You can count me as a Frog-hater of the first order. I have not liked them since I lived in Germany a dozen or so years ago. They smell, they are rude, they are overtly obnoxious to all Americans, they intentionally gave bad directions, they didn’t have ice cubes, and overall, the place just sucked. yes, I am generalizing- I did have a few positive experiences in France.

Regardless, there is no point to renaming French Fries and French toast (to freedom fries and freedom toast, respectively) is. Matt Yglesias links to this Joe Conason story pointing out that “French Toast” is actaully an American invention:

[A] gastronomic historian writes: “French toast was not invented in France. In fact, it was invented in Albany, NY. Tavern owner Joseph French is credited with inventing the famous breakfast in 1724. Supposedly, Mr. French didn’t know the proper usage of the possessive apostrophe and, instead of ‘French’s toast’ he put ‘French toast’ on his menu.”

Interesting. More interesting is the France/Belgium debate over the origin of french fries. I had always thought they were french fries because they had been ‘frenched.’

French Fried LogicPost + Comments (1)

These are not serious people, and they are not serious nations. Thus, we should quit trying to take them seriously:

Sharp opposition, both from Europe and Iraq, was voiced today to a new British proposal setting out six ways for Saddam Hussein to prove his commitment to disarmament and avoid an invasion.

In Paris, the French foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin, said the plan, which would give United Nations weapons inspectors in Iraq a short extension, perhaps to March 24, did not address the key issue of seeking a peaceful end to the showdown with Iraq.

Security Council members are scheduled to meet today to consider the proposal, which is intended to win support for a draft resolution authorizing war against Baghdad.

Mr. de Villepin said France rejected the “logic of ultimatums,” and added in a statement: “It’s not a question of giving Iraq a few more days before committing to using force. It’s about making resolute progress towards peaceful disarmament, as mapped out by inspections that offer a credible alternative to war.”

The Iraqi opposition to ultimatums leading to real disarmament came as a complete surprise- the French opposition less so.

Now Do You Understand?Post + Comments (1)

The world’s first permanent war crimes court swore in its first 18 judges Tuesday to try the 21st century’s worst crimes in a move hailed as the biggest legal milestone since Hitler’s henchmen were tried at Nuremberg.

Amid pomp and ceremony, the judges at the International Criminal Court, or ICC, 11 men and seven women, were sworn in to try people accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Insert your own snarky joke. Who are they going to try? Mugabe? Doubt it, too cozy with the French. What about Hussein? Woops- too cozy with the French.

I know- Sharon, Netanyahu, and Bush.

The Impotent ICCPost + Comments (3)

Someone please define what exactly a smoking gun is, and what will actually constitute material breach of UN Resolution 1441. I want to discuss this issue in good faith, but it is clear to me that I simply do not understand the terms of the debate.

Smoking Gun?Post + Comments (5)