2026 – SGA Mostly Mississippi 2026

Kaintucks

Natchez TraceJuly 29, 20260Comments 0Likes

What’s that?

You may say that Kaintucks are people from Kentucky but that is only sorta right. For our intents and purposes, Kaintucks are the farmers and part-time boatmen who took goods down the Mississippi River to the growing town of Natchez in the late 1700s to about 1810. That was easy, for the most part, as the river flows in that direction. It was not so easy going back up.

After hitting Natchez and unloading their goods, the Kaintucks dismantled their boats and either sold the lumber or dragged it back up the Natchez Trace. Remember, the Trace was just a bunch of paths heading to Nashville.

More than 10,000 men WALKED north in 1810 alone. It was 500 miles, and took 25-40 days, depending on who you ask. And how many robbers were on the road. Plus weeds and fallen trees and vines and shrubs and snakes.

Bands of travelers moved closer together, with intense caution, through the glassy tunnels of the Trace, for all the proportion went away, and they followed one another like insects goin at down through the heavy grass.

Eudora Welty

Note the whiskey barrels (made you look). Must be from Kentucky which we know from a previous SGA tour. Also horses –

All Soda Is Coke

CultureJuly 30, 20260Comments 0Likes

If it’s root beer, it’s Coke. If it’s Sprite, it’s Coke. If it’s Coke, you guessed it… It’s Coke. Shall we go on? That’s just how lingo goes around here, and if it’s called anything else—like pop or cola—then we know you’re not a local.

1861-1865

HistoryJuly 28, 20260Comments 0Likes

This is when the Civil War happened. You should know this.

Petticoat Junction

Now You KnowJuly 27, 20260Comments 0Likes

Oh, please. You do remember this one. Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo, Betty Jo? While you are scratching your head, here are some of the zillions of water towers in Mississippi.

Extra credit for pix of other water towers.

Speaking of water towers, here is a story about a sign, not a water tower. We are not going to Hot Coffee, but it is close to Whynot which we are going near.

In the late 1870s some guy figured out that an inn would be a good thing at the intersection of popular north-south and east-west roads. Ya think? Anyhow, he built one with a store and hung a coffee pot over the door, advertising “the best hot coffee around”. His coffee was made from spring water and New Orleans beans, and molasses drippings for sweetener. He never served cream with his coffee, believing it ruined the taste. Note to self: look up molasses drippings.

You cannot get hot coffee in Hot Coffee. True that.

To play you out, the theme song. We knew you would remember.

Fighting Okra

Now You KnowJuly 26, 20260Comments 0Likes

The Fighting Okra is the mascot of Delta State University baseball or basketball, depending on who you ask. Really. Also Statesmen. Hey, it is the Delta, they can have as many mascots as they want.

Don’t you wish you had an okra instead of a knight, warrior, cougar or whatever?

In case you live under a rock (or in anyplace else but the Delta), okra is a funky vegetable with slimy seeded guts. It is used in gumbo. Also fried. Do not be scared.

You can buy a T shirt at the bookstore. We want one, don’t you?

You didn’t think we would leave you without a song, did you? This is okra blues. Yes, there is such a thing, even if we did just make it up.

Social Studies

AutosOctober 5, 20260Comments 0Likes

In 1926, Rolls Royce was as good at branding as Mr. Beast*. Knowing what we always knew, RR marketed itself to women. You have probably read this a thousand times, but maybe read it a thousand and one?

Certain fortunate women take the world’s best automobile for granted, as they do gowns and jewels from the Rue de la Paix . . . the mellow glory of old masters on their walls . . . the friendship of famous people. The Rolls-Royce moves as gracefully through a world of social prominence as they do themselves.

They have discovered that motor-car smartness is not quixotic thing to be upset by “new models,” to fleet with the season. There would be as little reason to say of one of these women, “Her motor is hardly the thing this year,” as to say, “That Georgian mansion her colonial grandfather built down in the country is frightfully out of date!”

A Rolls-Royce four years old, or ten years old, is as ready to take its place in the review of luxury on opera nights as when it was purchased. It is as eager to sweep towards the open high road and, if called upon, to crowd two days’ normal driving into a few comfortable, secure motoring hours. Rolls-Royce performance and Roll-Royce appearance more than compensate for high initial cost. . . . Why not ride in one? A trial trip of one hundred miles over any roads you may select will be arranged at your convenience. Rolls-Royce, Fifth Avenue at 56^th Street, New York. There are branches in principal cities.

* For those of you who actually have something better to do than to scroll YouTube endlessly, Mr. Beast has 460 million subscribers and over 50 billion. with a B, individual views.

Fun fact: Cocomelon has about 217 billion views. I dare you to watch this and not get an ear worm. If you don’t know what an ear worm is, well come on. We can only help you so much.