IUPUI PARKING SUCKS!!!

Why do so many stupid people get put in charge of everything? You know what I am talking about; the government, wall street, and obviously the people handling parking at IUPUI. Everyone who attends classes at the school knows what I am talking about. Paying hundreds of dollars a year for parking only to be made to park down the road and wait outside for a shuttle to arrive. Chugging in a slow moving line up the slope of a parking garage and then back down it watching what would have been early to class turn into late. One of the times I was late waiting for a shuttle that didn't show to move me the approximately 1.5 miles I had to park from class I took the opportunity to talk to some people from parking services, I was told that previously there had been 2 to 3 cars sold parking permits per space and now there were approximately 4 to 5 cars sold permits to space and that was the problem. More cars same number of spaces as if that couldn't have been guessed. What I want to know was why would they oversell the spaces to that degree and if there are more cars to fewer spaces why did the school feel justified raising the parking rates, that's right they are having their cake and screwing it too. All of this was the good news. Now for the bad news the parking gods in all of their infinite wisdom have decided in the middle of the year when people have had to use the grass outside of the library as parking to go ahead with construction of a new parking garage. A new garage? A garage sounds like a good thing except for two things;

1. This is copied directly from the IUPUI Parking and Transportation Services web-page:

"the campus is building a brand new parking garage (California St Garage) just east of Blackford Street, providing 1,300 convenient spots. Construction begins in a few weeks and will be completed in time for the start of classes next fall. Unfortunately, as the new garage goes up, we’ll lose 550 parking spaces. It’s very likely that your favorite spot may be in the construction zone."

2. THIS GARAGE WILL NOT BE DONE BY NEXT SEMESTER!!

When there were already major problems with parking why would construction that will eliminate an additional 550 spots start over a three week break when the ground is frozen solid? It is called summertime people, it' s the 3 month period with few people on campus with the great weather. Collegeprowler.com gave the parking situation a letter grade of D and had this to say:

"Most students get a very sour taste in their mouths when someone mentions anything about parking, especially at the beginning of the semester, during midterms, or during finals. The students that drive to campus (which includes most of the students that attend IUPUI) usually cannot get a parking spot and be on time to class unless they show up at 7 or 8 a.m. This is the best time to try and find parking, and if students can force themselves to get up this early, then it is a perfect opportunity for them to find some quiet time to study before class. In other words, the early bird catches the worm—and the late bird flies into class like a bat out of hell. The decisions IUPUI Parking Services makes are very closely scrutinized by the students. There have been articles in the school newspaper, the Sagamore, about the discrepancy between the amount of parking passes sold versus the amount of spots available. There are many more passes sold than there are spots available."

the collegeprowler.com article also made reference to bumper stickers made by the students in the School of Liberal Arts that said "Food Parking why not both" that was a parody of the IUPUI slogan. Prediction for the following fall? Higher parking prices on the horizon.

James Cameron's Avatar needs new ads.

After James Cameron spent years and over $300 million dollars to create a film that he has thought about for most of his life why would e leave the promotions to just anyone. Cameron, a director that is known to be domineering stopped just shot of the finish line and just totally handed over the reigns of the Avatar marketing blitz. The television trailer spots, even the movie previews trailer are terrible. The scenes were cut badly, the glimpse at the story seems childish, and the clips of trite cliché dialogue I can only pray is not indicative of the entire move. The movie has gotten good reviews though, so what gives? Rottentomatoes.com gave it an 89%. Roger Ebert who let's admit hasn't been on his game since the 1999 death of Gene Siskel the real brains (no pun intended) of the At The Movies duo likened the the experience of seeing Avatar to viewing the original Star Wars release in 1977. High praise, bad marketing. Do I think that Avatar will not make a ton of cash because of the poor marketing? Of course not. Avatar will rake in the cash, it has grown to a spectacle everyone will want to see simply from the hype and budget rumors alone. What is problem with the marketing then? I am just not fond of having a preconceived notion of crapiness pushed on me by the very medium that is supposed to be bolstering opinion. James, next time use just a little more follow through with the portrayal of your content. The trailers were just badly done or else you guys just purposely started the first publicity machine that drums up negative feelings for a movie knowing that with the $300 million budget the only thing that people might hope for more than cinematic perfection might be to get the next Waterworld in which case I owe you an apology.

Olivia Munn Maxim Magazine January 2010 Issue

As a big fan of tech shows and hot girls that have interest in geeky and guyish hobbies I am happy to say that G4's Olivia Munn has a article and picture layout in the January 2010 issue of Maxim magazine. While other G4 girls like Morgan Webb have been featured in Maxim and she is certainly the better gamer I personally have always been bothered (only slightly) by her total lack of lips. Here is an excerpt from the Q&A portion of the article:

When did you first realize you were…well, kind of a nerd.

"I think it was eighth grade. I was in a military family, so by the time I was 13 I’d lived in six different places. I remember looking around that year and realizing that the one group that always takes you in is the geeks."

Did you have a geek idol growing up?

"Punky Brewster. At the time I found her I was living in Utah—Mormon central, all these blond-haired, blue-eyed, all-American people. Then there was me, a complete tomboy with natty hair and polyester pants. I saw this girl on TV who looked and talked just like me and played with boys and didn’t care about getting dirty."

You’re in The Slammin’ Salmon, and soon we’ll see you in Iron Man 2. Has the jump to film been intimidating?

"I was a big fan of Super Troopers, so working with the Broken Lizard guys was so much fun. For Iron Man I had to improv with Robert Downey Jr., which is like going up against LeBron in basketball. At one point he stopped and said, “Can we give a round of applause to Olivia, because she’s rocking it right now.” I was so happy I went through a McDonald’s drive-through on my way home and ordered two cheeseburgers and some fries."

We have to ask: Are you dating anyone—or is there hope for us?

"I just broke up with my boyfriend, so I’m officially single. But one thing I find unbelievably annoying is all these guys in my life who want to save me. They’re like, “Do you feel alone?” Everyone’s turned into Oprah!"

Olivia Munn also did a covered up shoot for Playboy that will be out soon making people wonder why they would ever even bother reading that magazine, because it's not for the articles. Well thanks for the article maxim and maybe next time you'll do one on Alison Haislip.

Merry Christmas France

France has a reason to celebrate this holiday season, the recovery of French performer Hallyday. Johnny Hallyday who is apparently the biggest musical performer that no American has ever heard of recovered this december after an operation in Los Angeles where he was placed into a medical coma. Johnny has been performing for a half century, sold over 100 million records and is called the French Elvis. Apparently, the news of Johnny Hallyday's hospitalization overran the French press as the largest story in the country. So Merry Christmas France and maybe some of America will hear of this performer in the new year.

IU good student discount.

There has been a lot of talk over the last semester that IU is going to be offering a good student discounts. I have even heard it first hand that there was talk of this on the news. Some of the rumored details of the discount were that it would be $300 off the semester following a semester where the student attained a 3.0 or better and that it would possibly be starting as early as the Spring 2010 semester. While most of these points are not confirmed or denied there is one that is definitely false and that is there will be no discount during the upcoming spring semester. I spoke with a IUPUI financial aid office worker today 12/16/2010 and she said that although the discount will come at some point there is no specific date as of yet, the school's administration has no idea how to implement the discount, and there will most likely be no word as to decisions on the discount until June 2010. For all you students that were hoping for a bonus for your good grades sit tight, it sounds like it will be awhile.

Kids dart. Drive Smart.

These are signs that you can see throughout the Indianapolis area posted in yards The "Kids Dart. Drive Smart" initiative started by Riley Children's Hospital in 2007 provides the signs free of charge at the expense of the Hospital (occasionally with the addition of a corporate sponsor). Here is the Hospital's official statements on the program from 05/15/2008 that can be found at http://www.rileydocs.com/news050508.html .

"Indianapolis - Due to the overwhelming success of last year's Kids dart. Drive smart. child safety campaign, Riley Hospital for Children is taking the campaign statewide and partnering with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, hospitals across the state and the local community in a concentrated effort to reduce driving speeds during the summer and back-to-school months - a time of year when more children are injured while playing and bicycling.

"Kids dart. Drive smart. is a unique grassroots effort to protect child pedestrians who frequently are injured by motorists and is designed to remind adults that children are at play and to slow down to help keep them safe," said Dr. Tres Scherer, medical director of Riley's Pediatric Trauma Center. "This year's campaign will extend beyond the Indianapolis metro area and engage statewide partners, coalitions and referring physicians in which more than 20,000 yard signs are expected to be distributed."

The Kids dart. Drive smart. campaign will engage neighborhoods, schools, churches, businesses and individuals to raise awareness and significantly reduce injuries.

"As we patrol the streets of Marion County, we see just how many children are out in the neighborhoods and streets during the summer months," said Chief Michael Spears, of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. "It is important for IMPD to partner with Riley in this important public safety campaign to encourage motorists to drive safely and pay attention to their surroundings."

Riley Hospital for Children is making Kids dart. Drive smart. yard signs available at no cost, as supplies allow, for neighborhoods and homes in an effort to reinforce the message of child pedestrian safety and engage the community.

The yard signs feature children running and playing underscored with the phrase "Kids dart. Drive smart." They serve as a reminder that it is difficult for children to accurately judge the distance of an approaching vehicle and often will dart from between parked cars while playing.

In addition to yard signs that will be on display throughout the state of Indiana, radio spots, billboards and viral web videos will also reinforce the importance of watching out for kids at play.

Research has shown that, while children may be keenly aware of the danger automobiles present, younger children have not fully developed their depth perception. That can lead to kids running out into the street and in front of vehicles with little time for the drivers to react.

More than 44,000 child pedestrians were injured in the U.S. during 2006, the most recent year for which figures are available. From 1999-2005, the nation saw 7,299 pedestrian fatalities among children 17 years of age and younger. Indiana children accounted for 128 of those deaths.

From 1999-2006, Clarian Health, including Riley Hospital for Children, treated 1,127 children younger than 18 years of age after being struck by a motor vehicle while walking or riding a bike. Eight resulted in fatalities. As was the case nationally, more males, 67 percent, were treated for pedestrian injuries than females at Clarian. The following age groups represent the percentage of injuries:

• Ages 0 -1: 12.8 percent
• Ages 5-9: 32 percent
• Ages 10-14: 37 percent
• Ages 15-17: 17.8 percent "

The information they have posted seems pretty factual, but the source of statistics they use are not given which is strange. This is a great program that the Riley Children's Hospital has started, now let's discuss the signs themselves. The signs are affective, attention grabbing, and don't give too much information which is good for anything that is to be seen while driving. The I feel the sign could be approved on with the addition of reflective imaging. Kids in the roadway are a problem that often doesn't stop at sundown. With the low cost addition of reflective material on the sign drivers would be reminded of children present in residential areas after dark. Keeping the reflective pattern in the shape of the child in the image's outline would allow the reminder to be quickly transmitted even after dark.