This French Life

Flickr pics and blog posts

Roscoff lifeboat by carolwbaker

IF you have been out with the camera lately then don't forget you can easily add your photographs to the This French Life Flickr pool.

Many readers already have so click on through and explore some of the sights they have captured of life in France.

And if you have a few spare minutes here is a quick collection of interesting blog articles I've crossed in the past few days.

Web black-out against internet law

AN internet campaign has been launched to protest against the introduction of laws aimed at tackling file sharers and the creation of a 'white list' of websites accessible through public wifi connections.

Led by La Quadrature du Net, website owners and users of sites such as Facebook and Twitter, are being asked to feature black squares in sidebars and as avatar buttons as a way of protest.

Ryanair pondering 'a pound for a pee' charge?

OBVIOUSLY to be taken with a large grain of salt, but Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary told the BBC this morning that the airline might start charging passengers to use the toilet.

He said: "One thing we have looked at in the past and are looking at again is the possibility of maybe putting a coin slot on the toilet door."

Ryanair are the finest self promoters, me writing this post highlights that, but it has been a long standing joke amongst travellers that charging 'a pound for a pee' would soon be used by the airline to raise revenue.

Whether Ryanair introduce the charge or not, it saw consumer watchdog Which? Holiday issue a statement saying: "It seems Ryanair is prepared to plumb any depth to make a fast buck and, once again, is putting profit before the comfort of its customers.

"Charging people to go to the toilet might result in fewer people buying overpriced drinks on board, though - that would serve Ryanair right."

Related article: Ryanair cut costs and squeeze passengers

News stories from France

IF you have had a busy week here is a quick opportunity to catch up on some of the main news stories about France.

Protests have spread to a second French Caribbean island, Martinique, as anger grows over low wages and poor working conditions, there is also the chance to take a look at how farmers are turning to solar power and find out more about Nicolas Sarkozy's favourite hobby.

And don't forget that throughout the week I update the French news page each day, and you can also click though to the latest stories from many of the bloggers who write about France.

Bringing comedy laughs to the Riviera

SOME of the world's newest stand-up comedians will soon be cracking gags, and raising a laugh, all the way along the French Riviera.

Award winning comedians will be part of The Riviera Comedy Club that will be rolling into Monaco, Cannes, Antibes and Nice over the coming months.

And there will be a family touch to the comedy nights as Paul Osborne, who lives in Nice, has been helping his two sons get the show on the road.

Financial crisis? No such thing in Paris art world

NOW what would you pay for this rather distinctive Art Deco armchair created by Eileen Gray in the early 20th century?

Try €21,905,000.

That was the rarefied atmosphere which people were dabbling in during the sale of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé's collection of items at Christie's in Paris this week.

In total over €374 million was generated from the sale with the money going towards Aids research and other charities.

To see the full list of sale items, and the prices the lots raised, drop in on the Yves Saint Laurent page on Christie's.

French language strong in Etsy stores

IF you have a bit of a creative streak and enjoy turning your hand to making things such as pottery, jewellery and clothes you might want to have a look at Etsy.

It is an online market place that lets people sell goods to a worldwide audience, and a recent survey of users by the company showed many customers speak French.

Digital ebook for your holiday home

HERE is an interesting idea that may provide a slightly different way to promote your holiday home or small business.

Artist Richard Dubieniec has a characterful place in Chantelle, in the Allier region, and has produced a digital ebook with pages that you turn with the click of a mouse.

January unemployment figures hit record high

A PARTICULARLY worrying set of unemployment figures has been announced, with the steepest ever monthly rise and a 15 per cent increase in those looking for work in the past year.

The number of people out of work increased by just over 90,000 in January, and speaking on France 2 last night Finance Minister Christine Lagarde seemed a little surprised at first.

But she went on to stress that the measures outlined by Nicolas Sarkozy earlier this month would help people who have been made unemployed, as well as support other less well off families.

The number of people out of work in France currently stands at just over eight per cent, with predictions that this could rise to 10 per cent by next year.

Website: Pôle emploi - employment service

British cycling team targets Tour de France

A BRITISH cycling team, sponsored by BSkyB, has set its sights on competing in next year's Tour de France.

The squad will be overseen by Dave Brailsford, the performance director of GB Cycling, and it is hoped feature some of the best young British talent, as well as enjoy state of the art training facilities in Manchester.

Team Sky will hit the road in 2010 and look to gain entry to the Tour de France, as well as help boost cycling in the UK and promote a 'clean' image for the sport.