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?
Visit Frogsmoke every day and you may find out...
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Last updated on July 4, 2009
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Today, French actress and model Ludivine Sagnier turns 30.
Sagnier started taking acting classes at a young age and had her film debut at age 10. In 2001, she was named one of the Shooting Stars by European Film Promotion. In 2003, she won the Prix Romy Schneider.
From Wikipedia:
Sagnier has appeared nude in extended scenes in [...]
Posted: Fri 03-Jul-09 under Events, People
British illustrator Jonathan Edwards dedicates an entire blog to drawings of Serge Gainsbourg: Draw Serge!. Here are two recent contributions (click each for source):
Is his own words:
'Welcome to "Draw Serge!", my illustrative tribute to the late, great Gainsbourg. I'm a huge fan of Serge Gainsbourg. He's a hugely important figure in 20th Century popular music [...]
Posted: Thu 02-Jul-09 under Art & Heritage, People
Stuart Jeffries of the Guardian interviews French artist Orlan: 'Narcissism is important'
Orlan is mostly known for her work with plastic surgery in the 1990s. But this 7-minute video shows that she has a body of work that started long before - and one that is still evolving.
Posted: Wed 01-Jul-09 under Art & Heritage, People
Fabien Bastide and his girl friend Coralie had a lot of time and little money, so they embarked on a trip from France to Laos on a budget of 4 euros per day. Their vehicle was a tatty Citroën 2CV.
The journey took one year, one month and 10 days, during which they drove 32,408 [...]
Posted: Tue 30-Jun-09 under Country & Travel, Events, People
In the Sun: French First Lady Carla Bruni in lacy lingerie - before she became the Next big thing in modeling.
The sexy snaps - including one of her in a floral bodice - were taken in 1989 for clothes giant Next's mail order catalogue. And they show why Carla - now the 41-year-old wife of [...]
Posted: Tue 30-Jun-09 under History, People, Sarkozy & Co
Today, French actress Vahina Giocante [wiki] turns 28.
In case you're wondering, the name Vahina means "Welcome" in Malagasy.
Posted: Tue 30-Jun-09 under Events, People
Nearly melting away under the Paris sun: Obama "a little bit stiff" in wax
It's the compulsory honor for the rich and famous: being displayed in the Musée Grevin in Paris. Here is the faux Barack, together with real (or also fake?) body guards. In the museum he'll join other world leaders, like Nick Sarkozy, Angie [...]
Posted: Tue 30-Jun-09 under People
A forthcoming exhibition in Boulogne-Billancourt (BB for short), Paris, looks at the life and career of Brigitte Bardot. The Telegraph has a preview. I selected these two from the 13-pic slideshow:
Posted: Thu 18-Jun-09 under Events, People
Just a happy summer song by recently discovered hotlipped singer Amandine Bourgeois (official site, myspace). The song was written by Olivia Ruiz, and comes from Amandine's first album.
HT Filles Sourires
Posted: Wed 17-Jun-09 under Created in France, People
I couldn't believe my eyes when I read this on KNS: Kim Jong Il's Feats Praised
Pyongyang, June 14 (KCNA) — Jesus Antonio Carlos Hernandez, general secretary of the Central Committee of the People's Socialist Party of Mexico, and Edmond Jouve, director-general of the European Society for the Study of the Juche Idea, separately issued statements [...]
Posted: Tue 16-Jun-09 under Oops, People
Today, 15 June, is the 66th birthday of Johnny Hallyday, aka "the biggest rock star you've never heard of" (wiki, official site).
This year marks the end of his 50-year career — Hallyday is currently making his farewell tour around the country. And the old man still rocks, as you can see in this recent video:
If [...]
Posted: Mon 15-Jun-09 under Events, People
A blog that gets a lot of good press these days: Daily Routines — How writers, artists, and other interesting people organize their days.
In the Smokers category, here's an entry about French 19th century writer Gustave Flaubert (wiki):
Days were as unvaried as the notes of the cuckoo. Flaubert, a man of nocturnal habits, usually [...]
Posted: Sun 14-Jun-09 under General, History, People, Web
A few days ago, Frenchman Stéphane Mifsud shattered a previous world record, by holding his breath for no less than 11 minutes and 35 seconds. This video shows the full episode (minus two minutes), and is fascinating because actually nothing happens.
Posted: Thu 11-Jun-09 under Events, People
Remember French pole vaulter Romain Mesnil who ran naked through Paris because he needed a sponsor? Well, it looks like he found his benefactor (an Internet hosting company), and he's proud to show his white buttocks and black chastity block again.
Posted: Mon 08-Jun-09 under People
In May 1968, little Danny Le Rouge (Danny the Red) was one of the leaders in the French student revolt. Now, Daniel Cohn-Bendit is Green and Big. Very big.
Added:
Danny the Green shakes up France, again
Danny the Red takes greens to French election triumph