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June 28, 2007

Vol 5 • No 24

School lunch

Dropped by Dr. Katherine Mitchell's Political Animals Club appearance at the library. A good crowd.

Money for Mark

Voters will have two questions in August: 1) Whether to give the mayor a veto, subject to override by eight of the other 10 board members, and 2) whether to make the job full-time and give the mayor power to hire and fire the city manager and city attorne

Satisfied author

I noticed that another local author found fault with what Doug Smith of your staff wrote about her book. I thought I should let you know that I have no complaints about his review of “The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney.”

Calling all book nerds

June has not been the best of months for the Little Rock retail scene.

Make way for more elk

The Forest Service is working to improve elk habitat on land next to Richland Creek Wilderness Area.

To-do, June 28

Lismore at the Arts Scene, Little Rock star contest, KABF benefit, The Chill at Juanita's and more.

‘Backwoods’ art for Crystal Bridges

Crystal Bridges at the Massey, the temporary gallery that’s opened on the Bentonville Square in the former Massey Hotel while Crystal Bridges museum is being constructed, is exhibiting photographs taken from 1961 to 2005 by color pioneer William Christenb

This Modern World

Can a judge talk about faith?

The Arkansas Code of Judicial Conduct does not prohibit me from expressing my faith and values as a citizen and a minister. I refuse to hide my faith, or evade the prophetic imperatives arising from my ministry, merely because I hold a judicial office.

Editorial

What's cooking, June 28

Boulevard Bread owner wants to open new restaurant; Rumba no longer serving lunch Monday through Thursday.

The Observer, June 28

Kayaking friends of The Observer’s went out to Lake Catherine last week to see the Ouachita sights. They reported back that the vista included ladies sitting on a porch on the lake with bowls on their laps. How nice and old-fashioned, the paddlers thought

Great evil

Seeing the decisions that come from Bush’s Supreme Court, it’s hard not to despair.

Bring your appetite to Fat Boys

There are some items on Fat Boys' menu that will not kill you outright: club and veggie sandwiches, the Fat Boys Big Ultimate Salad, a fruit smoothie.

Orval

Words

A contestant in a spelling bee, assigned the word highfalutin, paused momentarily. She’d heard of highfalutin, she said, but she didn’t know it was a real word.

‘Blockade’ and 'Susannah'

Kriss Kross raps at the Arts Scene; Inspiration Point does opera.

‘Sicko’ might be the cure

It’s sort of a testament to Michael Moore’s skill as a filmmaker that I leave every first screening of one of his movies wanting to get all Che Guevara on America’s ass, smashing Hummers and redistributing the wealth.

Moving up

Zac Wright, communications director for Gov. Mike Beebe, has taken a leave of absence to be director of communications for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in the South Carolina primary.

Police story

Nothing settles a round of “He Said, She Said” faster than cold, hard videotape. Case in point: a video currently posted on YouTube.com, showing a Hot Springs cop getting medieval on a group of dastardly teen-age skateboarders.

Cavorting in the aisle

Bipartisanship in Arkansas looks a whole lot like nonpartisanship.

Harlem world

Chauncey Holloman has a strange project in the works: She’s writing a self-help book. It’s not that the genre itself is strange, but rather that the 19-year-old seems oddly placed to be writing it.

Revised version

Revisionist history came to Arkansas recently with the publication of a book making Gov. Orval Faubus out to be the much maligned and misunderstood hero of the Little Rock Central High School integration crisis.

Juanita carries Burden

More entertainment: Burden Brothers appear with Lochness Monster and Brash at Juanita's Thursday, it's Ladies Night at the Rep for "The Full Monty" on Friday, Sticky Fingerz 7th anniversary party on Saturday, 311 on Monday.

A&E news: Goines coming anticipated

We’re eagerly anticipating the latest mixtape from Goines, the faux-hawk-sporting half of Conduit’s Suga City.

Businesses visited by inspectors

Health Department inspectors made calls on the businesses listed here because of repeat complaints of smoking law violations.

Elk education

Busloads of school kids and wildlife seekers visit the Ponca Elk Education Center center to hear recorded bird calls and see stuffed fox, bear and, of course, elk.

Oops, sorry

Got a note overnight that Mike Huckabee's Today Show appearance today would be rescheduled.

Worst ever

Pew survey of global opinion. Many of our strongest allies trust Putin more than Bush, and they don't trust Putin much.

Merle

Brian Chilson photo, from last night's show.

Chicken manure

Brummett on Sens. Critcher and Johnson's lobbyist money roundup at the Chicken House for Sen. Gilbert Baker, the former Republican chairman.

Lean operation

Survey says only North Dakota operates its highway program with a leaner bureaucracy than Arkansas.

Quorum Court gets feisty

The Times of North Little Rock today has a couple of stories about activities of the Pulaski County Quorum Court, which dragged into the night Tuesday.

Quorum Court gets feisty

The Times of North Little Rock today has a couple of stories about activities of the Pulaski County Quorum Court, which dragged into the night Tuesday.

feelin froggy?

Has anyone ever had better frog legs than at The Faded Rose?  The picture above was taken by yours truly at the Rebsamen Park Road location last weekend.

feelin froggy?

Has anyone ever had better frog legs than at The Faded Rose?  The picture above was taken by yours truly at the Rebsamen Park Road location last weekend.

A corny tavern game

The Wall Street Journal today, in one of its classic quirky features, focuses on a new tavern game that's taking hold in Midwestern cities.

What? Dillard's not return a phone call?

Investors in Dillard's want to meet with management on ways to increase shareholder value. Uh huh.

Monochromatic

Republican -- n. Angry Southern white man. Hispanics are fleeing for Democrats, particularly Hillary.

Monochromatic

Republican -- n. Angry Southern white man. Hispanics are fleeing for Democrats, particularly Hillary.

Root and branch

The Roberts-Thomas-Scalia-Alito Supreme Court is busily doing the jobs they were appointed to do. Today, it closed in on putting an end to considering race in school assignments.

School computer crackdown

It would appear from this state Education Department memo that folks have been gumming up the Arkansas Public School Computer Network by a bunch of illegal music and video file sharing using so-called P2P applications.

The so-called liberal media

New analysis finds: – In the spring of 2007, of the 257 news/talk stations owned by the top five commercial station owners, 91 percent of the total weekday talk radio programming was conservative, and only 9 percent was progressive.

The so-called liberal media

New analysis finds: – In the spring of 2007, of the 257 news/talk stations owned by the top five commercial station owners, 91 percent of the total weekday talk radio programming was conservative, and only 9 percent was progressive.

LR school crisis

Today the Little Rock School Board meets. Buckets of gasoline are being prepared to toss on the smoldering school district.

LR school crisis

Today the Little Rock School Board meets. Buckets of gasoline are being prepared to toss on the smoldering school district.

Former trooper gets jail time -- UPDATE

The former state trooper who shot a mentally disabled man in a case of mistaken identity has gotten a 90-day jail sentence.

Peace and love and arrests UPDATE

The Forest Service has issued an update on the Rainbow Family gathering in the Big Piney Ranger District of the Ozarks Natoinal Forest near Fallsville.

Immigration bill defeat

The Senate beat the compromise today by refusing to end a filibuster. With 60 votes needed, 46 votes to end filibuster and 53 opposed it.

Controlling charter schools

When wealthy benefactors (Walton Foundation, for example) contribute to publicly financed charter schools, who ends up calling the shots?

Weekend To-Do List Podcast

With pictures!Download: To-Do List Podcast 2

Full stop

The Arkansas Supreme Court today stayed a circuit judge's ruling in favor of releasing former County Comptroller Ron Quillin's e-mails to a girl friend who was also a supplier of county computer services.

Full stop

The Arkansas Supreme Court today stayed a circuit judge's ruling in favor of releasing former County Comptroller Ron Quillin's e-mails to a girl friend who was also a supplier of county computer services.

Hey, eat this -- eventually

In case you haven't checked our regular edition this week, here's some restaurat news of note: Boulevard Bread owner Scott McGehee says he hopes to open a new wood-oven pizza restaurant in the next six to eight months.

Passage of a politician

Thanks to Pat Lynch for a note about the death of a historic political figure.

School board

The Little Rock Board is at it: 1) LAWSUITS:  It approved a motion to attempt to settle all pending employment cases against the district as well as the suit over the alleged discrimination against a student at Central High.

School board

The Little Rock Board is at it: 1) LAWSUITS:  It approved a motion to attempt to settle all pending employment cases against the district as well as the suit over the alleged discrimination against a student at Central High.

The Melon Wagon is Back!

The first time I've seen it this year was this afternoon.  They get these "Arkansas Sweets" melons from a White River farm on the outskirts of the greater Tupelo, Arkansas metroplex.  The Melon Wagon sets up at 12th and Pine in Little Rock.  You can't miss it.

After the smoke clears

Nearly a year out from the July 2006 enactment of Arkansas’s Indoor Clean Air Act, the smoke has cleared to reveal a healthy restaurant scene.

Elk don’t make good neighbors

Thousands of visitors drive deep into the Buffalo River National Park every year to catch a glimpse of immense Rocky Mountain elk feeding on rich bottomland pasture. They thrill at the sight. Native Ozark farmers cringe.

The Democrats

Oh, right. Democrats debated last night in Washington.

The Democrats

Oh, right. Democrats debated last night in Washington.

Full coverage

The Morning News has a group of stories on the sentencing of the ex-trooper in the mistaken identity shooting death, plus the trooper's dashboard video.

Concurring opinion

Columnists in both the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post agree: Roberts and Alito lied about what sort of Supreme Court justices they'd be.

Latest on Kenyana Tolbert

Kenyana Tolbert, a promising North Little Rock football player who was left a quadriplegic by an injury in a game 10 years ago, died today, according to Arkansas Business' Jim Harris . BUT, you'll see that a blog reader who is close to the family questions this.

Latest on Kenyana Tolbert

Kenyana Tolbert, a promising North Little Rock football player who was left a quadriplegic by an injury in a game 10 years ago, died today, according to Arkansas Business' Jim Harris . BUT, you'll see that a blog reader who is close to the family questions this.

This spud's for you

David Simmons, who goes by the 'net handle hubcapburger, sends a fine photo of another local taste treat.

Holiday plans

You know how just about every holiday has been turned into a three- or four-day weekend?

If his lips are moving ...

Bush contradicts his own experts on the war in Iraq. This is among the good reporting from the McClatchy D.C. bureau that is about the best thing going in Washington today.

Netflixin: "The Woodsman"

     Well, if you haven't seen "The Woodsman" starring Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgewick, well, you're missing what could be Bacon's best performance to date.  From the producers of Monster's Ball, the film follows Walter (Bacon) as he adjusts back to society after spending 12 years in prison for abusing children.  Now while you might think this subject matter could get really disgusting really quickly, the film follows someone who knows there is something wrong with them and is trying to resist and overcome that part of himself.  The acting in this movie is insane.  Usually when I think of Bacon, it's Footloose, A Few Good Men, etc.  Not respected for his intense dramactic work, this film, which was a huge risk for everyone involved, will blow your mind with not only how understated and internal Bacon's portrayal of the main character and his demons are, but how real the whole story is.  It's scary, in a good way, I think.  I don't know where the award nominations were, but if there were ever a time to throw a Golden Globe or Oscar at Bacon, this was the time.

Big deal

Supreme Court will hear Guantanamo detainees' case.

Heisman hopeful in drag

Have I missed this? Hog Heisman hopeful Darren McFadden used to wear dresses to class in high school.

Arkansas images

ADULT ENTERTAINTMENT: We're always on the lookout for good photos. This one, taken near Camden by Rachel Miller, spoke to us.

Rising tide

LR School Board member Melanie Fox sends along the latest LR School District  benchmark test scores, which generally show a rising three-year trajectory.

Ponzi schemer

Gary Marcus Smith of Pine Bluff was sentenced today to nine years in prison for running what the U.S. attorney's office said was one of the largest Ponzi schemes ever discovered in Arkansas.

FOI victory

Citizen wins. Barbara Cockrell, the Carver School parent who sued Cycle Breakers under the Freedom of Information Act for information from the organization which works with people on probation, won her case today.

FOI victory

Citizen wins. Barbara Cockrell, the Carver School parent who sued Cycle Breakers under the Freedom of Information Act for information from the organization which works with people on probation, won her case today.

Oh, why not

An open line.

Brummett's back

And he explains something I'd wondered about last weekend -- the poor state of Interstate 40 in eastern Arkansas.

They must not read Arkansas newspapers

Uh oh. Says here in Washington Post that many presidential candidates are getting heavily into text messaging.

Who's got the Best Que in Arkansas?

Obviously this is a very serious and contentious subject.  But as part of our recent BBQ theme leading up to the holiday, I would like to hear your thoughts on the matter.  I'll start- I hold that the best brisket in Arkansas is at Sports and Beyond on 12th Street.  Don't believe me?  Go try 'em.

Who's got the Best Que in Arkansas?

Obviously this is a very serious and contentious subject.  But as part of our recent BBQ theme leading up to the holiday, I would like to hear your thoughts on the matter.  I'll start- I hold that the best brisket in Arkansas is at Sports and Beyond on 12th Street.  Don't believe me?  Go try 'em.

The news is good

At top is a stack of real Bradley tomatoes, trucked into LR by a Monticello friend yesterday.

The news is good

At top is a stack of real Bradley tomatoes, trucked into LR by a Monticello friend yesterday.

News roundup

A roundup of news from a full e-mail basket after a long absence from the keyboard: 1) INDUSTRY: As expected, the Indian concern Welspun, today announced plans for construction of a $100 million steel tube plant by the Little Rock Port.

News roundup

A roundup of news from a full e-mail basket after a long absence from the keyboard: 1) INDUSTRY: As expected, the Indian concern Welspun, today announced plans for construction of a $100 million steel tube plant by the Little Rock Port.

Oh and one more thing

It's too late for Friday, but Lindsey Millar's weekend To-Do podcast is worth a listen over on Rock Candy.

Conway crash

Plane crashes into house on approach to Conway Airport, our partner Fox 16 reports. The latest report says two dead.

Red meat

Want some? Republican candidates serve up slabs of exactly the stuff a conservative group in Iowa wants to hear.  Mike Huckabee didn't demonstrate the slightest bit of moderation.

Speaking of taxes

They drop in Arkansas today. The cut in the grocery tax takes effect.

Hillary's home team

Brummett explains that her inevitable victory is part of the reason most major Arkansas politicians have jumped on the Hillary bandwagon.

The independent voter -- CORRECTED

A deep and interesting analysis of the influential independent voter bloc by the Washington Post.

Double duty

The Clinton School's brown-bag lunch speaker Thursday, July 5, is Aneesh Raman, a CNN correspondent based in Cairo who was the first western journalist to report Saddam Hussein's execution last December.

In the chips

Obama outraises Clinton the latest quarter. (I suspect her $27 million would look pretty good to at least one other presidential candidate I can think of.)

Hitting the bottle.

For the Sauceheads out there, Tapatios (my favorite Mexican hot sauce) and Panola (da bomb) are on sale at Big Lots for 50 cents a bottle.  Both sauces are actually fairly mild, but with a ton of flavor.  So geaux get some cheap and excellent hot sauce before they're gone!   Big Lots on Asher and University.

Hitting the bottle.

For the Sauceheads out there, Tapatios (my favorite Mexican hot sauce) and Panola (da bomb) are on sale at Big Lots for 50 cents a bottle.  Both sauces are actually fairly mild, but with a ton of flavor.  So geaux get some cheap and excellent hot sauce before they're gone!   Big Lots on Asher and University.

Vespers

A Sunday night open line? Why not?

Vespers

A Sunday night open line? Why not?

Slowly they turn

Brummett looks more closely at the importance of Sen. Richard Lugar's defection from Bush's war.

Historic parallel

It's a slow morning, so a link to something I saw in yesterday's Washington Post.

Your tax supported profs at work

The latest from the school of education "reform" at Walton U. A new study by Manhattan Institute scholar Jay P. Greene and Brian Kisida and Jonathan Butcher, research associates in the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas, analyzes the trends in U.S. public school names in 7 states, representing 20 percent of all public school students, before 1948 to present day.

Your tax supported profs at work

The latest from the school of education "reform" at Walton U. A new study by Manhattan Institute scholar Jay P. Greene and Brian Kisida and Jonathan Butcher, research associates in the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas, analyzes the trends in U.S. public school names in 7 states, representing 20 percent of all public school students, before 1948 to present day.

Judge steps down

Circuit Judge Mike Mashburn of Fayetteville stepped down from the bench today. He's been recuperating from effects of a stroke.

Unhappy anniversary

Four years ago today, Bush said "bring them on." On July 2, 2003, about 200 U.S. troops had been killed in the war.

Fayetteville food news

A Fayetteville correspondent reports: Maudie Schmidt of Fayetteville, the kitchen half of Cafe Rue Orleans, is moving her seafood enterprise from a tiny building near the "Y" in Springdale to the Evelyn Hills Shopping Center (across the VA Hospital) and near her resturant, which is in an old motor lodge spot just a block south of the Evelyn Hills Shopping Center.

High finance

  AWall Street Journal blog item suggests that an up-and-down credit market could have implications for the proposal to take Alltel private.

Starving Artist on the move?

The Starving Artist Cafe on Seventh Street, an artistic success in every way, apparently is contemplating a move.

Surgeon general

As expected. Gov. Mike Beebe today named Dr. Joe Thompson the state surgeon general.

Airport security

The attack on the airport in Glasgow and other plots uncovered in England have prompted heightened security precautions at U.S. airports.

The hip-hop superhero

  It's frustrating I can't show you the preview for "Supa Tight" that I've seen, but Ron Mc wants folks to be surprised come Thursday.

Bush spares Libby

Of course. He commuted his prison sentence.

Huckstering

First, consider the source. The American Spectator.

Huckstering

First, consider the source. The American Spectator.

Corporate welfare detailed

Stephens Media details the package of incentives offered to land the steel pipe plant at the Little Rock Port.

New tune

Brummett watched a tape of Hillary's appearance in Arkansas. He's softened considerably on her candidacy, sounds like.

Whatcha Grillin-Smokin?- UPDATE

I promise I'll stop beating this BBQ theme to death with this post, but I'm curious about your food choices for the Fourth.  Seriously- I'm going grocery shopping and I need some ideas.    And now for no good reason at all- a picture of BBQ sauce.  Who knows where its from?

The corrupt administration

Paul Begala on the Libby pardon. He nails it, concluding:

The corrupt administration

Paul Begala on the Libby pardon. He nails it, concluding:

Huckabee on a roll?

First it was the American Spectator, mentioned earlier today, with an item on campaign finance funny business by home schoolers that left a little soil on the Mike Huckabee campaign.

Huckabee on a roll?

First it was the American Spectator, mentioned earlier today, with an item on campaign finance funny business by home schoolers that left a little soil on the Mike Huckabee campaign.

Arkansas on a roll

Arkansas tax revenue continues to be robust. Gross revenues of $522.4 million in June were 6.5 percent above June last year and 12.8 percent above forecast.

Anti-abortion bingo

More than 70 organizations have signed up to operate charity bingo games in Arkansas under new legislation.

At the end of the Rainbow ...

A pot of traffic tickets. The Forest Service, which doesn't much like the annual Rainbow Gathering, says some 5,000 hippie types are gathered on national forest land near Fallsville, Ark., for this year's celebration of peace and love. They'll begin leaving July 4, putting quite a bit of traffic on rural roads in the area.

Data mining

Fidelity National Information Services, the data company once owned by Alltel, has announced that an employee in St. Petersburg sold financial records of 2.3 million people to to direct marketers.

Cop cleared -- UPDATE

We're trying to get the full written report to post, but the bottom line is that, what a shock, a police investigation has cleared Hot Springs cop Joey Williams in the great skateboarding bust made world-famous by YouTube.

Cop cleared -- UPDATE

We're trying to get the full written report to post, but the bottom line is that, what a shock, a police investigation has cleared Hot Springs cop Joey Williams in the great skateboarding bust made world-famous by YouTube.

Tuesday To-Do: The Chill and Bobby V.

Tonight, at Juanita's, all the folks listed above are at Juanita's at 8:30 p.m for the Chill.

We get e-mail

To wit: Is there any reason why the Pulaski County Administration Bldg.

Good for him

Mike Huckabee has accepted an invitation to speak to the National Education Association, USA Today reports.

The rape of Arkansas

Should we raise the non-existent severance tax on natural gas in Arkansas, particularly as out-of-state despoilers of our soil are about to ship a bonanza in Arkansas treasure to states with much higher severance taxes and  leave nothing behind but a few happy royalty owners and a lot of pollution?

Call us jealous

Faithful reader Knoc Knock provides a report on Asian food in NW Ark. that's worth greater exposure than the comment string.

Call us jealous

Faithful reader Knoc Knock provides a report on Asian food in NW Ark. that's worth greater exposure than the comment string.

Flag waving

Thanks to UALR's Dr. Johanna Miller Lewis for this photographic display of patriotism by American citizens put behind fences during World War II at the internment camp at Rohwer.

Flag waving

Thanks to UALR's Dr. Johanna Miller Lewis for this photographic display of patriotism by American citizens put behind fences during World War II at the internment camp at Rohwer.

Tests won't cure poverty

This summer break marks the midpoint of the No Child Left Behind Act from enactment to fulfillment, and we ought to know if we are halfway to nirvana or to colossal disappointment.

Cooking with the rat

It’s the easiest thing in the world to turn a scornful eye upon the Disney Corporation. There’s probably no other company in the world so hell-bent on shamelessly smacking children upside the head with marketing for every last spin-off product it can

Odd songs, solid candidate

Because I’d been on vacation at the time, the state Democratic Party lent me a video of the Hillary Clinton Show at the Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner. The first striking thing was the curious song selection providing the fanfare as Hillary entered Allte

A&E News

Brooklyn pop-rockers Bishop Allen will release their sophomore album, “The Broken String,” on July 24. Little Rock native Christian Rudder sings and plays guitar with the band, which won wide acclaim for its 2003 self-release “Charm School.”

The race for Senate

David Sanders figures Sen. Mark Pryor has "ensured" his re-election in 2008 with a voting record that offers a little something for just about everybody.

Fun on the fourth

I have work to do most of the day. I'm throwing the line open.

The Supreme issue

For years, the right motivated voters by demonizing the liberals on the U.S. Supreme Court.

We're just that responsive folks....

A reader today requests a trip to VanLang Vietnamese Restaurant.  Okey Dokey. I like the egg noodle soup with seafood.  Man, this stuff is good.  A meal and a half.  Most of the dadgum ocean is in this thing.  Shrimp, Mussels, Octopus, Crab, etc...

Ahhhhh...

I hope everyone was able to take a break, and put their feet up at least for the evening on this 4th of July.  I did, at least briefly...

Not just tight—supa-tight

Since his teens, people have called Leron McAdoo “Mr. Miscellaneous.” It’s the third of his AKAs (after Ron Mc, the name by which folks in the hip-hop community know him), but surely the most fitting. At 6 p.m. Thursday at the Riverdale 10 movie theat
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