PLEASE NOTE: This post will remain at the top of the column for the month of January to give all ample time to offer suggestions. PLEASE CHECK IMMEDIATELY BELOW FOR THE LATEST POSTS. (Originally published 12.31.04|21:23:54)

We wish we could post big plans for Pave in the upcoming year, but this is a seat-of-the-pants blog and 2005 looks like another year of erratic posts.

There is some housekeeping news. Regrettably spam continues to be a bother, and we will begin closing threads a month after their topics are posted.

So we put it to you, gentle skimmer, what would you like to see from Pave in 2005?

Give us your one or two or five or ten best New Year's suggestions for improving Pave. If we take up your suggestion you will be awarded all the glory. Or for those with less than universe-sized closets, we will superimpose your name on a JPEG of this handsome loving cup, or its equivalent, suitable for desktop viewing.*

* You will need to post your suggestions with a real e-mail address to get your JPEG. Please include the name to inscribe.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND BEST WISHES TO ALL IN THE COMING YEAR!

UPDATE 01.24.05: Final week! If you've got big ideas, smart ideas, or any ideas about what Pave France should be and be about in the coming year post them to this thread. We will retire this topic and close the thread next Monday.

UPDATE 01.25.05: Change of plans. This post appears to be drawing off comments from more current topics. So for the final week we'll leave it in second place, below the most current posted topic. Please use this post's thread for suggestions and post your topical comments to an appropriate thread.

UPDATE 02.01.05: This thread is officially closed. Thanks to all who made suggestions. We were disappointed that no one thought to suggest monthly bags of cash be sent us.

The thread will be combed for ideas, a list will be compiled, a report written, double-spaced, a yellow highlighter used on choice bits, and the whole shebang submitted to that distant power, Mike Krempasky, who, we are confident, will give the coversheet his full attention. Perhaps something will be done.

Meanwhile we will try to have JPEGs of silver loving cups with worthies' names out by this weekend. Printed on a quality printer, your JPEG should be suitable for framing in a very small frame.

Wishing you a wonderful 2005!

Have drinking threads?

Happy new year to you too Damian!

Hi Damian, first of all, congrats on the nice job you've done with this blog. Of course, current events stories on French perfidy are always of interest, but in lag time, instead of posting on French cultural peculiarities, I'd like to see more red meat articles and discussion on French treachery in their former colonies focusing more attention on the anti-French protesters from those countries who have suffered and are suffering under the corrupt French colonial jackboot... Togo, Rwanda, Cameroun, Rwanda, Polynesia, Congo etc local news stories should provide a wealth of information on France's altruistic(*cough*) activities in those countries, especially if you can read French and translate for us.. and related topics, such as just how widespread is French pedophilia in African countries, as well as articles/commentary on the paternalistic, corrupt French sponsored African and Middle Eastern "summits", of which there has been precious damn little news coverage that I've seen in the MSM

Also, I wish there was a way to access Pave archives. If there is a way to do this, I haven't seen it. If spam is a problem with offering access to archives, how about making the archived post and comments available for view-only, closing the comment section from further posting?

Finally, I would like to donate the proceeds from any Pave prize that I may win to zoomer's "If I only had a brain" fund

Regarding my suggestion above, here are a few starting point resources:

Francophonie

Francafrique, les coulisses de la misere

Legacy of French nuclear testing in the South Pacific

French 'honor'
..the French chose to turn the other way when Serbian troops stormed the U.N.-protected safe haven of Srebrenica.

Togo, Rwanda, Cameroun, Rwanda, Polynesia, Congo etc local news stories should provide a wealth of information on France's altruistic(*cough*) activities in those countries, especially if you can read French

You don't need to read French in knowing that Rwanda and Congo were colonies of Belgium, not France (Belgium, being far more brutal and repressive, especially in the Congo).

Hints for the intellectually challenged Blow-Hard: Small country somewhere in Yurop, capital: Bruxelles, Bruxelles sprouts and uh... small Yuropan country.

Finally, I would like to donate the proceeds from any Pave prize that I may win to zoomer's "If I only had a brain" fund

How about a "If only I was half-educated" fund for poor Blow-Hard?

http://theearthcenter.com/ffarchivesbelgium.html

Damn, Idiot was quite for the first 5 days of the year. It is such a shame he didn't take a good opportunity to shut up during the other 360.

Nothing else to say, ethnic-cleansing Bgagbo-lover?

Bonne Année to Pave, Mike, Damian and its readers.

I agree about the archives. FYI, it is possible to access them in a Google search, in case that helps anyone looking for a past post.

I'd like to see the design of the blog really sexed-up. Lots of handsome male curves to sooth the female eye.

Mike, Damian - perhaps you two could take some nice beefcake pics and regale us with them.

A newsfeed with French headlines would be really cool, too.

And hot croissants all day long for each visitor to the blog, of course. No French coffee, though.

Some people say I'm a dreamer, guys, but I'm not the only one.

Best wishes!

You don't need to read French in knowing that Rwanda and Congo were colonies of Belgium
Poor zoomer, better donate to his fund quickly, as it seems he has dropped below the critical level of 10 brain cells. French Congo was the original French colony established in the present-day area of the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and the Central African Republic. This site on the French sponsored genocide in Congo Brazzaville looks interesting for those who can speak French. More here (see what I mean about needing someone to translate the wealth of info out there on French treachery in Africa). While it's true Rwanda used to be a Belgian (Belgium=French poodle) colony, they moved under the umbrella of corrupt French franophone puppet states in the 1970's under Habyarimana. Later, as we now know, France armed and protected Hutu genocide murderers in Rwanda in which 800,000 died in large part supporting those butchers because the Hutus speak French. Something to keep in mind whenever you hear the French talk about her "principles".

Valerie,
I like your thinking! Mais oui! A little eye candy for the ladies evey now and then would be nice. Hey, The Dissident Frogman gave us some beefcake once, remember Val? Ahh, I remember it well. (Sing it Maurice!)

OBH, Zoomie, take it outside, please? Or go find a different thread to engage in your conre-temps, s'il vous plait? Oh, Look! Damian has put up TWO, count 'em TWO, new posts where you could go cross swords!!

This is the New Year's Eve/New Ideas thread.

The main occupier of Congo was Belgium, arguably the most ruthless European colonialists in Africa. As far as Rwanda, where France had to intervene for Belgium's incompetence in the 70's (ethnic cleansing - something you seem to have no clue about nor seem to care as long as long as French intervenes and people are killed, you poor, ignorant moron), there is much more to the story, including blatant inaction from the US as well. If it wasn't so sad, I'd laugh at the utter blindness of your government led by another moron, in thinking invading Irak and secure peace would be a piece of cake. At least we know better.

If it wasn't so sad, I'd laugh at the utter blindness of your government led by another moron, in thinking invading IraQ and secure peace would be a piece of cake. At least we know better.

The anti-war folks were not primarily opposed to invasion/liberation of IraQ because of fear the US would have difficulty winning (a piece of cake as you say). I find it hard to believe, but the ethically and culturally enlightened Frogs and krauts thought that Saddam “represented no threat” to the US, so there is no need to remove him from power. They led the UN, the moral arbiter of all moral arbiters to fight for just one more sanction. And besides, our “moron” led government was only in existence for the benefit of Halliburton and to steal oil, no?

But whatever were the disagreements before the war, only the most muddle-headed (um, zoomer for example) can fail to see the differences between good and evil manifested in the terrorists and their attempts to keep the people of IraQfrom self rule and freedom. But idiots like zoomer and his fellow frogs say that the terrorists “are not their enemies”. Nope, just those “moron” ‘mercans.

As Tony Blair said: Whatever people’s feelings and beliefs about the removal of Saddam Hussein, and the wisdom of that, there surely is only one side to be on in what is now very clearly a battle between democracy and terror. Yup, but the terrorists ”are not our enemies” zoomer and the frogs say. Guess that pretty much shows which side you f*cks are on.

The “not our enemy” terrorists blow up children standing in line to get candy. They use mosques to store weapons and as military bases. They kidnap and murder aid workers. They blow up UN workers and any one else attempting to bring freedom to their country. But “they are not our enemy”, and the outrage of zoomer and the frog f*cks goes to our “moron” led government. The forces of good and evil could not be more starkly portrayed, but “they are not our enemy”. Never mind. We can blame Rumsfeld and Halliberton.

Islamofascism is the face of evil. It must be dealt with, even if it is not a “piece of cake”. It cannot be appeased. It must be defeated like Nazism was 60 years ago. As in that war, it will not be easy, or without the sacrifice of many. Defeating the Japanese and Germans took millions of lives of all of the allies and Americans. It was not a “piece of cake” either. But it had to be done.

Zoomer, is that why frogland laid down like a bitch poodle in front of the Germans, because it was going to be a tough fight and “they knew better”? Many frogs said the same thing you say today. “the germans are not our enemy”.

Today I say that france IS OUR ENEMY.

I find it hard to believe, but the ethically and culturally enlightened Frogs and krauts thought that Saddam “represented no threat” to the US, so there is no need to remove him from power.

So why do many American top generals agree? No, Irak represented no threat. No WMD's, no casus belli, no connection to 9/11. But we all agreed on Afghanistan.

Zoomer, is that why frogland laid down like a bitch poodle in front of the Germans, because it was going to be a tough fight and “they knew better”? Many frogs said the same thing you say today. “the germans are not our enemy”.

Ah yes, when in doubt, always refer to 1940... Germany declared war on the US, remember? when Irak attacked Kuwait, did Germany and France refuse to go along?

Today I say that france IS OUR ENEMY.

So what are you going to do about it, Don Quixiote, my stupid amigo?

But we all agreed on Afghanistan.

Yup. That's why france sent 265 brave troops. Yes, you sent in Porthos with a noisless swagger, curling his moustache. We would rather have had M. d'Artagnan, Aramis and Athos as well.

6,000 troops in IC, 265 in Afghanistan. Somebody is chasing the wrong windmill and shooting the wrong sheep as soilders.

Germany declared war on the US, remember?

Exactly my point. The whole world waited to long to defeat Nazism. We can not make the same mistake with Islamofascism that the frogs made in (here it is again 1940 with your inept Third Republic. And you talk of "blind governments run by morons". Pick up one of your own history books.

"Germany declared war on the US, remember?"

*sigh*

Idiot please refer back to history. We declared war on Japan, Germany, and Italy as a result of Pearl Harbor. (Joint session of Congress and all that.) As a result Germany had to reciprocate.

"It was all America's fault led by that warmonger FDR. He provoked the attacks on us. First he kept interfering with the peaceful Japanese. After all Hawaii! I mean come on! Hawaii is closer to Japan than it is to the US mainland. What business did we have setting up military bases there. I mean mark my words... We are *going to* on day make it our 50th state. No blood for sugar cane! Not to mention the Philippines. I mean HELLO!!! Talk about the American Imperialism. The Japanese Empire was no threat to us, yet we economically attacked them by embargoing oil. Yes it was BLOOD OVER OIL!!! Japan attacked us and our first coordinated action was to attack German in Africa. We should have focused on the real enemy!”

And Idiot this is an English language blog so it is spelled IRAQ not Irak.

Saying that France is our enemy gives them too much credit. Nuisance perhaps, irritation sure, but enemy, well that implies that they can actually do something to harm Western interests. Read "Vichy France, 1940-1944" and today's French government and attitudes will make sense.

Croissants?

1] How about a French pastry recipe every now and again. Accentuate the positive once in a while.

2] Let us endeaver to find that hidden tid bit of positive news (ie the anti idiotarian, pro american report) from France. Because in spite of what Jacque imagines, France is not our enemy.

3] How about a post or two of Frenchmen shooting themselves in the foot? (Of course that is the typical post here so I'll add a modifier) What I mean is the occasional post highlighting French failures in inter European dipolmacy as opposed to anti American dipolmacy. (Oh heck, thats like every day around here too)
Never mind, Damian. Your doing a fine job.

By golly I'm hungry.

"Mike, Damian - perhaps you two could take some nice beefcake pics and regale us with them."

I could send in some beef... pie pics. Or maybe it's more like beef eclair these days... or beef souffle.

I agree with the preceding; easier access to archives, and I otherwise like Pave as it is. If you're looking for one little fature to add though, maybe you can add a box at the top of the sidebar to highlight really French behavior. You know, like a link to the most reprehensible behavior of the month or something. Something that really disgusts you, and stays there until it no longer disgusts you as much as something new. Wait, I guess that's what the rest of the blog's for...

Beef pudding, that's it.

Happy New Year 2005!

An easier access to the archives would be a great thing, but that'd maybe mean more spam...
Keep on doing such a great job Damian, that's basically the most important thing needed by this blog for 2005.

For papertiger
a tid bit of positive news: TF1 (French main channel) has an article on its website about a so-called scandal (???) in the US regarding the financial cost of Bush investiture. Sounds like the ordinary Bush bashing article... but have a look at the comments: everyone's saying that there's nothing wrong about that, as it's paid by private funds, and not by public taxes like in France, that Bush deserves this ceremony...and there's even a clearly pro-Bush comment!
looks like the propaganda's starting to fail sometimes...

Folks, Damian wrote a nice review of the 55th inaugural address that is posted over at e-nough. It is worth reading. Click on the link to e-nough on the sidebar and have a read.

Goldsoundz - I'm stunned, thanks for sharing that. News of sanity is always welcome, however unexpected.

Another feature that admittedly might become chorelike - regularly updated (perhaps weekly) economic indicators. Just the big ones (GDP+/-, unemployment, etc.), unless you felt like getting nutty (new home starts, home ownership %, etc). A simple JS ticker embedded in the template at the top of the sidebar would be fine... or maybe a 4-5 line scroller if you think it would warrant more space.

I hate to critisize, but it occures to me that you could use a little less is more in your posts. You have the habit of covering all the arguements in your initial post leaving us with nothing to say besides, "oh thats good D" or "damn you Zoomer".

Deleted

Ms. De Beauchamp's remarks have been deleted, not because she considers Pave "idiotic", fair enough, nor because she can't spell (we are very forgiving about orthography) but because she thought a little gay-bashing best expressed her disdain.

The Management

Great by what metric? Bygone glories? Real, imagined, or both?

New feature request: a spellchecker. And maybe reject any comment lacking 1) punctuation, 2) capital letters, or 3) lower case letters.

"Great by what metric? Bygone glories? Real, imagined, or both?"

How about "real" great men and women, "real" inventions (speaking of "metric"), "real" advancements, "real" glories etc...? Can you bother to name a few, or are you just too prejudiced (thus ignorant) to do so?

"Can you bother to name a few, or are you just too prejudiced (thus ignorant) to do so?"

Ummm Pasteur... and ummm ... ummm... ummm...

I am sure that there is another noteworthy frog in history...

Tell you what Idiot. We on this forum give the Frog culture as much respect as it has earned which is more respect than you have of the US.

"Ummm Pasteur... and ummm ... ummm... ummm..."

The statement was "France is a great nation". Support of that statement calls for greatness today, so Pasteur (and anyone who's been dead for more than, say, 10 years) doesn't count.

Zoomer, if you fail to even attempt an answer to my question, why would you even fantasize that I might answer yours? By what metric can France be said to be a great nation today?

Look a French guy invented the first motorized vehicle (steam powered car) - I know this from reading this blog.
There are doubtlessly many more hints of greatness
of France. I don't limit my perspective to the last ten years, but even with that limitation there will be some example of a Frenchman extending the span of human knowlege. Did you Moon probe ever get there?
I remember reading how it was going to use a series of increasingly eliptical orbits and the Earth's gravity to slingshot out to the moon.
Hyugens is the name of the probe that landed on Titan. That was a purely Euro inspired mission wasn't it?

Ummm Pasteur... and ummm ... ummm... ummm...

Thought so.

Tell you what Idiot. We on this forum give the Frog culture as much respect as it has earned which is more respect than you have of the US.

Oh I have much more respect (and knowledge) of American culture than you do of France, don't kid yourself. But showing ignorant, snottty morons like you "respect" on a racist - excuse me - bigoted website is not a reasonable thing to ask, wouldn't you agree?

"I don't limit my perspective to the last ten years, but even with that limitation there will be some example of a Frenchman extending the span of human knowlege."

Then you're answering a question phrased in the past tense. Bygone glories it is, then.

"I look at a nation's "greatness" by looking at its past as well, whether it's Italy, England, France, China or Egypt, not necessarly who can "kick ass" the most at the moment (eh cannon?)."

Why of course Idiot. YOU can only look toward your past, while we in America can look toward our past, toward the present, and toward the future.

Ah yes, only the USA does that of course, silly me.

Ah yes, the "We're Number One" syndrome. So you are. I don't have a problem with that, personally.

Given that you often seem to see such a phenomenon where none exists, I'd say that you have an unhealthy -- if not outright obsessive -- fixation with it. Backtracking from your post, I don't seem to have made mention of anything but France, including us, or of us being any number whatsoever. If I can't ask a question about France without you injecting a completely unexpressed subtext into it, then yes, you do have a problem with it.

Damien - I just noticed the update that you posted asking us not to... well, do what I've been doing. Sorry. It's compulsive.