The future of journalism is a very ambiguous topic, something that can’t be well defined. I think it won’t differ much from the transformation of many other things, in that journalists will need to continually learn, to constantly be trained to keep up with what works to keep the art of journalism alive. Just as teachers have workshops and medics have conferences, journalists will need to transform their skills.
I believe the most successful publications will maintain a balance in writing about what readers want to hear about, entertaining them in a sense and objectively covering those issues that are most important, the world news that should be covered despite what everyone wants to hear because it is the bigger picture; something that might affect readers well after the desired topic is gone.
Search Engine Optimization is, in a sense, defining a part of the news process today, but I could see its popularity going downhill as well. If publications can effectively hook readers into longer stories, those readers might eventually tire of profound articles with too-obvious titles, even if it makes finding them easier.
Reporters can optimize their readership through a number of tactics, many of which entertain the reader. The millenials’ generation places a large emphasis on entertainment, so it is only natural for them to enjoy things more and remember things more easily if they are entertained. For example, high school students may enjoy a particular class because an occasional video is shown. It gets a portion of the job done, informs them, but maybe in a more entertaining way than a lecture would. A college student might choose a church because of the musicians that play during the worship service or the lax rules on dress code and behavior, each of which could be arguably entertaining. The problem might be the expectation of entertainment after so many accommodations.
Student newspapers, such as the Traveler, have an opportunity to hook student readers with entertainment: more graphics, more color, more feature-style articles, but the invisible line separates the newspaper from the next magazine or mindless Web site. The survival of a student newspaper might depend on entertainment, but the reputation of the student newspaper depends on the balance maintained with clear, concise, relevant news.
I hope that my future in journalism lies in writing, primarily. I’m sure that most current journalist positions would entail a lot more than the reporting and writing, so I feel that a large part of the career would be a learning process; something that won’t stop, even after a wide-spread transition of one-function journalists or "writers and reporters only" is made to journalists that produce the entire piece (video, photos, writing, reporting, graphics).
At first, I would be learning a lot more about the video and photography process, possibly creating graphics as well. I’ve had little experience in design and layout, so all these would be new things for me. Part of the allure I found in a print journalist’s job is the constant learning process, whether it is from the technology or from the people I interview.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Senior Students
Last week on campus, the large classroom buzzed with conversation. An important project and presentation were due in statistical epidemiology. Two students greeted each other before gearing up for the project and entering the room, seeming to draw on each other’s strength, nervously.
“Hey man.”
“How’s it going?”
The two men clasped hands and bumped shoulders.
A little informal, given that one was 76 years old.
Some students are delaying their college experience because of the state of the economy. But a group of students are returning to college, even after having full careers lasting more than 25 years.
The age 65 and over program allows senior citizens to take a certain amount of classes for free. Tests are optional and the only cost to the senior-aged student is the book.
In other states, this program is already established. New York’s state legislature adopted the practice in 1974, according to New York Senator Tom Libous’ Web site. A number of states, including Alaska, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, and Virginia, had these statewide tuition waiver programs for senior citizens established by 2006, according to U.S. News and World Report.
Now, all states have some sort of senior or advanced adult program, according to the Senior Resource Web site. In Arkansas, these featured programs a
James “Jim” Johnson, 76, the oldest registered student at UA chose to attend classes because of the age 65 and over program. Johnson believes this is a great program because it enables seniors to take classes they enjoy, gives them a chance to help younger students and a way to stay active.
He now carefully balances his life as a senior and life as a student.
Johnson is involved in the Springdale Rotary Club, Kiwanis and the Lions program. He sends 600 personalized Christmas cards written with blue ink each year because he values keeping in touch with friends by writing letters, since “an e-mail will never be personal.” Johnson writes so often that he keeps the same grey envelopes and blue pens handy for note cards and other greetings. “We don’t say thank you enough,” he said.
He wears a sports jacket and tie when meeting someone on business or attending Rotary Club meetings, but is not afraid of dressing like and interacting with students much younger than him.
Tuesdays and Thursdays at the HPER, Johnson is dressed as the other students: gym shorts and white sneakers, as he talks himself up for the racquetball tournament. He can’t help but smile when people ask if he keeps up with the much younger players. “I play the same speed (as they do) because I’ve been playing for 50 years,” he said. “We hit each other and bump around.”
Some of his racquetball competitors say they don’t play full speed against him, but that “you can tell he’s a good player.” This said as Johnson hit the racquetball between his legs toward the opposite wall.
Johnson agrees that some players “take pity on me.” Even still, he believes the sport is a great way to stay active, a priority that people of all ages should have.
“Most of the seniors I know are old,” he said, reflecting on their patterns that make them seem their age in a negative way. “They don’t keep in shape.” Johnson places a high priority on staying healthy.
Johnson attended four colleges, nine military training schools and is now taking a statistical epidemiology course at the UA. When he leaves a class, he says he’s “as happy as if I’d had two doughnuts in the morning.”
After many years of education, Johnson acquired five years of teaching experience in chemistry, physics anatomy and physiology on the upper school level.
Not all of Johnson’s classes have been enjoyable, but he has tempered those interests with dedication.
On the first day of his Advanced Organic Chemistry class, Johnson said, “In the first minute I knew I was in trouble.” But he finished the course anyway and didn’t worry about the grade. He advises taking courses that invigorate and make the student happy.
The best form of education, through which Johnson learned the most during his lengthy educational career, was in an Army management school. There, he said the students and teachers would get in shouting matches and it was “more fun than a barrel of monkeys.” Johnson insists that people are too caught up in being politically correct and that gets in the way of learning. “I am the most non-politically correct person around,” he said.
Johnson's enjoyment of the courses is more crucial than the type of classes that seniors choose to take through the program.
Currently he has a list of 10-12 subjects that he’d like to take and turns to his son for advice on which one to take first. Some of the subjects are areas that Johnson has experience in, but would still like professional training. “I’d like to take ‘Intro to Tap’ and acting. But after Johnson taught profiling and lived in many different regions of the country, Johnson's son believed that his dad had already become an actor by figuring people out and adjusting to the local culture.
Johnson feels that the most pro-active part of the senior-students program is sharing experiences with younger students, interacting with them outside of class and setting good examples. “We all bring different things to the university,” he said.
Personally, he has the experience of two separate careers to bring to UA students, one in Marine Corps and the other in non-profit organization development each lasting 25 years or more.
After interacting with older students and collecting the wisdom of their experiences, Johnson says the student must do the rest of the work. “You get out of the university what you put in it,” he said.
Johnson’s helpfulness extends past students. He spent 30 years of his career in non-profit organization development, which is where he met UA’s current chancellor, David Gearhart. At the time, Gearhart and Johnson were working the same position in development for their organizations.
"Just having (Johnson) in the classroom brings a diversity that students aren't used to having," said Chancellor Gearhart.
“Hey man.”
“How’s it going?”
The two men clasped hands and bumped shoulders.
A little informal, given that one was 76 years old.
Some students are delaying their college experience because of the state of the economy. But a group of students are returning to college, even after having full careers lasting more than 25 years.
The age 65 and over program allows senior citizens to take a certain amount of classes for free. Tests are optional and the only cost to the senior-aged student is the book.
In other states, this program is already established. New York’s state legislature adopted the practice in 1974, according to New York Senator Tom Libous’ Web site. A number of states, including Alaska, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, and Virginia, had these statewide tuition waiver programs for senior citizens established by 2006, according to U.S. News and World Report.
Now, all states have some sort of senior or advanced adult program, according to the Senior Resource Web site. In Arkansas, these featured programs a
James “Jim” Johnson, 76, the oldest registered student at UA chose to attend classes because of the age 65 and over program. Johnson believes this is a great program because it enables seniors to take classes they enjoy, gives them a chance to help younger students and a way to stay active.
He now carefully balances his life as a senior and life as a student.
Johnson is involved in the Springdale Rotary Club, Kiwanis and the Lions program. He sends 600 personalized Christmas cards written with blue ink each year because he values keeping in touch with friends by writing letters, since “an e-mail will never be personal.” Johnson writes so often that he keeps the same grey envelopes and blue pens handy for note cards and other greetings. “We don’t say thank you enough,” he said.
He wears a sports jacket and tie when meeting someone on business or attending Rotary Club meetings, but is not afraid of dressing like and interacting with students much younger than him.
Tuesdays and Thursdays at the HPER, Johnson is dressed as the other students: gym shorts and white sneakers, as he talks himself up for the racquetball tournament. He can’t help but smile when people ask if he keeps up with the much younger players. “I play the same speed (as they do) because I’ve been playing for 50 years,” he said. “We hit each other and bump around.”
Some of his racquetball competitors say they don’t play full speed against him, but that “you can tell he’s a good player.” This said as Johnson hit the racquetball between his legs toward the opposite wall.
Johnson agrees that some players “take pity on me.” Even still, he believes the sport is a great way to stay active, a priority that people of all ages should have.
“Most of the seniors I know are old,” he said, reflecting on their patterns that make them seem their age in a negative way. “They don’t keep in shape.” Johnson places a high priority on staying healthy.
Johnson attended four colleges, nine military training schools and is now taking a statistical epidemiology course at the UA. When he leaves a class, he says he’s “as happy as if I’d had two doughnuts in the morning.”
After many years of education, Johnson acquired five years of teaching experience in chemistry, physics anatomy and physiology on the upper school level.
Not all of Johnson’s classes have been enjoyable, but he has tempered those interests with dedication.
On the first day of his Advanced Organic Chemistry class, Johnson said, “In the first minute I knew I was in trouble.” But he finished the course anyway and didn’t worry about the grade. He advises taking courses that invigorate and make the student happy.
The best form of education, through which Johnson learned the most during his lengthy educational career, was in an Army management school. There, he said the students and teachers would get in shouting matches and it was “more fun than a barrel of monkeys.” Johnson insists that people are too caught up in being politically correct and that gets in the way of learning. “I am the most non-politically correct person around,” he said.
Johnson's enjoyment of the courses is more crucial than the type of classes that seniors choose to take through the program.
Currently he has a list of 10-12 subjects that he’d like to take and turns to his son for advice on which one to take first. Some of the subjects are areas that Johnson has experience in, but would still like professional training. “I’d like to take ‘Intro to Tap’ and acting. But after Johnson taught profiling and lived in many different regions of the country, Johnson's son believed that his dad had already become an actor by figuring people out and adjusting to the local culture.
Johnson feels that the most pro-active part of the senior-students program is sharing experiences with younger students, interacting with them outside of class and setting good examples. “We all bring different things to the university,” he said.
Personally, he has the experience of two separate careers to bring to UA students, one in Marine Corps and the other in non-profit organization development each lasting 25 years or more.
After interacting with older students and collecting the wisdom of their experiences, Johnson says the student must do the rest of the work. “You get out of the university what you put in it,” he said.
Johnson’s helpfulness extends past students. He spent 30 years of his career in non-profit organization development, which is where he met UA’s current chancellor, David Gearhart. At the time, Gearhart and Johnson were working the same position in development for their organizations.
"Just having (Johnson) in the classroom brings a diversity that students aren't used to having," said Chancellor Gearhart.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
the Lewis and Clark Adventure Race
Contestant #41 squinted into the sun as the officials directed him towards the canoe. Already at a disadvantage, he was the only single-participant team; the others were made of two and three racers. Sweat drenched and panting, he gathered his bearings while sorting out the rules: had he been to the checkpoints in order? Confirmed. Within seconds, he sprinted toward the water, canoe in hand and determination at heart.
“This is where it gets interesting,” said Brandon Butler, business owner of Ozark Extreme Adventure Sports. Butler had provided the inflatable canoes, but knew they were much less reliable than hard material canoes.
The man pushed and nudged the canoe into the water and began to paddle.
The canoe angled sharply, back and forth, like a praying mantis that hasn’t quite sorted out how to handle his abdomen.
“They’ve been called medieval torture devices,” said Brandon Butler. The device is an inflatable canoe without rudders and is exactly what the adventure racers will use in attempting to cross the lake today, as the wind tries to persuade them otherwise. Butler said it was a little like putting a float raft in the water and trying to direct it with oars, making it a difficult feat even before the wind came along.
Canoeing is only one section of the Lewis and Clark Adventure Race, an annual event for hiking, biking, orienteering, rope and water events. Prizes included products and gift certificates to the Lewis and Clark Outfitters, as well as money and qualifications for the national championship of adventure racing, the USARA competition in 2010.
“The race location is a surprise each year. We always announce it the evening before the race begins,” said Mandy Blackwood, the Lewis and Clark Adventure Race director. This ensures that no adventure racer has the advantage of practicing the course repeatedly when other contestants do not.
There were few first-time participants in this year’s Lewis and Clark Adventure Race, but for adventure racers, there is never an “only” adventure race experience. All return to the race or find other adventure races around the country.
“I can’t remember how many I’ve done,” said Fletcher Hamel. “The mental endurance it requires for an 18-20 hour race is the most challenging part.” Hamel prepares for the races by spending his time cycling, running and working out in the water.
“This is my tenth or eleventh race,” said Scott Eis, part of the “Bent Rims and Band-Aids” team. He began adventure racing as a crossover from mountain biking and found the canoeing event the most challenging section. “We picked a professional canoeing instructor to help us improve,” he said.
“Most of my team has been in eight or nine adventure races, but one of them has done 19,” said Mike McDoniel, of the “Team Cross 1” team. “The dynamics of teamwork are tough in balancing the strength and weaknesses of so many people and having to stick together.”
“I’ve done several adventure races, but this is the first time (the weather) has been warm,” said Jeff Erikson. In one of Erikson’s previous adventure races, the evening temperature low was 37 degrees. His race partner, Matt Fox explained that the weather wasn’t the most challenging part of the race.
Erikson trains for the race by doing a lot of bicycling and running, and recently began running half marathons. After all the preparation, the biggest challenge he has in the race is simply “not getting lost.”
Adventure Racers are given plot coordinates and they are to graph the checkpoint locations during the first section of the race. This is extremely important, since all checkpoints must be reached and reached in order for the participant to complete the race. People at checkpoints ensure the order chronology by putting a stamp on the contestant’s card.
“Maps and plotting…is the purpose of the race,” Blackwood said. “You have to make sure you go in order and stay on track.”
To help improve the navigation skills of race participants, several navigation workshops are given during the week of the race.
A group of people huddle over topographic maps, most of them readjusting their wire rim glasses. Poised on dark leather couches, the men lean over their knees, trying to get a better view of the map and the women wait patiently, clasping delicate hands and daintily crossing legs. Expensive watches peek out from under button up shirts when group members point toward the map questioningly.
They look as if they are reaching deep into their college experience, grasping for that freshman level geology class in desperate last minute preparation.
Among the first checkpoints this year was the Fayetteville Athletic Center. There, contestants had to lift a total of 1000 pounds, not all at once, but through reps on bench weights, free weights or lifting the iron weights without the use of bars.
“Here they come,” called a crew member of the Fayetteville Athletic Center, sending employees scurrying from their break in front of the building to set up in the brightly lit room, something resembling a racquetball court.
Adventure racers and FAC employees united in near futile efforts to keep count of reps and do the simple math “40…that would be twenty…ugh...can she lift weights too?” asked one team member.
This is the fifth year for the event in Northwest Arkansas, but the first to allow minors in the race. The newness of the rule was shown in the age groups of the participants, since only one contestant was a minor and accompanied by his dad. Of all the groups, the father-son team seemed the most adjusted and content during the competition.
The contestant groups, mainly pairs of friends and the occasional brothers or sisters team, struggled with life jackets and toting canoes while anxiously questioning all authorities any chance they got. But the father-son team floated past, enjoying the weather and moving their canoe seamlessly into the water.
“This is where it gets interesting,” said Brandon Butler, business owner of Ozark Extreme Adventure Sports. Butler had provided the inflatable canoes, but knew they were much less reliable than hard material canoes.
The man pushed and nudged the canoe into the water and began to paddle.
The canoe angled sharply, back and forth, like a praying mantis that hasn’t quite sorted out how to handle his abdomen.
“They’ve been called medieval torture devices,” said Brandon Butler. The device is an inflatable canoe without rudders and is exactly what the adventure racers will use in attempting to cross the lake today, as the wind tries to persuade them otherwise. Butler said it was a little like putting a float raft in the water and trying to direct it with oars, making it a difficult feat even before the wind came along.
Canoeing is only one section of the Lewis and Clark Adventure Race, an annual event for hiking, biking, orienteering, rope and water events. Prizes included products and gift certificates to the Lewis and Clark Outfitters, as well as money and qualifications for the national championship of adventure racing, the USARA competition in 2010.
“The race location is a surprise each year. We always announce it the evening before the race begins,” said Mandy Blackwood, the Lewis and Clark Adventure Race director. This ensures that no adventure racer has the advantage of practicing the course repeatedly when other contestants do not.
There were few first-time participants in this year’s Lewis and Clark Adventure Race, but for adventure racers, there is never an “only” adventure race experience. All return to the race or find other adventure races around the country.
“I can’t remember how many I’ve done,” said Fletcher Hamel. “The mental endurance it requires for an 18-20 hour race is the most challenging part.” Hamel prepares for the races by spending his time cycling, running and working out in the water.
“This is my tenth or eleventh race,” said Scott Eis, part of the “Bent Rims and Band-Aids” team. He began adventure racing as a crossover from mountain biking and found the canoeing event the most challenging section. “We picked a professional canoeing instructor to help us improve,” he said.
“Most of my team has been in eight or nine adventure races, but one of them has done 19,” said Mike McDoniel, of the “Team Cross 1” team. “The dynamics of teamwork are tough in balancing the strength and weaknesses of so many people and having to stick together.”
“I’ve done several adventure races, but this is the first time (the weather) has been warm,” said Jeff Erikson. In one of Erikson’s previous adventure races, the evening temperature low was 37 degrees. His race partner, Matt Fox explained that the weather wasn’t the most challenging part of the race.
Erikson trains for the race by doing a lot of bicycling and running, and recently began running half marathons. After all the preparation, the biggest challenge he has in the race is simply “not getting lost.”
Adventure Racers are given plot coordinates and they are to graph the checkpoint locations during the first section of the race. This is extremely important, since all checkpoints must be reached and reached in order for the participant to complete the race. People at checkpoints ensure the order chronology by putting a stamp on the contestant’s card.
“Maps and plotting…is the purpose of the race,” Blackwood said. “You have to make sure you go in order and stay on track.”
To help improve the navigation skills of race participants, several navigation workshops are given during the week of the race.
A group of people huddle over topographic maps, most of them readjusting their wire rim glasses. Poised on dark leather couches, the men lean over their knees, trying to get a better view of the map and the women wait patiently, clasping delicate hands and daintily crossing legs. Expensive watches peek out from under button up shirts when group members point toward the map questioningly.
They look as if they are reaching deep into their college experience, grasping for that freshman level geology class in desperate last minute preparation.
Among the first checkpoints this year was the Fayetteville Athletic Center. There, contestants had to lift a total of 1000 pounds, not all at once, but through reps on bench weights, free weights or lifting the iron weights without the use of bars.
“Here they come,” called a crew member of the Fayetteville Athletic Center, sending employees scurrying from their break in front of the building to set up in the brightly lit room, something resembling a racquetball court.
Adventure racers and FAC employees united in near futile efforts to keep count of reps and do the simple math “40…that would be twenty…ugh...can she lift weights too?” asked one team member.
This is the fifth year for the event in Northwest Arkansas, but the first to allow minors in the race. The newness of the rule was shown in the age groups of the participants, since only one contestant was a minor and accompanied by his dad. Of all the groups, the father-son team seemed the most adjusted and content during the competition.
The contestant groups, mainly pairs of friends and the occasional brothers or sisters team, struggled with life jackets and toting canoes while anxiously questioning all authorities any chance they got. But the father-son team floated past, enjoying the weather and moving their canoe seamlessly into the water.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Modern Gypsies: the War Eagle Craft Fair
Past I-540 and highway 412, there is a country highway that winds through the rolling hills and broad pastures of rural Rogers. Many miles north of Fayetteville, it is lined with signs: “The ORIGINAL War Eagle Fair”, “Yard Sale”, “Have More -->”. It leads to the War Eagle Woods, thick as butter churned on the porch during a balmy summer day.
Silhouettes on iron arches subtly signal veiled ranches and the final sign reads “Bean Palace Restaurant: Pancake Breakfast served at 6:30 a.m."
Hundreds of craft vendors flock to the War Eagle Mill in Rogers, Ark. to peddle handmade soaps, dog bandanas, stoneware hangings, Scrabble bracelets and Hawaiian sun chairs, to name a few of the crafts available. Here, many of the vendors were drawn into the craft business and trade for family reasons.
“I got into (the craft business) because I got married and my friends told me, ‘you have to have a hobby if you’re going to get married,’” said J. W. Rushing, a professional woodworker and potter. When Rushing began his work as a carpenter, he didn’t know anything about the business, but he said that you can learn to do anything if you’re determined enough.
Rushing’s booth was filled with wooden car models with working wheels, semi-truck shaped bookshelves and pottery bowls, saucers, and other kitchenware. Lately Rushing has turned the hobby into a full-time job, traveling the country nine months a year to various craft fairs and festivals. “We’re just a modern band of gypsies,” he said.
The owner of the Forrest Flower Jewelry business out of Columbus, Ohio, came to the craft fair because of family. “My family has been coating leaves and flowers in gold for 114 years,” he said. Three generations have kept the business running and brings in a substantial income by setting up booths at 20 other craft events through the year, as well as maintaining a commercial Web site.
Tara Murphy's children prompted her to go to War Eagle. At first, they went as patrons to simply enjoy the event. But this year, Murphy and her husband Bruno are marketing the children’s environmental board game, "Endango." The game was originally invented with a piece of cardboard, a marker and animal figures for characters. The objective of the game is to teach children how recycling effects the animals in different environments and encourage them to recycle.
At first, the Murphys played the game at home, creating an environmental trivia. After testing the game in kindergarten classrooms and going through 11 evolutionary phases of the game, the family started marketing it to zoos, aquariums and museums. Now it is also stocked in the Springdale store, “Dilly Dallys.”
Karen Branch arrived at War Eagle to continue her quest in becoming a full-time potter while working with her husband. Branch uses an ancient Japanese technique called Neriage, where natural oxides are used to mix colors before stacking and slicing porcelain into various shapes and covering them in a wood ash glaze. Her husband built a kiln for their work, which takes 24 hours for a firing, has to be stoked for eight to 10 hours and takes two days to cool.
The two teach at the Ozark Natural Science Center, work at the Earthfire Branch studios and have set up a booth at War Eagle for the past eight years. Branch’s husband said the appeal of the craft fair is the communication with patrons, “I wouldn’t want to work on pottery without a break; it would be too isolated.”
Mike Garner and his sister started the business “Fat Mike’s Beef Jerky” in Winter Haven, Fla., when Garner ended his career in catering.
“The only thing this isn’t good on is ice cream and cake,” Garner said, as he leaned over the table, sprinkling beef jerky into the hands of patrons.
Like many of the vendors at War Eagle, the pair travels to other states, selling their product. When deciding on taking the partnership, Garner’s sister chose the job for its convenience, since she is a stay-at-home mom and can choose if and when she wants to travel.
Garner first heard about War Eagle while he was at the Spring Market in Memphis, Tenn., even though he had been to the same region for the Tontitown Grape Festival and the Prairie Grove Clothesline Festival. Their first experience at War Eagle was so profitable for them that, “On a scale of one to ten, we’d give it a ten,” Garner said. “We can’t wait to come back next year.”
Another vendor found War Eagle because his family lived in the region and would bring him to the craft fair each year.
Growing up in Bentonville, each trip to the War Eagle Craft Fair instilled a sense of wonder in Trent Tally. His wonder for art and the creations displayed at the fair shaped most of the decisions he made after that, such as the classes he chose to take in high school, earning a degree in Ceramics at the UA and the work that he found because of his education.
“I worked at the Terra Studios for five years before opening my own studio in 1992,” Tally said. “This is the fourth year that I’ve gone to the War Eagle Craft Fair (with my own booth); it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Steve Ayers, a potter from Hannibal, Mo., printed an accompanying brochure for one of his creations, called "101 Uses for a Bread Baker (pottery bowl)." In it were suggestions for family relationships, such as, “Use it as a safety helmet for your six-year-old on skates (straps not included),” “Use as a spousal projectile until broken and come buy a new one,” and “Use as Uncle Cliff’s spittoon.”
War Eagle
Past the interstates, there is a country highway that winds through the rolling hills and sweeping pastures. Eventually, it is lined with signs: “The Original War Eagle Fair”, “Yard Sale”, “Have More ”. It leads to the War Eagle Woods, thick as butter churned on the porch during a balmy summer day. Silhouettes on iron arches subtly signal veiled ranches and a final sign for the “Bean Palace Restaurant: Pancake Breakfast served at 6:30 a.m.” means you have arrived.
Thousands of vendors flock to the War Eagle Mill in Rogers, Ark. for a multi-faceted craft fair. Among the many reasons vendors are attracted to the craft business, family seems the most prominent in those that showed up Saturday.
“I got into (the craft business) because I got married and my friends told me, ‘you have to have a hobby if you’re going to get married,’” said J. W. Rushing, a professional woodworker and potter. When Rushing began his work as a carpenter, he didn’t know anything about the business. “You can learn to do anything if you’re determined enough,” he said. Rushing’s booth was filled with wooden car models with working wheels, semi-truck shaped bookshelves and pottery bowls, saucers, and other kitchenware. Now that Rushing is single, he has turned the hobby into a full time job, traveling the country nine months a year to various craft fairs and festivals.
Steve Ayers, a potter from Hannibal, Mo. printed a brochure of 101 Uses for a Bread Baker pottery bowl. In it were suggestions for family relationships, such as, “Use it as a safety helmet for your six-year-old on skates (straps not included),” “Use as a spousal projectile until broken and come buy a new one,” and “Use as Uncle Cliff’s spittoon.”
Thousands of vendors flock to the War Eagle Mill in Rogers, Ark. for a multi-faceted craft fair. Among the many reasons vendors are attracted to the craft business, family seems the most prominent in those that showed up Saturday.
“I got into (the craft business) because I got married and my friends told me, ‘you have to have a hobby if you’re going to get married,’” said J. W. Rushing, a professional woodworker and potter. When Rushing began his work as a carpenter, he didn’t know anything about the business. “You can learn to do anything if you’re determined enough,” he said. Rushing’s booth was filled with wooden car models with working wheels, semi-truck shaped bookshelves and pottery bowls, saucers, and other kitchenware. Now that Rushing is single, he has turned the hobby into a full time job, traveling the country nine months a year to various craft fairs and festivals.
Steve Ayers, a potter from Hannibal, Mo. printed a brochure of 101 Uses for a Bread Baker pottery bowl. In it were suggestions for family relationships, such as, “Use it as a safety helmet for your six-year-old on skates (straps not included),” “Use as a spousal projectile until broken and come buy a new one,” and “Use as Uncle Cliff’s spittoon.”
Friday, September 25, 2009
26campus news
Friday Night Live
9.25.2009
Rock Band. Pink and purple balloons. Flamenco guitar. Chocolate cake and punch. Karaoke. Latin dancing.
UA campus is treating crowds of students to free food, a variety of games and a chance to dance to live Latin music. Its many activities allow students to have a chance to hang out with friends as well as meet new people on campus.
This is all a part of Friday Night Live, sponsored by the Office of Student Activities, which is the same office that brings in renowned speakers and concerts. Friday Night Live events happen 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. each Friday.
However, there seems to be little communication between the Friday Night Live staff and the other businesses on campus, such as RZ’s Coffeehouse and Club Red.
“They don’t tell me a damn thing anymore,” said Clara, the night manager of RZ’s Coffeehouse. In the past, the coffeehouse would stay open to accommodate the event, but this Friday, the closing hour was the same as every Friday night: 10 p.m. That could have been prevented if the Friday Night Live staff had given RZ’s coffeehouse more than three days’ notice.
Friday’s event consisted of two separate concerts. The first was an hour of flamenco guitar performance in RZ's Coffeehouse by Lon de Ada. The other concert featured the three-piece band Boris Silva, which played outside to turn the concrete spaces of the courtyard into a dance floor.
“We didn’t even know that there was going to be a concert in here,” said Paul Scouten, an RZ’s barista. The miscommunication detained the coffeehouse staff from closing the shop on time, since the concert lasted 15 minutes past closing time and customers continued to linger, so they could talk to the artist.
The frustration of poor communication between the businesses and the Friday Night Live events spans closing time differences and the lack of extra business brought by students during Friday Night Live.
"We don't get anymore business during those hours, so we shouldn't even stay open until 10. I would just as soon close the place down by nine," Clara said.
Club Red employee Michelle Gandy enjoys Friday Night Live events, but maintains that the store service is not necessary for the students during that time, since there is so much free food.
A line starting at the grassy sections of the courtyard stretches well past the Union door, looping around. Still, students expected more friends to attend. “I kind of expected more people to be here, but most of my friends are coming after 11, so maybe other people are too,” said Marisia Hasfarina, a graduate student.
Lollipops and balloons were on every table in the union, surrounded by groups of students playing cards, Spanish bingo and painting masks. Other students played Dance Dance Revolution, Rock Band and sang karaoke in a room filled with the murmuring sound of two languages mixing.
There were less students to attend the first two Friday Night Live events this semester, said the program coordinator.
“We ordered 300 foodstuffs as opposed to the 500-600 that we ordered on average last year,” said Trisha Blau, Friday Night Live program coordinator. “It’s kind of hard to tell how many people are here, since they are so spread out.”
A possibility for the miscommunication between staffs on campus is the amount of employees compared to the amount of responsibilities.
The core group of employees is relatively small for Friday Night Live events. Blau has four students on staff who always set up the food tables, serve the food and arrange the activities, and are also the theme- creating committee. “There are usually five to 20 volunteers at each event, but this semester we’ve had eight to 10,” Blau said.
Two other organizations, First Year Experience and Resident Interhall Congress periodically team up with Friday Night Live to create a bigger event. Resident Interhall Congress has sponsored the most popular of the events, Razorback Idol. This year they will continue to sponsor it and in addition, provide for a Valentine's Day Friday Night Live.
The decline in attendance for Friday Night Live doesn't bother the program coordinator, but RZ's night manager is clinging to it, in hopes that her employees won't have to work overtime.
9.25.2009
Rock Band. Pink and purple balloons. Flamenco guitar. Chocolate cake and punch. Karaoke. Latin dancing.
UA campus is treating crowds of students to free food, a variety of games and a chance to dance to live Latin music. Its many activities allow students to have a chance to hang out with friends as well as meet new people on campus.
This is all a part of Friday Night Live, sponsored by the Office of Student Activities, which is the same office that brings in renowned speakers and concerts. Friday Night Live events happen 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. each Friday.
However, there seems to be little communication between the Friday Night Live staff and the other businesses on campus, such as RZ’s Coffeehouse and Club Red.
“They don’t tell me a damn thing anymore,” said Clara, the night manager of RZ’s Coffeehouse. In the past, the coffeehouse would stay open to accommodate the event, but this Friday, the closing hour was the same as every Friday night: 10 p.m. That could have been prevented if the Friday Night Live staff had given RZ’s coffeehouse more than three days’ notice.
Friday’s event consisted of two separate concerts. The first was an hour of flamenco guitar performance in RZ's Coffeehouse by Lon de Ada. The other concert featured the three-piece band Boris Silva, which played outside to turn the concrete spaces of the courtyard into a dance floor.
“We didn’t even know that there was going to be a concert in here,” said Paul Scouten, an RZ’s barista. The miscommunication detained the coffeehouse staff from closing the shop on time, since the concert lasted 15 minutes past closing time and customers continued to linger, so they could talk to the artist.
The frustration of poor communication between the businesses and the Friday Night Live events spans closing time differences and the lack of extra business brought by students during Friday Night Live.
"We don't get anymore business during those hours, so we shouldn't even stay open until 10. I would just as soon close the place down by nine," Clara said.
Club Red employee Michelle Gandy enjoys Friday Night Live events, but maintains that the store service is not necessary for the students during that time, since there is so much free food.
A line starting at the grassy sections of the courtyard stretches well past the Union door, looping around. Still, students expected more friends to attend. “I kind of expected more people to be here, but most of my friends are coming after 11, so maybe other people are too,” said Marisia Hasfarina, a graduate student.
Lollipops and balloons were on every table in the union, surrounded by groups of students playing cards, Spanish bingo and painting masks. Other students played Dance Dance Revolution, Rock Band and sang karaoke in a room filled with the murmuring sound of two languages mixing.
There were less students to attend the first two Friday Night Live events this semester, said the program coordinator.
“We ordered 300 foodstuffs as opposed to the 500-600 that we ordered on average last year,” said Trisha Blau, Friday Night Live program coordinator. “It’s kind of hard to tell how many people are here, since they are so spread out.”
A possibility for the miscommunication between staffs on campus is the amount of employees compared to the amount of responsibilities.
The core group of employees is relatively small for Friday Night Live events. Blau has four students on staff who always set up the food tables, serve the food and arrange the activities, and are also the theme- creating committee. “There are usually five to 20 volunteers at each event, but this semester we’ve had eight to 10,” Blau said.
Two other organizations, First Year Experience and Resident Interhall Congress periodically team up with Friday Night Live to create a bigger event. Resident Interhall Congress has sponsored the most popular of the events, Razorback Idol. This year they will continue to sponsor it and in addition, provide for a Valentine's Day Friday Night Live.
The decline in attendance for Friday Night Live doesn't bother the program coordinator, but RZ's night manager is clinging to it, in hopes that her employees won't have to work overtime.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
22profile
The black grass stuck under her fingernails as she grabbed fistfuls, stuffing them hastily into Walmart sacks. The stench was overwhelming. She silently hoped her children would not recognize it when she returned to the vehicle with the sacks. Twilight disguised the place along the highway, just as she had planned, so that her kids wouldn’t recognize the area. At this hour, she shouldn’t have been able to see the distinction between the normal grass and the patch of matted blades that looked as if it had been spray-painted black.
But she could see it. Of all images, this is one that she’d never be able to shake.
Any other day—any normal day—she might worry about waking or disturbing the senior citizens that owned the yard where she was kneeling, pulling up grass. But today was not a normal day and after all, she felt that the grass was her. More than hers, it was her.
Karen Simmons lived through the unthinkable each day for about two years: raising eight children on her own after her husband, Patrick died in a car accident at the age of 44.
She had looked forward to being a mother her entire life, but lost her motivation to continue providing care after the trauma of her husband’s death. “I’m not going to do this. I’m not going to carry on and raise these kids in this house that reminds me of him,” she told herself.
She met Patrick at the local pool during the summer after sixth grade and they were married five years later, the summer before Karen graduated from high school. Neither went to college, but began their careers in Searcy, Ark. and started their family a couple years later.
Simmons always wanted a big family, so she and Patrick always enjoyed discussing how many children they would have. Karen grew up with two sisters, so she looked forward to raising boys.
During their marriage, Karen and Patrick had Jordan, 24; Jade, 21 and Callahan, 16. Later, they adopted Cameron Grace, 11; Kayla, 10; Elijah, 6; Halle, 5; Rumor, 4 and Tuck, 3.
When Patrick died, Simmons lost more than a husband and her children lost more than a father.
“We lost our protector, our best friend, our comedian,” Simmons said. Patrick was her childhood friend, her cook, her teacher and her encourager.
Patrick loved teaching Sunday school, cooking for his family and bringing home injured animals to nurse them to back to health. The most memorable of the animals was a chicken with only one foot, which they promptly named No-Toe.
In the Simmons household most days began with Patrick getting dinner started before going to work at Jay’s Siding. This saved time for the large family and it was something he wanted to do.
Patrick insisted the entire family eat dinner together each night and made it into a ritual. He had to hear exactly how each child’s day went and each one looked forward to this moment in the day. “The idea of our family was perfect (to him), this is what he wanted,” Simmons said.
It was his personal game to save money. “Each day he would come home asking me to guess how little he spent on lunch that day,” Simmons said.
His friends had a different name for the game, though. “He would pay for a potato bar at Western Sizzlin’ and after finishing the potato, he would fill it up at the food bar,” said John Mullins, Patrick’s coworker. “One day when he came back to the table, there were chicken legs sticking out of the potato skin. He simply smiled and said, ‘Why yes, I do like chicken legs on my potato.’”
Patrick’s favorite season was autumn because the weather was so much easier for daily outdoor work on siding. “He was like a little kid on those days,” Simmons said. “He always came home with so much energy.”
On one of those crisp autumn days, Patrick rose early and began dinner, as always. This time it was chicken dumplings. Since it was Halloween, he and Karen talked about the kids’ costumes for the church event “Trunk or Treat” and although he had planned to leave early that day, his carpool group picked him up behind schedule. The carpool group was two of his coworkers, one of which was his closest friend.
Before arriving to the job site, the driver fell asleep at the wheel and the truck collided with a tree, injuring the passenger in the middle seat and sending Patrick under the vehicle, crushing him.
Nearly an hour after the collision, as the paramedics were still taking care of the other injured passenger, the driver finally mentioned for the first time that Patrick was under the truck.
Simmons was told Patrick would not have survived the crash either way, but she still couldn’t help wondering if he had any chance, that those 45 minutes could have changed the outcome.
This was the driver’s third time to have a wreck as a result of falling asleep at the wheel.
The funeral service was a closed-casket service and the family was not allowed to see Patrick’s face.
Even Karen was only allowed to see his hands.
This did nothing to help her deal with her grief. She could not feel that the situation was real if she didn’t have any proof. She didn’t even cry when officials delivered the news to her. “That’s not possible,” she said. “We’re the same person. It’s not possible. I would know it. I would feel it.”
In desperation, Simmons drove to the scene of the wreck a week after the accident happened to face the damage, to come to terms with the reality of the most unbelievable shock.
It was during daylight hours and she went to set a wreath near the telephone pole that the vehicle had hit when the homeowners stepped on to the lawn.
“Honey, why do you want to put it there,” the elderly lady asked. Simmons, confused, thought the wreck was in a certain area near the telephone pole, since it had been part of the accident and a new pole was already in place.
The homeowner pointed to a patch of black grass, “Here is where he bled out.”
The reality of death and loss overwhelmed Simmons as she rushed her kids back to the vehicle. She had to protect them from the harshness of what Patrick had faced that day. The blood had not been cleaned up, so she would come back later to remove it. When she returned that night, she tore every blood-stained blade of grass up, took the sacks home and burned them in her front yard.
This was Patrick.
This was finally a way to see him and say goodbye.
She knew Patrick, the boy who would yell every time he jumped off the diving board to catch her attention.
She knew Patrick, the teenager that would stand in her line every night as she worked at McDonald’s, who took months to ask for her phone number.
She knew Patrick, the faithful, loving husband.
She knew Patrick, the father who cried all the way home after dropping his oldest child off at college and cried that same week when one of the youngest children started kindergarten.
In a time where the previously spiritually oriented Karen was mad at God, she dealt with her grief by doing what Patrick wanted, no matter what.
The Simmons raised their children in church and though Karen felt she had her own spiritual relationship with God, Patrick was always the spiritual leader of the family. His passion was working with the youth at church and teaching Sunday school classes.
In the first year and a half of grieving, church became a different place for Simmons and her family. It was so intimately tied to Patrick that the two seemed impossible without the other. Simmons didn’t miss a single church service, even immediately after Patrick’s death. She felt that if she stopped taking the kids to church, it would be the most dishonorable action she could take towards him. This was her only hope during depression, “If I do enough right, he’ll come back and talk to me,” she thought.
Eventually, Simmons turned to her Sunday school teacher, Sherry Conley for insight on dealing with grief. Not long before Patrick’s death, Conley’s husband, Richard was diagnosed with a terminal illness and given six weeks to live.
Simmons had kept an eye on Conley after Richard’s death, wondering at her ability to continue all the church activities she was involved with: singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school and teaching a women’s Sunday school class.
Once faced with the loss of her husband, Simmons was even more baffled by Conley’s behavior.
“I would tell god I hated him, hoping he would kill me,” she said.
Simmons wrote letters to Conley, discussing these questions about grief and found encouragement in someone who truly understood her situation. Conley counters that the encouragement was mutual. “All I did was become an ear for her. We laughed and cried together; I just let her express her grief,” said Conley.
Through letters and conversations, Conley encouraged Simmons to be angry only at the situation, instead of God.
In their own times, his friends and coworkers visited her, sharing stories, giving her the experience of knowing a different side of Patrick.
Since Patrick’s death, Jordan has moved away and begun her career. Jade has married, Cameron wants to remember her dad by cooking and Callahan has become a source of strength and encouragement, a new spiritual leader for the family.
Karen's dimples press deeper into her cheeks while she sits on the couch, tying the strings of her girls’ Sunday dresses, shouts directions toward the kitchen for afternoon snacks, makes sure the little ones are being careful and speaks softly and patiently with the older children.
“Heaven is that much sweeter to me now, knowing he is waiting for me,” she said.
But she could see it. Of all images, this is one that she’d never be able to shake.
Any other day—any normal day—she might worry about waking or disturbing the senior citizens that owned the yard where she was kneeling, pulling up grass. But today was not a normal day and after all, she felt that the grass was her. More than hers, it was her.
Karen Simmons lived through the unthinkable each day for about two years: raising eight children on her own after her husband, Patrick died in a car accident at the age of 44.
She had looked forward to being a mother her entire life, but lost her motivation to continue providing care after the trauma of her husband’s death. “I’m not going to do this. I’m not going to carry on and raise these kids in this house that reminds me of him,” she told herself.
She met Patrick at the local pool during the summer after sixth grade and they were married five years later, the summer before Karen graduated from high school. Neither went to college, but began their careers in Searcy, Ark. and started their family a couple years later.
Simmons always wanted a big family, so she and Patrick always enjoyed discussing how many children they would have. Karen grew up with two sisters, so she looked forward to raising boys.
During their marriage, Karen and Patrick had Jordan, 24; Jade, 21 and Callahan, 16. Later, they adopted Cameron Grace, 11; Kayla, 10; Elijah, 6; Halle, 5; Rumor, 4 and Tuck, 3.
When Patrick died, Simmons lost more than a husband and her children lost more than a father.
“We lost our protector, our best friend, our comedian,” Simmons said. Patrick was her childhood friend, her cook, her teacher and her encourager.
Patrick loved teaching Sunday school, cooking for his family and bringing home injured animals to nurse them to back to health. The most memorable of the animals was a chicken with only one foot, which they promptly named No-Toe.
In the Simmons household most days began with Patrick getting dinner started before going to work at Jay’s Siding. This saved time for the large family and it was something he wanted to do.
Patrick insisted the entire family eat dinner together each night and made it into a ritual. He had to hear exactly how each child’s day went and each one looked forward to this moment in the day. “The idea of our family was perfect (to him), this is what he wanted,” Simmons said.
It was his personal game to save money. “Each day he would come home asking me to guess how little he spent on lunch that day,” Simmons said.
His friends had a different name for the game, though. “He would pay for a potato bar at Western Sizzlin’ and after finishing the potato, he would fill it up at the food bar,” said John Mullins, Patrick’s coworker. “One day when he came back to the table, there were chicken legs sticking out of the potato skin. He simply smiled and said, ‘Why yes, I do like chicken legs on my potato.’”
Patrick’s favorite season was autumn because the weather was so much easier for daily outdoor work on siding. “He was like a little kid on those days,” Simmons said. “He always came home with so much energy.”
On one of those crisp autumn days, Patrick rose early and began dinner, as always. This time it was chicken dumplings. Since it was Halloween, he and Karen talked about the kids’ costumes for the church event “Trunk or Treat” and although he had planned to leave early that day, his carpool group picked him up behind schedule. The carpool group was two of his coworkers, one of which was his closest friend.
Before arriving to the job site, the driver fell asleep at the wheel and the truck collided with a tree, injuring the passenger in the middle seat and sending Patrick under the vehicle, crushing him.
Nearly an hour after the collision, as the paramedics were still taking care of the other injured passenger, the driver finally mentioned for the first time that Patrick was under the truck.
Simmons was told Patrick would not have survived the crash either way, but she still couldn’t help wondering if he had any chance, that those 45 minutes could have changed the outcome.
This was the driver’s third time to have a wreck as a result of falling asleep at the wheel.
The funeral service was a closed-casket service and the family was not allowed to see Patrick’s face.
Even Karen was only allowed to see his hands.
This did nothing to help her deal with her grief. She could not feel that the situation was real if she didn’t have any proof. She didn’t even cry when officials delivered the news to her. “That’s not possible,” she said. “We’re the same person. It’s not possible. I would know it. I would feel it.”
In desperation, Simmons drove to the scene of the wreck a week after the accident happened to face the damage, to come to terms with the reality of the most unbelievable shock.
It was during daylight hours and she went to set a wreath near the telephone pole that the vehicle had hit when the homeowners stepped on to the lawn.
“Honey, why do you want to put it there,” the elderly lady asked. Simmons, confused, thought the wreck was in a certain area near the telephone pole, since it had been part of the accident and a new pole was already in place.
The homeowner pointed to a patch of black grass, “Here is where he bled out.”
The reality of death and loss overwhelmed Simmons as she rushed her kids back to the vehicle. She had to protect them from the harshness of what Patrick had faced that day. The blood had not been cleaned up, so she would come back later to remove it. When she returned that night, she tore every blood-stained blade of grass up, took the sacks home and burned them in her front yard.
This was Patrick.
This was finally a way to see him and say goodbye.
She knew Patrick, the boy who would yell every time he jumped off the diving board to catch her attention.
She knew Patrick, the teenager that would stand in her line every night as she worked at McDonald’s, who took months to ask for her phone number.
She knew Patrick, the faithful, loving husband.
She knew Patrick, the father who cried all the way home after dropping his oldest child off at college and cried that same week when one of the youngest children started kindergarten.
In a time where the previously spiritually oriented Karen was mad at God, she dealt with her grief by doing what Patrick wanted, no matter what.
The Simmons raised their children in church and though Karen felt she had her own spiritual relationship with God, Patrick was always the spiritual leader of the family. His passion was working with the youth at church and teaching Sunday school classes.
In the first year and a half of grieving, church became a different place for Simmons and her family. It was so intimately tied to Patrick that the two seemed impossible without the other. Simmons didn’t miss a single church service, even immediately after Patrick’s death. She felt that if she stopped taking the kids to church, it would be the most dishonorable action she could take towards him. This was her only hope during depression, “If I do enough right, he’ll come back and talk to me,” she thought.
Eventually, Simmons turned to her Sunday school teacher, Sherry Conley for insight on dealing with grief. Not long before Patrick’s death, Conley’s husband, Richard was diagnosed with a terminal illness and given six weeks to live.
Simmons had kept an eye on Conley after Richard’s death, wondering at her ability to continue all the church activities she was involved with: singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school and teaching a women’s Sunday school class.
Once faced with the loss of her husband, Simmons was even more baffled by Conley’s behavior.
“I would tell god I hated him, hoping he would kill me,” she said.
Simmons wrote letters to Conley, discussing these questions about grief and found encouragement in someone who truly understood her situation. Conley counters that the encouragement was mutual. “All I did was become an ear for her. We laughed and cried together; I just let her express her grief,” said Conley.
Through letters and conversations, Conley encouraged Simmons to be angry only at the situation, instead of God.
In their own times, his friends and coworkers visited her, sharing stories, giving her the experience of knowing a different side of Patrick.
Since Patrick’s death, Jordan has moved away and begun her career. Jade has married, Cameron wants to remember her dad by cooking and Callahan has become a source of strength and encouragement, a new spiritual leader for the family.
Karen's dimples press deeper into her cheeks while she sits on the couch, tying the strings of her girls’ Sunday dresses, shouts directions toward the kitchen for afternoon snacks, makes sure the little ones are being careful and speaks softly and patiently with the older children.
“Heaven is that much sweeter to me now, knowing he is waiting for me,” she said.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
29final
Faced with technology changes, a loss of national advertising revenue and budget cuts, some local newspapers are adapting in ways that could change the way Fayetteville news is delivered.
The highest percentage of modern newspaper readers are male college graduates over the age of 55, according to a few studies by the National Newspaper Network Association of America. Where does this leave the newspaper industry? For a local newspaper, this could mean severely cutting the amount of staff members and evolving into a completely online publication, as the new generation looks to the Net for a majority of their daily news.
Due to budget changes and the transformation of the newspaper industry, the University of Arkansas’ newspaper, the Arkansas Traveler, will be almost exclusively an online publication beginning in August, said Tina Korbe, Traveler managing editor. This will cause many changes in the college newspaper publication, whose staff numbers have remained static in the past few years.
Unlike national newspapers, the northwest Arkansas newspapers have had an increase in readership. “A lot of the headlines you see about declining circulation are talking about the top 100 newspapers in the U.S.,” said Greg Harton, Northwest Arkansas Times’ executive editor.
Over the past five years, the Times circulation of home-delivery has increased overall by about 10,000 in Benton, Washington, Carroll and Madison counties, according to a Northwest Arkansas Times 2008 summary. “We have about 300-400 new subscriptions each week,” said Circulation Director, Hector Cuerva.
Even though the Northwest Arkansas Times’ circulation numbers are rising, it’s not resistant to the economic downfall. “The staff has experienced some layoffs in the past couple of years and offer employees one day per month off without pay,” said NWA Executive Editor, Jeff Jeffus.
Jim Blankenship, director of sales & marketing at the Northwest Arkansas Times, said any loss in newspaper revenue is not a direct cause of advertising, but that “the enemy is the economy.”
The Northwest Arkansas Times has a loss of advertising due to the decline in the housing industry and the increasing numbers of local businesses (especially restaurants) and banks shutting down.
The use of event marketing, Twitter, advertising corner flags and the company Web site are a few reasons the NWA Times has an increase in readership. Corner flags are paper sheets that advertise the total amount of savings a customer can acquire through coupons when buying the newspaper, a critical feature when people are watching their budgets. “We [are now on] Twitter, not because we love twittering, but because it draws traffic to our Web site,” Harton said.
In the first quarter of 2009, Web traffic to newspaper sites grew more than 10 percent, according to the Newspaper Association of America. This effect is not limited to the national newspaper Web sites. Local newspaper Web sites are expanding features and seeing an increase in readership.
Brad Nichols, Internet Manager of Northwest Arkansas Times, explained the company uses animated internet ads, online Sunday real estate ads, photo slide shows and links that directly lead to the advertiser’s Web site to attract attention to their Web site. “Having links to advertiser’s sites has a twofold appeal, traffic increase to both the advertiser’s Web site and the newspaper Web site,” Nichols said. This is optimal for NWA Times, since the goal is to increase midday viewership, the slowest hours of online readership.
Stacey Roggendorff, representative of the Tulsa World newspaper, also expressed a positive reaction to the online publication of the Tulsa World. “We are striving right now…our Web site is getting more hits than it’s ever had,” Roggendorff said.
The Traveler has twice as many online readers than print copies per publication, with an approximate 10,000 registered online users and distribution of 5,000 print copies.
Jane Hocker, advertising manager for the Traveler said the advertising representatives will focus on selling advertisements for the Traveler Web site next year. Overall, the main goal of Web site ads is the same as print ads, which is to draw attention to the message; the Web ads simply have an advantage of interactive features which can make them more memorable, she explained.
The change to an internet publication is less troubling for the Traveler audience, in Hocker’s opinion, “[The] college student audience is unique because we have an especially technological audience.”
In the past, the main structure of the Arkansas Traveler staff included well over 40 employees: nine editors, four advertising representatives, several photographers, approximately 30 staff writers and various contributing writers.
The new Arkansas Traveler staff will be made of 25 people overall, which includes two sets of editors. One set of editors will work exclusively for the print publication, which will be reduced to one publication a week at an increased number of pages- 16, about twice the length of previous publications. The other set of editors will focus on the Web edition, which will be published five times a week. In addition, six staff writers will handle all stories: from news and lifestyles to sports, each writer will cover all topics.
Another possibility for national newspaper circulation decline could be lifestyle choices, such as the recent broadening in “news” source options that create low information voters and polarization, Hocker said.
Once an avid Newsweek reader, Hocker used to turn to Newsweek for world and national events and received a satisfaction that Newsweek would provide her with well-rounded, substantial news. Currently, she doesn’t depend on Newsweek heavily and takes the articles for what they are, one of many opinions. “Now it [Newsweek] is all opinion & I don’t feel that I get all of my news from it anymore,” she said.
Despite the heavy reliance on opinionated news, Harton said he believes that some people can ultimately tell the difference between opinion and “real” news. “[Eventually] we will become news delivery companies instead of newspapers,” he said.
Harton said he believes that newspapers should be geared toward the audience and that the direction is in print for now. “[In northwest Arkansas] far more readers want the paper in their hand.”
Korbe said the adjustments to the Traveler will bring great results and a myriad of opportunities for the Traveler, since the newspaper is quickly deciding when and how to adapt, “I see this as our opportunity to use the [technological] change for the better."
The highest percentage of modern newspaper readers are male college graduates over the age of 55, according to a few studies by the National Newspaper Network Association of America. Where does this leave the newspaper industry? For a local newspaper, this could mean severely cutting the amount of staff members and evolving into a completely online publication, as the new generation looks to the Net for a majority of their daily news.
Due to budget changes and the transformation of the newspaper industry, the University of Arkansas’ newspaper, the Arkansas Traveler, will be almost exclusively an online publication beginning in August, said Tina Korbe, Traveler managing editor. This will cause many changes in the college newspaper publication, whose staff numbers have remained static in the past few years.
Unlike national newspapers, the northwest Arkansas newspapers have had an increase in readership. “A lot of the headlines you see about declining circulation are talking about the top 100 newspapers in the U.S.,” said Greg Harton, Northwest Arkansas Times’ executive editor.
Over the past five years, the Times circulation of home-delivery has increased overall by about 10,000 in Benton, Washington, Carroll and Madison counties, according to a Northwest Arkansas Times 2008 summary. “We have about 300-400 new subscriptions each week,” said Circulation Director, Hector Cuerva.
Even though the Northwest Arkansas Times’ circulation numbers are rising, it’s not resistant to the economic downfall. “The staff has experienced some layoffs in the past couple of years and offer employees one day per month off without pay,” said NWA Executive Editor, Jeff Jeffus.
Jim Blankenship, director of sales & marketing at the Northwest Arkansas Times, said any loss in newspaper revenue is not a direct cause of advertising, but that “the enemy is the economy.”
The Northwest Arkansas Times has a loss of advertising due to the decline in the housing industry and the increasing numbers of local businesses (especially restaurants) and banks shutting down.
The use of event marketing, Twitter, advertising corner flags and the company Web site are a few reasons the NWA Times has an increase in readership. Corner flags are paper sheets that advertise the total amount of savings a customer can acquire through coupons when buying the newspaper, a critical feature when people are watching their budgets. “We [are now on] Twitter, not because we love twittering, but because it draws traffic to our Web site,” Harton said.
In the first quarter of 2009, Web traffic to newspaper sites grew more than 10 percent, according to the Newspaper Association of America. This effect is not limited to the national newspaper Web sites. Local newspaper Web sites are expanding features and seeing an increase in readership.
Brad Nichols, Internet Manager of Northwest Arkansas Times, explained the company uses animated internet ads, online Sunday real estate ads, photo slide shows and links that directly lead to the advertiser’s Web site to attract attention to their Web site. “Having links to advertiser’s sites has a twofold appeal, traffic increase to both the advertiser’s Web site and the newspaper Web site,” Nichols said. This is optimal for NWA Times, since the goal is to increase midday viewership, the slowest hours of online readership.
Stacey Roggendorff, representative of the Tulsa World newspaper, also expressed a positive reaction to the online publication of the Tulsa World. “We are striving right now…our Web site is getting more hits than it’s ever had,” Roggendorff said.
The Traveler has twice as many online readers than print copies per publication, with an approximate 10,000 registered online users and distribution of 5,000 print copies.
Jane Hocker, advertising manager for the Traveler said the advertising representatives will focus on selling advertisements for the Traveler Web site next year. Overall, the main goal of Web site ads is the same as print ads, which is to draw attention to the message; the Web ads simply have an advantage of interactive features which can make them more memorable, she explained.
The change to an internet publication is less troubling for the Traveler audience, in Hocker’s opinion, “[The] college student audience is unique because we have an especially technological audience.”
In the past, the main structure of the Arkansas Traveler staff included well over 40 employees: nine editors, four advertising representatives, several photographers, approximately 30 staff writers and various contributing writers.
The new Arkansas Traveler staff will be made of 25 people overall, which includes two sets of editors. One set of editors will work exclusively for the print publication, which will be reduced to one publication a week at an increased number of pages- 16, about twice the length of previous publications. The other set of editors will focus on the Web edition, which will be published five times a week. In addition, six staff writers will handle all stories: from news and lifestyles to sports, each writer will cover all topics.
Another possibility for national newspaper circulation decline could be lifestyle choices, such as the recent broadening in “news” source options that create low information voters and polarization, Hocker said.
Once an avid Newsweek reader, Hocker used to turn to Newsweek for world and national events and received a satisfaction that Newsweek would provide her with well-rounded, substantial news. Currently, she doesn’t depend on Newsweek heavily and takes the articles for what they are, one of many opinions. “Now it [Newsweek] is all opinion & I don’t feel that I get all of my news from it anymore,” she said.
Despite the heavy reliance on opinionated news, Harton said he believes that some people can ultimately tell the difference between opinion and “real” news. “[Eventually] we will become news delivery companies instead of newspapers,” he said.
Harton said he believes that newspapers should be geared toward the audience and that the direction is in print for now. “[In northwest Arkansas] far more readers want the paper in their hand.”
Korbe said the adjustments to the Traveler will bring great results and a myriad of opportunities for the Traveler, since the newspaper is quickly deciding when and how to adapt, “I see this as our opportunity to use the [technological] change for the better."
Monday, April 20, 2009
J-Days Commence This Week
A series of lectures about conflicts between the media and the judiciary titled “Judges Day” will take place between 8:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. Monday at the Donald W. Reynolds Center. It is free and open to the public. Judges Day is among the beginning events of J-Days, or Journalism Days, sponsored by the Walter J. Lemke Department of Journalism.
Arkansas Supreme Court Justices Annabelle Clinton Imber and Robert L. Brown will present five of the seven speeches. The judges will co-present the address, “Reporters confidential sources from the courts perspective,” and allot a section of Judges Day to a 30-minute “Ask a Judge: Question and Answer period.” The lectures “An Overview of American Judicial System” and “Ethical considerations” will be given by Justice Imber, while “Cameras in the Courtroom” will be presented by Justice Brown. For more information on specific lecture times, visit http://www.uark.edu/~kshurlds/JudgesDay/Welcome.html.
This year’s series of J-Day events are April 20-24. Not all of the lectures and events are focused toward journalism majors.
A Putt Putt Golf Tournament and lunch is open to the UA campus. It will take place 1-3 p.m., April 24 at Gator Golf on College Avenue. In order to register, contact Carol E. Rachal at 479-575-3113. Tickets including both golf and lunch are $10 for students and $15 for nonstudents.
“Putting Your Best Foot Forward: Tips for preparing you to enter the working world” will be presented by Sam Smith of the advertising company Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods. The lecture will take place twice; 9:30 a.m. in Kimpel 115 and 12:30 p.m. in J.B. Hunt 146.
The 2009 Roy Reed Lecture will be given by Philip Bruce, deputy general manager of National Public Radio West at 7 p.m., April 22 at the UA Alumni House.
The journalism-centered events include the Lemke Journalism Project Awards Reception and a lecture “Multi-Media Journalism.”
The Lemke Journalism Project Awards Reception will take place at 3-4:30 p.m. April 23 in Kimpel 111 and“Multi-Media Journalism” will be presented by various journalists at 11 a.m., April 24 in the UATV studio.
A few of the J-Day events are geared toward broadcasting students specifically. “Life after broadcasting,” a speech given by Jennifer Irwin, social editor of Celebrate magazine and Stacey Starck, employee of Gov. Beebe will take place at 11 a.m. Monday in the UATV studio. ESPN commentator, Jimmy Dykes will speak about the “Life of a Commentator” at 11 a.m., April 22 in the UATV studio. Philip Bruce of NPR West will speak at 10 a.m. April 23, also in the UATV studio.
Previously, J-Day was a single day of journalistic lectures. Starting in 2007, the Lemke Department of Journalism expanded J-Days to a week of guest speakers including television managers, photographers, editors, graphic designers, and UA Alumni of the Journalism department. The myriad of speakers covered various aspects of new media, alternative media and the changes taking place in the industry, according to an UA press release.
Arkansas Supreme Court Justices Annabelle Clinton Imber and Robert L. Brown will present five of the seven speeches. The judges will co-present the address, “Reporters confidential sources from the courts perspective,” and allot a section of Judges Day to a 30-minute “Ask a Judge: Question and Answer period.” The lectures “An Overview of American Judicial System” and “Ethical considerations” will be given by Justice Imber, while “Cameras in the Courtroom” will be presented by Justice Brown. For more information on specific lecture times, visit http://www.uark.edu/~kshurlds/JudgesDay/Welcome.html.
This year’s series of J-Day events are April 20-24. Not all of the lectures and events are focused toward journalism majors.
A Putt Putt Golf Tournament and lunch is open to the UA campus. It will take place 1-3 p.m., April 24 at Gator Golf on College Avenue. In order to register, contact Carol E. Rachal at 479-575-3113. Tickets including both golf and lunch are $10 for students and $15 for nonstudents.
“Putting Your Best Foot Forward: Tips for preparing you to enter the working world” will be presented by Sam Smith of the advertising company Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods. The lecture will take place twice; 9:30 a.m. in Kimpel 115 and 12:30 p.m. in J.B. Hunt 146.
The 2009 Roy Reed Lecture will be given by Philip Bruce, deputy general manager of National Public Radio West at 7 p.m., April 22 at the UA Alumni House.
The journalism-centered events include the Lemke Journalism Project Awards Reception and a lecture “Multi-Media Journalism.”
The Lemke Journalism Project Awards Reception will take place at 3-4:30 p.m. April 23 in Kimpel 111 and“Multi-Media Journalism” will be presented by various journalists at 11 a.m., April 24 in the UATV studio.
A few of the J-Day events are geared toward broadcasting students specifically. “Life after broadcasting,” a speech given by Jennifer Irwin, social editor of Celebrate magazine and Stacey Starck, employee of Gov. Beebe will take place at 11 a.m. Monday in the UATV studio. ESPN commentator, Jimmy Dykes will speak about the “Life of a Commentator” at 11 a.m., April 22 in the UATV studio. Philip Bruce of NPR West will speak at 10 a.m. April 23, also in the UATV studio.
Previously, J-Day was a single day of journalistic lectures. Starting in 2007, the Lemke Department of Journalism expanded J-Days to a week of guest speakers including television managers, photographers, editors, graphic designers, and UA Alumni of the Journalism department. The myriad of speakers covered various aspects of new media, alternative media and the changes taking place in the industry, according to an UA press release.
Nobel Laureate in Physics to speak at UA this week
4.4.09
Nobel Laureate Joseph Taylor will deliver the 13th annual Robert D. Maurer Distinguished Lecture at UA this week. The lecture series was named after Robert D. Maurer, Ph. D. who invented the first telecommunications-grade optical fiber. It is sponsored by the department of physics in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Each year, the lecture hosts a variety of scientists to speak on topics such as stars, lasers, molecular beams, Einstein and the Universe in general. Among the former 12 lecturers were supernova experts, three other Nobel Laureates in Physics, various professors and authors, several of which graduated from Harvard and Stanford.
The lecture “Binary Pulsars and Relativistic Gravity” will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 2, in the Donald W. Reynolds Center. The lecture is free and open to the public. The department of physics chose Taylor’s lecture as part of celebrating the International Year of Astronomy, Assistant Professor in Physics, Julia Kennefick said.
Taylor discovered the first binary pulsar, along with Russell Hulse, which earned them the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Prior to earning his doctorate in astronomy from Harvard University, Taylor was educated mainly in Quaker institutions, a part of his heritage. In his autobiography, Taylor said, “Somewhat backward high-school introductions to chemistry and physics, [though] I failed to recognize them as such at the time, did not dampen any enthusiasm for science…” The last of his experience with Quaker institutions was Haverford College, where Taylor earned his bachelor’s degree in physics. His teaching career began at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, but has spent the past 29 years as a professor in the department of physics at Princeton University.
In Taylor’s autobiography, he said his thesis was in radio astronomy and built a working radio telescope as part of his senior honors project. Radio astronomy eventually led to the interest in the study of pulsars.
Pulsars are neutron stars, but that has not always been common knowledge. According to Taylor’s Nobel lecture, when he began observing the first four pulsars in 1968 and attempting to find more, it was merely inclination that pulsars were neutron stars: orbiting magnetized remnants of supernova explosions that produce radio waves. As he started to recognize the unique characteristics of pulsars, he made a computer algorithm to identify them, which soon led to finding a fifth pulsar.
The Nobel Prize press release explains that a binary pulsar has two pulsars, each with a mass akin to the sun, that are in orbit at relatively short distances from each other. In addition to emitting radio waves, the binary pulsar emits gravitational waves. Taylor and Hulse’s discovery nullifies Newton’s gravitational physics, but aided in proving Einstein’s general theory of relativity.
Before the discovery of pulsars and binary pulsars, Einstein’s general theory of relativity was not seen as a practical theory. The finding of gravitational waves from binary pulsars brought gravitational physics into the spotlight.
Part of Taylor’s gravitational discovery enabled exploration of a new subfield in astrophysics by testing the relativistic nature of gravity via comparisons of the Universe’s pulsar time with the Earth’s atomic time. The Nobel Prize in Physics press release explains, “The pulsar’s pulse period has proved to be extremely stable… [it] increases by less than 5 percent during 1 million years.”
Nobel Laureate Joseph Taylor will deliver the 13th annual Robert D. Maurer Distinguished Lecture at UA this week. The lecture series was named after Robert D. Maurer, Ph. D. who invented the first telecommunications-grade optical fiber. It is sponsored by the department of physics in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Each year, the lecture hosts a variety of scientists to speak on topics such as stars, lasers, molecular beams, Einstein and the Universe in general. Among the former 12 lecturers were supernova experts, three other Nobel Laureates in Physics, various professors and authors, several of which graduated from Harvard and Stanford.
The lecture “Binary Pulsars and Relativistic Gravity” will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 2, in the Donald W. Reynolds Center. The lecture is free and open to the public. The department of physics chose Taylor’s lecture as part of celebrating the International Year of Astronomy, Assistant Professor in Physics, Julia Kennefick said.
Taylor discovered the first binary pulsar, along with Russell Hulse, which earned them the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Prior to earning his doctorate in astronomy from Harvard University, Taylor was educated mainly in Quaker institutions, a part of his heritage. In his autobiography, Taylor said, “Somewhat backward high-school introductions to chemistry and physics, [though] I failed to recognize them as such at the time, did not dampen any enthusiasm for science…” The last of his experience with Quaker institutions was Haverford College, where Taylor earned his bachelor’s degree in physics. His teaching career began at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, but has spent the past 29 years as a professor in the department of physics at Princeton University.
In Taylor’s autobiography, he said his thesis was in radio astronomy and built a working radio telescope as part of his senior honors project. Radio astronomy eventually led to the interest in the study of pulsars.
Pulsars are neutron stars, but that has not always been common knowledge. According to Taylor’s Nobel lecture, when he began observing the first four pulsars in 1968 and attempting to find more, it was merely inclination that pulsars were neutron stars: orbiting magnetized remnants of supernova explosions that produce radio waves. As he started to recognize the unique characteristics of pulsars, he made a computer algorithm to identify them, which soon led to finding a fifth pulsar.
The Nobel Prize press release explains that a binary pulsar has two pulsars, each with a mass akin to the sun, that are in orbit at relatively short distances from each other. In addition to emitting radio waves, the binary pulsar emits gravitational waves. Taylor and Hulse’s discovery nullifies Newton’s gravitational physics, but aided in proving Einstein’s general theory of relativity.
Before the discovery of pulsars and binary pulsars, Einstein’s general theory of relativity was not seen as a practical theory. The finding of gravitational waves from binary pulsars brought gravitational physics into the spotlight.
Part of Taylor’s gravitational discovery enabled exploration of a new subfield in astrophysics by testing the relativistic nature of gravity via comparisons of the Universe’s pulsar time with the Earth’s atomic time. The Nobel Prize in Physics press release explains, “The pulsar’s pulse period has proved to be extremely stable… [it] increases by less than 5 percent during 1 million years.”
Global Events in order for the International Year of Astronomy, 2009
4.2.09
In honor of 400 year anniversary of Galileo’s telescope, scientists have created a series of events for the International Year of Astronomy, 2009. Celebrations of astronomy are taking place in 140 countries, including global events such as 100 Hours of Astronomy, Around the World in 80 Telescopes, How Many Stars Contest, and the National Dark Sky Week.
UA hosted a few lectures in conjunction with the International Year of Astronomy, as a way for local students to focus on astronomy and cosmology, which can be found on the Physics Department Calendar. These included “New Methods For Determining The Dark Matter Content Of Spiral Galaxies” and “Conflict in the Cosmos – The Life and the Science of Sir Fred Hoyle.” The most recent took place on Thursday, as Nobel Prize physicist, Joseph Taylor gave his lecture, “Binary Pulsars and Relativistic Gravity.”
“Probably the most fun and inspiring way to participate in the IYA would be to get involved with our campus astronomy group,” said Daniel Kennefick, physics professor at the UA.
The Student Astronomical Society hosts astronomy-related activities not only with students, but also with the general public. Chris Sharp, president of SAS, said their events are a good chance to connect kids and their families with the cosmos. “We host several star parties each semester where attendees
get a chance to play with telescopes and giant binoculars while enjoying the hidden views in the night sky,” he said. Friday, April 3 the star party is a Messier Marathon. Participants will try to identify as many of the 110 galaxies, clusters, and stars listed in the French astronomy guide, the Messier Catalog, as possible. Sharp encourages students to attend the star party. More information can be provided by emailing universitysas@gmail.com.
National Dark Sky Week is April 20-26 this year. It was established to raise awareness of light pollution, to initiate a time for people to enjoy the beauty of the cosmos without city lights intruding and to eliminate or improve the energy-wasting outside lights that prevent a clear view of the night sky. The National Dark Sky Week Web site suggests that citizens turn out these porch lights or sidewalk lights and use a red-tinted flashlight for necessary visibility before observing the stars, since it won’t disrupt nighttime vision. An example of outdoor light improvement would be reducing the amount of light reflected upward away from usable space. The Nature Web site adds, “Reducing the number of lights on at night could help conserve energy, protect wildlife and benefit human health.”
The 100 Hours of Astronomy will take place April 2-5 and is hosted by the European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere. The opening event for 100 Hours is a five-month-long exhibit of Galileo’s telescope, manuscripts, paintings and other artifacts at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. This week Giorgio Strano, curator at the Institute and Museum of the History of Science in Florence, Italy, arrived at the Franklin Institute to deliver one of the two remaining Galileo telescopes for the exhibition “Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy.” The exhibition is especially historical, since it is the only time that the artifacts have left Florence, according to a Franklin Institute press release.
The enormous four day event “100 Hours of Astronomy” will include a 24-hour video footage titled “Around the World in 80 Telescopes.” It will provide coverage of the night sky from all continents in the world, according to the International Year of Astronomy press release. Among the most impressive of these telescopes are the four giant 8.2 meter “Unit Telescopes” in Chile.
A “How Many Stars” contest began Jan. 1 this year and will continue until Dec. 31, collecting observations from anyone willing to submit them. The advantage of this contest is to provide a great deal of data for annual comparisons for change in the visibility of the night sky. The observations are an estimation of how many stars are perceptible from your viewpoint without the aid of a telescope or binoculars. Estimations are to be based on a scale posted on the contest’s Web site and submitted with the time and location of the observation.
In honor of 400 year anniversary of Galileo’s telescope, scientists have created a series of events for the International Year of Astronomy, 2009. Celebrations of astronomy are taking place in 140 countries, including global events such as 100 Hours of Astronomy, Around the World in 80 Telescopes, How Many Stars Contest, and the National Dark Sky Week.
UA hosted a few lectures in conjunction with the International Year of Astronomy, as a way for local students to focus on astronomy and cosmology, which can be found on the Physics Department Calendar. These included “New Methods For Determining The Dark Matter Content Of Spiral Galaxies” and “Conflict in the Cosmos – The Life and the Science of Sir Fred Hoyle.” The most recent took place on Thursday, as Nobel Prize physicist, Joseph Taylor gave his lecture, “Binary Pulsars and Relativistic Gravity.”
“Probably the most fun and inspiring way to participate in the IYA would be to get involved with our campus astronomy group,” said Daniel Kennefick, physics professor at the UA.
The Student Astronomical Society hosts astronomy-related activities not only with students, but also with the general public. Chris Sharp, president of SAS, said their events are a good chance to connect kids and their families with the cosmos. “We host several star parties each semester where attendees
get a chance to play with telescopes and giant binoculars while enjoying the hidden views in the night sky,” he said. Friday, April 3 the star party is a Messier Marathon. Participants will try to identify as many of the 110 galaxies, clusters, and stars listed in the French astronomy guide, the Messier Catalog, as possible. Sharp encourages students to attend the star party. More information can be provided by emailing universitysas@gmail.com.
National Dark Sky Week is April 20-26 this year. It was established to raise awareness of light pollution, to initiate a time for people to enjoy the beauty of the cosmos without city lights intruding and to eliminate or improve the energy-wasting outside lights that prevent a clear view of the night sky. The National Dark Sky Week Web site suggests that citizens turn out these porch lights or sidewalk lights and use a red-tinted flashlight for necessary visibility before observing the stars, since it won’t disrupt nighttime vision. An example of outdoor light improvement would be reducing the amount of light reflected upward away from usable space. The Nature Web site adds, “Reducing the number of lights on at night could help conserve energy, protect wildlife and benefit human health.”
The 100 Hours of Astronomy will take place April 2-5 and is hosted by the European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere. The opening event for 100 Hours is a five-month-long exhibit of Galileo’s telescope, manuscripts, paintings and other artifacts at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. This week Giorgio Strano, curator at the Institute and Museum of the History of Science in Florence, Italy, arrived at the Franklin Institute to deliver one of the two remaining Galileo telescopes for the exhibition “Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy.” The exhibition is especially historical, since it is the only time that the artifacts have left Florence, according to a Franklin Institute press release.
The enormous four day event “100 Hours of Astronomy” will include a 24-hour video footage titled “Around the World in 80 Telescopes.” It will provide coverage of the night sky from all continents in the world, according to the International Year of Astronomy press release. Among the most impressive of these telescopes are the four giant 8.2 meter “Unit Telescopes” in Chile.
A “How Many Stars” contest began Jan. 1 this year and will continue until Dec. 31, collecting observations from anyone willing to submit them. The advantage of this contest is to provide a great deal of data for annual comparisons for change in the visibility of the night sky. The observations are an estimation of how many stars are perceptible from your viewpoint without the aid of a telescope or binoculars. Estimations are to be based on a scale posted on the contest’s Web site and submitted with the time and location of the observation.
Applying for Graduation
4.10.09
With the approach of graduation, many students may wonder if the process to apply for graduation is difficult. The UA staff has taken measures to ensure the final steps to graduation are readily accessible and go smoothly. From reminders on ISIS to descriptions in the Catalog of Studies, from detailed instructions given by the registrar’s office to various advisors ready to help, students have a myriad of choices when it comes to learning how to apply for graduation.
“The first mistake students make when applying for graduation is coming to the Registrar’s Office,” said a Registrar’s Office employee. With the exception of Law, Graduate, and Architecture students, the process of applying for graduation begins at the Dean’s Office of your school or college. In the office, the student may be asked to fill out paperwork specific to his college; then he will receive a graduation application card and should have the dean sign it before going to the Registrar’s Office.
Architecture students begin the process with the Academic Counselor and Graduate students start in the Graduate School dean’s office. Those studying law are the only students that receive their application cards in the Registrar’s Office.
Fulbright Advisor Teresa Scott said a common mistake students make is waiting until their last semester to apply for graduation. When a student applies for graduation, a degree audit will be given to make sure all requirements have been met. “Students can and should apply at least one semester early,” Scott advised. “Even if the degree audit doesn’t come before registration, it is helpful because you can always go back and change your class choices.”
Once the card is completed, it should be taken to the registrar’s office along with the graduation fees. According to the Uark Web site, graduation fees are $25 for Undergraduate students, $30 for Master’s and Ed.S. students, $35 for JD and LLM students, and $85 for Doctorate students.
At the registrar’s office, the graduation fee will be collected and the student will fill out a commencement card. This card requires basic information about the student, such as full name (as the student wants it to appear on the diploma and sidewalk), address, phone number, and e-mail address. Other categories, such as degree earning, major, college/school, and which ceremony the student will participate in are also required on this card. These cards are sent through the mail, but are also available at the registrar’s office, in case the card has been lost or the student has moved and not changed an address.
The registrar will present the student with a receipt and a sheet of “Instructions to Graduates,” regarding commencement procedures, such as regalia, tassels, hoods, stoles, and after graduation services.
Classical studies major Michelle Scouten found the entire process simple. “Everything went smoothly, I’m so graduating,” she said. After applying in January, Scouten got clearance just a few weeks later.
With the approach of graduation, many students may wonder if the process to apply for graduation is difficult. The UA staff has taken measures to ensure the final steps to graduation are readily accessible and go smoothly. From reminders on ISIS to descriptions in the Catalog of Studies, from detailed instructions given by the registrar’s office to various advisors ready to help, students have a myriad of choices when it comes to learning how to apply for graduation.
“The first mistake students make when applying for graduation is coming to the Registrar’s Office,” said a Registrar’s Office employee. With the exception of Law, Graduate, and Architecture students, the process of applying for graduation begins at the Dean’s Office of your school or college. In the office, the student may be asked to fill out paperwork specific to his college; then he will receive a graduation application card and should have the dean sign it before going to the Registrar’s Office.
Architecture students begin the process with the Academic Counselor and Graduate students start in the Graduate School dean’s office. Those studying law are the only students that receive their application cards in the Registrar’s Office.
Fulbright Advisor Teresa Scott said a common mistake students make is waiting until their last semester to apply for graduation. When a student applies for graduation, a degree audit will be given to make sure all requirements have been met. “Students can and should apply at least one semester early,” Scott advised. “Even if the degree audit doesn’t come before registration, it is helpful because you can always go back and change your class choices.”
Once the card is completed, it should be taken to the registrar’s office along with the graduation fees. According to the Uark Web site, graduation fees are $25 for Undergraduate students, $30 for Master’s and Ed.S. students, $35 for JD and LLM students, and $85 for Doctorate students.
At the registrar’s office, the graduation fee will be collected and the student will fill out a commencement card. This card requires basic information about the student, such as full name (as the student wants it to appear on the diploma and sidewalk), address, phone number, and e-mail address. Other categories, such as degree earning, major, college/school, and which ceremony the student will participate in are also required on this card. These cards are sent through the mail, but are also available at the registrar’s office, in case the card has been lost or the student has moved and not changed an address.
The registrar will present the student with a receipt and a sheet of “Instructions to Graduates,” regarding commencement procedures, such as regalia, tassels, hoods, stoles, and after graduation services.
Classical studies major Michelle Scouten found the entire process simple. “Everything went smoothly, I’m so graduating,” she said. After applying in January, Scouten got clearance just a few weeks later.
Farmer's Market Springs Up This Week
Fayetteville Farmer’s Market Plans Special Events for 2009
4.10.09
The Fayetteville Farmer’s Market, located on the Fayetteville Court Square, opened this Saturday and will continue until November 21. The market is open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. three days a week, Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
Started in 1974, the market is an area for local farmers, crafters, chefs, musicians, flower-gatherers, the Humane Society and artists to display their work, products, or pets that are available for adoption.
This month the market presents the Garden Series on the Square during the market hours. The first will be a lecture on various soils given by Berni Kurz on April 11. Sara Pollard of the Mountain Greenery Farm will speak about assorted use of herbs during the Tuesday market, April 14. An instruction on ornamental plant sowing and placement will be given by Joan Sorn and Mark Corly on April 18. Each of these three lectures will take place between 10 and 11 a.m. outside on the court square. “If we have a large turnout, then we might move the lecture to the food court [near Jammin’ Java] so we’ll have more seating,” said Cara Corbin, assistant manager for the Farmer’s Market.
Traditionally, the market distributes a free tree to each of the participants of the spring season-opening farmer’s market, but that day has been pushed back this year. The free tree give away will be on April 25 this year; the supply is limited to one tree per person.
The main objective of this year’s farmer’s market is to “Be Green…Healthy, Safe and Clean.” Administrators are asking that market-goers keep in mind their responsibility to the environment while participating. “Other businesses have had to make changes, now it’s time for us to do the same,” Corbin said. Suggestions to be green, healthy, safe and clean include:
--bringing your own coffee cup
--bring your own shopping bags/canvas bags
--ride your bicycle, take the bus, or carpool to the market
--if you bring your pet, make sure to clean up after it
On this season’s opening day, farm-grown produce was only the beginning of products available to Fayetteville consumers. Entertainment was on every corner of the square, as three separate music ensembles were present and one solo artist. Woven baskets, wooden vases and cutting boards, flower bouquets, watercolor and photo prints, pottery and woven blankets were also for sale. Northwest Arkansas Community Creative Center had representatives set up a table to advertise art classes, the Walton Arts Center representatives handed out brochures about their upcoming events and had a drawing for free tickets, and the Humane Society employees walked dogs through the crowds, in an attempt to find more families to adopt pets.
“We love to have elementary field trips come to the market, but we’re also looking for ways to incorporate junior high schools, high schools and even UA students,” Corbin said.
UA student, Sparsh Agrawat said he never attends the farmer’s market, “I’ve never really heard of anything about it that would attract me to go.”
Anthropology major, Maggie Strain said she finds the farmer’s market to be an overall pleasant experience. “The couple of times I’ve been to the market, I enjoyed talking with the vendors there, it’s a good way to learn about gardening and save money in this economy,” she said.
According to the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market Web site, several special events will be included in the 2009 market. At the moment, the Web site includes a list of events and their dates, but the main description of each will be posted at a later date. The first of the three farm tours is a tour of spring flowers, which will take place on April 18. The remaining tours are scheduled for October and will focus on pumpkin and squash farms. Three “Kids Days” will go on April 28, June 16, and Aug. 13.
Crafts will be sold all through the year, but two craft showcases will feature these works in particular. May 2 is the Spring Craft Showcase, while Oct. 17 is the Fall Craft Showcase.
The farmer’s market has Holiday celebrations for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Halloween. Mother’s Day has a two correlated events, a Flower Arranging Demo on Thursday, May 7 and a Flower Fair May 9. For those that struggle to find Dad a gift each year, there is a Father’s Day Gift Showcase on June 20. Since the Fourth of July falls on a Saturday this year, the market is having a Picnic in the Square Grill Out for the public. Customer Appreciation Celebration is planned for Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 5. Finally, near the close of the farmer’s market, will be a Costume Contest for Saturday, Oct. 31, Halloween.
For additional information, visit www.fayettevillefarmersmarket.com, email fayettevillefm@gmail.com, or call 479-236-2910.
4.10.09
The Fayetteville Farmer’s Market, located on the Fayetteville Court Square, opened this Saturday and will continue until November 21. The market is open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. three days a week, Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
Started in 1974, the market is an area for local farmers, crafters, chefs, musicians, flower-gatherers, the Humane Society and artists to display their work, products, or pets that are available for adoption.
This month the market presents the Garden Series on the Square during the market hours. The first will be a lecture on various soils given by Berni Kurz on April 11. Sara Pollard of the Mountain Greenery Farm will speak about assorted use of herbs during the Tuesday market, April 14. An instruction on ornamental plant sowing and placement will be given by Joan Sorn and Mark Corly on April 18. Each of these three lectures will take place between 10 and 11 a.m. outside on the court square. “If we have a large turnout, then we might move the lecture to the food court [near Jammin’ Java] so we’ll have more seating,” said Cara Corbin, assistant manager for the Farmer’s Market.
Traditionally, the market distributes a free tree to each of the participants of the spring season-opening farmer’s market, but that day has been pushed back this year. The free tree give away will be on April 25 this year; the supply is limited to one tree per person.
The main objective of this year’s farmer’s market is to “Be Green…Healthy, Safe and Clean.” Administrators are asking that market-goers keep in mind their responsibility to the environment while participating. “Other businesses have had to make changes, now it’s time for us to do the same,” Corbin said. Suggestions to be green, healthy, safe and clean include:
--bringing your own coffee cup
--bring your own shopping bags/canvas bags
--ride your bicycle, take the bus, or carpool to the market
--if you bring your pet, make sure to clean up after it
On this season’s opening day, farm-grown produce was only the beginning of products available to Fayetteville consumers. Entertainment was on every corner of the square, as three separate music ensembles were present and one solo artist. Woven baskets, wooden vases and cutting boards, flower bouquets, watercolor and photo prints, pottery and woven blankets were also for sale. Northwest Arkansas Community Creative Center had representatives set up a table to advertise art classes, the Walton Arts Center representatives handed out brochures about their upcoming events and had a drawing for free tickets, and the Humane Society employees walked dogs through the crowds, in an attempt to find more families to adopt pets.
“We love to have elementary field trips come to the market, but we’re also looking for ways to incorporate junior high schools, high schools and even UA students,” Corbin said.
UA student, Sparsh Agrawat said he never attends the farmer’s market, “I’ve never really heard of anything about it that would attract me to go.”
Anthropology major, Maggie Strain said she finds the farmer’s market to be an overall pleasant experience. “The couple of times I’ve been to the market, I enjoyed talking with the vendors there, it’s a good way to learn about gardening and save money in this economy,” she said.
According to the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market Web site, several special events will be included in the 2009 market. At the moment, the Web site includes a list of events and their dates, but the main description of each will be posted at a later date. The first of the three farm tours is a tour of spring flowers, which will take place on April 18. The remaining tours are scheduled for October and will focus on pumpkin and squash farms. Three “Kids Days” will go on April 28, June 16, and Aug. 13.
Crafts will be sold all through the year, but two craft showcases will feature these works in particular. May 2 is the Spring Craft Showcase, while Oct. 17 is the Fall Craft Showcase.
The farmer’s market has Holiday celebrations for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Halloween. Mother’s Day has a two correlated events, a Flower Arranging Demo on Thursday, May 7 and a Flower Fair May 9. For those that struggle to find Dad a gift each year, there is a Father’s Day Gift Showcase on June 20. Since the Fourth of July falls on a Saturday this year, the market is having a Picnic in the Square Grill Out for the public. Customer Appreciation Celebration is planned for Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 5. Finally, near the close of the farmer’s market, will be a Costume Contest for Saturday, Oct. 31, Halloween.
For additional information, visit www.fayettevillefarmersmarket.com, email fayettevillefm@gmail.com, or call 479-236-2910.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
National Bike Month in Fayetteville
Resources available to students during National Bike Month in Fayetteville
In order to kick off the National Bike Month of May, Fayetteville is sponsoring a “Bike to Work Week” on May 11-15 this year. There are many convenient trails available for Fayetteville public use this spring, as well as free use of bicycles for UA students.
In preparation of hitting the trails this spring, students might consider bike availability, parking permits, trail options and reasons to choose bicycling to work and school, instead of other transportation means.
U of A Transit and Parking is in the process of changing their bicycle policy, according to the administrators of U of A Students Against Bicycle Parking Fees on Campus. In the future, bicycles must be registered and display a UA bicycle permit. Due to student protesting, the permit will not cost $15; instead the permits will be free.
Gary K. Smith, UA Director of Transit and Parking said once the policy is established, registration will be made easy, especially in obtaining permits. The new bicycle permits will be distributed either outside the Union Station or Arkansas Union.
The use of highways, the headache of street lights and crosswalks might discourage an interest in bicycling, but the Fayetteville Alternative Transportation & Trail Plan is developing an intricate set of trail systems that are more pedestrian and bicycle-rider friendly.
This is the sixth of 15 years in the FATT plan. The plan was developed to establish alternative modes of transportation and active recreation as an integral part of daily life in the City of Fayetteville, according to the FATT executive summary. The goal of the Trail Construction Program is to construct about five miles of new trail each year, which in FATT’s terms translates to a trail within a half-mile of every home.
The City of Fayetteville now offers ten miles of paved trails and will ultimately include 129 miles of trails and 163 miles of on-street linkages, according to the Trail Construction Program. The Frisco and Scull Creek trails are the base for this trail network. The two trails run north and south through Fayetteville and will have trails built from them extending east and west.
The Frisco Trail on Center Street near to the UA campus is 0.6 of a mile. It passes the Blair Library as well as the “Trailside Café and Tea Room”, and then opens onto Dickson Street.
Nearby, Scull Creek Trail begins on Gregg Street and passes through various Lindsey & Associates properties and the Washington Regional Medical Center in its four miles. The concrete trail is 12-feet wide, has benches along the way, and has many tall lamps to maximize safe riding hours.
Things to keep in mind when hitting the trail this spring include clothing choice, distance of your trip, weather, safety, and bicycle accessories. Loose-fitting, light-colored clothing maximizes the cyclists’ comfort. If you wish to change into work clothing after the ride, rolling the clothes prevents wrinkles. U-locks are optimal for parking and storing your bike while at school or work. A basket, rear-rack or pannier (a bag that fits onto a rear rack) are useful when riding destinations that require luggage.
Even if students do not have their bike in town, there are resources available at no charge.
Razorbikes is a group that distributes community bikes to UA students, alumni, faculty and staff, according to the UA Transit and Parking Department Web site. After registering with Razorbikes in the Parking Office, the bicycles are available for a full day at no fee and can be taken off campus. Basic Razorbike guidelines include wearing a helmet, following state and local bicycle laws and not sharing the combination with another person while using the bicycle. The first Razorbikes were supplied by the Regions bank and other businesses, but the program accepts donated bikes from students, alumni, faculty and staff.
The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department outlines a few straight forward laws for bicyclists. Cycle on the right side of the road (never the left side or the sidewalk), obey all traffic signals and control devices, yield to crossing traffic, when changing lanes yield to traffic in the new lane, at intersections face the direction of your destination and also position yourself according to the speed relative to other traffic.
In order to kick off the National Bike Month of May, Fayetteville is sponsoring a “Bike to Work Week” on May 11-15 this year. There are many convenient trails available for Fayetteville public use this spring, as well as free use of bicycles for UA students.
In preparation of hitting the trails this spring, students might consider bike availability, parking permits, trail options and reasons to choose bicycling to work and school, instead of other transportation means.
U of A Transit and Parking is in the process of changing their bicycle policy, according to the administrators of U of A Students Against Bicycle Parking Fees on Campus. In the future, bicycles must be registered and display a UA bicycle permit. Due to student protesting, the permit will not cost $15; instead the permits will be free.
Gary K. Smith, UA Director of Transit and Parking said once the policy is established, registration will be made easy, especially in obtaining permits. The new bicycle permits will be distributed either outside the Union Station or Arkansas Union.
The use of highways, the headache of street lights and crosswalks might discourage an interest in bicycling, but the Fayetteville Alternative Transportation & Trail Plan is developing an intricate set of trail systems that are more pedestrian and bicycle-rider friendly.
This is the sixth of 15 years in the FATT plan. The plan was developed to establish alternative modes of transportation and active recreation as an integral part of daily life in the City of Fayetteville, according to the FATT executive summary. The goal of the Trail Construction Program is to construct about five miles of new trail each year, which in FATT’s terms translates to a trail within a half-mile of every home.
The City of Fayetteville now offers ten miles of paved trails and will ultimately include 129 miles of trails and 163 miles of on-street linkages, according to the Trail Construction Program. The Frisco and Scull Creek trails are the base for this trail network. The two trails run north and south through Fayetteville and will have trails built from them extending east and west.
The Frisco Trail on Center Street near to the UA campus is 0.6 of a mile. It passes the Blair Library as well as the “Trailside Café and Tea Room”, and then opens onto Dickson Street.
Nearby, Scull Creek Trail begins on Gregg Street and passes through various Lindsey & Associates properties and the Washington Regional Medical Center in its four miles. The concrete trail is 12-feet wide, has benches along the way, and has many tall lamps to maximize safe riding hours.
Things to keep in mind when hitting the trail this spring include clothing choice, distance of your trip, weather, safety, and bicycle accessories. Loose-fitting, light-colored clothing maximizes the cyclists’ comfort. If you wish to change into work clothing after the ride, rolling the clothes prevents wrinkles. U-locks are optimal for parking and storing your bike while at school or work. A basket, rear-rack or pannier (a bag that fits onto a rear rack) are useful when riding destinations that require luggage.
Even if students do not have their bike in town, there are resources available at no charge.
Razorbikes is a group that distributes community bikes to UA students, alumni, faculty and staff, according to the UA Transit and Parking Department Web site. After registering with Razorbikes in the Parking Office, the bicycles are available for a full day at no fee and can be taken off campus. Basic Razorbike guidelines include wearing a helmet, following state and local bicycle laws and not sharing the combination with another person while using the bicycle. The first Razorbikes were supplied by the Regions bank and other businesses, but the program accepts donated bikes from students, alumni, faculty and staff.
The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department outlines a few straight forward laws for bicyclists. Cycle on the right side of the road (never the left side or the sidewalk), obey all traffic signals and control devices, yield to crossing traffic, when changing lanes yield to traffic in the new lane, at intersections face the direction of your destination and also position yourself according to the speed relative to other traffic.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Fate of a ballerina
My Christmas seasons always came with certain routine comforts. There were typical things, such as decorating the house, learning to cook various desserts with Mom; Dad teaching me how to perfectly wrap a present, and listening to my family read the story of Jesus’ birth before opening gifts.
Among my favorite tradition was watching The Nutcracker on PBS. I didn’t usually have anyone else join me on this one. I suppose everyone else might have seen it a hundred times, but by the time I turned nine, I was prepared to see it one hundred more times. The elegant costumes seemed so beautiful, even through the glass of a fuzzy TV screen that didn’t provide many close-ups. My fourth grade reading program was slowly teaching us the importance of plot. This, coupled with watching the same story once a year, meant I practically memorized the story of the Nutcracker.
At some point, my mom decided she wanted to see the Nutcracker as a family. As a school teacher, she had always harbored a love for the arts of piano, ballet and written works, but hadn’t had many aesthetic experiences. My dad has been a postman through most of his career, but enjoys all music and literary experiences from the comfort of his car or home. He listened to books on cassette in his mail-vehicle and kept the Bose radio playing constantly with blues, jazz and classical works. One thing he did not appreciate was seeing men in tights, so he reduced ballet to this ghastly image. “Why would you want to see that…men in tights should be reserved for Robin Hood: men in tights and that only,” he said. After mom’s convincing, we all headed to the Robinson Center in Little Rock for an aesthetic family experience.
In preparation for the ballet, mom chose a dress and jewelry from her closet, advised dad on a button up shirt and slacks, then tried to work on my outfit. Although I had not been to any professional concerts or ballets, I was convinced that no one would really want or need to get that dressed up for such an event. If you are going to enjoy something, why does the enjoyment come with stipulations, like wearing a dress? Mom had grown used this attitude, so our truce on my outfit was a teal-colored jumper over a teal & lavender shirt, complete with cute little tights and Sunday shoes.
As the evening began, I’m sure my dad had more than one fantasy about bailing on the ballet. At this point, he had lost the argument whether to go or not, then was forced to dress up (something he hadn’t done in years) and was the chosen driver (and supply of a new tank of gas) to make the one hour trek to combat the “city traffic” of Little Rock, which had never failed to irritate him. Later, he would be expected to sit quietly through the program he so hated, possibly buy a souvenir, then drive us home in the premature dark of winter.
Once in Little Rock, I marveled at the large buildings and bright lights of the city. The steps leading to the front door of the Robinson were intimidating, but certainly worth it. Even as a fourth grader, I was becoming increasingly embarrassed by my corduroy jumper as I eyed the golden silk, mauve taffeta, and black velvet gowns that surrounded us in the elevator.
All the stress of preparation and my embarrassment melted away as we stepped into the grand Robinson Theatre. There were so many seats…there were so many people, even several ushers to show you where to sit. How could mom and dad find our seats, even with the ushers’ help? Sure, I would watch the Nutcracker on television again next year, but I realized I would be jealous of myself sitting here now, seeing the grandeur right before me. The stage was no longer 20 inches wide, it was larger than life. Larger than my life, that’s for sure. After the introduction to the ballet, the same blue spotlight came on the curtain, as I watched the very video-cameras prepare to record what they had provided me with so many times.
The Nutcracker was more than I had hoped it would be. The colors were vivid now, not chromatic shades of one color as the TV had reduced them to. Sure, there were men in tights, but what did I know about their bodies? Whatever it was, I wasn’t concerned about their appearance. Their movements mesmerized me. From the suspended movements like something you would see underwater and not the air, to the hurried, accurate movements of the spinning top-like tutus, each was graceful. So graceful, it inspired patience in my musical focus. They were true artists and they had each experienced a first year of dancing. Maybe there was hope for me to become a true pianist, even though I was in my first year of piano.
During the intermission, my family returned to the theatre-red lobby, where several vendors had set up. They sold everything from coffees to wines, Christmas ornaments to ballet collectibles. The graceful audience members bustled in their netted skirts, tasteful black suits and uniform black patent leather shoes without seeming hurried like people on the street. They were all speaking, catching up in a quieter way that didn’t remind me of anything else I had seen or heard before.
While we were perusing the many items for sale, Dad allowed me to choose one item to take home. “That’s easy,” I thought. There were many beautiful things in the lobby, but the one that topped all was obvious. Shining faultlessly, glistening under the dimmed lighting was the frosted glass figure of a poised ballerina. Since I chose so quickly, Mom & Dad took me around the room once to make sure I wouldn’t see something else and regret my choice. As we came around again, Dad realized I had my mind made up. The ballerina was just right. I squealed with delight and gave him a kiss on the cheek as he presented me with my first (non-homemade) Christmas ornament.
There was really nothing particularly unique about it. Clear glass without a spot of color, the ballerina was wearing the traditional tutu, standard shoes, had her hair in a bun, and formed her arms in an oval, the same gesture that little girls make when imitating these lovely artists.
Following the show, I paid little attention to our reverse-trek to the vehicle. Mom and Dad knew their way out of the confusing building, back to the parking garage. I used this carefree time to relive the fabulous experience. Once we made it to the car, my parents surely thought half the battle was over. We simply had to maneuver out of the garage and then hit the freeway home. Unfortunately, our old Eddie Bauer Bronco began smoking as Dad attempted to pull it out of the parking space. It was barely detectable at first, a slight smell that made us wonder if it was another vehicle. I was turning the ballerina in my small hands, wondering how someone could train movements into something so stunning.
A few moments later, it was obvious that the Bronco wasn’t acting normally. Mom and Dad’s stress brought me out of my artistic daydreams. Dad never panics, but his urgent way of checking things on the vehicle signaled that something was going wrong. Suddenly, as Dad realized what was happening, he leapt out of the Bronco, slammed the door and grabbed the fire extinguisher from the back. “Grab April and get out of the car NOW,” he yelled at Mom. Mom didn’t waste any time, but I was still holding the ballerina and had to grab my coat and book. Those precious seconds could have been too long, but there was no time to explain that to a nine-year-old.
Mom dutifully hustled me to the far wall, within sight of our vehicle. Surrounded by a constant line of vehicles of our fellow audience members that were still elegantly dressed, now opened their car doors and each waved cell phones and yelled at us, “Who should we call?!” Their eyes nervously darted from us to the front windshield, wondering how long it would take to get their own families out of the underground parking garage.
Fear gripped my entire being while I watched dad dodge flames, trying to extinguish a fire that could spread to that full tank of gas he bought in mom’s and my best interest. Sweating, running back and forth, he sprayed the underside of the vehicle, trying to figure out where the fire was coming from. Next, he opened the hood of the Bronco. Mom and I cried out in shock as my dad narrowly missed the large, collective tangerine flames lashed out as a huge orange tongue of our once-trusty old vehicle. I’m not sure how long we spent frozen in fear and huddled together in our winter coats by that grey concrete wall. Too long, I think. We had nowhere to sit, not that we could have relaxed anyway.
The sophisticated people were now realistic with normal, room-volume voices. Finally, my mom had had enough with the audience’s yelling. When you are in a crisis, the only way to handle it is to do the most you can and leave the rest up to God, she always told me. We briskly walked up to the vehicle of the loudest dainty shouter. “STOP YELLING AT US…WE ARE TRYING TO PRAY,” she said. The lady didn’t miss a beat, “We have a cell phone, who should we call for you?” Since we didn’t have any family or friends in Little Rock, mom told her, “Call 911 and call God.” That was the extent of the conversation, there was no way mom would waste her time explaining to others when she had a direct line to the only being that could help us. Others had called 911 as well, but the fire department hadn’t arrived yet. Nor could they drive right up to us, since the traffic blocked us on all sides.
After what felt like hours of praying, hours of listening to distraught people trying to get our attention, hours of holding onto my glass figurine, I started to feel helpless. We were going to die here, in a slow-motion picture that only a few could see at such a high cost? Is this the way to go as a nine-year-old, to die in an underground parking lot explosion? Had God allowed me a beautiful evening to conclude a short life and a new comfort object to die with?
Dad’s fire extinguisher had run out, so there was little more that could be done.
Then Mom and I saw a figure come through the thick smoke. Did the fire department finally make it? No, it was just some guy, an ordinary-looking man wearing glasses, but…he had a fire extinguisher that was twice as big as what ours had been. Together, he and my dad made quick-work out of the rest of the fire.
In what seemed like a few seconds, the fire was finally put out, the rest of the nobly-dressed shouters had exited the garage and suddenly the man with the extinguisher was nowhere to be seen. Dad returned to us, ashen and spent; the perfect ending to his ideal night. As we celebrated our reunion, the firemen came walking towards us calmly and check the Bronco over, in case there was anything left to finish.
We returned to the theatre-red lobby, this time in search of a phone and a phone book to make arrangements for the vehicle and find a ride home. After Mom explained the situation to my sister, she came to pick us up.
After returning home, I was thankful to place the ballerina on our Christmas tree. Thankful that I would return to my last few days of classes and thankful that I’d be watching the Nutcracker on TV next year. For the first time, Christmas had a different meaning for me. Someone had helped my family, helped a crowd of ballet-goers survive. We had done more than just survived, no one was injured and eventually Dad would restore the vehicle.
For some reason, Mom, Dad and I were not supposed to die that night.
Christmas, the celebration of a savior, doesn’t begin until I reunite with the ballerina, until I have a thanksgiving for life, for safety and forgiveness. She is wrapped separately from the other ornaments, kept in a different place. It’d be such a waste for her to narrowly miss a fire, only to be crushed by Grandma Swindle’s hand-me-down ceramic ornaments. Multi-faceted, the artistic creature reminds me of eminent death, of the reason for life. It gave me something to look forward to; now that I was sure a protective God existed.
Each time I step off the bus, each time I leave the campus in the middle of the night, anytime that I am in public by myself, I feel his strong presence with me. I may not have a roommate, but I am not alone. After a long day of work, I sense the peace from his generous provision. I have a place to stay. I never go hungry. My only sickness is an annual bout with the flu. Each Christmas, I can go home and place the ballerina on the tree and enjoy the company of my family.
The frosted ballerina pirouettes on the tree, catching each primary hue of the Christmas light string, transforming from a royal blue ballerina to a golden-orange ballerina; ruby red ballerina to an evergreen ballerina.
Among my favorite tradition was watching The Nutcracker on PBS. I didn’t usually have anyone else join me on this one. I suppose everyone else might have seen it a hundred times, but by the time I turned nine, I was prepared to see it one hundred more times. The elegant costumes seemed so beautiful, even through the glass of a fuzzy TV screen that didn’t provide many close-ups. My fourth grade reading program was slowly teaching us the importance of plot. This, coupled with watching the same story once a year, meant I practically memorized the story of the Nutcracker.
At some point, my mom decided she wanted to see the Nutcracker as a family. As a school teacher, she had always harbored a love for the arts of piano, ballet and written works, but hadn’t had many aesthetic experiences. My dad has been a postman through most of his career, but enjoys all music and literary experiences from the comfort of his car or home. He listened to books on cassette in his mail-vehicle and kept the Bose radio playing constantly with blues, jazz and classical works. One thing he did not appreciate was seeing men in tights, so he reduced ballet to this ghastly image. “Why would you want to see that…men in tights should be reserved for Robin Hood: men in tights and that only,” he said. After mom’s convincing, we all headed to the Robinson Center in Little Rock for an aesthetic family experience.
In preparation for the ballet, mom chose a dress and jewelry from her closet, advised dad on a button up shirt and slacks, then tried to work on my outfit. Although I had not been to any professional concerts or ballets, I was convinced that no one would really want or need to get that dressed up for such an event. If you are going to enjoy something, why does the enjoyment come with stipulations, like wearing a dress? Mom had grown used this attitude, so our truce on my outfit was a teal-colored jumper over a teal & lavender shirt, complete with cute little tights and Sunday shoes.
As the evening began, I’m sure my dad had more than one fantasy about bailing on the ballet. At this point, he had lost the argument whether to go or not, then was forced to dress up (something he hadn’t done in years) and was the chosen driver (and supply of a new tank of gas) to make the one hour trek to combat the “city traffic” of Little Rock, which had never failed to irritate him. Later, he would be expected to sit quietly through the program he so hated, possibly buy a souvenir, then drive us home in the premature dark of winter.
Once in Little Rock, I marveled at the large buildings and bright lights of the city. The steps leading to the front door of the Robinson were intimidating, but certainly worth it. Even as a fourth grader, I was becoming increasingly embarrassed by my corduroy jumper as I eyed the golden silk, mauve taffeta, and black velvet gowns that surrounded us in the elevator.
All the stress of preparation and my embarrassment melted away as we stepped into the grand Robinson Theatre. There were so many seats…there were so many people, even several ushers to show you where to sit. How could mom and dad find our seats, even with the ushers’ help? Sure, I would watch the Nutcracker on television again next year, but I realized I would be jealous of myself sitting here now, seeing the grandeur right before me. The stage was no longer 20 inches wide, it was larger than life. Larger than my life, that’s for sure. After the introduction to the ballet, the same blue spotlight came on the curtain, as I watched the very video-cameras prepare to record what they had provided me with so many times.
The Nutcracker was more than I had hoped it would be. The colors were vivid now, not chromatic shades of one color as the TV had reduced them to. Sure, there were men in tights, but what did I know about their bodies? Whatever it was, I wasn’t concerned about their appearance. Their movements mesmerized me. From the suspended movements like something you would see underwater and not the air, to the hurried, accurate movements of the spinning top-like tutus, each was graceful. So graceful, it inspired patience in my musical focus. They were true artists and they had each experienced a first year of dancing. Maybe there was hope for me to become a true pianist, even though I was in my first year of piano.
During the intermission, my family returned to the theatre-red lobby, where several vendors had set up. They sold everything from coffees to wines, Christmas ornaments to ballet collectibles. The graceful audience members bustled in their netted skirts, tasteful black suits and uniform black patent leather shoes without seeming hurried like people on the street. They were all speaking, catching up in a quieter way that didn’t remind me of anything else I had seen or heard before.
While we were perusing the many items for sale, Dad allowed me to choose one item to take home. “That’s easy,” I thought. There were many beautiful things in the lobby, but the one that topped all was obvious. Shining faultlessly, glistening under the dimmed lighting was the frosted glass figure of a poised ballerina. Since I chose so quickly, Mom & Dad took me around the room once to make sure I wouldn’t see something else and regret my choice. As we came around again, Dad realized I had my mind made up. The ballerina was just right. I squealed with delight and gave him a kiss on the cheek as he presented me with my first (non-homemade) Christmas ornament.
There was really nothing particularly unique about it. Clear glass without a spot of color, the ballerina was wearing the traditional tutu, standard shoes, had her hair in a bun, and formed her arms in an oval, the same gesture that little girls make when imitating these lovely artists.
Following the show, I paid little attention to our reverse-trek to the vehicle. Mom and Dad knew their way out of the confusing building, back to the parking garage. I used this carefree time to relive the fabulous experience. Once we made it to the car, my parents surely thought half the battle was over. We simply had to maneuver out of the garage and then hit the freeway home. Unfortunately, our old Eddie Bauer Bronco began smoking as Dad attempted to pull it out of the parking space. It was barely detectable at first, a slight smell that made us wonder if it was another vehicle. I was turning the ballerina in my small hands, wondering how someone could train movements into something so stunning.
A few moments later, it was obvious that the Bronco wasn’t acting normally. Mom and Dad’s stress brought me out of my artistic daydreams. Dad never panics, but his urgent way of checking things on the vehicle signaled that something was going wrong. Suddenly, as Dad realized what was happening, he leapt out of the Bronco, slammed the door and grabbed the fire extinguisher from the back. “Grab April and get out of the car NOW,” he yelled at Mom. Mom didn’t waste any time, but I was still holding the ballerina and had to grab my coat and book. Those precious seconds could have been too long, but there was no time to explain that to a nine-year-old.
Mom dutifully hustled me to the far wall, within sight of our vehicle. Surrounded by a constant line of vehicles of our fellow audience members that were still elegantly dressed, now opened their car doors and each waved cell phones and yelled at us, “Who should we call?!” Their eyes nervously darted from us to the front windshield, wondering how long it would take to get their own families out of the underground parking garage.
Fear gripped my entire being while I watched dad dodge flames, trying to extinguish a fire that could spread to that full tank of gas he bought in mom’s and my best interest. Sweating, running back and forth, he sprayed the underside of the vehicle, trying to figure out where the fire was coming from. Next, he opened the hood of the Bronco. Mom and I cried out in shock as my dad narrowly missed the large, collective tangerine flames lashed out as a huge orange tongue of our once-trusty old vehicle. I’m not sure how long we spent frozen in fear and huddled together in our winter coats by that grey concrete wall. Too long, I think. We had nowhere to sit, not that we could have relaxed anyway.
The sophisticated people were now realistic with normal, room-volume voices. Finally, my mom had had enough with the audience’s yelling. When you are in a crisis, the only way to handle it is to do the most you can and leave the rest up to God, she always told me. We briskly walked up to the vehicle of the loudest dainty shouter. “STOP YELLING AT US…WE ARE TRYING TO PRAY,” she said. The lady didn’t miss a beat, “We have a cell phone, who should we call for you?” Since we didn’t have any family or friends in Little Rock, mom told her, “Call 911 and call God.” That was the extent of the conversation, there was no way mom would waste her time explaining to others when she had a direct line to the only being that could help us. Others had called 911 as well, but the fire department hadn’t arrived yet. Nor could they drive right up to us, since the traffic blocked us on all sides.
After what felt like hours of praying, hours of listening to distraught people trying to get our attention, hours of holding onto my glass figurine, I started to feel helpless. We were going to die here, in a slow-motion picture that only a few could see at such a high cost? Is this the way to go as a nine-year-old, to die in an underground parking lot explosion? Had God allowed me a beautiful evening to conclude a short life and a new comfort object to die with?
Dad’s fire extinguisher had run out, so there was little more that could be done.
Then Mom and I saw a figure come through the thick smoke. Did the fire department finally make it? No, it was just some guy, an ordinary-looking man wearing glasses, but…he had a fire extinguisher that was twice as big as what ours had been. Together, he and my dad made quick-work out of the rest of the fire.
In what seemed like a few seconds, the fire was finally put out, the rest of the nobly-dressed shouters had exited the garage and suddenly the man with the extinguisher was nowhere to be seen. Dad returned to us, ashen and spent; the perfect ending to his ideal night. As we celebrated our reunion, the firemen came walking towards us calmly and check the Bronco over, in case there was anything left to finish.
We returned to the theatre-red lobby, this time in search of a phone and a phone book to make arrangements for the vehicle and find a ride home. After Mom explained the situation to my sister, she came to pick us up.
After returning home, I was thankful to place the ballerina on our Christmas tree. Thankful that I would return to my last few days of classes and thankful that I’d be watching the Nutcracker on TV next year. For the first time, Christmas had a different meaning for me. Someone had helped my family, helped a crowd of ballet-goers survive. We had done more than just survived, no one was injured and eventually Dad would restore the vehicle.
For some reason, Mom, Dad and I were not supposed to die that night.
Christmas, the celebration of a savior, doesn’t begin until I reunite with the ballerina, until I have a thanksgiving for life, for safety and forgiveness. She is wrapped separately from the other ornaments, kept in a different place. It’d be such a waste for her to narrowly miss a fire, only to be crushed by Grandma Swindle’s hand-me-down ceramic ornaments. Multi-faceted, the artistic creature reminds me of eminent death, of the reason for life. It gave me something to look forward to; now that I was sure a protective God existed.
Each time I step off the bus, each time I leave the campus in the middle of the night, anytime that I am in public by myself, I feel his strong presence with me. I may not have a roommate, but I am not alone. After a long day of work, I sense the peace from his generous provision. I have a place to stay. I never go hungry. My only sickness is an annual bout with the flu. Each Christmas, I can go home and place the ballerina on the tree and enjoy the company of my family.
The frosted ballerina pirouettes on the tree, catching each primary hue of the Christmas light string, transforming from a royal blue ballerina to a golden-orange ballerina; ruby red ballerina to an evergreen ballerina.
Friday, April 3, 2009
6event
Nobel Laureate in Physics, Joseph Taylor spoke at UA this week about the process of observing, data recording, and devices he used that led him to discovering the first binary pulsar. His speech was the 13th annual Robert D. Maurer Distinguished Lecture, a lecture that hosts a variety of scientists to speak on topics such as stars, lasers, molecular beams, Einstein and the Universe in general.
Taylor discovered the first binary pulsar along with Russell Hulse, which earned them the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics. When they began their observations, their goal was not to discover other astronomical bodies. Taylor said they wanted to establish how the pulsars were related to other stars and how they were distributed through the galaxies, an interest that had stemmed from the Cambridge group’s discovery of the first four pulsars. “Einstein would have made this discovery if he had our information,” he said.
Despite the late-arriving students, the audience also included many eagerly awaiting physicists. Utsab Khadka, physics teaching assistant, said he was looking forward to the insights from Taylor’s speech. In preparation, he read a couple of speeches given by Taylor, so he would be able to process the new information the lecture provided. “His Nobel banquet speech was really cool. I think he will be very inspiring,” Khadka said.
Taylor and Hulse spent their hours of pulsar research in 1974 at the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. A normal day at the observatory for them included only two and a half hours of observing due to a limited window of visibility. To determine when these hours would be in the earth's orbit, Hulse and Taylor consulted “Time Keeping Bulletins”, which would arrive in the mail about every two weeks and are now available by email. “So if you ever need to know exactly where the earth is in its orbit, this is the way to go,” Taylor said. The remainder of their pulsar research days were spent recording the data and interpreting it.
The two physicists used a device that was known as a mini-computer in the 1970s. “It was about the size of a refrigerator, which we kept in the shipping crate that it arrived in and Russ would make a mark on the side [of the crate] each time we found another pulsar,” Taylor said.
The many hours of data collection and observation were a difficult endeavor since the binary pulsar was 25,000 light years away, Taylor explained. “It’s a little like studying a factory machine by standing in the parking lot listening to the squeaks,” he said.
Pulsars are neutron stars, orbiting magnetized remnants of supernova explosions that produce radio waves. As he started to recognize the unique characteristics of pulsars, he made a computer algorithm to identify them, which soon led to finding a fifth pulsar. Since pulsars are known as nature’s most accurate clocks, part of Taylor’s gravitational discovery enabled exploration of a new subfield in astrophysics by testing the relativistic nature of gravity via comparisons of the Universe’s pulsar time with the Earth’s atomic time. The Nobel Prize in Physics press release explains, “The pulsar’s pulse period has proved to be extremely stable… [it] increases by less than 5 percent during 1 million years.”
Although the binary pulsar is nature’s most accurate clock, they speed up in minute amounts, about one millimeter per orbit/approximately eight hours. Eventually, the two pulsars (that make the binary pulsar) orbits will shrink progressively until they collide. Taylor explained that at this rate, it will take about 300 million years before it creates a “hell of a big gravitational bang.”
The radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory is a web of aluminum panels held up by cables over a sinkhole. In the center of the device are two objects that swing back and forth to maintain its balance. The radio telescope serves two functions, to receive radio signals from outer space as well as emit radio signals to bounce off of objects. Both functions provide data that enable a better understanding of astronomical objects. Receiving signals provides information about bodies that emit them, such as pulsars. Emitting signals provides information about the bodies that the signals hit. This is one way that we learn about the moon and Venus, Taylor explained.
Taylor has spent the past 29 years as a professor in the department of physics at Princeton University and seemed to deliver the lecture primarily as a teacher, than as a scientist.
He set the foundation for his speech by giving a basic history of physics and by briefly summarizing the most fundamental physicists and their accomplishments from the 15th-17th centuries, such as Nicolaus Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, and Isaac Newton. The entire lecture was reinforced by a detailed, structured PowerPoint presentation, which was followed by a question-and-answer session for further clarification.
UA student Meagan Howard originally attended primarily for extra credit, but afterwards she left pleasantly surprised. Howard agreed that Taylor’s speech was accessible, even for non-science students, “I really liked that he used a PowerPoint presentation, it helped me to understand more.”
Taylor discovered the first binary pulsar along with Russell Hulse, which earned them the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics. When they began their observations, their goal was not to discover other astronomical bodies. Taylor said they wanted to establish how the pulsars were related to other stars and how they were distributed through the galaxies, an interest that had stemmed from the Cambridge group’s discovery of the first four pulsars. “Einstein would have made this discovery if he had our information,” he said.
Despite the late-arriving students, the audience also included many eagerly awaiting physicists. Utsab Khadka, physics teaching assistant, said he was looking forward to the insights from Taylor’s speech. In preparation, he read a couple of speeches given by Taylor, so he would be able to process the new information the lecture provided. “His Nobel banquet speech was really cool. I think he will be very inspiring,” Khadka said.
Taylor and Hulse spent their hours of pulsar research in 1974 at the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. A normal day at the observatory for them included only two and a half hours of observing due to a limited window of visibility. To determine when these hours would be in the earth's orbit, Hulse and Taylor consulted “Time Keeping Bulletins”, which would arrive in the mail about every two weeks and are now available by email. “So if you ever need to know exactly where the earth is in its orbit, this is the way to go,” Taylor said. The remainder of their pulsar research days were spent recording the data and interpreting it.
The two physicists used a device that was known as a mini-computer in the 1970s. “It was about the size of a refrigerator, which we kept in the shipping crate that it arrived in and Russ would make a mark on the side [of the crate] each time we found another pulsar,” Taylor said.
The many hours of data collection and observation were a difficult endeavor since the binary pulsar was 25,000 light years away, Taylor explained. “It’s a little like studying a factory machine by standing in the parking lot listening to the squeaks,” he said.
Pulsars are neutron stars, orbiting magnetized remnants of supernova explosions that produce radio waves. As he started to recognize the unique characteristics of pulsars, he made a computer algorithm to identify them, which soon led to finding a fifth pulsar. Since pulsars are known as nature’s most accurate clocks, part of Taylor’s gravitational discovery enabled exploration of a new subfield in astrophysics by testing the relativistic nature of gravity via comparisons of the Universe’s pulsar time with the Earth’s atomic time. The Nobel Prize in Physics press release explains, “The pulsar’s pulse period has proved to be extremely stable… [it] increases by less than 5 percent during 1 million years.”
Although the binary pulsar is nature’s most accurate clock, they speed up in minute amounts, about one millimeter per orbit/approximately eight hours. Eventually, the two pulsars (that make the binary pulsar) orbits will shrink progressively until they collide. Taylor explained that at this rate, it will take about 300 million years before it creates a “hell of a big gravitational bang.”
The radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory is a web of aluminum panels held up by cables over a sinkhole. In the center of the device are two objects that swing back and forth to maintain its balance. The radio telescope serves two functions, to receive radio signals from outer space as well as emit radio signals to bounce off of objects. Both functions provide data that enable a better understanding of astronomical objects. Receiving signals provides information about bodies that emit them, such as pulsars. Emitting signals provides information about the bodies that the signals hit. This is one way that we learn about the moon and Venus, Taylor explained.
Taylor has spent the past 29 years as a professor in the department of physics at Princeton University and seemed to deliver the lecture primarily as a teacher, than as a scientist.
He set the foundation for his speech by giving a basic history of physics and by briefly summarizing the most fundamental physicists and their accomplishments from the 15th-17th centuries, such as Nicolaus Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, and Isaac Newton. The entire lecture was reinforced by a detailed, structured PowerPoint presentation, which was followed by a question-and-answer session for further clarification.
UA student Meagan Howard originally attended primarily for extra credit, but afterwards she left pleasantly surprised. Howard agreed that Taylor’s speech was accessible, even for non-science students, “I really liked that he used a PowerPoint presentation, it helped me to understand more.”
Friday, March 13, 2009
6meeting
Springdale residents crowded the town hall during the city council meeting Tuesday night after Ozark Regional Transit created “Save My Seat” to publicize the importance of this month’s Springdale City Council meeting.
The meeting covered matters of employment, the care of public property and the recent changes made to the regional bus route.
Police Chief Kathy O'Kelly asked the council to authorize a new police employee, which the council approved despite Alderman Jeff Watson's suggestion that in the future, these employment matters go through the financial report.
Among the issues addressed Tuesday was the restoration of Spring Creek. Springdale resident, Ron Minen has monitored the process of cleaning up the debris surrounding the creek and found the end result unsatisfactory. "When that money [from the city budget] becomes available, we could use it on Spring Creek," Minen suggested.
Fire Chief Duane Atha proposed the reinstatement of a former fireman, which the city council readily approved. The position will save money for the city by not requiring the training fees and re-certification that an entirely new employee would necessitate.
Ozark Regional Transit has cut route 43 upon a claim to lack the sufficient funds, despite the UA Survey Research Center revealing a 21 percent increase in bus ridership.
Northwest Arkansas transit users have seen a rotation of placed blame while trying to contact those in charge of cutting route 43, their only source of transportation. The 16 mile route 43 stops at various apartment complexes, the Springdale Wal-Mart, Springdale High School, Parson Hills Elementary, the First National Bank, Springdale Library, Harp’s Grocery, and the Richardson (rehabilitation center).
ORT’s Web site announced the way to "Save Your [bus] Seat": “How much money the elected officials decide to contribute to ORT is based upon how important they think it is to their citizens. How do they determine that? From calls and letters that they receive from people like you.”
Residents responded positively to this call to action. They sent many letters to the Springdale City Council and attended the monthly council meeting to explain why the transit is so vital to their lives. A translator assisted the Hispanic families so that the language barrier would not restrict their message, that they would be unable to buy groceries or go to work without route 43. A few disabled workers, who cannot drive, were also present to tell the council the end of the route will be the end of their jobs.
Another Springdale resident, Alice Hannah, became emotional when she explained the route cut would separate her from her family for long periods of time. Hannah said the closing of route 43 will cut her off from two very important things in her life. “I will lose a job if we lose this route. I won’t be able to visit my one family, my one granddaughter,” Hannah said. Tuesday night, she walked in arm braces from her home to the Town Hall to voice her concern on behalf of her neighbors, her family, the Hispanic communities of Springdale, and herself. “I’m not here for my own pain. When I see other people suffering, that is when I speak up,” she said.
Despite the large turnout of residents to respond to the funding, Alderman Bobby Stout insisted that the financial problem lies within Ozark Regional Transit and not the city of Springdale. The city supplied the same monetary fund this year for public transportation purposes as they did the previous year. Stout said he did not understand why ORT’s executive director, Phil Pumphrey requested so much more funding, since “We kept the funding at $160,000…but no costs went up.” Pumphrey appealed for $247,000 in funds this year, which Stout interpreted as valuing route 43 at $87,000.
Ozark Regional Transit’s funding comes from a variety of sources, including charitable contributions, federal, state and local governments and through a small fare, $1.25 per adult, according to ORT’s Web site. Its only claim to additional revenue is the sale of advertising space.
The only proposition for compromise came from Alderman Kathy Jaycox, when she suggested that the city council’s finance meeting be set aside to address the issue and invited those residents to also attend it. The Springdale financial meeting was set to be joined with the personnel meeting, but Jaycox wanted the council to have 30 days to research alternative transportation or funding for those who use Route 43.
Jaycox said she identifies with the concerns of Springdale residents on route 43. “My sister is handicapped and I know how long it took her to find a job,” she said. At first, her sister took a Fayetteville transit to her workplace. Eventually, the route was discontinued, which initiated Jaycox paying $377 per month to get her sister to work. “I know that the independence [of riding the transit] meant a lot to her,” she said. There seems to be no other way for her sister to keep the job without Jaycox providing transportation.
After the council meeting adjourned, Jaycox explained she had made attempts to understand the people of Springdale even more fully than simply relating to her sister. Jaycox spent time in a wheelchair to see how difficult it would be to get around. She also spent a day without her keys, to learn who she would rely on or what she would do in the event that her transportation was suddenly unavailable; as her sister and Springdale residents must do.
“We are always looking to make Springdale more accessible,” Jaycox said. At the moment, she said handicap accessible sidewalks are on Springdale’s agenda. She added, "If I had $80,000 extra in my bank account, I'd be glad to give it to these people."
For now, one location has been taken off of route 43 and has been reduced to making less than half of the daily rounds as it did before the city council meeting.
The meeting covered matters of employment, the care of public property and the recent changes made to the regional bus route.
Police Chief Kathy O'Kelly asked the council to authorize a new police employee, which the council approved despite Alderman Jeff Watson's suggestion that in the future, these employment matters go through the financial report.
Among the issues addressed Tuesday was the restoration of Spring Creek. Springdale resident, Ron Minen has monitored the process of cleaning up the debris surrounding the creek and found the end result unsatisfactory. "When that money [from the city budget] becomes available, we could use it on Spring Creek," Minen suggested.
Fire Chief Duane Atha proposed the reinstatement of a former fireman, which the city council readily approved. The position will save money for the city by not requiring the training fees and re-certification that an entirely new employee would necessitate.
Ozark Regional Transit has cut route 43 upon a claim to lack the sufficient funds, despite the UA Survey Research Center revealing a 21 percent increase in bus ridership.
Northwest Arkansas transit users have seen a rotation of placed blame while trying to contact those in charge of cutting route 43, their only source of transportation. The 16 mile route 43 stops at various apartment complexes, the Springdale Wal-Mart, Springdale High School, Parson Hills Elementary, the First National Bank, Springdale Library, Harp’s Grocery, and the Richardson (rehabilitation center).
ORT’s Web site announced the way to "Save Your [bus] Seat": “How much money the elected officials decide to contribute to ORT is based upon how important they think it is to their citizens. How do they determine that? From calls and letters that they receive from people like you.”
Residents responded positively to this call to action. They sent many letters to the Springdale City Council and attended the monthly council meeting to explain why the transit is so vital to their lives. A translator assisted the Hispanic families so that the language barrier would not restrict their message, that they would be unable to buy groceries or go to work without route 43. A few disabled workers, who cannot drive, were also present to tell the council the end of the route will be the end of their jobs.
Another Springdale resident, Alice Hannah, became emotional when she explained the route cut would separate her from her family for long periods of time. Hannah said the closing of route 43 will cut her off from two very important things in her life. “I will lose a job if we lose this route. I won’t be able to visit my one family, my one granddaughter,” Hannah said. Tuesday night, she walked in arm braces from her home to the Town Hall to voice her concern on behalf of her neighbors, her family, the Hispanic communities of Springdale, and herself. “I’m not here for my own pain. When I see other people suffering, that is when I speak up,” she said.
Despite the large turnout of residents to respond to the funding, Alderman Bobby Stout insisted that the financial problem lies within Ozark Regional Transit and not the city of Springdale. The city supplied the same monetary fund this year for public transportation purposes as they did the previous year. Stout said he did not understand why ORT’s executive director, Phil Pumphrey requested so much more funding, since “We kept the funding at $160,000…but no costs went up.” Pumphrey appealed for $247,000 in funds this year, which Stout interpreted as valuing route 43 at $87,000.
Ozark Regional Transit’s funding comes from a variety of sources, including charitable contributions, federal, state and local governments and through a small fare, $1.25 per adult, according to ORT’s Web site. Its only claim to additional revenue is the sale of advertising space.
The only proposition for compromise came from Alderman Kathy Jaycox, when she suggested that the city council’s finance meeting be set aside to address the issue and invited those residents to also attend it. The Springdale financial meeting was set to be joined with the personnel meeting, but Jaycox wanted the council to have 30 days to research alternative transportation or funding for those who use Route 43.
Jaycox said she identifies with the concerns of Springdale residents on route 43. “My sister is handicapped and I know how long it took her to find a job,” she said. At first, her sister took a Fayetteville transit to her workplace. Eventually, the route was discontinued, which initiated Jaycox paying $377 per month to get her sister to work. “I know that the independence [of riding the transit] meant a lot to her,” she said. There seems to be no other way for her sister to keep the job without Jaycox providing transportation.
After the council meeting adjourned, Jaycox explained she had made attempts to understand the people of Springdale even more fully than simply relating to her sister. Jaycox spent time in a wheelchair to see how difficult it would be to get around. She also spent a day without her keys, to learn who she would rely on or what she would do in the event that her transportation was suddenly unavailable; as her sister and Springdale residents must do.
“We are always looking to make Springdale more accessible,” Jaycox said. At the moment, she said handicap accessible sidewalks are on Springdale’s agenda. She added, "If I had $80,000 extra in my bank account, I'd be glad to give it to these people."
For now, one location has been taken off of route 43 and has been reduced to making less than half of the daily rounds as it did before the city council meeting.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
My High School Playlist
Essay Writing
3.2.09
“My Stupid Mouth” John Mayer
The summer before my freshman year of high school, many things about me changed. Out were my pastel-colored sweaters and caring around a stack of books in preparation for my long study hours after school.
My heart had been broken at the beginning of the summer by a boy I’d crushed on for two years and had become close friends with. In my boredom and immaturity, I started my plan to become a different person, so that he would come to like me. I donned black t-shirts with rock band names and pictures on them. I stopped wearing khakis and shorts, replacing them with jeans. Some of the jeans were dark and tight, others were light and ratty. I found the shoe of my dreams: a pair of Chuck Taylor converses. Most importantly, though were my eating habits. I stopped eating lunch, cut down snacks and ate as little as possible at the table.
The boy in question had dismissed me on the last day of school with a written note that he couldn’t spend time with me any longer because he couldn’t be in a relationship. Since we had become such close friends, I knew exactly what he was like. I knew which bands he listened to, what he would say if I asked his opinion, etc. In our time together, we discussed our love for music and he got me interested in bands such as Creed and Evanescence. My sister had bought a Creed album hastily and then passed it along to me when she realized she didn’t care for it. It was his voice in my mind, the only thing I would listen to. It was the playlist of the summer.
Upon entering high school, I returned to all of my past friends. Our small high school was connected to the junior high, so there wasn’t much to be desired in making the crossover. My main excitement for being in high school was to leave the beginner band and join this boy in the high school band. As I returned to school, people talked, as they do in small towns. I was losing weight, I dressed different, I was not the same person.
Suddenly, this boy wanted to talk to me and I couldn’t be more thrilled. His mother had taken an interest in me when she learned I had a crush, so she encouraged things to move along between us. She was a teacher in the same building where my mom taught. The two were good friends, so she convinced my mom that she needed an extra tutor in her after-school class. The only other helper she had was her son.
That autumn, Tim and I helped the children with their activities, then were usually left alone as his mom herded the kids to the cars and conveniently got caught up in conversations with other teachers that had stuck around. We used this time to discuss the craziest kids of the bunch, teach each other games, listen to music or dance. On one tutoring afternoon, his mom took us to the local gas station, got us snacks and let us have time together. There we were, ages 14 and 15, spending our time together talking about teachers and listening to John Mayer’s album “Room for Squares.”
We were both shy and didn’t mind empty space in our conversations. We had the ability to simply listen to music and enjoy it together.
“My stupid mouth got me in trouble, I said too much again to a date over dinner yesterday,” John sang as we stumbled over our words.
“And I could see she was offended, she said ‘Well, anyway,’” when we learned to recognize each other’s nervous ticks.
“Oh, it’s another social casualty, score one more for me, how could I forget, momma said think before speaking. Oh what’s a boy to do,” sang to the boy with the coolest mom on the block. She could listen to him ramble for hours, but we were barely teenagers. We struggled with our conversations.
“We bit our lips, she looked out the window, rolling tiny balls of napkin paper, I played a game of chess with the salt and pepper shakers,” when we wanted to spend time together but didn’t really know how to deal with things at hand.
“Ms. Independent” Kelly Clarkson
When sophomore year came around, a new confidence seemed to appear suddenly, though I’d later realize that Tim had built it through the past couple of years. I stopped looking at my feet while walking down the hallway, I spoke my mind and I didn’t make decisions just because my friends wanted something. I apologized less.
My group of friends always spent lunch in the band hall, eating yogurt, drinking sprite and watching American Idol on our new projector. Kelly Clarkson’s songs were my anthem. She was a small girl with a big voice and an even bigger attitude, which was optimal in my opinion.
“Ms. Independent, Ms. Self-sufficient, Ms. Keep your distance, Ms. Unafraid Ms. out of my way, Ms. never let a man help her…” These were all the things I wanted to become. Tim & I continued our rogue friendship. Things grew between us. We were best friends, but I never liked to be seen as dependent or needy. He thrived on this; loved being around someone who could deliver the punch lines right back to him. He didn’t seem to mind my shove-when-pushed attitude. He simply cherished my reactions.
“She’d never ever feel rejected…” At this point, I thought I could protect my heart by not letting guys too close, but didn’t realize simple friendships would lead to the same emotions.
“Miss if you want to use that line, you better not start. She miscalculated, she didn’t want to end up jaded, she went in a new direction, but oo..she fell in love.” As I realized that Tim was not going to ask me out, even as much as he seemed to like me, I decided to take a different approach. I developed smaller, less meaningful crushes and ended up dating a couple guys. It was an old trick that too many people use, but I thought maybe Tim would be overcome with jealousy if he had to hear about these guys. I’m sure it would have worked better if I had actually had lunch with these guys instead of continuing to spend it with Tim.
“It took some time for her to see how beautiful love could truly be,” Kelly sang. At the time, I was just coming to realize that love shouldn’t involve jealousy and pettiness.
“This is the Last Time” Keane
My first relationship that took my mind off of Tim for a little while came in autumn of my junior year. It didn’t last long, three months or so, but it changed both of us. This other guy was a much more involved musician. He was not simply a spectator of the musical sport, but a participant. He was my bass accompanist in Jazz band, a creator of beautiful chords.
The entire school year was filled with moments that I thought would be the last time I had done something. Several of my friends had graduated and those remaining were graduating at the end of my junior year.
“I remember the first time, the first of many, sweep it into the corner or hide it under the bed, say these things will go away, but they never do,” is exactly how the last time that I would remember the last night spent at Becka’s house. All we did was play ping-pong, listen to oldies radio, and watch a movie about girls roping guys into marriage. It was fabulous, though. It was one of those things that you just can’t forget, even if you don’t want to think about it. You know things like that will never happen again in the exact same way.
“This is the last time that I will say these words,” Keane sang. This is the last time that I will say these words, I thought as Nino and I went to Los Montanos together, eating Mexican food and speaking in short, mismatched phrases of broken Georgian. It was the last time we celebrated our Friday night together before she returned to the Republic of Georgia.
“You fall on me for anything you like, and years make everything right…and I, I don’t mind. Tread it into the carpet or hide it under the stairs, but some things never die. And I try. I try.” Tim and I went to Thanks a Latte on its closing night, during its last few hours of business. We were in despair, not knowing how long it would take for the Underground coffeehouse to get organized before opening.
He was there for me in all ways possible. He was there after two breakups, telling the guys that they should have listened to me. They should have given me flowers. They should have been sitting across the dinner table from me and introducing me to their parents, as he came to do all of these things himself. That summer after junior year, he tread it into the carpet, trying to keep our relationship subtle, even though we were spending all of our time with each other. But some things never die.
“Fully Alive” Flyleaf
Slinking into my senior year, I felt that Tim and I became a unit. He was all I had to hold on to, since I would have to start my fourth set of friends in high school and he would have to find friends at the community college. I had been friends with so many people, but the group changed each year as people graduated out. My struggles were found in dealing with the graduated friends moving on, finding their way at college and not looking back.
“Dying lay a story spoken, about how all her bones are broken, hammers fall on all the pieces.” As I walked the endless laps in my last hour gym class, I listened to Lacey’s powerful words and felt their impact. A group of rude boys were obviously curious why I didn’t care to interact with the others in the class, so they would take to saying rude things about me as they passed me on the track. They only thought I couldn’t hear them, since I had my headphones on. Sticks and stones…
It had been the toughest year of my high school career. The boys in gym spoke about me. The boys in Spanish ridiculed me. The girls spread rumors about me because they didn’t know a single thing about me.
Hammers fell on all the pieces, but I fought back. I had no record, so the teachers let me slip by when I broke. Ripping off my headphones, I yelled back equal insults to the boys in gym class. I threw back enough witty comments to the boys in Spanish class that they became friendly, awaiting my quick answers that kept them entertained. I let the rumors fly, spent a day in in-school suspension, relishing the quiet, the peace, and the Harry Potter book I had brought along.
“All her complaints shrink to nothing, I’m afraid of all my some-things, she’s good for one day of comfort, only because she has suffered. Fully alive.” After the change in attitude, I became much more content with my life. I was okay without many friends at school. I had survived this far, so I would make it to graduation.
So, I walked my laps.
I made witty comments.
I walked my laps.
I listened to Flyleaf.
I walked my laps.
and I waited for my weekends with Tim.
3.2.09
“My Stupid Mouth” John Mayer
The summer before my freshman year of high school, many things about me changed. Out were my pastel-colored sweaters and caring around a stack of books in preparation for my long study hours after school.
My heart had been broken at the beginning of the summer by a boy I’d crushed on for two years and had become close friends with. In my boredom and immaturity, I started my plan to become a different person, so that he would come to like me. I donned black t-shirts with rock band names and pictures on them. I stopped wearing khakis and shorts, replacing them with jeans. Some of the jeans were dark and tight, others were light and ratty. I found the shoe of my dreams: a pair of Chuck Taylor converses. Most importantly, though were my eating habits. I stopped eating lunch, cut down snacks and ate as little as possible at the table.
The boy in question had dismissed me on the last day of school with a written note that he couldn’t spend time with me any longer because he couldn’t be in a relationship. Since we had become such close friends, I knew exactly what he was like. I knew which bands he listened to, what he would say if I asked his opinion, etc. In our time together, we discussed our love for music and he got me interested in bands such as Creed and Evanescence. My sister had bought a Creed album hastily and then passed it along to me when she realized she didn’t care for it. It was his voice in my mind, the only thing I would listen to. It was the playlist of the summer.
Upon entering high school, I returned to all of my past friends. Our small high school was connected to the junior high, so there wasn’t much to be desired in making the crossover. My main excitement for being in high school was to leave the beginner band and join this boy in the high school band. As I returned to school, people talked, as they do in small towns. I was losing weight, I dressed different, I was not the same person.
Suddenly, this boy wanted to talk to me and I couldn’t be more thrilled. His mother had taken an interest in me when she learned I had a crush, so she encouraged things to move along between us. She was a teacher in the same building where my mom taught. The two were good friends, so she convinced my mom that she needed an extra tutor in her after-school class. The only other helper she had was her son.
That autumn, Tim and I helped the children with their activities, then were usually left alone as his mom herded the kids to the cars and conveniently got caught up in conversations with other teachers that had stuck around. We used this time to discuss the craziest kids of the bunch, teach each other games, listen to music or dance. On one tutoring afternoon, his mom took us to the local gas station, got us snacks and let us have time together. There we were, ages 14 and 15, spending our time together talking about teachers and listening to John Mayer’s album “Room for Squares.”
We were both shy and didn’t mind empty space in our conversations. We had the ability to simply listen to music and enjoy it together.
“My stupid mouth got me in trouble, I said too much again to a date over dinner yesterday,” John sang as we stumbled over our words.
“And I could see she was offended, she said ‘Well, anyway,’” when we learned to recognize each other’s nervous ticks.
“Oh, it’s another social casualty, score one more for me, how could I forget, momma said think before speaking. Oh what’s a boy to do,” sang to the boy with the coolest mom on the block. She could listen to him ramble for hours, but we were barely teenagers. We struggled with our conversations.
“We bit our lips, she looked out the window, rolling tiny balls of napkin paper, I played a game of chess with the salt and pepper shakers,” when we wanted to spend time together but didn’t really know how to deal with things at hand.
“Ms. Independent” Kelly Clarkson
When sophomore year came around, a new confidence seemed to appear suddenly, though I’d later realize that Tim had built it through the past couple of years. I stopped looking at my feet while walking down the hallway, I spoke my mind and I didn’t make decisions just because my friends wanted something. I apologized less.
My group of friends always spent lunch in the band hall, eating yogurt, drinking sprite and watching American Idol on our new projector. Kelly Clarkson’s songs were my anthem. She was a small girl with a big voice and an even bigger attitude, which was optimal in my opinion.
“Ms. Independent, Ms. Self-sufficient, Ms. Keep your distance, Ms. Unafraid Ms. out of my way, Ms. never let a man help her…” These were all the things I wanted to become. Tim & I continued our rogue friendship. Things grew between us. We were best friends, but I never liked to be seen as dependent or needy. He thrived on this; loved being around someone who could deliver the punch lines right back to him. He didn’t seem to mind my shove-when-pushed attitude. He simply cherished my reactions.
“She’d never ever feel rejected…” At this point, I thought I could protect my heart by not letting guys too close, but didn’t realize simple friendships would lead to the same emotions.
“Miss if you want to use that line, you better not start. She miscalculated, she didn’t want to end up jaded, she went in a new direction, but oo..she fell in love.” As I realized that Tim was not going to ask me out, even as much as he seemed to like me, I decided to take a different approach. I developed smaller, less meaningful crushes and ended up dating a couple guys. It was an old trick that too many people use, but I thought maybe Tim would be overcome with jealousy if he had to hear about these guys. I’m sure it would have worked better if I had actually had lunch with these guys instead of continuing to spend it with Tim.
“It took some time for her to see how beautiful love could truly be,” Kelly sang. At the time, I was just coming to realize that love shouldn’t involve jealousy and pettiness.
“This is the Last Time” Keane
My first relationship that took my mind off of Tim for a little while came in autumn of my junior year. It didn’t last long, three months or so, but it changed both of us. This other guy was a much more involved musician. He was not simply a spectator of the musical sport, but a participant. He was my bass accompanist in Jazz band, a creator of beautiful chords.
The entire school year was filled with moments that I thought would be the last time I had done something. Several of my friends had graduated and those remaining were graduating at the end of my junior year.
“I remember the first time, the first of many, sweep it into the corner or hide it under the bed, say these things will go away, but they never do,” is exactly how the last time that I would remember the last night spent at Becka’s house. All we did was play ping-pong, listen to oldies radio, and watch a movie about girls roping guys into marriage. It was fabulous, though. It was one of those things that you just can’t forget, even if you don’t want to think about it. You know things like that will never happen again in the exact same way.
“This is the last time that I will say these words,” Keane sang. This is the last time that I will say these words, I thought as Nino and I went to Los Montanos together, eating Mexican food and speaking in short, mismatched phrases of broken Georgian. It was the last time we celebrated our Friday night together before she returned to the Republic of Georgia.
“You fall on me for anything you like, and years make everything right…and I, I don’t mind. Tread it into the carpet or hide it under the stairs, but some things never die. And I try. I try.” Tim and I went to Thanks a Latte on its closing night, during its last few hours of business. We were in despair, not knowing how long it would take for the Underground coffeehouse to get organized before opening.
He was there for me in all ways possible. He was there after two breakups, telling the guys that they should have listened to me. They should have given me flowers. They should have been sitting across the dinner table from me and introducing me to their parents, as he came to do all of these things himself. That summer after junior year, he tread it into the carpet, trying to keep our relationship subtle, even though we were spending all of our time with each other. But some things never die.
“Fully Alive” Flyleaf
Slinking into my senior year, I felt that Tim and I became a unit. He was all I had to hold on to, since I would have to start my fourth set of friends in high school and he would have to find friends at the community college. I had been friends with so many people, but the group changed each year as people graduated out. My struggles were found in dealing with the graduated friends moving on, finding their way at college and not looking back.
“Dying lay a story spoken, about how all her bones are broken, hammers fall on all the pieces.” As I walked the endless laps in my last hour gym class, I listened to Lacey’s powerful words and felt their impact. A group of rude boys were obviously curious why I didn’t care to interact with the others in the class, so they would take to saying rude things about me as they passed me on the track. They only thought I couldn’t hear them, since I had my headphones on. Sticks and stones…
It had been the toughest year of my high school career. The boys in gym spoke about me. The boys in Spanish ridiculed me. The girls spread rumors about me because they didn’t know a single thing about me.
Hammers fell on all the pieces, but I fought back. I had no record, so the teachers let me slip by when I broke. Ripping off my headphones, I yelled back equal insults to the boys in gym class. I threw back enough witty comments to the boys in Spanish class that they became friendly, awaiting my quick answers that kept them entertained. I let the rumors fly, spent a day in in-school suspension, relishing the quiet, the peace, and the Harry Potter book I had brought along.
“All her complaints shrink to nothing, I’m afraid of all my some-things, she’s good for one day of comfort, only because she has suffered. Fully alive.” After the change in attitude, I became much more content with my life. I was okay without many friends at school. I had survived this far, so I would make it to graduation.
So, I walked my laps.
I made witty comments.
I walked my laps.
I listened to Flyleaf.
I walked my laps.
and I waited for my weekends with Tim.
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