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Arkansas Blog

Hourly news and comment

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The guide to Arkansas entertainment

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On art in Arkansas

Street Jazz

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Eat Arkansas

Dinner in Dogtown, now to music

Extended hours and music by Bluesboy Jag.

Burger joint of the week: Dugan's Pub

The Swiss Mushroom Burger is savory and juicy, a half pound of burger that takes at least two hands to eat. Turning it upside down may be the way to go.

Hey vegans! Freedom of choice at Amruth

West Little Rock's Amruth has dependable Indian fare with lots of vegan options.

Eye Candy

Now, it's the LA Times touring Bentonville

CBMAA gets yet another plug as a travel destination.

The Delta exhibit: Not so Southern

Some years, the Arkansas Arts Center's Delta exhibit has had a distinctly Southern look about the art.

Container store

Hugg & Hall mobile storage are join the shipping container movement, building a new facility for their business almost entirely out of the steel boxes.

Dining Review

Soup's on at Zogi's

January 25, 2012
Soup's on at Zogi's
But that's not all. /more/

Dining Search

A&E Feature

Showcase showdown

January 25, 2012
Showcase showdown
Round one of the annual Times showcase kicks off Thursday /more/

To-Do List

Pat Green at Revolution

January 25, 2012
Pat Green at Revolution
Also 'Slow Southern Steel' at Market Street, Knuck Fest at Downtown Music, the Delta Exhibition at the Arts Center, Scott Biram at Maxine's, Black Oak Arkansas at Juanita's, Arkansas Big Buck Classic at the fairgrounds, the ASO at Robinson and the P.A.T.H. Benefit at Juanita's. /more/

Columnists

Max Brantley

The unknown soldiers

The controversy over relocation of a clinic for veterans to an abandoned car dealership on Main Street is a testament to the country's fleeting patriotism. /more/

Ernest Dumas

The South likes a good story

So well had the revival of Ronald Reagan's reputation gone for two decades that all /more/

Graham Gordy

Backstage with Mitt and Newt

Just before the January 23 Republican debate, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney encountered one another at a deli tray just off-stage. What follows is a transcript of that meeting. /more/

Bob Lancaster

Looking for gnat omens

I flatter myself to think you might remember that for several Januaries past I've done some tall moaning and groaning in this space about how this is the worst month of the year. Far and away. Without a close rival. August is the second worst, I reckon, but only in the sense that Twice a Prince ran second to Secretariat in the Belmont. I know August, Sen. Quayle, and August is no January. /more/

Gene Lyons

Lyons: Talking 'truth vigilantes'

Time was when newspaper journalists prided themselves on being working stiffs: skeptical, cynical and worldly-wise. "If your mother says she loves you, check it out." I've always preferred the unofficial motto of my native New Jersey: "Oh yeah, who says?" /more/

Movie Reviews

Delayed liftoff

January 25, 2012
Delayed liftoff
Lucas' 'Red Tails' /more/

Pearls About Swine

Anderson must create fresh success

January 25, 2012
Rome was not built in a day, nor will Arkansas basketball be rebuilt within a matter of months. /more/

Media

On trolls and flame wars

January 18, 2012
On trolls and flame wars
The thorny world of online comments. /more/

Blog Roll

Arkansas Blog

Hourly news and comment

Rock Candy

The guide to Arkansas entertainment

Eat Arkansas

For food lovers

Eye Candy

On art in Arkansas

Street Jazz

A view from Northwest Arkansas

Arkansas Blog

Friday, January 27, 2012 - 15:39:50

Sound familiar?

Texas on my mind today, I guess: The New York Times reports that Texas has been paying $400,000 a month for Gov. Rick Perry's security while he traveled around the country campaigning.

Aside from President Obama, Mr. Perry — the only sitting governor in the 2012 race — has the largest security contingent, and apparently the only one on the Republican side financed by taxpayers.

Weeks before he officially announced his presidential bid, Mr. Perry said it was appropriate for the Texas Department of Public Safety to pay for his security and called any criticism of his government-provided protection a “diversion.” He also said that Texans would benefit from his travels. “I’m going to be promoting Texas,” Mr. Perry said in July, as he began to traverse the country. “I’m going to be traveling to places where the Texas story needs to be told, and we will tell it.”

Takes you back, doesn't it? Read here about the erstwhile Arkansan who liked to travel on the state's dime.

 

Friday, January 27, 2012 - 15:29:51

Fun with headlines

AR Dem-Gaz, paraphrasing Bloomberg News headline: "U.S. economy grew less than forecast in fourth quarter"
Washington Post: "U.S. GDP grew at fastest pace in 1.5 years in fourth quarter 2011"

 

Friday, January 27, 2012 - 14:06:38

Treasurer Shoffner, VISA team up to teach finance

That headline is not a joke.

FINANCIAL FOOTBALL: Treasurer Shoffner promotes VISA game for students.
  • FINANCIAL FOOTBALL: Treasurer Shoffner promotes VISA game for students.
Teaming up to promote a course in financial management to Arkansas public school students:

* Arkansas Treasurer Martha Shoffner — whose campaign finance reports were a disaster just for starters and who's raised a number of questions about her handling of state investments.

* VISAa credit card company. Tens of thousands of Arkansas families owe perilous or ruined finances to the predatory effects of credit cards. It's also worth mentioning the credit card companies' purchase of Congress to make sure, whatever else happened, ruined families would have to go through hell to discharge plastic card debt in bankruptcy.

The gimmick is described as an "NFL themed educational video game and classroom curriculum" known as Financial Football.

Shoffner and VISA will be joined by an NFL quarterback Christian Ponder for the media event next week. Perhaps Shoffner will answer some questions about her campaign and personal finances that she's been reluctant to field. Maybe VISA also can tell us how much the outfit spent to lobby Congress on bankruptcy "reform." I presume someone in the Education Department gave Shoffner the go-ahead to roll out this new offering, rich next week in VISA and NFL branding into public schools? Right?

Call me cynical. As much as kids can use sound financial training, the key players here sound too much like Newt Gingrich coming to town to promote a course on successful marriage.

UPDATE: VISA is unhappy with my lumping them in with interest rates, consumer debt and all the rest. It's the banks that do that; credit card companies merely extract a fee from merchants for use of their cards. It is but a network, they insist. To blame them for financial problems is like blaming FedEx for the quality of goods the delivery company delivers, a spokesman told me. The financial game is just good corporate citizenship to encourage better habits among kids, a spokesman says. Even if I were to grant the innocence of credit card companies in personal financial disasters (I don't), there's still an old saying that applies. Lie down with dogs ....

/more/  

 

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2012 AT Showcase Round 1: The Holy Shakes (2) 2012 AT Showcase Round 1: The Holy Shakes 2012 AT Showcase Round 1: Vore (2) 2012 AT Showcase Round 1: Vore

STAFF BLOGS: ROCK CANDY

2012 AT Showcase Round 1: The Holy Shakes

Rock Candy

Friday, January 27, 2012 - 15:16:56

Rep adds two more "Mockingbird" performances

Abby Shourd as Scout in Arkansas Repertory Theatres production of To Kill a Mockingbird.
  • Cindy Momchilov
  • Abby Shourd as Scout in Arkansas Repertory Theatre's production of 'To Kill a Mockingbird.'

The Arkansas Repertory Theatre's current show, "To Kill a Mockingbird," has been pretty popular. In fact, all the shows are sold out, so The Rep is adding two additional matinees on Feb. 4 and Feb. 11 at 2 p.m.

From The Rep:

"In response to overwhelming demand, the theatre has opened two additional matinee performances February 4 and 11. These added performances will open for public sale this Saturday, January 28 at 9:00 a.m. Tickets are $30-$40.

"The Rep will also sell Standing Room Only tickets to sold out performances throughout the run starting Saturday, January 28. SRO seating may include bench seating in the back of the theatre, open seating that has become available for that evening, or actual standing areas in the back of the theatre. A limited amount of SRO tickets will be available for sale in person only, one hour before curtain. SRO tickets for To Kill a Mockingbird are $30 for all performances through Feb. 12."

 

Friday, January 27, 2012 - 13:58:21

2012 AT Showcase Round 1: The Holy Shakes

The Holy Shakes impressed the judges last night. In fact, the band was the No. 1 pick of every judge, decisively taking Round 1 and moving on to the finals, Fri. March 2 at Revolution.

Guest judge Mary Chamberlin: "True Punks. Flippant disregard for 'coolness,' studied but unique." and "My record collection called, it wants The Holy Shakes."

Epiphany "knew that frontman had to come out of that leather jacket sooner or later because he was putting in work."

Perhaps Cheyenne Matthews put it best: "... more like Holy Shit! Holy Shit!!!"

Photos after the jump.

/more/  

 

Friday, January 27, 2012 - 13:38:37

2012 AT Showcase Round 1: Vore

Fayetteville's Vore brought the brutal death metal to Round 1 of the 2012 Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase.

Judge Sammy Williams appreciated the band's "classic sound, never straying far form the path forged in Florida years ago." Clay Fitzpatrick wrote that he was glad to see some legends of the genre and loved the set, but "wanted to see more drum work from bands like this."

Check out some photos of Vore after the jump.

/more/  

 

More Rock Candy

Cover Story

Sympathy for the devil

January 25, 2012
Sympathy for the devil
Police and other experts say some of our laws on sex offenders may be doing more harm than good. /more/

VIEW PRINT EDITION

Event Calendar

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The Insider

PMS at state agency

January 25, 2012
Testimony in Garland Circuit Court last week by several current and former employees of the Arkansas Rehabilitation Services Division was that some of the clients they serve were known by the acronym PMS. It stands for politically mandated service — for clients who have clout and should be treated accordingly. /more/

Arkansas Reporter

A (safer) walk in the park

January 25, 2012
A (safer) walk in the park
Fed up with crime, neighbors rescue Hindman. /more/

Editorials

Foiled again

January 25, 2012

Fox16 Local News and Weather

More Fox16 Forecasts
 

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