Doug Thompson

Unsolicited scandal management advice: At least try to sound more concerned about the substance of the dirty deed than on how it came to light.

She accidentally described one of the most replicated findings in behavioral psychology. Harvard and Duke researchers found in 2011 that people value things they build themselves 63% higher than identical pre-assembled versions. They called it the IKEA effect. Labor alone, even assembling a standardized box from instructions, is enough to make people overvalue their own creations. Gardening runs this effect at full intensity. You chose the seeds. You dug the holes. You watered daily. By harvest, your brain has priced that tomato at roughly 10x grocery store rates, and the math feels completely justified. Now stack Kahneman and Tversky's loss aversion on top. Losses register at approximately 2x the emotional intensity of equivalent gains. One of the most replicated findings in behavioral economics. So the aphid eating her garden is triggering both simultaneously. She built something her brain values at 163% of objective worth. She's watching it get destroyed in real time. Her nervous system is processing that destruction at double intensity. The grocery store tomato being out of stock? Mild annoyance. Zero labor investment means zero IKEA effect, means proportional emotional response. The garden tomato carries months of accumulated effort justification. The aphid isn't eating a $4 tomato. Her brain priced it at $40 and is processing the loss at $80. Gardening is the only common hobby that combines the IKEA effect, loss aversion, and a live adversary that reproduces faster than you can respond. The violence tracks.

The greatest skill you can learn in life is showing up. Don't want to hit the gym? Show up. Don't want to do that task? Stop trying to be motivated and just show up. You'll get ahead of 95% of people when you don't rely on your feelings to show up for the things you gotta do.

UCA will host Pulitzer Prize finalist Jerry Mitchell, whose investigative reporting put several white supremacists in prison for some of the most infamous murders of the Civil Rights era, at the end of March as an artist in residence. buff.ly/mUxrbTf

dear apple, the iPod needs to come back. not for nostalgia. for the parents who want their kids to love music and audiobooks without a browser, social media, and the whole internet attached to it

A total of 348,219 people quit, retired, were laid off or otherwise left federal employment last year – up 80.8% from 2024.

“We will remember Lou Holtz as one of the best college football coaches in our lifetime; but Lou was much more. He was a person of devout faith, he showed courage in his leadership & he inspired everyone he met to reach higher and to do what was right. Thanks Coach! “

Trump taps Sen. Mullin to replace NOEM @realDonaldTrump/116178030946996760" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTru…

NEW: Politico is reporting Trump has ousted Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary and chosen US Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to replace her.

Misha McQuillen Gardner of Fayetteville has arrived safely in Houston after the mayhem in Mexico. She just posted on Facebook.

It is the time to hear second graders' first confessions. One year I had a seven year old boy confess to committing adultery. When I asked if he knew what that was he said, "Pretending to be a grown up?"

This year, federal debt will exceed the size of our economy. We need to fix entitlements, spend less, and grow more. Every politician should have to answer for this in the next election.

@RadioFreeTom You just described what attracts the creeps who wish this was Sparta.

Sparta was a slave-owning society that engaged in some, uh, unusual eugenics practices; their army was the best but they basically had to go rent a navy. The Athenian army was competent, but its navy was awesome, which is why "Sparta feared the rising power of Athens." /1

@BradyShiers And atrociously inaccurate blurbs about history. Awful stuff. Bad fiction and worse history.

At this point, I am very close to just never using Facebook except for work. Literally every other post is a shitty AI cartoon and actual made-up news. Facebook is actively making society less intelligent and more hateful.

Congratulations to Harrison native Clay Fowlkes on his confirmation to serve as a judge on the U.S District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. His dedication and extensive experience in pursuing justice will serve him well. boozman.senate.gov/press-releases…

I was glad to support David Clay Fowlkes’ confirmation for US District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas. He has a long record of serving Arkansans and helping keep our communities safe.

This morning, I attended a breakfast celebrating Kent Eikenberry’s retirement as President of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. Kent has dedicated many years of service to our community and stands as a true example of someone who is a source of good. Congratulations on a well‑deserved retirement, Kent.

HAPPENING NOW: Minnesota v. Noem hearing is underway before Judge Menendez, who will weigh whether to order an end to Operation Metro Surge. AG Keith Ellison is at counsel table for the state.

JUST IN: Plaintiffs in the lawsuit to restrict ICE’s use of force in Minnesota filed an emergency motion with the 8th circuit court of appeals tonight to reinstate those restrictions. It included this affidavit from a person who witnessed today’s shooting:

'Monosyllabic' is not. ‘Abbreviation’ is 12 letters. ‘Thesaurus’ doesn’t have a synonym. 'Non-hyphenated' is hyphenated. Say what you will about English, but it has a sense of humor.

Note to protesters: If you allege police misconduct, and there is video, it would be very helpful if you published a video that shows what happened *before* the encounter. I know longer videos don't help with the algorithm, but they do help civil liberties organizations better defend your First Amendment rights. Thank you for your attention to this matter—