The Frogs

[Zeno]

An American is having breakfast, in Paris, one morning (coffee, croissants, bread, butter and jam) when a Frenchman, chewing bubble-gum, sits down next to him. The American ignores the Frenchman who, nevertheless, starts a conversation.

Frenchman: "You American folk eat the whole bread??"

American (in a bad mood): "Of course."

Frenchman: (after blowing a huge bubble) "We don't. In France, we only eat what's inside. The crusts we collect in a container, recycle it, transform them into croissants and sell them to the states."

The Frenchman has a smirk on his face. The American listens in silence.

The Frenchman persists: "Do you eat jelly with the bread??"

American: "Of Course."

Frenchman: (cracking his bubble-gum between his teeth and chuckling). "We don't. In France we eat fresh fruit for breakfast, then we put all the peels, seeds, and leftovers in containers, recycle them, transform them into jam, and sell the jam to the states."

After a moment of silence, The American then asks: "Do you have sex in France?"

Frenchman: "Why of course we do", he says with a big smirk.

American: "And what do you do with the condoms once you've used them?"

Frenchman: "We throw them away, of course."

American: "We don't. In America, we put them in a container, recycle them, melt them down into bubble-gum, and sell them to France."

__________________________________________________ __

By the way, is France still Burning?

Le Misanthrope

[BCPVP]

It's too bad so many people here have no sense of humor. Nice joke, Zeno. I'll try to remember it.

[MMMMMM]

[ QUOTE ]
By the way, is France still Burning?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think they're down to burning only 92 cars per day around this time. This is progress.

By the way, Zeno, you might enjoy this column (it mentions with relish the burning of French cars), or some other columns on his site.

http://www.takistopdrawer.us/2005/de...005-Dec-5.html

http://www.takistopdrawer.us/columnarchive.html

[Zeno]

Thanks for the links, M. Interesting.

By the way. I purchased a book of poems translated by David Hinton called: The Selected Poems of Po Chü-I.

I am enjoying this work very much. I assume you know about this poet, if not look into his work. Reading his poems is a much more worthwhile expenditure of my time than, say, posting here. That is, unless John Cole shows up to explain everything ‘poetical’ to us lesser literary munchkins.

-Zeno

[MMMMMM]

Thanks, Zeno. I am not familiar with that poet by name, although I hold in very fond regard an old book (now sadly lost), which contains a compilation of Chinese poetry along with Chinese wood-block reprints of mountain scenes, gorges, rivers, etc. Perhaps some of Po Chu-I's poems are in that book. Come to think of it, I will now be searching for used copies of that book and for the book you recommend.

I am more familiar with Japanese haiku poets than with Chinese poets, and I really should read some more Chinese poetry. Thanks again for the recommendation.

[Zeno]

Also look for Wang Wei (699-759 C.E.), said to be a great master of Ch'an poetry and also T'ao Ch'ien.

-Zeno

[Cyrus]

[ QUOTE ]
You might enjoy this column (it mentions with relish the burning of French cars), or some other columns on his site.

http://www.takistopdrawer.us/2005/de...005-Dec-5.html

http://www.takistopdrawer.us/columnarchive.html

[/ QUOTE ]

Just so that it's clear :

Takis Theodoracopoulos expresses his admiration for Le Pen. And Le Pen is a neo-fascist and a racist.

Of course, you never can tell. There's no lowest point to this crowd's predilections.

[Zeno]

[ QUOTE ]


Of course, you never can tell. There's no lowest point to this crowd's predilections.

[/ QUOTE ]


The nadir hasn't been reached yet? I feel fortunate. Please PM me when we scrape bottom so I can enjoy the show.

I try and elevate the plane a bit with some poet talk and see what happens. Of course, I pulled on the rubber band both ways in this thread. Balance is key. And no, don't make any snappy jokes. Too average for this crowd.

-Zeno

[ QUOTE ]


The nadir hasn't been reached yet? I feel fortunate. Please PM me when we scrape bottom so I can enjoy the show.





-Zeno

[/ QUOTE ]

That show is currently playing at the Other Other Topics forum. Bring your own adult beverages and snacks. Viewer discretion advised.


[ QUOTE ]
Of course, I pulled on the rubber band both ways in this thread.

[/ QUOTE ]

More effective than trying to push on one.

[MMMMMM]

I really don't know much about Le Pen, Cyrus, but I did appreciate the column by Taki.

Of course, what better way is there to stifle discourse and debate, than by hurling accusations of racism and fascism? I thought it particularly telling that Taki related how processions of schoolchildren had been organized to march calling for Le Pen's death. Somehow, even if Le Pen is all you say, it seems to me he isn't the only "fascist" in France--or elsewhere. Those who would squelch free speech and debate (as Le Pen was effectively squelched in France) seem to me at least as guilty of such things.

Is it possible that Le Pen might actually have a point, and that the cumulative effect of years of unbridled immigration of poor unskilled North Africans and Algerians is actually harming the country? Only those with completely pre-closed minds would dismiss the possibility out of hand, or refuse to entertain debate upon the subject. And that, according to Taki, is exactly what has happened to Le Pen, as the elite statists "shouted him down."

Maybe Le Pen is indeed a racist and a fascist; I don't know. But his calling for a lessening of such immigration is just common sense in my opinion--something that seems sorely lacking nowadays, especially amongst the insulated and politically correct elites that run Europe.

And besides, Taki sure knows how to write a column.


P.S. to Zeno,

Sorry if this has diverged from the light intent of the thread--I just thought you'd like some of Taki's columns, and your query about French cars burning made the column seem a rather appropriate fit (at least in that regard, if not in all regards).