The title is supposed to attract you in here.
Don't worry, the action is relatively basic.

Let me present the facts below the fold.

from the diaries. - Jérôme

Tonight starts part I of the internal Socialist debates, between all 3 candidates for the presidential elections.

Tonight's debate is televised on LCP (which I'm watching), but there is also a webcast on LCP's website  (which seems saturated)
Part I will be about Economic and Social matters.

Week from October 11th to October 17th.


Previous installments:

Week from October 4th to October 10th.

Previous installments:

Week from September 27th to October 3rd.

Previous installments:

Week II - Tuesday, September 26th
Week I - Tuesday, September 19th

Week from September 20th to September 26th.

Previous installments:

Week I - Tuesday, September 19th

I have wanted to do this for some time. Purely bloggy news for the week. I got sidetracked earlier - so my first installment of this (hopefully) diary-series-to-be represents a week that's a bit over 7 days, but I'm sure you'll forgive me for that.

All hail the mighty cyclist, Alexandre the First, Lord of the Pyrénées, Conqueror of the Steppes, Ruler of a thousand Valleys.
I'm back from my trip down South, which I will comment mildly, and illustrate with what few pictures I have.

A very short "on the road" diary about my trip East (with a few pics).
Back from Poland yesterday.

The RAC (Réseau Action Climat - Climate Action Network) has issued a communiqué suggesting 10 simple measures to implement in the programs of all democratic parties enrolled in the 2007 presidential elections.

Link in French.

Measures listed below the fold, with some details added by your humble servant (but I got lazy, so it's best you all just learn French and read the PDF linked to below).

I've been thinking about the fucking nature of curse words for some frigging time now, and I believe I've now bloody reached a point in my reflexion at which I can post a diary, Jesus Christ. Not too long ago I had a private discussion with Izzy around a US TV series called Deadwood - about cowboys and general life on the western US frontier some time in the late 19th century. I told her that the cursing in the show seemed anachronic (ie. actors use "fuck" almost as an interjection in that show). She explained to me that this had been deliberately chosen by the director(s), on the basis that if curse words of the times had been used, ("Jesus", "hell" etc), viewers would not have realized how foul-mouthed people back then were. This got me thinking: what is it about curse words that bothers some?

swearing

Ok, how about a little multiple choice diary with open answers (and questions - add anything you want). Then we can pester Migeru to create a multi-dimensional graph with our answers, for the wiki.

I thought I'd write a short diary about blundering, in its verbal form. Any particular reason? No no, just like that, for no reason ... no hidden agenda, cough cough.

Should we humans have so many pet dogs, or should we not? Why do people have dogs in towns? Why don't people have dogs in towns? Are urban dogs really different from countryside ones? What's the cost? What's the story with dogs anyways? Come and bark below the fold.

Just some interesting figures mentioned in Le Monde. Precisely a survey among French citizens of the Départements d'Outre-Mer (the overseas territories, specifically in the Caribbean, Indian Ocean, and Guyana), and their opinion of France, racism, etc.

Today's demonstration was as large as the previous one (even larger according to both the police and the unions), and was just as vibrant. I noted a distinct shift from anger to festivity among demonstrators. People were here to have fun, not to demand and fight. Probably because the Spring break is coming up. Nothing much happened to me, except for a brief "intimidation" conversation with a high-ranking cop during which I did not, for once, feel like confessing to stealing candy when I was a kid. (read diary for explanation). Took 4 short movies that should give you a taste of the noise level.

Previous Toulouse demonstration diaries:
March 28th 2006
March 19th 2006

"Ré-sis-tance" ... is the slogan that punctuated yesterday's demonstration here in Toulouse.

Never had I seen a demonstration this big here in Toulouse, and never had I been so moved by the word "resistance" pronounced one syllable at a time.

This diary may end up being less interesting to browse than the previous one (ie. there were less things to report as I stayed in the same privileged spot for a long period of time), but it will give you a much better appreciation of the size of the demonstration than the last one did (this was the purpose I was aiming for today).

From our reporter on the street...from the diaries - whataboutbob

Agnès' extraordinary output on the Windmill series has reminded me that it's time to move on with Bob's story. Here we go.

Previous content:

Remember Bob - Prologue
Remember Bob - Chapter 1
Remember Bob - Chapter 2

Ok, I'm back home. I got back in time for the rugby matches, and apparently Toulouse was the only town in France in which the demonstration started in the morning ... probably so that people could watch the matches!!

So anyhow, I just finished sorting the pictures I took. So here they are, with short comments.

From the diaries...by our street reporter at the demonstration!! ~ whataboutbob

I'll be monitoring debates at the French Assemblée Nationale (lower house of parliament) today, concerning the infamous DADVSI law ... and commenting here. This will be the 6th day of debate over a period of 4 months.

Promoted by Colman and bumped by Jerome