text:
Time for the Boys to Serve
David Nagy, Reporter
The prospect of a John Adams High School boys volleyball program has been on the minds of many student athletes for a long time, but there has never been any serious action taken to make it a reality, until now.
This past spring, the IHSAA sanctioned boys volleyball as an "emerging sport," and is supporting its expansion to new schools. Since 1994, boys volleyball has been played in some parts of the state, mainly in Indianapolis, and was administered by the Indiana Boys Volleyball Coaches Association, in the absence of being an officially sanctioned sport by the IHSAA. This change has opened the door for more schools to offer boys volleyball to their students, and will lead to the sport becoming fully sanctioned once at least half of the IHSAA member schools are feilding teams.
What does that mean for the future of boys volleyball at Adams? The Tower contacted the Adams athletic office to find out, but unfortunately there is little concrete information available at this time. What we did discover is that administrators are working to start a program as soon as this spring, but more likely next year when the sport is expected to be fully sanctioned by the IHSAA. A year also gives the sport time to gain more traction in the area.
The Adams boys volleyball team will compete at the varsity level instead of going the club route, and our Athletic Director, Dawn Huff, is hoping to announce a coach in the coming months.
Other local schools are yet to formally announce varsity programs, but students from Marian High School and Saint Joseph High School have informed The Tower that their schools are moving in that direction. Penn offers boys volleyball as an intramural sport, and it is yet to be seen if they will make the transition to competing with other schools in the coming years.
Indiana students can look forward to boys volleyball becoming more popular at the high school level, and athletes looking for a spring sport should see it as a great opportunity to improve their agility, communication, and coordination.
David Nagy is a junior, and this is his first year writing for The Tower. A middle child in a family of eight, David has always been in the thick of it....
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text:
package com.samvbeckmann.parity.core;

import com.samvbeckmann.parity.MainApp;
import com.samvbeckmann.parity.reference.DataTemplates;
import javafx.stage.FileChooser;
import javafx.stage.Stage;

import javax.annotation.Nullable;
import java.io.File;
import java.io.FileWriter;
import java.io.IOException;

/**
 * This class saves information from the GUI. Saving is generally unnecessary for the command line.
 * <p>
 * Created for parity by @author Nate Beckemeyer on 2015-07-31.
 */
public class DataSaver
{
    private static FileChooser chooser = new FileChooser();

    private static boolean tempCreatedThisRun = false;

    private static File getFileLocation(Stage stage) throws IOException
    {
        chooser.setTitle("Select the Save Location");
        File toSave = chooser.showSaveDialog(stage);
        if (toSave != null)
        {
            if (toSave.getParentFile().isDirectory())
            {
                chooser.setInitialDirectory(toSave.getParentFile());
            }
        }
        return toSave;
    }

    private static String transcribeOpinions(AbstractAgent agent)
    {
        String returnStr = "";
        for (int i = 0; i < agent.getOpinions().length; i++)
        {
            returnStr += String.format(DataTemplates.opinionTemplate, agent.getOpinions()[i]);

            if (i < agent.getOpinions().length - 1)
            {
                returnStr += ",";
            }

            returnStr += String.format("%n");
        }

        return returnStr;
    }

    private static String transcribeAgents(AbstractAgent[] agents)
    {
        String returnStr = "";
        for (int i = 0; i < agents.length; i++)
        {
            returnStr += String.format(DataTemplates.agentTemplate, agents[i].getClass().getName(),
                    i, i, transcribeOpinions(agents[i]));

            if (i < agents.length - 1)
            {
                returnStr += ",";
            }

            returnStr += String.format("%n");
        }

        return returnStr;
    }

    private static String transcribeNeighbours(Connection[] neighbours, Community[] communities)
    {
        String returnStr = "";
        for (int i = 0; i < neighbours.length; i++)
        {
            int neighborId;

            // Find the id of the neighboring community
            for (neighborId = 0; neighborId < communities.length; neighborId++)
            {
                if (communities[neighborId] == neighbours[i].getNeighbourCommunity())
                {
                    break;
                }
            }
            returnStr += String.format(DataTemplates.neighbourTemplate,
                    neighbours[i].getPossibleInteractions(), neighborId);

            if (i < neighbours.length - 1)
            {
                returnStr += ",";
            }

            returnStr += String.format("%n");
        }

        return returnStr;
    }

    private static String transcribeCommunities(Community[] communities)
    {
        String returnStr = "";
        for (int i = 0; i < communities.length; i++)
        {
            returnStr += String.format(DataTemplates.communityTemplate, i, communities[i].getNeighbours().length,
                    transcribeNeighbours(communities[i].getNeighbours(), communities),
                    communities[i].communitySize(), transcribeAgents(communities[i].getAgents()));

            if (i < communities.length - 1)
            {
                returnStr += ",";
            }

            returnStr += String.format("%n");
        }
        return returnStr;
    }

    private static void saveConfigData(MainApp mainApp, File saveFile) throws IOException
    {
        FileWriter writer = new FileWriter(saveFile);
        String fileContents = String.format(DataTemplates.populationTemplate, mainApp.getNumIterations(),
                mainApp.getCommunities().length, mainApp.getCompletionCondition(),
                mainApp.getInteractionHandler(), 1,
                transcribeCommunities(mainApp.getCommunities()));
        writer.write(fileContents);
        writer.close();
    }

    /**
     * Saves the results of the run.
     *
     * @return The location of the file
     */
    public static File saveResults(Stage stage)
    {
        File toSave;
        try
        {
            toSave = getFileLocation(stage);
            FileWriter writer = new FileWriter(toSave);

            double[] opinions = Parity.getOpinions();
            int[] timesteps = Parity.getTimesteps();

            for (int i = 0; i < Parity.getNumberTrials(); i++)
            {
                writer.write(String.format(DataTemplates.resultTemplate, opinions[i], timesteps[i]));
            }

            writer.close();

        } catch (IOException e)
        {
            e.printStackTrace();
            return null;
        }

        return toSave;
    }

    /**
     * Saves the information from the GUI. A "save as" function.
     *
     * @return The new file; null if failure.
     */
    public static File saveAsDataset(MainApp mainApp)
    {
        File toSave;
        Stage stage = mainApp.getPrimaryStage();
        try
        {
            toSave = getFileLocation(stage);
            saveConfigData(mainApp, toSave);
        } catch (IOException e)
        {
            e.printStackTrace();
            return null;
        }
        return toSave;
    }

    /**
     * Saves the information from the GUI. A "save as" function.
     *
     * @return The new file; null if failure.
     */
    public static File saveAsDataset(MainApp mainApp, File toSave)
    {
        try
        {
            if (toSave == null)
            {
                saveAsDataset(mainApp);
            } else
            {
                saveConfigData(mainApp, toSave);
            }
        } catch (IOException e)
        {
            e.printStackTrace();
            return null;
        }
        return toSave;
    }

    /**
     * Saves the configuration into a temp file so that it can be run.
     *
     * @param mainApp The main class of the program
     * @return The temp file; null if failure.
     */
    public static File saveAsTemp(MainApp mainApp)
    {
        File temp;
        try
        {
            // Empty and create the directory
            File tempDir = new File("temp");
            if (!tempCreatedThisRun)
            {
                if (tempDir.exists())
                {
                    for (File cur : tempDir.listFiles())
                    {
                        cur.delete();
                    }
                } else
                {
                    tempDir.mkdir();
                }
                tempCreatedThisRun = true;
            }

            // Create a new temp file
            int count = 0;
            do
            {
                temp = new File("temp/temp_" + count + ".json");
                count++;
            } while (temp.exists());

            if (!temp.createNewFile())
            {
                return null;
            }
            saveConfigData(mainApp, temp);
        } catch (IOException e)
        {
            e.printStackTrace();
            return null;
        }
        return temp;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


We have a lake in the field along our driveway. We plan on stocking it with carp tomorrow. Got about 5 inches the past few days. The Minnesota River has been bank-full or out of its banks since early spring. What a soggy year!
That's a lot of rain in only a few days. But then, again, maybe we've gotten that much, too. My husband really needs to find our rain gauge.
here in Tyler all we have had is rain. I have 6 holes in my house roof from the last storm. Hope to have them fixed next week.
Rain is really nothing to complain about given the tornado damage you had in Tyler two weeks ago. Were the holes in your roof caused by trees falling onto your house or something else?
Can you give me an update on how recovery is progressing in your southwestern Minnesota community? Any idea how many residents are dealing with property damage or lost trees as a result of the EF-2 tornado?
danes are a hardy bunch and will come back.
Gotta love your positive attitude.
Was the Danebod Folk School affected and, if so, will that change summer camp plans there?
Send the rain our way! We had .7 inces last Sunday and nothing for 2 weeks prior. The grass is crunchy in our sandy country.
Should I ship that rain via UPS, Fed-Ex or drop it off the next time we're driving through Wautoma, Wisconsin?
the camps are a go lots of trees down but the buildings look ok.
Thanks for the report. Good to hear the summer camps are still on and that the buildings are OK.
We too here have been having unusual amounts of rain. We have never experienced this type of humidity and electrical storms at night. Luckily we have been water free in our basement. But many friends have not fared as well.
The heat and humidity have taken hold in Minnesota. So we turned on the air today.
As far as wet basements, many folks have had wet basement this year.
Interesting to hear that you're also having lost of rain in Canada. At least it's not snow, huh?


text:
The grave katherine anne porter. The Grave by Katherine Anne Porter 2022-12-08
The grave katherine anne porter Rating: 8,2/10 1850 reviews
Katherine Anne Porter's short story "The Grave" is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of the complex relationship between a mother and her son. The story is narrated by the mother, who reflects on the tumultuous relationship she had with her son throughout his life, and ultimately, the profound sense of loss and regret she feels after his untimely death.
At the heart of "The Grave" is the theme of maternal love and its complexities. The mother's love for her son is deep and unwavering, but it is also laced with resentment and anger. She resents her son for the way he constantly challenges and defies her authority, and for the way he seems to take her love for granted. She is also angry with herself for the mistakes she made as a mother, and for the ways in which she let her own pride and ego get in the way of her relationship with her son.
As the mother reflects on her son's life and death, she is forced to confront the harsh realities of their relationship and the ways in which she may have contributed to his struggles. She realizes that, in her efforts to protect and guide her son, she may have suffocated him and denied him the freedom and autonomy he needed to grow and thrive. She also admits to feeling a sense of guilt and shame for not being able to save her son from the dark path he ultimately chose.
Despite the mother's remorse and regret, "The Grave" ultimately offers a message of hope and redemption. Through the process of reflection and self-examination, the mother comes to a deeper understanding of her son's struggles and the ways in which she may have contributed to them. In doing so, she is able to find a sense of closure and peace, and to honor and celebrate the memory of her son in a way that is both honest and loving.
In conclusion, Katherine Anne Porter's "The Grave" is a powerful and poignant exploration of the complex and often fraught relationship between a mother and her son. Through its portrayal of love, loss, and redemption, the story offers a poignant and thought-provoking meditation on the enduring bonds of family and the ways in which we are shaped by the relationships we have with the people we love.
Katherine Anne Porter (1890
The siblings are exploring a small empty grave yard that had held the bodies of their family. Even in the context of the story, the dove acts as a Christian symbol of rebirth, for that is why it is used to decorate the coffins of the dead. It has a nice message about maturing and dealing with loss and understanding the world around us. Without spoiling much, I think it's a powerful coming of age story crammed into four pages. بچه رو از شکم مادرش جدا میکنه و میراندا شگفت زده میشه. I found this story to be quite interesting and dark.
The Grave by Katherine Anne Porter
By exploring it through the eyes of a young girl named Miranda. She left home at the age of sixteen to marry the first of three husbands. The imagery used in this story was breathtaking. And that is how the story begins, with an explanation of Grandma and her corpse-hoarding mannerisms. The thing I liked the most about it is the turmoil within the main character and her recognition of how learning about death is necessary for her life. Not all of them of course, but a huge number nevertheless. Soon he found a golden ring that Miranda wanted very much.
وقتی به برادرش میرسه، یک خرگوش می بیین. She is startled by the sudden remembrance of the dead rabbits and is briefly frightened by her recollection. The Grave In this second part, Miranda is playing with her brother. Her mother died when she was two, and her family went to live with her paternal grandmother, whose name Porter would eventually adapt as her professional name. Miranda, unnerved by the incident, never tells a soul. Both decide they do not want to keep any of them so Paul puts them all away. لباسای میراندا همه حالت پسرونه داره و همیشه حرف پدرش رو که اینجور لباس ها واسه کار کردن سر زمین خوبه رو گوش داده ولی الان تصمیم میگیره بعد از شکار بره خونه و حموم کنه و لباسای خوبی بپوشه و دخترونه.
Miranda and her brother are just kids who were exploring a cemetery that once belonged to their family. Especially in the south and on account of the Americans love for their second amendment and their guns. We didn't kill anything together but they taught me things I shouldn't have know at that age. Miranda eventually forgets the rabbits entirely, and does not remember them for nearly twenty years. به پُل میگه که اون خز رو دیگه نمیخواد و پُل بچه های خرگوش رو دوباره توی شکم خرگوش میزاره و اون رو لای بوته ها پنهان میکنه.
I read this story for my English class. Miranda likes the gold ring. I would recommend this book! The story takes place in the early 1900's in the south. She lives on the farm of her grandmother, now dead, with her father, Harry, her brother, Paul, and her older sister, Maria. Then nine years old, she and her twelve-year-old brother, Paul, pass through the cemetery on their way to go hunting; they set down their rifles and climb the fence to explore the now-empty graves. She wasn't very observant of the world around her and didn't understand the significance of that moment.
In the graveyard of one's soul are treasures waiting to be found. The Fig Tree In this first part, the family is getting ready to leave for another property. He told his sister that she had better not tell anyone of this or their would be bad trouble. I had never read Katherine Anne Porter and I'm favorably impressed with the story telling. برادرش میگه اولین کبوتر و یا خرگوشی که دیدن رو اون شکار میکنه و میراندا هم میگه اولین ماری که دیدیم رو من شکار میکنم! Characters Miranda Miranda is the main character in the story; through most of it, she is nine years old, but the story concludes with the adult Miranda, perhaps nearing thirty, reflecting on her memories. She left home at the age of sixteen to marry the first of three husbands. I think it was very well written and an easy read, I like it enough to keep it my own library.
The kids were out hunting small game when they came upon the empty graves. He takes Miranda hunting with him reluctantly and instructs her on how to handle her gun, although she listens poorly and displays little interest. I really enjoyed this story. Seeing a tray of sugar sweets shaped like baby birds and rabbits—animals she and Paul hunted that day—the full force of that incident immediately returns, making her temporarily immobile. تقریبا داره بدون این که پُل رو ببینه برمیگرده که یک دفه تصمیم میگیره بره و به برادرش خبر بده که داره میره خونه.
I personally really enjoyed this story because the era that it is written about really interest me. She buried deep into her brain until she had no memory of it until 20 years later while walking home it resurfaced out of nowhere leaving her completely horrified. هرچی بهش فکر میکنه بیشتر دچار مشکل میشه. Many things in my life I didn't understand what they mean to me until I got older. و با هم دیگه اینا رو عوض میکنن.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Clarksdale Mississippi gets a nod from me for the second day in a row, oddly, after I read this morning that a restaurant there bankrolled by the actor Morgan Freeman, who is a Clarksdale native, is closing after ten years in operation. My meal there was about seven years ago,come to think of it, while I was doing a writing project in the Mississippi Delta and it was clear that Madidi, the restaurant which specialized in "Americanized French cuisine" (I remember it as Southern fine dining, with prices to match) would never break even in such an impoverished place. It was clearly a labor of love. Guess the cast and crew of "The Help," which filmed in Clarksdale, also couldn't save it from extinction. Last I heard Freeman does have another restaurant there – a popular blues bar, pool hall and restaurant called Ground Zero (see photos above). He opened another branch in Memphis, where my son and I listened to a very good female singer a few years ago.
where the 2012 Oscar contenders were filmed in Hawaii and Mississippi….
When we weren't distracted by the presence of Elton John at the table next to us during a recent dinner at a Honolulu restaurant, we chatted with an older couple sitting next to us who are natives – and I asked them where some of the scenes from The Descendants had been filmed in town. They mentioned a neighborhood a little north of where we were eating. Weeks later, a handy newspaper article offered more specifics which is good to know for our next visit to Hawaii, when I'd like to go to Kauai. The film locations on that island include: the Tahiti Nui bar in Hanalei; the St. Regis in Princeville, Kipu Rance and Hanalei Bay.
The same article mentioned the film locations for The Help and darned if I haven't been to one of those locations – Clarksdale, Mississippi. It also was filmed in another Mississippi Delta town that I think I've also been to: Greenwood and another town I'd like to go to Jackson and its historic Belhaven neighborhood.
The performers included Elvis Costello whose Clarksdale Sessions songs were recorded at a studio in Clarksdale, Son House, and Jelly Roll Morton. I couldn't find a recording of Robert Plant singing Walking into Clarksdale but I did find a good cover by Nanette Workman. Also enjoyed Charlie Musselwhite's Clarksdale Boogie, and Super Chiken (a local favorite) singing Clarksdale.
Might be fun to download a few of these for your trip – I think I will next time.
– Listen to the blues, of course. Ground Zero club is an obvious choice. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon and Ground Zero wasn't open just walking around the largely deserted town, we chanced upon some musicians playing inside the little Bluesberry Cafe at 235 Yazoo Avenue.
They all seemed to be locals who knew each other but couldn't have been more welcoming so we got some sodas and listened to some blues and boogie piano played, oddly, by a middle-aged white guy from the Netherlands (aka Theo D. "The Boogie Man") who moved to Clarksdale to open a storefront rock and roll museum (which we didn't get to: http://www.blues2rock.com/Site/Theo_D.html) ; and a older black man who sang with a weathered voice. A local favorite, Super Chikan, was there but we didn't hear him, alas.
One woman sat down with us, carrying a photo of another tourist who had visited the cafe recently – Paul Simon. That Paul Simon. Clarksdale is that kind of place.
– The Mississippi (i.e. River.) – One thing that surprised me about is that it's hard to see the river at all from lots of Delta towns which are often miles from the river, which in turn is hidden by levees. If you have time, drive about 1 hour northwest to Helena Arkansas, another struggling Delta town with lots of blues history that has fixed up its worn downtown and has a riverwalk atop the levee.
For more ideas check out the NYTimes' 36 Hours in Clarksdale piece from 2006.
– Madidi (www.madidiires.com) is a surprisingly fancy and sophisticated restaurant to find in a struggling Mississippi Delta town…until you remember that the Mississippi Delta is where actor Morgan Freeman (aka Nelson Mandela in his latest film) was raised – and still lives. He has pumped money into the area – including by bankrolling this restaurant. The food, upscale Southern, is very good but to be honest, I'd stick with some of the lower-key places, which seem more reflective of the "real" Clarksdale.
– Ground Zero – This isn't really "real" – it's another Morgan Freeman effort but it's designed to look gritty that it passes muster. Ground Zero is a blues club that also serves food.
– Hicks Tamales and BBQ Shop – Noah and I tried several times to pick up a hot tamale here at the drive-through window but the line was always too slow (not long, just slow.) Supposed to be good though.
– Delta Amusement Blues Cafe – This is a small downtown working-guys cafe, basic greasy spoon with some local character.
– Uncle Henry's Place (www.unclehenrysplace.com) – This is a very strange Southern inn about a half-hour outside of Clarksdale in a really faded town (so to speak) called Dundee near "Moon Lake." We went here because of its history – it was a hangout of William Faulkner's and owned at various times by the family of Tennessee Williams and Conway Twitty. The food was rich and pricey Louisiana fare and it was empty when we ate there (we arrived kind of late) which gave it an even more strange, faded feel.


To characterise current insulin pump settings used in young patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and their relationship to glycaemic and weight control.
This retrospective study included patients aged <18 years old with T1DM duration >1 year who were using the Medtronic pump device. Data from the insulin pumps including number of blood glucose (BG) tests per day, basal and bolus insulin parameters, carbohydrate ratio (CR) and insulin sensitivity factors (ISF) were averaged over 14 days for statistical analyses. Anthropometric data and recent HbA1c was also recorded.
292 patients (144 males, 148 females) were included in the study. Participants had a median age (IQR) of 12.9 (10.0-15.1) years and pump duration of 2.8 (1.5-4.2) years. No significant differences in median HbA1c (IQR) were observed in preschool (n=14; HbA1c (8.0% (7.0 to 8.0%)), prepubertal (n=105; HbA1c (8.0% (8.0 to 9.0%)) and adolescent subjects (n=173; HbA1c (8.0% (8.0 to 9.0%)). Adolescents took significantly fewer boluses and BG tests per day compared to younger children (p<0.05). Age specific diurnal variation in basal insulin doses was noted. Additionally, stronger carbohydrate cover was used in real-life compared to the theoretical 500 rule while weaker corrections were used in real-life compared to the 100 rule. Predictors of lower HbA1c values included higher number of daily boluses, greater number of blood glucose testing per day, lower average CR/500 rule ratio and higher average ISF/100 rule ratio adjusted for age (R2 =0.22; p<0.01). Predictors of favourable weight (lower BMI-SDS) included lower total daily dose(units/day), lower percentage of basal to total daily insulin dose, weaker average CR and higher number of different CR adjusted for age (R2 = 0.33; p<0.05), although age was the strongest predictor (older age associated with lower BMI-SDS).
Insulin pump therapy requires continuous adjustments and glycaemic targets are achieved only by a minority. This study provided additional information on real life carbohydrate ratio and insulin sensitivity factor, which may be helpful in optimising pump therapy in the future.


1 to 3 years relevant work experience in a similar role.
The Anaesthetic Nurse is responsible for assessing, developing, implementing and evaluating programmes of care for patients undergoing surgical procedures.
The job holder provides high quality clinical assistance to the Anaesthetist during surgical procedures and also provides clinical supervision on a day to day basis to junior nursing staff in the unit.
Assess, develop, implement and evaluate programmes of care for patients.
Ensure that the anaesthetic room is prepared in accordance with the individual needs of the patient and anaesthetist in terms of drug preparation/administration, IV cannulation, IV fluids and preparation and insertion of invasive monitoring as required.
Evaluate patients' post-surgical or post-anesthesia responses, taking appropriate corrective actions or requesting consultation if complications occur.
Perform arterial blood gas sampling, recognize and interpret findings and report the findings to the anaesthetist.
Assist the Anaesthetist during pre- and intra-operative period initiating care and clinical interventions according to patient's condition and in accordance with Health regulations.
Ensure adequate stock levels are maintained in the anaesthetic rooms at all times and that non-stock requisition orders are dealt with appropriately.
Provide a commitment to expanding existing skills, assisting in the planning and implementation of the Anaesthetic and peri-operative assessment nursing role.
Develop good interpersonal relationships with nursing staff through effective communication and sound management systems.
Ensure that the optimum use of manpower resources is achieved through careful planning and monitoring of off-duty scheduling.
Provide direction to all staff within the department on proper handling of materials, apparatus, tools for the patient.
Participate in training programs to achieve personal development and specialization.
Monitor new staff and learners, and also participates in staff development and performance reviews.
Identify the educational needs of staff, develop programmes to meet these needs and help staff towards their professional development.
3 to 5 years relevant work experience in a similar role.
Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and must be licensed to practice as a Nurse Anaesthetist (R.N.As).
Knowledge of Nurse Practice Act.
Knowledge of safety and injection control practices.
As part of the audit team, the internal control officer will be responsible for the implementation of controls around key areas of the business.
In addition, the internal control officer shall test operating effectiveness of such controls across the business.
Ensure that all inventory items are properly verified prior to receipt into the Central Store.
Weekly checks and reporting on unretired expenses.
Review all vendor statements prior to payment.
Minimum academic qualification of a Bachelor's degree (B.Sc.) in Finance, Economics, Accounting or any related Business degree.
Excellent, negotiation, communication, business presentation and people management skills.
5 to 7 years relevant work experience preferably in the Health or Service sector.
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's (in Ms Word Format only) to: [email protected] Using the "Job Title" as the subject of the mail.


In this step, Techno Management will work with clients to identify the strategic projects and link them to the organization strategy. This comprehensive, time consuming and debatable process is essential to ensure that all initiatives serve the organization's strategy. This is an important process to stop any un-necessary pleading of time and efforts by using resources in projects that are not serving the organization strategic objectives.
During this process, clients will be able to identify their strategic project portfolio and identify project priorities. This will lead to better investment in the right projects to achieve the highest strategic value.
In order to measure the performance of the strategic plan, Techno Management will work with clients to identify the KPI's required to identify the compliance of the actual performance to the planned one. The measuring metrics will be also set to help measuring the objectives and how to correct deviations, if any. This can be displayed on customized dashboards.
Once strategic projects and the KPI's are identified, they are filtered down to the organization's departments to build their own operational plan. Each department will have its own operational objectives filtered down also to sub-department, if any, and then to the individuals who will actually perform the tasks.


There have been several interesting changes to the net speculative positions in the currency futures over the past week through Feb 28. While not capturing the reversals in the euro and sterling at the end of the week, the data is still revealing.
The most notable change has been that the net speculative position has swung to short from long yen for the first time since early June 2011. To be sure it is a small net short position of 1203 contracts. The net speculative position was long 17.3k contracts in the prior week. The shift was a function of longs being cut and shorts adding. Still the yen longs have not really capitulated as there are still some 57.5k long contracts in speculator or non-commercial hands.
The net euro short position continues to be trimmed. As of Feb 28, it stood at 109.7k contracts, down from 142.2k contracts the prior week. This is the smallest net short position since early Dec. Longs added and shorts were cut to derive the net position. The long positions have been growing for the past three weeks to stand at 35.8k. Nevertheless the net short position remains among the largest over the past decade, with the sole exception being April-June period 2010.
Sterling longs and shorts were reduced by speculative participants and this produced the smallest net short position since mid-Sept 2011. The net short position stood at 23.2k contracts down from a net short position of 31.3k contracts the prior week. Sterling has buoyed by the general resilience of the UK economy, which in turn has dampened expectations that the quantitative easing would be extended when the current gilt purchase scheme is complete in May.
Speculators continue to build long Canadian dollar futures positions. The net long position rose to 22.5k from 14.1k contracts. This is the largest net long position since mid-August. This was a function of longs adding almost 3k contracts (to almost 51k) and short being cut by nearly 5.4k contracts. Many observers have focused on the implications the recent rise in oil prices. Yet, the correlation with the Canadian dollar is weaker than one might expected. On a 60-day rolling basis (looking at percent change), the Canadian dollar and WTI have a correlation of about 0.54. Since May last year the correlation has been between 0.40 and 0.65, meaning it is in the middle of that range now. The 30-day correlation stands at 0.42, down from 0.72 at the start of February.
The net speculative Australian dollar position stood at 78.2k contracts on Feb 28, the largest since last July. The longs added 11.4k contracts to stand at 103.6k contracts. However, some speculators are beginning to pick a top and short positions rose by almost 8k contracts.
The net long Mexican peso futures position rose to 60.7k from 49.4k contracts, which is the largest net long position since early August 2011. It is the sixth consecutive week net longs were grown. Longs positions rose by 11k contracts, while shorts were trimmed by less than 300 contracts.
Lastly, we took a quick look at the oil futures. Net longs stand at 254.6k contracts, which is the largest since last April. Longs added 27.2k contracts to stand at almost 395k futures contracts. Shorts added too, but less than 1000 contracts and are just above 140k contracts.


text:
Q: Do I need to use the numberOfItemsInSection function if setting the number of items in storyboard? There are a few posts on UICollectionViews and as a general concept I understand UICollectionViews are similar to how TableViews are implemented. There are a few posts on this topic already.
How to make a simple collection view with Swift
I'm using a UICollectionView to layout 8 cells for essentially decorative purposes...just as a container to hold a few images for a page. The images aren't meant to be interactive eg. a shopping cart.
My question is whether I need to implement the function below (and other similar functions) if i'm laying out my cells on the storyboard.
// tell the collection view how many cells to make
func collectionView(_ collectionView: UICollectionView, numberOfItemsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
    return self.items.count
}

I have 8 cells within a UICollectionView that i have configured on the storyboard (this collection view is a view on a UIViewController) and each UICollectionViewCell has an image view with in. I have laid this all out on the storyboard.
I also don't want to put an image in each cell. Just a certain number of cels eg. cells 2,3,5 and 8.
So what I was going to do is create a class that extends UIControllerViewCell and create an IBOutlet for the image view and then in the interface builder reference the custom cell class.
And I think - but could do with some advice - then all I need to do is use the function below and because I only want to populate certain cells I can use an if statement for index path when it's 2,3,5 and 8:
// make a cell for each cell index path
func collectionView(_ collectionView: UICollectionView, cellForItemAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UICollectionViewCell {

  if(indexPath == 2 || 3 || 5|| 8)
  {
        let cell = collectionView.dequeueReusableCell(withReuseIdentifier: reuseIdentifier, for: indexPath as IndexPath) as! MyCollectionViewCell

        // Use the outlet in our custom class to get a reference to the UILabel in the cell
        cell.image = self.items[indexPath.item]

        return cell
  }
}

Thanks.

A: Sounds like you are asking about a static UICollectionViewController which is not possible. You will make a single prototype cell in the storyboard and link the IBOutlets with the desired class. You will also need to implement the data source and delegate methods for UICollectionView. Just hide the image where you don't want to show it based on the index.

A: cellForItemAt must return value (which is UICollectionViewCell instance in this case), but you are free to set image of certain cells to nil (AKA no image)
eg:
// make a cell for each cell index path
func collectionView(_ collectionView: UICollectionView, cellForItemAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UICollectionViewCell {

    let cell = collectionView.dequeueReusableCell(withReuseIdentifier: reuseIdentifier, for: indexPath) as! MyCollectionViewCell

    if([2,3,5,8].contains(indexPath.row))
    {
        // Use the outlet in our custom class to get a reference to the UIImageView in the cell
        cell.myImageView.image = self.items[indexPath.row]
    } else {
        cell.myImageView.image = nil
    }

    return cell
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Japan is definitely a place where you don't have to travel too far to be able to experience their country to the full. We had just over 2 weeks so our Japan Itinerary included travelling south of Tokyo all the way to Beppu. If you only have 1 week or less you could easily just do Tokyo and Kyoto or Osaka and another small place nearby such as Hakone.
All the main cities are all quite similar in building structure, balance of old and new and volume of shrines and temples. I wouldn't recommend racing between all the cities just to see them, as that is a lot of expensive travel. But make sure you head to some of the smaller towns too as they have loads of character.
Japan is culturally diverse, busy and quirky. A great country for beginner and well-seasoned travellers alike. Tokyo is a must for as many days as possible. Read about all the things to do in Tokyo below. It is just so big you won't be able to do as much as you want, no matter how hard you try!
After Tokyo head south to Hakone where you will find Mount Fuji views plus loads of Onsen hot spring baths to relax in.
Don't miss Osaka and Kyoto (find out why below)! From both, you can do a couple of amazing day trips on the bullet trains to beautiful botanic gardens or the Deer Park to feed friendly deer.
Hiroshima is a necessity for the Peace Park and Museum and finally, you'll arrive at Beppu; a beautiful mountainous hot spring town that was my favourite place in all of Japan.
Click the link to read more about the destination.
If you have an 18-day itinerary, a 21-day itinerary or even a one month Japan itinerary I would extend days in Tokyo, Kyoto and Beppu.
In my opinion, seven days just isn't enough to explore this incredibly diverse country. However, seven days is better than none so I'm going to show you how to get the most out of your 7-day Japan itinerary in the short time you have here.
Most likely you will fly into Tokyo where you should spend at least three days, then one night in the mountains of Hakone to see mount Fuji and experience some luxurious Onsen hot spring baths.
On the way from Hakone to Kyoto, drop into Nara for a few hours to see the Deer Park and feed the friendly deer. Spend at least a day exploring Kyoto's torii gates and the Golden Pavillion, the bamboo forest and try to catch a glimpse of a Geisha.
On your last day, you could either spend more time exploring Kyoto, or you could jump on a bullet train to visit one of two places. Kanazawa is an incredible and HUGE Botanic Garden filled to the brim with traditional Japanese style plants. Hiroshima is further away but an incredibly important destination in Japanese history.
Take the Train from Kanazawa to Tokyo, or Fly from Hiroshima Airport (HIJ) to Tokyo (HND) or International.
To put it simply, Tokyo is crazy. Luckily, if you have a 14 day Japan Itinerary you can spend a good amount of time here. If you are only able to manage a 7 day Japan Itinerary, consider dropping off a city or two to spend more time here.
I personally think anything under three days just isn't enough. Tokyo is HUGE and you'll at least a day per area on the train line. I found in Tokyo, that no matter how little I'd planned for the day I never managed to do it all. A park that I thought would take a couple of hours to cover ended up taking a whole day!
You can do as much or a little as you want in Tokyo, but you will always have an adventure. The Japanese people are lovely, even in such a huge city. They will always stop to help you find what you are looking for.
Tokyo offers an unlimited choice of shopping, dining, culture and entertainment while at the same time there are pockets of calm found in their frequent parks. Tokyo is packed with wonder and does not disappoint with its awe-inspiring mix of old and new and crazy, quirky inhabitants.
The suburb of Ueno was possibly my favourite place. There is a huge food and clothing market nearby called Ameyoko, which is a delight to all of the senses when walking through. There are a ton of exciting street food stalls that hold strange but delicious looking food. Then across the road is Ueno Park; a seriously huge park full of temples, ponds, museums and even a Zoo.
There is another food market here in one of the areas next to the pond, which has some amazing street food. The Zoo is spacious and cheap; only about 460 yen for passport holders ($4) and contained every animal you could think of including red pandas, panda bears and rhinoceros. It will take you at least a day to see every animal here. The park also features many museums and it is also a great place to head when travelling during the cherry blossom season as the entire park is adorned with the pretty trees.
Shibuya crossing, the busiest crossing in the world, is a mind-blowing way to kill some time in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Take a time-lapse (or Hyperlapse on your phone) of the crossing looking down from the second floor of Starbucks nearby!
Ace-Inn Shinjuku is a Capsule Hostel just a 20-minute walk from the heart of Shinjuku (restaurant and club area). It is a relatively easy walk but an even easier train ride. It's a basic place with a floor dedicated to lounges, the kitchen and socialising. Prices ranged from 2,000 yen ($20) for a dorm room to 3,150 ($30) Yen for a private capsule bed.
Eat: In Tokyo, you can easily eat for 300 yen ($3) but a nice meal is usually 700-1500 yen ($7-15). On of my favourite cheap places to eat was Beef Bowl where you can get meat and rice with miso soup for 270 yen!
Drink: You can drink anywhere for around 500 yen for a beer or 3,000 yen for a bottle of wine. But you can also buy 1lt cans of beer from any of the supermarkets and drink them on the street. Other than Shinjuku, Shibuya and Roppongi are the best nightclub areas. Feria, a huge, 7-level, crazy club in Roppongi was pretty great. Entry fee is 25,00 yen (includes 2 free drinks).
Travel is relatively cheap and the best way to get around is by train. It generally cost me about 700 yen a day more or less to get around. If you are only using one train line it could help to buy a day pass but generally, I found just paying the normal price was usually the cheapest (because you can't really fit that much travel in a day anyway since the places are so HUGE).
The easiest way to get around using the trains would be to grab a Prepaid IC card at the airport. These cards don't give you a discount but they enable you to ride almost any train or bus in Greater Tokyo (and even other cities in Japan) with just a swipe of the card reader.
When you get to a train station ask for an English rail map. This will show you all the train lines in Greater Tokyo as well as connections. It helped me to be able to see what stops were on similar train lines and to more efficiently plan our itineraries.
You can also Print the Map in eight different languages before you go.
Hakone is one of the best places to get a good view of Mount Fuji and it also has vibrant, therapeutic hot springs, an impressive lake and a whole lotta natural beauty. Being less than 100km from Tokyo it's a favourite for people getting away from the big city.
The foreshore areas around Lake Ashinoko have the best viewpoints of Mount Fuji. If you head to the town Moto-Hakone there is a foreshore walk between there and the next town; Hakone-Machi.
Along this walk is a gorgeous Japanese garden (free), which has several lookouts over Mt Fuji. The garden is beautiful and worth the visit even if the clouds cover the view of Mt. Fuji, which actually happens often.
On the opposite side of the road to the garden is the Cedar Tree walk featuring huge ancient cedar trees lining the trail.
Make sure you try a Japanese Onsen at least once on your trip. The waters are warm and full of minerals that are good or your skin!
There aren't any hostels in this area and we had a really hard time finding anything within our price range. It may be better to do this as a day trip from Tokyo though one day isn't really enough time to see the whole area. After endless searching, we did find one place, B&B Pensione Hakone for 3,000 yen per night for a private room.
Though it was quite far from the centre and almost impossible to get to after 8 pm, but the hotel was cute, clean and set within a gorgeous garden. We had a lot of fun there eating meals from the vending machine, trying out their massage chairs and using the on-site Onsen.
Hakone is so spread out that I can't recommend just one place. My best advice is to just search because most of the places are really expensive. But you can find hidden gems in most areas that charge around 700 yen.
You will get around on a mixture of trains and buses in Hakone. It is widely spread out and can take hours on a bus to get from one area to another, so if you have your own car – take that! You can either buy the Hakone Free Pass in Tokyo (5,000 yen, wtf so expensive!?) or you can buy day passes for the buses once inside the Odawara area (around 1,700 yen).
Osaka is Japan's second most important city being an economic powerhouse for many centuries. It is also the third largest city, and could have been the capital had the Emperor of the time not been overthrown and the new government established in Tokyo.
As a place to visit, Osaka is pretty similar to the other big cities. It is quite new and impressive with its large buildings and neon lights. It's separated into two main parts: North and South and both have their own bustling downtown area.
In the Osakako Bay area is Osaka Aquarium; one of Japan's most famous and spectacular aquariums and home to a Whale Shark. Marine life is impressively displayed in 15 well-organised tanks representing different regions bordering the Pacific Ocean.
It features the aforementioned whale shark as well as giant otters, seals, dolphins playing with balls, squid, turtles, penguins, jellyfish, giant spider crabs and a huge octopus. Before finishing up you are led to a touch pool where you can stroke stingray and sharks.
Right next to the aquarium is Tempozan Ferris Wheel, which is huge (112.5 metres) and offers far-reaching panoramic views of the entire city.
I stayed in the South in the relatively unpopular area Shin-Imamiya. It's dark, dingy and industrial with nothing going for it. I would avoid this area and stay in Namba or Umeda.
Head to bustling, famous Namba for countless cute local eateries, good shopping, karaoke, bars and other entertainment. Make sure to try the Takoyaki (Octopus Balls) from one of the street vendors. They are delicious, fresh and hot and you can stand and watch them being made.
Similar to Tokyo, Osaka is best surfed by train. It has similar layout and ticket prices too; with a city circle plus extra subway lines to other areas (ticket cost about 200 yen per ride).
Nara is located between Kyoto and Osaka, an hour from each, which makes it a great place for a day trip from either of those places. It was Japan's first permanent capital and so it's full of historic treasures, including some of Japans largest and oldest temples, including the 5-story pagoda Kofukuji Temple.
But most people don't come for the temples; most people come for the tame deer that live amongst the fields and gardens surrounding the temples.
Wander around Nara Park and you will soon come across some deer roaming the park. They love the deer crackers that can be bought at the vendors located in the park. But the deer are wild and can get aggressive if they think you have food.
Some of the deer have learned to bow to visitors asking to be fed and some will lift their front legs off the ground to catch the crackers with their mouth.
I was surprised by how much good, cheap food places were on the streets of Nara. Upon arriving grab a tourist map with food recommendations. There are also market stalls around the entry to the park, which sell deer and temple paraphernalia.
After catching the train from either Osaka or Kyoto everything is accessible on foot.
Kyoto is one of the oldest and most famous Asian metropolises with a comprehensive mix of old and new. If you want to see amazing, colourful temples and shrines as well as beautiful gardens then this is the place for you. There are so many awesome things to do in Kyoto! Plus you can easily do many different day trips from Kyoto JR station.
Kyoto is home to Gion (the Geisha district) as well as some of the most beautiful temples and shrines in Japan. Kyoto has a great vibe, it's relaxed but still a big city, and a place you could easily spend a week.
There are gorgeous temples and gardens, a river with traditional boats, a monkey park atop a mountain with views to Kyoto, a bamboo forest and gorgeous market-style food places. You can hire bicycles to make your way around the little town easier. There are loads of mouth-watering food places lined up along the streets. Be prepared to spend a little bit of money here though – everything costs!
This is where you are most likely to spot a Geisha. I heard that they don't particularly like photos though and tend to hide away from the public.
Situated near a cute town on the western outskirts of Kyoto, is the famous bamboo forest featured in many pictures from Japan. It is located in the Arashiyama district so be sure to visit when you go looking for a Geisha. This area is particularly beautiful in autumn and the cherry blossom season.
If you have enough time in your Kyoto Itinerary, drop over to Kikakuji (the Golden Pavillion) featured in all the Kyoto pictures.
Another amazing place is the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Southern Kyoto. It's famous for the thousands of orange torii gates that wind through the surrounding forest and mountain area.
The gates are donated by businesses which, in return, have their names inscribed in black kanji.
When doing the Inari gates you can either have a casual walk around the forest or you can make a day of it and hike the mountain. Mount Inariyama has countless vending machines along with the odd restaurant on various parts of the mountain that all have gorgeous views of the surrounds.
J-Hoppers Kyoto was a great place to stay. Rooms are 2,500 yen for an 8-bed mixed dorm. These were the best bunk beds I've stayed in, ever. All hardwood with shelves next to the bed, curtains all around, big mattresses, lamps and power cords and enough room for you to take your backpack in, even on the top bunks.
It doesn't have too many lively drinking places close by but did have some really good, cheap places to eat.
Pontochō Street is one of the most atmospheric places to eat and drink in Kyoto. The narrow but long Alleyway Street runs along the river is like stepping straight into a Hayao Miyazaki film! Generally, all the restaurants on the riverside are expensive but you can find lots of cheap, cute places on the opposite side.
The best way to get around Kyoto is by bus and train, depending on where you're going. Most places you can get to by train but some (such as the Geisha district; Gion) are only accessible by bus. A bus or train ride is usually around 200 yen for short distances.
Kanazawa is a beautiful small town featuring Kanazawa Castle, 21st Century Museum and Kenrokuen Garden; one of Japans most beautiful award-winning gardens. This place can be easily done as a day trip from Kyoto as long as you get up early (the ride is about 2-hours).
Spend the first half of the day wandering Kenrokuen gardens and have lunch at a teahouse next to the pond. The garden is breathtaking, especially in autumn or Cherry Blossom season when the colours come out. The name 'Kenrokuen' literally means "Garden of the Six Sublimes", referring to spaciousness, seclusion, artificiality, antiquity, abundant water and broad views, which according to Chinese landscape theory are the six essential attributes that make up a perfect garden.
Artificiality is an integral part of this garden. Most of the larger trees have blocks of wood underneath their branches. These wooden poles either hold the branches up so the trees can grow wider easier (which create spectacular views when they grow out over the ponds) or the wood is used to manipulate the trees into growing into a spiral shape (which make the trunk look stunning).
After catching the JR train to Kanazawa you will be getting around by bus. We bought a day ticket for the park circle for 500 yen. Be careful though, we found the buses to be a little bit confusing and actually got hopelessly lost so make sure you have a quick chat to the tour office before you go to catch a bus.
The only thing I really wanted to visit in Hiroshima was the Peace Park, so only nominated one day there. The Peace Park was a mix of beauty and confrontation. Being an Australian I still felt an immense amount of guilt and anger about what happened to so many innocent people here during the war. The park is built on the open field created by the A-Bomb explosion.
There are a number of museums, monuments and memorials as well as the A-Bomb Dome, which are the skeletal ruins of the former Industrial Promotion Hall.
The Peace Memorial Museum is beautifully set out with most things written in Japanese and English.
It displays belongings left by the victims, photos and other materials that convey the horror of the event, as well as exhibits that describe Hiroshima before and after the bombing as well as artefacts from the war and exhibits that present the current status of the nuclear age.
Although shocking and hard to digest the museum has pieces of children and teenagers clothing alongside individuals stories about what happened to them after the blast. Most people did not die straight away but died 1-2 days later. Those 2 days were filled with immense pain and confusion as to why their nails and hair were falling out.
One story that really got to me was that of a young boy whose nails had fallen out and amongst the confusion and rubble he became so thirsty he sucked the pus from his fingers.
A very effective exhibit is that of a series of telegram protests against nuclear testing written by the Mayor of Hiroshima. Since 1968, each time a country conducts a nuclear test, the mayor of Hiroshima writes a letter of protest to that countries leader. It is sobering to see that there are over 700 letters.
J-Hoppers Hiroshima is 2,300 yen per night and is a very short walk away from the Peace Park. Though the 20-minute tram ride from the station isn't such a breeze with backpacks. The rooms were big and clean and J-Hoppers has lots of nice extras, such as curtains around the beds, a basket near your pillow for phones and lamps and power points next to every bed as well.
Hiroshimas speciality food is Okonomiyaki, which is a sort of hot plate fried stack of Udon Noodles, cabbage, egg and other delicious things, which is served with a sauce. A plain one is about 600 yen then you can have toppings of fried fish, chicken, etc. Hiroshima is also well known for it's huge, thick, delicious oysters (kaki), which can be bought for around 500 yen and are served many different ways.
Trams are the way to get around Hiroshima. They are quite cheap at about 300 yen a ride.
Have time to relax? Beppu is a cute small-ish sulphur-smelling town located between volcanic mountains and the beach. It is mainly famous for its relaxing hot springs and laid-back atmosphere. The main area is on the beach, but as you head towards the mountains you begin to smell the "rotten egg" and see more of the traditional-style housing.
Despite Beppu's smaller size, there is still 3-4 days worth of things to do and see here. In the winter, it's also a perfect place to see the "snow" monkeys bathing in the warm waters of the Onsen.
I came to Beppu for the Onsen. I love to soak in hot water and this hot water, with its nutritional qualities, was perfect. My favourite Onsen was Kitahama Spa Termas because it has a brilliant view from the spa of the city and surrounding mountains, and also because you can wear swimwear in the outdoor Onsen.
Getting naked in the public Onsen was a bit traumatic at first. But once I did it a few times it became slightly more relaxing. Read about my traumatic experience of getting naked for the first time here.
Beppu's main tourist attraction is the 'Hells;' spectacular, colourful hot springs for viewing rather than bathing.
Just outside of Beppu is a cheap Monkey Forest filled with Macaques. It's easy to get to on the bus and the whole area is very pretty. This is where you can get the famous "Snow Monkey" photos of them in the hot springs if you come in Winter.
Cabosu House Beppu Hamayu had to be the cheapest place I stayed during the whole trip. At 1,500 yen a night for a clean room with only four people in it, it was also the best value! Staff were friendly and it was very accessible (only 5-minute walk to any of the bus or train stations).
In Beppu, I had the best Ramen I've ever tasted. It cost 800 yen with free noodle refills so would be easy to share. There is a great food strip in the main area but the price of food in Beppu was a bit higher than the cheap prices I'd become accustomed to in Tokyo. For drinking, this place is small-town. Get your karaoke on at the bars that double as social drinking places. Drinks are around 700 yen.
Costs for transport here are quite low. There are 2 bus lines and a train line. The bus will take you around the hells and other mountainous areas of Beppu for a 900 yen day pass. After Beppu, fly back to Tokyo from Ōita Airport. Flights are around $80. Otherwise, the train is your next best, but prices could be more expensive than a flight. Check both.
The bullet trains (Shinkansen) are fast and quite the novelty, but they aren't always the cheapest way to get around Japan. But the best way if you're doing a lot of travel in a small amount of time is to buy a JR Rail Pass.
Do your research; some of the places can be accessed by overnight buses, which are significantly cheaper, or by plane if there's a sale. I bought a 7-day Rail Pass for the two weeks because I stayed in Tokyo for five days and then flew to Beppu in the South. That way I only needed a Rail Pass to get between the other cities, and I did that all in one week.
Japan is incredibly beautiful in any season. Even if you were doing this same Itinerary in Winter, Autumn or cherry blossom season (April-May) you would still see the best of Japan as there are many monkey sanctuaries with springs to see the monkeys bathe, cherry blossom filled parks and loads of rolling tree-soaked hills that would look stunning in Autumn. However, if you were travelling to Japan in Winter, you might consider going north to go skiing.
A Geek In Japan was a really useful guide for me while in Tokyo. It has a whole chapter with tips of things to see and do in Tokyo as well as another chapter on the rest of Japan. The book is written in a quirky and fun way and light-heartedly delves into the strange Japanese culture and mannerisms.
READ MORE: Here's another great Japan Itinerary, including more useful tips for an awesome time!
If you were going to head to Japan, what season would you go in? Tell me in the comments below!
Golden Week in Japan: Fun or Hectic?
I haven't been to Japan yet, but I wouldn't even know which places to choose. They all sound so interesting, especially Beppu. I had a friend who lived in Japan while serving in the air force. She has great tales and photos.
I head to Fukuoka in 2 weeks an can't wait to explore there as well!
I think Kyoto was one of my top favourites as well.So many awesome things to do there. Especially the food places, yum!
Japan has been on my list for a while. I'm still mad I didn't take advantage of my long layover there and venture into the city even for a bit. Thank you for sharing such a thorough list. This will definitely come in handy when I finally make it there!
what a fantastic comprehensive entry! i can't believe how amazing the aquarium sounds (i'm a marinelife lover). how the heck did the fit a whale shark in there?!
I know right? It is by far the BIGGEST aquarium I have ever been too (and the whale shark was a babeh). I do think it's a bit cruel though.
This is a great post packed with useful information. Thanks for sharing!
What a great itinerary! You've put so much thought and facts into this piece, I am impressed. Though I haven't been to Japan yet, I feel quite sure I would need a guide to get me through all these things you mentioned. I would be so overwhelmed.
I'll be going to Osaka next year with my 1-year old and Nara's deer park looks really great for some family fun!
We're off to Japan in a few weeks so this is really useful, thanks.
Nice post, Crystal! Thanks! We're heading there next week!
I can't remember as I wasn't tracking my expenses back then, but I think it was about $30-$50 a day excluding the Bullet Train pass.
This is so insanely helpful!! My daughter's college has a summer program near Tokyo that she's considering signing up for next summer, and I want to plan a trip to coincide with her visit. You've basically just planned my entire itinerary for me! That last photo of the macaque is stunning! I visited the monkey forest in Ubud and fell in love with the little creatures, so I'd love to see them again. Pinning this for future reference, and thank you for such a detailed post!
Wow what an extensive guide! There is just so much to do in Japan! I hope I get to go back one day :).
So comprehensive Crystal. Am heading for Tokyo in September, will be bookmarking this. Am thinking Hakone might be on the cards reading this!
That sounds amazing! How long will you stay for?


Do you own a Plastic Binocular to Tripod Adaptor? If you do, you would be aware of how wobbly they are! We have designed a new, rigid Binocular to Tripod Adaptor from aluminium. The Adaptor is Black Anodised, with a thick Knurled Knob for ease of use.
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Introducing our large 25x100mm Astronomical Binoculars from Telescopes and Astronomy. A number of improvements have been made over other big 25x100mm Astronomical Binoculars available.
The 25x100 FB's have a better prism mount so that the front prism and rear prism are in much better alignment. Also, with the 25x100 FB prism housing, the objective tubes are in perfect parallel positioning with the eyepieces. The point is that, the better collimation, the minimum prism light cutoff and more even focus is achieved.
Another major improvement is the blackened inside of the objective tubes. It doesn't use the common anti-dust paper with sticky oil which traps the dust and dirt - this makes the inside surfaces reflective and shiny. Instead, all internal surfaces of the 25x100 FB are sprayed with a non-reflective black paint before assembly to decrease the reflection and increase contrast. This feature is only seen in a few very high-end German and Japanese models.
The 25x100 FBs are a rubber armored, all-metal body with hinged central bar as the mount. The design itself is more waterproof and shock-resistant than most of the giant binoculars available. Characteristics include individual focus, 4.6 kgs in weight and 44.6 cm long. Broadband multi-coated on all air-to-glass surfaces including the long surfaces of the prisms.
Most importantly, the binoculars have accessible collimation screws. Many reviews tell how binoculars of this size arrive out of collimation (optical alignment). Collimation screws allow the perfect alignment of the binocular optics.


In the last week, I've noticed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram that number of friends have taken on the '10 year challenge' which requires the person to post a photo themselves as they are now, and one from 10 years ago. It's been interesting to see the difference (or not) between the two photographs, but it also got me thinking about how when we think of ageing and the changes it brings to us, we tend to think about the external or visible changes, rather than how the person has changed on the inside.
When I look back at myself 10 years ago, I see a different person looking back at me from the one I see in the mirror today – The difference is not just in how I look but in who I am today. I've experienced many different events and emotions over the last 10 years which have changed my perspective on life, and also the kind of person I am.
How about you, how have you changed over the last 10 years? Are you more loving, empathetic, relaxed, positive or more grumpy, cynical, critical, negative?
I simply pray today that we don't concentrate so much on our outward appearance that we forget to see the beauty within ourselves and others.


Bay Cove Motel is located in the heart of Key Largo and on the Beautiful Florida Bay, where the sunsets are spectacular. Enjoy the best of the Sun and the Shade, we have them both. We have cottages that will accommodate from two people and four people in our single and double cottages, efficiencies with kitchen areas and the house that accommodates 8 people which overlooks the Bay. The house is great for Family Get-Togethers.


This is a must see property because pictures just won't do it justice. There is a KOI pond located in the front of the house. 2 pellet stoves: 1 on the main floor and 1 located in the basement. The hot water heater is an on demand heater so you have hot water 24/7. The roof is architectural asphalt shingles. All Gas and Mineral rights transfer with the property.


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Fat Chance: Probability from 0 to 1 (Hardcover)
By Benedict Gross, Joe Harris, Emily Riehl
Games of No Chance 5 (Mathematical Sciences Research Institute Publications #70) (Hardcover)
By Urban Larsson (Editor)
Processing Networks: Fluid Models and Stability (Hardcover)
By J. G. Dai, J. Michael Harrison
Statistical Concepts for the Behavioral Sciences (Paperback)
By Harold O. Kiess, Bonnie a. Green
Probability, Econometrics and Truth: The Methodology of Econometrics (Paperback)
By Hugo A. Keuzenkamp
Irregularities of Distribution (Cambridge Tracts in Mathematics #89) (Paperback)
By Jozsef Beck, William W. L. Chen
Equivalence, Invariants and Symmetry (Paperback)
By Peter J. Olver
Measurement Theory: Volume 7: With Applications to Decisionmaking, Utility, and the Social Sciences (Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Its Applications #7) (Paperback)
By Fred S. Roberts
The Logarithmic Integral: Volume 2 (Cambridge Studies in Advanced Mathematics #21) (Paperback)
By Paul Koosis
Tables of the Ordinates and Probability Integral of the Distribution of the Correlation Coefficient in Small Samples (Paperback)
By F. N. David
Infinite Dimensional Optimization and Control Theory (Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Its Applications #62) (Paperback)
By Hector O. Fattorini
Heat Kernels and Spectral Theory (Cambridge Tracts in Mathematics #92) (Paperback)
By E. B. Davies


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Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Wetland protection / management, climate change, ecosystem services, soil resources, subtropical forests, vegetation cover, water scarcity
Capacity Building Marketplace professionals (117)
Knowledge Hub Content (32)
Knowledge Sharing System (11)
(-) Library highlights (167)
(-) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (88)
(-) ecosystem services (21)
(-) water scarcity (18)
(-) soil resources (6)
(-) vegetation cover (3)
(-) Wetland protection / management (1)
(-) subtropical forests (1)
Sustainable Finance: High-Level Expert Group delivers roadmap for greener and cleaner economy
Today's final report by the High-Level Expert Group maps out the challenges and opportunities that the EU faces in developing a sustainable finance policy. It identifies ways in which the financial sector can re-connect with the real economy to support the transition to a more resource-efficient and…
Change and Adaptation in Socio-Ecological Systems. Climate Change, Social Changes, Technological Development
The interrelations of human beings with ecosystems experience rising importance in sustainable land use planning and lead to the concept of socio-ecological system. Socio-Ecological Systems (SES) include both, a bio-geo-physical component and the related local to regional actors. Their system…
Adoption of the ecosystem services concept in EU policies ( open access)
The concept of ecosystem services has gained a strong political profile during the last 15 years. However, there is no specific EU policy devoted to governing ecosystem services. This article shows that the ecosystem services concept is already embedded in recent EU (environmentally-related)…
A Comparative Analysis of Climate-Risk and Extreme Event-Related Impacts on Well-Being and Health: Policy Implications
There are various climate risks that are caused or influenced by climate change. They are known to have a wide range of physical, economic, environmental and social impacts. Apart from damages to the physical environment, many climate risks (climate variability, extreme events and climate-related…
Sustainable land management plays decisive role in battling climate change
On February 12th, 2018, EcoAgriculture Partners and the FAO Liaison Office for North America held the inaugural event of a new High-Level Speaker Series, Toward Sustainable Landscapes. Paula Caballero, Global Director of the Climate Program at World Resource Institute, opened the series with a brief…
The Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE Region
The Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE Region will be held on Thursday, 1 March, and Friday, 2 March 2018, at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG). About: The Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (RFSD) follows up on and reviews the implementation of the 2030…
EUROSTAT- Your key to European Statistics and the SDGs- SDG 15 Life on Land
Monitoring SDG 15 in an EU context focuses on progress made in improving the status of ecosystems, in decelerating land degradation and in preserving biodiversity.
Worldwide Land Degradation and Restoration Assessment Report: A Primer
Land, air and water are the cornerstones of life on Earth. To sustain the vitality of our global ecosystem, we must understand the health of our natural assets and how to halt and repair damage done to them. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)…
Just Published: Changing governance, changing inequalities: Protected area co-management and access to forest ecosystem services: a Madagascar case study
Access, in reference to Ecosystem services (ES), is defined as the capacity to gain benefits from the environment. There has been a global shift in natural resource governance, particularly increased co-management of protected areas (PAs). Yet there has been little research on how this change may be…
How do sectoral policies support climate compatible development? An empirical analysis focusing on southern Africa (open access)
Promoting inclusive and sustainable economic and social development whilst simultaneously adapting to climate change impacts and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions – Climate Compatible Development (CCD) – requires coherent policy approaches that span multiple sectors. This paper develops and…
A guide to selecting ecosystem service models for decision-making. Lessons from Sub-Saharan Africa
Ecosystems are essential to human life, livelihoods and wellbeing. Many national policies and international agreements include goals to protect ecosystem services. A new guide – commissioned by the Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) programme and written by Professor James Bullock of…
Climate sensitivity - reducing the uncertainty of uncertainty
Global warming is a reality – but just how bad will it be? A study published in January 2018 claims to halve the uncertainty around how much our planet's temperature will change in response to rising carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, potentially giving governments more confidence to prepare for the…
Soil health and carbon management
Soil, a natural four‐dimensional body at the atmosphere–lithosphere interface, is organic‐carbon‐mediated realm in which solid, liquid, and gaseous phases interact at a range of scales and generate numerous ecosystem goods and services. Soil organic carbon (SOC) strongly impacts soil quality…
New study finds that the world's largest desert grew by 10 percent since 1920, due in part to climate change
The Sahara Desert has expanded by about 10 percent since 1920, according to a new study by University of Maryland scientists. The research is the first to assess century-scale changes to the boundaries of the world's largest desert and suggests that other deserts could be expanding as well. The…
Can Strategic Spatial Planning Contribute to Land Degradation Reduction in Urban Regions? State of the Art and Future Research
Land degradation is becoming a serious environmental issue threatening fertile agricultural soils and other natural resources. There are many driving forces behind land degradation. The expansion of artificial surfaces due to various economic activities, such as housing, industry, and transport…
The Business Case for Reducing Food Loss and Waste
Food waste has tremendous economic, social, and environmental consequences, but it is preventable. First-of-its-kind research on behalf of Champions 12.3 finds a robust business case for hotels to reduce this inefficiency
Soil resource efficiency in urbanised areas - analytical framework and implications for governance
In this report, the notion of soil as an integral part of ecosystems and natural capital is explored and thus focused on the stock of the soil resource and the flows of valuable goods and services that can be derived from this stock. The concept of natural capital recognises soil as an asset that is…
Restoration and repair of Earth's damaged ecosystems
In a study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, reviewed more than 400 studies of large-scale disturbances — logging, agriculture, oil spills, dam-building, mining, and aquatic nutrient pollution — and their aftermath. It's the most comprehensive such review to date. The takeaways…
3C may double Europe's drought risk
The big heat is on the way. As the world warms, so will Europe's drought risk, and its soils will turn increasingly dry.
Tourism's climate footprint soars
Tourism 's climate footprint is formidable. The industry is not just big business, but a big carbon emitter as well, new research finds.
Migration as a consequence of land, food and water scarcity (Clingendael Institute review)
In the first months of 2018 three studies recently published by the World Bank (WB),the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) prominently addressed the link between degradation of land, water stress…
Water shortages to be key environmental challenge of the century, Nasa warns
Freshwater supplies have already seriously declined in 19 global hotspots – from China to the Caspian Sea – due to overuse, groundbreaking study show
Unravelling Stakeholder Perceptions to Enable Adaptive Water Governance in Dryland Systems
Adaptive water governance seeks to increase a social-ecological system's adaptive capacity in the face of uncertainty and change. This is especially important in non-linear dryland systems that are already exposed to water scarcity and increasing degradation. Conservation of water ecosystem services…


Gaston (Kelly DiPucchio, author. Christian Robinson, illustrator. Athenum Books for Young Readers, 2014).
Scrumptious illustrations. Clever text. French flair. Not to mention highlighting authenticity and mixed families. This picture book is a charmer.
A springtime trip to the park reveals that a poodle and a bulldog were somehow switched at birth. They swap places and leave the park with the families that they were born into; everything looks as it should be. But the dogs and their families soon discover that looking and feeling like you're in the right place are two very different things. The ending leaves the reader with a warm glow, for Gaston and Antoinette, the bulldog and poodle involved in the mix-up, breed puppies of their own, who are encouraged to be whatever they want to be. DiPucchio has some other fantastic books – check out Zombie in Love (Athenum Books for Young Readers, 2011) for another fun read.


I had a great week skiing in France, well apart from a gastronomic misfortune, but more of that later. Running took a back seat this week, fewer than 20 miles covered, mainly very slowly.
As I mentioned in the previous post, I flew out very early on Monday morning from Liverpool John Lennon Airport and spent a day on my own in Geneva whilst waiting for my mate Tim to fly in from Heathrow at tea time.
Geneva Airport is very close to the city centre – only a couple of kilometres and its a free train ride directly from the airport which takes 4 minutes and runs every 12 minutes. Integrated transport – an interesting concept, I wonder if they will ever try that in the U.K.
I meandered around the City and then took myself off for a walk along the shore of Lake Geneva at Lunchtime. There were loads of lunchtime runners taking advantage of the weather and the beautiful surroundings. I couldn't help but think that Lake Geneva would be an amazing place to hold a parkrun. After an hour or so's walk, I sat in a little bar for a couple of hours in the afternoon, enjoying reading my book, watching winter sports on Eurosport and drinking a couple of beers.
Tim's flight arrived on time and he drove our hired VW Golf down to Val Thorens as if we were trying to make up time in the Monte Carlo rally.
The snow was still great up in VT, even though the weather was unseasonably warm for January. At 2500 metres altitude in January, one would expect it to be well below freezing all the time, however the conditions were springlike – the temperature was easily 6 or 7 degrees in the afternoon and it felt warmer in the sun. Lower down the snow was slushy in the afternoon.
We had two big days of skiing, especially on the Wednesday when we got out early and did a massive tour of all of the Three Valleys – skiing runs in Val Thorens, Les Menuires, St Martin de Belleville, Meribel, Mottaret and all of the Courchevel villages. By three o'clock and still in the far runs above Courchevel, we realised it would be touch and go for us to make it back over to Val Thorens Valley before the lifts closed and after taking one incorrect run, I thought we had blown it.
With some hard skiing and thankfully no queues, we made the last lift climb up to Mont de la Chambre above VT with about 6 minutes to spare before it closed. It was a brilliant and exhausting day.
That night we chose a poshish looking restaurant and I ordered Lasagne. It didn't look great when it was served and it didn't taste brilliant either. Maybe they had bought in a cheap load from Tesco last year. I was so hungry that I ate it, but later that evening I regretted that decision. I was up all night, mostly spent in the bathroom. Oh dear.
I still felt terrible on Thursday, but ventured out to accompany Tim, but I had no mojo for skiing . Sliding down a steep mountain when you feel sick and weak is no fun and I had a couple of minor falls due to tiredness and lack of mojo.
We flew back on the late flight out of Geneva on Thursday evening. All was going well until the landing back at Liverpool. I had a window seat on the left side of the aircraft behind the wing. As we landed I though the white line of the edge of the runway was very close, in fact it was getting closer and closer as we ran out down the runway, my goodness, we were headed for the grass! Just then the plane accelerated aggressively and took off again! Cue lots of wisecracks from the Scousers on board and a rather strange message from the pilot that a Trainee pilot had attempted a landing, it wasn't going well, so he had decided to abort the landing. Thankfully, the second landing was without incident.
The running after my return from holidays has been very flat. After a gentle off road 8 miler on Friday, I had hoped to run a strong parkrun at Leeds on Saturday morning, thinking that all the skiing had improved my leg strength and speed.
After about 1km, I realised that this wasn't going to be a good run, I felt a little light headed and very heavy legged. My usual peers and rivals were running strongly away from me and I had nothing in the tank. I guess the effects of the food poisoning and the heavy week were still with me. After about 2k, I mentally jacked in racing and converted to training mode. I finished in 19.44 – Nearly two minutes outside my PB, but I guess a sub 20 minute 5K is OK given that I was feeling a bit below my best.
It was Peco XC race 3 on Sunday at Middleton Park, but still feeling under the weather, instead I set out for a very slow long run around Fewston and Swinsty reservoirs . I intended to do a 13 or 16 mile run – being two or two and half laps. Again, it just wasn't there and rather than battle on, I jacked in after just one lap and 6.5 miles at just over 8 minute miles.
Next Sunday is the Brass Monkey half marathon. Hopefully I will feel better by then. With 12 weeks still to go until the marathon, I don't think this disappointing week should have a major disadvantageous effect on my chances.


What is it? Launched at the beginning of year, it's a mask made with caviar, a natural skin rejuvenator packed with minerals and vitamins. The caviar, sourced from Sturgeon fish in Italy is extracted using eco-friendly processes. Fand claim using caviar in their skin care products can increase the skin's natural production of collagen by up to 67%. The mask needs to be kept frozen and thawed for half an hour before using. We haven't tried this mask so can't vouch for its effectiveness but from the photos it does look like caviar, we only hope it doesn't smell of it too, but if you're interested it costs from £79 for one weeks treatment from fandbeauty.co.uk.


Premium-choice Adapter Set (10009) Part # Description Qty: 10010 Complete adaptor set for Passenger Car and Light T .
Economy Modern Adaptor System (EMAS) Set 1" Bore (12 parts) Includes: 3001 5 1/4" Adapter Plate 1" Bore 3002 5 .
Gold Adapter Set (10008) Includes: 10072 Rotor Hub Base 10073 Centering Cone Range: 2.025" x 3.99" - 1" Bore ( .
Silver Adapter Set (10007) Includes: 10072 Rotor Hub Base 10073 Centering Cone Range: 2.025" x 3.99" - 1" Bore .


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Q: How can I set 'User Defined Runtime Attributes' on story board when I use dynamic width or height? simply I set a UIImageView for a user's profile, and its width is 1/4 from its superview's width. (aspect ratio is 1:1)
I want to make it like circle so, I put 75 into 'User Defined Runtime Attributes' (because its superview width is 600, and imageview width is 150, constraint equal width and multiplier is 1:4).
However, I run it, the profile image looks like diamond shape, not circle because its wide is changing depends on device width.
Does anyone have any idea or any link I can refer?


"Behavior of bicarbonate ion between capillary blood and saliva during " by Alexandre Fonseca Brandão, Roberto Mario Machado Verzola et al.
This study includes the monitoring of the behavior of the bicarbonate ions concentration in the capillary blood and in saliva, with the main objective of establishing reliable parameters of the relationship of this variable between these two fluid compartments. The tests were conducted under a modified Balk protocol in the cycloergometer with progressively increasing load of 50 to 50 watts and measurement of bicarbonate ion was held in a gas analyzer ABL 800 FLEX Radiometer, assigned by UNIMED of São Carlos. It was necessary to develop 70 glass capillary 110μL and one adapter to collect saliva, manufactured in PVC. The volunteers (n=10) were selected athletes of the city of São Carlos and local students, all healthy and not using any type of drug, with an average age of 24 ± 4 years. Statistical analysis was done through the InStat software, using the comparison of the average concentration of bicarbonate ion between blood capillary and saliva at each stage (1-7º), getting a p-value <0.0001 and significant confidence interval of 0 .95. Average concentration of bicarbonate were: Blood/Saliva: (1) 23.5 /3.2 - (2) 23.1/2.9 - (3) 21.4/4.0 - (4) 19.7/3.2 - (5) 15.9/2.9 - (6) 19.5/4.0 - (7) 16.6/4.1 mmol/L. The results allowed the establishment of a correlation between the fluids and demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Brandão, Alexandre Fonseca; Verzola, Roberto Mario Machado; Araujo, Heloisa Sobreiro Selistre-de-; and Nativio, Rafael (2012) "Behavior of bicarbonate ion between capillary blood and saliva during acute exercise," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 1 : Iss. 1 , Article 4.


TCM are working with an established forward thinking global entertaintment and marketing agency at an exciting time of growth. With this in mind they are looking for a highly motivated and experienced leader to oversee and help grow its VIP Division in London.
The candidate will have significant experience within the Fashion/Beauty/Luxury industries. You must also have experience of working with Talent and a strong, personal network of talent and industry relationships. In addition, you will have also played a leading role in developing new business opportunities and team management.
Experience in working with fashion brands or brands that use talent engagement as a passion point to reach consumers.
Excellent team management with proven experience of nurturing, inspiring and motivating varied teams.
This role will report to the Managing Director.
Marketing and industry conversation – ensuring the team are networking, conversing, attending industry events and broadening their own horizons and connectivity.
Work alongside other Client Service Directors, it is your joint responsibility to be a strong leader and manager for those in the Entertainment marketing team, ensuring that team members are given what they need to grow personally and professionally within the organisation.


easyJet will fly from Gatwick to Jerez de la Frontera and Zadar from April 2019.
easyJet is to launch another two new routes from London Gatwick to Jerez de la Frontera and Zadar.
easyJet will fly to Jerez de la Frontera in the Andalusia region of Spain three times weekly from Tuesday 2 April 2019. Flights operate on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
It will also fly to the coastal city of Zadar in Croatia twice weekly from Tuesday 30 April 2019. Flights operate on Tuesday and Saturday.
Flights are on sale now at easyJet.


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You are here: Home / About EU Projects / Includ-EU: Regional and local expertise, exchange and engagement for enhanced social cohesion in Europe
Includ-EU: Regional and local expertise, exchange and engagement for enhanced social cohesion in Europe
In the aftermath of the outburst of the migration crisis, numerous efforts towards identifying and implementing solutions have been made on all governance dimensions. Despite the endeavour of ensuring the most efficient policies, most of them treated short-term symptomatics of what is a rather long-term concerning issue. Includ-EU brings into play a bottom-up approach to identifying and respectively tackling issues surrounding the migration and asylum policies. The project acknowledges that both coordination and cooperation are foundational to developing a homogenised strategy that ensures both social cohesion and the utmost respect for human rights.
In this context, the Includ-EU project aims at bringing together local and regional authorities from Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia and Spain for the purpose of enhancing transnational knowledge and experience sharing cooperation and partnerships. The action takes account of five key integration priorities as outlined within the EU Action Plan, and more specifically:
Enhancing host communities' integration capacity
Employment and Vocational Training
Basic Service Provision (housing, healthcare)
Active Participation and Social Inclusion
Includ-EU is to be implemented by the International Organisation for Migration, a UN-related agency with 173 member states, the Assembly of European Regions and five co-applicants among which we number:
ANCI Toscana (IT): The regional branch of the National Association of Italian Municipalities, gathering no less than 274 municipalities.
Region of Crete (GR): Represented in the Committee of Regions, member of the European Network of Social Authorities, and committed to matters of integration, health and social services.
City of Tilburg (NL)
Secretariat for Equality, Migrations and Citizenship (ES): Entity responsible for the development and implementation of public policy on integration in Catalonia.
By structuring the action around the previously mentioned five key integration priorities, the main goal is that of building more inclusive and cohesive European Societies. Through fostering a better understanding of local integration experiences, promoting knowledge sharing, and peer-to-peer capacity building, the project aims at reinforcing the coordination capacity of national integration strategies across different levels of governance. Moreover, it aims at creating a spill-over effect into enhancing multi-level cooperation, including with EU networks in inter-connected policy areas.
By improving knowledge and capacities of local and regional authorities to facilitate the integration of third-country nationals
By implementing and assessing pilot-projects that promote the integration of third-country nationals at regional and local levels
By establishing an informal network of regions and local authorities with different levels of expertise that capitalizes on the diversity of territorial approaches, policy and practice of integration
Overall, the implementation of the project is set to take place over a period of 36 months from January 2020 to September 2023.
What is AER's Role and how to get involved?
AER is tasked with leading the project components aimed at fostering structured regional exchanges, and the dissemination of knowledge and best-practices within its wider network. In this respect, AER is leading Work Package 4, providing for, among others, the organisation of five thematic workshops and webinars structured around the key priority areas. The workshops are envisioned to bring together target beneficiaries, experts, partners, and respectively representatives of interested social communities.
AER is committed to making the voice of its member regions heard, in both matters of migration and asylum and otherwise. We are proud to share their success stories and applaud their initiatives, developments and practices. It is for this reason that AER is honoured to cooperate and involve the Intercultural Regions Network.
In line with EU and UN priorities on asylum and human rights, the AER is honoured to partake in all efforts of optimising and enhancing social cohesion in Europe.
This project has received funding from the European Union's AMIF – Asylum Migration and Integration Fund programme.
For more interesting updates, see the Includ-EU website:
Visit the Includ-EU website


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Posted on September 21, 2014 by laserdrive
2014 BMW i3 Review – Brave New World of Electric Luxury Cars
By Steve & Tami Laser
We recently spent three days driving a BMW that had no engine, no exhaust pipes and used no gasoline. The all-new BMW i3 is a radically designed electric vehicle that showcases the auto maker's advanced engineering capabilities.
The i3 has a distinctive profile that sets it apart with a dropped beltline. The first thing drivers notice when they open the doors is the "coach-style" design. The front open conventionally while the rear doors swing in the opposite direction for ease of entry and exit.
Our i3 impressed us with its futuristic design, whisper-quiet cabin and beautifully trimmed interior with real eucalyptus wood. A display screen that looks like a smart phone is mounted behind the steering wheel while a larger tablet-size display is centrally located.
Learning to drive the i3 only takes a few minutes. With the key in pocket or purse, hop in, buckle up and press the brake pedal. Then push the start button on a pod that protrudes from the right side of the steering column. The end of this pod has a lever that you twist to select Drive, Neutral or Reverse.
Otherwise, it's business as usual with one exception: While you're underway, lifting your foot off the accelerator pedal causes the car to slow down quickly. It's part of the regenerative brake system that charges the batteries. You only need to use the brake pedal to come to a complete stop.
The instrument panel shows approximately how many miles are left before the batteries run out of juice. Long before that, it's wise to stop and recharge. The i3 can fully charge in about three hours using a 220V home-installed Level-2 charger.
Without that option, we relied on ChargePoint's network of public stations that provide 80 percent charge in 20 minutes. After downloading ChargePoint's app to our phone, we could see which stations were available, monitor our charging status and remotely start and stop our session.
The i3's range is about 80 miles. Three drive modes are selected with a button on the center console. Comfort provides the best performance while using the most energy. Eco Pro and Eco Pro+ increase range about 12 percent.
We used the Comfort mode for most of our driving since we live in a region with steep hills. Eco modes are fine on flat surfaces but slowed us down significantly on the hills. Thus our driving range was reduced to about 45 miles.
The i3 employs space-age construction techniques to reduce weight. The Drive Module is made from aluminum, housing the electric motor, 450-pound lithium-ion battery pack, MacPherson strut front and five-link rear suspension.
The Life Module with its passenger compartment made of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic attaches to the skateboard-like Drive Module.
To help reduce "range anxiety," a rear-mounted 650cc, 34-horsepower, two-cylinder gasoline engine "Range Extender" is available that can double the vehicle's driving range. When battery charge runs low, the Range Extender's engine starts up to maintain battery state of charge. The Range Extender adds about 330 pounds to the vehicle's weight including a tiny 2.4-gallon gas tank.
While the regular i3 is classified as an Electric Vehicle, the Range Extender is dubbed a Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle. In addition to adding a tailpipe and generating emissions from the engine, the driver will need to occasionally visit a gas station to fill up the small tank.
Prices start at $41,350 for the i3 EV or $45,200 with Range Extender. Our EV tester included Giga World trim with Cassia natural leather and Carum Spice grey wool cloth, and 20-inch wheels for a bottom line of $45,850. To lower the cost of ownership the i3 qualifies for a Federal tax incentive of up to $7,500.
If you're considering an EV like the popular Nissan Leaf or more expensive Tesla Model S, be sure to put the BMW i3 on your shopping list.
BMW i3 press fleet vehicle provided by BMW of North America, LLC. (Prices and vehicle information applies to models sold in the U.S. at the time of publication. All information including prices and specs are subject to change without notice.)
Story, photos and videos © 2014 CarNichiWa
Tagged 2014, BMW, BMW i3, Car Review, Electric Vehicle, EV
Toyota Sienta Review
Toyota Museum in Japan
Visiting Mega Web Tokyo
Mazda MX-5 Miata Review


A committee of lawmakers in West Virginia heard scathing testimony Thursday from a former state supreme court administrator. It's part of an ongoing investigation into the possible impeachment of one or more justices on the state's high court. Senior Reporter Dave Mistich joins host Teresa Wills to bring us the latest.
One in five children in West Virginia experiences food insecurity. The state has earned high marks for feeding kids during the school year, but only a fraction of them use the summer food program. As Molly Born reports from southern West Virginia, transportation in the state's most isolated areas can be a significant challenge.
To hear this and more, tune in Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m. right here on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Molly Born, Jessica Lilly, Kara Lofton, Liz McCormick, Dave Mistich, Brittany Patterson and Roxy Todd.