Patrick POIVRE D’ARVOR / TO PRESENT a Politician / 63L / A 241*

He has his very own satirical latex puppet on the TV show ‘Les Guignols’ (roughly, ‘Spitting Image’) and, of course, it is called PPD. Patrick Poivre d’Arvor, usually known as PPDA, is the well known news anchor of TF1. The caricatures are not always complimentary. I limit my comments to the above because my comments regarding the objectivity of the French news media is likewise not always complimentary.

Valéry GISCARD D’ESTAING / To Present A POLITICIAN / 63B / A 241*

This former French President (1974-1981) was until recently proudly known as the author of the EU Constitution (when it tanked in the recent referendum the ‘proud’ became a little more iffy). His election in 2003 to the Académie française was a tad controversial and he was born in Koblenz Germany. I gather French Presidents don’t have to be natural born.

For more relevant information see A 241 or a Two for One

Original appearance Oct 26, 2005, © 2005 / Patrick POIVRE D’ARVOR / 1947- / host, journalist, writer / ugly*best* / F/A* / 63L / 363A / 13 / Valéry GISCARD D’ESTAING / 1926- / politician, President, EU / C/A* / 63B / CIP 363, OO 13, RD 26, YP 30/5-26

Gilbert BECAUD / The MUSICAL Marshal / 86L / A 241*

He was known as ‘Monsieur 100,000 Volts’ due to his energetic concerts at the legendary Olympia Music Hall which he played a record 33 times. What you need to know is that he wrote the original ‘Let It Be Me’ (1956), and ‘What Now My Love’ (1961) in French. The Everly Brothers, Frank Sinatra and a galaxy of other American stars owe Gilbert Becaud a debt of thanks because they made gold on him.

Ferdinand FOCH / The Musical MARSHAL / 86B / A 241*

Georges Clemenceau insisted on him as the overall Supreme Commander during WW I and he came into conflict with Pershing on numerous occasions. He was, perhaps unjustly, accused of having too strong an offensive orientation and sometimes blamed for the consequent horrendous toll in the Somme Offensive. However his principle of superiority in numbers still holds sway today. For sure Ferdinand Foch proved war is hell.

For more relevant information see A 241 or a Two for One

Original appearance Oct 26, 2005, © 2005 / Gilbert BECAUD / 1927- / musician, singer / ugly* / F-/F / 86L / 386A / 13 / Ferdinand FOCH / 1851-1929 / military, Marshal, WWI / better / B/F / 86B / CIP 386, OO13, RD 26, YP 30/5-26

Deep in the Latin Quarter is the storied school La Sorbonne. Barred and gated when I tried to visit last December, presumably for the Xmas holidays, I still found it an extremely impressive building, stretching the equivalent of three or four uninterrupted city blocks. Later I got inside for a music recital and found it sumptuous. Established around 1250 it is now the seat of the University of Paris. Strongly connected with Richelieu, its fortunes rose and fell with the politics of the time and the status of religion and revolution. Rebuilt almost entirely in the 1880s it is now an august and stately vision of the architect Henri-Paul Nénot.

Original appearance Apr 28, 2005, © 2005 / SORBONNE / LA SORBONNE, (SCHOOL) / 47 RUE DES ECOLES. 75005 / 01 40 46 22 11 / CIP 113, OO 11, RD 25, YP 30/5-25

One of the greatest pleasures is that products were and are made to last. Built in obsolescence has not yet made great inroads into France. Go into any kitchen and you will find many utensils that Grandma used to use and they are still used. It is hard to go a day in Paris without seeing two or three Deux CV tooling around quite happily (they are the first post WWII model cars). Some restored, some not, but all still chugging. Go out in the country and there are even more. Built to last and proud of it. And, best of all, many things are still made as well as yesteryear – today. Enduring and endurance – may they last forever.

Original appearance Apr 28, 2005, © 2005 / CIP 033, OO 11, RD 25, YP 30/5-25

I would have called it art, or at least added an s, if I meant that kind of painting. No, we are talking about plain old change the color of the walls type of painting. They do it meticulously. Actually it is kind of the way we used to do it 40 or 50 years ago, if you are old enough to remember that. It involves sanding and scraping, cleaning and brushing, masking and spackle, first coat and second. It involves days or weeks not minutes or hours. It involves craft and it shows. Painting in France is a profession. Painting the walls in France is a work of art without the frame.

Original appearance Apr 28, 2005, © 2005 / CIP 071, OO 11, RD 25, YP 30/5-25

Beyond the monumental perhaps nothing typifies the Parisians more than their cafes. The ambiance is divine. Le Procope was the first, La Coupole is historic, and Café Beauborg is relatively new but they all have charm. There must be thousands of cafes but when the weather is good it can be difficult to find an open chair in all of Paris. They are designed for talk and the French love to talk. They are designed to see and be seen and the French love that too. And what the French love the world loves too. And, at least in this case, I do too.

Original appearance Apr 28, 2005, © 2005 / CIP 026, OO 11, RD 25, YP 30/5-25

It’s listed as mixed because the end result is fabulous – Parisian women are splendidly dressed. Tastefully dressed. There is however an air of sickness around the road to that beauty. Perhaps it’s the angle of the nose, maybe they can’t breathe at that altitude. In addition the designs on the fashion runways are usually downright bizarre and have little correlation to the end product. I do not know or care to speculate on the reasons for the disconnect. I am not wise enough to understand. If the glossies don’t care, I’ll try not to either.

Original appearance Apr 28, 2005, © 2005 / CIP 084, OO 11, RD 25, YP 30/5-25

Flamboyant Gothic style they call it and gargoyles abound. This church was begun in the 13th century and finished in the 16th. It’s better to have a little longer perspective than the next fiscal quarter in the Latin Quarter of Paris. The results are often quite transcendent. There is within St-Séverin an extraordinary wreathed and fluted pillar of amazing grace that draws the eyes to the radiant stained glass that surrounds it. It may be enough to still the heart of the most secular of sorts. In addition there is the oldest bell in Paris (1412), and a famous organ. They even host concerts and it’s close to a couple of my other favorite places in Paris the Musée de Cluny and Shakespeare & Co. Can’t quite make it to Paris? Maurice Utrillo’s painting of St-Séverin is in the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC.

Original appearance Jan 23, 2006, © 2006 / ST-SÉVERIN / (CHURCH) / 1 RUE-DES-PRÊTRES-ST-SÉVERIN, 75005 / 01 42 34 93 50 / KEYS: FLAMBOYANT GOTHIC, GARGOYLES, PALM GROVE, WREATHED PILLARS / CIP 187, OO 12, RD 23, YP 30/5-23,

Jean-Jacques GOLDMAN / A LIGHT GRAY Landscape / 53L / A 241*

They say that his own best album is ‘Between Light Gray and Dark Gray’ (1987). A singer and songwriter, he writes for himself and others including Céline Dion (‘D’eux’, 1995) and Johnny Hallyday (‘Gang’). The former became the best selling French language album in history. Jean-Jacques Goldman still leads a quiet family life refusing to partake of show biz glitz. He writes and sings songs with exceptional lyrics and a positive and personal tone.

Paul CEZANNE / A Light Gray LANDSCAPE / 53B / A 241*

One could argue that Paul Cezanne was one of the last great artists before Modern Art descended into the Hell from which it hasn’t been able to escape for the last century. Of course one could also be tarred and feathered and run out of town, so I keep my artistic opinions mostly to myself in Paris. His landscapes, portraits and still life’s actually resemble something natural, whole, harmonious and even occasionally beautiful rather than a scream or a howl. Just one Cowboy’s opinion.

For more relevant information see A 241 or a Two for One

Original appearance Oct 23, 2005, © 2005 / Jean-Jacques GOLDMAN / 1951- / musician, singer / mixed*good* / D-/C / 53L / 353A / 12 / Paul CEZANNE / 1839-1906 / artist, painter, impressionist / better / B+/C / 53B / CIP 353, OO 12, RD 23, YP 30/5-23,

Michel SARDOU / PARADOXES and Paradigms / 45L / A 241*

A real paradox in France. Pro American and popular. His ‘Les Ricains’ in 1967 honored WWII American heroes and impeded his early career as General de Gaulle didn’t much care for it and it was banned from the countries air waves. Still his popularity grew and grew and he often packed the Omnisport, and once did a 5 month straight gig at the Olympia (believe me, both of those feats are very impressive). Michel Sardou comes close to what we might call a Good Old Boy, and even made a hit song in 1976 favoring the death penalty. Despite these gaffes he still retains his popularity.

Blaise PASCAL / Paradoxes and PARADIGMS / 45B / A 241*

A real paradigm in France. This mathematician, physicist and philosopher produced one of the first mechanical calculators, contributed mightily to the scientific method, and was in, along with Fermat, on the beginning of probability theory. Blaise Pascal once wrote: “I would have written a shorter letter, but I did not have the time.” A child prodigy in early life; a Jansenist who used a probabilistic argument to justify the belief in God in later life; and a basic computer engineer, geometrician and contributor of ‘Pascal’s triangle’ in between – perhaps he is the French definition of a paradigm.

For more relevant information see A 241 or a Two for One

Original appearance Oct 23, 2005, © 2005 / Michel SARDOU / 1947 - / musician, singer , song writer / mixed*better* / D/B / 45L / 345A / 12 / Blaise PASCAL / 1623-1662 / philosopher, mathematician / best / A-/B / 45B / CIP 345, OO 12, RD 23, YP 30/5-23