Now back to the great business of living: metro, boulot, dodo. Besides, it wasn't my car. And no one I know had a car that was burned. And about the so-called crisis in schools -- well my kids are out of school. No, I forgot, I don't have any kids. And I don't live anywhere near those quartiers. Why would I? And what do I care if I can't visit St. Denis -- I don't care about old kings of France. And who wants to go to the Eiffel Tower anyway? And the Champs Elysees -- that's been going downhill for years, full of record stores and fast-food joints. Why should I care if no one goes there anymore?

Listen, this whole thing just depresses me. Stop talking about it. I'm thinking of taking my holiday this year outside France. All this blablabla from Monsieur Le President is getting to me. I don't want to think about it. J'en ai marre. Maybe even outside of Europe. But I want to make plans now, well in advance -- that's always a smart thing to do. Saves time, money, and if you really can make your plans way ahead, you can get a real bargain.

What do you suggest?

Posted by: Hugh at November 18, 2005 9:28 AM

I thought everyone might like to read the following wire service article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051117/ap_on_re_eu/france_double_victims_fr1;_ylt=Ai4Kdga0tx8kTnm0ggPeKKqs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3ODdxdHBhBHNlYwM5NjQ-

If this is what the French authorities mean by "back to normal," God help the people of France.

Posted by: Howard, Fine & Howard at November 18, 2005 9:45 AM

OT: Reply to Nariz:

Nariz:

Thanks for your comments.

Since you are a new poster to JW/DW, you aren't aware of any of my intellectual positions; yet, nevertheless, you assume that you know what they are. I'll give you a tip, Nariz; never assume; it makes an ass of you and me.

Now, with regard to trying to encapsulate 5000 years of intellectual history in a few sentences, I'll give it a go.

As far as objective truth goes, I acknowledge that other than in the hard sciences, there is no such thing as knowledge that can be "easily" tested by empirical evidence (i.e such as the boiling point of water at a certain atmospheric pressure). In short, there is no such thing as "truth" per se in the humanities, either divine or manmade. (Needless to say, I do not believe in anything supernatural). In other words, knowledge in the humanities is not like that in the hard sciences. Yet, even in the humanities (within which I include economics, sociology, etc. - the so-called "soft" sciences), you can see what works and what does not. By which I mean, if you take a utilitarian, pragmatic view of particular forms of government or economics or urban plans or ways of life, etc., you can say, with some certainty (after you have tried it out someplace) that this particular form of government or this particular economics or this urban plan or this particular way of life produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Hardly anyone, except for people like Pol Pot, would dispute, for instance, the role of an educated populace in ensuring a functional, modern economy.

Now, as far as "truth" goes, I even then do not abandon this notion. I think that in some areas of study you must proceed in an "as if" fashion, meaning you should proceed "as if" truth existed in order to come out with some useful knowledge. In the study of history, this approach is imperative in my opinion. If you approach history as if it were a body of knowledge that should be simply manipulated so as to advocate for a particular value set then the study of history becomes meaningless. You might as well just make up anything you want to justify your position, which is, for example, what many holocaust deniers do. As Orwell said, "He who controls the present, controls the past; he who controls the past, controls the future."

Needless to say, that is why so many totalitarian belief systems, including Islam, strive valiantly to eliminate any vestige of the past which conflicts with their vision of how society should be. Muslims, in particular, do not want people to remember that once they were Hindus or Zoroastrians or Yazidi, etc.. To do so, would raise an element of doubt about their current religious inclination.

BTW, Nariz, here is one of my favorite websites, which I think that you might enjoy:

http://www.skeptic.com/

Posted by: Mentat at November 18, 2005 10:04 AM

Is that, like, supposed to be the sequel to Douce France?

Anyway, Bermuda is tops.

Posted by: Mad_Jack at November 18, 2005 10:11 AM

No, the "sequel" is different, and has too much French in it to be reasonably posted here.

Posted by: Hugh at November 18, 2005 10:39 AM

Hugh:
Quebec City is always pleasant in the summertime in July after the ice melts on the fleuve. You can enjoy speaking the tongue of Molière with the natives. Most importantly it's still peaceful, having been spared the French Revolution by the maudit Anglais.

Posted by: Patrick at November 18, 2005 11:42 AM

Hugh, if you ever decide to visit the provinces, perhaps I could have the pleasure of treating you to one or two of the bottles from my cave.

Posted by: Daffersd at November 18, 2005 1:08 PM

Hugh, I would suggest you find a place that you can afford to live in for the rest of your life, unless you look good in a full beard and robe.

Posted by: Dead Infidel Walking at November 18, 2005 1:28 PM

To the poster just above: I can't afford to live where I live now.

To the poster just above him: A good suggestion. Hochelaga here I come.

Posted by: Hugh at November 18, 2005 4:06 PM

I suggest Hawaii -- No mosques yet in Maui! And very beautiful... Cheap bargains are still available, and if the popcorn starts popping, what could be better than being on the remotest land mass in the middle of the largest body of water? (and NO MOSQUES!)

Posted by: jsla at November 18, 2005 4:56 PM

Also a big "Phew" goes out to the Phrench... (mock wiping of brow, mock shaking of mock sweat off of hand, mock rolling of eyes indicating mock relief...)

That was looking a little hairy for a while -- more so than usual...

Posted by: jsla at November 18, 2005 5:02 PM

It was just a rehearsal I fear.
Next time they'll REALLY mean business.

Posted by: Mike_W at November 18, 2005 6:17 PM