Brick: Muse on News by Ben S. Pollock
- Big Tense
The GOP has reduced itself from a Big Tent of several degrees of conservatism to a single BAM — By Any Means. Acting as host of the 2026 Labor Day picnic of Local 965 and the NWA Labor Council picnic on Sept. 7 — genially, I hope — I emceed the program that comprised stump… Read more: Big Tense - From Cage Match to Hot Wheels
State of This Union — President’s Message August and the University of Arkansas 2026-2027 term has begun. How did you spend your summer? I spent bits of mine wondering why I never got more excited about the nation’s 250th Independence Day compared to, say, last year’s 249th. It doesn’t seem to be just me. In… Read more: From Cage Match to Hot Wheels - Does a Rising Tide Level the Playing Field?
State of This Union — President’s Message One advantage leaders can have is anything they do or say seems important. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a statement and held a press event July 14 announcing that the “First Liberty Institute’s Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy’s Religious Liberty in the States index” found that Arkansas… Read more: Does a Rising Tide Level the Playing Field? - Rat-a-tat Ratatouille
By this time in our three-decade-plus marriage I know too well what my spouse refuses to eat. Well, there’s no disguising okra. But I can expect the classic eggplant-dominating casserole ratatouille will find favor once and sometimes twice a summer. The key is precooking the eggplant separately — food journalist Mark Bittman says, “There are… Read more: Rat-a-tat Ratatouille - Why Us. And When?
An Editor’s Note “Why should (I) join Local 965/AEA/NEA?” That is one of the two top questions that other 965 leaders and I get when friends and strangers learn of our affiliation. The other question is more of a statement: “I didn’t know the UA had a labor union.” There has been an active workers… Read more: Why Us. And When? - Have a (Cheese) Ball
My mom often bought house-label food items to keep on budget, as the quality was close enough. One item she wouldn’t skimp on was Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese, explaining other brands were “waxy.” I never understood that, different ones had about the same mouth feel to me, once I started buying my own groceries after… Read more: Have a (Cheese) Ball
Food Columns
Candidly, the recipes are posted for my convenience, from which to refer via iPad in the kitchen. All are vegetarian, nearly all vegan, aka plant-based whole-food PBWF and, especially the recent ones, low to no oil. I’m sure you’d like them, too.
- Rat-a-tat Ratatouille
By this time in our three-decade-plus marriage I know too well what my spouse refuses to eat. Well, there’s no disguising okra. But I can expect the classic eggplant-dominating casserole ratatouille will find favor once and sometimes twice a summer.… Read more: Rat-a-tat Ratatouille - Have a (Cheese) Ball
My mom often bought house-label food items to keep on budget, as the quality was close enough. One item she wouldn’t skimp on was Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese, explaining other brands were “waxy.” I never understood that, different ones had… Read more: Have a (Cheese) Ball - Friday Night Re-Pabst
DIY Michelada Is Superior Several years ago I came across a curious cookbook. It comprised workable, simple and healthy vegan recipes but as a parody of a diet book, The Taco Cleanse: The Tortilla-Based Diet Proven to Change Your Life.… Read more: Friday Night Re-Pabst - Clean Beans
The goal for Memorial Day extending to the Fourth of July this year was a recipe for baked beans tasting as I remember Mom opening a can or two and heating them, but also vegan and zero to low oil.… Read more: Clean Beans
