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

Robot Disco

I simply LOVE Daft Punk’s new album.  It’s not very often that almost every song on an entire album would get over 8/10 in a scorecard yet here we have one.  I’m a former 90s raver/RnB fan and I thank Daft Punk for their Pharell Williams collaboration and for giving RnB some of its mojo back.  It hasn’t been a good decade for some music genres.

I’ve also been in Delhi for the last five months and now that I’m back in London and have Random Access Memories

Au Revoir To Mademoiselle

The French have addressed feminism calls to abolish the term Mademoiselle from official documents as it is deemed sexist. Prime minister Francois Fillon said the word discriminates against women by asking them to reveal if they are married. He has also banned the phrase ‘nom de jeune fille’ meaning ‘maiden name’ from all paperwork because it is ‘archaic’ and has ‘connotations of virginity’.

It was a major victory for French feminists yesterday when the change was revealed in an official decree to ministries and regional authorities.

Sober Up

Drinking alcohol is ingrained into British culture as much as having a cup of tea. We are known for our communities centring on pubs and it isn’t unusual to go for a quick drink before dinner or going home. Even modern Asian households have incorporated this part of British culture into their lives.

Amidst ministers calling for a review of the drinking guidelines to encourage people not drink at least 2 days out of 7, what I find fascinating is how we as a country have slipped into drinking wine like the French. It is on the dinner table and families are used to having a glass or two a night.

Bursting Breasts

Can you imagine breast implants leaking or rupturing? Ughh! Ghastly!! Makes me shudder… The Guardian reveals that 250 women are launching a high court case against 6 British clinics who have supplied them with faulty French produced implants. About 30,000 women in France and 40,000 in Britain are said to have these implants which may need replacing.

Ooh La La!

You cannot deny that there are certain things French women do fabulously: have affairs with politicians, skipping meals for cigarettes and black coffee .. and wearing scarves. French women wear scarves in their teens and continue to do so for the rest of their lives. Copy and steal!

Hot Rabbit

Is anyone feeling slightly uncomfortable with some of the coverage of the rape allegation made against IMF Chief, Dominique Strauss-Kahn ?

A lot of the reports, particularly in the French press, relate to his innocence (well, for someone who is nicknamed Hot Rabbit and The Great Seducer, I think we should wait and see what happens).