By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH Associated Press Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. March 7, 2010 (AP)

Kansas City was held up as a national example of bold thinking when it tried to integrate its schools by making them better than the suburban districts where many kids were moving. The result was one school with an Olympic-sized swimming pool and another with recording studios.

Now it’s on the brink of bankruptcy and considering another bold move: closing nearly half its schools to stay afloat.

Schools officials say the cuts are necessary to keep the district from plowing through what little is left of the $2 billion it received as part of a groundbreaking desegregation case.

Buffeted for years by declining enrollment, political squabbling and a revolving door of leadership, the district’s fortunes are so bleak that Superintendent John Covington has said diplomas given to many graduates “aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.”

For the rest of the story….click here.

By now, with all the information about methane gas that has floated over the airways, we all know what it is and the damage it does to our atmosphere.  Natalia Shakhova, a researcher at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks said,  “The release to the atmosphere of only 1% of the methane” stored below the permafrost in the Arctic could increase the level of atmospheric methane world-wide by three or four times.  This potent greenhouse gas appears to be seeping through the Arctic Ocean floor and into the atmosphere. The result is a weakening of the permafrost layer below the ocean. This has the potential of triggering abrupt climate warming, but exact consequences are hard to predict.

With methane gas seeping through the ocean floor coupled with the output of our turnip-eating cattle,  we might be in for  warm, smelly climate changes.

Ally and I are pros at ordering Symphony in the Flint Hills tickets.  Or so we believe.  She came early this morning so we could be armed with phones at 10:00 when tickets were to go on sale.  Past experience has led us to this pattern…she with a land line and cell phone and I manning a cell phone.

We started calling at 10 and all lines were busy. Sometimes it has taken us two hours to get tickets with steady calling.  She thought she’d try ordering on line and I told her that hadn’t worked for a lot of people a few years ago, people who thought they had secured tickets by that means only to find out later the system was botched.  Something must have changed as within a few seconds, she had tickets verified on line.  That was shortly after 10.  By noon they were sold out.  They usually limit the crowd to 5,000 so I suppose that was the same this year.

I’d rather go to one of these concerts more than almost anything I can think of right now.  It’s as much for spending the day on the prairie as it is the music. It’s the best day of the year when I do get to go, but it’s really hard for me now, even using all the handicapped facilities they offer, and I don’t handle the sun and heat at all well, especially with Lupus.  So, Ally and our friend Deneen are going and will return with all kinds of glowing reports for me.

I’m glad we could get tickets.  I’m sure there are a lot of disappointed people who failed to do so.  I have a feeling this will be another wonderful event in the Flint Hills.

PALIN: We used to hustle over the border for health care we received in Canada. And I think now, isn’t that ironic?

It’s amazing how politicians flip-flop like fish out of water.  Sarah Palin, once Governor of Alaska which is like being “Mayor of Memphis TN for about 18 months”, has steadfastly maintained that any reform of our health care system will lead to socialism.  She wants to let the private sector (insurance companies) take over our health care system.

She’d never suggest her parents turn in their Medicare cards nor would she relinquish the right to hers.

Palin has bad-mouthed any proposed change in  the health insurance system with every opportunity at the mic.  Recently, she admitted using the Canadian single-payer system for her health care.  She now finds that same Canadian system she once used so freely  “revolting” with its government administration and “death panel” rationing.

Palin used to believe in “creationism”, but now she believes in “intelligent design”.  The thing is, you have to be unintelligent to believe it.

A documentary based on the book, “What’s the Matter with Kansas”, looks at Kansas politics where religion and politics continue to intersect.  The Mainstream Coalition (a moderate alliance of informed neighbors) will present this documentary in Kansas City on Sunday, March 14th at 2:00 p.m.  It will be shown at the Tivoli Cinemas, Westport Manor Square, 4050 Pennsylvania.  Tickets are $6.50.

After the movie there will be a discussion of the upcoming 2010 election season.  Mainstream will provide information about upcoming races and issues in Kansas Districts.  The event is co-sponsored by ACLU.

If you live in the Kansas City area, you might want to attend this informative meeting.  I’d like to if I lived there, so I thought you might be interested as well.  For further information, call 913.649.3326/

In a week or so, we’ll get our 2010 Census form to fill out and return.  It’s important to be counted as the results are used to help each community get its fair share of government funds for highways, schools, health facilities and other programs we need.  If we aren’t diligent about returning the census forms, we may not receive our fair share of funds.  So…be a good citizen, fill out your form and return it as promptly as possible.

It’s “spring up” time.  The daffodils are beginning to emerge.

Daylight Saving Time always begins on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November.  This means that, on March 14, 2010, at 2:00 a.m. - you set the clocks ahead one hour. (Spring forward)  One week from today we can all start whirling around the May pole.

Ally and I continue the tradition she established with her dad by having breakfast at KCs on Sunday morning.  She loves her biscuits and gravy, as did her dad,  while that would be the last thing on the menu I’d order. I think it’s a blueberry pancake day for me.

Youngest grandson made a quick call to his mother this morning saying he was moving to Kandahar for several weeks.  He has not been able to hone his technical skills (I guess that is a good sign that there haven’t been many injuries) as he was anticipating and seems, quite frankly…bored.  Maybe he says that so we won’t worry about him. Maybe his work load will pick up at Kandahar to better suit his interests.   I suppose the latest packages we sent him will somehow follow him.

The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee will be holding a hearing on SB563 this Wednesday.  As a member of the Kansas Equality Coalition, I support SB536 and feel such legislation is necessary to keep anonymous and unlimited money  out of our election system, particularly that of the Supreme Court. As a community, it is in our interest to ensure that our courts are as free of partisan political influence as possible.  The system isn’t perfect, and this bill will not make it perfect, but it’s a huge and necessary step in the right direction.

It’s going to be a beautiful day to be out and about.  We all need to soak up a little sunshine and get rid of the winter pallor.Thanks for tuning in…

Unranked and unheralded Iowa State defeated 5th ranked K-State in overtime: a barnburner and the upset of the day, but it’s not over until the fat lady sings.  Iowa State lost to 21 ranked opponents and then beat the Wildcats tonight.  At least seven of the best teams in the country will be in Kansas City.  Kansas State will be the #2 seed.

Here’s a really neat gizmo to give you an idea where all your tax money goes.

“Tax rates and federal spending priorities have fluctuated quite a bit over the years. This interactive graphic makes it easy to chart both. Simply enter a salary and see how much goes to federal taxes and how that money gets spent. Then, look back in time to see how that income compares with the past when adjusted for inflation, and what the tax rates and spending priorities used to be.”

You might be very surprised at the results.  It’s found on the USA Today website.

All you do is type in your income in the box provided for you and Voila!  It’s cool.

Click here.

This was the 1,999th victory for the Jayhawks.

Do you need help with housework?  Who isn’t always looking for someone to help clean bathrooms or mop the floors? Sometimes we just get slammed, or too old,  and need help. It’s not often someone offers to do housework (my angel appeared!).  If this is a problem for you, I have a possible solution.

Claudia Hochman  has been a worker bee her entire life and is starting a housekeeping business which she intends to keep going until her golden years.  If you’ve ever seen her work, you know she is serious about it and doesn’t waste any time doing it.

She will take customers from Tuesday through Friday anytime after 7:00 a.m and work no later than 5:00 p.m.  She will do basic cleaning:  bathrooms, sweep and mop floors, vacuum carpets, dust, change and make beds, wash and fold laundry, do dishes by hand (she’s never owned a dishwasher, but could learn), etc.  She’ll do about anything you need to have done and will do it well.  All you have to do is let her know what you need to have done and she’ll do it.  No job is too big or too small for Claudia.  She didn’t mention windows.

She  charges $10 per hour if she uses your cleaning agents, mops, sweeper, etc.  If you want her to supply her own cleaning supplies and sweeper, etc. she charges $12 per hour.  That seems very fair for what she can do for you.  She’ll work for you on a one time basis or on a regular schedule.

If you are interested, you can contact Claudia at 785.531.0780.

Four of us gave 4 Legs Up Barbecue in Great Bend a try last night and no one was impressed.  The walls and tables are covered with trophies and ribbons they have won in cook-offs to prove they’re the best in the west.  There were so many awards, I thought they were team bowling trophies.

We didn’t try their steaks or burgers, but stayed with the “burnt ends”, pulled pork, and sliced brisket sandwiches. We  found all the meat dry. Slathering it with the wide assortment of homemade sauces helped some.  The chipotle/red raspberry sauce was our favorite, but none of their sauces came close to Extra Innings barbecue sauce (or their barbecue) which I thought was about the best in this area.  It’s no longer available.

For dessert, they brought three deep fat fried Oreo cookies for us to try.  They are dipped in something that tastes like funnel cake batter and plunged in to boiling oil.  It’s what I’d call the perfect “state fair food” like fried pickles and fried butter.  You’ve got to be a kid to love it.

The wait staff was very friendly and there was no shortage of customers.  I’m sure there are a lot of people who think the food is very good.

As we passed by Holyrood we noticed K-Jack’s Bar N Grill had a red and white striped tent in place for the dance tonight.  Candi McNeal , who manages K-Jack’s, announced she is having the Sister Whiskey Band to play for an out-door dance beginning at 9:00.  There will be a $5.00 cover charge.  The Grill serves hamburgers and  steaks for the most part.  I imagine it will be the scene of a pretty interesting evening tonight.

It’s supposed to be in the mid-60s today.  Yesterday was wonderful except for the wind.  The one good thing about yesterday is that the heat and wind did a good job in drying out some of the mud that persists from the endless winter snows.

For those of you who are interested, I’m still using coconut oil and feeling well as a result of it.  Something is helping and that’s the only new thing I’ve added to my diet that might be the cause. Added energy is one of the benefits from using it.

If you haven’t read Kent Gaston’s comment following my blog regarding the KU vs K-State score, you might want to scroll down a bit and read it.  I found it very interesting.

Time to move along…and thanks for tuning in.

Art Rush was terrific tonight with excellent photographic displays, sculpture, jewelry and other wonderful art, good food and drink, live music ….and my favorite…good friends.  We intended to stay an hour and stayed two.  It never seems long enough but there is the drive home to consider.  It’s the first Thursday of every month and the object is to visit all the art galleries in Salina to see their new displays.

It’s strange.  I see old friends that Brit and I have shared over the years and it crosses my mind during conversations that I have to remember something I’ve heard to tell Brit when I get home.  Or it reminds me of something I know he’d remember that I didn’t, something we have to talk about. But he’s not here.  It’s a habit not easily broken.

One thing we particularly like about it is that people come from all ranges of life…very young, active old folks, doctors, lawyers, housewives, students, politicos, artists, creative people of all colors and ethnicity.  It’s a great gathering and I love it.

Meredith and I are looking forward to April when we hope to go again.

Thanks for tuning in…

The sheltered thermometer on one of our decks registers 62 degrees.  That might not be accurate, but I’m hoping it’s true.  If so,  it’s the first time in 96 days since it was 60 degrees. I think spring is emerging as other sure signs are the emergence of bands of skunks and nesting birds pecking on my house.

The Crystal Queen and I are headed to Salina to attend Art Rush.  It was something Melinda, Meredith and I loved doing together. We loved those evenings.   Melinda loved it so much, she even went once by herself when Meredith and I couldn’t go.    Tonight Meredith and I are going to put on happy smiles and have a good time for her.

Thanks for tuning in…

Dave Leiker photo
If you really  love Kansas, one of the most fulfilling events you can attend is the Symphony in the Flint Hills.  You should make every attempt to attend at least once during your life time.

The Inspiration for the Symphony in the Flint Hills came from Matfield Green rancher, Jane Koger, who in 1994 decided to celebrate her 40th birthday day by organizing an all-woman symphony to play on the open prairie of her property in Chase County. The concert was a huge success and attracted more than 3,000 people.

You can see blogs from previous concerts here.   Tickets go on sale Monday, March 8 and they are NOT easy to come by. After they go on sale, they are usually sold within a few hours.

All the activities this year center outside Strong City.    In honor of the event’s fifth anniversary on June 12, four-time Grammy award-winning artist Lyle Lovett  will make a special guest appearance at the 2010 Symphony in the Flint Hills and perform three numbers with the Kansas City Symphony.

“Lyle Lovett shares our passion for the Tallgrass prairie,” said Emily Hunter, executive director of the Symphony in the Flint Hills. “We are pleased to have Mr. Lovett as our special guest joining the Kansas City Symphony to celebrate the treasured Flint Hills of Kansas.”

Lovett, a Texas native, is a long-time friend of Edward Bass who is hosting this year’s event on his pasture in Chase County.  “Lyle has many friends in Kansas and narrated the PBS special ‘The Last Stand of the Tallgrass Prairie,’” said Hunter.

“The Flint Hills are blessed with some of the most magical, natural landscapes of our continent,” said Bass. “Most of the time it’s only a small band of cowboys that get to experience their full beauty though. The Symphony in the Flint Hills will allow several thousand people to become immersed in a remarkable nature setting enhanced by a celebration of musical arts. I am enormously proud to help make this happen.”

Historically cattle trails, then railroads and now highways have brought Texas cattle to the lush grasslands of the Kansas Flint Hills. Bass will join local ranchers in telling the story of how cattle grazing on the unique tallgrass prairies of the region has evolved over a period of 150 years to incorporate sustainable practices that emulate the natural migrations of the bison herds that once populated America’s heartland.

While event organizers are committed to telling the story of the Flint Hills through the event, they also focus on helping the local economy. More than 7,000 people will visit Chase County the day of the symphony – more than tripling the resident population. Of the $3 million that will have been spent over five years producing the concert series, 74 percent will have gone directly to Flint Hills’ rural enterprises and services.

Bass’ “South Clements Pasture” is seven miles south of Cottonwood Falls and eight miles west of Bazaar. Bass studied architecture at Yale, built a hotel in the Himalayas, spent $200 million building Biosphere 2 project in Arizona 1990s and invested in venture capital, ranches in Texas, Kansas, Australia.  This is the first time Bass’s ranchlands have been open to the public.

Tickets to the 2010 Symphony in the Flint Hills go on sale Monday, March 8. Adult tickets are $63 and tickets for children (12 and under) are $43.

Phone and online orders:
816-471-0400
kcsymphony.org
info@kcsymphony.org

The Family Fun Circus will be performing at the Kanopolis Community Center Tuesday March 9th at 7:00 p.m. for one show only.  There will be acrobats, jugglers, dare devils, funny clowns, beautiful girls and impersonators with acts subject to change.  Children must be “attended”.  The doors open one hour before the show.  Popcorn and cotton candy will be available.  One paid adult ticket will admit two children.

It was Sharron Collins’ last game…the “winningest” player in KU history.  KU has won its last 59 games on their home court and is 14 and 1 for the season.

The KU vs K-State barn-burner is tonight at 7:00, according to the street chatter among local folks.  Tonight I’ll settle down in my fave chair and watch the game as almost everyone else around me will be doing.  Well, that’s with the possible exception of Tyler who will be able to follow the score only if communications in South Asia allow. He usually manages to follow the score someway.

And, I wonder if someone in the family will join me in cheering for KU?  I have not yet given up hope that one of them will follow Brit and me to KU, but only one hope remains. Our children and grandchildren have attended New Mexico Highlands University, Stephen F. Austin University, University of Houston, Ft. Lewis College, Marymount College, Ft. Hays State University, Wichita State University, Southern Methodist University and Kansas State University.  My last hope is Tyler and that he might head to KU some day.  He’s a particularly good fit for KU and life in Lawrence.

I’ve heard a lot of static, even from members of my own family,  about the legislature not imposing the same “no smoking” rule at state owned casinos as they have in other public places.  The law is not going to be imposed fairly.  It appears the legislature didn’t want to subject the state to a possible loss in revenue so they made casinos an exception to the new law. On the other hand, many people who like to go to casinos on occasion, don’t like to be subjected to killer smoke and they shouldn’t have to be.  Shame on the legislature for acting with such discrimination.

And, I visited with a restaurant owner the other day, an inveterate smoker, who will have no place to smoke in or around her own building.  If she wants to smoke, that’s up to her, and she should be able to smoke in a corner on her own premises away from everyone else so that customers are not subjected to her second-hand smoke. I figure anyone who works 16 hours a day can grab a quick smoke if they need to. The law doesn’t even allow this.  I’d be much happier if no one smoked or “chewed”, but that isn’t my call.

It’s a beautiful day…one to enjoy.  Ringo and I are heading to town for our mail, the Indy and a stop at the drive-in bank.  The latter is Ringo’s favorite stop as the teller always includes a “cookie” for him whenever the automatic tray emerges.  He loves the drive in bank.

I’m thinking about my brother, Bruce, especially today as it’s his birthday.  He died when he was 57 in 1993.  Had he lived, he would be 74 today and we’d be celebrating.

This will make you laugh.

Thanks for tuning in…

The totals are up a bit from December and January.  Thanks for tuning in…