Latest Blog Posts
Drive Well
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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!
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
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
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
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.
Pushed to the Limit
Boy oh boy did I feel sorry for The City Limit Band on Friday night. They tried to put on a good show out at Southpointe, but that’s tough to do when you’ve got a 100-degree sun staring you in the face, you’re standing on bricks that have baked in the sun all day long, and you’re playing for a tiny brave-but-over-cooked crowd. Not to mention the fact that they were going head-to-head with Ribfest.
Well guys, I don’t know if you felt appreciated at the time, but I thought you played well. Here’s hoping your next gig is a little more pleasant.
The Journal Star Hates Women
Andrew Borakove thinks the Lincoln Journal Star is biased against women:
Despite the many letters to the editor from residents outraged at the Journal Star’s recent coverage of the young woman who allegedly left her newborn at the hospital, it is obvious that your paper continues to show a double standard, and dare I say, an obvious bias against women.
Go ahead and read the rest.
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