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What do you think about the recent disagreement between the Columbus City Council and the Golden Triangle Development Link over retail development?"
I am proud to be from Mississippi. I dont understand why we dont support our own more. Isnt there a company from Mississippi that can help with retail development? Shouldnt we at least see if there are any of these kind of companies in Mississippi before we even consider one from another state? Pat C. ______________ Theyre BOTH WORTHLESS! Sippi Girl ______________ This childishness is exactly why I moved away. - George ______________ I think the City Council has every right to look at other options. Its not personal; its just business. Louis ______________ Come on, LINK grow up already! Bubba ______________ Lets just move on. We need more jobs here. Susan R. ______________ We should all be praying for our city! Dottie ______________ Look for a new question to be posted on our website, thisisrealmedia.com, a few days before each print edition (every other week). Submit your ideas for a question to opinion@thisisrealmedia.com.
CHRIS HANNON
AIMEE SHAW
PAIGE CANIDA-GREENE
NEWS REPORTER
The LINK is acting like a petulant child taking his ball and going home when he doesn't get his way. However, the LINK does very little to help retail in Columbus. So, in a way, they are taking away a ball that is too flat to play with. - Columbus Transplant ______________ $80,000 for a study! Columbus needs to put that money into fixing the potholes. The City Council was right to table that idea. - Old Voter ______________
People in Columbus have said for many years that there is no shopping here. Most shoppers just go to Tuscaloosa or even Memphis for shopping. Yes, we need more retail, but we also need to convince our citizens to keep their money right, instead of giving it to other states. - F. J. ______________ Both parties are in the wrong: The Link is being over-sensitive and the council should have handled the matter more professionally by meeting with the Link to voice any concerns. - Kendrick
Perspectives:
Charles Lane has written in the Washington Post (1.21.14) that it is time to discontinue the Olympics. They have been marred by politics: the boycott of Montreal in 1976, Russia in 1980 and Los Angeles in 1984; snubbing (no Obama, Biden at Sochi); and terrorism at the Munich games in 1972. Competition for the Olympic Games has become so intense that there have been numerous allegations of favoritism and bribetaking. Members of the International Olympic Committee, for example, were dismissed under the cloud of these charges. One of Lanes most serious contentions is that the Olympics are no more than a carnival of corporate sponsorship and commercial excess, a display far removed from the original intention of Pierre de Coubertin in1896. Coubertin felt that the Games should be a celebration of amateurism and international cooperation, and be an important way to promote world peace and understanding. Today, the Olympics have become a crass commercial enterprise and are as much a display of product and corporate promotion as athletic talent. Amateurism has gone out the window and professional athletes compete for lucrative endorsements. Athletes, driven by financial rewards, are as guilty of doping at the Olympics as they are at home. According to an ESPN documentary about the mens 100-meter dash at the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, six of the
eight finalists were eventually implicated in drug use. While the Soviet Union still existed, Russian and Bulgarian weightlifters were a steroid joke; and only the most nave observer assumes that - given the drug scandals of Lance Armstrong, Alex Rodriguez, and many others - the Olympics will be clean. Worst of all, suggests Lane, is the fact that athletes are being corrupted even more by momentary fame, endorsements, and undreamed-of wealth. In the case of American amateur football and basketball, minority athletes are sold a bill of goods: the promise of future riches for a short-term glory which fills Midwest stadiums and university coffers. All but the most visible winners (100m dash) quickly fade from the public spotlight and return to a life with few prospects. In the United States, televised coverage of Olympic events is highly selective, focusing on those in which American athletes compete. Instead of live coverage of the many events in play, producers choose to fill air time with back stories, human interest vignettes, and tales of American-style heroic struggles to overcome hardship. Live coverage is rare because video broadcasting allows producers the flexibility to target preferred audiences at the right time with the right content. If countries are linking up for admission to the select Olympic club, and if they are
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The January meeting of the Columbus Lowndes Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors, held on Jan. 27, 2014, opened with Board Member Rissa Lawrence leading the invocation. Chairman Dewitt Hicks then welcomed everyone to the first meeting of 2014. He thanked the board, the staff, and the Executive Director for a very good year in 2013. Hicks said that he felt that the Martin Luther King Dream 365 event started 2014 off very well and, by every indication, this year should the CCVBs best ever. Executive Director Nancy Carpenter stated that she is hoping to bring some new wayfinding signage to Columbus. She attended a way-finding meeting in Starkville to review the concept. Carpenter learned that the signage in Starkville provides clearer directions and makes it easier ways in finding ones way to Mississippi State University and Starkvilles historic downtown. Carpenter said that providing clearer directions to get around Columbus, and especially downtown, will be very helpful to visitors. Carpenter, along with CCVB Accountant Jarion Jones, attended the Mississippi
Paige Canida-Greene is a graduate of Mississippi University for Women, with a degree in Communication, and is a local actress. She covers govern-
Posing As An Adult:
I once saw this movie, starring John Cusack, called High Fidelity, where he owns a record store and is completely obsessed with music. He has organized his albums not alphabetically, not chronologically, but in the order of when, during his life, they had the greatest impact. I thought this was brilliant, when I heard it. I, too, can virtually trace
Community
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Im glad that the Good Lord tugs at my writers heartstrings. I cannot tell yall how many times Ive read Psalm 51, but I can say that Ive read it many times. However, recently, one word stood out to me. The little word then - as in first, you do this and then, you do that. How many times have we used the word then? A million? Think about how often we use this term in our everyday conversations and task lists. Im going to do the laundry, and then I will cook dinner. Im going to attend the meeting, and then Im going to call the dentist. We just casually use it. However, in order to really mean this little term, we have to accomplish the first thing we say. But what happens between the this and the then? Lots of interruptions - from unexpected phone calls to dogs that need to go potty. Thats what happens. And guess what? Sometimes, the then just doesnt happen, and sometimes,
Mama Girl, Max, Coco, Rita, Angel, Bailey, Cane, Dino, Slappy, Chandler, Jebediah, Cletus, Ellie Mae, Miss Priss, Carmella, Baby Girl, Precious, Ethan, Clyde, Punkin, Ana, Butters, Nila, Dixie, Clint, Ethel, Daisy, Roma, Roxy, Renee, Sue, Diesel, Allie, Brooke, Dusty, Big Un, Shy, Rebel, Mama Girl (2), Gordy K, Bertha, Jolene, Jed, Memaw, Juliette, Vern, Mickey, Mallory, Lady, Buster, Gringo, Shirley, Lamont, Care Bear, Bella, Princess, Houdini, Snoopy, Riley, Genae, Forrest, Lt. Dan, Buford, Bubba, Louise, Isabel, Bella, Drake, Titan, Tramp, Mocha, MaiThai, Luigi, Munchkin, Silvie, Crackerjack, Evie, Junebug, Baloo, Slick, Jesse, Diva, QT, Gypsy Moon, Jughead, Drake, Titan, Nova, Female Pup, Male Pup, Oreo, Boudreaux, Pinwheel, Jezebel, Krueger, Stella Luna, Percy...
"Every dog starts life with a blank canvas. His destiny etched by the hands of the painter, and each one an artist's original. The portrait painted depends on how the brush is held. Paint with hostility, and a dog learns to fight. Paint with cruelty, and a dog learns fear. Paint with anger, and a dog learns aggression. Paint with praise, and a dog learns confidence. Paint with boundaries, and a dog learns respect. Paint with tenderness, and dog learns to bond. Paint with affection, and a dog learns to love. Every dog is a product of its environment. Bad dogs are not born, they are created. If the portrait is flawed, look to the artist. Stop blaming the dogs!" Jodi Preis nourished pit bull that we didnt think would survive the night; and Jughead, a shy boy that literally crawled up to a someones house, battered and bleeding, just begging for some tender loving care. Now, Mama Girl, Rita and Jughead are among those living the high life with all the love they can handle, bordering on being spoiled absolutely rotten. We have truly been blessed, in that we have found adopters (or rather, they found us) who have given these dogs the chance at These include: one-year-old, Gemma, a great little dog that is missing her (adopted) kennel buddy and would love a new home of her own; Sam, a beautiful blue young adult male that was nearly starved; Cici, a young adult female that loves playing with softballs so much, shell throw it in the air and chase it for hours on end; and Lovey, an astoundingly gorgeous young adult female that came to us with her sister, Lexie - both were rescued from a horrible situation where a third dog was found deceased, still tethered on a
What are all those names and what do they have in common? They are the 97 pit bull-type dogs that Shaw Pit Bull Rescue has found forever homes for since rescuing Mama Girl I in July of 2012. And, no, thats not a typo - 97 pit bull or pit bull mix dogs have gotten a second chance at a loving life due to the efforts of the Pit Crew (the board and volunteers of Shaw PBR).
Unfortunately, Pit Bulls are the number one abused breed in America - in great part due to a lack of education, responsibility,
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The Tennessee Williams Tribute-sponsored group, with an all-star cast and crew from throughout the Golden Triangle, brought home two awards from the Mississippi Theatre Association 2014 Festival, held Jan. 17-19, 2014 in Vicksburg, for their production of Williams Kingdom of Earth.
Heather Box of Starkville received the award for Outstanding Use of Technical Elements - Community Theatre Division and with it a $100 cash prize for TWT lighting and tech supplies - and David Trotter received a Comedy/Tragedy Medallion as a part of the All-Star Cast Ensemble.
It was clear from the public performances that were held at Mississippi University
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Interview with Arlene Goldstein, Belk Vice President Of Trend Merchandising And Fashion Direction
Fabulous, modern, and classic are just a few words to describe the apparel at Belk and Arlene Goldstein, Belk Inc.s Vice President of Trend Merchandising and Fashion Direction. Arlene Goldstein has over 25 years of fashion industry experience under her fashionista belt. She has traveled all over the world to some of fashions hot-spot cities in search of emerging trends and brands for Belk stores. With her signature styling and Southern fashion charm, Goldstein truly exemplifies Belks motto Modern. Southern. Style. I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting Goldstein at the 2014 Spring Preview at Belk the Summit. She looked amazing - sporting a leather moto jacket, printed dress, and leopard heels, which is her favorite color. *wink* What fashionista doesnt love leopard?! The Spring Preview was spectacular, and I cannot wait for the trends to hit the racks! I sense a shopping spree in the near future! *wink* After Arlenes presentation, she sat down with me to chat about her favorite spring 2014 trend, personal style, and more! Abby : What is your favorite spring 2014 trend? Goldstein : I love jet-setter because I love the prints. Since I travel so much, I wear a lot of black, and the jet-setter trend is a chance for me to integrate some Oh, WOW! pieces without stepping too far outside of my comfort zone. I also love
the accessories - the tribal twist is definitely fabulous! Abby: Oh, yes! Accessories make all of the difference! So, when you are not traveling with Belk, what are some of your favorite things to do? Goldstein: Well, I have a slew of grandkids, and I love being with them anytime I can! I enjoy going antique shopping too - I love old stuff. Also, if I happen to be in town when the flea market is open, I love going out to it to see what all I can find. If I leave with one little trinket, I am happy. Abby: How would you describe your personal style? Goldstein: I think it is classic with a twist. I like to ensure that I have the
basic building blocks of a wardrobe, like those great, timeless pieces that can take you from season to season. Abby : What is your favorite fashion era and why? Goldstein: I love the 40s because they were very romantic and sort of the postwar era where the hemlines got longer; which we can see the hemlines dropping again in todays fashion trends. Also, in the 1940s, women were very chic - they dressed from head-to-toe with marvelous style and elegance. Abby : What is your favorite fashion season? Goldstein: Definitely fall! Abby : What is your favorite fall fashion piece?
Goldstein: Absolutely a jacket! Abby : What is one item in your closet you would never toss out and why? Goldstein: : I do not know that I have one piece, but I really love keeping accessories because you can wear older jewelry with more trendy jewelry for a look that is totally your own. Also, I would never toss out anything that was vintage. Keep up with Arlene Goldstein on Twitter @BelkFashionBuzz. Be sure to check out her writings for the Huffington Post for fun and fabulous fashion articles you will love!
Abby Hathorn is a freelance writer, fashion stylist, and blogger. Her blog, www.vintageinspiredpassionista.com, is a platform to showcase her love of vintage and modern apparel, fashion tips and trends, DIYs, community events, and anything else that strikes her fancy.