BLOG: Fear not Big Thinkers, Google Fiber in Kansas City is good for Topeka

3/30/11 4:26 PM

My initial reaction when I heard that Google chose Kansas City, Kan., over Topeka was one of disappointment. So close! Then I realized it was Kansas City's proximity - just an hour east of Topeka - that makes all the difference in the world. The great thing about Google's fiber experiment is that it's not meant for just one city, it's meant to be the future of how information is shared via the Internet. Kansas City has a lot of great things going for it - it's a big city, very diverse population, it has the KU Medical Center and many big-time businesses that will put it to good use. It's exactly what Google was looking for in a large city to test the Google Fiber capabilities. What it isn't, however, is what should give us all hope that Google will still bring its fiber...

PHOTOS: Snowpocalypse 2011 - Topeka, Kan.

2/1/11 6:49 PM

On Monday night, the midwest was slammed with a winter storm unlike anything we've seen in recent memory. At the northernmost parts of the storm, such as in northeast Kansas, residents experienced an onslaught of freezing rain and sleet that turned into blizzard conditions by Tuesday. In the southernmost parts of the storm, such as in Oklahoma, residents were not only worried about the threat of snow and ice, but of tornados.By Tuesday evening, much of the southern United State was in some form of tornado watch or warning. As of 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, there was 8.9 inches of snow at Phillip Billard Municipal Airport in Topeka, with snow still falling heavily and strong wind gusts causing drifts throughout the city. Since Washburn had the day off, I stayed home and used the opportunity...

BLOG: 12 inches of snow, ice worthy of canceling classes

1/30/11 6:43 PM

During Mother Nature's last assault on the midwest, we recevied approximately 8 inches of snow in the Capital City, more in some spots than others. Many students assumed that classes would be canceled for the entire day because of the magnitude of the snow count. On Monday night, we hadn't heard anything about cancellations. By the time Tuesday morning rolled around, the official word from Washburn was that only classes up until 9:30 in the morning would be canceled. I beg the administration to consider against such a manuever with the upcoming winter storm, set to begin Monday with around two inches of wintry mix according to multiple local sources before accumulating a total of 12 inches of snow by Tuesday. In the case of the previous storm, though I wish the...

BLOG: Kansas City Chiefs' season anything but ordinary

1/8/11 5:49 PM

Following a 4-12 season that earned the Kansas City Chiefs the fifth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the 2010-11 NFL season has been like a dream for KC fans. It started with a few key additions, namely offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, rookie safety Eric Berry and veterans like runningback Thomas Jones and guard Ryan Lilja on the offensive line. Weis took one of the league's worst offenses from a year previous and turned it into the No. 1 rushing offense in the league. Behind an incredibly effective Jamaal Charles, whose 6.38 yards per carry in a season ranks second all-time only to Jim Brown's 6.4, the Chiefs have been explosive running the ball. Charles ended the season just 21 yards behind the Houston Texans' Arian Foster as the NFL rushing leader, as he totaled...

Webb, McCoy, Tebow: Fantasy Football trickery for Week 15

12/18/10 11:26 PM

  Looking for some ways to get a few extra points in your playoff matchup this week? Well, with a recent batch of injuries in the NFL, adding or dropping a few players might mean the difference between a win and a loss. Joe Webb - Minnesota Vikings, QB With regular starter Brett Favre sidelined with an acute case of old age and backup Tarvaris Jackson also out, this rookie from the University of Alabama-Birmingham will step in at quarterback against the Chicago Bears Monday night. Given the fact the game will be outdoors in Minnesota, this is Webb's first NFL start, the Chicago Bears defense is likely to tear him apart and that even the legendary Favre has had problems moving the ball in the offense, I suggest not starting him at quarterback this Monday. HOWEVER, I do...