§ Galaxy of Stars

EuroTrip

2011-10-17T19:30:00.010-04:00

Facebook Photo Albums: Europe #1, #2 & Italy

London (Sept 29)

I left Chicago Tuesday night not expecting any dinner on the flight but not only did I get fed dinner and breakfast, but there were TV monitors on each headrest complete with a library of new movie releases, syndicated reruns, music stations, web access (for a fee) and even a map that showed the plane's current location. The Virgin Air flight attendents were pretty hot as well. I kept trying to make conversation with one of them just to hear her British accent, but she was not havin it. The Northern Lights were AMAZING... Seeing beams of blue and white light rays dance around the sky was simply beautiful, like it was a choreographed show for the people of Nova Scotia. I'd never felt so far from Earth before.
I arrived at 8am in London with no sleep and no plans. Border patrol grilled me for a while because I didnt have proof of a return flight home (at least a receipt) or hotel but I showed my RailPass and I guess that was sufficient, even though the officer told me he's sent people home with more valid documentation than I had. Whatever. I took the Underground Piccadilly to St James and on the way I chatted with a few strangers to find out the best places to visit. A lot of Aziz Ansari or Slumdog Millionairelookalikes. After Buckingham Palace I walked to Trafalgar Square, stopping along the way at this pond to take a rest. I was amused watching Asain girls marvel over a simple squirrel.
I visited the National Gallery and it seemed a lot like the Art gallery in NYC and even Indy, although the pieces were much better. Its funny how so many paintings had full nudity or at least teased with a nip-slip. I tried to crack the Da Vinci Code but a group of students interrupted that. There were street performers out on the square, and I briefly found WiFi to email Mom & Dad that I arrived in Europe. I ate lunch at Sherlock Holmes pub and then toured Benjamin Franklin's home (1760s). Then I purchased a outlet adapter and a one-way ticket to Paris. I'll be leaving Saturday morning, so my next mission was to find a hostel for the next 2 nights. I Googled the best-rated places and found one called Clink that used to be a courthouse and jail. It was perfect location - not near downtown, but walking distance to the train station as well as about a dozen or so hip hangouts. £22 per night, not bad for a bed and breakfast. Plus there was a nightclub and 24-hour kitchen, plus internet cafe. I was in a room with 7 other beds, and 6 were occupied by American high school girls. The showers were coed and I dont think any of the European girls had any issues with that. Its now 2am Friday morning and I just kinda woke up from a nap. My jetlag will take a few days to get used to. Tomorrow I get picked up by a double-decker tourbus and we'll drive around town checking out the sites, before taking a boat ride on the river, and then finally going west to Stonehenge. I'm so excited to see the world's oldest man-made structure!

I awoke at 6am Friday so I could get to the nearby Holiday Inn by 7. Thats where the shuttle picked me up to take me to the Victoria coach station, where we soon boarded an open-top double-decker bus. The tour took us all around London for 4 hours that included a boat ride on the river near the Tower of London and London Bridge. Our tour guide was a replica of Michael Cain and he provided a lot of historical data, which all which seemed to revolve around the Royal family or The Fire of 1666. I probably took around 80 pictures and then when I had a break I reviewed them and deleted a couple dozen due to replicates. A lot of the churches and parliments looked the same. I wish there was a edit-file-name option on my digicam so I'd remember all the names of the sites, but I'm guessing Google Goggles will help me out with that later. My lunch took place near the Victoria station in a shopping mall area. I ate a baked potato split open and topped with spicy chicken, sweetcorn, and mozzerella cheese. Kinda like the KFC bowl, but easier. I was able to buy a 16-pk of Zantac for 30 pence, which is only 50 cents in US currency. Yay for Capitolism! I went to use the public restroom and that also required 30 pence; boooo Capitolism. I returned to Victoria to get on a different bus, this one took us to Stonehenge. The traffic out of London was painfully slow, but we finally got there (in the middle of nowhere) and it was awesome. I felt like I had already read up on it entirely, but still listened to the tour guide explain the mysteries surrounding the 5-ton stones arranged in a circle. I took some great photos, and made sure to include myself in one - my only portrait of the trip so far. I didnt get any sleep on the way back, so I was ready to zonk out when we returned around 8. Instead, I decided to shower up and soak in my last night in London. The hostel, on Kings Cross St, was in a very lively part of town near St Pancres so I didnt have to walk far to visit a few bars. This was the first time I felt unsafe. Maybe the thought of getting drunk meant letting my guard down, or maybe because the dudes didnt like some American tourist hitting on their women. I figured it was probably best to not start any trouble, so I retired for the night and set my alarm for my Paris departure Saturday morning.

Paris (Oct 1)

I woke up Saturday in a good mood because I finally received a full nights sleep - I even got up before my alarm went off. I had a hearty breakfast (oat cereal with nuts and raisins, toast with honey, banana) and walked to St Pancres station. I briefly found WiFi but hardly managed to get anything done before boarding the train. Luckily I had nobody sitting next to me on the full train, but unfortunately there were 3 kids - all under 7 years old - that wouldnt calm down or shut up, until their parents whipped out the iPads. The trip only took about 2 hours because we were travelling at least 150 mph the whole time. As soon as I got to Paris I reserved my seat for Amsterdam (leaving Monday morning) which gave me a loose time table of what I could do in Paris for the next 45 hours. As soon as I stepped outside, I was accosted by newspaper-selling bums asking me for money. One foreign fella immediately ripped his shirt off and let out a triumphant roar as if he was just seeing sunlight for the first time. His buddies thought it was hilarious. One thing I quickly noticed was the percentage of black people; was I in Gary Indiana? I bought a $5 map so I wouldnt use my cellphone's data, but I found out this metropolis was much bigger than the City of London. I started walking toward a hostel advertised as one of the best, and it was nearby. Unfortunately, they were all booked for the weekend. I tried to locate another hostel, but I couldnt read the street names very well and my backpack was getting cumbersome, so I sat down and turned to Google to book a reservation. It turns out this was a big weekend in Paris and I shouldnt have waited til the day of to find a bed. I walked for miles up and down city streets, stopping by at least 10 different hotels looking for a room. By the third or fourth, I was getting frustrated and kinda worried. Would I have to leave town to find availabilty? My French was improving with each front desk visit, most of the clerks were nice and helped me out with a few words. Finally I found a strip of nightlife with a bevy of hotels tucked in alleyways. The one that took me in has a room balcony, free WiFi (pronounced wee-fee) and breakfast. As luck would have it, I'm on the 5th floor and now I'm out of range for wireless internet. Checkout's at noon, which is perfect, because I already found another room for tomorrow that allows check-in at noon, so I wont have to worry about dragging my backpack anywhere. €59 is a bit more than I expected to pay, but what are ya gonna do, its Paris. I bought another plug adapter (European) and took a stroll down the avenue, grabbing a bite to eat. Lots of motorcycles (just like London) and tiny vehicles, like VW Golfs. I found a bus route that will take me to Charles de Gaul tomorrow and Gale d'Nord station Monday. I also want to visit Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower... we'll see.

I slept (tooks periodic naps) til 11:50am - thats when the front desk called me to tell me I had to leave. So I gathered everything and walked 1 block west to my new hotel. There I left my backpack and went looking for lunch. I stopped at a typical French-style diner but since I didnt want to eat duck, salmon or frog legs I got the burger and fries with a beer. When I first grabbed the burger, blood started dripping onto the plate. I usually like it medium-well, so this was not quite up my alley. Instead of complaining I just ate around the tender, uncooked, red parts. Thankfully, I never felt ill that day. I hopped on a bus for €1.90 that took me to Charles de Gaulle monument. When I got there I started taking pictures (like I normally do) and then within seconds some girl walks up right next to me, bends down and picks up a gold ring. She starts exclaiming "Gold! Gold!" then turns toward me and says "Gold, no?" and hands me the ring. I took a close look and inscribed inside was '18k' so I told her 'Wi' and then she tries to put it on all her fingers but it was too big. So she hands me the ring and motions to see if it fits me, and it does, perfectly on my ring finger. Ha. She tells me to take it and thats when I thought this was some kind of scam. I said 'Merci' and tried to walk away with it, but of course she stops me and asks for some money. I gave her €2 but that wasnt good enough... "no no no", she said "I need sandwhich". I shook my head and walked away, periodically looking over my shoulder to see if she was following me or if one of her goons were after me. About an hour later, I noticed my finger had turned green so I took the ring off my finger and put it in my pocket. My dreams of cashing in someone's wedding band to pay for my trip were dashed. Next I walked to the Eiffel tower, a very exciting place. There were newlyweds in costume getting their pictures taken. There was a skate-park being set up with freshly-built ramps. There were poor kids playing in the fountains. There were teenagers smoking weed. There were young couples and families eating picnics in the grass. I contemplated going up the elevator, but the line was too long and I am not a fan of heights. Besides, I was on a mission to explore the rest of Paris. There were bike-rentals stations all around, but the damn kiosks wouldnt accept my bank cards. I later found out I have to have a special (French only?) chip embedded within my card, so I guess I was walking. I had no problem walking miles and miles, except it was a hot day and I forgot to bring my Nalgene bottle. When I got to Notre Dame, there were Middle Eastern men everwhere selling bottled water for €1; I stocked up. I walked inside and it was pretty dark and very quiet (for hundreds of people) because, after all this was a church. The nuns were selling candles and asking for donations. The center of the cathedral had pews where people were praying while the circumference was filled with individual chambers, each one dedicated to a specific Saint. Next I walked to the Louvre, a massive museum and monument with ancient Roman depictions. This was a very popular place, and it seemed most were there just to hang out in the center plaza. I got some rest as well before heading back to the hotel, which was a couple miles away. I passed through the high-end hotels and shopping areas, and marvelled over how beautiful the women were. They all looked like movie stars and models; or they were neither and just had rich husbands. After I got back to the hotel I showered and went out for dinner. I found a Chinese deli and it was delish! I figured I might not see Chinese food for a few weeks (boy was I wrong), so I'd take care of the crave now. I couldn't finish my dinner so I gave the rest of it to the first homeless person I saw. Since it was Sunday night, that meant NFL football was starting in America so I followed some of the games on my phone. I had WiFi so I was able to watch my fantasy teams live, this was the closest I felt to home since I left.

Day 5 (Oct 3)

I left Paris around 9am Monday morning and on my walk to the station saw a lot of single parents walking their son/daughter to school. I dunno why this stood out to me, maybe I'm just not used to seeing it in America. I boarded the train without ever showing a ticket or passport to anyone. I had an hour break in Lille, so I decided to walk around and found the Notre Dame cathedral. Not much to do other than people-watch. I liked how quiet and peaceful it was... Stonehenge was the closest I'd been to a calm environment since Tuesday. Lille was on the border of France and Belgium but I mostly heard all French. They did ask for ticket on my next train, this one to Antwerpen, Belgium. I luckily remembered to validate my Railpass that I bought in Evanston, Illinois on Tuesday. This was day #1 of 15 for my 'global' pass. I had to switch trains again in Antwerpen, so I decided to have lunch here. Nobody spoke English here, even the station officials. I stopped by a gyro joint but have no idea what I ordered. It looked like a sausage but tasted like tofu. I asked for bread and decided to make a sandwich out of all it, including a spicy mayo sauce and fries on top. There were two boys, who I assume were the owner's, pestering me throughout my meal and I realized that's just something I'm gonna have to get used to for a few weeks. I gave the older one 10 cents to leave me alone. I wanted some aqua, but since nobody pours tap water, I have to make sure I have my water bottle with me always. Instead of public drinking fountains, they have well water and forever flowing faucets in various locations through many European cities. My connecting train was cancelled, or switched, so I had to wait an extra 2 hours for my connection to Amsterdam. On my way through Holland's countryside I saw windmills, dairy farms, and plenty of graffiti - but nobody wearing any clogs.

Amsterdam (Oct 4-6)

The first thing I noticed when I got here were the bicycles. They were everywhere, like I was on campus somewhere. I walked around searching for a bike station, but they rented them by shop and all bike shops were closed, so I looked for a hostel and came upon one called Cosmos tucked away off one of the main strips. They had WiFi and a cute kitty. I showered and headed straight for the Red Light District, stopping at the first coffee shop I saw. The streets were lined with red lights, sex shops, bars, clubs, private rooms, townhomes, fast food joints, and tourist souvenir stands. Every other walkway crossed or paralelled a canal, the canal systems spanned most of the inner and outer city. I ziz-zaged my way up and down the streets checking out the scene and eventually kept seeing the same landmarks repeatedly. This helped me navigate later on the rest of the week. I also discovered if you could see Central station you're off to a good start. Its still very easy to get lost here because all roads here diverge at some point, so if the sun is out you can always use that for a guide. On the cloudy days I had to stop and look at a map every once in a while. It helped following the same streets as the railcars, but the sub streets were less crowded and offered plenty to look at. I visited the Van Gogh mesuem, Heineken brewery, Albert Cuyp market, Sarphati park, Vondelpark, Stedelijk museum, Amsterdam Historical museum, Anne Frankhuis, and a number of other fine establishments. Mostly everything was reasonably priced, especially compared to London and Paris. I rented a bicycle for €4/day, which was a life-saver for my aching feet and back. (now instead, I had aching legs and butt, ha) The credit receipts I had to sign never had a line for a tip, so I just threw them some coin. It takes some getting-used-to for each custom, but by the time I understand it I'm off to the next country anyway. For instance, in Paris I had to surrender my room key every time I stepped outside. I'm sure one of these times I'll get busted for jaywalking, as I'm the only one that does it, it seems.

Berlin (Oct 6)

I left Amsterdam at 5pm Thursday and had to switch trains in Hildenburg(?) and Hannover. The 3rd train was the nicest I'd been on - digital displays of upcoming stops and sparesly located outlets. My phone wouldnt survive if I couldn't randomly charge up at odd locations. I arrived at HFB around 11:30pm and took the S7 to Waurschausse, which is where I was supposed to meet Cisarna 'Ci' at PlusHostel; I met her earlier that day in Amsterdam. I accidentally boarded the westbound subway instead of eastbound. By the time I realized this, I jumped off at the next stop and tried to catch the next eastbound express. Problem was, it was now 11:50pm and there were no more subways running, so I was stranded in Nikkolasse. I was about 20 km from downtown, so a cab was a no-go. I walked in complete darkness down a lonely street until I found a hotel. I negotiated a fair price of €40 even though I had no upper hand. In the morning, I stocked up on fruits from their breakfast buffet and then took a stroll to the water, about 1km away. From the looks of my map, this lake borders Potsdam, a highly reputable city apparently. I jumped on the S-bahn back to my original destination and left my backpack in their luggage room. The clerks that work at Hostels are the best tour guides; they hand you a map and circle everything you should check out, plus they speak English. This was a great location to start because of the Berlin Wall. After that I jumped on the subway and took that 2 stops to Alexander Place (the public transportation police never caught on to me not purchasing a ticket) where I saw the sky-high Fernsehturm, visited a few museums, checked out Pariser Place, Potsdamer Place and some other Universitats and churches. With all that under my belt, and the fact that it was around 48°, I felt ready to leave Berlin. I went back to the HFB to see when the last train left for Prague and to my delight there was a 6:12pm (twas 4:30 at the time) so I ate a brat and drank a beer in the Biergarten with a band performing until my train arrived.

Prague (Oct 8)

I got into Prague around midnight Friday. The train people only check your ticket of you're departing or entering a major city. But as soon as I entered Czech, I was asked no less than 4 times to show my ticket, and they defaced it twice - once with a timestamp right across my written log/journal entries, and the other time to punch a hole through it. Thanks assholes. Per a friend's recommendation, I went to the Clown & Bard hostel in Zizkov. I was staying in a 25-person dorm, a 10-flight climb, but at only €16/night. Not bad for free WiFi & breakfast too. Beers here are only 30 crown ($1.50) and they let me sleep the first night without payment (just an ID). In the morning I hit up the ATM and walked to the train station to determine when trains left for Vienna. Each day was the same schedule, so I could decide spontaneously when I wanted to leave. I met up with Pat Moriarty from Milwaukee, whom I met the night before. We partook in the free walking tour. I discovered that there's a very grim history of Prague, mostly due to the Nazi-Jew massacres during Hitler's reign. We took the metro back without paying, bless the honor system. I had the duck and saurkraut for dinner at Svijany resturant, with two beers and tip for only 200 crown ($10). I met up with some South African and New Zealand girls at my hostel and we went downtown to participate in the Bar Crawl. When we got into the queue, and saw how many dudes were there, and how long we'd have to wait for a drink, so Pat and I decided to bounce to another pub. We wound up at Iron Curtain and met a guy from LA that had been living in Prague 6 years. He was a straight shooter and gave us the 411 on what all to visit around town. We told him where we were staying (Zizkov) and he recommended Bukowski's and TikiTaki. Burkowskis was the perfect bar we'd been looking for all night. TikiTaki had a MissPacMan machine that was free if you were born before 1985. Unfortunately it was out-of-order on this night. :( Temperatures were now in the upper 30s, a big contrast to the upper 70s in London and Paris a week ago. I woke up Sunday morning and decided to go to Vienna, but not before visiting the Leonardo da Vinci museum and John Lennin wall. The museum was closed for renovation and I never found the wall. Happy Birthday Mr Lennin!

Vienna (Oct 9)

I arrived in Vienna at about 8pm Sunday night. I Googled some hostels and made my way toward the biggest cluster. The first 2 were closed and had empty reception areas, they resembled college dorms... maybe Austria's version of a hostel was different than the other countries? The 3rd attempt was a success, although it had the worst reviews online, I was tired of walking and was willing to settle. €20/night plus breakfast and WiFi, so far it was all good. My room was on the first floor and there were only 8 beds in this room. I chatted with the clerk to find a bar with NFL football, he suggested TGIFridays. There was only 1 so I had to jump on the subway to get there. This time I bought a one-way ticket and then didnt validate it til the next afternoon. I asked TGIF for NFL football but they only had soccer and hockey. Their bartender told me about a bar down the street called 1516 that might have it, and sure enough they did. I caught the Saints/Panthers game and Bills/Eagles, but didnt get to witness the Colts lose at home to Kansas City - probably a good thing. I ate the Wienerschnitzel and kartoffel, which was basically breaded pork tenderloin (no bun) and potato salad. I mixed em together. The Jets/Patriots game started but I was ready to head home. Again, the CC receipt had no 'line' for tip so I'm not sure what the custom is. In the morning I talked to some Australian girls in the lounge of the hostel, they started to tell me where to go then said "We'll take you there" which turned into us hanging out for a couple hours and eating lunch together. I did the modern art museum, Wein U, art history museum, AU history museum, and had free WiFi half the time (on 3 different public wifi networks). I had a map with me, so I tried to hit up everything that seemed important. Even though it was raining half the day, I didn't let that dampen my spirits. The people of Vienna are not poor-looking like Prague, although I saw a few homeless people sleeping in the subway terminals. The ethnic background was mostly German with a mix of Hungarian, Czech and whatever. I need to start taking photos of the city's rail system when I arrive so I can reference it later. It always gives a ya thrill to ride on an invalid/non-existant pass. The departing train left Westbahnhof, which was 1 block from the hostel (hence why I chose the cluster on Google maps).
To warm me up, I made an awesome alcoholic drink: cotton candy flavored vodka, red bull, and capri sun (orange) I call it the Akrite!© Woooooo-eee!

Munich (Oct 10)

I got to Munich Monday night and it was a lil warmer outside, not blustery cold like Prague and Vienna. I walked 1 block to the strip of hostels I found online. First and second try were unsucessful, but third had availability. Again on the top floor, but free WiFi and towels(!) and great location for a cheap price €20/night. They even had electronic keys, which I hadnt seen since my first stop in London. The keycard also locked the personal lockers just by waving/pressing it near the locking mechanism. This hostel (Wombats) had their stuff together! I hung out at the bar (they gave me a drink voucher at check-in) for a few minutes then decided to take a stroll outside to get a bite to eat. Without my phone or any idea of Munich, I didnt venture very far. I saw a slew of homeless people sleeping in the Burger King. A lot of food joints were open after midnight, probably catering to the drunk crowd or train station arrivals. I made my way back home and retired for the evening. Tuesday morning was warm and sunny, so I decided to do the free walking tour. Ozzie, a gay black German, was our guide. He was flamboyant but smart. Every stop accompanied a few minutes of history lesson. We ate bratwurst and drank bier during lunch, and stopped by all the landmarks that makes Munich unique - the Bravarian state that holds all the stereotypes of what you think of when you imagine Germans (and pisses off the rest of Germany) was the only state of 16 that didnt sign the German constitutution. I probably could've stayed another day here but I wanted to get to Zurich before the bad weather came. I jumped on the train to Innsland (Austria) so I could embrace the Alps with maximum exposure, and so I could 'visit' Liechtenstein. Unfortunately, I was not able to get my passport stamped but I did check-in on Foursquare. Same thing, right?

Switzerland (Oct 11)

I arrived in Zurich around 10pm Tuesday. I had the entire first-class cabin to myself (and took full advantage by stretching out and charging my phone. Little did I know how vital this was because Switzerland has different outlets than the rest of Europe. The people here tell me they're the same, but its 3 holes/prongs instead on 2, and a diamond-shaped frame that wont accept my circular adapter. At least I had a fully charged phone when I started my journey in Zürich. I tuned into HostelBookers.com on McDonalds' WiFi to see the best-rated places, and again I was pleased with the results. This place I found was called Langstars (on Langstrasse) and they gave me a free towel, locker, Wifi, and a bonus beer! I knew Zurich would be expensive, so €45/night was a decent deal compared to some hotel rooms I saw at €200. Even though they also use Euro, they have their own currency: the Swiss Frank. The conversion was 1fr=1.2€ so it wasnt too difficult. I hung out in the hostel lobby a while, then took a stroll down "Party Mile" and saw the seedy side of Switzerland... bums, prostitutes, druggies, dogs, etc. I returned to Langstars and chatted with 'Bedda-Bedda' from Czech and the cool clerks. I turned my smartphone off before I went to bed and used my backup phone as an alarm (it lasts 3 days on one charge). Generally I am supposed to be "checked-out" by 10 or 11am in most hostels, but they are often lenient if you're at least downstairs by that time, eating breakfast or whatever. The showers are usually the least busiest after checkout too. After that I went to OldTown and walked through the narrow, hilly, brick roads. I visited the Stathaus, the marketplace, Kongresshaus, Town Hall, some churches, the Kurst museum (contemporary and historical) and rode the polybahn (a gondola-lift) to Zürich U. Up there was a nice scenic view of the city but I didnt have my 5MP camera with me, only the backup phone (1.3MP) so pictures wont look as good as they should. As beautiful as Zurich is, I also wanted to see Interlocken, so I boarded the train to Bern to connect to Interlachen. The Alps are magnificant forces of landscape that create many villages down in the valleys. Its almost fairytale-like to see giant castles on top of hills overlooking countrysides, farms, and communities. Our train would be hundreds of feet over water one second and then all the sudden in a tunnel, only to emerge amidst breaktaking landscape. When I got to Interlachen I got a bike and went thru town to the nearby lake. I got some ice cream and enjoyed the view til I had to go back to Bern. Bern would then connect me to Milan, or another city of my choice. The last train to Milan leaves at 7pm, so to avoid being stuck in Switzerland for another expensive night I had to leave Interlachen by 6pm. I was then supposed to switch trains in Brig, but missed the Milan departure (wrong platform) so I took a hike through Brig contemplating what to do next, and discovered some amazing scenes. There was a castle across the river high on the mountain that was lit up by lights. The was a cross up there too, like the Hollywood letters on display in SoCal. I rode my bike and took it up and down the streets of a couple small towns, all less than ten miles from the Italian border. I asked a few hotels "How much for a room?" and I got 100, 90, and 89 (swiss) francs... so my options were not good. I wondered if hitch-hiking was a viable means of transport, but then remembered how all my friends and family were telling me "be careful" and thought "this is probably what they meant". I went back to the train station where my backpack was stored in a locker and took a final glance at the video board. Lo and behold, Domodossola appeared on the screen. This wasn't Milano, but at least it was Italy. I decided to take that train at midnight and even brought my new bike along. The ticket-checker then charged me 17 francs for not having a permit, doh! I am really ready to leave this country.

Italy (Oct 13)

I got to Domodossola around 1am Thursday morning in hopes that I'd at least be somewhere where Euro is the main currency. Mission accomplished, but the prices for hotel room were still expensive. I stayed at Hotel Corona for €72 with free breakfast, but no WiFi. Checkout was at 11am and again I stretched that. I asked for a single, got a double, and I'm pretty sure there were bedbugs because I was itching as soon as I got in bed. The view from my window was pretty sweet, and there was even a balcony to welcome the cool breeze on a warm day. I jumped on my bike (with backpack) and visited the 'tourist' spots, which were old cathedrals and chapels. This town was an old officer's post during Napoleon's regime, and they had the full details in English at each chapel. I later found out this was a UNESCO site, one of at least ten I´ve visited on this trip. Not many people here understand English, nonetheless speak it. Three times the person I was talking to had to get their superior to converse with me, and each time was still a struggle; this reminded me of being in Belgium. My plan was to visit Milan for a few hours and move on elsewhere. There is so much to see in Northern Italy, but the hostels are only in big cities and I needed to be in English-speaking areas or I am on the strugglebus. The towns and lakes I passed through on the way to Milan reminded me of Interlaken, but the homes here were built for warmer weather. Italy kinda reminds me of Florida... the weather, the peninsula, the impolite attitudes. They'll cut you in line to exit the train, but also walk at a snail's pace while blocking the sidewalks. At least there aren't any smelly people (yet) like Czech and France. I switched trains in Verona and had an hour to kill, so I went looking for a "condensed European adapter" which I believe means 220V instead of 250V. It was late and there were no electronic-type shops open, so I took a stroll through town anyway. The area seemed young, like I was on campus somewhere. They seemed kinda snobby here too, which I hadn't experienced anywhere else thus far (except Paris). The traffic laws were different in each city, and it was a challenge trying to fit-in with everyone else. I had been jaywalking freely up until Munich when our tourguide informed us how much the fine would be if caught. It was difficult figuring out if pedestrians had right-of-way, or if I was gonna be run over by a random motorbike. Sometimes you just gotta be a follower instead of a leader.
I made it into Venice around 11:30pm Thursday night and the city was dead, at least the western port. The island-city has no streets, only canals and sidewalks. There's one train station that takes you back to mainland, where the airport is and Venezia's 'suburbs'. There are hundreds of boats, ferrys, gondolas and whatever else floats. There's a main canal that winds through the middle of the city that supports main public transportation. Then the smaller canals are every other block, much like how Amsterdam is set up. People tie up their small personal crafts alongside the walls, which makes navigating very tight. Even though I hag Googled a few hostels prior, they were locked already or impossible to find. I stopped at a hotel way off the beaten path, hoping for a cheaper rate. He quoted me €60 but I refused and tried to walk away. He asked how much I was willing to pay, I told him I was trying to find a bed for €40 and he met me in the middle at €50. The room had 2 windows on top of a canalway, so close that I could be sitting on my bed and spit into the seawater. I didn't, of course. The overnight temp was about 45° with a daytime high of 66°. I woke up, checked out, and went looking for more hostels. In the meantime, I miraculously found WiFi outside a tavern. I took a seat outside and took care of much-needed business, including my Rome-to-London flight, emailing the family, and obviously updating fantasy football rosters. What a relief to get that taken care of. The problem now was my phone battery was dying. After lunch (lettuce and ham rolled up into pizza slice) I finally purchased another adapter (my third!) and this one was truly universal: Italy, Switzerland, England, Europe, Japan, US, Australia, Thailand, etc. but nowhere to charge my phone until I found a room or train. I decided to take the ferry to Lido because there was a real beach, and I'd never experienced the Mediterranean Sea. I got dropped off on the west side of the island and walked 5 minutes to the eastern shore. There were probably 20 snack shops selling suvenior items or gellato (ice cream). There was some parasailing and kite-flying, but nobody was swimming and there certainly wasnt any nude sunbathing that I read about. Huh, must be a summer activity. I returned to Venice, took the ferry through town again, and ate dinner - spaghetti with a glass of Rosé. The menu outside had giant letters "No Cover Charge. Service Included" and since the service was so shitty, I decided not to tip, for a change. At home I've become so accustomed to being waited on in speedy fashion it was frustrating not being tended to in a timely manner. American waiters try so much harder than Europeans, and its no mystery why. Venice is a very unique and romantic city, but it seems everywhere I go there are tourists. Its hard to imagine living on any island permanently.
I left Friday night and went to Florence. As soon as I stepped off the train there were lots of young people, around 20 years old or so, and a lot of Americans too. I wondered if the MTV/Jersey Shore appeal brought them here or if they're all just fans of The Renaissance. I circled the train station to get a sense of where I was, then walked to the nearest McDonalds to try to find WiFi. No luck there, so I walked down the first street and looked for any hostel. To my luck, I saw one right away and they told me €27/night - but I felt like I had enough energy to continue exploring and weigh my options. After about 15 minutes going through a few city blocks I didn't find a single other hostel, only hotels (lots of them), so I returned to Archi Rossi and checked-in. This was by far the best hostel I'd stayed at: 3 WiFi networks so you never lost a signal, chef-made breakfast, 4 beds to a room, private bathrooms with shower, large individual lockers/closets, computer cafe, 24-hour access to luggage storage with video surveilance, large lounge area and the courtyard was like something out of a romance novel. Oh and did I mention it was less than 5 minutes from the train station? It was was so nice I decided to stay here 2 nights. The next day I slept-in due to not having a checkout, and boy did I need it. My left heel was sore and my right calf was bruised from some sort of pulled muscle. I still made it out in time to enjoy the day and soak in the sights. In hindsight I should've done a bus tour, but oh well. At 6pm I knew college football was starting, but had trouble finding any bars that had ESPN. If the bar had any sport, it was soccer. How would Americans like it if an Italian came into one of our bars and asked for the soccer game? Hard Rock Cafe only had music television. One of the bars had a CNN-type station showing the riots in Rome. I had heard about the Occupy rallies around the western world but this was the first I'd seen it get violent. Molotov Cocktails and firehoses, burned cars and looting. I wasn't sure if I wanted to embrace Rome during this tumultuous time or avoid it, but I really didn't have a choice. My train pass expires Monday and my flights were already booked. At this point I'd given up looking, so I bought a bottle of Chianti and got drunk pretty quickly. I returned to the hostel and searched for streaming ESPN2 online. Sure enough, there was my IU/Wisconsin game in low-def. It was an ugly game to say the least but there was 1 highlight, a 60-yard run by our RB. And the announcer said my high school(!) when Mr Football Tre Roberson came into the game to QB the 4th. One of the guys in my room (John from Philly) and I went out for drinks around 10pm to a place called The Fish Pub. They had hip-hop music, cute waitresses and cheap shots: 5 for €5. After a round of that, we had a couple €3 beers and called it a night. The next mornimg I did the free walking tour which took us to all the main touristy spots except for 2. I'd already done the Biboli garden so after the tour was over I went to Piazza Michelangelo and was surprised how far I could see. At this point I decided to call it a success and move on to Pisa. I got my backpack from the hostel and went to the train station, took the next train to Pisa and when I got there tried to waste as little time as possible because I'd heard it was a dump - and it was. I walked 20 min to the leaning tower, took a couple pics, and went back to the train station. I had time for dinner so I ate Pizzia, in Pisa. I thought I got a quarter-slice with sausage but they were cleverly disguised mushrooms, Yuck. Then I boarded the 6pm train to Rome. Instead of taking the high-speed rail from Florence (3 hours) I took the 4-hour train from Pisa that hugged the western coast. Watching the sunset on the Mediterranean made it all worth it. The drawback was that I couldn't charge my phone on their crappy 2nd class cabins. I found out that my ticket was first class at ~Prague. It made a difference in that I could recline my seat more often that not and I could use chargers for my phone. I had no working charger for the digital camera and my mp3 player completely died for some reason. Got a 8GB Sansa on Amazon for $30. I'll do that a few more times before I get an iPod. So I'm using my phone as my GPS, www, email, camera, camcorder, and iPod. Oh yeah, and phone. I ignored one call in 3 weeks, so either my friends were paying attention online or nobody wanted to talk to me. For the seats I had to reserve (Paris and Venice) they serve you a free (alcoholic) drink. Tonight, I have a half a bottle of Chianti.

I got to Rome Sunday night and walked straight to Two Ducks hostel. It was about 5 blocks from Termani train station, which was on the northeast side of the city. The door wasnt marked, only a listing of residents' surnames by the doorbell. I questioned how anybody is supposed to find this place, but then thought "maybe thats the point". The internet said 5th floor, so I walked 4 flights but had the wrong door, so I walked another flight (duh, ground level isnt first floor) and knocked on that door. This was the cheapest hostel in Rome with good location, so I kinda knew what to expect. The bathrooms were very tiny with no door, the kitchen/reception/lounge was approximately 8'x10' and the guy sleeping next to me was a mute who liked to sleep with the windows open. I woke up shivering and caught a cold that lasted the rest of the trip. Nonetheless, I was happy to have a place to sleep and shower. I started off Monday going straight to the Roman Ruins, a stretch of about a 2 square miles including the Coloseum. It felt like the first time I visited Lucas Oil stadium... the sheer size and magnitude of a single structure - of course Lucas Oil is only 3 years old and this was over 2000 years old. There's a fenced-in 'park' of all the demolished columns and walls and faint gates. Some of the rubble was neatly stacked to the side, while other pieces just remained out in the open. I tried to imagine who had been there before and what had taken place... simply amazing. I continued my trek southwest around St Giovanni Paolo, Gregorio Magno and Arco di Dolabella, and then headed north to Santa Maria Maggiore, the best church I'd been in including Notre Dame cathedral. The next day I started on the northwest side of downtown at the Vatican and made my way east, zigzagging up and down every street as to not miss anything. There were so many buildings with godlike (Zeus) sculptures that weren't marked on the tourist map I had. It's just mindboggling seeing such mammoth buildings with 40 ft entryways and 100 ft ceilings, it made me feel so miniscule. It also made me feel like I was on a Hollywood set, because it was just so neatly sculpted and you never knew when you were gonna turn a corner and be amazed. I would recommend Piazza del Popolo, once you climb the Pincio you can overlook Rome for miles. Same with Trinita dei Monti. Piazza Navona was truly a global market place, with artists and musicians and jugglers. Of course there was the standard beggers, people in costume, scarf sellers, food joints, etc. Campo dè Flori was nearby, and while only half the size it offered many of the same attractions at a discounted price. Also nearby is Torre Argentina, which might've been my favorite spot. Its at original ground level, about 50 below Rome's current street level, and is also mostly in ruins. There are maps and charts posted above that show what it would've looked like 2000 years ago, and history lessons - including the exact spot of Julius Caesar's assasination. The coolest thing about this spot is that it's totally inhabited by (vaccinated) cats. There were probably a hundred or so living on this quarter-block, sleeping, playing, watching humans walk by. One was on the ledge and let me pet it and take pictures. The tale is that Romans treat cats extra special because they kept away the Plague by killing the mice. I also visited Fontana di Trevi, the best fountain I've ever seen outside Las Vegas. There were rows of bleachers for tourists to visit, take pictures, and rest. I climbed a stone structure to take a picture of the crowd, when a policewomen blew her whistle at me, telling me to get down. I quickly left the scene in an attempt to not be scolded or (gasp) fined. The police (and military) presence was quite strong here, it reminded me of being in DC. The Pantheon was enormous, but I wasn't overly impressed by it; maybe I was just so overwhelmed by everything else. Right by my hostel was the Santa Maria degli Angeli, a bascilica with Galileo's entire life memorialized. As a big fan of Astronomy, he's one my idols. There was a straight line that charted the days based on where sunlight hit the floor at noon because of a tiny hole he made in the ceiling. I wasnt sure if the church was built first or if he used the church as his labratory. It was a thrill visiting this museum.
I also loved seeing all the mobsters roam the streets, travelling in packs, smoking their stogies. I tried not to ever make eye contact with them. Rarely on this trip did anyone ever take a prolonged look at me to see if the recognized me. With this beard, its always "look away from the scary man".

Madrid (Oct 19-20)

I got here late Wednesday night as a stopover from London to Chicago. My departing flight wasn't til noon Thursday - I did this on purpose so I'd have a chance to taste Spain a lil bit. Prices here were pretty affordable; I took the airport bus to Puerto del Sol (center of town) for €2 and walked toward Plaza del Mayor. My airplane buddy gave me a heads up on what to check out and all that, so I felt comfortable right away with a plan in mind, and it helped that I 'downloaded' Madrid's grid on Google maps last time I had WiFi. Being able to zoom in on specific intersections helped tremendously. Each major intersection (usually a 6-way roundabout) had a specific name, like Campo or Puerto del [whatever]. I walked through some pretty interesting plazas. The big one had hundreds of loud, young people enjoying the night. The illegal souvenir guys were even out there well after midnight selling purses, memorbilia, candy, water, beer and soda. I stopped by a few 'Hostals' but each one was really a hotel, at around €45/night. Finally I asked one of the clerks the meaning of Hostel vs. Hostal, and he tried his best to explain and then he told me a place to try. I walked through Mayor and many of the bars were very much alive. I found the place "No Name Hostal" and to my delight it was only €14/night. I shared a room with 15 other beds but only 5 or 6 were occupied, mostly Koreans. I locked up my stuff, changed clothes and went out at 1:30am. I wandered around until I became thirsty, stopping in a club that was like Kilroys Sports in Bloomington. I asked what time they close, the bartender told me 5:30. New York may be "the city that never sleeps" but Madrid had the livliest afterhours scene of all the places I'd been to in Europe. I met a young lady who approached me by telling me she loved my beard, followed by many kisses on the cheeks. She was short, and drunk. I asked her name but couldnt understand her, so she'll be known as Blonde Snooki. We danced but I wasnt that interested so I cut out and went to another bar. A group of kids (young adults) were gathered in a circle near the fountain at Sol. One had a guitar and others were singing along. It briefly felt like I was at a Phish concert parking lot or somethin. Eventually some city workers came by to hose off the area and they shoo'd us away, like we were cockroaches or mice. I didnt protest because that hose looked powerful and it was a bit chilly. I took in every minute of Madrid, knowing it was my last night in Europe. Of all the places to have an overnight layover, this has to be one of the best.

Roselawn named "Kinkiest City in America"

2011-08-22T17:04:00.002-04:00

What towns come to mind when you hear the term 'Kinky'? San Francisco? Las Vegas? Miami? Lonely Planet's survey results found a small town in Indiana to be the raunchiest of them all...

"Not only does Roselawn maintain a thriving (and family friendly!) nudist resort, the Ponderosa Sun Club also hosts a yearly pageant called “Nudes-A-Poppin,” MC’d by none other than famed porn star Ron Jeremy. It’s not just the strippers and porn stars shaking their money makers on stages and poles that draw thousands to this celebration every year; erotic dancing, public sex, and of course, exhibitionism abound. Located about 50 miles south of Chicago, on 88 acres of rural woodlands, Ponderosa also offers several G-rated recreational activities you never knew would be more awesome naked, like horseshoes, volleyball and chili cook-offs."

You'll notice on the map below that Indianapolis received an extremely high score for kinky females... I can't say I'm surprised!

Football Hoosiers land top prospect

2011-07-28T08:36:00.004-04:00

Gunnier Kiel, the #1 HS QB in the country, has chosen to taken his talents to Bloomington. Outsiders may see this as somewhat shocking, given that IU has never landed anyone near as good as Gunner. But it shouldn't be all that surprising to those who've been monitoring the process since Day 1. After receiving scholarship offers from Notre Dame, Michigan, Alabama, Oklahoma, USC and other elite programs, the Columbus, IN native decided to stay close to home (and play alongside his brother Dusty). The whole scenario is eerily familiar to another commitment the Hoosiers received a year ago: Cody Zeller. Both athletes were highly-rated, both are from southern Indiana, and both are the youngest of 3 brothers that all garnered much hype. After Cody's verbal, a domino effect was created that saw Indiana land multiple blue-chip prospects in basketball. Lets hope for the same result in football.

Random Reading Material

2011-07-25T20:31:00.001-04:00

These links might appear to be sporadic, but they're actually related. Can you guess the theme?
The Power of Understanding, or of Human Freedom
The Tuatara's Third Eye
The Sun Stone
Send your guess here.

Indy ranked #1 in Jobs & Affordable Housing

2011-07-19T11:52:00.003-04:00

Finding a city with affordable housing isn't too difficult, as long as you're willing to settle for low-income wages, high crime and high unemployment. Finding a booming city with a great job market is ideal, if you can afford to live there. Indianapolis combines both factors better than any other place in America.
With an average cost of living well below the national average, you can find a large but affordable home in any of the surrounding suburbs: Plainfield, Avon, Brownsburg, Zionsville, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, etc - all just a short commute to downtown Indy. Or if you prefer to live in the city - ranked by Forbes as one of the safest in America - Indy boasts the nation's longest and busiest greenway (Monon Trail) stretching from downtown to Westfield. Indy is also home of the nationally renowned Children's Museum, the largest sporting event in the world (500), the 2012 Superbowl, NCAA headquarters, Mens & Womens Final Fours, BigTen Championships, and also dubbed the Amateur Sports Capital of the World.

'Hope' for 'Change'? Try "Business as Usual"

2011-06-19T16:45:00.002-04:00

President Obama rejected the views of top lawyers at the Pentagon and the Justice Department when he decided that he had the legal authority to continue American military participation in the air war in Libya without Congressional authorization.
Obama's view is that the Libya campaign is not covered by a provision of the War Powers Resolution that requires presidents to halt unauthorized hostilities after 60 days.
With drone attacks and spending in excess of $10M per day, the Office of Legal Counsel disagrees. Only the President or Attorney General can override OLC decisions.

"From the outset of this operation, Members of the House have demonstrated respect for the authority granted to the Commander-in-Chief," John Boehner said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the President has not exhibited a similar appreciation for Congress' important job of providing oversight and accountability. Even worse, he has failed to communicate to the American people why continuing this mission is critical to our national security."

In 2007, President Bush ignored the legal conclusions of his top lawyers over NSA's warrantless wiretapping program.

Mitch Daniels bows out

2011-05-22T15:53:00.001-04:00

Official Statement: "Over the last year and a half, a large and diverse group of people have suggested to me an idea that I never otherwise would have considered, that I run for President. I’ve asked for time to think it over carefully, but these good people have been very patient and I owe them an answer.

The answer is that I will not be a candidate. What could have been a complicated decision was in the end very simple: on matters affecting us all, our family Constitution gives a veto to the women’s caucus, and there is no override provision. Simply put, I find myself caught between two duties. I love my country; I love my family more.
I am deeply concerned, for the first time in my life, about the future of our Republic. In the next few years Americans will decide two basic sets of questions: Who’s in charge here? Should the public sector protect and promote the private sector or dominate and direct it? Does the government work for the people or vice versa?

And, are we Americans still the kind of people who can successfully govern ourselves, discipline ourselves financially, put the future and our children’s interests ahead of the present and our own.

I am confident that the answers will reaffirm the liberty and vitality of our nation, and hope to play some small part in proving that view true."

Carmel hosts Roundabout conference

2011-05-20T11:10:00.003-04:00

Traffic gurus from around the world are gathering in Carmel, Indiana this week in the 7th annual International Conference on Roundabouts. Both New York and Japan (pop. 19M and 125M) have fewer roundabouts than Carmel (pop. 79,000) - sent their best transportation engineers here this week to study the awesome effects it has on a community. For example, the Australian state of Victoria began building roundabouts in 1970 when traffic fatalities peaked at more than 1,000 per year. Two years ago, that number had been reduced to 300 while the population more than doubled. Melbourne now has over 5,000 roundabouts.

Not only do they save lives, but with less congestion and rarely stopping, travel time is also cut down - especially during the winter with icy roads. Carmel is currently building its 69th since 1999 (131st & River Road) - this one located at 96th & Commerce Drive.

Mitch Daniels not saying No

2011-05-13T16:26:00.005-04:00

The nation's best governor spoke briefly last night (before heading over to Kilroys) then passed the mic to Indiana's First Lady in a Keynote Address at a GOP-sponsored event. Many speculate that the purpose of the event was to build Cheri Daniels' public speaking repertoire. Mitch's outstanding record on fiscal matters and his recent education reform has earned a large following of supporters urging him to enter the Republican primary including Scott Walker, Chris Cristie, Jeb Bush, Haley Barbour, John Boehner, and Paul Ryan. When questioned earlier in the week, Governor Daniels stated that he thinks he could beat President Obama should he be elected to represent America's conservative party. His CPAC speech gives us some insight on those virtues.

LC Bears ranked #1 in HS Track

2011-05-12T18:56:00.001-04:00

The Lawrence Central Boys Track & Field team won the Marion County meet again last night - defeating Ben Davis, Warren Central, Lawrence North, Pike and North Central. In addition to winning the 100, 200 and 800 the Bears also won all 3 relays.

Matt Dorsey, Michael Steele, Adam Turner and Connor Claflin opened with a meet-record 7:50 in the 3,200M relay. Anthony Shelman, Tyrennzie Burgess, Marcellian Gardner and Deontre Gray ran a dizzying 41.3 seconds in the 400 relay (also a meet record), and Steele, Burgess, Jeron Brown and Claflin took the 1,600 relay in 3:17.55. The Bears hope to overcome last year's Runner-up finish at the State meet in June.
The LC Girls also won the Marion County meet this week and look to defend their State Championship even though they lost their top 4 runners to D-I programs last year.

Coach K, Williams, Pitino... Painter, Brey, Stevens

2011-05-09T20:51:00.004-04:00

Do NCAA coaches win games [and Coach of the Year awards] because they're that good or because they recruit Indiana's amateur talent?

Is there any doubt that this is still the mecca of hoops? Indianapolis is tied with L.A. for most consecutive drafts represented (5) and they are still killin it in the pros: EJ, Jeff Teague, George Hill, Mike Conley Jr, Josh McRoberts, Gordon Hayward, Courtney Lee, Rodney Carney and former #1 pick Greg Oden.

It can't be understated how significant a feat it is for Tom Crean to lock up all the Elite talent for the next 4 years; hopefully that translates to the same postseason success as the coaches above.

Baseball studs and duds

2011-04-24T22:20:00.011-04:00

Who to keep on eye on for the 2011 MLB season:

NL MVP candidates:
Matt Kemp, Joey Votto, Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun

AL MVP candidates:
Adrian Gonzalez, Jacoby Ellsbury, Curtis Granderson, Jose Bautista

AL Cy Youngs:
Dan Haren, Jered Weaver, Josh Beckett, Justin Verlander

NL Cy Youngs:
Roy Halladay, Clayton Kershaw, Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee

Closers:
Salas, Hanrahan, Cordero, Putz, Farnsworth, Storen

Still got it: Lance Berkman, Paul Konerko, David Ortiz, Johnny Damon
Aint got it: Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla, Derek Jeter, Adam Dunn

Whiz kid takes advanced classes at IUPUI

2011-03-21T00:16:00.005-04:00

Jacob Barnett is 12 years old and has Aspergers, a mild form of autism that allows brain development to expand at a rapid rate, but also causes him to be socially reserved. His PhD-level understanding of math and science has garnered him a 'genius' label. His passion in the field of Astrophysics will soon turn into paid research, a possible Nobel prize, and maybe even solving the Big Bang Theory. Other than that, Jake is just another healthy kid growing up in Hamilton County.

IU's Derek Drouin is National Athlete of the Year

2011-03-16T12:16:00.001-04:00

The High-jump champ was awarded this honor - the 1st in BigTen history - by the U.S. Track & Field and XC Coaches Association.

The junior from Corunna, Ontario won his 3rd NCAA title in the high jump (2nd-straight indoor title) by clearing 7'-7.75", which broke the all-time BigTen record and tied the Canadian record. Drouin won his 4th BigTen high jump crown en route to BigTen Field Athlete of the Year and Great Lakes Region Athlete of the Year honors as well.

Japan Earthquake/Tsunami/Nuclear Meltdown

2011-03-15T21:49:00.001-04:00

[click image to watch video]

Mitch Daniels 2012 gains momentum

2011-03-12T11:04:00.002-05:00

This past month has seen a flurry of articles from political insiders and national pundits boasting Mitch Daniels at "the It boy" likely to receive the 2012 GOP bid. As noted in my previous post, it picked up steam right after CPAC - which Ron Paul actually won, but that sparked a mention of Mitch on the cover of TIME magazine, Jon Stewart commenting on Mitch's chances based on his "height and hair", ABC News says he's a "nerdy chic" choice, and now George Will says Daniels has "the low-key charisma of competence." Will he enter the race or let the deadline pass without blinking?

My Man Mitch Speaketh

2011-02-12T01:09:00.008-05:00

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels addressed the CPAC crowd tonight in Washington DC, noting the growing federal debt is threatening the survival of the nation, and conservatives must unite themselves and the country behind defeating the 'new Red Menace' of red ink.
Daniels, who served as political director under former President Ronald Reagan and budget director under former President George W. Bush, said the necessary changes include restructuring Social Security and Medicare for later retirees, putting at least a moratorium on new regulations, if not adopting a "self-certification regime," making the tax code "lower and flatter," ramping up domestic energy production and not exempting defense spending from budget scrutiny. Daniels said it's up to conservatives to be specific on "the best way back to greatness." But that doesn't mean they should hold out for an ideal solution.

"Should the best way be blocked, while the enemy draws nearer, then someone will need to find the second-best way. Or the third, because the nation's survival requires it," Daniels said. "Purity in martyrdom is for suicide bombers."
Getting enough support for the changes, he said, requires showing a "special passion for those still on the first rung of life's ladder. Upward mobility from the bottom is the crux of the American promise, and the stagnation of the middle class is in fact becoming a problem, on any fair reading of the facts," Daniels said. "Our main task is not to see that people of great wealth add to it, but that those without much money have a greater chance to earn some."
"Mitch Daniels is the one person who hasn't been trying to toot his own horn for the past three years," Yale senior Max Eden said. "We're trying to just help get the word out about him because everybody we talk to about him loves him, but not enough people know about him yet."
His student group distributed T-shirts modeled after the Obama "Hope" poster, replaced with Daniels and the word "Solvency." The group also distributed buttons and cards promoting Daniels' "legacy of leadership" and his "results not rhetoric."

Egyptian Revolution Pictures

2011-02-06T22:40:00.003-05:00

Fake UFO over Jerusalem? Kepler 'scope astonishes

2011-02-04T09:31:00.001-05:00

A glowing orb filmed hovering over the skyline of Jerusalem has left UFO experts dumbfounded. The circular object was seen descending slowly over the holy city's iconic Dome of the Rock before flickering and shooting skyward like a rocket. Adding to the mystery is the fact that flying over the Dome of the Rock landmark -- an ancient Islamic shrine -- is forbidden.
Two witnesses at the Armon Hanatziv panoramic lookout near Mount Zion filmed the object at 1am on Saturday. A little after one minute into the clip, the object descends slowly, almost to ground level. The craft hovers there for a short while and then flickers before shooting upwards at an incredible speed.

Former Ministry of Defense UFO investigator Nick Pope said: "If these are real, they are some of the most incredible videos ever shot. If they are not, then this is a very well-planned and coordinated hoax designed to eliminate elements of doubt. The way it shoots up into the sky suggests it is unmanned, because no living thing could survive those kinds of G-forces. We know the Israeli army has some very high-tech drones at its disposal. If this is one, it is one of the most advanced pieces of technology created by man."
Update: Its footage from a Hollywood movie coming out March 11th

Speaking of advanced technology, NASA's Kepler telescope has recently discovered more than 1,200 exoplanets - including at least 54 with Earth-like conditions. After zooming-in on a tiny lil spec in the sky, astronomers were able to identify over 200 multi-planet systems in just 4 months of research. There is no indication on how soon it would take to determine if life ever existed on these planets, but from the looks of the above video there is little doubt that we are not alone in this Universe.

This is Indiana

2011-01-30T23:39:00.009-05:00

the unofficial IU basketball music video...

Olapido!

Manning ranked Most Powerful Athlete

2011-01-27T15:02:00.006-05:00

When you think of the biggest name in sports, who comes to mind? Tiger? LeBron James? Both athletes took a major publicity hit this past year, which anointed a new King of the Jungle: Peyton Manning.

The NFL's top player distanced himself from all others last year when he won his record-setting 4th NFL MVP and led his team to another Superbowl. He's also about to receive the league's highest paid contract - for the 2nd time. Aside from his amazing on-the-field prowess, Manning also sets himself apart because he's marketable ($15M in endorsements in 2010) and universally well-liked.
He currently ranks 3rd or 4th on all major career passing records.

Indiana Coaches to Lead USA Basketball

2011-01-19T18:19:00.000-05:00

Purdue's Matt Painter was selected as head coach and Butler's Brad Stevens as an assistant for the U.S. men's basketball team that will play in August's World University Games in Shenzhen, China. USA Basketball also selected Missouri State coach Cuonzo Martin, a former Purdue player and assistant coach, as an assistant. Selections were made by the USA Basketball junior national team committee, chaired by Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim.
The US has claimed a medal in every World University Games since beginning play in 1965, and captured a record 13 golds, three silvers and three bronze medals in the 19 WUGs in which a USA Basketball squad has competed. Overall, the USA owns a 131-8 record. The United States captured six of the first seven gold medals awarded in World University Games competition and strung together six consecutive gold medals from 1989 through 1999. Most recently, the 2009 team earned the bronze medal after finishing 6-1 and losing by one point to Russia in the semifinals.
The University Games will be Aug. 12-23. Training camp to select the 12-member team will be July 30-Aug. 8 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

via IndyStar

Football Stars of the Week

2010-11-14T00:00:00.007-05:00

Future IU QB Tre Roberson clinched Indiana Mr Football this weekend when Avon visited for a Regionals matchup @ Lawrence Central. Down 15 points late in the game, he racked up half of his 500 all-purpose yards in a 29-point 4th quarter. LC travels south to Bloomington North this Friday for a chance to play Fishers or Valpo for State next Saturday at da Luc'.
Irish's 11-game winless streak vs ranked opponents was snapped as Tommy Rees led the way in his first career start at Notre Dame. Wisconsin RB Monte Bell's first start contributed to an 83-point outburst against the Hoosier defense. I actually rejoice in this loss, signaling the unofficial end of the Bill Lynch era. The Hoosiers basketball team got off to a hot shooting start in their season-opener vs FL Gulf Coast. The crowd (of 15k) at one point chanted "Yo-gi Fer-rell" as he was in attendance, and today he Tweeted his top 6. They play again Sunday and Tuesday. If all goes well, IU could be 6-0 heading to Boston College December 1st.
Colts beat T.Ocho and the Bengals earlier today; that moves them into sole possession of first place in the AFC South Division - even though Indy's without Joe Addai, Gary Bracket, Bob Sanders, Dallas Clark, Melvin Bullit, Clint Sessions, Anthony Gonzales, Blair White, Mike Hart, Justin Tryon, Brodie Eldrige and Austin Collie... to name a few.

Its Indiana

2010-11-11T18:03:00.000-05:00

With the announcement of Cody Zeller choosing to take his hoops talent to Bloomington next year, Hoosier Nation is excited for the future of Indiana basketball. In the past couple months Tom Crean and his staff have received commitments from Zeller (Mr Basketball?) and Austin Etherington to suit up in the candy stripes next fall; as well as Hanner Perea, Peter Jurkin, and Ron Petterson (Broad Ripple HS) in 2012, and two more top-10 nationally ranked recruits in the 2014 class: James Blackmon and Trey Lyles (Tech HS).
There appears to be a direct pipeline from the AAU squad Indiana Elite as they look to continue their national dominance on the collegiate level. Add another commitment from Yogi Ferrel (Park Tudor HS), it's possible that in 2 years the Hoosiers roster will feature 10 former Elite players. The chemistry of being teammates for so long will be a major advantage, as proven by Greg Oden & Mike Conley's championship reign.

Indy upsets #23 Tennessee

2010-11-09T22:37:00.006-05:00

University of Indianapolis defeats Bruce Pearl's Volunteers (79-64) through keen coaching and team chemistry.

Stan Gouard utilized a full-court press he learned from his mentor while en route to a D2 National Championship in 1995 while both were at Southern Indiana. The Greyhounds, 33 of 40 from the line, were led by Darius Adams' 27 points and Adrian Moss - a Franklin HS grad and IUPUI transfer.

Although this was the 2nd exhibition loss for UT in the past 4 years, there are larger concerns for the defending Elite 8 finalists. The NCAA is investigating Pearl's involvement in improper recruiting and lying to officials, which has already led to 1-year probation and reduction in salary.

Louisville teen wins Miss World

2010-11-01T19:17:00.000-04:00

Earlier this year, we learned that our southern neighbor won Miss Universe, but a much closer southern neighbor has now won Miss World. Alexandria Mills, 18, KY, won the pageant featuring 115 other contestants from around the globe, surpassing runners-up Botswana and Venezuela.
Mills’ victory came amid a reported controversy however; critics claimed her biggest rival (Miss Norway Mariann Birkedal) was cheated out of the title due to difficult relations between her home country and the show’s host country, China.

Mills says that she wants to pursue a career in teaching...

...let's hope she stays in the area!

LC Bears ranked #1 in HS FB

2010-10-26T23:27:00.011-04:00

This the first time Warren Central, Ben Davis and Center Grove were eliminated in the first round of Sectionals since Indiana tournament football started in 1985.
I witnessed the mighty Warriors (defending State Champs) fall to Lawrence Central last Friday and surprised how fun it was to watch HS football. Tre Roberson is the QB - and he just might be the starting QB for the Hoosiers next year. I had gone to two whole games in the 10 years since I graduated, but I'll probably be doubling that total this weekend as LC hosts Perry Meridian. I felt as much pride as I do attending IU football games and its awesome to have a solid team to support. I'd be a real treat to see them make it to Lucas Oil next month.
Some interesting matchups this Halloween weekend:

Fishers @ Carmel
Valpo @ Merrillville
Avon @ Brownsburg
Bloomington North @ Columbus North (Week 3 rematch, Cbus won 27-24)
Terrible Haute North @ Pike (Patriots beat a good Zionsville team last week, Pike took down BD in OT)
Laf Jeff @ HSE (Jefferson won its first game of the season last week. This game will be a blowout)
Whiteland @ Columbus East

The final regular-season Coach's poll had these 5A teams ranked:
[WC, Valpo, Carmel, Mishawaka, CG, LC, HSE, Merrillville, Fishers, Pike] but the Freeman Rankings have da Bears ranked #1 - followed by WC, Carmel, Evansville Reitz, HSE, Pike, Bishop Dwenger, CN, Fishers, Cathedral, CE, CG, Elkhart Concord, Avon, Valpo, Mishawaka, Brownsburg, BD, Whiteland and Zionsville.

Hoosier golfer unlikely Ryder Cup star

2010-10-04T23:04:00.001-04:00

Although the Americans eventual fell to the Europeans, one Ryder Cup rookie was screaming "Boom Baby!" after holing out from the fairway for Eagle on the 8th hole.

While Tiger and Phil had difficulty matching their counterparts, Jeff Overton not-so-calmly led the fight to keep the US hopes alive.

Maybe it was his Midwest golfing background that suited him well in chilly Newport, Wales. Or maybe he's just hungrier? After all, he still hasn't won a single PGA tour event.
Either way, my new favorite golfer will surely be tearing up the courses for years to come.

Mike Pence wins Straw Poll

2010-09-18T13:35:00.001-04:00

Indiana Representative Mike Pence gained more votes than any other Republican at Iowa's annual Values Voter Summit.

The socially conservative meeting suggests Pence a the GOP favorite to run for president in 2012, pulling in nearly a quarter of the votes. Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin also placed in the top five. Those casting ballots also listed their top issues as: government spending, healthcare overhaul, national security, religious liberty and abortion.

Indy ranks #1 Sexually Satisfied City

2010-09-15T23:10:00.001-04:00

A recent survey from Men’s Health magazine released a list this week of “sexually satisfied” cities, as well as those who fare not so well. They looked at a number of statistical factors like birth rates, sales of sex toys and condoms, and rates of sexually transmitted diseases.

Just a few hours away on I-70 Columbus, Ohio grabs the runnerup spot. Take a jog up I-69 where Ft Wayne ranks #3 or jump on I-74 where Cincy places #4 on the list. Rounding out the top ten is Chicago, just a short trip up I-65. Must be something in the water?

Reds' Homer, BP top Dodgers

2010-08-23T15:46:00.002-04:00

It had been 5 years since Cincinnati had even won a game in Los Angeles; Homer Bailey and Brandon Phillips broke that defeated streak Friday with 7 strong innings of 4-hit ball and all 3 RBIs powered by the second basemen. Now, thanks to Joey Votto and Bronson Arroyo's heroics on Sunday, they have a series victory in LA. The MVP front-runner drove in three runs - including a go-ahead, opposite-field HR in the 6th - while starting pitcher Arroyo earned his 14th win, tying him with Chris Carpenter for 3rd-most in the NL. Speaking of the Cardinals, the Reds maintain a 3+ game lead over STL with 38 games remaining in 2010.

Hoosier Hoops Doubleheader

2010-08-16T13:03:00.004-04:00

The instra-state rivalries will heat up next year with the Crossroads Classic, featuring Indiana's top four basketball programs going head-to-head in Indianapolis. Starting in 2011, Indiana University will play Notre Dame (after 69 previous contests) and Purdue will match-up against NCAA runner-up Butler. In 2012, IU will play BU and ND plays PU.

Indy shines amidst nation crippled by recession

2010-07-31T14:08:00.096-04:00

Downtown Indianapolis is in the midst of a multi-billion dollar construction boom. As many as 78 projects totaling $3.3B are being invested in the city as renovations are underway in both public and private sectors. The convention center, government buildings and the new Wishard Memorial Hospital are supported by public funds; Methodist, Riley, Marriott and NCAA HQ are all funded privately.
Of course this is not indicative of the US economy, where its difficult to find any leader willing to develop right now. Instead, Indianapolis is driven to succeed because of its own growth. Specifically, one rapidly developing spot in Indy is SoBro (South Broad Ripple), the area around 54th Street and the Monon Trail... a beautiful mix of art, culture and community.

Noblesville named Best Places to Retire finalist

2010-07-21T18:06:00.003-04:00

No beaches, no mountains, no celebs, no problem. Noblesville has picked up a nomination as one of the cheapest places to retire [MSN's Best Places study performed by Bert Spurling]
Also on the list were Mount Vernon, Washington; Rogers, Arkansas; Moon Township, Pennsylvania and Gainesville, Florida.
This recent nod will only further the rapid growth of Hamilton County. Since 2006 we've been touted as the best area by BusinessWeek, Forbes, CNN, MSN and the NBA.

Indianapolis HS amateurs #1

2010-06-27T21:16:00.008-04:00

Indianapolis is tied with Los Angeles in basketball talent, representing in 5 consecutive NBA drafts now.

Indy area High School players that have been drafted since 2006: Gordon Hayward, Eric Gordon Jr, Mike Conley Jr, Josh McRoberts, Courtney Lee, George Hill, Greg Oden, Rodney Carney and Jeff Teague. JuJuan Johnson, Marquis Teague and D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera are sure to follow. 2006 was the first year after the minimum age changed from 18 to 19. Some of the LA amateur talent since then includes Mario Chalmers, Russell Westbrook, Robin and Brook Lopez, Luke Babbitt, Demar DeRozan, Spencer Hawes, Chase Budinger, Jrue Holiday...

USA beats UK

2010-06-14T23:39:00.002-04:00

BP still gets last laugh by killing our Gulf Coast

Fishers ranks #1

2010-06-03T09:00:00.004-04:00

I know I sound like a broken record, but its worth noting that another media outlet has ranked Fishers as the best place to live in America. This time we've received the title of "most affordable suburb" which follows a long line of similar accolades in recent years. Not only is Fishers healthy, safe, smart, fast, affordable and rapidly expanding -- its also fun!

Ken Griffey Junior retires

2010-06-02T23:13:00.000-04:00

The greatest baseball player of our generation has decided to hang up his glove and spend the rest of his days with his family. Junior, the son of former Indianapolis Indians and Cincinnati Reds slugger Ken Griffey Sr, first burst onto the scene in 1989. Twenty-two seasons later, with 13 All-Star appearances, 10 Golden Gloves, 7 Silver Slugger awards, 3 HR Derby championships and the 1997 MVP - he will go down in history as one of the greatest players ever, both offensively and defensively. His last hit was a walk-off single on May 20 and he currently sits 5th on the all-time HRs list (behind Bonds, Aaron, Ruth, and Mays).

Purdue wins 3rd NCAA title

2010-05-28T18:14:00.005-04:00

The Purdue Women's Golf team won a national championship, the third* title in school history. Although leading by 7 strokes entering the final round, that lead was squandered to just 1 after Maude-Aimee LeBlanc bogeyed hole #18.

SoCal had a chance to tie it with a 10-foot birdie attempt on the final hole but the putt missed right. Since 1993, either a Pac10 school or Duke had won every national title.

*The other two NCAA Championships were the 1999 Women's Basketball team and the 1961 Men's Golf squad. They still trail IU by 20.

RunnerUp Champs

2010-05-21T16:26:00.038-04:00

So far in 2010, Lawrence Central has lost to Brebeuf 3 times in County, including runner-up champions in both Golf and Baseball. Sure high school is a much smaller scale than the NFL, Olympics, NCAA basketball, WNBA, Confederation Cup and yes, even minor league hockey - the commonality is they're all teams in the § galaxy that have been to the championship this past year only to lose.

Update: Chalk up 2 more: Notre Dame LaX just lost to Duke in the Natl championship and LC Boys Track placed runner-up at State - but hey, at least the Girls won!
Update #2: LC football lost the State Championship to Fishers Tigers. The curse continues!

§ Galaxy of Stars Spring Report Card: A-

2010-05-13T17:27:00.004-04:00

Lawrence Central won the Marion County Boys Track meet last night @ North Central, edging out Ben Davis and Warren Central, and set the meet-record in the 4x800 relay (7:53.30) This meet is generally regarded as the second-toughest Track&Field competition in Indiana, behind the State Finals which are held @ IUPUI in June.
The baseball Bears play @ Victory Field tomorrow night in the County Championship versus Brebeuf. The game will add to the fierce rivalry between the two schools this year: Brebeuf eliminated both the basketball Bears (by 1 point) and the golf Bears (by 4 strokes) to win the County Championship last week.

The 2011 class juniors are showcasing their hoop skills this summer in hopes of wooing top national programs for scholarship offers. Michael Chandler (LN), Cody Zeller, Branden Dawson, and Jeremiah Davis are all undecided, while Marquis Teague (UK), Ryan Taylor (UL), Darwin Davins (XU), and Austin Etherington (IU) are other Indiana stars ranked in the Rivals top100. Although it doesn't appear so, Indiana is actually the 2nd best state (behind Ohio) when it comes to retaining talent from high school to college.

The BigTen has remained quiet leading up to their meeting in Chicago May 17-19 to discuss possible conference expansion. The latest rumors are that Missouri, Nebraska and Rutgers are being invited to join and that Notre Dame, Syracuse and Pittsburgh are also candidates. Speaking of Notre Dame...
Fourteen Irish teams were honored for their classroom performance, including football and mens basketball. Butler basketball also finished in the top 10%, along with two other Final Four teams MSU and WVU (surprisingly, Duke did not make the cut.) If a team's APR consistantly falls below 925, they face possible sanctions from the NCAA. Speaking of Hoosier Hoops...
IU finished 11th nationally in average attendance (15,296) with just a 10-21 overall record; no other team in the top 25 had a losing record. For the 34th consecutive year, the BigTen was the best conference in the land at 12,591 per game.

And finally, the Cincinnati Reds have been on bit of a roll lately, with their last two starting pitchers both throwing complete game shutouts. On Monday, Bronson Arroyo allowed only 5 hits and a run, then Johnny Cueto and Homey Bailey followed that performance by allowing just five hits combined. In other baseball news, my fantasy team is still in first place. Booyah!

Astrology 201

2010-04-07T00:09:00.015-04:00

Have you ever wondered what your compatibility was with other Astrological signs? That's called Synastry.
In Synastry, they determine love factors like romance, passion, affection, attraction using names like Mars (Aries) and Venus (Libra/Taurus) based on where each of those planets appear in the sky every night. And of course, the names of a zodiac come from constellations of stars. Its quite fascinating to learn about our own intuitions and behaviors just by reading a horoscope, and I wonder why they dont teach astrology in school. Unless you study astronomy or pre-Biblical history, you wouldn't know about the ancient civilizations that studied the stars at night. They determined that a year is the Earth's rotation around the star and then broke that down to 12 or 13 months, each based on a Moon's lunar cycle (~28 days - also a female's cycle). Later on, they came up with 4 seasons in a year (solstice/equinox), and 4 weeks to a month (or moon phases) thus creating a 7-day cycle. "...and on the 7th day, he rested" Oh yeah, Happy Easter.
Astrology is frowned upon in public schools because there is a lack of scientific proof. I agree, you cannot narrow down every particular person's traits based on thousands of years of research, but truth must have a theory before it can be proven.
My theory? The alignment of planets in our Solar System transmit different waves of energy creating a direct affect our hormones. Those hormones of both the mom&dad are then passed on to the child at conception, thus creating a special chromosomal breed that is common with other people conceived around that same day. At the moment of birth the child's already predisposed to behave a particular way based on the Earth's location in its annual trek.

Duke spoils "Hoosiers II"

2010-04-06T00:18:00.002-04:00

Butler almost pulled off the greatest story of hoops history tonight. Gordon Hayward had 2 chances in the final seconds to win the National Championship for tiny Milan High...er, Butler. Not only did they have full support from nearly all of the 70,000 fans, it was the hardest fought game you could ask for. It's awfully tough to lose a game like that, especially as the home team (wearing road jerseys).
Reds kicked off the season opener in grand fashion today by getting stomped by MVP Albert Pujols and the St Louis Cardinals. The good news is that they're only a game outta first place.
Tiger Woods returns to golf this week at the Masters, a tradition like no other. This man knows a few things about storybook performances, except his mistresses are the ones getting paid for telling them.

Amateur All-Stars

2010-04-02T18:08:00.004-04:00

Gene Keady, Matt Painter and Chris Kramer

during timeout at NCAA All-Star game @ da Luc'

2010 Final Four, by the numbers

2010-03-28T21:44:00.006-04:00

As history tells it, 18 of the past 23 Final Fours have featured either Duke or North Carolina (1991 had both). In fact, since 1956 there's only been a single Final Four didn't feature at least one of these schools: Duke, UNC, UCLA, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Louisville, Cincinnati or Georgetown. The year was 1979, featuring Indiana State's Larry Bird vs Michigan State's Magic Johnson in the championship game (DePaul & Penn were the other two.)

While Coach K & Duke have clinched just their second Final Four in nine years, Tom Izzo & Michigan State are making their sixth Final Four appearance in twelve years. BigEast champ West Virginia's previous appearance was 1959, but Bob Huggins led Cincy to the Final Four in 1992 (along with IU, Duke and Michigan's Fab5). Although Brad Stevens will be coaching in his first Final Four among 3 Hall of Fame coaches, he's still got a major advantage: this is the first time a Final Four team is playing in their own backyard since 1972 (UCLA), four years before he was born.

Dancing with Hoosiers

2010-03-20T18:12:00.043-04:00

After two unsuccessful tries, Randy Wittman's son Ryan has finally put Cornell into the next round. Ben Allen helped St Marys shock everyone by beating Villanova to advance to the 3rd round. North Carolina and Tyler Zeller have advanced to the NIT's Elite 8. The Butler Bulldogs took care of UTEP and Murray State, and are now halfway home. Who can forget Ohio's Armon Bassett's amazing March performance? Like Allen, Meezy played for Kelvin Sampson a couple years ago, as did Jordan Crawford - probably best known as that kid that dunked over LeBron James, now has Xavier looking to make another Regional Finals appearance.

Purdue Boilermakers have shushed all doubters by advancing to their 2nd consecutive Sweet Sixteen.
Ohio State and Michigan St are also representing the BigTen, with Northern Iowa/Tennessee standing in the way of a trip to Indy. However, not all is bright in the Schrockstar Galaxy of Stars: Notre Dame lost in the first round to Old Dominion; IUPUI lost the league championship to Oakland; and Indiana, Ball State, Evansville, Indiana State, Valparaiso and Vincenses were not even invited.

The Road to Indianapolis

2010-03-15T02:20:00.004-04:00

Back in October, I gave you a Tri-State Hoops Preview highlighting Butler, Kentucky, Michigan State, Purdue and other area teams showing real promise to play in the Final Four. Now that the Tournament has arrived, we have a clearer view of possible Regional Finalists. If all #1s and #2s advance to the Elite 8 that would be boring - so I have Xavier upsetting Kansas State in Salt Lake City. What can I say? I'm a risk-taker!

Here's a map of those eight perceived finalists

Assembly Hall should be named after RMK

2010-03-06T13:19:00.016-05:00

Assembly Hall in Bloomington needs a name change, it's simply not unique enough. BigTen foe Fightin Illini also shares the same stadium name in Champaign - both basketball and football - but that's another rant.

Other than it being beautiful architecture, the storied arena has bred a few national champs, a dozen league titles, numerous All-Americans, a 55-game winning streak, NCAA's last undefeated season, and countless electrifying games. Like when Marco scored 34 points over Josh McRoberts, Defensive PoY Shelden Williams and #1 Duke; or Kirk Haston's game-winning 3-pointer over #1 MSU in 2001. That next season, Indiana fans led the nation in attendance on their way to the NCAA Championship game. Just like in 2005, when IU led the nation in soccer attendance - and then Yeagley's squad won the National Title the season after he left. Another cawinkadink: IU football broke their 15-yr bowl drought just months after Hep died.
OK, so things aren't the same at Assembly Hall ever since Sampson knowingly made too many phone calls and IU eventually lost all their scholarship players (all while Memphis cheated their way to a title), but there are still games that give us goosebumps: the Purdue game was thrilling, as were the Michigan/Minnesota/Iowa wins and Crean's ejection. I dare you to show me a program that can put 16,000 fans in the seats every game with a losing record.
Now that Glass has extended the initial olive branch to Bobby Knight by inducting him into the HoF, another one should be offered for permanently elevating the program to elite status. Please Fred, make it happen.

2010 § Bracketology

2010-03-03T14:39:00.002-05:00

Two classic Bracket Buster games tonight: Conference USA has Memphis@UAB fighting for a 2nd conference bid (UTEP) and the mighty Big East features UConn@Notre Dame, vying for an 8th conference bid. And even better match-ups tonight: Duke at College Park and Kansas State at Lawrence.
Mississippi State has the SEC West on lock due to the season-opener win in Oxford Jan 9th. The 2nd place Rebels would need to win at least 2 more games to have a chance: LSU and @Ark. Isn't it weird how they beat IU in Puerto Rico, then Kansas St and almost beat another top-10 Villanova in November? But no quality conference wins? ouch.
These teams are in: Florida, Clemson, Louisville, G.Tech, FSU, Wake Forest, Marquette, Notre Dame, OK St, Illinois, Saint Marys
The Last 4 in: UAB, Dayton, Va Tech and San Diego State
Which means these teams will probably not get an invite: UConn, Mississippi St, Rhode Island, Ole Miss, Charlotte, Seton Hall, Minnesota, Memphis, ASU.

Fishers Golf ranks #2 in the nation

2010-02-28T12:41:00.000-05:00

Livability is the latest publication to rank the Indy community among the best, this time for greatest golf courses in America, narrowly missing out on the #1 spot to Eugene, Oregon. The survey found that "central Indiana's gently rolling countryside are perfectly suited for great golf." My home course is River Glen, so I'm a bit partial to which one is best, but neighbors Plum Creek and Prairie View offer beautiful scenery too - as long as the White River isn't flooding it. Brookshire, Stoney Creek, Gray Eagle, Ironwood, Hawthornes, Pebble Brook, Sahm, Fox Prairie and Forest Park are all within a few miles as well.

Oh yeah, I've heard that Purgatory and Crooked Stick are decent courses too.

Indy Real Estate ranked #1

2010-02-22T14:42:00.003-05:00

CNN has once again ranked Indianapolis the most affordable place to live in America. Fishers and Carmel have received numerous similar awards in recent years, and Noblesville is sure to follow. Hamilton County is also the #1 healthiest county in the state, defined by "quality of life" and "health risks".

Indy Airport ranked #1

2010-02-19T00:01:00.000-05:00

JD Power ranked North American airports based on customer satisfaction: accessibility, food, facilities, security, check-in and baggage claim. Indianapolis International Airport got the top award amongst airports under 10 million yearly passengers.

The fact that we're included amongst "small" airports is a blessing considering our population ranks us the 12th largest American city. I guess many of the surrounding cities (Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit) consume a large portion of the trans-continental connecting flights, thus reducing Indy's traffic.

106th & Keystone recognized as nation's top cement structure of 2009

2010-02-03T11:38:00.000-05:00

The Portland Cement Association will present the National Award of Excellence in Phoenix next month to American Structurepoint, an Indianapolis construction company that designed the intersection in Hamilton County. The overall cost of Keystone Parkway cost Carmel $112 Million, with new intersections built at 106th, 116th, 126th, 131st, 136th Streets and Carmel Drive. Still no word on whether the speed limit for the virtual highway will remain 40 MPH.

Americans in the 2010 Winter Olympics

2010-01-31T10:22:00.000-05:00

Some of the stars you may remember from 2006 include Shaun "Flying Tomato" White, Bode Miller and Apolo Ohno. By now, you've probably also heard of Lindsey Vonn and Chani Davis. Some other athletes NBC will surely focus on: ice skater Tanith Belbin, hockey player Natalie Darwitz, XC skier Kikkan Randall and skeletoneer Noelle Pikus-Pace...

But my favorite story so far is that of the US bobsled team, and how the driver of the 'Night Train' was legally blind until recent surgery. His commitment to feeling the track - rather than seeing it - has led to the Americans being heavy favorites in a sport they haven't won since 1948. He keeps his helmet visor intentionally blurred to remind himself that steering the sled by memory is better.

XLiV mirror: Reggie, Pierre, Peyton, and a Purdue QB

2010-01-27T22:25:00.004-05:00

In Superbowl 44, the Conference Champ and #1 seed will feature a Reggie (Wayne and Bush), a Pierre (Garçon and Thomas), a Peyton (Manning and Sean Payton) and a Boilermaker QB (Curtis Painter and Drew Brees). New Orleans Saints have 2 Hoosier return specialists: Tracy Porter playing CB and Courtney Roby. The kickoff return man has multiple touchdowns this season after being released from the Colts early last year. Further making Roby a local icon: he graduated from North Central (attended Lawrence North), has siblings at IU, Cathedral and Carmel - and also lives in Geist.

i69 - Exit 10

2010-01-20T12:04:00.028-05:00

What are they gonna call this area?

Exit 10, I-69: Fishers supports everything south of the highway but Noblesville supports everything north. State Road 238 is being renamed 'Southeastern' Way, which is not only the area's high school name but also the direction 238 travels. 'Olio' is ruled out because that's what they call the area down on 116th St (Caslers is a nice IU bar). It probably wouldn't be 'Geist', especially after the residents just lost a property battle to Fishers.
My vote is 'Deer Creek', paying homage to the natural terrain and the original shopping center that launched too early (Amish Furniture?) and the Music Center, which was later renamed by corporate whores. I have a feeling this area will become more than just a folksy town with all these new med/tech parks in the neighborhood. There needs to be distinction from actual-Fishers and actual-Noblesville.

Peyton Manning wins 4th MVP

2010-01-02T01:07:00.006-05:00

As we enter the new decade with the Pacers on an 8-game losing streak and the Hoosiers undefeated in BigTen play, I wanted to keep my streak going of passing on tomorrow's news: Peyton Manning will win an NFL-record 4th MVP and the six Pro Bowlers mentioned below will also include Bethea but none of them will be available to play due to XLiV.

Daniel Kirkwood, American hero

2009-12-16T00:16:00.004-05:00

IU Mathematics professor from 1856 to 1886 was fundamental in proving theorums regarding celestial objects. Notably, Kirkwood's law says that

"The square of the number of rotations made by a planet during one revolution around the sun, is proportional to the cube of the diameter of its sphere of attraction; or ."

His advancement in astronomy led to the campus Observatory being named after him, as well as Kirkwood Hall and Kirkwood Ave.

Galaxy of Stars update

2009-12-08T23:28:00.001-05:00

Here is a rundown of the previous week's news:

First, former Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis got the axe. Then the Colts win their 21st consecutive regular season game against the white-hot Titans. Then Greg Oden is done for the season and All-Star Danny Granger tears his plantar fascia. Then Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate announce their plans to enter the NFL draft. Then Tom Crean gets his 200th win, and first "big road win" by defeating Pittsburgh @ MSG in the Jimmy V Classic. Finally, Notre Dame hires 2009 Coach of the Year Brian Kelly as the new coach.

Now I'm left contemplating this site's new banner.

Colts in the 2010 Pro Bowl

2009-12-06T21:58:00.013-05:00

We all know that Manning, Clark, Wayne, Freeney, Mathis and Saturday are the best at their position.

Antonie Bethea (2nd-best among AFC FS's in both tackles and interceptions) should get in behind Ed Reed and Brian Dawkins. Melvin Bullitt is available on Special Teams. Pat McAfee, Gary Brackett, Raheem Brock and Clint Session all deserve consideration too. Now if you're thinking "whoa, Clint Session? c'mon Pete, quit bein a homer" - Sessions has 76 tackles (2nd among all AFC players) and returned one last week to clinch the game. Fun Fact: Only 3 AFC players have at least 60 tackles and a score, rookie CB Jacob Lacey also holds that honor.

Golden Tate wins Biletnikoff

2009-11-29T00:01:00.008-05:00

Golden Tate had another amazing game (3 TDs, 10 catches for 200 yards) but Notre Dame's season fell incomplete at 6-6, with all but two games coming down to the final play. The Halloween game in San Antonio versus Washington State wasn't really a contest and the season opening shutout over Nevada is an indication Charlie can execute a great gameplan, when given more than a few weeks of prep time. The Wolfpack had an NCAA-record THREE 1,000-yard rushers this year. Does Irish AD Jack Swarbrick accept a bowl bid?

Shoppers turned out in droves this weekend looking for bargains in a rough economy. Police had to breakup a fight at Castleton and Greenfield malls. In Muncie, hundreds of Toys-R-Us shoppers waited in their warm cars before rushing the doors right at 5am, cutting everyone in line. Speaking of getting screwed, the Indiana State 5A Championship at Lucas Oil stadium went into a first overtime after the Warriors scored a game tying TD with :01 second remaining. If IHSAA allowed instant replay the catch would have clearly shown the receiver's foot was out of bounds, but the game went on and eventually into double OT before Warren Central outlasted Carmel, 42-36. Speaking of Warren Central... a 26-yr-old substitute teacher has been arrested for sexting a HS student. This is the thousandth reported case of a similar incident in the past few years yet the IndyStar commentors have an uproar over government intrusion issues. She was 16 and the male teacher admitted to having sex with her.

10 years later, Conseco still ahead of the curve

2009-11-06T17:47:00.010-05:00

Modern NBA arenas (Charlotte, Ft Worth, San Antonio and Memphis - all cities without a public smoking ban) are modeling themselves after Conseco Fieldhouse. The shrine to Indiana basketball is part-museum, part-temple. USA Today called it "a cathedral to basketball" and Amusement Business Magazine called it "the Camden Yards of Basketball". The structure pays homage to Butler's Hinkle Fieldhouse and features memorabilia spanning decades of high school, collegiate and professional icons such as John Wooden, Oscar Robertson, Bobby Knight, Larry Bird and 3 ABA Championships.

Golden Tate for Heisman

2009-11-01T11:11:00.000-05:00

after 10 games...

74 catches for 1,172 yards

14 TDs (2 rushing, 1 punt return)

Tri-State Hoops Preview

2009-10-29T19:33:00.018-04:00

Michigan State returns everybody, including Kalin Lucas. Purdue returns everybody, including E'Twaun Moore. The Hoosiers loaded up. Ohio State, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois are all ranked. Louisville's returning backcourt has been to multiple Elite Eights. Calipari has brought the swagger back to Kentucky. As far as mid-majors, Butler is primed for a big season. Dayton, Xavier and Notre Dame are also hoping to be dancing. Note to Syracuse, Duke, Kansas or any other teams outside 150 miles that are Final Four-bound: there's still a good chance of hotel vacancy.

LXiX

2009-10-28T16:37:00.020-04:00

69 has always been a special number for me. Not only is the § symbol a slight deviance from 69, it's also the shape of our (spiral) galaxy. It represents duelness, liquidated Karma, and the zodiac sign for Cancer. Some say its a symbol of Ying/Yang. Billy Madison lolz when Miss Veronica Vaughn asks the class to "turn to page 69", but I wont get into that. Apostle St. Peter, whom I was named after and was also the first Pope, died in 69 AD. Then there's The Summer of '69. Room temperature? 69°. When I was in 6th grade, REM's song "Star-69" was on the radio. There are 6.9 billion people on Earth. I was born at Community North off Interstate 69. I attended Skiles Test Elementary which is located precisely at Indianapolis address grid 69 Block North, 69 Block East. Odd, right?

While discovering Google Maps, I put markers on all major landmarks of my life and noticed a strong northeastern pattern. I mapped a straight line (called "Life Path") from Bloomington to the exact middle of this conglomerate of landmarks and discovered that I'm going to hell. Well, at least Purgatory, which is (wait for it...) 69 miles from Bloomington!

** Points of interest directly under this imaginary line: Indiana University, Victory Field, State Capitol building, Benjamin Harrison's Home, MLK Memorial Park, Indiana State Fairgrounds, Castleton Mall, Allisonville Rd, River Glen CC, Connor Prairie and Noblesville's Retail District (Hare Chevrolet & Kahlo Jeep) at SR-37/32/38.

Tanker Explosion at I-69 Exit 0

2009-10-22T13:39:00.003-04:00

ESO Discovers New Planets

2009-10-19T18:12:00.008-04:00

The European Southern Observatory has announced the discovery of hundreds of exoplanets in our galaxy. The Geneva Convention created the High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher, or HARPS, a mega-telescope located in Chile. The radial velocity method detects small 'wiggles' by stars, which give clues to existence of exoplanets' gravity. Dozens of these planets are known to exist in multiplanet systems and are over 5x larger than our Earth.

2012 - The End of Times?

2009-10-05T15:25:00.026-04:00

At 11:11am on December 21, 2012 our planet will be another 13 Bak'tuns older (or 69k moons*), which you may have heard is the END of the WORLD. Actually it's just the end of the Mayan calender; the last 'birthday' was 3114 BC. Click those links to discover how exact Mayans were with star alignment and physical cycles...

But the most significant fact is that for the first time in 26,000 years (a Great Year) our Sun will pass through the galactic equator of the Milky Way, meaning a great source of energy could be disrupted.

Perhaps a solar flare will simply wipe out all our satellites? Maybe earthquakes, volcanic eruption, giant meteors and tidal flooding? (notice the black Prez... lame duck?)

If you think that's scary, try this on for size: a reverse in magnetic poles - that hasn't happened in 740,000 years (and we're overdue by 240,000 years) Your compass will point South instead of North? Check.

Cataclysmicly devastating events? Check. Laws of physics will vanish? Well, we won't know until then (our magnets will get weaker gradually), but I'm hoping we pass through a Black Hole and we finally get new neighbors, because Mars is so annoying!

*Fun Fact: a moon cycle is a Tun-Uc, a 28-day cycle that breaks the moon into 4 phases that we call a "week". Booyah!

NFL Defenses Power Rankings

2009-09-28T16:16:00.008-04:00

Baltimore - Ed Reed and Ray Lewis... need I say more?
NYJ - new DC Mike Pettine (former Ravens LB Coach) allowing only 9 ppg
NYG - has recorded only 3 sacks so far, but plenty of playmakers and championship experience
Philly - league-leading 9 takeaways and 10 sacks; lots of points given up but they have DeSean Jackson returning punts
Minnesota - Jared Allen & Co are hitting on all cylinders (ground-breaking journalism!)
Pittsburgh - DPoY Harrison & Co are missing Troy Polamalu's drive-stopping ability
Denver - under 6 ppg allowed thus far, albeit vs JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn
Chicago - Brian Urlacher out for the season, but they've rallied and will not break
Indy - the #1 DE combo and loads of talent in the secondary, but major weakness at LB
Tennessee - 71 points allowed in just 3 games has the divisional favorite winless thus far
Green Bay
Seattle
New England
San Diego
Miami
San Fran
Dallas
Carolina
Cincy
New Orleans
Buffalo
ATL
Oakland
Arizona
Tampa Bay
Washington
Jacksonville
Detroit
Houston
St Louis
Kansas City
Cleveland

NFL Week 3 odds

2009-09-22T21:59:00.003-04:00

Games I'm staying away from:

Cleveland +13½ @ Baltimore

Chicago -2½ @ Seattle

Atlanta +4 @ New England

Games I'm taking but don't love:

Dallas -9½ vs Carolina

San Francisco +7 @ Minnesota

NY Jets -3 vs Tennessee

Houston -4 vs Jacksonville

Green Bay -7 @ St Louis

Games I like a lot:

NY Giants -7 @ Tampa Bay

Detroit +6½ vs Washington

New Orleans -6 @ Buffalo

Pittsburgh -4½ @ Cincinnati

Oakland +1½ vs Denver

Games with lines unannounced:

Indianapolis @ Arizona

Miami @ San Diego

Kansas City @ Philadelphia

Autumnal Equinox

2009-09-21T07:47:00.001-04:00

Charlie Weis gets to keep his job another week as Notre Dame barely escaped consecutive last-minute meltdowns from an inferior BigTen Michigan team. The Irish head to Purdue this Saturday after the (1-2) Boilers recently lost to Northern Illinois of the MAC.

The football Hoosiers are still undefeated after rolling over Akron in the 2nd half, 38-21. This is the 3rd time in 5 years IU has started 3-0. Should they beat Michigan Saturday, it would mark the first 4-0 start since 1990. But IU hasn't won at the Big House since 1967 (our last Rose Bowl) and has just a lone victory in the past 31 meetings with the Wolverines.

The Colts return to Miami's LandShark Stadium for the first time since winning SB XLi. Peyton Manning and the Colts will hopefully be back in February for SB XLiV, possibly en route to winning a 4th MVP and solidifying himself as the greatest ever. Since 1999, the Colts have the most regular-season wins (115, the Patriots have 111) and they also have the best win percentage on Monday Nights (.750 in 12 games). After tonight's game, they have another primetime matchup on Sunday on NBC vs the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals. Kurt Warner just set an NFL record with the best completion percentage (92.3%) in a single game. Rookie CBs Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey will likely have their hands full with Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston.

Colts claim rookie LB Cody Glenn off waivers

2009-09-07T13:25:00.005-04:00

Colts claimed rookie LB Cody Gleen off waivers (via Redskins) and released 4-yr veteran S Matt Giordano. This could be good news regarding the injury status of Bob Sanders, who was recently taken off the PUP list. Either the Colts are confident that #21 will be healthy enough to play, or they really like Cody Glenn. They apparently didn't covet him enough to draft him with either of their two 4th round picks, one of which was used on defensive tackle Terrance Taylor, whom did not make the final 53-man roster.

Cody Glenn actually entered college as RB, but eventually won the starting weak-side linebacker position for Nebraska last year. Although he has very little experience on defense, he has played both OLB and ILB spots. Glenn has prototypical size for a Colts linebacker (basically a slightly bulky safety) at 6' 0", 244 lbs, and he ran a respectable 4.67 40-yard dash at his pro day workout.

Once Ed Johnson's one-week suspension has been served, the Colts will have to release another player. My guess is they'll release backup K Shane Andrus or one of the two backup QBs, Jim Sorgi or Curtis Painter.

Speaking of suspension, Cody was held out of 2 games last year for "violating team rules" which was rumored to be him selling his game-issued tix, but ESPN has reported that was false.

Update #1: Colts just claimed S Aaron Francisco from the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals

Update #2: Colts just waived Cody Glenn. Awesome.

Update #3: Cody Glenn placed on practice squad. Riveting, I know!

Top10 Health Care Reform notes

2009-08-18T23:35:00.006-04:00

1. The constitution-loving US citizens are worried Obama's health care proposals will lead to a government takeover of health care, so worried that they're not only exercising their First Amendment rights at Town Hall meetings, but also their Second Amendment rights. Here's what being proposed:
2. Single-payer: Under a single-payer system, the financing system relies on one "payer" -- which could be a government-run agency -- to fund all health care costs billed by doctors, hospitals and other health professionals.
3. Public option: A public option is a government-funded, government-run health care option, similar to Medicare. Under the plan, people would pay premiums 10 to 20 percent less than private insurance.
4. Private insurance: Private insurance is coverage offered by a company other than the government.
5. Co-op: Nonprofit health cooperatives are being proposed as an option to compete with the private sector and as an alternative to a government-sponsored public health insurance option. Co-ops are owned and governed by the same people they insure.
6. Mandated coverage: Some lawmakers have proposed mandated coverage, which would require all Americans to get a minimum amount of insurance. The mandate could be enforced with a tax penalty.
7. Blue Dog coalition: The Blue Dog coalition is a group of 52 fiscally conservative Democrats in the House. The Blue Dogs insist that health care reform should preserve patient choice and maintain competition in the marketplace without adding to the national deficit. They'll play a critical role in getting a bill through the House.
8. eRecords: President Obama wants to computerize all records within 5 years as a way to increase quality of health care and decrease costs. Under his plan to modernize health care, all health records would be standardized and electronic.
9. rescission: Health care rescission is the process by which insurers cancel coverage, often after finding that a person omitted pertinent information on his or her application. Some companies have been accused of improperly rescinding policies as a way to avoid paying for expensive treatments.
10. end-of-life counseling: The current version of the House bill contains a provision for end-of-life counseling for Medicare beneficiaries who want it, as long as that individual has not had an end-of-life care or "advance care planning" consultation within the last 5 years.
Bonus: Medicare and Medicaid are public health options. Medicare is a government-sponsored program for people 65 years or older. Medicaid is a health care program for low income individuals and families.

Top10 NFL fanbases

2009-08-09T21:50:00.020-04:00

1. Washington Redskins - the most loyal and patient fans of any NFL franchise (327 consecutive sellouts) still sport the traditional (and now un-PC) feathers & facepaint, dresses, and pigmasks... even at opposing stadiums

2. Pittsburgh Steelers - They've got the 2nd longest streak of sellouts (308), plus generations of champions with just 3 head coaches in 40 years = six-year waiting list for season tickets

3. Dallas Cowboys - America's Team has (just) 154 consecutive sellouts but their fans are located worldwide. You'd have a hard time finding one that hated you, even in their new billion dollar home.

4. Indianapolis Colts - Within the Dome, the fans were so loud they were accused of piping in sound to disrupt the opponents. While the new Stadium can't offer that anymore, Indy still provides jealousy from others, at least until they aren't winning 12+ games every year

5. Green Bay Packers - They oughta be ranked higher, however they handled that Brett Favre situation poorly, and then took frustration out on Aaron Rodgers.

6. Kansas City Chiefs - The Green Bay of the AFC, their fans are the loudest and they play outdoors

7. Cleveland Browns - Losing the team in '95 hurt the Browns Backers substantially, but they still can be seen at some remote bar in just about every American city on a Sunday afternoon

8. New England Patriots - ranked this low due to lack of loyalty, creativity and national presence

9. Philadelphia Eagles - Nobody gets on their own players as much as these guys do, often to a fault. Maybe the biggest base among non-transplant cities (sorry Miami, Denver, San Diego, Phoenix, etc)

10. Chicago Bears - These faux-blue-collarians are fair weather and delusional

Honorable mention: Oakland Raiders - more of a Sunday morning Halloween party than anything, but they still HATE like none other

Top10 TV channels

2009-07-29T20:25:00.034-04:00

Yes, I'm ranking my favorite television channels... don't judge me.

Comedy (30 Rock, Conan, The Office, SNL, Notre Dame football) and Drama (Friday Night Lights, Southland, Heroes, Olympics) plus TV's #1 slot: Sunday Night Football

True Blood, Hung, Entourage, Bill Maher, 6' Under, The Wire, Curb, Flight of the Conchords, Eastbound & Down... stellar lineup and the commercials are absent.

Daily Show, Colbert Report, South Park, and Tosh.0 put this channel tops among basic cable. The late-night (often uncensored) stand-ups are DVR gold

Cops, Speeders, awesome car chases and a slew of titles that begin with "Most Shocking/Extreme/Horrifying" have me a fan of reality TV. (Not reality, actuality!)

NOVA and Nature alone put PBS in the top five (although American Experience and random nudity are bonuses) and oh, guess what, NO COMMERCIAL BREAKS

Not only does it stream live stats, it's mildly entertaining, uber-political, tech savvy, scientific, and often internationally newsworthy

Simpsons, 24, Family Guy, Cops, American Idol (I only watch the auditions), NFC Football, Nascar, MLB

Lost, AFV, Scrubs, Jimmy Kimmel, College Football, Bowl games, NBA and golf. (and I hear Dancing With The Stars and Greys Anatomy are pretty entertaining too)

Colts, How I Met Your Mother, 2½ Men, CSI, Price is Right, golf, and March Madness

NBA Playoffs, Law & Order, CSI, and Braveheart re-runs, because thats more believable drama than whatever ESPN, MTV or E! puts out. (Exceptions: live sports, Run's House and The Soup)

Joey Chestnut, American Hero

2009-07-04T22:14:00.006-04:00

Joey Chestnut captured his 3rd consecutive title by chomping down 68 hot dogs to beat Kobayashi's 64. Jaws has come a long way since his defeat in 2005, where he was outpaced 49-37. Kobayashi had been the prior reigning champ since 2001, when just 25 dogs secured victory.

USA plans to build a lunar outpost

2009-06-20T17:33:00.004-04:00

LC's Mike Holman is National Coach of the Year

2009-06-15T16:16:00.008-04:00

Coach Holman led the Lawrence Central track & field boys to state championships in '98 and '05, and the cross country boys to runner-up in '06 and sixth this past year after assisting the Americans as video analyst in the 2008 Olympics. The State Hall of Famer is the only man in Indiana history to coach 2 XC individual champions: Matt Grady in '82 (Muncie North), and LC’s Nick Middleton in '91.

Pacers 2009 draft preview

2009-06-14T23:34:00.004-04:00

OK, here's how I see the '09/'10 roster: (no Marquis, no Rasho, no Tinsley)

PG - Jack, Ford (good pair here, no real need to draft another if Jarrett is re-signed)
SG - Rush, S.Graham (both young and inexperienced, but I do like Rush's future)
SF - Granger, Dunleavy (both excellent wingmen, no reason to add more)
PF - Murphy, McRoberts (I like the Irish a lot, but we really need another big man)
C - Hibbert, Foster (Jeff is old and we'll need a replacement for him soon)

My hope is we'll go with a PG like Jonny Flynn, Jrue Holiday, or Ty Lawson or possibly a PF like DeJuan Blair or Tyler Hansbrough. The 2nd-round pick could be someone like AJ Price, Garret Siler or Robert Dozier.

I'd really like to see Indiana select Pike HS grad Jeff Teague but I don't

think he'll be available. VCC's Eric Maynor could be a nice addition but I think he'll fall to the bottom of the 1st round. Another hot prospect is Brandon Jennings, who played in Italy last year because he was too dumb for college (ie. Memphis must've been outta scholorships).

Rodney Harrison: Hall of Famer?

2009-06-03T11:44:00.006-04:00

The former Patriots and Chargers safety has announced his retirement after 15 seasons in the NFL, and now plans to join Tony Dungy in the booth at NBC.The 36-yr-old holds an NFL record 30½ sacks for DBs; and has 34 ints, making him the only player with 30+ of both. While he has been voted to the Pro Bowl twice, he's also been widely regarded as the league's dirtiest player. He's been fined over $200K for what he calls "passionate play", including the helmet-to-helmet hit on Jerry Rice. In 2007, he was suspended four games for using illegal steroids. Hall of Famer? I hope not

Ron Paul punk'd by Brüno

2009-06-02T07:32:00.001-04:00

Presidential hopeful Ron Paul unwittingly gets hit-on by Sacha Baron Cohen's character

28 Years Later

2009-06-01T20:23:00.015-04:00

What's with the number 28?? This week I turn 28 years old - from conception, not birth. The Sun returns to it's original position in the sky every 28 years. Saturn circles the Sun in 28 years. There are 28 days in a moon's cycle - and also a females' cycle. Humans have exactly 28 teeth. There are 28 grams in an ounce. Greek mathmeticians proclaim 28 to be perfect.

I'm sure all these coincidences are nothing more than that, but in my quest to discover why February has 28 days, I studied up on the Gregorian Calendar... which was known as the Julian Calendar... which was known as the Roman Calendar before it was revised by Caesar in 44 BC. Before Pope Gregory XIII revised Julius' version we had a leap year every 4 years; now we have 97 leap years every 400 years. This created an error of the previous 13 centuries' time-keeping by ~10 days, so the last day of the Julian Calendar was Oct 4, 1582 followed by the first day of the Gregorian Calendar on Oct 15, 1582. Makes ya feel empty inside, doesn't it?

400 years later, the Sun&Stars gave us §, Thriller and ET.

Coincidence?

Driver/Owner Tony Stewart takes points lead

2009-05-31T23:57:00.000-04:00

The Columbus, Indiana native (who just turned 38 last week) is living out the American Dream of a new and successful entrepreneurship.

"You hope that you don't wake up tomorrow and all of a sudden realize that we're just getting ready to go to Daytona or something and it's all been a dream,'' said Smoke.

Tony Stewart's runner-up showing at Dover has propelled him to become the first owner-driver to lead the championship standings since 1992, when the late Alan Kulwicki won the title in that season's last race.

His 10-year tenure with the same team (Joe Gibbs), sponsor (Home Depot), and crew chief (Greg Zipadell) is a NASCAR record.

Need an update?

2009-05-05T13:43:00.007-04:00

here it is, quick & dirty...

Pacers fail to make playoffs. Bulls/Celtics was epic. Still got an awesome gf. Reds still suck. BFF moved to Guatemala. Vegas was fun. Colts draft was decent. New job @ Bella Vita. And lastly, Twitter sucks because a.) it doesn't work well with Firefox and b.) even when I click the "Remember Me" box it doesn't remember me! WTF?

PS - Cinco de Mayo fiesta @ mi casa esta noche

Multimedia message

2009-04-15T14:08:00.006-04:00

New comforter

June 13 update:

My gf says I can no longer refer to said comforter as 'new'. She said we've broken it in too many times. (TMI?)

Tweet this, Americuh

2009-04-02T00:10:00.010-04:00

Okay, I've finally given in to the immense pressure from nobody and decided to make this blog more user-friendly... I am accepting your feedback in the form of, get ready for it, comments!

My first topic of discussion is Google's attempt to buy Twitter. Having already bought giants Youtube and Blogspot, the internet is basically becoming property of Google - we're just lucky enough to use it free of charge. I remember registering my GMail account 5 years ago and thinking "What does this search engine website think they're doing?" Soon after I discovered GoogleEarth, Picasa, Docs and iGoogle, I knew that this was no ordinary web site. My life is positively changed because of their products, and I owe them. I'm considering giving my firstborn the name G00glè (gü-glay), or at least as a middle name. And yep, those are zeros... representin c/o '00 whodi!

Indy Hoops recap

2009-03-28T11:14:00.010-04:00

Wednesday: J-O made a guest appearance at Conseco Fieldhouse, this time as a member of the Miami Heat. D-Wade's game-winning 3-pointer as time expired bounced in, and then out. Pacers continue to believe they can make a playoff spot...
Thursday: Duke and Purdue both lose, coach Billy Gillispie fired from UK. Is it my birthday?
Friday: While at my gf's parents' crib - amidst heavy drinking and charades - I observed Louisville trounce Arizona and Michigan State come back from 13-down to dethrone defending champion Kansas
Saturday: Indiana crowns 4 State champions today in High School Boys Basketball - including future IU PG and Mr Basketball Jordan Hulls leading an undefeated Bloomington South squad vs Ft. Wayne Snider; Pacers battle the Chicago Bulls at United Center - and it looks like Brandon Rush likes his new role as a starter, scoring 18 in the 1st Q; 'Nova takes on Pitt and Mizzou plays UConn
Sunday: Michigan State and Louisville go head-to-head at da 'Luc for a berth to the Final Four in Detroit; Tyler Hansbrough battles Blake Griffin for the #1 overall pick in the NBA draft. And finally, will Agent Zero make his '08-09 debut in Indy?

Women's March Madness

2009-03-23T12:40:00.013-04:00

Porchia Green and the Ball State Lady Cardinals upset Pat Summit and perennial powerhouse Tennessee Lady Vols in the first round of the Women's NCAA tournament last night.
The Arlington HS grad led her team in points, rebounds, assists and steals this year, and set the school record for minutes played in a season.

The 12th seeded Cards take on 4-seed Iowa State tomorrow night in Bowling Green, KY.

Ben Davis' Stan Benge named Coach of the Year

2009-03-11T21:53:00.005-04:00

Coach Benge led his girls HS basketball team to a state championship, a perfect season, and #1 national ranking and is now recognized as the best coach in the land, joining SB Washington's Skylar Diggins as the nation's top female amateur baller.

VJ3 snubbed from Conference freshman team

2009-03-09T23:40:00.005-04:00

Verdell Jones III was denied All-BigTen Freshman honors when Lewis Jackson of Purdont averages 5 points less and fewer assists, but it's okay because his team had more wins this year. VJ3 was third best in points scored (2nd in conference play) and tops in assists, but also had turnovers gallore, mostly the first half of the season.
Pritchard also led all freshmen in rebounding, but has not progressed much from November.

Indy Wine Opener

2009-02-27T08:12:00.005-05:00

Brian Mehler asked me to update my blog, so here it is...

Hi Brian!

Also, I want to holler at you about the Indy Wine Opener tonight @ Conseco Fieldhouse. Proceeds benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
This is THE event for all the grown and sexy professionals in the 317; so I hope to see you there!

§ Indy Amateur Basketball Stars Shining Bright

2009-02-14T14:02:00.018-05:00

[click to reveal Football Stars]

1.1* - Mike Conley (LN)
Averaging 8/3/3 for Grizz
1.1 - Greg Oden (LN)
An NBA veteran in the rookie game??
4.6 - Eric Gordon (North Central)
Attempted at least 10 FG in every game since Xmas/bday
5.6 - George Hill (Broad Ripple)
Averaging 6.6 ppg for Spurs
9.1 - Josh McRoberts (Carmel)
Can he blossom into starter for Pacers?
11.3 - Courtney Lee (Pike)
Magic SG lost starting spot to Mickael Pietrus now that AJ has taken over PG
11.3 - Robert Vaden (Pike)
Blazin away in Alabama, will he be drafted?
11.3 - Jeff (& Marquis) Teague (Pike)
Both are amazingly hot right now - elder is All-ACC
13.0 - Rodney Carney (Northwest)
Former Highjump Champ averaging 5 ppg for T-Wolves

* = distance in miles, HS → Exit 0 of I-69

Dr. Paul on the Senate Stimulus "Compromise"

2009-02-08T07:57:00.000-05:00

Is it 2010 yet?

2009-02-01T09:38:00.014-05:00

Thinking ahead to next year, I'm trying to put together a depth chart based on minutes this year, perceived talent, Rivals' rankings, Terry Hutchens' blog, etc.
We've actually over-committed on the scholarships by 1, which means if nobody transfers or gets kicked off the team, IU will be responsible for telling one of the current scholarship players that they're gonna have to pay their own way for tuition. Yikes. My guess before Saturday's game vs O$U was that person would be Matt Roth, but that was until the kid went 9-11 from long range. My next best guess would be Tijan Jobe, but how do you essentially 'cut' a 7-footer entering his senior year? You can't. It still may be too early to speculate, but this could potentially become a major issue.
Anyway, next year's freshman class (and redshirted Jeremiah Rivers) will bring big bodies and leadership, two things lacking from this year's squad. As you can see, we'll finally have depth in 2010:

PG: Jeremiah Rivers, Jordan Hulls, Verdell Jones III
SG: Devan Dumes, Maurice Creek, Matt Roth
SF: Christian Watford, Nick Williams, Malik Story
PF: Tom Pritchard, Derek Elston, Bobby Capobianco
C: Bawa Muniru, Tijan Jobe

I like the idea of Nick Williams and Verdell Jones competing for 6th and 7th man next year. Is Malik Story transferring?

Jamie FOXX and Steve Carell @ Inauguration

2009-01-24T19:58:00.008-05:00

►► to 2:05 for Obama impression and sleepy girl who missed it!☻

RIP Tony Dungy & Marvin Harrison

2009-01-15T23:26:00.008-05:00

Some are y'all are gloomy about TD's departure, the recession, the subzero temperatures, the Hoosiers inability to win a game, Blue Monday, our current eco-crisis, and so on... but here's what I'm excited about:

• Danny-G thirty-three's All-Star breakout
• Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell
• The Obama Era...
• ...Bush's departure
• NFL playoffs. Will Edge, Jesus and the Cards halt Philly's championship streak? Can Joe Flacco handle the Steel Curtain and prevent an all-PENNSYLVANIA Superbowl??
• and finally...Teen sexting and "dirty old men in raincoats" - !o!

Fishers Pilot FAIL: a.) biz b.) marriage c.) fake death d.) suicide attempt or e.) all of the above

2009-01-14T00:14:00.002-05:00

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (AP) - The missing pilot has been found in Quincy, Florida at a campsite. Investigators say he had slit his wrists.
Earlier today, a Hamilton County judge ordered the arrest of the Geist pilot, Marcus Schrenker, on financial fraud charges. Schrenker had been on the run after he staged a plane crash. Investigators are now trying to figure out how to remove the plane and what to charge the pilot with.

Sampsonite Rejects -- Where are they now?

2008-12-07T23:56:00.003-05:00

Here's a look at nine players that were on IU's basketball rosters in the last couple years...

1. JAMARCUS ELLIS --- The 6-5 senior forward is playing at Oklahoma City University, the No. 1 ranked NAIA team in the nation. He's the second leading scorer on the team through five games with a 15.8 scoring average and he's averaging 4.5 rebounds. He has made two starts and is averaging 32.5 minutes per game. His Oklahoma City University team has a couple of other familiar names on it, too. Former Illinois player Rodney Alexander is a senior forward, as is 6-10 senior center Ricardo De Ben from Texas Tech.

2. DeANDRE THOMAS --- When he left Indiana, everyone said that DeAndre the Giant was headed to Robert Morris. There was some confusion, however, between the university in Pennsylania and the college in the Chicago area. The truth is Thomas is at Robert Morris College, an NAIA school in Chicago. The athletic department website doesn't give season statistics but a few stories on-line indicate that Thomas has had a couple of double-digit scoring nights in the early going. He had 14 against Calumet College of St. Joseph and 12 versus Indiana Wesleyan. The Eagles are 5-2 at this point of the season. The website lists him at 6-8 but doesn't give his weight. He still looks very large in the individual photo on the page.

3. BRANDON McGEE --- Brandon is at Auburn where he's sitting out this season and then will have three years of eligibility remaining. He's listed on Auburn's roster as a 6-7 220 pound sophomore.

4. JORDAN CRAWFORD --- Jordan is at Xavier, where he is also sitting out this season and then will have three years of eligibility remaining. He's listed at 6-4, 195.

5. ELI HOLMAN --- Eli followed Ray McCallum to Detroit Mercy and the 6-9, 250-pounder is also sitting out this season and will then have three years of eligiblity. There was talk that Holman might find a way to get eligible right away this season but that did not materialize.

6. ARMON BASSETT --- Bassett originally signed to play for Mike Davis at Indiana. Now, he will play his final two seasons for Davis at Alabama-Birmingham. The 6-1, 175-pounder will sit out this season and then have two years remaining.

7. XAVIER KEELING --- X played for IU in Kelvin Sampson's first season and then transferred to Wallace State (Ala.) Community College. He then transferred to Detroit Mercy when Ray McCallum became the coach, and through five games is the Titans' leading scorer with a 12.8 average. He is also averaging 6.6 rebounds. He had 21 points and nine rebounds the other night in a 62-57 victory over Saint Louis University. He's listed on the roster as a 6-7, 235-pound junior forward.

8. JOEY SHAW --- Joey played a year of JUCO ball out west after leaving Indiana following Sampson's first season. He's now listed as a 6-6, 205-pound junior forward at the University of Nevada. He's averaging 9.8 points and 4 rebounds in 21.8 minutes of playing time for the Wolfpack. He has a season-high 16 points against San Diego, and had 15 points in a 79-71 victory over Oregon State.

9. BEN ALLEN --- Allen played two seasons at Indiana before sitting out last year at Saint Mary's in California. This season, the 6-11, 250-pound center is averaging 5.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 14 minutes of action per game. He hit double figures in scoring with 10 against Fresno State and 10 points and six rebounds against Vanguard. The Gaels are 5-1 this season.

via Hutch

SNL's digital short: Jizz In My Pants

2008-12-07T23:06:00.001-05:00

Hoosiers Announce new AD: Fred Glass

2008-10-27T23:17:00.004-04:00

It looks like the hometown hero Fred Glass beat out OregonSt's AD Bob DeCarolis and Varsity Club Dir. Scott Dolson.

► Zeke's Suicide attempt = FAIL
► Colts lose their divisional reign on MNF
► Irish Send Ty Willingham to early retirement after blowing out the Huskies
► Basketball Hoosiers are preseason-ranked 11th by everyone, which means zero expectations for a whole year. That being said, I think Pritchard and Dumes could reach All-BigTen level, but question is how soon? I'll be witnessing that sitting courtside flossin my new IU jacket
► Football Hoosiers defeated #22 ranked Northwestern during Homecoming in Bloomington this Saturday, consisting of a glorious tailgate featuring dozens of former housemates, hundreds of familiar faces, thousands of drunk coeds, an appearance by the GIN Bucket, a few hot cups of my new favorite cider: wassail, some pretty good seats and best of all: my new gf, Melissa.
More shenanigans expected this weekend with Spear, Tian, J-Dub, Jilly, Linds, and Somey all coming back to Indy to join MelD, Deter and I @ the Pacers game, the Blues Traveler concert, some drunk bowling, trick-or-treating, video games... maybe even some Denny's - I dunno if we're gonna have enough time!!