Thoughts For Thursday...

Well, my first thought is how miserably oppressive will it feel outside over the next several days.
If you DO enjoy the heat (and what serf-respecting citizen of the planet MERCURY doesn't?) then you'll like the next 3 or so days.
I plan to severely limit my "outdoor" time as much as possible.
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us sunny skies, temps rising to the upper 80s and enough humidity to make it feel like it's  into the 90s. Kinda sets the stage for activity, right?

Let's then get that refreshing drink to hydrate ourselves properly against the heat, as we see what else has been going on...
*** First out of the frying pan is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"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."
This is attributed to James A. Baldwin (August 2, 1924 – December 1, 1987) who was an American novelist and social critic. Here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Baldwin

Now, we featured him before here, and although I might not agree with more than a few of his stances and beliefs on society, I do find his writings worth the time to get me thinking. In that, I feel he has succeeded because whenever someone can get people thinking, that leads to discussion and debate.
The WIKI is still a good read, but you have to go in with an open mind and place everything in context of the era involved.
*** Next up, it's time for our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
JUNE 28 -
---It's National Alaska Day

(with the coming heat, we might all wish we were THERE for the weekend)
---It's National Bomb Pop Day

(good to know they STILL make them)
---It's National Handshake Day

(to me, a sign of sincerity and honesty)
---It's National Insurance Awareness Day

(gee, I wonder who thought THIS one up?)
---It's National Paul Bunyan Day

(and he never played basketball...amazing)
*** Next, a Michigan gang member is now on the FBI 10 most wanted list. Here's the story:
http://www.wpta21.com/story/38521867/man-on-fbi-most-wanted-list-has-indiana-ties

And he has ties to INDIANA...(among several OTHER states). Antwan Tamon Mims is a member of the Gangster Disciples and wanted on a laundry list of charges, not the least of which is murder. He also has multiple aliases.
Whatever happened to the days of "shoot on sight" from law-enforcement? I miss those days.
This loser is 20 miles of bad road.
*** Next up, looks like we have 3 MORE homicides in Ft. Wayne. Here's the story:
https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/3-dead-in-shooting-north-of-downtown-fort-wayne/1269948127

This took place just after midnight in the area of 4th and Wells Sts.
I find it a curious coincidence that this took place right NEAR that stabbing I mentioned yesterday (Travis Coleman was the uncooperative victim who told police: "I'll take care of it myself".)
The stabbing took place in the 1400 block of Harrison, which is CLOSE to the location of the triple homicides...very interesting, indeed. This could bump things up to TWENTY FOUR (that's 24) homicides for the year (so far).
Looks like this city (and county) can EASILY make 40 by year's end...if things stay the way they are.
*** Next, time to stop by our "Kitten Corner"...

"I is not hurt, thanks to daddy."

Our kids had another good day (and that' makes it a good day for me). Violet did have one problem. She was on the ledge in the living room and wanted to come and rub my face, but she took a misstep and almost fell off the ledge. She couldn't get a grip with her claws on the surface, but I was right there and grabbed her before anything happened. I held her and talked softly to her, and she followed me around for a good HOUR after that. It's nice to be appreciated that way.

Another rare shot of both our "children".

Gallifrey just spent a lot of time looking out windows, doors and napping the day away. He doesn't follow me as much as he tries to get to rooms before I do...lol. He does enjoy an evening nap in a living room chair, though.
*** Next up, time to check in with "Midnight and Company"...

"...You jingled?"

Our furry twosome spent a good part of the day nearby, but I had to call the "black flash" to mealtime (jingling the keys against a plate works the best).

"I'd rather stay near the FOOD...and affection."

Whiskers just hides in the Nam grass until she needs to come out.
Usually, opening the patio door is enough to get her out and she offers up leg rubs, and likes to be stroked behind her ears.

"I iz all patrolled out now."

Midnight will do likewise, but when you stop scratching him, he'll turn and nip your hand (nothing hard that breaks the skin or leaves a mark - a love bite) because you're not finished attending to his "needs"...LOL. He's a hoot. Hell, they BOTH are in their own ways, and that's a real blessing.
*** Last back to the fire pit..., I want to pick up where I left off (yesterday) with one of those "are you effing kidding me?" stories:
http://www.businessinsider.com/san-francisco-households-qualifications-for-low-income-housing-2018-6

Who would have thought that living in Frisco has become SO damn expensive?
Well, if you figure that if you pull in up to $117,400.00 for a living, you CAN (now) qualify for LOW-INCOME HOUSING in the "city by the bay". That's ridiculous. This is the part of the mountain that the affordable housing snowball has been kicked down, and no one thinks it's blatantly wrong.
Now, as we continue this gig over housing, perhaps we need some "definition" about the terms that are tossing around, so here you go:
(public housing)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_housing
(affordable housing)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affordable_housing

I guess private housing never enters into the equation these days.
Initially, public housing was designed for those who had trouble being able to "afford" housing, like senior citizens on fixed incomes,
Later, it "graduated" (in concept) to include minorities of low income, and eventually anyone who also fit similar criteria.
The term PUBLIC housing is falling out of favor, and is now being called AFFORDABLE housing.
Actually most ALL housing is affordable...to someone. And much of it is already affordable to those who pull down a decent wage.

Naturally, the quality of the people moving in has declined in direct proportion to the dissolution of what we called a "traditional" family. That becomes a problem.
This opened the door to a nomadic existence for a lot of people, and you also had people who were "gaming the system", with welfare fraud, Those who inhabit affordable housing today are a far cry from those who once lived in public housing...they're smarter when it comes to sucking on the gov't teat, they have a network of ways to get free money, food, and any other "assistance" from a plethora of agencies created JUST for that purpose (mostly by democrats). It's an insidious way to MAINTAIN generational entitlements..

It's more about PEOPLE than housing.

So, in essence, public housing is NOW affordable housing (affordable thanks to the taxpaying public at that), and with the "fair housing act", practically NO place is immune to the type of people who have come to represent those not willing to be productive, responsible or accountable.
And where such actions and behaviors thrive, so does crime...it's not really about poverty., because such people have chosen to be "poor" (read lazy).
When it comes to our own poor, we have some of the RICHEST people on the planet when compared to the ACTUAL poor around the world (and yes, even in certain parts of our OWN country). This all by design (from the progressive left).

Yet, after ALL the years of help from taxpayers (through gov't agencies), our own poverty rate has NOT significantly dropped, but has risen.
That's a pretty lousy return for our decades of "investment", isn't it?
Just something to think about.

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