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Plains Feeder

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  Nebraska Voted NO on Cap and Trade, Thank Goodness!

  Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 1:35pm CDT by Angela

  
  
  During our Americans for Prosperity "Hot Air" event in Omaha last week, well over 300 grassroots activists joined me at an event urging Nebraska’s Congressmen and Senators to vote NO on the job-killing, energy tax legislation called Cap-and-Trade. Many activists called them right from our events.
  
  I'm pleased to report that all three Nebraska Congressmen—Jeff Terry, Lee Fortenberry, and Adrian Smith—voted NO on Cap-and-Trade.
  
  Even better, on the day of our Hot Air Tour event, Jim Fagin from Sen. Ben Nelson’s office emailed us to say: “Senator Ben Nelson strongly opposes cap-and-trade legislation because of the terrible impact it would have on our economy and has been on record to that effect for some time.”
  
  And Sen. Johanns has been a great champion on the issue, leading the way earlier this year to block a procedural trick called reconciliation that could have forced cap-and-trade through with limited debate and no amendment.
  
  So it looks like Nebraska is a perfect 5 for 5 on this crucial issue!
  
  Please consider sending a note thanking your Congressman and Senators for opposing cap-and-trade, protecting Nebraska families from higher utility bills, higher gasoline prices, higher prices on consumer goods and lost jobs.
  
  You can send the note by clicking here.
  
  Sen. Nelson especially needs our strong support because he’ll face intense pressure from the White House and Harry Reid to follow the Democratic line. Please let him know you appreciate the stand he has taken.
  
  Thanks for all you are doing for freedom.
  
  Tim Phillips
  President, Americans for Prosperity
  
  HT: Domestic Divapalooza
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  4th of July Tribute

  Posted: July 2nd, 2009, 3:57am CDT by Angela

  
  
  HT: Domestic Divapalooza

Omaha TV News

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  Scholarly

  Posted: July 1st, 2009, 5:24pm CDT by Ted Brockman

  Anyone with knowledge of local history must have been as surprised as we were Wednesday morning when WOWT morning anchordolt Jimmy Thiedlecki tried to show off his brainpower by identifying a shot of Central High School as "the former state capitol building."
  Problem is that the school is merely on the former site of the state capitol; the capitol building itself was torn down in 1870, and the current high school building didn't arrive on the scene until 1900.
  As usual, Thiedlecki had only about half the story right, making his misguided smugness that much more annoying.

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

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  Junior High and Congress Now Part of College Football

  Posted: June 30th, 2009, 4:22pm CDT by Husker Mike

  As much as I love college football, it's problems are setting the stage for an implosion of the sport. (OK, maybe "implosion" is a little strong. But it's sitting on the precipice of a cliff, and if something doesn't change quickly, off the edge it goes...) Two events in the news today signify the breaking point:
  
  Dateline Knoxville, Tennessee. The Tennessee Volunteers just secured a commitment from Evan Berry. No big deal, you say? What if I told you that he's not even in high school yet. That's right. Tennessee just got a verbal from a 13 year old kid that just finished the eighth grade.
  
  Stop and digest that for a second. He's not scheduled to graduate high school until 2013, and can't officially be offered a scholarship for another three years.
  
  The madness is mitigated slightly by the fact that Berry is the son of former Vol James Berry and the brother of all-American safety Eric Berry, who'll be a junior this fall. Madness, mockery, whatever you want to call it, but when colleges are recruiting at the junior high level, you've got proof that something has gone off the deep end. As the Sporting Blog points out, the chances that this commitment will hold are pretty low. He very well might end up at Tennessee in the end due to the family history, but the idea of a 13 year old making a college decision pretty much makes a mockery of the current mess that is college recruiting.
  
  Dateline Washington: Next Monday, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) is making the case for anti-trust action against the BCS due to the inequities of the current situation. College football is sitting on a powder keg here; if the BCS presidents continue to stonewall against the inevitable college football playoff, they run the risk of getting the federal government mandating a playoff. It's not going to happen soon, but count on it... The BCS deal with ESPN is likely to be the last one unless the college presidents make some serious changes to the current system. Otherwise, change will be forced on them.
  
  Think that's unrealistic? Think this will damage the game? Think again, and think back to the last time the issue of anti-trust interjected on college football. In 1984, the Supreme Court found that the NCAA's control over the television rights for college football was a violation. Back then, only two or three games were shown on television each week, usually regionally.
  
  Now, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and FSN usually carry three games each Saturday, with additional games on CBS, Versus, and CBS College Sports. Not to mention regional syndication of games. Did that hurt college football? Hardly. For those of us old enough to remember those days in the 70's and 80's, Nebraska usually only got one or two games televised each season. Now, with pay-per-view, nearly every game in recent years has been televised.
  
  Let's be honest. The BCS is better than it's predecessors, but one way or another, we're going to have a college football playoff. It's better for everybody if colleges find a way to make it happen themselves rather than wait for the government to mandate it.

Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics

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  CD3 Dems in chaos

  Posted: June 29th, 2009, 4:39am CDT by Street Sweeper

  There was a revolution of sorts in Grand Island on Saturday.While there were no shots fired or gatherings in the streets, tears were shed and resignations were made.Lisa Hannah resigned from chair of the Third District Democrats, and Brian T. Osborn resigned his associate chair position.Hannah and Osborn have been fighting it out for a while now -- in public, in private and here on the

Plains Feeder

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  Cap and Tax Crap

  Posted: June 27th, 2009, 5:26am CDT by Angela

  Congress, with the passing of "Cap & Trade", has openly declared war against the will and needs of the American people. I mean, who in their right mind believes we should be DOUBLING our electricity and gas bills in this economy?
  
  I'll be discussing the rest over on Domestic Divapalooza.

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

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  Mavs Make the Jump to the WCHA

  Posted: June 26th, 2009, 5:33pm CDT by Husker Mike

  The only surprise about UNO leaving the CCHA for the WCHA is that the entire deal was completed today. Before today, it seemed that it was going to be a process that would take a few weeks, but once the parameters of an agreement between UNO and the WCHA were complete, there probably was little reason to drag the process out. In fact, perhaps Trev Alberts pushed to get the whole deal completed immediately so that there were no opportunities for "surprises" down the line.
  
  The winners in this deal are obvious: college hockey gains by keeping Bemidji State's program alive. The WCHA gets bigger, and probably will earn more revenue with more rounds of playoff hockey. UNO reduces their travel costs and gets to share in the larger pool of revenue that the WCHA affords.
  
  The loser? The CCHA loses UNO and the playoff revenue that is generated in Omaha. The CCHA will likely get the consolation prize of Alabama-Huntsville, but the unhappiness of the CCHA is clear from their terse news release.
  
  That's not intended to criticize the CCHA in this situation. The CCHA jumped in and gave UNO a home when the WCHA previously rejected them. UNO fans should be very appreciative of the CCHA and their years of membership. But in this situation, the right thing for everyone is for UNO to make the move. It accomodates Bemidji and Alabama-Huntsville, keeping those programs viable, and discourages the NCAA from downsizing the NCAA tournament.
  
  So a whirlwind couple of months for UNO hockey seems to be winding down. Trev Alberts is hired. Mike Kemp becomes his assistant athletic director. Two-time national champion coach Dean Blais takes over for Kemp. UNO bolts the CCHA for the WCHA. And now there's discussions that in his spare time (!), Alberts also renegotiated the Mavs lease with the Qwest Center.
  
  Whew. What a ride.
  
  (A special shout-out to Goon's World, who has been on top of this situation from the WCHA side of things.)

Plains Feeder

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  R.I.P.

  Posted: June 25th, 2009, 7:24pm CDT by Angela

  My Memories of Michael Jackson
  
  Instead of writing it all out again over here I thought it would be better to just link to it. Yeah, I grew up with the Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, and Janet Jackson. I wrote about it.
  
  I'm sad about all these people that have passed away. My best friend told me today that dying comes in waves of 3. Boy did we get three deaths this week... right? I'm very sad about Farah Fawcett. What a beauty!! I used to have the Farah Fawcett barbie doll when I was a kid. We used to watch Charlie's Angels all the time growing up.
  
  I thought this video was cute and I have a feeling you guys will appreciate this little tribute to Farah Fawcett. She was gorgeous... wasn't she?
  
  
  Rest in peace Ed McMahon
  
• 

  The Cap and Tax Bill

  Posted: June 25th, 2009, 11:08am CDT by Angela

  Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today strongly urged Congress to reject legislation "that will deliberately increase the costs of gasoline, oil, and coal at a time when the American people can ill afford it."
  
  "While the American people are dealing with a brutal recession, soaring unemployment, and about to be hit with massive inflation, Congress in the Waxman-Markey bill is proposing to make energy more expensive to service a radical environmentalist agenda," said Wilson.
  
  "It is up to the Congress to stop this legislation dead on its tracks, before it causes an economic train wreck that will take decades to overcome," Wilson added.
  
  The legislation, HR 2454, would force carbon-emitting industries coal, oil, gasoline, and natural gas to purchase carbon permits that would reduce in supply over the next decade. The bill aims to reduce industrial emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by 17 percent by 2020 and 83 percent by 2050.
  
  "The whole point of capping carbon emission is to increase the prices of oil, gasoline, coal, and natural gas across the board, and thereby 'incentivize' alternatives like solar, wind, and hybrid vehicles," Wilson explained.
  
  "If this legislation passes, 10 bucks a gallon for gas is going to seem cheap in five years," Wilson added.
  
  Wilson noted that similar legislation had failed in the Senate last year. "This bill was rejected last year, and should again be rejected this year, because it's an economy-killer. It will cost jobs, it will cost progress, and it will cost prosperity. That is the price," Wilson said.
  
  Wilson says that what makes the bill even worse is that the science behind cap-and-trade is contrived and misleading. "The whole premise of global 'warming' is based upon flawed computer models that predict climate change, and are not based on actual observable data that can be confirmed."
  
  Wilson pointed to a study from APS Physics, "Climate Sensitivity Revisited". "The Monckton study proves beyond any doubt that the UN International Panel on Climate Change's computer models that 'predict' climate change greatly overstate the impact of carbon emissions. In other words, 'man-made' climate change is not real, and yet Congress is ready to reorganize the entire energy sector around the idea."
  
  "It is up to Congress to vote against this whacko environmentalist agenda before the economy is wrecked, the oil, natural gas, and coal industries bankrupted, and the American people being buried at the gas pump and on their home-heating bills," Wilson concluded.
  
  American's for Limited Government Press Release for June 24, 2009
  
  Originally posted on Domestic Divapalooza

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

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  WCHA Making Concessions; Hastings Joins the Mavs

  Posted: June 24th, 2009, 6:12pm CDT by Husker Mike

  Earlier this evening, the WCHA held an informal "straw poll" to determine whether the current WCHA schools will approve a handshake agreement for UNO to join the WCHA. The terms appear to be that the WCHA would either waive or significantly reduce the leagues entrance fee for UNO and that UNO would immediately be eligible to share in league revenues. Some would point to that as a great deal for UNO, but they neglect one little fact. UNO already is a member of the CCHA, and this switch benefits the WCHA, Bemidji State, Alabama-Huntsville, and college hockey in general more than the Mavericks. The WCHA benefits by going to 12 teams, Bemidji benefits by getting a home in the WCHA, and Alabama-Huntsville benefits by gaining UNO's spot in the CCHA. Certainly UNO benefits by the increased revenue sharing in the WCHA ($100,000 per school last season), but UNO doesn't face the urgency the other parties have.
  
  If the straw vote goes as expected, the WCHA will put the terms in writing and UNO will formally apply to join the WCHA. Everything would be approved over the next few weeks, and by all accounts, this upcoming season will be UNO's swan song in the CCHA.
  
  Omaha hockey fans are all aflutter with the announcement that Mike Hastings is joining UNO after all. Dean Blais named Hastings "associate head coach" today, creating quite a buzz of excitement around town.
  
  Except here.
  
  Yes, I know Hastings record as the winningest coach in the USHL. But I can't get one thought out of my mind. If Mike Hastings had spent 14 seasons as the head coach of the Des Moines Buccaneers followed by one season in Minnesota as the #2 assistant with the Gophers, would Hastings have been considered to be "associate head coach" of the Mavs?
  
  My instinct, for whatever it's worth says no. Certainly he's qualified to be an assistant coach of the Mavs... maybe even be the top assistant to Dean Blais. But I get a little skittish with the talk that he's the "heir apparent" to a man who hasn't even coached one single game for UNO.
  
  Some would wonder why Hastings would leave Minnesota, and I have a simple answer for that. Right now, I'd suggest that UNO's hockey program might just be a little more stable than Minnesota's at this time. That's a statement that can easily be misinterpreted, so I'll clarify. The Gophers have a tradition and a talent level that UNO can only dream of at this point. That's NOT what I was saying. But Don Lucia is starting to feel the hot seat in Minneapolis, while Dean Blais is starting a four year contract with the Mavs. Advantage: UNO. With the Gophers, Hastings was the #2 assistant behind John Hill, who took over for Lucia when he took a medical leave of absence earlier this season. So being named the top assistant is a promotion for Hastings.
  
  To be sure, if Blais works his magic again and pushes UNO up to the elite level of college hockey, his assistants will most definitely be leading candidates to take over when Blais decides to retire. But to consider it a "done deal" is unfair to everyone at this point and time. Hastings might look like the slam dunk candidate when that time comes, but for now, it's just unnecessary speculation. Especially after the absurd rumors from this past winter that Hastings would take over as UNO head coach.

Plains Feeder

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  Rationing Healthcare

  Posted: June 24th, 2009, 5:27am CDT by Angela

  
  June 23: President Obama gestures as he answers a question during a news conference at the White House in Washington (AP).
  
  Before I dive into this I want to let y'all know that I'll be cross posting my thoughts in a few places that I contribute to on the net. So if you see this post repeated then now you know why. I'm a contributor for two other blogs: BlogMommas.com and Plains Feeder.
  
  This is where the whole rationing of healthcare comes into play. If you really stop to consider what Obama is trying to do it's downright scary.
  
  Obama: Health Care Reform Will 'Absolutely' Be Passed By End of Year
  
  The other thing I don't like about this healthcare mess is that he's trying to rush it as if it's going to turn into a pumpkin by the end of the year. Let's talk about this healthcare overhaul and see if both sides can work together to come up with a plan that's going to benefit everybody.
  

  "I'm going to wait and see what ideas they come up with. I suspect that when they start seeing what the options are, they might end up concluding that the options we're presenting are the best ones," he said, adding that he would prefer to reduce tax deductions for the wealthiest to pay for the overhaul.

  
  Why are we picking on the tax payers? Why are we picking on the people that employ our citizens? Why are we penalizing people for their success? Why should the wealthiest people of our country be responsible for this healthcare overhaul?
  

  Obama also said he's changed his mind on the issue of whether individuals can purchase health care -- an idea he was resistant to during his presidential campaign.
  
  "This is an area where people have made compelling arguments to me, that if we want to have system that drives down cost for everyone, we have to have healthy people not opt out of the system," Obama told ABC.

  
  So basically Obama lied to us when he said that we could keep our current healthcare plan if that is what we choose to do. Remember when he said that? He said that we could keep our doctors. We could stay on the health insurance plans that the companies we work for provide us with if we are happy with the care we are getting. Do you see what a LIAR Obama is? He has the audacity to tell me that I have to subscribe to the nation's new government healthcare program. It's not my choice any more.
  

  The United States is the only developed nation that does not have a comprehensive national health care plan for all its citizens.
  
  About 50 million of America's 300 million people are without health insurance. The government provides coverage for the poor, disabled and elderly, but most Americans rely on private insurance, usually received through their employers. However, not all employers provide insurance and not everyone can afford to buy it on their own. With unemployment rising, many Americans are losing their health insurance when they lose their jobs.

  
  
  The government can not be all things to all people in this country. The government is not the savior of it's people. It's the people that can figure this out and NOT the government. What the article forgot to mention is that while the government provides for the poor, disabled and the elderly... it doesn't mention the poor quality of what the government has made available to these people. Also, our government is breaking the law and providing for people that are not here in this country legally.
  
  I am not a mean person. I don't want to see innocent children suffering at the hands of their parents and the decisions their parents made. I understand that many came from other countries that do not offer much hope or promise. But at the same time these people are breaking the law. The laws in this country are not being upheld and the American People are expected to bailout out the poor decisions of others.
  
  We have an immigration problem in this country. If our current healthcare system is so flawed then why do people from other countries flock to the United States to receive that healthcare? Think about that for a half a millisecond.
  
  If you are working for a company that doesn't provide a healthcare plan then find another job. If you live in a state where the unemployment rate is high then move to Nebraska. I heard on the radio the other day that the employment rate here in Nebraska is the best in the nation and that unemployment is only at 4.4%
  
  This administration is going to take what little quality of healthcare we have left and squash it like a bug. You kind folks out there that do not know what it's like to be on government care have no idea what you are buying into when you listen to ever single word Obama has to say about it. I grew up on government healthcare and let me tell you, it SUCKS.
  
  Scroll back up and click on the link I provided up there and read the article for yourself. If you are in the healthcare field I invite you to comment with your experience about what you know. You can comment anonymously if you'd like.
  
  The scenario that comes to my mind when I think of healthcare being rationed is the pregnant mom due any day... she goes into labor... she's at the hospital and the pain is excruciating and the doctor tells her how sorry she is that they can't offer her an epidural because they are trying to cut costs. That's just one example! I'm sure there are more examples out there. I'd like to read about those so if you have one please share it.
  
  Originally posted on Domestic Divapalooza where Great minds think out loud.

Omaha TV News

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  Fever

  Posted: June 23rd, 2009, 11:34am CDT by Ted Brockman

  It appears that only NPR-affiliate KIOS-FM has the one rational news crew (probably two people) in the city.
  On its Tuesday afternoon newscast, the KIOS newsreader noted, quite accurately, that hot weather at this time of year in Omaha is NORMAL. There was even a soundbite or two of a National Weather Service meteorologist confirming this discovery.
  You wouldn't know it from watching any local TV station.
  All three (four, if you count what's left of KPTM) had reporters and weatherguessers carrying on as if it were raining fishes and the streets were filled with Maalox.
  It's basically the same hysterical shtick that grips stations when it snows or gets cold during the winter, but, for the love of God, everyone's irritable enough as it is; do we really need some bird-brained rookie reporter showing us what box-fans and sweaty fat people look like?
  Is it essential to a station's mission to tell people how to dress or to stay hydrated? It seems unlikely that even a diehard Channel Sux viewer is out mowing the front yard in a parka and long-johns or depriving himself of liquids because he thinks it'll cool him off.
  For cryin' out loud, news directors: people are being shot with frightening regularity, the city is facing a financial crisis, every friggin' road in town is blocked by construction barricades, the College World Series is in town, gas prices have been soaring, Ed McMahon is dead, and all you can come up with is "experts" who say it's a good idea to avoid wearing black and weightlifting in the afternoon sun? These stories are only a half step above an insipid "live chat" with viewers.
  Just this once, how 'bout you surprise us and, oh, say, do your jobs?

Plains Feeder

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  Too bummed to blog

  Posted: June 22nd, 2009, 4:32pm CDT by ptg

  The old feeder's personal life has taken a sudden and unexpected hit. I'm too depressed and miserable to do anything.

Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics

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  White all but in against Terry

  Posted: June 22nd, 2009, 3:55am CDT by Street Sweeper

  The LJS reports that Tom White, during his speech at the Dem's Morrison-Exon Dinner, all but announced his intention to run for 2D seat against Congressman Lee Terry.(Note: The OWH either missed or skipped this speech and event entirely. Interesting that we have to go to the 1D newspaper in order to hear about this. If I've missed the OWH article, please let me know.)“I’m close to making a

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

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  Sunday Night Beer: Leadership from Sokol, Osborne, and Pelini

  Posted: June 21st, 2009, 5:28pm CDT by Husker Mike

  What a quiet offseason it's been for Nebraska football since the end of spring practice. Looking back over the last few weeks, it's been pretty much Mavericks and Omaha stadium entries because there really hasn't been much of substance regarding the Huskers to blog about. Yeah, Tyler Gabbert "committed", but anymore all that really means is that "he's decided he's attending the University of Nebraska unless he changes his mind". In other words: much to do about nothing. Unfair to Gabbert? Maybe, but I'd think fans around here would have learned their lessons after watching big brother Blaine and Josh Freeman change their minds...as well as watching Harrison Beck and Patrick Witt transfer. Bottom line is that I don't start setting expectations for any player until they enroll on campus and put on a jersey.
  
  David Sokol joined Tom Osborne and Bo Pelini for "Leadership 101" last week. Leadership is kind of an enigmatic experience for me; one I'm still struggling to get my hands around just what it is. But at it's core, it's more communication than anything else, which seems counterintuitive to me at first. I've previously felt it was ideas and brilliance at it's core, but how do you explain leaders like Ronald Reagan going from "Bedtime for Bonzo" to the White House?
  
  Sokol's name keeps showing up in sports circles in recent years. He's donated to Creighton to fund an arena on campus. He was a critic of UNO's administration in the Nancy Belck/Jim Buck fiasco. And don't forget MECA's involvement with the downtown stadium and negotiations with the Omaha Royals. But his first public involvement in sports was with Frank Solich back in 2003, and he talked a little about what happened:

  “When Frank reached out to me, he was having to change some assistant coaches. He asked me, ‘How do I do what I have to do?’

  “He had been thrust into the head coaching job without being able to make his own mark on it. Tom wanted him to keep those assistants. Frank did not confide early enough to Tom that recruiting was sliding because some of those coaches had basically retired with Tom. He needed to make some changes but didn’t know how.

  “The thing I hated about the whole (Steve) Pederson thing was that Frank was making a lot of progress and had hired a good staff, including Bo, and we never got to see what they could have done.’’

  A lot of recruitniks have taken their shots at Frank Solich and his alleged struggles in recruiting. I hate to bring the subject up again, but Sokol brings us a reminder that college football is a team game. If parts of the team aren't living up to their end of the bargain, it's hard to have success. By all accounts, Solich struggled with that leadership issue until it finally boiled over in 2002. But did Solich turn things around in 2003? We'll never know...and it's an issue that frankly, will never go away.
  
  Pelini's comments on leadership seem to be somewhat hypocritical when you look at Pelini's sideline antics last season, until you realize that while you see what he's doing, you don't know what he's actually saying. So I've read Pelini's quotes from last week over and over again, and I'm getting a feel for what he's actually doing on the sideline:

  “You have to know when to put the hammer down and when to put your arm around someone. Sometimes you’ll see a kid make a mistake in a game that results in a touchdown the other way. As he runs back to the sideline, the coach runs out to meet him and chews him out.

  “Is that what’s best for the kid — or the coach? The coach is basically saying ‘It’s not my fault.’ What you have to do is pull the kid over and say, ‘You’re better than that. You’ll get them next time.’ You have to coach them up. Fix it. You don’t ever point the finger. You point the thumb — back at yourself if you’re a leader.’’

  “You can’t be the same for everyone. You have to adapt according to how people are. Some people react to criticism, and some don’t. Know your employees. It’s your job to get them from Point A to Point B. But I always try to end whatever I say with a positive thought. If you can’t let it go, they won’t let it go.’’

  No doubt that Pelini uses strong language and strong emotion on the sideline. But is he attacking the person, or the mistake? Note that he points out that everyone reacts to criticism differently, and perhaps the people that get the biggest chewings-out are the ones that react well when getting a barrage from Bo. Also note that last paragram: end it with a positive thought and let it go. It seems that the director probably turns away from Pelini before we get a chance to see it, but I wonder if we had the audio track from Bo Pelini's headset, we might not get a different perspective of Bo Pelini on the sideline.
  
  Speaking of fiery leaders, the World-Herald's Chad Purcell was back on the hockey beat today, if only for a day (hopefully it's longer), to highlight UNO coach Dean Blais. What's become clear to me is that Blais not only has an eye for talent, but also a love of teaching and a love of the game. Just about everything I read about Blais confirms my belief that this is the man that UNO needed to hire to take UNO hockey to the next level. It's going to be quite a treat to see how UNO responds to this change.
  
  Will UNO be in the WCHA or CCHA after this upcoming season. Reports from the WCHA world seemed to indicate that it's a "done deal"...but then Trev Alberts put the brakes on that on Friday, saying that it's anything but. What does this mean? Well, UNO is in the drivers seat on this deal. UNO doesn't need to make the switch, but college hockey and the WCHA needs UNO to switch. There are other options, but none are as attractive. If UNO makes the switch, UNO's concerns have to be addressed, and Trev Alberts seems to be driving a hard bargain.
  
  Bottom line: I think UNO will end up in the WCHA, but the arrangement will be to UNO's favor in the end.

Plains Feeder

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  Happy Father's Day

  Posted: June 21st, 2009, 4:24am CDT by ptg

  Free Golf
• 

  John 'Magic Fingers' Houghtaling Dead

  Posted: June 20th, 2009, 8:26am CDT by ptg

  Magic Fingers Motel Box
  News item: John Houghtaling, inventor of the Magic Fingers system, has passed away at age 92 in Florida. May he rest in peace in a non-vibrating coffin.
  
  If you have spent half as much time in seedy motels and cheap hotels as the old feeder, you are familiar with the Magic Fingers box that was often found in them. Put a quarter in the firmly affixed box's slot and you would be treated to an annoying buzz and a vibrating bed that even a dog wouldn't use.
  
  The only time I was ever suckered into trying one I was suffering from jet lag and thought it might help. The only result was to delay my wretched attempts to sleep for fifteen minutes. Jumping immediately out of the bed, I had to sit in the tiny room chair as I waited out the buzzing. I worried that the mechanism was stuck and would never quit.
  
  Some folks must have liked them, since Mr. Houghtaling was able to retire to Florida. I can't help but think that his success might be due in part to the fact that he was selling the miserable contraptions to motel and hotel management, and not to end users. I'll bet none of the hoteliers that bought them ever used one.

Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics

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  OWH's 1000 words

  Posted: June 19th, 2009, 5:01am CDT by Street Sweeper

  You know what they say a picture is worth right?Well the Omaha World Herald's continuing vendetta against Mayor Jim Suttle is starting to crack us up.Now we here at Leavenworth Street enjoy using the various Faces Of Suttle to adorn our posts. But we're a blog, and we're expected to have a little fun with the mugs of the pols that we skewer from time to time.But the OWH is supposed to be an

Omaha TV News

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  Maltard Word of the Day

  Posted: June 19th, 2009, 3:29am CDT by Ted Brockman

  KAH-mer: more sedate (Example: "Theens are metch kahmer today, aren't they, Restee?")

Plains Feeder

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  Bipartisan Guilt

  Posted: June 18th, 2009, 12:06pm CDT by Dad Bones

  Republican Senator Sam Brownback and Democaratic Senator Tom Harkin pooled their collective guilt to come up with a senate resolution that apologizes for the slavery of African Negroes by American Caucasians, not unlike a similar measure passed by the House last year.
  
  Consider these words by the writer Zora Neale Hurston:
  

  My ancestors who lived and died in slavery are dead. The white men who profited by their labor and lives are dead also. I have no personal memory of those times and no responsibility for them. Neither has the grandson of the man who held my folks… I have no intention of wasting my time beating on old graves. I do not belong to the sobbing school of Negroes who hold that nature somehow has given them a low down dirty deal and whose feelings are all hurt about it… Slavery is the price I paid for civilization, and that is worth all that I have paid through my ancestors for it.

  
• 

  Cop a Laugh

  Posted: June 18th, 2009, 12:00pm CDT by ptg

  Grieving Widow Faces Uphill Battle
  Iowahawk swats another one!

  WASHINGTON -- The widow of the housefly murdered by Barack Obama during a recent CNBC television interview announced this morning that she would be filing a wrongful death suit against the President in federal district court. The plaintiff brief -- citing pain, suffering and loss of income -- seeks a formal apology and compensatory damages, including an unspecified quantity of shit.

  You should read the whole piece. The man is a master of satire.

Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics

• 

  June-buggin

  Posted: June 17th, 2009, 9:55am CDT by Street Sweeper

  First a Separated at Birth, brought to you today by The Hill:Apparently they haven't been at the SABs too long. Because if they really wanted a fine SAB for Fort, they need to look no further than the Leavenworth Street archives:Fort and Donny Osmond:***Nebraska's senior Senator has been making the news of late -- this time via Newsweek editor Jonathan Alter.Alter talks about how the group

Plains Feeder

• 

  Arrested at Notre Dame

  Posted: June 17th, 2009, 4:29am CDT by Angela

  
  
  I'm trying to help these ladies out by posting what's going on. I'm pretty sure Jane and Laura could use our support because their cause is great! So be sure and copy the information I'm about to share and use it on your blog too. I don't care to have a hat tip or a credit link. I just want their story out there so people will know it, hear about it, and report on it. These ladies have been forgotten, the incident long gone, but their sacrifice is great.
  
  Free Jane and Laura!
  
  Their Story:
  
  We held signs that say “I Regret My Abortion”. We also gave our testimonies and prayed the Rosary with other Catholics who supported us.
  
  We are two Catholic women who reside in the State of Colorado. We made tragic mistakes in our younger years by having abortions. We came to the University of Notre Dame Friday, May 8, to witness to the harm caused to us by our "choice".
  
  Their Case:
  
  After being held in St. Joseph County jail in South Bend Indiana for several hours we each posted a $250 Bond. We have been informed that we must be present for arraignment on July 16th. We understand a misdemeanor offense of trespassing in this county could mean a fine of up to $5000.00 and/or one year in prison.
  
  Letter from Two Catholic Women Arrested at Notre Dame

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

• 

  Tuesday Night Beer: Lancers Want No Part of BFE

  Posted: June 16th, 2009, 6:23pm CDT by Husker Mike

  The situation in BFE Sarpy County just keeps getting more difficult to figure out. It's been long reported that the plans for the highway 370 site included an ice rink, but Saturday, the World-Herald reported that the owner of the Des Moines USHL team is planning to build a 4500 seat arena for skating and hockey there.
  
  Which was rather concerning to the Omaha Lancers since they have no plans to play outside of Omaha. The Lancers learned the hard way the risks of moving away from the population base, and moved back.

  “There is a strong sense of excitement in Omaha that we are coming back home. I have no clue what their plans are (in Sarpy County). I want people to know that the Lancers are going to be in Omaha.”
  

  So now not only do we have the boondoggle of the Sarpy County stadium...but also a 4500 seat arena with no tenant. Not to suggest that there isn't a need for ice in Sarpy County, there is. There just isn't a need for a 4500 seat arena, what with UNO planning an arena and Creighton opening their own this fall.
  
  Speaking of UNO's arena, Dean Blais talked this weekend about growing UNO's attendance average five digits...perhaps as high as 14,000 fans. Sounds unrealistic? Ten years ago, if you would have told me that Creighton would be averaging 16,000 fans for basketball, I would have been rolling on the floor laughing at the suggestion. But winning and making a few NCAA tournament appearances turned a program that struggled to sell out the Civic Auditorium (unless the Huskers were the opponent) into one of the top schools in college basketbal in terms of attendance. And winning and NCAA berths is the expectation Blais is bringing to UNO.
  
  If UNO does manage to get attendance up to that level, it'll finally bury forever the idea of UNO hockey playing at the Civic ever again. On the other hand, the cost of a UNO campus arena just went up since now the minimum size just jumped to five figures.
  
  Blais also sounds the warning alert for the out of control monster called recruiting that is killing college athletics:

  "But no, the big changes are the rules and regulations, and the NCAA with (more and more) early commitments. I think it really has to change. I don't think it's good and healthy for schools to be promising scholarships, and a kid doesn't turn out. Usually a verbal commitment is verbal -- in ninth grade, you don't know what that kid is going to be in four years. As coaches, we're created a monster and we have to change it. I don't have all the answers, but I don't think it's good, for the kid or the colleges.
  ...
  "But the early commitments, I said this five years ago -- it's gotten too young. It's not healthy. If you don't do it, you fall behind. If you do do it, someone's going to get in trouble sooner or later."

  Husker offensive coordinator Shawn Watson might be a victim of an out-of-control recruitnik who's impersonating him in e-mails to high school coaches. I'd be curious to find out if this simply a Husker fan who's either (a) too curious or (b) thinking that he's actually helping... or whether he's trying to discredit Watson on the recruiting trail.

Plains Feeder

• 

  The Republican Party Split

  Posted: June 16th, 2009, 8:27am CDT by ptg

  Two factions have emerged in the GOP. The difference is in their election strategy:
  

  • Give the voters what they seem to want, i.e. more liberalism.
  • Sell the voters on a more conservative government.

  One is a sure loser, the other has a chance. Guess which is which.
• 

  Thought for today

  Posted: June 16th, 2009, 6:38am CDT by ptg

  Sometimes it is necessary to go hungry to ensure that your enemies starve.
• 

  Culture in LA

  Posted: June 15th, 2009, 6:01am CDT by ptg

  Happy Lakers Fans Loot Stores - click for more
  The old feeder is no fan of Los Angeles. Not the city, not the suburbs, not the people and not the Lakers. The place has changed for the worse since I lived there in the early 1960's.
  
  I don't like basketball either, which has become a contact sport. The LA Lakers won the NBA championship yesterday. What do the fans in LA do to celebrate? Riot, loot and burn their own town.
  
  What the dickens is wrong with these cats? How is it that the grinning idiot pictured above has a vote that counts as much as mine?
  
  I'm leaning more every day toward ceding California to Mexico.
  ---
  Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin, who contrasts the pointless violence in LA with another bloody insurrection: the one in Iran.
• 

  Today is Flag Day

  Posted: June 14th, 2009, 5:21am CDT by ptg

  US Flags
  Today is Flag Day. Fly 'em if you got 'em. Let your neighbors know you don't think America needs to be "re-made" by anyone. Them as don't agree ought to tread carefully.

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

• 

  Four Years of Blasphemy

  Posted: June 13th, 2009, 7:05am CDT by Husker Mike

  Today marks the 4th anniversary of "Blasphemy"...and what a four years it has been. If I can toot my own horn, this is now the longest running local sports blog. Sure some blogs started before me locally, but they've all either stopped or taken long hiatus. In fact, this is post #801 for Blasphemy as the fifth year starts. Let's put that in perspective: it's longer than Bill Callahan and Matt Perrault lasted. And oh, how things have changed over this run. Steve Pederson nearly ran the Husker athletic department into the ground, and was fired. Jim Rose is no longer the voice of the Huskers, and is reduced to promoting the flat-earth society in the mornings on KFAB (denying global warming, the dangers of second-hand smoke, etc.). The Nancy Belck/Jim Buck saga is also becoming a distant memory as well.
  
  A new stadium for the College World Series is being built downtown (and unfortunately, a second stadium in BFE Sarpy County as well). Bo Pelini has Nebraska football on an upswing. Doc Sadler gets 140% out of his basketball teams. Dean Blais is likely to produce similar results for Maverick hockey. The future of local sports is much brighter than it has in several years.
  
  Thanks to all of you for stopping by over the years. I hope you've enjoyed reading the blog a fraction as much as I've enjoyed writing it. And with expectations growing for both the Huskers and Mavs, it should be even more enjoyable as we enter our fifth year.
• 

  Not Blasé About UNO Head Coach Dean Blais

  Posted: June 12th, 2009, 3:55pm CDT by Husker Mike

  When Trev Alberts introduced Dean Blais as UNO's new hockey coach this afternoon, the news echoed through the college hockey world, and the response can be summarized in one word: "Whoa."
  
  Locally, the name Dean Blais doesn't mean much. I'll freely admit, that it didn't mean much to me until a month ago. I don't follow the WCHA or the USHL that closely, though once I connected Blais to North Dakota's national championships, I was intrigued. Then I dug into Blais' record:
  
  At North Dakota:
  

  • 262-115-33 in ten seasons
  • Five WCHA conference titles in ten seasons
  • Two WCHA championships
  • Seven NCAA tournament berths in ten seasons
  • Two National Championships, and one Frozen Four Runner-Up

  How can you not be impressed by that record? Then add in what Blais did at Fargo, taking a first year team into the USHL finals, sweeping the Omaha Lancers out of the playoffs and being named USHL coach of the year.
  
  With all due respect to the other candidates, the Blais resume stands head and shoulders above the rest. Locally, I'm sure that Mike Hastings would make a bigger splash initially with his name recognition from his years with the Omaha Lancers. But let me put this hire into perspective in comparison. This is like Iowa State hiring Barry Switzer. This is like Nebraska basketball hiring Rick Pitino. This is like Nebraska baseball hiring Augie Garrido instead of Dave Van Horn in the late 90's. Trev Alberts went out and signed a coach who will be second amongst active coaches in winning percentage when the Mavs take the ice this October.
  
  Blais will bring a much different style of hockey to UNO this fall: a run-and-gun high-octane speed offense. (Can you imagine Alex Hudson in this type of offense?) Kemp has been more of a defensive oriented coach, so I'm sure the transition may be rough initially. But Blais' Fargo squad became quite the force by the end of the season, and Blais won a national championship in year three with the Sioux. In fact, look at the comments from SiouxSports.com:

  "which will come first-blais winning his third NC or his hand picked successor(sp) Hak winning his first?"

  "The upgrade in effort on the ice his first year at UND was unmistakable. I'm sure the fans in Omaha are in for a similar treat."

  "I will predict that he'll have UNO in the Frozen Four within 3 years though."

  Some people use a baseball analogy, calling this a "home run" hire. I'll use a hockey analogy. "Trev Alberts shoots...and scores!" While I credit Mike Kemp for helping point Alberts towards Blais, I'm giving Alberts the credit for pulling it off when frankly, very few gave UNO a chance to pull it off.
  
  In fact, Alberts had to sell Blais on the job. Blais turned down an initial offer, but on Wednesday, he came across the following quote from Bill Bradley:

  "Ambition is the key to success. Persistence is the vehicle you'll arrive in."

  So on Wednesday, Alberts told Kemp that he was going to make a second run at Blais. He worked out the deal with Blais, then worked out the deal with the "boosters of substance" that helped bring Alberts to UNO in the first place. It's a good investment for UNO; when UNO has a chance to hire someone like a Dean Blais, you do everything in your power to make it happen.
  
  And it has happened. After David Miller resigned in March, I stated that UNO's biggest need was a leader with vision who could make things happen. Within a month, Trev Alberts was hired and despite no experience in administration, he has become exactly that leader -- and then some. UNO ended last hockey season with many question marks; now the Maverick hockey program finds itself on a path towards elite status in college hockey.
  
  (Photo courtesy of mavpuck.com )

Omaha TV News

• 

  Bubbles

  Posted: June 12th, 2009, 5:05am CDT by Ted Brockman

  Having combed through the responses we received, both via comment and email, we've taken the best, done a little consolidation and embellishment, and applied them to the SuxNews Facebook photo. See what you think.P.S. No matter what anyone says, those are man-hands.

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

• 

  UNO Hockey Coach Announcement Imminent?

  Posted: June 11th, 2009, 5:41pm CDT by Husker Mike

  Earlier this week, UNO athletic director Trev Alberts and assistant AD Mike Kemp boarded a plane to interview six candidates to replace Kemp. Former North Dakota head coach Dean Blais told the World-Herald to ask Alberts about the situation.
  
  Now, the Duluth News-Tribune's Kevin Pates reports that former UNO and current Minnesota-Duluth assistant Steve Rohlik got a second interview on Wednesday. Also mentions Princeton coach Guy Gadowsky as another candidate.
  
  The Western College Hockey blog reports that this decision might be done "sooner than expected".
  
  Based on the noise tonight...and the fact that the College World Series starts on Saturday, an announcement could be coming tomorrow.
  
  Update: 6/12/2009 Noon: UNO will introduce Dean Blais as UNO head coach this afternoon at 2 pm.

Plains Feeder

• 

  Freedom Alert from Jim DeMint

  Posted: June 11th, 2009, 9:26am CDT by Angela

  Dear Friend,
  
  It is now clear that Congress and the president’s top priority for 2009 is health care reform. Since the collapse of Hillary-Care in 1994, Democrats have been working to re-plan and re-package a government takeover of your health insurance.
  
  This year, they’re hoping to get their chance. Last month, Senator Ted Kennedy offered a glimpse of what they have in mind when called for the creation an optional, “public health insurance plan, where coverage is provided in the public interest.”
  
  That may sound nice, but in one sentence, it describes everything that is wrong with a government take-over of American health care.
  
  Health care, by definition, can’t be provided in the public interest because no doctor has ever seen “the public.” Doctors see patients: one at a time, providing personal care in the patient’s interest only.
  
  Now, if you listen to the ongoing debate about health care reform, you hear a common theme, especially from those who favor a government take-over.
  
  They talk a lot more about costs than they do about care. Only here’s the thing: the government is the reason that costs are spiraling out of control now. Government now covers 100 million Americans, and costs are exploding. Under the proposed takeover, 130 million more will be added to government health programs. How can they expect to get costs under control by doubling the government’s role in health care?
  
  The answer is by rationing care. If government wants to cover 230 million Americans and bring down costs, the only way it can possibly do it is denying care to people whose health care is deemed – you guessed it – not in the public interest.
  
  Under similar schemes in Canada and Great Britain, people wait weeks to see their doctors, months to see specialists, and years to get routine procedures and treatments. High-tech tests and breakthrough medicines are off-limits because the government decides – in the public interest – that they are too expensive.
  
  When the late actress Natasha Richardson suffered her skiing accident in Canada this spring, the hospital didn’t have an MRI machine. The doctors never knew her injuries were life-threatening… until it was too late.
  
  That’s how a government take-over of your health care will try to get costs under control: cheap, outdated treatments, long waiting lists, and low-tech hospitals. It won’t take long before families realize the true costs of such a plan aren’t counted in dollars and sense.
  
  Instead of the government-controlled “public option,” we should move toward a “personal option,” where we help individuals and families buy and own their own health insurance plan that no government can ever take-over or take away.
  
  Health care is personal and private. It should be administered by doctors and nurses in their patient’s interest, not the interests of politicians and bureaucrats in Washington.
  
  Because never forget: any law that empowers government to provide health care in the public interest implicitly empowers government to deny it for the same reason.
  
  I plan to play a big part in the health care debate this summer, and my website will be a clearinghouse for information about the issue as it develops. Feel free to check in often, as new content will be added every week. And to help you stay informed, I’ll be in touch frequently as the health care and other debates move forward.
  
  Thanks very much, and God bless.
  
  Jim DeMint
  U.S. Senator, South Carolina
• 

  Are you ready for Obamacare?

  Posted: June 10th, 2009, 2:15pm CDT by Angela

  
  
  Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin

Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics

• 

  Suttle's new ride

  Posted: June 10th, 2009, 9:25am CDT

  Things to do as new Mayor:Offer a suspected pedophile the top job in your administration.Lose your first legislative issue with the new Council.Tell everyone how the city is going bankrupt, that taxes will be raised, that you are cutting library hours...then blow more than two grand a year more than the previous Mayor on a brand new luxury SUV to drive you around town.Well, that's quite the

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

• 

  Tuesday Night Beer: Omaha.com & Huskers.com Get Makeovers

  Posted: June 9th, 2009, 5:24pm CDT by Husker Mike

  The Nebraska athletic department and Omaha World-Herald unveiled long-overdue redesigns today, though I give both mixed reviews. Visually both are improvements over the previous design, but both designs seem to waste valuable screen real estate. It's a common error I see with web developers who use the "latest and greatest" equipment. The design of both sites looks great on a high-powered computer with a large monitor...but not so much when you bring it up on older home computers with smaller monitors (or laptops). Both sites waste so much real estate at the top of the page to alleviate clutter on huge monitors that suddenly most users will have to scroll to see anything other than the top headline.
  
  Both sites also seem to be pushing multimedia...whether it's called for or not. A Tom Osborne audio interview on Huskers.com is informative, but most people could read the interview in 1/5th of the time that it takes to listen to it. Osborne discusses bowls as well as what will happen after the FSN TV contract expires after the 2012 season....but doesn't really say anything about what might be changing. Kind of frustrating to spend the time listening to the interview and not really find out anything new.
  
  Don't get me wrong. Good multimedia is great...but the multimedia needs to capture some sort of essence of a special event. The "Bo Pelini Locker Room Speech" does that very well, intermixed with 2008 highlights. It captures the raw emotion that Pelini brings...and couldn't be shared any other way authentically. The Osborne interview...well, offers absolutely nothing that couldn't have been done better with a simple transcript.
  
  Supposedly the Omaha.com redesign is going to support reader comments, but so far, it's only on selected stories. Tom Shatel's column, for example, would be an excellent place for comments, but it's not there. So hopefully he'll catch my comments to today's column here:
  
  The problems the Royals face in sharing Rosenblatt with the NCAA are a good reason for building a new stadium...but not necessarily two. Couldn't you build a stadium with space to accomodate sufficient office space for both the Royals and the NCAA? Certainly would cost less than two stadiums.
  
  Shatel also seems to be picking up on the vibe that UNO athletic director Trev Alberts seems to be looking to make a bid for a big name hire, such as Dean Blais. KETV's Matt Schick posted a transcript to parts of last week's interview with Trev Alberts, where Alberts makes some eyebrow raising statements:

  We’d like it to be in the middle of the month of June. We will not rush this decision. It’s too important for our future. We will do all of our due diligence. We’re going to aim for the moon, and try to get the best possible candidate that we can to try to convince him to be our head coach. If that happens soon, great. If it’s later, that’s okay too. We need to get the right fit.

  Many people have assumed that UNO would target an assistant coach, but Alberts statement about "aim for the moon" indicates that UNO is shooting higher. No offense to local favorite Mike Hastings, but if Alberts can lasso a coach that has won two national championships such as Blais, that's a huge change in fortunes for UNO. After years of watching UNO's administration stumble and bumble and bungle their way, Alberts seems to be bringing a fresh attitude to UNO.
  
  Tomorrow's announcement that TD Ameritrade is purchasing the naming rights for the downtown stadium is a bittersweet announcement for Omaha. Don't get me wrong; it's a good thing for Omaha and the downtown stadium. It also silences some of the naysayers who still continue to insist that the downtown stadium is a mistake. Yes, it appears that the downtown stadium is not going to be utilized as much as it should be. But the value of the College World Series alone makes it a good deal even without the Omaha Royals playing there.
  
  But it's bittersweet because I still wonder what could have happened in a couple of years. The Ricketts family, who founded Ameritrade and still sit on the board, are finalizing the purchase of the Chicago Cubs. When the Chicago Cubs contract with Raccoon Baseball in Des Moines expires after the 2012 season, it wasn't outside the realm of possibilities that the Chicago Cubs might want to explore a minor league affiliation in another market...especially one where the family business owns the naming rights to a stadium. No, the Iowa AAA baseball team isn't going anywhere...but after 2012, there is no assurance that the Iowa AAA baseball team will be affiliated with the Chicago Cubs. Sadly, with the Omaha AAA baseball team committing to play in BFE Sarpy County for the next 25 years, the chances of the "Omaha Cubs" becoming reality disappeared as well. Sigh. O! What could have been.

Omaha TV News

• 

  Caption

  Posted: June 9th, 2009, 2:54pm CDT by Ted Brockman

  Time for a little reader fun.
  Use the comment feature to suggest an appropriate caption for this photo from the SuxNews Facebook page. (Is it an optical illusion or is Maltard a little stout in this pic?)
  

Plains Feeder

• 

  Plains Feeder on Checkup Today

  Posted: June 9th, 2009, 11:20am CDT by Angela

  
  
  Hey guys and gals! I'm back! I got back from a quick mini trip to Texas on Sunday afternoon. I've been trying to catch up on my internet projects ever since. One of the things I've been meaning to tackle for quite some time was to get Plains Feeder added to CheckupToday.com -- a blog network project of mine. I was able to get that done today and now Plains Feeder is listed in the Government and Politics section over there.
  
  If you are somebody that likes to blog and has a blog and want to join my little blog network, let me know! We'd love to have you AND if there is a category not listed that would suit you and your blog all you have to do is let me know and I'll create it for you. The blog network is free. The only thing I ask is that you post our button on your blog. That's it! There are also other perks that come with joining my blog network. Read through the about pages and that will pretty much spell out the rest.
  
  CheckupToday.com is also on Twitter
• 

  Canada Free Press: Better than Fox

  Posted: June 9th, 2009, 2:58am CDT by ptg

  Canada Free Press
  The old feeder has been a regular reader of the Canada Free Press online 'newspaper' for several years. Now that the US media is either ridiculously biased in favor of Obama and the Democrat Party's Marxist schemes or else running scared, I find myself turning to the CFP even more.
  
  Even the reviled-by-the-left Fox News feels compelled to clothe their reportage in the guise of being "fair and balanced". Being fair to America's enemies is either stupid or naive. You can't strike a balance with evil. I find Fox's sappy leitmotif "we report, you decide" to be offensive. Fox can't report everything; they decide what gets covered. I suspect Fox is afraid our government will adopt overt censorship, as all Marxist governments are wont to do.
  
  The Canada Free Press proudly puts their conservatism in their banner. I'm more conservative than not, so I like having an unabashedly conservative news source. Give the Canada Free Press a try.
  ---
  Caveat: As with anyone else's ideas and opinions, the CFP must be read with a critical eye. I don't agree with everything Judi McLeod and her cohorts publish. Hey, I'm a disagreeable cat by nature.

Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics

• 

  Omaha Bankrupt?

  Posted: June 8th, 2009, 9:25am CDT

  Bankruptcy for Omaha.That's the message Jim Suttle sent out on the eve of his taking office. On the week of the Omaha's nationwide event.How's this for an ESPN opener:"Here we are LIVE at Johnny Rosenblatt stadium, in Omaha, where the new Mayor says they may go bankrupt if they don't raise taxes."Omaha! Rare, Well Done and Cooked!This is what you get (and will be getting) from the new

Plains Feeder

• 

  Risky Recycling

  Posted: June 7th, 2009, 5:04pm CDT by ptg

  Hot Grater?
  The old feeder has always believed that recycling begins at home. I throw away so little trash that my hauling service only stops by the feedlot every other week. Even then, he doesn't get much. The stuff I buy gets used, then used again, then saved for parts.
  
  When recycling systems reach a certain scale, the purity and safety of 'new" products made from recycled goods becomes impossibly difficult to maintain. Was something you wear made from infectious hospital wastes? Did the plastic scraps used to make your chair come from containers that once held toxic chemicals? Who knows? Nobody is minding the store.
  
  Buying goods made of recycled materials from foreign countries only increases the risk. It is bad enough to worry that your toothpaste might be sweetened with poisonous anti-freeze, or that your dog food is laced with melamine. Many third world countries are so poor that they won't refuse to recycle even highly radioactive metals. What do they make out of this melted down mess? The things you buy at WalMart and other stores whose shelves are stocked with Chinese and other third world products.
  
  Here are some examples of radioactive products, including Ekco graters made in China. It isn't only China that does this. Read about how Tennessee, home of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, includes radioactive metals from decommissioned nuclear weapons plants in metal products. Some of it nearly ended up in popular recliners.
  
  They have to get rid of these hot metals, plus tons of radioactive concrete waste, etc. somehow. We aren't supposed to worry that our La-Z-Boy recliners might be X-raying our butts. Why? Because here in America, our all-knowing government is keeping an eye on these things.
  ---
  Don't trust anyone unless you know where they live and where their kids go to school.
  ---
  Hat Tip: Free Republic.
• 

  Remember D-Day

  Posted: June 6th, 2009, 2:35am CDT by ptg

  Omaha Beach - Bob Capa photo
  If America loses the spirit that rid the world of the threat posed by national socialism in World War II, or relaxes the vigilance that stayed the threat of international socialism during the Cold War, then the next big war will be lost on our soil.
  
  Don't forget the sacrifices our soldiers and our allies made this day. Don't forget the sacrifices all Americans made to the war effort then. Then ask yourself if today's leaders have the any inclination to resist the infectious spread of National Socialism or the threat of Islamic Jihad.
  
  They say that if it weren't for Americans and Brits like those who stormed the beaches of Normandy, we'd all be eating sauerkraut with chopsticks today. In the future, will we all be slaves of the state?
  ---
  Fly your flag today.

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

• 

  Is UNO Targeting Dean Blais?

  Posted: June 5th, 2009, 6:11pm CDT by Husker Mike

  Trev Alberts updated the Omaha World-Herald and KETV-Channel 7 on the search for a new hockey coach:

  Alberts said phone conversations have taken place with some applicants as well as others who haven't applied, and said that process is ongoing.
  
  Alberts said there are no immediate plans to conduct a formal on-campus interview, but also said his target date of mid-June to July 1 for making a hire is still reachable.

  
  The "others who haven't applied" comment caught my attention, as it means that UNO is being somewhat aggressive in pursuing coaches, not just sitting back and seeing who applies. Who could that be?
  
  Fiona Quick of the Minnesota Hockey Journal adds to the speculation that it's none other than Dean Blais, who won two national championships for North Dakota before trying his luck in the NHL. She does question whether Blais is interested, as it seems that some Gopher boosters are pushing for Blais to replace current head coach Don Lucia when his contract expires - or maybe sooner. Certainly Blais' resume affords him the opportunity to choose his next job, so it's very possible that Blais isn't interested in UNO.
  
  If he isn't, I don't think money would be the issue. Granted, UNO athletics has an ongoing money issue, but UNO boosters came up with the funds to bump up Alberts salary. I'd be shocked that those same boosters wouldn't consider opening up their checkbooks again if that were the only issue preventing Blais from accepting the UNO job.
  
  From my perspective, it looks like UNO is pursuing Blais. And it's not because of his resemblance to David Letterman:
  

Plains Feeder

• 

  Grass-Mud Horse

  Posted: June 5th, 2009, 3:56am CDT by ptg

  Naughty Grass-Mud Horse
  Caught this at Art Diamond's very excellent blog: China's Grass-Mud Horse Has "Made Government Censors Look Ridiculous". Read more about this trick on the Chinese internet censors here at Language Log. I love it when government censors are made to look ridiculous.
  ---
  Art Diamond is a Professor of Economics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. If you don't read his artdiamondblog.com, you should check it out. It is one of my favorites. The old feeder studied at the UNO College of Business Administration back in the 1970's. It is there that I learned about classical liberalism and to appreciate the free market.

Omaha TV News

• 

  Exploitation

  Posted: June 4th, 2009, 6:15pm CDT by Ted Brockman

  Two of the features on the inexplicable website set up for former anchor Pat Persaud on the Channel Sux "web channel" remind us that no one in Omaha broadcasting has ever been more willing to pimp out her family to further her career (if you consider her stupid little website an extension of her career, of course).
  "Pat's Personal Pics" includes lots of snapshots of her kids standing with tennis rackets in front of their bzillion dollar home, scuba diving, fishing, and throwing gang signs with their very white friends. The video section includes shaky footage of her sucking down homemade hooch with her husband, Lumir, and scenes from her cousin's Hindu wedding.
  What on earth would Pat put on her page if she were an orphan or a spinster?
  Ol' Turkey Neck puts the Pat in pathetic.

Plains Feeder

• 

  Anyone remember Tiananmen Square?

  Posted: June 4th, 2009, 11:30am CDT by ptg

  Wounded Demonstrators
  It was twenty years ago today that the Tiananmen Square Massacre (referred to in China as the June Fourth Incident was perpetrated by the Red Chinese People's Army. Read a fine post by Michael Laprarie at Wizbang about the incident. Click the photo and the title for more.
  
  Tea party demonstrators and the like here in the US need not be concerned. It can't happen here.

Omaha TV News

• 

  Baffling

  Posted: June 4th, 2009, 3:41am CDT by Ted Brockman

  Wednesday night's big announcement regarding a "familiar face" returning to Channel Sux was even less worthy of airtime than one of their inane live chats. For those of you who can't stand the suspense, the upshot of the whole thing appears to be that creepy, cougary-looking former anchor Pat Persaud now has a webpage.
  Anchor Tracy Madden and puffy fill-in-for-J-Pa Brian Mastre seemed disproportionately delighted in making the announcement, which included a live remote featuring Queen Pat swilling wine in her kitchen.
  Claiming that her drinking stemmed from her nervousness about the announcement (eye-roll), Pat screeched "How are you guys?!" at Madden and Mastre at least twice while trying, in her typically bumbling fashion, to explain the point of her "In Touch" webpage.
  A quick look at the site reveals more of what we've come to expect from TV in general and Channel Sux in particular—lots of style and little substance. Perhaps most representative is Pat's blog, which is filled with riveting accounts of Governor Dave Heineman's 61st birthday party and Pat's life since "retiring" four years ago.
  The quality of the writing is roughly that of a 15-year-old girl. For example, the latter post contains 25 lines of copy and 20 exclamation points. And Pat doesn't seem to realize that the contraction for "it is" requires an apostrophe. (Officials at Morningside College must cringe every time Pat mentions having a degree from there.)
  We just cringe every time we see her tiny, wrinkly, scantily-clad frame on the TV—and now, computer—screen.

Plains Feeder

• 

  Preposition Choice: No Hope

  Posted: June 4th, 2009, 3:22am CDT by ptg

  Hopeful Survivors?
  The old feeder used to teach Turks how to use English prepositions. It was difficult because the Turkish language doesn't use prepositions. They use agglutinated postpositions.
  
  I found two internet news headlines that were trying to say the same thing: that there won't be any survivors from the Air France flight that crashed into the Atlantic. The editors' choice of prepositions, however, yielded two very different meanings. Read the headlines and see if you can spot the problem:
  

  • Air France says no hope of survivors in Atlantic - AP
  • Air France says no hope for survivors - ABC News

  I emphasized the operative prepositions. See the difference in meaning?
  
  The first headline says it right, we shouldn't hold out any hope that there were any survivors of the catastrophe. The second headline implies that there were survivors, but that they have no hope of rescue.
  
  Its is sad to see professional users of the English language screw it up so badly. It isn't just the American Way that is dying. Our language is dying with it.
  ----
  Sample lesson from my teaching notes:
  

  You are at the firing range. Do you fire your weapon [by - toward - near - at - in - to] the target?
  Choose the appropriate preposition.

  The Turks generally chose toward or to. With prepositions, there aren't always clear cut rules, only acceped usages which must be learned by rote. Still, nuanced choices DO affect meaning. Click the post title for a preposition quiz.
  

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

• 

  Wednesday Night Beer: Clarence Thomas Making Friends

  Posted: June 3rd, 2009, 5:19pm CDT by Husker Mike

  I normally don't pay any attention to incoming recruits, but the story about Jason Ankruh meeting Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on a flight back from a recruiting trip caught my eye, but not for the usual reasons. It's a great story, but considering how finicky the NCAA can be at times, could the NCAA rule that this is a "extra benefits" violation? After all, how many high school graduations does Thomas, an admitted Husker fan, speak at? Remember, this is the same organization that declared Eric Crouch ineligible over a ham sandwich.
  
  I happened to catch the Journal-Star's tweet about Eric Piatkowski, and asking about the interest level in the NBA Finals. With all due respect to Pike and former Husker Tyronne Lue, the NBA Finals are of no interest to me. The NBA (Not Basketball Anymore) jumped the shark in the early 90's. I was watching the NBA Finals (probably the Bulls) and had to leave the room for a few minutes, and came back a few seconds before NBC cut away to a commercial. NBC cuts to a 15-20 second (maybe longer) montage of still photographs of players set to the John Tesh do-do-do-dodo theme music ... without any clue as to what the score was. They come back from commercial, and since it was the days before Fox made the on-screen scoreboard a standard feature of sports broadcasts, I had to wait even longer before NBC finally flashed the score on the screen. In the meantime, I was subjected to features, interviews, and self-promotion...and the game had become secondary. In other words, it had become entertainment, not sport.
  
  So tomorow night, I'll be watching the Final...the Stanley Cup Final game four between the Red Wings and Penguins. Good series so far, with the Wings leading the series 2-1. I wondered if the freak goal by former Michigan State forward Justin Abdelkader on Sunday night in Detroit might have demoralized the Penguins, but they bounced back on Tuesday night to win at home. I just wish former Maverick Bill Thomas was still up with the Pens; his season apparently ended last month in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Thomas played 11 games with the Pens earlier this season, scoring one goal.

Omaha TV News

• 

  Crap

  Posted: June 3rd, 2009, 11:24am CDT by Ted Brockman

  Channel Sux is promoting tonight's newscast with word of "a familiar face" returning to "the Channel Six family" and the phrase "in Touch" scrawled across the screen.
  Brace yourselves.
  This can only mean that turkey-necked crone, former anchor Pat Persaud, is resurfacing with some sort of human interest feature—an idea ripped directly off of KETV's repurposing of Julie Cornell after she stepped down from her anchor spot.
  Will Queen Pat still have her glum expression that looks like an upside-down smile? Will she still stumble through stories and sound like the laziest woman in television? Will she still wear excessively revealing clothing suitable only for women thirty years younger?
  It may not be good, but it'll probably worth a laugh or two.

Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics

• 

  Who is Ron Gerard?

  Posted: June 3rd, 2009, 4:00am CDT

  After Mayor-elect Jim Suttle stormed out of his "press conference" the other day -- the one where the press didn't get to ask any questions -- he left his new Communications Director to sort out the queries of those assembled.We joked in a recent post that Communications Director-designate Ron Gerard must be longing for the days when he was a simple TV weatherman on KPTM.How little did we know!

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

• 

  Shocker of the Year: TV doesn't want to show NU's games against Florida Atlantic or Arkansas State

  Posted: June 2nd, 2009, 5:33pm CDT by Husker Mike

  To nobody's surprise, the Big XII's television partners (ABC, ESPN, FSN, and Versus) all declined to televise the first two Nebraska football games against Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State. Jeff Sagarin's end of season 2008 ratings had Florida Atlantic rated #102 and Arkansas State #107. Don't look for the Huskers other non-conference game to be televised either, as Louisiana Lafayette finished last season rated #106.
  
  What does that mean? If you want to watch the games, call your cable or satellite provider because these games are headed to pay-per-view once again. Is it better than listening to the game on the radio? Maybe, unless you don't take into consideration the lasting effects of Husker fans' willingness to pay $29.95 to watch Nebraska football. Last season, the TV networks passed on the Nebraska/Kansas game, choosing instead to show Iowa State/Colorado. That decision was likely influenced by the prospect of making more revenue from selling the game on pay-per-view instead of selling commercials.
  
  The real blame for this goes to Steve Pederson's awful scheduling; there's no excuse for playing three Sun Belt teams in 2009. Two, perhaps. Three, absolutely not. Budgets require playing three non-conference home games each season, so that could justify two Sun Belt games. (I'd hope Nebraska could do better, though.) The other game should be a home-and-home against a BCS or at least an upper-half mid-major foe. Fortunately, once Pederson's scheduling mess is overwith, it looks like the schedules are improving down the line.
  
  Still no word on the television coverage for the Nebraska vs. Virginia Tech game, though. This game will be televised under the ACC television coverage package. Looking at the college football schedule, the Huskers/Hokies game looks like one of the better matchups on September 19th. ABC has already chosen Texas Tech at Texas for their prime-time game, and CBS will almost assuredly take Tennessee at Florida for prime time as well. Other games on the schedule that will fight for TV coverage include Kansas at Duke (yeah right), Kansas State at UCLA (hee hee), Utah at Oregon, and UConn at Baylor. I don't see any games even remotely approaching the Huskers and Hokies, so I look for ABC to grab this game for a 2:30 kickoff or ESPN for a primetime matchup. Since ABC already selected the Tech/Texas game for primetime, I doubt they'd do a split-national broadcast with yet another Big XII team.
  
  (Correction: The Duke game is at Kansas, and will be televised by Versus.)
  
  Speaking of media coverage, UNO has announced that they are moving Maverick sports broadcasts to the campus radio station, KVNO 90.3 FM. I have mixed feelings on this, as I'm worried that UNO will lose exposure on a non-traditional station. Hopefully Kevin Kugler and Mike'l Severe will still cover UNO sports even though they won't be carried on their station. (Trev Alberts probably could solve that problem simply by agreeing to a weekly interview on "Unsportsmanlike Conduct".) The upside of this decision is that KVNO should have better coverage in the metro area, especially at night. KKAR seems to fade out at night as you hit the western city limits, and according to the FCC, the KVNO signal should reach Fremont. It's going to be an odd fit: sports and classical music. But it can't be any more bizarre than the idea of former Z-92 morning zoo host Otis Twelve spinning Mozart in the morning.

Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics

• 

  No questions. No Answers.

  Posted: June 2nd, 2009, 8:55am CDT

  At his press conference yesterday, Jim Suttle said he wanted to put the Matt Samp episode "in the history book" (and what chapter will that be exactly?) and get to work as Mayor.That would have been a good idea, except that because Suttle screwed up his presser, he won't be able to do that just yet.Why?Because he left a bunch of inconsistencies hanging in the air, which until cleared up, will

Plains Feeder

• 

  New Government Motors Cadillac

  Posted: June 2nd, 2009, 5:54am CDT by ptg

  New 2-seater - Traditional Look
  If it looks like chrome, its plastic. In fact, the entire body is blow-molded plastic recycled from pop bottles. Its so light, you won't need a jack to change tires. It runs on apple juice and only fresh air is emitted from the tiny exhaust pipe. You have a choice between carrying a bag of groceries or a passenger. In early road tests, the new Government Motors Caddy was a bit hard to handle in crosswinds. Crash test results aren't in yet.
  ---
  I'm glad the Hummer will avoid Obamafication.
  ---
  Update: It looks like Red China is taking over the Hummer brand. I wonder if the ChiComs are going to produce the Humvee for the US military now.

Omaha TV News

• 

  Buy

  Posted: June 1st, 2009, 5:25pm CDT by Ted Brockman

  In addition to using its online chats to avoid covering news, WOWT is now using commercials disguised as news. Two great examples showed up on Monday's 6 p.m. broadcast.
  First, Tracy Madden gleefully informed us that Omaha again has a Mitsubishi car dealership after a grim two-month drought. There was b-roll and interview clips with a salesman about how great the new outfit is. How much do you suppose the dealer had to spend to get this freebie?
  The second newsmercial originated in the Ejacuweather Authority corner, with the announcement that viewers can now pay get emails, phone calls, and text messages when they're about to be hit by severe weather.
  That's right—Channel Sux is now selling its weather alerts, for a $9.95 annual fee. There was no mention if these alerts will be more accurate or available than what's doled out to us poor saps who rely on the free info.

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

• 

  It's Official: The Royals Will Play on Highway 370

  Posted: June 1st, 2009, 5:00pm CDT by Husker Mike

  The Sarpy County Board made it official today, selecting the site at 126th and Highway 370 as the new home for the the Royals Triple-A affiliate. It's a bittersweet moment for the metro area in my opinion. The good news for the Omaha area is that the Royals will be remaining in Omaha area. The bad news is in an ideal world where all entities (local governments, the Royals, and the NCAA) cooperated, one stadium could have been sufficient. In this time when the economy is contracting and government is criticized for spending too much money, the notion of two ballparks in the Omaha area is regrettable.
  
  After reflecting on things over the weekend, I realized that while I think the decision to build a stadium in Sarpy County is the wrong one for the Royals and Sarpy County, if Sarpy County insisted on building a stadium in Sarpy County, the highway 370 location was very likely the best decision for the county. Not necessarily the Royals, mind you. For Sarpy County, it was kind of a no-brainer. The land and infrastructure costs were the lowest at that site, and the promise of potental development was the highest. From the county's perspective, highway 370 is low risk - high reward. Papillion is booming and the promise of shopping and recreation is a benefit to everyone. The opportunity for the developer bringing an ice rink or two to the area is another benefit. Omaha suffers a shortage of ice for skating and hockey because of the expense, so additional rinks represents a good thing for the metro area.
  
  I still believe that the proposed stadium is still a mistake for both the Royals and Sarpy County...but both organizations have now signed off on it, making my objections irrelevant. We still don't know how Sarpy is going to pay for it, which was my #1 objection all along. I also question what a $25 million dollar stadium that holds 6000 fans looks like when the going rate for a 7000 seat stadium is double that. Heck, a single big screen will cost over $1 million. (For comparision, Nebraska is installing two new video screens and ribbon boards at this time for a total cost of $3 million) And yes, it's too far southwest of the metro area.
  
  Twice in the last day or so, I've heard references to my blog in the media without any attribution. Which is fine; I'm open to criticism even if they don't want to acknowledge the source...but they shouldn't be surprised by a response.
  
  Some have mentioned why my motivation is, even questioning why people oppose "progress". My motivation is simple: I want the best thing for the metro area. The city is already committing many millions of dollars for the downtown stadium, and the money being invested in a second stadium is a waste of resources in a time when there are far greater needs in this city than a second stadium. The downtown stadium was a no brainer; Rosenblatt had infrastructure issues that weren't going away, and the NCAA was requesting a new stadium by all accounts. It's unfortunate that the Royals and MECA couldn't come to an agreement downtown, and for that, I blame all parties: MECA, the Royals, Sarpy County, and to a lesser extent, the city of Omaha.
  
  In an interview yesterday, Alan Stein denied that the Royals tried to play one bid off of another one in their dealings with MECA. Whether that's true or not, the Royals were already in discussions with Sarpy County long before they negotiated with MECA, and there is no way that those discussions could not have influenced the Royals positioning. When you know that you are going to have alternatives, you aren't going to be interested in compromising. The Royals knew of interest from Sarpy County, and MECA likely knew as well and weren't going to get into a bidding war.
  
  In my rush to post (with a cranky one-month old on my lap) Friday night, I didn't make my objections to the location very clear. For most of the metro area, the proposed stadium is further away than either Rosenblatt or the new downtown stadium; that's not going to encourage fans to attend Royals games. Except, of course, for folks who are located nearby: Papillion, La Vista (to some extent), Millard, Gretna, and Elkhorn. I used the I-80/680 interchange as the focal point because it illustrates the areas where the 370 location is better than the alternatives. For people southwest of I-80/680, the 370 location is definitely closer. Northwest, it's somewhat of a push since many of these people would use the interstate either way. Northeast of I-80/680 is the audience that loses in this discussion; those people just got a disincentive to attend the Royals games.
  
  The real question is whether there is a latent demand in Papillion, Millard, and Gretna for sporting events that will make up for the inevitable loss of fans from the rest of the metro area. That's the gamble the Royals make. Lot of families there, absolutely. But there are families everywhere in the metro area. Don't forget the Royals play one block west of the premier family destination in this region; the current location doesn't seem to hurt the Henry Doorly Zoo one bit.
  
  Nearly seven years ago, the Omaha Lancers moved to Council Bluffs in an attempt to reenergize a fan base and serve an underserved audience for sports in southwest Iowa. After a failed name change, they are moving back to Omaha this fall, leaving the Mid America Center with a questionable future after watching Lancer crowds dwindle as the move alienated more fans than attracted new fans. The proposed stadium in western Sarpy County is even further away from the city limits than the Mid American Center. The question remains to be answered: did the Royals move towards their fan base ... or away?
  
  It's been interesting to observe the various biases that have emerged over the past year and a half over this issue. The Omaha World-Herald, for it's measure, has been strongly in favor of the downtown stadium. Kevin Kugler and Mike'l Severe of KOZN radio, on the other hand, have been negative towards the downtown stadium and the biggest cheerleaders for the Sarpy County stadium. Obviously, any reader of this blog knows my position, as this is an opinion blog.
  
  In any event, the debate is over. The stadium in Sarpy County is underway, right or wrong. Will I be wrong, as I was over the ability of Sarpy County to pull it off? We probably won't know for sure for another five or ten years.

Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics

• 

  Suttle's judgment

  Posted: June 1st, 2009, 9:20am CDT

  **UPDATE**Samp won't be getting the job.***When you read something, then have your exact thoughts repeated over and over, you know a chord has been struck.In Sunday's OWH story about Jim Suttle's Chief of Staff certain parts jumped out:The mayor-elect also said he had not heard these specific allegations and will not ask law enforcement officials for documents outlining the accusations."

Plains Feeder

• 

  Fed IG Elizabeth Coleman and 9 Trillion dollars

  Posted: June 1st, 2009, 2:52am CDT by ptg

  Federal Reserve Inspector General Elizabeth Coleman
  Click over to RedStateEclectic blog to watch a short video of US Congressman Alan Grayson asking Federal Reserve IG Elizabeth Coleman "where the money went." IG Coleman is clueless.
  
  If you pay federal income taxes, her answers will make you cry. If not, feel free to laugh at her.
• 

  Are you ready for that inventory?

  Posted: May 30th, 2009, 4:40am CDT by Arnie

  The Green Inquisition
  Nancy Pelosi, speaking to the ChiComs, who are already sold on totalitarianism, said that "Every aspect of our lives must be subject to inventory" to fight global warming. Every aspect? Inventory? Ed Morrissey notes on the Hot Air Blog:

  Make no mistake about it. The climate-change activists want state control of energy production and use, which will allow the government control over every aspect of our lives. It’s the lifelong dream of utopian elitists.

  Ed also has a video to help answer your questions about just who might conduct such an inventory.
  ---
  As ptg says, "Why don't they just pass a Regulation of Everyday Life Bill and be done with it?"

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

• 

  Not Chalco...It's BFE for the Royals

  Posted: May 29th, 2009, 5:42pm CDT by Husker Mike

  The Omaha World-Herald is confirming tonight that Sarpy County has selected rural Richfield, Nebraska as the future home of the Omaha Royals. Reports the World-Herald:
  

  All indications point to the Schewe farm property near 126th Street and Nebraska Highway 370 as the preferred destination for several reasons. Cost appears to be a major factor favoring the site, as well as its potential to meet the county's goal of spurring significant new commercial, retail and entertainment development.
  
  Besides the ballpark for the Omaha Royals, the Papillion site developer proposed an ice rink, a fitness center, an indoor water park and a hotel, new restaurants, a shopping center, plus future professional offices and homes. Separately, two flood-control lakes are planned for the area.

  That's the upside, of course. The downside is simple. The Royals are moving to the outskirts of town, away from the population base. From the I-80/680 interchange, it's about 8 miles and a 12 minute drive to the highway 370 location, according to Google Maps. Or basically the same distance away as Rosenblatt, though three minutes longer because the drive to Rosenblatt is all interstate.
  
  That's right...from southwest Omaha, the new stadium location is a LONGER drive than Rosenblatt Stadium.
  
  In other words, for people expecting the new stadium to be more convienent...it's anything but. Or more simply: Epic Fail.

Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics

• 

  Nebraska Blogging

  Posted: May 29th, 2009, 11:20am CDT

  Say hey kids.We hate to go more than a week without saying anything, so here is a brief post to say hello, and start out a new comment board, if nothing else.Oh sure, the big news this week has been about the travails of Nebraska State Treasurer Shane Osborn and his family. If that is not a sad story, we don't know what is. Many commenters here on on L. St. have been anxious to make

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

• 

  Alberts Looking Long Term at UNO

  Posted: May 29th, 2009, 1:53am CDT by Husker Mike

  Trev Alberts was only named athletic director at UNO one month ago...but in an interview with the Omaha World-Herald, he started to share his vision for UNO long term, showing more initiative and foresight than we've seen from UNO in many years.
  
  Trev told a local Rotary Club yesterday that UNO needs an on-campus facility for hockey and other sports.
  

  "What I'm trying to do is say, 'What will we look like in 15 years?' In my opinion, if we're still playing hockey downtown, and our athletes (in other sports) are driving all around town playing in various venues, then I don't think it looks very positive for our athletic department."

  Trev gets it. That's it, in a nutshell.
  

  "We're happy with what the CCHA has done for us. We realize the WCHA can provide some things the CCHA can't. The Big Ten might start (sponsoring) hockey. How does that affect us? How do we position ourselves? We can't think short-term, we have to think long-term."

  Trev brings up an interesting argument in the WCHA/CCHA alignment debate. Namely, the rumors of a Big Ten hockey conference. If that happens, say good bye to Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State. Maybe Notre Dame as well. Suddenly the WCHA, with North Dakota, St. Cloud State, Denver, and Colorado College looks much more viable for UNO.
  
  As for the hockey search, he indicates that current head coaches have also applied, and that a new coach could be named later this month. No word on specific candidates, but the pool of candidates could be even deeper than fans have speculated.

Plains Feeder

• 

  Peteneras

  Posted: May 28th, 2009, 5:09pm CDT by ptg

  Pastora Pavon
  A-List blogger Fausta takes a break from her serious coverage of all things political once in a while to post a good Tango video. A recent post recalled in video the 100th birthday of "the most wonderful tanguera", the late Carmencita Calderón. The post (and a recent visit to blues fan DadBones) brought back some of the old feeder's childhood memories.
  
  When I was a boy living in Generalissimo Franco's Madrid, I made a crystal radio set. It was unamplified, used a crystal of galena, a wire whisker and a coil of lacquered copper wire wrapped around a toilet paper tube. It didn't require any electricity. I used to sneak it into bed after 'lights out' and listen to Spanish radio broadcasts. That was where I first heard Flamenco music. I liked it.
  
  Later, my Dad took me to Andalusia where we visited various Flamenco dives. I recall the smell of red wine and rough tobacco in the night clubs and cuevas (caves) where gypsy artists played the guitar, clapped complex rhythms and sang to the most doleful music I had ever heard. There were also sweaty, dark eyed female dancers to intrigue the little feeder.
  
  Flamenco makes the blues sound like something joyful. The blues is about being broke and alone. Flamenco is about suffering and death. At least the Flamenco I like is.
  
  So, if you are inclined to take a break from pissing and moaning about the wretched state of government, I invite you to watch and listen to a selection of my favorites on YouTube. All three links are in the same palo or style of Flamenco called Peteneras. Enjoy:
  

  • The first video is a classic. It is La Niña de los Peines (Pastora Pavón) singing the Peteneras "Quisiera yo renegar". It wouldn't do much good to try to explain the lyrics; suffice it to say it is about renouncing this world.
  • The next selection features Carlos Saura singing a very authentic Peteneras. The producer of the video has thoughtfully added subtitles. Precise elocution has never been the long suit of spoken Andalusian Spanish; it goes right out the window in Flamenco singing.
  • The final Peteneras is by Antonio Fernàdez Diaz, called Fosforito. His style is impeccable and the guitarist accompanying him is a master. The cat has got soul.

  These aren't turista Flamenco performers. Peteneras isn't the most popular palo. You might think it is an acquired taste. You might be right. Not everybody likes John Lee Hooker, either.

Omaha TV News

• 

  Details

  Posted: May 28th, 2009, 2:05pm CDT by Ted Brockman

  From an alert reader, captured Wednesday. . .
  

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

• 

  A Mea Culpa over the Chalco Boondoggle

  Posted: May 27th, 2009, 4:22pm CDT by Husker Mike

  It's time for me to admit I was wrong about the prospect of Sarpy County building a ballpark for the Omaha Royals. Doesn't mean I agree with the decision; I'm still convinced that the second stadium isn't necessary and that a solution could be found for the Royals to play in the new downtown stadium.
  
  But it's not happening. Barring a huge change of opinion by the Sarpy County Board, it will all become official next Monday. The question isn't if, but rather where.
  
  Why was I wrong? I've spent most of the last time arguing the question was really "how". How could Sarpy County pay for a new stadium? The idea of the Legislature paying for it was pure folly, and I was convinced that once the charade was over, Sarpy County would back down.
  
  What I failed to consider was that Sarpy County really wanted the Royals. When you REALLY want something, you usually find a way to make it happen, whether you can afford it or not. Some might argue that's the root cause of today's economic crisis; people overextending themselves on spending. (That's another issue entirely, for another blog.)
  
  In the end, Sarpy County wants the stadium, and will find a way to make it happen. We may never know what "Plan B" really is, as I kind of expect Sarpy to muddle through on paying for it through next year, and try to resurrect LB 615 once construction has started and both sides have begun to consumate the relationship with real money and real commitmets. When that fails again (and it should because the state should not be funding a ballpark for Sarpy County), we may finally learn what Plan B is.
  
  So where will Sarpy County build the stadium? I go back to the original suggestion: Cabela's is the best location, bar none, if money is not an issue. But I think money still is a huge factor, which breathes life into the Bellevue and 370 locations. Bellevue makes the most sense in my opinion; it redevelops a blighted area, and it's more likely to get support from the state as a redevelopment project. The downside to Bellevue is that this stadium has been sold as a "west Omaha stadium" (even though it's not in west Omaha and is almost as far from parts of West Omaha as the downtown stadium is), and Omahans may reject the Royals as the "Bellevue Royals." The highway 370 location is intriguing only because of the prospects of little league fields for Papillion and two much-needed ice rinks. The idea of shopping and restaurants developing around the 370 location sounds intriguing, until you realize the dearth of that type of development on 13th street, where the stadium is co-located with the Omaha area's biggest tourist destination.
  
  The dynamics of the Sarpy County boondoggle have made it difficult to protest or criticize it. We don't know where it's going to be built, we don't know how it's going to be paid for, and we don't even know exactly how much it's supposed to cost. And nobody outside of the Royals and the leaders of Sarpy County will know those answers until it's a done deal: signed, sealed and delivered.

Plains Feeder

• 

  Obama was Tricked

  Posted: May 27th, 2009, 2:01pm CDT by Angela

  Hey! Whats this? Fried Chicken?
  
  The poor guy probably had not had a decent bite to eat in days!
  
  Who could blame him?
  
  Ha Ha Ha Ha !!!!
• 

  HOMOSEXUALITY: Scripture forbids it

  Posted: May 27th, 2009, 6:00am CDT by Angela

  Romans 1:26-27 (New International Version)
  
  Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
  
  1 Timothy 1:10 (New International Version)
  
  for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine
  
  
  Leviticus 18:22 (New International Version)
  
  Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.
  
  Leviticus 18 (New International Version)
  
  Leviticus 18
  Unlawful Sexual Relations
  1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'I am the LORD your God. 3 You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices. 4 You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the LORD your God. 5 Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them. I am the LORD.
  
  6 " 'No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the LORD.
  
  7 " 'Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; do not have relations with her.
  
  8 " 'Do not have sexual relations with your father's wife; that would dishonor your father.
  
  9 " 'Do not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.
  
  10 " 'Do not have sexual relations with your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter; that would dishonor you.
  
  11 " 'Do not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father's wife, born to your father; she is your sister.
  
  12 " 'Do not have sexual relations with your father's sister; she is your father's close relative.
  
  13 " 'Do not have sexual relations with your mother's sister, because she is your mother's close relative.
  
  14 " 'Do not dishonor your father's brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations; she is your aunt.
  
  15 " 'Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your son's wife; do not have relations with her.
  
  16 " 'Do not have sexual relations with your brother's wife; that would dishonor your brother.
  
  17 " 'Do not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. Do not have sexual relations with either her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter; they are her close relatives. That is wickedness.
  
  18 " 'Do not take your wife's sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living.
  
  19 " 'Do not approach a woman to have sexual relations during the uncleanness of her monthly period.
  
  20 " 'Do not have sexual relations with your neighbor's wife and defile yourself with her.
  
  21 " 'Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed [a] to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
  
  22 " 'Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.
  
  23 " 'Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion.
  
  24 " 'Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. 25 Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. 26 But you must keep my decrees and my laws. The native-born and the aliens living among you must not do any of these detestable things, 27 for all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled. 28 And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you.
  
  29 " 'Everyone who does any of these detestable things—such persons must be cut off from their people. 30 Keep my requirements and do not follow any of the detestable customs that were practiced before you came and do not defile yourselves with them. I am the LORD your God.' "
• 

  Supreme Court Quota Syatem

  Posted: May 26th, 2009, 2:56am CDT by Arnie

  Updated: From Stop the ACLU Sotomayor ‘La Raza member’. La Raza is an anti-white extremist group that advocates the 'reclaiming' of much of the US to form a Latino nation called Aztlan. If you didn't think Sotomayor was a racist and a raving radical before, this ought to convince you. It would be the equivalent of a white Supreme Court appointee having a current membership in the KKK.
  Sonia Sotomayor
  Barack Obama has selected Ms. Sonia Sotomayor to replace retiring Justice David Souter on the US Supreme Court. Choosing a female and the first Hispanic-American to the lifetime position on our highest court looks to me more like an act of Political Correctness than a choice based upon judicial rationale. PC mixed with some payback to the US Latinos who supported Obama's bid for the White House. Payback is an important part of the Chicago style.
  
  I was hoping he would pick a Mohammedan Mullah of uncertain gender, preferably somewhat disabled. Now that would be PC!
  
• 

  The Late, Great U.S.A.?

  Posted: May 25th, 2009, 5:05am CDT by Dad Bones

  Riverside Cemetery
  I went to the cemetery this morning to decorate my father's grave. It looks like a nice day for the annual Memorial Day parade in Spencer, Iowa. A question: Will the day (soon) come when we'll want for a Memorial Day observance, if for no other reason than to remember a time when we used to remember those who gave everything they had for this great country?
  
  They weren't suicide soldiers. They wanted to live, to come back to their homes and families. They didn't want to lose their limbs or their health and spend the rest of their days in veterans' homes. And they didn't want to lose their minds and live under bridges and in homeless shelters.
  
  Oh Freedom, you're a merciless bitch. I'd be tempted to say you're not worth it were it not for the horrifying governments that won't rest until there's nobody left to remember who you are.

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

• 

  Downtown Omaha's Master Plan Doesn't Include the Civic Auditorium

  Posted: May 24th, 2009, 6:04pm CDT by Husker Mike

  The City of Omaha is finishing up the process of updating the 1973 master plan for downtown Omaha. The original document provided the impetus for the Gene Leahy Mall and set in place the framework that led to the Qwest Center and other improvements in downtown. But the old plan is now over 35 years old and overdue for an update. The World-Herald published a sneak preview today of the plan which will be formally announced on Wednesday.
  
  One of the focuses of the update is the potential of up to eight new skyscrapers to grow the Omaha skyline along the busy Dodge Street and Capitol Avenue corridor. Of course, when you are building downtown, every new project has to remove something that might exist, but isn't as valuable to the community as the new project.
  
  Something such as Omaha's Civic Auditorium.
  
  Today's printed edition of the World-Herald confirms my long-standing opinion: the Civic Auditorium site will eventually be replaced by an office tower at some point in the future.
  
  That doesn't mean tomorrow, next year, or five years from now. But somewhere down the line, the bulldozers and wrecking ball will be arriving at 18th and Capitol Avenue to make room for growth in the Omaha economy.
  
  Doesn't mean that the Civic didn't serve it's purpose during it's era, but times change. The Qwest Center is now the crown jewel for big events in Omaha. Could it be remodeled to make it a little nicer? Certainly, but at what cost? Investing money in the Civic also means reducing capacity (to add in suites and the like) and now also means reducing the options available to grow the city itself.
  
  The old Qwest Center/Civic Auditorium debate fires up time and time again in UNO Hockey circles. But I really think this debate may finally be coming to an end, with the answer being "neither". Trev Alberts has talked about the need for UNO hockey to practice closer to where they play and go to class. That points away from downtown Omaha. Now, with the days for the Auditorium being numbered, investing money into the Civic for major renovations makes little sense. Why spend $20 million dollars to renovate, then spend even more money to tear it all down?
  
  I don't know what UNO's future plans are. Frankly, it might still include the Civic for the short term. But long term, it's becoming clear that UNO is going to need their own arena at some point down the line.

Plains Feeder

• 

  Daily Bread

  Posted: May 24th, 2009, 4:58am CDT by ptg

  Old Feeder's Breakfast
  Breakfast at home usually consists of oatmeal, a cup of strong coffee, a tomato and a serrano pepper. I like it. It uses a minimum of tableware, and satisfies my appetite. I don't like to wash dishes.
  
  Due to dietary constraints, breakfast is one of the few meals that I can eat at restaurants. I usually order two eggs over easy and hash brown potatoes. I ask that nothing be seasoned, and don't order toast or pancakes. The best breakfasts of this type in the Omaha area can be found at the 11-Worth Cafe at 24th and Leavenworth in downtown Omaha and Shirley's Diner in the Millard Plaza.
  
  The 11-Worth has the disadvantage of being a long drive from my far West Sarpy County digs. On the plus side, the place has big windows so you can watch the dope pushers work the corner. It is often crowded, as befits a place that serves good food.
  
  Shirley's Diner only serves breakfast until 11:00 AM, so you can't wait until lunchtime to get your eggs and hash browns. It has the big advantage of being quite close to home. Heaven help you, however, should a fire break out in the kitchen when the place is packed. One exit requires patrons to pass the kitchen, the other has a cattle chute like approach. I feel safe; the cats that patronize Shirley's don't look like the panicky type.
  
  A close third are the Vidlak's Cafes. There are several locations, all offering excellent service and great food. The only conceivable negative is the atmosphere; all of them that I visit are in strip malls and are sparsely decorated. The 11-Worth and Shirley's have atmosphere to spare, although the two places couldn't be more different if they tried.
  
  One thing all these excellent eateries have in common is the presence of the owners or one of the owners' relatives. Restaurants that rely only on hired managers to keep things running right risk becoming unpleasant in one way or another.
  
  Try a serrano pepper for breakfast! Just keep that tomato and a bowl of soothing oatmeal close at hand.
• 

  Long Weekend

  Posted: May 22nd, 2009, 5:26am CDT by ptg

  Car of the (near) Future - Click to Tour the Showroom
  The feedlot looks like Rome during Ferragosto. Angela is trying to wring a little joy out of her busy life, Arnie is in a snit because he hasn't been well received by the feedlot regulars, DadBones is scouring the woods for magic sticks, Abe is organizing and twittering. The place is empty.
  
  I've been out of town for almost a week, fixing computers. 64 bit Vista is a nasty piece of work, especially if you have important 'legacy' software to run on it. I guess I'll try to make a summary of stuff that caught my eye lately.
  ---
  The Right to Keep and Bear Arms - the old feeder has always argued that any form of gun registration, license or permit system (including CCW schemes) is wrong. They all put firearm owners' names on a government list. You might trust the government, but I don't. Government changes its tune every day. Who can say when the authorities will yield to the seemingly irresistible temptation to disarm the populace? Or at least to disarm some segment of the populace that they, in their democracy-blessed wisdom, deem dangerous or unfit to go armed? Take note of this post by David Codrea the War on Guns.
  
  Sissified Vegans giving Meat a Bad Rap - this is merely another example of dietary nazis enlisting sold out junk scientists to bolster their fruity theories. I've got no grudge against vegans or others that eat oddball stuff or abstain from perfectly good food, no matter what their rationale. It ought to be a free country, no? Sadly, many of these diet geeks aren't satisfied with eating as they please. They want to make everyone else follow their example. I don't like being told what I can and cannot eat. Example: the banning of trans-fats in New York City and California restaurants. I really don't care for using so-called scientific experts to back up their goofy ideas. The global warmists did this to vilify our friend, CO2. Now the same junk science is used to justify such idiocy as 'cap and trade'. I see an attack on meat eating looming on the horizon. This example found at Stop the ACLU is likely just the tip of the iceberg.
  
  Cars Cars Cars - Now that the liberal fruitcakes have wrested control of much of America's automobile industry, they will use their junk science to justify their we know what is best for you totalitarian arrogance to force us all to drive dangerous, sissy little clown cars. Read 'em and weep:
  

  • Bugalow Bill: Government Finishes its Hostile Takeover of General Motors and this one that mentions death by gas mileage standards: If You Think This Car Review is Bad, Just Wait Until Obama and the Government Starts Building Cars: Honda Insight Hybrid.
  • The New Editor: Car Crazy?
  • Babalu Blog: MaObama’s Putt Putt Cars.
  • Fausta's Blog: Smart car? Take a look
    

  Preventive Detention and Other Niceties - Constitutional rights? WTF are Constitutional rights in the New America?
  

  • Babalu Blog:Esta es tu casa, Obama, (it is in English) discussing the 'new' concept of preventive detention being considered by President Obama. Do you own a Gadsden flag? Belong to the NRA? You might need to be detained to prevent you from resisting the government.
  • Irons in the fire: It's just so wonderful out there, Did you know that having a wireless router in your house might justify a warrantless search of the premises?
    

  Good News - Paid vacations for everyone! Bungalow Bill brings us the glad tidings in Government Mandated Vacation Time: Could Tax Credits for Disney Left-Wing Vacation Be Far Away. I might add, "could a pink slip be far behind?"
  
  Laugh: Small Dead Animals posted this video clip of some radio jocks singing The Obamaman Song at Who Can Take Tomorrow? Spend It All Today? Cop a laugh.

Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics

• 

  Memorial Day Weekend 2009

  Posted: May 22nd, 2009, 12:01am CDT

  As we get ready to bust out for the weekend...How did we know the College Humor thing was going to come up again?As noted by the OWH, the state vote counters on the new (gawd awful) license plates are now looking at recounting, based on the CollegeHumor.com's intervention.As noted on their site:The state government claims that our votes weren't counted, but it's pretty clear that no one would

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

• 

  Is Dean Blais the Frontrunner for UNO?

  Posted: May 21st, 2009, 5:15pm CDT by Husker Mike

  The Duluth News Tribune's Kevin Pates reports that former North Dakota head coach Dean Blais is the front runner to be UNO's next head coach. Blais brings an impressive resume to the job search, winning two national championships for the Sioux before trying his luck in the NHL. Whether Pates has some inside information, or merely connected with wishful thinking of local fans on mavpuck.com isn't known.
  
  I will say this: if Dean Blais is sincerely interested in getting back into college coaching in Omaha, he has to be considered the front-runner.
  
  Two more names have confirmed interest. Former Lancer head coach Mike Guentzel and former UNO assistant David Quinn both tell the Omaha World-Herald they're interested. Guentzel coached the Lancers from 1992 to 1994, then left for Minnesota as an assistant coach. The Gophers won back-to-back national titles in 2002 and 2003. Guentzel was a finalist in 1996 to be UNO's first head coach, and is currently at Colorado College. Quinn has been at Boston University since leaving UNO earlier this decade, helping the Terriers win the national championship this past season.
  
  If not Blais, either Guentzel or Quinn appear to be outstanding candidates as well. Certainly it appears that UNO is drawing far more interest in the search for hockey coach than it did during the athletic director search.
• 

  Alberts & Osborne Joint TV Interview

  Posted: May 20th, 2009, 5:31pm CDT by Husker Mike

  UNO Television got quite the exclusive interview last week: UNO athletic director Trev Alberts and Nebraska-Lincoln athletic director Tom Osborne were the guests on "Consider This...". Much of the focus was on Alberts decision to jump from television broadcasting to administration, but there were a few tidbits of interest for Husker and Maverick fans:
  

  • Alberts wants to reproduce the ethics and atmosphere that he experienced while a Husker football player at UNO. He feels UNO has good people, but mismanagement and a revolving door at the top of the athletic department have made UNO athletics difficult to deal with.
  • Osborne feels that Husker facilities are in good shape, but there is a pressing need for a practice basketball facility since Nebraska is the only Big XII schoo without one. He thinks Doc Sadler is building a solid program, but he'll need a practice facility to stay competitive with the rest of the conference.
  • Alberts says UNO's facilities are exactly the opposite, pointing to the hockey situation. After listening to Alberts, I'm becoming more convinced that the answer to the never-ending Qwest Center -vs- Civic Auditorium argument is NEITHER. Alberts points out the hassles of practicing half-way across town (or further) from the arena where the hockey team plays; the team wastes time driving equipment back and forth. UNO has long talked of building a practice facility near campus at Chili Greens, but that won't solve the problem unless an arena is located there as well. Building a practice facility downtown doesn't look practical either; the Qwest Center probably has other plans for expansion, and I have no idea where you'd place a practice facility around the Civic. The Mancuso convention center appears to be too small, and the exhibition hall has the support pillars for the arena above. Do you tear down the Music Hall? I'm not sure there's room on the north or west sides either. Even if you squeeze it in..does it REALLY make sense to build it away from campus long term.
  • Alberts was ambivilant when asked where he wanted to be five or six years from now. Three months ago, he had no idea he'd be an athletic director back in Nebraska, so he obviously wasn't prepared for that question. That being said, he probably should have mentioned something about being at UNO; UNO's had enough turnover lately that he really should be striving to provide the Mavericks some continuity. Things may change down the line, but until that occurs, I'd hope that Alberts plans to be growing UNO athletics.
  • Osborne answered that same question with his typical dry humor, merely hoping he's still "vertical." But Osborne did make it clear that he's interested in leading Husker athletics for at least another two or three years. In other words, Osborne seems to be planning to stick around past the 2010 date that was announced when Osborne took over in 2007. Osborne talked about wanting to see a couple more years of Bo Pelini's team and also get Doc Sadler his practice facility so he could "compete nationally."

  It was an interesting interview that apparently isn't available online. (One final broadcast appears to be scheduled tomorrow morning at 10 am on Qwest Choice channel 74 and Cox channel 17 in Omaha.) Too bad, because it was interesting for both Mav and Husker fans alike.

Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics

• 

  Broken news

  Posted: May 19th, 2009, 10:00am CDT

  This......yes this, is what is going on your car. Not to be confused with this:Heck, next time just go with the Bar Code.  It has more pizzazz.  Ah, Democracy...(Btw, here are the reader submitted designs to the LJS.)And just to mix it up, here is what the Platte Institute had to say about this:Nebraskans Pay For "Ugly Betty" License PlatesNebraska residents will soon discover what their new

Plains Feeder

• 

  Priest Arrested at Notre Dame

  Posted: May 18th, 2009, 3:30pm CDT by Angela

  
  
  I posted more of what I was feeling about this over on Domestic Divapalooza. Feel free to discuss this over here on Plains Feeder too. It's an important issue that needs to go around the blogosphere. Feel free to leave a trail over on your blog too. The more people that see this video the better.
  
  HT: Pass the Salt

Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics

• 

  How convenient

  Posted: May 18th, 2009, 9:05am CDT

  A few days ago an OpEd ran in the OWH by former "Mayor" during the Fahey Administration, Paul Landow. This OpEd ran three days AFTER the Mayoral election. Three days after Mike Fahey's endorsed candidate won.Remember that candidate? Along with pledges to build a bridge to Iowa and the Pope Benedict Slide, you will remember that Jim Suttle promised that he would not rule out raising taxes.Huh,

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

• 

  Sunday Night Dessert: Bringing on the Summer Doldrums

  Posted: May 17th, 2009, 5:42pm CDT by Husker Mike

  Nebraska baseball swept Baylor this weekend, ending the most dismal season since John Sanders left. It's nice to end the season on a positive note, but it doesn't ease the disappointment. It's interesting to note how some fans have developed a sense of entitlement over the baseball program. If AJ the Huskerh8er hadn't thrown in the towel on his blog, he could easily have spent this entire spring flaming bandwagon fans who turned on Mike Anderson after last season's post-season meltdown and this season's poor record. Tom Osborne has a better perspective than the "Fire Mike" crowd, at least. It was a bad season, to be sure, but the only man to ever win a College World Series game at Nebraska deserves a mulligan.
  
  So, baseball season is over. Husker softball ended their NCAA tournament run. Track and field is still going on, but other than that, we're now in the summer doldrums of college sports locally for the next three months or so. That doesn't mean nothing newsworthy is going to happen; just that there aren't any games to talk about. Football season is still 111 days away, so we'll be previewing things there. We should start seeing some closure on the Sarpy County boondoggle and Trev Alberts seems to be ready to make some things happen off-ice for the UNO hockey program.
  
  Had some discussions this week about how Omaha could possibly work thorugh the objections of the Pacific Coast League towards the College World Series. Let's face it, the NCAA is unlikely to compromise here. I don't think the NCAA is going to support a noon Royals game before a series game in the evening. But there are other options available. Perhaps moving a series or two to Haymarket Park in Lincoln, if the Saltdogs were willing. Or doing what other sports do: play an unbalanced home schedule, and play those games on the road. If the PCL needs to schedule Omaha and Fresno in late June, move the games to Fresno. Do those options cost the Royals money? Absolutely, and the Royals would deserve compensation for that. But the more I think about it, the PCL's concerns over the CWS schedule is something that could be negotiated. That would require more give from MECA, which they have been unwilling to do. That also would require more give from the Royals, who simply don't need to compromise as long as Sarpy County is willing to give the Royals everything they want.
  
  And right now, it sure looks like Sarpy County is going to do just that, which is going to make the whole argument moot.
  
  KMTV-Channel 3's Travis Justice and MinnesotaHockeyJournal.com's Fiona Quick keep insisting that former Lancers coach Mike Hastings is the favorite to be named UNO's next hockey coach. In both cases, the logic seems pedestrian at best: Hastings spent 14 years in Omaha with great success with the Lancers, leaving to position himself for the next level. But one year's experience at Minnesota somehow makes him the "favorite"? A candidate, of course. But making him the "favorite" without explanation is just plain simplistic.
  
  Nothing wrong with Hastings per 'se. But the list of better qualified potential candidates started off long, and only grows longer. I've suggested former North Dakota coach Dean Blais (two national titles) and Boston University assistant David Quinn (defending national champions). Some other names have been added to the list. Former Lancer coach and current Air Force head coach Frank Serratore is one name. Former Lancer player and Robert Morris head coach Derek Schooley is another. Former Mav assistant and current Minnesota-Duluth assistant Steve Rohlik as well. Bottom line is that there are so many coaches out there with better resumes than Hastings, I'm hoping one of those applies for the job.
  
  Besides that, Mike Hastings told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that he's not pursuing the UNO job. Maybe that's political speak; maybe Gopher fan doesn't like the idea of their assistants looking into other jobs. But maybe, just maybe, Hastings realizes he's not ready to be a D-1 head coach yet either.

Plains Feeder

• 

  Too mean to cry about it

  Posted: May 15th, 2009, 12:53pm CDT by Dad Bones

  Left BehindI tried to think of a story that would make it look like I was attacked by a large badger while taking a nap down by the river. Not one to suffer rude awakenings lightly I grabbed a big rock and conked him. Having stunned him I got out my lock-back and hacked off his right hand, leaving him to figure out how to get around on three wheels. But who's going to believe that? I must have thought I was Nancy Pelosi.
  
  Here in Iowa, some people find old Indian arrowheads. Others find good things to eat like Morel mushrooms. Not me. I tend to find things that even coyotes and maggots aren't interested in. I didn't have to look hard for this foot. It was laying in my path like a $20 bill. Whoa! What's this? Sure is a damn big foot. What the hell did it come off of and how did it wind up here?
  
  After getting it home I snapped a picture of it and e-mailed it to the feedlot naturalist who we all know as PTG. From the way it's mangled up he thought it must have gotten caught in a trap. There were no other badger parts anywhere to be seen, nor did I see blood or fur.
  
  My other naturalist, a mysterious woman out in the Southwest Indian country, said the badger probably chewed its foot off. The picture suggests he might have started on his little finger before resigning himself to the grim task.
  ---
  Do not click here.

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

• 

  The End of the Mike Kemp Era

  Posted: May 14th, 2009, 4:35pm CDT by Husker Mike

  UNO's announcement that Mike Kemp is stepping down as hockey coach to become associate athletic director leaves me with mixed feelings. Sad because I like Kemp, and wished him the best throughout his career. Happy, because if he had to step aside as hockey coach, this might be the best way to handle it. (Steve Pederson could learn a thing or two from Trev Alberts about how to delicately handle personnel changes...and Alberts has been on the job for just over two weeks!)
  
  Right or wrong, whether Trev sang a song today or told the truth, it's not known. And frankly, it doesn't matter at this point. We've known that Kemp was on shaky ground for the last year or two, and so the idea of Mike Kemp sticking around UNO is a happier ending than what was otherwise possible. The "Fire Kemp" crowd gets their wish: a new coach, and the Kemp backers know that Kemp is still contributing to the program.
  
  But is it a promotion? That's a spin job; it's probably a lower stress job, but coaches earn more than administrators for a reason. Nevertheless, it's probably the best for UNO.
  
  Both Kemp and Alberts sounded very positive about taking UNO hockey to the next level. There are important decisions to be made in the days and weeks ahead: who'll be the next coach and what conference will UNO play in?
  
  The leading candidate to replace Kemp in my opinion is David Quinn, the former UNO assistant and current associate head coach at Boston University, who won the national championship last month. Also getting mention is former Lancer head coach Mike Hastings and former North Dakota head coach Dean Blais. Blais is another intriguing candidate, who won two national titles for the Sioux before trying his luck in the NHL. Hastings gets a lot of mention locally because of his Lancer ties, but his resume pales next to Quinn and Blais.
  
  Towards the end of the press conference, Alberts mentioned "big things" in the future of UNO hockey. It's unclear what that means. First up is answering the WCHA/CCHA question, and Alberts mentioned that Don Leahy is already looking into that. What else could it be? There are numerous facility questions that UNO needs to answer: practice ice and potentially a campus arena to finally put the Civic-vs-Qwest Center debate to rest for good. I get the feeling Alberts is enlisting Kemp to assist with that effort.
  
  If that's the case, UNO hockey may be ready to begin a renaissance. Today was a bittersweet day for UNO hockey, but hopefully we'll look at today as a watershed moment for UNO. For tonight, let's issue an "Ole!" to Mike Kemp for his service to UNO.
• 

  After the Funding Fails: Sarpy Tries to Salvage The Boondoggle

  Posted: May 14th, 2009, 3:57pm CDT by Husker Mike

  The aftermath of the failure of Sarpy County's financing plan surprised me today. Not the failure itself, mind you. That was inevitable. It's been the reaction by the boosters of the Sarpy County ballpark, who spent the day weeping crocodile tears over the "sudden" failure. Kermit Brashear, the chief lobbyist for Sarpy County, expressed outrage over lobbying by the City of Omaha, MECA, and the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce against the proposal.
  
  As if he should have been surprised. Much of LB615 was a retread of the failed proposal to build a new stadium in north downtown a few years back; if that had passed, the Royals would be playing in NoDo today. So it should come as little surprise to Brashear to find Omaha in opposition to the bill now. (And the idea that a lobbyist complaining about others lobbying is rather ironic...)
  
  So why is Brashear whining? The most obvious is that he (and his cohorts) are trying to work up emotions to get the Legislature to reconsider the bill to "save the Royals for the Metro area." In other words, if you criticize the funding, you are against Triple-A baseball. Quite a reach. When Mike Fahey proposed a 2% "entertainment tax", protests didn't kill the stadium proposal. It just meant, go back to the drawing board and find another way to pay for it. And frankly, nobody really expected LB 615 to pass. Many hoped, because the alternatives are less pleasant to Sarpy County than sending the bill to Lincoln. (To Sarpy go the spoils, to Omaha goes the screws, to Lincoln goes the bill...)
  
  So if Brashear is to be believed, does the rejection of LB 615 spell the end of the Sarpy County ballpark? Maybe, but Tom Shatel asked Royals owner Alan Stein about the chances to play downtown, and Stein pretty much eliminated those. Of course, why would he give up on Sarpy County at this point?
  
  So where do things stand? Here's my best guess.
  
  Chances of the Sarpy County ballpark occuring? Probably 70/30 in favor at this point. The lack of funding hurts Sarpy badly at this point, but if they pull out now, they admit failure and that they wasted the money they spent with Brashear. So they'll probably move forward and muddle through. Hold on to your wallets, Sarpy County residents.
  
  If Sarpy bails, the chances of playing downtown? Maybe 10% at this point. Shatel gives a bunch of reasons, but it really comes down to two issues: money and the College World Series disruption. The downtown stadium is bigger than the Royals would like, but I don't think it's a showstopper. (GM Martie Cordaro recently said that they could make a 24,000 seat stadium work because they already are doing it.) The College World Series interruption is the main issue, as the Pacific Coast League simply doesn't want to schedule an extended road trip for the Royals. I don't think the Royals want to play in town during the CWS; they simply know they can't go on the road like they used to, especially with the CWS lasting longer and longer.
  
  Money is the other issue. Stein contradicted himself by telling Shatel that the Royals wouldn't play downtown "for free"...then specified all of the revenue related issues why the Royals couldn't work out a deal downtown. Suite revenue, naming rights revenue, and the revenue from managing the stadium themselves instead of MECA. In the end, it all could be negotiated, but both sides expected far more out of the agreement than either is willing to deal at this point.
  
  That doesn't make Alan Stein a bad guy; in radio interviews, he's affable almost to a fault. He won't say anything bad publicly, and may have not made it clear to the city and MECA just what he needed to make a deal downtown work. Now he's got a deal that's better for him, and he's not going to budge as long as it's still on the table. (Not better for Omaha or the state of Nebraska, mind you.) But that's his right as owner of the Royals: it's his team and his right to get the best deal he can.
  
  Could Omaha somehow work out a deal for the Royals still? Maybe...but probably the biggest hurdle would be to somehow find a way to cut the length of the Royals road trip during the College World Series. And frankly, I don't see how the NCAA agrees to that. They need scheduling flexibility in case the rains come, and don't want to see the field abused any more than necessary.

Plains Feeder

• 

  The most important constant in the universe

  Posted: May 14th, 2009, 2:41pm CDT by ptg

  Do you know what the most important numerical constant in the universe is? It has been called the closest man has ever come to perfection. The answer is in the comments.
• 

  Another Democrat Lawbreaker

  Posted: May 14th, 2009, 5:59am CDT by ptg

  Tamir Sapir's yacht - seized stuffed cats
  Here is yet another example of a billionaire supporter of the Democrat party who thinks the laws don't apply to him. It seems Tamir Sapir, all around rich cat and New York real estate investor got caught by US Customs with a yachtload of illegal animal pelts, skins and ivory. Some of the seized material came from endangered species. From the Florida Sun-Sentinel:

  A New York billionaire's company has pleaded guilty to illegally importing wildlife parts, after inspectors found a big-game hunter's haul of elephant tusks, a mounted tiger head and bar stools covered with reticulated python hides on the company's 150-foot yacht at Port Everglades.
  
  The yacht M/Y Mystere C.I., arriving from Italy on a transport ship in late 2007 was outfitted with a decorating scheme of dead animals: rugs made of zebra, jaguar, lion, leopard and tiger. Cigarette cases covered with reticulated python skin. An entire stuffed lion.

  The story has gained wide coverage, from Yachting Monthly to the Miami Herald. What you don't see reported is Mr Sapir and his big family's large contributions to the Democrat party. If this cat had been a Republican supporter, not only would the fact be in the news, but the animal rights crowd would be all over Sapir like white on rice.
  
  The double standard lives.

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

• 

  Sarpy County Ballpark Funding Fails ... Now What?

  Posted: May 13th, 2009, 1:16pm CDT by Husker Mike

  In what has to be a surprise to nobody, the bailout plan for the state to fund the proposed Sarpy County ballpark failed today when it became clear there was no support for it, despite an all-out attempt by Sarpy County to push it forward.
  
  So does that kill the Boondoggle? Nope...but now the charade is over. It's finally time for Sarpy County to tell us how they actually plan to fund this ballpark. Time is short for Sarpy County, as they have until the end of the month to bail on the plan. They've already wasted nearly five months on the hope that the state would play Santa Claus. Now it's time for reality.
  
  So how does Sarpy County do this? Well, for starters, the project goes on a diet to trim costs as much as possible. Southport by Cabelas now becomes the least likely location, as Sarpy County probably can't afford to pay for the land. In fact, Sarpy may now be pushing for cash donations along with land donations in a last gasp effort to make this happen.
  
  The Bellevue location becomes more likely, as Bellevue and Sarpy County could reach an agreement to use city funding (sales taxes and tax-increment financing) to offset the county's expenses. That won't be enough; if it was, the Royals would already be playing in a 9,000 seat stadium downtown.
  
  What about the rest of the cost? Sarpy County previously suggested inheritance taxes, hotel taxes, and keno taxes. Problem with that is, with the exception of a recent increase in the hotel tax, that money is already committed elsewhere. Is Sarpy County going to really eliminate those other programs to build a ballpark? Or will this be a shell game, where property taxes go up to pay those other programs, freeing up the other revenues for the stadium?
  
  Of course, Sarpy County can bail on this project anytime this month. I don't think that happens right away, but the longer Sarpy County waits to announce the real financing plan, the more likely that happens. It's interesting to note that all this happened the day AFTER Hal Daub went down to defeat. Coincedence? I wonder.
  
  In any event, Mayor-elect Jim Suttle needs to start putting pressure on MECA to help salvage the Royals. Sarpy County isn't dead yet by any means, but the illogical notion of Chalco is finally starting to collapse.

Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics

• 

  GOP's Future in Omaha

  Posted: May 13th, 2009, 12:20pm CDT

  On this day-after, let us make sure we state the obvious, lest someone try to argue otherwise at a future date:Hal Daub beat Hal Daub on Tuesday. The election was a referendum on Daub, pure and simple.No one (with any sense) went to the polls and said, "that Jim Suttle guy has the right ideas for Omaha!" Of course that is mainly because Suttle offered no ideas during the campaign. He simply
• 

  Mayor Suttle

  Posted: May 12th, 2009, 5:35pm CDT by Street Sweeper

  Well Omaha. You got what you wanted.Congratulations.We'll alert the Vatican.........................................................VOTES PERCENT PRECINCTS COUNTED (OF 284). . . . . 284 100.00 REGISTERED VOTERS - TOTAL . . . . . 0 BALLOTS CAST - TOTAL. . . . . . . 74,141 Omaha Mayor Vote For 1 Hal Daub. . . . . . .

Husker Mike's Blasphemy

• 

  Hal Daub Pays the Price for Ballpark Obstruction

  Posted: May 12th, 2009, 5:33pm CDT by Husker Mike

  In an election that was much tighter than I thought it was a couple of weeks ago, Hal Daub's bid to reclaim the Mayor's office fell short tonight. I thought for sure that Hal Daub would try to salvage his political career by reversing ground over the Omaha Royals, but instead he chose to tilt other windmills. Perhaps he realized the damage was done, as he and MECA nearly scuttled the downtown stadium and pushed the Royals away, perhaps permanently.
  
  Or is it? It's interesting to note that tomorrow, the Legislature's Revenue Committee will take the first vote on LB 615, which would provide the funding for Sarpy County's stadium. According the World-Herald, the bill has been amended, but doesn't say how. In the committee hearing in March, the bill sounded DOA, so perhaps Sarpy County has started to come to an internal agreement with Sarpy's cities. If it passes, the bill goes on to the full legislature. If it fails, Sarpy County will need to finally reveal "Plan B".
  
  I go back to what I've said all along. In this budgetary environment and with the past history of these plans, I don't see how the Legislature bails out Sarpy County. But I also didn't think this would go this far either.

Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics

• 

  Countin'

  Posted: May 12th, 2009, 3:42pm CDT by Street Sweeper

  Early (and all) returns can be found at the Douglas County Election Commission.You get them when everyone else gets them.That being said, we are told that the returns are counted and posted as follows:8:00 PM City wide pick up of votes from open to lunch (1:00 or so)8:52 PM Early votes and votes in person made before today9:30 PM City wide afternoon pick upsTBA

Plains Feeder

• 

  Yay! She gets to keep her crown!

  Posted: May 12th, 2009, 1:57pm CDT by Angela

  Of course Carrie Prejean should keep her crown. She hasn't done anything wrong. She answered a question fair and square. So what if some compromising photographs have surfaced. Of course they have. The photographer wants to take advantage of the situation to see just how much money he stands to make from the pictures. As if we don't already know what a nude body looks like... so what!!?
  
  I'm glad that Donald Trump told the country, including all the gay people in it, that Carrie Prejean gets to keep her crown. In my opinion, she should have won the beauty contest too!!! Look at her....she's flippin' GORGEOUS!!!
  
  Shanna Moakler and Keith Lewis keep talking about how beauty pageants are not supposed to be a platform for politics yet they put their stamp of approval on questions that were as political as the bumper sticker on my van. You know...the one that says "Read My Lipstick" ??
  
  Pageant officials don't like the type of groups that Carrie Prejean keeps associating herself with. Specifically the groups that are against opposite marriage. (I thought it was clever of Prejean to call it opposite marriage. I've since adopted the phrase for myself.)
  
  

  Lewis added that Prejean’s appearances with the National Organization for Marriage and other anti-gay marriage groups have created “confusion in the marketplace” because it is difficult to separate Prejean’s personal convictions from those of the Miss California organization.
  
  Still, the Miss California organization announced yesterday they had appointed an alternate for Prejean.

  
  
  Nobody in the marketplace is confused. It's not difficult to separate anything and if they were so concerned about it in the first place they would have never asked her such a highly sensitive politically motivated question that was never intended to be asked via beauty pageants...right?
  
  Which leads me to a site that you all should be hanging on to by the hair of your chinny chin chins: TrueTolerance.org
  
  

  Concerned about the pro-gay agenda in your child’s public school? It’s sad, but many public schools have, in the name of “tolerance,” stifled free speech and true diversity by silencing students of faith, and those with conservative perspectives.
  
  This isn’t true tolerance. True Tolerance means a free and respectful exchange of ideas.

  
  
  I'm beginning to think that if I were a resident of the state of California and I was drop dead gorgeous like Carrie Prejean....I would NOT want to be associated with it in any way shape OR form. It's not an organization I would be proud to represent and it's easy to see that Carrie Prejean has been picked on and picked apart from her honesty and her conservative as well as religious position on opposite marriage.
  
  The Miss California organization isn't fooling me OR anyone with their "alternate" to take Carrie Prejean's place when she can't be available because they don't have the patience or tolerance toward people that do not support opposite marriage.
  
  HT: Carrie Prejean Keeps Her Miss California Crown

Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics

• 

  Votin', votin, votin'...

  Posted: May 12th, 2009, 11:30am CDT by Street Sweeper

  A quick post before the evening begins...***Word has it that turn-out may be lower than 31%. Rumor has it that the election commissioner’s office has told some members in the media that turnout might be 27-28%.So, able readers, does that help Daub or Suttle?Arguably, Daub has more hard-core supporters than Suttle.  So you figure that they are going to be more gung-ho and vote.  Then there are the

Plains Feeder

• 

  Sugary Soda Pop Tax

  Posted: May 12th, 2009, 10:37am CDT by ptg

  Mexican Coca-Cola still contains real sugar
  Everyone knows sugar is bad. At least that is what we are told by liberal know it alls that want to control what you and I eat and drink. Whats wrong with sugar? I've found that most of the bad press sugar gets is based on myths about the all-natural sweetener. Here are a few I heard about on the radio today:
  

  • Sugar is fattening. Do you know how many calories there are in a teaspoon of sugar? Take your best guess, then click here for the answer.
  • Sugar causes diabetes. Look it up. It just isn't true.
  • Sugar rots teeth. Not so. It is the acid produced by bacteria (which can feed on sugar. among other things) that causes tooth decay. Don't want cavities? Brush your teeth.

  These myths form the rationale behind the national tax on "sugary drinks" now being considered in Congress. Not only does this proposed tax break Barack Obama's pledge not to raise taxes on the poor and middle class Americans, but it is a thinly disguised ploy to help finance the liberal's unworkable national health care schemes. Not to mention that it is just another step in the liberal plan to regulate every detail of our everyday lives under color of law.
  
  Dick Armey, Chairman of FreedomWorks.org wants us to resist this ill-conceived legislation. He says:
  

  Some liberals in Congress have proposed paying for government-run health care by hiking taxes on soft drinks and other beverages. Because the socialized health care schemes being considered will cost at least a trillion dollars, liberal politicians are looking for ways to pay for their schemes without upsetting too many folks. So they think that a tax on soft drinks is better than any other type of tax.

  To me, its just more liberal nonsense, cooked up to justify taking away our freedoms. Please follow this link to let Congress know you aren't happy with this attack on our freedom to choose, this tax on everyman and his kids, this dishonest attempt to fund yet more government meddling with our way of life.
  ---
  PS: The US sugar industry is subsidized by the government. Our government also subsidizes the production of the "high fructose corn syrup" now used to sweeten most of our non-diet pop. Now the same folks want to tax us to consume it. It appears they trying to encourage production of natural sweeteners and at the same time trying to do discourage their use. Tell me things aren't screwed up. Tell me it isn't the government that is responsible.
  ---
  Note: The old feeder never drinks diet soda, now does he use any artificial sweeteners. I think they are ineffective for weight loss. Most folks I know as drink diet pop are still overweight after years of abstaining from 'sugary' soda. I also suspect the chemicals used might be dangerous. I drink Mexican Coke whenever I can get it. It really is better tasting.
  

Omaha TV News

• 

  Nuggets

  Posted: May 12th, 2009, 4:16am CDT by Ted Brockman

  • Mike Kelly's column in the local paper gets just a little more pathetic with each installment. Saturday marked a new low as his lead "from the notebook" item celebrated the fact that comedian Groucho Marx—who has been dead since 1977—once performed a song which mentioned Omaha.
  Really, Mike? This is all you've got left in the "Look How Hip Omaha Is" file? Aren't there any editors left at the paper these days? This desperate grasp at relevance is a stretch even by your standards.
  And they wonder why newspapers are dying.
  • The heat is off WOWT's John Chapman, at least for a while. With the hiring of reporter Nadia Singh, Chapman is no longer the station's only non-white on-air staffer. Unfortunately for Singh, she's already been relegated to live reports for SuxNews's morning program. Mayellorie Maltard Maddox pronounces her last name as "seen," and Jimmy Thiedlecki just couldn't get over the fact that she was wearing a scarf on Monday. Poor thing doesn't have a chance, working with those two bumpkins.

Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics

• 

  Omaha's last great Write-In candidate: Wack for Mayor (1981)

  Posted: May 12th, 2009, 12:01am CDT

  A little political/pop history for you on Election Day 2009.We take you back to the Year 1981. New President Ronald Reagan was recovering from being shot. Xerox has just introduced something called a "computer mouse". And a young Kim Carnes was singing to us all about "Bettie Davis Eyes".However, to avoid the aforementioned Ms. Carnes, in Omaha you would rock on over to Z-92 (92.3 KEZO) and
• 

  Odds and Evens

  Posted: May 11th, 2009, 3:50pm CDT

  Per tradition here on Leavenworth Street, we give you our odds for the candidates in tomorrow's Omaha Mayor race and competitive City Council elections.As required by State Blogging Law, we state that these odds are for recreational purposes only and specifically may not be walked across the Bob Kerrey Loitering Bridge and slammed down before a riverboat book maker, while screaming, "Gimme the

Plains Feeder

• 

  Babies: Less Valuable People

  Posted: May 11th, 2009, 3:22pm CDT by Arnie

  Whats a two year sentence compared to an 18 year commitment?
  
  A bill has been introduced in the Texas state legislature creating the crime of "infanticide". The bill defines infanticide this way:

  willfully by an act or omission caus[ing] the death of a child to whom the person gave birth within the 12-month period preceding the child’s death and if the person’s judgment was impaired as a result of the effects of giving birth or the effects of lactation following the birth

  What it means is that upset mothers who kill their own children (up to one year of age) will be guilty of infanticide. The offense is punishable by a maximum of two years in the state jail. Thats right, two years.
  
  The Catholic News Agency reports that a Texas pro-life advocate says the bill, "conveys the message that newborns and infants are "less valuable people". Folks that murder kids under six years of age in Texas can face the death penalty. Go figure.
  
  Good luck, little Texans.
  ---
  HT - freepers

Omaha TV News

• 

  Maltard Word of the Day

  Posted: May 11th, 2009, 12:31pm CDT by Ted Brockman

  RECKA-minz: suggests (example: Consumer Reports reckaminz Brand X.)

Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics

• 

  Election Eve

  Posted: May 11th, 2009, 9:25am CDT

  First with your Monday morning coffee, a little SAB, courtesy of tomorrow's Omaha Mayoral election:Former Mayor Hal Daub and Family Guy's Mayor Adam West:And Councilman Jim Suttle and Jeff Dunham's puppet, Walter:***From Sunday's OWH article about Suttle and Daub, Jim Suttle was quoted as saying:"Details, details — you guys always want details."Now, can you imagine that? Voters want some details

Plains Feeder

• 

  Wishing all Moms a Happy Mother's Day

  Posted: May 10th, 2009, 7:08am CDT by ptg

  My own Mother is gone. I miss her. If you still have one, tell her you love her today. For all you Moms out there, enjoy your special day.
• 

  Congress passes huge $3.4 Trillion Budget

  Posted: May 9th, 2009, 11:08am CDT by ptg

  Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson - DINO?
  The one party system strikes again. More grotesque, reckless spending to come.
  
  Gag me with an indenture! At least Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson voted against it. I suspect he did so knowing that the irresponsible bill would pass in spite of his "Nay", just to mollify his 'Republican' supporters, without whom he could never have been elected in the first place.
  
  Send Senator Ben an email. Click here to tell him that he should quit the disgraceful Democrat party and sign on with the GOP. The dirt is bound to rub off and 2012 is coming soon.