Monday, October 31
Site for ‘Mississippi Renewal Forum'
Keep an eye on the plans of Gov. Haley Barbour's "Mississippi Renewal Forum" on this Web site. The front page states:
Trent Lott: Alito Is a ‘Home Run'
[Verbatim statement/Oct. 31, 2005] WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi issued the following statement upon President Bush's nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. to be Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court:
The Weekly Jerry Update: Its All the Democrats Fault, WAHHHH
This week Jerry speaks about Harriet Meyer's step down as Supreme Court Nominee and ruminates about who Bush can put up next to heal the rift in the Republican party. The rift that he erroneously blames on the Democrats.
Sunday, October 30
Harp Player Sam Myers Back in Treatment
Long time Mississippi vocalist/harmonica blues artist is starting a second round of treatment for cancer of the throat. He received treatments and was improving but learned recently that the cancer had returned. His doctors are trying to save his voice. Myers had returned to limited engagements with Anson Funderburg and the Rocketts after the first round of treatments. His voice was weak but his spirits were strong. He was still blowing a mean harp. He is based in Dallas. Two immediate needs are prayer and financial assistance with the medical bills. Donations can be made to Southwest Blues Heritage Foundation, PO Box 71058, Dallas, TX 75371 for Sam Myers.
Trent Lott, Harry Reid Call for ‘New Blood' in White House
The New York Times reports today that prominent lawmakers of both parties, including Sens. Trent Lott and Harry Reid are calling for the president to make shake-ups in the White House, in the wake of Friday's indictment of Scooter Libby, who is both special assistant to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney's chief of staff. Lawmakers are also calling for a major investigation in Dick Cheney's role in the scheme to cover up the lies about WMD that convinced the American people to support the Iraqi War.
Saturday, October 29
3 More Soldiers Die in Iraq; 8 in Last 3 Days
On the day that a high-level White House office was indicted for trying to cover up lies told to justify invading Iraq in the first place, three more American soldiers were killed there. Our prayers go out to their families. AP reports:
Friday, October 28
Gentrifying Diversity in New Orleans
Mother Jones reports:
In a recent email to Louisiana officials, FEMA curtly turned down the state's request for funding to notify displaced residents that they could cast absentee ballots in the city's crucial February mayoral election. FEMA also declined to share data with local authorities about the current addresses of evacuees.
BREAKING: Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff Indicted, Five Counts
Word is that Dick Cheney's chief of staff will be the first to go down. Meantime, check out this Salon piece that defrocks Cheney's inner circle:
Thursday, October 27
Franklin Advocate Editorial and Thomas Moore Response
Franklin Advocate, July 28, 2005
This letter appeared in The Franklin Advocate, the weekly newspaper in Meadville, Miss, the week after Thomas Moore's story appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It is reprinted verbatim; below it you can read Thomas Moore's letter to the editor in response, which the Franklin Advocate has never printed.
Melton: Zero Tolerance for Moving Violations
[verbatim/Oct. 27, 2005]—Mayor Frank E. Melton issued Executive Order to address number of pedestrians being injured or killed by moving vehicles in the City of Jackson.
Not Everyone Hurt By Rising Oil Prices
Some companies, for instance, are doing just fine as a result:
Hell House Comes To Jackson
I was reading this article in the CL about the "House of Destiny" at the First Baptist Church in Florence.
Harriet Miers Withdraws
CNN reports: "President Bush 'reluctantly' accepts Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers's request to withdraw her nomination."
Condi's got a great Halloween Costume.
Michelle Malkin, whom I dislike with the burning fire of a thousand suns, has an interesting photo of Condi on her web blog
Can't we all just love one another?
AP is reporting that Iran and Isreal are at it AGAIN.
"I Thought the Yankees Would Have Hung You Long Before…"
I edited a children's collection of slave narratives a few years back. This was my favorite reading.
Wednesday, October 26
The Best In Sports In The Next 7 Days
Junior college football, Gulf Coast at Hinds (7 p.m., Raymond): The Eagles entertain the Bulldogs in a game loaded with playoff implications.
[Jacktown] Of Remixes And Masterpieces
Well, Jackson, it's been a really long time. I have been busy trying to keep my wallet filled with Benjamins. But I'm back, and I have my ear to the street for the latest rumors and legitimate news in the Magnolia state.
[New Releases] Animal Collective "Feels"
— Alex Slawson and Herman Snell
Animal Collective — "Feels" Animal Collective is a neo-psychedelic-quirk-pop band that has incorporated folk acoustics and campfire-style vocals on their previous works. This aesthetic reached its pinnacle on 2004's masterpiece, "Sung Tongs," where these elements wobbled in and out of consciousness to create a dream-like quality. "Feels" is more of a straight-forward effort. There are less of the folkish tendencies and more off-center pop. It is a bit denser than their previous works, but this is a good thing, especially since it is still as light as air in comparison to most indie out there today.
Gold Miners: A Review Of "North Country"
A fictionalized account of an actual 1984 court case that revolutionized sexual harassment law and exposed the misogyny of Minnesota's mining industry, "North Country" is a stunning, must-see drama marked by understated, focused direction and assured, award-worthy performances. Directed by New Zealander Niki Caro, who exploded onto the film scene two years ago with the soulful, unforgettable "Whale Rider," "North Country" is an example of that rare film that takes a story that could have been too formulaic—courtroom dramas and female oppression tales are fairly well-worn cinematic territory—or sentimental (only a couple of times does Caro pull on the audience's heartstrings, and she means business when she does), and crafts it into something layered, powerful and thought-provoking.
[New Releases] The American Analog Set "Set Free"
— Alex Slawson and Herman Snell
The American Analog Set — "Set Free" For 10 years, the American Analog Set have made an art out of subtle textures and hypnotic melodies. Over this time, they have shifted from a Spacemen 3 influenced drone rock (as evidenced in their first three albums) to a more space-pop sound (seen in their last three albums). With that said, "Set Free" isn't quite as engaging as 2001's "Know by Heart," the album that introduced (and in some cases, shocked) fans with their poppier exploits. However, it is much better than 2003's "Promise of Love" and parellels 1999's "The Golden Band" with its thematic overtones and multi-track suites. Either way, this is a great listen.
Damned If We Don't
The weekend Katrina hit, Kate Medley and I were in the Natchez area finishing research and art for the package of stories that you'll read in this issue. This time in Adams and Franklin counties, as Kate and I got to know people like Burl Jones, a Klan victim who had never been interviewed about the experience, and then watched burly Wharlest Jackson Jr. bawl like a baby describing his daddy's murder that has gotten so little attention over the years, I was still seething about a little ditty in The New York Times that belittled Southerners who are trying to confront our past.
[Cohen] All Haley The Chief
On Oct. 1 in Oxford, 4,000 people filled the Tad Smith Coliseum for what was billed as a fund-raising concert to benefit Hurricane Katrina's Mississippi victims. My wife and I were there. America was generous that night: 11,000 people called in to offer help. Between individual donors and corporate gifts and pledges, the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery fund has raised $15 million.
[Kamikaze] The Apocalypse Is Nigh
I'm back from a couple of weeks in the media capital of the world—New York City. Bright lights, big dreams and bad weather. Unfortunately while I was there, the Northeastern seaboard experienced some of its worst weather in years. Here I am running from the remnants of Katrina and Rita and, POW!, seven straight days of blinding rain and flooding in New Hampshire. Methinks this is yet another sign that the Apocalypse is nigh.
[Stiggers] Crunchie Burga, Give Us Gas
It's Boneqweesha, your on-the-scene reporter, live from Crunchie Burga World headquarters. The Customer and Support Services Workers' Union, No. 208-1/3, has gathered outside C.B.W. headquarters to protest the plight of the minimum-wage worker. Union president, part-time old-skool deejay and head maintenance person Lionel "Electric Slide" Rutherford is here to explain the protest.
Pumpkins, The Stuff of Memories
Whether you call it autumn or fall, it's here. The natural signs of fall include the leaves on many trees that ignite in color. Thanks be to God, the temperature finally falls and the humidity decreases, affording us here in the South glorious crisp mornings and evenings. The commercial signs of fall—Halloween decorations, costumes and candy, Thanksgiving decorations, candles and foodstuffs—are for sale in variety stores, crafts stores, grocery stores and farmers' markets. Best of all, you've got your pumpkins, waiting with their firm orange girth to provide those same two signs of fall—décor and food.
Melton: Taxpayers Should Pay My Fine
Photo Graphic by Darren Schwindaman
Attorneys for Jackson Mayor Frank Melton argued in a Meridian court on Oct. 20, over whether Melton can be sued as a private individual or if the state has to shoulder the financial burden of a civil suit against him brought by former Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics employees who say Melton defamed them by leaking a false memo to The Clarion-Ledger in April 2003.
Evolution Of A Man: Lifting The Hood In South Mississippi
Read the JFP's full "Road to Meadville" blog/archive here
Daddy, Get Up: This Son of Natchez Wants Justice, Too
Photo of Wharlest Jackson Jr. by Kate Medley
When Wharlest Jackson Sr., 36, left his job at the Armstrong Rubber Co. in North Natchez the evening of Feb. 27, 1967, life was looking pretty good for him.
Dear Meadville: Thomas Moore Tries To Wake Up His Hometown
Photo of Mac Littleton by Kate Medley
On his July pilgrimage back to his native Mississippi, Thomas Moore got his hopes up. With the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. and the Jackson Free Press documenting his effort, Moore went back to his native Franklin County, and over to Natchez, and up to Jackson and Neshoba County, to ask the good people of Mississippi to support his efforts to finally see justice for the murder of his brother, Charles Eddie Moore, and his friend, Henry Hezekiah Dee, by local white men on May 2, 1964.
Charles King
Charles King is the president and a co-founder of Housing Works Inc., a non-profit organization that provides a full range of services for homeless men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS. Housing Works is the largest community-based AIDS services organization in the United States and currently serves more than 5,000 people each year. He holds a law degree and a master of divinity from Yale University. King has a combined background as a minister and lawyer to develop Housing Works as a self-sustaining, healing community based on aggressive advocacy, mutual aid and collective empowerment.
The New Well
Graphic courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy is considering Richton, Miss., as a location for the newest expansion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The reserve, established in 1975 to protect the U.S. from oil supply interruptions, faced its starkest example of how much damage an interruption could pack with the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina. Gas prices, after years of steady ascension, shot up another 30 cents in some regions, so much so that President George W. Bush called upon the release of 30 million barrels of oil from the reserve. The administration has also been looking to expand the reserve, outlining in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 an expansion of the reserve from 727 million barrels of oil to 1 billion.
Henrietta Martin
Open the heavy glass door, take six steps across the foyer to the next glass door, open it, and you're in the Beverly J. Brown Library in Byram, a branch of the Jackson-Hinds Library System. Half a dozen steps to your right, and you're across the counter from Henrietta Martin, 54, who waits to help you make the best of your visit to this tiny library on Siwell Road.
Union Pledge On Shaky Ground
After a shaky start, AFL-CIO leaders say a meeting last week with Jackson Mayor Frank Melton went well, with the mayor re-stating his commitment to working with the union in renovating or re-building aging Jackson housing.
Oct. 27-Nov. 2, 2005
<b><u>History in Books</b></u>
As one born and raised in Mississippi, I am deeply interested in its history. A part of that history too little known and too readily forgotten in our time is slavery. By chance, I came upon two books on that subject in the same day. One, "I Was Born a Slave" by Yuval Taylor, is a massive two-volume anthology of major slave narratives; e.g., those of Frederick Douglass and Nat Turner. The other, "Mississippi Slaves, Tell It Like It Was," is specifically about and by those from right here in our own state. I would like to recommend both to all of your readers.
Tuesday, October 25
The Play's the Thing
For an agnostic, he sure does talk about God a lot.
Should We Give Tax Breaks for Cars?
As someone who leans toward new-urbanism and spends a little time suburb bashing, the story Auto Mobility in this month's Washington Monthly started out a little off-putting. Of course there's no logic to literally subsidizing automobile traffic with tax incentives, is there?
Bushie Love Me
George Bush defines for us the term "loving gaze."
ARTICLE: Kemp Says Ex-Felons Should Be Able to Vote
WASHINGTON - Jack Kemp, the former Republican vice presidential candidate and HUD secretary, urged Congress on Tuesday to require states to restore voting rights for felons once they complete their sentences.
Monday, October 24
National Debt Breaks $8 Trillion; Pork Highest Ever
According to a story in the Washington Post, Republicans plan to attempt to pass $35 billion in spending cuts, part of a plan set forth in the spring, although some conservatives want to see further cuts to make up for Katrina and other emergency spending. This at a time when pork projects have helped push our national debt over Eight Trillion dollars.
Here Comes Codex Teenage Premonition
So it's clear there's a "Scotland Thing" going on, with the amount of love surrounding Franz Ferdinand, Sons and Daughters, Belle and Sebastian, Mogwai and more. But before those bands picked up their guitars, there were three seminal punk rock bands that emerged in the late 70's to change the landscape of Scottish music and influence those who are now bringing all eyes to Scotland: The Fire Engines were one such band, and now Domino Records is bringing you *all* of their glorious, cacophonous songs that have *never* been released prior to this coming November....
Melton Moves Halloween
Does anyone know what's going on for Halloween in Jacktown? The last couple of years there's been a pretty big party in Fondren, but I haven't heard anything about it this year.
The Weekly Jerry Update: Better Late Than Never
I had begun a series of Sunday sermons pulling Jerry around by the short ones, but was unable to update it yesterday because someone at Fallwell Ministries was being lazy and didn't update his weekly "letter".
Monkey Farts
So, I bought this lip gloss online that was flavored "Monkey Farts".
Can You Be Misquoted In Your Own Column?
Talk about sleeping with the enemy: Since he became manager of the Chicago White Sox last year, he's written a regular column for a daily in Caracas, Venezuela. Presumably, his editor has never said of Ozzie, "he better shut the (bleep) up." But if Ozzie's editor is like most editors, Doctor S suspects that she has said that.
Father Knows Best
When I read stuff like this I wonder why more federal money isn't thrown at investigating "daddy issues" among our men in power.
So Long, Saints?
Saints owner Tom Benson declared this week that nothing will be decided on the franchise's future until after the season. But ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that, based on information from key league sources, the team has probably played its last game in New Orleans.
Sunday, October 23
Study: Most Katrina Victims Elderly
AP is reporting:
A majority of people killed by Hurricane Katrina were older residents unable or unwilling to evacuate in the rising floodwaters, according to a study of almost half the bodies recovered in Louisiana. About 60 percent of the nearly 500 victims identified so far were age 61 or older, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals reported.
All The Right Moves
See "Mad Hot Ballroom" Monday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. Parkway Place Regal Cinema on Lakeland Drive. $7, $5 Crossroads members. Rated PG. 601-613-6060. Join or renew your Crossroads membership in the lobby and get four free movie tickets.
The Devil Went Down to Clarksdale
Yesterday I went to the Crossroads in the Delta. I'd been up there numerous times before, but was bringing a friend to see the famed Johnson "selling his soul" site.
R.I.P. TwiRoPa
Dear Friends, Family, and Loyal Customers of TwiRoPa: I am very sorry to say that the damage to the TwiRoPa facility was extensive and severe. Initial inspections have led to the belief that the building is not structurally sound. Rebuilding the facility is not feasible and it is with great sorrow that i hereby officially announce that TwiRoPa will not be reopening.
Saturday, October 22
Friday, October 21
Manly Mansfield
What is it with Harvard, anyway?
Who doesn't love reruns of "In the Heat of the Night"?
The plan includes subsidizing converter boxes for the average American home.
The AP is reporting that the government is gonna give us free TV in four years.
Fitz Posts a Website
Patrick Fitzgerald, special prosecutor in the Plame case, has posted a website. The site has the blogosphere in a titter as to whether it will be used to post indictments in the case -- according to a Dan Froomkin of the Washington Post, a spokesman for Fitzgerald told him not to read too much into the new site's timing.
Memphis Flyer: Handicapping Plame Game
The Flyer takes a look at the Plame situation and "handicaps" the odds of the various types of indictments that could come as early as next week from the grand jury that expires on 10/28/05 and is looking into the case. The Gadfly columnist (in a very Archie Goodwin sort of way) stacks up the "odds" that a particular type of indictment will be brought in the case, including what amounts to a decent summary of the laws involved and a look at the typical sort of thing that people get indicted for when such as grand jury is seated.
Judge Hears Arguments in Mayor Libel Lawsuit
Interesting report in The Meridian Star today about the lawsuit by MBN officers against Frank Melton for releasing false accusations against them to The Clarion-Ledger in 2003 (the story originally broken by the Jackson Free Press). The judge has already declared summary judgement in the case against Melton because he lied under oath in court documents about passing the document to the newspaper. Now the judge is trying to decide whether Melton will have to pay the damages himself or whether the taxpayers will have to because he was a public official. The judge also issued a gag order in the case because a TV reporter asked a really stupid, uninformed question.
XM Giving Radios to World Series Attendees
That's pretty cool...
Thursday, October 20
Great Moments in Law
I ran across this while researching my new crime history book for Facts on File, and just about cracked up.
Wednesday, October 19
The Best In Sports In The Next 7 Days
Thursday, Oct. 20
Junior college football, Jones at Copiah-Lincoln (7 p.m., Wesson): Jones has returned to its winning ways.
[Music] Mississippi's Widespread River Rat
When Mississippi native George McConnell broke out of the local scene and became a member of one of the most popular jam bands of all time, he didn't forget his roots.
The Chardonnay Wars
Who among us has never tried a Chardonnay? I would imagine that anyone with even a minor interest in wine has sipped on this rich white varietal at some time or another.
Look Ma, I Made An Omelette!
My earliest recollection of actually seeing an omelette dates back to late 1969, early 1970. I had moved from Jackson to Kansas City, Mo., and being in my early 20s and desirous of a night out now and then, I became familiar with late-night dining at Nichols Lunch at 39th and Southwest Trafficway. The local 24-hour eatery, open since 1921, fit the bill as the spot to eat, laugh and stretch out an evening's fun. Omelettes were on the menu; I saw many being served but never tried one. Why would anyone want to add meat, vegetables or cheese to their eggs?
Haley's Unholy Alliance
Barbour Client Indicted in Nursing Home, Delay Scheme
When Haley Barbour was head of the Republican National Committee from 1993 to 1997, he loathed Medicare, the federal health-care program, and tried to gun it down in the GOP "Contract with America," which he helped write with Rep. Newt Gingrich.
With A Little Help From My Friends: Waveland's Getting By
In Waveland, Miss., the little town that arguably received the worst punishment Katrina could mete out, those credited with the swiftest response are not disaster-relief groups or government agencies, but a bunch of hippies and a rock band.
Paradise Lost: Latinos Caught In Katrina Squeeze
Strangely, it wasn't the hurricane itself that tore down the life and family of Daniel Dotta. It was the clean-up crew that came along behind it.
It has begun…
AP is reporting that Mr. Delay must report to jail for booking
Your Name In Lights
You gotta love the folks who decide to do something instead of just complain about it. Last year, in response to the common refrain "We never get any decent independent films in Jackson," the Crossroads Film Society decided to expand from its core mission—supporting and nurturing independent filmmakers through educational programs and the annual Crossroads Film Festival in April—to make it possible for more people to see the great independent films that are being made all over the country and the world.
[Greggs] I Am Mississippi
I love this place. This state, I mean. I love the fact my neighbors showed up the day after Katrina with chainsaws in hand because they noticed a tree blocking my car in the driveway. I love my mamaw, and I love her cooking. I love the orange blossoms that are still blooming outside my friend's apartment in October.
[Stiggers] Scary Nation
I'm Boneqweesha Jones on the scene at Jo-Jo's Discount Dollar Store during his Scary Nation: Trick or Treat Halloween Costume Sale. He has an interesting selection of spooky/non-traditional costumes at discount prices.
Peggy Carlisle
It's a safe wager that third- and fourth-graders at Pecan Park Elementary School in Jackson know a lot about Kenya. That's because their ExCel teacher Peggy Carlisle, 54, added "The Kenyan Project" to the program's project-based curriculum once she and her students had met and listened to Juddy Opiyo, the director of three bush schools in West Pokot, Kenya.
The City vs. The Cops
Last week, the Jackson City Council voted to pay a $34,487 settlement in a suit against a Jackson police officer accused of handcuffing a man before banging and grinding his head against a concrete carport.
No. 5 October 20 - 26
<b><u>Solid Work</u></b>
Keep up the solid work with the Jackson Free Press. I grab every one of those free copies I can get my hands on. We agree on precious little (actually, in conversation, we all might surprise each other!), but one of my favorite moments every week is to stretch back on my lounge chair and crank the JFP open. Appreciate it!
Herman's Picks
I once heard in a movie that "Art is the highest source of education." The next two weeks you're in for quite a schooling, if you're willing. The New Orleans' Voodoo Music Festival has been downsized and split between New Orleans on Saturday, Oct. 29, and Memphis on Sunday, Oct. 30. Because of the downsized New Orleans location site at Riverview Park, behind the Audubon Zoo, only people who purchased tickets prior to Oct. 12 will be allowed to attend. Ticket holders should get their updated tickets from voodoomusicfest.com. This good change so keep watching online for updates. Tickets are readily available to the public for the lackluster Memphis lineup.
Tuesday, October 18
The Corporate Court
Has Bush nominated an anti-Roe stealth candidate? Not if he's smart. Wait, let me rephrase that...
On a lighter note…
Like, oh-my-god, DO I CARE?
My trip to the beach
I went to The Coast today. In my grown up job I was asked to be part of a group that went down and conducted coping groups with survivors of Katrina.
D.C. Rumormill: Cheney May Resign, Condi Move Up
According to a piece in U.S. News and World Report, rumors are flying around Washington that Vice President Cheney might resign if "Plamegate" indictments reaches into the V.P.'s office. Further speculation suggests that Bush would nominate Condolezza Rice as Cheney's successor.
China Ups its Space Program
According to CNN, the Chinese sent a manned spacecraft into orbit and brought it back safely on Monday, calling it a victory for the Communist Party in China and saying that it completed the first phase of their space program's plan to prove that China could compete in the global scientific community.
Radical Right Targets Girl Empowerment Effort
Oct. 14, 2005—AP is reporting that the Tupelo wingnuts are at it again:
What They Think About Us At DailyKos
Here's the all-important light-up-the-phone-lines nut graf:
Today finds a 'recommended' diary over at DailyKos, about a visitor to our lovely state and his "blue state" reactions to the people he encounters when he's working on Katrina relief in and around Laurel, Miss.
Harriett Miers Supported Ban on Most Abortions
AP is reporting:
Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers pledged support in 1989 for a constitutional amendment banning abortions except when necessary to save the life of the mother, according to material given to the Senate on Tuesday.
Monday, October 17
Begging for Autonomy
The one who seeketh after credibility shall not find it.
Marah CD Drops Oct. 18, Live in Oxford Nov. 5
If You Didn't Laugh, You'd Cry, the fifth, and arguably finest, record from that little ole' band from Philadelphia known as Marah, will hit stores on October 18th. These days the group's core, brothers Serge and Dave Bielanko call New York City – Brooklyn, to be precise – home, which is where these 14 tracks here were recorded. Some were done within the confines of a proper studio, others in the cramped quarters of a tiny apartment, but all of them delivered with the kind of power and passion you've come to expect from a band that's been bearing the torch for literate and inspired rock 'n' roll for a decade.
Hitchcock was SO RIGHT to be scared to death of them…
I must share the trauma.
Business Week writes the scariest thing I've ever read about the Bird Flu.
Fitz Examines Cheney's Role in Plamegate
In a Bloomberg news piece that's entertainingly titled Cheney May Be Entangled in CIA Leak Investigation, People Say (I love that "People Say" part...talk about your reportorial specificity), we're told that special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald is looking into the role that Vice President Dick Cheney played in the outting of a CIA agent as political retaliation by the White House. As I mentioned yesterday, Fitz seems to be focused on WHIG -- the White House working group put together to "sell" the Iraq war. Cheney is clearly the executive at the top of that group's org chart, so, while charges are unlikely to be brought against him, he's the buck-stops-here guy in this scenario, assuming there's no way to tie it directly to Bush.
Sojourners: Congress is ‘Morally Bankrupt'
Sojourners, an active Christian organization that supports a variety of social justice efforts, has announced a campaign to draw attention to the budget cutting that Congress is planning for October 17-21 as well as tax-cut initiatives that the group disagrees with. According to the Sojourners, Congress plans to cut key programs for the poor despite the recent spotlight on poverty issues that resulted from Hurricane Katrina.
Bell Is Wrong Again
It's official. Jackson State football coach James Bell is an idiot. Throughout his reign of error, Bell has blamed members of the news media for his team's failures on the field, specifically WLBT-3 sports anchor Rob Jay and Clarion-Ledger reporter Mark Alexander. Bell's attempts to freeze these two men out has failed, just like everything else the coach has done at JSU. In fact, Jay is now the radio play-by-play man for the Tigers.
Sunday, October 16
[Talking Head] Let's try this…
Next Sunday, I'm going to try something new: a weekly series of sorts, tentatively called "Talking Head," where I'll go through my mailbag in public. Generally that's an invitation to identity theft, but hey, I'm a professional.
NYTimes Op-Ed Spells Out Plame Game ‘Team'
In an Op-Ed for the Sunday New York Times, columnist Frank Rich has the best explanation I've seen of the White House Iraq Group (WHIG), the group of White House staffers (including Rove, Libby and V.P. Cheney, among other familiar Bush Admin officials) that would meet to discuss the strategy of "selling" the war in Iraq to the American people. Starting with the timeline -- Rich says that WHIG was in operation in the summer of 2002, or well before the American people were told that war in Iraq was inevitable -- and it was responsible for a great deal of the hype leading up to the war, including much of the discredited "intelligence" that was used, at the time, to suggest that Iraq had a nuclear WMD program.
The Weekly Jerry Update Part Deux
So, this week Jerry thinks we should be able to hurt gay people and get away with it.
He is actively lobbying against a hate crime bill that would give homosexuals recourse if they are the victim of a crime related solely to their sexual orientation.
Saturday, October 15
Why I Don't Read Beliefnet (Much) Anymore
Beliefnet still has its moments, but mostly it alternates between schmaltzy and toxic.
Friday, October 14
Breaking Rank
Margaret Thatcher opposes the war in Iraq, and Miers can't count on her gender to win her support among feminists. It's a sad day for groupthink.
ARTICLE: Civil rights pioneer dead at 63
ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- Vivian Malone Jones, one of two black students whose effort to enroll at the University of Alabama led to George Wallace's infamous "stand in the schoolhouse door" in 1963, died Thursday. She was 63.
ARTICLE: Fearless fighter for civil rights dead at 78
Political and social activist Cynthia DeLores Tucker, 78, died Oct. 12 of an undisclosed cause at the Suburban Woods Health and Rehabilitation Center in Norristown, Pa., leaving behind a legacy of firsts and intrepid advocacy.
U.S. Bankruptcy AND Credit Card Rule Changes Coming
There's a rush of filings this week as the bankruptcy laws get considerably harsher next Monday, thanks to legislation passed last spring. The bill makes it more difficult for individuals to file for Chapter 7 bankrupcy, the type that eliminates many unsecured debts. That includes people with significant credit card debt as well as those who have extraordinary expenses from medical bills.
Stunning Description of New Orleans in Salon
There's an amazing narrative description on New Orleans posted over at Salon. It's by a freelance writer, who went to see what had happened to his French Quarter home that he had sold 3 weeks before the hurricane. There's some incredible descriptions:
Thursday, October 13
When Conservatives are Too Liberal
George W. Bush and Haley Barbour are facing the fight of their political careers right now, but their fiercest critics aren't on the left. They're on the right.
Let me ask you one question…
What are we NOT paying attention to, right now?
A little innuendo with your evening cocktail
Is it legal to go to bed at 6pm? Because the thought had crossed my mind.
But, before I fall into a world heady with regret and Cherry Coke, I'd like to leave you with this little bit of wisdom
Donna Featured on AAN Site
Everybody's favorite alt-weekly editor, featured on the AAN.org site: click me
Is anyone surprised?
Move on.org has called into question the man that would be responsible if the avian flu becomes a pandemic. It seems that, once again, Bush has appointed someone to a post that isn't actually QUALIFIED for the post.
Wednesday, October 12
I'M FAT!!!!!
I had a doctor's visit recently, and I almost passed out when I saw the numbers on the scale. I gained 35 POUNDS in two years! Well...
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Thursday, Oct. 13
College football, Copiah-Lincoln at Hinds (7 p.m., Raymond): A pair of one-win teams hook up at Joe Renfroe.
[Gospel] Converging For A Blessing
Dealing with the aftermath of natural disasters can be overwhelming. The chilling effect can linger for months, maybe even years. It is for those reasons that some of Mississippi's top gospel artists will converge at the Greater Bethlehem Temple Apostolic Faith Church, 1505 Robinson Road, in Jackson on Friday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m.
Born To Be A Thug
A couple weeks back, culture czar Bill Bennett said crime would go down if all black babies were aborted. A couple months back, a business publication editor in Brandon said that the inner city is breeding young criminals. A couple years back, a city councilman told a group of North Jackson adults that "young tigers" are roaming our streets, looking to hurt us.
Wanted: A Strong , Safe Jackson
The decision by Mayor Frank Melton and Chief Shirlene Anderson to eliminate the eight-member Crime Prevention Unit of the Jackson Police Department (along with approximately 10 other JPD positions) upset many Jacksonians. The crime prevention specialists in Precinct 4 were regular contributors to Community Oriented Policing (COPS), a citizens' crime prevention group whose meetings I help moderate.
*Jackson Newbie: Myths Debunked
Downtown Jackson is full of crime, right?
Actually, no. Downtown Jackson is one of the safest areas of the city with some of the lowest crime rates. Of course, activity makes any area safer, so the more people who go downtown to enjoy nightlife, and then move into all those spiffy condos and apartments opening up in historic buildings there, will make it even safer. Also, crime in Jackson has dropped steadily for years, and over the last couple years, hit its lowest level in 24 years. (Crime in 2004 was 21 percent down over the year before.) So don't fret the crime hype; get yourself a Club if you want, pay attention to your surroundings, don't leave valuables in your car—that's life in the big city.
[New Releases] Ellen Allien "Thrills"
— Alex Slawson and Herman Snell
Ellen Allien — "Thrills" Berlin seems to be the new electronica hotspot, as several truly talented artists have emerged onto the worldwide underground stage. Among the most promising is Ellen Allien, genre-morphing sound sculptress and owner/founder of the Bpitch Control record label. Like her 2003 release, "Berlinette," her latest is sensational in how seemingly sterile electronic elements are tweaked to create emotionally engaging electro pop with a dance club twist. Her lyrics are simple and elegant, as is her sound. The best comparison for those unfamiliar would be Bjork, although this is stretching the lines of analogy just a bit. Where Bjork conjures the otherworldly in her electro-pop soundscapes, Allien is rooted firmly on terra firma. Hence, her grooves are more accessible than those of Bjork's and are every bit as original—it's that great!
[New Releases] Four Tet "Everything Ecstatic"
— Alex Slawson and Herman Snell
Four Tet — "Everything Ecstatic" Kieran Hebden (Four Tet) is truly a musical genius, given his ability to combine a wide variety of analog sounds (plucked banjo, xylophone, drum sets) with electronic programming. This was his winning formula on the highly acclaimed 2003 release, "Rounds," although the overall feel was that of "ambient folktronica." This was certainly not a bad thing, but it inadvertently limited Four Tet's audience to that of pure IDM heads and the like. "Everything Ecstatic" picks up where "Rounds" left off, infusing Kieran's recent paradigm with a charge that is sure to appeal to an even wider scope of listeners. As should be expected, this takes Four Tet to another level musically and warrants a high recommendation to those who are interested.
Just For The Halibut
Every day on the way to and from school, I drive past the New Orleans Fish House on E. McDowell Road, just off I-55 South. Hardly a day has gone by since Katrina struck that I haven't wondered what has happened with their retail display case, stuffed to the gills, so to speak, the last time I saw it, with scallops, shrimp and filets of all sorts of fresh fish. Finally last week I pulled out my cell phone and called to satisfy my curiosity.
Jackie Bell
Jackie Bell, 43, steps out of a little red two-seater, and I'm jealous of her legs. I briefly recall my inferiority when Miss Bell called me on stage during a charity fund raiser, and all of Jackson saw me dance like a white Baptist girl next to her trained-ballerina self. Then she said I don't look more than 25, and I forgave her and loved her more. Today she hugs me like she just saw me yesterday, but is so glad to see me again. Suddenly I feel like the leggiest woman in the world. See, that's what Jackie Bell does. She sings like her back ain't got no bone, and she makes you think you can, too.
Driving While Young: Why The City's Curfew Isn't All That
When she got up the morning of July 10, 2003, Leslie Berryhill did not know she was going to face the "scariest thing" of her short life. Leslie, who was seven months from her 18th birthday, spent the evening of July 10 watching a movie at her boyfriend's house in Madison. She had a summer-school exam in the morning, so when the movie was over, she called her mom to let her know she was returning to their home on Ridgewood Drive. "That's our rule with cell phones, you always call," says Leslie's mother, Lisa, who always kept close tabs on her kids, which is easy in the age of cell phones. "Twenty minutes later, she wasn't here, and that's how it all started."
Pass/Fail: Student Drug Testing For JPS?
Only three weeks after his election, Mayor Frank Melton announced that he would like to see all students in Jackson Public Schools tested for drug use. The announcement came at the mayor's second City Council meeting, and he asked the council to study grants and discuss the issue. He said he would prefer that all students grades 6 through 12 be tested, in the interest of fairness.
House, Senate Switch Roles
The Mississippi Legislature ended the $330,000 special session this week around 10 p.m. Friday night with a final package of bills intended to help rebuild the Coast. Lawmakers managed to agree on several difficult issues, including moving casinos to land, but along the way many of them made surreal departures from the political norm, especially over whether to increase fees and taxes.
Danks, Danks Everywhere
The Jackson City Council voted last week to allow Mayor Frank Melton to hire attorney Dale Danks, who will help the city's shorthanded legal department clear its caseload. The council made this decision despite the fact that Danks represents both the city of Byram and a North Jackson family, the Berryhills, in cases against the city, as well as serving as the mayor's personal attorney in lawsuits against Melton himself.
The Attic Is For Lovers
Tucked at the bottom of one of Vicksburg's steep hills, at the intersection of Washington and China and just a few blocks from the Mississippi River, is a right perfect spot for art lovers. The walls of the Attic Gallery, the stairwells and every flat surface are replete with vivid, colorful, thought-provoking art of all dimensions from the trained and the untrained, those compelled to create. Like an oasis in the desert for the past 34 years, the Attic Gallery has provided refuge, relief and pleasant contrast for all who enter. Lesley Silver and Daniel Boone literally own the gallery, but in truth, it belongs to all who show art there and all who come to experience that art. Silver sat down to talk about the gallery.
High Anxiety
A recent Precinct 4 COPS meeting revealed anxiety over Mayor Melton's recent move to dissolve the Crime Prevention Unit. The unit, employing only one academy-graduated police officer, was recognized at the meeting as a useful tool for the community to use to communicate with the Jackson Police Department.
[Stiggers] Hands Off My Grandbabies
"While locating my favorite weekly broadcast of The Rev. Cletus Car Sales program on the radio, I accidentally tuned in a talk radio show. A discussion about Social Security caught my attention —since I'm a senior citizen with grandbabies and stuff.
No. 4, October 13-19
<b><u>Young Creative Class Rising</b></u>
Thanks to the staff at the JFP for energizing the progressive, young adult Jackson population. I never realized until recently the positive impact an alternative newspaper could have on a community. I plan my weekly events around the Lounge List! I moved to Jackson in 2001 and I have seen a huge difference in the way young adults view the city of Jackson. I have truly witnessed a "creative class rising" in just four short years.
Pleased to Meet You, Hope You Guess My Name
Oh, y'all have got to read this article. Especially you, Ali. Excerpt:
Real Refugees
Angelina Jolie makes me like her again with the statement "Nobody deserves an award for humanitarian aid, we should all just be doing it." in an interview with CNN.
Tuesday, October 11
Conversations with Carl Sagan
As many of you know, my first book with the University Press of Mississippi--Conversations with Carl Sagan--will be published in December. Each Conversations with... volume is made up of previously published interviews with the person described--so this is very much in the same vein as previous volumes done on John Steinbeck, Eudora Welty, Walker Percy, etc. etc. etc.
The Bestest Governor EVER!
Simply because they haven't got ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS LADY.
Now, I don't know if any of you have read the "mountains of newly released records" concerning Ms. Miers. But, if you haven't, let's just say "birthday cards" are considered "records" now.
GOP Using Katrina Aftermath to Gut Anti-Poverty Efforts
The New York Times is reporting that conservatives in Washington are reacting in a very cynical way to the poverty exposed to the world by Hurricane Katrina:
Monday, October 10
New Jens Lekman Out Now
Jens Lekman has again seen the light and plans 3 week nationwide tour of the United States. As if he didn't break enough hearts during his last tour of the US last March, he plans on visiting ports far and wide from Vermont to California to help in the healing process. With the new Secretly Canadian singles collection Oh, You're So Silent Jens in hand and a full orchestra in tow, Jens will be ready to show everyone how much Sweden loves the U.S.
Unsafe at Any Speed
A Zogby/MSNBC study has uncovered some pretty surprising stuff about American sexual mores.
Hell has frozen over…
I'm agreeing with Ann Coulter.
And for once they were not prepared to take Bush's word that it would all turn out O.K., that they should just trust him. Bush was showing "stunning arrogance," declared Ann Coulter, to think he could just pick anyone he liked.
Football Post-Mortem
Here's a roundup of reaction to a weekend of bad Mississippi college football
Ole Miss: The Northeast Mississippi Journal's Parrish Alford wonders what Ole Miss' victory means. Doctor S knows: It means the Rebels aren't very good.
Herman's Picks
If you're a fan of roots rock you must go to Hal & Mal's Wednesday when Scott Miller & the Commonwealth return, 9 p.m. $5. If you're a fan of the funk it's time for THE TIME! You need to get your Rollercoaster on and then head to the big tent at the fair for Morris Day & The Time, 7:30 p.m. $5 gets you in the fair, another $5 get you the man who took on Prince in Purple Rain. Meet me in the front row.
I can't take this.
I don't know if anyone has seen the videotape of the New Orleans police officers beating a 64 year old man in the street. This article speaks about the incident.
"Let Us Be Dissatisfied"
In other words, he was a real Christian.
No matter what pop culture tells us, we need to know that Martin Luther King Jr. fought for more than racial integration; he believed in an ideal of America without poverty and class distinction. He was a radical and a revolutionary; many called him a communist.
Sunday, October 9
Trying To Make It Right
The e-mail about the Jackson doctor came all the way from Canada. Hollis Brown, a singer/songwriter in Saskatchewan, wanted to know if an e-mail he had received, calling New Orleans evacuees in the Astrodome ungrateful "n*ggers," had really been written by Dr. Richard L. Johnson of University Medical Center. "It sounds like some KKK Krap if you ask me," Brown wrote.
Proof of God
Researchers have just discovered tequila helps you lose weight.
The Weekly Jerry Update
This man has become my new love.
In this week's Falwell Confidential, Jerry ( and I sure hope he doesn't get upset with the familiarity) speaks to us about "dirty politics" and Delay's indictment.
Tell me it isn't true. Okay, I will. It isn't.
This morning I was playing on the "Focus on the Family" Website. I like to get on there and see what they are ANGRY about. (This also includes why I have started watching the 700 Club and have personal surveillance on Jerry Falwell to make sure he isn't stringing up gay people in his free time.)
A Colorless World
I'm still steamed about Bill Bennett's idiotic comment, and his continuing failure to offer a credible apology for it. Yes, his political career is over; yes, his status as a public intellectual (if he ever had any) is questionable; but I don't really care if he suffers. I want him to make it right.
Saturday, October 8
At OUToberfest Saturday: Bitch With A Capital B
Bitch performs Saturday night, Oct. 8, at Hal & Mal's, along with a host of other artists as part of OUToberfest.
Violent Crime Continues 30-Year Low
This story didn't get much attention when it broke a couple of weeks ago, so it's worth revisiting.
Friday, October 7
John Haught Dismantles Neo-Creationism
The Dover Area School District monkey trial just got a whole lot more interesting with the testimony of Georgetown University theologian John Haught.
FEMA To Cancel No-Bid Contracts
The front page of The Clarion-Ledger almost looked like a real newspaper today. The lead story is a combo wire/local effort about how FEMA is cancelling no-bid contracts. Of course, the Ledge doesn't mention that one of the debris-removal companies is an old client of Haley Barbour's, as reported by national media.
Mascot Mania
Bob Cook of flakmagazine (is he the next Bill Simmons?) weighs in on the insanity of the sports mascot debate. Naturally, Ole Miss is mentioned.
Thank You, Captain Obvious
And then uses innuendo and divisive statements to tell us.
In an op/ed piece in the CL Mr. Mitchell asks "Who are the poor?"
Thursday, October 6
The 10 Most Active Jackson Free Press Threads, Ever
Happy birthday, Todd! Thanks to you and Donna for getting this paper running. You have affected the culture of Jackson in more ways than anyone can know, I think.
I feel MUCH better now. Whew!
So, I was really upset about this Harriet Miers business until I read that Jerry Falwell is backing her one hundred percent.
We ain't done nothing wrong.
President Bush speaking at the National Endowment for Democracy
It ain't us they need to be worryin' bout…
Maybe Iran didn't HEAR the first time Israel decided they didn't need nuclear weapons.
Israel will blow them off the map if they don't stop effin' around.
Wait, I thought someone said she was a virgin….
Who's takin' bets its gonna be an alien?
Wednesday, October 5
Secularism is Good for the (National) Soul
A new study published in Creighton's Journal of Religion and Society provides strong evidence that high religiosity is not necessarily a good thing, at least on a large scale.
"For I Have Been Touched by His Noodly Appendage"
If we're going to teach Intelligent Design in public school biology classes, then clearly we need to include more than one theory of ID. I'm especially impressed with this counter-theory, which seems every bit as compelling as the arguments put forth by Dembski, Behe, et. al. Let me know if you agree. Excerpt:
What's good for the goose….
Who knew that Bush could piss off the Right just as much as the Left with one little Supreme Court Justice Nominee.
Will Jemison
Will Jemison, 24, is five steps ahead of his generation. Everything about him says professionalism and goal-oriented. He walks into the interview, and I can't believe that he's only 24. His poise and proficient way of speaking are charming.
The Best In Sports In The Next 7 Days
College football, Coahoma at Hinds (7 p.m., Raymond): The Eagles are looking for their first win of the season. If they don't beat the Tigers, the Eagles have big problems.
Vampire Cowboys And Zombie Indians: A Review of Darkwatch
I'm surprised by "Darkwatch." I don't think you could blame me for being skeptical about a game that can't even decide what stereotype it wants to use, but after looking past the cover, I found it to be a genuinely fun game. "Darkwatch" stars a Grade A anti-hero, Jericho Cross.
Bennett And His Black Boys
"If you wanted to reduce crime, you could—if that were your sole purpose—you could abort every black baby in this country and your crime rate would go down." No, that quote did not loom anonymously on some racist Web site, nor did some bigot boom it at a Council of Conservative Citizens rally. A former member of Ronald Reagan's Cabinet—his Secretary of Education, in fact—uttered it on the public's radio airwaves.
Domestic Disturbance: A Review Of "A History Of Violence"
By turns tender and tragic, funny and frightening, David Cronenberg's masterful new thriller "A History of Violence" has emerged on the short list of 2005's most outstanding releases. A meditation on individual identity and family life, "Violence" is possibly the most mainstream film that Cronenberg, whose credits include the grotesque "Dead Ringers" and "The Fly," has ever made. Boasting superb performances, striking camerawork and compellingly rendered themes, "A History of Violence" is a must-see drama.
[Kamikaze] God Is Smiling
It's a testament to the human spirit to see how Mississippians have responded in this time of crisis. Hurricane Katrina may have devastated property, homes and businesses, but it didn't crush hope. Out of the rubble that is now the Gulf Coast rose a renewed sense of worth.
[Stiggers] You're Doing A Heck Of A Job, Cletus
Dr. Peanut speaks to the G.S.T.E.M.A.'s (Ghetto Science Team's Emergency Management Agency) during their post-catastrophe planning session.
[Greggs] Like Bourbon For Chocolate
Last week, after spying the ever-growing acreage of my cat's butt, I begrudgingly headed to the store to buy her diet food for the first time. I felt badly about it. Mainly because I would think one of the perks of being a cat is the fact you never have to diet. That and naps being two of the things that make up for the daily indignity of crawling into a box of your own crap.
Catch That Northwestern Buzz
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Washington state and Oregon? Is it coffee? Depressing weather? Hippies? Grunge rock and flannel? For me, it's wine. Washington is the second largest producer of fine wines in the U.S., after California, and Oregon produces Pinot Noirs that rival the finest red Burgundies. Let there be no mistake: This region is a force to be reckoned with.
*Jackson Newbie: Food FAQ
I'm craving butter beans and sweet potato casserole. What local restaurant serves really good home-cooked veggies?
Mayor Walks Out On Citizens
Community policing took a body blow last week when Mayor Frank Melton and Jackson Police Chief Shirlene Anderson—a man and a woman put there to be anti-crime crusaders—suddenly dumped the department's Crime Prevention Unit as of Oct. 1, leaving eight crime prevention specialists out of work with only days' notice, and saving about $275,000 in salaries. The eight employees learned of the job eliminations on Tuesday before their jobs ended on Friday; they are getting paid through Oct. 15. The budget awards $110,000 in raises to legal personnel.
Ain't Too Proud To Beg
After days of behind-the-scenes struggle, the Legislature passed bills allowing casinos to build within 800 feet of the high-tide line during a special session called by Gov. Haley Barbour to address recovery from Hurricane Katrina. The measure passed the House by only seven votes, with 60 in favor and 53 against, late Friday, Sept. 30. The Senate then took up consideration of the bills and debated them until 12:45 a.m. before voting to return Monday morning. On Monday afternoon, the Senate passed the gambling measure in a close 29-21 vote.
Trapped In Left Field
The first week of September was a turning point for the Left Field Sports Grill, says President Dan Keith. Katrina blasted through the streets of Jackson, and the grill suffered the same power outage as everybody else. When the lights came on again days later, however, the pub's troubles had only begun.
Hurricanes 2, Eagles 0
The Southern Miss football team got screwed on, all in the name of the almighty TV dollar. In the biggest non-surprise of the season, Conference USA rescheduled the Golden Eagles' game at Houston for Sunday, Nov. 13. The game was originally scheduled for Sept. 24, but was postponed due to Hurricane Rita. The conference refused to move the Eagles' game at Marshall on Tuesday, Nov. 8, which is scheduled to shown on ESPN2. Now USM has to play three games in 12 days, including back-to-back road games just 5 days apart. Events like this are how all of those conspiracy theories get started.
Out Of The Freezer, Back On The Ice
Doctor S sez: I like Brussels sprouts better than the NHL.
The NHL returns to the ice on Wednesday night after nearly two years of labor issues-related exile. Newsday's Johnette Howard sums up the situation nicely: "Hockey is sort of the Brussels sprouts of pro sports. No matter how you tweak it, cook it, tout it or dress it up, people still either love it or hate it. If you hate it, you think the game of 1,000 turnovers should've stayed shutdown for good. If you're a true believer, you can't wait until all 30 teams begin the regular season tonight, even if you're a still mad at the league for last year's lockout, or conflicted about mindlessly rushing back to a sport that endured one of the dumbest contract negotiations in sports history."
Naked Truth
Speaking of sports crime, here's an item from the always-reliable badjocks.com: An unidentified junior at Bentonville High School in Arkansas was suspended for 10 days after he made a mad dash across the football field during a game several weeks ago, wearing nothing but underwear, shoes and a bandana over his face. While trying to elude police, he showed more athletic ability than anybody on the field.
Tuesday, October 4
Sports Crime Update
Today's items on the sports crime blotter come from Romensko's The Obscure & Reading Room. It's definitely a must-read.
The Give-a-Damn Party
I used to assume that the religious right was only concerned about abortion and gay marriage, but one of the things that has crossed my mind over the past few months is that they are, by and large, very concerned about poverty, and more concerned than the norm about racism. You can see that in local groups like Voice of Calvary and Mission Mississippi, but maybe the best example is what evangelical churches did in response to Hurricane Katrina.
Monday, October 3
The Bachelors
Before we despair over new Bush Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers, let's bear three things in mind...
Citizens Protest Crime Firings Tuesday at City Council
(Update: Supporters of community policing are calling for Jacksonians to go to City Council meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday downtown at City Hall to call for the mayor and police chief to reverse their decision to eliminate the Crime Prevention Unit. Read through the following thread for background.)
Sunday, October 2
Hal & Mal's, Miller Lite and the JFP Present Katrina Jam
October 2nd, 2:00-10:00 p.m. at Hal & Mal's
In the restaurant, there will be a silent art auction, with various local Jackson artists donating pieces to be auctioned off, with all proceeds going to the Rebuild the Coast Fund.Org.
Saturday, October 1
Nappy Roots, Funk, Kamikaze at Farish Street Fest
The JFP is a sponsor of the Farish Street Fest This Weekend! Oct 1, Food, Fun and Entertainment for the entire family. See Terry Cummings, Kamikaze, Eddie Cotton, Nappy Roots, Tina Diamond, Original P, Mr. Nasty, Storage 24. Also a full stage of gospel music and a special Kiddie Kottage with face painting, space jump and more. Tickets $12 advance (BeBop and BIP records locations) and $15 at the gate.
Where Eagles Dare
Hinds visits defending state and national juco football champion Pearl River on Saturday at 6 p.m. These two have played for the state title the last two seasons. Saturday's game should be a preview of another state championship tilt.
Reaganite Says Aborting Black Babies Would Reduce Crime
Here's your stupid Republican quotation for the day, coming from Reagan's secretary of education: