Jackson Jambalaya

 Just a little jammin' with Grogu on a nice day....

 You wiped down your groceries with Clorox wipes.  You stood in line for an hour before Target opened just so you could get some wipes when every shelf was empty.  A spray-bottle became your new workout partner at the gym.  You went to all that trouble but guess what? It was all probably for nothing.  The Lancet said waaay back in July such precautions were useless in preventing the spread of Covid-19 but the article didn't attract the media's notice until this week.  The Lancet reported: 

 Collection of all posts about Lamar Adams case.

SEC Receiver Allyson Mills announced Lord Snow will settle for $9.5 million in the Lamar Adams case.  She stated in her status report:

 Check out Ole Miss's new social justice polices for the Grad School that appeared on the Ole Miss Grad School website yesterday. They magically disappeared this morning but not before yours truly managed to screen save them.  Watering down is in, testing is out as merit will count for naught.  Check them out. 

 The Mississippi Center for Justice  issued the following statement. 

Getting a Covid-19 vaccine will be almost as easy as going to Chick-Fil-A.  The Mississippi State Health Department announced the creation of 18 drive-thru vaccination sites next week.  

 What happened in that fatal confrontation in the Bay Park subdivision Monday? Posted below is the video shot by a neighbor.  Keep in mind, the video does not show the entire ruckus nor does it show the shooting. 

 JPD issued the following statement. 

Check out this week's recipe posted below. 

Around this time of year newspapers are filled with end-of-the-year wrap-up stories about what has happened over the past 12 months. This year there seems to be no lack of articles chronicling how bad 2020 was. The preceding 10 months were certainly among the worst— on many levels— in all of my 60 years. But today’s column won’t dwell on the negative aspects of those months and how bad 2020 was. No. Because there have been silver linings this year. I would like to focus on those.

 The third season of Cobra Kai premieres on Netflix New Years Eve.  However, Netflix saw fit to drop this little teaser with a blast from the past.

 The Communist government of China locked up a citizen journalist for four years.  Her crime? Reporting on the Covid-19 virus in Wuhan when the Chicoms were trying to cover up its existence.  The Guardian (U.K.) reported yesterday:

Surprise.  Mississippi ranks as one of the worst states for participating in the Covid-19 vaccine program. Only seven states had fewer citizens vaccinated.  The New York Times reported: 

WARNING: GRAPHIC & VIOLENT PHOTOS POSTED BELOW

 Sheldon Alston, Jr. is a free man but his ex-girlfriend will probably never be free of the beating she suffered at his hands four years ago.  JJ covered every sordid detail of this case, from a young man's vicious assault on his girlfriend at Ole Miss to the sweet deal given to him by District Attorney Ben Creekmore.  However, it is time for the world to see what happened to the young woman that brutal fall night in Oxford.  Posted below are the photos taken of Alston's girlfriend a few hours after the attack. 

 Update at 6:05 PM: CAPTURED!!!

Lock and load if you live in the Bay Park subdivision by the Rez.  A man shot someone and fled on foot.  Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey is leading a massive manhunt for the suspect. The suspect is a young, black male with long dreadlocks.  He was wearing a black sweatshirt and gray sweatpants. 

 Here are seven things you need to know about the proposed Zooceanarium contract: 

 Dunno how we missed this one but we did.  The folks at SEC Shorts compared recruiting to marriage in their own funny way.  We got spoiled by having regular season college football in December (Although Ole Miss & the Aggies owe us one more game.) and it is recruiting season.  Enjoy.

It seems as if it were just yesterday when the legislature gave over $100 million to bail out PERS but here we are again. PERS consultants recommended hiking the employer contribution rate to 19.6% from the current 17.4% for the 2023 fiscal year.*  They told the PERS Board of Trustees at its December meeting that the system would be only 68% funded in 2047 if employer contributions do not iincrease.  The Board hiked the rate form 15.9 to 17.4 waaaay back in 2018. 

 Hinds County Sheriff Lee Vance issued the following statement. 

Staying home because of the Holiday Spirit and can't make it to church? Youtube brings church to you.  Enjoy this 1990 sermon presented by the late Dr. Frank Pollard of First Baptist Church (Jackson). 

How did they know back in the 1700s when they coined the phrase “many happy returns of the day?” How did they know that the week after Christmas in America would become filled with joyous long lines of festive people returning unwanted, unappreciated, and just plain ugly gifts to Walmart, Target, and more?

WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO POSTED BELOW

 Want to join the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics? These training videos will help you become an MBN agent.  Who knows, you might even rise to command staff.

 You've opened the presents, carved up the feast, and finished it off with some Who pudding.  Now you are drinking the Kingfish's egg nog and noticed how potent it is.  What to do? Simple.  Check out this Transsiberian Orchestra concert. There are quite a few TSO concerts available on Youtube.  The audio and video quality is quite good.  Too bad such tech was not around for Led Zeppelin. Enjoy

 Leave it to the Clarion-Ledger to make a problem worse.  The "newspaper" reported yesterday we are experiencing toilet paper shortages yet again: 

 Once upon a time, the Governor was committed to the funny farm by his wife: 

 Dr. Birx got caught up in her own rules and is stepping down. The Associated Press reported:

 Who would've ever thought this pic would represent the last gasp of Tennessee football. 

 Dr. Fauci issued more words of wisdom.  The New York Times reported: 

 Sheldon Alston, Jr. is home for Christmas after serving half of a three-year sentence for brutally beating his girlfriend at Ole Miss.  The St. Andrews graduate is the scion of some Mississippi legal royalty as he is the grandson of prominent north Mississippi attorneys Flip Phillips and the late Alex Alston.  The Oxford media ignored the case. 

 The Legal Eagle tackled this age-old question on his Youtube channel. Is Mr. Gambini a good lawyer? See below and find out.  Enjoy.

 Mikey gonna be mad!

The Mississippi Department of Corrections issued the following statement. 

 This column submitted by a doctor who wishes to remain anonymous.  Rest assured, he is not some quack or doc speaking outside of his specialty.  JJ verified the data mentioned in column.

Until now your responsibilities in the COVID pandemic have been limited.  Your efforts have been to find ways to mitigate the virus and the hospitalizations and death that follows the virus.  Viruses have a way of making you a coach or cheerleader: “Come on, team, wear your mask.  Wash your hands.  Socially distance.”  Much like trying to tell teenagers not to get pregnant. 

 A potentially deadly arrest in Pelahatchie thankfully did not turn deadly.  WJTV reported:

This week's recipe is butternut shrimp bisque. See below. 

For the past 20-plus years my final column of the year is always a list of the top dining experiences I enjoyed throughout the previous year. Typically, it’s a pretty easy piece to write. For the past several years I have spent two or three months working in Italy. Over there, one can find a memorable dining experience around every corner and down almost every cobblestone street.  

 Leftenent Governor Delbert Hosemann issued the following statement. 

  It is certainly no stretch of the truth to suggest that at the time of his death last week at the age of 97, former Mississippi Gov. William Winter was by and large beloved by the people of Mississippi.

Oh hell, yes! Someone heard our prayer.  He's bad, he's black, and he is BACK!

#125

 JPD tweeted the following statement. 

The Wuhan virus picture darkens in Mississippi set yet another record was set for deaths caused by the virus. The Mississippi State Department of Health reported 2,191 cases of Wuhan virus and 79 deaths today.   However, 56 of the deaths took place between December 12 and December 21.  The total number of cases is 197,691. The virus has caused 4,490 deaths.  Nursing home deaths comprise 40% of overall Covid-19 deaths in Mississippi. There are 154,669 recoveries.   The charts below are worth several thousand words. 

 UMC issued the following press release and study.

It's the same ol', same ol' situation
It's the same ol', same ol' ball and chain - Motley Crue

 It was tempting to just re-post the PERS post from a year ago because nothing has changed.  PERS remains stuck in the mud as its funding level fell to 60.5%.  It's simply hard to get ahead when the portfolio only earns a 3% return and retirees continue to grow. The moribund system is not in a death spiral but it is not improving either. 

 State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement. 

 Another restaurant closes in Jackson.  The owner of Sophomore Spanish Club posted on Facebook: 

As usual, it sucks to be an Aggie.  Check out what the folks at SEC Shorts came up with this week. 

 The medical marijuana melee mushroomed as more briefs were filed at the Mississippi Supreme Court in support of Mayor Mary's fight to stop Initiative 65.   The initiative amends the Mississippi Constitution to allow the production and sale of medical marijuana.  I65 and its legislative alternative garnered 61% of the vote in November.  I65 received 58% of the vote in the second round while 65A got 21%.  Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler and her city petitioned the Mississippi Supreme Court to block the enactment of the initiative a few days before the November referendum took place.  A synopsis of the case is posted below.

It's Christmas morning!!!

The CDC reported minority parents were less likely to favor sending their children back to school than white parents during the Covid-19 pandemic.  A CDC survey reports 62% of white parents but only 46% of black parents and 50% of hispanic parents though schools should have reopened last fall. The report states:

If you stayed in bed this morning and didn't make it to church today, no problem.  <i>JJ</i> presents the late Dr. Frank Pollard in this 1991 sermon.  He preached from Philippians 3:12.  Enjoy. 

“Tis the season to be jolly...”

Or is it?

The dictionary defines “jolly” as “in good spirits; gay; merry; cheerfully festive or convivial.” So, yes, it is the jolly season for children and grandchildren with holidays and presents galore.

But what about the rest of us?

 Guess who was actually a pretty good drummer?