Wired: Our Infatuation with Technology

A "one day U" session on cybertechnology will be held 12 February at the University Place Conference Center and Hotel, 850 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis. It's a conference about how people use technology and the legal, health and cultural issues involved.

The 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. event features Scott Jones, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of ChaCha Search. For more information, download the brochure and/or email Jordan Thompson.

State Fair Could Showcase Indiana Beer and Wine

"Visitors to the Indiana State Fair will be able to drink a cold beer or sip Indiana wine as they chow down on fried food if one lawmaker gets his way," reports IBJ.com.

"Rep. Robert Cherry, R-Greenfield, has filed a bill to lift a longtime ban on alcohol at the annual fair. He told The Journal Gazette of Fort Wayne that alcohol sales could provide needed revenue to the State Fair and allow the event to showcase Indiana wine and beer."

This Indianapolis Observer agrees! The Hoosier state has great craft breweries and wineries -- and the fair is a great place to promote 'em!

President of Slow Food USA Comes to Indy

Josh Viertal (pictured) is the keynote speaker for the 1 p.m. annual meeting 16 January of Slow Food Indy.

Viertal, a farmer with philosophy and literature degrees from Harvard University, is president of Slow Food USA, and was just named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

The gathering is in the Farm Bureau Building on the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indy. Admission is free, but please bring a dish to share for the potluck meal.

Assessing Ballard's Reelection Odds

Perhaps the whole exercise can be summarized in this sentence from Paul K. Ogden's blog today: "People are, justifiably, furious about the Mayor's giveaway of tax dollars due to his misplaced priorities."

No kidding!

As Ogden notes: "Voters see library and parks budgets being cut while the Mayor is handing out $33.5 million to a billionaire for the Pacers, in the middle of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, no less."

Then there's crime. Perhaps this headline in today's Indianapolis Star says it all: "Teen is shot at funeral for victim of violence". Sigh!

How Quickly They Forget

For city mayors, it's all about snow removal. (Who can forget Bill Hudnut riding a plow during the Great Blizzard?)

Former Indy mayor Stephen Goldsmith, now a deputy mayor in New York City, is being raked over the coals by a whole host of detractors (from the media to the city council) about his handling of the recent snowfall in the Big Apple. (For example, he was home in his Washington, DC, townhouse at the time.)

In a piece headlined "Blizzard Teaches Bloomberg’s Big-Idea Man About Sweating the Small Stuff", New York Times reporter David Chen assesses Goldsmith's tenure. Read it all online.

Pedals, Pipes and Pops

The historic Hilbert Circle Theatre in downtown Indy returns to its movie palace roots with the addition of a new series featuring the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s recently acquired 1931 Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ.

"Pedals, Pipes and Pops", a three-concert series on Sunday afternoons, features noted organists playing some of the best music of the Great American Songbook including works by George Gershwin, Frank Sinatra, Cole Porter, Hoagy Charmichael, Steven Sondheim and more.

The trio:

2:30 p.m. 30 January: "Songbook Serenade" starring Ken Double and Skip Stine

2:30 p.m. 20 March: "Puttin’ on the Pops" with Mark Herman

2:30 p.m. 5 June: "From Bach to Broadway" featuring Martin Ellis

Each concert is approximately two hours in length and includes a 20-minute intermission. Note to purists: The ISO does not perform in these concerts.

Tickets for each concert are $20 per person, with a 25% discount for patrons who purchase all three concerts. They're available online.

Children’s Art from Haiti on Exhibit at Marian

One year after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the Department of Visual Arts at Marian University will show the artwork of Haitian children that was created in response to the disaster.

The exhibit, entitled “Haiti Cheri,” will open with a reception from 4:30-6:30 p.m. 13 January 13,and will run through 4 February.

“Haiti Cheri” features paintings, writing and debris from buildings collected and created by children in Jacmel, Haiti.

Marian University is partnering with Art Creation Foundation for Children (ACFFC) to debut the artwork created by children in the ACFFC program. The ACFFC mission is to help children become the next generation of traditional Haitian artists by providing them with love, nurturing, food, healthcare, and education. Prior to enrolling in ACFFC’s program, these children had never attended school.

Marian University’s art gallery is located on the first floor of Fisher Hall. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays or by appointment. Contact gallery director Jenny Pauckner for more information.