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Unread items (100)

• Nebraska blogs (US-NE), 05/19/2012
• 22:06

  Saturday 120519

   »  CrossFit Omaha
  WOD
  
  Open Gym from 9-10am
  
  Post what you did to comments.
  
  
  Some of the #CFONation crew that made the trek to Chicago. Thanks so much for the support.
  
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• 10:45

  Podcast: Great opportunity to serve as NeCGA intern

   »  Nebraska Corn Kernels

  Enclosure: [download]

  This podcast features Shannon Wietjes, communications intern for the Nebraska Corn Growers Association since last fall.
  
  Wietjes talks about her experiences while at NeCGA, from sending out e-Newsletters to efforts in social media, including Facebook, Twitter and blogging. You can find her on Twitter at swietjes.
  
  During her time at NeCGA, she had an opportunity to work with corn growers throughout Nebraska, attend many different events, from Husker Harvest Days to more locally-focused farm shows. She also attended the Nebraska Corn Growers Association leadership program in Washington, D.C.
  
  For  more, have a listen!
  
  
  Nebraska Corn Kernel podcasts are also available on iTunes! Click here to subscribe.
  
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• Nebraska blogs (US-NE), 05/18/2012
• 20:00

  Friday 120518

   »  CrossFit Omaha
  WOD
  
  Warrior Dash Friday
  
  In teams of two, for max reps/time:
  
  Part 1
  Person A - Run 200 meters
  Person B - AMRAP DB Push Press, 40#/25#
  Switch
  
  Part 2
  Person A - Run 400 meters w/ Bumper, 44#/33#
  Person B - AMRAP Ab Mat Sit ups into Air Squat
  Switch
  
  Part 3
  Person A - Run 800 meters w/ Bumper, 33#/22#
  Person B - AMRAP Single Unders
  Switch
  
  Floater: At some point during the workout, your team must also complete 20 tire flips. It can be immediately, in between the 3 parts, or before you call time.
  
  For parts 2 and 3, you must run east and on the way back, scale both walls, with bumper.
  
  Score is time in seconds - total reps.
  
  Post teammate and score to comments/Logwod.
  
  
  On the way to Chicago, Lauren, Jenn, and Paula found some time to play.
  
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• 16:36

  Parents must be involved in the governance of their local school districts

   »  Nebraska Family Forum
  The Nebraska Family Forum has the simple mission of protecting the local control of education and the precious constitutional rights of parents to direct the education and upbringing of their children.
  
  It was our goal to restore local control over school attendance and promote district policies that would prevent innocent families from becoming entangled in the burdensome monitoring and intrusions of pre-court truancy diversion programs, DHHS, and legal action.
  We fought hard during this year’s legislative session to restore local control over school attendance, but there will be no significant changes in the coming school year if parents don't hold their school districts accountable for using common sense in their attendance policies and reflecting the strong family values of our local communities.
  Parents must be involved in the governance of their local school districts! “Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty.”If parents are going to retain their precious constitutional rights, to direct the upbringing and education of their children, they absolutely must be involved; not just in their kid’s classroom but in the politics and policy making of their school districts.
  Many school board members are up for re-election, a new superintendent is being put in place in OPS, and it’s time for parents reach out to the candidates and find out what philosophies about family life and school drive their decision making.
  Gretna School District Policy has been a model for me, one that reflects the general values of our family centered state. It recognizes family life as a bedrock of child development and allows reasonable family travel to be excused. Gretna continues to recognize and trust the judgment of their school building principals as the ones most qualified to judge whether an absence is legitimate or not based on their first hand knowledge of the families and their students.
  Nebraskans are people who believe in freedom, who know it is essential to trust parents to raise their families without the heavy handed scrutiny of government intervention. We want our community schools to be places where common sense can be exercised by building principals who work closely with parents and students.
  --------------------------------------------------
  Things excused under Gretna Policy:(1) Illness (personal illness of student)(2) Bereavement or emergency in the family(3) Doctor or dental appointment which require student to be absent from school,(4) Court appearances that are required by a court order,(5) School sponsored activities which require students to be absent from school,(6) Family trips in which student accompanies parent(s)/legal guardian(s),(7) Religious observance,(8) Other absences which have received prior approval from the Principal.28
  
  
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• 14:10

  What I Wore This Week

   »  Princess Nebraska
  Old Navy yellow eyelet skirt (last summer), Target shoes (from the little girls sections, last summer), navy t shirt from Target, yellow necklace from Target. I think I saved the Old Navy boat neck shirt! It was just too long and tunicy to wear with a skirt.  But these white shorts worked with it because [...]
  
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• 12:03

  COMMITTEE MEMBERS NEEDED

   »  Welcome to Bennington, Nebraska!
  The Bennington Rural Fire District has made plans to build a new fire station.  The Mayor and City Council are interested in hearing what the community has to say in planning for the most beneficial use of the building.  As a result, the City ofBenningtonis seeking volunteers to form a committee of citizens interested in [...]
  
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• 10:24

  Samuel Ramey in Bluebeard's Castle

   »  Opera Omaha
  
  Today's blog entry sails through time to our April 19 and 22, 2013 production of Bela Bartok's Bluebeard's Castle. Our Bluebeard, the fantastic Samuel Ramey, is not new to the role. He has performed the role several times including his 1984 Metropolitan Opera debut and in 2007 at the Washington National Opera. We look forward to hosting Mr. Ramey and Kara Shay Thomson as our Bluebeard and Judith for Opera Omaha's production of Bartok's only opera.
  
  
  

  Samuel Ramey as Bluebeard in "Bluebeard's Castle," Metropolitan Opera 1984

  Included below is a synopsis of Bluebeard's Castle, written by Karin Cooper and published in World of Opera on the NPR website at the time of the 2007 Washington National Opera production. A link included with the synopsis takes you to the original writing and production photos of Samuel Ramey as Bluebeard and Denyce Graves as his new bride.
  
  Below the quoted synopsis is a You Tube video of Samuel Ramey's appearance on Sesame Street. It's fun to watch and gives a limited peek at the voice that inspired an admirer to say this about Mr. Ramey, "There are three tenors, but there's only one bass."
  
  
  
  Link to original work: 'Bluebeard's Castle' and 'Gianni Schicci'
  Published synopsis written by Karin Cooper for World of Opera on NPR:
  

  After a spoken prologue, reminding us that we're about to hear a story of the mind, Duke Bluebeard returns to his castle with his new bride, Judith. She's elegantly dressed, in a silvery white dress with a bright red scarf. But the castle is dark and dank, there are no windows, and the walls sweat with moisture.
  
  Judith has married Bluebeard against her family's wishes. But when he quizzes her about that, she says she has no regrets. As for the forbidding castle, she says she'll brighten the place up.
  The castle has seven mysterious doors, and Judith's curiosity about what's behind them becomes her weakness. She needs to know Bluebeard's secrets, and she plays on her femininity to persuade her husband to unlock the first two.
  
  When the first door opens, Judith sees shackles, daggers and branding irons. Blood is seeping from the walls. This is no rumpus room with a few whips and chains. It's a fully equipped torture chamber, and Bluebeard admits it. But when he asks Judith if that frightens her, she says no.
  
  Behind the next door is Bluebeard's armory, containing an array of bloodstained weapons. Again, Judith says she is not afraid, and she insists on having the keys to all the doors. She says, "I came here because I love you. I am yours. Show me all your secrets."
  
  The mood and the music change as the third door opens. Behind it are Bluebeard's immense riches. There are diamonds, gold and fabulous gowns of ermine. He offers her everything. Judith notices that all the precious gems are stained with blood.
  
  Bluebeard encourages her to open door number four. It opens into a place of great beauty, a secret garden — where Judith glimpses spatters of blood on the roses.
  
  The opening of the fifth door marks the high point in the musical arc of the opera. The huge orchestra, including an organ, blares triumphantly, and Judith lets out a loud cry as the door reveals a panoramic view of Bluebeard's entire kingdom. It's all hers if she wants it. A glorious light streams in, but the lands are awash with blood.
  
  Bluebeard declares the last two doors off limits. But Judith is obsessed and sweet-talks Bluebeard into opening number six. As Judith turns the key, she can hear deep sighs and the sound of weeping. Behind the door is a strangely tranquil lake. "What sort of water is this?" she asks. Bluebeard admits that it's not water. It's a lake of tears.
  
  Bluebeard begs Judith for kisses, but she's focused only on what's behind the final door. She has guessed his secret. She says the rumors must be true. He has murdered each of his three former wives.
  
  When the seventh door is unlocked, Judith sees them, dressed in their finery — seemingly alive, but shimmering and ghostly. Bluebeard says he met one of his wives at daybreak, one at noon, and one in the evening. And now a fourth, at midnight. Bluebeard insists that she will be the queen of all his wives. Judith begs to be spared, but he takes the red scarf she's wearing and strangles her with it. After a brief struggle, he drops her to the ground, and Bluebeard is alone once more.

  Samuel Ramey on Sesame Street - "L Toreador"
  
  
  
  
  
  
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• 10:22

  *Correction* Upstream Tripel Tapping Tonight @ Jake's Omaha

   »  Nebraska Beer
  
  
  Mike Hall , Upstream Head Brewer, informed us of a correction with the Triquetra Belgian Style Tripel that will be tapped tonight at the Jake's Omaha Location (5/18 @ 5:30pm):
  
  "FYI correction,  I did not culture yeast out of a bottle of Tripel Karmeliet for the Upstream Triquetra Triple my yeast supplier Brewers Science Institute got it from the Bosteels Brewery for me. I really enjoyed that beer and look forward to trying it tonight. Thanks, Mike"
  
  Brewery description:
  
  Triquetra simply put means the power of three and like Upstreams Triquetra Tripel is created using three simple grains to create a very refined and complex deep golden brew with a fantastic creamy head. These characteristics derive not only from the three grains used, (barley, wheat, & oats) but also from restrained hopping with Saaz and the fruity nature (banana and vanilla) of the Belgian yeast. To taste it’s not only the lightness and softness of wheat, but also the creaminess of oats together with a spicy lemony dryness in the finish.
  8.4% ABV, 1.079 OG, 18 IBU’s,
  [feeds.feedburner.com]

  
  

  
  
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• 09:45

  New ad hits Bob Kerrey

   »  Leavenworth Street
  Crossroads GPS has a new ad up hitting New Yorker Bob Kerrey, the Democrat nominee for Nebraska’s Senate seat. See it here: This is a statewide buy to be played in the Omaha, Lincoln, Scottsbluff, North Platte, Sioux City, IA, and Denver, CO markets. Interestingly, this spots knocks Kerrey for his actions AFTER he was [...]
  
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• 09:39

  Ethanol saves you more than $1 per gallon

   »  Nebraska Corn Kernels
  Research results were released this week showing that America’s growing use of domestically-produced ethanol reduced wholesale gasoline prices by an average of $1.09 per gallon in 2011.
  The updated research was conducted by economics professors at the University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University.  The 2011 results, which are up from an average impact of $0.89 per gallon in 2010, were released today by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD). The new analysis, an update to a 2009 peer-reviewed paper published in Energy Policy by professors Dermot Hayes and Xiaodong Du,  also found gasoline prices have been reduced by an average of $0.29 per gallon, or 17%, from 2000-2011 thanks to  the growing use of ethanol.
  
  Three primary factors are responsible for ethanol’s more robust price benefit at the pump in 2011: 
  

  • Higher oil and gasoline prices
  • Higher ethanol inclusion
  • Ethanol being priced at a larger-than-normal discount to gasoline

  In a release from the Renewable Fuels Association, Bob Dinneen, President and CEO said, “While it’s hard to imagine that gas prices could be even higher than they are now, this study clearly underscores that the current pain at the pump would be far worse without ethanol.”
  
  Dinneen continued, “Because ethanol makes up 10% of our gasoline pool today, it significantly reduces demand for oil and puts downward pressure on gas prices. From coast to coast and border to border, ethanol is helping save consumers money.  In these times of high unemployment and sky-high gas prices, ethanol is one America-made solution that is providing some respite for battered American families trying to make ends meet.”
  
  Key conclusions derived from the report include:
  

  • In 2011, ethanol reduced wholesale gasoline prices by an average of $1.09 per gallon.
  • Regular grade gasoline prices averaged $3.52 per gallon in 2011, but would have been closer to $4.60 per gallon without the inclusion of more than 13 billion gallons of lower-priced ethanol.
  • The average American household consumed 1,124 gallons of gasoline in 2011, meaning ethanol reduced average household spending at the pump by more than $1,200.
  • Since 2000, ethanol has kept gasoline prices an average of $0.29 per gallon cheaper than they otherwise would have been.
  • Based on the $0.29-per-gallon average annual savings, ethanol has helped save American drivers and the economy more than $477 billion in gasoline expenditures since 2000 – an average of $39.8 billion a year.

  What’s even more exciting about the upcoming year is that you should see even more savings per gallon with the approval of E15. Stay tuned!
  
  Read more about the above research here.
  
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• 07:52

  1). Song of the Day: Tenth Avenue North ...

   »  Nebraska Youth Ministries
  1). Song of the Day: Tenth Avenue North - ♫ Losing ♫
  
  2). Leader Profile: Steve Mallery
  
  
  POSITION: Pastor in Crawford, NE
  HISTORY: Graduated from Evangel, from Kentucky
  FAMILY: Married to Tamara with a baby girl
  HOBBIES: Baseball, Fishing, Football
  
  3). Ministry of the Day: 2012 AIM Trips - Please pray for our AIM Students, going to Derry, Ireland and Los Angeles, California.
  
  4). Link of the Day: Leadership 2 Go - Tim LeHaye delivers a brief devotional once a month for leaders to digest and apply to their lives.
  
  5). Quote of the Day: 'View your subordinates with respect and value their input.' -Doug Clay
  
  6). Miscellaneous: Today is National Visit Your Relatives Day. It is also the birthday of Jen Busch (pastor's wife in Burwell, NE), a distinction she shares with famous American comedian Tina Fey, from 1970. Finally, it is the day before Steve and Tamara's anniversary from 2007.
  
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• 07:37

  Nebraska Brewing Company's 2012 Wort Transformation Challenge Winners

   »  Nebraska Beer
  
  Congratulations to the winners (and a pair of losers?) of the 2012 Wort Transformation Challenge put on by Nebraska Brewing Company!
  
  To Style Category Gold: Guy Jukes Silver: Floyd Prine Bronze: Alex Prine
  Wood Aged Category Gold: Jimmy Vollmer Silver: Tom Clements Bronze: Elliot Spilker
  Fruit and Spice Category Gold: Zach Born Silver: Matt Seeley Bronze: Patrick Greer
  Experi-"Mental" Category Gold: Bill Luhman Silver: Tom Malowski Bronze: Brian Hoesing
  A Swing and a Miss Bernie and Tommie Doerr
  BEST IN SHOW Zach Bor [feeds.feedburner.com]

  
  

  
  
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• Nebraska blogs (US-NE), 05/17/2012
• 23:31

  Thursday 120517

   »  CrossFit Omaha
  WOD
  Rest Day
  
  Reminder, tomorrow is Warrior Dash Friday. Come prepared for a crack of the whip.
  
  No matter the outcome, we plan on making a name for ourselves this weekend. We've prepared the right way this year and we are so capable of destrominating. Thank you all so much for your support. We've done our homework and now we must turn it in.
  
  Individual Male: Kyle Kasperbauer
  Individual Females: Stacie Tovar and Libby DiBiase
  TeamCFO: Jon Pingel, Dustin Tovar, Ricky Frausto, Megan McNamara, Rebecca Oberle, Addi Kahrs (and Shelley Buchholz)
  
  Philippians 4:13 - There is nothing I cannot do in the One who strengthens me!
  
  Follow along on Twitter at: @WomenofCFO and @CFGNorCenRegion
  
  Visit [games.crossfit.com] for up to date results.
  
  More... »
  
  

• 20:38

  NCCPR Report: Truancy Sidebar

   »  Nebraska Family Forum
  
  When keeping a sick child home from school is a crimeAUTHORITIES SAY THEY NEED A “HAMMER” TO DEAL WITH “EXCESSIVE” ABSENSES.  BUT A SICK CHILD IS NOT A NAIL.
              In August of 2011, more than 20 families were forced to gather at the Douglas County Courthouse for an exercise in mass humiliation that sounds like something out of the 17th Century.            One-by-one the families, parents and children, were called to the front of the room to be publicly cross-examined by a deputy county attorney.            Their crime – and, in Nebraska, it’s literally a crime: During the previous school year, the children had been home sick from school for more than 20 days.            One family was struggling with cancer, two had children with mono.  Another was trying to cope with the deaths of his mother, sister and uncle.            The Omaha World-Herald described the process:
  One-by-one over the course of two hours, the families were called to the front of the room. [Mary] Reynolds-East and her husband [whose son had suffered from mono and strep throat] were next to last.Deputy Douglas County Attorney Jordan Boler told them they were called in because their son had missed more than 20 days for two years in a row. "That's a lot," she said.Boler asked whether the couple had done something to prevent their son from getting sick again this year — a question that frustrated Reynolds-East. "There's not much we can do," she said later. "Give him vitamin C?"[1]
              If the family can’t somehow come up with a cure for strep throat and other diseases this year, they could face a lot worse than humiliation.            In a bizarre move, apparently unheard-of in any other state and diametrically opposed to what national experts consider best practice, Nebraska has erased the distinction between an excused and unexcused absence from school. The very term “truancy” was replaced by “excessive absences.”            Any student absent for more than 20 days, for any reason, automatically is referred to the county attorney, who then has the option to prosecute the child, or charge the parents with “educational neglect” and take the child from them.            The percentage of Nebraska families likely to be affected ultimately will be significant.  In just one year, Nebraska schools referred 9,178 students to county attorneys as a result of the 20-day law.[2] That’s about three percent of Nebraska’s students in just one year.[3]Over the course of the 12 years that a child typically is in school, just think of how many families will experience at least one year where some combination of illness and family emergency might push them over the 20-day limit.            Authorities keep saying they won’t really take away children or do anything similarly drastic in cases where all or most of the absences are “excused.”            But the World-Herald reports that KVC, the “lead agency” serving southeast Nebraska (in effect, the equivalent of DHHS in that part of the state) says the number of families under their supervision because of school issues has quadrupled since the new law took effect. The story doesn’t say how many, if any, are in foster care.  But it does note that KVC itself wasn’t expecting this:
              Sandra Gasca-Gonzalez, president of KVC's Nebraska operations, said she was surprised at the numbers. In other states where she has worked, truancy is an issue handled by schools, not the juvenile court system, she said. [4] 
              In some parts of the state, it doesn’t take 20 absences to bring DHHS into a family’s life.  In 11 school districts in Douglas and Sarpy counties, as few as six absences leads to a referral to an intervention “team” that includes DHHS.            Even the threat is doing enormous harm to families.  A child abuse investigation – and when DHHS is involved, that’s what it is – is not a benign act.  Taking a child aside and asking questions about the most intimate aspects of her or his life, even in private, let alone as part of a public shaming, can do serious emotional damage.  And once DHHS is involved for one reason, it can go on the ultimate fishing expedition looking for other alleged “abuse” or “neglect.”            During the mass humiliation session in last August “one elementary-age girl clung to her mother, who explained the girl was terrified about what might happen to her. Illnesses had put the child over the 20 day mark.”[5]            Twelve-year-old Kylie Johnson also is under surveillance by a county attorney.  A combination of illnesses, family trips, and being a victim of bullying pushed her one day over the legal limit for absences.  The fact that she still gets As and Bs doesn’t matter.  “They put me under the impression I did something terribly wrong,” Johnson told a legislative hearing.[6]            All that stress is bound to affect schoolwork.  Beth Meyer of Lincoln, whose daughter missed 22 days of school because of illness, told the hearing “You’re taking my child, who is legitimately sick, through the court system and taking her from an A and B student to an F student.”[7]            Older students have another option.  A 16-year-old who had endured years of stress in her life managed to reduce her absences from 40 in one semester to only three the next.  But instead of praise, she was blasted in open court by a county attorney because she didn’t get her absences down to zero.  He recommended juvenile detention – jail.  Fortunately, the judge did not agree.            But rather than face any more torment from the system, the 16-year-old did the one thing still within her power: With only two math classes left before graduation, she dropped out.[8]            Proponents of the law argue that it’s working – attendance is up.  But the fact that more students are in school does not mean that more students are getting an education.            One parent sent her child to school with a fever of over 100 degrees – because she was terrified of exceeding the limit on absences.[9]  That’s not unusual, according to Dr. Lisa Whitcomb, a pediatrician at Methodist Physicians Clinic in Omaha:
              I see parents sending their children to school ill because they’re afraid they have missed too many days of school.  This is concerning both for the child and their classmates that might be getting exposed to infectious diseases. …  I have seen good parents taken to court over what seem to be to be legitimate absences.  I have one patient in particular who has been taken to court twice.  Mom also has been threatened with CPS for the absences of her child, who has recurrent illnesses and does well in school despite her absences.
              All of this is contrary to best practice in child welfare and juvenile justice.  In 2009, one of the nation’s leading child welfare and juvenile justice think tanks, the Vera Institute of Justice found that roughly half the states don’t even have “educational neglect” statutes – they leave it to the schools. The study was commissioned by the New York State agency that oversees county child protective services agencies (CPS is a county function in New York).  In it, the Institute recommended that if agencies like DHHS are not going to get out of educational neglect cases entirely, at least for older children, they should restrict the cases with which they get involved and reduce their role to offering genuinely voluntary help through a process called “differential response.”  The study also cited a series of better options for dealing with actual truancy.[10]            But in Nebraska, Judge Elizabeth Crnkovich reportedly said the law is needed as a “hammer” to get families to cooperate with the “help” she and others want to offer.  If she said that, it reveals the same appalling lack of knowledge of child development she displayed when she tore seven children in a “safe haven” family from the loving aunt who took them in because the aunt had not yet had time to buy each a separate bed and, yes, had not yet had time to enroll them in school (see p. xx).            A higher court judge understands this.  According to the World-Herald:
  Nebraska Chief Justice Michael Heavican to warn that courts are the "most expensive and least flexible" way to deal with truancy.  He said courts should be reserved for the most difficult and unresponsive truants, while others should be handled through school interventions and court diversion.[11]
  
  But even a diversion program causes tremendous needless stress when there is nothing to divert.  A “hammer” is not necessary to deal with a sick child because a sick child is not a nail.  Neither is a child whose only crime is to have been a victim of bullies.            That’s what happened to Victoria Herrera’s daughter.  Two years of torment for one of the very few Latino students in the Millard Public Schools[12]culminated toward the end of her third grade year when several classmates beat her with sticks on her way home from school.              When the school refused to protect her child (not our problem, said the school district, it happened on the way home) Ms. Herrera withdrew her child for the last 24 days with the intention of home schooling her.            With a new principal at the school the next fall, Ms. Herrera decided to give the school another chance.  But her daughter was placed in the same class as one of the worst of the bullies – and Ms. Herrera was told she and her daughter were being referred to the county attorney for “truancy.”            On the day of the first court hearing, her daughter was assaulted again, by another student, this time in the school.  But again, the school did nothing.  Well, not quite nothing: The principal kept the fourth grader in the office for three hours until she “admitted” the assault was an “accident.”            DHHS was called in to investigate – no, not the people who bullied Herrera, but rather Herrera’s mother. To her face, they told Ms. Herrera that clearly this was not a case of neglect.  Between that and her own lawyer saying she should just plead guilty, she agreed to jump through all their hoops.  Then the DHHS workers said exactly the opposite to the court – which promptly gave DHHS legal custody of the girl, though she was allowed to remain in her own home, under the constant surveillance of DHHS.            The ordeal ended only when the “guardian ad litem” named to represent the child’s best interests actually did just that.  She recommended that the case be dismissed. The child is being home-schooled.[13]            State Sen. Tony Fulton has proposed a simple, sensible solution for all this: His legislation, LB1165, actually would reduce the number of absences before school districts are required to intervene – but he would restore the distinction between an excused and an unexcused absence, and leave it to the discretion of the school district whether to refer the matter to the county attorney.[14]  If anything this law does not go far enough.  Nebraska should join the states that do not consider so-called “educational neglect” to be any of child protective services’ business.  School districts should be prohibited from involving DHHS in cases of either “excessive absences” or truancy.________
  And finally, one last item about that public humiliation session at the Douglas County courthouse last August: In order to attend the session, some of the children had to miss school.
  
  [1] Martha Stoddard, “Parents chafe at truancy oversight,” Omaha World-Herald, Oct. 2, 2011, [www.omaha.com] [2] Martha Stoddard, “Nebraska goes own way on truancy laws,” Omaha World-Herald, Oct. 2, 2011. [www.omaha.com] [3]Proximityone.com: Characteristics of K-12 Schools & Enrollment by State,  [proximityone.com] [4] Stoddard, note xx (second story) supra. [5] Stoddard, note xx, supra. [6] Martha Stoddard, “Truancy law has many on edge,” Omaha World-Herald  Feb. 14, 2012. [7] Christine Scalora, “Parents, students criticize truancy law,” Nebraska News Service, Feb. 14, 2012. [8] Nebraska Family Forum, The Gdowski Family: The intended target,  Oct. 20, 2011:  [www.nebraskafamilyforum.org] [9] Nebraska Family Forum, The Myles Family: Truancy Diversion for Sick Kids? Jan. 3, 2012: [www.nebraskafamilyforum.org] [10] Jessica Gunderson, et.al, Rethinking Educational Neglect for Teenagers: New Strategies for New York State, (New York: Vera Institute of Justice, Nov. 2009): [www.vera.org] [11] Stoddard, note xx (second story) supra. [12] Only three percent of school district residents under age 18 are Latino (National Center for Education Statistics, School District Demographics System, Race and Ethnicity 2000 Data (P.L.94-171) - Profile Data [nces.ed.gov] [13] Nebraska Family Forum, The Herrera Family: Is the law working?Feb. 1, 2012. [www.nebraskafamilyforum.org] [14] LB 1165 text: [nebraskalegislature.gov]
  
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• 18:58

  PROPERTY VALUATION TOWN HALL MEETING

   »  Nebraska Tax Blog
  
  Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom will host a Property Valuation Town Hall meeting on Wed. May 23, 6:30 PM, at the P.J. Morgan Co., 7801 Wakeley Plz., Omaha.  The purpose of this meeting is to advise property owners how to challenge the higher property valuations assessed on their homes and businesses in Douglas and Sarpy Counties.  The program includes a short Power Point presentation with accompanying hard copy packets that explain the history of the property valuation process in Nebraska.  Rick Kubat, Douglas County Asst.-Manager, and Douglas County Commissioner P.J. Morgan will explain how to challenge a higher property valuation.  This meeting is free and open to the public.
  
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• 17:13

  New Listing! Gorgeous Home Stands out from the Crowd!

   »  Angela May's Omaha Nebraska Real Estate Blog
  7032 Heartwood RoadLaVista, NE 681283 Bed / 2 Bath / 2 Car Garage1852 SqFt
  This Gorgeous Home stands out from the crowd the moment you enter!  Soaring Cathedral Ceilings, Cut-Outs, Plant Shelves, a Skylite, Trey Ceiling and Decorator Paint Colors are just a sample of what will “WOW” you.  The Eat-In Kitchen is the heart of the home featuring Ample Cabinets/Countertops and Beautiful Wood Flooring. There is also a Large Living Room with Fireplace and a Huge Dining Room.  The Master Suite includes an updated Bath and His/Her Closets. Other features include: a Finished Lower Level Rec Room, a Shaded Backyard with a Privacy Fence, a 16x14 Deck,  Humidifier, Lennox System '07 and lots of Storage.  Located close to schools, shopping and more…Simply move in!
  For more information or to schedule a private showing of this gorgeous home, please visit [www.huskerhomefinder.com] or contact Angela May directly at 402/709-4908.
  
  
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• 16:03

  1). Song of the Day: Big Daddy Weave ...

   »  Nebraska Youth Ministries
  1). Song of the Day: Big Daddy Weave - ♫ Redeemed ♫
  
  2). Blog Entry: Testimonies
       - Our Kids Max Live Vacation Bible School team hosted an outreach recently in Milford and had several children attend and get connected with the church
       - One of our ministers named Kandy felt God calling her to reach out the people 'in the back row', the ones that we tend to overlook in our communities. She began to reach out to homeless people in local shelters and started a small group that grew from 3 to 25, and they are seeing consistent reports of transformation and life change.
  
  3). Ministry of the Day: Campus Missionaries - Challenge your students to reach their schoolmates for Christ as missionaries on their local campus
  
  4). Link of the Day: ZenCash - Automatically follow up with customers who don’t pay – and say thanks to the ones who do.
  
  5). Quote of the Day: 'As a speaker, it’s often not what you should say, but what you shouldn’t say.' -Dr. John Easter
  
  6). Today is World Hypertension Day. It is also the birthday of Charles Bullard (Children's Leader at Southridge Church in Papillion), a distinction he shares with famous American actor Dennis Hopper from 1936. Finally, it is the anniversary of the day that the New York Stock Exchange was formed in 1792.
  
  
  Activity at INCITE Chi Alpha Directors Conference, Rochester, MN
  
  
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• 15:46

  Blue Blood Tapping 6 Beers at Wilderness Ridge Friday

   »  Nebraska Beer
  From Blue Blood Brewing Company:
  
  Tomorrow night, Friday May 18th at Wilderness Ridge...6 Blue Blood Brewing Company ales on tap!!!! And yes....6! They will have 1327, 467, and 834 on tap along with some new brands which may or may not be released soon!!! We will have a Farmhouse ale, and American Wheat, and a strong ale, but these will be in limited quantities and when they are gone, they are gone!!! [feeds.feedburner.com]

  
  

  
  
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• 15:45

  Latest Poll: Fischer leads Kerrey by 18

   »  Leavenworth Street
  First a quick Separated at Birth rerun from over a year ago (whew, time flies!): Deb Fischer and President Taylor from “24″. *** The latest Rasmussen Reports survey of 500 Likely Nebraska voters shows Deb Fischer with an 18 point lead over Bob Kerrey. It looks like this: Fischer………56% Kerrey……….38% Other……………2% Undecided….3% That Undecided number [...]
  
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• 13:39

  New Brewery on the Horizon in Benson

   »  Nebraska Beer
  
  
  When: Open house -- Sat, Jun 2 beginning at 7:00 p.m. (during Benson Beer Fest)
  
  Where: 6115 Maple St, Omaha (entrance for open house at the back in the alley between 61st and 62nd Streets)
  
  Bill, the owner of the Crescent Moon in Omaha, recently purchased a building Benson for the purpose of opening a small production brewery with a tap room
  
  The project is a work is progress and probably won’t officially open for at least a year.  However they are having an open house on Sat, Jun 2 beginning at 7:00 p.m. to show the public the space that will become the brewery.
  
  There will be free samples of test-batch beer that may end up being produced by head brewer Aaron Bush.  There will also be locally-produced food and beer for sale.
    [feeds.feedburner.com]

  
  

  
  
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• 13:19

  Benson Beer Fest

   »  Nebraska Beer
  
  image: bensonnebraska.com  
  When: Sat, Jun 2 from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m.
  Where: 6200 Military Ave, Omaha
  
  Looking back, I haven’t posted anything on this event yet.  Should be a crackin’ time.  I’m really looking forward to it.  Outdoor beer festivals are theee best.
  
  Check out the website for more information.
     [feeds.feedburner.com]

  
  

  
  
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• 11:13

  Nebraska Brewing Company's remaining events for Craft Beer Week

   »  Nebraska Beer
  
  
  Nebraska Brewing Company News
   
  

  There are still a lot of events going on in the brewpub and around town where you can Celebrate American Craft Beer week.  Be sure to join us at an event or two before this week is over. 

  • Today we celebrate with the release of Black Betty, the Awards Ceremony for our first every homebrew competition and Ladies Night - something for everyone! 

  • Saturday; stop and see us at the Omaha Beerfest, and if you come between 3 and 4 you can even buy tickets to the Great Nebraska Beerfest!. Or, if you're inclinded...stop by to see Paul get on stage and do what he does best.. talk too much at the Beer Academy!

  • Sunday is one of our favorite days, South O'Retro day!  Come in for Czech Food, Polka and Beer in Steins (BYOS)

  http://feeds.feedburner.com/NebraskaBeer

  
  

  
  
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• 11:09

  Hopluia will now be in 22oz bottles

   »  Nebraska Beer
  Some news on Hopluia.
  
  

  Hallelujah!  Hopluia will be switching over to 22oz. bottles that you
  will be seeing in June/July.  The 16 oz'ers will be discontinued when
  the 22's start.....so if you're sentimental for the 16oz bottles you
  can get your stock now.  Cheers!  Sam.
  

  http://feeds.feedburner.com/NebraskaBeer

  
  

  
  
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• 10:57

  Upstream Tripel Friday Tapping @ Jake's Omaha

   »  Nebraska Beer
  
  
  Friday Tapping Party for Jake's Omaha (5/18): This Friday we will be tapping a delicious Upstream treat. Those who are big time lovers of the Belgian beer style Tripel will surely agree that 'Tripel Karmeliet' from the Bosteels brewery in Belgium is one of the finest. Upstream head brewer Mike Hall has made a tribute to this fantastic beer by harvesting yeast right from the bottle, and ultimately creating a gem of a Belgian-style Tripel of his own.
  Tapping begins at 5:30PM 62^nd & Maple- Omah [feeds.feedburner.com]

  
  

  
  
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• 10:42

  Ska Brewing Party Tonight at Jake's Omaha!

   »  Nebraska Beer
  Tonight (5/17 @ 6PM) at Jake's Omaha!! Get down to Jake's where we will be having a bash with Ska Brewing Company out of Durango, Colorado.  We will have a representative from Ska here to chat it up with, and we're encouraging people to pick it up, pick it up. Ska Mexican Logger, Ska Modus Hoperandi, Ska Buster Nut Brown & Ska Decadent Imperial IPA will be on tap, and we'll be running them all on a special price.  We will also be giving out prizes as we go through the kegs, whoever gets the 20th beer wins a prize and whoever blows the keg as well!
  
  62nd & Maple in Omah [feeds.feedburner.com]

  
  

  
  
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• 07:00

  Bleeding Heart

   »  Nebraska Views
  
  My bleeding heart plant had lots of flowers this year but sadly they too have finished blooming so all I have to remind me is this photo.  I love the bursts of color that springtime bring.  This photo was taken sometime ago and all it's flowers are long gone but the memory of them still lingers.
  
  Lynn
  
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• Nebraska blogs (US-NE), 05/16/2012
• 22:18

  Wednesday 120516

   »  CrossFit Omaha
  WOD
  Skill/Strength
  
  Pause Squat 5-5-5 reps (sets across +/- 10#)
  
  Warm-up w/ x5, x3, x2. You have the choice of either going with a front squat or high bar back squat for this lift. Either way, pause for a three count at the bottom most part of the movement. Use a 3.5 minute clock. Compare to 120111.
  
  Conditioning
  
  Five rounds for time of:
  Dead-lift, 274#/187#
  10 Burpees
  
  Bars may not be dropped from the top or that rep WILL NOT COUNT. Also, if you do not legitimately leave the ground for your burpees, you will also be no repped. Compare to 110107.
  
  Post all results to comments/Logwod.
  
  
  Now, this is one hell of a set up for an Olympic pull. We are not dead-lifting but rather setting ourselves up for a precise second pull or double knee bend. Ninety percent of the movement is a proper set up. If this doesn't make sense to you, no problem. Just try to look like this before you begin your clean or snatch reps.
  
  BTW, you guys meet Hannah Sacco yet? Oh man, you'll want to. I like this person. She's got a sweet smile and is a go getter. I've told her already that if she sticks with it, she'll be a great Olympic lifter. Just look at that set up.
  
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• 20:38

  Get out and ride.

   »  NEBRASKA OUTDOOR ADDICT
  
  (image lifted off www.ribike.org)
  
  After recovering from the bear attack during the NSFW Ride I've rode up the hill four times and to the office four times. The weather has been awesome and with a new helmet I'm good as new.
  
  This is bike to work week, the CCC and Biketacular are this weekend, the Ride of Silence is tonight and so much more. It's prime season to get out and ride!
  
  I'll be working in West Point tomorrow and on vacation Friday so I'm done for the week. Happy healing to Cletus and Ben.
  
  Since my last post I've added another 102.3 miles onto the Trek.
  
  
  
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• 11:35

  Empyrean Releases New Beer‏

   »  Nebraska Beer
  
  From Empyrean:
  
  
  A Beer Worth Watching For
  Empyrean Brewing Co., debuts a new beer in bottle and on draft. Named Watch Man IPA, it’s described as “an India Pale Ale that keeps the bitterness firm—but in check—and is accented by floral and citrus notes from the hops.”
  And this is exactly what the public has been waiting for. Distribution Manager Ben Matya explains, “We’ve released various recipes of IPA in small, limited batches in the past, but it was our customers who asked us to offer it year round.”
  The logo bears the image of an inukshuk, an ancient navigational pointer constructed from unworked stones in the likeness of a human, that overlooks an evening sky and aurora borealis. A symbol of welcome, inukshuk translates as “you are on the right path.” A fitting image for a long time awaited beer style from Empyrean.
  Just in time for Craft Beer Week, Watch Man IPA is available in both 6-pack bottles or on draft. This release comes after discontinuing Better World Wheat. Watch Man IPA will take its place on store shelves and bar taps [feeds.feedburner.com]

  
  

  
  
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• 09:16

  Spring Fling at Dario's

   »  Nebraska Beer
  
  This Saturday (May 19th) Dario's will be throwing "the finest party in Dundee" in their beer garden. They will be serving local food and delicious Belgian beers as well as having live music and a small farmers' market. See below for more details.
  
  

  On Saturday, May 19th, the finest party in Dundee will be found at Dario's in our very own beer garden! Starting at noon we'll be serving the most delicious victuals in the neighborhood — local farm raised meats from Thistles and Clover, barbeque pulled pork sandwiches, cevapcicis, burgers and house-made coleslaw — and pouring fabulous Belgian brews, including Leffe Blonde, Delirium Tremens, Hoegaarden and Delirium Nocturnum. Our almost-famous Cucumber Collins, made with Hendrick's gin, fresh squeezed lime juice, simple syrup, soda and plenty of cucumber, will also make a reappearance. 

  This year we will also have some local vendors here in the afternoon offering a small farmers market! 

  Live music will commence at 5:00 pm and continue into the evening. Ragged Company will headline, and three other groups will contribute their talent: Underwater Dream Machine, Traveling Mercies and Solid G. 

  Lunch and dinner service will continue in the dining room as usual. 

  http://feeds.feedburner.com/NebraskaBeer

  
  

  
  
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• 08:42

  Corn planting on Alexander Cattle & Farms

   »  Nebraska Corn Kernels

  Alexander Cattle & Farms in Nebraska is know for their beef. And many may know that JD Alexander is the President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). This is quite the accomplishment and we commend JD on this leadership role.

  To get to know him a little better, and to celebrate May as Beef Month, the Nebraska Cattlemen have put together a great YouTube video series of JD and his farm titled, “Committed to Nebraska Beef”. We especially like the video about corn planting on the farm with Kory, farming lead, because after all – cattle love their corn!

  Now go enjoy a Nebraska, corn-fed steak for Beef Month!

  
  
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• 08:34

  1). Song of the Day: Bluetree - ♫ Jesus ...

   »  Nebraska Youth Ministries
  1). Song of the Day: Bluetree - ♫ Jesus Healer ♫
  
  2). Blog Entry: Leaders Corner
       I have just finished a Chi Alpha Leaders Training called INCITE in Rochester, MN. It was a great time coming together with the other Chi Alpha leaders across the North Central region. A couple of great ideas that I walked away with:
       - We need to prepare our students for college by making sure they know of Chi Alpha. Talk with your Chi Alpha people about coming to visit your youth ministries and explaining their ministry on the local campus. The last months before graduation, bring in ministry professionals from your church who can meet with your graduates individually during portions of the service and help them with their future plans. Plan a trip in the early fall to go with your former students to the Chi Alpha on their local campus and help them get connected.
  
  3). Ministry of the Day: STL Projects - Check out a list of the current Speed the Light projects which we are giving our students/ministries money to support on the mission field this year.
  
  4). Link of the Day: The Menternship - Chi Alpha is provided mentorships for leaders across this country through this interactive website.
  
  5). Quote of the Day: 'We need skill and stamina to avoid burnout.' -Mike Olerjarz
  
  6). Miscellaneous: Today is National Employee Health and Fitness Day. It is also the birthday of Irish actor Pierce Brosnan from 1953. Finally, it is the anniversary of the day that Nicolas Sarkozy became the president of France in 2007.
  
  Driving the Go-Carts at Kids Convention, March, 2012
  
  
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• 06:26

  Embellish the Flower Basket

   »  Nebraska Views
  
  The final touch to my basket challenge quilt was to add buttons to the centers of the flowers.  I stacked two buttons for the center of each flower and the large peach colored flower also has a ring of small purple buttons.  To be honest stitching on the buttons was the most problematic of the entire quilt.  I don’t know how many times I would stitch them on and then find them off center so cut them off to start over.  I finally decided they all looked good and called if finished.
  Here it is all finished.  The photo makes the outside stitching look white looking when it is actually gold colored thread.  The rest of the colors are pretty true to real life.  Our guild meeting is this Thursday night and it will be good to see what everyone chose for their panel and what they did with it.
  
  Until Later,
  Lynn
  
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• 01:45

  How Deb did it

   »  Leavenworth Street
  Underfunded and outstaffed, with no national groups to help her, Deb Fischer pulled out one of the most unlikely victories in recent memory. You are likely to see some national media outlets who are quick to paint Fischer as some sort of upstart tea partier who toppled the GOP establishment candidate in Jon Bruning. Should [...]
  
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• Nebraska blogs (US-NE), 05/15/2012
• 23:45

  Fischer has it!

   »  Leavenworth Street
  **Update at 10:13** We are terrible at math, but we don’t see enough major precincts left to flip it for Bruning. We are calling the GOP Senate race for Deb Fischer! Nebraska Senate results (continually updated): 1785 /1785 precint results Fischer………41.11% Bruning……..35.90% Stenberg…….18.75% Flynn…………2.76% Zimmerman….0.82% Elander………0.66% *** Lee Terry statement: “I am honored to be nominated [...]
  
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• 21:50

  Tuesday 120515

   »  CrossFit Omaha
  WOD
  AMRAP in 20 minutes of:
  12 Box Jumps, 24"/20"
  9 Wall Balls, 20#/14#
  6 Pull ups
  1 Double Under
  12 Box Jumps
  9 Wall Balls
  6 Pull ups
  2 Double Unders
  12 Box Jumps
  9 Wall Balls
  6 Pull ups
  3 Double Unders
  12 Box Jumps
  9 Wall Balls
  6 Pull ups
  4 Double Unders
  12 Box Jumps
  9 Wall Balls
  6 Pull ups
  5 Double Unders
  
  And so on, increasing double unders by 1 rep each time you make it through the 12-9-6 triplet until the 20 minutes is up. To which number of double under reps can you make it?
  
  Post highest number of double unders reached (not how many total double unders) to comments/Logwod.
  
  
  Our secret weapon for the North Central Regional this weekend. I think there will be two of them. Who's excited?
  
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• 21:45

  Fischer takes the lead; Terry declared winner; Ewing over Howard

   »  Leavenworth Street
  Hold onto your butts! It could get exciting! Nebraska Senate results: 908/1785 precint results Fischer………38.01% Bruning………37.62% Stenberg…….19.80% Bruning is way up now in both in Lancaster and  Douglas Co. *** Lee Terry statement: “I am honored to be nominated once again by the Republican party. As always, I’ll run flat-out and take our campaign to [...]
  
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• 15:39

  Why So Many Home Buyers Are Buying Now and Choosing Not to Regret It Later

   »  Omaha Mortgage Planner Terry Williams
  
  
  Watch on your mobile device >>
  
  Almost everyone involved in the real estate industry has been shouting out loud and clear that this is the best time to buy – EVER. And it has remained so for some time now. But as things look up, prices begin to rise and consumer confidence gets stronger – what is the impending impact on our market?
  
  Leveling Out Home Prices Expected to Rise By Early Next Year
  
  The good news keeps on getting better as many markets across the nation are seeing a slight increase in home prices. In fact, some areas are already experiencing significant jumps in home prices – otherwise expected to hit the rest of the country beginning in 2013. Analysts are predicting an increase of anywhere from two to four percent or more next year with steady inclines thereafter. This comes at a time when there has already been a national increase of 1.4% in home prices in January 2012 versus the final quarter of 2011.
  
  Foreclosures Quickly Dipping to Welcome Lows
  
  One of the biggest downward drivers of the market has been the vicious cycle of a weak economy coupled with vast numbers of foreclosures to hit the housing market. This has finally begun turning around with a decline in foreclosures by the end of 2011 of as much as 15% compared to the previous year. Not only that, the dip in distressed sales has been picking up more recently, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, with the most decline occurring in the last quarter of 2011. An increased number of foreclosed properties are expected to hit the market within the next six months as a result of banks unloading shadow inventory in the wake of the recent robo-signing scandal settlement. Despite the expected spike in foreclosures the overall market outlook is forecasted to improve.
  
  Interest Rates Expected to Climb Soon
  
  One more reason for buyers to buy sooner than later is the fast-changing interest rates. It seems that the rock bottom lows have been surpassed and interest rate averages have begun to climb, albeit slowly. The Mortgage Bankers Association predicts an increase to about 4.5% on average across the nation by the end of this year.
  ~
  These changes, while occurring relatively slowly for now, will have a strong impact on the positive future of our market in 2013 and beyond. The biggest lesson to take away from this though is that the prospect of buying a home for pennies on the dollar will not last much longer. People that are in the market to buy a home in the near future should seriously consider taking the plunge now, before it’s too late.
  
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• 15:37

  Beautiful & Pristine Former Model Home in Pilgrims Landing!

   »  Angela May's Omaha Nebraska Real Estate Blog
  
  14205 S 22nd Street Bellevue, NE 68123 4 Bed/3 Bath/2 Car Garage 2277 SqFt 
  Beautiful and Pristine, this Former Model Home in Popular Pilgrim’s Landing is Move-In Ready! The home boasts a Two Story Entrance, an Open Staircase, Wood Flooring, a Formal Dining Room (or Office), a Family Room with a Fireplace and Extra Large Rooms throughout. The Kitchen is made for Entertaining and features a Dine-In Area, a Desk, Island, Pantry, and a newer Dishwasher. The Master Suite has Trey and Vaulted Ceilings, Dual Vanities, 2 Linen Closets, a Jet Tub and a Walk-In Closet. Outside features include a Deck with a Skyline View, a Privacy Fence, an Extra Large Patio, and a Sprinkler System. In addition, the home has Main Floor Laundry, a Water Softener, a Walkout Lower Level with a bath Rough-in, a Deep Garage, newer Heat Pump, High Efficiency Furnace, Thermostat, Humidifier and More! 
   For more information or to schedule a private showing of this gorgeous home, please visit [www.huskerhomefinder.com] or contact Angela May directly at 402/709-4908.
  
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• 13:01

  American Craft Beer Week Events @ Jake's Lincoln

   »  Nebraska Beer
  
  
  JAKE'S LINCOLN (14th & P St.): Beer lovers, American Craft Beer Week is here, and Jake's Lincoln has a few fun events planned to celebrate craft beer in Nebraska.
  
  
  Wednesday (5/16) will be a very special release party for Empyrean's new Watch Man IPA. Nebraska craft beer lovers have been wanting it for years, the time has come!
  
  
  Thursday (5/17) is time for Modern Monks 'BOB 5.0', a very special and carefully blended sour ale from the vault. Trust us, you do not want to miss having BOB in your mouth.
  
  
  Friday (5/18) we will be tapping 'Chai Rye' from Upstream Brewing. A delicious brown rye Saison brewed with chai spices.
  
  [feeds.feedburner.com]

  
  

  
  
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• 12:07

  Paducah AQS Photos

   »  Nebraska Views
  So many of you that didn’t get the chance to visit Paducah might be interested in seeing more photos of the quilts and since I am reluctant to post mine because of all the litigation going on in the quilt world these days I feel I have let you down.  The quilts were/are magnificent and the slide show posted on the AQS site is OK but you just can’t see details and may have really wondered why some were chosen as winners.  I have found one place where you can see more details of some of the quilts – not just the winners either.
  
  I have signed up to get an RSS feed from The Quilt Show and read the articles and watch the videos that are available to the public.  I am not a paid subscriber so can’t watch or read all the content but there is lots of free information on The Quilt Show webpage to make me visit often.  They have posted video interviews with some of the winners and slide shows of quilts and details on some quilts so wanted to share these links with you.
  
  Interview with Sue McCarty – winner of the AQS show
  Video Interview with Susan Stewart – winner of Machine Workmanship Award
  More Susan Stewart quilt photos
  Frieda Anderson video interview
  Video interview with Judy Woodworth – Longarm Award winner
  Video interview with Pat Holly
  Video of Caryl Bryer Fallert’s home and studio in Paducah
  Quilts from Paducah – video of photos of quilts in AQS show
  Handwork From AQS Show – video of photos of quilts in AQS show
  Another blog – We All Sew – with photos of some quilts from the AQS show
  
  Enjoy looking at the photos and studying the detailed shots of these beautiful quilts.
  
  Lynn
  
  More... »
  
  

• 11:45

  Even NEWER poll has Fischer up

   »  Leavenworth Street
  Newer poll* from PPP: Fischer 37% Bruning 33% Stenberg 17% Crazy crazy crazy day. Oh, and it’s an Election Day as well. *While these results are pretty much in tune with what we have been seeing — this was a small sample of 272 Likely Voters. *** And here is an ad from Leg candidate [...]
  
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• 11:00

  1). Song of the Day: Broken Chainz Band ...

   »  Nebraska Youth Ministries
  1). Song of the Day: Broken Chainz Band - ♫ Freedom Cry ♫
  
  2). Blog Entry: Bible Trivia
                           Unfortunately, we don't have a winner from last week's trivia, so the question will carryover to today. Name your favorite Mother in the Bible?
  
  3). Ministry of the Day: NE Youth Camp 2 - The early registration deadline is next Monday, May 21st. Click this link to get all the forms that you need.
  
  4). Link of the Day: Monvee - A personal devotional program that helps you plan how to connect with God in your own unique way.
  
  5). Quote of the Day: 'Leaders don't have more time, they just spend it differently.' -Unanimous
  
  6). Miscellaneous: Today is National Chocolate Chip Day. It's also the birthday of Teisa Nicole (fellow MC graduate with me, and missionary to Africa), a distinction she shares with famous Kansas City Royal George Brett, from 1953. Finally, it is the anniversary of Adam and Sarah Erwin, associate pastors at the Market Church in Omaha, from last year.
  
  Adam, judging at Fine Arts, Kearney, March
  
  
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• 10:32

  The SureHands Lift and Care Systems Body Support Can Help with Clothing Adjustments at the toilet

   »  Home Access Solutions
  
  
  Watch on your mobile device >>
  
  It takes more than just getting into the room to be able to make use of the toilet.  You need to deal with your clothing as well.  What if you can’t stand up or balance while standing?  What if you are a caregiver for someone who depends upon you to transfer or move from one surface to another?
  
  One solution is the SureHands Lift& Care System Body Support.  It can be used with any of the ceiling based or wall based motors.  Unlike many slings, the body support leaves the buttocks area clear during the secure transfer.  This makes this a great lift support for speedy, secure, and often independent transfers, but it is also great for clothing adjustments during toileting.
  
  Once a person is positioned over the toilet, pants can be moved over the hips to the level of the body support.  This is easier with looser pants.  Individuals with sufficient hand strength and dexterity and  arm mobility may be able to do this themselves.  It is a relatively easy task for most caregivers.  Once the person is lowered to the toilet, the thigh and chest cuffs become loose.  As the thigh cuff is removed the pants can be pulled further down each leg.  Some caregivers find it helpful for hygiene to lift a person into the air slightly for cleaning.  Other people can accomplish cleaning while seated.
  
  When the person is ready for pants to be pulled up, the top of the pants are gathered and pulled up as high on the thigh as possible. Work with one leg at a time.  Sometimes you will need to repeat this process.  If a person’s leg can’t be lifted high enough to clear enough space to pull the pants up, a caregiver can prop their leg up on something or lean them slightly  to the side.  The goal is to gather the pants up so that most of the fabric needed to pull over the hips is over mid thigh.  Place the thigh cuffs just below the gather of material and lift the person slightly.  With the cuffs at mid thigh the person’s buttocks will be lower than usual so best practice is to lift just high enough to clear the toilet and work fairly quickly to pull the pants up over the hips.  Depending upon how tight the pants are, this step may take a little tugging to clear any folds of fabric at the thigh cuff.   Lower to the toilet and reposition the thigh cuffs correctly as high up on the legs toward the hips as possible.
  
  The body support makes dressing during toileting activities possible for many people.   Give us a call today if you have any questions or wish to schedule a private consultation.
  
  402-291-9514
  
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• 09:48

  Wort Transformation Challenge Awards Ceremony

   »  Nebraska Beer
  
  Nebraska Brewing Company's Wort Transformation Awards Ceremony this Thursday
  
  

  Why not Celebrate American Craft Beer week where the birth of America Craft beer began - Homebrewing!
  
  As many of you already know our roots are in homebrewing, and we've always wanted to host a homebrew competition, but you know us...we don't do anything 'normal'. So we dreamed up the Wort Transformation Challenge ~ For this Homebrew competition, our brewers (Tyson & Sam) brewed up some Cardinal Pale Ale wort (what beer is before it's fermented). Once the wort was brewed, we then divided it among the entries. Each homebrewer brought a container to the brew pub and took 5 or 10 gallons of wort home.
  It was then their job to add yeast and copious amounts of creativity, a real brewers whim!
  
  Earlier in the week we'll be bringing in some of the areas biggest beer geeks to judge the beers in 4 categories; To Style (whats that?) - Fruit/Spice - Wood/Barrel - Experimental, with a Best in Show the Grand Finale!
  
  On Thursday May 17th, we'll be announcing the winners and tasting all the beers entered.
  
  Join us at 6pm to see who and WHAT won!

  http://feeds.feedburner.com/NebraskaBeer

  
  

  
  
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• 09:30

  Corn Board sponsors tours of two Nebraska Dairies

   »  Nebraska Corn Kernels
  Last week the Nebraska Corn Board sponsored a dairy tour that the Midwest Dairy Association held for B&R Stores’ dairy case managers. The purpose of this tour was to give the managers a firsthand look at how milk ends up on their shelves that they in-turn sell to consumers.
  
  The dairy industry is important to the corn industry as corn and distillers’ grains are fed to dairy cows. Five out of the six Dairy Case managers had never stepped foot on a dairy farm before. The tour allowed them to see the first stages of the milking process and how animals are treated with the best care.
  This tour also allowed the managers to learn about some of the issues that the dairy industry is facing, such as the disconnect between the farm and the consumer. The Dairy Case managers were able to ask questions about hormones and the use of antibiotics in dairy animals. Everyone learned that antibiotics are used when an animal is sick and needs a treatment; HOWEVER, everyone learned that the antibiotics NEVER enter the milk supply. The milk that comes from cows getting treated with antibiotics ends up getting used as milk replacer for calves.
  The first stop on the tour was at Ken Cast’s family dairy, Kendol Dairy, located near Beaver Crossing. His dairy includes two hundred Jersey milking cows with a few other breeds included in the mix. He currently works with his son who will eventually take over the family dairy. The Cast family milks their herd twice a day and sells most of their milk to DFA (Dairy Farmers of America), who then markets their milk to Robert’s.
  
  Ken said that anytime their family has to use antibiotics to treat a sick animal, they won’t use the milk from that cow to protect the milk supply from getting contaminated with antibiotics. Ken also said that the dairy industry is one of the most regulated food industries in the nation and that inspectors at both the state and federal level will come to his farm to do random checks to be sure his family is providing a safe and nutritious product for consumers.
  After touring the Cast’s family dairy, the group traveled to Tuls Dairy farm, which is located south of Rising City. The Tuls family owns three dairies, two in Nebraska and one in Wisconsin. The dairy farm we visited had a total of six thousand milking cows. Some may call the size of this farm a “factory” farm, however, it is still a family-owned farm and the cows receive the same treatment as the cows of smaller dairy farms.
  
  Many of the tour participants were amazed at how large the farm was, but at the same time, how clean everything was and how well the cows were being treated. The tour participants were also impressed with the technology that the farm uses to be more efficient with resources, and to make sure the cows are receiving the best care.
  Overall, the tour was a great experience for everyone involved. The Dairy Case managers were able to walk away from the experience with a better understanding of where milk comes from and will now be able to better educate consumers on the dairy products that they purchase. It was also a good way to see how important the dairy industry is to the Nebraska corn industry since corn and distillers grains get mixed into the feed ration that is fed to dairy cows.
  
  To learn more about how the Nebraska Corn Board works with the dairy industry, be sure to click here.
  
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• 08:51

  Meeting this Thursday!

   »  Nebraska Bead Society
  Eastmont...66th and "O" Street area, 2nd floor.  7:00 p.m.  I have this info from Gail:
  
  
  

  This month  I will be showing how to do a couple of Kumihimo braids. This is really just 
  

  showing the technique rather than an actual project, so don't worry  too much about the 
  

  supplies. I have small foam braiding disks that will  be available for $1.25. You will need to bring a total of 8 yards of  yarn, preferably 2 colors or more of a similar, medium weight 
  

  (but don't  get too crazy about this, bring what you have). That's all you really need  to get 
  

  started, but it would be helpful if you have 8 plastic bobbins or cheap foam curlers from the 
  

  dollar store(just something to roll up extra  yarn onto), and some kind of clip for a weight(I think the one I use is  sold as a frig. magnet, again from the dollar store). I will bring someextra yarn too, so even if you don't have any of these supplies, come and  give it a try.  So 
  

  to recap:  
  

  > Bring:
  > $1.25 or braiding disk
  > 8 yards of yarn in 2 or more colors        
  > 8 bobbins OR 8 foam curlers
  > some kind of clip or weight
    
   Hope to see most of you soon! Gail May
  

  
  
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• 05:15

  THE RIDE OF SILENCE

   »  Omaha Bikes
  The Ride of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph, wear helmets, follow the rules of the road and remain silent during the ride. There are no sponsors and no registration fees. The ride, which is held during National Bike Month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for and honor the lives of those who have been killed or injured. See [www.rideofsilence.org] for more details.
  
  Wednesday, May 16 at 7:00 PM. Motorcycle Escort provided by city and county police. Meet at the West Papio Trail Head, located at 3602 Raynor Parkway, Bellevue, NE, just north of Culver's Restaurant.
  
  More... »
  
  

• Nebraska blogs (US-NE), 05/14/2012
• 23:45

  Late night robo-palooza

   »  Leavenworth Street
  Some new robo-calls in the Senate race to keep you campaign types in-the-know. First for the Jon Bruning camp, Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee: Huck was an early supporter of Bruning’s. *** And then for Deb Fischer, Nebraska 1st District Congressman, Jeff Fortenberry: And then for Fischer (for some reason) former Alaska First Gentleman, Todd Palin… [...]
  
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• 21:11

  Monday 120514

   »  CrossFit Omaha
  WOD
  Skill/Strength
  
  Power Cleans - 176#/121#
  
  Complete as many reps as possible in 10 seconds, rest for 50 seconds for 5 rounds. You may not touch and go. You must drop from the top each rep (please control your bar all the way down). Scale loads if you must but stay relatively heavy. The lightest should be 132#/87# (unless newer to program).
  
  Conditioning
  
  Three rounds for time of:
  Run 400 meters
  21 Kettlebell Swings, 1.5/1 pood
  12 Perfect Push ups
  
  Post all results to comments/Logwod.
  
  
  Thank you so much to the Paleo Baking Co. (Hannah Bretz) for baking this awesome cake for our 5 year anniversary. Yes, CFO has been around that long. Not only are we Omaha's original CrossFit gym, we are a second to none community.
  
  Thanks also to everyone one of you that made it out to our watch party and to Varsity Sports Cafe for kindly hosting our group. Very courteous and prompt service.
  
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• 16:11

  Nebraska corn planting wrapping up

   »  Nebraska Corn Kernels
  Farmers in Nebraska may mostly wrap up corn planting this week, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture said 91 percent of the state's crop is in the ground as of yesterday. That's well ahead of the five-year average of 76 percent planted by this date, which happens to be the same figure as last year's planting pace.
  
  As for emergence, USDA said 57 percent of the state's crop had emerged, up from last year's 16 percent emerged and the average of 23 percent by this date.
  
  Nationally, USDA said 87 percent of the crop was planted, up from 71 percent last week, 56 percent last year and the five-year average of 66 percent.0
  
  Nine of the top 10 producing corn states are more than 90 percent planted. The lone exception is Minnesota, which is 88 percent planted, up from 42 percent last year and the five-year average of 76 percent planted.
  
  Emergence across the country reached 56 percent, up from 32 percent last week, 16 percent last year and 28 percent for the five-year average.
  
  All of this, of course, bodes well for yields – at least most fields have the potential to yield big this year. A year ago so many farmers had to replant or plant late, yield potential had fallen before the corn even had a chance to get out of the ground.
  
  This potential is why USDA last week (.pdf) reported that U.S. corn farmers are on pace to shatter production, yield and supply records this year. USDA's early estimate is for a record production of 14.8 billion bushels with record average yields of 166 bushels per acre (2.0 bushels above trend).
  
  If realized, that would create a total corn supply of 15.7 billion bushels, 2.2 billion higher than in 2011 and, yes, a record.
  
  Of course all of that is just an early estimate – it is only mid-May after all. There's a lot of weather between now and October.
  
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• 13:46

  NEWER Poll: Bruning leads Fischer by 2pts

   »  Leavenworth Street
  A NEWER poll, commissioned by EndingSpending.org — the SuperPac supporting Deb Fischer — shows that Jon Bruning leads Deb Fischer by 2 points. See the results from Wenzel Strategies (referenced by Don Walton earlier) here: Bruning……37.7% Fischer…….35.2% Stenberg…..15.7% Other………..3% Don’t know….8.4% 560 respondents MOE +/- 4.12% See the poll summary memo here. Again, this confirms [...]
  
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• 11:46

  Holy crap! Fischer LEADS Bruning by 5 pts in new poll

   »  Leavenworth Street
  We Ask America has a new poll out showing Deb Fischer up by FIVE points over Jon Bruning. Fischer: 39% Bruning: 34% Stenberg: 18% Elander/Flynn/Zimmerman: 9% Last week’s WAA poll showed the following: Bruning: 42% Fischer: 26% Stenberg: 23% Elander/Flynn/Zimmerman: 9% Note that: WAA polls 1,100 people. This is an automated phone poll, and there [...]
  
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• 09:46

  New EndingSpending ad up for Fischer

   »  Leavenworth Street
  EndingSpending.org, the SuperPac Joe Ricketts is funding up, has a new ad up for Deb Fischer. See it here: You might notice that there is NO B-roll from the Fischer camp contained in this spot, which may be in response to the Bruning campaign’s complaint over the weekend. We have seen media accounts saying that [...]
  
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• 09:27

  BENNINGTON DAZE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

   »  Welcome to Bennington, Nebraska!
  Click the link below to access the schedule. Bennington Daze Schedule – 2012
  
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• 08:35

  Soreness is addicting - by Curt Tomasevicz

   »  Nebraska Corn Kernels
  I can’t remember the last time in my life that I went an entire week without being sore. It seems that my athletic life is a non-stop cycle of soreness and recovery. I guess that this cycle comes in the nature of the sports that I have chosen to play.
  
  I started playing tackle football in 7th grade and I still remember how sore my scrawny neck was after the first day of practice from wearing an over-sized helmet. I must have looked like a bobble-head doll. Even as my muscles began to adapt to wearing the heavy equipment for the first time, my entire body was covered in bruises from the full-contact practices. I learned the importance of “icing” after practice and games.
  
  As I grew older, I continued to abuse my body by playing football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and track in the spring. I remember waking up on Saturday mornings after high school football games and barely being able to roll out of bed. My bones were growing and so the pounding my knees and ankles endured during basketball and track took a toll and added to my cycles of soreness.
  
  Soreness was probably at its peak when I played college football and spent two years as part of the scout team. I think the Blackshirts found a certain joy in punishing the scout team running back (me) play after play. I took (and delivered) some hits that caused my ears to hurt.
  
  Eight years ago, after football, came bobsled. At times, on television, bobsled my look like a gentle sleigh ride on smooth ice, but it is anything but that! A fourteen-hundred pound sled going 90+ miles per hour doesn’t do anything gentle. As a brakeman, I’m in a vulnerable position that can often times cause joint adjustments each time we go down the track. The shaking and vibrating sled causes your head to rattle resulting in that same sore-neck feeling that I experienced fifteen years before in Jr.High football. Any person that has ever taken a real bobsled ride can attest that there is an inevitable soreness that will follow.
  
  Throughout all the sports I have competed in, I also began to spend time in the weight room and, by pushing myself regularly, I found that I could be sore in places that I didn’t even know I had muscles. I found different exercises and lifts to do in the weightroom to increase strength, power, and speed. But with that, came a certain amount of pain. I’ve heard a saying that pain is just weakness leaving the body. But scientifically, when you strengthen muscles with resistance training, you are actually causing tiny tears in the muscle fibers. The pain and soreness that ensues is the body repairing and recovering from those tears. I’m sure every farmer knows how a sore back feels after a day of digging and putting in new fence posts. But after a day or two, as the tiny tears in the muscles recover, the soreness and discomfort goes away.
  
  As crazy as it sounds, I think I’ve become addicted to that type of soreness. I’ve subconsciously taught myself that soreness is a sign of working hard. And hard work breeds success. Soreness is a way to measure gains in strength. If I am not sore after a long workout, I don’t feel that I pushed myself to the limit during that workout. This may not be a healthy approach to training, but I’ve found it is a way that I push myself daily in the off-season.
  
  May and June are crucial months for bobsled training. It’s the time of the year that we can make great gains in strength and speed in the weightroom and on the running track. And although I spend almost as many hours trying to recover from soreness through massages, ice baths, sauna, and even yoga sessions, I know that I’ve become addicted to soreness and that’s what will make a successful bobsled season even more rewarding!
  Click here to watch a video of me doing one squat rep, or here for a video of me doing a power clean - that will prove the soreness!
  
  
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• 08:15

  1). Song of the Day: Eleven22 - ♫ Love ...

   »  Nebraska Youth Ministries
  1). Song of the Day: Eleven22 - ♫ Love Like Fire ♫
  
  2). Blog Entry: Life Lessons
       I lead worship at my church in Grand Island, NE whenever I'm not on the road at other churches in our district. One particular Sunday, I showed up for practice and we didn't have our drummer. We called him, and found out that he had already told the lady that schedules the worship teams that he was unable to play that morning. The reason was because he had committed to only play twice a month, reserving the other Sundays to come to church together with his family, because he lived over 35 miles away. But upon hearing that we had no one else scheduled, he changed his plans and came in to help. He didn't have to do that, he had every reason to honor his commitment, but he still came in because we needed the help. That impressed me, because I may have just stayed home. What would you do?
  
  3). Ministry of the Day: UNK Chi Alpha - This week, I am a regional Chi Alpha leaders conference with other college reps from across the north-central area. Check out our college ministry for students in and around the Kearney area, led by Nate Krizek out of New Life Church.
  
  4). Link of the Day: 123rf - Check out this website which offers great, low-cost stock images for your own promotions and presentations.
  
  5). Quote of the Day: 'Clouds and darkness surround us, yet heaven is just, and the day of triumph will surely come, when justice and truth will be vindicated. Our wrongs will be made right, and we will once more taste the blessings of freedom.' - Mary Todd Lincoln
  
  6). Miscellaneous: Today is National Chicken Dance Day, as well as the deadline for early registration to Youth Camp 1 in Nebraska. It is also the birthday of famous American movie maker George Lucas, from 1944. Finally, it is the anniversary of the day that the Lewis and Clark expedition began its journey up the Missouri River in 1804.
  
  Torta El Pastor, I found yesterday at El Super Burrito in Cedar Rapids, IA
  
  
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• 06:58

  Binding the Basket

   »  Nebraska Views
  I decided I wanted to bind this quilt with the black stripe fabric that I used in the outside border and add a colored piping just to the inside of that binding to add some spark.  Tried out several colors in the quilt for this piping and settled on the gold fabric I used in the narrow inside border.  Of course I didn’t have enough of that gold fabric left but luckily my friend Janet had some left on a bolt in her shop Quilter’s Delight in Holdrege, NE and mailed it to me right away.
  
  Before I could bind it I needed to block it.  The edges were so, so rippled after I finished quilting it but after the blocking they were so nice and flat.  I soaked the quilt in the bathtub in cool water with some Quilt Wash soap to remove the starch that I used on the back of all the fabrics then squeezed the water out with my hands and rinsed several times in cool water.  I treated it very gently since the edges were not finished and sure didn’t want the batting to tear away.  After the rinses I gently squeezed as much water out that I could then rolled it in towels several times to remove more water then laid it out on several layers of bed sheets in the middle of my living room floor and measured it and patted it out  to be as square as possible.  After it was dry I trimmed it up square, easy now that the borders were nice and flat.
  
  For the cording on the inside of the piping I had two sizes on hand here at home.  This is drapery cording in two different sizes.  I made a sample using both of the cords and decided to use the larger cord.  The smaller cording would have worked but wanted a bolder accent that the larger one would add. 
  I used a Bernina 31 foot, which is a pintuck foot, to stitch the cording and it worked great.  I cut the fabric strip wider than I needed and did cut it on the straight of grain which worked but think I would cut my strips on the bias the next time as it did want to stretch on the diagonal somewhat when I stitched it.  I wanted the subtle stripe to end up going straight across the piping instead of on an angle which would have happened if I used bias strips.
  
  Several years ago I purchased this acrylic tool to trim 3 sizes of cording.  The first photo shows the end of the tool – wanted you to see the grooves.  The cording sits in the grooves and then the excess is trimmed off.  Each size of cording can be trimmed for 1/4” seam or 1/2” seam so it is very versatile.  It is only about 8” long but slides along on the cord very easily to cut.  Just after I bought it I thought to myself that this was probably not a wise decision and it might sit un-used in a box for years but I have used it and it makes trimming an even seam allowance so easy.  A regular ruler rocks back and forth on the cording and just doesn’t work well at all.
  

  Trimming the Cording Strip VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

  I use Elmer’s School Glue instead of pins to attach the piping to the quilt before I stitch it.  I use a tiny line of the glue, lay the binding down with the seam edges even with the outside edge of the quilt.  The last step is to press with a dry iron to set the glue.  It holds everything exactly where I want it. I used Susan Cleveland’s method she calls “Piping Hot Binding” to put the piping on my quilt.  She has two excellent YouTube videos showing how she stitches the piping onto her quilts so check them out if you are interested.   “Piping Hot Binding part 1” and “Piping Hot  Binding part 2
  I found Susan’s method so much easier than trying to miter the piping as I had done in the past.  I always felt it added so much bulk to the corners but didn’t know any other method.  With Susan’s method you pull about 1/4” of the cording out and trim it off so the bulk of the cord starts right at the point where it should and none is left in the seam allowance.
   I am thrilled at how the piping looked when I finished the binding.  I got the pop of color I wanted and the corners are great.
  
  Until later,
  Lynn
  
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• Nebraska blogs (US-NE), 05/13/2012
• 22:21

  CycleFest - Sunday, May 20 at Chalco Hills

   »  Omaha Bikes
  The National Safety Council's CycleFest is this Sunday, May 20th from 11:00 – 3:00 at Chalco Hills Recreation area.   Inside the Natural Resources Center will be the Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) teaching riders “To See and Be Seen”; "Click it Don’t Risk It" teaching the importance of always wearing your seats belt with their egg ramp demonstration; Farmers Insurance is providing Child ID Kits; The Leukemia Lymphoma Society is recruiting for their important campaigns and Shuurin Dojo will be providing demos and information about dealing with bullies.
  Outdoors US Foods will be providing grilled hot dogs, buns, condiments, chips, and waters.  The Bike Way is bringing 300 helmets, and three children’s bike to be won by drawing. They will have their technicians helping those 15 and younger with bike safety checks. The GWRRA will also be outside helping with inflating tires and fitting helmets.  A couple of A TEAMS from the Kohl’s Cares for Kids program will be fitting helmets along with a few others from NMHC. There will be free face painting for kids of all ages. Omaha Bikes instructors will be teaching about hand and arm signals and other ways to stay safe when riding. The bike and trike rodeo is being taught by the Sarpy County Sherriff’s Department and Omaha Police Department. Douglas CC will also be providing some volunteers.
  
  In addition to the items to be given away by The Bike Way, the AAA Motor Club Foundation will give away a four “Ride N Slide” passes to Oceans and Worlds of Fun along with travelers checks to cover other costs of a mini vacation.
  
  If you are a cyclist and have time to help with OmahaBikes's portion of this event, please contract Mark Siepker via this blog.
  
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• 20:43

  Tenacious Ladies of Tuesday

   »  Group Ride Omaha
  MTB ride, Tuesday (5/15), Swanson, 6:00 p.m. All levels welcome!
  
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• 09:45

  Fischer and Bruning battle

   »  Leavenworth Street
  The three-day campaign between Deb Fischer and Jon Bruning is reaching its boiling point. And don’t think that Don Stenberg, though seemingly relegated to third place, will be quitting any time soon. So the latest media updates come from Deb Fischer who has been sending out a robocall from Sarah Palin. Hear it here: This [...]
  
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• 07:10

  Red Tulips

   »  Nebraska Views
  
  Happy Mother's Day
  Until Later,Lynn
  
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• Nebraska blogs (US-NE), 05/12/2012
• 23:15

  Saturday 120512

   »  CrossFit Omaha
  WOD
  
  All Classes This Morning Will Be Open Gym and there is also Pilates at 8am.
  
  My goal is to help each and every one of you at the movement of your choice. Let's #getafterit.
  
  Also, be sure to get your butts over to Varsity Sports Cafe in Dundee for our CFGCentralEast Regional watch party. It starts at 11am and CFO member Miss Hannah Bretz will be bringing some tasty paleo treats via her awesome new company, Paleo Baking Co.
  
  Don't miss out. Any last takers should email Jenn Grass at crossfitomahaevents@gmail.com.
  
  
  Mac, oh Mac, whatever are you doing? Ha.
  
  How many people know or have met Mac Gills? This guy's got a sweet sense of humor and is making some moves in the gym. He's getting better at so many things so very fast. Look for him to make a dent come the Open next year.
  
  It's good to know you Mr. Gills.
  
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• 09:45

  Joe Ricketts SLAMS Bruning, buys ads for Fischer

   »  Leavenworth Street
  AmeriTrade founder Joe Ricketts, on behalf of an organization called “Ending Spending“, has made a significant media buy in the Omaha and Lincoln markets on behalf of Deb Fischer’s Senate campaign. First see this HARSH (devastating?) anti-Bruning ad, entitled, “Anyone but Bruning”, here: Next see the positive Fischer ad here: The OWH reported on Friday [...]
  
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• 09:38

  New Listing - Pristine & Gorgeous 2 Story on Corner Lot near Elementary School

   »  Angela May's Omaha Nebraska Real Estate Blog

  Pristine & Gorgeous 2 Story on Corner Lot near Elementary School
  1902 Savannah Dr, Papillion, NE 68133
  	Pristine and Gorgeous 2 Story Home on Corner Lot near an Elementary School! Large Formal Living Room, Dining Room. The Eat-in Kitchen offers Granite Counters, a Breakfast Bar, Ample Cabinets and opens to the Family Room that features a Fireplace and Wood Flooring. The Stunning Master Suite boasts a Trey Ceiling and a Lush, Updated Bath that will have you looking forward to every morning! The Finished Lower Level includes New Carpet, a true 5th Bedroom, a Dry Bar and a Rec Room that is perfect for Entertaining. Outside, the home features a Huge, Flat Fenced Yard with a Pergola Covered Patio, Mature Trees, Storage Shed, Garden Area, Sprinkler System, a 2 Car Garage and more!
  Click to View Show
  Details		Contact Info
  Asking Price: MLS: Sq. Feet: Bedrooms: Bathrooms: # of Floors: Garage Size: Subdivision: Year Built:	$225,000 21208326 2,835 5 3 3 2 Eagle Ridge 1997		Angela May's Husker Home Finders Realtor Main 402-333-5008 Dir 402-709-4908 Email | Website Other Shows
  Property Amenities
  - Range/Oven - Sink Disposal - Microwave - Dishwasher - Fireplace - Kitchen Island - Hardwood floors - Vaulted Ceilings	- Basement - Patio - Grass Lawn - Yard - Fenced Yard - Tool Shed - Central A/C	- Central Heat - Walk-in closet - Family room - Living room - Bonus/rec room - Dining Room - Granite Countertops

  
  
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• 07:37

  Amaryllis

   »  Nebraska Views
  
  I planted my amaryllis bulbs in my flower beds last summer then dug them up and put them in the garage for the winter.  I usually pot them up in January or February so I can have blooms in the late winter but forgot about then until the first of April.  I have two bulbs, one that bloomed last year and is the first one to bloom this year.  It is peach colored and the blooms are larger than one of my hands with my fingers spread as wide as I can.  The blooms are huge and so beautiful!
  The flower stems came up so fast and is so pretty blooming sitting in my family room window.  This photo shows only two of the blossoms open but now there are 4 open with another one to go, all on this one stem.This amaryllis flower stem is probably 2 feet tall and even though it is planted in a heavy pot the stem was really leaning over.  It was leaning about 45 degrees and was threatening to un-pot itself.  I first backed a chair up to it gently keeping it in an upright position.  Of course the chair blocked the view so had to figure out something else.My solution was to tie a length of yarn to the window screen clasps.  So far that is working for this one.  The other isn’t nearly as tall but not bloom quite yet either so will watch it for leaning problems too.  You can see the replacement heifer pen in the background across the driveway.  (These are heifers that are 1 year old and will become cows next year and are called replacement heifers as they will replace old cows that John will cull from the herd.)  They have to be kept in a different pen than the cows that are having calves as they still remember nursing and will find their mothers and try nursing, often succeeding, robbing milk that is needed by the new calf.
  This is the other amaryllis that is getting close to blooming.  Last year the bulb that I bought didn’t bloom and was supposed to have a red flower  so I am wondering if it will be red or another peach one.  Time will tell.  I hope it is blooming by the time I go to Paducah.
  
  (As you can tell I wrote this before I left for Paducah and forgot to post it.  Yes, they both bloomed before I left  and were exactly the same color.  Drats!  As I am writing this both bulbs shot up another flower stalk and are ready to bloom again.  I will have to look for a red one when they go on sale near Christmas this year.)
  Until Later,
  Lynn
  
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• Nebraska blogs (US-NE), 05/11/2012
• 22:48

  Friday 120511

   »  CrossFit Omaha
  WOD
  Skill/Strength
  
  Ring Row Drill
  
  In small groups to a set of rings, practice this movement starting out at 8 reps, then when you come up in the rotation again, do 7 reps, followed by 6 reps, and so on until you reach 1 rep.
  
  Follow the drill exactly as seen in the video if you plan on using a false grip. If you would like to forgo the false grip in lieu of a regular grip, you will keep most everything the same except you will lead with the hips before doing a super fast sit up in order to allow the transition to occur. In either movement, you must keep the legs fully extended and only the HEEL of the foot touching the ground at all times in order for the drill to be effective (no standing up).
  
  
  
  Conditioning
  
  For time:
  Run 800 meters
  25 Pistol w/ Roll, alternating
  15 Hang Cleans, 225#/136#
  
  For the pistols, the prescribed method will be two feet during the descent, one foot during the ascent (watch vid for demo). Scaled weights are 198#/121#, 176#/109#, 154#/99#, 132#/77#. Cut-off is 12 minutes.
  
  Post all results to comments/Logwod.
  
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• 16:33

  Happy Mother's Day!

   »  Angela May's Omaha Nebraska Real Estate Blog
  
  
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• 14:41

  One Great Experience!

   »  Nebraska Corn Kernels
  It is hard to believe that it has been a year since I started interning with the Nebraska Corn Board and my time as an intern is about to come to an end. Words can’t even describe the type of experience I have had, which has ranged from learning about all the different issues facing corn farmers to seeing the opportunities that are available for future generations. It was also a great experience being able to serve over 23,000 Nebraska corn farmers who participate in the corn checkoff along with working for a great board and staff! For my last blog post on the Nebraska Corn Kernels, I would like to share with you some of the things I learned and also where I think the future of agriculture is heading.
  First, the most important thing I learned while being an intern with the Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) is the need for a checkoff program. Before being an intern, I knew a little bit about the corn checkoff but never really understood the role it played in the corn industry. However, that quickly changed as I began my internship. I started learning the different things the corn board was doing to add value to Nebraska’s corn. This ranged from promoting the usage of ethanol to creating new products that can be made from corn, such as cups, golf tees, and yes, even clothes!
  I also learned that the NCB works closely with the different livestock groups to insure that livestock producers are getting a high quality product that can either come from corn grain or distiller grains. The NCB also educates the public about the sustainability of corn farmers by using social media and doing other promotions around the state.
   Some of the other things I learned more about throughout the year were the importance of ethanol, how to use social media effectively, and how different policies can have an impact on the corn industry. Before interning with the corn board, I didn’t know much about ethanol and didn’t realize how important it is to Nebraska’s economy. I never realized how beneficial it can be to both drivers and the environment. I also learned that we do have the chance to decrease our dependence on foreign oil and buy a fuel made right here in America that is both cheaper and environmentally friendlier.
  Not only did I learn about the importance of ethanol, but I also learned how important social media is to the agriculture industry today. It is a great way for farmers and ranchers to share their story about what they do and it helps close the growing disconnect between the farm and the plate. Along with learning more about social media and ethanol, I also learned how different policies can have a major impact on corn farmers. One of the policies that I heard a lot about this last year was the expiration of the VEETC (Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit), which would remove the blenders’ credit for ethanol. There was a lot of debate on whether or not this would end up hurting the ethanol industry, which could in turn end up hurting corn farmers. VEETC did expire and as of right now, it doesn’t seem to be having too much of an impact on corn farmers.
  As I close out on my last blog, I just want to leave you with my opinion on where I think the future of agriculture is heading, especially the future of the corn industry. While I truly do believe agriculture does have a bright future, there is no doubt in my mind that farmers are going to face challenges on many different levels. These challenges will range from a growing disconnect between the consumer and the farmer to much more volatile markets. Farmers will overcome the challenge of the growing disconnect between them and consumers by being more open on what they do and put a face to their products. Consumers want to know who is growing their food, and if farmers start putting their face on the products they grow, consumers will become more confident in the food they purchase. When it comes to volatile markets, farmers are going to need to know how to manage risk. It won’t be like how it was 10 years ago or even today where farmers can get away without managing risk. Overall the future of agriculture looks to be bright!
  You can follow Lance on his new blog called “A Growing Passion”.
  
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• 13:45

  Better Know a Candidate

   »  Leavenworth Street
  We have a couple of additions in our last minute “Better Know a Candidate” series. (From candidates who actually, you know, responded to our request for info.) First is John Ravenscroft running in District 43, out of Valentine. This is part of Deb Fischer’s old district, covers 13 counties and is larger than the State [...]
  
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• 12:54

  I Wear Navy on the Outside When I Feel Navy on the Inside

   »  Princess Nebraska
  I took about six thousand pictures of this outfit before I decided that this t shirt was just unflattering and I should get rid of it.  I will learn an “$8 I don’t wear an XL t shirt at Old Navy” lesson and move on.  Also, I always buy boat neck shirts and then I [...]
  
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• 11:45

  Weekend warriors

   »  Leavenworth Street
  Lots of info over the past 24 hours. You never know what will happen next. Things are relatively quiet on the Senate front at the moment, but that could change at any time. *** We were notified that Jon Bruning was supposed to record an interview on Tom Becka’s new KKAR show today, but that, [...]
  
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• 11:00

  May is Military Appreciation Month!

   »  Angela May's Omaha Nebraska Real Estate Blog
  The Husker Home Finder Team would like to extend our gratitude to military members who are serving, have served, and to the families that have supported them!
  
  
  
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• 10:44

  The Cheers for Reunion 10

   »  Genealogy Lines
  As an avid Mac user, I have anxiously awaited a major upgrade of Leister Pro's Reunion software.  At last it is available.  I am not disappointed in the least.  There are some things they could have added, such as conformity to Elizabeth Shown Mills' sourcing in Evidence Explained.  Some researchers use her sourcing and some do not.  However, most of the commercial genealogy software, if not all, have the benefit of using her methods an styles.
  
  

  Reunion 10 - Family View

  Tree View Pedigree - Reunion 10

  There are so many new features in Reunion 10 that your head will be spinning.  After downloading Reunion 10, I began converting my existing Reunion 9 family files.  This appeared to go without a hitch, but took some time since I have many family files.  Once I opened a file, I was greeted with photographs and photographs.  If you have a photograph for a person, whether the parents, grandparents or children, it will appear on the Family View.  The Tree View allows you to see the information in a pedigree or hour glass format.  It is great for understanding the pedigree of a person.
  
  What used to be a menu bar across the top is now the Sidebar on the left of the Family View.  Clicking on any of the features, such as Tree View, Charts, Find, Change, etc. will bring up a more extensive menu.  In addition, you can navigate to other important menu items such as Multimedia, Relatives, Places, Bookmarks and Clipboard, all of which appear to the right of the Family View.  You can open and close that area as needed.
  
  

  Reunion 10 - Places

  Two features I enjoy are Places and Web Searching.  After clicking on Places in the sidebar, all of the places you have entered will pop up to the right.  You can then locate them or GEO code them.  Reunion uses either Google Maps or Bing to show the location.  You can correct locations directly from the Place list.  In addition by clicking on one of the locations, you will learn who has that location within your family file.
  
  

  Where relatives lived - Aylesford, Kent, England.

  In the rectangle showing your ancestor there is a small inverted triangle on the top right side.  Opening that produces a number of options, such a showing all of the places for that individual and locating the map.  Under Search the Web you van determine the areas you wish to search.  Some of those listed are Ancestry.com, FindAGrave, World Connect, World Vital Records and Fold3.  Experimenting with this produced some records I did not have, probably because I had not gotten around to checking Fold3.
  
  If you have used Reunion in the past, this should not produce a learning curve.  However, it does take time to explore all of the option and features, then put them to use.  It is helpful to watch the three videos available on their web page.  They are The Top 10 New Features in Reunion 10, Changes in Reunion 10 and Installing Reunion 10.  If you also have an iPad, you do not need to upgrade the software as it will continue to upload from either Reunion 9 or Reunion 10.
  
  Thanks Leister Pro for upgrading Reunion!
  
  
  
  
  
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• 08:37

  1). Song of the Day: Woke up singing ...

   »  Nebraska Youth Ministries
  1). Song of the Day: Woke up singing this song this morning: ♫ My Soul Sings ♫
  
  2). Leader Profile: Amy Braunberger
  
  
  
  POSITION: Pastors wife in Crete, NE Girls Ministries Director
  HISTORY: Graduated from Trinity Bible College
  FAMILY: Married to Brent, with 3 boys
  HOBBIES: Music, Hanging with Family. Traveling
  
  3). Ministry of the Day: Nebraska Girls Retreat - Check out this retreat at our campgrounds JUST FOR GIRLS, the first weekend of June.
  
  4). Link of the Day: Street Sign Generator - Design and display your own street signs
  
  5). Quote of the Day: 'Humility is a key factor in reaching a lost world.' -Barnabas Mtokambali
  
  6). Miscellaneous: Today is National Childcare Provider Day. It is also the birthday of famous American football player Cam Newton, from 1989. Finally, it is the anniversary of the day that Alexander became emperor of the Byzantine Empire in 912 AD
  
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• 07:28

  Stitching the Design and Removing the Water Soluble Film

   »  Nebraska Views
  The last blog repeat, this time from November 20, 2011.  Wanted to follow up right away and not make you click back links to read.  Just ignore if you are not interested in re-reading a past post.
  
  I used a shiny gold colored thread and followed the lines on the water soluble film as best I could.  I did find it made the edge of the quilt a little stiff so I wobbled every once in a while.  Of course I might have wobbled anyway as I am not an expert machine quilter but why not use that as an excuse – ha, ha!
  
  Since the water soluble film was quite heavy it didn’t want to tear off the stitches.  I didn’t want to wet the entire film to remove it so came up with an alternate method.  I first used a regular paint brush and a cup of water and just painted the lines of stitching.  The plastic could be lifted off the un-stitched areas slick as could be.  As I was using the paint brush I remembered I bought a Yasutomo Niji Waterbrush at Paducah that I had never used with the water color pencils also unused.    (Must get them out and actually use them soon.)  I dug the brush out of my drawer of miscellaneous quilt stuff and put it to work.  It was nice not to have to dip my brush into water all the time, just had to give this waterbrush a little squeeze to get more water into the bristles.
  To fill it you unscrew the top and squeeze the barrel while holding it under water.  As the brush gets dry the soft plastic barrel is squeezed to re-saturate the brush.  I just painted the stitching lines and that was enough to melt the plastic so the rest could be removed with the small hemostats I used to grab the pieces to remove them.
  
  
  
  Of course there are tiny bits left but when I wash this quilt the rest should all dissolve and wash away.  This removal took a little time but really wasn’t too bad, especially when I did it while watching TV.  I had a little mess of tiny pieces to vacuum up around my chair when I was finished though.
  
  After getting all the plastic film off the quilt borders I examined my stitching.  The parts that were really squiggly and wiggly I removed and re-quilted them.  I traced the original stitching lines with that same white chubby crayon that comes off when ironed to mark where the stitching would be re-stitched. 
  The next step I will take when all the boo-boos are fixed is to echo quilt around my feathered designs.  I will be using black thread so it doesn’t detract from my feathers and make the feathers stand out more.  I am thinking this may take a while and right now I don’t know how many rows I will be doing until I actually start stitching it.  Don’t look for a report on that stitching as I will probably keep the rest a secret until the unveiling in May 2012.  I know, it is unfair to get teased about this quilt and not get to see it and if I knew for sure none of quilt guild members read this blog I would be more open about showing everything right now.
  
  This has been a fun quilt to work on so far.  Have been thinking about what I want to do next but right now have no idea.  I could start working on the program I am going to give for my quilt guild in January – Tips and Tricks for Making Bags/Purses.  I have lots of ideas and things I want to show and tell about but need to get it all organized and probably should start soon.  I want to make samples, compile lists of resources for patterns, and relay other tips and tricks I have picked up when making bags.  I like doing programs as I always learn so much so volunteer to give programs on something I want to know more about.  Our guild has only about 30 members and have a variety of programs but can't afford to bring in big name quilters so have a lot of member given programs.  They cover a big variety of subjects and everyone appreciates the work put in to prepare.  The more I type about this program the more I am convinced I had better start as time will go quickly the next couple of months.
  
   Until Later,
  Lynn
  
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• Nebraska blogs (US-NE), 05/10/2012
• 23:08

  Thursday 120510

   »  CrossFit Omaha
  WOD
  Rest Day
  
  There will be Pilates at the 4:30 time slot. Sign up on MindBody if you plan on attending. Also, feel free to attend the 5:30 or 6:30 classes in addition to the Pilates class.
  
  
  A great pic of Jess Blake doing split squats yesterday. I really enjoy seeing this lady around the gym. She's a hard worker, has come a long ways since first starting, and just makes 9am class that much better with her presence. Thanks for allowing us to be your coaches, Jess.
  ______________________________________
  If you want to stay up to date on all things happening with your community and have a Facebook account, make sure you find the gym and like us. There are many cool things we've been doing lately and we spill the beans there first. Check us out on Twitter too at @CrossFitOmaha and @WomenofCFO
  Last but not least, I may have some really cool news concerning MindBody later today so stay tuned to Facebook and Twitter for that info. I'll release here too on Friday's post.
  
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• 15:57

  Ten HUGE Buyer Mistakes to Avoid

   »  Teresa Elliott - Selling Luxury, Executive Homes in Omaha, NE
  
  
  Watch on your mobile device >>
  
  Buying Too Much HouseIt is important to be able to enjoy your new home. One of the biggest blunders that inexperienced or overzealous buyers make is to jump right in and get way too much house. How much is too much?  If your mortgage is going to burn a hole in your income more than 35%, then it’s time to reconsider. Make sure you can afford to pay recurring expenses while leaving some room to breathe in the process. Just because you may have prequalified for a certain amount does not mean you can “afford” that much house.
  Skipping a Home InspectionWe have all seen the horror stories broadcast across home television networks – so much so that there are teams of people trying to educate homebuyers on the importance of a home inspection. What can you stand to lose by skipping the inspection?  Anything from faulty structure to chemical exposure or pest infestation or more – can set you back thousands or tens of thousands. Better to be safe and spend a few hundred dollars than to be sorry.
  Not Getting Everything in WritingJust because a seller said you would get to keep the swings set does not necessarily mean you will get it – unless you have it in writing. Too many buyers fail to get things put into a formal contract. In fact, many brokers and agents have specific forms to avoid just that. Make sure every agreed upon item is formally written down, signed by both parties and includes any necessary details.
  Not Doing HomeworkYou can never have too much information when buying a house. In fact, knowing as much as possible about the property, its history, surroundings, neighborhood and community are instrumental in making the right decision. Another important thing to know is current local market conditions. What are other homes in the area selling for?  What is the life of the average property in the neighborhood?  Are prices stable and is it a sellers’ market or buyer-controlled?  A quality, experienced Realtor will help you find out all this and more relevant information – key to finding the perfect home.
  Buying the Most Expensive House in the NeighborhoodEven though it may seem like a good purchase – buying the most expensive home on the block is not the best move to make. No matter what you think your long term intentions are for the home, just the chance that you may want to sell in the future is enough to forego buying the priciest home in the neighborhood. Consider this: if you do end up moving, sellers will be turned off by the most expensive price tag making it harder to sell. Not only that, the home’s value is also dependent on other homes in the area – something that could backfire eventually.
  Moving Too QuicklySince buying a home is the largest financial transaction in most people’s lives, it is important for them to pace themselves. Hastily acting on the first home you see will limit you from countless options. While there should be a reasonable limit – it’s a good idea to see more homes than fewer. If you have a list of must-have items, try to achieve all or most of them in your search. You can’t do that if you jump at the first home and sign the dotted line too quickly.
  Buying a Misfit HouseA lot of buyers are wooed by the lifestyle and living arrangements of the homes as displayed by sellers. Once they move in, they realize things like the oversized lawn is way too much work or that the high-end finishes are too much to maintain with their young family. It is essential to keep your lifestyle in mind when searching for your next home. The last thing you need is to regret or feel buyer’s remorse when it’s too late.
  Forgetting to Zoom OutMany buyers are enticed by the number of rooms a home has, a high-end kitchen or the home’s spaciousness, without considering other aspects of living there. When they have moved in and realize their next-door neighbor runs a daycare or the nearest grocery store is twenty minutes away – they regret it. Remember to research the surroundings in the area to make sure that it’s still your dream home even after zooming out of just the house itself.
  Failing to Protect ThemselvesThere is a reason for contingencies in an offer and without them things can get messy. When buyers neglect to outline the terms or if they choose to waive some important contingencies in the interest of securing the home, they are taking a huge risk. Common contingencies not to forego are the right to a home inspection prior to sale with the sale dependent on inspection results or availability of financing or setting a move-in date that coincides with the sale of the buyer’s previous home.
  Foregoing Prequalification and PreapprovalDriving around and looking for a good home is fine but when it comes time to getting serious about the sale, unless you are prequalified and preapproved, you could easily get the short end of the stick. Buyers that don’t pay much attention to this important buying strategy actually end up losing their dream homes because the seller chose to accept the offer from someone that did this important step. Prequalification allows you to know your budget range according to the lenders’ calculations made based on your income, etc. A preapproval is a written statement from your bank saying that you have been preapproved for a loan. Sellers prefer offers that come with both, especially in today’s housing industry with savvy homeowners and buyers.
  Do you want to make sure everything you’re doing is spot on?  Call or visit us today so we can review your options, help you determine what your perfect home is and introduce you to your new home!
  
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• 15:45

  Fortenberry endorses Fischer

   »  Leavenworth Street
  Wow. Can a campaign lose by a thousand cuts? Deb Fischer is seeing if that can happen (to the Jon Bruning campaign) in the LAST week of the GOP Senate race in Nebraska. First an endorsement by Sarah Palin. And now, 1st District Congressman Jeff Fortenberry steps up and spends some political capital, as well [...]
  
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• 15:45

  Bruning goes negative; Stenberg concedes 3rd place?

   »  Leavenworth Street
  Jon Bruning has TWO new ads up. But as of this writing, only one of them is up on the official Bruning YouTube site (and we’re doing our best to sound like a very skeptical Joe Jordan here). First, the negative spot, here: In this piece, the ad names Don Stenberg AND Deb Fischer by [...]
  
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• 15:23

  Jake's Friday Tapping: Lincoln- New Belgium Tart Lychee / Omaha- Ommegang Witte‏

   »  Nebraska Beer
  
  Friday (5/11) tapping parties for the Lincoln & Omaha Jake's
  
  
  
  LINCOLN JAKE'S: It's the Lincoln Jake's turn for a crack at 'Tart Lychee', New Belgium Lips of Faith's newest release.  Another unique blend of sour ale aged in oak, Tart Lychee was made with the addition of Lychee fruit and cinnamon.
  Brewery Description: "According to Lauren [Salazar], the imaginator of this pucker-pleasing ale, lychee fruit is so insanely sweet and flavorful you almost can’t stand it alone. Sour to the rescue! The combination of our barrel-aged sour beer, lychee fruit puree, and cinnamon sticks pours a frothy head of tart perfection."
  
  5:00 pm Jake's Lincoln (14th & P St.)
  
  
  
  OMAHA JAKE'S: Let's face it, the weather seems to be getting ready to punish us for the mild winter we enjoyed, but have no fear, because Omaha will be tapping one of the most refreshing beers we can think of, Ommegang Witte from Cooperstown, New York.
  Brewery Description: "Once the hard work is done, especially after a long hot day in the sun, WItte will bring you back to life.  Maybe that's because Witte itself comes from a beer style that was resurrected from extinction until an ambitious Belgian brewer revived it nearly three decades ago.  Our version is uniquely refreshing and uniquely Ommegang.  We make it a little less sweet so there's more of a wheat tang in the finish.  Let it replenish you in the summer.  Or when you want to be reminded of summer."
  5:30 pm Jake's Omaha (62nd & Maple [feeds.feedburner.com]

  
  

  
  
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• 14:19

  Catching Air on the Keystone

   »  Omaha Bikes
  Earlier this week I was able to catch some big air while riding on the Keystone Trail just north of Blondo. It reminded me of the good old days building bike ramps when I was young. Of course I also wanted to be Evel Knievel when I was a kid. Boy those were good times, until I face planted on the street... making it less good.
  
  Now I realize not everyone wants to catch big air while commuting to work on a bike, especially while pulling a youngster behind them in a trailer or hauling a load of groceries (including eggs). So for those folks we have prepared the information below.
  
  Over the weekend, a section of the Keystone trail buckled and created a one foot heave in the cement (forming a perfect ramp that is a blast if you hit it at speed...). This is a fairly drastic buckle and it's steeper on the South side of the heave. If you use the Keystone and travel North of Blondo, please use caution. Also note that the North side of this buckle has a large hole on the West side that did not buckle upwards with the rest of the cement.
  
  Here is a picture that doesn't do the height of this buckle justice:
  
  
  
  Status of repair:
  
  The City of Omaha's Park & Recreation Department (they handle trail repairs/maintenance) has been contacted. The buckle should be marked and blocked off today. Cement repairs should be made next week.
  
  You may need to use the surface street East of the trail if it is not possible to get around the barricade. If you're going north, you can exit the trail just South of Blondo, take the sidewalk to Keystone Drive and follow Keystone Drive North to Maple Street where you can get back on the trail via the trail access just South of Maple. Reverse those instructions if you are heading south.
  
  For future reference, you can report other Omaha trail issues to Denis Bryers at 402-444-3798 or email him at "DBryers {AT} ci.omaha.ne.us". Please provide the exact location of the trail issue and provide a picture if you can. Denis is a great guy and he will do the best job he can with the resources he has available. You can also find some other trail projects on the Parks & Recreation Trails page. They update this page from time to time with upcoming or current trail repairs.
  
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• 11:49

  Que

   »  Omaha Lens
  Quest for the Quintessential 'Que
  Enjoyed good barbeque yesterday at Famous Dave's in Omaha, but it was not the quintessential barbeque that I'm searching for here in the Heartland. When visiting back home in Texas, I know the good spots for 'que, such as some of those in the city of Lockhart. It's worth driving miles out of way for those ribs, brisket and sausage. I've tried most, but not all the barbeque places in the Omaha area, so my quest contimues. After all, not much better for cooling down on hot summer days than sitting under the shade trees with friends and family enjoying tasty 'que, ice-cold beer and swapping a sea story or two.
  
  Contributor to
   ABC Wednesday
  Sky Watch Friday
  
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• 11:45

  New Stenberg spot and more

   »  Leavenworth Street
  Don Stenberg has a new ad up. See it here: This is a very good spot, just Don talking to the camera. It has pretty much been him and Bruning talking to the camera, stating who is more conservative and throwing out a few points. This is a good piece by Stenberg, and is a [...]
  
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• 11:19

  Empyrean Brewing new year round offering in bottles - IPA

   »  Nebraska Beer
  
  Empyrean Brewing Co. has started bottling an IPA for sale year round.  I think I will speak for most people here and say, AWESOME!!  Always good to see new additions to lineups and even better to production lineups.  I will be looking for this on the shelf.
  
  If any one has had this beer please give us a review in the comments section.  Thanks [feeds.feedburner.com]

  
  

  
  
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• 10:58

  We are indeed wild about our volunteers. ...

   »  Nebraska Nature and Visitor Center - Green Shoe Diaries Blog
  We are indeed wild about our volunteers. They make it happen here on so many levels. Thank you!
  
  
  
  
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• 07:33

  1). Song of the Day: Luminate - ♫ Banner ...

   »  Nebraska Youth Ministries
  1). Song of the Day: Luminate - ♫ Banner of Love ♫
  
  2). Blog Entry: Testimonies
       - Last week I had the privilege of attending North Central University's Graduation. Two of our NYM students graduated - Kim Hassebrook of Lincoln, and Michael Durham of Omaha. Congratulations!
       - Red Cloud, NE is going to receive an award for being the #125 best church in missions giving in churches their size across the US. This is a list that has 9,000 churches. Again, congratulations.
  
  3). Ministry of the Day: National Fine Arts Archives - Check out the records of our past National Festivals across the US. Registration Deadline for this year is May 24th.
  
  4). Link of the Day: Wallpapers - InterfaceLIFT lists wallpapers you can pick up to display with your media and presentations.
  
  5). Quote of the Day: 'Our success in the present becomes our detriment to our future' -Ron McManus
  
  6). Miscellaneous: Today is National Windmill Day. It is also the birthday of Luke Storer (pastor in Mullen, NE), a distinction he shares with Roman Emperor Claudius II from 213 AD. Finally, it is the anniversary of the day that Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as South Africa's first black president in 1994.
  
  Jim Gerhold, pastor in Sidney, at Kids Convention, The Crossing, March
  
  
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• 06:46

  Transferring the Quilting Lines

   »  Nebraska Views
  Here is another repeat blog post from November 14, 2011  where I shared the border marking techniques and tools I used.
  
  
  Yesterday I showed you the design I am going to use on the border quilting and today I am going to share how I got that design onto the black basted quilt border.  I thought about making a stencil but didn’t want the work of cutting all those channels so came up with another idea.I cut a piece of water soluble plastic like material and laid it over the quilting design I had drawn.  I don’t know what the brand name of this plastic film is but have had it a long time and think I remember buying it in the machine embroidery section of the fabric store.  It is heavier than Solvy, another product that looks like clear plastic and dissolves in water.I marked the design with the Chubby Crayon by Miracle Chalk.  It feels like a crayon, marks white marks on fabric or this plastic and the website says has chalk in it too that will disappear with heat from an iron.  I don’t think I need it to disappear since I am marking on the plastic but didn’t want to use a regular crayon in case some marks might transfer over to the black fabric.
  

  Transferring the Quilting Lines VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

  I taped the plastic stuff (sure wish I could remember what it is called) to my newsprint design and traced the design with the Chubby Crayon.  I drew the outside registration marks with a pink permanent marker (follow the arrow to see the line) to make it easier to line up straight on the border.  You can see the marks after I put a purple folder under the plastic.
  
  I used safety pins to attach the plastic to the border, centering it as I pinned.  I did remove the hand basting on that black border as I wouldn’t be able to get it out before crossing over it and stitching it down.
  
  I did cut the corner design off and positioned it exactly on the corner of the border as it was just a little off and I can extend the quilting lines to get it all connected I hope. 
  I have all 4 sides pinned and ready to quilt and am anxious to find out if my “great idea” will turn out like I hope it will.  I do have it pinned down pretty flat so hope I don’t get any tucks or pleats.  I will let you know how the quilting goes on this border right away and won’t make you wait until the big reveal in May.
  
  
  Until Later,
  Lynn
  
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• Nebraska blogs (US-NE), 05/09/2012
• 22:53

  Wednesday 120509

   »  CrossFit Omaha
  WOD
  Skill/Strength
  
  Bulgarian Split Squats (front rack position)
  
  After a thorough warm-up including both empty barbell and weighted sets, perform 4 working sets of 6 reps each leg, sets across. You have about a 10# window upon which you can move up but anything higher than that and it becomes your first set and you must complete 3 more sets with that new weight. Four minute clock. Compare to 120125.
  
  Conditioning
  
  As many reps/rounds as possible in 6 minutes of:
  Run 100 meters
  8 Single Arm DB Thrusters, 50#/35#
  
  Rest 2 minutes.
  
  As many reps/rounds as possible in 6 minutes of:
  25 Double Unders
  12M/8F Hand Release Push ups
  
  Rest 2 minutes.
  
  As many reps/rounds as possible in 6 minutes of:
  15 Air Squats
  8M/4F Pull ups
  
  For single arm db thrusters, run, do all 8 with one arm, run, do all 8 with other arm, and so on.
  
  Post all results to comments/Logwod.
  
  
  The Dos Equis & Double Under crew. What a fun night? For those that were there, what will you remember most?
  
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• 20:09

  Genealogy Award

   »  Nebraska Roots and Ramblings

  Nebraska Genealogist of the Year 2011

  On Friday, May 4th at the Nebraska State Genealogical Society Annual Conference, I received the award of Nebraska Genealogist of the Year, 2011.  The conference was held in Grand Island, Nebraska.
  
  I am humbled to receive this from my peers.  From an assignment in genealogy in 4th grade my genealogical research and studies have blossomed.  There are others in the state as well deserving of the award.  And to those who would like to receive such an award, keep trying and achieving.  Genealogy is a learning process ... daily learning.  Then apply what you learn!
  
  A special thank you to the Nebraska State Genealogical Society for presenting me with this award.
  
  ------- Ruby
  
  
  
  
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• 15:48

  Culture pops up in the strangest places

   »  Opera Omaha
  
  
  Members of the Opera Omaha Chorus with guest soloists, tenor, Adam Fieldson and soprano, Shelby VanNordstrand, delighted travelers and staff at Omaha's Eppley Airfield with a pop up concert. It's like a flash mob done in opera style. Watch the video for a great view of the event. Enjoy!
  
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• 15:32

  A Note From the Shameless Commerce Division

   »  Princess Nebraska
  So I finally girded up my loins and cleaned out the FOUR (four!) tubs of too small clothing that I’ve been hauling around with me for the last several years just in case I accidentally got a tape worm and lost sixty pounds.  I saved some of it that I just can’t bear to get [...]
  
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• 13:46

  NHC First Round Winners!

   »  Nebraska Beer
  
  The first round results for this year's National Homebrew Competition have been posted. You can see the lists here. These winning homebrews will now move on to the second and final round which takes place June 21st. I did a quick search of each region's results looking for any Nebraskan homebrewers who placed. Here's what I found (hopefully I didn't miss anyone!):
  
  
  

  Brewer(s)	Place	Category
  Thomas Malowski	1	1A: Light American Lager
  Thomas Malowski	2	1B: Standard American Lager
  Thomas Malowski	1	6A: Cream Ale
  Scott Schneider	1	9D: Irish Red Ale
  Kevin and Marcia Kroll	2	9E: Strong Scotch Ale
  Matthew Misfeldt	2	11C: Northern English Brown
  Thomas Malowski	2	15B: Dunkelweizen
  John Whisler/Thomas Malowski	1	16C: Saison
  John Whisler	1	18E: Belgian Dark Strong Ale
  Thomas Malowski	1	22B: Other Smoked Beer
  Mike Klimek	1	22C: Wood-Aged Beer
  Brian Leising	3	22C: Wood-Aged Beer
  Jason McLaughlin	3	25C: Other Fruit Melomel

  
  
  As far as clubs go, the Railroaders, South Omaha Brewers, OmaHops, Lincoln Lagers, and The Brewing Network were all represented. Nice work guys! Good luck in the second round [feeds.feedburner.com]

  
  

  
  
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• 13:24

  Pies & Pints

   »  Top 5 Nebraska
  We have found a new casual date-night favorite.  Pies and Pints:  located in Lincoln's Haymarket.  This is a fun little pizza pub located in the basement below Maggie's Vegetarian Wraps.  They have an excellent selection of beer and the pizza is unique, without being too weird.  Dustin always orders the "Flaming Head" pizza and I get the "Wisconsin's Best," which is about the exact opposite of Dustin's spicy choice.
  The atmosphere is different than most places in the Haymarket.  It is sports-themed, but not annoyingly so and has a nice amount of televisions.  We have never been there when it was busy, but I can imagine they run out of table space pretty quickly.  The first few times we went, the service was great; fast and friendly.  But the last time was a different story.  I'm pretty sure our server was stoned He couldn't seem to focus on what we were saying and had to come back to retake our order because by the time he got back to the kitchen, he had forgotten it.
  If you are looking for a place that has good, cheap pizza and beer where you can find a tv to watch, try Pies and Pints.
  
  
   Read the review from The Lincoln Journal Star
  
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• 11:54

  Nebraska Brewing Cask Night 5/16/2012

   »  Nebraska Beer
  
  Angela has a post over on Craftbeer.com on a cask ale they will be having next week during American Craft Beer Week.  I hope I get a taste of this, it sounds amazing.
  
  

  Nebraska Brewing Company Shadow Lake Towne Center, 7474 Towne Center Pky, Papillion, Nebraska, 68046 | map 05.16.12 Event Type: American Craft Beer Week
  This cask ale blends our Brunette Nut Brown with CandyCap Mushrooms (L. rubidus for all you ‘Shroom Geeks’ out there, and you know who you are!).  

  Candy caps are strongly aromatic and are used primarily as a flavoring, much the way vanilla, saffron, or truffles are used. They impart a flavor and aroma to foods that has been compared to maple syrup or curry, but with a much stronger aroma than either of these seasonings. 

  You might recall, this past October we used Candy Cap mushrooms in our Pumpkin Ale ‘Mushroom Maniac’ Cask .   In October we only created a ‘Pin’ of Mushroom Maniac (A Pin is a smaller cask, only 5gal), but we ran out of this as fast as we could pour it (Seriously!).   This time we made a ‘Firkin’ of the CandyCap Brown and while the Firkin is twice the size, the Brunette is one of our most popular beers and when you add the ‘maple sugar-like’ flavor of the CandyCap, I cannot expect this one to stick around very long.
  
  

  http://feeds.feedburner.com/NebraskaBeer

  
  

  
  
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• 11:45

  Sarah Palin endorses Deb Fischer

   »  Leavenworth Street
  Deb Fischer announced the endorsement of her U.S. Senate campaign by former GOP Vice Presidential nominee and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Palin wrote to Fischer: We admire your conservative principles and know that you will not go to Washington to amass great wealth or power. You will go to Washington to serve the people of [...]
  
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• 11:30

  House Tour: Backyard

   »  Princess Nebraska
  This is one of those depressing updates where the “After” actually looks worse than the Before, at least the two years of before, because you will recall that our yard was redone by the tv show Turf Wars and when it was finished it looked really really really good.  Better than it does now.  But [...]
  
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• 10:26

  Mayor's Bike Ride - May 11, 2012

   »  Omaha Bikes
  Join the Mayors of Omaha, Bellevue, and Council Bluffs in a ride to promote commuter cycling in the metro area.
  
  The Annual Ride to Work with the Mayor will celebrate May as NATIONAL BIKE MONTH!! 
  
  Meet on Friday, May 11 at 8:00 AM at the Bob Kerrey Bridge. Presentations begin at 8:30 AM and Bike Rides with the Mayors begin at 9:00 AM.
  
  Share this with your friends and co-workers.
  
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• 09:45

  New TV and radio

   »  Leavenworth Street
  New TV and radio spots by…Jon Bruning. First, new TV, here: Here is the text: Jon Bruning: “After all those false ads attacking me, elections come down to simple truths.” “Barack Obama is failing our country, and Bob Kerrey supports him” “As your Attorney General, I’ve battled waste and cut spending, sued the President to [...]
  
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• 09:29

  Gavin Harvests First Gobbler At Close Range

   »  Merriam's Turkey Hunting - Nebraska Spring Turkey Hunting
  Gavin harvested his first gobbler in his hunting career at close range. His gobbler came at full charge to the turkey fan he took his shot inside of 10yds. His shot was on target and resulted in harvesting a mature Nebraska Merriams gobbler.
  
  
  
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