ryyannon

Yeah, it's always good to be The King! Now pass the ketsup, please...

Take care of yourself out there, amigo...

any friend of the birds (the wackier the better) is a friend of mine....nice to see you over here.... hope you'll re-post your wackobird avatar: being a whack-job myself, i loved it!

It's clear as a bell, TwoTone! Great story-board, too. Are screen rights available?

Doc, what you have to understand is that from here (France) the UK and Ireland does seem like the Promised Land to (French) entrepreneurs and business owners. For the simple reason of vastly-reduced government red-tape, third-thirds less mandatory taxes and employee funds, a certain 'flexibility' in the labor market and a general can-do Anglo-Saxon attitude. Outside of this, the French expats couldn't give a hoot about the cultural and social erosion that you mention. The bottom line is business, and for the time being, the UK and Ireland are great places to do it for the French. The same is true for skilled and even unskilled labor: French youth are expatriating as fast as they can, particularly the young second-generation immigrant poppulation who have absolutely no professional future here. They are unaminous in saying that in the across the Channel, you are judged by what you can (or can learn) to do, rather than your ethic or religious origins. As a state, France is progressively disappearing into the Black Hole of its own inertia, cultural prejudices and the inability of its entrenched political ruling class to comprehend the 20th century - not to mention the 21st. Blair's Britain has put its own spin on modernity, and for the time being, it seems to be working (in economic terms). Excepting the underclass composed of hundreds of thousands of permanently disinfranchised and more or less invisible Brits who fell by the wayside during the Thatcher years and who have never managed to climb back into the job-market. That's my analysis of the situation from here. I agree that being able to 'take refuge in the last vestiges of all that is good, whether that be architectural, cultural, or lifestyle-based' is wonderful - if you can find a way to do it. As you say, it is no different wherever you are. Beautiful surroundings and a sense of history do soothe the frazzeled soul, and I consider myself lucky to at least have that. At the same time, I can no more close my eyes to the disintegration of a people and a way of life that you can. It's a strange trade-off, but I don't see other solutions. Other than to resist when possible, and to do the greatest possible good when the occasion presents. Other than that, I'm like everyone else here: waiting for the next irrrestible watch...

@jjajh - 1. no one is born incompetent. some people are made to be incompetent, while others use their competences to invent contexts in which other people cannot exercise their own competences. 2, pan-handlers are not despicable: they are 'seizing the day' in the best way they can. 3. 'altruistic theory and criticism' is an empty and meaningless concept. 4. yes, questions concerning tomorrow are among the only ones worth asking. along with questions concerning today and yesterday. 5. violence, apathy and generalized stupidity are the first (and last) refuge of us all. we are all the same person. 6. you're starting to sound like a curmugeon, jjajh, and that's not like you at all. Come to think of it, so am i. is Gran up to his old tricks again? edit/update: my apologies, jjajh: after re-reading your post this afternoon, it has all come into focus. the fault in misinterpretating your ideas is all mine: mea culpa. it would appear that as usual, we're on the same side of the barricade, as it were....

I thought of PMing him with the new link, but did not feel worthy enough of approaching His Altitude. It's never too late, however - feel free to pick up the ball and run with it yourself...

nice post, doc... I'll doubtlessly respond when my brain is working a bit better (it's nearly 5am in Paris at the moment), but you've made some interesting points and observations that I'd like to comment on. It would be good to hear from the OP (FasTTaP) but being French, it's possible that he feels that he's already over-extended himself in terms of communicating with 'strangers.' (A mild dig in the hopes of getting him to re-post in this thread ;-) Rather than just running over at the mouth, I've found that honest discussions of where one is - and why - often helps to clarify one's larger position in space and time (time! this is a watch forum, right?) Anyway, and before saying even more idiocies that I'll regret tomorrow morning, I'll sign off now - but like Ahharnold, 'I'll be back!' to see where - and how far - we literal and figurative expats can go in this thread. Later, and thanks for your contribution, ryyannon

FasTTaP, we ARE in the 21st century! I know it's hard to understand this in France (hey, I live in Paris too), where it sometimes seems as if the country hasn't yet made it out of the 19th century. It's sad really: the people have so much potential, but they're stuck in a system of internalized and externalized references that's preventing them from moving forward and finding their place in the world. On a micro-scale (family, friends, village, neighborhood, 'tribe'), France still has a lot going for it - on the human level: on the condition of having a solid network of family and friends, living in a village for generations and/or having inherited your grandparent's seven-room apartment in the 6th arrondissement while being perfectly integrated within a professional, cultural or socio-economic group. Outside of that, forget it. Problem is, more and more people are finding themselves 'outside of that.' They lack the Americans' sense of going it alone coupled with an infinite confidence in the future. The old tradition of family, roots, 'terroir' and connectedness is disappearing, leaving the French beached, stranded, high and dry - and consuming more anti-depressors and tranquillisers than any other population group in the world. What a sad, sad ending for a people who were once so stellar. After living half my life in the States and half here (with several years spent in various nice places around the world) I'm convinced that the old adage 'you can run, but you can't hide' is truer than ever. Leave France? For where? NYC is deja-vu for me, and besides, you've gotta be rich just to live there these days. Same for S.F., L.A. and other points between. Must be literally thousands of nice little towns all around the U.S.(and the rest of the world) but one gets to the point where eating French bread and living in a city where you can still go out at night doesn't seem all that bad. If you're getting out, where are you thinking of going? For a French entrepreneur, the UK or Ireland can seem like the Promised Land - but are you really ready to give up the Left Bank, the Luxembourg Gardens, the lovely little restaurants - and the totally depressing, hopeless and disconnected atmosphere of the place and the people? For me, it depends on the day. Nights, I don't go out that much anymore. Been there, done that... It's like being between a rock and a hard place, as they say.

Hmmm.... Was your name 'Klinkster' in a previous existence?

Good thinking, good writing, nice reading: A+ You ought to work cars into your analysis: a natural, no?

All the posts you want, Davey, and more! See my special offer in The Bin.

The nerve! Just wait 'till I write my dealer evaluation.

I've ordered several, including a 112H, a Vintage and a Double-Cheese Pepperoni, but communications seem to have broken down just about the time Angel & Jay requested how I was planning to pay. They apparently have at least two separate pp accounts (one for direct debit, and another for credit card transactions). Since I'll be paying by card, can anyone provide the appropriate pp address for this type of payment? Does anyone even understand what I'm talking about? I'm sure that they'll get back to me sooner or later, but I'd like to send payment sooner rather than later, as well as limiting the back-and-forth messaging process, of which they must have their hands more than full (of) at the present time. Thanks for the info, folks.

For a limited time only, members will receive a genuine JetMid Turbo-Charged Peni...er....Post Enlarger PLUS an authentic Nanuq Wrist-Wrap Special TRL Rollie! Life is Good!

So forget it already.

Miss your hard-earned PowerMax status (posting all those inane smilies was hard work!) - or were you just too devoid of ideas - or undie pics - to ever attain it? Fret not: the solution is right here: Everything you need to acheive PowerMax status in one post! Imagine the new respect that will be yours when members see you go POWERMAX today! Kit contains the familiar lovely blue flashing logo and associated tags. Get yours today! PM me for details. (As ever, pp, WU and all major credit cards accepted.) Your Name Veteran Poster Posts: 889,575,436

Usually depends on how you 'take it', kruzer00. Now just lie back and relax - won't be but a minute.... You'll soon be enjoying it! ;-)

I see that the Mods and Administrators have finally come to their senses concerning the Christmas Banner. In response, I'll be removing it from the bottom of my posts. Justice has been served, but remember, I'll be watching.... SHAZAAM! POOF.

Donde esta, Kinosabe? Not on member list.... No penguins nowhere... (Mimi mon amour: so long ago, all that)

I can assure you that there is not one snowflake anywhere near the new forum! None! It is all gone!

I feel your pain, John...

You can run, guys.... But you can't hide.

Another familiar name - Glad to see you again!