France

[Leisher]

Economy is tanking.

[Malcolm]

Hollande, a Socialist, said France needs to "increase the pace of reforms", adding that innovation is "key" to getting people back to work.

That's some John Madden economic theory right there.

[TheCatt]

I used to think my job was pretty good, until I realized that THIS GUY:


has a $130k/yr hairdresser

[GORDON]

Keep that in mind when you hear about their guaranteed 4-6 months of maternity leave.

[Malcolm]

Keep that in mind when you hear about their guaranteed 4-6 months of maternity leave.

I don't think his male stylist is getting maternity leave.

[GORDON]

Keep that in mind when you hear about their guaranteed 4-6 months of maternity leave.

I don't think his male stylist is getting maternity leave.

Yeah but that's one guy. I'm talking about approximately half of their entire working population NOT working probably 20% of the time.

[Malcolm]

Still full of asshole frogs.

The mayor of a seaside town on the French Riviera is sticking by his town's burkini ban, telling beachgoers, "if you don't want to live the way we do, don't come."

Apparently, not showing enough skin on the beach is offensive to middle-aged European lotharios in speedos. Hell, you might recognize it as vaguely reminiscent of US swimsuits back in the '20s, at least if all the silent films I've seen are true.

[GORDON]

I'm not sure that I see a problem with a community having a set of cultural rules that they don't want to change.

But then I don't cook dinner for people who piss me off, either.

[Malcolm]

Cultural rules involving precisely how much undress there must be at public beaches? Is it also illegal to walk around on one fully clothed?

[GORDON]

Who am I to say what rules they make in their own city? There are whole countries who kill you for being gay, nobody seems to care about that.

[Malcolm]

"if you don't want to live the way we do, don't come."

I expect better from a country that whines about liberty, freedom, et al.

There are whole countries who kill you for being gay, nobody seems to care about that.

That's absurd. But those are third-world shitholes from whom I do not expect better. At least not until the populace grows up, rebels, and does away with the theocracy.

[GORDON]

Well if those 3rd world shitholes are ok with not allowing a Frenchman to live how they want within their borders, I won't begrudge a Frenchman telling a 3rd world shit-holer that they can't practice their oppressive shit within French borders.

It's ironic but too bad.

[TheCatt]

Yeah, I kinda find myself with the Frenchie. In a theoretical world I disagree, but whatevs.

[Leisher]

Well if those 3rd world shitholes are ok with not allowing a Frenchman to live how they want within their borders, I won't begrudge a Frenchman telling a 3rd world shit-holer that they can't practice their oppressive shit within French borders.

It's ironic but too bad.

This.

If the "oppressed" people in this scenario were in charge they'd be setting the rules and expecting people to live by them, so why should we care that they're being told to follow someone else's rules?

[TPRJones]

Sounds like crap to me, but also sounds like it's none of my business. Their country, their crap.

[Vince]

Yeah, I'd fight against it here, but I'd say Americans have fought enough in France that we really don't need to do it again. Call us when the Germans show up again.

[GORDON]

Do Syrians - by way of Germany - count?

[GORDON]

There was a woman in the lap pool this morning with one of those full-body burqinis, or whatever they are called. At first I was like, "huh." Then I realized how chill they must be as a family if they are muslim and hanging out in a place that says, "Young Men's Christian Association/Jewish Community Center" on the building in 4 foot high letters.

So on the one hand, COVER UP, WOMAN. On the other hand, working out in a Jewish Community Center.

[TPRJones]

It's almost like they're just regular people or something. Weird.

[Malcolm]

It's almost like they're just regular people or something. Weird.

Not regular enough for the French. Pretty soon, they'll make it over there so that only people who haven't bathed in a few days and are unshaven can go to the beach. You know, to maintain the Frenchness.