News Topic - France
Articles 11 - 20 of most recent articles
May 13, 1637: Cardinal Richelieu Makes His Point
1637: Perhaps weary of watching dinner guests picking their teeth with the points of their daggers, Cardinal Richelieu orders the blades of his dinnerware to be ground down and rounded off. Et voilà, the modern dinner knife is born. Prior to Richelieu's flash of inspiration (or simple revulsion at bad manners), diners typically used hunting daggers to spear their morsels, which were then conveyed to the mouth by hand or with the help of a spoon. The fork, the implement that really revolutionized chowing down, had existed since biblical times. Despite its utility, however, the fork remained a relative rarity in the West until the 17th century, even among the French royals that Richelieu served with unswerving devotion.Richelieu's knives became the rage among the court and soon everyone who was anyone in France had a set. The dinner knife became commonplace throughout France after Louis XIV -- who, like most kings, had his own reasons for not wanting sharp blades and pointed tips around -- decreed its universality. Soon afterward, the dinner knife found its way throughout continental Europe to England and, eventually, the American colonies. It's fitting that the table knife helped refine table manners at the French court. If the French didn't invent good manners (and they didn't: the ancient Egyptians instituted a code of behavior during the Fifth Dynasty), they at least gave the world étiquette, the five-franc word that's synonymous with refined behavior. Cardinal Richelieu, of course, was more than a simple cutler. As Louis XIII's chief minister, he was no stranger to using sharp implements to influence geopolitical events. His policies transformed France into a powerful state, bringing it into direct conflict with the House of Hapsburg and the Holy Roman emperors. Allying Catholic France with the Protestant Swedes in the Thirty Years' War, Richelieu looked on as sword-wielding mercenaries laid waste the tiny neighboring German states, helping fuel the grudges that set the stage for modern European history. (Source: Various)
Wired News – 10 hours, 26 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in Technology
1637: Perhaps weary of watching dinner guests picking their teeth with the points of their daggers, Cardinal Richelieu orders the blades of his dinnerware to be ground down and rounded off. Et voilà, the modern dinner knife is born. Prior to Richelieu's flash of inspiration (or simple revulsion at bad manners), diners typically used hunting daggers to spear their morsels, which were then conveyed to the mouth by hand or with the help of a spoon. The fork, the implement that really revolutionized chowing down, had existed since biblical times. Despite its utility, however, the fork remained a relative rarity in the West until the 17th century, even among the French royals that Richelieu served with unswerving devotion.Richelieu's knives became the rage among the court and soon everyone who was anyone in France had a set. The dinner knife became commonplace throughout France after Louis XIV -- who, like most kings, had his own reasons for not wanting sharp blades and pointed tips around -- decreed its universality. Soon afterward, the dinner knife found its way throughout continental Europe to England and, eventually, the American colonies. It's fitting that the table knife helped refine table manners at the French court. If the French didn't invent good manners (and they didn't: the ancient Egyptians instituted a code of behavior during the Fifth Dynasty), they at least gave the world étiquette, the five-franc word that's synonymous with refined behavior. Cardinal Richelieu, of course, was more than a simple cutler. As Louis XIII's chief minister, he was no stranger to using sharp implements to influence geopolitical events. His policies transformed France into a powerful state, bringing it into direct conflict with the House of Hapsburg and the Holy Roman emperors. Allying Catholic France with the Protestant Swedes in the Thirty Years' War, Richelieu looked on as sword-wielding mercenaries laid waste the tiny neighboring German states, helping fuel the grudges that set the stage for modern European history. (Source: Various)
Wired News – 10 hours, 26 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in Technology
Google blurs the privacy issue
Google is hoping to avoid a fight with European privacy campaigners as it prepares to launch its controversial Street View service this side of the Atlantic later in the year, by introducing new technology that blurs the faces of people its cameras inadvertently snap while scanning the streets. Street View, launched in the US last May, adds street-level pictures to the search engine's existing Google Maps' information. A fleet of vans fitted with cameras have been trawling the streets of more than 20 American cities, photographing the pavements to provide a complete visual map of the area. But the cameras also take pictures of anyone who happens to be walking by at the time. While this has caused controversy among privacy campaigners in the US, it could result in serious legal problems in countries such as France with strict privacy laws. Last night, Google relaunched its Street View of Manhattan with pedestrians' faces blurred. The in-house technology errs on the side of caution so it also tends to pixellate faces in adverts. It will also remove Street View images if anyone objects . Cars and vans bearing the Google Street View logo have been spotted in Paris and the company is understood to be planning to add a number of other European cities, including London, to the service this year. A spokesperson for the company refused to give a date for the European launch but said: "We will not launch in Europe until we are comfortable Street View complies with local law. "We will use technology, like face-blurring, and operational controls, such as image-removal tools, so Street View remains useful and in keeping with local norms wherever it is available."
The Guardian – 12 hours, 17 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in Technology
Google is hoping to avoid a fight with European privacy campaigners as it prepares to launch its controversial Street View service this side of the Atlantic later in the year, by introducing new technology that blurs the faces of people its cameras inadvertently snap while scanning the streets. Street View, launched in the US last May, adds street-level pictures to the search engine's existing Google Maps' information. A fleet of vans fitted with cameras have been trawling the streets of more than 20 American cities, photographing the pavements to provide a complete visual map of the area. But the cameras also take pictures of anyone who happens to be walking by at the time. While this has caused controversy among privacy campaigners in the US, it could result in serious legal problems in countries such as France with strict privacy laws. Last night, Google relaunched its Street View of Manhattan with pedestrians' faces blurred. The in-house technology errs on the side of caution so it also tends to pixellate faces in adverts. It will also remove Street View images if anyone objects . Cars and vans bearing the Google Street View logo have been spotted in Paris and the company is understood to be planning to add a number of other European cities, including London, to the service this year. A spokesperson for the company refused to give a date for the European launch but said: "We will not launch in Europe until we are comfortable Street View complies with local law. "We will use technology, like face-blurring, and operational controls, such as image-removal tools, so Street View remains useful and in keeping with local norms wherever it is available."
The Guardian – 12 hours, 17 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in Technology
European / Others Hardware Charts for Week Ending May 10th, 2008
VGChartz estimates that the European / Others hardware charts for week ending May 10th, 2008 was as follows: Total Hardware: (IN brackets is last weeks #) DSL: 180,801 (187,184) Wii: 164,186 (199,895) PS3: 137,693 (201,318) 360: 110,935 (151,005) PSP: 56,519 (57,872) PS2: 43,046 (46,157) UK Total: Wii: 55,226 (68,124) DSL: 49,092 (52,786) PS3: 36,399 (53,587) 360: 33,558 (49,596) PSP: 9,314 (9,374) PS2: 6,436 (6,920) France Total: Wii: 40,244 (48,834) DSL: 32,651 (33,945) PS3: 19,350 (30,934) 360: 8,044 (13,457) PSP: 6,368 (6,530) PS2: 4,693 (4,902) Spain Total: PS3: 18,827 (28,270) DSL: 13,443 (13,676) Wii: 10,232 (12,445) PSP: 9,379 (9,646) 360: 6,824 (9,016) PS2: 5,000 (5,906)
N4G.com – 12 hours, 31 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in Technology: Video Games
VGChartz estimates that the European / Others hardware charts for week ending May 10th, 2008 was as follows: Total Hardware: (IN brackets is last weeks #) DSL: 180,801 (187,184) Wii: 164,186 (199,895) PS3: 137,693 (201,318) 360: 110,935 (151,005) PSP: 56,519 (57,872) PS2: 43,046 (46,157) UK Total: Wii: 55,226 (68,124) DSL: 49,092 (52,786) PS3: 36,399 (53,587) 360: 33,558 (49,596) PSP: 9,314 (9,374) PS2: 6,436 (6,920) France Total: Wii: 40,244 (48,834) DSL: 32,651 (33,945) PS3: 19,350 (30,934) 360: 8,044 (13,457) PSP: 6,368 (6,530) PS2: 4,693 (4,902) Spain Total: PS3: 18,827 (28,270) DSL: 13,443 (13,676) Wii: 10,232 (12,445) PSP: 9,379 (9,646) 360: 6,824 (9,016) PS2: 5,000 (5,906)
N4G.com – 12 hours, 31 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in Technology: Video Games
Angie and Her Little Ladies
That Shiloh has grown so fast!The youngest (but not for long) Jolie-Pitt joined big sis Zahara and mom for a stroll in Monaco on Monday.The family has been in France for a while, and they are expected there for a few more weeks.Angelina - it's been reported by multiple media outlets - is expecting twins.Her [...]
PerezHilton.com – 13 hours, 41 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in Entertainment: Celebrity Gossip
That Shiloh has grown so fast!The youngest (but not for long) Jolie-Pitt joined big sis Zahara and mom for a stroll in Monaco on Monday.The family has been in France for a while, and they are expected there for a few more weeks.Angelina - it's been reported by multiple media outlets - is expecting twins.Her [...]
PerezHilton.com – 13 hours, 41 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in Entertainment: Celebrity Gossip
A feud over press freedom boils over in France
Journalists at Agence France-Presse are accusing the government of "attempts at political pressure."
International Herald Tribune – 16 hours, 29 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in World: Europe
Journalists at Agence France-Presse are accusing the government of "attempts at political pressure."
International Herald Tribune – 16 hours, 29 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in World: Europe
Anti-Doping Agency to Seek $1.3 Million in Court Costs From Landis
MONTREAL (Reuters) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Monday it may seek $1.3 million in court costs from disgraced Tour de France winner Floyd Landis if the cyclist fails to win his appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Washington Post – 16 hours, 52 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in Sports
MONTREAL (Reuters) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Monday it may seek $1.3 million in court costs from disgraced Tour de France winner Floyd Landis if the cyclist fails to win his appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Washington Post – 16 hours, 52 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in Sports
WADA spent $1.3 million in Landis doping case
The World Anti-Doping Agency has spent more than $1 million helping fight the appeal by Floyd Landis of the decision stripping him of the 2006 Tour de France title for a doping offense.
ESPN – 17 hours, 3 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in Sports: Olympics
The World Anti-Doping Agency has spent more than $1 million helping fight the appeal by Floyd Landis of the decision stripping him of the 2006 Tour de France title for a doping offense.
ESPN – 17 hours, 3 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in Sports: Olympics
WADA spent $1.3 million in Landis case
The World Anti-Doping Agency has spent more than $1 million helping fight the appeal by Floyd Landis of the decision stripping him of the 2006 Tour de France title for a doping offense. WADA president John Fahey said Monday that the organization has contributed $1.3 million -- 5 percent of its total budget of $26 million -- to the U.S.
Yahoo! – 17 hours, 13 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in Sports: Cycling
The World Anti-Doping Agency has spent more than $1 million helping fight the appeal by Floyd Landis of the decision stripping him of the 2006 Tour de France title for a doping offense. WADA president John Fahey said Monday that the organization has contributed $1.3 million -- 5 percent of its total budget of $26 million -- to the U.S.
Yahoo! – 17 hours, 13 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in Sports: Cycling
Darlington survives NASCAR storm
"Have you seen this?" Darlington Raceway president Chris Browning asks before carefully unfolding the creased sheet he took out of his right front pocket.The page shows a drawing of modern garages and a reshaped infield, a dream unlikely to happen five years ago.That was when NASCAR head, the late Bill France Jr., decreed that Darlington was among the Sprint Cup venues that risked closure because of fading attendance and crumbling atmosphere.
Fox Sports – 17 hours, 15 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in Sports: Auto Racing
"Have you seen this?" Darlington Raceway president Chris Browning asks before carefully unfolding the creased sheet he took out of his right front pocket.The page shows a drawing of modern garages and a reshaped infield, a dream unlikely to happen five years ago.That was when NASCAR head, the late Bill France Jr., decreed that Darlington was among the Sprint Cup venues that risked closure because of fading attendance and crumbling atmosphere.
Fox Sports – 17 hours, 15 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in Sports: Auto Racing
Doping agency to seek $1.3 mln in court costs from Landis
MONTREAL (Reuters) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Monday it may seek $1.3 million in court costs from disgraced Tour de France winner Floyd Landis if the cyclist fails to win his appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Reuters – 17 hours, 16 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in Sports
MONTREAL (Reuters) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Monday it may seek $1.3 million in court costs from disgraced Tour de France winner Floyd Landis if the cyclist fails to win his appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Reuters – 17 hours, 16 minutes ago ¦ comment?
found in Sports