Mississippi
updated
4:49 p.m.
The Queen of England is not the only Elizabeth in London. Far more important to me is Elizabeth Scanlon Thomas. Why is she more important? First of all, she was reared in Natchez until the age of 12, so she is full of Southern charm and grace - she even still has her Natchez accent with a little touch of British. She is a blogger par excellance - both at her own blog and this one. She i...
Natchez Mississippi - Fri 7:01 p.m. - 4 clicks 
On Tuesday several bloggers of The Natchez Blog, gathered for lunch at the Carriage House Restaurant, in Natchez, eager to meet Elizabeth Scanlon Thomas who had arrived in town, from her London, England home, the night before. Casey, Gwen, Elodie, Marsha, and myself had never met Elizabeth, but we felt as if we knew her, from reading her comments on Casey's Natchez Blog, as well as po...
Natchez Mississippi - Fri 11:09 a.m. - 5 clicks
You guys are amazing: the reaction to yesterday's post about the bigots of the Itawamba County School Board and their craven decision to cancel prom for Itawamba Agricultural High School, rather than let a lesbian student bring another girl as her prom date, has been overwhelming and fierce. Bless you all! In response to the outpouring of support for Connie McMillan's civil rights, the ...
DailyKos (Mississippi) - Fri 9:51 a.m. - 5 clicks
This is good news. Most of us have heard about the Itawamba County, Mississippi, School District's decision to cancel the prom at Itawamba Agricultural High School (near Tupelo, Mississippi) rather than let a lesbian student attend with her girl friend. Well now they can party in New Orleans, if they want to: New Orleans hotel owner Sean Cummings is offering to take the students to Ne...
DailyKos (Mississippi) - Fri 7:40 a.m. - 3 clicks
My mother's dearest friend was Betty McGehee of Natchez. Miss Betty (we children were allowed to call her that after years of knowing her) lives on a big farm with horses, cows and chickens. We always loved going out to the McGehee's and riding their horses and getting a taste of the country life. Here's me and Miss Betty earlier this week: We saw Miss Betty twice during our few days in Nat...
Natchez Mississippi - Fri 7:00 a.m. - 3 clicks
The federal government today released its states based unemployment figures for January. As reported by Chris Kromm in Facing South - a blog from the Institute for Southern Studies - the South is suffering. Eight out of 13 Southern states, including Mississippi, have unemployment figures below the national average. A year ago, Mississippi had 8.2% unemployment. Now it's 10.9%. T...
Natchez Mississippi - Thu 7:08 p.m. - 7 clicks
In 1962, the city of Jackson, Mississippi realized that it would have to desegregate its five public swimming pools. Rather than face the prospect of having to share a swimming pool with blacks, the city filled four of the pools with dirt and gave a fifth to the YMCA which, as a private organization, was then free to keep it whites-only. In a profoundly wrong decision in 1971, the Sup...
DailyKos (Mississippi) - Thu 4:03 p.m.
James Shelly has an interesting idea about taking the “do what you love” paradigm and applying it to becoming productive at what you do. Productivity itself must become your hobby. If you can love it as a hobby, you can get anything done no matter how much you are prone to disregard the actual jobs themselves. Remember, [...]...
Sam R. Hall - Tue 5:07 p.m.
I swear by Wordpress for larger blogs, but I’m continually looking at the switch to Tumblr for my own blog. Pat Dryburgh nails why: A lot of geeks like me may harp on me about things like “data portability” and having control over the software they use, and they have valid arguments. I have read people [...]...
Sam R. Hall - Tue 8:01 a.m. - 2 clicks
Attack websites are nothing new. They are routine in many elections, and they can be quite effective in driving free media and negative messaging. With the growth of Facebook and the emergence of Twitter as powerful promotional tools for candidates and elected officials, it is no surprise that they would soon be used as attack mechanisms [...]...
Sam R. Hall - Tue 6:29 a.m. - 2 clicks
From Losing Andrew Carnegie by Seth Godin: Carnegie apparently said, “Take away my people, but leave my factories and soon grass will grow on the factory floors……Take away my factories, but leave my people and soon we will have a new and better factory.” Godin says the opposite is now true. I tend to agree with him [...]...
Sam R. Hall - Mar 7
Over the weekend I linked to what Chris Bowler likes about using Macs. It was a popular post, and undoubtedly he got a lot of feedback about what many perceived as his rather cluttered toolbar. Said feedback has led to this insightful post about Computing Simplicity?: And so, back to the comments that were made about my [...]...
Sam R. Hall - Feb 25
The Guardian asked several of the world’s best fiction writers to share their Ten Rules for Writing Fiction. This is a great read for any writer. It’s in two parts, one here and two here. ...
Sam R. Hall - Feb 25
Today our esteemed Governor wrote an op ed piece in the Washington Post in support of Toyota - and then went on CNN to do the same thing. Haley seems to have forgotten that he is a Governor now - not a lobbyist for big corporations. I know, I know. We have lots of jobs in Mississippi dependent on Toyota. But Haley seems to have also forgotten that people were killed due to Toyota's greed ...
Natchez Mississippi - Feb 24 - 2 clicks
I’m always tinkering with “systems”, especially my own. And particularly those that deal with my workflow. Lately I’ve been tinkering with my RSS feeds and how I approach them. Ditto for Twitter and Facebook and how I can better integrate them into my daily workflow. Four pieces I’ve read over the last couple of days speak directly [...]...
Sam R. Hall - Feb 23
Ian Hines and Pat Dryburgh have two blogs that I’ve recently begun reading on a regular basis. They both have places in my RSS feed. So reading Ian interview Pat was a great treat. Here’s what Pat had to say about it on his blog: I wasn’t sure I would have anything interesting to say, but his questions [...]...
Sam R. Hall - Feb 23
Chris Bowler has a long, superb list of things he likes about using a Mac, along with a simple request for Steve Jobs: Please do the right thing and treat them like the professionals they are as you move us all down the path to touch computing and your closed marketplace. H/T Shawn Blanc ...
Sam R. Hall - Feb 23
I don’t usually link to my own blog posts, but I wanted to share one over at the Mississippi Democratic Party’s blog that I wrote, Gov. Barbour: The Misguided Genius. ...
Sam R. Hall - Feb 23 - 3 clicks
Rubin turned seven years old a few days before he and I flew to Los Angeles to visit Rachel. She and I had talked briefly about him staying on with her when I returned home. I think neither of us knew how that decision would turn. She knew I would miss him; she would have to make arrangements for his day care. On the other hand she is the alpha female in his life. I've been his bud for a whil...
Natchez Mississippi - Feb 23
Elite used to be a compliment. It basically referred to the best of anything. For example, Drew Brees is now considered one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL. However, nowadays that might be considered an insult instead of a compliment - at least in political circles. The worst insult you can hurl at a politician is to call him or her a member of the "Washington elite" . What??? It'...
Natchez Mississippi - Feb 12 - 2 clicks
So what is to be done with health care reform? Nothing could be done . Health care costs will continue to escalate, more and more Americans will become uninsured, thousands more will die for lack of insurance, the federal deficit will spiral upward. It will soon get so bad, that citizens may revolt and demand the government take over health care. Oh yeah, this is a great idea. The Re...
Natchez Mississippi - Jan 26
People who know me will notice that I wear only black and some white - and they eventually ask me why. From experience, I have developed several quick answers - but the truth is a little longer. Like most women, I wore colors that I liked the look of and that I thought looked good on me - and over the years developed some favorites that would vary over time. However, black and white were always t...
Natchez Mississippi - Jan 25 - 2 clicks
On the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe v Wade , I wanted to give honor to the 26 year old attorney who argued the case and won - Sarah Weddington . She was born in Abilene TX after the end of World War II. Her father was a chaplain and religion professor. Her mother was a teacher and basketball coach. Due to the example set by her parents, she grew to love reading and studying, w...
Natchez Mississippi - Jan 22
I am grieving tonight, because something near and dear to my heart is terminally ill. The Republican just elected in Massachusetts vowed to be the Senate's 41st vote to kill my loved one, and I'm sure he will succeed. It will be an ugly death, and I will not want to watch. There is one treatment that could save that life. The US House of Representatives could vote to accept the Senate's version of...
Natchez Mississippi - Jan 19
Tomorrow, Tuesday, the most liberal state in the union is going to elect to the US Senate a teabagger created empty suit, Scott Brown, whose only claim to fame is posing nude for Cosmopolitan several years ago. Why is this happening? People will try to blame the Democratic candidate, Martha Coakley. Don't you believe it! Women always get blamed when men make a mess. But we're not going to le...
Natchez Mississippi - Jan 18 - 3 clicks
On Sunday morning, I woke up and headed straight for the coffee pot. Oops! Nothing is coming out of the faucet. As I wander around caffeine deprived, I spot my neighbor Marc outside. I ask if he has water, and he says he does. He runs home and brings me a big container of water - it never occurred to me to save water. He is inquiring about my water problems and discovered that I haven't checked al...
Natchez Mississippi - Jan 14 - 4 clicks
My sad tale of the freeze starts with my painter. Being financially challenged, I paint one side of my house at a time. For the front I hired an excellent painter, and he did a fantastic job. However, he was expensive. I was having trouble saving up for the second side, which is almost totally windows - my house is brick. I finally talked myself into hiring a cheap painter - figuring he can surely...
Natchez Mississippi - Jan 12
This is a followup of sorts to my post about being an online ambassador for Natchez. Today I ran across an alert for someone visiting Natchez. When I clicked on it, I was taken to Southern Lagniappe - a blog by an unbelievable photographer from Vicksburg. She also has another site with nothing but photographs, which are the most beautiful photographs of Mississippi I have ever se...
Natchez Mississippi - Jan 9
Once again I put that Angel on my tree, sweetly out of character, on my rather formal-looking tree which is easy, simple and quick to put up, easy to dismantle. And as each year passes I opt for easy: a smaller tree, fewer ornaments and lights. This year I ignored the slight tilt of the top ornament while in years past I have climbed the ladder again and again until it was perfect. However, ...
Natchez Mississippi - Jan 7
Brandon Mississippi native Sarah Thomas just became the first woman to referee a college bowl game. ( See ESPN story .) There are five other female referees in major college football, but Sarah Thomas was the first to draw a post season assignment. That might be because she has the most experience - she became the first woman to officiate at a major college game in 2007. She is also on the...
Natchez Mississippi - Jan 6
I decided today that I serve as an unpaid Online Ambassador for Natchez - and I'm not the only one. So you may be wondering what in the world is that? I'm a great believer in Google Alerts . I subscribe to one for Natchez. Every day, I receive by email a list of all the places on the internet that the word "Natchez" appeared that day. I read quite a few of them. If Natchez is in the news or th...
Natchez Mississippi - Jan 5 - 3 clicks
At some point as a child, I discovered that I couldn't tell my right from my left - when all my friends could. I also became aware this was something "everyone" knew. Wow, something was really wrong with me. Of course, I did not admit this to a soul - that would be like announcing you were an idiot. So instead, I developed coping skills. When I discovered this major deficiency, I was attending a ...
Natchez Mississippi - Jan 5 - 2 clicks
According to Wikipedia , a palindrome is a word, phrase, number, or other sequence of units that can be read the same way in either direction (the adjustment of punctuation and spaces between words is generally permitted). So if you're an American, today is a palindromic date - 01/02/2010 is the same read forward or backward. But in Europe, they do the day, then the month...
Natchez Mississippi - Jan 2
As I lamented in my previous post , this past decade was mostly a disaster. However, in technology, there were tons of positive developments. We have come so far in ten years that it's hard to imagine. And the best part? It keeps getting cheaper - and thus more available to more people. In no particular order, here are some of the amazing technological ideas that appeared during the first...
Natchez Mississippi - Jan 2
Thank goodness this decade - the Oughts, the Zeros - is over! It was truly awful. Just think about all the catastrophes America has been through. Bush was inaugurated after stealing the election. I wasn't thrilled but I had no idea how bad he would be. Shortly thereafter, September 11 totally destroyed our sense of security and issued in the Islamic fundamentalist war against America. We suf...
Natchez Mississippi - Dec 31
I took him in, gave him shelter when he was hurt and in exile from somewhere he'd long forgotten. He immediately gave over his heart and became a steady and loving companion. I went away for ten days recently and came back to find him gone. I looked for him, called for him. I was certain he'd be back within a matter of hours; he knew I was looking for him; surely he'd not forgotten me. ...
Natchez Mississippi - Dec 6
Over the past four years I've been through four hurricanes and made three insurance claims. Each time, I think they're going to cancel me - or jack up my premiums. Nope. Not only that, but my insurance company (Travelers) was wonderful. So wonderful in fact that I decided to write and thank them after the last storm - around May or June of this year. I'm famous for writing nasty letters, but I wri...
Natchez Mississippi - Nov 5
The following letter was published today in the Natchez Democrat . Like many people in this community, I strongly support the concept of a recreation complex, but I worry whether our elected officials are capable of pulling it off. They haven’t been too impressive lately. However, I discovered something that causes me to be able to wholeheartedly support the Referendum. That something is...
Natchez Mississippi - Nov 5
by Adam Lynch April 8, 2008 A spring storm went overboard last Friday, spawning about five tornados in the Jackson area and leaving a large portion of the city and some adjoining communities without power well into the following week. Hinds County Emergency Operation Director Larry Fisher called the storm the worst thing to hit the city since the Easter flood......
Jackson Free Press - Nov 5 - 3 clicks
Join the JFP for Southern Fried Karaoke as we wish farewell to graphic designer Darren Schwindaman. Hal and Mal's Restaurant. Free....
Jackson Free Press - Nov 5
2:45 p.m.(JACKSON, Mississippi) - Governor Haley Barbour today declared a State of Emergency for 12 Mississippi counties following a severe weather system and tornadoes which hit parts of Central Mississippi, including the Jackson Metro area. The Governor announced the State of Emergency while touring neighborhoods in Northeast Jackson, which were among the hardest-hit areas from Fridays storm ...
Jackson Free Press - Nov 5 - 3 clicks
After months of controversy stemming from a sexual harassment charge by a male educator, JPS Superintendent Earl Watkins announced tonight that he is resigning, effective June 2009....
Jackson Free Press - Nov 5 - 3 clicks
Despite the weather, all is well at Regal Cinemas Parkway Place, the Mississippi Museum of Art and Hal and Mal's. All events are on schedule and the Crossroads "show" will go on! Crossroads Highlights This Weekend: If you haven't make it out, come spend the weekend with us. Buy your All-Access Pass or tickets at the Parkway Place Box Office throughout the festival. Box Office sales are Cash or C...
Jackson Free Press - Nov 5
If you havent already, be sure to stop in at the Mississippi Museum of Art to take in the Young Persons Cultural Exchange Exhibit, featuring artwork from young people across the state. Call 601-960-1515 for details.
David Gatlin takes the stage at Martins at 10 p.m.
Left ......
Jackson Free Press - Nov 5 - 2 clicks
by Adam Lynch April 8, 2008 Innocence Project attorneys, activists and a man who served 12 years in Parchman for a crime he did not commit are calling for a radical overhaul of the state’s criminal-justice system in order to keep innocent Mississippians out of prison. Part of that overhaul, the Innocence Project says, is to revoke the medical license of Dr. Steven......
Jackson Free Press - Nov 5 - 4 clicks
by Adam Lynch Photo by Adam Lynch April 2, 2008 Jackson State University President Ronald Mason Jr. was full of apologies regarding the universitys recent failed attempt to push an eminent-domain quick-take bill through the Mississippi Legislature. The bill would have allowed the JSU Development Foundation to claim property for the schools expansion over a 50-acre......
Jackson Free Press - Nov 5 - 6 clicks
Make it a point to stop in to the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science as its Bone up on Bones exhibit reaches its final days, teaching people about bone health and overall well-being. Call 601-354-7303 for details.
Take in some live music and make some new friends at the Plaza Buildings Thursdays at the Plaza at 5 p.m. at 120 N. Congress Street. Be sure to try a new dish at Tyes Resta...
Jackson Free Press - Nov 5 - 3 clicks
All...I've turned off commenting and the forums because I need to spend a few hours moving files into the new CMS that...God willing...the JFP will begin using by tomorrow morning (if not sooner). Wish me luck. ;-) - Todd...
Jackson Free Press - Nov 5
