Stories for December 2004 | Jackson Free Press | Jackson, MS

Stories for December 2004

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Monday, December 27

Music

MSO Bravo Series Concert Jan. 8

The Mississippi Symphony Orchestra will begin the New Year with the third concert in its 2004-2005 Bravo Series, "Fire and Ice", which will begin at 7:30 p.m. on January 8 …

Culture

[Wine] Tiny Bubbles

Tiny bubbles titillate. There's something mesmerizing about watching them flood a tall, fluted glass, something intensely satisfying about the fizzy sensation that overtakes your tongue. It's hard to describe, but …

Food

[New Year's] Celebrate Good Times, Come On

Not sure what to do on New Year's Eve? Here's your guide to what many Jackson-area restaurants and nightspots are offering on the big night. If you're a venue and …

Thursday, December 23

Wednesday, December 22

Sports

untitled

The Best in Sports in the Next 14 Days

Pro football, Green Bay at Minnesota (2 p.m., Ch. 35): For goodness sake, get your shopping done early so that you can watch Brett Favre and the Packers battle the …

Art

Action, Take 8: Jackson Filmmakers to Watch

There is no typical Jackson filmmaker. It's easy to see this just by looking at the work, and hairstyles, of our eight featured filmmakers. Rick Moore calls himself "just a …

Feature

The Year in Hip-Hop

This has been one hell of a year in hip-hop. It may have been a little bit of a rollercoaster ride for some artists, but on the local side, this …

Cover

[The JFP Interview] Ross Olivier Comforts and Afflicts

Soft-voiced but thickly accented, Ross Olivier, 49, is a man of dedication. He was dedicated when he led 23 congregations in apartheid-ridden South Africa, and he's dedicated now as the …

[Chick] Monkey and Koncha

Up until, well, this week, I've been disguising a huge secret. It was a secret that could very well have affected my career and even further alienated my family (ha!), …

Jackblog

What A Gift

Talk

Hard Work and Hot Meals

If you are a senior and would like to find out more about the Senior Services Division, or are a member of a church or organization interested in delivering meals, …

Talk

Blue Christmas

Lighting a Christmas tree isn't always a happy, festive occasion. Last week, mothers, sisters, fathers and brothers of some of Mississippi's crime victims gathered in the Carroll Gartin Building in …

Editor's Note

Dazed and Content

I'm sitting here, dazed and content, in front of my eMac, trying to reflect on what 2004 has meant to me. We're about to send the last issue of the …

Jacksonian

Vanessa Morales Butler

Living most of her life in Venezuela, Vanessa Butler as a little girl had dreams of becoming a flamenco dancer. "I studied at a dancing academy as a child, and …

[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 …

Dish

Ken Stiggers

Ken Stiggers—a television producer, video artist, satirist and columnist for the JFP—was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pa. Stiggers, 43, came to Jackson by way of Atlanta's public access studios …

Herman's Picks

Herman's Picks

O'er this fortnight of blessing and cheers there will be stiff drink and music to be had every single merry day. Treat these calendars in this issue as a rough …

Happy Holidays from the Jackson Free Press

As we head into the holidays, please accept our sincere good wishes for the holiday. We hope everyone can relax with family and friends, and reflect on what is most …

Tuesday, December 21

Music

Reckless Kelly CD and Tour

The rootsy, country-rock quintet Reckless Kelly is releasing their second Sugar Hill Records album Wicked Twisted Road on February 8. The record has echoes of both the Eagles and .38 …

Monday, December 20

Music

Fingers Taylor at George Street Tuesday

Just in! Fingers Taylor will be playing at the George Street Grocery blues jam, tuesday night, Dec. 21. Fingers just called a few minutes ago and said he would be …

Politics

[Breaking] $100,000 Reward Offered in Civil Rights Murders

You can still sign the JFP petition calling for the speedy prosecution of the murderers of Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner. To date, we have collected nearly 700 names.

Friday, December 17

Politics

DLC: Do Democrats Love Corporations?

David J. Sirota writes in The Nation:

Looking out over Washington, DC, from his plush office, Al From is once again foaming at the mouth. The CEO of the corporate-sponsored Democratic Leadership Council and his wealthy cronies …

Politics

"A WAKE FOR PEACE" JAZZ FUNERAL FOR DEMOCRACY

NEW ORLEANS, La., Jan. 20, 11 A.M. Link Traditional New Orleans jazz funeral entitled "A Wake for Peace": Jazz Funeral for Democracy timed to coincide with the inauguration of George …

Thursday, December 16

Cover

Rise of the ‘Religious Left'

They showed up to the polls, packing their religious ideologies and ready to vote. They had the teachings of their prophets in mind as they drove to the polls—some worked …

Editor's Note

‘Tis Time to Think and Drive

The JFP is joining Budweiser to present Alert Cab to offer Jacksonians free rides home this New Year's if you've had too much to drink. Please take advanage of this …

Ole Miss Names Coach; Richard Barrett Talks Back

Ole Miss introduced its 35th head football coach, Ed Orgeron, on Thursday morning. The Louisiana native comes to Ole Miss from Southern California, where he spent the last seven seasons …

Wednesday, December 15

Sports

Dawgs Call On Jackson

Jackson fans will get a chance to see the man behind the mask Wednesday, Dec. 22—or the man who was behind the mask. The Mississippi State men's basketball team plays …

Sports

The Best in Sports in the Next 7 Days

Movie, "3" (6 p.m., ESPN): Oh man, is this on again? Maybe Doctor S will finally watch it. Or not.

Feature

[Music] A Label of Hope

If you can shop local for hardware or clothes, why not for music? Instead of buying one of those cynically packaged greatest-hits collections or the extra special edition of a …

Dish

Sam Sparks

Sam Sparks, 23, is a busy New Stage Theatre producer and director, a Tupelo native who has lived in Jackson for six years. Of late, he has drawn attention for …

Jackblog

Get On the Bus

Talk

The Eagle Is On Probation

Last week the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools announced at its annual meeting in Atlanta that the University of Southern Mississippi will be on a 12-month probation. Some of …

Talk

‘Suffer No Dilution'

In Jackson, a street, a library and a museum are just a few of the symbols that honor a man who gave his all to the city and Mississippi, including …

Jacksonian

Othor Cain

Othor Cain, 38, radiates an exuberance for life in his smile, his body language and, most of all, his deep-toned voice. That voice, were it visible, would surely be the …

Sports

Rebels Getting Warmer

Ole Miss will probably offer its football coaching job to someone on Wednesday and announce the hiring on Thursday, The Clarion-Ledger reports. But the new coach won't be Dennis Erickson …

[Stiggers] Soylent Collard Greens and Cornbread

2057-1/2: Terrorists have contaminated half of America's food supply. Since 2005, the affluent consume basic food items such as meat, bread, milk and vegetables, while the economically challenged eat moderate …

Herman's Picks

Herman's Picks

Local indie-pop, all-ages extravaganza is on this Monday night at Hal & Mal's, as The Rockwells return to the Red Room with King Elementary and the Louisiana Hip-Hop newcomer Futuro …

Monday, December 13

Music

"Rendezvous," Luna

-- Herman Snell & Alex Slawson

Fronted by former Galaxy 500 guitarist Dean Wareham, Luna was formed in 1991 and have released several notable gems in their 13 year career- namely, 1995's "Penthouse" LP with the …

Music

"The Young Machines Remixed," Her Space Holiday

--Alex Slawson & Herman Snell

Marc Bianchi is the one man force behind the beloved dreamy indie-electro pop sounds of Her Space Holiday, a project that combines lush sampling, beautiful synth programming and bitter/sweet lyrical …

Food

All Dry Rub, No Sauce

Lest we forget, eateries can also include those convenient places where one may stop in and pick up food to take home and enjoy in front of the fireplace or …

Sunday, December 12

[Stauffer] Shop Mississippi, Buy American

I'm not a fan of Wal-Mart, and that's only been made worse by a recent Frontline episode entitled "Is Wal-Mart Good for America?" The show has made me think, once …

Saturday, December 11

Music

"A Strangely Isolated Place," Ulrich Schnauss

Germany's newest whiz kid offers up a plate of electronic shoegaze and synth driven dance pop (or synthgaze) that is a lush feast for the ears. Where M83 is heavily …

Music

"Nothing's Lost," Styrofoam

Reviewed by Alex Slawson and Herman Snell

Relatively obscure to American electronica fans, Arne van Petegem aka Styrofoam has been somewhat of a fixture in the German and Belgian glitch-pop scenes. Luckily, The American Analog Set gave …

Music

"DFA Compilation Volume #2," Various Artists

Reviewed by Alex Slawson and Herman Snell

From one of the more innovative record labels in the music underground comes this mammoth 3 disc set of incredible goodness. DFA Records specializes in genre-bending artists of the highest …

Sports

Sports Dopes

Why do athletes cheat? And why don't fans care? Slate's Bill Gifford gives you the inside dope.

Music

"Rock the Faces," The Hong Kong

Listen Here.

The 7-song mini l.p. debut from New York based, Etherdrag recording artist, The Hong Kong explodes to the top of a long list of Hip-dance floor Retro-Pop candy. "Rock the …

Friday, December 10

Sports

Is Dale Worth Watching?

ESPN's Dale Earnhardt biopic "3" debuts on Saturday night. The reviews have been good and bad. Doctor S has heard from reliable sources that Barry Pepper is convincing as the …

Sports

Rebels Look West

Doctor S updates you on the Ole Miss coaching search: According to radio reports, Ole Miss Chancellor Robert Khayat and AD Pete Boone were in Dallas on Friday to interview …

Jackblog

Mayor Johnson's 12/10 Newsletter

Sports

Breaking: Ole Miss Does Nothing

Ole Miss AD Pete Boone told reporters Thursday that the school probably won't hire a new football coach until next week. The gossip is that Rick Neuheisel, one of the …

Thursday, December 9

Rumsfeld to Soldiers: Stop Your Whining

New York Times editorial today:

Music

Stocking Stuffers- CD's for the Indie Kid on your list!

With Christmas fastly approaching, the time is nigh for getting everyone that perfect gift. But what if you have a music elitist Indie fan on your list? Not to worry, …

[Breaking] Judge Charles W. Pickering Retiring

[verbatim] Today, Charles W. Pickering, Sr. made the following statement:

"My nomination and permanent appointment to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has been pending before the full Senate for more than one year. The recess appointment given to me …

Sports

NCAA Smites God Squad

The NCAA is cracking down on recruiting shennanigans in Division I men's basketball. Instead of doing something that might actually correct the corrupton, the NCAA has banned exhibition games with …

Sports

Rebels Shopping In Miami

Ole Miss officials reportedly interviewed Miami defensive coordinator Randy Shannon on Wednesday. Interestingly, Shannon's name also surfaced in connection with the Mississippi State job a year ago. Southern Cal assistant …

Wednesday, December 8

Sports

The Best in Sports in the Next 7 Days

College basketball, Carver Bible at Mississippi College (7 p.m.): Another theological dispute is settled on the hardwood in Clinton.

Film

A New Jersey State of Mind

A Review of "Garden State"

Films like "Garden State" aren't necessarily rare in terms of premise or spirit, but seldom do they come across with the sort of texture and freshness seen in this auspicious …

[Chick] If We Are the Body

I finally joined my Baptist church after two-and-a-half years of attendance. I can't believe that they would let such a slacker claim membership, but they are, and now I'm dreading …

Jackblog

[City Buzz] Headed to Climax

Dish

Nikki Giovanni

Yolande Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni Jr. is a renowned writer and activist who prides herself on being "a Black American, a daughter, a mother, a professor of English." A native of …

Talk

Where the Sidewalk Ends

Early Tuesday, Nov. 30, a Gary Road Elementary kindergartener was late for school. After leaving his home at 1105 Adams St. in Byram, 5-year-old Nakeal Sterling hurriedly tried to cross …

Jacksonian

Ashley Weileman

Have you ever met somebody and thought to yourself, "I wish I would have known this person when I was younger. Maybe things would have turned out differently." That was …

[Stiggers] Shop Local at Bruh Jo-Jo's Discount Dollar Sto'

Has life in the Bushes gotten you down this holiday season? When trying to make a dollar outta 15 cents, are you a dime away from a hot dog or …

Tease photo City & County

From 2004: Chokwe Lumumba v. Mississippi Bar

Activist attorney Chokwe Lumumba, the founder of the New Afrikan People's Organization, is headed back to court this week to fight for his professional life. Again. The Mississippi Bar is …

Tuesday, December 7

Sports

Some More Ole Miss Candidates

Two more names have surfaced in the Ole Miss coaching search. One is David Lee, an offensive assistant with the Dallas Cowboys. Lee has Ole Miss ties as he coached …

Monday, December 6

Sports

Ole Miss Coaching Search Update

Scratch Ron Zook off your list of Ole Miss coaching candidates. The former Florida coach was hired by Illinois on Monday, ESPN reports. ... The top two candidates for the …

Music

George St. this Weekend

Hello, Get ready for another exciting week at the old grocery. On Monday, happy hour lasts from 4 until midnight. Football will be on the big screen downstairs and Half …

Delta to Offer Direct Service Between Jxn and D.C.

[December 6, 2004/Verbatim from Sen. Lott] U.S. Senator Trent Lott, who chairs the U.S. Senate's Aviation Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Thad Cochran have voiced praise for today's decision by the …

Soldiers Challenge ‘Stop-Loss' Extensions

AP is reporting:

Eight soldiers are challenging the Army's policy requiring them to serve longer than the terms of their enlistment contracts. In a lawsuit being filed Monday in federal court, the soldiers …

[Lott] This Sacred Season

I urge everyone to remember our troops serving overseas during this holiday season, especially the many Mississippians who are deployed away from home and the 18 Mississippi families who have …

Saturday, December 4

Jackblog

City Makes Letter to Ledger Public

Letters to the Editor

This (so-far-unpublished) letter to the editor of The Clarion-Ledger about an Eric Stringfellow column came around this week in the mayor's weekly newsletter: [verbatim from here]The letter below is from …

Friday, December 3

Jackblog

Mayor Johnson Weekly Newsletter 12/03

[Verbatim from city] The 2004 Jackson Holiday Parade is Saturday, December 4, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. The Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony begins immediately after the parade at Josh Halbert Gardens …

Music

"The Way of Curve 1990-2004," Curve

Reviewed by Alex Slawson and Herman Snell

The wonderful world of Curve got its start in 1990, when Toni Halliday (former member of The Uncles) and Dean Garcia (former bassist for The Eurythmics) unleashed the "Blindfold" EP …

Music

"Prebuild," 808 State

Reviewed by Alex Slawson and Herman Snell

Pioneers of the U.K. acid-house scene in the late 1980's, 808 State built on the dance music success seen by New Order earlier in that decade. After a 10 year …

Music

"Danny the Dog Soundtrack," Massive Attack

Reviewed by Alex Slawson and Herman Snell

Dark, brooding and instrumental describes the latest work from Massive Attack- it also happens to be a movie soundtrack. Actually, this release works well in the context of cinema, given …

Music

"Miami," The Go Find

Reviewed by Alex Slawson and Herman Snell

Morr Music's latest signee is a Belgian lad by the name of Dieter Sermeus aka The Go Find. A one man virtuoso of sorts, Dieter has just released his debut …

Music

"A New White," Subtle

Reviewed by Alex Slawson and Herman Snell

The recent hybridization of indie and hip-hop music has been influenced, in no small part, to the prolific output of Doseone (of cLOUDDEAD and Boom Bip fame). His stream of …

Thursday, December 2

Sports

Who's The Next Head Rebel?

The search is on at Ole Miss for a new football coach. Some are calling this the most critical coaching hire at Ole Miss since John Vaught left. The reported …

Sports

Delusions of Grandeur in Oxford

Congratulations to David Cutcliffe for showing class and grace under pressure when he met the media on Wednesday after Ole Miss fired him. His former bosses, Chancellor Robert Khayat and …

Wednesday, December 1

Sports

The Best in Sports in the Next 7 Days

College basketball, South Alabama at Mississippi State (7 p.m., FSN/620 AM): Lately, the Bulldogs have been on TV almost as much as "Leave It To Beaver" reruns.

Games

(Don't) Think Like a Sniper

"JFK Reloaded." You may have heard about this game in the news, on the Internet or in the paper. You probably assumed it's just another example of a violent video …

Film

Not Quite Great: A Review of "Alexander"

Oliver Stone's "Alexander," a flaccid, frenetic historical epic, has the look and feel of a child's finger painting on a $160 million canvas. Despite a strong visual flair and good …

Art

Grounded Ginger

Jackson residents do not have to search far these days to find creative artists of all ages and disciplines making waves and changing the face of this city's burgeoning art …

Cover

Berwood: Left Behind and Unified

As you drive down Northside Drive on the north end of town, you pass a recently renovated McDonald's, a Taco Bell that has been remodeled to add a Long John …

[Williams] The South Has Risen Again

"We didn't leave the Democratic Party," Southern Republicans like to say. "It left us." This statement is pure fantasy. The truth is that the Democratic Party instituted the bulk of …

Dish

Scott Albert Johnson

Scott Albert Johnson, 34, knows he returned home to Jackson at just the right time. From the time he was 18 up until last year, Johnson went to college, grad …

Domestic Violence

When Love Hurts

A woman comes home after work, her stomach in knots. She is afraid her husband has been drinking and may be in a bad mood. "I hope I don't say …

Editor's Note

Jane, You Ignorant Snit!

The other day, an e-mail popped up with the subject line, "tired of insults." I grimaced a bit and opened it. The correspondent first told me that she reads my …

Jacksonian

Gavin Guynes

A Tablet PC with WIFI—that's 28-year-old Gavin Guynes' current favorite piece of the technology pie. Excitement spilled over as he explained: "There's no keyboard. You use a pen to draw …

Jackblog

[City Buzz] Spread the Word

Sports

Breaking: Cutcliffe Fired

Ole Miss fired football coach David Cutcliffe on Wednesday. This comes on the heels of a 4-7 finish, Cutcliffe's first losing season in Oxford. In 2003, the Rebels were 10-3 …

[Stiggers] The Souls of Po' Folk

Grandma Pookie here to promote my new book "Fo' the Souls of Po' Folk: Ghetto Proverbs and Affirmations." I want to share with the peoples 10 of my favorites:

Sports

Insanity In Oxford (Updated)

David Cutcliffe is apparently still the football coach at Ole Miss. On Tuesday, after two days of meetings with his bosses, Cutcliffe met with reporters and issued a Kremlin-style statement. …

Sports

Who Are We To Argue?

Harvard soundly thrashed Yale 35-3 in their annual football game this year. But the Yalies and the "Harvard Pep Squad" pulled off a prank for the ages.