Straight to the Source: Apples & Pumpkins Ripe for the Pickin’
by Brandi Herrera Pfrehm
October 6, 2008
Corn mazes, hay rides, fresh pressed cider and pumpkins galore! It's that time of the year y'all; fall, is here. What better way to quench your thirst for all things apple, than going straight to the source? There's no place like an orchard or pumpkin patch to get you in the mood for autumn, and there's nothing that compares to the fruit you'll find there. Don't even think about grabbing a bunch from the supermarket for your next pie, cobbler or crisp; their dull and mealy flesh have nothing on the firm and sweet varieties you can find on the farm. There you'll come across heirlooms and others you may never get the chance to sample elsewhere: Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Cortland, Idareds and many, many more. Now that's what I call Slow Food.
Fun for the whole family, it's the perfect way to spend a Saturday in October and an even better way to support your local economy. So get out and explore the farms of Mississippi! ...Wagon's awatin'.
Will New Palin ‘Racially Tinged’ Attacks Backfire on McCain?
Bizarrely, the McCain campaign announced to media over the weekend that it was going to launch personal attacks on Barack Obama to try to turn attention away from the economy, which is helping drive national and battleground state polls way up for Obama. Sarah Palin is already on the campaign trail trying to tie Obama to terrorists, prompting the Associated Press to warn that McCain may pay deeply for this tactic:
By claiming that Democrat Barack Obama is "palling around with terrorists" and doesn't see the U.S. like other Americans, vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin targeted key goals for a faltering campaign. And though she may have scored a political hit each time, her attack was unsubstantiated and carried a racially tinged subtext that John McCain himself may come to regret. [...]
In her character attack, Palin questions Obama's association with William Ayers, a member of the Vietnam-era Weather Underground. Her reference was exaggerated at best if not outright false. No evidence shows they were "pals" or even close when they worked on community boards years ago and Ayers hosted a political event for Obama early in his career.
Obama, who was a child when the Weathermen were planting bombs, has denounced Ayers' radical views and actions.
With her criticism, Palin is taking on the running mate's traditional role of attacker, said Rich Galen, a Republican strategist.
"There appears to be a newfound sense of confidence in Sarah Palin as a candidate, given her performance the other night," Galen said. "I think that they are comfortable enough with her now that she's got the standing with the electorate to take off after Obama."
(WILMINGTON, DEL.) - Joe Biden has cancelled his events for early this week after the passing of his mother in law.
"The Obama-Biden campaign today cancelled Sen. Biden's schedule Monday and Tuesday because of the passing of Jill Biden's mother, Bonny Jean Jacobs, this afternoon after a long illness," Biden spokesman David Wade wrote in an e-mail to the press.
"Other details will follow, but we appreciate everyone's respect for the family's privacy during this difficult time."
Biden had already dropped plans to campaign in Washington, D.C., on Saturday and Virginia today when his family realized the seriousness of Mrs. Jacobs' condition.
My sincerest condolences go out to the Biden family.
The Willie Morris Library (4912 Old Canton Rd.) kicks off its Willie Morris Series with friends of the author from Yazoo City recounting tales of growing up with him. Free; call 601-352-1312 for more information. … Head over to Tye’s Restaurant (120 N. Congress St.) at 5 p.m. for Tuesdays at the Plaza, with live music and great food. Call 601-949-3434 for more information. … At 8 p.m., show off your mastery of seemingly useless information at Hal & Mal’s Pub Quiz, with your favorite hosts Shannon and Laura. Teams of up to six people are welcome, $2 per person to play; call 601-948-0888 for more information.
In 1990, the U.S. Congress established the first week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) in recognition of NAMI's efforts to raise mental illness awareness. Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day (BDAD) is held each year on the Thursday of MIAW.
As part of Mental Illness Awareness Week 2008, the 5th annual National Day of Prayer will be observed on Tuesday, October 7, by communities and congregations across the country.
MIAW and BDAD are NAMI's premiere public awareness and public education campaigns. They link the organization's over 1,100 local affiliates across the country.
Follow the links below to learn more or to obtain the resources you need to promote MIAW and/or BDAD:
For 20 years, NAMI has fought for health insurance parity laws to ensure that employer health plans offer equitable coverage for medical illnesses such as major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and severe anxiety disorders.
This historic legislation is a victory for millions of Americans living with mental illnesses who face unfair discrimination in co-payments, doctorââ‚̢„¢s visits and hospital stays. The bill will require group health insurance plans to cover mental illness and substance abuse disorders on the same terms and conditions as other illnesses.
Once signed into law, Americans now will be able to get treatment when they need it.
NAMI is profoundly grateful to the bipartisan leadership on this important issue and thanks Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN), as well as Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), and Mike Enzi (R-WY), for their commitment in sponsoring the legislation.
This is something that NAMI has fought for for a long time, and I'm so glad to finally see mental health parity put into law. In 2001, half of the bankruptcies in the U.S. were due to staggering medical bills, and most of those people had health insurance. If a person with heart disease or cancer can hardly afford a 20% co-payment, imaging a person with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia dealing with a 50% co-payment! Some insurance companies don't cover mental health treatment at all. Hopefully that will change with this new legislation. More info here.
Here's my challenge for you this week: Last month, I blogged about the NAMIWalks walkathon that is coming up on Saturday, November 8. I set a fundraising goal of $500 for my team, and I would like to reach that goal this year since we fell short last year. Please go here to donate whatever you can. You can use this link to join my team, The Church Triumphant, if you are interested. I would love to have some of my JFP buddies walk with me this year, especially you Chick Ball participants. :)
Wall Street ‘Sells the Rally’, Ends Worst Week in 7 Years
On the week, the Dow Industrials average was down about 7.5 percent and the NASDAQ down almost 11 percent, in part because traders "sold the rally," resulting in a down day on Friday despite the passage (and signing) of a $700 billion bailout package by the House and President Bush.
The bill's approval was cheered on the trading floor but it doesn't signal the all clear for the market. That was apparent in the last half hour of trading as the hoopla quickly dissolved into a frenzy of selling activity.
NASDAQ was pulled down by bizarre trading on Apple's stock, which saw huge losses after CNN gave legs to a rumor circulated that Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, had experienced a heart attack. The rumor was denied, but it capped a bad week for Apple, which has also been downgraded by analysts who feel that Apple can't possible continue growing its sales of premium-priced Macintosh computers with consumer confidence so low.
Commentators aren't sure what to expect on Monday, given that the bailout bill has passed but now must be implemented, while unemployment and other indicators could be a drag on the markets going into the next week, as commentators creep closer to the realized that the global economy could be headed for a deep recession:
Goldman Sachs economists Friday said they see a deeper than expected U.S. recession because of poor economic data and the sharp deterioration in financial conditions. They see declining GDP in the fourth quarter and first quarter, 2009 and an unemployment rate of 8 percent by the end of 2009. Unemployment is currently 6.1 percent.
Jim Dees signs copies of his new book “Lies and Other Truths: Rants, Raves, Low-Lifes and High Balls” at 5 p.m. at Lemuria. Free event, $17.95 book; call 601-366-7619 for details. … At 5:30 p.m., chef Luis Bruno leads a class at the Baptist Healthplex in Clinton on how to cook healthy and delicious meals. $5; call 601-948-6262.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (CNN) -- Former gridiron great O.J. Simpson was found guilty Friday of all 12 counts in the armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers at a Las Vegas, Nevada, casino hotel last year.
The jury reached the verdict 13 years to the day after O.J. Simpson was acquitted of two murders.
Simpson, 61, and his co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart, 54, were charged with a dozen offenses stemming from the sports memorabilia heist. Stewart was found guilty of the same charges as Simpson.
Simpson sat quietly and showed little emotion at the defense table as courtroom clerk Sandra Jeter read the verdicts.
According to the Associated Press, Carmelita Durio, Simpson's sister, sobbed as he was being escorted out of the courtroom. As spectators left the courtroom, Durio collapsed and paramedics were called, court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer said.
Simpson and Stewart could spend the rest of their lives in prison for these convictions. Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass set sentencing for December 5. Video: Watch O.J. Simpson being removed from court »
Simpson arrived at the Clark County Justice Center at around 10:50 p.m. (1:50 a.m. Saturday ET). Simpson told CNN's Ted Rowlands on the phone before the verdict was read that he was "apprehensive."
The jury of nine men and three women, none of them African-American, reached its verdict after 13 hours of deliberations Friday. Jurors heard from 22 witnesses over 12 days of testimony. Chief among the witnesses were seven of the nine people inside Room 1203 of the Palace Station Hotel and Casino for the September 13, 2007, confrontation.
The evidence included testimony from the two dealers, four co-defendants who cut plea deals and cooperated with prosecutors, and hours of often-profane, crackling, secretly recorded audiotapes.
Prosecutors alleged that the men, led by Simpson, burst into the room, flashed a gun and threatened memorabilia dealers Bruce Fromong and Al Beardsley.
The men then filled two pillowcases with Simpson trinkets, signed Pete Rose baseballs and Joe Montana lithographs. Simpson's defense attorneys maintained their client was merely trying to retrieve personal photographs and other mementos that belonged to him.
Merely trying to retrieve, huh? The audio of the confrontation didn't sound like a retrieval to me. To me, he sounded belligerent, especially with all the profanity. Whether there were guns or not, he sure sounded threatening to me. (If anyone has a link to the audio, please share it.)
It is a shame that this former football star spent his remaining years practicing self-sabotage. You would think that after being found not guilty in the biggest murder trial of the 20th century, he would do anything and everything to stay out of trouble. Yet, he dodged paying his civil suit judgment, stole cable, published a book called "If I Did It" and so on. It's almost like he wanted a tragic end. I don't feel sorry for him. My heart goes out to his family who still loved him in spite of the unmeasurable anguish he put them through.
Maybe one day he'll wake up and realize the error of his ways, but he'll be doing it behind bars.
Citing exhaustive coverage of Frank Melton in local media, U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Jordan said at a hearing today that juror selection for the Jackson mayor’s federal trial will pull from as far away as Pascagoula. Jordan said that it will be difficult to find jurors in the Jackson metropolitan area not “potentially tainted by the exposure of this case.”
“It could be we end up with a jury of people out of Lucedale,” Jordan said.
Jordan will hear pre-trial motions on Nov. 10. He said that he expects jury selection to last two full days. Arguments would then begin Friday, Nov. 14th.
Mark Blumberg, attorney for the government, told Jordan that he expects to take a week presenting the government’s case against Melton, Wright and Recio.
Melton, Wright and Recio face three civil rights charges for their roles in the Aug. 2006 demolition of an occupied house on Ridgeway Street. In April 2007, a Hinds County jury acquitted the three in a state trial that became a referendum on Melton’s motives and allegations that the house was a center of drug activity. Federal prosecutors have filed motions asking that any evidence of drug activity at the Ridgeway Street duplex be excluded from the upcoming trial.
Oops, Another Fake McCain-Palin Debate Ad Slips Through
OK, this is wacky. For two debates in a row, the McCain campaign has let an ad praising first McCain and and now Palin prematurely appear on a major news outlet, either before the debate happened (McCain) or showing that they were putting praise ("She killed. ... She was the star") in someone else's mouth (Palin ad). How can they be so sloppy?
Libertarian Attacks Palin for Wanting to Expand Veep Role
[Verbatim from Libertarian candidate Bob Barr]
McCain Ticket Assumes Expanded Presidential Powers: Governor Palin looks forward to greater legislative power as Vice President
Atlanta, GA – During the first and only vice-presidential debate, Republican candidate Sarah Palin stated, "I'm thankful the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president if that vice president so chose to exert it in working with the Senate and making sure that we are supportive of the president's policies and making sure too that our president understands what our strengths are.”
“Despite the poor sentence structure and grammar, which rendered the comment largely unintelligible, lurks the disturbing notion that the powers of the vice president, already expanded dangerously by the current vice president, Dick Cheney, should be expanded even more,” said Bob Barr, Libertarian Presidential nominee.
"For eight years, the United States has suffered as George Bush has assumed the role of a unitary executive," Barr continues. "In the vice-presidential debate, Governor Palin's expectation of playing the role of Senate whip and enforcer of presidential policy is disappointing as it is simply an extension of the heavy-handed tactics used by the Bush administration," stated Bob Barr.
The Constitution states that, "The Vice President of the United States shall serve as the President of the Senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally divided."
Barr continued, "The damage instigated by Vice President Dick Cheney – specifically, the invasion of Iraq – is a perfect example of why we should allow the legislative branch to operate as an independent branch not beholden to what are often short-sighted whims of the executive branch."
Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.
For a high-resolution image of Barr, download here.
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Paid for by the Barr 2008 Presidential Committee -- P.O. Box 725007 Atlanta, GA 31139 http://www.BobBarr2008.com
Ellen Bravo, former Director of 9to5 (National Association of Working Women) and Coordinator, Multi-State Working Families Consortium (a network of 11 state coalitions representing nearly a million members of a wide range of organizations), released the following statement [verbatim] about last night's vice presidential debate:
Gwen Ifill was hobbled by more than a broken ankle last night. The rules of the vice presidential debate prevented her from asking follow-up questions. I work with 11 statewide coalitions who are fighting for policies that value families at work. Here are some questions we wish Gwen Ifill had been allowed to ask:
For Governor Palin:
"You’ve said that one of your three priorities as vice president will be to work with families of children with special needs. Yet I received letters from many women in this situation who said what they need is paid sick days and affordable family leave. A representative of your campaign told the Families and Work Institute that the McCain-Palin ticket opposes these measures as 'mandates.' Please explain your opposition. If Congress passed such bills, would a President McCain veto them?"
For Senator Biden:
"You said that even though you're a man, you know what it's like to be a single parent. Your ticket has stated its support for policies such as paid sick days and expanding family leave. How much of a priority will you give these issues? Will you make it possible for members of your administration to go home at night to their families?"
For Governor Palin:
"You told the viewers that you're middle class just like them. Yet you were able to bring your infants to work, you have a husband who could afford to take time off without risking his paycheck or his job, and you have health insurance to pay for expensive therapies if you need them. Half the private sector workforce lacks even a single paid sick day or coverage under the Family and Medical Leave Act; only 8 percent have paid maternity leave. What would your administration do for families like these?"
"Women are going to decide this election," Bravo said. "Especially in these difficult economic times, we want an administration that won't put women in the dangerous position of having to give up their jobs in order to care for themselves or their families.
"That's why we want candidates at all levels to talk to us about these issues. Enough hype about family values -- we want to know how candidates at all levels will value families at work."
Last night, in a fearful fit in the middle of the Palin/Biden debate, I sent a desperate text message to two of my best friends from my alma mater, the University of Mississippi (Hotty Toddy!, Ole Miss Debate '08! Chomp, Chomp, Florida Gators!, etc.)
It's probably best that I don't include the text verbatim, but here's a pretty accurate depiction of what I said: "This person might be the next president of the United States. God help us all."
This may surprise you, but I wasn't talking about Joe Biden.
Before I continue, let me square with everybody. I qualify myself an independent voter. I’ve been leaning Obama only since my work with the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation this past spring semester (community organizers by the way. They do exist), when thanks to my contacts there I was made aware of Barack Obama’s seminal speech on race, which I still think is best moment of the elections so far. See for yourself.
That said, I still wasn’t completely sold on Obama, though it wasn't his fault. The truth is, I was a McCain guy before I ever knew about Obama. I loved the Straight-talk express. I loved his laid-back appearances on The Daily Show with John Stewart. Alright, this might all sound cliché now that the media has rammed the narrative to the ground, but I loved his independence. He wasn’t hung up on social issues like his fellow Republicans. Okay, maybe a "maverick" is a little much, but you have to admit he has showed a strong independent streak, something the New York Times readily admitted when they endorsed him as the most qualified Republican in the primary field in January.
When McCain and Obama each captured their nominations, I was giddy. I told my friends it was "win, win" and that I would be fine with either Obama or my favorite Republican won, and continuing that belief even up to the last few months as McCain started waddling back over to the right. For me, McCain’s willingness to suddenly tow the party line after spending much of his career on its margins was forgiveable: as far as I was concerned, he had at least earned my trust long enough to still consider him come September.
Then came the Palin pick and her remarkable introduction during the Republican Convention. Then came the revelation that many of her assertions were entirely false. Finally, her interviews with Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson, in which she revealed that she may be pretty adequate at being the governor of Alaska, she has no idea how to relate to the global community. Take in point, this video in which she talks to Katie Couric about the magazines she reads to keep up with the world.
Needless to say, I'm a little disappointed in "The Maverick," and not even for picking someone more conservative on social issues to rally the Republican base. I'm disappointed in John McCain because he picked someone who very clearly isn't ready to be president. Look, the debate on McCain's age aside, but the simple fact is that he's 72 years-old. Yes, I think he's capable of running the country at least better than our current president. But it's the perception of the possibility of his health deteriorating that gives him the responsibility to at least a choose vice presidential candidate who is prepared to be president of The United States, now. Not tomorrow. Not when he or she is able to catch up with what's been happening in the world the past 40 years. Right now. If anything, last night we learned that if even any vice presidential candidate is competent enough to do the job, it's Biden.
Still, I do have a little more peace of mind now. By making such maverick decision by picking Sarah Palin, John McCain made my November decision for me.
[Verbatim statement]As reported yesterday in the online news outlet The Missoulian, the Republican Party of Montana is challenging the eligibility to vote of at least 6,000 residents of that state—mostly in key Democratic strongholds—based solely on the fact that the residents have filed change-of-address cards with the U.S. Postal Service. While state GOP Executive Director Jacob Eaton claims the challenges are an attempt to protect “the integrity of the voting process,” such massive challenges at this late date threaten to overwhelm election officials, suppress turnout of eligible voters, and create chaos at the polls.
Today Teresa James, attorney for the voting rights organization Project Vote, and author of the 2007 report Caging Democracy: A 50-Year History of Partisan Challenges to Minority Voters, issued the following statement in response:
“The Republican challengers are demonstrating that they would rather purge eligible voters from the rolls than hear their voices at the polls. This sort of mass voter caging may serve partisan desires to keep the opposition from voting, but it does nothing to ensure that only eligible citizens vote. To the contrary, it interferes in the conduct of a lawful and fair election. Under state and federal laws a person does not lose the right to vote simply because he or she has moved. A Montana citizen can update his or her registration at any time up to and including Election Day, and federal law has clear procedures that must be followed when a change of address form is filed with the United States Postal Office. Private, partisan interference in this lawful process does a disservice to Montana, and to overburdened election officials who work hard to see that all eligible citizens get to vote.
These baseless challenges are just the latest in a long series of voter caging operations designed to intimidate voters and winnow voting lists to the challengers’ liking. Like the recently reported attempts to challenge voters in Michigan who appear on foreclosure listings, like the massive challenges of voters that occurred in Ohio in 2004, this latest assault on eligible voters is disguised as a protection against the partisan myth of ineligible voters trying to cast ballots. In reality, voter fraud by individuals is incredibly rare, and the mass challenge plan simply represents a cynical partisan attempt to intimidate eligible Montana residents—a disproportionate number of whom will be low-income citizens, minorities, and residents under 30, all of whom are more likely to move more often.
Changing your address does not mean that you lose your right to vote. Everyone has the right to vote, Montana law allows voters to update their registrations, or file a new registration, at any time up until the polls close on Election Day. If voters move to another county within 30 days of the election, they can vote at their old precincts. Furthermore, federal law protects voters who many have moved without updating their registrations. Under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) “a person who has moved from one address to another within the same jurisdiction may vote at his or her former polling place and update their registration at that time.” Under the NVRA, election officials are prohibited from removing a voter from the rolls based on changes-of-address unless a voter has requested the change in writing, or has failed to respond to a forwardable notice AND failed to vote in two federal election cycles.
In light of state and federal protections, challenging every voter who has done nothing but file a change of address with the United States Post Office would serve no purpose other than to interfere with the orderly conduct of the election and intimidate those voters who are not aware of their legal options under the laws of Montana and the United States. Election officials, not partisan operatives, should decide who is eligible to cast a ballot.
Further, there is no guarantee that Montana Republicans have created an accurate list of people who have moved. Matching lists with government databases is a notoriously unreliable process. Two weeks ago in New Jersey a cross-check of the motor vehicle database against voter registration records turned up hundreds of thousands of names that could not be exactly matched to the voter lists; election officials created mass confusion when they began sending letters informing these residents that they were not on the rolls, when many of them were in fact properly registered but failed to match in the system. Wisconsin abandoned its proposed database matching program because a test of their system also turned up so many false-negatives, including four out of the six judges on the Government Accountability Board that oversees elections. Relying on list-matching rather than taking the extra step of verifying the information is reckless and irresponsible.
According to U.S. Census data, more than 16% of all Americans—largely low-income, minority, and young people—changed their residence in 2006. By current estimates, 16% of the eligible voting population represents as many as 32 million Americans nationwide. These Americans do not leave their votes behind when they move, and the NVRA protects every one of them.”
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Project Vote is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes voting in historically underrepresented communities. In 2008, Project Vote plans to help 1.3 million Americans register to vote in the country’s largest nonpartisan voter registration program.
For more information: http://www.projectvote.org
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Much like the first presidential debate, a CBS instant poll is showing that undecided voters are dramatically swinging toward Joseph Biden as the winner of the debate tonight with Gov. Sarah Palin:
Forty-six percent of the uncommitted voters surveyed say Democrat Joe Biden won the debate, compared to 21 percent for Republican Sarah Palin. Thirty-three percent said it was a tie. Eighteen percent of previously uncommitted percent say they are now committed to the Obama-Biden ticket. Ten percent say they are now committed to McCain-Palin. Seventy-one percent are still uncommitted. Both candidates improved their overall image tonight. Fifty-three percent of those surveyed say they now have a better impression of Biden. Five percent say they have a worse opinion of the Delaware senator, while 42 percent say they debate did not change their opinion.
Fifty-five percent say they now have a better opinion of Palin. Fourteen percent say they have a worse opinion, while 30 percent say their opinion hasn't changed. After the debate, 66 percent see Palin as knowledgeable about important issues – up from 43 percent before the debate. But Biden still has the advantage on this – 98 percent saw him as knowledgeable after the debate. That figure was 79 percent before the debate.
