A bit of North Pole in France
france is such a popular country because of its variety. Apart from arctic areas and deserts, it's got everything.
Eh, no artic areas? In the village of Chaux Neuve (Jura) Claude en Gilles Malloire are doing their utmost best to change that. They are creating theuir own Arctic Park.
For over twenty years now, they are living with a pack of 40 Pole Dogs. In perfect harmony, they say. This week, they added a herd of twenty reindeer.
France 3 took a look and counted three males and 17 females.
Posted by Peter at 07:18 AM [What do you think?]
Enjoy France, but not by fighting cops
There are many ways to enjoy France. Fighting cops is not one of them.
Three fans of Dutch football club Feyenoord have been sentenced to jail after they did so during the Uefa cup match in and against Nancy. They were arrested and are still in French cells. One of them is sentenced a month, the two others got two weeks in cell, as France Football reports. All of them, notorious hooligans who weren't even allowed to enter Dutch stadiums, will confirm Dutch jails are lots better then French...
Posted by Peter at 07:06 AM [3 reactions]
After the toys, now the real trains
From yesterdays model trains to real trains now. Very real trains indeed: French train builder Alstom wants to set a new speed record in april. Le Figaro reports Alstom wants to achieve 540 kilometers (about 300 miles) an hour.
This will be done on the track of the brand new TGV Est (Paris-Strasbourg). This new line will be inaugurated in june. Just to compare, the current TGV trains drive at 300 kilometers an hour. On the TGV est, they will drive at 320 kilometers.
However, don't expect the regular TGV-trains driving at nearly doubled speed soon. The last speed record, set way back in 1990, was already at 514 kilometers. But hey, don't complain. France will be a proud nation, once again...
Posted by Peter at 07:08 AM [2 reactions]
Handicapped woman second at election Miss France
A handicapped woman has won second prize at the elections of Miss France 2007, France 3 reports. Only Miss Picardie was estimated more beautiful by the jury, presided by singer Michel Sardou.
There's obviously noting wrong with the looks of Sophie Vouzelaud (19), the first handicapped woman ever to take part in Miss France elections. Her handicap: she's deaf and she can hardly speak an understandable word.
Sophie, who hopes to get a job as a fashion model, was allowed to participate after winning the title of Miss Limousin. For those who consider miss-elections to be meat-tests, this title does not refer to the famous cows but to the region in the middle of France where Sophie lives.
Posted by Peter at 07:11 AM [5 reactions]
Freedom, equality and BROTHER-hood
France may be the country of freedom, equality and brotherhood, there's one place you wouldn't suspect it to be. In parliament, there are hardly any women. And even in national political parties they're hard to find, states Le Monde.
This is partly their own choise. Modern parties are professional organizations lead by skilled males. Women just don't like that, according to the paper. But the main reason is the traditional culture. about 80 percent of household and raising kids is done by women. Most of them can't combine that with a heavy job in Paris. So it's no surprise only 11 percent of parliament is woman.
Posted by Peter at 07:17 AM [What do you think?]
Foie gras: the battle continues
With Christmas coming up, there's of course a renewed debate about foie gras. However, it's not really a discussion. Fans and opponents hardly listen to opposite arguments.
On the fan site, goose raisers present themselves having an honourable job in an old tradition. Take Yves et Geneviève Boissiere in Frespech (Lot-et-Garonne), who will happily receive you and show you their farm. They even have a foie gras museum.
On the other hand, activists like those at Stop gavage will use any disgusting picture to prove their vision. The word 'gavage' refers to the way of raising goose by forced nutrition.
I've not made a decision yet: yes, it's horrible what they do to goose. And yes, foie gras is delicious...
Posted by Peter at 07:08 AM [2 reactions]
