"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.

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.

The cover of Liberation sums up the views of millions of French people - the empire grows worse - with the re-election of BUSH.

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.

Le Monde reporting the US election

Le Monde went to press this morning with a big questionmark.

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!

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.

Covering the US election

Newspapers in France have a real challenge in covering the results of the US election on 2 November. Except for Le Monde, they all go to press just before the polls are to close in the US. There will be much guessing, and maybe even some risk-taking in French newsrooms on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning.

Bush ou Kerry? Kerry!

All over France, French people have stepped forward in new ways to say what they think US voters should do in next Tuesday's election. If anyone sees anything like this in support of President BUSH, I would be happy to add it, but so far I have seen nothing. Established media, such as Le Figaro, are occasionally airing pro-BUSH pieces, such as this interview from last week.

ARAFAT

If anyone sees any especially interesting stories about ARAFAT's stay in the French hospital, please let me know at tmaguire@newsppaper.com I'd be happy to add a link here. We are all reading lots of analyses of the impact of this on French relationships of all kinds, on the Middle East of course, and on many other related aspects of the trip. But I have not yet seen a piece written from the patient's perspective about what life is like for him in this hospital.

Here is a way of following the story you may not have seen - the French edition of the Jerusalem Post.

Musicians at work

NPR profiles Pink Martini, a fascinating group of musicians which started off as two Harvard classmates. Listen to this interview and learn about how China FORBES (one of those classmates) feels about writing, reading and recording in French.

Tourists say au revoir to France

Houses with wine cellars: always ready for the weekend

A sojourn at a French Inn tests a meddler's mettle

DUCASSE restaurant in New York

Adam GOPNIK in The New Yorker

Adam GOPNIK writes for the New Yorker from Paris aboutThe Anti-Anti-Americans in the 1 Sep 2003 issue.

French Agricultural Policy

France is in a tough spot trying to defend its agricultural policies. For those who are interested in the global ramifications, the New York Times presents one point of view in this 31 Aug 2003 editorial - A French Roadblock to Free Trade

Jerusalem Post in French

The Jerusalem Post is an English language newspaper in Israel owned by Conrad Black. This is a link to its French edition - Edition francaise Jerusalem Post