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Lincolnite Year in Review
It has been a busy year at Lincolnite. Here’s a look back at the past 12 months.
A Pee-Wee New Year
The Wilsons will be spending New Year’s evening at the Lincoln Children’s Museum’s Make Believe Midnight party, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. If any of you will also be attending, we would love to say hi.
Off Track Dirt Track Needs to Get Back On Track
It sure would be a shame if the motocross project at Abbott Sports Complex got derailed because developers and funders can’t agree on a timeline. I’m not a motocross fan, but I would still like to see this project get moving. It certainly has been discussed for long enough—at least four years. I spend a lot of time out at Abbott so I’ve seen it’s evolution over the years, and I’ve heard plenty of rumors and whispers. I can’t say I have full confidence that the motocross project—or any of the other long-range plans for the complex—will go off without a hitch. It’s unfortunate because Abbott could really be a nice asset to Lincoln. As it stands today, it really feels like it isn’t living up to its potential.
I’m Getting Old and Cranky
Damn, I’m not even 30, and already I find my blood pressure rising in response to things I really should just ignore. Case in point: today’s New Year’s Eve advice from the Journal Star. It was the part about “moral turpitude” that really got me going. But there really isn’t anything to get fired up about. One need only read the opening sentence—in which New Year’s Eve is described as “an inherently rad holiday”—to know the article is trying way too hard to be hip.
Sigh. I don’t think I’m ready to get stressed about this sort of thing. Before I know it, I’ll be sitting on the front porch shaking my fist at the neighbor kids. Oh well, somebody’s got to do it.
Government Gives Back
Whodathunk that Nebraska’s Treasurer would be most well-known for giving money to people rather than taking it.
Giving people their money is, I think we can agree, an important task. Are there any public service roles the State Treasurer’s office should be performing better than they are now? The reason I ask is simple: I want to congratulate Shane Osborn for serving the public. But I don’t know enough about his office’s role to know if his improvement in returning unclaimed property comes at the expense of some other critical task. If he is returning millions of dollars a year while still doing well everything else that needs to be done, fantastic. But if some other role is slipping, we the public need to say “Pst, hey, don’t forget about that other thing”.
Who can help me figure out how big of a pat on the back Mr. Osborn deserves?
Ho Ho Ho
The Wilsons and all of us here at Lincolnite want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas. Whether or not you celebrate the day as a holiday, we hope you use this time of year as an opportunity to enjoy the gift of giving, and to revel in goodwill and merriment.
Merry Christmas everybody!
Local Tornado Victims on TV
The Togstad family of Clatonia will be on TV tomorrow on “The Twister Sisters” on the WE (Women’s Entertainment) network (Time Warner channel 55). The Togstads were victims of the Hallam tornado that struck back in May 2004. The show should be interesting to watch for those of you who want to follow up on one of Nebraska’s most infamous severe weather events.
Open for Business on Christmas Day
Those of you spending Christmas Day in Lincoln may need or want to find an open business tomorrow. Unfortunately, pickings are usually pretty slim. If you happen to know of a business that will be open at least part of the day tomorrow, let us know. The Journal Star’s list includes coffee, laundry, beer, and porn.
If that doesn’t float your boat, you can always catch a movie.
Free Music From the Loup River Band & Street Choir
Gene Hogan dropped me a note yesterday:
Our first record, An Evening At Lee’s, has been available over the internet for a while. Our second record, Golden Testament, just recently. Both records were recorded and produced ourselves in a basement in midtown Lincoln, with the lone exception being “Better Times” which was expertly recorded completely live by Chris Steffen. He records for money and you should hire him and pay him lots of money. Special thanks to everyone that played on these records, especially Ken Morton for lending us his talents as a full-time band member and songwriter. He’s since moved on to The Allendales. You should go hear his band and buy him lots of drinks.
Thanks to the “Street Choir” for showing up and singing backing vocals. One of them even stuck around and joined the band.
Go ahead and download the two albums for your weekend listening pleasure.
Today’s Best Story
I’m sure the “victim” isn’t laughing, but this burglary “tail” easily wins the Story of the Day award.
An Icy Reception
Looks like Lincoln will soon be the happy recipient of two new ice rinks in a new arena to be placed somewhere near Haymarket Park. That’s good news for the many users of the Ice Box, who currently have to practically fight each other to get ice time. Details about the new arena—and the gift that made it happen—are due at a news conference at 1:15pm today.
Update: Some details have been released. It’s a two-rink, $11 - $13 million facility, thanks to a gift from John Breslow. One piece of the article raised an eyebrow: “The facility will be somewhere in the West Haymarket district.” Hmm, that could mean “organizers are in the final stages of securing a location”, or it could mean “we have a great idea but we don’t have any idea where we’ll be able to put it”. Hopefully the truth is much closer to the former than the latter.
A Surprising Reaction?
An Omaha woman was sentenced to 90 days in jail for prostitution in Lincoln. Nothing very remarkable about that, right? Except check out the comments on the story. I’m surprised by how many of the commenters either: a) think it’s silly that prostitution is illegal; or b) think this case is an example of entrapment. I guess I thought Nebraskans had more of a knee-jerk anti-prostitution reaction. To see so many of the early commenters direct their mockery to LPD rather than the woman surprised me.
Where Can I Get a Pith Helmet?
The Wilsons are all signed up for the Lincoln Safari. The Missus was the very first person to pick up a packet from Eiseley Library. (In fact, the woman had just begun preparing the packets.) Included are:
- A tote bag
- A map
- A set of “calling cards” used for prize drawings
- A sketchings book
- Crayons
- A pencil
Now, where can I get a nice pith helmet for Robbie to really make the adventure authentic?
The Cooper Foundation in 2007
The Cooper Foundation dished out over $1 million in grants in 2007. Thanks!
Ernie’s Last Session
I’m going to miss Ernie Chambers after his last session in the Unicameral. Nebraska’s most powerful senator will be forced out by term limits after this 60-day session. Most Nebraskans will celebrate his departure, calling out “Good riddance!” when they should pat him on the back and say “Thanks for doing what you do”. Indeed, Senator Chambers’ controversial ways have provided important stability to the Unicameral, forcing the majority to play by the rules—Ernie is the undisputed master when it comes to knowing and abiding by the rules—and preventing the majority from bulldozing over the minority.
The importance of Senator Chambers’ role in protecting the integrity of Nebraska’s one-house legislature should not be overlooked. I can’t help but feel that somebody (or somebodies) must fill Senator Chambers’ shoes if the Unicameral is to be sustainable into the future. That’s not to say that this “somebody” must also replicate Senator Chambers’ mannerisms and quirks; after all, those quirks constitute one of the primary reasons Senator Chambers is getting the boot after this session. Instead, Nebraska needs somebody to step up and act as a filter to help ensure the legislature’s output is as good as it can be. The role of filter is extremely important in a one-house legislature. Without it, a bicameral body may very well be the best way to protect ourselves from ourselves.
Love him or hate him, Ernie Chambers has made his mark in Nebraska. He needs to be recognized for his work. I only half-jokingly suggest that we name a roundabout—either an existing one or one that hasn’t yet been built—the Ernie Chambers Roundabout. The man can talk in circles for hours, but in the end, most of the time, he gets the conversation directed to where it needs to go.
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