Humpday Happenings...

As I sit here composing today's post, I am ALSO waiting for our daily paper (again?), so whatever "problem" has been taking place with our Sunday edition has now spilled over to the daily one...who could have NOT seen this coming (we play seek & find with the online edition)
In any event, we'll muddle through (which seems to be SOP down here), and soldier onward.
Our Hoosierland weather for today...not AS cold as yesterday, with mostly cloudy skies, temps reaching up to around 22 degrees (a veritable "heat wave") with a possible snow flurry (?) and light breezes coming in by tonight. Not much melting going on today, right?

So, let's all get our cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate made, as we see what has been going on elsewhere...
*** First out of the deep freeze iis our WHO SAID THAT? quote for the week:

"The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom."
I think this applies not ONLY to science, but to entertainment, although the knowledge factor is a non sequitor.
It also pertains to a lack of values and principles.
So, who said that?
The answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
Meanwhile, back at the American Humanist Association...
*** Next up, time for the "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
JANUARY 17 -
---It's National Bootlegger's Day

(I could use a drink with the way this day's starting out)
---It's National Hot Buttered Rum Day

(make that light on the butter, please)
*** Next, an update on the triple shooting at Hanna and McKinnie. Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20180117/3-victims-of-parking-lot-shooting-idd

Haywood

They (J-G) also spoke with the store owner and customers, and it speaks volumes as to WHY we "enjoy" the particular  QUALITY-OF-LIFE (and death) our mayor (his royal highness, King Henry) is ALWAYS touting.
Destinie Haywood, 21 is the first homicide victim in Fort Wayne (2nd for Allen County).
She was shot multiple time while sitting in a car at the gas station.
The other victims are Tieranie L. Giddens, 16, who was shot in the leg (and maybe should NOT have been out that late on a school night), and Keon Davall Oakley Jr., 25, also shot in the leg (and found by police in the 4500 block of Monroe).
And in a related story, there's this:
http://www.wpta21.com/story/37269853/gas-station-owner-devastated-about-shootings

And YES, they take EBT cards.

I can imagine the store owners would be affected, but when crap like this happens OUTSIDE the store, there's little the owners can do, except to have good surveillance cameras covering the lot and pumps. I'm sure steps will be taken inside the store as well.
There is another story that pertains to the SE side violence. Here's the link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20180117/opening-door-against-violence

Now this is the kind of thing we should have had years ago - meetings like this to find a workable solution to the insanity that has a stranglehold on MY part of the city. Roderick Parker is  the man I met with on The Fort Report a few years back, and he's been working hard to get young black men away from the life he used to ahve (and has since turned from himself).
Foundation One, who runs Unity Barbershop on E. Pontiac St., is another person who is trying to change the state of affairs down here (obviously more than councilman Glynn Hines). Chuck Surack was there at this meeting, and with his resources, should be able to affect some positive change.

I know I'd LOVE to see things go back to how they were 20 years ago...as in (much) less violence, properties that are kept up and OWNED (not rented to multiple families), and having some good neighbors.
Seems like reaching for the moon, I know. Baby steps, hmm?
*** Next up, and speaking of councilman Hines, there was this little gem:
http://www.wpta21.com/story/37269514/councilman-trash-pickup-situation-unacceptable

Sorry Glynn, but I have NOT had a problem with Red River since they took over. Sure we had a missed pickup for recycle (which was taken care of the following day - a Saturday), but these people are learning the ropes, and the SE side is a whole different animal when it comes to trash hauling.
There is no consistency when it comes to WHERE trash and recycle is picked up. One block will have ALLEY pickup, while the next block will have STREET pickup (thanks to overgrown foliage that prevents trucks from going down the alleys).

It's a logistical nightmare to figure it all out immediately, and residents have to just keep from getting their undies in a damn bunch over this. Slow and steady wins any race...deal with it and grow up. Both Serv-All and Republic had issues too, and they were resolved (over time).
*** Next, a black guy tries palming off some "funny money". Here's the story:
www.wpta21.com/story/37274533/police-looking-for-help-identifying-counterfeit-suspect

"Gotcha!"

This took place in a Marathon station located at 7440 St. Joe Rd on 7 January.
This turdbucket tried buying a high number of lotto tickets with the $20s he had with him, and an observant employee caught the deal

Good video at this store

((The clerk realized that one of the $20 bills he had passed her was fake and told the suspect that. The suspect told the clerk the money had come from a dice game and he didn't know what she was talking about. The store owner called police and the suspect fled, police said.
The employee gave the officer 10 $20 bills, nine of which had the same serial number.))
That musta been SOME kinda "dice game".

Same serial numbers...whatta dumbass.

Next time, try WORKING for a damn living, you no account loser!
*** Next up, a man is caught dealing drugs. Here's the story link:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20180117/man-on-work-release-accused-of-drug-dealing
And he was on WORK RELEASE.
((ahem))...selling heroin and crack is NOT gainful "employment", you stupid ass moron.

This took place in the 5300 block of Dial Drive (well, it wasn't SE...was NE).
Marlon Matthews, 44, faces a slew of charges, and is being held without bail (just on breaking his work release agreement) along with a bail of $152K just for the drug charges.
Barchell Matthews, 67, of the same address, was released on her own recognizance, and faces minor charges in connection with the drugs (must be his mom...'ya think?)
*** Next, I think we're done with all the stupid for now, so let's visit our "Kitten Corner"...

"Top o' the world, Ma!"

The kids were sorta-kinda well behaved yesterday. They had their "run-time", and then settled down. We even had less jumping up at the birds at the patio door (still cannot get a good picture of that, but it IS funny to watch).
Violet likes to play a new game I call "Follow Daddy Around"...LOL.

What IS he doing way up THERE?"

Whatever room I go to, she's right behind me. Gallifrey just finds a comfy spot, and naps out. She will wait until I kick back on the couch and THEN, she grabs a nap, too.
They can be a handful but it's a happy handful (most of the time).
*** Next up, time to check in with "Midnight and Company"...

Our cute and furry twosome were there on time yesterday, never missing any of the three meals provided.
Have to say those two are a hardy lot, and as long as they are around, they will be taken care of.
I deviated from the usual when it was dinnertime - I had some gravy left over from my Dinty Moore beef stew, so I put it to good use...on their plates with the dry food.

Fresh liquid water is also liked a lot by them (thawing the dish is a chore, but quite doable several times a day).
That went over very well in the cold weather, as did the soft treats at last call.

No hugging. I'm on "guard duty".

When I hug them, I can feel their bodies under all that fur, and it is warm (thank God).
*** Last back to the polar bear farm...we got some serious social problems these days.

(which didn't detract from that meteor people saw further north in Michigan and Ilinois)
We have produced generations of uncaring and increasingly violent people.
Thankfully, they are NOT the majority of the populace (yet), but they still are causing more than their share of angst

And every program that has designed to date to deal WITH the problem, has not expunged it in any way...has it?
If anything, it's allowed it to fester and become malignant. That's something we DON'T need.
We've plenty of things going on around us, so why add to those?
It's going to take time to cure our ills, and time is something in short supply, because of it's incessant forward movement.
It's going to also take some major leaps to solve the issues facing us.
If we take those baby steps, it's still better than sitting on our asses, doing nothing.

Yet, such things seem to elude us in the hurry up and tweet something society...because doing the hard things require work, and in a world driven by entertainment, that's not part of "the plan".
Still, we need to focus on our needs, rather than catering to our wants.
And THAT is probably the best place to begin.

It's COLD out here. Can I come in now?

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