The Smell of the MatrixThe Toyota Matrix keeps growing on me. Initially I wrote it off completely as aimed a little too young for my taste. As I dig deeper into the idea of a sporty wagon, however, I find myself back at the …
Keeping Medgar's Work Alive"If I die, it will be for a good cause." These fateful words were uttered by Medgar Evers—who died to help save Mississippi from its sins against black people. Now, in 2003, 40 years after his assassination, the Medgar Evers …
ROAD TRIP: A Hill Girl Does Rocky SpringsI had no idea just how geographically snobbish Mississippians could be until the mother of a college friend from the Gulf Coast smugly remarked, "Sooo, you're from the hill country." Now, I grew up in Tupelo, only six hours from …
DRIVE: ‘Ion: Say It With Me'Every week our car-shopping adventure starts out pretty much the same. We have the best of intentions, planning a Car Driving Day soon after the most recent JFP has been printed and distributed. That's the day we promise—really swear—to go …
GARDENS: Don't Throw It, Grow ItFor my first adventure as a recycling Jacksonian, I went all out. Everything got tossed in the bin: egg cartons, cup lids, Styrofoam take-out containers, various bottles, milk jugs, aluminum cans, and basically anything marked with the little circular-arrow recycling …
ART: Les Is MoreLes Green does more with less. Sparks of color deftly arranged in colored pencil or oil define his Impressionistic miniatures. Pastoral scenes with a figure, human or canine are favorites of the Meridian-born artist. Just as his paintings are compact …
DRIVE: Tennis, er ... Golf, Anyone?"Oh, they have an orange one!" cried Ms. D, the delight in her voice crackling through the early evening air. "I've never seen that color of orange driving around, have you?" I told her that I hadn't. I also mentioned, …
Grilled Green TomatoesAll across the state, grandmamas are rolling over in their graves at the gross perversion: Kinfolks are cooking heart-healthy Southern food. Traditionally loaded with salt, fat, sugar and pork products galore, Dixie victuals are gettin' lean and mean with some …
Red Velvet Bingle, Anyone?Occasionally we all have an urge to snack, no matter how health-conscious we may be. Recently, hit by a persistent sugar craving, I found myself nowhere near a health-food store, so I did what any other red-blooded American would do …
TEST DRIVE: A Utility Vehicle, Thank You"Well, in a way, a boring truck sort of appeals to me," said Mr. K, on our way to the Toyota dealership. We were headed out there to see a Toyota Highlander, which I thought he might appreciate, as he'd …
AVANT GARDENS: Gardening for DummiesJerry Palmer won our immediate respect when he pointed up at the 100-foot pine tree in our yard, and a good-sized limb from the top cracked and landed with a thud at our feet. Jerry was volunteering his time and …
WAR: In the Faces of the ChildrenApril 3, 2003 Marking the spot where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers meet is an apple tree with a double trunk. This gnarled tree bears a bronzed plaque: "Here the holy tree of our ancestors Adam and Eve grew." For …
FOOD: Al Fresco Dining: A Sin?Had God intended us to experience fine dining out-of-doors, he would have created Schimmel's as a group of picnic tables scattered around a vacant lot on North State Street. The mere existence of china, crystal and air conditioning communicate the …
Yes, I Am a SmokerFor the last several months, I've been giving you facts, figures, ideas, and arguments about various ailments and health-improvement techniques. This time I want to get up-close and personal. I want to come out of the closet. I want to …
TEST DRIVE: Hunting HybridsWhen Mr. K—Ms. D's brother—is in town, he and I have a tendency to disappear for hours at a time. If you happen to reach me by cell phone during one of our excursions, you'd likely find that we're in …