Nakaji is leaving BNI. Word is he's going to Banner system in Phoenix. Thoughts?

How do PDs/interviewers/academicians generally view significant papers with co-first authorship? For eg. a basic science project. Any difference in first first vs second first?

Any ideas on abstract decision timelines?

I am planning on doing a research year to compensate for no home department. Scores and Avgs are around the norm of NSx. 

For those who have done a research year, did it help you tremendously? Do you think it truly would give you the capability of matching over a home applicant?

Appreciate all comments and input!

Does anyone know of any openings for Neurosurgery PGY 5 or 6 or 7. I am a PGY 6 and need to find a new program. TIA. 
OR 
Does anyone know of a possible fellowship position I can do in the meantime.

My first sub i ends mid September and my second rotation ends in mid October. Should I ask for 2 home letters (mid july to mid august) and get a letter from my first away and update all the programs after i get my October letter? Or try to get 2 letters from my 1st away?

Anyone feeling any reverberations from the fact that Ben Carson is a neurosurgeon? I’ve heard some people in the public equating his political stupidity to neurosurgery now. Or maybe people are just losing faith in neurosurgery or medicine as a whole in general. Regardless it’s pretty unfortunate

Lower to mid tier applicant here. I'm interested if there are any programs out there that people believe are unfairly maligned, but are actually decent programs or programs that are making big strides in improving themselves. What programs out there would I aim to match into that may be much better in 5 years from now than they are considered at the moment?

What are the programs that have historically lower research requirements to match? 

Thanks

I'm in a tough situation with getting letters and big life events. I am coming off my research year in June, have my home SubI in July and getting married in August and my first away is in September. I have a top home program and my chair and PD are highly regarded. Is it okay to ask for my letter on the second week of the away? I have a professional relationship with the PD at my first away from conferences and meetings. Planning to get my October letter as my 4th letter on ERAS or get it forwarded to the programs I'm applying to.

I have 255+ Step 1 and 2, 2 basic science papers from my research year, 10+ clinical papers. AOA at a top med school.