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Grover Norquist: ‘Obama Breaks Campaign Promise'

Certain folks around town -- let's call them "interested parties" -- seem occasionally to sign me up for various e-mail newsletter blasts without my consent. The casual observer would be interested to find the John Birch Society newsletter in my e-mail inbox along side "Action Items" pushed out by RedState.com, all of which I receive courtesy of the generous fingertips of a few folks with, perhaps, a little too much time on their hands.

En Garde!

My first word/phrase was actually, "Dual Custody".

Dating back to the 23rd Century, my family has owned countless Heavernells. First transported to this country by the Smithervites and later by the Torkish of Borgues, these malnourished squabbles have littered the countryside behind my home in New England ever since I could remember. They taste like fruit baskets.

City Candidate Pages on Jackpedia - Help Us Beef Them Up!

I've posted links to city candidate pages for this year's election on Jackpedia. All of you, whether you work with candidates or not, are welcome to register for Jackpedia and help load up those pages, including a photo, bio info, and links to their Web site and other legitimate sources of articles and information about them.

JATRAN Will Live, but It Should Thrive

I was relieved (and surprised) that our City Council chose not to make any cuts to the city's bus system this year. Yes, JATRAN can be a mess, but the solution isn't to slash budgets and routes, rather it's actually to invest in public transportation. Not just money, but invest creativity into the bus system, from how JATRAN's buses look to how they run and where they take people. Make JATRAN smart, efficient and creative, and you will find smart and creative people choosing buses over cars.

LoungeList Photos: Best of Jackson ‘09, WPB Edition

William Patrick Butler took some great photos of the Best of Jackson party, particularly after the awards had been given out and the dancing began. Enjoy these, or click the player view larger images on the LoungeList site:

Memories of "Best Of" ‘09..Reaching Back and Moving On…Here's Why

A lot of people have asked, or called, or emailed asking me about my "acceptance speech" Sunday night. It seems as if a lot of folks didnt quite catch it over the low rumble of a room full of ecstatic(and drunk) party-goers. You've all been witness to my life transition over the past 2 years. Trips abroad to the Czech Republic and Ghana coupled with becoming an investor/owner in Farish st., starting the Jackson Progressives with the big homie Matt. and getting engaged to my best friend in this entire galaxy and love of my life have changed my focus. I have a new passion. Rebuilding this city. Making this city what should have always been but couldnt be because of underachieving leadership, apathy, the fear of change, and the fear of youth. And to me a "rapper" is not going to be able to spark the change that this city needs. Whether fans of my music, my columns, or my activism, Im at a point now where I want to seen as more than just a "rapper". Hip hop is something I DO its not what I AM. It doesnt define me and it doesnt limit me. Ill admit I was a little sad awwwwww:-( that even after you guys have watched and supported me in my new career as a developer that you saw as still...a rapper. Im indeed honored to have garnered your votes and support as "Best Hip-Hop" artist for the past 3 years. But as of...well..now, Im removing myself from contention for the award in the future. Im hoping to you believe in me enough to see me as "Best Public Figure", or "Best Community Acitivist", or "Best Rebel Rouser". Im no longer the Hip-Hop aritst who happens to be a developer and activist, but the Developer and Activist who happens to do Hip-Hop.

People of Color in the Bible

Each Sunday in February, Senior Pastor Adrian D. Ware of The Church Triumphant will be teaching on people of color in the Bible. This is something I am looking forward to because this is a topic that is not discussed frequently enough in the church world. Pastor Ware mentioned that one of the people he will be discussing is Cush, the son of Ham:

Rove and Melton Facing Music the Same Day?

In a world where we all have spent a lot of time in recent years waiting for a reckoning for injustice, it is quite possible that the Jackson mayor and former President Bush's hatchet man will appear before a judge the same day—Feb. 2. The Associated Press is reporting about Karl Rove:

Best Of Jackson 2009 Video: Breakdance Battle

JFP blogger Brent Cox got this footage from last night's Best of Party -- I swear, I didn't even know this was going on. Check it out!

LoungeList Photos: HeARTS Against AIDS Preview Party

LoungeList photographer got great snaps of some of the folks attending the HeARTS Against AIDS preview party at The Cedars in Fondren on Saturday.

LoungeList Photos: International Auto Show in Jackson, Mississippi

Kip Caven got some great shots during the Media Avail at the new Jackson Convention Complex today...take a look at the cars on display tomorrow. Click to view larger images on the LoungeList.com site:

How to Dress for the Best of Jackson Party: Tycoon, Bailout Chic

There you have it; go crazy. Or not. Just be there, JFP Nation!

We're getting an amusingly large number of questions about the "theme" for this year's Best of Jackson party, and how to dress for it; "monopoly" is confusing folks. So here it is: As always, you can dress however you want. Truly. (Ask Josh Hailey, and the people who gawk at him ever year.) But to be in the spirit, think "tycoon chic" or better yet, "bailout chic." Ask yourself: If I were a CEO who just asked for bajillions of dollars (or his spouse) to bail out my sorry ass, how would I do it up at our last big shindig? Would I be classy? Nouveau riche? Truly tacky? Dressed in thrift-store clothes? A fur you have to pawn the next day? Or, just dress like a cop or jailbird. Or a shoe. Or a race car.

"Soul Food Forums" Continues Next Wed Jan. 28 @ Peaches with Robert Johnson

Two candidates down...many more to go. Our "Soul Food Forums" at Wednesday Lunch at Peaches have been a rousing success. The candidates are getting grilled by concerned citizens and enjoying some good soul food. I must say again that this mayoral election is VERY important and its crucial that you get to hear what ALL the candidates have to say and what they stand for! (Regardless if you're voting for them or not). We cannot have an uninformed voting public like in times past. PLEASE show up and ask questions, voice concerns, and be heard.

A Special Thanks to the JFP Staff and Freelancers

Did I leave anyone out! Thank you all so, so, so much. You are the BEST.

Before the frenzy of Best of Jackson winner and party madness kicks in, I want to give props to the best staff a company can have. The JFP staff members have worked tirelessly to produce the biggest (page count and advertising) issue we have ever produced. Managing editor Maggie Neff, editor's assistant Sage Carter-Hooey, operations manager/Boom editor Ronni Mott and I counted the ballots, assigned and trafficked the four sections. Web designer Vince Falconi designed the best online voting interface we've had yet. The sales staff—publisher Todd Stauffer and sales execs Kimberly Griffin, Ashley Jackson and Sumter Scheppe—worked with local businesses to both sell and conceptualize wonderful ads, and to give us enough pages to put out a really impressive salute to Jackson. Accountant Montroe Head has to keep track of all the business madness. And, oh, the designers—whom we're now calling the "angels"—editorial designer Melissa Webster, (new) advertising designer Casy Leatherman and ad production czar Christi Vivar simply kicked butt. Special thanks to freelancer designers Darren Schwindaman and Ben Deneka; Darren came in and helped with the ad crunch and Ben did the Monopoly-inspired cover. And, of course, reporters Adam Lynch and Ward Schaefer pitched in where needed and kept the news machine going while we obsessed with millions of little big blurbs. Of course, all of our freelance writers deserve huge praise for turning around the blurbs so quickly (we promise more time next year, guys!) and interns Rosie Nolan and Jackson Breland factchecked their faces off, as well as all sorts of other help we couldn't do without. Photographers Kip Caven, Roy Adkins, Lizzie Wright and Pat Butler helped gather the images quickly. Now, Sage and Kimberly are spearheading the big party effort Sunday.

Compliments of the Sundance Waitlist

Wasn't able to stay for the Q&A, so I have little background on Don't Let Me Drown, but I know from the intro that it was developed by the Sundance Institute, and the director, Cruz Angeles, brought a baby onstage, whom he called "Julian, the film's twin," because he and co-writer, Maria Topete found out they were pregnant about a month into the development process. He also thanked everyone and their mothers like it was the Academy Awards, which was almost as adorable as sleepy-Julian. Just a couple of wish-you-were-here factoids.

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