All posts filed under: ODD

A graphic illustrating a media exploration of the Lizzie Borden case.

Exploring the Lizzie Borden Case on Halloween

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When the name Lizzie Borden comes up, what’s the first thing that pops into your mind?

If you’re like many, it evokes images of a 19th-century woman accused of gruesomely murdering her family. But here’s the twist: Lizzie was never convicted. In fact, she was acquitted, leaving a legacy shrouded in mystery and intrigue.

That’s why I was thrilled to invite Ashley Dees, a research and instruction librarian at the University of Mississippi, to speak to my class this Halloween about the infamous Borden case. Dees uses true crime research as a vehicle for enhancing critical thinking skills, which is especially relevant in today’s world where the reliability of information can often come into question.

A white car at the scene of an accident.

We have freedom, but we’re not independent

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I have been a journalist for 25 years. In fact, this year marks my 25th year of being in the journalism industry in some area, starting in college at a local radio station and later as a paid intern at a newspaper. This also marks the 20th year of my college graduation.

In the last 25 years, I have covered a variety of stories, including homicides, fires and car accidents. I was good at establishing trustworthy relationships with law enforcement, but I have never really enjoyed covering spot news.

A red robot ornament made of polymer clay.

My Christmas tree is filled with aliens, robots and monsters

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Let’s be honest: the way you decorate your Christmas tree says a lot about you. It’s like a glittery, pine-scented personality test — without the pressure of multiple choice. Some people go for elegant, color-coordinated themes with perfectly spaced ribbons and matching metallic balls. Others throw on everything they’ve ever owned since childhood, creating a nostalgic mosaic of memories.

As for me? I fall somewhere in between — equal parts sentimentalist, craft junkie, and intergalactic oddball.

Brent's Drugs in Fondren.

Blast from the Past: A visit to Brent’s Drugs in Fondren

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Sometimes the best way to step back in time is with a burger, a milkshake, and a little retro neon glow. That’s exactly the vibe I felt when I ate at Brent’s Drugs, a timeless diner nestled in the heart of Fondren, Jackson’s beloved arts district.

Brent’s is more than just a drugstore-turned-diner. It’s a piece of Mississippi nostalgia wrapped in turquoise booths, checkered floors, and vintage signage that looks like it stepped off a 1950s postcard. Opened in 1946, Brent’s originally operated as a pharmacy with a soda fountain — back when that was the ultimate hangout spot for milkshakes, malts, and first dates.

The poster for the movie "We Need to Talk About Kevin."

Is We Need to Talk About Kevin another prophetic work of fiction?

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I’ve long believed that science fiction writers are prophets — tapping into some strange current of the universe and channeling visions of what’s to come. But maybe it’s not just sci-fi authors. Maybe any writer of fiction, when fully immersed in the act of creation, opens a door to something deeper — something unknowable. Something eerily accurate.

Take “The China Syndrome,” for example.

The movie poster for "A Perfect Host."

Offbeat, Creepy, and Unexpected: 10 underrated thrillers that surprised me

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If you’re in the mood for a psychological curveball, a little cult horror, or a thriller with unexpected twists, here’s a batch of lesser-known films I recently watched that delivered more than I anticipated.

From David Hyde Pierce’s wild turn in “The Perfect Host” to Wes Craven’s eerie asylum flick “The Ward,” this list features B-movie gems, creepy kid staples, and sci-fi experiments that somehow work.

A story about unidentified and unexplained sightings in Mississippi when the X Files movie came out.

Mississippi UFO sightings reveal strange lights, triangles, and more — what’s really out there?

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When we asked readers about their UFO experiences, many shared anonymous stories, fearing ridicule despite their credibility.

One radio reporter recalled seeing a mysterious light in Gautier that moved rapidly, then hovered motionless before darting away. Another witness, stationed on a German Air Force base in 1973, described a silent, brightly lit triangular craft crossing the sky in minutes — clearly not man-made.

Earrings from The Small Book Company

These tiny book earrings from Etsy are a must-have for every book lover

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If you’re a bookworm with a love for unique accessories, here’s a literary treasure you’ll want to add to your collection: miniature book earrings handcrafted by The Small Book Company on Etsy.

I stumbled across this gem while browsing Etsy — one of my favorite places to discover creative and handcrafted finds. Jewelry artist Nicolette Tallmadge has turned her passion for literature into wearable art by designing teeny-tiny earrings shaped like classic books. I couldn’t resist ordering a pair, and when they arrived, I was completely charmed.

The black dog

The Black Dog and the Breeze: A simple moment that reminded me to embrace the present

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Today, as I drove home from the Japanese restaurant over the Reservoir, I noticed a black lab in the back of a black Chevrolet Silverado wearing an orange collar. As his owner drove, he ran back and forth on each side of the truck, stepping up and sticking his head out on each side to feel the cool breeze.

His movement was repetitive. Over and over again, he moved to the left, then to the right. I guess he thought the wind felt better hitting his face the first time, so instead of standing still, he ran from side to side, creating a pause, before sticking his neck out into the air again.

The mysterious wizard.

The mysterious wizard

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As I was driving home from work the other day, I saw a wizard on the side of the road.

Well, maybe he wasn’t a wizard. I’m not exactly sure. Perhaps he was Father Time. I’m just not positive. But he was wearing a long purple robe, a pointy matching hat and a long white beard.

A bobblehead.

Custom Bobbleheads: The quirky personalized gift that’s winning hearts and wedding cakes

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In today’s world of hyper-personalization — where everything from coffee cups to sneakers can be tailored to your taste — it’s no surprise that even bobbleheads have joined the customization craze. Enter HeadBobble, a California-based company turning this pop culture novelty into a highly personalized keepsake.

You may know bobbleheads as those comically exaggerated figurines with oversized heads that nod and wobble with a gentle tap. Once reserved for athletes, politicians, and fictional TV characters like Dwight Schrute from “The Office,” these wobbly collectibles are now being designed to look just like you — or your favorite person.

A poster for the movie "Sea Monsters."

Sea Monsters and Childhood Mysteries: National Geographic’s new film dives into prehistoric legends

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“National Geographic’s” new film “Sea Monsters” is making waves — just not in Mississippi. Funded in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation, the film dives deep into the prehistoric oceans that once covered North America, exploring ancient creatures believed to have inspired legends like the Loch Ness Monster.

Roughly 80 million years ago, areas like Kansas were submerged beneath a vast inland sea, where giant marine reptiles roamed. The movie blends scientific discovery with legend, shedding light on the real-life creatures behind age-old myths. For anyone who grew up fascinated by dinosaurs or sea serpents, this one might stir up some serious nostalgia.

A story about ghost hunters in Mississippi featuring one of them.

Do You Believe in Ghosts? Mississippi’s paranormal groups say they’re real

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Do you believe in ghosts? You’re not alone. Mississippi is home to at least 10 paranormal research groups made up of people who definitely do — and they’re part of a much larger trend.

Across the U.S. and U.K., more than 300 groups are actively investigating unexplained phenomena, often inspired by popular television shows like “Ghost Hunters,” “Medium,” “Ghost Whisperer,” and “Haunting Evidence.”

The film poster for "Idiocracy."

‘Idiocracy’ Review: A darkly funny look at a future overrun by stupidity

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In “Idiocracy,” an offbeat sci-fi satire from “Beavis and Butt-Head” creator Mike Judge, two ordinary people (played by Maya Rudolph and Luke Wilson) are chosen for a government time travel experiment. But things go hilariously wrong, and they wake up in the year 2505 — where intelligence is practically extinct.

In this dystopian future, society has been overrun by people who made their way to the gene pool without much thought — think Jerry Springer guests en masse. Smart individuals, who often delayed or debated having children, have been far outnumbered. As a result, the “average” time travelers are now the smartest humans alive.

An image of a creepy doll.

Creepy dolls, Stephen King, and the artist who brings nightmares to life

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Have you ever locked eyes with a porcelain doll on a shelf and instantly felt a chill crawl up your spine? If so, you’re not alone — and horror icon Stephen King would probably agree with you. Dolls have long been the stuff of nightmares in King’s world, from murderous clowns to animated Army men with a vendetta.

King’s fear of dolls is well-documented across his work. In “Poltergeist,” which he helped write for the screen, a young boy’s fear of a clown doll turns disturbingly real when the toy attacks. In “The X-Files,” King penned an episode centered around a haunted doll, and one of the darkest vignettes in his “Nightmares and Dreamscapes” series features actor William Hurt being hunted by vindictive toys — tiny green Army men that eventually bring about his demise.

The unicycle-riding banana

Unicycling banana spotted in Mississippi suburb: A delightfully unexpected sight

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I generally write about popular culture, so this is a little off-topic. But as I was driving home from the bookstore today, I saw something yellow coming down the sidewalk near my apartment complex.

As I got closer, I realized that among the walkers and bikers out enjoying a beautiful, sunny Mississippi day was — believe it or not — a banana on a unicycle. Yes, a banana. On a unicycle.

A spooky picture of a ghost lady.

A Psychological Thriller Rooted in Folklore: ‘An American Haunting’ and the Bell Witch legend

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Intrigued by the notion that someone had created a horror film based on the Southern ghost story of the Bell Witch — a tale I’ve heard whispers of growing up near Tennessee — I recently rented “An American Haunting” hoping to uncover more about this mysterious legend. To my surprise, the film is one of the few horror movies I’ve seen that explores supernatural torment and possession through the lens of psychological trauma.

Set in early 1800s Tennessee, the movie tells the haunting story of young Betsy Bell, a once-lively, flirtatious teenager who abruptly transforms into a withdrawn, exhausted version of herself. She confesses to her teacher that she’s unable to sleep, haunted by a terrifying presence that visits her at night. Her sudden decline sets off a series of terrifying events.

A company called LumiGram is now making shirts, purses, pillows, table cloths, etc., out of fiberoptic material. I guess it's a step beyond glow-in-the-dark.

Glow-Up Fashion: LumiGram’s fiber optic clothing brings disco back to the future

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A French company called LumiGram is taking fashion and home décor into the future — literally — with its line of products made from fiber optic fabric.

That’s right — shirts, purses, pillows, tablecloths, and even jackets now glow with a radiant shimmer, thanks to embedded fiber optic strands that light up in the dark. Think of it as a high-tech twist on glow-in-the-dark, with a bit more flair and definitely more wattage.