Read + Write + Report
Home | Start a blog | About Orble | FAQ | Blogs | Writers | My Orble | Login

Froggy News - October 2007

Garlic, onions and urine ridden pavements – the Parisians decide to sanitise

The wall anti-pipi, left, sprays the offender's urine back onto their trousers
The wall anti-pipi, left, sprays the offender's urine back onto their trousers



Indeed, the odorous wonders of Paris' pavements are far from the scented delights which diffuse from an English country garden. But the well-known stenches of urine which filtrate through the back alleys and underground passages of Paris are set to meet their toughest obstacles to date


[ Click here to read more ]
Read MoreRead More Comments (1)Comments (1) Add CommentsAdd Comments
76
Vote
[ Link ]
October 29th 2007 @ 20:00

Posted By: Simon Marks - Category: No Category
   


End of the week: A small anecdote

Outside Gilbert Jeune in central Paris
Outside Gilbert Jeune in central Paris


Earlier this week I was confronted with the sort of thing one can only imagine continues to take place in Paris. An aged man, dressed in autumn colours and slightly suspicious looking approached me with the instinctive desire to talk philosophy



[ Click here to read more ]
Read MoreRead More Comments (1)Comments (1) Add CommentsAdd Comments
67
Vote
[ Link ]
October 26th 2007 @ 20:04

Posted By: Simon Marks - Category: No Category
   


Here in France, we make love

The Dreamers by Bernardo Bertolucci
The Dreamers by Bernardo Bertolucci


From the days of the Algerian and Vietnam wars, when students all over the world demonstrated in the streets, human rights and civil liberties were at the forefront of the western world’s political mindset and the notions of liberty and equality served as a synonym for sexual exploration, Paris has continued to present itself as one of the world’s most promiscuous cities


[ Click here to read more ]
Read MoreRead More Add CommentsAdd Comments
56
Vote
[ Link ]
October 25th 2007 @ 08:38

Posted By: Simon Marks - Category: No Category
   


La journée mondiale du refus de la misère – a day of compassion

Games for children spread messages of understanding and compassion
Games for children spread messages of understanding and compassion


Leaving Peter Watkins' three and a half documentary, La Commune, on Wednesday morning, set the scene perfectly. Watkins reproduces – to great effect - the poverty stricken lives of those living in the French capital's eleventh arrondissement during the events of the Paris Commune, while simultaneously displaying a critique on the role of the media in today's society. He seems to claim that today's media is an ignorant bunch of self-obsessed air-heads, only providing the opinions of those "who count". In other words, the ruling classes


[ Click here to read more ]
Read MoreRead More Add CommentsAdd Comments
45
Vote
[ Link ]
October 19th 2007 @ 10:03

Posted By: Simon Marks - Category: No Category
   


The choral tunnels of the Paris metro

A Parisian busker
A Parisian busker


Paris is one of the world's most talked about cities for many reasons: beautiful architecture, sophistication, culinary perfection and haute culture. However, it is also a city which cradles whores, beggars and criminals deep below its thick skin. Ever since medieval times, Paris has given birth to habitants who are outside society's realm – considered by many to be civilisation's undesirable members – who find their way through life the hard way


[ Click here to read more ]
Read MoreRead More Add CommentsAdd Comments
47
Vote
[ Link ]
October 16th 2007 @ 06:55

Posted By: Simon Marks - Category: No Category
   


French rugby has become a national obsession – what ever happened to investigative journalism?

The leading picture on TF1's website
The leading picture on Le Parisien's website


This morning, while glancing over the online websites for Le Monde, Le Figaro and Le Parisien, anyone would have thought that the entire planet had put a hold on breaking news to make room for the marvel of the French rugby team. Headlining both Le Monde’s and Le Figaro’s web page was news of Bernard Laporte’s team selection for Saturday’s match against England. Le Parisien chose to concentrate on how the French are preparing for the big match in light of the fact the English had decided to train in the rain on Tuesday evening. Quite how this is deemed worthy of front page news is frankly beyond all thought


[ Click here to read more ]
Read MoreRead More Add CommentsAdd Comments
45
Vote
[ Link ]
October 11th 2007 @ 10:14

Posted By: Simon Marks - Category: No Category
   


Tramps in Paris are in abundance

A sleeping tramp in central Paris
A sleeping tramp in central Paris


Living amongst the awe-inspiring boulevards, traditionally furnished brasseries and ornate public buildings in central Paris there is an abundance of homeless people of all ages. Far too often, while going about one’s daily routine, it becomes gruesomely evident that Parisian society is the bearer of many forgotten members


[ Click here to read more ]
Read MoreRead More Comments (1)Comments (1) Add CommentsAdd Comments
56
Vote
[ Link ]
October 8th 2007 @ 10:29

Posted By: Simon Marks - Category: No Category
   


The charm of the unhealthy intellectual

The famous pose of Albert Camus
The famous pose of Albert Camus


“The Good Parisian drinks all, devours all, swallows all.”
[ Click here to read more ]
Read MoreRead More Add CommentsAdd Comments
58
Vote
[ Link ]
October 6th 2007 @ 12:19

Posted By: Simon Marks - Category: No Category
   


Kouchner makes sure the freedom fry is extinct forever

French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner with Condoleezza Rice
French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner with Condoleezza Rice


The recent claim by French foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, that “France has put an end to its 100 year long tradition of anti-americanism”, has revolutionized franco-american diplomatic relations. The long-lasting policy of French protectionsim – a desire to preserve one’s culture through certain restrictions on free-trade – has always been at the forefront of French diplomacy


[ Click here to read more ]
Read MoreRead More Add CommentsAdd Comments
68
Vote
[ Link ]
October 1st 2007 @ 12:28

Posted By: Simon Marks - Category: No Category
   


More Posts
March 2008
1 Posts
February 2008
1 Posts
January 2008
4 Posts
Older Posts
59 Posts dating from July 2007
Email Subscription
Receive e-mail notifications of new posts on this blog:
[ View Blog Summary ] [ Create A New Post ]

Simon Marks's Blogs

54 Vote(s)
0 Comment(s)
1 Post(s)
Moderated by Simon Marks
Copyright © 2006 2007 2008 On Topic Media PTY LTD. All Rights Reserved. Design by Vimu.com.
On Topic Media ZPages: Sydney |  Melbourne |  Brisbane |  London |  Birmingham |  Leeds     [ Advertise ] [ Contact Us ] [ Privacy Policy ]