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Advocates Unveil Program to Curb Domestic Violence

In a noon press conference today in the Mississippi Capitol, Sandy Middleton, executive director of the Center for Violence Prevention in Pearl, former Appeals Court Judge Mary Libby Payne, Madison County Justice Court Judge Carole Davis, Sheriff Malcolm McMillin, Assistant Attorney Heather Wagner and Hinds Justice Court Judge Frank Sutton announced a new resource to prevent domestic violence in the Jackson area: a batterer's intervention program based on the Duluth Model.

Painfully Pretty

Beauty can be dangerous for a clumsy girl who is willing to sacrifice a few moments of comfort for beauty.

ARTICLE: Cheney booed throwing out first pitch at baseball game

Yeah, I laughed a little when I read that too.

50 Governors Oppose Bush's Guard Cuts

AP is reporting:

Governors crossing party lines are criticizing Bush administration policies on the National Guard, questioning a budget plan they say will cut Guard strength and leave states less able to respond to homegrown emergencies like hurricanes or a feared pandemic. The state leaders, attending the winter meeting of the National Governors Association, hoped for answers from President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld at a White House gathering Monday. "We're going to fight that tooth and nail," said Republican Gov. Bob Taft of Ohio. "The National Guard is not just important from the standpoint of disaster response in the state of Ohio, and homeland security, but is crucial for overall military preparedness. It would be a real mistake to cut back."

5th Annual JFP Chick Ball Weekend Coming July 25-26

The 5th Annual Chick Ball will be Saturday, July 25, and will again benefit the Center for Violence Prevention. We bought them a new mini-van last year; this year our goal is to raise at least $20,000 in seed money for Jackson's first batterer intervention program. In addition to the ball itself, form 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., this year we are adding a special play performance on Friday, July 24, at Hal & Mal's, as well as Saturday events for teens. Watch for more details! Right now, though, we need you to volunteer, donate prizes or become a sponsor (starts at $50 up to $2,500+ to be a diva sponsor). And sign up for our Twitter feed @jfpchickball so you don't miss anything.

Come FLY with us: What to Make from Old Sweaters?

OK, here's a Fly question of the week. We have two old wool men's sweaters here with a few holes in them (moths?). One is black; one is gray. What kind of DIY project would you use them for?

Politics Not as Usual

As my second pro-Jackson piece was published this week in the JFP, more of my "friends" called me out for not staying true to who I am. Huh? I believe what they meant to say was true to who they think I am. It is true, judge if you want: I was a staffer during Governor Kirk Fordice's second term. I was a gung-ho right winger, well, I was gung at least. Not ashamed to admit it, I did to my boss at the time, that I voted for Bill Clinton in his first bid for president. I am still not ashamed of that. But as a gunger, I voted for Dole the second time around. I was surrounded by those beliefs everyday and, heck, I was able to pay my bills because of it. I did believe it. I did live it but not enough to get the title of being gung ho, just gung.

Know a Jackson cartoonist who does strip called "Social"?

If so, we're looking for him. We have his portfolio, but no number, and really want to talk to him.

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:

High School Basketball Championships Begin Today at the Coliseum

The Mississippi Coliseum once again hosts the Mississippi High Basketball Championships beginning today (February 25) until March 5. Both the boys and girls championships in each classification will be decided over the next week.

Tweeting Pivotal Moments in World History

It seems like everyone has a Twitter account these days. Aging Politicians. Pro Athletes. Even MC hammer has gotten into the mix. But what about the historical icons of the past? If they had Twitter, then what would they twitt...ahem...tweet? Find out below:

Will the Chicago factory sit-in work?

I'm rooting for the workers, of course. From CNN:

70 Years Later and People Still Don't Get It

I just ran across this excellent quote while researching primary source material for my reference book on criminal justice history. I can't use it in the book, but it's too good not to repeat (emphases mine):

Sid Salter Lets Hood Hatred Boil Over on Blog

Today Sid Salter stooped to the level of garden-variety anonymous bloggers today with his belittlement of Attorney General Jim Hood's legitimate concern about the corporate media that pays his paycheck. Nice effort to change the subject, Sid; I'm surprised you didn't find a way to work Jesse Jackson into your whine.

Real Refugees

Angelina Jolie makes me like her again with the statement "Nobody deserves an award for humanitarian aid, we should all just be doing it." in an interview with CNN.

Crying All the Way Back to the Megillah?

I really dig Maureen Dowd's column about Hillary Clinton's notorious tears leading up to New Hampshire. And isn't it ironic that the first viable female president cried on purpose in order to seem sensitive enough. And note the part where the Clintons ignore the media; ah, that's the Senate candidate I observed in New York. Dowd says in part:

The Weekly Jerry Update: Better Late Than Never

I had begun a series of Sunday sermons pulling Jerry around by the short ones, but was unable to update it yesterday because someone at Fallwell Ministries was being lazy and didn't update his weekly "letter".

Lalee: No Better Off Today

Gary Pettus has a good follow-up today on the story of Lalee Wallace, a Delta grandmother who was the subject of an HBO documentary. The JFP did a story about Lalee and the film way back in our first issue. The story shows that little has changed for poor people like Lalee in the Delta -- as if a film could change a system engrained by years of slavery, Jim Crow and poverty:

What if Mississippi had a "Challenge Day"?

On today's episode of Oprah, 64 students at a high school were brought into the gym to discuss and confront issues that divide teenagers - issues which continue into adults. Class. Race. Ideals about beauty. The whole experience seemed to have a major impact on these kids. What if something similar was done in this state for all the citizens? That day would be challenging, but necessary.

Did Thompson Protect Barbour, GOP in 1990s?

The official entry of Fred Thompson into the presidential fray is causing some old GOP problems to be pulled from the memory hole and given a fresh light in a time when corruption doesn't pay like it did a few years back. Specifically Media Matters is reporting that The New York Times, Newsweek and other media failed to report what really happened when Thompson chaired a 1997 Governmental Affairs Committee that was supposedly investigating Republican campaign-finance scandals, including the National Policy Forum, a sham group set up by then RNC Chairman Haley Barbour to collect money for the GOP. Media Matters:

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