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merchimerch ([personal profile] merchimerch) wrote2005-11-06 09:03 am
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What is going on in France right now? I just saw a BBC article about riots because of 2 kids who got electricuted while fleeing the police? Sounds like it became a rallying cry for the disenfrancised, but I'm curious to know how and why.

In other news, OED online is quite possibly the neatest thing ever. I was looking up definitions of "nostalgia" for my SEM paper, and saw a button at the top that said "lost for words?" So I clicked it and it took me to a random entry. Did you know that the etymology of the word "turd" dates back to Saxon uses in 1000 AD? And that the word geek is thought to come from the dutch word "geck" meaning someone foolish or simple?
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[identity profile] elissali.livejournal.com 2005-11-06 06:23 pm (UTC)(link)
I know what you mean about the France thing! I've been checking on BBC news over the last few days, and all they seem to say is that rioting has been going on for a really long time but it's hard to figure out what happened. I'd definitely be curious to know more, but haven't had time to look into it further. It's sort of weird to think about that kind of rioting happening in France of all places! Goes to show you that if there are disenfranchised people around (and it seems there always are, and depending on your view, probably always will be, though I personally hope not), that at some point, everyone will know about it!

[identity profile] jennavivefaerie.livejournal.com 2005-11-07 04:31 am (UTC)(link)
The two kids were Agerian (sp?) [one of the British colonies from way back when] and the people went crazy saying the government was prosecuting them and this was proof.

[identity profile] iyindo.livejournal.com 2005-11-07 06:46 am (UTC)(link)
Apparently, there were some black Muslims who were fleeing from the Police and got electrocuted in a subway. Rioting ensued among the immigrant African Muslim community. Add to this that some higher ups in the gov't said rather ridonkulous shit about that community and you have serious violence. It was in the suburbs of Paris for a while, but it has apparently made it's way into the city.

The OED online is, in fact, awesome! I LOVE that site.

By the way, how did the e-mail to your advisor work out? Are you feeling better about things?
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