All Arkie Army

Music Monday: Government Cheese–“Mammaw Drives the Bus”

2012-01-23T01:26:00.001-06:00

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Find a medical training company right now

2012-01-23T01:18:00.001-06:00

One of the great things about the Internet is that you can find information regardless of what time it happens to be. Yes, that privilege can be used to find nonsense in the middle of the night, but it can also be used to find information that is important to your life and career.

Let’s say its 2 a.m. and you’re looking for a medical consultant interview course. Finding information about such a critter would have been impossible in the middle of the night just a few years ago, but it’s very possible now. Sticking with the medical theme, the same can be said of doctors looking to enrich their education through a medical teaching course or how about a medical management course? Or how about a teach the teacher course for doctors looking for getting involved in training.

All of those links, by the way, will guide you to courses offered by Oxford Medical. Clearly, that group is one of the most recognized in the medical field. The point of mentioning that is to point out that you don’t get just good information from the Internet, but you can find some of the best, most relevant stuff out there from groups that are at the top of their fields.

Technology can be great, huh?

Economizing? Start with easy items such as coffee

2012-01-23T00:40:00.001-06:00

What do people do when the economy is down? They start looking for ways to save money.

It’s important to point out that tactic works well for everyone these days regardless of income. After watching so many people lose jobs, watch investments decline alarmingly in value and observing the general lack of consumer confidence, being frugal is just a good move these days. Yes, a good number of us are making out just fine, but we should all be aware that can change in a hurry.

For both people looking to save cash immediately and those who just want to reduce expenses and save money for that rainy day that could come in the future, reducing expenses on more common items is a good move. Think about it for a second. Yes, it is very possible to refinance that mortgage or perhaps even reduce car payments by refinancing those loans or trading for less expensive vehicles, but we’re talking about going through a long, involved process to reach either of those goals.

It makes a lot more sense to start small – to take simple steps to reduce how much money we spend on more common items. A few small, simple steps can result in immediate savings, after all, so why not start there? If you want to reduce those mortgage and car payments, those are great long term goals and should be treated as such. Reaching those goals can take some time, but cutting smaller expenses can be done quickly.

Want proof? Just click the following link to watch what you spend on coffee. Just head to that site and you’ll find coupons and other ways to reduce your expenses in that area. You won’t give up a thing and you’ll save a buck or two. How’s that for a deal? Once you start to take a look at the smaller items such as coffee, you can reap the benefits immediately and then make those long range plans that will get you closer to your goal of cutting your expenses.

Starting with small ways to save money can also be a good psychological trick. Think about it – cutting expenses on large, expensive items is more than a bit daunting and complicated. It would be far too easy to get involved in such a project and then give up on the whole notion of economizing completely once realizing the work involved. Human beings, see, like to see immediate progress when they start a project. Taking care of the little things provides that progress, thus encouraging people to take on larger, more complex projects and save even more money.

Makes sense, doesn’t it?

Steel buildings–durable and economical

2012-01-21T21:50:00.001-06:00

The economy is a mess, but businesses are still expanding, right?

A major difference these days is that businesses are looking for the most bang for the buck. Extravagance may have been the name of the game a few years ago, but things have changed a bit.

How, then, can a business get the space needed to expand, save a buck or two and still get pretty much everything desired in a new building? Have a look at what’s available through Future Steel Buildings. That’s right – Future Steel Buildings.

What will you find over there? Buildings that will pretty well meet your wants and needs. They’ll be attractive, cost effective and durable, too. Click one of the aforementioned links and have a look. The chances are good you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Homes sales for 2011 up in northwest Arkansas, Jonesboro area

2012-01-18T01:30:00.001-06:00

The homes sales numbers for 2011 are in for northwest Arkansas and the Jonesboro area (that’s Craighead County in northeast Arkansas).

First Arkansas News is the first media outlet in the state to have those numbers available to the public.

Click here to read the year-end housing market reports for those two areas of the state. Don’t worry – the central Arkansas numbers will be out before too much longer and First Arkansas News will also have those.

More stainless steel than you can shake a stick at

2012-01-18T01:20:00.001-06:00

Stainless steel is one of those things that's just plain timeless.

It’s durable, attractive and decidedly utilitarian. It can be used on all manner of household items – fireplace accessories, kitchen appliances and, well, just an almost infinite number of things around your home. Of course, there’s good stainless steel and then there’s the stuff that is fair-to-middling or just plain rotten.

How can you find the good stuff? Look for a trusted name such as Blomus. Indeed, Blomus steel has a certain reputation for building quality items, ranging from Blomus kitchen appliances to Blomus fireplace accessories.

Click a link and see for yourself.

A specialty store for lockers

2012-01-16T01:30:00.001-06:00

Here’s yet another example of why the Internet is such a great thing – it allows specialty stores to set up and thrive.

While some in larger cities might take specialty stores for granted, they’re somewhat few and far between in more rural areas. Those highly specialized stores often can’t get enough business to stay solvent as they have trouble finding enough people to support them.

An online presence, however, allows specialty stores to break away from regional markets and find national – and sometimes international – customers. That’s a good thing as general merchandise stores simply don’t offer the selection that specialty stores do.

Take lockers, for example. If you want steel lockers, employee lockers, school lockers, etc., where are you going to go? Even if you can find those items locally, what are the chances you’ll have a lot of items from which to choose? And what about prices? If there’s not a lot of competition, you just know those prices are going to be a bit high, right?

If you’re looking for a wide selection and competitive prices for highly specialized items such as lockers for sale, you’ll want to consider finding a store on the Internet that deals exclusively in those items. Click one of the links in this post to start your search, pilgrim.

Weekend OTR: Fabulous Mr. Tweedy–Tweedy Plays the Bassoon

2012-01-14T01:41:00.001-06:00

The following was originally posted at First Arkansas News. We’re posting it here in hopes that more people will enjoy it. Why? Because old time radio (OTR) is more fan than a barrel full of monkeys and is well worth sharing.

Well, you lucky thing. It’s another weekend and that means it’s time for another fantastic show in our ongoing Weekend OTR series.

What show do we have on tap? It’s the Fabulous Mr. Tweedy, a comedy starring Frank Morgan. As usual, this week’s program is courtesy of our friends at OTRCat.com. So, listen to the show then pay The Cat a visit. Deal?

How do you listen to the show? Simply click the below link and you’re set, pilgrim.

Fabulous Mr. Tweedy – Tweedy Plays the Bassoon (1/12/1946)

Looking for an ad agency that understands mixed media?

2012-01-14T01:24:00.001-06:00

My background is in journalism. To be precise, it’s on the editorial side of journalism.

What does that mean? I couldn’t sell advertising to save my life and I know it. When I worked in the newspaper business, advertising was sold by magical elves as far as I was concerned. When I started a site (not this one) that needed ad revenue, my approach was decidedly pitiful.

“Hey, uh. Like. You wanna buy an ad?”

“No.”

“OK.”

What’s the point of all this? Running an Internet site and raising revenue for it are two separate matters. One might be able to put up a great site that attracts a lot of traffic. There is a certain skill involved in doing that. However, that same person that is so brilliant in putting together a site with compelling content might not have the ability to attract advertisers. The ability to sell ads is also a skill and it’s a good idea to leave that task up to an advertising agency staffed with people who have that skill.

Go ahead and click the aforementioned link to find out about a firm with just that skill – it’s called “That! Advertising Agency” and specializes in mixed media advertising. What does that mean? It means the agency was born and bred on the Internet but realizes the importance of advertising through more traditional outlets, too. That’s right – the company seeks to reach your demographic through the channels most appropriate to it.

Sounds good, huh? Experience in various forms of media and the willingness to avoid a “one size fits all” solution in favor of a custom program sounds like a winner, doesn’t it?

Realtors vote down merger

2012-01-12T02:13:00.001-06:00

Three boards of Realtors in northwest Arkansas voted down a proposal on Wednesday that would have resulted in the largest local Realtors association in Arkansas.

You can read all about the vote and such at First Arkansas News by clicking here.

Now, here’s the interesting thing – a person familiar with what went down on there said it appeared the proposal might pass until the full details of the merger weren’t released until right before the vote. Those details allegedly caused a lot of people to say “hell no” and vote against the merger.

What details was our source talking about? We’re investigating and will have more details in the near future. So, stay tuned to First Arkansas News and we’ll post that information when we get it.

Want a specialty store? You've got it!

2012-01-12T00:52:00.002-06:00

Here we go again -- taking another look at how the Internet allows specialty stores to thrive. That's a topic one can never beat to death because specialization is one of those things that makes the Internet so great.

Yes, it's one thing to have a lot of common items available, but what does your local retailer have in stock when it comes to portable bleachers or aluminum bleachers? If you can find a local store that even carries such items, how large is the selection? The chances are good that any store in your town that carries such items will have an extremely limited selection. And let's not even talk about prices -- a severe lack of competition means prices are pushed as high as possible. Click on one of the two aforementioned links and you'll find plenty of items at great prices -- competition from Internet retailers means selection and attractive prices are mandatory for those companies that want to survive.

The same dynamic works when it comes to other products. How about dog exercise equipment or pet waste stations? Yep -- plenty of products and competitive prices at the Internet retailer behind the aforementioned links.

Choice is a good thing, indeed, and the Internet facilitates that very well.

Imagine Black Friday all year long

2012-01-10T02:14:00.004-06:00

I had the "pleasure" of going on my first Black Friday sale in November. Why? Because my wife wanted two items for sale in a store and couldn't grab them both by herself. So, I was recruited.

Anyone who has been through one of those things knows the drill. You've got a limited number of products and people are lined up to grab them as soon as the merchant makes them available. The crowd surges, items are grabbed and the very lucky come away with items at ridiculously low prices.

Of course, there are problems with Black Friday sales. For one thing, those are only held once a year. For another, there's all that nasty fighting and grabbing that takes place. Finally, the truly zealous Black Friday warriors tend to sacrifice spending Thanksgiving with their families as they either camp out in parking lots or go to bed early so they can be at the stores as soon as they open to the public.

Ah, but what if there was a way to get those Black Friday deals without having to go to stores, stand in lines and fight with crowds? What if you could get those deals all year long so as to avoid waiting until the day after Thanksgiving to take advantage of the best prices available? Why, you could start take care of Christmas shopping throughout the year instead of saving up your cash to blow in one, financially-inconvenient wad on Black Friday. Heck, you might even pick up some things for yourself at discount prices.

And, folks, you'll find just a place when you point your browser to Nomorerack.com, grab a free membership and start shopping. What is Nomorerack? Simply put, it's a clearinghouse for a slew of great deals. The "deals" available change regularly, so the wise shopper will check in regularly to see what's available. And you will want to check in often -- there are items over there for as much as 90 percent off, the products range from electronics such as Android tablets to tee shirts and we're talking about new products. In short, the chances are good you'll find plenty of products you'll like at prices that are hard to beat.

Want another incentive to get involved with the site? Refer friends and you'll win awards. That's right -- if you can convince some friends it would be a good idea to join up and save money, you'll be able to leverage those introductions into points that can be redeemed for free products. How's that for a heck of a deal?

Click one of the aforementioned links and give the site a look. In this economy, everyone likes a good deal, right? Nomorerack is serving them up daily, so don't miss out on some sales.

A vacation at the spur of the moment?

2012-01-10T00:16:00.005-06:00

Need a vacation? Sure you do! Who couldn't use a vacation after a stressful 2011 and the "blahs" that naturally follow the holidays.

Ah, but vacations take a lot of planning, don't they? Why, it would be ridiculous to plan something at the last moment and have any hope for success, right?

That may have been the case in the past, but one of the great things of the Internet is that the tools are always at hand to make plans and carry them through efficiently and quickly. Let's say you're in Australia and you want to book last minute flights to, well, somewhere else. The Internet's got you covered. The same goes for booking last minute hotels or cheap flights.

Convenient? You'd better believe it. Now, get packing.

An easy solution to spam emails?

2012-01-05T03:08:00.002-06:00

Sick of sifting through an inbox full of junk to get those few emails you want?

I was at a point where I was getting close to 200 spam emails a day and was starting to view my email account are largely a nuisance. If I had to dig through all that garbage to get the emails I wanted, what was the point of running an account at all?

Sure, I tried using new email addresses but the spammers always found me. I filtered spams out in Thunderbird on my laptop, but that did nothing for the mail I checked on my iPhone and Nook Tablet.

What was the cure for all of this? It's simpler than you might think -- take advantage of Google's free and very good spam filters by using Gmail to filter my mail before it hits my inbox. Want to learn how to set that up easily? Click here and read all about. And, seriously, the service is completely free. Give it a shot!

Moving to Colorado?

2012-01-05T02:37:00.002-06:00

Here we go -- another new year. And what do people do at the first of a new year? They start looking for some sort of change.

We've seen it over and over again and particularly when going through times (like now) when the economy is decidedly shaky -- some people start looking for a change of scenery. There's been more than a bit of a trend of late due to people moving to Colorado.

Want proof? Have a gander at a few statistics courtesy of Wikipedia and the U.S. Census. The population grew 10 percent from 2000 to 2010, yet still has a low population density of 49.3 people per square mile (ranked 37th in the nation and even sparser than my beloved Arkansas, mind you). Meanwhile, the median income is comparatively high at $56,993 (13th in the nation). In short, the place has room to go and inhabitants there tend to make a pretty good living. No wonder the state is becoming a destination.

Ah, but there's a bit of a problem for those unfamiliar with the area -- what are some good Colorado movers? What are some of the better Colorado moving companies? For those completely unfamiliar with the state, what are some solid Colorado international movers?

The Internet exists, in part, to help us answer such questions. Click any of the aforementioned links to find an answer appropriate for you. Bear in mind that those aren't good for just people moving to Colorado, but for people coming from the state, too.

Pot racks A-Go-Go

2012-01-03T18:33:00.003-06:00

Here's another example of why the Internet is so great for consumers who want to choose from a wide variety of products rather than the one or two typically featured at local retailers -- a store dedicated to Enclume pot racks.

What is an Enclume pot rack? Simply put, it's a way to efficiently store your pots (and maybe even a pan or two) in your kitchen without taking up space in your cabinets. Just hang one of the rascals up and you're set.

Why shop for them online? Simply put, if you can find a store in your area that carries Enclume potracks, the chances are good your selection will be slim at best. Isn't it better to have several options available. Perhaps there's a price point you want to stick with or need a particular configuration to fit your individual needs. Your choices may be limited locally, but one of the reason the Internet exists is to give shoppers a full array of options.

Click one of the links in this post and get started shopping.

Times Change But Our Ozark Women Still Know How To Carry

2011-12-30T22:34:00.000-06:00

Image From Hillbilly Heaven FaceBook Group

It’s A Dogs Life

2011-12-30T22:21:00.000-06:00

GOBER OBEEBE OR TOTUS OBAMA?

by A.F. "Tony Branco:

[Original Source]

Tags: dogs life, Americans, on a leash, liberal government, Barack Obama, A.F. Branco, political cartoon

Limerics A-Go-Go!

2011-12-29T14:20:00.003-06:00

Howard A. Nobles -- a Benton resident, proud father of the great The Hawg, poet, retired educator and all around swell guy -- has published his second book of poetry.

What is it called? Lost in Limerick Land. What's it about? A collection of clean, humorous lyrics written over a period of about five years.

Where can you read all about it? Right here.

Getting my fix of cookies this Christmas season

2011-12-29T14:05:00.000-06:00

Guest post written by Heather Lewis

One of the best parts about the holiday season is all of the special treats that you can fix and get away with eating. I normally don't let myself have too many sweets because I need to watch my weight, but I make an exception around the holidays. There are just way too many good things to eat during the holidays!

But, sometimes I don't just get sweets as gifts during the holidays. I also love to bake my own holiday cookies. While I was online looking up some info about new cookie recipes, I ran across the site hearingaids.miracle-ear.com. After I looked through it a little bit I decided to go and get fitted with some hearing aids, somethign I've put off for years by now.

I found this one really fantastic Christmas cookie recipe that I just can't wait to fix! If I had it my way, I would spend most of the holidays baking cookies with my kids. But we have other responsibilities so I have to put baking cookies on the back burner, or I guess that I should say the back rack.

Hands on with the Nook tablet

2011-12-28T14:48:00.003-06:00

Barnes & Noble released the Nook Tablet back in November and it's caused more than a bit of a stir in the "budget" Android tablet market.

Does it live up to the hype? I like mine, but there are some severe limitations to the machine.

Want to read more? Just click here and you're on your way, sports fan!

Low credit store? Get help!

2011-12-28T14:36:00.003-06:00

Remember just a few years ago when anyone with a job and a pulse could get a line of credit?

Things have changed, haven't they. These days, banks are practically hyperactive about risk and the pendulum has swung -- where lenders weren't strict enough in the past, they are overly strict these days. Unless you've got good -- actually, great -- credit, finding a loan to finance cars, houses, consumer goods or even take out a credit card can be a chore.

What are people with bad or fair-to-middling credit to do these days? Find advice on how to fix credit reports. When it comes to ways to rebuild credit fast, there are a lot of options out there. However, which ones are legitimate and which ones are not?

Finding the best credit repair service can take some effort, but have no fear -- click on any of the aforementioned links to start your research and get to work on improving that credit report.

A specialty store for ... enclosed bulletin boards?

2011-12-28T10:58:00.002-06:00

If I've said it once, I've said it 1,000 times -- one of the great things about the Internet is that it allows specialty stores to set up and thrive.

While that may not be a big deal to some people living in large cities, it's a major advancement for those of us in more rural areas. Smaller areas, see, often don't have the population to support highly specialized stores.

Thankfully, the Internet helps bring those products to those of us who can't simply drive across town and find them. The only problem, of course, is that there are a heck of a lot of specialty stores out there, so which ones are good and which ones are not?

Again, the Internet can help us answer that question. Should you type in keyboards like "enclosed bulletin boards," "enclosed cork bulletin boards" or "enclosed fabric bulletin boards" into your favorite search engines, you'll wind up with a ton of results.

Or, you could simply direct your browser to www.enclosedbulletinboards.com and find everything you need in one spot. You'll fine a huge selection (certainly one that's much larger than the one at your local retailer), solid prices and good customer service. Give it a shot if you're in the market...

Three Christmas old time radio shows!

2011-12-25T03:00:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas to one and all! In the spirit of the season, the crew over at First Arkansas News has posted not one, not two but three sparkling old time radio (OTR) episodes for your listening pleasure.

What's over there? Episodes from Burns and Allen, Jack Benny and Mayor of the Town that are sure to please.

Want to give them a listen? Sure you do! Just click here and you're on your way.

Got happy feet?

2011-12-25T02:12:00.002-06:00

Foot health -- oddly enough -- doesn't get enough press.

Why's that odd? Simply put, feet are important and it's a real drag when the main things that support your weight when you're walking around either don't work well or are causing you pain.

If you're in the position where your feet are causing you pain, you're in luck as there are some reliable shoes out there that can help. Take Orthaheel shoes, for example. Those are designed to correct the poor lower limb alignment that is directly related to foot pain. Better yet, you don't get a "one size fits all" approach with those things -- they adjust to your needs, meaning you'll get a custom fit that will work best for you.

For something a bit unique, check out the selection of Orthaheel sandals. Corrective footwear can be fun, right?

Click the aforementioned links and see how easy -- and affordable -- it can be to maintain and/or restore foot health.