Hoosier lore

If the Indianapolis Colts were rated as the lousiest, ugliest bunch of losers in the NFL, that could at least be a perverse point of pride. But they can't even get that right, coming in at No. 31 in the power rankings, one notch above the Miami Dolphins at 32.

When someone seeks office as a third-party candidate, there is always the chance he's just doing it for a hoot and isn't really delusional about his chances of winning. But what do you say about a college newspaper that seems to take his candidacy seriously?

On Saturday, reality television star, Rupert Boneham, formally announced that he will be vying for the Libertarian Party's nomination in the upcoming election for Indiana governor.

Well, by golly, if George Will says it's a mystery why conservatives are mad at Richard Lugar, then it must be so:

I've though some of the people who contribute items to The News-Sentinel's "Rants" feature must be the most dyspeptic cranks in the state, but whoever was responsible for this takes the prize:

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The mother of an Indiana University student missing since June says she was hurt by an anonymous letter complaining about Bloomington being littered with search posters.

I'm afraid The Associated Press has irritated my inner nitpicky word curmudgeon to life:

DETROIT — Workers at three Indiana facilities comprising Chrysler's largest United Auto Workers local have voted in favor of a new four-year contract, a sign that the deal will be approved when voting ends next week.

Here's a case of "experts" overreaching a little:

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.— Scientists at Purdue University and two other schools are developing detailed computer models intended to predict how people behave in the panic-filled hours after local officials issue hurricane evacuation orders.

Does this seem like a pretty big number to anybody else?

ANDERSON, Ind.—Nearly 4,200 people have asked the Indiana Gaming Commission to bar them from entering casinos across Indiana.

Woman's work:

Even without Senate and congressional seats up for grabs, 2011 could turn out to be a landmark election year for Indiana women.

Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Gary could get their first women mayors in the Nov. 8 elections, breaking a political glass ceiling that has been slow to shatter.

Aw, c'mon, Rick, a big, tough old boy like you, used to the down-and-dirty world of Texas politics, is feeling overwhelmed by a little national exposure?

Texas Gov. Rick Perry says he won't dispute his wife's assertion he's been "brutalized and beaten up and chewed up" in the presidential campaign.

Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Eugene White wanted to make the point that public schools have it tougher than private schools because they have to take all comers. He's now taking heat for the way he put it:

Advocacy groups are asking for an apology from the superintendent of the state's largest school district after he referred to children as "blind, crippled, crazy."