Indianapolis is My Home

03
Jun

Indiana Student Graduates with Perfect Attendance

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Education, High Schools, Humor, News, People, Students, WISH - Channel 8

I’ll be honest, I’ve never really been impressed with anyone that’s boasted about perfect attendance. My theory is that when you’re an adult you get to take vacation and sick days. Why don’t we get the same sort of flexibility as students? Being a full-time student after all is our job.

Cherie Pieper graduated from Northeast Dubois High School in 1989 with perfect attendance through 12 years, and she challenged her daughter to do the same. So last month, 18-year-old Arielle Pieper also graduated from Dubois with the same perfect attendance record.

Congratulations to the Piepers, but I just don’t see what the benefit is and award of having accomplished it. I also wonder how many times they went to school when they were sick and got other kids sick that ended up missing.

If I’m missing something here, will someone please explain it to me?

WISH TV 8: Indianapolis News and Weather - Indiana student graduates with perfect attendance

20
May

Get Gas for Under $3 Per Gallon

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Carmel, News, WRTV - TV Channel 6

If you’re in Carmel this afternoon around Rangeline Road you might want to take advantage of a promotion the Crystal Flash gas station is doing in partnership with Indiana Corn Growers Association.

The Crystal Flash station in the 500 block of Rangeline Road in Carmel plans to run the promotion from 4 p.m until 5:30 p.m., 6News’ Rick Hightower reported.

Gas for under $3/gallon would be nice, but to get it only between 4pm and 5:30pm means you probably need to get in line at lunch to get the gas.

The gas is a new mix of gasoline and ethanol, but isn’t the same E85 that’s already being sold.

Source: TheIndyChannel.com

11
Jan

Lunch at Claude & Annie’s

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Bars, Pubs & Grills, Local Businesses, Local Establishments, Northwest Side, WRTV - TV Channel 6

My boss and I stumbled into an unexpected great lunch earlier this week. That’s far better than stumbling out of the place later in the evening.

We dropped into Claude & Annie’s Park 100 location because my boss had some tires replaced on his car. It was within walking distance and we thought we’d give it a try.

From looking at their website it appears the lunch buffet menu changes, but it was fried chicken, pork chops, deep fried biscuits with apple butter, mashed potatoes and gravy, potato wedges, buttered carrots and a salad bar.

Let me just say that the chicken, gravy and biscuits were delicious! I ate way too much.

The only downfall for me was the smokey atmosphere, but hey, I expected that going in and their website proudly proclaims they welcome smokers. Again, this is to be expected and I don’t fault them for it at all. I also learned they were an WRTV6 A-List Award winner as well! So, I don’t guess this was too hidden from the majority of the public other than me.

They’ve got loads of pool tables, darts machines and have Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournaments each week. Not sure I’ll be back for any of that, but I’ll be back for the fried chicken for sure.

07
Jan

Comcast Continues Move to More Open Market

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Areas, Business, Local Media, News

Most of the people in the Indianapolis area are using Comcast for their cable providing company. Insight is another company that’s got some penetration in a variety of areas, but since Comcast recently purchased Insight, it’s all the same now.

I’m getting more and more irritated with the Comcast DVR we’ve been using and if I had the available funds right now I’d dump it and move to the TiVo Series 3 almost immediately.

My wife was particularly ticked last night when her new episode of Desperate Housewives had all the audio recorded except for the actual actors speaking parts.

News in the cable industry may be opening things up a little more for Comcast and other major cable networks to begin working with other hardware devices so you don’t have to rely on a "cable box" to get all the goodies coming through the pipe. You would still pay for the service, just not their provided hardware.

This would allow companies like TiVo and even television sets themselves to use a CableCARD to get all the content off the coaxial directly.

Comcast made this announcement at CES:

An industry initiative, to be renamed "tru2way" after a decade in the works, is expected to allow electronics manufacturers to make TVs and other gear that will work regardless of cable provider. By making devices compatible, the standard also could encourage the development of new services and features that rely on two-way communication over the cable network.

Comcast Corp., the nation’s largest cable provider, will roll out the platform in all its markets by the end of 2008, Chief Executive Brian Roberts said in an interview with The Associated Press ahead of a speech Tuesday at the International Consumer Electronics Show.

Comcast is supposed to be rolling out TiVo powered DVR’s but I’ve yet to hear anything about them being available in the Indianapolis market. I’m waiting for AT&T’s UVerse to be available in my neighborhood, I’ll dump Comcast and try that when it’s an option for me.

Story Source: Comcast: Cable to standardize technology
Image Source: Thomas Hawk

05
Dec

Annual WZPL Make A Wish Request-a-thon Shoots for $200K

Author: Jason Bean, Category: Business, Charities, Local Media, Special Events, Volunteers, WZPL 99.5

I don’t listen to 99.5 WZPL as much as I used to but I always appreciated their Annual Make A Wish request-a-thon. It’s probably because back about the time they started doing it I was a volunteer for the Make A Wish organization here in Indianapolis and had an interest in other businesses that were also assisting with the efforts of the MAW organization.

We’ve set our most ambitious goal ever this year — $200,000 in 36-hours!  Our friends and longtime Make A Wish supporters at Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill, UAW/GM, Panera Bread, and eTapestry have made significant pledges.  But, your help is what makes the difference!  Are you ready to share the power of a wish?

Every dollar counts towards the goal.  Take a few minutes to collect money around the office, school, or with your friends and donate as a group.  You can join the Wishmakers Club to spread a larger donation over the whole year.  And, of course, you can make a wacky request with your donation of $25 or more (we receive thousands of requests and will play as many as we can, it’s a lot of fun to play your requests but the Request-a-thon is more about helping children and their families get through a difficult time).

Take a moment tomorrow and for the rest of the week to switch on over to 99.5 and here the stories of some of the children and volunteers that have been rewarded by their involvement with this great organization. Oh, and why not call up and have them play your favorite song that doesn’t make the airwaves much anymore.