Monthly Archives: June 2008

By the end of the first quarter of 2008, the French national debt has risen with 41 billion euros to 1.250 trillion euros. This is the equivalent of 65.3% of GDP, 1.4% higher than in the previous quarter, and way … Continue reading →

The Languedoc-Rousillon region has introduced the Sud de France label (“the marque that changes the course of history“) to promote local produce worldwide. [youtube]cK7NCnpAhP0[/youtube] They created this commercial, starring a badly animated wolf and regional celebrity Alexandra Rosenfeld, who was … Continue reading →

For those who think I’m sometimes a bit harsh about Sarko’s height and Carlita’s shoe choice, here’s proof that France’s First Lady can walk on something more elegant than flatflops. The pics were shot during the couple’s recent visit to … Continue reading →

I love the visual in this ad (click for bigger) for Mir detergent, created by TBWA in Paris: Here’s another one | Via I believe in advertising | Thanks to NotCot

Isabelle Yasmine Adjani, (born June 27, 1955 in Paris) is a four-time César Award-winning and two-time Academy Award-nominated French film actress and singer. She is of Algerian-German parentage, and performs in French, English, and German. Adjani has a record four … Continue reading →

Links for Friday 27 June 2008: French winemakers on rampage (International Herald Tribune) Can French flair beat EU blues? (BBC) French rogue trader says bank bosses got ‘tonnes of alerts’ (AFP) French nuclear diplomacy – a step too far? (Radio … Continue reading →

On PicVault: female soldiers who are ready to protect their respective countries from enemies, although some of them can easily make their way through to the men’s magazine covers. This one protects France against attacks by the baddies: See all … Continue reading →

Brazilian wine importer De La Croix has a great way to counter label snobbery: In this ad (click for bigger) they promote “vin de garage”, which is made 500 yards away from a French château, and is equally good but … Continue reading →

Nicolas Sarkozy’s father Pal (full name Pál Sárközy de Nagy-Bócsa) is apparently an artist: With a mixture of paint and photoshop he created this surrealist portrait of his son with an earring in the shape of the Légion d’honneur medal. … Continue reading →

From Modern Mechanix, July 1932: Water Glider Floats on Rollers POWERED by a 9 horsepower motor, the novel water glider shown in the photo below attained a speed of 140 kilometers an hour in a recent test at Suresnes, near … Continue reading →

The people at Design Heure in Sète, on the Mediterranean coast, make these original lamps that project your photos, pictures, logos, transparencies slides or drawings on the ceiling or the wall. They sell at just over 200 euros each. Via … Continue reading →

The French senate is debating the legalisation of surrogate mothers [wiki], something which is common in many other countries, but still outlawed in France. So it’s big news for French online news media. The challenge: how to make the news … Continue reading →

On Neatorama: From Cradle to Grave: The Story of Life, Told with Beds This is The Last Bed: The tomb of Charles Pigeon, the inventor of a non-exploding gas lamp, in Cimetière de Montparnasse, signifies eternal rest for him and … Continue reading →

France may be world’s first tourist destination, but French tourists are not always appreciated abroad. A recent survey among 4,000 hotel owners worldwide reveals that the French are the world’s third worst tourists, after the Chinese and the Indians. The … Continue reading →

Links for Wednesday 25 June 2008: ‘Caveman’ Chabal promises French thunder Down Under (Telegraph) But… Don’t call me the Caveman (The Australian) The French Resistance: a romantic ideal for most (The First Post) Beijing-Paris travel plummets (Shanghaiist) Why do we … Continue reading →