After last year's Emmy Awards, many in the biz were surprised to see "Downton Abbey's" triumph for miniseries included in NBCUniversal's trophy tally.
Most viewers in Australia have no idea that "The Slap," the provocative drama series that preemed last fall on ABC1, was financed by NBCU. The same is true for "Made in Chelsea," the U.K. reality skein that airs on Channel 4 sibling E4.
All three shows stem from the London-based NBCUniversal Intl. TV Production unit, led by a U.S. expat, Michael Edelstein, whose mandate as prexy is to expand the Peacock's production capabilities around the world.
The two-pronged strategy is to get in on the growth in overseas markets for original local fare, and to develop content that can be exported to the U.S. and other territories.
NBCU is not alone among the majors in seeing opportunity beyond U.S. borders. Just as the film biz is increasingly dependent on overseas B.O. as its primary growth engine, TV execs hope offshore channels and production can offset shrinking domestic profit margins.
Sony Pictures TV last year dispatched former ABC and Lifetime exec Andrea Wong to London to serve in much the same role as Edelstein does for NBCU.
Time Warner is parachuting into markets around the world with acquisitions and investments in production entities, notably its purchase in 2010 of the U.K.'s Shed Media. News Corp.'s purchase of Elisabeth Murdoch's Shine Group last year was (familial considerations aside) a bid to expand its footprint in key markets.
"Downton's" success illuminates the potential for worthy programs to take off in an era of cross-platform distribution and social media-fueled word of mouth. NBCU undoubtedly didn't see much upfront coin from the U.S. in licensing the show to PBS (which wound up with the steal of the century), but as the accolades mount, the value of "Downton" homevid, digital and ancillary rights in all territories will be significant to NBCU.


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Verano en vaqueros es una serie de cuatro novelas de la autora estadounidense Ann Brashares. En su tiempo  esta serie de novelas fue un superventas en Estados Unidos.

Volúmenes

Primero

Cuenta la historia de Carmen, Lena, Bridget y Tibby que antes de irse de vacaciones deciden que van a compartir un pantalón vaquero que les sienta genial a todas, y que se lo irán pasando durante el verano. Carmen se va a casa de su padre, Lena, a casa de sus abuelos en Grecia, Bridget, a un campamento de fútbol, y Tibby va a trabajar en un supermercado.

Segundo

Al verano siguiente, Bridget se va a casa de su abuela al sur de Estados Unidos para reencontrarse con su pasado y con los recuerdos de su madre. Lena tiene un trabajo de verano en una tienda, pero no deja de pensar en Kostos, su amor del pasado verano, el cual la va a visitar de manera sorprendente. Por su parte, Tibby va a hacer un curso de cine a la universidad y en la realización de un corto intentará plasmar la muerte de su amiga Bailey de doce años tras sufrir leucemia. Carmen, en fin, tiene que adaptarse a la nueva situación de su madre, que ha encontrado un novio joven y estupendo.

Tercero

Las cuatro amigas disfrutan de su último verano antes de ir a la universidad. Bridget se va a reencontrar con su gran amor, Eric. Carmen verá aumentar su familia tras casarse su madre. Lena, por su parte, se quiere dedicar a la pintura y tiene momentos de crisis. Tibby persigue su sueño de dedicarse al cine pero, mientras tanto, tiene que cuidar de sus hermanos pequeños.

Cuarto

Tras empezar la universidad las cuatro protagonistas han recorrido caminos separados. Cada una tiene sus problemas. Carmen comienza a preparar una obra de teatro. Lena debe decidir entre Kostos y Leo. Bridget se encontrará en Turquía en una excavación. Tibby, en fin, tendrá que superar una crisis con Brian en Nueva York.

Versión cinematográfica

En 2005 se estrenó Una para todas la versión cinematográfica del primer verano en vaqueros protagonizada por Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Blake Lively y Alexis Bledel.

En el verano del 2008 se estrenó la continuación (en inglés The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2). Aunque la primera película se basaba en el primer libro, la saga recogerá la historia de los tres siguientes.

Novelas de Estados Unidos
Series de libros

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Viruses contain nucleic acid as RNA or DNA. These molecules possess all the genetic information of the virus. Research involving the use of viral nucleic acid products, are becoming increasing popular. This is due to their easy handling in low containment laboratories thus avoiding the restrictions associated with the handling of hazardous pathogens at Containment Level 3 or 4.
Studies on virus nucleic acid products for the development of vaccines holds great promise in terms of safety and cost as nucleic acids have the reduced risk of becoming pathogenic. DNA vaccines have an added advantage of high stability. A few DNA vaccines are already in late stage development and may soon be approved for use. These include ASP0113, a vaccine for the prevention of CMV reactivation in CMV-seropositive recipients of an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant.
Viral nucleic acids are also important in drug development. Plasmids containing segments of viral genome are used in the construction of pseudotype viruses. The entry of these synthetic viruses into host cells and their subsequent interactions with immune proteins provides information on potential drug targets for novel therapeutics. They are also a useful tool in serology tests for vaccine development. Pseudotype viruses bearing envelope proteins of viral haemorrhagic fever viruses have been successfully developed. These include systems bearing the envelope proteins of Lujo virus and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus which are emerging infectious diseases.
NCPV supports the scientific community with interests in Containment Level 3 and 4 pathogens by supplying viral nucleic acids from these viruses making them available for research that can be carried out in ACDP Containment Level 2 laboratories.
Tani, H. (2014). Analyses of Entry Mechanisms of Novel Emerging Viruses Using Pseudotype VSV System. Tropical Medicine and Health, 42(2 Suppl), 71–82.
Saade, F., & Petrovsky, N. (2012). Technologies for enhanced efficacy of DNA vaccines. Technologies for enhanced efficacy of DNA vaccines. Expert Review of Vaccines, 11(2), 189–209.
Urbanowicz, R. A., McClure, C. P., King, B., Mason, C. P., Ball, J. K. & Tarr, A. W. (2016). Novel functional hepatitis C virus glycoprotein isolates identified using an optimized viral pseudotype entry assay. The Journal of General Virology. 97, 2265-2279.


text:
Covenant Confirmers Church: A place where motorcycles, faith and addiction recovery meet | Opinion
The Covenant Confirmers Church in Springfield focuses on addiction recovery with a biker theme.
Covenant Confirmers Church: A place where motorcycles, faith and addiction recovery meet | Opinion The Covenant Confirmers Church in Springfield focuses on addiction recovery with a biker theme. Check out this story on Tennessean.com: https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2019/03/19/covenant-confirmers-bikers-faith-addiction-harley-davidson/3104995002/
Sabi Kumar, Guest Columnist Published 6:00 a.m. CT March 19, 2019
Country comedian talks about snorting cocaine while shooting golf in celebrity tournaments Brad Schmitt, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee
Sabi 'Doc' Kumar, MD, R-Springfield, is a state representative from District 66, Robertson County.
When Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" becomes "Saved, Healed, Delivered I'm Yours," the church is rocking.
This congregation is different. The focus is on recovery from addiction, through faith and prayer.
A few weeks ago, my wife and I visited the Covenant Confirmers Church in Springfield. It is also called the "biker's church." Most attendees and staff are motorcycle riders.
Though we arrived in my red Mercedes, we were greeted and treated as if we were bikers. Actually, we are Methodist and traditionalists. Our church does offer a contemporary service where the music is spirited and high in decibels. More of our church members attend that service than the traditional. We prefer the quieter, traditional setting.
Pastor Ron Baptiste, a 'mystic presence'
Harley Davidson biker (Photo: GUILLAUME SOUVANT, AFP/Getty Images)
It was a bold step for us. The theme in the entry foyer, classrooms and sanctuary was motorcycles. Two very big Harleys flanked the stage, under theater lighting. The pulpit was a beautifully modified Harley as well.
Considering the Covenant Confirmers Church serves the addiction community among bikers, a biker will feel at home as soon as they arrive. They will find the church staff to be in jeans and leather, just like them. They will not be concerned about how they are perceived or looked upon. I can imagine the looks they will get if they had the courage to visit our traditional church setting.
Although all of us go to church to pray and seek God, there is certainly a different social and cultural aura based on ethnic and denominational traditions. Going to a church in search of recovery from addiction is a major step in that journey. The 'biker's church' provides a comfort and welcome without the concern of strange looks.
Pastor Ron Baptiste is a remarkable man, of Native American descent, with a mystic presence. 'Pastor Ron' and his wife, Pastor Cricket, are motorcycle riders who personally know the scene and the culture of riding and addiction that may capture some.
Adverse childhood experiences dominated Ron's early life. He was just three months old when he developed a rare childhood cancer on his face. The first six years of his life were spent in hospitals and under medical care. Multiple operations were necessary, as doctors worked to reconstruct his face.
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Congregants receive love, support and all they need
Not unexpectedly, the resulting deformity attracted teasing and ridicule at school. So he responded by beating up the school bully.
"All of a sudden at lunch, all these little girls are bringing me their ice cream," he remembers. As Ron learned that violence made him accepted and popular, it became a way of life. "Violence is like a drug. That was my first real addiction," he says.
He started carrying weapons, even to school. A period of alcohol, drugs and crime followed, leading to prison. When he came out of prison, he fell back in to the same life. Finally, under threat that he may lose his family, he sought Christ. He tells of a vision in which Christ came and sat down with him on the floor. He cleaned out his cupboards of alcohol and drugs. He cleaned out his heart and mind and filled it with God!
"Just because you have done some things wrong, God doesn't stop loving you," he tells his congregation.
The Covenant Confirmers Church is a Certified Faith-Based Recovery Congregation under the program initiated by former Gov. Bill Haslam. In addition to Sunday and Wednesday church services, it also provides a family support group, Narcotics Anonymous programs and a free medical clinic.
Pastor Ron's sermon focused on the recovery needs of his congregation. It was rich in Biblical references. It was, truly, a spiritual experience.
The road to recovery from addiction is complex and long. There are many options. For these bikers, and their families, the Covenant Confirmers Church provides a great promise with the love and support that they need. May God continue to bless this journey for all.
2019 political cartoons from the USA TODAY Network
The cartoonist's homepage, pnj.com/opinion Andy Marlette, Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal
The cartoonist's homepage, www.usatoday.com/opinion/ Mike Thompson, USA TODAY
The cartoonist's homepage, courier-journal.com/opinion Marc Murphy, (Louisville, Ky.) Courier Journal
The cartoonist's homepage, tallahassee.com/opinion Nathan Archer, Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat
The cartoonist's homepage, citizen-times.com/voices-views David Cohen, Asheville (N.C.) Citizen Times
The cartoonist's homepage, courier-journal.com/opinion - [ ] Marc Murphy, (Louisville, Ky.) Courier Journal
Mike Thompson, USA TODAY The cartoonist's homepage, www.usatoday.com/opinion/
2444264002 Andy Marlette, Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal
The cartoonist's homepage, news-press.com/opinion Doug MacGregor, The (Fort Myers, Fla.) News-Press
David Cohen, Asheville (N.C.) Citizen Times The cartoonist's homepage, citizen-times.com/voices-views
The cartoonist's homepage, https://www.usatoday.com/opinion/ Mike Thompson/USA TODAY
Feb. 26, 2019 Mike Thompson/Detroit Free Press
Cartoonist's homepage: www.freep.com/mikethompson Mike Thompson/USA Today
The cartoonist's homepage, www.usatoday.com/opinion/ Mike Thompson/USA Today
The cartoonist's homepage: https://www.news-press.com/opinion/ Doug MacGregor Fort Myers (Fla.) News-Press
The cartoonist's homepage, www.freep.com/mikethompson Mike Thompson, Detroit Free Press
Mike Thompson, Detroit Free Press The cartoonist's homepage, www.freep.com/mikethompson
The cartoonist's homepage, www.freep.com/mikethompson Mike Thompson/Detroit Free Press
The cartoonist's homepage: www.freep.com/mikethompson Mike Thompson/Detroit Free Press
The remarkable life of Rep. John Dingell. Mike Thompson/Detroit Free Press
www.freep.com/mikethompson Mike Thompson/ USA TODAY
The cartoonist's homepage www.freep.com/mikethompson Mike Thompson, Detroit Free Press
Trump's "executive time" Mike Thompson/Detroit Free Press
Feb. 6, 2019 Mike Thompson/Detroit Free Press
A familiar face at the Super Bowl Mike Thompson /Detroit Free Press
The cartoonist's homepage, knoxnews.com/opinion/charlie-daniel Charlie Daniel, Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel
The cartoonist's homepage, azcentral.com/opinions/benson Steve Benson, The Arizona Republic
Michigan State University interim President John Engler is shown the door. Mike Thompson/Detroit Free Press
Andy Marlette, Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal The cartoonist's homepage, pnj.com/opinion
Michigan' roads are worst in the nation Mike Thompson/Detroit Free Press
Nate Archer, Tallahassee Democrat The cartoonist's homepage: https://www.tallahassee.com/opinion/
The cartoonist's homepage, png.com/opinion Andy Marlette, Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal
The cartoonist's homepage, www.freep.com/mikethompson Mike Thompson, Detroit Free Press
The cartoonist's homepage, freep.com/opinion/mike-thompso Mike Thompson, Detroit Free Press
The cartoonist's homepage, clarionledger.com/opinion Marshall Ramsey
The cartoonist's homepage, freep.com/opinion/mike-thompson Mike Thompson, Detroit Free Press
The cartoonist's homepage, courier-journal.com/opinion Marc Murphy, The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier Journal
The cartoonist's homepage, indystar.com/opinion/varvel Gary Varvel, The Indianapolis Star
The cartoonist's homepage, citizen-times.com/voices-views David Cohen, Asheville (N.C.) Citizen-Times
The cartoonist's homepage, courier-journal.com/opinion Marc Murphy, The (Louisville) Courier-Journal
The cartoonist's homepage, news-press.com/opinion Doug MacGregor/The (Fort Myers, Fla.) News-Press/PoliticalCartoons.com
The cartoonist's homepage, clarionledger.com/opinion Marshall Ramsey, The (Jackson, Miss.) Clarion-Ledger
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is Senate majority leader. The cartoonist's homepage, courier-journal.com/opinion Marc Murphy, The (Louisville) Courier-Journal
The cartoonist's homepage, clarionledger.com/opinion Marshall Ramsey, The (Jackson, Miss.) Clarion Ledger
The cartoonist's homepage, tallahassee.com/opinion Nathan Archer, Tallahassee Democrat
A Leon County sheriff's deputy in Florida shoots a family's dog in its own yard while visiting without telling family members to just put him up or on a leash. The cartoonist's homepage, tallahassee.com/opinion Nathan Archer, Tallahassee Democrat
The cartoonist's homepage, courier-journal.com/opinion Marc Murphy, The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal
The cartoonist's homepage, floridatoday.com/opinions-columns Steve Hall, Florida Today
The farm bill, which included stricter work requirements for receiving food stamps, failed May 18, 2018, in the House of Representatives. The cartoonist's homepage, freep.com/opinion/mike-thompson Mike Thompson, Detroit Free Press
Originally published April 19, 2018. The cartoonist's homepage, clarionledger.com/opinion Marshall Ramsey, The (Jackson, Miss.) Clarion-Ledger

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: check for jsonArray if null or not i am trying  to check  json Array  to get name of author and if null i need to give  me unknown author
this json array

{
   "kind":"books#volumes",
   "totalItems":604,
   "items":[
      {
         "kind":"books#volume",
         "id":"6tLAyQLSzG0C",
         "etag":"wtUTTM0nDQA",
         "selfLink":"https://www.googleapis.com/books/v1/volumes/6tLAyQLSzG0C",
         "volumeInfo":{
            "title":"Android for Work",
            "subtitle":"Productivity for Professionals",
            "authors":[
               "Marziah Karch"
            ],

and this my java code
 // Create a JSONObject from the JSON response string
        JSONObject root = new JSONObject(bookJSON);

        // Extract the JSONArray
        // which represents list of title of book ant author name.
        JSONArray bookArray = root.getJSONArray("items");

        for (int i = 0; i < bookArray.length(); i++) {

            // Get a single booka t position i within the list of books
            JSONObject currentBook = bookArray.getJSONObject(i);
            JSONObject volumeInfo = currentBook.getJSONObject("volumeInfo");
            // Extract the value for the key called " title"
            String title="";
            if(volumeInfo.has("title"))
            { title = volumeInfo.getString("title");}
            JSONArray authors= volumeInfo.getJSONArray("authors");
            String author = "";

                for (int j = 0; j < authors.length(); j++) {
                    if(authors.length()==0){
                // Convert the authors to a string
                author = authors.getString(j);}else{author="unknown";}}

i can get title of book  but name of author always unknown i do not know why ?

A: Your problem is in this condition if(authors.length()==0)
This should be :
JSONArray authors= volumeInfo.getJSONArray("authors");
String author = null;
if(authors.length() > 0) {
    author = authors.getString(authors.length() - 1);
} else {
    author="unknown";
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
The Aducanumab Aftermath: The Industry
Art by Leslie Walker
How is the pharmaceutical industry reacting to the FDA's surprising approval of a controversial Alzheimer's drug, and what do they make of its $56,000 price tag?
This episode is part of a special series examining the potentially sweeping consequences this drug, known as aducanumab or Aduhelm, could have on millions of patients' lives and billions of dollars in health care spending.
Listen to the full episode and read the transcript below.
If you want more deep dives into health policy research, check out our Research Corner and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Listen in NPR One
In this final installment of our four-part series, we spoke with longtime biotech journalist Luke Timmerman, who founded and runs Timmerman Report, an independent industry newsletter. Timmerman described industry insiders feeling both confused by the FDA's approval decision and outraged at drugmaker Biogen's move to price Aduhelm at $56,000 despite serious questions about its efficacy.
Three major questions on his mind:
Luke Timmerman, journalist and founder, Timmerman Report
Will this help or hurt Alzheimer's drug development?
"It could spark something of a rebirth of Alzheimer's R&D," said Timmerman. He also warned, however, that the approval could inspire drugmakers to simply copy Aduhelm's therapeutic approach, the efficacy of which scientists have questioned.
Will the industry see a backlash to the drug's price?
Timmerman said industry leaders are deeply concerned the drug's high price could backfire. Two senators have already called for a hearing on the drug's price, and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra suggested his agency is scrutinizing it too.
Will this undermine confidence in the FDA?
"People in the biotech industry want the FDA to be the guardian of safe and effective drugs," said Timmerman. He added that executives worry this decision could shake the faith of physicians and payers in the value of an FDA approval.
What other industry insiders and reporters are saying:
"FDA's Woodcock is just 'not that concerned' about the criticism over Biogen's Alzheimer's drug, Aduhelm" (Nicholas Florko, STAT, 6/24/2021)
"The new Alzheimer's drug is the first of its kind. Will it be the last?" (Dylan Scott, Vox, 6/24/2021)
"Eli Lilly to Seek FDA Approval for Alzheimer's Drug" (Laura Cooper, Wall Street Journal, 6/24/2021)
"Biogen Expects Slow Alzheimer's Drug Uptake, May Reset Price" (John Tozzi, Bloomberg, 6/23/2021)
"Biogen isn't worried about backlash to 'bewildering' price of Alzheimer's drug" (Damian Garde, STAT, 6/8/2021)
Dan Gorenstein: We've arrived at the fourth and final installment of our series "The Aftermath of Aducanumab."
This week, we've heard some of the messy and complicated questions that this pricey, and controversial new Alzheimer's drug, also known as Aduhelm, has raised for doctors, patients and payers.
Today, we hear what's on the minds of pharmaceutical industry insiders.
From the studio at the Leonard Davis Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, I'm Dan Gorenstein, and this is Tradeoffs.
DG: Luke, if you would, just start by introducing yourself, please. Your name and title.
Luke Timmerman: Sure, I'm Luke Timmerman, the founder and editor of Timmerman report, a biotech industry newsletter.
DG: And what's your background?
LT: I've been a biotech journalist for about 20 years.
DG: Based on your conversations with sources in the industry, Luke. What's been the most common reaction to the aducanumab approval in one word?
LT: Outrage. People in the biotech industry want the FDA to be the guardian of safe and effective drugs. And in this case, they appear to have lowered their standards. When that happens, it potentially can reduce the confidence that physicians have in what an FDA approval means. It can shake the confidence of payers who count on the FDA to do a rigorous evidence-based analysis. It's really the foundation of the industry. It's kind of what separates prescription drugs from nutritional supplements.
DG: Were you surprised with this ruling?
LT: I was, I was. The evidence in support of this application is very weak at best. There's so many things here that are just really head-scratching like, why would the FDA surrender so much of their authority here? They said that they're going to require the company to run a confirmatory trial, but this trial could take as long as nine years to complete. So in the meantime, Biogen will be able to market this drug. Physicians will be able to prescribe it. Medicare will be asked to pay a lot of money for it. And during all these years, we will not really know if it is bringing the clinical benefit that everybody wants to see.
DG: So then Luke, what is the best explanation you've heard for why the FDA approved this drug, given all the doubts?
LT: Well, I don't think the FDA has clearly explained itself. I will say, though, that I have seen one previous situation with a prostate cancer drug that was a first-of-its-kind cellular therapy. And this was a controversial dataset much like aducanumab. I spoke to one of the advisory committee members who said he voted in favor of it because he thought that would stimulate better therapies to come. So I think it's entirely possible that this is part of the motivation and it's awfully hard to say no to, you know, very sympathetic victims when these people are being offered something that looks like hope.
DG: Earlier this week, after we interviewed Luke, the FDA did begin to explain its decision, releasing 83 pages of internal documents.
In one of the memos, an FDA official appeared to make the case that giving patients a chance to try a drug that might work was more important than waiting years for Biogen to prove the drug definitely works.
Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock also turned heads this week with some public remarks defending the FDA's approval by saying that, "empirical evaluation is not the only way of evaluating truth."
DG: Do you think that Aduhelm's approval is gonna drive more research into other Alzheimer's treatments, Luke?
LT: There has not been a lot of reason for hope and investors have looked at this field and been pretty discouraged. They've put their money in other areas that look more promising by and large. Other entrepreneurs could look at this, and be inspired to try the longshot idea that maybe wouldn't have gotten funded before. So it could spark something of a rebirth of Alzheimer's R & D. But it could also send the wrong message as well that we should double down on this amyloid hypothesis, which has been something of a blind alley in the scientific community for the last two decades.
DG: On cue…drugmaker Eli Lilly has now announced plans to seek accelerated FDA approval for a therapy similar to Aduhelm.
DG: How do you expect this to influence drugmakers' moves outside of Alzheimer's? Will we see denied drugs coming back from the dead new drugs with worse evidence? In essence, Luke, is this sort of open season for drugmakers?
LT: It could be perceived as an open invitation to take that failed study from a couple of years ago, do what's called data dredging, like fish around in the dataset, try to find out if there might be some positive signals there in some subpopulation of patients, package it together, enlist the patient advocates on your side, who are often desperate, put pressure on your local Congressman and the FDA and the people in the media, and give it a whirl. And that opens up this kind of can of worms that most people in the pharmaceutical industry just don't want to go into.
DG: When we come back, we ask Luke the 56,000 dollar question…is this drug worth the price.
DG: We're back with biotech journalist Luke Timmerman, who's closely watched the FDA and the saga of this Alzheimer's drug aducanumab for years.
Luke, let's turn to the price of this treatment cause it's made some jaws drop.
What's been the reaction inside the biotech industry to Biogen's $56,000 decision?
LT: This greatly concerns everyone I talked to in the biopharmaceutical industry, because it could provoke a payer backlash and a bigger populist backlash. Like, look, there was a lot of heroic work that was done during COVID-19. And now here comes along a company with an Alzheimer's drug that's really unproven and they're setting this egregiously high price. This is the kind of thing that gave pharmaceuticals a bad name in this country and a lot of people are worried and upset that this could boomerang back and actually chill all kinds of other drug development.
DG: That boomerang is already coming back at drugmakers.
Yesterday, June 24th, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren and Republican Bill Cassidy called for a hearing on Aduhelm, asking whether Congress should give Medicare more power to tie the price of a drug to its clinical effectiveness.
Biogen is feeling the heat. Just the day before, the company said, "We stand ready to work with public and private payers to address pricing," an eyebrow raising statement…and a nod to widespread doubts that $56k a year is a fair price for a drug of questionable efficacy.
DG: Is there a quote that you've gotten from an industry executive that captures the concern around Biogen's putting a really big price tag on a drug that has shown so little evidence that it actually does much?
LT: I spoke to one executive who shared that he had spoken to someone at Biogen and said, "What the hell are you guys doing?" And he told me, he thought, you know, maybe they'd price it at $12,000 and that even made him a little queasy. It isn't like something that he would recommend to his mom and dad because he's looked at the evidence. But yeah, that price just strikes many people, even within the pharmaceutical industry, as egregious.
DG: Anything from investors? Are you hearing that investors are sort of eager to pour money into more risky stuff now?
LT: I think biotech investors have had a pretty healthy appetite for risky things the past few years anyway. We really are in a golden age of biomedical research and development. It's been raising a lot of money. It's been rapidly expanding across different therapeutic areas, and I think a lot of investors would like to keep it that way. And when they see a cloud of doubt come from the FDA, it makes a lot of them nervous.
DG: I mean how big of a deal is this decision, Luke, when it comes to the FDA's reputation, or how people perceive the agency and its standards?
LT: Can I tell you a little personal anecdote? So I've been covering this sector for a long time, and I speak with my friends and family about things like the vaccines. And one of the things that I've told them is about that FDA process, that part of what makes us the world leader in biomedicine is that we have this really rigorous, transparent process. They don't just read a paper and take somebody's word for it in industry or at Harvard or Stanford or anywhere else. They do their own diligence. So when I see something like what happened with aducanumab it's demoralizing. I kind of feel like I have egg on my face and it gives me some doubt, like a little bit of doubt, about what it is they're doing. And I think there are a lot of people in industry that are asking themselves that same question.
DG: Luke, thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us on Tradeoffs.
LT: Thanks Dan, for having me.
DG: When you step back and look at all the Aduhelm news that's unfolded, it's pretty wild.
Just this week, bipartisan senators called for a hearing…FDA leaders published a rare op-ed defending their decision…drugmaker Biogen signaled it might actually give up some ground on price…and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said his agency is looking closely at the drug's cost.
…and Aduhelm has only been approved for 19 days.
Thanks to all of you, our listeners, for tuning in all week to this special series our team worked so hard to put together.
This is a fast moving story we plan to follow closely and we look forward to sharing with you what we learn.
And if you have any show ideas, pitch us at info@tradeoffs.org
I'm Dan Gorenstein and this is Tradeoffs.


text:
The Best Picture Chronicles #3: All Quiet on the Western Front
All Quiet on the Western Front is a 1930 epic war film directed by Lewis Milestone and stars Louis Wolheim, Lew Ayres, John Wray, and Ben Alexander. The film is based off the book of the same name by author Erich Maria Remarque.
The film begins with a group of young schoolboys who, after hearing a passionate speech from a professor, decide to enlist in the German Army. Their enthusiasm and patriotism starts to wane as they become first-hand witnesses to the carnage and horror of World War I. Standing out among the boys is Paul Baumer (Ayres), whose inner conflict in dealing with the harsh realities of the war becomes the film's focus later on.
Character names and faces are of little to no importance in All Quiet on the Western Front. Consider yourself lucky if you're even able to catch enough character names while watching. The film's central focus is meant to be a display of the brutal reality of war, and the physical and psychological effects it can have on the men who dare to engage in combat. However, the film contradicts itself with its focus shifting to that of Lew Ayres character in the second half. The attention turns from the nightmare-inducing hardships of the war itself to the hardships upon one soldier. It's confusing because Ayres does not present himself as the main character in the first hour of the film.
- The brutal war scenes. All Quiet on the Western Front is at its best during its battle scenes and when the soldiers are struggling to survive. Men are constantly getting shot and blasted by bombs/mortars. One soldier loses an eye and cries out in agony. Another loses one of his feet and bemoans how he no longer knows the feeling he once had from wiggling his toes. Another shot shows enemy soldiers being riddled with machine gun fire, falling one by one like dominoes. Even though we have a difficult time applying names and personalities to many of these soldiers, their suffering is heartfelt and support the film's notion of war's destructive nature.
- Lew Ayres' takeover of the film. As described above, the film shifts its focal point to the character of Paul Baumer midway through. Because of this, the battle scenes become more single-minded and the themes are strictly applied to this one character. There is a long scene involving Ayres being stuck in a hole with a French soldier that he fatally stabbed. Ayres tries to plead with the dead body to speak, as we also see him slowly stare at his surroundings, with the sound of gunfire and explosions in the background. At this point, none of the other schoolboys are spoken of again, and several other characters we had seen frequently engaged in battle are now playing second-fiddle to Ayres. It's as if the film took the first hour to explain and show the horrors of World War I, and then spend the rest of the time applying them and seeing how they affect one character. If the film is strictly trying to show us how horrible everything was on the battlefield in World War I, Ayres extended screen time is not necessary.
Detailed characters and story are not of the utmost importance in All Quiet on the Western Front. Instead, the film provides for an engaging tale of what is really at the heart of war, and the nightmares that are witnessed only by those who see them first-hand. Sadly, this tale loses merit when Lew Ayres becomes the sole victim to the war's brutality. If All Quiet on the Western Front stayed the course it was on during the first hour, it could very well be seen today as the defining motion picture of war.
Recommend? Only if you have some spare time. The movie, though, has little to no replay value.


Day four of the London 2012 Olympic Games and it was the turn of the Men's Light Fly (46-49kg) and Light Welterweight (64kg) to step on to the ring in the first round of preliminaries at the ExCeL arena. The afternoon session bore witness to eleven pulsating contests.
First up in the Light Flyweights (46-49kg) was the exciting 20-year-old Yosbany Veitia Soto of Cuba against the teenager Billy Ward, winner of the AIBA Oceania Olympic Qualifying Event Canberra 2012. The Australian fought valiantly but just could not handle the speed and accuracy of the lightening quick Cuban southpaw who seemed to be hitting the target every time he let fly. Veitia Soto looked a class above his opponent and the spectators were really enjoying the movement and footwork on show as he recorded an emphatic 26:4 victory. He will now face the reigning Olympic Champion from China Shiming Zou for a place in the quarter-finals.
The fast-paced action continued with two of this weight category's rising stars as Italy's Manuel Cappai and Mark Barriga from the Philippines battled it out in spectacular fashion. Both these 19-year-olds have bright futures ahead of them and it told as the skills on show had the crowd on the edge of their seats. The Filipino though was too quick for the taller Cappai, catching him with several deft hooks which rocked the Italian in the first round. Barriga speed was causing havoc and he continued to dominate as he landed several hard lefts to triumph 17:7. The young southpaw received a few tips from his compatriot Manny Pacquiao before flying out to London and although he finds himself in the tough part of the draw, many expect him to challenge for honours.
2008 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Jeremy Beccu faced the 28-year-old Beijing Olympian and veteran of four AIBA World Boxing Championships Birzhan Zhakypov of Kazakhstan. The orthodox Frenchman was by no way overawed by the pedigree of his opponent as he went toe-to-toe with him and finish the first round level on points with both throwing a lot of punches. In the second, Beccu dictated proceedings from the centre of the ring, landing a couple of sweet uppercuts to take the round by a single point. Zhakypov's intelligent selection of shots saw him turn the fight to and record a 18:17 success against the positive 21-year-old from France. Zhakypov versus Barriga promises to be an electrifying fight.
The all-African contest between 24-year-old African Champion Thomas Essomba and the talented Abdelali Daraa from Morocco did not disappoint with the Cameroon orthodox on top of his opponent from the first bell. Moving well around the ring, Essomba's experience told as he continually varied his approach and caught his rival with some telling combinations connecting with their intended target. 21-year-old Daraa was knocked to the canvas after being caught by a devastating left midway through the second and from there the confident man from Cameroon closed out the fight with a 13:10 win.
Essomba beamed after his win, declaring, "I am very happy with this victory, my tactic was good and I hit him with some good shots. I feel great". On his preparations for the Games, he added, "Training in Cardiff with the Road to London program gave me a wonderful opportunity to spar with some quality fighters and as I result I feel stronger, fitter and more confident". When told his next opponent was Patrick Barnes, he said, "It does not matter who I face, if I am better I will win".
The final Light Flyweight (46-49kg) bout of the afternoon session saw 20-year-old promising Indian Devendro Singh Laishram pit his wits against teenage unknown quantity Bayron Molina Figueroa of Honduras. This one was over in the blink of an eye as the Indian fighter completely overawed his opponent in the first round, hurting him with two exquisite punches for which Molina Figueroa had to take two standing eight counts and when he got caught again, the referee stepped in to end the contest. Laishram will face a much sterner test when he battles the fourth seeded Mongolian Serdamba Purevdorj in the next round of preliminaries.
23-year-old 2009 AIBA World Champion Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo of Cuba and Colombia's seasoned Cesar Villarraga Aldana then locked horns in the first of six Light Welterweight (64kg) contests. The class of the Cuban southpaw shone through as he out boxed his opponent with some clever movement. Throwing a high volume of punches, Iglesias Sotolongo scored highly in the first round before controlling the tempo in the final two to cruise to a comfortable 20:9 victory over the 26-year-old Colombian. It will be the reigning AIBA World Champion Everton Lopes dos Santos next for the Cuban.
"I felt good, I felt strong, I boxed well and that is what matters", declared Iglesias Sotolongo after the fight. On facing Lopes dos Santos, he said, "He is very fast and I will need to up my level to beat him, but I feel confident".
The action was unrelenting as South American Championships winner Anderson Rojas Mina and 21-year-old Uktamjon Rahmonov of Uzbekistan went head-to-head. Rahmonov looked calm and composed against the Ecuadorian teenager, applying constant pressure and throwing powerful one-two combinations. In the second round, the Uzbek southpaw connected with huge overhead left and Rojas Mina had to take a standing eight count and from then on, it was one-sided as Rahmonov went on to win convincingly 21:10.
Turkey's Yakup Sener, 21, who won the AIBA European Olympic Qualifying Event Trabzon 2012, began brightly against the inexperienced Serge Ambomo from Cameroon, throwing fast combinations to great effect as he raced into a three point lead after the first round. Ambomo, 26, was eager to impress but was too erratic at times and was leaving himself open to too many counters from his rival who also took the second round. The crowd were willing on the orthodox boxer from Cameroon whose spirit could not be faulted but he could not prevent being defeated 19:10 by Sener. The young Turk will now battle Rahmonov with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
It was a noble effort by Jamel Herring in the fourth Light Welterweight (64kg) bout versus 21-year-old Daniyar Yeleussinov from Kazakhstan, the 2010 Asian Games winner. The US Marine Corp from North Carolina was untested at international level and the gulf in class was obvious as Yeleussinov picked his punches at will in the first two rounds and slowly wore down the American southpaw. By the third, the Kazak fighter was floating around his opponent and catching him with some hard one-twos. Yeleussinov eased into the second round of the preliminaries with a slick 19.9 victory.
27-year-old Iranian National Champion Mehdi Toloutibandpi and Spain's 21-year-old Jonathan Alonso Flete put on a good show for the spectators by going toe-to-toe for three rounds. In this one, it was experience that made the difference as Toloutibandpi just edged each round to win 16:12. The orthodox fighter from Iran is now drawn with Yeleussinov in the next stage of the competition.
The ultimate bout of the afternoon session saw Hungary's 2009 AIBA World Boxing championships bronze medallist Gyula Kate do battle with 22-year-old Eslam Mohamed of Egypt. A tentative start by the experienced Kate, now a three-time Olympian, saw him trail by a point at the end of the first round but he regrouped to set a much higher tempo. The Hungarian orthodox found his rhythm in the final two rounds, throwing some good combinations as he overturned his deficit to inflict a confidence boosting 16:10 defeat on his rival. 30-year-old Kate will now face Italy's Vincenzo Mangiacarpe for a place in the last eight.
The evening session will once again showcase the world's best Light Fly (46-49kg) and Light Welterweight (64kg) Men over eleven bouts as the boxers seek to book their places for the second round of preliminaries.


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Amyris & NIKKOL GROUP Complete Formation of Joint Venture Under Aprinnova Global Company Name
EMERYVILLE, Calif., March 9, 2017 — Amyris, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMRS), the industrial bioscience company, today announced it has completed the formation of a previously announced joint venture with NIKKOL GROUP ("NIKKOL"), a leading Japanese cosmetic specialty chemical provider. The 50-50 joint venture will now operate globally under the brand name Aprinnova with the goal of continuing to develop and make available sustainable cosmetic ingredient solutions for responsible brands worldwide.
"We are delighted with the rapid progress we've made since initially announcing plans to establish the joint venture just a few weeks ago with our partner, NIKKOL," said John Melo, Amyris President and CEO. "Aprinnova will continue its mission of providing innovative renewable cosmetic ingredients to the world's finest brands and with NIKKOL's support achieve further growth and market penetration."
"As leading cosmetic brands further adopt renewable ingredients in response to consumer demand and to support their reputation for innovation, Aprinnova will continue to be a leading supply source for them," said Caroline Hadfield, Senior Vice President of Personal Care at Amyris. "With the product development resources provided by NIKKOL and Amyris's ability to create disruptive, high-performance products, Aprinnova will be a force for innovation in the cosmetic market."
"We are pleased to have joined forces with Amyris for continued success in the markets we serve," said Shizuo Ukaji, President and CEO of Nikko Chemicals Co., Ltd. in NIKKOL. "Our long-term relationship has enabled us to move quickly in completing formation of the joint venture and this relationship will serve us well in serving our customers and growing Aprinnova's presence worldwide."
Products in the Aprinnova joint venture include Neossance™ Squalane and Neossance™ Hemisqualane, which the joint venture will sell through its existing distribution channels in the US, EU, LATAM and Korea markets. Nikko will continue to sell its "Sugar Squalane" brand of emollients in Japan, China and Southeast Asia.
These products will continue to be manufactured at an existing facility in Leland, NC, held in the joint venture, which has been producing high-quality squalane since 2012. With this now wholly owned, vertically integrated manufacturing facility the joint venture will be able to fully leverage the quality its products are known for as a competitive advantage and a means to support the exacting requirements of leading brands.
Aprinnova will be exhibiting at the in-cosmetics tradeshow at booth MM40 in London April 4-6, 2017. For more information about Aprinnova please visit www.aprinnova.com
About Amyris
Amyris is the integrated renewable products company that is enabling the world's leading brands to achieve sustainable growth. Amyris applies its innovative bioscience solutions to convert plant sugars into hydrocarbon molecules and produce specialty ingredients and consumer products. The company is delivering its No Compromise™ products across a number of markets, including specialty and performance chemicals, flavors and fragrances, cosmetics ingredients, and pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. More information about the company is available at www.amyris.com.
About NIKKOL GROUP
NIKKOL GROUP ("NIKKOL") is a specialty chemical company known as one of the world's leaders in the cosmetic ingredient industry. NIKKOL includes seven core companies for sales, R&D, manufacturing, safety and efficacy evaluation based on colloid chemical and skin science in Japan and overseas. NIKKOL has focused its business on the core strategy "Green, Clean, Sustainable" to achieve its business success. With 70 years' experience and the concept of "One-Stop Services", NIKKOL has been supporting its customers through variety of NIKKOL brand products, innovative formulation, tailor-made consultation, and rigorous safety and efficacy evaluation. More information about the company is available at www.nikkol.co.jp/en/.
This release contains forward-looking statements, and any statements other than statements of historical facts could be deemed to be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding future events (such as the expected growth of and market penetration by Aprinnova, anticipated further adoption by cosmetic brands of renewable ingredients, and Aprinnova's expected position as a leading supply source for cosmetic brands and a force for innovation in the cosmetic market) that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on management's current expectations and actual results and future events may differ materially due to risks and uncertainties, including risks related to manufacturing capacity, delays or failures in development, production and commercialization of products, liquidity and ability to fund capital expenditures, Amyris's reliance on third parties to achieve its goals, and other risks detailed in the "Risk Factors" section of Amyris's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on November 9, 2016. Amyris disclaims any obligation to update information contained in these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Amyris, the Amyris logo and Neossance are trademarks or registered trademarks of Amyris, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Peter DeNardo
Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Amyris, Inc.
investor@amyris.com
pr@amyris.com
Neossance™ Hemisqualane Neossance™ Squalane|


As part of the GreenFaith Fellowship Program, each Fellow writes an autobiography as a way to explore our relationship with the Earth. As well as helping program participants to get to know one another when we share these with one another, the process of writing also offers a way to help us reflect on how factors such as where we are from, where we have lived, our ethnic background and our family history influence how we think about the environment.
Here I share my eco-spiritual autobiography, as shared recently with other GreenFaith Fellows. What would you write in your autobiography?
I was born in England into a middle-class family. My father and his father both served in the British Army and my mother's father served in the Royal Air Force. Our family ancestry going back as far as records can be found includes many working-class and skilled trades people.
I grew up in a town on the Thames Estuary, east of London. From there, public transportation provided access to the city, to the coast (on the English Channel or North Sea) and to more rural areas. Some of our family vacations took us to other parts of the country, including forests in the midlands and hill country in the west.
At the age of seven, I discovered in my classroom library books about atoms and planets. I was fascinated to learn that I was a natural part of such an amazing Universe. Twenty years later, and living in San Diego, I watched the Sun set over the Pacific, I watched meteor showers from a ledge in the mountains, and I hiked in the coastal forests. I felt intimately connected to the natural world during these experiences, a feeling that persisted.
Special places I have experienced include Star Island, one of the Isles of Shoals off the New Hampshire coast, and The Mountain, near Highlands NC. I have been to both for conferences, but I also enjoyed many opportunities to be outside, exploring the natural surroundings.
I have had pets since I was a child, most importantly our family dog during my childhood and adolescence. As an adult, I have had cats as pets and, with my wife, rabbits. They have provided comfort and companionship during difficult times, though it has always been very difficult saying goodbye to them when they die.
Some members of my church took part in a "Clean the Bay" day last Summer, and my daughter and I joined them. We worked at a small park overlooking the Hampton Flats, cleaning the park itself and the shoreline of trash. Within an hour, we had filled a number of trash bags with all manner of items ranging from cigarette butts and bottle caps to newspapers and plastic bags. There were a lot of single-use tooth flossers amongst what we found. It was disheartening to find so much trash in such a small area.
From an early age, I have understood myself as part of the natural world, sharing in the cycling of elements that I now name, in the words of the Seventh Principle of Unitarian Universalism, the interdependent web of all existence of which I am a part. My parents encouraged my curiosity about the world and also taught me to be mindful of the consequences of my actions.
After finishing graduate school, I stayed in town for a while and shared a house with some undergraduates. We were all vegetarians for various reasons, mine being concern over "mad cow" disease. I learned a lot from them about environmental issues and subsequently became active with the Sierra Club, which led me to seminary with my first course on environmental ethics.


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Artifact Donation
Donations of Artifacts, Photographs, and Archival Materials
The National Museum of the Marine Corps (NMMC) thanks you for your interest in donating your artifacts! The NMMC's mission is to collect, preserve, and exhibit objects of interest to the history of the United States Marine Corps (USMC). To accomplish this goal, the NMMC acquires a wide variety of artifacts and historic materials for use in exhibits, as reference materials, and to assist in conducting original research on Marine Corps history. The NMMC follows the ethical guidelines for acquiring artifacts established by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and reviews every donation offer to determine whether it meets NMMC collection needs and falls within the Museum's mission.
What Does the NMMC Collect?
The NMMC collects artifacts in a selective and responsible manner by following its collections rationale which details the kinds of items that can be collected and those that cannot. Common items of interest to the NMMC include well-documented uniform items, issued field gear and equipment, memorabilia, original art work, and Marine family items. The NMMC broadly collects items associated with the Marine Corps from 1775 to the current day, items related to foes that the Marine Corps has faced on the battlefield, and items associated with allies and partners with whom the Marines have proudly fought side-by-side.
Please see the NMMC's regularly updated Donation Wish List for specific items that the NMMC is currently seeking to add to the collection.
What Does the NMMC NOT Collect?
With some exceptions – such as the U.S. Navy Seabees, Corpsmen, or Chaplains – the NMMC does not collect artifacts associated with other U.S. military service branches or foreign militaries that the Marine Corps has not directly opposed or supported.
Additionally, though crucial to its mission, the NMMC does not retain archival materials. Original documents such as photographs, personal papers and correspondence, official records, log books, etc., are collected and preserved by the Archives Branch, Marine Corps History Division, located at Marine Corps Base Quantico. While the NMMC does not directly collect or care for archival materials, the Museum works closely with donors to see that offered archival materials are transferred to the Archives Branch for review. NMMC curators may even request archive materials from donors to better document offered collections, and these materials are eventually transferred to the Archives Branch.
To donate archival materials directly to the Marine Corps History Division, Archives Branch, please contact: history.division@usmcu.edu.
How Do I Contact the Museum to Make a Donation?
If you have artifacts that you would like to donate to the Museum, please fill out a Donation Information Form and email it to NMMC Collections Branch at: Owen.Conner@usmcu.edu.
Or send to:
ATTN: Curatorial Services Department
2014 Anderson Ave.
Quantico, VA 22134-5002
Please include a list of the items you are offering (photographs of the items are also very helpful) along with as much detailed information as you have about the items and/or the Marine that used them.
Download Donation Information Form
Can't I Just Mail or Drop off a Donation to the Museum?
No, the NMMC does not accept unsolicited donations. Due to the volume of donation offers that the NMMC receives each year, the Museum cannot accept unsolicited material dropped off at the Museum or unsolicited material sent through the mail. Donations can only be dropped off at the Museum or curatorial offices after written coordination/confirmation with a Curator or the Registrar.
How are Donation Offers Reviewed and Who Decides?
The Collections Chief receives donation offers and forwards those to the appropriate Curator(s) for initial review and consideration based on the submitted Donation Information Form, photographs of the offered items, etc. Often, the Curators will contact the donors to get additional information about the offered items and/or request that the offered items be sent to the NMMC for assessment. The Registrar will contact the donor and provide shipping instructions and a Temporary Custody Receipt for items submitted for assessment by a Curator. Based on the research and review of the existing collection, the Curator may propose the offered item(s) for acceptance by the NMMC to the Museum's Collections Committee. This committee consists of the Director, Registrar, Collections Chief, and curators. Accepted donations are retained for possible exhibit at the museum, loan to certified museums, organizations, or USMC activities, or preserved in secure collections storage for future research and study. If during the donation process it is determined that offered items do not meet the criteria for acceptance into the NMMC's collection, the items may be declined and either returned to the donor or disposed of by the Museum, with the written permission of the donor. The NMMC will not forward offered materials to other organizations.
Why is the museum so selective in what it accepts?
With the mission to collect, interpret, and present nearly 250 years of Marine Corps history, the NMMC has neither the storage capability nor the staff resources to accept all items offered for donation. The Museum's curators follow the collections rationale closely and are very focused on collecting items to fill existing gaps in the Museum's collection.
What Happens After I Donate Something to the NMMC?
Once a donation is recommended by the NMMC's Collections Committee and approved by the Director, the Registrar will notify the donor and provide a Deed of Gift for the donor to sign and return. The Deed of Gift transfers legal ownership of the donated materials to the USMC. Once the NMMC receives the signed Deed of Gift, the Collection Manager begins the accessioning process, in which the item(s) are cataloged into the collection and professionally preserved.
Does the Museum Accept Long-Term Loans?
It is against NMMC policy to accept long-term loans of historical property. Such loans impose a significant administrative burden on the Museum as well as other responsibilities and are contrary to professional museum best practices. The NMMC will accept short-terms loans only for the purpose of exhibition for a specific and limited period. Items offered to the Museum are accepted only when offered as unconditional donated gifts to the USMC without restrictions, free and clear of all encumbrances.
Will My Items be Exhibited?
While the Museum cannot guarantee that any item will be placed on exhibit, when accepting a donated item, the NMMC commits to the donor to preserve and care for the item as a valued part of the NMMC collection. As is typical for museums of the NMMC's size, less than 10% of the collection is on exhibit at any one time. When not exhibited, artifacts remain in secure storage and may be used for research, future exhibit needs, and as a historical study for future generations.
Can the Museum do an Appraisal of My Donation?
The NMMC cannot provide appraisals. One of the organizations below may be able to assist with finding an appraiser:
American Society of Appraisers
International Society of Appraisers
Appraisers Association of America


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After cooking for stars on both coasts, personal chef returns to Connecticut
After cooking for stars on both coasts, personal chef Amanda Cushman returns home to teach
Sheena Young Special to the Press
Sep. 26, 2014 Updated: Aug. 12, 2017 12:48 p.m.
1of3Chef Amanda Cushman of Old Lyme speaks at a recent chefmakers event. She's teaching several classes at Middletown Adult Education this fall.Courtesy Amanda Cushman Show MoreShow Less
2of3Spring rolls made by chef Amanda CushmanCourtesy Amanda Cushman Show MoreShow Less
3of3Chicken salad made by chef Amanda CushmanCourtesy Amanda Cushman Show MoreShow Less
MIDDLETOWN >> Amanda Cushman's culinary journey has taken her from the small town of New Canaan to the big leagues of New York City and Los Angeles. After decades of creating recipes for major publications in Manhattan and delighting the palates of celebrities like Neil Patrick Harris and Randy Newman, Cushman's love of cooking eventually brought her full circle, back to her home state.
Now a resident of Old Lyme, Cushman credits her family upbringing with igniting a passion for culinary creativity as well as inspiring her to want to share her talents with people.
"My mother was a really good cook and I learned to cook from her. We spent a lot of time cooking together in the kitchen and she was very creative and very international and very open, so I think I grew up in a cooking family," explained Cushman, who has several upcoming classes at Middletown Adult Education.
"I think it's natural to want to cook when you grow up that way. Everybody in my family cooks but I am really the only one who pursued it as a career."
In addition to an average of nine scheduled cooking classes a month, Cushman also makes her rounds throughout Connecticut teaching private cooking classes as well as corporate team-building session.
"When I moved [back to Connecticut], I started teaching at a few local places. I teach at a place called White Gate Farm (in East Lyme) and I also teach at a place called Homeworks (in Old Saybrook). Both of those places are right here on the shoreline and they are little cooking venues," said Cushman.
Educated at Boston University as well as the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City, Cushman is also the author of her own cookbook, "Simple, Real Food."
After years of teaching and many requests from her students, Cushman answered with a compilation of some of her beloved dishes.
"It's my favorite recipes that I have compiled because people asked me to do it. People were always asking me why don't I have a cookbook — every time I did a class, people were asking me so I decided to do one," Cushman said.
Cushman's dishes are predominantly ethnic and healthy. She finds much of her inspiration through research and travel.
"I like a lot of ethnic food — Indian, Moroccan, Thai, Vietnamese, Italian, French, Greek — anything but American. I don't really do anything American," Cushman explained.
"So what I do is I travel and then I come back and I make the food that I learned how to make in the countries that I was in. It's very creative and it's also very interesting for me because I'm always learning something as well."
Describing herself as a culinary educator, visiting local farmer's markets, farm stands and ethnic markets in search of new and tasty ingredients occupies much of Cushman's time.
"I go to Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, farmer's markets; I try to go to local farms as much as I can," said Cushman. "I go to Asian markets, Indian markets, Mediterranean markets, Eastern European markets, Japanese — I'm always looking for ethnic food. It takes a lot of work. I have to drive all over."
Her Middletown Adult Education courses range from world cuisine to special occasions. Healthy Mediterranean will be offered Oct. 7, Holiday Appetizers on Nov. 8, and a New Year's Eve Dinner session on Dec. 1. Classes rum from 6 to 9 p.m. and cost $30 each.
In an effort to address the tastes of her unique range of students, Cushman said she tries to remain informed about new and current cooking trends. According to Cushman, much of today's most popular culinary trends involve gluten-free, clean eating. She has responded to the health-conscious movement with some of her own recipes which include gluten-free brownies.
"I can cook pretty much anything so I try different things a lot," said Cushman.
Whether she's teaching corporate executives how to make her Warm Beet Salad with Endive and Chevre or demonstrating how to prepare her popular Sesame Crusted Salmon for a private lesson, Cushman said engaging with people is the most rewarding part of her work.
"Everybody's different and everyone has something to offer. Everybody has a different level of experience and it's fun to teach people new things," she explained.
"It's very creative. Every class is totally different and there's never any overlap because of the people. Once you have people involved it's always different because everybody's different so that makes it really fun." To sign up for adult education cooking classes at 398 Main St., see www.maect.org or call 860-343-6044.


So I realized that in my two years of blogging, I have made a huge mistake – I have somehow avoided the trite comparisons of sport/war and sport/chess. Well, I did touch on weapons in an ages old MLS power ranking, but this simile, like a virgin forest in Alaska, is ripe for a plundering. I also have seen some eery similarities between ancient military tactics and the current state of La Liga. I promise this is not just a rehash of my Argentina piece at Run of Play, but that is a nice intro.
Thus, I present Part I in a series that probably will only be one part. My topic? The Siege. My subject? The Dreaded Catalonian Legions.
Ah, the siege. For millenia, small towns with tall walls feared this most terrifying of tactics, the dread equal parts psychological and practical. The siege, like a strangulating hand, brings into sharp focus the degree to which our existence depends on external resources. Oxygen. Food. Water. As the time ticks, our need grows. And therein lies the secret to the successful siege: patience.
The Catalonian siege shares eery similarities to the devastating Roman sieges of lore. Barcelona usually targets smaller coastal communities such as Valencia and Coruna and deprives them of one simple resource: the ball. That is to say, the Cules whip circles on the pitch with first touch passes, playing the circular object to any plot of grass where the opposition is not.
The opponents have two choices – run themselves into oblivion, or retreat even further. The Catalonian clock is not your typical wristwatch. There is no minute hand or flashing numbers. If the Catalonian clock was a stopwatch, it would be frozen. That's because for the bloodthirsty yet calculating Catalonians, there are but two times – the moment you capitulate, and the moments leading up to that event.
In last season's Champions League semifinals, a motley crew of Anglo Saxons and Africans engaged the Cules in a staring contest. For 180 minutes, neither side blinked. Then, in a half second of uncertainty, Admiral Iniesta stuck a dagger deep into the Londoner's hearts. The thrust was neither powerful nor clandestine – rather, it was unflinching. Iniesta acted with neither hesitation nor remorse.
Of course, the siege is not simply a question of pitching tints and waiting for sunset. The Romans deployed towers and armed stations within reach of the tiny town's walls. Why, you ask, would they send their supplies and soldiers into harm's way? From a military standpoint, that terrain's location has incalculable value. From a psychological standpoint, the daily visual reminder of your waiting captor can provoke either anger or insanity, but never apathy. Barcelona's looming and somewhat mobile Swedish outpost has found similar results.
The tower, the encampment, the catapults, all these tools play a part. But who holds in check the bloodthirsty mercenaries? Who can strike fear into the battle hungry Admiral Iniesta? None other than the cold and calculating General Xavi. If one watches Barcelona play, all forward and backward movement begins and ends with Xavi. Like Napoleon before him, his short stature only serves to contrast his dominating presence and sheer force of will.
This entry was posted in Barcelona and tagged Scientificosity by Elliott. Bookmark the permalink.
This is so lovely, the last sentence is just absolutely amazing.
Thanks for the kind words Zito, but if you see Xavi on the street, please please keep a safe distance.


We're big fans of the A.T. around here. Franklin was the first of 49 towns along the 2192.0 (2019) mile Trail to be designated an A.T. Community. Members of the Franklin based Nantahala Hiking Club (NHC) work with the U.S. Forest Service and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to maintain 58.5 gorgeous miles of the A.T. to include 10 shelters with privies, 9 group camp sites and 26 scenic viewpoints.
Hiker Services: In addition to Franklin's two Outfitters, Three Eagles Outfitters and Outdoor 76, there are many more services for hikers making a stop in Franklin. Come on down for a night or two of good food, local craft beer, and a warm welcome as you continue your journey north.
Flix, Food & Brews hosted by Outdoor 76. Celebrate spring and our surrounding protected/conserved public and private lands. Available purchased food and beer will benefit Mainspring Conservation Trust. For more information call 828-349-7676 or visit Outdoor 76's Facebook page.
Franklin's AT110 HikerFest hosted by Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub and Gooder Grove Hostel. Rathskeller's Hiker Haus Party (Live Band at 6 p.m.), followed by Gooder Grove's Groovy Gathering (Bonfire/Music at 8 p.m.) featuring the Funky Frogtown Sundown Light hiker Parade (7 p.m.-ish). For more information call 828-369-6796.
The 2019 Walking with Spring programs- the Macon County Public Library is an Appalachian Trail Community Supporter. Since Franklin's designation in March 2010 as an A.T. Community, MCPL has helped build public awareness about the significant resources and economic opportunities the Appalachian National Scenic Trail brings to Franklin as an A.T. Community.
The library's "Walking with Spring" series of movies and programs in partnership with the Nantahala Hiking Club and the Franklin Appalachian Trail Community corresponds with Franklin's Trail Days Celebration period which happens from the first day of Spring through Earth Day, as well as with thru-hiker season in Franklin. Events highlight the A.T., its hikers, and other outdoor activities and environmental issues.
All programs are free and open to the public and take place in the Meeting Room unless otherwise noted.
The National Park Service is proud to share Trail of Tears, produced in collaboration with the Cherokee Nation.
Trail of Tears exposes one of the darkest chapters in American history: the forced removal of the Cherokee Indians from the southeast United States to a new home in the West, and the Cherokee people's determined struggle to maintain their cultural identity.
Stories of hardship, endurance, love, and loss come alive as a Cherokee grandfather endures the Removal experience with his granddaughter. Filmed on historic ground, Trail of Tears depicts the homeland that the Cherokee lost, the trail they followed, and the modern Cherokee people of today.
A boy attempts to realize his father's dream of climbing an alpine peak known as the Citadel. 1 hr. 47 min.
The Appalachian Trail is one of the most inspiring endeavors in American history. But what truly makes the A.T. special is the community of hikers and supporters that keep the spirit of the Trail alive through their adventures, their generosity, and their stories. In these five films, we will showcase inspiring tales from some of these unique individuals about how the A.T. has changed their lives forever.
The focus of this programs will be on encouraging folks to visit national trail sites and other places significant to removal-era Cherokee history here in Western North Carolina.
Andy Denson of the NC Trail of Tears Association will discuss the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, Bill Van Horn of the Nantahala Hiking Club will discuss the Appalachian Trail, and Brent Martin of the NC Bartram Trail Society will discuss the William Bartram Trail.
Thur. April 11, 6:00 p.m. – Cherokee Trail of Tears in Macon County.
Lamar Marshall will talk about the Trail of Tears route in Macon County. In 1838, Cherokees traveled from Fort Lindsay (present-day Almond), down along the Little Tennessee corridor to Franklin, where they turned West on the Great State Road. When Congress last amended the national trail, the National Parks Service and Trail of Tears Association did not have strong proof that Cherokees took this route, but good documentation has since emerged with the hope that it will eventually be included as part of the Congressionally designated route of the national trail.


text:
Speakers A-Z
Gretchen Bakke
• Cultural anthropologist
• Author of 'The Grid: The Fraying Wires Between Americans and Our Energy Future'
Gretchen Bakke holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in Cultural Anthropology. Her work focuses on the chaos and creativity that emerges during social, cultural, and technological transitions. For the past decade she has been researching and writing about the changing culture of electricity in the United States. In addition to her work on electric power systems, she has done research in the Soviet Union, the former Yugoslavia, and in Cuba. She is a former fellow in Wesleyan University's Science in Society Program, and a former Fulbright fellow. Born in Portland, Oregon, Bakke lives in Montreal. [📁Gretchen's Press Kit]
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ENERGY, SUSTAINABILITY & ENVIRONMENT
America's electric grid is going through a period of unprecedented transition. Bakke presents a compelling overview of the complex history of the US electric grid, with an emphasis on why culture and cultural change matter to the particular ways in which the grid has changed over time. These effects are felt even more pointedly today as renewable forms of energy enter our electricity system in record number. These are forcing rapid adaptation upon a system more given to careful, steady, and considered improvement. Bakke recommends approaching this energy transition with open arms and a sharp mind, keeping popular sentiments and radical technologies firmly in our sights as we work to both imagine and produce real reform.
Distributed Energy Resources and the Future of the Grid
The Grid: The Fraying Wires Between Americans and Our Energy Future
One of Bill Gates's Favorite Books of the year.
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* 202 | Pre-views, level help, tips and videos for ALL Facebook King levels!
Level 202, don't miss all the Spiders in the ceiling.
There is a chain with two locks and a shadow bubble on each end of the chain.
Clear your way to the locks and do not worry about the shadow bubbles too much.
Once through the chain you can see the black bubbles on either side, if you cut the shadow off here it cannot proceed upwards. Clear enough bubbles so you can see the ceiling.
So you have the black bubbles either side of the centre, two bombs in the middle and 5 poison bubbles along the ceiling. Make your way through the bubbles and the bombs, but try to avoid the poison bubbles as you will lose your valuble spiders. Any rainbow bubbles left would be handy here to make some green spiders before the ceiling drops.
Embedded: 3 Star video, some Charms.


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text:
Fab Forum
The Beatles lose control of Northern Songs
Friday 19 September 1969 Miscellaneous 7 Comments
In April 1969, The Beatles held 27% of the capital in their publishing company Northern Songs. They wished, however, to take full control of the company, after their former partner and publisher Dick James had opened secret negotiations to sell to television executive Lew Grade.
The Beatles needed to acquire a further 23.1%, or 1.15 million shares, at a value of £2.4 million. They needed to borrow £2 million in cash to finance the purchase, half of which was to come from investment bankers Henry Ansbacher & co.
At the same time they were attempting to buy NEMS Enterprises. Both ventures were stretching the group's finances to the limit, meaning they needed to put their own shares up as collateral to fund the purchases.
Lew Grade's ATV, meanwhile, owned 35% of the Northern Songs shares, and Grade wished to buy the company outright. There was also a consortium of investors that owned 15% of the shares, which both ATV and The Beatles needed to require.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney were divided over what to do. Allen Klein, who represented Lennon, thought the deal to buy the remaining shares could be improved, while John Eastman, on behalf of McCartney, felt it was a dangerous manoeuver. Lennon also discovered that McCartney had secretly been buying extra shares in Northern Songs, meaning the two songwriters no longer had an equal share; Lennon was furious upon discovering the news.
In April 1969 Klein approached EMI and Capitol to try to gain assistance to buy the consortium's shares, but the record companies declined. The Beatles also issued a press statement in which they invited a representative of ATV to join the board if they gained control of Northern Songs.
Lennon, however, derailed negotiations with the consortium. He announced in a board meeting that he wasn't prepared to be "fucked around by men in suits sitting on their fat arses in the city". The men in suits took umbrage and walked away from negotiations with The Beatles.
ATV, however, were barely more successful. Its offer of ATV shares rather than cash didn't impress the consortium's members, and in May the consortium said it was unhappy with both offers and was keeping its options open.
Negotiations continued throughout the summer and into the autumn of 1969. Klein attempted to make a deal with Lew Grade, but Grade grew tired of his delaying tactics and made an approach to Peter Donald, a major shareholder in the consortium. Grade offered 40 shillings (£2) per share for the consortium's 15% holding, which was less than The Beatles' offer.
Donald accepted Grade's proposal, and on this day Grade took control of 54% of Northern Songs. The Beatles had lost the publishing of the songs they had written. The group were resigned to selling their shares to ATV.
In the coming weeks Klein continued to negotiate with Grade. A deal was floated by which The Beatles' shares in Northern Songs would be exchanged for cash and ATV stocks, which would mean the group still had a stake in the songs. Lennon and McCartney would re-sign to Northern Songs, would buy back Maclen (Music) Limited and would get sub-publishing rights in the US.
Although it would have been advantageous to Lennon and McCartney, the deal fell through when John Eastman rejected it as he had played no part in the negotiations. Lennon and McCartney received £3.5 million in ATV loan stock for their Northern Songs shares, and by December 1969 ATV had acquired 92% of the company.
Paul McCartney performs on Badfinger's Rock Of All Ages
Paul McCartney is interviewed for the BBC's Scene And Heard
Also on this day...
2010: English Heritage plaque to be unveiled at Lennon's former London home
1969: Paul McCartney is interviewed for the BBC's Scene And Heard
1968: Recording: Piggies
1967: Filming: Magical Mystery Tour
1966: George and Pattie Harrison hold a press conference in India
1966: John Lennon films How I Won The War in Spain
1964: Day off in Alton, Missouri
1962: Live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
1961: Live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
1960: Live: Indra Club, Hamburg
1959: Live: Casbah Coffee Club, Liverpool
1934: Brian Epstein is born
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
Mathew Friday 21 June 2013
Is it a coincidence that a day later, John told the rest of the band he's leaving? I can't help but think the events of this day were a factor. Or at least they were going through his mind.
Tim Thursday 25 January 2018
I have thought that too ! He must have been choked about that for sure.
Steve Wednesday 25 September 2019
I am in no doubt that this is the incident which damaged the relationship beyond repair. Only a few mo ths earlier Lennon had sang dont let me down and Paul just did.
Whacko Saturday 22 June 2013
Bit of a disservice to John Eastman and old Sir Macca. For one thing, Paul wouldn't have let a lawyer's ego get in the way of a Good Thing. For another, acting to the detriment of your client gets a lawyer disbarred.
Rob Geurtsen Tuesday 19 August 2014
Sadly far away from the truth and close to fantasy as prove for the various statements are lacking.
How does the writer of the article know that "the deal fell through when John Eastman rejected it as he had played no part in the negotiations"? It is this presenting thinking or feelings of any player in the time line of The Beatles as essential for the events and the outcome for The Beatles. Not very biographically useful and very old fashioned 'biblically' judgmental.
It is sad that none of The Beatles nor their advisors were able to project the proper value of The Beatles brand and copyright vakue nor the value of selling of the recorded music.
Rebecca Friday 18 September 2015
I was also wondering about the John Eastman comment. With all due respect, this write up appears as if written in the old fashioned "Paul is bad, John is good" mentality.
Steven Ostertag Saturday 2 April 2016
I wonder if the appearance of the song "Get Back" in the UFO TV episode _Ordeal_ was Lord Grade's way of signalling the public about the ownership of Northern Songs. The filming for that episode started about 9 August 1969 and post production should have taken no more than six weeks, I could be wrong.
The Beatles announce Singles Collection vinyl box set
The Beatles announce Abbey Road 50th anniversary reissue
Paul McCartney co-writing It's A Wonderful Life musical
Paul McCartney live at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
The Beatles announce Let It Be film reissue and new collaboration with Peter Jackson
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On this day in Beatles history
2014: Paul McCartney live at Estádio Kléber Andrade, Cariacica, Brazil
2010: Paul McCartney live at River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina
1968: George Harrison produces Is This What You Want? by Jackie Lomax
1967: Filming: Hello, Goodbye
1966: Mixing, editing: This Boy, Day Tripper, We Can Work It Out
1965: Recording, mixing: Run For Your Life, We Can Work It Out, The Word, I'm Looking Through You
1964: Live: Colston Hall, Bristol
1963: Live: Hippodrome, Birmingham
1962: Live: Star-Club, Hamburg
1961: Live: Knotty Ash Village Hall, Liverpool
1961: Live: Tower Ballroom, New Brighton, Wallasey
1960: Live: Kaiserkeller, Hamburg
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