Casino Vicksburg

A new tournament in the Heartland Poker Tour concluded this week and this time it was the Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles in St. Charles, Missouri that acted as a gracious host. The land-based casino has attracted a great deal of poker fans, including some that usually participate exclusively in online tournaments. Unibet Poker members found it worthwhile to spend some time away from the virtual tables and sit down at real ones. They bring a wealth of experience from playing over the Internet and it is not surprising that some of them made it to the final table. Among those who brought a healthy stack to this late stage of the competition was Matt Culberson from St. Louis. 393 players pay the buy-in of $1650 for the main event, but only nine of them were still alive when the final table began. Matt was trailing chip leader Matt Cannella by plenty of chips, but he closed the gap separating him by the time the heads-up began. No deal was made and the winner took home almost $130,000, while the runners-up had to settle for less than $80,000. These are the final table results at the Heartland Poker Tour event: 1 Matt Culberson Lake St. Louis, MO $129,1472 Michael Ross Chicago, IL $78,3503 Jeffrey Brin Olathe, KS $52,4664 Ron Amos Quincy, IL $36,5925 Matt Cannella O'Fallon, IL $27,4446 Reginald Roberts Springfield, MO $21,5257 Joshua Turner St. Louis, MO $18,1888 Carl Masters Clarksville, TN $15,0679 Matthew Mueller Columbia, IL $12,915 There were dozens of tournaments scheduled throughout the year by the HPT and while most of them concluded some time ago, the Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower is scheduled for November in Las Vegas. Below you can see the complete schedule of all Heartland Poker Tour events in 2014: Heartland Poker Tour Stratosphere Las Vegas, NV USAHeartland Poker Tour Ameristar Casino Vicksburg, MSHeartland Poker Tour Club One CasinoHeartland Poker Tour Daytona Beach Kennel ClubHeartland Poker Tour Thunder Valley Casino ResortHeartland Poker Tour Golden Gates CasinoHeartland Poker Tour Commerce CasinoHeartland Poker Tour Agua Caliente CasinoHeartland Poker Tour Ameristar Casino - East ChicagoHeartland Poker Tour Soaring Eagle Casino
from
via Casinoreviews

So this is the year I've decided to finish up some long unfinished projects and finally commit to some things I've been considering for a long time. This will be long, so feel free to just skip through to the photos.
Both my 6120 and Casino have some major updates coming, but I'm not ready to discuss that yet. I'm sorry, but you'll be hearing all about those soon. Today we'll focus on the Tele and the Dano.
So Teles. I've tried A LOT of iterations. I've had "this" Tele since about 2007, but it's a Ship Of Theseus at this point. I think the only remaining parts from that MIM Tele that I bought at Fenway GC the summer of my Junior year are the control plate and the strap buttons.
Necks? 4.
Bodies? 3.
Pickups? 7.
Bridges? 4.
Bigsbies? 2.
But isn't that the point of Teles? I don't think this one will ever be "done", and it took a while to get the B16 where I wanted it, but I'm happy to report I'm in a good place with it right now.
https://i.imgur.com/N68OIRz.jpg
The neck is a Squier "Strat" neck, with the big 70s headstock, circa 2012. I believe it was made in China, but I removed the original label unfortunately and don't remember. It's got a lovely rosewood fretboard and impeccable fretwork. The nut was a little high, so I spent some time sorting that out. I painted the headstock to match the body's Shell Pink, applied my logo, and installed vintage-style tuners. It's got a good unobtrusive medium C profile that's so generic you don't even think about it. Just feels like a regular electric guitar.
https://i.imgur.com/LXC7HUM.jpg
The body is a plainol' swamp ash plank (supplied, free, by the same lumber supplier here in Vicksburg used by Fender, Gibson, and PRS) that I cut on the CNC. Regular vintage specs, lightweight, finished with reranch Shell Pink.
https://i.imgur.com/7Wk5hJh.jpg
It's got a Dimarzio Chopper T pickup, which gets a reputation as a super metal shredder pup, but output-wise seems more like a slightly hot PAF to me. But really where it shines is in parallel mode, where it gives a fairly--surprisingly--convincing gnarly Tele twang. And the series mode is there for solo boost or heavy-grungy rhythm. I'm considering adding a neck bucker for Keef-style riffing, but undecided on the type. I could get the Chopper neck pup to match the bridge (and do the same series/parallel wiring) or go for a more traditional humbucker type.
https://i.imgur.com/Tcf3W7m.jpg
Perhaps unsurprisingly, I've arrived at the Gretsch Rocking Bar Bridge on this guitar. This bridge is the original bridge that came with my 6120, I believe it is chrome-plated brass. I had to reshape the rosewood base to fit in the space alotted by the B16. Its radius doesn't match the fretboard, but it's already a vast improvement in functionality over the Bigsby bridge that came with the B16. Expect a Tru Arc Serpentune in my future, material TBD.
https://i.imgur.com/4iiF2qG.jpg
I had a B5 on my Tele for a long time, but after experiencing more and more Bigsbies without the tension bar I just couldn't abide the unresponsive B5 anymore. I got this B16 along with the Bigsby neck shim, and I couldn't be happier with it. The increased body-to-string distance and the back angle of the neck have resulted in a Tele that very much feels more like my archtop guitars. I'm sure there is some sustain and twang missing from not having the traditional Tele bridge, but I'll be damned if it doesn't still sound like a Tele.
https://i.imgur.com/SDc70I5.jpg
Overall, I'm super thrilled with this Tele where it's at right now. I guess it's still an Esquire, but I do think I'll add a neck pup at some point. I'm just glad to have it playing so well, as it took a while to get the setup right with the B16. Some nut work, and the Gretsch bar bridge sorted that.
The Dano. I guess I shouldn't call it a Dano, because it's not, but it's vaguely constructed like a Dano and it has the pickups. I've considered calling this model the "Catfish", as it was conceived in Mississippi, and there's nothing more "Mississippi" than a catfish. See here for more on the conception of the Catfish: https://www.reddit.com/Guitacomments/60dh8v/oc_i_made_a_chamberedbody_electric_guitar_with_a/
https://i.imgur.com/imYBCoN.jpg
This one has seen considerably less modification than the Tele. In fact I don't think I've changed a thing in nearly 4 years. But after successfully getting the B16 on the Tele working the way I want, I couldn't pick this one up without reaching for the Bigsby. I didn't want to compromise with another B5, and I've been impressed with the geometry of the B16, way more than I expected to be. So I just decided to go for it.
https://i.imgur.com/p0m3qRR.jpg
This is the B5 with the tension bar cut off. I had another neck shim and reused the Bigsby compensated bridge (I'll probably replace that with another bar bridge). So far I like the overall effect but I've got two remaining problems. The only Bigsby spring I had left was the stupid Reverend soft spring. Those worthless things should be melted down and turned into paperclips. I've got a proper 1" Bigsby spring on the way.
https://i.imgur.com/fGGoJvz.jpg
The other problem is pickup adjustment. These Seymour Duncan lipsticks are meant to be installed in a Strat, without the high body-to-string distance afforded by the neck shim. I've got both pickups cranked all the way up, but I'd still like another millimeter or so on the bridge pup. I think I might be able to take apart the pickup and modify to get what I need.
https://i.imgur.com/gTjQkWy.jpg
I think once I get those problems sorted I'll be able to set this up to perfection. Will be a nice tonal contrast to the Tele, while maintaining much of the same feel.
https://i.imgur.com/oz9CMlF.jpg
On the amp front, I've finally installed the tweed on my 20w 1x12 plexi-ish thing. This was my first time covering a cabinet, but I think it came out pretty good.
https://i.imgur.com/oXuO1mg.jpg
I used a fabric more like clothing tweed than luggage tweed. In fact it's wool! It's gray, with some cool flecks of red, yellow, and blue throughout.
https://i.imgur.com/Ryrvabi.jpg
Overall I really like it. At some point I might add some piping around the baffle, and possibly lacquer the tweed for durability. I've got several extra yards, I'm tempted to make a pair of pants out of it.
https://i.imgur.com/8apgeVG.jpg
The astute will notice it doesn't have a handle. I just haven't found the right one yet, and until COVID is over, I have no reason to carry it anywhere.
https://i.imgur.com/A1fWt6a.jpg
Anyways I thought I'd update y'all on some of my projects; it's been a while since I did a good long post on here. I've been playing guitar a lot more lately, after a couple of years focusing on other hobbies, and tinkering with gear always helps me get into the spirit.

Hi. I am from the San Francisco Bay Area. I really just want to see Mississippi once in my lifetime. Is it a weird place to visit from SF, should I visit more populated places of the south? Anyways, Im thinking of visiting mid-july. What would the weather be like? are things open or has coronavirus shut down most of the state? Thank you and please give me all the recommendations.

Unfortunately there's no 100% agreed list of GA seasons and there never was one. Various platforms and Travel Channel affiliates provide contradictory episode listings. It was discussed numerous times over the years, recently we had yet another discussion on the matter. Somebody asked me on PM if I can share with them the chronological listing I've been using, so I've decided to post it here as well. Keep in mind this is not an "official" list, but it's a recommended one if you want to binge watch the whole show from beginning to end or if you're a new fan looking for specific episodes.
This is a list of Ghost Adventures episodes in order based on the original air date. I've been keeping it since I began watching the show during the first season and it mostly overlaps with the wikipedia listing, and a few other season lists. It includes every single episode, including all specials and compilation episodes. "Extra Pulses" are not added since there is no additional content compared to the original episodes. For the first 7 or so seasons this is how The Travel Channel listed their seasons before they nuked their site and started grouping them by production date and not air date. A few things of note:

Ghost Adventures: The Beginning is The Documentary movie with a couple minutes of bonus footage. It was aired on the same day as the first episode of the series.
To make matters even more complicated early seasons have alternate episode titles for some of the episodes. I've included the more common ones.
The early compilation episodes were episodes with different edit and new narration compared to original ones, and were used as a bridge, while the GAC were filming new content. Later Travel Channel would just split the production in two seasons - Autumn-Winter and Spring-Summer periods.
Years ago Travel Channel listed episodes under new seasons if 2 or more months had passed since the last aired episode, and before the new content announcement.
In recent years they've been doing a lot of specials with an overlapping theme like "Haunting of Vicksburg", some sites list these episodes as a complete season.

Season 1
Start: October 17, 2008
End: December 5, 2008

Ghost Adventures: The Beginning (Special Episode)
Bobby Mackey's Music World
Houghton Mansion
Moundsville Penitentiary
Riddle House
Sloss Furnaces
Former Psychiatric Hospital
Edinburgh Vaults
Old Idaho Penitentiary

Season 2
Start: June 5, 2009
End: July 24, 2009

Preston Castle
Castillo de San Marcos
La Purisima Mission
Magnolia Lane Plantation
Birdcage Theater
Eastern State Penitentiary
Moon River Brewery
Ancient Ram Inn

Season 3
Start: October 30, 2009
End: January 22, 2010

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum LIVE (Halloween Special Episode)
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum LIVE: Post Mortem (Special Highlights Episode)
Pennhurst State School and Hospital
Poveglia Island
Ohio State Reformatory
Remington Arms Factory
Washoe Club and Chollar Mine
Linda Vista Hospital
Execution Rocks Lighthouse
Prospect Place
Clovis Wolfe Manor
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum LIVE: The Cutdown (Special Behind the Scenes Episode)
Poveglia Island Special (Special Episode with 30 minutes of additional footage)

Season 4
Start: September 10, 2010
End: June 10, 2011

Best Evidence (Compilation Special Episode)
Scariest Moments (Compilation Special Episode)
Gettysburg
Rolling Hills Asylum
Return to Bobby Mackey's Music World
Waverly Hills Sanatorium
Stanley Hotel
Hill View Manor
Vulture Mine
USS Hornet
La Palazza Mansion
Fort Chaffee
Amargosa Opera House
Old Fort Erie
Villisca Axe Murder House
Kell's Irish Pub
Pico House Hotel
Return to Goldfield Hotel
Bonnie Springs Ranch
Longfellow's Wayside Inn (Valentine's Day Special Episode)
Salem Witch House
Jerome Grand Hotel
Yorktown Hospital
Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum
Sacramento Tunnels
Hales Bar Marina and Dam
Kentucky Slave House
Tooele Hospital
Loretta Lynn's Plantation House

Season 5
Start: September 23, 2011
End: December 16, 2011

Ashmore Estates
Mizpah Hotel
Old Town San Diego
Winchester Mystery House
Lizzie Borden House
Letchworth Village
Return to Virginia City
Rocky Point Manor
Rose Hall
Old Charleston Jail

Season 6
Start: February 24, 2012
End: July 20, 2012

Horror Hotels and Deadliest Hospitals (Compilation Special Episode)
Wickedest Women, Houses of Terror and Bloodiest Battlefields (Compilation Special Episode)
Shanghai Tunnels
Peabody-Whitehead Mansion
Copper Queen Hotel and The Oliver House
The National Hotel
Return to Linda Vista Hospital
The Galka Family
The Riviera Hotel
Hellfire Caves (Special Episode)
Fort Horsted (Special Episode)

Season 7
Start: September 14, 2012
End: April 19, 2013

Central Unit Prison
Excalibur Nightclub
Point Sur Lighthouse
The Palmer House Hotel
Black Moon Manor
Sedamsville Rectory
Cripple Creek
Dead Men Walking (Compilation Special Episode)
Brookdale Lodge
Tor House
Union Station
Death By Wild West (Compilation Special Episode)
Crazy Town
Clinically Dead (Compilation Special Episode)
Killer Nightlife (Compilation Special Episode)
Do Not Disturb (Compilation Special Episode)
Home Sweet Hell (Compilation Special Episode)
Wyoming Frontier Prison
Sailors' Snug Harbor
Passport to Hell (Compilation Special Episode)
Dungeons and Demons (Compilation Special Episode)
Bewitched and Bothered (Compilation Special Episode)
Obsessions and Possessions (Compilation Special Episode)
New Orleans
Market Street Cinema
Armies of Darkness (Compilation Special Episode)
First Timers (Compilation Special Episode)
Goldfield Hotel Redemption
Glen Tavern Inn
King's Tavern

Season 8
Start: August 16, 2013
End: November 15, 2013

Pioneer Saloon
Black Swan Inn
Tuolumne Hospital
Missouri State Prison
Yost Theater and Ritz Hotel
Haunted Victorian Mansion
Up Close and Personal (Compilation Special Episode)
Exorcist House
Alcatraz
Mustang Ranch
Thornhaven Manor
Transylvania (Halloween Special Episode)
Battle of Perryville

Season 9
Start: February 15, 2013
End: July 12, 2013

Sharon Tate Ghost
The Myrtles Plantation
George Washington Ghost
Bannack Ghost Town
Fear Factory
Heritage Junction
Battle of Los Angeles
Netherworld: Paris Catacombs (Special Episode featuring only Zak, aired in the middle of the season)
St. James Hotel
Fox Hollow Farm
Haunted Savannah
Overland Hotel and Saloon
Old Licking County Jail

Season 10
Start: October 4, 2014
End: March 7, 2015

Queen Mary
Lemp Mansion and Brewery
Zozo Demon (Nick's last regular episode)
Island of the Dolls (in the og edit it was mentioned Nick couldn't make it for filming)
Ireland's Celtic Demons (Halloween Special Episode, Nick's last appearance as part of the GAC)
Bell Witch Caves (new intro, Jay and Bill introduced as permanent GAC investigators)
Sallie House
Nopeming Sanatorium
Apache Junction
Return to Tombstone
Demons in Seattle
Texas Horror Hotel

Season 11
Start: August 22, 2015
End: November 7, 2015

Edinburgh Manor
Old Montana State Prison
Manresa Castle
Old Lincoln County Hospital
Haunted Harvey House
Los Coches Adobe
Grand Canyon Caverns
Haunted Hollywood
Odd Fellows Asylum
Clown Motel and Goldfield High School
Deadwood: City of Ghosts (Halloween Special Episode)
Lava Hotel Springs Inn

Season 12
Start: January 30, 2016
End: August 6, 2016

Black Dahlia House
Secret Scientology Lab
Bracken Fern Manor
Return to the Riviera
Chinese Town of Locke
Star of India
Leslie's Family Tree Restaurant
Hell Hole Prison
The Domes
Nevada State Prison
Return to Winchester Mystery House
Stardust Ranch
The Haunted Museum

Season 13
Start: September 24, 2016
End: January 14, 2017

Colorado Gold Mine
Mackay Mansion
Palace Saloon
Reseda House of Evil
Dorothea Puente Murder House
Route 666 (Halloween Special Episode)
Hotel Metlen
St. Ann's Retreat
Twin Bridges Orphanage
Dumas Brothel
Zalud House
Dakota's Sanatorium of Death
De Soto Hotel and Concordia Cemetery (Spliced Part 1 of the Route 666 Halloween Special)
Goatman's Bridge (Spliced Part 2 of the Route 666 Halloween Special)

Season 14
Start: March 25, 2017
End: July 15, 2017

Stone Lion Inn
Freak Show Murder House
Samaritan Cult House
Double Eagle Restaurant
Silent Movie Theater
Exorcism in Erie
Skinwalker Canyon
Upper Fruitland Curse
Witches in Magna
The Viper Room
Asylum 49

Season 15
Start: September 23, 2017
End: January 13, 2018

Golden Ghost Town
Ogden Possession
Haunting of Vicksburg: Mcraven Mansion (Special Episode)
Haunting of Vicksburg: Demons and Dolls (Special Episode)
Haunting of Vicksburg: Spirits Under Siege (Special Episode)
Haunting of Vicksburg: Champion Hill Battlefield (Special Episode)
Museum of Madness (Halloween Special Episode)
Annabelle's Curse (Halloween Special Episode)
Albion Normal School
Museum of the Mountain West
Pythian Castle
The Titanic Museum
Wolf Creek Inn
Eureka Mining Town
Sin City Exorcism
Phelps Dodge Hospital
The Slaughter House

Season 16
Start: March 24, 2018
End: July 14, 2018

Ripley's Believe It or Not
The Alley of Darkness
Kennedy Mine
Old Gila County Jail and Courthouse
Hotel Leger
Enchanted Forest
The Washoe Club Final Chapter
Lewis Flats School
Kay's Hollow

Season 17
Start: October 6, 2018
End: January 12, 2019

Graveyard of the Pacific: Astoria Underground (Special Episode)
Graveyard of the Pacific: Norblad Hostel (Special Episode)
Graveyard of the Pacific: Commander's House (Special Episode)
Graveyard of the Pacific: Cape Disappointment (Special Episode)
The Haunted Museum LIVE (Halloween Special Episode)
Idaho State Reform School
Westerfield House
Crisis in Oakdale
Tintic Mining District
Terror in Fontana
Riverside Plane Graveyard
Curse of the River Bend: Mineral Springs Hotel (Special Episode)
Curse of the River Bend: McPike Mansion (Special Episode)

Season 18
Start: February 23, 2019
End: July 20, 2019

Gates of Hell House
Palomino Club
Lutes Casino
Melrose Hotel
Binions Hotel and Casino
The Woodbury
Crescent Hotel
St. Ignatius Hospital
Mount Wilson Ranch
Panic in Amarillo
Union Hotel
Idaho State Tuberculosis Hospital
A Haunting in Scottsdale

Season 19
Start: October 5, 2019

Serial Killer Spirits: H. H. Holmes Murder House (Special Episode)
Serial Killer Spirits: John Gacy Prison (Special Episode)
Serial Killer Spirits: Axe Killer Jail" (Special Episode)
Serial Killer Spirits: Ted Bundy Ritual House (Special Episode)
Curse of the Harrisville Farmhouse (Halloween Special Episode)
Albion Castle
Cerro Gordo Ghost Town
Pasadena Ritual House
Horror in Biggs
Franklin Castle
Union Brewery of Death
Nightmare in Antelope
Goodwin Home Invasion
Haunted Hollow Forest
The Chinatown Poltergeist
Beneath the Bonanza

Flag: Flag of the State of Mississippi
Map: Mississippi County Map
Nickname: The Magnolia State, The Hospitality State
Demonym: Mississippian
Abbreviation: MS
Territory (prior to statehood): Mississippi Territory
Admission to the Union: December 10, 1817 (20th)
Population: 2,992,333 (32nd)
Electoral College Votes: 6
Area: 48,430 mi² (32nd)
Population Density: 63.8/mi² (32nd)
Countries Similar in Size: North Korea (46,540 mi^2), Nicaragua (50,337 mi^2), Greece (50,960 mi²⁾
State Capital: Jackson
Largest Cities (by population)

Rank	City	County	Population
1	Jackson	Hinds County	173,514
2	Gulfport	Harrison County	67,793
3	Southaven	DeSoto County	48,982
4	Hattiesburg	Forrest County	46,805
5	Biloxi	Harrison County	44,054

Borders: Tennessee (N), Alabama (E), Arkansas (NW), Louisiana (SW), Gulf of Mexico (S)
Subreddit: /mississippi

Government

Governor: Phil Bryant
Lieutenant Governor: Tate Reeves
U.S. Senators: Thad Cochran (R), Roger Wicker (R)
U.S. House Delegation: 4 Representatives (3 Republicans, 1 Democrat)
Mississippi Legislature
Senators: 52 (32 Republican, 20 Democrat)
President Pro Tempore of the Senate: Terry C. Burton (R)
Representatives: 122 (74 Republican, 48 Democrat)
Speaker of the House: Philip Gunn (R)

Presidential Election Results (since 1980, most recent first)

Year	Democratic Nominee	Republican Nominee	State Winner (%)	Election Winner	Notes
2012	Barack Obama	Mitt Romney	Mitt Romney (55.29%)	Barack Obama	One of only six states where Obama improved from 2008
2008	Barack Obama	John McCain	John McCain (56.17%)	Barack Obama
2004	John Kerry	George W. Bush	George W. Bush (59.4%)	George W. Bush
2000	Al Gore	George W. Bush	George W. Bush (57.6%)	George W. Bush
1996	Bill Clinton	Bob Dole	Bob Dole (49.21%)	Bill Clinton	Reform Party Candidate Ross Perot won 5.8% of the Mississippi vote
1992	Bill Clinton	George H.W. Bush	George H.W. Bush (49.68%)	Bill Clinton	Independent Candidate Ross Perot won 8.72% of the Mississippi vote
1988	Michael Dukakis	George H.W. Bush	George H.W. Bush (59.89%)	George H.W. Bush	Ron Paul ran as the Libertarian Party presidential nominee, his first bid for the Presidency
1984	Walter Mondale	Ronald Reagan	Ronald Reagan (61.85%)	Ronald Reagan
1980	Jimmy Carter	Ronald Reagan	Ronald Reagan (49.4%)	Ronald Reagan	Jimmy Carter had won the state in 1976, the last Democrat to do so. This election began Mississippi's shift to a safe Republican stronghold

Demographics

Racial Composition:

59.5% non-Hispanic White
37.6% Black
3.1% Hispanic/Latino (of any race)
1.2% Mixed race, multicultural or biracial
1.1% Asian
0.7% Native American, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander

Ancestry Groups

African American (28.3%)
American¹ (14%)
Irish (6.9%)
English (6.1%)
German (4.5%) ^{^1:} ^{^American} ^{^often} ^{^refers} ^{^to} ^{^those} ^{^of} ^{^English} ^{^descent} ^{^whose} ^{^family} ^{^has} ^{^resided} ^ⁱⁿ ^{^the} ^{^Americas} ^{^since} ^{^the} ^{^colonial} ^{^period.}

Second Languages – Most Non-English Languages Spoken at Home

Spanish (incl. Spanish Creole)
French (incl. Patois, Cajun, Creole)
Other Native North American languages
German
Vietnamese

Religion

Christian (83%)
- Evangelical Protestant (41%)
- Black Protestant (24%)
- Mainline Protestant (12%)
- Catholic (4%)
- Mormon, Jehovah's Witness, or Orthodox (2.5%)
Unaffiliated, Atheist or Refused to Answer (14%)
Jewish, Buddhist, Islamic or Hindu (2%)

Education

Mississippi's Constitution, which was drafted after a convention in 1868 by a biracial committee, provided free public education for all people between the ages of 5 and 21 years. The state had little tax money to fund the school system, however, due to a heavily agricultural economy. Many black communities matched money raised by Julius Rosenwald to build schools and develop the educational systems in their communities.
Public schools were heavily segregated until the late 1960's (despite the 1954 Brown v Board of Education ruling which declared "separate but equal" schools to be unconstitutional). While a small minority of white students were withdrawn from public schooling following integration, 91% of the state's students remain publicly educated.
Mississippi has the ignoble distinction of ranking last or near-last in many measures of educational achievement, including in spending per student (45th), math scores (50th), science scores (50th) and in ACT scores (50th); it ranks well-above average in SAT scores. However, only 3% of students take the SAT.
Colleges and Universities in Mississippi include (shown are four-year schools with enrollment over 9,500):

School	City	Enrollment	NCAA (Nickname)
University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)	Oxford	23,838	Division I (Rebels)
Mississippi State University	Starkville	20,873	Division I (Bulldogs)
University of Southern Mississippi	Hattiesburg	14,845	Division I (Golden/Lady Eagles)
Jackson State University	Jackson	9,802	Division I (Tigers)

Economy

State Minimum Wage: $7.25/hour
Minimum Tipped Wage: $2.13/hour
Unemployment Rate: 6.6%
Largest Employers, excluding Wal-Mart and state/federal government

Employer	Industry	Location	Employees
University of Mississippi Medical Center	Medical Center	Jackson	9,000+
Nissan North America Inc.	Automobile Manufacturing	Canton	6,300+
Baptist Health Systems	Healthcare	Jackson	6,000+
North Mississippi Medical Center	Medical Center	Tupelo (HQ)	5,000+
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino	Entertainment	Biloxi	4,000+

Sports in Mississippi

With no professional franchises in the state, Mississippi's sports scene is dominated by college and minor-league athletics. Southern Miss, Ole Miss and Mississippi State all have successful NCAA programs and have significant following throughout the state.
Several developmental baseball franchises, soccer and hockey teams call Mississippi home, including franchises for the Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Fun Facts^*

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon pitched for Mississippi State University. This is widely regarded as the worst thing to come from Mississippi in the last 25 years.
The Teddy bear can trace its origins to a hunting trip Teddy Roosevelt took to Mississippi in 1902, when he refused to shoot a bear that had been captured and tied to a tree.
The international Checkers Hall of Fame is in Petal, Mississippi. If you are standing next to another patron at an exhibit, you may only move by attempting to jump over that person.
The world's first lung and heart transplants were performed in Mississippi in 1963 and 1964, respectively.
Free slaves from many states, including Mississippi, would go on to found the nation of Liberia, which became an independent nation in 1862.
Jackson (along with Moscow, Helsinki and Varna) is one of only four cities of the world sanctioned by The International Theater-Dance Committee to host the International Ballet Competition.
Coca Cola was first bottled in 1894 in Vicksburg (it was previously only available as a fountain drink). Barq's Root Beer was invented in the state four years later in 1898.

^{^*} ^{^Facts} ^{^may} ^{^not} ^{^actually} ^{^be} ^{^entirely} ^{^factual.}

List of Famous People

Previous States:

Vicksburg is a pretty poor town right next to the Mississippi/Louisiana border. Our only claims to fame are a Civil War battle that happened here and being one of the only spots in MS that can legally have operating Casinos. Ask Me Anything.

Hey everyone, I reviewed and searched your subreddit to try and catch the highlights of Kalamazoo. My buddy is getting married, but we don't have time to go out of Michigan. We rented a cottage in Vicksburg for the four of us for this weekend (June 12-14).
What did we leave off the list and where can we go to buy craft brews, mead, wine, whiskey in town? Not bars/restaurants, but liquor stores.
Booze Related

Kalamazoo Beer Exchange 211 East Water Street Kalamazoo Michigan 49007 269.532.1188
Bell's Brewery & Cafe 355 E. Kalamazoo Ave Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007
Alamo Draft House 180 Portage St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 (269-532-7990)
Arcadia Ales 701 E Michigan Ave Kalamazoo, MI 49007 (269) 276-0458
Shakespeares Pub (craft brewery bar, ~4 dozen beers on tap) 241 E. Kalamazoo Ave
Rupert's Brew House 773 w michigan ave kalamazoo mi
Latitude 42 (in Portage) 7842 Portage Road Portage, MI 49024
Gonzo's Biggdogg Brewing 140 S. Westnedge Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Dark Horse Brewing Co 511 S. KALAMAZOO AVE. MARSHALL, MI 49068

Food Related

El Gallo Blanco Mexican (cheap, tasty, authentic) 2838 Portage St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001
El Inka (Peruvian chicken!) 563 N. Drake Road
Bangkok Flavor 5455 Gull Rd, Kalamazoo, MI 49048
Angelo's (Pizza/Grinders) 5401 Portage Road Kalamzaoo MI 269.342.9906
Theo and Stacys family diner, 2 in Kzoo and 1 in Portage
4th Coast/Crows Nest (24/7 coffee and food) 816 S Westnedge Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008

Pizza:

Fricano 7454 N 6th St, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
Zazios 100 W Michigan Ave, Radisson, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Activity Related

Klassic Arcade K, 22711 M-40, Gobles, MI 49055
Alamo Draft House 180 Portage St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 (269-532-7990)
Hole in the Wall Paintball 24262 66th Street Bangor, MI 49013
Vicksburg Old Car Festival (June 13/14) 104 S Main St, Vicksburg, Michigan 49097
Liquid Therapy Canoe & Kayak Rental 221 S Main Street Three Rivers, Michigan
Gun Lake (boat rental & casino)

Day 63 It was 45 degrees when I woke up today. Probably mid 30s last night and wet as a waterpark. I can sleep through Armageddon though. I woke up happy and high spirits - yet my body was physically blue (in parts.)
Yoda said he didn't really sleep at all. That sounds more like what a normal human being would experience given the circumstances of last night. He said the 10 min that he did sleep came because he imagined he was safe in a New Orleans hotel with a pizza and beer. Pretty crazy to think we are less than 10 days away from that reality.
Luckily we woke up early, got things a bit dry, skipped stopping in Vicksburg - and had another 50 mile day.
We skipped Vicksburg because we rigged up a system of gathering rainwater in the storm. There was a large piece of bark the length of an entire tree and in the shape of a U funnel. We had this funneling into the water bucket. We only had to hold it in place for a few min to fill the 5 gallon jug.
Yoda told me the origins of his famous "sandwich" tattoo on his side. The tattoo is in honor of his favorite sandwich from his hometown of Pittsburgh. The tattoo was inked on him while intoxicated in New Orleans when he lived there previously. The artist was a man by the name of Dump-Star. Dump Star got his wickedly cool nickname because he could go dumpster diving and find you anything. Need a gently used mattress? Call Dump-star.
I ate cliff bars exclusively breakfast and lunch. Not by choice, but by default. I seriously felt like pure death until I ate a ramen noodle masterpiece for dinner. The foods we have been forced to survive off of would blow your mind. In hindsight I wish I would have been posting a daily diet plan of what we have eaten on the river. The fact the body can function after the punishment I have pushed it through with the fuel I have been forced to eat is astonishing. This is not a complaint by any means. Rather an observation of the miracle that is the transmutation of energy within the biological process. Pretty sweet.
Well... The signal bar looks like this post won't make it to you today. I still write them on the notepad of my phone to stay up to date. I feel REALLY terrible it's been so long since I have been able to properly address your comments with my responses. Traveling The Mississippi by canoe is like living inside an unbelievable edge of your seat nail biter adventure movie. Nothing can prepare anyone for a river adventure of this magnitude. I have been whitewater rafting numerous times and felt far safer than on the Mississippi in a canoe. The danger makes it the most fun I have ever had though. I guess I am going to have to pick up rock climbing or hang gliding to keep my adrenaline requirements in check post adventure.
Lol - anyway - cheers to living the dream everyday.
Day 64 - BIG GATOR, Natchez, appreciation
This morning, moments after we woke up Yoda dropped some more YODA WISDOM.
"Appreciation is the key to fulfillment, fulfillment is the key to enlightenment"
BOOOOOOOM! Think about that one for a while. He wrote it on a message in a bottle and sent the first piece of (meaningful) litter downstream.
About 10 miles into paddling we saw one of those MONSTROUS 2,000lbs gators they write movies about. Taking a river bath will never be the same. I guess I will be wearing the gopro from now on just in case I encounter one of these puppies while bathing.
Paddling.... X infinity. Sometimes when you have a destination it seems to take much longer to reach the same distance that would be effortless if one didn't get their heart set on attaining it.
I say that to say we had to do a small bit of night paddling to reach Natchez. It seemed like the moment the stars came out I could hear gators splashing into the water everywhere and every log also seemed to be a gator. Not cool.
We made it to Natchez and found the most LEGENDARY campsite ever UNDER a casino. At times such as this I feel we are almost becoming too good at living on the river.
I am currently inside the casino DEVOURING the buffet. Neither Yoda or I remember the last time we were full. Yoda was dunking cookies in his beer. This is the first and maybe only time in life a casino feels like heaven on earth. Even the 70s disco music in the background is making me bob my head and dance. Yum the sweet taste of victory.
If appreciation is the key to enlightenment that would make me a River Buddah in this moment. Thank you to all forces in the universe for EVERYTHING this adventure has brought my way.
Sorry I didn't have signal last night y'all! Hope this double post will suffice for your daily fix of adventure!
Love to all River Shibe 222

So, my club is having the National Rally in Barstow California this year, and my Chapter Pres also happens to be the National Pres...so our Chapter did a ride out to Cali starting this past Sat morning. Unfortunately, my military duties will not allow me to make the entire 2 week trip, so myself, my wife and another couple were offered the chance to ride part way, to Texas, then o a turn around and head back. This worked out well for me since I am a new Prospect with my club and 1 of my requirements is to do 1000 miles on organized Club rides...this ride totaled 1412 miles! This was super awesome considering I am deploying to Afghanistan in Sept and normally I would not have been able to make the mileage requirement in such a short time frame (I was accepted as a Prospect at the end of April).
Heres a few pics...http://imgur.com/gallery/J5ahZ/new
Heres some lessons i learned on my little 3 day trip...may help some other down the road...
1) My bike is a 01 E-Glide Police, TC88 with a 5 speed...my best gas economy is in the 60-65-70mph range...we rode a steady 80mph all day Saturday...we did 641 miles Sat...Alabama to Texas in 1 day....I was barely getting 29mpg where I usually get 39mpg....
2) We had two(2) 96" and two(2) 103", all of which were equipped with 6 speed tranns...and 2 1800 Goldwing Trikes...they were strolling at 80mph...
3) TC88`s with a 5 speed can do 80mph steady between fill-ups, but, they really dont like it! At 80mph, I was steady on 35-3800rpm, wheras the 6 peed guys were holding around 2200rpm...much much easier on the engine.
4) It pays to travel with close friends/family/club brothers. We built new bonds on this trip that i truly think will last forever.
5) Accidental fuck-ups can turn into awesome oopsies. My wife left her wallet at a fuel stop in Ruston Louisiana...she didnt realize it until we were 50 miles on down the road toward Vicksburg Mississippi(luckily, the attendant found it, unmolested and intact). The other couple with us didnt hesitate to turn around and double back with us...with killed our plans of celebrating the other couples wife`s birthday in Memphis. So, we spent her birthday in a Casino in Vicksburg...my wife won $140 on a Penny Slot, club brother won $210 on a Penny Slot...still a very Happy Birthday at the end of the day...
To end, if you get a chance, get out and ride...regardless if you have a small tank, small engine or a "ugly beater"...get on it and ride...

Tired of being lonely. I live vicksburg ms. The town is mid sized but the only entertainment here is casinos. I work at one and refuse to date my co workers, and when people would be at the others i'm working. I've tried online dating but so far it hasn't worked. I have been single so long it is making me depressed. Any suggestions?

Hello everyone!
My fiance and I will be leaving Pensacola either tomorrow night or Wednesday. We plan on making it to Colorado Springs by Friday. This will leave us plenty of time to enjoy the drive and stop for cool sights. Then we will be leaving probably Sunday night to head back to Pensacola. We are pretty flexible and wanted some input on our trip. We will be trying to keep a pretty tight budget along the way by bringing food and drinks, camping vs. hotels, and focusing on free/cheap attractions. What are some things we should stop and see? Any suggestions for our route? Anyone along the way need a ride? (You must be reasonably clean, willing to pull your own weight with food, no hard drugs and take responsibility for any soft core stuff if the law gets invovled. We have a smallish vehicle so max is two people or one with a very well behaved dog.) - planned stops so far State Capitol in Jackson, National Military Park in Vicksburg, Casinos/Downtown in Shreveport, Dallas. Hope to hear some awesome suggestions and maybe help out a fellow traveler!

Ran across this on one of my forums. Thank you for your service!

Just wanted to say happy Veterans day to those who have or are >currently serving... I know I'm hitting up some free Applebees >tonight, as well as a few other places. Heres a list for those of you >who are interested in taking advantage of the perks...

Restaurant Freebies
Applebee’s Restaurant Free dinners from a new Veterans Day menu.
Outback Steakhouse Free Blooming Onion and beverage.
Golden Corral Free buffet dinner from 5-9 p.m.
Subway Free six inch subs.
Krispy Kreme One free doughnut of any variety.
UNO Chicago Grill Free entree or individual pizza with an entree or pizza purchase of equal or greater value.
Coushatta Casino Resort The Louisiana casino and resort is offering a free seven-clans lunch or dinner buffet.
MarketPlace Grill & Express Free entrees.
Masala Wok The Northern Virginian restaurant is offering a free entree.
Hy-Vee supermarkets The mid-western supermarket chain is offering a free breakfast.
Abuelo’s Mexican Food Restaurants All veterans and active-duty military receive a free entree.
Carolina Burgers & BBQ In Matthews, NC is offering a free meal. Entertainment Freebies
National parks, forests and monuments Admission is free to everyone on Veterans Day.
Knott’s Berry Farm Free park admission to U.S. armed forces personnel and a guest during Veteran’s Month, November 1-26.
Colonial Williamsburg Free admission Nov. 6-11 for active-duty military, guard and reservists, retirees, veterans and their dependents.
San Jacinto Museum of History Free visits to the Observation Deck, theatre, and special exhibit for veterans, active duty military personnel, and their families.
Historic Jamestown Free admission to veterans, current Armed Forces members and their family members.
Battleship Cove Free admission and a special ceremony for veterans, active, duty and reservists.
Vicksburg National Military Park Free admission for all.
Birmingham Museum of Art Free admission to the ticketed event “Life and Liberty” on Nov. 10-11 for veterans and active military.
Vulcan Park and Museum In Birmingham, Alabama is offering discounted admission through November to the park and museum.
Greenbay (WI) New Zoo Free admission to veterans and their families.
Central Florida Zoo Free admission to the Sanford, Florida zoo with proper ID.
Strategic Air & Space Museum Free admission for veterans Nov. 11-14 to the Ashland, Neb. museum.
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Oklahoma City offers free admission to veterans and five guests from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Veterans Day.
Other Stuff
Natural Elements Spa & Salon Chesapeake, Virginia, will provide free services from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to both active duty and retired military Retail Freebies
Brides Across America Provides free wedding gowns to qualified military brides.
Lowe’s & Home Depot Extra 10% off to active-duty military members, National Guard and reserve members, retirees, honorably discharged veterans and immediate family members.
Sam’s Club Over 25,000 Hugo canes will be given away to U.S. veterans in need of mobility assistance. Membership is not required, but supplies are limited, so check with your local store.
Amazon.com Free “Veterans Day Honor” MP3 album download. The album includes 12 songs by The Bands and Ensembles of the U.S.Armed Forces.
Cabela’s Outdoor Store Offers their employee discount to all veterans, active-duty military and reserves, law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel Nov. 11-12. Discounts vary from 5% to 50%, depending on the item.
Build-a-Bear Workshop Members of the armed services including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Reserve Officer Training Corps, will receive a 20% discount Nov. 11-15 on any one transaction at Build-A-Bear Workshop.
Dollar General 10% discount for all veterans, active-duty military, National Guard and reserve and their immediate families.
Fashion Bug 20% off all plus-size and misses clothing purchases with a copy of military ID or spouse’s military ID. MILITARY DISCOUNTS – All these businesses offer military discounts; all you have to do is ask.
Cell Phone Service Discount All Federal employees are able to get a 15% discount on their personal cell phones by calling their carrier and mentioning the “Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 – Discount to Federal Employees Past and Present.” You will need to know the military member’s supervisor’s name, phone number, and full address, so that his/her military status can be verified. Use the following contact numbers:
Cingular – 800-319-6393
Sprint – 877-812-1223
T-Mobile – 866-646-4688
Nextel – 800-639-6111
Verizon – 800-865-1825

Verified? (This bot cannot verify AMAs just yet)
Date: 2012-05-29
Link to submission (Has self-text)
Link to my post

Questions	Answers
How do avoid the larger river traffic (barges, ships, etc..) that might not be looking out for something as small as a kayak? Any close encounters?	The barges stay in their marked channel well and are not a huge problem. I was in a few large pools this last weekend when everybody took out their motor boats. A bunch of drunks in speedboats are scarier to me. I had a guy Sunday come within a few feet of me. I almost threw my paddle at him.
	When I was passing through Burlington Iowa 2 boats collided a few miles down from where I was camping. 4 people died and I have been much more cautious since then.
	I had a barge sneak up on me from behind near the Wisconsin, Illinois border. I about pooped my self when it blew it's horn at me. Stupid Iowa NPR had a segment called "steamboat stories" that had that sound every time it started and would send shivers up my spine.
Not that I'd be pulling rank with a barge, but don't you technically have the right of way being that you have no motor? At least sail boats always have the right of way.	Barges stay in their channel that is well marked by bouys. I might have the right of way but that means nothing if they can't see me.
Simple question- Why are you doing this? Also, any pics to share?	Generic answer I give - "Because life is short and I wouldn't want to live it without having paddled the Mississippi"
	Personal answer - "I need to get back to nature to figure out some stuff after Iraq"
	Reason Now - "I want to come back next year and help a wounded warrior to become the first paraplegic to paddle the entire river. The amount of freedom I feel everyday is breath taking and I want to share it with someone who deserves it"
	*edit - I am uploading an album to imgur now.
I want to come back next year and help a wounded warrior to become the first paraplegic to paddle the entire river. Please let us know when you get to the planning phase of this. I'll gladly kick in some money towards it.	First thing when I get back. This is my new biggest priority besides not dying on the river.
Personal answer - "I need to get back to nature to figure out some stuff after Iraq" If you find yourself in New Orleans next Saturday, I will buy the booze.	I will be there in 4 weeks.
The first answer is good enough for me, but each one after gets better and better. Best of luck to you :o)	The ups is that I go as far as I want everyday, stop when I want and have time to really discover myself. I also can sing as loud as I want to a Kesha or Pink song on the radio while I am paddling.
Another question if you will? - What are the ups and downs to doing this solo? (Note: Solo, not alone)	The downside is it is very lonely. When I first started out I would not see people for days and was alone which was ok and I felt fine. Now that I am somewhere where I see people all the time I feel lonely. Every person I meet asks me the same 3 or 4 questions.
Where do you jerk off?	In my tent, the hammock makes it hard to maneuver.
When will you pass through Memphis? I ~~reddit~~ work literally on the banks of the river just south of the I-55 bridge.	In about 8 days.
1) What are the expected total costs (gear included)?	1) The boat and gear ran me about 2000 dollars. 400 dollars for the ticket to Minneapolis, 300 to the guy who took me to Itasca. Then about 20 dollars per day I was on the river.
If you ever need a ride from Minneapolis to Itasca again, please just come to /twincitiessocial or PM me. $300 is ridiculous and I know that we could find someone to tote you up there for much less.	I gave him 300$ because while I was waiting to go up I was bumming around the Mall of America, killing time. A cute girl asked me if I wanted to go to a casino and I said yes, because I love buffets and knew I could eat whatever I wanted. Waiting for the bus back to the mall so I could catch the shuttle back to my hotel I put 20 dollars in the Ghostbusters slot. I won 600 dollars. I don't really gamble and so I bought a nice hat and some nicer sunglasses for my trip. The guy who gave me a ride would have done it for free but I felt he deserved more and so gave him half of my winnings.
Is your name Huck or Jim?	I am glad you did not write out Jim's name like Mark Twain did.
Would that even be possible? You'd exert so much energy per mile compared to going downstream...	Everything from Minneapolis to St. Louis is flat because of the 29 locks and dams. It makes the river more like a staircase than a slope.
I noticed there was a picture of you inside a lock. Do they actually let a tiny boat like yours through the locks? Do they open and close the locks just for your little kayak?	It seems a bit excessive but they send me through all by myself. The people at the locks are the only people I regularly talk to and are usually cool guys. In the locks with the bigger drops it feels like Star Wars with the giant gates opening.
But I mean you're going against the current regardless. Do kayaks skim the water so it wouldn't be too difficult? I guess I imagine paddling downstream somewhat like tubing down a river. Am I wrong?	Back when the river was small and shallow there are sections that are class 2 rapids that would be very very difficult to paddle upstream. Also Saulk Rapids a couple of days north of Minneapolis would be almost impossible to paddle through. I think a rowing skiff would work best on most of it.
Pool 26 represent. FYI, St. Louis's sewer company, MSD, dumps raw sewage into the Mississippi. Hows the water quality now that you've come to our fine city?	It has been nasty since Minneapolis. Everybody's poo goes into the river.
How do you get on reddit?	I am at a hotel today. I have a smartphone and reddit is fun on it.
1) how are you going to paddle to pensacola? is it safe to take your boat through the gulf?	1) I plan on paddling the inter coastal most of the way from the mouth to Pensacola, my boat is very stable and can handle the gulf if I need it to.
2) do you like living in pensacola? do you consider it part of the deep south?	2) I do not like living in Pensacola, I plan on moving back to SLC. Pensacola is a great place to visit but not so much to live in, and yes it is very deep South.
Do you stop and visit some places you pass? If so, did you stop in the quad cities? (that's my hometown)	I paddled through the quad cities at night. Your hometown is probably the most polluted area on the Mississippi. The water smelled like paint. I broke my paddle in the quad cities and was not very happy there.
How did you break your paddle?	Going through the last lock in the quad cities I had to pee very bad. There is a rocky area just left of the locks when you exit. A lock can take 30 minutes and I had to go really bad. When I was paddling into that rocky area my paddle hit a rock and the blade broke.
Twin cities resident here! Did you see all the dogs along the shore chasing balls and having a merry time just before passing Fort Snelling?	I did. They were on my left as I paddled by. Dogs love to come to the banks and bark at me. *edit - I keep a detailed journal while I am out here but you just reminded me of something I might have never remembered had you not asked. Thanks.
Had I been there that day this may have greeted you. Link to imgur.com I do have a serious question though: how has gear weight played a part in your selection of gear? How much does all of your gear weigh sans kayak? How often do you stop to resupply food and how much food and water do you carry with you?	I do not have to worry about weight like I do when I backpack. My kayak alone weighs around 65 pounds. My gear is probably around 45 pounds now and I have about 15 pounds of food. I carry usually a weeks supply of food that is mostly mac and cheese and stovetop stuffing for dinner with pop tarts and candy bars for the day. Water is more difficult than food. I have a 10 liter MSR water bag and a 4 liter platypus bag. I have not been able to filter or treat my water since Minneapolis, and usually fill it up with a hose.
Do you not have a good enough filter & treatment for the water or just don't trust it given the water quality?	You can't filter water from an oil slick.
So yeah, antiseptic. Hand sanitizer would be cheap and relatively light.	I worked in Yellowstone after college at the Snow Lodge. Fly fishing is an art I will never master. If you ever have a chance to go out there and fish the Snake River or the Yellowstone River, take it. I am glad your eye is ok now.
I have plenty of other questions as well: when it's time to sleep do you simply pull off and sleep on shore? I know there has been some torrential rain lately, how has this effected your trip? Any weather situations that have forced you to stop for the day/had you scared shitless?	When I was crossing Lake Cass it began sleeting on my and the winds were causing 3 foot waves. I fell in. I had a bag with fleece pants a fleece jacket and a pak-towel in case of this. After I got into dry clothes I paddled upriver to a lodge I saw earlier. I went into the shower and could not touch the water with my hands without intense pain. Without having been prepared I could have died that day, but luckily I didn't.
	I usually just find an island on the river and set up there.
Do you have it setup so things stay in the kayak if it tips?	Yes everything is strapped down and in waterproof bags.
What is this monkey swing you speak of?	I take one arm and grab a tree branch then swing way back so my poo does not hit my feet. I call it the Monkey Swing because I feel like a monkey swinging from branch to branch.
How was La Crosse? Did you stop there by any chance?	I did. A beautiful girl at the awesome river park recommended a pizza place and I ate four very large slices. La Crosse was a beautiful town with a great river front.
What did you do with your boat while you went to get the pizza?	The rocks up to the park are pretty steep and it was such a nice clean place I felt like it was safe there.
Awesome! It's my hometown. (I'm in Ohio right now for school.) I'm glad you enjoyed it! What pizza place was it, do you recall? Good luck on the rest of your journey, sir!	It was across from a bar called the library.
Beautiful women, recommending pizza? I must go to this place.	She had just come from a food co-op also.
Australian cricket legend and World War II fighter pilot Keith Miller put things into perspective when he was asked how he handled the pressure of international cricket. His reply: "Pressure? A Messerschmitt up your arse is pressure. Playing cricket is not." My question: Does your currrent undertaking feel like a walk in the park compared to your time in Iraq? Do you think that this challenge is made (or feels) easier in some way by the experiences you made during your service?	Apples and Oranges. We relied on each other a ton over there and it was a shared experience. I feel that my time in the service gave me the confidence to try to achieve something that might seem impossible.
Are you going through the locks when you come to them? Or are you going around on foot?	I am going through the locks. I pull a little cord right before them that signals the lockmaster and they put me through just like a barge. I sometimes have to wait upwards of an hour and a half for the barges to go through first. Before Minneapolis I would have to carry my boat around the dams, sometimes up to a mile.
How do you carry the kayak? I've found them a lot harder to portage than canoes.	I usually take 2 trips. First I carry all my gear then I use a handle on the side of my kayak to carry it.
Once you conquer the Mississippi what will be your next adventure?	I want to come back and help a paraplegic be the first to paddle the entire river. I have had this on my mind for the last month and I think it could be done. The biggest obstacle is portaging around all the dams in Minnesota.
	Someday I would like to ride a bike from Coney Island, NY to Chicago then take route 66 to LA. Then I will have done my personal triple crown. Walk up the country, float down then peddle across.
Are you worried about how violent the river becomes in Louisiana? That undercurrent is a killer, literally.	Yes I am. 5 people have died on the river within a few miles of me since I have been out here. 4 in Burlington Iowa and one near Hannibal, MO. I stay very near the shore to avoid barges and to be safe. I am very aware that it will be dangerous but will continue anyways.
Most people who die on the river do so because they leave their life vests and brains on the dock to make room for more beer.	I have never been or will be on this river without my life vest. I keep a small drybag on my vest with my phone and wallet in case I get separated from my boat.
Are you doing your ama from a mobile device on the water or are you taking a break right now?	I am taking the day off. I am at a holliday inn with a business center. I do check reddit every couple of nights from my phone but have to conserve my battery in case I need my phone for an emergency. I stay in a hotel about once every 10 days and this is the second time I took an entire day off. I woke up today and was unable to close my fingers in a fist without a ton of pain and thought it would be a good idea to rest.
Where is your kayak while you are in the hotel room? Did you take it in with you?	A marina here is letting me keep it there overnight. Sometimes I hide it among the trees on the shore when I run into town.
How much gear have you ditched so far because you overpacked?	Haven't ditched any gear but have lost or broken; solar panel, gps, laptop, gloves, knit hat, kayak paddle and a fleece.
What piece of gear do you wish you had that you don't? What piece of gear has surprised you most? What piece of gear has disappointed you most?	I wish I had a spare kayak paddle. My kayak paddle dissapointed me when it broke but the worst piece of gear I had was a Brunton Solar charger. It just straight up did not work even with 12 hours of direct sunlight.
Cat can stove?	Cat Can Stove! I don't think anything inflatable could make it down this river because of all the debris.
Do you have any plans for future excursions?	I want to do the river again but to act as a guide for a paraplegic and help him/her around the dams and such. It has become clear to me out here that life is better when you stop worrying about yourself and start helping others. If I could share this freedom with someone who might feel confined by their chair then that is a pretty good life.
	One day I want to ride a bicycle across the country to complete my triple crown. Walk up, paddle down and ride across. I want to touch the South Pole before I die.
Ehat do you mean by "walk up"? Can you elaborate?	When I hiked the Appalachian trail I walked up the country from Georgia to Maine.
When you camp on the side of the river, do you just do it wherever? did you have to organize/reserve locations, or do you just hobo-style it? any problems with authorities ever?	I usually stay on islands and pull my boat all the way off the water. No one can really see me.
What kind of wildlife do you see??	At the start there was an amazing amount of wildlife. My favorite was a small furry wolf that was drinking from the riverside. I have seen a ton of deer, ducks, geese, loons, herons and beavers. I also saw a whooping crane. I have a picture of it.
How enormous are the whirlpools? I heard the Mississippi gets massive whirlpools, if so, have you ever gotten stuck in one?	They can be upwards of 20 feet. They can be frustrating because there seems to be no good way to paddle around them without being spun around a bit. The more speed you have when skirting by them the less effect they have.
How fast does the Mississippi move? Like, you say you're paddling down it, but could you conceivably just float down it?	From Minneapolis to St. Louis the river is controlled by locks and dams. Usually the wind comes from the South and if I do not paddle it pushes me upstream. The current picks up a ton after St. Louis because there are no more dams and floating becomes an option.
Tell us about the stuff you need to figure out about Iraq. What have you been doing since you came back, and why the need for adventure right now?	The weight of being responsible for other people's deaths weighs heavy on my heart. I worked for the company that made the drone I flew for a while until they told me I would have to go to Afghanistan. I went back to school for a bit and waited tables. I knew in my heart that I was an adventurer and the only way to get back to that is to dive in.
How polluted is the Mississip?	Outside of the cities it is not too bad. I have been by probably 25 coal power plants and tons of factories. The quad cities treats the river like a dump. The water is polluted beyond belief but local groups keep the shoreline decently clean, except in Minneapolis.
As someone who is looking at the filthy bastard right now, (Muscatine, Iowa) what made you choose the Mississippi?	I grew up in Memphis and used to hang out at the river. I am just one of those people that when they see a mountain they want to climb it.
Ever read the story "Big Two-Hearted River" by Hemingway? You sound a bit like the character in that. Enjoy your journey and thanks for sharing.	No I did read The River Why, Down the River, Huck Finn, and A River Runs Through it though.
How swole are your arms?	I lifted a while before this and my arms have actually gotten smaller but more toned.
Any close calls with shady people? Any times where you feared for your safety? Thank you for your military service.	Whenever I go through a larger town or city there are people who hang out under the bridges. I avoid them.
Once you get to the mouth in Venice, Louisiana. Would you like to have a beer with me?	Sure.
How often do you listen to Black Water by the Doobie Brothers?	I heard it on the radio about two weeks ago and sang along. The stroke by Billy Squire and Drift Away are 2 good paddlin songs too. You can usually find me singing along to Brittney Spears and Ke$ha to be honest.
How easy would it be to do this? Like how much experience do you recommend having before you set out on this journey?	You need a decent amount of paddling experience for this and must know how to read a river.
Cool.... Where would you get started for all of this?	Join a local paddling club. I went through the Memphis canoe and kayak club's courses on whitewater canoeing and kayaking in the 90's growing up. Even if you don't own a boat your local club will probably help you find something to paddle. When I am on my kayak it moves like another limb of my body. When you can paddle and not think about it you are golden. I used to work for an Outdoors shop in memphis. After work every day I would go to a small public lake at shelby farms and paddle for 2-3 hours. I did it because I loved it, even though I just went around in small circles. I did not know at the time that it would lead to this. Start small and dream big. I love the feeling of being on the water. Some people love climbing rocks. If it is el Cap, Everest, a solo sail around the world or maybe a float of the Mississippi that is your calling you will know.
Have you been smacked by any Asian carp yet?	Yes they do hit my boat daily. Since lock 19 in Iowa they have been everywhere.
Very cool, I think it is very cool to see someone actively crossing things off a bucket list! Too many people just talk about doing those things but are never serious. Thank you for your service as well!	I was paddling north of Minneapolis when I saw a couple of kayaks in front of me. I paddled to catch up and there were about 40 people paddling down the river. I had not seen anyone else paddling before and I was excited. They were a river club from Minneapolis that was out for a day paddle. One of the nice older ladies offered me a place to stay but I did not take the offer and paddled another 10 miles after they got out.
Just curious, how did you get by the Coon Rapids Dam in Minnesota? I imagine you just pulled out some where and put back in down river but I'd be interested to hear how anyway.	There is a ridiculously long trail that goes up and down over 2 old rail beds, across a concrete path, down a steep hill, across a 2 foot wide bridge, up a hill with a tree fallen in the middle, then down a long path, that turns into another long path, that finally goes down a hill into a parking lot and then down another steep hill. The path was covered in ticks and there was dicarded panties and broken liquor bottles the whole way. I described it in another response as "rapey". It was not a good time.
How long do you plan on this trip taking? And did you do anything special to prepare for a journey of this magnitude?	70-80 days Nothing too special to be honest. Having gone through SERE-C in the Army helped as well as a lifetime of trips in the outdoors.
Welcome to St. Louis! Just wondering if the river's as muddy everywhere else as it is here? We even have a cake named Mississippi Mud Cake, so, yeah... lol.	I used to drink the water and see down 6 feet. Since Iowa it has been bad. Remember playing "hot lava" as a kid. It is like that but with cancer.
Why?	I once heard that the afterlife might be a separation from time and you live your life over and over again. Do yo measure life in dollars or in sunsets?
	To an alien my life has purpose. What do you have. If it is kids and love you win. If not . . .
	Because I own things that money could never buy.
Did I miss the imgur link to OP's pictures?	The link is in my comments.
I work at a kayak rental shop in Cleveland, on lake Erie. Im assuming the boat is about 17 feet because you are obviously an experience paddler. Is that right?	It is 14 feet.
Did you bring any weed?	No :(
Bummer man.	I might find a stealth grow on the banks one of these days but I wouldn't want to steal it. I will keep on looking though.
Real men paddle FROM Pensacola TO Minneapolis.	If I could find someone to fund it I would turn around and paddle back when I am done.
I'd love a brief overview of the gear you're using.	The kayak is a Jackson Cuda Sit on top. I was using an Accent kayak paddle until the blade snapped in the quad cities. I use an Accent paddle board paddle now. I sleep in either my REI 2 man tent or on my ENO hammock. I cook with a denatured alcohol stove. I always wear my life jacket which I have a dry bag attached to hold my phone and wallet. I have a rather large river knife attached to my vest also. I use a Marmot 30 degree sleeping bag with a Thermarest Z-rest for my bed. I had a solar panel and a gps but the river took those from me a month ago.
LOVE my ENO hammock! Slept in it all weekend... Good luck brotha!	The ENO hammock is my favorite piece of gear.
As would I! I can't imagine using a sit on top for expedition paddling...a sea kayak feels so much more cozy to me.	I picked the Jackson Cuda because I can stand and paddle it like a paddle board. I didn't go with a traditional kayak because I was afraid my legs would not be able to handle months inside a regular kayak.
Good luck, sir. I hope you find what it is you're looking for.	You seek a great fortune, you three who are now in chains. You will find a fortune, though it will not be the one you seek. But first... first you must travel a long and difficult road, a road fraught with peril. Mm-hmm. You shall see thangs, wonderful to tell. You shall see a... a cow... on the roof of a cotton house, ha. And, oh, so many startlements. I cannot tell you how long this road shall be, but fear not the obstacles in your path, for fate has vouchsafed your reward. Though the road may wind, yea, your hearts grow weary, still shall ye follow them, even unto your salvation.
Post that shit everywhere :D Maybe our numbers will swell abit.	And the trivia team will grow.
Please tell me that's not a fishing pole. I hope you don't plan on eating any fish from that river. Polluted nasty poop fish! That's my poop you are kayaking with! (I live in STL)	I would not eat anything south of the quad cities.
You are still north of myself - but when you reach Cairo to Caruthersville (spelling) anthing along that stretch - Basically the Convergance of Ohio and Miss - to where I44 crosses the River.	Thanks. I will be passing by probably Friday. I could definitely use a new kayak paddle but I think my mom in Memphis has a spare she will lend me. Mine broke in the quad cities and I have been using a paddleboard paddle like a canoe paddle. It is a mess and I can't close my hands fully anymore but I kind of like it.
You need anything because I could probably get it to you.	You can come out and we can high five if you want.
So - regarding Paddle and whatever - looks like I can swing heading North along the river on Thursday - so we are not constrained to a Friday crossing timeline. So outside of the Paddle - any "inland" favorites you desire let me know and we will try and work this out.	I talked to my mom and I have an old paddle of mine at her place in Memphis. If you just want to come say hi that would be nice.
Because of the width and the height of the Cuda, a 240cm paddle would be best if you're going to provide a replacement. Maybe the Bending Branches infusion with the soft grips...	I was using a 240 before because of the cuda's height. When you set the chair in the low position it is actually not that tall. It is an amazing vessel.
You should launch a Kickstarter campaign to write/document your travels. Perhaps when you do the trip again with a Wounded Warrior. The Wounded Warrior project could perhaps help too.	If I could raise money I might. I am well read and well educated but I feel no need to share this. If I could help someone by being popular that would be good. I would rather just die with this than let someone sell it.
	I plan on writing a book but I do not like attention while I am doing it. I have already written over 120 pages in my journal but I feel the river is the true story, not some asshole like me going down it If I do ever publish a book about this I want it to be like cannery row, a bit of the wild slipping on the knife. Some days I just wish I was like the kid in into the wild and if I die out here it is worth writing about.
I'm pretty sure I recall you posting your "ride wanted" ad in the twinscitiessocial subreddit or something of the like. Glad to see you found your ride! I recently traveled alongside the river just in Minnesota alone and am really jealous of your trip. No questions here, just good luck!	Give some love to mn_redditor. Without him I would not be here.
When you come through Vicksburg, Mississippi, let me know!	I will send you a message when I am close.
Did you get bitten by a snake. I fear most bodies of water because of this T_T.	I have only seen two snakes in the water, both while waiting for locks. There will be more.
Oh my gosh HEY, i know you! I work at the Four Points you stayed at in MPLS and drove you around in the shuttle :) So fun to see your post on here and see the pictures of where you've been!	Hey thanks for the radio station advice. You were a cool chick.
I admire your exercise in Zen. I find mine climbing rock walls. Enjoy the solidarity, risk, and enlightenment. The process of present moments is what matters.	The best days are the ones where the hours melt like minutes.
When you get back the zombie contamination will be over.	I always wanted to be patient zero in the zombie apocalypse. Maybe the foul waters of lousiana will cause this.

Last updated: 2012-06-03 02:11 UTC
This post was generated by a robot! Send all complaints to epsy.

http://www.mdwfp.com/museum.aspx
The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is proud to host the 7th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Association of Vertebrate Paleontology, which will be held here at MMNS in LeFleur’s Bluff State Park, Jackson, Mississippi, October 9-11, 2014.
Deadline for abstract submission is Friday, September 5th! Abstracts should be no more than 300 words and follow the style and formatting in the 2011 SeAVP Abstracts and Program. Once compiled, the A&P will be e-mailed to registrants. To keep meeting costs at a minimum (and with the recent adoption of our parent agency’s paperless effort), the Museum will not provide a hard copy of the A&P, so please print it out before you arrive if you prefer to have a paper copy in hand.
The working schedule follows below. All fees except for the Thursday night reception can be paid upon arrival or at the at the time of the activity. We encourage you to reserve your place at the reception by Friday, August 15th as we need to provide the caterer with a minimum head count, which must meet or exceed 20 people to book these services.
Thursday – October 9th, 2014 – Cost is $50 for reception attendees (includes museum admission). For those not attending the evening reception, the cost is $6 (museum daily adm price) payable upon entering facility (or via preregistration).
· 1-5:PM Arrival, registration/orientation, and self-guided tours of the exhibits (museum volunteers will be on hand to receive and register meeting attendees)
· 3:40-4:35 Tour of natural history collections
· 5:PM Museum closes
· 6-8:PM Reception dinner & plenary (see below)
Friday – October 10th, 2014 – Cost is $12.00 for the day—the $6 adm fee is paid at the front desk and $6 for breakfast appetizers (pastries & fruit) and coffee will be paid to a meeting assistant near the entrance to the Rottwein Theater (meeting room, to the left of the main entrance).
· 8:AM-8:20 Registration/orientation, coffee/pastries/fruit, etc. (Note: This facility does not open until 8:AM.)
· 8:20-8:40 Welcome & opening remarks
· 8:40-11:40 Morning oral session – 20 min talks (incl 5 min Q&A), total of 8 talks (with 20 min break)
· 12:30 Posters go up
· 1:PM-4:00 Afternoon oral session – 20 min talks (incl 5 min Q&A), total of 8 talks (with 20 min break)
· 4:PM-4:45 Poster Session
· 5:PM Museum closes!
· Note: Additional rooms of varying sizes are available for simultaneous sessions if there are more than 16 oral presentations confirmed before the Sept 15 deadline.
· Places to dine in Jackson, Mississippi.
· The Best of Jackson’s “Watering Holes.”
· As this is SeAVP’s Lucky #7 annual meeting, feel free to spend any money you saved with our low meeting costs at Vicksburg’s casinos, which are less than an hour away.
Saturday – 9:AM October 11th, 2014 – Field Trips (three choices). Permissions for access to the self-guided field trips (3 & 4) are not required; the landowners in each case allow unlimited access (within reason) for prospecting or study. Field Trip option #s 1, 2, and 4 are FREE. For those interested in doing field trip #1 and were unable to attend the Thursday collections tour, we’ll offer a second tour of the collections at 8:AM Saturday.

Lower Oligocene marine section at the Smith County Lime Pit (Bay Springs, Miss.) – Guided tour. We will have two museum vans available to conduct people to the site, which is a gated quarry. For those headed east after the meeting (the locality is 70 mins east of Jackson), feel free to follow us in your own vehicle. The expedition will depart the museum at 9:15. Please enter at the employee entrance (32/19.426, -90/9.496).
(An as yet to be determined Alabama location, most probably marine Upper Cretaceous) – Guided tour. Details to come!
Upper Cretaceous Coon Creek beds (earliest Maastrichtian) at Blue Springs, Miss. – An unguided tour (ask for directions) to a very accessible roadside borrow pit—an unprecedented exposure of the Coon Creek marine sandy clays near New Albany, Mississippi. No special equipment required, although the outcrop is sufficiently muddy after a rain.
Upper Cretaceous Coffee Sand (Middle Campanian) at Twenty Mile Creek – An unguided tour (ask for directions) to a creek bed near Baldwyn, Miss., that contains an exposure of marine sand rich with shark teeth and other marine vertebrates. Prepare to get your feet wet and bring a sieve.

Entire cost per person for the whole event is $62.00 (professional or student; Thurs = $50, Fri = $12). If you choose not to attend the reception, then the cost would be $18.00 for all other activities (Thurs = $6, Fri = $12).
Lodging & Map
Cabot Lodge @ Millsaps College – Located on State St (the main N-S artery through the city of Jackson) this hotel is only 0.9 mi from the Museum of Natural Science. $109/single and $114/double, plus tax.
Map of Jackson (with additional lodging) – If Cabot Lodge is too pricey, there are a variety of other hotels along I-20, I-55, and Hwy 25 (Lakeland Drive). As you zoom in on this map, note that the Museum is located at the west entrance to LeFleur’s Bluff State Park on Museum Blvd (formerly Highland Dr).
Thursday Night Reception
To the reception cost we are adding expenses for a keg of beer and several bottles of wine. IMPORTANT! Re the Thursday PM reception, the museum is located within a gated park controlled by a separate division of MDWFP. To keep facility-use costs down, reception attendees need to enter through the secure employee entrance (see attached map: 32/19.426, -90/9.496). As this entrance is gated and key-card access only, we will have it manned with volunteers who will open the gate for reception attendees, directing them where to park and enter the building. If you are not attending the reception, please use the main entrance and exit the facility by 5:PM.
Reception MENU
Southwestern cheese cakes with tostadas
Beef tenderloin with blue cheese biscuits
Shrimp cocktail on kabobs
Chicken Alfredo
Monterey Jack and corn salsa
Open face Roma tomatoes sandwiches
Mini tacos
Chocolate bread pudding with Carmel and chocolate sauce
Lemonade and tea
Preregistration. You will be need only pre-register for the Thursday reception ($50, incl museum admission), but you can remit the cost for the entire event ($68) if you wish. Make your personal check out to yours truly (George Phillips, and please write SeAVP in Memo) and send to the address below. And remember the August 15th deadline to reserve your place at the Thursday night Reception!
Bring your reprints, separates, and other publications!
As SeAVP had no budget for this year’s meeting (for which we’ve made accommodations), I thought we’d raise money for the next meeting (or other SeAVP expenses) by providing tables where reprints, separates, individual journal issues, and other lighter paleontological fare can be offered for resale to interested parties at the meeting. I was thinking in terms of 25c, 50c, and$1.00 categories for such items. Also, if anyone has any more substantial paleo literature—such as recent, pricier titles or antique books or partial journal sets—that they’d like to contribute, we can offer such ‘weightier’ items up for bid in a silent auction. I plan on contributing painted casts of a few MMNS specimens (individual bones and teeth) to the silent auction; feel free to do similarly.
Previous Meetings
SeAVP 2013 (#6)
SeAVP 2012 (#5) – Appalachian State University – Boone, North Carolina
SeAVP 2011 (#4) – Florida Museum of Natural History – Gainesville, Florida
SeAVP 2010 (#3) – South Carolina State Museum – Columbia, South Carolina
SeAVP 2009 (#2) – Virginia Museum of Natural History – Martinsville, Virginia
SeAVP 2008 (#1) – ETSU Natural History Museum & Gray Fossil Site – Johnson City, Tennessee

http://www.mdwfp.com/museum.aspx
The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is proud to host the 7th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Association of Vertebrate Paleontology, which will be held here at MMNS in LeFleur’s Bluff State Park, Jackson, Mississippi, October 9-11, 2014.
Deadline for abstract submission is Friday, September 5th! Abstracts should be no more than 300 words and follow the style and formatting in the 2011 SeAVP Abstracts and Program. Once compiled, the A&P will be e-mailed to registrants. To keep meeting costs at a minimum (and with the recent adoption of our parent agency’s paperless effort), the Museum will not provide a hard copy of the A&P, so please print it out before you arrive if you prefer to have a paper copy in hand.
The working schedule follows below. All fees except for the Thursday night reception can be paid upon arrival or at the at the time of the activity. We encourage you to reserve your place at the reception by Friday, August 15th as we need to provide the caterer with a minimum head count, which must meet or exceed 20 people to book these services.
Thursday – October 9th, 2014 – Cost is $50 for reception attendees (includes museum admission). For those not attending the evening reception, the cost is $6 (museum daily adm price) payable upon entering facility (or via preregistration).
· 1-5:PM Arrival, registration/orientation, and self-guided tours of the exhibits (museum volunteers will be on hand to receive and register meeting attendees)
· 3:40-4:35 Tour of natural history collections
· 5:PM Museum closes
· 6-8:PM Reception dinner & plenary (see below)
Friday – October 10th, 2014 – Cost is $12.00 for the day—the $6 adm fee is paid at the front desk and $6 for breakfast appetizers (pastries & fruit) and coffee will be paid to a meeting assistant near the entrance to the Rottwein Theater (meeting room, to the left of the main entrance).
· 8:AM-8:20 Registration/orientation, coffee/pastries/fruit, etc. (Note: This facility does not open until 8:AM.)
· 8:20-8:40 Welcome & opening remarks
· 8:40-11:40 Morning oral session – 20 min talks (incl 5 min Q&A), total of 8 talks (with 20 min break)
· 12:30 Posters go up
· 1:PM-4:00 Afternoon oral session – 20 min talks (incl 5 min Q&A), total of 8 talks (with 20 min break)
· 4:PM-4:45 Poster Session
· 5:PM Museum closes!
· Note: Additional rooms of varying sizes are available for simultaneous sessions if there are more than 16 oral presentations confirmed before the Sept 15 deadline.
· Places to dine in Jackson, Mississippi.
· The Best of Jackson’s “Watering Holes.”
· As this is SeAVP’s Lucky #7 annual meeting, feel free to spend any money you saved with our low meeting costs at Vicksburg’s casinos, which are less than an hour away.
Saturday – 9:AM October 11th, 2014 – Field Trips (three choices). Permissions for access to the self-guided field trips (3 & 4) are not required; the landowners in each case allow unlimited access (within reason) for prospecting or study. Field Trip option #s 1, 2, and 4 are FREE. For those interested in doing field trip #1 and were unable to attend the Thursday collections tour, we’ll offer a second tour of the collections at 8:AM Saturday.

Lower Oligocene marine section at the Smith County Lime Pit (Bay Springs, Miss.) – Guided tour. We will have two museum vans available to conduct people to the site, which is a gated quarry. For those headed east after the meeting (the locality is 70 mins east of Jackson), feel free to follow us in your own vehicle. The expedition will depart the museum at 9:15. Please enter at the employee entrance (32/19.426, -90/9.496).
(An as yet to be determined Alabama location, most probably marine Upper Cretaceous) – Guided tour. Details to come!
Upper Cretaceous Coon Creek beds (earliest Maastrichtian) at Blue Springs, Miss. – An unguided tour (ask for directions) to a very accessible roadside borrow pit—an unprecedented exposure of the Coon Creek marine sandy clays near New Albany, Mississippi. No special equipment required, although the outcrop is sufficiently muddy after a rain.
Upper Cretaceous Coffee Sand (Middle Campanian) at Twenty Mile Creek – An unguided tour (ask for directions) to a creek bed near Baldwyn, Miss., that contains an exposure of marine sand rich with shark teeth and other marine vertebrates. Prepare to get your feet wet and bring a sieve.

Entire cost per person for the whole event is $62.00 (professional or student; Thurs = $50, Fri = $12). If you choose not to attend the reception, then the cost would be $18.00 for all other activities (Thurs = $6, Fri = $12).
Lodging & Map
Cabot Lodge @ Millsaps College – Located on State St (the main N-S artery through the city of Jackson) this hotel is only 0.9 mi from the Museum of Natural Science. $109/single and $114/double, plus tax.
Map of Jackson (with additional lodging) – If Cabot Lodge is too pricey, there are a variety of other hotels along I-20, I-55, and Hwy 25 (Lakeland Drive). As you zoom in on this map, note that the Museum is located at the west entrance to LeFleur’s Bluff State Park on Museum Blvd (formerly Highland Dr).
Thursday Night Reception
To the reception cost we are adding expenses for a keg of beer and several bottles of wine. IMPORTANT! Re the Thursday PM reception, the museum is located within a gated park controlled by a separate division of MDWFP. To keep facility-use costs down, reception attendees need to enter through the secure employee entrance (see attached map: 32/19.426, -90/9.496). As this entrance is gated and key-card access only, we will have it manned with volunteers who will open the gate for reception attendees, directing them where to park and enter the building. If you are not attending the reception, please use the main entrance and exit the facility by 5:PM.
Reception MENU
Southwestern cheese cakes with tostadas
Beef tenderloin with blue cheese biscuits
Shrimp cocktail on kabobs
Chicken Alfredo
Monterey Jack and corn salsa
Open face Roma tomatoes sandwiches
Mini tacos
Chocolate bread pudding with Carmel and chocolate sauce
Lemonade and tea
Preregistration. You will be need only pre-register for the Thursday reception ($50, incl museum admission), but you can remit the cost for the entire event ($68) if you wish. Make your personal check out to yours truly (George Phillips, and please write SeAVP in Memo) and send to the address below. And remember the August 15th deadline to reserve your place at the Thursday night Reception!
Bring your reprints, separates, and other publications!
As SeAVP had no budget for this year’s meeting (for which we’ve made accommodations), I thought we’d raise money for the next meeting (or other SeAVP expenses) by providing tables where reprints, separates, individual journal issues, and other lighter paleontological fare can be offered for resale to interested parties at the meeting. I was thinking in terms of 25c, 50c, and$1.00 categories for such items. Also, if anyone has any more substantial paleo literature—such as recent, pricier titles or antique books or partial journal sets—that they’d like to contribute, we can offer such ‘weightier’ items up for bid in a silent auction. I plan on contributing painted casts of a few MMNS specimens (individual bones and teeth) to the silent auction; feel free to do similarly.
Previous Meetings
SeAVP 2013 (#6)
SeAVP 2012 (#5) – Appalachian State University – Boone, North Carolina
SeAVP 2011 (#4) – Florida Museum of Natural History – Gainesville, Florida
SeAVP 2010 (#3) – South Carolina State Museum – Columbia, South Carolina
SeAVP 2009 (#2) – Virginia Museum of Natural History – Martinsville, Virginia
SeAVP 2008 (#1) – ETSU Natural History Museum & Gray Fossil Site – Johnson City, Tennessee

Casino Vicksburg - Vicksburg - ViaMichelin: informatie en ...