Budget bill only vote required for wrap-up

Opinion

Written by Don Schgroeder Tuesday, 14 May 2013 13:32

After a longer than normal break, the Kansas Legislature is back in Topeka for the wrap-up/veto session to finish the work begun in January and going through April.

We have a number of issues that may be taken up, but the only issue requiring action is the 2014 budget. Making adjustments to the tax revenues is actually optional, but the earlier we settle some of those issues the better for the state long-term.

The state budget was nearly finished before the Legislature recessed in April, but finishing touches can now be made as the revenue estimates are in and the Legislature will be deciding what to do regarding sales and income taxes.

Revenue estimates were virtually unchanged from previous estimates, so nothing of note there...

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Will we run out of new music?

Don\'t Ask Why

Written by David Vogel Tuesday, 14 May 2013 13:32

Every couple of months I have a night where I lay awake with this anxiety that someday we’re going to run out of new music to write.

Not you and me, personally. But the population in general.

If you stop to think about it—and I do, which is why I can’t sleep—there is a very finite number of pitch, rhythm and harmony combinations that can ever exist. It may be an incredibly wide collection, but at some point someone will write the very last song. Ever.

Then we’d be left with the same music day after day, sort of like TV programming after 9 o’clock on weeknights. (You know, reruns of “Full House.”)

That’s the fear I have.

But then, by about 3 a.m., I become a little less paranoid. That’s because I realize I’m...

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Mother’s Day can be a hard holiday

Lipstick & Pearls

Written by Malinda Just Tuesday, 14 May 2013 13:33

In our house, my husband and I really don’t get into celebrating the so-called “Hallmark” holidays. Mother’s Day is generally included in that list, along with Father’s Day and Valentine’s Day.

It’s not like we don’t value each other, or our parents, but we just don’t spend much energy (or money) to mark those set-aside dates.

So when I found a little white box with a navy ribbon at my place at the breakfast table, I was surprised. I knew I’d receive some token of appreciation, but I figured it would come in the form of a hand-drawn card or maybe muffins and eggs.

So a neatly wrapped gift made me a little jittery.

I remembered mentioning months ago how I would like to have some sort of mother-jewelry...and then...

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One thing Facebook does well

Partly Nonsense

Written by Joel Klaassen Tuesday, 14 May 2013 13:33

There is one big thing that Face­book is good for, and has changed the world for the better. That would be for sharing photos with friends and family.

The rest of it, not so much. For me, it will never be about buying or selling anything, at least that is how I think at the moment.

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Nancy and her mom and I went out for Sunday brunch in Wichita for Mother’s Day. We had a great time, even though we waited for an hour to eat.

We thought that by going early we would beat the crowd, as no reservations were taken for Mother’s Day. Unknown to me was the fact that the prices were jacked up for this day, but it didn’t matter.

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During our wait at the restaurant, we met some wonderful people. As we were talking with two couples...

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