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NO 23, February 2011
TRADITIONAL CUISINE: strukli
Strukli – from regional titbit to national dish
Jelena Ivanišević
Photos: Damir Fabijanić
The invention of traditional cuisine
Dietary habits are never a complete and finished system, rather an eternally dynamic process of adoption and adjustment. Today many curse the globalised world in which food is becoming disturbingly plastic, and it's necessary to think up a traditional national cooking style once again. Laments for the demise of good old dishes are matched with the publication of old cookery books, searching through the flimsy and stained pages of great-grandma's kitchen notebooks, writing out nostalgic gastronomic literature and the organisation of event after event lumped together under the name what our old folks ate. But luckily the fashion for dietary neo-traditionalism hasn't been overtaken by purism, for if we really wanted to bring everyday old vernacular menus back to life we would be hungry and the gastronomic events would have to be entitled, as Branimir Donat wittily concluded, what our old folks starved on.
Strukli are certainly one of the general favourites of the vernacular cooking style; now they have been elevated to the level of national dish, a part of the intangible cultural heritage. In fact, this is a simple peasant dish. It's filling and it uses the ingredients that the rural household produced. The cow gave full-fat milk, the hens laid yellow-yolked eggs, and there always had to be flour at home anyway. The housewife would pull out the dough and spread over it cheese, apples, pumpkin, depending on the season of course and what happened to be in the larder. The advantage of filling it with fresh cheese would be that this kind of strudel was capable of being either savoury for a main course or a sweet ending to a rich meal. From one strudel you could get a boiled dish and a dessert. Still today a frequent and quick lunch is some hearty soup like chicken with vegetables, cauliflower or mushroom cream, and cheese strudel. On the tables of the poorer poor, boiled or baked strukli were a more festive and abundant dish that had to stand out from the monotony of the vegetable stews and the boiled grains that on the whole served to staunch hunger. Because of its origin, and there is no attempt to present it as anything refined, the dish of strukli has been falsely called a primitive food, Miljenko Jergović thus exciting a heated discussion in the media about the origin and importance of strukli. Everyone combined to attack the lament of the hero of the novel Freelander about strukli, feeling the need to close ranks against this assault on the much-loved domestic gastronomic icon. The Jergović gastronomic betrayal at last clearly showed that strukli had escaped from its regional origin and become an acknowledged national dish, although it is very obvious that it is not traditional in the Mediterranean part of Croatia. The polemics showed that identity can be discussed at table, and the aroused public decided resolutely to defend their plates from criticisms that they were not indigenous, entirely confusing the conceptions of authentic and traditional.
Filo rolls – strudels, strukli, burek and pie
Dishes of filo pastry with various fillings are shared with the whole of the neighboured, and we munch strudels together with the whole of central Europe. Pies and bureks too belong to the same family of dishes with thin filo pastry. It's almost impossible to define precisely where this pastry was thought up or where cinnamon-fragrant apple strudel was first baked. But it's not needed either, as long as we keep a place on our tables for these filo rolls. Recipes pay scant respect to national boundaries, and similar recipes for strudels can be found in the cook-books of Austria, Bohemia, Croatia and Slovenia. In the fight to find one's own gastronomic identity, with our mouths full of strudel, we keep quiet about sharing our fondness for it with the Slovenes and Austrians. For they really were created somewhere on the hearths of Austro-Hungary, where the most diverse strudels were rolled up, savoury and sweet.
The availability of natural resources is crucial for the shaping of a cuisine, and local natural generosity or parsimony dictated what simmered in the pots and pans of central European kitchens. The poor thought up how to fill their eternally empty stomachs, while those that were satiated created a table culture, always open to ingredients coming from afar. The advantage and cause of the diffusion of many variations of strudels is their ability to be transformed, the same virtue that made pizza a dish that in countless versions has been adapted to all tastes. Filo pastry rolled out thin and greased can be filled with everything that happens to be around in or around the house at the time. Strudel is great with cherries and apples, or cheese, pumpkin or spinach. Filling it with mushrooms, vegetables, minced meat or fruit, we bring to life the innumerable inventions with which adroit kitchen hands have tried to abolish dietary monotony, and, wrapping common ingredients in a flaky crust, have thought up new recipes.
Domesticating strudel
The first known recipe for a dish entitled strukli is found in the oldest Slovene cookbook called Kuharske bukve, printed in 1799 by the Slovene Revival figure Valentin Vodnik (the people of Zagreb repaid him calling a street in the centre of town after him). But strukli was (the word is plural, but it's better in English to think of it as a dish) eaten outside the borders of Slovenia, and were a common vernacular treat on the tables of NW Croatia. But since Croatian cooking terms are still a lexical nightmare, it's hard to follow the turns in the various forms of strudel, coming from the German and domesticated into several Croatian forms, and then there are the forms gibanica and guzvara. The first Croatian language cookbook, Nova-z-kup szlosena szkochka knjiga by Ivan Birling, printed in 1813, uses the name strukli for a dish that we would call strudel today, and in the part of the book dedicated to strukli we can also find the name gibanica, which is in fact a kind of sweet pie filled with alternate layers of grated cheese, raisins and cheese all reinforced with an egg or six. At a time when most of the people were bilingual, handling German and Croatia not only in the kitchen, writing a cookbook in Croatian was a serious matter. This was diagnosed some fifty years after Birling by Gjuro Deželić in his New Croatian Cookbook of 1868, deciding that there as a confusion in the main Croatian-German dictionary to do with the word povitica. He proposed that the confusion about strudel be settled, as he himself said, with the common name of savijača – roll – but still left the terms povitica and savitnjaci, suggesting wrapping and rolling retrospectively. He realised that he had to add a glossary of less well known terms, and he added to Croatian words the corresponding German phrase, asking cooks and young people to note down the names of cakes they came across and then report them to him or the lexicographers to the great profit of literature. The Zagreb Cook Book of Marija Kumičić, assumed to have been published at the end of the 19th century, settled this language problem with the word gibanica and yet added – so that it would be understood – strudel. The tangles of language have not yet been properly straightened out, and there are many other words, while the differences between the food is not always to explain. Not even today does the word strukli mean always the same thing, and it is not the only word used to designate a sweet or savoury dish of filo pastry. In part of Istria, for example, strukli is used to refer to gnocchi. When we have unriddled the old recipes, we see that today's strukli that come to the table with a tasty crust of baked (sour) cream is just one of the many kinds that steamed on the tables of bourgeoisie and folk in the 19th and the early 20th century, rejoicing the palate in so many Lenten days. Birling's cookery book mentions nine kinds of, mainly sweet, strudel. Among the fillings of semolina, cheese, cream and grated bread rolls, strukli of almonds and spinach stand out, which in their cooked or baked versions are certainly deserving of a new interpretation.
Today's Zagorje or Croatian strukli are not picked out by their ingredients, rather the technique. You have to pull out the pastry very fine on a tablecloth; every experienced cook I have ever spoken too says it's a very simple matter, but the exploit of stretching pastry out over a whole table is one of the kitchen activities that can bring even an above averagely adept cook to tears. Good cooks can be recognised in simple foods, but these dishes have to be prepared a hundred times. You have to have at your finger tips the amount of water, the firmness of the dough, the patience and the tenderness to keep the sheet of pastry in one piece. This last is almost impossibly difficult to achieve and one of the reasons why I would advise any novice in pastry-stretching, among whom I include myself, to buy the filo pastry readymade and avoid that incapacity you feel in the face of tearing pastry. When the pastry has given in and decided to stay in a single piece, then you coat it with a mixture of fresh cheese (i.e. cottage cheese) and egg. Then you role it up in the tablecloth and cut the thick edge with a saucer. This cutting stops the filling escaping, and it is this trick that's a special feature of strukli that, unlike strudel, is first cooked, and can then be baked, covered in cream, fresh or sour, to taste.
New old strukli
The dissemination of the strukli as a national dish in Croatia has been helped by the appearance of ready cooked products for sale. The first frozen strukli came from the famed Esplanade kitchen, which brought strukli into pot and oven much further to the south than hitherto, while they were later produced by the Ledo factory. Availability lets some dish escape from the regional framework in which it has been traditionally prepared. It's hard to imagine any pure-blooded Dalmatian woman deciding to make a Zagorje dish from scratch, but this is a dish that is offered as assistance in busy daily schedules that leave too little time for cooking meals. And while other prepared foods are still looked at with distrust, strukli, by some miracle, will pass as a suitable replacement for a cooked lunch. Frozen food is still perceived as a result of insufficient attention, of the kind that always knew that the way to the heart is through the stomach. Strukli are perhaps acceptable, for it's relatively difficult to make them from scratch, unlike risotto or breaded cutlets. The supply of traditional prepared frozen foods is neither rich nor appetising, but strukli and knedels have won their places on menus throughout the country. Now the roseate strukli are prepared in areas that through history paid much more attention to cheese production. For it should be clear that the fancy invested into dishes with fresh cheese and cream of the Croatian north comes out of the poverty of the supply of hard and more characterful cheeses. So strukli is typical of the region in which fresh cottage cheese prevails, endlessly attractive with cream, corn bread, spring onion and radishes, but in all honesty, its unquestioned rule also reveals a large amount of impatience to do with cheese making – this aspiration for milk to achieve immortality.
Many kinds of strukli have been forgotten, driven out by those with cheese, but they have developed into all-round bites that are offered guests with pride, showing that in the inland part of Croatia independent dishes can be found that are capable of meeting the needs of carnivores and herbivores. You just have to flick through the old cookbooks and let your fancy run wild, and once again the tables will feature strukli with buckwheat, spinach, almonds, fruits of the forest or cream. But while we are awaiting the return of the old and the arrival of new kinds, those fat little cushions called vanjkušek [like ravioli], will commonly be eaten boiled and scattered with fried breadcrumbs, arranged in soup, when the pastry melts and the bit of escaping filling gives flavour to the soup that some season with cream and parsley, others with roux and paprika. But they are most common in their first boiled and then baked version, which does away with the crunch of the strudel, but does achieved a delicious creamy merging of filling and wrapping. The strukli we eat today comes out of the oven pursy and irresistible, fragrant and always too hot, and while they are calmly cooling in front of impatient forks and spoons, it's no longer important if they are from Croatia or Zagorje, original or traditional, only that they should get cold enough now.
Author: Jelena Ivanišević
Boiled strukli
flour 500 g
water 250 ml
fresh cheese 1
Mix half a kilo of flour (wheat or rye) with a quarter litre of water, an egg, and add a nut of butter. Salt too. Dough ought not to be too stiff; roll it out with a pastry pin, and when that reaches its limits, pull it out with your hands, to get as thin as possible, but without tearing.
In a separate bowl you crumble up fresh (cottage) cheese and mix with two eggs, and cover the pastry with it half way. Leave the other half of the pastry sheet empty, so it can be rolled well. Now it's cut into finger-thick pieces and put to cook in boiling water.
Season by melting butter in a pan, frying finely chopped onion, to make it tastier, and add a spoon or two of cream. (Galović, Food and its Preparation, 1908)
Read more articles from issue 23, February 2011
wine and... Portrait of a Winemaker
Bodren


Both the owner and caretaker of a derelict Air Force base near Cambria have been charged with misdemeanor violations of coastal zone land use, according to court documents. Luther Akers, the caretaker of the property, was also charged with felony illegal disposal of hazardous waste. Bernd Schaefers, producer of 1980s movies such as The Never Ending Story and The Name of the Rose, has been the owner of the derelict base since 2005. Both are scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 23 at the San Luis Obispo courthouse, a spokesperson for the district attorney said.
Voss said the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District and the Environmental Protection Agency were also involved in the investigation.
A resident of the former base discovered asbestos in ceiling tiles in the summer of 2007. County and federal officials then raided the base, abandoned by the Air Force in 1980.


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Toponímia:
 Espanya:
 Camino Real de Castilla, que unia Madrid amb Villacastín (Segòvia), conegut com la Carretera de Castilla (M-500).
 Camino de Santiago Real, ruta de peregrinació jacobea que parteix de la ciutat de Lleó i condueix fins a Oviedo, des d'on es pot continuar cap a Santiago de Compostel·la per la Ruta Jacobea Primitiva o pel Camí de Santiago de la Costa.
 Nova Espanya:
 Camino de los Reyes, que anava de San Agustín (Florida) a la Ciutat de Mèxic.
 Camino Real de Chiapas, que unia la Ciutat de Mèxic amb Guatemala.
 Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, que unia la Ciutat de Mèxic amb Santa Fe (Nou Mèxic); la part sud ha estat declarada Patrimoni de la Humanitat.
 Camino Real (Califòrnia), que unia la Nova Espanya amb Califòrnia.
 Segon Imperi Mexicà: Camino Real (Mèxic), que va des de Progreso (Yucatán) fins a Campeche.
 Panamà: Camino Real (Panamà), que discorre entre la Ciutat de Panamà i Portobelo.
 Guatemala:
 Camino Real de la Villa de Guadalupe, que unia l'antiga vila de Guadalupe amb la Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción (totes dues localitats avui integrades al municipi de la Ciutat de Guatemala).
 Camino Real de Petapa, que unia el poble de San Miguel Petapa (avui municipi del departament de Guatemala) amb la Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción (avui la Ciutat de Guatemala).
 Imperi Inca: Nom amb què es coneixen els Camins de l'Inca i la seva artèria principal.
 Argentina: Camino Real (Argentina), que unia el Virregnat del Riu de la Plata amb l'Alt Perú.
 Música: El Camino Real (Reed), composició per a banda musical d'Alfred Reed.

Vegeu també
 Camí Ral
 Camí Reial
 Old Spanish Trail

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Edwardian fashion refers to the clothing that was in model between the late Eighteen Nineties and 1914 or the beginning of the Nice War (World Battle I). Additionally called La Belle Epoque (the Lovely Era), and the Gilded Age, this was a time when women's fashions took on a new opulence and extravagance, inspired by the hedonistic way of life of Britain's King Edward VII. By the end of the struggle, family life had by no means appeared more appealing. Society immediately found itself returning to a patriarchal sense of the home the place Rosie the Riveter could not have been extra out of place. Now that men had been returning from warfare, there was no motive for ladies to proceed participating in the work force, although that did not cease some ladies from working regardless of what males needed to say about it. To combat the fear that women would steal jobs away from men, propaganda started to be released detailing the great, romantic ideal of a life at dwelling. Many women took the bait, thus returning to their conventional roles and far more traditional trend. The 1950s carried on the same traits as a long time prior with a rising recognition in mass-produced gadgets that made life easier, especially for ladies's domestic work.
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Definitely loved this page and will put it aside on my laptop so that I can check it again later. The copious amounts of fabric used for skirts was considered by many women as an insult to these nonetheless suffering the restrictions and results of the conflict. Few girls may afford the glamorous New Look when they could barely afford to place meals on the table. Some noticed Doir's New Look as a way to extend the profits of the textile producers who backed the well-known clothing designer. Sure I will quit my platforms, I do not wish to. Nevertheless I will go together with the style trend.


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Editorial – Issue 17
By	Vlad Strukov and Andrew Chapman
Issue 17 - Consumer Nationalism: Symbolic Economies of Prosumption
Issue 17 expands on the topic of mundane practices of patriotic (non)consumption that we explored in Issue 16 'Patriotic (Non)Consumption: Food, Fashion and Media'. In fact, articles 17.1-17.4 were prepared by the team of guest editors—Olga Gurova, Ekaterina Kalinina, Jessie Labov and Vlad Strukov—and articles 17.5 and 17.6 were specially commissioned by the journal editors.
Our main objective in Issue 17 is to demonstrate how consumption can be ideologised to produce combative forms of belonging. In some context, these practices relate to existing nation-states; in others they have been formed by online communities in response to and through stewardship of neoliberal forms of consumption. From consumption of nationalistic symbols to organization of flashmob, our authors observe how the arrival of neoliberalism and the legacy of late socialism have intersected to produce commodified social and political realities. In this context, prosumers simultaneously participate in neoliberal consumption with its seemingly global agenda and their own nationalistic project. Our authors argue that this is due to the proliferation of commercial platforms that encourage online shopping, virtual banking transactions and transnational exchanges of capital. At the same time prosumers focus on creating localised and tailored content, which binds together communities in new ways outside of economic transactions, much in the same ways that the internet developed before e-commerce industries dominated the internet.
The lead image for Issue 17 shows a young male enjoying a drink of beer. The naked skin, the shaven head and the tattoo featuring the word 'troll' speak to the stereotype of an Eastern European and/or Russian nationalist, or even a skinhead. On one level, the image reveals the offensive nature of cultural stereotypes; on another, it points at the dynamics of cultural memory and global digital networks which circulate images and stereotypes as a form of cultural commodity. The image, taken by Vlad Strukov at ARS17, a major showing of contemporary art hosted by Kiasma in Helsinki (Finland), is a photograph of a digital installation produced by Ed Atkins, a London-based British artist. The work, entitled Ribbons, was premiered at the Serpentine gallery in June 2014. It was part of an installation of text, images, videos and interjections; the image—the figure of the young man—was produced digitally, in other words the male figure is a synthecian and is used here to symbolize the expansion of neoliberal systems of consumption that fuel local forms of nationalism. As a sort of sub-horror genre with references to video gaming with its use of violence, sexism, monstrosity and abhorrent corporeality, the image compels us to enquire about how we consume information online and what value we attribute to messages available on the internet.
Sandy Ross' article on 'Object Nationalities' (17.1) looks at the topic of (non)consumption from commodities' country of origin, drawing on qualitative research of consumption by affluent migrants in urbanised areas of Russia. Ross sees how national stereotypes are considered and internalized when consumers assess commodities in post-socialist societies, aligning these findings with previous studies on commodity stereotyping in advanced capitalist societies. For Ross, it is not just that people think of qualities, either real or imagined, of people living in a country, but that these attributes are grafted onto commodities themselves. Ross' article mirrors recent trends in anthropology and sociology that reconsider a 'thing'-centered approach to material culture and the ontology of objects.
Andrew Chapman (17.2) is the second author across the two issues to discuss queues as a kind of patriotic (non)consumption. Chapman analyses the many flashmobs that have appeared across the post-socialist landscape, where participants queued in lines as a type of performance that subverted the practices typically found in commercial spaces. His article uses a variety of sources, from interviews to internet media to discuss how these groups form, from online communities to create new local communities in transient urban milieus. While queuing flashmobs may not reference any overt patriotic or national sentiment, they playfully recall the nostalgia for the queue and the quirks of socialist consumption opposite current discourses of ever-present abundance brought about through neoliberalisation and globalisation.
Article (17.3), co-authored by Marianne Meiorg, Katalin Mikó, Neda Petrovska and Mirjam Sági, looks at how consumer objects perpetuate ideological formations by way of creating material realities for the ideas, symbols and rhetoric of nationalist sentiment. Their study looks at nationalist cakes in Hungary as one of these products that have become part of the popular culture of consuming patriotism. The authors trace how nationalist cakes are presented on social media platforms such as Facebook and Tumblr. Interesting contradictions arise when nationalist movements (anti-globalist by definition) must utilise social networks, whose ideologies promote the free, globalised flows of information that characterise neoliberal market growth. Nationalist symbols spread worldwide create communities along common lines of interest, but the authors find that the connection to national symbolism is sometimes approached in less solemn ways, through irony and whimsy.
Elena Gapova (17.4) explores the reinvention of the Belarusian folk commodity vyshyvanka. She traces the geometric ornament's revival as part of both a global and post-socialist movement that saw national branding revive old peasant and traditional symbols, much like Russia's fascination with the orange and black St. George's Ribbon. Gapova's artticle traces the vyshyvanka from a material, fashion object to its digital remediation as online content, where younger prosumers digitally manipulate the vyshyvanka's geometric imagery into online graphics. Gapova concludes that rebranding such national symbols in the digital realm fosters a new kind of social cohesion, as urbanites rediscover folk cultural in cosmopolitan, techie contexts.
In 'Where Broadcast Digital Cultures Collide' (17.5), Mariia Terentieva looks at how the production of public service content is caught between the digital and broadcasting worlds. Her article's case study contrasts two media outlets, Hromadske and UA: Pershyi, to highlight the differences between digital public service content providers, who adapt content delivery through egalitarian means of crowdfunding and crowdsourcing, with public service broadcasters, who remediate televisual content on digital platforms. Looking at the Ukrainian media landscape, Terentieva surmises that the most effective form of nation binding can be achieved through confrontation, debate and negotiation between values and ways of life. This strategy stands in direct contrast to the broadcast model, which overlays a set of fixed identities and values that try to shape public opinion through the consumption of media.
Lastly, Saara Ratilainen (17.6) writes on the world of travel blogging, which has exploded on Runet in the past decade. Ratilainen finds that the symbolic economy of travel blogging gives travelers social value in the form of recommendations, local knowledge and insight into 'authentic experiences'. The article views this type of peer-to-peer information sharing operating outside of, and often in opposition to, the economy of commercial service providers. The digital representation of travel thus moves away from the flow of global capital, and towards that of a global community, which freely shares its alternative symbolic economy as a social and cultural construct.
The first four submissions of this issue were prepared by a team of guest editors—Olga Gurova, Ekaterina Kalinina, Jessie Labov and Vlad Strukov—and produced in collaboration with the journal editors. The journal team for Issue 17 consists of editors Andrew Chapman, Pedro Hernandez, Gernot Howanitz, Natalia Kondradova, Henrike Schmidt and Vlad Strukov.
Andrew Chapman and Vlad Strukov.

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Home / News / IPN Debates
People expect Moldova to abandon state of oscillation and plead for West
Political analyst Anatol Țăranu said the victory scored by PAS in the recent parliamentary elections marked a new stage in the Moldova politics. In IPN's public debate "Snap elections 2021: What happened, what can happen at internal level?", he noted that during 30 years of Independence, Moldova has oscillated between two geopolitical options, one of which is embracing the Western values that, despite all their shortcomings, are clearly superior to the Asian way of perceiving the world that is dominated by Russia.
"In essence, this is a sterile subject as we are Europeans by definition. Another thing is the fact that Russia hopes to restore its spheres of influence and stimulates at multiple levels what can be used to achieve this goal, inclining the ambiguous policies of Chisinau. As a result of these useless oscillations, the political center started to be dominated by the oligarchic class that used the state institutions to satisfy own interests. The collapse of the parties of "the center" is one of the distinctive features of the recent elections," stated the political analyst.
Anatol Țăranu considers the implementation of the European standards that will improve the living conditions of Moldovans is a tangible objective and it is the duty of the parliamentary majority to take this chance. "Even if the opponents of PAS accuse EU of double standards when it does not guarantee the integration of Moldova into the family of European countries after the EU's requirements are met, the benefit for the people is evident. We do not know what will happen. Everything depends on the profoundness of the reforms that will be promoted by the pro-European parties in Moldova. It's yet definite that the European development model can become common for us. The people expect Moldova to abandon the state of oscillation and to head for the West. Romania's example in this regard is edificatory," said politic Anatol Țăranu.
The analyst noted that a particular problem existed in the electoral period when deciding the number of polling stations for the diaspora. This issue generated controversy and in a way cast doubt on the impartially of the Central Election Commission. A part of the Moldovan experts spoke about the biased attitude of CEC and the fact that its representatives took decisions in favor of particular election contenders. Things were yet settled and the fact that the opposition leader Igor Dodon recognized the legality of elections shows that there will be no serious pretentions here. The difference between the votes won in elections by PAS and the main opposition forces is so great that it is hard to dispute the results of these elections. Parliament will be thus able to start work soon.
The public debate "Snap elections 2021: What happened, what can happen at internal level?" is the 197th installment of the project "Developing Political Culture through Public Debates" that is implemented by IPN with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
dezbatere 197
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Snap elections 2021: What happened, what can happen at internal level? IPN debate
A different Moldova, stop-genocide and life in Greater Romania. Promises of candidates in last electoral debate of IPN
Victor Juc: International context predisposes to new armament race
Igor Boțan: We understand all the components of this propaganda war
Intentional accident at nuclear plants can be more dangerous than use of tactical nuclear weapons, expert
Is Ukraine's victory possible without nuclear disarmament of Russia? IPN debate
Vitalie Marinuța: Wagner mercenaries often act against Russian leaders' orders
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Tag Archives: Elements of culture
Is Culture Overrated? Southern Railway v. "A Very Stubborn Swan"
Posted on November 12, 2018 by Facilitate4me
We have all heard it before. We should be respectful of culture – that very illusive, nebulous but extremely powerful thing that dictates the way that things get done in every organisation or group – else we won't succeed.
Unlike rules, regulations, strategies, working practices, processes and procedures, culture is mostly invisible. This characteristic is particularly daunting for anyone who has ever attempted to implement changes to an organisation or group. How can you change or even acknowledge what you can't see, touch or feel? Shouldn't out of sight be out of mind? Is culture then, overrated?
An acquaintance recently offered a very logical argument. According to him, in the current unstable business environment where businesses fight to survive, where the customer demands more and should get more and where employees look to their leaders to do whatever is necessary to keep their jobs afloat, there is no room to "pander to the whims of culture". This, he says, is "common sense" – especially as we approach the very uncertain post Brexit era in the UK. Leaders owe it to their staff, shareholders and stakeholders to deliver and implement the necessary changes to transform their business' health – as a matter of priority. When this happens, he says, culture has no choice but to quickly catch-up with the change and adapt.
As a Business Change and Transformation specialist, I have a different view. Yes, you can't see culture, but there are various visible clues to its presence in an organisation. These include:
The routines and rituals of the people in their groups, teams, business units etc
The stories that are told about the way things are done within the organisation – either fondly or with complete disdain
The symbols and outward artefacts dotted around the organisation or group – including the ambience and layout of their offices, the types of furniture, who has an office whilst others languish in an open plan and…
….what the symbols tell us about where the power and influence within the organisation or group lie.
The total of these clues and others, give an indication to the culture, behaviours and what is revered and what is not. No matter how hard the trading climate or how urgent the need for change, these cultural elements are generally immune to outward pressures for change and a change leader will do well to take notice and tread carefully. Case in point is the lovely recent incident that I have affectionately christened Southern Railway v. "A Very Stubborn Swan".
Southern Railway is a train passenger carrier business within the Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) family. GTR has had a particularly challenging trading climate of late including various crippling union strikes in 2017 (in protest against the introduction of new working practices enabled by technology ), which particularly impacted the Southern railway business operations. This year, GTR again suffered severe train cancellations and disruptions . This time it was as a result of new radical timetable changes on the rail network which did not go as planned. Both changes have resulted in significant untold hardships to GTR's passengers, employees, stakeholders, reputation and finances. GTR is no doubt more than relieved to get their businesses back on track again with uninterrupted train services. An obstacle on the train line, in the shape of "a very stubborn swan" , is therefore not a welcome sight and not part of the plan. Said swan however wasn't going to bow to any pressure, and inspite of repeated attempts by a Southern railway employee to gently encourage it to move away, it refused to budge. As this is the UK, where the routine is to respect the welfare of animals (no matter how stubborn), and where stories abound of the significant power and influence that symbolisms such as animal welfare organisations have over people who harm our non-human friends, Southern railway's train driver had to bow to culture and wait patiently for the swan to move. Trains were cancelled, journeys were delayed and several hundred passengers were stranded. All because of a swan! I don't know how much commercial damage would have been done, but suffice it to say, it would have done enough.
I told the swan story to a Nigerian relative and they scoffed. "You British are weird", he said. "If it were in Nigeria, that swan would be suya (a spicy skewered meat delicacy)! No swan is worth the disruption or loss of money on such a scale".
For me, that illustrates the unwritten rule and differences in culture and cultural practices. If the swan had been harmed in the UK, there would have been uproar not least from the very passengers that the train driver was trying to serve. This, in turn would have resulted in significant reputational damage to Southern Railway and GTR which would ultimately transfer to financial damage. So, is the culture of an organisation overrated and irrelevant in today's climate? I say no. Culture continues to trump customer service, financial pressure and yes, common sense and should be handled strategically ….and with care.
About Audrey Ezekwesili
Audrey Ezekwesili is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management and a Business Change Management registered Practitioner with over 20 years corporate experience from public and private sectors. She is the author of the books "Developing People - Top 10 tips for New and Middle Managers" and "Behind Every Successful Woman is...the good, the bad and the mundane that women navigate through to succeed" She is a Change and Transformation Director at Facilitate4Me.
(c) Facilitate4Me


Pokemon Phoenix Rising Download is trending at the moment and i've decided to share with you download links.
But just before then you may want to know what this game is all about before download such as the founder, where to get it and lots more.
Phoenix Rising is an upcoming free fan-made episodic Pokémon RPG developed using RPG Maker XP and the Pokémon Essentials engine. The game is set in a new region known as 'Hawthorne' and will boast changes to the original main-series Pokémon formula to include a more traditional RPG theme as well as many new features.
Now that you know what it's all about you may want to download easily and fast.
The Pokemon phoenix rising download link is yet to be officially launched.
Click here and our facebook chatbot will send the link to your inbox immediately it's launched.
We hope this post on the Pokemon Phoenix Rising Download really helps you fast.


text:
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The five-figure motorbike customiser loved by the A-list releases a limited-edition watch
From Orlando Bloom to Ryan Reynolds, Deus Ex Machina has captivated those with charmed lives - and its new Breitling collab is on the money
By Tracey Llewellyn 23 February 2021 • 6:09pm
Orlando Bloom in Los Angeles in 2012 with one of his customised Deus Ex Machina motorbikes Credit: Getty Images
Ryan Reynolds, Bruce Springsteen and Orlando Bloom have one thing in common besides their fame: they have all been clients of 'big ticket' motorbike customiser Deus Ex Machina.
Literally meaning 'God from the machine' in Latin, the company was born in Australia in 2005 when designer Carby Tuckwell sold out of his design agency and came together with entrepreneur Dare Jennings who had just sold his surf brand Mambo. It quickly became a leading service for the rich and famous, offering immaculately designed customisations that can cost five figures.
"We have been at the forefront of the [customisation] culture that has swept through motorcycling in the past decade," says Tuckwell, "and many of the major manufacturers have come to us to create special editions that flow through to their own products."
There isn't a 'typical' Deus customer, says Tuckwell. Rather, a potential client is anyone that appreciates craftsmanship and design - and has a big enough sum to play with. "It is an eclectic mix of enthusiasts of one or more of the prisms of our culture – motorcycles, surf, bicycle, and snow," Tuckwell says.
Now the brand is partnering with Breitling to release Top Time Deus, a new limited edition choronograph inspired by a classic. When the original Top Time chronograph was launched in 1964, it was accompanied by a declaration from Willy L. Breitling: "We are sweeping into the field of youth and we are going to speak their language… We are designing a superb range of ultra-modern chronographs, led by a completely new model, the Top Time."
The enduring popularity of the design was witnessed last year when a limited-edition heritage model with distinctive 'Zorro dial' became one of the biggest hits of 2020. And now the Top Time has been chosen as the watch to launch a new brand partnership with Deus Ex Machina.
The announcement of the Top Time Deus also marks the debut of a new Deus Squad (Breitling's term for groups of ambassadors), consisting of Californian Forrest Minchinton, who's passionate about surfboards as well as motorcycles; Sierra Lerback who is a Hawaiian competitive surfer; and French motorcycle engineer and designer Jeremy Tagand.
French custom motorcycle engineer, designer and Deus Squad member, Jeremy Tagand, wearing the Top Time Deus
Elaborating on why this is such a good fit for Breitling, CEO Georges Kern says: "Deus is much more than a brand – it is a culture, an art of living that has done something quite remarkable by evoking a relaxed lifestyle but also communicating a sort of dynamic energy.
"The members of the Deus family share Breitling's core values of inclusivity and authenticity and, of course, we have some overlapping brand universes like motorcycling and surfing. We are both partners of the Wheels and Waves surf and motorcycle festival in Biarritz and, like Deus, we are completely at home there. The Deus Squad will appeal to individuals who live, love or aspire to adventure, and who admire Deus's no-limits approach to life."
The new partnership is set to be a long-term one, with Breitling becoming the official timekeeper of the Deus Swank Rally – a vintage motorbike championship that was founded in 2017 by Fillippo Bassoli of Deus Milano and that now hosts race meetings across the globe.
"Fillippo wanted to create an event that wasn't so focused on the extreme, elbow-to-elbow racing that turns a lot of amateur riders off the idea of competing," says creative director at Deus, Carby Tuckwell, describing the 'gentleman racer' aspect of the meets.
"The Swank Rally is a self-timed event staged on unusual tracks. The combination of these unique venues and the opportunity to race at your own level attracts a range of dirt enthusiasts from serious endurologists to weekend mud stabbers. This format aligns perfectly with Deus's inclusive philosophy of doing the most with the least."
Hawaiian competitive surfer Sierra Lerback has joined the new Deus Squad
In addition to the Swank Rally, Kern says that the brands will collaborate in other ways. "Deus, like Breitling, has a passionate global following, so we will be bringing those two communities together for events at Deus Temples [boutiques that are similar in design and outlook to the club-style Breitling Townhouse concept] around the world once Covid allows, and also at Wheels and Waves. The informal spirit of our brands is very closely aligned and you will notice a Deus touch brought into our boutiques and retail spaces through photo exhibitions and racing memorabilia."
According to Tuckwell, the question is less 'why was the brand founded' and more 'why not?'.
"Dare had always known that there was a desire for a brand that spoke to a multifaceted quiver of enthusiasts," he says. "Motorcycles were, and are still, the core of what we are, but it's a sum of parts game. For us surf was always the twin and this multiplied to bicycles, cars, snow... The audience for custom bikes has matured and it's a broad church.
"Ostensibly I think people love that it looks like we are just having fun d****** around with bikes – and there is an element of truth in there – but the reality is Deus has so many threads to its story and all of them are bound with a central respect for good design."
Breitling Deus Squad member, Californian surfboard shaper and off-road motorcycle racer Forrest Minchinton
Although reluctant to 'out' clients, certain big names are well-documented in the public domain, with many being repeat customers. Early on, Orlando Bloom visited the Deus workshop in Sydney and commissioned a build, with work being completed in the Deus Ex Machina custom shop in Venice, CA, USA. Other celebrity devotees include Ryan Reynolds, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen.
"There is usually a component of adventure and design in everything we do and I'd like to feel clients connect with this," says Tuckwell, who suggests that this is also the point where Deus and Breitling come together. "Watches and bikes meet at the intersection of function and design," he explains.
"They share an efficiency of form wedded to purpose and, in both cases, they carry a gravity of expression far beyond their physical presence. It feels like there is a serendipity to the partnership, that we can engage at a product level but also share events and our ambassador squad. From a heritage and design position, Breitling's tool watches are a perfect complement to Deus."
The Breitling Top Time Deus Limited Edition
A watch fan himself, with a penchant for vintage, military pieces, Tuckwell was directly involved in the design process of the Top Time Deus chronograph and, unsurprisingly, Deus cues are present throughout – from the seconds hand, which is an evolution of the brand's lightning piston logo, to the caseback with Tuckwell's rider artwork.
The new watch is a limited-edition of 1,500 pieces in a 41mm stainless-steel case and has several unique features including a racing-themed, leather strap; 'squircle'-shaped chronograph counters; the Deus logo and motto 'In benzin veritas' incorporated into the tachymeter; the lightning bolt chrono hand; and a caseback engraving of a retro-style motorcyclist in full flight.
The caseback of the Breitling Top Time Deus Limited Edition
This being the first watch in the new collaboration, was Tuckwell pleased with the finished piece? "The thrill of finally seeing it in the metal, after many two-dimensional versions, was extremely satisfying," he says. "It has a purposeful heft and exquisite finish. It's the details and palette that really make the watch and I think the harmony of our signature design and the heritage of Breitling's Top Time work perfectly."
Breitling Top Time Deus Limited Edition, £4,100
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text:
Q: Marker position without pixel decision? If I set the position of small matplotlib markers they have to "decide" which pixel to choose. I think this is not the case in Matlab, and markers can be located in between pixels with both pixels sharing the brightness.
In the attached example the marker on my screen does not perform a smooth circle but jumps between pixels. In Matlab this circle would look smooth. Can I achieve the same using matplotlib?
import tkinter as tk
import os
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from matplotlib.backends.backend_tkagg import FigureCanvasTkAgg
from matplotlib.figure import Figure
import time

class Plotwindow():
    def __init__(self, root, size):
        self.root = root
        self.fig = Figure(size, constrained_layout=True)
        self.ax = self.fig.add_subplot(111)
        self.canvas = FigureCanvasTkAgg(self.fig, master=root.plot_frame)
        self.canvas.get_tk_widget().pack()

    def clear(self):
        self.ax.cla()

    def plot(self, x, y):
        self.ax.scatter(x, y, marker='o', s=2, color='black', snap=False)
        self.ax.set_xlim(20*np.array([-1, 1]))
        self.ax.set_ylim(20*np.array([-1, 1]))
        self.canvas.draw()
        self.canvas.flush_events()

class NewGUI():
    def __init__(self):
        self.root = tk.Tk()
        self.root.resizable(False, False)
        self.root.geometry("405x405+400+200")

        self.button = tk.Button(self.root, text="Move", command=self.move)
        self.button.pack(side='top', fill='x')
        self.button = tk.Button(self.root, text="Hold", command=self.hold)
        self.button.pack(side='top', fill='x')

        self.plot_frame = tk.Frame()
        self.plot_frame.pack(side='bottom', fill='x')
        self.plot_window = Plotwindow(self, (15,15))
        self.plot_window.plot(1,0)

        self.root.mainloop()

    def move(self):
        for i in range(20):
            self.plot_window.clear()
            time.sleep(0.01)
            phi = 2*np.pi*i/20
            x = np.cos(phi)
            y = np.sin(phi)
            self.plot_window.plot(x,y)

    def hold(self):
        for i in range(20):
            phi = 2*np.pi*i/20
            x = np.cos(phi)
            y = np.sin(phi)
            self.plot_window.plot(x,y)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    new = NewGUI()

A: Based on the comment by Jody Klymak I got what I wanted with the cairo backend even without snap=False, see attachement.
import tkinter as tk
import os
import numpy as np
import matplotlib
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
matplotlib.use('TkCairo')
from matplotlib.backends.backend_tkcairo import FigureCanvasTkCairo
from matplotlib.figure import Figure
import time

class Plotwindow():
    def __init__(self, root, size):
        self.root = root
        self.fig = Figure(size, constrained_layout=True)
        self.ax = self.fig.add_subplot(111)
        self.canvas = FigureCanvasTkCairo(self.fig, master=root.plot_frame)
        self.canvas.get_tk_widget().pack()

    def clear(self):
        self.ax.cla()

    def plot(self, x, y):
        self.ax.scatter(x, y, marker='o', s=2, color='black')
        self.ax.set_xlim(20*np.array([-1, 1]))
        self.ax.set_ylim(20*np.array([-1, 1]))
        self.canvas.draw()
        self.canvas.flush_events()

class NewGUI():
    def __init__(self):
        self.root = tk.Tk()
        self.root.resizable(False, False)
        self.root.geometry("405x405+400+200")

        self.button = tk.Button(self.root, text="Move", command=self.move)
        self.button.pack(side='top', fill='x')
        self.button = tk.Button(self.root, text="Hold", command=self.hold)
        self.button.pack(side='top', fill='x')

        self.plot_frame = tk.Frame()
        self.plot_frame.pack(side='bottom', fill='x')
        self.plot_window = Plotwindow(self, (15,15))
        self.plot_window.plot(1,0)

        self.root.mainloop()

    def move(self):
        for i in range(20):
            self.plot_window.clear()
            time.sleep(0.01)
            phi = 2*np.pi*i/20
            x = np.cos(phi)
            y = np.sin(phi)
            self.plot_window.plot(x,y)

    def hold(self):
        for i in range(20):
            phi = 2*np.pi*i/20
            x = np.cos(phi)
            y = np.sin(phi)
            self.plot_window.plot(x,y)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    new = NewGUI()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
import {
  validateRuntimeState,
  validateState,
} from '@waldur/resource/actions/base';
import { DestroyActionItem } from '@waldur/resource/actions/DestroyActionItem';

import { destroyVirtualMachine } from '../api';

const validators = [
  validateState('OK', 'Erred'),
  validateRuntimeState('POWERED_OFF'),
];

export const DestroyVirtualMachineAction = ({ resource }) => (
  <DestroyActionItem
    validators={validators}
    resource={resource}
    apiMethod={destroyVirtualMachine}
  />
);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Buying your first home is a huge step in anyone's life. It's the exciting moment when you achieve independence, and a crucial first step on the property ladder. You'll soon have a major asset, as well as a personal space in which you can raise a family, achieve your dreams and anything else you desire. Following these steps can help ensure that your first home buying experience is nothing but positive.
Finding your dream home is far easier if you already have a set of criteria in mind. Otherwise, you'll find yourself aimlessly looking at properties for an extended period of time before making a decision. Find the neighbourhood that you can envision yourself comfortably living in, and work out what kind of floor space and features are must-haves for you and/or your family. This will make it far simpler for your agent to find the right property, saving you time and stress.
While it's not an absolute necessity to buy your first home through an agent, they can certainly make the whole process easier for you. They'll be aware of all of the best new listings available to look at, and offer advice on pricing and negotiations.
Worries around approval for a mortgage may dominate your thinking at this stage, but don't forget to do the research to ensure you're getting the best possible deal on your loan. You may wish to visit various banks and lenders and consult with a broker before signing your name on the dotted line.
Try not to act hastily once you've found a house that you love. The price tag listed may not be suitable, so be sure to weigh the cost against other comparable sales in the area, and consult your agent to make sure that you're getting the best deal possible. The outcome will, of course, depend on the market, but negotiations may drive the price down considerably.
While the house you've selected may look picture-perfect, it's important to carry out a complete home inspection before you lock yourself into a purchase. Check the foundation and any aspects of the house that may require repairs.
A first home isn't always the home of your dreams, but it could be the first step that leads you there. Know what you can afford, and keep your expectations within reality. Getting your foot on the property ladder is the most important thing, and should set you up for a successful future.


Inking a comic is really hard. Especially when you don't know what you're doing. I started working today but after a few hours I had to stop, because everything I touched turned to poo. I spent some of my time going through my "How to Ink Comics" books and making a list of tips, tricks, and preferred tools. My brush hand is shaky, flat and inconsistent. Using pens takes too long and doesn't give me the look I want. (I don't really have a "look" in the same way that I have an established "look" with my illustration – I think it's pretty clear by my work so far that I am very much trying to find my footing, and that's a look I don't want.) My experiment with French curves was a waste of time and I manage to smudge the wet ink with some part of my hand a few times per page.
So I left the studio, played video games for an hour, and then went home to feed the cat. I planned on going back to the studio afterwards but couldn't muster up the energy. I wish I had more time to practice on trivial things and work out my glaring weaknesses, but I've got to get four pages done before August. And tomorrow I'm in Chilliwack and you can't ink on a Greyhound. Good thing I cancelled my gaming.
Expression 3.3 is also an excellent vector illustration program. It's also free, but slightly harder to get as you have to jump through more hoops (Microsoft bought the company and turned it into something horrible, but the last non-microsoft version was released as a completely free download). The hoop you have to jump through is registering with microsoft. It's a pain, but the software is great. It's the most comfortable software I've ever used with my wacom.
Do you have a wacom tablet?
You're not inking digitally? That seems to be how everyone is doing it these days. Sketching in pencil is still fairly common though many do their initial sketches right on their Wacom tablets, but from what I've read most inkers are digital these days.
I do have a wacom tablet. This will be something I try in the future. For right now I think the learning curve would be more time-consuming than using real ink, but I am going to look into all of those suggestions, thanks friends.
Well when you do find the time to dive in, learn a bit about vector graphics in general before learning any particular application (if you don't know it already). It's a different mindset than pixel-based graphics.
Hey, it occurred to me that Mike What-ever-his-name-is (Gabe) at Penny Arcade does his inks digitally (although he uses Photoshop). When you go to the Expo you should ask to get a live demonstration. He's put up some videos of the process on the Penny Arcade site.


I had apprenticeship in Environmental conservation with York Council learning various tasks such as dry stone walling, hedge laying and maintaining public right of ways. I also have A-levels in Archaeology, Geology and History, and have studied up to level 2 of the RHS principles of Horticulture.
Taking a group of workers to see a tribute band and one of the workers claiming to be Auntie Jane when they were doing shout outs. It was very funny as he definitely wasn't Auntie Jane!
I like to keep fit by running and rock climbing. I have run a marathon (only 1 so far!), climbed all the lake district Wainwrights, and have be seen dangling for a rope at various climbing walls and crags. I see the off-site gardening team often whilst on the end of a rope, as they do maintenance at the gym.


text:
Accelerating progress for YoungDementia UK Homes
Strategy development for a new dementia charity
Following the appointment of a new chairman, YoungDementia UK Homes wanted to accelerate progress toward the establishment of a care home for people with young onset dementia.
YoungDementia UK Homes is an Oxfordshire-based charity established in 2009, by YoungDementia UK, to focus on the delivery of a residential home offering long-term accommodation and support for people with young onset dementia.
Geoff Shepherd was appointed Chairman of YoungDementia UK Homes in May 2012. Prior to Geoff's appointment the charity had been exploring various options for developing the home, without much success. Such an undertaking is a complex and ambitious capital project and, without full-time resources, progress had been slow. Geoff recognised that the charity needed to change the way it was working for the project to succeed.
Verve Consulting was appointed by YoungDementia UK Homes to work with the charity on the vision for the Home and on development of the strategy. Chairman, Geoff Shepherd explains: "We engaged Verve, following a recommendation by one of our Trustees, based on Verve's reputation for strategy development and track record in improving the commercial efficiency of not-for-profit organizations."
Working closely with Geoff and the Board of Trustees, Verve managed the strategy process, preparing and facilitating a workshop that covered discussion and agreement on the vision for the Home, the action plan that would enable the tight deadlines to be met, and a business case.
Geoff continues: "Verve Consulting's facilitation of the strategy session, with their action-oriented approach, empathy for the charity's cause and great sense of humour, meant that all the Trustees felt able to contribute to reviewing progress and agreeing a plan on the way forward. Verve helped us identify the activities that were critical to achieving our aim and then kept us focused on those key action points."
The charity has made impressive progress since Verve's involvement and, although Geoff recognizes that he and the Trustees still have much work to do, he is pleased with the results so far: "We have 2 key positive outcomes as a result of the work with Verve. We have appointed a full-time Director with responsibility for delivering the project and, thanks to Verve's commercial expertise, we have produced an up-to-date business case for the Home."
Summing up Verve Consulting's overall contribution, Geoff said, "Working with Verve was a very, very invigorating experience. They have a sound commercial approach and are results oriented, which was a winning combination for us. We would not have made the progress we did without Verve and overall I rate Verve's involvement a 5-star contribution."
Posted in Case Study, Not-For-Profit organisations, Strategy
Ambitious new strategy for YoungDementia UK
Strategy development for an award-winning dementia charity
Following new government initiatives on the delivery of dementia services and changes within the charity, YoungDementia UK decided to review its mission and develop an ambitious new strategy to ensure the charity continues to be well placed in providing a full range of support services for people with young onset dementia and their families.
YoungDementia UK is an Oxfordshire-based charity providing award-winning services for younger people with dementia. Since 1996 the charity has provided support and services for people with young onset dementia, their families and friends. YoungDementia UK was an Oxfordshire charity of the year finalist in 2011 and won a European Foundation's Initiative on Dementia (EFID) award in 2012.
YoungDementia UK has built a strong reputation in the field of young onset dementia for the quality of support and services it provides. However, following changes in the chairmanship and Board of Trustees of the charity, and the potential changes in the delivery of dementia services as a result of government initiatives, the Board of Trustees together with Director, Tessa Gutteridge, felt the time was right to review the charity's future strategy.
Verve Consulting was appointed by YoungDementia UK to work with the charity on the development of the strategy. Director, Tessa Gutteridge explains: "We decided to engage Verve because we wanted someone who was independent of the Board, but who had a proven track record of understanding strategy and the charity sector."
Working closely with Tessa and the Board of Trustees, Verve managed the strategy process, including setting up and facilitating a workshop that covered the mission, strategic options and development of a new 3 year strategy.
Tessa continues: "Verve Consulting's involvement meant that we were able to commit quality time to discussion about where we wanted to take the charity in the future. With Verve's knowledge of the charity sector they were able to challenge our assumptions and help us get clarity into our thinking. And finally, Verve's experience with strategy work ensured we focused on achievements, rather than the process, to give us a far better outcome."
Summing up Verve Consulting's overall role, Tessa added, "Verve's contribution provided us with a number of benefits, but above all their involvement excited and motivated the trustees about planning and the future. Everyone was bubbling about the workshop afterwards and it's up to us to keep that going now. It's a period of significant change in dementia care and we now have a great opportunity to build on our reputation."
Posted in Case Study, Strategy, Technology service companies
Procurement Strategy saves over £500,000 per annum for Anthony Nolan
Friday, December 2nd, 2011
Procurement Strategy Development and Implementation for Anthony Nolan
As part of a new, ambitious five-year strategy, Anthony Nolan reviewed its commercial operations early in 2011 and identified procurement as an area that needed improvement if it were to achieve its goals.
Anthony Nolan is a very successful charity whose mission is saving lives. The charity created the world's first register of people willing to donate their stem cells, saving lives by matching donors to patients suffering from leukaemia or other blood-related disorders. It now runs the UK's largest and most successful stem cell register, with over 400,000 potential donors, and set up the UK's first dedicated facility for cord blood banking and research.
With an external spend of over £6million, in a turnover of around £30million, Anthony Nolan identified the procurement of services and supplies as a potential opportunity to make significant savings that could contribute to its mission of saving lives. Anthony Nolan considered appointing a Procurement Manager but, unsure that the savings could be realised, decided a permanent post could not be afforded.
Verve Consulting had already worked with Anthony Nolan on facilitating the production of the charity's commercial strategies in 2011 and began talking to Alan How, Finance and Resources Director of Anthony Nolan, about its procurement strategy.
Following proposals from Verve Consulting, and satisfied with Verve's procurement credentials, Alan appointed Verve for a first phase trial project of up to 3 months: "We know Verve well, trust them and like their outcomes. We decided to engage Verve for a trial procurement project with the assurance that the cost of the project would be covered by savings made, or the charges for the project would be reduced."
Working closely with Anthony Nolan's staff, Verve analyzed the procurement processes and examined the procurement spend in great detail. Verve then developed a procurement plan that identified where savings could be made and, perhaps most importantly, confirmed that savings were achievable by undertaking a "quick win" procurement assignment that covered the cost of this first phase trial project.
Achieving the quick win involved Verve in gaining an in-depth understanding of the spend and existing suppliers for the service selected, applying procurement techniques to the buying process, identifying a range of strategic buying options and the competitive position of potential suppliers, then launching a series of request for quotations (RFQ's). This detailed and methodical process led to a successful outcome for Anthony Nolan with immediate savings made available.
Having identified in the trial that savings were possible and achievable, and with the price of the first phase covered by the quick-win cost savings, Anthony Nolan awarded Verve a six-month strategic consulting project to implement the procurement plan.
In the implementation phase Verve systematically applied procurement techniques to the areas where the greatest possible savings had been identified. This covered a range of services and materials bought by Anthony Nolan including the recruitment of donors, the laboratory analysis of donor samples, specialist clinical couriers and the collection of stem cells from donors.
Verve established relationships with all the key stakeholders responsible for buying the services and materials in the scope of the procurement plan, ran workshops with the in-house teams to pull together a coherent approach to the potential suppliers of each of the services or materials, allocated clear responsibilities for specific suppliers, set up tender processes, and negotiated with suppliers. The implementation of the plan has led to the successful delivery of annual savings of over £500,000.
Alan How, Finance and Resources Director of Anthony Nolan explains, "Verve has delivered an extremely successful project for Anthony Nolan. The result is a large annual cost saving that allows us to expand our services and help Anthony Nolan to achieve our goal of doubling the number of lives to whom we give the chance of life."
Verve Consulting's work with Anthony Nolan on the procurement strategy has helped the charity appreciate the importance of sound commercial principles and attention to detail in obtaining maximum value from its supply chain. With those philosophies in place, and proof that savings can be made, Anthony Nolan is now confident in recruiting a Procurement Manager. In this next phase of the development of the procurement strategy, Verve will continue to be involved, both in the recruitment of the Procurement Manager and in the subsequent mentoring of the procurement function.
Summing up Verve Consulting's overall contribution to the procurement strategy, Alan added, "Verve brings a maturity of approach and a high level of professionalism that has achieved successful outcomes within a contained cost, which is extremely important for a charity like Anthony Nolan."
Maximizing Commercial Efficiency for Anthony Nolan
Implementing Commercial Strategies for Anthony Nolan
When Anthony Nolan began transforming its organisation to turn an ambitious five-year strategy into reality, the charity identified the need to maximize its commercial efficiency to meet its challenging goals.
Anthony Nolan is a very successful charity whose mission is saving lives. The charity created the world's first register of people willing to donate their stem cells, saving lives by matching donors to patients suffering from leukaemia or other blood-related disorders. It now runs the UK's largest and most successful stem cell register, with over 400,000 potential donors, and has the UK's first dedicated facility for cord blood banking and research.
Recognizing the need to maximize every penny it earns and everything it spends to ensure it fulfils its mission of saving lives, Anthony Nolan chose Verve Consulting to develop the strategy for maximizing the commercial efficiency of the charity's key activities, based on previous successful work with the charity by Verve consultants and their proven track record in commercial strategy development.
Working collaboratively with the in-house teams, Verve Consulting initially developed a vision and principles to guide the organization's commercial activities within the framework of the overall vision and mission of Anthony Nolan.
Verve ran focus groups and opportunity workshops to establish the direction, clear priorities and a commercial plan of action. The work undertaken included market and competitor research, market and customer analysis, pricing and costing strategies, contract negotiation and reviewing procurement processes.
Finally, the foundations were put into place for the successful continuation of the efficiency programmes with the agreement of a governance structure, and the short and long-term plans for the continued delivery of the commercial improvements.
Henny Braund, Chief Executive of Anthony Nolan explains, "Verve's consultants have helped to galvanize our staff, bringing clarity and focus to our work on contracts and procurement. This has allowed us to make more informed decisions on our income and expenditure, generating money which can be spent more efficiently to help us achieve our goals"
Finally, commenting on Verve Consulting's overall role, Henny added, "Verve has been key to the successful implementation of the commercial strategies, ensuring we maximize the contribution to our mission of every penny we receive or spend"
Turning Strategy into Reality for Anthony Nolan
Strategy Development and Organizational Effectiveness for Anthony Nolan
Faced with an increasingly competitive market, changing customer requirements and a burning desire to achieve its challenging goals, Anthony Nolan recognized the need for a transformation to turn its ambitious five-year strategy into reality.
In 2010, to achieve its challenging goals and save even more lives, Anthony Nolan embarked on strengthening the organization. Verve Consulting was selected to work on the transformation project for the laboratory, because Verve has a proven track record in strategy development and implementation with a deep knowledge of the not-for-profit sector. Equally importantly, Verve demonstrated an understanding of the sensitivities required to work within that environment and relevant scientific expertise.
Working collaboratively with the in-house teams, Verve Consulting began by conducting a review and analysis of the situation with staff, senior management, trustees and customers. Verve then facilitated senior management workshops to evaluate the strategic options arising from the analysis and agree the way forward for the laboratory.
Verve led the production of the business case for the investment required to allow the laboratory to pursue the chosen strategy. As a result of the business case the charity decided to make significant investments in the laboratory, improve the processes to maximize efficiency and reorganize to meet the new challenges.
In the ensuing design phase, Verve worked with Anthony Nolan's teams to manage the detailed implementation of the strategy. Verve led three work streams covering the new investment in equipment, the design of the new organization and efficiency improvements from contracts and procurement.
Henny Braund, Chief Executive of Anthony Nolan explains, "Verve's consultants have made a phenomenal achievement in the time available. Verve established trust with the staff and led a transformational project for the organisation. Verve did a brilliant job. They never let you off the hook, with great determination to keep the project on track."
Finally, commenting on Verve Consulting's overall contribution, Henny added, "Working with Verve made a huge difference to our ability to deliver the strategy successfully, helping us to save more lives by halving turnaround times. Because for Anthony Nolan time is of the essence."
Strategy under uncertainty
Strategy development for a UK technology company
Even very successful companies can become paralysed by the complexity of a changing market place, and plotting a strategy can feel like heading into thick fog, no visibility and no landmarks. By using uncertainty about the environment as one of the metrics for characterising it a company can produce a map of the market based on uncertainty and can take a view as to how best to respond if certain things happen. With this kind of planning ahead it's possible to set out on an ambitious journey undaunted by the fog of uncertainty. This is the story of one company who are now well along their chosen road…
This fast growing British company with a strong technology heritage had reached a critical point in their development as the founders departed and professional managers took the helm. The company had conflicting internal views about the maturity of their niche market and about the overall technology adoption pattern in the wider market.
We carried out a strategy process which engaged customers, competitors, managers and staff in developing a view of the opportunities and uncertainties in this fast moving market. Then we helped them to lay out an ambitious map based on the most likely future trends.
The result was a five year plan and a business case which managers and investors used as a basis for a successful public share offering. The company continues to deliver 25-30% year on year growth while it diversifies out of it's niche to provide a full technology service to customers.
"We had many of the pieces but we couldn't put the puzzle together, now the picture is clear and the organization is really energized." CEO
We have learned to continually scan the environment and adapt to shifting opportunities and threats but we don't loose momentum…" CFO
Posted in Case Study, Sector, Strategy, Technology service companies, Typeproject
Climbing the growth curve
Marketing strategy for a fast growing biotechnology company
Young companies or novel products often have growth projections which look like a hockey stick – slow start and then geometric growth, but they struggle to reach the elusive take off point. Part of the secret is moving from selling to other like-minded enthusiasts to finding a true niche market where your product satisfies most or all of the needs. Once established in that niche a company can start to build a more mainstream presence. This is the story of one company who had exactly that experience…
This transatlantic company has been around for about 8 years, they had an interesting product in the competitive and innovative field of genomic research, but unfortunately had struggled to achieve real growth.
We visited Universities, Hospitals, and Laboratories and interviewed researchers at the leading edge of genetic medicine. Interestingly those who were most enthusiastic about the product were those who were using it for clinical research close to the patient. The technique offered a 'gold standard' in terms of quality of data on a result by result basis, which obviously appealed to clinical researchers who can see the potential for life critical decisions based on a single test.
We advised the company to re-direct their sales messages and marketing effort at this clinical niche, where they had a complete and compelling offer. This moved them away from the larger but more competitive market for basic genetic research which relies on accumulating large databases and uses statistical methods, and where cost per test is the main driver of buying decisions. As a result of this refocus they are now one of the fastest growing in their biotech sector.
"We got everyone together and listened to the findings and the conclusions, the recommendations were so compelling that we walked out of that room and started doing it…" CEO
Unlocking customer truth
Product strategy for a young technology company
You spend a lot of time talking to your customers. Of course you do. But if you analyse those conversations they fall into one of a few common categories "selling", "telling" or "fixing". It's rare to have an open conversation with a customer about the market and about the future. It's rarer still to openly ask your customers for help in developing your product or your company strategy. If you do ask customers it's amazing what they will tell you.
This is the story of one company that did just that…
A young Swedish company had built an exciting breakthrough product which used microwave technology to do in 10 seconds what could take 10 hours.
The company wondered why the product wasn't more successful – and so did we!
We interviewed the working scientists who used this device and who were universally enthusiastic about it, based on the interviews we mapped their buying behaviours and ways of working. They told us very clearly that what they needed was a personal instrument in their workspace, with a target price within their individual budget.
After a radical redesign the re-launched product has gone from strength to strength on laboratory benches across the world.
"It's like having twenty customers in the room as we develop our strategy" CEO
Posted in Case Study, Entrepreneurial technology start-ups, Sector, Strategy, Typeproject
Maximising business potential
Strategy development for an international telecommunications group
To maximise new opportunities for next-generation technology, this leading telecommunications group needs to move fast to develop its international strategy and assess business potential.
A potential application for a new technology was being worked on independently in several different countries. Corporate management, however, wanted to combine these into a single strategic project and rapidly identify the total business potential for the group. The result was a complex project, which took place in several phases, all for completion against tight deadlines. They involved senior commercial and technology teams in each country, with group management and third parties. Verve audited existing national projects and then unified these into a single proposition for presentation to the group CEO.
In the next stage, Verve led operational management of country projects to ensure consistency with the Group's strategic goals. This culminated in a forum which allowed the group's senior team and their external partners to debate the opportunity, make their decisions on the business potential and agree the way forward.
The telecommunication group's Head of R&D explains, "The job required a rare resource – experienced, senior, large-scale project management skills. Verve was ideally suited for what we needed. As well as bringing the operational project management skills, they skillfully managed the different cultures to draw great clarity of thought from our people, which helped ensure a successful outcome."
Posted in Sector, Strategy, Technology service companies, Typeproject


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Kiran admits he's surprised by potential Beauty and the Geek romance with Bryanna after their kiss
By Rachael Gavin|6 months ago
The main aim of Beauty and the Geek is for people who wouldn't normally hang out together to be paired up in the hope they can learn from each other.
So when Kiran signed on for the 2021 season, he certainly didn't have any expectations about developing feelings for one of the Beauties, let alone being the first Geek to be kissed on the show.
Catch up on the latest episodes of Beauty and the Geek on 9Now.
"I think I recall saying at the very beginning, 'There's no way I'm gonna get into a romance, why would I ever do that? I'm going to focus on having fun, building friendships'. This was definitely a surprise," he said of his chemistry with Bryanna.
Kiran brought Bryanna flowers, and she revealed it was the first time a guy had ever given her flowers. (Nine)
Kiran and Bryanna shared a kiss the day after Kiran was given a makeover. He won the opportunity to get a fresh look due to his and Bryanna's performance in the Superhero Challenge.
RELATED: Kiran on why his Beauty and the Geek makeover is about more than his appearance
Kiran and Bryanna shared a kiss, with Bryanna making the first move after Kiran bought her flowers. (Nine)
Though grateful for the makeover, Kiran regretted not getting the chance for a date with Bryanna and wanted to make it up to her by giving her flowers and a sweet note.
"I got home from the makeover, I was buzzing and I just had this amazing, awesome day, but there was a little bit of guilt. I felt guilty. I felt like I wanted to have a date with Bryanna, I wanted to get to know her better and it ended up being all about me," he explained.
"I grew up in a family where if you want to say something to someone, flowers are often a good idea, and a written message is often a good idea. So I was like, I'll go over there, I'll deliver these flowers quickly, just to let her know how grateful I am and how much I'm looking forward to the next date and then leave."
Bryanna was moved by the gesture and told Kiran it was the first time a man had given her flowers. The pair then said their goodbyes and Kiran left Bryanna's apartment, but Bryanna suddenly came running after him and thanked Kiran once more.
She then gave Kiran a hug, which quickly turned into a kiss.
"I don't know, it just felt nice, it was a nice moment and I enjoyed it," said Kiran, who has been kissed and dated before, but not been in a relationship.
Kiran and Bryanna grew closer while chatting at the Book Week themed mixer. (Nine)
Kiran and Bryanna's kiss shows there is a potential for the pair's relationship to turn into something romantic. Kiran admitted he was curious to see where their Beauty and the Geek journey might take them.
"Immediately after the kiss I was too busy processing. I was blown away," he said.
"Of course I had hope that something could grow and develop, more so than had already occurred. I like being around Bryanna and she seemed to like being around me, and I was excited to see where it would go."
Geeks before and after their makeovers
See the incredible transformations
Beauty and the Geek airs Sunday at 7pm and Monday and Tuesday at 7.30pm on Nine and 9Now. Catch up on the latest episodes of Beauty and the Geek on 9Now.
Stream all the latest episodes Episode 12 Episode 11 Episode 10
Bryanna Reynolds
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Parents face back-to-school costs of €400
Updated / Wednesday, 8 Jul 2015 22:24
Over two-thirds of those surveyed said the costs impact their ability to pay household bills
A survey has found that parents will spend an average of almost €400 per child on uniforms and books this September.
A study by the Irish League of Credit Unions found that almost a third of parents find themselves in debt covering back to school costs.
The survey found that uniforms can cost an average of €166 for primary school children and €258 for secondary school students.
School books for primary school children cost an average of €106 and €213 for secondary school students.
Over two-thirds of those surveyed said the costs will impact their ability to pay household bills or afford a holiday.
The survey found that 20% of parents surveyed said they will need to borrow to meet the costs of going back to school.
Financial expert and founder of the Irish Financial Review Frank Conway described the findings as worrying.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Conway said those who are most financially vulnerable will end up paying the most when it comes to covering the costs.
Mr Conway said parents who might turn to moneylenders, as well as parents sacrificing food, are just some of the most worrying aspects of the survey.
He said when families who have children in primary and secondary schools tot up all their costs, they could be faced with a bill of around €1,000; money, he said, many people do not have.
Mr Conway said the main cost burdens are uniforms, books, lunches and transport.
He is urging families to plan ahead and to try to "keep a rainy day fund".
If parents have to borrow, he said, they should pay off the debt quickly to avoid paying late fees and charges.
Families should also give themselves enough time to shop around for deals, he said.
Mr Conway called on the Government to roll out a more robust solution than the book rental scheme, as families with multiple children will see costs mounting in this area.
Minister for Education Jan O'Sullivan said she noted the burden of costs on families and the Government would continue to support parents to bring costs down.
The minister added that the book rental scheme has been rolled out to 95% of schools and the Government will continue to invest in this scheme as it is a practical way of helping parents.
Ms O'Sullivan said there has been considerable pressure put on publishers recently to try to combat the changing of books every couple of years due to small changes.
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myCareer Planner features career planning, networking, and job search tools that can help students leverage educational and professional accomplishments whether they are seeking to enhance an existing career or change careers entirely.
In addition, students have up to one hour of telephone advising with an experienced career-planning advisor. Whether to help interpret Assessment results, or provide feedback on a resume, the career planning advisor is there to guide and assist.
For more information on career planning services, please contact mycareerplanner@antioch.edu.


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Board index Analytical Engines Computer Science
Besiege (the game) + Genetic Algorithm would be so awesome
A place to discuss the science of computers and programs, from algorithms to computability.
Formal proofs preferred.
Moderators: phlip, Moderators General, Prelates
Joined: Tue Feb 26, 2013 7:48 pm UTC
Postby arjan » Sun Feb 08, 2015 3:35 am UTC
Besiege is a game where you put parts together to form a weapon (a tank, a helicopter, a sheep-smashing device, anything), then steer it in order to destroy the enemy. This has lead to a lot of minecraft-like creativity. See http://imgur.com/search?q=besiege or this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUnjxftU6r0 .
In 1994, Karl Sims used genetic algorithms to both design creatures (using simple blocks) and designing the program that made them move in order to do tasks like "reach a certain distance", "follow the light", "get hold of an item". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBt0imn77Zg
The game is in alpha, and the player has to defeat the computer, not another player. I hope the official release will allow for two players to play against each other, too. And I really, really, really hope they'll make an API available to enable anyone to try genetic algorithms to design and steer things.
Because the player controls the machine now and looks at it in 3D, the machines don't have a need for sensors. I think they'll be needed for the AI-version, but they should be really simple. "Nearest object is 30ft", "Temperature is Y", "I feel a touch 20N", "I see color red", etc.
The 1994 video is already fun to watch because of the creativity of the algorithm. I can't wait to see what ingenuity computers would use today. It may take 50 generations to install a canon and shoot at random, 5,000 to find a way to actually aim, and 50,000 to learn to communicate and create an organized attack. Ants can do that. After that, it needs not 2 but 40 different players in each round. The object would be changed to not destroy everyone else but to not be destroyed by others. I think it would really be interesting to see what happens. After 5,000,000,000 generations, would there be partnerships, diplomats, etc?
EDIT: Adding https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcIBoPuNIiw to show the capabilities of GA.
Re: Besiege (the game) + Genetic Algorithm would be so aweso
Postby phillip1882 » Thu Feb 19, 2015 4:10 pm UTC
genetic algorithms aren't really good at finding optimal solutions, just solutions in general.
in my understanding anyway.
Postby Xanthir » Thu Feb 19, 2015 6:37 pm UTC
They're a search algorithm that does tree-climbing from a bunch of points, with some randomness built-in to help each point jump out of local minima. They find near-optimal solutions just fine in lots of cases.
(You may be mixing this up with the common knowledge that biological evolution just finds "good enough" solutions, not optimal ones. This is because the selection process stops selecting once you've "solved" it - the search space is full of plateaus that it can't optimize over. The only way to get better is to have a stronger selection process, which you can do easily in software; in biology, this is typically accomplished via an arms-race, where the selection criteria is driven by another evolving organism which wants the opposite of what you want.)
Return to "Computer Science"


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Nicholas King reads the Gospel of John - 2CD
Nicholas King reads from The Bible – just as Jesus' followers would have heard it: with passion, humour and deep faith, from his own unique translation.
Samples & Resources
Nicholas King's brand-new translation of the Bible has been greeted with jubilation by readers, church leaders and scholars. it has been described as'amazing','dynamite','instantly accessible' and 'unique'.
Even those words do not adequately sum up this recording which astonishes with every word,so beautifully spoken and full of meaning.
Here the text is presented with all its humour, grammatical inaccuracies and idiomatic peculiarities.
But what makes this recording stand above every other is Nicholas King's deep faith and lifelong love and study of the Bible, and his truly stunning voice. No actor, however brilliant, could so interpret the texts. This is the Bible recording par excellence.
Approx. 3 weeks (if out of stock)
Nicholas King SJ is a Jesuit Priest who taught for many years in South Africa, and then at Oxford University, where he has now returned as Assistant Catholic Chaplain, after teaching as a Visiting Professor at the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College, then at St Mary's University, Twickenham, and at Heythrop College, University of London. He is also Provincial's Delegate for Formation for the British Jesuit Province.
Find out more about Nicholas King Click here
Check out an interview with Nick King on our blog
Nicholas King reads the Gospel of Luke - CD Set (1490473) Sample track - Chapter 1 Verse 29-43 Having problems playing this track? Click here to use your default player
Nicholas King reads the Gospel of Luke - CD Set (1490473) Sample track - Chapter 1 Verse 4 -51 Having problems playing this track? Click here to use your default player
Nicholas King reads the Gospel of Mark - 2CD
Nicholas King reads the Gospel of Luke - 3CD
Nicholas King reads the Gospel of Matthew - 2CD
Nicholas King reads Favourite Passages from The Bible - 2CD
The Bible - Hardback Reader's Edition
The Bible - Hardback Edition
The Bible - Boxed Reader's Edition


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Which channels to watch Champions League Twenty20 2014 Live?


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SMC News & Events
SMC & Ed Carpenter Racing at the Indianapolis 500
SMC will be prominently displayed on ECR's No. 20 Fuzzy's Vodka Chevrolet during all on-track activity at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The No. 20 was driven by British rookie Jordan King in the recent INDYCAR Grand Prix. Team owner and Indianapolis native Ed Carpenter steps back into the car for his 15th Indianapolis 500 later this month.
Ed Carpenter Racing - ECR first entered the Verizon IndyCar series in 2012. The team is led by IndyCar's only owner/driver, Ed Carpenter. ECR has amassed seven victories and over 20 top five finishes in its first six years. In 2018, Carpenter will race at all oval events in the No. 20 Fuzzy's Vodka Chevrolet while Jordan King will take over for the road and street courses.
IndyCar Grand Prix – Opening weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway featured the INDYCAR Grand Prix, a road course race that takes place inside the grounds of IMS. The 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course incorporates portions of Turns 1 and 2 and the frontstraight of the famed oval. SMC was on the black and chrome No. 20, driven by King.
Indianapolis 500 – Over the course of two weeks, 33 of the best drivers in the world will complete nearly 40 hours of practice, have to turn four perfect laps at over 230 miles per hour to qualify, then race 500 miles on a 2.5 mile oval. SMC will ride along with Carpenter, winner of back-to-back pole positions for the Indianapolis 500 in 2013 and 2014. In 2017, he qualified 2nd, and has reclaimed the pole again for 2018. The Indianapolis 500 will run for the 102nd time on Sunday, May 27th at noon.
SMC Exhibits at Photonics West 2023 in San Francisco
SMC Corporation Sponsors Race Car Driver, Yu Kanamaru for Rolex 24 At Daytona
SMC Corporation Exhibits at World of Concrete in Las Vegas, Jan 17-19
SMC Exhibits at Rockwell Automation Fair 2022, November 16-17 in Chicago
SMC Corporation Exhibits at FabTech in Atlanta – Nov 8-10


As you approach by air, Iquitos seems dwarfed by the verdant rainforest surrounding it in all directions. But once you land, the city comes to noisy, colorful life. Motorbikes and tuk tuks swarm the streets with little care for traffic lanes or laws. Stalls at the bustling Belen Market are laden with goods from the Amazon region, from hearts of palm and exotic fruits to caiman heads and every kind of fish you can imagine. Stray dogs loll on the sidewalks, and the air feels like a humid blanket, tinged with the scent of diesel.
Many river cruisers arrive in Iquitos the day their cruise starts and are whisked from the airport to their vessel without getting much of a taste of the city itself. It's true there are no blockbuster sights here, and the city's faded elegance -- a remnant of the rubber boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries -- can sometimes cross the line into simple shabbiness. But if you enjoy destinations where the primary pleasures are people watching, soaking up the atmosphere and observing everyday life, Iquitos is well worth an extra night's stay.
The local currency is the Peruvian nuevo sol. There are several banks with ATMs near the Plaza de Armas. Note that before flying to Iquitos most passengers pass through the Lima airport, where there are numerous ATMs and change bureaus. There are also several ATMs in the departures area of the Iquitos airport, near the check-in counters.
Spanish is the local language, and if you don't know it, you might want to bring a phrasebook or use a translation app on your phone. We found that even some locals who frequently encounter tourists (such as hotel staff, waiters and tour guides) didn't speak much English.