Tunica

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.

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!"

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mosquito, Monkey, Molly, and More...

As I sit here - an unimmunized and flavorful magnet for airborne pests - the West Nile Virus has made its presence known in Arkansas during this gloriously humid and sultry summer. Joining its ranks of unpleasant and potentially deadly diseases borne through mosquitoes that recently appeared in Arkansas is St. Louis Encephalitis. And, as I happen to work within a hundred yards of marshiness and stagnant waters, I'm willing to bet that I'm walking right into the danger zone.

In other news, Lara and I - inspired by our dear friends' forays into zoos around the world - visited the Little Rock Zoo. Let's just say that on a heat index day of well over 1 double zero degrees, animals don't want to play...or entertain...or live. I think of all the animals we saw, four of them moved: a tiger, a bear, baby Mosi the gorilla, and a goat. My favorite quote of the day from an excited observer near the spider monkeys: "LOOOOOK, LOOOOOK!!! Hey. LOOOOOK! He's walking!!!!" Walking.

Soon after this rare display of jungle activity that incited the masses and a frenzy of photography, Lara and I were greeted by our dear friend Molly...as in the bird Molly that had an enchanting conversation with my classmate and human friend Molly back in October during a previous visit to the Zoo. She, the bird, didn't remember me, but did say "hello" and "pretty bird" to me.

And lastly, this weekend brought the Arkansas Democratic Party Convention to Little Rock at which I volunteered. If I may give one word of advice: alphabetize, as in "It would be genius to alphabetize the check-in list." Despite this slight oversight, Nikolai and I got the job done and were praised for our organization with accolades such as "Man oh man, you sure must have worked at the Gap; your table is neat." No. No Gap. But, at a Wal-Mart meat department, I learned the product organization/placement trade. The night was a success, so I checked off another piece of public service - done.(Nikolai would like to be a guest writer to this section, but he had to step out. However, he does say "Thank you" to Eric Wilson.)

Well, the final push of the IPSP is upon us. I hope all is well with my friends in the far reaches of the earth. Avoid the West Nile and any kind of -ephalitus and such things. But know that Arkansas will grant you no disease-free refuge upon your return.

Willy Nelson is supposed to be in LR this weekend. I'm sorry you will miss him, J.D. I hope to go...so I can scream WILLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEE really loud while wearing a bandana.

A Day in the Life

Now that I own and operate a clean burning and fuel efficient propane grill, I've noticed that I'm going through some pretty major changes in life - namely, I have super-human strength. I may not look like much of a beefcake, but let's just think logically here: Russell rhymes with "muscle" for a reason.

Story: I was sitting in the video archive waiting on yet another slow file transfer when all of a sudden my phone rang. It was my friend Caroline. The door to her apartment shut behind her and stuck. It would not open. She was trapped outside. "I'll be right there," I said. As my name also rhymes with "hustle," I was there in a flash.

Upon arrival, I employed my usual MacGuyver-ish skills on the door but to no avail. This was obviously not an ordinary door; I ceased my inner physics lesson about leverage, fulcrum, and durability of metals, plastics, and faux-wood. With the politeness to preemptively apologize for any property damage, I went old school and laid into that mo-fo with a BOOM! As the dust settled, I emerged triumphantly through the doorway - not a bruise, scratch or reportable property damage anywhere to be seen. With a quick readjustment of my necktie, I was on my way...another public service project complete.

Upon hearing the story, Lara was - how do you say - amazed.

A Moment of Reflection

The benefits of doing my IPSP here at home in Arkansas are quite different from those of my compadres in the rest of world - different in the sense that their experiences are new and somewhat detached from day-to-day life back here in the States. My experiences outside my project on the otherhand are familiar and routine - after IPSP work, I go to the school and battle the Mac for a few hours, then go home late in the evening, get in trouble with Lara, sleep on the couch or the doghouse, and wake to start it all over again. So my social comfort zone rarely receives any threat to the norms.

So, when on June 3rd I returned from lunch to find my dear friend Allison waiting for me in my office at AEDC, I had a feeling something was wrong. I instantly knew, but hearing the words made it real. Our friend Cooper had passed away at age 26 from advanced leukemia. Though he and I had lost touch in recent years, I found myself struggling with my grief: what to do, what to say, what to think, how to act...

Soon thereafter I went up to Iowa with the intent of visiting family only to find the heartland bandaging its wounds as it began the healing and recovery process. The scars of the recent weather disasters were still very visible both on the land and in the souls of the people: towns obliterated by tornadoes and swept away by floods, people with nothing, and a fragile hope fighting to survive.

All of this made Eleanor Clift's program all the more powerful for me. The school will likely post a blog or at least a news story about her program which will tell what she said, who she talked about, and the overall impact, but I wanted to tell what I heard. Her program was powerful, informative, and candid. I'd almost forgotten what it is like to sit in a public program here at the school. Her subject? Life, death, and dealing with it all in the public and private sphere. It was nice to hear someone treat it and the issues surrounding it with candor and humor and pain. It was important to understand that we all must deal with these things at one time or another, and it was even more important to hear her say that, contrary to what is "expected," we each will have to deal with it in our own way - there is no right or wrong. We have to find a way to work through it, remember it, and ultimately inspire us.

There is a difference between getting trapped in personal sentiments and in mourning a loss. Often we linger in the former. In this sense grief is understandably a personal and selfish emotion; a past but very real part of our own lives is lost in the tragedies before us. However, because we live and because we are untouched, we are in a sense sad because our past is now and forever only a memory. And, that hits home very hard. In another sense though, grief is also a very communal emotion. In my recent experiences, two communities held close to each other in effort to usher everyone through the toughest of times. I think that grief and sadness are all too often the unfortunate glue that holds together the bonds of humanity. However, it is from those bonds and those collective experiences that we can move on and find inspiration in them.

Here at home, I have found myself debating myself on many things in the past several months: what is right, what is appropriate, what to do, etc. And I think Ms. Clift is correct; we must all handle these situations as is appropriate for each one of us and not hold others accountable to our personal mettle. I am sorry to ramble on and on. Ms. Clift's program gave me an opportunity to reflect and try to make sense of some things. If anything, her message and her story were therapeutic for me.

the Mac and Me

No, I'm not talking about a nostalgic trip into memories of the great 80's movie about a little alien stuck on Earth. This "Mac" is the computer in the video archive. It and I are engaged in a great and epic battle...a techno-battle for all time, I think. And I am losing. It has broken my will time and again - I will feel victory in my clutches only to watch helplessly as the MAC dooms yet another project hopeful just as it nears completion. It is sucking my soul from my body as I am left to launch unspoken expletives time and again at the machine to no avail. So, I've drawn Nikolai into this conflict as well...he's useless, plain and simple. Just kidding.

Today, however, marked a turning point. Programs ran correctly for the most part, and I successfully navigated through trials and errors to complete the necessary sortie. Until today, Mac has owned me. But this day, it all changes. EAT IT, MAC! Your reign of cyber-terror is over! You will not hurt these people again!

I am proud of myself and I just thought everyone should know. And perhaps, I've gone a bit crazy.

On the Homefront

Continuing the trend of disaster over past four years in the "Bakerman" of the United States, floods and tornados are ravaging Iowa and Missouri. Though the worst of the flooding has passed according to news and weather forecasters, major damage continues to occur along the river towns. An already taxed FEMA must again shuffle supplies and shelter across the country to people who have been left with nothing.

My mom's family has called Iowa "home" for more than 150 years - many of my relatives live on parcels of the family's original tracts. We are farmers (though much of the land is now leased to larger productions.) My great aunts and uncles are still up there, still on their farms, and still rockin' in the free world while pushing their own century mark. It never ceases to amaze me. Nevertheless, despite the genetic hardiness and ability to withstand nature time and again, my great aunt Irene and her husband Paul had to call on Uncle Sam to help them evacuate. My 95 year old aunt and many others were carted off in a convoy of soft top National Guard hummers as the flood waters from the Cedar River encroached upon their homes. It is a funny mental image to think of them in such a domestic battalion.

My family is fortunate to have missed considerable damage, and everyone is back home. But I am sure that neighbors were not so lucky. We grow crops - corn, soybeans, etc. Heavy rains and floods are not necessarily bad things for plant nutrition. Those with livestock have a little tougher time. I heard a sad story about a drove of pigs that managed to escape their enclosures, swim the floods, and survive the storm found refuge on a makeshift levy. Their weighted movements made the dam all the more fragile; and, they were sacrificed to save the town.

Homes and lives of all creatures are in the midst of tragedy. Images of neighborhoods floating down the floods rivers and lodging en masse against railroad tressels are all too common.

After seeing Ivan, Charlie, Katrina, and Rita as well as their aftermath, my thoughts are focused on power of water and flood; and, I will be seeing it with own eyes. Lara and I are heading to the Hawkeye State with my folks this weekend. We've planned this trip since before the wedding, but it appears that we've managed to have a date with disaster on top of our mini-reunion. So, I've dusted off my PDA shirts and work gloves. My hope is that no assistance is needed due to a return to normal life. However, we've seen what can happen, and we know what we can do when nature comes knocking.

HP Techno-savior

Recently I quipped about the potential loss of Arkansas' telecom giant, Alltel. Jobs, future state investments, and - to an extent - state economic stability are all on shaky ground. Verizon could very easily pull up Alltel's roots and trek off to whereever they want it to go.

In steps HP - yes, the computer people. Just hours ago, the Governor announced that HP has chosen Conway as a site for a new multimillion dollar manufacturing facility. In an instant, uncertainty - due to the Verizon deal - has been snatched from the abyss. HP's investment brings with it the potential for more white-collar investment from the information and technology industry. 1200 jobs were created with a flip of the wrist and couple "John Hancocks" here and there. Thank you HP.

Perhaps, I need to re-examine the potential IT foreign investment options such as the Samsung and others...

Folks at the Commission were pretty ecstatic this afternoon. AEDC was a happy office, and I could faintly hear the big-wigs giggling with glee.* Verizon could still play party pooper and take away Alltel's presence, but at least we have a nice replacement waiting in the wings.

Chad, come back!!!

As I began preparing my South Korea business report for AEDC, I had a realization that the future economic development of Arkansas - at least in the short term - might lie precariously in the middle of this Alltel-Verizon merger. Though the details of the buy-out are not yet fully known nor will they be for some months to come, this was a hostile takeover and an Arkansas business was the target. The reality of the merger dawned on me as I was investigating potential foreign investment into the e-business, logisitics, and telecommunication industry: Arkansas might experience some unpleasantness as a result of it all.

Alltel was a Little Rock company, and it quietly owned most of the telecommunications infrastructure (towers, cables, networks, etc) in the country. That is the way Alltel made all of it's money; all of the other telecommunications companies - ATT, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc - had to use Alltel's hardware to develop their networks. In a very real sense, Alltel held the lynchpin to the success of the entire industry. Thus, Arkansas - as Alltel's home - was privy to this success. In addition, Arkansas also saw a major logistics and e-business player rise in the form of the Axciom which does major business within the international economic and corporate world. With these two corporations, Arkansas had the ability to cultivate the industry and attract related businesses and manufacturers.

My current project is Korea. The ROK is home to some heavy hitters in the telecom industry; Samsung comes to mind. If Verizon decides to pull its Alltel operations out of Arkansas, it could greatly impact that state's presence in this industry. Nevermind that thousands of people work there. Nevermind the void that it could leave in Little Rock. The ability to attract major economic investment to the state is, in the long term, perhaps more important. If Verizon maintains a major operation here in LR, who knows what investments might call Arkansas home?!

Now, this is not some Doomsday announcement, nor is anyone really worried about it all...except for Alltel's employees and their spouses. Arkansas is doing just fine and will continue to do so. It did make me realize, though, that some big shifts are taking place right here at home. When a big piece of the puzzle leaves town, someone else has to fill the void. I guess that filling the void is part of my job at AEDC. I'm wrapping up Korea, and I have found some interesting crossroads between our two worlds that merit further investigation. I wish I could offer more recommendations than I will. However, one can not recommend industry expansion when the industry itself is hanging by a thread.

A Right of Passage

When Lara came back from Alabama with some additional wedding gifts that had to be left behind after the wedding, I knew that the time had come when I could use the term "man" to accurately describe myself. For in one of the gifts the power of manhood resides: a Lowe's gift card. Instantly I knew what must be done; I must buy a grill.

I mistakenly took the little lady to help choose which grill will bring the most joy for many years to come. I say "mistakenly" because she gave the grills one look and left me to go look at garden hoses. I called her back for her opinion on the matter only to find that she picked a small transportable 4 burger grill and deemed it sufficiently adequate. I laughed, "no." That's when I had an epiphany: choosing a grill is my solemn duty, one that I shall not take lightly. Serious questions needed answering.

Sure charcoal is the only way to go for taste; but in times that call for quick preparation, does charcoal produce the best use of my time? What if I wanted to invite the whole class over for burgers? Or, ribs? How many square inches is the "perfect" cooking area? Is a grill supposed to be shiny? Are all these "bells and whistles" necessary for success, or do they compensate for something else?

At first these questions were overwhelming, but I shook myself clear of this convolusive trap. I chose a beauty that can handle 30 burgers or 4 racks of ribs or, well, you can figure out where I'm going with this... And, following the advice of grilling master from Arlen, Texas, I chose clean burning sweet lady propane and propane accessories to evenly cook my meats (and veggies.)

I am yet to bring it home and install it near my back porch, but I already feel wiser and more confident.

Gone from the Wind

The foulness is gone. Thank you Little Rock for turning on your fans and blowing that away - far away. I've been told that it was Pine Bluff. No offense to the PB, but that was bad. I mean, B-A-D bad. I did not appreciate that bouquet of stink at all. Not at all.

It is odd, however, that none of my colleagues - not at AEDC and not at the school - noticed a thing. I asked myself, "did I imagine that smell?" I contend that, no, I certainly did not imagine anything. Somehow people grow immune to that. Or, maybe I got up earlier than they did, and the winds changed before they roused themselves this morning.

Anyway, it is time to rejoice. Glory glory glory be the smell of nature and sweet summertime in Arkansas.

Lunch Time

I stepped outside this morning to catch a breath of fresh Arkansas goodness only to find that the sweet aromas of honeysuckle, magnolia, and freshly mowed grass were not present. They had been replaced by "stink" - an overpowering malodorous gut-wrenching rot, decay, and souring. LR smells horrible today...really bad. I mean, something dropped a big one in central Arkansas. I thought it was just my neighborhood (such a thing has been known to happen); but, as I have no A/C in my car and must ride with windows down, I found that the "stink" had formed an ominous cloud of putridity over the city.

Therefore, I have decided to take my lunch in the office today rather than brave the foulness. I have confined myself to my office and my fifth cup of coffee which is doubling as a hazelnut potpourri. Arkansas' summertime smells have been invaded by something sinister...and the City better get it figured out by quitting time today.

Thoughts While Archiving Video After a Long Day At AEDC

I find myself currently staring at the NARA building and the new stairs on the terraces behind the School. I'm archiving tonight, and the download is taking a while...

I love reading the stories from all of my fellow classmates who are stationed around the world. I probably check their blogs at least 5 times a day, full of hope that each one of them has relayed some tale of their lives in the distant lands across the vast oceans full of pirates and seamonsters. One would think that after reading the most recent posts, I'd give up. But, no. Several hours later I get the itch, and I check again. Maybe Julie, Jay, and Marquita can't sleep and have some profound experience that needs to be immediately documented. Maybe Boots the Cat has waged bloody war on rodents in the house to the horror of Sanford, Ryan, and Sarah. Maybe Carly and Molly met a sherpa and took a midnight hike up Everest. Or maybe Sara and Amanda found a city of bones... Maybe Lukman caught a would-be mugger. Maybe Hunter has met everyone in Cameroon and colonized it in the Name of North Little Rock. Maybe James and Chances are ministers in this new "North Little Rockeroon." Maybe Emily has become a meat-arian. Or, maybe Jose met Obama, and in a backroom deal, convinced him to cede victory to Hillary. Maybe Idonia kidnapped Jose. Maybe J.D. won't get sunburned in Hawaii this week. Maybe Lindsey really is a doctor. Maybe all of those without blogs are freeing pandas from the earthquake or backpacking with indigenous peoples of South America, etc. Who knows... Anyway, more often than not, my hopes are dashed. But, my imagination is active.

Well, President Cardoso's public program is now immortalized in the Video Archives, and I'm closing in on finishing the Spring 2007 archive...so, I must go home to the little lady before I get in trouble.

AEDC and Me

My IPSP organization - Arkansas Economic Development Commission - is located right smack dab in the middle of Little Rock. I'm just a stone's throw away from the Capitol. If it wasn't potentially an action leading to incarceration, I might actually throw that stone just to prove it. I'm fairly positive, however, that the Clinton School and AEDC would probably frown upon a student locked up in the Pokey.

My project is three-fold: a) research global economic markets as well as Arkansas' target industries, b) research particular industries that are expanding within those markets, and c) research prospective foreign companies who could benefit from direct foreign investment here in the great state - Arkansas, that is. Although it may sound like I'm an office jockey - and without a doubt, that is part of my job and I embrace the title - I do get to escape my bare four walls in my office on occassion.

Currently, my first project is looking to the East, Korea to be specific. Apply my three-fold process to Korea, and that's pretty much what I'm doing with them. In addition to the office, I will have the opportunity to meet with a delegation of Korean businessmen in late June when the World Taekwondo Championships come to LR. What is in store for this meeting? I am unsure, but I have heard the words "hot" and "springs" passed around and spoken in the same sentence. Another probable field trip will potentially happen next week. A delegation from KOTRA, the Korean trade organization, will be in Rogers, AR for presentations at the World Trade Center. Again, the details of this event - at least with regard to my participation - have yet to be officially settled. Nevertheless, it'll be great.

In a sense, my IPSP is just the opposite of the rest of the class who have flown the proverbial coup and scattered like chickens around the world. Instead of using myself as an export tool - my knowledge, skills, and experience utilized by an international organization or place - I am an import tool. AEDC is utilizing me as a tool for helping to strengthen international relationships and support systems, to develop economic sustainability in Arkansas and open North American markets to expanding and growing businesses (and foreign economies), and to positively impact and link two populations, two culturals, and two economies.

I might not have the shade of a mountain, let my milk sour in order to mix with cornmeal, or be known as "cookie" anything, but my little pocket of internationalism just keeps a rollin' along.

Exotic Arkansas

Entry #1:

While my good friends have scattered to the four corners of the earth, I, in my good fortune, have wandered to the far off place...right down the street. Yes, here in Little Rock, I am kicking off month three of marital bliss and imparting my research wizardry with Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

But while my ex-pat friends are encountering marmots, baby squids, and more, I too have had my run in with potentially dangerous wildlife. On my quest to the rocky summit of Pinnacle Mountain, my mid-mountain break was interrupted by a wooly little creature - a red tarantula. Normally I would say, "Russ, my good sir, that is silly. You probably see a wolf spider." But this time, I would be be proven incorrect as the arachnid in question was most definitely something out of a late 80's horror flick. Later, while jollily sweatin' it out over the vast expanse of the Arkansas River on the largest pedestrian bridge in America, I came across a scene like I'd seen only on the Discovery Channel. Not 5 feet from my reach were two large 5 foot black rat snakes that were performing the annual dance of love. To heighten the drama, I decided to imagine them being venomous snakes of Asia. And finally, on a journey around the psuedo-rustic "Old Mill" of N. Little Rock, my wife and I chanced upon a young snapping turtle which was swiftly caught and dubbed "Bert." My little buddy then became the object of a brief zoological lesson for some interested and overly excited children.

Other than that, all is calm on the western front. I wish, for you guys who are not here, that I could report that LR has declared itself the 51st State or is encountering a SARS outbreak and we're all wearing HAZ-MAT suits. But, nope. LR is just soakin' up the sun and getting humid. Although...we did have some 70MPH winds hit yesterday. Minor damage, but some boat docks flew away... No. Seriously. Well, they turned over and flew a foot or two...

Peace.