Louise:

My brain is so full of iCarly and Say Anything and my lack of talent at wrapping various Christmas presents that I can’t remember what I said last time, but really, people of England and the adjacent nations who shop at Argos, it is not part of our job description to know every single catalogue number. And why do you pay for like a five part order of some rather expensive things, and then leave without actually collecting them? The poor unknowing helpless lady trapped in the telly calling out random order numbers to an empty shop until we clear them from the screen must feel so silly.It’s quite funny what some people buy, though.

As predicted, however, Friday was a marvelous day until like 4.20 at which time I had to go catch a bus to work. I didn’t want to go to work. I had a good time at work. I didn’t even mind staying 45 minutes later than I had to so we could put the jewellery delivery into the jewellery cupboard. Overtime ftw! Wasn’t too happy when I was up at 7am ON A SATURDAY to be at work for 8.30 though. I never used to be able to get up in the morning and would have like 764535399397452 alarms to wake me up, and I would still be late, but ever since like, year eleven I have been able to get up as soon as my alarm goes off and I find this very confusing as it is not normal teenage behaviour, but anyway, mumma came in at 6.45 this morning for whatever reason and said to me “Are you up yet? It’s quarter to seven and your bus is at eight” and I was like GO AWAY, I HAVE FIFTEEN MINUTES LEFT OF SLEEP AND I INTEND TO SPEND IT SLEEPING. I’d set my alarm and I fully intended on waking up, it’s as if though my mum thinks because it’s a Saturday it is physically impossible for me to be up before 11am, which it wasn’t, but anyway, alarm went off at 7 and I spent like 2 minutes deleting pointless twitter updates from my inbox, and then at 7.03 mother promptly yells through the wall GET UP LOUISE IT’S PAST SEVEN and I’m just like, go away mother, I am a grown up. Nearly.

How I’m going to cope at uni I have no idea. Though I can cook for myself and various other people, and use a washing machine and I like to do the ironing. Oh my god I am going to be killed my first week. I actually am. I’m going to be one of those people who has a constantly tidy room. WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME? Why do I lie, it is an almost impossibility for me to keep my room tidy, this will never ever ever happen ever in my life ever. My children will have the most immaculate rooms though, I promise you.

That is if I pass my A Levels, get into university and get a life, you know. I have until Thursday to do my English coursework and I’m not getting anywhere. I don’t even know where it is. I may just turn into a pierced delinquent who works at Argos. With my ear piercings. (Must state that Bethany was so brave to get her ear pierced after watching me get mine done, I most certainly would not have because I watched her get hers done after I’d had mine. It looked like she’d been stabbed with a screwdriver, as I was unaware they leave the needle in your ear for a bit, just hanging there.) I could never be a delinquent. I feel bad for finding a fiver on the floor and spending it. Charlotte actually found it but yeah, we spent like the whole bus journey home in fits of teenage giggles.

Oh my god I actually just realised the extent of the lack of my social life. The only texts I swear I get now are ones from twitter letting me know what Elliot Minor, Tom Fletcher and Mr Felton are currently up to in their famous little lives. Makes me sad I don’t even know what is going on.

Rascal Flatts are a band that I love so much, but they have the incredible ability to either make you happier when you feel you couldn’t actually get any happier, or just make you want to boo your eyes out, which is what I feel like doing right now, fml.

Oh dear. And it’s all because of you

x

I picked up the keys at 10:00 this morning, after signing all the paperwork and receiving the inventory to go over – and, of course, handing over the money!  That’s the fastest I’ve spent nearly £1,000 in a long time!

After leaving the estate agent’s office, I headed over to a nearby Argos and bought myself a new stainless steel electric kettle!  I doubt that D is taking the one we have, but I’m not either.  It’s old and not in the best working order.

Nothing else for it, then, but to try out the key.  It worked!  My first impression of the apartment – I’d forgot how small it was!!  But, I stayed for about 1/2 an hour just trying to get an idea of what I actually needed to do first.  Clean is what it looked like!  It really seemed dusty, more than dirty, and there were lots of dead flies in the bedroom!  I’d thought about sleeping there tomorrow night but have decided against it.  The loft hatch is open and I don’t think I can get it closed – I can get the ladder up into it, but to close it, I need a chair, and I don’t have one over there yet.  Sleeping in the room with it open feels scary somehow.

After my look around, I caught another bus to one of the local shops and spent a bunch of money on cleaning supplies and laundry detergent, dropped it off at the flat and came back to the house for lunch and a couple of boxes of stuff.  When I get back to the flat, I started cleaning in the kitchen.  Aside from the fact that the mixer tap is loose, I was quite impressed with how much room there is in such a small space!  The fridge is almost too tall for me – freezer on the bottom is big too.  I have more drawer space and cupboard space than I’ve ever had, the oven, although I haven’t figured out how to turn it on, is nicer than any I’ve ever owned, and all the gas burners work on the hob!!!  Haven’t seen one like that in about 15 years!    When I was done, everything was quite shiny.

It makes up for the rest of the flat.

The bathroom is ok, just another typical bathroom at the top of the stairs with the stairhead intruding into it…no storage space, cracked tiles here and there, poor paint job but otherwise ok.

The living room is going to take some creativity to furnish.  I want to put a dining table as well as a sofa and chair in there, not to mention a bookcase and an occasional table or one…It’s going to be interesting!  But, I have my eye on a gateleg (or butterfly) table that seats four, has ‘onboard’ storage for the chairs and takes up very little room – just might work.  And a futon instead of a sofa would probably also work perfectly.  Anyone up for a slumber party?  There are disappointing things about the living room, though.  Hidden away on the front wall with all the cable and telephone wires is a ‘airbrick’ type of ventilation cover that doesn’t fit right – I noticed it today because I could see daylight…yep, there’s a hole in the wall.  Plus, the living room window is a multi-paned bow window.  Only two of the panes are meant to open, but one of them is actually open and won’t quite close – seems to be warped.  Plus, by the time, I’d figured out how to turn the central heating on – all the radiators except for the one in the living room were nice and warm.  If Jeff can’t figure it out on Thursday, will add to my list of things to report to the estate agents.

The bedroom is actually the most disappointing room of all.  But, it’ll work.  The carpet looks like it’s been pieced together, it has an ugly built in wardrobe, and the outlets and radiator are in the wrong places so there really is only one choice on where to put the bed.  (Oh, well, I’ve been so indecisive lately…)

The loft space above the bedroom is actually over the bedroom and living room.  It’s carpeted and has a light!  But as far as I can see, it’s good for nothing but storage, which is fine – a good place for suitcases and Christmas decorations, etc.

By the time I left this evening, there were canned and boxed goods in the cupboards, silverware in the drawer and the kitchen was starting to look like someone lived there.  I was happy with that…and I’m sure once I get the rest organised, it will be just fine!

Where are your favourite place(s) to shop online? Why?

What makes an online consumer experience in such a technological age?

Cx

Anthony Calvillo & co., living it up

Yeah, I’d call that a choke. The Saskatchewan Roughriders blew a 27-11 fourth quarter lead, falling to the Montreal Alouettes 28-27 in tonight’s Grey Cup on a 33-yard Damon Duval field goal as time expired. I’m guessing this one’s a little hard to take for Regina natives, because from what I understand, the CFL is pretty much their lives.

In the end, the team that was by far the most dominant in the league this year came out on top. Sure, they got some help from an inept Rider squad late, but that’s why they play the full 60 minutes. Avon Cobourne, whose three-yard score midway through the fourth pulled Montreal within eight, picked up MVP honours. I’ll check back in with more on this one tomorrow.

Μαρίνος Δ. Γεώργιος (1892-1955)

Η προτομή του Γεωργίου Μαρίνου στην οδό Κορίνθου (πλατεία Αγίου Νικολάου).

Επιχειρηματίας και μεγάλος ευεργέτης. Γεννήθηκε στο Άργος, αλλά μετανάστευσε και έζησε πολλά χρόνια στην πόλη Λόξλυ της Αλαμπάμα (ΗΠΑ), όπου και πέθανε. Ο Γ. Μαρίνος απέκτησε μεγάλη περιουσία στην Αμερική. Πεθαίνοντας άφηνε πίσω του σπίτια, καταστήματα, οικόπεδα, αγροκτήματα και δασικές εκτάσεις. Πριν από το θάνατό του ανέθεσε τη διαχείριση της περιουσίας του σε τράπεζα της Αμερικής.

Στη διαθήκη του (29- 1-1954) ορίζεται με σαφήνεια ο τρόπος διάθεσης του κληροδοτήματος· για το Άργος προβλέπεται το 40% του ετήσιου εισοδήματος από την εκμετάλλευση της μεγάλης περιουσίας και αναλυτικότερα για τον Άγιο Πέτρο 10% για τους πτωχούς και 10% για την εκπαίδευση ορφανών, και για τον Άγιο Νικόλαο 10% επίσης για τους φτωχούς και 10% για την αποπεράτωση του ναού, ο οποίος τώρα έχει ολοκληρωθεί.

Το ποσό, που φτάνει κάθε χρόνο από την αμερικανική τράπεζα διαχείρισης, δεν είναι σταθερό αλλά ούτε και ευκαταφρόνητο· ανέρχεται περίπου στο ποσό των 12.000.000 δρχ. Τα υπόλοιπα χρήματα (60%) διανέμονται, σύμφωνα με τη διαθήκη, στο Πατριαρχείο Κωνσταντινούπολης (10%) και σε εκκλησίες, σε μοναστήρια και ιδρύματα της Ελλάδας και της Αμερικής. Σημειώνουμε επίσης ότι ο δωρητής ορίζει σαφώς ότι τα χρήματα πρέπει να διατίθενται αποκλειστικά για θρησκευτικούς, φιλανθρωπικούς και εκπαιδευτικούς σκοπούς.

Στο Άργος την ευθύνη διαχείρισης του κληροδοτήματος έχει εννεαμελές συμβούλιο με πρόεδρο τον εκάστοτε Μητροπολίτη Αργολίδας.

Ο Γ. Μαρίνος πέθανε στην Αμερική στις 3 Οκτ. 1955. Ήταν παντρεμένος με τη Μίννη Μαρίνου και είχε υιοθετήσει δύο παιδιά, το Δημήτρη και την Πετρούλα. (Για τη γυναίκα του και τα παιδιά του υπάρχει ειδική πρόβλεψη στη διαθήκη.)

Η προτομή του δωρητή ευρίσκεται στη μικρή πλατεία του Αγ. Νικολάου. Είναι έργο του γλύπτη Νικόλα, έγινε με δαπάνες των ιερών ναών και των χριστιανικών ενώσεων ενώ τα αποκαλυπτήριά της έγιναν στις 25 Οκτωβρίου του 1970.

Πηγή

• Οδυσσέας Κουμαδωράκης, « Άργος το πολυδίψιον » Εκδόσεις Εκ Προοιμίου, Άργος 2007.

Ocurre en Easy, en Farmacity, en Wal-Mart, en Carrefour, en Musimundo, en Yenny, en Coto y en muchas otras mega-empresas que sádicamente parecen disfrutar haciendo pasar un momento acerbo a sus consumidores. Ese mal trago empieza comúnmente con una frase de batalla, proferida por el último empleado del escalafón: “¡Necesito que me muestre el contenido de su bolso/cartera. Yo solo cumplo órdenes. No comprometa mi trabajo!”

En la antigua mitología griega existía el personaje de Argos Panoptes, que era un gigante con cien ojos. Era un guardián muy efectivo, porque sólo algunos de sus ojos dormían en cada momento, habiendo siempre varios otros aún despiertos. Resulta que Zeus mandó a Hermes (by the way, ¡que corbatas! (?)) a que matase a Argos. Hermes lo logró disfrazándose de pastor y haciendo que todos los ojos de Argos cayesen dormidos con historias aburridas.

Traigo esta historia a colación porque no es constitucionalmente admisible una vigilancia predelictual, de pesca, exploratoria o general para con los consumidores. Menos aún es aceptable que esa vigilancia predelictual sea cumplida por grandes cadenas de tiendas, que cuentan con recursos económicos mucho mas sagaces que poner a un pobre tipo pidiéndole imperativamente a todo el mundo ver el contenido se sus pertenencias. Al menos, como primera medida, debieran resucitar, y de seguido, contratar a Argos como seguridad (?). Aunque esperamos que los costos no los trasladen a los consumidores (?).

Por de pronto, quien practica esta pesquisa privada que censuramos, no puede olvidar el apotegma del proceso penal inherente a un Estado de Derecho: es válido investigar hechos para determinar quiénes son los responsables, en vez, resulta írrito proceder a la inversa e investigar a un particular para cerciorarse si incurrió en algún episodio reprensible como hacen estas grandes tiendas.

Por ende, para que un guardia de seguridad de una de estas grandes cadenas pueda llamar a un polícía para que, a su vez, pida orden a un juez, para poder requisar a un consumidor, debe, en el menor de los casos, tener una sospecha fundada y relevante basada en el material de hecho existente en la causa.

Todas las medidas y recaudos tendientes al resguardo de la privacidad constituyen un valladar imprescindible para la preservación de la libertad. En las circunstancias que reseñamos, sin intimidad, la libertad personal aparece evidentemente menguada frente a quienes se encuentran en condiciones de conocernos, evaluarnos y controlarnos casi permanentemente a semejanza del mítico Argos, que con sus cien ojos en la cabeza, y no utilizando para dormir más que dos cada vez, podía vigilar constantemente.

El respeto de la intimidad hace a la dignidad de la persona humana, constituye uno de sus componentes imprescindibles y una condición sine qua non para garantizar la igualdad y la libertad.

Porque el derecho a la privacidad comprende no sólo a la esfera doméstica, el circulo familiar y de amistad, sino otros aspectos de la personalidad espiritual o física de las personas. Nadie puede inmiscuirse en la vida privada de una persona ni violar áreas de su actividad no destinadas a ser difundidas, sin su consentimiento para ello y sólo por ley podrá justificarse la intromisión, siempre que medie un interés superior en resguardo de la libertad de otros, la defensa de la sociedad, las buenas costumbres o la persecución del crimen.

Por eso, abogamos por una pronta reforma a la ley del consumidor a efectos de que se impongan severas multas a las tiendas que cometan estos graves ultrajes a la privacidad de los consumidores. Y si a usted le ocurre un episodio parecido, ante el requerimiento de un guardia de seguridad o empleado de la línea de cajas, exija una orden de un juez competente. Como no se la van a poder mostrar, siga su vida normalmente, matándolos con la indiferencia (?). Esa es la única actitud democrática constitucionalmente admitida en procura del resguardo de la libertad de intimidad de todos los que habitamos el suelo argentino.

I think, this maybe an outdated system of monarchy.  I’m not sure how it works.  But I heard on the radio, that there is someone who get’s paid to wipe to queens ass.  Really?  Gosh.  Anyhow, I wouldn’t want to be a lady in waiting, unless of course someone made a film that lifted them out of a outdated mode of thinking.  Just a thought, but Britain has the hardest women folks.  Just wanted to think about it.

Louweasleydore:

I bet you missed me, admit it.

I have not used the internet for a million years, aside from briefly at college, but hello, education comes first and all that jazz. I have actually forgotten how to use it, and I am now remembering how much my computer hates me. It does not do anything. For example, I just typed that sentence and it got as far as “I” and then it did that annoying flashy-mozilla-firefox-not-responding thing. Ah well, there are bigger things to do in life.

Like building a computer that works.

But I shall never be able to do that because I barely know how to switch one on, although I did plug in the internet box thing and the phone line without electrocuting myself earlier.

But the weirdest thing happened today, and no fear, I hear your cries for me to tell you, so I shall. I unfortunately am of the bespectacled kind and am too squeamish to wear contact lenses, but anyway, I got out of the shower today and had a towel wrapped round my hair, like you do. Walked into my bedroom, leant over my bed (which I built from flat-pack BY MY SELF. I’m not just a pretty face, hahaha) to grab my glasses from the windowsill. I then blowdried my hair, and then proceeded to attempt to make myself somewhat normal looking with makeup. I failed miserably, but anyway, I have a double wardrobe, on which one of the doors there is a mirror. Next to my wardrobe is my sisters bunk bed, and I, as always, went to put my glasses on her bed. Ten minutes later, I turned round to grab them, AND THEY WERE NOT THERE. Like really, really gone. So I put on my spare pair, which I hate so much and cannot understand why I bought them, to have a better look. AND THEY WERE NOT THERE. They were not under the duvet, in the duvet, under the pillow, in the pillow, under my clothes, under the mattress, on the bottom bunk, down the sides, under the bunks, in the ottoman box thing, in the wash basket, on my bed, on my duvet, under my duvet, under my pillow, on the windowsill, under the towel, on my desk, in my wardrobe, in a shoe, in the airing cupboard or anywhere on the floor. I was most confused, and angry because I had to wear my beast glasses that are just so bad OUT IN PUBLIC. Which got ’stolen’ and I realised how really bad my eyesight is, because I could not distinguish the gender of people more than five feet away from me BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE. I got them back though, and was late for Spanish. When mentioning to my mother about the lost glasses scenario, she said “with all due respect, Louise, but how do you expect to find ANYTHING in your room with it in that mess?” It was not that bad. But lo and behold my mum has just handed my my glasses after spending half an hour about an hour ago searching my room for them and she could not find them, and she is bloody good at finding things. Then she gave up, went upstairs and there they were on the bed. Why are all my houses haunted?

I expect you want to know everything that has happened in my absence? I bet you do. Or not. Either way nothing has happened. Got shouted at by a customer at Argos on Sunday, talked alot, laughed alot, got rained on, panicked about UCAS, watched Gossip Girl, ate cake at Karen’s, started History coursework, had some early nights, and went to a Jonas Brothers concert, but I shall not tell you about that because I will get fangirly and annoying and I will cry. I cried because they took a little girl on stage and sang Gotta Find You from Camp Rock to her. I cried because I was thinking “oh my god my heroes are actually amazing, i love them they’re so lovely etc etc”. Charlotte cried with jealousy. It was good times Though I felt very old, very tall and so immature it was unreal. But on the way back on the tube, there were three women who were like 35+ who were saying they had just come back from the Jonas Brothers concert, and at that point my shame vanished. I think it a little excessive to go to a Jonas Brothers concert when you are old and you do not have a child in tow. I shall not go to an Elliot Minor concert, or indeed a young persons band, when I am visibly aging before their very eyes. Which is unfortunate because I look much older than I am. And I shall be heartbroken when I decide I am too old to go to a concert. I will be reduced to watching old Mel Gibson movies on a Friday night eating ice cream by the truck load.

Speaking of which, I went to another Elliot Minor concert and it was amayzing, as usual:

<fan girl>omg i love them so much i would like to marry alex davies he’s such a babe i love him so so so much but omg they’re all so amazing i have a shrine to them on my bedroom wall i don’t know what i’d do without them they are my inspiration if they break up i shall have a broken heart that will never be mended omg alex davies! it hurts to see him in photos with other people omg why are all other elliot minor fans so pretty? i miss him!!!1!!1!!!!!!1</fan girl>

I will fo’sho get children’s tricycles thrown at me for saying this, but I very much miss Jedward, I got quite attached to them, I like John better than Edward and X Factor is not worth watching now. That is complete seriousness.

And also, why does it have to rain ALL NOVEMBER?

x

Day 62 – Doing It Ourselves: Seeing as Slayer had to postpone their tour, I had an evening in with Ellie in the new pad.  We made a trip to Argos to get a CD unit and a bookshelf and started to build the former.  We’ve not finished though as a) lots of glue needs to dry and b) I need to buy a hammer.  One thing I don’t need though is a screwdriver, as not only do I have one already, but it’s a magnetic one!

This morning I attended the Evisions and Argos Reporting session at MOKABUG 2009. Through the session, the presenter provided an high level  review of the Evisions Argos Product. Overall the presentation was informative and provided the necessary information to adequately compare the features  and functions of Argos to other common reporting tools including Cognos.

Evisions facts

- Founded in 1996

- 100% dedicated to Higher Educatio

- Specifically built for the Banner platform

- 800 + Banner Higher Ed Customers

- Offer world class support – Technical support staff come from higher ed

- Advanced Collaborative Sungard Parter

- User Community Involvement in development prioritization

Argos Features

- Reporting solution with ease of use as the primary function

- Scheduling and Delivery with Report Bursting

- True enterprise license, across all users, types and database types

- Advanced Features – OLAP, ForeCasting

- Interactive Dashboards – Drill Down Functionality

- Advanced Features – Open  API for Integration within other Applications

Argos Configuration

• OLEDB connectivity based (Access, Oracle, SQL Server, any OleDB accessible datasource
• Datablock based system – Similar to Cognos Packages, Mid-Tier Data Access

Training and Professional Services

• Online training is available to customers . Online, Live, Interactive, Recorded, Unlimited Free Access for existing customers.

Argos COOP

• User Community. Online library of datablocks and reports – Free to Us

Perspective on the Argos Application

- Solid support/training and community available to customers. Customer generated data blocks (packages available for customer usage)

- Customer oriented support process

- Not as intuitive as Cognos 8

- Quick  view reports are terrific options for query pages to be delivered through SSB…. if possible?!?!

Regards,

TJ

I wish I could tell you that the most read book in our house is perhaps a collection of French prose,  or Ulysses, or even Dan Brown. Something intellectual, something stimulating. Something for the four of us to debate long into the night over cheap port and Maltesers. Or even just during the commercial breaks in the X Factor.

Sadly not. It is in fact the Argos catalogue. Thousands of pages offering everything from beds to bedknobs; dog beds to dogs (well you never know)…all available by phone or online. Or even by actually moving and visiting a store.

Catalogues seem to spring to life at this time of the year. The children, previously barred from mentioning the C word until mid November, have now been unshackled and are rapidly assembling Christmas lists with the Argos book of dreams playing a key role in their deliberations.

And I am more than happy to join them. Catalogues have played a key role in British households for decades and ours was no exception. I seem to recall Littlewoods and Grattans as a spotty teenager. Of course back then all that interested me were the toys, occasional fashion pages (“get your Bay City Rollers bell bottoms here!”) and mainly the underwear section….for many adolescents their first furtive glimpse into the complex and frankly intimidating world of female undergarments.

Not a lot has changed. Sadly Argos does not provide such a key educational service but for some reason both myself and wife are still keen on the Next catalogue. I wonder what she’s looking at?

Dans sa newsletter d’octobre 2009 (Athenews N°45), le Centre Athénas revient en détail sur la passionnante réinsertion en pleine nature du lynx Fario, réalisée en juin 2009. Ce lynx est le premier mammifère terrestre à être suivi par satellite en Europe occidentale (rien que ça!): une initiative particulièrement prometteuse dont on attend beaucoup en terme de compréhension de cette espèce, particulièrement délicate à appréhender. Extraits choisis:

“Dès obtention de l’autorisation de relâcher, afin de limiter le temps et les déplacements consacrés au suivi, ainsi que la pollution générée, il avait été décidé, en accord avec la DIREN Franche Comté, d’opter pour ce mode de suivi. L’État a financé l’achat du matériel (une balise Argos/GPS doublée d’une balise VHF, le tout monté sur un collier lui-même équipé d’un système « dropoff» qui a été activé pour provoquer son ouverture après 52 semaines de suivi. Le collier sera ainsi récupéré et réutilisable moyennant remplacement de la batterie).

Par convention, l’acquisition des données cryptées est réalisée sur le compte CLS/Argos de l’IRD (Institut pour la Recherche et le Développement) et le CNRS réalise le décryptage de ces données et leur report sur support cartographique (Google Earth). Le suivi Argos/GPS permet d’obtenir des données très précises sur les différentes mouvements de Fario, et il est ainsi possible d’orienter des recherches de terrain à partir de ces données pour procéder par exemple à des recherches d’indices de consommation de proies. Les renseignements par ailleurs obtenus sur le comportement d’un lynx subadulte en dispersion contribueront à une meilleure connaissance de cette phase critique pour les lynx immatures. Fario est en outre le seul mammifère terrestre faisant l’objet d’un suivi Argos en Europe occidentale.
Le CLS (Centre de localisation par satellite), filiale du CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales) en charge de la gestion du système Argos, a choisi , pour fêter les 30 ans d’Argos, de faire figurer l’aventure de Fario et son suivi dans l’exposition multimédia qui se tient du 7 octobre au 10 janvier à la cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie à Paris.”

“A n’en pas douter , ces informations qui feront l’objet d’une analyse et d’une publication en collaboration avec le CNRS et l’ONCFS apporteront un nouvel éclairage sur le comportement des lynx subadultes en dispersion et sur leur mode d’occupation de l’espace.

Deux évidences déjà s’imposent :

• les lynx ne s’empilent pas sur un même territoire, et Fario a été repoussé successivement des territoires de plusieurs individus (par les marquages territoriaux ou à la suite de rencontres directes), et il a dû se contenter des zones relativement anthropisées (prébois,haies, lisières), mais malgré tout riches en proies. Il lui a donc fallu courir davantage de risques (traversées de routes, proximité d’habitations), mais a manifesté beaucoup de discrétion et d’opportunisme.

• chez les immatures au moins, l’éventail de proies est beaucoup plus large qu’il n’y paraît. Ce qui avait déjà été pressenti avec Morissette, en mouvement un jour sur deux, s’est confirmé avec Fario : le ratio souvent annoncé d’un chevreuil/semaine est largement surévalué, car,excepté pour les deux prédations constatées, le nombre de stationnements prolongés sur une même zone pouvant correspondre à la consommation d’une proie moyenne ou importante (4 jours ou plus) est de 5. Cela signifie donc qu’au maximum 7 chevreuils adultes ont été consommés en 18 semaines et qu’entretemps Fario a diversifié son alimentation. Il a notamment exploité une garenne durant près d’un mois, et lors de ses déplacements a probablement consommé lièvres, renardeaux et autres petites proies.

Espérons que, contrairement à Morissette qui a selon toute vraisemblance été victime de braconnage (perte brutale du signal au milieu d’un massif forestier durant un weekend d’octobre), Fario ne fera pas de mauvaise rencontre et survivra à l’hiver à venir.”

Voir aussi:

• Fario: une nouvelle réinsertion de lynx réussie par le Centre Athénas (septembre 2009)
• Morissette: réinsertion réussie d’un jeune lynx dans le Jura (juillet 2008)
• Morissette: capture d’un jeune lynx orphelin dans le Jura (décembre 2007)

This is Angus. Hello!
Angus is a cute toy testing robot that lives in the fantasy world.

Our fantastic Poked Studio designed him for the latest Argos Christmas Adverts.

Poked’s 2D and 3D designs were used as reference to create the animated advert, which will be played on CITV over the Christmas period.

So, keep a look out!

These were the wise words of money saving expert Martin Lewis, who I happened to hear on the Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2 this lunchtime. It was an interesting discussion, in which he basically advised people not to go crazy with the present-giving and to focus on giving meaningful gifts, like time, instead. “No presents?!!”, listeners responded in horror. “What kind of a person doesn’t give presents to their family and friends at Christmas?!” But Martin made some fascinating points:

Traditionally, the giving of gifts has been a form of social banking that has moved money from the older, wealthier members of a community to the younger ones who are just starting out – for example, when presents are given in celebration of someone’s wedding or ‘coming of age’. At Christmas, when we all give presents to each other, the social banking function is no longer fulfilled – if you spend £10 on some bubble bath for me and I spend £10 on some chocolates for you, I’m effectively buying my own bubble bath and you’re effectively buying your own choccies!

When you buy someone a present, social niceties generally mean that they feel under pressure to buy something for you too. Fine if you can both afford it, but what happens if you’re better off than they are? Your generosity can actually end up creating financial hardship for them, as they spend money they may not have on a gift for you. Probably the last thing you’d want, but do you stop to think about it? Martin was suggesting that we give more careful consideration to our gift buying and, instead of throwing money at the situation, make more of an effort instead. The old-fashioned kind of effort, involving homemad marzipan fruits for grandad and a framed photo for grandma, that kind of thing.

I expect you can listen to the whole discussion on BBC iPlayer if you want to, but the comment that stood out the most for me was the one I’ve used as the title for this blog post: “Christmas is NOT a retail festival”. So how come we’re all rushing round like headless chickens trying to track down Go Go Hamsters and the like?!

I, for one, hate the thought that the retail giants (and probably their marketing and PR agencies too) are getting rich on the backs of ordinary hardworking mortals just wanting to make their children happy. Even if it is often self-inflicted, I can’t stand the pressure to always give bigger and better, to ‘up the ante’ every year. I’m disturbed by the great long Christmas list that my 5-year-old has already written, after hours spent poring over the toy catalogues. And I’m scared of disappointing her if I don’t deliver. Of course, the reality is that I – or should I say Father Christmas – probably will come up with the goods. Why? Because it’s quicker, easier and a whole lot less risky to pop into Argos with a credit card than it is to make something myself. I may not feel cash rich but, as a busy working mum, I definitely feel ‘time poor’. With the best will in the world, I’m not quite sure when I would be making that personalised patchwork quilt that I’d so love to give each of my girls? Probably at 3 in the morning. And can you imagine the horror of a crestfallen little face, as they realise it’s not a Go Go Hamster or a Playful Puppy or a Cicciobello Poorly Baby, it’s a bit of a mummy botch job?! Or would they “feel the love”? What do you reckon?!

"Ooooh ... THANKS mummy!"

A fitting end for Andrus and the Argos

In an all-around ugly season, the Argos saved perhaps their worst performance for last. Despite resting several starters with the playoffs looming, the Montreal Alouettes took command early and romped to a 42-17 win in Saturday’s season finale at Rogers Centre.

The Alouettes, with backup quarterback Anthony McPherson starting in place of the league’s top passer, Anthony Calvillo, scored on their first three possessions and took a 26-4 lead to halftime. McPherson was near flawless all afternoon, completing 16-of-20 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns before giving way to third-stringer Chris Leak to start the fourth quarter. McPherson also ran for 55 yards.

For the Argos, it was only a fitting end to a season of frustration. Even so, head coach Bart Andrus had positive things to say about his squad after the game.

“I told them how much they persevered throughout this year,” Andrus said of his post-game speech. “The way they came to work, their professionalism — this is a good group of people.

“When you have a group that works as has as they work, it’s just a matter of time before positive things begin to happen.”

Of course, time will tell if Andrus is around to witness a possible turnaround. He declined to comment after the game regarding his future and the future of the franchise as a whole. After a 3-15 campaign and with talk of the team potentially being sold, Andrus is as good a bet as anyone not to be back in 2010.

With little more to play for than pride, Andrus handed the starting quarterback duties for the finale to rookie Stephen Reaves. The southpaw struggled from the get-go in his first CFL start, overthrowing Brad Smith on Toronto’s opening possession for an interception that led to a Damon Duval field goal. In all, Reaves threw four picks and had another negated by a roughing-the-passer penalty.

“It was tough,” Reaves said afterward. “I pressed too much. I have to do a better job of taking what the defense gives me. I’d love to have a few of those back. Overall, a tough day against a tough defense.”

Reaves wasn’t the only Argo to slip up on an error-filled day. Andre Durie returned a first quarter kick 104 yards for an apparent touchdown, only to have it called back because of an unnecessary roughness call on Raymond Fontaine. Earlier in the quarter, long snapper Etienne Legare airmailed a snap to Justin Medlock, resulting in a turnover and an 18-yard McPherson touchdown pass to Kerry Walkins one play later.

Running back Jamal Robertson scored Toronto’s only touchdown on a one-yard run late in the third quarter but struggled horribly the rest of the afternoon, finishing with negative six yards on five carries. The Argos finished with zero rushing yards as a team.

If it’s true that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, then the Argos will have something to take from this nightmarish season. Durie, for one, suggested the team gained mental toughness that will provide an important boost in the future.

“We’re looking forward to more stability next year,” he said after the game. “Every championship team goes through losing, and we had a lot of it this year. We all stayed mentally strong though, and we’ll take that into next season for sure.”

Perhaps the biggest thing that will come from Saturday’s loss is closure. And with that, a fresh start.

“I’ll go to bat with these guys anytime,” linebacker Zeke Moreno said after the game. “I’d love to come back next year and see no new faces. We have the talent and the potential.”

Adriano Belli and the Argos look to finish on a strong note Saturday

The CFL regular season consists of 18 games over four months, but you can forgive the Argos for feeling like it’s lasted a lot longer. At 3-14 and long eliminated from postseason play, Toronto wraps up the 2009 season Saturday at Rogers Centre against the league-best Montreal Alouettes.

The Alouettes, 14-3 and locked into a first round bye, will likely spend much of the afternoon with big guns such as Anthony Calvillo and Avon Cobourne stapled to the sidelines to ensure their health for when the games actually matter. Similarly, Argos coach Bart Andrus will be sending out a few fresh faces, though for different reasons — he’s holding auditions for next year.

“It’s the last game,” Andrus said after Friday’s walk-through. “It’s their last opportunity to play and make an impression. Still, we’re approaching it from the standpoint that we’re playing to win this game.”

The most notable new face in the Argos lineup will be at quarterback. After spending almost the entire season on the practice roster, Stephen Reaves will get the ball for his first career CFL start. Reaves came in in relief last Saturday in Edmonton, completing 10-of-16 pass attempts for 122 yards and a touchdown in Toronto’s 36-10 loss.

“The last few weeks everyone has been auditioning for jobs,” Reaves said Thursday. “In this league, it seems like it could be one play that could either get you back or not get you back the next year. Personally, I see it as an audition for me.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity,” he added. “It’s not under the circumstances everyone wants, but I’m excited and hopefully we come out with a win.”

While Reaves and the Argo offense will be looking to finish on a strong note, the Toronto defense, which enters the finale amongst CFL team leaders in several major categories, is left to lament a season of strong play left to waste. Still, that doesn’t mean they’re ready to mail it in a week early.

“It’s the same mindset as every other game,” said defensive tackle Kevin Huntley, who leads the Argos and sits sixth in the CFL with nine sacks. “We want to go in and compete and do the best we can, regardless of whether they’re going to the playoffs and we’re not. We want to end the year on a good note.”

Adriano Belli, Huntley’s partner in crime on the defensive line, echoed his sentiments.

“Tomorrow’s our Grey Cup,” Belli said after the walk-through. “We’re going to go out there and have fun.

“More than anything, we feel bad for our fans, though it hasn’t been for a lack of effort. We’re going to play our hearts out.”

The Argos and Alouettes kickoff at one Saturday.

My relationship with these marvellous dogs, dates back to 1980. A friend of us Marios told us that a friend of his had just separated with his girlfriend and had to give away a nice GS puppy. We went to this house and it was impossible to leave without this fluffy puppy. We named him ALF. He grew up to one of the most beautiful, relatively blond GSDs I’ve ever seen, being at the same time kind, brave and extremely clean.

Η σχέση μου με αυτά τα υπέροχα σκυλιά χρονολογείται απο το 1980. Ο φίλος μας ο Μάριος μας είπε πως ένας φίλος του είχε μόλις χωρίσει με την κοπέλα του και ήθελε να δώσει ένα όμορφο κουτάβι λυκόσκυλο – προφανώς το είχε αγοράσει για την πρώην. Πήγαμε να το δούμε και ήταν αδύνατον να φύγουμε χωρίς να πάρουμε μαζί μας αυτό το φουντωτό κουτάβι. Το ονομάσαμε ΑΛΦ. Μεγαλώνοντας, έγεινε ο πιό όμορφος , αρκετά ξανθός Γερμανικός ποιμενικός παλαιού τύπου που έχω δεί, όντας ταυτόχρονα καλός, θαρραλέος και ιδιαίτερα καθαρός.

In i984, our friend Dimitris D. was forced to stay for long periods in the USA, so we proposed him to bring his beauty TOSCA (Bella). We couldn’t have hoped for a better bride for Alf, and in the picture below you cas see her pregnant just a month before giving birth to a litter of 9. Unfortunately Alf was no longer alive due to Kala-azar and to the the totaly unsupportive behaviour of a vet.

Το 1984, ο φίλος μας Δημήτρης Δ. χρειάστηκε να πάει γιά μεγάλο διάστημα στις ΗΠΑ γιά δουλιές κι έτσι του προτείναμε να μας εμπιστευτεί την όμορφή του ΤΟΣΚΑ (Μπέλλα). Δε θα μπορούσαμε να φανταστούμε ιδανικότερη σύντροφο γιά τον Αλφ και στην φωτο απο κάτω τη βλέπετε έγκυο, ένα μήνα πρίν γεννήσει 9 κουτάβια. Δυστυχώς ο Αλφ δεν ζούσε πιά εξαιτίας του Καλα-αζάρ και της ανεκδιήγητης συμπεριφοράς του κτηνιάτρου .

As Dimitris would claim back his Bella upon his return, we decided to keep the male puppy you see below, baby ARGOS.

Μιά κιο Δημήτρης επιστρέφοντας θα μας έπαιρνε την Τόσκα, αποφασίσαμε να κρατήσουμε το κουτάβι που βλέπετε από κάτω και που ονομάσαμε ΑΡΓΟ.

To be continued

1. Plant a tree, become a tree hugger and knit yourself some super scarves and gloves from this link . Here’s the direct link to the PDF knitting pattern
2. Make a list of what you need to get done, set some deadlines – and get reminders emailed to you by using free to-do list software like Remember the Milk.
3. Become a fast knitter! Miriam Tegel’s appears in the Guinness Book of World Records. Her knitting secret is to keep all movements to a minimum. Use size 8 knitting needles and DK weight yarn for optimal performance. After casting on sixty stitches, see how many stitches you can knit in three minutes. Good luck!
4. Knit some breasts! The Lincolnshire Echo has published Midwives’ plea for knitted breasts to be used to help new mothers learn to breastfeed.Download the free knitted breast pattern (PDF) and email Ruth to let her know. You can use any colours, but skin-tone yarns are preferred and ideally they should be machine washable. If you’re not in the Bath area, why not see if there’s a need for knitted breasts in your area? “Contact your local midwifery or health visiting teams,” suggests Ruth, “or voluntary organisations such as La Leche League or the National Childbirth Trust, to see if they would like some support them locally.” You can also visit the NHS Breastfeeding site for more information about the benefits of breastfeeding and for helpful information for new mums.
5. Premature babies are often so tiny they need special clothes. For a mum or dad worrying about their tiny new baby, the last thing they want to think about is going shopping! Fortunately, charities like PreemiesUK help special care baby units around the country by providing clothes and hats for these tiny new borns. They’re great, quick projects, and so easy to carry around. So if you’re looking for something new to cast on this week, or have some yarn or baby clothes to donate, please email Shelley Mitchell
6. Knit a Darlek!
7. Crotchet a carrot bookmark
8. Use up odd balls and yarns you don’t love by knitting for charity. Scraps of DK yarn make great brightly coloured Teddies for Tragedy or Burundi Bears.
9. Knit a cool bag for crossword fans
10. Knit a crown for the Princes and Princesses in your life!
11. Entertain your cat and knit an eyeball to play with!
12. Try your hand at weaving
13. Make this gorgeous Scrap strips squares quilt / tutorial
14. Crotchet a Meerkat
15. Take part in November writing and produce a novel Take part in nanowrimo
16. Try a new technique – see this link on using your lovely coloured pencils
17. Create something for you
18.  Here’s an idea: try some alterated art
19. Visit an exhibition
20. Find a market and talk wit hthe vendors about what is on the table
21. Join Clare in her blog where she writes 3 things she is grateful for every day.
22. Make a doll
23. Try out some new stitches http://primrosedesign.blogspot.com/search/label/Stitch%20School
24. Making Yarn With A Drop Spindle
25. Make yourself a new coaster
26. Sew yourself a skirt
27. Read lots of books
28. Explore all the colours in your art box
29. Try something new
30. Revamp something in your home

Pagan

c.1375, from late Latin pāgānus “pagan,” in classical L. “villager, rustic, civilian” (cf. peasant), from pagus “rural district” (cognate to Greek πάγος, pagos “rocky hill, marker”), originally “district limited by markers,” thus related to pangere “to fix, fasten,” from PIE base *pag- “to fix” (cf. pact/peace, page, pale,/pole). Religious sense (paganism/paynimry) is often said to derive from conservative rural adherence to the old gods after the Christianization of Roman towns and cities, but the word in this sense predates that period in Church history, and it is more likely derived from the use of paganus in Roman military jargon for “civilian, incompetent soldier,” which Christians (Tertullian, c.202; Augustine) picked up with the military imagery of the early Church (e.g. mīlitēs “soldier of Christ,” etc.), i.e., pagans are civilians to the Church’s soldiers.

While we soldiers of Christ (or the other Abrahamic prophets) were/are all pagans before we were/are soldiers, there is another sense in which some of us are pagans. Pagans are those who dwell outside the polis, which is the site of modern neonomadism, where uprooted pagans go to settle or through which they transit, the place of the coming race. Those who live a relatively fixed existence—provincials (like me), indigenes, and other immobile non-nomads—remain beyond the pale of the modern, despite our attempts to get into the race.

But, if we sidestep the race and sidetrack the stragglers, it gives us a strength: a primitivism (f. L. primitivus, “first of its kind” or original) that is not necessarily atavistic (“ancestral,” thus, behind) or mediocre (“middling [i.e. from medius "middle" + ocris "sharp peak," i.e., halfway up the mountain],” thus, beneath), but appropriate and/or appropriative (“made one’s own,” thus, beside).

We pagans of the pagus Anglorum are not inside, we’re beside, which paratactic orientation has virtues of its own.

Arnoldus Montanus, “Pagus Hispanorum in Florida” [St. Augustine], Die Nieuwe en onbekende Weereld . . . (Amsterdam, 1671), repr. in John Ogilby’s atlas America: Being the Latest, and Most Accurate Description of the New World (London, 1671).

So today I started my work experience, working in the pharmacy and medical section of the local drugstore. I was feeling rather pessimistic about it, suddenly thinking that I won’t actually learn that much about being a pharmacist as I’m not actually allowed to go ‘where the magic happens’ and handle the prescriptions.

But needless to say, I think that I’ve still learnt quite a bit, and after all the stocking of the shelves I know my way around the medicine section like the back of my hand

It sounds sad, but I didn’t thoroughly enjoy all my breaks. There was nothing to do but sit in the staff room drinking tea and reading the Argos catalogue they randomly had on the table. It was much more interesting and relaxing to be putting out the products.

There were of course some low points, like the fact that I have to also stock the condom section. And I see worried couples scurry in, grab a pregnancy test, and scurry back out. There was also a guy who (I think) told me off for having a confused look on my face when he asked for a product that I didn’t know and couldn’t fully understand because of his thick accent. But ahwell..

I’m also getting new glasses…I’ve just spent an hour in Specsavers having my eyes tested etc. My eye sight has seriously deterioated. My glasses have also got seriously bashed up which is a plus for getting a new pair.

I’m trying out a new style, which is thick black frames. But tomorow is another day…

WTF is wrong with this city?

Can someone… anyone… please field / ice a sports team that doesn’t suck? It’s killing me!

I love this city, don’t get me wrong, but being a sports fan here is about as embarrassing as it can get.

Toronto Maple Leafs? Brutal! 0-7-1 and can’t even tank it to finish last because if they do, the Boston Bruins get their 1st overall draft pick… Ouch.

Toronto Blue Jays? Have a $30 million dollar player in Vernon Wells hitting .236, and their $17 million dollar player, Alex Rios was let go on waivers because their idiot former-GM decided it was better that way than to trade him for live bodies. In a division full of the teams like the Red Sox, Yankees, and (Devil) Rays, they are bound to finish 3rd or 4th from now until eternity.

TFC – Sorry, wanted to type KFC since they acted like headless chickens on steroids after losing a must-win game 5-0 to the just awful NY Red Bulls. No playoffs for this team yet.

Toronto Raptors? So much promise, yet usually disappointing.

Toronto Rock?  The lacrosse team that I have had season’s ticket to for so many years because they are entertaining and cheap are not so entertaining these days and not so cheap anymore.

I don’t even want to discuss the Toronto Argonauts Football club.  They hired an NFL head coach in Bart Andrus and after having their best game of the season being their 1st game of the season, they finished the season with a horrible 3-14 record.  Brutal, eh?  I even went to a game and have watched several on TV and not only did their QB stink, but the team stunk play after play.

Is there another major-league city with more shitty sports teams than Toronto?  If so, please let me know so I won’t feel so bad.

Arkee Whitlock had a field day against the Argos two weeks ago

The nightmare that is 2009 is drawing to a close for the Toronto Argos. Two more games, including tonight’s in Edmonton, remain. Toronto, 3-13 on the season, needs either a win tonight or one at home next week against Montreal to match last year’s 4-14 mark.

The Argos hung tough with the Eskimos last time out at Rogers Centre, falling 22-19 two weeks ago. Following home tradition this season, Toronto held a halftime lead, then saw it slip away and had a late run fall short. Kerry Joseph, who makes his fourth consecutive start at quarterback tonight, passed for 331 yards that game, though about half of them came in the game’s final five minutes.

Though tonight’s game again means nothing to Bart Andrus & co., it’s a big one for Edmonton — they enter at 7-9, tied with Winnipeg and Hamilton for the final two playoff spots. Though he was quiet against the Argos at Rogers Centre, quarterback Ricky Ray leads the CFL in passing yards (4,336) and sits tied for third in touchdowns with 20. Running back Arkee Whitlock, who burned Toronto with 145 yards and two touchdowns Oct. 16, is sixth in the league with 1,014 rushing yards and third with nine rushing touchdowns.

So, another nothing game for the Argos, unless you count pride, which they haven’t looked too interested in defending the past, well, 17 weeks. The game kicks off at nine eastern (seven local) tonight from Commonwealth Stadium.

It’s Friday, so in many cases it’s the end of the working week. Hooray! And apologies if not. Here’s some security news to cheer you up!

It’s not often we get to talk about Argos, the UK’s premier great value but slightly depressing retail experience provider. They’ve teamed up with VSG for some security provision excitement. Lovely.

Speaking of retailers, Loomis is working with Sainsbury’s. That’s an effective partnership!

And IFSEC India 2009 is taking place right now. Our I4S India editor, Verghese Joseph, spoke exclusively to Delhi’s chief minister, the delightfully named Sheila Dikshit, at the event’s opening. Check out I4S India for more stories direct from the show.

This week’s Song About Security is the sublime and powerful ‘Girls on Film’ by Duran Duran. Click through to find out why.

Don’t forget, if you missed it last week, that you can find all of the winners of the 2009 Security Excellence Awards here. Then have a look at these galleries of the winners themselves, and the glamorous folks what attended. Beautiful!

www.info4security.com, www.ifsec.co.uk

O.M.G. This is brilliant. Over at the Who’s Jack office we bloody love connecting with our inner British tradionalists by having a good cup of tea a couple of hundred times a day, so imagine our excitement when we heard about the new Breville Hot Cup.

The Breville Hot Cup not only boils the water in just 40 seconds it also dispenses just the right amount of water for a cuppa at the touch of a button. It’s like the lazy persons way to make tea. Ideal.

You can pick up your very own Breville Hot Cup from Argos as well as other good retailers for £59.99. Actual love.