Column

Stepping back, again

Editor’s note: Forgive the repetition, but it was decided to reprise an essay on John Bell Jr. that was first published Aug. 30, 2009. The essay was intended to publicize…

You’ve got pledges

Folks seeking political office continue to pledge things to us. Or on our behalf. Most are pledges to remind us who does and does not want to harm babies to…

Billy’s bleepity-bleep lecture

Billy, the college friend from thousands of years ago, called this week. A report on The City Wire about the recession being over put him in a foul mood. In…

On spending Beebe’s money

There was a time Gov. Mike Beebe’s popularity rating was so high that to find folks who didn’t like him or know him required a trip to Kazakhstan. “Mikhail, who?…

Remembrance and perspective

Editor’s Note: This essay was written by Michael Tilley in September 2002 as a reflection on the first anniversary of the 9/11 horror. Link here for its 2007 publication in…

Expectations, excuses and excellence

There was to be a clever tag line at the end of this essay in which I would brilliantly wrap up the point that students in public school systems perform…

The little board that couldn’t

On Tuesday (Aug. 24) the Fort Smith board of directors met to consider when they might bring to voters the convention center funding option or options. Tuesday’s meeting was a…

The banker blame game

What you are supposed to know, Kind Reader, is that your local banker would trod down on the downtrodden minorities if given half a chance. But first, a little history…

Director, can you spare a favor?

Dear Fort Smith city board members: Would like to ask you gentlemen three favors. The favors aren’t necessarily for me — they are the synthesis of citizen wishes collected during…

Cheap shot

The local media recently brought us numerous and breathless reports of how great it was for the Fort Smith region to be THE lowest cost of of living region in…

Degree of perspective

Sincere kudos go to Joe Hardin, dean of the College of Languages and Communication at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, and other university officials in gaining approval from…

Monty Python perspective

A comedic rant against the Roman occupation of Palestine (what is now Israel) was part of a movie scene in “Life of Brian” during which Judeans sought to displace the…

An energy waste of time

What follows is a waste of time — like telling a drunk to quit drinking or Congress to quit spending or Joe Biden to quit thinking he’s a big f*&%$#@…

Billy comments on comments

Billy, the college friend from thousands of years ago, has called again. He’s equal parts amused, concerned and curious about comments on The City Wire. For what it’s worth, Billy…

The end is near(er)

Editor’s note: This essay, written by Michael Tilley, first ran in the Times Record back in 2007. You can link here to the TR version. Please accept what follows as…

Now comes Zeljka Buturovic and Daniel Klein with an interesting piece of research for those who sometimes, frequently or hourly wonder why some folks support government laws, programs and social-engineering…

At this point in actual, current time

“We are actually currently considering all options at this point in time.” That’s the statement — or darn close to it — of some fella with one of the Gulf…

Elephants, jackasses and you

There was some hope the election season would take a brief respite before the November round begins. You know, kind of like the 15 minutes of intermission you get at…

Rosey politics

Rosey is back. With her (or his) back up about politics. As a reminder, an alleged dog owner sends us real letters about Rosey’s (the dog) incessant need for attention…

Anger and misinformation

There is much anger in this emerging discussion over what to do with the Fort Smith Convention Center. There is even more misinformation. For the misinformation and anger and financial…