Jackson Free Press

The Best 10 Movies of 2005

This was a great year for movies in terms of quality, though 2005 will probably be remembered by the film industry for its hugely disappointing box office grosses (it marks …

[Music] Random Acts Of Chaos

Three misconceptions must be cleared up about Champagne Heights: They do not like Champagne, they are not influenced by Radiohead, and they are not from Rhode Island. So what is …

City Ends Precinct-by-Precinct Crime Stats

Not that it made the front page as any story about the previous administration and crime stats used to, but The Clarion-Ledger has a story today about how the new …

Sex Shop Goes Up In Flames

This takes care of one of Melton's issues.

Grisham: Silent Nights on the Gulf Coast

This may be the best thing John Grisham has ever written, today in the New York Times. This is the last section, but read the whole thing:

Merry Christmas!

My blog is usually pretty serious, so here are a few random stocking stuffers to throw my karma back into balance...

Silent Smoot

From Provine High to Hinds CC to Mississippi State to the Washington Redskins to the Minnesota Vikings, defensive back Fred Smoot has left a trail of words. Smoot loves to …

Christmas on the Coast

I have just finished wrapping the last present and laying it on the ever growing pile in the corner. There is only a "pile" because I have no tree. I …

Do Not Take Revenge, My Friends

Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I …

Loving Thy Neighbor

Last week, the day after the JFP's first "Race, Religion & Society" panel discussion, I looked at two e-mails within a couple hours of each other. The first, from a …

No. 14, December 22-28

<b><u>Boot Camps Won't Work</b></u>

I have to give the mayor credit for identifying a problem and then attempting to deal with it, even if it is in the mode of Don Quixote slaying windmill …

A Goodie Is A Goodie

Over the almost eight-year-long span that my family spent on the road, we never had a chimney for Santa. Being well-loved, wide-eyed and innocent of grown-up concerns like how late …

Crossing The Mighty River: Race, Religion and Mississippi

At the climax of the 11 o' clock church service at Galloway Methodist church, the Rev. Ross Olivier assumes the pulpit to deliver his sermon. Olivier's polished demeanor gives no …

Rev. Paul Jones

The white double doors of the home of Paul Jones, 63 opened and revealed a man with a welcoming smile, his red hair glowing golden from the Christmas tree lit …

Mass Firings and A Merry Christmas

Twelve days before Christmas, Jackson employees suddenly received a mass e-mail from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security stating that they were "registered with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security" …

Pennsylvania Judge Rules: Intelligent Design is Not Science

The Dover "monkey trial" (discussed in a previous blog entry here) ended exactly as it should have: With a ruling that defends the scientific method from those who would push …

Biloxi Sun-Herald: 'Do Not Forsake Us'

They ask that we remember...That we care.

Let us not forget those that have no home.

Times-Picayune: Congress ‘Dishonest and Mean-spirited'

Here's part of the Times-Picayune piece:

The Times-Picayune is running a powerful editorial, trying to correct public misconceptions and rumors about the realities on the ground in New Orleans. This desperate plea for truth is similar …

Pope Benedict's Moral Compass

In the Vatican's rush to scapegoat all gay priests for the clergy abuse scandal, it has not just disparaged many innocent men. It has also ignored the many female victims …

[Casey's Note] Leaving My Heart In Jackson

When I first saw the Jackson Free Press, something sparked. I had given up hope for local weeklies, but the cover—a grid-like spread of a variety of Jackson folks—called to …