Tag Archives: François Hollande

COMMENT OF THE DAY: On second thought, I’d rather not see our senior senators having sex…

Posted by gruesomegreg on

From: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/apr/03/offshore-secrets-offshore-tax-haven

Big news breaking out of the British Virgin Islands, where some two-million documents revealing the stashed-away wealth of many business and political leaders of the free world have been leaked to the media.  According to the report, there could be as much as 32-trillion dollars hidden in offshore tax havens.  Man, that could certainly buy several islands—or, y’know, provide much-needed tax revenue to said wealthy individuals’ countries of origin.

So, whadda we do with these scumbags?  Lock ‘em up and throw away the key?  Slap them all with François Hollande’s taxe de richesse until they cry uncle?  One Guardian commenter offers an alternate solution:  Put them in (adult) movies!

cotd44

Alas, while I’m sure several struggling taxpayers would pay for the voyeuristic privilege of seeing the likes of Mitt Romney (allegedly) and Pana Merchant (reportedly) take it up the derrière, I’m personally not a big fan of old-people porn.  Just sayin’…

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FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY: Avaliser

Posted by gruesomegreg on

Avaliser: To offer one’s endorsement or support, to guarantee something (ie a payment).

As seen in: « Le quai d’Orsay appelle les Français dont la présence n’est pas indispensable à quitter provisoirement le pays après que François Hollande a avalisé la demande d’aide militaire du président malien. »

(Translation: “The Quai d’Orsay (French foreign ministry) is calling for Frenchmen whose presence isn’t indispensable to temporarily leave the country after François Hollande endorsed the Malian president’s request for military aid.”)

http://www.lesechos.fr/economie-politique/monde/actu/0202493707573-hollande-la-france-repondra-dans-le-cadre-de-l-onu-a-la-demande-d-aide-du-mali-527786.php

FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY: Coup de gueule

Posted by gruesomegreg on

Coup de gueule: A verbal expression of one’s discontent, ie rant, protest.

As seen in: « Brigitte Bardot, qui avait menacé vendredi de demander la nationalité russe, a poussé ce matin un “coup de gueule” contre François Hollande et son gouvernement, qu’elle accuse dans une tribune de traiter “par le mépris” son combat en faveur des animaux. »

(Translation: “Brigitte Bardot, who threatened Friday to request Russian citizenship, went off on a rant this morning against François Hollande and his government, which she accuses in a statement of treating her combat for animal rights with contempt.”)

http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2013/01/07/97001-20130107FILWWW00473-nouveau-coup-de-gueule-de-bardot.php

FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY: Ressortissant

Posted by gruesomegreg on

Ressortissant: A foreign national; someone who is represented by a foreign consulate while living in another country.

As seen in: « Le président François Hollande a souligné, jeudi 27 décembre, que la présence militaire française en Centrafrique n’était pas destinée à “protéger un régime” contre l’avancée de la rébellion, mais les ressortissants et les intérêts français, en marge d’une visite à Rungis. »

(Translation: “President François Hollande emphasized Thursday, December 27th during a visit to Rungis that the French military presence in the Central African Republic isn’t meant to ‘protect a regime’ against the advancing rebellion, but rather to protect French nationals and interests.”)

http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/monde/20121227.OBS3577/centrafrique-paris-fait-proteger-ses-ressortissants-par-l-armee.html

FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY: En grande pompe

Posted by gruesomegreg on

En grande pompe: With much fanfare, ceremoniously.

As seen in: « François Hollande a été accueilli en grande pompe mercredi à l’aéroport d’Alger par le président Abdelaziz Bouteflika, les deux hommes devant ensuite s’offrir un bain de foule sur le front de mer d’une capitale algérienne sous haute surveillance. »

(Translation: “François Hollande was greeted with much fanfare Wednesday at the Alger airport by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the two men heading to greet supporters on the waterfront of an Algerian capital under high surveillance.”)

http://www.lepoint.fr/politique/francois-hollande-est-arrive-en-algerie-19-12-2012-1603657_20.php

FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY: Bafouer

Posted by gruesomegreg on

Bafouer: To mock, to ridicule, to treat someone or something with extreme ignorance.

As seen in: « Le président français a hésité à se rendre au Sommet de la francophonie dans un pays, la République démocratique du Congo, qui bafoue la démocratie. »

(Translation: “The French president hesitated to go to the Summit of Francophones in a country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, which makes a mockery of democracy.”)

http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2012/10/09/01003-20121009ARTFIG00688-hollande-tance-kabila-avant-son-voyage-a-kinshasa.php

FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY: Chantre

Posted by gruesomegreg on

Chantre: Literally, a church singer or religious choir director.  Can also be used to describe someone who glorifies or stands strongly behind a certain concept or person, ie tenor in the figurative sense.

As seen in: « Chantre de la rigueur budgétaire, Stephen Harper a été reçu jeudi à Paris par le nouveau président français, François Hollande, socialiste et partisan de la croissance des dépenses comme remède à la crise. »

(Translation: “Tenor of tight budgets Stephen Harper was welcomed to Paris Thursday by the new French president, François Hollande, a socialist and believer in increased spending as a remedy to the crisis.”)

http://journalmetro.com/actualites/national/86696/stephen-harper-recu-par-francois-hollande/

FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY: Bien-fondé

Posted by gruesomegreg on

Bien-fondé: Validity, legitimacy, something that makes reasonable sense.

As seen in: « Après Berlin, François Hollande poursuit son baptême du feu diplomatique ce week-end aux Etats-Unis où il rencontrera Barack Obama et tentera de convaincre les alliés de l’Otan du bien-fondé d’un retrait anticipé des troupes françaises d’Afghanistan. »

(Translation: “After Berlin, François Hollande continues his diplomatic baptism by fire this weekend in the United States, where he’ll meet with Barack Obama and try to convince his NATO allies of the validity of an anticipated French troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.”)

http://www.lepoint.fr/fil-info-reuters/francois-hollande-attendu-sur-l-afghanistan-aux-usa-et-a-l-otan-17-05-2012-1462443_240.php

FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY: Polémique

Posted by gruesomegreg on

Polémique: A violent, passionate controversy or discussion that often unfolds in print.

As seen in: « Il n’aura pas fallu deux heures pour qu’une première petite polémique naisse après la victoire de François Hollande, dimanche 6 mai. »

(Translation: “It didn’t take two hours for an initial minor controversy to unfold after François Hollande’s electoral triumph, Sunday May 6th.”)

http://www.lemonde.fr/election-presidentielle-2012/article/2012/05/08/debut-de-polemique-a-droite-sur-le-tulle-paris-de-francois-hollande_1697580_1471069.html

COMMENT OF THE DAY: Angela Merkel–She’s Got Balls!

Posted by gruesomegreg on

From: http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/05/07/germany-warns-france-it-wont-fund-new-socialist-leaders-promise-to-end-austerity/

With the victory of Socialist François Hollande over conservative incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy in the French presidential election yesterday potentially throwing the Euro-zone austerity measures off course, Germany was quick to say it won’t be changing its course on the project.  “Germany is not here to finance French election promises,” said Merkel’s parliamentary party leader Volker Kauder.

This, of course, is good news to conservatives on the National Post, who praise the anatomy of Chancellor Angela Merkel:

 

And I suspect this Anon could possibly be an AC/DC fan…