"Minor" Miscalculation? Or Conspiracy?

A story has appeared on the OWH and LJS websites that says there isn't going to be quite as much budget surplus here in Nebraska as first though in November. (LJS article) However, the difference isn't a couple million dollars, it's almost $40 million. The Legislature says that the difference in projections is because of increased funding to schools to the tune of $39.2 million. $39.2 million dollars is being adding to state aid? And that wasn't known two months ago? This sounds a little fishy. Metro area residents know that the Learning Community is a source of contention between metro school districts and the legislature. I'm not saying that miscalculations happen, but almost $40 million? Even $10 million would've only garnered a shrug. But it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Will this be a card for the legislature to play to push the Learning Community? At one time OPS had sued the state because of it's perceived flaws in the state aid system. Will that affect the lawsuit? Stay tuned...

This OWH article from May 2007 is a Q & A that includes info on the Learning Community and some info on the lawsuit.

More Local News Reports:

Omaha:

WOWT: Schools to Squeeze Budget

KETV: Education Department Needs Millions More for '08

KPTM: State Budget to Take Hit From Higher School Costs

Lincoln

KOLN/KGIN: Schools Require Larger Budget

Now Google Wants to Share

In education, we are really starting to take notice of what Google has done with all of their free applications. With Docs, Earth, Notebook, etc., it could really cut your budget by switching to their systems (there's quite a few important reasons why I wouldn't, but many of you don't care). However, I found this Google Earth blog post very interesting: Frank Taylor, the author, thinks that Microsoft, the company whose applications Google has taken aim at, should share their Bird's Eye pictures with Google Earth. Why? You are offering all of these quality programs for free, directly competing (in most cases) with Microsoft. So Microsoft spends money to make their products better, and now you want them to share? Now, I don't want to have to start paying for Google, but I see little to no incentive for Microsoft to even consider.

I just thought that was kind of a funny suggestion by Mr. Taylor. Have a Happy Holiday season.

Westroads

Since it was such a big story in the area, I thought I'd drop a few comments about the Westroads shooting. I would be remiss if I didn't start by saying God Bless all of the families affected.

Police, Fire and EMTs: I have not heard of anything that could have been done differently. Congratulations on the quick, appropriate response.

Most Local Media: Morons. Proving once again what made the Omaha TV Blog so popular, I have never been so embarrassed. You prompted the lady of the house to talk when she shouldn't have. I realize that she takes some blame for that (and police officials for not finding her and keeping her quiet), but you asked "Was there anything else you could've done?" What do you think? How dare you ask that during this point of time? Competent or not, she is still grieving and trying to comprehend what happened. All you want is a story. Worse yet, who's idea was to put an immature "friend" on the TV? Did you honestly think that child would have something intelligent to say? And then you kept going...As much as the first responders made me proud to live in the area, you made me embarrassed to even have visited.

The Mother: I really do feel for you and your family, but it really scares me that you told a national news organization (who had been scrambling to bring anyone to NYC, including "friends" of the shooter) that you knew he took the gun the night before and was just hoping he'd get caught for stealing. He can't get caught if no one tells the police. I realize hindsight's 20-20, but if a gun is missing from my house, I don't care who took, I want to know where it's at and why.

Gun Law Proponents/Opponents: Everyone having a gun at Von Maur would not "stop the rampage." It would only have created more confusion as to who the actual gunman was. No one having the ability to carry a gun wouldn't have prevented him from getting a gun. This type of thing happens, unfortunately. Even if his step dad didn't have a gun, he would've found one somewhere else.

This was definitely a huge tragedy for the city and I'm glad to see that we are trying to get back to "normal."

The next post will deal with more "current" events, but I had to get some of that off my chest.

Hello Again?

The House has decided to make another attempt at jumping back into the world of blogging. We've been doing some blogging in more of a work related fashion, but life has been here, there and everywhere. As I was looking through my bookmarks a few weeks ago, I found the House again. You may be curious as to why I lost it. Well, the last posts corresponds with the new computer I had bought and a transition into a new job (still in education, more technology, thankfully). In September, the new computer was apparently desired more by someone else because it was stolen from the house. So we are finally settling down a little bit and wanting to do some more writing...for a bit. We will be adding another addition to the House in February, so who knows if we'll be able to maintain parenthood and bloggerhood.

So, we'll do some updating of the site, hopefully get some more thoughts out in the open, and see what happens. There's lots to discuss...

The New Gun Battle

There have been a couple of excellent posts from the Feedlot and Joe's Crabby Shack (a very well written take found thanks to a link from the Feedlot) among thousands of others on the gun control debate that has been brought on by the events at Virginia Tech last week. I completely agree with many of them that people should have the opportunity to carry a weapon if they meet a certain criteria (mentally competent, no felonies, etc., just your basic). I believe businesses also reserve the right to not allow you to bring a gun into their buildings. I grew up having guns in my house, albeit mainly for hunting. I grew up in a town where it was OK to have one in the back window of your truck. People knew what you were going to do with it.
One link that the Feeder had was to an editorial from the Roanoke (VA) Times. One of the Virginia Tech grad students, Bradford Wiles, wrote an editorial in which he has been "adamant" with the university about wanting students on campus to have the ability to carry a gun. I understand Mr. Wiles' point: If someone in Norris Hall would've had a gun, the other 30+ lives may have been saved. I think college is a place where we have to draw the line for being able to carry a gun. If you want to carry a gun, live off campus. As I read that, I thought back to many nights with all of my friends and what would've happened if there would have been a weapon around. I don't think there is any place for it. College is a time where many boys and girls are out on their own for the first time. Parents are worried about alcohol and drugs in dorm rooms. Do you really need to add guns to the list of things that parents are worried about in the residence halls? As a resident adviser at my undergrad institution, I knew of a student who didn't get along with another RA at all. Neither could do anything right to the other. So what happens when one of them gets drunk, etc., and decides to bring the gun out and talk business? What if it "accidentally" went off? How do you explain that?
There is no right or wrong answer. Some people will do anything to get revenge or wreak havoc. No law, either allowing or prohibiting, will stop them.

The Amazing Race Discussion

Nope, not the TV show. In case you've been hiding in a bomb shelter, race issues have covered the news like nothing I've seen since Anna Nicole Smith died...oh wait. First, Don Imus finally said something that offended enough people that his sponsors forced NBC & CBS to give him the boot. Now, we get a little taste of it in our own backyard:
The Benson Gazette, student newspaper at Omaha Public School's Benson High, published on article on the n-word, the derogatory term used to describe an African-American person. I've got no problem with that. It appears to be an informative article aimed at reducing the use of it at their school. Congrats to them and their sponsor for creating stories on societal issues. What a concept, I know. But, here's where it gets good: OPS puts the principal on administrative leave because they don't like it. Isn't the principal busy enough? Shouldn't editing the paper be one of the first things he/she delegates? If you're going to suspend someone, what about the sponsor? The kids? The principal probably doesn't even read the stupid paper! Regardless, I don't think anyone should be suspended. Don't stimulate their knowledge any more than you already do. And it still gets better: The Omaha World-Herald, in printing, on their front page, an excerpt from the Gazette story, don't censor the n-word. Like I couldn't figure it out?! If everyone is up in arms over the use of this word, why print it? I don't care what the Gazette did. I don't pay money to read the paper (nope, didn't even know that they had one until yesterday). You wonder why your reader numbers are down. What editor took the day off? Apparently the only one with common sense.
Kudos to the students and staff at Benson High. Thanks for stepping up to the plate to tackle a real-life issue. As for OPS and OWH...never mind. It's not even worth it.

You're Actually Married?

How ugly do you have to be to be mistaken for a rodent? Or maybe the question is how many drugs do you have to be on to mistake someone for a rodent. I'm hoping that the shooter wasn't very close. In that case, it was a good shot. Otherwise, its probably best the shooter find a new hobby.

10 Days

Today, Gregory Hatt, a 5 or 6 (depending on the news source) time convicted drunk driver was sentenced to 10 days in prison after slamming into a police cruiser and then running from the scene.I'm not sure even where to begin with this. 10 days? I thought you got more than that for the first time you caused a drunk driving accident. I would think they'd give you ten days for running from a police car, drunk or not. He's been convicted at least 5 times, and he gets 10 days? The judge commented that he's not in the business of making the "popular choice". Well, no kidding, that's not in question. You are in the business of making correct and fair choices. 10 days? Hatt did two things wrong, running and drinking, that should get you more than 10 days by themselves. He got 2 days for each time he's been convicted of drunk driving. And the police officer may never work again?!? I just don't get it.
Apparently we shouldn't be as worried about the liberal judges in this country as we should the incompetent ones. I wonder if Judge Polk was roommates in law school with the judge who wouldn't send the pedophile to jail for being too short?

Geek Alert

At MacWorld today, Apple unveiled its latest innovation, the iPhone. The phone combines with an iPod, web browser, and OS X operator to make every Apple tech geek just a bit giddy. So the drawback? Well, everything comes with a price. The iPhone comes with one that starts at $499. While I understand that, for someone that travels, this is worth the price. While I was cleaning the drool off of my laptop, my wife did remind me of my statement the other day. It was something about cell phones being the one tech gadget I don't need the biggest and best (I'm still debating having said that). Either way, I can still look, if I can't touch.

Starting the Year Off Right

The OWH stated that, to win a college football game, teams must be "hungier." Good to know 2007 hasn't changed their standards.

A Great Post to End the Year

I'm thinking this will be the last post of the year, unless I think or find something creative as I drink my Bud Light. But I'm guessing I'll probably be heading to the bar...
I found the blog, Come What May via the Plains Feeder (as usual). One of their latest posts, as the author puts it, makes us proud to be Nebraskans. Its spectacular, to say the least.
Happy New Year, everyone!

Babe Got Black Flagged For Bump-Drafting Piglet

With Muslim tension rising even more since the execution of Saddam, this touching story comes out of Katy, TX. This fine gentleman, in response to the Katy Islamic Association's plans to construct a mosque next to his land, has decided to host pig races. Knowing that everyone who reads this blog is well-educated, I don't need to explain what this means. Apparently, the neighbor, Craig Baker, thought the Muslims were after his land. Now, although he doesn't believe that anymore, he continues to hold the races because he would "look like a total idiot" if he quit hosting them now. Don't worry, I think you are a total idiot anyway. I'm not mad, just embarrassed. The spokesman for the KIA said they didn't care what he did with pigs.

Well, wasn't that easy?

In an update from a previous post, it seems that Hawaii is smart enough to figure out how to get a tree and a menorah in the same place at the same time. Congrats.

What the?

I don't know what is going on in the TV world. Last night, on "What About Brian?", the main character finds out that his love interest had an affair. During a confrontation, Brain said, "You had an affair with my father." Tonight, on a rerun (I think) of one of the Law & Order shows, a character found out some information that would've been helpful a little earlier. That information caused him to unhappily discover, "I had sex with my sister!"
It's good to know that TV programmers are relieving children from having to watch primetime TV.

Ho, ho...aw, screw it

I think that it is highly ridiculous that Christmas trees are being taken down because someone else isn't a Christian. In the Seattle airport, a rabbi's request to add a menorah brought down the rest of the trees. I get so annoyed by having to take down Christian decorations because other people don't like them. I don't blame the rabbi in this case, I blame the airport. What's wrong with putting up the menorah? Or any other religious affiliation? Why not show that you embrace other cultures instead of being the party pooper and saying that, if you can't have what you want, no one should? You run a public place with millions of people from millions of backgrounds coming through every day. Not only are you showing that you recognize their religions, you may invoke positive curiosities about those religions. That's OK. Be a humbug. I wish we heard more about those who do spread curiosity by putting up multiple religious decorations instead of these pansies who take their ball and go home because someone new wants to play.

Election Day passes

How the hell does Lee Terry get elected 5 times? Everyone I hear from, including Omaha TV News, says he's annoying, but he still wins. Its too bad Esch wasn't supported more.
The Feedlot has their own take on the elections.
Overall, there wasn't too many things I was surprised about. I was glad that Ricketts got the smack-down of a lifetime from Ben. He needs to go away quickly. While a bit immature, I chuckled at Ben's slams of Petey during the celebration. He quipped that he "could now go hunting," etc.
I was surprised that Hahn got as many votes as he got. It was still a landslide, but the fact that he seemed to be in hiding the last month or so and still had a relatively decent showing is fairly impressive. Maybe not.
I understand the uproar with having a Democratic majority in Washington, but if someone would come up with a good idea (i.e., a quick, safe exit plan [for both US & Iraq]), then it wouldn't matter the make up of Congress.

Another Brawl for the U

Florida International University wanted a little down-the-road-rivalry with Miami of Florida. Well, they didn't really get a game, as they lost by 35, but they got a brawl.
At first look, I didn't really have an opinion on the resulting suspensions. I didn't really care that Larry Coker, Miami coach, didn't get fired. I agreed that the only reason "the U" was getting ragged on was because they actually have a team (FIU is 0-7). But ESPN columnist Gene Wojciechowski brought up a good point: The reason why Coker should be fired and all eyes are on "the U" instead of FIU is because of the past. Not the cocky days of Michael Irvin and Jimmy Johnson. Since last year's Peach Bowl, Miami has been in 3 on field fights. Three.
So, I do apologize for not caring. As a college football fan who doesn't mind seeing a little pushing and shoving and trash talking, there is no place for what went on Saturday night. Who is FIU? Who even knew they had a team before Saturday night? And Miami: You're not better than that? I guess we shouldn't be surprised after the last few months. Grow up. Coker: See ya. Whatever the FIU coaches name is: Watch yourself, because hopefully your league (Sun Belt) and the NCAA should be.The NCAA has to step in if nothing further is going to be done. You can't let this continue if you want to keep your sport as pure as it still can be.

Why Politics Annoy Me

Yes I'm a Democrat. But I'm not a blind one. However, these are the types of statments that I just can't understand....Do these people really think we are this dumb?
From CNN:

House Majority Leader John Boehner, of Ohio, attributed the (Foley) scandal to partisan dirty tricks and said the uncovering of the messages just weeks before midterm elections "is concerning, at a minimum."

(Rep. Dennis)Hastert also suggested that the release of Foley's correspondences may be a ploy by Democrats to get the upper hand during next month's midterm elections.

He said the GOP was proud of its strides regarding the economy, border security and the war on terror, "So, you know, we have a good story to tell.

"Our friends on the other side of the aisle really don't have a story to tell, and maybe they're resolving to another way, to another political tactic," he said.

Seriously? The only reason this is coming out now is because its almost November? Tough crap, if true. Maybe, oh, I don't know, FOLEY SHOULDN'T HAVE FLIRTED WITH THE PAGE?!?!?!?
On the record, I could care less whether Hastert quits or not. I don't think he'll make it through the elections. If he does, shame on the people of Illinois, or shame to his opponent for being that lame.

On the Next VH1 Livin' in the Ought's: 2006

I think that, 10 years from now, when VH1 does it's Livin' In the 2000's, John Mark Karr is going to be the start of the show. He is going to be lauded for his free first-class trip back to the states from Thailand on the false pretenses that he's a psycho child lover. Now it turns out, between his lies and California cop screw-ups, Karr is walking free. I still think he's not all there and it wouldn't surprise me if he really did sexually abuse children, but the fact that he made it back from Thailand without paying a dime is borderline genius. No, I wouldn't recommend the battering ram that is the media, but its still free!
Still, what a freak. The picture tells the whole story.

The Feedlot has a nice little article on the same topic.

Watch the Republicans Scatter

In recent days, information has arose about the misconduct of one Mark Foley, a Republican Congressman from the great state of Florida. While some Republicans have known about these despicable exchanges between the representative and a page, including the 53 year old asking the teen page if he "made him horny", GOP leaders are now scattering faster than salad eaters at a spinach buffet. I understand, with the election only one month and change away, why the Republican party would do everything possible to distance themselves from this moron, but what made them wait until now to disclose the alleged emails/text messages? They knew last year, last spring, etc., that these could surface, so why wouldn't they take the hit in March and watch it calm over before November? Did they think something like this could stay hidden? This is big news, especially because of the age difference and male-male relationship (whether we like it or not). If they did think that this could stay under the table, does that mean there are similar acts that have been covered up by either party? I don't mean to play conspiracy theorist (because they annoy me), but I would've thought a Republican-led government would do anything it could to keep bad pub out of the media at this time of the year. They've got enough of it floating around...no need to add "improper relations" to the category.