It's time for
the piper to
pay all of us
There is more so-called free money floating around due to the U.S. Stimulus Package than Carter has Little Liver Pills.
Arkansas is getting a nice chunk and the project list reads not so much like a "Oh!" list but like a "What the heck is this?" list.
Did you know the state is going to receive a $3.636 million for hybrid striped bass research? And, a grant for $3.45 million is going to the Dale Bumpers Rice Research Center. That's on top of the $3.45 million ponied up for the Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center. And, don't forget that more than $10.5 million has been allocated for research on fish, rice and small farms.
What else is Arkansas getting to drive the economy?
There's another $994,000 for studying endophytes; the UofA in Fayetteville is receiving $580,000 for its agriculture law program; $1.95 million for conservation efforts (could just as well be "liberal" efforts) by the National Water Management System in Little Rock; and $519,000 for catfish and baitfish research.
(For the record, an endophyte is a plant growing inside another plant. I looked it up. We must assume that because someone applied for the grant and the federal government approved the money, it is important to reviving the economy.)
Anybody seeing the pattern here?
Ever been to Dierks Lake down in Southwest Arkansas? That little lake is getting a facelift to the tune of $1.26 million. The Osceola Harbor (Osceola has a harbor?) is on the tab for $1.1 million.
The Delta Regional Authority is getting a whole bunch of money from several grants and it's not worth the time to total them up.
Something identified as "food damage reduction" is up for $1.1 million; $950,000 for landscaping of Fort Smith's Garrison Avenue; $330,000 for extending water and sewer lines in Warren, and; $237,000 to design and engineer a trolley car extension in Fort Smith.
Shoot! And here I thought there'd probably be some trivial projects hidden in the monetary laundry list.
With Cabot's ultra-high level need for traffic congestion eradication, surely there's something in the plan for an overpass, street widening, road extensions ... something. Anything.
Let's see: Nope, not there. No, not in that column. Where can it be?
There's gimme-money transportation projects all over the place, but not one mention of Cabot. Money has been allocated for road projects in Little Rock, Arkansas City, Washington and Benton counties, Fort Smith, Vilonia, Bella Vista ... and a railroad overpass in Marion.
No Cabot. No surprise there.
My personal favorite gimme grant is for $100,000 for "community-oriented crime-prevention efforts by the Cotton Plant Police Department."
For the record, Cotton Plant is where Andy and Barney lived before they moved to Mayberry.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
When I die . . .
Smallish rants,
philosophical
meanderings
This is what I want my politically correct obituary to say when I decide to go toe’s-up:
George Sidney Smith, a French-Welsh-English-Irish-African-Native American-American, was jerked to Jesus today after saving newborn triplets and their mother from certain death by four rabid pit bull dogs.
“It was the bravest thing I ever saw,” Mrs. Beelzebub Slawman, the mother of the triplets, said. “He saw the danger and threw his body between the attacking dogs and me and my precious triplets – Ebekaneezer, Lorki and Prettypenny.
“He died with a smile on his lips.”
**
Ignorance you can do something about. Stupidity goes straight to the bone.
**
I do wish The Pope would keep his tongue in his mouth and his thoughts in his head on the subject of condoms.
First, he’s not supposed to know anything about such things, and secondly, The Pope talking about sex is like a politician plying his trade in Washington-on-the-deficit talking about fair play and honesty.
**
Okay, here’s an admission: I’m overweight.
At 6-2, I weight about 227 pounds. The mirror tells me that at 63, I don’t really look all that bad. I have not yet felt the urge to go to the Golden Corral or any all-you-can-eat buffet anywhere and look at the other patrons just to raise my self-esteem.
But I need to lose 20-25 pounds. I know it and I plan to get right on that project … after I finish icing the carrot cake with caramel icing.
But I don’t have the problem that a Bellevue, Nebraska policeman has. Chris Parent lost his job because at 5-9 and 300 pounds he was considered obese and unfit to be a police officer.
He sued and got reinstated because of a badly worded policy manual.
Report is that he’s on restricted duty, that he will only be allowed to run down those accused criminals he can actually catch … like candy-grabbing toddlers.
philosophical
meanderings
This is what I want my politically correct obituary to say when I decide to go toe’s-up:
George Sidney Smith, a French-Welsh-English-Irish-African-Native American-American, was jerked to Jesus today after saving newborn triplets and their mother from certain death by four rabid pit bull dogs.
“It was the bravest thing I ever saw,” Mrs. Beelzebub Slawman, the mother of the triplets, said. “He saw the danger and threw his body between the attacking dogs and me and my precious triplets – Ebekaneezer, Lorki and Prettypenny.
“He died with a smile on his lips.”
**
Ignorance you can do something about. Stupidity goes straight to the bone.
**
I do wish The Pope would keep his tongue in his mouth and his thoughts in his head on the subject of condoms.
First, he’s not supposed to know anything about such things, and secondly, The Pope talking about sex is like a politician plying his trade in Washington-on-the-deficit talking about fair play and honesty.
**
Okay, here’s an admission: I’m overweight.
At 6-2, I weight about 227 pounds. The mirror tells me that at 63, I don’t really look all that bad. I have not yet felt the urge to go to the Golden Corral or any all-you-can-eat buffet anywhere and look at the other patrons just to raise my self-esteem.
But I need to lose 20-25 pounds. I know it and I plan to get right on that project … after I finish icing the carrot cake with caramel icing.
But I don’t have the problem that a Bellevue, Nebraska policeman has. Chris Parent lost his job because at 5-9 and 300 pounds he was considered obese and unfit to be a police officer.
He sued and got reinstated because of a badly worded policy manual.
Report is that he’s on restricted duty, that he will only be allowed to run down those accused criminals he can actually catch … like candy-grabbing toddlers.
Lord, save us from ourselves!
State fish?
Please don’t
waste the time
Shame on the Legislature. Pox on their addled heads.
Taxpayers money was actually used recently to gather information and debate whether or not to make the blue catfish the official state fish.
A House of Representatives committee heard testimony and deadlocked 10-10 on pushing the catfish into governmental notoriety. Testimony and comments by dissenting committee members joyfully pushing for brown trout and smallmouth bass.
What of the channel cat? Rainbow trout? Crappie? One must not forget pond perch and sunfish! More of those bobber-pullers are caught in Arknasas than any other fish. Shoot, perch are the catch-and-release-and-catch-and-release-again king of Arkansas fishdom.
It’s nice to see the members of the legislature having fun.
Good for them. Now, quit the shenanigans and get to work on the important stuff.
Like what? Don’t know off-hand. But anything the legislators work on will be more important than which fish deserves to be at the top of the fish pecking order, so to speak.
ANOTHER CABOT FAUX PAS
I made a bet with myself recently about a road project in Cabot.
I bet that the turning lane expansion on Campground Road heading into Pine Street would not relieve much traffic. I bet that the “planners” and construction folks would not think of putting a wide, white “stop here” bar across the left-hand lane for traffic going straight or turning left.
I bet that people in the turning lane would not be able to see to the left because of cars pulled up to the intersection, prohibiting a safe right turn on red.
I won the bet.
Effort to ease up on a problem or alleviate it altogether isn’t worth much if the end result is practically the same as it was before the effort was made.
Come on, Cabot! You’re better than this.
STIMULUS MONEY COMING
Arkansas is going to get a big chunk of economic stimulus money and that’s a good thing, right?
Depends on your perspective.
Remember the hoards of money passed to state, county and city entities from the new Department of Homeland Security following 9/11? Like many government gimme programs, some of the money was well-placed. Too much of it, however, was nothing but rat hole money.
It seemed during the initial shelling-out period, that all a government entity had to do was send in an application and money fell from Washington-on-the Deficit like rain. Cities from Arkansas to Washington state received funds to purchase HazMat vehicles; some sheriff departments got submersible vehicles to check out . . . what? . . . reports of poison being dumped in reservoirs?
Just like the deficit-building windfall back in 2002 and beyond, the stimulus money will awaken the greed in public officials and billions will be handed out that will accomplish little.
It’s the way of government, regardless of who is in office, to spend and waste. And, yet, though the cycle is clear and ever-present, the taxpayers simply sit back and take it.
The abuse of power, that is … and the money, of course.
Please don’t
waste the time
Shame on the Legislature. Pox on their addled heads.
Taxpayers money was actually used recently to gather information and debate whether or not to make the blue catfish the official state fish.
A House of Representatives committee heard testimony and deadlocked 10-10 on pushing the catfish into governmental notoriety. Testimony and comments by dissenting committee members joyfully pushing for brown trout and smallmouth bass.
What of the channel cat? Rainbow trout? Crappie? One must not forget pond perch and sunfish! More of those bobber-pullers are caught in Arknasas than any other fish. Shoot, perch are the catch-and-release-and-catch-and-release-again king of Arkansas fishdom.
It’s nice to see the members of the legislature having fun.
Good for them. Now, quit the shenanigans and get to work on the important stuff.
Like what? Don’t know off-hand. But anything the legislators work on will be more important than which fish deserves to be at the top of the fish pecking order, so to speak.
ANOTHER CABOT FAUX PAS
I made a bet with myself recently about a road project in Cabot.
I bet that the turning lane expansion on Campground Road heading into Pine Street would not relieve much traffic. I bet that the “planners” and construction folks would not think of putting a wide, white “stop here” bar across the left-hand lane for traffic going straight or turning left.
I bet that people in the turning lane would not be able to see to the left because of cars pulled up to the intersection, prohibiting a safe right turn on red.
I won the bet.
Effort to ease up on a problem or alleviate it altogether isn’t worth much if the end result is practically the same as it was before the effort was made.
Come on, Cabot! You’re better than this.
STIMULUS MONEY COMING
Arkansas is going to get a big chunk of economic stimulus money and that’s a good thing, right?
Depends on your perspective.
Remember the hoards of money passed to state, county and city entities from the new Department of Homeland Security following 9/11? Like many government gimme programs, some of the money was well-placed. Too much of it, however, was nothing but rat hole money.
It seemed during the initial shelling-out period, that all a government entity had to do was send in an application and money fell from Washington-on-the Deficit like rain. Cities from Arkansas to Washington state received funds to purchase HazMat vehicles; some sheriff departments got submersible vehicles to check out . . . what? . . . reports of poison being dumped in reservoirs?
Just like the deficit-building windfall back in 2002 and beyond, the stimulus money will awaken the greed in public officials and billions will be handed out that will accomplish little.
It’s the way of government, regardless of who is in office, to spend and waste. And, yet, though the cycle is clear and ever-present, the taxpayers simply sit back and take it.
The abuse of power, that is … and the money, of course.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The column that didn't run
For more than two years it has been my pleasure to write a column titled "Footprints" in the Cabot Star Herald.
The column has been "retired" in the paper but will appear here regularly as a news and commentary blog here and at worldaccordingtogeorgesmith.blogspot.com.
The blog was a present from my spousal unit Gayle for Christmas and has been the best Christmas present since that speckled pup when I was nine.
Comments? Ideas for column fodder? Just let me know at gsid143@gmail.com.
A wise country philosopher once said, "Words with which I do not agree deserve their moment in the sunlight just as much as words with which I do agree."
But Eddie Joe,
beer is just
liquid bread!
Cabot Mayor Eddie Joe Williams can’t win for losing.
Williams must enjoy getting the political snagglewads knocked out of him, because he keeps playing his same one-sour-note song: “Alcohol, legal or not, ain’t got no place in Cabot. Can I get an ‘amen?’”
Last week the Cabot city budget and personnel committee met to discuss several items, including a proposed tax on the alcohol sold at two Cabot restaurants. While the three city officials who had a hand in shepherding the controversial ordinance – Alderman Lisa Brickell, City Attorney Jim Taylor and Mayor Williams – were no-shows, the four members of the committee – Eddie Cook, Jon Moore, Rick Prentice and Tom Armstrong – did show up.
And courageously they faced the chin music played by two different bands: The Silent Firs and the Ragin’ Agins.
The Agins (as in “agin” the tax) had the loudest horn section … two emotional trumpet solos with some chattering wind instruments as background. Former Alderman Becky LeMaster and Karen Elrod, owner of Fat Daddy’s Restaurant, decried the ordinance from different perspectives: LeMaster from the standpoint of accusing Taylor of overstepping his bounds in preparing an ordinance before public comment, and Elrod, who tongue-slapped Mayor Williams for being “petty” and “vindictive.”
The Firs, for the most part, didn’t have much to say.
This issue is not about taxing alcohol served in restaurants; it’s not about family values, community morals or what’s right or wrong. It’s about fair play, equal treatment and common sense.
Until these two law-abiding and rule-following eating establishments received a wine and beer permit from the state Alcohol Beverage Control Commission, there was no issue.
Despite the fact that Lonoke County had four such alcohol-supply stations in the county prior to Kopan’s receiving its license, it was not an issue. It was not an issue when Mayor Eddie Joe Williams joined one of those private clubs.
It was only after Mayor Eddie Joe Williams went before the ABC twice to protest the lawful granting of private club status to these two good restaurants and was handed his ego in a basket both times did this become an issue.
The ordinance (which is so full of legal holes as to be laughable) was aimed at making it, at the very least, exasperating for good businesses owned by good citizens and good taxpayers to continue to do business in Cabot.
Don’t expect Mayor Williams to take this defeat – he’s 0 for 3 in the fight – in good spirits. Count on the issue will be brought up again by a fellow evangelistic aldermen … and the fight starts anew.
One thing is certain: Mayor Williams doesn’t know when to quit, doesn’t care that he is giving the city a black eye in regard to city/business relationships and will keep creating avoidable brouhahas until he no longer has the platform from which to perform.
The owners of Kopan’s and Fat Daddy’s deserve an apology from the city leaders.
Don’t expect that to happen. Petty politics can be counted on to keep good people from taking an unpopular stance.
The column has been "retired" in the paper but will appear here regularly as a news and commentary blog here and at worldaccordingtogeorgesmith.blogspot.com.
The blog was a present from my spousal unit Gayle for Christmas and has been the best Christmas present since that speckled pup when I was nine.
Comments? Ideas for column fodder? Just let me know at gsid143@gmail.com.
A wise country philosopher once said, "Words with which I do not agree deserve their moment in the sunlight just as much as words with which I do agree."
But Eddie Joe,
beer is just
liquid bread!
Cabot Mayor Eddie Joe Williams can’t win for losing.
Williams must enjoy getting the political snagglewads knocked out of him, because he keeps playing his same one-sour-note song: “Alcohol, legal or not, ain’t got no place in Cabot. Can I get an ‘amen?’”
Last week the Cabot city budget and personnel committee met to discuss several items, including a proposed tax on the alcohol sold at two Cabot restaurants. While the three city officials who had a hand in shepherding the controversial ordinance – Alderman Lisa Brickell, City Attorney Jim Taylor and Mayor Williams – were no-shows, the four members of the committee – Eddie Cook, Jon Moore, Rick Prentice and Tom Armstrong – did show up.
And courageously they faced the chin music played by two different bands: The Silent Firs and the Ragin’ Agins.
The Agins (as in “agin” the tax) had the loudest horn section … two emotional trumpet solos with some chattering wind instruments as background. Former Alderman Becky LeMaster and Karen Elrod, owner of Fat Daddy’s Restaurant, decried the ordinance from different perspectives: LeMaster from the standpoint of accusing Taylor of overstepping his bounds in preparing an ordinance before public comment, and Elrod, who tongue-slapped Mayor Williams for being “petty” and “vindictive.”
The Firs, for the most part, didn’t have much to say.
This issue is not about taxing alcohol served in restaurants; it’s not about family values, community morals or what’s right or wrong. It’s about fair play, equal treatment and common sense.
Until these two law-abiding and rule-following eating establishments received a wine and beer permit from the state Alcohol Beverage Control Commission, there was no issue.
Despite the fact that Lonoke County had four such alcohol-supply stations in the county prior to Kopan’s receiving its license, it was not an issue. It was not an issue when Mayor Eddie Joe Williams joined one of those private clubs.
It was only after Mayor Eddie Joe Williams went before the ABC twice to protest the lawful granting of private club status to these two good restaurants and was handed his ego in a basket both times did this become an issue.
The ordinance (which is so full of legal holes as to be laughable) was aimed at making it, at the very least, exasperating for good businesses owned by good citizens and good taxpayers to continue to do business in Cabot.
Don’t expect Mayor Williams to take this defeat – he’s 0 for 3 in the fight – in good spirits. Count on the issue will be brought up again by a fellow evangelistic aldermen … and the fight starts anew.
One thing is certain: Mayor Williams doesn’t know when to quit, doesn’t care that he is giving the city a black eye in regard to city/business relationships and will keep creating avoidable brouhahas until he no longer has the platform from which to perform.
The owners of Kopan’s and Fat Daddy’s deserve an apology from the city leaders.
Don’t expect that to happen. Petty politics can be counted on to keep good people from taking an unpopular stance.
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