Biz+Tech

Hotel Owner Sentenced in Price Gouging Case

[Verbatim from Attorney General Jim Hood] Jackson, MS-A Jackson hotel owner has been sentenced in a price gouging case investigated and prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office, Division of Consumer Protection. Ibraham K. Khoder, age 60, (address 10713 Hill Tree) owner of the Select 10, 4639 I-55 North Jackson, MS, was cited for misdemeanor Price Gouging on September 1, 2008 during the State of Emergency Declared for Hurricane Gustav. Khoder entered a plea of no contest to the charge yesterday in Hinds County Justice Court. Judge Frank Sutton found him guilty and ordered him to pay a fine of $500, plus restitution to the consumer ($17) and court costs.

Barbour Proclaims October as Dine Out Mississippi Month

[Verbatim] Mississippi Hospitality & Restaurant Association is pleased to announce that Governor Haley Barbour has proclaimed the month of October as Dine Out Mississippi Month. Recognizing the importance of the restaurant industry to Mississippi's economy, Governor Barbour states, "Mississippi's restaurants are a cornerstone of our economy,"

Ink Spot

Thrash metal is the perfect musical setting for the new residence of the Ink Spot. Hidden in the Foundry Lofts (formerly the Ironworks building) at 300 W. South St., the tattoo shop/art gallery is an oasis of free expression and courageous art.

Repurposing Style

Ever get the feeling that all clothes look the same? Ever worry that you'll show up at that big party in the same dress three other people are wearing? Are you searching for somewhere that has sales year round, not just in July and January? If so, Private Collection is the answer you've been searching for.

Mosaic

Courtney Chinn Peters may look every bit the part of a hip, young shop girl. But what you don't know is that at age 25, this gifted ceramicist and successful entrepreneur isn't just a pretty face behind a counterthis woman's the boss.

Swell-O-Phonic

Whatever you do, don't call Swell-O-Phonic a skate shop; and definitely don't ask owner Chane, 38, his first name (Ron).

Kats Wine Cellar

Walking the impeccably arranged aisles of Kats Wine Cellar, one can't help but notice the descriptors: vibrant, energetic, balanced, structured, alive, elegant yet down-to-earth.

King Edward on the Rise

Jackson attorney and developer David Watkins touted progress on the renovation of the dilapidated King Edward Hotel June 19, predicting the project will be finished by spring 2009.

Vista Arrives, Apple Connives?

The reviews and press coverage of Microsoft's long-awaited release of Microsoft Vista have been interesting for this particular Mac-centric writer to watch. Many reviewers laud the new features and eye candy in Vista, saying it runs particularly well on new PCs that can handle its hefty hardware requirements. Just as often, however, the suggestion is to wait before upgrading. Sometimes the recommendation is to wait until you buy a new machine that comes with Vista pre-loaded.

The iPhone arrives…In June

You've got to feel as sorry as you possibly can for the richest man in the world. After all, here's Bill Gates on Monday, giving the keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show, one of the largest technology shows on the planet, and he's one of the most important people in the history of modern computing. He's amassed a fortune by being perhaps the person most instrumental in shaping our experience of computers in homes, businesses and governments around the world.

The iTodd's Gift Guide

The holidays are frustrating for a geek. Why? Because we know exactly what we want. And no one else does. Why? Because they're not paying attention. Here, then, is a quick summary of what's hottest for the tech geek in your life and what you'll need to spend to keep 'em quiet. Oh, and do not forget to keep the receipt, because if you're not a geek yourself, you'll probably get something wrong. Happy shopping!

The HDTV Guide

I recently turned my stuff-wanting attention to the purchase of a new television set. I've got the same RCA 32-inch tube that I bought for my first apartment after college, and while it doesn't really show too many signs of wear, I still feel like something is lacking when I fire up a letterboxed movie and settle in with a bowl of popcorn. It just doesn't quite have the zip that I imagine a newer TV might offer.

Gadget of The Week

How serious are you about amateur digital photography? Fuji has released the S6000fd, an SLR-like digital camera that offers some very good specs for an under-$500 price point. (It's closer to $400 at many online stores.) Disappointing to some is the 6.1 megapixel rating, but that should still be more than enough for most people's uses while keeping the image size relatively low so you can fit more vacation shots on a memory card. What the camera does offer—aside from a rugged 35-mm look, a comfortable grip and a 10x optical zoom lens—is a high-tech "face detection" technology that is supposed to make it extremely easy to auto focus on a person or group of people in your shots. Reviewers say they like the feature, particularly in the way it can give amateur and "fully automatic" photographers a leg up in the shooting department. Plus, the photo quality is said to be very good, thanks to the quality of the (non-detachable) lens. It offers a good-sized LCD display as well as the manual controls that the typical 35mm hobbyist would respect, making it a very interesting gift choice for someone who isn't quite a pro, but who needs good results with minimum fuss (reporters, real estate agents, contractors), or folks interesting in pursuing their digital photography hobby.

Fall Colors Arriving

The approaching fall promises exciting colors not only in nature, but also in gadgets. Apple this past week announced the Product Red iPod Nano, a bright red Nano with all the same features as the other colorful Nano models, but with a twist—$10 of the purchase price goes to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS in Africa. The Product Red series was started by Bono and Bobby Shriver to encourage consumers to buy bright red products that donate a portion of profits to the Global Fund.

DIY Music Studio

During the last mayoral campaign, candidate Frank Melton promised to build a recording studio on Farish Street. Well, he won, but the studio hasn't happened, yet—and with his mayoral future in serious doubt, it looks like that recording studio may go down as yet another unfulfilled campaign promise. (But geez, who's counting?)

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