Introduction: Tricksters, humour and activism

This special issue, entitled ‘The Trickster Activist in Global Humour and Comedy’, investigates the relevance of the concept of the trickster for explaining activist expressions that emanate from comedians, or that appear in comedy and humour more generally. Comedy has traditionally been viewed as an aesthetic or entertainment medium. It has often been charged with encouraging stereotype and the affirmation of mainstream audience beliefs. Despite this, we argue, there have been moments in recent history where comedians have given their performances an increased level of social and political consciousness that resonates with the public at large, or with sections of the public. Comedians, we argue, are able to reach this level of social commentary due to their potential to become tricksters. Paradoxically, the mythical trickster is a liminal entity, one that is adept at destruction as well as creation, or at conservativism as well radicalism. The articles in this issue explore the complexity of the trickster concept, showing some of the polysemy involved in the social activism enabled by comedy and humour

Mississippi timber removals - A ten year presentation

Mississippi is a major producer of manufactured forest products, and most of the timber required by Mississippi\u27s forest industry is produced and harvested within the State. A severance tax on timber harvested in Mississippi is paid to the Mississippi State Tax Commission, and annual reports of timber removals are prepared by the Commission

Mississippi\u27s Severance Tax And Forest Resource Development Program

Mississippi\u27s Forest Resource Development Pro- gram was the second state-sponsored forestry assistance pro- gram in the United States. It was authorized by the legislature tn 1974 in response to concerns over long-term availability of softwood timber. It is funded by a severance tax levied at the potnt of first processing. Since inception, 152,295 acres have been treated under the program. Severance tax rates were established in 1974 and remained constant until 1981. Costs rose rapidly during these years, and the only way to increase funds for the program was to cut more timber or raise the fixed tax rates, as was done in 1981. Such problems would be avoided •f severance taxes were levied on the basis of current product value

Timber severance taxes in Mississippi

Timber severance tax collections exceeded 2 million dollars in 1978 and 1979. Severance tax revenues are divided 25% to the state\u27s general fund, 25% to the county where the tax was collected, and 50% to support the forest resource development program.. AU severance tax rates are fixed on a per unit volume basis except on poles, piling, and post: which are taxed on a percentage of value basis

Mississippi’s softwood timber potential: Private nonindustrial influences

Mississippi\u27s long-run softwood timber potential was estimated for three input situations under a common set of economic and biological assumptions. Economic goals for sustained pine production were estimated using the computer program GASPLY with no restrictions, with private nonindustrial upland hardwoods excluded from type conversion and with private nonindustrial lands excluded from active forest management altogether. Estimated price-quantity equilibria ranged from $301 per thousand cubic feet (MCF) and 966 million cubic feet (MMCF) in the unrestricted case, to$1,226/MCF and 479 MMCF in the example with passive private nonindustrial management. Widely diffel\u27ing potential goals for pine product-ion highlight the degree to which Mississippi\u27s future softwood availability and related economic activity can be influenced by private nonindustrial actions. Forestry is a vital part of the Mississippi economy and way of life. Future softwood timber availability in the State is related closely to the level of management practiced by private nonindustrial forest landowners. These individuals control more than 70% of the State\u27s 16.7 million acres of forest land and two-thirds of the total growing stock (Murphy 1978). The impacts of some extreme cases of private nonindustrial forest management on long-run softwood timber supplies are presented. These cases highlight the potential for such landowners to influence softwood supply and price in Mississippi. A discussion of methods used to analyze softwood availability in Mississippi is followed by model results and a summary of implications

Stand age analysis of timber on Mississippi’s private nonindustrial forests

Most of the current pine timber acreage in Mississippi developed through the reversion of large acreages of agricultural cropland to forestry. Now that cropland retirement has ceased, management practices must provide· for pine regeneration on existing forest lands. Harvesting practices that remove higher-valued pine timber from private, nonindustrial pine lands have created large acreages of poorly stocked, low quality hardwood stands

Summer Diarrhea In Infants

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