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GOOD Alternative Gifts

For gift-giving on a wider scale, these alternative gift ideas are great for the global economy and the environment. Plus, you will be creating a wonderful new tradition without having to wait in any long lines at the mall.

‘Revenge' is Sweet

There will never be another "Star Wars" movie. Said aloud, it's a strange, almost sad statement to consider (even for a lesser fan), one that signals a further widening of the void in the magic and imaginativeness of American cinema. George Lucas' grand, visionary space opera, which has spanned three decades and garnered limitless adoration, concludes with last week's release of the series' final chapter (the third chronologically), "Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith."

What Brown Did for Me

My mother recently apologized to me for a portion of my childhood—her cooking. When I think of a 1970s kitchen, I don't recall the gold and avocado green appliances; I remember all of the brown food that mother cooked. For the most part everything that my normally creative mother cooked ended up being varying shades of sepia and burnt umber. Not to knock brown food items; I live off potatoes and have developed a newfound love of almond butter. My mother's cooking, however, caused me to equate most earth-toned foods with one particular word—bland.

Her Divine Cooking Life

The first thing you notice about Barbara Michelson's "Leave Nothing on The Back Burner: My Happy Cooking Life" is the size and heft of the bright yellow hardback book. Then the title catches your eye, making you aware that this is a different sort of cookbook. That fact is brought home in the author's dedication: "This is my last will and cookbookament. It covers everything I would want everyone to know if I were suddenly struck by a bus and killed, including stories of many of the friends and family members who have nurtured my love of food—both preparing it and consuming it. Of course there are a few other people I have also loved. But since in their lifetimes they weren't able to produce one interesting, amusing or delicious dish, I'm sorry, they'll have to be in someone else's memoirs."

Heaven On Earth

For many people, the land of Timbuktu is a mythological one. They've heard the city's name, but don't realize it's an actual city—an actual society. Timbuktu, less than 10 miles from the Niger River, was established in the 10th century and served as a major port in the country Mali in West Africa.

Sweet Home Mississippi

It's no surprise that "Growing up in Mississippi," (University of Mississippi Press, 2008, $25), an edited short story collection of tales and reflections from famous Mississippians like Jimmy Buffett, former Gov. William Winter and Ole Miss Chancellor Robert Khayat, reflects equally varied experiences.

[Rev] (Don't) Sound The Alarm!

Saw a sad sight today, reminding me to get to writing my column about noise pollution and car alarms. There she was: a honking, lights-flashing Ford Taurus being pulled by a tow truck. The car's protests were like an old grandmother's plea for help: "someone stole my purse and put me in a headlock." But did anyone care? No. We just clapped our hands over our ears and watched the thing get dragged away.

Undead On Arrival: A Review Of "Land Of The Dead"

In the crafting of "Land of the Dead," the latest installment in his long-running zombie movie franchise, veteran director George A. Romero faces a problem: The genre he created four decades ago has gotten pretty played out. With Danny Boyle's superb "28 Days Later," last year's remake of Romero's own "Dawn of the Dead" and the British spoof "Shaun of the Dead," the zombie market has been flooded with imitators during Romero's 20-year absence. But this has not stopped Romero from delivering a consistently thrilling, funny film and possibly the best entry in the series since his original 1968 classic.

Judge Not the Hairy Paw

The Fondren Theatre Workshop will take over the former Radio Shack space at Meadowbrook Mart this weekend for a production of Charles Ludlam's camp-Gothic penny dreadful "The Mystery of Irma Vep."

Imperfect Storm

Hurricane Katrina made landfall in southern Louisiana and Mississippi Aug. 29, 2005. The subsequent flooding of New Orleans was a tragedy on a scale that is still unimaginable in modern America.

Hurts So Good

Get ready for some clean, loving fun—and celebrate a creative breakthrough for local high school students at the same time. The Power APAC Theatre high school actors will be presenting "Love Hurts," a love-filled, humorous performance of a play they wrote themselves, this Valentine's weekend on Saturday, Feb. 12, at Power APAC Theatre Arts.

Walkin' The Creek

Peering through the last few feet of shaded brush and trees, I began spotting glimpses of them ahead in the bright sunlight. Splashing in the water. Laughing. Talking over one another as they discovered the cooling waters of Copiah Creek.

DIY Music Studio

During the last mayoral campaign, candidate Frank Melton promised to build a recording studio on Farish Street. Well, he won, but the studio hasn't happened, yet—and with his mayoral future in serious doubt, it looks like that recording studio may go down as yet another unfulfilled campaign promise. (But geez, who's counting?)

[Green Girl] Eco-Dating

Whether you're looking for an alternative to the dry, dinner-and-a-movie routine, or trying to plan a Saturday staycation with your spouse of 20 years, Jackson has many options for the eco-savvy, especially if you plan ahead to minimize driving.

A Sweet Addiction

I have an addiction. I can't deny it, hide it or even try get rid of it. Whenever it gets hot outside, I have a strong urge to feed this addiction. That's right. I'm talking about sorbet. Most people might use the words "sherbet" and "sorbet" interchangeably, but they are different. Sherbet is usually fruit-based, but also has milk or cream, while sorbet only contains fruit.

The Tastes of Spring

It's officially spring! Everything is starting to bloom, the grass is getting greener, the temperature is warming up, and I'm getting thirsty. This is the perfect time of year to enjoy crisp, herbaceous, grassy, floral, tropical—the list goes on and on—wines. Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and even Chardonnay can fit the bill.

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