Jay Dean
Jay Dean saw his first opera more than three decades ago, and his passion for the art has grown since then.
Barbour Downplays Oil to Lt. Governors
Speaking to a group of about 20 of the nation's lieutenant governors in Biloxi yesterday, Gov. Haley Barbour used his pulpit to minimize the damage of the destroyed BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, reports The Miami Herald.
Karaoke Connections
In a darkly lit corner of Fenian's Pub on Fortification Street, an older long-haired man in a T-shirt looks around tentatively as he puts down his pint. His wife, still clad in her hospital scrubs, smiles eagerly.
Karaoke Wishes, Contract Dreams
Ever dreamed of getting up to sing the karaoke track you're known for—"‘I Will Survive' as performed by Gloria Gaynor," perhaps—and in the audience sat a record producer looking for fresh talent? After you're done singing, he walks up to you and exclaims he hasn't heard a voice like yours in decades and everyone across the country deserves to hear your talent—nay, your gift.
Hospitality for Less
"If there is any concept worth restoring to its original depth and evocative potential, it is the concept of hospitality," wrote Henri Nouwen in his 1975 book "Reaching Out." As a young couple on a budget, my husband, Mason, and I have sought to weave this notion of hospitality into our lives without over-spending.
Demystifying Wine
From the earliest days, wine has been looked upon as a natural remedy for man's ills. In ancient times, physicians found it invaluable. Today, many doctors recommend it for various ailments such as improving heart health.
Slim-Down Challenge
The sugary-sweet scent of morning pastries pervades the air among the boisterous morning patrons in the tiny, single room of Scurlock's Donut Shop and Eatery near the corner of South Congress and Pearl streets. What better place to meet with two men who have recently embarked on a weight-loss challenge?
The Best In Sports In 7 Days
Doctor S sez: Hang on, sports fans. The NFL starts playing meaningless games in just over a week.
Shall We Overcome?
I find it hard to trust someone who claims we should never talk about race. And I find it impossible to fathom someone who says it's "racist" to call out racism.
JPS Board Mulling Metrocenter Move
Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. said at last week's Jackson Public Schools board meeting that he supports developer David Watkins' vision to relocate the entirety of JPS administration to the Metrocenter Mall, but said it was not his place to influence the decision.
Constitution Man
Bill Marcy is a history buff and cites articles of the Constitution when making his case for the role of government. The Chicago native will challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi's second congressional district this November.
Is Suing in Our Best Interest?
Gov. Haley Barbour said he is moving forward with a plan to hire counsel to stop the spread of Choctaw gaming to Jones County, but is the investment in lawyers really worth the trip to court?
[Stiggers] ‘Letter of Concern'
Miss Doodle Mae: "Good morning, Jojo's Discount Dollar Store staff! Jojo asked me to conduct a special staff meeting in response to the Shirley Sherrod controversy. Most of you witnessed a hasty decision—caused by a manipulative individual—to terminate a sincere and diligent employee."
Be Vigilant
Donna Ladd's "My Kind of Tea Party," which appeared in your July 15-21, 2010, issue, brought back vivid memories of a few people who spoke out against unbridled racist propaganda and hate-inspired actions that have made Mississippi the poster state for pervasive racism.
[Mott] ‘Bring On the Rest'
Driving away from Parchman Penitentiary on the night Mississippi executed Joseph Burns, I was having trouble putting my feelings into words. I had just watched a man die in front of my eyes and yet, I was oddly calm, as if I had just walked out of a movie theater.
Keeping Kids In School
Inside the Medical Mall's Thad Cochran Center, a group of students and teachers hover around a circular table.
Slow Progress On Pre-K
Early-childhood education in Mississippi is the big engine that couldn't: Despite reams of documentation showing its economic and educational benefits, pre-kindergarten has not attracted the political support—and public funding—in Mississippi it has in many neighboring states.
Tough Times Await Bigger JPS Board
Jackson Public Schools will enter the coming school year with a lean budget and a growing Board of Trustees. The five-member school board, which already boasts four members with less than a year of experience each, is set to add two new members this fall.
Minimalist Musings
Though a lover of words, Wyatt Hillyer is not very good with them. The main character in "What is Left the Daughter" by Howard Norman, Hillyer writes to his daughter: "My whole life, Marlais, I've had difficulty coming up with the right word to use in a given situation, but at least I know what the right word would have been once I hear it."
Children's Canvas Conversations
Local artist Rosalind Roy, or Roz as she prefers to be called, does not like to think of herself as a teacher—not in the traditional sense of the word, that is. And calling her a teacher might be mischaracterizing the work that she's doing at her summer art camps for children that she holds at her spacious studio in Fondren.