Monthly Archives: July 2008

… time for a few pictorial souvenirs. The first one is from the Boston Globe, which has many more great pics (click to view all): Here are two nice ones I found on Pixdaus. Click each for bigger:

This picture (found on Vintage Photo) shows French actress Polaire (née Emilie Marie Bouchaud, 1879-1939) during an American tour in the summer of 1910. The black footman she acquired during the trip was provocatively called her “black slave”. Click for … Continue reading →

Via Growabrain: Animals in Love is a documentary about the existence of love between animals in the wild. With music by Philip Glass. Here’s the trailer: [youtube]EgR6-M5z6dU[/youtube] Official website (in French) (Don’t miss les goodies, with downloadable wallpapers)

French company Ecop Habitat has just developed a fully self-sufficient home that moves with you. The Mini-Loft 36 is small but flexible. Depending on your energy needs it can be equipped with a wind generator, solar panels, a rainwater recipient, … Continue reading →

It’s rare but legal: Painter Jean-Louis Ronzier, 68, has just married ex-dancer Martine Cazenave. The bride wasn’t present at the ceremony, because she died in 2004, aged 52. French law authorises post-mortem weddings in extreme circumstances. In this case, all … Continue reading →

Links for Monday 28 July 2008: Unfair competition: ‘No chance’ against French first lady: British PM’s wife Atomic exports: New French reactor to supply nuclear-shy neighbors French Mermaid: Swim star Manaudou vows to bounce back at Olympics Blanchette homestead? Archeologists … Continue reading →

I can’t vouch for the authenticity of this picture on Vintage Photo, but the photo caption says: French Soldier with Gas Mask, made between 1914 and 1918. Did dogs really wear gas masks? And who’s on the stretcher? (Click pic … Continue reading →

I’m not sure how funny this is, but everything on QDB is a bit weird. Faustmaster300:My friend got kicked out of french once. Faustmaster300:He goes,’Madam! I have a joke for you!’ Faustmaster300:’What is it Zach?’ Faustmaster300:’Why wasn’t Jesus born in … Continue reading →

From the always fascinating BibliOdyssey blog: Histoire des Oiseaux “François Nicolas Martinet engraved illustrations of birds for books by some of the most influential ornithologists in 18th-century France. Born in 1731, Martinet was trained as an engineer and draftsman. Engraving … Continue reading →

The French can see goodbye to their traditional Christmas oysters this year. Up to 8 billion young oysters, or 80% of the total harvest, have died in just a few days. The probable cause is a virus, but there may … Continue reading →

French photographer Marianne Maric about her lamp girls: These “lamp-girls” were first conceived as an illustration of the woman as a thing conveyed by the “entertainment world,” but gradually ascending to a state of consciousness. These photographs were part of … Continue reading →

Links for Sunday 27 July 2008: Against extradition: Carla and her sister put Sarkozy on spot in row over terrorist Privacy cult: French attitudes serve the powerful, but not the people Quiet holidays: Explore the canals of France Homage to … Continue reading →

Designer Daniel Bailey wanted to create a solution for overpopulated cities, with increasingly limited available parking space. He came up with this fold-up Peugeot 908. His car, called BRB Evolution, jacks up on its nose and saves half the normal … Continue reading →

Rolling Stone Mick Jagger celebrates his 65th birthday today, and the Daily Mail (who else?) asks: As you reach 65, Mick, how many of these 65 conquests do you remember? The list of 65 women contains three (sort of) Françaises: … Continue reading →

Peugeot has pulled an advertisement that became just a bit too painful. The headline reads: 7:42 — your kids get in the back to go to school 15:37 — your kids get are still in the back In the past … Continue reading →