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  • Nabors Announces Partial Redemption of 7.375% Senior Priority Guaranteed Notes Due in 2027

    Nabors Announces Partial Redemption of 7.375% Senior Priority Guaranteed Notes Due in 2027

    HAMILTON, Bermuda, Sept. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Nabors Industries, Inc (“Nabors” or the “Company”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nabors Industries Ltd. (“Parent”) (NYSE: NBR) today announced that it has given notice of redemption of $150 million face value of its 7.375% Senior Priority Guaranteed Notes due in 2027. The redemption date is September 30, 2025 and the redemption price is 101.844% of the principal amount of securities to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

    Anthony G. Petrello, Nabors Chairman, President and CEO, commented, “The reduction of debt is one of our key value drivers. We are committed to using the proceeds from the sale of Quail Tools in our business to help accomplish that reduction. This redemption comes after we already repaid the outstanding balance on our revolving credit facility, which was drawn earlier to repay the term loan assumed from Parker Wellbore. The redemption marks another concrete step in this process.”   

    About Nabors Industries

    Nabors Industries (NYSE: NBR) is a leading provider of advanced technology for the energy industry. With presence in more than 20 countries, Nabors has established a global network of people, technology and equipment to deploy solutions that deliver safe, efficient and responsible energy production. By leveraging its core competencies, particularly in drilling, engineering, automation, data science and manufacturing, Nabors aims to innovate the future of energy and enable the transition to a lower-carbon world. Learn more about Nabors and its energy technology leadership: www.nabors.com.

    Forward-looking Statements

    The information included in this press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, as disclosed by Nabors from time to time in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of these factors, Nabors’ actual results may differ materially from those indicated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect management’s estimates and beliefs as of the date of this press release. Nabors does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements. 

    Investor Contacts:  William C. Conroy, CFA, Vice President of Corporate Development & Investor Relations, +1 281-775-2423 or via e-mail [email protected], or Kara K. Peak, Director of Corporate Development & Investor Relations, +1 281-775-4954 or via email [email protected]. To request investor materials, contact Nabors’ corporate headquarters in Hamilton, Bermuda at +441-292-1510 or via e-mail [email protected]

    SOURCE Nabors Industries Ltd.

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  • Body Burden: Hope for Deeper Healing Documentary Review 2025 – Free Screening Reveals Hidden Health Crisis

    Body Burden: Hope for Deeper Healing Documentary Review 2025 – Free Screening Reveals Hidden Health Crisis

    Body Burden: Hope For Deeper Healing Documentary Review 2025

    Watch the Official Body Burden Documentary Here

    TL;DR Summary: Body Burden: Hope For Deeper Healing is a groundbreaking 2025 health documentary by Nicolas Pineault. The film reveals how invisible toxins accumulate in the human body, fueling fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, and chronic illness. Featuring world-leading doctors, deeply personal patient stories, and proven detoxification strategies, this film positions itself as one of the most important wellness documentaries of the decade. It will be available to stream free online from September 15-22, 2025.

    In This Article, You’ll Discover

    Why “body burden” is considered the hidden epidemic of 2025

    The shocking science behind toxic exposure and chronic illness

    Nicolas Pineault’s personal journey and test results that sparked the film

    How pioneering doctors at Deeper Healing are transforming environmental medicine

    Real-life patient recoveries that show hope for deeper healing is possible

    What sets Body Burden apart from other wellness films

    Practical steps for reducing toxic load at home and in daily life

    Why health documentaries are more trusted than ever before

    Frequently asked questions about the film, registration, and impact

    Strategic ways to maximize your viewing experience

    Why Body Burden Is the Hidden Health Epidemic of 2025

    Across the globe, researchers are ringing alarm bells: toxic exposure is no longer a side issue – it is a defining health crisis of our time. The concept of “body burden” refers to the total load of chemicals, metals, mold toxins, and environmental pollutants stored in the human body. This burden accumulates silently, often for years, until symptoms of chronic illness emerge.

    Babies are born pre-polluted. Studies from the Environmental Working Group detected more than 200 industrial chemicals in umbilical cord blood, including dioxins, mercury, and PCBs.

    Toxins are multiplying at record pace. Worldwide, more than 10 million new chemicals are synthesized every year, many with no long-term human safety studies.

    Indoor air and water contribute significantly. EPA data reveals that nearly half of U.S. homes show signs of mold or dampness – major drivers of mycotoxin exposure.

    EMF radiation adds an invisible layer. Wi-Fi routers, cell towers, and satellites contribute to “electro-pollution,” with researchers investigating how EMF stress amplifies vulnerability to other toxins.

    Symptoms linked to body burden include fatigue, digestive issues, brain fog, headaches, hormonal imbalances, sleep disruption, anxiety, and in severe cases, autoimmune and chronic illness. Yet these symptoms are often dismissed as “normal aging.”

    Body Burden: Hope For Deeper Healing brings this overlooked epidemic into sharp focus, presenting credible science, expert insight, and deeply personal stories that reveal both the dangers and the hope.

    Register for the Free Body Burden Screening

    The Story Behind Body Burden: Nicolas Pineault’s Personal Journey

    For more than 16 years, Nicolas Pineault – widely known as “The EMF Guy” – has investigated environmental health risks. His early work focused on electromagnetic fields (EMFs), but his research soon led him into the broader, interconnected world of environmental toxins.

    In 2024, Pineault traveled to Deeper Healing, a medical center in South Carolina. The clinic was gaining attention for its work with patients suffering conditions mainstream medicine labeled as “incurable.” Instead of offering prescriptions to mask symptoms, the physicians at Deeper Healing focused on dramatically lowering each patient’s toxic load.

    Pineault decided to test himself. The results shocked him:

    Lead levels 34 times above normal

    Mercury levels 29 times above normal

    Three different doctors told him these were levels typically found in welders or lifelong industrial workers. Yet Pineault was a healthy, active 37-year-old athlete. His ongoing brain fog, fatigue, and digestive issues suddenly had an explanation.

    The turning point came when he began applying the detoxification strategies used at the clinic: sauna therapy, targeted supplementation, air and water filtration, and lifestyle shifts. Within weeks, his energy improved. His focus returned. For Pineault, this was not simply a professional investigation – it was a personal transformation.

    That experience became the foundation of Body Burden: Hope For Deeper Healing.

    Inside the Deeper Healing Clinic: Doctors Leading a Movement

    The film introduces viewers to pioneering doctors who represent the front line of environmental medicine.

    Dr. Michael Bauerschmidt: Board-certified in environmental medicine, former ER doctor. His journey from conventional emergency care to root-cause detoxification reflects the growing shift in medicine. Bauerschmidt emphasizes how reducing toxic load can help patients regain vitality without relying on endless prescriptions.

    Dr. Stephanie McCarter: Specialist in electro sensitivity and mold-related illness. McCarter has worked with patients suffering from EMF-triggered migraines, anxiety, and neurological symptoms, demonstrating the link between modern technology and toxic stress.

    Dr. William Rea (in memoriam): Founder of the Environmental Health Center in Dallas. Rea was one of the first to recognize chemical sensitivity as a legitimate condition, decades before it entered mainstream conversation.

    Dr. Walter Crinnion (in memoriam): A pioneer in naturopathic medicine and detoxification strategies. His research laid the groundwork for many protocols now in use worldwide.

    Together, their message is unified: health is not restored by masking symptoms, but by lowering toxic exposure and supporting the body’s natural resilience.

    Patient Success Stories Featured in Body Burden

    Brandon: Recovery from Heavy Metal Exposure

    Brandon’s life began unraveling in his early 40s. His once sharp memory and quick cognition dulled. Brain fog became so severe he struggled to type an email or remember the names of close friends. Years of work-related exposure to lead, asbestos, and mercury had taken a toll.

    At Deeper Healing, Brandon was introduced to protocols designed to lower toxic burden: targeted chelation therapy, sauna-based detox, nutritional support, and environmental adjustments at home. Within three months, Brandon’s cognition and vitality improved dramatically. Several years later, he continues to apply these strategies, maintaining his health and avoiding relapse.

    Ava: A Teenager’s Battle with Mold Illness

    Ashley’s daughter, Ava, was a vibrant teenager until unexplained symptoms began to appear. She developed anxiety, unusual skin discoloration, and fainting spells. Testing revealed her body was under immense stress from mold illness. Her bedroom contained 400% higher mycotoxin levels than any other room in the house.

    Specialists prescribed targeted detoxification: binding agents to capture mold toxins, immune support, and environmental remediation. Air filtration systems were installed, and the mold was removed. Over time, Ava’s symptoms resolved. She regained her health, and her family learned how environmental factors could silently erode wellness.

    Catherine: From Despair to Renewal

    Catherine’s story is one of near collapse. She developed dizziness, numbness on one side of her body, and severe insomnia. Panic attacks followed, leaving her unable to care for her four children. Multiple neurologists told her nothing was wrong.

    At Deeper Healing, testing revealed high levels of accumulated toxins, compounded by household exposures. By cleaning her home environment, installing water and air filtration, and following a personalized detox plan, Catherine recovered. Within weeks, her children’s eczema cleared as well. Today, the entire family thrives.

    These stories illustrate a powerful truth: body burden is real, measurable, and reversible.

    What Sets Body Burden Apart from Other Health Documentaries

    The wellness film genre has grown rapidly in recent years, but Body Burden stands apart for three key reasons:

    Comprehensive Scope: While many films focus on diet or fitness, Body Burden tackles the overlooked spectrum of toxins – chemicals, heavy metals, mold, and EMFs.

    Personal Connection: By sharing his own shocking test results, Nicolas Pineault adds credibility and relatability to the story.

    Actionable Strategies: Viewers leave with not just awareness, but practical steps to lower their own toxic load.

    Compared to quick online videos or fragmented social media content, Body Burden uses the documentary format to explore issues in depth. Its 61 minutes provide both the science and the human stories necessary to inspire meaningful change.

    Practical Lessons Viewers Can Apply from Body Burden

    The documentary is not entertainment alone – it is a call to action. Practical strategies highlighted include:

    Filter Indoor Air and Water: Reduce exposure to mold spores, VOCs, heavy metals, and chemical residues.

    Replace Household Cleaning Products: Swap chemical-based cleaners for non-toxic alternatives.

    Choose Safe Cookware: Avoid Teflon and aluminum pans that leach chemicals and metals into food.

    Remediate Mold: Address water damage promptly and use air filtration to prevent mycotoxin buildup.

    Reduce EMF Exposure: Limit device use before bed, move Wi-Fi routers away from sleeping areas, and consider shielding strategies.

    Support Natural Detoxification: Explore sauna therapy, nutrient support, hydration, and dietary changes under professional guidance.

    These steps empower individuals to take control of their health environment, one choice at a time.

    Learn More About Body Burden: Hope For Deeper Healing

    Why Documentaries Matter More Than Ever in 2025

    Misinformation is rampant. Social media offers snippets without context. Medical journals provide rigor, but are inaccessible to most readers. In this gap, documentaries have become one of the most trusted formats for health education.

    Studies in public health communication show that long-form storytelling combined with expert interviews increases knowledge retention and inspires behavior change. Viewers of health documentaries often report adopting new habits within weeks – a stronger impact than traditional advertising.

    Body Burden embodies this trend, offering both credibility and relatability. It shows how the combination of science, expert testimony, and human experience can create lasting change.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the Body Burden documentary about?

    It explores how toxins accumulate in the body, driving chronic illness, and how reducing toxic load supports healing.

    Who should watch it?

    Anyone concerned about fatigue, brain fog, or chronic illness; families wanting safer homes; health professionals seeking educational resources.

    How long is the documentary?

    61 minutes.

    When is the free screening?

    September 15-22, 2025.

    Where can I register?

    At the official site: Register for the Free Body Burden Screening.

    Is this film medical advice?

    No. It is an educational documentary intended for informational purposes.

    Will there be a cost after the free screening?

    Yes, paid access options will be available after the free event.

    Final Verdict: Why Body Burden Is a Must-Watch in 2025

    Body Burden: Hope For Deeper Healing is not a casual documentary. It is a wake-up call about the hidden toxins silently undermining global health. By weaving together credible science, pioneering doctors, and personal transformations, it provides both knowledge and hope.

    For anyone experiencing unexplained fatigue, digestive issues, anxiety, or chronic illness, this film delivers essential insights. For families, it offers a roadmap to healthier living. For professionals, it is a resource to spark conversation and education.

    Watch the Official Body Burden Documentary Here

    Bonus Section: Strategic Ways to Maximize the Value of Body Burden in 2025

    Take Notes During Viewing: Write down detox strategies, environmental tips, or expert quotes that resonate.

    Watch as a Family: Shared viewing creates alignment on healthier practices.

    Host Group Screenings: Community health groups, workplaces, and schools can use the film to spark dialogue.

    Act Immediately: Implement one change after watching – replace a product, filter water, or reduce EMF exposure.

    Rewatch Key Segments: Expert interviews and scientific explanations often yield new insights on repeat viewings.

    Use as a Springboard: Explore referenced studies and continue your learning journey.

    Contact Information

    Company: Body Burden: Hope For Deeper Healing

    Email:support@theemfguy.com

    Disclaimer: This press release contains affiliate links. The publisher may earn a commission if you purchase through them at no additional cost to you. Body Burden: Hope For Deeper Healing is an educational documentary and not medical advice. Individual results vary. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before making changes to diet, lifestyle, or medical care. Prices and promotions may change without notice. Only registrations through the official site guarantee access.

    Sources

    Environmental Working Group (EWG)

    Smithsonian Magazine

    EPA Indoor Environment Division

    NIEHS (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)

    ScienceDirect

    Contact Information

    Body Burden Customer Support
    support@theemfguy.com

    Source: Body Burden: Hope For Deeper Healing

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  • Gaga’s Exit, Sabrina’s Trans Rights Sign

    Gaga’s Exit, Sabrina’s Trans Rights Sign

    What does the morning after the VMAs feel like? A splitting headache for Van Toffler, producer of the 2025 show, which aired on CBS for the first time, in addition to MTV and Paramount Plus. The veteran television producer and former head of MTV has had a front-row seat to dozens of awards shows, and he knows the intricacies and complications involved with coordinating 13 performances.

    Toffler spoke with Rolling Stone about the night’s standout moments, including Mariah Carey‘s hits medley, Sabrina Carpenter‘s rain-soaked “Tears,” Lady Gaga‘s rapid exit from Madison Square Garden, and the emotional tribute to Ozzy Osbourne featuring Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Yungblud, and Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt.

    What are the challenges these days with award shows? You need to get the big-name talent, but you also need to showcase who’s coming up. And these productions are very expensive. How do you weigh all those things to get the best lineup?
    The first thing is you have to be is rabid about researching and understanding who your audience is. And for this show, unlike others, it traversed multiple platforms with different demographics because you have MTV, CBS, and Paramount Plus. That really merited going from hit iconic artists with catalogs to brand-new artists.

    You saw LL Cool J host in the first act, and then introduce Kenny G performing with Doja Cat into the expanded play stage with Lola Young. And you have Gaga in between winning an award. So that’s kind of a microcosm of what you’d like to do, where you bring out new acts with emerging songs. You don’t just spring them on the audience.

    Talents like Sombr and Conan Gray and Megan Moroney are so wonderful that you want to expose them on the big stage. But you can’t just have a show of new acts, just like you can’t just have a show of established acts. It is a balance. Who’s got the biggest songs of the year, like Sabrina [Carpenter] and Tate [McRae], who are great performers, and who are some heritage acts that get these iconic awards? It definitely is a delicate dance.

    And also, where do you format them in the show? How you juxtapose one versus the other? It’s a mixture of art and science, because you also have to see the performances and rehearsals to understand. “Does this go next to this one?”

    Were there people you wanted to get that you couldn’t get?
    Oh, undoubtedly, absolutely.

    Justin Bieber? Taylor Swift?
    Beyoncé, Bieber… Taylor’s not in cycle, so, you know, she’s done so many MTV awards when she is in cycle. It just didn’t feel right. But Miley’s putting out new music, and… I’m trying to think of others that I would have loved to have had. I wanted to have Harry Styles and Stevie Nicks perform together. So, you know, you shoot for the moon. Some people are recording or out of cycle. You pull together the best show you can, and the best of the year.

    With the Sabrina Carpenter performance, there seemed to be some messaging in her staging. Were you aware of that?
    Oh, yeah, definitely. There was messaging and then there was a sexy performance with water. So I’m not sure it all got through, but I’m sure her fans will read well into it, accurately and inaccurately.

    Was it intentional to cut away from the “trans rights” sign?
    No, no, I think it’s just a director making choices. That’s all.

    It was so interesting that therapy got so many shout-outs during the show. These kids who have so much pressure, I don’t know how they get through a day, never mind the VMAs.
    We noticed it. It is generational that so many of these young artists would thank their therapists. So many of these artists are confronted with daily pressures to make their lives seem great. And they have to live on socials. There’s no real downtime. And we talked about it. I can imagine 20 years ago, artists thanking their therapist would be like, “You’re in therapy, dude? Are you kidding me?” So it is definitely generational.

    It was cool that Ariana Grande read out all the credits of her video. I’ve never seen that happen before.
    I can honestly say in my memory, and I don’t have a good one, but that may be the only time craft services have been thanked.

    That really meant a lot, actually, from an industry standpoint. It was very smart.
    She doesn’t come out a lot. She really doesn’t do a lot of these things, and she’s filming a movie. I think obviously she was nominated a lot, but she’s got a warm spot for Mariah. I think that helped bring her out to this stage.

    What was up with the microphone? It wasn’t one that drops into the stage and adjusts for height?
    Not all productions go smoothly. I think that her mic was definitely too high. We used a lot of handheld mics. Those mics on stands tend to get in the way of a performer’s face. We don’t love them, but obviously we needed them for the award presentations. But it’s a lesson learned. We’ll have it come from the ceiling next time, if there is a next time.

    It’s a legit situation. We did an article in Variety where we talked to stage hands about it. Sometimes you have a LeBron James and then Sabrina Carpenter. The height difference is massive.
    Oh, my God. You really need to over-prepare for that stuff. The thing is, someone like Steven Tyler just keeps adjusting his mic, no matter where you put it. It’s never the right height, let’s put it that way.

    You know who wasn’t good at holding a microphone? Meg Stalter. That microphone hit her entire face.
    I think she maybe had an issue with her ankle beforehand and was having trouble walking. She had a rough evening. But she’s funny. She’s a funny woman.

    Tell me about coordinating Gaga and getting her out to Long Island from Madison Square Garden.
    God, what a shit show. She had to leave the Garden, come to our event. She literally got to the security door, I don’t know, three minutes before the show started.

    And obviously, she had to glam up, get in that ensemble, and then and then get onstage when she won the award. Then she had to have a police escort take her back to the Garden. They delayed the start of her show at MSG the prior night. So it was a logistical situation.

    How did you handle the singing live versus singing to a track with all the dancing? Mariah especially seemed to get some flak for that.
    That’s a dealer’s choice in a way. In no way do we dictate what an artist should or can or can’t do. Quite often there’s tracks and they sing along to a track or a live band. It’s really what the artist thinks they’re capable of doing based on the dancing they’re doing and the physical movement they’re doing. Some are more comfortable with the tracks. Some are just more comfortable doing live because they tour a lot. That’s really on the artist.

    Which performance took the longest to put together or was most challenging logistically?
    Probably the most tender and rewarding one was the Ozzy tribute. You’ve got a family in mourning. You’ve got an iconic musician. You’ve got people that you may think are appropriate or disciples of Black Sabbath and Ozzy, but that’s not what Ozzy would have felt or the family would have felt. And so there was a lot of coordination with the family on the musicians and the songs that were selected. That probably was, again, the most rewarding and the most arduous one of the bunch.

    Did you hear from the family in the last 12 hours?
    No, but I know that Jack, on behalf of Sharon and the family, was really happy with the musicians and understanding what tracks they were doing. I haven’t heard from them after the fact, but they were all involved in the process.

    I really thought that looked tremendous. There was this one shot of Yungblud where he was bending over that could not have been choreographed any better with the the lights and the guitars. It was incredible.
    I may be completely off-base on this, but as a person who loves music and has been around music most of my life, people are yearning for a live rock moment. Look at the fervor around Oasis. I was around when we tried to break Oasis in the States and no one gave a crap. And now it’s euphoric.

    What else was complicated or involved a lot of feedback from the artist creatively?
    Tate McRae had a bunch of different elements, but the heavy use of water and cleaning the stage with Sabrina was a big, big lift. And Doja Cat’s set was kind of funky to turn around. And then particularly when we told everyone, “Oh, Kenny G’s going to be on the staircase.” They’re kind of like, “What?” That’s the way we felt too. But, hey, that’s just almost a perfect combo of artists, Doja Cat and Kenny G. That’s kind of what should happen every day.

    2025 VMAs producer Van Toffler

    Rich Fury/Invision/AP

    I’m sure every time they’re like, “We’d like 22 dancers,” you’re like, “Stop with the dancers!”
    Right. This may seem critical, but even for some of the younger artists, if you’ve got the chops and the songs and you can sing, just come on and sing, right? You don’t have to create a music video. When you perform, I think it’s good enough to show the world you’ve got the chops.

    Did you hear from the people about the ICE commercials and the Department of Corrections ones?
    Yeah, someone told me. Was it one that led right into the show?

    It felt like almost every other break was an ICE commercial or Department of Corrections. It felt like the police state was here.
    This is on CBS and local TV.

    Yeah.
    Obviously, I have no idea or nor do I control any of the commercials. But that doesn’t make me feel good.

    What’s a successful VMAs to you? Is it ratings? Is it the feedback? What is it?
    Where does it register in the cultural zeitgeist? Are there memorable performances? Are there moments people talk about? For me, what is maybe most important is, “Is it connecting to audiences?” And not just on linear TV. I think we’re probably gonna find out later today that there are over a billion views of VMA content. Let me say that again, one billion views. That is astronomical, maybe the biggest in history if that’s the case.

    It’s hard to get a 15-year-old to watch linear television, no matter what you do. You can have a live execution. They’re not gonna watch it. They’re gonna watch what they wanna watch on the platforms that they connect with on their mobile or YouTube.

    Trending Stories

    I know we live in a business where things are measured a certain way. And people don’t always connect the dots, and they don’t always monetize these views, but typically, money follows eyeballs. But if the content is that meaningful and connects in that way in such a grand scale, that is a story to me. Regardless of whether you do 8 million or 10 million people on linear TV, if you’re getting over a billion views, then music still resonates, these performances resonate. And that was important to me in coming back to do the gig.

    It was a big deal to have it on CBS.
    Yeah, that’s right. They took a big swing as a company. It’s like, we’re the adults now.

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  • Team finds gene tied to deadly disease in golden retrievers

    Team finds gene tied to deadly disease in golden retrievers



    Researchers have discovered the first genetic mutation associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and sudden death in golden retrievers.

    The work could lead to increased early detection and disease prevention for the breed while further shaping our understanding of the disease in humans.

    Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a cardiac disease that most commonly affects humans and cats but was previously considered rare in dogs. In HCM, the left ventricular muscle thickens, affecting the heart’s ability to deliver oxygenated blood to the body. The disease can lead to abnormal blood clotting, irregular heart rhythms, and heart failure, although in up to 50% of cases individuals with the disorder show no clinical signs.

    HCM affects approximately one in 500 humans and one in seven cats, representing one of the top causes of sudden death in both populations.

    In the study, the research team looked at the whole genome sequences for three related golden retriever puppies less than two years of age who all suffered sudden cardiac deaths. Genetic sequences were compared to other dogs within the puppies’ family tree, sequences from over 2,500 unrelated dogs of various breeds, and sequences from wolves and coyotes.

    Bioinformatic analysis and sequential filter steps led the team to identify a single genetic variant located in a gene called Cardiac Troponin-I, or TNNI3.

    “In humans, TNNI3 mutations are associated with juvenile HCM and sudden death,” says Victor Rivas, DVM student and PhD graduate at North Carolina State University.

    “This is the first genetic variant to explain HCM outside of humans and cats. And while it is specific to golden retrievers, it’s the first variant to be described in any dog breed.” Rivas is first author of the study.

    The researchers also found that the mutation is autosomal recessive, which means that two copies of the gene—one from each parent—must be present for the disease to occur. In the case of the affected puppies, both parents were cardiovascularly normal, but each carried a copy of the mutation.

    The researchers hope that this information can be used to prevent the spread of the TNNI3 variant—and thereby HCM—through the breed. Golden retriever owners who may be interested in breeding can have genotype testing performed for this mutation to determine whether their animal is a carrier.

    “The positive news is that by collaborating with the golden retriever community we may be able to ensure that HCM remains a very rare disease in dogs,” Rivas says.

    “Additionally, the case similarities in humans and golden retrievers with these TNNI3 variants is remarkable and could lead to translational health studies that can shape our understanding of the disease mechanisms and ultimately benefit humans with similar mutations.”

    The study appears in Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine.

    Additional contributors are from NC State, the University of Calgary, Pulse Veterinary Cardiology, and Highview Animal Clinic.

    Source: North Carolina State University

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  • Primary Care Tools for Screening Mood and Behavioral Disorders

    Primary Care Tools for Screening Mood and Behavioral Disorders

    Validated screening tools make it possible for family physicians to detect mood and behavioral disorders efficiently, even during short visits. In this video, Teresa Lovins, MD, owner of Lovin My Health DPC in Columbus, Indiana, shares the screeners she relies on in her practice, including the PHQ-9 for depression, the GAD-7 for anxiety, and additional instruments for ADHD and bipolar disorder. Dr Lovins explains how these brief questionnaires can be administered by staff before the physician enters the room, giving clinicians immediate insight into symptoms and allowing for timely conversations and treatment planning.


    The following transcript has been lightly edited for style and clarity.

    Teresa Lovins, MD: The screeners I typically use to look for mood disorders include the PHQ-9, which identifies symptoms of depression, and the GAD-7, which looks for symptoms of anxiety. We also use a screener for ADHD and the Mood Disorder Questionnaire, which screens for bipolar symptoms. These tools are very quick, and our staff can administer them so that the information is available when the physician enters the room and can address any positive responses with the patient.

    For more of our conversation with Dr Lovins, check out:

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  • Intel Announces Key Leadership Appointments to Accelerate Innovation and Strengthen Execution :: Intel Corporation (INTC)

    Intel Announces Key Leadership Appointments to Accelerate Innovation and Strengthen Execution :: Intel Corporation (INTC)






    SANTA CLARA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
    Intel Corporation today announced a series of senior leadership appointments that support the company’s strategy to strengthen its core product business, build a trusted foundry, and foster a culture of engineering across the business.

    Kevork Kechichian Appointed to Lead Data Center Group

    Kevork Kechichian has joined Intel as executive vice president and general manager of the Data Center Group (DCG). In this role, he will lead Intel’s data center business across cloud and enterprise, including the Intel Xeon processor family.

    Kechichian brings more than 30 years of industry experience, and joins Intel from Arm, where he most recently served as executive vice president of engineering. At Arm, he led technology development with ecosystem partners and managed the company’s transformation from IP licensing to delivering full-stack solutions. His previous leadership roles include senior engineering positions at NXP Semiconductors and Qualcomm.

    “Kevork brings a powerful combination of strategic vision, technical depth, and operational rigor that will help us seize growth opportunities across the data center market,” said Lip-Bu Tan, CEO of Intel.

    Jim Johnson Named to Lead Client Computing Group

    Jim Johnson has been appointed senior vice president and general manager of Intel’s Client Computing Group (CCG), after successfully serving in the role on an interim basis. He will lead Intel’s efforts to deliver innovative computing solutions and foster growth across the global PC and edge ecosystems.

    A 40-year Intel veteran, Johnson has held various engineering and leadership roles across the company, including in the Technology and Manufacturing Group, the Networking and Communications Group, and general manager of several global businesses and manufacturing plants.

    “Jim’s steady leadership and trusted relationships across the computing industry are driving continued progress in our client business as we prepare to launch a new generation of products,” Tan said.

    Srini Iyengar to Lead Newly Formed Central Engineering Group

    Intel is also establishing a new Central Engineering Group led by Srinivasan (Srini) Iyengar, a senior vice president and Fellow. In his expanded role, Iyengar will lead horizontal engineering functions and build a new custom silicon business to serve a broad range of external customers.

    Iyengar joined Intel in June from Cadence Design Systems, where he led global silicon engineering. He brings deep technical expertise in custom silicon development and has worked closely with hyperscale data center customers to optimize solutions for key workloads.

    “With Srini leading Central Engineering, we’re aligning innovation and execution more tightly in service to customers,” Tan said. “We are laser-focused on delivering world-class products and empowering our engineering teams to move faster and execute with excellence. Kevork, Jim, and Srini are exceptional leaders whose deep technical acumen and industry relationships will be instrumental as we continue building a new Intel.”

    Kechichian, Johnson, and Iyengar will report directly to CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

    Naga Chandrasekaran to Expand Foundry Leadership Role

    Naga Chandrasekaran, executive vice president and chief technology and operations officer of Intel Foundry, will expand his role to include Foundry Services. This will create a more integrated structure spanning technology development, manufacturing and go-to-market to better serve customers. Intel consolidated technology development and manufacturing under Chandrasekaran’s leadership earlier this year.

    Chandrasekaran joined Intel in 2024 from Micron, where he served as senior vice president for technology development. He brings decades of experience spanning the breadth of semiconductor manufacturing and R&D.

    “Naga’s strong leadership, combined with a more integrated foundry operating model, will help us enhance the quality of execution, collaboration and customer service across our foundry business,” Tan said.

    Chandrasekaran will continue reporting to Tan. Kevin O’Buckley continues as senior vice president and general manager of Foundry Services, reporting to Chandrasekaran.

    Michelle Johnston Holthaus to Depart Intel

    Additionally, Intel announced that Michelle Johnston Holthaus, chief executive of Intel Products, will depart after more than three decades with the company. Holthaus held numerous senior leadership roles, including interim co-CEO, executive vice president and general manager of CCG, and chief revenue officer. She will remain a strategic advisor over the coming months to ensure a seamless transition.

    “Throughout her incredible career, Michelle has transformed major businesses, built high-performing teams and worked to delight our customers,” Tan said. “She has made a lasting impact on our company and inspired so many of us with her leadership. We are grateful for all Michelle has given Intel and wish her the best.”

    About Intel

    Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) is an industry leader, creating world-changing technology that enables global progress and enriches lives. Inspired by Moore’s Law, we continuously work to advance the design and manufacturing of semiconductors to help address our customers’ greatest challenges. By embedding intelligence in the cloud, network, edge and every kind of computing device, we unleash the potential of data to transform business and society for the better. To learn more about Intel’s innovations, go to newsroom.intel.com and intel.com.

    © Intel Corporation. Intel, the Intel logo and other Intel marks are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

    Cory Pforzheimer

    Cory.pforzheimer@intel.com

    Source: Intel Corporation

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  • Aziz Ansari on How His Canceled ‘Being Mortal’ Led to ‘Good Fortune,’ and with Help from Angels Like Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogen

    Aziz Ansari on How His Canceled ‘Being Mortal’ Led to ‘Good Fortune,’ and with Help from Angels Like Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogen

    Aziz Ansari’s feature directing debut, “Good Fortune,” wasn’t meant to be his first effort as a filmmaker: That would’ve been “Being Mortal,” called off mid-shoot in 2022 amid accusations of misconduct against Bill Murray. So it was inevitable that alongside the TIFF premiere of “Good Fortune,” a comedy starring Keanu Reeves and “Being Mortal” star Seth Rogen, he’d have to address the canceled film. And it turns out, they share thematic DNA.

    The South Carolina-born Indian-American actor, writer, director, and stand-up comedian is known by audiences worldwide as serial entrepreneur Tom “Treat Yo Self” Haverford on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” and as the more somber, lovelorn Dev Shah on the Netflix hit series “Master of None.”

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    Could “Good Fortune” and his should-have-been debut “Being Mortal” have swapped titles? After all, in the TIFF premiere, Keanu Reeves plays Gabriel, the Angel of Texting and Driving — in L.A., yes, the City of Angels, where in this comedy, angels exist — and finds himself demoted to human by his angel boss (Sandra Oh). Thus, he becomes mortal. “Whoa!” Ansari told IndieWire in Toronto. “I gotta process that,” when asked.

    When the news of “Being Mortal’s” cancellation broke in April 2022, Ansari said he got a deluge of “I’m sooo sorry” texts. He recalled thinking, “I can’t deal with this. I don’t wanna be in this woe-is-me moment.” Ansari said he then called Seth Rogen, also a star of “Being Mortal.” He told Rogen, “Hey, I know you’re free and were supposed to work today. If you wanna make this day less shitty for me, can you read this script [for ‘Good Fortune’]? He said, yeah, and he called me in two hours and said, ‘I’m in, let’s do it.’”

    That’s how “Good Fortune” began. Ansari had a basic version of the story ready, where he plays Arj, a down-on-his-luck documentary film editor living out of his car and forced to participate in the gig economy as a Taskrabbiter and home-improvement store worker. Through the latter, Arj meets a union organizer (Keke Palmer, also a “Being Mortal” star), whom he begins dating. Through the former, Arj meets Jeff (Seth Rogen), a venture-capitalist angel investor in tech companies. When Gabriel (Reeves) intervenes because he can’t help but take pity on Arj’s lost soul, Gabriel decides to swap Arj and Jeff’s lives. There you have it, a “Prince and the Pauper”-esque fable, touched by an angel, with a rebellious and playful streak of working-class consciousness.

    ‘Good Fortune’©Lions Gate/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Empathy for the working class indeed feels like a far cry from Tom Haverford and Dev Shah. When asked about shifting from narratives about the middle class — Ansari co-created “Master of None” with his longtime collaborator Alan Yang, also a producer on “Good Fortune” — and from TV to film, Ansari said, “’Master of None’ was almost the perfect training ground to get ready to do this film. There was an episode on Season 2 called ‘New York, I Love You’ and another episode in Season 3, where the character played by Naomi Ackie [goes] through IVF. For both of those episodes, I had to do a lot of work interviewing people, trying to understand experiences that were not my own… I hope for people [who] like ‘Master of None,’ [that] this is kind of what they hoped I would do with a movie. It has a lot of the same DNA as ‘Master.’ It’s about seeing things from other people’s perspectives.”

    Anasri said, “So for ‘New York, I Love You,’ there was a segment about a cab driver, a doorman, and a woman who was Deaf. This guy Stefano and I did a DoorDash ride-along, and then I took over his account and did stuff for a day. That fueled the whole segment with Seth [in ‘Good Fortune’], where he ends up doing DoorDash. I also spoke with this guy, Vincent, who tried to unionize a Home Depot in Philadelphia. He was so inspiring. The Elena character that Keke Palmer plays [is based on him]. So we interviewed a lot of people that did those kinds of gigs. That process is something that helped me tremendously in doing ‘Good Fortune.’”

    Ansari said the script’s conceit about angels really began to hit home once he pulled off a casting coup with Keanu Reeves. That Ansari is himself an actor and a stand-up comedian helped him figure out the comedy of “Good Fortune,” plus the fact that he was back in the familiar mode of acting and directing in equal measure, as he had in “Master of None.” (By contrast, in “Being Mortal,” Ansari said he had a much smaller role.)

    “’Being Mortal’ is based on a book by Atul Gawande that’s about life (and death) issues,” said Ansari. “It was pretty heavy at times, and it was a heavy shoot. So I was excited to do something that was much more straightforward comedy. When Keanu’s name first came up, I started watching all his films like ‘Point Break’ and ‘Speed,’ but I went back to the comedies he had done, like ‘Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure’ and ‘Parenthood’ in particular. You kind of see little bits of his comedy power. He’s very funny when he’s playing a guy that’s kind of naive, but at the same time so sweet. And that’s Gabriel, right? He’s so lovable. But he’s kind of dumb. [Laughs]

    In thinking about Reeves while looking at the script, Ansari said he could “just imagine him having this bright-eyed wonder about the internet, him being this angel that gets thrown into the deep end of being a human and struggling in L.A., but having the attitude he does. I just had a feeling it would work… He’s so great, he’s the soul of the movie.”

    How the dating scenes between Arj (Ansari) and Elena (Ackie) are blocked brings to mind “Master of None’s” approach to the same, and Ansari agreed. He said while planning to shoot those romantic moments for “Good Fortune” that he and Alan Yang recognized this is their “bread and butter.”

    Ansari also edited the film while he shot, which is a bold choice. “This notion of watching the rough cut is a nightmare. You’re so scared. If you edit as you go along, you minimize that a little bit,” Ansari said. “You just start feeling the rhythms of the movie, and you start understanding what’s working camera-wise in terms of the cinematic language. ‘Oh, these kinds of shots feel good,’ or ‘oh, let’s stay in these singles a little bit longer.’ Whatever it is, you just learn what your movie is, [and] you can kind of lean into things.” Ansari credited his editor, Daniel Haworth, with whom he worked on “Master” as well. Whenever Haworth was on set, Ansari would run in to take a look at the dailies and the evolving cut.

    “Master of None” fans will be delighted to see the director’s father (Shoukath Ansari) show up in special appearances, though Ansari’s mother (Fatima Ansari) doesn’t feature in “Good Fortune” as she did in that Netflix show. Ansari said that his mom hates acting, but it was a lot of fun having his dad around, because a lot of the story is about the need for family in a place like L.A.

    Aziz Ansari as Arj and Keanu Reeves as Gabriel in Good Fortune. Photo Credit: Eddy Chen

    Aziz Ansari as Arj and Keanu Reeves as Gabriel in ‘Good Fortune’Eddy Chen/Lionsgate

    “Parks and Rec” fans will also notice Joe Mande, who played Morris for a few episodes on the NBC sitcom and served as a writer. In the film, Arj meets Joe’s character while Taskrabbiting in line at a Cinnabon. The casting of secondary and tertiary characters feels very intentional in this film, adding to the groundedness of a movie as much about Los Angeles as it is set there.

    “We had an amazing cast director, Carmen Cuba. One role that was very fun to cast was Felipe [Felipe Garcia Martinez], who plays a dishwasher that Keanu works with,” Ansari said. “We’d been reading these people, and none of them really felt like the real guy that would be in the back of the kitchen with Keanu. So me and my producer Kelsey [Comeau] went down to his restaurant, and he came out, and we did some of the scenes.”

    He added, “Then I called Keanu and said, ‘Hey, I have this idea for that character. Would it be cool if we used a real guy, because I think he would bring some authenticity to the role?’ He said, ‘Yeah, I’m down.’ So we use Felipe, and he shows up, and he’s the only person I met who doesn’t know who Keanu Reeves is! Months after we wrapped, I went down to the restaurant, and I was like, ‘Felipe!’ He was there. And I was like, ‘Did you tell all these people you’re a movie star now?’ And they’re like, ‘Oh yeah, he’s been telling us all the time. He’s telling us about Keanu and everything.’ Yeah, Felipe’s great.”

    If Ansari were an angel, what would his department be? Ansari said, “Maybe the Angel of Screenwriting Inspiration? I love to help writers out that are stuck in the jam.”

    “Good Fortune” premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. Lionsgate will release the film in theaters on Friday, October 17.

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  • Allen Blickle, Original Baroness Drummer, Dead at 42

    Allen Blickle, Original Baroness Drummer, Dead at 42

    Allen Blickle, the original drummer for the Grammy-nominated sludge metal band Baroness, has died at the age of 42.

    “It breaks my heart to have to share the news that my dear friend, creative partner and former bandmate Allen Blickle passed away a few days ago,” Baroness frontman John Baizley said in a statement. “I’m still in shock that he’s gone. We ask for understanding as his family and this band process his passing and grieve his loss. Allen, I love you and miss you. I treasure every moment we shared.”

    Though the cause of death has not been revealed, Laura Pleasants, of the Georgia metal band Kylesa, wrote in her Instagram tribute that “we all thought you had this thing beat. Fuck, we were supposed to hang out when i got back from tour…Gone too soon my friend. I’m glad you are at peace and no longer in pain. Much love to you.”

    Blickle co-founded Baroness in Savannah, Georgia in 2003, alongside Baizley, bassist Summer Welch, and guitarist Tim Loose. He released three albums with the band: their 2007 debut Red Album, 2009’s Blue Record, and 2012’s Yellow & Green.

    Following the band’s tour bus crash in the U.K. in August 2012 — in which the vehicle plunged 30 feet off a viaduct near Bath, England, in heavy rain — Blickle was hospitalized for two weeks with fractured vertebrae. He left the band the following year, alongside bassist Matt Maggioni.

    “The accident was much more to me than just a near-death experience,” Blickle told The Fader in 2013. “It made me rethink a lot in my life and has been the most difficult time I’ve been through thus far. It was a horrible memory, but I’m trying not to let it define me or stop me from doing what I love. Let it be and keep moving.”

    He also spoke about his relationship with his bandmates following his departure. “After the accident, there was space put between us that I regret to say was mostly my fault,” he said. “I was in some way pushing myself in another direction. I didn’t know how to handle the horrible situation we all went through, but who does? It’s not easy and continues to be somewhat difficult. I do miss playing with them and I have relayed to them that when the time is right, I would like to be on the road again. It’s not up to me at this point. I just don’t want any resentment to build between any of us. We are old friends and have worked really hard together for years. Friends first — that’s the most important thing to remember.”

    Baroness has since released three more LPs (2015’s Purple, 2019’s Gold & Grey, and 2023’s Stone), while Blickle went on to work with bands like Romantic Dividends, A Place to Bury Strangers, and Alpaca. When Pharoah Sanders died in 2022, Blickle wrote on Instagram that he helped record an interview with the legendary saxophonist for The New Yorker.

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    In recent years, Blickle worked in film and TV as a composer and in sound design, including Netflix’s 2020 series We Are the Champions and Best of Stand-Up (2020 and 2022).

    “Follow your gut,” Blickle told The Fader. “Take chances. Make sure to keep your friends close, even if things come between you. The music business is not an easy industry and people turn their backs on you really fast.”


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  • Real-world data and lung cancer treatment gaps

    Real-world data and lung cancer treatment gaps

    COVID vaccines may be hard to find this season. Credit: Adobe Stock

    COVID-19’s grip may have loosened, but its effects on pregnancies linger in data showing higher preterm birth risks for infected mothers. A new analysis from Panalgo, a Norstella company, presented at ICPE 2025, used linked U.S. claims data to match COVID-positive pregnant women against controls. The data revealed a statistically significant increase in preterm deliveries; lower rates of low birth weight were observed, with significance not specified.

    More data will be needed to interpret the findings amid conflicting prior studies. “This was a starting point for looking at more longer-term impacts of a mother’s COVID-19 infection on the outcome of their children,” said Mike Munsell, Ph.D., director of real-world data and HEOR at Panalgo. He noted a rise in preterm births among infected mothers and, counterintuitively, lower rates of low birth weight, signals the team plans to track as the “children of the COVID era” move through early milestones.

    Digging into the COVID-19 pregnancy data

    Mike Munsell, Ph.D.

    Mike Munsell, Ph.D.

    The ICPE 2025 poster, “The Effect of COVID-19 During Pregnancy on Fetal Outcomes: A Propensity Score-matched Analysis Using Mother-infant Linked Claims Data,” taps Norstella’s mother-infant linkage to examine how infection during pregnancy relates to delivery outcomes in the real world. The team matched mothers with a documented COVID-19 infection during pregnancy to contemporaneous mothers without recorded infection and controlled for the number of vaccinations and other relevant factors.

    “At Norstella, we have very large datasets that we can link at the patient level,” said Munsell. “One of the ones that we have links mothers to their infants, and you can connect the characteristics of the mother with the outcomes of the infant.”

    The core signal is straightforward on one dimension and puzzling on another. “Mothers who had COVID-19 during pregnancy were more likely to have a preterm birth, which was statistically significant compared to controls,” Munsell said.

    At the same time, he noted lower rates of low birth weight among infants born to infected mothers. “That one’s a little bit of a puzzle,” he said. The literature varies, and the team plans to incorporate additional covariates. “There’s a lot of noise in this type of data,” he said, pointing to the need to broaden socio-demographic information to better understand fetal outcomes. “There’s a lot of value in being clear on the limitations of your data and the population you are studying. If you can be as clear and upfront about what you’re studying, that’s probably more practical and beneficial than being as general as possible.”

    The children of the COVID era

    Methodologically, the analysis relied on structured administrative claims and enrollment files to maximize completeness and establish clear timelines. “This one used structured claims data. We had enrollment files, which are particularly helpful for understanding the timeline for pregnancy,” Munsell said. “We identify the point in time when a child is born and link that with the mother’s record, and then approximate when the start of pregnancy was.” The same ecosystem allows deeper dives when needed. “We do have the ability within our dataset to tokenize more data and bring in a smaller sample with overlapping EMR and clinical notes and some of the text fields,” he said. He put the mother-infant linkage at “close to around 3 million mother-infant pairs,” drawn from “close to 170 million covered lives.”

    Beyond the immediate results, Munsell presented the work as a starting point. “We’re at an interesting phase now. The pandemic has subsided, but a lot of work is happening on the ‘children of the COVID era.’ I have one as well; they’re entering kindergarten this year,” he said. “We would like to follow these infants further in the dataset” to clarify mechanisms behind the preterm-birth signal and to test whether the low-birth-weight finding persists after incorporating broader social and clinical factors.

    The other ICPE poster: ES-SCLC in the real world

    Munsell’s team also presented on extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC ), analyzing U.S. treatment patterns, resource use, and outcomes. “Yes. That one also used administrative claims data,” he said. “Extensive stage is fairly aggressive, but there have been a lot of developments in treatment in the last five years, specifically immune checkpoint inhibitors becoming a first-line therapy along with chemotherapy.”

    “Part of our work was looking at the rate for which, within this fairly recent dataset, you’re seeing patients receiving both of those as a first-line treatment,” Munsell said. “Close to 40% of our population had these newer treatments as a first-line therapy along with their chemotherapy. That was reassuring, to see that shortly after the approval and recommendation, patients were using those treatments.”

    Despite uptake, burden remained high. “We’re still seeing close to two-thirds of patients having brain metastases at a certain point and over a third having a secondary primary malignancy, even with these new treatments,” he said. “So, this was mostly a study looking at the landscape of treatments available to these patients, but also still highlighting that the burden of illness is still pretty high.”

    “One newer area that is just recently being looked at for these patients is radiation therapy happening further down the lines of treatment,” Munsell said. “We saw a smaller subset, about 15% of our patients, also receiving radiation therapy.” He added, “There was a recent sub-analysis from a clinical trial that referenced that, potentially, what they’re seeing in men is a potential increase in overall survival with radiation therapy. I don’t know the full mechanisms for why that is, and they’re still trying to confirm that. So we looked into whether we see a high proportion of men receiving radiation therapy. At this point in the data, it’s fairly equal among men and women receiving that treatment.”

    “For this one, we also have the ability to link in mortality data,” Munsell said. “The hope with this cohort that we first highlighted was to confirm that the burden of illness is still relatively high, confirm that these new treatments are being used, and also confirm that there are still pretty severe outcomes. We can then follow these patients over time and do overall survival analysis, but the hope is also to pull in clinical notes to get a better description around disease staging at the time of index, which really impacts overall survival.” For now, he added, “We’re kind of going based on diagnosis codes right now, and treatment being indicative of the type of disease, which is a good starting point. But pulling in unstructured clinical notes, particularly for oncology, goes a really far way, because each of these patients has a very unique and individualized disease.”


    Filed Under: clinical trials, Drug Discovery, Infectious Disease, machine learning and AI

     


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  • Indonesian horror films pack cinemas with appeal to Islam and folklore

    Indonesian horror films pack cinemas with appeal to Islam and folklore

    Late at night, after an exhausting hike up Indonesia’s Mount Gede, Maya wakes to find her friend Itha missing from their tent. Several minutes of frantic searching later, she finds her crouched, alone, in a patch of tall grass – giggling.

    “I’m talking to my friend,” Itha explains. Except no one else is there.

    My whole body jolts as that “friend” suddenly erupts onto the screen. It’s the most terrified I’ve ever been in a movie theater – the kind of scared that has you peeking through your fingers and spilling popcorn on your neighbor. In my case, that’s longtime Indonesian film critic Ekky Imanjaya, who looks completely unfazed.

    Why We Wrote This

    Indonesia’s horror film boom points to deeper religious and cultural beliefs behind the scary movies that are packing cinemas.

    He’s seen hundreds of movies like “Haunting of Mount Gede.” Horror is by far the most popular genre of Indonesian cinema, accounting for 60% of the 258 movies made in the country last year, according to the Indonesian Film Board.

    But these aren’t like many of the scary movies shown in theaters across the United States, in which fright itself is the point. Indonesia’s horror boom is built upon the archipelago’s rich folklore, passed down from generation to generation, and an enduring belief in the supernatural.

    All countries have their own sort of ghost story, says Dr. Imanjaya, a film studies lecturer at Bina Nusantara University in Jakarta, but “many Indonesian people believe that it’s true.” Indonesians’ fascination with their country’s unique blend of Islam and folklore has helped the local film industry thrive, while those in other developing nations struggle to compete with American blockbusters.

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