Jackson Free Press

Dead Man Running

It was a Saturday, which usually means a more relaxed environment at work, and I clipped along at a leisurely pace. It was easy to chat up my clients that …

It's Odd Day

No, the title doesn't contain a typo; it is really, officially Odd Day, a day when three consecutive odd numbers make up the date, an event that only occurs six …

Road Trippin'

I admit that I had a complete lack of interest in seeing "Hit and Run," a low-budget movie written, co-directed, co-edited, co-produced and starring Dax Shepard.

Journalist David Halberstam Killed in Car Wreck

This is tragic, tragic news. May this amazing journalist and writer rest in peace.

Fast, Light and Healthy

An Italian frittata is economical and delicious. Easily made with almost any fresh vegetable, it's even better with last night's leftover sautéed veggies. Similar to a Western omelet in taste …

Mimi's Kitchen Garden

Optimal health requires more than just nutritious food for the body. It also requires food for the soul. Art—whether music, painting or studying nature—is soul food, and so is enjoying …

Holiday Cheer(s!)

Some holiday get-togethers are light-hearted and festive, and booze flows freely among friends. Other gatherings are a bit more begrudging, and alcohol becomes the lubricant for surviving hours of enforced …

Reminder of Home

Snickerdoodles are a Branberg family tradition, passed down from my great grandma to my bumpa (the term I coined for my grandpa when I was very young), to my mom …

Recipe from the Heart

In October, my son's Cub Scout packmaster had a baby. Within a few days of her giving birth, I received an e-mail alerting me that a meal schedule had been …

Who You Gonna Call?

Once upon a time, moving into a new neighborhood meant greetings from all the neighbors. When I was growing up, the Welcome Wagon would stop by to provide all the …

FEMA To Cancel No-Bid Contracts

The front page of The Clarion-Ledger almost looked like a real newspaper today. The lead story is a combo wire/local effort about how FEMA is cancelling no-bid contracts. Of course, …

African History X: A Review of "Hotel Rwanda"

In 1994, nearly 1 million people were systematically slaughtered in the small African country of Rwanda while no nation (including our own) intervened to end the madness. A film that …

[Wine] Turkey Wine

Although they were Puritans, the Pilgrims had to drank it up at the first 1621 Thanksgiving dinner. I can see the barrels of wine scattered about as they stumble to …

‘New' Stage

This year at New Stage Theatre, "A Christmas Carol" has a new concept. Everything is different, but the script is the same. There is more detail than ever, and veteran …

For Goodness Snakes!

Professional herpetologist Terry Vandeventer has been studying snakes for 50 years and is Mississippi's foremost expert on snakes (Mississippi, alone, has 55 indigenous species). Vandeventer is a crusader against the …

War Games: a Review of ‘Troy'

Wolfgang Petersen's "Troy" is part Hollywood war movie, part Greek tragedy, part beefcake calendar, all cinematic spectacle. With Brad Pitt in the lead role and a price tag that falls …

[Wine] Sweet, Strong, Intimidating Port

It's sweet. It's strong. It's intimidating. It's port. I can imagine that for most people, looking at a port list in a restaurant is the equivalent of attempting to read …

Not Even A Game: A Review of "Gran Turismo 4"

Image Courtesy of Sony

I've always enjoyed racing games. They're fast-paced and easy to get into. The environments and cars are often beautiful, and they lack much of the baggage that other games have. …

Just Eat - Don't Look

MRE does not stand for mighty right eating, but according to those in the know—namely the United States military—MREs do the right thing for today's men and women who must …

A History of Defiance

To determine whether or not to read a new book of history, examine the footnotes. If the notes reference previous books and journal articles, you've got a rehash. If, on …