Pour la première fois, la compétition WebCup s’est tenue à l’île Maurice alors que cette compétition est déjà à sa quatrième saison dans la région  Le but est de concocter un site web en seulement 24 heures non-stop et ensuite de le présenter aux membres du jury.

Comme plusieurs îles y participent simultanément dont La Réunion, Mayotte et Madagascar, le compte à rebours s’est déclenché à midi le Samedi 18 Mai 2013 et évidemment, prendre fin exactement 24 heures après.

Les participants Mauriciens

Pour cette première édition dans notre île  plusieurs groupes y étaient inscris. Ci-dessous les noms et aussi le résultat de leur dur labeur de 24 heures:

• Ceridian - http://ceridian.webcup.mu
• Chesteroc - http://chesteroc.webcup.mu
• Esokia - http://esokia.webcup.mu
• Extension Interactive – http://extension-interactive.webcup.mu
• FRCI - http://frci.webcup.mu
• Elite Business School – http://elite-business-school.webcup.mu
• Paperboat - http://paperboat.webcup.mu
• TNT - http://tnt.webcup.mu
• Team Urban Error - http://urban-error.webcup.mu
• Wanderers - http://wanderers.webcup.mu
• Web Thugs - http://web-thugs.webcup.mu

Voici quelques sites qui étaient accessibles au moment de la publication de ce blog post:

FRCI:

Paperboat:

Web Thugs

 And the winner is

Après la session de présentation des sites web par les équipes respectives, les membres du jury ont proclamé l’équipe gagnante comme celle de ….. Esokia.

Les critiques

Pour commencer, l’ironie du sort est que le site web officiel de la compétition WebCup est elle même constituée des pages non complétées et des images par défaut qui ne seront peut être jamais actualisées par l’organisateur. La preuve, 24 heures APRES l’annonce du gagnant, le site contient seulement des infos bidons.

Bon, passons. Revenons maintenant à la compétition elle-même. En tant que passionné du web et aussi développeur informatique,  je ne comprends pas trop les critères de sélection qui ont poussées le jury à proclamer le gagnant. Plusieurs autres compétiteurs avaient pourtant une présentation et ergonomie nettement meilleures et plaisantes. Même du coté technique, plusieurs équipes ont eu recours à des technologies nouvelles et innovantes dans le monde du web design.

Sans partir dans les détails techniques, quelque chose de très surprenante : Le site web gagnant utilise toujours l’icone par défaut de Drupal!

Sans parler des espaces blancs sur la gauche et droite.

Par contre, j’était agréablement surpris par la qualité des autres sites présentés par les autres équipes qui ont su donner le meilleur d’eux mêmes ainsi que l’utilisation des dernières technologies qui donnent un bel aspect visuel mais aussi, une présentation adaptée et optimisée, même si vous visualisez le site sur une tablette ou un écran de téléphone portable.

Je suis vraiment déçu. J’attendais beaucoup mieux d’une compétition de cette envergure et surtout en tant que compétition dans une soi-disant cyber-île. Le résultat de ce WebCup 2013 m’a fait rappeler le concours Web D’or que Mauritius Telecom organisait quelques 10 ans+ de cela!

A bon entendeur, salut!

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For those who use the yellow gas cylinders for domestic use (for cooking or in your gas water heaters), things might change in some time. You might have probably noticed that less retail outlets are now selling the yellow gas cylinders. I personally noted that retailers and even Total Fuel pump stations have stopped the sale of the yellow gas cylinders to new buyers. However, they are still available for any existing customers who are already using the yellow ones.

Why?

To reassure you, the guys at a few fuel pump stations told me that the company (Total Mauritius Ltd) will gradually replace all yellow cylinders by the red ones. At some point of time, the company will then be requesting existing customers to exchange their yellow “adapter” for a red one, free of cost.

When I emailed Total Mauritius, I was told, I quote:

“[...]nous avons l’intention  de remplacer les bouteilles jaune par les rouge dans certain régions de l’île afin d’avoir une bonne gestion logistique.“

According to me, it also makes sense since both yellow and red cylinders were commercialized by Total Mauritius and probably it is more profitable to concentrate on one product only instead of creating useless competition in between them.

Poll

A small poll to end this post:

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Hello!

A l’occasion de La Journée Internationale des Familles 2013, le Ministère de l’égalité du Genre, du Développement de l’Enfant et du Bien-Etre de la Famille a publié une liste d’activités qui seront proposés au Mauriciens à des prix promotionnels pendant le weekend du 18-19 Mai 2013.

Ki plan?

Cinemas

• Novelty Curepipe – Prix : Rs 200, Promo : Rs 100
• Ciné City Port-Louis – Prix : Rs 200, Promo : Rs 100
• Ciné King Goodlands – Prix : Rs 200, Promo : Rs 100
• Ciné Classic Goodlands – Prix : Rs 175, Promo : Rs 150
• Ciné Anand Triolet – Prix : Rs 150, Promo : Rs 75

La Vallée des Couleurs, Chamouny

• Prix : Rs 150 – Promo : Rs 75 adulte & enfant
• Quad Bike – Prix : Rs 3375, Promo à partir : Rs 500
• Zip Lines – Prix : Rs 1975, Promo à partir de Rs 200 adulte, Rs 100 enfant
• Pedalo – Prix : Rs 100, Promo : Rs 50

Activités Nautiques: Belle Mare et Mont Choisy

• Para Sailing – Prix : Rs.1000, Promo : Rs 500
• Le Nessee semi-submissile – Prix : Rs. 650 Promo : Rs. 300
• Bouee – Prix : Rs. 400, Promo : Rs. 200
• Glass Bottom Boat – Prix : Rs. 100, Promo : Rs. 50

Blue Safari, Mont Choisy

• Sub-marines – Prix : Rs 3900, Promo : Rs 500
• Sub-scooters – Prix : Rs 2500, Promo : Rs 400

Cerfs Volants, Les Tyroliennes de Chazal, Chamouny

• Prix : Rs 1750 -Promo : Rs 200

Shopping Malls

• Tarif promo: Des escomptes dans tous les centres participants

La Vanille, Réserve des Mascareignes

• Tarif promo: Rs 120 adulte, Rs 50 enfant

L’Aventure du Sucre

• Prix - Rs 150 adulte Rs 75 enfant
  Tarif promo: Rs 75 adulte (09h00 – 17h00), Rs 50 enfant (jusqu’à 13ans)

La Vallée de Ferney, Forest & Wildlife Reserve

• Tarif promo: Rs 75 adulte (09h00 – 15h00)

Casela Nature & Leisure Park

• Prix : Rs 190 adulte Rs 75 enfant
  Promo: Rs 120 adulte & Rs 55 enfant
• Photo Safari: Rs 70 adulte & enfant

Mauritius Aquarium

• Prix : Rs 250 adulte Rs 125 enfant
• Promo : Rs 100 adulte Rs 50 enfant

Brochure complet en PDF: http://gender.gov.mu/English/Documents/Brochurefami%20kontan052013.pdf

Attention aux foules

Les Mauriciens seront par milliers à vouloir bénéficier de ces tarifs promotionnels le 18 et 19 Mai 2013. Alors, attendez-vous à des grosses foules, des longues files d’attentes et surtout, des embouteillages, surtout près des centres d’activités.

A mon avis, si vous voulez vraiment partager ce moment en famille et tranquillement, restez loin des régions où les activités seront organisées.

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Not surprised at all. I expected this one as mentionned in my post published only 4 days back. As reported by the media, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) have arrested a police officer who asked for Rs6000 to a driver in order to disgard the fact that he was driving beyond the authorised speed.

Not having that sum of money in his possession, the police officer agreed to take Rs200 immediately and the rest later. The ICAC was informed and the police officer was caught, probably red-handed. Nice move by the driver who will nevertheless have to pay a fine of Rs2000 and will be attributed a few penalty points depending on the speed he was driving beyond the authorised limit.

Affaire à suivre…

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Le grand jour est enfin arrivé!

A partir d’aujourd’hui, tous les chauffeurs (et apprenti-chauffeurs) doivent être munis de leur copie du “Driving License Counterpart” quand ils seront au volant. Ce 10 Mai 2013 est aussi marqué par la mise en opération des 20 nouveaux caméras d’excès de vitesse.

Et…

Cependant, j’étais surpris d’apprendre d’une ‘faille’ dans le système de permis à points en ce qui concerne les accidents réglés en utilisant le “constat à l’amiable”. Dans ces cas, le(s) chauffeurs fautifs ne seront pas sanctionnés car le cas ne sera pas rapporté à la police. Ce fait entraînera peut être une augmentation dans le nombre de cas d’accidents réglés via ce ‘constat à l’amiable’.

Certains chauffeurs essayeront d’avantage de corrompe les policiers afin de ne pas perdre des points sur leur permis. C’est sur que le prix à payer sera très fort mais cela vaudra peut être mieux que voir la suspension du permis si vous avez déjà perdu pas mal de points. Et les cas de “hit and run” seront aussi peut être en hausse afin d’éviter des lourdes sanctions, surtout si le chauffeur n’est pas fautif.

Est-ce-que l’entrée en vigueur du système de permis a points et ainsi que les nouveaux caméras réduiront le nombre d’accidents et chauffeurs imprudents sur nous routes. Seul le temps nous montrera l’efficacité du système dans le contexte Mauricien.

Bonne route et soyez prudents!

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The news is all over the headlines of the different newspapers today. A 19 years old driver reported being beaten by the Minister of Justice, Yatin Varma, after their cars collided in an accident yesterday in Sodnac, Quatres Bornes. While the minister is denying this incident,  a witness  confirmed the story to the police.

Will justice prevail? What will be the immediate actions taken following the accusations?

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Hi everyone!
Great to see you here again

One of my friends, Junaid R, suggested me to come up with a map showing free WiFi areas in the island. Indeed, wonderful idea especially after the huge success of the speed cameras map. I will also grab this opportunity to see how I can open access to this map so that you can add new WiFi zones. But on the other hand, I’m quite reluctant to allow anyone to edit the map. We all know how some people can be mischievous.

As usual, feel free to share known free WiFi areas by dropping a comment. For those who attended my wedding, don’t list my free WiFi wedding hall. And please, try to avoid sharing WiFi of your neighbours. Wait! After all, why not?

Map

View Map of Mauritius showing free WiFi hotspots in a larger map

[update] Rose Hill Transport

Interesting point to add in this post is that free WiFi is available in most buses of the Rose Hill Transport company, along routes they serve. How does it work? When you enter one of the RHT buses, you will see the free WiFi sign. You then need to SMS to 499 26 90 at the normal tariff of a SMS.

The WiFi code is texted back to you.
(Thanks to Corrina C for reminding me of this “mobile” free WiFi hotspot network)

Contributions

At this time, we are quite at an early stage of getting a complete directory of all free WiFi areas in the island. Hopefully, many among you will be willing to participate and share known areas.

Each of your submissions is the most welcomed!

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Not later than yesterday morning, I shared last year’s post promoting the various leisure activities offered at reduced price for the public holiday of the 1st May 2012. Few hours ago, the prime minister announced that his labour party won’t be holding any political gatherings on this day because of the tragic floods of the 30th March 2013.

As a Mauritian, I think that they are taking Mauritians for fools. The Labour Party is so desperate to find ways to gain sympathy and faith of the population. Wanting us to believe that they are deeply sorrowed for the lives lost and damages caused. On top of that, they will now be blaming other parties for organizing their traditional political gatherings and taking advantage of the tragic events.

I want to be clear on another point. If ever another party decides to take the same step, I will respect them, but never the Labour Party. Not anymore. The country is going through bad times for the past years. Can you imagine, our public beaches and even our country are no more ours but rather for the incompetent “petit copains” and close persons of those in power.

You are the most welcomed to share your own personal views on the topic.

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Although I have not personally experienced any problems as a SBM Customer recently, several people are complaining about being unable to carry out transactions during the past few days or even weeks. From what I read on Facebook, many are frustrated since the credit card system (I think more precisely the SBM Smile Card) cannot be recharged for use. When will the situation be back to the normal? Customers currently feel lost. SBM’s Customer Care have been giving false hopes till now.

On the 18th April 2013, Le Matinal newspaper group even advised its Facebook fans, as follows:

For weeks, the State Bank Of Mauritius have been officially announcing that they were going to roll in their new banking system in two phases. The last one was scheduled on the 15th April 2013 but as some can later testify on this blog, it seems that they did not successfully passed the last phase of their project. On a similar note, let me remind you that some two years back (or more), the Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) also rolled in their new system catastrophically: ATM stopped working, credit cards showed errors etc.

It is unfortunate to say but there’s a big lack of communication to inform the valued customers of the current situation.

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This event was long awaited, especially since the last one was held back in December 2011. Today, we finally met at Bagatelle for lunch. Very enriching and interesting, this kind of event is a great opportunity to meet and interact with other people sharing the same passion as well as sharing tips and personal experiences. It also allows us bloggers to tag a face to a specific blog

Thanks again to all those who turned up today:

• Dhaneesha and me (of course)
• Nayar
• Tushal
• Nirvan
• Sarvesh
• Gices
• Jochen and his two kids
• Rwishi
• Rikesh
• Mozammil
• Asmi and her two friends
• Avinash, Christina and their two kids
• Reena, Michel and Tasya
• Clarel
• Pascal
• Sun and his wife-to-be
• Khush
• (Did I miss anyone???)

And hope to see more people active in the Mauritian Blogosphere!

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