(02-04-2021 07:16 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  

(02-04-2021 05:56 PM)GoBigRed26 Wrote:  

(02-04-2021 04:35 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  So is Arkansas basically two different states in one? Based on how stAte fans and Arkansas fans speak of each other, on a personal level, it's like two completely opposite worlds; the infamous "Other", so to speak.

NWA is pretty much a separate entity and they look down on the rest of the state. However, many Arkansas message board trolls don't live there and have probably never been to Fayetteville.

Wal-Mart fans, the best!

I'm almost fairly confident "Wal-Mart" fans was coined in Arkansas because Wal-Mart is headquartered a few miles from the Arkansas campus.

There are a lot of Razorback fans, especially older fans, who never went to school in Fayetteville, and many times might travel once in a year there. Hence the Wal-Mart fans line.

If you look closely in the conversations about this game, you'll find the Razorback fans most against AState in general were people who didn't attend the University of Arkansas. Many of their newer alums have never held us anywhere near the same level of disdain.

(02-04-2021 09:24 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(02-04-2021 07:16 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  

(02-04-2021 05:56 PM)GoBigRed26 Wrote:  

(02-04-2021 04:35 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  So is Arkansas basically two different states in one? Based on how stAte fans and Arkansas fans speak of each other, on a personal level, it's like two completely opposite worlds; the infamous "Other", so to speak.

NWA is pretty much a separate entity and they look down on the rest of the state. However, many Arkansas message board trolls don't live there and have probably never been to Fayetteville.

Wal-Mart fans, the best!

I'm almost fairly confident "Wal-Mart" fans was coined in Arkansas because Wal-Mart is headquartered a few miles from the Arkansas campus.

There are a lot of Razorback fans, especially older fans, who never went to school in Fayetteville, and many times might travel once in a year there. Hence the Wal-Mart fans line.

If you look closely in the conversations about this game, you'll find the Razorback fans most against AState in general were people who didn't attend the University of Arkansas. Many of their newer alums have never held us anywhere near the same level of disdain.

Could be. I always referred to Wal-Mart fans as fans of flagship programs who have never been to campus but will go buy their flair and profess their allegiance to said programs. Nothing wrong with shopping at Wal-Mart, per say.

That said, if you all happen to win, be sure to enjoy it as much as possible. App's next match-up against UNC will see UNC with borderline 4/5 star guys along the defensive line as Sophomores to Seniors. Far different team than we saw in 2019. Never know when you'll get Arkansas at a perfect time to beat them again.

From Hogville: "Arkansans: "We're not backwards, barefooted, Hillbilly's!"

Also Arkansans: "Let's play ARKANSAS STATE in WAR MEMORIAL STADIUM!"

"Nothing to Gain, Everything to Lose" for the Razorback football/athletic program. Hey look, we beat a lower tiered FBS program in a dump of a stadium! . . . Hey look, we lost to a lower tired FBS program in a dump of a stadium! Bet the students travel/pay for that match-up . . . bet the Central Arkansas "big donors" are really excited for this game of the century as well!

WE ARE Backwards, Barefooted, Hillbilly's! If nothing else, play the d@mn game in the safest/largest stadium to have the opportunity to make the most money . . . for BOTH SCHOOLS."

At least one fan can admit it; when deer season hits, all fans abandon football.

(02-03-2021 02:21 PM)stingingeagle Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 02:17 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 02:08 PM)stingingeagle Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 01:02 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 12:56 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Naturally, Razorback fans on Twitter are already threatening violence against AState fans....

Razorback fans are so salty about everything and I think it is hilarious. I recently moved to NE Arkansas and I crack up listening to hog fans talk trash about A-State because they have been the better team and they just can't admit it.

How you liking NE Arkansas? Ozarks have been a dream of mine even though I've never been anywhere near the place.

There's a fairly decent chance Arkansas will lose that game. I've got no skin in the game but that is one I would watch

I got bad news for you...the ozarks aren't in Northeast Arkansas. There are portions of the region in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, but they are in the Northwest Part of the state.

Northeast, northwest. Same thing. I went to public schools growing up, not my fault!

We moved to Arkansas (Fayetteville) four years ago and while I've only been to Jonesboro once it was clear that there's a big difference between the east and west portions of the state. The east is largely flat delta following the Mississippi river, while there is no flat land in the northwestern portion of the state dominated by rolling hills and mountains.

Jonesboro is a good size town while NWA is more of a region starting with Bentonville up north and ending with Fayetteville which is 30 minutes south.

Does look like State accepted a lower payout to get the game which makes sense to make their fans happy. Getting paid about $900K, while Georgia Southern is getting 1.4 million for its game in 2021.

(02-04-2021 05:56 PM)GoBigRed26 Wrote:  

(02-04-2021 04:35 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  So is Arkansas basically two different states in one? Based on how stAte fans and Arkansas fans speak of each other, on a personal level, it's like two completely opposite worlds; the infamous "Other", so to speak.

NWA is pretty much a separate entity and they look down on the rest of the state. However, many Arkansas message board trolls don't live there and have probably never been to Fayetteville.

There are a lot of out of state transplants in Northwest Arkansas (I'm one of them) but I don't think the region looks down on the rest of the state. The NWA has that reputation it seems because it is affluent compared to the rest of the state due to the large corporate presence and the research university.

(02-05-2021 12:55 PM)ButlerGSU Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 02:21 PM)stingingeagle Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 02:17 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 02:08 PM)stingingeagle Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 01:02 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  Razorback fans are so salty about everything and I think it is hilarious. I recently moved to NE Arkansas and I crack up listening to hog fans talk trash about A-State because they have been the better team and they just can't admit it.

How you liking NE Arkansas? Ozarks have been a dream of mine even though I've never been anywhere near the place.

There's a fairly decent chance Arkansas will lose that game. I've got no skin in the game but that is one I would watch

I got bad news for you...the ozarks aren't in Northeast Arkansas. There are portions of the region in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, but they are in the Northwest Part of the state.

Northeast, northwest. Same thing. I went to public schools growing up, not my fault!

We moved to Arkansas (Fayetteville) four years ago and while I've only been to Jonesboro once it was clear that there's a big difference between the east and west portions of the state. The east is largely flat delta following the Mississippi river, while there is no flat land in the northwestern portion of the state dominated by rolling hills and mountains.

Jonesboro is a good size town while NWA is more of a region starting with Bentonville up north and ending with Fayetteville which is 30 minutes south.

Does look like State accepted a lower payout to get the game which makes sense to make their fans happy. Getting paid about $900K, while Georgia Southern is getting 1.4 million for its game in 2021.

Ticket guarantee makes it about even. We get 10K tickets provided, and we keep all the sales from those tickets. If we sell them for $50 each, that's another 500K and equals the 1.4 million pay day.

I'm totally going. I'll be the guy wearing App State clothes. Awesome.

(02-05-2021 01:02 PM)ButlerGSU Wrote:  

(02-04-2021 05:56 PM)GoBigRed26 Wrote:  

(02-04-2021 04:35 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  So is Arkansas basically two different states in one? Based on how stAte fans and Arkansas fans speak of each other, on a personal level, it's like two completely opposite worlds; the infamous "Other", so to speak.

NWA is pretty much a separate entity and they look down on the rest of the state. However, many Arkansas message board trolls don't live there and have probably never been to Fayetteville.

There are a lot of out of state transplants in Northwest Arkansas (I'm one of them) but I don't think the region looks down on the rest of the state. The NWA has that reputation it seems because it is affluent compared to the rest of the state due to the large corporate presence and the research university.

It isn't NWA folks or UofA grads that mouth off about stAte being inferior . . . it is mostly uneducated clowns from NEA that find their self worth tied up in being a Hog fan . . .

(02-03-2021 02:26 PM)stingingeagle Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 02:15 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 02:08 PM)stingingeagle Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 01:02 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 12:56 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Naturally, Razorback fans on Twitter are already threatening violence against AState fans....

Razorback fans are so salty about everything and I think it is hilarious. I recently moved to NE Arkansas and I crack up listening to hog fans talk trash about A-State because they have been the better team and they just can't admit it.

How you liking NE Arkansas? Ozarks have been a dream of mine even though I've never been anywhere near the place.

There's a fairly decent chance Arkansas will lose that game. I've got no skin in the game but that is one I would watch

I’ve enjoyed it so far. It reminds me of living in Southern Alabama just without being close to the beach.

My grandparents lived in Little Rock for a couple of years. Always said it was their favorite place to live, and they moved a lot. Trying to figure out how I could move to Ozarks. My career revolves around being a data analyst, and I get the feeling that's not exactly where you'd want to be if you're wanting to stay an analyst. Looking into moving to the salesforce side of things which has more WFH opportunities than other professions. I know they now have a $10,000 grant for those who WFH to move to the Ozarks. Cheap land, more privacy and far away from Atlanta. Works for me.

My parents lived in Wichita, El Paso, Fairbanks, Ash Flat Arkansas, Salem Arkansas, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Walnut Ridge and Searcy. My mother taught school because my Dad thought she was too smart to not go to college when he got to go on the GI Bill.

One of her teacher friends was complaining her husband was likely to take a job in a really rural town and bemoaned how unhappy she'd be there. Mom recounted the places she had lived and the places she taught (some weren't in the same town) and said she'd found that if you are happy, you will be happy where ever you live.

Of course one problem is that is some places aren't freaking affordable. I don't know how people swing it in San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Austin, NYC unless they are making real big money.

When the Med School was opening at AState several of the key people came from NYC. The person designated as their liason would help them find a place to live. Said the people would say "Well I could probably swing $500,000) so they took them to see houses in that price range in Jonesboro. Needless to say they bought less expensive houses but all sent photos of their homes to friends back in NYC.

Me personally, Jonesboro would be only place I'd choose in NEA but lot of places in the Ozarks I'd love to move to, especially now that some of the electric co-ops are offering gig internet access.

(02-03-2021 03:00 PM)GoBigRed26 Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 02:26 PM)stingingeagle Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 02:15 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 02:08 PM)stingingeagle Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 01:02 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  Razorback fans are so salty about everything and I think it is hilarious. I recently moved to NE Arkansas and I crack up listening to hog fans talk trash about A-State because they have been the better team and they just can't admit it.

How you liking NE Arkansas? Ozarks have been a dream of mine even though I've never been anywhere near the place.

There's a fairly decent chance Arkansas will lose that game. I've got no skin in the game but that is one I would watch

I’ve enjoyed it so far. It reminds me of living in Southern Alabama just without being close to the beach.

My grandparents lived in Little Rock for a couple of years. Always said it was their favorite place to live, and they moved a lot. Trying to figure out how I could move to Ozarks. My career revolves around being a data analyst, and I get the feeling that's not exactly where you'd want to be if you're wanting to stay an analyst. Looking into moving to the salesforce side of things which has more WFH opportunities than other professions. I know they now have a $10,000 grant for those who WFH to move to the Ozarks. Cheap land, more privacy and far away from Atlanta. Works for me.

You'd be surprised. NWA (Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers/Bentonville) is booming. The two counties up there have over 520k in population and some have projected it to be up around 1 million in 30 years. Wal-Mart has really boosted the area, requiring every company they carry a product from to have a local office there. There's still a lot of rural area there with mountains and lakes. I don't go up there much, but it is very pretty.

Crystal Bridges is a world class art museum. One art critic said it was the most significant new museum in the past 50 years. Wife and I go up at least once a year, usually more often for the special shows. They've established a second facility for some of their excess collection.

(02-03-2021 03:02 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 02:51 PM)OsageJ Wrote:  I can't believe the pigs still play there. Last time I was at War Memorial it was a dump. They have a much bigger and nicer place at home to play.

I know Little Rock doesn't currently have the budget but I could see this is another big reason why they also don't want to add football. If WMS is really this bad why would they want to play there? South was forced to use Ladd-Peebles and that place is the worst and so it made the experience just so subpar. Luckily through their efforts and Hancock-Whitney bank they got that new on campus stadium.

WMS is better maintained than Ladd-Peebles. I'm not sure that will be true if the supporters of a soccer specific stadium get their way because the plan/hope is for a USL 1 caliber facility that would also take some high school football. Losing the Rangers and one of the high schools would be a hit on revenue. It's not big but the state isn't likely to throw good after bad if they lose rental income.

(02-03-2021 05:05 PM)Usajags Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 02:15 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 02:08 PM)stingingeagle Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 01:02 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 12:56 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Naturally, Razorback fans on Twitter are already threatening violence against AState fans....

Razorback fans are so salty about everything and I think it is hilarious. I recently moved to NE Arkansas and I crack up listening to hog fans talk trash about A-State because they have been the better team and they just can't admit it.

How you liking NE Arkansas? Ozarks have been a dream of mine even though I've never been anywhere near the place.

There's a fairly decent chance Arkansas will lose that game. I've got no skin in the game but that is one I would watch

I’ve enjoyed it so far. It reminds me of living in Southern Alabama just without being close to the beach.

You know Ozark, AL is named Ozark after the Ozarks because Ozark looked like the Ozarks.

I used to spend a lot of time in NW Arkansas for work, even to the point of meeting friends and knowing families there. That area has grown tremendously over the last 15 years and was a very nice area. Spent most of my time in Springdale, we did a lot of work with Tyson.

Did not know that about Ozark, AL

But then again I was surprised when I found out Birmingham didn't even exist at the time of the Civil War.

One of my futile crusades has been for A-State to expand the in-state tuition program for out-of-state students to cover all counties included in the Delta Commission region which would pick up a decent part of Alabama.

(02-04-2021 04:35 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  So is Arkansas basically two different states in one? Based on how stAte fans and Arkansas fans speak of each other, on a personal level, it's like two completely opposite worlds; the infamous "Other", so to speak.

Pretty much. This oversimplifies it but draw a line from the NE corner to the SW corner. Two different worlds. The delta and grand prairie are row crop country on the eastern side of the line and Ozarks and Ouachitas are hill country and not suitable for row crops, lot of livestock and timber and mineral extraction. Doesn't hold completely accurate as timber and oil/gas doesn't follow the line across the south.

When secession fever hit, each Arkansas county elected a delegate to a convention to debate secession. It was voted down and the delta and prairie counties were livid and tried to negotiate a deal to split the state so they could go join the confederacy. Then when the shooting started they voted again.But two very different places.

(02-05-2021 01:02 PM)ButlerGSU Wrote:  

(02-04-2021 05:56 PM)GoBigRed26 Wrote:  

(02-04-2021 04:35 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  So is Arkansas basically two different states in one? Based on how stAte fans and Arkansas fans speak of each other, on a personal level, it's like two completely opposite worlds; the infamous "Other", so to speak.

NWA is pretty much a separate entity and they look down on the rest of the state. However, many Arkansas message board trolls don't live there and have probably never been to Fayetteville.

There are a lot of out of state transplants in Northwest Arkansas (I'm one of them) but I don't think the region looks down on the rest of the state. The NWA has that reputation it seems because it is affluent compared to the rest of the state due to the large corporate presence and the research university.

Families that were there pre-Walmart do have an attitude and frankly earned the right. Until the Walmart and Tyson explosion the population was low and centered around Fayetteville. Fort Smith was the largest city in western Arkansas. The TV stations are co-licensed Fayetteville/Fort Smith and used to have just small branch offices in the Fayetteville area, first driving film to Fort Smith then later microwave links. Now it is reversed. The state spent far more in the rest of the state because the population was there so they felt left out. They elected Republicans when a lot of races wouldn't even draw a Republican candidate in the rest of the state. What money got allocated for roads wouldn't go very far because it's hard to build roads on steep hills when the Interstate was built to Fayetteville it was so expensive per mile that special riders were attached instead of 80% federal money with 20% state match much of it was 90-10 and some sections were 95-5.

So there is a sense of shared triumph among many of the old timers but the reality is most people who live there now were born somewhere else or their parents were and they don't share the the history of feeling like the ignored step-child.

They also don't share the sense of the Razorbacks being their identity. The 1964 national champs were an ego boost for a state that was losing population and mired in poverty. A lot of newcomers see the Hogs as a local amenity like the Naturals or the growing bike trail network. Easier to get to Kansas City than it used to be so easy to be a Chiefs and/or Royals fan or OKC Thunder fan.

(02-06-2021 08:28 PM)WinstonTheWolf Wrote:  

(02-05-2021 01:02 PM)ButlerGSU Wrote:  

(02-04-2021 05:56 PM)GoBigRed26 Wrote:  

(02-04-2021 04:35 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  So is Arkansas basically two different states in one? Based on how stAte fans and Arkansas fans speak of each other, on a personal level, it's like two completely opposite worlds; the infamous "Other", so to speak.

NWA is pretty much a separate entity and they look down on the rest of the state. However, many Arkansas message board trolls don't live there and have probably never been to Fayetteville.

There are a lot of out of state transplants in Northwest Arkansas (I'm one of them) but I don't think the region looks down on the rest of the state. The NWA has that reputation it seems because it is affluent compared to the rest of the state due to the large corporate presence and the research university.

It isn't NWA folks or UofA grads that mouth off about stAte being inferior . . . it is mostly uneducated clowns from NEA that find their self worth tied up in being a Hog fan . . .

This 100%.

You deal with NEA hog fans and you think all Hog fans are ignorant of anything not Razorback and hate AState for simply existing. Go to Central Arkansas and that's rare. I used to do a lot of litigation in NWA Arkansas and never heard anything remotely close to a negative word from the lawyers about A-State who pretty much always knew the outcome of our games and watched the few games on TV back then.

(02-08-2021 11:58 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(02-05-2021 01:02 PM)ButlerGSU Wrote:  

(02-04-2021 05:56 PM)GoBigRed26 Wrote:  

(02-04-2021 04:35 PM)ericsaid Wrote:  So is Arkansas basically two different states in one? Based on how stAte fans and Arkansas fans speak of each other, on a personal level, it's like two completely opposite worlds; the infamous "Other", so to speak.

NWA is pretty much a separate entity and they look down on the rest of the state. However, many Arkansas message board trolls don't live there and have probably never been to Fayetteville.

There are a lot of out of state transplants in Northwest Arkansas (I'm one of them) but I don't think the region looks down on the rest of the state. The NWA has that reputation it seems because it is affluent compared to the rest of the state due to the large corporate presence and the research university.

Families that were there pre-Walmart do have an attitude and frankly earned the right. Until the Walmart and Tyson explosion the population was low and centered around Fayetteville. Fort Smith was the largest city in western Arkansas. The TV stations are co-licensed Fayetteville/Fort Smith and used to have just small branch offices in the Fayetteville area, first driving film to Fort Smith then later microwave links. Now it is reversed. The state spent far more in the rest of the state because the population was there so they felt left out. They elected Republicans when a lot of races wouldn't even draw a Republican candidate in the rest of the state. What money got allocated for roads wouldn't go very far because it's hard to build roads on steep hills when the Interstate was built to Fayetteville it was so expensive per mile that special riders were attached instead of 80% federal money with 20% state match much of it was 90-10 and some sections were 95-5.

So there is a sense of shared triumph among many of the old timers but the reality is most people who live there now were born somewhere else or their parents were and they don't share the the history of feeling like the ignored step-child.

They also don't share the sense of the Razorbacks being their identity. The 1964 national champs were an ego boost for a state that was losing population and mired in poverty. A lot of newcomers see the Hogs as a local amenity like the Naturals or the growing bike trail network. Easier to get to Kansas City than it used to be so easy to be a Chiefs and/or Royals fan or OKC Thunder fan.

Yeah, my trips to NWA have largely been peaceful. The only time it got remotely bad was when I was stuck in town on a day the piglets were at home and all the crazies came in.

I've had residents of some of the small towns around NEA and Central Arkansas ask me what state I was from when they heard I wasn't a Razorback fan.

Little Rock isn't nearly as bad as it used to be. Our coverage in the Central Arkansas market has increased considerably in the last decade, so locals in the area generally have grown used to the idea that we have a respectable program, and passively will root for us many times. The people against this game are almost going to unanimously be long term Razorback fans who grew up with the team in the 50's and 60's, or NEA Hog fans, who have grown to hate us as we've taken over large parts of the area.

(02-08-2021 11:18 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 03:00 PM)GoBigRed26 Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 02:26 PM)stingingeagle Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 02:15 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 02:08 PM)stingingeagle Wrote:  How you liking NE Arkansas? Ozarks have been a dream of mine even though I've never been anywhere near the place.

There's a fairly decent chance Arkansas will lose that game. I've got no skin in the game but that is one I would watch

I’ve enjoyed it so far. It reminds me of living in Southern Alabama just without being close to the beach.

My grandparents lived in Little Rock for a couple of years. Always said it was their favorite place to live, and they moved a lot. Trying to figure out how I could move to Ozarks. My career revolves around being a data analyst, and I get the feeling that's not exactly where you'd want to be if you're wanting to stay an analyst. Looking into moving to the salesforce side of things which has more WFH opportunities than other professions. I know they now have a $10,000 grant for those who WFH to move to the Ozarks. Cheap land, more privacy and far away from Atlanta. Works for me.

You'd be surprised. NWA (Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers/Bentonville) is booming. The two counties up there have over 520k in population and some have projected it to be up around 1 million in 30 years. Wal-Mart has really boosted the area, requiring every company they carry a product from to have a local office there. There's still a lot of rural area there with mountains and lakes. I don't go up there much, but it is very pretty.

Crystal Bridges is a world class art museum. One art critic said it was the most significant new museum in the past 50 years. Wife and I go up at least once a year, usually more often for the special shows. They've established a second facility for some of their excess collection.

There was an article recently in, I believe, Arkansas Money & Politics and had a video of George Gleason giving a tour of the new Bank OZK headquarters. He's a big art collector and went to NY auctions to try and buy American art for the new offices. He kept getting outbid and the pieces were going for way more than they should have. He had to switch over and just go for European art. Later, he found out that all those pieces were being bought up by Alice Walton for Crystal Bridges.

Regarding Little Rock, in the 8 1/2 years I've been here, I'm amazed at the increase of stAte stuff I have seen. I used to see 3 or 4 stAte flags or banners hanging in yards on my way to take my kids to school. I see so many stAte license plates, sometimes, I'll have two cars in front of me that both have them. So, that makes three cars in a row with mine.

(02-09-2021 10:33 AM)GoBigRed26 Wrote:  

(02-08-2021 11:18 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 03:00 PM)GoBigRed26 Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 02:26 PM)stingingeagle Wrote:  

(02-03-2021 02:15 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  I’ve enjoyed it so far. It reminds me of living in Southern Alabama just without being close to the beach.

My grandparents lived in Little Rock for a couple of years. Always said it was their favorite place to live, and they moved a lot. Trying to figure out how I could move to Ozarks. My career revolves around being a data analyst, and I get the feeling that's not exactly where you'd want to be if you're wanting to stay an analyst. Looking into moving to the salesforce side of things which has more WFH opportunities than other professions. I know they now have a $10,000 grant for those who WFH to move to the Ozarks. Cheap land, more privacy and far away from Atlanta. Works for me.

You'd be surprised. NWA (Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers/Bentonville) is booming. The two counties up there have over 520k in population and some have projected it to be up around 1 million in 30 years. Wal-Mart has really boosted the area, requiring every company they carry a product from to have a local office there. There's still a lot of rural area there with mountains and lakes. I don't go up there much, but it is very pretty.

Crystal Bridges is a world class art museum. One art critic said it was the most significant new museum in the past 50 years. Wife and I go up at least once a year, usually more often for the special shows. They've established a second facility for some of their excess collection.

There was an article recently in, I believe, Arkansas Money & Politics and had a video of George Gleason giving a tour of the new Bank OZK headquarters. He's a big art collector and went to NY auctions to try and buy American art for the new offices. He kept getting outbid and the pieces were going for way more than they should have. He had to switch over and just go for European art. Later, he found out that all those pieces were being bought up by Alice Walton for Crystal Bridges.

Regarding Little Rock, in the 8 1/2 years I've been here, I'm amazed at the increase of stAte stuff I have seen. I used to see 3 or 4 stAte flags or banners hanging in yards on my way to take my kids to school. I see so many stAte license plates, sometimes, I'll have two cars in front of me that both have them. So, that makes three cars in a row with mine.

Alice Walton has a funny story. The widow of the founder of Jones Truck Line called her and said she had a painting she might want for the museum. She and a curator went to see it. The curator got excited and said I think we have something here and started taking photos and sending them to an art expert.

Expert calls pretty quickly and after quick conversation curator hands the phone to Walton. Guy says it was done by some painter who was part of the Hudson River School of painters and it’s worth millions and was thought to be lost. Alice said, “Honey it’s not lost, it’s hanging over a couch in Springdale, Arkansas”.