Durham Likely to Die in Prison

"Tim Durham will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars after a federal judge on Friday sentenced the disgraced playboy and businessman to a 50-year prison term for defrauding Ohio investors of $250 million....

"Unlike state prisoners, federal inmates must serve 85 percent of their sentences. Durham would have to live to 93 to survive his sentence."

Read the rest here: here.

Indiana Town Hall Series

Join the conversation at the Indiana History Center, 450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, for the last of three public forums on health care.

"Medical Professionalism: From Leeches to MRIs" is the topic for the 6 December session, moderated by Barbara Lewis, host of WFYI's Sound Medicine.

It begins with a 6:30 p.m. reception, followed by the panel conversation beginning at 7 p.m.

Practice Your German Language Skills

Immerse yourself in the German language during the annual Advent Service in Zion Evangelical United Church of Christ, 603 North New Jersey Street, Indianapolis (map).

An English translation is provided for the service, which begins at 3 p.m. Sunday, 2 December, with a reception to follow.

All are welcome.

10th Annual Holiday Author Fair

Some 80 Indiana authors and their latest books will be showcased during the 10th annual Holiday Author Fair at the Indiana History Center, 450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, from noon to 4 p.m. 1 December.

Oatess Archey and John Beineke -- author and subject of the book, "Going Over All the Hurdles" -- will speat at 2 p.m.

] At 2:30 p.m., Olivia Rusk talks about her "Just Your Average Teen Who Happens to be Bald", and Keith Erekson discusses "Everybody's History" at 3 p.m.

This year’s books range in topics from Kurt Vonnegut and James Dean to women’s issues and ghosts, to music, cooking and basketball. You’ll find a variety of fiction, nonfiction and children’s books.

There's more information on the event here.

Ballard's Current Scam

Yes, we're talking about that ugly building Mayor Ballard wants to put on the Indianapolis Fire Department property -- and move the fire department functions elsewhere (including onto a lot that has drawn unanimous objections from its neighbors).

Who pays for all this building and moving? You 'n' me, folks!

"When you consider that the City lacks the necessary funds it needs to fund basic city services, you have to ask why so much of our tax dollars are being spent on something that yields so little return for a public benefit," writes Gary R. Welsh in Advance Indiana.

Read more here: "The High Cost Taxpayers Will Pay To Redevelop One Block Of Mass Ave"

Amahl & the Night Visitors

Looking for an alternative to yet another production of the "Nutcracker" this holiday season?

The Indianapolis Opera is staging six performances of "Amahl & the Night Visitors" by Gian Carlo Menotti between 7 and 16 December in the Opera Center, 4011 North Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis.

Tickets start at $25 (go online to buy).

The story tells of the night the Three Kings, following the star of Bethlehem, stop for shelter at the home of Amahl, a poor, crippled shepherd boy who lives with his widowed mother. Inspired by the Wise Men's tale of a kingdom "built on love alone," Amahl offers his own simple gift to the Christ Child. And then a miracle happens. . .

Note: the production is one act, in less than an hour, so it's perfect for kids as well as adults.

(Image courtesy of Indianapolis Opera)

Explosion: a Criminal Act

The story of the Richmond Hills explosion only gets more complex as the investigation continues.

Seems that the brother of the man living in the epicenter of the blast, 8349 Fieldfare Way, has been taken into custody along with another man.

More at WTHR.com

And Fox59.com

House Explosion: Intentional Act

"Fox59 News has learned that Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department homicide detectives have determined that the Nov. 10 explosion at the Richmond Hill subdivision was an intentional act."

See Fox59.

And WTHR.

And WRTV.

And Indianapolis Star.

We'll find out more during the 6 p.m. news conference.

Indy International Festival Ends Today

OK, folks! Today's your last chance to see the 2012 edition of Indy's International Festival -- complete with Poland's legend of the Man in the Moon!

Head on over to the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 East 38th Street, Indianapolis, now -- or you'll have to wait until 2013 for all the multiethnic fun the Circle City has to offer.

International Festival is This Weekend in Indy

You are coming to Indy's International Festival, yes?

It's Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the West Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 East 38th Street, Indianapolis.

Just one of the reasons: a traditional, European puppet theater featuring the characters of Mr. Punch and his wife, Judy, will be staging performances at booth 251 throughout the festival.

An Outside Look at Ritz' Defeat of Bennett

"For waging such a scorched-earth campaign against teachers and public education, Bennett was rewarded with a whopping $1.3 million in campaign contributions, much of which came from out of state....

"Ultimately, he was able to grossly outspend his underfinanced opponent, local educator Glenda Ritz, by more than $1 million. Yet, in the conservative union-averse state of Indiana, he was nonetheless booted out of office in what the Star called 'the Election Night shocker'. That was thanks not to some brilliantly vague personality campaign by Ritz, but to a substantive, laser-focused assault on Bennett’s corporate-driven privatization agenda."

Read the rest of the analysis here: Phony school “reform” agenda takes a beating

Indy's International Festival is This Weekend!

For a preview of what's happening at this year's International Festival, check out the fest's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/INDYInternationalFestival

Water Is Life

It's something so simple, and yet so complicated: clean water.

It's something we take for granted in Central Indiana, but not so in Sierra Leone.

The Fishers Rotary Club (along with support from clubs in Westfield, Carmel and Noblesville, and a matching grant from Rotary International) launched the Water is Life program in 2009 to provide Sierra Leoneans with clean drinking water through the purchase and installation of 100 fresh-water wells.

Here's one way they raise the funds to continue their project: the 2012 Water Is Life Charity Ball. The black tie optional event is set for 7 p.m. 1 December in the Forum Credit Union Conference Center, 11313 USA Parkway, Fishers.

The event also includes a Christmas Tree Trail with trees to be auctioned at the ball. See the 12 holiday tree, festooned by local decorators, starting at Allisonville Nursery.

And, check out the video:


(Photo, of the tree decorated by J. Baker Interiors, courtesy of the Fishers Rotary Club -- as is the video)

God Has Spoken

If God plans everything, then Mourdock's defeat was preordained, n'est-ce pas?

Understanding U.S. Cultural Norms

Ansuyah Naiken of the International Center of Indianapolis will explain U.S. social customs and manners, ways in which Americans communicate, and how Americans view time and the role of family during a presentation beginning at 6 p.m. 27 November in the Senior Room of the Glick Center at Crooked Creek, 2990 West 71st Street, Indianapolis.

Dr. Juana Watson of Marian University will discuss the difference between assimilation and acculturation.

This program is part of the Reuben Educational Series sponsored by the Immigrant Welcome Center. It is free and open to the public.

Reserve a chair by calling 317:808-2302, ext. 2388, or sending an email to rsvp@immigrantwelcomecenter.org.

First Friday Food Trucks

First Friday now means food trucks in Indy, thanks to Leinenkugel's.

The parking lot of the venue formerly known as the Murat Theatre (map) will be filled with at least 15 different food trucks from 5 to 9 p.m. 2 November -- not to mention music, games and art. Green River Ordinance is playing this weekend.

Admission is $5 (plus whatever food, beer etc. you purchase). And, yes, the event is family friendly.