PSA Shows Potential Dangers to Kids on the Internet
Apparently parents haven’t been too concerned about kids’ safety on the internet because I’m afraid some unpleasant things have been taking place in France, and Europe in general. I don’t know the specifics and we probably don’t really WANT to know what’s been going on, but the government is on to something and has produced some public service announcements called ““Où est Arthur ? La sécurité des enfants et des adolescents sur internet”” (Where is Arthur? Childrens’ and Teenagers’ Safety on the Internet). The spots have been translated in 12 European languages and will be airing on TV and radio during Christmas time.
This PSA, created by Le ministre du travail, des relations sociales, de la famille et de la solidarité, should be a frightening reminder to parents that there are lots and lots and LOTS of scary and CRAZY people out there that can easily get into contact with their kids. Beware, please! Click on the photo above or here to watch the video.
tags: france, french, internet safety, french psa
[Merci Martin!]
French Record Labels Suing Limewire, SourceForge and Sue Vuze
From torrentfreak:
“French record labels have received the green light to sue four US-based companies that develop P2P applications, including the BitTorrent client Vuze, Limewire and Morpheus. Shareaza is the fourth application, for which the labels are going after the open source development platform SourceForge.
Société civile des Producteurs de Phonogrammes en France (SPPF), an umbrella group for several record labels in France, claims that the four file-sharing applications facilitate mass copyright infringement. Although the companies (and applications) themselves have nothing to do with copyright infringement, SPPF believes it has a strong case.
The record labels argue that the Vuze and the others are knowingly distributing software with the purpose to permit unauthorized access to copyrighted works. In essence they are saying that everything, or every application which allows a user to share files, will be indeed used for illegal purposes. In contrast, in the US, companies that don’t encourage their users to commit copyright infringement with their applications, are not acting illegally.
SPPF had already sued the various companies and organizations last year, but until now it has been unclear whether the US based companies behind the applications could be prosecuted under French law. A French court has now ruled that this is indeed possible, which means that they can proceed to court.
Recent French legislation which inspired the labels to go after the P2P companies, suggests that all P2P applications must have a feature to block the transfer of unauthorized copyright works. The clients that are sued by SPPF obviously don’t have such a feature. In fact, it is questionable whether it would be technically possible to develop such a filter. Nevertheless, SPPF demands it, and is claiming millions of dollars in damages for lost revenue.
Vuze CEO Gilles BianRosa stated in a response to TorrentFreak, “While we appreciate the intent of the new French law, we believe SPPF’s complaint is misguided. Vuze is dedicated to the distribution of legitimate content using new technology. In that sense, our interests are aligned with the interests of all content owners, including SPPF’s members, against piracy.”
“We are disappointed that SPPF has taken this approach, given that our business is dedicated to the distribution of legitimate content,” BianRosa added. “SPPF’s claims against Vuze are simply wrong. The Vuze business complies fully with both French and American law. The recent ruling of the French Court was solely on a jurisdictional issue, not on any merits, and we believe it is in error.”
Interestingly, SPPF is also going after Sourceforge, the open source development website, because it hosts the P2P application Shareaza. Putting aside the discussion on the responsibilities of application developers for their users activities, the decision to go after SourceForge for hosting a application that can potentially …” Read the full article
Lego Fashion From Jean Charles de Castelbajac
Here are Jean Charles de Castelbajac’s recent designs inspired by nearly everyone’s favorite childhood toy products at Lego. The clothes are modeled after Lego playsets and the hats are actual assembled Lego bricks. I really love the house hat! (Now you know what to get me for Christmas. I’m kidding. Sort of.)
[via]
tags: france, french, lego, Jean Charles de Castelbajac
Daft Bodies Harder Better Faster Stronger
Many of you already know that I love the French duo, Daft Punk, so I thought today was as good as any to post some of their music. This video is simply brilliant. No special effects, no varying shots, just fun, perfectly coordinated choreography and Daft Punk love.
Click here to see the video at youtube. [Thanks, J!]
Related: my other Daft Punk posts
tags: france, french, daft punk, daft bodies
WHY Does Philippe Starck Design?! In the past, I suppose I haven’t been too kind when mentioning the designs coming from Philippe Starck. My opinion is a matter of subjective taste, which happens to be in the minority and generally, I hate am disgusted dislike immensely his designs. I can’t help it. Let’s say that I WANT to like it, but it just doesn’t happen for me. I mean, c’mon look at what he created for babies here.
I have more examples. A couple of days ago, he was making headlines that corresponded with the opening of a new boutique hotel launched by the founders of Club Med because he designed it. The hotel, called Mama Shelter, is located just outside of Paris. It looks fun and it seems to be a budget hotel that is warm open. I do think they achieved their goal.
Now, the design. It’s not horrible. Alright. I am not too thrilled with the sconces that Mr. Starck designed. They are essentially plastic Halloween masks he bought from Walmart or somewhere, then decided to reassign their function and hang them on the wall. When I saw these, I wanted to laugh and cry and the same time.
That said, Philippe Starck once admitted that he tries to make his life worthy of existing as a designer… and although his designs don’t impress me in the slightest, he was nevertheless impressive, if not entertaining during his 18-minute talk at TED. In some way he and his speech redeemed himself to me in many ways as he explained in a fun and charming way, why he designs, and in the end, it doesn’t really matter if it’s ugly or ridiculous or silly.
[via apartmentherapy]
tags: france, french, paris, mama shelter, philippe starck, mask sconces philippe starck, ted talks
Dialogue entre 2 pilotes d’Air France 
Previous dialogues: Dialogue entre Barack Obama et Nicolas Sarkozy, Dialogue entre Sarah Palin et Nicolas Sarkozy, Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Anne Sinclair, Francois Hollande and Maxime Bono, The Dalai Lama and Carla Bruni, Michael Phelps and Alain Bernard, Sarkozy and Qaddafi, Laurent Voulzy and Alain Souchon, Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy, Johnny Hallyday and Sylvie Vartan, Tom Hanks and Jean Reno, Daniel Balavoine and Francois Mitterrand, Florent Pagny, Zidane and Xavier Darcos
tags: france, french, air france, air france pilots, strike, la grève
Immigrants must learn La Marseillaise From the telegraph:
“Foreigners should be forced to study the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, if they want to stay in the country, a close ally of President Nicolas Sarkozy has declared.
Brice Hortefeux, the minister for immigration and national identity, says foreigners should be taught the history and “values” of the national anthem - which includes calls for the shedding of “impure blood” and the defeat of “foreign cohorts”.
The proposal comes less than a month after Mr Sarkozy threatened to call off football matches if fans jeered, whistled or booed during the playing of La Marseillaise.
Mr Hortefeux, 50, who is one of the president’s closest friends and has his full backing, made the suggestion during a European conference on immigration at Vichy.
“The Marseillaise is too often heard as a song, but not as a lesson,” he said. “We are failing to explain well enough to immigrants who want to live in France where the song comes from, what it means and what values it conveys.”
France has long preferred to attempt the integration of immigrants rather than the multi-cultural approach taken by of Britain. Since Mr Sarkozy came to power in May 2007 there has been a series of measures to curb immigration, including controversial DNA tests on foreigners who want to join relatives in France.
As a call to arms, few national anthems are a bloody as La Marseillaise, originally entitled the War Song of the Army of the Rhine. “To arms, citizens,” it exhorts. “Form in battalions. March, march! Let impure blood water our furrows!”
Three years ago, French MPs voted to make learning La Marseillaise compulsory in French schools.
The government’s High Council on Integration, which will meet in January, must first approve Mr Hortefeux’s proposal, said to have been inspired by American patriotism. The minister had earlier described demonstrators against Europe’s immigration policy dressed as Nazis who torched three cars in the centre of Vichy as “cretins”.
La Marseillaise was composed in 1792 by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle, a Captain of the Engineers in the Rhine Army, stationed in Strasbourg. France had just declared war on Austria and Prussia. It became so popular with volunteer army units from Marseilles it was later renamed after them and was sung by revolutionaries entering Paris in 1792. It became the official national anthem on July 14, 1795.
In October Mr Sarkozy described the booing of the national anthem before a friendly football match with Tunisia as “scandalous” and said if it happened again, match officials would be instructed to call off the game.” [source]
tags: france, french, La Marseillaise, immigrants, french national anthem
Oh NON! La Grève! Air France to Strike Contact Air France if you have a flight scheduled this weekend.
From ap:
“Air France warned on Wednesday of significant disruptions to flights during a four-day French pilots strike set to start Friday.
The carrier said the walkout was called to protest the French Parliament’s coming discussion of a broad reform bill that could extend the retirement age for pilots to 65 from 60.
Air France said it expected nearly half of its 833 scheduled mid- and long-range flights Friday to be canceled, and possibly more long-distance flights later.”
tags: france, french, strike, air france, grève, travel
You may now eat abnormal shaped veggies Thursday November 13th 2008, 2:52 am
Filed under:
advertising & marketing,
articles,
cultural differences,
daily life,
food and drinks,
funny,
news,
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shopping,
tips
From iht:
“Misshapen fruit and vegetables won a reprieve on Wednesday from the European Union as it scrapped rules banning overly curved, extra knobbly or oddly shaped produce from supermarket shelves.
Ending regulations on the size and shape of 26 types of fruit and vegetables, the European authorities killed off restrictions that had become synonymous with bureaucratic meddling.
The rising cost of commodities also persuaded the European Commission that there was no point in throwing away food just because it looked strange.
As of July, when the changes go into force, these standards for the 26 products, as varied as peas and plums, will disappear. European shoppers will then be able to choose their produce whatever its appearance.
For 10 other types of fruit and vegetables, including apples, citrus, peaches, pears, strawberries and tomatoes, shape standards will …”
Continue reading
tags: europe, france, vegetables, misshaped, eat your veggies
What is le Mir:ror 
Remember Nabaztag, the communicating wifi bunny? The same French company, Violet, is getting ready to launch another very fun new gadget called, “le Mir:ror.”
With Nabaztag, they achieved what they sought out to achieve, which was to create “internet objects,” in this case, rabbits, that could let you know a variety of things with gestures, sounds and light patterns. They also enabled the rabbits to communicate with each other. Their next goal involves le mir:or, which connects everything else….
Related: Video of Le mir:ror, Violet, Nabaztag, the WiFi Bunny Opera
tags: france, le mir:or, french, nabaztag
Hello Kitty Beaujolais Nouveau in Plastic Bottles Arrives in Japan 
From japantimes:
“This year’s first shipment of Beaujolais Nouveau arrived Friday at Narita and other airports in Japan, with worldwide sales of the French wine set to kick off Nov. 20.
Japan, one of the first nations able to taste the fresh, young red, which is traditionally drunk at midnight, is expected to import only 6.48 million bottles this year, down 20 percent, according to Asahi Breweries Ltd., a major importer and distributor of the wine.
This year’s batch has a good combination of ample fruitiness and moderate acidity, partially due to the sunny and cool weather the Beaujolais region received in September, the company said.
“Although pricey bottles, including those from select farms, tended to be a topic of conversation until last year, reasonably priced standard bottles may gain popularity again this year, partly because of an economic downturn,” a company official said.
On Thursday, Aeon Co. said it will offer this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau at a discount, thanks to cost-cutting efforts and a strong yen.
Aeon said its “special” Beaujolais Nouveau will hit store shelves in 750-ml plastic bottles instead of glass, and priced at ¥1,780, undercutting the average market price of ¥2,000 to ¥3,000.
Aeon said the discount was made possible by an arrangement that allows it to purchase the young wine directly from the winemakers.
Aeon said it will not accept advance orders for the wine and it will be available only through its 255 Jusco supermarkets in Honshu and Shikoku, it said.
But advance orders will be allowed for other imported Beaujolais Nouveau products, and the company will give out discount tickets worth ¥100 each for those.”
[via]
Related: Beaujolais Nouveau Wines to be in Plastic Bottles Because it’s Good for the Environment???, Beaujolais Nouveau, Beaujolais Nouveau - November 17
tags: france, french, beaujolais nouveau, japan
In Time for the Holidays - 99€ iPhone 3G in France From arstechnica:
“French iPhone carrier Orange is offering a killer deal on the iPhone 3G for le Noël, according to a sales flyer turned up by AppleInsider. With a contract, buyers can walk away with a new iPhone for just €99 for an 8GB model, and, according to MacBidouille, Orange is offering the 16GB model for just €129.
Though the fine print is a little hard to read—and my French a little rusty—the promotion runs from November 13 until January 14, and requires a minimum one year contract. Currently, Orange offers the 8GB iPhone at €149 and the 16GB at €199, or $190 and $254 respectively. Of course, carriers pay Apple a fixed price for each phone, estimated around $500, and subsidize a significant amount of the cost when customers sign a service contract.
Though it is unknown why Orange is offering such a sweet deal on the iPhone, O2 and T-mobile did offer steep discounts on previous-gen iPhones leading up to the launch of the 3G. Whatever the reason—higher than expected inventory, l’esprit du Noël—surely French customers are happy for the deal.” [source]
Related articles
tags: france, french, iphone, apple
French Lesson: FAIL 
My mum-in-law knows I like pistachio nuts and so she got me this bag…of fruits secs. In this case, “fruits secs” means pistachios. Got that? Good. French lesson: over. Oh wait. In French Fruits secs means DRIED FRUIT.
Where is the French Fail Blog when you need it?
Related: Restaurant Name Fail!
tags: france, french, fruits secs, pistachios nuts, fail
Dialogue entre Barack Obama et Nicolas Sarkozy 
Previous dialogues: Dialogue entre Sarah Palin et Nicolas Sarkozy, Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Anne Sinclair, Francois Hollande and Maxime Bono, The Dalai Lama and Carla Bruni, Michael Phelps and Alain Bernard, Sarkozy and Qaddafi, Laurent Voulzy and Alain Souchon, Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy, Johnny Hallyday and Sylvie Vartan, Tom Hanks and Jean Reno, Daniel Balavoine and Francois Mitterrand, Florent Pagny, Zidane and Xavier Darcos
tags: france, french, barack obama, nicolas sarkozy
Famously Filthy and French From ty.rannosaur.us:
Henry IV
“One of the most popular French kings, Henry tried to provide his citizens with a “chicken in the pot every Sunday.” Even though he believed in changing his shirt every morning, a rarity in 16th century France, he also loved hunting and refused to bathe or mask his odor with cologne afterwards. His mistress often told him he smelled like carrion. His second wife fainted from his stench the first time she met him and doused herself with perfume just to have sex with him on their wedding night.”
Louis XIV
“During the 72 year reign of Louis, France established an absolute monarchy, Versailles was built, and The Sun King waged war with everyone. Possibly hydrophobic, he refused to bathe unless his doctors forced him to and took two, possibly three, baths his entire life. He preferred to be dusted with scented powder and washed his face with a rag soaked in alcohol. Louis refused surgery on a gangrenous foot, leading to his death, and would lose chunks of it around Versailles.”
From 15 Famously Filthy People From the Pages of History
[via]
tags: france, french, dirty, henry iv, louis xiv
Online Piracy Has Become a ‘National Sport’ in France From torentfreak:
“Edging ever closer to becoming law, France’s “three-strikes” proposals have received support in the French Senate which voted overwhelmingly in favor for these draconian measures to deal with piracy. Now, a new report suggests that online piracy has become something of a ‘national sport’ in France.
The online file-sharing debate is really heating up in France. Contrary to advice from the European Court of Justice, France is pressing ahead with its plan for a controversial “3 strikes” or “graduated response” framework to deal with alleged file-sharers. Now, supported by a Le Figaro headline, “Piracy Has Become a National Sport in France”, a new study from market research company TNS Sofres is set to add fuel to the fire.
According to the poll of 2,011 people over 15 years old, the French use a diverse range of digital media to store or play pirated content. Of those questioned, 34% said their media players contained pirated files, with 20% admitting they go as far as using external hard drives to store illicit content. The USB storage key was used by 8% of respondents to shift illegal content, with 7% admitting to using mutimedia-capable cellphones.
Although the piracy ‘problem’ seems to be massive in France, it is certainly not limited to that one country. Just over the English Channel from France lies the UK, where an estimated 6 million people engage in online piracy - roughly 10% of the population. Across the pond, in the United States, a 2007 study found that 18 percent of the total US online population downloaded at least 1 movie from the Internet, illegally.
The French survey shows that the ‘problem’ is not limited to the younger generation, as is often assumed - it affects the entire population. The report further suggests that the actual numbers might be much greater than reported, but with news of draconian measures to deal with online piracy making headlines regularly, just how many people are prepared to be honest about their piracy habits?” [source]
tags: france, french, piracy, internet
2 French wine-makers suffocated to death by carbon dioxide fumes from grapes they were treading with their bare feet From dailymail:
“Two amateur French wine makers have died after they were suffocated by the fumes from the grapes they were treading with their bare feet.
The victims had volunteered to help a friend make wine at his vineyard in the northern Ardeche region and had climbed into the six-foot wide vat to begin the traditional process of extracting the juice from the grapes.
But police believe Daniel Moulin, 48, and 50-year-old Gerard Dachis were overcome by carbon dioxide fumes that are given off during fermentation and collapsed.
Rescuers tried frantically to revive the pair but in spite of resuscitation efforts the two men did not … Continue reading
tags: france, french, grapes, fatal grape treading, don’t try this at home
Friday France Photos: Restaurant Le Chalet Bleu A well-established restaurant, Le Chalet Bleu, headed by Philippe Bouché, is one of our favorite restaurants in Autun, France (Burgundy). It’s very reasonably priced with a basic menu starting at 18 euros. Of course, that menu features Tête de veau, which I don’t think I could bring myself to eating. It looks so blubbery and well….it’s a baby cow’s face! I might be unreasonable saying this but I don’t really want to eat a calf’s head. Does that include the brains? I know, I know, I should TRY it one day to REALLY tell. It’s not like you see a face with eyes and ears and a nose and BRAINS.. Well. Anyway, we ate lunch at Le Chalet Bleu recently, so here’s a little sampling of what we ate. None of us ordered Tête de veau.
Ballotine et Rillettes de Faisan en Gelée de Lentilles Vertes , Magret de Canard Fumé en Compote de Figue, Effilochée d’Endive, glace aux champignons et au miel
Terrine de lentils, Magret de Canard Fumé, soupe aux lentils
Dos de Flétan et Pétoncles au Safran, Meunière d’Endive, Epinard et Kumquat
(more…)
Etam Pulls Chinese Made Shoes 
From Associated Press:
“The store, Etam, pulled the product off its shelves, cut commercial ties with the supplier and forbade its other suppliers from using the sachets.
They contain dimethylfumarate, meant to fight humidity and mold. But the substance was blamed in a similar case in France, when chairs were withdrawn from sale after buyers complained of rashes.
A statement by Etam said a client developed an allergy after wearing her new boots. A dermatologist she visited blamed the rash on dimethylfumarate. Etam says 1,000 people bought the footwear.
A link between the allergy and the sachets has not been formally established, the statement said. An independent laboratory is conducting tests, with results due later this month, according to the statement.
Etam spokeswoman Florence Troy said one style of boots and a range of high-heeled shoes were withdrawn from 250 stores.
French furniture store Conforama warned clients in July that some of the Chinese-made recliners it sold presented an allergy risk “in rare cases.” It linked the risk to dimethylfumarate and withdrew the chairs.
Conforama also severed ties with the supplier and ordered other suppliers not to use the anti-fungal chemical.
An array of made-in-China products are presenting health risks, the most serious being baby formula made from milk powder tainted with the industrial chemical melamine which has entered the food chain and caused deaths and illnesses.
Contaminated seafood, toothpaste, candy and a pet food ingredient, also tainted with melamine, have all raised health concerns.”
tags: france, french, etam, made in china, shoes
How to Get Your Hands on Le Vin de Merde Thursday November 06th 2008, 9:36 am
Filed under:
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When I wrote about the Vin de Merde (shit wine), I clearly didn’t expect to receive a bunch of emails requesting how to get some. My apologies for not writing back. I didn’t know the answer at the time. But now I do - because we bought 2 cases (12 bottles) and received them in the mail today. And they’re easy to order, however, you have to be in France.
How to Order Le Vin De Merde, le pire cache le meilleur (the worst hides the best)!
1. Order it by calling Jean-Marc Speziale: 06 11 52 73 94
2. Send him a French check for the required amount (6,50 € per bottle) and include shipping fees as well (approximately 15 € per case of 6 bottles). Make sure you include your shipping address. Mail your check to: Jean-Marc Speziale, Le Vin de Merde, 2AE Les terrasses, 36150 Aniane.
3. Receive your Vin de Merde.
4. Drink your vin de merde.
It took about 2 weeks from the time we sent out the check, so it’s not too long of a wait. It was recently reported that they sold out of their famous vin de merde, but they still have some or they made a new batch (or whatever a “batch” is called in wine language). I don’t know if this batch is any good. We don’t drink wine usually so we will give them all away to friends and family, as a silly gag gift.
A Note about bringing wine back to the U.S.: Most people think that when you go from France to the U.S., you’re only allowed one liter of an alcoholic beverage. That depends on the state’s requirements where you land, so check ahead for specific requirements. And it’s possible that the one liter limitation is only true if you don’t want to declare it upon arrival. For many states, you can actually take more than a liter with you provided it is for personal use, it’s packaged correctly, and that you pay duty and an IRS tax. (taxed at around 3%). I don’t really like dealing with even more redtape or lugging around heavy, fragile items after an 11 hour flight, so we’ll be taking just 2 bottles to the U.S.
Le Vin De Merde
Jean-Marc Speziale
2AE Les terrasses
36150 Aniane France
tags: france, french, vin de merde
France Loves Obama 
An American Dream, What Obama Will Do, 84% of the French Happy about Obama, Hope Presides
tags: france, obama, french, france loves obama, obamamania
French Expressions: C’est L’Amérique! 
Still in a state of hazy happiness about the election results, I just want to scream and I will find it difficult to focus on any work today. We will HAVE to celebrate with our friends; no question about it. They will simply have to cut work, like us.
I’m particularly proud of my district, where I cast my ballot. DC had the highest percentage of Obama supporters: 93%. This is the last place I called “home” in the U.S. six years ago before embarking on my new encounters of the French kind.
Since leaving the U.S., we’ve been fortunate to be able to spend about 6-8 weeks a year in the U.S., but each time we went to visit, I had overwhelmingly conflicting feelings upon arrival: on one hand, I was ecstatic to see family and friends but on the other, there was always a lingering sense of shame and disappointment about what the country had turned into in the last decade or so and particularly, in the last eight years of the Bush administration. The country seemed to be falling apart at the seams and a high sense of morality and honesty was loudly absent. I hated this latter feeling. Pathological greed became the status quo, the environment and the food chain continued to be poisoned and people in need of attention were clearly ignored.
Despite this steep downward spiral to the bowels of American hell (ok, I exaggerate a little), the French who I met always kept a positive perspective on the U.S. I don’t know how but they did, and they seemed to express an undying optimism for “America.” I wondered. Are we talking about the same place? Then, I heard the French expression, “C’est L’Amérique!” and thought, oh, ok, you get it and it IS a terrible mess to you.
“Oh no! “C’est L’Amérique!” is positive. It is more of a declaration of hope and accomplishment. You know, The American Dream.”
“Whoa, really??? In the U.S. ‘That’s America’ usually has a more negative connotation. If you find some outlandish event or backward thinking anomaly somewhere, you might hear with a sigh, “That’s America.”
Happily, it has a completely different meaning in France. The French never gave up on Americans! C’est L’Amérique! And today their expression is even more meaningful.
tags: france, french, french expressions, C’est L’Amérique, obama
Fired Up, Ready to Go 
Congratulations President Barack Obama! To those people who voted for and elected the most obvious choice for U.S. President: Barack Obama: you’re awesome. You’ve restored my faith in humanity. Thank you, America.
tags: barack obama, u.s. president, thank you, fired up ready to go
