Indianapolis

I got called the D-Word

No, no, not “difficult.” The other D-Word. The one that’s the equivalent of the N-word. You know… the one that if you had the balls to say it to my face, you’d be riding to the hospital in an ambulance. Yeah. THAT D-word.

And who busted out this lovely phrase? Only our Indianapolis’ Finest — [link redacted because Abdul hid the blog when he got in trouble with the law] our esteemed law enforcement officers at IndyUndercover.

Gee, I wonder why homicides are at a record high, petty theft is up 50% and we’ve got a major drug war on our hands? Could it be because our police force are sitting at home with their penises in one hand, typing furiously at the computer with the other, trying to intimidate Indy residents out of speaking their minds, and at the same time libeling every elected official in city government? I feel so safe with these guys “serving” and “protecting” me.

Okay, really, I do realize that IndyUndercover isn’t actually law enforcement — it’s a right wing hit site set up to try to influence the local elections (witness the date it was set up, the topics of conversation). Still, you’d think that actual law enforcement would be offended that these fakers and propagandists are out there defaming their name.

Bite Me

2019 Update: It turned out that the libelous IndyUndercover blog site was run by malicious Indianapolis blogger, public nuisance and noted homophobe Abdul Hakim-Shabazz. He got outed by the police when he revealed the name of a confidential informant who was working with arson investigators and she almost got killed.
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Fishers Renaissance Faire, 2006

Fishers Renaissance Faire, 2006
See all my photos from the Ren Faire.
according to the official website for the event:

The Fishers Renaissance Faire is a dynamic, cultural and experiential event in an enchanting park setting that celebrates the relationship between Fishers and its Sister City of Billericay, England while immersing faire goers in the history, habits and lifestyles of the Renaissance Period.

We had a lot of fun again this year, and among other things, Stephanie found the dress that will be the model for her wedding dress. She’s having a version of this made in white for our wedding. The filmy fabric over the top is really gorgeous, and I absolutely love the long sleeves. I didn’t get a great photo of the train though…
Stephanie's wedding dress

Continue ReadingFishers Renaissance Faire, 2006

Indy Undercover

I mentioned Indy Undercover on IndyScribe, but I’ve now read several of the posts, and want to comment here on it separately.
Indy Undercover a site about law enforcement issues in Indianapolis, purportedly written by an law enforcement officer. It’s getting lots of traffic and comments from other people who claim to be law enforcement officers in the city, and the tone of the site is hyper right-wing and very, very anti Democrat.
There are a couple of blog comments that reference this past year’s Human Rights Ordinance — specifically that officers felt the ordinance trumped their concerns about the consoliation of the IPD and the Sheriff’s Department. But the comments are virulently homophobic, which is really alarming. These are the people who are supposed to serve and protect us? Yikes, yikes, and double f*&king yikes.
UPDATE: After the 2006 November election, it was revealed that the Indy Undercover website was not run by anyone from the Indianapolis Police Department, but rather by Indianapolis radio personality Abdul Hakim-Shabazz.

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Ballroom Dance Lessons for Same-Sex Couples

From the Outword Bound mailing list:

Ballroom Dancing Lessons
for GLBTQ people and their allies who are willing to dance with persons of the same sex

Mondays from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Jesus MCC, 2950 East 55th Place
NO dance partner necessary.

$5 per person per 2-hour lesson – please bring cash.
Finally, we’ve found a dance instructor! This is what you have been asking for – Learn the Waltz, Foxtrot, Rumba, Cha-Cha, East Coast Swing, Bolero and more! Come join the fun and Dance!!!!

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Make Sure You’re Registered to Vote!

In all the recent hullabaloo surrounding the GOP purging voter rolls in Indiana, it turns out that although I returned my postcard with my corrected new address on it promptly, my voter registration was not updated. I talked to at least one other person who discovered that they are no longer registered to vote either after calling the Marion County Election Board Voter Registration. They returned their registration card also, and they didn’t have the additional wrinkle of having moved recently.
Contact Marion County Election Board Voter Registration and make sure you’re registered to vote!!
Do it quickly — you have to be registered by October 10th!
If you’re not in Marion County, you can find your county election board here.

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Secret Cameras in Downtown Indianapolis

With a WISH-TV headline like “Secret Cameras Could Help Keep Indianapolis Safe” — gee, I don’t know what I’m supposed to think about that. I guess, maybe I should feel safer? Whereas the alternate headline “Secret Cameras Could Help Keep Indianapolis Under the Thumb of Big Brother” would be equally accurate, but I guess it wouldn’t telegraph the same “soothing the sheeple” message.
I agree that more needs to be done to make the circle safer at night. But the answer to that isn’t cameras, it’s policemen. Police are a deterrent. Cameras are a tool of the prosecution, for use after the crime has already been committed. And SECRET cameras? Won’t deter a thing. You’re not going to be safer unless the cameras climb down off the wall and attack the mugger for you.
And that all this footage is collected under the guise of “crime prevention” but then is stored for use by the goverment for any number of other activities — no. Sorry.
Are all the people who live in this city who give quotes to news crews so stupid they don’t think things through? Who the hell are Matt Brookshire and Jessica Bell, and did they give the question any more than a passing thought? And how do I avoid having anything to do with them? Because I’d hate to be an innocent bystander when they suddenly received their Darwin Award.
Sigh. Now I have to do more reseach to figure out what’s actually happening with these cameras, and how to get it stopped.
Weird graffiti
This gives me a better idea what this stencil graffiti I snapped a picture of is about.

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Local News and Online Reporting

WTHR has this story on their website:

Study: Omega 3 can save lives
Experts say beefing up intake of Omega 3 fatty acids can save lives more than AED’s and implanted defibrillators. Omega 3 is found in foods like fish and nuts, and some experts believe they can lower the risk for heart attack because of their ability to reduce inflammation.
By using a computer simulation, experts measured how well AED’s, implanted heart defibrillators and Omega 3 nutrients prevented sudden death. They found raising the levels of Omega 3 fatty acids in people’s diets would prevent sudden death eight times more than widely distributing AED’s, and two times more than implanted defibrillators.

That’s fascinating, and I immediately wanted to know more. But you know what? I can’t find out any more than that from the WTHR, because the above is all the web page shows. The story is okay if they’re just reading it on the evening news (although they really should be identifying who the “experts” in the story are) but it’s not fine online, where they have plenty of space to round out the story with more information. They SHOULD link off to the study in question at the very least. Presumably they got the information somewhere. Tell us where it came from. I guess it’s a short trip to google to figure out more detail, but I shouldn’t have to do that.
I remember journalism classes from college where we had to take the same story and write it in 10 different ways – one to be broadcast on the news, one to be a front-page newspaper story, one to be a featured article in a magazine, etc. There were standard elements that had to appear in each format, and the stories had to be “trimmed” in different ways to fit the alloted column inches of space. I get the impression that journalists don’t do that anymore.

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How To Identify Where A Driver Is From

1. One hand on wheel, one hand on horn: CHICAGO

2. One hand on wheel, one finger out window: NEW YORK

3. One hand on wheel, one finger out window, cutting across all lanes of traffic: NEW JERSEY

4. One hand on wheel, one hand on newspaper, foot solidly on accelerator: BOSTON

5. One hand on wheel, one hand on nonfat double decaf cappuccino, cradling cell phone, brick on accelerator, gun in lap: LOS ANGELES

6. Both hands on wheel, eyes shut, both feet on brake, quivering in terror: Ohio, but driving in CALIFORNIA

7. Both hands in air, gesturing, both feet on accelerator, head turned to talk to someone in back seat: ITALY

8. One hand on 12 oz. Double shot latte, one knee on wheel, cradling cell phone, foot on brake, mind on radio game, banging head on steering wheel while stuck in traffic: SEATTLE

9. One hand on wheel, one hand on hunting rifle most probably with a 4MOA Red Dot Sight, alternating between both feet being on the accelerator and both feet on brake, throwing McDonald’s bag out the window: TEXAS

10. Four-wheel drive pick-up truck, shotgun mounted in rear window, beer cans on floor, squirrel tails attached to antenna: ALABAMA

Transitioning from the general implications of law enforcement tactics on personal freedoms, it’s essential for individuals to recognize the importance of having a robust defense strategy when faced with allegations of driving while impaired. For those seeking expert legal representation, visiting https://www.newjerseycriminallawattorney.com/dui-drunk-driving/ can provide a wealth of information and access to experienced legal counsel.

11. Two hands gripping wheel, blue hair barely visible above windshield, driving 35 on the Interstate in the left lane with the left blinker on: FLORIDA

12. Republican sticker on bumper, turning left on a no-left-turn intersection, kids in back seat screaming and flipping off other drivers: INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

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Flickr Photo Pools for Indianapolis

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  • Post category:Indianapolis

Old Northside – Indianapolis
http://www.flickr.com/groups/oldnorthside/
Indianapolis, Indiana
http://www.flickr.com/groups/indianapolis/
Indianapolis
http://www.flickr.com/groups/37996589023@N01/
indianapolis adventure
http://www.flickr.com/groups/indianapolisadventure/
Flickr Lovers of Indianapolis
http://www.flickr.com/groups/indy-flickr/

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