Tuesday Tidbits...

I suppose that yesterday's rain was meant to cool things down. Well, it did a little.
Naturally, the humidity didn't help us all enjoy cooler conditions, did it? And, it sure didn't chase away the mosquitoes. Today will seem much like a carbon copy of Monday.
Our Hoosierland weather will bring us mostly cloudy skies (again), with scattered rain showers throughout the day (again) and temps reaching back up to around 74 degrees (again).
Might even be a bit of fog out there early on (do drive accordingly).
Add that to our fuel prices that are tickling the $3 a gallon mark (again).
Helluva way to end the month, isn't it?
In the meantime, let's partake in a refreshing (and hopefully comfortng) drink, as we see what else has been going on.
*** First off of the breakfast table is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
JULY 31 -
---It's National Avocado Day

(definitely PASS on this one)
---It's National Mutt Day

(okay, now something like this works for me)
---It's National Raspberry Cake Day

(this REALLY works for me)
And that's a wrap for this month
*** Next up, since it IS a Tuesday, let's take a peek at all the FWPD calls that went out last week, that we never even heard about...and SHOULD have. Just to warn you, it WAS a "busy" week.

JUL 23 - JUL 29:
SHOTS FIRED ((113)) - ARMED ROBBERY((53)) 
((23,113 - vandalism by gunfire))
=======================================
18F086204 07/22/2018 03:15am 113 SHOTS FIRED 1000 E RUDISILL BLVD
18F086489 07/22/2018 10:43pm 113 SHOTS FIRED ARCHER AV & MERIDIAN ST
18F086493 07/22/2018 11:05pm 113 SHOTS FIRED NEW HAVEN AV & EDSALL AV
18F086534 07/23/2018 01:47am 113 SHOTS FIRED 1000 EDGEWATER AV
18F086544 07/23/2018 03:09am 113 SHOTS FIRED 2300 FAIRFIELD AV
18F086737 07/23/2018 03:55pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 3600 BOWSER AV
18F086920 07/23/2018 10:49pm 113 SHOTS FIRED MERIDIAN ST & FLORENCE AV
18F086983 07/24/2018 02:26am 113 SHOTS FIRED REED ST & E RUDISILL BLVD
18F087759 07/25/2018 09:11pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1500 N HARRISON ST
18F087769 07/25/2018 09:32pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1200 E PETTIT AV
18F087822 07/25/2018 11:56pm 113 SHOTS FIRED W FOURTH ST & CASS ST
18F087829 07/26/2018 12:16am 113 SHOTS FIRED S HARRISON ST & W BELMONT ST
18F087834 07/26/2018 12:30am 113 SHOTS FIRED W FOURTH ST & CASS ST
18F088117 07/26/2018 06:21pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 800 WOODVIEW BLVD
18F088177 07/26/2018 09:30pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 2400 SMITH ST
18F088268 07/27/2018 03:44am 113 SHOTS FIRED 1100 E COOK RD
18F088423 07/27/2018 02:06pm 113 SHOTS FIRED TENNESSEE AV & ONEIDA ST
18F088640 07/27/2018 10:13pm 113 SHOTS FIRED W STATE BLVD & OLLADALE DR
18F088646 07/27/2018 10:24pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1300 W FOURTH ST
18F088652 07/27/2018 10:34pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 4600 S HANNA ST PETTI
18F088735 07/28/2018 02:47am 113 SHOTS FIRED 2700 BOWSER AV
18F088744 07/28/2018 03:03am 113 SHOTS FIRED 1500 PRODUCTION RD
18F088769 07/28/2018 05:40am 113 SHOTS FIRED WINTER ST & COLERICK ST
18F089006 07/28/2018 07:52pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 4900 FAIRINGTON DR
18F089052 07/28/2018 09:25pm 113 SHOTS FIRED MANFORD ST & FRUEHAUF DR
18F089104 07/28/2018 10:59pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1300 HOME AVE
18F089161 07/29/2018 01:17am 113 SHOTS FIRED 2600 WINCH ST
18F089170 07/29/2018 01:35am 113 SHOTS FIRED 1700 HOWELL ST
18F089173 07/29/2018 01:51am 113 SHOTS FIRED 1400 GREENE ST
18F089179 07/29/2018 02:11am 113 SHOTS FIRED 1700 HOWELL ST
18F089183 07/29/2018 02:35am 113 SHOTS FIRED 4500 LILLIE ST
18F089197 07/29/2018 03:27am 113 SHOTS FIRED W FOURTH ST & WELLS ST
18F089209 07/29/2018 05:17am 113 SHOTS FIRED 2000 FOX POINT TRL
18F089312 07/29/2018 01:54pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 5700 SANDRA LEE AV
18F089460 07/29/2018 08:31pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 4700 DRUID HILLS DR
18F089514 07/29/2018 10:55pm 113 SHOTS FIRED 1800 SINCLAIR ST
===========================================================
18F086411 07/22/2018 07:17pm 23,113 7700 DIANE DR
18F087257 07/24/2018 05:05pm 23,113 600 E CREIGHTON AV
18F087536 07/25/2018 11:42am 23,113 600 E DEWALD ST
18F087854 07/26/2018 01:55am 23,113 1000 LAKE AV
18F088137 07/26/2018 07:15pm 23,113 5300 S HARRISON ST
18F088323 07/27/2018 09:15am 23,113 900 LAKE AV
18F088820 07/28/2018 10:27am 23,113 100 E CREIGHTON AV
18F089069 07/28/2018 09:33pm 23,113 7200 LAKERIDGE DR
===========================================================
18F088185 07/26/2018 09:59pm 53 ARMED ROB 2000 GLADSTONE DR
18F088363 07/27/2018 10:54am 53 ARMED ROB 4400 SANFORD LN
18F088669 07/27/2018 11:14pm 53 ARMED ROB 2500 TERRACE RD
18F088899 07/28/2018 02:19pm 53 ARMED ROB 2700 REPTON DR
18F089501 07/29/2018 10:31pm 53 ARMED ROB 6900 MOORFIELD CT
18F087356 07/24/2018 09:59pm 53 ARMED ROB 1800 CHARTWELL DR
===========================================================
18F086253 07/22/2018 10:09am 56 MOLESTING 3900 E STATE BLVD
18F087924 07/26/2018 10:17am 56 MOLESTING 6800 LAKE CREST CT
===========================================================
18F087846 07/26/2018 01:21am 58 SHOOTING 1000 LAKE AV
18F088266 07/27/2018 03:30am 58 SHOOTING 700 BROADWAY
18F089174 07/29/2018 01:51am 58 SHOOTING 700 E LEWIS ST
18F089175 07/29/2018 02:00am 58 SHOOTING 2200 RANDALLIA DR
18F089383 07/29/2018 04:43pm 58 SHOOTING 800 HAMILTON AV
18F089536 07/29/2018 11:37pm 58 SHOOTING 4800 S ANTHONY BLVD
===========================================================
18F089201 07/29/2018 03:46am 59 CUTTING/STAB 700 BROADWAY
===========================================================
18F088036 07/26/2018 03:29pm 61 RAPE 2700 W COLISEUM BLVD
18F088140 07/26/2018 07:22pm 61 RAPE 4100 ILLINOIS RD
18F088622 07/27/2018 09:22pm 61 RAPE 1500 LAKEHURST DR
18F088758 07/28/2018 04:05am 61 RAPE 3200 DIPLOMAT DR
18F086902 07/23/2018 10:10pm 61 RAPE 1300 MCKEE ST
18F087066 07/24/2018 10:17am 61 RAPE ARROWWOOD DR & E STATE BLVD
18F087286 07/24/2018 06:30pm 61 RAPE 1900 RIVER RUN TRL
18F087535 07/25/2018 11:37am 61 RAPE 2000 PAULINE ST
============================================================
18F086448 07/22/2018 08:33pm 75 PURSUIT 1700 SPRING ST
18F088747 07/28/2018 03:14am 75 PURSUIT S ANTHONY BLVD & MCKINNIE AV
18F089350 07/29/2018 03:20pm 75 PURSUIT BLUFFTON RD & ENGLE RD
18F089391 07/29/2018 05:08pm 75 PURSUIT WEISSER PARK AV & COLERICK ST
============================================================
Plus 17 narcotics calls 
============================================================
Fireworks calls JUL 23 - JUL 29:

Whatta dumbass!

18F086361 07/22/2018 04:38pm 44FW 4500 S COLONIAL AV
18F086470 07/22/2018 09:37pm 44FW MARAVILLA DR & VIDA DR
18F086471 07/22/2018 09:43pm 44FW 5300 WHEELOCK RD
18F086476 07/22/2018 10:01pm 44FW W PACKARD AV & INDIANA AV
18F086876 07/23/2018 08:48pm 44FW 5800 PORT ROYAL LAKES OF
18F086913 07/23/2018 10:08pm 44FW 6300 BAY TREE DR
18F086914 07/23/2018 10:31pm 44FW MAYSVILLE RD & KERCHEVAL DR
18F086923 07/23/2018 10:56pm 44FW 1100 FRANKLIN AV
18F087591 07/25/2018 01:56pm 44FW 2600 NORTHHIGHLANDS BLVD
18F089504 07/29/2018 10:29pm 44FW HIGH ST & RUNNION AV
18F089540 07/29/2018 11:06pm 44FW 1700 SINCLAIR ST
18F088158 07/26/2018 08:28pm 44FW 2100 GLENWOOD AV
18F088187 07/26/2018 10:01pm 44FW 4100 LILLIE ST
18F088202 07/26/2018 10:47pm 44FW 4100 LILLIE ST
18F089024 07/28/2018 08:26pm 44FW 4600 W ARLINGTON PARK BLVD
18F089042 07/28/2018 09:10pm 44FW 600 E CAMDEN DR
18F089054 07/28/2018 09:30pm 44FW 7300 MAYSVILLE RD
18F089062 07/28/2018 09:34pm 44FW 3000 SANDARAC LN
18F089071 07/28/2018 09:40pm 44FW TIMBERLAKE TRL & SPRING BREEZE CT
18F089072 07/28/2018 09:59pm 44FW 10400 MOHAWK CT
18F089073 07/28/2018 10:08pm 44FW 10500 BENT TREE LN
18F089080 07/28/2018 10:21pm 44FW 4000 HIAWATHA BLVD
18F089082 07/28/2018 10:21pm 44FW ST JOE CENTER RD & CREEKWOOD BLVD
18F089099 07/28/2018 10:22pm 44FW HARTFORD DR & FRONTIER AV
18F089113 07/28/2018 11:03pm 44FW 1100 W WILDWOOD AV
====================================================
HOW many days has it been PAST the cut off for this crap???
*** Just in - another (fatal) shooting, this time out in Waynedale leaves one woman dead.

Here's the story (so far):
http://www.wpta21.com/story/38773857/early-morning-reported-shooting-leaves-one-dead-in-fort-wayne

Looks like homicide #29 for the year (and counting).
This happened in the 6500 block of Old Trail Rd around 0448 hrs this morning.
Police found the woman inside the residence. She was taken to hospital in serious condition, but later died from gunshot wounds.
This isn't a place you would normally suspect a homicide. No mention about suicide, either.
*** Next, does Indiana really NEED a hate crime law? You can decide. Here's the story:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/indiana/20180731/holcomb-urging-hate-crimes-law

Now, I could say that just because we're one of only five states that does NOT have such a law, doesn't mean we need one.
This could be another case of "keeping up with the Joneses".
Sure, Indiana was a hub of racism back in the day (heavy KKK presence), but you always have to think about the "where do we stop?" with such a law or mayeb even "who makes the determination as to what SPECIFICALLY determines a hate crime?".
And, it gets better...
((The bill has died repeatedly in the Indiana legislature as many conservative Republicans work against it. A major sticking point in the past has been the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the legislation.))

And that opens a whole other can of worms, right?
Isn't every crime a "hate" crime for some reason? An armed robbery takes place in a store because the perp hates the fact that he can't normally HAVE what's being sold, so he STEALS it at gunpoint.
Does a hate crime mean that a black person hates a white person? Is this a TWO-WAY street, or a very limited access thoroughfare?
Everyone hates something or someone at one time or another. Does that makes them ALL hate crimes?
Another slippery slope that we all have to tread lightly upon.
*** Next up, I watched a movie on TCM over the weekend, and it was a film that I think should be shown in EVERY school in America.

It's called The Jackie Robinson Story, and stars (who else?) Jackie Robinson.
It's not in color, nor does it have any special effects or CGI. Everything is as you see it.
And, it chronicles Jackie's rise from youth to becoming the first black man to play on a professional baseball team.
There was one scene where Jackie (playing for the Montreal Royals - farm club for the Dodgers) was being taunted by some guys in the stands who had a black cat on a leash.

(I didn't know that Midnight's ancestor was an "actor")
Rather than lash out at the mooks, Robinson takes the cat to the dugout. There is so much said without a word uttered by Jackie.

That scene alone is worth it, as is some of the dialogue between Robinson and the actor portraying  the Brooklyn Dodgers team owner, Branch Rickey:
Jackie Robinson: Mr. Rickey, do you want a ballplayer who's afraid to fight back?
Branch Rickey:   I want a ballplayer with guts enough not to fight back. 

Why I never took time to watch it in the past eludes me, but I am very glad I spent 90 minutes to view it.  Many lessons to be gleaned from that film, that's for sure.
Now, I've gotta see the 2013 movie "42" with Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther) and Harrison Ford.
*** Next, time to stop by "Kitten Corner"...

They both like napping on the box.

Our kids enjoyed the day, even if it was a bit on the :"blah": side.
Naturally, they took to chasing one another, but only after Wifey got home.

And they take turns sharing the box.

Why they feel the need to have a larger audience for their antics is anyone's guess.
It's just another person to chide them when they get rammy-assed...lol.
*** Next up, let's check in with "Midnight and Whiskers"...

It's drizzling right now...

Our furry twosome had a very good day, with no visitors (unexpected or otherwise).
The off and on rain was a bit bothersome, but no big matter.
They made every meal and were waiting for the "treats-time" we have before 8 P.M.

And now, the rain stops...

After that, Midnight usually takes to the back steps and curls up on the top step to watch the neighborhood for a while. Whiskers just hangs on the patio and often stays in the shelter until early morning.
We even had some hummingbird action at the feeders.

Now that's a complete critter day.
*** Last back to the kitchen sink....I don;t really know if we need laws for hate crimes.

I'd like to think we can amend whatever charges to INCLUDE any bias against the victims when a crime occurs.
But, to have specific laws tailored to hate invites more trouble than it could be worth.
That's not to say that hate between people will ever go away. Since Cain and Abel, there has been hatred of one sort or another.
It usually begins with something we call envy.
It can also include jealousy, and yes, bigotry.
And, since the dawn of man, we have worked on these aspects of humanity, even more than we have worked upon that which we know to be good. It always seems easier to destroy than to build, and as a species, we seem to excel in destruction.

Hope there's NO crime to be found here.

I'm not saying we can all gather and have some "kumbaya" moment, but we can at least try to be less hateful to one another.
It's certainly no east task, but we don't have to make giants steps in sopping it.
All we have to do is take some small baby steps in a better direction, and as usual, it all starts with a CHOICE to do so.

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

See 'ya next month.