Fireworks, fast food, and the French

By Michael J.W. Stickings

Below is a stunning photo of the Eiffel Tower taken during Tuesday's Bastille Day celebrations. No real reason for posting it. I love Paris, what can I say? (The French are another matter. Sorry... just my Englishness coming out.)

I'm not a huge fan of fireworks, I must admit, though I'm not quite as down on them as Slate's Troy Patterson, who recently wrote a very funny column against them. Best passage:

No way were all men created equal. According to some of the country's top statisticians, exactly half of them are below average, and that is the segment of the population most likely to get too excited about fireworks. Other species highly intrigued by bright lights include moths and venison. Hearing people hoot lustily at a crossette or chrysanthemum, I assume that they are the same sort who lined up at bear-baiting pits back in the day and, in modern times, watch Howie Mandel reality shows.

By the way, did you know that France, haut-gastronomic France, is, among countries, McDonald's' second most profitable market in the world? It's true. Read Slate's Mike Steinberger, oenophile and food writer, on the rather amazing popularity of the fast-food chain in a country not exactly known for its pro-Americanism, appreciation of globalization, and love of bad eats.

Okay, here's the photo: