Four Days Trapped in Cell, Forgotten

I work in a place where there are policies and regulations up the wazoo. But sometimes the most basic things get forgotten and you wonder how. I would think that in a government building, security would automatically check every room to make sure it was cleared out at the end of the day. Some one could hide in any room, steal stuff or generally wreak havoc. Apparently the Washington County Courthouse isn't checked before closing. So that's how a woman spent 4 days locked in room.

Hour after hour, for four full days, Adriana Torres-Flores was locked away and forgotten in 8 1/2-by-9 1/2-foot cell in the Washington County Courthouse, with only a metal table, two benches and a light bulb that never went out. She had nothing to eat or drink. There was no toilet.

Wow, what a big mistake. A really big breach of security.

(Tim) Helder promised a thorough investigation and new safeguards - perhaps a video camera in the cell - to prevent a similar occurrence. Such a mistake had never happened before at the courthouse, although he believed that a janitor cleaning the cell had once gotten locked in by mistake, Hoyt said.

Yeah, I would think it would be a really good idea to review their security procedures. They were very lucky this time. Adriana could have died.

Story

Upgrade to Vista, NOT!

Yup, this is why I will never upgrade. Friends working in IT have vowed not to upgrade either. Microsoft has a big problem.

An alternative theory, however, is that Vista’s reputation precedes it. XP users have heard too many chilling stories from relatives and friends about Vista upgrades that have gone badly. The graphics chip that couldn’t handle Vista’s whizzy special effects. The long delays as it loaded. The applications that ran at slower speeds. The printers, scanners and other hardware peripherals, which work dandily with XP, that lacked the necessary software, the drivers, to work well with Vista.

I don't care how much Microsoft cuts the price of Vista, it's not worth it to go through all the problems people report having.

We usually do not have the opportunity to overhear Microsoft’s most senior executives vent their personal frustrations with Windows. But a lawsuit filed against Microsoft in March 2007 in United States District Court in Seattle has pried loose a packet of internal company documents. The plaintiffs, Dianne Kelley and Kenneth Hansen, bought PCs in late 2006, before Vista’s release, and contend that Microsoft’s “Windows Vista Capable” stickers were misleading when affixed to machines that turned out to be incapable of running the versions of Vista that offered the features Microsoft was marketing as distinctive Vista benefits. Last month, Judge Marsha A. Pechman granted class-action status to the suit, which is scheduled to go to trial in October. (Microsoft last week appealed the certification decision.)

I'll go with a MAC before I upgrade to Vista.

Another Sex Scandal, Eliot Spitizer

What was Spitizer thinking? To all accounts he was a guy on the way up to the top. Why would he ruin everything just for sex? He’s so well-known and now-a-days there is just no such thing as privacy, how did he think that it wouldn’t be discovered?
I just feel so sorry for his wife, Silda, and their daughters. She must have been just emotionally numbed standing there by her husband. I can’t understand what was going on in his mind. He’s described as self-righteous and unforgiving and he’s pursued Wall Street wrongdoings and also prosecuted prostitution rings. Now, he’s the very person he viciously prosecuted. Listening to all the news and commentaries; this guy has no one standing up for him. I thinking he’s having a hard time finding friends right now. Was the sex worth it?

Lioneld Jordan, Annoucement for Running for Fayetteville Mayor

You couldn't asked for a more beautiful day, although the location was a bit torn up. There was a fairly large and supportive crowd at Lioneld Jordan's announcement for running for Fayetteville Mayor. A good many of the other Alderman were present. I like the idea that most of them support Lioneld's bid for Mayor.

Lioneld spoke that he was going to aggressively bring economic growth to Fayetteville, keep Fayetteville green (urban forests, parks), build up Fayetteville's infrastructure (fire & police, trails, streets, public transit) and keep an open door policy while in office.

Lioneld wants to have quarterly town hall meetings so that people have an opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns. He said when asked what kind of mayor he was he said "A People's Mayor". Lioneld has a web site which has full details of his positions. Who ever built his site did a really good job.

Fayetteville, The Ambulance Ride

I understand the frustration Judge Hunton is having. I agree that the Ambulance committee has taken quite enough time with the issue. It's now time to decide whether Fayetteville is going to inter into an interlocal agreement with the county and small towns for ambulance service.
However, Judge Hunton's frustration does not excuse his behavior. His letter to Mayor Coody is childish, immature and bulling. There was no need for him to get his tighty-whities in a wad for an imagined insult.

He further expressed disappointment with Jordan, claiming he looked down and continued to write when Hunton and others spoke.

Then he decides that he's not getting what he wants so he'll go and take his toys with him.

"Due to this impasse, I am obliged to convey via this letter that all the issues and projects on which historically we have cooperated with the city of Fayetteville are now in jeopardy," he wrote.

I believe that the other JP's may have something to say about that. I don't think that they are going to allow Judge Huton's bulling to wreak everything the City and County have worked on together. As for Major Coody, does he really believe that he controls the City Council? He obviously doesn't feel very highly of them.

I am not sure that the full Council grasps what is at stake here.

It appears he doesn't think they are capable and if in the event they decide not to agree to the interlocal agreement, by golly, he'll make sure it's corrected.

If necessary, I will break a tie in order to protect our emergency services and our government's relationship.

As for the issue of the ambulance service, Springdale is happy with their ambulance system. I don't see any problem with the way Fayetteville is being serviced now. Why should we be forced and threaten to give up something that doesn't appear to be broken?

Full Story

I Do Not Share

Sorry Tigger! You are out of luck. Bows is not going to share her dinner. Maybe you can find some one that will share their dinner at Friday Ark

Jerusalem Slaughter

Killing children. These inhuman monster killing students and enjoying it.

Hundreds of Palestinians poured into the streets of Gaza City as news of the attack at a west Jerusalem yeshiva spread, firing automatic rifles into the air in celebration.

Yet, these animals are the very ones that Senator Obama is so anxious to sit down, talk and drink tea with. What kind of sick mind would want to play nice with these monsters?

Story

The Democrat Primaries

I swear, I am jealous of the Democrats. Their presidential primaries have been so much more exciting than the Republicans. I'm on the edge of my seat wondering what is going to happen next. Lord, Howard Dean must be eating bottles of Tums. Dean wants the party officials in Florida and Michigan to come up with plans so that their delegates can be counted at the national convention in late August. Dean said the state parties will have to find the money to pay for new contests. Dean noted that the DNC would not pay for the do-over.

"We can’t afford to do that,” Dean stated on CBS’s "Early Show." “That’s not our problem. We need our money to win the presidential race."

Dean is right. The DNC has only $3.1 million and the cost of re-doing the primaries could be at least $18-$20 million each.
I don't know why the DNC and the state parties are worrying about the money. I would think that it's Senators Clinton and Obama's problem. If they want the delegates, make them pay for them. After all, they are the ones flushed with cash.

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama raised a record $55 million in February for his presidential campaign, eclipsing rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's own substantial fundraising for the month. All told, Obama has raised $193 million during his yearlong bid for the White House. Clinton raised an impressive $35 million in February, a significant recovery from January

Of course the RNC would be smart to try and force the Democrats to hold new primaries. It sure would deplete the money they have.


Story here and here

It's a Tough Lent for Some Catholics

I am so glad that I'm not a Catholic. Next week is Holy Week and St. Patrick's Day falls at the beginning of the week. I really admire those Catholics who gave up alcohol for Lent. What a sacrific!

Arkansas, Academics VS Sports

As soon as I got to high school I knew there was something different between the athletes and the rest of us students. They got all the attention and money. They got the best of everything. Those of us who didn't have an athletic bone in our body knew and understood that we were second class citizens. Yeah, the administration claimed that academics were important but we knew. Yes, we resented it. All that money just so a couple of guys got their scholarships and went to a prestigious college and maybe, just maybe, one athlete made a national team.
The Arkansas Democrat Gazette has a great article about the disparity between the funding of academics and athletics. You always knew it existed but it's shocking to see how big the difference is in actual dollars and special treatment of coaches.

Arkansas’ school districts reported collectively spending at least $ 116 million on athletics in fiscal 2007. The districts report spending a combined $ 50 million on salaries for athletics employees. But state Education Board member Mays estimates that districts spend closer to $ 200 million annually on athletics.

It's been a number of decades since I've been in high school and the system hasn't changed. It won't change until people decide that a student's education is more important than the school's athletic program.

Mays said his complaints largely fall on deaf ears at the Capitol and during state board meetings. Because sports, and football in particular, is so ingrained in Arkansas culture, most state leaders don’t want to discuss cutting athletic costs, Mays said. "People get so emotionally attached to their sports programs that they just won’t look at that objectively," he said. "Football conjures up an emotion that is beyond reason."

The supremacy of sports is ingrained in all the states school programs. Participation in some sport is very important to a person's well being, but there needs to be a balance. It's just too bad that parents and administrators don't attempt that balance. There will be some schools that will have achieved that, but they are few. I don't see this inequity changing anytime soon. I can only hope that it's in my lifetime.

March Came In

Boy, it sure started really nice. Saturday and Sunday were so nice. I was about ready to start digging up the garden. Now, we have a bet on how much snow we get tonight. Somehow I don't believe that we are going to get as much as the weather people say we are. I'm guessing we get maybe an inch. A co-worker is betting 2 inches, and other 6 inches.
Good news! I'm not up to my eyeballs in work. Bad News! I have time to catch up on the news and make snarky comments. Heh, heh, heh, heh!

I Am So

glad that this week is nearly over. I am so tired that I can just cry! Too many meeting and reports to get done. In a couple of weeks I lose one of my techs and we'll be swamped at work. I won't have any time at all to keep up with the reports and stats. I've interviewed one person today and I'll interview another Monday. While I'm slaving away at work, Tigger and Eli decide that it'll be fun to play in the sofa. It's a treat they get only when I wash the sofa's slipcover.

More cats at play at Friday Ark

Lioneld Jordan, Finally Confirms Run for Fayetteville Mayor

Gee whiz! Finally! For nearly a month Lioneld has been teasing about this really important announcement. He'll let us know the time and place and he really wants us there. Yeah, yeah, we know what you're announcing so stop being so secretive. I'm really excited that he's running and I know he'll do a terrific job. I just hate to lose him as Ward 4 Alderman.


Note: Corrected the link to the news story. I wish they'd stop changing the links.

That Rotten Neighbor!

Are you living next to a crappy neighbor? Do your neighbors think you're a rotten neighbor? Here's your chance to find out. Whew! I'm not there! It's interesting to look at the complaints submitted.

(ht, Boing Boing)

Lincoln Day Dinner, Benton County

Radio talk show host Neal Boortz was the guest speaker at the Lincoln Day dinner for the Republican Party of Benton County. While not a Republican, a Libertarian he says, his speech was appreciated by the audience. Neal also signed his books after speaking. He has a new book out and most of his speach was explaining the idea behind the book FairTax-Answering the Critics

He said in his political stance he "defaults to freedom". He started out by criticizing the Republican Party for not doing a "good enough job getting their message across". He also said the Republican Party was sounding too similar to the Democrat Party. He called Democrats "panders to the mindless whims of the masses".


The dinner was very well attended by current and former legislators. There were also many candidates on hand to pass out flyers and ask for donations. (Pictured above) Susan and Asa Hutchinson with Joseph Woods. Jonathan Barnett, candidate for District 93 (Side picture). He says he won't be asking for donations. Isn't that absolutely amazing?

Arkansas House District 89 Seat

Tim House really wants everyone to know that he’s running for a second term in the House. The newspapers have stories on him here, here, and here. He sure got a lot of free publicity from his willing publicists in the media. Of course his name came up at the Republican’s meeting. It seems that he called Gene Long soon after Gene announced his candidacy. He commented that he hoped Gene would not run a negative campaign. Now, why would he say such a thing? It really makes you suspicious of his motives. When a Democrat makes the accusation of “a negative campaign” it actually means that Republicans can’t critically comment on a Democrat’s position and legislative history. How dare some one question a Democrat’s voting record or stances on issues? Tim House has warned Gene Long that anytime he does question or criticize Tim’s record, Tim is going to run crying to his Mommy at the MSM and yell “Negative Campaigning”. I suggest that all the newspapers stock up on diapers and baby formula.

Arkansas Republican and Democrat Delegates

The Democrat Party discussed selecting delegates to their National Convention. The process can be a bit confusing. The Republicans met last night to review the procedure to elect delegates to their National Convention. I'm not planning to go to the National Convention, but apparently I'm supposed to vote for some one so they can go. As I said, the process is a bit confusing. Matt Mendenhall said that everything must be done right or the Arkansas Republicans could lose delegates. He said that the fight between Senators Clinton and Obama may get messy if or when they fight for delegates at the National Convention. He said the Republicans don't want that to happen at their Convention. Based on the meeting last night it appears the delegate selection process is organized chaos.

Just Not My Day

I was so looking forward to today. I had no more meetings scheduled for the rest of the week and I was looking forward to get some things done at home. Nahh, the Fates had other plans. One of my cytotechnologists announced that she was moving to Texas. Oh Boy! I sure hate to lose her! She isn't leaving for at least a month so I have time to fill the spot. I've already has a call expressing interest. Yeah, you call the right guy and he spreads the news quickly.
Lunchtime I'm munching on almonds waiting for my meal to cook. I started chewing on something that didn't feel like almonds. Oh Crap! My new crown fell out! I have an early morning dental appointment. Sigh, just more distruptions! Oddly, one of my cats is getting his teeth cleaned tomorrow too. No, not at the dentist office, at the vet.

Staying Behind the Times

Shades of Betamax and 8-Track.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, said it will start offering high-definition DVD players and discs only in Sony Corp.'s Blu-ray format and phase out a rival standard by Toshiba Corp. Netflix Inc. and Best Buy Co. said earlier this week they would also stop selling movies using Toshiba's HD-DVD format.

Boy, am I glad I'm a little bit behind the technology. Can you imagine those who purchased Toshiba's HD-DVD? I guess that's the price you pay when you want the lastest technology toy. Good move for those who decided to wait and see who would win the war.

In The Center Ring!

Is Eli contemplating running away to join the circus?

More cats at Friday Ark

Rush Limbaugh, Still Number 1

The List is out! Talkers Magazine has put out their "2008 Heavy Hundred" list rating radio talk show hosts across the country. You immediately notice that the conservative hosts still reign supreme. No wonder the Democrats want to pass the "Fairness" Doctrine. Congratulations to the conservative talk radio stars that once again give the MSM ulcers and proving conservativism isn't as dead as the Democrats and the MSM say it is.

Our Monsters Succumbing to Global Warming

Have you been dreaming of going to Scotland to hunt for Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster? Well, you had better cancel those plans. It seems that Nessie might be a victim of global warming.

LEGENDARY Nessie hunter Robert Rines is giving up his search for the monster after 37 years.... The 85-year-old American will make one last trip in a bid to find the elusive beast.... Despite having hundreds of sonar contacts over the years, the trail has since gone cold and Rines believes that Nessie may be dead, a victim of global warming.

Does this mean Sasquatch and Godzilla are next?

Maison des Tartes Closed

I'm sorry to see Maison des Tartes close. I did enjoy eating their pasties at the Farmers Market. I wonder if more resturants will be closing. I've drastically cut eating out and I wonder how many people have done the same. I would love to eat out more but I get a shock just shopping at the grocery store.

Springdale, City of Billboards

Springdale has 57 billboards, and some residents say that’s enough.

Gee, I'd thought they would have stopped when the city got the title as the ugliest city in NW Arkansas. I always thought it was nice of Springdale to volunteer to be the billboard dumpster.

Barack Obama's Tribute to a Terrorist

They can hang up Osama bin Laden next.

Red Oak Park, Finally?

I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but it looks like everyone has finally come together on the AR Game and Fish Commission Stream Team's plan for Red Oak Park. Parks and Recreation will work with the Stream Team. Once they are finished with the stream stabilization, P&R will work with the surrounding neighborhoods on the park's amenities. I really admire Connie Edmonston's and Carole Jones' patience and hard work on this project. Connie expressed her frustration last night about how long this project has taken and also the possible loss of grant money because of the delays. Really, I share some of her frustration. Connie and Carole have bent over backwards to find other viable options and they just did not exist. I really appreciate Shirley Lucus' comment to Connie that she trusted their judgment and knew that they were concerned with the park's character and would do what was best for the park.
An e-mail from Carole said that they requested that this item be placed on the March 4, 2008, City Council Agenda.

UPDATE: The date is changed to the March 18, 2008,City Council Agenda so that Mr. Evans can attend.

Geocaching Lake Wilson, Fayetteville

It has been a gorgeous weekend. I decided to do a multiple geocache at Lake Wilson. Boy, I went off the regular trail to get to them. However, I did get to see some things I didn't know were at Lake Wilson. There are some really nice stone bluffs. I even managed to get the bonus cache. Casey is sitting next to it. You had to find all previous 6 to get to this one. Cardinal did a great job creating this one!

More dogs at Friday Ark. and canine carnival

Do Not Disturb

Sometimes you just have to type with one hand. Eli is just being too cute to move.

More cats at Friday Ark

Still Not Buying McCain

Wow, what a week for the Republican party. Mitt Romney bows out and we are left with John McCain. Well, I must give McCain a little bit of credit for attending CPAC and making a small attempt to bring in the Conservatives. But really, you just can't really trust him. He has spent the last 8 years spitting at the Republican Party and actively working against it. He's got a really big mountain to climb before he convinces me to vote for him. While he may have swayed some people over, my own view is that actions will speak louder than his words.
I am not among those who will vote for whomever the Republican nominee happens to be. While I understand that no candidate is perfect, I am not about to surrender my principles and values based on fear mongering or political expediency.

Republicans, Not Voting For But Against

A co-worker (Democrat, loves Clinton) came into our department yesterday to hassle those of us who were Republicans. It seems that one of the partners (Republican, friend of Boozman) had voted for Obama. I think she imagined that the partner had an epiphany and had turned Democrat. Poor thing, what she didn't realize was that a number of Republicans had voted for Obama because they didn't want Senator Clinton to get the nomination. I wonder what percent of Republicans did vote for Obama just to vote againt Clinton. Hopefully Obama realizes what's happening and not expect those votes if he gets the nomination.

Bad Morning in Arkansas, Tornados and Ice

I woke up to the news of a number of people kill by tornados in Arkansas. Wow, NW Arkansas missed that bullet! Just before I left for work I noticed that it was snowing and that some areas were iced over. I knew that I'd have to be careful over the bridges on the way to work. The first bridge I come to over I-540 had 3 vehicles that had slid into each other. While sitting on the bridge I could see the emergency lights on both sides of the freeway and no traffic on the south-bound lanes. Fortunately I'm heading north and I wasn't delayed much. The last 2 bridges I crossed also had wrecks on them. This is the 3rd time this winter we've had tons of accidents when it freezes. I wonder why people keep having accidents. Haven't they learned to drive very slowly over those bridges?

They're Heere!

It's Arkansas' turn now! We are starting to get inundated with the signs and the commercials. On this fine morning the Obamites were out for their candidate. They got a mixed reaction. The majority of people just ignored them, they got a few honks but also a some head shakes and thumbs down. Anyway, it's a beautiful day and they got an early start on their suntans.

Here Fishy, Fishy!

This is weird. I've had this Betta fish for months. Eli has finally discovered that there is something moving in the tank. He's been pawing at the tank trying to get it. I just hope he doesn't figure out how to take the top off the tank.

More cats at Friday Ark

Benton County's Cost of Being Dry

You know, I never thought about this.

The (Benton)county's private club system -- restaurant guests buy memberships in exchange for the privilege of consuming alcohol -- is confusing and costs the area major events, said Annette Nichols of the Hyatt Place in Rogers.
Those groups take a pass on scheduling events in Benton County when they learn of its dry status and the complications of getting a liquor permit or selling memberships for what might be a three-day event.

Benton County is losing a lot of tax revenue by being a dry county. I wonder if the loss of business is enough for residents to vote to change Benton Country's dry status?

Only Eight?

The Massachusetts GOP has a new website devoted to the eight reasons why John Kerry should get the boot. It seems that Kerry has only been the lead sponser of only 8 bills during his 24 years in the U.S. Senate. Seems to me that's the ideal legislator. The fewer laws they pass, the better off we, and the country, will be.

Fayetteville HS, Graduating Failures

I'm assured that I am still going to be able to find a job when I'm in my 70's and 80's. The students that will be graduating are going to be too damn stupid to fill any jobs.

With a unanimous vote, the Fayetteville Board of Education approved no longer requiring high school seniors to achieve a minimum 2. 0 grade-point average to graduate.

Of course, this also means that these kids are going to be earning little money to put into Social Security that would allow me to retire comfortably. Sighhh! I guess no condo in Florida.
I guess that eliminates the stress that teachers had attempting to get students to actually graduate with a 2.0 GPA. Boy, people actually expected them to teach and inspire students to learn and succeed.

Story

Red Oak Park, Again and Again

The Red Oak Park was the subject to a long discussion again at the Ward 4 meeting. The same old stuff was rehashed again. We had a suggestion of redoing the storm drainage in the neighborhoods so that water is no longer flowing into the park. Wow, is that an economically feasible option! Aubry once again preach the Gospel of Rain Gardens. Again, this should have been done in the initial planning of the neighborhoods. There is no way the City can legally force people to maintain rain gardens on their property. Look, a lot of these residents are renters who have a difficult time keeping their homes garbage free. No way are they going to upkeep a rain garden. The Parks and Recreation are looking into what it would take to put in a detention pond. I don't think there is enough room for it and even if there is, it would destroy all the trees and vegetation on the south end of the park. The south end also has the most usable part of the park. It currently has a small track and a playground. Say goodbye to that! That leaves the plan that Mr Dale Evans has proposed. Sad to say, no decision was reached. Well, there was a decision to have another meeting. Arghhhh!

Gene Long Campaign Kickoff, Fayetteville

Last night Gene Long started his campaign for State Representative District 89 with a fundraiser at the Fayetteville Town Center. His uncle, State Senator (Louisiana) Gerald Long was the guest speaker. Senator Long is a former resident of Rogers. He spoke about the need for leaders with integrity. He described several standards that voters should look for in their candidates. Accountability, availability and transparency. Standards, he said, Gene had and that with Gene, what you saw in public was who he was in private.

Gene's campaign is off to a good start. The fundraiser was well attended and a number of the local Republican leaders were on hand to give him support.

(Pictured left to right: Gene Long, Sen. Gerald Long, and former state representative Doug Matayo)

Brace Yourself

Yup, that's 65 lbs of dog racing towards you. Yes, he's going to hit you and he's enjoying it! The Clabber Creek trail is one of Casey's favorite running spots.

More dogs at Friday Ark. and canine carnival

The Tax Rebate

We have tax rebates! So, a number of us will be getting a little money back from the government. Wheee!

Individuals who pay income taxes would get up to $600, working couples $1,200 and those with children an additional $300 per child under the agreement. Workers who make at least $3,000 but don't pay taxes would get $300 rebates.

Interesting bit there, people who don't pay taxes are going to get a tax rebate? Huh! Meanwhile, people who pay the most in taxes are going to get diddly squat.

The rebates would phase out gradually for individuals whose income exceeds $75,000 and couples with incomes above $150,000, aides said. Individuals with incomes up to $87,000 and couples up to $174,000 would get partial rebates.

The one-time spurt in retail sales from the rebates may please retailers, briefly, but can't sustain the broader economy. Making the tax cuts permanent would have a long term impact on the economy. Handing out tax rebates without fundamentally lowering tax rates is a waste of money. Fortunately, it won't hurt economy. It's just pure election year politics, placate the masses.

What's Going On?

I'm having a really busy week so I'm doing little blogging. I've been in Little Rock the past couple of days helping out with a lab inspection. I drove down Monday afternoon, which was a good thing since I was able to miss out on all the ice problems on I-540.
I finally got to see the duck parade at the Peabody. Ok yes, they are cute. I had a really nice dinner with a group of technologists from Texas. One of them was into dog sports like me so we could talk about our dogs. I really enjoyed inspecting a lab that had everything together. (OK, I enjoyed it while the lab supervisor was a bit anxious.) It was nice to have an inspection go smoothly and I only offered a few suggestions and ideas. I like sitting down with other techs and talking about issues we have to deal with in the lab and what we do to resolve them. I even managed to pick up a few ideas to incorporate in my office. This was probably the best inspection I have done.
I drove back late Tuesday to find everything had iced up and my trash not picked up. (It didn't get pick up today either). Any way, I'm really behind in catching up with the news. It's particularly difficult when the political and economy news is changing so fast.

Michael Yon & the NY Times

What a surprise! The NY Times does a good article on Michael Yon.

Hillary Clinton, Controlling the Economy

"I'm from the government and I'm here to help". Hillary Clinton hopes to say that to us.

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton said that if she became president, the federal government would take a more active role in the economy to address what she called the excesses of the market and of the Bush administration.
Mrs. Clinton put her emphasis on issues like inequality and the role of institutions like government, rather than market forces, in addressing them.

Man, that just really scares me shitless. Can you imagine the Federal Government meddling with the economy? (More than it does already). Her plan is a sure guarantee to push the country into a recession. I wonder if she'll go as far as
Hugo Chavez?

President Hugo Chavez threatened on Sunday to take over farms or milk plants if owners refuse to sell their milk for domestic consumption and instead seek higher profits abroad or from cheese-makers.

How about Clinton telling you the salary you can have, how much you can charge and what you can buy? Just watch your freedoms drain down the toilet if Hillary get into office.

New Toy

When I opened the order I had gotten from Lambert Vet Supply I found that they had included a little toy (Thank you very much!). Tigger is subduing the thing and making sure that it isn't a danger to the house. I think he's doing a pretty good job of giving it a solid thumping.

More cats at Friday Ark

Scentaholic

Casey's favorite activity when we go out for walks is to go off sniffing around and hunting. He actually doesn't really catch anything but he has a lot of fun trying to follow the trails of any animals that go through those fields.
More dogs at Friday Ark. and canine carnival

Icy Morning Drive

I woke up this morning and saw that there was a light dusting of snow. I thought it was quite pretty. However, once I got on the road I was thinking something different. What a bad drive to work this morning! There were so many accidents, all of them on/by any bridge or overpass. I got hung up behind the accidents on I-540 and Fayetteville exit. I managed to divert to HWY 112 and passed the hospital just in time to see a truck slide off the Fulbright/Gregg overpass. Said a prayer for all the police and emergency people who are working their butts off. What a mess!

An Republican Activist

Ohhh! I've been labeled a Republican activist. Wow! I've never thought of myself as one. Have I done enough to be called one? Of course, Max probably meant it as an insult, but hey, got to turn a lemon into lemonade. Do I get some sort of button or award? Is there a ceremony? I officially dub you an "Activist".
Well, thanks very much Max! I really appreciate the recognition.

Huckabee is Morphing Into Huckanut

O.K. Mike! I admit it! I am part of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy!

I'm the only guy who's just getting hammered from some of these special interest groups, and I think that'll really turn for me and against some of these folks. Because it's pretty obvious that, there's gotta be, almost this, I don't want to use the word conspiracy, but there's just an anxiety that exists in the Washington power circles about our candidacy.

Martin Luther King, Fayetteville Street

Well, the City Council changed the name of 6th Street to Martin Luther King. No surprise there. Around MLK's birthday some city is naming a street after him. While some do so because they really want to honor him, others do it because they don't want to be called racists and it's a chance for an outgoing Mayor to put another notch on their record. I have news for the Council, I'm still going to call it 6th street. That's how I've always know it and it'll be too difficult for me to change, particularly to something that's way too long to say.
I have another street in mind that they should change to MLK. I would have mentioned it but I could see the Council squirm in embarrassment and shame. We have a street that is named after a man that was a proud racist.

For most of his life and public service, Fulbright was a supporter of racial segregation. He signed The Southern Manifesto opposing the Supreme Court's historic 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision. He subsequently joined with the Dixiecrats in filibustering the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as voting against the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Wikipedia

Fulbright was everything Martin Luther was fighting against. It would be honorable and sweet poetic justice if the Council had renamed the Fulbright Express to the Martin Luther King Boulevard.

First Geocache in Fayetteville

I had gotten a hand-held GPS for Christmas and I finally got a chance to go and find my first geocache. I was surprised how accurate it was. Very nice! NW Arkansas has an amazing number of geocaches so there are plenty to find. Let the fun begin!

Annie in Fayetteville

Last night I went to see Annie at the Walton Arts Center. Fortunately, the night was cool and not freezing. It was a full house, nearly every seat was filled. There were an awful lot of kids that got to stay up way past their bedtime. The play was very charming, a very good play to take kids to see. This isn't the best Broadway play I've seen but it was fine. The part of Ms Hannigan was done by an understudy who flubbed up a couple of lines. More practice!
While Mr. Warbucks was telling Annie that he loved her (a tear-jerking minute), a number of us were chuckling. I can only image what the actors were thinking. When Mr. Warbucks told Annie he loved her, a little voice in the row behind me chirped, "I love you Mommy and Annie too". You would have laughed too! This night was definitely for the children.

Computer Triumph

Hallelujah! I've been working all evening on my computer. I've managed to get my profile back! I had to use System Restore to get it back. I had to go back to the 2nd of January which is really strange. I did manage to save all of the e-mail I received after the 2nd. I'm going to have to start backing up my e-mail. I was really lucky this time.

The Bookends

Eli and Tigger would really like to encourage Pope Ratzinger to write his book of cat stories.

After the funeral of his friend Pope John Paul II., Joseph Ratzinger thought he'd be able to return home to Germany after 24 years in Rome. He had a plan - writing stories, stories about cats.

There is always room for one more book about cats. You'd never associated the desire to write about cats with a Pope. Well, if I ever meet Pope Ratzinger I know I can talk about my cats.

Full Story

More cats at Friday Ark

Computer Woes

I'm working off my laptop today. I lost my local profile on my desktop yesterday. So, I'm in the process of trying to recover it. I have several options to try. I sure hope one of them work. If they don't I'll be spending the weekend rebuilding my profile.

Change, Change, Change

I am so sick and tired of hearing that stinking phrase. The candidates, pudits and MSM are all calling for change. What kind of change does everyone want to make? Would some one explain what they mean by change and how they will achieve this change.
Why make so much about change? The economy is for the most part doing well, most people are working, the War on Terror is being won, we haven't been attacked since 9/11, we've overcome some really difficult tragedies and most people are basically satisfied with their lives. Those who want and call for all this change can't deal with the fact that many things (never everything) is doing just fine. This is America, the Land of Opportunity, and things are still basically great.

Obama, 1st Woman Prez

President Bill Clinton was declared our first black President. The NY Post has decided that Barack Obama would be first woman President if elected.

Yet it's not only Obama's policies and strategies that appeal to women. He is like a woman: slim, good looking, with long elegant fingers, appealingly dressed - all terms more typically ascribed to female candidates. Women are gravitating to Obama out of a different urge - the desire to invite him to our book club, join him for coffee or have him coach our child's soccer team. He embodies many of the positive characteristics we tend to regard as feminine: sensitive and empathetic, seeking to find common ground and minimize conflict, not taking power for granted. We've yet to catch Obama beating up an opponent

Bill Clinton took the "first black President" as a compliment. I don't think Obama would consider the title "first woman President" as one. Really, what real man wants to be described as a woman.

Arkansas, Ripping Off Charity

Was this what state legislators wanted to do charities?

State taxes are cutting away at the money once raised for local charities, said post quartermaster Randy George.(Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Springdale)
The money raised through the game funded two to five $500 college scholarships each year before the state taxation. Only one scholarship was offered in 2007 because the bingo game raised less money, he said.

It appears that the state is the only one making money from charity games. It's taking money from the people these charities help. Legislators definitely need to take a look at how much tax they are collecting.

The church( St. Bernard of Clairveaux Catholic Church in Bella Vista) is going to try its first bingo game Thursday and hopes to hold it twice a month, said parish manager Ray Brust, a church deacon. "I was taken aback when I realized the state was taxing so much," he said. "I'm not really sure why the state felt like it needed to get involved in taxing the games." The church plans to use any money generated by the game to help needy people in the community and continue financing several area nonprofits.

I don't think the state is in such desperate need for money that it has to take it from needy people.

The Iowa Caucas

Oboy, it's been on the news all weekend long. The Iowa Caucus and what it means. I conclude after listening to as much as I can stomach, nobody can really guess what is going to happen. I think one of the biggest surprises was how bad Hilary did. It's just going to make the Democrat race more interesting. Will Hillary get down and dirty?

Huckabee's win wasn't a surprise and from what I gather he's probably not going to repeat it. I'm not particularly happy about his win. He's a Christian socialist. He's "Big Government" compared with the Republican's "Little Government". I'm afraid his approach to every problem is going to launch another government program with an increase in taxes to support it. He's extremely liberal and George Will is comparing him to John Edwards.

He and John Edwards, flaunting their histrionic humility in order to promote their curdled populism, hawked strikingly similar messages in Iowa, encouraging self-pity and economic hypochondria. Edwards and Huckabee lament a shrinking middle class.
Although Huckabee and Edwards profess to loathe and vow to change Washington's culture, each would aggravate its toxicity. Each overflows with and wallows in the pugnacity of the self-righteous who discern contemptible motives behind all disagreements with them,

It's not good when a Republican is noted to share the same message as John Edwards.
I think this is what I want to ask the Republicans in Iowa.

Snuggles

With the temperature dipping to the single digits outside, Trixie and Casey are more than willing to share the sofa.

More dogs at Friday Ark. and canine carnival

Eli, Pork Chop Thief

Do I look innocent enough? I'm hoping she can't figure out who ate part of the pork chop she had out for dinner. It's got to be me or Tigger. Not Bows, miss goody-two-shoes. "BURP"! Ahh Shoot! My breath smells like pork chop.

More cats at Friday Ark

Picture This Landing

This is absolutely amazing. All I can say is our guys are really the greatest!

The $100 A Barrel Oil

A trader's wish to be the first to purchase oil at $100 is the reason why we are going to see higher prices shortly.

The man behind the record rise in oil prices to $100 a barrel was a lone trader, seeking bragging rights and a minute of fame, market watchers say. "He paid $600 for the right to tell his grandchildren that he was the first in the world to buy $100 oil."

Would you really want people to know that you've pushed up the price of gas? Given how people feel about the high cost of gas, that might not be such a good idea.

Why Not Voter ID?

I truly don't understand this. Democrats are always the ones complaining about election fraud, but refuse to do anything meaningful about it.

"I oppose any effort to make voting more difficult, regardless of the impact on turnout," Rep. Steve Harrelson, D-Texakana, said Monday after being informed of the study.
(Dale) Charles said requiring a photo ID would dilute the election process and keep poor people and many blacks away from the polls.

One would think that Democrats would like to stop the voter fraud that they claim is occuring. The idea that the process of getting a voter ID card would prevent mostly poor people and blacks from voting is a bunch of crap.

"You're required to have a photo ID to get a library card, buy a video from Blockbuster and get on an airplane, but you're not (to vote) for president of the United States. How sad is that?" said Rep. Jon Woods, R-Springdale, who co-sponsored the bill.

Jon is right. How much of your day to day living requires a photo ID. What Is the real reason why Democrats don't want voter ID? Is it because they know the process would reveal that they are responsible for the voter fraud they consistently complain about?

Mike Huckabee's Ad That Isn't An Ad

I'd really like to say what I think about Huckabee, but that it would be nasty and is beneath my dignity.

I was going to say he’s gutter-crawling, slimy, scumbag, manipulative piece of cow pie.

But I won’t.

So This is 2008

Well, so far it seems a lot like 2007. I'm glad I didn't stay up late enough to see it change. I made a resolution that I'd stop procrastinating and so today I have a clean house. Yup, dusted, vacuumed and mopped. The kitchen and bathrooms are cleaned and I just put in the last load of laundry. So, I've got a lot done and I feel tired. At least for the rest of the week I don't have to pretend the dirt doesn't exist. I wonder how long I'll be able to keep my resolution?

Tax Revenues, Fayetteville and Rogers

They aren’t exactly dancing in the streets, but you could hear the City of Fayetteville breath again.

Fayetteville saw its sales tax revenue increase by 3. 8 percent in October, while its neighbors saw declines of 6-8 percent. “In the city of Fayetteville (sales ) were up a pretty good clip,” said Paul Becker, the city's finance director.

Sam’s Club and the Razorback Cinema openings sure did help. While it's great to see the tax revenue up, the City shouldn't expect that same percentage increase over the months. I’m sure a lot of people came to Sam’s just to check it out when it opened. I'll bet that the next months revenue will be a bit smaller. Just like Rogers did this month.

Rogers took in $ 912, 583 in sales-tax revenue in October, according to Treasurer Jerry Hudlow, 6 percent less than $ 971, 998 in October 2006.

The Pinnacle Hills Promenade opened up in October 2006. It was brand new so everyone went there to check it out. You looked, shopped and ate out. Time has passed and it’s just another shopping center. I wonder how many people like me think it’s a crappy place to shop and prefer the mall in Fayetteville.
I did find it interesting that there are some people who are happy that Roger’s revenue is down. Check out these comments posted here.

Earl Swagger
Or, hell....I could be wrong about all this. It could be that the sales taxes are down because people around Rogers are sick of their high-handed, holier than thou BS and figured out their money goes farther in Washington County. Either way, avoiding Rogers is always a good idea.
durango kid
No cookie-cutter big-box Red Lobster knock-off disguised as a high-caliber establishment and brimming with the folks Boss Womack calls "friend" would ever be a good enough reason to visit Rogers. For one, it's way too close to 6 Flags over Jesus for my comfort. The right reverend's helicopter might crash into the restaurant, you know.
The only reason I even go through the place is b/c Rogers managed to capture land on both sides of the freeway, so I am forced to if I wanna get to Mizzou for my lottery tickets and Sunday booze. Why couldn't they just stay on the east side of 540? I'd much rather claim I was in Bentonville, despite my lukewarm feelings for Wal-Mart.

Yeah, that's it! Don't shop in Rogers because its full of Christians and Republicans. We sure don't want them to be successful. Bankrupt the city, that'll show those Christians and Republicans.
You just wonder why people of the other political party are so mean and nasty? Are their lives so pathetic that they want others to suffer?


Tax Stories here and here.

The Cats Christmas

The cats got a bunch of toys and treats for Christmas. I swear I'm going to be walking on a whole bunch of plastic balls. I wonder how long it'll be before I break them all. Tigger immediately got the biggest mouse and proceeded to whoomp it. (I don't know the term for the cat using its hind legs to shred up a stuffed toy.)

More cats at Friday Ark. I wonder what they got for Christmas?

Changing the Bus Ride

Man, I am so jealous! I wish I had been able to surf the Internet and work on school work while I was riding the bus.

"I’ve been riding the bus since I was in kindergarten, up to one-and-a-half hours each way," (Ethan) Clement said. "Until this program, I never really thought about it. It was the daily routine.
" But we were wasting time sitting here. This could be an opportunity for everyone. Why waste your time on the bus, looking out on the same road you’ve looked out at every day ?" Like Clement, Zack Wilson, a 10 th-grader, is taking online Advanced Placement biology.

I can so identify with the guys. I hated having to spend 2 hrs a day on the awful bus. I hope that more buses get equipped with the Internet so kids that have to ride long distances don't have to just waste their time.

Benazir Bhutto, Return to Reality

You must admire her determination to bring democracy to Pakistan, but her murder was a horrible action of inevitability. I watched her with fascination wondering when the terrorists would finally get her. This is not some extraordinary event in the Middle East. This is how militant Islamists operate. One suicide bomber eliminates all your opponents.
I wonder if this is going to have any effect on the primaries. Heck, for the past month the Republicans have been comparing who's the best Christian candidate. Is this going to wake them up concerning the challenges, threats and dangers the U.S. faces in regards to radical Islam? What about the possibility of a nuclear Pakistan taken over by Islamofascists? It's time for candidates to drop the frivolity of the past weeks and return to reality.

Hillary, If I Win

Some politicians will promise just about anything.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton says voters are sure to see one immediate benefit if she is voted president: a drop in oil prices.

Next, she'll start feeding the world with just five loaves of bread and two fishes.

Christian Social Conservatives, Losing the Big Picture

Gov. Mike Huckabee is not the first politician to invoke their faith in American politics and certainly will not be the last. To some, the profession of a politician's faith can be reassuring but there is also a danger. Religion can be a problem when it becomes the sole issue in a political campaign. Huckabee's supporters back him because he's an Evangelical pastor who has come out strongly against gay marriage and abortion. But they are losing sight of the big picture of the Republican Party, all of whose principles are vitally important for this nation. I'm really concerned about Christian conservatives willingness to turn a blind eye to Huckabee's decidedly Democrat liberal stances. David Sander comments

Conversely, the temptation by some in the religious right to simply project personal religious convictions onto all policy matters can have the undesired effect of undermining the very conservatism they claim to advance. Some Christian conservatives argue "What would Jesus do?" a justification for lurching leftward on issues like the environment, immigration and foreign trade.

I think gay marriage and abortion are important issues, but they come in second. I'm more concerned with the War on Terrorism, taxes, immigration, congressional pork, U.S. sovereignty and stopping the Democrat's desire for a nanny nation. I'm voting for true Republican conservatism not a social liberal pastor. I can get that from church.

Jazz Great Oscar Peterson

A truly great jazz pianist has passed away. I discovered Oscar Peterson through Stan Getz. Strange, I have yet to purchase any of his own CD's. All that I got from him is the stuff he's played with other great Jazz musicians, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington.
It doesn't get much better than this. Enjoy!



Story

Wal-Mart Shopper

And you thought you had a long Christmas shopping list.

Christmas Parties, Hot & Spicy Pecans

Oh Boy! I'm glad it's almost Christmas. I can't take much more of these parties. I'm getting exhausted. I can't look at any more cookies and cakes. I believe we have had holiday food at work every day this week. Good Lord, I must have gained 5 lbs alone this week. This is one of my favorite Christmas recipes. I bring it to work every year. People just gobble this up, it's quite addictive.

Hot & Spicy Toasted Pecans

2 Cups Pecans
2 Tbs sugar
1 Tbs vegetable oil
1½ Tsp Worcestershire sauce
½ Tsp red pepper (cayenne)
¼ Tsp Salt (Kosher)

Preheat oven to 350°. Toast nuts for 20 minutes, stir edges to keep from burning. Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix sugar, oil, Worcestershire sauce, pepper and salt. Remove nuts from oven and immediately add to spice mixture. Mix well and spread in a single layer, let cool.

Casey, A Good Boy

I've been a good boy! Did you got me that big bone? Seriously, I've been a very good boy! I mean, the holes in the yard aren't that big. That doll, well, that was your fault. You shouldn't have left it on the floor. Can I still have it? Because I've been a mostly good boy.

More dogs at Canine Carnival

Christmas Stocking

Heh, Heh! We found the stocking! You shouldn't expect to hide a stocking that has catnip toys in it.

More cats at Friday Ark

Fayetteville's Water & Sewer Hikes

You'd think it would be fairly simple. You pay for what you use. Hey, hold on there! The low-income customers believe they should get a rate break because they are poor and can't afford an "everyone pays for what they use". The big industrial business' think they deserve a rate reduction because the increased costs they'd face could affect jobs at those industries (just a little blackmail). The rest of us in middle are getting a little miffed because we can see the writing on the wall. We are the ones that are going to be subsidizing both of these customers.
I think it's time that big companies start paying for the costs they incur. Small businessmen don't get these breaks why should they? As for the low-income, why force people to pay their bills? Why not make it voluntary? People can round up their bill and that extra money goes to the low income customer.

Story

Compact Fluorescent Bulbs, Too Dangerous for the Home?

The new energy legislation will effectively ban incandescent light bulbs. The light bulb provision phases out the traditional 100 watt bulbs by gradually increasing efficiency requirements through 2020. However, there is a major flaw in the compact fluorescent bulbs.

Mercury, a toxic metal famously found in thermometers, helps create the increased efficiency of a CFL bulb. If the bulb breaks, the small amount of mercury can contaminate the area.

The mercury is considered a hazardous material and the EPA has a list of instructions on how to dispose of it. You just can't pick up the pieces and throw them in the trash.

Have everyone else leave the area; don't let anyone walk through the mercury on their way out. Make sure all pets are removed from the area. Open all windows and doors to the outside; shut all doors to other parts of the house.

Boy, doesn't that make you feel safe. It just makes you want to go out and buy them.

Remember to keep the area well ventilated to the outside (i.e., windows open and fans in exterior windows running) for at least 24 hours after your successful cleanup.

Just make sure you don't break one of these in the winter.

If a spill occurs on carpet, curtains, upholstery or other absorbent surfaces, these contaminated items should be thrown away in accordance with the disposal means outlined below. Only cut and remove the affected portion of the contaminated carpet for disposal.

So, how much money are you going to save if you have to replace your carpet. That $5 per month savings suddenly doesn't look all that hot.

I have replace some of the bulbs in my house with the fluorescent bulbs and as soon as they die I will be going back to the old bulbs. They don't light a room as well as the old 100 watt bulbs and they fit in the light fixtures poorly. I'm going to be stocking up on those 100 watt bulbs.

Just a thought. You are forced to buy the bulbs and when they break can you sue the manufacturer for clean up costs? Can your home be declared as a toxic site?

Story

Fayetteville Budget, Done

Well, the city council passed a budget, without all the anticipated layoffs, salary reductions and loss of the lights and concerts. All those boo-hoo stories that were printed in the newspapers instigated by Mayor Coody. Lord, you thought that things were going to collapse at the city because the council didn't pass the tax hike. Of course, many things did get funded but not at the levels they were previously.

The council renewed funding to a host of programs, including a $62,500 commitment to the Fayetteville Boys & Girls Club and $30,000 in Parks Department funds for the annual Lights of the Ozarks event.

I think city needs to concentrate first on keeping the core services such as police and fire protected. While it's nice the city does provide free entertainment and recreational opportunities, I think the city needs to start relying more on individual and corporate sponsorship.

Alderwoman Shirley Lucas stressed that she would like for the city to wean itself from funding Lights of the Ozarks. Council members said finding private donors to help with popular city projects should be a priority, given the lean financial times.

I think the city should have an adopt-an-event day. Maybe at one of the spring Farmer's Market have people pledge to support a particular project.

(Greg)Tabor noted the dog’s food and veterinary bills were covered by a donation from a veterinarian, leaving about $9,000 to cover vehicle costs

.
People are already doing it. And yes, I'd even sponsor a portable toilet for the concerts. After all, many people have said that I am full of "it".

The concerts require renting sound equipment and portable toilets, she noted. Those costs are difficult to convince donors to support, (Connie) Edmonston said. "Nobody wants to sponsor a porta potty," (Brenda) Thiel laughed. "I wonder why."

Story

Pump It!

More good news (or bad, if you're a Democrat) from Iraq.

Iraqi oil production is above the levels seen before the US-led invasion of the country in 2003, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Lights of the Ozarks, A Community Opportunity

The other cities in NW Arkansas must be laughing at Fayetteville.

Springdale show at Murphy Park, where there are 20 static displays and 187 decorated trees. The Public Works Department budgets $ 25, 000 for the annual display.
Bentonville, which like Fayetteville boasts a traditional town square, doesn’t have a budget for Christmas lights. Instead, its downtown lights are paid for through private sponsors. Employees in the Bentonville Parks Department hang and dismantle the lights, but they aren’t paid extra to do so.
Main Street Rogers, a branch of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, handles the city’s annual downtown display through donations. The Rogers Street Department provides the labor needed to hang the lights. "There is no large contributor to the lights display," said Marge Wolf, president of Main Street Rogers. "It’s a community effort. As the money comes in, we spend it. There is no strict budget for lights."

Fayetteville is spending $93,884 for the lights and the other cities are paying far less for their displays. Fayetteville needs to follow the example of Rogers and Bentonville. If the Lights of the Ozarks are so important to the business community and the general public, they should be willing to donate some money to it. Actually, I like what Marge Wolf said. As people from the public donate they would own a part of the display and they become part of a community. As they would walk among the lights they would think "I made this happen."
Instead of crying over the city threatening to cut the Lights from the budget, the citizens of Fayetteville need to recognize that this is an opportunity to shine. A tradition needn't die because people can step up and keep it going.

Story

Cutting Food With a Knife

She’s carniverous and armed, a real threat. Good thing she wasn't found to be in the possession of a peanut. Really, they should just start feeding students from bottles.

Responsible Home Ownership

I guess it must happen once in a blue moon. I actually liked an editorial article. It did a really good job in describing the subprime problem and who's responsible for it.

It’s the same problem at the root of every burst bubble: consumersturned-speculators who overestimated their future earnings, underestimated their risks, and got caught in the gap. With the help of too-eager lenders. Lots of us, it seems, figured this was one more sure thing we could take advantage of. And lots of us were wrong.

It was pretty weak at suggestions on what to do about it. Although, there probably isn't much that can be done. The best idea I've heard is for borrowers to work with their lenders. I'm pretty sure lenders are more than willing to modify mortgages. They have a lot to lose too. One thing we don't want is for the government to step in. Once the government starts messing around with things is starts causing more problems.
It's time that people be held responsible for their own bad decisions and not expect the government to bail them out every time they screw up.

The Democrat Fights

When the Democrats won last year I though for sure that America was going to get royally screwed. I thought the Democrats would make life hell for President Bush. Now, I'm really enjoying myself. The Washington Post on the Democrat fights.

In the past few weeks, the House has thrown wave after wave of legislation at the Senate -- on energy, Iraq war policy, the housing and mortgage crisis, and middle-income tax cuts offset largely by tax increases on the wealthy. Most of it has died quietly, a predetermined fate that both sides could foresee before the first vote was cast.
Officially, House Democrats blame Senate Republicans, who have used parliamentary tactics to block even uncontroversial measures. But they are increasingly expressing public frustration with Reid and Senate Democrats for not putting up a better fight.

The fighting we're seeing is between the Democrats. This is just so delicious. You just have to sit back and enjoy the fireworks.

Tigger, Santa Kitty

Do you know how hard it is to get a cat to wear a Santa hat? Of course, what cat wants to be seen wearing the hat. Totally embarrassing! Tigger looks more like the Grinch than he does Santa. I have no doubt he'll get back at me. He's probably contemplating putting a dead mouse in my stocking.

More Merry cats at Friday Ark

Acambaro Restaurants Want to Keep Cooking

The owners of the Acambaro restaurants want re-open. They have a slight problems though.

"We have enough people, but we can’t [access ] our money," Morales said. "They froze our bank accounts, and my grandfather and I are meeting with an attorney, trying to get the restaurants back open." Temple Black, a spokesman for U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said prosecutors seized more than $ 100, 000 from 15 bank accounts in connection with the raid at Acambaro eateries in Lowell, Bentonville, Springdale and Fayetteville, and at a related Benton County business, Garcia’s Food Distributors Inc.

I can see that being quite a problem, especially since it appears that the Government intends to keep it. I just wonder if it would be worth it to re-open. Are people going to want to visit a restaurant that has exploited their workers while living the high life themselves?

Full Story

Pope Benedict Attacks Global Warming Prophets

Pope Benedict has chided the global warming fanatics. He suggested that the world destruction fears the global warmists are peddling are nothing more than an effort to scare people into given up money, safety, comfort and freedom.

The German-born Pontiff said that while some concerns may be valid it was vital that the international community based its policies on science rather than the dogma of the environmentalist movement.

Hurray for the Pope! He's asking for people to return to the good old rules of the scientific method.

It is important for assessments in this regard to be carried out prudently, in dialogue with experts and people of wisdom, uninhibited by ideological pressure to draw hasty conclusions, and above all with the aim of reaching agreement on a model of sustainable development capable of ensuring the well-being of all while respecting environmental balances.

The real scientists need to step up. Those that will objectively review the data, try to reproduce it and challenge any theory or data that fails peer review. The scientific community has allowed politicians and con artists to hijack the way the scientific community should work.

The 80-year-old Pope said the world needed to care for the environment but not to the point where the welfare of animals and plants was given a greater priority than that of mankind.

I'm pretty sure this will shock the environmentalist wackos who consider man to be a disease that needs to be eliminated. The Pope represented the Christian view. The earth and all that is in and on it were given to man to use. God expected man to govern it and use it well. The Pope is asking us to remember that God expects us to be good stewards of what he has given us.

Add Another Place Setting

I got an early Christmas present from one of my bosses. When I came back from Thanksgiving this cook book was on my desk. This was produced by the Junior League of NW Arkansas. It is recipes from the members of the League. Proceeds from the sale of the book goes to support the projects and programs of the League.

The photography of the book is really gorgeous and the colors they use to indicate each food section are colorful and bold. It makes it easy to find a particularly recipe section just looking at the side of the book. The recipes are ones that you would actually fix and eat at your house, nothing ultra fancy or exotic. These are recipes you could find in other cook books but these are the favorites of Junior League members. I found one of my favorite holiday treats, Sweet-and-Spicy Pecans. I bring this in to work every Christmas. Scatter in among all the recipes are favorites of some of NW Arkansas' famous residents. Johnelle Hunt's Glazed Apple Pie, Bernice Jone's Chocolate Cherry Cake, Helen Walton's Potato Casserole, the Tyson Family Southern Fried Chicken to name a few. Here and there are little bits of history, descriptions of our favorite places and pieces of decorating advice.

I highly recommend getting this book. It's for those who would like a good solid cook book and for those interested in the history and personalities of NW Arkansas. Of course the added benefit is the money from the sale of the book will be going right back to NW Arkansas charities.

Cold, Rainy Days

These are the type of days you just want to sit inside and read. Since I now got the books I ordered from Amazon that's possible, if I weren't so dang busy. I'm glad I didn't pay the shipping charges that Amazon had ask for to guarantee Christmas delivery. I wonder if they deliberately tried to blackmail me or was it just covering their butts.

NW Arkansas Restaurants Raided By ICE

I see that my favorite Mexican restaurant has been raided by Immigration.

According to U.S. Attorney Robert C. Balfe, the Immigration Criminal Apprehension Taskforce executed search warrants Monday at Acambaro restaurants in Bentonville, Lowell, Rogers and Springdale.

Not that I'm particularly surprised. We've often wondered how many of the people working there were illegal. It's a bit obvious when you can't speak English.

Immigration officials also arrested four operators of the restaurants: 35-year-old Arturo Reyes Jr., 36-year-old Silvia Reyes, 33-year-old Lucila Huaracha and 33-year-old Armando Reyes.

I wonder how ICE was tipped that they were illegal. The most important question is, are the restaurants going to be closed or open tomorrow?

UPDATE:
Apparently there are more serious charges than just being illegal.

Further, they "conducted or attempted to conduct such financial transactions to purchase the real properties ... which involved a specified unlawful activity."
Documents further indicate that the unlawful activity included identity theft, possession and use of counterfeit identity documents, employment eligibility verification fraud and money laundering.

Some of that was using Social Security numbers. I wonder how many people have had their identity stolen are now trying to resolve the damage to their credit. I seriously need to consider using a credit monitoring company. It's a pity that people now have to pay to protect their financial records.

In addition to the financial transactions, "the Acambaro Mexican Restaurant owners and operators are believed to be utilizing the labor of illegal aliens to increase their profit margin in order to maintain their current lavish lifestyles," Cottrell's affidavit states.

Slave labor. I wonder if they feel that it's all worth it now that they are facing jail and losing their businesses.

Full Story

Good Morning Sunshine

The morning temperatures have been dropping to freezing. Winter is definitely here. Eli and Tigger are soaking up the sunshine. They kind of blend in with the dead leaves and grass. I'm taking this picture just inside the door. Brrr, too cold to step outside.

More cats at Friday Ark

Dale Clark Day

Today was declared Dale Clark Day by Mayor Dan Coody. He was honored for over 30 years of service in the city of Fayetteville. He was the first director the Fayetteville Parks and Recreation Division as well as the first director of the Fayetteville Youth Center. People meet at the Boys and Girls Club where a few people reminisced about his work. I imagine he must have quite a few stories to tell. We also sang "Happy Birthday" to him. Yeah, they choose to honor him on his birthday. The halls of the Boys and Girls club had kids running around with Dale Clark t-shirts.


The city also named the park next to the Boys and Girls Club after Dale. I must say this is one of the nicest park signs I seen. The park is mostly the playing fields but it does have a nice walking trail around it.

Animal Cruelty

When is Arkansas going to get it's act together and get some stiffer fines and sentences for animal cruelty? Now, I'm not talking about hunting or farming. Killing and cleaning wild game is a large part of many people's life. I'm talking about the shooting a large dog, skinning it and hanging it upside-down in the yard of a Huntsville teacher. A horrendous act committed with malice and just to terrify another person. I'm glad that the Humane Society

is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of people connected with the dog killing.

Whoever did this is a really, really sick person.

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Restaurants Gone From Dickson Street

Another restaurant has left Dickson Street in Fayetteville. Gloria Jean's Coffees and Haagen-Dazs that waere in the Frisco railroad depot are done. They join a number of restaurants, (Frudruckers, Charlies, Smokey Bones) that have not done well enough to stay in Fayetteville. Most have said that they closed down because planned developments weren't being built fast enough to bring in people to the stores. Greg House of Houses Inc., one of the partners in the depot appears to be blaming some one else

House said he is interested in watching The Lofts at Underwood Plaza, which is a nine-story building being constructed next to George's Majestic Lounge. That project, as well as the Legacy Building behind Jose's, will eventually fill up and perhaps a new presidential administration will make a difference in the market as people will be more hopeful once they elect "Hillary or Barack," he said.

Yup, it's all Bush's fault! Dang, how does Bush do it? All those restaurants and businesses that have closed over the years and he did it. I bet a hundred years from now when something goes wrong people will still be blaming Bush.

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"So Whatcha Gonna Do?"

I had an absolutely wonderful time last night at the Veterans Forever Gala presented by the Arkansas Chapter of the Armed Forces Foundation. The Foundation has gotten off to a good start of many more events in which to raise money for military families. The event was well attended. Rep John Boozeman, Sen Dave Bisbee, Mayor Steve Womack and JP Butch Pond were in attendance. All veterans who attended were recognized and honored.

Steve Mankin, father of Aaron Mankin, told his son's story and how people stepped up to help. He said that through the whole process God was asking him "Whatcha Gonna Do?" and now he asks us "What are we going to do"? As I listened to Steve as realized just how much pain and anguish the families of wounded soldiers go through too. This Foundation is very much needed to support the families just as much as the soldiers need medical care.

Our special guest Eric Egland flight was canceled so Stephen Gray stepped up and described what Eric was doing. Twila Paris ended the evening singing several of her songs. Twila is one of my favorite singers so meeting her was one the highlights of the evening for me.