Arkansas Illegals in College

I am assuming that the administrators want these illegal immigrants as students in their colleges.

Purcell sent a letter last week warning schools not to offer illegal immigrants in-state tuition, unless they wanted to give the same benefits to an out-of-state student. The department began polling the state's two- and four-year colleges and universities after that to find out their admissions practices.

These students have studied hard to get into college, they've filled out forms, and made arrangements to afford their education. Why don't they put in the same time and effort getting into to college to becoming a legal citizen? Why doesn't the college after identifying bogus social security numbers start the students through the process of becoming U.S. citizens? As long as these students haven't committed any crimes I see no problem with them continuing school while they go through the citizenship process. Heck, give them the incentive of in-state-tuition if they apply for citizenship.

After the Rain

Tigger is enjoying the garden although it is a bit wet. We've had rain nearly every day this week. All the rain is making the garden grow really nicely. Of course, the weeds are growing too. At least we've been really lucky in not getting any tornados.

More cats at Friday Ark

Walton Arts Center, In Fayetteville or Out?

I don't see the Walton Arts Center staying in Fayetteville. The PTB in the institution really want the bigger stage for bigger productions. When you talk to anyone from the Center that's seems to be their number one priority. While it would be nice to see some of the bigger productions, is there going to be enough people to shell out the big bucks to see those shows?
While the city of Fayetteville is going to try everything it can to keep it on Dickson Street, I don't think there is enough space for a bigger theater and more parking. I just don't think every entertainment venue can fit on Dickson Street. It's time for Fayetteville to look beyond Dickson Street and have other entertainment sections in the city.
The Walton Arts Center does still have it's possibilities. One of the things I miss in living in L.A. is the small theaters a lot of the cities had. For $10 I could go see a play, put on by local amateur actors. Some of them were better than the touring Broadway shows. Springdale has the Art Center of the Ozarks, I think the Arts Center should be home to a Fayetteville theater group.

Economy, Still No Recession

Hey, Democrats and MSM! You aren't trying hard enough! We still aren't in a recession yet! Frankly, I'm amazed that the economy has managed to grow.

The signs Thursday of resilience in the U.S. economy appeared welcome. "The GDP news was pretty good. From our perspective, we're not going to see a negative quarter of GDP, so earnings are going to improve," said Scott Wren, senior equity strategist for Wachovia Securities

Still, the growth is small so more pessimistic reporting could tip the economy over into a recession. The Democrats have to hurry though. The election is just a few months away and given all the baggage Obama has the Democrats really need a recession.

Soul-Searching Republicans

There is an expectation that Republicans are going to lose big this fall. So we have a few leaders commenting on why they are losing and what to do about it. Tom Coburn wrote

Voters are tired of buying a GOP package and finding a big-government liberal agenda inside. What we need is not new advertising, but truth in advertising.Becoming Republicans again will require us to come to grips with what has ailed our party – namely, the triumph of big-government Republicanism and failed experiments like the K Street Project and compassionate conservatism.

The Republican Party needs to start acting like Republicans. The Republican leadership needs to stop the massive spending increases and entitlement programs. They need to start giving people freedom instead of dependence on the government. Glenn agrees with Tom and further comments

He's right. At least, the GOP leadership is. Grassroots Republican seem to be in despair . . . .

I disagree with the despair in the Republican grassroots. We got frustration, anger and a willingness to toss out the Republican leadership. The grassroots are searching among their ranks for candidates who are dedicated to the conservative principals of the Republican Party. The national outlook for Republicans look like a mess right now, but local candidates are learning the lesson about straying from the principals. For Republicans to win - and be worthy of winning - they need to get back to where they belong.

Memorial Day

In Flanders Fields, John McCrae, 1915.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Fayetteville, Gulley Park, The First Summer Concert

I took Casey and Trixie out to the Gulley Park Summer Concert which started tonight. Ultra Suede, one of my favorite bands, opened the Concert Series. It is a gorgeous night. The wind was slightly blowing and took the edge off the humidity. I took a book hoping to read but Casey was in a playful mood. I'll have to get to the park earlier next time and run his energy off.

Visit more dogs at canine carnival

NW Arkansas, Salvation Army

Last night I attended the Salvation Army's Appreciation Dinner. This dinner was to celebrate all the people who volunteer for and/or financially support the Army. Much of the service was recognizing various people and organizations that had made special contributions to the Army. However, as I looked around the crowded room I realized that there were many people that volunteered for the Army that weren't getting any special awards. In NWA alone, 7,516 volunteers rang bells, served meals, sorted toys, and served in disasters. Last years Angel Tree program helped 6,960 children and seniors. That's a tremendous number of people working to help others. When you read all the things the Army is doing in NW Arkansas you realize that how very special these people are. Of course, they would say that they are only doing what they do best, helping people.
The dinner just reaffirmed my decision to make the Salvation Army one of my primary organizations to support. I love having so many people helping out and also knowing that out of every dollar given to the Army, 90¢ is used for services. I know that most of the money is used to help people rather than to administrative costs. Now, I just have to find the time to actually start helping out instead of giving money. Maybe I should ring the bell this year.

Why Republicans Are Going to Lose

I'm pretty sure John Brummett's prediction on the election in November is fairly accurate.

It is for a John McCain victory for president coupled with significant gains for Democrats in the House and Senate, perhaps sufficient in the latter chamber to overcome filibusters with the help of the two or three reasonable Republicans.

I, however, disagree with his reason why the Republicans will face a Congressional defeat.

the now-demonstrated inability of Republicans to tie fear of Obama around the necks of local Democratic congressional candidates.

The people in the Republican Party are sick and tired of their Congressman acting more like Democrats than Republicans. The grossly bloated farm bill is a prime example why the Republican Party is in trouble. This bill increases farm spending by 44% over last year and because of GOP backing, Bush's veto will be overturned. Then, to make matters worse, Bob Novak reports that

Seventeen pork-minded Republican senators gave the Democratic leadership necessary support to waive from the farm bill the brand new ban of earmarks on a bill that had cleared both houses. Thirty-two craven Republican House members voted for upper-bracket tax increases to finance new veterans benefits.

The GOP candidates in Mississippi and Louisiana lost because their Democrat opponents were running as better Republicans than they were.
Jonathan Adler from The Corner comments

My own Congressman, Rep. Steve LaTourette, joined the pork parade by supporting the farm bill. No surprise there, as LaTourette's been a weak sister for quite some time, but this is the last straw. I'll never vote for him again. I'm sick of big government guys like him giving the rest of the party a bad name.

Hallelujah and Amen!

Bows, Capturing the Sun

It's been unseasonable cool this week. It's not quite cold enough to turn on the heat, but it's cool enough to wear long sleeves. For the cats, it's all about getting the coveted sunlight spot.

More cats at Friday Ark

The Republican Leadership Sucks

I am really, really royally pissed at the leadership in the Republican party. I was really puking when I heard McCains's envirowacko speech. What a con job! He's joined the Democrats in creating a humongous government agency that will be taxing us up the wazoo. Then came his 2013, fanciful, big vision thing, I'm hurling again. Boy, did that have a surprising lack of realism to it. Mark Steyn says he met 3 kinds of Republicans

1) A small number who are disgusted with the GOP and say this Bob Barr/Ron Paul/Whoever chap is going to get their vote.

2) A small number who are disgusted with the GOP and plan on sitting on their hands this November.

3) A much bigger number who are disgusted with the GOP but say it's a waste of time flirting with Barr or flouncing off in a huff because it's going to be Obama or McCain in the Oval Office so we have to vote for McCain faute de mieux.*

Right now I'm going for door number 2!

Casey, First Novice Title

I took Casey and Trixie up to Lawrence, Kansas for a dog agility trial. Lawrence is a really beautiful city, they have a really nice fence free dog park. My only expectation of Casey for the trial was not to get all excited and goofy. I wanted him to concentrate on me and my directions. Boy, did he perform well! Saturday was a bit frustrating because he was still getting distracted but Sunday he mellowed out and worked well. We came home with first place ribbons in all the events he was entered, Q'd several of the runs and earned his first Novice Title in weavers. All that hard work is starting to show!

More dogs at Friday Ark. and canine carnival

La Nina, Arkansas 2008

Finally, a normal cyclic climate event is being report as responsible for the more violent weather that has been hitting Arkansas. The knee jerk "global warming" crap is thankfully absent.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service say a phenomena known as La Nina — a cooling of water along the equator — is the reason why the state and country are experiencing nearly double the number of tornadoes in 2008 than in an average year.

The last time I remember the La Nina effect being so strong was in 1988/1989 while I was in school in L.A. Boy, was there a lot of rain and flooding. We didn't have the tornadoes.

The current La Niña event, characterized by a cooling of the sea surface in the central and eastern Equatorial Pacific, has strengthened slightly in recent months and is expected to continue through the first quarter of 2008, with a likelihood of persisting through to the middle of the year. ScienceDaily

It looks like we can expect more tornadoes and rain into next year. It's a good time to check out your emergency kit.

Cold April

From National Climatic Data Center

The average temperature in April 2008 was 51.0 F. This was -1.0 F cooler than the 1901-2000 (20th century) average, the 29th coolest April in 114 years. The temperature trend for the period of record (1895 to present) is 0.1 degrees Fahrenheit per decade.

Brrr! Bring back global warming!

I Need a History Lesson

History was never one of my strongest subjects in school. So, when did the U.S. grow to 57 states?

The Difference!

Funny, but oh so true!

To Do List Overflows

Blog writing has been sporadic due to life. At the end of the day I've been so tired that I've had no desire to write. Heck, I haven't been listening to TV or radio enough to know what's going on in the world. Thank God for the Drudge Report. I poked my head up and noticed that Clinton and Obama were still running. Yawn!
I wrote up a list of things that have to be done around the house. Oh crap! I really don't feel like doing them. I want to have fun on the weekends.
Our new tech showed up Monday and he's still coming back, we didn't scare him off. I'm hoping that he'll take some of my work. Of course, everyone else is looking at him that way too. Wonder who will win? Yeah, about those Ding Dong wrappers on the floor. No, it wasn't me at the end of the day trying to de-stress. I stored a box of Ding Dongs on the bottom of the pantry shelf. Casey took the opportunity to eat them while I was at a meeting. Knowing that chocolate is toxic to dogs I made an emergency call to my vet. The vet said it wasn't enough chocolate to hurt Casey. He just might have diarrhea for a few days. He was right. I found the little piles of very dark poop. I just wish he had cleaned up some of the crumbs a little better so I didn't have to shampoo the rug.