Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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The alarm screams, “Get out of bed. It’s 5 a.m.” Must be Tuesday. After gathering what I need for the day, making a quick stop at Hi-Way Mart for sustenance and a shot of caffeine, my office routine on deadline day is, um, routine. After booting the iMac, I open a play list that helps me focus: a little Black-Eyed Peas, a mix of the Bardon Bellas from “Pitch Perfect,” a couple Eric Church tunes, maybe a slow song by Patsy Cline. That 6 a.m. singalong is what I need to start the day. In stress...
I’ve never considered myself a Jays fan. I couldn’t name any of the team members. Greg McDermott’s the coach, right? Kyle Korver is greatest example of what it means to bleed blue, right? (I did catch his inspirational locker room speech.) Over the weekend, though, for a short time, I balanced on the precipice of becoming a Jaysker. I didn’t take the deep dive, though. My tribe of Husker fanatics kept me in check. A screenshot of Nebraska’s 63-53 victory over the Bluejays, on Dec. 4, provided...
How many brackets were busted over the weekend as the field of 64 narrowed? I'm not talking about college hoops. I'm talking about voting in the Nebraska Beer Bracket, a 64-brewery tournament that aims to "crown the best beer in Nebraska." The brainchild of Sarah Baker Hansen, a former Omaha World-Herald food writer, the bracket extends beyond Omaha and divides the state into four regions: Omaha, East, West and Capitol. Baker Hansen, along with the graphic design team from Hanscom Park Studios,...
My dreams of Nebrasketball landing a spot in the National Invitational Tournament shattered into a million intricate threads, faster than a glass photo frame dropped on a tiled surface breaks into multiple shards. Sunday’s news that Fred Hoiberg’s crew did not make the cut and have an opportunity to bounce back from an unnecessary - and costly - loss in the first round of the Big 10 Conference tournament leaves me feeling, well, broken. You cannot fall to a less-than-mediocre drove of Min...
Can you name one of the 10 movies nominated for Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards? Better yet, have you watched any of the movies being considered? I want to see “Top Gun: Maverick.” I’ve heard good things about “The Fabelmans” and “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” I saw the original “All Quiet On The Western Front.” Does that count? My family never missed the annual award show. It turned into a contest, where we’d cast our votes for the top acting and film awards. Later in life, Mom...
While speaking at a recent high school career fair, I outlined my high school plan following graduation: go to law school, move to Chicago and secure a job on Printer’s Row. At the time, I’d never been to Chicago ... I’d visited other spots in Illinois and liked them. I wouldn’t arrive in Chicago until 20 years after I graduated high school. I was a grad student at Northwestern University; living in Evanston and taking the ‘L’ into Chicago proper cemented my choice to live in the Cornhusker...
“People who love themselves don’t hurt other people. The more we hate ourselves, the more we want others to suffer.” I wonder how much the four girls charged in connection with the assault of 14-year-old Adriana Kuch hate themselves. According to Kuch’s father, Adriana was a happy teen and a strong girl, part of a blended, loving family. Kuch had been bullied at her New Jersey school. At the end of January, a fellow student attacked her at school and posted the video on social media platfor...
If you spend up to $7 million for 30 seconds of television air time, you better get your money’s worth. After watching Sunday’s world championship football game, I think several companies didn’t get the bang for their buck. Which ads were misses? To me, the concept of Jon Hamm and Brie Larson in an oversized refrigerator spread thin. Go figure, they were promoting Hellman’s mayonnaise. Another miss was the e.l.f. Cosmetics ad, featuring Jennifer Coolidge. A face stuck to glass doesn’t make the...
Was it Shakespeare or Janet Jackson who gave life to the phrase, “Time flies when you’re having fun”? (Actually, the first two words of the phrase should be attributed to the Roman poet, Virgil ... but I digress.) Think about this: When was the last time you had fun? The uncontrollable belly laugh or a feeling of joy when learning something new or a giddy moment that makes you feel like a kid again. According to the American Psychological Association, 76% of adults surveyed in 2022 blame stres...
Should I or shouldn’t I? That is this week’s question. Should I dole out money to enter newspaper contests? Or, instead, should I reinvest those entry fees in my employees and business? It’s a conundrum, for sure. It’s not that I don’t like entering contests. In the past, I have submitted pieces to the Nebraska Press Association’s and Nebraska Press Women’s annual contests. Back when creative writing filled my teaching days, several pieces of poetry were entered - and won - contests. Eve...
Here’s a tip: Leave one. Or, don’t feel pressured to leave one. According to a recent Associated Press report, requests for tips are growing out of control. With digital payments trumping cash, customers are asked the following multiple choice question after making a purchase: 10%, 15%, 25% or custom amount. And the tipping prompt isn’t only at restaurants. Fast-food joints, convenience stores and clothing boutiques are urging customers to click to tip. I’ve seen several social media posts t...
I’m not sure who is responsible for this quote, but I saw it last week and found it appropriate: “I have to find hobbies that don’t include my debit card.” I’m sure Scott would echo the sentiment. After viewing a video about a woman who tied her identity (and self-worth) to her lack of hobbies, I thought about how our hobbies affect our lives. The woman said she used to be a voracious reader but can’t find time now. Finding new wines to taste-test was a hobby, now she finds it boring. Not...
Where were you when the world gathered together in prayer last week, as 24-year-old football player, Damar Hamlin fought for his life? I was working on last week’s edition, partially listening to “Monday Night Football,” partially carrying on a conversation with Scott. I saw the play but not the fall following the tackle, tuning out television’s white noise for a few moments to concentrate on an article. Then, a quick glance at the big screen caught my attention. I noticed ESPN was on what se...
Last week’s column focused on optimism. I figured it was appropriate as we were ready to open a new chapter for the new year. The column included examples of how optimism leads to improved mental and physical health. It focused on the “glass half full” mindset, which translates to positive thinking. It even included a quote from Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” I believe in every single word and idea in that column. But ... I did not write it. I “suggested” it. Last week’s column was an ex...
Optimism is a positive attitude that can have a powerful impact on our lives. It involves looking at the world with hope and a belief that things will get better, rather than dwelling on negativity or expecting the worst. One of the benefits of optimism is that it can help us to cope with difficult situations and challenges. For example, if we are optimistic about a situation, we are more likely to try to find solutions and take action to improve things, rather than becoming overwhelmed or...
Kitchen: a gathering place for friends and family, a place where memories are homemade and seasoned with love. So many holiday memories center around the kitchen, from preparing a meal to sitting around the kitchen table and swapping stories at the grandparents’ house to being part of the cleanup crew. Elementary-aged me anticipated the countdown to the first Saturday in December, when our family would bake cookies and make candies. We each had our specialty. Dad made peanut or cashew c...
If I asked 20 Nebraskans, “What is your favorite holiday dessert,” I imagine I would receive 20 different responses. My favorite treat: bing bars. No shock to those of you who know me well. I also like smooth, creamy fudge; pink divinity, like Mom used to make; and Sandy’s decorated sugar cookies. Sure, there may be other desserts on the buffet table, but a well-outfitted holiday spread is all about the candy and cookies ... or so it’s been our family tradition. I was shocked when I saw a map o...
“When I miss my parents I put 12 expired salad dressings in my fridge and it feels like home.” The abovementioned meme made me chuckle the other day because: 1.) so true; and 2.) I definitely resemble my parents. (Note to my children: I counted and there are only six expired dressing bottles in the refrigerator door.) The meme hit home after reading a recent article in “The Atlantic,” about expiration dates on packaged food. Like author Yasmin Tayag, I have multiple cartons of expired yogurt...
My turn to weigh on the new Husker hire. I’m no football guru, but I’ve been around the program long enough and have plenty of connections with former players (and we talk football a lot), so I feel I have a solid understanding of what it means to be all “N” and lead one of the most storied brands in college football. Initially, Saturday morning, as the news broke that Matt Rhule would be taking over the program, I wasn’t happy. I felt a sense of betrayal because deep down, I hoped interim c...
The gift of gratitude. The topic has definitely been on my mind lately, even moreso as the holiday season approaches. I’ll blame TikTok for the latest obsession. Earlier this month, East Idaho News, a digital news site based in Idaho Falls, began airing Secret Santa segments. An anonymous donor gave $1 million to bless community members who have fallen on hard times. Recipients come from all walks of life: a 69-year-old widow diagnosed with cancer; a seasonal worker whose tools of the trade w...
What object from your personal or family history has special meaning, either as a memento of the past or a reflection of your identity? The question - stemming from a National Public Radio story I recently read - caught my attention. Initially, NPR personnel interviewed eight refugees. Then, the question was posed to the larger NPR audience. In both instances, responses to the question identify the memories and stories we carry with us. They shape a significant moment in time, a precious piece...
By the time this edition of SAM hits your mailbox, election results should be completed and canvassing boards will have or will be scheduled to meet to verify results. I did my civic duty and cast a ballot. Did you? I haven’t missed an election since I hit that magic age of 18. I also perfomed a second civic duty prior to the election and it’s an experience I encourage any registered voter to undertake. After several discussions, over multiple years, about election processes, with Antelope Cou...
In middle school, my favorite shoes were Chucks. I had three pairs: red, white and black. They were comfy. And, honestly, I didn’t care what shoes I wore. I wasn’t trying to make a fashion statement. That changed by the time I was a sophomore. I still owned several sets of Chucks, but the fashionista gene was kicking in and platform shoes and Mary Janes were preferred footwear. Through the years, I grew to like tennis shoes less and less, owning a single pair that would last for years. Ins...
Random thoughts on a Monday (and Tuesday): • Ego tries to mask itself with confidence and, usually, comes up short. Isn’t it better to show your real self and admit failures and be gracious when you find success? • Procrastination is a fickle friend.She keeps promising to assist with a few projects and then she pulls me aside and commands all my attention elsewhere. • I should have meal prepped today’s lunch. A German chocolate cupcake doesn’t contain a lot of nutritional value, even if it has c...
Talk about sticker shock. Imagine my surprise a few days ago as I grabbed a carton of eggs from the cold case at the local store: $7.45 for a dozen large eggs. Usually, grandson Jorden supplies eggs, fresh from the poultry pen, but his supply was depleted. Needless to say, I changed my menu plan and returned the carton to the shelf. Accordng to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index has seen an 8.2% increase in the last year. Electricity prices shock a lot of us, with a...
