Secret voting

I just came back from the voting “urn” in the 17th arrondissement in Paris. I must say that, were I to have voted, I might have found the process somewhat “shocking.” After arriving at the designated locale, you are asked to pick up white paper...

European competitivity, French competitivity

We are 24 hours away from the French elections and I feel compelled to add a new comment. I read an article by Cyrille Lachevre entitled “La faiblesse de la compétitivité française,” in the Figaro on April 12, 2007. Other European countries are making...

First impressions of Sweden

As is my wont on any first time in a country, I love to jot down the first impressions that hit me… if only to confirm some generalizations and, probably, regurgitate very obvious observations. First surprise, the “noise free” Stockholm (Arlanda)...

Parking tickets, fines and towing…mafia.

In Paris, as in most metropolitan centers, parking is at a premium. As we approach the Presidential elections, there is usually a lot of hope, if not rumor, that all traffic violations will be pardoned. This year, it appears that the main presidential hopefuls have...

Irony of names

Have you ever read John Train’s “Most Remarkable Book of [Real People’s] Names”? Most recommendable. You will find that a married couple was called Doctor and Doctor Doctor. Then to list but a few of the enormously weird names out there: Gaston...

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