Drive Well

By: Mr. Wilson on August 20, 2007
You should, of course, drive well every time you're behind the wheel. Duh. But school is firing back up again, so drive extra cautiously for the double reason that kids will be swarming around schools again, and LPD just loves to ticket drivers during the first week of school. Watch those school zones, stop before (not in) the crosswalk, and buckle your seat belts.

The Buck’s Not Here

By: Mr. Wilson on August 20, 2007
I drove by it on Saturday, but I didn't realize The Legacy's sculpture had been vandalized. The buck was removed. You know the sculpture -- the one on the corner of 56th and Pioneers. It's a nice work. I especially love it when they leave the water running in cold weather and the waterfall freezes. There's a thousand bucks (no pun intended) in it for you if you help convict the bozos who did it.

The Land Nobody Wants

By: Mr. Wilson on August 20, 2007
Nobody wants to move in on the northeast corner of 48th and O. Can you blame them? Why would anybody want to move their business to a location that nobody can get to? If you have any ideas for increasing the sellability of that chunk of land, drop Urban Development director David Landis a note. I'm sure he would love to hear from you.

Will Work for Food

By: Mr. Wilson on August 17, 2007
Three weeks ago I did the most insane thing I've ever done. I submitted my resignation. Yesterday was my last day. When I showed up at my new job this morning, all sorts of things were different. My office isn't nearly as fancy as my previous office, but I get to set it up however I want. All of my cool co-workers are gone. In fact, I don't have any co-workers at all. For the first time in over five years I didn't take the bus to work. I walked. And my boss? I'm still undecided about him. He's pretty mad at me for showing up five minutes late this morning. And really, what excuse do I have for being late when my office is in my basement? That's right, today I joined the ranks of the self-employed. It's a move I've been thinking about for a long time, and seriously considering for almost a year. About a month ago the stars aligned just right, so I said, "What the hell?" It's a big move, and one I haven't taken lightly. I couldn't be more excited. I will be working on many different projects for many different people. Part of my time will be dedicated to working with NetRaising, a web services company out of Portland, Oregon, that provides "web design, web development, web hosting and web consulting for nonprofits, education, and business." (That's me down at the bottom of the consultants page.) I will be starting on my first projects for them very soon. Most of the rest of my time will be spent working on projects for my own business, Studio625. (I'm still working on the branding, so don't bother going to the website. There's nothing there at the moment.) All of my personal projects (including Lincolnite) will be under the Studio625 umbrella. My specialty is building sites using ExpressionEngine (EE), and creating custom modules, plugins, and extensions for EE. My first major project is finishing Caloree, a full-featured calendar module for EE. What does all of this mean for Lincolnite? Only good things. Lincolnite is now more than a hobby; it's part of my job description. In the coming months, expect many improvements to Lincolnite, including some fun additions and related projects. It also means that Lincolnite will have to start paying for itself. Yes, that means advertisements. But don't freak out on me! I know that ads done poorly can be a pain in the butt. (I run Firefox with the AdBlock extension, after all.) I want to create a win-win situation for both local advertisers and you, the users of this site. The trick is helping local businesses, organizations, and other advertisers get noticed, without being obtrusive. I think that can be done. The boss is telling me I have spent enough time writing this, so I had better get to work on other things. Before I go, I want to thank everybody who, each in his or her own way, has given me the courage to do this. And if you or somebody you know needs a new website, a website redesign, or any custom web development, drop me a note. I would love to help!

The Cursed Corner is About to Awaken

By: Mr. Wilson on August 16, 2007
foxspit dropped me a note to say that a new restaurant is on the way at 8th and Q, in the former Brazen Head / Eighth Street Iron Works / etcetera location. Hopefully the new restaurant fares better. Anybody have any info about the restaurant? Are there any signs up? I haven't had a chance to get to the Haymarket lately, and I probably won't until next week when I try Bread & Cup.

City Thinking About Defining Restaurants

By: Mr. Wilson on August 16, 2007
I think it's a good idea for Lincoln to define "restaurant" in the zoning code. The article focuses on benefits associated with alcohol (it would be easier for restaurants to get an alcohol permit), but hopefully the benefits are broader than that. I suspect neighborhood associations will have something to say about the plan, so it will probably change a bit before it goes live. The plan will face the City Council in September; by then, groups will have had time to really think about the positives and negatives of the idea.

Flip-Floppin’ Ben Nelson

By: Mr. Wilson on August 16, 2007
Roger Welsch thinks Ben Nelson is due for a party switch:
I predict that if there are substantial losses for the Republicans in the Senate next year, Ben Nelson just may become a Democrat.
He's probably right since, you know, Ben Nelson already is a Democrat. That's not what Mr. Welsch means, of course. He is suggesting that Nelson will convert from a DINO to a real, honest-to-goodness Democrat. Do you think Mr. Welsch is right? Or do you think Senator Nelson will stick to his cross-party ways?

Wage Queries

By: Mr. Wilson on August 15, 2007
Why should wages in other states dictate wages in Nebraska? Shouldn't wages be based on things like performance, skill, and, most importantly, a mutual agreement between employer and employee regarding the value of a particular job?

Nebraska’s Kids Be Gettin’ Smarter

By: Mr. Wilson on August 15, 2007
According to our ACT results, Nebraska's kids are getting smarter. Insert disclaimer about standardized test scores here. Half of Lincoln's public high schools had higher-than-average scores (East, Southeast, Southwest), and half had below average scores (Lincoln High, Northeast, North Star).

Turco!

By: Mr. Wilson on August 15, 2007
Some of you are sick of hearing about Ricky Turco. I understand. You may as well just skip this post. Many of you, however, still want to know the latest info on him. This post's for you. I wish I could feel bad about picking on Ricky Turco. But until the guy accepts responsibility for the death of Megan Churchill, I just can't. For that matter, he needs to accept responsibility for a whole bunch of things. Alas, it doesn't look like that's going to happen. Anyway, Ricky Turco pleaded no contest to manslaughter charges related to Churchill's death, and he pleaded guilty to charges associated with a break-in at Lincoln High. As part of the plea agreement he won't face several other charges. He faces as many as 45 years behind bars.

Another Look at a New Bennet Martin Library

By: Mr. Wilson on August 14, 2007
I'm all in favor of building a new, landmark library somewhere Downtown to replace Bennet Martin Library. I agree with supporters that a new library could be built in such a way that would make it a real draw. I don't agree with all of the proposals -- such as making the library hog an entire city block -- but those issues can be worked out. I picture something on half a block. I imagine some sort of public/private partnership, or perhaps a partnership involving multiple government entities. At street level, I picture small businesses, a prominent main entrance to the library, and -- this could be cool, I think -- a separate entrance to the library's computer lab, perhaps paired with a coffee shop. The library could even serve as a bus terminal, though that activity should happen on the side rather than at the front entrance. How do you envision a downtown library?

Antelope Valley Progress

By: Mr. Wilson on August 14, 2007
Deena Winter points out some Antelope Valley-related projects approved Monday by the City Council. It's nice to see progress being made in the Valley, but I can't wait for the day when fully private projects in the area finally start rolling in. That's when we'll know the Antelope Valley Project was worth the investment. One of the projects approved by the Council involves demolishing three houses on O Street between 25th and 26th Streets. The Preservation Association of Lincoln opposes the demolition. PAL president Jo Gutgsell noted that "It is a mistake to envision new as being special". Very true. But also true is the opposite: keeping old things around just because they're old is likewise a mistake.

By the Time It’s Built, This Belt Won’t Fit

By: Mr. Wilson on August 14, 2007
I'm starting to think the South Beltway will never be built. That's not true; it'll be built eventually. But I'll be impressed if it's completed -- or even nearly completed -- by 2015. And the East Beltway? Lordy. We're talking 2020 and beyond. It'd be easier to just make 84th Street's freeway status official.

Getting Older Every Day

By: Mr. Wilson on August 13, 2007
I swear I can see Robbie grow each and every day. It's not so much his size that's changing. He's still very much a shrimp. Rather, he learns new things and tries new activities all the time. It really is amazing to watch. One of his firsts this weekend was that he finally tried -- and liked! -- some new solid foods. He ate several pieces of apple and banana, rather than just their mushed-up versions. Until now, Robert's gag reflex has been on hyperdrive and it has been all but impossible to get him to try foods with certain textures. (Would you be eager to try new foods if every time you did so, no matter how good it tasted, you horked a little of your lunch into your lap?) I'm crossing my fingers that this may be the start of a new trend. I taught Robbie to blow kisses. Every kid needs to know how to blow kisses. The other day Robbie and I walked all the way around the block. That was a big milestone. It took us a while, but by the end those little legs had traveled over a quarter mile without any help from dad. That's gotta be like 10 miles in toddler distance. The Missus and I keep mental lists of observations we have made regarding folks' interactions with Robbie, in particular regarding his adoption. I caught a new one the other evening. I walked around Old Navy while The Missus tried on several outfits. One woman really took a liking to Robbie. At one point she said, "He certainly is a keeper." I use that phrase all the time, so at first I didn't think anything of it. Then I realized something: some adoptive parents and adopted children might really take offense at the notion that some kids are "keepers" while others are not. I had never thought about that interpretation until just then. Hmm, I'm going to have to be careful about how I use that phrase in the future. Oh, one last thing before I go. Yes, Mrs. CU, Robbie and I will be dropping by soon to see you. He looks forward to helpfully pointing out all of the non-baby-proofed items in your house. 😊
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