By Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB When we last left Peter Parker aka Spider-Man (Tom Holland) back in 2021, he had to submit to a spell from Doctor Strange that would make the world forget he ever existed. His Aunt May (Marissa Tomei) had died, so he had no family left, but he had to watch his friends Ned (Jacob Batalon) and MJ (Zendaya), go off to college without him, blissfully unaware of what they meant to him. As we rejoin Peter in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” he’s mostly turned himself over to superhero work full-time. There are plenty of dangers around New York City, from minor thugs to supervillains like Scorpion (Michael Mando) to people that just need rescuing. Peter is always happy to swing in and save the day as Spider-Man, but the years of anonymity are taking their toll on the human side of him. Peter has some help. He coordinates with Detective Jean DeWolff (Liza Colón-Zayas), as a liaison to the NYPD. A supposedly-benevolent organization called Damage Control, led by Bill Metzger (Tramell Tillman) deals in superhero affairs. Fellow vigilante Frank “The Punisher” Castle (Jon Bernthal) keeps an eye on things, though Peter disagrees with his violent tactics. If he gets really desperate, he can call upon Yelena “Black Widow” Belova, the leader of the New Avengers. Even Bruce “The Incredible Hulk” Banner (Mark Ruffalo) is still in play, wearing a device that prevents him Hulk-ing up, though it can be disabled. But these people are “allies” at best, Peter misses having friends. Eventually a threat presents itself that stumps Peter, his allies, and even his enemies. Somebody is possessing the bodies of whoever they please – often average citizens, though it can be a familiar face if specific deception is required - and wreaking havoc throughout the city. Their ultimate target seems to be Damage Control, which itself may not be on the up-and-up, as if Spider-Man battling the company’s ninja security team in all the film’s advertising wasn’t enough of a giveaway. The person behind the possessions is a shadowy figure, and it’s little secret that Sadie Sink of “Stranger Things” has been cast in a shadowy role, so the real question is, who is this character beyond someone played by Sadie Sink? Peter tries to keep from becoming possessed himself, but his biology betrays him and soon the villain learns that he’s still pining after MJ. He tries saving her impersonally as Spider-Man, but it soon becomes apparent that Peter Parker can’t stay out of her life forever. And this leads to some good conversations about what these characters are, what they’ve been, and what they can and can’t be going forward. It’s some of the best acting I’ve seen from the MCU in a long time. Also, Bernthal with his jaded attitude is everything you could want in a perfectly-cast Punisher. And yet, I’m not recommending “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” It’s an apologetic sort of non-recommendation, as the movie does a lot right, especially with its three(!) carryovers from “The Odyssey.” But for every scene where the movie admirably lets the actors and dialogue breathe, there are too many more that are just dull MCU retreads. Like how Damage Control is just the latest corrupt human organization to think that they can get away with crimes against superpowered individuals. Or how the villain is temporarily stopped the way most MCU villains are stopped in this era. Or how characters like (the new) Black Widow and The Hulk are wedged into the film to remind fans that they’re still a part of this franchise despite the story not needing them. Or, perhaps worst of all, how the film seems preoccupied with setting up more MCU installments down the road than making this installment particularly memorable. Compared to the satisfaction I got from 2021’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” this movie… I won’t say “doesn’t have legs,” but is maybe a few legs short of an arachnid. Grade: C “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is rated PG-13 for sequences of action/violence and some language. Its running time is 145 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

By Jessica Breazeale Pair of modern dice You know the phrase. Somebody's staring down a decision — a job offer, a first date, whether to say yes to the thing that scares them — and they shrug and say, "Well, I guess I'll just roll the dice." It's a phrase we use for recklessness. For giving up on strategy and letting luck take the wheel. It's the opposite of a plan. I got curious about where that phrase actually comes from, so I went down a rabbit hole. My first guess was that it had to be Old Testament. Something about lots being cast, priests and prophets leaving decisions in God's hands. I figured "roll the dice" was some distant cousin of that. Turns out I was both right and wrong. Dice — actual dice, little cube-shaped objects made of bone and stone — go back further than the Old Testament. Archaeologists have found them in Mesopotamia and Egypt dating back roughly 3,000 years before Christ. Long before Moses, long before Abraham, people were rolling bones to make decisions. Ancient carved bone dice (Egypt / Mesopotamia, ~3000 BCE era) And it turns out that's not even close to the beginning. A 2026 study out of Colorado State University found that Native Americans were making and using dice more than 12,000 years ago — about 6,500 years before dice show up anywhere in the Old World. These weren't cubes like ours; they were flat, two-sided pieces of bone or wood, more like a coin flip than a roll. Archaeologists found them at dozens of sites across the western United States, some dating all the way back to the Ice Age. And they weren't just for gambling — historians believe these games created a kind of neutral ground where different groups could meet, trade, and build trust with one another. So this isn't just an ancient Near Eastern habit that eventually made its way into Scripture. Leaving something to chance — tossing an object and letting it decide — shows up independently, on opposite sides of the world, thousands of years apart, long before any of these cultures could have influenced each other. It's not a regional quirk. It's something close to universal in us. But here's what stopped me in my tracks: the Old Testament is full of this same practice. Over and over, God's people cast lots. They cast lots to divide the Promised Land in Joshua. They cast lots to choose Saul as the first king of Israel. The sailors on Jonah's boat cast lots to figure out who'd brought the storm down on them. Even the disciples cast lots to pick Judas's replacement in Acts. Same basic tool. Same basic action — throw something down, let it land, accept the outcome. But the reason was completely different. When we say "roll the dice" today, we mean something like: I don't know what's going to happen, so I'm going to trust luck and hope for the best. It's a statement about chaos. About chance being in charge. When Israel cast lots, they weren't trusting chance. They were trusting God. Proverbs puts it plainly: "We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall." (Proverbs 16:33, NLT) That's not a verse about luck. That's a verse about sovereignty. The ancient world used the exact same physical action we still use — an object tumbling, landing, deciding something — but they weren't handing the decision over to randomness. They were handing it over to Someone. So here's the bigger picture I keep landing on: we never actually stopped rolling the dice. We just stopped believing anyone was catching them. Every day is full of things we don't control. The traffic light. The diagnosis. Whether the email gets answered. Whether the storm hits your town or the next one over. We are, in a very real sense, always gambling — because we were never actually in the driver's seat to begin with. That was always an illusion, and it's one nearly every human culture, on every continent, has bumped into on its own. The difference isn't whether life is unpredictable. It always has been, for every person in every era, from Egypt to Wesson, Mississippi. The difference is who you believe is standing over the roll. If it's just chance, then uncertainty is something to white-knuckle through — control what you can, brace for the rest, and hope the dice fall your way. But if it's God — if He really is sovereign over the parts of your day you can't touch and the parts you can — then you get to do something the ancient world understood better than we do: let go. Not because you've stopped caring, but because you've remembered Who's actually holding the outcome. That's the whole shift, really. Not "nothing is in my control" as a scary thought — but "nothing is in my control, and that's exactly why I can breathe today." So next time you catch yourself saying, "guess I'll just roll the dice" — maybe let it remind you of something a lot older and a lot steadier than luck. The dice fall. God catches them. That's been true since Joshua, and it's still true this morning. Earth from space (Pale Blue Dot) — the bigger perspective

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com A person lied, absolutely no doubt about it. Carefully thought it out, then purposely and deviously worded their misleading statement to you or a group. Usually, they have a definite motive, and protecting people is rarely their purpose. Usually, their reason is rooted in self-protection or self-promotion. “If I tell the unvarnished truth, I will look like a fool, and I can’t bear that.” Or, “I don’t have to tell the whole ugly truth, it will just hurt others, and I don’t want to do that.” Or most often, “I can’t tell the truth now, I be punished if I do. After all, no one will care about me, only about how it affected them. Self-centered doesn’t even begin to describe their attitude.” Whatever the excuse they conjure up in their mind, it will always have one foundation. To protect their own interests. And it will always seem logical and justified to them – at the time. Afterward, they may realize how badly they misjudged lying, but it is too late. The liar is caught in his own deceit, and has to decide whether to keep constructing more lies to cover the first, or to bravely own it and suffer the consequences. Hard choice for a liar. But back to you. Now, you are caught up in the aftermath, when the lies have been exposed. When the actual repercussions of their lying are affecting your life. At first, when the lie surfaced, you probably felt shock and disbelief, like you had been suddenly slapped violently across the face. Then the second wave of realization begins. You start thinking. Thoughts of just how much the lies have impacted and hurt your own life forever. Are thoughts of a very public figure who has recently been uncovered as a self-promoting, less-than-honest person suddenly crossed your mind? Are you one of the millions who were hurt badly and now are struggling with anger, mixed with grief and depression? If you are, you are not alone in your struggle with how to go on, now that this has been exposed. How to keep walking, living a life that has vibrant purpose, peace and contentment. I can only say this. For your own sake, for your own sanity and emotional stability – deliberately decide to let God handle it. This will not set the liar free. On the contrary. A liar will face the One who has made it abundantly clear that He hates lying. He will punish the liar for hurting and destroying. Believe me, God can accomplish what you can’t. No, leaving it to God won’t free the guilty person, but it will rescue you. It will start a process of recovery from the crushing pain, and will help you a find a way to begin a new future. I beg you, do not allow lies to lock you in a suffocating prison cell of hate, anger and depression. Trying to punish a liar yourself isn’t worth it. Let Almighty God do it for you.

Special to Wesson News (Photo courtesy of Copiah County Sheriff's Office Facebook) A Copiah County Drug Court participant has been sentenced to prison after authorities discovered an indoor and outdoor marijuana growing operation during the execution of a search warrant, according to the Copiah County Sheriff's Office. The Copiah County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant July 23 at 1032 Thornton Lane in Crystal Springs. During the search, investigators located what officials described as a large indoor marijuana growing operation, along with an outdoor marijuana grow on the property. Authorities arrested Michael Whittington and charged him with manufacturing marijuana. He was booked into the Copiah County Jail. According to the sheriff's office, Whittington was participating in the Copiah County Drug Court Program at the time of his arrest. He appeared in court July 27 for Drug Court violations and was sentenced to 10 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Officials said all evidence collected during the investigation has been submitted to the Mississippi State Crime Laboratory for analysis. Once laboratory testing is complete, the manufacturing case will be presented to the Copiah County Grand Jury for further consideration. The sheriff's office also announced that the Copiah County Narcotics Unit has recently prepared more than 30 felony cases that are expected to be presented to the grand jury in the near future. Officials noted that several individuals connected to those cases may not yet be aware charges have been filed. If indictments are returned by the grand jury, those individuals could face arrest. The Copiah County Sheriff's Office encourages anyone with information about illegal drug activity to contact its Narcotics Division.

Special to Wesson News Football season is just around the corner, and excitement is building as the Wesson Cobras prepare to take the field for the 2026 campaign. Following a strong 2025 season, the Cobras enter preseason practice looking to build on last year's success. Coaches and players have begun fall workouts under Mississippi High School Activities Association guidelines as they prepare for another competitive season. Wesson will open the regular season on the road Friday, Aug. 28, against Bogue Chitto before returning home for its home opener Friday, Sept. 4, when the Cobras host North Pike. The early portion of the schedule also includes road contests at Franklin County and Lumberton before Wesson returns home to face Lawrence County. Region play begins Friday, Oct. 2, when the Cobras host Enterprise. District competition continues with a road trip to Loyd Star on Oct. 9 and a home game against Amite County on Oct. 16. The remaining district schedule will determine postseason positioning as Wesson looks to earn another playoff berth. As preseason practices continue throughout August, coaches will evaluate returning veterans and newcomers while installing offensive and defensive schemes ahead of the season opener. Fans can expect another exciting fall under the Friday night lights as the Cobras seek to continue the momentum established during last year's successful campaign. 2026 Wesson Cobras Football Schedule Aug. 28: at Bogue Chitto Sept. 4: vs. North Pike Sept. 11: at Franklin County Sept. 18: at Lumberton Sept. 25: vs. Lawrence County Oct. 2: vs. Enterprise* Oct. 9: at Loyd Star* Oct. 16: vs. Amite County* *District game

By Dr. Raymond Barranco, MSU Professor of Sociology In addition to being a merge-as-soon-as-possible guy, I'm also a return-the-buggy-no-matter-what guy (buggy = shopping cart for my non-Deep South brethren). Such an approach makes it easy to tell how many jerks were at Walmart before me – simply count the uncorralled buggies. That's probably too harsh. I'm willing to knock "jerk" down to "lazy" if they at least left it at the Four Corners – the spot where four parking spaces meet and where buggy placement causes the least amount of inconvenience for people trying to park. Jerk, lazy, rude, inconsiderate – these are my immediate reactions to seeing a free-range buggy. But if I'm being particularly mindful that day, I'll stop and make myself imagine a scenario that would cause someone to leave the buggy where I wouldn't. Maybe they were elderly or injured and needed it for support, so they left it near their car door. Maybe their child was having a full-scale meltdown and they just wanted to get out of Dodge as quickly as possible. Emergency phone call? Medical issue? Family crisis? I'm sure you can imagine others. The interesting thing is that once I imagine those possibilities, my feelings begin to change. I no longer see a rude or inconsiderate person. I see someone dealing with circumstances I know nothing about. Such moments never cease to amaze me. They make me realize that I don't necessarily have a problem with WHAT someone does – it’s more about WHY they did it. I suspect many other people are exactly the same way. The problem is that we rarely know why someone does anything. We only know what they did. So, we fill in the blanks ourselves. Unfortunately, we often fill them in with the least charitable explanation possible. That's usually not how we treat our own behavior. When we're the ones doing something others might shake their heads at, we have reasons. We were running late. We didn't feel well. We were distracted. It was raining. We had a bad day. We were dealing with something nobody else could see. I'm not saying those explanations are wrong. In fact, they may be perfectly valid. What I'm saying is that the people whose behavior we are judging would probably offer explanations of their own. The funny thing is that we already know this. Most of us don't want to be judged by our worst moment. We want people to understand the circumstances. We want them to know the context. We want them to realize that one action does not tell our whole story. Yet we often deny other people the same courtesy. So what are we supposed to do? Hunt down the person who abandoned the buggy and demand an explanation? Catch up to the driver who cut us off and ask what's going on in their life? No – please don't do that. What we can do is make a conscious effort to give people the benefit of the doubt. We can remind ourselves that there is usually more to the story than we can see. Does that mean everyone is a good person who always has a good reason for doing what they do? Of course not. Some people really are careless, and some excuses really don't hold up. Giving someone the benefit of the doubt is a starting assumption, not a guarantee – and it costs us nothing to extend it first. But I don't think carelessness describes most people. Most are simply trying to navigate life the best they can, just like the rest of us. So, the next time you spot a buggy abandoned in the middle of a parking space or get cut off by someone who didn't bother to signal, try running the experiment I run. Imagine the version of their day that would make their behavior make sense. You may be wrong. But you'll probably be a little less angry, a little less judgmental, and a little more human for having tried. Dr. Raymond Barranco is a sociology professor in Mississippi whose writing focuses on public life, compassion, fairness, and how people think across differences. He can be reached at rbarranco@soc.msstate.edu.

By Kara Kimbrough It’s hard to believe, but a little more than half of 2026 has already slipped away. The halfway point (give or take a few weeks) is a good time to reflect on new supermarket, restaurant and food items on my favorites list. So, without further ado…here’s what I’m loving in 2026…so far, anyway… 1. Publix Pub Sub –This summer, I succumbed to the TikTok trend of sampling a “Pub Sub” – in normal terms, a submarine sandwich sold in the deli of Publix Supermarkets. I’ve long been a fan of the upscale supermarkets operated solely in the southeastern U.S., primarily in Florida, Alabama and Georgia. Since I visit the first two states at least once a year – sometimes more often – stopping by Publix is part of my trip itinerary. There are six Publix locations across/near coastal Alabama; two in Gulf Shores, one in Orange Beach, and three in Foley. On a recent trip to coastal Alabama, I’m almost embarrassed to admit that I stopped by Publix on a least three occasions…and yes, each time, my primary mission was to order a different Pub Sub, including one for the cooler on my way out of town. Here’s my take on the “viral” subs - they’re made to order in a dedicated area of the store’s deli…ingredients (there is a dizzying array of meats, cheeses, vegetables and toppings from which to choose) are fresh and tasty… the po’ boy-style bread rivals anything I’ve sampled in New Orleans…and yes, Publix’ Pub Sub truly lives up to the hype. It surpasses any regular sub or sandwich I’ve tasted at any similar takeout restaurant. The roast beef and turkey subs were delicious, but Philly Cheesesteak was the clear winner. If you haven’t visited Publix OR tried a Pub Sub…put it on the itinerary for your next beach trip. 2. Popeye’s Homestyle Biscuit Mix – I’ve long been a fan of the chain’s fluffy biscuits; luckily there’s a Popeye’s pretty close to my home. But sometimes a craving for a Popeye’s biscuit hits after hours. That’s where this new product comes in. The simple process of adding water and butter to the baking mix, then dropping three tablespoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet before baking 18 minutes, is relatively foolproof. Even better, the end result is a batch of biscuits with a golden, crispy crust, fluffy inside and buttery flavor. I may never wait in the Popeye’s drive-through line again! 3. Bigelow Green Tea with Elderberry and Vitamin C – In an effort to reduce the number of daily Diet Cokes, I decided to switch to green tea in the afternoon/evening. It took a while to adjust to the change, but now the flavorful tea with a hint of berry flavor is something to which I look forward. I can’t prove it, but I really believe the nutritional benefits of the brewed green tea combined with the Vitamin C have - if lab numbers are an indication - improved my health. Check with your doctor before drinking it, though, as it may interfere with some medications. 4. Elite Gourmet Electric Tea Kettle – When I learned that green tea bags must be brewed at a lower temperature than regular tea to maintain their health benefits, I began looking for a temperature-controlled kettle to replace my regular one. I found the perfect model on QVC –besides a regular boiling temperature, the kettle is equipped with additional heat levels for green tea, black team, coffee and other beverages. I try to shop locally as often as possible, but I couldn’t pass up QVC’s model offering everything I needed for the perfect daily pitcher of green tea. 5. Pepperidge Farm Maggie’s Apple Pie Cookies – I've always loved Pepperidge Farm cookies, but this version takes things to a new level. Created to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, the cookies are inspired by the pioneering spirit of Pepperidge Farm’s founder, Margaret Rudkin. The all-American apple pie dessert was reimagined into a new cookie with delicious apple flavor and cinnamon in a buttery, lattice-topped cookie crust. Maggie’s Apple Pie Cookies are a limited-edition version, so get yours now while they’re still on shelves. A close second to Maggie’s Apple Pie? Try Pepperidge Farm’s Brown Butter Pecan Flavored Cookies…you’ll thank me later! 6. Kroger Sour Cream with Chives – Kroger Supermarkets have long been known for their quality store brand products – and this one is no exception. I actually discovered this delicious product by accident. Hurriedly reaching for a carton of sour cream, it wasn’t until I got home that I realized I’d picked up one containing chives. Since I was using it as a baked potato topping, I wasn’t concerned about the mix-up. And, after tasting it, I was truly glad I’d picked up the wrong item. Not only did the store brand sour cream taste as good – or better – than more expensive brands, but the subtle addition of chives enhanced the flavor. I now use this in a variety of way, including topping for tacos and fajitas and a chip dip. The crème brulee at Beau Rivage’s BR Prime is an unbelievably delicious dessert that is the perfect light touch after a multi-course steak dinner. 7. BR Prime’s Crème Brulee – Beau Rivage in Biloxi’s premier steakhouse, BR Prime, is nationally-known for its steaks…and while they’re on the same level as ones I’ve sampled in New York City – an item on the dessert menu has continued to reemerge in my memories since my June visit. I’m referring to the restaurant’s signature dish of crème brulee. A light but decadent vanilla custard made with high-quality Madagascar vanilla beans is topped with a thin, brittle layer of torched caramelized sugar and fresh strawberries and blackberries. I’m still dreaming about cracking the sugary topping with my spoon, then dipping into the flavorful custard for a bite of the most delectable burst of flavor imaginable. Recreating this scenario before the end of 2026 is on my to-do list. 8. P. F. Chang’s General Tso’s Sauce – You may have tasted this flavorful sauce while dining at P.F. Chang’s or sampling one of the restaurant’s frozen entrees in your supermarket’s freezer case. Now, they’ve expanded their offerings in the most useful way by offering a full-size bottle of General Tso’s Sauce. The tangy sauce can be used as a marinade, for creating stir-fry dishes or as a dipping sauce. Finding the sauce on the shelf inspired me to create a quick and easy Crockpot meal that turned out to be “almost” as delicious as anything I’d sampled in their restaurant. These are just a few of the things that have made the first half of 2026 a little sweeter, more interesting and most of all, worth sharing with you. Stay tuned for even more favorites at the end of the year. In the meantime, try a few of these ideas, including the recipe for Crockpot Chicken Teriyaki using the “find” mentioned in #8. Chicken Teriyaki, made in the Crockpot with a new find, P. J. Chang’s General Tso’s Sauce, is a delicious hearty meal that freezes well - if there are any leftovers. Crockpot Chicken Teriyaki 2 cups chicken broth 1 bottle P. F. Chang’s General Tso’s Sauce 8 tablespoons brown sugar 1 tablespoon minced garlic 3-4 chicken breasts, diced 1 bag frozen broccoli cuts 1 bag fresh carrot sticks ½ onion, cut into rings or diced Spaghetti noodles or rice, cooked separately and set aside. Whisk chicken broth, General Tso’s Sauce, brown sugar, and garlic together in a large bowl. Add chicken and onions and toss until well coated. Transfer mixture to a Crock-pot. Cover and cook on low until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 4- 6 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees. During last 30-45 minutes, add frozen broccoli and carrot sticks. If using spaghetti noodles, stir into mixture during last 10 minutes of cooking and mix well with mixture. If using rice, spoon individual servings of teriyaki mixture over plated hot rice. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com

Special to Wesson News Megan Lang with Thirty One Bakes By Megan (Photo credit Jessica Breazeale) A patriotic pop-up market brought vendors and shoppers together late last month ahead of the celebration of the nation’s Independence Day holiday. The Happy Birthday America Pop-Up was held at 2064 US Highway 51 in Wesson, offering a festive pre-Fourth of July shopping experience. Pictured are Semone, Piper and JC Curole of Wesson with Bossy Girl’s Farm. (Photo credit Jessica Breazeale) Eight vendors participated in the event, including Thirty One Bakes, Bossy Girl Farm LLC, The Marleigh Bow Co, C&I Flavor Factory, Angelic Scents, Hey Besties Designs & Printing, Charlene’s Printing & Crafting and Dirty Drew. The market featured vendor spots priced at $20. Keylee King organized vendor participation for the event. Lexi Ashley, Peyton Sims and Lily Sims of Wesson with Dirty Brew Drinks (Photo credit Jessica Breazeale) Esmerada Medina (left) and Brittanie Burnette (right) with Hey Besties Designs and Printing out of Natchez (Photo credit Jessica Breazeale)

One person was killed Monday after a vehicle was struck by an Amtrak train in Copiah County, according to the Copiah County Sheriff's Office. The crash occurred near Hazlehurst when Amtrak Train 58, traveling from New Orleans to Chicago, struck a vehicle that was obstructing the railroad tracks, according to a statement from Amtrak. Sheriff's officials said the driver of the vehicle died at the scene. The victim's identity has not been released pending notification of next of kin. Amtrak said none of the approximately 180 passengers or crew members aboard the train were injured. The passenger train remained at the scene while authorities investigated the collision. Amtrak said it is cooperating with local law enforcement as the investigation continues. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, railroad crossing incidents are the second-leading cause of rail-related deaths in the United States. Amtrak said it continues to partner with Operation Lifesaver to promote rail safety and encourage drivers and pedestrians to obey warning devices and never stop on railroad tracks. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. No additional information was immediately available.

(Photo courtesy of Copiah-Lincoln Community College Institute for Learning in Retirement website) The Copiah-Lincoln Community College Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR) has announced an exciting lineup of classes, workshops, travel opportunities, and social events for the Fall 2026 semester, offering senior adults a variety of opportunities to learn, connect, and explore. The semester begins with a Welcome Back Social on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 10:30 a.m. at the Thames Center, followed by the first off-campus event of the semester on Aug. 28 at a Mud Monsters baseball game in Pearl. Participants interested in attending the baseball game are encouraged to register in advance. "Our goal is to provide meaningful opportunities for lifelong learning while creating a welcoming community where friendships can grow," said ILR Program Coordinators Erin Johnson and Jennifer Case. "Whether members enjoy traveling, learning a new skill, or simply spending time with others, there is something for everyone this fall." The fall workshop schedule includes: Aug. 24 – Gardening 101 with Leanna Gennaro Sept. 8 – Cooking with Co-Lin Chef Chris McSweyn Sept. 15 & 22 – Book Angel Workshop with Sam Upton Oct. 20 – Artificial Intelligence Technology Class with JP McInnis Oct. 27 – Paint and Praise with Dawn Marks Nov. 9 & 17 – Pottery Making with Janet Smith Dec. 1 – Christmas Craft with Kacey Hutcherson Members can also participate in several group trips including: Sept. 29 – St. Francisville, Louisiana Oct. 14 – Senior Day at the Mississippi State Fair Dec. 10–12 – Small Town Christmas Tour featuring Gulfport, Mississippi, and Mobile, Alabama Monthly fellowship luncheons are scheduled for: Aug. 20 – Welcome Back Social, Thames Center Sept. 10 – Culinary Arts Building Oct. 1 – Culinary Arts Building Nov. 5 – Culinary Arts Building Dec. 8 – Christmas Luncheon, Thames Center The Institute for Learning in Retirement is designed for adults who enjoy lifelong learning, fellowship, and new experiences. Through educational classes, hands-on workshops, day trips, and social events, ILR provides an engaging environment where participants can continue learning while building lasting friendships. Costs for workshops, trips, and events vary. For more information about the Institute for Learning in Retirement or to become a member, contact Erin Johnson at (601) 643-8702 or erin.johnson@colin.edu, or Jennifer Case at (601) 643-8714 or jennifer.case@colin.edu.

By Raymond Barranco, MSU Sociology Professor Do you ever wonder why we do things the way we do? Or why we believe what we believe? Probably – but only when a child is asking, "Why?" Over and over again. We all tend to end that conversation the same way: "Because." Take something as simple as eye contact while talking with someone. Most Americans would say good eye contact means you are confident and respectful. Bad eye contact suggests dishonesty, disrespect, or disinterest. But such beliefs aren't necessarily "natural." In the animal kingdom, direct eye contact is seen as threatening – a personal challenge. In many East Asian cultures, prolonged eye contact is considered disrespectful and overly aggressive. In America, we expect children to look at adults when they speak to them; in other cultures, doing so is the height of disrespect. Why the difference? Over time, cultures develop different expectations about what is respectful, appropriate, and normal. Children absorb those expectations from parents, teachers, friends, and the broader community until they stop feeling like rules at all. They simply feel like the way things are. The same is true for countless other parts of life – how close we stand when we talk, what we eat, how we worship, what we teach our children is right and wrong. Most of these practices feel natural to the people who grow up with them. Yet many would seem strange to someone raised elsewhere. Why does this matter? Because when we see someone doing something we find wrong, disrespectful, lazy, or any other negative label, we assume they share our beliefs and upbringing – and simply chose poorly. That assumption leads us to conclude something is wrong with the other person, when in reality they are often just doing what they were taught was correct. Many of us take for granted that the way we were raised – what we were taught is true and untrue, right and wrong – is simply natural and correct. What we don't always realize is that our view of the world often depends heavily on when and where we happened to be born. Try answering this: what would your religious beliefs be if you'd been born in rural Mississippi? Utah? India? Iran? Each answer is probably different – yet each person would feel just as certain that their beliefs were the natural, obvious ones. Recognizing this does not mean all beliefs are equally true or all behaviors equally acceptable. Some beliefs cause real harm, and some practices deserve real criticism. What it means is that understanding why someone believes what they do has to come before any honest conversation about whether they should believe something different. Skip that step, and persuasion becomes nothing more than two people talking past each other, each convinced the other is simply being stubborn or irrational. These differences also explain why it's so hard for any of us to change our minds. How we were raised and what we believe become part of who we are. Abandoning those things can feel less like updating an opinion and more like betraying our family, our past, or ourselves. Given all of this, patience matters – especially on heated topics. Other people hold their core beliefs just as strongly as we hold ours, and those beliefs took a lifetime to form. They won't dissolve under pressure, and getting louder, angrier, or more frustrated has never once changed anyone's mind. If we want to persuade people, we may need to spend less time winning arguments and more time understanding why people believe what they do. The next time someone's behavior strikes you as bizarre or wrong, ask yourself a simple question first: in their shoes, raised exactly as they were raised, would I see it any differently? Until we're willing to ask that, the eye contact we make – or fail to make – with each other will keep being misread as something it never was.

By Misty Strieff Prine “There isn’t a person you wouldn’t love if you could read their story.” – Unknown So many times, people fail to see beyond the exterior of a person to what situations they have faced in their lives. So many have hardened their hearts because of things they have experienced along their journey They shut out any remote possibility of positivity entering their lives. That is why it is SO important to have eyes that see past that hardness and break through those walls that people have put up. It is so important to do this because if we actually knew what these people have been through, the compassion that would be shown to them would be immeasurable. Do you ever feel misunderstood? Maybe the roles are reversed here. If you feel like you push others away, maybe you need to examine your heart and see why that is. You need to let people in, positive people, that can help you see that there is light at the end of the dark road you have traveled on for so long. You have to remember that you and only you know the "rest of the story" as Paul Harvey always said. That part is a two-way street. We don't know everyone's story, and they don't know ours. That's why it's so important not to judge. You need to pray for those who don't understand your situation and pray to have eyes that seek to understand others' situations as well. You must stay prayed up and stay Christ-minded. In Colossians 3:12, God's word tells us, "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." We have to embrace each of these qualities in this life in order to see others as God sees us all...loved and having purpose.