes out of a shelter, so we know one of them is getting used.
You figure you have a good day when their two faces are at the patio door when you pull the drapes back...waiting for something to eat.
We brought their plates in, warmed them up and gave them both wet food (room temp)...a "hot" meal, as it were. Next best thing to eating indoors.
We even got enough of a break in the feline action to have birds come by. Had a bunch of them ON the patio yesterday (the cats were hunkering down away from the wind and our avian friends).
*** Last back to the countertop...education IS a lifelong experience. Anyone who says otherwise hasn't learned much.

Scores of famous people have mirrored these sentiments in their quotes.
My late Dad used to say that: "The day you stop learning is the day you stop breathing".
And, so far, he's been right on that, too.
What people don't seem to realize today, is that not everyone is cut out for "higher" education (aka college).
You can easily take a class of 30 students and break them down into 3 groups:
---Ten will excel and do very well in secondary educational venues
---Ten will do okay in college and yet perform just as well going into the workplace, but will have to apply themselves to excel.
---Ten will not be cut out for college in any way, and will have a rough time in the workplace (unless they work hard at applying themselves). We call such people slackers.

But the pundits today want ALL 30 of these kids to attend college (screw the cost, the debt, and the burden on taxpayers). That's not going to materialize.
You always hear me talk about "getting back to basics"...and I firmly believe that IS the (best) way to go.
Granted, we have all this technology that opens pathways to many jobs, and that's where a technical training system should be in place, perhaps starting in the primary educational system (just like our old wood shop classes).
Post high school technical "colleges" are a good followup after graduation.
But there has to be a system that addresses things kids need to know in today's world, like how to MANAGE your life, especially in the realm of finances.

This new "pathway" idea should remain that - an IDEA until a more comprehensive curriculum can be instituted at the primary level to acquaint kids with things they should know by the time they graduate and find themselves in "the real world".
It can be done, and it has been done in the past.
So, instead of reinventing education (again), we need to dust off the type of courses schools used to have, and adapt them to the world today. It's just the better way to go ...for everyone.

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