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What makes France such an endearing and infuriating country at the same time?

Why are the French a people that you love one day and hate the next?

Come here every day and you may find out...

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    Last updated on December 29, 2008

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    Archive for November, 2008

    When Motor Rallies Were Still Adventures

    In 1908 the French newspaper "Matin" organized a motor rally from New York to Paris via the Bering Strait. Six teams from America, France, Germany and Italy took part. Here are two photos of that grueling event, one century ago.

    Find more photos here.

    Posted: Sun 30-Nov-08 under History, Events

    Postcards from France

    Pretty Pictures. Click each for source & bigger.

    Posted: Sun 30-Nov-08 under Country & Travel

    France Wallpapers

    Discover a great source where you can find 25 large-size (1600×1200) wallpaper photos, including these two (click for bigger):

    Posted: Sun 30-Nov-08 under Country & Travel, Created in France

    Comic du Jour (24 & Final)

    By Stephan Pastis, 2003. Click for source.

    Posted: Sat 29-Nov-08 under Oops

    Antoine Helbert’s Masterly Paintings

    Antoine Helbert is a master painter, sculptor and illustrator from Strasbourg, France. His styles of graphic, fashion, history, and advertising are very different, but equally outstanding.

    Click for bigger
    Find 48 of his paintings here. (Each one is clickable for maximum size)

    Posted: Sat 29-Nov-08 under Art & Heritage, Created in France

    Postcards from France

    Pretty Pictures. Click each for source & bigger.

    Posted: Sat 29-Nov-08 under Country & Travel

    The Ennui of Henri

    A black-and-white French art film about the existential angst experienced by a house cat. By Will Braden. Run time: 2.5 minutes.

    Via Neatorama

    Posted: Sat 29-Nov-08 under Created in France

    Comic du Jour (23)

    By Darby Conley, 2006. Click for source.

    Posted: Fri 28-Nov-08 under Oops

    When Terminologists Have a Board Meeting

    French cultural watchdogs keep looking for francophone equivalents of those perfidious English words. Of course, nobody uses their proposals because they are too silly to remember. Here's a choice of official boarding terminology:

    An aéroplanchiste on his planche aérienne
    aéroplanchiste (skyboarder)
    aquaplanchiste (boardsurfer)
    nivoplanchiste (snowboarder)
    véliplanchiste (windsurfer)
    FranceTerme

    Posted: Fri 28-Nov-08 under Language, Oops

    Around the World in 116 Beers

    A thirsty blogger in Montpellier found out that 116 countries in the world make beer. All but three are listed here. This one represents France:

    It's a shame they picked Kronenbourg, which is hardly the best beer in France. Beerhunter Michael Jackson found some better French brew.

    Posted: Fri 28-Nov-08 under Food, Drink & Smoke

    Help the Chef!

    Another vintage puzzle from Agence Eureka (click for bigger):

    This forgetful chef has lost a duck, a rabbit and a spoon. Can you find them?

    Posted: Fri 28-Nov-08 under History

    Another Friday in France

    Links for 28 November 2008:
    Latest: Sarkozy Loses Appeal to Block Sale of Presidential Voodoo Doll
    Ulcers and muscular paralysis: French Court Fines Power Grid for Harming Animals
    Airbus A320: Seven dead after jet crashes off French coast
    "The Pink Wall" France returns Matisse painting stolen by Nazis
    Back to May 2007: Number of unemployed tops 2 million
    Expensive scrap metal: […]

    Posted: Fri 28-Nov-08 under General

    Sarkobama

    A new magazine is hittting the news stands today with a cover designed to catch the eye:

    Nonfiction calls itself the "magazine of books and ideas", and claims "an original approach which leaves room and time for reflection and analysis."
    Unfortunately, the cover of their first issue is hardly an "original approach":

    Posted: Fri 28-Nov-08 under Created in France, Oops

    What are they selling here?

    Click to reveal full ad by a French agency with an extremely lousy website.

    Posted: Fri 28-Nov-08 under Created in France

    100 Stars for Press Freedom

    It has become an annual tradition for Reporters sans frontières (Reporters without borders) to publish a book featuring 100 thematic photos. The latest edition is coming out next week, with 100 photos of (mostly movie) stars, created by agency H&K.

    Click for more & bigger photos
    The cover features the always-stunning Sophie Marceau. The other two […]

    Posted: Thu 27-Nov-08 under Created in France

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