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Red, White and Blues
The annual Celebrate America Balloon Glow event kicks off the Fourth of July weekend festivities tonight at Northpark Mall in Ridgeland featuring food, games, a hot air balloon glow, country music stars Candy Coburn and Tracy Lawrence, followed and ending with the annual fireworks display. The free event begins at 6 p.m.
Here's What's Happening this Weekend
Two words for this weekend: Mistletoe Marketplace. If you haven't even begun to think about the upcoming holidays, this annual event presented by the Jackson Junior League will get you so psyched for everything Christmas that you just might sit on Santa's lap this year. It's happening at the Mississippi Trademart and closes at 7 p.m. Saturday. For more information, see the JFP Best Bets page.
KOOL Ploy
The company that makes KOOL cigarettes is deviously trying to entice young people of the hip-hop generation into the trap of consuming tobacco, a group that fosters healthy habits in the black community charges. KOOL, owned by Brown & Williamson (of "The Insider" film notoriety), is sponsoring a hip-hop DJ competition called KOOL Mixx 2004 in cities throughout the U.S. The idea is that local undiscovered DJs can display their talents in hopes of realizing their dreams of being in the music industry. The company claims to "understand the vibrant world of the trend setting, multicultural smoker," it says in press materials.
It's the Weekend!
Today, Kennith Humphrey's art exhibit at Brown's Fine Art (630 Fondren Place) hangs through May 31. Entry is free; call 601-982-4844. Overnight Lows, The Bills and Turn It Off perform at CS's. The Jason Turner Band plays at Ole Tavern. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity's White Party at The South (627 E. Silas Brown St.) includes music from Sonja Stamps at 8 p.m. ($35 in advance) and the party with music from deejays is at 10 p.m. ($20 in advance). Call 601-503-7625 or 601-672-2914. Nightmare Boyzzz plays at Sam's Lounge. The Daniel Karlish Trio performs at Martin's at 10 p.m. Need more options? See our Best Bets.
Trolling for Alternatives
"We must find an alternative to war and bloodshed." Those words by the late, great Martin Luther King Jr. are helping drive thousands of America to organize against a preemptive war against Iraq. And after 30,000-plus protesters gathered in Washington and around the country two days before the holiday honoring Dr. King's birth, even the mainstream media are starting to pay attention. Here in Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger ran two front-page articles, including one by James V. Walker, who accompanied 15 protesters from Jackson in two vans on their 2,000-mile round-trip journey to Washingon to protest the war.
The Zombies Are Coming
The zombies are set to invade Fondren this Thursday, Oct. 27, for the first ever Zombie Charity Crawl, which will benefit the Mississippi Optometric Foundation.
[Herman's Picks] Vol.8, No. 15
Several local venues are open through the holidays this year (including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) to celebrate with musical and liquid cheer.
HOOD: 156 of Barbour's Pardons Did Not Meet Legal Rules
Attorney General Jim Hood this evening released his latest findings about Gov. Haley Barbour's barrage of last-minute pardons. This is verbatim statement from Hood:
[Herman's Picks] Vol. 8, No. 41
Fans of jam bands will want to support the return of Colonel Bruce Hampton & the Quark Alliance to Martin's Friday night.
Torture of Children in Florida
This is not unlike what officials were doing to the children of Mississippi in our training schools for decades. It is simply unbelievable that this crap is allowed to go on in 2006 to poor kids, and especially poor children of color—the people with the least rights or respect in our country. Then, of course, the mother-f*cks try to cover it up. As far as I'm concerned, every one of these guards should go to prison for the rest of their lives, along with any officials who authorize such torture of children. AP is reporting:
Urgent: Last Call for Education Funding
[verbatim from Nancy Loome] According to a report in today's Clarion Ledger, Senate Appropriations Chair Jack Gordon implied to the full Senate that other state agencies, specifically colleges and universities, must be shortchanged in order to fully fund the MAEP. THIS IS NOT THE POSITION OF THE COALITION, nor is it the position of other education supporters. Here's what you can do right now....
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The Best in Sports in the Next 7 Days
College Basketball: Mississippi State vs. Syracuse (8 p.m., ESPN2/620 AM): The Bulldogs hit the Big Apple for this semifinal game of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. The Dogs play Friday in either the championship (8 p.m.) or the consolation game (6 p.m.).
They Call Him Mr. Bass, by Katherine R. Dougan
Everybody knows him, either by name or reputation.
When I first met Raphael Semmes, I didn't realize he was a legend on bass guitar. My first impression: Semmes was a super-nice guy who played bass. Moments later, I learned better.
Tougaloo a Challenge for JPD
Read the report here.
Advocates Call for National Juneteenth Holiday
Residents gathered in the Tougaloo community this morning to push Congress to establish Juneteenth as a national holiday commemorating the abolition of slavery in the United States in 1865.
Barbour: Hands Off Damages Cap
Gov. Haley Barbour is working hard to keep non-economic damages caps on lawsuits thoroughly capped. Barbour's office submitted a Dec. 17 amicus brief to the Mississippi Supreme Court, arguing that plaintiff Ronnie Lee Lymas should not be able to challenge the constitutionality of non-economic caps the Mississippi Legislature established in 2004.
Attack of the Orange Barrels
<b>City Revitalization Isn't Easy, But It's Under Way</b>
Humanity, in general, is like a germ. it comes along, consumes all that is consumable, makes more of itself, leaves a bad smell everywhere, then moves on to repeat the process in a new unspoiled area. It's the human way. We see it in action all the time. How many countless cow pastures and serene woodlands outside every corner of Jackson have been covered over by thrown-together cookie-cutter houses good for falling to pieces after 20 years? Reversing a behavior that's so deeply engrained in the human subconscious is no easy matter, but people in Jackson are trying to come together to do it. The revitalization doesn't stop with the Convention Center that's to be voted on this November. There are many other projects, small and large, either underway or slated for development soon.
BREAKING: McMillin Says That Lee Vance Is JPD No. 2
More details to come.
Sheriff Malcolm McMillin, now doubling as chief of the Jackson Police Department, has just confirmed to Adam Lynch of the Jackson Free Press that he has named Lee Vance as his assistant chief and second in line to the chief.
A Journey to the Center of the Mind
Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer-Prize award-winning 1930s drama, "Our Town," is not just a play, but a spiritual voyage. The stage is barren, except for a row of chairs, and dialogue is often spoken atop ladders that represent houses.
The Art of the Mash-Up
Lemuria employee Simon Hamburg has been on a mission. During the first few months of his employment, he noticed that the music-book section in the store looked "untouched." He knew there were some good books, but they were all too high up on the shelf to reach. He moved them down and re-arranged titles to give the area a fresh look.