“You need to start dressing your age; you look like a skater,” a co-worker jocularly told me as I let out a whiny chortle to disguise my unease. I felt momentarily disarmed by the comment because the only skater I knew of was pioneering board rider Tony Hawk – and he dressed like a Mormon. Radical, dude: Brendan Foster was left puzzled after some unprompted fashion advice. Credit: WAtoday I wasn’t deeply wounded by the parting barb, but it got me marinating on what toggery was befitting for someone tumbling into their late 50s. Granted, there was something transparently pretentious about the outfit I was wearing that warranted a bit of ribbing: a $100 pair of Converse boots, designer shorts, and a check western shirt from the funky, clothing outlet Get Lucky in Fremantle. There’s a good chance I would punch someone in the ear if they called me an ageing hapless hipster, but if the shoe fits. But is there a cut-off point for men of my vintage when it comes to frocking up like a more sophisticated Dude (minus the bathrobe) from the brilliant Coen Brothers movie The Big Lebowski ? There was probably more symbolic value to my outfit than I was willing to admit, and most psychiatrists would have a field day with my wardrobe. But should I just ungracefully step into a pair of elasticated trousers as my body starts to betray itself? Whatever threads I cobbled together, there was a premeditated plan and that was to feel good. At the risk of sounding reactionary, it’s a pretty harmless way to elevate your style and wellbeing, regardless of your age. I doubt the people who created the labels I sport had my demography in mind when they were coming up with a new summer range. And I haven’t stumbled across any mannequins dressed in homeless chic. (Before I go any further, I just want to sincerely acknowledge the brutal, constant ugliness women have endured from online trolls for donning certain attire. I am nothing more than a non-playing character in the game of fashion cruelties). So, what the hell should I be wearing as I reluctantly wobble into my autumn years? Remarkably, given the endless disappointing dross you can find online, there is bugger-all advice when it comes to age-appropriate apparel for chaps like me. Maybe the lack of meaningful information is because there is just an expectation, hat we decrepit dudes will morph into Alf Stewart from Home and Away . I mean, when you turn 65, does your WA Seniors Card rock up the mail with a free pair of brown sandals, grey supermarket slacks, white singlets, and handkerchiefs? The pants come with clear instructions on how to hitch them above your navel and an ankle bracelet that sets off an alarm if you attempt to enter any designer stores. There is a secret sect of khaki-dressed, police that re-educates Bohemian Boomers who dare rock a bucket hat, knee-length shorts, and old-school Puma runners. Or maybe men don’t grasp what sociologist Julia Twigg calls “the changing room moment” when it comes to us blokes realising we are too old for certain items. Professor Twigg interviewed men aged between 58 and 85 who were surprisingly comfortable in the kit they’d worn most of their lives. “It is clear men have a different relationship to dress from women, and the research shows that this continues into later life,” she said. “There is less in the way of age anxiety in their choices.” It’s not uncommon for the male species to adopt a certain look in their early 20s and be buried in the first suit they bought 60 years ago. If you disregard the nexus to money, which has allowed me to buy clothing that isn’t from charity shops, my style hasn’t changed since the early 90s. I still have an unhealthy amount of corduroy pants and jackets in my wardrobe and retro shirts and sneakers. There is something comforting and reassuring about finding your own style and a certain empowerment for not caring (and caring) about what you wear. We can delude ourselves that the rags we pluck from the cupboard are not calculated pieces of composition because the pair of tracky-dacks and favourite band T-shirt you just reached for, still make you feel content. The right duds give us confidence. No matter what our age. Hey, if you’re unconvinced, here are some scientific facts. In a paper published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology , Adam Galinsky and his co-author Hajo Adam coined the term “enclothed cognition”, which describes the systematic influence that clothes have on the wearer’s psychological processes. The pair believed our garbs had the power to not only impact our mood but also influence the way we feel and interact with the world. “With enclothed cognition, the key idea is not just the wearing of clothes, but the symbolic meaning of the clothes one is wearing,” Galinsky says. I’m not sure the method worked on existentialist thinker John-Paul Sartre, who spent most of his life dressed as a Parisian bus driver. Adam and Galinsky’s theory could also be applied to the workplace, where our cognitive functions or moods shift when we see a person in certain professional attire. I, for one, would feel more assured about getting a rectal exam from a person wearing a stethoscope and lab coat than someone in high-vis. Despite our persistent denial, our clothes send out signals. They play a critical role in shaping our perceptions of who we are. Whether or not my clobber signified to my colleague that I may have missed the “changing room moment”, it didn’t matter. Whatever our generation, the get-up we choose to wear can make us feel attractive, stylish and jolly. As the Shakespeare saying goes, “apparel oft proclaims the man”. Even if that person chooses not to dress their age. Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter .area slotbet 。

One day, when actor and comedian Rosie O'Donnell was in her 50s, her body ached and her arms felt sore, but she pushed through the pain, not realizing she was having a massive heart attack. She had surgery to put in a stent that saved her life. Shortly after her 2012 heart attack, O'Donnell shared her experience on her blog. During her 2015 television standup special, she spoke about how the experience changed her life. The segment included a heart attack acronym the comedian coined: HEPPP (hot, exhausted, pain, pale, puke). O'Donnell's candidness about her heart attack helped spread awareness about how it can present differently in women. She's one of countless celebrities over the years who have opened up about their health conditions, including breast cancer, HIV, depression, heart disease and stroke. When celebrities reveal and discuss their health issues, the impact can be far-reaching. It not only helps to educate the public, but it also can reduce stigma and inspire others. "Health disclosures by celebrities do matter, and we know this from decades of research across a lot of different health conditions and public figures," said Dr. Jessica Gall Myrick, a professor of health communication at Pennsylvania State University in University Park. "They absolutely do influence people." Some of the earliest celebrity health disclosures happened in the 1970s and 1980s with U.S. presidents and first ladies. When first lady Betty Ford was diagnosed with breast cancer just weeks after Gerald Ford became president in 1974, she spoke openly about her diagnosis, inviting photographers into the White House and helping make talk of cancer less taboo. In 1987, first lady Nancy Reagan used her breast cancer diagnosis as a chance to advocate for women to get mammograms. Her disclosure came two years after President Ronald Reagan's colon cancer diagnosis, about which the couple was equally as vocal. "Individuals throughout the country have been calling cancer physicians and information services in record numbers," the Los Angeles Times reported after Nancy Reagan's widely publicized surgery. The public showed a similar interest years earlier following Betty Ford's mastectomy. Another major milestone in celebrity health disclosures came in 1991, when 32-year-old NBA superstar Earvin "Magic" Johnson revealed he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. "Life is going to go on for me, and I'm going to be a happy man," Johnson assured fans during a news conference. He immediately retired, only to return to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996. His disclosure, along with his work as an advocate for safe sex, helped shatter stigmas around HIV and AIDS. Calls to testing centers increased significantly in the days and weeks after Johnson's announcement. "That celebrity disclosure really helped people see there was a wider susceptibly to HIV," Gall Myrick said. "People were more likely to say, 'I need to think about my own risks.' It was very powerful." When it comes to heart and stroke health, President Dwight Eisenhower helped make heart attacks less frightening and mysterious. During a news conference in 1955, millions of Americans learned from the president's doctors about his heart condition, his treatment, and concrete steps they could take to reduce their own heart attack risk. Other notable figures have shared their health experiences over the years. Soap opera legend Susan Lucci, who was diagnosed with heart disease in 2018, has advocated for women's heart health. Basketball great Kareem Abdul Jabbar talks about his irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillation, and advocates for regular health screenings. Lawyer, author and television personality Star Jones continues to speak about heart disease risk after having lifesaving heart surgery in 2010. Longtime TV and radio personality Dick Clark brought stroke and aphasia into the national spotlight when he returned to hosting "New Year's Rockin' Eve" in Times Square just a year after his 2004 stroke and continued until his death in 2012. And actor and comedian Jamie Foxx recently revealed he had a stroke last year. "Celebrity disclosures represent teachable moments," said Dr. Seth M. Noar, director of the Communicating for Health Impact Lab at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. "Searches for different health conditions often spike in the wake of these types of announcements. They cause people to think about these health issues, learn more about them, and in some cases change their behaviors." Celebrities have also highlighted the importance of CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator, or AED, to restore a person's heartbeat if they experience cardiac arrest. Interest in CPR and AEDs spiked in 2023 after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during an NFL game broadcast on national TV. Views of the American Heart Association's hands-only CPR pages jumped more than 600% in the days following Hamlin's cardiac arrest. Three months later, around 3 million people had watched the AHA's CPR video. Family members of celebrities who have died from a heart issue have also spread awareness. After actor John Ritter died of an undiagnosed aortic dissection in 2003, his wife, actor Amy Yasbeck, started the Ritter Foundation to raise awareness about the condition and help others avoid a misdiagnosis. A literature review published in Systematic Reviews in 2017 found that people are conditioned to react positively to celebrity advice. Research also has found that people often follow advice from celebrities who match how they perceive – or how they want to perceive – themselves. The most effective celebrity disclosures are frequently the ones that tell a compelling story and include clear steps people can take to apply lessons the celebrity learned to their own health situation, Gall Myrick said. "People are more likely to take action when they feel confident and capable." Research has shown that celebrity disclosures often impact calls to hotlines and page views on health-related websites, and they can spark behavioral and even policy changes. Anecdotally, Gall Myrick said, people ask their doctor more questions about health conditions and request medical screenings. Celebrities can have a big impact because people tend to have parasocial relationships with them, Gall Myrick said. These are one-sided relationships in which a person feels an emotional connection with another person, often a celebrity. People may feel as if they know the basketball player they've watched on the court for years, or the Hollywood actor they've followed, she said. They want to comfort them after a health disclosure. Social media has only increased this feeling of familiarity, as celebrities regularly share mundane – but fascinating – details of their daily lives, like what they eat for breakfast, their favorite socks, or the meditation they do before bed. "We spend a lifetime being exposed to celebrities through the media, and over time, you get to know these public figures," Gall Myrick said. "Some feel like friendships." A study published in the journal Science Communication in 2020 compared reactions to actor Tom Hanks, who had COVID-19 early in the pandemic, and an average person with COVID-19. Researchers found that participants identified more with Hanks when it came to estimating their own susceptibility to COVID-19. The participants also felt more emotional about the virus that causes COVID-19 when thinking about it in relation to Hanks versus an average person. When a celebrity reveals a health condition, it's a surprise that may feel personal, especially if they are well-liked and the health issue is dramatic and sudden. "We feel like we know them, and the emotional response is what can then push people out of their routine," Gall Myrick said. Noar said a celebrity health story is often a more interesting and powerful way to learn about a health condition than just the facts, which can feel overwhelming. People are drawn to the slew of media coverage that typically follows a celebrity disclosure, he said. "Some of these high-visibility public figures' stories are now woven into some of these illnesses," Noar said. For example, Angelina Jolie is often linked to the BRCA1 gene mutation after the actor shared she had a preventive double mastectomy because of her elevated breast cancer risk and had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed because of her increased risk for ovarian cancer. "It's a narrative, a story that humanizes the condition in a way that very informational communication really doesn't," Noar said. "People remember it, and it can potentially be a touch point." After a disclosure, patients may bring up a celebrity's story during a doctor's appointment and connect it to their own care. Today's multiplatform digital culture only amplifies celebrity messages. "You're seeing everyday people react to these events, and that can have a ripple effect too," Gall Myrick said. "We know from research that seeing messages more than once can be impactful. Often it's not just one billboard or one commercial that impacts behavior; it's the drip drip drip over time." Still, there's a cautionary tale to be told around the impact of celebrity health news, especially if the celebrity has died. An unclear cause of death may lead to speculation. Gall Myrick said that guesswork could potentially end up hurting rather than helping if patients were to act on misinformation or a lack of information. "Maybe the death was atypical or it needs more context," she said. "That's where advocacy groups and public health organizations come in. They need to be prepared for announcements or disclosures about celebrity deaths, and to fill in some of those gaps." American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved.The Hubbard County auditor-treasurer suddenly resigned earlier this month. Kay Rave, 60, submitted her resignation after nearly 10 years on the job. It’s the latest blow to Hubbard County: In the span of two months, County Attorney Jonathan Frieden , 43, died of cancer, a felony case gaining national attention was lodged against an election judge and now Rave resigned in the face of potential termination. A copy of her one-sentence resignation letter was provided to the Minnesota Star Tribune by County Administrator Jeff Cadwell. It was dated Dec. 11 and effective Dec. 27. The same day Rave submitted her resignation, she was hand-delivered a letter from Cadwell letting her know that her employment would be terminated if she did not resign. Cadwell in the letter wrote that there was a “pattern of mistakes, errors, and failures” regarding the deliverance of tax statements. Cadwell told Rave that she missed a Nov. 24 statutory deadline and there was also an issue in April “when a transfer wasn’t made in time for the payroll check run to be processed.” “Although employees all received their checks, I’m not sure if there were any bank changes for covering the oversight. In any event, again, it erodes trust for employees and the public,” Cadwell wrote. He also mentioned a tax statement calculation error from two years ago that “created a financial problem for the county.” There is little to no documentation of Rave’s abrupt exodus in county meeting minutes or agenda items. At a County Board meeting Dec. 17, Cadwell asked commissioners to appoint him as interim auditor-treasurer. The board approved Cadwell’s appointment for 90 days. A job posting for the auditor-treasurer position is not yet listed on the county’s website. Cadwell said at the meeting that the county may consider potential organizational changes that could involve separate positions for an auditor and a treasurer. Commissioner Tom Krueger said that 60 of the 87 counties in Minnesota use an auditor-treasurer model. “The reason for that [being] for streamlining and more efficiency. So now you’re saying it was better the other way?” Krueger asked Cadwell in the Dec. 17 meeting. Cadwell clarified that changes to state statute allow more flexibility in organizing staff, such as Cass County, which has a separate finance office and chief financial officer. Rave oversaw the county’s finances and elections. She didn’t respond to calls or emails seeking comment. Hubbard County drew national attention when Rave reported concerns about election judge Timothy Scouton allowing 11 unregistered voters to cast ballots in the November election. “This is the first time in my 10 years that anything like this has happened,” she said in a Nov. 20 email to the Star Tribune. Scouton, 64, of Nevis, worked as the head election judge at the Badoura Township precinct. He’s accused of directing poll staff, including his son, to not require unregistered voters to fill out the correct form in order to legally vote. He faces two felonies : neglect of duty and accepting votes of unregistered voters. Rave said that once she learned of 11 new voters at the precinct on election night, she asked Scouton for the registration forms, but he told her they did not use them, charges say. She then contacted the County Attorney’s Office, which had the Sheriff’s Office investigate. Cadwell said in a phone interview that Rave’s “resignation and the timing has nothing to do with the case.” “She showed a great deal of diligence in her responsibility managing elections. The fact that that paperwork wasn’t done and that was reported meant that she was doing her job as the auditor.” Rave joined the county in 2015. She said Scouton served as an election judge since at least 2016 and that he would not be allowed to serve as an election judge again. The Secretary of State’s Office previously told the Star Tribune that the situation is unprecedented and the allegations against Scouton are “extremely serious.” Rave said getting the 11 voters registered “created many more hours of work for me and my team,” in a Nov. 21 email to the Star Tribune. Asked if that may be the reason Rave missed the recent tax deadline, Cadwell said “the deliverances of tax notices is statutory. It’s non-negotiable.”

Biden values public unions above actual public service

Despite a resounding defeat at the hands of Ronald Reagan in 1980, the Democrat forged a new path promoting causes such as electoral probity abroad, social justice and drives to rid the world of medical conditions. His first foreign visit as president was to the UK where then prime minister James Callaghan, as well as the usual visits in London, took his guest to the North East with a visit to Newcastle, Sunderland and Washington – the village bearing the name of the first ever president. Mr Carter delighted crowds in the North East by saying “Howay the lads” during a speech to the assembled throng. He also received a miner’s lamp from 12-year-old Ian McEree in Washington. The 39th US president also carried out more traditional presidential duties, including meetings with western European leaders during his time in London while the Cold War was still ongoing. The practising Baptist continued his globetrotting ways after leaving power, even without Air Force One as his vehicle. He was also part of the Elders, a group of experienced statesmen and women drawn from all corners of the world.

Your black plastic kitchen utensils aren’t so toxic after all. But you should still toss them, group saysThis Black Friday OLED monitor deal is the cheapest we’ve ever seenNEW DELHI (AP) — India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, has died. He was 92. Singh was admitted to New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to a “sudden loss of consciousness at home,” the hospital said in a statement. “Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency” at 8:06 p.m., the hospital said, but “despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 p.m.” Singh was being treated for “age-related medical conditions,” the statement said. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers for 10 years and leader of the Congress Party in the Parliament's Upper House, earning a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. He was chosen to fill the role in 2004 by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of assassinated Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi . But his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. Singh was reelected in 2009, but his second term as prime minister was clouded by financial scandals and corruption charges over the organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This led to the Congress Party’s crushing defeat in the 2014 national election by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Modi . Singh adopted a low profile after relinquishing the post of prime minister. Prime Minister Modi, who succeeded Singh in 2014, called him one of India’s “most distinguished leaders” who rose from humble origins and left “a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years.” “As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives,” Modi said in a post on the social platform X. He called Singh’s interventions in Parliament as a lawmaker “insightful” and said “his wisdom and humility were always visible.” Rahul Gandhi, from the same party as Singh and the opposition leader in the lower house of the Indian Parliament, said Singh’s “deep understanding of economics inspired the nation” and that he “led India with immense wisdom and integrity.” “I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride,” Gandhi wrote on X. Born on Sept. 26, 1932, in a village in the Punjab province of undivided India, Singh’s brilliant academic career took him to Cambridge University in Britain, where he earned a degree in economics in 1957. He then got his doctorate in economics from Nuffield College at Oxford University in 1962. Singh taught at Panjab University and the prestigious Delhi School of Economics before joining the Indian government in 1971 as economic advisor in the Commerce Ministry. In 1982, he became chief economic adviser to the Finance Ministry. He also served as deputy chair of the Planning Commission and governor of the Reserve Bank of India. As finance minister, Singh in 1991 instituted reforms that opened up the economy and moved India away from a socialist-patterned economy and toward a capitalist model in the face of a huge balance of payments deficit, skirting a potential economic crisis. His accolades include the 1987 Padma Vibhushan Award, India’s second-highest civilian honor; the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award of the Indian Science Congress in 1995; and the Asia Money Award for Finance Minister of the Year in 1993 and 1994. Singh was a member of India’s Upper House of Parliament and was leader of the opposition from 1998 to 2004 before he was named prime minister. He was the first Sikh to hold the country’s top post and made a public apology in Parliament for the 1984 Sikh Massacre in which some 3,000 Sikhs were killed after then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by Sikh bodyguards. Under Singh, India adopted a Right to Information Act in 2005 to promote accountability and transparency from government officials and bureaucrats. He was also instrumental in implementing a welfare scheme that guaranteed at least 100 paid workdays for Indian rural citizens. The coalition government he headed for a decade brought together politicians and parties with differing ideologies that were rivals in the country’s various states. In a move hailed as one of his biggest achievements apart from economic reforms, Singh ended India’s nuclear isolation by signing a deal with the U.S. that gave India access to American nuclear technology. But the deal hit his government adversely, with Communist allies withdrawing support and criticism of the agreement growing within India in 2008 when it was finalized. Singh adopted a pragmatic foreign policy approach, pursuing a peace process with nuclear rival and neighbor Pakistan. But his efforts suffered a major setback after Pakistani militants carried out a massive gun and bomb attack in Mumbai in November 2008. He also tried to end the border dispute with China, brokering a deal to reopen the Nathu La pass into Tibet, which had been closed for more than 40 years. His 1965 book, “India’s Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth,” dealt with India’s inward-oriented trade policy. Singh is survived by his wife Gursharan Kaur and three daughters. Associated Press writer Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi contributed to this report.

Johnson & Johnson JNJ , the iconic healthcare giant known for its stable dividends and defensive appeal, has entered a bearish technical pattern: the Death Cross . This occurs when the stock's 50-day moving average falls below its 200-day moving average, signaling potential downside. Chart created using Benzinga Pro JNJ Stock Chart: Bearish Signals Abound JNJ stock, at $145.58, is below critical moving averages across the board. Its 20-day ($144.97), 50-day ($154.24) and 200-day ($154.66) moving averages suggest the trend is firmly bearish. With a MACD of a negative 2.72 and a Relative Strength Index of 36.84, the technical setup doesn't inspire confidence. The one silver lining? JNJ stock's eight-day simple moving average of $144.97 is slightly below its current price, flashing a rare bullish signal amid the gloom. Read Also: FDA Rejects Johnson & Johnson’s Injectable Version Of Approved Drug For Lung Cancer Johnson & Johnson’s Strategic Moves In Dermatology While the charts tell one story, Johnson & Johnson's business narrative points to another. The company recently inked a licensing deal with Kaken Pharmaceutical for KP-723, a promising candidate targeting atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as eczema. With plans to launch a phase I study in 2025, Johnson & Johnson is positioning itself to address significant unmet needs in autoimmune and allergic diseases. This move aligns with the company's strategic focus on differentiated mechanisms of action in dermatology. Johnson & Johnson's acquisitions in 2024 also bolstered its dermatology pipeline, emphasizing innovative treatments for AD and other immune-mediated conditions. Dividend Reliability Meets Bearish Momentum Johnson & Johnson's long-standing reputation as a dividend aristocrat—boasting 60+ years of consistent payouts—continues to provide a safety net for investors. With ample liquidity, low leverage, and robust free cash flow, the company's dividend sustainability remains solid even in the face of technical bearishness. The Verdict The Death Cross may cast a shadow over Johnson & Johnson stock's short-term outlook, but its commitment to growth, innovation, and reliable dividends underscores its long-term appeal. Investors should weigh JNJ stock’s bearish technical indicators against the company's strategic moves in dermatology and its history of weathering market storms. As Johnson & Johnson looks to tackle eczema and diversify its portfolio, the stock may be down but far from out. For now, the Death Cross is a storm cloud on the horizon—but every storm eventually passes. Read Next: Top 7 Blue-Chip Stocks With The Best Return Potential Going Into 2025 Photo by Tada Images via Shutterstock . © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Kansas once required voters to prove citizenship. That didn't work out so well

McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules

The U.S. Food Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval of a new drug for treating bilary tract cancer that was developed by Vancouver’ s Zymeworks Inc. (Nasdaq: ZYME) under a licensing and commercialization agreement with Jazz Pharmaceuticals. The new drug, Ziihera, could net Zymeworks more than $1 billion just in milestone payments, and millions more in royalties, upon full commercialization. Gaining the FDA’s accelerated approval triggers a $25 million milestone payment to Zymeworks from Jazz Pharmaceuticals – the first of more to come, should other milestones be reached. Under its licensing agreement, Zymeworks is eligible for up to $500 million in regulatory milestones, $862.5 million in commercial milestone payments, and royalties of 10 to 20 per cent on sales. “This approval represents the first FDA-approved therapy in Zymeworks’ pipeline, and validates the company’s novel Azymetric bispecific platform technology and internal research and development capabilities for novel multifunctional medicines,” Zymeworks says in a news release. “The FDA’s accelerated approval of Ziihera marks the culmination of more than a decade of research and development at Zymeworks, highlighting our deep scientific expertise in multifunctional biotherapeutics and unwavering commitment to innovation in drug development,” said Paul Moore, Zymeworks’ chief science officer. Ziihera is one of several variations of the bispecific antibody Zanidatamab that Zymeworks developed for treating various types of cancer, and one of three in the advanced “pivotal” trial phase. Several others are at phase 2 in clinical trials. In 2022, Zymeworks entered a licence and collaboration agreement with Jazz Pharmaceuticals Ireland Ltd -- a subsidiary of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc -- for the exclusive development and commercialization rights to Zanidatamab in the U.S., Europe, Japan and other countries. A study published last year in The Lancet concluded that Zanidatamab “demonstrated meaningful clinical benefit with a manageable safety profile in patients with treatment-refractory, HER2-positive biliary tract cancer.” [email protected] twitter.com/nbennett_biv

Your black plastic kitchen utensils aren’t so toxic after all. But you should still toss them, group says

When Susan Masten was growing up in Northern California, her familial traditions were lost in a confusion of cultures. Native American communities pass down traditions through the matrilineal line, and Masten’s grandmother was a basket-maker, spoke Yurok – the language of her tribe of the same name – and organized tribal ceremonies with her family. But when she was sent to boarding school along with more than 60,000 other children between 1869 and the 1960s through the federal Indian boarding school policy, that culture was punished out of her, replaced by the dominant language, religion and traditions. When she came home, Masten’s grandmother barely taught her children Yurok. Dances, coming-of-age traditions, beliefs around how to handle grief – those ceremonies got lost, Masten said, because it was so ingrained in those women to “not be the dirty little Indian.” Years later, the cultural silence eroded into something bigger. Masten noticed that women weren’t encouraging one another or creating strong networks of support systems to help one another. Men, on the other hand, were well-connected and supported. She decided to create a change that had the potential to transform her community. In 2004, she brought together nine of her friends, all of whom were also community leaders, and talked to them about forming a national organization that would offer support, encouragement and preparation for Native American women interested in leadership roles. At the time, there weren’t many elected women leaders on tribal councils, the governing bodies for many tribes. That gathering turned into the Women Empowering Women for Indigenous Nations, or WeWin, a national conference that each summer draws more than 400 Native American women, spanning tribes and generations. Over the course of three days, participants join prayer circles, listen to keynote speakers and celebrate tenured leaders and changemakers, focusing on the universal Native American values of love, kindness, bravery and courage. Most of the women arrive at the conference reserved and timid but leave transformed and excited to step into new leadership roles, Masten said. “We’ve been able to see that (the conference) is what every woman needs to find at that moment in time,” Masten said. “When they come, whether they need to be in a positive environment, fine-tune their skills, or feel encouragement, they find it. “It’s wonderful to see because it’s almost magical, in a sense, because we don’t have that kind of network at home.” ​​Those networks were largely broken by U.S. policy, making it harder for matriarchs to pass down customs, traditions and languages. At the boarding schools, students were abused if they spoke in their native language. They were forced to give up their Native name and replaced it with an English one. Schools made students practice Christianity instead of their culture’s religion, which taught them they should be ashamed to be Native American. “They couldn’t hold onto that way of life because if they were going to make it, they had to go become this other (thing)” Masten said. President Joe Biden recently apologized on behalf of the federal government for its role in running these boarding schools and this month designated one such school as a national monument. Their impact continues to reverberate. Born in Wisconsin and a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Melanie Benjamin, WeWin co-founder and treasurer, grew up on the St. Croix River. Her family lived on opposite sides of the river, with roots in both Wisconsin and Minnesota. Her father was an Army veteran and a woodsman. From her mother, Benjamin inherited strong traditions and values. “She taught us the values of our culture, who we are as Anishinaabe people [a group of tribes located in the Great Lakes and Canada composed of Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomi, Mississaugas, Nipissing, and Algonquin],” Benjamin said. “She incorporated that in the way she raised us.” In the 1950s, the federal government’s Urban Relocation Program took Native American families from reservations and placed them into metropolitan areas to help them assimilate to mainstream culture. The moves led many of those families to feel displaced as they faced work and social discrimination as well as a lack of cultural support. Benjamin’s family relocated to St. Louis, and they had to search for other Native American families because the community was spread apart. Eventually, she and her family returned to Minnesota because her parents struggled to be away from their culture. As they grew older, Masten and Benjamin sought out leadership positions within their respective tribes, and their paths crossed during a leadership workshop. It didn’t take long for the two to become close friends and support systems for each other. When Masten approached Benjamin about forming WeWin, Benjamin said she couldn’t refuse. In its 20th year, WeWin has grown to the point where attendees are creating local chapters to organize events dedicated to specific tribes and locations. As the organization continues to evolve, Masten and the other nine co-founders hope to introduce fellowships and establish more chapters across the country. Inspired by the knowledge she learned during her first national WeWin conference, Valerie Harrington-Wind rallied a group of women together in her own community and formed a local chapter within the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Since 2016, the chapter has motivated members to give back to their community and pour into their neighbors. Harrington-Wind’s newfound skills encouraged her to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and now she serves as the legislative chief communications officer for her tribe. “I just want to be surrounded by women that care about the community,” she said. “ (WeWin) opened a lot of doors, and I continue to volunteer because I love it so much.” Within the chapter, more than 30 women organize luncheons, workshops and conferences for their neighbors, wearing their cultural values – such as Gwayakwaadiziwin, honesty, and Zaagi’idiwin, love – on their sleeve. Benjamin, also a member of the Mille Lacs chapter, said centering their culture is something the women do every day, most often without even knowing – “they live their culture.” “It’s really about who we are as people,” Benjamin said. With the help of LeAnn Benjamin, whom Melanie calls one of the strongest cultural leaders in their community, the chapter’s board members wrote portions of their bylaws in Ojibwe, their tribe’s endangered language. Harrington-Wind said the chapter also smudges – a cultural ceremony that involves burning sacred plants like sage, sweetgrass and tobacco to cleanse and heal – before committee meetings to remain “respectful of their culture and the process,” and organizes youth conferences to instill these teachings in the younger generation. The WeWin conferences are labors of love to ensure the network of leadership and support can continue for generations. Organizers also prioritize multigenerational interactions, encouraging attendees to bring their mothers and children. Girls as young as 8 and women as old as 80 sit attentively as they share stories and forge connections, eager to learn something new, organizers said. “The talent we have in Indian Country is unbelievable,” Benjamin said. “We have leaders, warriors, teachers, ceremonial people, singers, actors. To be able to bring those people under one roof – it means that [WeWin] will have an impact everywhere we go.” Masten said her venture into leadership was a calling she couldn’t ignore. Remembering the values her grandmother and mother taught her, such as a strong work ethic, spirituality, and the responsibility to protect and preserve for tomorrow, Masten became a trailblazer for her community. She finds it rewarding to share her knowledge with other women and watch them blossom into strong leaders who are reclaiming their cultures – not only within their tribe, but also their families, jobs and communities. “That’s what rejuvenates me and makes me feel balanced again and whole,” Masten said. “It’s being able to see women coming together, supporting each other, sharing, learning, healing. “It’s a wonderful thing for our women to be who they want to be.” As the world around them changes, WeWin leaders said that no matter what, there will always be challenges for Indigenous people, especially women. But the knowledge, cultural values and interconnected support of their communities they establish now will help protect what they stand for in the future. “We’re always going to have to fight for our rights, for our sovereignty, for our culture,” Harrington-Wind said. “We’re always going to have work to do in Indian country. ... As long as we all come together as a community and protect each other, I think that we don’t have anything to worry about.” This story was originally published by The 19th and is republished here with permission.New York Jets (4-11) at Buffalo (12-3) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM NFL odds: Bills by 9 1/2. Series record: Bills lead 70-58. Against the spread: Jets 5-10, Bills 9-6. Last meeting: Bills beat Jets 23-20 on Oct. 14, at East Rutherford, New Jersey. Last week: Jets lost to Rams 19-9; Bills beat Patriots 24-21. Jets offense: overall (23), rush (31), pass (17), scoring (24). Jets defense: overall (4), rush (16), pass (5), scoring (16). Bills offense: overall (7), rush (9), pass (9), scoring (2). Bills defense: overall (23), rush (14), pass (25), scoring (11). Turnover differential: Jets minus-2; Bills plus-20. QB Aaron Rodgers. The 41-year-old four-time NFL MVP is one touchdown pass from joining Tom Brady (649), Drew Brees (571), Peyton Manning (539) and Brett Favre (508) as the only players to throw 500 in the regular season. He’s dealing with a knee injury that he described as “a little MCL,” but insisted early in the week he’d play and was off the injury report on Friday. Rodgers could be playing in the last two games of his storied career as he’s undecided if he wants to return for a 21st year, and his future with the Jets uncertain as the team searches for a new general manager and head coach. RB James Cook. The third-year player has topped 100 yards rushing in three of his past four, and scored five TDs, including one receiving, over that span. His 14 TDs rushing are tied for first in the NFL entering Thursday, and rank third on the Bills single-season list, behind Josh Allen, who scored 15 last year, and O.J. Simpson (16, 1975). Bills pass rush vs. Jets O-line. The Bills, who rely mostly on a four-man pass rush, rank 25th in the NFL in by averaging 6.59% sacks per pass attempt. They face a veteran quarterback in Rodgers and a line that will be without starting left tackle after rookie Olu Fashanu (left foot) landed on IR this week. Max Mitchell and Carter Warren were competing this week to replace him. Jets K Greg Zuerlein was being activated from injured reserve after missing seven games with a knee injury. ... WR Davante Adams (hip) was questionable, but optimistic about playing. ... DT Quinnen Williams sat out last week with a hamstring injury, but could return to play at Buffalo. ... CB Sauce Gardner (hamstring) was questionable, as were RT Morgan Moses (knee), S Tony Adams (ankle), CB Michael Carter II (back) and DE Haason Reddick (neck). ... The Bills are getting healthier with starting CB Rasul Douglas practicing fully after missing two games. ... Buffalo’s starting safety tandem of Damar Hamlin (rib) and Taylor Rapp (neck) were questionable after practicing on a limited basis all week after also missing the past two outings. ... Starting LB Matt Milano was off the injury report after missing last weekend with groin injury. ... Allen was listed as a full participant all week after hurting his throwing elbow and shoulder against New England. The teams have split the past two season series, with the Jets being the Bills only division rival to have beaten them once in each of the past two seasons. ... The Bills have won four straight at home since a 13-6 loss in a mean-nothing 2019 season finale in which Buffalo rested a majority of its starters after the first quarter. ... Buffalo is 16-8 in the past 24 meetings since snapping a six-game skid spanning the 2009-12 seasons. The Jets are 2-8 since defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich replaced the fired Robert Saleh on Oct. 8 on an interim basis. ... Rodgers is interception-free in seven of his past eight games, including none in each of the Jets’ past four on the road. ... Rodgers needs one TD pass to give him 25 for the season. It would be the 14th time in his 20-year career he reached the mark, tying him with Brees (14) for the third-most seasons with at least that many. Only Brady (17) and Manning (16) have more. ... Rodgers and WR Davante Adams have connected for 82 touchdowns, including the postseason, to tie Miami’s Dan Marino and Mark Clayton for the third most in NFL history by a quarterback-wide receiver duo. ... Adams needs 72 yards receiving for his sixth 1,000-yard season. ... In nine games since being acquired from Las Vegas, Adams has 56 catches for 719 yards and six TDs. ... WR Garrett Wilson needs 13 yards receiving to reach 1,000 for the third straight season to start his career. He’s six catches away from surpassing his career high of 95 set last season. ... The Jets went 99 yards on their opening possession to score a touchdown for the second straight game on their first drive after not doing so previously all season. ... New York scored nine points and had no punts in the loss to Los Angeles. The Jets joined the 1991 Colts — a 16-7 loss to the Patriots in the season opener — as the only teams in the Super Bowl era to score fewer than 10 points and not punt. ... The Jets allowed 110 net passing yards against the Rams, the third fewest they’ve given up this season and fifth time they held an opponent under 150 this season. ... The Bills are a win from clinching the AFC’s No. 2 seed entering the playoffs. ... Buffalo has 12 wins for just the seventh time in team history, and third since 2020, and in position to match the team record previously done four times (1990, 1991, 2020 and 2022). ... The Bills are 10-0 at home since a 24-22 loss to Denver on Nov. 13, 2023, and have an opportunity to finish a season without a home loss for just the second time in team history (8-0 in 1990). ... Allen’s 75 wins through his first seven NFL seasons are tied for the most with Russell Wilson. ... Allen, who threw just his sixth interception of the season last week and also has two lost fumbles, is 6-1 this season and 44-27 overall when committing turnover. ... Buffalo’s 29 TDs rushing match a single-season team record set in 2016. ... Buffalo is 4-3 this season when trailing at the half after overcoming a 14-7 deficit against New England. ... Buffalo improved to 28-22 when allowing 20 or more points since 2019. The team went a combined 12-67 when allowing that many from 2011-18. ... Buffalo forced three turnovers last week, and has a takeaway in all but one outing this season. Allen might have gotten you to your championship weekend, but he could be hard-pressed to put up big numbers against the Jets. Allen is 3-2 in his past five meetings and averaging just 215 yards passing, with seven touchdowns and six interceptions while being sacked 16 times. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL