Alternative schools

I think it's great that students who struggle in school get the attention they need. Everyone has their difficulties, and making another school that concentrates with that in particular. Millard has now built an expensive alternative high school and I think it will be very beneficial for the community.

Horizon

The new Millard alternative school opened this month. I have been confused about its purpose though. It is called an "alternative school" but when I think of the District 66 alternative school not many positive things come to mind. Is Horizon more of a vocational school than one for "alternative" students?

Poor J.D!

He's gone. He was a legend many have grown up with. I recently read his story Franny and Zoey. It gave me a glimpse of who he was as a person. I know we read Catcher in the Rye next year, and I wonder if anything will be different now that he has passed. I also wonder what will happen to everything he wrote but didn't publish in the last 50 or so years.

R.I.P J.D. Salinger

Do we need an iPad?

Wednesday I was excited. I spent 2 hours of my time constantly refreshing gizmodo's liveblog waiting for Apple's announcement of the "tablet." At first, I was captivated in a dream-like stare and in awe of the magical "iPad." But, there's still much that Apple could have done to make the "iPad" better.

1) it needs a webcam

2) it can't multi-task

3) it can't run microsoft office

4) it will not replace the laptop

5) it accessories and plug-in adaptors will be expensive

Looks Like Ben Nelson Won't Be Back

There have been a TON of articles in the paper lately about Ben Nelson and the "Cornhusker Kickback". Today, there is an article that says Nelson will continue with politics in 2012 but judging from the negative attitude that most people seem to have towards him, he may not be elected again!

Books

Many college students are going the rental route since textbooks are so expensive. Even with scholarships, several students have to dip into their own savings to pay off the last bits of their supplies. Online sites offer bargain priced books and many companies are now offering cheaper books so as to stay competitive in the business.

Bank fees!

It's true! Bank fees are going up! I was recently charged 105 dollars for overdrafting 72 cents. FirstNational accrues a 3 dollar fee for every day your account is overdrawn.

On the plus side, if you do overdraft, you can usually get it waved if you call your bank if it's your first time.

Don't pay it!

Death of J.D. Salinger

It's weird to think that someone we have been studying in our lit classes, for years, is gone. It seems as if we always talked about him as if he wasn't alive still, as if he was living in infamy. Still, it appears as if his work's legacy will continue on. Because he couldn't handle criticism, he set up a vault of his work to be released after his death. Expecting that soon?

More Fees?

I thought Obama's plan was to get rid of some credit card and checking fees in order to keep more people from getting into even more debt. But now there are going to be more fees? I'm confused.

Millard Horizon High

When you think of high schools, you don't really think about the alternative schools and all the hard work that is put in to them. This place seems like it would help students learn more, even though they're not on the main campus. I hope this school is a success.

Millard

Millard high school has build a new $9.2 million alternative high school. Students that wish to attend the alternative must go through an interview, and are not accepted if they have a history of violence (bringing a gun to school, bomb threats, etc). The new alternative is welcoming with colorful walls, and coffee bars, and still allows alternative students to graduate with the other Millard North, South or West students.

the ipad is new?

A bigger version of the ipod? That's not new, that's just another unnecessary piece of technology that makes no sense... it can't even fit in your pocket.

Just thought I'd throw my opinion out there :)

iPad Prediction/Concerns

I predict that in three years, every member of my immediate family will have an iPad. This seems like something that is really going to take off in a similar way that the iPod did. However, I do have some concerns with the iPad. First off, it has no keyboard, which is somewhat annoying. Also, it's too big to really be your iPod–it's more of a computer with iPod capabilities but you can't really take it with you when you work out. Finally, the whole reading books on a device like the iPad (or even on the Kindle) is completely lame! Books should NOT be read on a screen–they are meant to be in print!

Where's my prize?

On the front page was a story about kids who get prizes for going to school. I want to get prizes for going to school. So not fair.

iPad

The new apple device is here.

Apple Tablet

So it's less than an hour away from the Apple announcement of their highly anticipated tablet...this should be good.

Tech Gets A Makeover

The former OPS Tech High School's auditorium is being renovated to be a functioning performing arts house. The auditorium currently seats 2,200, but this will decrease to 1,900 with the installation of wider seats. With plans to update the sound system, house lights and dressing rooms, hopefully more community events will be held at this historic building.

State of the Union

Poll:

Are you more excited for the apple announcement or the state of the union address?

wiretap

Conservative activist James O'keefe, the one who brought down ACORN is back to his old tricks. Or not. This time, what he did was most definitely illegal. He dressed as a workman and attempted to wiretap a senators phones with the help of some cronies. What he thought he would hear, and what he wanted to do with that info is still an open question. However, lame stunt. He didn't even bother to make fake id cards, which any action movie would advise in a stunt such as this. Actually, if he was Bourne or Bond, he would have cut through a window in the dead of night, and in his stealth would never have been caught. But at it is, he is no superhero. Just an overrated conservative with a herocomplex.

Sam Juster

In-Depth Editor

absent students

A new prize-winning opportunity has presented itself at Mockingbird Elementary in Ralston. Putting tickets in a box and drawing a winner has increased the school's attendance, allowing only those whom manage perfect attendance to participate (one ticket per week of perfect attendance). It seems to be encouraging kids to go to school, however, the tardiness has not improved.

Anger Management Courses?

In the spirit of signing up for classes for next year, I would like to recommend that Westside offer a course dedicated to reducing anger in students. Maybe this would help prevent the repeated slamming of people into lockers that I see almost every day, or perhaps would help people who like to punch, and subsequently break, windows and lockers* in the pool area.

*Both a window (reinforced with wire) and a metal locker were punched/broken in less than 24 hours of each other by two different people.

Hannah Rector

Photo Editor

You don't know it's there, but it can give you lung cancer

The odorless killer! I never really knew what radon was, or that it could give you lung cancer. These types of articles scare me, and make me want to run home and ask my parents about radon.

obama's student debt plan

According to the World Herald, Obama has a plan in the works to put a 10-20 year limit on student debt. I think this is an excellent idea, and I really hope it passes.

Sam Juster

In-Depth Editor

middle class squeeze

The front page news story brightened my day. Obama has come up with a plan to help the middle class make ends meet financially. With child care, student loans, retirement, and elder care taken into consideration, the plan seems promising.

College and Taxs and Loans OH MY!

Obama wants to make households making $85,000- $115,000 pay 15% more taxes to go toward families making less than $85,000. CNN says the White House is also looking into limiting federal student loan plans by 10% of the student's own income.

Omaha World Herald's front page today was about the outrageous pricing of books- even used ones. How do colleges expect students working on a minimum wage (if anything) to pay for all of this? A student's loan will only go up and up. When they graduate they will still be paying the loan. The average four-year graduate has at least $10,000 in student loan debt.

When I read about this stuff it gives me no choice but to apply for every possible scholarship once I look into college. This doesn't make me look forward to college... at all.

Costly Books!

It is very unfortunate that college students must spend a large amount of money on their textbooks. They already are forced to spend large sums on the tuition; can't they just make the books cheaper?

Tiger's getting a little old

Enough already! Last night I turned the T.V. on to see yet another story about Tiger Woods. I don't know about you, but I barely cared about his scandal to begin with. Every day for weeks he was on. It's getting a little old.

Uh-Oh, College....

Going into college next year, I know I'm going to have to start thinking about the price of textbooks. And of course I probably will want to buy used ones because they are cheaper. But the article on the front page of the Omaha World-Herald makes me nervous about college in general. I've never had a job before, I barely have any money saved. I better get on that, otherwise I'm going to be so broke in college I won't know what to do.

College Cost

Text books are getting more and more expensive everyday. But text books are just one of many things that seem to cost more now than ever before. Tuition is obviously a lot more than it was even 5 years ago. Now almost everyone has to take out some sort of loan to pay of tuition, books or even housing. I think this is absolutely ridiculous! Students should be able to go anywhere they want for college and take whatever classes they want. However, more and more students have to forget about their college dreams and attend a local school just because of cost. I say America should do what some Europeans countries do and pay for most, if not all of college.

Shelby Pieper

Copy Editor

Help from Home

A group of 10 physicians from Creighton Medical Center traveled to Haiti last week to help the cause. It's great that so many people have donated money, but to me donating one's time and expertise is at times more valuable. It makes me proud of Omaha. We should continue helping by whatever means we can.

price of books

The price of college is rising to ridiculous levels, along with the cost of room board and books. A 200$ book? what could possibly make a book 200$? is it coated in gold leaf? When our parents went to school, if you worked hard at school provided jobs, you could make it through college mostly debt free. I wish things were that way today.

Sam Juster

In Depth Editor

Pants on the Ground

Pants on the ground, pants on the ground, lookin like a fool with your pants on the ground! 63 year-old American Idol contestant Larry Platt rapped these lyrics during his audition. While the audition was funny, the lyrics have meaning: stop sagging your pants, get your pants off the ground!

Kathy Rocco

Don't know her? Neither did I, not until the illuminating article in the World Herald today. She was the only staff member of Omaha Film Office, but her position was terminated with budget cuts. Though I feel for her, thrust into the competitive recession job market, it seems to me this was a reasonable reduction. There are hard decisions to make in fixing the city, state, and national budget if we want to avoid debt that is unrecoverable. Thank-you Kathy, for going out like a martyr.

Hannah Gill, Copy Editor

What a Difficult Situation!

In the newspaper today, I read about a debate that is going to take place in London regarding the future of American troops in Afghanistan. This situation seems like a very difficult one to deal with because on one hand, America can't allow the Taliban and al-Qaida to take over but on the other, we don't want to get into a situation where we are in Afghanistan for years and years, similar to Vietnam. Some really tough decisions have to be made - whatever happens could define America in the years to come!

Celebrities prove to have hearts

I don't mean to sound rude, but it is so nice to see so many people in the public's eye show they actually care. Not that they want to look good, not that they want to gain fans, but they care. Of course we're all people and we all care for one another on a certain level (right?), but some people in Hollywood are stepping up because they know it's the right thing to do — and they have the privilege to do it. Just look at George Clooney. He did not have to organize the wonderful Hope for Haiti Now benefit. It's nice to see people realize the power they have and do good things with it!

Oxbow Writing Project to aid teachers

At UNO, many of the teachers expected to aid student writers are not comfortable with their own writing. In order to correct this problem, the Oxbow Writing Project will allow 20 teachers to participate in a seminar this summer for four weeks. English teachers hail such seminars as life-changing events that can transform them into writers.

Cootsie Wootsie

No matter what it's about I absolutely love photos of babies. Quadruplets sitting at a table with their faces stuffed with frosting is adorable. Whenever I am sad I will think of this picture and it will instantly make me happy. Thanks World Herald!

Julie Dworak, News Editor

Street Funding

The Omaha World Herald said today that Omaha is expected to ask voters for permission to borrow $79.3 million on May 11th. The money would go to street projects, sewer improvements and work on city buildings. Would this go to fix potholes as well? Because the city surly will not leave the awful road conditions until the summer, right?

Haiti: shortage in supplies

Heartache continues to ripple through Haiti and its people as the death toll rises. An Omaha nurse anesthetist recounts the death of a 13-year-old girl who could have been saved had there been enough blood to pump through her system. While amputations are nearly inevitable at this time because of deadly infections, death due to the lack of tools such as blood or surgical equipment is unnecessary and may be avoided if more aid is sent.

barely affordable books

The front page has a breakthrough story indeed for college students. There have been websites created by graduates that offer textbook buying and/or renting at much lower costs than those books offered at the school. It's possible to save $70-100 on books. Hopefully colleges will soon cut the students a break and put the books online for public use.

Clooney and Payne

It's pretty awesome that George Clooney signed with Alexander Payne who is a Nebraska native for his next movie.

Racist cameras? WoW.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20100122/wl_time/08599195464300

This is an article about how some technology is being accused of being racist. The main problems addressed in the article are cameras that are supposed to detect if someone blinks won't take the picture if the person is Asian, and webcams that are supposed to be able to face detect but won't track if a black person is in front of it because their skin is too dark. The technology itself is a good idea, but obviously wasn't tested well enough before being sold. Companies need to be more careful with this kind of thing, because even though these mistakes were unintentional, some people do get easily offended.

good job senate

A bill was passed Thursday that now allows taxpayers to write off donations to Haiti when filing their 2009 taxes. These donations will go to the Haiti earthquake relief fund, and that will add to the $127 million already donated to the American Red Cross. It's a nice change seeing that a story on Haiti isn't about another eight earthquakes that hit them in two days.

I prism

I hate seeing that box every time I type in some website. When it comes to facts about how fattening food is, I never have to worry. How are we able to see how much calories a Manchu Wok Honey Garlic Chicken with Fried Rice has in it, but we can't see a video about the earthquake in Haiti. It just confuses me on the true interest our school has on blocking disrupted material on our laptops.

OH and by the way the Manchu Wok Honey Garlic Chicken with fried rice has 830 calories.

Madeleine Werthman

How I feel

I have wanted to go out for lunch since mod 12! I am hungry! However, I cannot decide what I want to eat, so I'm kind of in a pickle! What to do? That is the question. Furthermore, I do not wish to do any homework tonight. I would like to watch tv and just chill out.

WINGS!!

Today the newspaper had an article about Hot wings, and it really made me hungry. Now I think that we should have wings at late night.

Lea Rendell

Edgar Allen Poe

Yesterday was Edgar Allen Poe's birthday. Every year for the past 60 years some mystery person has come and left flowers and a bottle of cognac at the poet's grave on his birthday. This year he didnt show. Everyone is freaking out, wondering where he is. But honestly its been going on for over 60 years... maybe the guy died.

Lauren Florea

The Worst Job Ever

In today's newspaper, there is an article about Barack Obama and his term as president so far. All I have to say is this: being president must be about the worst job out there! It would be so much ceaseless stress and I can't believe that there are people who actually want the job. It sounds to me like a nightmare, especially with people criticizing and trying to kill you all the time.

Am I the Only Westsider For Scott Brown?

I have seen interviews of Massachusetts republican-senate-elect-Scott Brown and he seems so genuine. He really does reach the people as his slogan "the peoples seat" said. But it doesn't seem like anyone else at Westside is for him though, we have a lot of democratic students...

Queen

The song by Queen "We Will Rock You" best describes the small country of Haiti. The country was rocked by a 6.0 magnitude aftershock this morning. With the death toll already predicted to top 100,000, there will be even more dead now and it will be even harder to evacuate the wounded. Right now, Haiti is "stuck between a rock and a hard place."

~Charles W. Ziegenbein Sports Editor In-Waiting

Nebraska family takes in Haitian orphans

More than 50 orphans were airlifted from Port-Au-Prince, Haiti's decimated capital, to a Pennsylvania hospital. A Nebraskan couple, Kristin and Scott Heaton of Roca, Neb., will complete the final steps in the adoption process for two children, 7 -year-old Bettania and 2-year-old Dieunette.

Mother's Return High Note

On the front page of the Midlands is a good story about a musician whose mother and family were in Haiti when the quake hit. He was able to get in touch with her and bring her home. His band RMV is raising money for the quake victims. Read the story, its short and good.

-Ian

Massachusetts

Again, it's the lack of awareness that bothers me. It doesn't matter who you support. The elections in Massachusetts yesterday led to the win of Republican Scott Brown, who will fill the Senate seat last occupied by Ted Kennedy for six decades. The last time a Republican held a Massachusetts Senate seat, we were not alive, and Barack Obama was 11 years old.

Even before the results came in, this election was a big deal. This is a big deal. This is a decision that will have a tremendous effect on how our future plays out, how this time will be written about in the future U.S. History textbooks. We should all care, and we should all be aware of what's going on in our country.

GOP Comeback

Republican Scott Brown defeated Democrat Martha Coakley in the race for the late Senator Ted Kennedy's senate position. This was not only a surprising victory, but also a major one for both parties. For Republicans, it shows they might be able to regain some control lost in the last election. Many Americans are already fed up with the decisions of Democrats recently (health care being one example). Now, with this win, Democrats no longer have the 60 votes needed to have the majority vote in the senate. Is this a sign that by the next election Republicans will again fill the majority of political positions, not only on a national scale, but on a local scale as well? I sure hope so. All I know is, Democrats should be (and probably are) a little scared of the power Republicans seem to be gaining. And with Obama's not so good approval rating, it looks like this will be an interesting year.

Haiti

This morning, there was another earthquake, a 6.0 aftershock, in Haiti. They just can't seem to catch a break. We should try to support these disaster victims anyway we can, as whatever stress we're going through in our lives in incomparable to what the Haitians are facing.

Sam Juster

In Depth Editor

Obama

He took over the newspaper today, with a story we've heard only too many times. The collapse of the financial system continues. Honestly, the financial crisis is the only thing I understand about the political world, I don't know how the new health care program works, I don't know who any of the people are mentioned in these stories. All I know is there's a lot of bashing on Obama and I think we should cut the guy some slack... after all, he has the worst job in the world.

solar eclipse

Today, a solar eclipse was seen in Africa and Asia and held the longest record of an eclipse. This record won't be broken for another 1000 years. That's so cool, I've always wanted to see a solar eclipse. It's on my list of things to see before I die. Too bad they never occur over America.

Lauren Florea

Ted Kennedy Senate Seat

Talk is circling that Ted Kennedy's senate seat may go to a republican. This may sound insignificant but it is actually a pretty big deal. That Massachusetts senate seat has been democratic for about 50 years! With the democratic majorities in national government already this could really help level the playing field.

Julie Dworak, News Editor

yes, a post about Haiti

The estimated amount of people found dead is between 45,000-50,000. Possibly more than that. This particular earthquake, was no doubt, heart wrenching, but what makes me even angrier about the subject is the picture. A picture of a woman who just found her brother, dead underneath the rubble. The news couldn't find a different picture?

Pothole

By spring the potholes on our roads are going to be awful, even worse than now with more snow expected. The Omaha World Herald said that although many people file claims to get reimbursed for pothole damage one has not been paid by the city since 2005!

Earthquake in Haiti

The Earthquake in Haiti yesterday was disastrous. What bothers me is how little I have heard about it in school. People are talking about it; some people don't even know about it. While Haiti is far away, we need to care. These are people, and they are in dire need of help. People should be talking and taking action. We can all make a difference.

Sex Robot

The world's first sex robot named Roxxxy was revealed a couple days ago. She among other things will hold conversation due to a computer inside. She can be "updated" by connecting her to the internet. Roxxxy will cost roughly $7,000 - 9,000 even though she can't cook or vacuum, let alone stand up.

Potholes, dang

Potholes are the biggest pain. There's a huge one on my street, and I always forget about it when I'm racing home after skating every morning. Someone needs to invent concrete that doesn't get potholes.

Potholes... Sweet

I personally, am a huge fan of potholes. They make life more exciting, like when your drive to school suddenly lasts an hour longer than expected after you flatten a tire from an unexpected jolt. Therefore, it is easy to understand why I was so excited when an Omaha World-Herald article said that there will be many more in the days to come due to the snow and ice and cold. This is just great news.

-Charles W. Ziegenbein

Weather Not All That's Freezing

In the Midlands section today, the story "Governor freezes managers' pay" says that the state will be freezing the salaries of 230 administrators for more than 20 agencies under the governor. Gov. Dave Heineman and five other constitutional officeholders also asked that their own salaries be frozen for the next four years. These efforts are being made to help the "state budget woes".

Diamond Dust

Although it may sound like something a Pixy Fairy uses diamond dust is a precipitation of sparse ice precipitation of sparse ice crystal falling from clear sky. I came across this new noun when looking up ice fog. Now I just picture Pixy Fairies sitting on clouds dropping pixy dust on us. They cover up the real meaning because the government doesn't want us to know you can actually sit on clouds, maybe not. Who knows?

Julie Dworak, News Editor

Flooding

As the snow melts, the possibility of flooding appears in Nebraska. With a high of 39 today, the possibility of this goes up. Would you rather have 20" of snow, or a little flooding?

Earthquake in Haiti

A 7.0 earthquake hit Port-au- Prince, Haiti, causing massive damage and death. The U.S. gov has already pledged significant aid, but we can also help as individuals. A few dollars from each of us to the red cross in crisis like this can make a major impact.

Sam Juster

potholes

Continually patching up the streets after the constant snow is pushed to the sides has street maintenance engineers working up a sweat. Doing the best they can to keep up with mother nature, Scott McIntyre, an engineer, says they start with what they believe are the worst potholes, and move on to the smaller ones. I think they're doing a wonderful job, seeing how quickly they attended the pothole near my house that would literally swallow my whole tire for a brief second on my way home.

Conspiracy.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/01/12/google.china/index.html

Steroids

Mark McGwire came clean on steroids. I admire his courage for admitting something everyone already knew. I wish MLB could erase any records set by known steroid users. Maybe erasing the records of steroid users and making them ineligible for the Hall of Fame would send a message.

-Mr. Howe

Blue People & Racism

From the Smurf's perceived similitude to the KKK or the apparent helplessness of the giant, dragon taming Na'vi and their reliance on a white "messiah" it appears that even peoples of fictional skin color cause schisms in our society. Do you think these outcries of racism are well founded (google the Smurfs thing) or merely distorted perceptions of an over-sensitive, belligerent crowd?

Julius Fredrick- Graphics Editor

Chihuahuas Take over California Breeding scene

After popular movies like "Legally Blonde" and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" made chihuahuas fashionable, irresponsible breeders moved in, taking advantage of the trend. Factors like the recession, and the questionable health and quality of dog from puppy mills resulted in abandonment. California shelters are full of the neglected animals, which is bad for responsible breeders, shelters, and the dogs themselves.

Lizzie Davis

Avatar is Racist?

Apparently the movie Avatar is being viewed by some as racist. Critics claim that the movie is just another example of a movie where the primitive indigenous population is saved by a white guy. What's even more strange is that people are actually dying from depression because they want to live with the blue people on Pandora so badly. The dumbest thing behind this story is that Avatar is not even a good movie.

Samuel Allen Raybine and Daniel James Kemp

UNMC High School Program

UNMC and Omaha schools are planning on teaming up to offer high school students up to 6 health classes starting next fall. I think it is a great idea for students that are looking to go into a medical career. Hopefully Westside will be allowed to participate.

Palin's new job

Sarah Palin will be joining Fox News as an analyst for the upcoming year. I thought that this was the news station that boasted being "fair and balanced"? Sweet.

Revoke

If they can take gold medals from Olympic Athletes I certainly think McGwire ought to forfeit his record for the most home runs back in 1998. Steroids greatly negate any of the actual talent he might have been using to overthrow Roger Maris. Given that he has been actively denying it for upwards of a decade it's clear he did something wrong. However, it seems enough of baseball is in the wrong that little will actually happen to him.

Hannah Gill, Copy Editor

There is No Silver Lining to Snow Drifts

You know what I say to the small article on the front page on the bottom right hand corner, FALSE! Snow drifts may protect lawns and plants from the wind, but that does not outweigh the disadvantages. I passed an eight-foot tall snow drift on my way home yesterday. It was a good thing that I did not have to turn because then I would have not been able to see a single thing. I say no to snow drifts! They are scary and very annoying!

Julie Dworak, News Editor

snow Days

There is another snow storm moving in. hopefully we will get some more snow days.

Sam Juster

2009

Im 2009 homicides were down and the economy was up. Good deal. Lets keep that trend going into 2010.

decreasing homicides

Apparently the number of homicides has dropped from 44 in 2008 to 30 in 2009. Thomas Warren, the president and chief executive of the Urban League of Nebraska, looks at this as a positive thing, stating it's statistically significant. What would be a positive thing is, oh I don't know, NO HOMICIDES?!

debt

It's always on the front page of the newspaper. The U.S is in so much debt, it's possible we may never get out of the hole. Researchers determined that the economic struggle today may never improve, therefore the debt may never subside. That's optimism at its finest.

Welcome back Lancers!

that is all.

:)

BAGEL BIN BURNED DOWN!

But don't worry, it will return, and all of your scrumptious binned bagels along with it.

-Julius Fredrick Graphics Editor

SNOW!!

So lately it has been snowing a lot. And the newspaper predicts that the snow will not melt until late february to early march. This is very unfortunate considering I hate the cold, and am enthusiastically awaiting warm weather.

~Lea Rendell, Opinion Editor

Drama...

I don't know how many references I have seen of the new TV show "Jersey Shore". It seems as if MTV has created another hit phenomenon of mindless American entertainment.

Jenny Shehan, Editor-in-chief

P90X

So in the Entertainment section of the OWH it talked about the new P90X workout. This workout, thought difficult requires minimal equipment and lasts 90 days. The before and after pictures of people look convincing. This makes we want to try it out. Who doesn't want rock hard sex abs that are lubricated with dripping oil. I bet if I had those abs I could slide down an entire hallway without getting rugburn....

Underwear bomber

A member of Al Quaeda tried to blow up a plane with his underwear. Its really lucky that no one was hurt, and several brave passengers tackled him and put out the flames. But seriously? bomb in the underwear? That terrorist is going to be a punch line forever.

Sam Juster

In Depth Editor

Offutt Air Horse Base

The Omaha World-Herald published a front-page story about a horse named George dying. His death is thought to be a result of being moved from his long time home in the Offutt Air Force Base stables. The stables were officially "shuttered" on New Year's Day ending the 120-year tradition of having the horses be housed next to the soldiers.

-Charlie Ziegenbein Sports Staff

More snow on the way?

The snow days have been nice. I don't mind a day off school here and there. But seriously? This snow is getting ridiculous. Not only has the grass been covered since Dec. 9th, but temperatures have been way too low for my taste. I don't like being stuck in the house for days at a time. The roads are never clear, there is ice everywhere and it's dangerous to be outside for more than 8 minutes. If this wasn't bad enough, some weather reports (and the Farmer's Almanac) are calling for 18-20 more inches of snow in the coming weeks. Awesome. I can't wait to get out of Nebraska. I just paid my college deposit at Oklahoma Baptist. Goodbye snow, hello nicer weather.

Shelby Pieper

Copy Editor

Golf

Geoff Ogilvy won his second consecutive SBS Championship beating Rory Sabbatini by one. Sabbatini had a stellar day shooting a 10 under par 63. Not that anyone but me cares though.

-Ian

Sick of Snow

According to the Herald, it looks like the snow won't be melting until February or March, due to the energy that it requires, but doesn't come in 0-degree weather. Don't put your boots away yet, Omaha!

Late Night Drama

NBC has trouble on its hands as the network shifts time slots for late night comedians. Unfortunately for NBC, none of the comedians are happy with the changes announced yesterday. Jay Leno wasn't getting good ratings, and the ratings didn't improve much after his show. They're still figuring out the details of the soon-to-come change. For now we can soak in the humor as the late night kings mull over the decision; as Leno said, NBC stands for "Never Believe Your Contract."

Thunder Alley To Rumble Again?

Thursday morning Sempeck's Elkhorn Lanes bowling alley caught fire. The owner was involved in opening the Elkhorn business Thunder Alley. He announced that he plans to reopen Elkhorn Lanes again, but I think he should team up and open Thunder Alley again.

Bagel Bin Burns Down

From ovens to bagel boilers, the Bagel Bin burned down on Thursday. Offering a kosher bakery and restaurant, many jewish people may have to dine at other places while the Bagel Bin awaits its reopening.

Not Exactly Guinness

There is a lot of snow, there has been a lot of snow, there will be a lot of snow for quite some time. Possibly until late February. This winter is colder and whiter than any within my memory, but is not close to some conditions faced before. Few, inconsequential records have been broken. The biggest that seems possible this year is Most Consecutive Days of snow on the ground- Feb. 19 will make the 76 day and beat the 1960 record. So, there is a lot of snow, but there isn't a reason to obsess over it.

Hannah Gill, Copy Editor

National Debt Crisis

Looks like those bailouts are really pulling through, seeing how the United States is coming closer to the point of no return (as it applies to the economy). Things are not looking up for us, my question is hmm... what were those campaign promises Obama made? Anyway, I think it's time that we all step up. Not just the national government, to turn the economy around . . . before it's too late.

Julie Dworak, staff writer