Physical pain. Turns your life upside down while it lasts. Instead of concentrating on having fun or getting your job done, a person experiencing pain suddenly finds themself with a new goal. Getting rid of it – now. Aspirin, painkillers, bedrest, anything, - you name it, we want it. But let’s look at those who live with chronic pain – the kind that their doctor has been unable to help so far, and not much hope that it will be taken away soon. When you talk to sufferers of chronic pain, you find that there seem to be a few characteristics that are part and parcel of the whole experience. Like feelings of impatience, resentment, envy, bitterness, hopelessness and eventually, depression. Not exactly the stuff of dreams for anyone. Slogging thru life with the burden of pain, and then adding on that emotional baggage…it is no wonder they can have a tough time with just coping. But when that person decides to just keep going, no matter the odds, as time passes they can find that there have been a few upsides, after all. They learn as they look back over the years that they have been offered the chance to experience some positive personality changes. If they have allowed it, chronic pain can do some personal work like little else can. Hopefully they will recognize themselves as being a little more compassionate for others who are physically hurting in some way. Kindness and caring will usually be the offshoots of that compassion. For example, nothing like suffering with a migraine to enable a person to feel for another’s blinding headache. Most chronic sufferers will find they develop more patience and long-suffering. After all, what choice have they had in the matter? They have had to learn to just deal with their problem. Sulking and/or throwing a fit doesn’t change anything. Another positive change in their personality will probably be more courage. An individual can’t live with inescapable pain without developing determination and resolve to make it thru and do what has to be done, no matter what. Chronic pain will also bring out a person’s creativity. No one else but you can find the tiny ways to help yourself that bring about a smidgen of physical relief. A certain pillow placed at just the right angle, a particular writer or tv show that has a way of capturing your attention and taking you out of your pain-filled world for a little while, an ice-pack or hot pack tucked into a particular spot for a few minutes. These kinds of things are discovered only by the sufferer themselves. Real need sparks real creativity over time. Sufferers of chronic physical pain, take a look back in time. If you have allowed living with pain to change you for the better, you can be proud of yourself. You have made positive contributions to the lives of other people in ways you never even realized.

The Mississippi Book Festival is excited to welcome literature lovers of all ages to its 9th annual "literary lawn party" this Saturday, August 19th. A day filled with author panel discussions, live music, food, art, and activities for all ages, this free event located on the State Capitol grounds in Downtown Jackson will offer something for everyone to enjoy. Many acclaimed authors will be in attendance this weekend including Lois Lowry, Richard Ford, Richard Russo, James McBride, Ann Patchett, and Harrison Scott Key. Lowry, a two-time Newbery Medal recipient for her works Number the Stars and The Giver joins the festival in conversation with Margaret McMullan to discuss Lowry's new book The Windeby Puzzle. From poetic prose to pulse-pounding page-turners, the day will be filled with incredible discussions spanning the entire literary landscape. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Ford will join us in conversation with Mississippi Book Festival founding director Holly Lange about his latest release, Be Mine. Also in attendance will be acclaimed history authors Jeff Shaara and Simon Winchester to discuss their latest releases, The Old Lion: A Novel of Theodore Roosevelt and Knowing What We Know respectively. National Book Award-winner James McBride joins us in conversation with book fest alum and Jackson-native Kiese Laymon about McBride's latest novel, The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store. There will be plenty of activities for children and young adult readers as well. Comic book lovers will be excited for this year's KidNote speaker, New York Times #1 Bestselling novelist and poet Jason Reynolds, with his latest, Miles Morales Suspended: A Spiderman Novel. 2023 Miss Mississippi Vivian O'Neal will be at the Kids Tent helping children do a crown craft at 9:45 a.m. and reading her book, Josiah's Big Day, at 10:45 a.m. Young Adult readers are invited to attend the panel featuring Jerry Craft, Janae Marks, and Doan Phuong Nguyen. The festival will also feature activities such as Story Time in the Kids Tent, MPB Kids Club, Rocky's House, and more! Book lovers across the state and beyond won't want to miss this one-of-a-kind event to collectively celebrate the magic and wonder of books. "We are thrilled to have everyone out for the 9th Annual Book Festival this weekend," said Executive Director Ellen Daniels. "Each year has managed to be even more exciting and memorable than the last, and it is the support from our community, sponsors, and volunteers who make it so. We have worked on this event for an entire year and can't wait to celebrate with everyone this weekend!" The Mississippi Book Festival is free and open to the public. For more information on this year's festival, visit msbookfestival.com. You can also connect with the Mississippi Book Festival on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

By Kara Kimbrough Receiving emails from readers asking for restaurant recommendations is a regular occurrence. Requests with questions like, "What are the best seafood restaurants on the Gulf Coast," or "While visiting the Jackson area, where should I go for steak?" I'm happy to oblige these requests but one particular request is not so easily answered: "Which restaurants serve the best homemade desserts?" There's a simple reason I consider this request more challenging: the number of restaurants making desserts from scratch is quickly dwindling. In my opinion, that's a sad fact. Don't get me wrong; I don't consider a restaurant's dessert menu to be the determining factor in whether or not I consider it worthy of a visit - or a recommendation. But it's disappointing to realize many resaurants rely on food service companies to supply pre-fabricated pies, cakes, cobblers and other desserts. A few decades ago, this practice was unheard of, but today it's become the norm. However, don't get the idea that homemade desserts are extinct in Mississippi restaurants. Some continue to make their own sweet treats; a few that come to mind include: 1. Mary Mahoney's Bread Pudding - I'm not usually a fan of this dessert, but was a quick convert after trying the famous Biloxi eatery's equally notable bread pudding. Filled with delicious flavors, the top is browned to give the dish a slightly crunchy coating instead of the mushy texture of so many versions. 2. Crystal Grill's Lemon Icebox Pie - Named People Magazine's "Best Pie of Mississippi," I first heard about the famous dessert while interviewing Mississippi native and Iron Chef champion Cat Cora. According to Cora, one of her first stops when visiting her home state is Greenwood to sample a large piece of the mile-high pie. I haven't tried it yet, but it's on my culinary bucket list. 3. Mammy's Cupboard Coconut Pie - A delicious Southern meal at this iconic Natchez restaurant was highighted by a huge slice of coconut pie topped with what seemed to be several inches of fluffy meringue. To say it was one of the best slices of pie of my life wouldn't be an exaggeration. 4. Weidmann's Black Bottom Pie - It's been a few years since I visited the state's oldest restaurant in Meridian, but I have no doubts that slices of its self-proclaimed "world famous black bottom pie" is still selling like hotcakes. For obvious reasons, the recipe is a top secret, but a vintage recipe calls for a crust of crushed gingersnaps, layers of creamy custard and chocolate and a crown of meringue topped with chocolate shavings. The modern-day version looks similar to the description and tastes even better than you can imagine. 5. 10 South Rooftop's Vanilla Creme Brulee - Without question, the view of the Mighty Mississippi is amazing from this Vicksburg eatery's outside deck, especially at sunset. But once the sun goes down, order dinner topped off by this equally outstanding dessert. One of my favorite custard esserts is taken to a new level with the infusion of vanilla topped with the familiar crispy sugar top. So yes, there are a respectful number of restaurant desserts scattered throughout Mississippi. And no, I didn't name them all above. If you'd like a more complete list, drop me an email and I'll send you additional picks. Restaurants aside, there's nothing better than a homemade dessert made by your loving hands in your own kitchen. To get you started, I'm including Mary Mahoney's famous recipe as well as one of my grandmother's favorite "Sunday lunch" pies. Keeping a fresh pound cake under the silver dome was one of her life goals, but she was equally fond of pies. This recipe for "Million Dollar Pie," which she always called "Fruit Cocktail Pie," was one of her go-tos when time was short, but a delicious dessert was the only way to top off a bountiful meal. Mary Mahoney's Bread Pudding 6 slices day-old bread 2 cups milk 2 tablespoons, plus 1/2 cup sugar 2 tablespoons melted butter 1 teaspoon cinnamon 4 eggs 1/2 cup seedless raisins 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Break bread in small pieces in baking dish. Sprinkle cinnamon over bread and add raisins and melted butter. Toast lightly the bread mixture in a 350-degree oven. Then add mixture of eggs, sugar, milk and vanilla extract, after mixing well. Bake about 30 minutes or until solid. Traditionally served with rum sauce. Serves about 8. Emma Lee's Fruit Cocktail Pie 1 can sweetened condensed milk 8-ounce cream cheese 8-ounce carton Cool Whip 1 cup coconut flakes 1 15-ounce can fruit cocktail, drained 1 cup chopped pecans Small can crushed pineapple, drained 2 pie shells, baked according to package directions Mix all ingredients with a hand mixer until blended. Pour into baked pie shells and refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving. Pies freeze well. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Wellness Day at Walmart offers opportunities for families to prioritize their health ahead of a new school year with free screenings and affordable immunizations on Saturday, Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Customers can receive free glucose, cholesterol, BMI and blood pressure screenings as well as affordable immunizations like flu, HPV, tetanus, hepatitis and more, at Walmart pharmacies nationwide. Walmart is collaborating with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to educate communities about preventing Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers. According to the ACS, Mississippi ranks last of all states for first dose of HPV vaccine for 9–12-year-olds (56.2%). ACS volunteers will be on hand at more than 20 Walmart stores in Mississippi to distribute educational materials on HPV as part of Wellness Day. Walmart and the ACS will continue working together to educate communities nationwide around HPV prevention. More than 4,600 Walmart pharmacies will host Walmart Wellness Day events, featuring the following health resources, administered by qualified pharmacy and Vision Center teams: Free health screenings, including glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index and vision screenings at select locations Affordable immunizations, including flu, COVID-19, HPV, pneumonia, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), varicella (chicken pox/shingles), whooping cough (TDAP), Hep A & B and more No cost to patient COVID-19 vaccines Wellness resources and the opportunity to talk with pharmacists Walmart Wellness Day offers families a chance to get to know their numbers, chat with pharmacists, get ahead of the upcoming flu season and learn more about ways to maintain healthy lifestyles. “As families enter a new school year, there’s a peace of mind that comes with a quick health screening or immunization,” said Kevin Host, Walmart’s senior vice president of pharmacy. “Walmart is known for being a back-to-school destination, and Wellness Day at our pharmacies brings an added layer of convenience and community to that process. We’re thrilled to be part of this fun, exciting season and look forward to connecting with our customers and patients.” “Part of the Wellness Day experience includes browsing, and even sampling, some of the wide-ranging, innovative items we offer over the counter,” said Silvia Azrai Kawas, executive vice president, consumables. “We know the new school year is top of mind for families, and our growing assortment reflects creative ways we ensure affordable, high-quality options are available. I’m thrilled to share our new offerings in OTC Health and Wellness with our customers to help them save money and live better.” Since 2014, Walmart pharmacies have hosted Walmart Wellness Days, contributing more than 5 million free health screenings for customers. More than 4,000 Walmart stores are in medically underserved areas. To find a free event in your neighborhood, visit Walmart.com/wellnesshub.

By Bob Garver It’s around the two-thirds mark in “Meg 2: The Trench” that we learn that some of the film’s minor aquatic monsters (not the Megalodons or “Megs” of the title) have developed the ability to walk, and attack, on land. It’s a mistake to bury such a huge twist this late in the movie. That the human characters aren’t safe on land is a movie in and of itself. Make it the selling point of the third movie. Better yet, make it the selling point of this movie, because nothing about the first two-thirds was working anyway. Jason Statham is back as diving expert Jonas Taylor. He has some job with an undersea research station, but even within the movie, everyone knows he’s only here to do action hero stuff. Working for billionaire Driscoll (Sienna Guillory), Jonas goes on a mission in the titular Mariana Trench with his brother-in-law Jiuming (Wu Jing), possible love interest Rigas (Melissanthi Mahut), some warm bodies not worth your attachment, and just for laughs, his stowaway stepdaughter Meiying (Shuya Sophia Cai). Watching from the station are returning characters Mac (Cliff Curtis) and DJ (Page Kennedy), as well as new character Jess (Skyler Samuels). When we learn that there’s a saboteur among them, guess who’s catching my gaze. Megalodons wreck the team’s vessels, so they have to use special suits to walk to a mysterious fully-built facility they’ve stumbled across in the middle of the over-1,500-mile Trench. There’s no getting around it, the underwater scenes in this movie are terrible. The characters are in thick suits and you can’t tell who’s who, the dialogue is garbled, everything is poorly lit (though these characters make the ridiculous decision to all use their limited light supplies at the same time instead of one person at the front of the group using theirs while the rest follow), and the jump scares are cheap. I know this movie wants to be brainless fun, but it’s a lot less fun when things are this murky and miserable. The facility turns out to be the headquarters for an illegal mining operation, with mercenary Montes (Sergo Peris-Mencheta) not wanting our heroes interfering with his boss’s efforts. The characters at the research station aren’t safe from the evil humans either, and for a while this movie just turns into an ocean-based action movie with no Megs in the mix. Things get temporarily sorted out just in time for the characters to realize that three Megs and a host of other Trench creatures are about to attack the hedonistic human population of Fun Island. Here's where “Meg 2: The Trench” has its opportunity to have fun. The Megs and company make snacks out of mercenaries and particularly unlikeable tourists. The heroes use everything at their disposal to stop them, including helicopters, jetskis, Jason Statham being Jason Statham, and of course, lots and lots of explosives. For roughly the last 30 minutes, the film achieves the “guilty pleasure” status it so desperately wants, too bad it takes an 86-minute slog to get there. Aside from all the specific, mostly pacing-based issues I have with “Meg 2: The Trench,” my biggest complaint is that the movie generally seems to be aspiring to nothing more than “so bad it’s good” appeal. It’s debatable if it even pulls that tone off well (I say it doesn’t), but there are so many straightforward “good” movies out right now that we don’t need this. “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” are both in the middle of historic runs, while the delightful “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” could use a boost in ticket sales. Don’t divert your time, money, or energy to “Meg 2: The Trench” unless you truly feel that enough resources have gone to movies that are good on purpose. Grade: C- “Meg 2: The Trench” is rated PG-13 for action/violence, some bloody images, language and brief suggestive material. Its running time is 116 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

*Be continually grouchy with your family and expect them to love, honor, and want to be around you. *Demand miracles from your staff at work and expect total loyalty from them – and to just love working for you. *Be a Christian who consistently gives God less than He has instructed in Scripture, and yet expect Him to pour extravagant blessings on your life. *Treat your body like a filthy worthless trash can, and stuff every kind of unhealthy food or product into it, then sit around and wonder why you feel lousy so much of the time. These examples are just a few illustrations of “It Just Don’t Work That Way, Dummy!” Here’s how it really works, dummy. Family. Originally designed to be our Safe Zone. A place of encouragement, forgiveness, acceptance, and patience. When you are constantly ignoring everyone, or coming through the door spewing anger and resentment - after unending rounds of this garbage your family will probably agree with the first person who quietly mentions disowning you. And your workplace? Not one of you unfair, demanding business owners pay your employees enough to get them to outright lie and say, “My boss? Absolutely the best there is! Kind, cheerful, understands that we are not perfect robots, and has reasonable expectations of us employees! Everyone just loves working there!” Christians. You really believe that You alone, without the blessings of your God, got you where you are today? That you owe Him nothing? He has promised to bless you, yes, but He also promised those blessings according to your commitment to Him. And everyone of you that inhabits a human body…surely you understand the concept of ‘garbage in, garbage out?’ A steady diet of sugary desserts, fattening foods, and processed meats – combined with your snacks of drugs and alcohol while you veg on the couch? Definitely not the recipe for feeling great and on top of the world. But, it definitely is your choice. We live in a country where you and I are free to choose our lifestyle and the way we treat people. You just need to be prepared for the inevitable consequences of your carefully selected decisions. I would suggest that you have an Emergency-Go-Bag filled with your worthless foods and beverages standing by the back door. So that when your family has had enough of your behavior, you will be ready to lurch that weak, broken body out that door. And you detested, unreasonable business owners? Remember that you were already warned, when your employees begin filtering into your office with their resignation notice in hand. Giving reasons ranging from, “Sorry, but my dog is too lonely with me working eighty-three hours a week” to “I’ve been offered a better position working for the local Hate-Miser for minimum wage, so I’m outta here!” Like the title says, life just doesn’t work well that way….Dummy.

By Kara Kimbrough "Don't go, summer!" The headline from a food magazine at the checkout line couldn’t have been more direct: Big, bold red letters practically leapt off the page as I unloaded my cart. Despite a silent acknowledgement that the author of the article probably doesn’t live in the south, I bought in anyway. Inside, the food article brought home the message that the days in which grilled burgers can be enjoyed are coming to a close. I was surprised to read that many Americans feel Labor Day weekend is the last blast for burgers. They obviously don't realize it stays hot in the Deep South until Thanksgiving. In short, our weather accommodates year-round grilling. More about grilled burgers in a minute, but first, here’s a tip for freezing and defrosting ground beef, chuck or turkey, which many supermarkets will have on sale as Labor Day approaches. Buying in bulk, using what is needed and freezing the remainder just makes sense. However, defrosting a large chunk of frozen meat when a last-minute cookout or burger crazing emerges is a tedious task. To counteract this problem, section meat into one-pound portions, place inside a large freezer bag and roll out with a rolling pin to remove air and flatten to a manageable size. Seal, stack and place in the freezer. The next time a burger crazing hits, meat is ready to use within a few minutes. But back to burgers. A reoccurring question from readers during summer months revolves around new ways to change up “the same old burger.” Ground meat lends itself well to a number of additions, including onion soup mix, Worcestershire sauce and seasonings. But one of the most inventive ways to add interest to the burger buffet is by hiding the ketchup and instead, serving a variety of burger sauces. One of my favorites actually came from the back of the Heinz ketchup bottle. To make it, combine a cup each of ketchup and mayonnaise, quarter cup of sweet relish, tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, two teaspoons sugar, tablespoon and a half of jarred minced garlic and a dash of salt and pepper. It’s delicious spooned over burgers and hot dogs and in a pinch, serves as a backup dip for chips and crackers. And of course, nothing’s more impressive than making your own barbecue sauce. An easy recipe calls for a cup of chopped yellow onions to be sautéed in a little oil, then combined with a cup of ketchup, quarter cup of water, two tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, tablespoon each of brown sugar, apple cider vinegar and chili powder and half teaspoon of garlic powder. Boil gently for about 20 minutes and serve over burgers or grilled chicken. Despite northern friends’ warnings about burgers’ last hurrah, the arrival of Labor Day doesn’t mean it’s time to place burgers on the back burner. So, enjoy a juicy burger during the long weekend while making plans for many, many more. Labor Day Burgers with Caramelized Onions and Secret Weapon Sauce For burgers: 1-1/2 pounds ground chuck Approx. 1 teaspoon beef bouillon granules, dissolved in hot water to make at least ½ cup of beef broth 4 hamburger buns 4 lettuce leaves For onions: 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 medium yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced 1 teaspoon cider vinegar 1 teaspoon brown sugar For sauce: ¼ cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons each: Dijon mustard and prepared horseradish 1 tablespoon snipped chives Dash each of salt and freshly ground pepper In large skillet over medium high heat, heat oil, then add onions and dash of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions begin to soften, about 8-10 minutes. Add vinegar and brown sugar and continue to cook until onions are soft and golden, about same amount of time. To make sauce, combine all ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. To make burgers, mix ground chuck, 3-4 tablespoons of beef broth mixture (more to taste), Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Form into four patties, about 3/4” inch thick. Make a small indentation on top of each one to prevent a dome from forming during cooking. Grill patties over direct heat with lid closed until cooked to 160 degrees, about 10 minutes. Turn only once. During last minute of cooking, place buns, cut side down, on grill to toast. Build each burger by lightly coating each side of the bun with sauce, then adding lettuce leaf, burger patty and caramelized onions. Makes 4 servings, recipes double and triple easily. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

By Bob Garver Bad news, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” fans, new installment “Mutant Mayhem” gets the Ninja Turtles all wrong. You know how the characters are usually voiced by adults that make you forget that the characters are even supposed to be teenagers? This movie settles for real teenagers that can play off each other with age-appropriate chemistry. You know how the jokes are usually so lame that the joke itself is how lame they are? This movie can’t go a straight sixty seconds without getting a genuine laugh from me. You know how every big-screen version of the Ninja Turtles has been critically lambasted until this point? This movie has a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and a glowing recommendation from me. This movie may not follow in the tradition of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but only because it’s something else, something better, entirely. Don’t get me wrong, the setup is still the same: four baby turtles and an adult rat are exposed to radioactive ooze and become anthropomorphic mutants. The rat, Splinter (Jackie Chan), raises them in the sewers of New York City to become ninjas, but only so they can sneak around undetected and defend themselves if necessary, which they won’t have to do if they’re good enough at staying undetected by the humans that surely want to kill them. But now that the turtles have come of age, they yearn for adventure outside of the sewer, including taking in human culture and even making human friends. The turtles consist of self-appointed leader Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), brainiac Donatello (Micah Abbey), muscle Raphael (Brady Noon), and goofball Michelangelo (Shaman Brown Jr.). They team up with teenage reporter April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri) to track down a gang of dangerous thieves that have been terrorizing the city. What they find are more mutants, including insect Superfly (Ice Cube), rhino Rocksteady (John Cena), pig Bebop (Seth Rogen), alligator Leatherhead (Rose Byrne), and gecko Mondo (Paul Rudd, possibly this movie’s biggest scene-stealer), among others. These characters are all so funny and likeable that the film briefly runs into a problem where it looks like there’s no one to root against. We get a forgettable villain in evil corporate executive Cynthia Ultrom (Maya Rudolph), but we know this series is just biding its time until another, more popular villain shows up. I could go on and on about how much “fun” this movie is, but I don’t want to spoil any of the many great jokes, and the actors’ cadences might not translate well to the page anyway. Okay, since this is a movie about teenagers, I think I can give away that my favorite line includes the word “hormones.” Aside from the jokes, another area where this movie is fun is in its animation. I’ve never seen quite this style before, but I love it. Many frames look like the animators just threw paint at a canvas and added in some squiggles with a magic marker, but at the same time it’s completely effective and gorgeous. Like the movie itself, it’s sloppy and reckless, yet the artists’ competence and dedication to creating an immersive world is never in question. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” isn’t performing as well at the box office as I thought it would. Not only did it lose in its opening weekend to the third weekends of both “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” it technically lost to the first weekend of “The Meg 2” (but it did finish with a higher total thanks to a two-day head start). So now I find myself feeling compelled to advocate for a franchise that I had previously written off as violent toy-commercial garbage. I still feel that maybe the turtles are a little too quick to violence, but otherwise this is a terrific family film, right on par with the “Spider-verse” movies. Kids will love it, and for the first time ever, they’ll be right to love it. Grade: B “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” is rated PG for sequences of violence and action, language and impolite material. Its running time is 99 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

We all know how it feels to have done it. We wanted to be brave, but at the last minute we pulled up stakes and ran for the hills. Our self-preservation the only thing on our chicken-liver minds. Then we spend the rest of our life beating ourself up for not saying or doing what was right. And also trying to outrun that self-defeating feeling inside that somehow, we are ‘less-than.’ Ahhhh, bliss – the life of secret self-humiliation and shame. All because of that never to be forgotten time you didn’t act the way you should. There is a humongous problem with this – for everyone. And I am not referring to the fact that you may have caused hurt for anyone else involved. Oh yes, you really did make that gigantic mistake, that tragic error in judgement. And it has cost you, and others, way too dearly. Like I said, hurting people was wrong, but that is really not the humongous problem. The probable repeating of your behavior is the real problem now. Bringing on pain again. Here is why. There is likely a recording in your head that seems to be on auto-run, the one about shame and guilt, and it is causing you to think endlessly of the past. Therefore being controlled by that past. The Bible says in Proverbs 23:7, “As a man thinketh in his heart, that is how he will behave.” If you keep beating yourself up in your thoughts, never asking God to forgive you and not forgiving yourself, then you are destined to fail again. And again and again. I didn’t say it. God did. There is another truth you need to realize: The world will keep on turning, regardless of what you did, or did not do. The survival of this world does not rest totally upon your shoulders, you are definitely not that important. So, give yourself a needed break. How do you do this? If you truly hate what happened, and you despise yourself for your part in it, then ask your God to help you, and start to forgive yourself. Be willing to apologize to those you hurt. Then you can start over with a clean slate with healthier thoughts about you. Which, according to Proverbs 23:7, will free your heart and mind …and therefore change your behavior in the future. A new chance at a new tomorrow. One with self-acceptance and peace in it. All you have to do is swallow your pride. Own up to your God that you’ve blown it badly, and that you need His help. And then accept the forgiveness that comes. You gotta admit, that is truly something to think about doing. A lot better than spending so many nights repeatedly reliving the shame and guilt of that ‘something’ that you did or said. Or chickened out and didn’t do. Been there. Done that. Much better life.

Apelah, a Mississippi-based non-profit provider of specialized foster care and in-home care services, is seeking individuals and families throughout Mississippi who will open their homes to help care for the growing number of children in need of foster care. More than 4,000 Mississippi children are living in foster care or are currently in need of placement with foster-care families that are willing to offer safe and compassionate living environments for children, many with special needs, who do not have a home of their own. “At Apelah, we specialize in developing amazing hero homes for children who need individualized medical and emotional care while providing a safe and loving environment,” said Tammy Pierce, associate vice president of development and corporate outreach. “Apelah’s dedicated staff recruits, trains, and supports our exceptional foster parents, who provide homes of healing and refuge while nurturing and caring for these children.” Apelah provides its foster families with: ● Access to 24-hour case management support. ● Coordinated care focused on effective communication and planning related to the child’s health and well-being. ● Foster parents who are well-matched to the needs of each child. ● Ongoing training for all foster parents. ● Board payments to the foster parents, including personal and clothing allowances for each child in care. According to Pierce, Apelah is always available to answer questions and respond to any concerns of foster parents. ‘We provide guidance so that all of our foster parents feel supported and ready to provide excellent care to the children,” she said. To become a foster parent, Apelah first conducts a home-study and background check of each foster parent/family. All future foster parents then receive the essential training necessary to be successful. Foster parents may be married or single living with or without children. Apelah is looking for foster parents who are willing to: ● Give of themselves without expectations. ● Have sufficient room to house a foster child comfortably. ● Have enough time day/night to care for a foster child. ● Learn and use proven behavior management skills. ● Love and care for children regardless of their challenges. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent, please contact Apelah in Ridgeland, MS., at 601.991.2224, or by email at MSRecruiting@apelah.org. To learn more, please visit our website at Apelah.org. Please stop by our Open House, September 7, 2023 from 5 pm to 7 pm at Apelah, Inc., 304 Highland Park Cove, Ridgeland, MS 39157.

By Bob Garver The other half of this summer’s “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, “Oppenheimer” did so well in its second weekend that it gets a full review all its own. Sure, it came in a distant second to “Barbie” both weekends, but with an estimated $174 million at the domestic box office thus far, it’s more than on pace to become the biggest movie of all time to never win a weekend. The unofficial, counterintuitive, and highly-unusual “Barbenheimer” marketing campaign (“contrast the glittery comedy with a drama about the atomic bomb”) certainly helped this film’s box office, but it’s a strong enough movie that I’d like to think that it could have been a hit even without its unlikely pink ally. Cillian Murphy (who I could tell from the first publicity photo was perfect, Oscar-ready casting) stars as J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man credited as the “father of the atomic bomb.” Much like “The Social Network,” the film intercuts its usually-linear historical portion with the framing device of two hearings, one involving Oppenheimer himself, the other involving nemesis Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey Jr.), chairman of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. As Strauss is not a scientist himself, he and Oppenheimer never get along well professionally, but after a perceived derogatory comment made toward Albert Einstein (Tom Conti), he has it in for Oppenheimer personally. Much of the movie is standard biopic territory: we follow Oppenheimer from his days at Cambridge getting advice from Niels Bohr (Kenneth Branaugh) to his role as director of The Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, New Mexico, where the bomb was designed and built. In his personal life, Robert takes up a relationship with the married Kitty (Emily Blunt) while having an affair with Communist sympathizer Jean (Florence Pugh). Oppenheimer and his colleagues go through the expected setbacks and successes, culminating in a high-stakes demonstration and one of the most massive explosions ever put on film. Soon the bomb is taken away from the scientists and used in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, and Oppenheimer has to forever live with the knowledge that he played an integral role in arguably the most devastating event in human history. There’s surprisingly little violence in the film, outside of an offscreen suicide and a sequence where Oppenheimer imagines the effects of the bomb. There isn’t even that much “action,” really, unless you count carefully-orchestrated test explosions. But make no mistake, this is one of the most intense films of the year. Sure, some of it has to do with the urgency of the arms race and the stakes involved, but it’s more than that. Director Christopher Nolan knows how to expertly craft a thriller, and his tight pacing and editing will make your heart pound whether it’s bombs or tempers that are flaring. I’ll be honest, a lot about “Oppenheimer” went over my head, from science to politics to legalese to history. And even if I did know more about all these subjects, I still might get overwhelmed by the film’s crowded cast and all the time-jumping. Yet there was never any doubt that what was happening was of great importance, whether to world powers or the world of one. And it’s all done with Nolan’s trademark crispness. The bomb-building and hearings may not be pretty or “sleek” necessarily, but you’ll get the impression that these things cannot be done by anyone other than the people doing them. If you’re looking for a “party” movie where everyone will find something to enjoy while they socialize and pay minimal attention, then “Barbie” is the way to go there. But if you’re ready to be transfixed by a film that will occasionally blow you to the back of your seat (seriously, this is the time to spring for a premium theater experience like IMAX), then “Oppenheimer” is the movie of the summer, maybe the year. Grade: B “Oppenheimer” is rated R for some sexuality, nudity, and language. Its running time is an even 180 minutes, in a precision that seems only fitting. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.