Eyes on Spending
One of the great things about government transparency is its trans-partisan appeal. Conservatives can distrust government just as much as liberals, sometimes more. Still, when it comes to high-tech watchdog organizations and initiatives, most innovation seems to come from vaguely progressive, if officially nonpartisan, sources.
‘Fair and Even-Handed'
Jackson Municipal Judge Ali ShamsidDeen is not trying to be a politically divisive figure, but his background as a editor of the Jackson Advocate in the 1990s and an associate of the law firm Lumumba and Freelon, suggests a controversial bent.
Stop the Lakes-v.-Levees Drama
In recent months, the Jackson Free Press was pleased to see the Rankin-Hinds Levee Board seemingly get unlocked from the years-long Lakes-v.-Levees standoff that had prevented any forward movement toward flood control along the Pearl River and, with any luck, some smart and green economic development thrown in, to boot.
[Stiggers] Property-Owning People
"Welcome to ‘The Finance Pimp Wants His Homes Back Foreclosure Sales' cable-television showcase. Are you gainfully employed? Do you work three jobs? If you answered yes to these questions, come see me and sign on the dotted line. Remember: The home is still mine until it's paid in full."
[Kamikaze] Getting Control of Our Kids
I watched a piece on "The Today Show" a few days back that really bothered me. As the days have passed, it has still stuck with me.
[Hill] Holy Ground
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that, some have entertained angels without knowing it." (Hebrews 13:2).
Historian Explores the Tea Party's Extremist Roots
NPR's Fresh Air Host Terry Gross interviewed historian Sean Wilentz today about his recent article in "The New Yorker" exploring the roots of the Tea Party movement. He writes that the tea party is rooted in an extremist ideology that started during the Cold War.
The Global Table: Multicultural Manners
Every culture has social norms that steer behavioral expectations, and are often guided by religious beliefs and deeply ingrained values. Not surprisingly, they usually make appearances at the table, where customs are acted out in accordance via meal-taking rituals.
Fusion Cooking for Fledglings
While I really have no business discussing a "how to" article on fusion cooking, the undeniable fact is that my mother, the ever-lovable Mama Jacqueline, is the greatest fusion chef ever. Mama Jacqueline put the fusion into cooking long before it was fashionable to do so, and her fusion-styled cooking can put a smile on the face of the most persnickety critic, who just happens to be my dad.
Grandma Zuga
In our household during any holiday or big event, one item on the table was always sure to elicit a bit of mouth-watering awe. Potica ("po-teet-sah"). is a traditional Slovenian pastry. And being of Slovenian descent, I have had my share of what is, because of the preparation it requires, quite honestly, a labor of love.
Ethnic Food Finds
In the urban jungle of the Jackson metro area, we are fortunate to have a bounty of eateries at our disposal. Amidst the pack are the restaurants celebrating the cultural diversity of our city. Next time you're in the mood for something different, try one of old and new favorites we've discovered.
Sushi for Beginners
Sushi can be a bit intimidating for beginners. It's foreign and strange; everything has Japanese names; and ohmygod is that eel? Yet, it's become such popular fare that many grocery stores and Chinese buffets now have sushi bars.
Good Food, Good Stories
Most of the time, I eat my meals without a thought to the history and development of the recipes. But even the simplest of dishes can have a complex history, influenced by tradition, availability of ingredients and creativity of the cooks.
Traveling Taste Buds
In 1998 my husband and I went to Albania and worked with a church that was housing refugees from Kosovo. Being in a communist country was like going from life in vibrant Technicolor to a world that is only shades of gray. The streets smelled like desperation, but in the homes we visited and the home where we stayed, every meal was a celebration.
Tom's Food Diversity Quiz
When I got this assignment, I thought, "No problem. Food diversity sounds pretty simple. I'll hit some soul-food joints, some fish houses, a taqueria or two and put on a few extra pounds of delightful goodness-inspired bulk." But when you scratch the surface, there are a few problems with this simple idea.
Property Issues Stall Critical Water Line
Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. said the city could have avoided two massive city-wide water failures this year had owners of a historic fishing club not stalled construction of a 54-inch water line between the city's two water-supply plants.
Q&A: Curtis Wilkie on the Wrong Crowd
Author and University of Mississippi professor Curtis Wilkie speaks with a degree of sadness when he references the life of disgraced Mississippi attorney Richard "Dickie" Scruggs.
How to Make Enemies
When award-winning journalist Curtis Wilkie sets out to cover the downfall of Mississippi's foremost trial attorney, he goes at it like a neurotic terrier digging in a graveyard--with a macabre cloud of grotesque tidbits flying out over his furry back. And unlike partisans who try to twist the saga their direction, he then lets the bits fall where they may.
One Less Knight
When I brought "Glubbery Gray" (Pelican Publishing, 2010, $16.99) home, my 8-year-old son, Mateo, couldn't wait to take a look. If it's a story about space, superheroes or knights, he's all over it. "That was a really funny book," he concluded, after we'd read it together.
Just Art, No Rules
Artist and community activist Teresa Haygood says it's not uncommon for a child to look up from their work In the middle of her mosaic classes and say to her, "Ms. T, I've never done an art project before."