Thoughts For Thursday...

We' are rapidly approaching the end of our rolling year, and it certainly has been one helluva ride (kinda like the one at the amusement park that makes you puke).
And that was the GOOD part...heh.
We end this year in a deep-freeze, but we're far from alone across our nation. Most of the Midwest and now the Northeast sections are feeling the effects of "global warming".

Those pushing that agenda never stopped to THINK that climate conditions run in cycles. I recall some people taking about a mini ice age a couple decades ago.
Our Hooserland weather for today brings us MORE cold, partly sunny skies, and a high of about TWELVE (that's 12) degrees.
Thankfully, there is little wind out there, but we still have MINUS chill factors, so dress and drive accordingly. And by all means, take the proper precautions to avoid frostbite.
The fingers and toes you save might be your own.

Now, let's get some hot coffee, tea, or cocoa down our throats as we see what else has been going on as we keep warm...
*** First out of the snowbank is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, 'It will be happier.' "

This is attributed to none other than Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson, FRS (6 August 1809 – 6 October 1892) who was Poet Laureate of Great Britain and Ireland during much of Queen Victoria's reign and remains one of the most popular British poets. And here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred,_Lord_Tennyson
And yes, I used this quote back on 7 January of 2016...if this sounds familiar.

It's the type of quote that bears repetition simply because it's truer than most
You can read up on him at your leisure...it's worth a few minutes.
*** Next up, time for our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
DECEMBER 28 -
---It's Holy Innocents Day

(a Matthew 2:16–18 thing. Look it up.)
---It's National Card Playing Day

(deal me in)
---It's National Chocolate Candy Day

(say...no...more)
---It's Pledge of Allegiance Day

(God Bless America, right?)
*** Next, it looks like not ALL the criminals have been on "holiday leave"...
There were at least THREE that were making merry at the expense of others. Here's the story:
http://www.wpta21.com/story/37146993/police-seeking-help-iding-suspects-who-used-stolen-credit-card-after-home-invasion-armed-robbery

So now we have blacks targeting working class Latinos (must be running outta white folks to bother?).
This involves a  home invasion, armed robbery and kidnapping back on 19 Dec. (and we're just NOW getting the surveillance video)...time is everything with most cases and crimes when searching for suspects.
Police DID manage to arrest ONE of the perps...Myron Banks, 32, was the one arrested by officers after trying to flee in the stolen Jeep Cherokee from the victim's house (up north). He was caught on the SE side (how typical).
The other two in the pictures were using stolen credit cards from the couple who were targeted.
(funny, they always look like they live down HERE near us...wonder why that is?)
*** Next up, two good columns in today's News-Sentinel section of the J-G.

Here's the first column by Kevin Leininger:

http://www.news-sentinel.com/news/local-news/2017/12/28/kevin-leininger-does-redevelopment-of-contaminated-sites-mean-fort-wayne-has-learned-historys-hard-lessons/
The has some good history to it, as there was a site near Glenbrook Square that once belonged to L.J. Recycling and wound up costing $9 MIL to clean up when the EPA labeled it a Superfund site back in the 80s. And that was less than FOUR acres.

And here's the column by Leo Morris (source - Indiana Policy Review):
http://inpolicy.org/2017/12/morris-are-yours-ready-for-childhood-boot-camp/
This speaks to the need (?) to make all kids go to kindergarten and/or pre-K in the hope that we can have equality for learning.
Thing is, it's not about the learning process per se, but KIDS THEMSELVES - they ALL learn at different rates.
Some excel, some fail, and the rest of us are somewhere in the middle.
And many of the problems that kids encounter when learning can be traced back to society, rather than education itself (who knew?).
Leo uses the tried and true method - THE BELL CURVE to make his point. Here's a link to the WIKI on the book:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bell_Curve
Unfortunately, like much truth in today's world, it has fallen "out-of-favor".
Both articles (and the book itself) are good reads.
***Next, just to show how WELL (?) the SE side is ignored by the city, there was a water main break yesterday morning at Lafayette and Pettit ( Rt 27/33 - a major intersection).

And it's a SIXTEEN INCH main that broke, so you know that's gonna be quite a mess for a time, especially in THIS weather.
Thank you, mayors all.
*** Next up, let's see what's going on at our "Kitten Corner"...

It's nice and bright outside.

The kids were a bit antsy yesterday, and maybe it's the weather outside (which has little to do with the weather INSIDE). A few birds came by, so perhaps the cats were missing that. I admit there was little to do, but I'm good with that.

If I wasn't so adorable, I'd be in trouble.

I can always use the break. Cats tend to amuse themselves easier.
Fortunately, by evening, all was a lot calmer and they both came in the living room and sacked out for a while as I watched Godzilla flicks...lol..
*** Next, time to check in with "Midnight and Company"...
The furry (and hopefully not freezing) twosome were there for all three meals (it WAS "Wet Food Wednesday").

It's a little warmer in the sun...

The chicken and salmon was well liked  (we warmed the plates a bit), and changing out the frozen water dish a few times a day made life better for them.
He still likes cribbing across the street near that wood pile. while she prefers either one of the two shelters we have.

I do believe you're right...it IS warmer.

I'm really hoping he realizes that he does NOT have to wander that far for a good place to bed down.
*** Last back to the skating rink...I heard that we didn't break any cold records here in Ft. Wayne.

Those records were established back in 1921.
I would not have thought it could get THAT cold back then, but, it sure looks like that old CYCLE thing is working on this part of the planet.
In Minnesota, they had a low of MINUS 42 DEGREES...now that makes even Antarctica look inviting.
Erie, PA is buried under more than SIXTY INCHES of snow, and that weather front is hitting the northeast part of the country. I consider us very fortunate to not have to be dealing with all that.

In other words...count your blessings, folks.
It can ALWAYS be worse.
We have more often than not, been a resilient people, and sadly it takes situations like these weather events to remind us of that.
One hope for next year is that more people would change their hearts and minds to reflect more traditional values...the values that founded and grew this nation.
And, as Tennyson told us...the new year would be happier (with hope).

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