City of Omaha looking for some help?

Many, many, many blogs have documented the harshness that is the Evil Empire (aka, Axis of Evil or Muppet Mike, those who "run" the city). But now it seems they have a little help, kind of. A group of state senators introduced a bill asking that, for ever $3 Omaha puts towards the renovation of Rosenblatt Stadium, the state will chip in a $1 (up to $20 million). For those of you unfamiliar with the situation, Rosenblatt Stadium is home to a couple Creighton Blue Jaycollege baseball games; the Triple A affiliate of the KC Royals, the Omaha Royals, and; more importantly (financially speaking), the College World Series. State Senator John Synowiecki introduced LB 1156, working with a few other Omaha senators. He does say that this does not mandate that Omaha keep Rosenblatt and that it could be worked to help fund a new stadium.

There are so many issues that are affecting this process of either renovating Rosenblatt or building a new stadium:

• There is a loud group wanting to save Rosenblatt.
• The Omaha city government, not surprisingly, has not handled this well...there have been back channel supposed discussions with the NCAA, much confusion about how much a new stadium would really cost, what it would really look like...I could go on...
• The group put together to combine all sides lost their coordinator, apparently because he was annoyed with the city government.
• "Big money" seems to be pushing for the new stadium.
• Who pays for it?
• Is the NCAA really looking for a new stadium or a new city?
• Does the CWS really help the whole state?

I just don't think that the CWS provides enough money to the state for the state to support it. I think that there are many things that $20 million dollars could fix (child services, education, etc.). I don't see Synowiecki's bill passing to help Rosenblatt, but I could see the big money in Omaha talking with him and the rest of the legislature about channeling that money to their new stadium. Many people ask why the government doesn't put $20 million into the Sienna Francis house or likewise organizations...well, that's easy. They don't bring the money back in. Is it right? No, but how else are you going to get people to the state?

Here's some links:

LB 1156

Save Rosenblatt Stadium

OWH: Nebraska Legislature getting into Omaha's stadium game

LJS: Omaha Senator pushes bill that would help save Rosenblatt

WOWT: Lawmaker Floats Rosenblatt Bill

KPTM: Lawmakers Get Into Ballpark Battle

KOLN/KGIN: Save Rosenblatt

Ask al-Qaeda

Move over, Dr. Ruth. Take a hike, Click and Clack. There is a new advice columnist in town.

Al-Qaeda, yes, that al-Qaeda, has taken some questions from its Internet followers. Now, no one is really sure what will happen to these questions. Followers were invited to post questions online for the groups #2 man, Ayman al-Zawahiri to answer. Once the Jan. 16 deadline to submit passed, all of the questions disappeared. It's not known who really asked the questions or who, if anyone, will actually answer the questions.

The House's favorite:

"I want to travel to join jihad and I sought my mother's permission, but she would not give it to me," he (a 23 year old man living with his divorced mother) said. "Can I go without her permission?"

Just how diverse the world is still sometimes amazes me. We talk so much, especially with the Internet, how small the world has gotten, but there are still so many places in the world that are a complete 180 from our beliefs and lifestyles. 

Doing the same amount of work for a better grade

First of all, congratulations. You are reading the 100th post at the House of Hosh. We are guessing that if we would've kept our act together, we would've reached this about July of 2007. But oh well. We are here and happy so many of you could join us for this. It's kind of like the Golden Globes...(cricket chirp, cricket chirp)...

Anyway, this fine article appeared on the local NBC news website: School District Eliminates the Grade of Zero. Now, we all know that I work in an educational setting, so unlike many items that you read on this page, I actually have some background knowledge of this one. When I first read the headline and tease, "Hold students responsible for assignments and keep them from dropping out," I thought this was a great idea. But then I read a little farther:

Dr. Bruckner (CB Public Schools Superintendent) says students should get 50%, which is still an F, for a missed assignment. It's still a failing grade, but an incentive for students to stay in school and complete those assignments.

"What we're trying to do is don't let those zeroes get in the way of helping kids have a chance to learn. What we want teachers to do is not to let kids off the hook by saying you didn't have that in and I’m going to give you a zero, you don't have to do the work because I've already given you a zero."

Let me get this straight: so now, when a student doesn't want to do an assignment, you want them to stay in school, so you are giving them a better grade then before? For the same amount of "work?" You're letting them off the hook by giving them a 50 instead of 0. That's a huge difference. A 50 is more than halfway between a zero and passing. By 10-15 points (depending on what you want to call passing).

Yes, giving them three zeros at the beginning of the semester does put their passing the course in jeopardy. But I have a different idea. Make your curriculum/assignments relevant to students. Honestly, a student isn't going to do something they don't want to. Why isn't that child doing their work? Something at home? Are they in the wrong class for their intelligence? Your job isn't to create a grade for a student, it's to teach them something. Maybe you aren't challenging them? There are so many reasons this could be happening, but giving them a grade for not completing the assignment is not an answer. It is definitely a case-by-case basis as to why a student isn't performing, but handing them a grade for no reason isn't the answer.

There is also a reason that you can only find this story on one station: It's a horrible idea. It's a cop-out for someone who doesn't want to do their job of increasing student achievement.

Oh, Iowa...

If Iowa and New Hampshire don't "represent America," why is winning them so important? If the rest of America didn't feel the same, wouldn't these first two primaries be unimportant?

Banished Word List

Lake Superior State University has published its latest list of banned phrases for the year. Some I definitely agree with. "Under the bus" has become used a little too often, and it seems that once someone figures out how to use the phrase, they use it all the time. "'Blank' is the new 'blank'" is another term that is used ALL the time. In fact, in reading a story about 2008 yesterday, they said that "blue would be the new green" in terms of energy use. It's just annoying. We are guessing that "Don't tase me, bro!" will make next year's list.

Either way, back to the House's favorite New Year tradition: bowl games!

Happy New Year!