Monthly Archives: February 2008

For what it’s worth: The CIA World Fact Book has published a nice table of the current account balance of 163 countries. Top of the list is China, which has a positive balance of 363 billion dollars. At the bottom … Continue reading →

I have no idea who these people were but, looking at the cross-dressed boy on the left and the naughty girl in front, they did like wild parties. Russian ball at Bullier in 1929. From left to right: Iliazd, M. … Continue reading →

They hug lambs, cuddle goats and stroke cows.

Claire Diterzi is a French singer with a unique style. Her voice sometimes reminds me of Kate Bush — and maybe a bit of Bjørk. From her website you can download a free mp3 track. Official website (Flash/sound) | More … Continue reading →

Found on BBay.com: This poster is sold with the following disclaimer: These poses were created as artistic expressions of a stereotype. No promotion or advocacy of female subjugation of any ethnic or national group is intended or implied.

From Modern Mechanix, February 1934: Via Modern Mechanix

“An animal would not be allowed to endure what I have to endure” A French woman whose face has been badly disfigured by tumours so much so that she is unrecognisable even to her own children, has appealed to President … Continue reading →

He can measure the pressure inside a chip and has worked out how to produce 24 litres of mayonnaise from a single egg. Hervé This, France’s most famous chemist, also knows how to unboil an egg: When an egg is … Continue reading →

French students hard at work to make their universities better. Each year the famous Jiao Tong university of Shanghaï publishes a list of the world’s top universities. The 2008 rankings are just out and won’t make the French proud; the … Continue reading →

Kelby Carr on About.com: There are plenty of stereotypes about the French: they stink, women don’t shave their underarms, they are rude, they hate Americans. Don’t be fooled by these myths and urban legends. The truth is far more interesting. … Continue reading →

Click to see full image. From Popular Science, March 1922: What Paris Has to Show Us in the Line of Speedy Cycle Cars COMBINING lightness, speed and economy, the small car is becoming extremely popular. On this page are the … Continue reading →

French artist Ludovic Blay makes the most wonderful sculptures from metal wire. Shown above is his Alien 4. Below is Balrog, inspired by the Lord of the Rings. Discover many more aliens and mythological creatures in his gallery. Via Neatorama

Couscous, burgers, pasta. That’s what millions of French eat… Welcome to the country where only the happy few can afford to eat in Sarkozy’s favorite restaurant, and up to ten percent of the population eat couscous, 1.2 million go to … Continue reading →

What’s wrong with my bed, huh?! Speedy Nicolas Sarkozy cuts short his Windsor visit Sarkozy was invited to spend two nights with his new wife as a guest of the Queen at Windsor Castle during a state visit to Britain … Continue reading →

View Larger Map I featured Paris for short people earlier on Frogsmoke. Here you can see it from the sky – courtesy of Google Sightseeing. This housing development north of the Chinese city of Hangzhou is designed to look like … Continue reading →