[Stiggers] G.W. Makes the World Go ‘Round
Mo'tel Williams Records (not K-Tel) and the Ghetto Science team bring to you the single "G.W. Makes the World Go 'Round," from the CD "What Happened Yawl?" by the Nu Peaches and Herb, Shaniqua and Pierre:
You Own This Doghouse
However, if you're a Mississippian between the ages of 18 and 29, you are part of a powerful new voting constituency in the state—in this election, you turned out, and as a group, you made choices independent of the fogies in your lives. You thought independently and, according to CNN exit polls, you led the South and much of the U.S. in the percentage of you who voted for Kerry over Bush. Most of you also voted for the gay-marriage amendment.
[Stiggers] No Po' Folk Left Behind
Pookie Peterz, ghetto economist and international hustler, wants to share his wealth with the financially challenged.
The Future Is for the Passionate
Whew, that's over. Or maybe it is. As I type this, it is Election Day, and our blogs are on fire over this election. Jakob just showed up wearing his "voting shoes" (American flag Converses), and people are calling in voting problems from around the area. I just wrote on the blog that there is a special place in hell for anyone who would try to stop anyone else from voting. Apparently, that wing of hell will soon be standing room only.
[Chick] A Single Girl Shows Her Hand
Dating can be a pain in the butt. Dates don't call back. Or they do call back and call too often. Or they have commitment issues. Or they bore your pants off. Or they try to get your pants off on a first date. Or they suck at Pub Quiz. Or they drink cheap wine. Or they kiss like a goldfish.
[Spann] Without Dodging a Single Bullet
I watched the previews on television all week with apprehension. I thought, "Please don't let it be Mississippi." I've never been ashamed of Mississippi, though I've often renounced the racists and other trite characters that call our state home. But fears about my state being misrepresented ran rampant when I saw scenes from an upcoming episode of the NBC drama "Crossing Jordan." The show's characters were to visit a southern state to render Bostonian justice for an old hate crime.
[Stiggers] Comb Yo' Head, Wear a Weave, Iron Yo' Clothes
Ladies and gentlemen! The Ghetto Science Team's Get Out and Vote Initiative presents Grandma Pookie's motivational pep talk.
Good Jobs and Outstanding People
<b>Web Exclusive</b>
In the midst of a Presidential election it's easy to get caught up in the event, to fixate on the media coverage and the seemingly infinite analysis and forget about all the other things. Regardless of the latest partisan rifts, elections highlight the fact that America will always endure. Mississippi endures, too. In fact, judging from what I saw this week while traveling around our state, I can tell you that Mississippi is not only enduring, we are prospering.
Why I'm Voting Tuesday
<b>Web Exclusive</b>
The hip-hop generation has been much maligned—partially because apathy runs rampant in our demographic. "Why should I vote?"or "My one vote won't make a difference" or even better, "I'm too busy" are all these familiar excuses? The scary thing is ... every vote counts. This is probably one of the most important elections in the history of politics. The very welfare of this country and the lives of thousands of servicemen overseas hinges upon the decisions we make this November.
[Wiggs] For the Rest of Your Life?
The winner of the presidential election of 2004 is almost certain to define the composition and direction of the U.S. Supreme Court for at least the next 20 years. And lest you believe that won't make much difference, reconsider the fact that among the issues that the Supreme Court took upon itself to decide in 2000 was who would be our current president. Given the way Election 2004 is shaping up, perhaps the current Supreme Court will be determining who will be our next.
Zen and the Art of Optimism
I don't know about you, but this election season is damned stressful. Even as George Bush rolls out television ads with wolves lurking to terrify Americans into voting for him, it's the idea of a second Bush term that scares the crap out of me. I truly am worried about the future and what's happening to American freedoms during this arc of history.
I Want a Reality-Based President
I want George Bush out of the White House. I think his "conservative" administration has been anything but fiscally conservative, and I'm sick of George Bush dodging responsibility for his actions.
[Chick] Monkey See, Monkey Do
It's true that all those horrible things you did to your mother will come back to haunt you. I hate it as much as you, believe me. There is nothing more obnoxious than a sanctimonious mother telling a daughter, or son, all the horrible things said mother endured for her child and how all those things will very soon come to pass as some type of divine, maternal retribution to tell the daughter, or son, "I told you so!"
Assaulted by the Media
The Soulshine room was abuzz with the huge crowd there for the first presidential debate, and I was sitting at the bar, enjoying a beer or two. The first offense occured when I was on my way to the bathroom. I was approached by a familiar-looking woman who turned out to be a local news anchor. Kindly enough, she inquired if she might ask me a question or two concerning the debate.
[Stiggers] Fo' Mo' Years: Trick or Treat
Other Brother Productions presents a Ghetto Science Team horror film. Election Day 2004, morning. Lil' Ray-Ray is up from a pleasant night's rest. After a thorough grooming session, our hero is ready to exercise the right to vote. On his way to vote, Lil' Ray-Ray stops by Grandma Pookie's for breakfast. She laments about the overwhelming cost of Medicare, prescription drugs, food, gas and energy.
The Convention Center Quandary
Although the JFP did its own feature story on the convention center a few weeks ago (Sept. 23-29, 2004), and I've talked to many of the players personally, I was still hoping that The Clarion-Ledger's recent package of stories and opinions would help me come to a conclusion about the convention center's viability. But what I read was just more of the same, and I'm not much closer to a decision on what makes the most sense. (Although I did get a giggle out of Sid Salter sounding off in support of new taxes and a big-government municipal project.) By next week, the JFP hopes to endorse one way or another. But we need a few more answers first.
[Stiggers] It Is Winter in America, Baby
Your presidential candidate for 2004, Mo'tel Williams: "Ladies and gentlemen! I know it's late. But since Jessie and Al are past tense, I think I have a chance. I'm not here to lie to yawl, even though everybody else has. Case in point: African-Americans were promised 40 acres and a mule, received nothing and were fooled.
[Lynch] It's Hard Being Green
President Bush may have stammered the most during the second debate when he was asked to defend his environmental record. Indeed, when I put the words "Bush, bad and environment," into my Internet search engine, a bloody 404,000 hits popped up, the first 50 of which spoke almost exclusively on how Bush has seemingly waged war on the planet, according to some very outraged environmentalist groups.
[Chick] I Think Smitten, I Think Smite
Once upon a time in the Best of the New South lived a fair peasant woman inside a shoe. She had a son who yelled "Never wear panties to a party!" to the Baptist minister. She had her dog Zeke who discarded enough hair in her home to stuff a comforter and choke all guests. She had bills to pay and promises to keep and miles to go before she could sleep, but she had cute shoes, good music and great wine. And it was good.
[Silver] The 30-Year-Old War
I'm glad I'm not running for president. My service record would be made public, and while there's little in there that's embarrassing other than my grade in navigation, it's not the stuff of the greatest generation, either. To avoid stomping through rice paddies, I joined Navy ROTC at Tulane and majored in sociology. It was a way to defer the worst of the war and ensure that when I went, I would go on my terms.
The Next ‘Greatest Generation'
The 2004 JFP/Collective Youth Voter Rally started with a bang. In case anyone thought the JFP-sponsored rally was going to be some "pinko" event, Ayana had scheduled Jim Giles as our first speaker. You know, Jim Giles, the whites-first dude who is running against Rep. Chip Pickering for Congress and who makes Chip look a bit rosy around the edges. Some folks were shocked when Giles headed to the stage, his big-ass Confederate flag-emblazoned pick-up truck parked out front. But, as Ayana and I and host Kamikaze explained to the crowd, the JFP rally was a free-speech zone. We'd asked people to not engage in personal attacks and to stick to the issues. Of course, for Mr. Giles, the issues are how much special treatment "the negroes" (his word) get.
[Stiggers] Like a Wino Clutches his Bottle of Thunda Burd
The Cootie Creek Fair hosts representatives of S.O.A.C. (Society of Angry Caucasians ) handing out propaganda to people passing by. Some folk stare curiously at the controversial figures while other folk just walk away.
[Taylor] Giving Our Forefathers the Finger
Last year in the hot August sun, I stood at a five-way intersection in Yazoo City, passing out push cards for my mother. She was running for justice court judge in Yazoo County. As the day progressed, so did the traffic. As I busily distributed cards and bellowed, "Vote for Alva Payton Taylor," most of the response was superb. So many people gave me their word that they would take a stand and go to the polls. Some of them even put the icing on the cake saying that they would vote for Mama when they got there.
To Live and Die in Dixie
Sometimes the light comes from unexpected places. Last week, I sat down in front of my monitor and my e-mail blooped in. There was one from Jill Conner Browne, the Sweet Potato Queen author. I figured it was about her brand-new funny book, out next week. It wasn't.
[Stiggers] Check Yo Sources, Even If It's Gossip
Here's an important message from Sis Boneqweesha Jones, president of the Hair Did University School of Cosmetology and On-the-Scene Journalism, for Advanced Toe Nail Applications/On-the-Scene 501 students.
[Stiggers] Cadillac Is the Word
Financially challenged individuals! If you missed out on Oprah's car giveaway, don't fret! The Ghetto Science Team may have a car for you courtesy of H.B.N. Instead of giving away brand new Pontiacs, the Ghetto Science Team's Hoopty Bargain Network will sell you affordable pre-owned and/or refurbished late-model automobiles.
[Chick] These Boots Are Made For Walkin'
I am a bitter, vindictive bitch. And everybody knows it. "Says who?" Says my ex-husband Richard Cranium (we call him RC for short.) And he's right. Divorce has taught me a lot about myself, and I admit to being bitter. I admit to missing my split-plan suburban home and book club and goldfish pond and "Howdy neighbor!" neighbors and financial stability and a slower pace and, most of all, those moments with my child that just happened when I was not so stressed.
Sleeping With the Giant
So, we're 2. Our determined little rag has defied the odds—at least the mythical barriers that some folks thought were absolute reality. I remember the skepticism from a handful of folks around town well: "Mississippians don't read!" "How are you going to reach out to the black community?" "You need to decide what you're going to be: a paper for North Jackson or for West Jackson. They already have their own paper, anyway." "Young people don't care about Jackson; they're just biding time until they can bolt." "What artistic community?" "This city will never support a progressive newspaper."
[Hightower] Wailing to the High Heavens
It's always a hoot to hear corporate lobbyists wailing to the high heavens about the scourge of "frivolous lawsuits," demanding that Congress bar people from suing them.
For Whom the Zell Tolls
Admittedly, we have a rough history of treating each other badly sometimes, and we stubbornly act against our best interests too often and—perhaps worst—we are notorious for sending up the wrong people to speak on our behalf. And we might possibly have the lowest self-esteem, especially here in Mississippi, than on any patch of geography on the planet.