MAY 2019 LOPEZ LAW I adore the city of Indianapolis, and that goes for her suburbs, as well. I’ve lived here most of my life, and one of my favorite ways to show my affection is by going out to eat and putting dollars back into the local community. I love showing my support for area restaurants—Krab Kingz Seafood FROM THE DESK OF Marc Lopez LIMITED EDITION!
at 10537 East Washington Street is my new favorite place in the world—almost as much as I love weekend activities with my daughter. Whether we’re visiting the Children’s Museum, exploring the 400-acre sports complex at Grand Park, riding in a hot air balloon, or time traveling at Conner Prairie, there’s always an adventure waiting, and there’s always fun to be had. As I write this, Indianapolis has recently gone through what’s been described in the media as the city’s “deadliest 24 hours in five years.” Even though I don’t know any of the victims or their families, this is both sad and a little bit scary. Without diminishing the importance of calling attention to gun-related violence, I’d like to remind all of you that bad news sells. We’re so much more than our worst headlines. Violence isn’t what makes us exceptional, because every city has violence. Do you know what every city doesn’t have? A Children’s Museum. Conner Prairie. Krab Kingz. Try to remember that the best things in life come from embracing what you love, and not from avoiding what scares you. Fear may be contagious, but so is kindness. As long as you’re still breathing, it’s not too late to inject a little positivity into the world.
The first weekend of May is the perfect weekend for nerds everywhere. If you know comics aren’t just for kids, rant and rave about “Star Wars” every chance you get, or have a passion for physics that goes beyond the classroom, congratulations! There’s a whole weekend just for you. The stars have aligned, and you can let your inner nerd shine on May 3–4 while you celebrate International Space Day, Free Comic Book Day, and Star Wars Day. There are plenty of ways to enjoy these holidays, so take part in the festivities and ensure the weekend is as action packed as a starship battle in a galaxy far, far away. Space Day is exactly what it sounds like: a day to commemorate the science and exploration of space and appreciate the final frontier in all its wonder and mystery. Although Lockheed Martin Corporation is credited with starting Space Day in 1997, the holiday really lifted off in 2001 when Sen. (and former astronaut) John Glenn declared the first Friday in May to be International Space Day. The holiday’s immense popularity continues to this day, with many scientific organizations celebrating space with demonstrations, gatherings, and educational programs. There’s no set protocol for the celebration, so you can observe Space Day however you see fit. Check out popular space podcasts like “Interplanetary Podcast,”“Main Engine Cutoff,” or “Planetary Radio,” all of which go over the latest news in space and space exploration. You can read up on asteroids, colonizing Mars, or the newest extrasolar discoveries to build your knowledge of all things extraterrestrial. Or, if you have a telescope, you can see some of those things for yourself. Like space, the possibilities are endless. CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL SPACE DAY
Look out for each other, and always plead the 5th.
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CELEBRATING FREE COMIC BOOK DAY
CELEBRATING STAR WARS DAY
With the release of somany superhero movies and other films based on comic book adventures, comics and graphic novels have flown, punched, and clawed their way into our mainstream culture. Free Comic Book Day started in 2002, a day after the release of the first “Spider-Man”film, as a way to reignite popularity for the medium after a massive bust in the comic book industry in the 1990s. The idea was received positively by the public, and ever since then, it has been accompanied by the release of a comic book movie on the same weekend. Celebrating the day is simple; go to the Free Comic Book Day website and find out if there are stores participating near you. Then, get a comic (or two or three) free of charge. Browse the rest of the store while you’re there. Find a new series to enjoy and maybe watch your favorite superhero movie later that night with friends (or by yourself, no judgment here). It’s a great way to celebrate the hobby of millions of Americans and introduce new readers to some truly heroic stories.
The scrolling introductions accompanied by John Williams’ soaring score; the hums and beeps of droids; the electric clash of lightsabers between Sith and Jedi; the Force —May 4 is the day to celebrate it all with the films, TV spinoffs, books, comics, and toys. The galaxy far, far away has invaded Earth, and its popularity shows no signs of slowing down. It all started with the pun “May the fourth be with you.” From then on, just as Luke Skywalker was destined to become a Jedi Master, this day was destined to be all about George Lucas’ beloved creation. You could just watch the movies on May 4, but anyone can do that. Really showcase your passion by getting a group together and dress up as your favorite characters. Make some themed drinks, like a “Hoth” toddy or Qui-Gon Jinn and tonic. Jam out to that catchy Cantina bop. Debate your fan theories with friends and remember that you’re there to celebrate, even if the discussion about “The Last Jedi” gets a little heated. Whether you make it up as you
go like Han Solo or carefully plan like Emperor Palpatine, there are enough festivities to fill a Star Destroyer. So, attention all space nerds, “Star Wars” fanatics, and comic book geeks: May 3–4 is your weekend. Get together with your friends and maybe make some new ones as you celebrate the passions that bring you all together.
Animal Theft and Trespassing Don’t Go Unnoticed This Is What Happens When You Steal a Protected Animal
While footage confirms that two young Welshmen stole Dirk the penguin from his SeaWorld Australia home, the men had little memory of the night’s misadventures the next morning — until they saw Dirk waddling around their rented apartment. The night before, after imbibing a hefty amount during their vacation in Australia, the men got the harebrained idea to break into SeaWorld and swim with the dolphins. After getting inside, video footage captured them stripping down to their skivvies and running around the facility — until they spotted the penguin enclosure. “Look at them!” one said. Distracted from their original plan, they made their way to the penguins, grabbed one, and left. Dirk, the 7-year-old fairy penguin (the smallest species of penguin), was bred in captivity and had never left his enclosure. The next morning, realizing what they’d done, the three young men panicked and released Dirk into a nearby canal. But Dirk’s misfortunes weren’t quite over. He was chased out of the canal by what onlookers
believe was a shark, only to be chased back in by a surprised dog. Fortunately, concerned passers-by called authorities, and SeaWorld workers came to rescue Dirk and bring him back to his family. Dirk returned unharmed to his partner, Peaches, but his kidnappers weren’t so lucky. Once a Facebook post recounting their misdeeds made its rounds, police traced the crime back to the twoWelshmen. They were charged with trespassing, stealing, and keeping a protected animal, and there was no shortage of public shaming as their crime circulated the internet. Taking note of their letter of apology and admissions of guilt and regret, the judge enforced a heavy fine for the crime in lieu of jail time. Charges for kidnapping a protected animal vary from state to state, but the Endangered Species Act ensures perpetrators face harsh penalties, including fines and maximum sentences. The Animal Legal Defense Fund also provides free legal assistance and training to help protect animals from harm. Be careful on your next night out, and please, enjoy wildlife without stealing it!
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The War Pigeon Who Saved the ‘Lost Battalion’ BRAVE LITTLE CHER AMI
Like most states, Indiana has expungement laws on the books. The concept evolved because of the difficulties that go hand-in-hand with a spotty criminal history. In theory, the process of expungement offers people a second chance by limiting public access to records of their past misdeeds. There’s a common misconception, however, that says expungement calls for the c omplete removal or destruction of the subject’s criminal record. This is not the case. The State Police maintain a central repository for criminal history information in Indiana, and our expungement statutes are designed to limit public access to information about a past conviction. This applies only to the central criminal history repository. No records are deleted, and no information is erased. This can lead to complications. For example, if you’ve been pulled over by police in the past and refused a chemical test, this fact likely appears on your BMV record. As a result, anyone who checks your BMV record can see your chemical test refusal and infer a DUI / OVWI arrest. Expungement also doesn’t mean that past convictions can’t be used against you by the state. Remember: your criminal record has been hidden, not destroyed . Expunged conviction records can still be accessed by the state, which allows the prosecution to reach back into your past for purposes of sentencing enhancements. Getting an expungement doesn’t mean you no longer have any criminal convictions; all it means is that not everyone can look at your criminal convictions as part of the public record. MARC’S TIPS AND TRICKS EXPUNGEMENT IN THE STATE OF INDIANA NOT EVERYTHING IS AS IT SEEMS Long before the invention of radios and cellphones, homing pigeons were used to send messages as early as the sixth century. During WorldWar I, war pigeons carried lifesaving messages past enemy lines for the American and French armies, often being wounded in the process. In 1918, Cher Ami, a black check hen used by the U.S. Signal Corps, became the most famous of them all. On Oct. 2, the United States 77th Division was trapped behind enemy lines in the Argonne Forest during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, a three- month push by the Allies during the final throes of WorldWar I to force the Germans to surrender. It became the bloodiest battle in U.S. history. For six days, the encircled division endured relentless attacks and suffered heavy casualties, but their orders were clear: don’t retreat and don’t surrender. The division dispatched two homing pigeons with requests for help, but both birds were shot down. When friendly fire began raining down on the 77th, Major Charles White Whittlesey felt he had no choice but to send the last pigeon, Cher Ami. The pigeon’s desperate note read: “We are along the road parallel to 276.4. Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven’s sake, stop it.”
As Cher Ami rose from the brush, she was shot down, to the despair of the watching soldiers. However, after a few seconds, she fought her way back into the air, flew through a torrent of gunfire, and made it to division headquarters 25 miles away. She had been shot in the breast, the eye, and the leg.
Because of Cher Ami’s brave flight, 194 of the original 554 men of the 77th Division survived the battle. One month later, WorldWar I came to
an end. Cher Ami survived the war as well, thanks to the surgeons who performed emergency surgery on her. One soldier even carved her a little wooden leg. She became a well-known hero to both soldiers and children in the States. For her service in Verdun, the French Army awarded her the Croix de Guerre, and she was inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame. Cher Ami finally succumbed to her wounds in June of 1919 and is now on display in the Smithsonian alongside Sergeant Stubby, a terrier who served 18 months on the Western Front.
CLASSIC FRENCH OMELET Ingredients Inspired by SeriousEats.com
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3 large eggs
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1 tablespoon unsalted butter
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Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Directions
1. In medium bowl, beat eggs with plastic fork until last traces of white are just mixed in. Season with salt and pepper. 2. In an 8-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter, swirling over medium heat until foamy but not browned. Add eggs, stirring rapidly with fork, while moving skillet to agitate eggs. Break up all curds by scraping bottom of skillet as they form. Stop stirring when eggs are softly scrambled and creamy (but loose enough to come together into a single mass), 1–2 minutes. 3. Using fork, gently spread egg in an even layer around skillet and scrape down any wispy bits around the edges. The top surface should be loose and creamy, but if still liquid, swirl skillet to bring raw egg to the edge where it will set faster. 4. Remove from heat. Tilt skillet up by handle. Using fork, gently roll omelet down over itself until nearly folded in half. Using fork, push omelet to edge of skillet so that the lower edge of egg just begins to overhang. Use fork to fold overhanging edge of egg back over, closing omelet. 5. Turn omelet out onto plate. It should have the seam on bottom.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Marc Lopez PAGE 1 International Space Day, Free Comic Book Day, and Star Wars Day PAGE 1 The Price You Pay for Stealing a Penguin PAGE 2 The War PigeonWho Saved the ‘Lost Battalion’ PAGE 3 Marc’s Tips & Tricks PAGE 3 Classic French Omelet PAGE 3 How to Travel Sustainably PAGE 4
GO GREEN Get Out There With These Eco-Tourism Tips Vacations can come with great expense, and not just for your bank account. According to a 2018 study published in Nature Climate Change, travel accounts for 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Cut through the greenwashing and do your part to lessen these emissions by traveling sustainably. TRAVEL GREEN When possible, trains, hybrid buses, and carpooling are great alternatives to larger, more environmentally intrusive travel methods. Large cruise liners are detrimental to oceans, and airplanes emit large amounts of toxins into the air. However, you can cruise and fly with the earth in mind. Some cruise lines are working to reduce their impact by installing more eco-friendly lighting and materials, and flight experts recommend using“green”airports, choosing fuel-efficient airlines, staying longer, and traveling less. If anything, it’s an excuse to extend your European vacation! STAY GREEN Where you stay impacts the environment as much as how you get there. Hotels use copious amounts of water for bathing and laundry, and they struggle to reduce energy because guests leave their lights and televisions on. However, many luxury resorts, woodsy cabins, and even
entire countries have opted to make eco-tourism easier. If you’re looking for a region of the world committed to preserving nature, look no further than Iceland, Finland, and Sweden, which are ranked the three most environmentally friendly places in the world. DO GREEN Man-made attractions like the Egyptian pyramids and Machu Picchu are some of the world’s greatest wonders, but Earth itself is pretty breathtaking. Check out natural attractions while hiking or camping in preserved forests, or soak up all the Caribbean has to offer by snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. When you’re mindful of your surroundings and remain unobtrusive, there are endless outdoor activities you can explore. Some locations even partner with environmentally conscious organizations you can donate to or volunteer with.
Opt for a green vacation and know that while you relax, the earth is getting a little relief too.
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