Month: January 2021

Bay High Principal Wants to Read A Parent’s Private Messages

Before Christmas I was tipped to some litigation filed in Hancock County involving Bay High Principal Amy Coyne that was of mild interest as it involves the intersection of free speech, social media and the tort of defamation.

To back things up there was Statewide Cheerleader competition in Jackson and the Bay Cheerleader squad wanted to participate. Due to Covid pandemic the School Board denied the Cheerleaders’ request for authorization for overnight travel to the event. According to the social media posts certain of the cheerleaders, on their parent’s dime, went to Jackson overnight to stay the day before the competition anyway. State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs would later be quoted as saying the cheerleader event was a Covid super spreader event. BWSD’s Facebook page takes it from there:

A decision has been made that will affect your student’s schedule. Due to an increasing number of students that have to be quarantined, we are going to dismiss for Christmas holidays early.
Tomorrow – Tuesday, Dec. 15 will be a regular school day. Wednesday, Dec. 16 we will dismiss at the following times:
BHS @ 12:05 pm
BWMS @ 12:25pm
NBE/WES @ 11:35am
These will not be distance learning days and we will have to make up the days. Our calendar will be adjusted at a later date.
A number of these quarantines are completely avoidable. I would urge you to exhibit healthy behaviors over the holiday so that we can have a safe return in January and not have to extend the school year any further.
Specifically, please wear a mask, socially distance and wash your hands frequently. Please avoid crowds and large numbers of people.
I realize this is difficult but we all want to be able to return to school on Monday, January 4 in a safe way.

Bay Waveland School District’s Facebook Page

According to social media posts, Principal Coyne went to Jackson to the Cheerleader competition with the group of parents that stayed overnight. After the event she busted a student’s chops for having a sleep-over, which given how the cheer competition turned out struck the student’s parents as a ‘pot meet kettle’ situation and a social media brawl was born. Seemingly, not one to miss a chance to escalate things, Principal Coyne turned to her brother, local Attorney Gary Yarborough for assistance and the following was filed in County Court in very short order.

Continue reading “Bay High Principal Wants to Read A Parent’s Private Messages”

Other Voices | Tom Callaghan: Convict and Remove

Posted on January 14, 2021
Ten Republicans voting to Impeach is better than it looks. When you serve a two year term, an election is always around the corner and your base is essential. Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming deserves credit for voting to Impeach. Her state went for Trump by over 40 points and she is No. 3 in the Republican Leadership. Her vote took guts.

Nancy Pelosi responded to and unified the Democratic Caucus around a lean and mean one count charge that can be proved out of Trump’s mouth…the speech he gave to the mob before they descended on the Capitol killing a Capitol Policeman and four others.

Mitch McConnell has let it be known that he’s done with Trump. He has announced that he will not call the Senate back into emergency session and that he will follow the evidence to determine his vote. McConnell’s wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao resigned from the Cabinet, the day after the invasion, assault and murdering at the Capitol. McConnell is a master survivor. Trump is a negative in his life. He will act accordingly.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) has a role to play in the next week. She has reported seeing individuals receiving “tours” of the Capitol on January 5, the day before the assault and murder binge on the Capitol. She has reported her observations through channels. The clear implication is that Trump-Friendly Members of Congress were using their “privileges” to give rioters a detailed preview of the very complex physical layout of the Capitol. Rep. Sherrill is not to be trifled with…Lawyer, Military Helicopter Pilot. She will insist that any Member of Congress aiding riot participants on the day before the riot be expelled from the Congress. Continue Reading……

Other Voices | Tom Callaghan: Lost for Words

Posted on January 10, 2021

When I’m lost for words, I try and consult the wisdom of the Ages: The Bible, Our Founding Fathers, Philosophers, Yogi Berra. Let’s do Yogi first. “Hey Yogi, what time is it?” Yogi: “You mean right now?”

There, I feel better. At least for 30 seconds.

I have to tell you a story. I’m in New York City a lot. When I go out to get stuff, I can go one way and probably encounter two or three homeless people asking for money. I can go another way and not encounter any. On a cold rainy night about two weeks ago, I went out to get some stuff and my path intersected with a black man, about 70, distinguished looking, but tattered clothing. As our paths crossed, he said “nasty night.” I stopped to chat for a minute. As I started to leave, he looked at me and said “thank you for talking to me.”

That took my breath away. I’ve thought about that interaction every day. It reminded me of a magnificent piece of wisdom from an ancient source, Philo of Alexandria, a Jewish Philosopher, 25 BC, “be kind to everyone you meet, they are fighting a mighty battle.” Isn’t that the truth? Aren’t we all “fighting a mighty battle.” Sometimes it’s up close and personal and other times it’s a little further off. Life is an anxiety producing activity. As an Irish friend reminds me, “nobody gets out alive.”

I like to philosophize a bit from time to time, somewhat of an acquired taste. (Interestingly, I had zero interest in the subject when Jesuit priests, at the three Jesuit Colleges I attended were trying, unsuccessfully, to force feed me Aristotle, Descartes, Aquinas at my father’s expense). Oh well, nobody’s perfect.

Like one of the reasons I started this website was because I was fascinated with the subject of how the Conventional Wisdom becomes the Conventional Wisdom in American Political Life. I’ve solved that problem…those who refuse to be defeated, win. Those staring off into space drooling on themselves lose. Pick the group you’re comfortable with. It’s your destiny. Continue Reading…….

Reckoning…..

There is someone here at this website that has experience fighting back against being de-platformed that also happens to know a thing or two or three about the First Amendment. Heck it was just over a year ago we covered this topic.

There is also someone here at this website that has been warning the GOP about the dangers of being taken over by ignorant, right wingnuts, most of whom are nothing more than closet racists.

So when those freaks stormed the capitol last week carrying Blue Lives Matter flags looking to kill our elected officials and successfully killing law enforcement, to expect there would be no blowback or that the enablers of these far right anarchists would simply walk away is expecting a bit much. Accountability is inherent to the healing process and there is going to be lots of accountability as there is lots to heal.

Continue reading “Reckoning…..”