10 things that prove Sarkozy hates being French. #1: He jogs…
(In French. Original English version behind a paywall on the Times UK.)
Entente très cordiale !
US zoo flies in a French male koala named Bulkee (quoi ?) to mate with its females. More at msnbc.msn.com.
Topless sunbathing losing popularity (at least among younger women)
Le monokini, c’est fini ? Evidently more French women are leaving their tops on at the beach these days… Read the rest at time.com.
“Julie and Julia” film review
Meryl Streep to play Julia Child in the foodie femme film “Julie and Julia” by Nora Ephron. Looks yummy! Read more at hollywoodreporter.com.
My whopping $32 emergency room visit in the land of socialized medicine
I walk into the emergency room, wait ten minutes to speak to the woman at the “accueil” (or welcome desk). She takes my info for five minutes, then sends me to the cashier to pay in advance for my emergency room visit. I got to the cashier and explain that my American insurance is requiring a detailed break down of the costs, including how much for each aspect of the treatment (the doctor’s fees, the medicines, etc), or they won’t reimburse me. The woman behind the counter tells me all they have is the charge on the bill, 23 euros.
Tourist emergency as handled by the French. Americans, a must read! Read the whole story on americablog.com.
Vincent Knobil, “franglophone songwriter extraordinaire”
Fun, quirky, charming chansons françaises. We adore Plastoc (slang for “condom”), about a newly single guy’s… challenges when he gets back into the groove. Click 45 tours for some featured songs in French. Huge fun to play with, some great songs for French students. VincentKnobil.com
Paris in the summertime…
They truck in tons of sand and create a resort in the middle of Paris every year! ‘Beach” volleyball and everything. Download a nice one-page PDF guide to Paris-Plages ‘09 features and events. Good for visitors, residents, or classroom.
Odd expressions and their surprising origins
C’est la fin des haricots…? Obscure origins of some common French expressions at linternaute.com (in French).
Via @ClaireInParis.
I’m Not Hanging Noodles on Your Ears
Living in the lap of luxury? In French that’s péter dans la soie. More “exotic” expressions from around the world in I’m Not Hanging Noodles on Your Ears and Other Intriguing Idioms From Around the World.
Bonaparte in Japan
Napoleon makes an appearance in a Japanese rice paddy! Creative planting imitates famous painting. Via BoingBoing.
Society for Exploitation of the Eiffel Tower
Does this bad French translation “gene” you ? We thought it was rigolo. Via EngrishFunny.
Can you conjugate “tweeter” in French
Fun for French learners & teachers! The 46 Stages of Twitter Addiction, in French, at rue89.com.
France conquered by McDonald’s
McDonald’s’ second largest market is… France??? C’est vrai. How McDo conquered France.
Seen @cr8tiv1
The 5 most expensive hotel rooms in the world
The most expensive hotel room in the world is in France! In Cannes, to be precise…