Strike Watch

Today (and promised for the entire week), it is the air controllers turn to wreak havoc. One of two flights will leave from Orly , and flights from Roissy will be late, as is so often the case, but even later. I understood that it was because 40 controllers were being moved to Roissy from Orly, but since this doesn't seem to be enough of a reason, either I don't have the whole story or they are just getting more unreasonable.

I am so glad I am not traveling this week.

Strike Watch-Strasbourg Hairdressers!

Hairdressers in Strasbourg striking against regulations that state one has to have proper training before starting their own hair salon. Protesters believe that five years of working in any salon should be enough experience to start one's own business.
So on the one hand, we have taxi drivers protesting against deregulation of their profession and now hairdressers protesting regulation. Pity the politician...

Strike Watch -Second Opération Escargot

Yes, the taxis were striking again today, making idea of taking the car out of the garage. A forty minute jaunt could turn into hours trapped amongst a cacophony of raging hysterical drivers if caught behind the mob of taxis blocking axes; hours - I have neither the patience nor the temperament.

In the end, it turned out to be rather delightful-there were no unpleasant surprises. And I must admit to feeling a tinge of evil glee - I saw operation escargot in action twice, but always going in the opposite direction. I feel like one lucky traveller today!

As it turns out, they won in the end, no additional taxis to be bestowed on the streets of Paris, so it will be just as impossible as ever to get a taxi in Paris.

And why would anyone vote for a politician promising change? How can any politician make any changes when the natives will prevent any changes from actually being put into practice?

Strike Watch - Opération Escargot

Operation Escargot-the first time I heard that expression, I thought it was utterly hilarious and clever. But that was when it was truckers on the French superhighways, nothing that affected my day. Today’s strike is national and urban and bound to be entirely vexing. Taxi drivers are gathering in Paris, around the Place de la Republique, to protest deregulation and an addition of some 50,000 taxis to the 16,000 already present, if I heard the numbers right, in the Paris region alone.
While taxis are far from numerous, I can’t imagine what this will do Parisian congestion. It would be nice to think it will be just as easy to hail a taxi as in New York or London, but will it? Let’s see how this plays out.

I haven’t heard whether they will be on the move once they gather, but can’t imagine otherwise, since wreaking havoc must be high on their agendas. So I fear a lot of obnoxious honking, disregard of traffic lights, and general chaos around my home in the sixth, as the day wears on.

This is just too good - for all those who love great design and are looking for reasonably priced unusual Xmas gifts, here is the Core77 Ultimate Gift Guide . Some of the captions are really funny, so I recommend careful reading for maximum pleasure.

France as cited in 'The Onion's Atlas of the Planet Earth"

I haven't written this! Just quoting from the Onion's new parody, Our Dumb World: Atlas Of The Planet Earth.

This is their entry for France:

"Home to Earth's entire population of 62.7 million people, every single one of the planet's 427 cities, and all of its history, culture and beauty, France is the only country in the world. Located directly in the center of the universe, around which everything else revolves, the nation of France is the sole beacon of life and civilization in an otherwise black and empty void."

No comment.

Strike Watch-major

Another transport strike is wreaking havoc in the French capital again since yesterday.

Being France, this is not particularly news, and I have nothing more to say, Here's a link.

Oh wait, apparently there is a change. The French, usually so supportive of unions and demonstrations, are fed up with the havoc created by these massive strikes and have withdrawn their support for the movements. According to one report, around 70% do NOT believe the strikers demands should be met.

One of the (what I find to be outrageous)demands is that the train drivers be allowed to retire at age 50 because, 'driving a train is dangerous physical labor'. Dangerous?

Question - As people are living healthily into their 80-s and even 90's, what do they intend to do with the second half of their lives? And who is to pay for it? They clearly seem to think that it should be the government. Isn't this a clear example of a whole population evincing passive-agressive behavior? A whole population that feels victimized? Is it the educational system that grooms them to be so angry and entitled? Wouldn't they be less disgruntled if they felt more empowered to help themselves?