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USA and Europeans Elected to UN Human Rights Council

First the good news.  The United States has been re-elected to the UN Human Rights Council along with Germany and Ireland.

Now fasten your seat belts--Venezuela, Kazakistan and Pakistan will also be part of the eighteen new selections to the Geneva-based Council which is chosen by regional groups.

The Eastern European group saw Estonia and Montenegro elected. 

Given that Cuba, China and Russia are slated to step down in the next session, human rights groups see Venezuela and Pakistan as political surrogates.

Other new Council members include Japan and South Korea as well as Argentina and Brazil who shall serve for the 2013-2015 session.

The 47 member Council meets in Geneva to review the status of human rights and freedoms in UN member states. 

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Le Beaujolais Nouveau est Arrive!!!

The third Thursday of November marks the arrival of the "new wine" the  
Beaujolais Nouveau!

Each year many wine shops in America have their presentation party for the grape.  Here in New York Sherry Lehman offered their now famous
artistic label bottles.  Franck Duboeuf has often come to the Park Avenue store to present and indeed "sign the bottles," of this seasonal French wine often a part of American Thanksgiving celebrations.

A Votre Sante!!

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Remembrance Day in Canada

Veterans Day in the USA

11 November

On the Eleventh Hour, On the Eleventh Day, of the Eleventh Month....1918.

The ending of WWI, is commemorated in Britain, Canada , and the Commonwealth as Remembrance Day.  Here in the USA, what used to be called Armistice Day has been known as Veterans Day since 1954.

Our correspondent in Montreal shares these moving photos of the commemorations at McGill University.


Among the wreaths are those from the USA, France and South Korea.

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                                            (Board of Election Polling Sign New York)

U.S. Election

President Re-elected--Inherits Obama Economy!

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Autumn in Vermont

Fall Foliage, Pumpkins, Halloween!

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Paris/Hollywood

France's fascination with American movies is well known.  Just walk around Paris and see the kiosks advertising what's playing in les Cinemas.

Equally Hollwood is enchanted with the City of Light.  Our correspondent in France bring us news of the new expo at Hotel de Ville (city hall) "Paris Seen by Hollywood." Without question Paris is the foreign city most portrayed in Hollywood films. We discover that over 800 movies have been shot either in Paris or in re-creations of Parisian scenes.

Sophisticated stories, romantic comedies, and the famed detective thrillers are all part of the
cinematic heritage.   The memorable Audrey Hepburn films such as Funny Face and Charade recall the era in the 1960's when it was ever so chic to be and film in Paris.   Who can forget the Hepburn film Sabrina (with Humphrey Bogart as a Yale alum executive) where Audrey runs
off to cooking school in Paris? 

Or Silk Stockings (1957) the cold war comedy with Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse?

Sabrina (1954) with Oceanliner scenes, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) with Marilyn Monroe (also oceanliner crossing scenes) or Audrey's How to Steal a Million (1966) (great Citroen DS 19 shots),  form part of this wonderful cinematic experience.

In contemporary times the Da Vinci Code (2006), Midnight in Paris (2011) an interesting Woody Allen film, and Hugo (2011) by Martin Scorsese round out the list.   

Paris Seen by Hollywood is on exhibit until 15 December 2012 at Hotel de Ville.  It's free and well worth the time!

Comment du Jour

Chinese Moon Festival Celebrated in Paris!

Fete de la Lune


Our correspondent in Paris reports that the Chinese Autumn Festival has been honored
right ouside the City hall for the 13th Arrondissement.

The 13th is home to an increasingly large Chinese ethnic community and is thus celebrated
outside Town Hall near Place d'Italie.   These pictures were taken recently one evening during the Autumn Festival.

Moon Cakes!