Platform by Michel Houellebecq

Well it’s been a long time since I read such crap. I’m not an avid reader of the french novel or peruser of their “great” cinema but apart from a few notable classics (in French but not necessarily from France, Camus coming to mind) I’ve always had a narrow-minded notion that The French are inherently sexist and it won’t wash well with me.

I know beauty is subjective but when Depardieu is cast alongside Audrey Tatou a little piece of me sighs in that awful way I used to when

The New Freedom Fries

The new Freedom Fries are wealthy French people fleeing their beloved country for tax havens in order to dodge the rising rates of income tax implemented by President François Hollande.

LVMH owner, Bernard Arnault became a Belgian citizen this month. 

War and Pre-Crime

Do you remember when countries (usually the USA) were considering striking another country and there would be news conferences and statements of intent, solidarity and reasoning?  This would be followed by a statement from the British Prime Minister stating the UK’s position.  One morning I woke up to news that France had started a war in Mali, albeit on the side of the Mali government, against Islamist insurgents inside Mali. None of the previous protocol seems to have taken place.

It was several days before

Vivre Le France

After 31 years, France elects a socialist President, Francoise Hollande, who will immediately overturn right wing policies of scrapping tax breaks for the rich and taking steps to cap the public deficit. His first few quick symbolic measures will include freezing the cost of fuel for three months to ease the nation’s wallets and cutting his own presidential salary by 30%.

Euro Millions Lottery: Where Will it End?

Angela Merkel is certainly stubborn and Eurozone countries that are not in financial trouble have joined a growing chorus, including respected economists, that she is putting German interests ahead of Europe’s.

Freedom Fries

Nicolas Sarkozy apparently snapped at David Cameron telling him that he was fed up of Britain telling them how to fix the Euro and it was none of our business as we were not part of the single currency.

The new father must be suffering

Burqa Banned in France

France has banned the Burqa. Protests are taking place as I write. This legislation has the world divided. What are you views?