Jacques Chirac: Yo Bruno, what kind of animal is that over there?
Bruno Le Maire: Since when do you say, “yo,” Jacques?
Chirac: It’s always been a part of my vernacular. BTW, you can call me Monsieur Chirac, and don’t change the subject.
Le Maire: Just because I’m the Minister of Agriculture doesn’t mean I know anything about agriculture. I actually hate animals and nature. Didn’t you see me on Canal Plus yesterday? I don’t even know what a turkey sounds like. I just wanted to be Minister and agriculture was the only one available. I took it because I knew les grands surfaces (large supermarket chains) would give me huge bribes to not denounce them because they’re fleecing farmers and French consumers.
Chirac: You sort of suck, Bruno. Of course, bribes are kind of nice.

Click here to see more Dialogues.

While we’re on the subject of feves, I thought I’d share a recent one I found in a tasty galette du roi from one of our favorite pastry chefs in our area, Jean-Marc Bernigaud, who was previously the pastry chef at Trois Gros, a three star Michelin restaurant in Roanne. Typically, the galettes are filled with frangipane but Jean-Marc told us he was bored and added a different flavor: a delicious apple and noisette filling, unusual but expectedly unique and refreshing, in any case. It had a non-traditional design on top, too.

While my feve isn’t as sexy as the Kamasutra feves, I thought it was cute, a teeny tiny Renault 4L, a super popular car in France from 1961 and beyond. It was Renault’s response to their competitor, the Citroen 2CV (what the French call the deux chevaux (two horses)), which is cuter and iconic of old France. (Read more about the 4L here.)

Back to the feve.

A couple of days after feasting on the galette, I saw the Renault 4L again but this time it was a real Renault 4L and the exact same color as the mini Renault 4L feve!

A baker in the Vaucluse area of France has discovered the secret ingredient to a successful Galette du Roi: the same ingredient as most popular products: sex. Specifically, the boulanger put feves featuring various Kamasutra positions. Needless to say, the lines at the bakery rival those of Apple’s new product launches. Sales have obviously skyrocketed. How do the galettes taste? Who cares!

L’Entrepain
699 Avenue Vidier Maurice Marguerite
84270 Vedène, France
Telephone: +33 (0)4 90 02 37 24

PHOTO/LE DAUPHINE/Manuel PASCUA

Related: La Galette du roi/King Cake for Epiphany, Galette des rois for Epiphany

Vive La France!

To open the festival dedicated to Impressionism in Rouen, 1,250 people held large fragments of a reproduction of a Claude Monet masterpiece (La Cathédrale de Rouen, effet de soleil, fin de journée) above their heads yesterday in an attempt to create the world’s biggest live Impressionist painting. Neat! Watch the video by clicking on the image.

The success of Restaurant Week in cities like New York, Dublin, Lisbonne, Madrid, London, Miami and Los Angeles has inspired cities in France to give a go to a week dedicated to affordable gastronomy. Hundreds of participating restaurants will offer a unique menu priced at 20,10€ for lunch and 35€ for dinner.

I was looking forward to checking out several restaurants in our region, including Bernard Loiseau in Saulieu, but it’s not on the list!

For more information, visit Tous au restaurant.

Order your Thanksgiving dinner and have it made for you, so you don’t have to try to fit a turkey in that tiny, French oven! If not that, perhaps you’re traveling or just don’t want to deal with it at home. How about going out for a real, Thanksgiving dinner à la américaine? The Bistrot Saint Martin is offering a feast for Turkey Day to eat in or take out, but reserve now as long as there are still openings. The in-restaurant dinner is 30€/person and includes:

Take out dinners include:

Bistrot Saint Martin
Telephone: 06 32 75 98 05/01 46 07 73 68
Email: lesaintmartin@yahoo.fr
Website: The Bistrot Saint Martin

I didn’t even know Strasbourg HAD a 10-day  international film festival. Of course, this is only their second year but it’s definitely worth a mention. (Thanks, Sophie)

The Strasbourg International Film Festival is an alternative, cutting-edge discovery film festival showcasing independent film from around the world mainly focusing on the works of new and emerging filmmakers, held annually. Presenting 50 feature films and over 150 short films, the Strasbourg International Film Festival works to empower and assist independent filmmakers while bringing audiences a uniquely rich and cultural filmic experience they might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience and embrace.

Here’s the press release for the event:

Strasbourg, France – The Strasbourg International Film Festival presents feature films selected to screen in the following categories – Drama, Post Modern Drama, Culturally-Inclined Drama, Dramedy, Romantic Comedy, Psychological Thriller, SciFi-Fantasy-Horror, Experimental, Animation and Documentary . The 2009 Strasbourg International FIlm Festival runs August 28 through Sept 6 in Strasbourg, France and Kehl, Germany.

For the 2009 Strasbourg International FIlm Festival 50 feature-length films were selected including 11 World Premieres, 13 International Premieres, 11 European Premieres, 3 Mainland European Premieres, 8 French Premieres, and 3 Strasbourg Premieres representing 37 countries with 31 first-time filmmakers.

The films screening in DRAMA are:

Baghdad, Texas / USA (Director: David H. Hickey) 90 mins. – 2009 – While a Middle Eastern dictator is fleeing his occupied country his plane crashes on the Mexican Border. He is inadvertently carried into Texas by illegal immigrants. Struck by a truck driven by three cowboys, he is taken back to their exotic game ranch where they slowly discover his identity. International premiere

Bathory / Austria/Slovakia, Czech Republic, UK, Hungary, USA (Director: Juraj Jakubisko) 138 mins. – 2008 – Bathory is based on the legends surrounding the life and deeds of Countess Elizabeth Bathory known as the greatest murderess in the history of mankind. Contrary to popular belief, Elizabeth Bathory was a modern Renaissance woman who ultimately fell victim to mens aspirations for power and wealth. French Premiere

Bergfest (Without You I’m Nothing) / Germany (Directed by Florian Eichinger, 1st Feature) 89 mins. – 2008 – A weekend in the Bavarian Alps. 25-year-old HANNES meets his father after 8 years of separation in a little mountain hut. By the influence of their very different girl friends ANN and LAVINIA, the stage-director-father and his actor-son cautiously try to make a new start. A bold venture, leading all of them to an abyss of unforeseen cruelty.  French Premiere

Broken Hill / Australia/USA (Directed by Dagen Merrill. Starring Timothy Hutton) 105 mins. – 2009 – Set against the backdrop of a drought-ridden, rural sheep-ranching community in the heart of Australia’s desolate Outback, BROKEN HILL is the story of an aspiring high school music composer, Tommy McAlpine (18), who struggles against his father’s expectations, cultural stereotypes, and the lack of musicians in his small town. French Premiere

God’s Ear / USA (Directed by Michael Worth) 110 mins. – 2008 – Noah Connelly is a boxer with a tireless opponent: Autism. When he meets a fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants dancer named Alexia, both find themselves becoming atracted to each other and must face a bridge between them that neither are sure they are prepared to cross. European Premiere

Forecast / Bulgaria (Directed by Sophia Zornitsa) 102 mins. – 2008 – Margarita leaves the famous reporter Marco Matanich and joins her brother going for a windsurfing vacation with his friends from different Balkan countries on a Turkish island. Marco arrives on the island “only” for the board Margarita stole from him.  French Premiere

Madre Mia / France (Directed by Stefan Libiot) 71 mins. – 2009 – Conversations with mother. (Conversations avec la mère) Strasbourg Premiere
Mita Meista Tuli (What Became of Us) / Finland, Russia/Finland (Directed by Miika Ullakko) 123 mins. – 2009 – Haunted by their childhood pasts friends are faced with their demons and made to tell the tale. European Premiere

Films selected for POST MODERN DRAMA are:

3 Saisons (3 Seasons) / Canada (Directed by Jim Donovan) 100 mins – 2008 – Life finds a way. (La vie trouve un moyen.) Mainland European Premiere

Aspettando Il Sole/ Italy (Directed by Ago Panini, 1st Feature) 95 mins. – 2008 – The place is Italy, anywhere at the beginning of the Eighties. Three bad boys stumble across a remote hotel, looking for something to amuse them through the long hours until dawn, they decide to take the hotel’s night porter hostage. The Bellevue Hotel is full of guests who breathe and sob behind doors. They act out of love and despair, in whispers and screams. Only when these stories start to intertwine do the walls dissolve revealing the visible thread that links their destinies. Strasbourg Premiere

Bureaucracy / USA (Directed by Mark Perreault, 1st Feature) 87 mins. – 2009 – A loyal employee overburdened by a corrupt boss carefully plots a murder to save himself and his blind sister from economic hardship.

La Rina/The Pit / Brazil (Directed by Marcelo Galvão) 85 mins. – 2008 – Instead of showing typical poverty in Brazil, La Riña unveils the opposite by unmasking a sick and cruel elite. Based on true facts, La Riña highlights the polemic of bare knuckle fights in a playboy party where drugs and drinks are served on silver trays.  European Premiere

Love Me Still / UK (Directed by Danny Hiller, 1st Feature) 96 mins. – 2007 – ‘Love Me Still’ is an urban street movie with elements of the classical gangster Brit flick combined with the melodrama of unrelenting love.  Mainland European Premiere

MURO “Nalet Olsun Icimdeki Insan Sevgisine” / Turkey (Directed by Sasmaz Zubeyr, 1st Feature) 97 mins. – 2008 – Muro and Çeto who were released from prison recently, come back to homeland to start their revolution from their village. Their aim is to get married and to be an honorable reformist. However there is an unexpected surprise waiting for them in the village. Muro and Çeto were married off two Russian women by the headman of the village when they were at prison. Muro and Çeto have to carry out their revolution dream by being divorced from them. Therefore they return to İstanbul… European Premiere

Uneasy / USA (Directed by Kenneth Compton, 1st Feature) 80 mins. – 2009 – Michael, a disconnected youth, is involved in the death of an old Russian woman. Easily escaping his pursuers, he cannot run from his conscience, forcing him to make the ultimate sacrifice. World Premiere

Un peu plus d’éternité / France (Directed by Niav Conty, 1st Feature) 75 mins. – 2008 – Anne exists. She doesn’t know why, or how long it will last. She is alone. In her routine life, she is confronted by the absurdity of human behavior, the strange nature of communication, and the tragic-comedy of jumbled encounters. World Premiere

Films screening in CULTURALLY-INCLINED DRAMA are:

Forward/Backward / USA (Directed by Elizabeth Spear/Kendall Lynch, 2nd/1st Feature respectively) 96 mins. – 2009 – Clayton lost his wallet, and he hasn’t paid the water bill. Which wouldn’t be so bad, except he also lost his job sweeping up at the theater. Small, East Texas towns like Reklaw don’t have too many jobs for guys with a brain injury, slight paralysis and an occasional lack of good judgment. And no, in case you were wondering, he ain’t retarded.  International Premiere

Jose Ignacio / Uruguay (Directed by Ricardo Preve) 83 mins. – 2009 – A summer love story that happens in a little village of the coast of Uruguay between a writer and a woman who teaches surf.  International Premiere

Shiro’s Head / Guam (Directed by Kel Muna/Don Muna, 1st Feature) 80 mins. – 2008 – A modern part of a forgotten history, ‘Shiro’s Head’ takes us to the Pacific island of Guam, USA where outcast Vince Flores (Don Muna) struggles to come to terms with his family’s history of secrets and a dark past of his own. Shunned from his family for the death of his father, his attempt to reconcile causes his family’s past to catch up to him for the last time.  European Premiere

El regalo de la Pachamama / Bolivia (Directed by Toshifumi Matsushita, 1st Feature) 104 mins. – 2008 – A spiritual docudrama set in Bolivia, where a 13-year-old boy lives a traditional life with his family near Uyuni, a salt lake.  European Premiere

Village Tales / Poland (Directed by Wlodzimierz Krygier, 1st Feature) 62 mins. – 2008 – A culturally-inclined rural docudrama about life in Poland. (Un docudrame culturelle au sujet de la mode de vie en Pologne.) World Premiere

Films screening in DRAMEDY are:

Boppin’ At The Glue Factory / USA (Directed by Jeff Orgill, 1st Feature) 81 mins. – 2009 – A junkie nurse stumbles into his dream job – running the graveyard shift at a convalescent home.  Strasbourg Premiere

Der Mond und Andere Liebhaber (The Moon and Other Lovers) / Germany (Directed by Bernd Böhlich) 101 mins. – 2008 – The film narrates the story of Hanna, a woman who will not take life’s set backs and knock-downs sitting down. Instead, she takes them in her stride, picks herself up and marches onward. This is a woman who continually draws new courage from her inexhaustible will to live. Whatever losses and uncertainties come her way, she remains true to herself. French Premiere

Herbeast Comes to Life / USA (Directed by Timothy Williams, 1st Feature) 90 mins. – 2009 – An over-the-top comedy about a young man who goes on a journey to find his place in the world.  World Premiere

Na Lepom Plavom Dunavu (The Beautiful Blue Danube) / Austria, Hungary, Serbia/Montenegro / Serbia/Montenegro (Directed by Darko Bajic) 107 mins. – 2008 – The ship “Kriemhild” is a floating sin city where people from East and West share the same bourgeois dreams and consumer’s utopia. In the post heroic, post aesthetic phase- only a dream has survived: the need for love. French Premiere

Films screening in ROMANTIC COMEDY are:

Love Hurts / USA (Directed by Barra Grant) 95 mins. – 2008 – Ben (Richard E. Grant) A successful doctor but an obtuse husband, is finally left by his wife (Carrie Anne Moss). Befuddled by life and romance and obsessed with winning her back, Ben is tutored by his extremely popular 17 year-old son. To his amazement Ben becomes the most desirable single man in town. World Premiere

Pussyfoot / USA/USA, Serbia/Montenegro (Directed by Dusan Sekulovic, 1st Feature) 97 mins. – 2008 – Irwin Pelkalvski, a bristly faced resident alien, and friends face their second coming of age in New York City. For Irwin, there are ‘women’ and then there are ‘girls’: women want to get married and girls just want to have fun. For the single Anny there are three types of men: married, gay and idiots. Polish polka bars, confusing self help books and a mythical hooker that never sleeps with her clients, confound their American journey. International Premiere

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Undead / USA (Directed by Jordan Galland) 83 mins. – 2008 – Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead is a comedy about the connection between Shakespeare, the Holy Grail and some sexy vampires. Our hero, an unemployed theater director, is unwittingly dragged into an ancient conspiracy, and his friend’s warning–’Don’t let your ex-girlfriend suck the life out of you’ — takes on a new meaning. International Premiere

Films screening in PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER are:

31 North 62 East / Jordan, UK/UK (Directed by Tristan Loraine, 1st Feature) 100 mins. – 2009 – A female Captain in the SAS who survives an attack on her unit in Afghanistan, later discovers that her unit was sacrificed for political reasons. World Premiere

Eugene / USA (Directed by Jake Barsha, 1st Feature) 85 mins. – 2008 – A psychological thriller about a lonely bachelor who befriends a young hustler and his girlfriend, with disastrous results for all involved. International Premiere

Four of a Kind / Australia (Directed by Fiona Cochrane, 1st Feature) 115 mins. – 2008 – Four different women, each with a well-hidden secret they are coaxed, tricked or forced into revealing… sometimes it’s better to omit the truth. European Premiere

Print / USA (Directed by Ashley C. Beyer, 1st Feature) 81 mins. – 2008 – Print is a taut psychological thriller about Chase, a young man who sets out to confront the best-selling author he is convinced stole his life story. The only problem is, the author may be a fabrication from the mind of a duplicitous photographer. International Premiere

Films screening in SCI-FI – FANTASY – HORROR are:

The Antidote / USA (Directed by Randy Cole) 63 mins. – 2008 – A voyeuristic teenager named Jimmy witnesses a scientist’s transformation into a nightmarish creature. When Jimmy investigates, the scientist turned creature pleads with him to help restore him to his former human self. What ensues is a dark bargaining between teenager and monster over homework, lust, love, and eventually death.  International Premiere

Clear Lake, WI / USA (Directed by Brian Ide, 1st Feature. Starring Michael Madsen) 87 mins. – 2008 – A group of six people return to their former home town (now a ghost town) to revisit the evil that drove them away 15 years ago. International Premiere

Finale / USA (Directed by John Elfers, 1st Feature) 93 mins. – 2008 – When Helen discovers her son was sacrificed by a demonic cult, no one believes her. Alone, she must destroy the cult to save her family.  European Premiere

The Fourth Pillar / Australia (Directed by Leo Flander, 1st Feature) 87 mins. – 2009 – Rheya Fitzgerald arrives at NSG-E42, she soon finds out the school is run like a prison. The students plight becomes worse when a failed rebellion causes students to begin to disappear. World Premiere

Locked Out / Japan (Directed by Yasunobu Takahashi, 1st Feature) 81 mins. – 2008 – Hiroshi is lost, on the road, driving aimlessly by himself, radio blaring, when he slowly realizes he is nowhere. He doesn’t know exactly where he is, and reflects that he doesn’t even have a specific destination. The feeling of loss lingers around him. On the way, he encounters a projection of a more violent HIMSELF, seething with hatred and viciousness.  Strasbourg Premiere

Treis Stigmes (Three Moments) / Greece (Directed by Petros Sevastikoglou) 80 mins. – 2008 – Love confronting three ages, three moments.  International Premiere

Films screening in EXPERIMENTAL are:

The Day / Mexico (Directed by Tao René Mijares, 1st Feature) 106 mins. – 2008 – One day in the life of a woman. (Un jour dans la vie d’une femme.) World Premiere
For the End of Time / Slovenia (Directed by Ema Kugler, 2nd Feature. Narration by Lydia Lunch) 127 mins. – 2009 – A film about the mind… about the body, and the inability to merge these two entities. World Premiere

Jane’s Paradise / Netherlands (Directed by Dee Wills, 1st Feature) 80 mins. – 2008 – Fragments of a life. Fragments of a mind. The life and mind of Jane Doe, an every-girl dealing with the ‘gift’ of imagination. Unraveling the darker side of her present, she struggles to break free from her past. To become what this Jane dreams of becoming…a filmmaker.  World Premiere

The Why / USA (Directed by Anthony Pedone, 1st Feature) 97 mins. – 2009 – In the absence of love… In the absence of hate… In the absence of reason… ( World Premiere

Film screenings in DOCUMENTARY are:

Betrayal: The Life and Art of Rudolf Bauer / Germany, U S A /USA (Directed by Ken Swartz, 1st Feature) 72 mins. – 2008 – From a Gestapo prison to the Guggenheim Museum, the story of twentieth-century abstract artist Rudolf Bauer is one of Shakespearean proportion. Yet Bauer’s name and art have been largely forgotten. This documentary revisits the life and art of this important painter, from his artistic beginnings in Berlin before World War I to his pioneering contributions to abstract art and his patronage by copper magnate Solomon R. Guggenheim. Sixty years later the art of Rudolf Bauer is rediscovered.  International Premiere

Children of Armageddon / Canada, French Polynesia, Japan, Marshall Islands, New Zealand/Canada (Directed by Fabienne Lips-Dumas, 1st Feature) 95 mins. – 2008 – In the face of a potential nuclear renaissance, this passionate and deeply moving account explores the legacy of nuclear arms in Japan, the Marshall Islands, French Polynesia, New Zealand, and around the world. With the participation of: Noam Chomsky, Hans Blix, Judge C.G. Weeramantry, Arjun Makhijani, and Douglas Roche. European Premiere

Guerrilla Midwife / Indonesia, U S A (Directed by Deja Bernhardt, 1st Feature) 67 mins. – 2008 – Follows Ibu Robin Lim into the trenches of her work. From Bali, where hemorrhage after childbirth is a leading cause of death, into the Tsunami disaster zone in Aceh, where her battle is fought with only one weapon, love. In this culturally mesmerizing, heart-wrenching documentary, you will discover why we must reinvent our protocols for pregnancy and childbirth in order to preserve our Planet’s Humanity. Mainland European Premiere

Nuestros Desaparecidos/Our Disappeared / Argentina, U S A/USA (Directed by Juan Mandelbaum) 99 mins. – 2008 – After learning that Patricia, a long lost girlfriend from Argentina, is among the thousands who “disappeared” during the 1976-1983 dictatorship, director Juan Mandelbaum embarks on a journey to find out what happened to her and others he knew who were kidnapped and never seen again. European Premiere

Pirate for the Sea / Antarctica, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, South Africa, U S A/USA (Directed by Ron Colby) – 101 mins. – 2008 – A biographical film of Captain Paul Watson. The youngest founding member of Greenpeace Canada, he organized early campaigns protesting the killing of seals,whales and dolphins. Greenpeace ejected him for being too much of an activist. Starting his own organization, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, he went on to sink illegal whaling ships, stopped the Canadian seal hunt for ten years, permanently halted sealing in British Isles, killing of dolphins on Iki Island, Japan, etc. This documentary witnesses his latest campaigns & explores the personal and environmental history of this controversial marine environmentalist.  French Premiere

Sweet Crude / Nigeria/USA (Directed by Sandy Cioffi, 1st Feature) 93 mins. – 2009 – Sweet Crude is the story of Nigeria’s Niger Delta – the human and environmental consequences of 50 years of oil extraction, the history of non-violent protest, and the members of a new insurgency who, in the three years since the filmmakers met them as college students, became the young men of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).  Mainland European Premiere

Strasbourg Int’l Film Fest (website)

From viewonfashion:

On the 20th of May Paris will host an auction that you should attend if you love vintage fashion, and particularly if you like the iconic pieces created by French brand Hermés. Over 700 of their creations will be auctioned at the Hotel Marcel Dassault.

Auction house Artcurial have managed to collect 700 iconic Hermés pieces. Many of them are from the 60s, 70s and 80s, with authentic jewellery in some cases starting at just €70.

From their legendary foulards to jodhpur boots and beautiful bags. As you can imagine, the 700 pieces feature many interesting and unique creations. Don’t forget, you need to book in advance…

Hôtel Marcel Dassault
7 rond-point des Champs-Élysées
75008 Paris

Sessions
20 May 10:30am: Lots 1-250
20 May 2:30pm: Lots 251-End
Auctioneer: François Tajan

Viewing Information
15-18 May, 11am-7pm
19 May, by appointment

Contact: Cyril Pigot
Phone: +33 1 42 99 16 56

Bid Department
Marianne Balse
Phone: +33 1 42 99 20 51

From variety:

The master of romanticism and rugged grandeur, Charles Aznavour has returned to the Gotham stage for an all-too-brief four-night stand with his unique catalog of French chanson. At the ripe age of 85, the singer-songwriter has lost none of his quicksilver energy, impish humor or trademark sense of musical storytelling. In a nearly two-hour show, he turned the pages of a familiar songbook that brought frequent cheers from a capacity audience clearly packed with adoring fans.

With the added glitter of a sparkling ballroom orb, Aznavour sang “The Old Fashioned Way (Les Plaisirs Demodes)” and danced across the stage with an imaginary woman in his arms. But perhaps the most tender memory was the plaintive scrapbook, “Yesterday When I Was Young.”

Aznavour is a master of gesture, nuance and timing. He accents his songs with a subtle reflection of young love and heartbreak. “La Boheme” is a bittersweet reflection of the passing of spring and lost life, while “It Will Be My Day” is a rhythmic celebration of showbiz savvy, youth and expectation. His performance of “Ave Maria” remains an intensely vivid hymn. “She,” the only song performed in English, is his biggest Stateside hit, featured here as an encore that allowed the singer to toast all women.

For the poignant duet “Je Voyage,” Aznavour was joined by his daughter, Katia; the narrative follows a young girl journeying into her future as her older companion travels through memories.

His daughter is one of two backup singers accompanying Aznavour, along with a nine-piece band with four violins and an accordion that projects a much bigger sound than one would expect. A smartly structured lighting design frames the crooner distinctively.

The New York leg is billed as an extension of Aznavour’s North American farewell tour that began in 2006. The performer is undoubtedly one of the last of a breed of living legends, a cunning crooner who has lost none of his seductive charm.

Charles Aznavour
City Center Main Stage
Apr 29 – May 3, 2009
Tickets: $55, $75, $95, $125, $150, $175, $190

I wonder if Jeff Koons, the artist whose sculptures are displayed at the Château de Versailles (until Dec 14), is responsible for those condom ads.

Versailles Exhibition (slideshow and article at nyt)

Air France has special packages for a romantic getaway to Paris from the U.S. See details here.

From time:

“Perhaps nothing symbolized the American team’s efforts at the Bocuse d’Or better than its beef cheeks. At the world’s premier chef’s competition, which ended on Jan. 28 in Lyons, France, the Estonians transformed the cheeks — a required ingredient this year — into pot-au-feu, the Brazilians stuffed potatoes with them, and the Malaysians spiced them up into rendang. But the U.S. competitors, 28-year-old Timothy Hollingsworth and his assistant, Adina Guest, braised the meat until it was silky, set it on a tiny round of baby turnip, and topped it with a floret of broccolini. Smuggled through customs, the vegetables came straight from the garden of the famed French Laundry restaurant in Napa, California, where the two chefs work, and gave the presentation a delicious, locally grown flavor that could only be American. Sadly, in a context where extravagance and adherence to the rules of classical cooking take precedence, that might have been part of the problem.

In fact, for the young chefs who compete in the contest — founded by revered French chef Paul Bocuse — navigating between the desire to demonstrate the glories of their national cuisine (to say nothing of their own creativity) and the wish to please a jury that tends to favor the classic French style is precisely the challenge. “If you’re playing soccer, you can’t use your hands,” says Antonio Saura, a Spanish filmmaker whose 2007 documentary El Pollo, el Pez, y el Cangrejo Real featured the competition. “The Bocuse is the same way: you have to play by their rules.”

Those rules are … ” continue reading

From iht.com:

“Two months after America’s 44th Presidential election, Obama-mania is as palpable as ever in the City of Lights. So, fittingly, there are several good options for those who want to watch live as Barack Obama is sworn in on January 20th (at around 6PM Paris time).

The French capital’s most formal inauguration event is also the hardest to get into. The Mairie (Town Hall) of Paris will be hosting its Inaugural Celebration of the 44th President of the United States at the Hotel de Ville, from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. Tickets are required in order to attend– and Democrats Abroad have already run out of theirs. However, there may still be some available through Republicans Abroad. Email Stuart.Haugen@RepublicansAbroad.fr as soon as possible for further information.”

Since we’re on the subject of Obama, I thought I’d mention these very cute T-shirts created by Chris Bishop, who is based in the DC Metro area. The T, called “Barack O’Unicorn” features Obama riding a white unicorn. They are only $17 plus $3 shipping in the U.S. until Obama takes office officially. After that, the price goes up. We ordered some and they took only a week to get to France. Get yours now!

tags: inauguration, obama, t-shirts, cute

Happy New Year!

French game developers, Phelios Inc., based in Atlanta have released this free game called, “Whack the Dead” just in time for Halloween. So while waiting for trick-or-treaters and munching on tons of candy corn, waste a little time and indulge in some good fun whacking of the dead.

Nah, it’s not really violent in a realistic way; I mean, because they’re already dead! it’s more light fun and silliness with zombies and other creepy characters. Click on the green creatures and get rid of them whilst racking up on points. Your default weapon is a shovel, but you can upgrade if you find guns, rifles or grenades. The grenade will kill everything that’s on the board at once! Don’t whack the alive people or you will lose points. Play using a mouse (playing on a touch pad doens’t work as well), and try to to beat my high score, which is 911. Not a very auspicious score but beat that, anyway. I dare you!

Whack the Dead is actually really fun if you play it on an iPhone using your fingers to whack, but you can play it on your computers as well. Best of all it’s free.

Download Whack the Dead for Mac

Download Whack the Dead for PC

tags: french, whack the dead, halloween games

Celebrate a different kind of Halloween this year in Paris by roller blading around the city dressed as something ghoulish or Halloweenish with Pari Roller. Pari Roller has scheduled a group skate for Friday, October 31 at 10pm. This should be a lot of fun and not to be missed if you’re into blading. The group could be as large as 25,000 people and it’s said that Paris’ group skate is the biggest in the world. Meet at Montparnasse between the tower and the train station at 10pm and skate ’til about 1am. Click here for more info.

tags: france, french, paris, halloween, roller blading, skating

As a die-hard enthusiast of Halloween and as a chronic gamer, I can not help but be envious of people in or near Paris this Halloween. Why? The Undead Invasion is in Paris! If you’re in Paris and want to try something different and fun this Halloween, check it out with a team of your friends and become zombie fighters. I know you’ve always wanted to be a zombie fighter. Here’s some info:

What is the Undead Invasion?
Every Halloween, a select number of zombies are granted access to our world to survey the conditions for a full-scale invasion. You and your team of zombie hunters must make it clear that there will be no invasion this year and that this aggression will not stand.

You will be confronting a formidable enemy with no respect for human life, customs, or fashion sense. This adversary, however, has a weakness. The zombie scouts can only stay above ground so long as they are in possession of their official travel permits, another example of the unexpected bureaucracy of the Zombie Autonomous Administration.

Outwit and your mindless foe and convince him to freely part with his permits. To help you locate the zombies and complete this task, Undead Invasion Central Command will distribute portions of the Book of the Living Dead.

By combining your wit and will with this information, you will be able to locate and neutralize the zombie threat. The team that makes the greatest contribution to this effort will be crowned Zombie Stomping Champions and will awarded all of the commensurate perks. (read the official rules here)

Register to play
Registration is quick and easy, we suggest a team of 3-5 zombie hunters. Once registered, you will receive updates and instructions from Undead Invasion Central Command. In the mean time, you can start learning about the Book of the Living Dead and zombie identification techniques. Register now.

Cities participating in the Undead Invasion: Atlanta, Brisbane, Honolulu, Lahaina, Nashville, New Orleans, New York (sold out), Paris, Princeton, Richmond.

Undead Invasion
Paris, France
Friday, October 31, 2008, 7:00 pm
20€ per player
Note: Game is English-based.
Click here for more information about the Undead Invasion in Paris

tags: france, paris, halloween, undead invasion

WWF France (World Wildlife Fund) is turning 35 years old. Remembering their 35 years of struggle to save natural habitats and wildlife, and their 35 years of helping to protect biodiversity, the WWF is taking their icon/mascot, the panda, as a theme to “celebrate” these 35 years of combating the disappearance of pandas and thousands of other species of animals in danger. There are only 1600 pandas left on earth because Man has accelerated their extinction. The exhibit of 1600 pandas at the Trocadero is a call to action for each person to do their part in helping to reverse the deterioration of our natural environment.

1600 Pandas – WWF
Trocadero, Paris
October 18, 2008
10am – 5pm

tags: france, french, pandas, wwf, trocadero

From bbc:

“Football matches in France will be called off immediately if spectators jeer during the French national anthem, says the country’s sports minister.

France’s national anthem was booed in Tuesday’s friendly win over Tunisia.

“Any match at which our national anthem is whistled at will be immediately stopped,” said Roselyne Bachelot.

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said the booing was “insulting” and that in the event of a repeat it would be necessary “to call off matches”.

“It’s insulting for France, it’s insulting for the players of the French team, it should not be tolerated,” he added.

“I think we should stop the matches when the anthems, whichever they are, are booed.”

Two goals from Thierry Henry gave France coach Raymond Domenech a much needed boost in cementing a 3-1 win in Paris.

But the booing and whistling by some in the crowd – many of them Tunisian – as the French anthem was played infuriated France’s political establishment.

President Nicolas Sarkozy has demanded an investigation into the matter.

President Sarkozy’s aides said he had summoned French Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes following the “scandalous incidents which occurred at the Stade de France”.

Bachelot added: “Government members will immediately leave the arena where our national anthem has been whistled.

“When whistling of our national anthem happens, all friendly games with the country concerned will be suspended for a period yet to be determined by the federation president.”

Sports Minister Bernard Laporte has suggested that France no longer play friendlies against Maghreb region countries.

There have been similar problems in recent years in matches against Algeria and Morocco.

Friendlies against North African sides traditionally attract widespread support from sizeable immigrant communities in and around the French capital.

Some booed when the names of the French players were read out over the PA system before kickoff, reaching a crescendo for Hatem Ben Arfa, born in France to Tunisian parents.

Arfa opted to play for the country of his birth despite overtures from the Tunisian Federation.

“I’m not really angry with them,” said Ben Arfa. “It’s a bit of a shame but it’s not a major problem. They need to exist, you have to understand them.”

tags: france, french, football, boo, french anthem

Though she’s been around a while now, her career got a serious kickstart because Apple decided to use her song, “New Soul” for the advertising campaign of the MacBook Air. I didn’t know much about her before that.

I’d heard in an interview with the French-Israeli artist, Yael Naim, that she didn’t even realize Apple used her song for the spot. Aren’t they supposed to ask for permission first? Anyway.

Her second album, Yael Naim, which includes the MacBook Air song and other songs in English, French and Hebrew, is really wonderful and worth a listen. I particularly liked her cover of Britney Spears’ “Toxic” and a song called, “Lonely,” which is beautiful if not impetus to start up drinking.

Listening to my fave radio station, kcrw, I’d heard she and the awesome David Donatien were touring in the U.S. this month and in November they’ll be back in France, so I thought I’d post her concert information:

October 2008
10/14 Seattle (WA) | Triple Door
10/15 Portland (OR) | Aladdin Th.
10/17 Los Angeles (CA) | Troubadour
10/19 Aspen (CO) | Belly Up
10/20 Boulder (CO) | Boulder Th.
10/22 Minneapolis (MN) | Cedar Cultural Center
10/23 Chicago (IL) | House of Blues
10/25 Madison (WI) | Wisconsin Union Th.
10/27 New York (NY) | Webster Hall
10/29 Washington DC | 6th & I Historic Synagogue

November 2008
11/06 Voiron | Le Grand Angle
11/07 Clermont Ferrand | Coopérative de Mai
11/08 Le Mans | Festival Be Bop
11/09 Boulogne sur Mer | Tendance Festival
11/06 Voiron | Le Grand Angle
11/07 Clermont Ferrand | Coopérative de Mai
11/08 Le Mans | Festival Be Bop
11/09 Boulogne sur Mer | Tendance Festival
11/10 Nancy | l’Autre Canal
11/13 Paris | LES FOLIES BERGÈRES
11/14 Paris | LES FOLIES BERGÈRES
11/15 Paris | LES FOLIES BERGÈRES
11/19 Zurich | Kaufleuten
11/20 Fribourg | Fri-Son
11/21 Milan | Rolling Stone
11/24 Rome | Auditorium

Her official website: Yael Naim, her myspace, her facebook

tags: france, french, yael naim, david donatien, concert schedule

Today is French singer, France Gall‘s birthday, born on October 9, 1947. Happy Birthday, France! In celebration, here’s a fun video of her first single, which was also her first hit called, Ne sois pas si bête (Don’t be so stupid). It was recorded in 1963, when Ms. Gall was 16 years old. The old video is fun and cute.

Watch the video (youtube)

Links: France Gall on wikipedia

tags: france, gall, Ne sois pas si bête

The Parti Socialist (PS) just wrapped up their L’université d’été, a summer camp-like convention for French politicians. This year it was in La Rochelle (I’m not sure if the venue changes yearly). Here’s the extremely long-winded Francois Hollande, the premier secrétaire of the socialist party with the mayor of La Rochelle, Maxime Bono, in the background.

Previous dialogues: 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, politicians, ps, francois hollande, L’université d’été

All kinds of fun events take place in France during August. Here’s a small selection:

August 1 – 3
20è Festival International de la Marionnette / 20th Marionnette Festival – Mirepoix – Every year the lovely arcaded medieval village of Mirepoix becomes a stage for puppets and puppeteers! More info

August 2
Fête du lac / Lake Festival – Annecy – Every year Annecy’s lake becomes the beautiful backdrop of this celebrated festival featuring music, dance and memorable fireworks festivities. More info

August 7
Course des Anes / Donkey Derby – Trouville-sur-Mer, 2pm-5pm – free – This is an annual event in the seaside town near Deauville called Trouville-sur-Mer. When fancy schmancy Deauville holds its posh horse racing, Trouville-sur-Mer offers a more laid back alternative. More info

August 9
Fête de la carotte / Carrot Festival – Créances, (Normandy) France – How can you pass up a festival dedicated to my farm fresh favorite juice-able veggie? Don’t miss the lunch or dinner, either. You probably know what’s on the menu. Call ahead to make reservations to attend the meals: Annie Auzou au 02 33 17 09 91.

August 10
La Pourcailhade / La Fête des cochons / Pig Festival – Trie-sur-Baïse – Starts at 9:30am – Time to pig out at this annual event with a pig squealing contest and sausage eating contest. More info

until August 15
L’heure du ciné – Movie Time - Nantes, 10pm Wednesdays – Free films every Wednesday 10pm in the Nante’s most verdant areas. Bring a picnic and enjoy dinner and a movie out in an open, lush space. More info Also: see Paris’ Open Air Cinema (La Villette) and Parc de Choisy

August 17
La Force Basque / Strongman Competition - Saint Palais – It’s all about muscle power in one of the most beautiful regions in France, Basque Country. Watch heavyweights lift a boulder! More info

August 23, 24
Fête de l’oignon rosé / Pink Onion Festival – Roscoff (Bretagne) – The regional AOC specialty of sweet, pink onions take center stage at this celebration of one of the most healthful and yummy veggies around. More info

August 28, 29
Rock en Seine – Domaine National de Saint Cloud – This rockin’ 2 day outdoor event is held in the Saint Cloud park just outside Paris. Showcase acts this year are: REM, Amy Winehouse, Rage Against the Machine, The Roots. More info

tags: france , events in france festivals , travel

tags: france travel happy bastille day 14 juillet

This is a quick fyi to alert you to today and tomorrow’s different hours at the Eiffel Tower, just in case you feel like being smushed between thousands upon thousands of sweaty people.

Today, July 13th, there will be no show and the last access to the Tower is 9pm. The Tower will close at 10pm. Tomorrow, Bastille Day, the 14th: Last access is at 6pm and the Tower closes at 8pm. The fireworks show will take place at 10:45pm from Trocadero. Times are subject to change.

Otherwise, normal hours of the Tower: Open every day, 9am to 12:45am. Last access is 11:45pm.

tags: france travel eiffel tower bastille day

From nowpublic:

“French President Nicolas Sarkozy has risked causing a minor diplomatic incident with Japan by not holding a bilateral meeting with the country’s prime minister during the Group of Eight summit, Japanese media reported on Tuesday.

Sarkozy had meant to make an official visit to Japan before this week’s summit, but has since postponed it until next year. If he decides to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in August, it will be his second visit to China since his election as president last year, the paper noted.” [source]

tags: france sarkozy japan france relations cultural retard

The Tour de France began yesterday! I haven’t been paying attention. Oops. Here’s the route (above) and to see street views from Google, go here. For more information, check out the official website.

Related: Tour de France Today in the Dreaded Le Creusot, Tour de France Route on Google Earth, Le Tour de France or AuTour de la France?, Tour de France 2006 – The Route

tags: france travel tour de france google street view

From appleinsider:

“France Telecom’s Orange said Thursday it will launch Apple’s much anticipated iPhone 3G in France on July 17th with prices starting at 149 euro ($233) for the 8GB model.

Orange said its 3G network currently covers over 66 percent of the French population.

tags: france iphone orange

Check out the anuual Jazz Festival taking place at the La Défense Esplanade this weekend. La Défense can be a bit of a schlep from the center of Paris (unless you take a taxi) but if I think it will be worth it, especially to see Herbie Hancock (6pm on Sunday) who is a LEGEND. I Love him.

Bring along some friends, wine, glasses, a picnic and blanket or camping chairs to spend a perfect Parisian summer evening surrounded by music.

La Défense Jazz Festival – June 27 – 29, 2008
Esplanade – Place de La Défense
Friday, June 27 – Noon: Caravan Palace; 6pm National Jazz Competition
Saturday, June 28 – 1pm 6pm National Jazz Competition; 8:30pm Don Cavalli; 9:30pm Solomon Burke
Sunday, June 29 – 1pm National Jazz Competition; 6pm Herbie Hancock and Pura Fe
Website or Myspace
For more information: Call +33 (0)1 47 29 30 48 or Email: LADEFENSEJAZZ@CG92.FR

Transportation
Metro: Station Grande Arche de La Défense Line 1 RER A, T2 and Bus
By Car: Boulevard Circulaire, Exit: La Défense 4, Follow signs for “Parking Centre”

tags: france travel La Défense Jazz Festival free concerts in paris herbie hancock paris

From aol:

Where is the love, Parisians?

“… Radiohead were left with a row of empty seats at a recent French concert after a ticket giveaway backfired. The eco-friendly group announced 50 passes were available for their show at Paris’ Bercy Arena but fans could only get by cycling to their record label’s offices in the French city.

However, Parisians were not prepared to get on their bikes so 35 tickets went unclaimed. A source said: “Radiohead are using their current world tour to highlight their commitment to green issues. They advise all concertgoers to use public transport and are doing all they can to make their carbon footprint as small as possible. Unfortunately the French didn’t appear to share their noble intentions and roundly ignored the free ticket tactic.”

tags: france radiohead velib lazy environment unfriendly parisians

I bet you haven’t seen this many dickheads all in one place, ever! Anyway. These AIDS prevention ads (“Just protect yourself”) recently won a bronze medal at the Cannes Lions 2008, an international advertising festival. The style and quality of the illustrations are wonderful. I wonder if people find these very “French”?

Advertising Agency: TBWA\PARIS
Country: FRANCE
Executive Creative Director: Erik Vervroegen
Creative Director: Erik Vervroegen/Michel De Lauw
Copywriter: Xander Smith
Art Director: Jonathan Santana
Illustrator: James Jean

[via]

On Saturday, June 21, the day before the Patti Smith exhibition Land 250 closes, the Fondation Cartier is offering a final opportunity for the public to meet the artist, who will also be signing the exhibition catalogues.

This event will take place in the exhibition area, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Land 250, Patti Smith at the Fondation Cartier
261, Boulevard Raspail
75014 Paris, France
tel (+33) 1 42 18 56 50
March 28 to June 22, 2008
For more information visit the museum’s website: Fondation Cartier

Related: David Lynch’s work at Fondation Cartier,Ron Mueck in Paris

tags: france patti smith fondation cartier

This organic milk festival is today in Bretagne (Brittany). Sorry about the late notice.

Learn more about organic products and how their production respects the environment (non-GMO, no pesticides or chemicals) and animal well-being, via this festival that every department in Brittany is celebrating with concerts, theater plays, debates and more. This isn’t just the organic dairy industry. You’ll also find bakers, farmers and animals – and their products as well. Visit a number of participating farms to experience what “real food” raising and making (and eating!) are.

You can have an organic breakfast and meet the people who bring quality products to the public.

*Note: You must have a reservation.

La Fête du Lait Bio 2008 – Organic Milk Festival
June 1, 2008
Contacts by Department: Cotes D’Armor – Jean-Sebastien Piel 02.96.74.75.65; Finistere – Alex Lannuzel 02.98.25.80.33; Ille et Vilaine – Nadege Lucas 02.99.77.09.46; Morbihan – Celine Rolland 02.97.66.32.62
Admission: 5 €, 4€ Students and Unemployed, 3€ Under 12
Website: Fete du Lait Bio

Celebrate tomorrow by showing how proud you are of your vegetarian or vegan self! – and fight against cruelty to animals.

In a nutshell, it is a festival of vegetarian and vegan pride and participants aim to do the following: 1) demonstrate against the inhumane treatment of animals; 2) show pride of vegetarianism and veganism; 3) denounce vegephobia; 4) defending their rights to express their opinions; 5) to act in behalf of animals – that do not have rights.

More information

La Veggie Pride 2008
May 17, 2008
2pm – Meet at Place Joachim du Bellay (Forum des Halles – Fontaine des Innocents) in the 1st arrondissement of Paris. Métro Châtelet ou les Halles, R.E.R. Châtelet-les-Halles.
Telephone: 01 45 59 04 35 (Nathalie)

Leave it to outside-the-box thinking* French designer, Philippe Di Méo, to design tableware inspired by sex toys. The collection of erotic tableware called, Souper Fin (which is a play on words of “fine dining” and “super fine”), was designed in collaboration with renowned luxury companies Baccarat, Goyard, Cristofle and Orfèvrerie d’Anjou among others.




Souper Fin will be exhibited at L’Eclaireur (Paris) in July. Each item will be complemented with a specially created chef’s dish and recipe. (I guess so you know how to use some of the utensils!)

* Philippe Di Méo once designed perfumes based on sweat, tears and saliva.

Souper Fin

[via]

More Chinese haters of France. In this case, it’s a taxi driver that is refusing Frenchmen and dogs. What about French women? French children? Are they turning away French poodles? Bichon Frisés? The noyve.

I don’t think France cares too much if she’s hated but don’t you wonder why China is picking on France specifically – when there have been boycotts all along the world path of the Olympic torch? What about England? What about the U.S.? Japan? They tried to trample the Olympic torch, too.

And, and, and, what did dogs do to deserve that? Can’t we all just get along?

Apparemment non.

Michel Fournier is at it again. Remember two years ago? He dropped out of the stratosphere from an altitude of about 130,000 feet (40 kilometers, nearly 25 miles) above the plains of Saskatchewan, Canada. This year he hopes to do the same while breaking the sound barrier and breaking some more world records.

From AFP:

“64-year-old retired French army parachutist said Monday he hopes to smash through the sound barrier with a record-breaking 40,000-metre (130,000-foot) freefall jump over Canada next month.

Michel Fournier hopes to set four new world records at once: for highest freefall parachute speed, at 1,500 kilometres (2,400 miles) per hour, 1.3 times the speed of sound, along with fastest and highest jump and highest air balloon flight.

The Russian Evgeny Andreyev made the highest recorded parachute jump with a 24,483-metre plunge in 1960, while the American Joseph Kittinger claimed an unverified jump of 31,000 metres in 1960.

The veteran French parachutist will take off from May 25 from the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in a pressurised capsule, harnessed to a 161-metre helium-powered balloon, rising to almost four times the height of an airline flight.

Pressure will be let off gradually to allow him to exit and make his jump, wearing a specially-developed protective suit with two oxygen bottles, in conditions similar to an astronaut leaving his spacecraft.

Fournier told a press conference in Paris his jump would have “considerable repercussions for aeronautics and space, for medicine and high-technology.”

French astronaut Jean-Francois Clervoy, who is sponsoring the project, said it could help shed new light on the behaviour of the human body at the speed of sound, with potential applications for future rescue operations in space.

The French army piloted a similar project in the 1980s, aimed at developing an ejector capsule for European spacecraft, in which Fournier was due to take part before it was finally aborted.

With more than 8,600 jumps to his name, Fournier holds the French height record at 12,000 metres.

His project, which drew teams of specialists in high-altitude and underwater conditions, spacesuits and extreme condition health experts, cost 11.8 million euros (19 million dollars).”

Commemorating Earth Day today, which marks the anniversary of the birth of the environmental movement, I thought I’d post a photo in appreciation of nature. This is a photo of the Calanques in the south of France, not far from Cassis. I never did get around to writing about the Calanques – probably because I had so many photos to go through – but I’ll try to get to it…some time…this year

Related: Earth Day – Take a deep breath and hear the sad story of mankind

The Eurovision (the European annual talent show that has taken on a cult following)’s contestant from France is a guy named Sébastien Tellier. I like him; he’s fun and silly – though I’ve listened to the selected song and I have no idea what it’s about.

So, the big scandal in France is that he’s singing in English NOT in French. OMG!

So frickin’ what. The Belgian band, Ishtar, is singing in a non-existent language.

Anyway, that is sort of old news and I am a bit behind. However, when I watched the youtube video of “Divine,” the song he’s supposed to perform at Eurovision, I noticed something. Is it my imagination or is he not even in that video? Maybe, just MAYBE he’s in a couple of shots at most, but I don’t think that’s him lip syncing him – just other people wearing a wig and fake facial hair. Take a look at “him” at the pool. C’mon, that is totally not Sébastien Tellier. See, I told you he’s fun and silly!

Look.

This is what Sébastien Tellier looks like:

It made me wonder if Thomas Bangalter & Guy Man de Homem-Christo from Daft Punk actually perform in their own vids. It doesn’t really matter, I suppose.

But! Will the REAL Sébastien Tellier show up for Eurovision Belgrade (May 20) 2008? On verra.

Last night a special report aired on television (on the show Envoyé Spécial on France 2) about the Olympic Torch in Paris, and showed how the whole spectacle unraveled. While everyone expected a certain amount of unrest from France (and got it), there was some disturbing behavior reported that sent shivers down my spine. It reminded me of something I saw years ago on TV about what could happen in the near future. But, in fact, seems to be happening now.

About 5 years ago, there was a very short-lived (1 season only) but brilliant TV show called, Firefly. It was a Sci-Fi Western set aboard a transport starship with a small crew that took on unquestionably criminal moonlighting jobs. The backdrop was a starry landscape of deep space roughly 500 years into the future and everyone spoke some sort of hybrid of Chinese and Redneck English. Obviously, the implication of the state of the universe 500 years from now was frightening. It shows that the political, geographical and philosophical meltdown over the years eventually embraces China as master. It means China ruled the world.

Back to the Olympic torch event in Paris. The report showed cameramen and journalists all crowded on a truck just in front of the Olympic torch runners – obviously to capture the “glorious” Olympic moment. The French crew notices that the Chinese journalists do not shoot any of the protesters all around the truck; they simply ignore them and tape the torch. The Chinese people evidently will never see any of the human rights activists.

The French and other countries’ journalists, obviously, wanted to capture everything. At that moment, the Chinese cameraman notices being taped by the French, then alerts the Chinese security team about it, saying, “There’s a dangerous cameraman onboard.” Apparently, the Chinese security ordered the French police to remove them without question. Seconds later, The French police arrive and apologetically remove the journalists, who did have the permission to be present. While removing them, the French police said something to the effect of, “we have to follow orders.”

Clearly, it is obvious who is in power here. How could the Chinese have authority outside of their country? It’s strange to see them have all that power in France. They also did appear to be calling the shots in San Francisco, as well. Did you notice? I guess that’s what happens, U.S., when you owe China that much money. The U.S. borrows $3 billion a DAY from Japan, China, the UK and oil exporting countries. Do things make a little more sense now? Is this a reflection of what is to come? The signs of the times, they’re scary.

Could this submissive behavior on the part of the French have something to do with their recent Nuclear Energy deal worth 8 BILLION EUROS ($11.86 billion) with China? Does it have anything to do with the fact that so many French companies have installed themselves in China? Does “Made in China” sound familiar?

An aside: I’ve recently noticed that everything made in China has started to look like “Made in PRC” (People’s Republic of China). You don’t fool me.

Links: Made in China , Olympic Torch

Tags: france, china, olympics, 2008, torch

Oui! We knew SOMETHING would happen.

From iht:

“What was supposed to be a majestic procession for the Olympic torch through the French capital was disrupted Monday as thousands of people from around Europe, many with Tibetan flags, massed to protest the passage of the flame, forcing police officers to bring the torch onto a bus to try to protect it and causing the torch to be extinguished at least once.

A police spokeswoman, speaking on condition of anonymity in accordance with policy, said the torch went out “for technical reasons” unrelated to the protests, without offering further clarification. CNN reported that the torch was extinguished at least twice amid the melee, and The Associated Press said officials were forced to extinguish the flame three times amid security concerns.

Despite tremendous security, at least two activists got within almost an arm’s length of the flame before they were grabbed by police officers, The AP reported. Officers tackled numerous protesters to the ground and carried some away.

It was yet another unscripted moment in the passage of the Olympic flame, and the second time in two days that the torch relay had been disrupted in a European capital.

Some 3,000 police officers in Paris — on foot, horseback, roller blades, motorbikes and even boats in the river Seine — tried to prevent a repeat of the scenes in London on Sunday, when the torch’s progression through the streets turned into a tumult of scuffles. One man broke through a tight security cordon in the London protests and made a failed grab for the torch, and 35 people were arrested…”

Read the rest

From the daily mail:

“French President Nicholas Sarkozy will boycott the opening of the Beijing Olympics unless China opens dialogue with the Dalai Lama and frees political prisoners, a French minister told Le Monde today.
Secretary of State for Human Rights Rama Yade said these conditions were “indispensable” for Sarkozy to attend the opening of the Games.

His warning comes as Government security forces fired on crowds of civilians, killing at least eight people in the Tibetan area of western China.

Xinhua news agency said rioters attacked government offices in Garze, Sichuan province, on Thursday, leaving one official hurt and others seriously injured.

Sarkozy is set to announce his decision on the boycott after consulting with his European counterparts and will be speaking as current president of the European Union.

“Nevertheless, three conditions are indispensable for him to go: an end to violence against the population and the release of political prisoners, light to be shed on the events in Tibet and the opening of dialogue with the Dalai Lama,” Tibet’s spiritual leader, Ms Yade said.

France calls on China to undertake “a really constructive dialogue with the Dalai Lama”.

“These discussions should be about the recognition of Tibetan autonomy and the spiritual, religious and cultural identity of Tibetans,” she added.

The French minister said 132 Tibetan monks had been arrested last year for political reasons.

“At the moment, China practises a politics of…

Full article

Though I haven’t heard about any cities in France participating, I think there are people who are making an effort to be part of this dark 60 minutes called Earth Hour…

From earth hour:

“On Saturday, March 29, 2008, Earth Hour invites people around the world to turn off their lights for one hour – from 8:00pm to 9:00pm in their local time zone. On this day, cities around the world, including Copenhagen, Chicago, Melbourne, Dubai, and Tel Aviv, will hold events to acknowledge their commitment to energy conservation [and thus lower carbon emissions]. Given our company’s commitment to environmental awareness and energy efficiency, we strongly support the Earth Hour campaign, and have darkened our homepage today to help spread awareness of what we hope will be a highly successful global event.”

More about it

Cute Chocolate Chick (that disappeared quick(ly))
Bernigaud
Chocolaterie/Pâtisserie
18, rue de la République
58170 Luzy (Burgundy) France
Tel: 03.86.30.04.70

As an expat in France, I don’t get to vote in the municipal elections today but my sweetie does and so I was trying to figure out how it works here. It became very, VERY clear that it’s nothing like in the U.S. Firstly, our little city hall has an “aperitif” room where you can have a drink and eat some cake before or after voting. Later in the day they serve wine.

Me: So who’s running for mayor?

Him: Same guy.

Me: Anyone else?

Him: Well, not really. You know, the list.

Me: What list? What do you mean not really?

Him: He could get scratched off the list.

Me: What!? People can just scratch him off the list and he’s out?

Him: Yeah, well if more than 50% of the voters cross him out.

Me: You mean cross his name out…with a pen?

Him: Yes.

Me: But. Oh. Weird. And what about the list?

Him: Since we live in a tiny village, there’s only one list. We’re lucky anyone wants to run for anything. But in larger places, there would be many lists. For example, each list representing a political party. You’re in fact voting for a list of people: The mayor and his municipal counsel.

Me: Soooo. Our village has only one list. That just means they are sure to win. No other lists means no other candidates. Are the people on the list from one party?

Him: No. But only because the village is so small.

Me: Ok, this is strange. So, who’s on the list?

Him: The guy who wants to be re-elected mayor and all his friends.

Me: His friends? Why are his friends on the list?

Him: They want to be part of the municipal counsel.

Me: What if you don’t want some people to be on the counsel?

Him: You cross out their name. And if you want someone else to be on the counsel, after you cross out a name, you can add someone’s name on the list. Same with the person running for mayor. He would be at the top of the list.

Me: What?! You mean you can cross out the name of the guy running for mayor and put ANYONE else’s name???

Him: Sure, and also with counsel candidates.

Me: Ok, so, in fact, someone who isn’t running for mayor, can actually be elected mayor.

Him: Yes. But more than 50% of the voters have to write in his name.

Me: What if that person gets elected mayor and never wanted to be mayor?

Him: He’s mayor. I guess he’d have to resign and the rest of the list would come up with a mayor.

Me: That is so kooky.

More Franco-American Conversations

Make history where it counts: on the lips. In honor of Valentine’s Day (which is coming up right around the corner!), The Institut Bonheur / Happiness Institute (yes that’s really what they’re called) is sponsoring a French Kiss World Record event. It’s being held at the Quais Rive Droite sous le Pont des Arts, so hurry!!! Sorry for the late notice. More about it at Facebook

[via]

February 11, 2008 marks the 150th anniversary of when a young shepherdess, Bernadette Soubirous, encountered the ghost of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes, France. It’s said that it was the Virgin Mary who gave her messages to share with the world, including where to find the healing waters.

Since that fateful day in 1858, millions of pious pilgrims flock to this tiny southwest French village for worshipping and to grab some of the healing water from the spring. In fact, an average of 5 million visitors go to Lourdes every year. It’s miraculously in the top 10 most visited attractions in France (the rest being mostly Paris landmarks). This year, they expect about 8 million people, and this Monday (February 11) alone for the Feast of our lady of Lourdes, they expect at least 50,000 people.

Here’s what’s happening if you find yourself in Lourdes on Monday 2/11/08:

9:00 am – Mass in English in the Crypt Chapel
9:30 am – International Mass at the Podium on the Prairie
11:00 am – Commemorating the 1st apparition followed by the Angelus at the Grotto
5:00 pm – Blessed sacrament procession
9:00 pm -Torchlight Marian Procession from the Grotto

Other Masses Crypt- 7:30 am, Rosary Basilica, 8:30 am -11:00 am, 6:00 pm

Tuesday and Wednesday, 2/12/08 and 2/13/08
There is Mass in English every day at 9:00 am in the Chapel of St. Gabriele

For more information contact the Information Center
Open daily: tel: +33 (0)5 62 42 78 78
or contact the official site for the 150th anniversary

Why Travel to France is having weird technical problems, which should be fixed shortly. Regular posting should resume in the near future. In the meantime, here are some recent news items from France:

Jose Bove – started a hunger strike yesterday against genetically modified foods in France. A decision regarding OGM (GMO) in France should be reached by the end of the month. (article in French)

Free Cars in Paris? – the Mayor of Paris is proposing the introduction of Voiturelib’–2,000 electric-powered vehicles that subscribers can drive off without booking at dozens of sites, 24 hours a day, and then leave anywhere in the city.

No Smoking – France finally banned smoking in restaurants, bars and cafes effective January 1, 2008, which is a breath of fresh air!

Remember the EU Constitution France Voted Against? It’s here to stay (without the votes of EU countries) in the form of the Lisbon Treaty

Feminists in France have petitioned the French government to remove the title Mademoiselle or Miss from official administrative documents

France bans the word “E-mail” in government documents

U.S. expats facing tax ‘sticker shock’ - and Lousy Health Care to Boot

French Ministers get graded and evaluated, Sarkozy is exempt from being evaluated.

Calais Mayor Defies Sarkozy – A welcome center for asylum seekers heading to Britain from France was opened despite objections from the government.

From AFP:

An eye-popping array of rutting satyrs, tumescent aristocrats and lusty 18th-century shepherdesses went on display in Paris on Tuesday, as France’s National Library lifted the veil on its collection of long-censored erotica.For the first time since it was catalogued in the 1830s, the library’s special pornographic section — officially entitled ‘Enfer‘ (Hell) — has been revealed in all its priapic glory. Such is the graphic nature of the material that under-16 year-olds are barred.

Some 350 books, engravings, photographs and curiosities — the oldest a 14th-century manuscript illustration of a nun picking the fruit of a phallus-tree — bear witness to man’s insatiable instinct for the lurid intimacies of the flesh

Closed to the public before

Overall more than 2000 works — including books by the Marquis de Sade, Jean Genet and Guillaume Apollinaire — were marked with the library inscription ‘Enfer’ until the department’s closure at the end of the 1960s. It meant they were off-limits to the reading public.

“Today the ‘Enfer’ section is still the focus of all sorts of false rumours and fantasies, even though it no longer exists. This exhibition is to set the record straight,” said curator Raymond-Josue Seckel.

The first golden age of French erotica was the 17th century — when titanically-endowed figures from the Greek pantheon were shown doing things to each other that certainly did not figure in the conventional myths and legends.

A hundred years later the novel was born and a secret book called ‘Therese Philosophe’ (Therese the Philosopher) lay discreetly on many a nobleman’s bookshelf. Harbinger of the enduring ‘Confessions’ genre, it told of a girl’s sexual awakening through the perusal of pornography.

Cruelty, crime and obscene delights

Contemporary police documents show the troubles encountered by another novel, ‘The History of Dom Bugger’, whose publisher was sent to the Bastille. As indeed was the Marquis de Sade, whose ‘Justine’ published in 1791 brought sex into new contact with…

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Note: The exposition continues at the Bibliothèque nationale de France until March 2, 2008. Quai François-Mauriac 75706 Paris (13th), Tél : 33(0)1 53 79 59 59 – Under 16-year olds are not permitted; 7 euros entrance fee; Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10am to 7pm; Sundays 1pm- 7pm.

From ecorazzi:

French fries. French toast. French Eco-Friendly Christmas? You better believe it!! Paris (not Hilton) just unveiled plans to follow New York City’s lead and bring in the New Year with their own resolution: a greener, more energy efficient holiday season.Paris Mayor, Bertrand Delanoe, and French singer and actress, Vanessa Paradis, were on site at the annual lighting of the trees which kicks off the holidays and has been a Paris tradition for 26 years. However this year marks a new tradition…

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Don’t miss today’s special one-day shopping event, Friday, November 30th.* Go to the Apple Online Store for a special one-day-only holiday shopping event. You’ll find lots of iPod, iPhone, and Mac gift ideas.

Go Shopping

*Shopping event is available only at the Apple Online Store on Friday, November 30, 2007, from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. GMT and at Apple Retail Stores. Check your local Apple Retail Store for special hours. Sale prices are available while supplies last.

Happy Thanksgiving! Remember to wear loose clothes.

From IHT:

Every souvenir shop in Paris sells miniature Eiffel Towers, but one lucky bidder will soon be able to buy a piece of the real thing.

A section of the winding iron staircase that Gustave Eiffel climbed to inaugurate the monument in 1889 will be sold at the Hotel Drouot auction house on Monday.

In 1983, the 1,911-step staircase was removed to make room for new elevators and was cut into 24 pieces that were auctioned off to museums and collectors around the world.

The 4.5-meter (14.7-foot) piece for sale once helped…

Read the article

UPDATE: It was sold for $219,600, which was five times the original asking price.

Read about it

Plantes, Fruits et Légumes d’hier et d’aujourd’hui / Past and Present Vegetables
Nov 9, 10, 11, 2007, 10am-6pm – Domaine de Saint-Jean de Beauregard
Domaine de Saint-Jean de Beauregard is well known for its 17th-century château as well as its gardens à la Française. November’s event celebrates plants, vegetables and fruit from past to present.

Entrance Fee: €11 (regular admission); €8 (reduced for large groups, members and students of horticulture groups/schools, large families); free for under 10 y.o.
Website: Domaine de Saint-Jean de Beauregard

Le Parc Australien / Australia Park
Until November 11, 2007, Carcassonne
A five-hectare area just outside of Carcassonne’s Medieval village will make you forget that you’re in France. At Le Parc Australien, you’ll step inside another world that will get you playing a didgeridoo like a pro, and speaking like they do Down Under.
Website: Le parc Australien

Boulogne-sur-Mer’s Herring Festival
November 17, 18, 2007, Boulogne-sur-Mer
Get your herring before they no longer exist! Boulogne-sur-Mer takes advantage of the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau then mixes it with fish.

Ubuntu Release Party in Bordeaux
November 17, 2007, 10am – Bordeaux
Fun Geeks of France are getting together to celebrate the new releases of Ubuntu, Gutsy and Gibbon, Free Software. They’re be a demo of their free version of Guitar Hero called, “Frets on Fire.” Bring food to join in on the Potluck.
Website: Gutsy Party

[thanks for the tip, Angry B!]

Lyon Christmas Market
November 24, 2007, Place Carnot, Lyon
One of my newly favorite cities in France, Lyon, starts its holiday spirit early, so head on down for your dose of gastronomy, live music, arts and crafts.

Chicken Festival
November 24, 25, 2007, Clôtres Jacobins, Saint-Sever, free admission
Grab a most delicious roasted chicken in he medieval town of Saint-Sever. The town celebrates its huge population of chickens every year by eating them!
Website: Saint-Sever

Festival des 38e Rugissants / 38th Festival of the Roars
November 20 to December 1, 2007, Grenoble
Grenoble invites talented musicians and groups from all over the world, and features their fascinating nomadic music at venues all over the city.
Website: 38e Rugissants

Paris Banlieues Tango / Tango in the Suburbs
Until November 27, 2007, Le Satellit Café, Paris
It’s time for Tango, which mean Paris Banlieues Tango, a festival celebrated in the suburbs of Paris.

While we were out shopping and looking for our scary movies (which we couldn’t find), we missed the trick or treaters!!!!! I wanted to see French kids going door-to-door because everyone around here said they do – and I only halfway believed them. I wondered what they’d say at the door. According to my mummy-dearest-in-law, they say this…. drum roll…..

On veut des bonbons!  / We want candy!

That’s so pushy.

A quick reminder that tomorrow is La Toussaint, in France, a national holiday, and EVERYTHING is closed – well, everything except cemeteries and flower shops. What to do? Go to the flower shop, gets some flowers (typically carnations) and then go to the cemetery and pay your respects to the dead.

Related: Toussaint / All Saints Day

EquitExpo, the international Fair Trade Expo starts today and continues through the 29th.

The expo serves to promote fair trade (fair price), as well as social and environmental standards in areas related to the production of a wide variety of goods – and focusing in particular on exports from developing countries to developed countries.

Expect conferences, round tables, merchants and exhibitors from 30 different countries. Also featured are: concerts, theater plays and a cyber café.

French farmers, fishermen, and craftmen will be present at the farmer market of EquitExpo, next to the organic restaurant.

EquitExpo 2007
Sport Center of l’Île de Vannes
15 bd Marcel Paul
93450 L’Île Saint-Denis – France
Entrance: free

Tags: france, french, equitexpo+2007, fair+trade, europe, commerce+in+developing+countries

In conjunction with the French October 26 release of Harry Potter et les Reliques de la Mort (Deathly Hallows), the publisher, Gallimard, is organizing la Tournée du MagicoBus Harry Potter, a Magic bus tour that will stop by major cities in France to meet young Harry Potter fans. From October 17th through the 26th, fans will be able to take part in magical activities and games inside the bus. All participants will receive a poster. Three big winners per city will receive a diploma from Gallimard jeunesse and a collection of novels including the 7th Harry Potter tome. You must have a ticket to enter the Magicobus (Available at participating bookstores). Here’s the bus schedule:

Oct 17 – Lille – place Rihour
Oct 18 – Nancy – porte Desilles
Oct 19 – Lyon – place Louis-Pradel
Oct 20 – Aix-en-Provence – place Batard (Cité du Livre)
Oct 21 – Montpellier – esplanade Charles-de-Gaulle
Oct 22 – Toulouse – rue de Metz /rue des Arts
Oct 23 – Bordeaux – place dal Victoire
Oct 24 – Nantes – place de Bretagne
Oct 25 – Paris – rue Sébastien-Bottin
Oct 26 – Paris – parvis Montparnasse 9am / place du Châtelet 3pm

[via Univers HP]

Links: Gallimard, Official Press Release

Nuit Blanche / White Night
October 6 – 7, 2007
The night Paris does not go to sleep is coming up in a few days! Grab a zillion cups of coffee or get some great guarana so you can stay up all night for Paris’ humungous block party. (Read about Nuit Blanche here)

Website: Paris Nuit Blanche (For more information and a schedule)

Fête des Vendages de Montmartre / Montmartre Harvest Festival
Oct 12, 13, 14, 2007
Website: Fête des Vendages de Montmartre
Surprisingly, there’s some wine growing and making in Paris in the Montmartre area and every year there’s a 3-day harvest festival celebrating with live entertainment (Carla Bruni, Olivia Ruiz, etc.) focusing on a special homage to Brassens; There’ll be lots of stands, food and of course, wine.

Salon Zen
Oct 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 2007
Paris Expo Espace Champerret
6, rue Jean-Oestreicher 75017 Paris
Website: Salon Rentrez Zen
Discover ways to stay Zen in this increasingly hectic world. Find the best spas, relaxation equipment, reflexology or yoga classes to keep yourself well and stress-free.

Fête de la Bande Dessinée / Comic Book Festival
Oct 13-14, 2007
Hôtel de Ville
25405 Audincourt
Website: Fête de la Bande Dessinée
The 25th Comic Book Festival! No one loves comics better than the French and every year thousands gather to meet their favorite illustrators and artists and attend workshops, films and generally have a great time at this favorite yearly event.

Lire en Fête / Reading Festival
Oct 19, 20, 21, 2007
Website: Lire en Fête
This year’s theme, “One City, One Masterpiece,” expresses itself all over France with a variety of events as they relate to the appreciation of literature and reading, in general. Search for events in your area here.

Le Salon du Chocolat / Paris Chocolate Expo
Oct 19, 20, 21, 2007
Porte de Versailles, Hall 5, Paris
Website: Le Salon du Chocolat
If you’re a true chocolate lover, you already know about this event. This is a good time to grab lots and lots of chocolate, and to gorge yourself on the best chocolate around. There’ll be 130 chocolate makers so you’ll have a myriad of choices.

Cuisinez! Expo / Cooking Expo
Oct 26, 27, 28, 2007
Carrousel du Louvre, Paris
Website: Cuisinez! Expo
Dedicated to all the people passionate about cooking, this will be heaven for you! Take cooking workshops, meet famous chefs and stock up on kitchen supplies and appliances.

“The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear.”
- Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

Sorry for the late notice but today beginning at 2pm, Saturday, September 29, 2007 – there will be a Manifestation sur le Parvis des Droits de l’Homme du Trocadéro in Paris to support the people in Burma. It’s organized by Info Birmanie, Dr Sein Win, the PM of the Union of Burma, will be present. Please attend.

Metro : Trocadéro
Website: Info Birmanie for more information and to find out how you can help
Up to Date News about Burma (blog): The Burma Campaign in English

For more information on protesting countries other than France, click here (Facebook acct. req’d) or click on “more” to continue reading.

The good things about the Apple Expo, where we dropped by earlier today on our way home from the north, WERE the apples available from the Macgeneration booth. Thank you Macgeneration! [a note: Apple USED to provide real apples at the entrance of the expo for everyone, but no more. Steve Jobs, why are you so cheap? They're apples. They're cute and healthful and make people happy. AND they're in SEASON.]

Back to the expo. No places to sit down and people sat on the floors along the walls and in the stairwells. NO iPhones in sight! I also wanted to take a look at the new iPods but there was only ONE iPod Touch available (that I could see) in that whole expo and the crowds were ballooned around it, and I really didn’t feel like negotiating through all that body guarding, body density and…body odor.

Is this a rant? NOOOOOoooooooooo. I still feel it’s worth a look on Saturday (last day of the expo), because it’s so much fun to people watch. I think French geeks dress a little better than American ones. Also, I did notice that the new iMacs were about 100 euros cheaper than on the Apple online store in France. Lastly, there’s a booth called Goldway that has really good prices on all kinds of things. You can bargain like crazy, too, especially on the last day.

A quick reminder that the Braderie de Lille in northern France is today and tomorrow. This yearly event is not to be missed if at all possible, but you’ll need to hold your nose because of the humungous piles of mussel shells. Click here to read more about it: Braderie de Lille (from a previous post).

The 33rd Annual American Film Festival starts today (through September 9) in Deauville, a seaside resort in Calvados (in the Normandy region). This year will pay special hommage to Michael Douglas, who will be promoting his film, “The King of California.”

Here’s what’s playing: Cocaine Cowboys, Surf’s Up, Sicko, The Bourne Ultimatum (La vengeance dan la peau), Shoot’em Up, Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollock?, King of California, Crazy Love, Brando, Planet B-Boy, Wonder Boys, Knocked Up, Outrage, The China Syndrome, The Bigamist, La Vie D’Artiste, Imaginary Heroes, Michael Clayton, The War: A Necessary War, When the Levees Broke, The War: When Things Get Tough, Alien Resurrection, The Hitch-Hiker, Wall Street, Ghostbusters, For Your Consideration, Redacted, Waitress, La Misma Luna, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The War: A Deadly Calling, The Verdict, Hard, Fast and Beautiful, Gorillas in the Mist, Rocket Science, Teeth, In the Valley of Elah, Network, The War: Pride of Our Nation, Sybilla, A Crime for Mothers, Copycat, Factory Girl, Grace is Gone, Stardust, Gone, Baby, Gone, Prince of the City, The War: Fubar, Falling Down, Ice Storm, The Game, Ira and Abby, Never Forever, Fay Grim, The War: The Great Front, 1408, Broken English, Live!, The Offense, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, Smiley Face, The War: A World Without War, The Heartbreak Kid, 12 Angry Men, The Dead Girl, Meet the Robinsons, Death at a Funeral, All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico, Nanking, and Bonneville.

Some celebs in attendance: Matt Damon, Monica Bellucci, Tilda Swinton, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Brian de Palma, Ben Affleck.

American Film Fest Deauville

Download the program

Perhaps not the most exciting conferences for some, but definitely an important one regarding environmental city living, “l’écologie à la ville” is the first Université d’été du WWF (French division of the World Wildlife Federation). It’s a 2-day conference held at the Paris HQ of WWF in France. On the program: keynote by Jean-Louis Borloo, Environment Minister; workshops topics include: problems with health in the city, sustainable energy, biodiversity in public and private places, the paradox of organic between growth in demand and imports, innovations in eco-friendly buildings and homes, how to reduce your carbon footprint, consumers and their impact on the environment and more; speakers: Dany Dietman, author of Déchet ménagers : le jardin des impostures, Jean L’heritier, President of Slow Food France, and many more. Also, there will be organic breakfasts and lunches!

Click here to download the full program and a registration application (in French).

Regular Fees: 100 euros for 1 day or 150 euros for 2 days
Reduced Fees for NGOs and students: 50 euros for one day, 75 euros for 2 days

L’Université d’Eté du WWF
l’écologie à la ville – September 13 & 14, 2007
Espace Planète Attitude au siège du WWF-France
1 Carrefour de Longchamp, 75116 Paris (16ème)
Contact et registration:
Email: universite@wwf.fr
Tel: +33 (0)1 55 25 84 25
Website: WWF

A quick reminder that Rock en Seine in Paris, the big music festival that celebrates the end of the summer, starts today and runs through the weekend. And, surprisingly fortunately, the weather is expected to be good! Whoo! Location: Domaine National de Saint-Cloud. Prices: 42 euros for each day, 98 euros for all three days. Notes: 1) Check the website for updates and changes. 2) There’s a festival campsite if you’d like to camp out, but you have to book your place on the Rock en Seine website.

The Lineup

Friday August 24, 2007
Dizzee Rascal, Mogwai, The Shins, The Hives, Arcade Fire, Rock & Roll, Dinosaur Jr., M.I.A., Emilie Simon, 2 Many DJs, Rodeo Massacre, Hey Hey My My, Biffy Clyro, Noisettes, Unkle

Saturday, August 25, 2007
The Fratellis, Cold War Kids, Jarvis Cocker, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Tool, Puppetmastaz, Hellogoodbye, Erik Truffaz, CSS, Les Rita Mitsouko, I Love UFO, Calvin Harris, Terry Poison, Alpha

Sunday, August 26, 2007
The Horrors, Mark Ronson, Kings of Leon, Faithless, Bjork, Bat for Lashes, Devotchka, Kelis, Just Jack, Craig Armstrong, Housse de Racket, Nelson, Albert Hammond Jr, Bromheads Jacket, Enter Shikari