Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com Maybe it truly has been horrible all this time, maybe God did pick you out of all humanity to suffer badly your entire life. Maybe, just maybe, you were selected to show the world how a life of pure misery looks. No way out, impossible to change your destiny. You are designated to be the poster child for ‘ Life Without Hope or Happiness .’ But maybe, there is hope for you. Perhaps what you really need is a change of attitude, or a change of career, maybe move away for a whole relocation to start over in life. Because there is the real possibility that you have gotten stuck in a rut. Mentally and emotionally. And you can’t see any exit, because when you do try to make it better, all you can see is the sides of that deep hole where you live. No sun shines a light on any stairs to leave that deep blackness. But before you decide that this writer just might be right, and you pack your bags and hit the road for greener pastures, I suggest you back off and take a good, clear, candid look at your current life. But please realize one thing. For this honest look, you are most likely going to need another set of clear eyes, paired with a mouth that isn’t afraid to tell you the truth. A counselor, or your doctor, or a pastor or close friend - someone who loves you enough to give you unvarnished honesty about your lifestyle, your personal choices, your aversion to hard work, or possibly your fear of commitment. Spend some time telling your heartbreaking story to this clear-eyed-honest-to-a-fault mouthy friend. Don’t hide anything, let them see your life as you see it. Then do yourself a favor. Give them total permission to talk openly and honestly to you. And listen. Maybe they can help you realize that it wasn't all bad...a lot of ups and downs. And that right now, you are in a down cycle. But according to your life pattern, things will improve, given some time. Or, they may tell you that you do need a real change. Maybe you are in a career you have detested for a long time. Maybe you live in the hot, humid South and it is sucking the life out of your cold-weather-loving soul and body. Or maybe they help you realize that staying in that sinful relationship is hurting you and you need to walk away. Or they just might tell you that your attitude stinks. They might tell you that you are deliberately thinking negatively. About everything. And it’s time to change. Let them be mouthy and give them permission to talk honestly and openly to you. It has advantages – for both of you. The important lesson is to not give up. Either take hope that things usually improve, or realize you need to change some things. And then do one of two things. Thank God that eventually things will be different. Or do some changing.

By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB Back in 2019, brothers Benny and Josh Safdie delivered one of the best films of the year, and possibly the decade, with “Uncut Gems.” The film was, as I wrote in a review earlier this year, “a 135-minute anxiety attack.” And I mean that in the best possible way – I have enormous amounts of respect for movies and filmmakers that know just how to push my buttons. Now in 2025, the Safdie brothers have graduated to solo projects. Benny didn’t fare too well with “The Smashing Machine” (whose review I quoted earlier), though Dwayne Johnson did earn a surprise Golden Globe nomination for playing MMA fighter Mark Kerr, so maybe there’s some life in that film after all. But Josh has found both commercial and critical success with his new film “Marty Supreme,” and he did it by sticking with what works. The film follows Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet), a con artist in1952 New York who happens to be really good at ping pong. He’s able to come in second at the British Open, and a spot at the World Championships in Japan should be his… if he can raise the $1,500 he needs to pay a fine. Throughout the course of the film, he’ll try to raise the money by hustling games at a nearby bowling alley with help from his friend Wally (Tyler Okonma), robbing his uncle’s shoe store, ransoming a dog (that he doesn’t have) to its gangster owner (Abel Ferrara), getting a sponsorship from a friend’s father, getting a sponsorship from a businessman (Kevin O’Leary) who wants him to throw an exhibition match, pawning a necklace owned by the businessman’s actress wife (Gwyneth Paltrow) with whom he’s having an affair, and assorted other schemes. On top of it all, he learns that he may be the father to the baby of his married girlfriend Rachel (Odessa A’zion), and that may require some flim-flamming as well. The whole thing is basically “Uncut Gems” again, to the point where I’m convinced that Marty must be related to Adam Sandler’s character from that movie. Rachel’s baby would be too old to be Sandler’s age, but maybe Marty had another baby about a decade down the line. The point is that the two movies feature outstanding leads that are put through the wringer as they try futilely to clean up the messes they’ve created for themselves. Good thing I think this is a winning formula, and enough time has passed since “Uncut Gems” that I’m ready for another, similar round. I would have preferred that maybe a few more loose ends be tied up in the finale, but otherwise this is a top-tier awards contender. Speaking of awards, the movie and Chalamet’s performance are doing so well in preliminaries that several Oscar nominations seem like a lock. “Uncut Gems” was overlooked back in 2019, probably due to reluctance to nominate any Adam Sandler project (it was Oscar-worthy though, despite 95% of Sandler’s filmography). That won’t be a problem this year with darling Chalamet in the lead. Heck, voters probably should have given Chalamet an Oscar last year for playing Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown,” not because he was necessarily “better” than Adrian Brody in “The Brutalist,” but because a Chalamet win would have saved the ceremony from Brody’s hostile, overlong, self-indulgent speech. Another Oscars possibility is that Chalamet and Dwayne Johnson could both be nominated for Best Actor, pitting the Safdie Brothers against each other. Okay, a nomination for Johnson is iffy, and three spots would have to go to other actors, but what a story that would make if it happened. I’m getting all excited thinking about The Rock doing his “just bring it” gesture to Chalamet across a wrestling ring as the Safdies watch on from the corners. But even if we don’t get that family feud, “Marty Supreme” has big things ahead of it in awards season, and rightfully so. Grade: B “Marty Supreme” is rated R for language throughout, sexual content, some violent content/bloody images and nudity. Its running time is 150 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

Special to The Bolton News Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson will present a special evening of music on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at Beulah Memorial Baptist Church, located at 1400 Highway 22 in Bolton’s Brownsville community. The performance begins at 6 p.m. and is open to the public, welcoming residents, visitors, and music enthusiasts from across the region to enjoy an intimate and engaging musical experience. While Commissioner Gipson is widely known for his leadership in agriculture and commerce across Mississippi, his talents extend into the world of music, where he has recorded albums that blend personal reflection, regional influences, and heartfelt storytelling. During this event, he will perform a selection of songs from his albums, offering the audience a mix of traditional melodies, contemporary arrangements, and original compositions. His performance aims not only to entertain but also to connect listeners to the culture and heritage of Mississippi through music. The evening is designed to be a community gathering, providing an opportunity for attendees to experience live music in a welcoming, family-friendly setting. Guests can look forward to an atmosphere of warmth and camaraderie, where neighbors, friends, and families can come together to share in the joy of music. In addition to enjoying the performance, attendees will have a chance to engage with the commissioner on a personal level, learning more about his journey as both a public servant and a musician. This special event reflects Commissioner Gipson’s commitment to connecting with communities beyond his official duties and emphasizes the importance of arts and culture in bringing people together. It is an opportunity to celebrate local talent, foster community spirit, and create lasting memories through an evening of live music. Whether you are a long-time admirer of his music or attending to support a community event, the performance promises to be a meaningful and memorable experience for all.

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com If you are anything like me and a lot of other people in this country, you are sick. Sick and tired of so much around you. Things like, not being able to walk safely to your car in a public parking lot, traffic tie-ups that can keep you trapped on the interstate for hours, and constant scams being foisted on you to separate you from your money. Cons from ‘companies’ (and I use that term very loosely) that are worried about your car maintenance, or offering you tax relief help, or the ever popular “Congratulations, you qualify for a new credit card!” Another thing that makes my tongue curl is the way our Creator and our God is vilified and mocked in our modern society. I would be terrified to treat Him the way people do today. As if their Creator doesn’t exist, or at the least, is just a feeble and powerless Being who has no say in what goes on in today’s world. Therefore, everyone is free to behave in any way they choose. And their ‘any way I choose’ usually doesn’t involve adjectives like  honest, clean, wholesome  or  selfless . Here’s facts, folks. Our Creator has always existed. He still exists. He will always exist. And He is more powerful than we can ever comprehend.  Try imagining a tiny sugar ant carrying fifty million smaller sugar ants on its back. When it comes to the power and complete authority of God, you and I are much like one of those fifty million ants. Only a LOT smaller. Oh yes, definitely, I would be terrified to defy Him the way people are today. Depressing and scary stuff. If I sit and dwell on what I am seeing, I feel myself beginning to spiral downward. There doesn’t seem to be much hope for tomorrow. But if I pull my thoughts up short and talk some sense to myself, I realize;  “Hey, idiot! There is an All-Powerful, All-Knowing God who is watching this universe! And just because things look horrible from your perspective does not mean that He has lost control. It means He is also patient. And just. And there  will  come a time when everyone receives payment for their actions. Painful or thrilling. Fun or terrifying. But it will happen.” Hang in there, folks. Do your best to live well. Remind yourself that you are not in charge, and your infuriated opinions and feelings are not necessarily at the top of God’s “TOP THINGS TO HANDLE AND FIX TODAY.” You and I are free to fume and worry, that’s true. But it doesn’t change a thing. He has this world firmly in His grasp, and He definitely knows what He is doing. Always has and always will. Our God and Creator is totally patient, totally just, and totally in charge. If you don’t believe me, just wait and see.

Dearine "Doe" Dillard May 22, 1958 - December 21, 2025 67 Years of Age Dearine Wilson Dillard, daughter of the late Elester Buckley, Sr. and the late Olivia Wilson Buckley was born on May 22, 1958 in Bolton, MS. She departed her life on December 21, 2025. She was affectionately known as ‘Doe’ by close family and friends. Dearine was a member of Apostolic Restoration Ministry where she was baptized in the name of Jesus on August 18, 2024 and received the Holy Spirit on December 16, 2024. Dearine attended Clinton High School. She was employed at Manhattan Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for 20 years. Dearine was preceded in death by her husband, Mr. Mack Nemi Dillard; her father, Elester Buckley Sr.; mother, Olivia Buckley; brother, Elester Buckley Jr.; and sister, Daphne Buckley. She leaves to cherish her memories her loving sons, Quinta Dillard of Jackson, MS. and Demarcus Dillard (Cheri) of Clinton, MS.; and her loving daughter Markeda Dillard of Jackson, MS.; her granddaughters, ShaMya Robinson, Zaria Dillard, and Jakiya Michael; grandsons, MarQuez Dillard, Pharaoh Dillard, Demarcus Dillard Jr., and JaVontae Joiner; and one great-grandson, Artist Robinson. She also leaves to cherish her memories: sisters, Nancy Wilson Robinson, Mary Wilson, Claudette Lewis, and Debbie Buckley; brothers, Roy Buckley (Thelma) and Robert Buckley; and two sisters in law, Louise Dillard and Hattie Dillard. She also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dearine Dillard, please visit our flower store .

Special to The Bolton News The Town of Bolton lost one of its most cherished leaders and community pillars on December 25, 2025, with the passing of Alderwoman Helen R. Harris Curry. A trailblazer in every sense, Alderwoman Curry was the first African American woman to serve on the Bolton Board of Aldermen, dedicating over 50 years of her life to public service and leaving a legacy that will endure for generations. Helen Curry’s leadership was defined by wisdom, humility, and unwavering devotion to the people she served. Whether in the council chamber or in the streets of Bolton, she listened carefully, acted thoughtfully, and placed the needs of the community above her own. She became a mentor to emerging leaders and a trusted voice for residents, guiding her town through decades of growth and change with grace and integrity. Beyond her civic duties, Helen Curry had a deep love for life, people, and animals. She spent countless hours outdoors, reveling in nature and finding peace among the rolling fields and pastures that she so loved. Her passion for horses was well-known, and she was an active participant in the local horse club, sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm with neighbors and friends. To her, animals and the natural world were an extension of her compassion, and she brought the same care and attention to her community that she did to all living things around her. Faith was central to Helen’s life. She was a devoted member of Hill of Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Bolton, where her guidance, warmth, and steadfast presence inspired many. Her faith informed her public service, her relationships, and her approach to every challenge she encountered, reinforcing the deep connection between her personal values and her work in the community. Those who knew Alderwoman Curry describe her as more than a leader—she was a friend, a mentor, and a source of strength. She had an extraordinary ability to make everyone feel valued, whether through a kind word, a shared laugh, or her tireless work on behalf of the town she loved. Her devotion to Bolton and its residents left a mark that cannot be measured, touching countless lives across generations. The community will honor Alderwoman Curry’s life with visitation on Thursday, January 1, 2026, from 3:00 to 6:00 PM at Bolton Funeral Home, 205 Bolton Brownsville Road. The viewing will continue on Friday, January 2, 2026, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, 6449 W. Northside Drive, with the funeral service at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at Hill of Zion Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, 1079 Annie Fortner Road. Alderwoman Helen R. Harris Curry’s life was one of courage, commitment, and love—for her community, for her neighbors, and for the world around her. She broke barriers, inspired generations, and reminded everyone that true leadership is measured not by position, but by the lives we touch and the difference we make. Bolton will remember her not only as a historic figure in local government but as a woman whose heart, energy, and dedication helped shape the soul of the town.

By Bob Garver    Poster credit IMDB All the way back in 2009, director James Cameron introduced the world to the planet Pandora and the Na’vi race in “Avatar.” The film soon set the record for all-time highest grossing movie at both the domestic and international box offices (it still holds the record for the latter). Sequel “Avatar: The Way of Water” came out in 2022 and made its way onto the top 10 on both lists. Can three years’ worth of inflation help third installment “Fire and Ash” help the franchise reach new heights? I’d be happy if it did. The film once again follows the Sully family: human-turned-Na’vi Jake (Sam Worthington), native wife Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), impulsive son Lo’ak (Britain Dalton), daughter Tuk (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss), adopted daughter Kiri (Sigourney Weaver), and adopted human son Spider (Jack Champion). Kiri is the biological daughter of ally Grace Augustine (also Weaver) and Spider is the biological son of villainous human-turned-Na’vi Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), still tasked with removing the threat the Sullys pose to the human colonization of Pandora. The new film sees the family try to send Spider off to live with a tribe of “air traders,” as the planet’s air is not safe for him at the surface level, though it might be at the traders’ altitude. But the traders are attacked, and Spider captured, by the fire-themed Mangkwan tribe, led by the fearsome Varang (Oona Chaplin). The Sullys go to rescue Spider from the Mangkwan, only to be ambushed by the unit led by Quaritch, who prioritizes saving his son. Spider is saved by the Sullys, while Varang and Quaritch come to respect each other in the ensuing battle. Following the battle, it is discovered that there is a way for Spider to breathe the planet’s air after all, if he interacts with certain wildlife. This is great for Spider, but bad for the Na’vi. The breathability of Pandora’s air is one of the few advantages they have in the war with the invading humans. If the secret were to fall into the wrong hands, it could doom them all. Jake and Neytiri, who isn’t crazy about humans like Spider in the first place, debate bringing a permanent end to the secret and its host. Meanwhile, Quaritch and Varang form an alliance, the first official one between the colonizing humans and the Na’vi. We get another big showdown between Na’vi and the humans at the movie’s end, but this time the villains have some Na’vi on their side that can both ride the planet’s wild creatures and use human weapons like guns, courtesy of Quaritch. The story is a mess, especially as the Sullys splinter off for their own subplots like Lo’ak wanting to save a race of whale-like sea creatures or Kiri having an identity crisis after learning the truth about her parentage (and yes, it is distracting that 70-something Weaver is playing a teenager, a discrepancy that even Cameron’s special effects can’t hide). The final battle is particularly hard to follow, with characters seemingly killed at every turn only to dust themselves off and throw themselves back into the action minutes later. The only interesting decision the movie makes from a writing perspective is the alliance between Quaritch and Varang, scene-stealing characters whose personalities are sidelined once the action picks up. But it matters little that “Avatar: Fire and Ash” doesn’t have an award-worthy script to justify its obscene price tag. James Cameron is still King of the World when it comes to visual spectacle. Every time I thought I was done being impressed by the look of Pandora, the movie found a way to blow my mind again. That is what this movie offers and that is what these movies have always offered. I can understand if audiences aren’t ready to spend another three heavy-handed hours in this world a mere three years after the last movie, but I was ready and I had a blast. Grade: B “Avatar: Fire and Ash” is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, bloody images, some strong language, thematic elements and suggestive material. Its running time is 197 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

Dr. James Watson, State Veterinarian, issues a certificate of veterinary inspection to Santa Claus, permitting his reindeer to enter and exit the state of Mississippi on Christmas Eve, December 24. T he Mississippi Board of Animal Health (MBAH) has approved a certificate of veterinary inspection for Santa Claus of the North Pole, authorizing his famous reindeer to enter Mississippi on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025, for a holiday delivery run.   “I am happy to announce that Santa’s reindeer have officially been cleared for their annual Christmas Eve visit by the Mississippi Board of Animal Health,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson. “It’s always a pleasure to welcome Santa and his reindeer to the Magnolia State and I encourage all children to be tucked in early so Santa can deliver his gifts without delay.”    Dr. James Watson, State Veterinarian with MBAH, examined all nine members of Santa’s reindeer team and confirmed they are healthy, happy and fit for their long night of work. With all the necessary requirements met, Dr. Watson issued the special certification allowing the sleigh and its crew to make their stops across Mississippi.   Copy of Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. “Safeguarding the health of Mississippi’s livestock and poultry is our top priority,” said Dr. Watson. “With that responsibility in mind, we are happy to confirm that Santa Claus and his reindeer have satisfied all necessary health requirements to enter the state and spread Christmas cheer to the boys and girls on the nice list.” The MBAH encourages families to leave refreshments out for Santa, as well as a snack for his hardworking reindeer on Christmas Eve night.   The Board of Animal Health was created by the Mississippi Legislature and given plenary power to deal with all contagious and infectious diseases of animals as in the opinion of the board may be prevented, controlled, or eradicated, and with full power to make, promulgate, and enforce such rules and regulations as may be necessary to control, eradicate and prevent those diseases.   Commissioner Andy Gipson serves as a board member for the Mississippi Board of Animal Health, which works closely with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) and is housed inside the MDAC headquarters building in Jackson. Visit www.mbah.ms.gov to learn more.

By: Kelley Williams, Chair Bigger Pie Forum Cliff Notes began as short plot summaries of classic novels and stories. Now they are cribs about complex topics and spin. Corps Speak is the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) clever spin that evades responsibility for higher and longer Mississippi River floods (a complex topic). This story began when Congress put the Corps in charge of flood control (1928 Flood Control Act) to prevent another 1927 flood disaster. The Corps developed the Mississippi River and Tributaries Project (MRTP) master plan in response. It included levees, spillways, cutoffs, reservoirs, and other river projects. It was designed to carry the Corps’ maximum theoretical flood (Project Flood) safely to the Gulf. The original design was based on the Mississippi’s flow capacity in the 1930s. It was updated in 1950 based on flow capacity then. That flow capacity no longer exists. The 2011 flood showed that the Mississippi’s flow capacity has decreased since 1950. And that the MRTP levees won’t contain the river. The Corps’ 2019 flow line study confirms this. It predicts hundreds of miles of levees will overtop in a flood smaller than the Project Flood. How did this happen? A Congressional authorization in 1954 gave the Corps another mandate: prevent the Mississippi River from changing course down the Atchafalaya River. The Corps built the Old River Control Complex (ORCC) about 40 miles above Baton Rouge to do this. ORCC controls the river’s flow and diverts 23% to the straighter, swifter, shorter Atchafalaya to discharge to the Gulf below Morgan City, LA. It keeps the remaining 77% in the longer, slower, meandering main channel to discharge below New Orleans. The Corps knew that diverting part of the flow would concentrate sediments in the Mississippi’s main channel and that this could reduce its flow capacity. So engineers and scientists carefully designed and sited ORCC to minimize this. They were successful. The first ORCC structure began operating in 1963. Other structures were added later. There were no increases in river stages indicating a decrease in flow capacity until after 1990. (When channel capacity decreases, stages rise. The river must get higher to carry the same flow.) In 1982, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authorized a privately owned power plant (Sidney A. Murray Hydroelectric Plant) to be sited just upstream of ORCC. The plant had nothing to do with flood control. But the Corps agreed to integrate it into ORCC operations anyway. It began operating in 1990. The Corps diverts flow containing only small, light sediments through the plant turbines to the Atchafalaya in place of a mixed flow with larger, heavier sediments it had diverted through ORCC. This concentrates large, heavy sediments downstream of ORCC, clogs the channel, creates a bottleneck, and reduces flow capacity. The company says it’s not responsible for the sediments and refuses to dredge them. The Corps hasn’t dredged them either — even though it’s clearly responsible for flood control. The clog of sediments grew, the bottleneck got smaller, the Mississippi’s carrying capacity decreased — and floods got higher. The 2011 flood provided dramatic proof. It was not only the highest flood ever, it was higher than the Corps expected based on historic flows. This caused a near disaster. The Corps nearly waited too long to open the Morganza Spillway gates because the stage was higher than expected for the flow in the water control manual that triggered the opening. Fortunately, the Colonel in charge trusted his eyes, not the manual, opened the gates, and saved Baton Rouge. The manual was wrong because it too was based on flow capacity that no longer existed. To quantify lost flow capacity, look at stages at Tarbert Landing (just above ORCC). Corps rating curves show the stage was 7.2’ higher in 2015 vs pre-1990 readings. (Stage increases upstream are not as high due to the river’s slope. But longer floods upstream are about the same.) In 2016-17, upstream landowners near ORCC testified to the Mississippi River Commission (MRC) about higher, longer, more damaging floods inside the levees. MRC Generals blamed more rain. They didn’t tell landowners about the bottleneck. Mississippi’s Secretary of State also testified about the state’s flooded school lands. The Generals didn’t tell him either. In late 2017, LSU’s Dr. Xu reported a large sediment deposit below ORCC and major reductions in channel width and depth based on 2013 Corps measurements. He said the resulting bottleneck could cause the river to change course in a big flood. Flood duration (days above flood stage) increased after the record 2011 flood. Floods at Natchez were 3 times longer in the 5 years after 2015 vs the 5 prior years. The 2019 flood was above flood stage 154 days at Vicksburg, blocking the Yazoo’s discharge — and causing the longest backwater flood ever. Major floods occurred more often too after 1990. From 1927 to 1990, there was one major flood (57’ and higher) at Natchez in 63 years. From 1950 to 1990, there were none in 40 years. From 1990 to 2020, there were 5: one every 6 years. There was one every 2.5 years from 2010 to 2020. It’s clear that the river has lost flow capacity. And that this causes more frequent, higher, and longer floods. And that the Corps has failed at its job of flood control. And that it is unable to act on its own. So what to do now? Shut down and remove the power plant. Operate ORCC to divert flow and sediments as designed. Dredge Mudberg to restore the Mississippi’s carrying capacity. Build a diversion structure to take the top off of big floods. Urge Congress to order and fund these acts. Pray for time to make the changes before there’s a big flood.

By Bob Garver   Poster credit IMDB   Since this weekend’s highest-grossing as-yet-unreviewed theatrical film, 205-minute Indian actioner “Dhurandhar,” is playing on only 377 screens in the entire country, I thought I’d take this opportunity to review something a little more accessible. “Wake Up Dead Man” is the third installment of Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out” mystery franchise. Like its predecessor “Glass Onion,” “Wake Up Dead Man” is treating fans to a brief theatrical run to supplement its December 12th Netflix debut. As with the original “Knives Out” from 2019, the whodunit largely follows a character so likely to be the killer that they start to suspect themselves. Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) is the assistant pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude Church in upstate New York, having been assigned there as punishment for punching a rude deacon at his old church. He clashes with head pastor Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin) over the church leader’s tendency to verbally browbeat unfamiliar parishioners until they leave. Duplenticy wants people to feel welcome in the church, and he also takes issue with Wicks’ drinking, greed, and general corruption. A rivalry and power struggle develop between the two, and it seems like control of both the church and the souls of Wicks’ inner circle are on the line. Wicks’ inner circle consists of lawyer Vera Draven (Kerry Washington) and her adopted brother Cy (Daryl McCormack), doctor Nat Sharp (Jeremy Renner, sadly making no reference to the actor lending his name to a brand of hot sauce in “Glass Onion”), washed-up sci-fi author Lee Ross (Andrew Scott), disabled cellist Simone Vivane (Cailee Spaeny), church groundskeeper Samson Holt (Thomas Haden… Church, appropriately), and longtime church assistant Martha Delacroix (Glenn Close). These people and Duplenticy are the only ones near the pulpit during a Good Friday service when Wicks is found murdered in a closet off to one side. And the one who went closest to the closet during the service was Duplenticy. Local police chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) decides that the case is too bizarre for her department to solve on their own. So she reaches out to an… outside resource. In comes private investigator and franchise face Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig). Although Blanc can’t exactly rule out Duplenticy as a suspect, he’s a good enough judge of character to know that the kindhearted redemption-seeker probably didn’t kill Wicks, even if the evidence says otherwise. Still, both Blanc and Duplenticy have a job ahead of them, uncovering layer after layer of secrets involving illegitimate children, a crazed mother, a missing family fortune, more deaths, and a person in a pastoral robe emerging from a sealed mausoleum containing the recently-deceased body of Wicks and the skeletal remains of his grandfather. Did a Dead Man truly Wake Up in a Christ-like miracle? Devout Duplenticy believes one may have. Atheist Blanc highly doubts it, but then what did happen? Fans of the “Knives Out” movies (and the similarly-timed Kenneth Branagh Hercule Poirot trilogy) will know to wait patiently for Blanc to unravel the convoluted mystery. For as twisty as these stories are, there’s a loose, but recognizable formula to them. Characters take turns as prime suspects as lies are uncovered and secrets revealed until likely theories are disproven and the solution has to be something else. The solution, at least as it pertains to the “How?” is never apparent from the outset, so it’s up to the audience to just enjoy the ride, usually courtesy of Blanc and his ridiculous Southern charm. This ride is less fun than the other “Knives Out” movies, with its often-serious looks at faith, betrayal, and forgiveness, and also because it takes Blanc longer than usual to show up. But it’s still fun, and certainly clever enough for me to recommend. “Wake Up Dead Man” may not be the sharpest of the “Knives Out” franchise, but it fits into the drawer just fine. Grade: B- “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” is now available on Netflix. The film is rated PG-13 for violent content, bloody images, strong language, some crude sexual material, and smoking. Its running time is 144 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com People are just people, everywhere you go. Everyone has their favorite hobbies and if given the chance, they would spend hours doing just that. And most of us also have heavy responsibilities that we avoid like the plague for as long as possible. As long as possible without wrecking our finances, or letting the house fall down around our ears. But only doing the great stuff? A truly adult life doesn’t work like that. Not unless you were fortunate enough to make a career out of your favorite hobby. But even then, there’s parts that are boring and stressful. For example, if you love toddlers and have chosen to run a daycare, those hours you get to spend playing and teaching them are magical. But as sure as day follows night, there is cleanup, bookkeeping, restocking of supplies, taxes, and a myriad of other responsibilities that aren’t near as much fun. But still, they have to be done. That’s the way life works for most people. And most adults accept it. Work and play, play and work. But. Then there’s others. That certain segment of semi-adults who somehow believe that  “I am definitely entitled to live differently!”  They think that because they only live once, they should be allowed to only do what they choose. Only the fun stuff. The adventurous stuff. And if society protests and tries to get them to change and accept responsibility for their life, they just stubbornly claim they have the right to exercise their right to do absolutely nothing of value. Others in that segment of non-working adults think they should play now, while they still have youthful vim and vigor. Work and responsibility can come later in life, after they have had time to experience all that adult playtime has to offer. The whole idea does sound fun, and honestly, kind of tempting. After all, who doesn’t like the idea of doing exactly as you want? When, how, and where you want. All the time. And then spend your – ahem - less than energetic years, working some dull, meaningless job that will allow you to pay off all your bills from earlier decades. But there’s a problem with that entire thought; If we all played, who provides the basics for the world? Food crops, transportation, homes, hospitals, and the money to have all those essentials? Second problem: In order to be meaningful, life needs real challenges to our minds, emotions and our bodies. In short, we need work. Without it, life gets sickening and uninspired. Much like a child who is allowed to eat sugary foods only and ends up suffering in every way, because his body is not receiving what it needs. In the same way, we humans NEED work  and  playtime to actually thrive. We need the challenge and the learned discipline that comes with hard work. But we also have to have time away from that work. I believe it’s called balance.

By: Kelley Williams, Chair Bigger Pie Forum   Hans Einstein   Not Albert, his son Hans. As far as we know, Albert was right about his General Theory of Relativity and other natural laws. Hans was not as famous as his father. But he was the world expert on river sediments. He advised the Corps of Engineers (Corps) on the design of the Old River Control Complex (ORCC) in the 1950s. He thought the Corps would take his advice. He was wrong. The Corps built the ORCC to keep the Mississippi River from changing course down the Atchafalaya River. It’s about 50 miles upstream from Baton Rouge. It controls the Mississippi’s flow and diverts 23% to the  Atchafalaya as ordered by Congress (1954 Flood Control Act) and thence straight to the Gulf near Morgan City. It leaves the remaining 77% in the main channel to meander to the Gulf at New Orleans. Hans knew the natural law of sediment transport concentrates sediments in a meandering river when part of its flow is diverted. And that the concentrated sediments would fall out, clog the channel, create a  bottleneck, and slow the Mississippi’s flow to the Gulf. And that this would cause higher and longer floods upstream. He sought to minimize these effects by the careful design of the ORCC and by siting it to divert flow from the river’s sediment-rich strata. He was right about the design and the siting. Sedimentation was negligible for  27 years from 1963 when ORCC started up to 1990. Then the Corps ignored his advice and the natural law of sedimentation to collaborate on a hydroelectric power plant. Private investors built the plant and made a deal with the Corps to put it just upstream of the ORCC and for the Corps to send sediment-lean flow through its turbines to the Atchafalaya instead of the sediment-rich flow it had sent through the ORCC. Han’s couldn’t know this would happen. But he could have predicted the result: sediments concentrated in the river’s main channel, fell out, clogged it just below ORCC, and slowed its discharge to the Gulf. The river rose, floods got higher and much longer  inside the levees with little or no increase in rainfall. In 2015 there was a step-change increase in flood duration. The increase became obvious to landowners inside the levees in 2016. Floods were 2-3 times longer in the five years after 2015 vs before. There was no  increase in the frequency of floods (rainfall events). The Corps knew that sediments were increasing in 2005 when it made the first measurement of the river channel after the power plant began operating. By 2015 Corps measurements showed the channel width had  shrunk by 50% and the channel depth, by 33%. The Corps knew this was happening and that it would continue and make floods ever higher and longer. But the Mississippi River Commission (MRC) generals told Mississippi’s Secretary of State, other landowners, and me the flooding was due to more rain when we testified about flood damage in 2016-17. No mention  of sediments. We didn’t learn that sediments were the cause until 2018. Why did the Generals hide the real cause? The Corps deal with the power plant is a liability and an embarrassment. The Generals may have been ordered to hide it. The Corps is supposed to control floods and mitigate flood damage. Its deal with the power  plant makes both worse. The Corps has a Memo of Understanding (MOU) with the company that owns the plant. It requires the Corps to send sediment lean flow to the plant. It also requires the owner of the plant to dredge sediments the plant causes. The company doesn’t dredge. The Corps doesn’t enforce the MOU or dredge the sediments itself. It seems strangely indifferent to the consequences of its decisions. We learned the real cause of the floods after LSU’s Dr. Xu published a report in late 2017 based on changes in Corps morphology measurements (channel dimensions) cited above. It showed that sediments had  clogged the channel below ORCC and made it much smaller (bottleneck) since 1990. He said the bottleneck would cause the river to rise and change course in a big flood. In 2019, the Corps published a little-noticed updated flow line study. It predicts hundreds of miles of levees from Greenville to New Orleans will overtop in a big flood. The last time that happened was the great flood of  1927. Reality has confirmed that Dr. Einstein was right about Nature’s sediment transport law and the consequences of violating it. And that he was wrong to think the Corps would obey it. So disaster looms ever sooner as a result of Corps decisions — which seem inconsistent with the mission Congress gave it (1928 Flood Control Act): don’t let another 1927 flood happen. It looks like Corps’ decisions are leading to another great flood. Who made the decisions about the power plant? And the decision not to dredge the sediments, and the decision not to build a relief structure to take the top off of floods, and the decision not to tell landowners inside  the levees the cause of their flooding, and the decision not to warn landowners outside the levees about the increasing risk and inevitability of levees overtopping. The Corps is a bureaucracy subordinate to other bureaucracies and to Congress. Authority and responsibility are diffuse. No one takes responsibility for bad decisions. No one is solely to blame for the flooding inside  the levees and the coming flood disaster outside the levees. The buck doesn’t stop with the Mississippi River Commission Generals. They follow orders too. It seems the buck doesn’t stop anywhere. That’s the problem. We don’t know the names of the Generals, politicians, and bureaucrats who made the decisions now. But we will learn them after the levees overtop.