Grapevine Events: Stare, Best Book Design Exhibition & More

Arts & Culture, Books

Best Book Design from all over the World
Runs until March 23, 2025 — Hönnurnarsafn
A stone’s throw from Reykjavík, The Museum of Design and Applied Art in Garðabær opened their exhibition of the 14 books recognised in 2024’s “Best Book Design from all over the World” competition just last night! With topics ranging from traditional Chinese clothing to retouched press photography, you are invited to handle, peruse, and admire these books at the cutting edge of book design. Further, Jana Sofie Liebe, designer of the honoured book Walking as Research Practice, will be giving a lecture at the museum at 13:00 on Sunday, January 26. ISH

Stare: Artist Talks
Sunday January 26 — 14:00 & 15:00 — Gerðarsafn
Look, we know breaking out of your 101 bubble is a drag, but trust us — this is worth it. A photography exhibition called Stare opens Saturday, showcasing local and international photographers whose works brim with intimate self-exploration. On Sunday, artists will be at Gerðarsafn with talks on the exhibition. Our long-time friend and collaborator Jói Kjartans will share his  series depicting the beginning and the end of an important personal relationship.  Joining him with a talk are photographers Jenny Rova, JH Engström, and Adele Hyry — each promising raw, unfiltered insights into their artistic vision. IZ

‘We’re calling it a little free cinema’: This tiny model theatre plays real films in East Vancouver

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Vancouver may now have the smallest movie theatre in the world.

The term theatre may be grand for the East Van Vodville Cinema. It’s a tiny model movie theatre hiding out on the side of an East Vancouver building, screening film scenes for free with the push of a button.

The unique project was created by Janet Mader and David Bynoe.

“It makes so much sense as an object that it’s hard to believe it’s the only one, but it’s the only one we know of,” Mader tells V.I.A.

What is the little free cinema?

Just off of Venables Street, on the side of the Vancouver Hack Space at 1601 Venables St., sits a tiny theatre facade, with detailed features, blinking lights, and a sign that reads East Van Vodville Cinema.

But it’s more than a facade.

It’s a full cinema, sitting where a window used to be. And if you step up, press the button, and look through one of the tiny windows you can watch notable scenes from famous movies like The Great Dictator, Casablanca, or Canadian Bacon.

It’s not just a wee screen, but a full theatre, with tiny seats, a balcony, curtains, and a few other patrons (like Waldorf and Statler).

A functional marquee out front announces what’s playing and occasionally a theme. For example, right now the theme is “Good Neighbours”.

The little free cinema is a tiny model inspired by the historic Pantages Theatre in Vancouver. Brendan Kergin/V.I.A.

Inspired by history and the hack space

The inspiration for the tiny cinema comes from two places: The Pantages Theatre and the Vancouver Hack Space.

Mader and Bynoe are both practical special effects technicians on film sets around Vancouver. Essentially, they make practical special effects work.

They’re also involved with the Vancouver Hack Space, a not-for-profit that acts as a workshop and community centre for people who like making things, from little light-up badges to homemade drones and more.

“If you’re working on a project that’s outside your comfort zone, you’re in a community that you can ask for advice,” says Mader. “You’ll get ideas and potential sources for things.  It’s just generally a great, supportive environment to work in.”

There’s a tradition, Mader says, of creating little pieces of art in random places to “bring joy to whoever finds it.” During a series of little pieces inspired by that idea, Bynoe made a musical chicken dance fridge creation that included a video screen. That idea morphed into making a tiny movie theatre.

When deciding on how to design the theatre, they came upon Vancouver’s own Pantages Theatre. Built in 1907 at 152 East Hastings St, it lasted for more than a century and hosted countless films and more.

It inspired much of the Vodville theatre’s interior and some of its facade.

“We took a bit more artistic license with the outside facade,” says Mader. “I’m acutely aware of the difference.”

Building a tiny theatre

They designed the model theatre on a computer, printed many pieces on a 3D printer, and had to hand-finish pieces to get things looking just right.

“Everything that you see on that was custom built by us except the video screen and the button,” Mader explains.

Even the glass people look through was custom-made.

It took the pair a year to put together, and in June 2024 they had a soft launch to see how things worked.

In November, a grand opening was held with a small crowd gathered around the theatre with free popcorn.

As far as they can tell, they built something unique; Mader says they found the Peephole Cinema in San Francisco, where people can look through a tiny hole to see a loop of films, but nothing like their full theatre.

Wee screen, big community

“It’s so precious to have your artwork received this well by the community,” says Mader.

The response to the little cinema has been “overwhelmingly positive.”

“We have so many people who say such kind things about it,” she adds.

One kind of audience they didn’t anticipate being excited was children, but kids have been bolting over to it when they see it.

“It’s been funny; I wasn’t expecting the kids to be into the stuff we show,” she says, noting the children stay and watch the full clips one by one.

While most of what shows up on the wee screen are well-known films, Mader says they’re open to much more.

“It’s such a blank slate from a curator’s perspective that we’re open to seeing what we can put on it,” she says.

That includes getting local independent filmmakers up on the tiny marquee.

Mader says the little theatre has shown how important community is.

“If there’s a big takeaway from the Vodville, I think it’s in the importance of looking around for ways to connect in your community,” she says.

She says her and Bynoe’s art, the little cinema, is now a way to give back to the community (both at the hack space and to Vancouver in general) that allowed them to create the little cinema in the first place.

“If you can find something that does that, it can snowball,” she says. “It connects with community in a way that’s real, that’s in the meat space, not online.”

Watch out, Cineplex

The East Van Vodville Cinema won’t necessarily remain unique.

“We’re very open to making more of these,” says Mader.

However, they’ll need someone to join in on it.

“We definitely have ideas for more of these that we’d like to create around town,” she explains. “But if we’re taking it outside the hack space, we’d want to partner with another organization.”

PBS Worries Trump May Impose ‘Government Line’ With Tech Supporters

Technology

Irony died multiple deaths on Thursday’s edition of Amanpour and Company on PBS. First, host Christiane Amanpour and Columbia Journalism School Dean Jelani Cobb lamented that social media companies are moving away from fact-checking, which, they said, will make it harder to hold the government accountable, despite their own historical difficulties with the truth. Second, they worried that Trump’s relationship with people like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg will lead to the creation of a “government line” on social media that must be toed.Amanpour began, “President Biden’s outgoing speech made also reference to an oligarchy, and he was also talking about the heads of the big streaming platforms, the big social media platforms which have, like Elon Musk, got major governmental, you know, economic contracts and things like that who have – who’ve moved away from fact-checking, Meta moved away from fact-checking. They were all sat in pretty much the front row behind the presidential families at the inauguration.”
She further worried, “What does that mean when the oligarchs are not Rubber Barons like in Russia or in the early days of the United States, but they are media titans?”

Cobb replied, “I mean, I think there’s reason to be concerned, there should be reason to be concerned when you see the kind of what we consider the information infrastructure of the nation. That being that closely aligned with government itself.”

To be fair, Amanpour and Company originally airs on CNN International, but Americans see it on the Public Broadcasting Service. It’s especially ironic considering Amanpour just spent four years cheerleading for the Democratic administration, only really challenging it from the left on Israel. For additional irony, those criticisms were not even factually accurate, sometimes misrepresenting CNN’s own reporting.
As it was, Cobb continued to try to wax poetic, “You know, in the United States, you know, we think of the press and the media as the fourth estate, that we’re supposed to be a kind of immune system for democracy. We’re supposed to be specifically outside of government in order to operate as a check on government, to inform the public and the public can then use that information to form their opinions, and public opinion is ultimately at the core of democracy. That’s how it’s supposed to work.”
Cobb added, “When you see that kind of alignment and that kind of choreography, it raises the question about, you know, whether or not there is a kind of government line or a preferred way of viewing things that then will get amplified, you know, and disseminated on social media platforms. I don’t – can’t say that’s happening, I can’t say that’s true, but I’m saying that’s a question that we should pursue, like, why and what are the implications of this?”
Amanpour tried to tie it all together by citing Thomas Jefferson, “So, as you know, and I’m sure it’s emblazoned on the wall somewhere in the college there, Thomas Jefferson back in 1787 famously said, when it’s – ‘were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.’” 
That’s a noble sentiment. It would just be nice if the media would also apply it when there is a Democratic president.
Here is a transcript for the January 23 show:

PBS Amanpour and Company

1/23/2025

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: And, Jelani Cobb, President Biden’s outgoing speech made also reference to an oligarchy, and he was also talking about the heads of the big streaming platforms, the big social media platforms which have, like Elon Musk, got major governmental, you know, economic contracts and things like that who have – who’ve moved away from fact-checking, Meta moved away from fact-checking. They were all sat in pretty much the front row behind the presidential families at the inauguration.

What does that mean when the oligarchs are not Rubber Barons like in Russia or in the early days of the United States, but they are media titans?

JELANI COBB: I mean, I think there’s reason to be concerned, there should be reason to be concerned when you see the kind of what we consider the information infrastructure of the nation. That being that closely aligned with government itself.

You know, in the United States, you know, we think of the press and the media as the fourth estate, that we’re supposed to be a kind of immune system for democracy. We’re supposed to be specifically outside of government in order to operate as a check on government, to inform the public and the public can then use that information to form their opinions, and public opinion is ultimately at the core of democracy. That’s how it’s supposed to work.

When you see that kind of alignment and that kind of choreography, it raises the question about, you know, whether or not there is a kind of government line or a preferred way of viewing things that then will get amplified, you know, and disseminated on social media platforms. I don’t – can’t say that’s happening, I can’t say that’s true, but I’m saying that’s a question that we should pursue, like, why and what are the implications of this?

AMANPOUR: So, as you know, and I’m sure it’s emblazoned on the wall somewhere in the college there, Thomas Jefferson back in 1787 famously said, when it’s – “were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”

PBS Worries Trump May Impose ‘Government Line’ With Tech Supporters

Technology

Irony died multiple deaths on Thursday’s edition of Amanpour and Company on PBS. First, host Christiane Amanpour and Columbia Journalism School Dean Jelani Cobb lamented that social media companies are moving away from fact-checking, which, they said, will make it harder to hold the government accountable, despite their own historical difficulties with the truth. Second, they worried that Trump’s relationship with people like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg will lead to the creation of a “government line” on social media that must be toed.Amanpour began, “President Biden’s outgoing speech made also reference to an oligarchy, and he was also talking about the heads of the big streaming platforms, the big social media platforms which have, like Elon Musk, got major governmental, you know, economic contracts and things like that who have – who’ve moved away from fact-checking, Meta moved away from fact-checking. They were all sat in pretty much the front row behind the presidential families at the inauguration.”
She further worried, “What does that mean when the oligarchs are not Rubber Barons like in Russia or in the early days of the United States, but they are media titans?”

Cobb replied, “I mean, I think there’s reason to be concerned, there should be reason to be concerned when you see the kind of what we consider the information infrastructure of the nation. That being that closely aligned with government itself.”

To be fair, Amanpour and Company originally airs on CNN International, but Americans see it on the Public Broadcasting Service. It’s especially ironic considering Amanpour just spent four years cheerleading for the Democratic administration, only really challenging it from the left on Israel. For additional irony, those criticisms were not even factually accurate, sometimes misrepresenting CNN’s own reporting.
As it was, Cobb continued to try to wax poetic, “You know, in the United States, you know, we think of the press and the media as the fourth estate, that we’re supposed to be a kind of immune system for democracy. We’re supposed to be specifically outside of government in order to operate as a check on government, to inform the public and the public can then use that information to form their opinions, and public opinion is ultimately at the core of democracy. That’s how it’s supposed to work.”
Cobb added, “When you see that kind of alignment and that kind of choreography, it raises the question about, you know, whether or not there is a kind of government line or a preferred way of viewing things that then will get amplified, you know, and disseminated on social media platforms. I don’t – can’t say that’s happening, I can’t say that’s true, but I’m saying that’s a question that we should pursue, like, why and what are the implications of this?”
Amanpour tried to tie it all together by citing Thomas Jefferson, “So, as you know, and I’m sure it’s emblazoned on the wall somewhere in the college there, Thomas Jefferson back in 1787 famously said, when it’s – ‘were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.’” 
That’s a noble sentiment. It would just be nice if the media would also apply it when there is a Democratic president.
Here is a transcript for the January 23 show:

PBS Amanpour and Company

1/23/2025

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: And, Jelani Cobb, President Biden’s outgoing speech made also reference to an oligarchy, and he was also talking about the heads of the big streaming platforms, the big social media platforms which have, like Elon Musk, got major governmental, you know, economic contracts and things like that who have – who’ve moved away from fact-checking, Meta moved away from fact-checking. They were all sat in pretty much the front row behind the presidential families at the inauguration.

What does that mean when the oligarchs are not Rubber Barons like in Russia or in the early days of the United States, but they are media titans?

JELANI COBB: I mean, I think there’s reason to be concerned, there should be reason to be concerned when you see the kind of what we consider the information infrastructure of the nation. That being that closely aligned with government itself.

You know, in the United States, you know, we think of the press and the media as the fourth estate, that we’re supposed to be a kind of immune system for democracy. We’re supposed to be specifically outside of government in order to operate as a check on government, to inform the public and the public can then use that information to form their opinions, and public opinion is ultimately at the core of democracy. That’s how it’s supposed to work.

When you see that kind of alignment and that kind of choreography, it raises the question about, you know, whether or not there is a kind of government line or a preferred way of viewing things that then will get amplified, you know, and disseminated on social media platforms. I don’t – can’t say that’s happening, I can’t say that’s true, but I’m saying that’s a question that we should pursue, like, why and what are the implications of this?

AMANPOUR: So, as you know, and I’m sure it’s emblazoned on the wall somewhere in the college there, Thomas Jefferson back in 1787 famously said, when it’s – “were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Ink Business Preferred: Which $95-a-year card should you get?

Business News

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.With so many fantastic travel rewards credit cards available, including some with large sign-up bonuses and phenomenal benefits, you might have difficulty choosing one (or a combination) that suits your needs. This can become even more overwhelming if you qualify for a small-business credit card, which opens the door to many additional options.Two of the most valuable mid-tier cards from Chase include the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, which have similar benefits — including earning Ultimate Rewards points and annual fees of $95.While they make a pretty powerful team, you might only want or be eligible for one or the other — for instance, if you are not looking for a business card or are nearing your 5/24 limit with Chase. Today, we will look at how these cards stack up against each other and help you decide whether one or both deserve a place in your wallet.Sapphire Preferred vs. Ink Business Preferred comparison Chase Sapphire PreferredChase Ink Business PreferredAnnual fee$95$95Welcome bonusEarn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.Earning5 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠
3 points per dollar on dining worldwide
2 points per dollar on all other travel
1 point per dollar on everything else3 points per dollar on up to $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone, social media & search engine advertising (each account anniversary year)
1 point per dollar on everything elseTrip cancellation/interruptionUp to $10,000 per person, $20,000 per tripUp to $5,000 per person, $10,000 per tripTrip delay12 hours, up to $500 per ticket12 hours, up to $500 per ticketLost & delayed luggage6 hours, up to $100 per day up to five days
Up to $3,000 for lost bags6 hours, up to $100 per day up to five days
Up to $3,000 for lost bagsRental car coveragePrimaryPrimary, business-related rentalsPurchase protectionUp to $500 per claim, $50,000 per accountUp to $10,000 per claim, $50,000 per accountExtended warrantyAdditional one year for items with less than three years of warranty
Up to $10,000 per item, $50,000 per accountAdditional one year for items with less than three years of warranty
Up to $10,000 per item, $50,000 per accountCellphone protectionNone$100 deductible, up to $1,000 per claim, maximum of three claims per 12-month periodSapphire Preferred vs. Ink Business Preferred welcome offerThe Chase Sapphire Preferred is currently offering a welcome offer of 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. The Chase Ink Business Preferred currently offers 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.THE POINTS GUYAccording to TPG’s January 2025 valuation, Ultimate Rewards points are worth 2.05 cents each, making these bonuses worth up to $1,230 and $1,845, respectively.While the Ink Preferred cleans the table when it comes to bonus value, that $8,000 minimum spending requirement might be difficult for some businesses to hit, so you’ll want to consider your spending power when deciding which card to get.Winner: Ink Business Preferred. Its welcome offer provides more value.Related: 5 reasons to get the Ink Business PreferredDaily NewsletterReward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletterJoin over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s expertsSapphire Preferred vs. Ink Business Preferred benefitsBoth cards offer phenomenal travel protections that are quite similar, though the Sapphire Preferred is slightly more comprehensive.Each card includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance. With the Ink Business Preferred, you’re covered for up to $5,000 per trip for nonrefundable travel expenses, up to $10,000 per trip. The Sapphire Preferred covers up to $10,000 per person or up to $20,000 per trip. Trip delay reimbursement for things like overnight lodging or meals kicks in at 12 hours with the Ink Business Preferred and the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Both cards also cover up to $500 per ticket in the event of a covered delay.FRESHSPLASH/GETTY IMAGESThe baggage delay insurance is identical on both cards: up to $100 per day for up to five days when your bag is delayed or misdirected for more than six hours. Lost luggage insurance with both cards is up to $3,000 per passenger.Both cards also offer primary rental car coverage, which is a fantastic benefit and alleviates the expense and hassle of dealing with an agency or your own insurance if things go wrong with a rental. However, the Ink Business Preferred’s benefits state that your rental must be for business purposes for this protection to kick in.Both cards also provide purchase protection and extended warranty coverage as well. The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers purchase protection of up to $500 per claim with a $50,000 limit per year, and the Ink Business Preferred offers a slightly elevated coverage of $10,000 per claim with the same $50,000 maximumIn addition, both cards provide extended warranty coverage for eligible items by extending a manufacturer’s warranty by one additional year for items with less than three years of warranty. In case of a replacement or repair the cards each provide up to $10,000 per item with a $50,000 maximum per account.DOORDASHFinally, the Ink Business Preferred provides cellphone protection when paying the monthly bill. The card covers up to $1,000 in case of repair or replacement with a $100 deductible.Beyond travel protections, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a statement credit each account anniversary of up to $50 on hotel stay purchases through Chase Travel℠. In addition, cardholders also receive 10% anniversary bonus points each year. The bonus is based on your total spend during the account anniversary year at a rate of 1 point for every $10 spent.Finally, the Sapphire Preferred also provides at least one year of complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2027) and up to $10 off a month on non-restaurant DoorDash orders.Winner: Sapphire Preferred. Its benefits outclass those on the Ink Business Preferred.Related: Why the Sapphire Preferred is the top travel rewards card year after yearEarning points with the Sapphire Preferred vs. Ink Business PreferredThe cards’ earning rates are very different. The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 5 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠, plus 2 points per dollar on a broad range of travel purchases, including airline tickets and hotel stays and taxis, tolls and parking. The card also earns 3 points per dollar on dining worldwide and 1 point per dollar on everything else, all with no earning caps.The Ink Business Preferred earns a solid 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent each account anniversary year on a combination of travel (the same broad category as with the Sapphire Preferred), shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines. It earns 1 point per dollar on everything else.MASKOT/GETTY IMAGESThere are a couple of things to keep in mind here. First, if dining is one of your major expenses, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the way to go. However, if travel is your main outlay, the Ink Business Preferred’s 3-points-per-dollar bonus edges out the Sapphire Preferred’s 2-points-per-dollar rate in this category.Another consideration is that if you are a business owner and spend a lot of money in the card’s other bonus categories, you might hit that $150,000 annual cap sooner than you think. Still, to make the Sapphire Preferred worth it over the Ink Business Preferred strictly in terms of travel, you’d have to spend $225,000 or more in travel purchases each year instead of $150,000 with the business card.Winner: Tie. The categories differ significantly, and your preference will depend on your spending habits.Redeeming points with the Sapphire Preferred vs. Ink Business PreferredBoth cards earn Ultimate Rewards points, some of the most valuable around.You’ll get the highest value from your points by transferring them to one of Chase’s 14 airline and hotel loyalty partners.PEKIC/GETTY IMAGESCardholders of either product can also redeem points directly for travel through the Chase travel portal to get 1.25 cents per point in value and have the option to redeem points for eligible categories through Pay Yourself Back.Winner: Tie. You’ll get the same redemption options on either card.Related: 6 of the best Ultimate Rewards sweet spotsTransferring points with the Sapphire Preferred vs. Ink Business PreferredUltimate Rewards can be transferred to 11 airline partners, including British Airways, Southwest and United, and three hotel programs: Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt and IHG One Rewards.BECKY BLAINE/THE POINTS GUYThese transfer partners can provide great value. For example, TPG managing editor Madison Blancaflor was able to snag a last-minute premium economy ticket from New York to Amsterdam using Flying Blue for just 20,500 Ultimate Rewards points using a transfer promotion.Winner: Tie. You’ll get the same redemption options on either card.Related: How I used a transfer bonus to get a lie-flat seat to London for just 21,000 pointsShould I get the Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred?You should consider whether you want to carry a personal credit card or one for business. If you prefer a personal credit card and can benefit from the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s superior travel protections, not to mention its handy dining category bonus, it might be the better option for you.Still, the Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred combination is a powerful match-up that could boost your travel rewards earnings into the stratosphere.Bottom lineIf you’re trying to decide between the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred, think about whether you want a business or personal card, which one’s category bonuses you will best be able to take advantage of, and which one’s travel protections are better suited to your needs.The two products are among the best travel rewards credit cards currently available, and carrying both is a good way to boost your points earnings on an ongoing basis.To learn more, read our full reviews of the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred.Apply here: Chase Sapphire PreferredApply here: Ink Business Preferred

Local author Felicia Pressley-Melvin releases 4th faith-based book

Arts & Culture, Books

LAURINBURG — Local author and motivational speaker Felicia Pressley-Melvin recently published her fourth book, “Press and Let God Do the Rest Workbook,” a companion piece to the first book she wrote of the same name.
Melvin began writing after surviving a head-on car crash in 2019. She said, “When the wreck happened, I felt this great weight on me like someone was sitting on me to keep me from going through the windshield. I know it was the Holy Spirit. The cop was surprised I survived.”
Not only did she survive, she walked away without a scratch on her.
“Being an author was not on my agenda at all,” she said. “… but after I survived the wreck, I just had the urge to write.”
Melvin said she never really adhered to a writing schedule.
“I write when the Holy Spirit tells me to write,” Melvin said. “So, I write at different times and different places. I’ve written in the park and sitting in my car.”
The first book, “Press and Let God Do the Rest” was 149 pages and took her about a year to write. “Broken so I Can Live” and “Peace in the Presence” were a little shorter and didn’t take quite so long to write while the workbook also took about a year.
“The hardest part of writing a book,” Melvin said, “is getting my thoughts down on paper in a way that satisfies me. I’m a perfectionist, so I’m always wondering if I could do it better.”
That perfectionism is why Melvin published her first three books in 2022 though they were ready before that. She let them sit on the computer while she fretted about whether they were good enough to publish.
Melvin’s four books are inspirational religious books that center around the theme that we are all broken and wounded but so long as we persevere and have faith, God will see us through our trials and tribulations.
The books contain nuggets of wisdom like “When life begins to rage and yield difficult obstacles, you will never fail unless you decide to stop moving forward.” and “You can’t allow your past to dictate your future.”
The workbook’s overview on Amazon states that the book is designed to “…motivate you to move forward through all the pain and discomfort that life may bring.” and to bring “healing and deliverance”.
Melvin said the workbook has examples and assignments to help achieve these goals. One lesson asks readers to go on their phones and write down the last five people they talked to and what the conversation was about. They are then asked to examine whether these interactions had a positive or negative energy and impact on them.
Melvin tells readers to ask themselves, “Is this bettering me or keeping me stagnated? You want to be around people that are going to push you to do better.”
The books can be purchased on Amazon. For more information about Melvin’s motivational seminars, go to her website feliciamelvin.com.

State proposal would remove ‘climate change’ and ‘evolution’ from Iowa science standards

Science and Health

By Amanda Rooker

Click here for updates on this story

    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Some Iowans are raising concern about new proposed state science standards. The Iowa Department of Education’s proposal would remove the phrase “climate change” and some other scientific words and concepts from state standards.

Nearly 40 people came in person to speak at Thursday’s final public feedback forum at the Grimes State Office Building in Des Moines. More spoke over Zoom. Teachers, scientists, school administrators, education consultants, parents, employers and a middle school student each had five minutes to share their thoughts.

Some drove more than two hours to share their perspective with the Iowa Department of Education. Every person who spoke Thursday expressed concern about the removal of certain words from Iowa’s science standards.

In Iowa’s new proposed standards, any mention of “climate change” was changed to the phrase “climate trends” and all references to human impact on climate change were removed. Although the standards would still include the concept of biological change over time, the word “evolution” was erased.

An Iowa Department of Education Science Standards Revision Team, which included 37 members with experience in education and science, put together the proposed standards. Drake University science professor Jerrid Kruse was on that revision team.

At Thursday’s forum, Kruse said the version the revision team submitted was different than the state’s proposed standards. He said the revision team was told their proposal would be “copy-edited,” but he was not aware that the state would remove the words “climate change” or “evolution” from their recommended standards.

“I do not know how or when or what or who made the changes later that we’re all concerned about,” Kruse said during Thursday’s forum. “I think we’re all rightfully concerned about those things.”

After Thursday’s meeting, KCCI asked the Iowa Department of Education consultant who led the meeting and the department’s general counsel why the changes were made. Both declined to answer and referred us to a spokesperson for the department.

As of 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, the spokesperson had not responded to KCCI’s email which asked why the changes were made and for the names and credentials of who made the changes.

“I have not heard a single word of support for those changes and so if they are going to truly represent us, the people, then these changes need to be made back,” Kruse said.

The Iowa Department of Education will be collecting public feedback online through this link until Feb. 3. They said Thursday that they will compile the in-person and digital feedback and will consider it as they work to finalize the state science standards in March.

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Scientists Identify Bacteria That Can Break Down Some PFAS and Their Byproducts

Science and Health

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, have taken on the nickname “forever chemicals” for their inability to break down in the environment. These chemicals, which are found in everything from food packaging to camping gear, are popular for their stain-, moisture- and grease-resistant properties, but they have been found to accumulate in the environment and in human bodies. 

But now, researchers may have cracked a way to break down these chemicals and even some of their byproducts, which can be toxic, by using strains of bacteria.

A team of scientists led by University of Buffalo researchers found that the bacteria Labrys portucalensis F11 was effective at breaking down at least three types of PFAS, including the most common forever chemical, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), as well as 5:3 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (FTCA) and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (FTS).

Professor Diana Aga, the study’s corresponding author, says the bacteria could one day be deployed to break down PFAS in wastewater treatment plants. Meredith Forrest Kulwicki / University at Buffalo

The bacteria was the most effective at breaking down PFOS, a chemical that was designated as hazardous by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2024. It degraded more than 90% of the compound over a 100-day exposure and removed up to 96% of the PFOS after 194 days. During the first 100 days, the bacteria broke down as much as 58% of FTCA and 21% of FTS. The scientists published their findings in the journal Science of The Total Environment.

“The bond between carbon and fluorine atoms in PFAS is very strong, so most microbes cannot use it as an energy source,” Diana Aga, corresponding author of the study, said in a statement. “The F11 bacterial strain developed the ability to chop away the fluorine and eat the carbon.”

In addition to breaking down the PFAS, the bacteria also broke down the metabolites that occur after the PFAS degradation, with Labrys portucalensis F11 even breaking down or fully removing fluorine in some of the study results. 

“Many previous studies have only reported the degradation of PFAS, but not the formation of metabolites. We not only accounted for PFAS byproducts but found some of them continued to be further degraded by the bacteria,” explained Mindula Wijayahena, first author of the study and a Ph.D. student in Aga’s lab.

Mindula Wijayahena, the study’s first author, analyzed the samples containing PFAS and the bacteria following incubation in Portugal. Meredith Forrest Kulwicki / University at Buffalo

This particular bacteria strain has been previously revealed to degrade fluorobenzene, a flammable and hazardous compound sometimes found in insecticides.

The discovery offers a novel method for cleaning up PFAS; other methods have primarily focused on adsorbing and removing the PFAS, but the bacteria could help break down these chemicals and minimize the amount of time they spend in the environment.

A 2024 study uncovered a way to track PFAS contamination to the source, and a separate study published in 2023 a potential water treatment that would use adsorbing materials and electro- and photochemical processes to destroy PFAS contaminants in drinking water supplies. Yet another separate study published in 2022 found a plant-based material that could help adsorb PFAS, which would then be digested by fungus.

The study authors using Labrys portucalensis F11 for PFAS metabolization will continue their research, noting that although the bacteria did break down the PFAS, it took nearly 200 days, and that was without other food sources present.

“We want to investigate the impact of placing alternative carbon sources alongside the PFAS. However, if that carbon source is too abundant and easy to degrade, the bacteria may not need to touch the PFAS at all,” Aga said. “We need to give the F11 colonies enough food to grow, but not enough food that they lose the incentive to convert PFAS into a usable energy source.”

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