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Last Updated on 9 March 2019
A weekend in Tallinn
things to do and interesting attractions to visit in 2 or 3 days in the Estonian capital
From the Hanseatic League to Soviet times
Tallinn is not just a historical city, it is a mix of ancient, modern and what remains of the Soviet occupation. A unique city worth spending at least 2 or 3 days, Tallinn is a real gem of northern Europe, probably the most beautiful and interesting city in the Baltic Sea.
The Old Town of Tallinn, the Estonian capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its beauty is impressive and is so well preserved that you really feel like you are going back to the days of Hanseatic League.
Among the things not to be missed there are surely the Seaplane Harbor, the Telliskivi Creative City, and Linnahall and many more, here is a list of things to see in Tallinn in 2 or 3 days.
Before we start digging here is some piece of advice:
During the summer, free local tours of the city are organized by the local students for a couple of hours (but it is good to leave a tip), you can get info from the tourist office. There are many organized tours of the city and its surroundings, you can check the offers here.
Tallinn is a relatively small city, to explore it at its best a great option is to rent a bike, it is possible to have advantageous offers here: Tallinn Bike Rentals
Want to travel the whole of Estonia deeply, read our guide and suggested itineraries
And why not take a ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki, Finland
Here our guide about cycling in Finland with itineraries and tips
[Toc]
Seeing Tallinn in a weekend
Visiting the Estonian capital in a weekend is definitely doable, the city has many attractions but it's small enough to be explored in such a short time, maybe even including a short day-trip to a nearby point of interest.
There are low-cost flights to Tallinn from many European cities, check out the best deals here.
Tallinn in 2 days itinerary
Two days pass by fast, it's best to focus on the main attractions if it's your first time in Tallinn.
Day 1: Tallinn Historical City Center and its attractions (see below) – Telliskivi Creative City in the evening
Day 2: Seaplane Harbour Museum, pass by Linhall – Alexandr Nevsky Cathedral
Three days are optimal for visiting Tallinn and its surroundings. Focus on the main attractions for the first two days
Day 2: Seaplane Harbour Museum or Komu Art Museum – pass by Linhall – Alexandr Nevsky Cathedral
Day 3: A guided tour to a more off-the-beaten-path attraction such as Kiek in de Kok or a day trip to a nearby sight (see the bottom of the article)
Things to see in Tallinn in 2 or 3 days
1. Seaplane Harbour Tallinn
This fantastic Maritime Museum is located not far from the center of Tallinn and was built in a renovated old hangar. The building is truly amazing, inside there is a permanent exhibition on the naval history of Estonia and a real submarine, the Lembit, in which you can enter and get a very realistic idea of what life was like inside.
The museum also contains a full-size replica of a British seaplane, as well as a host of other related historical accessories, unique to the region. Outside the museum are anchored a series of ships which you can visit, including the Suur Töll, the largest steam-powered icebreaker in the world, you can also visit the bottom of the ship to understand how it worked.
For us it was one of the nicest things seen on our bike trip in Europe so we highly recommend going there, take into account that you will need 2 or 3 hours for the visit, even if the tickets are sold up to 30 minutes before closing.
Address: Vesilennuki tee 6, Tallinn
Hours: from October to April from 10.00 to 18.00 – from May to September from 10.00 to 19.00
Ticket: € 15 for adults and € 8 for 9-18 years and for students, € 2 for the audio guide
Disclosure: Some of our articles contain affiliate links, that means we might receive a small percentage compensation if you purchase one of the linked product whitin a ceratin time frame. This comes at no additional cost for you and helps us keep this website up and running. (as an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purcheses)
2. Telliskivi Creative City
It is the largest creative center in Estonia and is about 15 minutes walk from the historic center. It consists of 10 buildings housing more than 200 companies and organizations, has a relaxed and bohemian atmosphere. Each individual company is free to design its own space as it sees fit.
It is an excellent opportunity to get a taste of the local cultural life and hang out in places far from the masses of tourist buses that roam the narrow streets of the center. Telliskivi is located near the railway station and has given a new face to the ugly abandoned Soviet factories that surround the area.
Some of the street art here is really interesting, we especially liked the older paintings… much more interesting to us than the more "hipster" new style.
If you do not want to walk or cycle you can reach this district with trams number 1 and 2 from the center, the bus stop is called Telliskivi. Telliskivi is an ideal place to spend the evening hours after a long day at the museum.
Address: Telliskivi 60A, Tallinn
Hours: open 24 hours a day
Street art in Telliskivi Creative City
3. Linnahall
Linnahall is an imposing Soviet relic, built to house the Moscow Summer Olympics in 1980. The Linnahall of Estonia, now stands as an imposing concrete ghastly monster. Inside, an impressive 5,000-seat amphitheater was commissioned by the Soviet Union to show the world its grandeur.
The building was built in a very short time and, no longer serving anything after the Olympics, it was left to deteriorate. Going up the outside steps you will have a nice view of the sea and the old city. Only the external part can be accessed.
Locals hang out here for skating, playing music and other activities. A nice place to stop by for a quick visit.
Address: Kalasadama 4, Tallinn
Hours: 24 hours a day
Linnahall vista da lontano
4. Kiek in de Kök
It is a medieval tower from which you can access a series of underground tunnels. Built in the second half of the fifteenth century it was then expanded in the eighteenth century with these tunnels that served to give shelter to men and ammunition.
It came out handy during the First World War and saved many people during the World War II bombings. Later, during the Cold War, the tunnels were equipped with what was needed to resist a possible nuclear attack.
Since 2005 it is a museum that can be visited by appointment only.
Address: Komandandi Tee 2, Tallin
Opening Times: from January to April from 10 to 17, on Thursdays until 20 – from May to September every day from 9 to 18
Ticket: 6 € adults – € 4 children – € 12 family ticket
To book the visit, find the contacts here.
5. Hunted house of Tallinn
This old Tallinn house is famous because of a legend, apparently the Devil's wedding was celebrated here. The owner, in fact, died after renting a room to a mysterious couple and the last thing he said was that he had seen the Devil marrying a young woman.
An off the beaten path place to visit if you like ghost stories and mysteries. A good place where to spend an unsettling night.
Address: Rataskaevu 16, Tallinn
Fees and how to visit: you can see it from the outside or decide to spend the night there, here prices and availabilities.
6. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
The Orthodox Cathedral of Tallinn dates back to the late nineteenth century, during the Soviet occupation was declared a non-religious building and left to its fate. Since 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, this beautiful church has been carefully restored. Inside there are 3 altars and the whole structure is beautifully decorated.
Address: Lossi plats 10, 10130 Tallinn
Hours: Saturday from 8.00 to 19.00 – from Sunday to Friday from 8.00 to 18.00
La Cattedrale Ortodossa di Tallinn
7. Toompea Castle
Tallinn's Toompea Castle is also home to the Estonian Parliament, located in the historic city. First built in wood between the tenth and eleventh centuries, it underwent several modifications and restorations that gave it its present appearance. For 800 years it has been the center of power, even when Estonia was dominated by foreign forces. You can visit it with free guided tours.
Address: Lossi Plats 1a, Tallinn
Timetable: inquire at the entrance for tours organized in different languages
Ticket: free admission
Tallinn's fortified citadel
8. St. Olav's church and tower
At the time of its construction, the beginning of the seventeenth century, this was one of the tallest buildings in the world. Its gothic bell tower, visible from many points in the city, measured between 115 and 159 meters (there are conflicting opinions among historians).
However, if you want to climb to the top of the bell tower to look over Tallinn from above you have to climb 232 steps.
Address: Lai 50, Tallinn
Hours: from April to June and from September to October every day from 10 to 18 – July and August from 10 to 20
Ticket: entrance to the church is free, to get on the tower the cost is 3 € for adults and 1 € for children. If you have the Tallinn Card it's all free.
9. Katariina käik, the passage of Santa Caterina
It is one of the most characteristic views of the Old Town of Tallinn. What makes this alley particularly interesting is that it houses a collection of artisanal workshops where artists use traditional methods to create and sell glassware, hats, quilts, ceramics, jewelry, hand-painted silk, and other items.
The workshops are housed in the small rooms of the seventeenth and seventeenth century on the south side of the road and are set up in an open-fashion studio so visitors can watch the artists at work, whether it is blowing glass, weaving or making pottery.
10. Kumu Art Museum
This modern building, opened in 2006, houses the library and a collection of Estonian art from the 1800s to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Performances of various kinds, including international ones, are periodically organized.
Address: August Weizebergi Tanav 34, Tallinn
Hours: Monday closed – Thursday from 10 to 20 – days remaining from 10 to 17
Admission: € 8
The Tallinn Card
There are various types of Tallinn Cards that can be purchased online or at retailers in the city. The costs range from € 24 and up depending on the validity of the card: 24, 48 or 72 hours and the attractions included. With the Tallin Card you can also travel free on public transport, have free admission to more than 40 museums and attractions (here the complete list)and at the Tallinn City Tour by bus. You can buy it here.
The Tallinn card is very convenient for those visiting on a weekend, whether it will be a long 3 days or a short two.
check the Best hotels in Tallinn
Day trips from Tallinn, what is left of the Soviet Union
Many of the things to see around Tallinn have to do with the recent history of occupation by the Soviet Union, which remains one of the main attractions of the country, at least in our opinion. We list the most famous below:
Paldiski is a town about 45 kilometers from Tallinn, accessible by bus, train or bicycle. The train journey takes about 1 hour and costs € 2.80. After the Soviet occupation, it became the main training base for the USSR nuclear submarines. The city was first evacuated and then isolated from the outside world.
Today there are about 4,000 people living there and a redevelopment project is underway. From here, ferries depart for Sweden, Finland, and Germany. It is an interesting visit from the historical point of view and if you are fascinated by this type of Soviet ghost towns.
Here the film Lilya 4-Ever was filmed.
Viivikonna
The most famous Soviet ghost town in Estonia is located a little before Narva, towards the border with Russia. It was a mining town built in Stalinist style in the 1950s and when Estonia was again independent, it cut off its water and electricity supply. The few remaining residents, Russians, escaped elsewhere and since then the city is in a state of neglect.
Rummu
Near the homonymous village, to the west of Tallinn, is this underwater prison with an adjoining labor camp in the limestone quarry. It is still used during the summer by people going to bathe.
Hara submarine base
Close to the Lahemaa National Park, this is certainly one of the most visited attractions around Tallinn. It was built as a station for the demagnetization of submarines, so as to make them invisible to radar.
This was also a military area forbidden to Estonian civilians and they do not have much information but it is a very particular and fascinating place.
Did you find it useful? Do you have more information or advice on Estonia and Tallinn?
Share, comment and follow up on social networks!
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Watford hope Holebas can make final despite red
Watford head coach Javi Gracia hit out at the decision to send off Jose Holebas in Sunday's defeat to West Ham and is adamant the club will appeal against it – with the defender set to miss out on the FA Cup final as a result of his dismissal.
The 34-year-old was shown a red card in the second half of the Hornets' 4-1 loss to West Ham in the last game of the Premier League season at Vicarage Road.
Hammers skipper Mark Noble started and ended the scoring with a fine individual effort and a late penalty, with Manuel Lanzini and Marko Arnautovic also in on the act in a comfortable win.
Gerard Deulofeu had pulled one back for the hosts 11 seconds into the second half, only for Holebas to be sent off after he was adjudged to have barged over Michail Antonio.
Gracia insists the red card will be challenged, with the suspension ruling Holebas out of Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester City if it is not overturned.
Asked if the club would appeal against it, Gracia replied: "For sure. I kept the same attitude during all of the season and I don't want to change at the last one.
"I prefer to be respectful to the referees decision and I prefer at this moment to not say what I am thinking about that.
"In my opinion, I can't believe one player will miss the final for that contact, I can't believe it.
"Maybe it is a foul, soft foul, light foul but I can be angry with that decision.
"In this moment it is difficult to accept knowing you have an important game next week."
Gracia likened the decision of referee Michael Oliver to an incident which saw Watford captain Troy Deeney sent off against Arsenal recently.
The club unsuccessfully appealed against that that decision and Gracia called for a level of continuity from officials.
"It wasn't a foul," he added on Holebas' misdemeanour.
"That contact with one player like Antonio, it is a foul there a lot of fouls during the game.
"It was the same with Troy and (Lucas) Torreira – in the next games there were similar situations.
"After two games, it is true, they say it is possible it was a mistake but that is after two days. I don't want that, I want the referees to take the right decisions."
The win for West Ham was enough for them to leapfrog Watford in the table and secure their first top-half finish in three years.
Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini said 10th was "not a bad position" for his side to finish but could not offer any assurances that midfielder Declan Rice would still be at the London Stadium next season.
The 20-year-old made his England debut in March and Pellegrini admits Rice could be an exciting proposition for some of the league's biggest sides.
"It is impossible, I cannot know the future," he replied when asked if he could let West Ham fans know Rice would remain at the club beyond the summer.
"He is a player of course who has had a brilliant season, who is 20 years old, who is an English player, under 20 so he doesn't use a space in any squad.
"So he has a lot of qualities – age and nationality, so maybe some of the big teams or all of them will want him.
"But that is one thing and the other is that if he stays here or will go, I cannot say at this moment."

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This is beautiful, I like it a lot.
This is a great way of looking at things! Thanks for your entry.
Very true (they may have become lazy and not so inventive though!) but like any media be it photography, drawing or painting even the best and least/most expensive tools won't make an artist any "good". Many years ago when digital art first started we used to have great discussions about the difference between works that were nice but you could tell they were done by technicians who became artists through technology and those that may not have been as technically proficient but you knew they were executed by people who were "artists" first… As always, it all boils down to beauty being in the eye of the beholder!
Wouldn't mind parking myself on something this bold (no dogs allowed)!
How did you create this masterpiece please. I am generally not attracted to Impressionist art but this is so special ! HOW ?
Glazed app – but several layers to get it right! A lovely bouquet of flowers was a big help….
There used to be an artist in my city who painted giant flower canvases (like 4×4) – unfortunately we couldn't afford them then – now I really can't afford them so I will print my own!
The Camera store here has a program that takes your photos and puts them on a canvas so they look like a painting. You should try it!
I couldn't find it under the word Glazed?
it has been difficult and needed courage.
Sometimes it is hard not to lose sovereignty.
Bold and soooo cute – Thanks for your entry!
Thank you – your family is proof!
Love the painting. And dinner sounds fun!
Gorgeous painting, and I'd buy tickets to attend one of your spirited dinners. Bold, it is, then–see you later!
A short and powerful acrostic for your entry – thanks!


Can Smartphones Enhance Telephone-Based Cognitive Assessment (TBCA)?
Panic, M.; Ford, J.D. A Review of National-Level Adaptation Planning with Regards to the Risks Posed by Climate Change on Infectious Diseases in 14 OECD Nations. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2013, 10, 7083-7109.
Panic M, Ford JD. A Review of National-Level Adaptation Planning with Regards to the Risks Posed by Climate Change on Infectious Diseases in 14 OECD Nations. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2013; 10(12):7083-7109.
Panic, Mirna; Ford, James D. 2013. "A Review of National-Level Adaptation Planning with Regards to the Risks Posed by Climate Change on Infectious Diseases in 14 OECD Nations." Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 10, no. 12: 7083-7109.


To be honest with you, I slept on this record. I was sent a test-press three months ago but didn't pay much attention to it until I heard the All Stars mix recently. It features the cream of UKG MCs, including 1Xtra's Heartless, B-Live, God's Gift, Gemma Fox and many more. With recognition throughout the scene plus airplay on 1Xtra's play list, this is bound to be a massive hit.


Auctions can be great places to source materials. You never know what you will find. I checked out an auction last weekend in Kansas City with my Mom. It was the first auction that I have ever bid on anything myself. I wanted to share with you a little about my experience. It might help you on your materials sourcing adventures!
You never know what you might find - rare specialized machinery, unique sewing notions, bits and pieces leftover from other people's projects that could be inspirational, vintage clothing and fabric.
There are no warranties or product guarantees; everything is "as is"
Keep an eye out for rust and missing parts in the case of machinery or equipment you are interested in bidding on. If you are looking for working machinery with all of the parts present, auctions might not be the place for you when looking to buy these items.
Do your research beforehand. How much does each item cost new? It is always good to know the new price to weigh how much something is worth used.
Seriously consider the condition something is in. Do you have the time it will take to clean or restore the item and source new parts? Or is it worth it to you to just buy this item new?
Keep an eye out for rare objects or materials that you simply can't buy new. This is when auctions are really worth your time.
Try not to buy junk, but be willing to throw some things out if you get a lot of something with a few gems and also some broken or useless bits mixed it. No big deal.
Try to stay focused and calm. It can be very easy to find yourself confused and overwhelmed with what you should bid on.


Torre del Porticciolo Campsite looks over a large and enchanting bay on the north-west coast of Sardinia. It is 10 km away from Alghero-Fertilia airport, 20km from Porto Torres and 15 km from the centre of Alghero, a Catalan town with walls and bastions and Gothic-Aragonese churches, island within an island. Hospitality is available in the form of 60 dwellings which can accommodate from 2–6 people. Our Bungalows are situated among pine trees and are no more than 50 metres from the path down to the sea. Our chalets in brick and Swedish pine have been constructed for maximum comfort and convenience. We offer the most modern comforts with the new Mobile Homes and Lodge Tent. Our prices include bed-linen, complete kitchen equipment and parking facilities for car or motorbike. We do everything we can to accommodate our campers in our spacious pine woods in the way that best suits their needs. Campers and caravans are positioned in specially reserved areas so as to facilitate manoeuvring, whereas tents are pitched in the central area of the park. Parking for cars and motorbikes is available inside the campsite in groups of three. The campsite is equipped with two groups of toilet facilities with free hot water for personal hygiene. We are pleased to be able to offer you various facilities in order to make your stay as pleasant as possible. Our friendly and efficient reception staff will be on hand to assist you and our bar and restaurant will cater for all your culinary needs. You can play different kinds of sport or simply relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. For the outgoing and adventurous our campsite offers horse-riding excursions and deep-sea diving expeditions designed to help you enjoy nature and the splendid underwater scenery to the full.
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The Parents were told to help their wards to choose career keeping in mind- Area of interest, personality, aptitude, (assess your ward's strengths and weaknesses, skills, possibility and opportunities and capability). He discussed about the conventional and non conventional careers wherein the career options were covered in five groups viz. People based, Creative, Business, Physical/Outdoor & Science based careers. By illustrating live cases and thought provoking deliberations, he made the atmosphere extremely electrifying and involved each and every participant to understand and realize their inherent strengths to opt their best suited career options. It was an interactive session where the students got lot of information regarding different conventional and non conventional courses available. The interactive session at the end helped students in clarifying their doubts. The students and parents were gratified with their queries being solved patiently. It was an enriching experience for one and all.


We are always saying we wish there was more research into treatment or prevention of TM, ADEM and NMO. Now a consortium of charities and medical professionals interested in spinal injury have joined together to find out what PATIENTS think are the right priorities for research in the area of spinal cord injury, whether caused by trauma (accidents) or by other causes like autoimmunity as in TM, ADEM and NMO.
The James Lind Alliance, who has organised and chairs the partnership, works with the Royal Society of Medicine and NHS and has carried out similar exercises for other conditions including asthma, prostate cancer and tinnitus. Patients are asked to do a short survey about where they think researchers should concentrate and based on the information from that survey, a Top 10 Priority List for researchers will be drawn up early in 2014. There is a good track record of these priorities being picked up for investigation. Using this method, patient priorities can drive research instead of financial considerations. There is more information on the Spinal Cord Injury Partnership Priority Setting Partnership (SCI PSP) website if you are interested in the organisational aspects of this study.
The survey itself is just one page long and it will only take you minutes to complete. It takes the form of asking you for your 'unanswered questions'. For example, you could ask 'Why do people with TM keep getting recurrences?' or perhaps 'Which non-drug therapies are most effective for neuropathic pain?'.
The closing date is 9 December and it is open to any UK residents over the age of 18. Click here to get to the survey.
Great post, some useful info here on the research priorities for spinal cord injuries.
The TMS committee jointly contributes to this blog.


(Reuters) - Property and casualty insurer Lancashire Holdings Ltd swung to a profit in 2018 from a loss a year earlier, helped by a rise in gross written premiums as it predicted rises in rates across many of its businesses.
The Lloyd's of London insurer, which writes policies for heavy-duty assets such as oil rigs, ships and aircraft, reported profit before tax of $33.6 million (26 million pounds) for the year ended Dec.31, compared with a loss of $72.9 million a year earlier.
Gross written premiums rose 7.9 percent to $638.5 million for the year, and the company's combined ratio - a measure of underwriting profitability - improved to 92.2 percent from 124.9 percent last year. A level below 100 percent indicates an underwriting profit.
Lancashire Chief Executive Alex Maloney said loss activity in the fourth quarter had been higher than average but, like its larger rivals Beazley, but the loss ratio suggested claims from Atlantic hurricanes, typhoons in Asia and the California wildfires were lower compared to a year earlier.
The industry faced record losses in 2017 due to the impact of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria and Mexican earthquakes. Lancashire gave a total estimated net loss figure for 2018 of $164.7 million, versus $181.8 million in 2017.
The underwriter, which offers insurance schemes for heavy-duty assets such as oil rigs, ships and aircraft, said 2018 net losses included $56.1 million in relation to its marine portfolio, hurricane Florence and typhoons Jebi, Mangkhut and Trami.
The fourth quarter of 2018 was impacted by hurricane Michael and the California wildfires. Its net losses recorded for these events were $48.8 million.


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Бусан (Пусан) — мільйонне місто в Республіці Кореї

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 Бусан (Сирія) —  поселення в Сирії в нохії Аль-Мушаннаф

Бусан — громада в кантоні Во

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text:
Donkey crisis: How donkeys are dying for rise in Chinese 'miracle' beauty product ejiao
A HERD of donkeys is being inspected by traders before the animals are sold for farm work at a livestock market. These are the lucky ones – for many others are slaughtered in what is an unprecedented global threat to donkeys' existence as a species. WAR
By Kat Hopps
PUBLISHED: 12:19, Tue, Dec 10, 2019 | UPDATED: 13:32, Tue, Dec 10, 2019
WARNING: Some footage and pictures may be disturbing for readers. Experts estimate up to 15 million of the beasts of burden have been butchered across the continent since 2014 for ejiao, a supposedly youth-preserving 'miracle' gelatin made from boiling down their hides. The product is coveted by China's burgeoning middle classes – despite there being no evidence that it works. Yet multi-million pound demand from the country's beauty industry has ravaged Africa's donkeys and fuelled an epidemic of theft. If the current rate of extermination continues, campaigners warn, a staggering half of the world's donkey population will be decimated within the next five years. Demand for ejiao has created a trade in stolen donkeys, which in turn has devastated rural communities which are reliant on the animals for their livelihoods.
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Mali donkey horror: The animals worked to DEATH on rubbish tips
There are about six million donkeys in Mali, and they are used for transporting goods, water, firewood and fresh produce.
In some remote communities, they also carry the sick and elderly to doctors as well as children to school.
The Daily Express visited Mali at the invitation of the UK charity SPANA (Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad).
About 40 minutes' drive from Mali's capital Bamako, is the town of Kati, which boasts a bustling weekly market and the donkey herd that we saw being prepared for sale.
This was also once a hub for the trade in skins from donkeys killed at a nearby illegal abattoir, which has been shut down by the government.
Trader Coulibaly Dongo explained that locals were paid by Chinese businessmen to buy on their behalf.
He says: "The Chinese did not come to the market but would pay local people to source the donkeys for them. They would take them to a big abattoir and take off the skin."
Donkeys on sale at a Mali livestock market and donkey hides being laid out to dry in Tanzania (Image: Dylan Thomas/Jordan Woodgate/SPANA)
At the height of the demand about 300 donkeys were sold for slaughter in a single day.
Another market trader, Amadou Coulibaly, explains: "It is initially okay because you can sell so many donkeys but on the opposite side it will destroy the entire population of donkeys.
"For us it was an interesting way to sell so many donkeys but we knew the donkeys would be finished."
But in addition to high volumes of donkey sales, a spate of thefts began.
According to Amadou, one trader lost 10 of the animals that he had hoped to sell, in one night. He also had two donkeys stolen from his own home.
"It was difficult for me as they were my family's donkeys and would do everything," says Amadou. "They would take the water and we used it for agriculture.
Donkey bones found on the ground at Kati livestock market in Mali after donkeys were stolen (Image: Jordan Woodgate/SPANA)
"It was a big loss. If there are no donkeys in a rural area then a family is not able to have a life because the donkey and cart are all things for the family.
"If you lost the donkey then you never found it again because it was going to be killed."
Impoverished villages – visited by this newspaper – have seen their animals killed or stolen because of the increased demand for skins.
In this war-torn nation where two in three people rely on the animals for their survival, the thefts have had a devastating effect.
Officials are so concerned about this trade in donkeys and their skins that they hosted Mali's first Regional Donkey Skin Trade Conference, attended by government officials and police.
It was set up by Dr Amadou Doumbia, Mali director of SPANA. He says: "Donkeys are the backbone of our country. The economy is nothing without them.
"The situation could become very dangerous if we have nothing to eat. Crime could go up because of the lack of food."
SPANA Mali Director Dr Amadou Doumbia speaks to donkey trader Coulibaly Dongo (Image: Dylan Thomas)
Five villages close to Ségou, the town in south-central Mali where the conference took place, saw 445 donkeys disappear over several months, according to village chiefs.
Sitan Traoré from Diakobougou village was one victim.
"I am a widow and my only means of sustenance for me and my children is linked to our donkey," she says. "They have stolen my donkey seven times. They cost up to £77 to replace. When it was hot, I used my donkey to sell ice, but now I have nothing."
Sitan, like 75 percent of Mali's working poor, lives on £2.36 per day. Another donkey owner, Djénébou Diarra who lives in Bougouni village, says his donkey was stolen earlier this year as he slept.
"My work was to carry wood, find herbs and other domestic activities, now I am not able to do that," he says. "I will be pleased if real action is taken by the government to avoid the stolen donkey problem and to punish the thieves."
At the height of crisis, about 1,000 donkeys were sold in Ségou. At Mali's six wholesale animal markets, periodic surges in demand for skins have seen traders buying in bulk to sell to China.
Amadou and his team, who visit communities around the country with mobile veterinary clinics, have witnessed soaring prices for the animals. In Mopti, northern Mali, they saw 400 donkeys being hoisted on to trucks at its market.
That number was being sold every week for four months, Amadou says, a massive rise from the usual 100 to 150 sold. The trade saw the price of donkeys double from £64 to £129.
A sample of Ejiao, which is made from boiling donkey skins (Image: AFP via Getty)
Mali was one of the first nations to outlaw donkey slaughter in 2016. To get round this, traders smuggle the animals out of the country by taking them to small border villages where they are able to leave Mali and cross porous
borders into neighbouring Burkina Faso. The border is just a line on a map – unmarked and uncontrolled.
"There is no checkpoint," Amadou said. "Even if it is illegal, who will check there? Nobody. They can do it any time of the day."
Burkina Faso has also taken a stand against the trade but there are several African countries where exports are still legal.
Amadou believes the Malian donkeys are taken to Benin, south of Burkina Faso, from where their skins are exported to China.
SPANA is helping affected communities by bringing together the authorities and villagers to tackle the problem
The charity has appealed to the Mayor of Ségou to set up donkey "parking lots" where owners pay a fee for someone to watch the animals and, hopefully, prevent thefts.
The situation has improved for now but there is no guarantee that thieves will not return – unless Chinese demand for ejiao slows or countries unite against the trade.
SPANA chief executive Geoffrey Dennis is calling for an immediate end to the sale of donkey skins.
"From Mali to Zimbabwe, I've seen the devastation caused by this brutal trade, which is destroying livelihoods, undermining communities and leading to the slaughter of countless animals that are often kept in hellish conditions," he says.
"A billion of the world's poorest people rely on working animals for their livelihoods – yet this trade, driven by consumer demand for luxury products, threatens to wipe out all donkeys in many communities across Africa within the next decade.
"We must act now to save the lives of hard-working donkeys and the communities who rely on them."
To support SPANA in its work preventing the skin trade and supporting donkeys and communities, visit spana.org
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Jeff Bates signs new record deal
Tuesday, December 18, 2007 – Jeff Bates, who had a top 20 hit in 2003 with "The Love Song," signed with the Black River Music Group, he announced Tuesday. Working with producer and Black River's label chief, Jimmy Nichols, Bates expects to have a new album out in early March 2008.
Co-producers for the project are Kenny Beard and Mickey Jack Cones. Beard produced Bates's previous two albums.
Bates initially signed to RCA Records in 2002, putting out "Rainbow Man" (2003) and "Leave The Light On" (2006). He had seven singles chart - "The Love Song," "Rainbow Man," "I Wanna Make You Cry," "Long Slow Kisses," "Good People," "No Shame" and "One Second Chance."
Nichols commented, "I think Jeff gives country fans everything they want in an artist. He's a traditionalist who respects country's roots, and he's hip enough for younger fans to appreciate as well. He's a gifted singer who knows how to interpret a song, and he puts on an amazing stage show. Black River Music Group is enormously proud and excited to have him on our roster."
Bates said, "All an artist really wants to do is share his voice and vision with the world. Black River sees my music the same way I do. I think we're on the verge of some great things."
More news for Jeff Bates
07/01/08: Jeff Bates releases new single
02/21/08: Jeff Bates releases new disc in April
02/21/06: Broken tailbone doesn't stop Jeff Bates
CD reviews for Jeff Bates
Jeff Bates
In this time of faux outlaws, Jeff Bates is a refreshing real deal. His back story reads like a Johnny Cash song - abandoned as a baby, raised by sharecroppers, Bates has endured three marriages, a drug habit and some time in jail for grand larceny. But that's nothing compared to the crime against esthetics that his art director is guilty of - picking a CD cover photo that's a dead ringer for Garth Brooks' ill-fated alter ego Chris Gaines. Bates' music doesn't ...
David Allan Coe just might think Jeff Bates' second CD is the perfect country and western al-bum, since he�s got songs about Mama (�Mama Was a Lot Like Jesus�) and prison (�That�ll Get You Ten�) and prisoners who want to drive trucks (�One Second Chance.�) It�s true Bates doesn�t have much to say about trains or getting drunk, but maybe the fact that he�s actually been behind bars will give him enough outlaw extra credit to make up for that lapse. It�s all academic because Coe�s crowd is ...
Rainbow Man
Jeff Bates has a heck of a story - given up for adoption, he grew up in Mississippi, worked on an oil rig and as a carpenter, and even spent time in jail on drug charges before getting his first cuts as a songwriter and, eventually, his own record deal - but more importantly, he has a heck of a voice. With his deep, powerful baritone, he's an aural dead ringer for Conway Twitty, and the singer isn't afraid to exploit the resemblance - not, as Jerry Seinfeld would say, that there's anything wrong with that. ...


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Lest We Forget- K.Venkataraman (Surpassing Love And Grace)
About Ramana Maharshi, Surpassing Love and Grace
K. Venkataraman, who was absorbed in Arunachala in 1994, was fondly addressed as K. V. Mama by the Ashram inmates.
K. Venkataraman comes from a family totally devoted to Sri Bhagavan for several generations. His grandmother was Echammal, Grand Old Lady of the Ashram, who for 38 years, till her death in 1945, would not partake of her food until she had first sent food to Sri Bhagavan and his devotees. His mother, Chellama, was an ardent devotee from her childhood till her death in 1922. When the news of her death was conveyed to Sri Bhagavan, he was so moved that tears came to his eyes. From his earliest days "Ramanan" has experienced the protection and guidance of Bhagavan, who has been his only refuge. He feels himself especially blessed to have come from such a family marked by unique dedication.
His first memory of Sri Bhagavan's Grace goes back to about 1925, when he was four years old. It was then a routine that twice a year Ashram inmates were treated for cleaning their stomachs by doses of castor oil and herbal kashayam. After a dose of oil at night, followed by one of kashayam very early the next morning an early and frugal lunch consisting of a small quantity of rice mixed liberally with a special light rasam and mango kernels was served. On one such morning, Venkataraman was being served much more rasam than he wanted, and he blurted out 'BUS' (Hindi for 'enough') to stop the server, uncle Ranga Rao, from giving him more. Sri Bhagavan heard this remark and, punning on the word, regaled the diners with laughter by saying, "Yes, BUS, runs outside on the Chengam road to your father's place."
On Kartika day in 1931, when he was about 11 years old, he was staying with his grandmother Echammal. Finding her busy with the sraddha ceremonies for her late husband, he took her permission to go to the temple for puja. Before going into the Sanctum Sanctorum, he decided to have his bath inside the temple compound. He went down the steps and entered the water carefully, as he did not know how to swim, but despite his care, he slipped and went down deep into the water. With great effort he was able to come to the surface several times and shout for help, yet no one took any notice of him. After his third unsuccessful attempt, he sank deep into the water, without any hope of survival. Suddenly he saw a very bright light inside his head in the midst of which Sri Bhagavan's face shone. This phenomenon which came in a flash, and disappeared immediately. A little later he felt something catch his ankles and he experienced a similar flash in exactly the same manner and intensity as before. By then he was unconscious. When he awoke as if from a deep sleep he found himself on the steps of Siva Ganga tank. After looking around carefully and reassuring himself that he was really alive, he asked people around him how he had come there. He was told that an old man who was doing pradakshina of Kambathu Ilayanar had run down the steps, jumped into the tank, brought him out of the water and laid him down, and then had gone away as swiftly as he had come. Venkataraman then quickly had his puja performed and went straight home, without mentioning a word about it to his grandmother. The next morning they went together to the Ashram as usual and prostrated before Sri Bhagavan. Bhagavan looked at them and asked how deep Siva Ganga tank was. The lad could not understand the import of question, and ran out of the hall silently. It was only later in life that he realised that his saviour had been none other than Sri Bhagavan himself. It is true that Sri Bhagavan shunned occult powers as an obstacle to pure sadhana but it is also true that Sri Bhagavan is all grace and compassion and never fails his devotees.
Another incident he recalls happened about a year later when he had come from his father's home to stay with Echammal for his school vacation. One morning at the Ashram he noticed that almost everyone had copies of a new book which he found was Suddhananda Bharati's biography of Sri Bhagavan, Sri Ramana Vijayam, fresh from the press, and presented it to all inmates. Disappointed at not getting a copy, he went to Chinnaswamy to ask for one. After Chinnaswamy refused to give him one, he went where Sri Bhagavan was and stood weeping. Bhagavan asked why he was crying and Venkataraman told him what had happened. Bhagavan then sent an attendant to the book stall for a copy of the book. After writing "Ramanan" on the flyleaf, he handed it the boy, who was filled with joy and thanked him for it. Sri Bhagavan then observed: "Oho! You are all joy now and your weeping vanished so soon." Venkataraman then went out of the Hall to tell Chinnaswamy that he had got what he wanted from the hands of Sri Bhagavan himself.


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Do Nisha Susan and I know the same people?
Posted on 3rd September 2020 3rd September 2020
My classmates and I have been stealing women from a certain VJ for three years now.
Not just any women but women who write, which, if you ask me, are the best kind of women. VJ might disagree with me. Probably because she knows it's not stealing when she happily opens the door to an all-you-can-eat buffet of writerly characters in her classrooms. But I say stealing because it takes a special kind of shamelessness to convince yourself that you discovered these writers. That somehow, even if only inside your head, what is public is very much your personal.
I discovered Nisha Susan first in VJ's classroom. Later, I rediscovered her in the stories related by people who knew her; my professors who are her friends, my seniors who had interned at The Ladies Finger, my friends who had actually met her. I know about the time she introduced a friend to Japanese cuisine, about the funny men who unsuccessfully flirted with her at parties, about the one time she gave C (who was interning with her) enough money for auto rides and an ice cream. I sometimes find it concerning and somewhat illegal that I should know so many stories about a stranger.
One year later, I got to meet the actual Nisha Susan. Outside of her writing, outside of everyone else's stories. And I stood mortified as VJ announced to the world that I longed to touch her. The actual Nisha Susan laughed and extended her arm. I touched it. I did not know what to ask her, so I asked her if she ever cried over boys. She told me that she used to cry over silly boys in autos on rainy days. It consoled me that even Nisha Susan used to cry over boys once upon a time. And I held onto that very specific image for yet another year.
I suppose it comes as no surprise that I pre-ordered a copy of The Women Who Forgot to Invent Facebook and Other Stories at the first mention of Nisha's new book on Twitter. I had to get my hands on it before the rest of my classmates did; every other Nisha Susan fangirl that I refuse to acknowledge. It is a strange thing to fall for somebody's writing. There's this almost malicious insistence that their writing belongs only to us. You want your every friend and every enemy to read them but you know these stories are specifically yours. Like Nisha herself said, "The truth is that I wrote those stories only for you."
As I slowly rationed out the stories in her book, hoping to make it last as long as possible, I heard far away cries from the corners of my house, "Neha Susan theerno?" Amma, you know it's Nisha Susan. "Did you finish your Nisha Samuel?" -_-
The Women Who Forgot to Invent Facebook and Other Stories is a book about people, some at the cusp of the internet, some others entirely embroiled in it. The strangest thing about the internet today is the dichotomy it insists on preserving. We know people as either good or bad on the internet. But Nisha does this sneaky thing where she injects all her characters- the good, bad and the ugly- with traits that we've assigned to the anonymous but good people on the internet. And as far as we know, we are the good people on the internet, aren't we?
So, it's often the case that we find ourselves at awkward positions with the people in Nisha's stories. One second, we're cooing over two lovers who reunite on Facebook messenger, the world's most unromantic chat application. The very next second, we watch in horror as Liji's kuttan turns out to be somewhat of a psychopath. We're all up and invested in the mystery girl's romantic adventures on artyhearts.com but feel full embarrassed for her when she reveals much too nonchalantly "I think reservations are really stupid."
In her stories, Nisha explores the faceless residents of the online world. These characters are like our parents. Occasionally, it strikes us that they're not so great people but they continue remaining good people or even tolerable people simply because we are forced to know them beyond their prejudices. The opposite also holds true in Nisha's stories. Falling back on her "chudail-like" instincts, the mother in Missed Call quickly realizes that she has begun to dislike her daughter.
From the almost forgotten pre-Facebook days to the bizarre possibility of a future where women send nudes to online archives, this pink book is like a time machine that hurtles you through the internet's entire life history. You have singers who meet princes in chat rooms, daughters who only give their mothers missed calls, and even women who need multiple apps to remind them to drink water. Nisha covers all the uncles and aunties and siblings and cousins of the internet's family tree with frightening accuracy.
Add to this, the ease with which she customises the English language as though it were a Sims character. I like to think that Nisha carries a bit of every city she's lived in through her writing; the Kerchief Kumaris and comment-adi boys from Kochi, konjum Mother Teresa-type friend from Bangalore, kanji personalities from Delhi and many more.
The Malayali in me felt thrilled when I spotted the Manju Warrier reference in Trinity. When she mentions women who imagined themselves gliding in the long green dress Keira Knightly wore in Atonement, I remembered a forgotten fantasy. Later, I felt amused at how the woman managed to use Dolly Parton's name as an insult- big haired and over the top.
Characters seem incredibly familiar because Nisha defines entire persons and personalities through that one discernable trait that we often find funny about them. There are no protagonists in her stories because it is difficult not to get distracted by the peculiarities of even the guest appearance-type characters.
It's an endless list really; the Malayali man whose favourite hobby is to make fun of other malayalees, girls who go to far away towns to torment priests with their scandalous confessions, little boys who convey their little-boy thoughts in old-man language, small town girls with Powerpuff girl superpowers or even writers who worry about their faces being photoshopped for book jackets. Makes you wonder, do Nisha Susan and I know the same people?
I imagine every real-life person who catches Nisha's eye must go through an intense coconut grating process. Everything about them, she collects into a pile of all revealing coconut shreds and leaves behind a very naked, very brown human shell.
When I first read the cover story The Women Who Forgot to Invent Facebook, all my Nisha Susan fantasies came crashing down. It seemed highly unlikely that I'd ever have a cross-continental map of my sex escapades. Or that I'd ever bemoan the death of a hot, hot, Vilas. It seemed even more unlikely that I'd bring home "a stark naked white boy peeing lavishly into the commode" for my parents to wake up to. Like the girls in her story, I watched and wondered. I had nobody to ask, so I felt slightly insecure and wondered a lot.
A week later, on a Thursday at exactly 7:00 PM, with a guava in one hand and my phone in the other, I was ready at my desk. Nisha Susan was going to talk about her book with Paromita Vohra (another lovely lady I stole from VJ). All fangirls swarmed the comments section of the live stream. Some other shy fangirls (like me) were happy enough lurking. I felt giddy at the oh-so-frenship moment between the women when Paro described Nisha's "gelusil pink" book as her "antacid to all the unread books" that made her feel guilty. Others chimed in in the comments section with their love for Blouse Mohan from Trinity and innocent speculations about what exactly Radha from Missed Call had mixed into the chapatis.
What is spectacular about Nisha is that the woman squeezes in a story at every opportunity. We were told that her friend KR Meera, who most of us might know as the author of Aarachar, knew exactly what had happened to the beloved Blouse Mohan. What happened to him? Everyone wanted to know. Well, he got married and his wife said, "No more blouses, only salwar kameez."
Nisha and Paromita laughed at the intellectual gents who could never quite figure out that Teresa, a story from the book, is homage to Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca. "You know that no?" she mischievously asked nobody in particular, but looking straight at the screen as though she knew exactly how many of us hadn't registered this. I felt shy at the other end because much like the clueless gents, I'd never read Rebecca. And as I write this piece, I am becoming increasingly aware of how when we obsess over a writer and their words, we make them our Rebeccas and Teresas. I wonder whether Nisha knows that she's Teresa to so many of us.
Finally, she said something I wish she'd said all along. She said, "I write stories about people I'm not friends with." And I heaved a sigh of relief and resurrected my Nisha Susan fantasies. The two women on screen talked to each other with lazy smiles of familiarity. On the other side of the screen, I felt my cheek sloppily but happily balanced on the palm of my hand. Nisha talks about telling stories quickly, before her victims can get away. She talks about the shoulder-gripping pleas of women who want other women to read the things they love so that they can talk about it.
I think about the two women on screen and the many many on the other side of it. I think about the stories, online and offline, that we've unintentionally gathered about each other. I go back to the first story in Nisha's pink book. It's about a girl who meets everyone else in the world through her friend. And all that these girls want is an audience to be outrageous in front of, to "rehash old stories that only we laughed at."
Nikhita Thomas
Latest posts by Nikhita Thomas (see all)
Do Nisha Susan and I know the same people? - 3rd September 2020
Slaps hard? Not yet - 3rd May 2020
All-in-all -Thankan - 25th January 2018
4 thoughts on "Do Nisha Susan and I know the same people?"
VANDANA says:
3rd September 2020 at 7:28 PM
Loved reading this!
This was so lovely to read 🙂
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4/16/2014 (Lexington, North Carolina) - MUST SELL!! MAKE OFFER! Health issues prevent me from finishing. Nice pulling trailer. You can customize interior to your specs. Western red cedar, 32 1/2" rough opening for screen or storm door. Ideal for BBQ or chicken trailer with cookers out back. OPEN SERVING AREA. ALL WELDED FRAME and STRUCTURE. Will need tires and backed fenders. For allowance, I would be willing to purchase (NEW or Used) tires and have them installed PRIOR to pick up. Please call Kevin on (336) 293-3996 or (336) 242-9091.


Today is Eid. A day for sacrifices.
I went out to a friend's house today and she said not to be alarmed when I saw her street. It was covered in blood from all the goat sacrifices. Actually, by the time I got there it was only puddles of water and a few people out hosing down their entryways. But the smell of fresh blood was still in the air.
The day before, we'd seen goats festively attired in garlands and bows. They were dressed for death.
And before that we'd seen sheep and goats lined up along the street outside the slaughter house. All in preparation for the big Eid celebration.
Camels, too. There were camels for sale to those who can afford a sacrifice of this size.
And they, too, were painted and decorated for Eid.


Bici's a new Mediterranean place that opened up where La Piazza used to be at Jackson and Pershing. We went to La Piazza back in 2002, and it changed hands after that, and now it's obviously a new concept entirely. I'm looking forward to checking it out!
I wanted place to be great. I live in neighborhood, and the location is perfect – we'd eat there once a week if it had consistently good food & service. Past incarnations have had poor service and high prices, trying to make themselves into a "Clayton" restaurant rather than fitting with the character of our cute little corner of University City. Unfortunately, Bici Café isn't great, it isn't even good. The service is ditsy and slow, and our waitress dunked her ponytail in my water glass when she was carrying it to the table. I wouldn't bother to write a review if that were the end of the story. After lunch I had stomach pain & then several hours of serious gastrointestinal problems. I left a message to suggest they throw out mayo & anything in the kitchen that was not fresh. I was trying to be helpful, didn't expect a call back or an apology. Manager called back to say "it's not us! It takes 12–18 hrs to get food poisoning." Ask your doctor, food related illness can be as immediate as a bee sting if your body reacts to a toxin. I was indeed sick from sandwich I ate there. Eat there at your own risk - if you get sick, don't bother to complain to the manager.
I have read the woman above's review on 10 different sites. Totally copy-and-pasted. Review lacks creativity and effort.
I live on the same street that Bici is on too. I have been there several times. Yes the service has a lot of room for improvement. But the food was excellent.
It's owned by Mike Johnson and he produces quality the likes of his other restaurants.
I dismiss the service issues to a new place being open. The buzz creates an enormous amount of traffic that any restaurant would have trouble dealing with.
The place is always packed on the weekends, so I don't think the general consensus agrees with the above poster.


The district and its supporters could spin that the ATOSS's were a success however the fact is for those who have a look at the numbers they went empty more than not and so they by no means explained why the district ought to pay for companies that colleges may present. ATOSSs' had been glorified and expensive ISSP packages and in colleges is where they need to have happened. Chesterfield, Henrico and Richmond are among seven Virginia faculty districts mandated to set aside federal cash obtained below the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act this yr to combat the sample. I've been on the lookout for wii games for my 2 12 months old daughter with no luck. These are great suggestions!
We invite all library professionals, employers, LIS college students, and educators to offer input and participate this occasion. Thanks for the encouraging phrases. It's nice because you may get medical health insurance and you may't as a daily substitute within only a city. for addition… laziness to go to class. highest charge among the 10. so troublesome to overcome this illness.


We are very excited to introduce the new Whatawhata School and Waikato Institute for Leisure and Sport Studies (WILSS) Young Leaders Award Scheme. Building on the successes and ideas of previous years, we have developed this programme in partnership with WILSS to support all our Te Rākau 2 learners to become better leaders of their own learning and lives and to make a difference to the lives of others.
Taking our learners outside their comfort zones, helping them to plan for, overcome challenges and support others through different outdoor opportunities. And have a whole load of fun too!
Throughout these components, children will keep a journal of their learning and their experiences. At the end of the year a special showcase celebration will be held where our learners share all that they have learned and celebrate their achievements.
While still to be confirmed, our 8 Outdoor Education opportunities will likely include snow camp, surfing, paddleboarding, hiking and orienteering, cycling and more. Full details of all these will be sent out soon. There will be a cost for these events.


Alternate cover edition can be found here The military sci fi classic in a striking new packageFelix is an Earth soldier, encased in special body armor designed to withstand Earth s most implacable enemy a bioengineered, insectoid alien horde But Felix is also equipped with internal mechanisms that enable him, and his fellow soldiers, to survive battle situations that woAlternate cover edition can be found here The military sci fi classic in a striking new packageFelix is an Earth soldier, encased in special body armor designed to withstand Earth s most implacable enemy a bioengineered, insectoid alien horde But Felix is also equipped with internal mechanisms that enable him, and his fellow soldiers, to survive battle situations that would destroy a man s mind.This is a remarkable novel of the horror, the courage, and the aftermath of combat and how the strength of the human spirit can be the greatest armor of all.
3.0 stars. Certainly deserves to be listed among a handful of classic "military SF" though I rank it below the likes of Starship Troopers and The Forever War. Focuses on the psychological effects of combat and the effect it has on the soldiers fighting it. That alone makes it worth reading. It does have some weaknesses such as the slowness of the middle sections of the book and the occasional lack of quality writing. That said, I still recommend it for military SF fans.
An excellent book with a fitting end. The author does s good job at timing. He reveals enough of the mysterious past to keep you turning the pages. Very happy I made time for this one!


Add a lovely splash of color to your walls! AllSculptures.com offers stylish, traditional and modern wall sculptures and metal wall art in an array of designs, subjects and materials. Popular wall sculptures include themes of tropical fish, dolphins, marine life, shorebirds, butterflies, dragonflies and tree frogs in a rainbow of shimmering colors to brighten up your walls. Or if your taste is more rustic and you wish to bring a taste of the great outdoors inside, showcase your style with our friendly bears, stampeding horses, majestic eagles, charming songbirds and colorful butterflies in enameled coppers or hand painted alabaster. Many of our wall sculptures are suitable for outdoor and garden use and will be labeled as such.


VyStar Credit Union intends to buy the SunTrust Tower Downtown and move its headquarters and up to 700 employees into the 23-story building.
Thursday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Florida Times-Union reporter Ben Conarck about his investigation into how visitors to Baker Correctional Institution are treated (01:02).
Ahead of his appearance in Jacksonville next week we heard from legendary Disney and Pixar animator Floyd Norman (27:46).
With World Glaucoma Week just ending we heard about some new treatments for sufferers with Florida Eye Specialists Dr. Kathryn Friedl and patient Carol Matthews (38:30).
Ahead of this weekend's A Brush With Nature event at the Jacksonville Arboretum we spoke with painter Randy Pitts and Board Chair Patty Miller.
Students and teachers at First Coast High School won't have to go far to manage their money.
They now have a bank right on campus — and it's run by high schoolers.
Jacksonville-based VyStar Credit Union has online banking up-and-running again after customers experienced technical difficulties over the last couple days.
Vystar CEO Terry West says online banking was supposed to be up Monday morning, after the bank ditched its old Internet-banking system for a new one Friday night.
"So many people tried to access the system and could not get in as fast as they wanted, started calling us, so it was just a huge volume impact," he said.
It's not your granddad's classroom. And it probably isn't the kind of classroom you grew up in either.


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Home Business Study suggests video games can help mental health
Study suggests video games can help mental health
LONDON (AP) – Time spent playing video games can be good for mental health, according to a new study by researchers at Oxford University.
The finding comes as video game sales this year have boomed as more people are stuck at home because of the pandemic and many countries have once again imposed limits on public life.
The paper released Monday is based on survey responses from people who played two games, Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
In a first, the study used data provided by the game makers, Electronic Arts and Nintendo of America, on how much time the respondents spent playing, unlike previous research that relied on imprecise estimates from the players.
The researchers at the Oxford Internet Institute said they found the actual amount of time spent playing was a small but significant positive factor in people's well-being.
The paper, which hasn't been peer reviewed, said the level of enjoyment that players get from a game could be a more important factor for their well-being than mere playing time.
The results could cast doubt on long-held assumptions that gaming causes aggression or addiction, though the authors acknowledge they are only a snapshot.
"Our findings show video games aren't necessarily bad for your health; there are other psychological factors which have a significant effect on a persons' well-being," said Andrew Przybylski, the institute's director of research. "In fact, play can be an activity that relates positively to people's mental health – and regulating video games could withhold those benefits from players."
Some 2,756 players of Animal Crossing: New Horizons in the U.S., U.K. and Canada were surveyed along with 518 players of Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville. They were asked to fill out a survey on their experiences that was matched up against playing time logged by the game companies.
Lack of transparency from game makers has long been an issue for scientists hoping to better understand player behaviours and the authors said previous research used to propose advice for parents and policymakers was done without a robust evidence base.
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text:
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They will sow a manor
A dedicated group of Presbyterians in Arkansas City first imagined a center for retired living within the Ark City community starting in the late 1960s. In a March 14, 1962, article published by the Arkansas City Traveler, Dr. Frederick Maier, retired Presbyterian minister of Arkansas City stated in a letter to the Ark City Idea contest that "there is one thing Ark City as a community should strive for. It is a modern and adequate retirement and nursing home." He continued to state that a retirement community would boost the economy as well as provide a service to a "needy and worthy segment of the population."
Dr. Maier finished his letter stating, "There are various ways this problem can be approached if a group of citizens have a mind to do so."
A concerned group of local citizens led by committee chair, William Baucus, took that endeavor on. After 10 years of planning and fundraising efforts, construction for the first phase of the project, which was the five-story apartment complex, began in November 1976. The complete vision of the project included 93 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments and a health care center to accommodate 60 residents in skilled nursing. Four out of the five stories were designated as independent living and the fifth floor was designated for intermediate care.
Neva Bahruth, current resident of Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor and member of the First Presbyterian Church, remembers Dr. Maier fondly.
"Dr. Maier was the driving force behind the planning and fundraising of the project. Even though he had moved from Ark City, he was very much a part of our community and concerned about our future," Bahruth said.
The approximate cost of the entire project was $4 million. The land was purchased from Laurence and Ruby Chaplin for $35,000. The project had the support from the local congregation but the major financial support, operational counsel and management control was through the United Presbyterian Foundation of Kansas. At the time, the foundation was an agency of the Synods of Mid-America, which was established as a special ministry to the elderly in order to provide them with quality care and supportive services. The Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor was the 12th retirement community built by the organization in Kansas and Missouri.
In an August 23, 1976, article published by the Arkansas City Traveler, William D. Baucus, chairman of the project said, "The objective is to minister to the psychological, social and spiritual needs of its people in a successful attempt to have people live secure lives at that age within a similar type of familiar atmosphere in which they have lived for the last two-thirds of their lives."
The project committee "turned over the soil" to start "sowing" the new manor campus in a field at the corner of Fourth and Hickory streets. Mrs. William Weston had the honor of "turning over" the first shovel of soil on November 28, 1976, at the ground-breaking ceremony with the support of fellow committee members. At the time of the ceremony, 36 persons had already made commitments to move to the Manor upon its completion. Those desiring to move in were asked to make a Development Gift of $4,000 and then a monthly rate ranging from $340 to $370 a month.
Construction continued throughout the next couple of years with the first residents moving into the apartments in October 1978. Among the first residents to move to the community was Frances Baucus, mother of William Baucus. Construction for the healthcare center followed, opening in 1980.
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text:
using System;
using System.IO;
using NUnit.Framework;

namespace Ampla.LogReader.Xml
{
    [TestFixture]
    public class TruncatedTextReaderUnitTests : TestFixture
    {
        private StringReader JoinStringReader(params string[] lines)
        {
            return new StringReader(Join(lines));
        }

        private string Join(params string[] lines)
        {
            return string.Join(Environment.NewLine, lines);
        }

        [Test]
        public void Empty()
        {
            TruncatedTextReader reader = new TruncatedTextReader("Content", JoinStringReader(""));
            string xml = reader.ReadToEnd();
            Assert.That(xml, Is.EqualTo(""));
        }

        [Test]
        public void TwoEmptyLines()
        {
            TruncatedTextReader reader = new TruncatedTextReader("Content", JoinStringReader("",""));
            string xml = reader.ReadToEnd();
            Assert.That(xml, Is.EqualTo(""));
        }

        [Test]
        public void NoMatch()
        {
            TruncatedTextReader reader = new TruncatedTextReader("end", JoinStringReader("there is no marker"));
            string xml = reader.ReadToEnd();
            Assert.That(xml, Is.EqualTo(""));
        }

        [Test]
        public void String()
        {
            TruncatedTextReader reader = new TruncatedTextReader("end", JoinStringReader("text", "end"));
            string xml = reader.ReadToEnd();
            Assert.That(xml, Is.EqualTo(Join("text", "end")));
        }

        [Test]
        public void TrailingText()
        {
            TruncatedTextReader reader = new TruncatedTextReader("end", JoinStringReader("this is a test", "end", "this is trailing"));
            string xml = reader.ReadToEnd();
            Assert.That(xml, Is.EqualTo(Join("this is a test", "end", "")));
        }

        [Test]
        public void MultipleChunks()
        {
            TruncatedTextReader reader = new TruncatedTextReader("end", JoinStringReader("line 1", "end", "line 2", "end", "line 3", "end", "after", ""));

            string xml = reader.ReadToEnd();
            Assert.That(xml, Is.EqualTo(Join("line 1", "end", "line 2", "end", "line 3", "end", "")));
        }

        [Test]
        public void TwoLines()
        {
            TruncatedTextReader reader = new TruncatedTextReader("end", JoinStringReader("line 1", "line 2", "end", "after"));

            string xml = reader.ReadToEnd();
            Assert.That(xml, Is.EqualTo(Join("line 1", "line 2", "end", "")));
        }

        [Test]
        public void MultipleMarkers()
        {
            TruncatedTextReader reader = new TruncatedTextReader("end", JoinStringReader("end", "end", "end"));

            string xml = reader.ReadToEnd();
            Assert.That(xml, Is.EqualTo(Join("end", "end", "end")));
        }

        [Test]
        public void FragmentAndContentReaders()
        {
            TruncatedTextReader reader = new TruncatedTextReader("end", new StringReader("end"));
            XmlFragmentTextReader fragment = new XmlFragmentTextReader("Xml", reader);
            string xml = fragment.ReadToEnd();
            Assert.That(xml, Is.EqualTo("<Xml>end</Xml>"));
        }

        [Test]
        public void WithNodes()
        {
            TruncatedTextReader reader = new TruncatedTextReader("</One>", JoinStringReader("<One>", "<Two/>", "</One>", "blah"));
            string xml = reader.ReadToEnd();
            Assert.That(xml, Is.EqualTo(Join("<One>", "<Two/>", "</One>", "")));
        }

        [Test]
        public void RootName()
        {
            TruncatedTextReader reader = new TruncatedTextReader("</One>", JoinStringReader("<One>", "Two", "</One>"));
            string xml = reader.ReadToEnd();
            Assert.That(xml, Is.EqualTo(Join("<One>", "Two", "</One>")));
        }

        [Test]
        public void Read2CharsAtATime()
        {
            TruncatedTextReader reader = new TruncatedTextReader("end", JoinStringReader("One", "Two", "end"));

            string result = "";
            int read = 1;
            while (read > 0)
            {
                char[] buffer = new char[2];
                read = reader.Read(buffer, 0, 2);
                result += new string(buffer, 0, read);
            }
            Assert.That(result, Is.EqualTo(Join("One", "Two", "end")));
        }

        [Test]
        public void WithSkipToContentReader()
        {
            StringReader stringReader = new StringReader(string.Join("\r\n", "<Blah>", "<One>", "<Two />", "</One>", "<Blah>"));
            TextReader reader = new TruncatedTextReader("</One>", new SkipToContentTextReader("<One>", stringReader));
            string xml = reader.ReadToEnd();
            Assert.That(xml, Is.EqualTo("<One>\r\n<Two />\r\n</One>\r\n"));
        }

    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
/******************************************************************************
 *
 * @file: readfile.hpp
 *
 * @date: 09/20/2012 01:06:11 PM (CEST)
 *
 * @author: Marco Müller <muelma@gmail.com>
 *
 ******************************************************************************/
# ifndef READFILE_HPP
# define READFILE_HPP

# include <iostream>
# include <fstream>
# include <cstdlib>
# include <cassert>
# include <sstream>
# include <iterator> // istream_iterator
# include <map>
# include <vector>
# include "string.hpp"

/// @brief Represents a data file with some meta-informations.
///
/// Meta information is contained in a header, where each line
/// is marked by a hash. The format can be used for a histogram or time series.
/// This class, however assumes that the file can be read into RAM.
///
/// example:
/// \verbatim
/// # simulation name
/// # git revision: GITHASH
/// # time: TIMESPECIFIER
/// # additional stuff like parameters of the simulation,
/// # information to algorithms, seed, ...
/// #
/// # parameter1 = 0.98321
/// # parameter2 = 42
/// #
/// # Energy Magnetisation MagnetisationSquared ... EnergyDensity
/// 3.134 1.559 2.265 ... 0.497
///  :::   :::   :::  ...  :::
///  :::   :::   :::  ...  :::
///  :::   :::   :::  ...  :::
/// \endverbatim
///
/// The last line tagged with the comment character (#) is assumed to hold
/// the names of the observables. If this is not the case, variable names
/// will become a string of the column number.
/// Every time step is represented by one line and values of different
/// observables are separated by spaces. Each line _must_ hold the same
/// number of observables.
///
/// This class also works with files that contain no header, and consists only
/// of data points with type value_t.
///
template <typename value_t = double>
class data_file{
    private:
        typedef std::vector<value_t>    vec_1d_t; // one-dimensional vector type
        typedef std::vector<vec_1d_t>   vec_2d_t; // two-dimensional vector type

    public:
        /// the actual data
        vec_2d_t                    data;
        /// contains the header of the file ( ie. everything that is a comment )
        std::vector<std::string>    header;
        std::map<std::string, std::string> meta_data;
        std::vector<std::string>    observable_names;

        bool parse_header(
            // parses the header (lines starting with comment-string at the
            // beginning of the file), and stores meta data i.e.
            // everything that was given in the format:
            // # parameter = value
            // will be stored in a hash-table meta_data, such that
            // meta_data["parameter"] == value_as_std::string
            //
            // returns false on error
            std::istream& in,
            const std::string& comment,
            const std::string& separator=" ");

        bool read_data_2d(
            // reads the data contained in a file with name filename
            // into vec_2d_t data, where data[0] is the first column
            // and it parses the header on the way
            const std::string& filename,
            const std::string& separator=" ",
            const std::string& comment="#" );

        bool read_data_2d(
            // reads the data contained in the input stream istream
            // into vec_2d_t data, where data[0] is the first column and it
            // parses the header on the way
            std::istream& istream,
            const std::string& separator=" ",
            const std::string& comment="#" );

        bool read_data_2d_row_major(
            // reads the data contained in a file with name filename
            // into vec_2d_t data, where data[0] is the first row
            // and it parses the header on the way
            const std::string& filename,
            const std::string& separator=" ",
            const std::string& comment="#" );

        bool read_data_2d_row_major(
            // reads the data contained in the input stream istream
            // into vec_2d_t data, where data[0] is the first row and it
            // parses the header on the way
            std::istream& istream,
            const std::string& separator=" ",
            const std::string& comment="#");

};

template <typename value_t>
bool data_file<value_t>::parse_header( std::istream& in, const std::string& comment, const std::string& separator){
  std::streampos data_starts(0);
  std::string line("");
  while( std::getline( in, line ) ) {
    // look for comment character
    size_t pos_nonalpha = line.find_first_not_of(" \t\n");
    size_t pos = line.find(comment);
    if ( pos != line.npos && pos == pos_nonalpha ) {
      // line w/o comment
      std::string linec = string_helper::get_right_of(line, comment);
      header.push_back(linec/*.substr(pos, std::string::npos)*/);
      std::vector<std::string> split
        = string_helper::split(linec, "=");
      if (split.size() == 2){
          meta_data[split[0]] = split[1];
      }
      // get the position of the cursor in the file
      // this points to the next line
      data_starts = in.tellg();
    }
    else if ( pos == line.npos ){ // no comment character found
      // try deducing the observable names from the last line
      std::stringstream sstr;
      if( header.size() > 0 ){
        std::string obsnameline = header[header.size()-1];
        if ( ! obsnameline.empty() ) {
          sstr << obsnameline;
          std::string valstr("");
          while ( std::getline( sstr, valstr, separator[0] ) ) {
            if (valstr.substr(0,1) != comment){
              string_helper::trim_whitespaces(valstr);
              if (!valstr.empty())
                observable_names.push_back(valstr);
            }
          }
        }
    }
    in.seekg(data_starts);
    return true;
    }
    else { // some comment character found, but it is not the first
      // non-space-character
      std::cerr << "Error: Found comment character, but it is not"
          << " the first non-space character on the line.\n";
      return false;
    }
  }
  // if this return is conducted, the file only consists of a header
  return true;
}

template <typename value_t>
bool data_file<value_t>::read_data_2d( const std::string& filename, const std::string& separator, const std::string& comment) {
  std::ifstream infile(filename.c_str());
  if ( ! infile.is_open() ) {
      std::cerr << "Error: " << filename << " could not be opened.\n";
      return false;
  }
  // read the whole filestream into a stringstream to fix
  // file-ending problems under Windows
  std::stringstream sstream;
  sstream << infile.rdbuf();
  infile.close();
  bool successful = read_data_2d(sstream, separator, comment);
  return successful;
}

/// reads a data file into a two-dimensional vector
template <typename value_t>
bool data_file<value_t>::read_data_2d( std::istream& istream, const std::string& separator, const std::string& comment) {
  if ( separator.size() != 1 ) {
    std::cerr << "Error: bad separator.\n";
    return false;
  }

  // prepare members
  header.clear();
  data.clear();
  meta_data.clear();
  observable_names.clear();

  unsigned cols = 0; // counts the number of data columns
  unsigned lines = 0; // counts the number of lines of data read in
  if ( ! parse_header( istream, comment, separator ) ) {
    std::cerr << "Error: Could not parse header.\n";
    return false;
  }

  // the first line of data is treated separately, since
  // we want to know how many columns are present
  std::string line("");
  std::stringstream sstr;
  std::getline(istream, line);
  if ( ! line.empty() ) {
    sstr << line;
    std::string valstr("");
    while ( std::getline( sstr, valstr, separator[0] ) ) {
      value_t val;
      std::stringstream converter(valstr);
      if (converter >> val){
        data.push_back( vec_1d_t(1, val) );
        ++cols;
      }
    }
    ++lines;
  }

  if(observable_names.size() != cols){
    observable_names.clear();
    for ( unsigned col = 0; col < cols; ++col ){
      observable_names.push_back("$" + std::to_string(col));
    }
  }

  // The header is known and the number of columns
  // was deduced from the first line of data.
  // The remaining lines of data will be parsed with more efficient
  // code that follows:

  // First, the file will be put into a buffer.
  // Therefore, we need to know how many characters are to be read.
  //
  // Store the current position in the file
  std::streampos start_p = istream.tellg();
  // Jump to the end of the file
  istream.seekg(-1, std::ios::end);
  // Go backwards until a character is found that is not a whitespace
  while( std::isspace(istream.peek()) ) {
    istream.seekg(-1, std::ios::cur);
  }
  // calculate the number of characters that will be read in:
  // that is the current cursor position minus the starting position
  // plus one because we add the '\0' control character to the last
  // position in the buffer
  unsigned long length = istream.tellg() - start_p + 1;
  // create a buffer -- use std::vector for exception safety
  // note: you should compile with std=c++0x at least to ensure
  // that the underlying array in the vector is contiguous in
  // memory
  //
  // reset cursor to the beginning of the file
  istream.clear();
  istream.seekg(start_p);
  // read the file into the buffer
  std::string buffer(std::istreambuf_iterator<char>(istream), {});
  if (!istream.good()) {
    std::cerr << "Error reading file into buffer\n";
  }
  // go through the buffer once for counting the lines and
  // replace seperator character with spaces so that
  // istream_iterator and the C-api functions strto*
  // will skip them implicitely
  //
  unsigned long nr_lines = 0;
  for (size_t p = 0; p < buffer.size(); ++p) {
    if (separator == buffer.substr(p, separator.size())) {
      for (size_t j = p; j < p + separator.size(); ++j) { buffer[j] = ' '; }
    }
    if ('\n' == buffer[p]) ++nr_lines;
  }

  // resize each column to hold the number of lines ( plus the one
  // already read in when walking through the header )
  for ( unsigned col = 0; col < cols; ++col ){
    data.at(col).resize( nr_lines + 1 );
  }

  // specialize when underlying data type is some
  // floating point number -- the C api functions strtod, strtold and
  // strtof are the fastest way to parse input
  //
  if (
  std::is_same<value_t, double>::value
  or std::is_same<value_t, long double>::value
  or std::is_same<value_t, float>::value){
    char* token_p = &buffer.front();
    char* end_p   = token_p + length;
    value_t val;
    while( token_p < end_p and cols > 0 ) {
      for ( unsigned col = 0; col < cols; ++col ){
        // read value_t at token_p and let it point behind it
        if( std::is_same<value_t, double>::value )
          val = strtod(token_p, &token_p);
        else if( std::is_same<value_t, long double>::value )
          val = strtold(token_p, &token_p);
        else if( std::is_same<value_t, float>::value )
          val = strtof(token_p, &token_p);
        // clean up when ill-formatted input is parsed
        if ( nr_lines < lines || errno != 0 ) {
          std::cerr << "Error: Ill-formatted file.\n";
          return false;
        }
        data[col][lines] = val;
      }
      ++lines;
    }
  }
  // use istream_iterator for other data types
  // use istream directly for all other data types
  else {
    istream.clear();
    istream.seekg(start_p);
    value_t val;
    unsigned col = 0;
    while ( istream >> val ) {
      data[col][lines] = val;
      ++col;
      if ( col == cols ) { col = 0; ++lines; }
    }
  }
//  std::cout << "# Detected " << cols << " column(s) and " << nr_lines+1 << " row(s).\n";
//  std::cout << "# Read " << lines << " row(s).\n";
  return true;
}

template <typename value_t>
/// reads a data file into a two-dimensional vector
bool data_file<value_t>::read_data_2d_row_major( const std::string& filename,
    const std::string& separator, const std::string& comment) {
  std::ifstream infile(filename.c_str());
  if ( ! infile.is_open() ) {
    std::cerr << "Error: " << filename << " could not be opened.\n";
    return false;
  }
  std::stringstream sstream;
  sstream << infile.rdbuf();
  infile.close();
  bool successful = read_data_2d_row_major(sstream, separator, comment);
  return successful;
}

template <typename value_t>
bool data_file<value_t>::read_data_2d_row_major( std::istream& istream,
  const std::string& separator, const std::string& comment) {

  if ( separator.size() != 1 ) {
    std::cerr << "Error: bad separator.\n";
    return false;
  }

  // prepare members
  header.clear();
  data.clear();
  meta_data.clear();
  observable_names.clear();

  // helper that stores the first row
  vec_1d_t first_row;

  unsigned cols = 0; // counts the number of data columns
  unsigned lines = 0; // counts the number of lines of data read in
  if ( ! parse_header( istream, comment, separator ) ) {
    std::cerr << "Error: Could not parse header.\n";
    return false;
  }

  // the first line of data is treated separately, since
  // we want to know how many columns are present
  std::string line("");
  std::stringstream sstr;
  std::getline(istream, line);
  if ( ! line.empty() ) {
    sstr << line;
    std::string valstr("");
    //while ( std::getline( sstr, valstr, separator[0] ) ) {
    while ( std::getline( sstr, valstr, separator[0] ) ) {
      value_t val;
      std::stringstream converter(valstr);
      if (converter >> val){
        first_row.push_back(val);
        ++cols;
      }
    }
    data.push_back( first_row );
    ++lines;
  }

  if(observable_names.size() != cols){
    observable_names.clear();
    for ( unsigned col = 0; col < cols; ++col ){
      observable_names.push_back("$" + std::to_string(col));
    }
  }

  // The header is known and the number of columns
  // was deduced from the first line of data.
  // The remaining lines of data will be parsed with more efficient
  // code that follows:

  // First, the file will be put into a buffer.
  // Therefore, we need to know how many characters are to be read.
  //
  // Store the current position in the file
  std::streampos start_p = istream.tellg();
  // Jump to the end of the file
  istream.seekg(-1, std::ios::end);
  // Go backwards until a character is found that is not a whitespace
  while( std::isspace(istream.peek()) ) {
    istream.seekg(-1, std::ios::cur);
  }
  // calculate the number of characters that will be read in:
  // that is the current cursor position minus the starting position
  // plus one because we add the '\0' control character to the last
  // position in the buffer
  std::streamoff length = istream.tellg() - start_p + 1;
  // create a buffer -- use std::vector for exception safety
  // note: you should compile with std=c++0x at least to ensure
  // that the underlying array in the vector is contiguous in
  // memory
  //
  // reset cursor to the beginning of the file
  istream.clear();
  istream.seekg(start_p);
  // read the file into the buffer
  std::string buffer(std::istreambuf_iterator<char>(istream), {});
  if (!istream.good()) {
    std::cerr << "Error reading file into buffer\n";
  }
  // go through the buffer once for counting the lines and
  // replace seperator character with spaces so that
  // istream_iterator and the C-api functions strto*
  // will skip them implicitely
  //
  unsigned long nr_lines = 0;
  for (size_t p = 0; p < buffer.size(); ++p) {
    if (separator == buffer.substr(p, separator.size())) {
      for (size_t j = p; j < p + separator.size(); ++j) { buffer[j] = ' '; }
    }
    if ('\n' == buffer[p]) ++nr_lines;
  }

  // resize data to hold the number of lines ( plus the one
  // already read in when walking through the header )
  data.resize( nr_lines + 1, vec_1d_t(cols, 0) );

  // specialize when underlying data type is some
  // floating point number -- the C api functions strtod, strtold and
  // strtof are the fastest way to parse input
  //
  if (
  std::is_same<value_t, double>::value
  or std::is_same<value_t, long double>::value
  or std::is_same<value_t, float>::value){
    char* token_p = &buffer.front();
    char* end_p   = token_p + length;
    value_t val;
    while( token_p < end_p and cols > 0 ) {
      for ( unsigned col = 0; col < cols; ++col ){
        // read value_t at token_p and let it point behind it
        if( std::is_same<value_t, double>::value )
          val = strtod(token_p, &token_p);
        else if( std::is_same<value_t, long double>::value )
          val = strtold(token_p, &token_p);
        else if( std::is_same<value_t, float>::value )
          val = strtof(token_p, &token_p);
        // clean up when ill-formatted input is parsed
        if ( nr_lines < lines || errno != 0 ) {
          std::cerr << "Error: Ill-formatted file.\n";
          return false;
        }
        data[lines][col] = val;
      }
      ++lines;
    }
  }
  // use istream directly for all other data types
  else {
    istream.clear();
    istream.seekg(start_p);
    value_t val;
    unsigned col = 0;
    while ( istream >> val ) {
      data[lines][col] = val;
      ++col;
      if ( col == cols ) { col = 0; ++lines; }
    }
  }
//  std::cout << "# Detected " << cols << " column(s) and " << nr_lines+1 << " row(s).\n";
//  std::cout << "# Read " << lines << " row(s).\n";
  return true;
}

# endif // READFILE_HPP