Patent litigation can be extremely expensive and time consuming. A patent infringement case of even moderate complexity can cost millions of dollars. At the same time, a protracted litigation can damage a company's business development strategies while important intellectual property rights are expiring.
The outcome of patent litigation is always uncertain. This uncertainty is in part due to the nature of the decision makers. Federal judges do not generally have particular expertise in patents or the technologies covered by patents. Patent cases are triable to a jury. Juries are lay people called upon to decide a complex matter. These factors add to the uncertainty of the outcome of patent litigation.
For these reasons, it is often desirable to seek an alternative to the litigation process. Mediation is a well-accepted means of dispute resolution and an alternative to litigation. The mediation process involves the parties to a dispute engaging an impartial mediator to facilitate a negotiation process. This process differs from litigation in several respects.
Unlike litigation, the mediation process is confidential. Therefore, the parties are more able to explore options and exchange information than is possible in a patent litigation setting. At the same time, the parties may provide information to the mediator in confidence. The proceedings and conduct of mediation itself is confidential and not admissible into evidence in the court proceeding. It is also possible for the parties to enter into agreements to protect important proprietary technical information.
The process is informal and can be easily tailored to the needs of the parties. During the mediation process the parties can meet jointly with the mediator or they can meet individually with the mediator. While it is preferred that a resolution be negotiated in a single session, this is not always possible. Thus, mediation can continue by telephone or in additional in-person sessions as long as the parties are willing to participate. This provides flexibility and allows the parities to conduct additional investigation or develop additional facts as needed to resolve the dispute.
Importantly, mediation brings together all of the parties and the attorneys. This is a unique occurrence during the litigation process. During the litigation process all of the parties will rarely, if ever, be brought together, short of the trial itself. When a mediation is conducted, the parties and attorneys have come together for a specific purpose of developing a resolution of the dispute. Thus, the mediation process tends to gain a momentum not experienced otherwise during the litigation.


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Intro to Spitsbergen: Fjords, Glaciers and Wildlife of Svalbard
EARLY BIRD OFFER: Save 10-15% OFF + 10% When paid in full by 15 JUN 2020.
This fascinating expedition provides a taste of everything Spitsbergen has to offer, starting with its largest settlement, Longyearbyen. The largest island of the Svalbard archipelago is known as the "wildlife capital of the Arctic," and on this stirring voyage, we show you why. Geared toward optimum wildlife viewing, this 10-day expedition provides ample opportunities to witness walrus, reindeer, and that most iconic of Arctic denizens, the polar bear, in their natural habitat, while marveling at the surreal experience of continuous daylight. Explore the unique Arctic landscape, hike the vast and colorful tundra, learn about the history and geology of this remote wilderness, and join us on a gripping excursion to a faraway, unforgettable land.
Embarkation Point: Oslo, Norway
Disembarkation Point: Oslo, Norway
Day 1 - Oslo, Norway | Arrival Day
Your Arctic voyage begins in Oslo, Norway's vibrant capital city. If you arrive early, there are many museums, restaurants and green spaces to keep you busy before retiring at your included airport hotel.
Day 2 - Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen | Embarkation day
This morning, the group will transfer to the airport and board our private charter flight to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen's largest settlement, where you'll have some time to explore before embarkation. As your ship sets sail, enjoy great vistas of the mountainous landscape that serves as a backdrop for this historic town.
Day 3/9 - Exploring Spitsbergen
You'll cruise around this magical island on a constant search for wildlife. Your expedition will cover western Spitsbergen as well as stunning fjords and outlying islands to the north. From polar flora to immense glaciers, the natural landscape here is just as varied as the wildlife.
Each expedition presents new opportunities and different weather and ice, so there is no fixed itinerary; however, we do have some favorite destinations, including the 14th of July Glacier, Smeerenburg, Alkefjellet and the Hinlopen Strait. The destinations visited will be selected for optimum wildlife viewing and appreciation of the history and geology of Spitsbergen. Polar bear viewing is almost guaranteed, with Hornsund being one of their preferred hunting areas, and the towering cliffs of Alkefjellet providing many free bird egg meals for both them and the arctic fox.
Poolepynton is great for walrus viewing and photography. Coming across a walrus haul-out is a moment you won't forget. These lumbering giants of the Arctic create quite a noisy scene as each walrus vies for a choice spot of coastline.
If you're itching for a more personal and intimate view of the arctic scenery, then taking an optional kayaking excursion to some of the more isolated pockets of Spitsbergen is highly recommended. Smeerenburg is a great place for an optional snowshoeing excursion, if conditions permit. You can visit a memorial erected in 1906. This historical site honors the whalers who lost their lives in the 17th and 18th centuries while working in extreme arctic conditions.
There is no shortage of natural beauty in Spitsbergen. The tundra can be surprisingly colorful in summer, with wildflowers bursting for a taste of sunshine. Each day, you'll see something new, whether it is a rare bird species, a polar bear on the hunt, or a century-old abandoned hut.
Day 10 - Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen: Disembarkation day & fly to Oslo.
The time to say goodbye to your Expedition Team and shipmates has come. Your adventure ends as it began, in the historic frontier-style settlement of Longyearbyen. From here, we'll transfer you to the airport for your return group charter flight to Oslo.
If you're interested in kayaking and would like to try something less in depth than Sea Kayaking, you can still enjoy the benefits of adding an on-water experience to your expedition with a Paddling Excursion. Sign up for a onetime paddle on our sit-on-top kayaks, which are stable and unencumbered— perfect for anyone with little to no kayak experience. Expert guides take rotating groups of passengers on calm days to connect with the sea.
AUD$ 280 per person
Mandatory Transfer Package: Spitsbergen
MANDATORY TRANSFER PACKAGE INCLUDES: Spitsbergen
- One night's pre-expedition hotel night at Oslo airport hotel, with breakfast
- Charter flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen
- Arrival and departure transfers in Longyearbyen
- Charter flight from Longyearbyen to Oslo
AUD$ 1,200 per person
Endless Arctic nights
Svalbard is the Arctic North as you always dreamed it existed. This wondrous archipelago is a land of dramatic snow-drowned peaks and glaciers, of vast icefields and forbidding icebergs, an elemental place where the seemingly endless Arctic night and the perpetual sunlight of summer carry a deeper kind of magic. One of Europe's last great wildernesses, this is also the domain of more polar bears than people, a terrain rich in epic legends of polar exploration.
The Polar Bear
To many people, the polar bear is the Arctic. The sight of such an impressive silky white bear wandering the frozen Arctic seas in search of seals symbolizes the cold, isolated nature of the Arctic so well. Polar bears are marine mammals because they spend so much of their lives away from land. In the high Arctic where there is always some sea ice to travel on, polar bears range over ice floes in the pack ice hunting seals all summer. In some areas (e.g. southern Hudson Bay, southern Svalbard) they are simply forced to come ashore. Polar bears rarely venture inland.
Expedition Gear
Comfortable expedition boots and a high quality expedition parka, specifically designed for the polar regions.
Transfers are included on your embarkation and disembarkation days, as well as the day prior to embarkation from the airport to your hotel, should you arrive early
- Emergency evacuation insurance up to USD$500,000
- Comprehensive pre-departure information
- All shipboard accommodation and meals
- Transfers on embarkation and disembarkation day
- 000 per person
The new and improved Ocean Adventurer is designed to carry 132 travelers in comfort to the most remote corners of the world. Originally built in Yugoslavia in 1976, this nimble, ice-strengthened ship has become a passenger favourite over the years and underwent refurbishments in 1999 and 2002 with the most significant being in 2017. With the latest rounds of refurbishments guests will enjoy: A refreshed, contemporary new look and feel throughout the ship. - The addition of six new twin cabins and three new suites. - All existing cabins will be furnished with all new soft furnishings and brand new bathrooms. - Main common areas such as the Lounge and Dining Room will be remodeled as well as the Bar. - Major technical enhancements – include two new Rolls Royce engines, which will significantly increase fuel efficiency and minimized carbon footprint.
Recently refurbished
superior accommodation
Lounge/Dining Room
Crew #: 87
Ice Class: 1A
Tonnage: 4376
Registry: Bahamas
Elec Outlets: 220V / 2 Round Pin
29 Jun - 08 Jul 2022
Confirm your booking today with just AUD$ 1,000 per passenger.
Triple Porthole
Triple cabin with private facilities.
AUD$ 7,700pp
Lower Deck Twin
Two lower berths with private facilities and a pothole.
AUD$ 11,500pp
Main Deck Twin Porthole
Two lower berths with private facilities and a porthole.
Main Deck Twin Window
Two lower berths with private facilities and a window.
Newly redesigned suite featuring 1 king bed with private facilities and a window.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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UTA News Center»
News Releases Yearly Archive»
Student researchers
150 students from across the U.S. converge on UTA through Feb. 21 for medical hackathon to propose solutions for cancer
Friday, February 19, 2016 • Media Contact: Louisa Kellie
biologychemistrycomputer scienceeducationengineeringgeneticshealth and fitnesshumanitiesinnovationmedicinemental healthnursingpsychologyresearchsciencesocial workstudent lifeAll Topics
Ndubuisi "Duby" Okonkwo, a UTA bioengineering pre-med junior with minors in Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics, speaks about his objectives with "Hack the Health"
Some 150 students from universities round the U.S. will converge on University of Texas at Arlington Friday for a three-day, medical hackathon to propose solutions for cancer.
Organized by Ndubuisi "Duby" Okonkwo, a UTA bioengineering pre-med junior with minors in Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics, "Hack the Health" will bring together students from different disciplines for three days of discussion around a specific problem related to cancer.
The UTA hackathon was inspired by previous medical hackathons at MIT and Stanford, which brought together multi-disciplinary teams to collaborate on issues around cancer and propose multi-faceted solutions.
"We are hoping to start a chain reaction," Okonkwo said. "We hope to pioneer a hackathon that the entire world looks forward to, that becomes something prestigious for students to attend, something that solves actual real life problems."
The students will be separated into groups starting Friday evening and will present their solutions to a panel of judges early Sunday.
UTA's Colleges of Nursing and Health Innovation, Engineering and Science are all sponsoring the initiative with faculty and staff members participating as judges and mentors during the event.
Kent Long, pre-health advisor, has been providing advisory support to the organizing team.
"The hackathon gives these students the opportunity to understand how healthcare works today, which is as a collaborative effort rather than the traditional silos of different disciplines," Long said. "Multiple disciplines will be represented at this event."
Students from Texas Christian University, UT Dallas, UT Austin, University of South Florida, University of Massachusetts Amherst, St. Mary's University, Appalachian State University and Tarrant County College are expected to attend.
Their disciplines range from bioengineering, to computer science, biology, nursing, psychology, social work, math, Latin, physics, graphic design, business and healthcare administration.
Presentations of solutions to judges are scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday Feb. 21 at the E.H. Hereford University Center Bluebonnet Ballroom, 300 W. First St. on the UTA campus. A campus map is available online at www.uta.edu/maps/.
For more information and a full schedule, see: http://www.utamedhackathon.com.
About The University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington is a Carnegie "highest research activity" institution of more than 50,000 students in campus-based and online degree programs and is the second-largest institution in The University of Texas System. The Chronicle of Higher Education ranked UTA as one of the 20 fastest-growing public research universities in the nation in 2014. U.S. News & World Report ranks UTA fifth in the nation for undergraduate diversity. The University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is ranked as the top four-year college in Texas for veterans on Military Times' 2016 Best for Vets list. Visit www.uta.edu to learn more, and find UTA rankings and recognition at www.uta.edu/uta/about/rankings.php.
News Releases RSS Feed
UTA In The News


Last Friday, the Bavarian TV channel (BR) broadcasted the report "Cattle Slaughterhouse: More animal welfare at the slaughterhouse Waldkraiburg" in the agricultural program called "Unser Land". As part of the opening, the plant Waldkraiburg opened its door to the production process. The filmmakers were allowed to film, the redesigned delivery and waiting area for cattle and the new cutting and deboning premises. Klaus Erber, Managing Director of Waldkraiburg and Dr. Anne Hiller, Director Quality Assurance Vion Germany introduced and presented the new slaughterhouse very authentically.


Dr. Jordi NIEVA-Fenoll (Barcelona 29/09/1970). Professor (Chair) of procedural law at the University of Barcelona since May 2011.
Visiting professor at the following universities: Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Germany), Università di Bologna and Università LUISS (Italy), Université Lumière Lyon 2 (France), Julius Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (Germany), Universidad Central de Venezuela, Universidad Católica del Táchira (Venezuela), Universidad Notarial Argentina (La Plata), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (Chile), Universidad de Antofagasta (Chile), Universidad Libre de Colombia Pontificia Universidad Católica de Perú, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno (Perú), Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca y Universidad Privada del Norte (Perú).
Author of 12 books: The appeal before the Court of Justice of the European Union (1998), Fact and Law in Criminal Cassation (2000), The ex officio initiation of criminal investigations (2001), The Civil Cassation (2003), Procedural Substitution (2004), Res Judicata (2006), Prima Facie Judgments (2007), Evaluation of Evidence (2010), Fundamentals of Criminal Procedure Law (Buenos Aires 2012), The doubt in criminal procedure (2013), Procedural Law I, Introduction (2014), Procedural Law II, Civil Procedure (2015).
Author of over 80 scientific articles in specialized Procedural Law.
Panelist at over 70 international conferences.
Member of the Associazione Italiana fra gli Studiosi del Processo Civile (2015), International Association of Procedural Law (2011), Instituto Iberoamericano de Derecho Procesal (2006) and Wissenschaftliche Vereinigung für Internationales Verfahrensrecht (2005).
First prize of the Arbitration Tribunal of Barcelona - 2002, for the work "The issues that are inextricably linked to those on which the parties have no power of disposal (Article 2.1.b of the Arbitration Act)."
Doctor Honoris Causa from the Universidad Nacional de Ucayali (Perú 2014) and Universidad José Carlos Mariátegui (Perú 2015).
Founder, with Michele Taruffo, of the Collection "Process and Law", in Marcial Pons Editor, codirected with Eduardo Oteiza and Daniel Mitidiero.


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LPI Thrilled to be Participating at Campus Party Canada 2021
November 5 - 7, 2021 Linux Professional Institute (LPI) invites you to connect with them at Campus Party Canada taking place November 5 - 7, 2021 in person at The Palais des Congres de Montreal or online. LPI is delighted to be supporting and providing new opportunities for the open source community! Hone Your Skills.... Read more
Interested in Learning More about LPI Partnership Programs?
Linux Professional Institute (LPI) invites you to join us, our Partners and our community for an introduction into the LPI Partner Programs, taking place November 4, 2021 from 10:00 am EDT - 12:30 pm EDT. We are looking forward to hosting you and answering any questions. The webinar will provide you with;... Read more
Campus Party Petrolina Brazil
October 28 - 30, 2021 Linux Professional Institute (LPI) Latin America invites you to join them at Campus Party of Petrolina Brazil, taking place online from October 28, 2021 to October 30, 2021. LPI is thrilled to be presenting and supporting the event overall. We value our continued support for this event!... Read more
Linux Professional Institute (LPI) sponsors Italian Linux Society's LinuxDay Italia
October 23, 2021 On Saturday, October 23, LinuxDay Italia is back. Linux Professional Institute (LPI) is happy to sponsor LinuxDay, one of the most important FOSS and Linux-oriented events in Italy. The 2021 edition is a special one, as the Italian Linux Society (ILS) recently became an LPI Community Partner. ... Read more
LPI South Africa Certification and Open Source Workshop
November 26, 2021 Linux Professional Institute (LPI) invites you to connect with them at LPI South Africa Certification and Open Source Workshop taking place on November 26, 2021. This event is expected to be a blended virtual and in person experience, following all COVID-19 restrictions. The in person event will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa.... Read more
Join LPI at nerdear.la
October 20 - 23, 2021 Linux Professional Institute (LPI) invites you to join them at nerdear.la, taking place virtually October 20 - 23, 2021. LPI is thrilled to be participating in this great event! In nerdear.la the idea is to learn, have fun and meet more people like you. 4 days with more than 150 talks and workshops on technology, scientific dissemination and a wide variety of topics.... Read more
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text:
Women concerned about discrimination
Sarita Giri accuses minister Gupta of trying to abduct her
Women leaders still feel unsafe and insecure in politics, despite the positions they have secured, speakers at a programme said today, citing the case of alleged kidnapping of
Nepal Sadbhawana Party chairperson Anandidevi Singh.
Speaking at a programme organised by 11 organisations working for women, NSP-A leader Sarita Giri said men's struggle for power in politics had jeopardised women's safety.
"Despite repeated complaints to the police administration, Minister for Industry, Supplies and Commerce Shyam Sundar Gupta and his nephew are still roaming around freely in the capital," claimed Giri.
She said if Gupta's claim that Anandadevi was undergoing treatment in Patna, he should have informed in which hospital she had been admitted to.
Giri also accused Gupta, the NSP-A general secretary, and rival faction of the party of trying to abduct her while she was on way to Kathmandu from Biratnagar and Siraha on May 2.
"While we were returning from Siraha after central committee meeting with four party workers, I got a call from my own team asking me to be alert. I was supposed to come to Kathmandu via Biratnagar through land, but opted for flight without informing those accompanying me. The capital-bound vehicle was taken directly to the Shyam Sundar Gupta's quarter after it reached the valley," claimed Giri.
However, Gupta refuted all the allegations made against him by Giri and NSP-A vice-president Khusi Lal Mandal.
At the same programme, Sharada Pokharel, president of Women Security Pressure Group said due to the lack of proper nominations of women in several sectors, their problems still needed to be addressed.
To ensure 33 per cent seats for women in the constituent assembly, women should also be nominated to some of the 26 seats to be nominated by cabinet, she added.


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Q: Xcode 9 - Downloadable xip file is corrupt from apple site I have downloaded the new Xcode 9 build from the Apple website
https://developer.apple.com/xcode/
However, I am getting the following error when extracting the file

Is this a known issue with the downloadable file or do I need to do something else in order to extract the xip file.
My Mac config
High Sierra
System Version: macOS 10.13 (17A352a)
Kernel Version: Darwin 17.0.0

A: It looks like the software I was using to unzip https://theunarchiver.com/ didn't support xip format fully. Switching to the native osx unzip solved the issue

A: I was having older version of MacOS then required for given Xcode's xip file. Thats why it was giving me above error. Once I Updated my MacOS to required version. The same xip started working fine.

A: During Swift 5 I want to install the old Xcode and i am DONE with just some step
https://stackoverflow.com/a/61096470/6881070
https://stackoverflow.com/a/61096470/6881070

A: I tried using unzip, Unarchiver, and other tools, but ultimately the only tool which was even able to open the file was Pacifist. However, Pacifist was really slow so I just ended up downloading Xcode from the App Store.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Main menu override
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In-Kind Field Coordinators
BrightnESS (2015-2018)
The first neutron school focused on CANS facilities kicks-off
A unique three-day programme of lectures focusing on science and instrumentation for compact accelerator-driven neutron sources has kicked-off in Bilbao on Monday, 17 June. Until Wednesday, more than five dozens of students, scientific experts and lecturers will have the opportunity to interact and discuss neutron scattering techniques as a part of the first Bilbao Neutron School.
BILBAO – The first Bilbao Neutron School (BNS2019) is organised by ESS Bilbao and BC Materials on the premises of the Scientific Park of UPV/EHU, Campus of Leioa. The experts lecturing at the school come from prominent research centres based in Europe, including universities, international research facilities, and Compact Accelerator-driven Neutron Sources (CANS) projects. The school provides international students with a unique opportunity to get trained in neutron science and technology that can be applied at CANS.
CANS in the focus
BNS2019 is currently the only neutron school in Europe that focuses on science and instrumentation for CANS facilities. Its aim is to educate graduate and Phd students as well as young researchers in neutron scattering techniques and neutron instrumentation designed for CANS.
During the three-day programme, participants will learn about neutron sources in general, and expand their knowledge on neutron scattering techniques, instrumentation, detectors, and sample environment equipment. The school also aims to establish a link between the participants and university groups, new projects on CANS facilities, and large neutron scattering facilities.
What do CANS offer?
As a new type of research infrastructure, CANS will enable much broader and easier access to high-brilliance neutrons and help to address the problem of overbooking at current neutron sources. Thanks to CANS, universities and research centres will be able to host their own neutron institutes. CANS present new opportunities to perform neutron science, train students, prepare experiments to be carried out at large-scale facilities, and develop instrumentation.
Neutrons are unique probes which allow us to study the structure and dynamics of matter. Large neutron scattering facilities are based on research reactors or spallation neutron sources. The recent advancements in the accelerator technology and neutronics design have enabled the construction of high-brilliance neutron sources which are based on low energy proton accelerators. These sources will be play a significant role in future neutron science and technology. Traditionally, neutron sources are optimised to deliver the highest neutron flux. In contrast, CANS aim at maximising the brilliance of single neutron beams.
CANS projects in Europe
Several CANS projects are currently designed or envisaged in Europe:
HBS project (FZJ, Germany),
SONATE project (LLB & CNRS, France),
Martonvásár CANS project (Wigner, Hungary),
Legnaro target project (INFN, Italy),
ESS Bilbao project (Spain).
The projects listed above include the design of the machine (accelerator, targets and moderators) and the suite of optimised instruments. In order to secure the optimal performance of the facilities, instruments have to be designed in line with the parameters of the source.
Support from EU-funded projects and industry
The main sponsors of BNS2019 are industrial companies. The school is also supported by EU-funded projects BrightnESS² and SINE2020.
ESS Bilbao
Other recent news
Register now for February's LENS Colloquium & BrightnESS² General Assembly
With close of research reactors, landscape is shifting for Europe's world-leading neutron science community
NEW DATES: The First Israeli Meeting on The Science of Neutrons
ESS in South Africa: Highlighting the importance of neutron scattering to cutting-edge catalysis research
ESS In-Kind Group Leverages the Lessons of XFEL
E-mail: brightnESS [at] esss.se
BrightnESS² is funded by the European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020, under grant agreement 823867.


text:
Jeju International University is Tamra University and Jeju University of Industry and Information are integrated and open to private universities, located in Jeju, South Korea.
In 1972, it was admitted to Jeju Unemployment College. In 1982, it changed its name from Jeju Unemployment College to Jeju Special Forces College. In 1998, Jeju Junior College changed its name to Jeju Industrial Information College.
In 1999, Jeju Industrial Information University was established and the Lifelong Education Center was approved the same year. Shim Kyu-ho (10th President) took office and was established as Jeju International University on March 1, 2012.

External links
 Official website
 Official website

See also
List of universities and colleges in South Korea

References

Jeju City
Universities and colleges in South Korea
Educational institutions established in 1972
1972 establishments in South Korea

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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The Lighthouse Family @Nottingham Royal Centre 15/11/19
The things we do for love?
Almost, but not quite.
Mrs. J is extremely partial to the velvet vocals of the Lighthouses and even though I cannot pretend to be a diehard fan I know an airplay tune when I hear one. My musings at the end of my recent review of an Al Stewart gig where I briefly allowed myself to consider how much brass the aforementioned's "Year of the Cat" has made me, personally, over the years shrinks into complete insignificance compared to the recorded output of these guys.
I'll have made more out of these than The Beatles, The Stones and The Who put together, and then some, and it is, of course, mutual. The Lighthouses have, or had, that uncanny knack. You could programme them anywhere, anytime, as often as you like and nobody is 'tuning out'.
And therein lies the reason for my disquiet and sense of apprehension upfront of tonight's gig. I really WANT to like them. And in this sort of circumstance you either get affirmation or very real disappointment. I am very worried that the crystal recorded quality of these songs as finished productions won't cut it, live, in a largish, seated and rather soul-less theatre.
Well, let's see…..a very pleasant curry upfront certainly meant I was very much 'in the mood' as support act Georgie wandered onto the stage. She's a local lass, apparently, and this is the first night on the tour she can sleep in her own bed, she tells us. A solo singer/songwriter and tidy guitar/keyboard player, she does her stuff to an audience who are somewhere between polite and appreciative. She's got a couple of decent songs, as well, which she wisely saves for late on in her set. Vocally, a bit like Sandy Thom meets k.d. lang in Nottingham. Excellent pitch, but there's a lot of her about. Needs a 'killer' tune to break out and so far I don't hear one, pleasant enough a listen though she is.
To The Lighthouse. Well, not exactly, yet and we're given a time-consuming photograph backdrop 'scene set' to a sort of audio 'drone' which for me outstays a welcome by some considerable time. On they come, finally and serve up "Salvation", a new one, as a set opener and it is your classic set opener, nothing more, nothing less, but the sound is muddy and Tunde Baiyewu's vocals are struggling to be heard. This is followed by a mid-paced chugger with tidy Stevie Wonderesque keyboard tricks from Paul Tucker on "Blue Sky In Your Head".
An early pearl is the gorgeous "Loving Every Minute" which is severely compromised by the backing singer just seeming 'off' somehow, Didn't sound right to me, but let's stay with the programme……
I'm sure the Lighthouses mean to be sincere on the inter-song raps, but they do really overcook it at times, with stories of raising kids and all that. So much so that the lead up to "Put My Heart on You" doesn't exactly have the desired effect on me.
By now, I will admit to feeling mildly irritated rather than entertained so when they kick into "Lifted" with the instantly recognisable Spanish guitar figure at the start, it is something of a relief. 'I know what you've come for', says the singer and he's right, because as the night passes it becomes clear to me that these guys had excellent A and R and record company support. They absolutely picked the best songs as singles. Sadly, though, the hits do scream 'HHIIIIITTTT!!' at you extremely loudly so I don't think it was a difficult job for the A and R bod to go 'That's the single'. And it isn't just familiarity.
"Lifted" is a full-on radio singalong tune any day of the week. Nobody switches this off, ever. It does, indeed, 'Lift', and, to be fair, the audience are up on their feet for the first time. BUT – and unfortunately…….it doesn't seem to 'work' live. I mean yes, everybody is up etc etc. but……in the cruel lights of the Concert Hall, the song is exposed for the one-line hook it pretty much is. The 'trucker's gear change', the little 'breakdowns' in the song, all beautifully locked in by the studio with all the trickery a decent producer can bring to bear, are laid bare by the live performance. It's just a bloke walking around the stage bleating one word, pretty much repeatedly. And "Run", which follows, is breathtakingly ordinary.
"Raincloud" is a great song, though, and always was a bit of a fave of mine for coming out of an ad break with. You don't have to say anything, the powerful piano shapes along with slightly eccentric percussion tricks, a bit off the beat, just draw you in and the chorus, combined with the Gil Scott-Heron style instrumental break are a delight.
Which is a shame, really as we lose the piano figure and the subtlety in percussion in the swirling, slightly mad, pseudo-Gothicky mix the whole thing seems to be wrapped in.
"Ocean Drive" is a really transcendental summer radio tune. About as close to a British Brian Wilson moment as you're going to get, this one is pure escapist fantasy. We all know life isn't like this but for two and a half minutes or so, most of us are prepared to suspend disbelief; and they do pretty much nail this. And "Lost In Space" is similarly such a plaintive radio-friendly tune; but tonight there just isn't enough 'Space' for Tundi Baiyewu's voice to touch and warm the listener; it is just squeezed too much by everything else that's going on. And despite the warm accolades for the rhythm section from the two main Lighthouses, I thought they were that unforgiveable sin for a rhythm section; they were obtrusive, often as a deep, vibrating rumble, all sound and fury, signifying nothing. And completely at odds with the delicacy and lightness of the songs themselves.
"Who Gonna Save Me Now… by now, I am starting to feel uncomfortable. Another 'ordinary' tune, as is "Clouds", but of course they have a set saver in "High", which has graced many a person's wedding/funeral/fave playlist, etc, etc and really you can't go wrong with it…but once again, in a live format, those 'trucker's gear changes' really do grate.
They encore with "Street Lights in the Rain" and "Free" and "One" but by now I have lost all patience with them. They are falling over themselves to congratulate the audience on their good taste, especially Paul Tucker, who is nobody's idea of Mr. Showbiz and really, is best just not saying anything.
So, by the time we stream out onto the pavement, I am at serious odds with most of the audience. They feel 'Lifted', I feel like I've been resprayed magnolia. And my worst fears are confirmed. Clever though some of the songs are as studio confections, they do not translate that well into a live setting. The songs that were hits were hits for a reason. And their medium is FM (and, no doubt, digital) radio. They are best heard once every six hours or so…..or you do start to feel slightly….magnolia.
But the audience loved them, and the body of work is there, and we have done each other a lot of good over the years, so I'm going as far as 3 stars. But I don't feel good about it.
Posted by Steve Jenner on Monday, November 18, 2019 at 10:38 pm
Filed under Featured, Gigs · Tagged with Al Stewart, Lighthouse Family, Nottingham Royal Centre, steve jenner, Year of the Cat


We developed the Sopra Steria Recruitment Academy as our strategic approach to training and development to ensure our employees are supported throughout their career journey.
Through the Academy, everyone has a unique development plan to help them achieve their full potential. We recognised there were different learning styles across the business and introduced new ways in which training is delivered to match individual needs, whether classroom, 1-2-1 or online.
When you join us, you will have clear visibility of a defined career path for your role with clear steps and guidance on how you can succeed. You will be fully supported and guided by your line manager, mentor and team, but ultimately you are in full control of your own development and success.


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The pros and cons of a timber benchtop
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Reader reno: It only cost $110 to transform this mum's kitchen
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How much does a new kitchen benchtop cost?
If you're planning to give the kitchen a facelift, this might help with budgeting. - by Alex Pierotti
Whether you're looking to add value to your home or improve the interior, beginning with the kitchen is a no-brainer.
Simply changing a few things can give it both a brand new feel while modernising the design at the same time. And that will usually start with the colour scheme or a new kitchen benchtop.
Budgeting for a kitchen renovation can be tricky, especially when trying to make room for big ticket items like benchtops. So how much should you budget for a new benchtop? Well that depends on the type of material of course!
Typically, the most popular surfaces are stone, granite or marble. These natural materials, however, usually come with a hefty price tag. Marble benchtops have been on trend for years, and luckily its simple look means you may only need to give your cabinetry a paint job to update the kitchen.
With custom kitchens, prices will always differ. Having the benchtop made to fit will affect its price - the kitchen size and height as well as the cut outs will affect the cost of the material while labour might cost you a fraction more if it's difficult to get it through the front door.
Stone Benchtops
Natural stone benchtops are a popular choice that look timeless and elegant in any kitchen.
With classic stone benchtops cost anywhere from $700 to $2000 per square metre, and that includes installation.
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Granite Benchtop
Granite is a type of natural stone that is becoming increasingly popular due to it's hard-wearing surface.
In a similar price range to stone, you're looking at $700 right up to $1,700 per square metre for a new granite benchtop, including installation. Custom cutouts to fit sinks can add another $250 onto the bill.
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Timber Benchtops
Remember the good old days, spent at a beach house, up or down the coast? Chances are you saw a lot of timber in the kitchen.
Only now are we seeing a resurgence of timber benchtops. The natural material coupled with modern finishes has made timber fashionable once again. Unfortunately, it will require a bit more maintenance.
For a typical square slab, including installation and cut outs, the damage is between $550 and $1600 - slightly cheaper than popular stones.
Concrete Benchtops
Anyone familiar with brutalist architecture will know how well concrete can bring a space together. Incredibly minimalist and easily manipulated both in shape and colour, concrete is a relatively safe choice.
Despite the low-cost material, putting together the benchtop is quite labour-intensive. Expect to pay at least four digits for this one - between $1000 and $1800, including installation and any custom fits.
Marble Benchtops
Much like stone and granite, marble has been popular for years. The downside is that maintaining marble is a high-maintenance affair, particularly if you're a heavy-duty cook.
Marble is one of the more expensive options where you can pay as little as $800 for a square slab but could be looking at $3000 after installation and custom cutouts.
Laminate Benchtops
Consider this stone on a budget. If you don't want to commit to an expensive top or you're on a seriously tight budget, this is definitely for you.
It's also easily modifiable - a range of colours, textures and styles are available.
While in some instances, a square metre can be as little as $150, in most cases, including labour, you're looking at around $600.
Engineered Stone Benchtops
Like laminate, engineered stone offers a cheaper substitute to popular stone variations.
Unlike natural stone, engineered stone alternatives tend to be hard-wearing, chip and stain resistant and, subsequently, require a lot less effort to maintain.
When it comes to price, a square metre will cost around $400 to $600, not including installation.
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Caesarstone Benchtops
Caesarstone is a type of engineered stone that is great if you want to achieve the natural stone look without the hefty price-tag. In addition to being a lower-cost alternative, Caesartstone benchtops are also non-porous, scratch resistant and is available in large slabs that can be cut to suit any kitchen configuration.
Expect to pay around $500 to $1000, although keep in mind that cutouts might add to that price.
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Quartz Benchtops
Quartz is one of the most durable kitchen benchtop materials. Another variation of engineered stone, quartz is an affordable price point while bearing a resemblance to granite - it's actually partially made with crushed granite.
For quartz, prices can vary depending on the style and colour you choose. If you're hoping to get that marble look, expect to pay a premium. Typically, you're looking at $520 for the basic slab but up to $1500 for an expensive finish with cutouts.
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Bamboo Benchtops
Much like timber, bamboo is back in fashion. Fit for a holiday beach house or a tropical kitchen, bamboo is another affordable option.
When it comes to price, expect to pay the same as most timbers. With installation and cut outs, the price range is between $500 and $1600.
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Porcelain Benchtop
A ceramic alternative, porcelain is a durable and environmentally friendly option. However, it's not the cheapest option.
If you're considering a porcelain benchtop for your brand new kitchen, it'll set you back between $1200 and $2000.
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10 inspiring kitchen island bench design ideas
12 of the most inspiring kitchen design ideas
Alex Pierotti
Alex has high hopes of being the next Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. He lives for Pinterest, knows his way around a toolbox and frothed millennial pink before it was in fashion. When he's not catching up on old episodes of Better Homes and Gardens, you'll find him tending to his veggie patch or plating up a mean roast lamb (with all the trimmings).


Which Emerson model do you have?
To get access to every router of Emerson (e.g. AMS Suit ,Avocent ACS 6000 Advanced Console Server or Control Link Refrigeration System Controller ), you need the IP of your router, the username and router password. You can find these information in Emerson router manuals. But if you do not have the manual for your router or you do not want to read the whole manual to find the default login information then you can use the quick guide below.
The default username for your Emerson router is admin.
If these steps doesn't work for you and you still can't login to your router then there's another method. You know the model name/ID of your Emerson router? Great! Just select your device from the box below and you will be redirected to our guide especially for your device that includes a user manual.
Try different ID/password combinations that are widely used by Emerson that you'll find below.
In the list below you will see the most popular default username and password combinations used by Emerson. Sometimes the username and password doesn't work that we mentioned in the top of this guide. Then you can try these username/password combinations below to get access to your wireless router.


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Tue 2 Jul, 2019, 11:30 AM (EDT)
Serena Williams vs. Giulia Gatto-Monticone 7/2/19 Wimbledon Tennis Pick, Odds, and Prediction
By: Randy
Created: 6/28/19
Serena Williams vs. Giulia Gatto-Monticone
Tuesday July 2, 2019, 11:30 AM (EDT)
All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
ESPN, ESPN2
Serena Williams and Giulia Gatto-Monticone meet in the first round of the 2019 tennis Wimbledon.
Serena Williams hasn't played a match since the third round of the French Open, which also means she hasn't played a grass court match since making the final of the Wimbledon last year. While Serena obviously has the experience and champions can make adjustments on the flay, grass is a very tricky surface and can take time getting used to again. Serena has played just four matches overall since the Miami Open and has battled some injuries here and there, so form is certainly a question entering this tournament. It may take Serena a few sets before we get a good feel for her game and a proper prediction on how far she could go. Serena has won six of her last seven matches on grass court.
Giulia Gatto-Monticone is a 31-year-old Italian who won three matches to qualify for just her second grand slam appearance. The other trip was this years French Open where she lost to Sofia Kenin in three competitive sets. Gatto-Monticone has won 10 of her last 14 matches overall, but almost all of those wins came in qualifying or ITF play. Gatto-Monticone lacks consistency on the main tour and is obviously extremely green when it comes to grand slam play. The good news for Gatto-Monticone is that she heads into this match playing with house money, so the lack of expectations will allow her to go for her shots. Gatto-Monticone has won four of her last five matches on grass court.
There's no match history between these two players.
While Serena has major question marks of her own and can't be considered a strong contender due to the lack of reps, she should have her way with somebody who isn't used to this level of competition or this stage. While there's shocking upsets in the first couple of rounds every year, there's also many examples of inexperienced players getting chewed up and spit out. Gatto-Monticone will be climbing uphill most of this match.
Serena in straight sets.
Serena Williams In Straight Sets
GrabThePoints
Randy Chambers has been with Sports Chat Place since 2014 and covers everything from the NFL to WNBA and tennis. Nobody works harder in this business in terms of content produced and amount of sports covered. Formerly a lead college football writer with Bleacher Report and has had his work featured at Fox Sports, CBS Sports and various other outlets.


These popular sessions led by dance artist Olwyn Lyons, encourage, inspire, and motivate people to get dancing. The classes emphasise maintaining flexibility, strength, balance, and co-ordination, all in a relaxed and social environment. All abilities welcome, come along to meet new people and make new dances!


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Jacob Rees-Mogg 'profoundly apologises' after saying Grenfell residents who stayed in burning building 'lacked common sense'
Ross McGuinness
Yahoo News UK 5 November 2019
Jacob Rees-Mogg has said he is "profoundly" sorry over comments suggesting Grenfell residents who followed firefighters' instructions to stay in the burning building lacked "common sense".
The remarks made by the Conservative MP and leader of the House of Commons were described as "appalling" by a Grenfell campaign group.
A report published last week into the blaze, which claimed the lives of 72 people in June 2017, criticised London Fire Brigade for telling residents to stay in their homes while the fire raged.
Speaking to presenter Nick Ferrari on LBC radio, Mr Rees-Mogg said: "The more one's read over the weekend about the report and about the chances of people surviving, if you just ignore what you're told and leave you are so much safer.
"And I think if either of us were in a fire, whatever the fire brigade said, we would leave the burning building.
"It just seems the common sense thing to do. And it is such a tragedy that that didn't happen."
There has been anger from Grenfell campaign groups over Jacob Rees-Mogg's comments (Picture: Getty)
On Tuesday, Mr Rees-Mogg apologised and said he he "would hate to upset the people of Grenfell".
"I profoundly apologise," he said. "What I meant to say is that I would have also listened to the fire brigade's advice to stay and wait at the time. However, with what we know now and with hindsight I wouldn't and I don't think anyone else would.
"What's so sad is that the advice given overrides common sense because everybody would want to leave a burning building.
"I would hate to upset the people of Grenfell if I was unclear in my comments. With hindsight and after reading the report no one would follow that advice. That's the great tragedy."
'Appalling statement'
Mr Rees-Mogg's comments had provoked a strong reaction.
Yvette Williams, chair of Justice4Grenfell, said: "This is an appalling statement to make but unsurprisingly symptomatic of Rees-Mogg's ilk.
"His government failed to implement the recommendations from the Lakanall house inquiry - leaving the fire service and local authority with 'stay put' advice as a national policy and no full evacuation procedure.
"Rees-Mogg has a privileged background, what is his experience of living in social housing? How many tower blocks has he lived in?
"It was his government who destroyed the fire and safety regulations, it was a local authority run by his political party that cost cut and ignored residents' concerns resulting in the Grenfell atrocity.
"To suggest that those who followed his party's instructions were not using common sense is an absolute insult. He should be ashamed of himself."
Messages of support on a wall surrounding Grenfell Tower in west London (Picture: AFP/Getty)
Grenfell United, which represents survivors and bereaved families, said: "The leader of the House of Commons suggesting that the 72 people who lost their lives at Grenfell lacked common sense is beyond disrespectful. It is extremely painful and insulting to bereaved families."
His comments were also criticised by Ahmed Chellat, 62, who lost five members of his family in the fire.
Mr Chellat told the Daily Mirror: "People died on the stairs trying to leave, they couldn't breathe. People needed help and directions, they tried to open doors and there was smoke everywhere. How is he coming to this insensitive conclusion?
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"The firemen were not aware of how bad this fire was and what the building was made up of, the emergency callers weren't aware, so people took instructions.
"This is the reality of it - he wasn't there."
Asked if the Grenfell tragedy was the result of "policies of class", Mr Rees-Mogg replied: "I don't think so.
"I think the tragedy came about because of the cladding, leading to the fire racing up the building, and then was compounded by the 'stay put' policy.
"But I don't think it's anything to do with race or class, and indeed I think it's rather sad to raise these types of points over a great tragedy."
---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK---
Storm batters train line on Scotland's west coast


For someone who grew up in South Africa, I don't visit Cape Town nearly as often as enough. As we drove to Camps Bay, I wondered how lucky the people here must be, being able to step out of their beach houses overlooking the ocean with views of table mountain just a stone throw away. My mom always says she wants to retire in Cape Town and one of my personal goals is to be able to buy a beach house here one day.
I don't know if it has to do with being born an island girl, but for me, being close to the ocean is really one of the best feelings in the world. I sat here for a while, just watching the waves, feeling the breeze and taking in the ocean air. If only I can be here like this everyday.
time till all of her made sense.
I remember seeing a bright field of yellow sunflowers the first week I got back to South Africa as my brother and I made a three and a half hour drive from Johannesburg to KZN that one late afternoon in mid-February. I couldn't believe the amount of yellow blossoms that spun across my eyes as I observed the acres and acres of land covered in golden blooms. Naturally, I nagged and nagged and made Owen promise that we would make our way back for a visit on our way back to Joburg. I'm glad he complied.
If you follow me on Snapchat, you would have seen how ecstatic I was that day I got play in a field of sunflowers despite the incredible heat in the country at the moment. I hope to bring my mum and little brother back to the sunflower farm for another visit one of these days. The light was way too bright on the day we visited and we couldn't risk driving in the dark waiting for golden hour to set in, but I hope to drop by this golden field of sunshine for a proper shoot one of these days, because these impromptu iPhone photos just don't do it any justice.


Chinese markets were mixed during the Monday session after being offline for much of last week due to the Lunar New Year holiday. The Shanghai composite gained 0.8% whilst the Hang Send index rose 0.23%. However following Samsung electronic decline of 0.67% the Kospi remained slightly lower after promising recovery from earlier losses.
Oil prices fell over 1% despite refinery fire in Illinois which resulted in shutdown of large crude distillation unit. International Brent Crude futures down 71 cents settling at $61.39 a barrel.
US government shutdown could potentially reoccur as talks between congressional Republicans and Democrats have again broken down with agreement as Trump continues to dig in heals over US-Mexico border wall budget.
Theresa May responded to Corbyn's letter which set out five demands for a Brexit deal, her reply concluded with hope that the two parties could have further talks on the matter. Nevertheless will Valentines Vote see further love lost between opposing parties?
The Swiss Franc (CHF) saw mini "flash crash" of almost 1% due to Japanese holiday causing thin liquidity. The CHF slid from 1.0004 per dollar to 1.0096 the lowest since November.
Apple verse Huawei war sees the iphone brand's shipment plummet by estimated 20% in last year's final quarter.
Aurora Cannabis Inc is scheduled to announce second quarterly earnings today, However with EFTMG Alternative Harvest ETF and Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences Index ETF showing larger than 10% drops since October could the cannabis industry be coming down from that original legal high?
Asian overnight: Chinese stocks were the big outperformer overnight as they played catch up following a week-long break. This time it is the Japanese who are away, with National Foundation day seeing markets closed. Elsewhere, marginal gains in the Hang Seng were counteracted by downside in the Australian ASX 200. This is despite the commencement of yet another round of trade talks between the US and China, as both sides seek to find some form of resolution to the current trade standoff ahead of the 1 March deadline. However, with Trump stating that he has no plans to meet Xi Jinping before that deadline, many believe it diminishes the chance of a comprehensive deal to stave off higher tariffs.
Swiss Franc faced mini "flash crash"
UK, US and Europe: Looking ahead, a whole raft of economic data from the UK means that the pound will be in focus for traders in the European session. Monthly GDP (December), Q4 GDP, manufacturing production, industrial production, trade balance, and the NIESR GDP forecast for January all tally up to a likely volatile session for UK stocks and the pound. Elsewhere, apart from the Canadian trade balance, this looks like a day largely devoid of any major releases outside of the UK.
South Africa: While China and Hong Kong equity markets are firmer this morning playing catch up after being closed for the Lunar New Year's festivities last week, US equity indices are trading marginally lower this morning. This is expectant of a flat to weaker start to our local bourse today. The rand has weakened sharply following news that major power utility would be embarking on nationwide blackouts in lieu of capacity constraints within the country. The dollar has also resumed some short term strength and is weighing on precious metal prices. BHP is up 2% in Australia, suggestive of a similar start for the locally listed entity. Tencent Holdings is up 1.8% in Asia, although this may already be priced into major holding company Naspers.
Acacia Mining said that gold production for the year would be flat despite output beating guidance for 2018 thanks to higher production at its North Mara field. Gold production was 521,980 ounces, above the 435-375 thousand ounce guidance, but down 32% on last year.
Telford Homes has acquired a site in Stratford for £20 million. It is expected to provide space for 380 new homes.


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"All the Lonely People": The Impact of Loneliness in Old Age on Life & Health Expectancy
Duke-Nus.edu.sg
In 1966, The Beatles cemented the plight of lonely older people in the popular imagination with the iconic 'Eleanor Rigby', a song that turned pop music on its head when it stayed at number one on the British charts for four weeks. Today, the impact of loneliness in old age on life and health expectancy has been categorically quantified for the first time in a study by scientists at Duke-NUS Medical School (Singapore), Nihon University (Tokyo, Japan) and their collaborators, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
"We found that lonely older adults can expect to live a shorter life than their peers who don't perceive themselves as lonely," summarised the study's lead author, Assistant Professor Rahul Malhotra, Head of Research at Duke-NUS' Centre for Ageing Research and Education (CARE). "Furthermore, they pay a penalty for their shorter life by forfeiting potential years of good health."
Associate Professor Angelique Chan, Executive Director of CARE and a senior author of the study, noted, "Besides being the year associated with the coronavirus disease, 2019 was also when the number of adults aged over 30 made up half the total global population for the first time in recorded history, marking the start of an increasingly ageing world. In consequence, loneliness among seniors has become an issue of social and public health concern."
Research Project Professor Yasuhiko Saito, from the College of Economics, Nihon University, a senior co-author of the study, added, "This study is timely because stay-at-home and physical distancing measures instituted since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic have only intensified concern for the mental and physical well-being of older persons."
Key Findings: Loneliness Has Real, Physical Consequences
The study findings show that people aged 60, who perceive themselves to be sometimes lonely or mostly lonely, can expect to live three to five years less, on average, compared to peers who perceive themselves as never lonely. Similarly, at ages 70 and 80, lonely older persons can, on average, expect to live three to four and two to three years less, respectively, compared to non-lonely peers.
Using the same dataset, the researchers found that the perception of loneliness has a similar impact on two types of health expectancy—remaining years of life lived in a self-rated state of good health as well as remaining years of life lived without being limited when going about 'activities of daily living.' Such activities include routines like bathing and dressing, rising from or settling into a bed or chair, and preparing meals.
At age 60, sometimes lonely or mostly lonely seniors can expect to spend three to five fewer years of their remaining life, on average, without limitations in daily living activities, compared to never-lonely peers. At age 70, their active life expectancy goes down to two to four fewer years, on average. At age 80, it is at one to three fewer years, on average.
How Common is Loneliness Among Older Adults in Singapore?
Singapore is a particularly relevant setting for studying how loneliness impacts older adults because the country has a rapidly ageing population, and a 'collectivistic' culture, in which relationships and the interconnectedness between people are central—in contrast to an 'individualistic' culture, where each individual's needs and desires are considered to be more important. Previous studies found levels of loneliness to be higher in collectivistic societies, suggesting loneliness may have a more detrimental impact in Singaporean society.
In 2016 and 2017, CARE researchers conducted a study—known as the Transitions in Health, Employment, Social Engagement, and Intergenerational Transfers in Singapore (THE SIGNS) study—to look into factors influencing health, well-being, and activity and productivity levels in older Singaporeans. Nationally representative data, collected from more than 2,000 older Singapore citizens and permanent residents, showed that a third (34 per cent) perceived themselves to be lonely. This proportion increased with age, from 32 per cent among those aged 60–69 years, to 40 per cent among those aged 80 and above.
More males (37 per cent) were lonely, relative to females (31 per cent). Across education levels, the proportion of lonely older Singaporeans was lowest (33 per cent) among those with no formal education, and highest (38 per cent) among those with higher-than-tertiary education. This proportion was nearly 10 per cent higher among seniors who lived alone (43 per cent) compared to those who did not live alone (33 per cent).
"Building on THE SIGNS study, our recent findings highlight the population health impact of loneliness, and the importance of identifying and managing it among older adults," said Asst Prof Malhotra. "This is part of a series of studies to assess the impact of important health and social constructs, like loneliness, sensory impairments, obesity, gender and education, on life and health expectancy among older adults."
"With older persons at potentially greater risk of loneliness as a result of pandemic control measures, there has been increasing policy interest in loneliness around the world," said Assoc Prof Chan. "In 2018, the UK launched a national strategy for tackling loneliness and, in 2021, Japan appointed a 'Minister of Loneliness'. We hope this study helps galvanise more policies to tackle loneliness among older persons."
SIDEBAR: The Science of Loneliness
Scientifically, loneliness is a subjective (or self-perceived) phenomenon in which an individual feels a discrepancy between their desired and actual social relationships.
It is important to distinguish loneliness from 'social isolation' or 'living alone', say the experts. While loneliness represents an individual's perception or feeling of being socially isolated, social isolation is an objective or actual state of having few social relationships or infrequent social contact with others.
In the same way, living alone in a single-person household without any family or friends does not equate to being lonely. Conversely, having a wide social network, frequently interacting with friends or family, or even living with family or friends need not mean that an individual does not feel lonely.
Previous studies have reported that loneliness increases the risk of poor health outcomes, including death. However, the extent to which loneliness affects life expectancy among older adults has never been explored, leading the research team to seek the answers themselves.
Using longitudinal data from a previous survey they conducted of more than 3,000 older Singapore citizens and permanent residents, the research team set out to estimate the number of years that older people, aged 60, 70 and 80 years, can expect to live if they are 'not lonely', or only 'sometimes' or 'mostly' lonely.
The survey participants were administered a commonly-used scale for assessing loneliness, comprising three questions:
How often do you feel that you lack companionship?
How often do you feel left out?
How often do you feel isolated from others?
Based on their responses, they were categorised as 'never lonely', 'sometimes lonely' or 'mostly lonely'. Other factors that could affect life or health expectancy, such as gender, education, chronic illnesses, depressive symptoms, were accounted for in the analysis.


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Zájezd je výprava za jistým účelem, například rekreační nebo umělecký zájezd. Z hlediska práva jde o balíček základních služeb cestovního ruchu, může zahrnovat i služby doplňkové. Za základní služby se považují služby stravovací, ubytovací a doprava.

Zájezd v české právní úpravě cestovního ruchu

Definice
Zájezdem se pro účely zákona č. 159/1999 Sb., o některých podmínkách podnikání v oblasti cestovního ruchu, rozumí předem sestavená a za souhrnnou cenu nabízená kombinace alespoň dvou z následujících třech typů služeb, pokud přesahuje 24 hodin nebo zahrnuje i ubytování přes noc a pokud jeho nabídka a prodej splňují znaky živnostenského podnikání:
 doprava
 ubytování
 jiné služby cestovního ruchu, jež nejsou doplňkem dopravy nebo ubytování a tvoří významnou část zájezdu nebo jejichž cena tvoří alespoň dvacet procent souhrnné ceny zájezdu (například stravování mimo místo ubytování, prodej vstupenek na kulturní a sportovní akce, prodej a organizace fakultativních výletů, výuka jazyků, sportovní kurzy, průvodcovské služby)

Zájezdem ve smyslu tohoto zákona je tedy i pouhá kombinace dopravy a ubytování nebo například ubytování spojené s poznávacími výlety do okolí či ubytování spojené se sportovním programem (doprava tedy není podmínkou). Do definice zájezdu spadá i dětský tábor, pokud je provozován v rámci podnikání, tedy mimo jiné za účelem zisku. Do působnosti zákona nespadá činnost, která není pořádána za účelem zisku, t. j. konaná například v rámci spolkové nebo dobrovolnické činnosti, činnosti příspěvkových škol atd.

Dle zákona č. 159/1992 Sb., se zájezdem rozumí pouze kombinace nabízená konečnému zákazníkovi, nikoliv kombinace nabízená (prodávaná) jinému podnikateli za účelem jeho podnikání. Zákazníkem se rozumí osoba, která uzavře s cestovní kanceláří smlouvu o zájezdu, nebo osoba, v jejíž prospěch byla tato smlouva uzavřena. Dále také není soubor služeb cestovního ruchu jehož nabídka a prodej nesplňují znaky živnostenského podnikání.

Uzavření smlouvy mezi stranami
Smluvní vztah mezi zákazníkem a pořadatelem vzniká na základě uzavření smlouvy o zájezdu. Smlouvou o zájezdu se pořadatel zavazuje pro zákazníka obstarat zájezd a zákazník se zavazuje zaplatit souhrnnou cenu (§ 2521 NOZ). V tom se nová úprava od současné neliší. I u smlouvy o zájezdu se však projevila zásada menšího důrazu na formu právního jednání. Na rozdíl od cestovní smlouvy smlouva o zájezdu nemusí být písemná. Pořadatel je však povinen zákazníkovi vydat doklad o smlouvě, tzv. potvrzení o zájezdu. Potvrzení o zájezdu vyžaduje písemnou formu a mezi jeho náležitosti kromě označení smluvní stran, vymezení zájezdu a údaje o ceně patří i údaj o způsobu, jakým má zákazník uplatnit své právo z porušení povinnosti pořadatele včetně údaje o lhůtě, ve které může práva uplatnit.

Cestovní kancelář
Provozovatel cestovní kanceláře (dále jen "CK") je podnikatel, který je na základě státního povolení k provozování živnosti (dále jen "koncese")4) oprávněn organizovat, nabízet a prodávat zájezdy. CK je také osoba, která má v okamžiku uzavření smlouvy o zájezdu sídlo nebo místo podnikání v jiném členském státě Evropské unie nebo v jiném státě tvořícím Evropský hospodářský prostor, než je Česká republika (dále jen "CK usazená na území jiného státu"). CK usazená na území jiného státu musí podnikat na základě oprávnění tohoto státu k provozování CK a musí mít sjednané pojištění záruky nebo bankovní záruku pro případ úpadku CK, nebo být jinak pro tento případ zajištěna, alespoň v rozsahu stanoveném tímto zákonem.

Provozovatel CK
Provozovatel, který provozuje cestovní agentury, je podnikatel, který je oprávněn na základě ohlášení volné živnosti provozovat činnosti v tomto rozsahu:
 nabízet a prodávat jednotlivé služby cestovního ruchu
 organizovat kombinace služeb cestovního ruchu a nabízet je a prodávat jiné cestovní kanceláři za účelem jejího dalšího podnikání,
 zprostředkovávat prodej jednotlivých služeb cestovního ruchu pro jinou cestovní kancelář nebo cestovní agenturu, případně pro jiné osoby (dopravce, pořadatele kulturních, společenských a sportovních akcí apod.),
 zprostředkovávat prodej zájezdu pro jinou cestovní kancelář; smlouva o zájezdu v těchto případech musí být uzavřena jménem cestovní kanceláře, pro kterou je zájezd zprostředkováván,
 prodávat věci související s cestovním ruchem, zejména vstupenky, mapy, plány, jízdní řády, tištěné průvodce a upomínkové předměty.

Nový občanský zákoník a související změny

Zákon č. 89/2012 Sb., občanský zákoník (dále jen "NOZ"), přináší změny i v oblasti cestovního ruchu. Stejně jako v jiných oblastech i nová právní úprava zájezdu účinná od roku 2014 spočívá zejména na menší formálnosti, ochraně spotřebitele a dobré víry.

Odlišnost nové úpravy je znát již z použité terminologie. NOZ na rozdíl od zákona 40/1964 Sb., občanský zákoník (dále jen "OZ") nepoužívá termín "cestovní smlouva" (§ 852a a n. OZ), ale "smlouva o zájezdu". Jedná se přitom o stejný smluvní typ, označení cestovní smlouva je však nepřesné, neboť plněním podle této smlouvy není cesta, ale zájezd jako soubor služeb cestovního ruchu. Navíc dosavadní právní úprava plně neodpovídá směrnici č. 90/314/EHS ze dne 13. června 1990 o souborných službách pro cesty, pobyty a zájezdy (dále jen "směrnice č. 90/314/EHS"), která je základem evropské úpravy zájezdu.

Zákon o podnikání v cestovním ruchu nově stanovuje, že za zájezd se považuje i kombinace služeb sestavená na základě "individuální objednávky". V praxi to tedy znamená, že s účinností novely (od 1. 8. 2006) nesmí zájezd na základě individuálních požadavků zákazníka prodávat vlastním jménem jiné subjekty než cestovní kanceláře.

Doposud se činností spočívající v prodeji kombinací služeb cestovního ruchu sestavených na základě individuálních požadavků zákazníka mohla zabývat jak CK, tak i cestovní agentura (dále jen "CA"). S nabytím účinnosti novely je tato činnost svěřena pouze CK a CA ji vykonávat nesmějí. Nedodržení tohoto pravidla je považováno za neoprávněné podnikání ve smyslu § 61 a násl. živnostenského zákona.

Tuto změnu si vyžádala implementace rozsudku ESD C – 400/00, který nově vyložil pojem zájezd obsažený ve směrnici 90/314/EHS, respektive pojem předem sestavená kombinace služeb.

Další novinkou podle NOZ je, že pořadatelem zájezdu je osoba, která sama nebo prostřednictvím třetí osoby nabízí podnikatelským způsobem veřejnosti nebo skupině osob zájezd (§ 2523 odst. 1 NOZ). Tím NOZ opouští koncepci OZ, kdy mohl být pořadatelem zájezdu pouze subjekt mající příslušné podnikatelské oprávnění, tj. koncesi na živnost cestovní kancelář. Toto pojetí zájezdu neodpovídá vymezení směrnice a z práv cestujícího při porušení smlouvy pořadatelem vylučuje právo na odškodnění za ztrátu potěšení z dovolené. Smyslem úpravy NOZ je chránit dobrou víru zákazníka, který uzavře smlouvu o zájezdu s osobou, která nemá potřebné veřejnoprávní oprávnění, a garantovat mu stejná práva jako kdyby uzavřel smlouvu s osobou, která příslušná oprávnění má.

Odkazy

Reference

Související články
 Cestovní agentura
 Cestovní kancelář
 First minute
 Last minute

Externí odkazy

 Ministerstvo pro místní rozvoj: Zákon č. 159/1999 Sb o některých podmínkách podnikání v oblasti cestovního ruchu

Cestovní ruch
Turistika
Doprava


text:
Posted in Infection Data
COVID-19 'prediction model' uses data that can help determine if patients' conditions are likely to worsen – Science Daily
Using a combination of demographic and clinical data gathered from seven weeks of COVID-19 patient care early in the coronavirus pandemic, Johns Hopkins researchers today published a "prediction model" they say can help other hospitals care for COVID-19 patients — and make important decisions about planning and resource allocations.
Brian Garibaldi, M.D., associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, led a team that published in the Annals of Internal Medicine the article that shares important lessons learned in the care of COVID-19 patients between March 4 and April 24, 2020, at five Johns Hopkins hospitals in Maryland and Washington, D.C.
During those 52 days, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Howard County General Hospital, Suburban Hospital and Sibley Memorial Hospital admitted a combined 827 people age 18 or older — 336 Black, 264 white, 135 Hispanic, 48 Asian, 2 Native American and 42 multiracial — who tested positive for the coronavirus and had symptoms of COVID-19.
From the data those patients generated, the researchers developed a prediction model using a set of risk factors known to be associated with COVID-19 to forecast how likely a patient's disease is to worsen while being treated in a hospital and at what point in their care that might happen. Among the risk factors researchers considered as part of the model were a patient's age, body mass index (BMI), lung health and chronic disease, as well as vital signs and the severity of a patient's COVID-19 symptoms at the time of admission.
The model, called the "COVID Inpatient Risk Calculator (CIRC)," is available online (rsconnect.biostat.jhsph.edu/covid_predict/). Garibaldi says the calculator is meant to help hospital physicians and other health care providers assess the risk of a patient's condition worsening.
"This is some of what we've learned in the months since we started seeing patients with COVID-19 at our hospitals," says Garibaldi. "As we continue to grapple with high numbers of COVID-19 infections across the United States, it's important to share knowledge with our colleagues at other hospitals."
Among the highlights of the study was the rapidity with which the disease can progress from mild or moderate to severe, particularly if a patient had all or some of the risk factors associated with the disease. Forty-five of the patients in the study had severe COVID-19 when they were admitted to the hospital. But 120 patients developed severe disease or died within 12 hours of being admitted. Of the 302 patients in the study who developed severe disease or died, the median time of disease progression was 1.1 days.
"Rapid progression of disease following admission [to the hospital] provides a narrow window to intervene," Garibaldi writes in the article. "Different combinations of risk factors appear to predict severe disease or death, with probabilities ranging from over 90% to as little as 5%."
For example, using the CIRC, Garibaldi and his colleagues estimate that a 60-year-old white woman with a BMI of 28, no chronic disease and no fever who is hospitalized for COVID-19 has a 10% chance of her disease worsening by day two of her hospital stay. The longer she's in the hospital, the greater that chance becomes, at 15% after four days and 16% after a week.
Conversely, the researchers considered an 81-year-old Black woman admitted to the hospital with COVID-19. The hypothetical patient has a BMI of 35, diabetes, hypertension and a fever. CIRC forecasts her probability of progressing to severe disease or even death by just the second day of her hospital stay is 89%. That percentage increases to higher than 95% by days four and seven.
By June 24, 694 of the patients in the study had been discharged from the hospital, 131 had died and seven were still hospitalized with severe COVID-19.
"We identified a few readily measurable demographic and clinical factors that, when assessed on admission to the hospital, can predict if someone has a 5% or a 90% risk of developing severe disease or dying from COVID-19," says Amita Gupta, M.D., professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who directs the Center for Clinical Global Health Education and is a co-author of the study. "This is incredibly useful information to have when communicating with patients and their families, as well as for informing resource allocation in the hospital."
The study's data comes from a registry of all patients treated for the novel coronavirus infection at hospitals in the Johns Hopkins system. Known as "JH-CROWN," the registry — which is funded by InHealth, the institution's precision medicine initiative — offers demographics, diagnoses, procedures, social histories and other data points relevant to caring for COVID-19 patients.
"The JH-CROWN data registry embodies the same teamwork and dedication that went into the care of more than 3,000 COVID-19 patients admitted to Johns Hopkins hospitals since the start of the pandemic," Garibaldi says. "We hope it can teach us more about the nature of COVID-19 and improve both patient care and research as we prepare for a second wave of infections in the fall."
A co-author of the study, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health biostatistics professor Scott Zeger, Ph.D., calls JH-CROWN "part of a transformation of Johns Hopkins Medicine into a learning health care system," where data provides real-time analytics that help doctors, nurses and other health care professionals zero in on precision care for each patient.
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