France

After all the grand churches in Paris, I enjoyed visiting the smaller churches in the countryside outside of Paris. This church in the small town of Bray sur Seine was quiet, even though there was a busy street market going on just outside.

tom french, tomfrenchart.com tom french, tomfrenchart.com tom french, tomfrenchart.com tom french, tomfrenchart.com The living are only a species of the dead

More Cannes prizes to discuss. We'll illustrate with Jessica Chastain at Cannes because.... she pretty! Always prizeworthy Mmmmmcccchastainy! poll by twiigs.com FIPRESCI -International Federation of Film CriticsCOMPETITION  Blue is the Warmest Colour by Abdellatif Kechiche (France, 2013)This three hour lesbian coming of age drama stars newcomer Adele Exarchopoulos and the ever more impressive Léa Seydoux (Farewell My Queen, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, Midnight in Paris ...and many more recently). It's considered a threat for tomorrow's awards from the competition jury, too. Wouldn't you just love to listen to Steven Spielberg, Ang Lee, Christoph Waltz and Nicole Kidman arguing about its graphic 20 minute lesbian sex scene and whether that's just exploitative titillation or artistically justified storytelling?UN CERTAIN REGARD  Manuscripts Don't Burn by Mohammad Rasoulof (Iran, 2013)PARALLEL SECTIONS Blue Ruin by Jeremy Saulnier (USA, 2013), a noirish revenge thriller, which played in Directors Fortnight. Radius/The Weinstein Co. picked it up for distribution CANNES Ecumenical JuryWINNER The Past by Asghar Farhadi (Iran, 2013)COMMENDATIONS Miele by actress Valeria Golino (her directorial debut!) and Like Father Like Son by the acclaimed Hirokazu Kore-eda

Wolf Richter www.testosteronepit.com www.amazon.com/author/wolfrichter Like so many debacles in the EU, it started with the unelected European Commission. It’s immune to voters, but not to lobbyists and corporations. Under the guise of “consumer protection” or “food safety” or some other harmless moniker, it generates zany laws that tend to benefit large corporations. But last week, it went too far, even for Europeans – not that they don’t already have enough crises on their hands. It passed a law that banned restaurants from serving olive oil in refillable containers, such as cruets or dipping bowls. On January 1, 2014, their use would become illegal. Instead, olive oil would have to be served in a one-use-only bottle, labeled in accordance with EU standards, and equipped with a tamper-proof “hygienic” spout. A restaurant owner in Germany, for example, who buys his special olive oil from an artisan producer in Southern France, would be out of luck; that small producer wouldn’t be able to comply with the costly stipulations. The restaurant would have to switch to an industrial supplier that can ship the special restaurant bottles with their tamper-proof spout and EU label. The small producer would be cut out. The Commission’s decision was made under a Eurocrat procedure, called comitology – though it sounds like it, I’m not making this up! It allows for legislation that is binding for all 27 Member States to be passed into law automatically, without majority support from those Member States. Exactly! The evil that this new law was supposed to cure: olive oil fraud. Admittedly, it’s a big issue in Europe, in the US, and elsewhere, and some of the largest industrial brands, such as Bertolli, have gotten caught with their pants down. But this law wasn’t going after fraud at the corporate level. On the contrary. It was passed under heavy lobbying from corporate producers. The law targeted restaurateurs trying to make their own decisions about olive oil. Ostensibly it aimed to protect consumers and their taste buds from cruets or dipping bowls that had been refilled with low-quality or adulterated olive oil ... the kind maybe that big brands like Bertolli and others were sued for selling in California. But when asked if they’d seen any evidence of adulterated olive oil on restaurant tables, an official told the Daily Telegraph, “We don’t have any evidence; it is anecdotal and that was enough for the committee.” The decision exemplified what’s wrong with EU governance. But there were other issues with the harebrained law. It would create a cesspool of bureaucracy and mountains of additional trash, including the small one-use-only tamper-proof bottles with their spouts, boxes, and containers. And more oil would be wasted as the bottles – much like Ketchup bottles – would be designed to make it impossible to get all the oil out of them. But this time, the Commission and its process of comitology were greeted with an outburst of loathing and mockery. Criticism was “universal and came from consumers and restaurant owners in all EU countries,” an EU official told the Telegraph. And it came from the very top. “This is exactly the sort of thing that Europe shouldn’t even be discussing,” explained UK Prime Minster David Cameron, with an eye on the real problems that are currently dogging Europe. “It shouldn’t even be on the table, to force a pun – so to speak,” he said. And Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told his parliament, “I think it is too bizarre for words and incomprehensible to come with this sort of proposal at a time like this.” European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, son of a small olive oil producer, apparently intervened, and on Thursday, European Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos threw in the towel. The law provo

French Montana (@FrencHMonTanA) along with Birdman (@BIRDMAN5STAR) and Rick Ross releases the behind the footage for “Trap House” off his “Excuse My French” album. The visuals were filmed in Miami in part of his new vlog in the 305. We also get to see French hitting the stage at the Dub Car Show and at Bamboo Club. Check the footage out below. The post Behind The Scenes: French Montana ft. Birdman & Rick Ross “Trap House” Video Shoot appeared first on DDotOmen.

The 2013 French Open is set to begin on Sunday, and the field of competition is rather interesting to say the least.Rafael Nadal is the No. 3 seed on the men's side; however, he's an obvious favorite since the Spaniard has won at Roland Garros seven of the previous eight years. That said, the men also are without two strong contenders in Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro.Murray, according to BBC Sport, is out from a back injury:Del Potro, on the other hand, has an illness as reported by Tennis World: World No. 7 Juan Martin del Potro becoming the second big name to withdraw officially from the second grand slam of the season. Potro flew back to Argentina on the week to get treated for a respiratory illness. Flip to the women's side and Serena Williams sits atop the WTA rankings, although she has not claimed the French Open since 2002. Her elite counterpart Maria Sharapova, though, looks to be the first woman to repeat since Justine Henin won the hat trick from 2005 through 2007.So, with the second Grand Slam of the season about to get underway, let's predict each final matchup.Note: View of men's and women's brackets courtesy of RolandGarros.com. Men's BracketRafael Nadal (3) over Tomas Berdych (5)This tournament is Nadal's to lose. Trying for an eighth French Open title, Nadal has a favorable draw to begin. Despite contenders such as Benoit Paire, Stanislas Wawrinka and Jerzy Janowicz having upset potential, Nadal is far better than anyone they have faced on clay.Thereafter, Novak Djokovic is the expected challenger in the semifinals.And although Djokovic defeated Nadal in Monaco, that also occurred in early April. Since then, Nadal has continued to dominate, whereas Djokovic was upset in Madrid and Italy. The man who refused to give up against Djokovic in Rome was Tomas Berdych.Berdych is not an appealing pick for the final, but his draw is capable of making a strong run.He won't face any elite competition until David Ferrer and Berdych has more confidence entering France. Along with the aforementioned win over Djokovic, Berdych defeated Murray in straight sets in Madrid and Roger Federer in Dubai's semifinals.The common denominator between Ferrer and Berdych has mostly been Nadal. So, the winner here has the talent to outlast Federer. And given the Swiss' struggles versus top players this season, Berdych's chances are better than at first glance.It's just defeating Nadal that will continue to be an issue for everyone at the French Open. Women's BracketSerena Williams (1) over Maria Sharapova (2)Here we have a colossal showdown between the No. 1 seed Serena Williams and the No. 2 seed Maria Sharapova.Williams doesn't necessarily have the easier road, because for one, she has not made it past the quarterfinals since 2003 (semifinals). In addition, Williams has Ana Ivanovic and Sara Errani on her side of the bracket: Each are capable of pulling the upset.Ivanovic won at Roland Garros in 2008 and was the 2007 runner-up. As for Errani, she was 2012's second-place finisher to Sharapova. Fortunately for Williams, those two are on the same section of the top bracket: Meaning, she would only have to face one before the final.Switching gears to Sharapova, the most legit competition resides on the other section of her bracket. Na Li and Victoria Azarenka would have to face off in the quarterfinals for the chance to knock off the defending champ.Given Sharapova's record against the field on clay, though, Williams is her only true challenge. Three times this season, Williams has defeated Sharapova and twice in straight sets.So until Sharapova proves to overcome Williams, the American wins her second Roland Garros.

We seek him here, We seek him thereThose Frenchies seek him everywhereIs he in Heaven, or is he in HellThat demmed ... elusive ... Pimpernel!"The Scarlet Pimpernel", 1903, Baroness Emmuska Orczy?Yes, time for a return.There is some debate, Gentle Reader, about the origin of the word "bouchon" used today to describe some 21 establishments accreditted by the Association for the Preservation of Lyonnais Bouchon. Seems a little too self-absorbed for personal preference, but delightfully Gallic and likely useful as an argument starter.Your Humble Correspondent would fain join the debate, but notes with no little delight that the tradition of the bouchon has spread even to these Sakura shores in the form of a number of establishments that preserve the two essential elements: a focus on the cuisine lyonnais and overwhelming hospitality and bonhomie. Some examples worthy of your exalted custom include Le Lion in Ebisu and the superb Lugdunum in Kagurazaka. And now, Salle a Manger lately relocated to Ginza and pleasantly packed with happy punters ... although few looked like they were silk weavers or dyers, and most seemed to have bulging purses. Our guide was a wonderfully urbane Japanese gentleman practising in the law, whose company had showed remarkable foresight in despatching him to la belle France for some two or three years as a young solicitor fleeing the prison of a career as an enginer (deliberate). During this sojourn in Paris, he developed a penchant for Foie Gras in the French style. Why, then, Lyonnaise is still a mystery but Your Humble Correspondent shares this secret shame and was delighted to toddle along.The entree course was fulsome and "authentique", and YHC added a Pate en Croute to the Foie Gras and Salade Gatronomique chosen by one's fellow revellers (although the Andouillette and Pied de Couchon were also extremely tempting). My main course was a delightful Cuisse de pintade farcie au foie-gras (Thigh of Gineau Fowl, boned, and stuffed with Foie Gras and forcemeats) which was moist and mischeviously beckoning, likely adding an inch to Your Humble Correspondent's already bulging waistline.Unusually for a bouchon, the dessert list is interesting and complete - demanding attention and frivolous discussion. The wine list is exquisite, and we enjoyed a beautiful Sancerre as well as a lovely Rhone as well as (mais oui!) some Sauternes for the Foie Gras. One had little choice but to finish with a Calvados nearly as mature as YHC.There are some who dismiss Your Humble Correspondent as foppish and vague but he promises Salle a Manger will be a very welcome addition to your carte of inner-city refuges far from the madding crowds of bankers and lawyers. And should you spy a lurker at the door ... why, please invite me in! I promise I won't eat much...Pip! Pip!Salle a Manger: B1, 7-2-8 Ginza, Takaya-Ginza, Chuo-Ku, Tokyo 104-0061 t:03?62 80 64 81Rating: Food: 8/10; Bouchon-osity: 8/10; Service: 8/10; Ambiance: 9/10; Price-Performance: 8/10. Total: 41/50 (3 Forks)

Gay erotic thriller Stranger by the Lake wins Queer Palm at Cannes Film Festival (photo: Pierre de Ladonchamps, Christophe Paou in Stranger by the Lake) Writer-director Alain Guiraudie’s Stranger by the Lake / L’inconnu du lac has won the 2013 Queer Palm handed out to Cannes Film Festival movies featuring gay, lesbian, bi, tri, multi, transgender, etc. characters. Stranger by the Lake was screened in the Un Certain Regard sidebar. Set near an idyllic lake where hot-and-heavy gay cruising takes place during the summer season, Guiraudie’s sexually charged thriller revolves around Franck (Pierre de Ladonchamps), a young man who falls in lust with brawny suspected murderer Michel (Christophe Paou). Strand Releasing will handle the distribution of Stranger by the Lake in North America. Stranger by the Lake: Mixing explicit sex with explicit love As quoted by Agence France Presse, Alain Guiraudie explained the (purportedly) graphic sex scenes in Stranger by the Lake as a cinematic union of romantic love and sex. "I wanted to mix the two," said Guiraudie. "I wasn’t looking to have beautiful love scenes interrupted by pornographic vignettes. I wanted to mix all that, so that it all goes together, that the sex be beautiful." That in 2013 people are still (or pretend to be) shocked by graphic on-screen sex, whether gay or hetero or both, says a lot more about early 21st century prudishness and emotional retardation than about either Stranger by the Lake or Abdellatif Kechiche’s potential Palme d’Or winner Blue is the Warmest Color / La vie d’Adèle, starring Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos. Kechiche’s latest effort offers what has been described — possibly by someone with no access to a computer, on-demand programming, or a DVD store — as "the most explosively graphic lesbian sex in recent memory." Something else that’s positive about Stranger by the Lake: whatever its sociopolitical intentions, if any, Alain Guiraudie’s film shows that, for better or for worse, there’s much more in gay men’s minds and lives than the desire of becoming accepted into mainstream society’s traditional institutions. Now, I should add that gay marriage became law in France just this past week. A few days later, Christian far-right figure Dominique Venner, formerly a member of the nationalist terrorist group OAS, shot himself dead in protest at Paris’ Notre Dame cathedral. Organized by France’s far-right Christians, an anti-gay marriage march is in the works. Stranger by the Lake cast Besides Pierre de Ladonchamps (TV’s L’amour en jeu; The Rebel, Louise Michel) as the man in lust and Christophe Paou (The Chef, Happy End) as the dangerous object of his desire, Stranger by the Lake features Patrick d’Assumçao, Jérôme Chappatte, Mathieu Vervisch, Gilbert Traina, Emmanuel Daumas, Sébastien Badachaoui, and Gilles Guérin. Sylvie Pialat, the late filmmaker Maurice Pialat’s companion and, with him, co-screenwriter of 1987 Palme d’Or winner Under the Sun of Satan, produced Stranger by the Lake through Les Films du Worso. Queer Palm winners The nasty-sounding Queer Palm — surely the French could have come up with a better word than "queer" — is not sponsored by the Cannes Film Festival itself; it was created by journalist Franck Finance-Madureira in 2010. This year’s Queer Palm jury was headed by Portuguese filmmaker João Pedro Rodrigues, of the erotic psychological drama O Fantasma. Besides Blue is the Warmest Color, another gay-themed film bypassed by the 2013 Queer Palm jury was Steven Soderbergh’s high-profile Behind the Candelabra, starring Michael Douglas as Liberace and Matt Damon as his lover-chauffeur Scott Thorson. Also: Arielle Dombasle’s Opium, with Dombasle, Niels Schneider, Julie Depardieu, and veteran Marisa Berenson; Chloé Robichaud’s Sarah Would Rather Run / Sarah préfère la course, with Sophie Desmarais; Anurag Kashyap, Djbakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar and Karan Johar’s omnibus Bollywood celebrat

Six recommended matches to catch on Day 1 of the French Open.

Albert Montanes upset the home favorite Gael Monfils to capture his sixth career title, with the French Open just a day from starting.