Lincolnite

The Cooper Foundation dished out over $1 million in grants in 2007. Thanks!

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.

Remember how I told you about The Wilsons' Adventures in Customer Service last week? Here's a quick update from the JCPenney situation. We didn't end up returning our photos because The Missus wanted to be able to send out photos with our holiday [sic] cards. She asked for peoples' opinions of the photos. Some people said "Oh, those are great!", while others went with the somewhat more truthful "Those aren't so bad". I think they were just being polite. To add to the situation, The Missus had ordered more prints before we had seen the first batch. We didn't cancel the additional order because we figured maybe the new batch would be better. The new batch was ready on Friday, but The Missus delayed in picking them up. On Saturday we finally (!!!) got a call from the manager in regard to our phone calls from the previous weekend. The manager's excuse for the lengthy delay? He had just seen the note. That's some nice organization they've got going on over there. Anyway, The Missus told him about our problems with the previous batch and asked him to look at the new batch to see if they were any better. He told her, "No, these aren't very good at all. You can have them for free if you want to come get them. Otherwise I'll just throw them away." She is always looking for an excuse to take Robbie on the carousel at Gateway, so she went and got them. They're just as bad as the first batch. So there you have it, the conclusion to The Wilsons' adventures at the JCPenney photography studio. We won't be going back.

I think the Wilsons definitely have to sign up for the Lincoln Safari. Anybody else?

Wal-Mart dropped plans to build at Highway 77 and West Denton Road, which was a huge blow for the development planned there. So now the developer is offering up the land for the State Fair. In many respects it's an excellent location. It's much more accessible than either the Fair's current location or the Events Center's location. Nevertheless, I don't see it happening. It was a nice offer, though.

Say so long to Linc FM (105.3). It is now Wow! FM. Bah. I prefer the whimsical dude with the recognizable voice who always had something to say between tunes. The "new" Wow, on the other hand, sounds like the most generic station you'll ever hear. Plus, the music seems to be directed at a slightly older audience. Damn. This totally screws up my station rotation in the car.

Yesterday Mr. T and I dropped by Burrito Shack -- 221 South 9th Street, 402-477-2577 -- for lunch. It's a small local joint with a unique twist on a few Mexican favorites. For some of you the fact that it's local and/or Mexican will be enough to get you to stop by. For everybody else, the food has a fresh, homemade taste unlike anything else in town. And on top of that, it's reasonably-priced. Owner Joaquin De Los Santos is friendly, outgoing, and a tireless promoter. It's obvious he's willing to bust his hump to get your business and to keep you coming back. For now it's pretty much just him and a couple guys in the back. If business picks up, he'll need to add another front room person. Burrito Shack's atmosphere is pretty basic. The decorations are simple and not overpowering. The temperature inside could have been warmer; you might want a sweater on a cold day. Customers eat at picnic tables in the clean dining area. You order up front at the counter and food is delivered to your table within minutes. Burrito Shack's menu is relatively small. I'll start with the one item Mr. T and I didn't try: 6 oz. ribeye steak sandwiches. They are available in regular ($6.50); surf and turf ($7.75); fajita style ($7.00); and swiss, mushroom, and avocado ($7.50). I don't know about you, but I'm dying to try that last one. Add chips for $0.50. The burritos are "fajita style", served with chicken ($4.00) or steak ($4.50) and sauteed peppers and onions. Make it a platter (rice and beans) for $5.99. Size-wise they roughly resemble those at Oso Burrito. Mr. T ordered the chicken burrito and found the meat to be very moist and nicely grilled. He described the burrito as having "very nice flavors -- not over powering and not bland." I noticed the burrito continued to steam even as he reached the bottom. Overall, he called the burrito "killer". Wednesday featured a special on tacos, so I opted for a mix of three. First up was a hardshell ground beef taco ($0.50 on special, not on the regular menu). The meat was nicely seasoned and topped with lettuce and tomato. Next came the pork ($1.50 / $.75 on special) and chicken ($1.75 / $1.00 on special) soft tacos. They were served on a small flour tortilla and topped with tomato, a touch of cilantro, and white cheese. Both were excellent. So much so, that as I ate my tacos I knew I had to have more to eat. Not because I was still hungry, but because I was really enjoying the food. Mr. T apparently felt the same way, because he next ordered a fajita steak taco (not on the menu, $2.00). It was served like the pork and chicken tacos, but with large strips of fajita-style beef. He described the strips as "bigger than what one might normally find in Lincoln -- closer to the carne asada one might find in the Southwest or California". I followed up with chipotle shrimp soup ($3.49 cup, $4.99 bowl). The soup featured shrimp, potatoes, and corn in a delicious broth infused with a light chipotle flavor. Perfect for warming up on a chilly day. Drinks are served by the can ($0.75) or bottle ($I don't remember). That works for now, but I can't help but wonder if a pop machine would make the restaurant feel more "legitimate" to some people. Just a thought. Mr. De Los Santos might also consider featuring more "unusual" drinks -- horchata, Mexican sodas, etc. -- as well. Also available are a variety of homemade salsas, sold by the cup or pint. These aren't your everyday salsas:

• pico de gallo (OK, that's everyday)
• maple chipotle shrimp
• chipotle apple/mandarin orange
• coconut lime
• chocolate chipotle raspberry
• caramel apple
• strawberry kiwi (seasonal)
• watermelon (seasonal)
• peach/mango (seasonal)

We tried the maple chipotle shrimp salsa. Its flavor was out-of-the-ordinary and very tasty. Tamales are also available by the dozen, but they must be ordered in advance. Delivery is available in the Downtown area with a minimum $20.00 order. Overall, Mr. T and I both were very pleased with our experience at Burrito Shack. Without a doubt we will go back. And dare I say, it may even become a regular spot for us on our periodic lunch outings. Jeff Korbelik gave the food at Burrito Shack 2.5 stars (out of 4). I'd put the food at 3 stars minimum; consistency over time will determine whether I can bump that up to 3.5 stars.

Is it just me, or does it seem like there have been a lot of burglaries and robberies lately? Maybe I'm just noticing the articles more frequently than I used to. After all, once you get the notion in your head that you see a trend, you'll see the trend whether or not there is one.

Ken Svoboda -- the Ken Svoboda? -- doesn't like one of Neal Obermeyer's cartoons:

I, on many occasions, have been disappointed with the editorial cartoons of Neal Obermeyer. While reading my Sunday, Dec. 9, newspaper, that disappointment was replaced with pure shock. [View the cartoon.] The lack of sensitivity, compassion and respect for the victims’ families, their friends and their coworkers was not only distasteful but blatantly irresponsible. As we Nebraskans attempt to face the reality that there are those among us that wish to do us harm, the last thing we need in our time of mourning and understanding is the cold slap of a humorless and senseless editorial cartoon. I am shocked not only by the meaningless scribbling of Obermeyer but equally as shocked by the editorial staff that allowed this trash to be printed.

It's obvious that the cartoon was meant to generate fiery discussion. That's Neal's shtick. But I'm a little surprised how much ire Mr. Svoboda directs at the cartoonist in this case. I don't see the "lack of sensitivity, compassion and respect for the victims’ families, their friends and their coworkers" when I look at the cartoon. I don't see any glorification of the shooter; condemnation of the victims; or disrespect toward the victims' kin. The cartoon's only target, as far as I can see, is the media. Considering the amount of discussion on that topic, Neal's cartoon is neither surprising nor inconsistent with many peoples' feelings. Mr. Svoboda calls the cartoon "humorless" and "senseless". I disagree. It's filled with humor. It's dark humor, but humor nonetheless. Neither is it senseless. On the contrary, the cartoon intelligently highlights one of the post-tragedy discussions that we as a society and the media as an industry need to have. I can't help but think that Mr. Svoboda completely missed the point, and that his anger is based on a perception of the cartoon that is well outside of its explicit or implicit intent. Of course, I certainly could be the one with the perception problem. What do you think? Incidentally, Mr. Svoboda signed off with this:

I personally expect more from Lincoln’s only printed news source.

I have to ask: Really?

One of the complaints about UNL's plan to take over State Fair Park and turn it into a research park is that the plan isn't bold enough. State Fair Park is too small, the argument goes. The problem is, where else could it be placed? It needs to be fairly close to campus in order to have maximum value. What other options are there? The options are few:

1. The rail yard south of West O would be great. Except for all those tracks.
2. Somewhere off Highway 77. That land will be pretty expensive, though. Access would be easy, but the distance is getting up there.
3. Airpark or the vicinity. Access isn't nearly as good, but it'd be a nice boost for the neighborhood.

None of those options seems any good. Should this be a case of "If you can't do it right, don't do it at all"? Or should we make the best of what we have (thus requiring the move of the State Fair)?

This time, LPS waited too long to cancel classes. (So say the commenters on that article, anyway.) In previous winters, LPS has jumped the gun, canceling classes on days that turned out to be quite pleasant. Either way, they catch grief. Personally, I prefer the wait-and-see approach. Forecasts are often incorrect or exaggerated. Closure decisions should be based on reality, not anticipation and fear. Then again, my son isn't school-age yet. Perhaps once he is I'll change my mind. But if I don't have a winter weather childcare contingency plan in place well before winter weather arrives, that's my problem, not LPS's.

Foxspit has a quick review of Burrito Shack, on 9th Street in the former El Charro location, posted over at Beerorkid. Quick summary: 'Tis good.

Got a fine? Pay it online. Nebraska has begun a pilot project to allow for the payment of certain fines online. By paying online you give up certain rights -- notably, the right to contest the citation -- but if you had no plans to fight the charge anyway, you can save yourself a little time and effort. If it helps, think of paying online as engaging in civic service. How's that, you ask? By speeding up the court process for yourself, you open up more time for the courts to deal with people who really need the justice system's attention. But be sure not to brush aside your rights just because it's easier. If you've got a legitimate case, fight it.

OK, folks, who is skipping work today? And of those, how many of you actually plan to go out and run errands later today? It looks like pretty much every student in Lincoln gets to stay home today, except for the poor, unfortunate souls at UNL. I'm a little surprised, honestly. Over the past few years UNL had started to cancel classes for flurries. Maybe Chancellor Perlman realized he was starting to get carried away. My commute down the stairs was about the same as usual this morning. How are the roads? I noticed that the city bus didn't have any difficulty flying down the street this morning, and the guys from Uribe Refuse didn't appear to be slip-slidin' around. Presumably the City had plenty of notice to get de-icer down ahead of the storm, but I'm not sure how much ice that stuff can take. The Missus is probably going to be upstairs baking all day. It's what she does in crummy weather. If you have a sweet tooth, stop on by.