If there’s ever been an issue that liberals, moderates, conservatives, and libertarians could all get behind, the Voter ID Ballot Initiative is it. The success of free and democratic elections is based on the assumption that all votes are cast fairly and honestly. One person gets one vote and each vote counts.
Most little girls scream and run away from bugs. Not my ten year-old. She loves to find them and pick them up. Our house is in the woods and the day my girls and I moved in, she found some furry caterpillars and let a dozen or so crawl on her arm.
There has been a major trend in economic development in recent years that can probably best be summed up using a professional sports analogy: states and local communities across the country have been the team owners, economic developers have been the agents, and the businesses looking to expand have been the talented prospective athletes.
States and communities have offered huge tax breaks and incentives to lure jobs to their areas, in much the same way star athletes are offered hefty signing bonuses. Economic developers have leveraged more incentives, including utility deals, and acted as a liaison between the companies and communities — similar to the way agents market their athletes and sell their talents to teams. And businesses — like star athletes — have had the luxury of sitting back and being pretty selective in where they expand or start up.
For some communities, especially those with appealing locations who are willing to up the ante, that strategy has been a good one. Some have seen businesses come to town with everything they promised, sparking the local economy and providing people jobs. If that star athlete comes to a franchise and puts up big numbers and takes the team to the Super Bowl, it looks like a smart investment.
But what if the star athlete blows out a knee and never plays a down? What if that $10 million signing bonus only sells a few hundred season tickets or some t-shirts?
The UN’s declaration of carbon neutrality for the upcoming Copenhagen Environmental Conference is a curious example of modern logic. In order to counter the environmental impact of air travel for some 50 presidents, 35 prime ministers, their staffs, and thousands of attendees (estimated at 450 tons of carbon emissions), the UN has promised to earmark funding for a power plant in rural India that uses corn husks instead of fossil fuels to produce electricity.
Here’s the principle behind offsets: You’re planning on doing something you think is20bad and feel guilty about it. Rather than altering your actions, pay someone else to do something good to offset your negative impact and presto—no more guilt. Surely if the Copenhagen Conference organizers were concerned about the environmental impact of air travel they could have limited attendance or conducted meetings via video-teleconference. But curiously they decided to go ahead and do what they scold everyone else for and then offer to fund a Third World environmental project in their honor.
Whether through my previous or current work in press relations and public affairs, or through this column, I have had the opportunity to meet and build relationships with many of Mississippi's newspaper editors and publishers.
Last week, the Newspaper Association Managers sponsored national newspaper week, a more than 60 year tradition to promote newspapers "as a vital and vigorous news medium."
The theme, "Carrying the Torch of Freedom" sought to communicate that newspapers "work outside government to represent [the public's] interests. [Newspapers are] free as privately owned businesses outside government to have that precious power as guaranteed by the First Amendment. That power, that freedom will continue to serve the public in the future. Newspapers continue to carry a torch of freedom."
So I reflected on local newspapers: the people, the business, the public service.
Although smart business strategies are important in any economic situation, the current weak economy makes sound business decisions critical. Your small business can take several steps to maintain your stability in the current economic environment.
Don’t panic. Don’t assume the sky is falling. Remain confident to employees and customers. With continued hard work, planning, and perhaps some tough decisions, you will survive.
Communicate. Share information about your positioning in the weak economy. Let customers, vendors, and employees know that you are on top of the situation and making changes to sustain your business.
Service-learning is a teaching and learning method that combines service to the community with classroom curriculum. The academic skills taught in the classroom are used to create a community service project to impact real community issues, such as safety, hunger or diversity. It’s a hands-on approach to mastering subject material while fostering civic responsibility.
Service-learning provides a context for talking about learning in terms of not only what students know but also what they are able to do. Critical to this type of learning is building in the time for students to reflect on their service experience. Reflection time helps the students make the connection between classroom and community learning to ensure they understand the extent to which they can impact positive change.
One of our great American icons, often closely associated with Halloween, and magic, and spooks is Harry Houdini.
This past week as I pulled up to the Star's downtown offices, I saw an all too familiar — and heart-wrenching — scene unfold.
Nothing widens the mind like traveling to distant places and meeting people who speak other languages and live completely differently than you do. I love to travel.
This week was an eventful one in Meridian.
Those who knew of James Buckingham Skewes, likely spent the days since his passing talking about his taste in hats and suits, his fondness for England, and the cars he loved to drive.
After I had children, I basically stopped going to the movies. I always thought I’d start going again, but I never did. I used to be someone that you could count on for a solid movie recommendation, but now I’m generally clueless about what’s in the theater and what’s worth seeing. My friends aren’t much help either. I am mostly on my own finding a good movie.
When someone is complimented for going out of their way to help someone, they generally shy away and say something like, "No problem. Just doing my job."
As evidenced by the recently held forums and gatherings concerning our public schools, parents are clearly involved and ready to help their children succeed academically, but they need more and better information and tools from all schools to do so—ranging from how to help with home-work to how to get their children into college.
Seeing some of my friends’ children head off to college for the first time last month reminded me of my freshman year.
I’ll say it again and again—we live in an amazing time in history. As I boy I shoveled snow, sold lemonade, delivered papers, and mowed lawns for extra money.
As you read this column, I am driving to Indianola as a guest of the B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center. I am so excited that I haven't slept well this week – just anticipating the wonder of it all.
You see I am invited to present my originally written historic literary program where I portray Eudora Welty, and perform a staged reading from her work. I dress in costume and share tidbits about her extraordinary life – so, on Friday, I'll be the one in the pink Pill Box Hat (a style from the late 1950s/early 1960s), wearing short white gloves, and a smile. Oops, of course, I will wear a suit and heels as well -- typical of the day. In addition, while there, I will present a reading from my recent publication “Historic Photos of Mississippi” and sign copies as well. The next day, Saturday, August 29, I will sign copies of my book at Turnrow Books, Greenwood, 12-2:00 pm. Oh, how I love the Delta!
True test of middle age: When someone brings up something goofy you did and you're able to respond with "That was 40 years ago!"
There was a lot of talk this week at the Neshoba County Fair from Gov. Haley Barbour about what he doesn't like about President Barack Obama's presidency.
Parents for Public Schools (PPS) of Meridian/Lauderdale County, is an organization of parents who are working to improve the schools in our school districts. We work with principals, school district administrators and school board members as active participants in directing how our schools work. We have more than a financial stake in our schools; we have a personal stake – our children.
The bad side of town is in your living room, kitchen, and home office. The dark alley you are afraid to enter is in your child's bedroom. The good news is you can clean up the town and seal up the alley.
We should all applaud the Legislature for implementing a sales tax holiday, which will be Friday, July 31 and Saturday, Aug. 1. We also should start hounding the Legislature to make it more progressive.
Before I had children I considered myself a very wise and skillful parent. I would sometimes see a parent being disrespected by an unruly child and say to myself, "I'll NEVER let my child behave that way."
Picture this:
It's 1975. There's a 7-year-old girl playing in the dirt making mud pies. A little boy from across the road asks her to come play.
The scenario playing out in Honduras this week is one of the most fascinating and instructive political crises in decades because it demonstrates how different factions claiming the mantle of Democracy view Constitutional rule of law.
Regardless of what speech he may have prepared, his actions said far more.
So it finally happened. My sweet little angel lied straight to my face. At only four years old, she lied with such genuine enthusiasm and pride that I never suspected a thing.
A job is something you do for a paycheck. A career is getting paid for your passion.
As I sat on the night of July 4, I was thrilled to witness a fireworks display to rival that of any of the local towns in our area, however, this Fourth of July celebration was at a private home located in Kemper County.
On July 4, I was honored to participate in the Meridian Tea Party. First off, hats off to Wayne Lagrone and his team for making it happen. Without people like Wayne "real change" would never happen. When the soccer moms and the guys who run the pancake suppers of the world set their sights on something, the world is transformed for the better. They are a far more powerful force than armies of community organizers.
In 2006, I invited three friends to join me at The French Laundry, in Yountville, CA, for what would turn out to be the dinner of a lifetime.
The French Laundry is widely considered the nation’s finest restaurant, a reputation it has earned over the course of the last 15 years. I wrote about the meal and the subsequent column turned out to be a piece that I am still asked about, today. Looking back through my notes from the meal, I wrote, “I have just eaten the best meal of my life. Hands down. Period”
Just when my cynicism sets in, something comes along to shatter it.
I’m a list maker. I even make lists of lists. It’s likely some sort of obsessive compulsive sickness of mine, but it may benefit you today.
When the Magnolias make that perfect bloom -- all is right with the world or so it has seemed to me. I mean what a double treat to gaze upon the creamy white blooms, and then breathe the luscious fragrance -- yep, a double whammy. Now I don't mean to brag (well, maybe just a little) but don't you think that Moonlight, Magnolias, and Mississippi (all together) would bring us very close to a Heavenly scene? Oh come on, you do, don't you?
As a veteran educator, I'm often asked, "What do you think about what is going on in our schools?" Such a broad, generic question always gives me pause. As a rule my response is, "To what are you referring?" Why? Because, I know how hard it is to be a teacher or an administrator in our schools today.
He was my private algebra tutor in school, he taught me when peas were ready to be picked in the summer and he has loved me since I was born... he is my dad.
I heard something kind of shocking on the national news the other day - that only 20 percent of today's college graduates nationwide have a job lined up at the time of their commencement.
It's iPhone season again and I'm contributing to the iPhone hype/noise pollution. Forgive me. At some point in the near future, you may be tempted to pay a small fee to keep from hearing the relentless drone of iPhone-this and iPhone-that. Hopefully you haven't reached that point yet and hopefully I can help you tune out the noise with the facts.
President Obama’s Presidential Proclamation of June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride month should be read and discussed by all thoughtful Americans. Before this nation ditches heterosexuality as the healthy norm, however, perhaps we should consider where Obama’s attempts to include marriage, adoption rights, and military service to the LGBT community will lead.
What do you do with all the vegetables from your garden? You will cook what you can but then there is always more than you can use. Why not can or freeze it?
Several free publications are available from the Mississippi State University Extension Service that will tell you exactly how to safely can, freeze or dry your fruits and vegetables. Check with our office or go to msucares.com to read or download the publications right to your computer. Publications are: Home Canning – Publication 1152; Freezing Fruits – Publication 663; Freezing Vegetables – publication 974; Back to Basics Drying Fruits – Information Sheet 725; and Back to Basics Drying Vegetables – Information Sheet 723.
Here are a few excerpts from our publications to get you started.
The golden rule of home canning is, "The quality of the foods preserved will only be as good as the quality of the foods when they were fresh." You should use only fresh, firm fruits and young tender vegetables for preserving.
So you want to have a yard sale, eh?
Well before you do, you might want to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. And you may also want to make sure you’ve thought everything through … even scenarios you might not ever dream up.
As a kid, Momma showed me that little hand trick about the church. It went something like this: “Here’s the church, and here’s the steeple. Open the doors, and here’s all the people.” Undoubtedly, your Momma showed you that same little trick, wiggling her fingers to unveil the congregation.
Today
• 10:30 a.m. —A Pain Management Support Group meets weekly on Thursdays at NorthPark Church 7770 Hwy. 39 North Meridian. All are invited to attend including family members of those suffering from pain. Call the church 601 482-1322 for more information.
• Noon—Make-A-Wish Foundation Meridian Volunteer Meeting, Lunch provided, 6th floor board room-Rush Medical Group-Meridian. Contact Jane Walsh 1-800-819-4072.
• Noon— Al-Anon Thursday Noon meeting at NorthPark Church, 7770 Highway 39 North
• Noon—Growing Hydrangea for Mississippi Gardens. Bring your own lunch and learn about the beautiful plant, Hydrangea! Lauderdale Extension Service, 5th floor Courthouse Annex, Call 601-482-9764 for more info.
• Noon and 6:15 p.m.—Narcotics Anonymous Serenity group will meet at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1116 23rd Ave.
• 12:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.—Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 3753 19th St. Phone (601)482-2498. 24 hour info/hotline (601)527-6669.
• 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. —BINGO at Meridian Activity Center, 3300-32nd Avenue. Phone for information 601-485-1812.
• 5:15 p.m.—June 9 special election.-Meet the candidates is at Hilton Garden Meridian. Open to the public.
• 6 p.m.— The Meridian Chapter of the Miss. Valley State University Alumni Association will have their meeting at the council of organizations building, 814 45th Ave. All alumni in the surrounding area are asked to attend. There will be no meeting in the months of July and August. We will resume our meeting in September at the same place and time. Call (601)482-4559 or (601)485-2217.
• 7:30-8:30 p.m.—The Serenity Al-Anon Family Group will meet at 3753 19th Street. For more information, please call 601 484-5756 or the 24 hour information hotline 601 527-6669.
• 7:30pm —Beg. Square Dance instruction will be offered at the NE Community Club, 628 Briarwood Rd, Meridian. Sponsored by the Lauderdale Co Country Dancers. Call Carol Hosch 601-483-7016.
Well, I'll start off by saying that I am not much into politics and I admit, I am sometimes clueless in what is going on around me. I'm not a Meridian resident, heck, I'm not even a Lauderdale County resident.
School is out for the summer. As a school kid, I couldn’t wait to hear that phrase. As a parent, those words now have a whole different meaning.
Rocky Balboa vs. Apollo Creed, Wiley Coyote vs. Road Runner, Bullwinkle vs. Boris and Natasha — these were all great matchups. Apple's iPhone vs. RIM's BlackBerry is another great matchup. If you're in the market for a personal digital assistant (PDA), the BlackBerry and iPhone are your top two choices.
The Meridian Star will never die ... who would write our obituary? Sounds simple, but I believe it's true.
The images will live forever. The heartbreaking moment caught in time when firefighter Chris Fields carried the body of baby Baylee Almon from the rubble of the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995.
You never knew how much trouble your parents went through to create memories until you do it yourself.
The restaurant business is tough. It’s time consuming, it’s complicated, it’s hot, it’s filled with pressure, and there are countless unforeseen variables that can pop up at any moment.
I was a young, single, man with nothing to lose when I opened my first restaurant in 1987. I spent 90 hours a week in the kitchen for the first four years of operation. I had a girlfriend, but she was willing to put up with the long hours.
This business is even harder when there is a spouse at home— we call them restaurant widows— while a restaurant is just getting off the ground.
On June 9 area voters will return to the polls to vote for a person to fill our District 82 seat in the Legislature.
I like free, don't you? Though there's no arguing with Milton Friedman's statement, "There is no such thing as a free lunch," it should not stop us from enjoying free utilities and programs on our computer. The "not free" part of a free program is often the requirement to endure advertising or give up some of your personal information. The following programs are completely free (lunch notwithstanding).
When I moved back to Meridian nearly three years ago, I immediately became involved with our local Navy League chapter. Through this involvement, I have been very blessed to have had the opportunity to fly on several different military aircraft.
While I was downtown today I picked up a mint, ate it, and then felt a strange pain in my mouth. It seems that a red ant had first dibs on that mint and ended up in my mouth. Neither of us were keen on that idea and the ant bit the inside of my mouth to let me know. That’s a first for me. I found it quickly and removed it. We were both much happier.
Fortunately for us, our crack defenders at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have identified a nefarious group threatening America.
The Easter Bunny was kind enough to grant me an interview this week. Some segments had to be edited out because of space issues. But other topics we covered not represented in the following Q&A included: His close ties with PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals); global warming (he's against it); and Little Bunny Foo Foo — "That guy's a freak," the Easter Bunny said.
Each holiday has its own associations, and walking down the candy aisle at WalMart this week brought back memories of Easter. To this day the smell of vinegar reminds me of sitting around the kitchen table with my sisters trying to balance eggs on those little wire dippers into Paas dye.
I wasn’t going to write this column. I didn’t think it was needed, but I was wrong. Several situations arose this month with customers and vendors where I wanted to send them this column, but alas I hadn’t written it.
First, just for clarification, this column only pertains to people who have a brain. If that’s not you – then just turn the page and catch me next week. (chuckle).
You may have heard about the latest study released this past week which links the consumption of red meat with a modest increase in cancer mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality rates in people over 50 years old.
Dear readers – today I want to write about our generous and giving community; a community that works quietly and diligently to make good things happen. You know, we are unique. Not every community has the option of gifts generously given and sometimes given to complete strangers; the gifts given from the heart of our good people who live in Meridian and Lauderdale County. The option that when there is a need – the need is supplied by a simple phone call. Yes, just pick up the telephone, make the call, and know the mission will be accomplished.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I like lists. I like reading them and I like making them. I don't always follow the ones I write, like the ones for grocery shopping, things to do, or goals. I don't always trust the ones I read, like the ones that say Mississippi is the worst state at everything good and the best state at everything bad.
For Americans who believe in a Constitutionally limited government, these are tough times, and they’re probably going to get worse.
There's a lot of talk lately — and rightly so — about obtaining jobs and job creation. Heck, in today's economic times, just keeping the job you have, or job maintenance, is a good thing.
Lest I perpetuate the hoaxes I seek to help you debunk, let me state before you read any further, the following stories are Internet hoaxes. They are not true.
Forced to go to bed at my usual "bedtime" of 7 p.m., I caught a glimpse of daylight shining through the window by my bed. I jumped up and insisted I'd been duped.
The federal stimulus package gives schools across the nation an unprecedented opportunity to make purchases, offer programs and provide services that they may have been delaying because of tight budgets over the last few years.
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a column about accountability and communication -- two very important words to me. I firmly believe that accountability and communication affect most aspects of our life: work, government, home, relationships, etc.
It's always great to find talent inside your own doors — or just outside your door in this case.
There’s a difference in being friendly and being a friend. Being friendly with folks ought to be a given. That’s a concept as old as Luke 6:31, as in “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
A hundred years ago, a man named Charles Ponzi founded a fraudulent company that paid its investors unusually high rates of return. As word spread, more investors were lured into the racket only to learn when the scheme collapsed that their fictitious profits were being paid either out of their original investment or with incoming funds from new investors.
I have good news. I mean I know you are going to love this. … This morning I made a little unscientific experiment and I’m happy to report that it worked wonderfully. Let me tell you all about it – now make notes, ‘cause this is good stuff (in more ways than one).
Verizon has it right—“It’s the Network”—though I mean something different than your cell phone. I am talking about your life. Your life is about your network.
This month, millions of men all across the South like me silently struggle with a serious seasonal disorder. We are victimized by a condition that affects our behavior, sleep cycles, and ability to concentrate but have thus far been afraid to come forward publicly for fear of ridicule and misunderstanding.
There are two words I seem to frequently use these days. They apply to all facets of life: work situations, government, home, etc. These two words are accountability and communication.
Last week the U.S. House passed an $819 billion Economic Stimulus Package, with no help from the Republicans. Not one GOP leader voted for the bill. In what appears to be an effort to woo lawmakers, President Barack Obama invited them to the White House for drinks — after the vote passed. If he wanted more support from the Republicans, maybe he should have held the party before the vote. We'll see what the Senate does with it on Monday.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Despite the many dichotomies of the week, an overall feeling of unity seems to have fallen over the majority of the country. Ups and downs, highs and lows, consistencies and contradictions, struggles and victories – this week in our nation's capital I observed, felt, and heard them all.
In December of 2008, the National Conference of Editorial Writers compiled an unofficial list of the most overused phrases in 2008. This list included such phrases as: “It is what it is,” “My bad,” “It’s not rocket science,” and “At the end of the day.” Missing from the list is what this author would deem the number one overused phrase of 2008: “Ask your doctor.” In 2009, a frontrunner is emerging: “In this economy.”
Never in history has a Presidential Inauguration been greeted with as much attention and wholesale public enthusiasm as what we’ve experienced this week. It certainly was a ground breaking event showcasing not only the peaceful transfer of power but also how far America has progressed from the days of Dred Scott and Jim Crow.
They all said "it's a miracle!" When the news broke that U.S. Airways flight 1549 landed in the Hudson River last week that's what the television broadcasters kept calling it ... "a miracle."
You spoke and I listened. Based on your feedback, I am continuing the Web-sites-to-enrich-your-life theme in this column.
It’s hard to believe but the New Year is here. For lots of people, New Year’s Day meant eating traditional foods such as cabbage and black-eyed peas and watching football games on television.
The Threefoot project. It seems that has become a buzz phrase lately. Pick up your local paper, watch the local news or involve yourself in water cooler discussions and I’m sure the topic will come up at some point.
Two-thousand eight may well be remembered as the start of the big correction. Over the past fifteen years, it seemed that prices on just about everything soared while real values declined.
This time last year I offered several predictions for 2008. This was the one I sort of got right:
Two days after President George W. Bush dodged a shoe and with only 30 some-odd days left as commander-in-chief, I was fortunate enough to be included in one of his last Christmas parties at the White House, hosted by he and first lady Laura Bush.
Sometimes called “Crackbook” because of its addictive nature, Facebook claims more than 140 million members worldwide and has an estimated market valuation between five and fifteen billion dollars. Let me repeat that — five to fifteen BILLION dollars!
Sometimes you have to put your foot down and refuse to be a victim. This past week, one of my co-workers and I, along with many citizens of the Meridian area, took a stand and helped police chase down an alleged thief and recovered a stolen wallet.
In education, asking even a very simple question leads to a complex answer. For example, if a parent wants to know, "How is my child's school doing?," the principal can pull out reams of data, talk about disaggregation, and describe achievement models until the parent is completely confused and left without any useful information.
Did you hear about the Faubus Motel in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas?
The Book of Luke tells us that for those to whom much is given, much is required. As business leaders, we are given the opportunity to build a business through the American Enterprise System.
Thanksgiving has come and gone and it is time to begin the Christmas season. There are only three and a half weeks of shopping left until Christmas, and I have very few gifts under my tree. It’s not that gifts make the season, mind you.
I love Plackers™. Plackers are oversized plastic toothpick-like sticks for flossing your teeth. They have a little piece of floss suspended between two plastic arms and they make it easy and convenient to floss.
