Indy Star Voter Guide
If you always wonder, when standing in the voting booth, how to pick candidates for the less well-known political offices, the Indy Star's interactive voter guide goes through each of the candidates, provides information about them, and lets you make selections and print out a cheat sheet to take to the voting booth with you. Very nice. I don't know...
Indianapolis
Indianapolis... Indy... from Market Square... oops. Can't sing that any more. [192 entries.]
Indiana political blogging
Sometimes it's really entertaining for all the wrong reasons....
Major A. Riddle and Old Lady Riddle's House
A while back, I was looking up the history of our house in the Old Northside Historic Plan, and I noted that the third owner of our house was Charles L. Riddle, who owned a lighting store in town in the 1920's. I found a picture of the store in the Indiana Historic Archives, and posted it to my blog....
The Ripple Effect
I presumed yesterday's post on the special election would cause some consternation, but it's always interesting to see how these things play out. Bil Browning of The Bilerico Project asked me to cross post my entry there, which I though would be fun. From there, Abdul Hakim-Shabazz, radio personality and erstwhile former blogger at IndyUndercover got all up about it...
Local Food Indianapolis and Green Indianapolis links
In the process of signing up for a local food co-op, we've been reading several local blogs about local food and green living. Local Food Blog for Indianapolis - http://www.goinglocal-info.com/ Local Food Blog (not based in Indy) - http://www.eatlocalchallenge.com/ A Guide to Local Foods in Indianapolis - http://www.goinglocal-info.com/my_weblog/indiana_food_guide.html Finding Local Food Markets in Indiana http://www.indianafarmdirect.com/index2.php http://www.goinglocal-info.com/my_weblog/community-sponsored-agriculture.html Indianapolis Green Blogs http://urbanindy.blogspot.com/...
Mayor Peterson outlines how Daniels is going to screw Indy
Very interesting article in the Indianapolis Business Journal with outgoing Mayor Bart Peterson, and how Indianapolis is going to get screwed with Daneil's proposed property tax reform. IBJ: The Legislature is preparing to substantially reform Indiana’s property tax system. Lots of Indianapolis residents are very concerned about their property taxes. They want to see them reduced and permanently stabilized. What...
Julia Carson's replacement should be LGBT Friendly
This is really disturbing – one of the names being discussed as a possibility for Julia Carson's office by the Democrats is Indiana State Representative Carolene Mays, who voted in favor of SJR-7, the amendment to ban equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. More from Jerame Davis: The passing of Congresswoman Julia Carson has left a gaping hole in Indiana...
Goodbye, Julia
I did indeed love you. Check out this wonderful video of Julia speaking at the Rosa Parks Memorial. Sparkling, funny and well-loved....
Indianapolis
There are times when I love living in Indianapolis. And there are times when I can't imagine why I didn't leave on the few occasions that I've considered it and looked around at other places to live. I find myself feeling the second emotion after reading the IndyStar's talkback forums regarding Congresswoman Julia Carson's recent announcement that she has terminal...
Mayor Bart Peterson
Mayor Peterson attended the Old Northside neighborhood meeting this evening. Sent from my iPhone...
My Comments on other's stuff....
My reply to Richard Prince's column on Rishawn Biddle, on the Maynard Institute website. The column was being discussed in the forums. If a white male writer in Indianapolis had written what Rishawn wrote he would have been fired, and probably a lot more quickly than Rishawn was. What he wrote wasn't edgy or even necessarily correct, especially in some...
Rishawn Biddle Gets Fired
I've been trying to avoid writing about local politics of late, just because the bile and animosity therein was way to much to deal with given my increased workload at my place of employment, and because others do a much better job of saying what I would anyway. On occasion here, I've ranted about Indy Star editorialist Rishawn Biddle, who...
Mass Avenue Movies Under the Stars
I found this event from the OutWord Bound Bookstore email newsletter interesting: Mass Avenue Movies Under the Stars Mass Ave Video Store in partnership with the Indianapolis International Film Festival presents their 2007 Outdoor Summer Film Series: Movies Under the Stars extending through September 27, 2007. All movies are free and open to the public! So bring your favorites: picnic...
Bigotted Atkins Cheesecake Family denies partner access to gay son
From today's Indy Star: Brett Conrad spent more than half his life as Patrick Atkins' partner. For 25 years, the men shared bank accounts, apartments and eventually a home in Fishers. But when Atkins, 47, fell seriously ill in 2005, Conrad faced what many gay Hoosiers consider a travesty: no law guaranteeing them the same rights as married couples to...
Bart Peterson's Letter to Marion County Property Tax Payers
Making the rounds via email: July 20, 2007 Dear Neighbors: We have taken the first important steps toward long-term property tax reform. The Governor’s order of a Marion County reassessment is welcome news to our friends and neighbors who have been shocked by the unacceptable tax bills issued this month. Thanks to the reassessment, Marion County tax bills will be...
Indy Star vs. Houston Chronicle: Houston has better readers
I happened to be reading this article in the Houston Chronicle about a gay male flight attendant murdered by a homophobe, and discovered something interesting while scrolling through the reader comments on the article. Houston Chronicle readers seem to be more articulate and logical (and better writers) than the typical reader of the Indianapolis Star. It was really surprising to...
Thoughts on the Jesus MCC Bilboard Campaign
Awhile back, I wrote about the second part of Jesus MCC's anti-discrimination campaign here in Indianapolis, involving six provocative billboards. At the time, I said "I like it!" without putting a whole lot of thought into the matter. Soon after that, I caught sight of one of the billboards, at 38th and College. I have to admit, it's pretty impressive...
Jesus MCC's New Campaign
The second part of Jesus MCC's anti-discrimination campaign is rolling out here in Indianapolis, and it involves six potentially provocative billboards like this one: I like it....
Regarding SJR-7
I just wanted to say that there are a lot of hard working people who were tireless in getting SJR-7 stopped in its tracks. I'm afraid to start naming them, because I'll manage to leave someone out - but every single person who was involved in the grassroots effort worked hard - much harder than I did - and I...
SJR-7 Language rejected as flawed by ultra-conservative Bork
Bilerico contributor Don Sherffick testified before the recent House Committee meeting on SJR-7, noting that the language for the flawed second paragraph of the bill originally came from an early draft of the Federal version of the amendment - a draft that was later re-written considerably. That revelation caused some comment and concern amongst committee members. And now Advance Indiana...
Statewide religious coalition speaks out against SJR-7
From iconindiana.org: Indianapolis – The Interfaith Coalition on Nondiscrimination (ICON) today spoke out against Senate Joint Resolution 7 (SJR-7) in a letter to the Indiana General Assembly. The letter, which is signed by 130 Indiana clergy, leaders of faith communities, and other religious professionals, opens with, “Our backgrounds and those of the people we serve vary widely. Our views on...
Lilly Opposes SJR-7
As reported in the Indy Star (and by bilerico.com, Advance Indiana and Taking Down Words): Eli Lilly has joined several other large Indiana corporations (Cummins, Wellpoint, Dow AgroSciences) in opposing SJR-7, the Marriage Discrimination Amendment: "As a result of this uncertainty (over what the amendment's impact might be,)" Murphy wrote, "some employees may choose to leave Indiana to work in...
Colts raise $20,000 for Anti-Gay Group
This is being discussed in the comments on my post on Tony Dungy - but it bears pulling up to it's own entry - at the Indiana Family Institute Dinner, the Colts sent merchandise to be donated off in an auction, which raised $20,000 for the organization to oppose gay rights and to support SJR-7. Seats for the event at...
House committee tables SJR-7 vote
According to Bil from Bilerico: The House Rules and Legislative Affairs committee listened to three hours of testimony regarding SJR-7, the proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions. After several members of the committee commented that they'd like more time to review the testimony before voting on the matter, Chair Scott Pelath closed the hearing without holding...
Cummins plans to testify against proposed ban
From the Indianapolis Star: No private employers testified against a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage when it was before the Senate, but that will change when discussion begins today in the House. Cummins Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tim Solso has sent a letter to House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, encouraging him to oppose the amendment. In...
I'll be burning my Colts gear
According to the Indianapolis Star: Colts coach Tony Dungy said he knows some people would prefer him to steer clear of the gay marriage debate, but he used a speech Tuesday night to clearly stake out his position. Dungy told more than 700 people at the Indiana Family Institute's banquet that he agrees with that organization's position supporting a constitutional...
House Joint Resolution 15 (HJR 15) Assigned to Committee
House Joint Resolution 15 (HJR 15), the legislation formerly known as SJR-7 and the marriage discrimination amendment, has been assigned to committee in the house. It's been placed in the House Rule and Legislative Procedures Committee. Please contact the members of this committee (information below) to oppose this legislation - for Democrats, remind them that putting this on the ballot...
Urban Design Indianapolis
While we were exploring downtown Austin, we had an extended discussion comparing Austin and Indianapolis - and how Indy is quite a bit behind on basic urban design and development. Last night, though, a related email landed in my inbox forwarded by my neighborhood association - a link to Indianapolis's website detailing their urban planning initiatives for downtown....
Drive-by Posting and Current Events
Due to supervising all the work on my old house over the past few weeks, and the work on our current home (which is still ongoing. Sigh.), and a busy time at work, and preparation to go to SXSW, I'm guilty of quite a few "drive-by" posts: where I mention important things without enough context (or appropriate editing, grammar, spelling,...
Delicious Nut Sale (Spay-Neuter Serv.)
Several years ago, I posted a memo to my site that went around at work, because I thought it was really funny -- It was a fund-raising notice from Spay-Neuter Services of Indiana announcing their "Delicious Annual Nut Sale" to raise money for their programs. Yesterday, one of the folks from the organization found the post on my blog and...
Apparently, I'm Chopped Liver
Hmmmm - I guess my 20,000 visitors a day don't rate a mention on Indiana Equality's thank you letter for the Rally organizing... Many, many other businesses, organizations and bloggers contributed greatly to Monday's success by promoting participation in the rally. A big thanks to Advance Indiana; American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Council 62; American Values Alliance;...
Contacting Your Legislators about SJR-7
I've mentioned this several times, but it bears repeating. If you haven't contacted your legislators about SJR-7 (or even if you already have!), you can do so in a number of ways. Two sites have easy contact forms you can use, that look up your legislators for you based on the information you provide. You can use either or both...
Bias Crimes Legislation Pending Before Indiana House
Bias Crimes Legislation Pending Before Indiana House Make Your Voice Heard! Tell Your State Representative why Bias Crimes legislation is good for Indiana. House Bill 1459 (Bias Crimes) authored by State Representative Greg Porter (D-Indianapolis) will be considered by the full House of Representatives during the week of February 19th. HB 1459 amends Indiana's sentencing law to add the following...
Deleted...
... from my Feed Reader: The Indy Star's Expresso blog. For taking up space in my brain that can better be used by something else....
Video from the Rally
Video of the Rally and Protest outside House Speaker Pat Bauer's office. Updated with a better copy of the video... The young man you see in the foreground here on the left is the fellow that Mark St. John grabbed by the arm and dragged out of the protest to argue about why the Democrats went into caucus during...
500 attend Rally, House Democrats Hide from Constitutents
About 500 people attended the Rally in the Indiana Statehouse, organized by Indiana Equality to address SJR-7, the amendment to ban same-sex marriage, and to support the hate crimes bill, which will include sexual orientation and gender identity. There were several speakers, including Candace Gingrich, lgbt civil rights activist and sister of Newt Gingrich. See all 52 of my...
Grassroots Organizing Against SJR-7
I attended a summit this evening of a bunch of different organizations and groups that are opposing SJR-7, along with a bunch of individuals - it was a group of around 30 people, all of whom are active in working on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered issues at one level or another in Indiana. The group was pulled together by...
Rally Reminder
Please don't forget there's a rally tomorrow against SJR-7 at the statehouse -- indoors, 1 - 2:30 p.m. in the North Atrium of the Indiana State House, 200 W. Washington St. (enter North Entrance, off Ohio Street). Candace Gingrich will speak at 1:40 PM. Many of you have President's Day off tomorrow - please attend the rally. You would not...
Comparing the Indiana Legislature to the 20's KKK is NOT Hyperbole
I'm sorry, RiShawn Biddle, but if you studied your history, like Chris Douglas and Gary Welsh have pointed out to you in several posts, you'd know better that to call it hyperbole. RiShawn is an editorialist for the Indianapolis Star, and posts to a "blog" on the newspaper's site -- which I still maintain is bizarre - if you write...
SJR-7 Will Eliminate Purdue's Health Care Benefits
As Gary Welsh rightly points out in a must-read article on SJR-7 and Purdue University's health care benefits, the infamous second paragraph of the proposed amendment will indeed eliminate health care benefits for unmarried partners that are currently used by 31 employees of the university. The question is raised in the Lafayette Journal and Courier - where the university employees...
Rally at the Statehouse - next Monday
The rally -- called the "Read the Fine Print" -- will feature Candace Gingrich, sister of Former Speaker of the US House of Representatives Newt Gingrich. WHAT: "Read the Fine Print!" Rally at the Statehouse WHEN: Monday, February 19, 2007 from 1:00 pm -- 2:30 pm (Presidents Day) WHERE: Indiana Statehouse, North Atrium, 200 W. Washington (Enter off Ohio Street)...
Right-wing lies about SJR-7
On the opinion page of today's Indy Star, Sheila Suess Kennedy, associate professor of law and public policy at the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs in Indianapolis, (and one of my neighbors - she and her husband live a couple blocks away) comments on SJR-7, the amendment to ban equal marriage rights: It isn't just the hatefulness....
SJR7 Passes Senate
The bill to amend the Indiana Constitution to ban Marriage Equality passed the Senate today. As Gary Welsh notes on Advance Indiana, the right-wing hate battalion have managed to achieve something that even the KKK weren't able to do when they held total control of state government - disenfranchise an entire unfavored minority group. Here are the brave handful of...
SJR-7 Passes Senate
The controversial, discriminatory Senate Joint Resolution 7 - to amend the Indiana Constitution to bar equal marriage rights - had a second reading in the Senate today, and was passed by the Senate, much to the State's disgrace. Apparently an amendment to remove the highly ambigous second paragraph of the bill was voted down, even though a similar paragraph in...
Prince's Half-Time Show
Surprised no one's screaming about this......
Matt captures Colts Frenzy Downtown
Downtown went crazy last night after the Colts win. My friend Kathy called me up from the circle, where she narrated some of the action - people surfing on their cars, people streaking down the street (brrr! It's -10 below wind chill, people!), people climbing on the Monument, people screaming and hugging people they didn't know, more people streaking (I'm...
Why don't you speak for yourself, John?
I'm going to emphasize my point at the very beginning of this post, rather than toward the end: If you don't want people to speak on your behalf -- to potentially agree to things you don't agree with, or to make decisions for you -- then you have to speak up yourself. If you don't do that, you bear at...
SJR-7 Update
SJR-7, the bill to amend the Indiana Constitution to prevent equal marriage rights for gay people, was passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee today, and will soon be presented to the full Senate for voting - probably next week. That's pretty bad news, especially since two amendments to the legislation that were presented were struck down and it will...
My Testimony on SJR-7
The SJR-7 legislation to amend the Indiana constitution is going to be heard in committee tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. The committee will meet in the Senate Chambers - 3rd floor of the Indiana Statehouse (200 W. Washington Street in Indianapolis). Everyone is invited to attend - a good crowd against the legislation will make an impact, so if you...
Tony Dungy to Speak For Anti-Gay Hate Group
This is really disturbing - Colts coach Tony Dungy will be speaking at a dinner for the Indiana Family Institute, which is a right-wing hate group whose primary purpose is to promote hatred towards gay people. Make no mistake about what their goals really are - in the same way the the Irish Republican army has a legal, public face...
"What You People Should Do"
I'm shamelessly cribbing this post by Chris Douglas from bilerico.com, because it's so true and bears repeating in as many places as possible -- so hopefully people like RiShawn Biddle with see it. As long as we're contemplating the advice from the straight community about the strategy employed by various sectors of the gay community, I'll add my own beef....
Steph Mineart's Corollary to Godwin's Law
I've had an observation rolling around in my head for many years, but as far as I can tell, I haven't put written it on my site yet, although I know I've pointed it out in email on the gayindy mailing at various times. It popped back into my head as I was thinking about SJR-7 and the testimony that...
bilerico's new policy
I read with excitement this piece on Bilerico.com: Looking at last year's news cycle, one option had a high degree of success at influencing voters' behavior, setting back a large segment of the conservative movement, and generally providing a modicum of entertainment value for the masses. What was it? "Outing" the hypocrite. Think Ted Haggard or Mark Foley. I'm sick...
Rishawn Biddle and Questions on Hate Crimes
Over on the Expresso blog, Rishawn Biddle asks this question regarding the current hate crimes legislation in the house. 3.) Can the supporters of the hate crimes penalities proposed in House Bill 1459 muster up evidence that gays are being murdered or assaulted at any higher rate than the rest of the population? More importantly, doesn't the laws currently on...
Colts Win!
We immediately tried to call our friends/Bears fans up north to talk smack to them, but cingular appears to be down. Huh. We're probably not the only ones. Great game. Colts in the Superbowl! Stephanie's looking up how much her old 45 record of the Bears Superbowl Shuffle is going for on eBay....
Rally at the Indiana Statehouse to Oppose SJR-7
A while back, I wrote about SJR-7, the bill to amend the Indiana constitution to eliminate equal marriage rights for same-sex couples, and I urged people to contact the legislators responsible for this atrocious piece of legislation. Well, there's more you can do. Indiana Equality is organizing a rally at the State House to oppose this amendment, and to support...
Anti-Marriage Equality Amendment Introduced to Indiana Legislature
As Bilerico is reporting - the massively flawed legislation to put an anti-marriage equality amendment (banning civil marriage for same-sex partners) on the ballot for voting had been re-introduced to the legislature. Here's the proposed bill: DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL Definition of marriage. Provides that marriage in Indiana consists only of the union of one man and one woman. Provides...
House District 97 Vote Recounts
Taking Down Words gives a nice run-down of what's going on in my district with the "still-up-in-the-air-due-to-polling-screw-ups" race between Mahern and Elrod, who are just 65 votes apart. Seems that the touch-screen voting stations available at each of the polling places weren't counted, and the state has just now decided to turn them on and get the votes from them....
Four Indianapolis Races Affected by Missing Votes
According to the Indianapolis Star: Sadler said vote tally cards from 66 precints remain out or have been misplaced with other election material. Election workers are searching for those documents this morning. She said the initial emphasis is on the 27 precincts that are involved in the four tight races. Sadler said that voting machines that had to be disabled...
Drinking Liberally Election Night Party
Drinking Liberally Election Night Party Election Night -- Tuesday, 11/7 6pm-whenever Spencer's Stadium Tavern 802 S. West St (SW Corner of West & McCarty) Drinking Liberally Indianapolis is having a special "Election Night" edition of their regular weekly gathering (usually held on Thursday nights, but switched to Tuesday this week for the election.) I haven't had a chance to attend...
Indy Star survey on Marriage Equality
The Indy Star has an online poll on it's front page, asking: Should the Indiana General Assembly amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriages? Please go vote NO on the poll....
Local progressive websites I added to my newsreader
A couple of local progressive websites I discovered through actblue.com, the online donation clearinghouse for democratic candidates. I added them to my feedreader under politics. http://www.indianaprogressives.com/ http://indyfordemocracy.com/...
A Commonplacebook Candidate Endorsements
These are Marion County, Indiana Democratic candidates who have shown strong stances and leadership on progressive issues including improving education, finding health care solutions for all Hoosiers, property tax reform and equality for GLBT citizens. I've personally shaken hands with all of these candidates at one time or another and discussed issues with them. I met with Russel Brown, Dr....
Blogger Forum with Progressive Candidates
I attended a blogger forum at lunch to day, where three local progressive candidates for office met with local bloggers to answer questions and talk about their political issues and campaigns. The candidates were: Russell Brown ( Democratic candidate, Senate District 31) Dr. David Orentlicher (Democratic Representative, House District 86) John Barnes (Democratic candidate, House District 89) And the other...
Books I've read Recently
Garden Accents: Simple-To-Build Projects to Enhance Your Yard or Garden (How-to Gardening) Quite a few interesting building projects for hardscaping your garden. I read this over while drawing up plans for our flowerbeds. Pit of Vipers (Nancy Drew (All New) Girl Detective) #18 by Carolyn Keene There are 21 books out now in this all new series of Nancy Drew...
People You Meet While Gardening
I met two interesting people this weekend while planting bulbs in my front yard. One of the is our neighbor, Craig, who owns the house to the north of us, and is moving back in. He's not new to our neighborhood -- his family has owned the house for decades -- but he's just now returning because he's been in...
Indy Undercover - Vague Recollections
You know, now that I think back, there was a version of Indy Undercover several years ago that was not anonymous. It was not a blog (this was before blogspot existed); it was a website. Maybe run by php-nuke or something? But the proprietor dude had his picture and bio on it. It was about Indianapolis politics and also purported...
Hey, I got called the D-Word
No, no, not "difficult." The other D-Word. The one that's the equivalent of the N-word. You know... the one that if you had the balls to say it to my face, you'd be riding to the hospital in an ambulance. Yeah. THAT D-word. And who busted out this lovely phrase? Only our Indianapolis' Finest -- our esteemed law enforcement officers...
Indy Undercover
I mentioned Indy Undercover on IndyScribe, but I've now read several of the posts, and want to comment here on it separately. Indy Undercover a site about law enforcement issues in Indianapolis, purportedly written by an law enforcement officer. It's getting lots of traffic and comments from other people who claim to be law enforcement officers in the city, and...
Ballroom Dance Lessons for Same-Sex Couples
From the Outword Bound mailing list: Ballroom Dancing Lessons for GLBTQ people and their allies who are willing to dance with persons of the same sex Mondays from 7:00 to 9:00 PM Jesus MCC, 2950 East 55th Place NO dance partner necessary. $5 per person per 2-hour lesson - please bring cash. Finally, we've found a dance instructor! This is...
Make Sure You're Registered to Vote!
In all the recent hullabaloo surrounding the GOP purging voter rolls in Indiana, it turns out that although I returned my postcard with my corrected new address on it promptly, my voter registration was not updated. I talked to at least one other person who discovered that they are no longer registered to vote either after calling the Marion County...
Secret Cameras in Downtown Indianapolis
With a WISH-TV headline like "Secret Cameras Could Help Keep Indianapolis Safe" -- gee, I don't know what I'm supposed to think about that. I guess, maybe I should feel safer? Whereas the alternate headline "Secret Cameras Could Help Keep Indianapolis Under the Thumb of Big Brother" would be equally accurate, but I guess it wouldn't telegraph the same "soothing...
Local News and Online Reporting
WTHR has this story on their website: Study: Omega 3 can save lives Experts say beefing up intake of Omega 3 fatty acids can save lives more than AED's and implanted defibrillators. Omega 3 is found in foods like fish and nuts, and some experts believe they can lower the risk for heart attack because of their ability to reduce...
How To Identify Where A Driver Is From
1. One hand on wheel, one hand on horn: CHICAGO 2. One hand on wheel, one finger out window: NEW YORK 3. One hand on wheel, one finger out window, cutting across all lanes of traffic: NEW JERSEY 4. One hand on wheel, one hand on newspaper, foot solidly on accelerator: BOSTON 5. One hand on wheel, one hand on...
Flickr Photo Pools for Indianapolis
Old Northside - Indianapolis http://www.flickr.com/groups/oldnorthside/ Indianapolis, Indiana http://www.flickr.com/groups/indianapolis/ Indianapolis http://www.flickr.com/groups/37996589023@N01/ indianapolis adventure http://www.flickr.com/groups/indianapolisadventure/ Flickr Lovers of Indianapolis http://www.flickr.com/groups/indy-flickr/...
WTHR wants your state fair pictures
They're calling for submissions of your pictures of the fair. Wonder if I should reprise my "Mullet Festival" photo essay from last year?...
Recycling -- our favorite place now takes plastics
Indianapolis Recycled Fiber 1775 S. West St. -- just off of I-70 in the industrial hub just southwest of the RCA Dome. We've gone there for some time because they take all types of paper and cardboard products, including office paper, paper board, corrugated cardboard, newspaper, phone books, etc. But recently, they added bins for Plastics 1, Plastics 2, and...
AFA Sues Michigan State To Block Same-Sex Benefits
Advance Indiana comments on a recently announce lawsuit from the American Family Association -- suing to block same-sex couples from receiving university health care benefits on the basis of Michigan's ban on same-sex marriages. I'm blogging this specifically for my mom and other family members -- THIS IS THE REASON THESE BANS ARE SO DANGEROUS. Because they aren't just after...
Cross-dresser doused with gasoline (?)
"Cross-dresser doused with gasoline" is a headline in today's IndyStar. That's the kind of headline that makes my heart stop. Fortunately, it didn't have a tragic outcome. And the story itself seemed to have little to do with the person in question being a cross-dresser, so I wonder why it made a headline, other than the sensationalism of the idea...
The Harrison Art Gallery
The Harrison Center For The Arts 1505 North Delaware Indianapolis, IN 46202 An art gallery in our neighborhood - just bookmarking for future reference. The Harrison Gallery boasts a fast-paced gallery schedule featuring monthly shows. Focusing primarily on Indianapolis artists, the gallery provides an entertaining atmosphere that is welcoming to the seasoned gallery hopper and the novice alike. Gallery hours:...
Drinking Liberally: Indianapolis
Great idea -- Drinking Liberally: "An informal, inclusive progressive drinking club. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade...
1898 Sanborn Map of 2165 N. Penn
Sanborn maps were fire insurance maps that showed neighborhoods and houses for the purposes of determining insurance rates. This is the 1898 map of my neighborhood, showing my house as it looked at that time. I used to have a wrap-around front porch. There also appears to have been a stable on the property. See the picture on Flickr....
RiShawn Biddle Doesn't Know Anything About Blogs
I participated in a panel of bloggers this morning, addressing the PRSA (Public Relations Society of America, Hoosier Chapter) to talk about local blogs with public relations people. Here are my fellow panelists: RiShawn Biddle, Editorial Writer, The IndyStar, and Expresso blog Jennifer Wagner, Taking Down Words blog Gary Welsh, Advance Indiana blog Matt Tully, political news writer, and IndyStar...
Vonnegut High School
I'm watching the latest episode of Close to Home, and in the storyline, the kids who are suspects of a murder investigation speed away from the scene of the crime in a car with a bumpersticker of "Vonnegut High School." That's pretty funny. I wonder if they'll show exterior shots of Shortridge High School, where Vonnegut actually attended. They do...
Progressive Candidates you might consider
Below are candidates that have been supportive of GLBT issues and strong on progressive issues in the past. Please consider voting for them tomorrow when you go to the polls for the primaries. Marion County Superior Court Judge Karen Celestino Horseman "Every so often an elected official will go to extraordinary lengths to improve the lives of those around them....
The controversial post about 7th district candidate Kris Kiser
If you've been following local politics at all, you may have noticed this little dust-up. Democratic candidate for congress Kris Kiser threatened legal action against a local political blog for a post one of their contributors made about him, alleging some shadiness about his personal life and business dealings when he lived (recently) in Washington D.C. The local blog pulled...
Karen Celestino-Horseman for Judge
Karen Celestino-Horseman is a former member of the Indianapolis Marion County City-County Council, and she's running for a position as Marion County Superior Court Judge. Please consider voting for her in the upcoming May 2nd primary. In 2002, (then City-County Councilor) Karen Celestino-Horseman introduced Proposal 278, which would have provided domestic partner benefits to Indianapolis city employees. She's a progressive...
Overachieving Kids in Indianapolis
This is deeply scary article -- 10 kids in Indianapolis under the age of ten who are over-achievers. One of them actually uses the phrase "extrapolate outward" in a sentence. I wonder how many of these kids will be shooting up the hallways of their high school, or getting their California Ranch raided a few decades from now? UPDATE -...
Outword Bound Bookstore seeks horse, sheep for Brokeback Mountain video release party
Yup, Outword Bound Bookstore (at 625 North East Street downtown, near Massachusetts avenue) is planning a party for the video release of the film Brokeback Mountain. Here's an appeal they sent out for some help with the party planning: We are planning a Brokeback DVD release party for April 3 starting at 9PM. (Call or stop by the store to...
Indianapolis Police are big drama queens about uniform design
According to today's IndyStar, the newly merged IPD has arrived at a badge design, but is still deciding on what color their new uniforms will be. Members of a merger subcommittee endorsed a proposed patch design Friday and indicated they are close to agreeing on a new badge for the combined Indianapolis Police and Marion County Sheriff's departments. Whether the...
"The Kiterunner" does not contain "pornography"
Some (idiot moron) parents in Lawrence Township schools are objecting to the book "The Kiterunner" being assigned in class, because they claim there is a scene that is "pornographic" in it. The Kiterunner is a story of children living in contemporary Afghanistan, and is a wonderful, amazing book. It is, unfortunately, fairly true to life, and there is violence and...
2008 GOP Convention in Indianapolis?
The Indy Star reports that our fair metropolis is on the list of cities invited to bid to host the 2008 GOP Convention. Requirements: we have to foot the bill for security. God no. Please no. I'd rather gargle with motor oil than pay for security for wingnuts. Oh, wait. Can I pay for really crappy security?...