I recently discovered that a decent fireworks show can even make people I really dislike somewhat tolerable...at least until the fireworks show ends.
On the fourth I watched the Fonner Park fireworks show in Grand Island, Nebraska with my boyfriend and a bunch of people I only know through him. They're not all bad, but one of the guys is so obnoxious that I'm typically thinking about peeling the skin off my face when I have to hear his racist "jokes" and his twisted childhood memories.
How did fireworks make this jerk tolerable for half an hour?
They drowned him out! It was really easy to ignore his unwanted commentary with large blasts of controlled artillery going off nearby. The booming industrial grade fireworks were like a magical static cancellation device.
I only wish they had lasted more than half an hour. Consumer grade fireworks just don't have the same power as a big, booming light show.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Creepy Diaper Commercial
I just saw the new Huggies commercial for blue jean diapers and I am completely creeped out by the whole "poo in blue" line! This baby could easily have its own horror flick! Click here to watch the commercial directly on the Huggies site.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Back on the Grid
I have spent about a month avoiding my computer until today. I took my time doing the laundry, laid out in the sun wearing spf 100, and walked my dogs instead of logging into my clogged up email accounts. I just cleaned everything out today and I'm ready to be reachable by something other than my phone again. Taking a month off was definitely a welcome break after my most recent semester!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
A Good Excuse for a Bad Habit
Typical college students are known for wasting money on things like pizza, video games, various caffeinated beverages, and let's not forget beer. Although I would never encourage underage drinking – anyone who is that desperate should study abroad and learn what drinking is to another culture – or drinking on UNK's "dry" campus, I am not opposed to all-night, off campus, legal beer and Rock Band marathons--as long as your neighbors don't turn you in for noise violations and you recycle all the aluminum you accumulate throughout the night.
It makes me sick to see cans that used to hold Bush Light or Redbull overflowing from trash bins in my neighborhood every Monday morning. Some foolish, unenlightened college students are throwing away hard-earned money.
Those beer cans are made of aluminum.
Andersen Wrecking Company pays people for aluminum.
Did no one ever teach these academic beer enthusiasts how to put two and two together?
My boyfriend and I don't host a lot of parties, but between the two of us, we consume enough beer, Coca-Cola, and Arizona Green Tea to fill an average-sized trash bag with aluminum cans every three or four weeks. That trash bag usually weighs one to two pounds, depending on how many cans we crush, and aluminum currently earns sixty cents per pound. That's almost a dollar a month.
It’s not an overwhelming amount, I’ll admit, but everybody likes making easy money.
However, we also called 308-233-3206 to get a free recycling container from the City of Kearney Sanitation Department.
The recycling containers and curbside pick-up are free to anyone who pays for trash pick-up, but there are also several public-access blue recycling dumpsters located in several places around the city including one next to Herbergers at the Hill Top Mall.
Those who don't pay for trash pick-up and don't want to look for Andersen Wrecking Company cannot claim they don't know where the mall is. Those who don't admit to shopping at the mall still have to venture to that end of town to buy video games...
If beer-drinking gamers drop off one two pound bag of aluminum cans at the recycling bin next to Herbergers once a month, they will donate approximately fourteen dollars to the City of Kearney in a year.
If they recycle two pounds twice a month, they will donate close to thirty dollars a year.
If they recycle two pounds of aluminum once a week, which might be feasible depending on how many roommates are involved, they will donate nearly sixty dollars to the City of Kearney every year. That's practically community service.
I am writing this for all the college students who have ever been called underachievers. Come on! Gather up your cans, choose your preferred method of recycling and call your parents. Tell them, "Mom, Dad, I did something good today."
For those of you who chose to seek out the wrecking company, say: "I cleaned my house, got rid of some things I didn't need anymore, and made a little money in the process."
For those of you who dialed a phone number or drove to the mall, say: "I recycled, and I made an unofficial donation to the City of Kearney today.”
All of you should follow up your parents’ stunned silence with: “Aren't you proud of me?"
It makes me sick to see cans that used to hold Bush Light or Redbull overflowing from trash bins in my neighborhood every Monday morning. Some foolish, unenlightened college students are throwing away hard-earned money.
Those beer cans are made of aluminum.
Andersen Wrecking Company pays people for aluminum.
Did no one ever teach these academic beer enthusiasts how to put two and two together?
My boyfriend and I don't host a lot of parties, but between the two of us, we consume enough beer, Coca-Cola, and Arizona Green Tea to fill an average-sized trash bag with aluminum cans every three or four weeks. That trash bag usually weighs one to two pounds, depending on how many cans we crush, and aluminum currently earns sixty cents per pound. That's almost a dollar a month.
It’s not an overwhelming amount, I’ll admit, but everybody likes making easy money.
However, we also called 308-233-3206 to get a free recycling container from the City of Kearney Sanitation Department.
The recycling containers and curbside pick-up are free to anyone who pays for trash pick-up, but there are also several public-access blue recycling dumpsters located in several places around the city including one next to Herbergers at the Hill Top Mall.
Those who don't pay for trash pick-up and don't want to look for Andersen Wrecking Company cannot claim they don't know where the mall is. Those who don't admit to shopping at the mall still have to venture to that end of town to buy video games...
If beer-drinking gamers drop off one two pound bag of aluminum cans at the recycling bin next to Herbergers once a month, they will donate approximately fourteen dollars to the City of Kearney in a year.
If they recycle two pounds twice a month, they will donate close to thirty dollars a year.
If they recycle two pounds of aluminum once a week, which might be feasible depending on how many roommates are involved, they will donate nearly sixty dollars to the City of Kearney every year. That's practically community service.
I am writing this for all the college students who have ever been called underachievers. Come on! Gather up your cans, choose your preferred method of recycling and call your parents. Tell them, "Mom, Dad, I did something good today."
For those of you who chose to seek out the wrecking company, say: "I cleaned my house, got rid of some things I didn't need anymore, and made a little money in the process."
For those of you who dialed a phone number or drove to the mall, say: "I recycled, and I made an unofficial donation to the City of Kearney today.”
All of you should follow up your parents’ stunned silence with: “Aren't you proud of me?"
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Off-Campus Drinking by UNK Students Can Have a Positive Impact on Kearney
Typical college students are known for wasting money on things like pizza, video games, clothes, and let's not forget beer. Although I would never encourage underage drinking (If you're that desperate, study abroad) or drinking on UNK's "dry" campus, I am not opposed to all-night beer and Rock Band marathons--as long as your neighbors don't turn you in for noise violations and you recycle your aluminum and paperboard waste the next day.
It makes me sick to see beer cans and Bush Light boxes overflowing from trashcans in my neighborhood every Monday morning. Some foolish, unenlightened college students are throwing away hard-earned money.
Those beer cans are made of aluminum.
Andersen Wrecking Company pays people for aluminum.
Did no one ever teach these academic beer enthusiasts how to put two and two together?
My boyfriend and I don't host a lot of parties, but between beer, Coca-Cola, and Arizona Green Tea, we fill an average-sized trash bag with aluminum cans every three or four weeks. That trash bag usually weighs **** ounces and aluminum earns **** per ounce. That's **** extra dollars every month.
Everybody likes making easy money.
However, we also called 308-233-3206 to get a free recycling container from the City of Kearney Sanitation Department.
The recycling containers and curbside pick-up are free to anyone who pays for trash pick-up, but there are also several public-access blue recycling dumpsters located in several places around the city including one next to Herbergers at the Hill Top Mall.
Those who don't pay for trash pick-up and don't want to look for Andersen Wrecking Company cannot claim they don't know where the mall is. Those who don't admit to shopping at the mall still have to venture to that end of town to buy video games...
If beer-drinking gamers drop off one **** ounce bag of aluminum cans at the recycling bin next to Herbergers once a month...twice a month...once a week...they are donating **** dollars to the City of Kearney every year. That's practically community service.
I am writing this for all the college students who have ever been called underachievers. Come on! Gather up your cans, choose your preferred method of recycling and call your parents. Tell them, "Mom, Dad, I did something good today."
For those of you who chose to seek out the wrecking company, say: "I cleaned my house, got rid of some things I didn't need anymore, and made a little money in the process."
For those of you who dialed a phone number or drove to the mall, say: "I recycled, and I made a small donation to the City of Kearney today. Aren't you proud of me?"
It makes me sick to see beer cans and Bush Light boxes overflowing from trashcans in my neighborhood every Monday morning. Some foolish, unenlightened college students are throwing away hard-earned money.
Those beer cans are made of aluminum.
Andersen Wrecking Company pays people for aluminum.
Did no one ever teach these academic beer enthusiasts how to put two and two together?
My boyfriend and I don't host a lot of parties, but between beer, Coca-Cola, and Arizona Green Tea, we fill an average-sized trash bag with aluminum cans every three or four weeks. That trash bag usually weighs **** ounces and aluminum earns **** per ounce. That's **** extra dollars every month.
Everybody likes making easy money.
However, we also called 308-233-3206 to get a free recycling container from the City of Kearney Sanitation Department.
The recycling containers and curbside pick-up are free to anyone who pays for trash pick-up, but there are also several public-access blue recycling dumpsters located in several places around the city including one next to Herbergers at the Hill Top Mall.
Those who don't pay for trash pick-up and don't want to look for Andersen Wrecking Company cannot claim they don't know where the mall is. Those who don't admit to shopping at the mall still have to venture to that end of town to buy video games...
If beer-drinking gamers drop off one **** ounce bag of aluminum cans at the recycling bin next to Herbergers once a month...twice a month...once a week...they are donating **** dollars to the City of Kearney every year. That's practically community service.
I am writing this for all the college students who have ever been called underachievers. Come on! Gather up your cans, choose your preferred method of recycling and call your parents. Tell them, "Mom, Dad, I did something good today."
For those of you who chose to seek out the wrecking company, say: "I cleaned my house, got rid of some things I didn't need anymore, and made a little money in the process."
For those of you who dialed a phone number or drove to the mall, say: "I recycled, and I made a small donation to the City of Kearney today. Aren't you proud of me?"
Friday, April 23, 2010
Puppies and Pepper Spray on a Friday Night
A few days ago, I was walking home from class like I always do. I was nearly home when a white SUV drove by, made a U-turn at the end of the block, and came to a stop right next to me.
The young male driver asked if I wanted a ride.
Like any sensible young woman, I said "No thanks," and continued walking. The driver didn't persist, and before long I saw my boyfriend's truck in the driveway, so I didn't think much of it.
Tonight, the same vehicle - at least I think it was the same one - saw me walking my dogs. I was on the same block, in about the same spot as I had been the day the driver of a white SUV asked if I wanted a ride.
The vehicle circled the block, and I continued walking beyond my destination until I was sure that I wasn't being followed.
I reached my house after a roundabout walk that my dogs thouroughly enjoyed and I quickly unlocked my door, ran inside (dragging my dogs), and re-locked the door.
My head was spinning with thoughts of work and homework and "What the Hell is going on?"
After quickly text-consulting my boyfriend - Damn him for being out of town! - and all the friends I talk to when my brain is too mixed up to put two and two together, I googled Kearney's police department on my phone, selected the phone number, and made the call.
I'm sitting at home with my dogs and my pepper spray waiting for a policeman to come interview me...
The young male driver asked if I wanted a ride.
Like any sensible young woman, I said "No thanks," and continued walking. The driver didn't persist, and before long I saw my boyfriend's truck in the driveway, so I didn't think much of it.
Tonight, the same vehicle - at least I think it was the same one - saw me walking my dogs. I was on the same block, in about the same spot as I had been the day the driver of a white SUV asked if I wanted a ride.
The vehicle circled the block, and I continued walking beyond my destination until I was sure that I wasn't being followed.
I reached my house after a roundabout walk that my dogs thouroughly enjoyed and I quickly unlocked my door, ran inside (dragging my dogs), and re-locked the door.
My head was spinning with thoughts of work and homework and "What the Hell is going on?"
After quickly text-consulting my boyfriend - Damn him for being out of town! - and all the friends I talk to when my brain is too mixed up to put two and two together, I googled Kearney's police department on my phone, selected the phone number, and made the call.
I'm sitting at home with my dogs and my pepper spray waiting for a policeman to come interview me...
Monday, April 19, 2010
My Brain is Turning to Mush!
There are only two weeks left until Spring Finals and my brain is spinning like it's in a blender. I'm incredibly anxious and all I want to do is stay up all night reading Sookie Stackhouse novels and watching True Blood until my eyes start bleeding.
I feel cornered, and I'm looking for safety in my new favorite series, but I can't seem to concentrate on anything I'm supposed to be doing, and I'm running out of time! "I'm freakin' out, man!" is the only phrase that truly captures my current frame of mind.
I have always been a bit of a procrastinator, but this week has been beyond rediculous. I am so ready for this semester to end that my subconscious mind is making my concious mind act like it's already over.
I know I'm in trouble when I start psychoanalyzing myself, but I can't help it. I'm lost.
I feel cornered, and I'm looking for safety in my new favorite series, but I can't seem to concentrate on anything I'm supposed to be doing, and I'm running out of time! "I'm freakin' out, man!" is the only phrase that truly captures my current frame of mind.
I have always been a bit of a procrastinator, but this week has been beyond rediculous. I am so ready for this semester to end that my subconscious mind is making my concious mind act like it's already over.
I know I'm in trouble when I start psychoanalyzing myself, but I can't help it. I'm lost.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
It Could Happen to Us
Last Thursday, April 15th 2010, the University of Nebraska at Kearney staged a mock disaster drill, complete with "injured, bloody bodies strewn across the parking lot" (Kim Schmidt and Sarah Giboney, "Mock Disaster Explodes Across Campus," Kearney Hub).
Although the "accident" was staged to test the Kearney area's emergency response teams, the event seemed to hint at the upcoming Tri-Cities Blood Drive.
The annual Tri-Cities Blood Drive has taken place for the past five years in the YMCAs of Grand Island, Kearney, and Hastings. According to the American Red Cross website, the YMCA teamed up with the Red Cross to hold a blood drive right before "family vacation" season takes hold.
All the activities available during summer break make it easy to forget the horrifying news images of all the disasters that have taken place all over the world, particularly in the past four months.
Disasters don't take summer breaks.
Not all disasters increase the need for blood as the earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, China and California in just the first two months of the year, the tsunamis that resulted from them, and the cyclone that ripped up the European coastline on the last day of February.
For example, a volcano in Iceland just erupted two days ago, Friday, 16 April 2010. Although many people equate the Red Cross with blood donation, Red Cross workers and volunteers provide much more than blood in their disaster relief efforts.
"The Icelandic Red Cross is sheltering more than 200 people...[has evacuated] about 700 people...[and] is currently assessing whether everyone in the disaster area still has enough food" (16 April 2010, American Red Cross Website).
However, the effects of disasters don’t simply disappear overnight. Members of the Red Cross from multiple countries have been present in Haiti since just after the earthquakes hit and they continue to help today.
They have already given Haitians temporary shelters, latrines, medical care, vaccinations, and "more than 21,000 units of blood" – and they intend to fund shelter, emergency relief, water and sanitation projects, grants and loans for families, and disaster preparation projects over the next three to five years (12 April 2010, American Red Cross Website).
Midwesterners are just beginning tornado season, hoping for “a mild one.”
People in the Southeast are approaching hurricane season and hoping that all those feisty water funnels stay as far out to sea as possible – they don’t want another Katrina.
Although people generally don’t like to think about deadly events, they cannot escape the fact that disasters happen and the people who are touched by them need help.
If UNK’s mock disaster had been a real disaster, every county in Nebraska would have held a blood drive – and a food drive – and a clothing drive – and at least one fundraiser.
Nebraska may not be touched by every disaster, but Nebraskans can always help those who are. If you can't give blood, give money; if you can't give money, give time.
Although the "accident" was staged to test the Kearney area's emergency response teams, the event seemed to hint at the upcoming Tri-Cities Blood Drive.
The annual Tri-Cities Blood Drive has taken place for the past five years in the YMCAs of Grand Island, Kearney, and Hastings. According to the American Red Cross website, the YMCA teamed up with the Red Cross to hold a blood drive right before "family vacation" season takes hold.
All the activities available during summer break make it easy to forget the horrifying news images of all the disasters that have taken place all over the world, particularly in the past four months.
Disasters don't take summer breaks.
Not all disasters increase the need for blood as the earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, China and California in just the first two months of the year, the tsunamis that resulted from them, and the cyclone that ripped up the European coastline on the last day of February.
For example, a volcano in Iceland just erupted two days ago, Friday, 16 April 2010. Although many people equate the Red Cross with blood donation, Red Cross workers and volunteers provide much more than blood in their disaster relief efforts.
"The Icelandic Red Cross is sheltering more than 200 people...[has evacuated] about 700 people...[and] is currently assessing whether everyone in the disaster area still has enough food" (16 April 2010, American Red Cross Website).
However, the effects of disasters don’t simply disappear overnight. Members of the Red Cross from multiple countries have been present in Haiti since just after the earthquakes hit and they continue to help today.
They have already given Haitians temporary shelters, latrines, medical care, vaccinations, and "more than 21,000 units of blood" – and they intend to fund shelter, emergency relief, water and sanitation projects, grants and loans for families, and disaster preparation projects over the next three to five years (12 April 2010, American Red Cross Website).
Midwesterners are just beginning tornado season, hoping for “a mild one.”
People in the Southeast are approaching hurricane season and hoping that all those feisty water funnels stay as far out to sea as possible – they don’t want another Katrina.
Although people generally don’t like to think about deadly events, they cannot escape the fact that disasters happen and the people who are touched by them need help.
If UNK’s mock disaster had been a real disaster, every county in Nebraska would have held a blood drive – and a food drive – and a clothing drive – and at least one fundraiser.
Nebraska may not be touched by every disaster, but Nebraskans can always help those who are. If you can't give blood, give money; if you can't give money, give time.
Kearney, Disaster Area?
Last Thursday, April 15th 2010, the University of Nebraska at Kearney staged a mock disaster drill, complete with "injured, bloody bodies strewn across the parking lot" (Kim Schmidt and Sarah Giboney, "Mock Disaster Explodes Across Campus," Kearney Hub).
Although the "accident" was staged to test the Kearney area's emergency response teams, the event seemed to hint at the upcoming Tri-Cities Blood Drive.
If the mock disaster had been a real disaster, every county in Nebraska would have held a blood drive.
However, the annual Tri-Cities Blood Drive is a yearly event that takes place in the YMCAs of Grand Island, Kearney, and Hastings. According to the American Red Cross website, the YMCA teamed up with the Red Cross to hold a blood drive right before "family vacation" season takes over everyone's minds and erases the memories of horrifying news images of all the disasters that take place all over the world every day.
Disasters don't take summer breaks.
Not all of these disasters increase the need for blood as the earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, Japan and California as well as the resulting tsunamis the first two months of this year; the cyclone that ripped up the European coastline on the last day of February.
For example, a volcano in Iceland just erupted two days ago. Although many people equate the Red Cross with blood donation, Red Cross workers and volunteers provide much more than blood in their disaster relief efforts. "The Icelandic Red Cross is sheltering more than 200 people...[has evacuated] about 700 people...[and] is currently assessing whether everyone in the disaster area still has enough food" (16 April 2010, American Red Cross Website).
Members of the Red Cross from multiple countries have been present in Haiti since just after the earthquakes hit and they continue to help today. They have already given Haitians temporary shelters, latrines, medical care, vaccinations, and "more than 21,000 units of blood"--and they intend to fund shelter, emergency relief, water and sanitation projects, grants and loans for families, and disaster preparation projects over the next three to five years (12 April 2010, American Red Cross Website).
Although the "accident" was staged to test the Kearney area's emergency response teams, the event seemed to hint at the upcoming Tri-Cities Blood Drive.
If the mock disaster had been a real disaster, every county in Nebraska would have held a blood drive.
However, the annual Tri-Cities Blood Drive is a yearly event that takes place in the YMCAs of Grand Island, Kearney, and Hastings. According to the American Red Cross website, the YMCA teamed up with the Red Cross to hold a blood drive right before "family vacation" season takes over everyone's minds and erases the memories of horrifying news images of all the disasters that take place all over the world every day.
Disasters don't take summer breaks.
Not all of these disasters increase the need for blood as the earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, Japan and California as well as the resulting tsunamis the first two months of this year; the cyclone that ripped up the European coastline on the last day of February.
For example, a volcano in Iceland just erupted two days ago. Although many people equate the Red Cross with blood donation, Red Cross workers and volunteers provide much more than blood in their disaster relief efforts. "The Icelandic Red Cross is sheltering more than 200 people...[has evacuated] about 700 people...[and] is currently assessing whether everyone in the disaster area still has enough food" (16 April 2010, American Red Cross Website).
Members of the Red Cross from multiple countries have been present in Haiti since just after the earthquakes hit and they continue to help today. They have already given Haitians temporary shelters, latrines, medical care, vaccinations, and "more than 21,000 units of blood"--and they intend to fund shelter, emergency relief, water and sanitation projects, grants and loans for families, and disaster preparation projects over the next three to five years (12 April 2010, American Red Cross Website).
Saturday, April 17, 2010
HAZMAT Computer Yard
a failed computer recycling business plus an angry landlord equals a yard full of computers
Does Jack Herrel really expect people to belive that he simply couldn't handle his business?
He hasn't brought any charges against the man he rented his shop from for dumping HAZMAT lead-filled computers on his lawn.
Did he set the whole thing up in order to call attention to the problem of electronics recycling?
Does Jack Herrel really expect people to belive that he simply couldn't handle his business?
He hasn't brought any charges against the man he rented his shop from for dumping HAZMAT lead-filled computers on his lawn.
Did he set the whole thing up in order to call attention to the problem of electronics recycling?
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Dead Until Dark
I just started reading Charlaine Harris's Dead Until Dark on Friday, and I'm pretty sure I have to finish it tonight! This vampire mystery novel is full of multiple types of action and the main character, Sookie Stackhouse, is a compelling amatuer detective/mindreader. This book is a fast, fun read.
The rest of this series is already on my summer reading list along with the Vampire Hunter D series. I have only seen a few episodes of True Blood, HBO's adaptation of Charlaine Hariss's vampire series, but a little bird told me that the first two seasons are out on DVD...
The rest of this series is already on my summer reading list along with the Vampire Hunter D series. I have only seen a few episodes of True Blood, HBO's adaptation of Charlaine Hariss's vampire series, but a little bird told me that the first two seasons are out on DVD...
Funerals
Why is it that some people can talk crap about a dying person right up to the very second that person dies, but at the funeral, they can only say how much they loved that person?
The alcohol must have something to do with it...
Why do religious people say that funerals celebrate life and death?
Probably because some people go to the funeral to celebrate the person's life and others go to celebrate the fact that they never have to see the person again.
Some people wonder where pets go when they die. I wonder what they think when people leave them at home to attend funerals.
"Please, bring me a bone this time!"
"Yuck! Any liver but that one!"
The alcohol must have something to do with it...
Why do religious people say that funerals celebrate life and death?
Probably because some people go to the funeral to celebrate the person's life and others go to celebrate the fact that they never have to see the person again.
Some people wonder where pets go when they die. I wonder what they think when people leave them at home to attend funerals.
"Please, bring me a bone this time!"
"Yuck! Any liver but that one!"
Saturday, April 3, 2010
A Land Beyond Her Time
There once was a boy who grew up working, fishing, and hunting on the plains of Nebraska. He loved the open space almost as much as he loved his family. In high school, he talked to his friends about girls, cars, and where he would like to live some day. Some of his friends wanted to move to exotic, faraway lands where they would drive boats to impress scantily clad girls. Others wanted to drive dog sleds and hunt the wild lands of the far north where the permafrost would make girls want to cuddle in their bear hides. But this boy wanted a piece of land much like the one he grew up on and a girl who could fish.
After high school, he tried living in the city. It wasn't what he wanted. He tried moving near the great park called Yellowstone – he still had to live in the city. He traveled to Mexico and Alaska, but he only wanted to be back home in Nebraska.
Eventually, he met a girl who confused him so much that he couldn't help but love her. They dated for a while, went on a wild road trip, and lived together for three years. He loved her, but something still restricted his happiness: they rented a place in town.
On his twenty-fifth birthday, the boy woke up and announced “I am a quarter of a century old today.” The girl blinked, grumbled “appy erfday,” and rolled over. If the house wasn’t burning, she didn’t get up at six a.m.
The boy drove to his favorite fishing spot, just a few miles from where he grew up. Later in the day, he visited his parents. His dad knew of a house for sale that was out in the country and right on the creek. The boy wanted that house – or at least the land it was on.
He went home that night and begged his girlfriend to go to the bank with him. He was so excited that he paced all over their tiny rented space as he talked. He had to have that land…and the first-time home-buyer’s credit would run out soon.
The girl wasn’t so sure. As a child, she had lived just a few miles from a town in North Carolina. After her parents divorced, she and her mom moved to Nebraska, but she flew back to North Carolina to spend the summers with her dad. As she gained new friends and kept in touch with her old friends, she realized that most other girls wanted to talk about who they would marry, how many kids they would have, and what their wedding dresses would look like. She preferred to talk about her future as a scientist, or a computer systems analyst, or maybe a female Hugh Hefner – you never know.
By the time she met her boy-friend, she had started attending Wayne State College; spent a semester in Europe; dropped out; spent a year working at a DEB in Grand Island; and registered at Grand Island Central Community College to try to figure out what to do with her life.
She had learned that she liked being in town, and that didn’t change much when she and the boy moved to Kearney, so she could attend UNK. When the boy asked her to buy a house with him out in the country, she replied “I haven’t lived more than five minutes from Subway in nine years.” The house in the country meant more than just moving away from her favorite eatery, though.
She wasn’t ready to start a family; she didn’t feel old enough to own ten acres; and she absolutely did not want to live next to a corn field.
Dustin Selden: iamafiend@hotmail.com
Brittany Seawell: Britt_brat_15@hotmail.com
After high school, he tried living in the city. It wasn't what he wanted. He tried moving near the great park called Yellowstone – he still had to live in the city. He traveled to Mexico and Alaska, but he only wanted to be back home in Nebraska.
Eventually, he met a girl who confused him so much that he couldn't help but love her. They dated for a while, went on a wild road trip, and lived together for three years. He loved her, but something still restricted his happiness: they rented a place in town.
On his twenty-fifth birthday, the boy woke up and announced “I am a quarter of a century old today.” The girl blinked, grumbled “appy erfday,” and rolled over. If the house wasn’t burning, she didn’t get up at six a.m.
The boy drove to his favorite fishing spot, just a few miles from where he grew up. Later in the day, he visited his parents. His dad knew of a house for sale that was out in the country and right on the creek. The boy wanted that house – or at least the land it was on.
He went home that night and begged his girlfriend to go to the bank with him. He was so excited that he paced all over their tiny rented space as he talked. He had to have that land…and the first-time home-buyer’s credit would run out soon.
The girl wasn’t so sure. As a child, she had lived just a few miles from a town in North Carolina. After her parents divorced, she and her mom moved to Nebraska, but she flew back to North Carolina to spend the summers with her dad. As she gained new friends and kept in touch with her old friends, she realized that most other girls wanted to talk about who they would marry, how many kids they would have, and what their wedding dresses would look like. She preferred to talk about her future as a scientist, or a computer systems analyst, or maybe a female Hugh Hefner – you never know.
By the time she met her boy-friend, she had started attending Wayne State College; spent a semester in Europe; dropped out; spent a year working at a DEB in Grand Island; and registered at Grand Island Central Community College to try to figure out what to do with her life.
She had learned that she liked being in town, and that didn’t change much when she and the boy moved to Kearney, so she could attend UNK. When the boy asked her to buy a house with him out in the country, she replied “I haven’t lived more than five minutes from Subway in nine years.” The house in the country meant more than just moving away from her favorite eatery, though.
She wasn’t ready to start a family; she didn’t feel old enough to own ten acres; and she absolutely did not want to live next to a corn field.
Dustin Selden: iamafiend@hotmail.com
Brittany Seawell: Britt_brat_15@hotmail.com
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sleep
I love sleep. I spent much of my spring break sleeping. I have been known to sleep for fifteen hours straight and I must admit that sleeping like that is better than "better than sex" cake.
I lose quite a bit of sleep during the semester, especially during midterms and finals, but I only have five weeks left until I can spend almost an entire week sleeping.
I recently learned from Paul Martin's 2002 book, Counting Sheep: The Science and Pleasures of Sleep and Dreams that the average human being spends about one third of his or her life sleeping. He actually focuses his first chapter, "A Third of Life," on an 1801 quote by Charles Darwin's grandfather, Erasmus Darwin.
In 2002, Martin wrote that one third of a human life equals about 25 years! 25 years of sleep sounds absolutely phantasmagorical! Too bad it can't all happen at once!
I wonder if Washington Irving would agree with me? He wrote Rip Van Winkle just 18 years after Erasmus Darwin made the original claim that humans sleep for about a third of their lives.
I lose quite a bit of sleep during the semester, especially during midterms and finals, but I only have five weeks left until I can spend almost an entire week sleeping.
I recently learned from Paul Martin's 2002 book, Counting Sheep: The Science and Pleasures of Sleep and Dreams that the average human being spends about one third of his or her life sleeping. He actually focuses his first chapter, "A Third of Life," on an 1801 quote by Charles Darwin's grandfather, Erasmus Darwin.
In 2002, Martin wrote that one third of a human life equals about 25 years! 25 years of sleep sounds absolutely phantasmagorical! Too bad it can't all happen at once!
I wonder if Washington Irving would agree with me? He wrote Rip Van Winkle just 18 years after Erasmus Darwin made the original claim that humans sleep for about a third of their lives.
Cranes, I'm Sorry, but You're Fired
The cranes were late this year. If you live in Kearney, Nebraska, the tardiness of these cranes may have put you in the same awkward situation that I'm in. Next week, I'm supposed to be in class and at crane events at the same time on at least three different days. I can sympathize with the cranes complaints about the long, cold winter; however, my schedule is a nightmare now because they did not make it here on time...and I decided to take 19 credits this semester...and I work part time...and UNK's Language and Literature Conference is this week...
Despite the crazy schedule I've thrown myself into, I can't get away with being a week late, so I would like to fire the cranes. Am I being ridiculous? Absolutely, but why not? Next year, I might attend events for the migration of monarch butterflies, or hitch a ride with scientists to follow the whale migration...actually I will probably just watch programs about these events on PBS. That's right - no cable. When would I have time to watch it?
Despite the crazy schedule I've thrown myself into, I can't get away with being a week late, so I would like to fire the cranes. Am I being ridiculous? Absolutely, but why not? Next year, I might attend events for the migration of monarch butterflies, or hitch a ride with scientists to follow the whale migration...actually I will probably just watch programs about these events on PBS. That's right - no cable. When would I have time to watch it?
Sunday, March 28, 2010
A Piece of Land
There once was a boy who grew up working, fishing, and hunting on the plains of Nebraska. He loved the open space almost as much as he loved his family. In high school, he talked to his friends about girls, cars, and where he would like to live some day. Some of his friends wanted to move to exotic, faraway lands where they would drive boats to impress scantily clad girls who loved all men equally. Others wanted to drive dog sleds and hunt the wild lands of the far north where the permafrost would make girls want to cuddle in their bear hides. But this boy wanted a piece of land much like the one he grew up on.
After high school, he tried living in the city. It wasn't what he wanted. He tried moving near the great park called Yellowstone. He still had to live in the city. He traveled to Mexico and Alaska, but he only wanted to be at home in Nebraska.
Finally, he met a girl who confused him so much that he couldn't help but love her. They dated for a while, went on a wild road trip, and lived together for three years. He loved her, but something still restricted his happiness: they rented a place in town.
On his twenty-fifth birthday, he visited his parents. His dad knew of a house for sale that was out in the country and right on the river. The boy wanted that house - or at least the land it was on.
He went home that night and begged his girlfriend to go to the bank with him. He was so excited that he paced all over their tiny rented space as he talked. He had to have that house.
If you haven't guessed by now, the boy in this story is my boyfriend, Dustin Selden (iamafiend@hotmail.com). We're not married, we've never had a serious conversation about buying a house before tonight, and I haven't really decided what I think about this whole situation because, through my own series of unfortunate events, I own a house in North Carolina. I am not the type to commit to something as big as buying a house for the sole purpose of making someone happy, but I'm not the type to totally crush the dreams of someone I care about either.
I hope I get some good comments because I haven't figured out how to wrap my head around this one yet.
After high school, he tried living in the city. It wasn't what he wanted. He tried moving near the great park called Yellowstone. He still had to live in the city. He traveled to Mexico and Alaska, but he only wanted to be at home in Nebraska.
Finally, he met a girl who confused him so much that he couldn't help but love her. They dated for a while, went on a wild road trip, and lived together for three years. He loved her, but something still restricted his happiness: they rented a place in town.
On his twenty-fifth birthday, he visited his parents. His dad knew of a house for sale that was out in the country and right on the river. The boy wanted that house - or at least the land it was on.
He went home that night and begged his girlfriend to go to the bank with him. He was so excited that he paced all over their tiny rented space as he talked. He had to have that house.
If you haven't guessed by now, the boy in this story is my boyfriend, Dustin Selden (iamafiend@hotmail.com). We're not married, we've never had a serious conversation about buying a house before tonight, and I haven't really decided what I think about this whole situation because, through my own series of unfortunate events, I own a house in North Carolina. I am not the type to commit to something as big as buying a house for the sole purpose of making someone happy, but I'm not the type to totally crush the dreams of someone I care about either.
I hope I get some good comments because I haven't figured out how to wrap my head around this one yet.
What time is it?
"Time is running out," "it's time to go," "I don't have time for this," "what a waste of time," "do that on your own time, not mine" ...
I have no idea what time actually is, but I never seem to have enough of it, it never seems to be the right time, and I seem to fall into all of life's stressful times before my time. Time is a word with many definitions, but none of those definitions really say all there is to say about a word like time. Time is a spiral: words on a page turning over and over from cover to cover and back to the cover and it seems to never end. Time is the absolute extent of human life (because the afterlife must be something we can't experience as humans): a timeline with a beginning and an end with many stops in between. Time is so difficult a concept to grasp that I wonder if it's possible to spend my time wisely. Am I wasting my time contemplating time? Do I have time for this? What time is it?
I have no idea what time actually is, but I never seem to have enough of it, it never seems to be the right time, and I seem to fall into all of life's stressful times before my time. Time is a word with many definitions, but none of those definitions really say all there is to say about a word like time. Time is a spiral: words on a page turning over and over from cover to cover and back to the cover and it seems to never end. Time is the absolute extent of human life (because the afterlife must be something we can't experience as humans): a timeline with a beginning and an end with many stops in between. Time is so difficult a concept to grasp that I wonder if it's possible to spend my time wisely. Am I wasting my time contemplating time? Do I have time for this? What time is it?
Network
While watching the movie Network, I was really struck by the fact that many people on news shows really are T.V. personalities more than reporters. For example, I think it would be hard for most people to argue if I said Katie Couric is a hard hitting reporter and she plays one on T.V. Even the death of Nebraska's own Bob Geiger created a celebrity-style buzz my senior year of high school. That's right. High school students spent most of the day telling each other how sad it was that the weatherman they used to watch was now dead. I didn't grow up in Nebraska, so I couldn't really relate to the Bob Geiger weatherman-fan club, but this reaction to his death shows how even local news reporters can become news personalities.
Monday, March 15, 2010
While We're on the Subject...
Is it just me, or do all college students, teachers, and other employees count down the year break by break? Last semester, the breaks didn't seem too far apart, but I was dying for Christmas break starting in...October.
I didn't exactly get a break then because I flew to North Carolina to see my family (and go to five different Christmas parties), but I've been looking forward to spring break since I came back from Christmas!
Now I'm starting to feel like this entire academic year has been a headlong rush towards summer because the next break coming up is the most time off I'll get all year. Best of all, I will actually have time to lay around in my pajamas and eat ice cream!
I know that taking eighteen or more credit hours each semester means I have more work than people who only take twelve or fifteen, but it feels like I'm living for my breaks just as much as I'm living for my next paycheck.
I didn't exactly get a break then because I flew to North Carolina to see my family (and go to five different Christmas parties), but I've been looking forward to spring break since I came back from Christmas!
Now I'm starting to feel like this entire academic year has been a headlong rush towards summer because the next break coming up is the most time off I'll get all year. Best of all, I will actually have time to lay around in my pajamas and eat ice cream!
I know that taking eighteen or more credit hours each semester means I have more work than people who only take twelve or fifteen, but it feels like I'm living for my breaks just as much as I'm living for my next paycheck.
Spring Break, Yeah Right
So far, I'm not getting much of a break for "Spring Break." I have been finishing up homework assignments, I've worked every day this weekend, and when I got home from work today, I found that my house had been trashed by little children and my boyfriend. I refuse to clean that. I clean my messes, he can clean his.
I have at least three major homework assignments due next week, so I don't even have the illusion that I can do nothing for the whole break. I really want to do nothing, though.
I also have twenty pages of fiction work due by the end of the term, several books to read, and a twenty to twenty-five page academic paper that I will have to start after this so-called break. Yuck!
I really should just lock myself away for the week with my computer and my coffee pot.
Unfortunately, I will not get much of a break for "Spring Break," but on the up side, this semester will be over in about a month and a half...let the countdown to summer begin!
I have at least three major homework assignments due next week, so I don't even have the illusion that I can do nothing for the whole break. I really want to do nothing, though.
I also have twenty pages of fiction work due by the end of the term, several books to read, and a twenty to twenty-five page academic paper that I will have to start after this so-called break. Yuck!
I really should just lock myself away for the week with my computer and my coffee pot.
Unfortunately, I will not get much of a break for "Spring Break," but on the up side, this semester will be over in about a month and a half...let the countdown to summer begin!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Be Adventurous. Buy a Car on eBay.
My mom traded my first car, an ’89 Pontiac Grand Am, for a washing machine.
I rolled my 2005 Toyota Celica about a eighteen months after I bought it – luckily, I emerged from that accident with barely a scratch.
I only owned my 2005 Toyota Camry for six months before it was t-boned and totaled by a drunk driver – miraculously, I wasn't hurt that time either.
For about two years now, I have driven lucky number 4 without any major incidents. My 2004 Honda Accord has heated leather seats, sun/moon roof, power locks, an alarm system, power seats, power windows, and all sorts of other features I would not have been able to afford if I hadn't found this jewel on eBay.
I looked through ads in the Grand Island Independent, the Kearney Hub, and test drove several Camrys that were older than my last one, practically falling apart, and cost more than the one I had just lost.
That's when my boyfriend suggested that I look on eBay.
I laughed it off at first, but he went straight to the computer and pulled up the eBay Motors page and started searching for Camrys.
I still thought he was crazy, so I went to the living room to watch T.V. About an hour and a half later he called me back to the computer. He hadn’t found any deals on Camrys, but he had found a tricked out Honda Accord that no one had bid on yet.
One little giggle slipped and in seconds I was rolling around on the floor holding my stomach and laughing. He wasn't impressed.
I felt bad for laughing at him because he thought I could get a really good deal on this car as long as I was logged on to eBay for the last few minutes of the auction to outbid anyone else who wanted it.
He threw a guilt trip at me – I printed out a CARFAX report and was surprised to find that the car sounded like a dream. It had a mile-long list of features, only one previous owner, and if I picked it up myself, I wouldn't have to pay $500.00 to have it delivered from St. Louis, MO.
I had just graduated from Central Community College the day after that drunk driver smashed my Camry, so I was ready to start my summer vacation. The eBay auction for the Accord was closing the next day, so I took the leap. I was starting to get pumped for a road trip.
I got on eBay the next day about an hour before the auction closed and I noticed that there was another bidder. I stayed online checking my numerous email accounts, but I barely raised my eyes from the clock.
Five minutes before the auction closed, I raised my bid. Less than 30 seconds later, the other guy copied. The bidding war went back and forth for four endless minutes, but I finally got smart – the other bidder had upped the bid at five seconds till closing time. I typed in my new bid, but I waited four agonizing seconds and posted my final bid in the last second.
I won the car! Too bad eBay isn’t a game show – I still had to pay for it.
I felt physically ill when I logged into my PayPal account and authorized the removal of thousands of dollars. Fortunately, my insurance money covered the new car and I had been saving for summer vacation all semester…and St. Louis happens to be on my way from Nebraska to my home state, North Carolina.
Thanks to the car I bought on eBay, my boyfriend and planned our first road trip together...two years ago.
I rolled my 2005 Toyota Celica about a eighteen months after I bought it – luckily, I emerged from that accident with barely a scratch.
I only owned my 2005 Toyota Camry for six months before it was t-boned and totaled by a drunk driver – miraculously, I wasn't hurt that time either.
For about two years now, I have driven lucky number 4 without any major incidents. My 2004 Honda Accord has heated leather seats, sun/moon roof, power locks, an alarm system, power seats, power windows, and all sorts of other features I would not have been able to afford if I hadn't found this jewel on eBay.
I looked through ads in the Grand Island Independent, the Kearney Hub, and test drove several Camrys that were older than my last one, practically falling apart, and cost more than the one I had just lost.
That's when my boyfriend suggested that I look on eBay.
I laughed it off at first, but he went straight to the computer and pulled up the eBay Motors page and started searching for Camrys.
I still thought he was crazy, so I went to the living room to watch T.V. About an hour and a half later he called me back to the computer. He hadn’t found any deals on Camrys, but he had found a tricked out Honda Accord that no one had bid on yet.
One little giggle slipped and in seconds I was rolling around on the floor holding my stomach and laughing. He wasn't impressed.
I felt bad for laughing at him because he thought I could get a really good deal on this car as long as I was logged on to eBay for the last few minutes of the auction to outbid anyone else who wanted it.
He threw a guilt trip at me – I printed out a CARFAX report and was surprised to find that the car sounded like a dream. It had a mile-long list of features, only one previous owner, and if I picked it up myself, I wouldn't have to pay $500.00 to have it delivered from St. Louis, MO.
I had just graduated from Central Community College the day after that drunk driver smashed my Camry, so I was ready to start my summer vacation. The eBay auction for the Accord was closing the next day, so I took the leap. I was starting to get pumped for a road trip.
I got on eBay the next day about an hour before the auction closed and I noticed that there was another bidder. I stayed online checking my numerous email accounts, but I barely raised my eyes from the clock.
Five minutes before the auction closed, I raised my bid. Less than 30 seconds later, the other guy copied. The bidding war went back and forth for four endless minutes, but I finally got smart – the other bidder had upped the bid at five seconds till closing time. I typed in my new bid, but I waited four agonizing seconds and posted my final bid in the last second.
I won the car! Too bad eBay isn’t a game show – I still had to pay for it.
I felt physically ill when I logged into my PayPal account and authorized the removal of thousands of dollars. Fortunately, my insurance money covered the new car and I had been saving for summer vacation all semester…and St. Louis happens to be on my way from Nebraska to my home state, North Carolina.
Thanks to the car I bought on eBay, my boyfriend and planned our first road trip together...two years ago.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
UNK World Affairs Conference - Chris Abani
Author Chris Abani repeated the golden rule at his Tuesday morning session: Re-writing is the most important part of writing. However, rather than talking about drafting and re-drafting professional or academic writing, Dr. Abani told us a story.
A deadline was approaching fast and he had run out of things to clean, so he started looking through some boxes of his old material. He came across a 300 page novel that he had written, but didn't consider publishable - the story was stashed in a box for a reason. He took some time to read the novel, found a paragraph that struck him, and wrote an early draft of a successful novella.
I was awed by the fact that he wrote 300 pages, yet only used a paragraph of that piece to create a much shorter, much better story.
Personally, I am in the practice of being very concise in my writing and attempting to avoid mistakes so that I can spend less time editing. My own experience proves that those of us who procrastinate must practice writing habits that most teachers, and most writers, don't recommend.
Although I have always known that creating multiple drafts of a work is a good idea, Dr. Abani introduced the option of creating extensive drafts, cutting and cutting and cutting them down to something useful, and then expanding on the usefulness of a particular section.
Even when I have been required to write drafts for class, my early drafts are usually quite short and I only expand them enough to fit the page requirement. Up to this point, I have been starting at step 2 in Dr. Abani's process, but I have been cutting the material in my head before I give all of my ideas a chance.
I am curious to see what benefit my writing, both creative and academic, may reap if I start with a long, stream-of-consciousness style draft, cut it down to the size that I normally begin with, then build it back up. Dr. Abani made me see that there is a benefit to writing exessive amounts of junk: the more trash you have available to sort through, the more treasures you can find within it.
A deadline was approaching fast and he had run out of things to clean, so he started looking through some boxes of his old material. He came across a 300 page novel that he had written, but didn't consider publishable - the story was stashed in a box for a reason. He took some time to read the novel, found a paragraph that struck him, and wrote an early draft of a successful novella.
I was awed by the fact that he wrote 300 pages, yet only used a paragraph of that piece to create a much shorter, much better story.
Personally, I am in the practice of being very concise in my writing and attempting to avoid mistakes so that I can spend less time editing. My own experience proves that those of us who procrastinate must practice writing habits that most teachers, and most writers, don't recommend.
Although I have always known that creating multiple drafts of a work is a good idea, Dr. Abani introduced the option of creating extensive drafts, cutting and cutting and cutting them down to something useful, and then expanding on the usefulness of a particular section.
Even when I have been required to write drafts for class, my early drafts are usually quite short and I only expand them enough to fit the page requirement. Up to this point, I have been starting at step 2 in Dr. Abani's process, but I have been cutting the material in my head before I give all of my ideas a chance.
I am curious to see what benefit my writing, both creative and academic, may reap if I start with a long, stream-of-consciousness style draft, cut it down to the size that I normally begin with, then build it back up. Dr. Abani made me see that there is a benefit to writing exessive amounts of junk: the more trash you have available to sort through, the more treasures you can find within it.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Pet Haircuts...
I am the proud owner of two cocker spaniels that just turned one year old this week. This picture from January 19th shows their coats in full recovery from their first haircut back in November. Last Wednesday, my vacuum cleaner and I finally got sick of losing the battle against the invasion of cocker spaniel hair, so I took them to the groomer that morning and I didn't pick them up until I had vacuumed all the floors and the couches twice and washed every article of clothing that those hairy little beasts had come in contact with in the few days since the last time that I vacuumed and washed clothes. Poor dogs.
When I went back to the groomer, I picked up two nearly hairless cocker spaniels. Like any good mom, I made them put on embarrassing sweaters to match their embarrassing new hairdos. This picture from March 4th shows my now dejected little dogs. Bogart refuses to even look at me and Daisy is giving me her sad eyes that seem to ask "Why, mommy, why?"
An evil laugh overrode the "Aww!" that was starting to brew up when I took this picture of my pathetic pups. I patted them both on the head and said, "I win!"
Hello Spring!
All the snow has finally melted out of my yard!
The forecast is full of rain, not snow!
I'm enjoying hearing the squish of mud rather than the crunch of snow!
I can see my grass!
I don't have any more icicles dangling from my roof!
My gas bill is about to go down!
The ground is thawing!
The wind doesn't feel like it's eating me alive anymore!
Flowers are coming!
Leaves are coming!
It's almost flip-flop season and I'm five minutes from Old Navy!
Spring break is next week!
Hello Spring!
The forecast is full of rain, not snow!
I'm enjoying hearing the squish of mud rather than the crunch of snow!
I can see my grass!
I don't have any more icicles dangling from my roof!
My gas bill is about to go down!
The ground is thawing!
The wind doesn't feel like it's eating me alive anymore!
Flowers are coming!
Leaves are coming!
It's almost flip-flop season and I'm five minutes from Old Navy!
Spring break is next week!
Hello Spring!
Buy a Car on eBay - It's an Experience You Won't Forget
My mom traded my first car for a washing machine.
I rolled the second one - it looked like a crushed sardine can, but barely had a scratch.
When I was hit by a drunk driver, my third car got totaled as well - luckily, I wasn't hurt that time either.
I am now on lucky number 4, a 2004 Honda Accord with heated leather seats, sun/moon roof, power locks, an alarm system, power seats, power windows, and all sorts of other features I would not have been able to afford if I hadn't found this particular used car on eBay.
To make a long story somewhat shorter, I was able to buy my second car, a 2005 Toyota Celica, with money that came to me through winning a wrongful death lawsuit. I owned the car for about a year and a half before I stupidly swerved to miss a raccoon on a dirt road.
With my insurance money, I bought a 2005 Toyota Camry, which was smashed only six months after I bought it by a big red truck that had shot-bottles flying out of its windows.
I was seriously considering moving to a city with more public transportation.
However, I soon remembered that I had already been accepted to UNK - I was too lazy to try to transfer again, so I started looking for a new car.
I looked through ads in the Grand Island Independent, the Kearney Hub, and several small town newspapers, but I really wanted another Camry and I couldn't find one that was just right and in my price range.
That's when my boyfriend suggested that I should look on eBay.
I laughed it off at first, but he went straight to the computer and pulled up the eBay Motors page and started searching for Camrys.
I still thought he was crazy, so I sat on the couch and watched T.V. for a while. About an hour and a half later he called me over to the computer. He said that all the Camrys he saw were priced at more than they were worth, but he had found a tricked out Honda Accord that no-one had bid on yet.
One little giggle slipped and in seconds I was rolling around on the floor holding my stomach and laughing. He wasn't impressed.
I felt bad for laughing at him because he thought I could get a really good deal on this car as long as I was logged on to eBay for the last few minutes of the auction to outbid anyone else who wanted the car. He convinced me to look it over, I printed out a Carfax report and the car sounded like a dream - it had a mile-long list of features, only one previous owner, and if I picked it up myself, I wouldn't have to pay $500.00 to have it delivered from St. Louis, MO.
I had just graduated from Central Community College the day after that drunk driver smashed my Camry, so I was ready to start my summer vacation. The eBay auction for the Accord was closing the next day, so I made my opening bid. I was pumped for a road trip.
I got on eBay the next day about an hour before the auction closed and I noticed that there was one other bid. I spent some time checking my various email accounts, but I kept my eye on the clock.
At five minutes till closing time, I raised my bid. Less than 30 seconds later, the other guy raised his. The bidding war went back and forth and back and forth, but I got smart in the last few seconds - the other bidder had upped the bid at five seconds till closing time. I typed in my new bid, but I waited four agonizing seconds and posted my final bid in the last second.
I won the car! Too bad I still had to pay for it.
I felt physically ill when I logged into my Paypal account and authorized the removal of so many thousands of dollars. Fortunately, I had been saving all semester so I could go somewhere for summer vacation and St. Louis happens to be on my way from Nebraska to North Carolina.
Thanks to the car I bought on eBay, my boyfriend and I were about to plan our first road trip together...
I rolled the second one - it looked like a crushed sardine can, but barely had a scratch.
When I was hit by a drunk driver, my third car got totaled as well - luckily, I wasn't hurt that time either.
I am now on lucky number 4, a 2004 Honda Accord with heated leather seats, sun/moon roof, power locks, an alarm system, power seats, power windows, and all sorts of other features I would not have been able to afford if I hadn't found this particular used car on eBay.
To make a long story somewhat shorter, I was able to buy my second car, a 2005 Toyota Celica, with money that came to me through winning a wrongful death lawsuit. I owned the car for about a year and a half before I stupidly swerved to miss a raccoon on a dirt road.
With my insurance money, I bought a 2005 Toyota Camry, which was smashed only six months after I bought it by a big red truck that had shot-bottles flying out of its windows.
I was seriously considering moving to a city with more public transportation.
However, I soon remembered that I had already been accepted to UNK - I was too lazy to try to transfer again, so I started looking for a new car.
I looked through ads in the Grand Island Independent, the Kearney Hub, and several small town newspapers, but I really wanted another Camry and I couldn't find one that was just right and in my price range.
That's when my boyfriend suggested that I should look on eBay.
I laughed it off at first, but he went straight to the computer and pulled up the eBay Motors page and started searching for Camrys.
I still thought he was crazy, so I sat on the couch and watched T.V. for a while. About an hour and a half later he called me over to the computer. He said that all the Camrys he saw were priced at more than they were worth, but he had found a tricked out Honda Accord that no-one had bid on yet.
One little giggle slipped and in seconds I was rolling around on the floor holding my stomach and laughing. He wasn't impressed.
I felt bad for laughing at him because he thought I could get a really good deal on this car as long as I was logged on to eBay for the last few minutes of the auction to outbid anyone else who wanted the car. He convinced me to look it over, I printed out a Carfax report and the car sounded like a dream - it had a mile-long list of features, only one previous owner, and if I picked it up myself, I wouldn't have to pay $500.00 to have it delivered from St. Louis, MO.
I had just graduated from Central Community College the day after that drunk driver smashed my Camry, so I was ready to start my summer vacation. The eBay auction for the Accord was closing the next day, so I made my opening bid. I was pumped for a road trip.
I got on eBay the next day about an hour before the auction closed and I noticed that there was one other bid. I spent some time checking my various email accounts, but I kept my eye on the clock.
At five minutes till closing time, I raised my bid. Less than 30 seconds later, the other guy raised his. The bidding war went back and forth and back and forth, but I got smart in the last few seconds - the other bidder had upped the bid at five seconds till closing time. I typed in my new bid, but I waited four agonizing seconds and posted my final bid in the last second.
I won the car! Too bad I still had to pay for it.
I felt physically ill when I logged into my Paypal account and authorized the removal of so many thousands of dollars. Fortunately, I had been saving all semester so I could go somewhere for summer vacation and St. Louis happens to be on my way from Nebraska to North Carolina.
Thanks to the car I bought on eBay, my boyfriend and I were about to plan our first road trip together...
Sunday, February 28, 2010
"It's the end of the world as we know it..."
2012, The Day After Tomorrow, and many other movies in the past decade or two have played with the idea that the world is going to be wiped out by a series of natural disasters. I'm definitely not planning on joining a religious-fanatic-suicide cult any time soon, but natural disasters do seem to be getting closer and closer together. The tsunami in Sri Lanka in 2004 was followed the next year by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Now, five years after Katrina, we have had four natural disasters in less than two months. Three of those occurred in the last couple of days. January 12th, Haiti was hit by a 7.0 magnitude earth quake. Yesterday, February 27th, Chile was struck by an 8.8 magnitude quake early in the morning and nearby islands ("Robinson Crusoe" islands) were the first to be hit by the resulting tsunami. The tsunami also hit New Zealand and Hawaii (there wasn't as much impact as people expected), and there were higher than normal waves along parts of the coasts of California and Central America. Earlier today, France and other countries of Western Europe had to deal with a cyclone (a hurricane that spins the opposite direction), which caused flooding and even deaths.
Issues with Local Issues
I don't know why, but I felt that writing a local editorial was the hardest thing I've done in this class. The national editorial wasn't terrible, but I was still trying to figure out how to write an editorial at that point. The state editorial was quite enjoyable because I thought my topic was hilarious. The local editorial...
I think the biggest difficulty in writing a local editorial was that I really wanted to write about topics that would have been good column material. I can't say that I was completely disinterested in the hospital debate, but I had a hard time forcing myself to write from an editorial standpoint. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure that I did. I do think that CHI executives should come to Good Samaritan and let the doctors show them what needs to be done, but right now, I can only hope that qualifies as an editorial stand.
I think the biggest difficulty in writing a local editorial was that I really wanted to write about topics that would have been good column material. I can't say that I was completely disinterested in the hospital debate, but I had a hard time forcing myself to write from an editorial standpoint. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure that I did. I do think that CHI executives should come to Good Samaritan and let the doctors show them what needs to be done, but right now, I can only hope that qualifies as an editorial stand.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Executives of Catholic Health Initiatives Should Go Undercover in Kearney
According to TV by the Numbers, the premier episode of Undercover Boss was the “biggest new series premier on television since 1987” as well as “the most watched reality series premier ever,” with “38.6 million viewers.” However, certain Kearney residents must be wondering whether the leaders of Catholic Health Initiatives were among that extensive viewing audience.
For several months now, 40 local doctors have been fighting for the right to build a new hospital in Kearney because they are dissatisfied with the administration at Good Samaritan Hospital, a subsidiary of Catholic Health Initiatives. Recently, CHI has made several decisions that have had negative effects on Kearney residents and has put off making decisions that could have a positive impact in Kearney.
According to last October’s Kearney Hub article “Good Samaritan Plan Doesn’t Sway Doctors,” CHI instituted a round of layoffs at Good Samaritan 2 weeks before Christmas, cut nurses’ benefits, shut down the outreach clinic in Ravenna, and closed the privately funded Healthy Living Center. In the current legal debate over whether to postpone building Kearney Regional Medical Center, Kearney cardiologist Sean Denney complained of 35 year old operating rooms, outdated anesthesia equipment that is still in use because CHI has not paid to replace it, and an unfinished renovation that was simply dropped because the company claimed to lack the funds.
Interestingly, CHI announced plans to spend 65 million dollars on renovations and equipment as soon as 40 of their own doctors publicly proclaimed that they plan to build a competing hospital, Kearney Regional Medical Center. Denney, chairman of physician investors of KRM, showed his lack of faith in the CHI reforms by implying that the declared changes will not take place for more than 30 years if they are ever made at all.
Perhaps the corporate leaders of CHI should take a lesson from the owner of Waste Management, Inc and other corporate bosses who have appeared on CBS’s new reality show Undercover Boss. If the bosses at CHI actually come to Kearney and learn about the issues at Good Samaritan, they might decide to do what local doctors are asking: replace outdated equipment, renovate old operating rooms, finish building projects they’ve started, and most importantly, invest more of the money that comes from Kearney back into Kearney. Kearney residents should start writing to the producers of Undercover Boss because national media attention tends to drive corporate bosses toward humanitarian efforts.
For several months now, 40 local doctors have been fighting for the right to build a new hospital in Kearney because they are dissatisfied with the administration at Good Samaritan Hospital, a subsidiary of Catholic Health Initiatives. Recently, CHI has made several decisions that have had negative effects on Kearney residents and has put off making decisions that could have a positive impact in Kearney.
According to last October’s Kearney Hub article “Good Samaritan Plan Doesn’t Sway Doctors,” CHI instituted a round of layoffs at Good Samaritan 2 weeks before Christmas, cut nurses’ benefits, shut down the outreach clinic in Ravenna, and closed the privately funded Healthy Living Center. In the current legal debate over whether to postpone building Kearney Regional Medical Center, Kearney cardiologist Sean Denney complained of 35 year old operating rooms, outdated anesthesia equipment that is still in use because CHI has not paid to replace it, and an unfinished renovation that was simply dropped because the company claimed to lack the funds.
Interestingly, CHI announced plans to spend 65 million dollars on renovations and equipment as soon as 40 of their own doctors publicly proclaimed that they plan to build a competing hospital, Kearney Regional Medical Center. Denney, chairman of physician investors of KRM, showed his lack of faith in the CHI reforms by implying that the declared changes will not take place for more than 30 years if they are ever made at all.
Perhaps the corporate leaders of CHI should take a lesson from the owner of Waste Management, Inc and other corporate bosses who have appeared on CBS’s new reality show Undercover Boss. If the bosses at CHI actually come to Kearney and learn about the issues at Good Samaritan, they might decide to do what local doctors are asking: replace outdated equipment, renovate old operating rooms, finish building projects they’ve started, and most importantly, invest more of the money that comes from Kearney back into Kearney. Kearney residents should start writing to the producers of Undercover Boss because national media attention tends to drive corporate bosses toward humanitarian efforts.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Good Sam Seeks Good Publicity
Although I feel that Susie Herges is doing a great thing by collecting shoes for the children of Haiti, I am intrigued by a statement in "Show You Care With A Pair" (Kearney Hub article, 20 February 2010): "Good Samaritan Hospital has agreed to be the corporate sponsor of [Herges] campaign." With all the negative publicity surrounding Good Sam after the recent layoffs and the sudden prospect of Kearney Regional Medical Center on the horizon, the hospital must be looking for a way to restore its "good" name.
While Good Samaritan laid off 32 people and closed its Healthy Living Center in January, the hospital's administration suddenly came up with $65 million to revamp the cardiology unit after about 40 doctors decided to open their own hospital because they could not get Good Samaritan's administrators to agree to update the cardiology equipment. Though Good Sam's administrators have made public statments to counteract their comparison to a corrupt politician, by supporting a charitable cause, their actions may speak louder than their words.
While Good Samaritan laid off 32 people and closed its Healthy Living Center in January, the hospital's administration suddenly came up with $65 million to revamp the cardiology unit after about 40 doctors decided to open their own hospital because they could not get Good Samaritan's administrators to agree to update the cardiology equipment. Though Good Sam's administrators have made public statments to counteract their comparison to a corrupt politician, by supporting a charitable cause, their actions may speak louder than their words.
Are Local Doctors Building Castles in the Sky?
Though the conflict about building the Kearney Regional Medical Center has been a huge local news item in recent months, I'm curious as to whether it will actually be built. 40 Doctors proposed to build Kearney Regional because they had a disagreement over outdated technology with Good Samaritan. As soon as the doctors made the proposal, Good Samaritan proposed a $65 million improvement plan which would include new equipment and much more. According to the Kearney Hub article "Good Samaritan Plan Doesn't Sway Doctors," the doctors who want to build Kearney Regional still want to build because they don't like the way Good Sam handled the situation; however, the doctors are having trouble getting the city council to approve a zoning change for the area where they want to build. In fact, a bill will be discussed this week that may put off the option of building Kearney Regional for two years...or possibly indefinitely. It appears that the future of Kearney Regional is in the hands of the local politicians, and so far they've been playing hot-potato.
New Hospital, New Offices, and New Assisted Living Facility
In the plans for the new hospital, Kearney Regional Medical Center, doctors have proposed zoning for a new assisted living facility in addition to the hospital and its offices. However, Kearney already has at least six large assisted living facilities - including the two-story Northridge Senior Living Facility - as well as several smaller assisted living facilities. The forty doctors who want to build Kearney Regional are dissatisfied with the way Catholic Health Initiatives runs Good Samaritan, so I understand why they want to build a new hospital, but what reason do they have to build yet another assisted living facility?
Cardiologist Ahmed C. Kutty is satisfied working at Good Samaritan and he claims that these other doctors want to build a for-profit hospital because they are greedy. The fact that these doctors want to create a space for another assisted living facility that Kearney doesn't really need seems to support Kutty's claim; however, at this point, no one has asked the doctors for Kearney Regional how they feel about Good Samaritan's assisted living facility. Perhaps, the doctors who want to open Kearney Regional believe that those who run Good Sam are not respecting their elders.
Cardiologist Ahmed C. Kutty is satisfied working at Good Samaritan and he claims that these other doctors want to build a for-profit hospital because they are greedy. The fact that these doctors want to create a space for another assisted living facility that Kearney doesn't really need seems to support Kutty's claim; however, at this point, no one has asked the doctors for Kearney Regional how they feel about Good Samaritan's assisted living facility. Perhaps, the doctors who want to open Kearney Regional believe that those who run Good Sam are not respecting their elders.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
The Superbowl...super.
Some people would do just about anything to watch the Superbowl - I would do just about anything to avoid it. This year I actually did my homework while my boyfriend sat in the other room yelling at the TV and complaining about how weird some of the comercials were. I'm sorry, but I really don't see anything super about the Superbowl or football in general. Sure the uniforms make their butts look big, but I bet that even Sir Mix-A-Lot is bored with big butts by now...maybe...
Friday, February 12, 2010
Nebraska Could Run on Manure - Literally
All those who live in Nebraska, as well as many who live outside the Cornhusker state, know that Nebraska's economy relies on corn and cows. However, for a good number of Nebraskans, the smell of manure is not the smell of money. Unfortunately, those of us who do not receive a direct financial benefit from the cows in the state still have to deal with the smell of the more than one thousand feedlots on record with Nebraska's Department of Agriculture. Since farmers in the state are not likely to give up their feedlots any time in the foreseeable future, the Nebraska Public Power District should look into the potential for using manure-derived methane as an energy source.
Another general bit of knowledge about Nebraska is that we get our electricity from coal-burning power plants. Although the NPPD is slowly beginning to tap into wind power, Nebraska’s community-based power production system has overlooked another potentially endless source of energy in the state: manure. Under correct feedlot conditions, manure produces methane, which is both the major component of natural gas and a cleaner-burning fuel than coal according to NaturalGas.org.
In fact, one ethanol plant in Mead, Nebraska has begun to use the methane from some of Nebraska's manure in a unique way. The Genesis plant is actually an ethanol plant attached to a feed lot. Essentially, an article in The Farmer explains that the corn byproduct from ethanol production gets fed directly to the cows in the attached feedlot, the cow manure produces methane through an anaerobic process, and the methane powers the ethanol plant. In this system, the plant produces its own methane rather than buying natural gas.
Potentially, if all Nebraska feedlots were equipped to turn manure into methane, Nebraska could replace some or all of the energy produced from coal with cleaner energy produced from methane. Although the NPPD is developing wind energy, an article in the Omaha World Herald claims that we will be exporting at least some of this energy to "big-population centers." If the NPPD is going to market wind energy, they could potentially earn more money, and therefore decrease energy costs for Nebraskans, by utilizing energy from methane as well as from wind. If Nebraska receives power from feedlot-produced methane, the smell of the feedlots may be a little more tolerable for those of us who are not cattle farmers.
Another general bit of knowledge about Nebraska is that we get our electricity from coal-burning power plants. Although the NPPD is slowly beginning to tap into wind power, Nebraska’s community-based power production system has overlooked another potentially endless source of energy in the state: manure. Under correct feedlot conditions, manure produces methane, which is both the major component of natural gas and a cleaner-burning fuel than coal according to NaturalGas.org.
In fact, one ethanol plant in Mead, Nebraska has begun to use the methane from some of Nebraska's manure in a unique way. The Genesis plant is actually an ethanol plant attached to a feed lot. Essentially, an article in The Farmer explains that the corn byproduct from ethanol production gets fed directly to the cows in the attached feedlot, the cow manure produces methane through an anaerobic process, and the methane powers the ethanol plant. In this system, the plant produces its own methane rather than buying natural gas.
Potentially, if all Nebraska feedlots were equipped to turn manure into methane, Nebraska could replace some or all of the energy produced from coal with cleaner energy produced from methane. Although the NPPD is developing wind energy, an article in the Omaha World Herald claims that we will be exporting at least some of this energy to "big-population centers." If the NPPD is going to market wind energy, they could potentially earn more money, and therefore decrease energy costs for Nebraskans, by utilizing energy from methane as well as from wind. If Nebraska receives power from feedlot-produced methane, the smell of the feedlots may be a little more tolerable for those of us who are not cattle farmers.
Farms Could Be Environmentally Friendly Energy Producers
All those who live in Nebraska, as well as many who live outside the Cornhusker state, know that Nebraska's economy relies on corn and cows. Unfortunately, those of us who do not receive a direct financial benefit from the cows in the state still have to deal with the smell of the 1000+ feedlots on record with Nebraska's Department of Agriculture. For a good number of Nebraskans, the smell of manure is not the smell of money, but we are not likely to get rid of them any time in the foreseeable future.
Most Nebraskans also know that we get our electricity from coal-burning power plants. Although the Nebraska Public Power District, or NPPD, is slowly beginning to tap into wind power, NPPD has overlooked another potentially endless source of energy in the state - manure. Under the correct conditions, manure produces methane, which is both the major component of natural gas and a cleaner-burning fuel than coal according to NaturalGas.org.
In fact, one ethanol plant in Mead, Nebraska has begun to use the methane from some of Nebraska's manure in a unique way. The Genesis plant is actually an ethanol plant attached to a feed lot. Essentially, an article in The Farmer explains that the corn byproduct from ethanol production gets fed directly to the cows in the attached feedlot, the cow manure produces methane through an anaerobic process, and the methane powers the ethanol plant. In this system, the plant produces its own methane rather than buying natural gas.
Potentially, if all Nebraska feedlots were equipped to turn manure into methane, Nebraska could replace coal with methane. Although the NPPD is developing wind energy, an article in the Omaha World Herald claims that we will be exporting at least some of this energy to "big-population centers." If the NPPD is going to market wind energy, they could potentially earn more money for the state and decrease energy costs for Nebraskans by utilizing energy from methane as well as from wind. The NPPD should look into developing methane power in Nebraska.
Most Nebraskans also know that we get our electricity from coal-burning power plants. Although the Nebraska Public Power District, or NPPD, is slowly beginning to tap into wind power, NPPD has overlooked another potentially endless source of energy in the state - manure. Under the correct conditions, manure produces methane, which is both the major component of natural gas and a cleaner-burning fuel than coal according to NaturalGas.org.
In fact, one ethanol plant in Mead, Nebraska has begun to use the methane from some of Nebraska's manure in a unique way. The Genesis plant is actually an ethanol plant attached to a feed lot. Essentially, an article in The Farmer explains that the corn byproduct from ethanol production gets fed directly to the cows in the attached feedlot, the cow manure produces methane through an anaerobic process, and the methane powers the ethanol plant. In this system, the plant produces its own methane rather than buying natural gas.
Potentially, if all Nebraska feedlots were equipped to turn manure into methane, Nebraska could replace coal with methane. Although the NPPD is developing wind energy, an article in the Omaha World Herald claims that we will be exporting at least some of this energy to "big-population centers." If the NPPD is going to market wind energy, they could potentially earn more money for the state and decrease energy costs for Nebraskans by utilizing energy from methane as well as from wind. The NPPD should look into developing methane power in Nebraska.
Monday, February 8, 2010
A report from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln discusses the effects of using manure from feed lots to enrich compost. Apparently this process could be a very beneficial way to remove manure from feed lots. According to the report, composting removes some of the moisture, and therefore some of the weight from manure, which makes it more movable. This may open up new markets for selling manure-based compost rather than straight manure. The report also implies that turning manure into compost helps keep nitrogen out of the ground water because the nitrogen is bound to the compost more strongly than it is bonded to the manure itself. My favorite part of the report says that composting helps reduce the odor of the manure. I know that compost doesn't smell like perfume, but it's not as bad the smell that comes from feedlots.
This report also explains why composting feed lot manure is not an attractive option for all farmers. The main reason UNL researchers give is that manure-based compost has less nitrogen than straight manure, which makes it a less effective fertilizer. The process of making manure-based compost is strongly affected by weather and it appears that the weather may have skewed the results for the worse in this particular report.
This report also explains why composting feed lot manure is not an attractive option for all farmers. The main reason UNL researchers give is that manure-based compost has less nitrogen than straight manure, which makes it a less effective fertilizer. The process of making manure-based compost is strongly affected by weather and it appears that the weather may have skewed the results for the worse in this particular report.
How do feed lots use manure?
I was not previously aware that the Genesis ethanol plant in Mead, Nebraska has been using the methane from cow manure to distill ethanol, and in turn, feeding the leftover corn mush to the cows. ("Nebraska Ethanol Plants Will Run Without Fossil Fuels"). The use of methane actually allows the plant to run without using fossil fuels and the people at E3 Biofuels claim that is process is highly environmentally friendly because it keeps methane, a greenhouse gas, out of the atmosphere. However, when methane is burned as a fuel, it produces carbon dioxide, another greenhouse gas. I was shocked by that fact, so I dug a little further.
It turns out that, although carbon dioxide has given greenhouse gasses a bad name, "methane is over 20 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide" according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The symbiotic relationship between the Genesis ethanol plant and its attached feed lot isn't necessarily great for the environment, but it does reduce the impact of one feed lot.
While this new discovery of mine does not really redeem feed lots in my mind, I am growing more certain that feed lots are always going to be part of Nebraska's economy. Feed lots that serve a dual purpose like the one attached to the Genesis ethanol plant will come closer to maximizing their usefulness, but they will always smell like manure.
It turns out that, although carbon dioxide has given greenhouse gasses a bad name, "methane is over 20 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide" according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The symbiotic relationship between the Genesis ethanol plant and its attached feed lot isn't necessarily great for the environment, but it does reduce the impact of one feed lot.
While this new discovery of mine does not really redeem feed lots in my mind, I am growing more certain that feed lots are always going to be part of Nebraska's economy. Feed lots that serve a dual purpose like the one attached to the Genesis ethanol plant will come closer to maximizing their usefulness, but they will always smell like manure.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Feed Lots...Yuck!
I'd like to start by saying I'm not a vegetarian. I don't have a problem with raising cows to eat them, I'm just not a huge fan of feed lots. I understand that feed lots are embedded in the economy of Nebraska. In fact, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture's web page states that "Nebraska's standard of living is more dependent on the cattle feeding industry [than Texas' and Iowa' standards of living]." The same web page also points out that Nebraska has more than 1000 feed lots. I happen to live in a town surrounded by feed lots and it is not a pleasant experience.
First of all, feed lots smell. Sometimes, the smell takes over the whole town, but it's always stronger as you get closer to the feed lot. Secondly, I find it disturbing to hear screaming cows when I walk to class. I keep wondering when someone in this town is going to write a script called Silence of the Cows. Thirdly, I know that feed lots have certain standards to meet when it comes to waste disposal and runoff, but most students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney as well as several UNK teachers will tell you that you don't drink unfiltered tap water in Kearney. Even if every single standard has been met, the water tastes awful. This may reflect a need for a re-evaluation of state standards, or it may branch into Nebraska's irrigation and corn-growing practices.
In regard to the first two issues I have mentioned, cattle farmers with grazing lands do not typically bring towns the same smell and sound pollution as feed lots because they are typically further from town. In terms of waste disposal, the grazing lands that I've seen are usually covered with cow pies, but grazing cattle have a much larger area in which to relieve themselves than feed lot cattle do. With the cow pies spread out, they can break down naturally rather than contributing to a giant cesspool. Overall, I think the grazing method causes fewer problems for people who live in towns in Nebraska. Even though feed lots are not likely to disappear from Nebraska, I would rather see more farmers with grazing cattle and fewer feed lots.
First of all, feed lots smell. Sometimes, the smell takes over the whole town, but it's always stronger as you get closer to the feed lot. Secondly, I find it disturbing to hear screaming cows when I walk to class. I keep wondering when someone in this town is going to write a script called Silence of the Cows. Thirdly, I know that feed lots have certain standards to meet when it comes to waste disposal and runoff, but most students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney as well as several UNK teachers will tell you that you don't drink unfiltered tap water in Kearney. Even if every single standard has been met, the water tastes awful. This may reflect a need for a re-evaluation of state standards, or it may branch into Nebraska's irrigation and corn-growing practices.
In regard to the first two issues I have mentioned, cattle farmers with grazing lands do not typically bring towns the same smell and sound pollution as feed lots because they are typically further from town. In terms of waste disposal, the grazing lands that I've seen are usually covered with cow pies, but grazing cattle have a much larger area in which to relieve themselves than feed lot cattle do. With the cow pies spread out, they can break down naturally rather than contributing to a giant cesspool. Overall, I think the grazing method causes fewer problems for people who live in towns in Nebraska. Even though feed lots are not likely to disappear from Nebraska, I would rather see more farmers with grazing cattle and fewer feed lots.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Most educational professionals would agree that the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) has good points, bad points, and even a few contradictory points. After complications arose with NCLB when government officials were debating over the education portion of last year's economic stimulus package, people began to truly acknowledge that the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act wasn't going according to plan. (Read the Education Topics blog post from 27 January 2010 or follow this link to see one example).
This year, Obama's administration is going to make some necessary and (hopefully) practical changes to the somewhat infamous 2002 law, as discussed in "Administration pushes to rework No Child Left Behind law." In this article, Washington Post writer Nick Anderson briefly examines issues caused by NCLB, changes that Obama’s administration have already made, and changes that may be coming in 2010.
One of the most prominent issues with NCLB is that it punishes schools that do not produce high student scores on standardized tests. The New York Times editorial "A Vital Boost for Education" specifically says that poor and minority schools do not get "a fair share of experienced, qualified teachers." Although the No Child Left Behind Act requires states to disperse good teachers into poorer districts, that part of the law had not been effectively enforced as of last year, seven years after the law was put into place. Poor and minority schools cannot be expected to produce high scores on standardized tests without qualified teachers. Disadvantaged schools should not be punished under NCLB for lacking resources that they were supposedly granted under NCLB.
Although Obama's "Race to the Top" program has problems of its own, the "Race to the Top" program is an improvement over No Child Left Behind because it uses funds strictly as a reward for schools that meet federal standards rather than punishing schools that haven't yet received the benefits that No Child Left Behind was supposed to provide.
Obama’s administration will be hard-pressed to pick out the best measures within NCLB and expand on them while weeding out the most problematic parts of NCLB, but the “Race to the Top” program shows that they are starting to look at federal education law in a more realistic light. Using money as a positive reinforcement may encourage schools in poorer districts to strive towards meeting federal standards. So far, underprivileged schools have just been punished for being underprivileged.
This year, Obama's administration is going to make some necessary and (hopefully) practical changes to the somewhat infamous 2002 law, as discussed in "Administration pushes to rework No Child Left Behind law." In this article, Washington Post writer Nick Anderson briefly examines issues caused by NCLB, changes that Obama’s administration have already made, and changes that may be coming in 2010.
One of the most prominent issues with NCLB is that it punishes schools that do not produce high student scores on standardized tests. The New York Times editorial "A Vital Boost for Education" specifically says that poor and minority schools do not get "a fair share of experienced, qualified teachers." Although the No Child Left Behind Act requires states to disperse good teachers into poorer districts, that part of the law had not been effectively enforced as of last year, seven years after the law was put into place. Poor and minority schools cannot be expected to produce high scores on standardized tests without qualified teachers. Disadvantaged schools should not be punished under NCLB for lacking resources that they were supposedly granted under NCLB.
Although Obama's "Race to the Top" program has problems of its own, the "Race to the Top" program is an improvement over No Child Left Behind because it uses funds strictly as a reward for schools that meet federal standards rather than punishing schools that haven't yet received the benefits that No Child Left Behind was supposed to provide.
Obama’s administration will be hard-pressed to pick out the best measures within NCLB and expand on them while weeding out the most problematic parts of NCLB, but the “Race to the Top” program shows that they are starting to look at federal education law in a more realistic light. Using money as a positive reinforcement may encourage schools in poorer districts to strive towards meeting federal standards. So far, underprivileged schools have just been punished for being underprivileged.
Friday, January 29, 2010
After the complications with last year's economic stimulus package, people began to truly aknowledge that the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act wasn't going according to plan. (Read the Education Topics blog post from 27 January 2010, or follow this link to see one example). This year, Obama's administration is taking another look at the somewhat infamous 2002 law, as discussed in "Administration pushes to rework No Child Left Behind law." In this article, Washington Post writer Nick Anderson gives a brief overview of some of the changes that may soon go into effect as well as a brief review of some of the issues with the No Child Left Behind law.
One of the most prominent issues with this law is that it punishes schools that do not produce high student scores on standardized tests. The New York Times editorial "A Vital Boost for Education" specifically says that poor and minority schools do not get "a fair share of experienced, qualified teachers." Although the No Child Left Behind law requires states to disperse good teachers into poorer districts, that part of the law had not been effectively enforced as of last year, seven years after the law was put into place. How can poor and minority schools produce high test scores without qualified teachers? Disadvantaged schools should not be punished for lacking resources.
Although Obama's "Race to the Top" program has problems of it's own, it takes the idea that schools that do well should get rewarded from the No Child Left Behind law and leaves out the idea that schools that don't do well should be punished. The "Race to the Top" program is an improvement over No Child Left Behind because it uses funds strictly as a reward for schools that meet federal standards rather than punishing schools that haven't yet recieved the benefits that No Child Left Behind was supposed to provide.
One of the most prominent issues with this law is that it punishes schools that do not produce high student scores on standardized tests. The New York Times editorial "A Vital Boost for Education" specifically says that poor and minority schools do not get "a fair share of experienced, qualified teachers." Although the No Child Left Behind law requires states to disperse good teachers into poorer districts, that part of the law had not been effectively enforced as of last year, seven years after the law was put into place. How can poor and minority schools produce high test scores without qualified teachers? Disadvantaged schools should not be punished for lacking resources.
Although Obama's "Race to the Top" program has problems of it's own, it takes the idea that schools that do well should get rewarded from the No Child Left Behind law and leaves out the idea that schools that don't do well should be punished. The "Race to the Top" program is an improvement over No Child Left Behind because it uses funds strictly as a reward for schools that meet federal standards rather than punishing schools that haven't yet recieved the benefits that No Child Left Behind was supposed to provide.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
I came across an editorial about education in the New York Times that I feel models Sudweeks' claim structure quite well. "A Vital Boost for Education" (4 February 2009) begins with a policy claim: The education stimulus package needs to be used to implement the changes of the No Child Left Behind Act. The editorial then supports that initial policy claim by using several other types of claims. A few paragraphs down, the editorial implies through factual claims that the House's bill contains the national funds necessary to supplement the state funds that schools lose to public works projects. Two value claims used in the argument imply that the House bill is better than the Senate bill because the Senate bill allows some of the stimulus laws and some parts of the No Child Left Behind Act to be ignored. Overall, the last half of this editorial is essentially a causal claim because it can be phrased in an "if-then" statement that supports the initial policy claim: If the House bill becomes law, the stimulus money will be used effectively.
In the end, neither bill won of it's own accord, but a combined bill did become law. The Observationalism website shows detailed results how the Senate voted on the Senate's initial bill and on the final combined bill.
In the end, neither bill won of it's own accord, but a combined bill did become law. The Observationalism website shows detailed results how the Senate voted on the Senate's initial bill and on the final combined bill.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
"Mmmm! School lunch!" Yeah, right! We all remember the discolored hotdogs, the flour-flavored pizza, and the endless servings of canned green beans, canned peaches, canned spaghetti, and all the other unappetizing lunch choices available in elementary school, secondary school, and even college. However, we probably didn't think much about why these foods were so yucky. According to New York Times writer, Daniel Weintraub, a test program in California has gotten attention in Washington because the program provides food that is healthy, fresh, and worth eating! As a future teacher, I hope this program takes off and spreads to Nebraska!
Find the article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/us/24sfpolitics.html
Find the article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/us/24sfpolitics.html
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/education/20wired.html
In the article, "If Your Kids Are Awake, They're Probably Online," New York Times writer Tamar Lewin discusses a new study about how much time kids from 8 to 18 spend absorbing various forms of media. The people who conducted the study were surprised to find that average media use had actually gone up since their previous study in 2005. How could that possibly be a surprise? I've never liked to talk on the phone very much, but I was just learning to text in 2005 - now I text all the time! In high school I used to spend most of my online time using various instant messaging services and checking my email. Now that I'm not in high school any more, I can still waste an hour or two checking my email and visiting MySpace and Facebook, and let’s not forget E-bay! I also spend a lot of time visiting the web pages for the online components of my college classes. As much as my own media use has increased, I'm not at all surprised that high school students are spending more time getting cozy with various forms of media.
In the article, "If Your Kids Are Awake, They're Probably Online," New York Times writer Tamar Lewin discusses a new study about how much time kids from 8 to 18 spend absorbing various forms of media. The people who conducted the study were surprised to find that average media use had actually gone up since their previous study in 2005. How could that possibly be a surprise? I've never liked to talk on the phone very much, but I was just learning to text in 2005 - now I text all the time! In high school I used to spend most of my online time using various instant messaging services and checking my email. Now that I'm not in high school any more, I can still waste an hour or two checking my email and visiting MySpace and Facebook, and let’s not forget E-bay! I also spend a lot of time visiting the web pages for the online components of my college classes. As much as my own media use has increased, I'm not at all surprised that high school students are spending more time getting cozy with various forms of media.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Hello World
This is my first official blog entry, and I'm a little bit excited about that. I haven't read many blogs yet, but I like the fact that I can write about pretty much anything. I'm interested in blogging because I think it will help me get into a regular schedule of writing instead of always staying up late to meet a deadline.
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