Sunday, November 30
Sly Croom Update, Part 2
OK, Mississippi State didn't hire a new football coach on Saturday. But Dr. S urges you to keep Monday and Tuesday clear. The (Biloxi) Sun Herald and ESPN.com both report …
Saturday, November 29
Sly Update, Part 1
A Green Bay newspaper reports that Mississippi State has offered its head football coach's job to Sylvester Croom and now he's trying to decide what to do.
Friday, November 28
The Kid's Alright
Is there anything more meaningless than your average NBA regular-season game? (Yes, your average NHL regular-season game.) But there is one player this season who's always worth watching: rookie sensation …
MSU About To Make History?
Mississippi State is expected to make history (no later than Saturday) when Sylvester Croom is named the Bulldogs head football coach. MSU AD Larry Templeton has been tight-lipped about the …
Thursday, November 27
Commitment to Egg-cellence
Mississippi State and Ole Miss meet for the 100th time in football on Thursday night. For the sixth straight year, all eyes will be on the Egg Bowl because it's …
But, Mr. Cleo
I first saw Robert Little, a very handsome toastmaster-by-trade and Jacksonian, take on a young, somewhat skeptical audience Nov. 19 at the North Midtown Community Development Center. He was the …
Wednesday, November 26
Harvey Talks Back: The 2003 JFP Interview with Mayor Johnson
Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. is having one hell of a year. On the one hand, the Vicksburg native has presided over a city for six years that seems to …
Do We Really Have To Talk About The Egg Bowl?
While Ole Miss fans sweat out Mississippi State and find themselves forced to pull for Arkansas on Friday, Slate's Allen Barra explains the BCS' big flaw: Trying to fix something …
[City Buzz] Crackheads vs. Democrats
CRACKHEAD SON-IN-LAWS: The usually-respectful Jackson 2000, a group that meets regularly at Mikhail's to discuss racial reconciliation, got a little saucy this month when a panel gathered to discuss the …
Tuesday, November 25
Heeding Hip-Hop's Higher Calling
<b>An Interview with Russell Simmons</b>
A devout yoga practitioner, ruthless entrepreneur, dedicated philanthropist and burgeoning political player, Russell Simmons is most famous as the co-founder of Def Jam Records, the label that launched Run-DMC, Public …
Whip It Good
Watching George Glass demonstrate his skill with a bullwhip, I was convinced that I could grow to enjoy this sport. On eBay I could find myself an inexpensive whip, then …
[Fry] The 50 Cent Test
Lately, every time some politician is talking about education on the TV, on radio or in the newspaper, they're talking about testing. "Accountability." They act like standardized test scores are …
[Stiggers] Fresh Breath is Coming to Town
Season's greetings, folkses! This is your favorite non-black, Mo'tel Williams, along with the Sausage Sandwich Sisters, also known as the Electric Slide Ambassadors for World Peace and Rent Money. We …
Seetha Srinivasan
From her fifth-floor window at the Education and Research Center of Mississippi—known as the R&D Center by most—Seetha Srinivasan has a splendid view of the surrounding trees. Not that she's …
Drug Testing in the NFL
Malcolm Gladwell writes in The New Yorker: "Despite the N.F.L.'s claims that it is concerned about the health of the players, it is more concerned about the health of the …
Truth in the Hands of Artists
Radiohead's Thom Yorke and author/historian Howard Zinn talk about the artist's role in politics. Yorke: "This goes back to what should be causing extreme alarm. If there are political programs …
Bush's ‘Crimes Against Nature'
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. writes: "George W. Bush will go down in history as America's worst environmental president. In a ferocious three-year attack, the Bush administration has initiated more than …
Monday, November 24
Oops, They Did It Again
In the Southern Style section of The Clarion-Ledger on Sunday, Nov. 23, Orley Hood worked himself into a lather: "The single dumbest paragraph I've read in this newspaper in the …
Saturday, November 22
Pigskin Prognosticator On Prowl
OK, so Dr. S was correct when he predicted Southern Miss would burst TCU's BCS bubble. That's all behind us now, because it's time for Dr. S to tell you …
Thursday, November 20
Horny Toads in Hub City
Just as Dr. S predicted, Thursday night's TCU-Southern Miss game (6:30 p.m., ESPN) will be for the Conference USA championship and more. TCU still has an outside shot at a …
Wednesday, November 19
Dixie Dems: Dean Too ‘Liberal'
The Washington Times reports that Democratic leaders in the South consider Howard Dean "too liberal" to win electoral votes in the South: "Most acknowledge the growing conservatism that dominates their …
Bucs Cut The Cancer
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are so sick of Keyshawn Johnson that the team deactivated the receiver on Tuesday. He will still get paid, but he won't play for the last …
Tuesday, November 18
[City Buzz] Best Gov, Gandhi in Jackson, Two Lakes Doom, more
BEST GOVERNOR: Haley Barbour may have ridden the GOP machine into town, but he's got a long way to go before he can take over the throne of Governor Emeritus …
No Fires Burning
For filmmaker Tom Rice, patience is paying off. Rice, a Jackson native, began work on "The Rising Place," his feature film debut as a writer and director, in the late …
Snipe Season Open
The state of Mississippi opened season on snipe Nov. 14, which extends until Feb. 28. The daily bag limit is eight birds, the possession limit is 16. The common snipe …
[Stiggers] Poor Health and Bad Credit
Now that the political season is over, the Stop the Hamhock Decrease the Pork Grease Coalition wants to enlighten the public about Chitterling ("Chitlin") Season, a time during the Thanksgiving, …
Monday, November 17
Bill Minor on the Democrats' Future
Bill Minor writes that Democrats didn't lose in the state as big as Republicans would like to pretend: "In the wake of the Republican mini-earthquake that hit the state Nov. …
Vouchers, They Are A'Comin'
AP is reporting that national Republicans are about to make a push for vouchers: "Republican Senate leaders plan to force a vote this week on the nation's first federally funded …
Bush may veto overtime, media ownership rules
AP is reporting : "The GOP-run Senate voted in September to block proposed Labor Department rules that opponents say would make it easier for employers to deny overtime for millions …
Schwarzenegger Takes Office in California
It's official, folks. The Governator has been sworn in. I'm really curious to see how he handles the state's $25 billion deficit. Of course, his inauguration (with Vanessa Williams and …
Sunday, November 16
On Civil Elections and Civic Journalism
<b>Voters to Dems: Be Progressive</b>
In the few days since the Nov. 4 election, we've heard a lot of anger and consternation from readers. Many are wondering how in the world the blatant GOP use …
Saturday, November 15
Delores' Bus
Delores Williams drives a Greyhound bus full time. I'd be willing to ride anywhere with her after being on board Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr.'s 18th "Mayor's Pride Ride" last …
Friday, November 14
Liberals and ‘Flyover Country'
Middle America - which includes most of the South, Midwest and West - too often gets dismissed by liberal politicians and liberal interest groups who seem to look down on …
In Our Blood
"Feeling the Spirit: Church and Other Visions by H.C. Porter" opens at Southern Breeze Gallery in Highland Village on Nov. 15.
[Ladd] God Bless the Little Man
When Wal-Mart first came to my hometown while I was in high school, I was ecstatic. It opened on a side of town where there wasn't a whole lot, and …
Wednesday, November 12
Bush Plan to Ban Abortion
Michelle Goldberg writes in Salon: "Unnoticed by much of the public, the Bush administration and the Republican-controlled Congress have been laying the groundwork for a repeal of abortion rights." (Click …
Tricks and Errors
The 2003 Mississippi election results were pockmarked by dirty tricks and general incompetency that has left one local Senate race in controversy and regular Mississippians feeling like they needed a …
Deconstructing Thomas
Wearing a black T-shirt and perched on a wooden stool under track lights in his fourth-floor live-work loft in the Fondren Corner building, Jackson native Thomas Morrison hasn't quite shed …
Now, Just Who is Basil?
Broadstreet Bakery at Banner Hall, 362-2900, has among its November specials three low-carb alternatives, some new chicken dishes, a Lemon-Basil Pork Loin Sandwich and the return of Shrimp Pasta. …
[Drive] Gettin' That Olds Feeling
I still don't quite get why GM would decide to retire the Oldsmobile name, especially considering that Pontiac is right there, just begging for it. In the cold, careless world …
Mad In the U.S.A.
More than 1,000 people attended a rally a few weeks ago in Connecticut to demand fair trade and denounce the sweatshop buying habits of big retailers like Wal-Mart. The speakers …
Rhonda Richmond
Rhonda Richmond's voice comes as a complete surprise. An earthy, organic, smooth sound weaves itself around your soul and into your heart. I first heard Richmond sing, swaying softly to …
Tell Me the Truth, JoAnne
<b>Right Between Church and State</b>
Q. Please tell me why state troopers patrol and direct traffic for a Jackson church on North State Street (near Millsaps) during church service, and oftentimes now, a deputy sheriff. …
Friday, November 7
Kobe Dress Code
Just when you thought the Kobe Bryant case couldn't get any more ridiculous, the sheriff of Eagle County, Colo., has told his employees they can't wear some new Kobe-related T-shirts …
High School Grid
The playoffs start in some divisions of Mississippi high school football on Friday night. Just in time for that, Dr. S has found a cool new site, http://www.mississippi.ihigh.com/, which has …
Two Large Unions May Support Dean
AP reports: "Two of the nation's largest and politically powerful unions initially overlooked Democrat Howard Dean as a marginal, quirky presidential candidate from a small state. But that changed as …
[Stiggers] Colin Sings the Blues
The election campaign movie feature "Mississippi Mudd Slangin': Don't Start No Stuff, Won't Be No Stuff" will return after this commercial break. ... Blues fans, listen to America's homegrown music, …
‘Confederacy of Dunces'
Salon's Joan Walsh reports that Howard Dean's critics have it wrong: "Does anyone really believe that former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean was borrowing a playbook from the GOP and telegraphing …
Thursday, November 6
And the Winners Are…
...Republicans (and Jim Hood) in contested statewide elections, Democrats in Hinds County and Legislative elections and turnout -- over 818,000 people had voted in the Lieutenant Governor's race with 92% …
Election Post-Mortem
Well, all, there weren't a lot of surprises Tuesday night, and a lot of our prayers about the state rising above the race game went unanswered ... for now. But …
Wednesday, November 5
Barbour, Carroll Bash Jackson With Old Statistics
"Jackson is one of the 10 most dangerous cities in America." How often are you hearing that jingle right now? From Haley Barbour. From Hinds County D.A. candidate Wilson Carroll. …
Tuesday, November 4
Just In: Stacking the Deck: 72 Legislative Candidates Sign "Lawsuit" Pledge
The October 2003 newsletter of Mississippians for Economic Progress, a group set up by industry groups, to limit lawsuits in the state, says that 72 legislative candidates in the state …
JUST IN: Dem, GOP Heads Address Voter Intimidation
From Chairman Cole, Democratic Party:
The following letters were sent by Democrat Party Chairman Rickey Cole and Republican Chairman Jim Herring to Secretary of State Eric Clark in response to Secretary Clark's memorandum to Circuit …
JUST IN: Voting Irregularities Reported
Secretary of State Eric Clark just faxed this letter to Attorney General Mike Moore and U.S. Attorneys Jim Greenlee and Dunn Lampton, warning of potential violations of election laws.
Monday, November 3
Punkvoter sez youth should vote in 2004
CNN reports that 'Punkvoter' founder (and NOFX lead singer) Mike Burkett is trying to unify the youth vote. "So many millions of people don't feel like their vote has any …
Secretary of State Predicts Average Turn-out
STATEMENT TODAY: Secretary of State Eric Clark today predicted that voter turnout in Tuesday's General Election will be up slightly from the last gubernatorial election and anticipates 775,000 ballots will …
JFP Endorses Musgrove, Blackmon, Peterson, full slate
To determine our candidate choices, the JFP editorial board looked at the record, watched the campaign (focusing on issues, not rhetoric) and talked to many of the candidates whom our …
JFP Questionnaire posted for Justice Court candidate Nicki Martinson Boland
See her PoliticsBlog page to read full answers.
Kudos to Salter's Anderson column
Every now and then, Sid Salter hits with a column. Yesterday told it like it is about the immensely qualified Gary Anderson -- and just why Mississippians might not elected …
Clarion-Ledger Endorses Musgrove, Tuck
So, here's a riddle: Why of the top four candidates' distasteful (at best) campaign tactics -- Musgrove ("poisoning"), Barbour and Tuck (race-pandering), Blackmon (abortion affidavit) -- would the Clarion-Ledger only …
Former FBI Agent Eyes AG Post
The GOP candidate for attorney general talked to the Jackson Free Press in his offices in Ridgeland. This is the full transcript of the interview.
I Can Fix It
Attorney Wilson Carroll Wants to 'Fix' the D.A.'s Office
Wilson Carroll wants badly to be the next district attorney in Hinds County. As a result, the Harvard and Ole Miss graduate is going on the offensive against incumbent Faye …
Sunday, November 2
Poet looking for reasons people don't vote ...
Pass it on: Poet looking for reasons people don't vote for big traveling project .... I just got this e-mail:
JFP Voter Guide 2003 - Statewide
<b>Just Who Are these Guys and Gals?</b>
Democratic incumbent Ronnie Musgrove, 47, was a two-term state senator and former Mississippi lieutenant governor before replacing Kirk Fordice as the state's governor. Musgrove, who grew up poor and worked …
JFP Voter Guide - County Offices
Incumbent Faye Peterson, a Democrat who graduated from Jackson State and Mississippi College, says that her record shows that she is a strong prosecutor and has worked diligently to clear …
Breakfast Worth Waking Up For
Nothing worth knowing about happens before noon; and if it does, someone will tell you about it. Thus, I carefully arrange my schedule to begin the awakening process around 11 …
Saturday, November 1
Gannett's Hattiesburg-American Refuses to "Hold Nose" for Lt. Gov
Note that the Hattiesburg-American wrote an entire non-endorsement without a single actual issue mentioned -- the entire column is based on the performance of the two women during the campaign. …
