The French are also more effective in providing aid to New Orleans than those incompentent Americans in Washington DC.

Just talked with firefighter in line in grocery store. The only reason that we have ANY fire protection in the 80% of the city that flooded is because of our good friends the French. They sat down with the NOFD and selected which stations to rebuild and they "just did it". The other fire stations are still years away from any FEMA funding and the city is broke. Good ole French "Can Do" spirit !!

Fire risks, and fires, are up dramatically as people rebuild their homes and live in tents inside their gutted homes.

Viva La France !

Alan

Well, this is no surprise since the French now own Louisiana.

We could only hope and pray.

Reminds me of "what we lost" articles during bicentenial "celebrations" of Louisiana Purchase.

Universal health care, vacation all August, several nuclear power plants to get us off of natural gas for electricity. Cultural culinary exchange (we have done things with roux that the French never dreamed of :-) High speed trains and more streetcars (will we have to call them trams ?). A more melodic and expressive language. Tariff free access to the EU AND, most important, freedom from the stulifying, uncaring bureaucracy of Washington DC and getting a responsive gov't instead.

Best Hopes,

Alan

PS: I especially liked that part about immediately spending the French payment to buy back Louisiana on rebuilding Iraq. Bush certainly has his priorities straight !

.