Some thoughts on a variety of topics:

It’s water over the dam, what’s done is done and there is nothing to be gained by playing Monday morning quarterback. Nevertheless, from time to time, it is interesting to wonder what “might have been” if those in the decision-making positions had taken a different action.

Past Saturday columns

For example, consider what might have been if Kansas City leaders had decided to accept the offer of world famous architect Frank Gehry to design the downtown Kansas City sports arena.

Gehry is considered one of the best, and his designs have thrilled millions of people around the world. His Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, his Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and his Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago are just three of his exceptional projects.

His record and his fame are such that he and his associates have the luxury of choosing which projects they want to build. The downtown Kansas City sports arena caught his imagination, and he said he would like to design the facility. He even agreed to hook up with a Kansas City architectural firm to provide a local connection to the important downtown project, which has been pushed by Kansas City leaders to help spruce up the rotting downtown.

Kansas City leaders hope the sports arena will put new life into the downtown, spur growth and bring people to the area.

A Frank Gehry building would have brought hundreds of thousands to the city’s center, just to see and tour the facility. A check with Chicago, Los Angeles or Bilbao, Spain, city officials would have confirmed what a Gehry designed complex would have done for downtown Kansas City.

What an opportunity. However, Kansas City officials elected to go with a well-respected Kansas City firm that has presented, based on early drawings, a rather plain, standard, circular-domed arena surrounded by a water moat.

It isn’t likely the building itself will attract anywhere near the tens or hundreds of thousands of people who would have come to Kansas City just to see the arena, not counting the thousands Kansas City officials hope will come to the downtown arena to see players dunk a basketball.

What was it that turned off Kansas City officials to a Gehry building? Was it because he was from out of town, his cost, his design or what?

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Only months ago, during the presidential election campaign, Democrats were trying their best to use the economy and jobless numbers as an issue to defeat President Bush. According to his Democratic critics, Bush could nothing right; he was opposed to anything and everything that was good for America and its people. They predicted dire results for this nation if he were re-elected.

This isn’t to suggest everything is wonderful and perfect with Bush and his administration, but it is interesting to note a recent Associated Press story that pointed out that for the week of Feb. 6, unemployment benefits dropped to their lowest level in four years. According to the story, U.S. Department of Labor officials reported a total of 302,000 Americans had filed applications for unemployment benefits that week, the lowest level since Oct. 28, 2000.

Of course, the 302,000 figure still is too high, but in a country this size with such a large work force, it is a sad real fact that there always will be unemployed people.

Bush’s critics also said it would not be possible to hold elections in Iraq. There still are tremendous challenges, but the elections were held. It is so easy for Bush bashers to quickly forget their alarmist predictions that proved to be false. Since the minute the 2004 election was over, the president’s critics have worked nonstop to fault him on every possible front. In their twisted opinion, he can do nothing right.

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Only time will tell whether the money and effort being spent by Kansas University to “brand” the school will pay dividends in the eyes of state legislators, football and basketball players, alumni and friends of the school, donors, students, prospective students and others. Just how much does it mean to these constituencies that the school has an official color, an official typeface, an official letterhead, an official Jayhawk, an official business card, and standardized designs for its football, basketball, track, tennis, softball and soccer uniforms?

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Every reasonable effort should be made to figure out what to do about homeless people in Lawrence. Some residents see this situation on a daily basis and, because of the actions and behavior of a few, see it as an unpleasant matter that can detract from the livability and property values of a neighborhood. Others, who are not confronted with the situation often, don’t get too exercised about the matter.

To those who are homeless, it is a very serious matter, particularly when it is bitterly cold and wet outside or when the temperature is terribly hot. Where can they find shelter, food and a place to sleep? There are all kinds of issues associated with this puzzle and no easy answers.

What is the best way for city officials and those who work with the homeless population to be compassionate but also demanding in the requirements they set for reasonable actions and behavior by those in the homeless community?