What has happened to society? The news is filled with all kinds of articles concerning violence and negligence. Too often we see people in power, authority figures, in the media for doing something wrong. Sometimes we justify it because it takes place in the grown up world or in places that are far away from here, but not anymore. In this great state of ours, in just the past five years, 42 different teachers have been penalized in some way for sexual misconduct on the part of the teacher. In the Lincoln Journal Star there is an article filled with different statistics on sexual misconduct incidents in Nebraska, a place where students are praised for their accolades where the average teacher salary is near the lowest in the United States. What does this mean? Does this mean that because the teachers are paid lower than their colleagues from other states, that we justify their illegal and morally wrong behavior? Of course it doesn’t mean this but why does type of thing always seem to be present with ever growing frequency? Should we blame the teachers? Should we blame society and their upbringing? Who or what do we point the finger at in this situation? This is also not an isolated issue; this is taking place around the country. In the same time period where this has taken place in Nebraska, combined in the United States there have been 2,570 different cases of sexual misconduct. That is 2,570 individuals whose lives have been forcefully altered beyond repair. Once again I raise the question of who is to be blamed for this societal trend of collectively moving away from traditional values and morals. It seems that every generation takes it upon themselves to push and stress social norms to their limits. Each and every day there seems to be something that makes you cringe more than you thought would be possible. Each time you think you’ve seen the worst and you’re always surprised to find you’re wrong. What do we need to do to bring society to its senses? What do we do to snap people out of this horrific daydream? That is the answer to the question that we have to find to save humanity.

Recently in an article in the Omaha World Herald, they talked about a proposed change in child welfare laws. The laws that would be changed would deal with how much information would be given out concerning certain case files. As of now some case files are restricted to what they can release because of ongoing investigations in unclosed cases. According to Kathy Moore, executive director for Voices for Children in Nebraska, this would hold the child welfare department accountable for their actions by allowing more public scrutiny and letting the general public examine the actions of the department on their own. All this coming from a recent incident with a one-year-old Omaha child, Davion Winrow. Winrow, who had been in the custody of the state since birth, died in September of head injuries. The child had been in the presence of a Joleet Poole, who was interested in adopting Winrow. The injuries to Davion allegedly happened during one unsupervised visits Poole had with the boy. The proposed change in the law would allow more information to be revealed concerning Poole’s past run-ins with the law and the actions that were taken by the child welfare department. We need more laws like these in place. We need accountability on many different levels in society. Too often these days people aren’t held accountable for their actions and blame gets placed on those who don’t deserve it and society takes the brunt of the fallout. With more laws like this proposed one in place the public can become more involved in the legal system by paying attention to current events in the child welfare department and show support or concern by writing to state officials or voting for those who they feel will do the right things in the appropriate areas in the specific departments. Being held accountable for their actions would also help improve efficiency and care in the welfare system as well because was is done will be visible to the public and nothing can be hidden.

They are often called mans best friend. What is it about dogs that have earned them this title? Why dogs above other pets? What attributes do they display that helped them achieve this status. Dogs come in many different shapes and sizes. This allows the owner to choose the breed that most appeals to them and fits their personalities. There are dogs that are small and cute and then there are those that are big and intimidating. Depending on what characteristics you prefer there is a dog for everyone. Also dogs are extremely faithful. They don’t hold grudges and don’t discriminate. Dogs aren’t critical of a person’s shortcomings in any aspect of life. If your day is going badly or if everything is going your way your dog will always show affection. They always welcome you home. They can give your life purpose and give an outlet for the owner to show their own feelings. It may sound kind of crazy but if you need to vent some opinions or thoughts a dog may be the perfect companion. It would only be a one sided conversation but that may be what you need. They can also provide needed humor or entertainment. They are always happy to go for a jog or a romp in the back yard. They can play for hours on end and never get tired of being in your company. Dogs can even provide you with their services. They are invaluable when it comes to deterring intruders and in the case of seeing-eye dogs, make it possible for people with disabilities to function in society. There are many things that make dogs known as mans best friend. Whether it be their unfaltering loyalty or their unwavering companionship, dogs will continue to be a fixture in the household of people all over the world for as long as people will need the friendship that these creatures have to offer.

College football, to me, is one of the more important aspects of my life throughout childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood. Recently I had the chance to meet an individual who before meeting me had very little knowledge and little respect for the game of football. I was determined to indulge her with the intricacies of the sport that I love. Also the chance came about that she and I could attend a game of the team that I had grown up following, the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Here was a chance to share my love of the game of college football.
I spent the better part of the first couple weeks of school educating her on the basic concepts and rules of football and before I knew it the fateful day came and we left to tailgate before we entered the stadium. I assured her this was a must before a game as it was tradition to experience this, that all true football fans participated in this wonderful pre-game ritual. I asked her before the game if she was experiencing any anticipation or growing excitement. She said that she was getting excited and further explained that it wasn’t an every day excitement but one that was a legitimate enthusiastic excitement that was built upon by the atmosphere of the numerous fans and gatherings of people to celebrate the special occasion of the game. There was no shortage of colorful fans and flamboyant costumes. People with red and white face and or body paint frequently passed us by. The scent of many barbecues cooking at the same time reached us, each with their own secret recipe that plays its own part in the tradition of the game day. Anything from chicken to pheasant or duck could be seen simmering on the plentiful barbecues. The different sights and smells mingled together to create the total experience that is the essential Nebraska Cornhusker football game.
As the time for the kickoff approached we made our way down to the stadium, following the growing throng of people. The excitement and the buzz of the crowd was almost tangible. You could hear the roar of the crowd from outside the stadium blocks away. The feeling was contagious. As you scanned the crowd you could see hundreds of eager faces waiting to see the football game. There was no sense of calm or organization in the crowd, just a mob of people all assaulting the gate trying to get inside.

After pushing your way past the people and getting into the actual stadium you climb the causeway to get to your seats. Walking through the doorway you enter the stadium itself and you see the cause of the roar that could be heard from far away. The Nebraska crowd is frequently called the, “Sea of Red” which was immediately evident as you first view the filling stadium. A giant bowl of red writhing and moving, all congregated for the same purpose. It was and is a truly impressive sight. As we made our way to the seats we encountered boisterous fans that had been there almost hours before the game to watch the players warm up. It was a seasonably warm day with the sun over head creating the, “perfect” weather for a football game. Not too much wind and sunny, but not too sunny. After we had gotten to our seats the fans had reached a feverous state. The teams had both retreated to the locker rooms for the last preparations before the game. As the visiting team came back on the field you could hear a chorus of negative yells, consisting of some choice words and cursing, which was entirely opposite from when the home team, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, came out to the traditional tunnel walk. The tunnel walk is also a tradition at Nebraska, which consists of the team emerging from the locker room via a tunnel to a traditional song chosen to get the team pumped up and the fans loud and cheering. Once again the crowd stood on its feet to cheer for the athletes that made up their team.
Finally the game began and the athletes began to showcase their talents in the game that pitted the two teams against each other. As the game went on the vendors came up and down the aisles to sell their variety of delicacies. They sold everything from Runza sandwiches to Valentino’s pizza, both of which are kind of unique to Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium. The different smells of each reached you only to tempt you into purchasing the vendors’ goods. I asked my friend what she thought of the fans that surrounded us. She was amazed of the enthusiasm evident by the continued yelling and cheering. She also remarked on the crowd’s ability to go from yelling to booing in the matter of seconds. She was also astounded by the vast knowledge of the fans as they conversed with each other about many different aspects of the games and commented on the different actions of the players that took a trained eye to see. They could spot a player doing something wrong from over a hundred yards away, or see a player lined up where he shouldn’t have been. Also they displayed their knowledge by discussing the different formations the teams ran or the different personnel used during the course of the game. Even with her limited knowledge of the game she managed to grasp when something good happened and joined in with the rest of the crowd to stand and cheer. Perhaps she just stood and cheered or booed when the rest of the fans did.
My friend then commented on the athletic ability and the physical stature of the players. She found it astonishing how fast these people could run and how high they could jump. She had never seen so many athletes with this level of agility and physical prowess at the same time. I explained how they practiced and trained extensively so they could compete at the level that they do. Then I explained how the different football programs recruit players for their various talents, which depending on their skill dictates what they do throughout the course of the game. She then commented on how she thought this was similar to the ownership and business of people. How the athletes were being used by the Universities to further themselves. Then I told her how the athletes were still students that received scholarships to reimburse them for the time that they put in to this pass time, that is college football.
As the game drew to a close and some people began to leave the stadium, it seemed as if the bowl that was the, “Sea of Red” was being drained of its contents. I asked my friend if she had ever experienced anything like this before. She said she had been to a high school football game where there were only a couple of thousand people rather than over eighty thousand people.
As we left the stadium we encountered some of those that were for the opposing team. The exhaustion could be felt among the fans that come from cheering and yelling for multiple hours. After this, she commented on how the hostility between the fans between the two teams extended only as far as the stadium walls. That we were all people and that it was good that we didn’t let a game come between us.
Growing up in Nebraska I have been privileged with the ability to follow Nebraska football. I grew up in the hay days of Tom Osborne and the option attack. I followed through the national championships of the 1990’s and multiple undefeated seasons. I followed as a dedicated husker fan. I remember my first husker game and how it was the culmination of my fanaticism of the football program of my dreams. I remember the sights and smells of that day; I can still hear the roar and chants of the crowd as they cheered on their team. I remember this as I existed in my own little part of the world, and to me, nobody else could possibly not know about Nebraska football. In my naïve little mind I assumed that everyone had to at least heard about this huge part of my life. As I’ve grown older I have become less and less ignorant of the many different lifestyles led by people around the world and have been able to cope with the fact that people don’t have to have the same interests that I do. I just feel that college football, in particular the Nebraska Cornhuskers, should be an experience that everyone should have the chance to take part in.
As the day came to a close I felt that I had perhaps changed the view of one person and gave them a gift that they could take with them and keep with them their whole life. Hopefully they can keep this memory and experience, and maybe share it with others so they can see the wonderful game that can bring so many people together for the same purpose.

Wilderness Park one of the few and declining number of areas in the United States and the World that one can go and find himself entirely in peace with nature. The sereness of the landscape allows the mind to wander without any hindrances of the hustle and bustle of the technological world. The clip depicts a bike ride through the park, down a winding path through untamed woodlands. Different shades of green and natural colors and textures jump out at you, but in an entirely easy manner. Here colors are not used to grab attention and distract, but to serve the purpose of the wildlife. In the distance a sunset is visible, showing the winding down of the day. It exudes a calming feeling, after a long day when everything is winding down and the night is just barely conceivable. The shadows enhance the feeling of serenity and the music completes the setting. A better choice of music could not be found, the vibe of the music melds softly with that of the mood of the video. As the riders pedal you can almost feel the cool evening breeze brushing against your face and with it comes the smells of the forest. The lush foliage and musty wood have their own potent, but not pungent, odors that do not cause disgust. The strain of the bikers can is almost tangible as well, as they push themselves and pedal through the landscape. Each corner is unique and each tree has its own personality. One can see the hierarchy of the woods, as the trees tower over all and each single organism relies on each other in their mutual habitat. It is almost as if the forest and all its inhabitants are one being that these bikers are traveling through. Their spirits are transiently passing each other not becoming entangled but not ignoring each other's presence. Its like a mutual agreement has been passed between them that neither shall acknowledge the other for fear of becoming absorbed into the stranger that is being passed by.