Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson invites the public to attend the ceremonial ribbon cutting to officially open the gates to the 2024 Mississippi State Fair Thursday, October 3, at 11:00 a.m. at Gate 1 of the State Fairgrounds, located at the intersection of Amite and Jefferson Streets. Commissioner Gipson will be joined by law enforcement officials, Mississippi 4-H state officers and North American Midway Entertainment (NAME) representatives. The Murrah High School Marching Band will perform, the Mississippi Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion Color Guard will present the colors and Allie Brown, Junior 4-H Idol from Jones County, will sing the national anthem. James Hopkins of Reset Jackson will lead in a prayer during the ceremony. Following the ribbon cutting, Commissioner Gipson and opening ceremony participants will parade down the Midway. The 165th Mississippi State Fair will run through October 14. Fair admission is free every weekday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., except on Monday, October 14, Columbus Day. Find the complete schedule of fair events at  www.msstatefair.com . For additional information and updates, follow the Mississippi State Fair on Facebook, Instagram and X. Scheduled Activities & Events for Thursday, October 3, 2024 Thursday, October 3, is Mississippi Heroes Day at the State Fair. All police officers, first responders, firefighters, healthcare workers, medical professionals and active military will be given free admission. Identification will be required at the gate. 11:00 a.m. – Gates Open (Free admission until 1:00 p.m.) 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. – Mississippi State Fair Marketplace & Genuine MS® Store – Trade Mart 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. – Farm Bureau Petting Zoo – Mississippi Frontier Village 12:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. – Tumbleweed Crossing – Mississippi Frontier Village 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. – Agri-Puppets – Mississippi Frontier Village 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. – Pig Races – Mississippi Frontier Village  2:00 p.m. – Rides Open  2:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. – Zerbini Family Circus – Kid Zone  4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. – Biscuit Booth – Midway  6:00 p.m. – Miss Mississippi State Fair Pageant – Mississippi Coliseum – $10 admission  6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. – Live Music – Busch Light Pavilion  7:00 p.m. – Taste of Dixie National Rodeo – Mississippi Frontier Village  10:00 p.m. – Gates Close Scheduled Activities & Events for Friday, October 4, 2024 Ride Specials: Ride Wristband Day for $30 from 8:00 p.m. to close. 8:00 a.m. – Goat Showmanship – Barn 7 15 minutes after Goat Showmanship - 4H/FFA Meat Goat Doe Show – Barn 7 8:00 a.m. – Junior Market Goat Show – Barn 7 15 minutes after Market Goat Show - Registered Breeding Boer Doe Showmanship and Show – Barn 7 11:00 a.m. – Gates Open (Free admission until 1:00 p.m.) 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. – Mississippi State Fair Marketplace & Genuine MS® Store – Trade Mart 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. – Farm Bureau Petting Zoo – Mississippi Frontier Village 12:00 p.m. – Rides Open 12:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. – Tumbleweed Crossing – Mississippi Frontier Village 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. – Agri-Puppets – Mississippi Frontier Village 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. – Pig Races – Mississippi Frontier Village 2:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. – Zerbini Family Circus – Kid Zone 4:00 p.m. – Miss Mississippi State Fair Talent Show – Mississippi Coliseum – $10 admission 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. – Biscuit Booth – Midway 7:00 p.m. – Taste of Dixie National Rodeo – Mississippi Frontier Village 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. – A Conway Tribute Show by Shayne Weems & the Slow Hand Band – Busch Light Pavilion 11:00 p.m. – Gates Close Know Before You Go: o   Gate admission is $10.00 per person, and parking is free. Children ages 5 and under will be admitted free of charge. The public can purchase admission tickets, concert tickets and ride wristbands online at  www.msstatefair.com , or purchase admission and concert tickets in-person at the Coliseum Box Office. o   Fair admission is free every weekday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., except on Monday, October 14, Columbus Day. o   Beginning at 9:00 p.m., any guest under the age of 18 seeking admission to the Fairgrounds must be accompanied by a legal adult (21 or older). Any guest may be asked to show official proof of age to be admitted after 9:00 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring identification. o   When entering the Midway, all guests will proceed through one of several entry security points utilizing a metal detector. o   All bags are subject to search. The maximum bag size that will be accepted into the Fair is 12”x12”x6”. o   No outside food or beverage allowed. o   No marketing, soliciting, political or vending items allowed unless and as authorized under Fairground regulations. o   Pursuant to state law, the legal carry of firearms by all lawful adults is recognized on the Mississippi Fairgrounds. o   No animals (other than service animals or as authorized by Fair management for Fair activities), banners, fireworks/explosives or laser pointers allowed. o   Jefferson Street will be closed between Pearl Street and Amite Street. Greymont Street will be open for Fair traffic only.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is partnering with Count the Kicks to accelerate progress on stillbirth prevention.  Data shows an average of 300 families a year are affected by stillbirth/fetal deaths in Mississippi.  The goal is to promote the sharing and download of the free Count the Kicks mobile app with every expectant parent you know. The CDC lists a change in a baby's movements as one of its 15 urgent maternal warning signs. The "Count the Kicks" program helps prevent stillbirths by teaching expectant parents a simple method for monitoring their baby's movements in the third trimester of pregnancy. The free Count the Kicks app makes it easy for expectant parents to get to know their baby's normal movement patterns and empowers them to speak up to their provider if their baby's movements change. Research shows a change in a baby's movement patterns in the third trimester is often an early red flag in pregnancy that something might be going wrong. "The MSDH is committed to improving maternal health and birth outcomes for families in our state," said Dr. Dan Edney, MSDH Executive Director and State Health Officer. "We believe Count the Kicks is an excellent tool to help save babies now." The free Count the Kicks app is available in 20+ languages in the Google Play and iOS app stores, and has been downloaded 600,000 times and counting in all 50 U.S. states, and more than 140 other countries "Count the Kicks gives expectant parents and providers the tools and resources they need to have an ongoing conversation about fetal movement in the third trimester," said Emily Price, CEO for Healthy Birth Day, Inc., the nonprofit organization that created the Count the Kicks program. "Count the Kicks is proven to improve birth outcomes for moms and babies, and we are grateful to be partnering with MSDH to make this life-saving education available to Mississippi families." For more information about maternal and infant health initiatives at MSDH, contact the Maternal and Infant Health Bureau at 601-576-7429.

By Kara Kimbrough     I’ve shared my love of pound cake before. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that I recently spent a few hours following the comments of members of an online food and recipe group as they helped someone search for a long-lost pound cake recipe.  One of the members was trying to recreate a specific cake made famous at Memphis-area parties decades ago. The fervency with which group members discussed their favorite pound cake recipe and the associated memories made me stop and search for a specific pound cake from my own childhood.     I remember my grandmother making an old-fashioned pound cake with a crunchy top in an angel food pan many years ago. However, during the latter part of her life, the type of pound cake underneath the silver domed cake cover in her kitchen changed. I searched the family cookbook, but the recipe for this specific, shortcut-type pound cake was not listed. All I could recall from the recipe is that the cake was not the “old-fashioned” kind and the subtle taste of Wesson Oil (not in an overpowering way, but just part of the equation) was present.    After searching, I located a recipe for Wesson Oil Pound Cake. I quickly gathered the ingredients and made the cake. It was moist and delicious, but like many things recreated from the past, it didn’t taste quite as good as I remembered enjoying in my grandmother’s kitchen. Maybe it was due to the fact that the silver cake dome was missing, along with the smell of coffee brewing in the silver percolator.    Speaking of those two kitchen items…as I get older, the things I value most in life are items attached to pleasant memories of the past. I hope to someday recover the cake dome and percolator and display them in my kitchen. The monetary value and functionality of both items may be low, but the memories associated with them are priceless.    As far as the group member’s quest for the Memphis pound cake, the exact one was never found. With Memphis on my mind, I located the recipe for Elvis’ favorite pound cake. It happens to be my favorite way to make pound cake due to the inclusion of heavy cream.     I’ve read that Elvis would eat an entire pound cake in one sitting. I’m not one to judge because as we all know, there’s nothing on earth quite as good as a slice of hot-from-the-oven pound cake. Wesson Oil Pound Cake 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened 3 cups sugar 1/2 cup Wesson oil 5 eggs 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon lemon extract Cream butter and sugar. Add Wesson oil, eggs (one at a time, beating after each one), flour, milk and flavorings. Pour into a greased Bundt pan and bake at 325° degrees for 1 hour to 1 hour, 10 minutes. Elvis’ Favorite Whipping Cream Pound Cake 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened, plus additional for buttering pan 3 cups sifted cake flour (not self-rising; sift before measuring) plus additional for dusting ¾ teaspoon kosher salt 3 cup sugar 7 large eggs, at room temperature for 30 minutes 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup heavy cream     Put oven rack in middle position, but do not preheat oven. Generously butter pan and dust with flour, knocking out excess flour. Sift 3 cups sifted cake flour and ¾ teaspoon salt into a medium bowl. Repeat sifting into another medium bowl.     Beat together 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened and 3 cups sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. (If using a stand mixer, use paddle attachment. If using hand mixer, beat 6 to 8 minutes).     Add 7 large eggs, 1 egg at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in 2 teaspoons vanilla. Reduce to low speed and add half of flour mixture, then 1 cup heavy cream, then remaining flour mixture, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down sides of the bowl, then beat at medium-high speed 5 minutes      Spoon batter into prepared pan. Place pan in cold oven and turn oven temperature to 350 degrees. Bake until golden and a wooden pick or skewer inserted in middle of cake comes out with a few crumbs adhering, 60–75 minutes. Cool cake in pan on a rack 30 minutes. Run a thin knife around inner and outer edges of cake, then invert rack over pan and invert cake onto rack to cool completely. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com .

The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum invites the public to attend the annual Pumpkin Adventure on October 2-5, 9-12 and 16-19. The event will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays. “The annual Pumpkin Adventure is a family-friendly event and the perfect outing this fall season,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson. “I encourage the families and individuals traveling to the capital city for the Mississippi State Fair in the coming days to also stop by the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum for even more wholesome fun, outdoor activities and agriculture-related entertainment.” The Museum’s Pumpkin Adventure will include a hayride around the museum grounds and Small Town, Miss., a complimentary snack of cookies and milk, a self-guided tour of the Heritage Center Gallery; a visit to the farm animals located inside the Children’s Barnyard, a corn pit to play in, a straw maze and a small pumpkin of choice to take home. The General Store will also be open for visitors to shop for souvenirs and enjoy an old-fashioned Coca-Cola in a glass bottle. Admission price for the annual Pumpkin Adventure is $10.00 per person for ages 1 and up. Concessions will be available for purchase on Saturdays during this event. The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, is located at 1150 Lakeland Drive in Jackson, and is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 601-432-4500 or 1-800-844-8687, visit  www.msagmuseum.org  or visit the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum’s page on Facebook.

It is almost that time again! Get geared up and ready for Homecoming on October 11. For the week leading up to this event, here is the list of ways to dress up each day.

Get ready to show off your school spirit, BEEMS Rangers! Homecoming Spirit Week kicks off on September 30, 2024, with a full week of themed dress-up days and activities. Every day is a new opportunity to celebrate, have fun, and display your Ranger pride. Don’t miss out on the excitement, and let’s cheer our Rangers on to victory!

By Bob Garver               I actually had high hopes going into “Transformers One.” Not because I’m a big fan of the toys or really anything about the property, but because this movie promised to correct some of the mistakes made by its predecessors. Namely, I was excited that there wouldn’t be any live-action actors. For some reason, this franchise has never shied away from shoving human Shia LeBeouf or Mark Wahlberg characters down our throats when we all know it’s the giant robots that sell tickets. This time, no humans, all robots. Also, animated versions of previously-live-action franchises have been pleasing me lately. Both “Spider-Verse” movies are outstanding, and last year for the first time I found myself liking a “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” movie with “Mutant Mayhem.” Could “Transformers One” turn me around on another property that I had previously dismissed as a series of glorified toy commercials? Sadly, no.             The new film is a prequel that looks at the friendship-turned-feud between Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth) and Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry) back when they were just humble miners on the planet Cybertron. The robots, known then as Orion Pax and D-16, respectively, live to serve planetary leader Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm), but they can’t do much since they lack the gears to Transform. Orion believes that if he can retrieve an ancient artifact known as the Matrix of Leadership, he can help the struggling planet more than Sentinel ever could. He hatches various harebrained schemes that include breaking into forbidden records rooms, entering he and D-16 in a race off-limits to non-Transformers, and exiting the mines and visiting the planet’s surface ultra-dangerous surface.             It’s on the surface that they meet left-for-dead Prime robot Alpha Trion (Laurence Fishburne), who warns them of a threat to the entire planet. They also come across a roving band of disavowed High Guard robots led by Starscream (Steve Buscemi), who may become allies if Orion and D-16 can win them over. History is learned, secrets are revealed, some characters are captured by the villains for the final act. Along for the ride are disgruntled ex-mining supervisor Elita-1 (Scarlett Johansson) and waste management grunt B-127 (Keegan-Michael Key). Supposedly the latter will eventually become Bumblebee, a Transformer I know to be more competent than Optimus Prime, but here is just an annoying screwup, making me understand why “Bumble” is part of his name.             B-127 is responsible for about a third of the unfunny comedy in this movie, meaning that he’s the “most” responsible, but he’s not the only one. There’s a weird… what I’ll call “frat boy” energy permeating the scenes with male robots in this movie, outside of Fishburne. It’s like Hemsworth, Henry, and Hamm are all competing to nail the perfect ratio of humor, chill, and action stardom. The result is three performances that are basically the same, which might work if the humor was funnier and the chill was necessary. And by “chill” I mean overly casual mannerisms, not the reassuring calmness that an actor like Optimus Prime’s previous voice actor Peter Cullen brought to the role.             The action scenes didn’t really do it for me either. It’s nice that the animated movie doesn’t have to worry about Earthly limitations, but with every character being an arguably-soulless robot, it’s hard to care about anyone having an advantage over anyone else. Plus, while the characters may have some color to their trim, their skeletons are all the same grayish metallic color, and that’s what you mostly see during action sequence, so it’s hard to tell who’s winning.             “Transformers One” doesn’t have much to offer outside of the Orion/D-16 relationship, which does provide some nice emotional moments from Hemsworth and Henry. Otherwise, this movie is right on par with the live-action “Transformers” movies that I wanted to leave behind. To be sure, getting rid of the humans is a step in the right direction, but it will take many more steps before I give one of these movies a recommendation.   Grade: C-   “Transformers One” is rated PG for sci-fi action and animated action throughout, and language. Its running time is 104 minutes.   Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu .

Send any responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com Two-month-old Lydia suddenly feels uncomfortable, so she begins twisting her little head back and forth, whimpering, and when that doesn’t bring her mom, she begins shifting her body around. According to her beliefs, that lady-in-waiting has only one function in life - to attend to Lydia’s every whim and need. Mom is supposed to be watching that tiny body 24/7, so as to catch the first indication that “Hey, ma’am, I am not happy, and you should have already fixed this situation forty-five seconds ago!” And if that dear lady is lax jumping to attention and attending to the baby’s immediate desire of the moment, then in another few seconds all hell is going to break lose in the room. Baby fists will flail, tiny feet will kick and her face will turn redder and redder, as she screams and demands the attention she wants NOW. And the din and chaos will only get louder until she gets her way.   There is no reasoning with the child – she doesn’t want to hear any explanation Mom could offer in self-defense. There are no excuses that will be acceptable to her. Mom could lovingly argue that the phone is ringing, someone is at the door, the soup on the kitchen stove is boiling over, and she just took a header on the tile floor rushing to see what her angrily screaming baby is wanting….it matters not. The tyrant wants what she wants. NOW. And absolutely nothing but the best for her. If she is hungry, there better be warm milk on tap at the ready. If her issue is a less-than-comfortable feeling between her legs, then by golly, nothing and I mean nothing, should prevent her from nestling her tiny bottom on a comfy and dry diaper.   Whine, squirm, complain loudly, and refuse to stop manipulating those around her, until the goal of getting what she wants is achieved.   That one simple sentence containing only twenty-two words describes the behavior of two-month-old Lydia…and our 2024 Presidential Election.   Here's my question.   WHAT IS WRONG WITH US ADULTS!!!!??  Some people on both sides of the issues are acting like spoiled br…um…babies. Just like tiny infants, the needs and fears of everyone else in our country are absolutely meaningless to them, and are being totally ignored. There is a terrifying amount of “I want what I want, and I will accept no less!” surrounding this presidential election. No holds barred. We are seeing grown adults – among our country’s leaders, no less! -  unwilling to listen to another point of view, with an arrogant smirkiness that smacks of the childish taunt, “Just talk to the hand ‘cause I’m not about to listen, and you can’t make me.”   Lydia is only acting her age.  But today we have adults behaving worse than tiny tots. It’s past time to grow up, people, before we lose everything we hold dear.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson provided updates on new online ticketing options, new attractions and security measures for the upcoming 165th Mississippi State Fair taking place October 3-14, 2024. Commissioner Gipson was joined by Michael Lasseter, Director of the Mississippi State Fairgrounds; Steve Shows, Chief of Security for the Mississippi State Fairgrounds; Commissioner Sean Tindell, Mississippi Department of Public Safety;   Chief   Bo Luckey, State Capitol Police; Colonel Charles Haynes, Mississippi Highway Patrol; Lt. Colonel James Ivory, Mississippi Highway Patrol; Chief Deputy Latasha Holmes, Hinds County Sheriff's Office; Chief Joseph Wade, Jackson Police Department; Captain Mark Hodges, Jackson Police Department; Colonel Jerry Carter, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks; Colonel Keith Davis, Mississippi Law Enforcement Division; along with other state and local law enforcement officials.  "The Mississippi State Fair began as an agricultural exposition, and agriculture remains the heartbeat of this massive event over 160 years later," said Commissioner Gipson. "I'm proud to oversee this incredible, family-friendly event. With over 100 food vendors, over 60 rides, 73 expo participants, nationally recognized artists and so many great acts and shows in between, there is something for all to enjoy. And for the first time in Mississippi State Fair history, fairgoers can purchase general admission tickets and ride wristbands online ahead of the State Fair."  The 2024 Mississippi State Fair will open at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 3, and run through Monday, October 14. Gate admission will be $10.00 per person and parking is free. Children aged 5 and under will be admitted free of charge. The public can purchase advance admission tickets, concert tickets and ride wristbands at  www.msstatefair.com . Enjoy free admission every weekday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., except on Monday, October 14, Columbus Day. "I want to thank our fairgrounds staff," said Michael Lasseter, Director of the Mississippi State Fairgrounds. "It's a lot of work putting this event together and they work tirelessly for months to get everything ready and ensure an outstanding State Fair. This year, our goal was to make things even more convenient and accessible for fairgoers." The public now has the option to buy admission tickets in advance online or at the gate. Tickets can be  purchased at the gate through one of multiple kiosks or at the ticket booth. Tickets will then be scanned digitally from a smartphone or from a printed receipt next to the point of purchase. Therefore, fairgoers who purchase online tickets in advance can skip the line. Online tickets are available for purchase now through Wednesday, October 2, for a discounted price of $8 per person. Fairgoers can expect all their favorites, including the Taste of the Dixie National Rodeo; State Fair Marketplace Expo and Genuine MS® Store; State Fair Pageant and Talent Show; Farm Bureau Petting Zoo and pig races; 4-H and FFA livestock shows; Zerbini Family Circus; and the beloved Biscuit Booth. In addition to all the usual vendors, shows and rides, the 2024 State Fair will also feature all-new attractions like the Tumbleweed Crossing Wild West reenactment, the family-friendly Agri-Puppets show and the hands-on 4-H and FFA Barnyard exhibition. Fairgrounds and law enforcement officials also stressed that safety is a top priority for the annual Mississippi State Fair, highlighting the continued partnership between local and state law enforcement agencies, as well as first responders. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Mississippi Highway Patrol, State Capitol Police, Mississippi Office of Homeland Security, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, State Fire Marshal's Office, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Mississippi Agriculture and Livestock Theft Bureau, Hinds County Sheriff's Office, Jackson Police Department, Pearl Police Department, American Medical Response and Swetman Security are all working in collaboration with the Mississippi State Fairgrounds. "Ensuring a safe and secure environment for all attendees of the 165th Mississippi State Fair is our top priority," said Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell. "Law enforcement will work tirelessly to guarantee that everyone feels welcome and confident in their enjoyment of the fair here in our Capital City," said Commissioner Sean Tindell, Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Fairgrounds Chief of Security Steve Shows outlined the following safety measures that will be in effect at the 2024 Mississippi State Fair: Beginning at 9:00 p.m., any guest under the age of 18 seeking admission to the Fairgrounds must be accompanied by a legal adult (21 or older). Any guest may be asked to show official proof of age to be admitted after 9:00 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring identification. When entering the Midway, all guests will proceed through one of several entry security points utilizing a metal detector and/or be subject to magnetic wanding. All bags are subject to search. The maximum bag size that will be accepted into the Fair is 12"x12"x6". No outside food or beverage allowed. No marketing, soliciting, political or vending items allowed unless and as authorized under Fairground regulations. No animals (other than service animals or as authorized by Fair management for Fair activities), banners, fireworks/explosives or laser pointers allowed. Pursuant to state law, the legal carry of firearms by all lawful adults is recognized on the Mississippi Fairgrounds. Exceptions and challenges to these policies will be satisfied at the discretion of Fair Management. "Thank you to all our men and women in law enforcement who are partnering with the Mississippi State Fairgrounds to ensure the safety of our visitors so they can relax and enjoy their time at the 2024 State Fair," continued Commissioner Gipson. "I look forward to seeing you all there!" View  https://youtu.be/OOups_xYpr8  to watch the full press conference online. For more information, visit  www.msstatefair.com  and follow the Mississippi State Fair on Facebook, Instagram and X.

By: Bob Garver “Speak No Evil” is a remake of a 2022 Danish movie with a famously vile twist. I went into this film expecting it to have the same twist. That’s not to say that I expected it to have the same “ending,” exactly, as I knew the film might deviate from the source material once it reached a certain point. But there could be no question that it was indeed winding its way to that point. It was no surprise that what came after that point was horror movie shlock, but I was surprised by how captivated I was by what led up to that point. The film finds protagonist couple Ben and Louise Dalton (Scoot McNairy and Mackenzie Davis, respectively) on vacation with their daughter Agnes (Alix West) in Italy. They’re about as unhappy there as they are at home in London, which is to say pretty unhappy, with Ben falling short as a provider and Louise possibly dabbling in infidelity. But things pick up when they meet fun couple Paddy (James McAvoy) and Ciara (Aisling Franciosi) and their mute son Ant (Dan Hough). The kids become fast friends, the families have a great time together, and Paddy and Ciara invite the Daltons to their house in the country. The thing is that when everybody met, they were all on vacation, so the playing field was level in terms of accommodations and shared mood. The dynamic shifts a little when the Daltons are guests in Paddy and Ciara’s home. At first it’s just little inconveniences like the guest room sheets having stains and there not being a proper bed for Agnes. But as the days go by, the Daltons find that they like their hosts less and less. Paddy and Ciara don’t treat an immigrant neighbor very well, they’re too open about their sex lives, and they have some differing views on parenting that they’re increasingly unafraid to impose. Also, Ant keeps urgently trying to tell them something, which is frustrating because a condition with his tongue makes it impossible. The film is at its best in this portion. Everyone has acquaintances whose sense of boundaries don’t quite mesh with their own, and the film milks that universal anxiety for all it’s worth. It might not be “horror” in the traditional sense, but I’d sure be scared to be in some of these situations where I might come off as a bad friend or ignorant or “in the wrong.” Of course, this movie isn’t being sold on exploiting the audience’s fear of social faux pas, eventually the other shoe has to drop and proper horror elements have to present themselves. And from that point forward, this movie becomes just another exercise in flat tires, cut phone lines, and characters running up the stairs when they should be bolting out the door. Oh, and a villain or villains that have been meticulous for years suddenly getting so sloppy that you’ll wonder how they ever had any success in the first place. “Speak No Evil” was doing so well for so long. The astute technical team recreates certain shots perfectly from the original movie and the gradual dissolution of politeness and respect is paced beautifully. Part of me was hoping that the Daltons could get away from Paddy and Ciara just so their battle of passive-aggressiveness could be picked back up at another time. But no, this just has to be a movie with a body count, and the chances for a sequel are as bleak as the original’s ending. I do give a recommendation to “Speak No Evil,” but it would be evil of me to say that you should expect a truly excellent movie. Grade: B- “Speak No Evil” is rated R for some strong violence, language, some sexual content and brief drug use. Its running time is 110 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com You’ve surely seen them. The people in your life that rarely look at the glass as half empty. To them, having a half-empty glass just means they can to fill it to the brim with whatever they choose. But to a person who is discouraged, depressed, and feeling victimized by endless defeats, a Constantly Contented Connie can be absolutely irritating to be around. We commonly refer to the two attitudes as Victor and Victim Mindsets. Victors. They have decided to be just that. They have already decided that they will play the long game. Sure, they remember the defeats, the heartaches, the horrible times in the past.  They aren’t ignorant and naïve. They know sad times are going to roll over and flatten them again. But here’s the difference. They know a difficult time can only defeat them as much, and as long, as they allow it to defeat them. So, during the discouraging times, they concentrate on the good parts in their life, wherever they can find them. A tornado blows away their home – they thank God that their family is alive. A fire takes the life of their loved ones – even in their overwhelming grief, they find ways to be grateful for other things and other loved ones left in their life. They lose their only means of income – they invariably open their heart to others and realize they can be grateful for so many other things and people in their lives. While they determinedly begin searching for a new way of supporting themselves. They simply refuse to quit. And because they won’t, they keep marching ahead. Oh, yes, of course they feel pain and discouragement – they’re not happy little robots who can only get in touch with their positive emotions. But the difference is this. They have determined within themselves to not become victimized by the difficulties of their life. They know if they do, they will be destined to feeling hopeless. Always feeling victimized.    On the other hand is the Victim. A person who has been hurt badly – over and over again in life. And at some point they began to give up hoping that they will catch a break, that life will be good to them. And unfortunately, hopelessness can be the birthplace of anger, which is usually the grandparent of depression. Not a great way to live life. A victim mindset can be changed. But only if you want to change and will work at it. This doesn’t necessarily mean that your circumstances will automatically become the stuff of dreams. But it does mean that you won’t have to live your life just knowing that the worst will always happen. Ongoing pessimism is your enemy. The killer of dreams and the ambusher of any optimism and happiness that life can hand to you. Give yourself the chance to win – even in loss.

By: Kara Kimbrough   Here’s a sobering thought. The overall quality of life of Americans living in the previous century compared to modern-day residents was much better. No surprise, our ancestors were much healthier. Diseases like cancer and diabetes were rarer and here’s why.   Researchers attribute moderate doses of sunshine, rigorous daily exercise from working on farms and most importantly, primarily eating made-from-scratch foods like home-grown vegetables and farm-raised chicken, beef and pork as the reason our grandparents and prior generations experienced fewer health problems.     The report made me realize I need to rely more on home-cooked meals made with fresh ingredients instead of frozen and processed ones. Some argue they “don’t have time” or aren’t very proficient in the kitchen, relying instead on heat-and-eat meals courtesy of the supermarket or other places. This train of thought doesn’t hold water, since there are hundreds – maybe thousands- of 4 and 5-ingredient recipes requiring little preparation time before cooking.      Here are three of my favorite quick-and-easy go-to dinner recipes that would undoubtedly make my healthier ancestors proud: Bacon-Wrapped Chicken and   Dried Beef 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 4-ounce jar dried beef slices, separated 6 strips bacon (don't use thick-cut)  1 cup sour cream 1 can cream of mushroom soup      Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Placed dried beef strips in bottom of greased casserole dish. Wrap bacon slices around each chicken breast and place over beef. Combine sour cream and soup; spread over chicken. Cover and bake for two hours. Serve over noodles or rice. Pork Chops and Potatoes Bake 4 to 6 pork chops 4 to 5 potatoes, peeled and sliced into ½-inch slices 1 can cheddar cheese soup 1 cup sour cream      Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place two layers of sliced potatoes in bottom of greased casserole dish. Place pork chops on top. Combine soup and sour cream. Pour over chops. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Ham and Potatoes O’Brien Casserole 5 slices of deli ham, chopped 24-ounce package Ore-Ida Potatoes O’Brien, thawed 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature 4.5-ounce jar green chilies, chopped      Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place thawed potatoes and chopped ham in greased casserole dish, combine and spread out with a spatula. Combine cream cheese and green chilies. Pour over potatoes and stir well. Bake for 40 minutes. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com .