Comment du Jour

Former Swiss President to Lead New UN General Assembly

Amid the arrival of Presidents, Prime Ministers and Kings, the UN General Assembly has opened in New York. The 65th annual session of the UN’s main membership body will debate issues ranging from battling global poverty to promoting human rights and international security. Yet the setting will be shadowed by the usual controversy as leaders from Bolivia, Iran, Venezuela and Zimbabwe are set to speak to the proceedings with the usual political pyrotechnics against America and the West.

Significantly the Presidency of the year-long session has gone to Joseph Deiss, a distinguished diplomat and former Swiss President and Foreign Minister who brings a level of gravitas to the chamber in contrast with last year’s Assembly president from Libya. Not to be confused with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of South Korea, Dr. Deiss will oversee proceedings in the 192 member assembly.

Comment du Jour

Spain's Sporting Triumphs

It's the Year of Spain in sports. Rafael Nadal has won the U.S. Open tennis championship in New York. The 24 year old Spaniard had earier won at Wimbledon in Britain as well as the French Open, thus completing a career Grand Slam.

Spain equally won the World Cup of Football in July. In a taught and tense final match in Johannesburg, the Spainish Team faced off and beat the Netherlands. Surprisingly this was the first time Spain was victorious in gaining the coveted FIFA World Cup.

Also in July a Spaniard Alberto Contador triumphed in the demanding Tour de France cycle race yet again.

It's been a splendid year for Spanish sportsmen!

Comment du Jour

September 11


"The Grim Reaper visited New York on a picture perfect September morning. On 11 September 2001, with chilling and calculated coordination and brutal focused force, the hydra-headed monster of international terrorism methodically attacked sites in New York and Washington D.C. America came under attack." JJM Column




REMEMBER

Comment du Jour

Come September--Strikes in France

France has returned from Summer vacances, and now it is back to work.
But before anyone gets too serious, let's have a national strike.

A million people turned out to protest the Sarkozy government's plans to raise the retirement age from 60 to quelle horreur 62. The reasons are simple. The state is broke, generous social benefits simply cannot be sustained, and the spending has to be curtailed.

So rail and metro services faced dispuptions, throngs of strikers clogged the streets of Paris, and the embattled gvernment faced a new crisis. With French unemployment at 9.6 percent, budget deficits rising, and the unions playing their usual political games, the country faces national malaise.

France's lesson is America's warning. Beaucoup benefits mean massive government spending, taxes and debt. With the USA unemployment rate at 9.6 percent, the same as France, and debt levels actually higher, we are in no position to lecture France. But perhaps we can learn from them.

Comment du Jour

VERMONT SUMMER!!!


Relax, It's August in the Green Mountains!

Comment du Jour

The Foods of France....

Or should I equally say, the fabulous vegtables,meats, poulets, produce and fish which make these culinary creations possible!!

Comment du Jour



Eiffel Tower Still Shines as Parisian Beacon

Constructed for the 1889 Paris Universal Exposition, the now iconic Eiffel Tower
stands as a symbol of France.




The Tower remains a key tourist attraction in the City of Light. This year an expected seven million tourists will visit the 1,000 ft iron and steel structure. This comes out to about 35,000 visitors daily. For those wishing to ascend the tower by the elevator, online reservations are recommended.






Contrary to current times, the tower was originally quite controversial and seen as marring the majestic Parisian architectural landscape. The builder Gustave Eiffel was already known worldwide as an engineer and bridge builder, though the famous Tower naturally remians his masterpiece.

Personally I enjoy seeing the Tower at night where it literally serves as both a beacon and a luminary spectacle. Just before the top of each hour, the tower bursts into near animation and is lit by what can best be described as a galaxy of twinkling white lights!

As impressive is a constantly turning double navigation beacon atop the tower which arcs across the Parisian landscape every thirty seconds. This light cuts through the clouds, fog or even mist to show the Tour Eiffel watching over Paris by night.




By the way an interesting book about the Tower, the role it played in the Universal Exposition of 1889 and thereafter is found in an engaging account, "Eiffel's Tower," by Jill Jonnes. The book deals with both the controversary as well as the characters which came together in France for the Expo--Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, Annie Oakley, and Thomas Edison. The volume was published by Viking in 2009.