Humpday Happenings...

It's always nice to have it rain (mostly) at night. You wake up to a better smelling neighborhood for one thing.
And, it provides a modicum of hope that things will at least start out with a better demeanor (until the "locals" wake up...lol).
Our Hoosierland weather brings us partly cloudy skies, scattered showers for the first part of the day and continuing into this afternoon.
Yep, plenty of humidity out there, too. Temps will rise to around 80 degrees.

Now, what say we get things started with a nice refreshing drink to whet the old whistle, as we see what else has been going on...
*** First out of the cupboard is our WHO SAID THAT? quote for the week:
"I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually."
I believe this quote mirrors much of what most of us feel daily. Perhaps we generalize such criticism with our country, when in fact, our angst lies with her people, and the way they shrug off what it really means to love this nation. There is criticism of policies, of government, and of leadership, but many have taken it to outright hatred. That's not what the founders envisioned, I'm sure.
So, who said that? The answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
Meanwhile, back at DeWitt Clinton High School...
*** Next, time for our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
JUNE 27 -
---It's National Ice Cream Cake Day

(just don't leave it out of the fridge too long)
---It's National Orange Blossom Day

(don't have that in Indiana, that I've seen)
---It's National Parchment Day

(good for writing and good for cooking)
---It's National PTSD Awareness Day

(more people deal with this than you would know)
---It's National Sunglasses Day
(not much need for them today...too cloudy)
*** Next up, a SE side drug/gang house gets raided.

Here's the story:
http://www.wpta21.com/story/38508279/police-arrest-woman-following-search-at-known-gang-house
The raid took place Monday around 2015 hrs in the 4000 blk of Smith St.
Shandreka McKee, 25 was arrested in connection with operating a known MLG gang house.

Whatta loser.

I will say the FWPD gang unit is doing an excellent job of performing these raids. Goes to show what CAN be done when you put your mind (and resources) to it.
*** Next, when you're drunk, sometimes you're REALLY drunk. Here's the story:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/news/local-news/2018/06/26/uncooperative-man-stabbed-with-screwdriver-tells-fort-wayne-police-officer-ill-take-care-of-it/

Which one is best for stabbing?

A man who was stabbed thought he was shot. But that's okay, he told police he'd "take care of it myself".
Guess that's what's known as "street justice"? We shall wait and see when the name Travis Coleman comes up again
*** Next up, get ready...that water rate hike IS coming (like a jail on wheels). Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/20180627/council-oks-water-rate-hike-to-fund-new-pipes

At least councilmen Russ Jehl and Jason Arp opposed the hike.
((“Things that have been ignored in the past are coming home to roost,” Kumar Menon said.
The new rates will up the monthly bill for the average residential customer using 4,000 gallons of water by $1.34 in 2019, $1.43 in 2020, $1.53 in 2021, $1.57 in 2022 and $1.67 in 2023. Implementation likely would not come until the second half of next year.

Jason Arp, R-4th, moved to cut the increase by 50 percent, saying the hike comes on top of others, such as the wheel tax, an electricity rate increase and a sewer rate increase. He said other funding, such as the Legacy Fund created by the sale of the city's electrical utility, could be tapped.
“You're asking people to pay higher water bills to do things like the Riverfront and The Landing,” he said.
“No. We're not,” Menon replied. Arp's motion did not receive a second.))
Good thing we have those OTHER 19 projects downtown to keep our minds off of THIS rate hike...Or NOT.
*** Next, time to drop by our "Kitten Corner"...

"I iz warming this up for my brother"

Once again, the kids were pretty good yesterday, and I couldn't help wondering what it was like when Penny and Rassie were that young. Then again, they didn't seem as manic as Violet and Gallifrey are, and didn't get into closets.

"Wonder why it's warm up here?"

Our former cats DID have to deal with a break in at our apartment, before we moved to the "Fortress". That had to be traumatic.
Hopefully, we'll try to keep the "trauma" to a minimum as best WE can here.
*** Next up, let's check in with "Midnight and Company"...

"Not a bad job from where I'm at."

Our furry twosome did fine yesterday. I even had my "supervisor" out front when I was taking care of the lawn and curb strip.
He was right there with me, while she stayed on the patio.

"Nice patio chairs. Could use a cushion."

They didn't miss a meal, but Midnight was late again, which meant Whiskers got a bit more food than usual.

"It's a big neighborhood, and I got short legs."

And they both were around until it got dark out. A good end to their day.
*** Last back to the countertop...earlier I mentioned our apartment for an obvious reason: it's not the same anymore.
When I was young, renting was but a step to affording a house (as in buying it with a mortgage). Often, renting was an nice option when people became more "mobile", and moved from various cities.

Eden Green is an apartment complex

As a result, developers saw a "need", and created...the apartment COMPLEX.
Not that the word "complex" figures prominently into this.

In some cities, to aid with housing for low-income citizens, buildings known as PROJECTS were created.
Most of them have been torn down since being built in the 60s and 70s.
Originally, such places were not meant (or constructed) for such long-term residency.
Usually, you rented for maybe a few years (tops) and then chased after a HOUSE, all of which was dependent upon your working status.
And there were jobs aplenty out there.
The apartment complexes were (also) not built near to the standards that houses were built (then OR now),. and decades after, we see the problems with such structures (common spaces above the ceilings, which helps a fire spread).

When you rented a house, it was inspected whenever it changed tenants, and the landlords were held to VERY high standards (because people gave a damn). Typically, landlords lived nearby (in Philly), and made sure their property didn't deteriorate and stand out on any given street. Apartment complexes didn't have to worry about that, and the way THEY declined showed as much. They had "management companies" taking care of things...and who OWNED these buildings was anyone's guess.

Archer's Pointe Apartments.

There are still some complexes that DO perform a marvelous job at taking care of the property and the tenants, but at a (rising) cost. Some mortgages would actually be cheaper.
What was once affordable (in houses or apartments) is slowly being priced beyond the means of working people pulling in a decent (median) wage these days.
It makes you wonder where all this will eventually wind up and what answers we will try to employ.
When we continue this, we'll look into the clientele that inhabit what we (now) call "affordable housing"...stay tuned.

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