Essential French Langauge Tools — La Belle in France The Importance of Benevolent Dictators I believe that groups coming together to make tough decisions driven by consensus tend to make poor decisions. This is especially true in startups where speed matters and where there is a need to constantly calibrate direction and where these decisions can have existential outcomes. Should you increase your burn rate by adding 2 senior hires who will help you ship faster or sell more but then have less time for fund raising? Or maybe their existence itself will help accelerate fund raising. Who the fuck knows? It’s hard being a leader. But you need conviction. Leaders need to be respected, not loved. It’s why I look for strong leaders in companies that I back. I have seen the sclerotic pace of decision-making by some co-founders who don’t have a common sense of purpose or the ability to resolve conflict when different opinions result in delayed actions. It’s why I caution people about whom you choose as your co-founder. I believe in “benevolent dictators.” Or firing people. Fuck ‘em. Think.
A guide to the eateries of France - travel tips and articles There's a vast number of eateries in France. Most have defined roles, though some definitions are becoming a bit blurred. Here's a quick guide: Auberge 'Auberge' by Ludo29880. An auberge (inn), which may also appear as an auberge de campagne or auberge du terroir (country inn), is usually attached to a rural B&B or small hotel and serves traditional country fare. Bar 'la fourmi' by superbez. A bar or bar américain (cocktail bar) is an establishment dedicated to elbow-bending and rarely serves food. Bistro 'P8070034' by philip_sheldrake. A bistro (also spelled bistrot) is not clearly defined in France nowadays. Brasserie 'brasserie' by zoetnet. Unlike the vast majority of restaurants in France, brasseries – which can look very much like cafés – serve full meals, drinks and coffee from morning till 11pm or even later. Buffet A buffet (or buvette) is a kiosk, usually found at train stations and airports, selling drinks, filled baguettes and snacks. Café 'Café des 2 Moulins' by LWY. Cafétéria
40 websites that will make you cleverer right now The indexed web contains an incredible 14 billion pages. But only a tiny fraction help you improve your brain power. Here are 40 of the best. whizzpast.com – Learn about our awe inspiring past all in one wonderful place. khanacademy.org – Watch thousands of micro-lectures on topics ranging from history and medicine to chemistry and computer science. freerice.com – Help end world hunger by correctly answering multiple-choice quizzes on a wide variety of subjects. artofmanliness.com – Blog/site dedicated to all things manly, great for learning life skills and good insights. unplugthetv.com – Randomly selects an educational video for you to watch. coursera.org – An educational site that works with universities to get their courses on the Internet, free for you to use. mentalfloss.com – Interesting articles guaranteed to make you smile and get you thinking. feelgoodwardrobe.com – Find out how the world of fashion really works and what you can do to combat it. lifehacker.com – Learn to hack life!
France sans frontières: the best French border towns Looking for a new angle on the well-trodden paths of France? Then travel to its borders. These three melting-pot cities showcase the best of France while giving a tantalising glimpse into the rest of Europe - Lille skims the Belgian border in the north; to the east, Strasbourg grazes Germany; and Perpignan lies close to the southern border with Spain. Each city shines a fresh light on Gallic culture with unexpected flavours and simmering nightlife. Lille: a party city with all you can eat 'Lille - Palais des Beaux Arts - 24-07-2008 - 11h47' by Panoramas. Its strong northern accents and cool weather are the target of plenty of good-natured ribbing from the rest of France, but Lille has the last laugh. Lille’s Palais des Beaux-Arts boasts a world-class art collection, including pieces by Rubens, Goya and Delacroix. After mingling with the cultured crowd, fuel up with a buckwheat pancake at Le Galichon (24 rue Royale). Strasbourg: canalside walks at Europe’s heart
Life Hack Ninja | life tips, self improvement, and throwing stars Food Lovers' Walk in Paris: Along Rue de Seine and Bonaparte Strolling aimlessly through the streets of Paris is one of my "must do" suggestions for every visitor to the city. An essential part of experiencing the city, I've ranked it at the top of any list I give friends, right there with eating pastries. I know I'm not alone in this way of thinking either, in both the walking and the eating pastries. As I write this, I'm looking at four books on my shelf, each solely dedicated to the subject of walking in Paris. "A flâneur is a stroller, a loiterer, someone who ambles thorugh a city without apparent purpose but is secretly attuned to the history of the place and in covert search of adventure, aesthetic or erotic." ~ from the book The Flâneur by Edmund White Yes, I am a fan of walking the city wherever I go, but even more so in Paris. Each time I return to Paris, I find myself retracing these steps, seeing familiar shops and the new ones that have popped up since I've left. Tart Infiniment Vanille and Montebello from Pierre Herme Related Posts:
Cooking For Engineers - Step by Step Recipes and Food for the Analytically Minded. Five of the Best Sweet Treats to Try in Paris Sweet Treats in Paris by Canon s3 When strolling along famous Paris streets like the Champs-Elysées and Rue Royale, your nose will be assaulted by delicious odors wafting from some of the greatest bakers, confectioners and chocolatiers in France. Don’t be tempted by imitators – when in Paris, go for the original and best creators of world-famous sweet treats. 1) for bonbons: l’Etoile d’Or Bernachon chocolates Paris by Ricardo Denise Acabo’s knowledge of chocolate is the stuff of local legend and though the French may passionately debate about which type is their favourite, everyone agrees that the perfect delivery system for her chocolate masterpieces are her heavenly bonbons. Although retired now, Denise’s enthusiasm for making the most delicious sweet treats in Paris still rules her shop, and those seeking the ultimate chocolate experience continue to make a beeline to her door despite all the competition this epicurean city has to offer. Where: 30 Rue Pierre Fontaine Ladurée by Leo
Big Questions - Trivia, Quizzes, and Brain Teasers As they say, it takes money to make money, and Hollywood is certainly spending its fair share. No one knows when, exactly, parents began terrifying their children with the prospect of a post-lunch drowning. But there are a few theories as to why. Most people are probably more concerned with how much money is saved in their piggy bank rather than wondering why exactly we save our spare coins in pig-shaped containers. But how did those containers get that shape? The voting process that determines Oscar nominees is a long and complicated undertaking that involves more than 6000 voting members and hundreds of eligible films, actors, actresses, directors, cinematographers, editors, composers, and more. From reality TV shows to The Beach Boys’ croons of Aruba and Jamaica, references to honeymoons are everywhere. Comparing a dog's mouth with a human's mouth is sort of like comparing apples and oranges—really filthy apples and really filthy oranges.
Adapting to Paris-101 When I first settled in Paris, one of the most stressful aspects to adapting to my new life was the linguistic transition. Seven years of French language exposure only equipped me with the necessary skills to excel in simulated classroom conversations but the moment I was in a situation where I had to speak unprepared to a real, living, breathing French person I crumbled in panic and self-doubt. It was on my first date with my husband that I realized I wasn't as impressive as I thought. Five years and the ability to fool even the Frenchiest of French people later, I can say with confidence that I'm bilingual. But communicating coherently was only part of my battle. Making French friends was brutal, trying to find where I belonged was stressful and trying to reconcile the separation from family and friends from within a tiny studio apartment was isolating. Several months ago I offered some suggestions on how to become an expat in France. ** Network freely and without hesitation.
Open Culture Pain et Chocolat One of the audience questions that resonated with me most at Ann Mah and Lisa Pasold's talk on travel writing at the American Library of Paris last week was one that I've often asked myself. As a travel writer, do they struggle with sharing their finds with the world versus keeping some of them secret to retain exclusivity? When I stumble upon a charming restaurant or café that hasn't yet been packaged and sold to eager tourists in major publications or websites, a part of me feels as though I shouldn't tell a soul. That I should keep it to myself and a small group of blog-less friends to prevent the eventuality of it becoming too trendy. But then the better half of me, the part that enjoys sharing with you and suggesting places that could mean the difference between a mediocre Paris trip and an exceptional one, trumps all selfishness. I actually credit my friend Emily for introducing me to Pain et Chocolat, an adorable salon de thé in the 7th run by a lovely older couple.