Now that it's been discovered, someone is going to dredge this embarassment up on each anniversary:
1897: Egged on by an amateur mathematician, the Indiana General Assembly almost passes a bill adopting 3.2 as the exact value of pi (or ?). Only the intervention of a Purdue University mathematician who happens to be visiting the legislature prevents the bill from becoming law, saving the most acute political embarrassment.
I am glad these folks were able to raise the money to save their island for whatever they want it for:
Angola - Money raised from the sale of seminude photos, home-brewed beer and cookbooks has helped a group of nature lovers raise enough money to by a small island to protect it from development.
[. . .]
I like The San Francisco Chronicle's Ray Ratto's take on the departure of Bobby Knight:
But as he leaves, at least for the moment, let's forget the argument and consider what Knight takes with him - the notion of the coach as the pre-eminent figure in athletics.
A mostly overlooked and undiscussed byproduct of the state taking over control of cable TV:
A death photo has been discovered of Ernie Pyle, one of the best and most famous writers ever to come out of Indiana. It was taken just after a Japanese machine-gun bullet went through his left temple:
Sounds good to me:
Since 1913, Indiana has endorsed some form of death transfer taxation, and it is time to repeal this outdated tax. I adamantly believe this is an unfair tax, and that Hoosiers should be able to leave their heirs an inheritance without the government imposing taxes. I have proposed legislation to repeal all three forms of the death tax, but, unfortunately, it never received a committee hearing.
A couple of thoughts prompted by the passing of Earl Butz:
1. Could his forced resignation have been a factor in Jimmy Carter's defeat of Gerald Ford?
The ensuing political firestorm created a dilemma for Ford. Butz's popularity in Midwestern farm states was a crucial asset to the president, who was in the middle of a tight election campaign against his Democratic challenger, former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter.
State Sen. Tom Wyss, R-Fort Wayne, is always on the lookout for ways to make sure Hoosier understand that there are rules that must be followed. Even in a short session dominated by property tax reform, he finds some proscriptions that can be fine-tuned:
A $200 fine would benefit local law enforcement, beautification projects
A fast-food wrapper here, a soft drink can there. Soon, says State Sen. Tom Wyss, you're talking about a major mess.
The crack Muncie Police Department goes after a vicious criminal:
Whitney Stump didn't like watching drivers ignore the stop signs at the intersection outside his home, so he asked the city to paint crosswalks there.
When the city said no, he made one himself. And the city wasn't appreciative.
The Indianapolis Star's Matthew Tully says Jill Long Thompson's campaign for governor in the Democratic primary "has spirit," but the candidate has to start being specific on ideas:
