Indy's International Festival Underway at State Fairgrounds

Two pictures from Thursday's Student Day at Indy's International Festival, taking place through Sunday (22 November) at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1201 East 38th Street, Indianapolis. Y'all come!

Indy's International Festival is 19-22 November

It's almost time for Indy's International Festival! The first day -- 19 November -- is for student groups, but the public is welcome on the three other days. Come see Indy's ethnic diversity!

Building Trust

Topic for the annual symposium sponsored by the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis is "Building Trust". The event begins at 9 a.m. 8 December and runs through 6:30 p.m. Although the cost is $250 per person, the last two events are open to the public at no charge. They are the Indiana Achievement Awards Reception and Ceremony, from 3:30 to 5:15 p.m., and the Donikian Family Lecture, beginning at 5:15 p.m. All events will be held in the Hyatt Regency in downtown Indianapolis.

How "Suite" It Is!

The Indianapolis Business Journal has a cover story this week about how the Lucas Oil Stadium suite holders are "crying foul". Seems that the NCAA can appropriate their suites -- and resell them at inflated prices -- during the men's basketball Final Four next April.

So, they're not getting full use of what they paid for. In the opinion of this Indianapolis Observer: It couldn't happen to a "better" bunch of corporate suits! The taxpayers of Indy aren't getting what they paid for either!

Some Events Defy Explanation

Dmitri Zakharov of Columbia University will discuss "A Discrete Analogue of the Generalized Weierstrass Representation of Surfaces in Pseudo-Euclidean Space" at 10:30 a.m. Monday (9 November) in Room LD 265, Science Building, Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, 402 Blackford Street, Indianapolis.

It's part of the IUPUI Mathematical Sciences Seminar Series. For more information, contact Alexander Its.

Volunteers Sought by "500" Festival

Do you want to be a part of next year's "500" Festival? Head downtown RIGHT NOW for the Volunteer Fair hosted by Pacers Sports & Entertainment in Conseco Fieldhouse (it ends at 7 p.m.).

The non-profit organization is looking for volunteers to help produce a variety of community events and programs that celebrate the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race.

Is That a Threat or a Promise?

The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation is providing a $6 million grant to the Wishard Foundation for construction of a new Wishard Hospital, reports Inside INdiana Business. The gift is the single largest philanthropic contribution in Wishard’s 150-year history. The grant is contingent upon Marion County voters approving the hospital project in a referendum Tuesday.

This is NOT a "grant"; it's a bribe. (Wouldn't the hospital need the money even more if the referendum is not approved by the voters tomorrow?)

Does anyone think this announcement is just plain wrong on a number of levels? This Indianapolis Observer is horrified that "the powers that be" would think this sort of blackmail is appropriate behavior in the 21st Century! Those involved should be ashamed.