View from Abroad: The Best of Cenla

View from Abroad: The Best of Cenla

In a couple of weeks I'll be flying home to Alexandria for the first time in nearly two years. As I prepare for this trip I find myself excited about access to certain things I can't get here like candy canes, Barq's Rootbeer, Golden Flake chips, and homemade sweet pickles (drool). At the same time, I realize that no matter where I've lived or traveled (which by now includes about 2/3 of US states and a pretty good list of countries), there are certain things in Cenla that I have never seen beaten anywhere. So here's my list driven by hunger pangs from abroad for the things in Cenla that I have found to be the best -- anywhere:

Part I:

Bangkok Restaurant
- Twice-cooked Chicken
- Sesame Chicken
- Lo-mein

I've been a fan of Bangkok since I was in high school. This was one of the first asian buffets I ever at at. Back then it was located in the old Howard Johnson's restaurant on MacArthur Dr. To this day I have yet to find anyone who does their three specialties better. The staff is always friendly and knows who their customers are. For a restaurant of this small size to do the volume they do and still keep the quality and flavour so high is really feat.

Their twice-cooked chicken is a delicate dish with tender batter-fried chicken cooked in a sauce with peppers, onions, carrots, and broccoli. You find it elsewhere with names such as Tiny Spicy Chicken or House Specialty Chicken but Bangkok's twice-cooked is by far the acme of perfection in this dish. If only General Tso had eaten at Bangkok, buffets around the country would have a completely different star. A serving of Bangkok Lo-mein makes a great base for this dish.

I learned of Bangkok's rendition of Sesame Chicken from my brother who after years of prodding me to deny my lust for twice-cooked chicken finally convinced me to try this dish. He was certainly right that this is no ordinary Chinese fare. Bangkok's unique take on this asian standard results in a chewy yet crunchy delight coated in a rich caramelized sauce and coated with sesame seeds. It's sweet, spicy, salty and rich flavour is true treat and not like any I've encountered elsewhere. Try it with white rice for a fun and filling meal.

Finally, even though it's not a specialty, Bangkok has by far one of the best Lo-mein dishes I have ever found. These are no ordinary fried noodles with a bit of soy sauce and vegetables. Bangkok sticks to traditions that so many asian restaurants have abandoned, using the proper noodles (NOT spaghetti), slowly cooking them with sauces and spices and the right blend of vegetables to produce a creamy noodle dish that it balanced and full of flavour. It makes a great meal in itself, or the perfect accompaniment to their other great treats.

Bangkok is located in Alexandria. They serve a very affordable lunch buffet as well as a dinner buffet some nights. They also have a full menu that combines the best of Thai and Chinese cuisine into a unique palate of eastern treats. Pick up is also available.

Bangkok Restaurant
(318) 449-1950

more to come later folks....please check back!

Part II: Critic's Choice Sandwich Deli and their amazing Philly Cheese Steaks

Part III: Shipley's Donuts - still one of the best reasons to get up for church!

Quick Thanks

Just a really quick Gracias Amigo to Lamar for adding a link my blog. And also a bit of gratitude to Lamar, Michael, Daniel, and PCD over at Cenlamar and to WST for giving us all some great election coverage. I wasn't home to take part in this year's political fun but certainly felt part of the action due to all the great work you guys put in.

Prost (german Cheers) to all the "little gnomes" who kept the politicos and clown talk on their toes! And a super Kudos to Michele Godard!!! I don't think I even need to say why...

Finally, if anyone out there has randomly run across this, my newest project, please let me know and if you have a Cenla-related site, send me a link:
ward at lexiconbusiness dot com

--drew

The Town the Web Left Behind

The Town the Web Left Behind
Why IT resources are failing Alexandria

Several months ago I attempted to put together an online resource site for Cenla. The idea was simple -- I simply wanted to create a central listing for things people or businesses not familiar with the area may be interested in finding. This seemed like an easy task. It was not...

Ga-Ga for Google

I began with a google search using only the term 'cenla'. This was my first surprise. The first listing to show on that search is titled "Welcome to Cenla RV park". Not bad I thought. It's not what I would consider the most important link for our area, but it could be of use to tourists. And I'm sure this site IS of use to tourists...that is, tourists visiting Spirit Lake...in Iowa.

The second link is for Cenla-SCCA -- a stock car racing association. Again, not what I would expect for slot number 2, but a seemingly valid link. Except for the fact, that the "Cenla" organisation actually excludes Cenla. This is a racing group for the Florida Parishes. I suppose it is yet another attempt of the Baton Rouge region to declare itself Central Louisiana.

Finally, slots 3-5 are occupied by actual Central Louisiana websites - Cenla Federal Credit Union, Cenla Health, and Cenla Focus Magazine (which has finally updated its site). Unfortunately the following 3 links, although local are defunct. The ninth is my own website Cenla Current which is also in dire need of update, and number 10 is finally Alexandria's Cenla RV where someone could surely purchase a lovely motorhome for their vacation to Cenla Rv Park in Iowa.

The Town Talk shows up as hit number 16, local blog WeSawThat makes page 3, Cenla Antics makes page 4, and Cenlamar finishes out page 5. The very first link for an NGO or other public agency in our area is The Arts Council of Central Louisiana which occupies the astounding slot number 131. Now admittedly I like many other people don't fully understand the logic behind Google's logarithms used to determine placement.

A search for Central Louisiana does better with the Chamber of Commerce coming in at slot number 3, the Business Incubator at number 9, and the Art's Council rounding out page one at number 10. These are however the only three agency links on the first page.

We've done quite well with "Alexandria" as page one yields 4 of the 10 slots to Cenla including the City of Alexandria (trumped only by the City of Alexandria, VA and the original old gal in Egypt), LSUA, the Convention and Visitor's Bureau, and the Town Talk in that order.

Pineville does a bit better occupying both slot number 1 (City of Pineville), as well as 8 out of the first 10 links (including Pineville HS and Louisiana College). And finally, the more unique term "Rapides" yields local links for 27 out of the first 30 hits.

Now, this is not exactly a scientific way of measuring web presence. Nor is it totally indicative of viewership or hit counts (for instance Cenlamar and the Town Talk get far more hits than Cenla Current and certainly more than our friends at Spirit Lake in Iowa). However, this is the way most people would seek out information on our area.

There are ways of manipulating Google's search system. I did this with my website for the search term 'cenla' and as little traffic as I get still ended up on the first page of results. Our local IT developers need to focus on this. We need people to see our sites, to see the valid links, organizations, and businesses in Cenla from any computer monitor in the world.

Currently our area has the equivalent of listing a person by middle name in the phone book. Unless someone knows exactly what to look for, they'll never find them.

Partying like it's 1999 -- still?

Aside from problems with meta-tags and search results Cenla has an even more pressing online problem. We don't seem to know the date!

Several websites have recently updated and become much more active including the Chamber of Commerce and the Convention and Visitor's Bureau. The CVB however still links to files and listings from 2005 with most email addresses of hotels and restaurants now inactive. How this is supposed to increase our chances of landing conventions I don't know.

The England Authority is probably the biggest culprit in local update lag. The website is bulky, unorganized and lacks any sort of continuity. Worse though has to be the website for Alexandria International Airport. Apparently spending 40 million dollars to build a new airport did not include a few thousand for a matching website. The page does in fact tout the opening of the new terminal, along with a rather annoying voiceover but only shows photos of the facility under construction. It may just be me, but this seems like the equivalent of bragging about your toddler and showing the neighbors a copy of the ultrasound.

Do you take the Old Road to Baton Rouge?

Years ago I-49 connected with I-10 in Lafayette. Many don't realize that it was actually intended to connect Alexandria directly to Baton Rouge. However politics intervened and twisted a sharp curve just south of Alexandria and rerouted into Acadiana. The funny thing is, people like new roads (not to be confused with New Roads which ironically would be reached from Alexandria by traveling the 'Old Road'). They show up in bright colours on maps, they're safer, faster, and more direct. Right? Well not for us. There are actually two quicker and more direct routes to Baton Rouge and New Orleans from Alexandria -- the "Old Road" LA-1 and US-71 through Bunkie onto US-190. Both of these routes are fairly quick, straight, and mostly free of traffic. But ask most people how they travel south and they will more often than not tell you I-49 to I-10.

People look for the main routes. They do this when traveling and they do this online. Well, right now the digital highway seems to be bypassing Cenla. And, those who are brave enough to seek out the digital route to our region are unfortunately greeted with unorganized and out of date information.

Like billboards on the interstates, we have a responsibility to ensure that we can draw both real and virtual traffic to our region. And if and when we get that traffic to stop in Cenla, they need to like what they see. It doesn't happen by itself. We need online marketing, responsible management of websites, and active updates to be an integral part of all governmental, NGO, and private business IT support programs.

Some sites are improving -- the cities of Pineville and Alexandria both have nice and informative sites. The Chamber is taking an online lead. And, our universities and some large companies are promoting a professional cosmopolitan image of the region. However, many companies, organizations, agencies, and media outlets are doing just the opposite giving our area a rather Mayberry-ish online presence and seem to tell the world that we want you here in Cenla, but we're not likely to try very hard.

Real ID, Real Opportunity, and Fear of the Real World

Real ID, Real Opportunity, and Fear of the Real World

The ACLU is abandoning logic on this one and siding with fear-mongers.

For several years -- probably more like decades a move has been afoot to standardize information sources, data processing, and government regulation throughout the US. This has led to upgrades in computer networks, standardization of Law Enforcement practices, uniform license plates, and several new generations of driver's licenses -- our ad hoc form of official ID in the US and Canada.

Since the terrorist attacks of 2001, this movement has taken a more organized approach with the proposal known as Real ID. Simply put, Real ID would mandate from the federal level that each state use the same format and record the same information for their driver's licenses. It also requires verification of legal residence, and further strengthens proof of identification requirements when applying for a license or replacement. Finally it allows for full integration of individual state's computing systems to allow for full, active sharing of data among agencies.

Besides the fact that most of this is already in place nationwide under state laws, libertarians and fear-mongers are touting this as the final move to a virtual National ID Card. This idea of a national ID is apparently something we are supposed to fear with abject determination. The ACLU and several other organizations who are normally on the side of progress and opportunity avow that providing for a national system of ID is one step off of implanting tracking chips in our foreheads.

This is a preposterous claim and is actually counter to the many other noble motives of these groups. The ACLU normally supports movements which ensure inclusiveness for all, equality of access, and preservation of our idealized notions of equal opportunity, in every person's own life and pursuit of happiness. The argument here is that the advent of a national ID would somehow encroach on the final aspect of this American trifecta - liberty.

Well, unless you're a criminal, there is really nothing to fear in a national ID. Honest, law-abiding people don't care -- or at least shouldn't. That's because the only people the currently faulty system protects are those who don't want to be found for some reason. Even this is an outdated notion - that it's possible to hide in the current mismatched system. One thing the internet has taught us is that any 12-year old can find anything out about anybody they want. Go ahead and try it -- google yourself. It may take a few pages, but chances are you're there.

Local blogger 'WeSawThat" has posted an entry espousing the evils of Real ID. Now, while I don't share WST's far right view of politics, I do have quite a good deal of respect for his willingness to search out issues with special meaning for CenLa. His writing is always well-planned and logical. However on this particular issue I must definitely disagree with him. Instead I relate some of my own personal experiences and provide some what I think are very valid reasons why we need not only RealID, but an even more integrated system that encompasses all of North America.

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I grew up in Alexandria and as such new only our own Louisiana Driver's licenses. I remember my first one which I got at age 16. By the time I left Louisiana to join the Army I had received my third incarnation of this document. That was 2000, and by then we had removed some information because of identity theft, added a few new codes to the front, and fully incorporated the magnetic strips and barcodes making the Louisiana Driver's license among the most secure in the country. As with Louisiana Law, members of the military who are permanently stationed in another state must obtain a local driver's license. For me this meant a visit to the Kentucky Dept. of Motor Vehicles. There I was introduced to a non-Louisiana way of handling ID. I surrendered my Louisiana license and after filling our a form and paying a fee was given a new license reminiscent of my high school lunch card. My Kentucky license was nothing more than a folded sheet of paper with photo pasted on with the whole thing sealed in plastic lamination. Their mighty identity-theft and counterfeiting protection was to include reflective horses on the plastic. These of course rubbed off usually within a month.

Now the fact that Kentucky's license format was not as advanced as Louisiana's is not in itself a major issue. But, the fact that Kentucky at that time still used an entirely paper-based records system was. A few years into the Army I moved off post and into an apartment. Our post - Fort Campbell straddled the Tennessee / Kentucky boarder. So moving off campus meant I became a resident of Tennessee rather than Kentucky. This of course meant I needed yet another driver's license. I visited the local Tennessee DMV office to exchange my Kentucky license only to get to the front desk and learn that according to their computers I did not have a Kentucky driver's license. WTF???!?

Apparently Kentucky, although issuing me a card on the spot had never actually fully processed my application for a license. They had however surrendered my Louisiana license back to the Louisiana OMV. So, after 3 years I had the joy of learning that I had in fact been driving without a legal driving license. Had I been stopped by the police or been in an accident during this time this would have most likely meant jail time. Lovely.

It just so happens at this very time someone stole my wallet. This now left me living in Tennessee with no driving license, no picture ID, and feeling quite uneasy with the entire situation. Tennessee did issue me a state ID card, and the Army issued me a temporary driving license until I could make it back to Louisiana to get my old license reinstated. This should have been the end of the affair as a month later I did in fact get my Louisiana license back and simply washed my hands of the whole affair. However, years later as I was renewing my Louisiana license I had a problem. Apparently I still had a Tennessee driver's license. i was informed that it is illegal to hold a driver's license for more than one state, and that I would have to cancel my Tennessee license and request a letter of clearance showing I had no outstanding violations in dear old Rocky Top.

Problem number X: I've never had a Tennessee License - EVER! The problem (this time) was that in processing my ID for Tennessee, someone misclassed it as a license. This was apparently because Tennessee's computer system used a code for ID's that was common in other states for licenses. This and the Kentucky problems have plagued me repeatedly for the past 7 years. As far as I know (after as recently as last year spending hour upon hour in various Motor Vehicle offices) all is resolved. We'll see what happens when I renew m license next year.

The fact is though that had we had a national system in use in all states, this entire situation would have never happened. I know for a fact that I am not the only person this sort of thing has happened to. I also know this is not the least of problems caused by these disparate systems.

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In Louisiana we have a requirement that drivers maintain a minimum level of liability insurance on their cars. This is verified by a system of yearly inspections, insurance checks, and is also needed to renew vehicle registrations and driver's licenses.

Those who don't wish to do their part in protecting other drivers have found a unique and easy way around this. They simply buy a vehicle and register it in Texas. Many also obtain Texas driver's licenses because the Lone Star State's DMV does not require proof of insurance for renewals, nor do they require regular renewal of vehicle registrations. So, next time you are driving through town and you find yourself near a Texas-registered F-150, Ram, or Silverado (seem to be the norm there) you may want to remember that the current laws may mean that that driver is uninsured and if they hit you, you're SOL.

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In addition to my Louisiana License I also have a European Union driver's License. It was issued by Germany and is valid throughout the EU. It looks just like licenses issued by other EU countries except has a D for Deutschland and is under the purview of the German Dept of Transportation and Licensing. This means that I can legally drive anywhere in Europe without worrying about someone being unable to read my license. And, amazingly it has not led to any increased big brother action.

It streamlines things, improves access to roadways and promotes trade.

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Finally, NAFTA and various other free trade initiatives have opened US roads to foreign drivers and vice versa. However, under the current system not all licenses are allowed in all areas. Mexicans must obtain a special permit for driving in the US and we must do the same for driving outside the Boarder Zone of Mexico. This is not so difficult, it's a little pricey, but otherwise not too much trouble.

But what is troubling is that we must accept these licenses whether they be issued in Mexico, Alberta, Alaska, California or anywhere else as valid forms of ID and driving privileges for Louisiana roads. And, we must do this with no guarantee that who we see is what we see on the license, that they are a safe and qualified driver, or that they even have a real ID.

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RealID, as it's name implies addresses a very real and serious issue. It's a step that needs to be taken, and a process that deserves support. The world is integrating whether we like it or not. Reality does not stop at the doorstep of Louisiana. What happens beyond the Mississippi and Sabine does affect us, and we should be moving toward systems that unify, integrate and ease us and our neighbours into a system that can support and deal with the world of the 21st Century, not that of the last century.

Is it Unamerican to think 'American'?

Is it Unamerican to think 'American'?
The clash of idealism and the ideal

I write this today as a response to a "yourmail" letter submitted in today's Town Talk. The letter written by Walter J. Scallan Jr., a Vietnam veteran decries the cruel nature of waterboarding as an interrogation technique and expresses his dismay over agents of the US government supporting its use. I believe Mr. Scallan's letter brings us a very valid point that deserves more discussion...

The reign of George Bush has seen quite a bit of doctrinal change regarding official views on everything from economics, development, and separation of church and state to the role of America abroad and such controversial issues as spying, government surveillance of US citizens, and of course torture.

Critics the world over agree that these changes have been far from ideal and not at all in keeping with the spirit of American democracy nor with the traditional roles of the United States. In fact despite the purported benefits of these changes, the accepted wisdom is that it will take Americans 2-3 more presidencies to undo the damage done to our country's reputation by this one. However, the blame for eight years of self-blundering, failed warfare, and an abandonment of civil liberty protections for citizens and non-citizens does not lie squarely on the ever-slouched shoulders of Mr. Bush. More than anything else, the blame, the root of the problem, and lack of a solution falls on us, the grand American populace.

In a world that in the 21st Century has not turned out to be the niceguy land which seemed to terminate the previous century, Americans have voluntarily given the world an Orwellian tinge that would have in previous generations soured the stomachs of even our most extremist politicos.

This move toward a big brother, blame the other guy mentality which has been artfully dramatized in such films as V for Vendetta and 1984 except that in our reality we have created a situation more akin to the reeducation camps of the Soviet Union and people being disappeared ala Dirty War fashion. The fact is, that in our "War Against Terror" -- an artfully disguised name that has allowed us to package all sorts of actions into a blanket term for anything that could possibly (possibly being the key word here) prevent a repeat of September 11th, we have sanctioned, supported, and come to accept many things that in themselves are rather unamerican. Of these, the primary one is of course torture -- in this case, state-sanctioned and government-operated torture at the hands of the US government.

So, this leaves me to ask, what do we do when our ideal option doesn't coincide with our traditional idealism? Basically, is it unamerican to think 'American'. Afterall, thinking 'American' has often meant doing what it takes, when it takes, to get the job done -- to protect freedom, to spread democracy, and to ensure 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.'

Speak softly and carry a big stick. It's been our core for diplomacy and international affairs for over a century. And, for the most part it's served us well. in all likelihood it's served the entire globe quite well. But we've moved away from Teddy Roosevelt's motto. A more objective view of history of course shows that he himself did not always have the most noble motives in wishing to spread liberty and democracy either. We're still cleaning up the mess created by the economic colonization of Latin America brought on by his role in the region. But today, we seem to be quite content to speak loudly, carry a big stick, carry small sticks, shove them under the fingernails of anyone we may see fit to 'encourage' and to say it's all for the greater good -- even though no one has ever quite defined what that greater good is.

Now, this doing what it takes; this coming out swinging when hit from behind; this meeting a bullet with an army is very very American. It's what we do, it's how we operate. We do what it takes, when it's needed, and we do everything twice as big, bad, and better than anyone else. It's how we went from being a strip of coastal farmers, religious nuts, debtors to being the one true superpower. But, as I read this and many letters and articles calling for an end to torture techniques and the many other 'innovations' of the Bush era, I can't help but ask whether doing the 'American' thing (whatever it takes, whenever it's needed to get the job done) is in itself unamerican. And if it is, which do we choose, and are we ready to live with the consequences of that decision?

Town Talk Endorses Slocum in More Ways Than One

Town Talk Endorses Slocum in More Ways Than One

TT endorsement goes beyond editorial opinion...

I am reposting here a comment I made on the TT forums regarding today's sheriff's race endorsement. I would like to point out that my quarrel is not with whom that have endorsed, but more so with the colour of the situation.

I find it strange that aside from a very light story downplaying the recent scandals reported by Michelle Godard that the Town Talk have steadfastly remained near silent, only to issue a glorifying endorsement of the candidate in question a week before the election.

My comment follows:

I have often been convinced that the Town Talk is less than objective in selecting candidates for their endorsement and have thought reading most of them that they seem to have likely had their minds made up long before.

This particular endorsement however does trouble me. Mainly, I am left wondering whether the Town Talk has been purposely ignoring the recent stories reported by KALB.

Now I don't if KALB also makes it a point to issue endorsements as the Town Talk does. This practice seems strange as it shows anything but discretion and neutrality in journalism -- neither of which have been tenets of the Town Talk at least since its buyout by Gannett.

However, the fact that one news outlet - KALB, has been reporting on the possibility very egregious behavior on the part of one candidate's campaign while the other - the Town Talk has all but ignored the story then only issue an endorsement of that candidate at a later date seems far from serving to the citizens of Rapides Parish.

We all have our own political leanings, and are free to express our support or dismay for any issue or candidate. We have unfortunately seen in this race that dirty politics does not stop at the soap box, nor the church door, nor your email accounts and computer desktops. Even in the realm of Law Enforcement we have now been shown that it crosses the professional doorstep into the workplace.

And now, it appears that in Alexandria political aims even trump the sacred ethics of free, neutral, honest journalism.