Murder (or a heart attack)

I read an interesting article in the NYT magazine about what a fiasco lethal injection is. Apparently it is rarely supervised by a physician, and when that occurs they are frequently in another room. It sounds pretty gruesome for everyone involved. I didn't realize the AMA is formally against doctors participating in the death penalty, although I guess it goes along with the Hippocratic oath.

On a lighter note, I had a very silly French lesson tonight. We had to describe a pretend crime, with une victime, un coupable (the person responsible), une témoin (witness), la personne qui a découvert le cadavre, et les policiers. The point was for us to use adverbs and the past tense. It was kinda fun. Next we're learning the imparfait, which unfortunately is not used in the exact same way in English and French. sigh.

On a even lighter note, I'm getting ready for my next houseguest. We're going to head down to Nice on Sunday for a few days and will be staying here. Looking forward to it! I'm crossing my fingers and hoping for lots of sunshine!

Blood Diamond

Saw Blood Diamond last night. Leonardo was good, Jennifer Connelly was not. But you gotta agree with the message.






Mots nouveaux for the weekend:
L'ampoule = light bulb
dégrader = a layered haircut

Ghetto Pass

This article cracked me up. It was truly a walk down memory lane, reminded me of those days wandering around Washington Heights or Harlem. In the white neighborhoods in NYC, strangers never talk to you, because it would be a threat. But in the 'hood, everybody's fair game. "Mami, Mami, Mami... (kissing noise)" The Ghetto pass explains.

Heels Win!

How pleasant to wake up this morning to the news of the win in Cameron Indoor Stadium. Tip off was at 3 a.m. so I had decided there was no way for me to catch the simulcast.





Our players are not only better, but also more attractive.

Favorite new CD of the week

I've been listening to Midlake at work this week; mellow work music. I particularly like 'Van Occupanther' and 'We Gathered in Spring'. I don't suppose they will ever come to Lyon, though. We are lucky to get any English language bands at all. I do have tickets for Arcade Fire, Kasabian, and hope to pick up Bloc Party tickets soon for me, Jon, and Zoe. But that is about it for anyone coming through that I have heard of.

I must admit to getting into some eurotrash music since arriving: I like a song called 'Partons Vite' by Kaolin, which is a little Belle and Sebastian-ish. It was on the radio all the time in the fall. The lyrics translate to say "you run your hand through my hair..." and other such deep thoughts. Plus "I don't feel like dancing" by the scissor sisters pretty much played continually in December, and after hating it at first, I decided it was pretty damn catchy! It is very nouveau Abba.

Adventures in French drugs

I thought I was going to pass out today from this mysterious antihistimine that isnt approved for use in the US. Time to go back to old Jour et Nuit.

I feel so lousy I skipped poker night. Grrrr!

Day trip to Aix

I went down to Aix a few weeks back. Here are some photos.



This is Aix's main drag. Note the sunshine. I haven't seen much of that lately.






Here is Cezanne's studio. He snagged a house on the top of a hill with lots of light.