Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.42.90
Current Song - Shattered Dreams (Johnny Hates Jazz)
I wish I could talk about today, but I'm not supposed to.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Making Financial Cents (Sort of)
Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.12.90
Current Song - What You Won't Do For Love (Bobby Caldwell)
I play the lottery. I try to play smart. Therefore, I don't play often.
The only time I play lotto is whenever I travel out of town. This can be for any reason, like covering games. I will play $7-$9 in Pick 3 and Pick 4 (combined), and maybe some Lotto or Little Lotto quick picks to make it $10. I've been doing this for a month now, and hit twice on my Pick 3s (playing them $0.50 in any order - Box).
It's not because I'm not hitting. It's because I'm realizing that my money needs to go elsewhere. I don't play for the jackpot, but rather for them smaller prizes. College is coming up in less than a year, and I'll need a new car by that time too.
The key here is to not cut ot completely, but rather cut back a few times until nothing. I will be cutting back by only buying tickets whenever I travel to Chicagoland. That's where the winners seem to come from. A week's worth of the jackpot games, plue a few Pick 3's and Pick 4's should be good. What helps is the fact that I don't travel into Chicagoland that much.
Lotto tickets aren't my only gambling vice ... It spreads out to the blackjack table.
I've been cutting back on the blackjack table little by little for a long time. The last time I was up there was a couple of weeks ago at Diamond Jo in Dubuque. I used $50.00, got up to about $135.00 and lost it all. That took me 1 1/2 hours. So I thought maybe I'll let the clock dictate my table playing. I figure 45 minutes is sufficent. I'll see if there's a way to amek that possible through the casino itself.
Eventually it should cease alltogether.
Current Song - What You Won't Do For Love (Bobby Caldwell)
I play the lottery. I try to play smart. Therefore, I don't play often.
The only time I play lotto is whenever I travel out of town. This can be for any reason, like covering games. I will play $7-$9 in Pick 3 and Pick 4 (combined), and maybe some Lotto or Little Lotto quick picks to make it $10. I've been doing this for a month now, and hit twice on my Pick 3s (playing them $0.50 in any order - Box).
It's not because I'm not hitting. It's because I'm realizing that my money needs to go elsewhere. I don't play for the jackpot, but rather for them smaller prizes. College is coming up in less than a year, and I'll need a new car by that time too.
The key here is to not cut ot completely, but rather cut back a few times until nothing. I will be cutting back by only buying tickets whenever I travel to Chicagoland. That's where the winners seem to come from. A week's worth of the jackpot games, plue a few Pick 3's and Pick 4's should be good. What helps is the fact that I don't travel into Chicagoland that much.
Lotto tickets aren't my only gambling vice ... It spreads out to the blackjack table.
I've been cutting back on the blackjack table little by little for a long time. The last time I was up there was a couple of weeks ago at Diamond Jo in Dubuque. I used $50.00, got up to about $135.00 and lost it all. That took me 1 1/2 hours. So I thought maybe I'll let the clock dictate my table playing. I figure 45 minutes is sufficent. I'll see if there's a way to amek that possible through the casino itself.
Eventually it should cease alltogether.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Mending the Rips
Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.41.90
Current Song - Sara Smile (Hall & Oates)
Recent complaints about the coverage area of NISB led me to read some history about the late Roman Empire. While I am no king, or dictator, I have before me a large coverage area. The Roman Empire didn't just vanish all at once, it became divided.
I keep my mind on that bit of world history because I'm seeing what I have predicted for the past couple of years.
That's the division of the coverage into smaller areas. The diehard fan focus has diminished in the past couple of years. Our understanding of other teams has become less and less. Our "high school sports world" has been limited to their own school and the nearest two or three. We're keeping fewer tabs. Each portion of the area believes that they are more superior than the others.
Maybe that is changing, but what is not changing is the way our regionals and sectionals and supersectionals are set up. When we enter a sectional tournament, what do we know of the opponent? If this trend keeps going, we won't know anything. We won't be able to understand the value of any win any more than what we do now.
I have always said that a team is so much better than a group of five people.
SYNERGY!!!!
***
I have to hold back and ask myself this: Have I evolved a great deal, or has everyone else scaled back? Which of the two carries a greater truth?
You'll find that I cover large schools and big schools, Jo Daviess County schools and Bureau County schools, the Western Big 6 and Little 10, and football and bowling. Sometimes I'll even venture into the Chicagoland side of things when our area teams enter that realm. So I guess I've seen almost everything. Is that wrong? Is it wrong to claim that my knowledge of this particular world is more superior than others?
***
If I had to make a determination at this time, I would say that NISB pretty much have three great factions: The New-Mor-Rock-Ster portion, the Winnebago portion, and the Little 10 portion (which is sort of invisible, but is noticable when it comes to just the content side of things).
Any business person would respond to that with wanting to focus in on these three portions more than the others. That would leave out a few chunks. If we abandon them, and later try to expand into them, how will the reception be?
Current Song - Sara Smile (Hall & Oates)
Recent complaints about the coverage area of NISB led me to read some history about the late Roman Empire. While I am no king, or dictator, I have before me a large coverage area. The Roman Empire didn't just vanish all at once, it became divided.
I keep my mind on that bit of world history because I'm seeing what I have predicted for the past couple of years.
That's the division of the coverage into smaller areas. The diehard fan focus has diminished in the past couple of years. Our understanding of other teams has become less and less. Our "high school sports world" has been limited to their own school and the nearest two or three. We're keeping fewer tabs. Each portion of the area believes that they are more superior than the others.
Maybe that is changing, but what is not changing is the way our regionals and sectionals and supersectionals are set up. When we enter a sectional tournament, what do we know of the opponent? If this trend keeps going, we won't know anything. We won't be able to understand the value of any win any more than what we do now.
I have always said that a team is so much better than a group of five people.
SYNERGY!!!!
***
I have to hold back and ask myself this: Have I evolved a great deal, or has everyone else scaled back? Which of the two carries a greater truth?
You'll find that I cover large schools and big schools, Jo Daviess County schools and Bureau County schools, the Western Big 6 and Little 10, and football and bowling. Sometimes I'll even venture into the Chicagoland side of things when our area teams enter that realm. So I guess I've seen almost everything. Is that wrong? Is it wrong to claim that my knowledge of this particular world is more superior than others?
***
If I had to make a determination at this time, I would say that NISB pretty much have three great factions: The New-Mor-Rock-Ster portion, the Winnebago portion, and the Little 10 portion (which is sort of invisible, but is noticable when it comes to just the content side of things).
Any business person would respond to that with wanting to focus in on these three portions more than the others. That would leave out a few chunks. If we abandon them, and later try to expand into them, how will the reception be?
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
New Camera
Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.80.80
Current Song - American Boy (Estelle/Kanye)
I'm having a hard time writing this.
My parents bought me, for my college graduation, a video camera that takes pictures. I tried it out a couple of times. The video isn't all too bad, really. I can shoot something and upload it to YouTube, and it will come out alright.
The photos are another story. Absolutely blurry. I can stand it still and not zoom in, and it will still be blurry. It's hideous.
The hard part of all of this, is telling them about the fact that I just can't take any photos with this. After my camera broke down after six years, that's what I really needed.
The optimist part of me says, "but you can still shoot pictures with it." The pessimist part of me says, "yeah, but ..."
I hate dissapointing people.
Current Song - American Boy (Estelle/Kanye)
I'm having a hard time writing this.
My parents bought me, for my college graduation, a video camera that takes pictures. I tried it out a couple of times. The video isn't all too bad, really. I can shoot something and upload it to YouTube, and it will come out alright.
The photos are another story. Absolutely blurry. I can stand it still and not zoom in, and it will still be blurry. It's hideous.
The hard part of all of this, is telling them about the fact that I just can't take any photos with this. After my camera broke down after six years, that's what I really needed.
The optimist part of me says, "but you can still shoot pictures with it." The pessimist part of me says, "yeah, but ..."
I hate dissapointing people.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Riverfronts
Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.10.90
Current Song - She's Not There (The Zombies)
I drive on First Avenue Bridge between Sterling and Rock Falls every day it seems. I'm used to seeing all of the rubble on both sides of the Rock River. Bring in anyone whos never been here before, and they'll think it's South Bronx in the 1970s.
There are a couple of spots that are being redevolped into hopefully something useful: the west side of the bridge in Sterling and the east side of the bridge in Rock Falls.
Rock Falls already has a plan for their riverfront. Sterling is trying to come up with one. We will focus on Rock Falls today, with Sterling at another time.
ROCK FALLS
http://www.rockfallsdevelopment.org/Master_Plan.pdf
The plan includes: A 2.5-acre waterfront plaza, including an amphitheater; a 185,000 square feet of new commercial and residential space; a bike trail connecting the upper and lower dams; and the extension of two city streets -- Second Street and Avenue A.
Most of the former Reliant/RB&W complex is gone. When all of this is cleared, there is a large open space between Wood Avenue and the bridge. I do like the open area promenade. The extension of second street (or rebuilding, depending on how old you are) relieves a traffic obstacle for those who live along the river.
I just don't know what is going to go into all these buildings that are proposed, and therefore the parking lots. Plus, building "H" is the old office complex, and is going to look ugly in all of this. We already have difficulty attracting businesses into our existing downtown buildings.
The best way to answer this question is, what are we lacking?
Hotels - It would compliment both Sterling and Rock Falls. No more driving all of the way to the Interstate for lodging. Examples: Rock Island District Holiday Inn and Freeport's Hamilton Inn. Maybe put that in buildings "A", "B" and "A'". I know that the plan says the "A" buildings are suggested for retail, but a hotel can't be that small. Building "C" would be the hotel's accompanying restaurant. Maybe shave off a part of "A'" to make for more parking.
That leaves 2, D, E, F, G, and H left. What else do we need? Okay maybe put some retail in "2" and "H" (maybe even the Hare-hopefully VA clinic), the long-awaited Post Office in "D," (with the current structure turned in a small bank), lofts in "G," and "E" and "F" for Coloma Park District use (offices, swimming pool, rec center, etc.).
I don't feel as if the whole complex should be entirely office and retail because it would take away from the existing downtown area. The artist's rendering shows that 2nd Steet will be turned into a boulevard. How about we improve the rear of the existing downtown businesses north of 2nd Street and between 1st and 2nd avenues, keep the parking spaces, and cut off 1st street to make it end/curve at 2nd Avenue and turn the old street into more parkland.
Still, you have the large open area west of 2nd Avenue (I doubt the limestone building is in any future use). Use the limestone area for expanded Lower Dam Park use, the burned-down part of IH for more lofts, and every empty lot beween 4th Avenue and 8th Avenue for houses (including the tearing down of the old art deco S&S building and Henry's laundrymat).
Next, is the connection all of these places will have with one another. The rendering has a bike trail connecting the "City Parkland" on east 2nd Street to the existing trail just west of the Bridge.
It would be nice if the bike trail could connect with the river front of Riverside Park, go up the hill onto 2nd Street and go on the sidewalk in front of the A.G. Smith Mansion to connect with the walking bridge and canal.
The trail should connect with First Avenue on the west side of the bridge. Maybe smooth the grade from the river trail to the Love Light Tree (remember, we are cutting off 1st Street). Another trail should follow Avenue A from the riverfront to the trail along the old CB&Q tracks.
I think it would also be cool if the western side of the bike trail crosses the river into Lawrence Park. And have a similar bike bridge to the Sterling side, right in front of what's being developed there.
***
These are just my ideas. I don't know whether or not they will work out, but that's what I'd like to see.
Now, if I can draw something up on Sterling ...
Current Song - She's Not There (The Zombies)
I drive on First Avenue Bridge between Sterling and Rock Falls every day it seems. I'm used to seeing all of the rubble on both sides of the Rock River. Bring in anyone whos never been here before, and they'll think it's South Bronx in the 1970s.
There are a couple of spots that are being redevolped into hopefully something useful: the west side of the bridge in Sterling and the east side of the bridge in Rock Falls.
Rock Falls already has a plan for their riverfront. Sterling is trying to come up with one. We will focus on Rock Falls today, with Sterling at another time.
ROCK FALLS
http://www.rockfallsdevelopment.org/Master_Plan.pdf
The plan includes: A 2.5-acre waterfront plaza, including an amphitheater; a 185,000 square feet of new commercial and residential space; a bike trail connecting the upper and lower dams; and the extension of two city streets -- Second Street and Avenue A.
Most of the former Reliant/RB&W complex is gone. When all of this is cleared, there is a large open space between Wood Avenue and the bridge. I do like the open area promenade. The extension of second street (or rebuilding, depending on how old you are) relieves a traffic obstacle for those who live along the river.
I just don't know what is going to go into all these buildings that are proposed, and therefore the parking lots. Plus, building "H" is the old office complex, and is going to look ugly in all of this. We already have difficulty attracting businesses into our existing downtown buildings.
The best way to answer this question is, what are we lacking?
Hotels - It would compliment both Sterling and Rock Falls. No more driving all of the way to the Interstate for lodging. Examples: Rock Island District Holiday Inn and Freeport's Hamilton Inn. Maybe put that in buildings "A", "B" and "A'". I know that the plan says the "A" buildings are suggested for retail, but a hotel can't be that small. Building "C" would be the hotel's accompanying restaurant. Maybe shave off a part of "A'" to make for more parking.
That leaves 2, D, E, F, G, and H left. What else do we need? Okay maybe put some retail in "2" and "H" (maybe even the Hare-hopefully VA clinic), the long-awaited Post Office in "D," (with the current structure turned in a small bank), lofts in "G," and "E" and "F" for Coloma Park District use (offices, swimming pool, rec center, etc.).
I don't feel as if the whole complex should be entirely office and retail because it would take away from the existing downtown area. The artist's rendering shows that 2nd Steet will be turned into a boulevard. How about we improve the rear of the existing downtown businesses north of 2nd Street and between 1st and 2nd avenues, keep the parking spaces, and cut off 1st street to make it end/curve at 2nd Avenue and turn the old street into more parkland.
Still, you have the large open area west of 2nd Avenue (I doubt the limestone building is in any future use). Use the limestone area for expanded Lower Dam Park use, the burned-down part of IH for more lofts, and every empty lot beween 4th Avenue and 8th Avenue for houses (including the tearing down of the old art deco S&S building and Henry's laundrymat).
Next, is the connection all of these places will have with one another. The rendering has a bike trail connecting the "City Parkland" on east 2nd Street to the existing trail just west of the Bridge.
It would be nice if the bike trail could connect with the river front of Riverside Park, go up the hill onto 2nd Street and go on the sidewalk in front of the A.G. Smith Mansion to connect with the walking bridge and canal.
The trail should connect with First Avenue on the west side of the bridge. Maybe smooth the grade from the river trail to the Love Light Tree (remember, we are cutting off 1st Street). Another trail should follow Avenue A from the riverfront to the trail along the old CB&Q tracks.
I think it would also be cool if the western side of the bike trail crosses the river into Lawrence Park. And have a similar bike bridge to the Sterling side, right in front of what's being developed there.
***
These are just my ideas. I don't know whether or not they will work out, but that's what I'd like to see.
Now, if I can draw something up on Sterling ...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)