Memorial Day Rememberance

I wanted to take a moment to recognize all of the military who have given their lives or are serving our great nation around the world. What you do is too often taken for granted. Thank you.
Also on this Memorial Day, I would like to recognize my family members and friends that have been lost this year and in years past. You are all truly missed.

Jamestown is renewed

Just as the Brockmanites begin to reassemble, our leader has returned. Please check out the reasonable explaination for the sabbatical.
Welcome back Ted. Your people have missed you.

Let it Be Known: The "Brockmanites" Live

There are a few of us in the Omaha-metro-area cyberspace who watch way too much TV. We criticize the media, of all types, for stupidity and ignorance. Why? Because we can. We pull no punches. We take no prisoners.
I propose that, from this day forward, we become known as the "Brockmanites."
I am the first to say I was not a regular commentor on the Omaha TV News Blog, our own Jamestown, which was established and lifted to notoriety by our namesake Ted Brockman. However, I feel like part of the family. Maybe a redneck second cousin, but we don't deal with particulars.
By the day, there are more places for the Brockmanites to gather. I will add more as they become available. We must unite, so that together, we may shout in unison, our researched, (most of the time) intelligent, (sometimes as intelligent as a 7th grader, as noted by one crabby blogger at the mother site) banter, in hopes of a change. We respect what Sean Wiede and the Reader does, but sometimes he's a little too mature and professional for us! So, for us true Brockmanites, we will continue to do what we do, because we can do it, in honor of the great Ted Brockman. Make Ted proud!

New additions to the links

I've added a couple new links to the sidebar to help feed my insatiable need to trash the Omaha media now that Omaha TV news has bit the dust. I will say, if you do want quality information about the Omaha media, please visit our new friends at the Reader's Media Notes. They are a reputable source for what's hip in Omaha. However, if you'd rather see the brutally honest, "high school" drama and bashing side of the Omaha media, we have a new outlet: Mocking Omaha. I'm hoping this one keeps up, but I'm also hoping it grows up. As I've already commented on the site, I hope "dude" isn't used frequently. I personally think having it on the top of your website drops the IQ of the site a couple dozen points. However, its got the childish ranting and complaining that I enjoy.
Another new blog that looks to be of some local media flavor is Omaha Media UCAP (I'll let you go there and figure out what UCAP means). For the first couple posts it seems promising, but we'll wait for a few weeks to make sure it sticks around.

Post-Election Thoughts

I didn't think Nebraskans had it in them.
Like the good American that I am, I didn't vote (we've moved within the last year and I refuse to go get a new driver's license since I got one a month before we moved, so I haven't registered either...I know, lazy). While I was pulling for Heineman, I really didn't think he had a chance. I took my fellow Nebraskans for fools, thinking they would be blinded by Dr. Tom's football championship rings. I tip my fez to all of you.
Regardless, Tom Osborne lost. I was disappointed to hear sports radio today spending the majority of their time on it. He lost. I don't care why. It's because people know that Governor Dave can do the job better than Dr. Tom. Get over it. If I want politics covered, I'll turn to a different station. I don't listen to Bill O'Reilly to find out why my Indians got swept by the god-awful Royals. Know your job. And do it.
On another note, all of you OPS worshipers who switched parties to vote for Osborne, I first chuckle, but then ponder what I would like you to do. The loyal Democrat in me says just stay Republican and leave us the heck alone. However, the gung-ho Democrat in me says bring all of your Republican friends onto the Hahn Bandwagon. There's plenty of room! Either way, take responsibility for what you did. I understand why, but that doesn't mean I agree with party switching.
Congrats to Pete Ricketts for purchasing his Senate Republican primary win. Don't mess with Ben.
In the next few months, I challenge us to take a strong look at our two choices for governor. I understand the uphill battle we Democrats are faced with. But it promises to be very interesting! As for now: Vote for Hahn!

Obama vists with NNN

The New Nebraska Network, one of our new favorite sites to visit here at the House, just entered rock start status by scoring an interview with Sen. Barack Obama (D.-Ill.) while Obama was in Omaha over the weekend. Because Obama is the new, young face of the Democratic Party, I'm doing my patriotic duty by linking the post.

An Institution Falls

Once one of our favorite blogs to curl up on the couch and read, it seems the Omaha TV News Blog has succumbed to the pressures of living annonymously. There has been a long-standing fight about who "Ted Brockman" really was, hiding behind his Anchorman pic. While controversial, it was a hit across Omaha. Now after a month and week without a new post, we're guessing they've decided to call it quits while they are ahead. Luckily, we don't have that option right now! So, until they get back on the wagon, we'll play Taps and take them off of the link board.

Now I'm embarrassed to be in Omaha

I really don't know which issue to start with.
Since last year when Omaha and the M-F Empire began their journey to conquer the world one suburb at a time, I have done my little part to argue against them. Ever since I've known better, I've realized that the Omaha World-Herald (OWH) brings biased news to my doorstep every morning. I just didn't realize that today was going to be the day to showcase all of it:
What district allows you to skip the lines at the county offices to change party affiliations? OPS! You brought the papers on school grounds? You are handing out Osborne for Gov. (we'll touch on that later) paraphernalia across the street? The news last night showed an OPS teacher (OK, I know she was a few years ago, and she's not at retirement age...I could be wrong) pointing out where you change your party affiliations, apparently in the TAC Admin building. How unbiased is that? Ever since I wanted to be a teacher, I was told that I was not there to push my beliefs on others in public. So, if my district doesn't get our way, then I can do that?
Speaking of biased, the OWH: I'm sure OPS and Dr. Tom are ecstatic that on the front page of my paper read in extremely large letters "Osborne is against LB 1024." Have you heard of David Hahn? You mentioned, albeit on the 2nd page in one line, that Hahn is the only Democrat running for governor. You failed to mention that Hahn commented on the issue on April 14, 3 days before Osborne. Congrats to Tom for following in David Hahn's footsteps! Although I am a Democrat, I understand that the governor's race will probably be decided in May with the Republican primaries, but when does a self-proclaimed reputable paper (well, I guess I've never heard that claim) start to pick sides? It truly outrages me. Why don't you save some trees and just stop printing the paper? You're really wasting your time.
Of course Osborne is going to do the opposite of what Heineman does. How else is he going to get votes? Heineman had the suburbs locked up with his opposition to the original takeover scheme, so Osborne has to do something to get his name back in the headlines. You even mention it later that Osborne necessarily isn't opposed to the bill, he just wouldn't have signed it. Could've fooled me by the paper headline.
As a Nebraskan, I'm embarrassed that OPS has gotten themselves into this huge, worldwide issue (sources indicate that this story was in the Sydney, Australia online newspaper). Ernie Chambers got ticked that you went behind closed doors to try to get what you want. Since Sen. Chambers is on his way out, he found the perfect situation to go behind close doors, take his built up animosity, and blow your plan up. This is how we are teaching our children to handle adverse situations?
As a Nebraskan, I'm embarrassed that the largest paper in the state continually resembles one big opinion rag. Report the facts, not just what you think will get you liked by those with some clout. You realize that people are going to vote for Tom Osborne because he won a football national championship at Nebraska, so you figure that if you be nice to Dr. Tom, the public will like you more. Nice thinking.
As a Nebraskan, I feel its absurd how childish OPS, the city of Omaha, and the OWH have made us seem. Please, please, please. If you are from outside the area and are looking to these people to be our ambassadors of goodwill, look some more. There are plenty of good people doing outstanding things in this town. Omaha is growing and has a lot to offer. Unfortunately, its not important enough or won't generate enough money for it to be noticed. Take my word for it, not theirs.
A special thanks to the New Nebraska Network for the link to David Hahn. I picked up their blog from the Plains Feeder, two highly readable blogs. Just beware of Cindy Sheehan's stomach at the Feedlot.
David Hahn for Governor!

Have you heard of the Omaha Royals?

Few in Omaha have realized it, but the Omaha Royals finally lost their first game of the season today. Didn't know that? I'm not surprised. The OWH regularly lists the attendance as 2,000+, but they don't always specify that that number is the paid attendance, which is normally a far cry from the actual attendance. Because of the paltry attendance, rumblings are growing louder about a new, NoDo (i.e., North Downtown for you "out-of-the-O!") ballpark that would follow in the trend that is sweeping the nation: cozier ballparks that can be shared by multiple teams (in this case, the benficiary would be Creighton). It has happened in Lincoln (University of Nebraska and the Independent League Lincoln Salt Dogs), and the city would like to make it happen in Omaha near the jewel that is the Qwest Center. The major sticking point, other than the cost, is a little shindig we host every year called the College World Series. The proposed new stadium would seat >10,000. Rosenblatt set a record crowd last year of 27,000+. The NCAA will leave Omaha before they play in another ballpark in town.
But do we really need a new ballpark? There are some flaws at Rosenblatt, including rusted seating behind home plate and cramped locker rooms, but those are in the original park area. The newer areas of the stadium are very nice. The resturaunt in right field is magnificent, with a great view of the field. The brand new video board, while laced with flaws the first week, will be spectacular once the people running it figure out which button to push. Instead of adding something fancy to the new stadium area, fix up the aging parts.
I really think that what needs to change for Rosenblatt to resurrect its beauty for more than 10 days a year is the people associated with promoting the Royals. The Royals have new owners, so they need to be given time to improve the atmosphere at the stadium. Really, the product on the field is not as horrible as their parents down the road. The ORoyals were 2 games out of the playoffs last year, but few noticed because of the other people that need to assist in the resurrection: the local media. It was nice to see many of the TV outlets on opening night (print media is usually less noticeable, so forgive me, and it did rain out), but how many lead with the Royals during the week? No TV personality should push for a new ballpark because little to none of them do anything to help the Royals become significant in their viewers' lives. The more coverage the local media has, the more people will want to go to the ballpark because, sadly, this town is a "I saw you at the local hotspot" town. During the team's push for the playoffs last August, there was rarely a word about how close they were to making the playoffs. Generally, the sportscasts that I witnessed put the score up of the night's game, but didn't bother to spend much more time discussing it. The OWH does better with their write ups, but could it get to the front page a time or two? Its always with the MLB scores and stories, which I do understand, but this is our equivalent to an MLB team (bad analogy, but go with it). Find a spot for the first two paragraphs at least. There were a couple of great games this weekend, including an extra inning comeback by the Royals, but it still was found on the 3rd to last page.
I think that a new stadium would look very nice, but it would do little in the long term if those people who work to promote the Royals, including those in the media, continually fail to make the Royals important. The product on the field in Omaha is not the same as the prodcut on the field in KC, but no one knows that because they can't find that information. You have to spoon feed the fans before they can grow up and become full-fledged Royal supporters.

LaFave Walks

I was going to post about the double-standard that is the Deb LaFave case, but our friends at the Feedlot already did. Why reinvent the wheel?
I personally think the that her going free without jail time is ridiculous. If she was 14 and the guy was 25, he would be in jail and branded for life, not to mention he would have ever-increasing residency restrictions. As a male, though, I know all of the kids' buddies are saying congrats. It's society. Its funny, but really, its sad.

Vote for the least worst

KETV has a GOP gubernatorial debate on right now between Dave Nabity (local businessman), Dave Heineman (current governor who fell into the job when Mike Johanns got the hell out), and the Tom Osborne (if you don't know him, you are new to the state). Its ridiculous. First of all, somebody's been playing with Heineman's mic. They've got the echo feature on and it sounds like he is in the middle of a Quonset hut. Everybody is thanking the hosts for the questions. Just answer the damn question. They are all trying to get fired up about the issues, but none of them has the personality to get nasty. Nabity just said that he was concerned about two species...both of which were farmers. Granted, farmers and ranchers are a dying breed, and it is too bad. But they are not animals. They are not a "species." Osborne...I fall asleep every time he talks. Its not that interesting. I have a hard time listening to him talk about meth when I doubt he's ever seen it. Really, its not who you like the best, its who you hate the least.
I need to fluff my pillow.

Bushters Dictionary

I am amazed at all of the phrases that Pres. Bush creates. Where does he come up with these? The best part is that, when he finds one he likes, he uses it over, and over, and over, and over, and over and over. Weapons of Mass Destruction. (Anything followed by) evil. (Anything followed by) freedom. His latest comes in his ABC interview while talking about Katrina: Situational Awareness. Apparently this means "what the hell is going on." According to him, the government had no situational awareness following Hurricane Katrina. Thanks for the news flash. In the short 5 minute clip on the ABC website, he mentions situational awareness 4 times, and he doesn't even talk about Katrina the whole time. I realize I'm a tad bit limited in my vocabulary, but I don't go around using a new word in consecutive sentences just to prove I learned one. He's like a young boy who discovered his penis: Can't let it go for fear he'll forget about it and lose it. Don't worry Pres. Bush. VP Cheney will hold onto it for you, unless he shoots it first.

Dick's Got Nothing On Chuck

Some of you may have heard about all of the Chuck Norris maniathat is sweeping the nation. However, due to his recent shooting spree, Dick Cheney is slowly catching up. Here's 10 Ways Dick Cheney can kill you brought to you by the Grumpy Old Cripple via the Feedlot.

Just a Few of My Favorite Things

You may have noticed I added a couple TV show websites to the links column. I recently became hooked on The Office. Seinfeldish exaggerated humor. I usually shed a tear every week. Or pee my pants. Also, I've been an Amazing Race apologist since the beginning. Some series have been better than others, but it's still the only reality show I watch. It's cool to see different parts of the world that I will never be able to visit. Enjoy.

Public Enemy Wanna-Be

My love of the M-F Empire and dr. deegan are well documented on this page. There is another wanna-be player in this game. She's like the kid on the side of playground jumping up and down to be picked. Meet Sen. Abbie Cornett. Last year, she tried to be sneaky and slide in a bill to steal two Papio schools for Bellevue. Now, she's trying to write school curriculum. She wants to make sure that students get to see original historical documents and teach more Americanism. Since when is Americanism a class? It's a state of mind. You don't teach someone how to act out of book. I don't take classes on how to be polite to others. You do it by showing, not telling. If you have to have a class on how to be an American, then you need to take a look at yourself.
Secondly, where do you get off thinking you can start writing curriculum? You are a senator, not a teacher. Maybe you were before you started this illustrious career of yours, but those days are over. Nobody who spends their days outside of a school should be allowed to say what goes on inside of a school. I don't tell you how to spend your day, so don't tell me how to spend mine. If teachers are such great role models, won't they be teaching Americanism every day from K-12?
Maybe we need to give state senators coloring books so they aren't so bored. Whenever they are bored, they decide they need to stick their noses in someone else's business. Leave us alone!

My Upcoming Fiscal Budget

I've decided to release my budget for the upcoming fiscal year, just as Pres. Bush did today.
I'm going to cut my car payment spending. But I am going to borrow money from the people who I pay my cell bill to so that I can increase my alcohol budget. A portion of the money that used to go to the dentist and optometrist will now be forwarded to those people who have convinced me to renew my Rolling Stone subscription. The doctors will have to either do more fundraising or cut their spending. I figure my teeth are "jacked up" (as the kids like to say) and not able to be fixed, so screw it. I will, however, be investing more money into my iPod because I like that and it brings me enjoyment. The money from that will be taken from both my electric company and the city because that stuff, again, isn't really necessary. Spending will also increase in the area of coffee and cereal, because there is no better way to start your day. I will also not be giving as much money to unnecessary efforts such as the Salvation Army and the Red Cross because I have money and will not be affected by a hurricane, so what good are they to me? It doesn't matter all of the other people they help. They don't pay me, so why should I help them?
The largest increase will go to my wife, because, as well all know, we wouldn't be safe if not for her. This budget will be approved by my loan officer, because we know that money grows on trees, and if the tree runs out of leaves, we'll just progress to another forest.

No More Dam Plan

An update of a previous post, the committee that reviewed the plan to dam the Platte River and force the town of Ashland to move has beentrashed by a 6-0 vote. The only hope for the bill is if Sen. Brown can convince 30 senators to take it out of committee. Highly doubtful if it was unanimous "Hell no" by the committee members.

Commercial Wrap-Up

If you were like me, you didn't realize that the Super Bowl started at 5:30 (I only missed the 1st Quarter), and really, you didn't care, except for the 1st Quarter commercials. Obviously, the best come first because you never know when the game is going to suck (like, say, last night's game?). So ESPN has a link so that you can watch the majority of them. Some are pretty funny, some aren't. Enjoy!

More drinking fun with ESPN!

Although a little late, our friends at Fanblogs have come up with a new drinking game. You may remember in a previous Brent Musberger-bashing post we gave you a link to their Brent Musberger drinking game (search the archives). Now they have come up with one for ESPN College Gameday, the football version. While it's a little too late for this year, it will be good to review the rules so that you are ready to go next August.

That Dam Ashland!

I didn't actually read the front page of today's World-Herald until I arrived home tonight. I was deeply shocked when I got home after a short night on the town to find that someone has the balls to come out with a legislative bill to drown the town of Ashland and put a large recreational lake in its place. Don't get me wrong, it would be great to have that type of tourist attraction on this end of the state, but I would suggest checking with the Ashland mayor before proposing this. Who do you think you are, Mike Fahey? I thought the best quote of the night came from the Ashland's Mayor Wiig, who said that this is the exact reason why the public doesn't trust government. That's a great point. Maybe its just because I'm getting older, but I'm amazed at how big some people think their penises are, so they walk around and flaunt them, feeling that they are entitled to anything and everything their black heart desires. I think I'm begining to understand how these people think: "As long as it puts money in my pocket, others can make do." Is any Omahan surprised that Hal Daub has his name in this? He said that if we all backed down to pressure, the Qwest Center wouldn't have been built. What kind of frickin' genius are you? What town did you flood to make the Qwest? None! How dare you be so inconsiderate? Who do you think you are, Hillary Clinton? If the people of Ashland are willing to support this, I'm all for it. I have nothing to lose if the town floods, but I have the common sense to think of families and homes, not just money in my pocket.