Nicholas tell us..

..all musicians are jealous (with apologies to Tom Lehrer). See Overgrown Path's post on his (Sarkozy's) second and third wives musical connections. Doesn't look as if his first wife had musical connections - my last-exit player offered me a Carla Bruni track when I was at work this week - I was listening to Jacques Brel related tracks.

French events

Just received notice of an event at the Alliance Française in Manchester where Cécilia Lyon is going to talk about the artist Adolphe Valette a French view of early 20C Manchester murk.
Also - now long gone - but we attended the showing of 36 Quai des Orfevres at CineMac - a pretty violent film for a 15 certificate - though I gather 15 is the top age limit in French certification so maybe the BBFC just copied the rating! Ienjoyed the film despite the violence - and don't start to fidget when you think the film may be ending - at the point it is just getting into its stride! The Guardian said

France provides a corking blockbuster of its own, as Gérard Depardieu and Daniel Auteuil duke it out in Heat-like corrupt cop thriller, 36 Quai des Orfèvres.

I feel like adapting that description into a conking blockbuster in view of the splendid noses on display, sometimes one got confused as to which villain was getting beaten up but I found it very emotionally involving. Try the review here for a more jaundiced opinion - but maybe i just enjoy soupy melodrama! Another review may have some spoilers for some twists in the early part of the film.

A couple of links

I've now acquired a Samantha DVD - unfortunately it doesn't come with subtitles - even just French ones would be a help! A new DVD has just appeared -with a scene here.
Can't remember where I found this one - it could be OCICBW though he seems to have a different link in his article but there again OCICBW.
Finally - read Andrew Brown on Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's confession:

He has now added to this a list of 30 other crimes and atrocities that he planned or put into action. It was published by the American government last week. There is nothing quite like this list outside the Moscow show trials that Stalin mounted; and if we accept Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's confession, we owe Stalin's ghost a handsome apology.

rmcr appear to be under the impression that KSM is also responsible for the accordion.