Monday Musings...

Now, that wasn't a bad weekend, as weekend's go, aside from the continuing fireworks crap going off down here.
In fact, it a rather comfortable during the overnight hours.
But, we're once again looking at another warm-up for this week.
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us mostly sunny skies, temps rising to around the 90 degree mark, and some clouds rolling in during the overnight hours.
I admit it IS a bit better than those days back in the 1930s when there were century mark temps all over the place (dust-bowl, anyone?).
History is a good teacher.

So, let's all get that cool and refreshing drink poured, as we take a look at what else has been going on...
*** First off of the book shelf is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
JULY 9 -
---It's National Sugar Cookie Day

(this would seem to apply to most every cookie, so I can work with that)
*** Next...yes, another weekend shooting in Fort Wayne.

Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20180709/man-critical-after-being-shot-sunday-on-maxine
This took place "at a gathering" in the 1100 block of Maxine Drive  around 0237 hrs Sunday. Consider this a SW side event.
A male victim was taken to hospital by a bystander.
I don't remember any gathering I ever attended that went on close to 3AM and involved gun play.
Then again, we knew what it meant to act in a civil manner...and know your limit when it came to alcohol.
Times change, and not always for the better.
*** Next up, an "opinion" piece in Sunday's J/G that had me shaking my head.

Here's the column:
http://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/sunday-centerpiece/20180708/the-next-step

Yeah, that damn quality of life IS essential...WHEN IT'S AVAILABLE.
GFW inc hack, John Urbahns states the obvious, but ONLY when it applies to ALL those downtown "projects"  the city has saddled the people of this city with.
Many already feel that GFW is a quasi-governmental agency controlling the purse-strings and setting a specific agenda, that being reaching this million resident initiative for our region.
This column is "Swiss cheese" worthy, simply because there are SO many holes in it.

*note to GFW Inc*

The "claim" is that "we're competing to make Allen County the best mid-size community in the U.S. And yet,. OTHER cities are cited for comparison...so, it would appear we're ACTUALLY competing against THOSE cities, and all these downtown projects mirror that feeling, usually to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. I wonder of those other cities have also neglected certain parts of THEIR communities to make their OWN downtown better. That's one helluva "competition".

It goes on to say how MANY jobs we have (here) and that we lack the people to fill them...NO, we lack people with MOTIVATION to fill them. We already have the warm bodies in this city. We just have too many lazy-asses sucking down gov't money thanks to entitlements (that pays them to do nothing).
If anything, this comes off like an attempt to allay our (well founded) fears, when in reality, it's creating fears that our city will be "left behind" in an ever-changing world (keeping up with the Joneses-itis).
Lots of us know better than that.
*** Next,  the world of comic books lost one of it's greats.
Artist Steve Ditko passed away at the age of 90.

Here's the lowdown:
https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/7/17543924/steve-ditko-spider-man-doctor-strange-marvel-comics-artist-obituary

Ditko was also an accomplished writer and the co-creator of Marvel superheroes SPIDERMAN and DOCTOR STRANGE Here is his WIKI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Ditko

I came into his work AFTER he drew his last issue of Spiderman (#33) when I managed to get a reprint of that issue. marvel used to do  that decades ago, and it's better than not having been able to get the first (original) issues.

From Amazing Spiderman #33

He was a recluse and the story about his death states he had been ead for two days when he was found in his apartment in NYC.
Ditko had a falling out with Stan Lee in 1966, but that didn't stop Steve from doing work for Marvel as well as for DC.
He had a particular style and that sets his work apart from many others, and he also is known for doing something that was "unique" for comics in those days...it's called a SPLASH PAGE.
That's where an entire page is set aside for one huge scene featuring the main character.
Other people would follow suit later on, but it was Steve Ditko that got the ball rolling.
He was definitely one of a kind.
Not bad for a boy from Johnstown, PA.
*** Next up, let's stop on by "Kitten Corner"...
The kids had a pretty good weekend.

Sharing a little milk

No one went missing, no one got hurt, an no one got shut in any closet...well, not for long, anyway...lol.

Violet loves her grocery bag.

Plenty of napping for everyone, lots of food and water, and affection in huge supply.
Yes, I would call that a win for all of us.
*** Next, it's time to check in with "Midnight and Company"...

Hey...how's it goin'?

Our furry twosome seemed to have a good weekend as well.
Both cats made (almost) every meal.

Sunday's lunch had neither cat around, but they were both back for dinner (and treats).
Naturally, we got to spend plenty of time with them outside, because the weather wea accommodating.
We did have one other visitor - a fledgling robin (junior) who came to us in the mouth of Midnight.

Midnight watching over junior.

He carried it into our yard and dropped him at my feet.

He wanted to fly.

And the little guy was very much alive and was trying to fly.
He opened his mouth every time you put your finger near, so he had to be hungry.
I did manage to give it some water. Neither cat messed (read attacked or otherwise hurt) with the bird the whole time. And every time he tried to "get away", Midnight would find him and bring him back...like a doting "parent". That's one heckuva baby-sitter.
Well, I have heard of stranger things.

He hopped into and through the garden

Suffice it to day, Animal Care and Control wouldn't really do anything except put it down (not my first choice), so we kept watch over the little guy.
I found him in the yard the next day...and he had expired.
He didn't have a broken neck or any signs of injury. Maybe mommy couldn't get food to it, and it starved. Whatever the case, he (or she) is now part of the garden (proper burial) along the back side of our garage.

That's a very "tall" cat.

We also had another cat stop by (named "Spot"), who ran off when I went out. Our two didn't bother with it, but Midnight went to make sure it was gone. Whiskers just stayed out oif it altogether (smart girl).
*** Last back to the library...comics have indeed come a very long way from the pulp pages I (and a couple generations before me) grew up with, and it's a mixed bag of emotions.

Ahh...the SILVER age of comics

In many ways, we can't even CALL them proper "comic books" any longer...they're pretty much GRAPHIC NOVELS.
The artwork found in those pages today are beyond compare. The inking is fantastic and yes, even the writing isn't that bad, except when they screw with established characters and their unique history.

Today's graphic novels...expensive.

We have come a long way from the old 4-color inks and what some would consider "crude" artwork.
But, it was the earlier art that promoted what we see today when we open the pages of the latest issue of our favorite comic character.

Larry Leiber

Today's artists were heavily influenced by the likes of Kirby, Ditko, Adams, Colan, Kubert, Buscema, Steranko, Infantino, Romita...the list goes on and on.
Funny thing, THOSE artists are the ones I can recall with a lot more clarity than any of those drawing comics today.

Marie Severin

Many times,we would always see WHO was doing the artwork for a specific comic tile, and what other characters they were doing.
It's thing like THIS that kept many of us out of trouble when we were growing up.

And people wonder why kids today seem more prone to "activities" we would never think of doing when we were that age.
I think the answers to questions like that can be found between the pages of those old pulp comic books
All anyone has to do is look for them.

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