Tuesday, March 23, 2010
"A look at some of the numbers defining Obama's health care overhaul" - latimes.com
The first number - 32 million - is half the population of France!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
"La Ferté-Imbault Journal - French Chateau’s Owners Enter a Thicket of Intrigue" - NYTimes.com
France and the French often do wind up treating issues like this differently than we might expect in the US, I think.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday, November 09, 2009
Friday, November 06, 2009
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Mr President?
It's interesting, at least, to note the normal way the media here in France refer to the French President - "Le président de la République Nicolas Sarkozy..." (in Le Point, for example) compared to the normal way US media refer the US President - "President Obama....." (in The New York Times, for example).
Friday, October 23, 2009
US television programs on French screens
It is not surprising to see US television programs on French television. I am not sure if it has increased or decreased over the years, but I think it has increased quite a bit; at least that's my perception.
What interests me a lot, though, is which programs appear here. No doubt there are negotiation issues that determine the final result, of course, but in the end, I suspect that French television carries what French television wants to have.
There is a lot of work involved. None of the US shows is broadcast with its original soundtrack. All are dubbed in France, a practice that employ a lot of people, but I personally prefer text than voiceovers, the normal practice in the US with French movies.
There was a period when French television was carrying programming like the CBS Evening News with text translations at the bottom of the screen. That may still be there, but I do not know where. In fact, I know of no US television news or public affairs program that I have ever seen shown here currently.
Instead, it is all entertainment programming, including movies. Here is a rundown of the programs that I see in the TV guide, just for today:
The Incredible Hulk
NCIS
Law and Order
Desperate Housewives
What interests me a lot, though, is which programs appear here. No doubt there are negotiation issues that determine the final result, of course, but in the end, I suspect that French television carries what French television wants to have.
There is a lot of work involved. None of the US shows is broadcast with its original soundtrack. All are dubbed in France, a practice that employ a lot of people, but I personally prefer text than voiceovers, the normal practice in the US with French movies.
There was a period when French television was carrying programming like the CBS Evening News with text translations at the bottom of the screen. That may still be there, but I do not know where. In fact, I know of no US television news or public affairs program that I have ever seen shown here currently.
Instead, it is all entertainment programming, including movies. Here is a rundown of the programs that I see in the TV guide, just for today:
The Incredible Hulk
NCIS
Law and Order
Desperate Housewives
Saturday, October 17, 2009
"Un couple mixte interdit de mariage aux Etats-Unis "au nom des enfants" - LeMonde.fr
Whether in French or in English, this action by the justice of the peace in Louisiana is embarrassing, wrong, and out to be answered by loud cries of criticism of the judge. Whatever procedure is, if any, in Louisiana, to remove justices of the peace, it ought to have started yesterday in this case. He deserves a fair hearing, of course, but if the facts prove to be as reported here, he deserves to be a private citizen and not a judge.
There is hope that the people of Louisiana will do the right thing.
There is hope that the people of Louisiana will do the right thing.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
$15 USD for a tooth?
This full page advertisement ran in French newspapers this week promoting a limited edition silver coin worth 10 euros. The ad suggests that this would be a great gift for the tooth fairy to leave under a child's pillow! Is that the going rate in the US these days?
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
"Internet bouscule les choix culturels des Français" - LeMonde.fr
As is so often the case in France, the full story of the internet's impact is extremely complicated.
Thursday, October 08, 2009
"Health Care Scorecard: Vermont Tops, Mississippi Last" - ABC News
It would even more useful to compare all of this with France.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
"Les journalistes du "Parisien/Aujourd'hui en France" inquiets pour leur avenir" - LeMonde.fr
France and the US both risk the loss of venerable newspaper institutions.
Swine Flu vaccine in France v. US
My sense here in France is general unease about what to do when the Swine Flu (Grippe A here) vaccine arrives. The Government has laid out clear priorities of who should get it first, but the recommendation is purely optional.
Unlike the seasonal flu vaccine (purchased at the local pharmacy and administered by a nurse or doctor independently), this shot will be administered, the Government says, at centers yet to be announced. The first concern that this raises among people here is whether these centers will turn out to be filled with people who can infect everyone else.
Another interesting item is the advertising in the last couple of days from the French part of the global Visa credit card system noting that any holder of a Carte Bleue card (from most banks in France tha are part of the network) will have considerable insurance - for free - should they contract the Swine Flu. This includes medical evacuation and other expenses. I have not yet seen such an offer from a credit card in the US but I might have missed it here in France.
Unlike the seasonal flu vaccine (purchased at the local pharmacy and administered by a nurse or doctor independently), this shot will be administered, the Government says, at centers yet to be announced. The first concern that this raises among people here is whether these centers will turn out to be filled with people who can infect everyone else.
Another interesting item is the advertising in the last couple of days from the French part of the global Visa credit card system noting that any holder of a Carte Bleue card (from most banks in France tha are part of the network) will have considerable insurance - for free - should they contract the Swine Flu. This includes medical evacuation and other expenses. I have not yet seen such an offer from a credit card in the US but I might have missed it here in France.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Friday, October 02, 2009
France v. NC
It's interesting that France has 7 times the population of North Carolina - 62 million v. 9 million, and 4 times the square miles - 210,000 v. 54,000. Should we expect France to be 7 times better than NC in far less space/person?
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
The Team Côte d'Azur Newsletter - Invest in Côte d’Azur
Which US cities have similar plans in place?
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Thursday, March 05, 2009
"One France Is Enough" - NYTimes.com
I posted this comment:
"My "home" is divided between two worlds - one here in North Carolina and one there in Nice, France. I am both a US and European citizen. Roger COHEN presents this in far too extreme manner, and that is good for debate but not so good for understanding. When Barack OBAMA first visited Nice, many years ago, he and Michelle came on the train, it has been reported.
Whether it be transportation or health care, or a focus on eating well, and yes, even innovation and opportunity...these two great countries have far more to learn from one another than often happens. That's learning about things done well and things done not so well. Language gets in the way too often and reliance on interpreters like COHEN or me is no substitute not just for visiting, but for trying to understand.
I retain optimism that our President recognizes the need for extraordinary action taken with American determination .... learning and relating to what others have done in places from France to Japan and well beyond. If our policy pendulum swings a little more wildly or far than some of us would like, we'll get it back. Maybe we won't have General Motors or AIG to kick around, and huge suffering if that happens, but I for one remain optimistic that we can get ourselves out of this mess with a plan that is as much global as it is American, and that includes a good dose of French seasoning."
"My "home" is divided between two worlds - one here in North Carolina and one there in Nice, France. I am both a US and European citizen. Roger COHEN presents this in far too extreme manner, and that is good for debate but not so good for understanding. When Barack OBAMA first visited Nice, many years ago, he and Michelle came on the train, it has been reported.
Whether it be transportation or health care, or a focus on eating well, and yes, even innovation and opportunity...these two great countries have far more to learn from one another than often happens. That's learning about things done well and things done not so well. Language gets in the way too often and reliance on interpreters like COHEN or me is no substitute not just for visiting, but for trying to understand.
I retain optimism that our President recognizes the need for extraordinary action taken with American determination .... learning and relating to what others have done in places from France to Japan and well beyond. If our policy pendulum swings a little more wildly or far than some of us would like, we'll get it back. Maybe we won't have General Motors or AIG to kick around, and huge suffering if that happens, but I for one remain optimistic that we can get ourselves out of this mess with a plan that is as much global as it is American, and that includes a good dose of French seasoning."
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Monday, November 03, 2008
French coverage of the US election....
Nice, France - As I sit here, I am amazed at the amount and quality of the French coverage of the US Presidential election. Newspapers, radio, television, websites, are all pulling out the stops to bring this story to their readers, viewers, listeners and "visitors". They have been counting down the days for two weeks now, and there is great excitement in the reporting but a strong dose of uncertainty about whether the US really can elect a Black President. French reporters and French people have been all over the US offering their perspectives during recent days, and one of the national TV networks sent over a whole planeload of people to cover the story.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Saturday, September 06, 2008
"Now Europeans Are Slower to Spend, and It Shows" - NYTimes.com
French retail spending is up just a little.....as shown in the graphic.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
"La France comme vous ne l'avez jamais vue" - Journal du Net Economie
A fascinating cartographic tour of France.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
"Les leaders mondiaux de la restauration" - Journal du Net Economie
Fascinating profile of the top 20 global firms, including French and US, in the restaurant business.
"Classement - Les secteurs qui emploient le plus" - Journal du Net Economie
A breakdown of the sectors into which French workers fall today....
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Thursday, July 03, 2008
"Cost of Driving May Work Where Politics Failed and Keep Cars Off City Streets" - NYTimes.com
I look forward to making a comparison between gas prices in the US and their impact on congestion as this article reports and in France.
Monday, June 30, 2008
"Collobrières Journal - A French Village Revives the Franc" - NYTimes.com
France lost a great deal more than the franc as its money when it switched to the euro.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Conseil Régional Languedoc Roussillon
The TV commercial is quite something.....at least the one that they are featuring as I post this.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Other things not changed so much
After having noted much change in France, I must also note that so far this week we have had truck drivers essentially on strike, slowing down considerably if not blocking acccess to the Nice Airport, a near total shutdown of bus and local train services here yesterday because of a strike and today the public television stations were to be on strike to some extent. Not sure what is schedule for tomorrow!
France changing
France surely has changed a lot in the decades since I started coming here.
Now, for example, laws are pretty strict to prevent drinking and driving (and highway deaths are way down), new laws prohibit smoking in most public places (and some of those places are shuttering because of loss of customers; and the non-smoking customers get a better chance at life as a result) and now soon the law will require that people pick up after their dogs (quel horreur!). No doubt the latter will remove a certain je ne sais quoi from French sidewalk life, but I look forward to being able to look straight ahead, not smell any tobacco smoke and not read about lives ended prematurely as a result of drunken driving.
Now, for example, laws are pretty strict to prevent drinking and driving (and highway deaths are way down), new laws prohibit smoking in most public places (and some of those places are shuttering because of loss of customers; and the non-smoking customers get a better chance at life as a result) and now soon the law will require that people pick up after their dogs (quel horreur!). No doubt the latter will remove a certain je ne sais quoi from French sidewalk life, but I look forward to being able to look straight ahead, not smell any tobacco smoke and not read about lives ended prematurely as a result of drunken driving.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Nice.maville.com Les brocanteurs azuréens déclarent la guerre à eBay
I would not invest much in brocanteur "futures"!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
"New stamps would lock in postage rate … 'forever'" - South Florida Sun-Sentinel
If the "forever" stamps appear in May, they are a very good idea. The USPS has our money and we ought to have the certainty of being able to mail at the rate for as long as we choose.
In France, we have come to rely on this and there is never a need to wonder if we have the current correct postage. The stamps we purchased for the same price as those bearing a denomination are always correct.
It is nice to see the US continuing to learn from good ideas in France.
In France, we have come to rely on this and there is never a need to wonder if we have the current correct postage. The stamps we purchased for the same price as those bearing a denomination are always correct.
It is nice to see the US continuing to learn from good ideas in France.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Monday, October 03, 2005
On world stage, France's role is audience favorite
On world stage, France's role is audience favorite
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Friday, September 23, 2005
Monday, September 19, 2005
"154 Patients Died, Many in Intense Heat, as Rescues Lagged"
"154 Patients Died, Many in Intense Heat, as Rescues Lagged"
Many elderly people died in Paris during the 2003 heat wave. There may very well be some things for the US to learn from how France has responded to that tragedy. Perhaps it can leave to more elderly lives saved in future emergencies.
Many elderly people died in Paris during the 2003 heat wave. There may very well be some things for the US to learn from how France has responded to that tragedy. Perhaps it can leave to more elderly lives saved in future emergencies.
Friday, September 16, 2005
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
"Politicus: A lethal ridiculousness in the European Union"
"Politicus: A lethal ridiculousness in the European Union"
Europe has big problems that need to be addressed says John VINOCUR, and yet there are only signs of hard work to ignore those problems or to hide them behind mundane business.
Europe has big problems that need to be addressed says John VINOCUR, and yet there are only signs of hard work to ignore those problems or to hide them behind mundane business.
Monday, June 13, 2005
J'ai honte de mon pays
J'ai honte de mon pays
These were the words said to me three times yesterday by people trying to help me after being robbed at the Nice Airport. The woman who did the paperwork for my rental car (from a French/German company, Sixt) and two police officers were extraordinary in their efforts to respond.
The woman literally ran off in pursuit of one of the men in the two person team that robbed me. She was unsuccessful but amazing all the same.
The two policemen could not have been nicer, and wrote up a report that I think would have been the envy of many starving writers in France. An excellent description of what happened.
And, then, a Frenchman called today to say that his colleague had found the plastic (zip-lock) bag that was stolen, with some of the items still in the bag.
These were the words said to me three times yesterday by people trying to help me after being robbed at the Nice Airport. The woman who did the paperwork for my rental car (from a French/German company, Sixt) and two police officers were extraordinary in their efforts to respond.
The woman literally ran off in pursuit of one of the men in the two person team that robbed me. She was unsuccessful but amazing all the same.
The two policemen could not have been nicer, and wrote up a report that I think would have been the envy of many starving writers in France. An excellent description of what happened.
And, then, a Frenchman called today to say that his colleague had found the plastic (zip-lock) bag that was stolen, with some of the items still in the bag.
Thursday, November 04, 2004
The cover of Liberation sums up the views of millions of French people - the empire grows worse - with the re-election of BUSH. 
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Reaction to US presidential election
In France, the reaction to the US election is just developing, but what may be most difficult is simply to accept the apparent fact that Americans have re-elected BUSH. There was a general view not only critical of BUSH, but mildly confident that he would be defeated. Coping with the likely reality of "four more years" will be very difficult in all corners of France and among French people of all kinds.
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
France's president flips channels to follow U.S. vote
A great story on how President CHIRAC is preparing for this evening for him, tomorrow morning!
Monday, November 01, 2004
The World Election
Liberation sums up its view of the US election. (If the link does not take you to the front page of Liberation, then what you are missing is a banner headline, "The World Election", taking up almost the entire cover of the newspaper.)
Villefranche sur Mer
One of my favorite places in France, next to where we live, is Villefranche sur Mer. Villefranche has its share of challenges, about the same number as does the town in North Carolina (Chapel Hill) which is my other home. There is something about the way British writers tend to look down on anyone who does not speak English and anyone who is not English which reminds me, to a lesser extent, of the occasional criticism of French people. The linked story is a good example.
US presidential election in the French regional press
Some number of French newspapers have created dedicated pages devoted to the US presidential campaign. This one is from Ouest-France, the largest circulaiton newspaper in France.
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