We -- and we hope you -- will be celebrating the New Year more demurely than the Parisians.

POLICE ON ALERT TO PREVENT NEW YEAR'S EVE VIOLENCE

PARIS December 31, 2005 (Guardian) - More than 25,000 police and gendarmes will patrol French streets tonight amid fears that New Year's Eve celebrations could reignite the urban violence that swept the country last month, when thousands of cars and dozens of buildings went up in flames. Some 330 cars were burned last December 31 and more than 270 people arrested.

In the estates around Paris that saw the worst of last month's violence, the national police chief, Michel Gaudin, has said police patrols will be reinforced "sensitively" so as not to provoke further trouble. But 6,000 extra officers will be on standby.

This will be our last post for 2005. We thank all who have visited, especially those who visit with some regularity, most especially those who comment and animate the threads. We wish one and all, the French and the less than French, a Happy New Year!

PFFT (What is this?): La Ville Lumière all lit up 2 | Holiday cheer 5

Bonjour,

Bientôt sur ce site le prix de l'Américain le plus menteur de l'année 2005...

A suivre...

It'd of been nice to have seen Paris go up in flames, actually...

A hearty "Thank you!" to you Damian.
For another year of thoughtful posts and the occassional amazing graphic!

Looking forword to more words, and pictures, in the year ahead!

Bonjour,

Le prix 2005 de l' Américain le plus menteur est décerné à:

Scott Mc Clellan

Porte-Parole de la Maison Blanche

pour ses mensonges grossiers sur :
-les armes de destruction massives
-l'Affaire Plame
-les magouilles de Dick Cheney en Irak
etc ,etc...

Good luck for your country in Irak and in Bolivia !