Analysis finds other little-used BMV sites
Maybe I'm missing something. I do not understand why people are getting so emotional over the closing of under performing license branches. I have friends that work for the State BMV. It's not that I want to see them out of work, but if a branch isn't performing efficiently, close it.
I only go to the BMV maybe once a year. I still go to the BMV to buy license plates because I'm usually there on the last day of August to buy the plates. Procrastination or poor planning, you decide. My wife and daughter went there recently to get a driver's permit for our now 15 year old young lady. First they were told that certain documentation was needed to get the permit. They obtained said documentation, went back and were told, no, I'm sorry, that's wrong. Fortunately, a kind sould behind the counter was willing to help them and Katie now has a driver's permit.
You see on the TV news, these upset people begging the state not to close the license branch. I just don't get it. We have a lot of wasteful broken things in state government. We need to fix them so OUR tax money is spent more efficiently. If they're underperforming, close them. That's the bottom line.
Monday, May 30, 2005
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Straight Talk About Heroes
I just found this letter while doing some routine cleaning on my computer. It was written by John Milford and appeared in the Marion Chronicle-Tribune last December. He says it so much better than I ever could. It was just after an interview in ESPN the Magazine told us that Zach Randolph hated his hometown. I recieved that magazine and read the article the day after they retired Zach's number 50 at Bill Green Arena. It's not that I dislike Zach, I just think he's blaming the wrong people for his problems. John, the floor is yours...
Zach, talk to some real local heroes
His interview let down many in his home town
Sadly, we have added Marine Cpl. Lance Thompson and Army Spc. Raymond White to our list of heroes. They stood in harm's way and paid the ultimate price.
Remember their pictures. The pride in themselves and respect for their country glowed through their crisp uniforms and shiny buttons. They honored us by their service and sacrifice.
New heroes serve in the desolate sands where they fell. Other heroes, the day-to-day variety, are all around. Lights on 24/7 at the sheriff and police departments, the hospital, firehouses, nursing homes.
Teachers planning, unpaid, after school for the next day.
Single parents and grandparents with kids struggling to make ends meet, doing the right thing day after 24-hour day. Moms and dads working 2½ jobs to put their kids through college.
Hundreds volunteer their time at churches, in civic organizations, with kids.
Local heroes pay from their own pockets rather than let a kid miss out on a PAL Club coaches pitch team or a Cub or Brownie Pack or allow the altar to go without flowers.
All unsung, modest hometown heroes. Their sense of duty to humbly set a good example goes unspoken.
Then there is Zach Randolph.
How much it must have meant to those kids, Zach, to meet their "hero" as Marion High School retired your No. 50 jersey.
How little it meant to you. You had just given an interview to ESPN: The Magazine, condemning Marion for disrespecting and not paying enough attention to you, for your undeserved criminal woes, including being picked on by police officers because you are a star.
A few quotes from the article:
"Zach Randolph pretty much hates his hometown." The article cited your conduct of minor in possession of alcohol, shoplifting, battery, two counts of receiving a stolen handgun, driving under the influence of marijuana, sucker-punching a teammate.
Your response was, "I've made some mistakes, but everyone makes mistakes."
Sorry, Zach, mistakes occur when we incorrectly believe we are right.
Did you think those were squirt guns? No. You knew they were real guns used to maim and kill people. You committed intentional criminal acts you knew were wrong.
The article reports that your "virtually all-black AAU basketball team had trouble securing a practice court while the mostly white teams were guaranteed times at clean, modern facilities."
And "... Zach could always say 'I love my town.' But now it is too much to ask the town to love him back."
It's sad. Rich with money, poor in character.
Did you forget James, Jay and Lyndon magically defying gravity, gliding, soaring, scoring? Where would you be now without their legacy?
Maybe you forgot about all those asphalt players. You owe them the most.
Remember? Wide-eyed, you must have watched for hours. They finally tolerated you and much, much later they granted you the art of basketball.
Coaches honed your skills, but these guys had already turned that clumsy kid into a player. Where would you be without them?
How about the fans? They clapped, yelled, admired, decorated their cars and wore your pin. It felt great, didn't it Z-Bo?
They cheered. They inspired. You smiled. You excelled.
Where would you be now with no bands and empty stands? You must have forgotten those good, caring people, family members and friends, including teachers who gave you so much of their time. Those who surrounded, protected, loved and often sheltered you from the consequences of your actions.
Think where you might be now without their help. Hometown heroes all.
You forgot about everybody but yourself. Maybe being a millionaire causes amnesia.
Your words to ESPNlet down those smiling kids and their parents.
Your lessons: disrespect, egotistical crybaby behavior, intentional crimes are "mistakes" that everybody commits, and, if they get into trouble, blame the police.
Maybe Marion let you down by treating you with so much admiration and esteem that we forgot to teach you the most important lesson - to be a man.
Maybe you'll become a man and do the right thing. From your $84 million consider giving less than 4 percent back to all those who made you - $1 million each to the Boys and Girls Club, PAL Club, YMCA and maybe a few bucks to fix up those public basketball courts you say are a mess.
You could probably make it tax-deductible.
But money doesn't buy friends. Even if you never give a dime back, you owe an apology to all those who allowed you to become a millionaire - you don't really think you did it by yourself, do you? - especially to those special little ones. That's what mature adults do when they make a mistake.
Give them a reason to be their hero instead of a zero.
This is just a short list of the many real MHS hero athletes:
· Your teammate, West Point Cadet and quarterback Reggie Nevels. An honor student earning more varsity letters than anyone.
· Grant Superior Court 1 Judge Jeffrey Todd won the Trester Award back when only one was given and is tied for second in varsity letters.
· Kyle Persinger, another basketball star, came home to practice law. He's now a school board member.
· How about Marion and the Naval Academy's star Brian Walker?
· Or 1979 grad and basketball starter Mark Mills, who graduated from West Point?
· The Air Force Academy's Kobe Leslie - a diving star here and there. He now trains Air Force officer candidates.
· Football player and wrestler Brandon Barrett attends the Naval Academy.
· Jeff Bragg, two championship basketball teams. Played at Wright State. Then he came back to Marion as Dr. Bragg, the current team doctor.
· Volleyball star Elizabeth Grider, Naval Academy, a late-'70s, early '80s cross-country star, West Point graduate.
· David Fleece, a 1970s, early '80s cross country star and West Point graduate.
If you've got the guts, give one of them a call. They know the answer.
Your choice, Zach? Are you mature enough to join the club of local heroes? The ball's in your court, Z-Bo.
John B. Milford, a 1964 Marion High School graduate, is a Marion attorney.
Originally published December 7, 2004
Zach, talk to some real local heroes
His interview let down many in his home town
Sadly, we have added Marine Cpl. Lance Thompson and Army Spc. Raymond White to our list of heroes. They stood in harm's way and paid the ultimate price.
Remember their pictures. The pride in themselves and respect for their country glowed through their crisp uniforms and shiny buttons. They honored us by their service and sacrifice.
New heroes serve in the desolate sands where they fell. Other heroes, the day-to-day variety, are all around. Lights on 24/7 at the sheriff and police departments, the hospital, firehouses, nursing homes.
Teachers planning, unpaid, after school for the next day.
Single parents and grandparents with kids struggling to make ends meet, doing the right thing day after 24-hour day. Moms and dads working 2½ jobs to put their kids through college.
Hundreds volunteer their time at churches, in civic organizations, with kids.
Local heroes pay from their own pockets rather than let a kid miss out on a PAL Club coaches pitch team or a Cub or Brownie Pack or allow the altar to go without flowers.
All unsung, modest hometown heroes. Their sense of duty to humbly set a good example goes unspoken.
Then there is Zach Randolph.
How much it must have meant to those kids, Zach, to meet their "hero" as Marion High School retired your No. 50 jersey.
How little it meant to you. You had just given an interview to ESPN: The Magazine, condemning Marion for disrespecting and not paying enough attention to you, for your undeserved criminal woes, including being picked on by police officers because you are a star.
A few quotes from the article:
"Zach Randolph pretty much hates his hometown." The article cited your conduct of minor in possession of alcohol, shoplifting, battery, two counts of receiving a stolen handgun, driving under the influence of marijuana, sucker-punching a teammate.
Your response was, "I've made some mistakes, but everyone makes mistakes."
Sorry, Zach, mistakes occur when we incorrectly believe we are right.
Did you think those were squirt guns? No. You knew they were real guns used to maim and kill people. You committed intentional criminal acts you knew were wrong.
The article reports that your "virtually all-black AAU basketball team had trouble securing a practice court while the mostly white teams were guaranteed times at clean, modern facilities."
And "... Zach could always say 'I love my town.' But now it is too much to ask the town to love him back."
It's sad. Rich with money, poor in character.
Did you forget James, Jay and Lyndon magically defying gravity, gliding, soaring, scoring? Where would you be now without their legacy?
Maybe you forgot about all those asphalt players. You owe them the most.
Remember? Wide-eyed, you must have watched for hours. They finally tolerated you and much, much later they granted you the art of basketball.
Coaches honed your skills, but these guys had already turned that clumsy kid into a player. Where would you be without them?
How about the fans? They clapped, yelled, admired, decorated their cars and wore your pin. It felt great, didn't it Z-Bo?
They cheered. They inspired. You smiled. You excelled.
Where would you be now with no bands and empty stands? You must have forgotten those good, caring people, family members and friends, including teachers who gave you so much of their time. Those who surrounded, protected, loved and often sheltered you from the consequences of your actions.
Think where you might be now without their help. Hometown heroes all.
You forgot about everybody but yourself. Maybe being a millionaire causes amnesia.
Your words to ESPNlet down those smiling kids and their parents.
Your lessons: disrespect, egotistical crybaby behavior, intentional crimes are "mistakes" that everybody commits, and, if they get into trouble, blame the police.
Maybe Marion let you down by treating you with so much admiration and esteem that we forgot to teach you the most important lesson - to be a man.
Maybe you'll become a man and do the right thing. From your $84 million consider giving less than 4 percent back to all those who made you - $1 million each to the Boys and Girls Club, PAL Club, YMCA and maybe a few bucks to fix up those public basketball courts you say are a mess.
You could probably make it tax-deductible.
But money doesn't buy friends. Even if you never give a dime back, you owe an apology to all those who allowed you to become a millionaire - you don't really think you did it by yourself, do you? - especially to those special little ones. That's what mature adults do when they make a mistake.
Give them a reason to be their hero instead of a zero.
This is just a short list of the many real MHS hero athletes:
· Your teammate, West Point Cadet and quarterback Reggie Nevels. An honor student earning more varsity letters than anyone.
· Grant Superior Court 1 Judge Jeffrey Todd won the Trester Award back when only one was given and is tied for second in varsity letters.
· Kyle Persinger, another basketball star, came home to practice law. He's now a school board member.
· How about Marion and the Naval Academy's star Brian Walker?
· Or 1979 grad and basketball starter Mark Mills, who graduated from West Point?
· The Air Force Academy's Kobe Leslie - a diving star here and there. He now trains Air Force officer candidates.
· Football player and wrestler Brandon Barrett attends the Naval Academy.
· Jeff Bragg, two championship basketball teams. Played at Wright State. Then he came back to Marion as Dr. Bragg, the current team doctor.
· Volleyball star Elizabeth Grider, Naval Academy, a late-'70s, early '80s cross-country star, West Point graduate.
· David Fleece, a 1970s, early '80s cross country star and West Point graduate.
If you've got the guts, give one of them a call. They know the answer.
Your choice, Zach? Are you mature enough to join the club of local heroes? The ball's in your court, Z-Bo.
John B. Milford, a 1964 Marion High School graduate, is a Marion attorney.
Originally published December 7, 2004
Monday, May 16, 2005
The Ultimate Power Grab?
Letters - Marion Chronicle Tribune - www.chronicle-tribune.com
I like Tracy Boatwright. He served Marion, Indiana and the state of Indiana for many years as a firefighter, City Councilman, State Representative and State Fire Marshall. Tracy is a great guy. But he only sees what is happening in the Senate from one side of the reading glasses. What the Democrats are doing by blocking a simple up/down vote on judicial nominees is a power grab! They lost the majority. They lost the presidential election! I think Tracy would agree with me, that we need both sides, Republican and Democrat, to play nice. We need to get competent qualified judges seated. The filibuster is wrong. Trying to get rid of filibustersrong. Call your Senators and ask for an up/down vote for the judicial nominees.
I like Tracy Boatwright. He served Marion, Indiana and the state of Indiana for many years as a firefighter, City Councilman, State Representative and State Fire Marshall. Tracy is a great guy. But he only sees what is happening in the Senate from one side of the reading glasses. What the Democrats are doing by blocking a simple up/down vote on judicial nominees is a power grab! They lost the majority. They lost the presidential election! I think Tracy would agree with me, that we need both sides, Republican and Democrat, to play nice. We need to get competent qualified judges seated. The filibuster is wrong. Trying to get rid of filibustersrong. Call your Senators and ask for an up/down vote for the judicial nominees.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
No Kroger, but Wal-Mart & Dollar General Distribution Centers...
Local News - Marion Chronicle Tribune - www.chronicle-tribune.com
My beautiful wife reminded me today of a remark publicly made in this community several years ago. Remember, right after people protested against then Marion Mayor Ron Mowery's proposed private prison? People were upset. A prison? You want us to have a prison? It was not a bad idea, it just was not presented in the best way, but that's beside the point. Over and over on radio, they ran a soundbite of a woman from Marion. I don't remember her name but she said something like "This town don't need a prison. What we need is a Kroger! I will call them and we will have a Kroger in this town. And I WILL call them." I don't know if she ever made the call.
My point is this. Marion and Grant County are growing because public officials are working together. They have a shared vision for this community and they are working together to achieve that vision. The newspaper headlines about how much the Highway Superintendant makes or that a professional athlete thinks we've done him wrong don't matter. What does matter is that we are moving forward. And I think that's fantastic.
My beautiful wife reminded me today of a remark publicly made in this community several years ago. Remember, right after people protested against then Marion Mayor Ron Mowery's proposed private prison? People were upset. A prison? You want us to have a prison? It was not a bad idea, it just was not presented in the best way, but that's beside the point. Over and over on radio, they ran a soundbite of a woman from Marion. I don't remember her name but she said something like "This town don't need a prison. What we need is a Kroger! I will call them and we will have a Kroger in this town. And I WILL call them." I don't know if she ever made the call.
My point is this. Marion and Grant County are growing because public officials are working together. They have a shared vision for this community and they are working together to achieve that vision. The newspaper headlines about how much the Highway Superintendant makes or that a professional athlete thinks we've done him wrong don't matter. What does matter is that we are moving forward. And I think that's fantastic.
Friday, May 06, 2005
Stand Up Comedian Evan Bayh!
U.S. needs change, Bayh says in Ohio
Evan Bayh has a great career ahead as a stand up comedian. Who's standing in the way of positive change? The Senate Democrats. Who won't let conservative judges take the bench? The Senate Democrats. What is Evan Bayh? A Senate Democrat who acts differently in Washington than he talks at home. He compares the current administration to an elephant act at the circus? Maybe we should remind him of what he accomplished as Governor of Indiana. Nothing. What did his hand picked successor achieve? A budget deficit, education problems, out of control spending and gambling, dogs and cats living together, real wrath of god type stuff. Notice Evan Bayh hasn't talked about this change in Indiana? He doesn't want us to find out who he really is. Evan, we already know.
Evan Bayh has a great career ahead as a stand up comedian. Who's standing in the way of positive change? The Senate Democrats. Who won't let conservative judges take the bench? The Senate Democrats. What is Evan Bayh? A Senate Democrat who acts differently in Washington than he talks at home. He compares the current administration to an elephant act at the circus? Maybe we should remind him of what he accomplished as Governor of Indiana. Nothing. What did his hand picked successor achieve? A budget deficit, education problems, out of control spending and gambling, dogs and cats living together, real wrath of god type stuff. Notice Evan Bayh hasn't talked about this change in Indiana? He doesn't want us to find out who he really is. Evan, we already know.
Thursday, May 05, 2005
You still do homework?
Yes, it's true. I am 40 years old and I still do homework. Right now I'm sweating the last two weeks of Finance. I am enjoying the class, fascinated by what I'm learning. In fact I'm blogging right now to keep from reading Chapter 20 about Working Capital. It's a lot of work, but I'm enjoying it. It's just the mind numbing hard work that I don't enjoy...
Things to Ponder part 1
Why would someone play a game on their cellphone while sitting on the john in a public restroom? I had this experience today, the guy in the stall next to me was playing some sort of game. Strange. I hope he didn't wipe with his cellphone by mistake...
Paying to read an online newspaper, are they nuts?
business2blog: Will You Pay to Read the NYT?
On one hand, I find this amusing, on the other hand, I don't like it. Newspapers charging you to read their online editions. I really got frustrated by this trend in February. A loved one died and I was trying to find his obituary in his local paper. The small town newspapers in his area of Northern Indiana charge you to see anything but the front page of their online edition. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid. Yes, I understand, you are trying to create another revenue stream. However why not charge people to read your archives? I agree with that business model. Charging me to read your online edition is nuts! I read USA Today Online everyday. If I'm on vacation and not in front of a computer, what am I going to buy? USA Today. What did I used to buy and ready everyday before their content was online? USA Today.
I understand that newspaper circulation is down and they are looking for new revenue streams. I think charging readers to read the online content is the wrong way to go about it. Sell a book of photographs your paper has taken the last 10 years. Sell a local cookbook. Sponsor a local event or event series. Just don't charge for online content. I see putting your newspaper online as a great way to promote your main product. Besides, most papers do not put the classified and display ads online. I still have to buy the local paper to do that. There are a lot of ways to make money online, I think charging to read the newspaper is not one of them. If the New York Times does charge to read their paper, I'll just find another newspaper to read. What do you think?
On one hand, I find this amusing, on the other hand, I don't like it. Newspapers charging you to read their online editions. I really got frustrated by this trend in February. A loved one died and I was trying to find his obituary in his local paper. The small town newspapers in his area of Northern Indiana charge you to see anything but the front page of their online edition. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid. Yes, I understand, you are trying to create another revenue stream. However why not charge people to read your archives? I agree with that business model. Charging me to read your online edition is nuts! I read USA Today Online everyday. If I'm on vacation and not in front of a computer, what am I going to buy? USA Today. What did I used to buy and ready everyday before their content was online? USA Today.
I understand that newspaper circulation is down and they are looking for new revenue streams. I think charging readers to read the online content is the wrong way to go about it. Sell a book of photographs your paper has taken the last 10 years. Sell a local cookbook. Sponsor a local event or event series. Just don't charge for online content. I see putting your newspaper online as a great way to promote your main product. Besides, most papers do not put the classified and display ads online. I still have to buy the local paper to do that. There are a lot of ways to make money online, I think charging to read the newspaper is not one of them. If the New York Times does charge to read their paper, I'll just find another newspaper to read. What do you think?
Thoughts on Social Security
I'm not going to wade too deeply into the Social Security reform discussion, but here are my thoughts.
- Social Security is not a government sponsored pension program. It is not meant to provide enough money for people to live on in retirement. It is supposed to supplement savings or pension programs.
- I am 40 years old. I do not expect Social Security to be there for me when I retire. I have taken it upon myself to save for my retirement getting into the excellent Tia-Cref retirement program at work.
- The federal government has robbed the Social Security program for years, all that is in there right now is IOU on top of IOU.
- Democrats have been so successful in scaring older Americans that Republicans want to take away Social Security. Will someone please wake up and realize that scare tactics are the Democratic Party's primary weapon along with social welfare programs?
- We have private pension funds for all sorts of federal government officials including congress. Congress is too good for social security. Take away their program and make them pay in to social security
The bottom line is Social Security is broken. We need to put money in the program to take care of the people who are eligible for benefits now. I have not extensively researched President Bush's plan, but I think he is right wanting to allow people to invest SOME of their money in the stock market or mutual funds.
I also think the federal government needs to figure out an end date for social security. I have paid into the program for 20 years, will I be upset if the program is not there when I may need it? No. I think this is one program the federal government needs to end. There are bigger messes (the federal budget, pork barrel spending, welfare...) that we need to try to fix. That's just my point of view, I welcome your comments.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Spying on the spyware makers
Spying on the spyware makers | Newsmakers | CNET News.com
A good article on spyware and who is trying to get information about you. Spyware is all about advertising and finding out what products you like and buy. It slows down your computer and causes you problems. And this little piece of advice, don't use just one spyware scanner. I've been told by some IT professionals that you need to use two or three spyware scanners to get rid of all adware and spyware on your computer.
A good article on spyware and who is trying to get information about you. Spyware is all about advertising and finding out what products you like and buy. It slows down your computer and causes you problems. And this little piece of advice, don't use just one spyware scanner. I've been told by some IT professionals that you need to use two or three spyware scanners to get rid of all adware and spyware on your computer.
Confessions of a Recovering Geek...
Hi I'm Tim and I have a problem (Hi Tim) It's been a while since I blogged and I'm sorry about that. But that's not the point. I recently embraced my geekiness in a whole new way. April 23rd I went to Star Wars Celebration 3 in Indianapolis. And yes, Indianapolis was the geek capital of the world for a couple of days. All sorts of folks dressed up in Star Wars Gear, look there's tall Darth Vader, Skinny Darth Vader, Fat Darth Vader, Elvis Stormtrooper, Vote For Pedro Stormtrooper etc.. Star Wars came out in 1977 when I was 13 years old. I can remember sitting in the theater with one of my buddies watching this amazing movie. There was nothing like Star Wars before I saw that movie. "The Wizard of Oz" was probably the only thing that came close. The point is, we had a blast! My brother, who is a movie fanatic, my son, who shares my interest in Star Wars, and I all had a lot of fun. Just being together, walking around looking at all things Star Wars that filled the Indiana Convention Center. We also saw about 6 minutes of preview footage from the new movie. It looks like a great ride. The best part about the whole day, was spending time with my brother and my son. Pat and I grew up without the benefit of a father. Our mother did a great job raising us, but our Dad never seemed to have time for us. As a father I have tried to do things for and with Matthew that I wish my father had done for us. As much as I despise my father, I've come to terms with the fact I see him every day when I look in the mirror and I hear him every time my brother talks. So we didn't dress up like Yoda or stand in line for 7 hours to buy an official Celebration 3 Darth Vader. But we did have a great time together and that's all that matters. It's kind of ironic, Star Wars is a generational story about a father (Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader) and his son (Luke Skywalker.) And it was a day about Star Wars that gave me so much enjoyment spending time with my brother and my son.
Personal Responsibility 101
IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star's online edition
Is it me, or does this story scream "it's not my fault!" What ever happened to personal responsibility? You know, it always seems to happen. When I talk (or write) about something like this, I get hit in the face with a situation and I'm screaming "it's not my fault!" Oh well...really, I didn't leave the toilet seat up honey, it's not my fault!
Is it me, or does this story scream "it's not my fault!" What ever happened to personal responsibility? You know, it always seems to happen. When I talk (or write) about something like this, I get hit in the face with a situation and I'm screaming "it's not my fault!" Oh well...really, I didn't leave the toilet seat up honey, it's not my fault!
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