27-07-2009
Fashion victim
Don’t worry, I’m not going to go on about the quality of the press in the UK as I’m aware I’d sound like a broken record. But I have to admit that every now and again, I really miss reading about French politics, even those issues which I wouldn’t really care about if I was still living on the continent.
On a trip to France last June, I read in the paper that Nicolas Sarkozy had ordered a parliamentary commission to look at whether to ban the wearing of burqas and niqabs in public. Who knows whether it’s being married to an ex-super model that’s made him take an interest in what his public is wearing, but I have to admit that I was in shock. I have never hidden the fact that I think Mister N. (yes, that’s right, I’m comparing him to Napoleon) is the worst fascist France has ever seen (mainly because he does such a good job of pretending he’s not). But in a country where liberté, egalité and fraternité is supposed to reign, and where you should be able to practice your religion as you wish, I really don’t understand the logic of forbidding a certain type of outfit just because it doesn’t correspond to traditional Christian values (even if you don’t see that many out and about these days, nuns can wear their full outfit without bothering anyone).
Even though this law hasn’t been voted in yet, you don’t need to be a genius to realise that the move will turn France into a potential bomb target for some extremists. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely do not support such barbarian acts and think taking innocent people’s lives for religious or political reasons is the worst thing that’s happened since the H Bomb – and keeping our mouths shut and trying not to step up because of the fear of reprisals is nothing short of blackmail. As a woman, I have to admit that I am not particularly keen on the idea of respecting a dress code because of a religion – but then this is up to each and every individual to decide for themselves. This is their own right.
But to be honest, in such a dodgy economic climate, bringing up a debate on religion reminds me of a certain Mister H. in 1933 … Trying to get people to focus on something other than the downfall of the economy – especially by making them think about religion (a topic that’s bound to get chins wagging across the whole country) – all just seems a bit too easy to me; especially considering that France seems to have just found some stability following the mass debate about the wearing of the burqa in the civil service a few years ago.
Over here, on the other side of the channel – where the memory of 7 July is still very much alive – Nicolas Sarkozy’s actions send a crystal clear message that he is just provoking extremists to blow up Paris. Again, I must stress that I don’t agree with these sorts of practices, but I can’t help but wonder what on earth Sarko is hoping to achieve:
- Does he want to become France’s saviour and secure his seat in the Palais de l’Elysée by coming to the rescue of traumatised people after a series of bombing? (he would not be the first one to use this strategy)
- Is he thinking of carrying out further economical reforms and hoping no one will notice as they are all too busy discussing the burqa issue?
- Does he just want to secure the vote of his fascist supporters?
Whatever the case, I wonder where the interests of the French population really are in all of this. And I reckon that risking the lives of millions of Parisians who could soon find bombs in the Métro all to satisfy the ambitions and megalomania of a French President with a height complex is not really normal. As far as I know, there is only a small minority of Muslim ladies who wear the burqa in France anyway and it doesn’t seem to bother anyone. And it’s probably worth mentioning that when one is married to an ex super model, i.e. someone who used to make money out of her appearance, I seriously doubt whether they can talk objectively about the importance or abolition of any kind of dress code.
11-06-2009
Conjugation
Ghost Train was about to get a 4th season since as usual, the day before I go on holiday to Italy, the tube is on strike. 1h30 to go to work rather than 45 minutes... I tell you, it makes you really eager to go on holiday...
Anyway, let's talk about something more positive then... Holiday! Yeah! (can't stop saying it really). Nowadays it is actually quite pleasant to be able to check out on Google where you are going to go and check places before booking. With the latest version of GoogleMap, you can even work out how safe is the street where you'll be staying in Tokyo - with as many details as would provide the FBI itself. Particularly nice when you have nothing to do at work... And it is not without a certain sort of fear that I have just realised what an important era we are experiencing now - seing such tools developing, and how much of a dinosaure I will sound to my children (if I ever have any) when they will realise the word "Broadband" did not exist when I was born...
When I think again to the holiday I spent as a child - stuck between my two sisters in my parents' car, with the dog drooling in our necks, the cat getting sick, my teddy bear and no other tool to find the right direction than the sun, the hand-written itinerary elaborated by my father and the roadmap held by my Mum - arguable co-pilote who got the job in spite of her unability to remember where she parked the car when going shopping. Without being nostalgic, the family D.'s holiday were pretty Rock n'roll (even after Dad decided we would not listen to David Bowie's tape a 30th time). I have to admit, I remain admirative of my parents' bravery and their taste for adventure.
Since back in the days, there was no way to "Google" anything so we were going to our destination without really knowing anything about it - apart from the bad-quality picture seen on the brochure the cousins of the neighbours (who have been 6 years ago) had lent us 4 months before. That's probably why we spent quite often memorable holidays - and not because the sun was shining or because we met cool people... That was rather the opposite... The worst holidays we ever spent are most of the time the funniest ones and the ones we talk about the most...
Anyway, to get back to this beautiful new verb (not so new actually) "To google" (when will we have "to goolemap"?), it indeed offers us the opportunity to express how much of a control-freak we are... Trying to anticipate, check, plan everything we can. Even the time off when we should basically forget the existence of a watch... All these tools are indeed designed to help us to make the "dream holiday" come true (apart from the unexpected wasp sting's allergy while climbing the Etna ;).
But as any new word, I cannot help wondering about how long it will last and if it will be just a trendy-term that will disappear in a blink of an eye. In any case, the other day I actually heard it used with the past tense and realised that apparently it has been decided (God knows by who) that it would be a regular verb : I googled, you have googled, he/she/it has been googled, etc. So the next generations won't have to add this to the never-ending list of irregular verbs they have to learn by heart because of a traumatising English teacher. Thank you Google.
* Even though I am really excited about going on holiday, I could not help "googlemaping" my own house... And don't you dare telling me you did not try it too...
" To be on holiday is having nothing to do, and have the all day to do it. " - Robert Orben
02-03-2009
Ghost train - Season 3
After having been complaining so much on trains - just to prove that after 4 years in London, I am not sooooooo British just yet, - I came across recently the new ad campaign for Eurostar and I have to admit that from both sides of the Channel, creativity is something you can rely on - more than their trains. And the interesting fact about it is that rather than developping common campaigns - basic and dull- in both countries, Eurostar really makes an effort at developping clever campaigns separately, often manipulating cliches both populations have on each other, to keep the old rivalry alive in an effective and funny way. Cause after all, who can be better at taking the p*** out of the French than the Brits? And vice-versa.
*London for cheaper
* Spring in London
*Romantic break in London
"Advertising: the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get the money from it. " - Stephen Leacock
02-02-2009
Ghost Train - Season 2
As everyone've noticed, it snowed in Londinium. And according to my previous post, three snow flakes on the underground tracks were enough to paralise the tube network and gave us all the opportunity to call our boss to explain we could not make it to work. And for once I have to admit I was quite happy about it.
Following my obsession (no big headline needed for this, I am a control-freak) for words, I looked for the appropriate expression in English for such a thing. In French we say "faire l'école buissonière" (litt. To make school in the bush), which is obviously a sweet expression and rather appropriate on a snowy day when the only thing you do is going to the park, making snowmen and snowballs fighting with your mates.
I looked up of course for the equivalent in English and I have to say I was a bit disappointed the Shakespeare's language did not have a sweet equivalent too... "To play truant" sounds a bit violent for afterall, an activity that is rather nice and meant to be fun. Is it to emphathize the feeling of guilt? It would therefore explain the fact that the frogs are perfectly fine with missing work to be on strike while English don't? Hmmmm.
Anyway, if anyone has another expression to suggest, please do let me know, I am desperate to find a nice imaginative expression for this :)
"Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow." - Jeff Valdez
07-01-2009
Ghost Train
If there are a few things I would have to admit, Brits are really good at, I would say beer, crisps (especially the packaging) and saying they are sorry (I find it sort of annoyingly sweet). - I could obviously make it longer but it would be boring afterall.
BUT there are also things they are really bad at and one thing in particular would be trains.
And I actually think that the real reason why the British Islands were so reluctant at getting the Eurostar was not due to the fear of loosing their insular status, but because they would have to admit their uncapacity to manage anything moving on tracks and leave it to the eternal ennemy - i.e. the French.
As a matter of fact, I take the Eurostar on a regular basis to get my montlhly overdose of stincky cheese and grumpiness and I NEVER experienced any delay from Paris to London (and I would remember it since I always catch the first Monday morning train to turn up on time at work so my boss would point it out) while on Friday nights from London to Paris I can expect at least a good half an hour delay, to be able to enjoy the freezing temperatures of the coaches and arrive fashionably late which is anyway, a Parisian trademark.
Even a friend of mine - English and proud to be - recently admitted in front of me that the British railway has certainly one of the most obscure working system. And for a simple reason: the British rail network refuse to have the minimum of organisation that would provide as a result an efficient service. I actually experienced it on a daily basis (before I eventually decided to cycle) that a train going EVERYDAY from the station A to B was NEVER stopping on the same plateform... I appreciate the surprising effect of such a system that can make your day eventful while being stuck in the coach, wondering when the hell you are gonna be able to step out at least 3 times a week (Especially on summer days, when you have to enjoy the guy's-who-doesn't-what-perspirant-is 's armpit stuck upon your nose). Especially when you think that the price of the monthly travel card would be able to feed a family of 5 for a year in Sudan... But that's becoming too political to be mentioned.
The funny thing is that I recently travelled to India where I have to say - I was expecting chaos since their railway service was set up by the Brits. What a surprise to see that on top of being dead cheap, the India railway is far more efficient than anything I have seen in my life...
Anyway, let's stop mourning for a sec and enjoy the freezing temperatures that at least makes a 45 min-journey in the underground handable and I wish you all a Happy New Year!
"I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train." - Oscar Wilde