Not Going to the Big Game?

Beyond the Superbowl XLVI: 10 Incredible Things to See and Do in Indianapolis gives suggestions on how to fill your idle hours if you're not willing to fork over the big bucks for a ticket to the Super Bowl.

Humanitarian Speed Dating

This notice comes via Provocate.org:

Fifteen of Indy’s most innovative social entrepreneurs will get together at the Athenaeum, 401 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis, beginning at 6:30 p.m. next Wednesday (25 January) to tell us what they are doing, why it’s important, and how we can help them change the world … in four minutes each.

After hearing the exceptionally condensed version of what each of these exceptional people are doing in Indiana and around the world, take as much time as you like to talk with them more. Meet other members of their organizations. Discuss new ideas that might make a difference. Mingle, connect, network. And expect to leave the Athenaeum with a different perspective on Indy and our relation to the world.

To see a list of participating groups, go here.

Why Are We Not Surprised?

IBJ.com reports, "The Capital Improvement Board of Marion County is budgeting for total Super Bowl expenses of $8 million and revenue of nearly $7.2 million, leaving a loss of $810,000."

Read it all here.

Only the CIB can turn a win into a loss for us, the taxpayers.

People Movers Grind to a Halt

The Indiana University Health People Mover on the west side of downtown Indy will be out of service for 12 weeks beginning Monday (16 January).

With more than a million miles logged, the trains have become increasingly unreliable over the past several months, with unscheduled stops, doors refusing to open and other operational issues.

It's hoped the overhaul will get the light rail up and running well again.

Amazon Caves

Amazon.com will begin collecting Indiana's 7-percent sales tax from customers in 2014 under an agreement with the state announced Monday, reports IBJ.com.

Know Your Rights on Wage Claims

Learn about your rights as an employee, such as collecting unpaid wages and unemployment benefits, and your rights when you are injured on the job at "Know Your Rights on Wage Claims".

The session, open to the public at no charge, takes place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. 11 January at Hawthorne Community Center, 2440 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis.

This session will be presented by students of the Health and Human Rights Clinic of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis, and is sponsored by the Immigrant Welcome Center as part of the Sarah I. and Albert G. Reuben Educational Series.

To register for this workshop, send an email to the center or call 317: 808-2326.

The Reuben Educational Series is a legacy of Sara I. Reuben, a first-generation immigrant from Belarus, and Albert G. Reuben, a second-generation immigrant. Mr. and Mrs. Reuben personally experienced the hardships of emigrating to the United States and serve as an example of how immigrants truly enrich and give back to the community.

About Those Bike Lanes

Connie Szabo Schmucker, Bicycle Garage Indy Advocacy Director, and Kevin Whited, INDYCOG's Executive Director, conducted a thorough analysis of the areas of concern and researched possible solutions.

You can read it all here: Indianapolis Bike Lane Analysis.

Right to Free Speech Restored in Indy

"Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) rescinded rules limiting how many people can be inside the statehouse at any one time on Wednesday, a victory for Democrats and labor leaders who protested the restrictions as an attempt to quash the size of protests."

Read it here: "Mitch Daniels Rescinds Indiana Statehouse Restrictions".

Countdown to the Super Bowl

"Indianapolis police plans to clear its streets of homeless people for the Super Bowl, angering advocates who want to see money for the million-dollar event help those without a place to live."

Read the rest here: "Police To Move Homeless For Super Bowl".

The Case of Jim Jones

Remember Jim Jones (left) and the People's Temple? You may recall its horrific ending in Guyana, but did you know it all started in Indianapolis?

Learn all about it at 7 p.m. 19 January at Christian Theological Seminary, 4000 West 42nd Street, Indianapolis.

A tip of the hat to Provocate for news on this event:

The People’s Temple, in its early days in Indianapolis, was a cutting-edge model of racial reconciliation and effective urban ministry.

Jim Jones was an exciting, charismatic leader who drew the attention of many of the city’s leaders to his work with the poor and disenfranchised. Yet we know the terrible end that came about in 1978 in Guyana.

What drew people to the People’s Temple in the early days? Why was it so important to so many?

What lessons are in this spiritual journey for all of us? How do we affirm creative and charismatic leadership yet recognize and deal with the pitfalls so that this kind of spiritual journey into evil can be avoided?

Prof. Scott Seay will lead a conversation that examines the legacy of Jim Jones – especially his work in Indianapolis – and the lessons that legacy has to teach us about spiritual leadership.

And, yes, the event is open to the public free of charge.

Happy New Year