Scientists Successfully Reverse Liver Fibrosis in Mice

Science and Health

Key TakeawaysIn mice at least, scientists have found a way to stop and even reverse a deadly scarring of liver tissue called fibrosisIf proven to work in people, it would be a major advance for patients battling cirrhosis, hepatitis disease and other ailmentsThe therapy works by blocking proteins produced by certain genesFRIDAY, Nov. 1, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Cirrhosis, hepatitis infection and other causes can trigger liver fibrosis — a potentially lethal stiffening of tissue that, once begun, is irreversible.For many patients, a liver transplant is their only hope.However, research at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles may offer patients a glimmer of hope. Scientists there say they’ve successfully reversed liver fibrosis in mice.Reporting recently in the journal Nature Communications, the team say they’ve discovered a genetic pathway that, if blocked, might bring fibrosis to a halt.The three genes involved in this fibrotic process are called FOXM1, MAT2A and MAT2B.“What we achieved was to unveil the axis of FOXM1, MAT2A and MAT2B as a potential target for developing drugs to treat liver fibrosis,” said study senior author Dr. Shelly Lu, who directs gastroenterology and hepatology at Cedars-Sinai. “Our findings suggest that blocking any of these [gene-produced] proteins might be useful in treating this condition.”The research is still in its early stages, of course, and results in animal don’t always pan out in humans.But Dr. Peter Chen, chair of the Cedars-Sinai Department of Medicine, said insights from the study hold real promise.“This highly original study significantly advances our understanding of an insidious condition that too often leaves patients and doctors with few treatment options,” he said in a Cedars Sinai news release. Chen wasn’t involved in the study.The research team set their sights on the three genes.One, FOXM1, is present in liver cells called hepatocytes and can trigger liver cancer, inflammation and fibrosis if it becomes overactive.The two other genes, MAT2A and MAT2B, are active within a second kind of liver cell called stellate cells, which also play a role in fibrosis.All three genes “code” for different proteins necessary for the fibrotic process, the scientists explained.“We discovered that these proteins ‘talk’ with each other inside liver cells,” Lu said in the Cedars news release. “They even influence nearby cells through extracellular vesicles — fat molecules filled with genetic fragments, proteins and other biological materials that act as messengers between cells. Working together, that is how these proteins stimulate each other, driving liver inflammation and fibrosis.”What if production of even one of the proteins produced by the genetic trio was interrupted?To find out, Lu’s group first induced liver inflammation and fibrosis in lab mice.They then treated those mice with a substance known as FDI-6 that blocks the protein produced by the FOXM1 gene.The result was impressive: Not only did this therapy put a halt to further fibrosis, it seemed to reverse some of the stiff fibrotic scarring of the mouse liver tissue that had already taken place.It’s a hopeful start, and the team noted that mice and humans share all three of the genes that are the focus of this research. Still, Lu and colleagues stressed that only further research can determine if treatments like FDI-6 might help people.More informationFind out more about liver fibrosis at the American Liver Foundation.SOURCE: Cedars-Sinai, news release, Oct. 29, 2024What This Means For YouScientists may have made a breakthrough in treating liver fibrosis, a potentially deadly scarring of liver tissue.FOX41 Yakima©FOX11 TriCities©

Books we’re reading and loving in November: Safety in Bear Country is about the monsters of our own making

Arts & Culture, Books

Each week, Globe and Mail staffers and readers share what they’re reading now, whether it’s a hot new release or an old book they’re discovering for the first time. Tell me about a book you loved and we might publish your recommendation. Fill out this form, or send your book recommendation to Lara Pingue at [email protected] our full 2023-2024 archive of book recommendations Open this photo in gallery:Safety in Bear CountrySuppliedSafety in Bear Country, Heather PaulSafety in Bear Country by Heather Paul tells the fictional story of Serena Palmer, who works at an institution for individuals with severe developmental disabilities. When a patient under her watch dies tragically, she runs away to Australia. This is a story about the monsters of our own making that seek us out, prey upon us, or need our help. It is written in a mystical, almost poetic prose that weave together the quirky events in Serena’s disjointed life, like a fine jigsaw puzzle. While the main theme is a journey to the self, it’s also a New Age love story, a tribute to what the New Age defines as the mystical, emotional, romantic lure within our culture and our times that maybe we all secretly want. Just thinking about it makes me want to go back and read it again.-Globe reader Graziano Galati, Collingwood, Ont.Open this photo in gallery:Outsider Art in CanadaSuppliedOutsider Art in Canada, Linda RainaldiOutsider Art in Canada by Linda Rainaldi is a much-anticipated book about Canadian self-taught artists. From the West Coast to the Maritimes and the Territories, the book starts with a historical account on how the term “outsider art” was coined, its manifestation in the United States and its association with the European “Art Brut” movement founded by French artist Jean Dubuffet. Featuring around 40 Canadian artists, the book offers colourful illustrated examples of each artist’s work complimented by research, biographies and in some cases personal anecdotes. A separate chapter on Indigenous art is also offered for discussion. Self-taught artists reflect on their daily lives through their art by sharing their struggles, triumphs and personal experiences. I enjoyed this book’s thoughtful, reflective and non-academic tone. It’s definitely worth savouring in small chunks just to appreciate the unique artistic legacy each artist has to offer.-Globe reader Paul de Guzman, VancouverOpen this photo in gallery:Dark HorsesSuppliedSlow Horses, Mick HerronMick Herron’s Slow Horses series revolves around Slough House, where washed-up MI5 agents are sent to languish in obscurity in the hope that they’ll quit the service. I love Herron’s intricate plots and darkly funny narrative, blending espionage with character-driven drama. These agents, dubbed “The Slow Horses,” each have unique backstories and are led by the vulgar, slovenly and hilarious Cold War spy Jackson Lamb. I recommend reading the books in order before watching the television adaption.-Globe reader Peter Cech, Burnaby, B.C.Open this photo in gallery:A Little LifeSuppliedA Little Life, Hanya YanagiharaHanya Yanagihara’s sophomore novel A Little Life is a difficult book to recommend to others. Both devastating and beautiful, it offers readers portraits of life so intimately portrayed, so uniquely detailed, so painfully felt that its 832 pages feel not excessive but necessary – they capture the great expanse and bland mundanity of living. To articulate what this story is about, I paraphrase one of its protagonists, Willem: This is a book about what we choose to seek from the relationships that make up our lives. And I do recommend it, wholeheartedly.-Globe reader Jessica RobinsonOpen this photo in gallery:Charlie Chaplin vs. AmericaSuppliedCharlie Chaplin vs. America, Scott EymanWhen Charlie Chaplin’s satirical takes on capitalism turned political, U.S. government agencies — including the FBI — began to take notice. Scott Eyman’s Charlie Chaplin vs. America is a fascinating insight into the life of one the great artists of the early 20th century, pulling back the curtain on this dark period of Chaplin’s life. Powerful forces tried to drive Chaplin out of popular favour – and the country – using his affairs with younger women as cover. Eyman offers insight into how populism, puritanism and realpolitik can and still do function behind the scenes in the not-so-open world of our big friendly neighbour to the south.-Globe reader Don Rubin, TorontoOpen this photo in gallery:James, by Percival EverettSuppliedJames, Percival EverettIn his latest novel James, author Percival Everett reimagines The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through the eyes of slave Jim. Huck and Jim (who refers to himself as James) float down the prewar Mississippi of the 1840s. As James reveals that the enslaved Black people deliberately speak “slave talk” to fool their white masters, the story goes from sometimes painful, to terrifying, to downright hilarious. Being familiar with the American classic isn’t a prerequisite for enjoying James. Although many original characters reappear, events soon take an original and startling new direction. James stands on its own.-Globe reader Patricia Fry, Port Credit, Ont.Open this photo in gallery:The Game of KingsSuppliedThe Game of Kings, Dorothy DunnettHow to describe nobleman Francis Crawford of Lymond of 16th-century Scotland? Unbearably erudite, fatally good looking, skilled both on battlefield and in court, hunted by both Scots and the English. In The Game of Kings, Lymond returns to Scotland with his name and reputation in tatters after being found guilty of treason five years earlier. Nobody can be sure of his endgame, only that chaos is sure to follow. The late Dorothy Dunnett was a master storyteller whose books are known for historical accuracy. The six volumes of the Lymond Chronicles can be very funny (one chapter involves a drunk pig) but are not for the faint of heart. Alliances shift, the writing can be obscure and the texts are peppered with middle English, French and Latin quotations and mythical allusions. (Relax, the story stands without translation.) Your reward is a romp through Europe (and Russia, and Turkey) of the mid-1500s. In the end, Lymond, his family and his loves command your heart and mind – and keep you reading past midnight, desperate to find out what happens next.-Globe reader Elizabeth Carson, VictoriaOpen this photo in gallery:When You Least Expect ItSuppliedWhen You Least Expect It, Lorna Schultz NicholsonAdult readers may shy away from reading young-adult fiction, perhaps believing it to be full of angsty romance and fantasy quests. That’s a shame because they’re missing out on When You Least Expect It by Lorna Schultz Nicholson. This is a book that transcends adolescence. It’s the story of Holly, an elite teenaged athlete, who is shattered when she’s cut from the national rowing team. The story follows Holly through one life-changing summer as she fights to put her dreams back together, aided by a coach with a tragic secret. Themes of family, loss, perseverance and triumph – as well as some awesome rowing scenes – help create a sports story that is both moving and inspirational. This is a gripping, emotional read.-Globe reader Jean Mills, Guelph, Ont.Open this photo in gallery:Fate is the Hunter, Ernest K. GannI was delighted to discover Fate Is the Hunter, Ernest K. Gann’s memoir about his fascinating career as a pilot in the early years of American commercial aviation. Fasten your seat belt as Gann recounts his hair-raising experiences, close calls and incredible luck in the skies. During the Second World War, Gann was a pioneer in flying the Air Transport Command route to ferry bombers, soldiers and material across the North Atlantic Ocean. Postwar, Gann flew extensively in South America and Southeast Asia. Gann’s writing style draws the reader into each anecdote; he is utterly forthright but also subtly humorous; and his description is vivid. This is a five-star memoir.-Globe reader Derek Wilson, Port Moody, B.C.Open this photo in gallery:All FoursSuppliedAll Fours, Miranda JulyIn what has been dubbed ‘The First Great Perimenopause Novel,’ Miranda July’s All Fours follows an unnamed 45-year-old woman intent on a fresh start. Leaving her husband and child behind, she embarks on a cross-country road trip, which is quickly derailed after she locks eyes with a handsome stranger. She settles into a motel, spends $20,000 renovating it and begins a lustful obsession while grappling with stream-of-consciousness existential questions. Her sexual exploits are sometimes uncomfortable to read, but her shameless journey to self-discovery is also refreshing. The witty, earnest prose will keep you reading through the cringe.-Globe editor Aruna DuttThe Globe 100: The best books of 2022

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Netflix fans say film has ‘best horror movie opening ever’ – despite terrible reviews

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Horror aficionados are raving about a film that landed on Netflix just last month, hailing it as having the “best opening scene” in the genre, perfectly timed for Halloween chills.Despite a dismal 14% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes and a marginally better audience rating of 37%, Ghost Ship has made a lasting impression since its 2002 release, particularly for its gruesome and shocking start.Directed by Steve Beck with a script penned by Mark Hanlon and John Pogue, Ghost Ship may not have sustained the momentum after its notorious beginning, but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming iconic due to its iconic opening scene.The chilling synopsis of Ghost Ship reads: “In a remote region of the Bering Sea, a boat salvage crew discovers the eerie remains of a grand passenger liner thought lost for more than 40 years.”But once onboard the eerie, cavernous ship, the crew of the Arctic Warrior discovers that the decaying vessel is anything but deserted.”It’s home to something more deadly and horrific than anything they’ve encountered in all their years at sea.”Stranded after their tugboat explodes, the crew must board the ominous Ghost Ship, where they’re confronted with the ship’s dark past and the tragedy that left nearly all its passengers dead.Yet, the viewers are privy to the ghastly events that unfolded years before, thanks to the film’s unforgettable opening sequence, reports the Mirror.The film’s opening sequence sets a harrowing tone as passengers are seen enjoying themselves with live music, unaware of the looming danger as a shadowy figure tampers with the ship’s equipment.In a shocking turn of events, a metal cable violently snaps, slicing through the dance floor, gruesomely bisecting partygoers and decapitating others.Amidst the carnage, only a diminutive girl escapes the deadly swipe of the cable, her height her saving grace. She is left in utter shock, screaming amidst the gory aftermath.Despite the film’s subsequent decline in thrill, this opening massacre has been etched into the minds of many, earning its place in the annals of horror greatness.”I watched this as a kid and I either forgot or didn’t know the name, but I can never forget the opening scene,” one viewer confessed, admitting the profound impact it had on them since childhood.Another revealed the long-term effects, saying: “This childhood movie put me in therapy for years.”A third reflected on their changing perception over time, writing: “I used to watch this movie as a kid and i always thought it was awesome, until i watched it again 15 years later and realized it’s kinda boring. Only really good part was the opening scene.” (sic)Yet, some fans argue that the film’s value extends beyond its initial shock factor, with one enthusiast claiming: “this movie is so underrated! The opening scene is one of the best of all the horror films I’ve seen. this will always be one of my favorite movies.” (sic)Echoing this sentiment, another fan praised the film: “A truly underrated movie with on of the best opening scenes you’ll see in a horror movie.” (sic) Ghost Ship is available to watch on Netflix now.

Corporations using ‘ineffectual’ carbon offsets are slowing path to ‘real zero,’ more than 60 climate scientists say

Science and Health

This story was originally published by The Guardian and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.Carbon offsets used by corporations around the world to lower their reportable greenhouse gas emissions are “ineffectual” and “hindering the energy transition”, according to more than 60 leading climate change scientists.A pledge signed by scientists from nine countries, including the UK, the US and Australia, said the “only path that can prevent further escalation of climate impacts” was “real zero” and not “net zero”.Get daily news from Canada’s National ObserverThe “real zero pledge” was organised by the Lethal Humidity Global Council, a group of scientists, health experts and policymakers.Among the signatories are Prof Michael Mann, of the University of Pennsylvania; Prof Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research; and Bill Hare, founder of Climate Analytics and a member of a UN expert group that has warned about the overuse of carbon offsets. [embedded content] UN chief: there is no way to keep 1.5C alive without a fossil fuels phase-out – video“We should be focused on real reductions in emissions, rather than engaging in a counting game,” Hare said.The pledge reflects growing concerns that large amounts of carbon offsets generated from forest-related projects or, in Australia, from avoided land clearing, and then traded, may not have actually reduced emissions.The Lethal Humidity Global Council is a group focused on the threat of rising temperatures that, when combined with high humidity, can threaten human health. Corporations using ‘ineffectual’ carbon offsets are slowing path to ‘real zero’, more than 60 climate scientists say. #CarbonOffsets #GHGEmissions #ClimateCrisis #Deforestation Prof Katrin Meissner, director of the Climate Change Research Centre at the University of New South Wales and a signatory, said many offset programs focused on growing trees or allowing areas to regrow.But she said these could not lock carbon away forever because, when the trees die, such as in droughts or wildfires, they rereleased the carbon back into the atmosphere.“A reliance on carbon offsets without the needed emission reductions is dangerous and detrimental,” she said.“To keep global warming within the guardrails of the Paris agreement, the timeframe is now so tight that there is no space for companies to use offsetting to continue high-carbon activities. We need to turn the fossil fuel taps off, all of them.”Prof Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, another signatory and climate scientist at Australian National University, said: “In many ways ‘net zero’ is a Band-Aid solution because it doesn’t fix the problem at the source.”Russell Reichelt, a veteran public servant and Australian ambassador on sustainable oceans, said many offsets relied on the ability of the land and ocean to act as a sink for greenhouse gas emissions.But he was concerned that these natural sinks, such as forests and oceans, were already struggling to absorb the extra CO2 humans are emitting.Reichelt was a member of Australia’s Climate Change Authority which last year said the country’s official carbon credit system was helping to “smooth the transition to net zero”.The council organising the pledge is convened by the Minderoo Foundation, co-founded by the iron ore mining billionaire Andrew Forrest, who has described net zero as a “fantasy” and urged companies to focus on ending their use of fossil fuels instead. 

Corporations using ‘ineffectual’ carbon offsets are slowing path to ‘real zero,’ more than 60 climate scientists say

Science and Health

This story was originally published by The Guardian and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.Carbon offsets used by corporations around the world to lower their reportable greenhouse gas emissions are “ineffectual” and “hindering the energy transition”, according to more than 60 leading climate change scientists.A pledge signed by scientists from nine countries, including the UK, the US and Australia, said the “only path that can prevent further escalation of climate impacts” was “real zero” and not “net zero”.Get daily news from Canada’s National ObserverThe “real zero pledge” was organised by the Lethal Humidity Global Council, a group of scientists, health experts and policymakers.Among the signatories are Prof Michael Mann, of the University of Pennsylvania; Prof Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research; and Bill Hare, founder of Climate Analytics and a member of a UN expert group that has warned about the overuse of carbon offsets. [embedded content] UN chief: there is no way to keep 1.5C alive without a fossil fuels phase-out – video“We should be focused on real reductions in emissions, rather than engaging in a counting game,” Hare said.The pledge reflects growing concerns that large amounts of carbon offsets generated from forest-related projects or, in Australia, from avoided land clearing, and then traded, may not have actually reduced emissions.The Lethal Humidity Global Council is a group focused on the threat of rising temperatures that, when combined with high humidity, can threaten human health. Corporations using ‘ineffectual’ carbon offsets are slowing path to ‘real zero’, more than 60 climate scientists say. #CarbonOffsets #GHGEmissions #ClimateCrisis #Deforestation Prof Katrin Meissner, director of the Climate Change Research Centre at the University of New South Wales and a signatory, said many offset programs focused on growing trees or allowing areas to regrow.But she said these could not lock carbon away forever because, when the trees die, such as in droughts or wildfires, they rereleased the carbon back into the atmosphere.“A reliance on carbon offsets without the needed emission reductions is dangerous and detrimental,” she said.“To keep global warming within the guardrails of the Paris agreement, the timeframe is now so tight that there is no space for companies to use offsetting to continue high-carbon activities. We need to turn the fossil fuel taps off, all of them.”Prof Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, another signatory and climate scientist at Australian National University, said: “In many ways ‘net zero’ is a Band-Aid solution because it doesn’t fix the problem at the source.”Russell Reichelt, a veteran public servant and Australian ambassador on sustainable oceans, said many offsets relied on the ability of the land and ocean to act as a sink for greenhouse gas emissions.But he was concerned that these natural sinks, such as forests and oceans, were already struggling to absorb the extra CO2 humans are emitting.Reichelt was a member of Australia’s Climate Change Authority which last year said the country’s official carbon credit system was helping to “smooth the transition to net zero”.The council organising the pledge is convened by the Minderoo Foundation, co-founded by the iron ore mining billionaire Andrew Forrest, who has described net zero as a “fantasy” and urged companies to focus on ending their use of fossil fuels instead. 

Reading Aloud and Together: Ten New Children’s Books To Read Now

Arts & Culture, Books

We might think of reading as a solitary activity, but of course that’s not always true, especially when it comes to children’s books. My husband and I read aloud to our kids almost every night. More and more often, they read aloud to us. I read to the children I meet at schools during my author visits, I read books to discuss at a monthly book club with friends, and I always love hearing about what other people have read, because really, is there anything better than the thrill of discovering that someone else’s favorite book is your favorite book? Each time I make a connection with a fellow reader, I’m reminded of the power books have to bring us together as family members, as new friends, as a community.Article continues after advertisementRemove Ads
In the spirit of community, I enlisted my friend Jen Kraar, a children’s writer and bookseller here in Pittsburgh, to give me a little help with this month’s children’s book roundup. Jen recommended the first title on this list to me, and now I’m recommending it to you, along with nine more new books for you to share with your own friends and family. I hope you enjoy them—and I’d love to hear about what else you’re reading!
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Robert Macfarlane and Johnny Flynn, The World to ComeIllustrated by Emily Sutton(Magic Cat, November 5)Recommended for ages 1-5Article continues after advertisementRemove Ads
Here’s a picture book that’s lyrical in the most literal sense: Its words, by nature writer Robert Macfarlane and musician Johnny Flynn, enjoyed a first life as lyrics on the pair’s 2021 musical release Lost in the Cedar Wood. Now, the song “The World to Come” has morphed into a mesmerizing picture book. Colorful art from illustrator Emily Sutton provides a loose narrative structure: a parent and child explore nature together, spying blackbirds, owls, and otters and even running into a band of musicians along the riverbank. For adults and kids alike, The World to Come is a hopeful celebration of poetry, music, and the natural world.

Angela Dominguez, Lolo and Birdie: I Want More! / ¡Quiero Más! (Lolo and Birdie #3)(Henry Holt and Co., November 12)Recommended for ages 2-4
Lolo and Birdie are the best of friends, but they’re not exactly the same. Birdie is a bird, to start with, and Lolo is a dinosaur. Birdie is practical; Lolo is passionate. And Birdie speaks English, while Lolo speaks Spanish. They have no trouble understanding each other, though, and Birdie tries hard to comply with Lolo’s request of más flores, bringing him all the flowers from the garden and hauling in truckloads of dirt to grow even more. The illustrations and smart dialogue exchanges allow readers who know only one of the two languages used in the book to follow along with both characters on their funny adventures.
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Icinori, trans. Emilie Robert Wong, Thank You, Everything(Enchanted Lion, December 3)Recommended for ages 4-8
As a writer, I spend a lot of time trying to find the right words, so I’m frequently awed by books that tell powerful stories with very limited text. Thank You, Everything is a nearly wordless picture book that begins like a list of simple gratitudes (“Thank you, colors. Thank you, house.”), but readers will soon realize that the illustrations are telling a bigger story—an adventure story, even, about a trek out of the house (“Thank you, door”), through a jungle full of creatures (“Thank you, caution”) and up into the sky (“Thank you, hot-air balloon”). Kids and adults will love searching through the eye-catching artwork to catch new story details with every reading.

Mina Javaherbin, My Father’s HouseIllustrated by Lindsey Yankey(Candlewick, November 19)Recommended for ages 4-8
In this autobiographical picture book drawn from author Mina Javaherbin’s memories, young Mina narrates a day spent exploring her father’s hometown of Isfahan, Iran. People of many different religious traditions live in the city, and Mina and her father pass by a local synagogue, church, and mosque, each exquisitely depicted by illustrator Lindsey Yankey. But the best treats wait inside Mina’s father’s childhood home, where there are horses to feed with handfuls of sugar, pigeons to visit on the roof, and a dinner gathering with loved ones. My kids and I very much enjoyed My Grandma and Me, Javaherbin and Yankey’s previous picture book about love, tradition, and family, so I’m looking forward to adding My Father’s House to our collection.Article continues after advertisementRemove Ads
Readers interested in picture books about twentieth-century Iran might also be interested in Azadeh Westergaard’s The One and Only Googoosh, a biography of the famous Iranian singer, also out this month.

Edward van de Vendel and Anoush Elman, trans. Nancy Forest-Flier, MishkaIllustrated by Annet Schaap(Levine Querido, November 12)Recommended for ages 7-10
Even if I didn’t write this column, I’d be recommending Mishka to readers far and wide. It’s a short illustrated story about a young girl named Roya who announces to her family that they really should have a pet. After journeying from Afghanistan and waiting for years in refugee centers, they’ve finally been given permission to stay in the Netherlands for good, in their own home. And what’s a home without a sweet pet dwarf rabbit who’ll cuddle with you, pee on you (it’s a compliment, really!), and listen to your family’s stories? As Mishka the rabbit settles into the household, Roya, her older brothers, and her parents discover that caring for Mishka allows them to open up about their memories of the journey from Kabul, both good and bad, and to navigate the challenges and joys of their new life. Originally published in Dutch and based on coauthor Anoush Elman’s true stories, Mishka has already won children’s literature awards around the world. Now it will charm and delight English-speaking readers, too.
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Meika Hashimoto, Off the Map(Scholastic, November 12)Recommended for ages 8-12
Kids who enjoy survival stories and off-grid adventures will love hopping in a canoe with Marlo, the protagonist of Off the Map, as she sets off on a long paddle with her dog, Cheerio, and her outdoor-guide mom on Alaska’s Yukon River. Marlo is glad to have a reason not to think about the people in her life who’ve disappointed her, especially her former best friend Amos. But she’s shocked to find out that her mom has invited Amos and his dad along on the canoe trip. It’s hard enough to be stuck in a canoe with someone who’s betrayed your trust, but when the kids’ boat takes a wrong turn over a waterfall, Marlo and Amos (and Cheerio) suddenly find themselves alone in the wilderness. The kids’ quest to reconnect with their parents shapes the plot, but their journey to make amends with each other is at the heart of the story.

Andy Warner, Spices and Spuds: How Plants Made Our World (Andy Warner’s Oddball Histories #2)(Little, Brown Ink, November 5)Recommended for ages 8-12
Spices and Spuds is part comic book, part world history course, and entirely fascinating for readers of all ages: it explores how the cultivation of ten different plants shaped human history. The crops that creator Andy Warner has chosen as his focus—including corn, rice, tea, and tulips—allow him to give young readers an introductory overview of many different historical events and eras and the sometimes surprising connections between them. After a few hours lost in this book’s eye-catching and funny comic-style panels, your young reader might be able to tell you a little bit about the Phoenicians, the Dust Bowl, the Little Ice Age, the Asante Empire, and World War II. They’ll certainly understand that plants have inspired and influenced civilizations around the world, and that the materials we choose to grow and consume can have long-lasting, globe-spanning consequences.

Tina Cho, The Other Side of TomorrowIllustrated by Deb JJ Lee(HarperAlley, November 12)Recommended for ages 8-12
Set in 2013, this compelling graphic novel tells the story of two children determined to escape the oppression and poverty of life in North Korea. After his mother leaves to find money and food in China, ten-year-old Yunho works collecting scrap metal, which he sells to make enough money to care for his grandmother until the day he receives word that it’s time to follow his mother across the river. After her own older relative dies, eleven-year-old street seller Myunghee decides to cross the river herself. Told in alternating points of view, the narrative follows both children on their journey along the “Asian Underground Railroad,” which is often harrowing; author Tina Cho and illustrator Deb JJ Lee remain both honest and thoughtful as they depict the children’s experiences finding their way across countries toward safety, freedom, and a sense of home.

Marisha Pessl, Darkly(Delacorte Press, November 26)Recommended for ages 12 and up
Adult readers familiar with Marisha Pessl’s novels Night Film and Special Topics in Calamity Physics will be as excited as I was to dig into Darkly, a YA thriller that showcases Pessl’s talent for page-turning, puzzle-like plots and brilliant twists. The Darkly game factory was once overseen by Louisiana Veda, a legendary and mysterious game designer. Veda died years ago, but her cult following remains, and seventeen-year-old Dia Gannon counts herself as a devoted fan. When Dia is chosen for an internship at Darkly, she can’t imagine why she’s been selected to join six other teens at the factory on the remote island, but she can tell right away that there is more to this internship than meets the eye. Old documents and photographs add to the novel’s immersive, modern-Gothic atmosphere.

Tirzah Price, In Want of a Suspect (Lizzie & Darcy Mysteries #1)(HarperCollins, November 12)Recommended for ages 14 and up
Tirzah Price’s debut novel, Pride and Premeditation, retold Jane Austen’s most beloved tale as a murder mystery, casting Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy as competing solicitors on the trail of a killer. Now In Want of a Suspect, the first in Price’s spinoff series, finds Lizzie and Darcy on the same side, both professionally and romantically speaking. When Lizzie looks into the cause of a suspicious fire that killed her client’s brother, she finds herself unpicking a satisfyingly tangled knot of secrets, past loves, and smugglers—in short, all the things a reader might hope to find in a good historical mystery. Readers don’t have to be Janeites to enjoy this entertaining story, nor is familiarity with Price’s earlier books required to follow the mystery’s twists and turns.

Direct democracy returns to Washington state

Technology

John Spellman vacated the Washington governor’s mansion, a Georgian-style structure on state Capitol grounds in Olympia, in early 1985. Since then, no Republican has gone to the residence of the Evergreen State’s chief executive except to visit. GOP legislators occasionally grouse about the stinginess of invitations.Democrats have owned the chief executive office for going on 40 years, the longest GOP shutout of any state. Even Massachusetts, Illinois, Rhode Island, and Hawaii have had Republican governors in that time. Former elected King County Sheriff Dave Reichert, also a former congressman, has only an outside chance of upsetting state Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s bid to move up.And yet, if voters pass a quartet of referendums, it almost won’t matter who controls the governor’s mansion. Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA) has ruled the state for three terms. These initiatives threaten to undercut his legacy and pull the rug out from under Democratic state House Speaker Laurie Jinkins while they’re at it.The initiatives are I-2066, which would head off a de facto natural gas ban in new construction; I-2117, which would eliminate the cap-and-trade carbon tax on fuel and undercut a series of green infrastructure projects; I-2019, which would eliminate the state’s new capital gains tax; and I-2124, which would let workers opt out of a payroll tax for the state’s actuarily questionable long-term care insurance plan that Jinkins spearheaded.Inslee is the most concerned about the carbon tax, his signature achievement, though he has also been outspoken in his opposition to natural gas. “This defective, deceptive, dangerous initiative only guarantees one thing, and that’s more pollution,” Inslee warned of I-2117 at a July press conference.The retiring governor has proposed tax credits of about $200 annually for middle-class and poor Washingtonians to take some of the sting out of the law. It currently costs drivers about 43 cents per gallon at the pump, with higher prices coming next year, on top of the state’s 52 cents per gallon gas tax.Inslee launched a “No on 2017 Road Trip” in October. He has been holding rallies around the state and knocking on doors to try to get Washingtonians to vote against it.Ben Tindall, executive director of the Washington advocacy group Save Family Farming, argues that voters should not buy that sales pitch.“The Climate Commitment Act has cost Washingtonians over $2.2 billion in the past year alone,” he told the Washington Examiner via email. The estimated cost to the farming community was in the “hundreds of millions of dollars since the carbon pricing scheme went into effect in 2023.”Tindall described the current climate regime as a “state-orchestrated cash grab.” He complained that the state Department of Ecology “continues to ignore the farm-fuel exemption that agriculture was granted in the statute.”Ferndale resident Gary Dyck isn’t so pointed in his criticism and said he thinks some of the things that the government is pursuing might be at least well intentioned. At the same time, he’s likely to vote for I-2117.Dyck complained about the lack of containment of Washington wildfires, for instance, despite increased funds to reduce such threats. He is all for salmon restoration efforts that make sense but is watching legally mandated culverts being installed in places “that weren’t fish-friendly in the first place.”He also said he doesn’t think that some of the more high-tech infrastructure improvements have been made truly inclusive.“As a person who owns a pickup, I see all these EV charging stations going in, but no infrastructure has been put in place for someone who tows,” he said.Machine politics vs. direct democracyThat climate regime might fall in November, or it might not, and the same is true for all of the other initiatives. Early polling had Washington voters favoring the measures. Then the state’s well-oiled Democratic machine went to work.Inslee, Ferguson, and other elected Democrats and officially nonpartisan progressives in government and media have been tearing the initiatives down using a two-part strategy. The first part is warnings of the great harm that repeal would do to various government programs, the environment, and your elderly grandma.To that end, legislators rejiggered the law on initiatives to get what supporters charge is prejudicial ballot language added. For instance, in the matter of the long-term care tax, voters have this warning to climb over: “This measure would decrease funding for Washington’s public insurance program providing long-term care benefits and services. Should this measure be enacted into law?”The second part might be called the deplorablization of Washington politics by smearing those people who support the initiatives. Yakima Mayor Janice Deccio field-tested this strategy when she called the police last Labor Day to report “some far-right-wing petitioners” at the local Walmart.

Flashback Friday: Did you have a lyric book?

Arts & Culture, Books

There are many things that we get nostalgic over and this one is a special one. We could say that this was predominantly experienced by millennials, but we could be mistaken. A woman who often posts content about relatable things shared a video recently that resonated with many people. The video received over 1.4-million views and we can say with confidence that we live in a world where music connects all of us. In this video, she was sitting on the couch with a stereo, a cassette tape and her notebook and pen. Can you see where this is going?She gave social media users a flashback by reminding us about ‘lyric books’. A long time ago, when we didn’t have internet access and cassette tapes, stereos and the radio were our only means of listening to our favourite songs. During this era, many people had ‘lyric books’ filled with the lyrics of their favourite songs. Kids used to learn the lyrics, and that’s how homemade Karaoke came to be (maybe that’s not entirely correct, but you catch the drift). It was hilarious to read some of the comments on the post. Check some of them out. “People who used to own music books acted like they had made it in life; I hope they own recording studios & radio stations by now because wow!””Sometimes your lyrics and your friends are not the same, but it’s the same song..””These kids will never know the struggle when u missed the song…on the radio, you will have to wait for the next DJ.””Who remembers the CD inserts with the lyrics…buying a CD from Musica…””That’s why my generation still sing the wrong lyrics up to today.”Watch the video below – courtesy of TikTok. Follow us on social media: