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[Stiggers] Numbed by Nonsense
Boneqweesha Jones: "Welcome to this special 2012 edition of 'Qweesha Live and Direct' on Ghetto Science Public Television. It's a new year of promise, potential and hope for the Ghetto Science Community, America and the world. "
[Stiggers] Chill With the ‘Peoples'
As the first month of 2012 ends, Lil' Momma Roscoe, the Clubb Chicken Wing staff and I are getting ready for the blitz of February holiday observances, such as National Freedom Day, Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, Presidents' Day, Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras), Leap Day and Black History Month
Colonel Reb and His Cousin, R.I.P.
I spent two days on campus at Oxford last fall when some heated talk surfaced about bringing back Colonel Reb, the former Ole Miss mascot, through a petition to the Legislature. When PBS aired a program about the Confederate symbols and songs controversy, it seemed like time to tell my story.
[Stiggers] Love and Joblessness
Thanks to Mo'tel Williams' 'Unemployed Singles' dating service, I made a rebound after a working woman turned me down. Tomorrow, I have a date with Claire, an unemployed single woman, at Brother Hustle's Mobile Wi-Fi and Juicy Juice on Ice Café.
[Editorial] Teach Kids About Safe Sex
Adecision by a Department of Education task force earlier this week confirmed what some of us have suspected for some time: Schools in Mississippi really don't have any legal way to teach comprehensive sex-education. A recent law gives school districts a choice between abstinence-only and "abstinence-plus" sex education in theory; in reality, they're just different names for the same policy.
Time to Swim, not Sink, Together
With evidence everywhere that good public education is key to our city and our state's economic future, not to mention public safety, it is time that to slay the dinosaurs of the past who don't want to fund or reform education in a way that makes sense for the most children.
[Outlaw] A More Perfect Union
Change will come—even in the state that seems slowest to change.
[Publisher's Note] The Ledger's Obsession with ‘Exclusive'
Something interesting came to the attention of our advertising sales department during the production of this edition of the Spring Arts and Events Preview. It seems that The Clarion-Ledger is now telling some arts organizations that if they would like The Clarion-Ledger (or, presumably, their subsidiary publications, such as VIP Jackson) to sponsor a non-profit or charity event, then The Clarion-Ledger must be the "exclusive print sponsor" of that event.
[Furr] The Gold Standard
I want tamales served up Mississippi-style, smaller and spicier and crafted from cornmeal and Delta blues.
[Brown] Mississippi Students Deserve Better
As we approach the final weeks of the legislative session, House and Senate budget chairmen have begun to allocate funds among the various needs. The largest budget item is spending for K-12 public education. This budget, which was more than $2 billion last year, is funded through the Mississippi Adequate Education Program formula.
[Outlaw] Cooking Like Mother
I'd help tend to mother's beans, squash, tomatoes, peas.
[Editor's Note] A Romney Runs Through Us
Campaigning in Mississippi last week, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney set off a mini-firestorm in our offices. Sometime between joking about grits and forking up some hay, down-south style, Romney uttered words that made us nearly sputter in response: "If the federal government were run more like here in Mississippi, the whole country would be a lot better off." Say what, Gov. Romney?!
Choosing The Light
In my line of work, people like to talk trash about you. And there's really something about a woman speaking her mind that just hacks off a lot of men, and some women. And Lord help me if I dare tell them they can't do the nasty all over the Jackson Free Press website (inevitably using a cowardly fake name). They go off and start websites, and blogs, and Facebook pages to mete out their revenge. We're used to it by now.
[Publisher's Note] The War on Math: Obama's Debt
As the Republican presidential hopefuls auger toward the finish line in what will probably result in the nomination of Mitt Romney, it seems the candidates, in straining to hurl things at one another and President Obama, perpetuate something that I like to call (with apologies to Rachel Maddow) the GOP's "War on Math."
[Editor's Note] We the Job Creators
When I was asked to go to the White House in early March to talk about business in Jackson, I didn't know what to expect. I just said "yes!" and headed to Washington, D.C.
[Stiggers] In Return for a Dollar
Welcome, fellow hustlers, to the first Compensatory Investment Request Support Group Meeting of 2012. I look forward to a great year for our group. The purpose of the Compensatory Investment Request Support Group is to provide a forum for new and established street entrepreneurs.
Voter Shenanigans Could be Costly
A curious exchange took place between Rep. John Hines, D-Greenville, and Republican Speaker Philip Gunn of Clinton over the weekend, as the Legislature hammered a budget for state agencies.
[Walker] Politics Through My Eyes
I expected our senators to be similar to those in 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.'
Services Aren't Like Toasters
Politicians, especially the tight-fisted ones, love to compare the government to your home. When money is tight at home, they'll explain condescendingly, you may have to send your toaster to a repair shop, put off that Disney family vacation or drive that old clunker around for another year or two.
[Halkias] Taking Jackson With Me
Though I am in love with Austin, I think about Jackson every day.