There is a popular TV show that had a character named Ziva David for quite a while. From Israel, and having learned English along with many other languages, she was often confused by our American slang. Therefore, Miss David was well known for her quirky misquotes. One simple change in the wording of a timeless phrase gave a whole new meaning to what she was attempting to say, and often left her listener in stitches or in confusion. As you can see in these examples, what she said was often just close enough to the real saying to be oddly true in meaning, yet misspoken enough to make the listener feel compelled to correct her. Ziva: “This is going to be like looking for a needle in a needle stack.” McGee: “Hay. Haystack.” Ziva: “He's chomping out McGee.” Tony: “Chewing, Ziva, chewing.” Ziva: “The Pentagon is rock walling me.” Tony: “She means stonewalling. Little quirk she has.” Funny stuff, sure. But the show’s writers had an advantage over people in real life situations; they created the problem, and then they had the liberty to correct the confusion - right then and there. Us flesh and blood people? All too often, we are blissfully ignorant of the havoc we create and just bumble blissfully on along. No ‘do-overs.’ Nor do we have someone with us to explain what we mean. Often leaving a wave of irritation and pain in our wake. For example; Hanging out in the break room at work with a co-worker, you make a smart-aleck remark, just trying to get a laugh from the other guy. But abruptly, the air cools by about forty-one degrees and he is glaring your way, like you’re a piece of filthy gum stuck on the bottom of his shoe. So now you’re now confused and miffed, not having a clue what happened to the conversation. But Suddenly-Sour-Sam came from a different background growing up, and what you said stomped all over his feelings and his sense of dignity. Not that he will own up to the truth and tell you the problem. Nor will you be brave and open enough to brazenly ask what in the heck went wrong. So, it is very likely that both will just turn away and return to work, believing the worst about the other. This happens not only in the workplace, but among family members also. We simply are great at misinterpreting the meaning of what the other person said. What is spoken flippantly by a light-hearted sibling can be taken the wrong way by the brother who is slogging through a horrible week. Sharp words get spoken, and a heated argument begins. Family feuds are birthed on such episodes as this. Called miscommunication. Misunderstanding what the other person meant by what they said. Which results in hurt feelings, and issues that all too often are never sufficiently cleared up. Ziva gets by with a lot. We do not.

By Bob Garver Back in 2009, director James Cameron gave the world “Avatar.” The film about a human going undercover as a member of the Na’vi race on the planet of Pandora only to side with the Na’vi against his greedy fellow humans brought the movie blockbuster to new heights. It was the first movie to gross over $2 billion at the worldwide box office. In fact, it currently sits atop the chart of all-time worldwide grossers, as long as one factors in four subsequent re-releases. Creatively, critics and audiences alike were blown away by the film’s look, made with groundbreaking CGI, and the film won Oscars for its Visual Effects, Art Direction, and Cinematography. But there was some grumbling about the story, with unfavorable comparisons to “Dances with Wolves,” among other sources. Over time, those quibbles have only magnified as the luster of the look has faded away while the story remains the same. Now after 13 years there’s a chance to return to Pandora with “Avatar: The Way of Water,” but is it a trip worth taking? Was the original even a trip worth taking? My answer is a resounding “Yes!” – it was then, and it is now. The new film follows Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), now fully a Na’vi, and the family he has started with wife Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña). They have two teenage sons (James Flatters and Britain Dalton), a biological daughter (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss) and an adopted daughter (Sigourney Weaver) whose mother was the late Dr. Grace Augustine (Weaver) from the first film. Actually, they might as well have five kids, because a leftover human named Spider (Jack Champion) follows them around everywhere. The family’s life on Pandora is going great until humanity returns. No longer content to take the planet’s natural resources, this time the humans want a new place to live since they’ve made an irrevocable mess of Earth. Apparently asking the Na’vi nicely to share the planet is out of the question, so the humans’ mission is to neutralize the natives. Leading the charge is the Na’vi avatar of Quaritch (Stephen Lang), the villain from the first movie. Apparently he made a backup of himself before his human body was killed. The movie basically asks, “Do you want Stephen Lang back as the villain or not?” I do, so I’ll forgive the convoluted explanation. Jake knows he’ll be targeted by Quaritch and the humans, so he and his family decide that they can no longer live in their ancestral home. They bid farewell to the tree tribe and go to live with a reef tribe. They aren’t exactly welcomed by the new tribe’s leaders (Cliff Curtis and Kate Winslet), but they are at least allowed to stay, even though they are all treated like outcasts. Still, it’s only a matter of time before they are hunted down by the humans with the help of a captive Spider, Quaritch’s biological son. The story is strictly secondary in “Avatar: The Way of Water.” The real star is once again the breathtaking visuals, this time with an emphasis on sea creatures and underwater plant life, though there’s plenty of eye candy on land as well. After years of filmmakers getting complacent with sometimes-shoddy CGI effects, it’s nice to see Cameron bring them back to their full potential. The film is sure to win technical Oscars again, and it might be able to play in the big categories as well (it’s already nominated for Best Picture – Drama and Best Director at the Golden Globes). The script is… fine, with an emphasis on long-term storytelling, i.e. mysteries go unsolved in this movie so they can come into play in a sequel down the line. We’re going to be getting several more “Avatar” movies in the coming years, and I look forward to seeing if the franchise can redefine the blockbuster all over again. Grade: A- “Avatar: The Way of Water” is rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence and intense action, partial nudity and some strong language. Its running time is 192 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

With only six days left before Christmas, The Salvation Army in Jackson is falling behind the red kettle goal for 2022. The annual Red Kettle Campaign is The Salvation Army’s largest fundraiser that finances the many services and programs offered to individuals and families in need throughout the year in Jackson. “This has been a challenging year for many individuals and families in our community facing economic hardship or crisis,” said Major Bill Shafer of The Salvation Army. “We continue to see increased need from those impacted by high inflation and food and fuel prices. The Red Kettle Campaign is falling significantly behind as we work toward our 2022 kettle goal of $50,000. We are praying the community will offer support in the remaining days of the season to ensure we can continue to help those when they need it most.” The Salvation Army bells will continue to ring outside stores through Christmas Eve, and the organization is optimistic that it can still reach its fundraising goal with the community's support. “The generosity of our amazing community is always a blessing to witness first-hand. The Salvation Army is so grateful, and we want you all to know that every dollar stays in Jackson to help our community!” said Major Shafer. “This means we can serve a meal to someone who is hungry, provide a safe night's rest to someone facing shelter insecurity and help a family stay in their home in our community for months to come.” Volunteers are crucial to the success of the red kettle campaign. It’s not too late, and it is easier than ever for individuals, families, groups, and businesses to sign up as volunteer bellringers. Call 601-982-4881 to sign-up to volunteer. “If you can’t get outside and ring the bell in person, you can always give to our virtual kettle from the comfort of your home! Go to JACKSONKETTLE.ORG to make a donation to serve those in need in our community,” said Major Shafer. For more information on the Red Kettle Campaign or any other Salvation Army program, please call 601-982-4881 or visit us at 110 Presto Lane.

The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum will host a special ‘Five Minutes of Family with Santa’ event on Saturday, December 17, from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. inside the General Store. Admission is free and pictures with Santa Claus are $5.00 per family. During this event, Santa Claus will be available for photo opportunities inside the General Store, located in Small Town, Miss., on the museum grounds. Bring your family out to visit with jolly old Saint Nick and grab a quick holiday picture! For $5.00 each family gets five minutes with Santa. Pictures will be taken with visitors’ phones and cameras by museum staff so everyone can join in the photo. The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, located at 1150 Lakeland Drive in Jackson, is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information about the Museum, call 601- 432-4500 or 1-800-844-8687, visit www.msagmuseum.org and follow the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum on Facebook.

By Kara Kimbrough Before you call me hypocritical for my next statement, yes, it’s true: I advocated buying Marie Callender’s pies for Thanksgiving if baking was not in your wheelhouse or time frame. With that disclaimer out of the way, I was saddened recently while walking through the supermarket baking aisle and realized that cinnamon, spices and everything else baking-related-nice were fully stocked. One aisle over, shoppers were putting prefabricated, cellophane-wrapped baskets filled with coffee mugs, miniature grilling sauces, hot cocoa mix and s’mores kits in their carts. Here’s a radical idea: instead of buying pre-made food and beverage kits (or any type gift) this year, why not consider making a few homemade treats this year? I guarantee, even the simplest baked goods will be remembered and appreciated, not just during the Christmas season, but all year long. I speak from personal experience when I say gifts made in the kitchen are sometimes the most meaningful. Each Thanksgiving, my aunt would package Christmas bags for each family member filled with homemade treats. Tins of old-fashioned Chex mix or “scrambles” as she called them, jars of hot chocolate and spiced tea mix; cheese straws, caramel corn and homemade candy were just a few of the annual treats. The last Christmas bag she created before going to her heavenly reward got me through my final graduate school project in 2010. The story of me munching on her treats while working 48 hours straight and her recipe for chocolate Crock-pot candy made its way into my column that year. Remembering how her treats were appreciated, I try to make a few homemade gifts each Christmas season. I presented jars of instant spiced tea to two friends at a catch-up Christmas lunch last week. It's the only gift I’d had time to prepare in the early morning hours before we met. Suffice to say, my time management skills have been lacking as of late. Ironically, I never liked spiced tea in the past, so my aunt substituted hot chocolate mix in my bag. Now that I’ve become a daily hot tea drinker, I’ve acquired a taste for the fragrant beverage. An electric kettle has become a lifesaver- it’s a gift I highly recommend one for the tea-lovers in your life. This week, I’m planning to make a slightly different version of my aunt’s “scrambles.” This batch, using a recipe I found in a cookbook compiled by a Columbia church, doesn’t contain cereals, but instead, a few of my favorite salty snacks. As an aside, one of my crafty friends at the lunch (the other one is equally talented, but prefers to showcase her creativity through the written word) presented each of us with a bottle of homemade vanilla. Complete with a tag created on the computer, it’s a gift I’ll value and use throughout the year, especially during the holiday baking season. Also on my must-make list are cinnamon-sugar pecans and peanut brittle using a friend’s mom’s recipe. Last, a gift that’ll need to be eaten within a few days (but I doubt my friend will complain) is crock-pot apple butter. Placed in Mason jars and decorated with festive Christmas material and ribbon, it’s the perfect gift. I mean, who can find fault with fragrant apple butter? If, like me, your time management is not where it should be, I still encourage you to carve out a little time to bake – or make-homemade gifts this year. Unlike the shrink-wrapped s’mores basket, they’ll be used and remembered well after the other gifts have been forgotten. Hilda’s Instant Spiced Tea Mix 1 cup Lipton Instant Tea 2 cups Tang or other orange drink mix 1 cup white sugar 1-2 scoops of Country Time or other lemonade powdered drink mix 1 teaspoon ground cloves 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Orange, thinly sliced with peel on Cinnamon sticks Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl, then pour into jars. Serving directions to add to a tag: Place 1-2 teaspoons in a mug and fill with hot water. Add thin orange slices and cinnamon sticks for a festive touch. Columbia Party Mix 1 cup butter or margarine, melted 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon curry powder ½ teaspoon garlic salt 1/8 teaspoon hot sauce 6 cups corn chips 4 cups cheese crackers (Cheez-Its or similar brand) 3 cups mixed nuts 6 cups popped popcorn 1-1/2 cups walnut pieces Combine first 5 ingredients, stirring well. Combine corn chips and remaining ingredients in a large roasting pan, stirring to combine. Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Makes 16 cups. “Repeat Performance,” Woodlawn United Pentecostal Church, Columbia Cinnamon-Sugar Pecans 1 egg white 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract 4-5 cups pecan halves 1 cup white sugar 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Grease a large baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine sugar, sea salt and cinnamon, set aside. In a large bowl, whip egg white and vanilla with a whisk until frothy. Add pecans to wet mixture, one cup at a time, stirring to coat nuts evenly. Make sure all nuts are well coated before adding more. Once pecans are completely coated, sprinkle dry ingredients over pecans and stir until evenly distributed. Spread the pecans evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Do not use parchment paper or foil; bake pecans directly on the baking sheet. Bake at 250 degrees F for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove and let cool before packaging. Crock-Pot Apple Butter 8 pounds apples: Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala or Pink lady (can combine varieties if you’d like) ½ cup apple juice 2 cups packed brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground cloves Peel and quarter apples and place in a large crock pot. Add all other ingredients and stir well to coat apples. Cook on LOW 9-10 hours (your house will smell amazing while it’s cooking!) Strain contents through a wire mesh strainer into a large pot and place back into your crockpot, discarding seeds and cores in the process. Cook an additional hour uncovered until thick. Place into sterilized jars (I sterilize my jars in the dishwasher) and refrigerate. Makes 6-7 pint jars. * Include a tag stating the apple butter should be eaten within 1 month. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Hinds Community College recognized high school and college graduates in 1972 and previous years in the annual 50+ reunion held this fall as part of Homecoming week, including Mary Beth Grogan White of Bolton. Pictured (l to r) are the Classes of 1970-1972: Torona Stokes of Flowood, Randy Shelton and Alice Cauthen Shelton, both of Camden; Mary Beth Grogan White of Bolton, Mary Etta Purvis Naftel of Raymond, Skipper Anding of Ridgeland, Shirley Daigle of Port Gibson and Lou Anne Polk Askew of Raymond.

The Hinds Community College Foundation recently recognized scholarship recipients, donors and other honorees. Among those recognized were (l to r) Mallory Gipson of Florence, who received the Lora M. Underwood Memorial Scholarship; Weldon Grizzell of Jackson, who received the Vashti and Clyde Muse Impact Scholarship; Brantley Martin of Raymond, who received the Dr. Vernon Clyde Muse Scholarship, and Carmen Harris of Bolton, who received the Vashti Underwood Muse Scholarship. With them was Hinds Community College President Emeritus Dr. Clyde Muse (front).

By Bob Garver With “Avatar: The Way of Water” opening next weekend, no new wide release wanted to open this weekend and have only one week to make money before they got squashed. I’ve already reviewed first-place domestic box office finisher “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” as well as runners-up “Violent Night,” “Strange World,” and “The Menu” in second through fourth place, respectively. As much as I’d like to revisit “The Menu” and heap on more praise, this week’s review will be for fifth-place finisher “Devotion.” The film stars up-and-comers Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell as a pair of heroic Korean War fighter pilots in 1950. Jesse Brown (Majors) is the more gifted flyer of the two, but as an African-American, he’s held back by the prejudices of the day. He’s not completely shut out, and things are starting to turn around, especially considering his incredible skill, but there are still many that look down on him. Tom Hudner (Powell) is also a gifted flyer in Brown’s unit. He’s not as talented as Brown, but he’s seen as more likeable, media-friendly, and promotable. He wishes there was more he could do for his superior colleague, but Brown and his wife Daisy (Christina Jackson) insist that Hudner not fight Brown’s battles for him, just be there for him. Hudner spends the bulk of the movie trying to figure out how to be there for his friend without overstepping. I’ll come right out and say it – we’ve already had a fighter pilot movie this year with “Top Gun: Maverick,” a film that may end the year as the #1 box office performer worldwide. That movie even had Glen Powell, who, between this film, that one, and playing John Glenn in “Hidden Figures” is getting quite the reputation as Hollywood’s go-to guy to play aviators. The marketing for this movie has tried to push it as a sort of successor to “Top Gun: Maverick,” trying to pull in audiences that made that film a hit. But it’s actually having the opposite effect, making this film look like a cheap knockoff that doesn’t need to be seen by audiences that have already had their fill of fighter pilots in 2022. I assure you it's no knockoff – too many talented people are putting their backs into this effort, and Jesse Brown’s story most definitely deserves to be told - but it is a notch below the superior performer creatively, and that is translating into a terrible performance commercially. Probably the biggest problem with the film is the decision to dwell too much on this portion of Brown’s life. Don’t get me wrong, this is obviously an important part, and no biopic would be complete without it, I’m just not sure it was a great idea to limit the film’s timeline to just one year. Yes, the film centers around the friendship between Brown and Hudner, and I know the two didn’t know each other until 1950, but Brown has achieved so much success already at the start of the movie that there are barely any obstacles to overcome. I think a straight-up Brown biopic would have been the way to go rather than focusing on his relationship with the frankly bland Hudner. “Devotion” is a competent movie with dedicated performances. War movie aficionados will have a pretty good idea of what they’re going to get here: bonding among the officers, family dynamics with Brown, some bullying and heated conversations about race relations, comic relief antics during a shore leave (Brown’s encounter with a celebrity is a highlight of the film), and of course, tense flying sequences. It’s a fine choice if you’re into this kind of movie, but it can be tedious if you’re all fighter pilot-ed out for a while. Grade: C “Devotion” is rated PG-13 for strong language, some war action/violence, and smoking. Its running time is 139 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

By Only In Your State End the year with a bang by catching the Geminid meteor shower! Not only is it the final meteor shower of 2022, but it’s one of the most spectacular of all meteor showers because of its reliability. Luckily, it will be visible from Mississippi – no special equipment required. A year-end favorite for stargazers, the Geminid meteor shower occurs in December every year. It typically peaks during mid-December, and 2022 is no different. Shannon Dizmang/Flickr This year, the Geminids will peak on the nights of December 13th and 14th. Of all the celestial events that take place throughout the year, the Geminid meteor shower is not to be missed. It’s touted as one of the “best and most reliable” annual meteor showers. St0rmz/Flickr Fun fact: The Geminids were first recorded in 1833, after being spotted by passengers on a Mississippi riverboat. So, what makes the Geminids so special? Well, for starters they're stunning! Like fireballs streaking across the sky, Geminids are bold, white, and bright. Stephen Little/Flickr The slow-moving, long-lasting meteors, which are sometimes referred to as “earth grazers,” are easy to spot with the naked eye. Geminids aren’t just easy on the eyes. They’re abundant, too. David DeHetre/Flickr Stargazers can expect to see anywhere between 50 and 150 meteors per hour! The number of meteors visible depends on several factors, including the brightness of the moon. Though the Geminids can be seen without any special equipment, there are a few ways to improve your view. First, you’ve got to pick the perfect viewing spot. John M. Cooper/Flickr What makes a perfect viewing spot? The darker, the better. Choose a place free of light pollution. Also, head to your viewing location at least 30 minutes before the meteor shower begins, giving your eyes time to adjust. Second, timing is everything. Tasayu Tasnaphun/Flickr The Geminid meteor shower starts around 9 p.m. and lasts into the early morning hours. However, for the best views, you should check out the Geminids at 2 a.m., which is when they peak. Last, you’ve got to look in the right place. Nick Miller/Flickr Geminids radiate from the constellation Gemini, but you actually don’t want to look directly at the constellation during the meteor shower. Geminids will be visible across the night sky. Plus, those viewed near the radiant typically have shorter trains, which, in turn, makes them more difficult to spot. To learn more about the Geminid meteor shower, check out the EarthSky website. So, what do you think? Do you plan on watching the Geminids this year? Have you checked them out in the past? If so, what’d you think? Tell us! Celestial events sure are stunning. The only issue is that they only come around every so often. Don’t worry, though. There are lots of beautiful places in Mississippi that you can explore all year long.

Open enrollment through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace began November 1 and continues through January 15, 2023. Five health insurance companies will offer plans in Mississippi. They are Ambetter from Magnolia Health, Molina Healthcare, Vantage Health Plan of Mississippi and UnitedHealthcare. Cigna also joined the Marketplace in 2022. “Carefully review the options available to you and in your area,” said Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney. “Make sure that the plan you are considering provides the coverage that you need. While low monthly costs are attractive, you also need to consider copays and deductibles that you may have to pay later. Check with the provider to see which facilities are in-network.” Mississippians can see plan options, monthly premiums and more by visiting www.healthcare.gov/see-plans/. For other insurance-related questions, contact the Mississippi Insurance Department at 601-359-3569.

The community is invited to join St. Mary's Episcopal Church on Sunday, December 11 at 3 p.m. for their Second Sunday Service: An Advent Eucharist, celebrated by their Vicar, The Rev Hailey Allin, with Music of the Season, featuring Tyler Kemp and Mandy Spivak.

First graders are in the Christmas spirit! Mrs. Bishop and members of the student council assisted 1st graders in making their own “Plastic Bottle Top” Christmas Tree in Mrs. Bishop’s Project Lead The Way class.