The First Movie Ever Made Was Made in Lyon

Today my  French class visited the Institute Lumière, which is the former mansion, now a museum, of the two brothers who made the first motion picture. The brothers, Auguste and Louis, invented the cinematograph in their factory which was located just behind the mansion. In 1895 they filmed their employees leaving the factory. The film was only 46 seconds long but it is regarded as the first motion picture ever made and it was the start of the motion picture industry. Click HERE for details about the two brothers, their films and their inventions and to see great pictures of the mansion. I did not have my camera with me again today and took these photos of the mansion, which are not so great, with my phone.

Interesting facts about the mansion: It was very rare that a house built in 1902 would have had electric lights, which you see on the ceiling of this room. The house also had heat and a telephone; there were only 5 telephones in Lyon at the time.

Below are three existing versions of the film called "Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory in Lyon", or "La Sortie des usines Lumière à Lyon" in French. There is music set to this video but there was no music accompanying the original film. It's funny to me that there's a mischievous dog darting about in each version. The entrance that the workers are seen coming out of is still there today though the actual factory is long gone. This morning we were standing in this exact spot looking toward the old walls and beams of this entrance, so it felt kind of cool being right there. The street, by the way, is called Rue du Premier Film.

Animation and Pizza Wars (with no photographic evidence)

I like seeing this nice poster around town advertising the 2013 European Animation festival coming up in March.

I had to take this picture with my phone and not my real camera. The reason for this is because I wanted to carry my jaunty little cross-body purse in which I can only fit the bare minimum: phone, credit cards, cash, lip balm, keys and mints. Inevitably when I don't have my camera with me something photo worthy happens. On my way home tonight I first heard the horns of a dozen Domino's delivery motor scooters then I saw them buzz past me on the street. Weird, I thought. Then as I rounded the next corner I first heard hip-hop music then saw a dozen dancers dancing in front of a Pizza Hut that was having its grand opening. So apparently the Domino's guys were racing around the neighborhood in packs like Hell's Angels in hopes of dissuading anyone who might be tempted to give Pizza Hut a try. The dancing made it all seem West Side Story-ish.  In true French fashion, there was also a dog sitting in the doorway of Pizza Hut as if he was giving his stamp of approval; he looked like a meat lover to me. And of course, no camera. Yes, I could have used the phone but trying to take pictures with it at night just doesn't cut it, so you'll just have to take my word for it. All of that really happened.

How Stupid Do You Think We Are?

It was a very cold, snowy day today. There was no accumulation but  we watched  big, fluffy snowflakes fall all day.  In contrast to this peaceful scene, one of the big news items here this past week was all about the cutting missives between Mr. Taylor, American CEO of Titan Tires and Arnaud Montebourg, the French Minister of Industrial  Renewal. The following letter is from Taylor to Montebourg....

February 8, 2013

Dear Mr. Montebourg:

I have just returned to the United States from Australia where I have been for the past few weeks on business; therefore, my apologies for answering your letter dated 31 January 2013.

I appreciate your thinking that your Ministry is protecting industrial activities and jobs in France.  I and Titan have a 40-year history of buying closed factories and companies, losing millions of dollars and turning them around to create a good business, paying good wages. Goodyear tried for over four years to save part of the Amiens jobs that are some of the highest paid, but the French unions and French government did nothing but talk.

I have visited the factory a couple of times. The French workforce gets paid high wages but works only three hours. They get one hour for breaks and lunch, talk for three, and work for three. I told this to the French union workers to their faces. They told me that’s the French way!

You are a politician so you don't want to rock the boat. The Chinese are shipping tires into France - really all over Europe - and yet you do nothing. In five years, Michelin won’t be able to produce tires in France. France will lose its industrial business because government is more government.

Sir, your letter states you want Titan to start a discussion. How stupid do you think we are? Titan is the one with money and talent to produce tires. What does the crazy union have? It has the French government. The French farmer wants cheap tire. He does not care if the tires are from China or India and governments are subsidizing them. Your government doesn’t care either. “We’re French!”

The US government is not much better than the French. Titan had to pay millions to Washington lawyers to sue the Chinese tire companies because of their subsidizing. Titan won. The government collects the duties. We don’t get the duties, the government does.

Titan is going to buy a Chinese tire company or an Indian one, pay less than one Euro per hour and ship all the tires France needs. You can keep the so-called workers. Titan has no interest in the Amiens North factory.

Best regards,
Maurice M. Taylor, Jr.
Chairman and CEO

And this is the response from Montebourg to Taylor: ________________________________________________________________

LE MINISTRE    -                          Paris, le 20 fevrier, 2013                                                                         

 Sir,                                                                                                                   

Your extremely insulting words show perfect ignorance of our country and its solid advantages, such as its world-renowned attractiveness and its relationship with the United States of America.

France is proud to host more than 20,000 foreign companies on its soil, representing nearly two million jobs, a third of industrial exports, 20 per cent of research and development and 25 per cent of private industrial employment. Each year, there are 700 decisions of locating foreign investment and job creators of value in France. And this strong attractiveness does not get weaker, on the contrary, from year to year it is getting stronger.

Within these foreign investments, the United States occupies the first place. 4200 subsidiaries of U.S. companies employ nearly 500,000 people. The presence of U.S. companies in France is very old: Haviland since 1842, IBM since 1914, Coca-Cola since 1933, General Electric since 1974. And many others. These links are from year to year renewed: in 2012, companies like Massey Ferguson, Mars Chocolate, or 3M chose to increase their presence in France.

What are the decisive factors in the choice of location? Foreign companies in France are seeking quality infrastructure, quality of life, an energy among the most competitive in Europe, and a very favorable environment for research and innovation. But most importantly, in contrast to your ridiculous and derogatory comments, all these companies know and appreciate the quality and productivity of the French workforce and the commitment, know-how, talent and skills of French workers

To amplify the attractiveness, the French government has recently taken 35 measures in the National Pact for growth, competitiveness and employment. Among them, the tax credit for competitiveness and employment allege costs of 6% wage firms between 1 and 2.5 SMIC. In addition, the social partners have reached an agreement on the employment security, which illustrates the quality of social dialogue in France and the importance that the government, to which I belong, attaches to it.

Can I remind you that Titan, the company you head, is 20 times smaller than Michelin, the French technology leader with a global reach, and 35 times more profitable? That shows the extent that Titan could have learnt and gained enormously from a French base.

France is especially proud and happy to welcome American investment between our two countries that are linked by an old and passionate friendship. Do you at least know what Lafayette did for the United States of America? For our part, we French will never forget the sacrifice of young American soldiers on the beaches of Normandy to deliver us from Nazism in 1944. And since you choose to criticize your own country in the letter that you send me, I must tell you how the French government admires the policy implemented by President Obama. As Minister for Industry, I am particularly sensitive to actions in favor of the relocation of manufacturing jobs in the United States and radical innovation. It is our policy that even some present with the parent inspired by your President.

You mention your intention to exploit the labor of some countries to flood our markets. I must tell you that this condemnable calculation and short-sighted and will sooner or later face a justified reaction (just as in the US). This is already the case in France with increasingly numerous allies in the Union European arguing for reciprocity of exchanges and organize against [exploitation of cheap labor]. In the meantime, rest assured that you can count on me to have the competent government agencies survey your imported tires with a redoubled zeal. They will ensure compliance with all standards particularly applicable to materials, environmental and technical.

I beg you to accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest regards.

                                                                  Arnaud MONTEBOURG

___________________________________________

Talk amongst yourselves, compare and contrast, argue and debate. My only comment: Lafayette, really? I'm cool with Lafayette but didn't the Minister go a little off topic in that second to the last paragraph? Stay on point, Arnaud.

The Weekend in a Nutshell

Saturday: Shopping

Sunday: Church. Okay, I didn't actually go to church but I couldn't resist getting a shot from the street of Saint Nizier when it's doors were wide open.

Photos From Abel to Rue de la Fromagerie

 After a great lunch (see notes below) I took some photos on what became a mild and partly-sunny Friday. We haven't seen the sun for almost two weeks so I was happy to get out and at least enjoy some intermittent sun.

This dog belongs to the owner of this tobacco shop. He looks like he's either seriously thinking about smoking one of those pipes and discussing the news about the Pope or he's sick and tired of smelling tobacco and has decided to go outside. With that beard, I'd peg him as a pipe smoker.

There was an article in the latest issue of Bon Gout, a local food magazine, about Abel's recently winning the title of the best bouchon of the year (2012). There are only 18 bouchons that are officially recognized and certified as authentic. The article confirmed what I already knew, the quality of the food, the old world decor and the friendly staff at Abel are top notch. We ate there today and for once I didn't order the quenelle but instead had the chicken with morels in a cream sauce. A corner table at Abel:

 The courtyard of the Printing Museum

Happy Valentine's Day

Beignets and Bugnes Lyonnaise

Isn't that cafe cute? It looked inviting as I walked past on a freezing cold late afternoon and I thought the large bag of freshly made treats I was carrying would be just right with a hot cafe au lait. Today after class I spent the afternoon learning to make beignets and bugnes thanks to my Lyonnaise friend. They are both simple to make and delicious. Beignets always remind me of Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, the first place I ever had them. And I ate bugnes for the first time here at the farmers market. They are similar to beignets except that the recipe my friend uses adds orange flower water and rather that making them light and fluffy like a beignet they are thin and crispy. 

The result of work our was three large bowls of beignets and bugnes. Maybe we overdid it - there was still dough left for another batch of beignets!

Here are links to the recipes that are more or less the same ones we used today:

Beignets de carnaval

Bugnes

Protesting, Debating, Biting Your Lips and Eating Your Heart Out

People were out today protesting against a recent decree made by French President Hollande to add hours to kindergarten and primary school schedules by announcing half days on Wednesdays. Wednesdays have long been the day off for schools and the day when students participate in extra-curricular activities. The school hours the rest of the week are 8:30am - 4:30pm. And there's a 2 hour lunch break in there. One article I read said that on average French children spend about 850 hours a year in class which is more than other European kids who spend about 750 hours a year at school. By comparison the average in the USA is 950 hours. I mulled all this over as I watched the protesters file past. That's pretty much all I could do as they proceeded down major streets and intersections and the bus lines were interrupted.

It's Mardi Gras but the only evidence I saw of it was a tiny sign on one of the candy store windows. The other window in the shop was devoted to Valentine's Day. But what with issues like the addition of school hours, the Pope stepping down and the big "marriage for all" debate, no one has time to have fun. Take this exchange in the French National Assembly last week between the Minister of Justice, Christiane Taubira and Christian Jacob, leader of the UMP in the National Assembly (you don't have to speak French to get the point, which is : this debate has been a hot mess)

So, I need to calm my nerves and look for signs of Cupid (or as they say here Cupidon). Picard, my favorite frozen food chain, is offering something besides the expected flowers and chocolate...lip shaped appetizers anyone?...

Or maybe some chocolate fondue with hearts made out of a cake in a variety of flavors...

Gratte-Ciel : An Art Deco Neighborhood

The Gratte-Ciel neighborhood in Villeurbanne, a suburb of Lyon, was completed in 1934. It's two 19-story Art Deco towers stand sentinel at the entrance of an intimate main street lined with shops and cafes which leads to a square where you find the City Hall and a Theatre (pictured above). Gratte-Ciel means "skyscraper" in French. This is one of the most interesting places in Lyon for me I suppose because it's so unique. The pictures I took on this cold, dreary Sunday don't do it justice but I have inserted a link at the bottom of the post that will take you to another place with some great photos.

The towers

This project was very modern for its time as the apartments had running hot water, central heat and elevators. Other features include graduated balconies and stained glass windows with geometric designs in the stairwells.

City Hall of Villeurbanne

Visit THIS SITE to see more current and historic images of these apartments and buildings including a furnished model of what one would have looked like in the 30's. 

Seagulls on the Rhône

There was a flock of seagulls (hee hee) milling around by the riverside today. I took some pictures of them as they watched me wait for the bus. They were no doubt hoping I'd throw out some bread crumbs.

Where Have You Been?

I don't know where you've been but I was in Memphis visiting for the past few weeks. I ran into Mr. Haddadi at Little Tea Shop pre-Toronto trade. 

And remember this?......

I had a sleepover with Superfine Poppy... She'll be 14 in March!

Had fun at a couple of Grizzlies games...

Now I'm back in Lyon and back in class and back in the (french) saddle again.

PS - I realize this is an odd assortment of pictures but these are pretty much the only pictures I took. I'll be back in the Lyon swing tomorrow.