News - Friday, May 17, 2013

Michael Barnes (left) presents an honorary gavel to Judge Mackie Pierce for his service the past year as president of the Pulaski County Bar Association. Barnes is the association’s president-elect. More pictures on pages 23 and 24. (Photos by Becca Bona)

Muskrat Suzi and Muskrat Sam were able to obtain their earnest money back on their previous real estate escapade in Muskrat Land, after all.  So, having learned very little from that experience, they were more determined than ever to buy a place of their own – on the water, of course. When they came across a for-sale-by-owner sign on a tract lying between Primrose Lane and the shore of Lake Lebarge, they felt like the deal was meant to be.

It was too nice to be in the Levison Towers today, so I stayed home. Honestly, with cloud-based files and the interwebs, the old paneled walls of the towers have little to offer most days that I couldn’t get at home. Except for free coffee. On days like this, when spring teases me, I can barely stand the drive to the office. So I don’t.

Our Criminal Investigation Division reported a number of success stories this spring which I would like to share with you. One involves Carl Miller, a school teacher and coach in the Earle School District. Miller carried a disability policy with AFLAC Insurance. In June of 2010, he filed a claim with AFLAC for disability, alleging lost work due to an injury. To support his claim, he submitted lost wage claim forms with forged signatures from his supervisor and medical treatment forms from his alleged treating physician. AFLAC paid $1,900 on his claim. 

The 7th annual Little Rock Film Festival opened this week and will run through May 19 with screenings, panel discussions, and parties of all types, for a total of nearly 125 events. The LRFF is committed to its partnerships with local businesses and to keeping this cultural watershed easily available to the general public – basic tickets to all of the screenings are only $40. 

I’ve never gotten my internal clock to match mother nature’s seasons. As soon as spring starts to turn into summer I crave football. When normal folks start to buy snow-cones and hot dogs, I start getting the jitters for pumpkin-flavored coffee. 

It’s not just that I want everything you have, it’s that I want you to not have it.”

If there has ever been a line in a movie that perfectly encapsulates the theme of the film, this line from Pain & Gain is it. Spoken through gritted teeth by Daniel Lugo to Victor Kershaw, it sums up the perversion of the American Dream that has bubbled to the surface of our culture in recent decades. The Dream is no longer about doing well financially and having the things you want, but about grabbing every dollar you can at the expense of others.

Do you love to visit a spa, but the prices are just a little “too pricy?” Then do what thousands of others have started doing – make your own spa at home!

The World Wide Web is a great place to start, but if you don’t have Internet handy, try a bookstore or library. The resources are limitless.

Not so many years ago, it is believed, an old man who was blind and living alone on Long Island in New York sat down in his favorite chair in his living room to listen to some television. The set was turned up rather loud authorities say, which at first might seem odd because of what we know about the blind having an acute sense of hearing. Nevertheless, the volume blared, and if it’s like your set and mine, it blared even louder on those insufferable car commercials. Once again, let us give thanks for the blessing of the mute button.

As I was musing over what to write about today, it occurred to me that I haven’t done a food quiz in a while, so what better time than now? Since I write the Brainbuster quizzes now, this form of writing has become quite easy for me. Hope you enjoy it!

This barge trucks along the Arkansas River, working hard to carry its load. 

Everyone messes up. In that way, we are all the same. Where we are different is the manner in which we respond to our own mistakes. Some people will take responsibility, and some will not. Some will take affirmative action to hide what they have done, while others will bring to light their wrongdoing before anyone else even knows. There are those that will do no more than they have to in order to compensate those people they have hurt, just like there are those that are generous to a fault when they have made a mistake. There are as many responses to wrongdoings as there are people. 

I couldn’t decide on what I wanted to write about for this game, so I decided to mix it up. I call this “This and That.” Have fun.

1. Where did the potbelly pig originate? Vietnam; Russia; England; China.

2. Which one of these songs was officially composed by all four members of The Beatles in 1967? Birthday; Piggies; Flying; Rain.

Fill in the blanks in the quote
using the following words:

Different, weather, rain, braces, sunshine, snow

“_____ is delicious, _____ is refreshing, wind _____ us up, _____ is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only _____ kinds of good _____.” 

(With apologies to Schmick, Wheelan, Rowling, Lamott, Wallace, Sedaris and others, here is the graduation speech I’ve never been asked to give – in two parts.)

Thank you, etc. Three tips for the future: Sunscreen, dental floss, and the Neti Pot. I’m convinced these three things enhance one’s quality of life in ways that are just shy of miraculous. Don’t wait till later in life to enjoy them. Additionally ...