NWI Connect

Cline Ave is gonna be demolished, even Wikipedia knows about it

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:01:00 +0000

I just found it interesting that Wikipedia reports about Cline Ave being demolished. Among other things, it talks about the ramp collapse in 1982 and the sniper shootings in 2006, both connected to Cline Avenue. Any good advice for NWI residents on alternate routes, now that you've had a chance to find detours for a month or so?

Chicagoland Earthquake Wakes Portage Resident

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:13:00 +0000

I woke up this morning to discover that there had been an earthquake at 4 A.M. northwest of Chicago, near Elgin, IL. The quake registered 4.3, a decent shock for Chicagoland. The New York Times reports that an Elgin resident was the first to point out the earthquake - on Twitter.

Ms. Evans, who is the owner of Sevans Strategy, a public relations strategy firm that guides companies on how to use Twitter and other social media, said she then reached for her iPhone and posted a message on Twitter. “Seriously weird,” she wrote. “Something that felt like a minor quake just woke us up. Can anyone else in the CHI area/burbs confirm?”

After that Twitter went ablaze. Heres one to social media for reporting this first!

People have reported feeling the earthquake as far as Madison, Wisconsin and Bourbonnais, IL. But this morning, a local pastor told me that he felt the quake. Pastor Fred Hoover of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Portage, Indiana relayed to me that he thought a large snow plow had driven by his house at 4 A.M., but he believes it was the earthquake.

If folks in Wisconsin felt it, it's also likely that it could be felt in Portage. I was sleeping soundly.

Dave's Den

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:55:00 +0000

Dave's Den is a site focusing on all things Gary, IN. Here there is a ton of info on the "Steel City;" its past, present and future. Of particular interest may be the "Rudy Report," which helps one keep abreast of the current happenings/shenanigans of the Clay administration.

Here is the link to the Gary page of the web site: Dave's Den. Dave would also point out both that there are corresponding blogs for not only the Gary page on the site, but all the other pages; embedded on each page.

Dave's interest in the subject of Gary stems from having been born, reared and educated there. He heartily encourages all with an interest to come on by, take a look, enjoy and participate!

NWI Blogger Meetup

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:15:00 +0000

Attention Northwest Indiana bloggers!!!

Steve Dalton is setting up a blogger meetup on January 8, 2009 in Valparaiso at 6 p.m. No further details available at this time, stay posted!

Ever had one of those days?

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:35:00 +0000

Like this guy? He lost it. . . .

Apparently the other guy must have been throwing stuff at him repeatedly:

Sarah Palin Turkey Pardoning Video

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:33:00 +0000

I wonder why no one moved her to the left a little bit. Daily Kos's comments got a little annoying. It's not as gory as I heard it was. Not very graphic at all. I really don't see the big deal here. . . .

I-65, Borman interchange open to traffic

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +0000

Motorists had an extra reason to be thankful on Thanksgiving Day, with the early reopening of a 1.5-mile stretch of Interstate 65 and two newly built bridges passing over Interstate 80/94.

Indiana State Police and the Indiana Department of Transportation reported the ramp closures, traffic restrictions and detours were removed at 10:45 p.m. Tuesday. Access between I-65 and the Indiana Toll Road also is now fully open.

Officials with the Indiana Department of Transportation said earlier in the month that the changes were expected to take place in early to mid-December.

The closures began in March to reconstruct the I-65 bridges over the Borman Expressway and the ramps at the interchange. New features include a flyover ramp from westbound I-80/94 to southbound I-65, new entrance and exit ramp configurations at Ridge Road and wider entrances at the ramps with higher traffic volumes, including the eastbound Borman to southbound I-65 and northbound I-65 to the westbound Borman.

INDOT reported the improvements should result in less merging of traffic and improved traffic flow. Minor lane restrictions on I-65, the Borman and the interchange ramps will occur during shoulder work, INDOT officials said, but the interchange will remain open.

From The Times. . . .

Forum on The Future of Northwest Indiana

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:51:00 +0000

The Future of Northwest Indiana Forum is the first-ever region-wide public meeting to help plan and create a vision for the future of Lake, Porter and La Porte Counties.

The event will take place on Saturday, December 6 from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville. Registration and continental breakfast begin at 8:00 am.

The forum will use mediated small-group conversations and keypad polling technology to garner instant ideas and feedback from participants. Input on local priorities including transportation, environmental and economic growth, land use, and how to ensure social equity within the region will be the central focus of this first-ever meeting to develop a vision for the region’s future.

The forum kicks off a long-term effort to develop the region’s first three-county, comprehensive, regional plan to address the changing face of the area by the year 2040.

This conversation is about you, your family, and your local community.

JOIN US! REGISTER NOW!

Snow In NWI

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:48:00 +0000

Well we have our first snowfall of the year on this fine 18th of November, just nine days before Thanksgiving. Up north where I am didn't get anything, but Kouts and further south east has a foot or so! The Post Tribune reports that "Lake-effect snow and icy roads caused several vehicle crashes on Interstate 94 in Porter and LaPorte counties on Monday night. . . . Police said the interstate was like "a solid sheet of ice" from Portage to Michigan City. Troopers could travel only around 10 mph." Pretty crazy!

Why is it that everyone in the Region forgets how to drive during the first snowfall of every year? We do this annually!

Man Cured From AIDS!

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:58:00 +0000

A bone marrow transplant may have saved a man's life from AIDS. The Associated Press reports:

An American man who suffered from AIDS appears to have been cured of the disease 20 months after receiving a targeted bone marrow transplant normally used to fight leukemia, his doctors said.

While researchers — and the doctors themselves — caution that the case might be no more than a fluke, others say it may inspire a greater interest in gene therapy to fight the disease that claims 2 million lives each year. The virus has infected 33 million people worldwide.

Dr. Gero Huetter said Wedneday his 42-year-old patient, an American living in Berlin who was not identified, had been infected with the AIDS virus for more than a decade. But 20 months after undergoing a transplant of genetically selected bone marrow, he no longer shows signs of carrying the virus.

"We waited every day for a bad reading," Huetter said.

It has not come. Researchers at Berlin's Charite hospital and medical school say tests on his bone marrow, blood and other organ tissues have all been clean.

However, Dr. Andrew Badley, director of the HIV and immunology research lab at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said those tests have probably not been extensive enough.

"A lot more scrutiny from a lot of different biological samples would be required to say it's not present," Badley said.

This isn't the first time marrow transplants have been attempted for treating AIDS or HIV infection. In 1999, an article in the journal Medical Hypotheses reviewed the results of 32 attempts reported between 1982 and 1996. In two cases, HIV was apparently eradicated, the review reported.

Honoring Veterans in NWI

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:52:00 +0000

C.P. celebrates Veterans Day with beer, breakfast
NWI Times

While one Crown Point business toasts veterans with free beer, a Crown Point church will honor military personnel and their families with breakfast.

People have long shown their appreciation for others with what they have available to them. In the case of Crown Brewery, what its owners have to offer is beer.

That's why from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday the brewery, 211 S. East St. will unveil its new beer the Special Force Ale, and provide a free beer to all veterans.

"It's our way of saying 'Thank you,'" said Adam Grape, the brewery's marketing director. "It's what we can offer, but it's not much for what they've done."

Graper said the idea of a beer to honor those in the military had been floating around for a while, but only recently came to fruition. He said the beer is smooth and light, and its drinkers don't have to be beer lovers to enjoy it. The Special Force Ale will be one of the brewery's three "year-round" beers on tap, alongside three seasonal beers.

One street away, First United Methodist Church, 352 S. Main St., is combining its celebrations of Veterans Day and Thanksgiving with a project so large Pastor Mark Wilkins said it has taken on a life of its own.

The church has spent the last six months contacting the families of local military personnel to invite them to a breakfast Nov. 16. Wilkins said the church is not only honoring veterans, but saying thank you to the families of active service personnel.

"We want to say thank you for the lonely nights and the nights they've stayed awake wondering if their loved ones are OK," he said.

The church will have a service at 9 and again at 11 a.m. with a private breakfast receptions for the families in between.

Wilkins said the families who are participating have been shocked that they are being recognized too.

"They're gratified someone recognizes the sacrifice they make everyday," he said.

The city of Crown Point will have a Veterans Day ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday on the east side of the old courthouse with the American Legion and the VFW. The city also will remember troops who are overseas during the holidays with a ceremony at 6 p.m. Nov. 15 to light the tank at Goldsborough and Main streets.

Local veterans from the American Legion and VFW also are invited to a Veterans Day program at 9 a.m. Nov. 14 at St. Mary Catholic Community School, 405 E. Joliet St.

I'm definitely going to go claim my free beer ;)

70% of voters show up at the polls in Lake County

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:40:00 +0000

It was very neat to see the large turnout at the polls on November 4, 2008. The NWI Times points out:

That exceeds the 55 percent turnout for the 2004 George Bush-John Kerry race or the 56 percent turnout for the Bush-Al Gore race.

"This election is obviously seismic," said James McCann, a professor of political science at Purdue University.

The number of voters had declined -- with few exceptions -- from 1960 to 2000 and were on a mild upswing until Tuesday's spike at the polls, McCann said. . . .

Perhaps just as precedent setting, Lake County elections officials managed to collect and tally all 214,023 ballots -- nearly 70,000 more than in the spring primary -- with much less trouble than in the spring primary when the delay of voting results made the county the butt of criticism across the nation.

I certainly noticed a much greater voter turnout at my polling station in Merrillville! Very encouraging to see more people becoming involved in politics! Now we'll see if it was genuine "change" in 2012 or if it was motivated by something else. . . .

Election Predictions Versus Actual

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:58:00 +0000

Well the media has been saying it all along: Obama is the next president. I know the blogosphere was filled with election predictions, each favoring their particular candidate. I kept my prediction silent merely because I was just playing around with the RealClearPolitics Electoral Map Tool. I decided that I might as well post my prediction and the actual final results (or what we have so far).

My prediction:

Actual results (this far):

I wasn't far off. Not that it matters, but is there any word yet on Missouri or North Carolina? Congrats to Obama!

Conservative Black Republican Speaks Out Against Obama and Racist Stupidity

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:32:00 +0000

I saw this on Twitter, hat tip to @redstarvip. This is a young black man (who is a McCain supporter) who explains why he is not voting for Obama, and why his people are continually allowing themselves to be duped for a lie. Very interesting and great. It's 10 minutes long, and it gets really good right about at the halfway point. Check it out!

He says a lot of things that need to be articulated, but any white person who says them will be labeled a racist. Be sure to watch.

Voter Issues Rampant

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:52:00 +0000

I waited in line about two hours in Merrillville this morning, a sign of record voter turnout. I called the election hotline since a lady was electioneering for a school board candidate directly in front of the entryway (Federal law prohibits this within 50 feet from the entrance to the polls). I doubt they'll follow up on it, though. What is your voting experience?

I just got off the phone with Andy Horning

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:34:00 +0000

... who is the Libertarian candidate for governor of Indiana. Andy Horning wants to hear from the citizens of Indiana - you can call him directly on his cell phone at 812-585-0504.

We chatted mostly about Mitch Daniels, Horning admits that Daniels is going to win this election, but he also explained that a vote for Daniels is a vote for more of the same, while a vote for Horning sends a message to Mitch to listen to the voters who want to see Indiana's Constitution upheld.

Andy Horning says on his blog essentiallly what he told me on the phone:

Don’t waste your vote on Jill Long Thompson. She can’t win. No way.

Don’t waste your vote on Mitch, either. He’s already got you for another four years.

If you want your vote to say something at all, vote for me. That vote will tell Mitch that you want him to obey the oath of office. It will tell Governor Daniels that you’re not giving him a free pass to do whatever he wants to do with your life, liberty and property. It will tell all politicians that voters want the constitutions that protect citizens from ungoverned government. A vote for me says, “I’m onto y’all…we want our rights and property and lives back.”

So if you’re on the fence about who’ll get your vote for Governor of Indiana, vote for law and order, peace and principle…vote for Andy Horning for Governor and Lisa Kelly for Lt. Governor.

Go to HorningforGovernor.com for more info!

Do not underestimate the power of Twitter

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:41:00 +0000

I've been making it a goal to spend 30 minutes a day on Twitter. Yes that seems like a lot of time, but it really pays off. I've been making many new friends/followers, and it is helping me to really participate in the community aspects of Web 2.0. Not only that, people are more apt to visit your site when they know you and interact with you some. A good slice of my traffic comes from Twitter -- don't underestimate it! Plus, I like meeting new people!

Obama to make campaign stop Friday in Highland

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:27:00 +0000

Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., will make his "closing argument" to Indiana voters at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Wicker Memorial Park in Highland. In a press release from the Obama campaign, Obama will ask Hoosiers to "choose hope over fear, unity over division and the promise of change over the power of the status quo." Gates open for the free 7:30 p.m. event at 6 p.m.

Local official seeks criminal probe of ACORN

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:59:00 +0000

Indiana's secretary of state Todd Rokita has requested a criminal investigation into the embattled community organizing group ACORN, which is accused of submitting hundreds of bogus voter registration forms in northern Lake County.

The request is based on Rokita's preliminary examination and analysis of 1,438 questionable voter registration applications ACORN submitted in the county, which includes the city of Gary. Rokita, a Republican, has concluded there is "significant, credible evidence" that ACORN violated Indiana and federal law.

So what is being done about this? ACORN is labeling Rokita as racist, biased, and every other excuse in the book other than taking the blame for its fraudulent activity. Typical. . . .

Funny Economics Lesson

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:50:00 +0000

I saw this on Aaron's shared feeds:

Bar Stool Economics NOT by David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that’s what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. ‘Since you are all such good customers, he said, ‘I’m going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his ‘fair share?’ They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody’s share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man’s bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

‘I only got a dollar out of the $20,’declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,’ but he got $10!’

‘Yeah, that’s right,’ exclaimed the fifth man. ‘I only saved a dollar, too. It’s unfair that he got ten times more than I!’

‘That’s true!!’ shouted the seventh man. ‘Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!’

‘Wait a minute,’ yelled the first four men in unison. ‘We didn’t get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!’

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn’t show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn’t have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics, University of Georgia

For those who understand, no explanation is needed.
For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.

US Army Sees Twitter As Possible Terrorist "Operation Tool"

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:41:00 +0000

Mike from Slashdot writes "A draft US Army intelligence report has identified the popular micro-blogging service Twitter as a potential terrorist tool. A chapter titled 'Potential for Terrorist Use of Twitter' notes that Twitter members reported the July Los Angeles earthquake faster than news outlets and activists at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis used it to provide information on police movements. 'Twitter is already used by some members to post and/or support extremist ideologies and perspectives,' the report said. The report goes on to say, 'Terrorists could theoretically use Twitter social networking in the US as an operation tool.' Just wait until the Army finds out about chat rooms and email!"

Redistribution of Wealth...

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:36:00 +0000

...is a horrible idea.

Obama not a U.S. citizen?

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:56:00 +0000

Ever heard of Philip J. Berg? He is a life-long Democratic attorney with impeccable career credentials. And he has something to share with you that is of extreme importance.

He wonders why Barack Obama refuses to give his birth certificate to a judge. No conspiracy theory here, this is an actual court case. AND YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT THIS. As first seen on endiana.com:

Am I really connecting NWI?

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:34:00 +0000

While this blog had great intentions -- it is not accomplishing what I set out for it to do. I'm contemplating dropping this blog and simply posting articles of this nature over at Steve Dalton's Northwest Indiana Blogs or at Porter County Politics, both for which I am a contributor. I'm trying to focus my writing energies on prayeramedic.com and 390days.com and hopefully one of them will achieve at least 50 subscribers. That is my goal. I am mostly focusing on 390days.com and may try to merge prayeramedic with it. That won't be for awhile though. I'll keep you posted -- literally ;)

China already owns most of the country, why not NWI too?

noreply@blogger.com (NWI Connect) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:47:00 +0000

Apparently a delegation from Valparaiso University went to China to try to persuade them to invest in Northwest Indiana business. At times like these I'm reminded of the great wisdom of Thumper, "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all."

Read more at NWI Times. . . .