Getting our priorities straight

A question arose among friends today and I have decided to toss it out as a possible source of discussion.

The Hogs defeated Alabama Thursday night at Bud Walton Arena. It was a great win and we were all goad to see it. So here is the question:

With 300,000 people in the dark, how is it that the Razorbacks had electricity? I would be the last one to become some sort of obstructionist, but how did that happen? Surely there were not sufficient generators available for full power to the arena and the television trucks.

Who paid for that?

Has anybody else asked about this. Maybe there is a good explanation. It’s all yours.

Filed under: Arkansas

George Beverly Shea turns 100

Christian History blog has a story and the history of trademark hymn.

He turns 100 tomorrow and I am sure that some of you think I have gone completely around the bend for mentioning this. There is a connection through my radio career and an academic interest in Billy Graham.

Back in the day, right after the dinosaurs died, I took my first radio job at KWOE in Clinton, Oklahoma. Many of you know the story. You may not know, however, that this tiny hole of a broadcast nothing had a daily hour devoted to hymns. Gospel Song Time came on at 1. Sometimes I had to host this program and it was really strange because, growing up as a Roman Catholic in Mobile, none of the songs were familiar. Anyway, somehow we were on the RCA radio station distribution and got the full collection of George Beverley Shea. I cued him up more than once.

Since I had no familiarity with the music, many of the local Baptists became convinced that I was some sort of Methodist subversive by my music selection. It is amusing becuase I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.

Lately, I have taken to watching Billy Graham reruns on Wednesday evening at 6 on one of the cable channels. I think it is TBN. The old crusades are facinating. A few weeks ago they replayed an evening from McCormich Place in Chicago. Now, my faint recollection of history tells me that it burned in 1967. It’s part of the Lyrics in “American Pie.” Look it up for yourself.

The academic interest I have is that  Graham makes a rich use of academic theological and cultural sources in his messages. He is sometimes definitely speaking to academic theologians and telling them that he knows what he is talking about. His sermons are also ecumenical. He mentions the “creeds” as part of regular worship in the Chicago crusade, something many might find uncomfortable. He was talking to us liturgical background folks.

Anyway, since I have become a student of theology, I am curious about how those crusade messages were written. I would never hold it against Billy Graham for having a research staff. He has been a busy man. I just want to know how some of the theological and cultural references were put “in.”

And Happy Birthday to Bev, who has an annoyingly deep voice.

Filed under: Pat Lynch

Luigi’s in Bryant

Max at Arkansas Times Blog has the definitive food lovers blog and there is no competition. However, Marie and I went to Luigi’s in Bryant and caught up with our old friend Hameed. (Sure hope I spelled that name right.) He is the kind of guys people like David Kincade and Dan Greenberg would simply love, and his food is so good I kinda’ like him.

He sold the Chicot Road store and moved to Saline county 10 months ago. It’s bigger and nicer and the food is still awesome. Good selection of pizzas and he has a BEER AND WINE LICENSE. Here is what the Rock City (all meat) number looks like. Marie and I could not finish it. That should tell you someth

All meat - The Rock City from Luigi's

It’s right off Exit 123. Middleton Heating and Air is directly across I-3-.

Atmosphere is great. Service is fast. He has pastas too and a couple of killer deserts. There is a new fried mushroom appetizer. It uses portabella mushrooms. Outstanding.

But where’s Tommy Smith. Guess Tommy is too good to go over to Saline County!

When you stop by, and it is worth the trip, be sure to mention me!

Filed under: Dining and Drinking

The bad guys win another one: UPDATED

They have us out thought and out spent. We only consider doing good. They are consumed with what suits their selfish ends.

Today, UAMS is the bad guys.

They gobbled up a the little folks homes down in the  next door neighborhoods and noboy made much noise about it. That includes me, and it is my job to raise hell about raw injustice.

Maybe it wasn’t such an injustice. UAMS serves the world and provides thousands of good jobs. They have needed to grow, but we really never heard the displaced people. So this is our day of reckoning.

I take the decision by a City of Little Rock Star Chamber headed by former mayor Jim Dailey to be most bad news for the Little Rock Zoo. The decision to swap green space for a parking lot effectively condemns the zoo to its current inadequate property.

Little Rock City government exists only to help the powerful (especially real estate developers) and stick it to the real people who pay for everything.

It is a bunch of completely out of touch elitists. They intend to sell the golf course, the zoo and everything associated with War Memorial Park to fund their own play pretties.

Of course, us mere citizens have yet to be informed of the real plan, but you can rest assured there is one.

If somebody tells you I’m nuts, OK. Just wait and see.

UPDATE: There is a petition you can sign urging the strong Mayor, Mark Stodola who makes a cool $160,000 each year as mayor, and the incredibly weak city board to do the right thing.

Park land in the middle of a city is an absolutely irreplaceable asset. It is our children’s birthright.

Filed under: Little Rock

Dog attack .. and early morning fire

This sounds serious. 42nd. and Malloy. A Dog has attacked a child. It is reported that somebody shot the dog. We will monitor. UPDATE: Dog not shot. Animal control on the way Condition of child unknown.

Little Rock firefighters have been busy since before dawn on a major structure fire in the southwest area. A large structure on Geyer Springs and Big Oak Lane (about a block from 65th.) is apparently a total loss.

Filed under: Crime, Little Rock

Mississippi tobacco tax going up

It will still be one of the lowest in the country.

The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports.

State senators Thursday approved a 49-cent increase in Mississippi’s 18-cent cigarette tax, almost certainly setting up a legislative conference committee to reconcile the Senate action with a House plan calling for an 82-cent hike to $1 a pack.

…

Mississippi’s 18-cent cigarette tax is one of the nation’s lowest. Adding 49 cents to each pack would still leave the tax rate well below the national average of $1.19 a pack.

Filed under: Arkansas, Economy

My Monday column is brewing right now

It’s in the final editing stages and I promise Meredeth Oakley will need the kind of gloves welders use to handle it! I am dealing with the tobacco tax and the intrusion of an unwanted out-of-state agitator. Look for me Monday morning on the Voices page in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Filed under: Arkansas, Commentary, National politics, Pat Lynch

Early Super Friday Happenings

My morning updates are on K-106.3 The Greatest Hits of All Time with John Lee and Spirit FM at 93.3 and 100.7. Today is my last day (for now) on these stations.

You can also hear my early morning headlines on Y-95 in Camden. There is a plan to add some stations. Everybody settle down.

My train blog is very popular, so check out Trains for America.

http://trains4america.wordpress.com/

My column in Monday’s Democrat-Gazette will make a few people squirm. Look for me on the Voices page in the Arkansas section.

Governor Beebe will make an aerial tour of ice-damaged counties in northern Arkansas, stopping along the way to speak with local leaders about recovery efforts.

A hundred powerful portable generators have arrived in north Arkansas from the federal government and are being used to restore power to water and sewer works, other vital utilities, hospitals and shelters, Gov. Mike Beebe told lawmakers Thursday.

Arkansas State University has been closed on account of intermittent power failures thanks to ice damage. 7,000 power poles down and it is said to be much worse than the ice storm of 2000. 300,000 are without power and some communities are getting critically short of water.

In Rogers, the canopy on an EZ Mart station collapsed crushing a car and injuring one man.

The animal cruelty bill will be recalled to the state senate for release next week. There will be a signing ceremony when some lawmakers from north Arkansas will be able to attend.

Arkansas lawmakers cut the 3.85 percent raise they gave themselves and constitutional officers almost a week ago when Gov. Mike Beebe signed the pay hike into law while turning down the extra compensation for himself.

The state House of Representatives passed legislation Thursday to ban text messaging while driving, after its sponsor’s impassioned declaration that such behavior kills about 2,600 people across the country each year, including an Arkansas father of three in July.

Arkansas beat Alabama 89-80 Thursday night at Walton Arena for the Razorbacks’ first SEC victory this season.

Kelly Wooldridge, the former president of Continental Express Inc. on Thursday was found guilty in U.S. District Court in Little Rock of conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

A special judge who had said he would likely dismiss most charges against former Jefferson County Judge Jack Jones has changed his mind and will allow the state to present its public corruption case to a jury.

Acxiom Corp. of Little Rock announced a third-quarter loss of $11.4 million, or 15 cents per share, dragged down by more than $43 million in costs related to corporate restructuring.

J. B. Hunt Transport Services saw its earnings fall slightly in the fourth quarter in part due to a $3.1 million one-time charge. It’s down 6% for the year.

Arkansas Best posted a fourth quarter 2008 net loss of $11 million, compared to net income of $13.5 million one year ago.  Revenue fell 14% to $391.2 million during the quarter.

USA Truck saw its revenue fall in the fourth quarter, but the Van Buren-based trucking firm still turned a profit. It posted a $600,000 fourth quarter profit on revenue of $92.9 million.

The Peabody Little Rock will cut about 3 percent of its workforce. Gregg Herning, general manager of The Peabody, tells ArkansasBusiness.com that of the 350 employees at Arkansas’ highest grossing hotel, 10 will be laid off.

A Pine Bluff woman was convicted of causing serious and near fatal injuries to her then 12-day-old son. Tonya Reaves is facing 15 years in prison after she was convicted of first-degree battery.

A former Magnolia teacher was sentenced to 50 years in prison on Thursday after admitting she arranged alcohol-fueled sexual encounters for four teenagers for several months.

Little Rock police arrested a 27-year-old man Thursday night on 14 counts of committing a terroristic act on accusations he shot into a home occupied by two adults and 12 children Tuesday night, striking a woman in the head as she cooked dinner for her family.

A Faulkner County family is still reeling from a fire that destroyed their home on Della Carter Drive, and the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office is making strides in what has become an arson investigation.

Filed under: Arkansas