- Issue Archive for
- Dec 4-11, 2008
- Vol. 1, No. 1032
News
Endpapers-Winter reading
For the cold weather and holidays ahead, go by the book: the latest from Toni Morrison; cooking with Beard; b-ball with FreeDarko; watching the Watchmen; and more.
Mississippi Claims Memphis Is Stealing Its Water
The State of Mississippi claims Memphis Light Gas & Water has stolen billions of gallons of water from it by siphoning from a subterranean reservoir under Desoto County and is appealing U.S. District Judge Glen Davidson’s earlier dismissal of its suit against the City of Memphis. "Mississippi doesn't own this groundwater. They can say it 31 times, but that doesn't make it so," answered Leo Bearman, attorney for the city of Memphis. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans has the case, which was filed Wednesday.
MCS Overage Academies to Begin in January
Early in his tenure, Memphis City Schools deputy superintendent of academic operations Irving Hamer identified one overarching problem plaguing the district.
In August, Hamer told the school board that by 12th grade, 22 percent of the district's students -- more than a fifth -- are overage for their grade level.
Uncorked
The state legislature studies a bill to allow wine sales in grocery stores.
Scripps to Sell the "Rocky Mountain News"
E.W. Scripps, the parent company of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, is putting one of its largest newspapers on the block. From the Rocky Mountain News website:
The Rocky Mountain News, Colorado's oldest newspaper, has been put up for sale by its parent company ...
D.A.'s Office Shuts Down Pure Passion
Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons announced Tuesday that the D.A.'s Office and the West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force closed as a public nuisance an adult entertainment club on East Brooks Road that was the focus of a nearly four month undercover investigation into illegal drug sales ...
Four Decades of Color
New York's Whitney Museum hosts William Eggleston retrospective.
What Will Happen to Overton Square?
Memphis Heritage doesn't have a plan for preventing a potential demolition of Overton Square. But they have the plan for a plan, and that's a start.
June West, Heritage's executive director spoke to a roomful of Memphians who gathered at the organization's Madison Avenue headquarters Tuesday ...
Q&A with Linda Kerley,
Former mayor of Collierville
District Attorney to Seek Death Penalty Against Lester Street Killer
Thursday morning, a state grand jury indicted Jessie Dotson for the murders of four adults and two children found dead in a home on Lester Street in March. Three other children in the house were found alive, but in critical condition. All of the victims were either shot or stabbed ...
What They Said
Comments from memphisflyer.com
Get Your Holiday Shopping Done This Weekend
Eek! Only 20 shopping days left until Christmas! Hit up these local art sales and shopping expos and put some gifts under that tree.
Got a baby boomer mom or stereotypical gay man on the shopping list? Purchase a photo of Bob Mackie's Cher doll standing in front of the Eiffel Tower tonight at the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center. "The Cher Show" features Hugh Busby's photographs of his Cher doll posing in front of tourist spots around the world and even a few in Memphis (think Cher in front of the Lorraine Motel). The show opens tonight from 6 to 9 p.m.
More after the jump...
Real Estate
Obsessed with Detail
Circa-1927 bungalow in Evergreen.
We Recommend
Music
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Growing Up Burnside
R.L.'s grandson, Cedric, on learning the blues from a master and launching his own band.
Politics
Is Harold Ford Sr. "the Way Forward" for Ford (and GM and Chrysler)?
Having long ago turned over the active political side of the family business to son Harold Jr., former congressman Harold Ford Sr. now operates a big-time lobbying firm. His latest client? The Automobile Dealers Consortium. His task? To "provide assistance with identifying and securing financial assistance for several automobile dealers in order to remain solvent during the recent nationwide economic downturn,"
There's Life After Politics for Fred Thompson -- on Mars
After Fred Thompson’s failed effort in the 2008 presidential primaries, political pundits might not have the former Tennssee senator to kick around any more. But drama critics will have another shot. Thompson, a University of Memphis graduate last seen as District Attorney Arthur Branch in Law and Order, has signed on to portray a chief of detectives on the '70s-era ABC television program Life on Mars.
Cohen Recipient of Humanitarian Award in Spain
The U.S. House Resolution formally apologizing for slavery that was sponsored earlier this year by U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-9th) has earned the congressman the D. Emilio Castrelar Work Recognition Award, presented in Madrid, Spain, by the Vida Foundation, which concerns itself with environmental protection and human rights issues.
Shelby Countians Among Applicants for High-Paying State Jobs
Several present or former Shelby Countians are among the applicants for three state constitutional offices who met the Friday deadline set by the Tennessee General Assembly’s Republican leadership. Since the GOP now owns a six-vote advantage over the Democrats in combined House and Senate membership, the ultimate selectees from the list are sure to prevail over the incumbent officials nominated by the Democrats.
Chip Shots
Who's getting ahead in the political world, and who isn't?
Commissioner Mulroy Honored for Reform Efforts
Shelby County Commissioner Steve Mulroy has been awarded one of three inaugural Democracy Innovator Awards by FairVote, a national nonprofit election reform and voting rights organization. Mulroy received the award in the Local Reform category for "his effective advocacy of instant runoff voting, which was supported this year by 71% of voters for future city elections in the City of Memphis, and for his ground-breaking law review articles about proportional voting systems and the Voting Rights Act."
Sports
Griz Break Skid, Beat Clippers
Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo combined for 45 of the team's 93 points as the Grizzlied ended a seven-game losing streak with a 93-81 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at FedExForum last night. Chris Herrington breaks it down at Beyond the Arc.
Tigers to Take On USF Bulls in MagicJack St. Petersburg Bowl
From Gotigersgo.com: The University of Memphis has accepted an invitation to participate in the inaugural MagicJack St. Petersburg Bowl which will be played at Tropicana Field in Tampa on Saturday, December 20. The Tigers will be matched up against the USF Bulls of the Big East Conference ...
Griz Blast Rockets
The Grizzlies overcame a dismal showing Saturday night in New Orleans to beat an injury-depleted Houston Rockets squad 109-97 at FedExForum tonight. The win moves the Grizzlies to an even 6-6 on the home floor this season. Check out Chris Herrington's post-game report at Beyond the Arc.
Griz Host Clippers Tonight
After a 3-3 start, the Grizzlies have lost 10 of 11 games and seven in a row. They’ll try to stop the bleeding tonight when they host the 3-15 Los Angeles Clippers. Chris Herrington has a preview at Beyond the Arc.
FROM MY SEAT: Tigers Get First Bowl Shot at BCS Team
The University of Memphis football team is on its way to the Sunshine State, to take on the South Florida Bulls in the inaugural St. Petersburg Bowl on December 20th. While it's the fifth bowl game in six seasons for coach Tommy West's Tigers, this will be the first contest in which the U of M is matched up with a so-called "BCS" team.
Theater
The Big League
Hattiloo knocks a modern classic out of the park.
Hattiloo Goes For the "Fences"
I possess a fairly reliable recipe for making an August Wilson play. To begin, you take Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman and paint it black. Then you take the wholesome, all-American backyard setting of Miller's All My Sons, wreck it, and move it to the slums of Anytown, USA ...
Read Chris Davis' review of Hattiloo Theatre's production of Fences.
Fashion
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Shop This
kind of blue
Film
Artificial Outback
Director Baz Luhrmann promises Australia, but can't get out of his own head.
Opinion
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Letter from the Editor
Due to our country's current economic crisis, it seems many of the jobs that once lured Hispanics to enter the U.S. illegally have dried up ...
Argh. Pirates.
What's with the strange inaction in the Indian Ocean?
Want a Stimulus?
Think you understand the bailout? Try this simple test.
Wanna See My Stimulus Package?
What exciting times. A new president-elect. A new administration. An official recession. And the federal government's new reality game, to be hosted by the Internal Revenue Service, called "Bailout Stimulus."
It's easy. Just answer the following questions to determine your eligibility ...
Read John Branston's not-so-cheerful take on the economy.
Bianca Knows Best ... and Helps a Food Addict
Dear Bianca, I think I might be addicted to food. All I can think about day and night is what I’m going to eat next, and when there's food in front of me, I can't stop shoveling it in my mouth ...
Argh. Somali Pirates
I'm the loudmouthed pundit. I'm supposed to have the answers, or at least pretend to. But I'm baffled, confused even. So I'm turning the tables to ask you, dear reader: Why aren't we bombing the crap out of Somalia's pirates? ...
Read Ted Rall's Viewpoint on the Somali pirates.
Tennessee's Archaic Liquor Laws
A few years ago, I went into downtown's Corkscrew to buy a bottle of wine. After years of living with roommates, I had a new one-bedroom apartment. What I didn't have, I realized as I was about to pay, was my own corkscrew.
And under Tennessee law, the Corkscrew wasn't allowed to sell them ... Read Mary Cashiola's take on Tennessee's oddball wine and liquor regulations.
Food & Wine
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The Best Brunch in Memphis?
Midtowner Patty Dougherty is an expert on brunch. Most weekends, she entices her teenager son, Patrick, out of bed with the promise of food. They've spent a few dollars on simple breakfast fare and "way too much" on elegantly plated entrees. So what's Dougherty's pick for the best brunch in Memphis?
Find out here.
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