Latest Blog Posts
The Peacock Struts its Stuff
The Missus tells me she saw a billboard tonight announcing that The Peacock, a new Indian restaurant, is open in the strip mall on the southeast corner of 27th and Pine Lake. Can anybody confirm that? If true, we may give it a try either on Wednesday or over the weekend.
Quick Correction
Contrary to earlier reports that the space on 13th and L which housed the old M13/Ma Lou’s restaurant would be converted into a coffee shop, instead it seems that the location is being remodeled into a mens’ barber shop which may open as early as the middle of next month. Speaking of Ma Lou - her new Manila Bay restaurant has been open for several weeks now - katty corner from where she was before on 10th and O. An LJS review is still forthcoming for a to be announced hard opening.
Catalyst Mum
There sure hasn’t been much buzz lately about the ol’ Catalyst One project, has there? I wonder if that falls into the category of “no news is good news”, or if the silence implies something less positive for the project. Originally I thought we were supposed to have news within 6 months, which would have been approximately mid-September. As I read through my materials, though, I see that the real timeline for negotiations is anywhere from six to 18 months. In other words, that ugly slab of blacktop could be there for another year or more.
Antelope Valley’s Park Gets Some Details
Lincoln’s “Central Park” gets some details in today’s Journal Star. Actually, there aren’t really any surprises. If you have followed the Antelope Valley news over the past few years, or if you have read through the AVP website, you’ll recognize most of the plans. The pricetag for the park comes in at around $7.6 million, a little less than half of which is being taken care of by the 2015 Vision folks.
The only thing that bothers me about the park—and it has bothered me since Day 1 of this project—is the water. Will it be filtered upstream to help keep it clean? How will we assure a good presentation both during dry spells (low water) and wet spells (high water)? These aren’t unanswerable questions, but what concerns me is that folks have been asking those questions for years now, and nobody official has chipped in a response.
The park will need a name. Right now a portion of the area is called Trago Park. It’s not clear if that name will stick, or if the entire park will renamed. If you were to name this new park, what would you call it? Note that the easy “Antelope Valley Park” is probably out since it would be too easy to confuse with the existing Antelope Park.
Kiss Your Ash Goodbye
The little buggers aren’t here yet, but emerald ash borers are on the way. Maybe. The larvae of the green insects kill ash trees, much the way Dutch Elm Disease wiped out Elm trees a few decades ago.
So do your civic duty. If you see any metallic green insects walking around this spring, squash ‘em.
Calla-canned!
Billy C. is no longer the head coach at the University of Nebraska.
Couple impressions of the news conference:
1) Surprised that there were benchmarks put in place. (8-4, 7-5 you probably stay, 6-6, 5-7 no chance in hell you stay) That being said, the coaching staff asked for them. I doubt that Tom would have put them upon them had they not asked for them.
2) Did tom really think he couldn’t survive a losing season? I know hindsight is 20/20 but...come on tom...cut us a little slack.
3) I really wish Tom would have addressed the poor way fans have treated the coaches while they were here. It really needs to be addressed
4) It seems Bill knew he wasn’t going to be around after the KU game and then he just ran up the score for the home fans against KSU.
5) Tom has kept his word through out the process. I doubt we can really paint him in any evil role at this point.
Ok, first I want your thoughts on the whole Bill C. out.
Now, the process of finding a new coach is already underway. As of Sunday afternoon, Pelini has been interviewed. Tom was given permission to interview Gill and that will probably be conducted in the next day or so. Tom said during his press conf. that he’s using a 3rd party to get in touch with possible candidates. (the norm now a days) He also said he wants to interview 4 or 5 candidates total and wrap things up quickly. I imagine Brian Kelly out of Cincinnati will be at least be courted for an interview. As for the 4th and possible 5th people to be interviewed...up in the air.
What do you all think?
An Odd Kind of Hope
Several local families are watching carefully for more news about potential human remains found today near 120th and Van Dorn. That one of those families could receive closure in their search for their lost loved one is both good and tragic.
Black Friday
I really don’t like the term “Black Friday”. It’s such an ugly term. It reminds me of the Black Death. That’s not what the marketers are going for, I’m sure. Then again, some people would say that the rampant consumerism that happens on Black Friday is somehow analogous to the Black Death. That characterization is a tad over-the-top for my tastes, but then again, so is Black Friday.
Anyway, The Wilsons will be venturing into the Black Friday crowds today, if only by accident. The Missus scheduled a family photo at JC Penney’s at 1:00pm. Yes, we’re going to Gateway on Black Friday. And yes, I’m getting my photo taken in the middle of a Husker game. *sigh* Look for us if you’re out there. We’ll be the only people at Gateway not shopping.
Are any of you braving the Black Friday crowds today? What deals did you get?
It’s Snowing!
Ahh, it warms my heart to see the first snow of the season falling on the Capital City. Welcome, winter! I missed you!
Oh cheer up, warm weather lovers. May is practically right around the corner.
Classy
Nothing like a good drive-by shooting to give hunters a boost in reputation. You can almost hear the twang of the banjos, can’t you?
Judge the Price Tag
A preliminary estimate of the proposed UNL research park’s cost to taxpayers is $300 million. Quick, what’s your first impression of that price tag? Got it? OK, read on.
My first impression was that the cost sounded about right. It may even be a bit on the low side of my expectations. The overall public/private investment estimate is around $1 billion. Again, that feels about right. The Antelope Valley’s price tag has been pegged at around $1 billion as well ($250 million public, $750 million private).
I hope the debate over State Fair Park’s future use doesn’t turn into a simple decision centered on the cost of the available options. The issue is so, so much more complex than simple dollars. At play are the emotional attachment to the State Fair; the future of UNL; usage of a critical piece of Lincoln real estate; and dozens of other factors.
I support UNL’s vision for the land. I don’t want Lincoln (or Nebraska) to lose the State Fair, but the Fair’s potential contributions to the city and state are far below what we should expect from a research campus. I wish I could be more enthusiastic about the Fair’s future, but right now the evidence doesn’t suggest to me that the Fair is a good long-term investment. I’m willing to be convinced otherwise. A research park, on the other hand, is an excellent long-term generator of quality jobs, tax income, and private investment.
Getting back to UNL’s estimated price tag, $300 million, despite being near my expectations, certainly isn’t cheap. I would be much more comfortable with spending that kind of money if I knew that private research firms were committed to starting up operations on opening day. I don’t doubt that’s possible—even likely—but it’s something we won’t know until we’ve committed to building the park. Classic chicken and egg. Generally speaking, Nebraskans like the sure thing, or at least what they perceive to be the sure thing. Right now, the State Fair—in existence for years and years—is the sure thing. Unseating it will be no easy task.
Bruning Bowing Out?
Could it be true? Is Jon Bruning leaving the Senate race before the race even really begins?
If it is true, I don’t get it. Why quit so early? I don’t think he’ll win, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think he could win. And it’s not like he and Johanns have to worry about beating up on each other so much that a Democrat could sneak into the seat. Nebraska’s Democrats are down to, what, their 43rd choice at this point?
Maybe Bruning’s campaign knows something we don’t. Perhaps they’re afraid more details about Bruning’s inappropriate behavior could come out if he stays in the race. That would screw up his Senate ambitions and his career as Attorney General. Maybe there’s some other skeleton in his closet.
Or perhaps Bruning is just choosing to focus on the areas in which he knows he can have success. It’s an awfully conservative approach for somebody as driven as Jon Bruning, but it’s not an unreasonable way to go.
Without some external motivator, I don’t understand Bruning’s decision. (If it’s true, of course.) It seems premature. Then again, it wouldn’t be the first time Bruning’s actions have confused me.
Oh the possibilities…
Lets run down what we know:
1) Steve Pederson fired.
2) Tom Osborne hired.
3) Osborne’s comment on ‘new coaching staff’ adds to speculation
4) Osborne clarifies comment on staff
5) Callahan won’t say if he’s been asked to resign
6) A day later, Callahan: ‘Resignation is not in our vocabulary’
7) Players refute report that Callahan was asked to resign
8) Osborne: Coaching decision to come at end of regular season
9) During the bye week, husker coaches hit 70 Nebraska High Schools. A week usually reserved to recruit nationally.
Now we move on to speculation…
So Far Today
Have you ever wanted to know what’s going on in Lincoln today? View the summary.
That’s a Lot of Cash
Nebraska is sitting on $540 million in cash reserves. That could be a good thing. We want to be prepared for the all-but-inevitable collapse of the corn ethanol industry, for example. (Was that too cynical of me?) Or it could be a bad thing. It’s cash that could be in taxpayer pockets.
What would you advise the state to do with that cash?
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