Monthly Archives: March 2009

I always thought that Nick Sarkozy was the president who wanted to break with the past, so I was a bit surprised to see that his official photo looks remarkably like that of his predecessors. It seems that Mitterand was … Continue reading →

I’ve featured Stephane Halleux previously on Frogsmoke. He’s a French sculptor who creates remarkable steampunkish characters, engines, vehicles and very curious creatures. Now, his website has had a lift. Personally I hate Flash sites where I have to press Enter … Continue reading →

Every Saturday in the Belleville suburb of Paris, Juliette Dragon teaches the art of stripping “with grace and humor”. French Express magazine went to have a look and came back with this video. Don’t worry — it stays decent, and … Continue reading →

Culture shocks ahead: Indian Ocean island votes to become fully French View Larger Map Voters on Mayotte, a tiny island in the Indian Ocean, chose by referendum Sunday to become a fully fledged part of France — a change of … Continue reading →

Maurice Jarre died aged 84 years old, but his music will stay forever, including these two Oscar-winning film scores: Times Obituary

Paris wouldn’t be what it is today if there hadn’t been Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann, the civic planner whose name is forever associated with the rebuilding of the capital in the 19th century. Le Figaro has a wonderful series of before-and-after … Continue reading →

Les Chats Sauvages was one of France’s first rock’n’roll bands in the early sixties. Like most bands in those years they didn’t last long. In 1964 they disbanded, only to be reunited in 1982 for a brief comeback. In the … Continue reading →

French pole vaulter Romain Mesnil is in need of a sponsor after Nike pulled out. To make sure his plight doesn’t get unnoticed (after all he’s the world’s second best) he ran through the streets of Paris, supposedly without his … Continue reading →

When Gustave Eiffel designed the tower that bears his name he specified that the steel construction had to be painted every seven years. Next week this paint job will start for the nineteenth time. A group of 25 Greek and … Continue reading →

From the useless statistics department: 57% of the French claim they’ve never stolen anything from a hotel, which leaves 43% who have. Towels are apparently popular. Eleven percent of French hotel guests admit they’ve stolen at least one hotel towel. … Continue reading →

As if France doesn’t have enough trade unions: sex workers start their own syndicat Around 20,000 people in France make a living providing sexual entertainment. Now they want to be recognized as a regular workforce. The spanking new Syndicat du … Continue reading →

Disturbing: Le Figaro reveals a secret document which highlights France’s gangdom: According to the report, nearly 2,500 individuals run 222 known gangs, 156 of them specializing in drugs. Only 21% operate outside Paris, the rest inside the capital and its … Continue reading →

Today, popular actor Kad Merad turns 45. Have a fat one! Anecdote: In an interview in “Cigar Club” magazine, Kad Merad once said he “likes to have a cigar with his aperitif.” Regarded as offensive by the Association of Rights … Continue reading →

Surprise surprise: the inventor of punk rock mellows, gets jazzy and plans to sing in French. Iggy Pop, who is obsessed with sex, death and the end of the human race, has grown weary of a career as an entertainer … Continue reading →

When French workers go to the streets they don’t care about the rest of the world. Here’s what happens when workers of the Continental tire manufacturer demonstrate against the imminent closure of their factory: they burn piles of rubber in … Continue reading →