-
2 days ago | 
arkansasonline.com | Brenda Looper
On the move? Let us read it for you. LISTEN NOW Your browser does not support the audio element. It's been an eventful few days, with Easter, the death of Pope Francis (rest in peace), Earth Day, and a lot of misleading statements about the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and his deportation to El Salvador, for which he had a court order protecting him from being sent (anywhere else, fine, but not El Salvador).
-
1 week ago | 
arkansasonline.com | Brenda Looper
Your browser does not support the audio element. Those who know me well know I don't do things by half-measures. If I break a bone, I really break it: In 2009, on my freakin' birthday, I shattered my right proximal humerus into four big pieces and several small pieces, and shredded the bicep enough that I had to have donor tissue implanted, along with a plate and pins. This time, on Dec.
-
2 weeks ago | 
arkansasonline.com | Brenda Looper
On the move? Let us read it for you. LISTEN NOW Your browser does not support the audio element. Much of the past week has been spent laughing at penguin memes. Because when the U.S. decides to put tariffs on islands containing nothing but penguins, seagulls and seals, the world will provide penguin memes. Sure, they're laughing at us. But at least some of us can laugh along with them, and lord knows I love penguins (they're my second favorite animal after cats).
-
3 weeks ago | 
arkansasonline.com | Brenda Looper
On the move? Let us read it for you. LISTEN NOW Your browser does not support the audio element. The past week has been busier than usual for me, between getting my car up and running again now that I'm cleared to drive, getting staples out of my arm, making appointments for other health checks, plus taking care of the Voices page. I'm sure I slept somewhere in there, though I can't guarantee that I ate healthily (I keep healthy-ish snacks around in case I can't stop to go heat up a meal).
-
1 month ago | 
arkansasonline.com | Brenda Looper
On the move? Let us read it for you. LISTEN NOW Your browser does not support the audio element. Back when I wrote food stories on a fairly regular basis (much thanks to the wonderful Irene Wassell, may she rest in peace), I did one on food holidays in a month with no federal holidays, August.
-
1 month ago | 
arkansasonline.com | Brenda Looper
On the move? Let us read it for you. LISTEN NOW Your browser does not support the audio element. Every time there's a special day, week or month to celebrate, for example, the contributions of Black people, women (this is Women's History Month), or LGBTQ+ individuals, there's an uproar from certain quadrants. Sigh. That would be all the time, actually, but recognition of anyone else is apparently too much.
-
1 month ago | 
arkansasonline.com | Brenda Looper
On the move? Let us read it for you. LISTEN NOW Your browser does not support the audio element. Since stepping into the office of prosecuting attorney for the Sixth Judicial District, my goal has been clear: to modernize our practices and enhance public safety. Reflecting on the progress we've made over the past two years, I am proud of the dedicated deputy prosecutors, staff, and support teams whose hard work has made these accomplishments possible.
-
1 month ago | 
arkansasonline.com | Brenda Looper
On the move? Let us read it for you. LISTEN NOW Your browser does not support the audio element. "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." --Inigo Montoya, "The Princess Bride"It would be easy to say that everything I ever needed to know I learned from "The Princess Bride." It would be wrong, but go with me here. There's what's been called the master class in introductions: Polite greeting and name. ("Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya.") Relevant personal link.
-
1 month ago | 
arkansasonline.com | Brenda Looper
I'm horrible at formal debate, which I did for a short while in high school. While part of my brain is great--nay, obsessed--with squirreling away knowledge, it doesn't like to communicate on the spot with the part of my brain that controls speech. Extemporaneous speaking is not my forte, and the only time I can do anything close to it is in improv acting, simply because I'm not being myself. I'm so concerned with getting quotes and factual information right that my mouth and brain freeze up.
-
2 months ago | 
arkansasonline.com | Brenda Looper
As we prepare for yet another icy blast this week (c'mon, my bones and joints can't take much more of this), my mind goes to fact-checking once again. I'd remind that Punxsutawney Phil is not a meteorologist; he's a pudgy rodent. There will always be six weeks more of winter whether or not he sees his shadow, at least according to the calendar. Winter weather, on the other hand, can be unpredictable, especially lately; I have friends in Louisiana who were not amused by its recent snow.
