FRANCAIS AVEC MONSIEUR CALDWELL

By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Published: February 15, 2007 PARIS, Feb. 14 (Agence France-Presse) — Attendants at the Louvre were on a partial strike Wednesday, demanding a bonus for the stress of marshaling tens of thousands of daily visitors past the Mona Lisa. Christelle Guyader of the Sud Solidarités union said that with 8.3 million visitors in 2006, “our work is reduced to simply managing the flow.” This week, strikers posted stickers bearing a picture of a gagged Mona Lisa and the words: “My caretakers have had enough. Give them their due — 150 euros!” Management at the Louvre said that only 5 percent of the museum’s 1,100 attendants were on strike.

Celebrate Mardi Gras in French (from About.com) Mardi gras is an annual celebration called le mardi gras (literally, "fat Tuesday") or le carnaval in French. Les dates de mardi gras ~ Mardi gras dates Mardi gras takes place 46 days before Easter (le Pâques) - that is, sometime between 3 February and 9 March. Mardi gras is the day before Lent (le carême), which begins on Ash Wednesday (le mercredi des Cendres). The most famous Mardi gras celebration is held in New Orleans (la Nouvelle-Orléans), but many cities in Europe and South America also put on spectacular events. Les couleurs de mardi gras ~ Mardi gras colors Mardi gras has three official colors: le violet purple (justice) l'or gold (power) le vert green (faith) Les traditions de mardi gras ~ Mardi gras traditions Mardi gras is traditionally celebrated with a parade led by a captain, during which trinkets, or "throws," are tossed to the crowd. The parade is followed by a costume ball presided over by a kin

Express yourself in the language of love (from About.com) If French is the language of love, what better language is there to express your love? Here are some key French words and phrases related to love, friendship, and special occasions. Click on the link to hear the word or phrase pronounced. I love you (too) Je t'aime ( aussi ) How to say I love you in French - step by step I adore you Je t'adore Will you marry me? Veux-tu m'épouser ? to date sortir avec to get engaged se fiancer à , (or avec) to get married se marier avec engagement les fiançailles marriage le mariage wedding les noces , le mariage wedding anniversary l' anniversaire de mariage honeymoon la lune de miel St. Valentine's Day (card) (une carte de ) la Saint-Valentin present un cadeau flowers des fleurs candy des bonbons clothes des vêtements perfume le parfum jewelry des bijoux engagement ring une bague de fiançailles wedding ring une alliance husband un mar i un époux wife une femme une ép

PARIS, France (Reuters) -- A tragic screen portrait of Edith Piaf due out this month is expected to rekindle France's love affair with the tiny chanteuse whose emotive ballads remain among the best-loved songs in French. "La mome" ("The Kid"), also known internationally as "La vie en rose" from the title of one of her biggest hits, is due for release in France on February 14 and a series of media events will commemorate the singer, who died in 1963. Piaf's emotional interpretations of songs such as "Non, je ne regrette rien," "La vie en rose" and "Milord," her expressive eyes and hands and her trademark black dress made her an internationally acclaimed French icon. From this week, French television and radio will be airing tributes to Piaf, magazines are planning special editions and record companies are releasing a series of compilations to cash in on the wave of nostalgia they hope the film will generate. "La v

From news.france.com PARIS (AP) – Fear of runaway global warming pushed 46 countries to line up Saturday behind France’s appeal for a new environmental body that could single out – and perhaps police – nations that abuse the Earth. "It is our responsibility. The future of humanity demands it," President Jacques Chirac said in an appeal to put the environment at the top of the world’s agenda. He spoke at a conference a day after the release in Paris of a grim report from the world’s leading climate scientists and government officials that said global warming is so severe that it will "continue for centuries" and that humans are to blame. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s report sparked calls for fast, planet–wide action and was embraced by Europeans. A total of 46 countries agreed to pursue plans for the new organization, and to hold their first meeting in Morocco this spring. But key world polluters – including the United States, China, India and Russi

From About.com The Catholic holiday of Candlemas, on 2 February, is a feast to commemorate the purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of baby Jesus. In France, this holiday is called la Chandeleur, Fête de la Lumière, or crêpe day.Not only do the French eat a lot of crêpes on Chandeleur, but they also do a bit of fortune telling while making them. It is traditional to hold a coin in your writing hand and a crêpe pan in the other, and flip the crêpe into the air. If you manage to catch the crêpe in the pan, your family will be prosperous for the rest of the year. There are all kinds of French proverbs and sayings for Chandeleur; here are just a few. Note the similarities to the Groundhog Day predictions made in the US: À la Chandeleur, l'hiver cesse ou reprend vigueur On Candlemas, winter ends or strengthens À la Chandeleur, le jour croît de deux heures On Candlemas, the day grows by two hours Chandeleur couverte, quarante jours de perte Candlemas covered (in snow), fo

From Yahoo News Jan 31, 8:25 AM ET The French already enjoy a 35-hour work week and generous vacation. Now the health minister wants to look into whether workers should be allowed to sleep on the job. France launched plans this week to spend $9 million this year to improve public awareness about sleeping troubles. About one in three French people suffer from them, the ministry says. Fifty-six percent of French complain that a poor night's sleep has affected their job performance, according to the ministry. "Why not a nap at work? It can't be a taboo subject," Health Minister Xavier Bertrand said Monday. He called for further studies and said he would promote on-the-job naps if they prove useful. France's state-run health insurance provider will send letters explaining the importance of good sleep. The Health Ministry's Web site offers tips on how best to get a good night's rest. The ministry's online "Passport to Sleep" recommends cutting dow