The absence of clapping was actually the most surprising, there was nothing until he got up to take a bow. I don't think I'd ever seen that unless there was an explicit request before the concert, and even then, it's not necessarily followed.

TV

I've started a project that will probably take me about ten years, the New History of Contemporary France published by Le Seuil.
I'm almost done with the first volume, The Fall of the Monarchy by Michel Vovelle, which covers 1787 to 1792. It is a very good synthesis, the only thing I mind is that it sometimes expect…

I think it's rather insane that movie costing $100.000.000,00 can be considered anything but a big budget blockbuster.

I'll never stop laughing at the Sorbonne beng used as a short-hand for posh and intellectual in American culture, it's a bog-standard university whose degrees are close to worthless on the job market in France. An American studying there would probably have to pay (most likely cheaper than an American college) but…

It definitely is worth watching, amazingly enjoyable.

Thank you!
It's fun so far, I hope I'll be able to keep it up.

I am indeed impressed (not sure that's the most appropriate word) that anyone would manage to talk over his set, I remember being relieved that I had taken earplugs with me that day, not to mention that I always wonder why those people can't stay at the bar if they don't care about the opening act.

Like for Elton, I haven't yet listened to the new one (meant to be his latest return to form, Songs from the West Coast was pretty good though), but I hope he'll do a tour soon, I'd love to get to see him.
Btw, what did you think of The Haxan Cloak live? I think you've seen them now.

Liked for recent MBV.

I sort of miss them, they've always been huge in France (filling arenas since their second album), but they seem rather obscure everywhere else.

Mason & Dixon
Vineland
Against the Day
V.The Crying of Lot 49

Congratulations!

Restaurant sub-thread

Placebo - I'll Be Yours
Sonic Youth - Paper Cup Exit
Beastie Boys - Time For Livin'
Liars - It Fit When I Was A Kid
Fiona Apple - Every Single Night

No idea what Andre is and I think I don't want to know. But I recently had the opportunity to try an amazing champagne (Agrapart & Fils Terroirs if you can find it) and it was something else, I like champagne well enough but maybe I just happened to only have tried very similar ones befor that.

I hope you're back to full health soon!

It's worse but it's also very sudden, I often have colds and can usually make it to work, when I have the flu I can't make it out of bed. Last time I had the flu I woke up feeling fine, had lunch with a friend went to an exhibition and a coffee with a friend, and then suddenly had to go home only to come out five/days…

Belated happy birthday!

Happy birthday!