^{Sugar purses!}
A sugar company doesn’t usually, for any particular reason, merit much attention but Belle de Sucre is so very different. Their various forms and sculptures, are truly works of art and are boundlessly creative and playful, perfect for weddings, promotional items, food photos, theme parties, fashion runways, even to put a little fun and color in daily life. The assortment and craftsmanship of their sugar is so absolutely mind-bogglingly enormous. I just love these works. (no, I don’t work for them!)

^{Promotional company sugar}
Companies are always looking for fun promotional knick-knacks. These are just that and functional, too.

^{Sugar necklace}
These brilliant necklaces might not be very easily wearable but they will attract attention.

^{Window Display}
Dazzling window displays for stores. Who wouldn’t want their windows dressed in sugar?

^{Paris Landmarks and Monuments}
These are adorable and tiny Eiffel Towers, Arch de Triumphs, and Pantheons, and might be perfect for Paris B&Bs and for unusual souvenirs for tea drinkers!

The fun button sugars would be so excellent for a party of fashion designers.

^{Do you spoon?}
Aren’t these cute?! I can just see them in Bea’s photos.

Not that you need another reason to love Paris, but I thought this would be an important addition to the list. Track athlete, Romain Mesnil, for some reason, decided to run naked in the streets of Paris with his … pole. Honestly, we don’t mind. If he needs some publicity, he should have it. Watch the video.

From the telegraph:

“The holding centre planned for the port of Calais has been the subject of frenzied claim and counter claim in recent days with the French government publicly denying that it has been given the go-ahead.

Phil Woolas, the immigration minister, was left out on a limb by his French counterpart Eric Besson when Mr Woolas revealed details of the project last week, with the French minister claiming that he had no knowledge of it.

But a letter from the UK Border Agency to the Director of Migration in Paris seen by this newspaper reveals that British and French officials discussed the centre in detail a few weeks ago and agreed “joint action”. It has been costed, given planning permission and a building contract awarded for its construction, according to the letter.

The 500,000 euro (£470,000) detention suite will be similar to the one at Heathrow Airport and contain a number of police cells designed to hold immigrants until they can be deported. It replaces a temporary structure now in place at the port which is barely more than a temporary building.

It will be half-funded by the British with the Calais Chamber of Commerce among those having offered to put up the rest of the money.

The plans are revealed in a letter from Brodie Clark, head of Border Force at the Home Office to Francis Etienne, Director of Migration at the Migration Ministry in France.

The letter says: “I am very pleased to be able to confirm, on behalf of the UK Border Agency our contribution to fund 50% of the 500,000 euros cost estimated by the Calais Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) which will enable work to start.

“I believe that planning permission has been granted and that a building contractor has been chosen through a tendering process run by the CCCI, whom we believe had previously made an offer for funding this facility.

“We look forward to having a purpose built facility that provides a safe, secure and appropriate method of holding clandestines for short periods.”

The plans are an attempt by ministers to stop migrants and the gangs who smuggle them into northern France from continuing their journey to Britain and instead returning them swiftly to their own country. At present, immigrants from Afghanistan, Kurdistan and Africa exploit European law to evade expulsion by trying repeatedly to enter Britain, being arrested and released several times, until they get through.

A senior Labour insider said: “We have to have a process to return these people to their own country rather than just releasing them into the French countryside and this building is the first part of that process.”

It is thought the French initially denied the plans because of fears it could be compared to the notorious Sangatte camp. British officials were baffled by their reaction because it would have been easy to explain that the new centre will be a small detention suite rather than a large residential camp.”

Related: Sangatte, France

From the telegraph:

Mr Sarkozy, a man often ridiculed in France for preferring fitness to literature, has frequently expressed his disdain for “La Princesse de Cleves” (The Princess of Cleves), a novel by Madame de La Fayette which was published in 1678 and is taught in most French classrooms.

Now, French readers have adopted the book as a symbol of dissent: as Mr Sarkozy’s popularity falls, sales of the book are rising. At the Paris book fair this week, publishers reported selling all available copies of the novel, while badges emblazoned with the slogan “I am reading La Princesse de Cleves” were a must-have item that sold out within hours.

Mr Sarkozy’s views on the novel are hardly new. As far back as 2006, before he became president, he made a comment that left no doubt that his school memories of it were not happy ones.

“A sadist or an idiot, up to you, included questions about ‘La Princesse de Cleves’ in an exam for people applying for public sector jobs,” he said, adding that it would be “a spectacle” to see low-level staff speak on the challenging work.

Since then, Mr Sarkozy has repeatedly criticised the tale of duty versus love at the 16th century court of Henri II, suggesting that knowledge of it was not useful.

Over time, his attacks have bolstered the book’s popularity, and even given it a new role as a symbol of dissent at a time when public anger over Sarkozy’s economic policies is high.

Public readings of the work have proliferated at universities like the Sorbonne in Paris, hit by protests over government reform plans, and at theatres.

The cultural weekly Telerama this week published results of a survey asking 100 French writers to list their 10 favourite books. “La Princesse de Cleves” came third in the overall rankings, after masterpieces by Marcel Proust and James Joyce.

Telerama commented that it was unlikely Madame de La Fayette would have done so well before Sarkozy’s jibes.

Photo taken in Aix-en-Provence yesterday.

From slashphone:

“Following a six-month test on the Paris-Amsterdam-Paris route and after a first launch on some French destinations last month (‘La Navette’ flights), AIR FRANCE and KLM have now introduced the service on most of the European and French domestic destinations. The electronic boarding pass can be retrieved on a PDA or mobile phone.

Customers can check in using their PDA or smartphone —and receive their boarding pass by e mail or as an MMS or SMS on their mobile device. It is no longer necessary to print the boarding pass. The only paper document customers still need in order to travel is their personal ID.

The electronic (mobile) boarding pass contains all the information displayed on a conventional boarding pass including a unique bar code. The bar code will be scanned at the gate and can be shown at the baggage drop off points, security, lounges and at the tax free shops at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

“This new service perfectly meets the needs of our customers for speed and autonomy, and demonstrates Air France and KLM’s determination to offer innovative new services” says Patrick Roux, Senior Vice President Marketing Air France KLM.
“It is our aim to offer as many passengers as possible a comfortable and hassle free travel experience without any unnecessary ‘paperwork’ says Martijn van der Zee, Vice President E commerce Air France KLM.”

There’s a crisis and all but do we have to resort to eating crickets, worms and cicadas? I’d like my pizza with mushrooms and pepperoni, please. 86 those grasshoppers and creepy crawlies!

After restaurateur Alexis Chambon met Michel Collin, a bugologist (ok, an entomologist), he thought it would be a wonderful idea to launch a restaurant that serves all kinds of insects. So he did and now you can find bug cuisine at his restaurant in Guidel, a small town in Brittany.

You can order pizza with insects or go for the fried crickets, that supposedly taste like….peanuts. (not chicken)

(link and photo from lepost)

The sandwich invasion, not the underground transportation system.

From newsweek:

“This week brought the release of the new Michelin Red Guide, prompting foodies to run and see which chefs had been awarded stars—the top honor in restaurant criticism.

The guide, whose English edition arrives mid-May, sells 1.3 million copies a year in its various editions.

Its star system rewards expensive restaurants, of course. But the guide also has a lesser-known rating for affordable restaurants. Toward the back of the guide, there’s the “Bib Gourmand” section in which Michelin recognizes places that offer excellent three-course meals for less than €35 ($44) each.

This year, 47 Paris restos are on the Bib Gourmand list—a record. Many of these spots are new additions to the list. My favorites include:

• Le Baratin,, 3 rue Jouye Rouve, 20th arrondissement, 011-33/1-43-49-39-70

• Le Bistrot Paul Bert, 18 rue Paul Bert, 11th arrondissement, 011-33/1-43-72-24-01

• La Cantine du Troquet, 101 rue de l’Ouest, 14th arrondissement, 011-33/1-45-40-04-98.

• L’Entêtée, 4 rue Danville, 14th arrondissement, 011-33/1-40-47-56-81

The above restaurants are not open every day of the week, so call ahead to confirm and to see if reservations are needed.”

More about The Michelin Red Guide France 2009

From slashfilm:

The confirmation comes from Upcoming Film Scores and the Disney folk they checked it out with: Daft Punk have signed on to write the score to Joseph Kosinski’s new Tron movie – Tron, Tron 2.0, Tr2n, 2ron or whatever the heck it ends up being called. May I suggest Trons? Jeez. It’s gonna get a bad name no matter what.

Officially, this is Daft Punk’s first full score. This strikes my skeptical side as a little odd seeing as they starred in, directed, edited, wrote and shot Electroma. The score for that film is credited to one Stephen Baker though I’m more than a little doubtful about his existence. I wouldn’t be too surprised if Baker turns out to be a Roderick Jaynes style fabrication. Should you be reading this, Mr. Baker, please do get in touch. I’d hate to be denying credit where it’s actually due.

I’ve used a still from Electroma at the head of the post. The crash-helmeted characters you see are a pair of robots played by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter, the members of Daft Punk. One prolonged sequence of the film sees them with human faces made of latex fitted over these shiny cyberheads. As if that isn’t disturbing enough – and it actually is, I had to watch through my fingers – there’s a truly disturbing bit where the latex melts. Shudder. Nightmares are made by Electroma – and I guess that’s a strong recommendation.

Any band with the music video back catalogue of Daft Punk must have done something right, even if that’s just signing to a label with a whip smart video commissioner. Amongst their compendium of mini-gems are Spike Jonze’ Da Funk, Michel Gondry’s Around the World, Leiji Matsumoto’s anime suite for Interstellar 555, Roman Copolla’s Revolution 909 and The YouTube Community’s collective efforts at writing on themselves and learning complex choreography.

The only way I’d feel Daft Punk were a neater, more seemingly fated appointment for the Tron gig would be if Kraftwerk had scored the original instalment. As it were, the amazing sounds the first time around were provided by Wendy Carlos who simply doesn’t have a modern day analog (pun intended).

Links: Harder Better Faster Stronger, The Fun Faceless Duo of Daft Punk

From newser:

” Seven French politicians, including President Nicolas Sarkozy, have received death threats accompanied by live ammunition, the Independent reports. The letters, which included 9mm rounds, were signed by an unknown group called Solidarity Earth. Though the name perhaps suggests an environmental group, and anti-terrorism officials are investigating, those in the know attribute the act to a “disturbed individual.”

The letter specifically threatens Sarkozy, Justice Minister Rachida Dati, and Interior Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie. “You think that you own our lives,” the threat reads. “No. We own your lives and those of your friends and family.” Alliot-Marie, a conservative, has warned of a surge in “ultra-leftist” violence.”

The squirrels are getting bolder, closer and more curious about who is leaving walnuts for them every day. Here’s Part I and Part 2.

Him: Hey! I was looking for you. Ground Beef?

Me: Wha? … Oh. Dinner. Do you want burgers or some chili or something like that?

Him: What?

Me: You must be hungry. Maybe some else?

Him: I’m confused. I came to see you to talk about something, not dinner.

Me: Oh but you suggested ground beef.

Him: What!?

Me: You said STEACK HACHÉ.

Him. No I didn’t. I said T’ES CACHÉE.

Me: OH! Hee.

More Franco-American Conversations

tags: france, french, living in france