La Greve

So you may have heard that there are some strikes in France right now. Not that this is particularly out of the ordinary or anything, strikes are unbelievably popular in France, but this one has made quite a bit of fuss on the international scene. The state-owned gas and electric companies along with SNCF, the national train company are all striking in opposition to President Sarkozy's new pension package. Opera singers are also striking because of some historical tie... give you three guesses as to who told me that one. And magistrates are considering joining the strike as well. And next Tuesday there's a National Education strike. That means no work for me because if the teacher's don't work then I don't work. No complaints here! Katie and I get an extra day to hang out. So far Chartres hasn't really been affected by the strikes. City buses are running normally and there are still a few trains to Paris every day, though significantly less than normal. Obviously the worst of it is in Paris. Hopefully it will be over by the time I arrive on Saturday to pick up Katie at the airport :) , but even if it isn't what a cool way to experience the French joie de vivre, right?

On a completely unrelated, petty and superficial note... can we take a moment to look at the man the BBC calls "powerful" and who is on French television news all the time right now? He's apparently in charge of one of the largest unions in France:
I think this would be the equivalent of... say... George Bush with a mullet. No?