![]() ![]() Together with Fever and Netflix, this incredible project came to life. Most of their projects have been in England, and this concept is based off of a similar experience that was launched last year, close to the release of Stranger Things’ blockbuster third season. Stranger Things: The Drive-Into Experience was masterminded by Netflix and Fever, with an assist from Secret Cinema, a group know for its elaborate, multimedia experiences that take you into the world of Blade Runner or Back to the Future. It’s also an ingenious way to pass the time before the “drive into” experience fully begins. It’s really charming and immersive and you can tell the way that young kids react to seeing their favorite Stranger Things characters wandering around how powerful this franchise is to people. The actors look just like the kids from the show and they sometimes take the stage upfront to do larger scenes that involve multiple characters. ![]() What’s even better is that Lucas is carrying around a chunky camcorder, with the images beamed to the big screen ahead of you. But what’s even more interesting is that there are actors, playing all of the Stranger Things kids, who are roaming around in between cars, acting out scenes from the show (sometimes reciting dialogue verbatim), and further establishing the time and place of the experience. There are also costume contests, in-car Twister (it gets tricky), and commercials for the new shopping and dining complex. There’s a DJ up there, who is addressing the crowd and appears to be a teacher from Hawkins High, who plays music while videos flash on a very large screen. ![]() It’s after you get your treats that you can take in the enormity and complexity of this part of the show – ahead of you is the iconic angular entrance to Hawkins’ latest offering, Starcourt Mall. These crew members (really performers) also relay key bits of information - the FM channel you should be tuned into for the whole pre-show experience, say, or the importance of wearing masks, due to a nearby “chemical leak” at the lab. When you drive up to the event, 15 minutes before your scheduled time, you are greeted by employees who also assist in making sure the theme is established - this is, after all, supposed to be the Hawkins High School Reunion, so they’ll say things like “Oh, I didn’t recognize you with your hair different” and Iit’s so good to see you.” We had a lengthy chat with the fellow who grabbed our concessions, dressed in his Scoops Ahoy finery, who told us that he thought this year was the year his band was going to break out, and offered to put us on the list for their gig next week in Hawkins. When you get your tickets, you’re taken to a portal where you and the others in your car can customize your experience, including the character that you’ll be portraying (are they more into heavy metal or New Wave?) While I didn’t witness any of this information being directly addressed at the event, it’s all part of place-setting and gets you and your crew in the 1980s spirit. Your experience begins even before you pull up to the massive outdoor parking lot in downtown Los Angeles. ![]()
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![]() “The dodo is a symbol of man-made extinction,” said Ben Lamm of Colossal Biosciences. Recently, the company said it wanted to bring back the dodo bird: a large, flightless bird. Some scientists, however, are doubtful such research efforts are possible - or even a good idea.Ĭolossal Biosciences first announced its plan to bring back a hairy ancestor of today’s elephants, known as the woolly mammoth, two years ago. But reckoning with those difficult emotions can be useful for reflecting on humanity’s responsibilities – especially considering that extinction is our fault to begin with, and since de-extinction isn’t really “resurrecting” anything.More investors are supporting a biotechnology company working on ways to bring back animals that have died off. It’s hard to rally the troops with a message of unrelenting guilt and despair. After all, why care about preventing extinction if we can eventually reverse it? Many worry that de-extinction actually risks making humans less inclined to care about ongoing extinctions. Others, however, say de-extinction isn’t hopeful, but misleading. Some conservationists and psychologists have argued that environmentalists need more positivity to get people engaged with environmental issues. Many others share the desire for more inspiring conservation stories, too. Some de-extinction boosters have argued that de-extinction could create a more hopeful story about humans’ ability to combat mass extinction. To us, one of the more interesting questions about de-extinction has to do with how it changes the way people think about extinction. Other issues include how to decide where all these de-extinct creatures would live, as well as animal welfare concerns: for potential surrogate animals that would be impregnated, and the de-extinct creatures themselves, which never asked to be “brought back.” More than science Opponents have pushed back even more strongly against claims that de-extinction could be a widespread solution, pointing out how bringing back one species at a time would not be enough to curb the Earth’s losses. Even if the de-extinct dodos did act more or less like their extinct counterparts, it’s hard to know how a habitat that hasn’t had any dodolike birds in it for 350 years would be affected by this new species. Some de-extinction advocates have also positioned their projects as potential long-term solutions to combating mass biodiversity loss in general.īut many ecologists and ethicists have highlighted the uncertainty around introducing these novel creatures into the wild. “Bringing back” passenger pigeons could help restore forests in the northeastern United States, for example, while woolly mammoth proxies could help restore the Siberian steppe and keep permafrost frozen. Supporters have argued that de-extinction will eventually help restore ecosystems. They’re certainly amassing a fortune to make it happen: Since its founding in 2021, Colossal has raised over US$225 million from tech investors, Paris Hilton and even a CIA-backed venture capital firm. And yet Colossal seems confident, saying it hopes to de-extinct Tasmanian tigers by 2025 and woolly mammoths by 2027. Nor have any other scientists, unless you count the team that cloned the Pyrenean ibex in 2003 – but that clone died within minutes. ![]() Rather than “bringing back” lost species, it’s more of a process to create their high-tech look-alikes.Ĭolossal hasn’t successfully created any de-extinct creatures yet. ![]() What de-extinction is and isn’tĭe-extinction is not exactly what it sounds like. One of us, Ben, is a professor of environmental ethics who explores the ethics of de-extinction in his 2018 book “ The Fall of the Wild.” The other, Risa, is a doctoral student researching how de-extinction might change public perceptions about extinction, especially its emotional impact. ![]() The company says its goal is to create a population of undead dodos to put on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, where the hefty, flightless creatures lived before humans drove them to extinction in the late 1600s.Īs environmental humanists, we study the morality of different conservation interventions, and are interested in how de-extinction might change the ways people think about their responsibilities toward nature. What can scientists possibly do to stop that trend? For some, the answer is to “de-extinct.”Ĭolossal, a biotechnology company that garnered headlines for its plan to “de-extinct” the woolly mammoth, is now attempting to “bring back” the famously dead dodo bird. ![]() ![]() ![]() But you can bet Daisy does.Bed rails are designed for two primary reasons, to prevent falls and to help you climb in and out of the bed. It’s not completely clear that “Baby with the Bathwater” earns its own mildly hopeful conclusion. Tyler Jones enters the picture as Daisy, his air of exasperation and resignation adds welcome poignancy to the work. Kailey O’Donnell also does solid work as the teacher and as a frizzy-haired, frazzle-brained visitor named Cynthia. She’s even nuttier as a sultry-voiced school principal who’s more interested in cooing demands to her (male) assistant than attending to a teacher’s concerns about Daisy’s disturbing summer-vacation essay. Wride’s performance is pitched perfectly to Nanny’s blithe way of brushing off such horrors as the baby’s brief kidnapping. Mackey’s character is more the docile, put-upon type, although the actor does erupt in an impressive aria of apoplexy in the second act.Īnd if “Baby” accomplished nothing else, it still would deserve praise for the gift of Shana Wride in the role of the very scary Nanny and other characters. (She insists acidly that John cannot call the baby “Sweet Pea” or anything else related to food.) Sitton, making a welcome return to the local stage (after having a baby of her own, as it happens), is especially adept at Helen’s breakneck changes of mood and her near-psychotic whims and fixations. Oswald also gets the best out of his cast, starting with Amanda Sitton and Brian Mackey as the parents, Helen and John. (Although “Baby” spans some 30 years of time, visually and sonically it never really leaves the ‘80s.) The parents’ behavior, though, is so over the top that it’s difficult to feel much emotional connection to their child’s plight or sympathy for their shortcomings - at least until we finally meet the kid in question (a boy named Daisy) late in the play.ĭirector Andrew Oswald does all he can to keep the comedy from floating off into the irretrievably surreal he also teams with such savvy artists as set designer Kristen Flores, costumer Kate Bishop and sound designer Melanie Chen to create a suitably loopy environment for the piece. The playwright (who won a Tony Award in 2013 for the more human and multilayered “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike”) can do contemporary farce with the best of them, and the absurdities endured by the poor child in “Baby” earn plenty of good (and guilty) laughs. ![]() That’s actually not close to the worst example of parental dereliction in Christopher Durang’s 1983 play, a fact that might tell you a little about the generally whacked-out comic spirit of the piece.ĭiversionary Theatre’s revival of this seldom-produced work injects plenty of antic energy into the saga of an unstable couple who prove terrifyingly ill-prepared to bring a child into the world.įor all the comic chops of the show’s five actors, though, Durang’s satirical voice can come off as shrill and a little hollow here. ![]() Every parent needs a mood-booster once in a while, and for the dad in “Baby with the Bathwater” that means a stiff shot of vodka - from a flask stashed away in a baby’s toy. ![]() ![]() ![]() This way the chicken will stay crispier, even as it sits than if you combine everything together at once. Pro-Tip! Toss portions of chicken together with the sauce as you serve it. Step 6: Combine some chicken bites with sauce and serve over steamed white rice. Oh man, are those chicken bites good all on their own! You can fry them in a pan or use a deep fryer. Step 5: Dip the chicken pieces in batter and fry the chicken bites. ![]() Pro-tip! It should be thin like pancake batter (see picture below). Step 3: Make the batter for the chicken by whisking together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and water. Step 2: Dice the chicken and dredge with cornstarch. They all worked fine but Cup4Cup got pretty gloopy, extra water was needed to thin the batter to the proper consistency. This recipe has been tested with Namaste Perfect Flour, King Arthur Measure for Measure, and Cup4Cup.
![]() So if a set is sold as 14 pieces or 16 pieces, you’re really getting only seven or eight containers. Keep in mind that most manufacturers include both the containers and the lids in the total set count. Although price was a factor when we made our pick, we also considered that glass containers will last a long time. Containers in a set are generally less expensive per piece. Affordable: Plastic or glass storage containers range from about $3 to $10 apiece.So we avoided ceramic containers (they can also break easily). Translucent: The containers should be clear or easy to see through, so you know what is inside without having to open them.For glass containers, we also preferred options that were preheated-oven–safe or oven-safe so you can warm food in the same container. Heat-safe: We wanted containers that could go in the microwave, so that eliminated stainless steel.We also preferred glass and plastic sets that had interchangeable lids among containers, so finding the right lid will be a little easier. We didn’t eliminate round shapes, though, because they can be good for liquid foods. We tried to pick sets with a good range from large to small, with emphasis on rectangular or square space-saving shapes. And the shapes and sizes will affect how easy it is to store containers-square or rectangular containers will maximize fridge or freezer space. Easy to stack and store: Containers that can nest or stack neatly will be easier to store and nicer to look at.And we avoided lids that had microwave vents they’re just another piece to de-crud, and you’re better off removing the latches and resting the lid on top of the container in the microwave (or not using the lid at all, as some manufacturers suggest). For easier cleanup, we preferred containers that had sealing lids with removable gaskets because you can remove and wash them separately (this also prevents mold buildup). Easy to clean: We wanted containers that could go in the dishwasher.Plastic containers are more likely to stain than glass, but we’ve found that some are more stain-resistant than others. Stain-resistant: Resistance to stains and odors is key-you don’t want to still smell or see yesterday’s pasta and red sauce on your clean container. ![]() Many of the models we tested have a gasket seal around the lip and plastic hinges that snap shut, so you know the container is sealed properly. We’ve found that round containers are usually more leakproof than square or rectangular containers. Not only will a good seal help food last longer, but leakproof construction is also important for transporting liquids.
![]() Louis Blues, and Anaheim Ducks along the way before losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the finals. The Predators ran to the Stanley Cup Finals as the eighth seed, taking out the Chicago Blackhawks, St. 2017 was the banner year in franchise history. That has all changed in recent years though. ![]() In fact, before 2016, the Predators had only won two playoff series in franchise history. The Nashville Predators have only been around since 1998, and they spent most of the first 15 years either outside of the playoffs or on the fringes of it, usually losing in the first round. Subban and drafted defenseman Dante Fabro in round one. Entering the offseason, the Predators needed to do something about being 19th in goals allowed and 24th in penalty kill. In round two of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, they faced off against the San Jose Sharks, and that series went seven games as well before the Sharks finally put the Predators away. Nashville pulled a big upset, defeating the Ducks in seven games. The Predators faced off against the Anaheim Ducks due to the NHL's unusual way of matching up playoff seedings. The Predators finished the season with 96 points, which was good for the 7th seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The Nashville Predators had an average 2015-2016 season. The Predators made the playoffs for the first time as a franchise in 2004 when they were eliminated by the Detroit Red Wings in six games in round one. Paul, Minnesota, and Atlanta, Georgia, that were awarded franchises in June of 1997. They were part of a “group” of cities- Columbus, Ohio, Minneapolis-St. The Nashville Predators are one of the NHL's newest teams, having been founded in 1998. By the way, Filip Forsberg is in no way related to Peter Forsberg, one of the greatest goal-scorers who ever lived. The Predators young star is center Filip Forsberg, just 20 years of age. The Predators have a couple of older players, but for the most part, they have a bunch of good solid young players on their roster. Another aspect of the organization to note is that the main minor league affiliate of the Predators is the Milwaukee Admirals, who are one of the more well-known Minor League clubs in American sports today. After two subpar seasons, they returned to the playoffs this season, losing to the Chicago Blackhawks in round one of the playoffs. Beginning in the mid-2000's the Predators were a perennial playoff team, only missing the playoffs twice between 20. In 2006 they finished the season with 106 points, and then lost to the San Jose Sharks in five games in round one. You should go and watch them play if you have the chance. The Predators are a really good team right now. If Duchene can boost their offense, this is a tough defensive team that will be even harder to beat than they already are. Center Filip Forsberg finished third with 50 points. Team captain and defenseman Roman Josi finished second with 56 points. Center Ryan Johanson led the team with 64 points a year ago. The Predators then made headline news in free agency, adding center Matt Duchene on a seven-year contract on the first day of free agency. ![]() The issues the Predators had were on offense, so with their first-round draft choice, 24th overall, they selected center Phillip Tomasino from Niagra of the Ontario Hockey League. They lost in the opening round to the Dallas Stars in six games. This past season, they were one of three teams in the Western Conference to finish the season with 100 points, and they entered the playoffs as the three seed. The Predators ran to the Stanley Cup Finals as the 8th seed, taking out the Chicago Blackhawks, St. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() She explains, "I want to be a mom, a singer, an actress, go to school, but yeah, I have a stain on my shirt, oatmeal in my hair. The breadth of Van Etten's new passions have inflected Remind Me Tomorrow with a wise, warped-time perspective. "Seventeen" began as a Lucinda Williams-esque dirge, but winds up a star-spangled nod to Springsteen, exploring gentrification and generational patience. Originally a piano ballad, "Comeback Kid" evolved into a dark, menacing anthem. Working with producer John Congleton, Remind Me Tomorrow reveals piano keys that churn, deep drones, distinctive sharp drums. In the scraps of hours between these endeavors, Remind Me Tomorrow was born. Van Etten also had a child, and began studying psychology. In the four years since Are We There, Van Etten guest-starred in The OA, performed in David Lynch's Twin Peaks revival, and wrote her first film score and song for TV - for Kathering Dieckmann's Strange Weather Tig Notaro's show Tig, respectively. ![]() Remind Me Tomorrow was written in stolen time. ![]() ![]()
![]() Therefore, we elaborate below about this important issue that has been ignored to a large extent in the literature but has been given considerable thought by us over the course of the years. II.4 On the practical definition of a microstateĬalculating populations, p m or ratios p m/ p n by the various techniques cannot be achieved without first establishing a practical definition of a microstate, which is however not trivial. This analysis requires calculating the relative populations, p m/ p n, which are also needed for a correct analysis of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and x-ray data of flexible macromolecules. It is of interest, for example, to know whether the conformational change adopted by a loop (a side chain, ligand, etc.) upon protein binding has been induced by the other protein (induced fit ) or alternatively the free loop already interconverts among different microstates where one of them is selected upon binding (selected fit ). On the other hand, a peptide can populate significantly several of the most stable microstates in thermodynamic equilibrium.įree energy calculations are also required in problems which are less challenging than protein folding, i.e., in cases of intermediate flexibility, where a flexible protein segment (e.g., a side chain or a surface loop), a cyclic peptide, or a ligand bound to an enzyme populates significantly several microstates in thermodynamic equilibrium. If F 2 is also the global free energy minimum of a protein, Ω 2 is expected to describe the native microstate (assuming a perfect force field) and a simulation started from Ω 2 will keep the protein in this microstate for a long time. The figure suggests that the second microstate is the more stable among the two due to lower energy and higher entropy (Ω 2 is larger than Ω 1) hence lower free energy. The partition function Z m of microstate m is obtained by integrating exp over Ω m where F m = - k B T ln Z m is the microstate's free energy. Each microstate consists of many localized potential wells denoted intermittently by solid and dashed lines. The two large potential energy wells are defined over the corresponding microstates denoted Ω 1 and Ω 2. Schematic one-dimensional representation of part of the energy surface of a peptide or a protein, as a function of a coordinate X. It is noted further that F m of non-stable microstates, such as a transition state, might also be of interest. A central aim of computational structural biology is to fold a protein, i.e., to identify its ( single) Ω m with global minimum F m (out of trillions of microstates) – an unsolved optimization task. ![]() MD studies have shown that a molecule will visit a localized well only for a very short time (as short as several fs) while staying for a much longer time within a microstate, meaning that the microstates are of a greater physical significance than the localized wells. 1) a microstate can be represented by a sample (trajectory) generated by a local MD simulation (e.g., the α-helical region of a peptide, see further discussion in II.4 below). More specifically, this surface is “decorated” by a tremendous number of localized energy wells and “wider” ones that are defined over microstates (regions Ω m), each consisting of many localized wells ( Fig. While the difficulty in calculating the absolute S ( F) discussed above is common to all systems, biological macromolecules such as peptides and proteins, are particularly challenging due to their rugged potential energy surface, E( x). II.3 Microstates and intermediate flexibility The present article constitutes a substantial extension of a concise review appeared recently. ![]() We summarize here mainly recent developments in this area of research where the emphasis is on methodology issues and less on applications. While significant progress has been made (see reviews in ), in many cases the efficiency (or accuracy) of existing methods is unsatisfactory and the need for new ideas has kept this field highly active. However, calculation of F( S) by computer simulation is extremely difficult, and considerable attention has thus been devoted in the last 50 years to this subject. The free energy defines the binding affinities of protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions, it also quantifies many other important processes such as enzymatic reactions, electron transfer, ion transport through membranes, and the solvation of small molecules. F constitutes the criterion of stability, which is essential for studying the structure and function of peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, and other biological macromolecules. S is a measure of order where changes in the S of water lead to the hydrophobic interaction – the main driving force in protein folding. The absolute entropy, S and the absolute Helmholtz free energy, F (or G – Gibbs free energy) are fundamental quantities in statistical mechanics with a special importance in structural biology. ![]() |
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