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The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening adults for depression in primary care settings when staff-assisted depression management programs are available. This recommendation, however, is based on evidence from depression management programs conducted with patients already identified as depressed, even though screening is intended to identify depressed patients not already recognized or treated. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate whether there is evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that depression screening benefits patients in primary care, using an explicit definition of screening.
We re-evaluated RCTs included in the 2009 USPSTF evidence review on depression screening, including only trials that compared depression outcomes between screened and non-screened patients and met the following three criteria: determined patient eligibility and randomized prior to screening; excluded patients already diagnosed with a recent episode of depression or already being treated for depression; and provided the same level of depression treatment services to patients identified as depressed in the screening and non-screening trial arms. We also reviewed studies included in a recent Cochrane systematic review, but not the USPSTF review; conducted a focused search to update the USPSTF review; and reviewed trial registries.
Of the nine RCTs included in the USPSTF review, four fulfilled none of three criteria for a test of depression screening, four fulfilled one of three criteria, and one fulfilled two of three criteria. There were two additional RCTs included only in the Cochrane review, and each fulfilled one of three criteria. No eligible RCTs were found via the updated review.
The USPSTF recommendation to screen adults for depression in primary care settings when staff-assisted depression management programs are available is not supported by evidence from any RCTs that are directly relevant to the recommendation. The USPSTF should re-evaluate this recommendation.
Please see related article: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/12/14 webcite
Keywords:Depression; Primary care; Screening; Systematic review
Screening for depression in primary care settings is controversial [1-3]. Prior to 2002, no major guidelines recommended depression screening. Then, in 2002, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended routine depression screening when staff-assisted depression care programs are in place to ensure accurate diagnosis and effective treatment and follow-up [4]. In 2009, the USPSTF reiterated this recommendation, based on evidence from nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) [5,6].
By contrast, a 2008 Cochrane review [7,8] reported that the effect of depression screening on depressive symptoms in five RCTs was virtually zero (standardized mean difference = -0.02, 95% confidence interval -0.25 to 0.20) [7]. Consistent with this, in 2010, the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended that clinicians be alert to possible depression, but not screen [9]. In 2013, the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care similarly recommended against routine depression screening [10].
Existing systematic reviews on depression screening have been criticized for not defining the characteristics of depression screening trials [11,12]. Depression screening involves the use of depression symptom questionnaires to identify patients who may have depression but have not sought treatment and have not otherwise been recognized as depressed by healthcare providers. For screening to benefit patients, patients must agree to be screened, the screening test must accurately identify a significant number of previously unrecognized patients, and clinicians must engage these patients in treatment and obtain sufficiently positive results to justify costs and potential harms [3].
A trial of depression screening must be able to separate the effect of screening from the effect of providing additional treatment resources not otherwise available. In addition to screening, depression symptom questionnaires may be used for tracking symptom severity or detecting relapse among patients with already-recognized depression. However, in a trial, only patients not already under care for depression prior to the trial should be included in assessing the effect of screening, since screening is done to identify previously unrecognized cases. Thus, for a trial to test the effects of depression screening on depression outcomes, at least three key criteria must be fulfilled. The trial must:
1. determine patient eligibility and randomize patients prior to screening;
2. exclude patients already diagnosed with a recent episode of depression or being treated for depression at the time of trial enrollment;
3. provide similar depression management options to patients with depression in the screening arm of the trial and patients in the non-screening arm identified as depressed via other mechanisms, such as patient report or unaided physician diagnosis.
The 2009 USPSTF systematic review [5,6] did not explicitly define characteristics of a screening trial. The 2008 Cochrane review [7,8] excluded trials where depression care was substantially enhanced for patients in the intervention group only, but did not require randomization prior to screening or address the inclusion of already-treated patients.
The objective of the present systematic review was to determine whether the USPSTF depression screening guideline is supported by evidence that depression screening improves depression outcomes in primary care. To do this, we re-evaluated the nine RCTs included in the 2009 USPSTF systematic review on depression screening [5,6] to determine if they fulfilled the three key criteria necessary for a test of depression screening. In addition, we reviewed trials included in the 2008 Cochrane review [7,8] and conducted a focused search to determine if any depression screening trials have been conducted since those reviews.
Methods for this systematic review were registered in the PROSPERO prospective register of systematic reviews (#CRD42013004276).
Identification of eligible RCTs from the 2009 USPSTF and Cochrane systematic reviews
We evaluated nine RCTs from the USPSTF 2009 review and two additional RCTs that were included in one or both published versions of a Cochrane review [7,8] but not the USPSTF review. Eligible RCTs had to use a depression screening tool with a defined cut-off score to make decisions regarding further assessment or treatment of depression. In addition, patient eligibility and randomization had to occur prior to administering the screening test; patients with a recent diagnosis of depression and patients being treated for depression close to the time of trial enrollment had to have been excluded from the trial; and similar depression management resources had to have been available to patients identified as depressed in both trial arms. We included RCTs that compared depression symptom outcomes or, if not available, number of cases post-screening, but not RCTs that only reported rates of depression recognition or treatment. This is because recommendations for screening should be based on evidence of improved outcomes. Increased treatment without improved depression outcomes would expose patients to costs and potential harms but not benefit [3].
Two investigators independently reviewed full-text publications of RCTs from the USPSTF and Cochrane reviews with any disagreements resolved by consensus.
Updated search
We searched for RCTs from any country that met eligibility criteria. The focused database search was designed based on a surveillance technique found to be the most effective method for finding new evidence to update systematic reviews in a comparison of several different methods [13]. It involved using a combination of two separate search strategies. The first was a subject search in the MEDLINE database using relevant Medical Subject Headings and text words. The second search was a 'related citations' search in PubMed based on the three most recent and three largest trials included in either the USPSTF or Cochrane reviews, only including studies that were described in the original publications as related to screening. Both searches were limited to RCTs by using a validated methodological hedge. The search was peer-reviewed prior to implementation on 24 April 2013, using the Ovid SP interface for MEDLINE (search 1) and the National Library of Medicine interface, PubMed (search 2). See Additional file 1.
Additional file 1. Search Strategy.
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We also searched the ClinicalTrials.gov trial registry ('depression AND screen*' in any field, where * retrieves terms with zero to more characters) and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform ('depression AND screen*' in the 'title' field) from inception to 30 April 2013. The World Health Organization registry platform is a central database that provides access to many different clinical trial registries from around the world.
The updated review was similarly done independently by two investigators.
Data presentation and synthesis
Since we did not identify any trials that met all three criteria necessary for tests of depression screening, synthesis of outcome data on the effect of depression screening was not possible. Instead, we reported the results of our evaluation to determine if RCTs from the USPSTF and Cochrane reviews or the updated search fulfilled the three criteria. We did not conduct an assessment of trial quality or risk of bias because no trials met criteria to be considered a test of depression screening. Two investigators independently extracted data with any disagreement resolved by consensus.
Re-assessment of randomized controlled trials from 2009 USPSTF and Cochrane systematic reviews
As shown in Table 1, there were five RCTs [14-18] included in only the USPSTF review, four [19-22] included in both the USPSTF and Cochrane reviews, and two [23,24] included in at least one version of the Cochrane review, as well as a 2002 version of the USPSTF review [25] but not the 2009 USPSTF review. Of the 11 RCTs included in either the 2009 USPSTF or Cochrane reviews, one [20] fulfilled two of the three key criteria for a depression screening trial, six [16,17,21-24] fulfilled one, and four [14,15,18,19] did not fulfill any. Of the 11 RCTs, only two [20,21] determined trial eligibility and randomized prior to screening; only two [16,17] excluded already diagnosed and treated patients; and only four [20,22-24] provided similar depression management options to patients in both trial arms.
Table 1. Characteristics of randomized controlled trials in 2009 United States Preventive Services Task Force and Cochrane systematic reviews
Of the five RCTs [14-18] that were included in the USPSTF review but not the Cochrane review, four [14-17] were trials of complex depression care quality improvement programs and required a positive score on a depression screening tool plus a diagnosis of depression for enrolment. The other RCT [18], also a complex management intervention, was excluded from the Cochrane review because it was not specific to depression. For eligibility, elderly patients were required to have four of ten problems indicative of a potentially poor general prognosis, but not necessarily depression.
Results from the updated search
The trial registration search included 405 unique trial registrations, but none described RCTs that met eligibility criteria. The database search identified 347 unique citations, of which 342 were excluded after title and abstract review and five after full-text review (Figure 1). Of the five studies that underwent full-text review, two studies were clearly not relevant, and three RCTs [30-32] were similar in design to trials included in the USPSTF or Cochrane reviews and met at least one criterion (see Table 1). Of these three RCTs, one [30] met one, and two [31,32] met two of the three criteria.
Figure 1. PRISMA flow diagram of study selection process for updated search. RCT, randomized controlled trial.
Randomized controlled trials that randomized patients prior to screening
Among RCTs included in the USPSTF or Cochrane reviews or identified in the updated search, only four [20,21,31,32] determined eligibility and randomized patients prior to screening. Among those, one [31] provided enhanced depression care to only patients in the screening arm, which did not allow an assessment of the effect of screening. Another [21] randomized patients to physician notification of positive screens versus usual care. Intervention arm patients with positive depression screens were offered six weekly depression education sessions, although only 12% of eligible patients attended. Outcome data were analyzed from only the 14% of patients in the trial with positive screening scores at baseline, including patients on antidepressants pre-trial. There were no significant differences in the mean change of depression symptoms between groups (-2.4 versus -2.1 points on Geriatric Depression Scale, P = 0.50).
Two trials [20,32] met two of the three criteria, but included already diagnosed or treated patients. One [20] analyzed data from only 23% of patients randomized, including patients determined to have major depression at baseline plus a small sample of patients without major depression at baseline. Only 27% of depression diagnoses post-screening were new diagnoses, and the mean reduction in the number of depressive symptoms did not differ between the two groups (1.6 versus 1.5 symptoms, P = 0.21). The other [32] was a cluster RCT in which primary care practices were randomized to screen versus provide usual care to patients at high risk of depression due to a history of depression, unexplained somatic symptoms, psychological comorbidities, drug abuse or chronic pain. The number of patients already treated pre-trial was not reported. Rates of depression post-screening were similar in the screening (15.0%) and usual care (15.8%) trial arms.
The main finding of this systematic review was that no RCTs have compared depression outcomes between patients randomized to be screened versus not screened for depression in trials that met the necessary criteria: determined eligibility and randomized patients prior to screening; excluded patients already known to have depression or already being treated for depression; and provided similar depression management options to patients identified as depressed via screening or via other methods in the comparison group.
The 2009 USPSTF recommendation to screen when collaborative care depression management programs are available was based primarily on the results of three trials [14,15,18]. Two of these trials [14,15] compared complex collaborative care depression management programs to usual care among patients required to have depression to enroll in the trials. In one of the trials, 44% of enrolled patients were described as receiving appropriate mental health care in the 6 months prior to trial enrollment [14]. In the other, 44% of enrolled patients were prescribed antidepressant medication or had a specialty mental health care visit in the 6 months prior to enrolling in the trial [15]. The third trial tested whether telephone case management improved a series of geriatric outcomes (depression, cognitive impairment, urinary incontinence, falls, functional impairment) among elderly patients determined to be at risk for poor health outcomes prior to trial enrollment, most of whom did not report symptoms of depression [18]. None of these trials met any of the three criteria used in the present systematic review to characterize trials of depression screening programs.
The trials that were used to support the USPSTF recommendation provided evidence that collaborative care programs improve outcomes compared to usual care for patients already identified as depressed. They did not, however, address the question of whether screening improves outcomes for patients who would not otherwise be identified as depressed in the context of these programs. To address this question, RCTs are needed that randomize primary care practices to screen patients for depression versus not screening them. All patients in either trial arm who are identified as depressed via screening or other mechanisms, such as unaided clinician recognition or patient report, should be provided with the same depression care to determine whether screening is linked to improved depression outcomes in the context of depression care of similar quality (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Diagram of trial to test depression screening in the context of collaborative depression care.
Without such evidence, the USPSTF should consider several factors that suggest that depression screening, even in the context of collaborative depression care, may not be straightforward or effective, and may, in fact, expose some patients to avoidable risk. These factors have been discussed in detail elsewhere [3], but include the already high rate of antidepressant use in primary care settings [33,34]; the likely overestimation in the research literature of the accuracy of depression screening tools for identifying previously unrecognized cases of depression [35]; and the limited effectiveness of antidepressant medication among patients with only mild symptoms of depression [36-41], including patients without obvious depression who would likely be identified via screening.
Although it is not clear that depression screening would improve depression outcomes, it would harm some patients [42]. Most patients treated for depression in primary care are treated with antidepressants [43], and common side effects include diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, headache, nausea, sexual dysfunction, excessive sweating, tremors and weight gain [44]. Less common but potentially more serious adverse effects, particularly for patients in primary care with heart disease, may include increased risk of bleeding and unwanted effects on blood pressure and heart rate [45-49], as well as drug-drug interactions with cardiac medications [50,51]. For patients with generally low levels of depression, who are most likely to be newly identified through screening, the side effect burden and potential risk profile of antidepressants need to be carefully considered, particularly given that screening has not been shown to reduce symptoms of depression.
Screening would also consume scarce healthcare resources [52,53] that will not then be available for other activities, such as providing treatment to the large number of patients already diagnosed with depression but receiving poor-quality care. Canadian healthcare costs are generally lower than those in the US. Nonetheless, a recent population-based study from the province of Quebec found that overall healthcare costs were approximately $2,000 (CAD) higher for patients prescribed antidepressants, with a large proportion of increased costs attributed to patients without a recent history of depression or anxiety [54]. The cost of treatment, however, is only part of the cost of screening. Beyond administering depression symptom questionnaires, the cost of depression screening would include follow-up assessments to determine which patients are true positive screens and which are false positives; consultations with patients who are identified as having depression to determine management options and, if treatment is advised, the best treatment option; as well as treatment and follow-up services. The USPSTF guideline does not specify how often patients should be screened, and we do not know of any studies that have examined cumulative false positive rates from repeat screenings, but this is an important factor that needs to be considered.
Recommendations have been made for depression screening of special patient populations, including postpartum women [55] and patients with heart disease [56]. However, these recommendations are controversial [57,58] and not supported by evidence of benefit from RCTs [59-62]. In the UK, depression screening in primary care of patients with heart disease and diabetes was incentivized from 2006 to 2013. An analysis of more than a million patient records from Scottish primary care practices, however, found that almost 1,000 screens were necessary for a new depression diagnosis and almost 700 for a new antidepressant prescription [63]. In the US, at least 10 states have legislation encouraging or requiring postpartum depression screening [64]. Although no depression outcomes have been reported, a study of the first of these programs to be initiated, the New Jersey Postpartum Wellness Initiative, which has required postpartum depression screening since 2006, did not find any increase in depression treatment or follow-up care following implementation [64].
The only RCT in the present review that screened high-risk patients [32] did not find that screening reduced the presence of depression, although it is not known what proportion of patients in the trial were receiving treatment for depression pre-trial. One prospective cohort study from the Netherlands [65] documented the results of a program designed to screen and provide collaborative depression care for primary care patients with a history of mental health problems, unexplained somatic complaints, or a high level of service utilization. In that study, 1,687 patients were sent a screening questionnaire and letter from their general practitioner: 780 returned the screening questionnaire and 226 screened positive, but only 17 patients were newly diagnosed with depression and attended even one session of the offered treatment. Depression outcomes were not reported.
The present systematic review is a focused update of existing systematic reviews and did not include a complete search as in earlier reviews. Therefore, it is possible that we could have missed eligible trials. However, the updating method that we used has been validated as highly sensitive [16], and the likelihood that we have missed eligible studies that would have changed results appears to be very low.
We did not find any directly relevant evidence from RCTs to support the USPSTF recommendation to screen patients for depression in primary care when staff-assisted, collaborative depression care programs are in place. This result is consistent with recent guidelines from the UK [9] and Canada [10] that concluded that routine depression screening is not supported by existing evidence. Our results differ from those of a 2008 Cochrane review [7,8], which reported that depression screening is not effective based on evidence from five trials by clarifying that there have not been any well-designed trials to directly address the question of whether depression screening may be effective, particularly in the context of collaborative care. RCTs of depression screening that are designed to directly assess whether screening of previously unidentified patients will reduce rates of depression are needed.
Over-diagnosis and over-treatment of depression are common in community and primary care settings in the US [66-68], and there is a real risk that depression screening could exacerbate this problem without contributing to better mental health. We hope that the USPSTF will re-evaluate evidence on depression screening, applying the three basic criteria that we have used in this review. Before screening for depression is recommended, there should be evidence of improved depression outcomes from well-conducted depression RCTs that are directly relevant to the question of screening.
Although our findings show that there is not enough evidence to recommend that healthcare practitioners use screening to attempt to identify patients who may have depression, depression is a disabling condition with a major impact on quality of life. Thus, clinicians should be aware of signs that depression may be present, such as low mood, loss of interest in activities, insomnia and fatigue [10]. Healthcare practitioners should be particularly vigilant among patients who may be at high risk of depression, including patients with a chronic medical condition, a past history of depression, a pattern of unexplained somatic symptoms and frequent use of medical services, or substance abuse [9,10,32,65].
RCT: Randomized controlled trial; USPSTF: United States Preventive Services Task Force.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors' contributions
BDT was responsible for the study concept and design; wrote the review protocol; contributed to the article review, selection and data extraction; contributed to the analysis, interpretation and presentation of data; and drafted the manuscript. RCZ contributed to the study concept and design; participated in data extraction; contributed to the analysis, interpretation and presentation of data; and provided a critical revision of the manuscript. MR contributed to the article review, selection and data extraction; contributed to the analysis, interpretation and presentation of data; and provided a critical revision of the manuscript. LAK designed and conducted the database searches and provided a critical revision of the manuscript. JPAI contributed to the study concept and design\ and to the analysis, interpretation and presentation of data, and provided a critical revision of the manuscript. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.
The authors are grateful to Margaret Sampson, MLIS, PhD, AHIP of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada for consultation on the focused search strategy used in the study and for peer-reviewing the search strategy. BDT was supported by a New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. RCZ was supported by the Miller Family Scholar Program of the Johns Hopkins Center for Innovative Medicine. There was no specific funding for this study, and no funders had any role in the study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
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Spina E, Santoro V, D'Arrigo C: Clinically relevant pharmacokinetic drug interactions with second-generation antidepressants: an update.
Clin Ther 2008, 30:1206-1227. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Goryachkina K, Burbello A, Boldueva S, Babak S, Bergman U, Bertilsson L: Inhibition of metoprolol metabolism and potentiation of its effects by paroxetine in routinely treated patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2008, 64:275-282. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Valenstein M, Vijan S, Zeber JE, Boehm K, Buttar A: The cost-utility of screening for depression in primary care.
Paulden M, Palmer S, Hewitt C, Gilbody S: Screening for postnatal depression in primary care: cost effectiveness analysis.
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Vasiliadis HM, Latimer E, Dionne PA, Preville M: The costs associated with antidepressant use in depression and anxiety in community-living older adults.
Can J Psychiatry 2013, 58:201-209. PubMed Abstract
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Pre-publication history
The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:


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Wow, Rainbow Maze got featured on RockLeeSmiles Indie Impressions. Really awesome and some good insights. You can check it out here:
Play the game here: http://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-31/?action=preview&uid=8435
Ludum Dare 31
Ludum Dare 30
Ludum Dare 29
Ludum Dare 28
Ludum Dare 27
Ludum Dare 26
Ludum Dare 25
Ludum Dare 24
Ludum Dare 23
Ludum Dare 22
Wow, Rainbow Maze got featured on RockLeeSmiles Indie Impressions. Really awesome and some good insights. You can check it out here:
Play the game here: http://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-31/?action=preview&uid=8435
obskyr just broke the record of most in-air over-the-top backflips in Rainbow Maze! Here is the evidence:
He also managed to finish the game, again with backflop! AMAZING!
Play Rainbow Maze here: http://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-31/?action=preview&uid=8435
Yay! Game is done and I'm very happy with the result. This was my first time using a drawing tablet and it turned out to be much faster and a lot more fun to draw the assets.
Here is a screenshot:
The game's entry can be found here: http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-28/?action=preview&uid=8435
My 7th time attending! It never gets old.
This time I'm again using Javascript/canvas with 'framework' from previous entries.
Well, sort of. The game works and includes multiplayer! Yay!
I struggled with the theme (again): Wario Ware was stuck in my head and I wanted something different. I can't say the resulting game is very different from Wario Ware, but it isn't exactly a clone neither. It includes 4 minigames where you can win/lose. Score is kept across the different minigames.
I couldn't get to implementing sound correctly (due to multiplayer functionality). I'll have to find a nice solution for this when doing another multiplayer game. Graphics are also somewhat lacking, it's there, but can't say it's good.
Apart from all that, it's quite fun to play and that was the goal, so I'm quite happy.
Here is an screenshot:
Plan for the weekend is to make a multiplayer game, but we'll see how that'll go…
Stuff I'll be using:
Started off the first day working on a game that in the end was way too difficult in 48h. I thought to switch to a runner-type game, but in the end made something entirely different: Line Surfer.
You can find Line Surfer here: http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-26/?action=preview&uid=8435
So another Ludum… interesting to know what will happen this time!
This time I'm again using the same mini-framework from last time to create a HTML/JS game. You can find the code of the previous entry here: https://github.com/FrozenCow/evolutionarydesigner
Everyone good luck!
Yay, another ludum! I'm just here to say I'm in…
I'm using: Javascript, Sublime-Text, Paint.NET and hopefully sfxr.
Play it here:
Status: it looks and plays a bit like a game
I was somewhat disappointed when I saw the theme 'Alone'. It was the only theme I downvoted because it seemed so depressing. However, I think I've now got a nice idea going by ripping off 'The Cube' (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0123755/).
You can try it out here:
Hopefully this post will force me to release -something- of a game.

subset: commoncrawl


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Cloquet man arrested after rash of thefts, attempted burglary
A Cloquet man was arrested Monday, Aug. 11, after neighbors reported a late night attempted theft at the House of Spirits liquor store on Cloquet Avenue. Following his arrest, the man also allegedly admitted to going through numerous vehicles and stealing items from some of them.
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Reminder - Expanded DACA will be available 2/18/15
President Obama announced a new series of executive actions related to Immigration on November 20, 2014. The first part of these executive actions, (Expanded) Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) will be available beginning February 18, 2015. The USCIS will begin accepting applications on 2/18/2015 and not any time before. Below is a summary of USCIS's guidelines for the new program.
(Expanded) Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program
- Individuals with no lawful immigration status who are seeking initial or renewal DACA.
Extends the deferred action period and employment authorization to three years from two years, and allows you to be considered for DACA if you:
- Entered the United States before the age of 16;
- Have lived in the United States continuously since at least January 1, 2010, rather than the prior requirement of June 15, 2007;
- Are of any age (removes the requirement to have been born prior to June 15, 1981); and
- Meet all the other DACA guidelines.
February 18, 2015 (USCIS will not accept requests for expanded DACA before that date.)
Go to the Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) page for instructions which will be updated.
Source of Information:
USCIS.gov, 1/29/15, Web Page:
Executive Actions on Immigration – DACA


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Sondheim fans are being spoilt at the moment, as not one but two of his shows have opened in London over the past few days, and Mr Sondheim himself has already given both productions his seal of approval.
Whether you like new writing or old classics, there's always something exciting going on in Theatreland. In fact, often there are so many shows opening and (sadly) closing that choosing what new show to see next can be overwhelming. To make sure you plan out the next few months of theatregoing with as little hassle as possible, here are the top 5 West End musicals you should be getting excited about right now!
After an acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Festival in 2013 and a short national tour, William Gaminara's very funny comedy The Three Lions arrives at the St. James Theatre for a short off West End season.
There's a mix of hellos and goodbyes this week in the West End, so grab your tissues but also your excited klaxon.
Last week we said goodbye to a West End favourite- Once. After landing at the Phoenix Theatre in spring 2013, it has been charming the hearts of anyone who went to see this award winning musical. Ronan Keating took over the role of 'Guy' in its final months, an Irish busker who falls for a beautiful Czech girl, in a story of love and missed opportunity told through the infectious songs they write.
Two of my theatre highlights of the last year have been revivals, so I wanted to compile a list of the 5 Musicals I would like to see revived in the West End.
Confession time: my name is Liz, and I'm a Harry Potter fan. It started with the movies; after watching the second film, I got into reading the books, and by the time I finished The Prisoner of Azkaban, I was hooked.
If you are planning to see The Lion King, it would be useful for you to check out our interactive Lyceum Theatre Seating Plan before you go.
It's the theatre award season in the West End and with the various panels having very different nominees, I thought I would throw my hat into the ring and decide who I would give one of the awards to. We are very lucky to be blessed with some of the most talented women to have ever graced the London Stage so here I have a countdown of my top ten leading actresses in a musical.
With London full of revivals and everyone looking forward to some other big guns about to open I started to think about what else I would like to see make a return to the West End?
Cats at the London Palladium and Miss Saigon at the Prince Edward Theatre are both enjoying great success, and are pitted against each other in the upcoming Olivier awards in the best musical revival category.
For many, a trip to the theatre is a rare treat. After all, once you've shelled out for a ticket, your transport, a programme and of course, an obligatory interval ice-cream, even if you've opted for discount theatre tickets, a night out at the theatre is rarely an inexpensive one. Therefore, understandably after months and months of waiting, it can be very disappointing if your experience does not match up to expectations. But is there any way to guarantee that the show you book to see will be perfect for you?
London Theatre Direct Ltd is an official London Theatre ticket agency. We hold ticket allocations with or connect directly to all major venues. Book your London theatre tickets with confidence.
London Theatre Direct is a full member of STAR, (The Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers) recognised by The Society Of London Theatre, Westminster Council, Office of Fair Trading and Visit London.
One of the first websites to sell London theatre tickets online, LondonTheatreDirect.com offers the ability to book theatre tickets quickly, safely and securely. Join thousands of customers who have booked tickets with us!
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Is Samsung stealing Apple's thunder?
Samsung releases its S6 before Apple begins its process of hyping up its most recent Smartphone releaseMarch 23, 2015 2:24
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Qatar's bourse says plans rights issue trading
Soccer-Xavi close to deal with Al Sadd, says Qatari club
Soccer-Xavi close to deal with Al Sadd, says Qatari club
Abu Dhabi Airports CEO leaving to take up U.K. defence ministry role
Kuwait February inflation edges up to 2.9 pct
MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf markets sink after Yemen intervention; Dubai worst hit
HSBC's Islamic banking unit plans sukuk sale in Malaysia
Oil rises more than 1 pct, boosted by weaker dollar
UAE's Shah gas project seen achieving full capacity in Q2
National Bank of Fujairah issues 500 mln dirham tier 1 capital
Conferences are a big deal, especially here in the UAE—but not necessarily the most interesting events.
December 12, 2010 8:57 by Samuel Potter
How would Kipp define conferences? How about: expensive affairs aimed at gathering an industry's self-declared "experts" into stuffy hotel rooms for hours of claustrophobic tedium?
Apart from mind numbing boredom, other particular conference highlights include dossiers full of handouts you will never read or use, expensive stationary, oh and of course, "networking opportunities."
Conferences, exhibitions and trade shows: call them whatever you want, they are nothing if not big money. Though it may be free for the registered "experts," having been involved with the organization of a few local conferences, Kipp knows firsthand just how expensive the events can be for everyone else. From renting a hall to arranging for personalised ball point pens and lanyard cables, the bills quickly go up in the thousands and beyond.
So no, we aren't the biggest fans of standing in line for finger food with a nametag hanging from our necks. But we'll be the first to admit conferences are a big industry for Dubai especially, thanks to the UAE's prime geographic location and its conference friendly infrastructure.
The global industry for trade shows and conferences, which is estimated to be worth $300n billion, apparently experienced significant growth in the last quarter of the year. The UAE in particular had a successful year when it came to hosting such events, says the National. Simon Mellor, the senior vice president of DMG World Media, told the paper that the trade shows were a "global barometer" for the wider economy: "I'm not hailing the end of the recession," he said. "[But] exhibitions are starting to move forward again."
The range of conferences the UAE has been hosting for industries are as diverse as medicine, pharmaceuticals, engineering, marketing, and finance. But none are as specific as the recent inaugural Boring Conference held in central London. The conference, which sold out to 200 attendees, quite possibly housed some of the most boring talks we've seen (obviously). We weren't there, but from the sounds of it (talks on bus routes, breakfasts, full fat milk and multi-storey car parks) the conference probably did live up to its name.
However, with the 2nd GCC Government Organization Websites Global Competitiveness Strategy Development happening in the UAE in a week's time, we think the Boring Conference could well face a run for its money. All hail the UAE, king of the conference (even dull ones).
Cash in before you're forced out
December 12 2010
Abu Dhabi relieves five royals of cabinet role
December 12 2010


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Browning of center of leaves: Optimara Tradition.
I had an Optimara Tradition which developed brown spots on the leaves and eventually I tossed. I rooted a healthy leaf from it and it produced a few babies which I have been nurturing. These babies have started getting brown discoloration as well. I don't want to lose the babies too!
Is there something I can do here? Are they getting too much light? (Currently under a single bulb, a "Jump Start Grow Light" 24 watt T5 6400k fluorescent bulb). Plants are about 8-9 inches from the light.
The plants are small so it's difficult to get pictures of, and the flash doesn't help with all the shininess, but here's what I have. The smaller baby is still being kept in a clamshell type container for humidity, #2 isn't.
Baby 1:
You can see the browning especially on the smaller leaf, center.
Baby 2:
The original plant, when I first saw the problem, although the babies browning is a little different:
I'm not sure what to make of this. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!
Here is a link that might be useful:
Any suggestions I give will be bad news to you, I'm afraid. Dreaded cyclamen mites attack plant centers, leaving them brown and dry. You'll need a jeweler's loupe or magnifying glass with 30X or better to see them on the plant.
Overfertilization could also cause brown centers, but it also causes variegation to be minimal (mostly green leaves with little white or pink showing).
If mites were present, I'd expect them to spread to nearby plants, which would also develop brown centers.If overfertilization were the problem, I'd expect to see rust-colored crystals on the center leaves (fertilizer salts). Any further comments?
This is a problem I've had myself. It's water damage to the leaves. It's caused when a plant is enclosed within a domed container. Water condenses on the dome, plastic bag or whatever is covering it. As the temperature cools in the room, the water will drip down on the leaves causing these spots. The plant being under the light while the leaves are wet causes the burn. The fix is to prop the dome up or some other type of ventilation to prevent the condensation from forming. I had mites a few years ago and this does not look like mite damage to me. You can see some mite damage here. http://s198.photobucket.com/albums/aa307/DebsVioletRoom/Insect%20Photos%20and%20Movies/Broad%20Mites/
My first reaction - it is probably too wet. It is a heavily variegated variety, so the water turnover and metabolism is slow - so probably it is a good idea to try to use smaller wick - use only 2 plys(?) out of 3 or in the twine, make extra vent holes on the sides of the solo cup.
The plant leaf color is olive - so I cannot see if the browning of the leaf of the plantlet is a damage - or a natural dark color variation.
The plantlets look quite healthy to me - and it doesn't seem to me that it is any kind of pest, it looks like the culture needs slight adjustment.
Good Luck
Thank you for the replies.
I split the three babies up and tried them in different light situations (two under growlights, one with natural light) to start with.
The larger they get, the greener and less brown they are becoming, so I think you could definitely be onto something, Irina. With that variety I might have to go even lighter on the mix.
Thank you for the help. I love these little things, now I just have to do my best to make them happy so they love me back.
Thread necro! Before and after!
Here's a photo of the same plant posted above. (It's actually Optimara Modesty, not Tradition, btw, not sure my brain was when I tagged the first post).
Irina was correct, conditions were too wet. I potted them into a much lighter mix, and tried a few different lighting conditions. When this one was small, it was actually under an aerogarden light, and is now under normal standard conditions (two T8's, warm and cool). And yes, I managed to break off a leaf when I pulled the buds out from below the leaves. :(
Thanks for the comments. It was the help on these forums that got it to where it is now. :)
I should have taken a picture of it in bloom before I dis-budded it. :( The purple noid next to it had thrips in the blooms when it opened, so I took the buds off all the plants around it and sprayed everything.
The flowers are simple, modest (ho ho, bad pun!) purple flowers, the real beauty is definitely the foliage.
I put a picture in the gallery of a Rob's Cool Fruit that has about nine stalks incoming. It's foliage is so white, and it's still very happy. I can't wait for it.


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12:03 am
Wed February 15, 2006
Bellows Falls Trustees Nix Surveillance Camera Proposal
By Pat Bradley
Bellows Falls, VT – Village trustees in Bellows Falls, Vermont have dropped plans to install a village-wide, closed circuit, security camera system. At a meeting Tuesday night, the trustees opted instead to use the federal grant earmarked for the camera system to purchase a digital radio system. WAMC's North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley has more.


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Slashdot videos: Now with more Slashdot!
We've improved Slashdot's video section; now you can view our video interviews, product close-ups and site visits with all the usual Slashdot options to comment, share, etc. No more walled garden! It's a work in progress -- we hope you'll check it out (Learn more about the recent updates).
Submitted by The Bad Astronomer
The Bad Astronomer writes "A century ago, astronomers (including Edwin Hubble) discovered the Universe was expanding. Using the same methods — but this time with observations from an orbiting infrared space telescope — a new study confirms this expansion, and nails the rate with higher precision than done before. If you're curious, the expansion rate found was 74.3 +/- 2.1 kilometers per second per megaparsec — almost precisely in line with previous messureents."


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Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945), also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States (1933–1945) and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic depression and total war. A Democrat and the only American president elected to more than two terms, he facilitated a ... more »
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''We have the menthe skillthe wealthand above all, the will.... We must be the great arsenal of democracy.''Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945), U.S. Democratic politician, president. speech, Dec. 29, 1940, Washington, D.C.. "Fireside Chat," The Penguin Book o...
''We are trying to construct a more inclusive society.... We are going to make a country in which no one is left out.''Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945), U.S. president. From a speech Secretary Perkins helped write. Frances Perkins, The Roosevelt I Knew, p. 113, Harper...
''I am a Christian and a Democratthat's all.''Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945), U.S. president. Frances Perkins, The Roosevelt I Knew, p. 330, Harper Colophon Books, n.d.. FDR's response to a...
''I ... believe that in every country the people themselves are more peaceably and liberally inclined than their governments.''Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945), U.S. president. Letter, April 14, 1933, to Arthur Murray, President's Personal File, Franklin D. Roosevelt Library,...
''I fear ... that both dictators [Hitler and Mussolini] think their present methods are succeeding because of the gains they have made in Albania, Hungary and Yugoslavia.''Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945), U.S. president. Letter, June 7, 1939, to U.S. Ambassador to Italy, William Phillips. Franklin D. Roosevelt and Fore...
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Commentary: Tired of budget shenanigans? Here's an answer
Editor's note: The following commentary was written by Lee Hamilton, director of the Center on Congress at Indiana University. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years.
With the formal release of President Obama's budget, the pieces are finally in place for a reprise of the Washington drama we've all come to know. There will be high-stakes negotiations, lines in the sand, and enough intrigue to keep Beltway insiders riveted by every piece of breaking news.
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Last month, I read an article in The New York Times on some surprising new research about "mindfulness" and exercise. The story went a bit viral with health bloggers who rushed to post these findings, and it swept me along accordingly. (Translate the word "mindfulness" as used in this study not as a kind of spirituality but simply as the act of paying attention to what you're doing.)
The article reported on the results of a research study on whether or not "mindfulness" plays a role helping people stick with exercise. I was so intrigued by this question that I looked up and read the original study, authored by a group of Dutch scientists at Utrecht University, The Netherlands. It turned out that the team's report, unlike typical research papers, grabbed me like a chapter out of "Freakonomics" with its novel insights. Here in brief are the study's three main conclusions:
- Being mindful during exercise makes it a more positive experience, even if you basically don't like exercise, so you're more likely keep doing it.
Switching to mindful exercise has less of an impact on people who already exercise regularly than on exercise beginners, who are significantly more likely to stick with an exercise routine if it engages them mentally.
- But here's the twist! Once exercise becomes a habit, it's by nature less mindful since habits are acts you do without having to think about them. Even at this stage, the researchers found, continued mindfulness has an impact. The subjects of the study who managed to stay mindful after they'd acquired the exercise habit were even more likely not to fall off the wagon than those who'd begun to zone out during their workouts.
These findings gave me an "aha" moment. Students have told me for years that the Bar Method is the only workout they've ever stuck with, and I've always suspected that the reason is that the workout demands a high degree of mindfulness. The Dutch study finally connected the dots for me between the many testimonials I get about how addicting The Bar Method is and the workout's focus on keeping students mentally engaged.
Look at this idea – that there is a connection between mindfulness and stick-to-itiveness – as if you were taking a Bar Method class, and you'll see how the mental component of the workout motivates you to want to repeat the experience. First, you know that your teacher and fellow students do not allow for slacking off (unless you're modifying due to a medical condition), so you must collect your wits about you in order not to let up when your muscles start to burn. On top of that, the class demands that you stay in the exercise in good posture. Lose focus and drop your head, slump, or ease up on a move a few times, and your teacher will gently remind you by name to get back in form, then later compliment you on maintaining that form. You also hear the reminders and compliments that your teacher gives to your fellow students, and these too help you to keep your attention on your performance. These frequent prompts make the class a learning experience that you're motivated to do again.
Once you become a regular student, the class continues to engross you because you've now seen and felt changes, and you're excited to be progressing towards your personal goals. The methodical nature of the class has allowed you to improve step by step, and you increasingly enjoy the support of your teachers and your classmates along the way. A goal, for example, might be to increase your stamina during thigh-work or to heal after an injury. Possibly you want better posture, and you feel the workout both strengthening your back and mentally training you to carry yourself more upright. If your goal is to be more flexible, you take satisfaction in gradually weaning yourself off of straps and stall-bars. Finally, there are all the changes in your body and self-confidence that the Bar Method delivers like a gift with every class. These changes snowball into a feedback loop that spurs you to focus more and more on the details of the form, which you've learned are key for continuing body change. Ultimately, doing a mindful workout gives you a whole new reason for exercising: It becomes an experience you simply enjoy for its own sake.
Let me know your thoughts about mindful exercise.
As a former business reporter, I have tremendous respect and admiration for journalists. Their stories help guide our life decisions. At the same time, journalists have a responsibility to report the truth since their stories can impact the subjects themselves for the better or worse. Journalists realize this and for the most part do their best to get their stories right.
In the case of The Bar Method, the press has mostly gotten it right, for which I am grateful. Occasionally they don't, despite their good intentions. Reporters may have come at the story with pre-conceived notions, put style over substance in an effort to entertain, or downplayed the facts to make a personal point. The following three articles are examples of these journalistic pitfalls. All three were recently published and cover a subject I'm especially familiar with, The Bar Method.
Pitfall #1. The Whirlwind Tour
The quick tour of many different workouts is a popular story format for exercise reporters. In this scenario, the writer takes one class each at different studios or gyms, then reports on her or his personal impressions. The drawback of this approach is that these reporters usually aren't fans of the workouts themselves, making it unlikely that they'll gain any insight on their potential value to their readers.
This is the case with an article written by Huffington Post's Rozalynn Frazier called "Are Barre Classes Worth The Buzz?" Rozalynn, a long-distance runner, took one class each at five different barre-based workouts. I applaud Frazier's spirit in taking on this challenging assignment. However, taking a single class at five barre studios is about as useful as attending orientation day at a five colleges to determine the calibre of knowledge their graduates will acquire. Barre fitness classes in particular do not lend themselves to casual "toe in the water" testing. The moves are subtle, the techniques demand some dedication, and the results are huge. A beginner such as Frazier could not possibly have learned from a single class how greatly that class changes its students' bodies, posture and well being. Nor could Frazier have noticed whether or not each studio she visited keeps track of its students' progress and supports them over time. What's more, Frazier is unlikely to have nailed the proper form of the exercises herself on her first try and so probably didn't feel much happening to her own body.
In the end, Frazier could only come up with one random comment about the Bar Method (beyond what she'd already read on our website). "I was surprised," she wrote, "given the name, at how little time we spent at the bar." Frazier completely missed The Bar Method's most distinctive features: the efficiency of its workout, its exceptional focus on posture and athleticism, and its unique interactive learning environment in which teachers give their students in-class coaching and support. Nothing in Frazier's investigation touched on these benefits because she could not have discovered them within a "whirlwind tour" format.
Pitfall #2. The Personal Axe to Grind
The New Journalism became popular in the 60s when authors such as Truman Capote, Hunter Thompson and Norman Mailer shifted to a more personalized style of reporting. Today, exercise reporters are using this subjective writing style to better connect with their readers' feelings of vulnerability when it comes to working out. The downside of this strategy is that the writers can allow their emotions to dictate the content of the story, to the detriment of the truth.
This is what happened with Sadie Chanlett-Avery, author of an article called, "Why I Quit The Bar Method." Chanlett-Avery has a masters degree in holistic health. At the start of her article she stated that she would use her barre-fitness experience as "my personal study of fitness and female body image." This author's effort to turn her workout story into a statement on women's self-image was probably what led her to bend the truth to fit her arguments.
First of all, Chanlett-Avery did not quit The Bar Method, because the workout she attended was not The Bar Method, which does not, as she describes, use "pink dumbbells," lift weights with palms facing down as illustrated in the photo, use lots of Katy Perry tunes, or use the term "trouble-zones." I'm sorry to say that Chanlett-Avery's misstatement of the name of the workout that she "quit" was the first of a number of fallacious statements, for example:
- "Relying on mirrors actually detracts from our awareness of how we move." In fact, mirrors are an invaluable tool for improving posture, alignment, coordination, for developing good patterns of motion, keeping joints safe and well-aligned, and for teaching the body how to recruit muscles quickly and accurately.
- "Isolating muscle groups for 'toning' perpetuates the debunked idea of spot reduction." The truth is that millions of people around the world, including dancers, body builders, gym goers, physical therapy patients, and barre fitness students isolate their muscles to tone them, not to "spot reduce" them.
- Stretching "is another activity that isn't supported by current exercise science – muscles have fixed origins and insertions, so their lengths don't change." This statement is simply untrue. Regular stretching increases muscle length and range of motion. My own physiology textbook confirms that stretching does indeed "elongate" muscles.
What's most telling about the underlying bias throughout Chanlett-Avery's story is her evident distain for the very idea of body toning classes and for the students who take them. In the article she complains that the students of these classes wear "diamond rings" and are "chasing an elusive idea of perfection." Chanlett-Avery might come to terms with the fact that wearing diamond rings is a common custom among married women everywhere, not a sign of vanity as she implies. She should also know that The Bar Method (perhaps not the class she took) is known for its diversity of students and its supportiveness of individual goals.
At the end of the article, Chanlett-Avery said that she is now a satisfied student at Cross-Fit. I'm glad she found the right exercise class for her.
Pitfall #3. Reliance on fake experts
Worst among the fallacious articles on exercise I've recently come across is one that uses fake experts to distort the truth, possibly for their own self-interest. This article appeared on "Yahoo Health" and was written by Amy Rushlow, a "certified strength and conditioning specialist."
Rushlow gets it wrong from the beginning in her title, "Barre Method: What's True, What's Hype & How To Stay Injury Free," Rushlow did not fact-check the name of exercise genre she was writing about. In fact, The Bar Method owns the trademark "Barre Method." It is a registered spelling of our brand name, not a generic term for barre-based workouts.
In her article Rushlow calls on three "experts," personal trainers Marc Santa Maria, Nick Tumminello, and Eric Beard. Using this threesome of obvious non-experts on barre fitness to back her up, Rushlow explains "the facts behind the hype" about barre fitness, most of which are completely false. Here are four of her most egregious misstatements:
- "There is absolutely no way to increase a muscle's length through exercise." Again, this author's experts need to consult their physiology textbooks.
- "Doing these isolated, small-muscle-type movements is not very metabolically demanding." It's obvious that Rushlow's experts have never taken the Bar Method, which is a form of intense interval training that has been proved to burn away plenty of fat.
- "Many of the repetitive movements found in barre can possibly lead to overuse injuries." Seriously? Barre classes keep students in one position for one or two minutes at a time. Athletes get repetitive use injuries from highly repetitive activities like running and working in poor form over time. Contrary to these "experts'" warnings, The Bar Method is therapeutic and healthy for the knees and lower back, a benefit that has been confirmed by many doctors and certified physical therapists with whom we've worked throughout the years. I am 67 years old, have regularly taken barre fitness for 34 years, and have never had a repetitive use injury from the class. Conversely, many of our students come to us from personal trainers or Cross Fit after having injured their shoulders and backs. True fitness experts know that no workout genre is in itself dangerous unless is it is carelessly taught.
- Last, and most serious of Rushlow's misguided statements was her advice to her readers to "Limit yourself to one barre workout per week." No way would that work, as any Bar Method student will tell you. To achieve results, Bar Method students quickly discover that three-to-five classes a week give them the best results, and tens of thousands of our students take this number of classes a week and feel fantastic, many of them in their 50s, 60s and 70s. This age group discovers that our workout is the only one they've found that feels good on their joints and at the same time gives them the challenge, support, results and fulfilling class experience that they want.
Regrettably, when Rushlow's article came out, it caused anxiety among many Bar Method students. Some of them approached their teachers asking if it was okay to take more than one class a week. Rushlow could have spared our students this unnecessary concern by consulting true experts on her subject, among them sports medicine doctors, physical therapists, and barre fitness teachers themselves.
I love to make New Year's resolutions, and most years, one of my promises to myself is to get better results from my workouts. If you're like me and this goal is high on your resolution list, here's a tip that can get you on your way: Whenever you work out to music, make it a project to sync your moves to its beat. Research studies have discovered that following a musical beat when you exercise improves your brain-muscle connection, not only making you look hotter on the dance floor but enabling your muscles to work harder during exercise, resulting in more tone and strength from your workouts. This is why Bar Method music mixes use exclusively tracks with a clear, strong beat for its strength exercises.
In this video Hoddy Potter, owner of the two Kansas City Bar Method studios, and I show you how it works.


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About the Book
New Music Strategies has brought together some of the most forward-thinking musicians and industry people to each contribute 360 words outlining the best advice they can give to young musicians and new music industry workers. The advice they themselves would want to hear if they were just getting started in music now.
Rock star or professor, DJ or classical violinist, record label exec or community music worker - here's a group of people who have been where you're at in one way or another, they know a bit about what lies ahead, and they have useful knowledge to share.
The book will grow over time as more advice from musicians and music business professionals from around the world are collated and added to the project. We're working towards 360 contributions.
360 articles of 360 words for $3.60 (more if you wish). That's our 360 Deal.
All proceeds from this book go directly to Music Basti – a youth-run charity based in New Delhi that brings music workshops to children affected by extreme poverty.
Share this book
Table of Contents
- About this book
- Andrew Dubber
- Miguel Atwood-Ferguson
- Len Arran
- Shawnté Salabert
- Matthew Hawn
- Simon Warner
- Maartje Glas
- Mark de Clive-Lowe
- Chris T-T
- Danny Fahey (aka Fallacy)
- Mark Tavern
- MJ Hibbett
- Faith Gonsalves
- Steve Lawson
- Peter Jesperson
- Dave Seaman
- Fiona Talkington
- Martín Giraldo
- John Kieffer
- Cary Caldwell
- Ian Rogers
- Jan Bang
- D.D. Jackson
- Bruce Houghton
- Nancy K. Baym
- Syd Schwartz
- Dave Douglas
- Derek Sivers
- Ashley Stubbert
- Emily White
- David Carter
- Louis Barabbas
- August Engkilde
- Bruce Warila
- Kiran Nagesh
- David Chislett
- Chris Anderton
- Lars Meilling
- Federico Novick
- Mark Roach
- Clutch Daisy
- Alun Parry
- Benji Rogers
- Erin McKeown
- Johny Lamb
- Nick Fitzsimons
- Ozz LP
- Saskia Troccoli
- Ed Waring
- Tony Whyton
- Ric Neale
- Peter McLennan
- Ben Carrigan
- Craig Hamilton
- Martin Atkins
- Simon Barber
- Ruth Daniel
- Brendan Smyth
- Dave McGuire
- Robin Valk
- Stuart Bell and Richard Dawes
- Marcus O'Dair
- Celia Hirschman
- Peter Banks
- Rod C. Taylor
- Gareth Main
- Jez Collins
- Tom Atkinson
- Martin Cloonan
- Gareth Farry
- Ariel Hyatt
- Rich Huxley
- Rick Rogers
- Stephen Hutton
- Mike Chunn
- Petter Frost Fadnes
- Mark Bliesener
- Danny Hagan
- Mick Glossop
- Simon Grigg
- Paul Gray
- David Mitson
- Lars Winther
- Mikko Kapanen
- Jon Ostrow
- Trevor Reekie
- Nigel Powell
- Andrew Watt
- Tom Jackson
- Jamie Bullock
- Neil Cocker
- Steve Henderson
- Dean McCarthy
- Jennifer Otter
- Ian Wallman
- Janet Fisher
- Jon Stewart
- Matt McGinn
- Christian Howes
- To be continued…
About the Editor
Causes Supported
Music Basti was set up in 2008 to connect at-risk children and youth (formerly 'street' children) with enjoyable learning and exchange experiences through music. Through sharing the voices and experiences of at-risk children and youth, it is possible to mobilize community change and action on issues of poverty and powerlessness.
Music Basti was set up in 2008, to connect at-risk (formerly 'street children') children with enjoyable learning and exchange experiences through music. The environment inhabited by at-risk children and youth profoundly lacks positive and empowering relationships with the community, as well as positive role models. It does not foster the development of critical life-skills such self-confidence, communication and cooperation, and as a result, does not promote self-worth or identity, integral to a healthy life. The education being accessed by these children and youth is also extremely limited in content, quality and delivery. In the absence of a reliable support network, community engagements established through culture can play a powerful role. Music Basti is a project that seeks to network the music industry with at-risk youth and children through life-skills building projects. These are aimed at enhancing self-esteem, communication and confidence for at-risk youth and children, but equally to enhance the first-hand contributions of musicians and other artists in building a shared community.
100.0% of Andrew Dubber's royalties are going directly to Music Basti.


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... With an envious burger range and just about every condiment you could ask for we were not disappointed, Brendon went for the jaw dislocating and aptly named Mammoth whilst Shaylee was a little reserved with a chicken, bacon and avocado ensemble. Bellies full and impending food coma on the horizon we once again loaded our packs onto our backs and headed to the train station for our afternoon trip to Warsaw, given the choice again I don't think we would have left.
Happy 4th!
I guess there won't be fireworks at home with all the rain. The weather has been really nice here. Took my placement test today. I'm in the beginner class, surprise! I guess polish church songs don't count... I would probably be in advanced if they did ;) We also had opening ceremonies. It was really cool to be at the collegium novum. The Aula is a regal room which displays paintings of the patrons and founders of ...
... walking around full of surprises. We spent 3 days there, but still I am not sure I found out all its corners. Don't neglect to climb the combed street to Wawel Hill, home of Krakow's castle and cathedral. The view will more than reward your efforts! A day trip to Auschwitz Birkenau Concentration camp is certainly not pleasant, but an important historical sight that one must visit. The tours organized are very informative ...
Auschwitz and awesomeness
... to Krakow. This city was much more like what I has anticipated in my minds eye of what Poland would look like. We were taking to a very large Catholic Church (I missed visiting churches on holiday). Apparently, dukes of Krakow were buried there. Not long after we went to a restaurant called the Sphinx, with peter and Simon. It was great food. After supper, we wandered around and shopped a bit more and ended with gelato. All in all it was a great day of site ...
Hitting the Polish Road
... but with the recent deaths of my parents and uncles, I began to see them as a mark of "a good end" – a life well lived and a life respected and valued by friends and family. But, Jewish American cemeteries and our synagogues are very different from those in Poland. Our synagogues tend to the non-descript and I have even seen Jewish cemeteries that don't even allow headstones – giving the visual presentation of rolling fields.


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Guinness World Records marks its 60th anniversary with a video reflecting on The World's Tallest Man, arguably the establishment's most iconic record. Kurdish farmer Sultan Kosen currently holds the record at 8'3, well under Robert Wadlow's all-time record of 8'11. Mankind has always been interested in extremes. Robert Wadlow escaped the attention of surgeons–or surgeons […]
To celebrate Guinness World Records Day, this happened. The tallest man in the world, Sultan Kosen (8 feet, 3 inches) met the shortest man in the world, Chandra Bahadur Dangi (21.5 inches) in London. Meanwhile, in NBC studios in New York, Al Roker is livestreaming his bathroom breaks, er, trying to break the world record for longest weather forecast.
The world's tallest man met the world's shortest man today to break a Guinness World record, but that's just one of the strange record-breaking moments you can see here
Today is the 10th annual Guinness World Records Day, and in London, the world's shortest man, Chandra Bahadur Dangi, met his counterpart for the first time in Sultan Kosen, who holds the world record for tallest man. Dangi, 77, hails from Nepal and is just 21.5 inches tall, while Kosen, of Turkey, stands at 8 feet 3 inches. Show More Summary
The world's shortest man, Chandra Bahadur Dangi, greets the tallest living man, Sultan Kosen, to mark the Guinness World Records Day in London November 13, 2014. Read the rest
They took a photo.
Today is the 10th annual Guinness World Records Day, and in London, the world's shortest man, Chandra Bahadur Dangi, met his counterpart for the first time in Sultan Kosen, who holds the world record for tallest man. Dangi, 77, hails from Nepal and is just 21.5 inches tall, while Kosen, of Turkey, stands eight feet, three inches. Show More Summary
They met for the first time at the 10th annual Guinness World Records Day in London
Leonid Stadnyk died on August 24th 2014 due to tumours gland that continued his entire life. He was 2.57 meters (8 feet 5 inches) and held the Guinness World Record for the Tallest living man. On August 20, 2008, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, Craig Glenday, announced that the title of world's tallest man had […]
Sadly, Leonid Stadnyk, once unofficially considered the tallest man in the world, died Sunday. He was 44. Although he was never measured by the Guinness World Records committee — he was largely introverted — many consider the peasant farmer to be the world's tallest man, according to the Mirror. A GWR spokesperson weighed in. We
Robert Wadlow suffered from an overactive pituitary gland which caused him to grow to a height no other person has reached ever reached and his one-of-a-kind presence is remembered with a bronze statue in Alton, Illinois. Also knownShow More Summary
This is Sultan Kosen. He's the world's tallest living man (and also has the largest hands and feet). He's 8 feet 3 inches tall, so of course he married a woman who's 5'8?. That's actually fairly tall for a woman where I come from, but then again, I'm not eight feet tall. This all seemed like(...)
Sultan Kosen, the world's tallest man, got married to Merve Dibo, 20, on Saturday in his native Turkey. He stands at the unbelievable height of eight feet and three inches ( 2.51 meters). The new Mrs Kosen is two feet seven inches shorter (78 cm) and barely reaches up to his waist. Show More Summary
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Turkish farmer Sultan Kosen, 8'3?, has found love with Merve Debo, who is 2'7? shorter than he. Kosen has long been searching for a woman to share his life with, and had reportedly given up hope – until he met Ms Dibo. 'How unfortunate I could not find a suitable girl of my own size. […]
The World's tallest man, whose height is measured at 8 feet, 3 inches (2 meters 51 centimeters), Sultan Kosen is set to marry his normal-sized bride Merve Dibo on Sunday in the southern Turkish city of Mardin. In addition to his height, Kosen also entered the Guinness Book of Wo …
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