St. Patrick's Day Parade

We all know St. Patrick's Day is 17 March -- except the planners for Indy's St. Patrick's Day Parade must be confused about the date.

For obviously indefensible reasons, they have decided to begin the 27th annual St. Pat's event along the downtown Indianapolis parade route at 11:30 a.m. on Friday (16 March).


2008 UPDATE:
The 2008 St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Indy begins at 11:30 a.m. on St. Patrick's Day (17 March). Wow!

Cummins buys out Indian turbocharger partner

According to The Indianapolis Business Journal, Cummins Inc. has bought the 50 percent stake in a turbocharger manufacturing operation in India that it didn't already own.

The Columbus diesel engine maker didn't disclose the price it paid to assume total ownership of Tata Holset Limited, a unit of Tata Group of Companies.

Tata Holset will be renamed Cummins Turbo Technologies.

VIVA il Violino 2007

A black tie benefit for the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis takes place Saturday (10 March) at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in downtown Indianapolis.

The second annual fundraiser includes a cocktail reception, Silent and Live Auctions, a gourmet dinner accompanied by wine, and a performance by acclaimed trio Time for Three, a cross-over group blending bluegrass, gypsy music and jazz into a non-traditional program.

For tickets ($150 per person), call 317:637-4574.

International Violin Competition of Indianapolis programs are supported by the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, and with support from the Arts Council of Indianapolis and the City of Indianapolis.

International Film Festival Starts 25 April

As soon as the schedule is finalized, look for it here.

Belgian beer to be brewed in...Terre Haute!

According to Inside INdiana Business, Brugge Brasserie, Indianapolis, is currently in final negotiations with Terre Haute Brewing Company to launch the bottling and distribution of its Belgian-style brews for a wider statewide audience.

The Terre Haute Brewing Company was established in 1837, and is the second oldest active brewery in the United States.

Go to Scotland with University Professors!

Indiana University Kokomo professors Robert Strikwerda and Terri Bourus are collaborating with Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis professor Erik Lindseth to take students, alumni and community members to Scotland 23 July - 3 August.

IU Kokomo and IUPUI students going on the trip must take one of several classes that will be held on their respective campuses during the second summer session prior to departure.

Students may choose from three classes including H399 and F200: "Tartans, Bagpipes, and Cloned Sheep; L383: "Early Scottish Literature, Shakespeare, and Macbeth," and H425: "The Scotland of Mary, Queen of Scots."

The trip includes a visit to Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Culloden near Inverness, and Glasgow. Travelers will visit Stirling Castle, the Wallace Monument, Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood House, Linlithgow Palace, Loch Leven, Dunfirmline Castle and Dryburgh Abbey, to name only a few.

The deadline is 20 March. Here are the details.

An American's Global Perspective

"An American's Global Perspective, a conversation with Lee Hamilton, is set for Thursday (15 March) in the Westin Hotel, downtown Indianapolis.

The evening is presented by the International Kidney Stone Institute in partnership with the Methodist Health Foundation and Clarian Health.

Tickets for the reception, at 5:30 p.m., and the presentation, at 5:30 p.m., are $50. Tickets for the reception, presentation and a private dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. are $125. For reservations, call 317:962-0647.

Lee H. Hamilton, a former U.S. Congressman from Indiana, was co-chair of the Iraq Study Group, Baker Hamilton Commission.

The International Kidney Stone Institute is a charitable organization dedicated to supporting clinical and basic science research and education for the detection, management and prevention of kidney stone disease.

Sweden's take on integrating work and family

Linda Haas, Professor of Sociology, discusses "Integrating work and family: Social policy, corporate culture and fatherhood in Sweden" at 4:30 p.m. Friday (9 March) in Cavanaugh Hall 508, Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis.

Her presentation is part of the Sabbatical Speaker Series sponsored by the Indiana University School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI. Information: Annette Hill, 317:278-1839.

"Israel/Palestine: Seeking Peaceful Coexistence"

A video conference on seeking peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine sponsored by the Office of International Affairs at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis (as part of the Spring 2007 Speaker Series) features Prof. Zvi Bekerman, School of Education, the Melton Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Prof. Muhammad M. Haj-Yahia, School of Social Work and Social Welfare, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The live link will be activated from noon to 1 p.m. in Global Crossroads Lab ES2132 at IUPUI on Thursday (8 March).

Information, Craig Lee, 317:418-1982, or Ian McIntosh, 317:274-3776.

Oz in Indy -- it's official!

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Trustees of Indiana University today (March 1) unanimously approved the appointment of Michael A. McRobbie (left)as the 18th president of the 187-year-old institution with eight campuses and more than 97,000 students.

McRobbie, currently the interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at IU Bloomington, has been a senior administrator at IU for 10 years. With an education grounded both in philosophy and science, he came to IU in January 1997 as vice president for information technology and chief information officer. Six years later, he was given the additional responsibilities of vice president for research.

McRobbie, 56, a native of Australia, will replace Adam W. Herbert, who announced last year that he would not serve beyond the end of his contract. Although Herbert's five-year contract runs through June 2008, he has said he would step down earlier if a replacement were found. McRobbie will officially take over as president on July 1, 2007.

And, that's the official word from Indiana University's press release, issued today.

Australian to head Indiana University?

According to The Indianapolis Star, Michael McRobbie, Indiana University's chief academic officer, will be named the new university president tomorrow.

The Star reports that "McRobbie, who is from Australia, arrived at IU in 1997 as vice president for information technology and chief information officer. His role expanded to vice president for research six years later.

He was named interim provost and vice president for academic affairs in Bloomington about a year ago.

Butler's 17th Annual International Dinner

The 17th annual International Dinner sponsored by the International Club and International Student Services of Butler University begins at 6 p.m. Saturday (24 March) in the Reilly Room, Atherton Union, Butler.

Tickets are $25. For information and reservations, contact Melissa Trahyn, 317:940-9888.

Telemarketers Targeting Hispanic Community

Indiana's Attorney General has issued a press release warning about a telemarketing scam aimed at the Hoosier Hispanic Community.

Attorney General Steve Carter is cautioning the Hispanic community to beware of telemarketing fraud that attempts to sell consumers a variety of items such as travel packages and English courses. In some instances, the telemarketers attempt to convince consumers they are obligated to continue to make payments to the company when they are not.

“We are hearing from the Hispanic community that unscrupulous telemarketers are attempting to exploit the desire to learn English and to travel to see family and relatives,” Attorney General Steve Carter said. “Often, consumers pay hundreds of dollars upon delivery of packages that contain bogus items that aren’t what the telemarketers represented.”

Consumers should be extremely cautious when solicited by a telemarketer offering these items in particular, although fraud can occur with a variety of products. The attorney general would like to remind the Hispanic community that telemarketing calls can be reduced by registering their residential phone number on the state’s Do Not Call list by calling 1-888-834-9969 or by visiting IndianaConsumer.com.

AIW International Women's Day Gala

The Association of International Women celebrates International Women's Day with a gala Saturday, 10 March, at Meridian Hills Country Club, 7099 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis.

Social hour begins at 6:30 p.m., with dinner seating at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $52 per person ($62 after 7 March).

For information and reservations, contact Debra Renkens.

Indianapolis Liederkranz' Cabaret Series

The next cabaret evening at the Liederkranz, 1417 East Washington Street, Indianapolis, stars Patrick Grant. His "Songs of My Homeland" will feature music from Ireland and Scotland.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, 10 March, with food and drink available for purchase.

Tickets for the show, starting at 7:30 p.m., are $12. To purchase, call Mrs. Chandler, 317:782-9216.

Tri-State Mission to Malaysia and Japan

The Institute for Global Enterprise in Indiana and the Tri-State World Trade Council are teaming up with the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC) to provide Indiana and tri-state businesses with a chance to visit some of the most promising markets in the world.

Business executives and city officials will visit Kuala Lumpur, Tochigi (Evansville Sister City) and Tokyo 19-30 May in an effort to identify new business partners.

At each stop, participants will have the opportunity to take advantage of tailored industry briefings, U.S. embassy-sponsored networking events, host country government briefings, site visits and one-on-one meetings customized to each company’s needs.

For information and registration, contact LaSone Gibson, 812:488-2902.

Plainfield Connects with Denmark

Plainfield-based Brightpoint Inc. has agreed to purchase Dangaard Telecom of Padbord, Denmark, in a $308 million stock deal, according to the Indianapolis Business Journal.

Dangaard Telecom is the largest wireless phone distributor in Europe, and the deal balloons the cell phone distributor's annual revenue from $2.5 billion to $4.6 billion.

International Women's Day

The annual celebration of International Women's Day starts at 6:30 p.m. 1 March in the Lilly Auditorium of the University Library of Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis.

Co-sponsored by the IUPUI Women's Studies Program, School of Liberal Arts, Office of Campus and Community Life, and University Library, the event is free and open to all.

According to Karen Kovacik, the opening reception, catered by Caribbean Flavor restaurant, will begin at 6:30 p.m. The following community groups and institutions will be represented at the reception: the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Julian Center, the Etheridge Knight Poetry Festival, Planned Parenthood, and Out Word Bound Books.

The program begins at 7 p.m. with classical Indian dance by Priyanka Dube, poetry by Tasha Jones, fiction by Joanna Wos and Claudia Labin, and a dramatic performance by Donna Edmond. Debra White-Stanley will host this part of the program.

After the featured performers, there will be another 20-minute break, and the multicultural, multilingual open mic will begin at 8:20 p.m.

Dr. Kovacik says there are only about fourteen slots left for the open mic, so please email Tiffany Kyser. if you want to be put on the list. Tiffany, a former women's basketball star at IUPUI and a wonderful poet, will be emcee. To keep the open mic portion of our program to an hour, readers are asked to restrict themselves to one page of poetry or a half page of prose. The work must have been written by a woman. Those reading in languages other than English are asked to bring a translation as well.

For information, contact Karen Kovacik, 317:274-9831.

"Everything is Separated by Water"

"Regalos/Gifts: a Public Performance" is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday (24 February) in the Pulliam Great Hall of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, 4000 Michigan Road, Indianapolis.

A notice from the IMA says, "A regalo is a gift, a gesture that extends the self into another as a way to communicate. In this performance, the artist's body forms a bridge, an informational memory line, to the audience."

The artist giving the performance is María Magdalena Campos-Pons, whose work is featured in IMA's special exhibition, "Everything Is Separated by Water", open Sunday (25 February) through 3 June.

The IMA notes, "As the first in-depth exhibition of María Magdalena Campos-Pons, one of the most important Cuban artists working today, this show features 34 major works including paintings, sculptures, new media installations, and large-format Polaroid photographs that the artist produced since leaving Cuba in 1990. Campos-Pons re-assembles fragments and symbols of personal and collective memories in order to grapple with her imagined displacement from Africa, her actual exile from Cuba, and her experience as a black Cuban woman living in North America."

The exhibit was organized by the Indianapolis Museum of Art with support in part by grants from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Admission to the special exhibit is $12 for adults; $10 for seniors (65 and over); $6 for children ages 7-17 and college students with valid ID, and free for children six and under and IMA members.

Saturday's performance, however, is open to the public at no charge.

Iraq in Fragments: film to play in Indianapolis

"IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS" will have a brief run at Key Cinemas beginning on Friday (23 February).

Nominated for an Academy Award, it's a documentary film in Kurdish and Arabic with English subtitles, directed by James Longley and released 10 November 2006 (Running time: 94 minutes).

Key Cinemas is located on the southwest corner of South Keystone, Hanna and Carson Avenues in the Keystone South Shopping Center at 4044 South Keystone Avenue, Indianapolis.

Showtimes are 1:30, 3:30, 5:30, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday (23-24 February); 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Sunday (25 February), and 1:30, 3:30 and 7 p.m. Wednesday (28 February).

According to the publicity release, "Iraq in Fragments" illuminates post-war Iraq in three acts, building a vivid picture of a country pulled in different directions by religion and ethnicity. Filmed in verité style, with no scripted narration, the film power fully explores the lives of ordinary Iraqis: people whose thoughts, beliefs, aspirations, and concerns are at once personal and illustrative of larger issues in Iraq today.

After the 7 p.m. showing 28 February, a group of Iraqis and Middle East experts will lead a discussion of the film. If you would like to see the film and to participate in a discussion but can't attend that screening, please contact John Clark at Sagamore Institute for Policy Research, 317:472-9666. "If there is a big enough demand, we might set up a discussion on the afternoon of Saturday the 24th, or Sunday the 25th," he writes.

In addition to its Oscar nomination for Best Documentary, the film won Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Editing awards in the 2006 Sundance Film Festival documentary competition, and the Grand Jury Prize at the 2006 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.