Friday, January 20, 2006

It's Pretty, But I'll Take Greed And Capitalism Anyday


Tur de Eiffel



Sacre Couer
We were greeted by blue skies when we departed the apartment in the morning and were chased home by the rain in the afternoon. But not before I had the chance to get a few cool pictures.
***
A few words on socialism in action.
Customer service here sucks. Actually, it would have to exist to suck so it is more accurate to say it is non-existent here. It is probably because the laws here are so outrageously pro-worker that you cannot get fired even if you are a retarded imbecile who does not work at work. So there is no incentive to smile, be nice or lift a finger for anyone who walks into your store. They do not take returns at stores and the lady at the grocery store got pissed off when we decided not to buy the wine after she scanned it.
If a business is going to shut down, it has to get permission from the government and prove that it does not have the means to pay the workers anymore before it can fire anyone. If it fires workers without government approval, the business will be legally liable to pay those salaries. Essentially, businesses exist as charitable institutions for workers. I have no idea how this economy survives. Did I mention the mandatory 5 weeks of vacation (I think I remember this correctly, but I might be wrong) and 35-hour work week? It is a miracle anything gets done here.
***
A few words on the French/American love-hate relationship.
I think it has to do with meeting your match. Imagine a discussion between the average American nitwhit and French dumbdumb. "We're the greatest in the world and our culture is superior to everyone else's". "No, you're wrong, we are the greatest, most superior people in the world." Arrogant assholes who think they are better than everyone else do not generally like competition. The French invented the principle of manifest destiny and America continues to be inspired by Rudyard Kipling's poem "The White Man's Burden". Two sides of the same coin.

11 Comments:

At 3:55 PM, January 20, 2006 , Blogger mrsleep said...

Hey, glad you're having a good time. Remind me though, not to invite you to my house, and have you take pictures, and then editorialize what a stuffed shirt I am. :)

Paris is a unique place, and my experience is that they don't like anyone, even other Frenchman.

France is a different place, but it has been my experience that they open up a bit, and are more friendly if you make a concerted effort to speak the language. There are too many arrogant neo-con's that visit the damn place, and give average American's a bad name.

French vacation and holidays. A bizillion of them. My company has offices in France, and I have worked with French employees extensively. At least for my company, they work like dogs, very long hours, but when they take time off, they are gone for 4 to 5 weeks at a pop and there is no backup, so basically you're screwed during that timeframe.

I've only stayed in small Pensions, and the service has been great, and genuine. Outside in ze public, and fergitaboutit. Take lot's of pictures at Versailles if you make it out there.

 
At 4:18 PM, January 20, 2006 , Blogger Boris Yeltsin said...

Never been there, but I heard it's nice. France and America should just get a room! Tell me about the mosques. I heard they've got more Muslims per capita than any other country in Europe, and from what I understand, that's alot. Is that true?

 
At 2:07 PM, January 21, 2006 , Blogger Intellectual Insurgent said...

Mr. S,

You are right that they are much nicer when you make an effort to speak the language. Fair enough. I do not begrudge them for that. Parisians are similar to NY'ers. Gruff on the outside, but quite genuine once you dig below the surface.

BY -

I haven't been to the mosques here, but France does have the largest Muslim population in Europe. Primarily Arab and some are African. The few Arabs I did have the chance to speak with here are very happy to be here and feel very "French" in culture. The riots were completely outside the city in the "hood" and didn't affect the dynamic of Paris. Race is a really different issue in France, which I will save for a post soon.

 
At 10:49 PM, January 21, 2006 , Blogger Michael said...

I'm with Mr. Sleep on the French; they actually have a higher GDP per manhour than we do.

And yes, the Parisians are insufferable for much the same reasons us New Yorkers are. Can you imagine if anyone were unwise enough to come here and not speak our language? They'd be hounded into the East River with pitchforks.

Here's a couple of fun things, if you have the time and once the shock and awe of Paris has worn off a bit:

- The Musee de la Ville de Paris is in the old Hotel de Rohan. It's fascinating. Drop by Shakespeare and Co. in the Quartier Latin and get yourself a cheap edition of Dumas 'La Collier de la Reine'; part of it takes place in the Hotel de Rohan.

- Wander up the Rue du Temple, away from the Seine, and see medieval Paris; it's awesome, great shopping too.

- Check out Napoleon in the Dome des Invalides or Voltaire in the Pantheon. They're both on the rive gauche, which pronounced 'reef gosh' sounds very proletarian and hence sexy.

- Go to Fauchon. You'll gain pounds, but you'll never eat Hershey's again.

:-), StS

 
At 1:32 PM, January 22, 2006 , Blogger Intellectual Insurgent said...

I went to Shakespeare & Co. Greatest bookstore in the world.

 
At 2:36 PM, January 23, 2006 , Blogger mrsleep said...

Paris is in my top 5 list, but Munich right now is my #1. Been to Ocktoberfest 3 times, and I'm hooked. Plus I'm of Germanic heritage so that works too.

Bavarians like Americans on the whole.

Nothing like a Bavarian Beer Hall.
Eine, Zwei, Drei, Schtuffe or someting to that effect. It doesn't take long to figure out the words to a few drinking songs, and you have to marvel at the Beer Hall servers carrying 5 or 6 liter mugs (full) in each hand.

Munich, like Paris, Washington D.C., and London are all great walking city's.

 
At 1:14 PM, January 25, 2006 , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hilarious!
Who even knew this about the French?
I guess you.
Nice post.

 
At 10:15 PM, December 05, 2014 , Blogger oakleyses said...

polo ralph lauren, prada outlet, oakley vault, christian louboutin shoes, cheap oakley sunglasses, tory burch outlet online, true religion, michael kors outlet, coach outlet, prada handbags, michael kors outlet online, chanel handbags, louis vuitton outlet, tiffany jewelry, gucci handbags, burberry outlet online, kate spade outlet, michael kors outlet online, coach outlet store online, michael kors handbags, oakley sunglasses, louis vuitton outlet online, tiffany and co jewelry, longchamp outlet online, ray ban sunglasses, michael kors outlet store, louis vuitton, nike air max, longchamp outlet, red bottom shoes, true religion outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, jordan shoes, michael kors outlet online, nike outlet, ray ban outlet, christian louboutin, nike free, nike air max, burberry outlet online, kate spade outlet online, louis vuitton outlet, coach outlet, longchamp handbags, louis vuitton handbags, coach purses, christian louboutin outlet

 
At 10:20 PM, December 05, 2014 , Blogger oakleyses said...

babyliss, new balance outlet, replica watches, vans outlet, mcm handbags, celine handbags, beats headphones, nike trainers, nfl jerseys, giuseppe zanotti, jimmy choo shoes, ugg boots, birkin bag, asics shoes, canada goose outlet, ferragamo shoes, insanity workout, nike huarache, chi flat iron, hollister, abercrombie and fitch, uggs outlet, north face jackets, north face jackets, mac cosmetics, soccer jerseys, canada goose outlet, uggs outlet, uggs on sale, bottega veneta, instyler ionic styler, ugg boots clearance, nike roshe, valentino shoes, lululemon outlet, ugg, marc jacobs outlet, ugg outlet, longchamp, ghd, reebok shoes, ugg soldes, p90x workout, soccer shoes, wedding dresses, mont blanc pens, herve leger, canada goose outlet, canada goose

 
At 10:27 PM, December 05, 2014 , Blogger oakleyses said...

ugg, gucci, canada goose, iphone 6 case, hollister canada, vans, canada goose, swarovski uk, pandora jewelry, air max, ray ban, pandora charms, moncler, timberland shoes, moncler outlet, moncler, canada goose, replica watches, louis vuitton canada, uggs canada, coach outlet, juicy couture outlet, converse shoes, thomas sabo uk, nike air max, juicy couture outlet, ralph lauren, hollister clothing, moncler, hollister, supra shoes, louboutin, toms outlet, oakley, canada goose pas cher, parajumpers outlet, moncler, wedding dress, baseball bats, converse, swarovski jewelry, links of london uk, lancel, moncler outlet, pandora uk, karen millen, moncler, montre femme

 
At 7:40 AM, October 18, 2015 , Anonymous kerudung grosir online said...

jual kerudung grosir murah paling lengkap model trendy, modis, stylish dan modern terbaru bisa dipakai untuk membuat mebel jati jepara dan ukir jepara . akan tetapi klau anda memiliki laptop rusak silahkan langsung d servis ke tempat servis yang berpengalaman seperti servis laptop semarang atau juga bisa ke servis laptop jepara untuk anda yang berada diarea kudus juga bisa langsung kontek ke servis laptop kudus namun kalau ada sudah capek menservis laptop silahkan langsung dijual saja karena kami siap membeli rongsokan di pembeli laptop rusak siap membeli laptop anda yang rusak dengan harga tinggi.

untuk beberapa produk didalamnya adalah umama platinum seperti pashmina lebanon kerudung trendy modern dan terbaru tersedia juga model kerudung motif bintang yang unik tersedia juga model kerudung arabica murah. kami juga memproduksi kerudung instan seperti kerudung instan bando juga tersedia berbagi macam mersk seperti umama umamia contok kerudung umama casablanca motf terkenal seperti motif burberry juga ada kerudung motif burberry instan kerudung nafeeya instan juga ada di toko kerudung kami model gradasi kerudung gradasi terbaru motif lain yang trendy dan terbaru urah dan terpercaya seperti kerudung bolak balik murah hijab yang disukai para artis juga kami juas di kerudung grosir murah kerudung pashmina kusut jika anda ingin kerudung besar syari untuk menutupi suma agar cantik namun syari di kerudung khimar murah terbaru motif yang sangat disukai orang adalha kerudung motif bunga terbaru juga motif kerudung yang selalu eksis sepanjang waktu dari zaman dulu sampai sekarng kerudung motif polkadot dan sekarang ini kerudung trendy seperti khimar polos kerudung terbaru juga kami jual seperti kerudung pashmina polos dan yang sekarang menjadi trend adalah kerudug pelangi dan umama cotton

 

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home