Jackblog

The Urban Jungle…err…Fondren

I guess the best place to start is the beginning. On my first day, I was nervous and uncertain about my decision to intern at the Jackson Free Press. I did not have much journalism experience, and I was petrified that I was going to make a fool of myself. Unsure of the dress code, on my first day, I decided that I could not go wrong with semi-formal. Walking through the front door, I was greeted with the smiling faces of Sage and Ronnie. This was the auspicious sign for which I was searching telling me that I had made the correct decision.

Senseless Smoking Ban

I just had to comment on this. Tried to avoid it, but it's really starting to peeve me off. I understand that people don't want to have to deal with cigarette smoke. Okay. I accept that. Non-smokers don't want their meals interrupted by the smell. Besides, we're trying to make a healthier Mississippi - right? Let me explain why this makes absolutely NO sense-- if it's so serious that we must waive the rights of citizens to smoke freely.....why then are they still legal!!!!?????!!!!!!

ChickBall Performer: The Red Hot Tamales

They're red, they're hot, and we've got 'em for one night only. The Red Hot Tamales play old-time, traditional mountain ballads and folk tunes stirred and wrapped up into a tasty Americana treat.

CNN: Mississippi Agencies Took Katrina Supplies

So, just how can needy victims of Katrina on the Coast be screwed once again? Barbour diverts low-income housing money, and now this? The governor should stand up and tell us just how his administration let this happen while he was out pushing tort reform, supporting the insurance companies and protecting his tobacco companies from higher taxes here. Per CNN:

Crime Drama in Jackson

Residents of the city of Jackson are never short on criticism - especially about the topic of crime. I am wondering what locals are thinking about the causes of such a meteoric rise in crime?

Troubles With Parking Meters and Hello Again, Frenchy

Considering less than a year ago my experience in the world of journalism was non-existent and up until last month my experience in non-sports journalism just as unsubstantial, I certainly have grown in my time thus far at the JFP. Lauren already mentioned her experience with an interview on her second day, and I, too, earned some stripes with my efforts on my second-day interview. Running late, I was driving downtown for an interview at St. Andrew's Cathedral, a landmark with which I am fairly familiar. However, I did not plan ahead for having to a) parallel park and b) use quarters to do so. I doubt I have successfully parallel parked a car since Drivers' Ed and even then I use the term "successfully" loosely since I'm pretty sure I knocked over at least one orange cone.

Clarion-Ledger Backtracking from ‘Tort Reform' Hysteria

It's intriguing to note that The Clarion-Ledger, after years of gullibility on the U.S. Chamber's stance on "tort reform," is now starting to question what they have not dared to question in the past. On Sunday, they ran a long opinion piece by Alex Alston (whom Adam has been quoting on these topics for years now) about Mississippi Supreme Court justices routinely reversing jury awards. And right now, they have a weekly reader poll up asking if tort reform has gone too far. (So far, more than 60 percent say yes.)

Beyond Expectations

One month ago, I started my internship with JFP and as nervous as I was, I was also excited. Walking in I felt a welcoming atmosphere and it eased my mind. Now, I have learned many things about editing outside of my continuing education at Jackson State. I never worked with InDesign but I love it! I always look forward to the next day because I love editing the many wonderful stories that are circulated.

Four Things

Things I've Learned Since I've Been at the JFP:

1. Always park across the street. When I went to interview the Lettuce Ladies (on my second day) I parked directly in the parking lot of the gas station where two young women were giving out free gas while wearing only bikinis made of lettuce. I had noticed that all the other reporters and cameramen had parked at the restaurant across the street, but I didn't want to try to cross the scary highway. When I got back in my car post-interview, I realized that the hordes of people trying to get the free gallons of gas were not about to let me out anytime soon. Lightbulb! I should have figured out that the older reporters had a method to their madness. It took me about fifteen minutes to drive the twenty feet to the highway, and the only credit for my car leaving in the same condition it came in goes to the fact that God looks after children and fools. Luckily, I'm a little of both.

Four Day Workweeks - What if???

Well I am all for a four day workweek. I think this is a very proactive attempt at getting this country back to some level of economic responsibility. Clearly we are going to have to step up as a people and make some strides for change in our city, county, and state government. Speaking of cutting costs, I've often wondered why our public transit system here in Jackson is not used as much as in other cities. Are we just addicted to driving? We need to educate people on utilizing our transit system and THEN make the city actually put some time into getting more frequent routes in a more timely fashion. Using the bus system, plus shorter workweeks would be a great start to fixing some of our economic issues, short term and long term.

Greetings From Accra: Day 4 in Africa

Greetings from across the Atlantic to all of you. Of course I would have loved to have checked in with you guys sooner but internet access is not nearly as available here as it is in the states. And its SLOOOOOW. I feel like the two turtles on the comcast commercial LOL. But I digress. Its day 4 of my tour of West Africa and let me say the trip has been an eye-opener. Dare I say that as an African-American man THIS trip has been even more life-changing than our trip to New Bohemia last year. So let me catch you up to speed. The flight was a long one. I quickly learned that Accra is a much more traveled city than Prague because our transatlantic flight was full. Phingaprint and I fought for space in our seat but made the best of it. Flying out of New York it was interesting to see the huge African population that resides in NY and make the trek back and forth to their homeland.

Oregon meets Mississippi

"Mississippi in the summer?" my friends, co-workers and instructors in Eugene, Ore. asked me with a look of bewilderment when I excitedly announced my plans to intern at the Jackson Free Press for two months. "Are you crazy!?"

FOX News is the Media Scum of the Earth

Check this out. While conservative blog-queen Michele Malkin was talking about how it's fine to criticize Michelle Obama as long as people don't take "cheap shots," FOX News was flashing across the screen that the possible future first lady is "Obama's Baby Mama."

Poll: Six Points Separate Obama and McCain in MS

Given the nearly 20 points that separated Bush and Kerry in the 2004 elections, the 6 point differential recorded by Rasmussen in its latest 2008 Presidential polling is remarkable. Sen. John McCain (R) leads Sen. Barack Obama (D) 50-44 in the June poll, which is unchanged from the May result. Obama leads with women and with the 18-29 age group; McCain leads among men and at varying levels in all other age groups.

Did MSNBC Ad "Hoochify" Michelle Obama?

Yes, I made that word up. Anyway, according to the Huffington Post, a "Hardball with Chris Matthews" ad about an upcoming segment on Michelle Obama's political image makeover was pulled because of the background artwork. In the background, you can see "female silhouetted dancers", three silhouettes of women in different poses. The first two silhouettes were sexy poses of women wearing miniskirts, and the third looked like a woman wearing a long gown that was form-fitting at the hips and flared out at the bottom. MSNBC pulled the ad and redid it without the silhouettes.

Things I've Learned Since I've Been at the JFP:

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