Southern Times

New Lotto for the Bourgeoisie

A correspondent — 2011-02-27T02:06:36Z

Transparent dishonesty is the new stay rich game for the French bourgeoisie. Following the American pattern, the rich are now gambling on the French courts.

Because the French legal system does not allow for costs to be paid by the losers of any court action, the French legal system favours the rich, and anywhere the rich are favoured they will play.

We have just been taken to court for non hosting of a site and damages sought are in the region of â‚¬27,000. A bagatelle for some, a fortune for us.

Those seeking our money have stated that they know it is nothing to do with us and that they have understood the following simple precepts of web hosting as I explained to them below but the chance of gambling in the French courts has turned their heads

<< Bon, explication de la situation

Registrant proprietaire de domaines (les noms)

Il decide et registre les serveurs pour une domaine

ie les 'nameservers' pour les sites hebergÃ©s par moi sont ns1............com et ns2...........com

Pour st.......l.com et s...........com ils etaient changÃ©s reccemment Ã ns1.........net et ns2..........net c'est les serveurs que T..... utilise pour ses sites.

Serveur

Provide l'espace pour des fichiers d'une site web + certains services comme apache, php, etc. Tous vos fichiers sont toujours sur ............com mais ils sont invisble si les 'nameservers' ne sont pas registrÃ©s comme ns1.........com et ns2........com.

regadez http://whois.domaintools.com/........com

et comparez ca avec http://.....com

la difference: la deuxieme est visible.

Je n'ai pas access aux 'nameservers' de les deux sites stm....com et s......com- je ne suis pas le registrant. Il n'y a rien que je peux faire.

J'espere c'est tout resolu bientot.

Best,

Rob >>

I am praying that St Martial can return and oust Mammon from their souls.

Putting aside this case, there is a very important question to be asked. Should it not be the duty of barristers to assess claims and refuse to assist spurious and malevolent claims? Have legal ethics become the new throw aways of our get rich at all costs society?

Import en export between Thailand and France

Evert van der Weide — 2009-06-15T01:31:09Z

Import-Export Thailand-France

We like to make a connection with people who like to work together to make at possible Thai product to sell in France.

The products from Thailand can be Pineapple, Scrimps or Real Leather bags and so on or clothes. Production in Thailand have much lower costs for to make it in Thailand and therefore is it attractive to export to the France.
If you like also to start new business or want to be or contactperson in France then you can email to evert.van.der.weide@hotmail.com or calling by Skype evertvanderweide .

The Failing French Education System

Rob — 2008-03-25T06:06:38Z

The French view of their education system as one of the best in the world is hardly reflected by their leading establishments' low rankings in the world.

In the top 100 world universities or further education establishments, France manages just two entries at 26th and 28th, the ENS and the Ecole Polytechnique.

The ENS and the Ecole Polytechnique have a combined annual intake of 694 students. They are 'Grand Ecoles' with all the snoberry and elitism that one associates with the finishing schools of the last century.

The top ten being divided at 6 to the US and 4 to the UK.

Looking at individual disciplines, they fare a touch better

In technology one of their grand ecoles manages 34th just after the Indian Bombay Institute of technology and is the only French representative in the top 50.

In Arts and Humanities, the Sorbonne and the ENS are their only 2 representatives in the top 50.with the Sorbonne leading the way at 28th.

In Life Sciences & Biomedicine, the University Louis Pasteur of Strasbourg is the only French representative, scraping in at 48th.

In Natural Sciences France manages three entries in the top 50 with the ENS leading the way at 20th.

In Social Sciences France draws a blank, with no establishments in the world top 50.

If we become more local and look at just the European top 50 establishments, France fares a little better;

The ENS comes in at 7th just behind Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College London, Edingburgh and King's College London.

The Ecole Polytechnique comes in at 8th, just in front of Manchester, Bristol and Zurich.

But that is it. 2/50 for France, one behind little Belgium, compared to 8 out of the top 10 or 23/50 for the UK, Germany has 4/50, Netherlands 6/50.

So when looking at further education choices, what should one do for the best?

The ENS ( Ecole Normale SupÃ©rieure, PARIS) is France's flagship at 26th in the world rankings and 7th in Europe. This is a 'Grand Ecole', basically teaching would be teachers and professors.

To get your child there, he or she must first pass the BAC and obtain, at least, a mention. then get a place at a 'Preppa' (Ecole Preparatoire) that prepares for the ENS.

There is usually a cull of about 30% of the students at the end of their first year at Preppa and of the remaining students who take the 'competition' for a place at ENS, only 6%, that is a grand global total of 194 pupils each year, win a place at the ENS.

According to statistics, any other further education in France is second rate and mediocre. In a world where the European countries have and are developing equivalencies of qualifications, degrees etc foreign travel would not only broaden your child's mind but also equip him with better qualifications for the future.

So, why is the French education system so bad?

At the top, it is an anachronistic elitist system 194 students admitted by ENS each year, 500 by l'Ecole Polytechnique.

The principle of a place at a university (as opposed to the Grand Ecoles) for all who pass the BAC leads to an absurd situation with a unwieldy masss of first year input - a lot of the first year students at Montpellier have to sit outside their lecture rooms and try to listen to lectures from steps stairs and corridors, unless they get there very early to bag the seats that are inside.

This high input means that the first year is a culling operation and of little or no educational benefit.

From a low level, children are encouraged to learn by rote, the correct answers are what the teacher has said or more often, has handed out on photocopied sheets, and not that which is correct - our children have learnt this lesson, and much to our horror, will often deliberately repeat, in homework and texts, incorrect English to get marks from teachers who have a small inaccurate but fixed grasp of the language.

Original thought is discouraged at all levels, which probably explains why Cambridge, UK can boast more Nobel prizes than the whole of France.

I am amazed by the way French literature is taught. The pupils do not read and are not asked to read the books, but are encouraged to learn by rote the critiques gathered by their teachers about those books. This runs from the lowest level to the very top.

Recently on French television a famous French professor of literature, from one of the Grand Ecoles, stated that he had given courses of lectures on James Joyce and 'Ulysses' but had never read 'Ulysses' - basing his courses on crib sheets and the perceptions of others. Worse, this was not a shame faced admission, he saw nothing wrong with this form of teaching.

I will be writing more on the different stages of French schooling as seen through the experience of our children.

Languedoc Real Estate and Property Agents

A correspondent — 2008-03-01T07:57:32Z

Im starting with Languedoc real estate agents in Pezenas and will add towns as i go....

Pezenas Real Estate Agents

A P I Agence Pezenas Immobilier - 3 Avenue Aristide Briand 04 67 90 72 08
Good English spoken

Aami - 29 Cours Jean Jaures 04 67 98 00 02

Abeilhan immobilier 8 av Mar Leclerc 08 77 80 42 63

Action Immobiliere Groupe - 18 Cours Jean Jaures 04 67 09 44 05

Agence Cabinet Occitan - 4 Pl De La Republique 04 67 98 84 79

Agence Guy Olivier - 57 Cours Jean Jaures 04 67 98 37 77
Good English spoken

Agence Moliere - 15 Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau

Aht Immobilier - 3 Place Du 14 Juillet

Alliance Immobilier - 15 Rue Chevaliers St Jean

Amande Immo 18 r Conti 04 67 31 56 55

Azur Immo - 8 Avenue Du Marechal Leclerc

Carrefour Immobilier 4 pl Etats du Languedoc 04 67 09 41 92

Centragence - 3 Place Du 14 Juillet 04 67 98 12 67

Century 21 Confiance Immo rte Agde rd-pt de la Paix 04 67 00 21 21

Fabre Immobilier - 10 Place de la Republique 04 67 98 38 10

Guienne Immobilier - 10 R Anatole France Agence 04 67 98 05 26

Honig Agence ImmobiliÃ¨re 3 r Four de la Ville 04 67 09 48 44

Guy Hoquet L'Immobilier 21 cours Jean JaurÃ¨s 04 67 09 30 14

Immolympic - 23 R Conti

Lcf Immo - 13, avenue Aristide Briand 04 67 90 31 43

Les Volets Bleus - 4 R Chevaliers St Jean

Objectif Immo 8 av MarÃ©chal Leclerc 04 67 76 60 03

Prf - 18 Cours Jean Jaures

Profima - 8 Pl Frederic Mistral

Proimmobilier - 30 Avenue Aristide Briand

Promo Octon - 3 Place Du 14 Juillet

Sa Cabinet Occitan - 4,6, place Ledru Rollin

Sci Castelsec - 3 Chemin du Petit Larzac

Sm Carrefour Immobilier - 4 Pl Des Etats Du Languedoc

Soave Immobilier 2 pl RÃ©publique 04 67 00 80 96

Sudhouse - 29 rue Conti 04 67 09 07 47
Good English spoken

Transagri 8 pl FrÃ©dÃ©ric Mistral 04 67 98 36 36

Languedoc Languor and Midi Time

Rob — 2008-03-01T04:47:45Z

Time in the western world is a rectilinear diamond cut obstinately right angled object. Tomorrow lies 24 hours in the future, in one hour is exactly 60 minutes away.

Calendars, agendas, watches all mark the corners and junction points of human interactivity..

In the eastern world it is a more indefinite force, that can be stopped for meditation, started for action - a different way of looking at life and living.

Looking at the mores of the Midi, the region of southern France stretching from the mountains down to the coast - languedoc and its neighbours, it is quite likely that some of the Eastern mystics came here on vacation and took home as a souvenir a piece of languedoc time.

In the Midi, time is not rectilinear, time has no sharp corners, it is a rounded curving smokey substance, that can not be grasped by the hand or often by an outsider's mind.

The first experience a lot of us have with this is when a builder tells you he is coming "demain" which translates literally as tomorrow, naivete and foreigness persuades us that this means in 24 hours time. It does not, "demaing" means certainly not today, perhaps this week, possibly this month and possibly never. When and if the buider turns up, he will be astonished if you point out that you had been expecting him weeks ago.

Our first Languedoc house was in the small village of Valros in the Languedoc wine producing plains. it had a decent sized courtyard, but we decided to add a roof terrace. For this we needed an RSJ, a steel beam. Because the house was large and wide, the RSJ had also to be large and wide.

I went to a steel yard in Beziers and sat in an office with the owner, discussed dimensions and ordered the RSJ. A delivery date was fixed, which gave me time to lay the concrete pads on which the beam was going to sit. It also gave me time to arrange more hands for the day of delivery.

The delivery date came and we were all there waiting. Floors had been opened up and parts of walls knocked down so that the beam could be manhandled into place. The delivery date came and went, the beam never arrived. On ringing the steelyard, I was told that the beam would be delivered the following week on a Thursday, it wasn't.

As we were rebuilding and renovating through out, I gave up chasing and continued with other jobs. Suddenly with no warning, three weeks after the agreed delivery date, a large truck and my beam arrived. The steelyard owner was with it and he was very surprised I had not guessed which day he was actually going to deliver.

A walk up to the local cafe resulted in us finding enough hands to shift it. The beam, incidentally, was 6" deeper/taller than that which had been specified - the steelyard owner said he had done this because it would be stronger - the results of this difference in dimensions, the heights of the pads we had prepared etc., is another story.

As life in the Languedoc passed on, we have become accustomed to this and can accept appiointments, dates and hours as being wispy insubstantial things with resignation and content. It isd a large part of the pleasure of living in the Languedoc region of southern France.

It is not just us expats, the French from the more northern regions also marvel at Midi time.

Market Days in the Languedoc

A correspondent — 2008-03-01T02:18:36Z

The markets in the towns and villages of Languedoc are one of the great pleasures of our region.
From bric a brac and old car wheels through to fresh fish and heavenly cheeses.

- Languedoc Market Days

Fractional Ownership in the Languedoc

Rob — 2008-02-27T08:43:54Z

Imagine having a holiday home in the Languedoc which is always ready to welcome you. new sheets on beds, no maintenance, no diy, just relax time all at a fraction of the normal languedoc real estate prices.

we've seen them in the States, all around the Caribbean and on offer in Spain from the ex timeshare barons.

Now at last there are two fractional ownership developments coming to fruition in the Languedoc.

i believe fractional ownership is the future of the second home market in france and I am glad to see two different developments emerging.
One fractional development is topend, with a gourmet restaurant, pool and golf course all in the Herault countryside.

The other is a seaview coastal fractional development offering one bed apartments and studios all with sea view terraces down along the coast towards Spain one hop after Colioure the fauvist's fave (hmm, had to get that in! ) destination. Here the sea is part of france's natural heritage classified and protected as such. this is Cerbere which is a divers paradise so all those born with a snorkel on their mouths should watch French Property Fractional, the new French fractional property ownership site for more details as they emerge.

A Fine and Private place

The Frogman — 2008-02-17T05:46:10Z

February in the Herault is a mixed season with cold jacket and jumper days interspersed with bright sun teeshirt and shorts surprises - almost an English spring.

The cicadas have not begun to chant, the swallows are neither arriving nor leaving in their swooping swishing clouds. Work in the vines is restricted to pruning. The world is quiet.

Smoke from wood burning fires still curls up from the village rooves, a time for walks, a time for talks and meetings in quiet spaces.

We have elections coming up for the mayors and councils of our villages, first round on the 9th of March, political feathers are being straightened and made brilliant ready for the louder brighter courting displays of early March.

EEC (common market) citizens who are residents in France can vote in these elections. Over the last 20 years In the Herault there has been a very large influx of British citizens. Most of these buying houses in the small villages.

Hence, in the villages of less than 1000 heads, the English vote is beginning to be recognised as valuable.

Last night, all the English residents of our village were invited to a meeting arranged by an ex and would be mayor to 'meet one another' and discuss the evolution of the village.

Like all small communities, issues are local, which side of the village - North or South - a new development should be built, speed of cars coming through the village, dogs and dogshit in the village streets.Nobody is banning imports from Montpellier or declaring war on Perpignan.

This is, however, a Mediterranean region, where bulls still run through the streets and emotions , old loyalties, feuds run faster and higher and deeper than the bulls.

Thus it was in the half light of the early evening we headed round towards our salle de fetes to be met and guided by one of the would be councillors into a dimly lit garage far away from the prying eyes of mortals.We were told that the meeting was being held there because if it took place in the light of a public place it would be disrupted and the would be councillors would be howled down by 'wolves'.

After all issues had been discussed, all issues being why the new development should not be built where the present mayor plans to buid it and that it should be moved from the North side of the village to the south side, pertinent questions were asked.

Who are the would be councillors on the Mayor's electoral council list? This was tricky, the would be mayor explained it had to remain secret, because otherwise his supporters and would be councillors would be reviled in the streets, probably have their gabardines spat upon and certainly be prey to the "wolves".

It was then proposed that if we had any friends that might or should be interested and knew of a fine and private place like a well hidden garage, meetings could be held to further the cause - viral garage marketing strategy.

February is a curious month.

Final Films for 2nd PECC season announced

Sarah Ridout — 2007-07-03T11:45:20Z

â€˜The Last King of Scotland', The Good German, A Prairie Home Companion (â€˜The Last show' in France) (PECC Bonus), The Painted Veil (Le Voile des Illusions)and Dreamgirls (PECC Bonus) are the final movies for PECC's 2nd season.

PECC Pezenas English Language Cinema Club
presents:
PECC Programme Avril - Juin 2007

Avril
Ven 13 / Dim 15 (*NB 2nd week-end en Avril)
Last King of Scotland
Real - Kevin Macdonald, avec Forest Whitaker Best Actor Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA's

Mai
Ven 4 / Dim 6
The Good German
Real - Stephen Soderbergh avec George Clooney, Cate Blanchett + Tobey Maguire

Ven 18
A Prairie Home Companion (â€˜The Last show' in France)
Real - Robert Altman avec Meryl Streep, Woody Harrelson,
Garrison Keillor, Lily Tomlin, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Kline,
Virginia Madsen, John C. Reilly, +Lindsay Lohan
(PECC Bonus)

Juin
Ven 8 / Dim 10 (*NB 2nd weekend in Juin*)
The Painted Veil (Le Voile des Illusions)Real - John Curran, avec Naomi Watts + Edward Norton

Ven 22
DreamgirlsReal - Bill Condon avec Jennifer Hudson (Best supporting actress Oscars, Golden Globes + BAFTA's), Beyonce, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx.
Cult 80's Motown musical
(PECC Bonus)

See you at the movies!

Sarah

PECC

â€˜LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE' Bonus PECC

Sarah Ridout — 2007-03-17T08:39:05Z

20H45 Cinema Moliere at Pezenas
Hi everyone its Pecc Bonus Time again!
â€˜LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE' (VO/ST)is the winner of the Best supporting Actor + BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Oscars 2007 and screens on Friday 16 Mars @20H45 for one Session Only!
Come and see for yourself if the movie equals the publicity hype and if the performance is better than the outstanding nominated performances in â€˜the Departed' and 'Dreamgirls'.
Best
Sarah (...)

- Pezenas English Language Cinema Club