There are two movies out at the same time that I want to see enough that I might not wait for the video or cable release, pretty unusual. One is "Marley & Me" from the book by John Grogan. Many of my journalist aquaintances couldn't bear reading the book because the very idea seemed like such maudlin drivel. But I actually liked it.
This change has been needed for a long time, so three cheers to Gov. Mitch Daniels for proposing it:
INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana allows local government employees to serve on their own governing bodies -- meaning they can vote to raise their own pay or give themselves other perks at taxpayer expense.
Awww, poor babies. They go all the way to Atlanta expecting to have a real good time, and guess what? There's nothing to do:
When it comes to efforts to lure conventioneers, Atlanta's got the hotels, the easy access to the city via the nation's busiest airport and even the attractions with the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola.
The concept of "environmental refugees" has been around for more than 20 years -- those are people displaced by things like tsunamis and hurricanes and such. Now, apparently, we have to start dealing with "climate refugees":
Millions of people are predicted to become climate refugees as global warming increases. A new international pact will be needed to protect their rights to live.
This isn't exactly the shock of the century:
The number of crashes at Houston intersections with red-light cameras doubled in the first year after their installation, according to a city-financed study released Monday.
But Mayor Bill White argued that the cameras' presence prevented even more collisions and that the study proves the monitoring program is keeping drivers safe.
Two different ways to face tough economic times. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels:
No money for new state programs. No money, potentially, to fully fund some existing programs at current levels. And no money for state pay raises.
I don't know why people think newspapers are in trouble. They'll still be indispensable as long as they provide such information as this, in an article titled "4 ways to safely open a champagne bottle":
Don't mar what could be a perfect start to the new year with a champagne cork injury to your eye.
I was attacked so savagely that I had bleeding wounds. My best girl was so frightened that her bladder gave way. She did it to me, and I did it to her. That's how I spent my Christmas.
Boy, if that isn't the ending that makes you want to know the beginning, just like they taught us in writing school, I don't know what is.
Because:
1. I'm taking a couple of vacation days.
2. I'm one of the thousands of powerless from the ice storm.
3. Christmas,
This will probably be a nearly blog-post-free week.
Oh, no, we're all going to die horribly!
A blue-ribbon panel of scientists is trying to determine the best way to detect and ward off any wandering space rocks that might be on a collision course with Earth.
[. . .]
Congress asked the academy to conduct the study after astronomers were unable to eliminate an extremely slight chance that an asteroid called Apophis will slam into Earth with devastating effect in 2036.
Suggestion for the Allen County Public Library: Don't follow this example of the Bartholomew County Library Whatever the increase in fines collected, it will be more than offset by the bad feelings generated, especially if the agency uses some of the more notorious collection techniques:
The library loses about $50,000 a year in items that aren't returned. To recoup that money, they hired a collection company to bring in fines and books.
Am I wrong to think this is an overreaction?
CARMEL, N.Y. - A 14-year-old freshman at Carmel High School was suspended after he brought bullets into school Tuesday, police said.
[. . .]
After an investigation, a male student who was interviewed admitted that he accidentally brought the bullets to school.
Majel Barrett Roddenberry, once called "The First Lady of Star Trek" by the Chicago Tribune, has died. She played various roles in the original series, but you probably know her voice if you've caught an epidode of any of them:
Roddenberry had another distinction: Beginning with the original series, she supplied the coolly detached voice of the USS Enterprise's computer -- something she did on the various "Star Trek" series.
I like this ornery cuss's spirit:
A New Albany man isn't happy about an increase in property taxes so today, he made his feelings known in a public way.
He showed up to pay more than $21,000 in taxes, using dollar coins in protest of taxes which have gone up 48% over the last two years.
This sounds so matter of fact and, well, ordinary, doesn't it?
A wintry mix of snow and sleet that switched fully to freezing rain coated roads for area motorists' commutes Friday morning. Allen County authorities this morning have declared a Level 2 emergency.
Oh, darn, I was so hoping I'd get to see how an "orderly" bankruptcy might work-- the unstructured ones are so messy -- but President Bush apparently chickened out:
The White House has decided to come to the rescue of General Motors and Chrysler by providing them with $17.4 billion in low-interest loans to keep them afloat, ABC News has learned.
Indiana University is working to add teeth to its nearly year-old smoking ban, because too many students are flouting the rules that forbid lighting up in all public places, which includes the outdoors. In a story about the effort, a univeristy official has a weak moment and blurts out the truth:
Dan Rives, associate vice president for administration with IU human resources, said the ban is about changing behavior, which can't happen overnight.
The economic downturn has forced Richmond officials to make a tough and unpopular decision:
In order to balance the budget for 2009, the board voted to close the 85-year-old, nine-hole course at Glen Miller Park and turn it into a three-hole practice facility.
The board also chose to lease out the maintenance at the 18-hole Highland Lake.
This story about a man who died -- probably from exposure -- outside a McDonald's in Indianapolis is interesting:
A man found dead behind a Far-Northside McDonald's on Monday had been dropped off by a Hamilton County sheriff's deputy.
[. . .]
Ocasio, 40, Indianapolis, flagged down a Hamilton County Sheriff's Department deputy about 9:50 p.m. Sunday, department spokeswoman Vicky Dunbar said.
Golllllleee, who knew?
Waterfowl hunters throughout Indiana are being strongly reminded, by Indiana Conservation Officers, that a life jacket will not work unless it is being worn.
"Our "Wear It" campaign to promote life jacket use is not just for the warm weather months" said Michael Crider, Director of the Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division.
