Friday Follies...

Can you believe it...two relatively NICE days in a row...what WILL they think of next?
I'm almost beside myself (which could make things more crowded than usual).
Bit, don't get too comfortable with this warm-up, because by Monday, it'll be cold once again, and for a few days after.
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us most sunny skies, with temps climbing to around the mid-40s and no precipitation ,(that comes in later tonight and stays for most of the rest of the weekend).

So, let's get the day started with a glass, cup, or mug of Friday Fortitude, as we see what else has been going on...
*** First off of he (almost) snow-free patio is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
FEBRUARY 22 -
---It's National California Day

(lots of nice scenery - lots of BAD politics.)
---It's National Cook a Sweet Potato Day

(how about NO?)
---It's National Margarita Day

(sorry, not a "Buffet-head")
---It's National Skip the Straw Day

(I think I'll drink everything WITH a straw today just to make MY point)
*** Next, and because week's end has arrived, let's see what we cna observe over the following 48 hours...
FEBRUARY 23 -
Saturday is National Banana Bread Day

(now THIS I can work with Marta White - best mix around for a buck.)
---It's National Dog Biscuit Day

(weird how they never have had CAT biscuits)
---It's National Tile Day

(I'm not fondling the shower walls)
FEBRUARY 24 -
Sunday is National Tortilla Chip Day

(you'd think it would also be salsa day...)
And there we go, enough things to keep oneself occupied. Just be sure to always observe responsibly.
*** Next up, a nice look back to simpler times from Eric Olson at WPTA:
https://wpta21.com/news/featured/21country/2019/02/21/clues/

That museum director is right - we ARE in TOO much of a hurry to be "modern", and that makes the case for what we leave behind (or not), doesn't it?
Maybe we don't have to stop and smell the roses all the time, but why not just slow down for a while and enjoy what the good Lord has provided...and count our blessings?
*** Next, seems the Chicago police chief got this spot on:
https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/police-empire-actor-turns-self-in-to-face-charge/1798735281

Chief Eddie Johnson

Everyone was in another hurry in a rush to judgment, they they didn't even look at the FACTS as they presented themselves. Well, the CPD did, and the chief hit the "ten ring" on this case.
Yes, it can be said that any "Empire" is liable to fall...just look at Rome.
*** Next up, those of you in Ohio, get ready for a possible GAS TAX (an 18 CENT one).
https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/ohio-weighing-gas-tax-increase/1799259352
((OUCH!!!))

This ALWAYS makes drivers happy, governor.

Guess they want to mimic Indiana. Just be sure YOU folks there watch WHERE the money goes.
If that wasn't bad enough, there's THIS:
https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/another-company-cutting-jobs-ahead-of-ohio-gm-plant-closing/1799248364
That'll hurt those who have to look for another JOB, right?
*** Next, did you know that the number of "hate groups" in America has risen, according to the :
Southern Poverty Law Center
https://www.ksat.com/news/what-to-know-about-hate-groups-in-us-how-they-are-defined

If you read the link, you find out they're NOT all white groups...are they?
And some can be combined, as they are pretty much the same thing (neo nazis/skinheads, for example). I wonder if the Black Jewish Israelites are on the list? They SHOULD be.
So, the SPLC is really not the "savior" that many think they are, as this article from 2017 shows:
https://townhall.com/columnists/joshgoldstein/2017/07/26/splc-hate-group-n2360208

Yes, this is the same SPLC that had the TEN COMMANDMENTS removed from the Alabama State building rotunda and had Alabama Supreme Court Justice (Roy Moore) removed from the court (look it up), so be careful HOW you view the CONTEXT of the story.
While the SPLC does "some" good, they're NOT a conservative group with "America First" in mind by ANY means.
*** Next up, here's a look at the left from the latest Bill O'Reilly column:
https://www.billoreilly.com/b/The-Extreme-Team/852809687703239894.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=staff_column

Yes, the progressive movement IS dangerous to America...it always HAS been.
Can't really add anything else to that except to say "AMEN"!
*** Next, time to stop on by our "Kitten Corner"...

"Whaddya mean I look like Mussolini?"

The kids were again on a roll with good behavior, and they spent a lot of the day looking outside to the patio, seeing what was going on there. Gallifrey goes to various windows whenever he feels the need to be "nosey".

"It sure is...SO BIG outside."

Violet will do that also, but not as frequently. She prefers the patio door, especially when I go out to visit out other two adopted children.
*** Next up, let's check in with "Midnight and Whiskers"...

"I really DO like eating up here much better."

Our furry twosome had a great time yesterday, as they were both there for all three meals.
And, they didn't have to eat under the table for a change. Midnight was up ON the table, while Whiskers eats near the water dish.

"Got my spot. Time to get warm."

And then, it's back to grabbing some sun and warming up those fur coats they have.
They also both got treats. Midnight got a little more when he greeted Wifey when she got home.
*** Last back to the classic TV station..And now there are two .

Monkees member Peter Tork has passed at the age of 77. Here's the story:
https://variety.com/2019/music/news/peter-tork-the-monkees-dies-dead-1203144914/
Here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Tork

Somehow, in their heyday, it seemed a more innocent time.

All we had to worry about was nuclear annihilation, and we also had the Vietnam war., but aside from those, we were a lot better off than we are today. We weren't busy with the nonsense that takes up our time today, that's for sure.
Maybe it had to do with people being able to talk to and with other people  face-to-face, and actually discussing and debating the issues of the day.
Maybe it was the lack of all the technology we have at our fingertips now.
People weren't hiding behind some facade to get their point across (or annoy others).
Perhaps it was a mix of these...and more.
Whatever the case, we lost that innocence, and never concerned ourselves with getting it back.

We long for such times past, and the thing is, we could STILL have better times, if we chose to really want them again..
I think there may be a lesson to learn here.
Do have yourselves a good weekend.

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

Thoughts For Thursday...

Believe it or not, we're getting a break in this crazy weather...seriously.
(how did THAT happen?)
We're going to have a sunrise, too (now I know we did something wrong...heh).
Our Hoosierland weather for today bring us mostly clear skies, temps reaching (again) to around 40 degrees, and no precipitation.
(A-Freaking-Mazing)

So, let's get ourselves a refreshing beverage to start the day, as we see what else has been going on...
*** First off of the runway is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:

"The basic tool for the manipulation of reality is the manipulation of words. If you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use the words."
This was spoken by Philip K. Dick (December 16, 1928 – March 2, 1982) who was an American writer known for his work in science fiction. And here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_K._Dick

((His work explored philosophical, social, and political themes, with stories dominated by monopolistic corporations, alternative universes, authoritarian governments, and altered states of consciousness.))
Personally, I think we lost him too soon, although some of the themes in his stories have come to pass.
A number of popular films based on Dick's works have been produced, including Blade Runner (1982), Total Recall (adapted twice: in 1990 and in 2012), Minority Report (2002), A Scanner Darkly (2006), The Adjustment Bureau (2011), and Blade Runner 2049 (2017).
Unfortunately, he was a drug user (amphetamines) most of his life, and I don't know how that influenced his writing, but if anything, it DID make the reader wonder much about the world they were already living in.
It's a pretty good read, nonetheless.
*** Next, time for our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
FEBRUARY 21 -
---It's National Grain Free Day

(LOL...like THAT'S gonna happen anytime soon in our home)
---It's National Sticky Bun Day

(okay, now THIS is more like it.)
*** Next up...Oh, THIS makes me feel SO much more "at ease"...NOT:
https://wpta21.com/news/top-stories/2019/02/20/fcc-nearly-half-the-calls-you-receive-this-year-will-be-spam/

I'll do them one better...I'll say that over EIGHTY PERCENT of the calls "we" get here at the "Fortress" will be SPAM.
How do I know?
Simple.
In JUST the last three days, we've gotten FIVE such spam.cam calls (that I always let go to the answering machine.
And (for all the damn good it does), I report the number to BOTH the FTC and the FCC.
((“We’re steadfastly focused on addressing this serious problem,”)) so they say, but how come we've STILL been getting increasing numbers of spam calls while being on the state AND federal DO NOT CALL LIST?

Again...simple: The robocallers are better than our government and seem to stay several steps AHEAD of them. So, all we do is play "catch -up"
Nice, huh?
*** Next, now, stories like THIS actually DO put a smile on my face. Here's the lowdown:
https://wpta21.com/news/top-stories/2019/02/20/customs-intercepts-over-12m-in-meth-at-border-crossing/

Building blocks of a broken society?

Imagine that, at a BORDER CROSSING.
Guess those "frozen strawberries" will HAVE to wait, because agents found $12 MIL of METH in the same truck.
(...oops...)
That's 906 pounds (411 "keys" )of this poison. Bet that driver wishes he stayed in bed.
That's some DAMN fine policing.
(good dog)
*** Next up, and continuing my "smile-fest", comes THIS story:
https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/man-accused-in-4-killings-loses-fight-to-avoid-death-penalty/1795853377

Poor murderer LOST his bid to avoid the death penalty...a shame...
Marcus Dansby should have made some better choices in his past.
The argument was that the state's capital punishment statute was "unconstitutional"...whatta crock.
I think one life (his) for the FOUR lives he took is adequate.
*** Next, time to stop by our "Kitten Corner"...
The kids once again were wonderfully well-behaved...okay, so now I'm concerned...LOL.

"I wish we had opposing thumbs..".

I wonder what they're up to? It's just that you get used to their antics, and when  settle into a more sedate mode, you can't help but think there's an ulterior motive.

"I wish dinner time came earlier."

Maybe I should keep the credit card and phone close by.
Don't want a special delivery of more cat toys showing up unexpectedly, do we?
*** Next up, let's do our check-in with "Midnight and Whiskers"...

"Why does he miss lunch a lot?"

Our furry twosome were here for breakfast and dinner, but Midnight was AWOL for lunch. Whiskers got her share, though. Feeding under the table is getting a bit on the "old" side, if you get my drift, but, it DOES keep them dry (and it was drizzling most of yesterday.

"I'm here when it COUNTS."

Naturally, I had to clear the patio of snow for them.
No, they're not spoiled at all, and that's why they get after dinner treats
*** Last back to the hangar...it seems every day in laced with SOME sort of "intrigue".

(If I want intrigue, I''' watch some TCM flicks of the "noire" variety)
I do miss the days when we used to have some boredom in our lives occasionally.
Today, you can't pick up a paper, or turn on the news without hearing some new load of BS coming at you. And God forbid you turn to "social media". ((rolls eyes))
And, I wonder how much of all this "information" (and disinformation) we can stomach and how much of a factor it has become to cause society to fracture in the manner that it has.
The simple life seems so far removed from what today tosses at us.

And the more people become entwined in this Gordian knot of garbage, the more they seem to WANT to become entwined.
It's like a self-fulfilling prophecy (that we really don't need).

This cannot end well.

We go from one thing to another, with absolutely NO thought to what we leave in our wake.
Funny thing...what we leave behind USED to be called a LEGACY.
At the rate we're going, the legacy isn't looking all that good...for anyone.
It's just something to think about.

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

Humpday Happenings...

Okay, so it's another INDIANA WEATHER kinda day, which means everything under the sun coming EXCEPT...the sun.
We've got it all today, not that we needed it, but this IS that "mega-storm" you might have read about - the one due to hit the east coast with some severe winter weather. We missed the brunt of it, but we're feeling the outer boundaries of it, nonetheless.
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us (hope you're sitting down)...SNOW, followed by FREEZING DRIZZLE, followed by RAIN itself.
Highs will be around 40 degrees, so whatever shows up on the roads will most likely melt away.
Now, let's get this show on the road (carefully) with a nice hot cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa, as we see what else has been going on...
*** First out of the maelstrom is the WHO SAID THAT? quote for the week:

"The basic tool for the manipulation of reality is the manipulation of words. If you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use the words."
I think this states perfectly what our society is increasingly prone to, given the nature of those pushing it down our throats.
It all starts with words, and only gets worse from there.
So, WHO said that? The answer at the top of tomorrow's post.
Meanwhile, back at the John Eaton Elementary School in Frisco...
*** Next, is our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
FEBRUARY 20 -
---It's National Cherry Pie Day

(freshly baked on a day like this - Kismet!)
---It's National Love Your Pet Day

(If you have a pet , you love them EVERY day)
*** Next up, there are those days when all you can say is "...Really?". Case in point:
https://www.theblaze.com/news/bernie-sanders-announces-2020-campaign
Good Lord...WHY, oh why do these people come out from under their rocks whenever an election cycle looms?

It's odd that Bernie wants to tax the hell out of the rich to pay for all his socialist "plans", and yet, after the last presidential election (with him losing to Clinton in the primary) he goes and buys a $600,000 house (his 2nd) along a lake in his state of Vermont.
Hypocrisy is STILL very much alive and well, my friends.
*** Next, I've always liked reporter Lara Logan, and was incensed when I read about her being attacked and raped in Egypt.

Now, I have a new respect for her and here is why:
https://www.theblaze.com/news/cbs-anchor-lara-logan-liberal-media
Maybe if more like her came and outted the lame-stream media (as they should be), the level of "professional suicide" would be on the decline.
We can only hope. WTG, Lara.
*** Next up, Kevin Leininger has a new column on socialist nonsense, which is not a laughing matter.

Here's the link:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/news/local-news/2019/02/19/kevin-leininger-sure-the-latest-socialist-plan-to-remake-america-is-ludicrous-but-its-no-laughing-matter/
I think it's fine to make fun of them, but I'm from a different generation...and WE still know how to keep such people at arm's length.
*** Next, a FWPD drug house raid nets 2 (and other fun stuff).
https://wpta21.com/news/top-stories/2019/02/19/two-arrested-after-police-raid-fort-wayne-home/

This took place at a house (and NOT a "home") located at 3022 Pennsylvania St. around 1946 hrs Monday night. That's the Memorial Park area on the EAST side of the growing ghettohood.
((Detectives found 5 grams of cocaine, approximately one pound of marijuana that had partially been flushed down a toilet, oxycodone pills, narcotics paraphernalia, a FN .45 pistol, and an unregistered NFA Class 3 AR style weapon.)) Both of these weapons are not that cheap, either, and that NFA-AR will indeed draw the attention of the BATFE crowd.

Arrested were Airon (age 20) and Owanna Mitchell (age 43 - mom?). Smile for your mug shot and don't forget to THANK the Allen County Jail for your free meals, flip-flops and orange jumpsuits.
*** Next up, ANOTHER shooting on the (where else?) SOUTHEAST side:
https://wpta21.com/news/top-stories/2019/02/19/one-seriously-injured-after-early-morning-shooting/

This took place around 0145 hrs yesterday morning at a house located at 4327 Bowser Av.
One person was taken to hospital in serious condition. No other information was released.
*** Next, an early morning armed robbery on the SOUTH side:
https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/police-investigate-robbery-at-fort-wayne-dollar-general/1793293839

This took place around 0800 hrs yesterday at the Dollar General located at 417 W. Creighton Av. A male entered the store with a handgun and demanded money, When he didn't get any, he pepper-sprayed the employee and ran from the store.

The gun was probably a  BB pistol or other fake.
Yes, such crimes have been spreading to this part of the city for a while now.
*** Next up,  yet another armed robbery, but NOT on the SE side (for a change). Here's the details:
https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/police-searching-for-speedway-armed-robbery-suspect/1795397388

This took place at the Speedway located at  6033 W. Jefferson Blvd. around 0100 hrs this morning.
A male suspect came into the store with a handgun and left with an undisclosed amount of money.
Police canvassed the area to no avail. Security video did not provide a usable description of the suspect either.
That means we got another armed perp on the loose in town.
*** Next, let's drop on by our "Kitten Corner"...

Innocent...that's us.

The kids were almost too good yesterday.Hardly knew they were around. I checked on them a couple times, to see if everything was okay...which it was.

He's right, you know.

You do get used to them meandering around or playing with the toys, or even chasing each other.
Yesterday was an exception, but they're both doing fine and ALWAYS are there when it's time to eat.
*** Next up, time to check back in with "Midnight and Whiskers"...

The sun came out...YAY!

Our furry duo did well yesterday, and they even got to eat out from under the patio table.
The sun came out for a while, and they both stayed close to the house, getting warm in the process.

Geez, come up for some air, Sweetie.

And they stayed dry also...I know they loved that.
We even had another cat come by (I call it "Spot", obviously). The cat was eating leftovers out of Whisker's bowl, and when I tried to open the door, it ran off. Oh well, that's your loss, my friend.

A very timid cat for sure.

Today looks to be nothing like yesterday as far as feeding goes. Back under the table.
I'll bet we get some action at the bird feeder.
*** Last back to the garage...Wifey got her tail light turn signal bulbs replaced.

All better now.

At least now she won't get ticketed for that, not that the police around here seem to WANT to enforce that.
Yes, I see LOADS of vehicles (around our area) with non-functioning lights - headlights, tail lights, license plate bulbs...you name it, they drive around without it. But their STEREOS sure as hell work loud...I mean WELL enough!
Anyway, the bulbs I got the other day WERE the WRONG ones, but my "guess" as to which ones we REALLY needed was correct, so that's only HALF a failure. I can live with that.
Speaking of cars, the UK will be losing it's ONLY Honda plant, displacing around 3500 workers.
Apparently, Honda wants to cut back CAR production for more crossovers, or as they say "following market trends".

It's like this...EVERYONE goes through "phases" in life, and society in general is NO damn different.
Look how bell-bottom jeans made a comeback, and the INCREASING interest in VINYL RECORDS.
When these car companies realize that the bloom will be off the SUV/crossover/truck rose soon enough, they might all get caught with their pants down around their ankles.
Then, it will our turn to laugh.
We're ALL being manipulated in some fashion, and I believe the major companies are also not totally immune to this...they just don't KNOW it (yet).

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