In French, the word potager means kitchen garden. I love how the whole idea “vegetable/herb/fruit garden” can be neatly consolidated into just one word, a perfectly wrapped delicious package. Like a lot of our French neighbors, we too, have a potager, but I’d refer to it as an UnFrench potager, and it certainly isn’t as neat as the word nor as tidy as our neighbors’ gardens. You see, our French neighbors’ potagers, my French inlaws’ potagers and all the French potagers I’ve seen thus far, have been perfectly manicured and lined up so precisely you could take a ruler and see that each plant is the exact distance to the next. Absolute straight lines. Right angles. Rows and rows of potatoes, leeks, onions, carrots, radishes etc. – are no less than impeccable. I could swear they used mathematical algorhythms and numerical equations to achieve perfect symmetry. By the way, French potagers always have gobs and gobs of potatoes and leeks.

Even if I were the world’s most brilliant mathematician gardener, which I’m not (and I’m just a newbie gardener at that), a perfectly lined up garden simply isn’t my style. Ours is very asymmetrical and unpredictable. Hardly anything is lined up and instead I’ve planted things along borders, in containers, in a triangular pattern, but mostly just randomly. That’s probably not the best method to gardening, but that is how it is for me. And everything has survived and things seem to be alright. You can see above how the pumpkin has grown right next to some tomatoes and there are 5 different kinds of tomatoes planted here and there. That is probably bad to do, too, in the garden world but whatever. Sidebar: Our winter was so long and cold and ran into spring, the tomatoes in this area are still not ripe. (except the cherry varieties).

Our one and only bellpepper is pretty cool (I think, anyway!) though it got splattered with mud after a hard downpour. It looks like we are only going to get just one this summer but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Behind Lulu in the photo at the top, there is a growing Japanese cucumber plant. Love those! Lulu isn’t very interested in them, in fact, one could say they bore her to tears, but she can always go for the sweet cherry tomatoes (we are growing 2 different kinds of cherry tomatoes). We might not get any of those if she devours them all. That’s fine with us. It’s a good source of vitamin C for her.

Lastly (for this post, anyway) to add a little spice to the unFrench potager chez nous here’s our cute and wonderful chili pepper plant. There’s just one in the photo but it looks like more are on their way. Yay!

We have other veggies and lots of herbs that I’ll try to post in the near future – as a little reprieve from heavy environmental posts, issues related to disabilities awareness and other serious subjects I’ve been known to blog about!
=======================
Lulu Lundi* features Lulu, our Boston Terrier, somewhere in France every Monday.

It’s always fun for me to list more unusual events going on in France if I can find out about any, and since it’s peak summer, there are lots of things happening right now. Check them out.

August 4, 2006 – La fête de l’Ail Rose de Lautrec – The Pink Garlic Festival in Lautrec takes place every year on the first Friday of August. Famous for their pink garlic, Lautrec, located in the southwest of France (near Toulouse), hosts this aromatic annual event. The goings on: pink garlic galore, local food, wines, competition where teams of 7 to 8 people braid the longest manouille (tress) of garlic as possible in 3 hours, competition for the best pink garlic tart, sampling of garlic soup and other offerings, plus a ball and live entertainment in the evening. (reservations necessary) Free admission to the open fair. For more information, contact: Syndicat de Défense du Label Rouge Ail Rose de Lautrec, (Lautrec Union for the Protection of Pink Garlic), Rue du Mercadial, 81 440 Lautrec, France, Tel : (+33) (0)5 63 75 90 31, email: info@ailrosedelautrec.com

August 5 (12, 19), 2006 – 3pm-5.30pm – Joutes Nautiques Provençales – Water Jousting Championships take place at the old port in Marseilles. Water Jousting is an official sport discipline in France. Oarsmen in provence take their boats out and compete to knock their opponent into the water. Free admission. Port de l’Estaque, Quai des Pêcheurs – 13016 Marseille, France

August 6, 2006 – Liars’ Festival. I’ve mentioned this before (last year), but it’s always good to list the less orthodox festivals because they’re harder to find. Town Square, Moncrabeau, France. See details about the event here: France: Home to the King of Liars.

August 7, (15, 24), 2006 – Festival d’Art Pyrotechnique – The Fireworks Festival in Cannes is a three year old annual event where teams from France, Canada, England, Italy and Spain duke it out to win the title of Best Pyrotechnics Team. The competition takes place over a period of 6 days. Who will reign supreme? In any case, you will see lots o’ fireworks. For more information: Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, Esplanade Georges Pompidou – Cannes – France, Tel. 04 92 99 33 83, email: sortiracannes@palaisdesfestivals.com

If aluminum cans could replace basketballs, these guys would be the next Tony Parkers in France.

Watch this fun video of some French guys throwing cans. (at YouTube)

It’s so much more entertaining than it sounds.

Tags: france, videos, cans, throwers, french, guys, fun

~ ~ ~
“The biggest truth to face now – what is probably making me unfunny
for the remainder of my life – is that I don‘t think people give a damn whether the planet goes on or not…I know of very few people
who are dreaming of a world for their grandchildren.“
~Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without a Country (2005)

Each time I’ve driven along a nearby national route, I’ve passed by this sign and have been wanting to look further into the subject. The sign has been there for several months now. Here’s a translation of what it says, “I grow rapeseed for Diester here, and I fight against the greenhouse effect. Diester with diesel is greener.” The logo with FDSEA represents the national union for rural agriculture. I did some further digging into Diester.

What is Diester? (In France, pronounced DEE-eh-stair)

Originally, diester, also known as colza methyl ester, comes from the contraction of the words “diesel” and “ester” and in a generic sense, pure diester is made up of 90% vegetable oil extracted usually from rapeseed (colza) which is the predominant source in France, but flaxseed, sunflower seed or peanuts can be used. The remaining 10% of diester is composed of methanol. Methanol is a type of alcohol and is said to be (sometimes) necessary to break up the viscosity of the colza oil, important particularly during colder weather where the fuel without methanol is vulnerable to freezing. These two compounds then go through a process called “esterification” that essentially creates the final liquid product of biodiesel.

However, today in France, “Diester” is a registered and trademarked product by the company Sofiproteol (Prolea is their parent company). It is made up of the compounds as is described above, but is only used as an additive to diesel in France.

For the purposes of this post, I am making a distinction between biodiesel and Diester, the branded product.

Diester vs. Biodiesel

Diester should not be confused with biodiesel but I’m afraid that the words “Biodiesel” and “Diester” are now used interchangeably in France. Diester, the branded product, is currently not sold as pure biofuel in France. It is mixed with diesel in a tiny amount. In addition, the methanol used within Diester is of petrochemical origin, whereby, other biodiesel sellers can opt to use methanol from a more clean source like wood, for example. Some biodiesel makers also do not use any methanol whatsoever, and simply provide filtered extracted oil, which apparently works on older model diesel engines without the necessity of modification, or very insignificant modification⁽¹⁾. The practice of independently selling pure biodiesel is illegal in France, however, it is nevertheless sold “unofficially” to consumers.

Biodiesel is a renewable energy source and a clean burning fuel that does not use any petroleum-based or fossil fuel products and emits less CO2 emissions, sulfur, aromatics and particulate matter into the environment than diesel and other petroleum-based fuels. Diester, on the other hand, is only used as an additive to diesel, so, in effect, still pollutes because of the diesel content.

How much Diester is Mixed with Diesel in France?

Although cars with diesel engines do not need major modifications in order to run on 100% Diester fuel, in France, Diester is sadly only available as an additive to regular diesel fuel in the following proportions: For captive fleets (buses, waste collection trucks and utility vehicles) 30%⁽²⁾ Diester is added to diesel, and a mere 1.5%⁽³⁾ of diester on average is mixed with the consumer diesel. By comparison, Germany is already using 100% biodiesel like Diester in their car engines and it is readily available at pumps. Additionally, no blends are admitted in Germany. Why is France still using just a miniscule amount of Diester in their blend?

(more…)

The part-time temp employment agency, Adia, launched a very eye opening and much needed awareness campaign encouraging employers to set aside their biases against people with physical differences, and instead, to adopt a more tolerant, compassionate and intelligent attitude. I hope prospective employers will see these ads, learn from them, then act accordingly.

Click on photo to enlarge.

Translation:

(in large letters): This girl can not do anything
(in smaller letters): without passion. It wasn’t what you thought when looking at her, was it? However, at Adia, we can always offer her part- time jobs that meet the standard of her expectations and her strengths.
(tag line): Do not rely on appearances, rely on abilities.

This is the other poster ad from Adia I saw advocating tolerance showing a pregnant woman.

Click on photo to enlarge.

Translation:

(in large letters): This woman is (dead) weight.
(in smaller letters): a heavyweight of knowledge. With Adia, she lives her life according to her own rules, deciding her own schedule and availability. Today, she chooses to carry the weight of an ambitious project that will lead to a unique experience. Tomorrow, she’ll be able to count on us to find her a balance between her professional life and her family life.
(tag line): Do not rely on appearances, rely on abilities.

Last year, Adia collaborated with France’s state unemployment office, ANPE, and began a program to help disadvantaged youth having difficulty entering the French workforce. The barriers to entry for this group are colossal because of intolerance and problems linked to racism. Adia’s work is admirable and their mission to embrace the attitude of being as socially responsible as possible and to protect human rights, is not only brave but also crucially necessary.

If you’re a student, you can find flights to a number of destinations for mega cheap if you book with Student Universe. I just looked at this site and right now; you can find a roundtrip flight from New York to London for $205. LA to Paris is only $499. So cheap! How can you pass that up??!

From Student Universe:

StudentUniverse is the online travel service that enables students to travel for less. By negotiating with the major airlines on their behalf, StudentUniverse provides students with exclusive, significantly discounted airfares. From destination guides to a proprietary booking engine, StudentUniverse is the leading online resource that allows students to research and purchase reduced-cost travel products online. Founded as a student travel agency in 1992, StudentUniverse launched its online presence in January 2000.

Check out: Student Universe

[via travelpost]

Tags: travel, france, cheap+tickets, students, discounts, airlines, roundtrip, europe

In this sweltering heat, nothing is better than eating an ice cream to cool down. The above photo is of Nougat ice cream but practically any ice cream will do, right? It’s so hot now.

Nougat, originally from Greece, came to Montélimar, France (via Marseille) in the 1700s. Montélimar, which is located in Provence, is considered the world capital of nougat, but you can find nougat all over the world. I particularly love the French nougat.

What is nougat, exactly? In France, it is a confectionery made of honey, sugar, egg whites, butter and almonds (sometimes also pistachio nuts). It makes a nice small gift from France, I find. Made in France, too!

Nougat not your cup of tea? Try some mustard ice cream!

Tags: france, french, ice, cream, glace, nougat, mustard, moutarde, montelimar, provence

Slightly off the beaten path in the southern department of France called Le Gard (in the region, Languedoc-Roussillon), there is a place called “La Cascade du Sautadet,” a breathtaking result of the artistic power of nature.

La Cascade du Sautadet is a large outcropping of limestone that happens to be in the direct path of a river, La Cèze. Over the years, the limestone has gradually eroded in a most unusual way due to the flow of the river, strength of the mistral winds and the abundance of rocks that were thrown around in whirlpools of water. This made large cavities in the stone, and the French call them Marmites géantes (giant pots). There are surprisingly very few falls here.
Most of the falls are to one side of the grouped outcropping and the water is relatively shallow on this side. The area is a great place to go hiking (wear shoes with good ankle support) and swimming. There are several swimming holes, the largest being an area on the other side, opposite the falls.

You can also swim along the river in the small gorges, though this is not recommended especially during the months where the water level is high and the winds are strong. Summertime is probably the best time to go, as the water levels are relatively low and the winds are weak. The water was very calm, but is fairly cold! Actually, I read somewhere online that swimming at Cascade du Sautadet was strictly forbidden because it is too dangerous, but we didn’t see any signs at the site indicating this.

If you like platform diving, you can do that here as well but at your own risk. There are tiny platforms located along the top of the gorges where the water is deep enough for divers. Again, we saw no signs discouraging this, and we saw several people diving at various spots.

For more information contact the nearest tourism office, which is in Bagnols sur Cèze:

Office de tourisme
Website: Office de tourisme, Bagnols sur Cèze
Bagnols sur Cèze
Espace Saint Gilles
tél: 04 66 89 54 61
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Lulu Lundi* features our Boston Terrier, Lulu somewhere in France every Monday.

Tags: travel, france, europe, cascade+du+sautadet, falls, le+gard, hiking, swimming, lulu, dogs, boston+terriers

From the BBC:

“An elegant new footbridge over the Seine in Paris has suffered trembles similar to those that famously dogged London’s Millennium Bridge. But the mayor of Paris, who opened the bridge on 13 July, said the tremble was only faint and it would remain open. Bertrand Delanoe said the Simone de Beauvoir bridge – named after the leading feminist and writer – needed only “adjustment and tuning”… [read full article]

Anyway. This is just an FYI heads up (aka WARNING!) to Parisians and visitors to either: 1) not walk on this bridge; or 2) be prepared for dire consequences if you do decide to walk on this bridge.

Just remember what happened to the poorly constructed wing at the Charles De Gaule airport. Remember?

It collapsed.

Tags: travel, france, french, bridge, paris, europe, wobble, wobbly, precarious, unsafe

Le Tour de France has been going on for several weeks now and it’s something that I have a hard time following because…it’s boring! Someone reminded me, though, that the Tour will have their Stage 19 today in Le Creusot, which is located in Burgundy. This is the nearest the Tour has come to where I live, but it is still not very close. A timed, abbreviated event of 57 kilometers, today’s route begins in one of my least favorite towns in France: Le Creusot. I absolutely hate it, and frankly wondered why they would take the Tour there in the first place.

I consider Le Creusot an environmental nightmare and have seen and heard too many sad things about it. We went there (remember the creepy fair?) and realized that it is, indeed, an “industrial town” as it’s been described to be, but that’s too nice to describe it as such. The Tour’s site says this about Le Creusot:

“Whether coming in from the forests of Morvan, the grazing pastures of Charolais or the Chalonnais hills, the town makes for a surprising discovery.”

The “surprising discovery” you’ll make is that upon entering the area, your eyes will burn and you’ll inhale noxious gases while feeling the onset of a raging headache. You’re not alone, the 90,000 inhabitants (population of the Le Creusot-Montceau urban spread) get to live with these full time because of: a nuclear power plant, waste incinerator burning 130,000 tons of non-recyclables each year, rubber (tires) recycling plant, plastics manufacturers, landfills, steelworks, and more.

The incinerator was dangerously close to hundreds of housing projects, by the way, and the rate of thyroid cancer (pollution-related cancer) is alarmingly high.

I tried to grab a screen capture of this area on Google Earth but the details aren’t available. And forget about France’s Geoportail. I can’t get it to work on my computer. In any case, I should spare you the ugly details.

Pugs are among my favorite dog breeds and I notice them everywhere. I liked how the paws on this one were spread out but then realized why they were like that: he was way too fat, which is so very, very bad for dogs especially short nose breeds, plus his nails were in desperate need of a trim. Please don’t overfeed your dogs no matter how piggish they are and no matter how pathetic they look while begging for food. Don’t fall for that game. Obesity will shorten the life of your dog.

Back to this post. At an outdoor market in Provence, where this adorable fat pug was spread out, we noticed souvenir linens, towels and napkins with the word “Provence” on them. Nice enough stuff and very expensive.

However, much like the origins of the Pug, these were also not originally from France but, in fact, from…China.

Does it matter? Probably not. I don’t know – To some, I’d imagine. People buy little Eiffel Tower key chains all the time, oblivious and indifferent that they were made in China. But if I buy something in France like a FRENCH SOUVENIR for someone, I’d really appreciate it if it were made in France. It’s just not possible sometimes, I do realize.

Just some travel irony for a scorching hot Friday. Stay cool, everyone.

[Related: More French Things Made in China: Truffles and Gifts from France - Soccer Jerseys]

While we were visiting the town of Uzès, we noticed that all of the city trash bins had the word, “Reste” on them. Reste means stay or remain (perhaps remaining?)
I wasn’t sure that it was even a trash can. It does look like one (I know, duh.) but the “reste” threw me off. I checked.

Me: “Stay trash, stay! What the? The rest? What’s left? Trash stays here?”

Me: “What’s that “reste” all about?”

S.O.: “Me too, what the!? I have no idea.”

Me: “You’re fired, French man!”

Will someone please explain?

Tags: france, travel, french, trash, oddities, reste

Tags: travel, france, french, signs, artisan, butcher, humor

The marketing geniuses behind “Nickel – Faux Cul” should all get raises or bonuses. I’d seen this animated banner online with photos of guys’ butts, *ahem* nice butts and the message “Refining and remodeling gel for your butt” so I had to click and follow through to see this magical elixir. Firstly, I rarely if ever click on banners and I even realized this product was for men, and secondly, my s.o. thankfully does not need this product, and yet I still had to go there.

Faux Cul means Fake Ass. Nickel means perfect. Guys. What more do you need to know? It’s fun. It’s fake. It’s gel. It’s perfect. It miraculously firms your butt cheeks. It’s great marketing. (Faux Cul also means “liar” sort of in the way that politicians lie.) No. I can’t say that it doesn’t work so I’ll be even more truthful by saying, it MIGHT NOT work. I don’t know anyone who has tried it – but it’s gotta take serious titanic superpowers to turn a flabby ass into perky buns – without the aid of surgery and heavy weights. But. I honestly do hope it does work for those flaccid hanging soft derrieres. Miracles DO happen!

Skepticism aside, isn’t it still worth buying? I can definitely see guys buying this for themselves – and girls buying it for guy friends in need of a lifting. Or a fun gag gift, no? Or (gasp!) maybe girls will buy it for themselves to try (saying it’s for a guy friend). In a small way, this product and its brilliant marketing remind me of the 90s “Bed Hair,” remember that? (I don’t know if this hair gel is still around.) It was a truthful campaign with a no nonsense simple message: Get your hair to look like you just got outta bed. Bed Hair. Some of my guy friends used it.

After I clicked on the banner, it took me to a Sephora page for Nickel Faux Cul. It’s 29 euros! I like in the description where it says, “Today, men can no longer allow themselves to have pathetic butts.” Yup. No nonsense marketing at work – just for you guys.

I wonder what the girl’s version of Faux Cul is called…

Click here to get a new and improved and perfect fake butt: Nickel Faux Cul

Saint Rémy de Provence, which is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Avignon, hosts a street market, “Le Marché Provençal” every Wednesday and it is quite well-known all over France. You’ll find all kinds of items in shades of yellow, orange, green and red from baskets, pottery and linens to edibles like regional olives, oils, sun-dried tomatoes, tapenades and much more.

It’s worth a peek especially on a Wednesday, and a lot of fun with all the street performers and live bands outside – but don’t expect to find any deals at the actual Marché here. (unless, of course, you’re very, very good at haggling.)

For wine connoisseurs, Saint Rémy de Provence is included in the region of the appellation, Coteaux Baux-de-Provence wines. You’ll find one independent vignoble in St. Remy de Provence: Domaine Hauvette, chemin du Trou-des-Boeufs, La haute Galine, 13210 St. Remy de Provence, Tel: 04.90 92 03 90 (wine tastings made by appointment only)

Every summer in July, there’s a Wine Festival, and in August they have a “Feria Provençale,” a festival with fireworks and other activities. This year it’s from August 12 to 15. A bull run and bullfight is scheduled for July 19 in the town and at the Arènes Chomel Coinon (Bullfight starts at 10pm). The Provencal bull-fights apparently do not involve killing the bull. There’s a bigger Provencal festival that runs for six days (September 23rd to the 28th) celebrating the Provencal tradition with dancing, traditional costumes and bullfights.

This adorable Gallo-Roman village of Saint Rémy de Provence strangely has attracted famous eccentrics. It all started with Nostradamus; he was born in Saint Remy de Provence in 1503. Over three-hundred years later, Vincent Van Gogh voluntarily admitted himself to the Saint Paul Asylum in Saint Remy de Provence, where he painted two of his most famed works: Starry Night and Self-Portrait.

The little village is bursting with activity that I wasn’t able to cover, but please explore their site or their Tourism office for more information.

Website: Saint Remy de Provence

Tourism Office: Place Jean Jaurès, 13210 Saint-Rémy de Provence France
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Lulu Lundi* features our Boston Terrier, Lulu somewhere in France every Monday.

Next month, Michel Fournier, a 62 year-old former colonel of the French army reserve and parachute officer, will drop out of the stratosphere from an altitude from about 130,000 feet (40 kilometers, nearly 25 miles) above the plains of Saskatchewan, Canada.

They are saying that this jump will contribute to the “development of future technologies and the safety of stratospheric flight.” I dunno if I buy that. Here’s what I think is the real reason:

4 World Records will be achieved if successful: 1) altitude record for freefall; 2) altitude record for human balloon flight; 3) time record for longest freefall; 4) speed record for fastest freefall.

Maybe he’ll even make “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” or the French version, “Incroyable Mais Vrais!!”!! Now that’s worth jumping for!

[More information on Le Grand Saut Project] [via Neatorama]

Tags: france, french, bastille+day, vive+la+revolution, july+14, french+flag, boston+terriers, dogs, lulu, fetes

Translation: Do you love nature? Come take care of me at (website).

I DO love nature yet somehow that ad doesn’t motivate me to go to the website…

Every now and again I get extreme cravings for Indian Food. We’d noticed an Indian Restaurant fairly far away from us (about an hour and a half drive) but that was the first one I’d seen and it is probably the closest one. I was with a friend in the neighborhood so we decided to try it yesterday – ordering take out so I could bring lunch to my s.o. who loves Indian food as well.

Verdict: It was “ok” and since it’s the only one “near” us, good enough to return to. My gripe? The Frenchification of the food. I ordered the Palak Paneer, which is a spinach (palak) dish with Indian cheese (paneer), small cubes of a non-rennet cheese made from whole milk (sometimes with yogurt) and lime juice. Texturewise, it is similar to a firm tofu.

The Palak Paneer wasn’t horrible (and also not great) but what was the most objectionable offense to me was the “cheese” (paneer) part of the meal. The spinach was fine, missing a bit of a kick but tasty enough. However, the paneer… When I tasted the paneer, it wasn’t quite right but something about it seemed familiar. What WAS it? I know that stuff – and it wasn’t paneer.

Then I realized what it was.

It was La vache qui rit.

Party cubes.

I guess I’ll be making it myself from now on.

Tags: france, french, restaurants, indian+food, la+vache+qui+rit, apericubes, palak+paneer, frenchified

Driving out of Avignon, I noticed a sign “Gross Market,” pointing toward the opposite direction from which we were heading, but I had just enough time to take a photo of it in the roundabout, since there was a firetruck blaring its siren. In France, a blaring siren from a fire truck means, “get in front of the firetruck and obstruct it from reaching its destination!” This slowed the traffic WAY DOWN.

The “Gross Market” sign baffled us. We later asked people from the area about it. No one knew anything about it, or even realized it was there. Was it a large open market? Why wasn’t it “Le Grand Marché?” You know, something in French, since this is France. But the real pressing question was: Is it gross?

Translation: Cooked Jesus Slices

Tags: france, french, butcher, humor, coldcuts, charcuterie, jesus, cuit

Why “Isle”? The medieval town of Isle sur la Sorgue does actually sit on several islands that have branched out from the Sorgue River, just 7 kilometers (4 miles) down from the Fontaine de Vaucluse, its original source. You’ll find many canals meandering in and throughout Isle sur la Sorgue, which add to its Provencal charm. If you have a gondola, you’d be very welcome here! Also scattered about are some beautiful, original waterwheel mills (some are no longer functioning).

Visit Isle sur la Sorgue in a short day trip, which is what we did, unless you’d like to spend more time antique shopping in the 300 shops they have here. (It isn’t a bargain, however, and many things didn’t look like antiques to me.)

There are also a wide variety of stores to shop (not just antiques), and their main outdoor market days are every Thursday and Sunday mornings (off season), and every day during the summer. Their annual festival is in July, the floating market on the canals is on the first Sunday in August and their “Foire à la Brocante,” where residents can have a huge garage sale is held every August 15.
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Lulu Lundi* features our Boston Terrier, Lulu somewhere in France every Monday.

Tags: travel, france, french, isle+sur+la+sorgue, provence, lulu, dogs, mills, canals, sorgue, river

Zinedine Zidane!

Now, if that isn’t insane, ironic and hilarious, I dunno what is.
———————–
From France2.fr

Zidane élu meilleur joueur du Mondial
Le Français Zinédine Zidane a été désigné meilleur joueur du Mondial 2006 par la Fédération internationale de football (FIFA).

———————–

Not saying he doesn’t deserve it. He does!! But it’s still insane! (given yesterday’s redcard). Is FIFA feeling guilty? This is so awesome!

[related: FIFA 2006 World Cup Controversies]

Tags: france, sports, french, zidane, team, world, cup, finals, italy, weird, fixed, bribes, coupe+du+monde, soccer, football

Remember how I said that I heart Football? I still do actually, despite Italy’s World Cup win over France. Why? Good TV. Dirty Sports. No real rules.

It’s weird to hear people moan about Zidane’s headbutt and how disgraceful that was. Call me crass, but THAT was good TV! (I love that guy no matter what. Puh-leeeze: Team Italia IS evil. This was his very LAST chance of doing something he’s probably always wanted to do during his entire career. Now he can retire completely unfrustrated. No regrets.) And c’mon, how frustrated were the French players against the royal king of cheaters, aka the Italian Team? Not to mention too, how blatantly PAID OFF was that dirty referee?

Try to think back all the way to….LAST NIGHT. How many weird and false ref calls were to the advantage of the Italians? And, how many ignored fouls and off side calls were to the advantage of …the Italians?

Lots.

I WOULD consider Italy a good team except for the fact that they CHEAT! Their fake falls, trips, wahhhhh-I-hurt-my-head/ankle/leg/mouth/arm/knee/butt/anything cries (when no one actually touched them) is crazyridiculousshite. And their hard (unfake) dirty fouls on opponents (elbowing, jersey-grabbing, tripping, real hurting – I swear Thierry Henry played with a concussion) is pure dishonorable sportsmanship. It makes me angry and it makes me laugh. It is deplorable – but it is entertaining.

Lastly: I’d read about how FIFA will not allow replay technology into the World Cup (to definitively determine whether a goal is scored or not, or whether a call was just or not.) They want to stick with the “reliability” of the referees’ eyes. Uh. WHY?! Duh, I’ll spell it out: BRIBE ABILITY. How difficult would it be to work a payoff deal using indisputable reviewing technology? Answer: Very.

Of course, the referee on the field did not even see the famous Zidane headbutt, but was told about it later – upon which time the ref, Senore-Bribe-me-and-I’ll-see-anthing, who didn’t even witness the deed, decided to redcard Zizou.

Weren’t your eyes GLUED to the TV?

How much sense does this make? If it makes no sense, THAT’S what I’m talking about!

[related: 2006 FIFA World Cup Controversies]

Keeping with the spirit of World Cup, I’m posting a photo of a chocolate football and chocolate cleats. They both look life size and I would’ve gone into the shop but it was a day they were closed! This would be a great centerpiece for a World Cup Finals party. (Click on the photo to enlarge it)

Remember to catch tonight’s game, the World Cup finals with France vs. Italy. Allez Les Bleus!