v8n34 - JFP Too Little, Too Late Issue: Oil Spill

Cookies for Mom, p 22 OCD Revealed Kinnison, p 38

Mississippi Chorus Sings the World Gibson, p 35

Too Little, Too Late?

What the Spill Means for Our State McLaughlin & Lynch,

pp 14 - 21

Vol. 8 | No. 34 // May 6 - 12, 2010

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DAILY BREAKING NEWS @ JFPDAILY.COM

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May 6 - 12, 2010

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jacksonian

VOL.

8 NO. 34

contents

Mason Looks Back Outgoing Jackson State President Ronald Mason reflects while critics and supporters speak out.

KENYA HUDSON; JARO VACEK;KATKIMCHEE; COURTESY PANTHEON

COURTESY STEPHANIE LACY

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Cover photograph of boat captain Giles Lanasa by Jaro Vacek Page 3 Redesigned by Ayatti D. Hatcher

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THIS ISSUE:

Too Little, Too Late?

As the Gulf Coast waits for the oil to hit the beaches, fishermen and environmentalists weigh in.

4....................Editor’s Note 6................................... Talk 11................ Grad Listings 12......................... Editorial 12...........................Stiggers 12............................... Zuga 22................................. FLY 28............................. Books 30............................ 8 Days 33..................... JFP Events 35............................. Music 36.............. Music Listings 38..................... Body/Soul 44................................ Slate 45............................... Astro

maurice turner ii Wherever Maurice Turner II is, so is his trumpet. It’s not just some eccentric call for attention. “My band director loaned me a trumpet, and I left it in the study hall,” he says. “It came up missing one day, and I’ve been carrying it around since I was 10 or 11—everywhere I go.”

His instrument proves to be an icebreaker, too, he’s learned. “I’m intimidating to most people when I come around,” Turner says.

“And I’ve found that (the trumpet) disarms people. They don’t think ‘stereotypical black man’ when they see it and me. Their guards drop. … It’s my way of transferring a little positive energy in this world.”

Most people know Turner, 36, as one half of M.U.G.A.B.E.E. (Men Under Guidance Acting Before Early Extinction)—an organization he and his younger brother, Carlton, started in 1996 as an artistic expression of jazz, hip-hop, spoken word and soul music “on a totally conscience tip.”

The accomplished trumpeter has a resume that proves other greats in the music industry acknowledge his passion for the music. It includes Mississippi’s own Cassandra Wilson and jazz legends like members of the Marsalis family. He’s currently on two albums, which he anticipates releasing before the summer’s end. “Watching Over Me” is a jazz album, and “Love Bomb: The End of the World As We Know It” is R&B. The latter album, he says, “is about aspects of love from spiritual to physical to

unconditional.” This real love, he believes, transcends race. “[I]f people were to practice real, true love, the world would change drastically,” he says.

Turner grew up on an unincorporated piece of land between Utica and Raymond that old maps call Lebanon. It is family land, where his Native American, Irish and African roots run deep.

“We grew up with black people and white people. My father was shown great respect by the people around us. Even the white people,” Turner says. “It wasn’t until I became a teenager that there was a difference in how blacks and whites were treated. But where I lived was a lot more communal.”

He adds, “The race issue is a made-up issue. The effects are real, but the actual race thing isn’t real. We’re human beings. Until we find out how to eco-exist, we’re doomed.”

And co-existence is not just about human interactions, he says. “We don’t think about flushing the toilet four times a day and where that water goes. We buy products for cheap from Walmart, but we don’t have a conscious mind about how we use energy and others’ energy.” When we genuinely love the environment in which we live and the people around us, Turner believes, we’ll hearken back to the cooperative spirit of our foreparents.

“They always made decisions that didn’t hinder the earth from being what it is—a provider.”

— Natalie A. Collier

26 Traditions for Mom Celebrating Mom’s Day, from a day together getting pampered to hobknobbing on the French Riviera.

28 Surviving the Future Steve Amsterdam’s collection of nine stories tells of survival in a future American dystopia.

jacksonfreepress.com

4......................... Slow Poke

3

Lacey McLaughlin News editor Lacey McLaughlin is a Florida native who enjoys riding her bike around Jackson. She is always on the hunt for news tips.

E-mail Lacey@jacksonfreepress .com or call 601.362.6121 x. 22.

She went on an oyster boat and co-wrote the cover story.

Adam Lynch Award-winning senior reporter Adam Lynch is a graduate of Jackson State University. He and his family live in north Jackson. Email tips to adam@jackson freepress.com, or call him at 601362-6121, ext. 13. He co-wrote the cover story.

Jaro Vacek Jaro Vacek is a Jackson State student who is originally from the Czech Republic. He has shot photos for the JFP since the first issue. He went on an oyster boat and photographed the cover story.

Ward Schaefer JFP reporter Ward Schaefer came to Mississippi to teach middle school, and is now a journalist.

His hometown of Chevy Chase, Md., was not named for the actor. He is slowly learning to play banjo. He wrote Talks for this issue.

Ashley Hill Editorial intern Ashley Hill is complex, in a totally normal way.

Born and raised in Chicago, she is a junior mass communication/ multimedia journalism major at Jackson State University. She is a cool, outrageous lover of uniquely raw style. She wrote a FLY iece.

Jessica Kinnison Jessica Kinnison is a former JFP intern and graduate of Loyola University in New Orleans, where she currently lives. She wrote the Body/Soul piece.

Latasha Willis Events editor Latasha Willis is a native Jacksonian, a graduate of Tougaloo College and the proud mother of one cat. Her JFP blog is “The Bricks That Others Throw,” and she sells design pieces at zazzle.com/reasontolive.

May 6 - 12, 2010

Carl Gibson

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Fresh out of Kentucky, Carl Gibson is new to Jackson. In his spare time, he enjoys playing drums on Farish Street, seeing local bands, buying local and riding his bike around the reservoir. He still has yet to perfect his Southern drawl.

He wrote a music piece.

editor’snote

by Donna Ladd, Editor-in-Chief

Mother Nature: First, Do No Harm

“Y

’all are just against economic development.” That ribbing came from a Levee Board member who shall remain anonymous due to drinks on the table (a pretty good rule for journalists, by the way).

But even if he was kidding, which I assume he was, I’ve been thinking about his comment. First, of course, it’s absurd. The Jackson Free Press was an early-adopter of sorts; we launched nearly eight years ago pushing from the get-go for development on Farish Street and “mixed use” in the shell of the King Edward and a vibrant downtown to attract the “creative class” (our first cover story in September 2002). Every year, our birthday issue focuses on the progress of Jackson’s re-development; we’ve argued all along that Jackson’s renaissance would require making it attractive to younger people.

Fast forward to the present: Young “urban warriors,” as I call them, are everywhere. The creative class is alive and renting apartments in the King Edward and other renovated buildings. Even the rhetoric has shifted; nowadays, you’re more likely to hear someone living or working in the suburbs get defensive toward proud city dwellers than the other way around, as it was when we launched. The Clarion-Ledger has even shut up about solving all the crime before development can work.

Jackson is damn cool in 2010, and it is undergoing the kind of revival that the JFP has pushed from the beginning. We consider ourselves hyperlocal, progressive entrepreneurs: We fight on behalf of locally owned business and their/our needs, and we want to see smart development re-create this city into a place where good jobs abound, the education system benefits from wealth created inside the city limits (and crime drops accordingly), and Jackson leads the nation in our ability to use diversity to promote smart growth, as creative-class visionary Richard Florida says that strong cities must do. (And as one of the few news operations in the country that has grown dramatically during the recession, we attribute much of our success directly to our diversity in staffing, advertising base and readership.)

But the JFP does not support development at any cost. We believe in a balanced approach to eco-devo. I started using that phrase a few years back because it was a quicker, hipper way of saying “economic development.”

Ironically, after a recent Google search, I learned that “eco-devo” already has a meaning: essentially the smart marriage of development with good environmental policy. Huh. The JFP believes Jackson must fuse strong smart, well-planned development with the needs of our environment and our fragile ecosystem—thus, our criticism of the Two Lakes idea that has a few folks around town miffed at us. And, I suspect, it is those people who have tried to spread the nonsensical meme that the JFP is “against economic development.”

Our editorial board has long been skepti-

cal of the Two Lakes concept for two major reasons (beyond concern that the plan just may not work): First, no matter how you crack it, it would be an environmental nightmare, involving “moving” wetlands and endangering economies downstream (including the seafood industry). Then there is the second reason: Even if you do not care about the earth’s ecosystem or endangered species, the very people our eco-devo efforts should attact do care about it. I don’t mean the casinos that some people would love to see along the Pearl River; I’m talking about the educated, professional workers and entrepreneurs that Jackson must attract (and keep) to be a world-class city.

Roulette tables just won’t do that for us.

This isn’t the 1960s, and we already have a reservoir with plenty of motorboat space.

What Jackson needs in 2010 and beyond is forward-thinking development that embraces our resident wild river. Just as the Pinnacle Building downtown was an early “green” building, anything we do to mitigate flooding and create waterfront development must do the least harm possible to the environment. If you don’t believe me, get yourself into a roomful of young professionals and creatives and see what they think about the idea of moving wetlands to create private waterfront property (and raise property taxes on the houses they might want to raise families in some day).

What I told the Levee Board member was that the JFP has never been a huge fan of levees, but that it was vital to “unlock” the two-sided dogfight from the limited options pushed for so long—huge Lakes plan or levees, nothing else—and get people to think creatively about solutions. It is time to stop the political game-playing about flood control— evident in several failed legislative attempts to

take over the Levee Board this session—and start looking for less extreme compromises.

Once you have a good, environmentally friendly idea, get your butts to Washington and sell it.

This is not a position we had to take. But it was an obvious one, and one that experts around the country share, including famed urban planner Andres Duany, who said that Two Lakes could not happen in his lifetime, due to its massive environmental problems attached to litigation costs. And that was before the election of our current “green” president and certainly before the oil spill in the Gulf.

As we wait to see the effects of this man-made disaster, it is obvious that a balance between making money and protecting the environment must be a front-of-mind consideration, not something that short-term thinkers gloss over. In 2008, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported on the Two Lakes plan and the danger it posed to Louisana and its water-based industry, due to water pollution from upstream and disrupted water levels. The paper also reported that 5,500 acres of wetlands would be wiped out here along with 3,400 acres of forest and at least two threatened species. The plan also would move even more residents here into a dangerous floodplain. Painting a rosy picture to get past regulators is simply not smart development.

The oil industry—which happens to include some Two Lakes stalwarts—is not known for its respect for Mother Nature and her tendency to get even. It is up to the rest of us to keep some balance in this conversation going forward and to look for solutions that help Jackson grow and thrive while not destroying one of the key components of being an attractive city: a healthy local environment.

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news, culture & irreverence

Thursday, April 29 Florida Gov. Charlie Crist announces he will leave the Republican Party and run for the Senate as an independent. … The U.S. Navy ends a ban against women serving on submarines.

Friday, April 30 Antigovernment protesters in Bangkok force the evacuation and closure of a major hospital in their search for soldiers.

Protest leaders apologize after coming up empty handed. … Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi declare emergencies due to the oil spill in the Gulf.

Saturday, May 1 Pope Benedict XVI takes control of the Legionaries of Christ, whose founder is said to have molested seminarians and fathered several children. … Vendors report a suspicious vehicle in New York City’s Times Square, which turns out to be a failed car bomb. … Rough seas hamper oil cleanup in the Gulf.

Sunday, May 2 Tens of thousands of Maoist protesters in Nepal begin an strike over the government’s writing a new Constitution that will create a federalist state. … Tornados and flooding leave 13 dead: six in Mississippi and eight in Tennessee.

May 6 - 12, 2010

Monday, May 3 The Pentagon releases once-classified statistics about America’s nuclear arsenal, revealing the country has 5,113 nuclear warheads. … A New York Times/CBS News poll shows a growing number of Americans believe the economy is improving. … Gov. Haley Barbour announces revenue for April is $45.1 million below estimates.

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Tuesday, May 4 British Petroleum crews are building a 4-story, 70-ton containment dome that it plans to use to catch escaping oil in the Gulf of Mexico. … A second man is arrested in Pakistan for the failed May 1 Times Square bombing. A first man, Faisal Shahzad, was arrested Monday in New York.

Here comes the judge. p 10

Mason: ‘I’m Basically an Introvert’

O

utgoing Jackson State University President Ronald Mason Jr. said at a Tuesday press luncheon that he did not expect his university to deviate from progress and growth in his absence.

“Unless somebody comes in there bound and determined to undo the place it is well down the road toward being exactly what Mississippi needs it to be, which is a capital (city) university that the state can be proud of,” Mason said. “There’s still work to be done, but it’s not Marine work anymore. It’s Army work now.”

Mason’s critics, such as Sen. David Jordan, D-Greenwood, blasted him for circulating a January proposal embracing Gov. Haley Barbour’s call to consolidate the state’s historically black colleges and universities, including Alcorn State University and Mason’s own JSU. Jordan complained that Mason wanted to reduce Mississippi Valley State University to an intermediate college, while JSU offered the brunt of new educational courses, forcing many Delta students to relocate to Jackson for their higher education.

Public relations consultant William Dilday said in April that Mason “could have sold” the idea of the merger better.

“He could have started off by sitting down with the presidents of Alcorn and Valley and going over the details, then they could’ve sat down with the heads of the alumni associations, and then he could’ve shown them the

numbers as to why the merger was necessary,” Dilday said.

Mason, who insists the proposal was not a merger but a “unification,” said Monday the plan was to establish a system of HBCUs that would survive the test of time and be more competitive. He said the conversation on the proposal still needs to happen, and said he did not regret the plan going negative as long as he began the conversation. He described the dialogue about the possible consolidation of HBCUs as “a painful conversation to have,” but said JSU officials will inevitably have to deal with it.

Mason’s popularity faltered in some circles after his proposal went public, but he said at the Monday Stennis-Capitol Press Luncheon that he suffered no external push to end his 10-year stint at JSU and accept the president’s position at Louisiana’s Southern University System.

“I didn’t feel any pressure to go,” he told a crowd of about 30. “I’ve learned in my old age to separate the noise from the substance, and most of what the press did was just noise. The (State College) board was never interested in seeing me leave. There was a contingent that went to see the commission that was after my job, followed by another contingent that said they didn’t want me to leave. So, no, I didn’t have any pressure at all.”

Mason said he was leaving for a variety of reasons, one of them being his promise to give JSU 10 years: “The average stay for these jobs

BUTT

CHERNOBYL

“Unfortunately, the genie is out of the bottle with this oil spill, and I don’t think I’m overstating the case by saying this is America’s Chernobyl. …

It’s going to destroy the Mississippi Gulf Coast as we know it.” —Louie Miller, Mississippi director of the Sierra Club, speaking about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill at a press conference May 1.

by Adam Lynch KENYA HUDSON

Wednesday, April 28 An Egyptian court convicts 26 men of belonging to a Hezbollah cell charged with attacking Israeli tourists and smuggling weapons, supplies and people. The men receive sentences of six months to life. … The Census Bureau announces the rate of return for the 2010 census form is 72 percent, matching the 2000 rate.

Four Mississippi counties received an “F” for ozone levels from the American Lung Association: DeSoto, Bolivar, Hancock and Jackson. Ozone, created when vehicle and industry exhaust is exposed to light and heat, can damage lungs similar to a sunburn.

Outgoing Jackson State University President Ronald Mason Jr. said he surrendered to no pressure to leave JSU after he released an unpopular proposal to merge the university with other historically black colleges and universities in the state.

is about five years because they wear on you,” Mason said. “It’s a constant adventure each and every day. Even though I loved the work, it was work.”

Mason also confessed that the Southern University System had approached him repeatedly to take the job but that he “said ‘no’ about four times, but they kept coming back.”

Mason added that the new job was appealing because it was less public than his current position at JSU.

MASON, see page 7

THE JFP GUBERNATORIAL LIST What

We

Want

in

Our

Next

Governor

• Trilingual.

• Actually goes walking, Mississippi.

• Lives in Mississippi when not the governor.

• Does not/ has not/ will not speak at Council of Conservative Citizens events.

• Has a consistent accent.

• Pronounces every “S” in Mississippi.

• Waits until after session ends to call special sessions.

• Can take “no” for an answer.

• Doesn’t call himself a “fat redneck” who doesn’t give a “diddly” about slavery.

• Thinks people are more important than businesses.

• Values education over prisons.

talk

news, culture & irreverence

MASON, from page 6 to be a challenge either way.”

Mason was more upbeat about the continuing development of downtown Jackson in relation to the growth of JSU. “It takes a whole village to develop a village,” said Mason, who touted the incoming $100 million construction of University Place, a combination of single-family homes, town homes and a community center to provide middle-income residential living space between the university and the blossoming downtown sector of the city. The state and the city came together with land donations and tax credits, while local banks, including Liberty Bank and Trustmark, approved loans to kick off the project.

Mason said the new development coincided wonderfully with downtown development, but suggested that investors should focus heavily on the continuing expansion of the Convention Center.

“It’s happening in downtown Jackson.

Besides the office space with what’s happened to the King Edward and the Convention Center, I think we ought to be planning for the next phase of the Convention Center,” Mason said, referring to the proposed hotels and restaurants around the Convention Center.

Audience member Susan Lunardini reflected on the level of progress that happened under Mason’s 10-year tenure: “I worked with (Mason) 10 years ago. At that time, the E-Center was just being spoken of, the (Jackson Metro) Parkway was not built, and if you look out these windows you saw two grain silos near the (JSU) tower. If those drapes are open, you’d see the difference, and I thank (him) for it,” she said.

Gov. William Winter, another audience member joined in the praise, and thanked Mason for the leadership he has provided for Jackson State and the city.

Discuss at jacksonfreepress.com.

City Working Deal on Digital Signs

J

KENYA HUDSON

ackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. outrage that the Department of Agriculture said he will not submit a resolution submitted requests for bid proposals (due protesting the Mississippi Depart- May 11) to build and maintain two 40ment of Agriculture foot tall and 45-foot wide and Commerce’s plan to digital signs on High Street, build and rent three new one at the corner of High digital signs in the city, city and Jefferson streets and anspokesman Chris Mims other slightly east of that, in said today. front of the entrance to the Mississippi Department Farmer’s Market. A third sign of Agriculture and Comwill sit east of the entrance to the Mississippi Agricultural merce spokesman Andy Prosser said his department Jackson Mayor Harvey and Forestry Museum on Johnson, Jr. declared was trying to work with the moot his earlier desire Lakeland Drive.

“I can’t imagine any city to work out an agree- to submit a resolution ment, but could not confirm in the upcoming weeks city in the country allowing its main civic and cultural if the department would opposing new digital signs on High Street and dream to be blighted in this move the signs to a more Lakeland Drive. way,” Ditto told the council. desirable location. Mims said “You can be sure that no state the city was optimistic about the commissioner’s willingness to work agency would attempt to impose these huge signs on Madison, Ridgeland or Flowood. together on a better solution.

During a Jackson City Council public Those cities simply wouldn’t stand for it.”

—Adam Lynch forum, former Mayor Kane Ditto expressed

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jacksonfreepress.com

“I’ll be in the press less, I’ll be on the campus less, and most people don’t realize this, but I’m basically an introvert. I like sitting in the office and figuring things out and making it happen than being the out-front guy, as much as I’ve had to be in this job,” Mason said.

The JSU president was unsure of what would become of his effort to streamline the university’s curriculum to make it more affordable. Mason proposed removing some courses and curriculum with little student attendance or popularity, although critics like Jackson State University National Alumni Association member Ivory Phillips said the streamlining process would remove some of the university’s personality. Phillips demanded in March that Mason resign.

Mason referred to the streamlining effort as the “regeneration of Jackson State University,” and expressed his condolences for the next president because budget shortfalls would force the incoming leader to move forward with the streamlining effort, and he or she would have to contend with combat between JSU factions in the process.

“Most of the information and data is now there and available, but what happens is the turf (war) starts to raise its ugly head,” Mason said Monday. “Physicists want to be physicists, and chemists want to be chemists, and they want to do their thing and (the Department of) Science, Engineering and Technology has all the money and they don’t want to share with anybody else, so the next president—bless his or her heart—is going to have to steer through that process because the … (lack of) money really drives the situation.

Our position still is that Jackson State can’t just be smaller version of Jackson State. It has to look at the resources available and really redesign itself to not only reduce the budget but be globally competitive down the road. It is going

7

justicetalk

by Ward Schaefer

State Seeking First Executions Since 2008

A High ceilings and wood floors. Move-in ready. Extra room for office/playroom.

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Ceramic tile in kitchen, refrigerator to remain. Covered porch off b’fast room; also decking. Asking $229,000. *Dianne Powell*

MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

FONDREN

ttorney General Jim Hood is asking show that Adams County juror lists did not penalty has continually eroded,” said forthe state of Mississippi to execute change between 1956 and Holland’s trial, mer Supreme Court Justice Oliver Diaz. two death-row inmates, the first which may indicate that his trial jury was not “Although it’s still probably a majority, it’s since 2008. Hood’s office submitted a representative cross-section of the area. gone down a great deal.” requests to the Mississippi Supreme Court “I don’t think it’s necessarily limited to In a 2008 dissenting opinion, Diaz arlast month to set execution dates of gued that the recent exonerations May 19 and 20 for Paul Woodward of three death-row inmates in the and Gerald James Holland. state point to the arbitrariness and A Perry County jury sentenced cruelty of capital punishment in Woodward, 62, to death for the Mississippi. “I am convinced that 1986 rape and killing of Rhonda the progress of our maturing sociCrane. In 1993, the state Supreme ety is pointed toward a day when Court vacated Woodward’s first our nation and state recognize death sentence on the grounds that, even as murderers commit that his defense lawyers had not the most cruel and unusual crime, adequately presented evidence that so too do executioners render Woodward was suffering from severe cruel and unusual punishment,” mental illness.

Diaz wrote.

At 72, Holland is the state’s old- Paul Woodward and Gerald Holland would be the first Aside from possibly being est inmate on death row. He received Mississippians executed in two years. unconstitutional or outdated, a capital-murder conviction in Adams death sentences simply cost state County for the 1986 rape and murder of race,” Swartzfager said. “There’s an argument government more than life sentences with15-year-old Krystal King. Mississippi requires to be made that the age difference, the gender out the possibility of parole. Mississippi a separate sentencing hearing in capital cases, differentials could also play into that.” has not studied its own capital-punishand Holland successfully appealed his first Swartzfager cautioned that he did not ment system, but studies of the system in death sentence in 1993 after an appeals court know whether he would argue the jury other states—including Texas and North found that his trial jury had settled on the composition point. He has asked the Su- Carolina—find that pursuing the death death penalty before hearing mitigating evi- preme Court to grant his office more time penalty costs taxpayers enormously. dence or jury instructions. A second sentenc- to study Holland’s case.

The cost of pursuing the death pening hearing also resulted in a death sentence.

The attorney general’s office had alty in one trial can be $1 million above In subsequent petitions for relief, Holland’s previously requested a third execution the cost of pursuing life without parole, lawyers have argued that his trial attorneys date for Joseph Daniel Burns, 42, who according to a 2009 study by the Death were inadequate and that he should have was convicted in the 1994 slaying of a Penalty Information Center. Not all capireceived a neurological exam before trial.

Tupelo hotel manager. Hood withdrew tal trials result in a death sentence, though, Holland’s history of brain damage, that request, however, because Burns has so the cost of one death sentence—out of through accidents and drug use, could merit a pending petition for hearing before the multiple prosecutions—can easily rise further scrutiny, said Glenn Swartzfager, di- United States Supreme Court. to $3 million or more. And as not evrector of the state’s Office of Post-Conviction The two requested executions stand ery death sentence is ultimately carried Counsel, which is representing Holland. in stark contrast to national and even local out, the cost of one execution can reach “We believe he suffers from brain dys- trends. Nationwide, death sentences have $25 million, the Center’s study says. function or brain damage,” Swartzfager said. dropped 60 percent since 2000, and execuIn both New York and New Jersey, “There was a denial of some testing that his tions have decreased from 85 in 2000 to state legislators decided to abolish capital trial attorneys wanted to conduct.”

52 last year. In 2008 and 2009, no jury in punishment in part because of concerns In 1999, the state Supreme Court Mississippi handed down a death sentence about cost. Over nine years, New York rejected a post-conviction petition from in a capital case, while in 2003, juries ap- spent $170 million on its capital punishHolland that argued that additional evi- proved death sentences in 14 percent of ment system but had no executions. Last dence of brain damage could have resulted capital murder cases. year, legislatures in 11 states considered in a more lenient sentence.

“In Mississippi, you’ve seen over bills abolishing capital punishment.

Swartzfager said that court records also the years (that) support for the death Comment at jacksonfreepress.com.

THIS MOTHER’S DAY

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RESERVOIR

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countytalk

by Ward Schaefer

FILE PHOTO

Hinds Unloading Title Building

Hinds County Supervisor George Smith is optimistic that the addition of bond funds will help the county sell the Mississippi Valley Title Building.

buying the building. The tax-exempt bonds, officially called Recovery Zone Facility Bonds, function much like the Gulf Opportunity (GO) Zone Bonds that helped finance private development in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. Federal legislation allows private entities to issue these bonds, the sale of which then provides capital for development projects.

Supervisor George Smith said that the county’s push for private development of the building comes at an opportune time, with the imminent completion of a new federal courthouse nearby on South Street.

“I think we have an excellent chance to sell it,” Smith said. “Once the federal building comes on line, there will be a real need for office buildings (for the) attorneys and overflow of businesses in that area that will be doing business with the federal government. The federal building will be a catalyst.”

Jackson realtor Josette Barton is handling the building’s sale and is asking for $2.9 million. Barton told the Jackson Free Press Friday that several local and out-of-state developers have expressed interest in buying the building.

“I think things have really picked up towards that transaction,” Barton said. “A lot of investors or developers have been interested. A lot are doing their research or due diligence on the building right now, just trying to see what other funds are available out there to assist with the renovation of the building.”

A developer would have until the end of the year to issue the time-sensitive $1.76 million in bonds, said Tony Gaylor, a bond attorney who has been hired by the county. At an April meeting, the board discussed the possibility of applying the federal bonds to a different project if a buyer does not appear.

“It needs to be done as soon as possible, because they could use the money for other projects or other developments,” Barton said.

On Monday, May 3, supervisors discussed a draft contract for the building’s sale with Barton during an executive session.

Public schools do more than educate children. They measure a city’s pride. They reflect community. They predict the social and economic well-being of a city’s future.

For 20 years, Parents for Public Schools of Jackson has worked to keep our public schools strong, to empower parents as leaders for positive change, and to engage community support of our public schools.

Join us. For our city. For our children.

For our future.

Founding Chapter, Parents for Public Schools, 1989 200 N. Congress, Suite 500, Jackson, MS 39201

www.ppsjackson.org

jacksonfreepress.com

F

or three years, the Mississippi Valley Title Building has weighed on Hinds County’s budget without contributing much of anything in the way of revenue. Purchased in 2007 for a planned expansion of county offices, the building has sat more or less dormant since the county scrapped those original plans. Now, the county appears to be closing in on a sale of the building for private development, with the help of bonds from the federal stimulus package.

The 40,000-square-foot building, located at 315 Tombigbee and Congress streets in downtown Jackson, formerly housed Mississippi Valley Title Insurance.

The county Board of Supervisors agreed to purchase the building for $2.5 million in 2007, using funds from a $30 million bond issue. The bond issue was also intended to finance two other projects: the county penal farm, which is complete, and a $14 million parking garage that the county is not pursuing.

Along with housing larger offices for several county departments, the Valley Title Building was intended to provide a new home for the county’s juvenile detention.

The plan did not meet federal regulations for juvenile facilities, though, and estimated renovation costs were prohibitively high. The county began looking to sell the building in 2008. In the meantime, the county rented office space to an attorney but has spent $7,300 per month on the utilities for the building.

A weak economic climate has made finding a buyer difficult. “The credit markets back at that time were really seized up,” said Blake Wallace, executive director of the Hinds County Economic Development District.

“One developer that was looking at it—the bank wanted 50 percent down (payment).

That’s a lot of money to come up with. Now you have a recovering economy; credit markets aren’t quite as tight as they were then, so maybe with the right project, the financing can come.”

To sweeten the deal, the Board of Supervisors voted Feb. 16 to attach $1.76 million in federal stimulus bonds as an incentive for

9

citydish

by Adam Lynch

ADAM LYNCH

Judge Malcolm Harrison: A New Man

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find alternative sentencing methods. As a circuit court judge, however, my job now is to fairly interpret the law and punish individuals who are convicted of breaking the law. We are responsible to the people to hand out punishment. It’s different in youth court with youthful offenders whose path you can guide to keep them out of the adult system.

Appointed by Gov. Haley Barbour, Malcolm Harrison is now a Hinds County Circuit Court judge, one of two black judicial appointees by the governor.

N

ewly appointed Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Malcolm Harrison is a careful man when it comes to talking politics about Mississippi’s judicial system.

Harrison served as a Hinds County prosecutor from 1999 until Gov. Haley Barbour appointed him to finish out the judgeship of former Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Bobby DeLaughter last year. DeLaughter left the bench in 2008 and pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators.

Harrison is one of only two African American judges who the Republican governor appointed during his seven-year stint as Mississippi’s top executive. When Harrison was president of the Magnolia Bar Association in 2009, he even criticized Barbour for not making any black judicial appointments by that date.

You told me years ago that you got into prosecution because you felt you could put errant youth on the correct path before they move into adulthood, even if that often involved mingling sentences with drug or personality rehabilitation?

That was my mentality, yes.

How will that square with your new job?

What I was doing as a youth court prosecutor was to prosecute, but also to

May 6 - 12, 2010

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The NAACP says the incarceration for blacks in this state is 3.5 times the incarceration rate of whites.

I don’t know why it’s like that, and I can’t comment on those situations on why the incarceration rate is what it is.

You criticized the governor heavily for not appointing more blacks to judicial posts during his time in office. Do you feel there are more blacks qualified to fill judicial roles than indicated by the number of blacks who actually have judgeships?

I think there are plenty of qualified African Americans who are fit to serve as judges. My appointment shows that the governor did not consider race when appointing judges, that he appointed the most qualified person—and in this case I was the most qualified person.

I’ve heard the argument from people on Barbour’s vetting committee that many of the qualified black attorneys choose instead to focus on private law and making money rather than seeking judgeships.

I haven’t heard anything on that as to why it is what it is. You’ll have to talk to the people in the committee.

I can say this: I had to actually take a pay cut to be a Hinds County Circuit Court Judge. ... I can’t say that all African American lawyers forgo public service to make more money in the private sector, but it is true that a pay cut is often involved in the changeover.

I’ll let other lawyers speak for themselves.

How do you feel about Hinds County’s indigent defense system?

Hinds County has some of the most qualified lawyers serving as public defenders. In my court they’ve always been very professional and they’ve always done an excellent job of watching their cases and arguing on behalf of their clients. Their only problem is that they always have so many cases, that there aren’t enough public defenders to go around.

Do you fear the kind of issues that have affected judges like DeLaughter and attorneys like Dickie Scruggs?

And then there’s attorney Paul Minor and Judges Wes Teel and John Whitfield who all went to jail ultimately over campaign contributions, possibly not even for clear reasons.

I’m not sure if it will be a difficulty.

You’ve just got to continue to be honest. I have great respect for Judge DeLaughter.

Always have. I don’t know his situation personally. But I know for me that it’s important that I am fair to all parties that come before me, and that I continue to be fair and give no favoritism to anybody because of campaign money.

Don’t you worry about your credibility getting attacked for taking campaign favors from either private attorneys or the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

If I do the right thing, I can’t worry about anybody else.

Discuss at jacksonfreepress.com.

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So you can’t really profess to being a fan of rehabilitation over prison, when the situation warrants it?

No, my job now is … to clear the court docket and move cases forward. And hand out appropriate sentences when the situation calls for it.

But did you ever get the impression from many of the African American attorneys that they reject public service for more profitable work in the private sector?

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Commence This • Jackson State University, 8 a.m. at the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium (2531 N. State St.) with guest speaker NBC news anchor and reporter DeMarco Morgan; for more information, call 601-979-2613. Open to the public.

• Mississippi College (undergraduate), 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the A.E. Wood Coliseum (200 S. Capitol, Clinton) with guest speaker Congressman Gregg Harper; for more information, call 601-925-3000. Open to the public.

MAY 7 • Millsaps College, 9:30 a.m. at the Millsaps Bowl located at the center of campus (1701 N. State St.) or at Christ United Methodist Church (6000 Old Canton Road) in the event of rain with guest speaker Former Gov. William F. Winter; call 601-974-1000. Open to the public.

• Mississippi College (nursing), 1:30 p.m. at the Swor Auditorium (200 S. Capitol, Clinton); call 601-925-3000. Open to the public.

• Mississippi College (graduate), 7 p.m. at the A.E. Wood Coliseum (200 S. Capitol, Clinton); call 601-925-3000. Open to the public.

MAY 8 • Belhaven University, 10:30 a.m. at the Thalia Mara Hall (255 E. Pascagoula St.) with guest

MAY 9 • Tougaloo College, 10 a.m. on the Campus Green (500 W. County Line Road) or in the Kroger gymnasium in the event of rain with speaker Michael V. Roberts; for more information, call 601-977-4459.

MAY 13 • Hinds Community College (nursing program), 1 p.m. at Cain-Cochran Hall (500 E. Main St., Raymond); for more information, visit www.hindscc.edu. Open to the public.

• Hinds Community College (allied health programs), 4 p.m. at Cain-Cochran Hall (500 E. Main St., Raymond); for more information, visit www.hindscc.edu. Open to the public.

MAY 14 • Hinds Community College (non-health related programs), 11 a.m. (last names A-K) and 2 p.m. (last names L-Z) at Cain-Cochran Hall (500 E. Main St., Raymond); Open to the public.

• Holmes Community College, 7 p.m. at the Frank B. Branch Coliseum (No. 1 Hill St., Goodman); for more information, call 662-472-2312.

MAY 21 • Jackson Academy, 7 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church (6000 Old Canton Road); call 601-366-2380. Tickets required for attendance.

MAY 27 • Jackson Preparatory School, 7 p.m. at the Thalia Mara Hall (255 E. Pascagoula St.); call 601-939-8611. Open to the public.

• St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, 5:30 p.m. at Lake Sherwood Wise at St. Andrew’s upper school campus (370 Old Agency Road, Ridgeland), in the gym in the event of rain; call 601-853-6000.

Open to the public.

JUNE 1 • Bailey Magnet High School, 2 p.m. at the Mississippi Coliseum (1207 Mississippi St.); for more information, call 601- 960-5343.

Open to the public.

• Callaway High School, 4:45 p.m. at the Mississippi Coliseum (1207 Mississippi St.); for more information, call 601-987-3535.

Open to the public.

• Jim Hill High School, 6 p.m. at the Mississippi Coliseum (1207 Mississippi St.); for more information, call 601-960-5354. Open to the public.

• Wingfield High School, June 1, 3:15 p.m. at the Mississippi Coliseum (1207 Mississippi St.); for more information, call 601-3714350. Open to the public.

JUNE 2 • Forest Hill High School, 2 p.m. at the Mississippi Coliseum (1207 Mississippi St.); for more information, call 601-371-4313. Open to the public.

• Lanier High School, 5 p.m. at the Mississippi Coliseum (1207 Mississippi St.); for more information, call 601-960-5369. Open to the public.

• Murrah High School, 6:30 p.m. at the Mississippi Coliseum (1207 Mississippi St.); for more information, call 601-960-5380. Open to the public.

• Provine High School, 3:30 p.m. at the Mississippi Coliseum (1207 Mississippi St.); for more information, call 601-960-5393. Open to the public.

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speaker Ted Baehr; for more information, call 601-968-5922. Tickets required for attendance.

11

jfp op/ed

opining, grousing & pontificating

EDITORIAL

Fix the Smoking Ban

J

ackson has taken a stand against smoking in public places, joining capital cities across the country that have banned indoor smoking from businesses, restaurants and bars. Health experts have long identified smoking as a serious health issue, and more recently, have found that inhaling second-hand smoke can be just as deadly as lighting up your own cigarette or cigar. Mississippi is now among only 11 states that have not banned indoor smoking statewide.

We applauded the Jackson City Council in July 2008 for finally, after much wrangling, passing a city ordinance banning smoking from the city’s restaurants and most of its bars, in addition to other public places such as stadiums. Neighboring Ridgeland adopted a ban almost a year earlier, and other cities including Madison and Brandon are considering putting bans into place. Such bans encourage good health habits in addition to tourism from outside Mississippi.

The bad news about Jackson’s ban is twofold: First, the city ordinance is unnecessarily confusing, and the city has not communicated well with businesses to aid understanding of the ban. Instead of banning smoking outright in public places, the ordinance lists numerous exceptions to allow smoking in some locations. Stand-alone bars (bars that only sell beverages with less than 5 percent alcohol content), for example, are exempt, along with private clubs and tobacco shops. A purveyor of alcohol would have to understand how Jackson’s ban fits together with Mississippi ABC laws to know whether his or her business is covered under the ban.

As any judge will tell you, though, ignorance of the law is not an excuse to break it. The ordinance is decipherable, barely, and businesses should make the effort to comply with the city ordinance and with the state’s liquor laws.

Second, Jackson is not enforcing the ban, creating an unlevel playing field: Businesses that comply with the ban are potentially losing income to businesses that are not complying. (Whether that non-compliance is intentional or due to ignorance on the part of business owners is beyond the scope of this editorial.) A quick tour on any Saturday night to a selection of Jackson’s night spots is enough to demonstrate the unequal or nonexistent enforcement.

The Mississippi Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control seems to be equally lax in enforcing its regulations. According to state law, any establishment that serves liquor—any alcoholic beverage with 5 percent or more alcohol content—must make a minimum of 25 percent of its revenues with food sales. Again, a quick tour of the city’s liquor-licensed establishments will reveal food sales considerably under the legal limit in some spots.

It’s time to put an end to confusing ordinances and lax enforcement. We urge the Jackson City Council to adopt a less cumbersome smoking ban so that businesses—and law enforcement—are clear about how to comply with the city’s smoking ban, and level the playing field for all.

KEN STIGGERS

Step Into Tomorrow

May 6 - 12, 2010

B

12

oneqweesha Jones: “Welcome to Hair Did University School of Cosmetology and Vocational Studies Pre-Graduation Banquet. Our guest speaker is the honorable Congressman Smokey ‘Robinson’ McBride. Congressman Smokey just arrived from an immigration debate and conference in Washington, D.C.” Smokey ‘Robinson’ McBride: “The title of my brief speech is ‘Steppin’ into Tomorrow.’ I was inspired by a 1974 album and song (‘Steppin’ into Tomorrow’) by jazz great Donald Byrd. The song’s lyrics were simple yet motivational.

Every time I experienced a significant change or challenge in my life, I sang: ‘Steppin’ into tomorrow, I got both feet on the ground! Steppin’ into tomorrow, my destiny is found!’

“That song—with its three-word title and two lines of lyrics—taught me the concept of ‘less is more,’ which may be good or bad. To the graduating class of 2010, before you step into tomorrow, remember those ‘teachable moments’ of yesterday. As you step into tomorrow, be aware that your future employers are watching you on those social media websites. While stepping into tomorrow, develop your critical thinking ability. And when you step into tomorrow, make sure you’re ready to meet the demands of doing more with less, especially if you live in a society that indulges in greed. And when the troubles and other negative-thinking individuals of this world annoy you, sing the positive and motivating lyrics from ‘Steppin’ into Tomorrow.’”

Boneqweesha Jones: “It’s time to step into the banquet room for some good old grub. Let’s eat!”

YOUR TURN

by Jesse Yancy

Tune Up, Mississippi

F

or a long time, I’ve lived uneasily with the disturbing assumption that most of the people I know who love music (and I know a lot of them) either don’t know that the state song of Mississippi is an embarrassment or just shrug it off as one of life’s ironies.

Well, it’s time for all that to change.

People, let me tell you the ugliest open secret in Mississippi: The official song of our state is former Gov. Ross Barnett’s campaign ditty.

For this jingle to be an official symbol for us is almost criminal.

Let’s not get into how this all happened; suffice it to say that when the Legislature made “Go, Mississippi” the state song, the Old Guard was still in place, and for them, Gov. Barnett was a symbol of a poor, downtrodden state standing up to the might of the federal government.

Still and all, Barnett was a hero for all the wrong reasons, and for us to wear his campaign doggerel on our chest is no badge of honor.

The members of the Mississippi Legislature are, for the most part, concerned with more pressing issues than the selection of a state song.

Not only that, an election year is coming up, and while deciding what our state song should be seems innocuous, it’s actually fraught with potential controversy. But because this decision

ultimately rests with them, and it’s up to us, as citizens, to bring the issue to their attention, the first thing to do is to contact your legislators.

Before we get into deciding what it should be, let me point out that our sister state Tennessee has no fewer than six state songs. Both Arkansas and Louisiana have two each. Some state songs you already know by heart; many you’ll know when you hear them. Our state song is obscure (for good reason) and singular, an astonishing fact in the home state of Robert Johnson, Jimmie Rodgers and Elvis Presley. I mention these three because, to me, they represent the three main currents in Mississippi music: blues, country and rock.

Oh, we can bring in any number of other artists, and we could bring in bluegrass, hiphop, what have you. The point I’m trying to make, and I think it’s important, is that Mississippi takes a great, great deal of pride in her music, and for us to have this blot on our escutcheon makes us look bad. It’s a minor point; God knows we have other things to work on, but this is something we all, and I do mean all, can take pride in making better.

It’s going to take time, but let’s tune up.

Jesse Yancy, a long-time editor and awardwinning writer in the Jackson area, is a former chef and caterer who lives in Belhaven.

E-mail letters to letters@jacksonfreepress.com, fax to 601-510-9019, or mail to P.O. Box 5067, Jackson, Miss., 39296. Include daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

Or, write a 300-600-word “Your Turn” and send it by e-mail, fax or mail above with a daytime phone number. All submissions are subject to fact checks.

CASEY PURVIS

The Zen of Gardening

GRANDVIEW A M A LC O T H E AT R E South of Walmart in Madison

EDITORIAL Managing Editor Ronni Mott News Editor Lacey McLaughlin Senior Reporter Adam Lynch Reporter Ward Schaefer Events Editor Latasha Willis Music Listings Editor Herman Snell Assistant to the Editor ShaWanda Jacome Writers Andi Agnew, Lisa Fontaine Bynum, Rob Hamilton, Carl Gibson, Jackie Warren Tatum Anita Modak-Truran,Will Morgan, Larry Morrisey, Andy Muchin, Chris Nolen,Tom Ramsey, Doctor S, Ken Stiggers,Valerie Wells, Byron Wilkes, John Yargo Editorial Interns Will Caves, Jesse Crow, Alexandra Dildy, Deanna Graves, Ashley Hill, Kalissia Veal Consulting Editor JoAnne Prichard Morris

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY Editorial Designer Kristin Brenemen Advertising Designer Lydia Chadwick Production Designer Christi Vivar Editorial Cartoonist Chris Zuga Photographers Tom Beck, Pat Butler, Josh Hailey, Kenya Hudson, Kate Medley, Meredith Norwood, Jaro Vacek, Lizzie Wright Design Interns Ayatti Hatcher, Jessica Millis Photo Intern Wrijoya Roy Founding Art Director Jimmy Mumford

SALES AND OPERATIONS Sales Director Kimberly Griffin Account Executive Randi Ashley Jackson Account Executive and Distribution Manager Adam Perry Accounting Montroe Headd Distribution Clint Dear, Nicole Finch, Aimee Lovell, Michael Jacome, Brooke Jones, Steve Pate Founding Ad Director Stephen Barnette

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The Jackson Free Press welcomes thoughtful opinions. The views expressed in this newspaper are not necessarily those of the publisher or management of Jackson Free Press Inc. © Copyright 2010 Jackson Free Press Inc. All Rights Reserved.

T

he weekend is over. I sit on my back patio, watching the endless parade of squirrels shimmying up trees and trotting across the top of my weathered-wood privacy fence. My arms ache to the bone. They have acquired a new crop of bruises of unknown origin. Now squeaky clean and wet-haired from a recent visit to the bathtub, I am acutely aware of my surroundings. I know that I am happy.

I have safely installed the New Dawn rose bush along the south side of my privacy fence so it can get the sunlight’s full benefits. A little crop of day lilies now resides in a previously desolate bed along the side of the old gray storage shed. The lilies are still alive, their leaves whispering promises of colored blooms in the near future. What colors they will be, they have left to my imagination.

Violas are already cheekily showing their purple, white and yellow blooms. Confederate jasmine, now standing sentinel at the side of the patio, strategizes its future takeover of the deck railing.

This is my backyard, my new obsession. When we bought the dignified house with its cedar siding and original blacklacquered wood shutters, I noticed immediately that the lone dogwood flanked by two crapemyrtles seemed forlorn in the midst of tacky overgrown boxwoods that comprised the only shrubbery on the front of the house. The back yard was no better. The previous owners had obviously prepared the dirt for planting, but someone just never got around to actually planting.

I knew I was going to have to tackle the problem as soon as possible.

Last spring came and went with no outdoor effort from me. I was too busy painting indoors. By the time I even thought about planting, it was too late to do anything about it. The beginning of fall heralded disaster on the Coast for us, in the form of a completely trashed rental house.

I feared we would never be free of this long-distance renovation. Tempers flared, feelings were hurt, apologies followed.

I mourned the interruption of my Fondren renovation. Fondren is home now—this place with its buildings decked out in wacky colors, its scattering of purple wisteria and yellow Lady Banks roses. I couldn’t stop thinking about the plants I envisioned in the ground.

We are finally finished with the house on the Coast.

I have been told it looks great. I wouldn’t know. I haven’t had the opportunity to get down there; and I am not really interested in seeing something that has caused so much stress and misery in my life this past year, a taunting reminder of humanity’s capability to exploit and destroy and lie. Now, I just want to see the “Sold” sign in its front yard.

Poor house!

At some point, I got sick and tired of feeling angry and betrayed. I heard a little voice whisper: “You know what? You still live here. There is beauty in this complicated, nutty world. Get off your hiney and make some.” So, I set out to do that.

I am a gardening novice. I needed some advice—and some plants! My grandmother, a veteran green thumb who has spent practically all her life in dirt making things grow, became a sister-inarms. Flowers and plants became a family affair as Mamaw, Mom and my stepfather Bill (another veteran gardener) walked with me through Mamaw’s yard, digging up day lilies, crapemyrtle, ginger fern and amaryllis.

Back at home, as I pressed my weight into my shovel, a weight lifted from my shoulders. As I placed my plants in the freshly dug earth, communing with the earthworms and grubs, I realized I wasn’t worrying about anything. I was, as the yogic sages like to say, “in the present moment.”

My gardening has spawned other growth. I have “gone local.” The folks at Montgomery Hardware always know what I need and get it for me; they know my face now. Two knowledgeable souls at Green Oak Nursery walked me through the steps of growing a rose bush and selecting the perfect azalea.

Mamaw and I talk often now, and I’ve developed a new appreciation for this strong, dynamic woman. We talk plants and progress to more existential matters. I’ve cultivated a stronger relationship with my grandmother, put money back into my community, established new relationships and dealt with my own emotional baggage.

I just had to get a bit dirty to cleanse my own psyche.

Confederate jasmine, now standing sentinel at the side of the patio, strategizes its future takeover of the deck railing.

CORRECTIONS Association of Alternative Newsweeklies

In the music story “Fusion of Fun,” in the April 9 issue, the writer identified the name of the CD incorrectly. The correct name of the CD is “Might Could Right Quick” not “Might Could Real Quick.” The Jackson Free Press apologizes for the error.

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Visit the web for weekly updates about new and upcoming MS artists Videos, Interviews, Photos, Concert Announcements, Reviews & Monthly Podcast Mississippi Happening proudly supports new music and arts in Mississippi.

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Editor in Chief Donna Ladd Publisher Todd Stauffer

13

Too Little, Too Late?

What the Spill Means for the Gulf Coast

by Lacey McLaughlin and Adam Lynch photos by Jaro Vacek

B

May 6 - 12, 2010

ehind the Silver Slipper Casino in Bay St. Louis, a fleet of commercial fishing boats sits quietly before sunrise on April 30. Even though it’s the last day of oyster season, only a few fishermen are at the Bayou Caddy Marina. A strong 25-mile-per-hour wind is pushing a massive oil spill the size of Rhode Island onto the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Several fishermen fear that this could be the last time that they will have a chance to catch a harvest but don’t want to risk damaging their boats in the rough conditions.

Ten days earlier, an explosion burned and sank the British Petroleum-owned and Transocean-operated Deepwater Horizon oil-drilling rig, killing 11 members of the 126-member crew. The crew was just the beginning, however, and they only comprised the human casualties. The rig is located approximately 40 miles off the Louisiana coast, but the resulting oil jetting up out of the rig’s severed well pipe is crossing that distance quickly.

Today a thin film of grease floats on the waves knocking against the Mississippi River Delta, sticking to everything it touches, cutting off the oxygen, killing.

And more oil is coming.

“We are worried about what is going to happen in the long run,” Eugene Boles, a captain who canceled his oyster trip, says.

“Mississippi already has a high rate of unemployment. … Everyone on these boats represents a couple families; people don’t realize that.”

Boles, a native of Biloxi, says the 2010 oyster season in Mississippi has been hard enough as it is. Heavy rainfall and high 14 bacteria count forced the Department of

Marine Resources to shut down the state’s 17 oyster reefs several times, including three consecutive weeks last December. If the oil makes its way to the Coast, Boles said he hoped to find work with the clean-up crew.

various nicks and scuffs adorn the outside.

Lanasa and his crew, Renee “Toby” Barletter and Steven Barlet, aren’t about to let a little wind stop them. “You may be in for a rough ride, so make sure you hold on

Captain Giles Lansa’s boat “My Sandra” sits at the Bayou Caddy Marina in Bay St. Louis the morning of April 30. He took a Jackson Free Press photographer and reporter out for an oyster run.

As the sun rises, Captain Giles Lanasa arrives at the dock, undeterred by the weather. His rust-stained drudge boat with the words “My Sandra” hand-painted on the side, bears its share of bruises. The front rail dangles off the boat above the water, and

tight,” Barletter tells a Jackson Free Press reporter and photographer. Lanasa pulls out of the bayou with one hand on an old wooden steering wheel while he takes drags off his cigarette with the other. Lanasa, a native of Louisiana, is a fourth-generation fisherman

who has been working on a boat full time since he was 15 years old.

As we head to the Saint Stanislaus reef near the Pass Christian bridge, Lanasa points to a white trash can in the corner. “Throwing up overboard is considered illegal discharge, and the boat will be fined $500,” he says. “If you need to throw up, do it there.”

Barletter appears in the cabin carrying a small portable toilet.

“It’s brand new,” he says. “All you need is a little water to flush it out, and don’t worry—we’ll give you privacy.”

A few minutes later, the photographer hugs the trash can and vomits as waves violently toss the boat back and forth. Lanasa smiles and hands him a Coke.

A strip of gray duct tape is attached on the cabin’s wall with the following inscription: “M-9, T-14, W-15, T-25.” This is how Lanasa keeps track of each day’s harvest. The Department of Marine Resources limits fishermen to 25 sacks per trip, and each sack weighs about 105 pounds. He sells each sack for $30 back at the marina, where a distributor then takes the oysters to retailers.

Lanasa says he could make more money if he “cut the middle man out” and took the oysters to the retailers himself. But to do so, he would need a refrigerated truck.

When the boat arrives at the Saint Stanislaus reef, the two deck hands lower the dredge into the water. Lanasa then makes smooth and precise circles with the boat, careful not to go too fast or too slow.

The dredge, a cast-iron basket attached to a toothed bar, scrapes the bottom of the reef; an automatic crank raises the dredge up by a chain. Oysters fall onto a table, and the deck hands fiercely break the oysters off clusters of barnacles and other shells using a culling hammer. Barletter and Barlet fill burlap

Renee “Toby” Barletter (left) and Steven Bartlet (right) use culling tools to pry oysters from shells and barnacles on the “My Sandra” April 30. They worried it would be their last oyster run.

Oil- Rigged Politics News media insisted on using words like “might” and “possibly” during the first week after the explosion when describing the likelihood of the oil slick’s contact with the shores of the Gulf Coast.

They were being optimistic.

By April 29, federal officials upgraded BP’s initial assessment of the oil flow gushing into the Gulf to about 5,000 barrels, or 200,000 gallons, a day. At that rate, the spill could surpass the damage of the worst recorded oil spill in U.S. history.

In 1989, a grounded tanker, the Exxon Valdez dumped 11 million gallons of crude oil in Alaska’s Prince William Sound, costing $2.1 billion to clean.

At the end of last week, it was clear that this was not a spill comparable to the sludge dumping out of a stricken tanker. A leaking oil tanker stops leaking oil when the tank runs dry, but this is oil straight out of the black heart of the Carboniferous Age. This well could go on for a long time, containing some of the most prolific sweet crude available in the Gulf Coast.

British Petroleum told reporters last week that they predicted having the leak stopped within three months. At the current rate, that’s 18 million gallons, surpassing the 11 million gallons bequeathed by Exxon to Prince William Sound in 1989, costing $2.1 billion to clean up.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano declared the spill from the oil well of “national significance,” at an April 29 press conference, and said 16 federal agencies are already involved and more U.S. resources on the way to contain the spill. The U.S. government set up command centers on the Gulf Coast, and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has suddenly ordered inspections of all deepwater rigs in the Gulf. “We expect industry to be fully complying with the law,” Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes told reporters at the April 29 briefing.

But laws are only as good as the legislators that make them, said Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen’s Energy Program, and legislators don’t always see the potential oil spill on the horizon until it’s between their toes. The devastated $700 million BP rig could have had a remote safety valve that might have cut off the oil before it went down, Slocum told the Jackson Free Press.

The valves can be found on oil rigs off the coast of Norway and other countries, but no U.S. law requires them in U.S. waters.

“That’s because BP actively fought these regulation because they said it would cost too much. That is the knee-jerk reaction by any industry when faced with government regulation trying to address workplace safety or environmental protection,” Slocum said.

“They say this regulation costs too much, and now we’re learning tragically here what comes of that.”

The lax requirement serves no good interest, Slocum said, adding that British Petroleum’s safety record is abysmal.

Gov. Haley Barbour downplayed the oil’s threat to the Coast during a press conference in Gulfport Friday. He assured the public that as the responsible party, BP would pay for all cleanup efforts and was doing everything in its power to stop the oil well from leaking.

“About 60 percent of the spill is sheen; it’s a microscopic film on the surface. It’s light, and its exposure to the air and the waves dissolve it,” he said.

“I want to assure people on the Coast that everything is being done to keep the oil slick from landing on the barrier islands or getting into the sound,” he added.

Barbour, a long-time proponent of offshore drilling, said 70,000 feet of boom would be in place to keep a “light sheen” from impacting the Coast. He said he was “optimistic” that the sheen would pass over oyster beds and would have little impact on marine life, claiming that most marine animals would “swim away” from the oil.

The governor ended the press con-

ference saying that his “position hasn’t changed” on domestic drilling.

Twelve Miles Isn’t Enough The next day, Mississippi Sierra Club Director Louie Miller criticized Barbour’s response to the situation during a press conference, calling the oil spill “America’s Chernobyl” after the 1986 nuclear power plant disaster in Ukraine.

“This is going to destroy the Gulf Coast as we know it,” Miller said. “We are not getting the response that we asked for.

The governor yesterday took what I thought was a lackadaisical attitude, calling it a little sheen on the water.”

Last weekend Miller reunited with members from the 12-Mile South Coalition, a group that successfully fought to stave off the expansion of oil and gas drilling rigs within sight of the Biloxi and Gulfport beaches in 2005. The members, now called the Better Mississippi Group, called on a better government response to prevent the oil from reaching the shoreline. Miller said he now believes that 12 miles isn’t far enough, or 80 miles for that matter.

“The burning is not working. The booms are not working,” he said. “What we are doing is asking Obama to militarize the response. I think this is a time that the administration takes a serious look at a clean energy future. If there were windmills out there 12 miles south, if they broke, we wouldn’t be in an economic disaster.”

U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, one of Mississippi’s most powerful Republicans, inserted language in an April 2005 emergency OIL SPILL, see page 16

jacksonfreepress.com

sacks with the oysters, repeating the process for four hours without taking a break.

Lanasa is quick to site DMR regulations and keeps a watchful eye for violations.

Last year, he received a $500 fine for not returning required paperwork stating the number of people on board and the amount of oysters caught.

“You lose three days worth of work right there,” he says.

“You lose a day’s catch, get a $500 fine and have to take a day off to go to court.”

Lanasa can’t afford another fine, especially because this year’s season has been one of the worst he can remember. He pays $100 a day in fuel costs, and pays the deckhands $100 each per day. On days that he doesn’t meet the 25-sack quota, he feels the pinch.

“When it’s good it’s good, and when it’s bad it’s bad,” he says.

For the first few hours of the trip, Lanasa is quiet about the potential impact of the oil spill on his livelihood.

As oyster boats circle the reef, the United States Coast Guard places booms under the CSX train trestle over the St. Louis Bay a few hundred feet away.

15

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military spending and tsunami relief bill ordering the Department of Interior to allow exploration in the Gulf Islands National Seashore encompassing the barrier islands, and allow directional drilling beneath it.

Cochran’s language sweetened the deal for Mississippi by granting it the mineral rights to the territory, but also gave energy companies like Exxon-Mobil the ability to seismicly explore for oil and gas inside the park.

Environmentalists reacted harshly, pointing out that the park contains the state’s largest population of bottlenose dolphins.

Research shows sea mammals like dolphins, which use sonar for navigation and hunting, can suffer injury to their sensitive ears from the resultant shock waves of seismic exploration.

Cochran’s office wrote in 2005 that he inserted the language to “remove the cloud of confusion over who owns the mineral rights to the Mississippi barrier islands.” His office also fluffed over the insertion, arguing that the language would allow “the National Park Service to continue its good work in preserving the natural and historic features of the Gulf Island National Seashore.”

The timeliness of the inserted language drew suspicion because it followed a state law, approved by the Mississippi Legislature in 2004, allowing the state to shift the responsibility for regulating offshore exploration and seismic testing from the more tightly regulated Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to the anythingbut-regulated—and very pro-business— Mississippi Development Authority, which is completely under the control of Republican Gov. Haley Barbour. Barbour, by his own statements, was a fan of “drill, baby, drill” long before it became a 2008 political slogan.

Cochran’s timing prompted many members of the state’s environmental community to suspect Barbour had pushed Cochran into making the insertion. Barbour never admitted to the accusation, but remains an advocate of more domestic drilling to offset fuel imports from other nations.

The Jackson Free Press was down in Gulfport covering the 12-Mile South Coalition’s August 2005 anti-drill rally at the Coast Coliseum and Convention Center days before Katrina came ashore and made the fight a moot point.

Nothing has legally changed since 2005: The state and federal language still make rig expansion into the Barrier Islands possible, and tourism industry and environmental advocates are still wary of gas and oil rigs sticking their probes into federal park waters.

But attitudes regarding offshore oil prospecting may be about to change.

industry that will be impacted by the spill.

“My fear is that it will be a miserable, slow kind of death for the water,” Skrmetta told the Jackson Free Press. “This, I think, could spell the painful death of multiple industries in the area. Tourists don’t come to sludge-covered waters. They don’t come to look at empty bird nests because all the chicks have died and their parents have starved or moved on because of oil covering the area and killing the fish. Only reporters come to see that kind of thing.”

Skrmetta speaks with a fearful sense of loss when he talks of the inbound sea of oil constantly flooding the northern area of the Mississippi Gulf and his precious Barrier Islands. Skrmetta, as a representative of the tourism industry, joined with the casino lobby in 2005 to press the importance of keeping the skeletal-looking iron lumps out of the viewable range of patrons on the beach and visitors to the Barrier Islands.

The captain wiped tears away from his face as he discussed the potential for the oil spill to destroy the Coast’s entire way of life.

Skrmetta’s great-grandfather was an oyster and shrimp boat captain who spent summers taking tourists to Ship Island. He fears there will be no future in the business for his sons or grandchildren.

At age 23, while working as a deckhand on an oil-supply ship out of Louisiana, Skrmetta remembers when the ship accidently spilled 8,000 gallons of oil into the Gulf in the middle of the night.

“It wasn’t reported, it wasn’t logged, and that used to be common,” he said.

“Things have changed. … It was in the 1970s. But it shows you the types of things that can happen.”

After that incident, Skrmetta left the supply ship and decided to join the family business.

Skrmetta called on the government or BP to invest in HESCO container units, a cellular wall system made of rebar and a geotextile liner that could stop the oil from seeping into the coastline and marshes. He said that if the wall system was filled with sand and a solution called C.I.Agent that

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Captain Louis Skrmetta, owner and operator of Gulfport’s Ship Island Excursions, which runs daily trips out to Mississippi’s Barrier Islands, invited the press and activists on his charter boat Saturday to call attention to the local tourism and fishing

Boat Captain Giles Lanasa has worked on a boat since age 15.

wasteful and pointless, caved to the industry and their supporters in the House and Senate this year, proposing a compromise that tickles oil companies and domestic drilling advocates, while sending environmentalists and the seafood industry into a tizzy.

Obama suggested that the long-time moratorium on oil exploration along the East Coast from northern Delaware to the coast of Florida should be canceled. His plan would allow no oil or gas activity along the coastline north from New Jersey or along the Pacific Coast, from the Canadian border down to Mexico.

The plan, which covers 2012 through 2017, opens the coasts of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and part of Florida’s eastern seaboard to exploration and possible drilling. It also opens the drilling door to 130 million acres of the sensitive northern coast of Alaska in the Chuckchi and Beaufort Seas.

Renee “Toby” Barletter (left) and Eugene Boles discuss possible job prospects helping clean up oil if the spill forces them to give up fishing.

turns oil into an inert substance, it could drastically reduce the impact of the oil on the Coast and cost less in the long run.

BP said Sunday, however, that the company will address cleanup efforts when the spill reaches the coastline, but will continue to disperse booms. The governor hasn’t made any indication that state funds will be used for cleanup efforts.

Disaster in the Making Public Citizen released an April 29, 2010, statement pointing out that BP has paid $485 million in fines and settlements to the U.S. government for environmental crimes, neglect of worker safety and even for manipulating the U.S. energy market.

In 2005, for example, 15 workers died in an explosion at a BP refinery in Texas. The company paid $87.4 million to the government last year—the biggest settlement in Occupational Safety and Health Administration history—for willful negligence in the months leading up to the explosion, as well as an extra $50 million to the Department of Justice.

As recently as this past March, the company paid OSHA $3 million for 42 safety violations at an Ohio refinery. Back in 2006, the company paid $20 million to settle allegations that the company violated the Clean Water Act after neglecting one of its major oil pipelines in Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay. “But then there was the market manipulation stuff,” Slocum said. “They paid a $303 million fine to the federal government for single-handedly cornering the propane market and another $20 million for helping to manipulate the electricity markets in California, along with ENRON. This is a

company with a track record for repeat violations of federal laws and statutes. If this was an individual, their three strikes would have happened a long time ago and they’d be in jail. But it’s a corporation, and they operate by a different set of rules, and they continue to operate, and it’s really quite tragic.”

The $485 million in fines and settlements over the last five years hardly make a dent when the company is raking in the kind of money it generates. London business periodical The Street reported April 27 that BP, which is the second-largest oil company in Europe, reported profits in the first quarter of $6.08 billion compared to year-earlier profits of $2.56 billion.

BP’s American press office said it began drilling a relief well to intercept the oil gushing out of the ruptured well last Sunday. The company is injecting dispersants into the oil flow near the main leak on the seabed in an attempt to break up oil accumulation and degrade them. The company is also building a containment canopy to lower over the leak and connect a pipe, to channel the flow of oil to the surface where it can be safely stored on a vessel.

BP said May 4 that it expects to install the first canopy within a week. Using the dispersants under the water is a new tactic, and biologists fear the chemicals could be harmful to marine life. Last week, BP said it could take as long as 90 days to plug the well, which is now leaking approximately 200,000 gallons of oil into the gulf per day.

It’s not hard to see the oil industry’s influence in the way politics comes together in America. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., echoed the very words of the industry when she complained last year that the proposed Clean Air Act should not be applied to

carbon-dioxide emissions, and collaborated with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, last year to keep it that way.

“To regulate carbon emissions with the Clean Air Act would be to jam a square peg into a round hole,” Landrieu told the TimesPicayune in January. “This act is a blunt instrument not suited to the job. I fear that the result would be poorly designed regulations that damage our economy, lead to great investment uncertainty, and not do enough to enhance energy security and reduce the risks of climate change.”

It’s not the first time she echoed the desire of the industry. Last year, Landrieu— whose state is getting a heaping helping of oil-based muck along its wetland shoreline this week—signed onto Senate Bill 1517, which also allowed drilling near Pensacola, Fla., and an area off the coast of Alabama.

In 2006, Landrieu joined forces with Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., to push through the “Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act,” which opened 8.3 million acres of the Gulf Coast for drilling. This bill marked the first time in a quarter-century that a portion of the outer continental shelf had been opened to energy exploration, and made it possible to dig an oil-filled hole in the middle of the nation’s shrimp and oyster industry.

Government watchdog group Open Secrets.org reveals that the oil and gas lobby contributed $364,950 to her campaign between 2005 and the 2010 election year.

Even President Barack Obama, who campaigned against the idea of opening new U.S. waters to oil and gas prospecting as

As the news continues to report oil moving into the Louisiana wetlands, it’s hard to hear many “drill, baby, drill” chants emanating from offshore-drilling proponents there. The people who depend upon those wetlands for their livelihoods, however, are just getting cranked up.

Gulf Oyster Industry Council member and Bay St. Louis oyster fisherman Keath Ladner says he fears the worst.

“The oyster can’t get up and move like the shrimp or the fish, so all he can do is wait for the oil to come floating in over his head.

He’s a filter feeder, so he’ll get contaminated.

If he gets too much, it’ll kill him,” Ladner said, while adding that the industry already spent much of the season closed down because of the heavy rains pounding the area.

This year, torrential rains spilled into the Mississippi River, flooding the oyster reefs with a surplus of fresh water, which could lead to bacterial infection in the mollusks. Ladner said an oyster can handle complete freshwater for about 20 days and stay alive, but not without the possibility of collecting too much bacteria. Nobody needs to eat a raw oyster with a bacterial infection, so government regulators closed down oystering for much of the season, taking a toll on business. Now, however, the industry must deal with not-so-sweet crude slipping in silently from the deep sea.

Jessie Pettis, co-owner of D.L. Pettis & Son Seafood Shop in Moss Point, said she expected the oyster industry to take huge losses if the oil made it all the way to the oyster reefs.

“This oil spill could put the industry in Mississippi completely out of business,” Pettis told the Jackson Free Press. “We’ve already been shutting down for most of the season because of all the bacterial infection in the oysters. It’s been rough the whole year.

My husband was born and raised on catchOIL SPILL, see page 18

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prices on the Mississippi coast averaged $1.15 a pound, compared to just 95 cents the previous year, despite competition from Asian distributors. The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources says the entire shrimp, oyster and seafood industry in Mississippi generated $205 million for the state in 2009. It was not willing to speculate how much seafood costs could go up as a result of deceased harvests resulting from hydrocarbon poisoning.

The problem of oil in the Gulf goes far beyond the price of the shrimp in your Popeye’s basket, however.

The mouth of the Mississippi River Delta and the wetlands behind it had been growing for thousands of years as the Mississippi River carried its load of sediment down from the North American continent.

In the 1930s, the area looked enough like a jungle to serve as a setting for Tarzan movies.

The region has been sinking for 100 years, however, as human construction put an end to the seasonal flooding of the Mississippi River and the scooping of river sediment that followed. Between 1974 and 1990 the land-loss rate in the Mississippi River Delta Basin averaged 1,072 acres per year, or 1.69 percent of existing land area. Between the LACEY MCLAUGHLIN

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ing oysters, but we didn’t even have oysters this Christmas. This thing here, this thing could kill what’s left of the business.”

The U.S. marine aquaculture industry is relatively small compared with overall world aquaculture production.

Total U.S. production is approximately $1 billion annually, compared to world aquaculture production of about $70 billion. However, the largest single sector of the U.S. industry is mollusk and shellfish culture (oysters, clams and mussels), which accounts for about two-thirds of total U.S. production, followed by salmon (about 25 percent) and shrimp (about 10 percent).

Mississippi’s oyster fishery is still recovering from the devastation of 90 percent to 95 percent of the oysters by Hurricane Katrina, but the total value of the output of economic goods directly produced by the Mississippi commercial oyster industry reached more than $2.76 million.

That figure generates a total economic impact of $12.17 million for the state, as the oysters change hands from boatman to waiter. The industry created 99 jobs and generated employee compensation, proprietor income and property income amounting to $2.97 million, according to Ben Posadas, associate professor of economics at Mississippi State University.

Louisiana, the nation’s most productive state for oysters, produces a third of all oysters produced in the U.S. with 13 million pounds of oysters each year, valued at about $35 million to $40 million in dockside value. Follow that $35 million or so through the marketplace, and it comes out to be more than a $300 million impact for the state. It’s a significant part of the economy, but those numbers in both Louisiana and Mississippi could change soon courtesy of British Petroleum.

“It depends upon the toxicity of the oil,” said Patrick Banks, oyster program manager with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

“There are fractions of the oil that are more toxic than the others. The fractions that are water-soluble … could easily get down to the oysters and contaminate them.

But the good news is this oil has been mixed with millions of gallons of water before it reached our shorelines. I’m hoping it’s so diluted it won’t be quite as big of a problem, but I don’t know this right yet.”

The timing of the spill represents a challenge, Banks said, because the oysters are just now getting ready to spawn, which could affect oyster production for many generations to come: “The toxicity level can have a far-reaching impact on the reproductive ability of the adults and the health of the larvae as well.”

The shrimp industry is a vital part of Mississippi’s coastal development. Dockside value of Mississippi’s annual shrimp harvest, according to National Marine Fisheries Service statistics, averages $30 million.

Mississippi’s annual commercial catch averages approximately 16.7 million pounds.

In 2007, early-season wholesale shrimp

Louis Skrmetta, owner of Gulfport’s Ship Island Excursions, is worried that his business could go bankrupt.

mid-1950s and 1974, the estimated land loss rate for the basin was 2,890 acres per year. The total land area lost in this basin over the last 60 years has been approximately 113,300 acres.

Despite the shrinking territory, more than 260 species of birds inhabit the area, including skimmers, plovers and terns.

Other migrating birds, including Sanderlings, drop by on their trip from the Arctic to South America. Osprey, pelicans and bald eagles also inhabit the area, but the pelican nesting season starts in the area within two weeks, said Mark LaSalle with Audubon Mississippi’s Moss Point field office.

“I’ve never personally experienced something this devastating before,” LaSalle

told the Jackson Free Press. “Our main concern is that any oil hitting the beaches or marshes would impact the upcoming breeding season of a lot of birds. Many of them are already sitting out there. We have record numbers of pelicans getting ready for mating season. We’re on the cusp of the breeding season for a wide range of birds. … These birds are seabirds that depend on shrimp and fish, which may already be impacted (by the oil).”

The human feeders certainly appear convinced that the shrimp and oysters are doomed. Ladner said regulators are allowing shrimpers and oyster boats to scour the bay in an attempt to nab all the viable shrimp and fish they can—as if the catch will not be there tomorrow, and on May 3, NOAA closed commercial fishing in the spill-affected area, from Louisiana to east of Pensacola Bay in Florida in U.S. Gulf waters.

Spill, Baby, Spill Slocum said advocates of these industries and the environment will likely bring a change of heart to the national attitude toward oil speculation in the Gulf. He cited Landrieu as an example.

“Mary Landrieu is a Democrat from Louisiana who is usually very open about prioritizing the needs of the oil and gas sector. I understand they have a presence in her state, but there are also a lot of fishermen in her state, and a lot of people who enjoy a pristine coastal ecosystem that is going to be directly threatened by this,” Slocum said.

“That’s the issue we have. We’re not trying to say oil companies are evil, but sometimes their economic interests are prioritized above competing economic interests of people living in an area that will be negatively

impacted by mishaps and negligence.”

Miller said the lesson in oil drilling oversight is coming too late, as it always does, in his opinion.

“It’s ugly. It’s absolutely ugly. This country doesn’t learn anything unless it’s in a catastrophic situation and unfortunately that’s what we’re about to witness,” Miller said in an April 28 interview.

“There’s a reason (Florida Gov.) Charlie Crist said basically ‘f*ck drilling’ after getting off a fly-over of the spreading oil slick. He was soft-pedaling originally on the issue.

He was saying (he was OK with drilling in Florida water) if it’s far enough away and clean enough. We’ve been lulled into a false sense of security by oil companies and their minion cheerleaders like Newt Gingrich and Sarah, ‘drill, baby, drill,’ Palin, and we’re fixing to extend an invitation to Haley Barbour to bring his buddies down here and get a load of this.”

Miller compared BP’s and the federal government’s attempt to corral the floating muck and burn it off to “pissing on a brush fire.”

“Good luck,” he said. “You’ve got 200,000 gallons coming out at a time.

There’s no way you can burn it off. It’s coming off 100 times the rate you can burn it off. The whole Obama administration, because they’re listening to BP, has completely underestimated the gravity of this situation, and it is turning into a Katrina-like situation where they go ‘oh, the levee broke, so we’re throwing some sand bags on it,’ and the next thing you know 80 percent of fricking New Orleans is under water.

“They’re not sending the resources.

They’re just now beginning to getting the dispersants and the skimmers, and that’s really the only damn thing they’re doing.”

Miller thought for a moment, then added: “Personally, I want (the oil) to hit the panhandle of Florida where all the Republicans have their beach houses and can go out and step on tar balls for the next five years and wonder how this happened. Of course, it happened, they’ll say, because Obama’s in office.”

Slocum agreed that the Obama administration may have not been “on top of this the way they should have been.”

“It’s unclear as to whether the responsibility lies with the president or the companies involved. With Katrina it was very clear that there were failures from the local level all the way up to federal government, and they didn’t respond quickly enough to the crisis when most folks saw it coming from a mile away. I think we need to have an investigation. (The U.S. Department of Interior’s Minerals Management Service), which has direct oversight of these offshore rigs, claims they were just out to that same rig a month ago. We need to make sure if this was lax oversight or human mechanical error.”

Slocum added that it did not appear Obama played a role in knocking down tough oil-drilling regulations, which he said happened during the Bush administration.

He criticized the president for not reversing Bush’s regulation removal, however.

“Obviously, there was not a rule-making in the works to undo some of these decisions from the Bush era, but I think calling this Obama’s Katrina would be premature.

But there’s no question that we need a full investigation to determine how this occurred and where the lapses were,” Slocum said. “The Coast Guard agreed that the spill

was five times less than what they said more recently. What’s the reason for that discrepancy, incompetence from the government or what?”

The federal government is already painting a target on BP. During the same press conference in which Napolitano admitted to the new figure on the oil-spill rate, she was also quick to inform reporters that BP will have to pay the costs associated with an oil spill, as required by law. Napolitano said she and other administration officials are touring the region.

Bloomberg reported Aug. 29 that Carol Browner, the president’s adviser for energy and climate change, said the administration is putting government resources into helping stem pollution and has asked BP to consult with the Department of Defense to determine whether the military has any kind of technology that is useful in containing the spill that may be better than what the private sector has to offer.

But the government, Napolitano emphasized, will make sure the taxpayers are reimbursed. BP is required to cover the spill by law, according to the 1990 Oil Pollution Act, drafted after the Exxon Valdez.

The Exxon Valdez spill may prove an unfortunate test case on how far along human technology has come in cleaning up oceangoing sludge—which is still done with buckets and soap in many cases.

Pam Brodie, chairwoman of the Sierra Club of Alaska, said Exxon has been very good at fighting lawsuits in the Exxon Valdez affair, despite the disaster appearing to be a clear case of negligence. Joseph Hazelwood, the ship’s captain, was legally intoxiOIL SPILL, see page 21

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Deckhand Steven Barlet loads sacks of oysters onto a distributor’s conveyer belt after a full day’s catch.

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cated at the time, and handed the wheel to subordinates as it navigated rocky waters of Prince William Sound.

The state and federal government settled a lawsuit with the company out of court fairly quickly after the spill, for the amount of $1.1 billion, paid out over 10 years. It was a controversial decision, with the Sierra Club complaining at the time that the company was ultimately cheating the government and avoiding accounting for inflation over that 10-year period.

That quick settlement, however, spared the government from going through the 20-year legal wrangle of fishermen and fish processing companies who filed a civil suit against the company for the same spill.

A federal jury in Anchorage found Exxon responsible for the damage in 1994, awarding $287 million in damages and $5 billion in punitive damages. Exxon successfully appealed that to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that the company had already paid the U.S. government a hefty amount of cash for the damage. The matter bounced back and forth between the U.S. District Court in Alaska and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, which in 2007 finally cut the punitive award to $2.5 billion. Eventually, the plaintiffs dragged the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which capped the punitive award at $507.5 million in a 5-3 ruling in 2008.

“It started out as a $5 billion settlement, but kept getting cut down and cut down.

And then there was the question of whether Exxon owed interest on the settlement, and we’re not even sure if that is completely settled at this point, but after 20 years it was a much, much smaller amount than people thought they were going to get,” Brodie said.

Brodie said the fishing industry in Prince William Sound still hasn’t recovered since the 1991 devastation.

“Fishing was a tremendously profitable industry at the time of the spill, and it has lost in value, but that may not be entirely a result of the spill,” said Brodie, who worked with the Sierra Club in 1989 as clean-up workers pulled thousands of dead oil-covered animals from the devastated water. “ … A lot of that also had to do with fish farms that lowered the price of

Gov. Haley Barbour speaks with Department of Marine Resources Executive Director Dr. Bill Walker before a press conference in Gulfport the afternoon of Friday. April 30.

salmon. It’s like when Kennedy was assassinated when everything went wrong.”

The oil, she said, is still there in places, even after 20 years: “Go to Prince William Sound, and it’s stunningly beautiful. Tourism can’t see the difference, but if people go kayaking, and they camp in the sheltered (beaches) and dig down in the sand for a foot, there’s oil that seems unchanged for 20 years. Some species recovered very quickly, while others have taken longer.”

Both Brodie and Slocum appeared convinced that the damage in the gulf will sway the nation’s opinion to be in favor of more oversight for oil drilling, which would be a far jump from where public opinion has been for the last decade.

“We’ve got political rhetoric in this country that government is bad. Barack Obama was called, by reputable political leaders, a ‘socialist’ for advocating a role for government in the economy, which is preposterous, but that’s what it comes down to. It comes down to corporations who have a vested financial interest in having as weak a regulatory oversight over their operations as possible,” Slocum said. “… It comes down to short-term financial benefits for the industry from lobbying Congress to avoid basic regulations, and

the long-term costs to public safety and health. All of this could have been avoided if we had a political apparatus and a regulatory apparatus that was responsible, that was not swayed by nonsensical rhetoric that is just a front for corporate interests.”

Learning to Adapt Lanasa, like other fishermen on the Coast, has learned to adapt when tragedy strikes. During Hurricane Katrina he drove his boat 17 hours north on the Mississippi River. When he came back to Bay St. Louis he hoped to use his boat to clear debris out of the water but learned his boat didn’t meet federal requirements for debris clean up. Since the oyster beds were badly damaged, he went to work at a shipyard as a welder for two years—a job he disliked.

“Here, I get to be my own boss,” he says on his boat April 30. “I’ve got nobody to report to. I don’t have to work hard so someone else can take all the credit.”

As the sacks pile up on the back on the boat, Lanasa gets a phone call from a friend who says officials from DMR and The Department of Environmental Quality are meeting to determine if the oil has contaminated the oysters. If so, Lanasa would

have to return his oysters to the reef.

He grows nervous at the prospect.

“I ain’t going to dump them,” he said defiantly. “Is the DMR going to reimburse me? Are they going to pay my deckhands for a full day’s work?”

Since the oil spill, rumors abound about jobs for fishermen for clean-up efforts, potential wealth from joining a class-action lawsuit against BP and new regulations for fishing off the Gulf Coast.

It isn’t clear if the phone call is just another anxiety-filled rumor or a serious threat.

A few minutes later, however, Lanasa’s friend calls again, telling him that he can keep the day’s catch.

Satisfied with the news, Lanasa returns back to the marina with 25 sacks. A group of fishermen and deckhands greets him at the dock as he loads the sacks onto a conveyer belt for distribution. Barletter calls family members telling them to come pick up a sack. “Who knows when we’ll see this many oysters again?” he says.

Even though oyster season is ending, Lanasa uses his boat for shrimping during the summers, and it’s his sole source of income. He brushes off questions about the spill, saying, “There is no telling what will happen with that oil, only time will tell.”

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Freelance Writers Wanted! the Jackson Free Press is looking for freelance writers to cover events, food, sports, personalities, local businesses and weddings.

E-mail writing samples to: ronni@jacksonfreepress.com

By Lisa LaFontaine Bynum

Filling that Empty Place

G

rowing up, I was one of those nerdy kids with big pink glasses and a bad perm that brought her lunch to school everyday. What a treat it was to open the lid of my Charlie Brown lunch box and discover my Mom had packed my favorite lunch: a cheese sandwich, which was nothing more that a Kraft single between two slices of buttered white bread (something that actually sounds quite disgusting to me now), a mixed fruit cup and a Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pie. Oatmeal creme pies were one of my favorite snacks as a child. I could eat three or four at a time. My mom used to hide them in the freezer thinking that would deter me from sneaking an extra cookie or two. Little did she know, I liked them better frozen and I would risk breaking a tooth just the have one.

Then came puberty with raging hormones and the need to look and act cool. Suddenly, bringing your lunch was forbidden, even though my mother’s cheese sandwich was infinitely better than the greymatter burgers and greasy fries served in the

school cafeteria. My favorite childhood snack was a no-no lest my new jeans not fit just right or my face break out in monster zits.

Little Debbie was banished from my life indefinitely, and in an effort to cope with the empty place in my heart (and my stomach), I pushed her from my mind completely.

Fast forward almost 20 years. “Cool” by definition has become a matter of opinion and the need to impress is significantly less important than it was when I was 12. I have begun to welcome ole Deb back into the fold and she has graciously forgiven me for the snub so many years ago.

These cookies are a variation of my childhood favorite with the addition of another yummy ingredient: peanut butter.

Ten minutes may not seem like enough cooking time, but you are aiming for soft, chewy cookies. Because these cookies are slightly chewier than the traditional oatmeal creme pies, I would refrain from eating them frozen (or you really will crack a tooth). They are best when served with a glass of ice-cold milk.

XXXX

PEANUT BUTTER OATMEAL CRÈME COOKIES

Cookies: 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup quick-cooking oats

May 6 - 12, 2010

Filling: 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted 3 tablespoons heavy cream

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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a larger, separate bowl, cream together the butter, peanut butter and sugars on mediumhigh speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Blend

in the egg and vanilla extract. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix on low speed just until incorporated. Stir in the oats until evenly blended.

Form cookies by scooping out about two tablespoons of cookie dough, rolling each portion into a ball, and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet (line with parchment paper for easy clean-up.) Allow about two inches between each cookie. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes, rotating the sheet halfway through for more even baking.

The cookies will be light golden brown and slightly puffed. Let cool on the baking sheet 5 minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack to cool. Once the cookies have cooled completely, pair them up by size.

To make the filling, cream together the butter, peanut butter, and confectioners’ sugar in a bowl using an electric mixer.

Mix in the heavy cream until smooth and fluffy. Spoon about one tablespoon of the filling onto one side of the cookie. Top with the other cookie and press down so that the filling reaches the edges.

Makes 18 cookies.

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by Will Caves

Cookin’ for Mom eing a mother herself, Faye Dickerson knows that things can get stressful on Mother’s Day. All that a mom wants to do is sit back and relax, though most times she ends up preparing a meal for herself and her family. Dickerson believes that mothers should be taken care of on their special day, and that one of the ways to do that is to take care of the food for her.

“You don’t need any sort of experience to cook,” Dickerson says. “All you need are some directions.”

Dickerson is all about local people.

Born in Natchitoches, La., she moved to Clinton in 1960 for her husband’s job, and has been a staple of the community ever since. She describes volunteering as a passion. Retiring after 40 years with Miller Transport, Dickerson immediately went from volunteering part time to working full time with various ministries around Clinton, most notably the food pantry at her church, Morrison Heights Baptist and Meals on Wheels. She also volunteers at the Clinton Visitor’s Center and helps out local college students by altering clothes for them.

One thing Dickerson loves almost as much as volunteering is cooking. “I didn’t really cook when I got married,” she says. “I had to teach myself. I was unsure at first, but I knew that if I could read, I could cook.”

Dickerson explained that since she had

to teach herself, she never learned how to do Southern cooking. “I really just experimented. I would put things in that seemed like they would go well together, and I just really wouldn’t worry about it,” she says. “If I messed up, no big deal; I could always just start over.”

Dickerson and her husband, Charles, have two married children: Dena, who also lives in Clinton, and Chuck, who lives in Vicksburg. Dickerson also enjoys reading and sewing. She has hundreds of books in her home, and loves to read anything she can get her hands on. Her favorite read is the Bible, which she has read cover to cover multiple times.

These are some of Dickerson’s favorite easy dishes. She explains that anyone, even someone who has never been in a kitchen before, can prepare them.

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WILL CAVES

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1 package 10 inch round flour tortillas 1 box strawberry gelatin dessert (8serving size) 1 cup boiling water 1 20 ounce can of crushed pineapple 3-4 ripe bananas (smashed) 1/2 cup pecans 1 pint fresh strawberries (can substitute 4 cups frozen strawberries if fresh not available)

Combine gelatin with boiling water. Mash bananas well and add them along with all the other ingredients into the gelatin. Transfer mixture to gelatin mold and refrigerate overnight. Serve.

(10-15 per package) 1 ounce package of cream cheese 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1 package thin-sliced ham 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning

Soften the cream cheese at room temperature. Mix cream cheese with mayo until it is “spreadable.” Sprinkle Cajun seasoning into mixture. Spread a thin layer of the mixture on each tortilla. Spread ham over tortillas, making sure that the ham is away from the edges of the tortilla. Roll tortillas and ham, and refrigerate overnight. Take out of fridge just prior to serving, and slice the rolls about two finger-widths wide. Serve.

SWEET ITALIAN MEATBALLS

May 6 - 12, 2010

1 package frozen Italian meatballs (50-60 count) 1 18-ounce bottle of sweet barbecue sauce 1 16-ounce jar of grape jelly

24

Heat jelly until it melts, then mix with barbecue sauce. Thaw meatballs, and put all together in a crock-pot. Heat to simmering.

Serve.

FRUIT SALAD 1 cup strawberries 1 cup grapes 1 cup kiwi 1 large package salad greens Raspberry vinaigrette

Cut all fruit into bite size pieces.

Add to bowl with mixed greens. Toss with vinaigrette. Serve.

25

jacksonfreepress.com

by Ashley Hill

Mother’s Day Traditions

KATKIMCHE E

ach and every year for Mother’s Day my mother and I go to church together, and afterward we go to a spa and get our nails and feet done.

That evening, I take my younger siblings out so she can have the night to herself, relaxing and doing whatever it is that she wants to do. I’m not the only Jacksonian (by way of Chicago) who has a Mother’s Day tradition.

Here’s how others celebrate:

E

“I just try to make my mom feel special. I try to let her do whatever she wants. Telling her to relax and do nothing is a waste of time, so I just try to add a little spark in her regular day.”

––Jennifer Nichols, JSU student

May 6 - 12, 2010

“My mother, never really being the fussy type, doesn’t expect all the bells and whistles that other mothers might need.

All my mother ever wants for Mother’s Day is to eat a nice, juicy steak cooked on a grill, in a clean house, without her four dogs staring at her while she eats.

That, and maybe some home-cooked sweets she can take to work and hand out, all while bragging how much her kids love their Momma.”

––Amanda Kittrell, JFP freelance writer

26

“My mother and I are very close, so each year on Mother’s Day we go take professional pictures. We started this when I was 13, so this year I am going to make a collage/scrapbook for her using all the pictures we’ve taken together.”

––Spartel Sheard, JSU student

“The best Mother’s Day I have ever had was when Mama Jacqueline and I attended the Cannes Film Festival.

Mama J came with me for a buyer’s screening of “Belles & Whistles.”

We had a tiny crowd in a tent, and she was the film’s biggest fan. We tore up that red carpet, mingled with the French Riviera crowd, and ate all sorts of French delicacies and made new friends. It was a Mother’s Day of a lifetime.

––Anita Modak-Truran, attorney, filmmaker, JFP freelance writer

“Every morning on Mother’s Day, my younger sisters and I wake up really early and cook my mom breakfast, something simple like pancakes. And we get her flowers and a huge card.”

––Asia Clay, JSU student

“I collect to buy that special gift for her on that day. I make a healthy breakfast for her as she gets up and give her a wish book that has 12 cards for every month. She can give them to me whenever she wants, (and) I will fulfill a wish for her. In the Indian culture, we believe that if God has given you a chance to be happy, don’t restrain it to yourself. So we hold a camp where we give free food, water, clothes to the needy one. At the end of the day I pray for my mother’s wellness.

––Sahil Grewal, JFP freelance writer

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books

by Byron Wilkes

Simply Surviving

W

May 6 - 12, 2010

COURTESY PANTHEON

hen I think of a future dystopian society accompanied by a series of natural disasters, movies like “Waterworld” and “Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome” are regrettably the first stories that come to mind. Fortunately for readers of Steven Amsterdam’s “Things We Didn’t See Coming” (Pantheon, February 2010, $24), the author provides a more believable glimpse of how humankind might survive a nation-crippling, apocalyptic chain of events.

The novel’s nameless narrator tells of nine connected stories, beginning with New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, 1999, spent with his parents and grandparents.

Parents, “Dad” and “Cate,” offer conflicting opinions on Y2K; his father stocks up on supplies and touts the end of the world, while his mother remains skeptical.

“Things We Didn’t See Coming” presents a nation torn apart by natural disasters, a failed government and the weaknesses of its citizens in uncertain times, while Amsterdam’s narrator exemplifies a sort of invulnerability throughout it all by simply surviving.

Readers will find references to a mandatory government decision for all citizens to either move in or out of the cities with “blockades” designed to keep people in their respective locale. The narrator and his grandparents manage to escape the pestilential prison of the city, thanks to his grandmother’s quick talking at one of the blockades.

In Amsterdam’s future, suburbs are lifeless shells; as the narrator and his grandparents drive out of the city, suburbia exists as more of a demilitarized war zone than Pleasantville.

“The last time I left the city was four years ago, and the beltway looks just as grim as I remember. No one’s living here, because everybody had to choose, urban or rural, and this place is neither. Dry, decaying suburbs.”

Amsterdam’s living spaces create a distortion in social classes. He devours social boundaries and then regurgitates them, often to darkly hilarious ends. The dichotomy in this future between rural and urban societies fuels resentments revealed as the narrator moves past the bygone suburbs into the agricultural outer territories. Here, a truck full of rural kids sees the narrator’s little car, and proceeds to attack the protagonists.

“They catch up in two seconds and start bombarding us with apples. Grandpa stays steady through the pounding. We roll up the windows to protect ourselves. Sad, because we haven’t seen apples in a year and now they’re drumming all over us. Unthinkable that people could keep apples from other people.”

The contrast of the city dwellers’ lives to the country dwellers’ is palpable here, but Amsterdam’s description of landscapes

28

illustrates the societal schism in an intriguing manner.

“Then the farmland starts on either side and it’s like in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ when Dorothy crosses into Technicolor. Tobacco, lush and irrigated to the greenest green.

They’d let us die of thirst inside the city, but they keep this tobacco so bright it practically hurts your eyes.”

Throughout the nine stories, the volatility of weather is prominent. In one chapter, the rain never ceases, while in another the rain is a bygone memory.

Amsterdam’s description of the weather mirrors the narrator’s relationships: sometimes eerily calm, sometimes precariously stormy.

The narrator’s affections are most often aimed at Margo, a woman with whom he survives in the wilderness trying to escape a rampant disease plaguing the country. Margo and the narrator part ways at least once in the novel, only to reunite.

Margo and the narrator start a life with Juliet, a powerful politician who was born into wealth and is now a champion of peace and prosperity. The relationship is both professional and romantic, as they are Juliet’s political aides and her lovers. It’s here that Amsterdam deeply explores the concept of relationships.

“The reason Juliet chose us, it turned out, is we’re heterosexuals. Voters are fine about ignoring her personal life, to a point.

Since the various media outlets force them to read endlessly about her night crawls ... they want variety of gender.”

Amsterdam uses the threesome to explore the differing relationships in a way not gratuitous, but rather profound and compelling.

Juliet entertains populist, idealistic political philosophies, which depart notably from her elitist, opulent lifestyle. Amsterdam doesn’t compare these differences directly, simply implies them, which proves much more effective than, perhaps, blatantly stating the obvious.

The author’s insights into government and the capacities of humans in government positions is a recurring theme; whether it’s through Juliet and the relationships with Margo and the narrator, or through one of the narrator’s sundry government positions (admittedly, one of the funnier chapters is where he holds a non-government position as an adventure guide for the terminally ill).

As the narrative progresses, the narrator holds miscellaneous positions with the recovering government.

“Things We Didn’t See Coming” is humorous at times, but stays imaginative and penetrative to the human condition throughout. Although short, the novel does not suffer from its brevity; it is a fleeting, yet exquisite, romp through a devastated world.

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BEST BETS May 6 - 13

by Latasha Willis events@jacksonfreepress.com Fax: 601-510-9019 Daily updates at jfpevents.com

SATURDAY 5/8

Enjoy art, music and food during Fondren After 5 in the Fondren neighborhood from 5-8 p.m. Free admission; call 601-981-9606. … An artists reception at the University Club (210 E. Capitol St., Suite 2200) is at 6 p.m. and includes music, poetry and a raffle for dinner with a local celebrity such as Miss JSU or James Meredith. Proceeds benefit Arts Klassical. Free, $10 raffle; call 601-291-8804 or 601-969-4116. … The open house for Buck Winter’s photography exhibit at Cups, Fondren (2757 Old Canton Road) is from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free with items for sale; call 601-362-7422. … The “Colere” concert with the Mississippi Chorus and Ethos Percussion Group at Thalia Mara Hall is at 7:30 p.m. $20; call 601-278-3351. … Akami Graham sings at Dreamz Jxn at 9 p.m. Call 601-979-3994.

World Fair Trade Day at Fair Trade Handicrafts (2807 Old Canton Road) includes door prizes and a selection of Mother’s Day gift baskets. Call 601-987-0002. … Students ages 15-23 are invited to the Second Chance Prom at the BancorpSouth Arena (375 E. Main St., Tupelo) which starts at 5 p.m., and a free bus will provide transportation from Jackson to the venue. ?uestlove from The Roots is the DJ. Space is limited. Free; register at prom.mssafeschools.org. … Fire’s outdoor concert at 7 p.m. includes music by Fuel, Taproot, Destrophy, Taking Dawn and Ice Kills Nine. $20. … The Robert Johnson Birthday Celebration at The Auditorium begins with free music by local acts outside starting at 3 p.m. and a concert at 7 p.m. with Eddie Cotton, Super Chickan and many others for $25.

BUCK WINTER

THURSDAY 5/6

Bring Mom to the Jackson Zoo, and she will get a free all-day pass. $8, $5 children ages 2-12, $7.20 seniors; members/babies free; call 601-352-2580. … The Howard Jones Trio plays during the Mother’s Day jazz brunch at the King Edward Hotel (235 W. Capitol St.) at 11 a.m.

Call 601-353-5464. … The Old Capitol Inn (226 N. State St.) has a Mother Day’s brunch in the Gala Ballroom with a gourmet buffet. An 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. reservation is required. $27.95, $12.95 children under 12; call 601-3599000. … Michael Henderson gives a Mother’s Day concert at the grand opening of William Wheeler Hall (217 W. Griffith St.) at 7 p.m. $15 in advance, $20 at the door; visit michaelhendersonsmothersday.eventbrite.com.

MONDAY 5/10 Stevie J performs during the blues lunch at F. Jones Corner at noon. Free. … The Detectives Mystery Dinner Theatre presents “The End of All Mysteries” at Kathryn’s at 7 p.m. A reservation is required. $39; call 601-291-7444. …

The Central Mississippi Blues Society Jam at Hal & Mal’s is from 8-11 p.m. $5.

May 6 - 12, 2010

ArtRemix at the Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.) starts at 5 p.m. and features music by Eden Brent, Afrisippi and Jon Cleary. $20-$25; call 601-960-1515. …

“Jammin’ Away the Blues” at the Old Capitol Inn (226 N. State St.) features music by Grady Champion, Homemade Jamz and Ben Payton. Proceeds benefit the Mental Health Association. $50; call 601-956-2800. … The Mississippi Symphony Orchestra’s annual Pepsi Pops concert at Old Trace Park (Post Road, Ridgeland) starts at 7:30 p.m. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with other live music and fun before the concert.

The performance ends with fireworks. $15, $5 students; call 601-960-1565. … “Can’t Feel My Face Friday” with music by DJ Reign and DJ Hova at Dreamz Jxn starts at 9 p.m. with 30 free drinks until 11 p.m. Call 601-979-3994.

Historic Natchez Foundation founder Ron Miller speaks during “History Is Lunch” at the William F. Winter Archives and History Building (200 North St.) at noon. Bring a lunch; call 601-576-6850. … Chris Gill and friends perform on the patio at The Parker House (104 NE Madison Drive, Ridgeland). Call 601-856-0043. … Ms. Sinatra performs at Steam Room Grille at 6 p.m. Call 601-899-8588. … Enjoy music by Laurel Isbister and Scott Albert Johnson at Hal & Mal’s at 8 p.m. Free.

THURSDAY 5/13 The Canton Flea Market at the Historic Canton Square kicks off at 8 a.m. Free admission; call 601-8598055. … “Downtown at Dusk” on Congress Street starts at 5 p.m. and includes food for sale from local restaurants and music by The Alex Ross Band and Peeples Band. Free admission; call 601-974-6044, ext. 221. … The D’lo Trio plays at Cherokee Inn at 6:30 p.m. Call 601-362-6388. …

Jackie Bell, Norman Clark and Smoke Stack Lightning are at 930 Blues Cafe at 8 p.m. $5.

More events and details at jfpevents.com.

DJ Hova (pictured) and DJ Reign will be at “Can’t Feel My Face Friday” at Dreamz Jxn on May 7 at 9 p.m.

COURTESY LIZZIE WRIGHT

FRIDAY 5/7

Come to “Music in the City” at the Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.) for hors d’oeuvres at 5:15 p.m. and a performance by Cheryl Coker at 5:45 p.m. Free, donations welcome; call 601-354-1533. … Mississippi Murder Mystery presents the “Bedlam in Cabin B” dinner theatre at Rossini (207 W. Jackson St., Ridgeland) at 7 p.m. A reservation is required. $40; call 601-331-4045. … Cage the Elephant, Morning Teleportation, AutoVaughn and Creep Left perform at Fire at 7 p.m. $10. … The Xtremes play at Shucker’s from 7-11 p.m. Free.

WEDNESDAY 5/12

SUNDAY 5/9

Buck Winter’s photography will be showcased at Cups in Fondren May 6 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

TUESDAY 5/11

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jfpevents JFP SPONSORED EVENTS Radio JFP on WLEZ ongoing, at WLEZ 100.1 FM and wlezfm.com. Join Donna Ladd and Todd Stauffer every Thursday from noon-1 p.m., where they discuss vital issues and play local music. This week’s guest is Lizzie Wright of the Jackson Bike Advocates. Free; call 601-362-6121, ext. 17.

Fondren After 5 May 6, 5-8 p.m., at Fondren.

This monthly event showcases the local shops, galleries and restaurants of the Fondren neighborhood. Free; call 601-981-9606.

ArtRemix May 7, 5 p.m., at Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.). The premier afterhours event is a mix of music, food, drinks and art. Performers include Eden Brent, Afrissippi and Jon Cleary. There will also be museum scavenger hunts and adult art activities. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. $20, $15 members in advance; $25, $20 members at the door; call 601-960-1515.

3rd Annual ZooBrew May 14, 6 p.m., at Jackson Zoo (2918 W. Capitol St.). Enjoy beer and wine samplings, food from the Tyson Hot Wing Cook-Off and live music by Time to Move. Buy a raffle ticket and get a chance to win a vacation package. You must be 21 or older to participate. $40, $35 members, $5 raffle; call 601-352-2580.

Pickin’ & Paddlin’ Outdoor Festival May 15, 11:30 a.m., at LeFleur’s Bluff State Park, Mayes Lake (115 Lakeland Terrace). Enjoy games, rock wall climbing, canoe and kayak races, and music from acts such as the Vernon Brothers and Horse Trailer. The event includes a barbecue lunch and a free T-shirt. Proceeds benefit the Neighborhood Christian Center. $10, free for children 12 and under, $10 for canoe or kayak race; visit nccjackson.com.

JFP Lounge at Pi(e) Lounge May 20, 6-10 p.m., at Sal & Mookie (565 Taylor St.) Enjoy a special JFP “Creative Class” martini, free munchies, and lots of fellowship with Jackson creatives and progressives. Free admission; call 601-362-6121, ext. 11.

MOTHER’S DAY Mother’s Appreciation Day May 9, 9 a.m., at Jackson Zoological Park (2918 W. Capitol St.).

Bring your mother to the zoo, and she will get a free gift and an all-day pass. $8, $5 children ages 2-12, $7.20 seniors; members/babies free; call 601-352-2580.

Mother’s Day Brunch May 9, 11 a.m., at Old Capitol Inn (226 N State St.), in the Gala Ballroom. Treat your mother to a gourmet brunch buffet prepared by Chef Bruce Cain and his culinary team. A reservation for 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. is required. $27.95, $12.95 children 12 and under (tax and tip not included); call 601-359-9000.

Michael Henderson Mother’s Day Concert May 9, 7 p.m., at William Wheeler Hall (217 W. Griffith St.). The R&B singer and composer with Mississippi roots will give a special Mother’s Day performance as part of William Wheeler Hall’s grand opening. $15; visit michaelhendersonsmothersday. eventbrite.com.

May 6 - 12, 2010

COMMUNITY

32

National Train Day May 6, at various Jackson locations. Amtrak’s commemorative train tour with a blues theme will make a stop at Jackson’s nine historical Mississippi Blues Trail sites. Participants include “Big Bill” and “Mud” Morganfield, sons of Muddy Waters, and Grady Champion. Visit nationaltrainday.com.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Call for Scholarship Applications through May 8. The Rho Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is currently taking scholarship applications

from high school seniors with a 3.0 GPA who plan to attend a historically black college or university. Applications must be received by May 8.

E-mail kimberlydgriffin@gmail.com.

Events at Baptist Medical Center (1225 N. State St.).

• “Women and Stroke: Are You At Risk?”

May 11, 11:45 a.m., in the Baptist for Women Conference Center. Learn how to reduce your stroke risk and identify acute stroke. $5 optional lunch; call 601-948-6262 or 800-948-6262.

• Melanoma: Facts and Myths May 11, 5:30 p.m., in the Hederman Cancer Center. Learn what the cancer looks like, how to protect yourself and available treatments. Free; call 601-948-6262 or 800-948-6262.

• National Cancer Survivors Day Call for Award Nominees through May 14. Baptist Cancer Services will be giving special recognition to the “Cancer Survivor of the Year” and the “Caregiver of the Year.” Nominations can be submitted online at mbhs.org/csd. The deadline for nominations is May 14. Award recipients will be announced at the annual National Cancer Survivors Day celebration at 2 p.m. on June 6 at the Old Capitol Inn. Free; call 601-948-6262 or 800-948-6262.

Fashion Forward Kitchens and Baths May 6, 6 p.m., at Millsaps College (1701 N. State St.).

This class will give you fresh ideas that are easily implemented, yet budget conscious. $25; call 601-974-1130.

Jackson Audubon Society Spring Migration Field Trip May 8, 8 a.m., at Vicksburg Military Park (Clay St., Vicksburg). See and learn about migratory birds from an expert birder. Carpool from the McDonald’s on Springridge Road in Clinton at 7:30 a.m., or drive directly to the park and meet the group at the entrance. Bring snacks, a lunch and drinking water. $8 parking fee; call 601-956-7444.

International Migratory Bird Day May 8, 9 a.m., at Jackson Zoo (2918 W. Capitol St.). Come out and enjoy an educational chat with the keepers, who will explain the history and the global impact these birds have on earth. $4-$6, kids ages 2 and under free; call 601-352-2580.

Camp Kandu May 8, 9:30 a.m., at Twin Lakes Conference Center (155 Milner Road, Florence).

The biannual event provides educational and recreational activities for children with diabetes and their friends and families. Space is limited; registration is required. $10-$20 adults, free for child with diabetes; call 601-957-7878.

Mississippi Friends of Midwives Family Picnic May 8, 11 a.m., at LeFleur’s Bluff State Park (2130 Riverside Dr.). The event is in honor of International Day of the Midwife. Get info on midwives, home birth and legislation. Learn how to get involved and support local midwives.

Midwife Candi Hilton will also host a questionand-answer session at 11:30 a.m. Door prizes and face painting are included. Bring a picnic lunch and a dessert to share. $3 park admission; visit msfriendsofmidwives.com.

Public Policy Toastmasters Club 8689 Meeting through May 26, at Jackson State University (1400 John R. Lynch St.). The group meets Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the Sampson Library auditorium on the second floor. Improve your communication skills and become a better speaker and leader. Membership is required. Call for details on membership dues at 601-918-8523.

Greater Belhaven Market through Dec. 18, 8 a.m.2 p.m., at Mississippi Farmers Market (929 High St.). Buy some fresh produce or other food or gift items. The market is open every Saturday. Free admission; call 601-506-2848 or 601-354-6573.

Farmers Market ongoing, at Jackson Roadmap to Health Equity Project’s Farmers Market (2548 Livingston Road). Buy from a wide selection of

STAGE AND SCREEN Contra Dance at the Commons May 7, 7:30 p.m., at Welty Commons Gallery (719 Congress St.).

The show includes a folk dance lesson from Catherine Bishop and string band music by The Scramblers. Free, $5 donations welcome; call 601-540-1267.

“Bad Seed” May 7-9 and May 14-16, at Vicksburg Theatre Guild (101 Iowa Blvd. Vicksburg).

Little Rhoda Penmark appears to be a charming child, but the little boy who mysteriously drowned at the picnic had won the medal she felt she deserved. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. $12, $10 seniors, $7 students, $5 children 12 and under; visit e-vtg.com.

Fondren Theatre Workshop’s Ten-Minute Play Project May 8, 7 p.m., at Broadmeadow United Methodist Church (4419 Broadmeadow Dr.).

Teams of writers, directors and actors have only 24 hours to write, rehearse and produce six brand new plays. 50 percent of the proceeds benefit the Ask for More Arts initiative. $10, $5 children 12 and under; call 601-982-2217.

An Evening of Dance May 8, 7 p.m., at Millsaps Christian Center Auditorium (1701 N. State St.). Power APAC high school and upper middle school students will perform. $5; call 601-9605387.

“Mimic” May 8, 7:30 p.m., at East Flora Middle School (4759 Highway 22 East). Vision United’s play about abuse is written and directed by Ruby Walker-White. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. $15 in advance, $20 at the door; call 769-218-7036, 601-201-3260 or 601-922-1381.

“The End of All Mysteries” Dinner Theatre May 10, 6 p.m., at Kathryn’s (6800 Old Canton Road). Seating begins at 6 p.m., and the show

by The Detectives Mystery Dinner Theatre starts at 7 p.m. $39; call 601-291-7444.

“Bedlam in Cabin B” Dinner Theatre May 11, 7 p.m., at Rossini (1060 E County Line Road, Ridgeland). The Mississippi Murder Mystery production is directed by Alahna Stewart. The cash bar opens at 6 p.m., and seating begins at 6:30 p.m. $40 (tax and tip not included); call 601-331-4045.

Emerging Mississippi Filmmakers Grant Program through May 21. Qualified applicants may receive up to $2,500 in funding from the Mississippi Film and Video Alliance to assist with the completion of their project. Applications must be received by May 21. E-mail bblack@mississippi.org.

MUSIC “Colere” May 6, 7:30 p.m., at Thalia Mara Hall (255 E. Pascagoula St.). The Mississippi Chorus and area high school choirs will perform selections from “Missa Luba” and “African Sanctus.”

Ethos Percussion Group will also perform. $20; call 601-278-3351.

Pepsi Pops May 7, 5:30 p.m., at Old Trace Park (Post Road). This year’s theme is “Pop ‘Til You Drop!” Pre-concert activities from 5:307:30 p.m. include a Pepsi Playground for children and music by Silver and the JSU Vocal Jazz Ensemble. The Mississippi Symphony Orchestra concert begins at 7:30 p.m., and the performance includes a Beatles tribute, music from movies and John Philip Sousa marches.

The event ends with a fireworks finale. $12 in advance, $15 at the gate, $5 children 4-18; call 601-960-1565.

“Inhale-Exhale” May 8, 7 p.m., at Beth Israel Congregation (5315 Old Canton Road). Amir Gwirtzman, an Israeli multi-instrumentalist, plays jazz, R&B and folk songs as layers of instruments that he records as he plays. Free; call 601-956-6215.

Robert Johnson Birthday Celebration May 8, 7 p.m., at The Auditorium Restaurant (622 Duling Ave.). The celebration of the memory of the late blues artist includes performances by Super Chikan, Eddie Cotton, Homemade Jamz, Latongya Garner and Steven “Teddy Bear” Johnson, the grandson of Robert Johnson. $25; call 601-982-0002.

Music in the City May 11, 5:15 p.m., at Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.). This new partnership with St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral encourages Jacksonians to stay downtown for some culture and fun. Hors d’oeuvres will be served at 5:15 p.m. The performance by soprano Cheryl Coker begins at 5:45 p.m. Free, donations welcome; call 601-354-1533.

JACKS O N ’ S PRE M I E R E E N T E R TA I N M E N T C O M P L E X

Electric Relaxation Monday

MUSIC, MOSCATO & MIMOSAS (5:30-9:30) Happy Hour/Networking/Music Kitchen open for Wings Jxn & Dreamz Burgers

Centric Thursdays

HAPPY HOUR | 6PM

Live Band & DJ, Open Mic upstairs with Tweeked Out

VOTED BEST HAIR STYLIST BEST OF JACKSON 2009 & 2010

2 FOR 1 DRINKS SPECIAL TIL 9PM

LITERARY AND SIGNINGS Events at Lemuria Books (202 Banner Hall, 4465 Interstate 55 North). Call 601-366-7619.

• “Morkan’s Quarry” May 11, 5 p.m. Steve Yates signs copies of his book; reading of the book at 5:30 p.m. $27.95 book.

• “Sailor & Lula: The Complete Novels” May 12, 5 p.m. Barry Gifford signs copies of his book; reading of the book at 5:30 p.m. $19.95 book.

• “Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War” May 12, 5 p.m. Karl Marlantes signs copies of his book; reading of the book at 5:30 p.m. $24.95 book.

“River Passage” May 11-12, 7 p.m. Author p.m.terrell signs copies of her book and gives a lecture on the Donelson Journey of 1779-1780 at Clinton Public Library (111 Clinton Blvd., Clinton) May 11 and G. Chastain Flynt Library (103 Winners Circle, Flowood) May 12. $15 book; visit pmterrell.com.

Can’t Feel My Face Friday

DOORS OPEN 9PM Guys $1 cover til 11pm!

2 for 1 Drinks til 11pm!

FREE SHOTS on the Hour!

DJ REIGN & DJ HOVA SATURDAYS AVAILABLE FOR R ENTAL TWITTER .COM /NEWDREAMZJXN

1935 Lakeland Dr. 601.906.2253

WWW.DREAMZJXN.COM For VIP, BOOTH or BOTTLE information, call 601-720-0663

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CREATIVE CLASSES Jewelry Making Class ongoing, at Dream Beads (605 Duling Ave.). This class is offered every Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Free; call 601664-0411.

Belly Dance Class ongoing, at Lumpkin’s Restaurant (182 Raymond Road). The class is held every Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Monique Davis is the instructor. $5; call 601-373-7707.

All Writers Workshop ongoing, at Pearl Public Library (2416 Old Brandon Road, Pearl). The workshop, which is held every 2nd and 4th Tuesday each month from 6-7:30 p.m., will focus on inspiration, tips, exercises, and member critique, and is open to new and published writers who are actively writing and wish to improve their skills. Author/humorist Margie Culbertson is the instructor. Free; call 601-985-8011.

GALLERIES “Erotic Serenity” Exhibit May 6, 5 p.m., at Fischer Galleries (3100 N. State St., Suite 101). William Goodman’s abstract paintings combined with photographs will be on display during Fondren After 5.

Free admission; call 601-366-8833.

“Songs of Innocence/ Songs of Experience” through May 6, at Gallery 119 (119 S. President St.). Jerrod Partridge’s latest artwork on paper and canvas is on display. Free admission; call 601-969-4091.

More EVENTS, see page 34

The JFP seeks a jack-of-alltrades geek for a variety of tasks, ranging from back-end Web programming to massaging our file servers to teaching others techie stuff (video editing, photo uploading, podcasting, etc). Must love Macs, HTML, CSS -- and be at least JavaScript- and PHPcurious. If you meet those criteria AND you’re a friendly person who knows how to lovingly say “Have you tried restarting?” or “Did you make sure it has paper in the tray?” to harried editors, designers and writers -- then you’re encouraged to apply! Parttime to start. (Be invaluable and the position will grow.)

Send resume and caffeine requirements to todd@jacksonfreepress.com

jacksonfreepress.com

fresh produce provided by participating local farmers. Market hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Tuesday and Fridays, and 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Free admission; call 601-951-9273.

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jfpevents

from page 33

Artist Reception May 6, 5-8 p.m., at TwentyNine06 Studios (2906 N. State St.). See Impressionist paintings by Buttons Marchetti. Free admission; call 601-317-1483.

Mississippi Watercolor Society Exhibit through June 30, at The Cedars Historic Home (4145 Old Canton Rd.). Artwork by society members is on display in The Cedars Gallery. Gallery hours are Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m.4 p.m. The show is part of The Four Seasons of the Cedars performing and visual arts series. Free admission; call 601-981-9606.

BANDS WANTED vocalist looking for band im a rock vocalist looking for a band in need of a lead singer please call at any time my name is shane (601) 940-0510

BANDS/DJS FOR HIRE Disc Jockey (DJ) Service Professional DJ - 20 Years Experience - Holiday Parties/Weddings/Birthdays/Private Parties, Lights/Fog/Etc available, Photography Services Available, Live Band Availble (601) 850-4380

GEAR Warwick bass 4 sale Warwick Corvette Standard bubinga 4 string passive with gig bag, warranty, manual, hercules stand, and acoustic B20 practice amp. $850. obo (601) 278-7854 Bass gear Quality professional gear. Swr Silverado combo. 350 watts RMS. $400. New aoustic 200 watt bass head $200. Two Swr 1 15’ and horn cabinets $250 ea. Loud and Clean Sold seperately or together. (601) 214-4412 Professional Sound Engineers Need sound equipment or just a couple of engineers at your next event call Daniel 601.488.0436 any venue large or small anywhere in the south.

Complete PA Huge carvin pa for sale, all accessories, cables, processors, mics, stands, lights, amps, etc. Over $20,000 in gear to sell for best offers. Equipment is in as new condition. (225) 341-9391 Guitar Gear - Must Sell!!

Vox AD120VTH Valvetronix Stereo Head $400, 1x12 and 2x12 cabinets- $80-$125. (601) 540-1739

MISCELLANEOUS NEED A FEW GOOD MUSICIANS Interested in helping to set up music non-profit organization (centered around the BLUES) for disadvantaged youths in the Jackson metropolitan area? If so, I am looking to talk to you. Need musicians who can teach everything from banjo, guitar, dobro, mandolin, fiddle, accordion, harmonica, piano, etc., etc. COME BE A PART OF THIS GREAT PROJECT! (601) 924-0210.

MUSICIANS AVAILABLE Rock Singer Available Male Rock/Metal Singer looking for experienced cover band. Many years experience. Contact myspace or facebook: Crystal Quazar. Phone: 601-572-6253 Drummer Available Mature/seasoned drummer available. Have played everything from country to Christian Contemporary. Would like to join existing band or form new one with seasoned musicians ONLY...no beginners please! Would like to play classic rock, blues and/ or contemporary. Call if interested. (601) 613-5835 Looking to Start Band I am a bass player new in town and am looking to start a band in the Jackson area. I need a guitarist, drummer and lead vocals. No specific genre is preferred, but the band will be based on rock and metal (no death or black metal). I’ve played in several bands and played out hundreds of times and am able to get gigs. If interested or for more info please call Chris @ 386-365-2944

Female Vocalist Seeking Band I am a 16-year-old female vocalist seeking a synthpop or rock band. Ages of band members preferrably 25 years or younger due to parental objections. Contact by email at freezepopforever10 29@hotmail.com.

Old drummer available!

DRUMMER AVAILABLE: Most recently, I have played with The Veterans of Foreign Bars band.

Interested in playing Blues, Funk, Soul, maybe Country. I am an older guy and settled in for the duration. I would be interested in a steady band, fill-in, and, possibly, a new start-up. Let me hear: mcdrum89@yahoo.com or call 601-832-0831 Musician Available 25 Years experience playing Drums, Guitar & Bass.

Recently relocated to Jackson from Memphis, TN. All genres of music. Contact Tim at 601-665-5976.

Or email: reeves@cgdsl.net Serious inquires only.

Drummer Looking For Band I’m an experienced drummer looking to form/join a band. I have mostly played metal, but I am open to rock/hard rock/metal, etc. Call Dave at (769) 226-0845.

Female Vocalist/Songwriter Seeking fellow musicians. Serious inquiries only. Call Nikki 601-259-1288.

MUSICIANS WANTED A New Sound Need original band. Old Deftones/old Clutch/ She Wants Revenge. www.myspace.com/anzalduasongs Radio-play. Album on iTunes. anzaldua@mail.com (512) 787-7840 Deathcore guitarists Metal band looking for 2 exp’d guitarists. Influences include WhiteChapel, Carnifex, Opeth, etc.

Call David for more info (601) 201-3815 Metal Singer & Bassist Wanted AnnX is looking for a Experienced Energetic METAL Vocalist and a Bass Player to play shows and write new material. (601) 383-4851 Become our Next Instructor Major Scales Studio is accepting applications for a classical or rock or jazz guitar teacher. Must have professional appearance. Please email your resume to Majorscales@aol.com.

Cellist Needed For Album/tour Cellist needed for my album and possibly to tour shortly after. I am signed with South City Records. I need to start recording ASAP! Must be reliable and dedicated. Please contact me at scorpiano31@gmail.com Drummer/Bassist needed - Metal We are in need of a drummer and a bassist. Experience in metal (death, black, etc.) is preffered, but not completely necessary. Call Buddy at (601)5025647. Thanks for reading.

-Buddy Bass Player Needed for eclectic cover band that features pedal steel guitar. -Vocals a plus- want to gig once or 2x a month and have lots of fun -Buck Owens to REMcall 601 488 6907 +leave msg Y’allses Blues Band is Coming All acoustic blues band is forming. Any acoustic musician who wishes to joins and pay hardcore blues call Mr. Blues at 601-785-9148 or 601-480-3670

May 6 - 12, 2010

Looking for band mates? Wanting to sell your gear? Advertise here for free! Visit JFP Classifieds.com. If you are interested in sponsoring the Musicians Exchange call JFP Sales at 601-362-6121 ext. 11.

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2010 Exhibits through Dec. 31, at One Blu Wall (2906 N. State St.). Featured artists throughout the year include Katie Drummonds, Kyle Goddard, Allan Inman, LaTricia Graves and more.

Photography by Christina Cannon, Howard Barron, Roy J. Gattuso, Gerard L. Howard, William Patrick Butler and others is also on display.

Free; call 601-713-1224.

Jason “Twiggy” Lott Exhibit ongoing, at Nunnery’s Gallery (426 Meadowbrook Road). See paintings, collages and assemblages constructed from discarded objects called “reconstructions.”

Free admission; call 601-981-4426.

EXHIBITS AND OPENINGS Artist Open House May 6, 6:30 p.m., at Cups, Fondren (2757 Old Canton Rd). See photography by Buck Winter, former resident photographer for the Russell C. Davis Planetarium.

Free admission with items for sale; call 601-3627422.

Events at Arts Center of Mississippi (201 E. Pascagoula St.). Hours are Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m.–5 p.m. Call 601-960-1557.

• Power APAC Student Exhibit through May 6, at See artwork from students in the Visual Arts program. Free.

• “Just Dance” Call for Entries through May 7, at Arts Center of Mississippi (201 E. Pascagoula St.). To commemorate the International Ballet Competition’s return to Jackson, the Greater Jackson Arts Council is calling for entries to its juried invitational in media such as painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, film/video, mixed media and installation. $25 entry fee.

Congressional Art Competition Call for Entries through May 7. The annual competition provides high school students with an opportunity for their artistic talents to be recognized and showcased in our nation’s capital. All entries must be submitted by May 7. The competition will be held at the Gum Tree Museum of Art in Tupelo on May 15. The winner receives a $1,500 art scholarship. Call 202-225-4306.

“Petitions, Protests, and Patriotism: Mississippi Women in Preservation, 1900-1950” through May 9, at Old Capitol Museum (100 S. State St.). In honor of National Women’s History Month, this exhibit features influential women in Mississippi who have led efforts to preserve our state’s valuable cultural resources. Free; call 601-576-6920.

“Home Sweet Home” Exhibit through May 13, at Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (2148 Riverside Drive). Two beloved American icons, Smokey the Bear and Woodsy Owl come to life in the interactive exhibit. Explore the pretend forest, ranger station, campsite and more. Museum hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. $3-$5, free for members and children under 3; call 601-354-7303.

Mustard Seed Exhibit through June 24, at Mississippi Arts Commission (Woolfolk Building, 501 N. West St., Suite 1101A). Artwork by Mustard Seed residents is on display. Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Free; call 601-359-6030.

“Mound Bayou: The Promise Land, 18872010” through June 30, at Smith Robertson Museum (528 Bloom St.). See photographs of the beginning of Davis Bend, the move and name change to Mound Bayou, Isaiah Montgomery, T.R.M. Howard and other founders.

Museum hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $4.50 adults, $3.00 seniors, $1.50 children under 18; call 601-960-1457.

The Luxury of Exercise: Drawings and Small Sculpture by Claudia DeMonte through Sep. 12, at Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S.Lamar St.). This exhibition will feature over fifty works by artist Claudia DeMonte from her recent series on exercise. $3-$5, children under 5 and museum members free; call 601-960-1515.

Check jfpevents.com for updates and more listings. To add an event, e-mail all details (phone number, start/ end date and time, street address, cost, URL, etc.) to events@jacksonfreepress.com or fax to 601-510-9019.

The deadline is noon the Thursday prior to the week of publication. Or, add the event online yourself; check out jfpevents.com for instructions.

BE THE CHANGE 4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament May 6, 11 a.m., at Bay Pointe Resort & Golf Club (800 Bay Pointe Drive, Brandon). Sign-in begins at 11 a.m., lunch is at noon and teeoff is at 1 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Center for Violence Prevention. $25 cart sponsorships and $100 hole sponsorships are available. $100, $400 four-person team, $5 unlimited mulligans; call 601-421-9843.

State of Mississippi Oncology Nursing Day Celebration May 6, 6 p.m., at Sophia’s Restaurant (734 Fairview St.). Social hour with a cash bar begins at 6 p.m., and dinner begins at 7 p.m. Music will be provided by DJ Sinatra.

Silent auction items include donations from local area businesses and autographed memorabilia from celebrities such as B.B. King, Michael Jackson, Miley Cyrus and Barack Obama. Proceeds benefit Nurses Making A Difference Everyday (NMADE), a non-profit organization designed to assist patients, families and caregivers who are faced with a diagnosis of a life-changing illness or injury. $35; call 601-342-1492.

Arts Klassical’s Artists Reception May 6, 6 p.m., at University Club (210 E. Capitol St. #2200). Poets, musicians and visual artist are welcome to showcase their talent at the event. A drawing for a one-on-one lunch with Chokwe Lumumba, Miss JSU or James Meredith will be given for those who purchase raffle tickets. Tickets can be purchased prior to the event and can be delivered upon request. Proceeds benefit Arts Klassical, a non-profit whose aim is to eliminate violence through the arts. Free admission, $10 raffle ticket; call 601-2918804 or 601-969-4116.

Jammin’ Away the Blues May 7, 6:30 p.m., at Old Capitol Inn (226 N. State St.). The fundraising benefit for the Mental Health Association of the Capital Area includes music

by Grady Champion, Homemade Jamz and Ben Payton. Sponsorships are available. $50; call 601-956-2800.

House Party 2010 May 11, 6 p.m., at Gallery 119 (119 S. President St.). In the gallery and Mike McRee’s loft. The fundraiser includes music and refreshments. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity/Metro Jackson. Sponsorships must be received by April 29, and monthly checking account or credit card deductions are available. $1000 couple (can bring two guests); call 601-353-6060, ext. 218.

music

by Carl Gibson

I

n a chilly room at Jackson’s Wesley Chapel, an accompanist takes his fingers off the piano to slap out a rhythm for nearly 60 members of the Mississippi Chorus as they practice particularly difficult sections of “Missa Luba” and “African Sanctus.” The mostly white choir sings on top of the rhythm, while several members stomp their feet to the accompanist’s drumming.

Three-part harmonies resonate off of the brick walls, and as a soloist in the choir bellows out a verse in Latin, the sopranos and altos complement his haunting melody. With the waving of the accompanist’s hands, the beautiful melodies of “African Sanctus” are cut short as quickly as they had begun.

“African Sanctus” is the second movement of “Colere,” a Latin word that means “culture.” “Colere” is a brave venture by the Mississippi Chorus into new territory, combining Christian, Muslim and African musical and cultural elements into one challenging 75-minute suite sung entirely in Latin. Mississippi Chorus Executive Director Sherry Harfst says the piece is by far one of the toughest undertakings of the chorus in its 20-year history.

“It is outside of our culture,” Harfst says. “It’s not music that we typically thump our feet to; it’s not music we hear on the radio. It’s difficult music. It is a challenge, musically, to sing.”

Harfst describes the performance as a multimedia presentation, where a Latin mass is produced on top of Latin rhythms. Native African sounds are incorporated into the piece, and six high-school chorus groups will also sing in the performance, while additional

THOMAS BECK

Mississippi Sings Toward Acceptance

The Mississippi Chorus, performs “Colere,” a challenging suite combining music from many cultures, May 6 at Thalia Mara Hall.

instrumental accompaniment will include the Ethos percussion group. The chorus sent copies of the music to area middle-school arts programs, and will display the student’s musicinspired art during the performance.

D. Royce Boyer, board chairman for the Mississippi Chorus, says the project is a vastly complex endeavor.

“That’s a really exciting thing to me that isn’t done very often, just to see what the music generates in their creative visual experiences,” Boyer says. “It’s a fabulous piece, and when they get finished, they’ll never forget it.”

Tenor Roger Clapp has been with the Mississippi Chorus since it started in 1989.

He says even with extensive choral and performance experience, “Colere” is unfamiliar territory for him. The difficult nature of the

piece, as well as its bold inclusion of Christian and Islamic traditions, has caused some chorus members to sit out the performance.

“It’s definitely something different. I’ve never been really exposed to music like that.

I’m sure there are some chorus members who are having just as much trouble as me, and there are others who are having no trouble at all,” Clapp says. “This is the core of the chorus that’s singing this thing. We had these big productions with the symphony and the opera chorus, and that’s one thing. But this is interesting and possibly even controversial music.”

Loye Ashton, a religious studies professor at Tougaloo College, wrote the program notes for the piece. Ashton says that while promoting religious pluralism in a largely conservative state can cause a stir, it’s a necessary step to take. He adds that “Colere”’s performance in Jackson signifies the inevitable flow of multicultural acceptance in society, predicting a lasting impact.

For Ashton, the most significant part of the “Colere” suite is the “Kyrie Eleison” movement, prominent in both Greek Orthodox and Western Christian traditions, and means “Lord have mercy.” He says the underlying reason for the performance of the entire piece by the Mississippi Chorus lies in that particular song.

“Within Christian liturgy, it has to do with, you know, inviting the Holy Spirit and inviting Jesus into the worship,” he says.” But they combined it into ‘African Sanctus,’ with the Muslim call to prayer. Which, musically and liturgically, to me, is a fantastic way of doing that,” Ashton says. “It never occurred to

me that you could combine the two into one musical piece.”

Ashton, who is a scholar of ancient religions and cultures, says acceptance of other religions and cultures through music is nothing new, and that “Colere” is a way of bringing human beings from different backgrounds back together again.

“It’s not an option of, ‘I don’t like it; I’m not going to do it; I’m not going to get involved.’ But this is the world we live in,” Ashton says. “You either find a way to live in and understand it, or you fight against it and find yourself increasingly irrelevant and obsolete in the way the world looks at you.”

“We’ve got roughly 2 billion Christians in the world, over a billion Muslims. Jews, Buddhists, Confucians—-the whole bit,” he says. “You’re not going to say, ‘well, the answer is we make everyone else like us or convert them.’ … That’s not possible. The answer is: How do we work toward common goals in society?”

Clapp says that in a deeply church-oriented, predominantly Protestant state like Mississippi, “Colere” will undoubtedly turn heads. However, he says that Mississippians can overcome their hesitancy through understanding and acceptance.

“We in Mississippi may be very religious, but we’re not very spiritual sometimes,” Clapp says. “It’s the spirituality of this piece that prevails; that’s what’s so important.”

The Mississippi Chorus performs “Colere” Thursday, May 6, at 7:30 p.m. at Thalia Mara Hall in downtown Jackson. Tickets are $20 and are available through ticketmaster.com.

Don’t Forget the Lyrics

The New Pornographers latest album, “Together,” is musically strong, but weak lyrically, making it inaccessible.

what your words mean.

The New Pornographers have released another solid album in “Together.” It is tight musically and continues to exhibit an assured pop sound. However, it’s not tight enough to overcome its lyrical inaccessibility. This fact sadly assures that while it will gain some kudos in the coming weeks and months, it will ultimately be forgotten in the pop music canon.

jacksonfreepress.com

T

fer little lyrical substance. Good pop music lyrics, almost by definition, provide either instant accessibility or interesting abstraction, things that Case and Newman exhibit in droves on their solo records. “Together” offers uninteresting abstraction. The lyrics of lead single, “Your Hands (Together),” are as unnecessarily dense as the title itself.

Neither the music nor repeated listens clarifies references to silver bullets and playing “scientist and vandal sweating either way.”

Like reading a contortedly symbolic book or watching an overly plotted movie, you have to truly be invested in it to bring yourself to care. And The New Pornographers, as talented as they are, just aren’t quite good enough to do that.

Granted, some of the songs have a catchy enough chorus or strong enough instrumentation to sink under your skin.

The final three songs, “Valkyrie in the Roller Disco,” “A Bite Out of My Bed,” and “We End Up Together,” are all affecting songs that will have you singing along.

Unfortunately, you will not have any idea

JASON CREPS

That is because the past half-decade has led to the rise of both Neko Case and

by Rob Hamilton A.C. Newman as solo artists.

Case’s 2006 “Fox Confessor he New Pornographers have long Brings the Flood” and 2009’s “Middle Cybeen the pop-music snob’s dream clone” both rank among the best albums band. It is a guitar pop band, but released in their respective years. Newman’s is also able to seamlessly add layered solo work, 2004 “The Slow Wonder” and instrumentation and multipart harmonies 2009’s “Get Guilty,” similarly have raised when necessary. The band is blessed to have him into the upper echelon of contempothree distinct vocalists in A.C. Newman, rary singer-songwriters.

Neko Case and Dan Bejar, whose voices The band has always been largely mesh strongly. Similarly, all three clearly Newman’s project, as he is the chief have an ear for pop music. Because of songwriter on all New Pornographers these traits, letting any New Pornographers’ records. Indeed, his sound and influence album wash over you for the first time is a is all over “Moves,” the opening track on treat. Regretfully, subsequent listens reveal “Together.” It is a quality pop song with a lyrical shallowness, or denseness, depend- an orchestral guitar sound and pounding ing on how you look at it, that ultimately piano chords keeping time. The song typidooms the record. Their new album, “To- fies the two aforementioned strengths of gether,” is no exception.

The New Pornographers: the vocals and While technically always being a su- the production. Unfortunately, it also capper group, the New Pornographers have tures their lyrical weakness.

The subsequent songs continue to ofbecome even more super in recent years.

35

NOW SELLING LIVE & BOILED CRAWFISH!

livemusic MAY 6, THURSDAY

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WEDNESDAY - MAY 5 THURSDAY - MAY 6

5/5

LADIES NIGHT (FREE DRAFT CUP 9-11)

FRIDAY - MAY 7

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SATURDAY - MAY 8

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8 BALL TOURNAMENT TUESDAY - MAY 11

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ROOSEVELT NOISE REUNION SHOW SUNDAY

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KARAOKE MONDAY

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OPEN MIC JAM TUESDAY

5/11

MATT’S LATE NIGHT KARAOKE $2 MARGARITAS $1 HIGHLIFE & PBR WEDNESDAY

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36

8PM-12AM FOR $5 - NO COVER 214 S. STATE ST. • 601.354.9712 DOWNTOWN JACKSON WWW.MARTINSLOUNGE.NET

THE MILLER LITE ROCK 93.9 RAMPAGE CONTINES THIS WEEK AT FIRE! VISIT WWW.FIRECLUBJACKSON.COM OR WWW.ROCK939.COM

FOR DETAILS!

TOPTEN SONGS THIS WEEK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

SHAMANS HARVEST - Dragonfly THREE DAYS GRACE - The Good Life SICK PUPPIES - Odd One DROWNING POOL - Feel Like I Do FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH - Walk Away GODSMACK - Cryin’ Like A Bitch SEVENDUST - Unraveling NONPOINT - Miracle SEASONS AFTER - Cry Little Sister DEFTONES - Diamond Eyes

Thalia Mara Hall - Miss. Chorus & Ethos Percussion Group: Exploring Culture Through Rhythm (NYC/African/World) 7: 30 p.m. $20, 601-278-3351 Fire - Season’s After, The Veer Union, Shaman’s Harvest 8 p.m. $10+ myspace.com/theveerunion Lumpkin’s BBQ - Jesse Robinson (blues lunch) 11:30-1:30 p.m.

Hal & Mal’s - Deadstring Brothers, Jonathan Tyler & Northern Lights (roots rock) 9 p.m. $10 myspace.com/deadstringbrothers F. Jones Corner - Sherman Lee Dillon (blues lunch) free; Blues at Sunset Challenge Band 8-12 a.m. free Underground 119 - Booker Walker (jazz) 8-11 p.m. free Ole Tavern - DJ Nick 10 p.m.

930 Blues Cafe - Jackie Bell, Norman Clark & Smoke Stack Lightning 8 p.m. $5 AJ’s Seafood - Scott Albert Johnson (blues/juke) 6:30 p.m.

Parker House (patio) - Will & Linda (crawfish) 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Footloose - Karaoke 8-12 a.m.

Soulshine, Township - Fingers Taylor & friends 7-9:30 p.m. free Dreamz Jxn - Akami Graham 9 p.m.

Cherokee Inn - D’lo Trio 6:30 p.m.

Shucker’s - Hunter Gibson & Rick Moreira 7:30-11 p.m. free Regency Hotel - Karaoke 7 p.m. free Poets II - Karaoke 10 p.m.

Electric Cowboy - Full Moon Circus 9 p.m.

Pelican Cove - Team Trivia 7 p.m. signup McB’s - Karaoke 7 p.m. free Hot Shots, Byram - Karaoke 8 p.m. free Eli’s Treehouse, V’burg - Karaoke 8 p.m.

Proud Larry’s, Oxford - Ryan Bingham $15, 18+

MAY 7, FRIDAY Old Trace Park, Rez - Miss. Symphony Orchestra: Pepsi Pops 7: 30 p.m. (gates 4:30 p.m.) $15, $5 students, 601-960-1565, www.msorchestra.com Fire (outside) - Five Finger Death Punch, Drowning Pool, Lacona Coil 7 p.m. $20+ myspace.com/ drowningpool Miss. Museum of Art - Art Remix: Eden Brent (jazz/inside) 5-8 p.m.; Afrissippi (world/blues/ outside) 7:30-8:30 p.m.; Jon Cleary (New Orleans R&B/ outside) 8:30-10 p.m. $20-$25 johncleary.com Martin’s - Good Enough For Good Times (members of Galactic & Charlie Hunter Trio) 10 p.m.

Underground 119 - Duff Dourough (bluegrass) 9-1 a.m. $10 Hal & Mal’s Restaurant - Swing d’Paris (gypsy jazz) Hal & Mal’s Red Room - The Party Dots, + Old Capital Inn - Mental Health Assoc. Benefit: Grady Champion, Homemade Jamz, Ben Payton (blues) 6:30-10 p.m. $50, 601-956-2800 Ole Tavern - Jason Turner Band 10 p.m.

5/05 5/08 5/15 5/17

Welty Commons - Contra Dance: The Scramblers (string band) 7:30 p.m. free/donation Dreamz Jxn - DJ Reign & DJ Hova / Crawfish Boil: Deadstring Brothers 10 p.m. free myspace.com/deadstringbrothers Shiloh Park, Brandon - Brandon Day: Addison Road, Sidewalk Prophets 7 p.m. $20 930 Blues Cafe - Blues/Jazz 5:30-8 p.m.; Jackie Bell, 9 p.m. $10 Electric Cowboy - Aclarion, Full Moon Circus (rock) 9 p.m.

Footloose - Karaoke 9-1 a.m. free McB’s - Hunter Gibson & Rick Moreira 8-11:30 p.m.

Shucker’s - Rainmakers 8-1 a.m. $5 Burgers & Blues - Doug Frank SurRealLife 7-11 p.m. myspace.com/ dougfrankmusic Cultural Expressions - Reggae/HipHop/Old School Night 10 p.m. $5 Pelican Cove - Karaoke 7:30 p.m.

Regency Hotel - Snazz 8:30 p.m. myspace.com/snazzband2 Irish Frog, 507 Springridge Rd, Clinton - Emma Wynters 6:30-10 p.m.

Reed Pierce’s - Monkey Bone 9 p.m. free Hot Shots, Byram - Karaoke 8 p.m. free No Smoking Smoke House, 209 Main St., Yazoo City - Open Mic 6 p.m. free, 601-571-7937 Bottleneck, Ameristar - Dr. Zarr’s Funkmonster 8 p.m. free Proud Larry’s, Oxford - Will Hoge $10, 18+

MAY 8, SATURDAY Fire (outside) - Fuel, Taproot, Destrophy, Taking Dawn, Ice Nine Kills (rock) 7 p.m. $20+ myspace.com/fuel Hal & Mal’s Red Room - Horse Trailer, Furrows Hal & Mal’s Restaurant - Vernon Brothers (bluegrass) 8 p.m. free Martin’s - Roosevelt Noise 10 p.m. www.myspace.com/rooseveltnoise The Auditorium - Robert Johnson Birthday Celebration: local blues outside 3 p.m. free; Super Chikan, Eddie Cotton, Homemade Jamz, Latongya Garner, Steven “Teddy Bear” Johnson (Robert Johnson’s grandson), Bobby Pizazz (blues) 7 p.m. $25 Underground 119 - Scott Albert Johnson (blues/juke) 9-1 a.m. $10 Burgers & Blues - Mark Whittington & Fingers Taylor 7-11 p.m.

Ole Tavern - Elsah / Furrows 10 p.m.

Shucker’s - The Rhythm Masters 3-7 p.m. free; Rainmakers 8-1 a.m. $5 McB’s - Home Remedy 8 p.m.

930 Blues Cafe - Blues/Jazz 5:30-8 p.m.; Jackie Bell, 9 p.m. $10 Cultural Expressions - Kamikaze & Yardboy 9 p.m. $5 Fitzgerald’s - Chris Gill 8-12 a.m.

Dreamz Jxn - DJ Ricky Rich 9 p.m.

Pelican Cove - Big Earl Trio 2-5 p.m.; McCann-Welch 6 p.m.

Huntington’s - Ralph Miller 6-9 p.m.

Electric Cowboy - Aclarion, Full Moon Circus (rock) 9 p.m.

Regency Hotel - Snazz 8:30 p.m.

Reed Pierce’s - Monkey Bone 9 p.m. free

Saliva - Sam’s Town Casino, Tunica Norah Jones - Orpheum, Memphis; 5/09 Birmingham, AL. Theatre Big Star - Levitt Shell, Memphis Matt Pond PA - Hi-Tone, Memphi

Hot Shots, Byram - Karaoke 8 p.m. free Bottleneck, Ameristar - Dr. Zarr’s Funkmonster 8 p.m. free

MAY 9, SUNDAY King Edward Hotel - Howard Jones Trio (Mother’s Day Brunch) 11-2 p.m.

Warehouse - Mike & Marty Open Jam Session 6-10 p.m. free Fitzgerald’s - Andy Hardwick 11-2 p.m.

Sophia’s, Fairview Inn - Knight Bruce 11 a.m. (brunch) Shucker’s - Jon & Amanda 3-7 p.m. free Pelican Cove - Todd Thompson 3-7 p.m.

Burgers & Blues - Jason Turner 5-9 p.m.

William Wheeler Hall, 217 Griffith St - Michael Henderson 7 p.m. $20 myspace.com/essentialmichaelhenderson The Hill - Open Blues Jam 6-11 p.m.

Atwood Elks Lodge, Lynch St - Jazz, Blues & More: The Musicians 7-9 p.m. $5 Footloose - Karaoke 7-11 p.m. free Cultural Expressions - Open Mic Poetry 8 p.m. $5 Hot Shots, Byram - Karaoke 6-10 p.m. free BancorpSouth Arena, Tupelo - ZZ Top

MAY 10, MONDAY Hal & Mal’s Restaurant - Central Miss. Blues Society Jam 8-11 p.m. $5 F. Jones Corner - Stevie J ree Fitzgerald’s - Hunter Gibson & Rick Moreira 8-12 a.m. free Martin’s - Open Mic Free Jam 10 p.m. free Fenian’s - Karaoke 8-1 a.m.

Dreamz - Karaoke/DJ 5:30 p.m.

MAY 11, TUESDAY Fire - Cage the Elephant, Morning Teleportation, AutoVaughn, Creep Left (alt rock) 7 p.m. $10, 18+ myspace.com/ cagetheelephant ; myspace.com/ morningteleportation ; myspace.com/autovaughn Hal & Mal’s Restaurant - Pub Quiz 8 p.m.

Fenian’s - Open Mic 9 p.m.

Martin’s - Karaoke 10 p.m.

Shucker’s - The Xtremes 7-11 p.m. free Time Out - Open Mic 8 p.m.

McB’s - Karaoke 7 p.m. free

MAY 12, WEDNESDAY Hal & Mal’s Restaurant - Laurel Isbister & Scott Albert Johnson 8 p.m. free F. Jones Corner - Sherman Lee Dillon (blues lunch) free Regency Hotel - Snazz 8:30 p.m. myspace.com/snazzband2 Parker House (patio) - Chris Gill & friends (crawfish) 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Underground 119 - Virgil Brawley & Steve Chester (blues) 8-11 p.m.

Fitzgerald’s - Rainmakers 8-12 a.m. free Shucker’s - Tooz Co. 7:30-11:30 p.m. free Steam Room Grille - Ms Sinatra 6 p.m.

Footloose - Karaoke 8-12 a.m. free Electric Cowboy - Karaoke Pelican Cove - Brian of Full Moon Circus 7:30 p.m.

venuelist Wednesday, May 5th Freelon’s Bar And Groove 440 N. Mill St., Jackson, 601-353-5357 (hip-hop) Fusion Coffeehouse Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, 601-856-6001 Garfield’s Restaurant & Pub 6340 Ridgewood Court, Jackson, 601-977-9920 Gold Strike Casino 1010 Casino Center Drive, Robinsonville, 888-245-7529 Grand Casino Biloxi 280 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi, 228-436-2946 Grand Casino Tunica 13615 Old Highway 61 North, Robinsonville, 800-39-GRAND The Green Room 444 Bounds St., Jackson, 601-713-3444 Ground Zero Blues Club 0 Blues Alley, Clarksdale, 662-621-9009 Grownfolks’s Lounge 4030 Medgar Evers Blvd, Jackson, 601-362-6008 Hal & Mal’s 200 S. Commerce St., Jackson, 601-948-0888 (pop/rock/blues) Hamp’s Place 3028 W. Northside Dr., Jackson, 601-981-4110 (dance/dj) Hard Rock Biloxi 777 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, 228-374-ROCK Hat & Cane 1115 E. McDowell Rd., Jackson, 601-352-0411 Hauté Pig 1856 Main St., Madison, 601853-8538 Here We Go Again 3002 Terry Road, Jackson, 601-373-1520 The Hill Restaurant 2555 Valley St., Jackson, 601-373-7768 Horizon Casino Mulberry Lounge 1310 Mulberry St., Vicksburg, 800-843-2343 Horseshoe Bar 5049 Hwy 80 West, Jackson, 601-922-6191 Horseshoe Casino Tunica, 800-303-7463 The Hunt Club 1525 Ellis Ave., Jackson, 601-944-1150 Huntington Grille 1001 E. County Line Rd., Jackson, 601-957-1515 The Ice House 515 S. Railroad Blvd., McComb, 601-684-0285 (pop/rock) JC’s 425 North Mart Plaza, Jackson, 601-362-3108 James Meredith Lounge 217 Griffith St. 601-969-3222 Julep Restaurant and Bar 105 Highland Village, Jackson, 601-362-1411 Kathryn’s Steaks and Seafood 6800 Old Canton Road, Ridgeland. 601-956-2803 Koinonia Coffee House 136 S. Adam St., Suite C, Jackson, 601-960-3008 LaRae’s 210 Parcel Dr., Jackson, 601-944-0660 Last Call Sports Grill 1428 Old Square Road, Jackson, 601-713-2700 The Library Bar & Grill 120 S. 11th St., Oxford, 662-234-1411 The Loft 1306 A. Washington St., Vicksburg, 601-629-6188 The Lyric Oxford 1006 Van Buren Ave., Oxford. 662-234-5333 Main Event Sports Bar & Grill 4659 Hwy 80 West, Jackson, 601-922-9987 Manda’s Pub 614 Clay Street, Vicksburg, 601-638-6607 Martin’s Lounge 214 S. State St., Jackson, 601-354-9712 (rock/jam/blues) McB’s Restaurant 815 Lake Harbor Dr., Ridgeland, 601-956-8362 (pop/rock) Mellow Mushroom 275 Dogwood Blvd., Flowood, 601-992-7499 Mississippi Academy of Ancient Music 103 Magnolia, Edwards, 601-977-7736 Mississippi Coliseum 1207 Mississippi St., Jackson, 601-353-0603 Mississippi Opera P.O. Box 1551, Jackson, 877-MSOPERA, 601-960-2300 Mississippi Opry 2420 Old Brandon Rd., Brandon, 601-331-6672 Mississippi Symphony Orchestra 201 East Pascagoula St., Jackson, 800-898-5050 Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 2531 N. State St., Jackson, 601-354-6021 Monte’s Steak and Seafood 1855 Lakeland Dr., Jackson, 601-362-8182 Mugshots 1855 Lakeland Dr., Jackson, 601-713-0383 Okasions 1766 Ellis Avenue, Jackson, 601-373-4037 Old Venice Pizza Co. 1428 Old Square Rd., Jackson, 601-366-6872 Ole Tavern on George Street 416 George St., Jackson, 601-960-2700 Olga’s 4760 I-55 North, Jackson, 601-366-1366 (piano)

One to One Studio 121 Millsaps Ave., in the Millsaps Arts District, Jackson One Blue Wall 2906 N State St., Jackson, 601-713-1224 Peaches Restaurant 327 N. Farish St., Jackson, 601-354-9267 Pelican Cove 3999A Harborwalk Dr., Ridgeland, 601-605-1865 Pig Ear Saloon 160 Weisenberger Rd., Gluckstadt, 601-898-8090 Pig Willies 1416 Washington St., Vicksburg, 601-634-6872 Pool Hall 3716 I-55 North Frontage Rd., Jackson, 601-713-2708 Pop’s Saloon 2636 Gallatin St., Jackson, 601-961-4747 (country) Proud Larry’s 211 S. Lamar Blvd., Oxford, 662-236-0050 The Pub Hwy. 51, Ridgeland, 601-898-2225 The Quarter Bistro & Piano Bar 1855 Lakeland Dr., Jackson, 601-362-4900 Que Sera Sera 2801 N. State St., Jackson, 601-981-2520 Red Room 200 S. Commerce St., Jackson (Hal & Mal’s), 601-948-0888 (rock/alt.)

Reed Pierce’s 6791 Siwell Rd., Byram, 601-376-0777, 601-376-4677 Regency Hotel Restaurant & Bar 420 Greymont Ave., Jackson, 601-969-2141 Rick’s Cafe 318 Hwy 82 East, #B, Starkville, 662-324-7425 RJ Barrel 111 N. Union 601-667-3518 Sal and Mookie’s 565 Taylor St. 601368-1919 Sam’s Lounge 5035 I-55 N. Frontage Rd., Jackson, 601-983-2526 Sam’s Town Casino 1477 Casino Strip Blvd., Robinsonville, 800-456-0711 Schimmel’s Fine Dining 2615 N. State St., Jackson, 601-981-7077 Scrooge’s 5829 Ridgewood Rd., Jackson, 601-206-1211 Shuckers on the Reservoir 116 Conestoga Rd., Ridgeland, 601-853-0105 Silver Star Casino Hwy. 16 West, Choctaw, 800-557-0711 Soop’s The Ultimate 1205 Country Club Dr., Jackson, 601-922-1402 (blues) Soulshine Pizza 1139 Old Fannin Rd., Brandon, 601-919-2000 Soulshine Pizza 1111 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, 601-856-8646 Sportsman’s Lodge 1220 E. Northside Dr. at I-55, Jackson, 601-366-5441 Steam Room Grille 5402 Interstate-55 Frontage Road. 601-899-8588 Stone Pony Oyster Bar 116 Commercial Parkway, Canton, 601-859-0801 Super Chikan’s Place 235 Yazoo Ave., Clarksdale, 662-627-7008 Thalia Mara Hall 255 E. Pascagoula St., Jackson, 601-960-1535 Thirsty Hippo 211 Main St., Hattiesburg, 601-583-9188 (indie/ alt.rock/jam/world) Time Out Sports Bar 6270 Old Canton Rd., 601-978-1839 Top Notch Sports Bar 109 Culley Dr., Jackson, 601- 362-0706 Touch Night Club 105 E. Capitol St., Jackson, 601-969-1110 Two Rivers Restaurant 1537 W. Peace St., Canton, 601-859-9979 (blues) Two Sisters Kitchen 707 N. Congress St. 601-353-1180 Two Stick 1107 Jackson Ave., Oxford, 662-236-6639 Tye’s 120 N. Congress St., Jackson, 601949-3434 Under the Boardwalk 2560 Terry Rd., Jackson, 601-371-7332 (country/ classic rock) Underground 119 119 S. President St. 601352-2322 VB’s Premier Sports Bar 1060 County Line Rd., Ridgland, 601-572-3989 VFW Post 9832 4610 Sunray Drive, Jackson, 601-982-9925 Vicksburg Convention Center 1600 Mulberry Street, Vicksburg, 866-822-6338 Walker’s Drive-In 3016 N. State St., Jackson, 601-982-2633 (jazz/pop/folk) The Warehouse 9347 Hwy 18 West, Jackson, 601-502-8580 (pop/rock) Wired Expresso Cafe 115 N. State St. 601-500-7800

Ladies’ Night w/ Snazz 8:30 p.m. - Guys’ Cover $5

BUY 1, GET 1 WELLS Thursday, May 6th

Weekly Lunch Specials Parking now on side of building

Bike Night w/ Krazy Karaoke 7:00 p.m. - No Cover

$2 MARGARITAS! Fri & Sat May 7th & May 8th

Snazz 8:30 p.m. - $5 cover

Open for dinner Sat. 4-10pm

LUCERO

w/ Taylor Hildebrand L i v e M a y 21s t !

Tickets on sale now.

thursday

MAY 6

Exquisite Dining at

The Rio Grande Restaurant

LADIES NIGHT with MR. NICK! LADIES DRINK FREE WELLS & PONIES 9PM-2AM

friday 400 Greymont Ave., Jackson 601-969-2141 www.regencyjackson.com

BASEBA LL SEASON IS FINALLY HERE! WATCH YOUR TEAM @ THE LODGE lunch specials $7.95 - includes tea & dessert

Smoke-free lunch

weekdays 11am-3pm

WED. LADIES NIGHT & KARAOKE

THURS.

BUDWEISER GAMES NIGHT

$10 Buckets of Beer during Tournaments

MAY 14TH

3 HAIL MARY JANE

PRIZES & FREE SCHWAG

FRI.

COLLEGE NIGHT BRING STUDENT ID

SAT. MAJOR LEAGUE

BASEBALL MON.

S.I.N. NIGHT TUES. JACKPOT TRIVIA $2 DOMESTICS

ON SUNDAY, BLOODY MARYS $4 & MIMOSAS $3 THURSDAY 2-FOR-1 MONDAYS, $1.50 PINTS ON

MAY 7

JASON TURNER BAND saturday

MAY 8

Jacktown Ramblers tuesday

MAY 11

OPEN MIC with Cody Cox *DOLLAR BEER* wednesday

MAY 12

KICK ASS KARAOKE w/ KJ JOOSY FREE WiFi Open Mon-Sat, Kitchen open Mon-Fri 11 am-10 pm & Sat 4-10 pm

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61 South - Rainbow Casino 1380 Warrenton Rd., Vicksburg, 800-503-3777 88 Keys 3645 Hwy. 80 W in Metrocenter, Jackson, 601-352-7342 930 Blues Cafe 930 N. Congress St., Jackson, 601-948-3344 Alamo Theatre 333 N. Farish St, Jackson, 601-352-3365 Alley Cats 165 W. Peace St., Canton, 601-855-2225 Alumni House Sports Grill 574 Hwy. 50, Ridgeland, 601-855-2225 America Legion Post 1 3900 W. Northside Dr., Jackson, 601-605-9903 Ameristar Casino, Bottleneck Blues Bar 4146 Washington St., Vicksburg, 800-700-7770 Beau Rivage Casino 875 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, 800-566-7469 Belhaven College Center for the Arts 835 Riverside Dr, Jackson, 601-968-5930 Bennie’s Boom Boom Room 142 Front St., Hattiesburg, 601-408-6040 Borrello’s 1306 Washington St., Vicksburg, 601-638-0169 Buffalo Wild Wings 808 Lake Harbour Dr., Ridgeland, 601-856-0789 Burgers and Blues 1060 E. County Line Rd., Ridgeland, 601-899-0038 Capri-Pix Theatre 3021 N. State St., Jackson, 601-981-9606 Central City Complex 609 Woodrow Wilson Dr., Jackson, 601-352-9075 Cerami’s 5417 Highway 25, Flowood, 601-919-2829 Char Restaurant 4500 I-55, Highland Village, Jackson, 601-956-9562 Cherokee Inn 1410 Old Square Rd., Jackson, 601-362-6388 Club 43 Hwy 43, Canton, 601-654-3419, 601-859-0512 Club City Lights 200 N. Mill St., Jackson, 601-353-0059 Club O’Hara 364 Monticello St., Hazlehurst, 601-894-5674 Club Total 342 N. Gallatin St., Jackson, 601-714-5992 The Commons Gallery 719 N. Congress St., 601-352-3399 Couples Entertainment Center 4511 Byrd Drive, Jackson, 601-923-9977 Crawdad Hole 1150 Lakeland Dr., Jackson, 601-982-9299 Crickett’s Lounge 4370 Hwy 80 West, Jackson, 601-922-0500 Crossroads Bar & Lounge 3040 Livingston Rd., Jackson, 601-984-3755 (blues) Cultural Expressions 147 Millsaps Ave., Jackson, 601-665-0815 (neosoul/hip-hop) Cups in Fondren 2757 Old Canton Road, Jackson, 601-362-7422 (acoustic/pop) Cups in the Quarter 1855 Lakeland Dr., Jackson, 601-981-9088 Davidson’s Corner Market 108 W. Center St., Canton, 601-855-2268 (pop/rock) Debo’s 180 Raymond Road, Jackson, 601-346-8283 Diamond Jack’s Casino 3990 Washington Street, Vicksburg, 1-877-711-0677 Dick & Jane’s 206 Capitol St., Jackson, 601-944-0123 (dance/alternative) Dixie Diamond 1306 Washington Street, Vicksburg, 601-638-6297 Dollar Bills Dance Saloon 103 A Street, Meridian, 601-693-5300 Edison Walthall Hotel 225 E. Capitol St., Jackson, 601-948-6161 Electric Cowboy 6107 Ridgewood Rd., Jackson, 601-899-5333 (country/ rock/dance) Executive Place 2440 Bailey Ave., Jackson, 601-987-4014 F. Jones Corner 303 N. Farish St. 601983-1148 Fenian’s 901 E. Fortification Street, Jackson, 601-948-0055 (rock/Irish/folk) Fire 209 Commerce St., Jackson, 601592-1000 (rock/dance/dj) Final Destination 5428 Robinson Rd. Ext., Jackson, (pop/rock/blues) Fitzgerald’s Martini Bar 1001 E. County Line Road, Jackson, 601-957-2800 Flood’s Bar and Grill 2460 Bailey Ave., Jackson, 601-713-4094 Footloose Bar and Grill 4661 Hwy 80 West, Jackson, 601-922-9944

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by Jessica Kinnison

read more Body&Soul stories and the blog at jacksonfreepress.com

CLIPART

Carving Nature at Its Joints

May 6 - 12, 2010

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Further Reading: “Clinical Handbook of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Related Problems,” edited by Jonathan S. Abramowitz, Dean McKay and Steven Taylor (2008, Johns Hopkins University Press, $30).

“The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Washing The Experience and Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder,” Judith L. Rappaport (E. P. Dutton, 1989, $10).

“Strange Brains and Genius” by Clifford A. Pickover (Plenum Publishing, 1998, $15).

Famous People with OCD

C

ountless visionaries displayed obsessive tendencies including Ludwig Van Beethoven, Albert Einstein, Howard Hughes, Ignatius of Loyola and Charles Darwin. Here’s a short list of other, famous OCD sufferers: Zach Braff, actor Leonardo DiCaprio, actor Joanne Limburg, poet David Beckham, soccer superstar Cameron Diaz, actor Joey Ramone, musician Howie Mandel, comedian

OCD in Children

T

alk to your child’s doctor if you are concerned that your child may be an OCD sufferer. Parents can look for the following possible signs in their kids:

• Raw, chapped hands from constant washing.

• An unusually high rate of soap or paper towel use.

• High, unexplained utility bills.

• A sudden drop in test grades.

• Unproductive hours spent doing homework.

• Holes erased through test papers and homework.

• Requests for family members to repeat strange phrases or keep answering the same question.

• A persistent fear of illness.

• A dramatic increase in laundry.

• An exceptionally long amount of time spent getting ready for bed.

• A continual fear that something terrible will happen to someone.

• Constant checks of the health of family members.

• Reluctance to leave the house at the same time as other family members.

SOURCE: KIDSHEALTH.ORG.

“Craig’s Wife: A Drama in Three Acts,” by George Kelly (George French, 1952, $15).

Internet Resources: OCD Laughing Club: health.groups.yahoo.com/group/laughing_ club/ Moms with OCD: health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ MomsWithOCD/ International OCD Foundation: www.ocfoundation.org

COLIN CHOU

P

eople have called my obsession with snakes (and by extension cats) aberrant, cockamamie, campy and injudicious. It is all of these things. I am all of these things.

I cannot sleep near a cat I don’t know without seeing images of his or her reptilian diamond-head fangs clamping down on my ear and sucking the life out of me.

When I was 7 or 8 years old, I said to my mother, “I can’t turn to wash my hair in the shower because I have to keep my eye on the drain.” To which my mother replied: “You’re not afraid of the drain.”

But I was afraid. I would turn, tilt my head back and be seized by the image of a 12-foot python squeezing itself through the hole in my tub. Sometimes I even looked out at the toilet to make sure the snake didn’t take a wrong turn.

What is obsession? Everyone experiences it on some level. The phrase OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) has snaked its way into our English lexicon as a term for anyone who is driven, quirky or detail-oriented.

When does obsession become a mental illness? The American Psychological Association calls my “reptile” thoughts “obsessional intrusive thoughts,” and says that nearly everyone experiences thought like them. For some people, though, these intrusive thoughts are more intense, longer lasting and become physically and mentally distressing.

The medical community considered obsessive-compulsive disorder to be rare until the mid-1980s when the medical community started to zoom in on its actual frequency. The seminal book on the subject, Judith Rappaport’s “The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Washing: The Experience and Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder,” was only published in 1989, just 21 years ago.

OCD affects men, women and children of all races and backgrounds equally, according to the International OCD Foundation. The foundation estimates that one in 100 adults—or between 2 million to 3 million adults in the United States—currently suffer from the disorder. This is roughly the same number of people who live in the city of Houston, Texas.

About half the time, the disorder starts in childhood, Rappaport writes. At least 1 in 200 (or 500,000) kids and teens have OCD, about the same number of kids who have diabetes.

Trying to determine the source of obsessive-compul-

sive disorder, like many other psychological conditions is, in Plato’s words, like trying “to carve nature at its joints,” researcher Jonathan S. Abramowitz writes in the “Clinical Handbook of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Related Problems.” The disorder runs the gambit of severity: Some people count steps, some wait for the clock to strike a lucky number, and some can’t get out of bed because the obsessions are too frequent and too powerful.

What is the difference between an obsession and a compulsion?

HealthCentral.com says that obsessions are “thoughts and images that won’t go away,” while compulsions are recurrent actions. Sometimes, compulsions “are ways for people to try to relieve themselves from their obsessive thoughts.”

Common obsessions include fear of contamination, aggression, symmetry, sex, religion and pathological doubts.

Common compulsions, often called “rituals,” include cleaning and washing, ordering, repeating, checking, hoarding, and counting. Washing is still the most common compulsion, even in cultures where cleanliness is not of value, Rappaport explains.

Obsessions can take the form of disturbing thoughts that violate an individual’s sense of morality, as in the case of a 38year-old patient of Rappaport’s.

“My name is Sam,” the patient wrote. “I am a very successful professional in a very large city. … I am a survivor. If you don’t believe so, count the references to death in this account I’m giving you.”

Often, patients don’t trust themselves. “This is a disease that may be thought of as skepticism gone wild,” Rappaport writes.

Genius has also been linked to OCD. Hungarian inventor and engineer Nikola Tesla—whose inventions include the radio and alternating current (AC) electrical systems—always did things in threes, was disgusted by pearl earrings and was, by his own account, appalled by dirt and dust.

Sure, it is irrational—cockamamie even—but for those who are in the throes of this complex and devastating disease, they have to complete their rituals. If our brain told us a window was a door, we’d walk through it every time.

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39

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

May 6 - 12, 2010

J

40

ackson’s Highland Village welcomes a new restaurant to the mix: The Beagle Bagel Café opened its doors in February 2010, offering Jackson the best of a specialty deli with items such as their ever-popular fresh chicken salad bagel sandwich and their grilled panini.

The Beagle Bagel Café at Highland Village is located at 4500 I-55 North, directly visible from the I-55 North Frontage Road, just below Bravo! The Beagle Bagel Café BEAGLE BAGEL fulfills a niche in offering customers a different option: every kind of sandwich imaginable, served on fresh-baked bagels.

Bagels are made from scratch daily, and the list of bagel flavors is endless: plain, sesame, poppy-seed, onion, garlic, salt, pumpernickel, black Russian, cinnamon raisin, blueberry blitz, sun-dried tomato, honey whole wheat, seven grain, cheddar, chocolate chip, sourdough, and mozzarella focaccia.

Customers can order a Beagle Bagel sandwich with deli meat such as smoked turkey breast, honey ham, pastrami or roast beef and add cheese or veggies on their favorite bagel. Or try the World’s Best Chicken Salad on a sun-dried tomato bagel or honey whole wheat bagel: the chicken salad is tender skinless breast of chicken, almonds and grapes blended with their very own thyme mayonnaise.

If cream cheese and bagels are more your thing, select a fresh cream cheese spread on your favorite bagel. All the cream cheese flavors are light and made in their very own kitchen.

Flavors include plain, garlic and herb, cinnamon swirl, strawberry, garden, chive, tomato pesto, pepper cheddar, honey walnut raisin, and lotta lux (smoked salmon).

According to General Manager Will Ulmer, customers at Beagle Bagel go gaga for the salad sampler, your choice of chicken or tuna salad served on a bed of lettuce, plus your choice of two side salads (marinated veggies, carrots and raisin, artichoke heart and rice, fruit, pasta or potato salad).

You can always begin your day there with a breakfast bagel sandwich from an egg and cheese bagel sandwich to an egg and ham bagel sandwich; or order up the beagle bites, sausage and biscuits with jelly, for your first meal of the morning.

Don’t leave The Beagle Bagel Café without trying one of their tempting desserts. From cinnamon rolls, muffins, fresh-baked specialty cookies, petit fours or cakes of all kinds, you will definitely fulfill any sweet tooth craving.

Open Monday - Saturday 6:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. and on Sundays from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., The Beagle Bagel is a unique dining choice in a modern art deco building. See why customers continue to brag about so many of their menu items from their yummy chicken salad to their addictive sweet freshly-made petit fours. Visit them are online at www.beagelbagelcafe.net or call 769-251-1892 for more information.

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COFFEE HOUSES

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Cups Espresso Café (Multiple Locations, www.cupsespressocafe.com) Jackson’s local group of coffeehouses offer high-end Arabica beans, a wide variety of espresso drinks, fresh brewed coffee and a selection of pastries and baked goods. Free wi-fi!

Wired Espresso Café (115 N State St 601-500-7800) This downtown coffeehouse across from the Old Capitol focuses on being a true gathering place, featuring great coffee and a selection of breakfast, lunch and pastry items. Free wi-fi.

Sunday Brunch

SUNDAY, MAY 9 - Jason Turner 5-9pm

2 for 1 Margaritas at 9pm 10:30am-2pm 6340 Ridgewood Court, 601-977-9920

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BAKERY Broad Street (4465 Interstate 55 N. 601-362-2900) NEW MENU! Hot breakfast, coffee espresso drinks, fresh breads and pastries, gourmet deli sandwiches, quiches, soups, pizzas, pastas and dessert. A “see and be seen” Jackson institution!

Crazy Cat Bakers (Highland Village Suite #173 601-362-7448 & Fondren Corner Bldg) Amazing sandwiches: Meatloaf Panini, Mediterranean Vegetarian, Rotisserie Chicken to gourmet pimento cheese. Outlandish desserts. Now open in Fondren Corner on North State Street.

Campbellʼs Bakery (3013 N State Street 601-362-4628) Now serving lunch! Cookies, cakes and cupcakes are accompanied by good coffee and a fullcooked Southern breakfast on weekdays in this charming bakery in Fondren.

For Heavenʼs Cakes (4950 Old Canton Road 601-991-2253) Cakes and cupcakes for all occasions including weddings, parties, catered events. Owner Dani Mitchell Turk was features on the Food Network’s ultimate recipe showdown.

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ITALIAN Basilʼs Belhaven (904 E. Fortification, Jackson, 601-352-2002) The signature Paninis are complimented by great Italian offerings such as spaghetti and meatball, tomato basil soup, cookies and cupcakes. Dinner menu includes fresh tilapia, shrimp and risotto, seafood pasta, generous salads—and don’t forget the crab cakes. Party menu includes a “panini pie.” BYOB.

BRAVO! (4500 Interstate 55 N., Jackson, 601-982-8111) Wood-fired pizzas, vegetarian fare, plus creative pastas, beef, and seafood specials. Wonderful atmosphere and service. Bravo! walks away with tons of Best of Jackson awards every year.

Ceramiʼs (5417 Lakeland Drive, Flowood, 601-919-28298) Southern-style Italian cuisine features their signature Shrimp Cerami (white wine sauce, capers artichokes) along with veal, tilapia, crawfish, chicken and pasta dishes. Now with liquor license!

Fratesiʼs (910 Lake Harbour, Ridgeland, 601-956-2929) “Authentic, homey, unpretentious” that’s how the regulars describe Fratesi’s, a staple in Jackson for years, offering great Italian favorites with loving care. The tiramisu is a must-have!

BARBEQUE Hickory Pit Barbeque (1491 Canton Mart Rd. 601-956-7079)

BAKERS Now with TWO locations to better serve you

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The “Best Butts in Town” features BBQ chicken, beef and pork sandwiches along with burgers and po’boys. Wet or dry pork ribs, chopped pork or beef, and all the sides.

Lumpkins BBQ (182 Raymond Rd. Jackson 866-906-0942) Rib Shack B.B.Q. & Seafood (932 J.R. Lynch Street, Jackson, 601-665-4952) Hickory-smoked BBQ beef or pork ribs, BBQ chicken, giant chopped BBQ beef or pork sandwiches. Fried catfish, pan trout, fried shrimp, po boys. Tues-Thurs (11-8pm) Fri-Sat (11-10pm).

BARS, PUBS & BURGERS Burgers and Blues (1060 E County Line Rd Ste 22 Ridgeland 601-899-0038) Al Stamps’ famous burgers, veggie burgers and sweet potato fries -- now in Ridgeland! Full bar, beer on tap, patio for local music and flat panel TVs to get your sports fix.

Alumni House (574 Hwy 51 Ridgeland 601-605-9903, 110 Bass Pro, Pearl, 601-896-0253) Good bar food, big portions and burgers (with “blackened” as an option) known for their sweet buns. Televisions throughout, even small tubes at your table. Po-boys, quesadillas; good stuff!

DINE LOCAL, see pg. 42

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n” g us ks o 10 t i n n Ja c 9 • 20 o V Fo r e c ue i • 200 a r b 008 B st 06 • 2 e B “ • 20 3 200

!

Best Butts In Town! since 1980

601-956-7079

1491 Canton Mart Rd. • Jackson

jacksonfreepress.com

Specializing in smoked barbeque, Lumpkin’s offers all your favorites for on-site family dining or for catered events, including reunions, office events, annivesaries, weddings and more.

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Abbye West Pates & Matthew Clark Friday, May 7th at 7pm

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Come see Why We Were Voted One Of Jackson’s Best Mediterranean Restaurants

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Mediterranean & Lebanese Cuisine

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Lunch starting at just $6 .99 Hours of Operation: Everyday 11am-until

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Fenianʼs Pub (901 E. Fortification St. 601-948-0055) Classic Irish pub featuring a menu of traditional food, pub sandwiches and beers including Guinness and Harp on tap. Free live music most nights; Irish/Celtic bands on Thursdays.

Cool Alʼs (4654 McWillie, 601-713-3020) A standard in Best of Jackson, Al’s stacked, messy, decadent, creative burgers defy adjectives.

Or try pineapple chicken, smoked sausage...or the nationally recognized veggie burger.

Fitzgeralds at the Hilton (1001 East County Line Road, 601-957-2800) Bar favorites with a Gulf Coast twist like Gumbo Ya Ya, Shrimp Cocktail and Pelahatchie artisan sausage and cheese antipasto. Plus grilled oysters, tournedos of beef, chicken pontabla and of course the fried stuff—oysters, catfish, shrimp, seafood or chicken. Did we mention the bar?

Hal and Malʼs (200 S. Commerce St. 601-948-0888) Pub favorites meet Gulf Coast and Cajun specialties like red beans and rice, the Oyster Platter or each day’s blackboard special. Repeat winner of Best of Jackson’s “Best Place for Live Music.”

Last Call (3716 I-55 N. Frontage Road 601-713-2700) Burgers, sandwiches and po-boys, plus sports-bar appetizers and specialities. Try chili cheese fries, chicken nachos or the shrimp & pork eggrolls. Pay-per-view sporting events, live bands.

Martinʼs Restaurant and Lounge (214 South State Street 601-354-9712) Lunch specials, pub appetizers (jalapeno poppers, cheezsticks, fried pickles) or order from the full menu of po-boys and entrees. Full bar, massive beer selection and live music most nights.

Shuckerʼs Oyster Bar (116 Conestoga Road, Ridgeland 601-853-0105) Serious about oysters? Try ‘em on the half shell, deep-fried, charred from the oven or baked in champagne. Plus po-boys, pub favorites, burgers, mufalettas, pizza, seafood and steaks!

The Regency (400 Greymont Ave. 601-969-2141) Reasonably priced buffet Monday through Friday featuring all your favorites. Daily happy hour, live bands and regular specials.

Time Out Sports Café (6720 Old Canton Road 601-978-1839) 14 TVs, 1 projector and two big-screens. Daily $9 lunch specials, pub-style appetizers, burgers, seafood and catfish po-boys, salads, and hot entrees including fish, steak and pasta.

Ole Tavern on George Street (416 George St. 601-960-2700) Pub food with a southern flair: beer-battered onion rings, chicken & sausage gumbo, salads, sandwiches and weekly lunch specials. Plus, happy hour 4-7pm Monday through Friday.

Pelican Cove Grill (3999A Harbor Walk Drive 601-605-1865) Great rez view! Shrimp and seafood appetizers, soups, salads, burgers and sandwiches, plus po-boys, catfish baskets, and dinners from the grill including mahi-mahi and reggae ribs.

Sportsmanʼs Lodge (1120 E Northside Dr. in Maywood Mart) 601-366-5441 Voted Best Sports Bar in 2010, Sportman’s doesn’t disappoint with plenty of gut-pleasing sandwiches, and fried seafood baskets. Try the award-winning wings in Buffalo, Thai or Jerk sauces!

Underground 119 (119 South President St. 601-352-2322) Jumbo lump crabcakes, crab quesadillas, beef tenderloin parfaits, orange-garlic shrimp, even “lollipop” lamb chops. Add a full bar and mix in great music. Opens 4 p.m.-until, Wed-Sat.

ASIAN STIX (109 Marketplace Lane off Lakeland Dr Flowood 601-420-4058) Enjoy the quick-handed, knife-wielding chefs at the flaming teppanyaki grill; artful presentations of sushi; the pungent seasonings and spicy flavors of regional Chinese cuisines.

Nagoya (6351 I-55 North #131 @ Target Shopping Ctr. 601-977-8881) Nagoya gets high marks for its delicious-and-affordable sushi offerings, tasty lunch specials and high-flying hibachi room with satisfying flavors for the whole family.

Ichiban (153 Ridge Drive, Ste 105F 601-919-0097 & 359 Ridgeway 601-919-8879) Voted “Best Chinese” in 2010, cuisine styles at Ichiban actually range from Chinese to Japanese, including hibachi, sushi made fresh with seafood, and a crowd-pleasing buffet.

SOUTHERN CUISINE Julep (1305 East Northside Drive, Highland Village, 601-362-1411) Tons of Best of Jackson awards, delicious Southern fusion dishes like award-winning fried chicken, shrimp and grits, blackened tuna and butter bean hummus. Brunch, lunch, dinner and late night.

Primos Cafe (515 Lake Harbour 601-898-3400 and 2323 Lakeland 601-936-3398) A Jackson institution featuring a full breakfast (with grits and biscuits), blue plate specials, catfish, burgers, prime rib, oysters, po-boys and wraps. Save room for something from the bakery.

Sunioraʼs Sidewalk Cafe (200 South Lamar Street 601-355-1955) Homecooking, soul food, buffet and pizza for lunch in downtown Jackson. Soup and salad bar every day, plus daily lunch specials. “Mama’s in the kitchen!” Mon-Fri, 11am-2pm.

Sugarʼs Place (168 W Griffith St 601-352-2364) Hot breakfast and weekday lunch: catfish, pantrout, fried chicken wings, blue plates, red beans & rice, pork chops, chicken & dumplings, burgers, po-boys...does your grandma cook like this?

DINEJackson

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The Strawberry Café (107 Depot Drive, Madison, 601-856-3822) Full table service, lunch and dinner. Crab and crawfish appetizers, salads, fresh seafood, pastas, “surf and turf” and more. Veggie options. Desserts: cheesecake, Madison Mud and strawberry shortcake.

Two Sisters Kitchen (707 N. Congress St. 601-353-1180) 2010 Best of Jackson winner for fried chicken offers a sumptious buffet of your choice of veggies, a salad bar, iced tea & one of three homemade desserts. Lunch only. M-F 11-2, Sun. 10:30-2.

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STEAK, SEAFOOD & FINE DINING

11a

Huntington Grille at the Hilton (1001 East County Line Road 601--957-1515) Chef Luis Bruno offers fresh Gulf seafood, unique game dishes and succulent steaks alongside an expansive wine selection; multiple honors from Best of Jackson, Wine Specator and others.

Schimmelʼs (2615 N. State St. 601-981-7077) Creative southern fusion dishes at attractive prices make the appointed dining room that much more enticing. Daily lunch specials, red beans and rice, angus burgers. Dinner menu includes pork tenderloin, basil-pesto pasta with chicken, cajun shrimp, steaks, seafood and more.

Steam Room Grille (5402 I-55 North 601--899-8588) Known for seafood featuring steamed lobster, crab, shrimp and combo patters. Grilled specialities include shrimp, steaks, and kabobs. Fresh fish fried seafood, lunch menu, catering, live music.

ies, meats, Fresh vegg much breads and

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Open Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, Closed on Sat. 182 Raymond Rd. in Jackson, MS Telephone: 601-373-7707 E-mail: lumpkinsbbq@comcast.net

MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EASTERN Aladdin Mediterranean Grill (730 Lakeland Drive 601-366-6033) Delicious authentic dishes including lamb dishes, hummus, falafel, kababs, shwarma and much more. Consistent award winner, great for takeout or for long evenings with friends.

Jerusalem Café (2741 Old Canton Road 601-321-8797) Yes, it’s a hookah bar in Jackson, which also happens to have a great Meditterean menu, including falafel, lamb shank, feta salad, kabob, spinach pie, grape leaves and baba ghanouj.

Kristos (971 Madison Ave @ Hwy 51, Madison, 601-605-2266) Home of the famous Greek meatball! Hummus, falafel, dolmas, pita sandwiches, salads, plus seasoned curly fries (or sweet potato fries) and amazing desserts.

Petra Cafe (104 West Leake Street, Clinton 601-925-0016) Mediterranean and Lebanese cuisine in the charm of Olde Towne Clinton. Stuffed grape leaves, spinach pie, shrimp kabobs, greek salads, hummus and more. Lunch and dinner served seven days a week.

PIZZA Mellow Mushroom (275 Dogwood Blvd, Flowood, 601-992-7499) Pizzas of all kinds, munchies, calzones, grilled hoagies, salads and more make up the extensive and “eclectic” menu at Mellow Mushroom. Award-winning beer selection. Dine in or carry out.

The Pizza Shack (1220 N State St. 601-352-2001) 2009 and 2010’s winner of Best Pizza offers the perfect pizza-and-a-beer joint. Creative pizza options abound (“Cajun Joe, anyone?”), along with sandwiches, wings, salads and even BBQ. Sal & Mookieʼs (565 Taylor St. 601-368-1919) Pizzas of all kinds plus pasta, eggplant parmesan and the local favorite: fried ravioli. Voted Best Chef, Best Dessert, Best Kid’s Menu and Best Ice Cream in the 2010 Best of Jackson reader poll.

CARRIBBEAN Taste of the Island (436 E. Capitol, Downtown, 601-360-5900) Jerk chicken or ribs, curry chicken or shrimp, oxtails, snapper or goat, plus bok choy, steamed cabbage and Jamaican Greens, Carry out, counter seating or delivery available. 11a-7p.

VEGETARIAN High Noon Café (2807 Old Canton Road in Rainbow Plaza 601-366-1513) Fresh, gourmet, tasty and healthy defines the lunch options at Jackson’s own strict vegetarian (and very-vegan-friendly) restaurant. Daily lunch specials -- like mexican day and the seaside cakes on Fridays -- push the envelope on creative and healthy; wonderful desserts!

Mother’s Day Brunch 10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Brunch Inc -

“Now Dats Italian” A metro-area tradition since 1977

Lunch: Tues. - Fri. & Sun. | 11am-2pm Dinner: Tues. -Thurs. & Sun. | 5pm-9pm Fri. & Sat. | 5pm-10pm

Mama Mia! Bring Mom in for Mother’s Day! Saturday 5pm-9pm Sunday 11am-2pm 601-919-2829 5417 Lakeland Drive ~ Flowood, MS 39232

Q UICHE BACON P OTATO M F RESH M A G RANOLA & F RESH F RUIT PARFAITS - STRAWBERRY SHORT CAKE W / F RESH S TRAWBERRIES & H OME - MADE WHIPPED C REAM - TEA , C OFFEE AND OJ

$23.99 per person gratuity not included

Reservations Only Please Call 601-352-2002 Enjoy

from the Belhaven bakery

Mon. - Thurs., 11am - 8:30pm | Fri. & Sat. 11am - 9pm 904B E. Fortification St. - English Village

Call Us: 601-352-2002

Spring in a Cup! and all natural peanut butter monin.

ICED MINT COFFEE BREVE Traditional cold drip french roast iced coffee, blended with half-and-half and sweetened with all natural frosted mint monin.

LONDON FOG Earl Grey tea steeped in steamed milk and sweetened with all natural vanilla monin.

SUGAR FREE PENGUIN MOCHA Cups fresh roasted espresso, blended with steamed skim milk and sweetened with sugar-free white chocolate and sugar-free chocolate monin.

RED HEAD Au lait made with Cups fresh roasted coffee blended with steamed milk, creamy caramel and all natural cinnamon monin. A Cups Original!

DAISY MAE Cups classic creamy vanilla frozen treat blended with all natural strawberry monin. free wireless internet

jacksonfreepress.com

PEANUT BUTTER WHITE MOCHA Cups fresh roasted espresso blended with ghirardelli white chocolate, steamed milk

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corkscrew corkscr Doctor S sez: What do you call a sunny day following two days of rain? Monday.

THURSDAY, MAY 6 Southern League baseball, Birmingham at Mississippi (7:05 p.m., Pearl, 103.9 FM): For some reason, whenever the Barons come to town I start craving pizza.

May 5, 2010

Cinco de DMr-CinLkOoSE

FRIDAY, MAY 7 College baseball, Arkansas at Ole Miss (7 p.m., Oxford, ESPNU, 97.3 FM): The Rebels and the Razorbacks begin a series that could decide who wins the SEC West. … Mississippi State at Auburn (6:30 p.m., Auburn, Ala., 105.9 FM): The Bulldogs need a miracle if they’re going to make the SEC Tournament. But there won’t be any miracles in the Lousiest Village on the Plains this weekend.

5P

Food and drink specials all day!

Beers we’re shipping in for this event only: Presidente Light, Dos Equis, Tecate & Modelo Especial!

Kitchen will be cooking southwestern eggrolls, quesadillas, and tacos al pastor!

WEDNESDAY 5/5

CINCO DE DRINKO! Sean Mullaby (Folk/Hop) THURSDAY 5/6

Dead Irish Blues (Irish Folk) FRIDAY 5/7

The Peoples (Rock) SATURDAY 5/8

Andrew Duhon (Folk) SUNDAY 5/9

Brunch 11am-3pm

Open 11am - Midnight MONDAY 5/10

Karaoke w/ Matt

May 6 - 12, 2010

TUESDAY 5/11

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Open Mic with A Guy Named George

Come by and see the highest rated wines in Mississippi at the BEST prices.

4800 I-55 N, LeFleur’s Gallery

601-981-1333

SATURDAY, MAY 8 College baseball, Jackson State at Mississippi Valley State, 2 (1 p.m., Itta Bena): The Tigers venture into the desolate Delta to duel with the Delta Devils. Unfortunately for the Tigers, the Devils just about have the SWAC West sewn up.

FM): The M-Braves and Barons conclude their brief homestand with a matinee.

MONDAY, MAY 10 Southern League baseball, Mississippi at Chattanooga (6:15 p.m., Chattanooga, Tenn., 103.9 FM): The M-Braves head for the mountains to play the Lookouts. Tantrum alert: Phillip Wellman is returning to the scene of the crime. (Look up his name on YouTube if you don’t know what I’m talking about.)

TUESDAY, MAY 11 PDL soccer, New Orleans at Mississippi (7 p.m., Millsaps, Jackson): Brilla kicks off the season against the Jesters at Harper Davis Stadium.

SUNDAY, MAY 9 Southern League baseball, Birmingham at Mississippi (2:05 p.m., Pearl, 103.9

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12 Major League baseball, Atlanta at Milwaukee (6 p.m., SportSouth, 620 AM): It’s the Chop vs. the hops when Milwaukee’s old team, the Braves, faces Beer City’s “new” team, the Brewers.

The Slate is compiled by Doctor S, who roots for the food when he watches “Man vs.

Food” on TV. Check out the tasty bits at JFP Sports on www.jacksonfreepress.com.

Curses, Foiled Again

Spring Cleaning

Federal authorities charged Gregory Giusti, 48, with making at least 48 threatening phone calls to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during a seven-week period. According to an affidavit supporting the charges, Giusti used an Internet phone service called Magic Jack to make the calls, declaring during one call to Pelosi’s San Francisco district office that “the number I’m calling from is untraceable, so if you’re trying to trace it, have fun.” Authorities promptly traced the call to Giusti.

Giusti’s mother, Eleanor Giusti, 83, blamed Fox News for radicalizing her son, whose criminal record includes evading train fare. (Talking Points Memo, San Francisco’s KGO-TV News)

Twenty Nepali climbers embarked on a mission to remove decades-old garbage from Mount Everest’s “death zone,” the area above 26,246 feet known for its treacherous terrain, freezing temperatures and lack of oxygen. Targeting empty oxygen bottles, gas canisters, torn tents, ropes and utensils left by climbers, the Extreme Everest Expedition 2010 is the first to pick up litter from that elevation. “The garbage was buried under snow in the past,” expedition leader Namgyal Sherpa, 30, said. “But now it has come out on the surface because of the melting snow due to global warming.” (Reuters)

Cause and Defect Earthquakes are caused by women who wear immodest clothing and behave promiscuously, according to a senior Islamic cleric in Iran.

“Many women who do not dress modestly lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which increases earthquakes,” Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi, Tehran’s acting Friday prayer leader, told Iranian media.

The only way “to avoid being buried under the rubble,” Sedighi noted, is “to take refuge in religion and to adopt our lives to Islam’s moral codes,” including women covering themselves from head to toe in loose-fitting clothing. (Associated Press) A 24-year-old Muslim woman died while driving a go-kart at a recreational area in New South Wales, Australia, when part of her loosefitting, head-to-toe burqa got caught in the vehicle’s wheels and strangled her. (Britain’s Daily Mail)

Outsourcing Upgrade Professors at some U.S. universities have begun sending students’ papers to India, Singapore and Malaysia to be graded. The Virginiabased company EduMetry provides the service, called Virtual-TA, to a mix of for-profit and nonprofit institutions, many of them business schools. The company points out that its graders, all of whom have at least master’s degrees, return graded work faster than professors can and that professors freed from grading papers can devote more time to teaching and research.

“People need to get past thinking that grading must be done by the people who are teaching,” said Chandru Rajam, a business professor at George Washington University who helped found EduMetry five years ago. “Sometimes people get so caught up in the mousetrap that they forget about the mouse.” (The Chronicle of Higher Education) Compiled from mainstream media sources by Roland Sweet. Authentication on demand.

BY MATT JONES

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Among the ancient Anglo-Saxons, the month of May was called “Thrimilce.” The word referred to the fact that cows were so productive at this time of year that they could be milked three times a day. I thought of that as I studied your current astrological data, Taurus. During this year’s Thrimilce, you are almost impossibly fertile and abundant and creative. My advice is to give generously but not to the point of exhaustion: the equivalent of three times a day, but not four.

In accordance with the astrological omens, I encourage you to seek out a concentrated period of sweet oblivion.

Not a numb, narcotized limbo. Not a mournful unconsciousness that’s motivated by a depressive urge to give up. No, Gemini: The mental blankness that you cultivate should be generated by a quest to rejuvenate yourself, and it must have qualities of deliciousness and delight.

You not only have a need to rest and recharge in a lush nowhere, you also have the right to do so.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) A while back, I gave my readers this homework: “Tell a story about the time a divine intervention reached down and altered your course in one tricky, manic swoop.” A woman named Kelly testified as follows: “At first I was disturbed to find I couldn’t identify the last time Spirit descended into my midst with a forceful intervention.

But finally I realized why: I have been working to make my whole life be guided by the Spirit of my Higher Power, as a deep undercurrent. That way I don’t need bolts of lightening to fix my course.” This is a useful lesson, Cancerian. It’s an excellent time for you to follow Kelly’s lead. Ask yourself how you could cultivate a deep, abiding undercurrent of the good influence you want to have guide you, thereby making lightning bolts of divine intervention unnecessary.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) The exact height of Mt. Everest has proved challenging to determine. Even using modern scientific methods, different teams of surveyors have come up with varying measurements. The problem is not simply with the calculations themselves. The world’s tallest peak is definitely evolving. Shifts in the earth’s tectonic plates work to raise it up and move it northeastward. But there’s also evidence that the melting of its glaciers due to climate change is causing it to shrink. A member of one mountain climbing expedition said, “If Everest is bobbing up and down, we must hope to catch it on a low day.” I bring this to your attention, Leo, in order to offer you a metaphor for the coming weeks. Your version of Mt. Everest is shriveling. Get ready to ascend.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Have you been lusting after spiritual traditions other than your own? Have you been fantasizing about cheating on the deity you’ve always been faithful to and seeking a taboo liaison with a strange and exciting god from another part of reality? If so, Virgo, that’s a good sign. I suspect you could use a few adjustments to your familiar relationship with the Divine Wow. After all, you have gone through a lot of changes since the last time you hammered out your definitive theories about the meaning of life. What made good sense for you back then can’t be completely true for you any more. So feel free to let your mind wander in the direction of holy experiments.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) When a girl is born, her ovaries already contain all the eggs she will ever have. What this means, of course, is that a part of you was in your grandmother’s womb as well as in your mother’s. Now would be an excellent time to celebrate that primal fact. Your connection with your mother’s mother is especially important these days. I suggest you meditate on what gifts and liabilities you received from her (genetic and otherwise) and how you might be able to make better use of the gifts even as you take steps to outwit the liabilities.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Who is the person most unlike you in the world? I suggest you study that person for tips on how to improve your life. What are the healthy experiences you are least

attracted to? You might want to meditate on exactly why they’re so unappealing, and use that information to update your ideas about yourself. What are the places on the earth that you long ago decided you would never visit? I invite you to fantasize being in those places and enjoying yourself. Can you guess why I’m calling this Opposite Week, Scorpio?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Are you in a trance or a rut or a jam? If so, excuse yourself. It’s break time. You need spaciousness. You need slack. You need to wander off and do something different from what you have been doing. If there’s any behavior you indulge in with manic intensity, drop it for a while. If you’ve been caught up in a vortex of excruciating sincerity or torturous politeness, shake it off and be more authentic. Of all the good reasons you have for relaxing your death-grip, here’s one of the best: Life can’t bring you the sublime gift it has for you until you interrupt your pursuit of a mediocre gift.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) The state of Texas is a Capricorn, having become part of the United States on December 29, 1845. At that time, it was granted the right to divide itself into five separate states at some future date. So far it hasn’t chosen to do so, and I would advise it to continue that policy. I extend the same counsel to all of my Capricorn readers.

From an astrological perspective, this is not a favorable time for you to break yourself up into sub-sections. On the contrary: I suggest you sow unity and solidarity among your various parts.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) I’m all for recycling, composting and carpooling. Anything you and I can do to reduce our carbon footprint is brilliant. But I also agree with author Chris Hedges, who says, “The reason the ecosystem is dying is not because we still have a dryer in our basement. It is because corporations look at everything, from human beings to the natural environment, as exploitable commodities. It is because consumption is the engine of corporate profits.” So beyond our efforts to save the earth by adjusting our own individual habits, we’ve got to revise the way corporations work. Now let’s apply this way of thinking to the specific personal dilemma you’re facing right now: It’s important for you to change yourself, yes—and I’m glad you’re taking responsibility for your role in the complications—but you will also have to transform the system you’re part of.

“Leaving So Soon?”

BY MATT JONES

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Every year Americans fork over six times as much money to buy lottery tickets as they do for going to the movies, according to the documentary film “Lucky.” Yet many people who actually buck the improbable odds regard their “luck” as a curse. “Winning the lottery is like throwing Miracle-Gro on all your character defects,” one person said. Let this serve as a cautionary tale for you in the coming months, Pisces. To get ready for the good things that are headed your way, you should work to purify any darkness that’s lurking in your unconscious.

Last Week’s Answers

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Hip-hop music definitely needs to include more tuba playing. I think that’s what’s missing from it. Likewise, the sport of skateboarding would benefit from having more dogs and monkeys that can master its complexities; the state of journalism could be improved by including more babies as reporters; and you Aries folks would significantly upgrade your life by learning how to play the game of cricket. (If you believe everything I just said, you’ll be equally gullible when a little voice in your head tries to convince you to seek out things you don’t really need or adopt behavior that doesn’t suit you.)

Why is this a perfect moment? Write to Truthrooster@gmail.com. Here’s my take on the question: http://bit.ly/ThisIsaPerfectMoment.

“Geography Sudoku” Solve this as a normal sudoku with letters instead of numbers. Each given letter will appear exactly once in each row, column, and 3x3 box. If you have the correct solution, one row across or column down will reveal the name of a world capital.

jacksonfreepress.com

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

Almond Joy bar 11 Asian sea that’s really a lake 12 Flickr posts, for short 13 Tattoo stuff 21 Instinct source 22 Manhattan Project weapon, for short 25 Take ___ of faith 26 “We ___ please” 27 Olfactory sense 29 ___ Hashanah 30 When some bars close 32 German painter Albrecht ___ 33 Retract a comment 34 They may be taken with a hand in the air 36 EEG detection 38 Prefix for pilot 41 “From hell’s heart, ___ at thee”-Melville 42 “How bizarre” 47 Kindle stuff 49 Get a little rest 52 Coordinate, with “up” —can you figure out the mystery phrase? 54 Wild card, often 55 Musical finale 56 Makes a selection phrase Across 57 ___-wheel drive 48 Make ghost noises 1 Get a hold of 58 Feminine suffix 50 Guitarist Cooder and others 5 Group of wives 59 “Avatar” race 51 Gets the bad guy 10 “Ay ___” 60 Male-only 53 Part of an Indian landmark 14 Dinner extra 61 Sicilian volcano 55 See 46-across 15 Take ___ (ride around town, 62 Ernesto Guevara, familiarly 62 Manilow nightclub perhaps) 63 Palindromic bridge bid 16 “___ go bragh” ©2010 Jonesin’ Crosswords 17 Part of Julius Caesar’s dying words 64 Comedian Williams 65 Entertainment center component (editor@jonesincrosswords.com) 18 Vocal qualities For answers to this puzzle, call: 166 ___ the Sunshine Band 19 Corkboard fastener 900-226-2800, 99 cents per minute.

67 “___ Almighty” 20 With 31-across, clue to the first Must be 18+. Or to bill to 68 Effortlessness word of the mystery phrase 69 Dispose of, as confidential docu- your credit card, call: 1-800-65523 Ask for, as a cigarette 6548. Reference puzzle #0459. ments 24 Baseball stat enthusiasts’ group 70 Latvia’s capital 25 ___ in “apple” 28 Like grapefruit Last Week’s Answers Down 31 See 20-across 1 Actor Kinnear 35 Tree branch 2 Boring way to learn 37 Cedar Rapids’ state 3 Low part in a womens’ choir 39 ___ Loa 4 Book jacket passage 40 Clue to the second word of the 5 Nastygrams mystery phrase 6 Tiny particle 43 Book with Brazil and Bhutan 7 Rajah’s wife 44 Possesses, old-school style 8 Business chiefs 45 Remini of “The King of Queens” 9 Accident 46 With 55-across, clue to the re10 Original company behind the maining three words of the mystery

45

www.thepizzashackjackson.com

(BUDWEISER & BUD LIGHT) Stop by and watch Basketball on the flat screen

Dine-In / Carry-Out May 6 - 12, 2010

Mon - Thur: 11am-10pm

46

601-352-2001 1220 N. State St. (across from Baptist Medical Center)

CATERING AVAILABLE

MAKE YOUR R ESERVATION TODAY! Great food & atmosphere at affordable prices 601-899-8588

GRADUATION DAY Saturday May 8th 12pm-10pm FREE MIMOSAS FOR MOM

Sunday May 9th 11am-8pm Mother’s Day Lunch or Dinner $21.95 Includes Salad, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Vegetable Medley and Dessert

Choose from:

Catfish Atchafalaya Fresh Catfi sh lightly dusted and fried

Beef Kabob Seasoned Tenderloin with Mushrooms, Onions and Peppers

Fresh Shrimp Orleans Jumbo Shrimp lightly battered and fried

Salmon Rivers Grilled North Atlantic Salmon with honey mustard glaze

*Our regular menu will be available

jacksonfreepress.com

5402 I-55 Frontage Rd. Jackson MS 601-899-8588 | steamroomgrille.com

47

Q1: What did Mama give to soothe the bo-bo?

Q2: What Does Mama Want?

Answer: Arabica Coffee Roasted On Site Locally Owned & Operated

Nandy’s Candy Mon-Sat 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | 601-362-9553

308 E Pearl St, Jackson (601)949-6994

We Buy Cars We buy cars working or not. Call 601-573-8082

Extra $$ for the Summer Get paid to party & educate too! Start now for only $100. Earn 25% commission. Call/request more info online @ www.infiniteexpectations.com 866-245-1834

Wanted: information collectors • Neck pain/headache • Car accident/whiplash • Lower back/leg pain 612 Hwy 80 E in Clinton, MS 39056 Office: 601.924.4647 | Fax: 601.926.4799 M-F 10-6, Thurs 8-2, Sat by Appt. Only

www.rathburnchiropractic.com

Can you write down at least ten license plate tag numbers while you shop or dine at a retail store or restaurant? Would you collect more if you could get paid for it? Fast and growing company looking for information collectors to gather and enter license plates into their online web portal. This information is used for market research, the code amber alert, missing persons, law enforcement, government agencies and much more. Residual income and unlimited earning potential. Call stephanie for more information. (601) 566-5673.

Clinton Duplex Apartment Spacious living/dining, kitchen, bedroom, den; hardwood floors, CH/A; five minutes to MC. $600/month, no pets; call 601-355-6548, leave a message.

DEANNA CARINA VELASCO

DUI & CRIMINAL DEFENSE Protect Your Rights!

601-944-1980

2

M NAIL SPA SPA SERVICES INCLUDE: WITH

Facials & Chemical Peels Full Body Waxing Makeovers by Carina Cosmetics Dermaplane Manicures & Pedicures

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1046 Greymont Ave. (behind La Cazuela) CALL US AT 601-397-6223!