Jackblog

Did Melton and Bluntson ‘Sponsor' Fairview Boys Camp ... or Not?

Boys II Kings Summer Camp Aims to Uplift

This morning, I Google-Newsed Frank Melton to see if anything new had happened while I was in Florida. An WLBT story summary popped up. Here it is verbatim:

Just Let Him Play

I'm going to take a radical stance on the whole Brett Favre situation: just let him play.

After Packer president Mark Murphy flew down to Hattiesburg Tuesday night to offer Brett $20 million over 10 years to stay away from football, it has become more clear than ever the Packer brass doesn't understand Brett. Or maybe they just don't want to understand him. It is clear, even to me, an outsider by all means, that Brett Favre has plenty of money and that his reasoning for wanting to return after a tearful farewell to football is not to make more money. He has an "itch to play" as John Clayton astutely put it on Sportscenter today.

Is Shoe About to Fall on Trent Lott?

Well, the man state Republicans used to adore regardless of what he did may be about to fall even harder: The Associated Press reports that State Farm attorneys are alleging that Lott tried to pressure witnesses to give false testimony ... yes, perjury. It's becomes more clear why the Bush's Justice Department might have taken a bit longer to get to the Scruggs boyz case, but now that they're there, it sho is interesting:

Building a foundation

Today, when I walked into the office of the Jackson Free Press, Sophie showed me the layout for the next issue of the JFP. When I saw all our (the interns) hard work for the past two months come to fruition with a quick perusal of the cover and the articles, my reaction was a mixture of joy, relief, and sorrow. At the beginning of my internship, I never thought that, as an intern, I would be assigned and entrusted with what Donna had described as one of our big summer issues. I was frightened that I would not be able to handle such a monumental task, and I was terrified that I would not be able to give the topic the proper honor it deserves. My fears, however, were immature. With the help and encouragement of the JFP staff and interns, I was able to complete the task at hand, but, more importantly, I was able to believe that I could handle such a project. The JFP was always there to answers my questions even when I was afraid that I was asking too many, and they treated each question with importance and respect. This was the most pertinent aspect of the JFP internship for me. Yes, the sole purpose of an internship is to learn and improve upon your craft, but knowing that the JFP believed in me before I even knew I believed in myself is a policy I believe all internships should adopt.

Can You Eat Six Saltines In One Minute?

I saw this challenge today on Good Morning America and had to try it. (Thank goodness I was by myself.) Anyway, the challenge is to chew and completely swallow six saltines in one minute without drinking anything to wash it down.

Stop, In The Name of My Textbook

After nearly two months on the job, I think I've finally decided what is my favorite part of being an editorial intern

POLL-What is your favorite Jacktown festival?

Festivals and Events of Interest:

We need your help! Leave a comment and let the JFP know what your favorite festival is from this list of local events. Your vote will be featured in the upcoming Jackpedia issue.

Jackson Free Press- My learning ground

My response? I have learned everything and I would absolutely encourage anyone to intern here.

The other day, I was sitting down with my Macbook, writing my final reflection to turn in for my intern class at the University of Southern Mississippi. My topic: what have you learned from your internship and would you recommend your internship to future students?

Haven't We Learned Anything About Racism?

Associated Press:

One of the saddest things about society-condoned bigotry--these days against illegal immigrants--is that is always leads to violence, especially among young people who hear their elders spouting ignorance about certain groups, and then act on it. We've seen it over and over again in this state. The sad part is how hard it is to learn from our own recent past.

Carp Chomp on Crusty Calluses

A Virginia spa offers fish pedicures. No, I'm not kidding. Anyway, you place your feet into a tank of warm water and allow tiny carp called garra rufa, or doctor fish, to nibble off the dead skin (which is their natural source of food), and then get a standard pedicure. You pay $35 for 15 minutes in the tank or $50 for 30 minutes. The foot treatment originated in Turkey, and it has become popular among the spa's customers. However, the spa had to comply with the health department and have separate tanks for each customer instead of one communal pool:

Do I hear 15? Yes, we can!

Thank you one and all for making this a very special Chick Ball, for helping to save lives.

Wow. The JFP Chick Ball raised $14,000 this year ... so far ... toward a new Freedom Van for the Center for Violence Prevention. Not to be greedy, but I sure would like to see us get up to $15,000 over the next couple weeks. Send donations of at least $15, and we'll send you a 2008 Chick Ball CD with samples of the great poetry and music you missed Saturday night. E-mail sage (at) jacksonfreepress (dot) com for details on exchanging your donation for this wonderful CD! Make checks out directly to Center for Violence Prevention and mail to: Sage Carter-Hooey, Jackson Free Press, P.O. Box 5067, Jackson, MS 39296.

No shortage of things to do!

When I first decided to intern at the JFP, I really had no idea what I was getting into. I knew I would be coming to the office three days a week and seven hours or so a week, but I didn't know too much else about the kind of things I'd be doing. Now that I've started my eighth week here at the paper, I don't know where those eight weeks have gone, in a good way. I think I expected to write a little, since Maggie and I discussed what I would like to write about in my first meeting with her. I didn't expect to write so much thoughand I mean that in a good way, as well. I also didn't expect to be involved with so many different projects. Perhaps what I'm trying to get at is that I didn't expect to be so busy. Seven hours a week doesn't sound like a whole lot, but I soon realized I wasn't limited to seven hours in the office. From our intern class once a week to other projects outside of intern hours to interviews that can be scheduled on other days, I am able to put as much time as I want into the JFP. That's one thing I've learned this summer: If you want more to work on, you can definitely find something here to plug your efforts into. That and if you keep saying yes, the opportunities will keep coming. This summer my goal was to try and learn as much about the different aspects of journalism as possible and I'm pretty sure there's not a better medium in the state where I could've done that than the JFP.

Da' T.R.U.T.H. and Nothing But Da' T.R.U.T.H.

Da' T.R.U.T.H., a Christian hip hop artist and Grammy award nominee, will be ministering at The Church Triumphant's Youth Truth Explosion 2008 on Tuesday, July 22 and Wednesday, July 23 at 7:00 P.M. If you have never heard of Da' T.R.U.T.H., watch this video:

Each Jacksonian Can Help Fight Family Violence

Folks, this is a very special weekend, and each of us has the opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of abused families. We designed the Chick Ball to specifically allow each and every Jacksonian a way to help raise money for a Freedom Van. We welcome checks for $5, volunteer help, prizes, anything. And as of right now, we've already almost $7,000and from all ages and backgrounds in Jackson. Thank you, thank you, thank.

Chickball 2008

6:20 Spoken Word/Break: Blaque Butterfly

QUEEN- The Jackson Progressives, The Capital City Roller Girls, Crossings Assembly of God, Vineyard Church of Jackson-B.A.D. Girls, Larry Davidson, Jim Craig, ACLU, Faye Peterson