olivier in france

Olive oil

One of my best friends who is in the wine business and a fantastic cook made an incredible dinner for us (a group from our college years) saturday night... as we 've had great wine discussions here i wanted to share with you a few impressions: Here's the menu: (wine followed by the meal served with it) Hors d'oeuvre: Beaujolais pétillant naturel - romain desgrottes « un p’tit coin de paradis ». Very surprising bubbly Beaujolais. The bubbles are naturally produced by the fermentation of the wine that is made directly after the harvest (like you do cider with apple juice). Great way to start especially served cold in a hot summer day like it was Parmesan cookies. Original and tasty hors d'oeuvre ----------- First dish: Hermitage blanc cuvée chante-alouette, domaine chapoutier 2001. The Hermitage blanc is probably my favorite white wine on this planet. My friend could not have chosen any better! Especially picking that Chapoutier the best company in the northen Cotes du Rhone business (Cote Rotie, Hermitage, St Joseph, Condrieu...) Lobster in Chinese spring rolls served with smoked vinaigrette and roquette salad. We asked my friend for the recipe of the smoked vinaigrette for the rest of the night!! In fact he bought some smoked oil in a small Lyon delicatessen store where they smoke not only hams and fish but oil too... ---------- Second Dish: Volnay santenots 1er cru, domaine yvon. clerget 1998. With that kind of Bourgogne 1er cru, you're directly sent to Paradise. Probably the best red wine i've drunk for 5-6 years... Lamb charlotte with eggplants and "venered" rice (sorry, not sure about the venered rice) ... I had never heard about that rice before. It's almost black and delicious. My friend tell me it was strickly reserved for the exclusive use of the Emperors of China for centuries... I love lamb so well it made the dinner even better! ---------- Cheese: Saint-émilion grand cru, château tertre-daugay 1995. Even I, a not huge fan of Bordeaux, can not stay cold drinking something like that. Perfect for the cheese. Fresh goat cottage cheese with white truffle oil of Alba and citrus juice. The white truffle oil mixed with citrus juice was so great we finished it simply put on fresh bread! ---------- Dessert: Alsace pinot gris vendanges tardives, domaine andré dischler 1999. I could not believe it... Usually i don't like classic dessert white wines... i could have passed the rest of the night drinking that one... (well we passed it drinking some good Rioja.... not too bad...) Oeufs à la neige with passion fruit, michel troisgros recipe. Perfect mix Great end of the meal.

There's no new rule... the ref can stop play whenever he wants but nothing is strictly written about stopping play when a player is injured.

"Booster" don't bother.... The guy takes everything literally... i've tried to explain what i meant (basically that Obama because of his background will have the ear -i don't mean he's a cannibal Eryn!!!- of groups - hispanics, blacks, recently naturalised americans....-that usually don't feel the politicians are living on the same planet than them -yes Eryn they actually do, that planet is called "the Earth"- ) but it's useless...

and looking for it idi found that earlier one that was not that bad either... War Path May Prove Disastrous by Senator ROBERT BYRD Senate Floor Speech, Wednesday, February 12, 2003 To contemplate war is to think about the most horrible of human experiences. On this February day, as this nation stands at the brink of battle, every American on some level must be contemplating the horrors of war. Yet, this Chamber is, for the most part, silent -- ominously, dreadfully silent. There is no debate, no discussion, no attempt to lay out for the nation the pros and cons of this particular war. There is nothing. We stand passively mute in the United States Senate, paralyzed by our own uncertainty, seemingly stunned by the sheer turmoil of events. Only on the editorial pages of our newspapers is there much substantive discussion of the prudence or imprudence of engaging in this particular war. And this is no small conflagration we contemplate. This is no simple attempt to defang a villain. No. This coming battle, if it materializes, represents a turning point in U.S. foreign policy and possibly a turning point in the recent history of the world. This nation is about to embark upon the first test of a revolutionary doctrine applied in an extraordinary way at an unfortunate time. The doctrine of preemption -- the idea that the United States or any other nation can legitimately attack a nation that is not imminently threatening but may be threatening in the future -- is a radical new twist on the traditional idea of self defense. It appears to be in contravention of international law and the UN Charter. And it is being tested at a time of world-wide terrorism, making many countries around the globe wonder if they will soon be on our -- or some other nation's -- hit list. High level Administration figures recently refused to take nuclear weapons off of the table when discussing a possible attack against Iraq. What could be more destabilizing and unwise than this type of uncertainty, particularly in a world where globalism has tied the vital economic and security interests of many nations so closely together? There are huge cracks emerging in our time-honored alliances, and U.S. intentions are suddenly subject to damaging worldwide speculation. Anti-Americanism based on mistrust, misinformation, suspicion, and alarming rhetoric from U.S. leaders is fracturing the once solid alliance against global terrorism which existed after September 11. Here at home, people are warned of imminent terrorist attacks with little guidance as to when or where such attacks might occur. Family members are being called to active military duty, with no idea of the duration of their stay or what horrors they may face. Communities are being left with less than adequate police and fire protection. Other essential services are also short-staffed. The mood of the nation is grim. The economy is stumbling. Fuel prices are rising and may soon spike higher. This Administration, now in power for a little over two years, must be judged on its record. I believe that that record is dismal. In that scant two years, this Administration has squandered a large projected surplus of some $5.6 trillion over the next decade and taken us to projected deficits as far as the eye can see. This Administration's domestic policy has put many of our states in dire financial condition, under funding scores of essential programs for our people. This Administration has fostered policies which have slowed economic growth. This Administration has ignored urgent matters such as the crisis in health care for our elderly. This Administration has been slow to provide adequate funding for homeland security. This Administration has been reluctant to better protect our long and porous borders. In foreign policy, this Administration has failed to find Osama bin Laden. In fact, just yesterday we heard from him again marshaling his forces and urging them to kill. This Administration has split traditional alliances, possibly crippling, for all time, International order-keeping entities like the United Nations and NATO. This Administration has called into question the traditional worldwide perception of the United States as well-intentioned, peacekeeper. This Administration has turned the patient art of diplomacy into threats, labeling, and name calling of the sort that reflects quite poorly on the intelligence and sensitivity of our leaders, and which will have consequences for years to come. Calling heads of state pygmies, labeling whole countries as evil, denigrating powerful European allies as irrelevant -- these types of crude insensitivities can do our great nation no good. We may have massive military might, but we cannot fight a global war on terrorism alone. We need the cooperation and friendship of our time-honored allies as well as the newer found friends whom we can attract with our wealth. Our awesome military machine will do us little good if we suffer another devastating attack on our homeland which severely damages our economy. Our military manpower is already stretched thin and we will need the augmenting support of those nations who can supply troop strength, not just sign letters cheering us on. The war in Afghanistan has cost us $37 billion so far, yet there is evidence that terrorism may already be starting to regain its hold in that region. We have not found bin Laden, and unless we secure the peace in Afghanistan, the dark dens of terrorism may yet again flourish in that remote and devastated land. Pakistan as well is at risk of destabilizing forces. This Administration has not finished the first war against terrorism and yet it is eager to embark on another conflict with perils much greater than those in Afghanistan. Is our attention span that short? Have we not learned that after winning the war one must always secure the peace? And yet we hear little about the aftermath of war in Iraq. In the absence of plans, speculation abroad is rife. Will we seize Iraq's oil fields, becoming an occupying power which controls the price and supply of that nation's oil for the foreseeable future? To whom do we propose to hand the reigns of power after Saddam Hussein? Will our war inflame the Muslim world resulting in devastating attacks on Israel? Will Israel retaliate with its own nuclear arsenal? Will the Jordanian and Saudi Arabian governments be toppled by radicals, bolstered by Iran which has much closer ties to terrorism than Iraq? Could a disruption of the world's oil supply lead to a world-wide recession? Has our senselessly bellicose language and our callous disregard of the interests and opinions of other nations increased the global race to join the nuclear club and made proliferation an even more lucrative practice for nations which need the income? In only the space of two short years this reckless and arrogant Administration has initiated policies which may reap disastrous consequences for years. One can understand the anger and shock of any President after the savage attacks of September 11. One can appreciate the frustration of having only a shadow to chase and an amorphous, fleeting enemy on which it is nearly impossible to exact retribution. But to turn one's frustration and anger into the kind of extremely destabilizing and dangerous foreign policy debacle that the world is currently witnessing is inexcusable from any Administration charged with the awesome power and responsibility of guiding the destiny of the greatest superpower on the planet. Frankly many of the pronouncements made by this Administration are outrageous. There is no other word. Yet this chamber is hauntingly silent. On what is possibly the eve of horrific infliction of death and destruction on the population of the nation of Iraq -- a population, I might add, of which over 50% is under age 15 -- this chamber is silent. On what is possibly only days before we send thousands of our own citizens to face unimagined horrors of chemical and biological warfare -- this chamber is silent. On the eve of what could possibly be a vicious terrorist attack in retaliation for our attack on Iraq, it is business as usual in the United States Senate. We are truly "sleepwalking through history." In my heart of hearts I pray that this great nation and its good and trusting citizens are not in for a rudest of awakenings. To engage in war is always to pick a wild card. And war must always be a last resort, not a first choice. I truly must question the judgment of any President who can say that a massive unprovoked military attack on a nation which is over 50% children is "in the highest moral traditions of our country". This war is not necessary at this time. Pressure appears to be having a good result in Iraq. Our mistake was to put ourselves in a corner so quickly. Our challenge is to now find a graceful way out of a box of our own making. Perhaps there is still a way if we allow more time. Robert Byrd is the Democratic Senator from West Virginia

Here is the old speech. I remember a little the insults i was receiving about daily on this board because, like a lot of frenchmen, i shared that view at the time... Arrogance of Power Today, I Weep for my Country... by US Senator Robert Byrd Speech delivered on the floor of the US Senate March 19, 2003 3:45pm I believe in this beautiful country. I have studied its roots and gloried in the wisdom of its magnificent Constitution. I have marveled at the wisdom of its founders and framers. Generation after generation of Americans has understood the lofty ideals that underlie our great Republic. I have been inspired by the story of their sacrifice and their strength. But, today I weep for my country. I have watched the events of recent months with a heavy, heavy heart. No more is the image of America one of strong, yet benevolent peacekeeper. The image of America has changed. Around the globe, our friends mistrust us, our word is disputed, our intentions are questioned. Instead of reasoning with those with whom we disagree, we demand obedience or threaten recrimination. Instead of isolating Saddam Hussein, we seem to have isolated ourselves. We proclaim a new doctrine of preemption which is understood by few and feared by many. We say that the United States has the right to turn its firepower on any corner of the globe which might be suspect in the war on terrorism. We assert that right without the sanction of any international body. As a result, the world has become a much more dangerous place. We flaunt our superpower status with arrogance. We treat UN Security Council members like ingrates who offend our princely dignity by lifting their heads from the carpet. Valuable alliances are split. After war has ended, the United States will have to rebuild much more than the country of Iraq. We will have to rebuild America's image around the globe. The case this Administration tries to make to justify its fixation with war is tainted by charges of falsified documents and circumstantial evidence. We cannot convince the world of the necessity of this war for one simple reason. This is a war of choice. There is no credible information to connect Saddam Hussein to 9/11. The twin towers fell because a world-wide terrorist group, Al Qaeda, with cells in over 60 nations, struck at our wealth and our influence by turning our own planes into missiles, one of which would likely have slammed into the dome of this beautiful Capitol except for the brave sacrifice of the passengers on board. The brutality seen on September 11th and in other terrorist attacks we have witnessed around the globe are the violent and desperate efforts by extremists to stop the daily encroachment of western values upon their cultures. That is what we fight. It is a force not confined to borders. It is a shadowy entity with many faces, many names, and many addresses. But, this Administration has directed all of the anger, fear, and grief which emerged from the ashes of the twin towers and the twisted metal of the Pentagon towards a tangible villain, one we can see and hate and attack. And villain he is. But, he is the wrong villain. And this is the wrong war. If we attack Saddam Hussein, we will probably drive him from power. But, the zeal of our friends to assist our global war on terrorism may have already taken flight. The general unease surrounding this war is not just due to "orange alert." There is a pervasive sense of rush and risk and too many questions unanswered. How long will we be in Iraq? What will be the cost? What is the ultimate mission? How great is the danger at home? A pall has fallen over the Senate Chamber. We avoid our solemn duty to debate the one topic on the minds of all Americans, even while scores of thousands of our sons and daughters faithfully do their duty in Iraq. What is happening to this country? When did we become a nation which ignores and berates our friends? When did we decide to risk undermining international order by adopting a radical and doctrinaire approach to using our awesome military might? How can we abandon diplomatic efforts when the turmoil in the world cries out for diplomacy? Why can this President not seem to see that America's true power lies not in its will to intimidate, but in its ability to inspire? War appears inevitable. But, I continue to hope that the cloud will lift. Perhaps Saddam will yet turn tail and run. Perhaps reason will somehow still prevail. I along with millions of Americans will pray for the safety of our troops, for the innocent civilians in Iraq, and for the security of our homeland. May God continue to bless the United States of America in the troubled days ahead, and may we somehow recapture the vision which for the present eludes us.

Each time a team wins a championship you probably can find some bandwagon jumpers but like it or not, Celtics fans are among the first tier in the NBA in terms of loyalty and fidelity.

you have a long memory... if i remember well i was impressed not by the career of Sen Byrd but by one of his speech about Irak... and that speech has been proved to be even better since... but you're right he was not probably a good messenger for that speech at that time...;

Ok i have my answer you are really stupid.

Erynthered i wanted to ask you this question for a very long time: Are you really stupid or do play the stupid guy so that you can answer ad nauseam on any topic without taking any argument coming from somebody else into account? What i said is that Obama can be seen as "one of them" by all those first generation americans coming from recent waves of immigrations. Something that has not been the case in a presidential race for decades if not more than a century... I don't know if he'll have a majority behind him in november but i'm sure he will have been LISTENED by more americans than any other candidate in modern history because of his very peculiar background.

what what? The fact that on his father side he's a "new" american, that he can be seen by a group like the hispanics like a model, a reason to still believe in the american dream is important. Compared to the classic old establishment candidate he has much more appeal and in crucial states like Florida, those votes are very very important.

Maybe simply because in politics the messenger is as important as the message... This is in fact the whole Obama story in fact: He's black and an immigrant and (in a sense) white. Most americans can see him as "one of them" and whatever he says is listened by more people than any other politician maybe in history...

The big difference is that republicans have not and never will be listened by most african americans and whatever they may say have absolutly no impact in the black community. The fact that the biggest black leader in the Nation is telling that is new and very important and may have an impact.

you're right in many ways... but what's wrong with those theories, is that most socialists consider capitalism as a rival dogma... Capitalism is not a dogma. The first rule of capitalism is to adapt to its environment. That's why it succeeds so well even in China... Democracy may suffer but in our globalised world capitalism will stay the only efficient economic model.

yes but doing that they keep all countries out of the treaty... This is not their fault and i don't blame them... but this is not a victory for democracy at all!

for what? I don't consider that 1% of the european voters blocking a reform is a "victory for democracy" But those idiots in Bruxells are the worst sellers possible Europe could find ... That treaty should be adopted or rejected by a referendum made in all EU countries the same day. Like that the european peoples 'd actually vote with the treaty in mind and not national issues like the irish people did (or the dutch or french a few years ago...)

I don't agree with his view on the Irish vote. But i can understand his point. But it's an old issue... from the "democratic" Terror following the french Revolution, to the democratic elections of Hitler and Mussolini or even daily unpopular decisons made by governments ... What are the limits of democracy? Should elected governments take decisions that 'd be rejected by the voters if a vote was made? Can democracies alter or lower human rights because they are democracies? Should democraties use popular referendums and votes as often as possible? Is the voice of the people sacred in a democracy? Personally i consider human rights and freedoms much more important than democratic rules. i vote about once a year. I use my rights and liberties daily.

if the Dutch let Romania win, the Italy - France game becomes useless. And the Dutch, sure to finish first in that group, have no reason NOT to rest their starters.

As "Sabre" is a french name in fact a Sabre is a Sabre!! But you'd probably find some translators that will give "Les Additions de Buffalo" translating "bill" (what you pay at the end of a restaurant meal) into "addition" or les "Factures de Buffalo", facture being french for invoice!

you can use "jouer le jeu" literally "play the game"; In fact that's probably the best expression i that case...

i perfectly see what you mean but do not find any french expressions to tell this ... there's probably one! but can't find it! "pour rire" or "en plaisantant" that i'd translate "jokingly" are the nearest expressions i have in mind... or "faire semblant d'y croire" that could be translated "play it like you believe it" or something that 'd look a little like the expression you wrote in your first post "jouer pour jouer" that i could translate "play for fun"

i have no idea about that "jeau à la jeaux"!! That does not mean a thing!! But anyway what do you mean by "to play along in the humor me sense"?

They do it that way to reduce the tentations and possibilities for teams to not play games at full speed, knowing yet they are qualified or need only a tie to qualify. They do that for all last games of group games in the Euros or the World Cups since the famous Austria-Germany scandal of the 1982 World Cup (both teams could reach the second round with a tie as Algeria had won ealier that day, they then "played" a no game at half speed ending with o-o tie).

And it's for high school!!! Hope none of your kids will go at college with that kid!!