ELEGANCE

Rien à voir avec quoi que ce soit si n'est mes impresssions/perceptions/sensations/idées :

Charlotte Gainsbourg.

Cette femme vaut (encore) mieux que ses gênes (incroyables).

Je me rappelle avoir lu, il y a quelque années, dans un magazine, cette définition du mot "élégance", par (malheureusement) je ne sais plus qui, parmi d'autres définitions, toutes plus ou moins ineptes :

"l'élégance c'est ne pas avoir honte de ce que l'on fait et ne pas faire ce dont on aurait honte."

J'étais jeune et ça m'a influencé et servi de pierre de touche.

Aujourd'hui, je suis plus vieille (mois jeune, quoi) que Charlotte Gainsbourg, et je trouve, une fois de plus, en la voyant réagir aux réactions (!) face au film de Lars von Triers, qu'elle incarne suprêmement cette définition qui me sert toujours de guide. Ses enfants peuvent être fiers d'elle. Vraiment.

J'ai horreur des films d'horreur (j'aime pas avoir peur, désolée - la vie me suffit) mais je suis prête à payer ma place pour exprimer, ne fût-ce que que financièrement mon soutien...

Nothing to do with anything except my impressions/perceptions/sensations/ideas: Charlotte Gainsbourg.
This woman is much more (even) than her (awesome) genes.

I remember reading, a few years ago, when I was (even) young(er) and influenceable, this definition of "elegance" among a number of others, mostly inept:
"not being ashamed of what you do and not doing what you might be ashamed of."
I (unfortunately) don't remember whom it was from, but I'm grateful— it's served me as a guideline and touchstone since then.

Today, I am older (not quite as young as - OK) than Charlotte Gainsbourg, and I find, once more, seeing her react to reactions to Lars von Triers' film, that she literally incarnates this definition of the word.

She is elegant.
She is elegance.

I hate scary movies (sorry - life is scary enough for timid little me) but I am ready to pay for my ticket and go see that film. Just to express my support, if only financially.

AWE: the Argue With Everyone Discussion Forums

What with the next American presidential election being so close, many people in the world are interested in American politics. Even more than usual, I mean.
I Know that some people in France watch and discuss the American campaign with as much interest and passion— or even more, in some cases— as they did the French elections last year. To listen to some of them, you'd think they vote in it. Well, many obviously wish they would.
But anyway.
The point here is that I just discovered this great site for anyone who is interested in debating politics. It's called Argue With Everyone, at www.arguewitheveryone.com, and is really for everyone who wants to discuss politics. From what I have seen, all the hot topics concerning American home and foreign policies can be discussed there.
Being an American site, it's obviously very US-oriented, but I think it is a great opportunity for anyone who is not a citizen of the United States to "meet" some of these American voters whose choices, we often feel, will influence our lives too.

"The site is generally unmoderated, designed with very few rules to promote open, free debate about whatever topics members are interested in" (I quote), and as a consequence, there is quite a bit of ranting and raving, but there are bound to be people who are really there to discuss and exchange ideas too.

I would definitely advise a visit to any French political student with a better than average level in English, as well as to any student of American society and history— they are bound to find this site enlightening!
Do not stand in awe of AWE!... Sorry about that... Couldn't help it...