Not something one would expect or anticipate as truffles as so difficult to grow commercially. In the US it has failed despite numerous attempts. But apparently China is making inroads although not well-received for taste and smell:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57353188/the-trouble-with-truffles/?tag=broadcast
I'll be paying more attention next summer when we're buying truffles in the markets.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
French Dry Cleaning - Origins are Definitely French
Based upon today's free-association with D. we came up with French dry cleaning as another term to research. Is dry cleaning French? What makes it French? So, with a little research, all dry cleaning originates from the Frenchman Jean Baptiste Jolly, a mid-19h century dye-works owner. He apparently noticed that his tablecloth was cleaner after his maid (yes probably a French maid) spilled kerosene on it. He began to do research on solvents that would achieve cleaning without using water, thus, the term "nettoyage à sec," or "dry cleaning" was born.
We all think of French dry cleaning as something more specialized, with a little more attention to detail, a little extra care. D. and I think of it as some extra tissue paper in the sleeves, perhaps, depending on the cleaner.
Regardless, it is all French.
We all think of French dry cleaning as something more specialized, with a little more attention to detail, a little extra care. D. and I think of it as some extra tissue paper in the sleeves, perhaps, depending on the cleaner.
Regardless, it is all French.
Monday, January 2, 2012
French Blue - Something that really is French
In keeping with my research on terms or phrases that include the word "french" D. and I started talking today about "French Blue" - what color is it really? Where does the term come from? Is it really French? It is one of those colors that looks wonderful on everyone, warm but bright, soft but colorful, yet not overpowering. Looks good with black, brown, white, almost any other color.
So, a little research later and voila:
"French ultramarine ("French blue," Guimet's blue," "permanent blue," "synthetic ultramarine"):
Origin and History: Ultramarine is imitated nowadays by a process which was invented in France in the eighteenth century as a result of a prize offered by the French government. The raw materials of ultramarine manufacture are soda and china clay and coal and sulphur, all common and inexpensive materials. The process requires skill, is inexpensive, and the product is many thousand times less costly than genuine ultramarine prepared from lapis lazuli. The first observance of the substance was made by Goethe in 1787, when he noticed blue deposits on the walls of lime kilns near Palermo. He mentioned that the glassy blue masses were cut and used locally as a substitute for lapis in decorative work. In 1928, Jean Baptiste Guimet perfected a method of producing an artificial, and cheaper, ultramarine pigment.
Making the Pigment: Artificial ultramarine, also known as French ultramarine was made by heating, in a closed-fire clay furnace, a finely ground mixture of China clay, soda ash, coal or wood, charcoal, silica and sulfur. The mixture was maintained at red heat for one hour and then allowed to cool. It was then washed to remove excess sodium sulfate, dried and ground until the proper degree of fineness was obtained.
Chemical Properties: Because the particles in synthetic ultramarine are smaller and more uniform than natural ultramarine, they diffuse light more evenly. Chemically, the artificial ultramarines are not distinguishable from the blue particles of genuine lapis; you can only tell by the percentage of colorless optically active crystals, whereas the artificial is pure blue and free from diluting elements.
Artistic Notes: Synthetic ultramarine is not as vivid a blue as natural ultramarine. Synthetic ultramarine is also not as permanent as natural ultramarine. French ultramarine is light-resisting, but owing to the use of sulphur in its manufacture, may discolor in the presence of acid. " from this website: http://jcsparks.com/painted/pigment-chem.html#FakeLapis
So, a little research later and voila:
"French ultramarine ("French blue," Guimet's blue," "permanent blue," "synthetic ultramarine"):
Origin and History: Ultramarine is imitated nowadays by a process which was invented in France in the eighteenth century as a result of a prize offered by the French government. The raw materials of ultramarine manufacture are soda and china clay and coal and sulphur, all common and inexpensive materials. The process requires skill, is inexpensive, and the product is many thousand times less costly than genuine ultramarine prepared from lapis lazuli. The first observance of the substance was made by Goethe in 1787, when he noticed blue deposits on the walls of lime kilns near Palermo. He mentioned that the glassy blue masses were cut and used locally as a substitute for lapis in decorative work. In 1928, Jean Baptiste Guimet perfected a method of producing an artificial, and cheaper, ultramarine pigment.
Making the Pigment: Artificial ultramarine, also known as French ultramarine was made by heating, in a closed-fire clay furnace, a finely ground mixture of China clay, soda ash, coal or wood, charcoal, silica and sulfur. The mixture was maintained at red heat for one hour and then allowed to cool. It was then washed to remove excess sodium sulfate, dried and ground until the proper degree of fineness was obtained.
Chemical Properties: Because the particles in synthetic ultramarine are smaller and more uniform than natural ultramarine, they diffuse light more evenly. Chemically, the artificial ultramarines are not distinguishable from the blue particles of genuine lapis; you can only tell by the percentage of colorless optically active crystals, whereas the artificial is pure blue and free from diluting elements.
Artistic Notes: Synthetic ultramarine is not as vivid a blue as natural ultramarine. Synthetic ultramarine is also not as permanent as natural ultramarine. French ultramarine is light-resisting, but owing to the use of sulphur in its manufacture, may discolor in the presence of acid. " from this website: http://jcsparks.com/painted/pigment-chem.html#FakeLapis
Sale Dates for France 2012
Here is a good description of how the sales work in France each year:
"The Winter sales normally start on the second Wednesday in January every year. In most departments in 2012 they start 11th January and finish 14th February. Summer sales normally start on the third Wednesday of each year in France. In 2012 they start 27th June and end 31st July.
However, many departments have different start and finish dates in 2012. More information (in French) - www.economie.gouv.fr
The summer sales in France in NORD (59), Pas de Calais (62) and Aube (10 - Troyes, Factory shopping centres) start mid June and run until the end of July every year. Six departments near the French border are free to set different dates: the Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Moselle, Vosges, Landes and Pyrénées-Atlantiques.
In Belgium the sales are held in January (2012 - 2nd to 31st) and July (2012 - 1st to 31st July)." from the website www.day-tripper.net
Note the sale dates for Provence in summer will begin July 4.
"The Winter sales normally start on the second Wednesday in January every year. In most departments in 2012 they start 11th January and finish 14th February. Summer sales normally start on the third Wednesday of each year in France. In 2012 they start 27th June and end 31st July.
However, many departments have different start and finish dates in 2012. More information (in French) - www.economie.gouv.fr
The summer sales in France in NORD (59), Pas de Calais (62) and Aube (10 - Troyes, Factory shopping centres) start mid June and run until the end of July every year. Six departments near the French border are free to set different dates: the Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Moselle, Vosges, Landes and Pyrénées-Atlantiques.
In Belgium the sales are held in January (2012 - 2nd to 31st) and July (2012 - 1st to 31st July)." from the website www.day-tripper.net
Note the sale dates for Provence in summer will begin July 4.
Austerity Measures in France for 2012 including tax increases - Possible General Strike on Ja. 18
This is a helpful article to understand changes in the sales tax structure in France, happening now in 2012, including home fuel costs, certain foods and household necessities, as well as restaurants and hotels. This is all being done to close the budget deficits. Definitely would not happen in the US where tax increases are sacrilege and we just keep digging the budget hole deeper and deeper.
The article also notes a call for a general strike on January 18, just after the Winter Sales start in Paris on January 11.
http://www.france24.com/en/20120102-france-taxes-rise-vat-austerity-measures-consumer-sarkozy-fillon
The article also notes a call for a general strike on January 18, just after the Winter Sales start in Paris on January 11.
http://www.france24.com/en/20120102-france-taxes-rise-vat-austerity-measures-consumer-sarkozy-fillon
A US Politician Would Never Even Consider Proposing This - A Salary Cap
Propose a salary cap on anyone, much less a revered sports figure:
http://www.france24.com/en/20111230-french-politicians-salary-cap-david-beckham-psg-paris-saint-germain-football-sport
http://www.france24.com/en/20111230-french-politicians-salary-cap-david-beckham-psg-paris-saint-germain-football-sport
The Euro After 10 Years
So on the anniversary of the Euro, an interesting article:
http://www.france24.com/en/20111230-europe-eurozone-ten-year-anniversary-rise-fall-euro-sovereign-debt-crisis
D. and I were discussing this recently and recalling the advent of the Euro in 2002. Initially, the exchange rate was about .90 to the dollar, but within 12 months it was on par, then 1.10 to the dollar, and it has never retreated. I follow the currency daily and keep thinking that the correct value should be about 1.25 but even with several EU countries basically insolvent with Germany and France bailing out the failing EU states, the Euro remains stronger than the dollar. Perhaps it is related to their decisions, necessary and unpopular, to raise taxes, reduce some benefits (i.e. raising retirement ages), etc. Although the US has a much higher retirement age for obtaining government benefits, we simply refuse to raise taxes, and bizarrely cut taxes on wealthy folks who can clearly afford to pay more, gut taxes on corporations etc. Makes no sense to me. Trickle down economics has failed since it was implemented in 1981 as we have seen the growing disparity between rich and poor in our country, loss of manufacturing jobs, and so many struggling just to survive.
When a business needs to survive it not only cuts costs, but also sometimes raises prices. It doesn't give away the store. Just seems like common sense to me.
http://www.france24.com/en/20111230-europe-eurozone-ten-year-anniversary-rise-fall-euro-sovereign-debt-crisis
D. and I were discussing this recently and recalling the advent of the Euro in 2002. Initially, the exchange rate was about .90 to the dollar, but within 12 months it was on par, then 1.10 to the dollar, and it has never retreated. I follow the currency daily and keep thinking that the correct value should be about 1.25 but even with several EU countries basically insolvent with Germany and France bailing out the failing EU states, the Euro remains stronger than the dollar. Perhaps it is related to their decisions, necessary and unpopular, to raise taxes, reduce some benefits (i.e. raising retirement ages), etc. Although the US has a much higher retirement age for obtaining government benefits, we simply refuse to raise taxes, and bizarrely cut taxes on wealthy folks who can clearly afford to pay more, gut taxes on corporations etc. Makes no sense to me. Trickle down economics has failed since it was implemented in 1981 as we have seen the growing disparity between rich and poor in our country, loss of manufacturing jobs, and so many struggling just to survive.
When a business needs to survive it not only cuts costs, but also sometimes raises prices. It doesn't give away the store. Just seems like common sense to me.
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