Our Conquest Of France Is Complete
MonsieurEvil
Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 4Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 4Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Owned, Le Bois de Wimpy</div> <a href='http://www.finance24.co.za/Finance/Companies/0,6778,1518-24_1468104,00.html' target='_blank'>http://www.finance24.co.za/Finance/Compani...1468104,00.html</a>
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Paris - Paris's cafe culture comes under assault with the opening of France's first Starbucks this week - but besides the purists does anyone really care?
The city that invented the art of whiling away a morning over a tiny cup of the strong and black, is bracing itself for a taste of the global brew.
After long hesitation the Seattle-based multi-national is taking the plunge into a market that is not quite like anywhere else.
"It is with the utmost respect and admiration for the cafe society in France that we announce our entry," said chairperson Howard Schultz at the announcement of the planned opening in September.
From Friday office workers in the neighbourhood of the Opera Garnier will be able to act out the latest version of the American dream: rushing to work in Reeboks clutching the cardboard froth-pot marked with the world-famous green-and-white mermaid.
And already behind the blinds opposite the old Air Algerie building, workmen were dusting down the gleaming furniture, while managers arranged magazine racks and puzzled waitresses tried to work out the difference between a tall Frappuccino and a Decaf Mocha Java.
Not everyone is happy.
"Every year the number of Starbucks around the world is doubling, but I hoped that here we were protected. It is the standardisation that I hate.
"Soon every high street in every city in every country in the world is going to look exactly the same," said Gilles Wallon, a 22-year-old journalism student.
Some take refuge in the hope that the venture will fail. According to Bernard Quartier, who represents cafe owners at the Union of Hotel Industry Trades, "I don't believe this concept is going to work because nothing can replace the conviviality and sociability of the French cafe."
Others say the decision to exclude tobacco is a big mistake in a city of smokers, or labour under the illusion that Starbucks will serve bucket-loads of the same "jus de chaussettes" - or sock juice - which the French believe is the staple of all American breakfasts.
But Wallon admitted: "It doesn't matter what I think because I know Starbucks will be packed out when it opens. People will go there because they want the image. They want to think they are in an American movie or an episode of 'Friends.' They'll react in the same way here as they have done everywhere else."
France may have a complicated relationship with the United States, but as successive invaders have shown - McDonald's, Gap, Pizza Hut - that does not prevent them watching American films, eating more fast food, and picking up on the latest transatlantic cultural and technological trends via the internet.
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Paris - Paris's cafe culture comes under assault with the opening of France's first Starbucks this week - but besides the purists does anyone really care?
The city that invented the art of whiling away a morning over a tiny cup of the strong and black, is bracing itself for a taste of the global brew.
After long hesitation the Seattle-based multi-national is taking the plunge into a market that is not quite like anywhere else.
"It is with the utmost respect and admiration for the cafe society in France that we announce our entry," said chairperson Howard Schultz at the announcement of the planned opening in September.
From Friday office workers in the neighbourhood of the Opera Garnier will be able to act out the latest version of the American dream: rushing to work in Reeboks clutching the cardboard froth-pot marked with the world-famous green-and-white mermaid.
And already behind the blinds opposite the old Air Algerie building, workmen were dusting down the gleaming furniture, while managers arranged magazine racks and puzzled waitresses tried to work out the difference between a tall Frappuccino and a Decaf Mocha Java.
Not everyone is happy.
"Every year the number of Starbucks around the world is doubling, but I hoped that here we were protected. It is the standardisation that I hate.
"Soon every high street in every city in every country in the world is going to look exactly the same," said Gilles Wallon, a 22-year-old journalism student.
Some take refuge in the hope that the venture will fail. According to Bernard Quartier, who represents cafe owners at the Union of Hotel Industry Trades, "I don't believe this concept is going to work because nothing can replace the conviviality and sociability of the French cafe."
Others say the decision to exclude tobacco is a big mistake in a city of smokers, or labour under the illusion that Starbucks will serve bucket-loads of the same "jus de chaussettes" - or sock juice - which the French believe is the staple of all American breakfasts.
But Wallon admitted: "It doesn't matter what I think because I know Starbucks will be packed out when it opens. People will go there because they want the image. They want to think they are in an American movie or an episode of 'Friends.' They'll react in the same way here as they have done everywhere else."
France may have a complicated relationship with the United States, but as successive invaders have shown - McDonald's, Gap, Pizza Hut - that does not prevent them watching American films, eating more fast food, and picking up on the latest transatlantic cultural and technological trends via the internet.
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Comments
It's coming to France. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
It's coming to France. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Heh. Good game, good game.
It's coming to France. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
hehehe, I guess they don't need to rely on people with Alzheimer's if they expand there.
ziiiiiiiinnnnggggg
I don't own any of the books myself, but since my family subscribes to that newspaper, I get a weekly Sunday dose of Dave Barry, the comics, and Best Buy/Compusa advertisements full of info on the latest mail-in rebates. What else are newspapers good for? <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
Starbucks, Mickey D's, GAP, Pizza Hut.. these ain't that great. I do not miss American food when I leave the country.
It's terrible to be transforming these lands before I have had a chance to get bored of them.. they will disappear before I get there! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo-->
Plus the posers, and then the horror of everything truly Americanized. I don't love this country <i>that</i> much. Only parts.
Its pretty dry, but theres one part in there where the main character laments how the whole world looks the same, how culture has died out, and if I was in the mood to go off into a tangent of philisophical debate I might be able to make a really really long post about that.
That would so own.
{Eddie Skoller, playing slow tunes on a western guitar, singing with a deep, extra-relaxed, almost tired voice}
Now tell me kid, what did you pick up in school today, dear little booooyyyy of miiiiinneeee?
What did the **** put you in there, dear little cowboy - of miiiiinnneee?
{Eddie Skoller, now in an uber-excited voice}
I learned that we were the first to put a man on the moon!
And I'm sure we'll have a hamburger stand there soon!
Next act will be a military base, but of course only just to protect the human race!
Up in space, just in case!
And that's what we learned in school today,
That's what we learned in school.
And why the hell is "****" censored now? (Yes, I know that got censored as well. Grrrr...)
Gah! Don't even joke about that!
That would so own. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Imagine the line at their Thanksgiving sale...
Muahahahahahahahahhhahahahahahahahahahahaha
Then imagine the returns/exchanges line when they find out that all their products were repackaged returns from other Best Buys around the globe.
Muahahahahhahahah...oh, wait, i used that........harharharharharharharharharharharharharharharharharharharharhar
Fear globalization, Frenchies.
If you haven't you should see it.
If you haven't you should see it. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
LOL that was funny....
too bad the VCD was borrowed from a friend and he returned back to Philippines....gah!
Must see that part where they fight the cow....lol
LOL. <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif'><!--endemo-->
Agreed. The little wimps should get used to it, they're all so gung-ho to assimilate everyone else into the EU after all...
Next up, putting a big blinking neon sign on top of the Eiffel Tower that says "Subway - EAT FRESH!!!"
Starbucks, Mickey D's, GAP, Pizza Hut.. these ain't that great. I do not miss American food when I leave the country.
It's terrible to be transforming these lands before I have had a chance to get bored of them.. they will disappear before I get there! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo-->
Plus the posers, and then the horror of everything truly Americanized. I don't love this country <i>that</i> much. Only parts. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I wouldn't worry too much about this. Im french and i live in paris and i've never heard anything about this Starbucks business. In france theres cafes all over the place, there aint a road without one, its like a meeting place where you would go to have a chat along with a little drink. I don't think starbucks can destroy this...
Of course we have mcdonalds and pizza huts, just like we have loads of chinese or greek restaurants, but they've never had any effect on our culture.
They are going to need a lot of time before our lands will be transformed(if they will ever be). And us french don't really like american ways and culture...
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Agreed. The little wimps should get used to it, they're all so gung-ho to assimilate everyone else into the EU after all...
Next up, putting a big blinking neon sign on top of the Eiffel Tower that says "Subway - EAT FRESH!!!" <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Will all the respect i owe you monse, american ppl are so misinformed and have very little idea of what our country really is. The medias tell you what to think, just like your government. Ive also lived in the states for a while, i know how all this happens...
You mean the same way French people have been told to think that Starbucks is 'sock juice'? It's not an American thing or a French thing - most people are stupid, ignorant, uninformed, sheep-like nitwits. It's just the fact of the bellcurve, simple statistics. Americans or French, they're all humans and thusly, most are imbeciles.
And I have a wife that lived in and travelled in France for years, so I know how all this happens too. We just like to make fun of uptight people here in the States, and the French make a fun cliched target. I have nothing but love for the French - if you had not persecuted half my family out of Normandy and the Britanny peninsula all those years ago with religious intolerance, I would not have been born in the US. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
btw, I haven't persecuted half of your family in any way.