It’s not exactly a terrific ego-booster to forever be ‘the belly’ – the body part that doesn’t clear the fence last, but still, you’re not the tip end of the nose that always goes first, either. Can make a person feel pretty mediocre at times. Whether it’s on the job, in the family, or simply during playtime, seems you are destined to …just be there, doing important belly work but never a leading part of the whole outfit. And don’t even think about being a nose-tip! But being last in line doesn’t always feel too great, either. The part that clears the fence last. From the vantage point of a hind-ender person, life can seem like an endless series of watching others racing ahead of them – seeming to effortlessly and happily clear the fence long before the hind-ender has the chance to sluggishly heave their body up and over. A fence that apparently grows to be one hundred- and five-feet tall … just before the hind-ender gets there. That is how it can feel to them, anyway. So, does there really have to be brains, and bellies, and hind-enders in every organization in this world? Why? Why must there always be those who have the unglamorous designation of Hind-Ender? Simple. A group of people is a living thing, and a living breathing thing always has body parts. Body parts that function to make that organization work. And unfortunately, there is always gonna be a tail, as it is a vital and needed piece of the body puzzle. (Ever actually seen an animal, a bird, a person, or any other living thing on this earth that doesn’t own one?) My advice to the one reading this column, who is sick of always being the last one over the fence? Learn to readjust your thinking about you. Re-evaluate what the family, the company, or the team would be without your participation as the hind-end. Reassess your actual input and the need for it within the organization, and you will very likely see your value. After all, what exactly is a body without a tail? I agree, you will probably never be on the cover of an MVP magazine. Most of us won’t. But folks, being the tip of the nose has its own trials and problems. Tips of noses have to deal with allergies, odors, and risk of frostbite that hind-ends rarely have to face. Yeah, pun intended. Learn to find the value of your position, right where you are. Free yourself to enjoy the good things in your life. Realize that everyone has a job to do in life and it probably is totally different from yours, but they face their own painful, boring, and difficult times. Your Creator hasn’t forgotten you. Nor has He decided you are ‘less than.’ On the contrary, the hind-end has an endless amount of varied and important jobs for the body. Take some time to imagine what life would be like without hind-ends.

Allied is excited to be working on behalf of COMCAST for their amazing Digital Equity Rally hosted at Bolton, MS earlier this week! Comcast celebrated the completion of Comcast’s broadband expansion at Bolton-Edwards Elementary/Middle School. NOTABLE ATTENDEES Congressman Bennie Thompson; Sally Doty, Broadband Expansion and Accessibility Director; and Hinds County School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Sanders, joined Comcast, the Town of Bolton Development Corporation, and other local government leaders, to celebrate the completion of Comcast’s broadband expansion in Bolton and Edwards with a surprise laptop give away for all 400 K-8th grade students. Many media outlets were also in attendance. Click here for original article.

By Kara Kimbrough When you glanced at the headline, you may have thought the tagline would be…”football!” I have a confession to make. Unless it’s Homecoming and I want to see what the court’s gowns look like, I sometimes skip the main event and stay in the tailgate tent. That’s where the real fun happens, at least in the ones I frequent. Besides socializing with friends, partaking of a bounteous spread of one of my favorite food groups – appetizers – is reason enough to brave the south Mississippi heat that lasts until the Thanksgiving to tailgate at my alma mater. This year, I’m going to have to step up my tailgate food game. I’ve been invited to be a full-time member of a tent located in what I consider to be the best location on campus. In case you haven’t guessed by the hint above, it’s at Southern Miss in Hattiesburg. Located on a spacious corner within throwing distance of the football stadium and next to the street down which the football team, band and cheerleaders make their way during “Eagle Walk,” it’s a prime spot. Lots of friends and alumni either tailgate there or drop in, so my food has to be special this year. One of my stand-by tailgate appetizers is brown sugar Smokies. Little Smokies are wrapped in bacon, coated in brown sugar and baked to an irresistible crunchiness. They travel well, withstand the heat and are easy to pick up and eat. However, they aren’t visually-appealing. I’m looking through my cookbooks and recipes now for new and innovative ideas. If you have any favorite tailgate themes and dishes you’d like to share, please drop me an email. I welcome any and all ideas and recipes. It’s too early to nail down any specific item just yet, as the primary host has deemed each game’s tailgate food will center around a theme. He’s thrown out ideas like Cajun/Creole, Southern-style and grilled favorites. Jambalaya and gumbo, fried chicken, grilled burgers and ribs have been mentioned, but nothing’s yet been set in stone. In the meantime, I’ve been perusing a column I wrote in 2016 on the occasion of Super Bowl 50. It almost killed me, but I managed to create, gather or edit 50 appetizer recipes to publish before the big game. Here are just a few of my favorites from that column to provide inspiration as tailgate…I mean, football season, approaches. Delish Bacon-Onion Dip — Cook 2 thinly sliced yellow onions in 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat until golden brown, about 35 minutes. Remove onions and cool; fry 6 slices of bacon in same skillet. Chop bacon and cooked onions and combine with a cup of sour cream, 2 chopped scallions and seasoning salt to taste. Spicy Football Spread — With mixer, combine 3, 8-ounce packages softened cream cheese, 3 cups cheddar, 1 cup of grated Romano cheese, 1 cup of sour cream, teaspoon of Worcestershire and dash of hot sauce. On plastic wrap, mold mixture into football shape or (or use a lined, medium plastic football dish). Place football on serving dish and cover with chopped toasted pecans and dried cranberries. Old Bay Snack Mix — Toss together party-size bag of regular potato chips, 2 cups each Cheez-Its and Goldfish crackers and mini pretzels, ½ stick melted butter and a tablespoon of Old Bay Seasoning. Bake at 350 degrees 25 minutes, stirring once. Vegetable Pockets — Warm 12 pita pockets in the microwave. Snip off the tops and fill with a mixture of hummus, crumbled feta, chopped olives, cucumber, lettuce and tomato. (Can add sliced sandwich meat if you want). Serve with fresh dill dipping sauce. Fresh Dill Sauce — Combine 1 cup each mayo and sour cream, 2 tablespoons dill weed, 2 tablespoons Beau Monde seasoning and 1 teaspoon minced onion. Cover and refrigerate at least an hour before serving. Serve with Healthy Vegetable Pockets, sliced vegetables or crackers. Better Than Store-Bought Pimiento-Cheese Dip — Mix ½ pound each grated cheddar and pepper jack, ¼ cup each mayonnaise and sour cream and 2 tablespoons diced pimientos. Season with hot sauce, onion and garlic powders and mix well; serve with crackers. Touchdown Drumsticks — Combine a cup of jarred picante sauce, ¼ cup of honey, tablespoon of soy sauce and ½ teaspoon grated ginger in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Brush half the mixture on 12 chicken legs (can use chicken tenders) in a foil-covered baking pan; bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Turn legs and brush with remainder; continue baking 20 minutes or until tender. Serve with picante sauce. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi and a travel agent. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

The sound of helmets and pads after school in a sweltering stew of August heat can only mean one thing – it’s high school football time in central Mississippi. It’s also preseason for the rapid-response team of orthopaedic surgeons and other health care specialists at UMMC’s Friday Night injury Clinic, who help keep area high school football players healthy and hydrated in preparation for the season. “UMMC sports medicine has athletic trainers on site at the local high schools and have worked with the kids all summer,” said Dr. Derrick Burgess, assistant professor in Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation. “They’re treating injured athletes and are there for preseason practices to watch for heat exhaustion. They get to know the athletes well during this time. It allows us to treat them better if and when they are injured.” For more than 15 years, UMMC has offered the Friday night clinic for high school football players during and after games when injuries happen. All ranges of injuries, from sprained knees to potentially dangerous impacts to the head and neck, can be addressed in minutes instead of days. Players can be X-rayed and, if needed, receive bracing at the appropriate UMMC facility, including University Physicians Pavilion, where players are checked in, and, when appropriate, the Emergency Department. “The most important thing this clinic gives to athletes and parents is immediate access to care,” Burgess said. “If a player is injured in the second or third quarter, then they’re seeing us in an hour’s time. We’re able to make a diagnosis within hours of the injury and get treatment started, no matter the scope of the injury, and get them back to playing as soon as possible.” UMMC staffs football games for six metro Jackson schools with certified athletic trainers. During the football season, the clinic operates from 9:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but if possible, parents and athletic trainers are asked to call ahead at 601-815-4721. Players from outside metro Jackson can also call ahead about arriving by 11:30 and staff will wait for them. The sports medicine team also works with athletic trainers at the high schools to ensure protocols are followed so injured players can return to the field quickly but safely, depending on the specific injury. Those specialists meet during the summer months to have, in essence, a continuing education session to prepare for when the games count in the standings and injuries become likely. “We talk about heat-related illnesses and recognizing possible cervical spine injuries and concussions,” said Jeff Martinez, supervisor or UMMC Sports Medicine. “Then, as practices start up just before the season, three athletic trainers stand in on teams’ morning and afternoon workouts.” Clinic staff must keep a watch on heat-related issues as the season begins even when the sun goes down, as temperatures often stay in the 80s past dusk. “We will see signs of heat-related items like cramping of muscles, most often,” Martinez said. “We have a cold tub available, in case of it. We know if an athlete’s temperature is running 105 degrees on the field, the best treatment isn’t to quickly put them into the ambulance, but to be placed in a cold-water immersion tub. It prevents organ failure and even death. We also know to treat possible spine injuries that might show mild symptoms at first. We’re there a few hours beforehand to do protective padding, taping and bracing so we can better treat them on the field.” The ultimate winner from the prompt attention the clinic provides for student-athletes on the gridiron is the community itself, including parents and coaches. “Parents are more aware of sports injuries now,” Martinez said. “The sooner you’re able to start treating it, the better. Even with ankle sprains, a sports PT can go over basic at-home exercises to deal with them. MRIs can be scheduled by the next Tuesday.” All the preparation during the summer months from clinicians means high school football fans can cheer a bit louder for their teams once jamborees and district games begin. “Athletes want to return to the field as soon as possible after injuries, and the coaches want them back, too,” Burgess said. “So, with us starting treatment immediately,

Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, and Hinds County School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Sanders will join Comcast, the Town of Bolton Development Corporation, and other local and state leaders to celebrate the completion of Comcast’s broadband expansion in the towns of Bolton and Edwards. The network buildout reaches more than 1,700 homes and business. At the event, Comcast will also partner with the Town of Bolton Development Corporation to surprise all Kindergarten–8th grade students at Bolton-Edwards Elementary/Middle School with free laptops. The August 22nd event starts at 11 a.m. CT at Bolton-Edwards Elementary/Middle School, located at 9700 I-20 Frontage Road in Bolton. “Comcast is a vital partner in bridging the digital divide in our communities,” said Congressman Thompson. “This broadband expansion and laptop donation is a gamechanger for the residents and businesses in Bolton and Edwards, and I’m confident this will have a meaningful long-term impact and greatly improve the quality of life in my community.” “This broadband expansion and tremendously generous laptop donation by Comcast are a fantastic boost to the community in Bolton and Edwards,” said Governor Reeves. “The investment will help provide critical broadband access and support educational opportunities for Mississippi families. Thank you to Comcast for your continued work on this issue." “Comcast maintains an unwavering commitment to address the barriers to broadband adoption across the communities we serve,” said Jason Gumbs, Regional Senior Vice President at Comcast. “We are grateful to the Towns of Bolton and Edwards for their support on this meaningful project, and for our partnerships with state and local leaders in Mississippi.” This expansion also provides families access to Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, the nation’s largest private sector broadband adoption initiative for low-income families. Internet Essentials provides low-cost broadband service for $9.95 a month, digital literacy training and discounted computers. When combined with the Federal Government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and Xfinity Mobile, this combination allows income-constrained families to have free or low-cost home internet and mobile data plans. Local businesses in Bolton and Edwards will now have access to a full suite of Comcast Business Internet, voice, and video services. Residential customers will have access to Xfinity services, including Xfinity Mobile, Xfinity Internet, Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Home. Powered by the Xfinity 10G Network Comcast’s network is powering homes and businesses today and into the future with: Ultimate Capacity: Xfinity customers connect nearly 1 billion devices across the company’s network annually. The Xfinity 10G Network with the next-generation Xfinity gateways deliver the most advanced WiFi technology carrying three times more bandwidth to power streaming, gaming, videoconferencing, and more, simultaneously. Fastest Internet: More than a third of Xfinity Internet customers subscribe to gigabit speed products, and symmetrical gig speeds are planned to come to the first homes later this year. Unprecedented Coverage: The latest Xfinity Gateway provides a more reliable connection throughout the home. Customers can get WiFi coverage with a powerful Xfinity WiFi Boost Pod that extends coverage to hard-to-reach areas, with plans for an offering of increased support for in-home WiFi through a “boost guarantee” later this year. Most Reliable Connection: Comcast is scaling the nation’s largest and most reliable network – the Xfinity 10G Network – that passes 60 million homes and businesses and counting. The company has launched a new device that is “storm ready” with cellular and battery backup to help keep customers connected even when the power goes out. Ultra-Low Latency: The Xfinity 10G Network and the latest Xfinity Gateway are a powerful combination that deliver ultra-low latency for those moments when response times matter most like video games, a fast-growing category with Xfinity households averaging more than one gaming console per home. Over the last five years, Comcast has extended its network to reach more than 35,000 homes and businesses in Mississippi. Comcast plans to continue this expansion and bring its network to more underserved communities through private funding and state and local partnerships. Residents looking to see if their neighborhood has access to Xfinity services can visit https://www.xfinity.com/mytown/. For businesses looking to connect, visit https://business.comcast.com/. The Town of Bolton Development Corporation is a non-profit corporation that was established in 1974 to further improve social and economic conditions in the Town of Bolton, with extended services throughout rural Hinds County. It is involved in all phases of community activity - housing, food, nutrition, employment, case management, and community mobilization.

By Douglas Carswell “Woke” radicals love to undermine America at every opportunity. They try to rewrite history in order to demoralize and disorientate the United States. Cultural Marxism is able to thrive in that vacuum where there was once good civics education. If we want to defeat the radicals, both on and off campus, there are six things we should ensure every American child understands. 1. America is built on liberty. Liberty is what makes America special. This country was started in 1776 because people living in 13 former British colonies had had enough of being bossed about by a British king. America today might have its fair share of busybody politicians and bureaucrats, but the default setting in this country is to distrust anyone claiming authority over others, from George III to Dr. Fauci. Americans also dislike being told what to think, and particularly having their children told what to think: an extraordinary 3.7 million American schoolchildren are now homeschooled. 2. The US Constitution created the best system of government in the world. America might only be 240-something years old, but the US Constitution is now the oldest written Constitution in the world (with the exception of tiny San Marino). For context, France, which had its revolution at about the same time as America, is now on its fifth constitution. (Incidentally, how's that working out?) It might be fashionable for CNN pundits to proclaim that American democracy is in crisis, but it is nonsense. If and when Americans adhere to what the Founders actually wrote, the system works. The document they drafted, which fuses English ideas about natural rights with recently rediscovered insights from republican Rome, has withstood the test of time – and the challenge from would-be tyrants. 3. America is a force for good. No country is perfect, and America has had its fair share of blunders. But overall, America has been a force for good in the world. All previous great powers used their might to establish empires. Far from subjugating people, the United States used her strength to set people free, insisting the European powers dismantle their empires. On three occasions – World War I, World War II and the Cold War - the United States has intervened to save the free world. Can you imagine what the world today would be like if on any of those occasions, the other side had won? 4. Americans are amazingly inventive. From the first flight of the Kitty Hawk to the advent of the iPhone, there is one country that has proved extraordinarily inventive; the United States. Take a look at the everyday household objects around you as you read this. The light bulb. The microwave oven. The refrigerator. Toothpaste. All are American inventions. Innovation depends on being able to try out new things. It means freedom to fail. America is inventive because she is free. 5. Judeo-Christian ideals have shaped America. Religion has been remarkably important in shaping America. Yes, I know that the Founders kept religion and government separate. That was not because they thought religion unimportant but in fact the opposite. The Founders wanted to avoid the oppression of smaller religious groups, as had happened in Europe. When George Washington became President, he wrote an extraordinary letter to the Jewish congregation in Newport, Rhode Island. In it, he made it clear that they had a right to follow their faith. No one needed anyone else’s approval to worship as they pleased. America’s emphasis on individualism is, I suspect, a reflection of Judeo-Christian thinking. 6. Americans have so much to be thankful for. “Woke” ideology encourages grievance and resentment, rather than gratitude. This is why the “woke” seldom seem happy. Gratitude is an essential ingredient for happiness – and if you want to “pursue happiness” won’t get very far without appreciating the good things that you have. It is not a coincidence that one of the most important days in the American calendar is called “Thanksgiving”. Initially, a day to show gratitude for getting the harvest in, today Thanksgiving is a day to celebrate being American. Simply being an American means you have so much to be thankful for. Douglas Carswell is the President and CEO of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy.

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.