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Telecel Faso sur les traces de (Cora de) COMSTAR?

zwan — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:58:27 +0000

On en finira donc jamais avec cette affaire Telecel.

Avec les décisions de justice du 27 Février et du 9 avril 2008 qui donnait raison à Appo et Planor Afrique et ordonnant la vente des actions détenues par Atlantique Telecom dans Telecel Faso à Planor Afrique, on avait cru à une fin de cette série à rebondissements entamé depuis 2005 (ou 2003)?. Mais apparemment, Atlantique Telecom n'a pas dit son dernier mot.

Depuis un certain temps, on constate cependant, une âpre bataille, par presse interposée entre d'une part Atlantique Telecom et Etisalat et d'autre part Planor Afrique.

Composé dans un premier temps d'analyse de journalistes et/ou d'observateurs "avertis", les parties prenantes sont depuis entré dans la danse.
D'abord, ce fut la lettre du sieur Isam Akrat, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary d'Etisalat (majoritaire à 75% d'Atlantique Telecom) adressé au ministre de la Justice avec ampliation au Président du Faso et au Premier Ministre qui dénonçait des zones d'ombres dans les décisions rendues par le Tribunal de Grande Instance de Ouagadougou, paru dans l'observateur N° 7174 du 11 Juillet.

[caption id="attachment_119" align="alignleft" width="210" caption="Appel national a 150 F"][/caption]

Propos renchéri par ... On ignore à l'heure actuelle l'auteur de cette correspondance par ailleurs adressée à une institution inexistante puisque Maitre Barthélémy Kéré a ne s'y reconnait pas (!!!) ... dans une lettre parue dans le Pays N° 4156 du 14 Juillet 2008 à la page 6 (!) qui interpelait la Haute Autorité de contrôle de l'Etat(!!!) sur des "faits graves qui sont d'une importance capitale pour la sécurité des investissements et en particulier des investissements internationaux dans notre pays".

La réaction de leur partenaire d'hier, ne se fit des lors pas attendre. En effet, "Le Pays" N° 4162 du 17 Juillet livrait, toujours à la page 6, ;-) le droit de réponse, incisif, de Planor Afrique intitulé "Attention à la dérive médiatique".

Rejetant en bloc toutes les argumentations de la partie adverse, la Direction Générale de Planor Afrique se félicitait de l'issue heureuse de cette affaire engendrée par des "vagues de mauvaise gestion, [et des ] querelles de leadership..." tout en tenant à clarifier l'opinion sur la "stratégie de défaitisme, de la désinformation et de l'intoxication" de la part d'Atlantique Telecom.

Mieux, Planor Afrique n'entend pas s'arrêter là car elle annonce l'arrivée imminente d'un nouvel actionnaire majoritaire dans le capital de Telecel Faso! De quoi irriter encore plus les responsables d'Atlantique Telecom et d'Etisalat.

C'est donc dire que Telecel risque bien encore de faire couler beaucoup d'encre et de salive, surtout quand on ajoute a cette affaire la récente grogne de ses travailleurs contre l'administrateur provisoire (qui par ailleurs toucherait mensuellement 9.500 000 F CFA pour ses loyaux services !!!)...

En définitive, cette épisode n'est pas sans rappeler la mauvaise expérience de COMSTAR (ou Cora de COMSTAR), le tout premier opérateur de Téléphonie mobile licencié en Cote d'Ivoire, qui de la même façon, a connu des tiraillements entre la Holding de Monsieur Alexandre Galley et des investisseurs Américains. Série cauchemardesque ayant abouti à la fermeture de la compagnie.

Affaire donc à suivre ... de très près!

Table d'Hôtes au Pays Basque sur TF1

Pierre Gites64 — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:38:40 +0000

Le 15 juillet dernier, le journal télévisé de 13 heures de JP Pernault a consacré un reportage à la table d'hôtes de François Barthaburu, propriétaire de chambres d'hôtes à Saint Palais au Pays Basque.
La table est un art, les produits sont de qualité et du pays et la recette locale.

Visitez les Chambres d'hôtes de M. Barthaburu

Découvrez toutes les tables d'hôtes des Gites de France Béarn Pays Basque Pyrénées Atlantiques

Transat Québec Saint-Malo

galyee — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:48:10 +0000

Les nouvelles, le classement, le suivi sur carte et plus...

Tempête tropicale Cristobal dans l'Atlantique

mariesophie — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:13:44 +0000

A 20h00, la tempête tropicale Cristobal était localisée à environ 160 km à l’Est de Charleston (Caroline du Sud). Elle se déplaçait vers le Nord-Est à la vitesse moyenne de 11 km/h le long des côtes Est.
Les vents atteignent les 65 km/h en rafale.

Image satellite NOAA

Un avis de tempête tropicale est en cours sur la Caroline du Sud, et jusqu’à la frontière entre la Caroline du Nord et la Virginie.

National Huricane Center

De fortes pluies sont attendues le long de la côte de Caroline du Nord. Le centre de Cristobal devrait se déplacer parallèlement à la côte et de façon très proche au cours des prochaines 24h.

Image satellite infra-rouge

Image NOAA

Housemaster Home Inspection Details Suffolk and Nassau 800-805-1122

mkaplan136 — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:45:03 +0000

To view all of the details of a potenial home. See the information below.

Call Housemaster Home Inspection for a home inspection Suffolk/Nassau County 800-805-1122.

WATER PENETRATION
	All sub-grade areas of a residence are subject to water penetration concerns. Most wet or damp basement, garage, crawl space and lower house level conditions could be alleviated with minimum effort and expense. This is due to the fact that most water penetration occurs because rainwater run-off from the roof and yard surfaces are not properly addressed and eventually water seeps in. The ultimate cause of water penetration in any particular situation can be minor, readily apparent and fairly easily corrected. Although in some cases correction can be quite involved and costly.
Considerations When confronted with an existing water penetration condition or attempting to minimize the chance of future problems, the HouseMaster Technical Staff suggests that you start with the following inexpensive remedies first and then move up to the more difficult and costly solutions until the condition is corrected: 1. Check the gutter system and water discharge to ensure it is diverted away from the house foundation; 2. Check underground drain lines for blockage; 3. Improve the soil grade around the foundation; 4. Install a sump pipe and pump; 5. Install perimeter drains. Be sure to obtain several contractor quotes and options before proceeding with any major work.

GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS (GFCI)

Ground fault circuit interrupters are supersensitive circuit breakers that monitor the electrical current flowing in the hot (black) and neutral (white) wires of a circuit. If the current flow in both wires is the same, everything is functioning properly. If, however, more current flows in one wire than the other, there’s current leakage to ground. A GFCI can sense any current difference and cut off the power to the circuit within 1/40^th of a second. This could save your life because a continuous flow through your body could be lethal. You are particularly vulnerable when on wet ground or in a damp bathroom.

Considerations
GFCIs are available for residential use in several forms: in a wall receptacle, in a circuit breaker or in a portable outlet unit. GFCIs are now required for all new construction receptacles near a water source such as at exterior, garage, bathroom and kitchen locations. Whirlpools, spas and swimming pools also require GFCI protection. While GFCI’s may not have been required at the time of original construction, the HouseMaster Technical Staff recommends their installation in appropriate areas of all homes.

EXTERIOR INSULATION & FINISH SYSTEMS (EIFS)
	EIFS is a multi-layered exterior wall cladding system that has been commonly available since the early 1980’s. The substrate for EIFS is a foam insulation board that is glued or mechanically attached to the wall sheathing. A reinforced base coating, which serves as a moisture barrier, is then applied directly over the insulation board. The final finish is provided by a durable stucco-textured coating made of synthetic and natural materials. This finish coating is often referred to as synthetic stucco.
Considerations Specifically identified as a serious concern is the possibility of structural damage to wall sheathing and framing, particularly in the areas under and adjacent to windows. The primary cause for this condition appears to be infiltration through improperly sealed joints at the siding and trim work interface. As a result of the moisture retardant features of some of the EIFS components, any water that infiltrates past the surface may become entrapped and eventually cause decay of all adjacent wood components. The HouseMaster Technical Staff recommends that all EIFS clad homes be checked by a qualified inspector for evidence of moisture infiltration concerns and where required, completion of the required preventative or remedial work should be completed.

WOOD ROOFS
	About 10% of all residential roofs are covered with roof – either shingles or shakes. In some locations, that figure is much higher. Most wood roofs are made from naturally decay-resistant red cedar. Shingles, which are less expensive than shakes, are sawn to a uniform shape. Wood shakes are less uniform and thicker than shingles. Both shingles and shakes come in varying grades, depending on the quality of the product.
Considerations The HouseMaster Technical Staff recommends an annual check of wood roofs for weathered, split or curled elements. Any leaf accumulations or other debris must be removed to prevent the build-up of moss or mildew. Applying a wood preservative if necessary and maintaining proper attic ventilation will help increase the life of wood roofing.

DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOWS

Many changes have been made in window and window glazing technology that have increased the weather-tightness, improved the ease of use and maintenance, reduced solar heat gain and limited heat loss. Initially such improvements were only found in the windows added in newer homes. Now, however, according to the HouseMaster Technical Staff, there is a substantial replacement window market. Consequently, owners of older homes can also benefit from the new technology.

Considerations
One of the primary improvements in window glazing has been the use of double or triple pane glass units that are constructed with dead air space between the panes. This construction reduces the amount of heat loss through the window. Unfortunately, the integrity of these "sealed" airtight window units is subject to failure due to improper installation or manufacturing defects or as a result of other factors that occur after installation. When they fail, moisture may infiltrate and condense on the inner surfaces, ultimately staining the window. This condition does not substantially affect the thermal benefits, but may become an aesthetic issue requiring eventual replacement on a discretionary basis.

HEAT PUMPS
	The heat pump is a system that is designed to capture the heat that can be found in even seemingly cold air and utilize it for heating of the home. An electric compressor pumps a refrigerant between coils located on the outside of the house and in the ductwork inside the house. During the heating season, as the refrigerant moves from outdoors to inside, it absorbs heat and then releases it to the house air that is blown across the coils. This warmed air is then distributed throughout the house via the ductwork. During summers, the flow of the refrigerant reverses and the heat pump works like a conventional A/C system extracting heat from the house and discharging it to the exterior.
Considerations During the heating season, the heat pump circulates a larger volume of lower temperature air than most people are accustomed to. A heat pump delivers air in the 90° - 100° F (32° - 38° C) range. The outlet temperature of a warm air furnace, however, is in the 120° - 140° F (49° - 60° C) range. So while heat pump supply temperatures may seem and feel too low, a properly designed heat pump system will actually keep the house air temperatures at acceptable levels - and at a lower cots then all-electric heating systems. Heat pump systems, however, are only economical at moderately cold temperatures. To handle very low temperature conditions most heat pump systems utilize electric resistance strip heating to supply supplemental heat.

MOLD
	Molds are one-type of fungi or single-cell organisms. Other similar microorganisms include mushrooms, yeast, and mildew. Mold is present everywhere—indoors and outdoors. It grows from spores which are distributed by the wind and other means. Usually the spores are inactive, but they will germinate when exposed to the right amount of moisture and warmth, and a suitable food source is present. They serve an important, positive role in nature, by helping to break down organic matter. But molds can also be harmful, both to the health of individuals and to the condition of building components. Molds can be allergenic, infectious or toxic. They can also cause damage to walls, floors, and other structural elements as well as any organic materials that will support their growth.
Consideration. The growth of mold indoors where it can affect air quality presents the greatest concern. Mold is most likely to grow when building materials are affected by roof damage, plumbing leaks, basement water penetration or any other condition that contributes to high moisture levels. Poor maintenance and insufficient air exchanges increase the potential for major mold problems. The HouseMaster technical staff recommends that all homeowners monitor there homes for any signs of mold or conditions conducive to mold growth. All sources or cause of excess moisture should be eliminated immediately. When considering the purchase of a home, a professional home inspection is the first step in assessing conditions. This should be followed an evaluation by a qualified technician for an assessment and testing for harmful molds when conditions dictate or personal concerns exist.

Check out for more information next week as I add more items

Catholicisme traditionnel en Écosse

El Cristero — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:58:23 +0000

Nous avons trouvé cette vidéo via http://www.zentropa.info

Si en cas, la rubrique "vidéo" de notre blog a été mise à jour dernièrement ... Amusez-vous ! http://intransigeants.wordpress.com/videos

Comme un Vuitton à l'île de Ré

connectedelegance — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:10:19 +0000

Vous en avez assez de retrouver chaque été votre vieille balançoire en bois, fatiguée et vermoulue ?

Pas de panique ! Vos vacances à l'île de Ré vont être sauvées, grâce à ce modèle tout de cuir fauve vêtu, signé par Fritz Hansen pour la Série 7 Louis Vuitton.

Certes, cette balançoire doit coûter un peu (beaucoup) plus cher (prix inconnu) que vos trois planches avec une corde, mais quelle élégance pour boire votre thé glacé dans le jardin...

:: NaNTES:: exposition REGARDE DE TOUS TES YEUX, REGARDE

Olivier — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:14:48 +0000

Le Musée des Beaux-Arts saisit l'occasion du 30e anniversaire de la publication du roman de Georges Perec "La Vie Mode d'emploi" pour proposer "Regarde de tous tes yeux, regarde" - l'art contemporain de Perec - soit une lecture perecquienne de l'art contemporain de ces 30 dernières années. Cette exposition réunit des oeuvres de quelque 70 artistes et montre que la plupart des grands artistes de notre époque arpentent les mêmes champs d'investigation que Perec... François Morellet voisine avec Claude Closky, Erro avec John Armleder, Opalka...

Sous la forme d'un puzzle se déployant dans tout le pation, l'exposition est construite autour de "La Boîte en valise" de Marcel Duchamp... En contrepoint de cette exposition, le musée a demandé à l'artiste Ernest T de réunir dans la Salle Blanche un "cabinet d'amateur", librement inspiré de l'ouvrage éponyme de Perec et composé à partir des collections de peinture ancienne du Musée des Beaux-Arts.

Exposition au musée des beaux-arts de nantes à voir jusqu'au 12 octobre 2008

D'autres infos sur le site de la ville de Nantes

illustration : Christian Boltanski, Vitrine de référence, 1972 Coll Frac aquitaine. © F. Delpech

Bugatti Veyron Sang Noir

flpveronese — Tue, 06 May 2008 01:31:06 +0000

A Bugatti acaba de lançar mais uma versão limitada do superesportivo Veyron, chamada de Sang Noir (Sangue Negro), ele é uma homenagem ao clássico Bugatti Atlantique 57S da década de 30.

Na parte externa o destaque fica para os painéis em fibra de carbono sem pintura, detalhes em alumínio e rodas exclusivas, ja o motor permanece o mesmo, um W16 tetra-turbo de 16,4 litros e 64 válvulas que gera 1.001 cavalos de potência e leva o bólido da inércia aos 100 km/h em apenas 2,5 segundos, equipado com câmbio semi-automático de 7 marchas que permite ao modelo ultrapassar a barreira dos 400 km/h.

custo do brinquedo ainda não foi divulgado, mas é estimado em 1,4 milhão de euros...

Vicki Van Meter

galyee — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:41:58 +0000

En 1993, à l'âge de 11 ans, elle était la plus jeune pilote à effectuer un vol transatlantique.

Coquillages et crustacés!

argentin — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 00:51:06 +0000

Mar del Plata, c'est bondé de decembre à fevrier, normal puisque c'est l'été:

Ne comptez pas les parasols, c'est impossible. J'ai tout de même pu jouer aux ombres chinoises sur un petit metre carré de libre sur la plage afin de vous epargner une rencontre frontale avec mon gros ventre ;-)

Sinon, je vous presente mes 4 copines voisines de plage, assez pipellettes à dire vrai mais rigolotes... Sinon, dans le même genre info croustillante du jour: Vous avez remarqué la casquette? Je suis allé essayer la Renault Sandero et on m'a gentiment offert ce couvre chef saillant pour me remercier de ne pas l'avoir emboutie à un carrefour. Je ne sors plus sans ma gapette Sandero maintenant.

Ma première journée à la plage fut donc à la hauteur de mes esperances: glandouille totale. Un petit bemol cependant: le vent detruit toute tentative de paté de sable...pff!

Bye bye.

Le mystère du triangle des Bermudes

Dactari — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:17:48 +0000

Qui n'a jamais entendu parler de cette zone dans l'océan atlantique ? La Floride, les Iles des Bermudes et Porto Rico forment en effet un triangle, dans lequel se déroulerait depuis au moins 200 ans des disparitions de bateaux et d'avions, toutes plus mystérieuses les unes des autres. Le site wikipedia propose même une liste assez impressionnante des disparitions. Toutes sortes d'explications ont été apportées à ce jour : magnétisme de la terre chamboulé à cet endroit, trous dans l'océan, passerelle extra temporelle, Atlantide, Aliens ou encore plus récemment, Jérôme Kerviel lui même, qui pourrait être responsable des disparitions de quelques sous marins à plusieurs milliards d'euros. Un vrai spécialiste.

Plus sérieusement, des explications un peu plus réalistes ont été proposées, comme le fait que cette région de l'atlantique peut proposer des conditions climatiques particulièrement extrêmes, avec des vagues géantes ne laissant que peu de chance aux bateaux qui y sont confrontés. Mais rien n'y fait devant les fantasmes de l'homme, qui préfère croire à des trucs complètement dingues, plutôt qu'a de simples tempêtes.

Et pourtant...

La vérité, c'est que les médias s'amusent à exagérer les faits. En réalité, la plupart des disparitions ne se sont pas déroulées par temps calme, mais lors de tempêtes. De plus, le Triangle des Bermudes est une zone assez profonde de l'océan Atlantique, dont les failles peuvent atteindre plus de 10 km. Dans ces conditions, impossible de retrouver une épave ! Il existe une explication un peu rigolote, si on veut : le méthane. En effet, la région regorge de ce gaz, et quelques émissions pourraient être responsable de plusieurs accidents avec des bateaux et des avions. Quand la terre pète, elle ne plaisante pas. Enfin, il faut noter que le triangle des Bermudes, situé en plein dans les Caraibes, est une zone très grande et très fréquentée par les bateaux. Son taux d'accidents et de disparitions n'est pas plus élevé qu'ailleurs.

Voilà, c'est tout.La conclusion de l'article ayant mystérieusement disparue, l'article se termine donc ici.

Vous connaissez Milou?

lafelee — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 03:23:27 +0000

Je vous invite à lire Milou. Elle écrit en parlant à son bébé à naître. C'est d'un calme et d'une douceur à vous réconcilier avec la vie. Ça fait surtout changement des tempêtes. Puis son histoire d'amour avec le papa qui a décidé que l'Atlantique ne serait pas un obstacle à leur bonheur...c'est beau !!!!

C'est de votre faute! [edit]

alcolo — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 23:35:08 +0000

Bon soyons clair là! Si c'était pas pour vous faire un peu sourire et parce qu'on l'aime on en serait pas rendu là! Mais voilà, William il a vu le clip, son équipe veut savoir si c'est bien lui, veut savoir on est qui nous autres... on a rien dit, on a dit que c'était de votre faute!

Ben en fait on lui a dit que William, vous l'aviez préféré aux autres, ils veulent pas qu'on le prenne à contrat*, ils veulent absolument le garder juste pour eux. Quand nos bulletins météo vont mourir de faim, quand on aura plus un seul sous pour produire nos clips 3d, on trouvera certainement un ministre pour dire que près de notre coeur 3d, on va trouver une balle de Radio-Canada!

* Vous aurez compris qu'on blague, ils ont pas du tout dit de pas faire ce truc, ils semblent avoir trouvé la chose amusante, et nous, on reste dans notre ti-coin à aimer faire ça sous noms de plume...

Mots clés Technorati : 3d,ivrogne,fêlée,william bourque,radio-canada,atlantique,culture,information,société,humour,parodie,météo

Flotte russe: début imminent des manoeuvres dans l'Atlantique

alyusi — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 11:05:41 +0000

Le groupe de navires de guerre russes croisant dans l'Atlantique du nord-est va commencer des manoeuvres qui devraient durer plusieurs jours, a annoncé à RIA Novosti le porte-parole de la Marine de guerre, le capitaine de vaisseau Igor Dygalo.

"Au cours des manoeuvres, le croiseur porte-missiles Moskva de la Flotte de la mer Noire effectuera des tirs de missiles air-sol et d'artillerie contre des cibles aériennes et maritimes. Son dispositif lance-fusées unique au monde sera également testé", a fait savoir M. Dygalo.

Selon lui, des avions devraient décoller depuis le porte-avion Admiral Kouznetsov.

"Des Su-33 et Su-25 ainsi que des hélicoptères de lutte anti-sous marine Ka-27 effectueront des missions", a-t-il fait savoir.

Le déploiement des forces dans la zone d'action est intégralement achevé.

"La phase active des manoeuvres commencera dans les prochaines heures", a indiqué l'interlocuteur de l'agence.

Ces exercices sont les premiers des flottes russes de la mer Noire et du Nord depuis 15 ans.

Le croiseur Moskva a rejoint vendredi dernier le groupe de frappe en mer Méditerranée afin de réaliser des missions conjointes.

Le commandement général est réalisé depuis le croiseur porte-avions lourd Admiral Kouznetsov.

Le groupe comprend en outre les grands navires anti-sous-marins Admiral Levtchenko et Admiral Tchabanenko et les navires auxiliaires Sergueï Ossipov et Ivan Boubnov.

La sortie du groupe de frappe de la Flotte du Nord dans l'Atlantique du Nord-Est a commencé le 5 décembre. Le ministre russe de la Défense, Anatoli Serdioukov, avait alors annoncé que la Russie restaurerait sa présence dans l'Océan mondial. Au cours de cette sortie, les navires du groupe couvriront plus de 12.000 milles marins. L'aviation stratégique à grand rayon d'action participera aux exercices.

"Il ne s'agit pas d'une simple sortie, c'est une mission militaire", a indiqué le commandant.

A bord d'eau

jarmolaine — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:07:24 +0000

Oui oui, j'en conviens, ce blog part à vau l'eau.

J'ai donc visité l'Aquitaine pour les fêtes de Noël. Enfin c'était surtout la Gironde, et sa charmante ville, si Juppéiste dans son apparence... Paraît-il que Bordeaux était vieille et sombre quelques années auparavant. Maintenant, telle que je l'ai découverte, je l'ai surtout trouvée grandiose, imposante, historique et un peu... froide, voire hautaine. A l'image de son maire, y'a pas à tortiller...

Je n'avais mis les pieds de ce côté-ci de la France que pour rejoindre l'Espagne, il était donc temps d'aller scruter l'océan...

...si majestueux... et les plages, immenses !

D'ailleurs, par mer moins agitée, je m'essayerais bien à la planche à voile tiens...

Et puis bien sûr, traverser ces terres ne peut se faire sans un coup de fourchette côté foie gras et une lampée côté bon vin... Pour le foie gras, j'étais servie par la mamie qui m'hébergeait, je lui tire mon chapeau ! Et pour le vin, direction St Emilion !

Même si Bordeaux est un peu trop "lyonnaise" à mon goût, les alentours sont magnifiques. Allez savoir si mon passage programmé à Nancy, à la fin du mois, me fera le même effet...

LE sujet d'actu qui m'a marqué pendant mon passage à Bordeaux : la disparition de Charlie ! C'était aux infos du 31 décembre, c'était même la Une de mes canards, la disparition d'un lapin géant blanc (naaan, pas çui d'Alice au pays des merveilles !!!), volé à ses maîtres alors que 2 de ses congénères avaient déjà été subtilisés peu de temps auparavant... Et pourquoi il faisait la Une ? Parce que Charlie n'était pas comestible à cause d'un traitement, il aurait pu rendre les voleurs gravement malades s'ils l'avaient volé pour le déguster, mouahaha !

Allez, take care !

Un pêt de la France

infectedearth — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:55:27 +0000

Et oui, les vaches, les chats, les hommes pêtent, mais un pays comme la France pête aussi.
Nous pouvons, au moins par politesse, essayer de nous contenir, sans risquer la combution spontanée (cf Kenny dans south park).
Le gros nuage blanc de gauche est un phénomène météorologique tout à fait normal qu'on appelle communément "nuage", mais le nuage gris bleuâtre entre la côte ouest Française et ce "nuage", c'est simplement un reste de notre chère pollution.

Photo prise le 22 Mars 2003

Hmmm ! miam miam les bons poissons qu'on achète à Carrefour !!
Cette fois c'est décidé, j'arrête de prendre le train, et je vais chercher le pain en voiture.
Avec un peu de bonne volonté, on arrivera à ne plus en avoir de ce poisson qui est d'ailleurs cher et puis pas bon...

Votre séjour en gite, en chambre d'hotes au Pays Basque et Béarn

Pierre Gites64 — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:02:15 +0000

Vos appréciations, vos remarques sur les hébergements, les visites, les bons plans (ou mauvais) que vous avez rencontré durant vos vacances nous intéressent. Vos conseils pour les futurs clients, vos attentes pour votre prochain séjour, votre avis nous intéresse.

A vos claviers

Hot Hot HOT!

thebigpeach — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 23:50:54 +0000

It's a Sunday, and it's, thankfully, not nearly as hot as it has been. A massive heatwave has been static here in this city for days now. By Wednesday it's going to be back up to 105 with the heat index. Now I'm all for the heat; one thing everyone should know is that the South is like the proverbial kitchen. If you can't stand the heat, and so on. Me? I live for this weather. An excerpt from my other blog dated Friday, August 10th reads thusly:

<i>People are dying, literally. The poor are dropping dead under overpasses, the rich fainting on sidewalks, briefcases in hand. This is the time everything solidifies for me. I wouldn't trade this heat for love nor money. Opening doors and stepping foot outside is like walking into hot oil. It will rain later, but it will only get hotter then. The heat will cling to the moisture in the air and this city will be a rainforest, awash with sweat and the anticipation of a Friday night.
This is it. Summer rolls her hips the sweetest and hardest this one last time and everyone in Atlanta sucks in and moans out deep and low. The blues were written for days like this.
Barefoot and moist, I find myself smoking on the front porch.</i>

A bit abstract, but that is the more luscious way to describe it. However, these past few days have gotten me closer and closer to retracting those words. It's so hot, I've seen things I thought I might never see in this city:

a. The Corner Tavern (known also as The Coroner Tavern to those who are fans of the band) has closed their giant garage door to bar out the summer heat. Even in the winter they usually keep it open and blast heaters.

b. The homeless guys at the intersection of Freedom Parkway and Boulevard have ditched their scrawled "Homeless; Give $; God Bless" signs for buckets of ice with bottles of water in them. They charge anywhere from $2 to $4, but I can imagine those frosty bottles look pretty appetizing to the people who have no AC in their cars.

c. Even the cats are staying inside. Arthur's lovely silver shorthair Sally, who usually delights in turning into a kitteh throw-rug in the odd shafts of sunlight, is now opting to decorate the hardwood floor of the kitchen next to the AC vent.

My advice to those that are unfamiliar with Atlanta in August, here is my advice to you: watch SurvivorMan. (Don't settle for Bear Grylls, that guy's a hack...FAKE ACCENT ALERT) There are two different episodes of the show in which the host strands himself in Rainforests. One in Costa Rica, and another in the Amazon. That will help you survive this intensity. You might have to bust open some coconuts to stay hydrated, but it will help.

In other news, Arthur is back from Italy as of Friday, and bearing gifts! But the best purchase decision he made, I believe, was this (purchased here). He's been obsessed with Plague Doctors for a while, and I could tell he was excited. It's going to become a pretty bitchin' Halloween costume.

I am still a little sad about the whole thing; him going to Italy, having all that amazing fun. I don't even really care about the fact that he went without me, but I put Italy so high on a Renaissance pedestal, that I ache every time I think about it. But that is all getting better. Slowly, but surely.

Lastly, in internet news, there is a pretty sweet article in the latest issue of Wired (the one with Martha Stewart on the cover, in the middle of icing a Wii as though it were a cake...way to go, Stewart. Some unfortunate nerd could have used that) that is all about how to make a meme and do it right. It's pretty awesome, y'all should check it out.

A side note: The Word 'Meme'

The Dog Days

thebigpeach — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 23:38:56 +0000

Saturday night was enjoyed once again at the aforementioned Sampson Street Lofts. (or, as I discovered they are more formally known as "The Cotton Docks" due to the location once having been a cotton mill) This was a fairly uneventful evening for the most part, hoever atabout three am, I happened to glance up at the temperature gague on the ceiling of my car, and realized that it was 94 degrees fahrenheit. I hate to say it, but that's what I love; I really don't think I want to live anywhere that DOESN'T reach 94 degrees in the middle of the night.

Arthur will be back from Italy Friday. Most of the hurt has finally diminished, along with the prickly jealousy. I'm glad to be past most of it, too. I was pretty decently depressed for most of last week, and when consoled by my friends and family, all cooing gentl and telling me Arthur would be back soon, all I could do was scoff. I miss my boyfriend, sure. Somewhat. Mostly I'm just jealous that he is riding in a gondola, drinking Roman wine and swimming in the Mediterranean. But most of that is passing, as long as I don't sit and stew about it.

We finally got a little bit of rain yesteday, too, so I didn't need to water out back. Of course after that, it was so muggy I could barely breathe when I stepped outside. Small price to pay for not having to water.

Ok, it's rant time. I've been pretty pissed off about this for a while, being someone that frequently watches channels like Court TV and The History Channel. Obviously I'm about 50 years away from fitting into their target demographic, and occasionally I am bombarded with commercials for LifeAlert and incontinence medication. But what I absolutely cannot stand is the fact that someone out there feels like they can sell something as ridiculous as this:

(I apologize, I can't link this for some reason.)

http://www.corvettedollar.com/?cid=359602&gclid=CKbFpYiG4o0CFR3XgAodIixhrw

I feel really bad for the elderly people that feel that they need this shit. (Oh, and just in case you saw this, and decided you needed to get one for everyone you know, there is a STRICT LIMIT of five per caller!!!)

I would really like to start posting ridiculous chachka like this as well as discussing Atlanta. Because crap like this is just too hilarious.

I think that's all for now. See everyone in class tomorrow!

Party Time and then Late-Night Eats

thebigpeach — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:48:35 +0000

If, in the future, someone should come to you and advise you that there is a party on Sampson Street in the C apartment, I can tell you right now, if you're into meeting new people and going places that do not suck, the Sampson Street Lofts is the place for you. I'm not totally sure what it once was, perhaps storage space or a factory at one point, But now it has been divided up into lofts and each one sports enormous, open, areas and industrial, old-brick atmosphere. There is room enough for anything you would need a lot of room for. Located in those weird little backroads between Freedom Parkway and Dekalb Avenue,

they are out-of-the-way, private, and host a majority of people between the ages of 18-30. Most of these people make up a very creative little community, people that paint the letters of their apartments on their doors in various creative and bizarre ways. Parties here feature ourtageous things such as acrobatic, arial performances, homemade beer served out of bathtubs, and old episodes of Transformers projected on walls. Even if you can't get in to take a look at a unit, if you're ever in the neighborhood, drive by and check it out. It's truly an outrageous and fun place to be.
Say you're at Sampson Street in the middle of the night, and you suddenly realize you are hungry. So you dig up a sober, responsible driver and head out into the night - but it's so late! Where to go? Well, you've got some choices in this city.
flaunts a well-known reputation for being some of the best Chinese food in Atlanta. Plus they're open all night most nights. About a year ago, Chinese Buddha was in a much less-desireable location, and was ssporting ratty carpet, and stained seat-covers. Now, in a swanky locale on 14th street, this little place has moved on up in the world, and along with slightly more expensive prices than one could once expect, now has romantic atmosphere, and an extended, better-dressed staff. For late-night fried rice cravings, this is all you need.
--- Atlanta Diner is a bit more of a drive if you're not in Decatur, but it's worth it. This place rocks some of the best salads you can imagine, as well as an eggplant parmesan that has, in the past, shaken patrons to their very core, and given them just cause to re-evaluate their personal faith. Whatever you do, don't talk to the street walkers that occasionally stumble in.
And of course, who could forget, Majestic. You have to really appreciate this eatery for what it really is: a greasy spoon that is open 24 hours, in which you will find a staff that tumbled right out of Hipsterville. The food can be anywhere from pretty good to horrifying, but nothing settles a drunken, rumbling stomach like pattymelt grease. And if you haven't ever been there, well, it's worth going at least once. It's an Atlanta icon, like the Fox and Turner; just don't slip in the occasional vomit puddles outside the bathroom.

CityTown USA

thebigpeach — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 08:46:52 +0000

It's been a little bit crazy these past few days; running around, house-sitting for Arthur, who is now in Italy, and of course, getting caught under the heavy thumb that is late summer in Atlanta. Hauling recycling to the curb of Arthur's Virginia-Highlands house at two a.m. becomes surprisingly sweaty, no matter the brevity of the exertion, or lack of sunlight. A stale breeze is gently moving candy wrappers down the sidewalk, but doing very little to cool the backs of necks.

This presented the perfect opportunity for a late-night summer activity: a late movie, to be viewed in a large, darkened theater with the air conditioning on full-blast. However, Talk to Me was only showing at one theater. Atlantic Station. A shopping-living anomaly that is lovingly nicknamed CityTown. Atlantic Station haunts my nightmares. The ones where I wake up in a cold sweat, fearing that this will be how people live in the future.

It is, by design, not a new idea: people living above stores. Not a hard concept. Who wouldn't want to wake up every morning in their charming little flat or studio to the smell of freshly baked break wafting up from the street; or hear jazz from the nightclub below in the cool of the evening?

Atlantic Station takes that brilliant concept of space conservation and shits all over it. In Atlantic Station, who's tagline is "Life Happens Here" people have the option of living above the following: one or two overpriced restaurants, or, chain stores such as Express or Banana Republic. I have no desire, and I worry about the fact that it is a coveted living locale.

If you do decide to brave the bizarre, cardboard-cutout feel of Atlantic Station, be my guest. It sports a decent movie theater, and if you absolutely can't live without those bitchin' Guess capris that went on sale and you'd rather go to human hive of weirdness to buy them, that's fine too. BUT REMEMBER. If you go to visit and not to live, you must validate your parking. Or else you will be forced to live there, on a neverending quest for the parking office in the lower bowels of the parking deck.

Untitled

thebigpeach — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 19:54:42 +0000

Tomorrow afternoon, I have the rare treat of escorting an out-of-town guest around The Big Peach. Now here is something that I think I will be very good at, and I really look forward to it. How often do I get to take someone around my city and show them everything I love about it and try and get them to love it too? Though of course, like everything else in my life, there is bound to be some weirdness. Like the fact that my out-of-town guest is not REALLY from out of town. He's actually a resident of an Atlanta suburb, Kennesaw, and has never, in fact, been to Atlanta. How this is even possible is beyond me, but it will certainly be interesting to show him what he has been living a mere 20 minutes from all his life, and never seen. And hopefully this will ignite some sort of desire in him to get out of that suburb up there where there are still occasionally public KKK rallies and camouflage is always in style, whether it's on a shirt, a cellphone cover, or even use as a paint substitute all over your car. (coming in handy, of course, for hunting.)

Theresa asked me a few days ago if I knew what a 'lifer' was. She talked to me for a little while about the people in Alaska that will never move, and will remain in the place of their birth for the rest of their lives. As I thought about it, I realized that, no, I do not want to live in Atlanta all my life. I have no desire to move right away, but I will if called to do so by some illusive job op.

And what about location? Being a lifer in Atlanta must be very different than being a lifer in Kennesaw. Though some people love their small towns, and don't want to change anything. They love the people they see every day, and have no desire to leave. In a city like The Big Peach, you can go anywhere and get lost in the heart of it. In the city, you can hide.

I think this little town where I've found myself house-sitting, Sugar Hill, consists mainly of lifers. And I think they must be out of their minds. But it's their home and they love it. And even this place is going through it's own changes. In 2000 the census took the population, and it was 11,399. That must be almost doubled. There are so many subdivisions here now, McMansions everywhere, and even upscale condos right on The 'Hooch. Where there are suburbanites, there are liquor stores, Publixes, banks and restaurants. And that means mini-malls, and shopping centers.

Curious as to what this little town used to be, I did some research. This is their logo:

The city of Cumming, to this day, does not have a rail line. And back in the late nineteenth century goods were transported by wagon. Well, one of the wagons, overloaded, on it's way from Buford to Cumming, (traveling on what we now call Buford Highway) lost a wheel while going over a large hill. The wagon overturned, spilling a few huge bags of sugar. From then on, it was known as "The Hill Where The Sugar Spilled," and was used as a reference point on the road between Buford and Cumming. Then it became Sugar Spill, sometimes Sugar Hill, and eventually was a Georgia Militia District and finally was named Sugar Hill, and charted as a city on March 24, 1939.

One of the Outer Limits ... of Atlanta.

thebigpeach — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 02:18:05 +0000

Sugar Hill. Located about three miles to the West of 985, or, Lanier Parkway, (that's what 85 splits into about 30 miles outside of the city.) this is probably considered one of the last suburban outposts before you get north of the lake, into "Banjo Territory." (that's what I call it anyway.)

My mother's neighbors, a darling young thirty-something couple, has been paying me to house and dog sit for them for almost five years now. The last of these house-sitting ventures concluded about a month and a half ago; but it did not conclude without mishaps that, for some reason, occurred this time, as opposed to the last four-odd times I've stayed there.

Here is a invoice of the things that I owe my neighbors:

-One beach-themed plastic plate. (microwaved, when not microwave-safe. This is a very important loss to them, due to the fact that they eloped to the Bahamas about ten years ago, and their ENTIRE HOUSE is beach-themed. Shit.)

-One green, plastic colander. (microwaved, when not microwave-safe. During a drunken hunger-fest, I decided that the Pop Secret! Super Butter! would be too buttery, so I opened the package, rinsed all the pseudo-butter off, and threw it in the colander with a little salt and tucked that safely in a microwave; not even considering, of course, that all the salt fell right through the holes. I probably should have kept the result and called it 'art'.)

-One Crate and Barrel Storage Table Unit. (gorgeous piece of furniture, and handy. It stores books, DVDS, remotes, and goes with just about anything. Unfortunately, it's finish does not necessarily stand up to spilled nail polish remover. There is a much more interesting story behind this that I am simply too ashamed to share, but regardless: it was a gorgeous piece of furniture.)

- One wooden toilet seat. (no telling what exactly happened here. According to my boyfriend, it was whole one minute, and the next, it was split in half. This was also a crucial beach-themed ornament for their house. Or, at least, the top of the seat was, not the wooden, put-your-cheeks-here-part.)

Despite this poor couple's multiple costs to their love nest, the female of the two recommended my dog/house sitting services to her sister, who lives here, in Sugar Hill. Thusfar in the week, things have been going just fine. Their dog is sweet, so is their cat, and the area is filled with wildlife. They even have a zip line out back that proves faster than I could ever imagine.

But the house is located in a subdivision that should probably be right out of The Stepford Wives. As a matter of fact, this neighborhood is so 'secure', that they felt it necessary to instruct the people that live two doors from this house to re-paint the door to their house, which is red. Apparently the Neighborhood regulators claimed that it looked, and I quote my semi-employers, 'like a house of ill repute.'

Besides the ridiculousness and the shitty weather, I've been having fun out here. It's nice to be outside of the city for a while. I actually saw some deer, and an enormous rabbit. The 'Hooch is a little low, (that's slang for the Chattahoochee River to all you Yankees) but it's been that way for a couple of years, due to the drought. I still would like to float it maybe later in the week. I'll have to ask around, see if anyone wants to blow up a 'tube and float on down with me. Of course we'll have to design some sort of rudimentary device that will be capable of floating a cooler full of beer.

It's good to be a-breathin'.

Tuesdays are Spoken-for.

thebigpeach — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 21:31:59 +0000

I completely forgot to mention that that last entry was incomplete. I bet that last sentance was a little bizarre. I will have to check with Alissa on the 'unfinished blog' etiquitte.

Tuesdays are Karaoke night at the Famous, and for the life of me, I cannot understand why people hate Karaoke so much. Worst-case scenario, you show up just to watch, and everyone that gets up and sings sucks worse than anything the human ear has ever encountered, and you get some free entertainment that can, if you so desire, be magnified by the SAFE usage of alcoholic beverages. What's the down side here?

Even if it's not for some, I think the reason that the Famous is such a perfect venue for this long-running bar activity is because, as I explained in my last entry, the Back Bar (the 'Sports Palace' to some) is outfitted perfectly to accomodate this sort of thing. I've been to one or two Karaoke nights at assorted bars all around town, and I must say that being on a stage has a real effect on one's performance. It usually seems to make the suckers suck harder and those with real talent shine brighter. I think it's the best entertainment you can find at a bar.

It could be that I'm partial to Famous Karaoke because of the sweet little troll of a Lemmy wanna-be that runs the whole gig for Bob's Karaoke. (we will call him 'Jay')

However, he can grow to be a little weird and plus he cut the Lemmy 'stache recently. A few months ago, a friend of mine used to work behind the bar on Tuesdays. She has since been fired, but that also has not stopped me from attending nearly every Tuesday without fail. Or maybe it's that one girl that always sings old country songs and hits the notes with a better, more mellow and buttery tone than the originial singers. I like watching her apply her God-given talent to Whitney Houston songs and matching the And Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeaaaaaiiii perfectly; and due to the fact that she can actually turn "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" into a pretty song, well, she's pretty much a goddess among mere mortals.

I go for the combination of all those things, of course. But I think the highlight is living in the whole shadow of the Cheers legacy. A lot of people know my name. Not only the string of assorted acquaintences and co-workers that I have Pied Piper-ed in to coming with me every Tuesday, but also a lot of the staff and regulars. It's a comfortable comradery that I think we lose when we leave High School and College.

So is that it? Is that what kept Cliff, Norm and Frasier always coming back? Why do we want everyone to know our names?

This coming Tuesday is going to be pure Roman debauchery. Whether I decide to drink or not, I've already got a fairly lengthy list of songs I plan on butchering, and I've been practicing in the car. One of my co-worker regulars is finally going to be over his tonsil/adnoid removal surgery, and I plan on a Misfits duet. Life is sweet.