My train thing

The “other” blog, Trains for America, has been humming along and here is a sampling of a few of the latest posts.

American high-speed rail at dead end?
Amtrak lifeline for Montana Hi-Line
License plates pay for trains
A little history lesson?
Quad Cities quest
Norway is heard from
The European rail barrons
The Ohio Hub

The executive summary of “The Ohio Hub” is especially informative. I also highly recommend “A little history lesson.” That one might stir some conversation. Reactions are always invited.

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No apology needed

Congress has passed a rather stupid non-binding resolution calling on Japan to apologize to the 200,000 women forced into sex slavery during World War II. That was 62 years ago. Emperor Hirohito and the militaristic leadership of that defeated nation are not around to do the appropriate public repentance, and it seems unfair to put that off on the current government.

This little bit of meddling has also stirred up the Japanese nationalist factions, and I don’t think anybody thinks that is a good idea. We would all agree, I think, that this kind of thing relegates atrocious misdeeds to the level of bad manners. It is not fair to say that nobody ever brought this up before. The perpetrators have had plenty to feel embarrassment over, if they are even capable of such.

You may be wondering, so let me clarify that American military people forced into Japanese labor camps may not seek damages under the terms of surrender. That is my final point. I was not alive then, and I bet most of you were either, but surrender means that. It was absolute and unconditional. That should settle everything. Those interested in righting wrong might look toward Cambodia, Rwanda, or Iraq.

(Broadcast August 1, 2007)

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Not angels of light

The Banditos and Hell’s Angels have rumbled in Arkansas’ most colorful city, Eureka Springs. The mystical mountain town is home of the Great Passion Play of Gerald L. K. Smith and thousands of hippy types left over from the 60’s.

They merrily roll out the carpet for all sorts of tourists. Eureka Springs is host to a huge UFO convention, so you know the locals are very open-minded. The town simply loves oddballs, even motorcycle gangs. If memory serves, the famous Harley riding outdoorsmen and women have come this way many times before without major incident.

Not too long ago, Arkansas welcomed the Rainbow Family, another bunch of delightful throwbacks. It’s all good clean fun, but somehow the Banditos have decided that Arkansas is their territory. I don’t recall an election, or even a call our survey. We should all be glad that motorcycle gangs feel at home here and spend their good money.

Except that there were some serious injuries, the fight in broad daylight on Sunday afternoon might have been entertaining. As it is, six Angels are in the Carroll County Jail, and several are hospitalized. Is this any way to spend your vacation, people? In the words of Rodney King, why can’t we all just get along?

(Broadcast July 30, 2007)

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Upcoming guests on the radio program

Libertarian candidate for the US Senate (and yet another lawyer) Rebekah Kennedy is on Thursday at 9.

Drew Pritt will be talking about his latest political ambition Thursday at 10. This one will ruin somebody’s day, I promise.

Blake Rutherford from Blake’s Think Tank blog is on Friday at 9. We have been having an excellent discussion about the mayoral power election on August 14. We will discuss that and more.

MORE GOOD NEWS … the stream is now working from 8 to 11 AM Central Time. Log on and listen live worldwide, but remember that there will be some silent segments while local stations take the breaks.

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Wednesday summary

Death row inmate Terrick Terrell Nooner is scheduled to die by lethal injection on Sept. 18, according to a proclamation issued by Gov. Mike Beebe Tuesday, the first execution to be scheduled in his administration.

Sen. Mark Pryor urged renewal of tariffs on steel imports from China and other countries Tuesday, concerned that easing the trade barrier may cost Arkansas jobs.

Retired generals called on by a House panel to assess the war in Iraq said Tuesday advised against immediate withdrawal of American forces. The former generals agreed that decisions to immediately end U.S. involvement would escalate civil war in Iraq and cause instability in the Middle East. Their testimony came as a subcommittee headed by Rep. Vic Snyder of Little Rock, concluded hearings on war strategies.

Former gubernatorial candidate Jimmie Lou Fisher has a new job on the state payroll. Starting today, she’ll be working part-time for Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, instructing people about how to avoid legal problems. Fisher will make $32,00 a year, which will supplement her state retirement.

A state advisory committee Tuesday awarded more than $266,300 to companies in 11 separate underground storage tank gasoline cleanup operations across Arkansas, including the former Holsum Baking Co.

Southwestern Energy Company says that its second-quarter earnings rose 29 percent to a record high behind strong results in the Fayetteville Shale play.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff has established a research center to help quantify and reduce illiteracy rates in Jefferson County and the Arkansas Delta.

Pine Bluff Mayor Carl A. Redus Jr. has issued an executive order effecting a hiring freeze by the municipality in an effort to provide city employees a raise in the 2008 budget.

Virginia Hillman will be sworn in today as Sherwood’s first woman mayor, after she beat interim Mayor Bill Harmon nearly 2-1 in a runoff Tuesday night.

A $43 million Pulaski County housing-bond deal that delivered more fees than housing – and brought federal bond regulators to the county’s doorstep – shouldn’t cost local taxpayers, Anne Parker, a lawyer for the county, said Tuesday.

Jonesboro city council members publicly expressed unhappiness at Mayor Doug Formon because city attorneys failed to answer an appeal of a planning commission rejection of a proposed development. Formon accepted service of the legal papers, but they never made it to the legal department. Formon also said the city didn’t have a legal leg to stand on anyway.

A Mississippi truck driver involved in a highway crash that killed five members of a Monticello family was charged Tuesday with five felony counts of negligent homicide. Roy Lee Jordan of Benton, Miss., also was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, also a felony, and misdemeanor DWI, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Kyle Hunter said.

Six men arrested Sunday in Eureka Springs in connection with felony first-degree battery charges may face even stiffer charges. The Carroll County Prosecutor’s Office is considering upgrading charges against six men accused of beating four Bandidos motorcycle club members. Five of the six arrested are members of the Hells Angels.

Shane Gore of West Fork will serve 80 years at the Arkansas Department of Correction for the shotgun slayings of his parents and will be 90 years old before he becomes eligible for parole. Gore, who is mentally ill, entered guilty pleas for two counts of first-degree murder.

William Wynne, whose brutality case against Conway policemen once prompted years of litigation, has been arrested and charged with 14 drug and weapon related felonies.

Arrest warrants are out for a pair of Fort Smith residents accused of making a slew of purchases with stolen checks and credit cards. Robert Phelan and Sandra Bruce are wanted on suspicion of fraudulent use of a credit card and are suspected of a multitude of check forgeries, fraudulent transactions with stolen credit cards, vehicle break-ins and burglaries.

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