Jumping the Gun?

By: Mr. Wilson on November 30, 2009
I noticed a full-page ad in this morning's Journal Star from the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. The ad featured a resolution backing the May bond issue vote for the arena, and encouraging local voters to do the same. I wasn't surprised to see that the Chamber of Commerce is backing the arena. But I am a bit surprised to see them support ballot language that hasn't even been written yet. It strikes me as awfully irresponsible to tell people to vote for something when none of us knows exactly what the vote will entail. It seems like a more general "support the arena" message is appropriate for now, while holding off on the "vote yes" message until we know what "yes" means. Or maybe I'm just playing this too conservative. After all the arena has been through so far, can you blame me?

A New Home for an Old Home

By: Mr. Wilson on November 24, 2009
I think the best place for Hudson Cabin -- Lancaster County's oldest house -- is Pioneers Park. The question or where -- or whether -- to move the cabin will kick into high gear once UNL takes over Innovation Campus, nee State Fair Park. Pioneers Park seems like a natural fit for the cabin. There it would be among the prairie grasses and (presumably) near the one-room Heritage School that Lincoln's elementary students visit every year. Where would you place the cabin?

Catalyst Yawn

By: Mr. Wilson on November 23, 2009
One would think the announcement of a new $27 million, 9-story, half-block building in Downtown Lincoln would be cause for celebration, or at least a "hooray". But the announcement of just such a project garnered little more than a yawn. Why? The fact that Mayor Beutler & Co. chose to make the announcement on a Friday afternoon might have something to do with it. Friday afternoon is usually reserved for political scandals and other unpleasantness. Hopefully we can't draw any conclusions about this announcement based on the company it keeps. I happen to be quite pleased with the prospect of new retail, parking, and apartment options beginning construction as soon as next year. (Read: 2011 or beyond.) Even the dullest glimmer of hope is better than the current eyesore on Q Street.

Elementary Memories

By: Mr. Wilson on November 23, 2009
Crap! I can't believe I missed Calvert Elementary's 80th anniversary open house yesterday. You have no idea how annoyed that makes me. I really wanted to go. I went to Calvert from 1984 to 1991 ... if I did the math right. I had hoped to get to the open house to see if any of my teachers were there. They included:
  • Kindergarten: Mrs. Snyder / Mrs. Pepperil
  • 1st grade: Mrs. Rolfsmeyer
  • 2nd grade: Ms. Cramer
  • 3rd grade: Ms. Mohatt
  • 4th grade: Mrs. Oehlerking
  • 5th grade: Mrs. Dasenbrock
  • 6th grade: Ms. Schneider
I probably butchered the spelling on a few of those. And of course I left out many other people who played important roles in my elementary school memories. I'm looking at you Mr. Magrue, Mrs. Vaneer, Mr. Hobbes, and others. I have only seen two of my teachers in the past decade. I spoke with Ms. Mohatt under unusual circumstances about five years ago. The Missus used to run on occasion with Mrs. Vaneer, the woman who taught me my times tables. I would love to know what all those teachers are up to today. At this point I may have to hope I run into them at the grocery store. I can't believe I missed the open house. Grr.

Nameless

By: Mr. Wilson on November 23, 2009
While reading about Lincoln's latest violent death -- it hasn't yet been ruled a homicide -- I noted that there were three prior homicides this year. There were five homicides per year over the past several years. The odd thing? I could only remember a couple. Maybe it's a defense mechanism. Maybe I'm too focused on other things. Maybe the media didn't cover the murders well. Whatever the case, it's very odd to me that I live in a community where five people are murdered each year and I barely remember the scantest details about each one. I get the feeling most Lincolnites have similarly sparse memories of the victims and their deaths. It's ultimately a good thing that life goes on. But -- and this isn't supposed to be a loaded question even though it looks like one -- does it say anything about us as community members or as a whole community that our memories are so short?

Going the Opposite Way

By: Mr. Wilson on November 20, 2009
I must have missed some good news somewhere. You say Nelnet is hiring? And not only are they hiring in Lincoln, they're adding 250 jobs?! That sounds really cool and all, but I thought they were busy getting spanked by the feds for bending the rules, among other problems. I guess they got out of time out. Perhaps the good news for Lincoln comes because the folks at Nelnet are giggling over news like this.

Sushi in South Lincoln

By: Mr. Wilson on November 18, 2009
Cedric has posted his thoughts on Lincoln's newest sushi joint, Fuji Sushi & Grill on 14th and Pine Lake. A quick take:
Fuji Sushi & Grill is a small, unexpected 'hole in the wall' in a strip of other small unexpected hole in the wall eateries at 14th and Pine Lake in South Lincoln. ... I look forward to sitting down and actually trying their entrée’s at a later time, and their sushi as well. I was thanked upon my leaving, and told to come again. Once they work out their minor logistical/stocking concerns (it WAS opening day, after all) I think they will be a hit with the foot/lunch traffic from the school and the lunch crowd from the surrounding area.

Eating Green(s) in Lincoln

By: Mr. Wilson on November 18, 2009
My wife and I have each changed a lot since we first began dating nearly 13 years ago. Among the biggest changes has been our eating preferences. I changed first as I expanded my palate to include things outside of my meat and potatoes comfort zone. For years The Missus barely changed at all. Until last fall, that is. All of a sudden she became a red meat eater. After years of avoiding beef and pork, suddenly those meats are in her dining vocabulary. It should have been a celebratory moment for me. Finally, real sausage! Except for one problem. As The Missus began to eat more meat, I began to eat less. The nearly-simultaneous timing of the switch was coincidental, though it sure seems as though the Universe is trying to maintain some sort of balance. I'm no vegetarian, not by a long shot. Nor do I want to be. I don't even like most vegetables or fruits. But I'm trying to cut back -- way back -- on my meat consumption. Animal products, in the quantities we typically wolf down here in the States, aren't particularly healthy to the human body. Nor are they very good for the environment. So I'm cutting back. But I had no idea how difficult it would be to cut back on meat (and other animal products) while eating out. Unless you want to limit yourself to salads -- a dish I still haven't brought myself to try -- in most restaurants you're screwed. (And even if you do, meat is all over many salads.) I have found a few safe havens. It is easy to minimize or eliminate meat on pizza without sacrificing the joy of pizza, for example. Pasta, too, can be your friend, though it's easy to get stuck in the boring land of fettuccine alfredo or pasta marinara. Beyond that it gets tricky. Oso Burrito is my friend, with their myriad meat, vegetable, and flavor combinations. Where else can you get an avocado taco and a bowl of mulligatawny? Good stuff. What are some other restaurants in town that do a good job of offering up both "meated" and meatless options? And I mean real options, not the half-hearted, flavorless stuff you find at most places. Are there any winners out there in Lincoln that I need to give a try?

Lincoln’s Next Next Big Thing

By: Mr. Wilson on November 17, 2009
It's not too early to think about the next next big thing in Lincoln. The Antelope Valley Project -- or at least the foundation work -- is on the downhill slope. The arena is clearly intended to be the next big thing. But what comes after that? As a community we should have some ideas in our heads. Most of you know my vote. I have been trying to draw attention to the South and East Beltways for years. Our delay so far has already cost us untold millions in lost opportunities. But that's not the only option. We could invest our resources in plenty of other big things. To name a few: a sweeping, city-wide, once-a-century infrastructure renovation campaign; full-scale redevelopment of Havelock, Uni Place, and/or College View; massive investments in communications infrastructure to bring cheap, ultra-high speed municipal internet to every home and business; develop the next iconic park on the scale of Pioneers, Wilderness, or Holmes; and so on. What's your next next big thing?
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