Start by developing a list of potential marks, and then search each class of goods and services for a similar mark, and finally think about how the mark will be perceived by the relevant consumers.
Descriptive Marks: Descriptive marks identify the product without imagination, thought, or perception. They are difficult to register since descriptive terms are supposed to be reserved for all competitors in the field, so they may freely use them to describe their products. Also, laudatory terms like "best" or "great" are descriptive. An example is BEST FOODS for mayonnaise. However, with consistent use in the marketplace over years, a mark may acquire distinctiveness and be registrable.
Suggestive Marks: Suggestive marks indicate a characteristic or feature of a product, and may suggest an idea regarding the product or service, but this will requires some though or imagination on the part of the customer. Examples of suggestive marks are KREEMY for ice cream or YUMMY YUMMY for chips.
Arbitrary Marks: Arbitrary marks comprise words that have a normal meaning but are used with a product or service that is unrelated to that meaning. An example of an arbitrary mark is APPLE for computers. Arbitrary marks are stronger than suggestive or descriptive marks, but are not quite as easy to defend as coined or fanciful marks.
Coined Words: A coined word, or made-up word, that has no meaning other than as a trademark is the strongest type of trademark. MOBIL, SAMSUNG, and KODAK are well-known examples of coined word trademarks. Coined marks may be more difficult for consumers to remember at first because they don't have any meaning, a trademark owner can provide a positive relationship between consumers and the product using the coined word. When this goodwill has been created, it is easier to defend the mark against unauthorized use and the mark will generate a specific meaning in a consumer's mind.
Generic Terms: A common term in use for a product or service, which must be kept available to people to use to refer to the product or service. When a product comes into common use, people sometimes refer to the product by that name, making the trademark generic and unprotectable in the long run. Kleenex for tissue and Xerox for copiers are classic examples of terms that once functioned as trademarks but that, through lack of protection, became generic and now are used as the common names for the products, regardless of their source. The trademark owners have worked hard to keep the name from common use for the product as generic terms are not registrable or protectable.
Names/Surnames/Geographic Locations: There is a general prohibition against registration of a trademark that is merely the name of an individual, a surname, or the geographic location where the products are made or from which the services emanate. For example, MCDONALDS may not be registrable, as it is primarily merely a surname which may be shared by a number of people who may want to use it for products or services. However, consistent use over a period of time may make the trademark distinctive and therefore registrable. Geographic indications for food or drink are similarly not protectable except through a special protection that is available to all manufacturers who fulfill the criteria of the food or drink. An example is that only sparkling wine grown in the Champagne region in France, made from specific grapes, may be labelled as Champagne.


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Something Luxe, Something New: Explore Utah's Winter Ski Lodging
20th November 2019 | Jill Robinson
Resorts in this article: Alta Ski Area, Brian Head Resort, Brighton Resort, Nordic Valley Resort, Powder Mountain, Snowbasin, Snowbird, Solitude Mountain Resort, Sundance, Eagle Point
Home is where the mountains are.
Copyright: Courtesy of Eagle Point
The primary reason for a ski vacation is the skiing, but it's also the ability to get away from your daily routine and relax in the mountains. Everyone may have their own definition of what it means to chill out — whether it's retreating to a remote resort or staying somewhere in the thick of the action — but that's why there are plenty of varied lodging options near Utah ski resorts.
New: Compass Rose Lodge, Ogden Valley
Upscale farmhouse minutes away from skiing.
Copyright: Courtesy of Compass Rose
Opened in Huntsville in January 2019, the Compass Rose Lodge's upscale-farmhouse-meets-industrial style gives guests the feeling of being out in the country, but without having to sacrifice modern luxuries like free Wi-Fi, cozy beds and linens, complimentary breakfast and parking, and 4K television. Staying here is a boutique experience with only 15 beautifully appointed king and queen bedrooms, views of the Ogden Valley, easy access to the area's three ski resorts and the convenience of on-site coffee shop First Lift Coffee. For more hearty meals, grab a burger at the Shooting Star Saloon or wander over to Huntsville Square for barbecue at Ogden Valley Smokehouse.
One particularly special highlight of this property is its access to the Huntsville Astronomic and Lunar Observatory (HALO), with a 16-inch aperture Ritchey-Chretien style telescope designed with hyperbolic shaped mirrors like the Hubble Space Telescope. Nightly star tours here include the use of an 8-inch Meade LX200, which served for years as one of the telescopes at Weber State University. If you're a guest at the Compass Rose Lodge, you get tours at half price.
Luxe: Snowpine Lodge, Alta
Modern and minimalist — Alta's luxury refined.
Copyright: Courtesy of Snowpine Lodge
Another hotel that opened in January 2019 is the Snowpine Lodge at Alta Ski Area. This refined mountain property transformed from its original 1941 self (there are still stone walls dating back to the 1800s, as the oldest building at Alta), following a $50-million renovation. The Snowpine has several firsts for Alta: first luxury property with ski-in/ski-out access, first full-service spa, first fully stocked game room, and first hotel at the resort that's open all year long — so if you fall in love with it in the winter, come on back in the summer for access to great hiking and biking adventures.
The 68 accommodations include 54 rooms and suites, and 14 traditional dorm-style bunk rooms. All rooms have premium bedding, flat-screen TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi, slippers and robes, and more. Premium rooms include balconies with views of the surrounding canyon, and the bunk rooms may be the best dorm-style rooms you've ever occupied. Rounding out the reasons to stay here are complimentary ski lockers, slope-side heated pool, two outdoor hot tubs, 24-hour fitness center and yoga studio, oxygen bar, movie room, fire pits, and optimal mountain dining and beverages provided by Swen's Restaurant and The Gulch Pub.
Explore additional elevated experiences in our guide to high culture and high elevation in the one and only Ski City: Salt Lake City.
Budget: PowderWood, Park City
Sure, if you search for a deal with a chain motel or find a sweet Airbnb score, you might come in with a cheaper room, but the 1- and 2-bedroom condominium units at PowderWood have the feel of a vintage apartment and the price is right for a ski-season stay in Park City. It may bring to mind the ski house you once rented for the season and crammed it full of a bunch of your friends, except this time, you don't need to split the cost 18 ways.
In the Kimball Junction area, PowderWood is walking distance to the Outlets Park City, and just a free transit ride away (or car ride) from Utah Olympic Park, Main Street or skiing at Park City Resorts. Full kitchens give you the option to eat meals in house instead of eating out three times a day, and an in-home washer and dryer allows you to pack less, or merely clean your clothing when you need to instead of wondering if you can really wear that shirt four times without someone noticing.
Family: The Cliff Lodge, Snowbird
For families on vacation, ski lodging with a wealth of amenities are essential—not necessarily from a luxury standpoint, but to ensure that there's enough variety to keep everyone happy. The Cliff Lodge is not only comfortable for the entire family, but also packs in plenty of dining and activity options, as well. Ski-in/ski-out convenience is coupled with walking distance to Snowbird's pedestrian village, so you don't feel out there with few options. But The Cliff Lodge has more than a few options itself. All rooms and suites have views, whether of the canyon or Snowbird's ski slopes. The on-site ski rental and repair shop, and complimentary ski lockers help families get ready for the day, and the rooftop pool, hot tubs, yoga studio, fitness center, steam room, and The Cliff Spa help boost après hours. Grab lunch at The Atrium, have a modern-American gastropub dinner together at The Aerie Restaurant and Lounge, or even get room service and celebrate a grand ski vacation together.
Remote: Vacation Homes and Village Condos, Eagle Point
Skiers love Eagle Point for its remote, away-from-it-all feeling in the Tushar Mountains of Southern Utah. It's also a great getaway from the more popular resorts, because you have plenty of space to ski. If you yearn for those old-school ski vacations where you get to focus on the people you're with and the fun you can have, this is the place for your ski retreat.
If you're traveling with a bunch of friends or a large family, Vacation Homes at Eagle Point give you multiple bedrooms, a fireplace and the space to spread out, almost like you get to do on the slopes. Each cabin is different, so it helps to plan in advance to find the one that serves your needs the best — whether with a fully stocked kitchen or easy access to nearby lodges. Another consideration is the collection of Village Condos at Eagle Point that range from 1–2 bedrooms. Some are ski-in/ski-out, some have fireplaces and they're configured to sleep between 4–11 guests. It's about 3.5 hours to Eagle Point from Salt Lake City. It's worth the drive for the seclusion and terrain, but with a little extra planning, you can extend your winter in Southern Utah experience.
Of course, Utah's winter ski lodging options are endless with the proximity of the metropolitan Wasatch Front to its world-class ski resorts. Browse more and book at Ski Utah.
Go Back to Utah Ski Trip Guide
Endless Utah Ski Options for Families: Four Itineraries to Get You Started
With the seemingly endless opportunities for families to create their own Utah ski vacation, starting at the beginning may be intimida...
Big Snow, Gotta Go: Tips for Finding the Best Snow in Utah

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


In works of three great painters of the second half of the XVIII century found its fullest reflection ideals of aesthetic, philosophical and religious ideas. In a short time they put the Russian portrait in one line with the best works of Western masters. Collection of these artists is the most famous part of the Russian Museum. The exhibition at the Yaroslavl Art Museum presents eleven portraits of Fyodor Rokotov, seven portraits of Dmitry Levitsky, seventeen portraits and religious paintings of Vladimir Borovikovsky.


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Q: Laravel DB::select returns General error: 2031 Laravel DB::select returns

General error: 2031

It looks like quotes are not added to the statement and it tries to execute the statement like this:
$sql = 'SELECT id FROM users where email=email@email.com';

The code looks like this:
$sql = 'SELECT id FROM users where email=?';
$results = DB::select($sql, ['email' => $email]);

I thought this is handled automatically by PDO but do I need to add anything to the code above so the statement looks like?
$sql = 'SELECT id FROM users where email="email@email.com"';

A: I recommend you to read the select docs from Laravel Query Builder.
The Query Builder provides a complete API to make it easier and safer. Your query would look like:
$results = DB::table("users")->select("id")->where("email",$email);

EDIT
The problem is that you're trying to pass a named parameter, but inside the string you didn't named it.
As the doc example shows:
$results = DB::select('select * from users where id = :id', ['id' => 1]);

Your query should look like:
$sql = 'SELECT id FROM users where email=:email';
$results = DB::select($sql, ['email' => $email]);

A: @mthrsj has correctly identified a better solution in your particular query.
Your underlying issue with the DB::select call is you're using non-named placeholders ? while passing it named data.
This should work:
$sql = 'SELECT id FROM users where email=?';
$results = DB::select($sql, [$email]);

as should this:
$sql = 'SELECT id FROM users where email=:email';
$results = DB::select($sql, ['email' => $email]);

A: If you have models setup, you can also call the DB using your User model:
$user = User::select('id')->where('email', $email)->get();

This uses Eloquent, which uses PDO.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Fitness trainer, Craig Ramsay has some great workout tips for Super Bowl Sunday, or really any time you're watching the tube for a prolonged period of time. Your couch is not just your stadium seating for the game, it's also your gym! Here are Craig Ramsay's 3 LITTLE exercises while watching the BIG game.
Eat It & Burn It with Craig Ramsay: Don't Let Unhealthy Slip Ups Ruin Your Fitness Game!
New Year resolutions are a great way to reaffirm values and to commit to better health. However, bad habits can be difficult to break and when a diet slip up happens it tends to send us on a downward spiral of fast food and shame. Celebrity fitness trainer Craig Ramsay, can rescue your New Year resolutions and restore your faith in health and fitness! Read on for quick and effective workouts to burn off your favorite junk food!


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Q: How do I import an excel file and search for specific record using python and pandas? I'm trying to import an excel file and search for a specific record
Here's what I have come up with so far, which keeps throwing error.
The excel spread sheet has two columns Keyword and Description, each keyword is around 10 characters max, and description is around 150 characters max.
I can print the whole sheet in the excel file without any errors using print(df1) but as soon as I try to search for a specific value it errors out.
Error
ValueError: ('Lengths must match to compare', (33,), (1,))

Code
import pandas as pd

file = 'Methods.xlsx'
df = pd.ExcelFile(file)
df1 = df.parse('Keywords')
lookup = df1['Description'].where(df1['Keyword']==["as"])
print (lookup)

A: the filter syntax is like this
df_filtered = df[df[COLUMN]==KEYWORD]

so in your case it'd be
lookup = df1[df1['Keyword'] == "as"]['Description']

or the whole code
import pandas as pd
file = 'Methods.xlsx'
df = pd.ExcelFile(file)
df1 = df.parse('Keywords')
lookup = df1[df1['Keyword'] == "as"]['Description']
print (lookup)

breaking it down:
is_keyword = df1['Keyword'] == "as"

this would return a series containing True or False depending on if the keyword was present.
then we can filter the dataframe to get those rows that have True with.
df_filtered = df1[is_keyword]

this will result in all the columns, so to get only the Description column we get it by
lookup = df_filtered['description']

or in one line
lookup = df1[df1['Keyword'] == "as"]['Description']

A: adding to the elaborate answer given by @Jimmar above:
Just for syntactical convenience, you could write the code like this:
lookup = df1[df1.keyword == "as"].Description

Pandas provides column name lookup like it is a member of DataFrame class( use of dot notation). Please note that the for using this way the column names should not have any spaces in them


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Anthomyia nigriceps este o specie de muște din genul Anthomyia, familia Anthomyiidae. A fost descrisă pentru prima dată de Huckett în anul 1946.

Este endemică în California. Conform Catalogue of Life specia Anthomyia nigriceps nu are subspecii cunoscute.

Referințe

Anthomyia (Anthomyiidae)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Price is not the only thing that matters when it comes to buying Wheelchair Tube 25" x 1" (20/23/25-559) Schrader Valve, live customer service is priceless!
This 25" x 1" (20/23/25-559) Wheelchair Tube available for individual sale at Sportaid features a Schrader Valve for easy inflation. Most 25" rims make a perfectly suitable home for this Wheelchair Tube by Kenda.
Tubes arrived promptly in good condition. I was surprised to find that the only marking on the boxes and the tubes is 25x1. No 559. If you've been in a chair very long you know the constant confusion on tire/tube size. The metric measurement is the only one that I have found to be accurate and to not have it on here tubes was unsettling.
I have been purchasing products from Sportaid for several years now. I am very satisfied with their products and services. When I call, I always get VIP treatment. I'm about to place an order.
Advantages: Great products. Good prices, great service and timely delivery.


The Commercial Real Estate Development Association in Massachusetts, NAIOP-MA, recently hosted a panel discussion where the developers most responsible for the transformation of Assembly Row, the Seaport, and the Fenway told their development stories. Nearly 300 people attended the event at the Seaport Hotel.
The NAIOP-MA description of the presentation points out that these developers would change the landscape and economy in the areas where they work, however as they made as they communicated the events that transpired it quickly became clear that when they started their real estate journeys, they had little clue where they would end up.
Steve Samuels, the founder of Samuels & Associates, told the audience that he hoped to go into the Fenway "in a very small way," to make a single real estate play involving a supermarket Now Samuels & Associates controls 19 Fenway properties that are host to luxury residences, trendy restaurants, new retail, and more than one million square feet of office space that runs the gamut in style from the Art Deco-era Landmark Center to the ultra-modern Van Ness.


City officials, partners and residents gathered on May 31 to celebrate the grand opening of Atmosphere, Wakeland's largest new construction development to date. The 12-story high-rise brings 205 new homes to downtown San Diego, serving a broad range of people who need affordable housing by combining traditional affordable units with 51 permanent supportive homes for people who have experienced homelessness.
You can see more highlights from the event in this clip from KUSI-TV.
Tracey oversees the site coordinators and programs at 18 Wakeland housing communities, traveling long distances to make sure that residents from San Diego County to the Bay Area can learn something new in a computer workshop, get help with their resume or enjoy a holiday celebration with their neighbors.
She is a tireless worker who consistently amazes us with selfless gestures that go above and beyond expectations – such as the time she personally cooked eight turkeys with all the trimmings so the residents at one of Wakeland's senior communities could have a nice dinner on Thanksgiving.
Nearly 70 volunteers organized by St. Paul's Senior Services turned out earlier this month to make beds, set up kitchen appliances and wrote "welcome home" notes for the incoming residents at Talmadge Gateway, San Diego's first permanent supportive housing development for medically frail seniors who have been homeless.
Opening in July, this new community is the result of a partnership between Wakeland and City Heights Community Development Corporation, with comprehensive on-site services provided for residents by St. Paul's Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).
Volunteers at the event set up 59 studio apartments for the new residents, who will be moving in later this summer. Afterwards, they enjoyed lunch and toasted the new property during a special ceremony that included a blessing and remarks from St. Paul's CEO Cheryl Wilson and City Councilmember Georgette Gomez.
Wakeland is excited to welcome Shonda Herold to the team as our newest project manager. Shonda previously worked as Housing Project Manager with the City of Riverside and was an instrumental part of bringing to life Wakeland's Home Front at Camp Anza, a community of 30 new homes designed for veterans that is located on the historic former site of a WWII U.S. Army training camp.
She will now oversee three Wakeland projects that are currently in development in Riverside County.


Hello LosAngeles - HOLLYWOOD SIGN WALK TO THE TOP!
HOLLYWOOD SIGN WALK TO THE TOP!
Join me for a Walk right to the TOP of the Hollywood Sign! I'll guide you up the best path to get to the sign while entertaining you with fun historical facts and stories having to do with one of the most recognizable signs in the world. I do a morning hike and an evening hike for the sunset hour!
In addition to storytelling, I've curated this hike to give you the best pictures for your Instagram and memories for a lifetime! I'll help you get the best photos of the sign, the skyline, and other scenic panoramas that will make your social media light up with likes--I GUARANTEE at least 10 LIKES on instagram :). You can follow me along @hollywood.hikes.
I'll show you how to take once in a lifetime photos in the absolute best locations throughout Griffith Park including a stunning panorama from above with the sign in the background and Los Angeles below.
Don't miss out on the most iconic attraction on the West Coast!
We'll start promptly at the allotted walk time.
We'll walk 10 minutes to the 1st Photo Stop while I give you some history of Griffith Park and the Hollywood Sign.
From there, we'll walk another 15 minutes through the beautiful Hollywood Hills neighborhood in route to the 2nd Photo Stop where we get to do a variety of different poses including my favorite "Jump" Picture--Great for Instagram.
Lastly, we'll track through the middle of Griffith Park in route to the top of the Hollywood Sign - I'll be sharing stories about the surrounding area and my own personal Hollywood Stories! At the top, we'll be rewarded with breathtaking views of Burbank and the San Fernando Valley as well as all of Los Angeles -- including Downtown LA, Hollywood, Century City, Beverly Hills, Lake Hollywood Reservoir, Miracle Mile, and even Palos Verdes on clear days!
On the way down, I'll happily share with you my favorite bar, restaurant, tourist recommendations to insure you have the best and most pleasant hike possible. Better than a guide, let me be your new local friend in LA and help you discover the very best this city has to offer!


"Having worked for the Bed and Breakfast Inn for 29 years and have watched it grow from a seven room shared bath Bed and Breakfast to what you see today. I enjoy reading mysteries and Scifi, and spending time with my grandchildren. Two of my favorite downtown restaurants are Garibaldi's (a charming Italian Restaurant) and Belford's seafood and steaks. They have great food!"
"Relatively recently transplanted from London to Savannah I enjoy the wonderful seafood here. My favorite seafood restaurant is Pearl's Saltwater Grille located on La Roche Avenue on the way to the Isle of Hope. It is set on the Marshes and is worth the 15 minute drive from the Historic District. Grouper, shrimp, Mahi Mahi, oysters, crab, scallops: it's all good and don't forget to try the best hush puppies in Savannah! For the Historic District you can't go wrong with the Olde PInk House for gourmet style Southern cooking! Try the tavern downstairs for a more casual experience with Live music from 8pm."
"Hi, my name is Paula and at the age of 64 I am thrilled to finally be a member of the 'inn' crowd.
While you are in Savannah one of the most pleasurable activities is dining out. One of my favorite spots for lunch is the Soho South Café on Liberty St. They have a great selection of salads, soups, and sandwiches.
"One of my favorite restaurants in Savannah is very close to the inn: The Crystal Beer Parlor. Originally a speakeasy, the Crystal Beer Parlor maintains the kind of charming atmosphere and really great food that's kept them in business long after prohibition. And it's only a few minutes away on foot from the Inn.
If you're heading out to Tybee island, check out AJ's Dockside. They have a great mix of seafood and many great original items on their menu. They also feature a really great view of the Lazeretto creek and marshes outside on the patio, which looks awesome at sunset. And if you're just looking for a quick lunch or early dinner, try the Sundae Café on Tybee. It's one of the those out-of-the-way restaurants that you'd never notice until someone tells you how good they are. In addition to all the great items on the menu, try one of their homemade desserts. I still haven't found anything to top the Reese's cake there."


Showing results for "gym pants"
Never used . No tag (cut off when got the product). Nice dark gray color . Super soft and comfortable.
Barely worn, condition is like new!
$5 each. 1 is outing baggy pants w pockets. Another workout/gym pants. Both seldom wear. Clearance stocks.
Fits 60-90cm waist, elastic waistband Colours Pink Black sports sweatpants run jog gym pants. 3 stripe adidas long track pants loose. For women woman ladies girls female nike exercise jogger trousers.


If you want to study taichi /taiji in Budapest but you don't speak Hungarian (yet) you are very welcome to join my English or "bilingual" taichi classes.
- taichi show for conferences, "health days"
- taichi/ chikung seminar for weekends, for team-building in Budapest or in the beautiful mountains of Pilis.
Learning tai chi together with your workmates is the most wonderful way to develop both your body and your spirit, to become more conscious, to learn more about yourself and each other, and recognise the best in the other.


That's the only conclusion I could draw from the looks in their eyes, as we sat across the table from a nameless, faceless, wall of rejection.
We had a product, we targeted a market, but we were still working on the "fit" part as we tried to sell lead nurturing systems and marketing automation to the mid-market.
They loved what we were saying, agreed that there was a bright future in automation. But it wasn't their most pressing problem.
Their most pressing problem was finding quality leads. They weren't ready to invest $10k+ into a system, only to put 100 names into the funnel. The economics just didn't work out if they didn't have more leads.
A PPC agency was born.
Celebrate hearing no more often?
Among the biggest fears of rejection faced by a business owner, hearing "no" in a sales call has to rank right up at the top.
Entrepreneurship is already hard enough. Take away validation and it feels impossible.
Some entrepreneurs hear NO and put up a fight. They will not stop until they figure out how to win the sale. Their skin thickens and their resolve strengthens with each failure.
Others will hear no and choose flight. They will quickly move on to chasing the next easiest niche or shiniest object. Their skin remains thin, and their only resolution is chasing after something easier.
Which is the best approach? The answer lies somewhere in between.
There are some products that will never sell, no matter how hard you try to make it work. There are others that are simply ahead of their time, and need to wait for the market to mature. A visionary knows where the market is heading, and stakes their claim.
If you believe that your product has a place in the future, double down. Celebrate hearing "no" and wear it like a badge of honor. Realize that while you are ahead of your time, the market will eventually come around; and you will be positioned as an authority.
Had we started doing this in the field of marketing automation back in 2005, we would be legends.
But instead, we listened to what the marketplace wanted and pivoted. We delivered what people wanted (lead generation through PPC campaigns) and delivered at scale.
And it was a brilliant choice.
Many entrepreneurs will go bankrupt while waiting for a market to evolve. Or invest massive sums of venture capital in staying afloat while building a market for their products. In tech culture, we celebrate the survivors.
But the economics of agencies and consulting firms don't work the same way. It takes tremendous mis-management or crazy market shifts for a services business to go bankrupt. And there's not really a need for venture capitalists to get started (nor a desire on their part).
A service provider needs to focus on what will grow their business in the near term, or else they won't ever get to see the long term vision play-out.
Yes, I believed that marketing automation had a brilliant future. No, I couldn't afford to wait until it finally started to take off 5 years later.
Time is the most underrated aspect of success. It touches everything and it cannot be stopped.
Do you have time to listen to the marketplace? Or does the marketplace make the decision for you?


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Tech Career Insights: Developer Salaries 2020: Cape Town, Johannesburg & Pretoria
Developer Salaries 2020: Cape Town, Johannesburg & Pretoria
A lot has changed since our last developer salary article comparing Johannesburg and Cape Town in 2019. Entire companies have gone remote, budgets have been reviewed, and teams have been restructured in order to adapt to the rapid changes brought about by COVID-19. Using data from placements made on the OfferZen platform, we want to give you insight into developer salaries on our marketplace over the last year. Here are our findings.
Hiring activity on OfferZen has recovered to pre-COVID levels
In April, hiring activity on OfferZen dropped by more than 25% when compared to last year. This shows the extent to which companies paused their hiring in response to South Africa's lockdown. However, we have since seen a recovery in this activity and are now seeing some of the busiest weeks of hiring on the platform ever.
While we've also seen a rise in company activity with regards to hiring for remote roles this year, it is too soon to say whether this will continue to increase and persist into the future. The impact of remote work requires further analysis and is not covered in this article.
How did developer salaries in Pretoria compare to Johannesburg and Cape Town?
Since our last salary article in 2019 comparing Johannesburg and Cape Town, hundreds of developers have found jobs through OfferZen and our presence in Pretoria has grown by 129%. That's why we're including Pretoria in this year's analysis.
When looking at what developers at different experience levels earned in the three cities, developers with 2-4 years of experience in Pretoria earned on average R33.5K which is less than developers in Cape Town, but more than developers in Johannesburg who earned R31.4K per month on average.
This trend changes as experience levels increase – with developers in Pretoria having earned less on average than developers in both Johannesburg and Cape Town from 4 years of experience onwards. The starkest difference is at the 6-10 year experience level, where developers in Pretoria earned an average of R51K while their peers in Johannesburg earned R61K – an average of 19% more.
Developer salaries per year of experience with quartiles
In the graph below, we've also included the 25th and 75th percentile salaries to give further context on the distribution of our data.
Junior developers on OfferZen earned the most in Cape Town
Last year, we found that junior developers earned more in Cape Town than they did in Johannesburg.
In 2020, it seems that the trend remained the same. At R27.5K, junior developers with 0-2 years of experience in Cape Town earned 10% more than developers in Johannesburg.
Interestingly, Junior developers in Pretoria were the second highest earners at R25.5K per month, marginally surpassing Johannesburg juniors who averaged at R25K.
Senior developers earned more in Johannesburg – until the 10 year mark
At senior experience levels, the tables are turned: More experienced developers on OfferZen earned more in Johannesburg than developers in Cape Town. Capetonian developers with 6-10 years of experience earned R58.3K whereas Johannesburg developers earned R61K on average.
However, this changes when it comes to developers with 10+ years of experience. At this experience level, developers in Cape Town earned on average 7.7% more than their Johannesburg counterparts.
OfferZen Developers in Johannesburg (still) had more purchasing power in 2020
Last year we took into account the cost of living in both Cape Town and Johannesburg and found that, on average, developers in Johannesburg had more purchasing power than developers in Cape Town.
We did this comparison again this year and used Numbeo to adjust for the cost of living. We found that, when compared to Johannesburg, it is 8% more expensive to live in Cape Town, but 5% cheaper to live in Pretoria. Cost of living includes rent, groceries, restaurants and consumer prices.
When we looked at the different cities after adjusting for cost of living, we found that earning an average of R53.5K in Johannesburg is equivalent to earning R58K in Cape Town whereas earning R46.9K in Pretoria is equivalent to earning R49.2K in Johannesburg.
After a pretty rough year for many of us, it's exciting to see that companies on OfferZen are back in the tech hiring game. If anything, this year has only highlighted that the tech industry has bounced back faster than many other sectors.
Last but not least, it is always important to keep in mind that every individual's context is different. At the end of the day, salary is a personal conversation that should take place between employee and employer and should take into consideration the nature of work, perks, and other contextual factors like tech stack or industry.
The insights of this article are based on OfferZen platform data, and represent developers who were placed on the OfferZen platform, not the entire industry. We've also narrowed the focus of this article to include only salaries of software developers rather than roles like data scientists, product designers, and product managers on OfferZen.
OfferZen is a curated marketplace, where we pre-screen candidates for quality. This means that the data from our platform will vary from other resources like our State of the Developer Nation report which is based on survey responses from over 3000 developers in the South African tech community. Our second State of the Developer Nation report, based on this year's survey responses, will still be released in early in 2021 so stay tuned!
In this article, 'salary' refers to the gross monthly salary (before tax) that developers on OfferZen were hired at at the time of signing their contract and excludes other incentives like equity or bonuses. Our platform data only reflects new placements made during the year. It does not reflect any existing employee salary reductions or raise freezes that may have happened this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you have any questions or suggestions for a future analysis, feel free to leave a comment below. Make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter for more articles like this one.
How Employers Can Negotiate a Job Offer that's More than Just the Money
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2020 Developers Remote Work Report
The State of the Developer Nation Report 2019
(Archived: We've recently updated this article to reflect the latest 2020 data. You can still see 2016, 2018, 2019 city comparisons at their respective links.)


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https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/lists/3-former-sixers-named-on-list-of-best-duke-players-to-play-in-the-nba/
3 former Sixers named on list of best Duke players to play in the NBA
With the recent final home game for Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski — a loss to hated rival North Carolina — now is the time to look back at some of the best players who played for Krzyzewski and made it in the NBA.
The Philadelphia 76ers had three such players named to a recent list put together by Cam Tabatabaie over at Rookie Wire. The list is of the best NBA players who went to Duke.
Here are the three:
JJ Redick
Redick spent two seasons with the Sixers, but he made a big impact across those two seasons. He is also one of the best players in Duke history.
Rookie Wire on Redick:
There aren't many people in the history of basketball who have better shooting numbers than JJ Redick. During his time at Duke, he was as reliable as they come from both the free-throw line and from deep. In fact, he was the consensus Player of the Year in 2006.
At the NBA level, Redick maintained his poise, his shooting and his grit. A controversial player to some, Redick was a postseason mainstay with the Magic and later the Clippers during his time as a pro. In fact, 2020 was the first time in his career he missed the playoffs.
Elton Brand
Brand spent five seasons with the Sixers, and he is now the team's general manager, helping president Daryl Morey make decisions in the front office.
Rookie Wire on Brand's time at Duke:
Now a member of the 76ers front office, Elton Brand is one of the NBA's most underrated stars. His style of low and slow ball has fallen out of favor, but during his days as a pro, Brand was a consistent threat at the rim and a world-class rebounder.
During his time at Duke, Brand also excelled. He was the 1999 Consensus Player of the Year Award winner, the same year he led the Blue Devils to the NCAA Final.
Curry spent 1.5 seasons in Philadelphia before being sent to the Brooklyn Nets in the James Harden deal. He was always a terrific shooter and he excelled in college as well.
Rookie Wire on Curry's time at Duke:
Not every Dukie leaves college destined for greatness. Though the school produces bona fide superstars, there are plenty of extremely talented players who didn't necessarily create headlines while playing at Duke.
After transferring from Liberty University, Curry actually started for Duke in place of an injured Kyrie Irving. Despite being named to the 2013 All-ACC first team, Curry was not selected during that season's NBA draft.
The former Blue Devil finally made his way to the pros by way of the G-League. Even on the NBA stage, the game wasn't always smooth sailing for Curry. Still, the Dukie kept at it, and nowadays is one of the most important role players in the NBA.


"There is a strong emphasis on growing children's awareness and management of their own learning. Their input is valued by staff and informs teaching programmes and the choice of activities offered. Teachers are increasingly personalising learning for children. Ongoing review of the school curriculum includes the development and use of digital technology and inquiry learning."
"Students have extensive opportunities to participate and celebrate success in a range of cultural, artistic, sporting and leadership activities. They benefit from positive, affirming relationships with their teachers."
"Each student's holistic wellbeing is a priority. Leaders regularly conduct and respond to student wellbeing surveys. Established relationships with local kindergartens and early learning centres support smooth transition to school.."


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S: (n) New Jersey, Jersey, Garden State, NJ, N.J. (a Mid-Atlantic state on the Atlantic; one of the original 13 colonies)
domain term region
part meronym
S: (n) Atlantic City (a city on the Atlantic shore in southeastern New Jersey; a resort and gambling center)
S: (n) Trenton, capital of New Jersey (capital of the state of New Jersey; located in western New Jersey on the Delaware river)
S: (n) Bayonne (a city in northeastern New Jersey)
S: (n) Camden (a city in southwestern New Jersey on the Delaware River near Philadelphia)
S: (n) Jersey City (a city in northeastern New Jersey (opposite Manhattan))
S: (n) Morristown (a town in northern New Jersey where the Continental Army spent two winters)
S: (n) Newark (the largest city in New Jersey; located in northeastern New Jersey)
S: (n) New Brunswick (a university town in central New Jersey)
S: (n) Paterson (a city of northeastern New Jersey)
S: (n) Princeton (a university town in central New Jersey)
S: (n) Cape May (a cape of southeast New Jersey extending into the Atlantic Ocean)
S: (n) Ellis Island (an island in New York Bay that was formerly the principal immigration station for the United States) "some twelve millions immigrants passed through Ellis Island"
S: (n) Delaware Bay (an inlet of the North Atlantic; fed by the Delaware River)
S: (n) New Jersey (one of the British colonies that formed the United States)


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Home Articles Emirates to Yemen: Ours are islands and ports … and yours are...
By: Rana Harbi
Emirates to Yemen: Ours are islands and ports … and yours are ruined prisons
Since its entry into the war in Yemen, the UAE has extended its influence in the strategic areas of the coast, extending its ambitions from the island of Socotra in the Gulf of Aden, and in the heart of Bab al-Mandab, to the port of Mukha and other ports on the coast of 2500 kilometers, Arab Region and the Middle East.
The objective of the UAE to enter Yemen and to make human and material sacrifices in a war with no clear horizon is no longer hidden, especially since the stated reason for participation, namely, "the restoration of legitimacy", seems remote even in the areas of influence of the Alliance of Aggression and the local forces loyal to it. The clear goal is to ensure a stable and sustainable existence of the UAE's influence on the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and it begins by strengthening the presence of the forgotten and neglected "Virgin Islands", despite their strategic importance.
The 216 islands of Yemen are spread along the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, including Miyoun and Sutkaria, and are classified as "golden islands" in the Middle East, but because of their geography and unique nature, into areas of conflict and influence among States.
In January, the Middle East's Defense and Middle East Defense Report reported that Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had revealed to UAE military leaders his desire to strengthen the role of the navy in "protecting and securing the coast of Yemen" In a move that comes within the strategic "strong man" plan to expand military deployment in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab to the coast of the Horn of Africa. According to the intelligence site, Ibn Zayed "is in constant contact with the Pentagon to study the expansion of the role of the Navy," which has already begun to establish military bases in Yemen, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia, in addition to hiring a number of ports for export and import, Disable it!
Socotra … the big story
In February last year, media outlets reported reports accusing the outgoing Yemeni president, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, of leasing Socotra Island to the UAE for a period of "99 years." Amid the great public discontent, Hadi denied the controversial agreement, pointing fingers at the time to former Vice President Khalid Bahah, who, according to sources quoted by the Arab site, which follows the affairs of the Arabian Peninsula, "signed with the UAE contracts with the knowledge of Hadi, who agreed In the beginning….
Also read: The Zionist occupation launched an arrest campaign in the occupied West Bank
All areas that the UAE set foot upon had gradually been transformed into military zones
But he did not know what was really going on in the minds of Emiratis. "
The accusations coincided with the disclosure of informed sources that the son of Zayed treated with Hadi a "method of inappropriate protocol and with a degree of superiority and superiority," and on the basis that "we are preparing you to Aden," during a stormy gathering Monday, while the number of Crown Prince, Legitimacy "and stressed that" our sacrifices and the blood of 65 martyrs of the UAE will not be in vain. "
But the wrath of "legitimacy", and behind it Riyadh, of Abu Dhabi did not prevent the latter from continuing its systematic practices to complete control of the island, which remained the regional and international ambitions due to its location on the Indian Ocean off the coast of the Horn of Africa and near the Gulf of Aden. Socotra, a four-island archipelago, is characterized by a unique natural diversity, with hundreds of trees, plants and animals that do not exist in any other region of the world. This prompted the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2008 to classify the island, which has an area of about 3796 square kilometers and has a population of about one hundred thousand people, as "the strangest islands of the world," Socotra also has a coastline of 300 Km.
Under the pretext of "investment" and "humanitarian aid" after the storms of 2015, the process of the UAE occupation of the island began to change its unique features and demography and even its Yemeni identity, through naturalization of the population and the training of more than 300 of its members militarily, to become the Abu Dhabi Army.
According to the press reports, which have proliferated in the past two years, the UAE has established a secret port in Socotra. It has operated three direct weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Al Jazeera. It has established an Emirati telecommunications network and linked it to the island. It also purchased large tracts of land or sold them to residents of its nationality, and sent 80 military vehicles to it.
Also read: India should not isolate Pakistan-US General Joseph Votel
It also set up tourism facilities that harm the nature of the island. It reached the point of targeting and plundering plant and animal wealth, transporting plants and rare birds to the Abu Dhabi gardens, and fishing and razing coral reefs threatening the fisheries. More seriously, the UAE military presence on the island, which was occupied by Britain in 1886 and continued there until the independence of southern Yemen in 1967, represents a foothold for the United States, which sought to control it as part of a plan to extend its influence on the Indian Ocean, after controlling Diego Garcia The Indian Ocean, 1,600 kilometers south of the Indian coast) in the early 1970s.
Millon «Neck of Babal Mandab»
After Socotra, the role of the island of Mayun in the heart of Bab al-Mandab, as well as the foreign military presence in it, came under pressure from its inhabitants to evict and relocate them to build a military base. The Newsweek magazine confirmed that the 13-square-kilometer (13 sq km) port of the UAE between the two countries is being transferred to a military base without the knowledge of its legitimate Yemeni government. The military installations adopted by the UAE "will give Abu Dhabi full control over one of the most important strategic maritime routes in the world: the Bab al-Mandab Strait. "
Moune is strategically located even from the rest of the Bab al-Mandab islands, because it divides the strait into two vessels for the passage of ships. This is called the Bab al-Mandab neck. In recent weeks, there has been increasing talk of the expansion of the UAE in Myon, "in the absence of Saudi Arabia." Satellite images and maps published by Jane's, a military research journal, revealed Abu Dhabi's new runway, to complete its construction and other constructions by the end of this year ».
This is not the first time a foreign country has sought to strengthen its military presence on this volcanic island. The United States and France have already asked the Yemenis over the past decades to allow them to establish military bases there, but the authorities refused, fearing popular repercussions. For any external presence.
Port of Mukha
As well as the islands, the poorest Arab country has more than 10 major ports that make it, in addition to its natural resources and energy resources, one of the most commercialized countries in the region. Currently, fighting in the West Coast, especially in the southwestern city of Al-Mukha, which has a vital port near Bab al-Mandab, is one of the most prominent developments in the Yemeni landscape. These events reflect not only the confusion of the forces allied to the aggression, but also the confusion in the structure of this "alliance" in which the Arab and international ambitions, economic and trade conflict.
Also read: Emmanuel Macron's Test Against Yellow Jackets
Local sources have revealed the transformation of Abu Dhabi port of the brain, which is the oldest in the country, to the military barracks of its forces, which there are more than 400 soldiers. According to the Yemeni sites, it is forbidden to approach the port since the declaration of the aggression alliance in February, and also to evacuate fishing boats and to prevent fishing through it. It is the livelihood of most of the population along the coastline from Bab al-Mandab to the port known as: «Al-Orouk Coast»
What is happening today in Mina al-Mukha is similar to what happened at Al-Rayyan airport in the city of Mukalla, the capital of Hadramout province in the east of the country, which was turned by the UAE forces into a military base where hundreds of prisoners opposed to the country's foreign presence are held. An investigative report by the Associated Press on the establishment of these secret prisons in various parts of southern Yemen provoked a wave of anger among Yemeni opposition and pro-coalition circles, which saw it as no less serious than the geographical and political occupation of Abu Dhabi in it.
Hadramout
Mina al-Mukha
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What Is the Largest Art Museum in Switzerland?
Art|Art Museum
Isabella Herrera
The world-renowned Swiss art scene is home to some of the most impressive collections of art in the world. From classic works of Renaissance masters to modern masterpieces, Switzerland is a haven for art lovers. But with so many museums and galleries to choose from, which one holds the title of being the largest art museum in Switzerland?
The answer lies in the Kunstmuseum Basel, located in Basel, Switzerland. This museum has been around since 1661 and is now considered one of the leading institutions for modern and contemporary art in Europe.
Kunstmuseum Basel features works from some of the most iconic artists of all time. The collection includes works by Rembrandt, Monet, Cezanne, Picasso and Magritte, among others. In addition to these classic works, there are also numerous more contemporary works by artists such as Damien Hirst, Jenny Holzer and Gerhard Richter.
The museum also boasts a wide variety of other exhibitions that change frequently throughout the year. These include themes ranging from fashion and design to photography and video installations.
Kunstmuseum Basel is also known for its educational programs which offer a variety of lectures and workshops throughout the year. These programs are designed to give visitors an introduction to the history of art as well as a deeper understanding of both classic and modern art.
When it comes to finding the largest art museum in Switzerland, Kunstmuseum Basel is undoubtedly one of the top contenders. With its impressive collection featuring classic and contemporary works from some of history's greatest artists coupled with its engaging educational programs, it's no wonder why this museum continues to draw visitors from around the world.
What Is the Largest Art Museum in Europe?
The largest art museum in Europe is the State Hermitage Museum located in St. Petersburg, Russia. This iconic museum was established in 1764 by Catherine the Great and has been open to the public since 1852, making it one of the oldest and largest museums in the world.
What Is the Biggest Art Museum in Europe?
The biggest art museum in Europe is the Louvre in Paris, France. Located on the banks of the Seine River, the Louvre is one of the world's most famous and influential art museums. It houses a vast collection of art from all over the world, with artwork dating back to antiquity.
What Is the Largest Modern Art Museum in Europe?
The largest modern art museum in Europe is the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France. Located in the heart of the city, it is one of the most important and influential museums of modern art in the world. It houses an impressive collection of contemporary art from all over Europe and beyond, including works by Picasso, Duchamp, Matisse, Miró and many other artists.
What Is the World's Largest Art Museum?
The world's largest art museum is the Louvre in Paris, France. With over 38,000 works of art on display, it is the most visited art museum in the world and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Paris. The Louvre was originally built as a fortress by King Philip II in 1190 and later converted into an art museum by Napoleon I in 1803.
What Is the Name of the Largest Museum of Modern Art in Europe?
The largest museum of modern art in Europe is the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France. This world-renowned museum was opened in 1977 and has since become one of the most important cultural institutions in the world. It is home to an extensive collection of modern and contemporary art, including works from Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Henri Matisse.
What Is France's Largest Art Museum?
France is a country known for its culture, art and iconic architecture. From the Louvre to the Musée d'Orsay, it's no surprise that France is home to some of the world's most prestigious art collections. But what is France's largest art museum?
What Is the Largest Museum of Modern Art in Europe?
The largest museum of modern art in Europe is the London Tate Modern, located in the South Bank area of London. This impressive museum houses over 70,000 works of modern art from 1900 to the present day. It is the UK's most visited tourist attraction, welcoming over 5 million visitors each year.
Which Is the World's Largest Art Museum?
Art museums are a great way to experience the beauty of art. They provide an opportunity to view and appreciate works of art from around the world. Art museums can be found in all major cities, but some are more impressive than others, boasting larger collections and bigger spaces.
What Is the Biggest Art Museum in the World?
The world's largest art museum is the Louvre in Paris, France. The iconic structure houses over 35,000 works of art from around the world and is one of the most visited museums in the world. The Louvre has a long history dating back to its opening in 1793, when it was first established by King Louis XIV as a public museum.
Where Is the World's Largest Art Museum?
The world's largest art museum is arguably the Louvre in Paris, France. Located in the heart of Paris on the Right Bank of the River Seine, it is one of the most visited historical sites on Earth. The Louvre is renowned for its vast collection of artwork from around the world, ranging from ancient artifacts to contemporary pieces.
Categories Art, Art Museum
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Rally to Support Indigenous Youth Arrested in Support of Wet'suwet'en
Indigenous Youth Arrested in Support of Wet'suwet'en
Watch video: "We have a sacred responsibility to the land.
Youths arrested and released: Indigenous youths shaken up after being arrested, chant: "When Indigenous youths are under attack what do we do?"
"Stand up fight back."
https://www.facebook.com/indigenousclimateaction/
Yesterday, Indigenous Youth of Nuuchahnulth, Tla'amin, Sto:lo, Namgis, Heiltsuk,, Lil'wat, Xwlemi, Qayqayt, Lue Chogh Tue, Shishalh and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nations occupied the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en, amplifying the demands of the Wet'suwet'en hereditary leadership for the RCMP to stand down and remove their blockade on the Wet'suwet'en yintahs and for Premier Horgan to meet directly with hereditary leaders.
The youth locked themselves together, surrounded by their medicines, at 11 AM PST, January 21. Throughout the course of the day, the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum, Michelle Mungal, refused to meet with the youth to receive a letter that included a list of four demands made by the Hereditary Chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en Nation. Around 5 AM PST on January 22, arrests of the youth began. While being forcibly removed from the device, many of the youth were in pain and felt trauma both by the police presence and the touching of their regalia.
Today at 8 AM PST, a snap rally will occur to Support Indigenous Youth for Wet'suwet' in Solidarity. This will occur at the Ministry of Energy & Mines (1810 Blanshard St Fl 6TH, Lekwungen Territory (Victoria), British Columbia V8T 4J1).
Indigenous Youth for Wet'suwet'en
WHERE/WHEN:
11:00 AM PST, January 22, 2020
Ministry of Energy & Mines
1810 Blanshard St Fl 6TH
Lekwungen Territory (Victoria), British Columbia V8T 4J1
This event will be livestreamed from the Indigenous Climate Action Facebook (@indigenouscliamteaction)
Lindsey Bacigal, Director of Communications
lindsey@indigenousclimateaction.com
WhatsApp: 613.875.3267
Rally to Support Indigenous Youth Arrested in Supp...
► Nov 23


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News: Feeling Nostalgic May Literally Warm Us Up
Written by Laura Schwecherl on December 6, 2012
Remember that song we used to play on repeat when we were kids? Or how about that epic family vacation circa 1999? Well, it might be worth thinking back to sentimental times if the winter chill has got you down. A study discovered thinking about nostalgic moments could literally make us feel warm and fuzzy, both inside and out Heartwarming memories: Nostalgia maintains physiological comfort. Zhou, X., Wildschut, T., Sedikides, C., et al. Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China. Emotion, 2012 Aug;12(4):678-84. doi: 10.1037/a0027236. Epub 2012 Mar 5. .
Researchers conducted five separate studies to see if there was a connection between nostalgia — a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past — and physical warmth.
In the first study participants kept a journal for 30 days. Results showed they recorded more nostalgic thoughts on colder days.
In the next, volunteers were placed in either a cold, comfortable, or hot room, and were asked how nostalgic they felt. Those in the coldest room had recorded feeling the most nostalgic.
The third was conducted online, researchers recorded how warm participants felt when listening to music. Those who felt nostalgic from listening to music also felt warmer.
The fourth had volunteers were asked to think either nostalgic or normal thoughts and then guess how cold the room was. People who felt nostalgic perceived the room warmer than it really was.
The final study had participants thought either nostalgic or ordinary thoughts again, and then was asked to place their hands in ice water to see how long they could tolerate it. Scientists discovered (you guessed it!) those who recalled a nostalgic event kept their hand in the water for longer.
Can We Trust It?
It's one thing to throw on a coat or stand by a fire to warm up. But it might be hard to believe nostalgia can also help people fight the cold. However, it's difficult to argue when all five studies concluded that's exactly what nostalgia can do. But like any study, the nostalgia results have their limitations. For one, the act of thinking nostalgically is subjective and probably can't accurately be measured. And it's not just nostalgia that can help combat the cold, either. Tolerating certain temperatures can also depend on metabolic rate, age, and how acclimatized people are to certain temperatures Involvement of basal metabolic rate in determination of type of cold tolerance. Maeda, T., Fukushima, T., Ishibashi, K., et al. Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Fukushima Medical University. Journal of Physiological Anthropology, 2007 May;26(3):415-8. . Information on the study participants is unknown, so it's unclear if any of these additional factors could've affected the results. And how exactly does nostalgia warm people up? Study researchers deduced nostalgia acts like a personal heater because stimulating the mind with previous, positive thoughts — a psychological comfort — can also impact physiological comfort. Moreover, other research explains how nostalgia can combat loneliness Counteracting loneliness: on the restorative function of nostalgia. Zhou, X., Sedikides, C., Wildschut, T., et al. Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China. Psychological Science, 2008 Oct;19(10):1023-9. . And check this: There's also a link between feeling lonely and feeling cold, so thinking nostalgic thoughts could potentially make us feel both less lonely and less cold. (Why aren't we all thinking about that kickass sleep-away camp in third grade?)
Nostalgia is much more than walking down memory lane. What's so cool about taking a closer look at nostalgic thinking is the myriad ways it affects our mental and physical health. Nostalgia can fight off loneliness, and feeling more socially connected can lead to being healthier and living longer Social relationships and health: a flashpoint for health policy. Umberson, D., Montez, J.K.University of Texas at Austin, Department of Sociology, Austin, TX. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 2010;51 Suppl:S54-66. Assessment of health, well-being and social connections: a survey of women living in Western Sydney. Griffiths, R., Horsfall, J., Moore, M., et al. South Western Sydney Centre for Applied Nursing Research, University of Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 2007 Feb;13(1):3-13. . Thinking warmly about the past can provide more meaning to our present lives, too The past makes the present meaningful: nostalgia as an existential resource. Routledge, C., Arndt, J., Wildschut, T., et al. Department of Psychology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND. Journal of Personal Sociology and Psychology, 2011 Sep;101(3):638-52. doi: 10.1037/a0024292. . Nostalgic thinking has even been shown to be more effective in provoking meaning than simply thinking about a recent positive experience or a desired one in the future The power of the past: nostalgia as a meaning-making resource. Routledge, C., Wildschut, T., Sedikides, C., et al. Department of Psychology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND. Memory, 2012 Jul;20(5):452-60. Epub 2012 May 28. . Culturally, nostalgia is having a bit of a moment, thanks in part to the hipster movement of the early aughts (retro Ts, anyone?).It turns out nostalgia is also having some interesting psychosomatic effects on the way we think. Beat the blues with happy memories? It's so old-fashioned it just might work.
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Blue Mind | My Year Away. And Back.
Water, Water, Everywhere. An Ideal State of Being.
Finding books to expand my thinking during My Year Away has been a serendipitous treasure hunt. I knew I would spend part of this year reading presidential biographies. Nothing like a list to keep a person organized! Just in case you're counting we've had 43 different presidents. (I include Grover Cleveland only once considering he served two non-consecutive terms—and I'm definitely not reading two biographies of Cleveland!) That's a doable list—especially when you discover books like The Bully Pulpit, which covers two presidents.
Still, I can't just read books about presidents. So far, I've also read books on rowing, the perils of higher education and Alzheimer's. Today I write about water. Wallace J. Nichols' Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do (ISBN 978-0-316-25208-9) is a book that made think about water in ways I had never imagined—and I thought I knew quite a bit about the stuff.
In a nutshell, Blue Mind lays out the science that provides convincing evidence that being around water is a good thing. It not only reduces stress, it can even make us smarter! The importance of water is multi-layered. It's the actual water, it's the sound of water, and it's even the color of water.
Is blue your favorite color? According to Blue Mind, it's lots of people's favorite color for the basic reason that blue makes us all feel better. With apologies to Elvis' crooning that he'll be blue, blue, blue this Christmas, research indicates that blue lifts our spirits, cures our depression, lets us concentrate.
Before reading Blue Mind, I knew I loved the beach. I knew I was a more productive writer on the days I could hunker down at our beach house. I knew when faced with a choice for new house paint or new dishes, I tended to pick blue. But I didn't know that this was all related.
Blue Mind is not the kind of book that you can read in one sitting. You might even want to have another book on your nightstand to reach for periodically while you're making your way through the science presented in this book. But, it's definitely worth a read.
As I journey through my sabbatical, I'm trying to better understand who I am as a scholar, writer, teacher. I think knowing just a little bit more about why I'm drawn to water will help me navigate my academic life wherever it takes me.
Categories: Main Menu | Tags: blue, Blue Mind, Elvis, Joni Mitchell, sabbatical | Permalink.


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Woman dies three years after wasp sting
By Lewis Smith
Wednesday September 03 2003, 1.00am, The Times
THE chairman of a Premiership football club described to an inquest yesterday how he watched his wife slump to the floor over breakfast after she was stung by a wasp.
Richard Murray, chairman of Charlton Athletic and owner of the media company Avesco, said his wife, Jane, collapsed within 20 seconds of being stung.
Mrs Murray, 50, was stung at the family home in Walton-on-the-Hill, Surrey, and suffered irreversible brain damage that left her in a persistent vegetative state for almost three years.
Her husband issued a statement to Westminster Coroner's Court in London. He described how the couple were having breakfast in the garden with their daughter, Hannah, now 23, on September 10, 2000, when the wasp stung Mrs Murray on the finger.


I CANNOT REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE OR TIME, HOWEVER I SAW THIS DESCRIPTION FROM YOUR WEBSITE AND THE TIME FRAME AND LOCATION DESCRIBE EXACTLY WHAT I SAW. I WAS IN MY FRONT YARD WHEN I LOOKED UP AND SAW A BIG BRIGHT LIGHT HOVERING IN THE SKY NOT MOVING NO SOUND HOVERING JUST ABOVE THE HORIZON I WATCHED IT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN, THE DESCRIPTION BELOW IS VERY CLOSE TO WHAT I WITNESSED.
Occurred : 9/15/1979 18:00 (Entered as : 1979-1980) Reported: 1/13/2007 11:42:30 PM 23:42 Posted: 2/1/2007 Location: Bryan, TX Shape: Oval Duration:15-20 min Shining Bright Light, Oval Shaped, no sound This has been on my mind for over two decades.
I was a young boy apox 11-12 years old. It was toward the of the end of summer as the days were beginning to get shorter. I remember playing in the front yard. I lived in the Oaks. Its mostly mid-class families. The sky was gray and somewhat cool as it gets in Texas towards the evening time. I was on the corner of where our yard where we lived at Briar Oaks and well the cross street was Carter Creek, well it turns into Carter Creek at the Curb by the Royal Oaks Racket Club use to be.
I saw a Bright light hovering above our yard. It as I could tell somewhat oval shaped as the light resemble a floucent light color but much brighter. I describe it as oval shape as that was how the light extended.
I watched it for- it felt like a long time probably between 10 to 15 min. It didn't appear to be very high maybe 1 to 2 football fields high. I wanted to get a ladder and get a closer look. After several minutes of watching it, I remember my neck hurting from staring into the sky for so long. There was no sound and the craft was just hovering with No moment.
I remember running inside a telling my mom. I ask if we had some binoculars to get a closer look.
She said "No" we didn't. I told her she had to come outside to see it. Once back outside it was gone.
Later that night I remember telling my mom that we had to watch KBTX Channel 3 to see if anyone else saw it. The weather man did say something. I thought that was awesome. He stated that several other people called in that night about a bright light in the sky. He laughed, joking and said we all hope it was just a weather balloon with no real explanation.
I hope someone in that neighorhood who saw what I did will also post there experience that day. I am very surpised with the number of calls the news recieved no one else has placed anything on this website.
I am currently 34 years old and been serving in the US Army for over 15 years. Everything from that day has kept me wondering for a very long time.


A simple square cream card with Invitation written in foil gold ink inside a Floral pattern open up to reveal the invitation inside, which is held in place by a cut out pocket made in the outer card. Additional inserts such as the RSVP card, directions, Mehndi Cards etc. can easily be added and placed inside the card.
This Invitation is available in various colour combinations.


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IPC Combining With Max Capital In Stock Deal
In a joint announcement this morning, two Bermuda companies--Max Capital Group and IPC Holdings--said they have agreed to join together, with the boards of both companies unanimously having approved an
By Susanne Sclafane | Updated on March 02, 2009
In a joint announcement this morning, two Bermuda companies–Max Capital Group and IPC Holdings–said they have agreed to join together, with the boards of both companies unanimously having approved an "amalgamation agreement."
"This is not a transaction about expense savings, but [one] about growth and long-term value creation for our collective shareholders," said W. Marston Becker, chairman and chief executive officer of Max Capital, a specialty insurance and reinsurance company created in 2002, during a conference call this morning.


The 2013 Sundance Film Festival starts this Thursday, Jan. 17, with screenings, parties and events taking place not just in Park City, but in Salt Lake City as well at The City Library, the Tower Theatre, Broadway Centre Cinemas and Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center.
Conveniently located between Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center and Broadway Centre Cinemas is the Beehive Tea Room, which becomes the Sundance Film Festival Café January 18-26. Presented by 90.9 KRCL FM, the Café will offer live music each evening. There is no entrance fee and it's open to the public, but seating is limited. The Beehive Tea Room is a comfortable place to enjoy conversation, a favorite beverage, a snack or a light meal in a cozy environment that evokes a bygone era.
Image courtesy City Home Collective. Read more from Marsha Maxwell at http://saltlakecity.about.com.


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Yaya Toure, Samuel Eto'o and 3 other top African footballers who had humble beginnings
An Elf September 21, 2018 January 2, 2019 African, Latest ViBes, Profile, Sports
Most of the world-class footballers have humble beginnings but with determination, they broke the chains of poverty and they are now rich.
These footballers came from poor homes but now they are seen as role models. TUKO.co.ke brings you the top 5 footballers who grew up poor: Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens
1. Stephen Appiah
Former Black Stars player Stephen Appiah was born in Chorkor, a fishing community in Accra. His parents were not rich but he did not despair as he kept his focus. At age 15, he was part of Ghana's team that won the 1993 U-17 World Cup. After the tournament, he had his breakthrough as he has played for clubs like Juventus, Fenerbahce, Udinese, etc. He is currently the Black Stars Technical Coordinator. He is regarded as one of the richest Ghanaian footballers in history.
2. Samuel Eto'o
The former Barcelona star is said to be worth about $80m. The Cameroonian star grew up under very difficult conditions, living with this family in a small home located in Douala. He grew up sharing a bed with six of his siblings. His passion for football saw him make balls out of plastic materials he found and played with two of his brothers who are also footballers now. After years of playing for an academy in Cameroon, he moved to France but had to leave for Spain where he joined the youth team of Real Madrid. At the time, he earned about $200 a week, an amount that completely blew his family away. That was the beginning of the fattening of Eto'o's bank account. Today he is one of the continent's richest footballers.
3. Christian Atsu
The Ghanaian midfielder currently plies trade for Newcastle. He moved from an ordinary little boy on the streets of Accra to being one of the country's respected soccer players. He had to resort to selling sachet water to earn some extra money to support his family. Today he is valued at $12m. He has previously played for clubs like FC Porto, Chelsea, and Bournemouth.
4. Yahya Toure
Yaya Toure had his very own football boots at the age of 10, having spent years knocking a ball about without shoes in the streets of his native country, Cote d'Ivoire. "Boots were very expensive," Toure told The Guardian in 2011. "And when there are seven in your family and you say you want to buy a pair your father wants to kill you." But in the Manchester City midfielder's own words: "I just had a normal African childhood. Life was a struggle when I was growing up." Toure clearly took his opportunities as they came. He used his distinguished youth career at ASEC Mimosas as a springboard to Europe with Belgian outfit Beveren – from where he has gone on to ply his trade in Ukraine, Greece, France, Spain, and England. He has among his numerous awards the BBC African Footballer of the Year.
5. Steven Pienaar
Growing up in apartheid-era South Africa was a dangerous proposition for Steven Pienaar, who has described native Westbury – on the fringes of Johannesburg – as a cauldron of violence and strife. Pienaar recalled being banned by his mother from sitting on the couch to watch television, as she feared a stray bullet would come flying through the window and harm her son. PAY ATTENTION: Become a member of the leading sports Facebook group 'TUKO Michezo' While Pienaar was able to escape the dangers of Westbury via football, many others were not. Soon after joining Ajax, a close friend of his was tragically lost to the mayhem of Westbury, an event Pienaar says is too painful to speak about at length.
SOURCES: tuko.ke READ MORE
African Soccer Stars, Christian Atsu, FOOTBALL, Samuel Eto'o, SOccer, Sports, Stephen Appiah, Steven Pienaar, Yahya Toure
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Dec. 14, 2011 3:00 p.m.
The South Island's unemployed will have a better chance of upgrading their job skills thanks to a $1.4-infusion of funds into tuition-free job skills training in Greater Victoria.
The province is funding seven new programs for people looking for work and who are not on employment insurance. Called the Employment Skills Access Initiative, the aim is to help people find work by getting them industry-recognized credentials at Camosun College or Royal Roads University.
Royal Roads received $746,251 for 96 students to participate in customer management, business administration and accounting preparatory and project management associate skills certificates. The remainder of funds were allotted to Camosun College for a range of programs, including a residential building maintenance worker and maritime industry training.
Contact Camosun College at 250-370-4790 or esa@camosun.ca, or Royal Roads at 250-391-2600 ext. 4773 for more details on all programs available.


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Akai MPK Mini
Controller Keyboard
Hardware > Keyboard, MIDI Controller
By Paul Sellars
Looking for a compact controller keyboard costing not much more than a bag of chips? Look no further...
The Akai MPK Mini 'laptop production keyboard' is the third member of Akai's MPK family of USB MIDI controllers to be featured in the pages of Sound On Sound. We began with the neat and tidy, medium‑sized MPK49 (SOS February 2008), progressed to the impressively compact MPK25 (SOS October 2009), and now find ourselves presented with the really, seriously, all‑joking‑aside, very, very small MPK Mini.
While the MPK25 managed to squeeze a couple of octaves' worth of full‑size keys into a device only a few inches wider and deeper than an average laptop, the MPK Mini adopts a more radical approach to space‑saving, eschewing full‑size keys in favour of miniature ones, resulting in an overall desktop 'footprint' of just 6x13.6 inches. That's a couple of inches narrower than the average laptop, with the whole of the MPK covering just the QWERTY keyboard part. Small, in other words.
Installation is simple. The keyboard is properly plug‑and‑play and requires no special drivers to be installed. Windows and Mac OS are supported, and a software patch editor (see below) is supplied for both. Minimum system requirements aren't specified, but any relatively recent computer should be OK. The device is powered via USB, and attaches to your computer with the supplied USB cable (with a standard, flat 'A-type' plug at one end, and a mini 'B-type' at the other). The keyboard has no power switch, and is automatically 'on' as soon as it's connected. A brief, 10-page, manual is included in PDF format on the installation disc.
Perfectly Formed?
At first glance, the MPK quite closely resembles its larger brethren. Constraints of space (and no doubt cost) mean there's no LED display, and neither are there pitch‑bend or modulation wheels. However, there are the familiar MPC‑like drum pads, and there are eight assignable knobs, just like on the larger MPKs. Well, more or less.
The percussion pads are velocity‑sensitive, and made from thick, heavy‑duty rubber, with black, slightly matte‑feeling faces and translucent sides that are illuminated by backlights when a pad is struck. They're just large enough to accommodate two index fingers side‑by‑side, to play simple 'rolls'. I suspect that, due to cost constraints, these aren't identical to the pads on the larger MPK controllers, but they're very playable nonetheless, and rival the pads on some controllers costing quite a bit more than the MPK Mini.
The unit's 10 remaining buttons are made from the same material as the pads, and are also backlit. They consequently feel reassuringly rugged and are easy to see even in low lighting conditions.
The eight knobs are all standard pots — there are no endless rotary encoders. The caps of the knobs are made from a lightweight plastic which, despite an embossed pattern of ridges, felt slightly slippery to me. The knobs are also not very tall, standing slightly less than a centimetre proud of the top panel. This is good in that they're much less susceptible to damage in transit, which might otherwise be a concern, since they don't feel quite as robustly attached as one would ideally like, but it also makes them a bit fiddly and difficult to get a hold of. They're also quite closely spaced, so if there are two parameters you want to be able to tweak simultaneously, you'd be wise not to assign them to adjacent knobs — although, to be fair, this is true of some larger controllers too.
The miniature keyboard is somewhat reminiscent of the tiny, battery‑operated Casio home keyboards many of us will have grown up with. The comparison is not altogether fair — the MPK is more sturdily put together, and its keyboard is velocity sensitive — but there are similarities: the keys have a lightweight and springy feel, and the keyboard is small enough to feel cramped for anyone with large-ish hands. The keyboard spans three octaves, although a pair of Octave up and down buttons can be used to shift the effective range up or down by four octaves in either direction.
In Use
The MPK Mini's editor software can be used to edit and create presets and to set arpeggiator functions.
The MPK Mini can store four different presets, each one being a record of the parameters (MIDI CCs or Program Change messages, for example) assigned to the different controls. To edit or create new presets, you need to use the software editor supplied. This provides a clear and easy‑to‑understand visual representation of the device's inner workings, where settings can easily be made and adjusted. Presets can be loaded from and saved to files on your computer, and sent to and received from the keyboard via USB.
A group of top‑panel buttons changes the mode of the eight drum pads. 'Pad Bank 1' and 'Pad Bank 2' allow you to switch between, by default, two banks of eight assigned MIDI notes, for triggering samples or other instrument sounds. When 'Prog Change' is activated, two banks of eight Program Change messages are available, and when the 'CC' button is lit, two banks of eight Continuous Controllers can be accessed. Note, Program Change and Continuous Controller numbers can easily be assigned to each pad (in each of the two banks) with the supplied software editor, in an at‑a‑glance view of all assignments. In the editor, you can also adjust the behaviour of each pad (in each bank), choosing between either 'Momentary' (normal drum pad behaviour) or 'Toggle' (the pad becomes a latching on/off switch).
Beneath the pad mode buttons is a pair of buttons for controlling the MPK Mini's built‑in arpeggiator: one to switch it on and off, and a Tap Tempo button to manually set its tempo. Further settings are made via the software editor. The arpeggiator can be set to use its own internal clock, or to sync to an external source (the sequencer of a DAW application on your computer, for example). Arpeggio resolution can be set to quarter, eighth, 16th and 32nd note durations, each with triplet variations, and the arpeggiator can generate patterns in several different modes: Up (notes are played from lowest to highest); Down (from highest to lowest); Inclusive (lowest to highest and back again, with lowest and highest notes retriggered at either end of the run); Exclusive (like Inclusive, but the highest and lowest notes are not retriggered); Random (a random sequence); and Order (notes are played in the order in which they were held down on the keyboard).
Under the arpeggiator controls are two more buttons. One of these, labelled 'Sustain', serves a dual purpose. By default, it acts much like a sustain pedal: while the button is held down, all notes played on the keyboard will sustain indefinitely, until the button is released. When the arpeggiator is active, the button 'latches' it, so that any notes played on the keyboard will contribute to a continuously playing pattern until the button is released. The final button, labelled 'Program', can be held down together with any of the four topmost keys on the keyboard, to switch between the device's four presets.
There are several low‑cost, miniature USB controller keyboards on the market at the moment, aimed at the budget‑conscious user who wants a MIDI controller that's extremely portable and economic in its use of space. The MPK Mini probably offers more, in terms of options and flexibility, than anything else in the same size and price bracket. Its arpeggiator is an additional bonus, and not one you'd necessarily expect in a controller at this price. Its miniature keyboard will not appeal to everyone, however, and some may bemoan the absence of pitch‑bend and modulation wheels. The eight assignable knobs are potentially very useful, but I think the caps could really do with being a fraction taller and a little less slippery.
The drum pads are where the MPK Mini really comes into its own. They're sturdy and quite playable, and feel as if they must have been borrowed from a more expensive controller. If drum or percussion programming is your first priority, and you need something small, cheap and portable, you're unlikely to find anything much better than the MPK Mini.
The MPK Mini doesn't have many direct competitors. Korg's Nano Key and Akai's own LPK25 are cheaper and even smaller, but lack the assignable knobs and pads. Alesis's Q25 lacks them too, but makes up for it with larger keys, and proper pitch‑bend and modulation wheels.
Affordable and remarkably small ,yet still very functional.
Good, sturdy, playable percussion pads.
The built‑in arpeggiator is an unexpected bonus.
No pitch‑bend or modulation wheels.
Knobs are a bit fiddly.
The MPK Mini strikes a good balance between price, size and functionality. There's not much else on the market offering quite so many features in quite such a small package, quite so affordably.
£69.99 including VAT.
Numark Alesis +44 (0)1252 896000.
uksales@alesis.com
www.akaipro.com
$99.
Akai +1 401 658 4032.
Test Spec
Akai MPK Mini firmware version 240 126.06.
Intel laptop with a 1.5GHz processor, 2GB RAM and Windows Vista.
Buy PDF version
In this article...
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Korg Minilogue XD June 2019
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From the same manufacturer
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Re: UDO Super Synth? >
Adam Inglis >
Re: Roland MC-500 incoming! >
Re: What is this noise? >
Roland MC-500 incoming!


text:
PIPC Weekly Update - July 14, 2014
1. PIPC: Hepatitis Roundtable Summary and Recommendations, click here to view the paper.
2. Applied Clinical Trials Online: Congress, FDA Look to Improve Clinical Trial Practices & Policies, click here for the full article.
3. Medscape: Lessons From WHI, Part 4: The Trial That Keeps on Giving, click here to view the interview (free registration required).
4. PCORI: Two New Advisory Panels Set Initial Priorities, click here for the post.
5. BJM: Campaign Is Launched to Make Patients the Focus of Evidence Based Medicine, click here for the article.
6. New Health Affairs July Issue: The Impact Of Big Data On Health Care, click here for the full post.
7. Deloitte: Building Trust In The Collection And Use Of Real World Health Data, click here for the article.
8. BioCentury: CER Guidance for Late-Stage Diabetes Studies, click here for the article (subscription required).
1. PIPC: Hepatitis Roundtable Summary and Recommendations
On May 8, 2014, the Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC) convened a Roundtable of experts in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV): i.e., patient advocates, health care providers (nurse practitioners, physician specialists including family physicians, gastroenterology, infectious disease, and oncology), representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), all of whom participated individually and/or on behalf of their representative organizations, to discuss current challenges to and potential solutions for the appropriate dissemination and implementation of clinical evidence. Additionally, this group focused on the value and clinical benefits of ensuring patients and providers have access to reliable, relevant, current data and information.
Building on an earlier PIPC Roundtable focused on gastrointestinal disorders, expert stakeholders, including patients and providers, identified hepatitis as a clinical area with significant opportunities to improve patient care through appropriate communication and implementation of evidence-based research. Therefore, by focusing on recent advances in screening and treatment for HBV and HCV, this Roundtable hoped to accomplish two goals:
Present PCORI with creative approaches and options to inform PCORI's development of a Dissemination and Implementation Action Plan;
Highlight broader practice and policy issues related to clinical and societal value in providing patients and their providers with access to useful clinical and health care information and messages that will help them make informed health care decisions leading to better patient health outcomes. Click here to view the paper.
2. Applied Clinical Trials Online: Congress, FDA Look to Improve Clinical Trial Practices & Policies
Writing for Applied Clinical Trials Online, Jill Wechsler reported on recent efforts by both the Administration and Congress to promote CER. "PCORI recently established an advisory panel on clinical trials to update research standards in this area and to help the Institute review clinical trials in its research portfolio, particularly those designed to directly compare different treatments. The panel will work with PCORI's Methodology Committee to examine cross-cutting research issues such as ensuring patient-centeredness, dealing with missing data, examining heterogeneity of treatment effects, and devising standards for data registries." Click here for the full article.
3. Medscape: Lessons From WHI, Part 4: The Trial That Keeps on Giving
Last week, Henry R. Black's fourth part of his interview with Rebecca D. Jackson ran in Medscape. In it, the two discuss the benefit of person-centered clinical trials. "[Rebecca D. Jackson, MD: The Women's Health Initiative], with that real commitment to risk and benefit, was a person-centered study rather than a disease-centered study. That's probably the way we should design all clinical trials because we don't do that in effectiveness trials. That's what PCORI and others are starting to ask now, that we should think about this as a person-centered and maybe as a society-centered intervention." Click here to view the interview (free registration required).
4. PCORI: Two New Advisory Panels Set Initial Priorities
Earlier this month, Emma Djabali, and Bryan Luce wrote a blog for PCORI commenting on previous advisory panel discussions. "On May 1, 2014, our Advisory Panel on Clinical Trials met for the first time, to provide counsel on PCORI's strategies for supporting clinical trials. […] 'I care about whether a study answers the question it's purporting to answer,' said Elizabeth Stuart, PhD, AM, who was recently named the panel's first chair. 'Is the question important? Is the design the best to get at it?' she added." Click here for the post.
5. BJM: Campaign Is Launched to Make Patients the Focus of Evidence Based Medicine
Zosia Kmietowicz of BMJ reported on the status of evidence based medicine stating that, "[c]linical care has become 'medicalised and bureaucratised,' said Trish Greenhalgh at the launch of the Campaign for Real EBM...At the campaign launch Greenhalgh said, 'If patients knew how much of their consultation was driven by box ticking they would be hopping mad. We need more research about how to make the doctor listen to the patient.'" Click here for the article.
6. New Health Affairs July Issue: The Impact Of Big Data On Health Care
Writing for the Health Affairs Blog, Chris Fleming gave a synopsis of the publication's July article noting the focus on Big Data. "Health Affairs explores the promise of big data in improving health care effectiveness and efficiency in its July issue. Many articles examine the potential of approaches such as predictive analytics and address the unavoidable privacy implications of collecting, storing, and interpreting massive amounts of health information. [...] A series of papers focus on comparative effectiveness and predictive analysis." Click here for the full post.
7. Deloitte: Building Trust In The Collection And Use Of Real World Health Data
Last week, Karen Taylor of Deloitte also commented on the potential for Big Data's analytical power when there is quality data available. "The value of real world evidence is strongly linked to the pool of data available for analysis and the quality of this data. By ensuring quality, broadening sample sizes and increasing linkage to other relevant sources of data, we can drive unique insight that is reflective of the population as a whole." Click here for the article.
8. BioCentury: CER Guidance for Late-Stage Diabetes Studies
BioCentury recently reported on policies surrounding patient reported outcomes data. "The not-for-profit Center for Medical Technology Policy called for increased collection of patient-reported outcomes data and greater representation of certain subgroups in comparative effectiveness research studies in Type II diabetes. [...] According to CMTP, most large systematic reviews of diabetes drugs find that evidence is insufficient due to lack of representation of these subgroups, failure to report patient-reported outcomes and issues with comparability." Click here for the article (subscription required).


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Liverpool's latest teen sensation – all you need to know
10th October 2013, 4:21 pm
Updated: 10th October 2013, 4:23 pm
Liverpool's Harry Wilson is in line to become Wales' youngest ever international
With Wales' hopes of reaching the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil long gone, boss Chris Coleman has decided to start laying the ground work for their next qualifying campaign by experimenting with his international selections. Undoubtedly the biggest surprise has been his decision to select Liverpool's 16-year-old youth player Harry Wilson. But just who is the Reds' starlet? talkSPORT takes a look…
Name: Harry Wilson
Date of birth: 22 March, 1997
Birthplace: Wrexham, Wales
Position: Midfield
Club: Liverpool
International: Wales U17 (3 caps/0 goals)
1. Wilson was enrolled into Liverpool's academy at just eight years old, after being spotted by the club's scouting network. His development has been rapid and he spent large parts of last season playing with the club's U18s.
2. He names Man United legend Ryan Giggs among his childhood heroes, and his style of play is comparable to that of the veteran Welshman in his earlier days.
3. Interestingly enough, his career could have taken a completely different trajectory, with Man United originally showing an interest in Wilson. The Premier League champions, however, decided against retaining him, opening up the opportunity to join Liverpool.
4. A traditional wide-man, Wilson's game is based largely around his pace, with his greatest strength his ability to run at players with the ball at his feet. He also possesses a good shot, as the video below shows.
5. His surprise inclusion in Chris Coleman's Wales squad comes hot on the heels of Wales' U17 fixtures against Hungary, Scotland and Slovenia, where Wilson caught the eye with his mature performances. His inclusion means that he is the youngest player to be called up for a Wales international.
Liverpool fans, could Wilson play a big part in the future of your club? Let us know below…
Wales Football


From the Top features the amazing performances and captivating personal stories of extraordinary classically-trained young musicians from across the country. Broadcast on more than 220 stations nationwide to an audience of nearly half a million listeners, From the Top is the most popular weekly one-hour music program on public radio. Each one-hour broadcast features virtuosic performances along with interviews, revealing the heart and soul of these extraordinary young musicians. It's great music and great kids.