Monthly Archives: December 2006

Rule No 1 for treating les anglais – let ladies keep their clothes on A growing number of French GPs is undertaking a training programme on how to treat the several hundred thousand Britons who have moved to France. The … Continue reading →

An action group doesn’t trust the official statistics. According to the official government figures, France has 2.1 million jobseekers. At the same time, the French unemployment offices (ANPE) count no less than 4.45 million jobseekers. So, who’s right? The action … Continue reading →

Twelve years in office. And it shows. In the next few days, president Jacques Chirac will tell his Chères Françaises, Chers Français that he’s not trying to be their president for a third term. The Independent looks back at the … Continue reading →

Pierre Delanoë, who wrote the lyrics for more than 5,000 songs for French artists from Edith Piaf to Johnny Hallyday, died December 27. He was 88. He was known for writing some of France’s best-loved tunes, many with singer-songwriter Gilbert … Continue reading →

Jean Giraud, aka Moebius, is one of France’s (and probably the world’s) best comics artists. It may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but if you’re into this sort of comics, discover some great scans of Moebius’ earlier work on … Continue reading →

Self-medication: an uphill struggle The French are probably the world’s biggest hypochondriacs, and they cost the national health service a fortune. The government now wants them to bypass their doctor more often, and go straight to the pharmacy to treat … Continue reading →

Hollywood losing the French battle: Six out of ten blockbusters in 2006 were local pics The theme for this year’s French box office could be described as “Vive la France!” Six out of the top 10 — including the No. … Continue reading →

Featured on CNN’s The Scene: Massilia Sound System Massilia Sound System, a raggle-taggle group of trobamuffins rooted in the Southern French tradition of song and storytelling, formed in response to trouble-wracked 1980′s Marseille. Hit by unemployment, social deprivation and immigration, … Continue reading →

Nevermind his poor human rights record: Turkmen despot was a rich customer The recent death of Turkmen president Saparmurat Niyazov will be regretted by French construction firm Bouyges. While the despot was still alive, the French realized many of his … Continue reading →

After face transplants, French plastic surgeons find a new occupation: wrecking speed radars A plastic surgeon from Grenoble was caught red-handed while trying to cut down a speed radar with a saw. Unfortunately for him, passers-by alerted the local police. … Continue reading →

The blogger at BibliOdyssey always finds the most exotic works: Chansons d’Amour “Is there some esoteric medieval connection between love and escargots (not involving garlic) that I’m missing? Or do snails evoke music making devices like the wind instruments and … Continue reading →

Move over Pirelli: the From’Girls calendar is a lot cheesier What started out as a joke, has quickly become a cult object. Last year, the Association fromages de terroirs launched their first From’Girls calendar “very glamour to defend traditionnal and … Continue reading →

Hurry! Only eight made: Signature Cobra mobile phone for just $310,000 Made by Vertu in England, designed by Boucheron in France, and most probably the ugliest phone in the world. Vertu is now taking orders (but only 8 of them) … Continue reading →

A bit of Christmas entertainment… Noel Que Du Bonheur (3:17), featuring French singer Ilona Mitrecey The Simpsons: Noel Mortel (21:21). Not made in France, but watchable for two reasons. It’s the very first Simpsons episode, from 17 December 1989. And … Continue reading →

Too dangerous to be unseen: French hunters kill each other Hunting is not just dangerous for animals. During the 2004-2005 hunting season in France, 25 hunters were killed in 167 hunting accidents. 142 People got hurt, 12 of whom were … Continue reading →