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R H O D Y B E AT. C O M
A Slower Pace Pandemic takes us far from the madding crowds By DON FOWLER
Thomas Hardy took the title of his novel from a Thomas Gray poem, referring to “madding” as a state of frenzy, sort of like many of us are in these days. Most of us have lived far from that madding crowd for over four months now, and it is forcing a new mindset and lifestyle upon us. My life was a continuous adventure within a madding/frenzied crowd, beginning with my youth where I attended overcrowded schools, and joined the Boy Scouts, YMCA, 4-H, and every youth organization in sight. I ran a Boy Scout camp with over 1,000 campers a week, directed associations that required attendance at large meetings, national conventions and trade shows. I wrote travel articles that took me on group tours and cruises to every continent except Antarctica. And, for over 45 years wrote an entertainment column that took me to concerts, music festivals, restaurants, theatres and movie houses that put me smack dab in the middle of many madding crowds. In my spare time, I sat among thousands of fans on frequent trips to Providence Bruins and Pawtucket Red Sox games. And now, here I am, like many of you, social distancing, quarantining, and avoiding any gatherings of more than a few people.
Finding New Interests
Due to health issues, my wife is not physically active. She loves to read and do crossword puzzles, activities I have had little time for. I now set aside time to read and do a puzzle every day. Netflix has replaced sitting in a dark movie theatre. Dining out was always an event we enjoyed doing together and with friends. We now cook and take-out more often, and have recently turned to making reservations in advance and dining outside and inside, especially enjoying discovering new ethnic restaurants. Surveys have shown that most Rhode Islanders dine within 5 miles of their homes. With more leisure time on your hands, discover those great restaurants in Woonsocket, Westerly, Newport, and Exeter. Rhode Island has some excellent hiking trails, from Rocky Point to Ninigret to Buck Hill. You can find maps, routes, degree of difficulty, and everything you need to know online. I’ve taken to walking every street in my neighborhood, discovering that many people have turned to gardening, a great hobby that so many have wanted to take up if only they had the time. Whether it is flowers or zucchini, it is a great way to get exercise and enjoy the outdoors. Animal shelters have seen a huge increase in the adoption of dogs and cats. Current pet owners are spoiling their animals with more attention and walking than they have ever had, and everyone benefits.
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Robin has dusted off her pottery wheel and returned to her hobby. Scott and Sandy are making face masks for their local school and for sale. Barry has found more time to practice drumming, while others have picked up their old guitars and taken the cover off their pianos. Susan has a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle on her dining room table. Sandra is building doll houses. Many folks have taken up returned to hobbies from their past, such as stamp, coin, doll, post card, and other collections. Lowe’s is doing a landmark business with woodworking hobbyists and fix-ituppers. Virtual knitting and crocheting circles are becoming popular. People are becoming involved in political campaigns. Scrapbooking is back, along with writing your memoirs. People are learning a new language. A friend is going through her Christmas Card list and making a couple of calls a day to old friends and relatives. The list is endless. Just think of things you have always wanted to do, but never had the time for. And forget about the madding crowd.
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HOBBIES
POSITIVE AGING by PAT R I C I A R A S K I N
A hobby in your own backyard
Communication During COVID Summer is a time, especially in New England, where most of us spent more time outdoors, travel on vacations and spend time with friends and family. This summer is different as many of us cannot spend time in person with our family and loved ones and if we do it 6 feet apart. It is so important to communicate effectively especially during this time when we need our connections now more than ever before. And some of those connections are challenging to deal with. Through my work and my own experience, these are my five ways to deal with people who are challenging:
1. Understand the behavior – It is not easy to be kind and understanding
2. 3.
4.
5.
when people close to you, hurt, annoy and anger you. This is where you can use your objective view and see them from a distance, from an unemotional lense. This helps you to depersonalize the behavior even though it affects you. State your truth – State in a kind way how this behavior and words affects you. Use I statements without blaming the person. Let them know how you feel but do this for you to stay in your truth. Accept that the behavior may not change – This is a tough one but when you accept the behavior, you avoid being triggered and taking it personally. (However, this does not apply to abusive behaviors that negatively affect youwhich is where professional help may be needed.) Change your perception or attitude or situation. When the behavior is not abusive or destructive as described above, change how you view it. Become an observer. Ask yourself, if this affecting me long term? Is this annoying to me but not hurtful? Can I learn to accept that this behavior is the way that person copes with anger and fear or this is part of their personality? And lastly, can I change my view so that I can be with this person without triggering them or being triggered? Ask yourself what you can learn from them to help you deal with other similar situations. See the person in the best light. Remember times when that person has been at their best and try to create those types of situations when you are with them. That means avoiding statements and actions that you know will trigger the behavior you want to avoid.
This is a challenging time for us all and emotions can run high. These steps have helped me tremendously in dealing difficult moments with those special people in my life and has allowed me to appreciate the good side.
PrimeTime
Get to know different types of bird feeders Birds are big business. That may come as a surprise to people who have never given much thought to the warm-blooded vertebrates who fly over their heads every day, but tens of millions of people have a passion for birds. A survey from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service found that more than 45 million people in the United States watch birds around their homes and away from home every year. While statistics aren’t as current in Canada as they are in the United States, past studies have indicated birding is wildly popular among Canadians, with roughly 30 percent going wildlife-viewing while on out-of-town trips of one or more nights. That positively affects the economy, contributing billions of dollars to the tourism industry in both the U.S. and Canada every year. While birding trips can help birdwatching enthusiasts see birds they otherwise may never see in person, bird feeders can be a great way to bring more birds into your own backyard. Choice of bird feeder can affect just which birds come to your back yard, and the following are some bird feeder options for birding enthusiasts to consider. • Window feeders: Small and easily attached to windows with suction cups, window feeders are easy to maintain and bring birds right to your window. Birds that visit window feeders stand in the seed while feeding, so they must be cleaned and refilled on a daily basis. • Tray or platform feeders: The online birding resource All About Birds (allaboutbirds. org) notes that tray feeders attract the widest variety of seed-eating feeder birds. That makes them ideal for birding enthusiasts who want to attract a variety of birds to their properties. Tray feeders are simply platforms that hold seed and provide a place for birds to stand while they eat. All About Birds recommends tray feeders with screened, rather than solid, bottoms, as these trays promote complete drainage. Frequent cleaning is necessary with tray feeders, as bird droppings can quickly soil seed. • Hopper or house feeders: These feeders are enclosed and feed seed out through the bottom. Hopper feeders are great for people who do not want to be bother with daily maintenance, as they can hold several pounds of food at one time, greatly reducing the number of times homeowners will need to refill them. In addition, hopper feed-
ers don’t need to be cleaned as often as other feeders. However, All About Birds notes that hopper feeders, which need to be thoroughly cleaned roughly once per month, are harder to clean than other feeders. • Tube feeders: Tube feeders deliver seeds to birds through screens or ports. Small perches attract birds to tube feeders, making these ideal for small birds. Some tube feeders contain perches designed for birds that can feed upside down, potentially attracting a greater variety of birds to your backyard. But All About Birds notes that seed can collect on bottom-most feeding ports, providing a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. As a result, tube feeders should be inspected and cleaned regularly. Bird feeders can draw an array of birds to your backyard. TF202706
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RETIREMENT SPARKS by ELAINE M. DECKER
Sourdough and Pickle Cakes New hobbies and interests combat boredom and uncertainty The stay-at-home mandate put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic has brought us the phrase “Quarantine 15.” Much like the Freshman 15 of college days, it refers to the weight gain that results from a drastic change in someone’s lifestyle. Spend even a short amount of time on social media these days and you’ll see that many people are in their kitchens far more often than before the pandemic. If you weren’t tempted to go there on your own, the photos of the culinary creations folks are posting will make your own kitchen hard to resist. I’ve never been much of a cook or baker. My mother set the bar so high that I figured it wasn’t even worth trying to follow in her footsteps. But I enjoy looking at what my Facebook friends are up to these days. Several of my male high school classmates are particularly prolific. While I’d expect them to be making some hearty fare for main courses, they seem to be putting as much time and effort into their desserts. TV commercials have also taken note of the baking trend, and one trend in particular appears in several ads. “Why is everyone making sourdough now?” wonders an AT&T agent who is discussing upgrading to 5G with a client. Of course, it has nothing to do with 5G, but it’s a great topical comment from the ad’s creative director. A GEICO ad has been updated with a casual reference to this trend. A mother calls her son on his cell phone. She’s working on a jigsaw puzzle; he’s fending off multiple at-
tackers as he waits for a helicopter to rescue him from a rooftop. Inserted into this latest version is the mom’s comment: “Your father’s learning to make sourdough.” In the original call in this campaign, she tells the son his father is researching genealogy. You can count on an ad agency creative to keep on top of the latest trends. These commercials reflect a public fascination with sourdough during the pandemic. Google searches for “bread” recently hit all-time highs. For a period of time, a craft brewery in Toronto was giving away its sourdough starter for free with local beer deliveries, claiming to have passed out over 300 starters in a two week period in April. Maybe it’s a consequence of cabin fever and boredom. Watching loaves of bread rise ever so slowly must be at least as interesting as watching paint dry. Apparently there’s some science behind it. “Eating carbohydrate foods like bread stimulates insulin, which raises the uptake by the brain of the essential amino acid, tryptophan,” according to a professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Toronto. Tryptophan increases production of serotonin, which helps calm you in stressful times. Being able to eat more bread guilt-free might almost be worth being stuck at home. Just sayin’. Another trend keeping folks tethered to their kitchens is cakes baked in unusual shapes. A New York Times article showed us cakes shaped and iced so realistically that you’d swear they are something else. The pickle cake was especially convincing, as were the onion and the cheeseburger
slider. Times reporter Taylor Lorenz cited Natalie Sideserf, owner of Sideserf Cake Studio in Austin, Texas, who says many hyper-realistic cakes are made using fondant—a mix of sugar, water, gelatin and vegetable shortening, but claims she prefers to use chocolate molds. According to Lorenz, social media is filled with “hyperrealistic cake slicing videos.” The popularity of these videos seems to confirm the cabin fever/boredom explanation. Folks who have no interest in baking things themselves will sit transfixed in front of their computer screens, mesmerized by someone else slicing a bar of soap or a roll of toilet paper, only to reveal a cake inside. For my part, I’d rather eat one of these marvels—whether it’s sourdough or a pickle cake—than watch it being made or sliced. So far, I haven’t found anyone who lives close enough to us to drop off any baked creations on our doorstep. If you’ve made something you’re willing to share, email me for my address. Just don’t expect me to make a video of us slicing it. Copyright 2020 Business Theatre Unlimited Elaine M. Decker’s newest book is Retirement Downsizing—A Humorous Guide. Her other books include Retirement Sparks, Retirement Sparks Again, Retirement Sparks Redux and CANCER: A Coping Guide. Her essays appear in the anthologies: 80 Things To Do When You Turn 80 and 70 Things To Do When You Turn 70. All are available on Amazon.com. Contact her at: emdecker@ix.netcom.com
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SENIOR ISSUES by LARRY GRIMALDI
THE 2020 ELECTION DELUGE
How I learned to hate presidential year political ads and love the day after the election I have a theory. Not only should we designate Election Day as a national holiday, but we should also declare the day AFTER THE ELECTION as a National Day of Recuperation from Campaign Advertising Fatigue. My proposal comes into sharper focus as we center our attention ONLY on the presidential race. As we approach 60 days before Election Day on November 3, we the voters will be subjected to thousands of political ads extolling the virtues and qualifications of each candidate and promoting their visions for the nation over the next four years. Unfortunately, a significant selection of these political exhortations will be negative in their approach. Whether it’s print or broadcast media, radio or cable news, or social media platforms, we will not be able to escape the increasingly frantic assaults on our time mounted by armies of talking heads enlisted for battle in campaign spots. Wherever you fall on the right
to left political spectrum (or left to right if you prefer), the last days of our quadrennial presidential election cycle will resemble a furious home stretch run by two horses straining to reach the finish line at the Kentucky Derby. This wildly expensive mad dash to the electoral wire is particularly baffling, considering most public opinion polls estimate that approximately 90 percent of the estimated 140 million voters have already made up their minds as to their candidate of choice. If these estimates are valid, it means that 2020 presidential candidates will spend HUGE amounts of money pursuing that elusive ten percent of undecided ballot casters with all the urgency of a hungry wolf on the prowl for its next meal. According to Forbes magazine, advertising dollars for the 2020 presidential election cycle could exceed the $6.3 BILLION expended in 2016, up to a range of $10 BILLION this year. If you think about it, $10 billion could
fund the annual budget for a small country. Be assured, however, that the corporate media beneficiaries of this advertising bonanza will not be complaining, nor will they be expressing any concern for the financial stability of that mythical tiny nation. The latest billion-dollar torrent of funding into political campaigns was unleashed in the somewhat curious, and still controversial, 2010 Supreme Court 5-4 split Citizens United decision. The decision held that unlimited corporate spending in a political campaign is considered to be free speech under the First Amendment to the Constitution. As a result, special interests and political action committees (PACs whose donors may remain shielded from public disclosure) pour millions of dollars into the coffers of their preferred candidates for messaging. Justified or not, this financial arrangement creates an illusion of a quid pro quo agreement for the winning candidate to promote
donors’ agendas. In the opinion of some political observers, this decision has resulted in skewering of the electoral process towards wealthier interests. Regardless of your opinion about Citizens United, its impact is not subject to dispute. The Supreme Court ruling propelled campaign fundraising into the next level of the political financing stratosphere. As a consequence, in the next 60 odd days before the presidential election it will be virtually impossible to access any type of media or communications without being subjected to campaign advertising. By the time we reach the final seven to 10 days before the election, we will be suffering from a malady known as Presidential Campaign Advertising Fatigue. Unless you plan to cut yourself off from the outside world and take up residence in a cloistered monastery, this condition is inevitable. Several preventive treatments for Presidential Campaign Ad-
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vertising Fatigue have been suggested. They include public financing of presidential campaigns or limits to campaign spending. Thus far, these preventive concepts have yet to gain any significant traction with the body politic. But if the Great Experiment known as Democracy has proven anything, it’s an ability to adapt to changes that keep our Republic alive, vibrant, and responsive to the needs of its citizens and to the principles of selfgoverning. In any case, Happy Unofficial National Day of Recuperation from Campaign Advertising Day in advance of November 3. CORRECTION: In the July 2020 column, “Coming to America-The Italian Migration,” I erroneously listed the Town of Teano, Italy as being located in the province of Caserta, Calabria. Teano is located in Caserta, Compania.
Larry Grimaldi is a retired freelance writer living in North Providence. Comments can be emailed to lvgrimaldi49@gmail.
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Green Chili Jack Smash Burgers
A
FAMILY FEATURES
ccording to the “Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior,” studies have proven that eating meals together as a family can improve communication and relationships, which is especially important during times of uncertainty and life’s more difficult moments. Great-tasting foods like pork and pulses can be combined to bring families together with quality nutrition, which helps bodies survive and thrive. Pulses are the nutritionally dense, edible seeds of legumes including dry peas, beans, lentils and chickpeas. Together with pork, this pairing provides critical nutrients to support weight management and immune function, along with plenty of protein – providing all nine essential amino acids – fiber, B vitamins, zinc, iron, potassium, selenium and folate. As part of the Powerful Pairings initiative, launched by the National Pork Board and USA Pulses in an effort to promote pairing whole foods to bring taste, balance and nutrition to the center of the plate, these recipes for Green Chili Jack Smash Burgers, Cuban Black Beans and Pork Chops with Smashed Yellow Peas and Black-Eyed Pea Gravy encourage a nutritious way to enjoy fresh taste. Find more information, resources and recipes at powerfulpairings.com.
Green Chili Jack Smash Burgers
Recipe courtesy of the National Pork Board and USA Pulses Servings: 4 Burger Patties: 1 pound ground pork 4 tablespoons red onion, scrubbed with vegetable brush under running water and finely minced 1 teaspoon garlic, minced 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder 2 teaspoons ancho chili powder 1 cup cooked black-eyed peas, drained 1 teaspoon salt, plus additional, to taste 4 slices Jack cheese Caramelized Onions: 2 tablespoons butter 1 large onion, scrubbed with vegetable brush under running water and sliced thin 1/2 cup water 1/2 teaspoon salt Charred Green Chili Mayo: 1 can (3 ounces) diced green chilies 2/3 cup mayonnaise
1 clove garlic, crushed 1 tablespoon lime juice 2 green onions, gently rubbed under cold running water and finely sliced 1/4 cup cilantro, gently rubbed under cold running water and chopped
4 hamburger buns 1 avocado, peeled and sliced 1/2 head lettuce, gently rubbed under cold running water In large bowl, mix ground pork, onion, garlic and chili powders. Add black-eyed peas and salt; mix well. Form into four loosely packed balls and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. To make Caramelized Onions: In large skillet over medium-high heat, warm butter. Add onions, water and salt; cook, stirring, until onions soften and turn golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. To make Charred Green Chili Mayo: Place green chilies in hot cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, turning, until chilies begin to soften and turn black. Remove from heat and place in small bowl. Add mayonnaise, garlic and lime juice; whisk to blend. Add green onions and cilantro; stir well and refrigerate. To make burgers: Warm cast iron or nonstick griddle pan over medium-high heat. Place pork balls on hot skillet; flatten with heavy metal spatula. Season with salt, to taste. Cook approximately 3 minutes; flip and cook 2-3 minutes until internal temperature reaches 145 F. Lightly toast buns. Place each burger on toasted bun with slice of cheese, Caramelized Onions, Charred Green Chili Mayo, avocado and lettuce.
Pork Chops with Smashed Yellow Peas and Black-Eyed Pea Gravy Recipe courtesy of the National Pork Board and USA Pulses Servings: 4 2 cups yellow split peas, cooked and drained 1/4 cup, plus 2 tablespoons, softened butter, divided 1/4 cup cream 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus additional, to taste 4 pork chops pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 onion, gently rubbed under cold running water and diced 1 can black-eyed peas with juice 1/8 cup flour 1 cup milk In medium bowl, use fork or potato masher to mash peas. Stir in 1/4 cup butter, cream and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Season pork chops with additional salt and pepper, to taste. In large skillet, warm oil over medium heat. Add pork chops to pan and cook approximately 4 minutes per side, or until they reach internal temperature of 145 F. Remove pork chops from pan; keep warm. In same pan, add remaining butter, onion and black-eyed peas. Cook 2-3 minutes until warm throughout, scraping pan. Add flour and season with salt and pepper, to taste. While stirring, slowly add milk. Serve mashed peas topped with pork chops and black-eyed pea gravy.
Pork Chops with Smashed Yellow Peas and Black-Eyed Pea Gravy
Cuban Black Beans
Cuban Black Beans
Recipe courtesy of Carolina Molea on behalf of the National Pork Board and USA Pulses Serving: 6 1 quart water 1 green bell pepper, scrubbed with vegetable brush under running water and diced, divided 4 cloves garlic, peeled, divided 1 cup dried black beans, rinsed and soaked overnight 1 bay leaf 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 slices bacon, diced 1/2 Spanish onion, scrubbed with vegetable brush under running water and diced 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon light brown sugar Fill large pot with water. Add 1/2 diced green pepper, two garlic cloves, beans and bay leaf. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until beans are tender, about 1 hour. In skillet over medium-high heat, warm olive oil. Add bacon; cook, turning, until bacon starts to brown, about 2 minutes. Add remaining green pepper and onion; cook, stirring, until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Chop remaining garlic cloves. Add to skillet with oregano, cumin and black pepper. Stir 1 minute. Pour in vinegar, scraping browned bits from bottom of pan with wooden spoon. When beans are cooked, discard bay leaf. Transfer 1 cup beans to blender; blend to make paste. Return blended beans to large pot. Add bacon mixture and sugar. Stir well; bring to boil over medium heat. Lower heat, simmer and cook, uncovered, 20 minutes, skimming foam from top.
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ACUPUNCTURE: An effective way to treat arthritis Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about acupuncture? I have osteoarthritis and am looking for an alternative solution to ease my joint pain. - Aching Annie Dear Annie, According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, acupuncture is a viable way to fight arthritis pain and can help with a variety of other health conditions too. First used in China more than 2,000 years ago, acupuncture was introduced in the United States in the early 1970s and has grown increasingly popular as more and more patients, dissatisfied with traditional medicine, are opting for it. While acupuncture isn’t a cure-all treatment, it is a safe, drug-free option for relieving many different types of pain including osteoarthritis, lower back pain, neck pain, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, postoperative pain, tennis elbow, carpel tunnel syndrome, dental pain and more. Studies also show that it can be helpful in treating asthma, depression, digestive disorders and addictions, and can even alleviate nausea caused by chemotherapy or anesthesia. Exactly how or why acupuncture works is still not
fully understood but it’s based on the traditional Eastern theory that vital energy flows through pathways in the body, and when any of these pathways get blocked, pain and illness result. Acupuncture unblocks the pathways to restore health. However, today most U.S. medical doctors tend to believe that acupuncture works because it stimulates the nerves causing the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkiller hormones. It’s also shown to increase blood circulation, decrease inflammation and stimulate the immune system. If the thought of getting needles stuck into your body makes you a little queasy, you’ll be happy to know that an acupuncture treatment is nothing like getting a shot. In fact, it’s quite relaxing. Here are some important points to know. • The needles: They’re solid, sterile and disposable and as thin as a cat’s whisker. • Does it hurt? You may feel a brief, sharp sensation when the needle is inserted,
but generally it’s not painful. Once the needle is in place, however, you may feel a tingling sensation, numbness, mild pressure or warmth. • Sticking points: The number of needles used for each treatment can vary anywhere from a few, up to a dozen or more. And where the needles are actually stuck depends on the condition being treated but they are typically inserted about one-quarter to 1-inch deep, and are left in place for about 20 minutes. After placement, the needles are sometimes twirled or manipulated, or stimulated with electricity or heat. • Treatments: How many treatments you’ll need will depend on the severity of your condition – 12 treatments is very common. It’s also important to know that acupuncture can be used in conjunction with other conventional medical treatments, or by itself. • Cost and coverage: The cost per treatment can run anywhere from $50 to $125. Many private health plans cover acupuncture.
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2020 has been year unlike any other. A global pandemic affected communities in every corner of the globe, and many people found they had much more time on their hands due to stay-at-home restrictions. That extra free time may have opened up the opportunity to re-engage with old hobbies or start entirely new ones. Such endeavors may have resulted in items that can make ideal handmade holiday gifts. Crafting or engaging in other creative pursuits is a great way to pass the time and alleviate anxiety related to self-quarantining. Katie Carey Levisay, a clinical neuropsychologist in Denver, said that crafting requires focused attention and forces a person to be completely immersed in the moment. For those who prefer to continue to avoid crowds until COVID-19 is in the world’s collective rearview mirror, producing handmade gifts also cuts down on trips to shopping malls and other retailers. Those interested in making handmade gifts this holiday season can consider these ideas. • Jewelry: Most craft stores now have entire aisles dedicated to making jewelry. From earring posts and loops to necklace brackets and all the essentials in between, jewelry crafters can create something fitting for the special people on their lists.
• Candles: Candles add light, warmth and aroma to help a home feel cozy. With some basic components, such as a wax source, wick, tint, and scent oils, it’s easy to make candles. Pour the wax into a favorite vessel, such as a mason jar or delicate teacup. • Handmade soaps: Those who dabble in candles may want to parlay those skills into soapmaking as well. Soaps can be crafted relatively easy and packaged as part of the ultimate homemade spa package. • Oven mitts or skillet handle covers: Gift that special home chef with custom oven mitts and a coordinating skillet holder for popular cast-iron cookery. An easy pattern, some durable fabric and some basic sewing skills are all that’s needed. • Handmade blanket: Those who love to knit or crochet know the bounty that can be made with needle, hook and yarn. From homemade afghans to cozy slippers to scarf and hat sets, the options are endless. • Food: Those whose talents lean more toward culinary than crafty can pour their holiday love into delicious desserts or tasty tidbits. Handmade gifts provide an opportunity to offer personal and meaningful gifts that can make the holidays that much more special. GG209240