All results / Stories

New iPad: Easy on the Eyes

Earlier this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook took center stage in California to unveil the newest model of the iPad. For months now, tech writers have been speculating about what the new iPad would include, and for the most part, Cook presented few surprises.

U.S. Chamber Applauds Obama's Economic Team

U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue issued the following statement on the announcement of President-elect Barack Obama's economic team: "President-elect Obama has chosen a strong, experienced economic team. Restoring the nation's economic health must be our top priority and the Chamber stands ready to work with the new administration to spur growth and job creation. This team brings a wealth of knowledge to Washington and an understanding that any sustainable economic recovery will involve the business sector."

Mississippi Ad a ‘Misstep'?

Calling marketing an art, not a science, an editorial in yesterday's Sun Herald tells the story of an ad run by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitor's Bureau, attempting to attract visitors coming into New Orleans for the upcoming Sugar Bowl.

Thousands of Manufacturing Jobs Cut in Mississippi

The Associated Press is reporting bad economic news for the state:

Dow Down 350, Unemployment Highest Since Sept ‘01

Stocks were down again on Thursday despite news that the Senate had passed a $700 billion Wall Street bailout package amid reports that credit was tight, and today's unemployment report indicated a continued slow-down in the economy. The Dow lost nearly 350 points, closing further down than it had after its precipitous drop on Monday. While it appeared that Congress might act on the bailout bill before the week ends, other economic news kept stocks from rebounding:

Six Flags Over Wall Street: Market Climbs 11 Percent

In an amazing recovery after weeks of selling, the Dow industrials gained 11 percent and the NASDAQ nearly 12 percent. The Dow gains represent the most points ever and match an 11 percent rise in March 1933, according to the Portland Business Journal.

Walker's Drive-In Now Open Monday Nights

Walker's Drive-In in Fondren is open for business on Monday nights.

Wall Street ‘Sells the Rally', Ends Worst Week in 7 Years

On the week, the Dow Industrials average was down about 7.5 percent and the NASDAQ down almost 11 percent, in part because traders "sold the rally," resulting in a down day on Friday despite the passage (and signing) of a $700 billion bailout package by the House and President Bush.

[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.

CHICK: Nice Southern Girls Do Breastfeed

It looked like any other picnic scene you would find in a Chapel Hill, N.C., park on a beautiful spring day. Lots of trees, grass, children, Frisbees, dogs and smoking grills. As my husband and I sat down to eat, an attractive woman sitting across from us deftly produced her breast to feed her baby, while introducing herself to my husband, correcting her 3-year-old and sampling the coleslaw. We were both amazed, but for different reasons. I was impressed at the poise she displayed and her expertise at multitasking. My husband was just amazed that he was able to carry on a conversation with her while pretending to be so interested in his baked beans. It was the perfect way to break him into the world of breastfeeding—gently, at a La Leche League barbeque, complete with beer and spare ribs.

[Stiggers] The Chrimmus Report

Bone-Qweesha Jones here to inform yawl on the holiday happenings with the "Chrimmus" Report. If you can't afford to take your kids to the mall, shop at Jo-Jo's Discount Dollar Sto', where everythang's a dollar! This year Jo-Jo will have an African-American Santa Claus for the children. The regularly scheduled Santa canceled this season because Jo-Jo laid off the parking lot security guards. And with the economy the way it is, Ol' St. Nick doesn't want to be caught in the 'hood after sundown.

[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.

SPANN: The Wacky Professor Strikes Again

"Sweetie, what do you think of all these corporate scandals?" "Well, management guru Charles Handy would posit that …" Uh-oh! The Wacky Professor strikes again!

Don't Believe The Urban Legends

Todd and I were out at Little Toyko one Friday night having dinner with two other couples. Politically, the left, right and the middle were amply represented among the six of us. So were various perceptions of Jackson. We were having one of those loud, aerobic conversations that bounce blissfully from topic to topic, probably annoying the heck out of the people around us. Our waitress seemed quietly, but distantly, bemused. Then one of our friends said something that made my neck hairs stand up.

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."

[Ladd] Souls of Our Citizens

I left Mississippi in 1983 to find my place in the world. It wasn't in my home state, I knew then; I just didn't fit here. My spirit was a bit too free and independent to follow a traditional path; my heart bled a bit too easily to belong in the prevailing political climate; my voice was a bit too loud in a state that liked its women a bit more, shall we say, cooperative and demure.

[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.

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.

[Spann] Daddy's Girl Grows Up

Pops called at 12:30 last Sunday night. Startled from a deep sleep, I felt my heart race when I glimpsed his number on the caller ID screen. But then a sense of relief flooded my body as I answered the call to hear his cheerful voice loudly bidding me to "Wake your ass up, girl!" As always, his enthusiasm was contagious, so I had to laugh despite the hour.

Readers, Advertisers and Community

The Jackson Free Press, as with any for-profit publication, is designed to appeal to two constituencies: the reader and the advertiser. In these pages, the reader will find examples of the writing, research, coverage and reporting that they can expect from the Jackson Free Press.