You know you should not ever trust what you read on the front page of The Economist about France, or continental Europe, for that matter …
Never.
Really never.
Never, ever.
Definitely.
That being said, every rule has its exception …
But better read a (free) “Café du matin à Paris” in French every day to know what is really happening, or not, in Frogland these days ( http://renaudfavier.com/ ) and/or click on the hereafter pictures for a shortview (backwards, which seems more appropriate for France) on recent events (or non-events).
November 16th : the French Senate aborted a project of tax on Palm Oil. Nobody would have cared, had Nutella not seized he opportunity to launch a 50/50 lobbbying-advertising campaign.
November 15th : something smells in Corsica (a murder, as usual), but as nobody knows nothing, and nobody would talk if anybody knew, and nobody saw or heard nothing of course, nobody really cares, all the less, since France has a lot of stinking cheeses everywhere.
November 14th : first big press conference by the French President, François Hollande, at Palais de l’Elysée. Many French citizens listen to the President, more twit, write and talk about what he said (or not).
November 13th : the French, especially the Parisians, try to be nice with everybody, as it is THE day of kindness worldwide and they know a day lasts only 24 hours. So do the Germans, however hard it may be, in certain cases.
November 12th : THE week of the Beaujolais Nouveau begins, the French worldwide start talking and thinking about it rather than about anything else, though noboby can drink it before Thursday, as a matter of French principle and French tradition.
November 11th : The French talk about dead soldiers including Charles de Gaulle (it used to be a great general of theirs, before it became the major Air France Airport) and all wars they lost without losing their sense of humour and of “Grandeur”.
November 10th : The French discuss about litterature and season’s French “prix littéraires” like Goncourt and Renaudot …
November 9th : the French are happy, that Xi Jinping, the new World Leader (based in Beijing), drinks red wine and hope he will not drink Chinese beverages only in the years to come and they will be able to export some of their wines to China.
November 8th : the French hope, that somebody will be able to help for Europe’s, and specially France’s socialist economic recovey.
November 7th : the French are happy that President Obama was re-elected in America, as they alread know him, the Washington airport and the twitter account for their questions.
November 6th : the French consider French communities management to foster competitiveness.
November 5th : Super happiness among Paris politicians not on trip abroad (like President Hollande) and journalists not on season’s holiday, the über-expected Gallois report on Gallic (garlic ?) competitiveness is officially delivered to Prime Minister Ayrault and widely spread on the internet.
November 4th : some French are reading about real competitiveness.
November 3nd : France is getting damn serious about competitiveness.
Real serious : playing hard, working hard !
November 2nd : a prayer for France, its taxpayers, and its creditors, all equally dead.
November 1st : France is THE romantic country and will remain so forever, and death can nothing against l’amour, toujours …
October 31st : the French celebrate Halloween, like everybody else in the real world, but don’t tell them, the believe they have invented it (too).
October 30th : the French socialist politicians are having fun inside (France) whereas there Perfects Storms are outside (France), everywhere in the economy and around New-York and Haïti as far as heavy rains are concerned.
October 29th : the French managed to sink their own boat (again) in their own harbour (again) and the Napoleon Bonaparte (not again !) is at bay 3 meters away from the pier in Marseille Vieux Port. Please don’t pay attention.
October 28th : the French go for winter time. Every is happy to be allowed to sleep one hour more, and the trade unions warn the (ir)relevant minister that this should happen every night, otherwise they’ll go on strike.
October 27th : the French discuss among themselves about drugs and how it could improve their international competitiveness, after Lance Armstrong was denied his “Tour de France” victories.
October 26th : the French brainstorm with partners on business intelligence and practice new French economic diplomacy to try and improve their external trade huge deficit (second only to Britain, as often enough).
October 25th : France is waiting for Louis Gallois’ report en French competitiveness and its whereabouts. Severe haircuts are expected from the French minister of finance, Pierre Moscovici, though some people have their doubts.
Some French are not just waiting, but working, and writing too.
Renaud Favier – November, 16th, 2012 – Café du matin à Paris
Downloading some relevant pdf for printing is another option for readers with a taste for “real” paper books (or just no Kindle, but an iPhone, an iPad or whatever else works to e-read).
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