Parent concerns lead to books pulled from high school library; review could take months

Arts & Culture, Books

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — A handful of library books are under administrative review in the South Middleton School District after several parents raised concerns about the contents of the titles.The controversy began in early fall of last year when five books were pulled from Boiling Springs High School’s library. Now, the books are being reviewed by a committee of school staff and parents to decide if the titles can remain in the library — but a final decision could take some time.Some of the books being questioned are “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” a memoir for young adults written by journalist and LGBTQ+ activist George M. Johnson; “Last Night at the Telegraph Club,” a fiction title by Malinda Lo about two girls who fall in love in 1954 America; and “House of Earth and Blood,” a fantasy and romance title from Sarah J. Mass.The district emphasized that not all the books were pulled because they included LGBTQ+ content — some of the challenged books depict physical relationships between characters or include mature themes.According to a statement released to CBS 21 News by Assistant Superintendent Jason Baker, it could take as long as two months to conduct an internal review for every book brought forward.“The books are reviewed one at a time and each book requires a new committee to be formed by the building principal. From the first steps of forming the committee and acquiring copies of the book, to providing ample reading time, along with the final committee meeting, we allow a total of six to eight weeks from start to finish per title,” Baker said.A final verdict of whether the high school will permanently remove those books will be a long-awaited process, since the district had to hire a new acting principal, which prolonged the start of the review.“The initial committee began reviewing the first title as last school year was ending, shortly after the appointment of the new principal. Throughout the summer and into the fall committees have continued the review process.,” Baker said.Now with a new principal in place at the Boiling Springs High school, the review has resumed. According to Baker, the review committee is made up of the building-level principal, two randomly selected building-level teachers and two randomly selected parents who have students in the same building as the books.Once committee members read the books front to back, they will decide if the books are appropriate enough to return to the Boiling Springs High School library.

The Stupid Reason That Elon Musk Is Complaining About Scientists Spraying Bobcat Urine on Alcoholic Rats

Science and Health

When people feel economically pinched, they often try to clean house. They look at their spending and identify inefficiencies. Maybe they shop too much, or need a cheaper cell phone plan. Maybe (if they are a CEO) they look for workers to lay off and projects to get rid of. The obsession with efficiency is of course why many people might be excited that President-elect Donald Trump has announced he is appointing Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head a “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE, of course; government acronyms with a nod to cryptocurrency flattery are nothing if not efficient). Musk and Ramaswamy immediately announced that they would “not go gently,” and spoke of attacking government waste.

When it comes to “wasteful” scientific research, there are tons of examples to point a finger at. The government funded research that put shrimp on treadmills! The government funded a study spraying bobcat urine at alcoholic rats! The New York Post compiled a list of suggestions of things DOGE ought to keep our tax dollars away from, including cats on treadmills. (So many treadmills!) The outrage is palpable. How dare scientists do research without an immediate practical application! So inefficient. Science and efficiency should always go hand in hand.

But what these angry pundits truly reveal is how little they understand about how science works. For science to be effective, it simply cannot be efficient. Scientists do things they’ve already done, and do them over and over again, changing one tiny variable at a time. They do a lot of seemingly silly things in an attempt to re-create aspects of the world in a lab, where they can be monitored and replicated over and over and over. These studies might seem like a waste of precious resources. But this inefficiency is, in itself, efficient. It is the simplest, most clear way of coming to a true understanding of reality. (Would you rather researchers … try to chase shrimp around in their environments?) These seemingly silly studies provide proof of a phenomenon—and sometimes exercises in serendipity.

Lest you require a reminder, most modern scientific experiments are constructed using the scientific method. Develop a hypothesis, test the hypothesis and try to disprove it. But testing a hypothesis is not as simple as conducting a single experiment. It means replicating a test, over and over, to prove that the results weren’t an accident. It means changing the parameters of that test one variable at a time, trying to get from correlation to causation. Other scientists must then replicate those results, proving that the first results weren’t happenstance.

If science tried to be efficient, if it refused to replicate, we would end up only with observations and correlations. We could see that shrimp populations in the wild were declining in certain areas, for example. But, what’s causing them to wither and die—is it the water quality? Is it more bacteria in the water making the shrimp sick? More predators? Overfishing? Without studies—inefficient studies—we could not say for sure. We could just give a correlation between certain factors and the shrimp. Maybe it’s this, maybe it’s that; those things and these things are correlated. Correlations are the rumor mill of science. Like rumors, sometimes the connection is true, sometimes it’s totally false, and sometimes it’s been deeply complicated by some other factor that didn’t make it into your groupchat. Is the correlation the cause? To find out, you need to replicate; do something over and over again, varying the temperature, water pH, bacterial infection, and more, to find out which of the many options is causing the shrimp decline. You need to sign some shrimp up for a gym membership and see how they respond to different conditions you create in a tank. In other words, to save the oceans (and everyone’s shrimp cocktails), you need to do things that seem obsessive and silly and wasteful. This is, in the end, more efficient than the alternative.

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Inefficiencies in science are important beyond replication. They also create an environment for surprising new discoveries, things scientists would never have dreamed of had they not been in the lab, conducting basic research. If Alexander Fleming had not left a bunch of petri dishes full of bacteria out in his lab (there for replication), he never would have gotten the blank spot in one dish. That blank spot was a mold—a mold that was producing the lifesaving drug penicillin. Two scientists studying metabolism accidentally discovered that removing a dog’s pancreas caused diabetes—paving the way for the discovery of insulin. The two discoveries were accidental, inefficient. They went on to save millions of lives. The line between basic research and discoveries is not always short. Science requires us to be patient. Ozempic? That started with lizard venom experiments in the 1980s. No one could have predicted where those experiments would eventually lead.

OK, yes, maybe you still have questions about the bobcat pee thing. People seem very upset about the idea that the government is spending money spraying bobcat pee on rats, but here’s the thing: There are many rodent studies that waft bobcat pee, cat hair, fox odor, and more at mice. If this sounds silly, it’s because you are not thinking like a mouse. Predators stress out mice. Cats, bobcats, and foxes? Mouse predators. Those “wasteful” studies were studying the effects of stress on rats—and how that stress might be increased if those rats had a lot of previous alcohol exposure. It’s not just about giving rats nightmares. It’s something important to study and understand for the many people living with both alcoholism and post-traumatic stress disorder. That kind of research can lead, down the line, to important medical interventions.

When people pull out these examples of inefficiency, mocking the seemingly silly “wastes” of government funding, what they are really showing is their ignorance. They are showing that they have no real understanding of what research is or how it works. And if basic research is stripped down, streamlined, or tossed entirely in favor of “efficiency”? It will not just be scientists who will suffer—it will be all of us.

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HealthEMe Inc. wins Best of Tech Award

Technology

InnovationNovember 13, 2024HALIFAX – HealthEMe. has been honoured with the prestigious Best of Tech Award at the 2024 Tech Forward Awards by Digital Nova Scotia, recognizing its transformative work in digital health. The award celebrates companies that are pushing the boundaries of innovation, and HealthEMe stood out for its cutting-edge approach to supporting patients with mental and chronic illness management.

Faten Alshazly (pictured), CEO of HealthEMe, said, “This award is a reflection of the work our dedicated team puts in each day and the meaningful difference we are making in the healthcare landscape. We are honoured to be acknowledged for our innovative approach in improving access to effective, evidence-based care through digital innovation.”
HealthEMe’s platform empowers users to self-manage their mental and chronic health conditions while also receiving support through the various transitions of care.
“Winning this award highlights our dedication to reshaping healthcare with empathetic, technology-driven solutions,” said Ashwin Kutty, president of HealthEMe. “Our vision is to ensure that patients receive personalized evidence based support in the absence of clinical care to navigate complex health challenges.”
About HealthEMe Inc.HealthEMe is redefining how healthcare is delivered. It has developed intellectual property that brings evidence-based clinical decision making tools to the consumer in a manner that is best suited to them for chronic illnesses, such as mental illness, cancer care, diabetes, etc. The solution supports pre-, during and post-care for individuals, ensuring holistic support is made available to individuals when, where and how they need it the most. HealthEMe is currently working with partners in Canada, the United States, Mexico, South Korea, India and the United Kingdom across the healthcare, education, insurance and pharma industries.

Steve McQueen reveals he paused Blitz filming for prostate cancer treatment

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

The Oscar-winning film director and artist Steve McQueen has revealed that he paused the filming of his latest production Blitz in order to be treated for prostate cancer.McQueen, whose father died of the disease in 2006, has spoken for the first time about his own treatment, which led to a tumour being removed in November 2022.He said: “As a Black man, I knew that risk was even higher. For a number of years I had been proactive in getting tested. I underwent regular MRI scans and PSA tests. Thankfully, my cancer was detected very early.”McQueen delayed the production of Blitz by two weeks before returning, and didn’t tell the cast and crew so they weren’t distracted. “It was challenging, but I count myself as one of the lucky ones. I’m also fortunate enough to have a loving family to support me,” he said.McQueen, who has fully recovered, released the statement after attending an event at the House of Commons to support Prostate Cancer Research.David Lammy, the foreign secretary, Josh Babarinde, a Liberal Democrat MP, and the Conservative former minister James Cleverly co-hosted the event, which launched a Prostate Cancer Research report calling for a targeted national prostate cancer screening programme.The main focus of the campaign is to address the disproportionate impact of the disease on Black men, while also trying to reduce the large number of undiagnosed cases.Earlier this year scientists discovered genetic mutations that could help explain why Black men are at higher risk of developing prostate cancer than men of other ethnicities. Black men are twice as likely to be diagnosed and 2.5 times more likely to die from the disease compared with white men.More than a million men worldwide are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. The chances of survival are relatively good: many can live for decades without symptoms or needing treatment.McQueen said: “When caught early, survival rates are extremely high, but if diagnosed late, survival rates drop dramatically. That’s why I’m speaking out today. It’s vital that we address the urgent need for a national prostate cancer screening programme – a step that could save countless lives if only we had the political will to make it happen. It’s appalling that so many men are left to navigate this on their own.”

Can indie comics publishers survive rising prices?

Arts & Culture, Books

For the past 12 years, standard 32-page comic titles were priced at $3.99, with some titles (mainly for kids) still at $2.99. But prices have been steadily rising; more than half of all new comics in 2024 cost $4.99, with some going up a dollar or two more with variant and stock card covers, or in some cases, extra story pages. It might seem like a small difference, but it has big implications, Image Comics co-founder and Spawn creator Todd McFarlane explained. “…For 20 or 25 bucks when we were younger, you used to be able to walk out [of a comic book store] with a pretty thick bag full of comic books. Now you can count them on your fingers.”
McFarlane raises an important point: With inflation hitting people hard, can the comic book market sustain a 25-percent price increase? How does this affect the indies? While journeying through New York Comic Con 2024 (and after), The A.V. Club sat down with several comic book publishers, including McFarlane, to discuss this shift.

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There are a few key reasons for the recent industry changes. “Cost factors have gone up for everybody,” explains Damian Wassel, CEO and publisher at Vault Comics, whose recent series include Deathstalker and Godfather Of Hell. He noted that in the three years prior to the COVID pandemic, “the U.S. went through this massive run of paper plant consolidation and shutdowns. Then COVID happened, and comics sales skyrocketed in 2021, but nobody could get paper for them so costs went up. You’ve got some printers charging close to or more than 100% more than they charged in 2018—not because they have to, necessarily, but because that’s what they’re doing. Then inflation has gone up, so creators need to make more.”
As a result, the two comics behemoths, Marvel and DC, raised prices on many of their books to $4.99. A number of indies also followed suit. However, Marvel and DC have the advantage over indies in that they can do considerably larger print runs which can reduce printing costs. Indies generally have smaller print runs and therefore tighter profit margins. They also don’t have the greater corporate profit edicts of the Big Two. Further, some licensed properties can require higher cover prices to recoup an investment.

“Pricing has been an issue in comics for a while because of this collector mentality that’s become the mindset of everyone,” notes James B. Emmett, senior editor of creator-owned projects at Mad Cave Studios, home to Gatchaman, The Hexiles, and others. “But also to make sales make sense in terms of printer costs, shipping, paying our artists, paying our writers, and just making sure we’re breaking even on the floppies.”
The company settled on the $4.99 price with $6.99 for books with slightly longer stories or alternate covers, which is comparable to other indies’ pricing. “Variants are more expensive because they’re lower print runs so their markups are higher and they’re more exclusive,” Emmett said. “We’re still playing in the world of comics in that way because people want to collect those things.”
It should be noted that the variant craze and intense speculative collecting that dominated the early ’90s helped lead to the great comics crash of 1996. Variants have become popular again, and they have raised the prices of specific issues (some way beyond $10). Perhaps because of this familiar model, comics fans so far seem to be willing to deal with the recent price hike. The standard of 22 to 24 pages of story per 32 pages has not changed, although some slightly expanded comics, notably first issues, cost a little more and offer more content. That’s another tactic that has been more popular in recent years.
Some indies are still drawing the line at $3.99 for a standard floppy, including Dark Horse and Image. They both have more expensive titles but with larger page counts like Dark Horse’s recent Headless Horseman anthology and Image’s Precious Metal series.

“Our current standard prices are expected to remain the same for the time being,” Cara O’Neil, VP of marketing for Dark Horse Comics, tells The A.V. Club. “We do pay attention to changes in the marketplace and what other publishers are doing, as well as sales numbers that are reported in the industry. Our goal is to remain competitive while also being mindful of what comics retailers and fans can afford. It is a tough market, but we don’t want to make comics unapproachable for the community.”
This latest point is particularly important. Comic book sales skyrocketed because of the pandemic lockdowns, from $1.28 billion in 2020 to $1.91 billion in 2021 and $2.01 billion in 2022. They slipped to $1.87 billion last year. Most of the pandemic growth was via graphic novel, manga, and trade paperback sales. Individual comic book sales have stayed relatively the same over the last three years, although they have ticked up a little bit so far this year, with digital showing signs of growth.
“I’m the cheapest guy on the block,” McFarlane says. “I’m an advocate of trying to deliver as much quality at as low a price as possible. I was talking to a couple people [at New York Comic Con], and they said that Marvel and DC might have overdone a bit of a good thing. So they’re actually coming down from their $4.99 to $3.99 on some of their books. They’re going through a cheaper paper stock, and they’re figuring out ways to be able to do it.” McFarlane, who has had a massively successful career that spun off into toys and other media, has been open about the fact that he doesn’t need the extra money. He wants to be loyal to his fans the way they have been to him. He even upgraded to better cover stock.

Utilizing a different strategy, DSTLRY is releasing larger format comics like White Boat and Spectregraph that have between 44 and 52 pages of story in every issue for $9. Somna #1 ran 56 pages and retailed at the $9 price point.
“By doing more pages at actually a cheaper price than two $5 comics for the page count, we can do bigger pages, better paper, spot gloss, and still have a great profit for the retailers, and enough profit for us to be able to do that,” explains David Steinberger, co-founder and CEO of DSTLRY. “It makes a huge difference in terms of the feeling of collecting something.”
The DSTLRY team is also integrating digital comics into their plans. While single-issue prices for digital editions equal those of print, the company offers a discount on $30 hardcover books, reducing them to $15 to $20 on digital. Digital readers can also get 20% off print copies at conventions and have access to digital-only alternate covers, and the company is also creating digital collectibles. Joelle Jones was virtually signing digital copies at NYCC to give them added value.
For the true-blue indies, the companies run by the creators themselves, the recent price jumps are challenging, so specific choices must be made.
Writer-filmmaker Ted Sikora, president of indie publisher Hero Tomorrow Comics, says his company has always kept its prices at $3.99. “Even with our series Bloom, there was a chapter point where I really wanted to end the book, and it was way past 32 pages,” Sikora recalls. “But I also realized, as an indie creator, people aren’t going to want to try a new book for more than $3.99, so I ate the extra cost myself, and it ended up selling out twice throughout the country when it came out. So I feel like it was well worth it. We still made money because as long as you print enough copies you can get your own cost down. On the first issue of Bloom, we did about 10,000 copies.”

Sikora added that Kickstarter campaigns with exclusive covers, which cost more due to smaller print runs, can help offset the price of regular issues.
Through his Outtatime Comics imprint, writer Mike Spring has released his series Red, White And Broke: Confessions Of An American Superhero and The 8-Bit Slasher. His initial print runs are about 300 to 500 copies. His books are 24 pages of story at $5 each, his collected trade paperbacks are $20, and his two recent releases were 48-page square bound one-shots priced at $10 each.
Spring says fans are fine with his pricing “because I mostly sell them at conventions and on Kickstarter, and I think they’re very commensurate with what most indie books are selling for at conventions and on Kickstarter. The thing for me is my profit margin gets a little bit less every time the paper costs go up. I find that most people can see the value of the book.”
We are currently living in another golden age of comics because of the sheer diversity of titles available to readers and collectors today. A majority of that comes at the indie level which is vital for keeping the medium moving forward artistically. But like the current streaming television boom, a plethora of selections can also overwhelm consumers.
“Choice profusion also affects the economics of the business,” Wassel noted. “It’s great to have options as a reader, but when you have a lot of options it can get harder to pick anything. You see a little bit of that happening in consumer behavior, but it also just means that it’s harder for any one thing to break out.”

“The key is producing comics that readers actually want and knowing your market,” says John Dziewiatkowski, publishing director for U.K.-based Titan Books which also releases titles in the U.S. including the Gun Honey and Minky Woodcock series. “Is your brand known? Is your story engaging? Strong brands with great stories and great art continue to sell well. Indie comics with unknown titles can be challenging. Publishers need to get creative with their sales and marketing efforts to get the product in front of their target audience. Unfortunately, there is not a magic formula for comic book success.”
While the market may be able to bear $4.99 comics for now, it should be noted that a majority of traditional comic buyers are middle-aged adults, whereas younger readers tend to like manga and graphic novels. Trying to build a strong fanbase of younger readers may be more challenging when some may perceive larger collections as better value for money. And single digital issues are usually not cheaper than print.
According to a recent ICv2 report, spring 2024 sales held steady, but some comics retailers expressed concern over the effect of higher prices variant/alternate cover tactics on longtime buyers. However, none of the publishers interviewed here are worried about a comics crash. Their slates are diversified by other formats beyond single-issue sales (although it’s easier for the Big Two to deal with the price shifts). Sales figures, not to mention the state of the U.S. economy itself, over the months to come will show us how this will ultimately shake out.

(Special thanks to Chuck Baglivio at Cosmic Comics and Games in Baldwin, NY for his business insights.)

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Which Christmas Movie Does Your Michigan City Deserve? Find Out!

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

The holiday season is here, and Michigan’s cities have never looked more festive—through the lens of your favorite Christmas movies!If you’ve ever wondered which holiday classic best represents your Michigan town, you’re in for a treat.So grab a cup of hot cocoa, snuggle up, and find out which movie your hometown would star in this holiday season.Spoiler alert: Some choices might just surprise you! Let’s dive in…⬇ READ BELOW: Where To Find Santa in Grand Rapids Christmas 2024 ⬇Michigan Cities Like You’ve Never Seen Them—As Christmas Movies!1. Detroit – “A Christmas Carol” (1951 version)I love that ChatGPT was so specific with the exact version of “A Christmas Carol.” Let’s see why the A.I. picked this movie for the city of Detroit.”Detroit, with its rich history, transformation, and complex social fabric, parallels the themes of A Christmas Carol. The city’s evolution—its boom in the automotive industry, followed by struggles and a reinvention—echoes the story of Scrooge’s redemption. Detroit is a place that has seen hardship but continues to rise, much like Scrooge’s journey to generosity and kindness.”Okay ChatGPT,  I see what you are trying to do there.2. Traverse City – “The Holiday” (2006)ChatGPT picked it because,”Traverse City is a charming small town that could easily represent the cozy escape in The Holiday. It’s a picturesque, romantic destination known for its stunning natural beauty and boutique shops, much like the quaint country home of Kate Winslet’s character. With snow-covered streets, cozy cafes, and a close-knit community, Traverse City has the perfect vibe for this feel-good holiday film.”Since I have yet to visit Traverse City, I have only heard about how charming the city is. So, this movie choice makes sense to me. Do you agree?3. Grand Rapids – “Elf” (2003)Now, this one is where the A.I. loses me completely.Why did it choose “Elf” of all Christmas movies?”Grand Rapids, known for its vibrant arts scene and community spirit, matches the infectious energy of Elf. The city has a sense of fun and joy, similar to Buddy the Elf’s exuberance. With plenty of local breweries, creative markets, and a growing downtown area, Grand Rapids has a playful, quirky vibe perfect for this beloved holiday comedy.”Nice try, A.I. There is a perfect Christmas movie that is perfect for the city of Grand Rapids.4. Mackinac Island – “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946)Similar to Traverse City, I have heard nothing but magical things about Mackinac Island, especially for the Christmas holiday.”Mackinac Island, a timeless and picturesque spot where things slow down and the past seems ever-present, is the perfect setting for It’s a Wonderful Life. The island’s Victorian charm and its sense of community fit perfectly with the movie’s themes of small-town life and the impact one individual can have on their community. Mackinac Island might not have the bustling pace of big cities, but it has the deep-rooted sense of connection and nostalgia that George Bailey discovers.”Does Mackinac Island give off “It’s A Wonderful Life” vibes?5. Ann Arbor – “Love Actually” (2003)I am obsessed with “Love Actually!” To me, it is truly the quintessential Christmas movie. Argue with someone else if you disagree.ChatGPT says,”Ann Arbor, with its artsy vibe, intellectual atmosphere, and festive, charming downtown, has a bit of a European flair, much like the romantic, interconnected storylines of Love Actually. The city’s culture of creativity, its cozy bookstores, and small coffee shops would fit the tone of this multi-faceted holiday film that blends love, friendship, and holiday spirit.”Imagine you are taking a snowy walk through the University of Michigan’s campus or an intimate dinner at a local restaurant, with romantic connections forming amid the holiday magic. It is like you are in “Love Actually” the Michigan version.6. Holland – “The Polar Express” (2004)ChatGPT chose violence! Matching Holland with the Grand Rapids-based movie, “The Polar Express” is diabolical business!”Holland, with its Dutch heritage, festive Christmas celebrations, and beautiful downtown, feels like the perfect setting for The Polar Express. The town is famous for its holiday traditions, and its streets glow with Christmas lights, much like the magical journey to the North Pole. Holland’s annual Kerstmarkt (Christmas market) and its famous Christmas-themed events make it feel like the kind of place where Christmas magic comes to life.”How many Grand Rapids residents are sick to their stomachs right now?7. Kalamazoo – “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989)I love that A.I. believes Kalamazoo is full of “quirky charm.””Kalamazoo, with its mix of quirky charm and down-to-earth sensibility, fits the humorous, family-centric chaos of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. The city’s vibrant community and mid-sized suburban feel make it a perfect setting for the Griswold family’s over-the-top holiday antics. Plus, Kalamazoo is known for being the home of some eccentric events, which would definitely match the wacky, often hilarious moments of the film.”If you live in Kalamazoo, do you agree with this movie choice?8. Sault Ste. Marie – “Frozen” (2013)I’m sorry if your child asks you to take them to Sault Ste. Marie because of this movie choice.”Sault Ste. Marie’s stunning winter landscape and proximity to the Canadian border give it a magical, icy quality that fits perfectly with the themes of Frozen. With its snowy weather, frozen lakes, and wintery beauty, the town could easily serve as the backdrop for Elsa and Anna’s story of family, magic, and self-discovery. It’s a place where winter is truly the star of the show.”Imagine if you saw Elsa creating her ice palace on the frozen St. Mary’s River, with snow gently falling across the town as the Northern Lights dance in the sky. Iconic!9. Bay City – “Scrooged” (1988)The iconic “Scoorged” movie is giving Bay City vibes, according to ChatGPT.”Bay City, with its historic charm and growing arts scene, has a unique mix of tradition and modernity, similar to the dark humor of Scrooged. The city’s industrial past combined with its revitalization and new creative energy mirrors the character of Frank Cross—someone with a tough exterior and a deep transformation ahead of them.”10. Lansing – “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964)What do you see in the Lansing sky? Rudolph!”Lansing, Michigan’s state capital, is a city that often feels like it’s in the background compared to the larger cities in the state. Just like Rudolph, Lansing may not always be in the spotlight, but it plays an important role in the larger picture. The city’s resilience and hardworking spirit align well with the themes of perseverance and finding one’s own place in the world.”Picture this: you are taking a stroll on a snowy evening at the Michigan State Capitol building, with Lansing’s quieter, understated beauty standing out in a moment of holiday joy.These Michigan cities, each with its unique character, pair beautifully with these Christmas classics—offering a blend of nostalgia, magic, humor, and holiday spirit.Where To Find Santa in Grand Rapids Christmas 2024Santa Claus is coming to town… here’s where you can find him this Christmas season.Gallery Credit: Laura HardyMichigan Cities Like You’ve Never Seen Them—As Christmas Movies!If you’ve ever wondered which holiday classic best represents your Michigan town, you’re in for a treat. Find out which movie ChatGPT says your hometown would star in this holiday season.Gallery Credit: Lisha B

Dwayne Johnson mocked for comparing panned Christmas movie to Oscar-winning Oppenheimer

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreDwayne “The Rock” Johnson has revealed the unlikely inspiration for his new action Christmas movie Red One: Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. The professional wrestler turned Hollywood star recently said that an IMAX screening of Nolan’s blockbuster hit encouraged him to utilize the same technology for his Santa Claus kidnapping flick. “I had an opportunity to go watch Oppenheimer and I watched it in the IMAX theater where Christopher Nolan watches and screens his movies,” Johnson said in a video interview.The 52-year-old actor apparently asked to sit in the same spot where Nolan watches his own movie on IMAX screens. “I even asked to let me sit where Chris sits. They said, ‘Chris sits here,’” Johnson recalled.As he watched Oppenheimer – a three-hour epic about physicist J Robert Oppenheimer and the psychological toll of creating the atomic bomb during World War II – Johnson thought: “Holy s***. Red One on this screen and with this technology could be game over.’”Unsurprisingly, Johnson’s comments have since gone viral on social media. Not only did Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy, win Best Picture at the Oscars earlier this year, but Nolan’s biopic has since been lauded as the “most important film of this century.”Meanwhile, Red One – which hits theaters on November 15 – has received a meager 34 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. The Hollywood Reporter called Red One “so ugly, artificial and overlong that it should cure kids of any belief in magic,” while the Associated Press described the film as “an unwanted high-priced Christmas present.”Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans star in ‘Red One’

Wet AMD therapeutics: Technologies raising the ceiling for functional visual outcomes

Technology

(Image credit: AdobeStock/CoetzeeRising/peopleimages.com)VEGF-A therapy has revolutionized treatment and visual outcomes for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Ranibizumab, the first anti–VEGF-A agent to be FDA approved, was introduced more than 18 years ago. Despite the introduction of additional nAMD therapies over the years, visual outcomes obtained have been comparable to outcomes from the ANCHOR (NCT00061594) and MARINA (NCT00056836) trials showing between 8 and 11 letters of visual gain at 2 years. Based on real-world evidence, patients do not always see either the gain in meaningful and functional vision or the durability elucidated in findings from randomized clinical trials.1-4 Drug developers are looking to improve upon these outcomes.Treatment RegimenLarge, pivotal randomized clinical trials have typically evaluated treatments with fixed-interval scheduled injections. Findings from studies of as-needed dosing (after loading doses) show markedly inferior treatment outcomes after 2 years compared with fixed-interval dosing, treat-and-extend regimens, and the treat-extend-stop protocol.5 For real-world patients, visual acuity (VA) is largely dependent on the number of treatments received annually and treatment regimen. Findings from long-term studies demonstrate the variability.6In findings from the CATT trial (NCT00593450), either ranibizumab or bevacizumab given on a monthly or as-needed basis was effective at 2 years, but mean VA gains were not maintained at 5 years in the extension study findings, with many patients managed using as-needed dosing.7,8 Long-term outcomes of patients in the ANCHOR and MARINA trials and the HORIZON extension study (NCT00379795) extension showed an overall mean decline in VA falling below baseline best-corrected VA (BCVA).9On the other hand, patients treated with more frequent fixed-dose aflibercept in the VEGF trap-eye extension were able to maintain visual improvement at 96 weeks.10 My colleagues and I studied patients with nAMD who had consistent anti-VEGF therapy, received 50 or more injections, and were managed with a treat-extend-stop protocol. At an average of 8.5 years, these patients were able to maintain their visual improvement of 8.5 letters when compared with their initial vision.11 In order to achieve these results, the treatment burden was high, typically requiring intravitreal injections every 6 to 8 weeks. Newer anti-VEGF agents have studied increased treatment intervals between injections.When evaluating a therapy’s durability, it is important to consider that the criteria commonly used in clinical trials to give supplemental injections are not quite how we would treat patients in our real-world clinics. Trial rescue criteria typically require a fluid increase of 50 or 75 µm and/or a drop in vision of 5 to 10 letters before patients can receive more frequent injections. In real-world practice, I may tolerate an increase of only 20 to 30 µm of subretinal fluid before I would either shorten the time interval between injections or switch anti-VEGF agents. In my experience, some patients can go 4 months between injections on high-dose aflibercept (Eylea; Genentech) and faricimab-svoa (Vabysmo; Genentech), but that is not true for a majority of real-world patients.12Regardless of the treatment durability, patients still gain 7 to 10 letters or approximately 1.5 to 2 lines of vision with anti–VEGF-A inhibition. Of course, this is exciting from where we started. Nevertheless, we still see a ceiling effect with our standard-of-care agents. I am less concerned with the treatment burden if we are showing patients that they’re obtaining improved visual outcomes. I’m always on the side of getting the best possible vision for my patients.Next-generation agents in developmentInnovations in the nAMD landscape currently under investigation in phase 2 and 3 clinical trials include gene therapy, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and dual-target drugs. Neovascular macular degeneration is multifactorial, which requires future agents to target multiple pathways. We know, for example, that with faricimab-svoa, its dual inhibition of VEGF-A and angiopoietin-2 is likely playing a role in its increased durability. However, the visual outcomes were still found to be noninferior to aflibercept in findings from a large randomized clinical trial.13Although the role of VEGF-A is the most well studied, the entire VEGF family of ligand proteins and their receptors play a role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and regulating disease. In addition to VEGF-A, these consist of VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, placental growth factor, and VEGF receptors VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3, which are expressed on vascular endothelium. Specifically in retinal vascular diseases, their pathogenic activity is seen in angiogenesis and increased vascular permeability.14-16VEGF-C and VEGF-D have been found in the human vitreous and are expressed in the retinal pigment epithelium of patients with nAMD; VEGF-C is elevated in the blood and retinal tissue of patients with nAMD.17-19 It has further been shown that inhibiting VEGF-A upregulates VEGF-C and VEGF-D, which may play a role in the limitation of anti–VEGF-A monotherapies.20,21Sozinibercept (OPT-302; Opthea) is a novel, first-in-class recombinant fusion protein trap that binds to and neutralizes VEGF-C and VEGF-D.Highly specific for VEGF-C and VEGF-D, it does not bind to VEGF-A and is being studied in combination with standard-of-care agents. This agent is the only late-stage therapy in development looking to improve VA. In the phase 2b investigation of 366 patients, sozinibercept plus ranibizumab demonstrated superior visual outcomes compared with monthly ranibizumab alone.21 Patients assigned to combination treatment had a mean change in BCVA from baseline to week 24 of 14.2 letters, representing a statistically significant additional gain of 3.4 letters (P = .0107) compared with the ranibizumab monotherapy control group. Even greater VA gains of 5.7 letters were achieved compared with the control group in prespecified analyses of patients with minimally classic/occult lesions, which make up approximately 85% of clinical nAMD cases encountered.Two concurrent pivotal phase 3 studies, ShORe (NCT04757610; 2 mg sozinibercept plus 0.5 mg ranibizumab) and COAST (NCT04757636; 2 mg sozinibercept plus 2 mg aflibercept), are fully enrolled and underway.22,23 Opthea has noted that the company plans to submit registrational regulatory filings following a 12-month primary efficacy analysis.ConclusionIf we can enhance patients’ VA further, that is huge for all sorts of functional abilities. Findings from studies have shown that if you can improve a patient’s VA of 20/100 to 20/80, they are able to function better in their home. A patient with VA of 20/50 whose vision improves to 20/40 can now drive. If a therapy requires a few more injections over the treatment course to gain patients more vision with the associated quality of life benefits, in my mind, that is more important than longer periods between treatments.There is more to the pathophysiology of nAMD than VEGF-A. Despite the huge strides made in our use of anti–VEGF-A agents, the treatment burden is high and visual gains can be improved upon. With the next generation of nAMD treatments pioneered by sozinibercept among others, we seek to improve visual outcomes beyond what is seen with standard of care.References1. Mehta H, Tufail A, Daien V, et al. Real-world outcomes in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration treated with intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2018;65:127-146. doi:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2017.12.0022. Ciulla TA, Huang F, Westby K, Williams DF, Zaveri S, Patel SC. Real-world outcomes of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in neovascular age-related macular degeneration in the United States. Ophthalmol Retina. 2018;2(7):645-653. doi:10.1016/j.oret.2018.01.0063. Kiss S, Campbell J, Almony A, et al. Management and outcomes for neovascular age-related macular degeneration: analysis of United States electronic health records. Ophthalmology. 2020;127(9):1179-1188. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.02.0274. Wykoff CC, Garmo V, Tabano D, et al. Impact of anti-VEGF treatment and patient characteristics on vision outcomes in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: up to 6-year analysis of the AAO IRIS Registry. Ophthalmol Sci. 2023;4(2):100421. doi:10.1016/j.xops.2023.1004215. Adrean SD, Chaili S, Grant S, Pirouz A. Recurrence rate of choroidal neovascularization in neovascular age-related macular degeneration managed with a treat-extend-stop protocol. Ophthalmol Retina. 2018;2(3):225-230. doi:10.1016/j.oret.2017.07.0096. Gale R, Korobelnik JF, Yang Y, Wong TY. Characteristics and predictors of early and delayed responders to ranibizumab treatment in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: a retrospective analysis from the ANCHOR, MARINA, HARBOR, and CATT trials. Ophthalmologica. 2016;236(4):193-200. doi:10.1159/0004510657. Martin DF, Maguire MG, Fine SL, et al; Comparison of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatments Trials (CATT) Research Group. Ranibizumab and bevacizumab for treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration: two-year results. Ophthalmology. 2012;119(7):1388-1398.doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2012.03.0538. Maguire MG, Martin DF, Ying GS, et al; Comparison of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatments Trials (CATT) Research Group. Five-year outcomes with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration: the Comparison of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatments Trials. Ophthalmology. 2016;123(8):1751-1761. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.03.0459. Rofagha S, Bhisitkul RB, Boyer DS, Sadda SR, Zhang K; SEVEN-UP Study Group. Seven-year outcomes in ranibizumab-treated patients in ANCHOR, MARINA, and HORIZON: a multicenter cohort study (SEVEN-UP). Ophthalmology. 2013;120(11):2292-2299. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2013.03.04610. Schmidt-Erfurth U, Kaiser PK, Korobelnik JF, et al. Intravitreal aflibercept injection for neovascular age-related macular degeneration: ninety-six-week results of the VIEW studies. Ophthalmology. 2014;121(1):193-201. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2013.08.01111. Adrean SD, Chaili S, Ramkumar H, Pirouz A, Grant S. Consistent long-term therapy of neovascular age-related macular degeneration managed by 50 or more anti-VEGF injections using a treat-extend-stop protocol. Ophthalmology. 2018;125(7):1047-1053. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2018.01.01212. Adrean SD, Han W, Pirouz A, Ng C, Ramkumar H, Grant S. Results of long-term neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients switched to faricimab. Paper presented at: 2023 American Society of Retina Specialists Annual Meeting; July 28-August 1, 2023; Seattle, WA.13. Khanani AM, Kotecha A, Chang A, et al; TENAYA and LUCERNE Investigators. TENAYA and LUCERNE: two-year results from the phase 3 neovascular age-related macular degeneration trials of faricimab with treat-and-extend dosing in year 2. Ophthalmology. 2024;131(8):914-926. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2024.02.01414. Adams RH, Alitalo K. Molecular regulation of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2007;8(6):464-478. doi:10.1038/nrm218315. Joukov V, Kumar V, Sorsa T, et al. A recombinant mutant vascular endothelial growth factor-C that has lost vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 binding, activation, and vascular permeability activities. J Biol Chem. 1998;273(12):6599-6602. doi:10.1074/jbc.273.12.659916. Ikeda Y, Yonemitsu Y, Onimaru M, et al. The regulation of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF-A, -C, and -D) expression in the retinal pigment epithelium. Exp Eye Res. 2006;83(5):1031-1040. doi:10.1016/j.exer.2006.05.00717. Lashkari K, Ma J, Teague G, Arroyo J. Expression of VEGF-C, VEGF-D and their cognate receptors in experimental choroidal neovascularization and clinical AMD. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2013;54(15):4999.18. Lashkari KM, Ma J, Teague GC, Guo C, Baldwin ME. VEGF-C and VEGF-D blockade by VGX-300 inhibits choroidal neovascularization and leakage in a mouse model of wet AMD. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014;55(13) :1823.19. Li D, Xie K, Ding G, et al. Tumor resistance to anti-VEGF therapy through up-regulation of VEGF-C expression. Cancer Lett. 2014;346(1):45-52. doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2013.12.00420. Lieu CH, Tran H, Jiang ZQ, et al. The association of alternate VEGF ligands with resistance to anti-VEGF therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer. PLoS One. 2013;8(10):e77117.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.007711721. Grau S, Thorsteinsdottir J, von Baumgarten L, Winkler F, Tonn JC, Schichor C. Bevacizumab can induce reactivity to VEGF‐C and ‐D in human brain and tumour derived endothelial cells. J Neurooncol. 2011;104(1):103-112. doi:10.1007/s11060-010-0480-622. Cabral T, Lima LH, Mello LGM, et al. Bevacizumab injection in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration increases angiogenic biomarkers. Ophthalmol Retina. 2018;2(1):31-37. doi:10.1016/j.oret.2017.04.00423. Nagineni CN, Kommineni VK, William A, Detrick B, Hooks JJ. Regulation of VEGF expression in human retinal cells by cytokines: implications for the role of inflammation in age-related macular degeneration. J Cell Physiol. 2012;227(1):116-126.doi:10.1002/jcp.2270824. Jackson TL, Slakter J, Buyse M, et al; Opthea Study Group Investigators. A randomized controlled trial of OPT-302, a VEGF-C/D inhibitor for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Ophthalmology. 2023;S0161-6420(23)00066-0. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2023.02.00125. OPT-302 with ranibizumab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) (ShORe). ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated March 2022. Accessed October 4, 2024.https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT0475761026. OPT-302 with aflibercept in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) (COAST). ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated March 2022. Accessed October 4, 2024. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04757636Sean D. Adrean, MD, FAAOe: [email protected] is in practice at Retina Consultants of Orange County in Fullerton, California.

You probably haven’t heard of Meanwhile on Earth. It’s only 2024’s best sci-fi movie

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Metrograph Pictures
No genre has thrived more in 2024, and in so many different ways, than sci-fi. From the big-budget dystopia of A Quiet Place: Day One to the indie time-travel character study Omni Loop to the fall animated hit The Wild Robot, we’ve gotten pretty much every flavor of science fiction available so far, and there are still two months remaining in the year.
It makes sense the genre is the go-to place for all kinds of stories as our reality slowly resembles something you’d see in a sci-fi movie from years ago. Self-driving cars? Check. AI-assisted everything? Check. Alien invaders? Chec-…wait, that hasn’t happened … yet. But if it did happen, what would that look like? How would it occur? And what would you do to save yourself or your loved ones?
Meanwhile on Earth – Exclusive Official Trailer (2024) Megan Northam
Those are just some of the many, many questions that drives Jérémy Clapin’s Meanwhile on Earth, a French-language sci-fi picture that premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in February and is just hitting the United States this month. Chances are, you haven’t heard of it. That’s OK, because I’m here to tell you that, in a year full of great science-fiction films, it stands tall among them, and is one of the best of the 21st century. Meanwhile on Earth is an all-timer, and a movie that will break your heart.

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An earthbound alien story
Metrograph Pictures
The movie opens on an empty spaceship, and you hear only two voices, one male and one female, talking to each other via voiceover. They belong to Franck (Yoan Germain Le Mat) and Elsa (Megan Northam), a brother and sister separated by the former’s mysterious disappearance some years ago on a far away space mission. Elsa’s never quite gotten over it, and as she sleepwalks through her day job as a nurse to elderly patients and her empty nightlife filled with parties, she wonders what happened to her brother and wishes he were home.
One night, she gets her chance. On top of a deserted hill, she hears Franck’s voice transmitted through a radio antenna. His voice is distant and fuzzy, but in the few seconds she hears him, he instructs her to look for a seed in the ground and place it in her ear so they can talk more. (Think of it as an intergalactic earbud that’s wired to your brain.) She puts the seed in her ear, but instead of hearing Franck, she now hears a woman’s voice, who assures her Franck is safe … for the moment. If Elsa wants her brother back, she has to help Franck’s captors find their way to Earth.
Meanwhile on Earth Movie Clip – Ear Worm (2024)
“Is this an invasion?” she asks. Not exactly; only five of these beings will come to Earth, and all they want is to exist, not to invade or take over the world. They need Elsa’s help in finding a path in the woods to locate their rendezvous point and in selecting five people to be body swapped so these beings can have host bodies to inhabit. Elsa has only days to pull all of this off, or else Franck will be lost to her forever.
It’s more than just a highbrow Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Metrograph Pictures
On paper, this sounds like a typical Invasion of the Body Snatchers rip-off. Aliens slowly taking over the human race is an old, overused staple of the genre, and more bad movies have been made about it than good ones. The beauty of Meanwhile on Earth, however, is that it takes its high sci-fi concept seriously and isn’t bogged down with the details. Who are these beings exactly and why are there only five of them? Why is Earth so appealing to them? How does the physics of the body swap actually occur? And how is Franck alive after all these years missing in space?
Most of these questions aren’t answered, and it’s to the film’s credit that that doesn’t feel like a flaw at all. That’s because providing answers isn’t really the point of Meanwhile on Earth; it’s setting up Elsa’s lonely life, her desperate need for her brother and, by extension, some sort of connection to her life, and presenting her with an unbearable moral quandary: Is it worth saving a loved one’s life if you have take another’s? And what makes one life worth more than another?
Meanwhile on Earth Exclusive Movie Clip – They Won’t Feel a Thing (2024)
Clapin doesn’t make this easier for his heroine by making the body-swap process seem almost painless. The humans being replaced don’t die, necessarily; instead, they are sent into a dream state, where they will live forever. Still, does that make it OK for Elsa to sacrifice strangers for her brother?
And some of the people she considers to select are ones that are marginalized or forgotten about by society: old people at the end of their lives, a homeless woman with no ties to anyone but her loyal dog, and a nasty tree-cutter who doesn’t hide his chauvinism. What makes them less than Franck, or even Elsa herself, who is drifting in her own dream-like state, lost in gazing at the stars or her comic book illustrations she creates throughout the movie? It’s this dilemma Elsa wrestles with throughout the movie, and made me question what I would do if such an extraordinary situation presented itself to me.
A dreamy yet grounded masterpiece
Metrograph Pictures
I’m making Meanwhile on Earth sound grave and, to quote Larry David, “a bit much,” and while it takes its subject and themes seriously, the movie is also astonishing beautiful, with touches of real human warmth rarely seen in the sci-fi genre. Clapin is careful to paint a brief but detailed portrait of Elsa’s life, which is filled with close relationships with her funky, pot-smoking father, her concerned mother who deals with Franck’s absence in her own quiet way, her best friend who is about to move away, and her playful pre-teen brother.
This portrait is aided by cinematographer Robrecht Heyvaert, who films Elsa’s small French town in a faint golden glow that’s from the setting sun, or the distant multi-colored lights from nearby buildings and street lamps, or, appropriately enough, the twinkling stars in the nighttime sky. The movie’s score by Dan Levy (no, not the Schitt’s Creek actor) is dissonant electronic music, which is standard for modern sci-fi films like this one, but it’s played in such a way that suggests the many mysteries the movie presents and leaves largely unsolved. All of these elements create a sci-fi movie that pulses with life and emotion; it takes a far-fetched premise and successfully grounds it in reality.
Metrograph Pictures
Clapin is still best known for his standout Oscar-nominated 2019 animated feature I Lost My Body, and he brings his animator’s eye to Meanwhile on Earth via three animated sequences at the beginning, middle, and end of the movie. This isn’t just an empty stylistic flex, though, but rather a further exploration of Elsa, her talents as an illustrator, and how she uses it to deal with her brother’s absence and satiate the need to reunite with him. These sequences show the dream state she would be in if she herself were body swapped, and makes a persuasive case that it’s not really all that bad to be replaced by an alien.
A path revealed, and a destination unknown
Metrograph Pictures
Meanwhile on Earth ends the way it should end, which is to say not all is revealed, and it’s up to you to decide what happens. Remember, this isn’t a big-budget sci-fi movie, so there’s no need to satisfy a mass audience who desperately need all questions answered and all mysteries revealed.
This film doesn’t do that, and it’s better for it. The ending is either happy or sad depending on how you interpret it. I’m leaning more to the former, although like everything else in the film, happiness comes at a cost, and you’re still left asking the film’s central question: Was everything Elsa did worth it?
Meanwhile on Earth is playing in movie theaters in select cities.