Stories for February 2005

Mississippi Braves Live on WLBT

The Jackson, Mississippi Braves take on the Montgomery Biscuits two times in the upcoming 2005 season and you can watch both games LIVE from the comfort of your home on WLBT. Mark your calendar for the Braves home opener LIVE from the new Braves stadium in Pearl, Monday April 18 at 7pm and tune in again when the Braves take on the Biscuits LIVE from Montgomery, Saturday, August 27 at 7pm.

Pro Hoops at Tougaloo

Pro basketball returns to Jackson on Monday night when the Mississippi Stingers play the Atlanta Vision at 7:05 p.m. at Tougaloo College. Tickets are $15 and $7. The Stingers, who are based in Greenville, are a member of the American Basketball Association, far-flung league of 33 teams in 23 states and Canada. The team is led by former Jackson State coach Andy Stoglin. The roster includes a number of former Mississippi college players, including David Sanders of Ole Miss and Branden Vincent of Mississippi State.

New Doves' "Some Cities" CD

Capitol Records will release Doves' Some Cities, the long-awaited follow-up to the British trio's epic 2002 breakthrough album The Last Broadcast, in the U.S. on March 1st. If the first two Doves albums, Lost Souls (2000) and The Last Broadcast (2002), were records that sounded like they were conceived in vast open spaces, each song a snapshot of celestial heights, wide open countryside or rolling seas, third album Some Cities paints a more intimate picture altogether.

Mayor Johnson Weekly Newsletter 2/25

North State Street and Riverside Drive

American Council of Engineering Companies of Mississippi Recognizes Jackson Project. The American Council of Engineering Companies of Mississippi held its 2005 Winter Gala this week in Jackson. During the awards ceremony, the 2005 Engineering Excellence Honor Award was presented to Waggoner Engineering, Inc. for their work on Phase I of the Jackson Metro Parkway. We congratulate Waggoner Engineering and commend them for a job well done! Major Traffic Signal Project Underway In Jackson

The Original Mr. Juice

How did steroids end up in America and end up in the veins of U.S. athletes? Justin Peters writes about the man behind the juice.

The House That Time Forgot

ht>Featured Story: Read the story behind Bobbie Johnson's story—that of a woman Frank Melton put in the media spotlight two weeks ago. by Ayana Taylor

Capitol Report

Dr. Warren Jones, the executive director for the Division of Medicaid, held a press conference Monday and sent Gov. Haley Barbour a letter saying that he regrets to inform everyone that Medicaid only has enough money to benefit its beneficiaries until March 11. That's it.

[Fleming] Get the Women and Children to Safety

To paraphrase the former U.S. Sen. Daniel Webster, one should heed the warning, "Get the women and children to safety. The Mississippi Legislature has started working on the budget!" Since the beginning of the session, there has been great concern over how the state would fund its $12 billion budget for fiscal year 2006.

The Best In Sports In The Next 7 Days

Thursday, Feb. 24

College basketball, Belhaven at William Carey (women, 5:30 p.m., men, 7:30 p.m.): The Presbyterians and Baptist clash on the hardwood.

The Grit In The Oyster

February's cold—it's dreary. The holidays are over, and life just gets mundane. Lesley Silver says this when explaining why the annual Attic Gallery theme show in Vicksburg is appropriately timed.

Claudia Stevens

Millsaps Arts & Lecture Series presents "An Evening with Madame F" with Claudia Stevens Feb. 24 in the Ford Academic Recital Hall. Portraying an elderly woman inmate at Auschwitz who performed in the concentration camp orchestra, Stevens relates the moral dilemma faced by those who survived through their use of the arts.

[Music] 3 Cats To Love

Jackson is home to remarkable musicians—both up-and-coming (as in Artists to Watch) and those who have been here for a while and have earned our devoted attention. Here are three we all know and love dearly, with the scoop on where their music is headed next.

[Music] Five Years To Get Famous

In the twilight of Musiquarium in the fall of 2002, I was bartending one of our Sunday all-ages shows. You had two types of folks that came to them: 95 percent were the under-18 music-lover crowd, hungry for live music, who drank dollar Coca-Colas and bought seven-inch singles to play on their parents' junked turntables. The other 5 percent were hardcore music fans of a (much) older vintage who knew that what the kids played was often better, faster, louder and more sincere than anything else going. A lot of that 5 percent were in bands themselves, and thank God they drank so we could at least pay the electric bill.

A Bad Rap? A Collision of Politics And Music

Scene A: In April 2004, young black women at Spelman College in Atlanta protested the rapper Nelly's planned appearance there because his videos are offensive and misogynistic to women. The video for "Tip Drill," for instance, shows Nelly swiping a credit card through a woman's butt, as well as black men throwing money between women's legs and women simulating sexual acts with each other. Nelly cancelled the concert.

Son of Jazz: An Interview With Thelonious Monk III

Thelonious Monk III, the son of the renowned jazz pianist, recently took part in the Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz at Jim Hill High School. I spoke with Monk in the Jim Hill auditorium about his father, jazz and why young people need to know more about both.

Artists To Watch 2003

Matthew Magee and Allison Jenkins formed their band, Wooden Finger in September of 2004. "We are a melting pot of influences," Jenkins says. "Our influences come from bluegrass, ambient and classical music," Magee explains. Their sound can be described as melancholy with a bluegrass feel to it.

Fear And Loathing In The Dirty South

I'm an opinionated chick, but every now and then, an issue comes a long that, no matter how much I ponder it, I can't quite firmly take a side on it. Choosing one side would be denying the reality of the other, when both are very real.

[Kamikaze] Hello, Mayor Jones

I was reading The Clarion-Ledger recently, and I came across something that made me laugh. Some parents in Florence are up in arms over their kids allegedly being harassed by police, in particular, by Sgt. Mike Crowdus. About 30 parents are outraged because Crowdus demanded wallets from their teen kids, used inappropriate language to them and arrested one, 16-year-old Glenn Wynn, during a traffic stop

[Stiggers] An Inner-City Fairy Tale

Kunta Rahsheed X. Toby film working in conjunction with Ghetto Science Productions present "The Adventures of Sista Gurl, Honey Child: An Inner-City Fairy Tale."

[Turner] From Djembe To MPC

The drum is a super projection of the human voice. Human force is combined with other natural forces—skin of animal, hollowed solid tree-trunk, etc.—as a medium for arousing the attention and reaction of mankind. The drum and the drummer, in mutual cooperation, create patterns of consciousness that give a moment of inspiration to those they touch.

Robert Arender

If you've been to Martin's Lounge more than twice, chances are you know Robert Arender. He's been a regular fixture behind the bar there for nearly 10 years now. For about eight of those 10, he's been bringing some of the best independent bands in America and elsewhere to the tiny stage in the front of the bar, slowly putting Jackson on the indie circuit.

Melton Receives Labor Endorsements

Smutty But Wholesome

Doctor S was sitting in his personal jacuzzi in his office atop the JFP Tower the other day when he realized what's on his readers' minds (and nightstands):

Bobbie Johnson Needs a House

Read full story here.

Young Democrats of Mississippi Meeting

New Beck Album Drops March 29

Beck's long awaited new album, "Guero" on Geffen/Interscope will be in stores on March 29. In short, with my advance copy in long play I can say, it rocks. The first single, "E-Pro".....Think Novacane/Odelay. Produced by Beck Hansen, Tony Hoffer, and The Dust Brothers, there will be a standard 13 track edition, and a Deluxe 2-disc version. Disc 1 has 3 bonus tracks and 4 remixes. Disc 2 is a DVD which features the DVD-A 5.1 mix of Guero, along with two videos and other fun stuff. Beck's "Hell Yes" Remix EP is available now, and does not contain any songs from Guero, but instead features two remixes by 8-bit and two by Paza. The 8-bit remix video by Mumbleboy is also available as an iTunes exclusive. The Hell Yes (remix) EP is available now on itunes and vinyl. It's the number one selling album on itunes right now. http://beck.com

Canadian Guitar Quartet at Millsaps

Wed., Feb. 23, 8 p.m. Academic Complex Recital Hall, Millsaps. $8, students free. The Quartet will also be conducting a free master class from 1-2:30 p.m. in the Academic Complex Recital Hall. In 1999, four of Canada's finest guitarists formed this exciting ensemble, which soon became that country's top guitar quartet and is now recognized as one of the best in the world. 974-1422.

Mayor Johnson Weekly Newsletter 2/18

Mayor Announces, Melton Pounces

February 16, 2005 On Monday, Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. announced what everyone already knows—that he will be on the ballot for mayor in May. Two hours later, challenger Frank Melton made another in a string of announcements—this time focusing on one of the more unfortunate citizens of Jackson: a woman who lives in a rundown house. Melton admitted later that the announcement was timed to coincide with the mayor's.

Juveniles: Help Is On the Way!

Whether it's a 10th-grade boy skipping school twice a week or an even younger girl who defied the city's curfew laws, the Mississippi Legislature is ready to change the way it officially handles these scenarios.

Where the Men Eat Meat

On Feb 4, I went to the Wild Beast Feast 2005 at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Madison with about 1,000 other men, and only men. At 6 p.m., I showed up in my conservative-looking plaid dress shirt, pleated khakis and Timberland boots—my usual attire for a Friday night. The Men's Ministry put on a show similar to the Promise Keepers. Heck, they even had an ad for the Promise Keepers (http://www.pk.org) in the back of their program, which also had a moose in crosshairs on the cover.

David Bowen Admonishes Black Mississippians

In a bizarre column today in The Clarion-Ledger, former Congressman David Bowen, a Democrat, first says that blacks and whites in Mississippi need a "new" dialogue, then proceeds to tell black Mississippians what they should not say in this dialogue. No similar advice for whites was in evidence, however. Here are some excerpts ...

Dream Album Release Party Friday

The Dream Album is a remix of Jay Z's Black album. All music tracks were produced, recorded and mixed by DreamWorldCommunications2, LLC. The release party will be held at Seven* studioz, 147 Millsaps Ave., Friday, February 18th @ 8PM. Admission is $3, CD's will be on sale for $5. DJ Phingaprint will be on the wheels of steel. For more information you can contact Kehinde Gaynor @ 601-573-4103 or Taiwo Gaynor @ 601-720-1245.

The Best In Sports In The Next 7 Days

Thursday, Feb. 17

College basketball, Mobile at Belhaven (women, 5:30 p.m.; men, 7:30 p.m.): Peachtree Street is the site of a GCAC doubleheader.

Hills And Gullies On State Street

I've got two different things I need to say this week, and they're almost impossible to segue between, so let me just get the first one out of the way.

[Wine] Screwcap Renaissance

There was a time, long before I received the Court of Master Sommeliers' stamp of approval, when I could have qualified for VIP status with such wine empires as Boone's farm, Andre or any box-o-wine producers. (A little-known fact that I learned while in college is that if you remove the little shelf from a dorm-size refrigerator, a box-o-wine fits perfectly.) I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that the screwcap, at one time, was a normal part of enjoying "wine," while spending very, very little money. Thankfully, much like a fine wine, my palate and drinking habits have matured with age. Lately, however, I have found myself face-to-face more often with my old pal the screwcap. But it's not a sign that I'm headed down Skid Row—it's a sign that the wine industry is changing and showing its casual, fun side, while ensuring quality to its customers.

[Sawyer] The Patriotism Problem

It's hard to remain calm in war. It evokes something within each of us that pulls at our very core. Crying mothers of soldiers, the piles of body bags in full color, and the posting of the guard do not allow room for indifference or stoicism. Beginning in 1776, war and fighting were rooted in a moral purpose where each American defended their actions through the higher purpose for which we all knew that we were fighting. "God Bless America" and "Support Our Troops" were not attached to the back of buggies back then, but rather singed on our hearts and in our minds. We knew that our fight was the good fight, and so each tear was never shed in vain.

[Comics] Because Nobody Else Will

"Desolation Jones" is the newest series coming from the mind of critically acclaimed writer Warren Ellis and former "Promethea" artist J.H. Williams (who co-created "Desolation Jones" with Ellis).

Soldier's Heart

The first time Kristin Peterson's husband hit her, she was asleep in their bed. She awoke that night a split second after Joshua's fist smashed into her face and ran, terrified and crying, to the bathroom to wipe the blood spurting from her nose. When she stuck her head back into the bedroom, there he was—punching at the air, muttering how she was coming after him and how he was going to kill her. Kristin started yelling, but Joshua's eyes were closed. He was still asleep.

Shell Shock: How Do You Identify A Soldier With PTSD?

Bobby Cook, a retired chaplain for the National Guard, is a veteran of three mobilizations—Vietnam, Bosnia and Afghanistan. However, he was federally mobilized in Vietnam, so he did not perform the duties of a chaplain then.

Stressed Soldiers: The Numbers

Approximately one in six soldiers returning from the war in Iraq shows signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other emotional disorders, according to a study published July 1, 2004, in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study is the first of its kind to examine the mental health of troops returning from Iraq.

[Stiggers] The ‘No Child Left Behind' School Bus

Funding for the Ghetto Science Team's No Child Left Behind School Bus for the financially challenged is brought to you by a grant from the L.M.H.F.D. (Let Me Hold Five Dollars) National Bank educational trust fund.

Kay Franz

There are surprises, and then there are surprises that mean that you're living life the way you're supposed to: full-on and engaged in the world around you.

NHL Pulls Plug

The NHL canceled the 2004-05 season on Wednesday due to the impasse over the player lockout. This just in: Nobody cares. Does this signal the end of the NHL as we know it? Yes, Doctor S hopes.

Mayor Announces, Melton Pounces

Read full report here.

"American Astronaut" on DVD

[Film] 'The American Astronaut'

Scattered across the desolate solar system exist the bleary-eyed mining men of Jupiter who know nothing of women, and the sexually frustrated, all-female (Southern Belle no less) population of Venus. The surrealist noir B-movie landscape of a 1950s-style, campy black-and-white sci-fi odyssey "The American Astronaut" will be presented by director Cory McAbee—who also stars in, scored and wrote the film that began seven years ago at a Sundance Writer's Lab workshop.

Mr. Alvin And Me

Back in the 1990s, when the Counting Crows song "Mr. Jones" was all over the radio, I would always substitute my own line. Instead of being Bob Dylan, I wanted to be Dave Alvin. I first came to this realization after I saw him and his band, the Guilty Men, play live at a club in Austin. I had never seen a band play with such passion and precision, a rare combination in rock 'n' roll.

Ridgeland Democratic Committee Forming

[Statement] A meeting was held on Saturday to establish a Ridgeland Municipal Democratic Executive Committee so that anyone who wants to run as a Democrat for city office may do so. Temporary officers were elected to ensure this for the coming election. Ten Ridgeland Democrats attended, but we need more to be involved in order to establish a Democratic presence in Ridgeland.

Who Is Donna Ladd?

[Music] Living Better Unelectrically

How many band profiles can start with a line like this: "Led by a ranting spoken-word artist named 'Wammo' and a woman whose voice channels the ghost of Bessie Smith…"?

930 Blues Cafe This Week

THE 930 BLUES CAFE SALUTES ALL VALENTINE'S AND RODEO FANS THIS WEEK !!! HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY...from the 930 BLUES CAFE!!! ** MONDAY ** Join us VALENTINES Night, Feb. 14, 8pm. Admission: $5, Ladies in FREE. BRING YOUR SWEETHEART to BLUES FOR LOVERS NIGHT starring RICK LAWSON & Band. A "Valentine you won't want to miss." RICK LAWSON has performed with bands which opened for many major blues acts, such as B.B. King, Johnny Taylor, and Little Milton. He has several CD's out: "24/7" "Pride and Joy" "Ladies Night" "I Wanna Have Some Fun." 5:30pm Happy Hour with Ironing Board Sam. 9pm: Best Rodeo Outfit Contest. Best Dressed Valentine Contest.

Dave Isaacs at Border's 2/22

Louisiana Red Hot Records presents guitar virtuoso & singer-songwriter Dave Isaacs in concert at Borders Books & Music, 100 Dogwood Blvd. Flowood, 919-0462. Tues., Feb. 22, 7-9 PM, free.

Ms. Symphony+Opera+Ballet

Mississippi Symphony presents "La Dolce Vita: Viva Italia!" Sat., Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m. Celebrated N.Y. Operatic tenor Carlo Scibelli and the Miss. Metropolitan Ballet join the symphony for Italian Classics by Rossini, Mascagni, Respighi, Helsted. Thalia Mara Hall. $25+, $20 seniors, $5 students. 960-1565. www.msorchestra.com

The House That Racism Built

It's been another one of those weeks the media love in Jacktown: lots of screaming and finger-pointing and accusations of someone else, inevitably of a different race from the accuser, being "a racist."

[Geek] Touching Has Never Been So Good: A Review of The Nintendo DS

Over the years, Nintendo has never failed to deliver a great experience in a hand-held system. The DS is no different. With N64 quality graphics and sound, an inventive stylus control system and more than a few familiar games, the DS will be a force to be reckoned with. It also may become Nintendo's last hope console-wise, considering the lag in sales for the Gamecube. The main thing that impressed me about the DS is that it really is "revolutionary."

The Best In Sports In The Next 7 Days

Thursday, Feb. 10

College basketball: Tougaloo at Belhaven (women, 5:30 p.m.; men, 7:30 p.m.): The GCAC rivals battle on Peachtree Street.

[Music] Dark Hearts Open Up (Almost)

Imagine doing an interview in a cold van late at night. I did with the members of Alexander's Dark Heart—Walter Young, Roy Geoghegan and Jim Henegan. It's too loud inside the club, The Joint, and too cold for us outside. Getting them to open up about their music is like pulling teeth. "I hate to describe our music. I'd rather people just listen to it," Young explains.

African History X: A Review of "Hotel Rwanda"

In 1994, nearly 1 million people were systematically slaughtered in the small African country of Rwanda while no nation (including our own) intervened to end the madness. A film that invites comparisons (both in theme and accomplishment) to Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List," "Hotel Rwanda" is a stunning depiction of genocide and racism that will rightly leave no viewer unaffected. Recently nominated for three Academy Awards (best actor, best supporting actress and best original screenplay), the movie is now playing in Jackson area theaters.

Hurts So Good

Get ready for some clean, loving fun—and celebrate a creative breakthrough for local high school students at the same time. The Power APAC Theatre high school actors will be presenting "Love Hurts," a love-filled, humorous performance of a play they wrote themselves, this Valentine's weekend on Saturday, Feb. 12, at Power APAC Theatre Arts.

Heart of ‘The Creative Class': Belhaven, Fondren Residents Build A City To Love

When new residents move to Madison Street, Pattye Dunlap makes sure that she takes time to greet the new neighbors and give them information packets about the neighborhood. Dunlap, president of the Belhaven Heights Community Association, said: "If we have a new neighbor, I'll get them a pamphlet about the neighborhood. The association tries to keep abreast on who's new and get them acclimated to the neighborhood." But the association's work goes beyond just greeting newcomers.

[Chick] ‘Rocky' For The Single Girl

I swear I have some intellectual rights as someone clearly stole my hang-ups when creating the Ally McBeal character. You may remember back in her day when she searched for a theme song to keep her focused, lift her spirits and perhaps even ease some neurosis. Yep. I had theme music long before Ally was dancing with computerized babies. Someone owes me money.

Jeff Good

Jeff Good, 41, came to Jackson from Salt Lake City his senior year in high school, graduated from Murrah in 1981 and Millsaps in 1986, then sold computer systems for the old National Cash Register company. In the early '90s, frustrated after the company changed hands, Good was on the phone with his best friend from high school, then a chef in San Francisco. They decided to go into business together.

HRC to Use Obadele Incident to Further Understanding

JACKSON – The firestorm that surrounded Richard Barrett's attempt to bring Edgar Ray Killen to the State Fair, and the one that has now swirled around Councilman Kenneth Stokes' Stokes' invitation to Imari Obadele to speak at a Black History Program at Jackson City Hall, highlight something very significant. Although race relations in Jackson, and in Mississippi as a whole, have improved, the fact is we still have a lot of work to do. The emotional outpourings generated by these events clearly demonstrate the depth of hurt, pain and division that still exists. Our hearts go out to the Skinner family, because you have had to endure this very painful episode.

Mississippi CofCC: Pearl Shouldn't Become ‘Little Jackson'

From the Mississippi CofCC Web site: "Some of our committee members met with several Mississippi House of Representative members to discuss upcoming issues that the legislature will face in 2005. One key issue of concern was the Mississippi flag.

Cupid Has To Eat, Too

No pressure here. You have one night—a Monday, for crying out loud—to impress your sweetheart, whether you've been shacking up for years, or are just now starting to flirt a bit. So where do you take your sweetie in and around Jacktown?

Rogue Wave at Martin's Friday

Fresh off their national 2004 tours with The Shins and The Album Leaf, Sub-Pop recording artists Rogue Wave will be performing for the best of your indie-rock pleasures at Martin's Lounge on Fri., Feb. 11, 11 p.m. In the perfect pop vein of The Shins, they illicit some of the most beautiful catchy melodies and harmonies influenced by '60s psychedelic pop on the scene today. Listen or download here.

[Hutchinson] The ‘Conspiracy Bug' Can Kill You

We run this column in honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day—Monday, Feb. 7. See details at bottom of this column.

Monthly Blog Traffic: Site Keeps Growing!

Average Sessions (Visits) Per Day 2,023

I haven't posted the blog traffic update in a while due to general busy-ness. However, the blog numbers keep growing with your help! Even in December, with the holidays thrown in, the site kept on keepin' on. And as of today (Feb. 6), we have 693 members registered who can post and participate in discussion. Jan. 1-31, 2005

Obadele Visit Ignites Old Fires

Councilman Kenneth Strokes is being lambasted by police organizations and other critics for inviting Dr. Imari Abubakari Obadele to speak to young people at City Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 1, in honor of Black History Month. Obadele—formerly Richard Henry, a contemporary of Malcolm X in the early 1960s (but not Nation of Islam) and a black separatist today—started the Republic of New Africa on March 31, 1968, "to free black people in the United States from oppression," and to promote self-sufficiency as well as self-defense.

[The JFP Interview] Deuce McAllister

Standing in line at the Reservoir Winn-Dixie's grand opening Saturday, Jan. 29, you could feel the excitement surging throughout the store from not only customers but store employees as well. After all, Deuce was in the house. Men, women and children waited with glee to offer shirts, jerseys, hats and lots of footballs for New Orleans running back Dulymus "Deuce" McAllister to sign.

Street Talk: What do you think about Councilman Kenneth Stokes?

Lakesha Nichols, 24, "I think that he is a pretty fair person. I stand behind him."

Note: This thread was closed due to its length after 1,086 views and 97 comments.

Choosing Between ‘Life' and ‘Choice'

Since Roe v. Wade made abortion legal in this country 32 years ago on Jan. 22, 1973, there has been a civil war between those who agree with the ruling and those who don't. Now abortion-rights groups are finding new ways to combat the many approaches that anti-abortion groups have used to erode abortion rights in recent years, especially in southern states like Mississippi where support of the right hasn't been as loud.

Mayor Johnson Weekly Newsletter 2/4

Grove Park Community Center (4126 Parkway Avenue) – 25 slots available

City Community Centers & Gymnasiums Plan Spring Break Enhancement Program for Children. The City of Jackson Department of Parks and Recreation announces that several of its city facilities will be open during spring break week for a Spring Break Enhancement Program for youth ages 7-12. Similar to the city's popular Summer Enhancement Program, this program will require registration, as there are a limited number of openings at each of the centers. Registration is free and will be conducted at the Jackson Medical Mall between the hours of 9:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m. beginning February 28, 2005 until slots are filled:

[Lott] The Course of Freedom

As we watch the aftermath of the elections in Iraq, let's remember that while our own American culture remains young, our course of freedom is not. More than 225 years is a long time for any single form of government to last, but because our Founding Fathers had such a strong vision of liberty, our free republic not only has endured, it has become freedom's highest beacon, its standard of measure, freedom's unquestioned leader. Iraqis have just begun their course of freedom, and all free peoples should support their effort.

"Cathedral," Castanets

San Diego underground heroes and newest proponents of twisted alt-gothic-country, Castanets are Americana at its most melancholy; singer Ray Raposa even terms it "derailed psych-country." Obvious references are The Velvet Underground, No Neck Blues Band and Six Organs of Admittance, but there are hints of the Delta Blues seething just beneath the surface. These haunted tales of frustrated redemption and somber love ballads reflect the unsettled substrata of American life. If you like your music on the murkier side of "twang," then this one should be perfect. -- Alex Slawson and Herman Snell

Europe vs. America

A provocative piece by Tony Judt in the New York Review of Books right now.

Transcript of ‘State of the Union' Address

George W. Bush last night:

D.I.Y.: How to Play African Drums

Nelajah and Kenya Gowans, of the Kuumba Afrikan Drum and Dance Workshop, make it sound simple to learn to play African drums. Likewise, dance instructor Felicia Bell easily explains the connection between the drums and dancing.

Tribute to Slain Men Hits Roadblock

At the request of the Philadelphia Coalition, Sen. Gloria Williamson, D-Philadelphia, introduced Senate Bill 2961, which would name Mississippi Hwy. 19 from Philadelphia to Lauderdale County the "Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner Memorial Highway" after the trio that was kidnapped and killed by Klansmen just off that highway on June 21, 1964. However, it looks as though the bill will never be voted on thanks to Sen. Billy Hewes III, R-Gulfport, the chairman of the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee.

New Oneida LP

Oneida record new album, The Wedding CD/LP; Tour w/ Black Mountain + Kinski; prepare split 12" with Plastic Crimewave Sound.

The Best In Sports In The Next 7 Days

Thursday, Feb. 3

College basketball, LSU-Shreveport at Belhaven (women, 5:30 p.m.; men, 7:30 p.m.): The Blazers, who are having a good season, are worth a look.

[Wine] New Zealand…They Make Wine There?

For the average person, New Zealand probably means little more than lush green mountainous landscapes, sheep and Hobbits. For the savvy wine drinker, however, New Zealand means world-class Sauvignon Blancs, Chardonnays, fantastic Merlots and Pinot Noirs. Situated in the South Pacific Ocean about 1,000 miles from Australia, New Zealand has the best of all of the viticultural worlds: a cool maritime climate, plenty of rain and some of the longest sunshine hours in the world. Though the first vines were planted there as early as 1819, it wasn't until the late 20th century that New Zealanders realized how suitable their climate was for great winemaking.

[Music] Maurice Smith: Jackson's Newest Sound of Neosoul

When a music listener from Mississippi takes a moment to reflect on the local homegrown talent, the first names that likely come to mind are blues legends such as B.B. King, hip-hop artists like David Banner or even a country singer by the name of Faith Hill. No one ever quite pictures a neosoul artist with a funky groove.

A Review of "Big Enough"

Intense, humbling attention is given to the day-to-day lives of little people in a new documentary from independent filmmaker and Stanford University professor Jan Krawitz. At once heartbreaking, humorous, inspirational and educational, the ironically titled "Big Enough" follows the histories of several American dwarfs from the 1980s to today. The movie will be screened in the Gertrude C. Ford Academic Complex at Millsaps College Monday, Feb. 7, at 7:30 p.m. as part of the South Carolina Arts Commission's Southern Circuit Film Series tour of independent films.

Barbour: Heed The Will of The People

We feel it's important to ask a serious question of Gov. Haley Barbour—has he returned to Mississippi to govern the state, or just to test his pet ideological theories about what wins elections?

Stokes: A Friend of Hip-Hop

There are few people who I feel are truly allies to the hip-hop nation. The press condemns us, most parents hate us, and advertisers use us. But around these parts, there's one person who seems to understand our work, and respect our strength—Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes.

[Stiggers] When I Say, ‘Hee', They Say ‘Haw'!

This episode of "All God's Churn Got Shoes" has the answer to the burning question: Where is Colin Powell? The former secretary of state and his son Michael (former FCC Chairman) have gone to China to visit Master Po' Brutha, elder Shaolin Priest and honorary member of the Ghetto Science Team.

Carlos Smith

The strength and tone of his voice reminds you of the late and great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Knowing Carlos Smith's passion and dedication to helping others succeed, you can literally see Dr. King's dream at work.

Jazz in America Program at Miss. Schools

and is offered free of charge on a national basis.

IN CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN "JAZZ IN AMERICA" EDUCATION PROGRAMS. With generous support from Northrop Grumman and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, a non-profit educational organization, will introduce its Jazz in America: The National Jazz Curriculum to thousands of public school students in Mississippi. Jazz in America (www.jazzinamerica.org) is the Institute's Internet-based jazz curriculum that is being made available to all 5th, 8th, and 11th grade public school students in the United States. It is the first jazz curriculum to use state-of-the-art Internet technology

Rufus McKay of the Fabulous Red Tops at Millsaps

Rufus McKay, the lead singer of the Red Tops, backed by the Ben Shaw band, will rock the house in the season's sixth Arts & Lecture Series program at Millsaps College Thursday, Feb. 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the Ford Academic Complex Recital Hall on the College campus. Tickets are $10 at the door. 974-1043.

Yonder Mountain String Band in Oxford

This bluegrass band performing high energy, foot-stomping bluegrass with psychedelic flavors will perform Wed., Feb. 16, at The Library in Oxford. 18+, $15. 211 S. Lamar Blvd. 662-236-0050.

Tina Turner 2-CD Anthology

TINA TURNER SCORES HER HIGHEST BILLBOARD 200 CHART DEBUT EVER WITH NEW DOUBLE-CD ANTHOLOGY ALL THE BEST DEBUTING AT #2.

Anders Parker in Memphis

Anders Parker is going to be playing at the Newby's on Thursday, March 17th, in support of his new releases, Tell It To The Dust, and Wounded Astronaut. If you don't recognize his name, maybe you'll recognize some of his past musical projects including Varnaline (many of who's releases, one could argue, were just Anders Parker solo records) and Space Needle. The last Varnaline release, Songs in a Northern Key, earned Anders quite a lot of praise, including a rave from No Depression calling it, "cinematic in it's imagery and intimate in its feel", and Magnet honoring it with a spot on its year-end list of 20 best albums of 2001. Three years, and a folded label later (which prevented him from releasing music in this time period), Parker comes at you with Tell It To The Dust, and an arty, more experimental Wounded Astronaut. I just put together a package for you including Tell It To The Dust, and Wounded Astronaut, which was recorded at the same time, and features guests Jay Farrar (Son Volt), Joan Wasser (The Dambuilders) and Jud Ehrbar (Space Needle).

Coachella Line-Up Confirmed

April 30-May 1, 2005 Coachella, Indio, California. Coldplay, Bauhaus,