Snow!

At last, a really good snow fall. Yeah, I know. Most people are not all that happy about it, but I really like to have at least one good snow fall. Fayetteville already has about 1½ inches of snow and it's still snowing. Casey really loves it and we took the opportunity to play in it. While I like it now when I'm all safe and warm at home, I may feel much differently tomorrow morning when I try to get to work.

Fayetteville, The Links, Lindsey development

I went to a neighborhood meeting that the Lindsey Management was hosting. They were showing off their proposed apartment complex off Rupple Road. It is going to be a big complex with over 1200 apartment units. A big difference from other complexes that Lindsey have built is the incorporation of commercial buildings. Rupple Road will be lined with commercial buildings. Hopefully things like restaurants, small businesses and offices. There is also a town center which will also be mixed use. The whole development will be surrounded by green spaces; a golf course, tree preservation, lakes and a park. It does look very nice. The biggest problem is going to be the traffic on Rupple Road. A development this size is going to generate a lot of traffic. It looks as if they are going to be accessing Wedington. I wonder if it's going to require another traffic light on Wedington. Boy, I sure hope not. Well, they still got a ways to go in the approval process. Plenty of opportunities to make any additional comments.

Over-Reacted After 9/11? Hell, No!

Has the American reaction to the attacks in fact been a massive overreaction? Is the widespread belief that 9/11 plunged us into one of the deadliest struggles of our time simply wrong?

David Bell is looking at Americans reaction to 9/11 from the wrong perspective. He is looking at the current number of dead American's and comparing them the number of dead in the past.

But it is no disrespect to the victims of 9/11, or to the men and women of our armed forces, to say that, by the standards of past wars, the war against terrorism has so far inflicted a very small human cost on the United States. As an instance of mass murder, the attacks were unspeakable, but they still pale in comparison with any number of military assaults on civilian targets of the recent past, from Hiroshima on down

His vision is too narrow and focused. We went to war with Afghanistan and Iraq in order to prevent the massive numbers of deaths that would have happen if we just ignored 9/11. Make no mistake, if we didn't retaliate, the terrorists would have taken it for a sign of weakness and continued to kill more people. They would have made sure that the next attempt would have taken more than 3,000 people. We "over-reacted" in order to make sure hundreds of millions of people didn't die. If world leaders had taken care of Hitler before he started invading Europe, millions of people would not have been killed. This time, at least for the time being, the terrorists have been stopped. I think the message should be loud and clear after 9/11. Any terrorist attack on America will result in a massive, insane level of retaliation that would annihilate the terrorists. Once the terrorists get that message I believe they would think twice before attacking American again.

Weekend Blahs.

What is it with weekends? Why is it that I don't feel like getting anything done? I have this long list of projects and I can't get motivated to do them. By the time I get home from work and errands Saturday, I just felt like crashing and vegging out. Sigh! When I do try to tackle a project, I seem to mostly wander around the house than actually get anything done. Arrrgh! Sunday, the only thing I was motivated to do was read a book. This coming weekend I absolutely must get some things done!

Eli, Waiting for the Lap

Other than the computer keyboard, the end table by the recliner is Eli's favorite place to sit or lay. He just waiting for me to sit down so he can lay in my lap. Okay, Okay! I'm coming! Just let me get my book and coffee!

More cats at Friday Ark and Carnival of the Cats

Jello Republicans and "Let's Lose" Democrats

Ok, I am pissed off at the spineless, jello Republicans who are joining the "Let's Lose" Democrats in voting for a non-binding resolution against more troops in Iraq. I am joining other pissed off people by signing this pledge

If the United States Senate passes a resolution, non-binding or otherwise, that criticizes the commitment of additional troops to Iraq that General Petraeus has asked for and that the president has pledged, and if the Senate does so after the testimony of General Petraeus on January 23 that such a resolution will be an encouragement to the enemy, I will not contribute to any Republican senator who voted for the resolution. Further, if any Republican senator who votes for such a resolution is a candidate for re-election in 2008, I will not contribute to the National Republican Senatorial Committee unless the Chairman of that Committee, Senator Ensign, commits in writing that none of the funds of the NRSC will go to support the re-election of any senator supporting the non-binding resolution.

Go here if you wish to sign the pledge also. More information about the pledge at Hugh Hewitt

ERA, Now Gay Rights Amendment

Our local ultra-liberal moonbat Rep Lindsley Smith is once again attempting to get the Equal Rights amendment ratified by the Arkansas Legislature. Many legislators have already agreed to co-sponsor her bill. The ERA was once passed by Congress, but was never ratified by the required number of states and it eventually expired.
So, why would Rep Smith and other ultra-liberals like her want to get it passed in the legislature and why should we care?
The passage of the ERA would put gay rights into the U.S. Constitution. The amendment reads "no discrimination based on sex", and doesn't specifically mention women. Passage of the ERA would legalize same-sex marriage and would basically pass the gay/lesbian agenda. The gay marriage ban passed by over 70% of Arkansans would be abolished.
How will they get it passed if time limits for state ratification has expired? Well, they are hoping for some liberal, extremist, activist judge to say time limits are unconstitutional and that the ERA has no time limits. So, Rep Lindsley and her ilk would just have to get more states to ratify it and voilà, a new Gay Rights Amendment in the Constitution. Sneaky little devils aren't they?

The SOTU, From a Different Angle

See the President's speech in a different way. Interesting! I like it! (via Boing-Boing)

Please Say It Isn't So!

Oh please John Kerry, reconsider your decision! I was so looking forward to more stories from the Swift Boat vets. Your "botched jokes" just gives us something to laugh at for weeks. John, I was hoping you'd provide us with comic relief. I just hope we can find someone as good a dufus as you are.

Ouch! That has Got to Hurt!

This is just so funny! I bet the doctors in emergency were having a really good laugh.

Republican Presidential Candidates

Well, I don't think that any of them suck, I'm just not that enthusiastic about them. I, too, would like Newt Gingrich to run. He is very articulate on what the Republican Conservatives stand for and want. I'd vote for him if he ran, but even if he didn't win, he may pull the others back from the brink of being Moderate Democrats. When all is said and done, the Republican candidates are better than the Democrat candidates.

Newspaper's Blogs

Reuters

The number of people reading Internet blogs on the top 10 U.S. newspaper sites more than tripled in December from a year ago and accounted for a larger percentage of overall traffic to those sites, according to data released on Wednesday

Well, if that's the case, then The Baxter Bulletin is going to be a hopping place. They've been adding a bunch of bloggers to their on-line addition. They have quite a range of bloggers. I bet there is some one there you'd enjoy reading.

I think there is a problem with the definition of a blog. Newspapers seem to loosely define what a blog is. For instance, not all newspaper blogs allow comments which follow through to conversations. The Arkansas Times blog will only allow comments that fall in line to the liberal Democrat platform. Any dissenting comments aren't posted. I don't believe that The Morning News calls itself a blog, but you can comment on posted stories. Nice! John Brummett of the Morning News has a "blog". However, he doesn't allow for comments so I don't see it qualifying as a true blog.

It's kinda of interesting to see the newspapers grapple with the New Media. How are they going to fit into the new era of news and information? I think The Baxter Bulletin is making a good start. I wish them all the best!

Overselling Global Warming

Shades of Galileo. It started when the Weather Channels Climate Expert,
Dr. Heidi Cullen decided that

If a meteorologist can't speak to the fundamental science of climate change, then maybe the AMS shouldn't give them a Seal of Approval.

Boy, what a storm she created! Basically she's saying that the issue of man-made global warming is absolute and if you don't agree, you have to be shut up. She talks about how the science is conclusive on this, and it isn't. The argument of man-made global warming has enough critics, that to make it an absolute is ridiculous. The problem is global warming has gone from scientific speculation to liberal dogma. These liberals are now implementing an ecological inquisition to maintain their religion. Just like Galileo, any scientific evidence that disproves the man causing global warming dogma will be silenced.

Blogger 4 Life

Blogs4Life Conference

How much is a person worth? Not much according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. George Will asks ACOG what his son, Jon, and others like him did to deserve ACOG's death sentence. What is it about his existence that troubles the esteemed doctors?
One of the jobs I had in college was to take care of handicapped students. "Cindy" was confined to a wheelchair due to muscular dystrophy. My job was to give her a shower and get her to bed. Cindy had limited use of her arms, but could type on a computer modified for her. Her ambition was to finish college and become a writer. She was one of the funniest and happiest people I've ever met. I attended high school with Mark, who also suffered with MD. Oh man, this kid was a hoot! He would chase girls down the halls with his wheelchair or give them rides. He was funny and so nice to be around.
These 2 so-called handicapped people are exactly the ones ACOG is attempting to exterminate. Wrong, Wrong, Wrong! These two have enrich mine and others lives. Because of them, I look at the potential handicapped people have. I cherish the impact they've had on my life. As George Will said "They were loving and being loved."

Computer Trouble

Bows and Eli have been teaching Tigger about hassling Mom when she's working on some very important stuff on the computer. Tigger is not content with laying on top of the keyboard or papers. Oh no, he has to play with them. Lord, what am I going to do if the dogs decide to join in?


More cats at Friday Ark and Carnival of the Cats

Beauty Treatment

Saturday I took Trixie in for a bath, haircut and nail trim. She has been losing her undercoat and I didn't want the hassle of combing it out and giving her a bath and haircut. I'd rather pay someone else to do it. I don't know why she's losing her winter coat. We've been having some of our coldest temperatures this winter. Oh well, she looking absolutely beautiful!

More dogs at Friday Ark and Carnival of the Dogs

Fayetteville, Road Impact Fees to the Voters

I really thought the Fayetteville City Council would put a hold on the road impact fees until they heard more about the real estate transfer tax. Of course developers are going to scream bloody murder about it and will probably be campaigning against it. While I understand not wanting to add more to the cost of a house, I'd like to know the developer's ideas about paying for the costs these new developments generate. Who is going to pay for the streets, sewer, police and fire? Other than developer Charlie Sloan's transfer tax, I haven't heard of any other constructive idea from either developers or realtors. Fayetteville is trying to find revenue sources to keep up with the tremendous growth in the city. The city's inability to construct its infrastructure so as to keep up with growth does affect developers ability to build and sell their houses. Developers and realtors need to start working with cities like Fayetteville to resolve growth issues. This is not going to be an easy problem to resolve.

Arkansas Test Scores, Manipulated?

Congratulations are being issued to all concerning the seeming good news on Arkansas test scores.

Then the folks at Education Week, bless ’em all to pieces, issued its rankings of student performance in the 50 states last week, and there we stood—tall. At 29 th.

Mark Moore asks an interesting question about the newly released news about Arkansas school test scores. Here is something that you won't find in any of the newspapers. Too bad, it's a question they should be asking.

Legislators should check the number of students labled "special ed" and "504" from 2002 to 2006. If the 2006 number is much higher, the answer is clear- Arkansas' schools are doing a better job than the nation of keeping low-performing students from taking the test by classifying them as some sort of "Special Ed".

Somehow, I think it's more likely that the test was manipulated in some matter, rather than the students actually doing better. I just don't see the current Arkansas school administration being able to pull up scores. An anonymous ( 12:10)commenter has this observation

It is actually getting more difficult to assign special ed status to kids now. I have students in my class who desperately need special classes, but the procedure to have them identified is extraordinarily complex.
What is actually causing the scores to rise is the lowering of cut scores. I checked with a math teacher earlier this year who shared that a score of 42% earns a student in the 7th grade a Proficient in math. Imagine that! A 42 in my class is an F. On Arkansas' tests, it's proficient!

Well, now we know how to make ourselves look better, just lower the standards. The problem is, we've been lowering school standards for years.

As technology becomes more sophisticated, manufacturing plants require more sophisticated workers, those with a superior education. If this state's economy is going to continue to develop, and if we're going to provide better jobs with better pay for the generations of Arkansans to come, we need to start by providing a better education.

This was a platform that Gov. Beebe ran on. What are you going to do about this Gov? Just do what Arkansas Democrat Gazette did and congratulate everyone for what appears to be cheating or start raising the standards so that students can really compete for better paying job?

Getting Rid of Rush Limbaugh

Now that the Democrats are in power it appears that one of the things on their "to do" list is to get rid of conservative Talk Radio.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) made an surprise appearance at the convention to announce that he would be heading up a new House subcommittee which will focus on issues surrounding the Federal Communications Commission.

What to guess what part they're particularly interested in reforming?

Also in consideration is the "Fairness Doctrine," which required broadcasters to present controversial topics in a fair and honest manner. It was enforced until it was eliminated in 1987.

Conservative Talk Radio is too popular for any efforts by the Democrats to abolish it to succeed. It will make for some really fun Democrat bashing once concervative radio and TV hosts take up the issue.

Fayetteville, Ice Storm or Rain?

I went outside this morning to look things over. There is a thin layer of ice over everything. I've gotten 3 inches of rain. I had to refresh the bird feeders. All the seed that was in the feeders was frozen. Now it's a matter of waiting for the next storm. Is it going to be rain or ice?

Fayetteville, Road Impact Fees, Part 2

I attended the Street Committee meeting, Thursday night. I'm sure glad I did. Developer Charlie Sloan introduced Steve Davis, a consultant,who is working to get legislation for cities to collect a Real Estate Transfer Tax. Davis explained what they were hoping to do and what the tax could do for Fayetteville. I was totally off based on what the Real Estate Tax meant. I thought they were attempting to raise my real estate tax. Hey, you learn something everyday! The Real Estate Transfer Tax is collected only when a property is sold. I'm unsure who pays the tax, the buyer or the seller. Anyway, I'm interested in finding more about the tax, when and if the legislature would pass it. Davis did say that at this point, Fayetteville is the only city looking at the Real Estate Transfer Tax. Maybe the City Council can wait on Impact Fees and see if this legislation will give them more options.

Fayetteville, Rupple Road Widening

Wow Oh Wow! The Fayetteville Street committee have finally done it. They have voted to widen a street before it became a traffic disaster. The Committee voted to widen Rupple Road from Wedington Drive to Persimmon Street as well as improving the intersection of Wedington and Rupple. Lioneld Jordan, chair, said that in 2001 the proposed widening would cost $750,000, now it will cost $2.3 million. It sure would be nice if the City of Fayetteville could build roads before they become traffic nightmares and the cost of building them skyrocket.

Nancy Pelosi's Sump Pump Problems

When Nancy Pelosi said she'd "drain the swamp" maybe she should have started with her own basement.

Maid, Oh Maid!

I feed the cats on the counter because I have 2 dogs that would quickly eat anything I'd place on the floor. I believe Bows wants to have breakfast in bed.

Yaaawn! If you're awake enough, visit other cats at Friday Ark and Carnival of the Cats

The President's Speech

It's about time! Finally the President to going to do what he should have done.

Our past efforts to secure Baghdad failed for two principal reasons: There were not enough Iraqi and American troops to secure neighborhoods that had been cleared of terrorists and insurgents. And there were too many restrictions on the troops we did have. Our military commanders reviewed the new Iraqi plan to ensure that it addressed these mistakes

Boy, I really got frustrated with Bush because we worrying too much about how people thought of us and we got too bogged down trying to fight a PC war. It's about time we let our forces go after the jihadis and insurgents without worrying about the legalities or supposed sensitivities if we have to go into mosques or other areas.

Succeeding in Iraq also requires defending its territorial integrity – and stabilizing the region in the face of the extremist challenge. This begins with addressing Iran and Syria. These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq. Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We will interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq.

Wahhoooo! I am so glad he mention these two. I hope he really means that he's going to take on Iran and Syria. I'm tired of all the diplo-talk.

Honorable people have different views, and they will voice their criticisms. It is fair to hold our views up to scrutiny. And all involved have a responsibility to explain how the path they propose would be more likely to succeed.

Fine! The Democrats disagree with the President. The President has already outlined the bloody carnage that would happen if we left. We have to stay. What ideas do the Democrats have to win the war?

Fellow citizens: The year ahead will demand more patience, sacrifice, and resolve. It can be tempting to think that America can put aside the burdens of freedom. Yet times of testing reveal the character of a Nation. And throughout our history, Americans have always defied the pessimists and seen our faith in freedom redeemed. Now America is engaged in a new struggle that will set the course for a new century. We can and we will prevail

American get off your fat, lazy ass and make the sacrifices that our forefathers made to give you such a comfortable life. You need to make the same sacrifices to insure that our children continue to enjoy the benefits of living in America.

Got Over That First Hurdle

Whew! I finished the first phase of the new technology we are implementating at the laboratory. It really feels good to get it completed. I have a couple of weeks to finished the next stage, so I can relax a little bit.
Last night I attended my first meeting of the Fayetteville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Yeah! Last month I was appointed to the board. I'll be serving for the next 2 years. We went on a field trip to look at 2 proposed additions to Fayetteville parks. I'm really excited about an enlargement of the Bryce-Davis park on the west side of Fayetteville. It would be increased to about the size of Wilson Park. The west side really needs a large community park.

Fayetteville, Road Impact Fees

Step right up and pick your poison. What will it be, road impact fees or real estate tax? Fayetteville, like all cities in NW Arkansas, needs to build roads to accommodate all the traffic. However, Fayetteville doesn't have the money to build all the roads it needs, even with the recently passed tax for roads. That's where a road impact fee comes in. They would provide additional money for building new roads. Impact fees are a form of tax and they will increase the price of a house. However, home buyers won't feel the bite of the fee because the fee will be factored in their mortgage. A $3,500 fee paid out over a 30 year loan is less than $120 per year. The impact fee will join all the other costs that come with buying a home.

The recommended maximums for each are as follows, though aldermen are expected to consider lesser amounts:
• $ 3, 409 for each singlefamily detached dwelling.

The real estate tax proposed by Charlie Sloan is something that is really going to impact everyone really hard, especially at the rate he's proposing.

[Stephen] Davis said that if the tax becomes reality, the city could likely charge $ 481 per $ 100, 000, or $ 4. 81 per $ 1, 000,

Sloan's proposed tax would nearly double the current real estate tax being paid now. There is just no way that I am going to vote for something that I can't afford. I don't know why Sloan would think people would vote for a real estate tax increase. People already complain about it being too high now. They aren't going to vote to increase it, especially that high of an increase.

More here and here

Table for Three, Please!

Another rare moment captured! It's so hard to for these three to have a peaceful meal together.

Cats with better manners may be found at Friday Ark and Carnival of the Cats

Re-thinking Saddam's Death

Saddam's hanging has been a topic at work. I was a bit surprised that some were not perturbed that his executioners taunted him and behaved in an uncivilized manner. Their response was that Iraq and Islam in general is a culture of savagery. I was responding like a Christian American.
My co-workers are right. Islam isn't known for it's civil behavior either toward non-Muslins or their own Muslin brothers. Given the bad feelings that Iraq's Shiites had after a few decades of abuse at the hands of Saddam, when given the opportunity, they are going to give Saddam the same abuse.

Changes at Work

My blogging has been lighter than usual the past week due to work. We are installing some new technology in the laboratory. You just can't plug in all the machines and computers and start using them. You have to make sure everyone is trained, validate all the changes, document all the changes and put those changes in your procedure manuals. You have to do all this in addition to getting your routine work out. We go live Feb 1st. I hope I survive the month.

Fayetteville's Own Leftist, Liberal, Ignorant Twits

Our own local "delusional and deranged" 60's peace twits were out and about this week protesting the United States presence in Iraq and war in general. "Celebrating" the death of the 3,000th American soldier, they lined up along College Avenue and held lit candles.
I guess these guys have no interest in living and enjoying the freedoms they have as a United States citizen. Freedoms which have been paid with the lives of our American soldiers and other brave Americans. It's too bad that they couldn't celebrate that so few soldiers have died in the Iraq War. Gateway Pundit has done a great job putting the soldiers deaths in historical context.

During the Clinton years, the US military lost an average of 939 soldiers each year. During the War in Iraq the US has lost an average of 800 soldiers each

I also noted that these liberal anti-war guys are still using statistics from a study that many have debunk and scoffed at their shameful claims.

Tiffany said participants of Tuesday's demonstration not only paid tribute the U. S. casualties in Iraq, but also to the 400, 000 to 600, 000 Iraqis who have died during the war, as well as those who have died in Afghanistan.

As the Gateway Pundit says

That comes to around 770 violent Iraqi deaths each day on average!!!
So, does this mean all of those headlines of 18 or 30 deaths were off by 700 or so?

First Night Fayetteville 2007

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wow! 2006 sure went by fast! This year promises to be just as busy. I spent the evening at the Fayetteville Square.


The music venues were separated so I was able to spend all my time at the Jazz Stage. What a great night of jazz, a perfect ending to the year!

Where else except in Fayetteville do they do a Hog Drop. This new year is bound to have problems and disappointments. I hope and pray that you have the strength, discipline, and courage to work through them. To remember that while life may be hard, God is Good.