I have used so called self service check outs previously in the UK with very mixed results.
While visiting my parents in Sweden last weekend I entered their local grocery store and was faced with this wall of barcode scanners. My parents quickly updated me on how the system works.
You register for the service and are given a swipe card, similar to a store card.
When you swipe the card, one of the many barcode scanners is allocated to you and lights up so that you can find it easily. The scanner greets you with your name (and wishes you to have a nice day).
You then commence to do your shopping and every item you wish to purchase is first scanned and then put into your shopping bag. You can constantly see a list of items that you have scanned, their costs and the total.
Should you at any time change your mind about a product, you can simply delete it from the scanner and return the product.
At the check-out a member of staff asks you whether there were any problems with scanning of any items. If the answer is no, you then pay for the items registered in the scanner and walk out with your shopping.
Apparently there was an introductory period where the staff would choose customers on random and thoroughly check that their purchases were properly registered.
The advantages of this system were several. You could constantly see the total of your shopping, you did not have to wait in line to have your shopping scanned and your shopping was placed directly in your shopping bags saving you additional time.
The obvious issue would be with customers that do not scan their purchases but the occasional missed bar of chocolate is a bonus to the customer in my opinion 🙂
Now imagine if you could upload your shopping list to the scanner and tick the items off one by one!
Terrorism [via]
Category: Journal
2006 in cities
Following last year’s cities, here’s my 2006 in cities:
- Sao Paulo, Brasil*
- London, UK*
- Turin, Italy
- Milano, Italy
- Le Touessrok, Mauritius
- Prague*, Czech Republic
- Edingburgh, Scotland
- Miami, USA
- Nassau, Bahamas
- Helsingborg, Sweden*
- Copenhagen, Denmark*
- Campinas, Brasil*
One or more nights spent in each place. Those cities marked with an * were visited multiple times on non-consecutive days.
Click on pins to view photos from the location!
[via kottke]
Oh no, the big 3-Oh
Our good friend from This Ordinary Life was turning 30 the other day.
To celebrate this sad joyous event he and his wife had organised a wonderful weekend away in the Cotswald area for 14 people.
They found a charming cottage in Far Oakridge which together with the adjacent stable cottage comfortably fitted 14 guests.
From the outside the cottage looks very charming and authentic with it’s thick stone walls and low ceiling. On the inside however you’ll find all the modern conveniences you’ll want for a comfortable weekend away.
Fully equipped kitchen, power showers, central heating, multiple fire places, BBQ, games, books, flat screen TVs, DVD players, hifi and much, much more. Even a large trampoline in the garden which should have a warning sign “not to be used while intoxicated”.
Some of the available activities in the area are horse back riding, hiking, clay pigeon shooting and village exploring. Naturally me and the boys chose the shooting.
While the other guests were mainly couples, our little family turned up in full force: mom, dad, baby boy and two hairy beasts.
To our relief everyone had a great time socialising with the little one and getting the occasional lick from the hairy ones.
Once the baby boy was sleeping soundly, shortly after 8 pm, there was time for celebration dinner and drinking games until 3 am.
The next day the others had the pleasure of sleeping in until lunch time but we had to be up by 6 am to again start pleasing the youngling.
All in all a fabulous weekend away despite a few (canine) accidents in the back of the car.
Every time I get away from London I try to cherish every ounce of fresh air and every bit of peace and quite.
The English country side truly is a feast for the eyes.
Probably the best dad in the world
Sorry about the title but if Carlsberg can get away with it without being lynched, maybe I can too!
The missus was away for 3 days and I was in sole charge (nanny term) of our baby boy.
For the last 5 months it has been the missus solely getting up first 6 times then 4 and now 1 to 3 times a night.
My biggest issue has been just rolling over and managing to fall asleep again as soon as possible.
So my feelings were mixed when I was told I was to command the ship for a few days and nights.
On one hand I was anxious to see whether I would be able to manage by my self and especially curious just how bad the nights would be – there are torture methods based on sleep deprivation you know.
On the other hand I was well worried that the experience would be simply overwhelming and that I would break down.
To my aid was our nanny which is here 8 to 5 and so takes the heat most of the day while I was away at work.
I am glad to report that I am still here and it all went mostly well.
The wake up calls in the middle of the night required just a cuddle or repositioning of the soother – 20 minutes all in all.
Also once the baby boy was in bed by 7 pm there was still time for pizza, beer and a Playstation2 session!
A Mini Adventure
summer putney wharf london
Once addicted FRIENDS fans, we could not believe our ears when yesterday evening somewhere behind us in the restaurant we suddenly heard Janice’s hysterical laugh.
For the not so familiar with the Friends TV series, Janice was Chandler’s ex girlfriend and had one of the most irritating, high pitched, ridiculous laughs ever.
It all started one fine Sunday afternoon when feeling a bit sad to see that our weekend was vanishing before our eyes.
The husband proposed that we go out for a walk, maybe stretching it all the way to the Putney Warf for a nice bite (remember that with a 4 month old even the most common place things are mini adventures).
We packed all the 567 essential items for the baby, and head off on our mini adventure.
All being well, a very pleasant night was falling around us when we found a perfect spot at a grill restaurant by the river Thames.
Baby cosily asleep in his pram, nice champagne was ordered (again, with a 4 month old ANY opportunity is a GOOD opportunity to celebrate) and we started to unwind when a sudden shriek was heard from behind.
An airplane turbine? A motorcycle crash? Pig slaughter? Noooooo, just Janice who was having a laugh behind us!!!
For the next 50 odd minutes we had to cope with what seemed to be a fantastically funny night out for the girls behind us. Nothing wrong with that if only JANICE wasn’t part of the group; laughing away in her painfully witch-like laugh.
Well, thankfully enough, my company (hubby) was excellent, and so was the dinner and the chocolate drenched brownie dessert.
To top it all up like a nice fat cherry, walking back home with my fabulous husband and amazing kid in what could be one of the last summer nights was truly a treat.
Lost african python in London
People in London often say that the London tube is a bit of a jungle. If the below python makes it there, it will take it to a whole new level.
Reward: Lost 8ft African python “Sandra” was last seen in the alleyway behind shop. Please call 07977xxxxxx Thanks.
If you do see a python without an owner do send me an email and I will notify the person who put up the above notice.
I was also about to tell you about current office politics at my office.
Despite being required 110% on a current project I had to accept a 50% working solution in order to prevent other staff QUOTE wanting the same thing UNQUOTE.
But there are no office politics at my office so there is nothing to talk about.
PS For some time ahead I am 50% available for any commercial propositions
Identity Fraud and Identity Theft in the UK, you next?
There was quite a surprise in my latest Vodafone mobile bill. Two new accounts had been created and during almost a month they had incurred over £800 of charges.
After a short while on the phone with customer service, Vodafone quickly assured me that I would not see any of the charges on my bank statement.
It was almost too easy to get cleared from the charges and this to me seems to suggest that it is a frequent occurrence.
This happened just 2 days after a suspicious courier required my signature for a “signed delivery”. The courier looked very amateur and when I asked who the delivery was from he did not know.
The delivery turned out to be a just a random advertisement so obviously the person was collecting signatures. I’m really glad I put down a phony signature that cannot be used.
To be on the safe side I reported these two incidents to the local police station. It is good to have a crime reference number in case of some later complications.
Reporting the first incident took around 1 hour. Reporting the second incident took an amazing 3 hours because two separate crime reports had to be filed as the two different frauds occurred in two different police wardens.
CIFAS is a fraud prevention service in the UK. The CIFAS web site contains useful advise on how to prevent identity fraud and theft and what to do if you are a victim.
Brazil 3, Argentina 0 at the Arsenal Emirates Stadium, London
The beautiful game; even more beautiful when your team is winning in front of nearly 60,000 spectators!
A friendly match was played between Brazil and Argentina at the Emirates Stadium in London but anybody who knows those two teams also knows that they are not friends.
It was a pleasure to visit the new Emirates Stadium.
All seats in the stadium seemed to be padded, there was plenty of leg room and all spectators were under cover.
There seemed to be many food and beverage outlets but still it took over 20 minutes to get a freaking pint at half time.
Some of the more noteworthy players in the Brazilian line-up were Robinho, Kaka and Baptista. Noteworthy Argentinian players were Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
It was the Brazilians’ second game with their new coach Dunga; first was against Norway.
There may have been some reservation back when Dunga was selected as the new coach but these two recent internationals have shown that he can lead the world famous players very competently.
A very early goal by Elano created a lovely atmosphere at the stadium; for the Brazilian supporters that is.
Elano then followed up with a second goal in the 67th minute.
In the very few last minutes, the 89nth minute to be precise, Kaka benefited from a Messi mistake and charged ahead with the ball.
Kaka started way down on his own half but rushed ahead and managed to pass a fair share of Argentinian players before pummeling the ball into the Argentinian goal. Cue mad celebrations.
Brazilian colors hugely outnumbered the Argentinian colors in the audience but a large number of the Brazilian supporters were non-Brazilians.
With a bit of bad luck, our group ended up with a few Argentinian supporters just in front of us.
One of the supporters was a (posh) older lady and she wasn’t too impressed with my wife’s passionate cheering. Several of our good friends are Argentinian so I won’t go into details but let’s just say that mas que um viado was shouted many times.
All in all a fantastic game and Arsenal supporters have a great season ahead at the Emirates Stadium!
A few videos
More Moving Traffic Contraventions and Enforcement
Well, well, well. It seems as if the photographer has become the photographed.
Stumbled upon this piece of monitoring delight the other day and I cannot believe I missed it back when I was recorded for the moving traffic contraventions.
Must have been quite a day job during the hot days in London.