These are some amazing images. It’s a miracle there weren’t more domino wrecks and casualties with such a blast and traffic heavy area.

I’m curious as to how much this is going to impact traffic. I think it’s going to be much more than people expect, although I heard tonight that westbound traffic on I-465 has been restored?

I’d love to hear what other people’s experiences have been. Whether you were there or close when it happened, or how your commute has been impacted since the explosion, let us know in the comments.

I’ve been to a lot of city zoos over my lifetime and few of them compare with the Indianapolis Zoo. My family always enjoys a trip downtown to the zoo. It’s one of the many great things I love about Indy. (a family membership is always a great Christmas present – hint hint)

Unfortunately, the Indy Zoo lost one of its stars, Tahtsa the polar bear. She died on Wednesday.

If you’re like me, I’m guessing you’ve snapped a few pictures of this local favorite. Everyone loves polar bears. Killing machine status aside, they are so cute. Maybe the Coke commercials helped that image.

Turns out that Tahtsa was, at age 34, the world’s oldest polar bear. She died a mere 4 months younger than I am now. Goes to show you the health benefits of a diet heavy in fish and free of fried pizza. She was on loan to the Indianapolis Zoo from the Louisville Zoo, where she had lived from 1976 – 2006. Though the bear was only in Indy for a few years she will be missed.

I took this photo of Tahtsa less than two weeks ago and could tell she wasn’t her normal self. Usually she was always swimming laps in her ice-cold swimming pool. We’ll miss you Tahtsa.

World’s oldest polar bear dies in Indy – IndyStar

It’s official! I’m registered for the Blog Indiana conference taking place next week in Indianapolis. It’s the 2nd year for the event and I absolutely cannot wait to see what’s in store. There will be over 50 speakers and panelists at this year’s event and I’m sure I’ll walk away with pages of notes on how to improve, expand or focus my blogging efforts for another year.

I was going to say that if you’re a blogger in Indiana you MUST come to this event! Then I decided that would be too exclusive.

• If you’re not a blogger and just curious about what’s all this hubbub is about. THIS IS THE CONFERENCE FOR YOU!
• If you’re in business and want to know how all this technology could help you succeed! THIS IS THE CONFERENCE FOR YOU!
• If you’re within driving distance from Indianapolis. THIS IS THE CONFERENCE FOR YOU!
• If you’re wondering what all this social media stuff is all about. THIS IS THE CONFERENCE FOR YOU!
• If you’re an "expert" in blogging or social media. THIS IS THE CONFERENCE FOR YOU!
• If you’re breathing. THIS IS THE CONFERENCE FOR YOU!

You get my point.

There’s so much great information to expect from this conference that you’ll want to be here participate. Last year’s conference was a great success and was the first year. Building on that event and moving forward, this year’s conference will be sure to be a success as well.

If you haven’t yet been convinced, visit the Blog Indiana website and find out a little more about some of the great speakers, informative sessions and all-around good time that’s to be had in Indianapolis next Thursday through Saturday. Oh, and while you’re on the site, go ahead and register!

The example shared in the article really highlights the issue in my mind:

Commonwealth Engineers on the south side is typical of how the impact will be felt. The company employs 56 people and, until last year, had rarely laid off anyone. But when eight employees were laid off, it put the company in a higher unemployment tax bracket.

The combination of that and the new higher rates will cause the company’s bill for unemployment insurance to rise from $20,000 a year to $35,000 this year and almost $40,000 next year.

The point that’s not made clear in the article is how ridiculous the unemployment system is already. I understand the need to help people out in a tight situation, but we can’t make it easier and more comfortable to just look for a job instead of taking a job that’s available, but pays less than they’re pulling in on their unemployment check.

The other thing that really irritates me is when people are working various jobs under the table AND still collecting their unemployment check, continuing to drain the unemployment funds that businesses have been paying into in both the best and the worst of times.

Read the article, "Business Leaders ‘Outraged’ Over Jobless Bill" and share your own thoughts in the comments.

A friend of mine is responsible for organizing the Indiana Blue Star Ride for the Salute 2009. Last year was their third year to revive the ride and they ended up having the largest turnout and participants in the country, this year they want to make it even larger.

The American Legion is once again planning the largest Blue Star Salute; Armed Forces Day celebration in the country this year. On May 16th, currently active military servicepersons and their families from all over Indiana, along with the general public, are invited to attend the event at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis. Admission and parking is FREE.

With gates open at 1 p.m., the family ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. with the arrival of more than 1,000 motorcyclists completing the ‘Ride for the Salute’; making this the third largest motorcycle event in Indiana; A tour through Hendricks County which raises donations for The American Legacy Scholarship Fund. 133 of the American Legion Riders will carry a special flag each with a name of one of the Indiana fallen heroes lost in the middle-east war.  A special ceremony performed by the Riders and the United States Naval Sea Cadets, Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) Division.  U.S. and Indiana colors will arrive via skydivers, a flag ceremony, invocation and family presentation will be held, after which ORP will resume its racing schedule, this year hosting ARA oval racing.

This is a great cause and there’s a ton of things planned for this year. If you’ve got a motorcycle (or willing to let me use yours for free!) what a great way to show your support for our military and their families.

Read Full Press Release for Indiana Blue Star Salute 2009 (PDF)

I read a story today on IndyChannel.com about the prices for speeding tickets not being printed on tickets anymore. Or at least not for awhile.

I guess the problem is that ticket prices are changing or something and we can’t expect officers to know what the ticket price should be. Are you serious?

If they get confused, can’t they just call dispatch and be reminded?

It’s part of a new policy crafted by safety court Judge William Young, whose staff told Call 6 on Wednesday that the new guidelines are intended to accommodate changing ticket prices.

I wonder if I get a speeding ticket if they’ll let me take a few months to figure out what I’m able to pay on the ticket before they hear from me.

It reminds me of a story of a friend who got a traffic ticket from an intersection camera that took a picture of him running a red light or something. When he got the ticket in the mail he wrote a check for the payment on the ticket, photo-copied it and then sent the photocopy of the check in the ticket payment envelope.

Kind of a tit-for-tat on sending a picture of the payment since they only sent a picture of the offense itself.

When he stopped and got out of his car he was jumped by three other men that robbed him and beat him up enough to put him in the hospital.

Supposedly this is happening quite a bit lately with people robbing for whatever they can unload and sell quick for the money.

Can anyone else confirm this?

UPDATE:

There will be a farmer and cow handing out money today between 11 am and 1 pm at the corner of Washington and Meridian. Look for some photos later today on TwitterPic.

We’ve hit the big time folks. New York City and Gotham don’t have anything we can’t claim to have now. We’ve got a guy in a green body suit that trying to climb all over the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in the middle of the Circle downtown Indianapolis.

The mysterious green man had this to say after he was apprehended by authorities:

"Apparently, this is a war memorial, which I did not know or else I wouldn’t have climbed on it," he said. "That’s very disrespectful, so don’t do that and don’t say I told you to do that."

I have a little bit in common with the green man. No, I don’t wear tights and climb things in public, but I wasn’t aware of all the history and meaning behind the monument. I knew it was a war memorial and monument, but if you click on the link in the first paragraph, there’s a good summary and highlight of the facts behind the monument.

Source: Man In Bodysuit Attempts to Scale Downtown Monument

For the first time in the pageant’s 88 years of competitions an Indiana contestant has won the event.

A big congratulations to Katie Stam and her family for this award. Not only does it put Indiana in the limelight, but also the University of Indianapolis where Katie is a communication major aspiring to be a television anchorwoman.

What I like hearing even more is what a fellow communication major said about her in a news article on the IndyStar website.

"Katie is just one of those people that is completely unforgettable," said Nick Lopez, 25, a University of Indianapolis communications major who has known Stam for three years. "She is so genuine and such an amazing person to everybody that she meets. You normally think of Miss America as being the most beautiful person, but the first thing I noticed about her was her intelligence and her warmth as a person."

A big congratulations again to Katie for winning this honor but for also apparently having as much inner true beauty and intelligence as she does exterior looks and charm.