Indianapolis, IN

Mon 10 September 2007

So, I’m thinking about library book sales. The Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library will have another one of their sales this coming weekend (Sept. 15-16) held at the Library Services Center (2450 N. Meridian St.). The last book sale they had was in July, and I missed it. I look forward to these book sales like children look forward to Christmas. You can get hardback books for $2, paperbacks for either 50 cents or a $1 and children’s books are either a quarter or fifty cents. There are also CDs and tapes for sale there. I’ve found some CDs that I like, although usually they are from a few years ago. I usually don’t get any hardback books, because they make my hands tired when I’m reading them. What I like is that there is such a variety of books. Everyone can find something, and for cheap! But if you go, remember to bring your own bag (but I wouldn’t recommend plastic sacks because the books will tear them). It’s really crowded in there, so I wouldn’t bring anything bulky either. And the best thing about this is that the money all goes for the library association.

On a related note, the Interim Central Library is currently closed, and the library is finally moving all of the books and materials to the newly finished Central Library downtown (located at 40 E. St. Clair St.). This process will take several months to complete and will be open in November (from what I’ve heard). I can’t wait to visit the new Central Library. The top floor has a panoramic view of downtown Indianapolis. I wonder what’s in the plans for the current building of the late Interim Central Library. It’s such a beautiful building. I hope something nice goes in there. It would be a waste to let it sit empty.

: library book sales, Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library, Central Library project

Fri 7 September 2007

So, I’m thinking about the Colt’s season opener. I’m really glad that I didn’t go downtown. From what I could see from WTHR’s broadcast of the opening celebrations, it looked like a madhouse. They said that there was around 100,000 people there. I’m not afraid of crowds, but that looked like a pickpocket’s dream in heaven. I was still in awe that there was three hours of Colts coverage and of showing highlights from the last two years. After a while, I was kind of tired of the pre-game coverage and looked at my husband and said, “And the game doesn’t start for another two and a half hours??” But I couldn’t wait until the game started because I thought it was high time that we move on from the Super Bowl season. Of course, I’m proud of them. But it’s time to move onto this season. I thought this first game went pretty well. I noticed that the Colts’ defense stepped it up. Besides letting an interception go through in the first quarter, the Colts executed several really good tackles and an interception of their own. I guess they were tired of having people say they had the worst defense in the league last year. The Saints are a good team and gave the Colts a run for their money. And of course Peyton stepped in like there was no off season. He was on it. It was tied up 10-10 at the half, but the Colts came back and said, “Look at us. We’re really gonna play football now.” It must’ve been hard for Peyton’s dad to watch this game, because he used to play for the Saints back in the day. But in the end, with a final score of 41-10 (Colts winning), I think it was a good start to the season. Let’s wait until the next game and hope they can do it again.

: Colts football, Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, NFL Kickoff

Thu 6 September 2007

So, I’m thinking about the woman who left her kids alone. A few days ago, a woman went out at midnight to pick up her boyfriend and left her 7-year-old and 9-year-old kids home alone while they slept. While she was away, the house was enflamed in a fast-moving fire. Her kids are still unconscious with smoke inhalation complications at Riley Children’s Hospital all because of her stupid decision to go pick up her stupid boyfriend. I just don’t understand why people continue to leave their kids alone, whether it’s in hot cars or home alone (when they’re under a certain age). It’s called being a parent. In this case, it was a Wednesday night, so the kids have school the next day. Why couldn’t she just tell her boyfriend to find some other way home? Either that, or take her kids with her. I don’t leave my daughter anywhere for any extended length of time. You never know what’s going to happen or if they might need you. So, now in an idiotic decision on the mother’s part, she faces two B felonies for child neglect (and also a C felony for forgery from last month that they dug up.) I think it’s just sad that the kids are the ones who are suffering for her devotion to her boyfriend. While she’s in jail, her kids are in Riley. When will people start realizing that if you have kids, then you have to start acting like parents and that you can’t continue doing the same dumb shit that you did before kids? And people wonder why our kids are messed up…

: don’t leave your kids home alone, house fires, fast-moving fires, fire safety, idiot parents

Wed 5 September 2007

So, I’m thinking about the IPS dress code enforcement. Labor Day weekend marked the last time IPS students can come to school without wearing their school uniforms. Now there will be consequences. But I don’t agree with the way they are going about it. School officials have put the bus drivers on the front lines. Now if a high school student comes to school without wearing the proper attire, it’s the bus driver’s duty to not let that student on the bus. My problem is this: the student obviously doesn’t care about school (otherwise he/she would’ve worn the uniform). So, their parents think the kid goes to school, the bus driver won’t let them on the bus… so, now do they just roam the streets? Didn’t they just get what they wanted? I definitely don’t think that the bus drivers get paid enough to have to deal with this. I think they need to let the violators on the bus, and let the administrators (who probably make five times more a year than bus drivers do) deal with them. That way, they know who to suspend, and that way the parents will also be aware of what’s going on. I think they need to make the parents more responsible. Parents need to realize that this hinders their ability to graduate. I think that if a student comes to school without their uniform three times, then the parents need to be charged with interfering with the educational process. I also think the student needs to be sent to juvy as well. They do that if you’ve been truant too many times (or at least they should). It’s time for the administrators to be making these decisions, not the bus drivers. It’s time to grow up and get your head out of your ass.

: IPS, uniform policy

Tue 4 September 2007

So, I’m thinking about Labor Day weekend. Well, we finally made it through another one, and now it’s the unofficial start of fall. Most city pools are closed now. IPS’s grace period for its uniform policy is over, and now there are no excuses. Temperatures will start to be getting cooler (even though they’ve predicted temps in the 90s this week.) Labor Day started in 1882 by the Central Labor Union in order to create a day for “the working man.” Even though there are many people who do not work on Labor Day, there are many who do. One of the most popular things to do on Labor Day weekend is the famous Labor Day Cookout. I always find this ironic, because Labor Day is supposed to be a day of rest, but cookouts are hardly that. There’s cleaning and buying meat and making salads and finding enough chairs and tables and figuring out who’s bringing Grandma. Then there’s watching the kids and making sure there’s enough to drink and keeping the bugs off the food and fussing over why the baby crying. Then it’s time to get people going home and making sure people take home some of the food and finding enough containers and checking for lost items and finding the kid’s toys and finally shutting the door. After they leave, it’s cleaning up the sink and taking out the trash and finding the stains on your floor, and wondering why you volunteered to do this, and figure you’ll do it again next year. So, why do we put ourselves through so much just to relax? Because we’re American, I suppose.

: Labor Day

Mon 3 September 2007

So, I’m thinking about Andretti Green Racing. The IRL is not happy with their “team tactics” that they have been practicing. The last few races show how the team will cover and protect their teammates during races. This makes a lot of people mad. There really isn’t any rule against it, nor can they really punish them, but it just isn’t ethical. Brian Barnhart, the COO of the IRL, says in the Indy Star, that they’re starting to encroach on the integrity of the sport. Andretti Green is the largest IRL team with four main drivers (Marco Andretti, Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan, Danica Patrick). Not many other teams even have the opportunity to play the “protect your teammate” game that they do. They are such a large team, and they do well, but there’s no excuse for some of the tactics that they use. Other people have complained they are pushy on the track as well. As I’ve said before, there’s no rule specifically against guarding your teammates, but it’s just not a very fair tactic in the character of racing. A few races ago, Franchitti had tore his car up, and Kanaan rode behind him, letting Franchitti come in third and himself coming in fourth. Rick Mears, a four-time Indy 500 winner, said that Franchitti should be embarrassed that Kanaan protected him as he did. I hope they get their act together and cut all this childish team tactics out. It’s almost like in elementary or middle school when you would let your friends cut in line for lunch. Grow up.

: Indy Racing League, IRL, Andretti Green Racing, Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan

Fri 31 August 2007

So, I’m thinking about the Big Ten Network. The Big Ten Network will be showing all Big Ten games on their network only. Subscribers to DirecTV, and some cable stations in Evansville will be able to see the Big Ten Network, but cable networks here in central Indiana (Comcast, Bright House and Dish Network) said no to the deal of charging a $1.10 per customer per month. So, unless you are a cable subscriber in anywhere but Evansville, you won’t be able to watch your games (unless you go to a sports bar or go to the actual game). I just don’t think this is smart on the Big Ten’s part. They say don’t mess with Texas, but they haven’t been to the Midwest during basketball season. There are going to be a lot of IU fans that will eat them alive. See, this is just another plan from Big Business to get our money. There will be tons of people upset when they can’t see their favorite college football or basketball games. In the Midwest, college sports are not just something you watch—it’s something of a tradition. We take it very seriously, and if you mess with our ability to watch it, it’s on. We’re going to be pissed, and you’re not going to like it. So, just beware, Big Ten Network. You may come in with your big corporate attitude of authority, but we are the ones who make the Big Ten what it is. Without us, the viewers, the fans, the players, the parents, the community, there is no Big Ten.

: Big Ten, Big Ten Network, cable companies

Thu 30 August 2007

So, I’m thinking about college admissions. Indiana University announced that it’s making it more difficult to get into IU. They know that Indiana has many bright students, and they want IU to remain a place to go for the really bright students and not just a place to fall back on. Last year, IU rejected nearly 20% of all applications, and this year will be closer to 30%. I understand that IU has some really good programs, like it’s renowned Kelley School of Business or it’s med school. IU School of Music was rated 3rd in the country at one time (it may still be). Or unless you are planning on studying something very specific or rare (like Slavic languages), then there are a plethora of other schools that give just as good (if not more) than super-huge schools like IU or Purdue. I applied to IU’s School of Music and got a rejection letter. So, I ended up at Indiana State University in Terre Haute and do not regret for once that I went there. Most of my classes were actually taught by the professor listed (only a few of my classes were taught by teaching assistants). I went out to get a beer with my professors. I went to their homes for parties and gatherings. I even tutored one of my professor’s son in French horn. I had opportunities at ISU that I wouldn’t have had at IU, and that made me a better musician and student. I liked that fact that I could walk from one end of the campus to the other in about 10 minutes. And I didn’t feel that because I wasn’t at IU, because I was paying less than students at IU, that my education was being compromised. I felt that I probably got a better education at Indiana State. Actually, Time magazine had an article back in the spring about how going to a school just for the namesake isn’t so much of a factor anymore. Students and parents are learning that you can get just as good or better of an education at smaller, less expensive schools. So, my advice is to look elsewhere outside of the huge namesake schools, unless you are going into something specific that’s only offered at those schools.

: college choices, admissions requirements, Indiana University, Indiana State University

Wed 29 August 2007

So, I’m thinking about Indiana’s low SAT scores. Our scores have declined in the past two years and generally in the past eight. Why is this? Are our kids getting dumber? Are we not teaching them enough? What is going on? There are many factors and variables to consider. One, I feel that the state (and federal) budgets reflect that our lawmakers don’t really care about education for everyone. We can find funding for a new stadium and new shopping centers, but we can’t find funding for our schools. But not just any schools; there’s not a problem with giving money to the schools that already have money. They don’t want to put money into schools that carry a high percentage of low socio-economic status. They can pad your pockets all they want, but in the end, it’s the students and the teachers and the communities who suffer. Why is it that superintendents make $75-100,000 (or more), but there are teachers who are on food stamps or forced to take second jobs? By not supporting the teachers and paying them for what they’re worth, it eventually trickles down to the students. They say teachers teach because they love it. But the bottom line is that they also need to make enough money to live off of as well. After a while, it’s hard to stay as focused and give that 110%. And then you end up like Mrs. Krabappel(from the Simpsons). Two, there is no reason why there should be a lack of books, materials, computers, etc. in any school today. There should also be no reason why there are schools without air conditioning or working facilities. Some people complain that the students will just tear it up. But if you give students a place worth keeping and show them that they are worth the extra mile, then it gives them a sense of pride. If you invest wisely (in our students and schools), then you reap all of the benefits (students who learn and do well in society). Many students live in such poverty that it’s the least we can do by them to give them a safe and nice place to go and to teach them to learn to help themselves. We need to give these students something to lean on so they won’t have to depend on life in the streets when they get older. We need to change their ideas about education and jobs. Make reading a tool. Make math relative to everyday life. Make learning available and useful. Teach lifelong skills, not just facts they will forget. Why should the rich schools get this and not everyone? So, if you make students feel like school and learning is important and not just busywork, and that there are people out there who care, then perhaps they will do better. But overall, we have to create a better society in order for it all to work. Everything is connected: the amount of jobs, what kind of jobs are out there, the housing market situation, healthcare, taxes, inflation, crime, and education. If one or two go down, they all go down. If a few of those things go up, then the others usually follow behind it. But until we can get our government and communities to realize that we have to put money into social programs and education, our test scores will continue to go down, and crime will continue to rise, and jobs will leave.

: education, low test scores, state budget, making society better

Tue 28 August 2007

So, I’m thinking about drive-in theatres. Last weekend, we went to a car show in Clermont at O’Reilly Raceway Park. On our way there, we passed the Clermont Deluxe Drive-In Theatre. I was excited to know that there was a drive-in so close that was still open. But my excitement didn’t last long. Not a week later, they announced that the last showing was Sunday, August 26. Now, there will be a whole generation who will not know what it’s like to sit in your car to watch a movie. I personally have never been to a drive-in, but I thought it would be a perfect way for us to go to the movies with our young daughter. We really don’t know anyone to baby sit for her. Plus, my husband and I like to talk during movies. Going to the drive-in would be the perfect solution to our movie-going problems. But we will have to drive further on still. I believe that there is a drive-in in Franklin, IN (about 20 minutes south of Indianapolis). I believe that it’s open (at least for the season). Perhaps they are all going out of business because they feel they can’t compare to buying DVDs and getting movies online. But I’m here to tell them that there are people out there who still would go to drive-in theatres if there were more of them around. It makes me kind of sad that this part of American pop culture is fading away. I wish something or someone would come along and build one near me on the north side. (Hint, hint…)

: drive-in theatres

Mon 27 August 2007

So, I’m thinking about health coverage (as opposed to “health insurance”). This Friday, my husband has to have an outpatient surgery. He called our insurance company to find out about how much it’s going to cost and how much of it is covered. They told him that the doctor is in the network, but the facility he’s going to do the surgery in is not. (What the hell??!!) Then they told us that the surgery is going to cost about $950, but we have a $1000 deductible. In the end, we learned that basically we have to pay for this out of our own pocket. I just don’t get it. Why do we even have health insurance? What are we paying these fools $90 a month for? (I know that’s cheap compared to others: my sister pays nearly $200 a month!) Oh, and because they were bought out by some other company, our co-pays went up. Now it’s $25 to see our primary physician, $50 for a specialist, $75 for urgent care, and $200 for an ER visit. We were talking about having another child, but I’m scared to death to get pregnant again. With my first daughter, we qualified for Hoosier Healthwise (Medicaid), and we didn’t pay for anything. (Which in a way was sad that I qualified, because I was a college graduate working in a school and was only making $8/hr. It’s sad because our schools pay so little, that our teachers and support staff can qualify for state aid. But that’s another blog for another day.) I think the whole idea of deductibles is wrong. And I don’t think you should have co-pays to see your primary physician. The only reason why they have deductibles and co-pays is so they can get more money from you. I mean, they’re already making money off of the money you pay them every month. It’s criminal. Think about it: I used to not go to the doctor when I didn’t have health insurance, because I was afraid of how much it cost. And now that we do have health insurance, I’m STILL afraid of going to the doctor because of the cost. In fact, sometimes I feel that I pay more WITH health insurance than I did when I didn’t have it. Actually, I know we pay more. But if something serious happened, many hospitals won’t take you unless you do have insurance. So, it’s all a huge scam against the regular American to milk them for all that they are worth. In fact, the number one reason for bankruptcy is because of medical bills. Something definitely needs to be done. It’s not enough to have health insurance—you have to have health coverage. I don’t want networks. I don’t want someone to tell me which doctor I can or can’t have. I don’t want deductibles. I don’t want co-pays. I don’t want hidden bullshit costs and fees. I don’t want to have to call someone to ask if I’m covered. I don’t want someone WITHOUT a medical degree (i.e. the insurance company) making my medical decisions for me (“you’re not covered for that” or “you didn’t pre-authorize this”). And it’s not just the health insurance industry. Homeowners insurance companies pulls the same crap. (Just look at what happened after Hurricane Katrina.) I have not seen Michael Moore’s new documentary “Sicko,” but I’ve seen bits and pieces of it in an interview with him. It’s definitely on my list of movies to see. I guess we just have to wait until 2008 and hope that someone becomes president who thinks universal healthcare is important.

: health insurance, health coverage, Hoosier Healthwise, Medicaid, Michael Moore, Sicko

Fri 24 August 2007

So, I’m thinking about hot weather and schools. This has been one of the hottest summers on record. The grass has been brown most of the summer. (The rain we got earlier this week helped some.) State Fair attendance was down this year because of it. But what surprises me the most is that IPS closed early yesterday and will again today due to the fact that 40 of the 78 buildings do not have air conditioning. How do you get to 2007 and not have air conditioning in the buildings? (On the same thought, how do you get to 2007 and not have computers in every classroom either?) Where does all of this money go anyway? I think they have a renovation plan to upgrade the schools and add air conditioning over the next few years. But why has it taken so long? I understand all about budgets and stuff. But what I don’t understand is why adding air conditioning to their buildings hasn’t been a priority. I guarantee that Dr. White’s office is air conditioned. How can students and teachers do the best that they can do when your classroom is 80 degrees (on a good day?) At the same time, I do have a beef about schools who do have air conditioning. Why is it that if you do have AC, then you feel you have to run it at 56 degrees? Don’t you think that it would be more economical and better for the environment not to run the AC that low? I personally think that 74-75 degrees is comfortable. So, I guess until the people who negotiate the budget decides that the education of IPS students are important, then they’ll just have to get used to half-days on hot days. How do you explain to little Mary and little Johnny that the people who run their schools don’t think they are worth having adequate facilities?

: air conditioning, school renovations, Indianapolis Public Schools

Thu 23 August 2007

So, I’m thinking about the police beating of a teenager. During the Indiana Black Expo’s Summer Celebration on July 21, a police officer was filmed beating a teenager. The teenager was initially arrested for public intoxication, resisting arrest, and battery, but no charges were ever filed. The video, filmed by a member of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, showed that the teenager was contained on the sidewalk, but then the officer, Adam Chappell, came back and kicked him again. I can understand if an officer has to use some force to subdue someone who is resisting arrest, but once they are lying there, you don’t need to hit them again. I heard that the IMPD said that the force used was appropriate. How is kicking someone in the head appropriate? Chappell faces misdemeanor battery charges, and the teenager recovers at home (I believe he was from Illinois). I just hope that the teenager knows that even though he wasn’t officially charged with public intoxication, resisting arrest and battery, he should be careful next time. (Why wasn’t he at least charged with underage drinking?) I hope that Chappell knows what an embarrassment he has put on the IMPD. It’s even made national news. But I hope that that teenager know that he can’t go around and do dumb crap like that. He got lucky this time (in a way), that those charges didn’t go on his record, but next time might not be the same. No, it wasn’t right that Chappell was overly-rough with him, but if he hadn’t have been drinking and resisting arrest, then it wouldn’t have risen to the level it did.

: police brutality, Indiana Black Expo, Summer Celebration

Wed 22 August 2007

So, I’m thinking about the Colts vs. the Bears in the pre-season game. We watched the game last night, and it was something else. See, my husband is a native Chicagoan, and I was born here. But we like both teams. Well, it seems that Rex Grossman (who is from Bloomington, IN) wasn’t quite in his game. Griese and Hester looked like better players to us. All that we were hoping for was a close game, and it was. I think that the Bears and the Colts are pretty evenly matched. One of the reasons why we won the Superbowl was because Grossman wasn’t playing with his head screwed on. I’m actually kind of glad that the Bears won last night. (Now, we’re even.) I mean, I like both teams, but we’re also Bears fans as well. Both teams have some good players and made good plays during the game last night. I’m not worried about the Colt’s performance for this year. The Colts have lost the last 11 of 12 preseason games, and obviously that didn’t impact the season they had last year (or the year before that as well). I don’t know how many more preseason games they have left, but I hope that no one gets hurt and that the Colts gets themselves together to have a good season again this year. And I hope the same for the Bears.

: Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears

Tue 21 August 2007

So, I’m thinking about foreclosure rates. In a recent article from WTHR.com, job losses in manufacturing are one of the leading reasons why Indiana is among the highest in the nation in home foreclosures. Plant closings in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio make up 20% of all foreclosures. At one time, it was possible to get a job in a factory and know that you could raise your family on your income alone. But when people get these jobs now, and the company files bankruptcy, or outsource your job and leave you unemployed, what are you supposed to do? You’ve not only lost your job (and your income), but also your health coverage and your pension. It’s not easy to find those same kind of jobs. But what gets me, is that if you are working in a factory that manufactures something, and you are making $22, and you lose your job, then they tell you, “There are other jobs out there. Like Wal-Mart.” Ok, I doubt that Wal-Mart is going to pay you $22 per hour. In fact they will probably pay you less than half of that. How can you pay your bills if now you are working the same hours, but making half of what you were? It’s no wonder foreclosures are at an all-time high. Besides, I also think that people get talked into buying these brand new houses in these cookie cutter subdivisions, and give you really low payments for the first two years. But then it goes up so high after that introductory period that people can’t pay it and are forced to foreclose. The regular guy is being screwed, and no one is doing a damn thing about it.

: foreclosure rates, job losses, manufacturing jobs, outsourcing, plant closings