Reasons that Russ doesn't need to visit a casino...ever again.
This was a new experience for me. Lara and I decided to take a quick little adventure over to the land of adult gaming amusement, Tunica. I have never stepped foot inside a casino such as this, but as I have a deep rooted history of gaming domination at the much more family-friendly Chuck E. Cheese's, I figured this can't be much different. Oh contrare.
1) Slot machines are a bit boring; they steal your money, and on the off chance you win something, the lights and sounds could cause an epileptic episode. To be honest, considering the mean age of casino participants, I'm surprised that health concerns have not become a liability for those places. Now, I'm a pretty good steward of my financial resources, so I had a limit; and, I was going to get that $ back somehow...
2) Free all-you-can-eat buffets are God's gift to people like me...until I eat too many lobster claws, shrimp, and crawdads at which point it just becomes embarrassing for all parties involved. But you know, those people took my money. If my weekend in fantasy land was going to be a worthwhile experience, I was going to come out on top...even if that meant succumbing to gross gluttony. I definitely ate a more expensive menu than the amount of money I lost. Harhar! Take that Horseshoe!
2b) Most people who go to casinos are not the kind of people who need a buffet such as that... People-watching led me to believe that everyone's inner 4-year old comes out to play like it was a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's - endless eating and watching flashy noisy things while getting cheap prizes if any at all.
3) The line of people waiting to play a live chicken - yes, a real feather agricultural foul - in a game of tic-tac-toe was ridiculous...just flat out sad. I lost faith in humanity at that point in time. I bet that bird becomes part of the buffet when it loses... Just a thought.
Anyway, all is well in LR other than that. Capstone is off to a great start, and I like what I do. Hopefully I'll get on this thing more often and give more frequent updates.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Flat Goes A Floatin' (Photos)
"Whoopee! We're here!"
Flat friends by the Buffalo River.
Flat needs an ice cold drink of water!
"Ready to ride the river!"
Monday, August 4, 2008
Outdoor Tips
The words "hot" and "humid" do not even begin to define Little Rock and Arkansas over the past couple weeks. "God's apocalyptic wrath" might fit better with the current weather pattern. I'm beginning to believe that we are bearing witness to an anomally of physics: for the past two days of 100+ temps, I have noticed a great haze appearing at times for hours...no not pollution but a mist of sorts. It won't evaporate. It won't form a cloud. It just sits, lingers, and sucks energy from you. It is uncanny. Though it is not necessarily steam, it feels like sitting in a global sauna.
Anyway, camping in August is generally a big "no" for me... Experience has proven it time and again. But, the opportunity to break away from the Rock and hit the river seemed like it might be alright. My IPSP is coming to an end soon, and I haven't been on a trip just for the fun of a trip in a long while. Afterall, the Buffalo River valley tends to be a more temperate zone at any time of the year.
After a lengthy car ride to North Central Arkansas with my 2-65 A/C unit (2 windows at 65 mph) blowing unsatisfyingly hot air, Lara and I met up with my brother-in-law and friend, rented tubes (going all-out redneck), and hit the waters of the mighty lower Buffalo. It was "bathwater" warm. Though not nearly the icy cool blast I'd wished for, I plunked right on in there, tethered my new giant bobber cooler to my leg, and tossed it in the water behind me.
Anyway, the tips:
1) When your body hasn't seen direct sun for more than a year, it's a good idea to rock out with the highest SPF possible and reapply by the minute. Failure to do so equals a sweet burn all across your back.
2) If an armadillo comes a knockin', remember that, though they look weird and may prompt you to take a closer look, he can carry leprosy which could really put a downer on your weekend...
3) Floating bobber coolers are awesome. River people will laud and revere you as an earthbound deity.
4) Tubing is a control-free activity. You will become intimately acquainted with rocks, stumps, and trees.
5) Large groups of high school kids w/o adult supervision are a biblical plague.
6) Sleeping in and on a sweat-filled sleeping bag is not as cool as it sounds.
All in all I had a great time - souvenir sunburn not included. My one regret is that I failed to secure all the necessary ingredients to make "Carlos Slims" for everyone...so I just left my Tonka pie makers in the car.
However, my weekend was not a complete culinary calamity...I conquered ribs. Braving the heat of the sun and the grill, I stuck with them to the end...and the result? It was glorious.
Anyway, camping in August is generally a big "no" for me... Experience has proven it time and again. But, the opportunity to break away from the Rock and hit the river seemed like it might be alright. My IPSP is coming to an end soon, and I haven't been on a trip just for the fun of a trip in a long while. Afterall, the Buffalo River valley tends to be a more temperate zone at any time of the year.
After a lengthy car ride to North Central Arkansas with my 2-65 A/C unit (2 windows at 65 mph) blowing unsatisfyingly hot air, Lara and I met up with my brother-in-law and friend, rented tubes (going all-out redneck), and hit the waters of the mighty lower Buffalo. It was "bathwater" warm. Though not nearly the icy cool blast I'd wished for, I plunked right on in there, tethered my new giant bobber cooler to my leg, and tossed it in the water behind me.
Anyway, the tips:
1) When your body hasn't seen direct sun for more than a year, it's a good idea to rock out with the highest SPF possible and reapply by the minute. Failure to do so equals a sweet burn all across your back.
2) If an armadillo comes a knockin', remember that, though they look weird and may prompt you to take a closer look, he can carry leprosy which could really put a downer on your weekend...
3) Floating bobber coolers are awesome. River people will laud and revere you as an earthbound deity.
4) Tubing is a control-free activity. You will become intimately acquainted with rocks, stumps, and trees.
5) Large groups of high school kids w/o adult supervision are a biblical plague.
6) Sleeping in and on a sweat-filled sleeping bag is not as cool as it sounds.
All in all I had a great time - souvenir sunburn not included. My one regret is that I failed to secure all the necessary ingredients to make "Carlos Slims" for everyone...so I just left my Tonka pie makers in the car.
However, my weekend was not a complete culinary calamity...I conquered ribs. Braving the heat of the sun and the grill, I stuck with them to the end...and the result? It was glorious.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Ladies and Gentlemen...
In this corner we have Skip "the Dean" Rrrrrrrrutherford. And in the other corner, we have....wait, where is he? Where is Russ?? What's going on here? Something is amiss...
See, my dear classmates and friends, the beauty of being in charge of the school and the scheduling of particular summer blockbuster events such as a baggo duel is that one can wait until nearly 10pm the night before the match to simply establish 4:30 in the afternoon - yes, normal IPSP working hours - as gametime when one knows his opponent is diligently working on his IPSP and the video archive/research center which are both under tight deadlines.
Now, do not mistake this as saying that the newly minted bicycle owner simply refused to show or admit defeat. No. For the story I am about to tell will shake you to the very core. (Some names have been changed to protect the innocent...or presumed innocent.)
Knowing that 4:30 was gametime, I took lunch in my office in order to work through my break. I drank 5 cups of coffee just to keep my mind fresh and my productivity level high in order to take off a little early get in some pre-game warm-ups while scouting the competition. At 3:30, my supervisor (who is subsequently in charge of my evaluation) walks into my office to discuss some things. Among these is, "we have a meeting with [Ted] Kennedy at 4:00 at Boulevard." I thought to myself, "...but, the big game is at 4:30...but she holds the keys to my IPSP success and this is technically part of my project." Yes, I think I know what you are thinking..."wait a sec, Russ, T. Kennedy works with the Dean who has all but declared victory in Russ v Dean II. Why would you have a flash-meeting with a CS staffer at nearly the precise moment you are to be at the school?" I asked myself the same question (and voiced it to Lukman well prior to the event.)
Following the meeting, at exactly 4:36 (according to my cell-phone), I rushed into Sturgis Hall only to find that no one is on the Baggo fields (indoors due to rain threats.) "Surely I am not that late," I think aloud. I go into my office, set my stuff down, and am immediately engaged in a lengthy conversation with known Dean-loyalists Wilson and DiPippa before being ordered to "fix" some kinks with the archive. I can hear cheering in the hallway...
After initiating a couple programs, I decided to venture out to the field only to hear gleeful declarations of victory echoing through the building. The Dean. After discussing the predicament and oddness of the situation, his reply is simply, "I had no part in having you meet with T. Kennedy at 4:00." Oh, I don't know...that sounds an awful lot like "I have no recollection" plausible deniability.
Nevertheless, as the baggo field was still set up and as another higher echelon staff member was holding the bean-bags as if ready to play, I suggested a quick match only to find the Dean move with lightning speed to put the baggo set back into storage thus forfeiting a serendipitous baggo engagement.
Dear friends, undoubtedly you will hear this story from another side which will portray my unyielding devotion to my studies and this school as an act of foreiture and cowardice. Do not be swayed...ask yourself these questions: "Why would Russ make the effort to leave work early and be at the school if not to be at the match; if he wanted to concede, why did he still show? Who stands to potentally gain more if no match is to occur - the Dean could claim psuedo-victory whereas Russ could benefit in no-possible-way-at-all? If Russ was on time, it'd mean he sacrificed his grades. If he wasn't on time...well, we know what happened."
Ladies and gentelman, be assured that Dean v. Russ II will happen. Prepare yourselves; for upon your return to LR, you may yet have the opportunity to bear witness to this truly historic rematch at a time and date TBD. The only question now is when will the Dean find time to schedule it....
***Per a reader comment which questions the sequencing of the next match, I contend that as II did not come to fruition - as neither I was able to be present at the established time (only 6 minutes late) nor the Dean was willing to play when the chance revealed itself - we are yet to have an official rematch from the first bout. Therefore, Dean v. Russ II has merely been postponed...it most certainly has not been decided or agreed upon.
See, my dear classmates and friends, the beauty of being in charge of the school and the scheduling of particular summer blockbuster events such as a baggo duel is that one can wait until nearly 10pm the night before the match to simply establish 4:30 in the afternoon - yes, normal IPSP working hours - as gametime when one knows his opponent is diligently working on his IPSP and the video archive/research center which are both under tight deadlines.
Now, do not mistake this as saying that the newly minted bicycle owner simply refused to show or admit defeat. No. For the story I am about to tell will shake you to the very core. (Some names have been changed to protect the innocent...or presumed innocent.)
Knowing that 4:30 was gametime, I took lunch in my office in order to work through my break. I drank 5 cups of coffee just to keep my mind fresh and my productivity level high in order to take off a little early get in some pre-game warm-ups while scouting the competition. At 3:30, my supervisor (who is subsequently in charge of my evaluation) walks into my office to discuss some things. Among these is, "we have a meeting with [Ted] Kennedy at 4:00 at Boulevard." I thought to myself, "...but, the big game is at 4:30...but she holds the keys to my IPSP success and this is technically part of my project." Yes, I think I know what you are thinking..."wait a sec, Russ, T. Kennedy works with the Dean who has all but declared victory in Russ v Dean II. Why would you have a flash-meeting with a CS staffer at nearly the precise moment you are to be at the school?" I asked myself the same question (and voiced it to Lukman well prior to the event.)
Following the meeting, at exactly 4:36 (according to my cell-phone), I rushed into Sturgis Hall only to find that no one is on the Baggo fields (indoors due to rain threats.) "Surely I am not that late," I think aloud. I go into my office, set my stuff down, and am immediately engaged in a lengthy conversation with known Dean-loyalists Wilson and DiPippa before being ordered to "fix" some kinks with the archive. I can hear cheering in the hallway...
After initiating a couple programs, I decided to venture out to the field only to hear gleeful declarations of victory echoing through the building. The Dean. After discussing the predicament and oddness of the situation, his reply is simply, "I had no part in having you meet with T. Kennedy at 4:00." Oh, I don't know...that sounds an awful lot like "I have no recollection" plausible deniability.
Nevertheless, as the baggo field was still set up and as another higher echelon staff member was holding the bean-bags as if ready to play, I suggested a quick match only to find the Dean move with lightning speed to put the baggo set back into storage thus forfeiting a serendipitous baggo engagement.
Dear friends, undoubtedly you will hear this story from another side which will portray my unyielding devotion to my studies and this school as an act of foreiture and cowardice. Do not be swayed...ask yourself these questions: "Why would Russ make the effort to leave work early and be at the school if not to be at the match; if he wanted to concede, why did he still show? Who stands to potentally gain more if no match is to occur - the Dean could claim psuedo-victory whereas Russ could benefit in no-possible-way-at-all? If Russ was on time, it'd mean he sacrificed his grades. If he wasn't on time...well, we know what happened."
Ladies and gentelman, be assured that Dean v. Russ II will happen. Prepare yourselves; for upon your return to LR, you may yet have the opportunity to bear witness to this truly historic rematch at a time and date TBD. The only question now is when will the Dean find time to schedule it....
***Per a reader comment which questions the sequencing of the next match, I contend that as II did not come to fruition - as neither I was able to be present at the established time (only 6 minutes late) nor the Dean was willing to play when the chance revealed itself - we are yet to have an official rematch from the first bout. Therefore, Dean v. Russ II has merely been postponed...it most certainly has not been decided or agreed upon.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Lindsey Clark = Arkansas Celebrity
Notice the attentive looking audience at this past semester's Irene Kahn public program. Recognize anyone? I've added a big red circle to help you out.
Well, I believe it's Lindsey Clark! She may be in Malawi, but she's famous here in Little Rock.
Well, I believe it's Lindsey Clark! She may be in Malawi, but she's famous here in Little Rock.
Willie, Where art thou? Where was I?!
A few quick notes before telling the tragic tale of July 25 and 26.
1) For the gamblers out there, the Dean has reached out to his Baggo gurus around the world. One can only presume that he is enlisting their support and training techniques.
2) A certain wife of mine is pressuring me to throw the match citing professional courtesy and my dependence on a good job recommendation from the contender once I graduate. Well, I'm not about to appease anyone...I'm here to compete. Below is a snapshot of a training session in North Little Rock yesterday.
Now, brace yourselves. The following story is emotionally draining. It has all the pieces of a classic Greek tragedy.
On the sultry evening of Friday July 25, 2008, two musical legends from different walks of life joined together for a performance unmatched in the recent history of the Rivermarket venue. B.B. King and Willie Nelson. It would be the cultural event of the summer. I left the cold and lonesome video archive filled with glee as the prospect of a great evening of music and cheer. Once at home, I heard the front door open and my wife on the phone. What? What's that I hear? Plans? Couples...date??? And then, like a wave dashed against a rocky cliff, my hopes of musical ecstacy shattered; we would go on a double date instead to the Fox and Hound not to the Rivermarket. As our evening drew to a close and we drove back over the bridge to LR, I could only hold my head out the window to try and pick a few strums and choruses out of the hot summer night.
Saturday marked a new day, and I was going to grill some ribs. I talked with BBQ legends and heirs to guarded recipes before throwing a slab o' meat on the grill. I can't even begin to explain the happiness one gets painstakingly attending the slow cooking deliciousness. The heat from the flames, the sweet pungent aromas, the sight of a true grilling accomplishment, the sound of a smooth sizzle, and the taste of a cold beer truly made this experience a pleasure for all the senses. After 2 hours, company arrived and it was time to serve. A certain wife of mine suggested that we give the ribs a few more minutes. I gave them a little more heat and tended to the ice cream churn for a few minutes. I don't know what happened next, but I turned to see oranges and yellows flickering inside the grill. I ran back to it only to find that my masterpiece was ruined. It was a cruel end to a heavenly process. They were so young and so beautiful, if only for a fleeting moment, before being taken before they could be truly enjoyed.
1) For the gamblers out there, the Dean has reached out to his Baggo gurus around the world. One can only presume that he is enlisting their support and training techniques.
2) A certain wife of mine is pressuring me to throw the match citing professional courtesy and my dependence on a good job recommendation from the contender once I graduate. Well, I'm not about to appease anyone...I'm here to compete. Below is a snapshot of a training session in North Little Rock yesterday.
Now, brace yourselves. The following story is emotionally draining. It has all the pieces of a classic Greek tragedy.
On the sultry evening of Friday July 25, 2008, two musical legends from different walks of life joined together for a performance unmatched in the recent history of the Rivermarket venue. B.B. King and Willie Nelson. It would be the cultural event of the summer. I left the cold and lonesome video archive filled with glee as the prospect of a great evening of music and cheer. Once at home, I heard the front door open and my wife on the phone. What? What's that I hear? Plans? Couples...date??? And then, like a wave dashed against a rocky cliff, my hopes of musical ecstacy shattered; we would go on a double date instead to the Fox and Hound not to the Rivermarket. As our evening drew to a close and we drove back over the bridge to LR, I could only hold my head out the window to try and pick a few strums and choruses out of the hot summer night.
Saturday marked a new day, and I was going to grill some ribs. I talked with BBQ legends and heirs to guarded recipes before throwing a slab o' meat on the grill. I can't even begin to explain the happiness one gets painstakingly attending the slow cooking deliciousness. The heat from the flames, the sweet pungent aromas, the sight of a true grilling accomplishment, the sound of a smooth sizzle, and the taste of a cold beer truly made this experience a pleasure for all the senses. After 2 hours, company arrived and it was time to serve. A certain wife of mine suggested that we give the ribs a few more minutes. I gave them a little more heat and tended to the ice cream churn for a few minutes. I don't know what happened next, but I turned to see oranges and yellows flickering inside the grill. I ran back to it only to find that my masterpiece was ruined. It was a cruel end to a heavenly process. They were so young and so beautiful, if only for a fleeting moment, before being taken before they could be truly enjoyed.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Thursday Thursday THURSDAY...
Much has happened in Little Rock in the past 3 days which will soon be recorded on this very blog. However, top billing goes to the upcoming baggo bout as advertised by the contender himself, Skip "the Dean" Rutherford.
The contender is banking on the ungodly heat to take a toll on young Swearingen who, with a perfect yet meager 1-0 record, is still relatively new to the Clinton School baggo circuit and could be rattled by tough game time conditions. Meanwhile, Russ Swearingen, who recently bought a bicycle, expects to use precision flinging skills learned from Hall of Famers (and Dean-loyalists) Mr. Wilson, DiPippa, and Beaumont to keep the Dean at bay and off his game.
Tune in on Thursday to watch as these two competitors vie for the gold in the most anticipated rematch since Rocky II.
The contender is banking on the ungodly heat to take a toll on young Swearingen who, with a perfect yet meager 1-0 record, is still relatively new to the Clinton School baggo circuit and could be rattled by tough game time conditions. Meanwhile, Russ Swearingen, who recently bought a bicycle, expects to use precision flinging skills learned from Hall of Famers (and Dean-loyalists) Mr. Wilson, DiPippa, and Beaumont to keep the Dean at bay and off his game. Tune in on Thursday to watch as these two competitors vie for the gold in the most anticipated rematch since Rocky II.
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