Think what you will about America’s contentious identity politics; compared with France, the United States remains Mayberry, TV’s symbol of small-town innocence. We may have Black Lives Matter, massive resistance to a president seeking to enforce the country’s existing immigration laws, and urban riots. But in France the riots are bigger and last far longer. It has hundreds of thousands of people possessing French citizenship but evincing no discernible national loyalty. And there are few geographic barriers between itself and the sources of inundating immigration. No one can forecast with confidence the American future—whether it be a more or less successful assimilation of large streams of new immigrants or a transformed country where ethnic division is a norm underpinning every political transaction. But whatever the fate of Western civilization—whether [ . . . ]
Category: Culture
Charlotte Gainsbourg For Nars Makeup Collection
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The concept of “French-girl beauty” is one much discussed in the hair and make-up industry, but how to create a product range which perfectly encapsulates that elusive brand of insouciant Parisian chic? The answer: ask a French girl, which is exactly what make-up brand Nars has done via its upcoming collaboration with Charlotte Gainsbourg – actress, singer and daughter of Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg [ . . . ]
More: Charlotte Gainsbourg For Nars Makeup Collection | British Vogue
Podcast: France’s Presidential Election And The Future Of Europe
France’s Bernie Sanders Started His Own Party and Is Surging in the Polls
JEAN-LUC MÉLENCHON, an insurgent left-wing candidate for France’s presidency, is surging. His candidacy, organized under the newly-established party La France Insoumise (“Unsubmissive France”) has gone from a quixotic bid to a viable challenge in just a few months. Railing against growing economic inequality, participation in foreign wars, and political corruption, Mélenchon has skyrocketed in the polls from distant fourth to within a hair’s breadth of the frontrunners. (This rise has been accompanied by the release of a web-based video game called “Fiscal Kombat” where Mélenchon fights corrupt politicians and bankers.)The Financial Times demonstrated his surge through an aggregation of French national opinion polls [ . . . ]
Full Story: France’s Bernie Sanders Started His Own Party and Is Surging in the Polls
Take a Techno Break
By Michael Stevenson
There seems to be more new devices and apps to watch movies and listen to music than there are good new movies and bands.
Entertainment technology needs to take a prolonged hiatus.

Chanson Du Jour: The Radio
Rodolphe Burger & Philippe Poirier
I am a new fan of Rodolphe Burger and captivated by this recording, which blends the dark and delicious minimalism of Nick Cave, the Velvet Underground and Serge Gainsbourg


