Tuesday, October 07, 2008

It's not a painting!


I know it looks like a painting but it's not. It's a photo of l'Assemblée Nationale (French Parliament) dressed with the colors of the European Union that I took last evening (Monday) from the Pont de la Concorde. France happens to be leading the European Union until the end of the year (see more on this site), that is why some monuments show the colours of Europe. It was probably planned a long time ago, but ironicaly, in these times of financial crisis, it seems to be extremely appropriate to remind us Europeans, that we need to stick together more than ever!

I need your help! For an article, I'm urgently looking for (funny) stories about traders - in relation to the recent crisis. Kinda like "Now that they've lost their home, too bad they can't even sleep in their Porsche because the seats don't fully recline!". If you heard any, please mail them to eric (at) tenin.com Thank you.

50 comments:

  1. Wow, that is pretty cool! Nice capture Eric!

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  2. WOW! Which is what I said aloud to myself when I saw this photo. We all need to stick together, not just Europeans!!! :-)

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  3. Wow again...guess I was first today! Nice timing!

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  4. It's beautiful in the evening light - the classical form of the building weaves together the colors of humanity even beyond Europe. It is a revolution of the aristocracy's own making. Time for us peasants to plant our own potatoes.

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  5. Gee, USElaine, I was thinking it looked like something I'd see if I were on an acid trip! Your thinking is much more poetic! No, I've never been on an acid trip. So much still to look forward to. ;-)

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  6. Lovely! And what a pretty blue color! The state of the economy everwhere reminds us we live in a global economy- we rise and fall together.

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  7. Wow! Eric, how is that done, with projected images?

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  8. It's beautiful. I don't think I've ever seen it decorated like this before, real pretty!

    Imagine, you come down the Champs Elysee, through Rond Point (is the Grand Palais lit?), make a right turn Place de la Concorde, see a piece of Eiffel Tower sticking out on the right, then this right in front of you... That's pretty cool. Paris "Ville des lumieres" (City of Lights) indeed!

    Meanwhile, in the US, we're wondering how we're gonna keep the lights on...

    The grass is definitely greener on the other side.

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  9. Er.. that was Champs Elysées with an "s" at the end, I think. Pfff.

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  10. I like the moon shining down from the night sky. That is the moon isn't it? Very striking!

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  11. Is it Luna looking, or another Greek god, peering down at the the classical building and all the colors? What a light show.

    All the nations, with individual colors, standing alongside one another, bridged to Concorde.

    On this side of the pond...oh, never mind! LOL

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  12. Wow, After the blue Eiffel Tower, this is pretty cool. Was it a one-off, or is this gonna stay for a while (for the remaining 3 months of the presidency?). Cheers, Loic http://brohardphotography.blogspot.com

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  13. Wow great pic, thanks for sharing

    Cheers

    http://reginainpictures.blogspot.com/

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  14. Yes what a day it's been financially! I watched it plummet as Darling made a speech in the Commons. Everyone expected him to say help was coming - but a big nothing. I watched the figures fall away before my eyes. Nice photo Eric.

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  15. I like anything with a joie de vivre, and this lighting alone elevates my feelings! For anyone interested, I found a great pair of oven gloves at their gift shop, one glove say gauche the other droite.
    And I only knew of the gift shop when it was featured on ....PDP!

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  16. MichaelRoseLois:I was so surprised to see the new picture yesterday with no comments that I never looked back to see the rest of the "door" picture and the comments made on my imaginary outfit. What are you trying to do to me,make me die from a laughing jag?

    I didn't even know till now that Eric gave approval to my new game!!!! WoW! I needed to be in contact with Eric about something, and he must have marveled at my restraint for not bringing the game up(that WAS the case,) or wondered why I didn't thank him profusely for the ok. I'm psyched. Should we ask Eric if we can know the game day in advance so the players can be ready? Just a thought.

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  17. Wow. l'Assemblée Nationale presented as a candy cane fantasy land. Nicely done.

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  18. Merci Eric for your efforts. You are a good man in a world that seems to have gone mad. Your photo lifts my spirit tonight. It has been a long Monday for Coltrane. In the words of Robert Frost, "I have had too much of apple-picking: I am overtired." Well wishes to all this week!

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  19. what an awesome shot, nice...nice nice art and human display!

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  20. Good heavens! How do they do that?

    And Eric, it looks like there are some taillights there from traffic - you didn't stop traffic, did you?

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  21. That's cool. I hope it's still there when I drop by for Christmas.

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  22. I'm so glad you took a photo Eric because when you're driving by, it's impossible to see all the detail. The images actually change periodically as they are projected onto the building. I believe one image represents France, you have these flags, and I think there are several other versions in the sequence.

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  23. Coltrane, take it easy. We all have these days. :( Hang in there, buddy.

    Tomate Farcie

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  24. Very nice blog!
    I've been to Paris once this year and i litterally fall in love with it.
    I'll add your blog to my new blog's links.

    Regards from Italy

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  25. This makes me happy! It looks almost like it's made of candy. Maybe I think that because I just read your previous post about the pastries. :)
    Yes, stick together and accept regards from those of us in the U.S. who had nothing at all to do with the financial mess.

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  26. Tomate...you don't know how much I appreciate your kind words. It helps. Somebody close to me left the band today. The music will be different now, but the beat will find a way to go on. Again merci.

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  27. I love it!

    Reminds me of Nuit Blanche.
    Did you (or anyone) go to the Nuit Blanche?

    I was there a few years ago and loved it!

    All those lights, music and sounds in parcs, on buildings.
    This looks a lot like it.

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  28. Awww, Coltrane! *hugs* A band is never quite the same when someone leaves it, but the show must go on. Sometimes for the best. You guys will continue to make beautiful music together.

    Speaking of, if you ever want a lady singer with a beautiful voice...actually, I can't sing worth a darn!

    Cali, I could see this being something you'd see on a trip. Especially if it's projected so the images can ACTUALLY swirl and morph and change. *flashback* Yeah, I've never done that either.

    Eric, I echo the sentiment of others: we ALL need to stick together. Luckily your blog helps many around the world do just that!

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  29. Soosha...Merci. Good musicians are hard to find, but great ones (like we lost) are almost impossible to find. Such is the nature of jazz. ;-)

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  30. Coltrane: I thought you were talking about the Sox and the Cubs! (Boy, did they leave the band blowing bad notes.) Anyway, you may be feeling Kind Of Blue, but it's just one of those Milestones, one of the Seven Steps To Heaven. Eventually, everyone must Move. Another take: remember that you blow in here, the music goes 'round and 'round and it comes out here.

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  31. I love this! Little colorful candy stick columns!

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  32. Coltrane~~~You lost a tree...now a band member leaves the band...How much more depressing can your life become? I hope things are looking up today...and you hear bells.;)

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  33. Jeff...I toast you good man. You have made my lunchbreak bearable. "My Cubs?" To be swept in three by Joe Torre's crew...argh! He goes from one coast to the other and spreads so much joy. hmmp! Not gonna to say anything cliche about there being a next year! As the wind blows...be cool! Gramma...things gotta be looking up, eh? ;-)

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  34. These EU photos by Eric are the best. Actually, all Eric's photos of Paris are the best. I searched the internet for photos of Paris the other day just to see what other people were doing (as you know, I paint Paris). Anyway, nothing even came close to Eric's work.

    I don't play the stock market because I am a bad loser. I don't even know one "day trader" funny story. To my knowledge, I have never even met a day trader. I would love to read Eric's article though. I hope he sends us a link.

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  35. Keep it cool, Coltrane. By the way, my buddy got me on a Lee Morgan thing. Stopped in at the Jazz Record Mart in Chicago and picked up a second CD. Great stuff.

    So, you're an English teacher? These days, this keeps haunting me:

    Turning and turning in the widening gyre,
    The falcon cannot hear the falconer.

    I dont' remember the rest, but it's easy to look up.

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  36. WB Yeats - The Second Coming

    Turning and turning in the widening gyre
    The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
    Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
    Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
    The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
    The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
    The best lack all conviction, while the worst
    Are full of passionate intensity.

    Surely some revelation is at hand;
    Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
    The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
    When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
    Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
    A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
    A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
    Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
    Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
    The darkness drops again; but now I know
    That twenty centuries of stony sleep
    Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
    And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
    Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

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  37. Beautiful photo Eric and the moon adds an ethereal touch. The EU is strong. It will weather the financial storms.
    I don't know any funny stories but if I come across one, I'll be sure to let you know.

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  38. What a beautiful photo! Yes, it does look like the building is being held up by candy sticks. Thank you for your amazing daily photos.

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  39. Eric, lovely photo. The columns really do look like candy canes.
    Jeff - that Yeats poem is very apropos for the times. Thanks for posting it.

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  40. Jeff...yes, I'm familiar with Yeats. May the center hold. Off to a meeting. We'll have to talk more about Lee Morgan on Blue Train by JC. I'm off running!

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  41. quel merveilleux blog!
    Ken

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  42. Hi Everyone!

    I've been so busy I haven't even been able to read PDP some dayslet alone post anything, and this is the first chance I've had to say two words --literally!

    I miss my PDP and all my PDPers. : ((((

    I have to run - wish me bon courage.

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  43. It is a gorgeoues sight. I fear that we will never learn to stick togeteher, especially in a crisis.

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  44. A beautiful photo. Yes, it looks like a painting. Take heart, my friends, there's more to the world than money. We can (and must) share our goodness with each other.

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  45. Oooh I love Yeats, Jeff. Studied works at college. Did rather put me off swans though.... ;) Eek.

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  46. amazin picture. I'll have a look myself.

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  47. I like it, but I do wonder how many Euros were spent creating this masterpiece. Speaking of the financial times...

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