@Smith
"These are truly the instruments of tomorrow. We just have to figure out how to manage them today."

Electronic instrumentation has become an industry taker. The sad part is the fact that it takes away JOBS and also sends a negative message to young people who want careers as musicians.

I'm old school. when I hear a violin - I want to see the violinist: when I hear drum beats - I want to see a drummer.

@bubbat

""I hope to God you're never on a jury, since you would not listen to the law, evidence and witness before deciding someone's guilt or innocence."

Thanks Bubbat! At least you didn't say that you hope to God that I am never on a jury because I'm black. My father was the first black registered voter in the town where I grew up. Being selected or even being sent a notice to serve was not even though of. White was Right; It didn't matter how WRONG the situation was.

Just remember that the Trayvon - Zimmerman case was heard by a jury of whites with the exception of one non-white who, post trial, complained of a white "beat-down". These thoughts and behaviors give very strong evidence of egocentricity. I am soooo tired of trying to convince some people that I too bleed red blood.

OK, fine. What about the other stuff?

Just asking.

@Alfred Waddall

"As I see it, a 17-year old African-American minding his own business was followed and killed by a man with no authority to pursue him. When Zimmerman made a 911 call to report that Martin was in the area, the dispatcher told Zimmerman not to follow Martin; Zimmerman followed Martin anyway; whether Martin turned to defend himself or chose to run, he was unarmed."

Your statement should have been the only thing said by the prosecution to yield a guilty verdict of Murder for the Killer, Zimmerman.

case closed!

@Tyler Cleveland

"Lumumba said after his election that he did not want to raise taxes, but with the consent decree payments, ongoing city projects such as Fortification Street and the school bond issue, cuts or raises may be the only way to balace the budget."

The Former Mayor, Harvey Johnson, in his final speech at the Smith-Robinson Museum, said that he was leaving the office with a balanced budget. I'm wondering why it was such a rush to fire Department Heads who could have been an asset for this Administration's transistional period and the tasks would not look like visually impared men and women struggling in the dark. Mayor Lumumba admitted that he was not aware of the magnitude and involvement of the job as he asked a judge to be dismissed from his "last case".

According to this article, a check was approved for $125,072.02 for payment to WEI/AJA , the company that oversees the City's compliance with a concent decree from the Environmental Protection Agency; An action that seems to bring financial grief to the Council; however, the Council did not have a problem-evidenced by a 7 - 0 vote - to hire Judge Tommy Green's son as the City's CAO {I can't remember his first name). The cost of this hire was $80,000/yr and all of the job duties and responsibilities are a carbon copy of the duties and responsibilities for the Mayor of Jackson. It is interesting that this was a position only used by Mayor Frank Melton as he made it crystal clear that his focus would be law enforcement,"all a mayor has to do is stamp papers". remember????

i'm trying to consider all factors as it relates to this newly elected Administration and it is my sincere hope that it will be a success; however, when my neighbor brings over an invitation for a fundraiser sponsored by Mayor Lumumba at the Hilton Hotel to retire the campaign debt for Mrs. Regina Quinn and the picture of City Hall is a part of the invitation - my heart began to race and I simply say, not again!.

Just saying.

PS. @ bubbat

Please don't refer me to Mississippi's Constitution. There are laws on the book that are only appropriate for horse and buggy days. Not to mention that the "Judge is in vacation" and this does not mean that he is having a "real vacation". He is only working in another jurisdiction.

Many law students from some of the country's finest law schools can not pass our Bar Exam and mostly due to the absence of common sense.

Remember that it was just a few months ago that black folks were no longer considered slaves here in MS. It took 150 years longer than any other state to drop their right to own folks like me.

@bubbat

"Oh and you need to brush up on your Old West facts, gun fights were actually were few and far between. It wasn't like Hollywood and TV westerns."

You should have been alive to tell some of the widows and children during that period who lost fathers, husbands and other male relatives to gun fights that "they were few and far between".

Better still, go into some of Jackson communities and tell the parents and relatives who have lost love ones to gun violence that they have nothing to fear because "it just clarified the definition of concealed."

With the clarified definition of concealed, an 18yr old mentally challenged or behavioral impaired kid can sport a gun on top of his/her underwear. We are listed among the cities with the highest number of violent crimes. New Orleans is #1.

Oh, I think that you need to brush up on your report that businesses are losing business because of the signs and in support of their fellow gun owners. Being without a gun in certain instances will save lives. i'm sure that rational folks on both sides of this issue realize that the owner of a business that experience gun violence faces liability.

This state wants absolutely nothing to do with planned parenthood, the teaching of methods of safe sex and has no provision for sex education in our schools. These are all formulas for tweens and teens to fall into the trap of having sex with 18 year old guys and older or members of their peer group.

This is a conversation we MUST have and it can't be at the end of a pregnancy when some vampire like act is committed against a young female by stealing blood from her umbilical cord.

@Ronni Mott

"Visitors to Mississippi's capital-and most populous town-note that 'friendly people and great food' make it a worthy stop. Its streets are 'steeped in history' and dotted with 'green and pretty' public spaces "the survey site states. "Take an afternoon to sample 'wonderful barbeque' and chat with 'lovely' residents."

I hear this all the time from visitors. It bothers me that many Jacksonians have only negative things to say about our city; They can't see any of its beauty. I have suggested that they take the "Pride Ride" to see more than the BAD things they report.

To rank #7 on the Conde-Nast Traveler's Readers' Survey is something to be proud of! Just to be a mention among places like Branson, Mo. and Sonoma, Calif is breath-taking. We must continue to identify "positive drum-majors" for our City and silence those who get their energy from naming and blaming.

@knowledge06

These are all GREAT questions with simple answers: Just refer to Mitt Romney's play-book on the 47%.

I must admit that I am confused about Bryant's "Divine Responsibility" to "oppose abortion, protect school prayer and gun ownership". One wonders who or what "divine" source empowered him to take this giant leap? The state will only lose money fighting legalized abortions, prayer in schools or the Affordable Health Care Act. The Supreme Court has ruled on all three. Is Gov. Bryant aware of these facts?

Please. Will someone let out Governor know that these cases have been settled and that "gun ownership" is already a law. Now, proceed, Governor!

My prayer is that we will stop electing people to these positions who continue to make us look dumb, hateful, ignorant and stupid.