Elkhart Review

We've Moved

2008-11-10T12:53:00.002-05:00

Elkhart Review is now at: http://www.elkhartreview.com.

This blog is pretty much dormant at this time.

Dave Dufour

Editor of Elkhart Review

2008-09-06T13:28:00.000-04:00

2008-07-26T19:49:00.001-04:00

Demolition derby @ fair.
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The (co) Director Speaks!

2008-06-05T21:55:00.002-04:00

We caught up with Stephanie Salisbury, co-director of the upcoming Arsenic and Old Lace, and asked her how it was going. Click here to listen!

2008-05-20T00:46:00.001-04:00

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ER moved (REVISED)

2008-05-16T08:46:00.001-04:00

UPDATE: Elkhart Review is back here on blogger while we make some major changes on the elkhartreview.com site.

Elkhart Review has been moved to a Linux server at GoDaddy.com. Due to some security settings, the previous Windows configuration did not allow us to (easily) provide news feeds and other syndicated content. We're also finding that the Linux setup will be more flexible in a number of other ways as well, with more open source products available for developing the kind of site we want Elkhart Review to become.

Red Post puts digital signage in the "neighborhood."

2008-05-13T18:21:00.004-04:00

Eric Kanagy's company, Red Post, has developed a novel approach to local poster advertising and informational signage. Using a combination of digital screens, XML and a "neighborhood" concept, Red Post signs are currently blazing away at 9 (soon to be 11) locations in Goshen. He's also introduced the concept to hotels and conference centers. Here's a sample of what the Goshen Area signs are currently displaying. Check it out at Red Post.

Walgreens are taking over Elkhart

2008-05-09T21:31:00.001-04:00

New Walgreen's store going in at Hively and Prairie Streets in Elkhart. The chain is expanding here, between Elkhart and Goshen along US33 and north of the toll road on Cassopolis.

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Why is gas so expensive?

2008-05-03T11:46:00.001-04:00

There's a great article at AOL Autos that explains the costs of a gallon of gas. It's not really the oil companies' fault. Yes, they ARE making record profits now, but those profits are what would allow them to explore for more oil (which we need) and expand refining capacity. Proposals to tax "windfall" profits make no sense in this environment, frustrating as it is.

Ivy Tech is not just a city resource

2008-05-03T00:37:00.004-04:00

Etruth reports today that Mayor Dick Moore and Arvis Dawson of his administration met with Ivy Tech President Thomas Snyder to try to sway the state community college to build its new Elkhart location within the city limits, instead of in the burgeoning County Road 17 corridor as planned.

The short answer to this query is "not bloody likely." The location being suggested by the city is along Elkhart Ave where Elkhart Foundry was formerly located. This location is significantly smaller than the CR. 17 spot, and so is inadequate for the needs of the college. Ivy Tech is cramped in its current location, and it doesn't appear to us that the downtown spot would add much, nor would it allow for future expansion.

Contrary to Moore's comment that the CR 17 location is too far away from those who need Ivy Tech, it's actually more easily accessible from both Elkhart and Goshen than the current location is, and much more so than the city's proposed spot. Ivy Tech currently serves a large number of Goshen Students who would have faster access via CR 17 than they do now. Currently, some Ivy Tech classes are held in Goshen High School in the evening, but this situation isn't ideal. Locating along CR 17 would mean that all classes could meet where they have the full resources of the college available in the same building.

Moore touts such city advantages as proximity to the IUSB Elkhart Center, as well as the Riverwalk WiFi (which hasn't worked properly for at least two weeks according to Elkhart Review's experience). Neither of these is a huge drawing card for a community college offering more in the way of hands-on vocational training than IUSB does. WiFi, even if it does work, is superfluous for Ivy Tech, which would have its own high speed access anyway.

Our vote is for Ivy Tech to stay on the current plan, and continue working with the county as it has all along. Ivy Tech/Elkhart serves the entire county, and should locate itself where it can do so most effectively.

Whither the web?

2008-04-30T09:12:00.000-04:00

An online friend noted this great article on the future of the web, with comments from five of its "founders." Luminaries look to the future web

2008-04-30T00:07:00.006-04:00

We're using Utterz.com to post some of the audio posts on Elkhart Review. Here's an interview with one of the founders of Utterz.com that will give you an idea of what it's about.

There's just this one little problem with Obama ...

2008-04-28T21:31:00.001-04:00

Andrew Sullivan comments again on the Reverend Wright argle-bargle, including the Rev's comments of today:

I reiterate that I think Obama has to make clear again that he vehemently opposes the use of race to divide and separate and inflame ancient grievances; that he wants to get beyond the racial politics of the Vietnam era; that he is dedicated to overcoming race and offering hope - not obsessing about race in order to foment anger and bitterness. Parts of the message Wright gave today were not just alien to Obama's stated views - but actively hostile to them. Obama cannot explain that often enough

.

Unless, of course, he agrees with Wright. As Newt (on H&C tonight) indicates, Wright is not just a goofball preacher. He's a hard leftist -- and so is Obama.

On the pod

2008-04-27T20:55:00.002-04:00

A quick note about the Elkhart Review Podcast. It's still in development. The first episode, which IS still available, is not what we wanted it to be, but a new, improved one is in production and will be out shortly. Getting a new podcast together is the easiest thing in the world. Getting a decent-to-good one together is much harder, but we'll make it.

Beijing adds anti-smoking personnel

2008-04-26T01:52:00.004-04:00

Breitbart.com reported that the city of Beijing is getting ready to add 40,000 smoking inspectors to its current complement of 60,000, to boost enforcement of a 12-year-old public smoking ban.

By any standard, 100,000 is a lot of official scolds running around just one city telling people they can't smoke in public.

These officials can't issue fines, but they can report establishments that are allowing smoking, and the potential fines that can be levied on businesses are around $700 -- a fairly large amount for the average Chinese person, I would assume.

Beijing's ban does not apply to restaurants, bars, or massage parlors, so apparently the Communist Chinese are offering a bit more freedom of choice for their citizens than the Elkhart City Council is willing to permit here. Nonetheless, it's good to know our leaders are taking a cue from such perennial defenders of personal freedom as the People's Republic of China.

This proves what?

2008-04-21T13:23:00.003-04:00

South Bend Tribune: St. Joseph County sheriff endorses Clinton for president .

What does this tell us?

Only that the sheriff, along with a number of other sheriffs across the state, has very poor judgement. How is it that a law enforcement officer can favor someone who is so demonstrably dishonest?

It also makes me uncomfortable that any law enforcement official publicly endorses a political candidate. Will I get pulled over some night for driving while Republican?

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Ever wonder why we can't make everything perfect?

2008-04-20T22:28:00.002-04:00

Brigitte Dale provides the best explanation we've seen of why busybody attempts to control peoples' habits often have the opposite effect. Are you listening, Elkhart City Council?

Brigitte's very clever podcast is readily found on YouTube or via iTunes.

Obama the Redistributionist

2008-04-19T01:13:00.002-04:00

We're not the only ones that think Obama is clueless about taxes and economics in general. The WSJ thinks so, too.

Truck soils highway near Crown Point

2008-04-18T11:24:00.002-04:00

A truck carrying treated human feces spilled on Indiana 55 earlier today. The highway is reopened but the driver was cited by the Indiana DOT for carrying an "unsecured load."

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Is Dean crazy? (As if we didn't know)

2008-04-18T11:06:00.003-04:00

DNC Chairman Howard Dean is pressuring the Dems' super delegates to "decide now" who they are supporting. Approximately three hundred are still uncommitted. This would effectively end one of the Democratic candidates' campaigns, which flies in the face of the rhetoric about letting everyone's vote be counted. At the same time, he says he doesn't want to push any candidate to drop out -- BUT, he really does.

I don't think it will happen (I also expect Dean to be out after the election).

Debate -- the morning after

2008-04-17T14:15:00.001-04:00

Reflection on winners, if any, on what is likely to be the last of the Clinton/Obama debates.

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Whew!

2008-04-16T21:56:00.002-04:00

That was harder than I thought it would be.

Closing stuff

2008-04-16T21:36:00.002-04:00

Hillary --

Same old cliche of taking on the "special interests" and taking away the subsidies for corporations, big employers, etc. Unfortunately, business is too willing to accept corporate welfare, which makes them potential victims down the line.

Again with the track record and "lifetime" of service. Both non-existent.

"Shared Prosperity"=redistribution of wealth

Obama --

He's right that people don't trust the government, but I don't see either of these helping that. Obama comes off as more honest tonight, but less knowledgeable. Especially regarding economics.

Debate is hurting both but ...

2008-04-16T21:29:00.002-04:00

It seems to be hurting Obama the most. He is appearing not to be knowledgeable, especially on economic issues. His sparring with Charlie Gibson on the capital gains tax made him look especially weak.

Taxes

2008-04-16T21:05:00.002-04:00

There's that "we" stuff about the 1990s.

She is committed to not raising taxes on the middle class. So is Obama, but they'll raise the taxes of their employers. Hillary doesn't think this would hurt the economy, because she and Bill did it in the 90s.

Obama wants to raise the capital gains tax. Not because he thinks it makes sense (it doesn't) but because of "fairness." This is socialism under an incredibly thin guise. He wants to have investment in social programs, but ignores the fact that lower rates mean more income just for that purpose!

Hillary brags about the 90s, but the reason things were good then was because of the base laid by low taxes in the 80s.