Today's Special: Frog-Fried Rice

Let's hear it for the protesters across France who gave the commie bastards in Beijing fits early today. They turned the Olympic torch relay into a spectacle wackier than a Jackie Chan movie outtake:

Paris' Olympic torch relay descended into chaos Monday, with protesters scaling the Eiffel Tower, grabbing for the flame and forcing security officials to repeatedly snuff out the torch and transport it by bus past demonstrators yelling "Free Tibet!"

The relentless anti-Chinese demonstrations ignited across the capital with unexpected power and ingenuity, foiling 3,000 police officers deployed on motorcycles, in jogging gear and even inline skates.

Chinese organizers finally gave up on the relay, canceling the last third of what China had hoped would be a joyous jog by torch-bearing VIPs past some of Paris' most famous landmarks.

Thousands of protesters slowed the relay to a stop-start crawl, with impassioned displays of anger over China's human rights record, its grip on Tibet and support for Sudan despite years of bloodshed in Darfur.

Oh, what I would have paid to be there when the Free Tibet protesters took on the French policemen wearing inline skates defending the Olympic torch. Will Ferrell, eat your heart out.

Since it is never a bad time to bring this up, here's a great catalog of the crimes the Chinese regime. One of the guys who wrote it, Hu Jia, is currently locked away for the crime of insulting his government.

The French are Pissed About Something Again

The French police have sent 1,000 officers to quell riots in a rowdy Parisian suburb. Earlier in the week a French police car killed two youths in a heavily populated immigrant part of Paris.

Sometimes I wish American youths were more like this. Taking to the streets and setting things one fire sounds like a smashing evening. The French streets have become something of legend while the streets in the United States have been sedated.

Sarko Throws a Hissy Fit

While on the set of 60 minutes the President of France, Nicholas Sarkozy, walked out of an interview after being questioned about his recent break-up with wife, and former supermodel, Ceciclia. The interview was apparently filmed before the announcement of their separation. It is rather surprising to see a Frenchmen run from confrontation. Story from the New York Times.

The Militant French?

For a culture better known for its food, perfume, and high art, the French are not world renowned fighters. Usually they are associated with the tactic of retreat or building long lines of fortifications that the Germans, using their superior intellect, elect to go around. But they French are beginning to feel threatened from another neighbor to the east, Iran.

The BBC reports that yesterday Bernard Kouchner, the French foreign minister, has declared that France is preparing for the worst in regards to confrontation with Iran. In typical French fashion, he wishes to exhaust diplomatic negotiations, but acknowledges that a nuclear Iran poses a great danger. War should be avoiding at all costs, but it takes a lot to make the French even mildly bellicose.

The Industrious French

Recently elected French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced his plans to loosen taxes for those working over 35 hours a week reports the BBC. While no one particular enjoys working, its something one must do and for the French this change is long overdue. This is just one item on the growing list of reforms Sarkozy has initiated since entering office. Other accomplishments to motivate lazy Frenchmen include a 50% ceiling on income tax rates and abolishing the inheritance tax.

Paris au Printemps and Autumn for Socialism?

France today took a big step away from socialism by electing Nicolas Sarkozy by a decisive margin in an election characterized by intense public interest and a huge turnout.

I watched the pivotal televised debate between Sarkozy and socialist opponent Segolene Royal. It was fascinating to watch as they debated, passionately, issues that Americans and the British debated and settled in the early 1980's with the elections of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. The most emotional and tense exchange was about the French rule that makes it a crime to work more than 35 hours per week. Royal defended that rule with vigor, arguing that it allows people to spend time on family and other pursuits. Sarkozy eloquently countered her, saying that the rule was a violation of individual freedom and the ability of a person to work hard and excel and, yes, make money.

I know a woman from Breton whose family owns a bistro. One worker requested to work extra during the week before his vacation so that he could make more pay. The owner agreed and was turned into the authorities by another employee. His bistro was shut down and he spent most of his savings in court trying to defend himself. My friend, who is left of almost everyone in the US, decried the 35 hour week as a fascist nightmare that almost destroyed her family business. France yesterday agreed with her and took a step toward sanity.