Month: November 2009

Give My Poor Heart Ease

Post author By Andria Lisle
Post date November 6, 2009

Thanks to his epic documentation in written works like Blues From the Delta and Afro-American Folk Art and Crafts, Bill Ferris has always been my go-to guy whenever I’ve needed to research more about bottle trees and cane fifes.

Like his former cohort Judy Peiser, with whom he co-founded the Center for Southern Folklore, Ferris understands how to be a true folklorist: He disappears into the background and, with tape recorder and camera, documents his subjects in their natural light.

In this week’s issue of the Flyer, Leonard Gill reviews Ferris’ newest book, Give My Poor Heart Ease. As Gill notes, the Mississippi-born Ferris, founder of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at Ole Miss and the former chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities, who currently works at the Center for the Study of the American South at UNC, will return to his former stomping grounds — the Center for Southern Folklore — for a booksigning at 7 p.m. tomorrow.

The book’s title comes from a 21-minute film produced by Yale University Media Design Studio with the Center for Southern Folklore back in 1975. (View it at Folkstreams.net.)

Meanwhile, the book itself is chock full of revelations, such as this first-person narrative from Otha Turner in his prime:

“I can dance. I can sing, ride horses, chop cotton and plow, whoop and holler, cut somersets, do all that stuff. I got two acres and two-tenths of land. I bought it. Scurrying hard, my labor paid for it. I paid one thousand for the land and 150 dollars for the house. Paid three hundred dollars to move the house. And I rent twelve acres and a half of cotton land.”

News

Wharton Fires Animal Shelter Director

Post author By Bianca Phillips
Post date November 6, 2009

At a press conference held at the animal shelter this morning, Mayor AC Wharton announced that Memphis Animal Services director Ernie Alexander’s appointment has been rescinded.

Alexander, who was hired in March 2008 to fill the long-vacant director position, was let go after an investigation found inadequate administrative oversight, a lack of documentation on paperwork, and missing paperwork. Wharton said some of that paperwork pertained to the use of euthanasia drugs.

“That has led to the unacceptable conditions here,” said Wharton, standing outside the animal shelter.

The other three shelter employees who were placed on paid suspension after a shelter raid by the Shelby County Sheriff’s office last week remain on paid leave.

Wharton announced that he’s appointing Lucy Shaw as interim facility coordinator. Shaw once served as the CEO of the Med. Wharton said he’s appointing a health care expert because, we’re going to have the same level of care [for the animals] as you would want if you were taking your child or grandparent [to the hospital].” Shaw’s first task will be to inspect the facility to determine a plan of action for improving shelter operations.

Wharton says he’ll also be working with the Memphis City Council to restore funding for a shelter operations manager, a position that was recently slashed from the city budget.

Intermission Impossible Theater

Will Call: Tips & Tidbits for the Theatrically Inclined

Post author By Chris Davis
Post date November 6, 2009

The Elephant Man

There are some big parties this weekend like Saturday’s Curtain Up: A Taste of Playhouse on the Square. It’s an over the top event with lots of food, lots of beverages, too much entertainment and dancing on the stage. Or, as Playhouse’s Courtney Oliver puts it, “It’s kicking.”

Let’s all cross our fingers and hope that Theatre Memphis takes good care of itself this weekend and doesn’t break a hip. This enduring organization—quite literally born in a stable— is pulling out the stops to celebrate its 90th birthday. There’s a concert by Kallen Esperian on Friday evening and dancing into the late bright. Then There are kid’s events on Saturday afternoon.

But what does all this shindigging mean for people who actually want to see a show? The choices are slimmer than usual to be sure, but there’s still plenty to choose from.

Opinion The BruceV Blog

Dogs Versus Abortion Versus War

Post author By Bruce VanWyngarden
Post date November 6, 2009

CREDIT: Bianca Phillips

There has been a great public outcry over the deplorable conditions at Memphis Animal Shelter. Mayor Wharton has reacted quickly and decisively. Today, he fired shelter director Ernest Alexander and appointed former Med CEO Lucy Shaw as interim director. Cameras are being installed at the facility and criminal charges may be filed.

The Commercial Appeal reported today that there were similar problems at Alexander’s previous employer, the Animal Services Division of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Alexander was hired by the Herenton administration after the proverbial “nationwide search.”

Bianca Phillips
Vigil at Memphis Animal Shelter

The public’s outrage was fueled by photos in local media of starving animals and the disgusting conditions at the shelter. There have been dozens of letters to the editor, comments on websites and, last night, a candlelight vigil. And as might have been predicted, numerous reactive letters and comments immediately appeared along the lines of: “How come all these people are outraged about animals when (pick one) 1) babies are being aborted 2) children are being shot 3) people are being murdered at Fort Hood …”

It’s so tiresome and misguided. The director and employees of the Animal Shelter betrayed the public’s trust. We expected them to treat animals in their care humanely and compassionately. Instead, they ran an animal holocaust. Why shouldn’t people be pissed and why shouldn’t they protest vociferously? And what’s that got to do with drive-by shootings? They are also horrible, but caring passionately about one cause does not preclude people from caring passionately about another cause.

I don’t understand why it’s somehow deemed clever or insightful to demean the outrage because it’s “just about animals.” As in, “I love my dog, but he’s not as important as my Momma.” Well, duh.

Comparing the importance of causes is not insightful or clever. It’s predictable and meaningless. If you feel your issues are more important, then by all means organize, protest, make your voice heard. But lay off the silly conflation of issues. It’s apples and kittens.

Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

Memphis Magazine’s Restaurant Poll

Post author By Susan Ellis
Post date November 6, 2009

It’s time to vote in this year’s Memphis magazine’s Readers Restaurant Poll.

Voting will be held through December 18th, and winners will be revealed in the magazine’s February 2010 issue.

Beyond the Arc Sports

Weekend Three-Pointer

Post author By Chris Herrington
Post date November 6, 2009

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

Griz Advice? Feed the beasts on the block.

Larry Kuzniewski
Griz Advice? Feed beasts on the block.

Three quick, relatively Iverson-free suggestions for curing what ails the Grizzlies.

1. Slow it Down, Pound it Inside: The Grizzlies three most dynamic scorers are O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, and Allen Iverson. But the team’s most efficient scorers have been interior tandem Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. Randolph is averaging 20 points a game on 56% shooting. Gasol is averaging 18 points a game on 60% shooting. Each player is averaging four offensive rebounds a game and shooting better than 78% from the foul line. They have also established quick chemistry together, hooking up on several high-low plays.

With Randolph so-far correcting the sloppy shot selection that had grown to infect his game in recent years and a slimmed-down Gasol making a mini-leap as an offensive threat, the Grizzlies suddenly have one of the best offensive frontcourts in the league. On most nights, this is where the team’s advantage will be and the team has been at it’s best when exploiting it. But with all the firepower on the perimeter, it’s been too easy for the team to neglect feeding the beasts on the block. Wednesday night, in losing to the undersized Golden State Warriors, Randolph had only nine field-goal attempts, with 6 of those coming in a first half in which the Grizzlies were only behind by one point.

Slowing the game down a little and focusing on the interior game could also help the team’s porous defense as the Grizzlies don’t have great depth and have been losing track of outside shooters in up-and-down games.

Daily Photo Special Sections

still life in soul

Post author By
Post date November 6, 2009