[Parks] Unity, Mississippi Style
In the mall, Columbia, Mo.: My girlfriend and I giggled over Dippin' Dots ice cream. We held hands. We looked at the table next to us, where a young girl and guy were holding hands, too. The guy stood up, and his girlfriend jerked on his baggy jean shorts a little. She pulled too hard, though, and his genitals flopped out.
[Stiggers] Booty Calls On The Internet(s)
Boneqweesha Jones: "I'm back on the scene, like detectives on 'Law and Order,' with the low-down on the Internet scandal in D.C. This segment of the 'Boneqweesha Live News Hour' is titled: 'Oh, no, they didn't: Touching Moments in American Politics.'
Media Fell Down on Melton Beat
The other night at Symphony at Sunset in Fondren, I was talking to a local newspaperman who told me about a lie Mayor Frank Melton had told publicly during his campaign—basically an item on his resume that was an outright fabrication.
[Greggs] Why Are We So Sad?
Two weeks ago, I was swimming in a pool and decided to halt my forward crawl by using my face against the concrete side. As some older Southern people say, I "knocked a big-ass goose egg on my head." After this unfortunate accident—which will most assuredly ruin my future career as a nose model for the Home Shopping Network—I immediately headed to my mother's house for pharmaceutical consolation. I do this because any woman over 50 seems to have a prescription for some sort of pain killer and usually an anti-depressant.
[Stiggers] Drop It Like It's Hot For Jesus
Bruh. Sylvester: "Welcome to my art exhibit titled 'Talkin' 'Bout the Ghetto and Other Stuff,' sponsored by the Ghetto Science Team's Museum of Natural History, Science, Art, Urban Mythology and Culture. Although I'm known for my seasonal creations of 'Christmas Missing-Toe Art,' I want to share with the arts community four of my latest works.
[Kamikaze] Death By Anchor?
There's been a lot said recently about the Fourth Estate and its responsibilities to the public. I can say that I was once a proud member of that "estate" and to some degree, through this column, still am. It's a little known fact that before I changed professions, I had stints at nearly every print job in the city. You name it: the Associated Press, Jackson Advocate, Mississippi Link and even the Mississippi Business Journal took a chance on a young journalism graduate. I even ran a teleprompter at WAPT. I guess you could say my first few post-college years were spent devoted to the media.
[Grayson] Fixing The Whole Problem
I have been trying to keep silent about the recent devastation that has plagued our city government, resulting in indictments of the mayor and his bodyguards. I convinced myself that I did not have an opinion and that the situation would work itself out eventually.
[Stiggers] Et Tu, Popeye?
Chef "low-fat" Meat: "Distinguished members of The Illumi-nappy-headed, I'm honored to be a guest speaker for the 'What's Happenin' Now Conspiracy Convention.'
Call the Roll on Dirty Politics
Disturbing statements have been coming from inside Mayor Frank Melton's inner circle since he and his bodyguards were indicted Sept. 15 for home invasion and demolition. To put it simply, paid Melton supporters are trying to convince city residents—especially "the people"—that he was acting as a crime-fighting hero when he allegedly ordered minors to sledgehammer the rental home of schizophrenic Evans Welch.
The Little Weekly That Could
We celebrate a milestone with the issue of the Jackson Free Press that you hold in your hand, as it's the first issue of our fifth year of publishing. We're 4! It's been quite a ride from our start as a small bi-weekly upstart to our current incarnation as a mid-sized (and growing!), award-winning, story-breakin' weekly publication and a daily news-driven Web site. And we hope, a positive media force in the Jackson Metro community. We certainly couldn't have gotten to this point without dedicated readers, advertisers and—increasingly—the citizen journalists who call to give us tips and participate via our Web site.
[Greggs] The City Sleeps Tonight
For the past week I've had one song going through my head. It's stuck. I usually hate it when this happens. I also happen to know that when it does occur, the best way to get rid of it is to afflict someone else with its repeating tune. So, here goes …
[Stiggers] How to Succeed in Bidness
Rudy McBride: "The staff of the Let Me Hold Five Dollars National Bank (L.M.H.F.D.) recognizes the potential of unemployed individuals in poor neighborhoods. We understand clearly what the good Lord, James Brown and Marva Whitney say about not using your potential: 'If you don't work, you can't eat!'
[Kamikaze] A One-Way Street?
Now let me see if I got this straight. A women's-only college in Virginia has announced that it will admit men in 2007. Officials at the 115-year-old Randolph-Macon Woman's College say that the move will help stabilize the school's depleted finances. What has me baffled is that the move has sparked protest and outrage among students and alumnae.
Why Jackson Doesn't Need 'Superman'
Also see Darren Schwindaman's cartoon.
[Greggs] The 'Screw Its' Win Again
Two months ago I walked out of a job I had for about five years. I loved it, but thought I was no longer able to truly perform my duties as effectively as I had in the past. Other things in my life had taken on more importance—this tiny little column, for one. I decided I'd had enough of reaching for the American dream and wanted to chase my own. I resigned in a fit of exasperation and leapt headlong into an idea I held about being a writer. I didn't know if this was the right thing to do with regard to my total life plan, but I did know that it was the right thing for me at the time.
[Stiggers] Bum Education, Double-Digit Inflation
Cootie McBride: "About a week ago, I spoke at a law and order conference. After what I thought was a convincing presentation, an affluent member of high society asked me: 'What causes law-abiding people to become so lawless and angry?'
What Will It Take, Council?
The Jackson City Council shirked its duties—and certain council members betrayed their oath of office—Tuesday when a majority decided against investigating whether Mayor Frank Melton took the JPD Mobile Command Center and a group of young men to Ridgeway Street and proceeded to destroy half of a duplex, as neighbors and the house's owner have attested. The story, first reported on the Jackson Free Press Web site Friday, has set off a media frenzy.
[Stiggers] You Don't Have To Take My Word For It
Readin' Rain-Bro: "Greetings, fellow readers. The producers of Readin' Rain-bro present a special program commemorating the people of the Gulf Coast as they continue to rebuild their lives after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
[Kamikaze] You Got This One Right
I have been a staunch supporter of Ward 6 Councilman Marshand Crisler's "Buy Jackson" campaign. Based on the fact that I helped spearhead a movement to get folks to better support our local artists, I thought it was high time that someone took a stand; a circling of wagons was long overdue. Though some will disagree, I'm ecstatic that the City Council has shown some cantaloupes in adopting a "stay in Jackson or lose our business" stance. The council recently rejected three low bids for services from out-of-town companies. Preference will be given, they say, to local businesses.
Dear John: What's In A Word?
jacksonfreepress.com/images/tdn_boxes.jpg" width="200" align="right">by Todd Stauffer
September 6, 2006 Pictured: After Polk's Discount Drugs on Spillway canceled their TDN contract, inviting local publications back to their store, The Clarion-Ledger removed its green multi-box and re-"cluttered" the storefront with the first four boxes pictured from the left. MIPA's large red box, containing nine independent publications, is visible on the far right. As students return, the arts go into high gear, and the temperatures finally drop for autumn, the Jackson Free Press has great news on a different front—distribution. Thanks to our partners in the newly formed Mississippi Independent Publishers' Alliance (MIPA), the JFP has gained about 40 new high-profile distribution spots in the past two weeks, many of which expand our reach into Jackson's suburbs and surrounding communities. Now, you can get the JFP at nearly all Mac's Gas locations, as well as at participating Super Stop convenience stores (most of the Conoco stations around town), participating Polk's Drugstores and other locally operated convenience stores and gas stations.
[Designer's Note] Joie de Ville Vivre
Five years ago, I left Jackson with all my belongings to attend university in New Orleans. While at Loyola, I had no intention of calling Jackson my home again.
[Hutchinson] Katrina Lessons, One Year Later
For one week last September, the unthinkable happened: America's poor suddenly became the rage. The shocking and tormenting sight of thousands of poor blacks fleeing in headlong panic for their lives from Hurricane Katrina's floodwaters jolted the nation and the world. President Bush, reeling from the battering he took in the media for his initial comatose response to the Katrina victims, scrambled fast and talked tough about assailing poverty. In a televised speech in New Orleans' famed Jackson Square, Bush told the nation, "All of us saw on television, there is also some deep, persistent poverty in this region as well."
[Stiggers] Broken, Busted, and Disgusted
Pookie Peterz: "Greetings members of the Ghetto Science Team Business and Economic Association! The lack of money has quenched the desires of broken, busted and disgusted individuals who sit and daydream on front porches. Fellow entrepreneurs, it's time to break the cycles of poverty and complacency.
Katrina Index
<b>Where's the Money Going?</b>
As of July, the amount of money FEMA reports it has spent in relief for hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma: $37 billion
Onward I Must Go
I don't recollect ever being one in my younger age who made notoriously teenage comments like, "I can't wait until I'm grown" or "Just as soon as I leave the house I'm gonna. ..." (My mother may beg to differ, but I'm relying strictly on memory here.) I'm definitely grown now, and I would give adulthood and the responsibilities I don't like back in a heartbeat, if I could. I can't, so onward I must go.
Into The Unknown
For me, high school was awful. I felt like I was trapped in useless classes surrounded by immature and idiotic people. Then comes senior year, when everyone pretends they have always loved each other. People who have hardly spoken a word to you in three years suddenly want to be your best friend. And in my opinion, everyone becomes entirely too emotional. To finally be free of it all is a dream come true. "College" says to me that I will be able to see who I choose, learn about what I choose and be free of all that high school drama.
[Stiggers] I Have A Weave
Boneqweesha Jones: "Welcome to Hair-Did University's School of Cosmetology fall semester orientation! I want to have an 'off the-cuff' chat with you.
[Kamikaze] Stop The Witch Hunt
Enough already! At this point we're beating the proverbial dead horse. It's one thing to do some good investigative journalism. It's another to question standing policy or programs. But it's another altogether to be obsessed with finding fault in some of those same policies or programs, even after no wrongdoing has been found.
Where The Streets Have No Name
I've flown to Chicago twice in a month to give writing workshops at Northwestern's journalism school, and each time I've been swept up in a wave of compassion and love. I like to think it's because so many Mississippians have made the city their home, but that may well be a bit egocentric of me.
[Greggs] As I Lay Tanning
Saturday afternoon I spent most of the day lying beside a pool, holding a pina colada and desperately wishing I was near a beach.