Aberdeen MS News Commentary and Reading Recommendations

I can identify with this guy. When I was in my early twenties, I went to visit places just because of their name. I went on a bike tour to a remote village because it shared my last name (now my maiden name). Sometimes you just need the spark that gets you going, and you make a lot of other discoveries on the day!

From http://maysville-online.thimblemedia.com...&articleid=9645:
 
He found 34 villages named Aberdeen scattered across the world and then set out to visit as many as he could find.
Accompanied by filmmaker Alan White, Bull documented his travels by video. The 1-hour, 45-minute video covers Bull's journey to 28 Aberdeens around the world in a span of 16 weeks. In total, he traveled 95,438 miles.
In Kentucky, Bull said he met a man who asked him where he was from. 'I said 'Aberdeen,' and he replied, 'No you don't, I know everyone there,'' Bull said.

You can buy 'Aberdeens Around The World' online at scottishbooks.com.

06:21 AM   

In the past, American Family Radio has promoted a boycott of Movie Gallery video for its rental of porn videos, and urged parents to complain about the "porn" on the cover of magazines such as Cosmopolitan. And now this.

From http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.d.../406030381/1002:
 
A former official at American Family Radio, which regularly warns listeners about the dangers of pornography, must serve 15 years in prison for producing child pornography.
(...) On Aug. 23, 2003, two California men renting Stevens' home during the Tupelo Furniture Market spotted images of possible child pornography on a computer disk while searching for an empty disk. They turned two disks over to Tupelo police.
Four days later, police arrested Stevens, who remarked "he had a problem with children pornography," but "had not touched any of the children."
(...) In his letter to Wicker, Stevens wrote, "I took my eyes off of Jesus for a moment and did something terrible ... I took some pictures of one of my daughter's friends. Suffice it to say that these pictures were of her in various sleeping positions.

It's very hard to develop any kind of comprehension, why someone would do something like this. We all have to be on guard and also tell kids about the dangers of having one's picture taken.
 
Not directly related, but still important: Nowadays you have to check for miniature cameras in restrooms and fitting rooms because all this stuff is being sold and traded on the internet. Everyone has to be on guard because it's impossible to tell who might abuse an opportunity for inappropriate pictures. And with today's low prices on miniature equipment, opportunities are plenty. This problem will only get worse over the next few years. (It's already out of control in Japan.)

06:11 AM   

BassFan.com has an interesting article on a fishing tournament on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.

From http://www.bassfan.com/news_article.asp?id=1018:
 
The last time the Bassmaster Tournament Trail visited Mississippi's Tenn-Tom Waterway was for the August 2003 Central Open. Fishing was tough then, and is also tough now for this week's Elite 50 event
(...) Then it was so hot and muggy the anglers needed gills almost as much as the fish, which were lethargic, and limits were smallish (the winning weight was 39-04 for 3 days). And though fishing is traditionally better in the spring here, now the fish are not yet fully recovered from the spawn, and are scattered. Add to that scenario the recent rains that have muddied the river system (prompting many "mud hole" comments from anglers), and bites are literally few and far between.

Tournament species are largemouth bass, with some spotted bass and few smallmouth bass.

09:08 AM   

As the article points out, 'Mississippi is still robbing Peter for Paul.' A must-read for residents - where does the tax dollar go?

From http://www.ddtonline.com/articles/2004/0...rials/edit2.txt:
 
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour played his cards straight and to the point as he addressed the 69th annual meeting of Delta Council last week in Cleveland.
He said he hoped the state Legislature could wrap up budget work before, or by, the May 9 deadline for the fiscal year 2005 state budget.
It seems that's been accomplished. But at what cost?(...)
Even the sacrosanct K-12 education budget wasn't spared the budget knife.

Very interesting...

08:09 AM   

Congratulations.

From http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/8594427.htm:
 
Belle edged out his independent opponent Kelly Tucker on Tuesday and was officially sworn in after the votes were tallied.

06:22 AM   

A dubious honor. I wish medical researches would come out with a miracle medicine to melt away the pounds. But, I doubt that it will happen anytime soon, and I doubt that there will ever be a way to let people eat what they want, and still stay healthy. People will always find a way to overeat.

From http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeen...ing/8587176.htm:
 
Dr. Mary Armstrong, medical director for Mississippi's Office of Health Promotion, said the United States has become a "nation of convenience."
"We need to get back out there and enjoy the activities that get us moving and going, and not worry about getting that parking space that's right next to the door," Armstrong said. "Take the stairs instead of the elevator."
Mississippi is pushing several initiatives that include educating adults and working with schools on their physical activity and nutrition programs.

Colorado has the lowest obesity rate.
 
Let me venture a guess. It's because of the mountain terrain and the many opportunity for athletic activities.
 
The humid summer weather here in Mississippi is often not very inviting for outdoor activities. Also, the poverty level is a contributing factor. Healthy foods are often more expensive.
 
Still, I would encourage anyone to at least try and eat a low-sugar cereal for breakfast, and keep a bag of carrots handy for that mid-afternoon snack. It could go a long way towards creating a leaner, slimmer Mississippi.
 
P.S.: Have you ever noticed, that almost all overweight people skip breakfast 'to keep from gaining weight'? Makes you wonder...

06:26 AM   

For a small town like Aberdeen, we have seen way too much violence in the local news recently.

From http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/n...ate/8192553.htm:
 
The 6 p.m. Saturday shooting death of Frank Earl Gladney occurred during an argument but the exact motive remains under investigation, investigators said.
Gladney, who was the son of Aberdeen Fire Chief Frank Gladney, died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to Monroe County Coroner Alan Gurley.

Our prayers are with the family.

06:15 AM   

The Clarion-Ledger features a great article today about German companies in Mississippi. German companies have invested $340 million in Mississippi manufacturing plants and other operations, employing 2,500 workers.

From http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0402/27/zbd2.html:
 
German companies operate in 50 Mississippi locations, and of the 2,500 jobs they provide, 1,300 are in manufacturing, according to the Mississippi Development Authority.
(...) German companies operate in 50 Mississippi locations, and of the 2,500 jobs they provide, 1,300 are in manufacturing, according to the Mississippi Development Authority.
(...) Gov. Haley Barbour has arranged to have an American Eurocopter on hand at the Air Guard airfield today to inspect when he greets Schroeder.
(...) Barbour said. "American Eurocopter and other foreign companies already have a substantial investment in Mississippi, and there is the strong potential for a lot more."

The article goes on to point out other interesting facts, for example the effect of the recent drop of the dollar against the euro on car manufacturers, and German-American business relationships gone sour, e.g. the temporary German ownership of Jim Henson's Muppets.
 
Very much worth a read. Like a hands-on lesson in global economy.
 
Aberdeen can be proud to be the place where BASF's polymer is manufactured, the kind that absorbs liquid in diapers. 130 people from in and around Aberdeen are employed at the manufacturing plant.

08:37 AM   

In the Sun Herald:

From http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/n...ate/7999875.htm:
 
Fields, 33, was shot to death in November 2002 in front of Heron's home. Authorities said the two men apparently had an altercation earlier in the day.
Prosecutors said witnesses told investigators that Fields was on his knees facing away from Heron when he was shot in the back of the head.

I guess all those 'Use a gun and you're done' billboards aren't doing much good. Simply horrible.

06:16 AM   

State Lawmakers are considering legislation to curb cell phone use by state employees.

From http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0402/02/ma04.html:
 
One bill, to be introduced by Rep. John Reeves, R-Jackson, would require cell-phone contracts to go through a bid process and would regulate cell-phone use by state employees.
This legislation "is terribly needed to show that something is being done to get this (cost) under control," Reeves said. "That's just good government."
(...) Madison County spent an average of $9,659 a month during the past four months for 89 phones.
Hinds County, which has 117 cell phones, spent an average of $7,469 a month during a six-month period for service last year.

Yikes! Now let's go through those $1000's worth of phone calls and see which ones were actually necessary, and couldn't have been replaced with a brief text message or e-mail.

08:10 AM