Fort Reno, U.S.A. - On June 1st, 2012, eight riders and a host of supporters are scheduled to set out from Fort Reno on a 1,391 mile journey in remembrance of the 1878 Cheyenne exodus.

The Ride Home was set in motion by Margaret Behan of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers and Cheyenne Elders Council who will be joining the riders for prayers and healing ceremonies at key locations along the journey which spans seven states.

From Oklahoma through Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming, the ride culminates in Lame Deer, Montana on July 28, 2012 at the 11th gathering of the Grandmothers Council. 

At sacrifice sites along the route, Earth skill educators will share the lost wisdom of caring for the earth through storytelling, land stewardship and wilderness survival training for families.  They will offer hands-on teachings of traditional skills such as fire making, shelter building, animal tracking, flint knapping, and more.

Inspired by Cherokee rider Noqah Elisi who first envisioned the ride after receiving a message in a vision quest instructing her to follow in the footsteps of her grandmothers, Margaret asked Juan Villarreal to organize the ride.  Juan, a member of the Texas Lipan Apache and The Apache Language Preservation Committee, board member of the Tribal Native American Church and founder of Sacred Wind Earth Teachings, had never ridden a horse.

Juan immediately contacted Suzi Landolphi from Red Horse Nation, a Native American Horse program of Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue to begin his horse training.  Lifesaver is supplying all of the horses for the ride and is also the fiscal sponsor.

“My prayer is to bring spirit back to my people.  So much has been lost.  We need to bring our Cheyenne identity and pride back to the young people, teach them the traditional ceremonies and language,” says Grandmother Margaret Behan.

A film crew will be documenting the journey with acclaimed native filmmaker Chris Eyre acting as key advisor.  Colin and Livia Firth are also associated with the journey and film.

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Washington, U.S.A - The Conservative electoral wave of 2010 is alive and well and headed toward the Senate. Groups representing all aspects of the movement declare that the 2012 Conservative takeover that began in Indiana when Richard Mourdock ousted 36 year-incumbent Richard Lugar, must continue in Nebraska this Tuesday.

Diverse conservative groups, Eagle Forum, Gun Owners of America, FRCAction and FreedomWorks are uniting behind State Treasurer Don Stenberg because of his proven record, having delivered on his promises to conservatives each of the four times he has been elected to statewide office.  The groups issued the following statements:

FRCAction PAC

“Don Stenberg is a known quantity, and he is known as a warrior for marriage and the unborn, having defended Nebraska’s partial birth abortion bill all the way to the Supreme Court. He is also a warrior on the fiscal front, as he fought to keep costs under control as Nebraska’s Attorney General and Treasurer.”

FreedomWorks

Stenberg has a record of standing strong against interventionist economic policies, such as cap-and-trade and ObamaCare. A critic of excessive government spending before it was fashionable; Stenberg decried Republican big-spending initiatives such as Medicare Part D, No Child Left Behind, and corporate bailouts.  We know we can count on him to take a stand for our economic freedom, even if it means standing against his own party.

Gun Owners of America

Gun Owners of America stands with Don Stenberg who is strong on all the issues, especially appointees and nominees that shape policy for generations.  He is the polar opposite of Jon Bruning, who wrote a letter supporting the nomination of Attorney General Eric Holder, and continues, unapologetically to stand by his support for Eric Holder despite many calls to renounce it.

Even in the face of Congressman Darrell Issa’s impending Contempt of Congress charges Bruning still wants to go along to get along.  This is exactly what is wrong with our party and Establishment candidates like Dick Lugar, who recently was defeated by another staunch conservative.

Eagle Forum

“With the possibility of two to three vacancies on the Supreme Court and hundreds of other federal benches over the next four years, we must elect conservatives with the backbone to stand up against nominees who don’t share our values. Don Stenberg is the only candidate in this race that we know will take such a stand.”

Stenberg is also endorsed by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul and Utah Senator Mike Lee, both of whom were elected in the 2010 conservative wave, as well as Senator Jim DeMint’s Senate Conservative Fund and the pro-business Club for Growth.

Image Courtesy of   Andrew Aliferis

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The American Red Cross is responding across the Midwest where dozens of tornadoes ripped through communities overnight, destroying buildings and downing power lines. Red Cross workers are already operating shelters and providing meals, and more help is on the way.

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by these tornadoes,” said Charley Shimanski, senior vice president for Red Cross Disaster Services. “Red Cross chapters are already offering folks food and a safe place to stay and more workers and equipment are being sent it to help people who were in the path of these storms.”

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center reported at least 97 tornadoes blew across Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Particularly hard hit were the towns of Woodward and Norman in Oklahoma, the towns of Creston and Thurman in Iowa and areas in and around Wichita, Kansas. Currently, hundreds of relief supplies are being moved to the affected areas. These supplies include comfort kits, tarps, coolers, rakes and other cleanup supplies. The Red Cross is also sending in additional staff and disaster equipment.

The Red Cross encourages people to register on the Red Cross Safe and Well website to let loved ones know they are safe by visiting www.redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). From a smart phone, visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell and click on the “List Yourself as Safe and Well” or “Search for Friends and Family” link.

Officials said the severe weather may continue from Texas to the upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions of the country. People who live in areas hit by the overnight storms should not return to their neighborhoods until authorities say it is safe to do so. Other safety steps include:

• Stay out of damaged buildings.
• Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and sturdy shoes when examining homes for damage.
• Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and report them to the utility company immediately.
• Use battery- powered flashlights when examining buildings—do NOT use candles.
• If someone notices a gas smell or hears a hissing noise, they should open a window and get everyone out of the building quickly. They should also call the Gas Company or fire department.
• Keep animals under control.
• Clean up spilled medications, bleaches, gasoline or other flammable liquids that could become a fire hazard.

Image Courtesy of   American Red Cross

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Meteorologists testing the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System, version 2 (AWIPS2), at the NWS Weather Forecast Office in Omaha Nebraska experienced potentially life threatening technical issues and missed critical information as they disseminated warnings. The problems highlight catastrophic infrastructure issues within the NWS as the agency tries to manage multiple technical problems with their already delayed AWIPS2 roll out.

Meanwhile, the NWS plans on removing the Information Technology Officers from all weather forecast offices nationwide as part of the Presidents FY13 budget request, the very same people the agency would count on to fix these technical problems.

The National Weather Service houses an AWIPS at each of the 122 weather forecast offices across the country. AWIPS is the cornerstone for all of the forecasting and warning programs. The agency is in the process of upgrading to a faster, more efficient system, AWIPS 2, but is experiencing technical problems as the implementation takes place.

Currently, the weather forecast office in Omaha, Nebraska is the only office to fully implement AWIPS2; Boulder, Colorado and Houston, Texas are in the process of implementing the system. In Omaha, the forecasters did not even know they were in a Tornado Watch as the typical alerting systems and notifications failed to operate correctly. Additionally, products that warn citizens of potential dangers also alerted areas that were not of concern. Finally, forecasters were not able to see portions of neighboring radars that might have had a better coverage of the storm.

“The National Weather Service is making rash decisions that could have catastrophic consequences,” said Dan Sobien, president of the National Weather Service Employees Organization. “It makes no sense to implement AWIPS2 before the program is ready and then fire all the IT guys who are responsible for fixing the problems.”

AWIPS2 is scheduled to be implemented in the Oklahoma City area (Norman, OK) in about two weeks and unlike Omaha, Norman will not have a backup AWIPS1 system. “They clearly have not worked all of the bugs out of the system, and now they are going to place this machine in the heart of Tornado Alley, right at the beginning of the tornado season, they are going to kill somebody,” Sobien stated.

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Gov. Dave Heineman on January 20 joined Union Pacific Chairman and CEO Jim Young in announcing the company’s planned $1 billion investment in Nebraska over the next several years as part of its capital investment programs. The $1 billion will be spent on projects across the state, including the following:

• Union Pacific is expanding capacity at its North Platte rail yard, the largest railroad classification yard in the world, with a $70 million investment for better throughput by adding track and technology upgrades.
• About 125 trains a day transport goods through Nebraska on Union Pacific’s main line – making it the busiest freight rail transportation corridor in the United States. An investment of approximately $220 million in new rail, ties and other work will increase capacity and fluidity on this busy corridor.
• Between Fremont and Missouri Valley, Union Pacific plans to spend $206 million on new crew change buildings, a bridge over the Elkhorn River, new technology and track. This is a multiple-year project to move trains more efficiently and improve service.

“I’m thrilled at the news of Union Pacific’s expansion,” said Gov. Dave Heineman. “Their extraordinary investment in our state is a great example of how Nebraska is moving forward as a state with one of the lowest foreclosure rates, the second-lowest unemployment rate and a destination for companies looking to expand and create jobs.”

“We’re proud that Union Pacific has been part of Nebraska for 150 years. Today’s announcement of our $1 billion infrastructure investment in the state renews our commitment to helping stimulate business and job growth in Nebraska. Governor Heineman, working with the Unicameral, is committed to providing a business environment that encourages investments in the state, making Nebraska more competitive on national and global scales,” said Young.

Union Pacific employs approximately 45,000 people. About 8,000 of those employees are in Nebraska, creating a payroll of nearly $1 billion. Union Pacific operates 1,068 miles of track in the state.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce economic models, every dollar invested in freight railroads yields $3 in economic output and every job in day-to-day operations sustains another 4.5 jobs elsewhere in the economy. Using this model, Union Pacific’s $1 billion in Nebraska can yield $3 billion in economic output.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexandramatzke/

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Concierge Marketing, an award-winning book shepherd and micropublisher in Omaha, Nebraska, is using the Ebook explosion and other technologies to fuel their growth. The company will launch their 100th micropublisher this year, producing titles marketed nationally and internationally in non-fiction, children’s picture books, and selected fiction.

This year, the company will announce their first hybrid royalty-based title under their own imprint. Since 2004, Concierge Marketing has helped authors launch their own independent micropublishing startups, guiding them through compliance, product development, marketing, and setting up independent distribution in their name. Books are published in print, audio, and all digital formats now, with enhanced ebooks being beta tested.

Large traditional publishers and others in the industry have feared the onslaught of the ebook and lamented that they will be the death of books. CMI founder and CEO Lisa Pelto believes that ebooks are actually the savior of publishing, particularly the small publisher and independent author.

“No longer are authors cut out of the loop once a book is purchased the first time. They have the potential of a more consistent stream of revenue. Ebooks are not sold on the secondary market to stores that buy books from consumers for pennies on the dollar, and then turn around and resell them for half the retail price with no further royalties paid to the author,” Pelto said.

“There are lending sites and library programs entering the marketplace; however, arrangements are being negotiated by publishers ahead of time to build in protections that never had to be considered before.”

In response to the increasing number of authors willing to pay for professional publishing services to create books that compete with traditional New York publishers, Concierge Marketing is uniquely positioned to navigate these authors through the often confusing industry, creating a formatting strategy for that book that focuses on the consumer.

“Flexibility has been the key to our success,” states Pelto, who has worked in marketing and publishing for over three decades. “From a marketing standpoint, it’s a great environment for authors. The playing field has leveled, and consumers are now driving how they purchase and read books.”

When retired homicide detective Brian Bogdanoff decided to write a book about solving the case of his life, he researched all of the publishing options available today.

“After looking at the speed I could be published, the level of editorial and creative control I would need, the formats my readers were going to want, and the profit potential of the various options, the only choice was to open my own independent micro-publishing operation,” Bogdanoff says. “I needed professional help, but I wanted to retain ownership and all rights. Concierge Marketing spent time educating me, and it was evident this was the way to publish today.”

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After a dramatic week behind the scenes inside the football team, Penn State was unable to come up with a home victory against Nebraska, losing 17-14. The Cornhuskers’ running game carried the team to victory with Rex Burkhead and Ameer Abdullah rushing for a total of 127 yards and two touchdowns.

Quarterback Taylor Martinez helped get the ball down the field, throwing for 144 yards on 13 catches with no interceptions. Penn State running back Stephfon Green got the only two touchdowns for his team, while quarterback Matt McGloin moved the ball downfield 192 yards on 16 catches.

With no offensive action in the first quarter, the Cornhuskers were the first to make a change on the scoreboard with a 41-yard field goal by Brett Maher five minutes into the second quarter, and a 2-yard rushing touchdown from Ameer Abdullah in the final minute of the half.

Nebraska scored yet again in the early minutes of the third quarter with Rex Burkhead rushing 14 yards for a touchdown, making the score 17-0. However, Penn state showed signs of life later on in the third quarter with Stephfon Green running five yards for a touchdown that brought them ten points away from the lead going into the final quarter.

After several pushes for more points, the Nittany Lions were able to bring themselves three points away from tying up the game with Green rushing for another touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Penn State was able to get the ball back in the final minute of the game.  However, in the final seconds and after several Hail Mary attempts, the Nittany Lions were unable to get the ball down the field to get the final points that they needed. In the end, Nebraska won the game 17-14.

This game was the first Penn State has played since the firing of their head coach, Joe Paterno, who had been coaching the Nittany Lions since 1966. He holds the record for the most Division 1-A wins with 409 and the most bowl wins with 24 in his career. The Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-2) travel to face the Michigan Wolverines next Saturday, while the Penn State Nittany Lions (8-2) travel to face Ohio State.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.facebook.com/pennstate

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This time Gaga takes her little monsters to a complete different setting for the shooting of her new video, Nebraska.

The new video will be produced for the song ‘You And I,’ which has already a deep meaning and message for Gaga, ” It is when you’re away from someone you love, it’s torture.”

On an interview to Omaha radio station, 94.1 she was commenting about the video shooting parallel when her song was being released on radio for the first time. “I’ve got to tell you, I don’t think there’s anything hotter than being in a cornfield in Nebraska.

“It was so sweet, and I looked out and it’s so beautiful, that tall corn. … Then all of a sudden you start to see these monsters pop up. I love this place so much, and it really comes from a genuine place. The person who I wrote this song about has been my buddy and my best friend since I was 19 years old, and he’s from here,” referring to her friend pal Luc Carl. “And I love this state so much.”

She also described the plot of the video: “Well, it was actually kind of perfect the way it worked out ’cause the premise of the video is that I’ve walked all the way from New York City to Nebraska to get him back,” she said. “I’m walking with no luggage and no nothing and it’s just me and my ankles are bleeding a little bit and there’s grass stuck in my shoes and I’ve got this outfit on and it’s real sort of New York clothing and I’m sprinting.

“And the [video is about the] idea that when you’re away from someone you love, it’s torture,” she continued. “I knew I wanted the video to be about me sprinting back and walking hundreds of thousands of miles to get him back.”

Based on her personal insight to what this video means to her, we can assume that she is adapting her personal experiences and feelings from her past into the screen.

Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

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