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MedTech Impact 2020
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Medtech Insider: Google Patient Data Project Under Federal Investigation
By Luis Diaz | November 15, 2019 | AI / Machine Learning, News | 0 Comments
Google Patient Data Project Under Federal Investigation
Shortly after the Wall Street Journal published an article detailing Google's acquirement and storage of identifiable medical data U.S. regulators announced plans to investigate the company. The initial Wall Street Journal report uncovered a partnership with the healthcare system, Ascension, that gave Google access to tens of millions of patients' names, health histories, date of birth, lab results, diagnoses and hospitalization records without the consent of doctors or patients. Project Nightingale, as the secret transfer partnership is called, was being used to design new AI-powered software. The Office for Civil Rights in the Department of Health and Human Services has announced plans to immediately begin investigations on the violation of HIPPA law.
Machine Learning Helps Predict Risk of HF in Diabetes Patients
Research from Brigham and Women's Hospital and UT Southwestern Medical center has produced a new machine learning algorithm that predicts the risk of heart failure hospitalizations for type 2 diabetes patients. Utilizing data from nearly 9,000 patients in the ACCORD Trial, the researchers developed a model that can identify patterns within 147 different demographic, clinical, and biological predictors. In a statement, Ambarish Pandey, MD, MSCS, a preventive cardiologist at UT Southwestern and the senior author of this study shared: "This risk tool is an important step in the right direction to promote prevention of heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes. It can be readily used as part of clinical care of patients with type 2 diabetes and integrated with the electronic medical records to inform physicians about the risk of heart failure in their patients and guide use of effective preventive strategies."
Sheba Medical Center Moves to Become First Fully VR-based Hospital
Israel-based Sheba Medical Center has announced plans to incorporate virtual reality throughout all of its hospital departments.The hospital has partnered with XRHealth technology–a technology company specializing in extended reality and therapeutic application. Eyal Zimlichman, M.D., Sheba's chief medical and chief innovation officer explained the hospital decision in a released statement: "We've identified medical virtualization as one of the technologies that will transform healthcare. Within this realm, we aim to be a leader in developing new health services based on VR." In recent years the VR healthcare industry has experienced a considerable surge, with current estimates illustrating a potential for the global VR healthcare market to reach $3.8 billion by 2020.
Study Demonstrates Value of mHealth in Medication Adherence
A new study completed by researchers from John Hopkins University School of Medicine demonstrates the capability of digital therapeutics to dramatically increase long-term medication adherence. In an analysis of 288 patients being treated at 18 clinicas within the U.S., researchers utilized a digital therapeutic program designed to help patients with Hepatitis C. The platform included an ingestible sensor and wearable patch, and showed a 99% sustained virologic response rate after 10 weeks. The overall median was 95% compared to other medication adherence programs which typically result in less than 60%. The platform monitors physiologic signs and relays information to providers. Bradley Crotty MD, MPH, an internist utilizing the platform at the Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) health network and an assistant professor of Medicine at MCW shared that program allows provider to "better partner with patients by understanding how they're doing between appointments and increasingly help personalize and optimize their regimen more quickly."
Medtech Insider: $4 Billion in Healthcare Data Breaches for 2019
By Luis Diaz | November 8, 2019 | News | 0 Comments
$4 Billion in Healthcare Data Breaches for 2019
Findings reported by Healthcare Finance provide a broad and detailed understanding of the financial toll data breaches have caused healthcare organizations. Since Q3 of 2016, more than 93% of healthcare organizations have experienced a data breach, with 57% experiencing more than 5 data breaches within that time frame. According to 90% of hospital representatives, IT security budget have remained level since 2016. Further, the organization reported that while cybersecurity spending has increased to about 6% of the total annual IT spend, physician organizations have reported a decrease in expenses allocated for cybersecurity, with less than 1% of their total budgets. Overall, data breaches are expected to cost the healthcare industry $4 billion by the years end, with costs projected to rise in 2020.
Clinical Trial Uses In-Brain Chip to Fight Opioid Addiction
Researchers from the West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) and West Virginia University Medicine (WVU) have begun a new clinical trial that uses brain-embedded technology to potentially curb opioid addiction in cases that have resisted other methods of treatment. A team of neurosurgeons from the universities implanted a "deep brain simulation" (DBS) devices into the brain of a 33 year old man.The device has a minitature electrodes attached to specific parts of the brain associated with addiction and self control behaviors. Alongside the potential for curbing addiction impulses, the device will provide researchers with data regarding real-time cravings within addiction patients.
Apple Completes VA Health Records Rolloout
On Wednesday, Apple and the VA announced the completion of the Apple Health Records rollout to U.S. veterans. Within the Health Records feature, veterans will have access to an aggregated record of allergies, immunizations, lab results, procedures, and other health information. In a released statement, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie shared: "We have delivered veterans an innovative new way to easily and securely access their health information. Veterans deserve access to their health data at any time and in one place, and with Health Records on the Health app, VA has pushed the Veterans experience forward." The tech rollout includes 1,243 facilities across all 50 states, Cuba, Guam, Philippines, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands.
New "Intelligent" Metamaterial Could Transform MRIs
Researchers from Boston University have developed a new, affordable "intelligent" metamaterial that has the potential to change the MRI process into one "faster, safer, and more accessible." When placed beside the body that is the target of a scan, the metamaterial selectively boosts the low energy emissions by the patient's body, increasing SNR "by 10-fold" and improving MRI imaging at a low cost. One of the researchers noted: "Shortening MRI examinations is paramount to maximizing the capacity. Not to mention revenue, as well as the overall patient experience of this powerful imaging technology." With the support of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, the researchers estimate the metamaterial should cost less than $100 to construct.
Medtech Insider: Uber & Cerner EHR Announce Integration for U.S. Providers
By Nathalie Gedeon | November 1, 2019 | AI / Machine Learning, Medical Technology, News | 0 Comments
Uber & Cerner announce a partnership, lawmakers introduce telehealth legislation and more
Medtech Insider: Cerner Partners with Amazon on New Cognitive Health Platform
By Nathalie Gedeon | October 11, 2019 | News | 0 Comments
Cerner Partners with Amazon on New Cognitive Health Platform
Health software company, Cerner is partnering with Amazon Web Services to develop a new cloud-based health platform. The platform will utilize artificial intelligence to provide predictive insights for health care decision makers. According to a Cerner press release, the platform, named Project Apollo,will serve to bring a more cognitive approach to practicing medicine. During a company conference, the company's Chairman and CEO Brent Shafer predicted that "Health care will change more in the next five years than it has in the past 30," and further shared: "Cerner's technology, and collaborative programs, along with the most respected providers, will lead a wave of disruptive innovation focused on making health care better."
UnitedHealthcare Launches New On-Demand Telemedicine App
Major healthcare organization UnitedHealthcare has developed a new app that allows members to access virtual visits on-demand. The app will be available to over 27 million employer plan members 24/7 and will additionally allow users to track benefits and compare pricing. In a statement to Fierce Healthcare, Pat Keran–Vice President of Product Innovation for the company–shared the ultimate goal is to develop a "one-stop-shop" dashboard for patients that integrates wellness programs, claims data, and remote patient monitoring. "From a technical standpoint, we're really modified and molded the back end to really help us modify and improve the application. […] We could really make this more of a comprehensive dashboard for members who want to engage with their healthcare all in one spot," Keran shared.
Livongo Health Gains Federal Employee Contract
Livongo Health, a quickly growing digital health care company focused on diabetes care management, recently signed a contract to provide those covered by the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program with connected health services. The company will provide digital health services for Blue Cross Blue Shield-based members diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. In a press release, Livongo CEO Zane Burke shared: "This is Livongo's largest agreement to provide diabetes services in our history and is another great example of the market's excitement about our Applied Health Signals platform ." The company is is expected to serve around 25,000 included members in 2020 and 45,000 in 2021.
Omada Health Adds to $73 Million Funding Round
Emerging health tech start up Omada Health has added on to a $73 million funding round with a new "strategic investment" from Intermountain Ventures for an undisclosed amount. The digital chronic disease management company has products which help manage hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and mental health conditions, among other medical needs. In a statement to MobiHealthNews, CEO Sean Duffy shared: "We'll leverage this investment to accelerate the expansion of the company's integrated digital care program, as well as deepen our collaborations with Intermountain, aiming to bring patients the very best in digital care." The additional funding round leaves Omada total funding for the year above $200 million.
MedTech Insider: FDA Approves Chronic Pain Wearable from Abbott
By Nathalie Gedeon | October 4, 2019 | News, Wearables | 0 Comments
FDA Approves Chronic Pain Wearable from Abbott
MedTech Insider: Microsoft Issues Urgent Windows Patch To Address Security Issues
By Luis Diaz | September 27, 2019 | News | 0 Comments
Microsoft Issues Urgent Windows Patch To Address Security Issues
Microsoft is calling on Windows users to install and "emergency" out of band security patch to address critical vulnerabilities in its software. The advisory warns of major security flaws in some versions of Internet Explorer which could allow an attacker to remotely take over an affected system. As the most vulnerable industry, health care organizations are being urged to act quickly in response to these developments. Numerous cybersecurity experts are calling on Healthcare CIOs and security officials to address any "out-of-band patch." Clyde Hewitt, executive advisor of cybersecurity firm CynergisTek shared: "In this instance, it means an active exploitation has been found that impacts up to 7% of all browsers including versions of Internet Explorer 9, 10, and 11." The U.S. Homeland Security has issued an advisory warning urging all affected users to install the patches as soon as possible to avoid ransomware attack.
Hava Health Prepares Vaporizer For Smoking Cessation
Tech startup Hava Health is developing an e-product to help users stop smoking. Following the surge in vaping lung cases in recent weeks, Hava Health is positioning itself as an alternative to help users quit nicotine addiction and ultimately vaping use. The startup has already raised a small seed round from prominent venture capital investor including Global Founders Capital, Make in LA, Backstage Capital, Quake Capital, Next Fab, and Ben Franklin Technology Partners. Unlike other vaping products, the company explain that the tech is designed to not merely serve as an alternative to traditional cigarette, but as a means to quit smoking completely. Co-founder Josh Israel explains: "We started this because [co-found Devin Serago's] grandmother died from lung cancer and his little brother expressed frustration that he couldn't quit using the vaporizers and was smoking more than he would have if he had used a regular cigarette." The company is in the process of applying for approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be classified as a smoking cessation treatment.
FDA Releases Revised Guidance On Digital Health Software
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released two guidance documents regarding the regulation of various kinds of digital health software. The first outlines categories of clinical decision support (CDS) products that would or would not require direct regulatory oversight from the agency. Notably, this guidance added a risk-based categorization approach for determining the enforcement over these tools. The second describes kinds of software products that will no longer fall within the agency's definition of a medical device including software for health care facility administration, electronic paper records, and apps designed to encourage health and wellness-which the agency noted "pose a low risk to patients, but can provide great value to consumers and the healthcare system," and thus "generally fall outside the scope of the FDA's regulation."
Amazon Launches Pilot Virtual Medical Service
Amazon has announced the launch of a new virtual health clinic with in-home visits and follow ups. Currently, the virtual health service benefit is available to employees and their families within the Seattle region. Named Amazon Care, the pilot includes a combination of telemedicine and in-person services. Amongst numerous capabilities and options, employees will be able to text a nurse on any health topic, arrange for a nurse visit at home, and select prescription delivery from a care courier. Amazon officials have shared that the service will be able to address "urgent issues like colds, allergies, infections, minor injuries, preventative health consults, vaccines, lab work, sexual health services like contraception and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and general health questions."
MedTech Insider: FDA Clears First AI X-Ray System
By Luis Diaz | September 13, 2019 | Insights, News | 0 Comments
FDA Clears First AI X-Ray System
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has provided clearance to a new artificial intelligence-powered X-ray device developed by GE Healthcare in partnership with UC San Francisco. Named Critical Care Suite, the technology uses AI algorithms to scan X-ray images and detect pnuemothorax, or collapsed lung–a condition that affects about 74,000 within the United States each year. The suite provides for automated AI quality check features which monitors acquisition errors and alerts technologists to make necessary corrections. "The health-care industry is producing huge amounts of data from images to digital health records," GE Healthcare CEO Kieran Murphy said in an interview with CNBC, "We strongly believe that you have to turn that data into information and insight to improve outcomes."
Microsoft, Google, & Amazon Compete To Store Health Data
Tech giants, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are engaged in a fast and growing competition to provide hospitals and health organizations with cloud software to store health data. In July, Providence St. Joseph Health announced a data storage agreement with Microsoft. Shortly after EHR company Cerner Corp, revealed a cloud storage agreement with Amazon Web Services–the companies cloud computing unit. Earlier this week Google announced a 10 year partnership with Mayo Clinic to store the hospitals medical, genetic and financial data. The announcements mark the accelerated move towards cloud storage within major healthcare systems, while highlighting the heightened need for deftly advanced data security.
Smartphone Urinalysis Startup Closes $60 Million Funding Round
Healthy.io, a smartphone urinalysis startup has completed a $60 million Series C funding round led by Corner Ventures, Ansonia Holdings, Aleph and Samsung NEXT. Alongside the successful funding round, the company announced a second FDA 510 (k) clearance to support the diagnosis of chronic kidney diseases. The company's primary product, Dip.io is a smartphone enabled testing kit with a disposable strip, testing cups, and colored panel. The diagnostic technology generates readings and directly provides users with their results. The new clearance covers an albumin-to-creatinine (ACR) test kit that can detect kidney impairment. Now, the diagnostic tool can be used at any pharmacy, urgent care center, or health clinic within the U.S. In a released statement, Yonatan Adiri, founder and CEO of Healthy.io shared: "The smartphone has the potential to be the great equalizer of healthcare. To unlock this potential, companies must adhere to the highest clinical standards. Our second FDA clearance and additional funding allows us to expand access to critical tests and care beyond our first 100,000 patients in Europe and Israel, making it a reality for millions of Americans suffering from diabetes and hypertension, who are at risk for chronic kidney disease."
New Privacy Guidelines for Consumer Health Data
The Consumer Technology Association have developed a new set of guidelines for dealing with consumer health data. With members includings organizations such as Doctor on Demand and IMB among others, the association released the "Guiding Principles for the Privacy of Personal Health and Wellness Information" to assist medical technology companies navigate the unique and complex obstacles in handling sensitive patient health data. While the guide provides useful advice on building and maintaining consumer confidence, security guidelines, and existing legal frameworks, the guideline also notes that, as by nature the industry is continually evolving, medical companies would do well to continually remained informed on the latest updates and trends: "Consumer preferences and their comfort with technology will evolve, and a company's approach to communication should evolve, too. […] Stay informed about changes to and interpretation of privacy laws that apply to you. You can sign up for alerts and mailings from your applicable regulators, outside counsel, and industry groups."
MedTech Insider: Mayo Clinic and Cerner Partner
By Luis Diaz | September 6, 2019 | News | 0 Comments
ONC Awards The Sequoia Project with Responsibilities for TEFCA
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) has awarded the Sequoia Project with a cooperative agreement to serve as the recognized coordinating entity (RCE) for the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA). The Sequoia Project–a non-profit that advocate for nationwide health information exchange–will now be responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining the common agreement portion of TEFCA which will create the baseline for technical and legal requirements for health information networks to share electronic health information. In a released statement, Mariann Yeager, CEO of the Sequoia Project explained: "We have learned through our own operations that seamless nationwide sharing of health information is most readily enabled through trust agreements, consistent policy and technical requirements, and appropriate, balanced governance to provide assurance of trust and interoperability. We look forward to working alongside ONC as the Recognized Coordinating Entity."
Goshen Health Implements Secure Text Messaging Between Patients and Providers
Clinicians at Goshen Health in Indiana have begun utilizing a secure messaging platform to connect patients and providers in real time through one-to-one and group chat text messages. Initially in search of a platform through which nurses and physicians could communicate, Goshen Health completed an extensive vetting process before selecting DrFirst Backline Communication. The application supports document attachments, photos, audio files, and video. In an interview with Healthcare IT News, Dr. David C. Koronkiewicz, of Goshen's Center for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine shared: "Improving communication using secure messaging has been shown to improve efficiency and both physician and nursing satisfaction. Ultimately, our patients will benefit with more timely and effective communication." Dr. David C. Koronkiewicz, Goshen Health Center for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. In a report completed following the implementation of the platform, patients around the perioperative period resulted in 83% of users being very or extremely satisfied with the ability to communicate directly with their surgeons.
Center for Medical Interoperability Releases New Verification Program
The Center for Medical Interoperability has released a new C4MI Verified program, designed with recommendations made the National Academy of Medicine and to be conducted "through partnerships with medical device vendors and its member health care organizations. The program will be combined with supporting specifications to improve and expedite the development of interoperable medical technology. In a public statement, Dean Harrison, chairman of the Centers Board, shared: "The program will enable healthcare organizations to have confidence that the solutions they purchase will be interoperable.Both buyers and suppliers of healthcare technology stand to benefit when the marketplace shifts to support products and solutions that better serve the needs of patients and providers.".
Mayo Clinic, Cerner, and Oxford Partner In New London Clinic
Mayo Clinic, Oxford, and medical technology company Cerner have partnered together to open a new 27,000-square-foot clinic in London. Built in collaboration with Oxford University Clinic and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the clinic will be the first in Britain to provide pharmacogenomic testing that predicts how certain medications will be metabolized by a patient's body. The clinic will utilize Cerner Millennium as its foundational electronic health record platform, in order to provide coordinated care and aid providers in delivering proactive health management. Ben Hume, the health clinic's manager expressed his thoughts in a public statement:"At Mayo Clinic Healthcare in partnership with Oxford University Clinic we are dedicated to providing the highest quality service to clients looking to take a proactive approach to their health. The management and security of all medical records was therefore a crucial consideration when we chose to adopt the Cerner Millennium technology."
MedTech Insider: MIT Develops Robotic Thread Designed To Travel Through Brain's Blood Vessels
By Luis Diaz | August 30, 2019 | News | 0 Comments
MIT Develops Robotic Thread Designed To Travel Through Brain's Blood Vessels
Engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a "magnetically steerable" robotic thread that can "actively glide through narrow, winding pathways such as the labrynthine vasculature of the brain." The engineers believe that the robotic thread will soon be capable of pairing with existing endovascular technologies, allowing clinicians to remotely guide the thread through patients' brain vessels to treat blockages and lesions that can cause aneurysms and strokes. In a statement on the research completed on the thread-like technology, Kyujin Cho, professor of mechanical engineering at Seoul National University shared: "One of the challenges in surgery has been to be able to navigate through complicated blood vessels in the brain, which has a very small diameter, where commercial catheters can't reach. This research has shown potential to overcome this challenge and enable surgical procedures in the brain without open surgery."
Advent Health Launches AI- Powered Clinical Command Center
Clinical health system, Advent Health has opened 12,000 square-foot AI clinical command center to ensure efficient patient care across it's nine hospitals. Built in partnership with GE Healthcare, the center will utilize artificial intelligence to inform and guide decisions across a number of departments and areas including patient transfers between units and facilities, dispatch of ambulances and helicopters, and prioritizations of placement across the hospital's multiple locations. Considered to be the largest hospital mission center of its kind, the center will operate 24 hours a day and will feature 60 monitors displaying real-time data including patient-status, ambulance status, and more.
Figures Reveals Healthcare Sector Most Vulnerable to Data Breaches
A recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request from data security solutions firm Egress reveals that organizations within the healthcare industry are the most likely to fall victim to a personal data breach, with 18% of all breaches coming from the healthcare sector. The data further demonstrated that more than 60% of personal data breaches reported to the Information Commissioner's Office this year were caused by human error. In a statement, CEO of Egress, Tony Pepper explained: "The healthcare sector persistently tops the list when analysing the sectors affected by data breaches. This is very concerning, especially given the nature of the data. Why this particular industry continues to suffer from internal breaches is worrying and the sector must quickly take action to identify how it can work towards mitigating the insider threat."
Apple Health Records Joins Several Allscripts Platforms
Apple Health Records has integrated with a number of Allscripts EHR platforms, enabling iPhone users to assemble their personal health information across numerous difference organizations. Providers and patients documenting patient data with Allscripts' Sunrise, TouchWorks EHR, and Professional EHR products will be given access to Apple's platform. Patient's will be able to view and share medication history, test results, procedures, immunizations, and various other medical data. In a released statement, Allscripts CEO Paul M. Black shared: "With Health Records on iPhone, patients can become more active members of their own care team. Health Records on iPhone empowers individuals to direct how their own health data is stored and used. We are proud to offer this and other FHIR-connected applications for our clients and their patients."
MedTech Insider: HHS Awards $107 Million to Health Centers
By Luis Diaz | August 23, 2019 | Insights, News | 0 Comments
National U.K. Health Data Watchdog Sets Line on App Development
National Data Guardian (NDG), the United Kingdom's health data watchdog has released a correspondence between her office and the Information Commissioner regarding data sharing by Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. The correspondence informed the ICO's 2017 findings that data-sharing agreement between and NHS Trust and the Google-owned DeepMind broke the law.
The arrangement allows for the sharing of 1.6 million medical records between the two entitites without patient consent. In a release statement, National Data Guardian, Dame Fiona Caldicott shared, "I do champion innovative technologies and new treatments that are powered by data. The mainstreaming of emerging fields such as genomics and artificial intelligence offer much promise and will change the face of medicine for patients and health professionals immeasurably… But my belief in innovation is coupled with an equally strong belief that these advancements must be introduced in a way that respects people's confidentiality and delivers no surprises about how their data is used. In other words, the public's reasonable expectations must be met."
Hospital Study Supports Machine-Learning Based Medical Decisions
Recent research published in the Journal of American Medical Informatics Association (JAMIA) examines the clinical impact of health IT vendor MedAware's machine learning based patient safety platform. Designed to minimize medication-related risks, the MedAware technology was integrated into the center's existing EHR system. The technology monitored all medical prescriptions issued over 16 months, with staff assessing alerts for accuracy, usefulness, and clinical validity, recording physicians responses to all alerts generated. The results were then analyzed in a single medical ward, from a hospital-wide implementation. In a statement, research lead, Dr. Gadi Segal, head of internal medicine at Sheba, shared, "Today's widely used rule-based systems for prevention of medication risks, including prescription errors and adverse drug events, are unsuccessful and associated with a substantial false alert burden. These alerts are ignored in nearly 95% of cases. Our study demonstrates that MedAware's patient safety platform, which leverages a probabilistic, machine-learning approach based on outlier detection can significantly minimize such risk."
HHS Awards $107 Million to Health Centers
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced plans to award nearly $107 million to over 1,300 health centers across all 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia.The Quality Improvement award seeks to " recognize the nation's health centers – funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration – that have demonstrated excellence in areas such as behavioral health, diabetes prevention and management, and heart health." The new funding comes after the HHS has announced plans to award nearly $400 million to combat the nation's opioid epidemic crisis. Health Resources and Services Administration acting administrator Tom Engels shared in a statement: "Today we are recognizing nearly all Health Resources and Services Administration-funded health centers for their continued improvements on clinical quality measures and supporting them to continue as quality leaders nationwide in the years to come."
New App Uses Gamification to Help Manage Asthma
A new app developed by health tech startup MySpira uses gamification and augmented reality functionality, release by Google (ARCore) and Apple (ARKit), to provide children with asthma tools to improve training and awareness of correct inhaler techniques. Developed by UK-based Orbital Media together with the University of Suffolk through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership, the app was partly funded by Innovate UK and the Arts and Humanities Research Council. In response to a limited study completed by the startup, MySpira medical advisor, Dr. Simon Rudland commented: "The initial results of this research are extremely promising, improving both technique and compliance. Not only does this lead to better health long-term, but if adopted nationwide, could dramatically reduce the number of emergency cases, resulting in fewer hospitalisations. We are looking at integrating this app into our existing asthma support services in the future."
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Home / Feature / Seniors visit Bickford for 3rd annual prom
Seniors visit Bickford for 3rd annual prom
By Ali Miller on April 6, 2010
Senior Paul Strike has an in-depth conversation about hunting with a resident at Bickford on Saturday, April 6. About 25-30 other seniors participated in the event. Amelia McMurrin Photo.
Ali Miller/Staff Writer
Ray Reutenik had his senior prom in 1939. Now, thanks to English teacher Dianne Flaherty and her senior leadership crew, he can experience that again not as a senior in high school, but as a senior citizen. On Saturday, April 3, senior leadership members and Flaherty hosted the 3rd annual "Senior Prom" at Bickford Retirement Home. About 25-30 students participated, and almost all of the residents came out of their rooms to chat, have snacks and dance with the seniors. Reutenik was talking about memories with his wife when a song he recognized came on that he knew the name of and who it was by. "Once we heard that music playing, we knew we had to get up," he said.
"I think there's such a wealth of memory with these people, and it's easier for high-schoolers to tap into those memories," Flaherty said of the elders. The majority of the time was spent just talking with and listening to the residents. Stories were shared, laughs bubbled out and smiles spread wide across the faces of both kinds of seniors.
The CF seniors were not the only ones gaining from this event. "Some of them have such stories, and they just get grateful for their own grandparents. They see a different side of life rather than just going to school every day and being with their friends," Flaherty said. She also went on as to why this event is so important and special to not only her, but the residents and students as well. "There's good energy. It's good for the residents and good for our kids. It's a win-win situation."
Senior Beth Harvey participated and said she thoroughly enjoyed it. "I think it's nice we come here because they really appreciate having someone to chat with," she said. Not all of the residents get visitors, and if they do, they usually just drop in, say hi, and leave. "It's good to hear these people's stories. They're really cute. I like them," Harvey said.
Cindy Meehan is a CNA at Bickford and has been there for all three years that the high school has done this. "They love it!" she said. "They really enjoy this a lot. Most of them are out here and participating and have smiles on their faces." Meehan went on to explain how the Bickford seniors will probably be buzzing all about their experience for the rest of the day and through supper time about how they had such fun with "these young kids."
Some of the kids even come back on the high school prom night with their dates to visit everyone that they talked with on the Bickford prom night. The residents get pictures taken with the students, and Flaherty frames them and brings them back to the home.
"We need to bring generations together," she said.
Related ItemsAli MillerAmelia McMurrinBickford Cottagepromsenior leadershipseniors
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Montana Justices Allow Doctor-Assisted Suicide
Annie Youderian / January 4, 2010
(CN) - The Montana Supreme Court ruled that nothing in state law bars doctors from prescribing lethal drugs to terminally ill patients who want to end their lives. Montana is now the third state, along with Oregon and Washington, to allow physician-assisted suicide.
The justices sidestepped the constitutional issue, focusing instead on whether physician-assisted suicide is a crime under state law.
"We find nothing in Montana Supreme Court precedent or Montana statutes indicating that physician aid in dying is against public policy," Justice W. William Leaphart wrote for the 5-2 opinion.
Doctors for Robert Baxter, a retired truck driver from Billings, were worried that fulfilling his request to let him die with dignity would expose them to criminal liability.
Baxter underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy to treat leukemia. The disease and treatment left him with several debilitating symptoms, including infections, chronic fatigue, anemia, night sweats, nausea, swollen glands, digestive problems and general pain.
Baxter, four doctors and a patient-rights group called Compassion & Choices filed suit, claiming it was unconstitutional to apply Montana's homicide laws to doctors who helped terminally ill patients like Baxter commit suicide.
Doctors' liability hinged on whether the "consent defense" applies to them, the justices said. But under Montana law, consent is "ineffective" if it's given in response to an act that's considered "against public policy."
"The 'against public policy' exception to consent has been interpreted by this court as applicable to violent breaches of the public peace," Leaphart wrote. "Physician aid in dying does not satisfy that definition. We also find nothing in the plain language of Montana statutes indicating that physician aid in dying is against public policy. In physician aid in dying, the patient - not the physician - commits the final death-causing act by self-administering a lethal dose of medicine.
"In light of the long-standing, evolving and unequivocal recognition of the terminally ill patient's right to self-determination at the end of life ... it would be incongruous to conclude that a physician's indirect aid is contrary to public policy," Leaphart concluded.
The majority reversed an award of attorneys' fees to Baxter, explaining that there had been no "vindication of constitutional interests."
In a concurring opinion, Justice John Warner agreed that the state Legislature "has not plainly stated that assisting a suicide is against public policy," but urged lawmakers to change that.
"In my view, the citizens of Montana have the right to have their Legislature step up to the plate and squarely face the question presented by this case, do their job, and decide just what is the policy of Montana on this issue," Warner wrote.
The state applauded the narrow ruling as a rejection of the broader constitutional challenge.
"[T]he Montana Supreme Court recognized that physician-assisted suicide is a policy question for the people of Montana and their Legislature," State Solicitor Anthony Johnstone said in a statement. "As we have argued, that is where the resolution of this important issue belongs."
Justice James C. Nelson agreed with the majority's reasoning, but said he would have upheld the lower court's ruling for Baxter on the constitutional issues.
"Society does not have the right to strip a mentally competent, incurably ill individual of her inviolable human dignity when she seeks aid in dying from her physician," he wrote in a specially concurring opinion.
Dissenting Justice Jim Rice argued that preventing murder is the "ultimate recognition of human dignity," and that physician-assisted suicide clearly violates public policy.
He said the majority "has badly misinterpreted our public policy: assisting suicide has been explicitly and expressly prohibited by Montana law for the past 114 years."
Doctor who molested patients convicted of sex trafficking January 24, 2023
British health care crisis escalates with new nurse strikes January 17, 2023
US kindergarten vaccination rate dropped again, data shows January 12, 2023
Assisted suicide rejected in Massachusetts, but court leaves room to revisit it December 19, 2022


The "Haus Wassermann" features exciting testimonials which give a fascinating view into Villabassa around the 19th century. The exhibitions on two floors focus on the origin and history of tourism in this area.
Rudolf Stolz (1874 to 1960) was one of the most famous and renowned South Tyrolean painters. The fresco "Totentanz" ("Death Dance") in the cemetery of Sesto is considered his master piece.
Discover the oldest castle complex in the region of Alta Pusteria! This amazing castle has been renovated several times and is today a popular venue for concerts, exhibitions and events.
Explore this monumental castle, which towers high on a cliff above the valley basin of Campo Tures. The beautiful gothic frescos in the chapel are just one of many highlights!
Visiting this majestic medieval castle on a hill above Brunico should definitely be on top of your to-do list. It is home to the MMM which features the theme "mountain tribes".
Stroll through the cultural centre Grand Hotel Dobbiaco and find out many interesting things about the natural and cultural landscape of the nature park Fanes-Sennes-Braies – plenty of background knowledge for your active holiday in our region.
Visit the Reinhold Messner Mountain Museum on top of Plan de Corones at 2.275 meters above sea level! The mountaineer legend has dedicated the sixth MMM to traditional alpinism and offers a breath-taking presentation.
Take a trip into the past and stroll through this amazing museum village with ancient farm houses, barns, attics and a baroque mansion – surely one of the most beautiful museums of its kind in the entire alpine region.
Witness how delicious South Tyrolean chees is traditionally made. Of course, you can taste and buy the finished products in the Dobbiaco diary.
Be amazed by a true wonder of nature: The five majestic dolomite peaks Cima Nove, Cima Dieci (Croda Rossa di Sesto), Cima Undici, Cima Dodici and Cima Uno are actually the biggest stone sundial in the world! Already the ancient Romans knew about this phenomenon.


Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today's edition: Government gets timely economic figures boost, Whaitiri's ministerial career is over, and tax working group hedges bets on capital gains.
Sometimes the news just comes at you fast, and yesterday was one of those days. For the government, some of it was the best of times, and some of it the worst. Don't worry, we'll make it through everything.
We'll start with the quarterly GDP figures, which sounds like a boring spot but they're actually interesting because they came in a lot better than expected. The economy, simply put, is having a good one, and GDP was up 1% for the quarter – the highest rise in two years. Rises in 15 out of 16 industry categories more than offset a sharp drop in mining and extraction, which has been hit in the wake of the government's incoming ban on oil and gas exploration, reports Newshub. In technical terms, the results aren't quite stonking, but they're certainly healthy.
National's response to the news has been to shift the goalposts on what constitutes success, saying the next quarter will likely be weak. And the government themselves have been shifting the goalposts of how important GDP is, introducing a range of new measurements that will be taken to address the social health of the country. Wellbeing is the word in Wellington at the moment.
It couldn't have been timed better for the fortunes of the government, who have been facing low business confidence, and plagued by unwanted stories. But the other widely cited business confidence figure – how employers feel about their own prospects – has stayed pretty positive throughout the year. The GDP numbers are likely more of an illustration of that confidence.
On the other hand, the PM also had to end another ministerial career. A report into former customs minister Meka Whaitiri's alleged conduct towards a staff member was given to Jacinda Ardern, and the decision was made to immediately remove her. Meka Whaitiri has been suspended during the investigation, and as the NZ Herald reports, contests some of the facts of the allegations. The door isn't necessarily closed on her returning as a minister one day, and she will retain both the co-chair of the Labour Māori caucus, and the seat of Ikaroa-Rāwhiti.
And there are potentially more political headaches on the horizon after the Tax Working Group's interim report came in, without yet taking a firm side on a capital gains tax, reports Interest. Sir Michael Cullen's group has hedged here, saying work isn't complete and there are two potential options to be considered.
Nothing has been ruled in or out, which means that if Labour does intend to campaign at the next election with a capital gains tax as part of their package, they'll have to summon the political will from within, rather than hoping for a recommendation with which they could deflect any flack. Danyl McLaughlan has written a great piece on the bizarre political whirlpool that CGTs have become in NZ on The Spinoff.
There were two other interesting areas in which the TWG took more firm positions. Environmental taxes are most definitely in, with a view to using the taxes to drive better behaviour from business and consumers. And wealth and land taxes have been ruled out, which will infuriate those like Gareth Morgan who argue that the tax system is fundamentally skewed in favour of those who already have lots of both.
Housing NZ will be compensating hundreds of tenants unfairly kicked out of their homes during the great meth testing panic, reports Stuff. The offer of compensation comes alongside an inquiry report into the former policy, which resulted in a $100 million bill for tests and often unnecessary cleanup of houses. The 800 tenants who were wrongly evicted will receive between $2500 and $3000 each. Rima Herbert, who was evicted along with his family, told Radio NZ the compensation is a joke.
The Auckland homeless census took place this week, and our editor Toby Manhire took part along with 700 volunteers and wrote about it. It's a really interesting piece, looking at the ethical implications of effectively disturbing people in their bedrooms, particularly if they don't want to be counted.
The boss of Alzheimers NZ is hitting out at the government's "woefully inadequate" level of action on dementia care in the Dominion Post this morning. With an ageing population, there are fears that there won't be enough support services for everyone who needs them. A Framework for Dementia Care was developed in 2013, but it still yet to be fully implemented.
If you've been following Brexit closely, there was a big development overnight. European leaders have told UK PM Theresa May that her Chequers plan for a more moderate withdrawal is a lemon, reports the Guardian, and given her a deadline of next month for a solution on the Irish border – a problem to which there isn't really any solution, and everyone knows it. It basically means that May's efforts over the last couple of months have been entirely wasted.
Eden Park's future is in the spotlight in this feature from Stuff, with many openly questioning whether the stadium is destined to be bowled. And I'd love to get your feedback on it – thebulletin@thespinoff.co.nz – about what you reckon should happen. Should it stay? Do the rules around its use need to be relaxed? Should it be expanded? Should it be knocked down? Does Auckland even need as many stadiums as it currently has? Give us your thoughts.
Right now on The Spinoff: Tara Ward has been loving watching Gogglebox NZ, a show about ordinary people watching TV. The latest Business is Boring podcast is out, with Simon Pound speaking to Fresh producer Lisa Taouma. And Charlotte Graham-McLay has reviewed the new J.K Rowling book (written under another name) and reckons it's among her best work.
Rather than something to read this weekend, treat yourself to something to watch. TVNZ have put out five pilot episodes for potential new web series. They're each around ten minutes long, and are impressively self-contained as short stories in their own right, over and above how the rest of the series will go if it gets made.
The reason there's a question around that is because they're all in the New Blood competition. The aim of that is to help hone new TV talent, both in front of and everywhere else around a camera, and there's clearly a lot to be working with. They want the public to vote on which one will get fully funded. It's a small-scale version of a concept that is similar to one suggested by Ethan Sills on The Spinoff back in 2016. Voting closes on the 12th of October so have a watch now.
Now I'm not picking favourites here, they're all worth watching. But just as a personal observation, Kura was excellent and showed real depth that could be developed. And I'm desperate to know what will happen next after a chilling opening for The Hive, in which really rich world-building detail was cleverly chosen and directly delivered.
Here's an interesting one about cross-cultural relations in sport. The All Blacks will cover up their tattoos for the Rugby World Cup in Japan, reports Stuff. Tatts are associated with organised crime in Japan, so it's basically just about being good tourists.
And speaking of cover ups, Russia has been reinstated as a member of WADA – the World Anti Doping Association, reports the BBC. The decision came despite Russia not fully meeting the criteria set out for re-entry, and it is not being well-received by anti-doping advocates and some athletes.


text:
package mast

import (
	"bytes"
	"sort"

	"github.com/gomarkdown/markdown/ast"
)

// some extra functions for manipulation the AST

// MoveChilderen moves the children from a to b *and* make the parent of each point to b.
// Any children of b are obliterated.
func MoveChildren(a, b ast.Node) {
	a.SetChildren(b.GetChildren())
	b.SetChildren(nil)

	for _, child := range a.GetChildren() {
		child.SetParent(a)
	}
}

// Some attribute helper functions.

// AttributeFromNode returns the attribute from the node, if it was there was one.
func AttributeFromNode(node ast.Node) *ast.Attribute {
	if c := node.AsContainer(); c != nil && c.Attribute != nil {
		return c.Attribute
	}
	if l := node.AsLeaf(); l != nil && l.Attribute != nil {
		return l.Attribute
	}
	return nil
}

// AttributeInit will initialize an *Attribute on node if there wasn't one.
func AttributeInit(node ast.Node) {
	if l := node.AsLeaf(); l != nil && l.Attribute == nil {
		l.Attribute = &ast.Attribute{Attrs: make(map[string][]byte)}
		return
	}
	if c := node.AsContainer(); c != nil && c.Attribute == nil {
		c.Attribute = &ast.Attribute{Attrs: make(map[string][]byte)}
		return
	}
}

// DeleteAttribute delete the attribute under key from a.
func DeleteAttribute(node ast.Node, key string) {
	a := AttributeFromNode(node)
	if a == nil {
		return
	}

	switch key {
	case "id":
		a.ID = nil
	case "class":
		// TODO
	default:
		delete(a.Attrs, key)
	}
}

// SetAttribute sets the attribute under key to value.
func SetAttribute(node ast.Node, key string, value []byte) {
	a := AttributeFromNode(node)
	if a == nil {
		return
	}
	switch key {
	case "id":
		a.ID = value
	case "class":
		// TODO
	default:
		a.Attrs[key] = value
	}
}

// Attribute returns the attribute value under key. Use AttributeClass to retrieve
// a class.
func Attribute(node ast.Node, key string) []byte {
	a := AttributeFromNode(node)
	if a == nil {
		return nil
	}
	switch key {
	case "id":
		return a.ID
	case "class":
		// use AttributeClass.
	}

	return a.Attrs[key]
}

func AttributeBytes(attr *ast.Attribute) []byte {
	ret := &bytes.Buffer{}
	ret.WriteByte('{')
	if len(attr.ID) != 0 {
		ret.WriteByte('#')
		ret.Write(attr.ID)
	}
	for _, c := range attr.Classes {
		if ret.Len() > 1 {
			ret.WriteByte(' ')
		}
		ret.WriteByte('.')
		ret.Write(c)
	}

	keys := []string{}
	for k := range attr.Attrs {
		keys = append(keys, k)
	}
	sort.Strings(keys)

	for _, k := range keys {
		if ret.Len() > 1 {
			ret.WriteByte(' ')
		}
		ret.WriteString(k)
		ret.WriteString(`="`)
		ret.Write(attr.Attrs[k])
		ret.WriteByte('"')
	}
	ret.WriteByte('}')
	return ret.Bytes()
}

// AttributeClass returns true is class key is set.
func AttributeClass(node ast.Node, key string) bool {
	a := AttributeFromNode(node)
	if a == nil {
		return false
	}
	for _, c := range a.Classes {
		if string(c) == key {
			return true
		}
	}
	return false
}

// AttributeFilter runs the attribute on node through filter and only allows elements for which filter returns true.
func AttributeFilter(node ast.Node, filter func(key string) bool) {
	a := AttributeFromNode(node)
	if a == nil {
		return
	}
	if !filter("id") {
		a.ID = nil
	}
	if !filter("class") {
		a.Classes = nil
	}
	for k, _ := range a.Attrs {
		if !filter(k) {
			delete(a.Attrs, k)
		}
	}
}

// FilterFunc checks if s is an allowed key in an attribute.
// If s is:
// "id" the ID should be checked
// "class" the classes should be allowed or disallowed
// any other string means checking the individual attributes.
// it returns true for elements that are allows, false otherwise.
type FilterFunc func(s string) bool


text:
High School Students Suspended for Roles in Rodenmeyer Bully-cide
Jamey Rodenmeyer,14, bullied by high school classmates
Williamsburg School District, New York – An unspecified number of North High School students have been suspended for bullying Jamey Rodenmeyer, who killed himself in September following unrelenting anti-gay harassment. The Advocate reports that the suspensions resulted from information shared by police after the Rodenmeyer case was closed. Though Amherst law enforcement authorities declined to bring charges against students in the case, they identified at least five incidents of anti-gay bullying aimed at Rodenmeyer, a 14-year-old freshman. The boy's parents and school officers were not informed of the bullying incidents in question until it was too late.
School officials would not say the number of students suspended, but indicated that each of them faced a "minimum suspension" of at least five days. Longer term suspensions may have been invoked, as well, though expulsion from school is not permitted for youths of this age. These suspensions mark the second round of actions taken by the school system since Rodenmeyer's death. A female student who said she was "glad he was dead" was suspended soon after the suicide. Rodenmeyer, whose "It Gets Better" YouTube video gained wide circulation and the attention of Lady Gaga, took his life by hanging on September 18.
December 5, 2011 Posted by unfinishedlives | Anglo Americans, Bullycide, Bullying in schools, gay teens, GLBTQ, harassment, Hate Crimes, Heterosexism and homophobia, It Gets Better Project (IGBP), Lady Gaga, Law and Order, LGBTQ, LGBTQ suicide, New York	| Anglo Americans, Bullycide, Bullying in schools, gay teens, GLBTQ, harassment, Hate Crimes, Heterosexism and homophobia, It Gets Better Project (IGBP), Lady Gaga, Law and Order, LGBTQ, LGBTQ teen suicide, New York | Comments Off on High School Students Suspended for Roles in Rodenmeyer Bully-cide
Heartbroken 14-year-old Gay Youth Tormented to Death
Amherst, New York – Jamey Rodenmeyer wrote Lady Gaga lyrics on his Facebook page the weekend before he took his own life: "Don't forget me when I come crying to heaven's door." The quotation is from "The Queen," a song included on Lady Gaga's hit album, "Born This Way." The 14-year-old Williamsville North High student suffered unrelenting taunting and cyberbullying for being gay. Though he was in counseling with a therapist and a social worker, and was supported by his parents and a host of fans around the country due to his YouTube video for the "It Gets Better" project, the cumulative effect of psychic trauma and fear of violence broke down young Rodenmeyer's defenses. His parents, who found Jamey's body outside their home on September 19, told WGRZ Buffalo that they are certain he killed himself because of the bullying. Rodenmeyer's suicide immediately rekindled nationwide concern and anger over the culture of violence elementary, middle, and secondary school LGBTQ students face in and out of classrooms every day. Lady Gaga called for a campaign to make bullycide a hate crime by law (no bullying laws exist in New York State). An outspoken advocate for the gay and lesbian community, Gaga tweeted her fans: "Jamey Rodemeyer, 14 yrs old, took his life because of bullying. Bullying must become be illegal. It is a hate crime." She then committed herself to approach President Obama. "I am meeting with our President," she posted. "I will not stop fighting. This must end. Our generation has the power to end it. Trend it #MakeALawForJamey." Dan Savage, the co-originator of the "It Gets Better" project for which Rodemeyer made a video last May, said that he broke down and cried when he heard about the youth's suicide. Savage wrote on his blog, "The point of the 'It Gets Better' project is to give kids like Jamey Rodemeyer hope for their futures. But sometimes hope isn't enough. Sometimes the damage done by hate and by haters is simply too great. Sometimes the future seems too remote. And those are the times our hearts break."
The insults, rumors, and ridicule became too much for Jamey to bear. On a Formspring site he opened to chat with friends online, he was targeted by irrational hate. The Washington Post reports two representative instances of hate speech that would have unsettled anyone, no matter how well grounded: "JAMIE IS STUPID, GAY, FAT ANND UGLY. HE MUST DIE!" an anonymous detractor wrote. Another went straight for his heart: "I wouldn't care if you died. No one would. So just do it 🙂 It would make everyone WAY more happier!" Even though there were expressions of support among the posts to his site, the loudness of the hate drowned out the love. In hindsight, Jamey's cries for help are all too obvious. On September 9, he wrote on Facebook, "I always say how bullied I am, but no one listens. … What do I have to do so people will listen to me? No one in my school cares about preventing suicide, while you're the ones calling me [gay slur] and tearing me down." But the face he let his parents see was calm and relatively upbeat. Just days before he took his own life, the family went on a camping trip.
Amherst Police are investigating whether charges may be brought against youths who continually dogged Rodenmeyer with taunts and slurs. Buffalo News reports that the Special Victims Unit has been assigned to investigate whether crimes were committed against Jamey. Cyberbullying, especially if it was centered on Rodenmeyer's sexual orientation, could carry charges against his tormentors. Police spokesmen have said that they are focusing their probe on one to three young harassers who targeted Rodenmeyer ever since he was a student at Heim Middle School. "We're looking into it to see if he was the victim of any crimes, and that's the bottom line," Amherst Chief of Police John C. Askey told reporters. "We're going to be speaking to school officials and students and anyone with direct information about crimes that may have been committed against this individual."
Nearly 5,000 youths commit suicide each year, according the Centers for Disease Control, making teen suicide, especially teen LGBTQ suicide, a national health issue. But the statistics cannot adequately count the cost of bullying in American society. Criminal harassment, ridicule, and threats strike real boys and girls one-by-one, like Jamey Rodenmeyer, and rip away their futures. In the last communication of his short life, Jamey tweeted Lady Gaga, "@ladygaga bye mother monster thank you for all you have done, paws up forever." In a tribute to Gaga, Jamey's parents buried him Saturday wearing his "Born This Way" tee shirt.
September 23, 2011 Posted by unfinishedlives | Anglo Americans, Anti-LGBT hate crime, anti-LGBT hate crime murder, Bisexual persons, Blame the victim, Bullycide, Bullying in schools, Dan Savage, gay men, gay teens, Gender Variant Youth, GLBTQ, harassment, Hate Crime Statistics, Hate Crimes, hate speech, Heterosexism and homophobia, It Gets Better Project (IGBP), Lady Gaga, Law and Order, Legislation, Lesbian women, LGBT teen suicide prevention, LGBTQ, LGBTQ suicide, New York, Perpetrators of Hate Crime, Slurs and epithets, Social Justice Advocacy, transgender persons, transphobia	| Anglo Americans, Anti-LGBT hate crime, anti-LGBT hate crime murder, Bisexual persons, Blame the victim, Bullycide, Bullying in schools, Dan Savage, gay men, gay teens, GLBTQ, harassment, Hate Crimes, hate crimes prevention, hate crimes statistics, Heterosexism and homophobia, It Gets Better Project (IGBP), Lady Gaga, Law and Order, Lesbians, LGBTQ, LGBTQ teen suicide, LGBTQ teen suicide prevention, New York, perpetrators, Slurs and epithets, Social Justice Advocacy, transgender persons, transphobia | Comments Off on Heartbroken 14-year-old Gay Youth Tormented to Death


text:
Q: How to write a basic back and forth dialogue in C++ I want to write a basic script that allows for back and forth communication between a user and the computer. For example
USER: what's your name?
BOT: my name is John
USER: what's today's weather?
BOT: the weather is sunny

The code I have so far is...
#include <iostream>
#include <map>
#include <vector>
#include <string>

using namespace std;

string respond(map<string, vector<string> > responses, string message)
{
    if(responses.find(message) != responses.end()){
        return responses[message][0];
    } else {
        return responses["default"][0];
    }
}

int main(){
    map<string, vector<string> > responses;

    vector<string> temp;
    temp.push_back("my name is John");
    temp.push_back("they call me John");
    temp.push_back("I go by John");
    responses["what's your name?"] = temp;

    vector<string> temp1;
    temp1.push_back("the weather is sunny");
    temp1.push_back("it's cloudy today");
    responses["what's today's weather?"] = temp1;

    vector<string> temp2;
    temp2.push_back("default message");
    responses["default"] = temp2;

    while(1){
        cout << "Write your message to the bot and press ENTER" <<
 endl;
        string user_msg;
        cout << "USER: ";
        cin >> user_msg;
        if(user_msg == "quit"){
            break;
        }
        else{
            string temp = respond(responses, user_msg);
            cout << temp << endl;
        }
    }

    return 0;
}

Right now when I type in one of the responses[] (ie. what's your name?/what's today's weather?), I get back...
Write your message to the bot and press ENER
USER: what's your name?
default message
Write your message to the bot and press ENER
USER: default message
Write your message to the bot and press ENER
USER: default message
Write your message to the bot and press ENER
USER:

Any help to fix this would be much appreciated. Thanks

A: You are not getting the string correctly in your input. In the method respond, the value of message is just what's. This is happening because you are using cin which is not reading the input after it encounters a whitespace. You can use something like getline instead.
cout << "USER: ";
// Do this
std::getline (std::cin, user_msg);

Here's a working example for your code: http://cpp.sh/5dnrh

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Students vote in a mock election
Among the choices for President are the Democratic and Republican nominees; Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
Skylar Weiss
Skylar Weiss, Staff Writer
Filed under Campus
With the presidential election on the horizon, many students are forming opinions about the various candidates and propositions that are at stake.
In the spirit of democracy, Carlmont's ASB organized to conduct an election in which students voted on several political measures in their respective history classes. Teachers and staff members were also given the opportunity to vote.
The election was planned by the Human Relations commission in ASB's Service Council, who will also count the final ballots.
"We decided to create an election at Carlmont because we thought that students would like to learn more about the political demographic. They also get to experience how it feels to contribute to community decisions," said 11th-grader Jade Sebti, the commission's supervisor.
Some Carlmont students responded positively to the commission's intentions.
"I liked that students were able to share their political opinions, even if it was anonymous. I learned about the new propositions, and I think other students also benefitted from the election because it made government issues more personal to us," said sophomore Manon Llorach.
The ballot consisted of choices for a presidential candidate, as well as denying or approving the state propositions for the legalization of recreational marijuana, the continuation of the death penalty, and the banning of plastic bags at grocery stores.
Eleventh-grader Miguel Encarnacion voted to approve the legalization of recreational marijuana for users over twenty-one years of age.
"I feel like so many people already have easy access to [marijuana], and there haven't been several major downfalls from the drug, so I feel like if it was made legal, it would lessen legal tensions for a lot of people," said Encarnacion.
The election's results will be released later this week by ASB's Service Council.
"It'll be interesting to see how our results compare with the national and statewide results. We hope that the students have taken the vote seriously, or that the number of serious voters outnumbered the number of voters who didn't take the election seriously so that we could have accurate results," said junior Human Relations commissioner Liz Boman.
Introducing the Clinton-Trump model of a 'wrong' debate
Clinton campaign sails through rough waters before election
Trump's remarks open discussion about sexual harassment
Introducing the Clinton-Trump model of a 'wrong' debate
Trump's remarks open discussion about sexual harassment
Tags: election, mock, students, vote
Skylar Weiss is a senior at Carlmont and on the Editorial Staff of its newspaper, The Highlander. She loves going to the beach and playing water polo. skylarweissjourno.weebly.com
We invite comments and responses to our content. Comments that are deemed appropriate and relevant will be published.
Gender-Sexuality Alliance tours the Castro
ASB's seniors leave behind their legacy
Athletic awards ceremony honors student-athlete achievement
ASB reflects on the past and prepares for the future
Therapy dogs help students de-stress before finals
Choir Pops Benefit Concert embraces diversity
Finals cause extra stress for students in language classes
Students raise concerns regarding dress code
Student grievances challenge Carlmont's online policies
Holocaust survivor speaks to history classes


Leading two regular bands obviously isn't enough for Chicago-based multi-percussionist Kahil El'Zabar. Not only has he written poetry and film scores, taught at nearby universities and initiated arts presentations, but he's also put together a series of ad-hoc musical groups.
Besides his regularly constituted Ethnic Heritage Ensemble (EHE) and Ritual Trio, he also organized the Bright Moments combo filled with Association for Advancement of Creative Musicians veterans and recorded exciting projects with 1960s tenor masters like Pharoah Sanders and Archie Shepp. Now these CDs showcase him in two more bands. Tri-Factor is a regularly constituted co-op trio, filled out by baritone saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett and violinist Billy Bang. The other combo disc is more of bittersweet affair. A reunion between El'Zabar and a former duo partner, extensively recorded tenor saxophonist David Murray, it's also the final recording session for bassist Fred Hopkins, who died at 51 of heart and liver disease a few months after the session.
Along with Hamid Drake, El'Zabar is part of the Chicago percussion tradition that encompasses mastery of many more drums than the standard trap kit. As a matter of fact, his most impressive rhythmic thrust comes on African hand drum or kalimba. Connect the Africanisms suggested by those instruments and his vocals to a stringed instrument and a horn and you get the basic thrust of both these discs.
Best-known for his tenure in the Wold Saxophone Quartet, which also includes Murray, Bluiett's experience encompasses St. Louis' Black Artists Group (BAG), R&B gigs and three years with bassist Charles Mingus. Most distinctive of modern violinists Harlem-raised Bang was a founding member of another collective, The String Trio Of New York. Since the 1980s he has played in variety of contexts from modern classical, to straightahead, to outside Energy music with the likes of tenor man Frank Lowe and bassist William Parker.
gets it strength from the tension that must be resolved among Bang's off-centre formalism, Bluiett's blues roots and El'Zabar, whose rhythms may suggest African rain forests, but whose singing and lyrics reference sanctified gospel. This push-and-pull can most easily be heard on the first and final tracks. A churchy, hand clapper, the title track works up from an echoing vocal refrain courtesy of the percussionist and roadhouse honks from Bluiett's axe. Bang is smack dab in the middle, ornamenting sax lines with string sweeps or scratching out an approximation of one-string African fiddles Elsewhere, "Urban Bush People", offers an El'Zabar vocalized chant that is half work song and half-enraged Gil Scott-Heron. Driven by the a repetitive sax riff and hand percussion, with everyone humming the soulful melody, the percussionist sings about "living in the streets of concrete" where "if we don't start screaming all of our children will be gone".
Cast in the form of moderato lullabies, numbers, such as "Baby K For Kasan" and "San San For Kasan" spread a warm blanket of kalimba notes over the melodies, with digit power giving the thumb piano the sound and texture of a marimba. Here the overlay of baritone lines and fiddle ornamentation helps to add warm and fuzzies to the tune.
Not that the three have lost their edge however. Bluiett's "Wide Open Country Style" owes a lot more to Art Blakey than bluesman Blind Blake and is merely one step removed from hard bop. Additionally, the saxman's ability to create freakish high notes in altissimo range followed by mining shaft deep swoops call to mind early R&B honkers who elaborated on "The Hucklebuck".
Finally there's "It Went Somewhere Else", a free jazz blow out, reminiscent of 1960s Energy Music, with El'Zabar feeding press rolls and bass accents to the others from his kit; Bang snaking up and down the strings; and Bluiett, reverting to his BAG days, speedily screeching in both registers.
Partnering with men whose experience ranged from the formal — Hopkins' membership in Air, Murray's Octets and big bands — to the free — the bassist's duo with drummer Steve McCall, Murray's duos with El'Zabar or pianist Dave Burrell — the percussionist on LOVE .. appeared to be ready for anything. Armed with a set of his original tunes, some of which had been recorded in duo with Murray or by the EHE, the idea seems to be to throw everything up in the air and see what developed.
For a start, though, listeners shouldn't hear this session as some sort of Hopkins memorial disc. Busy as only a prodigal (musical) son can be in his hometown, the bassist certainly didn't figure this would be his final session. His solid bass line can be heard throughout, but he's not really featured. In fact, there are times he lays out completely or can't be heard over the clamor of the more powerful axes.
With the percussionist more often behind the kit than not, El'Zabar plays a series of shuffles, flams and paradiddles to back up Murray's swaggering tenor saxophone forays and mournful bass clarinet. Although only one number definitely references Duke Ellington, with "Take The A Train" quotes, the saxist appears to be in a ducal mode. On that tune he spears enough high notes to have made Ellington's coloratura trumpet specialist Cat Anderson jealous and elsewhere his throbbing inflections recall Paul Gonsalves, whose tenor tonalities with the Duke were as likely to suggest R&B and jump bands as Coleman Hawkins or Chu Berry. On "Nia", an EHE favorite, he comes up with enough overblown screeches, trills and honks show how much New Thing tenorists took from Gonsalves' sound as well as from the more expected Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane influences. On other tunes, Murray's reed-biting saxophone forays and El'Zabar's thumb piano lines produce enough reverberations from two acoustic instruments to make proponents of electronica seem foolish in their reliance on wires and dials.
When he's not biting off arpeggios on his horn(s), Murray also vocalizes along with El'Zabar, most notably on his own "Song For The New South Africa". The two do well as rhythm singers, but neither Luther Vandross nor Usher should lose any sleep over their crooning. Lyrics awash with the sentiments of peace and love figure strongly in the final tune, which is also the title of Murray-El'Zabar duo disc. Although he uses a lot of slap tonguing and key pops, Murray's bass clarinet solos also have a spiritual quality here, amplified by the percussionists unbroken hand drumming and call-and-response vocals.
With a Pentecostal preacher's vocal delivery and the large licorice stick providing the chorus, the power of the piece really revolves around Hopkins' wide-sweeping bass work. Probably his most assured playing on the CD, it's good to know that the bassman went out on a strong note the last time he entered the recording studio.


The New Jersey Cup, US Club's state tournament has a first round deadline of April 2nd, but a number of games have already been played.
Those managers were smart because many teams are resorting to week day games ahead of Easter and Spring Breaks. Some even looking into the possibility of playing indoors, which tournament Director Bob Kuzbyt addressed in email this week.
Here are a look at a few first and second round matchups and results of games that were already played.
The second team in Cherry Hill gets a nice win against an accomplished FTYSA team in a battle of municipalities. The bad news here is they now have a 1 hour and 45 minute trip to West Morris for game 2!
Battle tested team from Wall moves on to play Jersey United Spartans which makes GS ranked #38 meet GS ranked #35.
Does NJYS have restrictions on when clubs can hold tryouts for 2018-2019. Some state associations do not allow tryouts until after state cup is completed. Obviously that is not case in NJ.


Car accidents can result in serious injuries, the symptoms of which can linger and cause long-term discomfort.
While there are a number of traditional ways to deal with these, there are also some alternative options as well. These include chiropractic as a gentle, non-invasive treatment.
Let's look at chiropractic as a beneficial way to treat injuries sustained from car accidents.
Chiropractic treatment is often used in association with auto injuries because of where these injuries typically manifest on the body.
Many people will experience issues with their neck and spine after a car accident. Doctors of chiropractic are healthcare professionals who can use techniques like spinal manipulation to treat these issues.
Auto injuries often include damage to soft tissues of the back and neck. As well as spinal manipulation, chiropractors can work at the muscle itself to support long-term healing and help you experience relief from any pain.
Chiropractic methods also promote an improvement in flexibility and strength when working on muscles damaged in automobile accidents.
One particular injury that chiropractic is especially useful in treating is chronic neck pain.
One study shows the direct relationship between chronic neck pain and whiplash that was sustained as a result of a car accident.
Based on these findings, it's safe to say that chiropractic is an effective way of treating chronic neck pain resulting from neck strain.
Chiropractic may be beneficial for these symptoms and help to promote long-term relief and prevention of any further complications.
Chiropractic care has a particular focus in the field of neck and back injuries.
Many neck and back injuries are the result of automobile accidents. While not all are sustained through this method, we can conclude that chiropractic is beneficial for treating neck and back injuries endured as a result of an auto injury.
Arora Family Chiropractic serves the Frisco area in many different ways. One of these ways is through the treatment and prevention of further complications with a neck strain.
Doctors Puneet Arora and Matthew Schindlbeck can expertly show you the proven benefits of chiropractic care when used to treat car accident injuries.
Call (214) 618-7746 and discuss your options with Arora Family Chiropractic today and experience the benefits of chiropractic care.


Long Is The Walk, the solo project of Boston-based cellist, singer-songwriter and composer Jeremy Harman has released its debut album Spirits and Ghosts, a hauntingly hypnotic collection of songs and virtuosic instrumentals which weave together coming-of-age tales of an individual struggling to hold on to dreams and purpose as the naivete of youth fades and is replaced by an obsession with the finite nature of time and of life.
Harman's music has been heard in concert halls throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia as the cellist of the Sirius Quartet, a string quartet who writes and performs original multi-genre instrumental music. After working as a freelance cellist in the Boston and NYC music scenes for the better part of a decade and sharing the stage with artists as diverse as Peter Gabriel, Sting, Lady Gaga, Bobby McFerrin, DeVotchKa and John Williams, Harman has stepped out as a songwriter and created a compelling sonic realm that is equal parts earthy and ethereal. Fleet-fingered acoustic guitar ostinatos pulsate throughout, layers of cello spend as much time chugging viscerally as they do whispering ominously, and lush, understated vocal harmonies bring to mind Bon Iver and Andrew Bird, all set against the backdrop of the tight jazz-tinged rhythm section of drummer Jens Ellerhold and upright bassist Joey Pierog. The end result is a dream-like mixture in which raw grit repeatedly gives way to atmospheric beauty.


text:
Dutch Pakistani or Pakistani Dutch may refer to:
Netherlands–Pakistan relations (c.f. "a Dutch–Pakistani treaty")
Pakistanis in the Netherlands (by analogy to "Pakistani American", though this is not a widely accepted usage)
Dutch people in Pakistan (by analogy to "British Pakistani", though this is not a widely accepted usage)
Multiracial people of Dutch and Pakistani descent

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Mental Health ambassador delivers a serious subject without losing the laughs.
It's hard to believe that Dave Chawner is playing in an attic at a Free Fringe venue so accomplished is his stand-up routine. His topic for the night isn't even funny! He is one of many comics on the circuit choosing mental health as his comedy fodder of choice covering both anorexia (while trying to plug his new book, Weight Expectations) and anxiety as he encourages people to seek help should they require it.
Firstly, he dissects the language we use around mental health explaining that we all have mental health, it is mental illness which causes difficulties. But even that, Chawner explains, is all wrong as he asks why we insist on focussing on the negative instead of the positive? Why do we have such a clear idea that Physical Education is vital in schools but 'Mental Education' is a secondary thought?
Chawner is striving to improve this as part of a working group which includes members of parliament and a stint as a presenter on a documentary about body dysmorphia. Sounds like a barrel of laughs right? Well remarkably Dave Chawner does manage to make this a show littered with laughs commanding the microphone with confidence. He is clearly passionate about the topic he has chosen to base his show around and this sometimes causes mild cases of verbal diarrhoea which are hard to keep up with as the words tumble at increasing speed from his mouth.
However, as much as the point is to make the room laugh, his material is delivered with care and compassion for those potentially experiencing any mental illness while listening and he even gives the names of places to go should one require it. Travelling, meditation and breathing are not the only options available he muses, despite the advice he once gave out under pressure.
Making light of a serious situation is a fine art and one which Dave Chawner masters with some skill. And with no price tag attached to this show it is a fine art which all can, and should, hear.


This leather bag was designed for ladies who like to dance the night away. It is large enough to carry essential items such as a pair of slippers or flat pumps. The joy a lady feels when she knows she can kick off her ever so comfortable heels and change to her flats.


"At first we thought it would be really cool if only your "positive" thoughts became the things and events of your life.
Overall morning mood: Slept well. Knew it was a rest day and it was needed. Chill day.
C1 class was slower flow Vinyasa class with a warm room but not near as hot as the C2 class.
INTERNET TRUTH OR FICTION: GRAPES AND LEMONS: GRAPES ARE HIGH IN ANTIOXIDANT AND ASTRINGENT PROPERTIES, WHICH HELP REMOVE TOXINS FROM THE BODY. GRAPES AND LEMONS ARE TWO OF NATURES GREATEST LYMPHATIC CLEANSERS AND TUMOR BUSTERS. ACCORDING TO DR. ROBERT MORSE, HE HAS SEEN LYMPHOMAS GONE IN FORTY FIVE DAYS AND STOMACH CANCER GONE IN FIFTY NINE DAYS USING THESE FRUIT JUICE FACES IN COMBINATION WITH HERBAL THERAPY AND A RAW FOOD DIET.


Watch out Warby Parker, you're in for some serious competition (sort of/not really): Those prolific Kardashian sisters are at it again with a new kollection of eyewear, and this time... they're made of GOLD.
The K krew may have launched an online eyewear boutique with Sears in January 2013, but these babies are in a whole 'nother league of realness. Available in two sizes and five glamorous lens color options, the Kardashian Kollection's new limited edition "luxury" aviator sunglasses are plated with gold. And not just any old gold, no sir. This is REAL gold -- 10 karats worth. Each pair costs $249 -- which, to give perspective, isn't too far off from the price range of many of Tom Ford's aviators. Hey, it's your money.
The glasses also look suspiciously like they've been Photoshopped onto Kourtney, Khloe and Kim's faces in the promo photos. Maybe Kanye hasn't approved them for IRL wearing?
Seems Terry Richardson's gone back to shooting people with clothes on: Kim Kardashian posted on her blog yesterday that the mutton chopped photog who spawned 1,000 "Wrecking Ball" parodies (and about 100,000 online parental control accounts) is helping her out with the latest Kardashian Kollection for Sears campaign.
Those Kardashian boyfriends sure have a lot to say about their ladies' looks, huh?


Jorge Florez-Acosta & Daniel Herrera-Araujo, 2017. "Multiproduct retailing and buyer power: The effects of product delisting on consumer shopping behavior," PSE Working Papers halshs-01518146, HAL.
Diogo Hildebrand & Yoshiko Demotta & Sankar Sen & Ana Valenzuela, 2017. "Consumer Responses to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Contribution Type," Grenoble Ecole de Management (Post-Print) hal-01576949, HAL.
Liang Bai & Benjamin Handel & Edward Miguel & Gautam Rao, 2017. "Self-Control and Demand for Preventive Health: Evidence from Hypertension in India," NBER Working Papers 23727, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
Sergey Kokovin & Maxim Goryunov & Takatoshi Tabuchi, 2017. "Continuous Spatial Monopolistic Competition: Matching Goods With Consumers," HSE Working papers WP BRP 173/EC/2017, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
Katolik, Aleksandra & Oswald, Andrew J., 2017. "Antidepressants for Economists and Business-School Researchers: An Introduction and Review," IZA Discussion Papers 10959, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA).
Hicham Abbad & Sonia Mahjoub, 2017. "Logistics Pooling in the French Food Retailing Supply Chains: an Exploratory Study," Working Papers halshs-01548760, HAL.
Rishi Ahuja & Ronan C. Lyons, 2017. "The Silent Treatment: LGBT Discrimination in the Sharing Economy," Trinity Economics Papers tep1917, Trinity College Dublin, Department of Economics.
David Ronayne & Daniel Sgroi, 2017. "On the Motivations for the Dual-Use of Electronic and Traditional Cigarettes," Economics Series Working Papers 830, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
Granlund, David & Bergman, Mats A., 2017. "Price competition in pharmaceuticals – evidence from 1303 Swedish markets," Umeå Economic Studies 952, Umeå University, Department of Economics.
Takeshi Ebina & Noriaki Matsushima, 2017. "Product differentiation and entry timing in a continuous-time spatial competition model with vertical relations," ISER Discussion Paper 1009, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Osaka University.