Thursday, March 24, 2011

French Engineers...


Let's see if good old French history beats brand new american clothing culture! Since you're obviously not really into A&F, let me introduce you to Marc Seguin, a French engineer who lived between 1786 and 1875 and who was the father of... 19! He's famous for building the first European suspension bridge (one in 186 he built in France!). The interesting part in this photo is that right behind the statue, you can see the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers building,  a school dedicated to  scientific education. A place that Marc Seguin could have attended (it was founded in 1794)...

21 comments:

  1. Oh Eric, pardon my ignorance but I don't get it, he was the father of what? 19?

    What am I missing here? Didn't quite get it..

    :O

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  2. Wow! Yes, let's talk about bridges. =) The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. The Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed in 1937. It has been declared one of the modern Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

    I think the Pont de Normandie (a cable-stayed road bridge) that spans the river Seine linking Le Havre to Honfleur in Normandy, northern France, is a very cool looking bridge -- very modern indeed.

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  3. The museum also has one of three statue of Liberty's found in Paris and also the very first Television!

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  4. From yesterday.......

    M.Belmondo had had a stroke, as his right side was paralyzed, but he was able to walk with a cane. He was very tan, and I bet would have had his shirt unbuttoned if it were earlier in the day when the weather was nicer!!

    It was compensation for not being able to see Eric!!

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  5. Monica -- 19 kids!! And 186 bridges. Now that's some engineer!!

    I'd love to visit this school - too bad my French is too poor to take a class. I visited the Musee des Arts et Metiers(two thumbs up) but I didn't know of this place. (That's an impressive student to teacher ratio - 7500 faculty to 11000 students. There must be a lot of folks teaching one class each!)

    Thanks again Eric for widening our horizons! And, beautifully done, too.

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  6. Carrie, thanks!!


    Wow, I don't know if I'm more impressed by the number of bridges he built or the number of children he had!!!

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  7. Oops I thought it was the museum sorry

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  8. This is much more my speed than Abercrombie and Fitch! Always interesting, Eric.

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  9. Father of 19? No wonder he looks so thin and haggard - probably got no sleep.

    Great picture again Eric.

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  10. Ah, the CNAM!!! That is a very cool , fun museum, for kids of all ages ! ;). There is a small statue of Liberty in there and a whole section on bridges with small models. I think either the Brooklyn Bridge or the Golden Gate Bridge (or both) are included.

    Must see!

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  11. Hey Monica! I too had to read that twice...19 what? I was still in A&F mode I suppose. ;-) With 19 kids, he had his own classroom (all the time). Zut alor, no wonder he was out there building bridges. One child, and one Pont was not e-Neuf for this fellow.

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  12. WOW! 19 children...quite impressive!!! I love the green patina on the bust with the dappled sunlight, Eric!

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  13. 19 kids? Oh, my. That makes me tired to think about it. The 186 bridges is impressive. Yes, Eric, I must agree, this picture is infinitely more interesting that A&F. :)

    Sunshine! Enjoy it today.

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  14. Marc Seguin, bridge builder
    most extraordinary,
    Suspended them from cables,
    no need to take a ferry.

    He bridged that great divide,
    time and time again,
    from bank to bank, from bed to bed,
    his epitaph might then,

    sum up his life,
    (God help his wife),
    and read something like this:
    "186 erections and ten plus nine young kids."

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  15. Drummond, either you need to get published or you need to get a job. Applause!

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  16. LOL Coltrane

    That was a nice one, e-Neuf!!

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  17. Poor guy. His bust could use a bit of cleaning.

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  18. I thought you'd be the one to go there, Drummond, but what window dressing! It was definitely worth the wait!!

    (Is that iambic pontameter?)

    Ditto what Petrea said.

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  19. Drummond!
    Drummond!
    Drummond!

    lol
    lol
    lol

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  20. Drummond you deserve a statue in Paris!

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  21. Eric, don't you mean Drummond deserves an erection in Paris??!!

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