Thoughts For Thursday...(Maundy edition)

Okay, so the rain held off yesterday, but today is a whole other ballgame. You ARE going to need that umbrella, and be mindful of road conditions when things get nice and wet.
Our Hoosierland forecast for today...how about DREARY?
Actually, it's starting off mild, but rain IS moving into the area, and it will continue well into tomorrow (just so you know).
Mostly cloudy skies will be on tap and temps will be dropping during the day.
Looks like 67 degrees will be the high and by nightfall, we'll crop back into the lower 50s. Gonna get some winds on top of all this, too.

Now, with that dispensed with, let's take a moment to get that refreshing beverage, as we see what ELSE has been going on...
*** First out of the stable is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
 "Cruelty, like every other vice, requires no motive outside of itself; it only requires opportunity"

This was spoken by none other than George Eliot, otherwise know as Mary Ann Evans (22 November 1819 – 22 December 1880; alternatively Mary Anne or Marian) who was an English novelist, poet, journalist, translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. And here is HER Wiki:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Eliot

It's a decent read and shows that you don;t need THAT formal an education to produce lasting works of fiction or poetry.
I remember reading Silas Marner in school...wasn't one of my favorites (I was into Jules Verne at that time).,
*** Next up, we bring you the "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
APRIL 18 -
---It's the quarterly Get To Know Your Customer Day

(wish City Hall took the time for that)
---It's National Animal Crackers Day

(I'm still surprised that PETA hasn't BANNED these yet)
---It's National Columnist's Day

(ah yes, we know them well)
---It's National High Five Day

(sure, find me a reason to give one)
---It's National Lineman Appreciation Day

(giving power back to the "powerless")
---It's National Poem In Your Pocket Day

(sure we all carry them around, right? NAH!)
*** Next, Guess what? We had another shooting on the SOUTH side.

This took place at a house in the 4500 block of Kenilworth St. (near Calhoun) around 2300 hrs.
A pair of men, dressed in black followed another man into the house where he was shot.
The victim is in serious condition.
Wow, TWO males (most likely black) getting inside a house to shoot someone. A new trend?
*** Next up, a standoff with police ends peacefully:
https://wpta21.com/news/2019/04/17/police-standoff-results-in-arrests-drug-charges/
This took place around 0800 hrs in the 800 block of Columbia Av.

Arrested were Matthew Martin, 23, and Eva Tarvin, 40 (multiple counts of dealing meth).
The whole thing didn't take more than an hour.
*** Next, this story is too good, it just HAS to be fattening:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/news/local-news/2019/04/17/city-seeing-a-reduction-in-many-crimes-mayor-police-chief/

-Homicides are down 55.56 percent
-Shootings are down 28.57 percent
-Violent crimes are down 12.81 percent
-Property crimes are down 4.99 percent
-Drug overdoses are down 7.17 percent
-Arrests for possession of a handgun without a license are up 65.38 percent

Too many broken windows.

Sure, the MAJOR categories of crime might be down (except for the handguns deal), but all the smaller things are UP... a lot. (and we all know the small stuff leads to the BIG stuff)
Don't forget, this is ONLY the FIRST quarter of the year...we've plenty of year left (and the "locals" are just warming up along with the weather).
Seeing is believing, and I'm not seeing what I feel I should.
*** Next up, once in a great while, our nation's capital gets something RIGHT:
https://dailycaller.com/2016/04/07/dc-police-crack-down-on-illegal-atvs-on-city-streets-and-sidewalks/

NO...

Gee, and this was TWO years ago. And it makes the exact same case I have here.
And, it also seems good enough for the "ATL":
https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/police-troopers-crack-down-atvs-atlanta-streets/72dgDSc6Rr5CDF0m5DRcGJ//
Who'da thunk that?

Still NO...!

Cripes, it's even good enough for (dare I say it?)...DETROIT:
https://www.autoblog.com/2017/09/05/detroit-chief-wants-atvs-off-city-streets-after-deadly-police-en/
I mean, why is FTW lagging behind this when it comes to ATVs?

HELL, NO...!!!

I thought we were a FORWARD-moving city (except for the SE side, that is)?
Granted, many smaller cities DO allow such vehicles, but they're certainly not on "par" with the size of  Fort Wayne.
*** Next, it's time once again to drop by our "Kitten Corner"...
Our kids have been getting into a morning routine.

"Too,,,many...windows. Need rest."

He does the "go from window to window" gig until he gets tired, while she spends her time napping (which really means contemplating the takeover of the world) and being cute.

"I can haz free cat toyz?"

At least neither of them have gotten online and ordered a crapload of cat toys.
But, if they ever decide to "team up"...well that's something to consider.
*** Next up, let's do daily check in with "Midnight and Whiskers"...
Our furry duo spent most of the day nearby our "Fortress", but as usual, Midnight had to do his "patrol".

"Good meal...time to nap."

Whiskers also took off briefly during the morning, but was back within an hour (guess she had to find a proper "toilet".

"How right you are..."

That means they made all three meals (it WAS "Wet-Food-Wednesday"), but now, I have to watch for ANTS in the food bowls if the cats don't eat everything (something ELSE to hate about warmer weather). That's a real nuisance!
And I sure don't want to bring any ants into the house...I rinse the bowls out first.
*** Last back to the feeding trough...in case anyone needs a reminder, it IS an election year here in Fort Wayne.

And that means stuff like yesterday's "presser" about LOWER crime in the city.
now, if you take time to look PAST the smoke and mirrors, you WILL find the truth (which can also be found be reading these posts).

NOT on he SE side!

We've been told crime has been dropping about 13% every year for the last DECADE. If you do the math, that means we're in NEGATIVE numbers (130 percent decrease), and to me, that does NOT add up. In fact, it's impossible, given the amount of crime we STILL have every year. But it IS an election year in our city.

Sure, get out there and talk about GOOD stuff...for ONLY the first 3 months of the year (like the rest of the year will be AS good).
It sounds so positive, and yet, when you peel back the layers of THIS onion, you will wind up with tears in your eyes.
I've never been all that fond of being LIED to, and I don;t make a practice of doing likewise to others. The truth can often hurt, but at least you know where you stand.
Right now, the south side of this city stands on very shaky ground.

All that's missing are a few sinkholes, swallowing up what's left of the decency that used to be in greater abundance down here.
But, we are still hanging on to something called...HOPE. There's always that, right?

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