Random Scubalon

Because people all over the world are checking out overrated/underrated and people are begging for more I have fired up the O/U computers to weigh in again.  For those of you that are signing on from parts far-flung this is the local version of O/U, so it may not be as relevent to you as other O/U posts are, but don’t worry you will still be able to learn from it.

Daylight Savings Time – Underrated.  This is a new thing here in Indiana that we are changing time with the rest of the country, and I gotta tell you – It’s great.  More time for golf, more time for every outdoor activity after work – I love it!!  Now, here is a benefit that many Hoosier sports fans may not have thought about.  For 1/2 of the NFL season, the Colts kicked off their games at noon local time, so Colts fans who attended church were forced to miss most of the 1st quarter on their way home.  Now, they will all kick off at 1:00 pm at the earliest.  So, more golf, more soccer, more fishing, and MORE FOOTBALL!!!!

Gov. Mitch Daniels – Underrated. Here’s the situation… when “My man Mitch” came into office, the state was in the red (after previous Goveners Bayh and O’Bannon had been given a $4 billion surplus), manufacturing jobs were racing each other out of the state, and the Colts were talking about leavng.  Now, we are two years in, the state is back in black (cue AC/DC music), 3 major plants have announced they are moving here this year, and once Mitch kicked the worthless Indy mayor out of the negotiations a tremendous new stadium is going up with major expansions to the convention center, which will put Indy on great footing for years to come and keeps the Colts here in Indiana.  Now his idea of “major moves” still has the jury out, but so far it looks good. Oh, and by the way, it was his idea to put us on DST.  Even if you are a democrat you have to give it up to Mitch.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Underrated.  Here are the facts: 

(1) They have brought the American Bald Eagle population in Indiana back from near extinction to over 200 eagles in just 15 years.  Many of the eagles are not mature enough to mate yet, but when they are eagle sightings in Indiana will likely be a common occurance. 

 (2) State Parks are in much improved shape since the early 90’s with ample areas for hunting/boating/fishing and recreation for non-hunters (i.e. -  pot-smoking hippies). 

(3) The deer population in  this state is thriving.  I personally saw 3 TROPHY bucks this past hunting season and quite a few doe.  Hunters I’ve talked to around the state have told me the same thing.  Now before the peanut gallery starts talking about just seeing the bucks – Two of them I did not have a shot on, and I missed the third one (I’m still kicking myself about that one).  Furthermore, I plan on taking the deer population in Indiana down by at least two deer this year (one with a bow, one with a shotgun, and maybe a third with a chevy), and anyone who wants to sound-off about my hunting may wake up next to a deer head (cue Godfather music).

Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson – Overrated.  OK, this is the deal, as mayor your first job is to control crime, and crime is out of control.  I agree he inherited the jail overcrowding thing, but he has had 6 years to solve it and nothing has happened.  We are letting criminals out of jail because we have no room for them and we wonder why crime is on the rise?  Hey, I don’t care where you put them, but you don’t sit by while child molesters are being set free to hurt more children.  You can keep your neighborhood clean-up projects and tree planting charades and fix this problem!!  You say the city is too broke to fix it?  Well, you can get tents at Wal-mart for under $100 dollars and you have plenty of unused land at the old Central state hospital site – figure it out.

Sr. Indiana Senator Richard Lugar – Overrated.  This is all I have to say – I’m gonna have to close my nostrils with quick-dry cement to vote for this dude.  Oh, how I wish I didn’t have watch this guy sell out conservative principles for another 6 years.

Jr. Indiana Senator Evan Bayh  – Overrated.  Read the above post about squandering $4 billion dollars and watching companies pull out of here on his watch and ask yourselves if you really want this guy sitting first or second chair in the national executive branch.  The only way he and his lackey O’bannon could even come close to making budget was by not making payments to the schools that they were supposed to make (Oh, and Mitch has us so much in the black that the schools are getting this money).  Yeah, education – that’s not important.  He let the prison system swirl out of control so that in most Indiana youth centers the kids were at the mercy of really bad people (the stories are horrendous).  If you are outside of Indiana please make sure this dude doesn’t become our next president.

That’s the latest version of overrated/underrated.  Don’t forget, you can suggest topics of things you need to have rated.  Until next time, adios.