Paris Parfait

Lawsuit seeks justice for children in Mississippi

The Southern Poverty Law Center has filed a federal class action suit to stop the "shockingly inhumane" treatment of children at a juvenile detention center. The lawsuit seeks to force officials to provide sanitary facilities and mental health treatment to young people confined there.

The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi on behalf of a 17-year-old boy. While in the facility, the boy attempted suicide, yet has received no mental health treatment. He has been subjected to physical abuse and filthy conditions,forced to sleep on the floor in an overcrowded, insect-infested cell.

The Harrison County Juvenile Detention Center in Biloxi, Miss., has been operated by a private corporation, the Mississippi Security Police, for more than nine years at an annual cost of $1.6 million. "It is a travesty that the county has chosen to let a private company profit by neglecting and abusing our children," said Vanessa Carroll, a staff attorney for the SPLC's Mississippi Youth Justice Project and counsel for the children.

Most children confined at the facility have not been found guilty of any crime and are awaiting court hearings. Many are there for minor offenses like truancy.

The lawsuit describes how the county has failed to provide the most basic, constitutionally-required services to the plaintiff, known in the suit as D.W. "Toilets and walls are covered with mold, rust and excrement," the lawsuit says. "Insects have infested the facility and the smell of human excrement permeates the entire building. Children frequently have to sleep on thin mats that smell of urine and mold. Defendants do not provide children with adequate personal hygiene items."

Children who have been confined there describe assaults by guards, being locked in their cells for 23 hours every day, inadequate medical and mental health care and widespread infections caused by filthy conditions. Marlon, 17, said children are treated like animals at the facility. "I've seen the guards slam kids, mace them and do things they wouldn't even do to their own dog, let alone a human."

Photos at Merci, Paris.

Savannah sojourn

Walkway approaching an historic fountain, Forsyth Park, Savannah, Georgia.

A path lined with oak trees dripping with Spanish moss leads to downtown Savannah.

It's the Ascension holiday weekend in France. No matter where your path leads, here's hoping you find fun and adventure along the way!

Possibly not the best partner for peace

Doesn't this flower look like the center is exploding? A little like the Israeli-Palestinian peace process with Benjamin Netanyahu as Israeli prime minister. The Israeli government announced today that illegal settlements on occupied territory will continue to expand, in defiance of international law and numerous United Nations resolutions. Even the hawk Ariel Sharon had begun to dismantle settlements, in the hopes of hastening resolution with the Palestinians. The so-called "road map for peace" initiated in 2003 demands cessation of all settlement activity, including expansion.

Read more about Israel's deliberate violation of international law here.

Photoshop abuse

In France, there's a strong backlash against Photoshop abuse of magazine images.

No manipulation in these photos; just natural light and a macro lens.

More mischief from AT&T

Apparently it's not enough that AT&T spied on our telephone calls and emails, then tried to quash lawsuits and prosecution for its cooperation with the Bush administration. Now AT&T is participating in vote-rigging? Whatever next??!!

Street art and political theatre

A decorated ram's head over an exterior art installation at a Paris gallery.

For the past two days I've been moving furniture; shifting things from room to room or to the cave (wine cellar); giving things away. A few days ago, I suddenly realised my "studio/guest room" wasn't my style at all. In fact, it looked like someone else's art space. So I set about changing it to a more user-friendly area; it's still a work in progress. Photos soon.

Meanwhile, there may be hope for Polaroid lovers seeking instant film.

Isn't it interesting to watch the Republicans have a go at President Obama's new Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotamayor? So predictable, these people.

Joan Walsh has an excellent article here; Glenn Greenwald applauds Obama's choice, while lamenting the Republican smear tactics here. Greenwald also writes that the right-wing reaction to Sotomayor says more about her critics than it does about her qualifications. Hear, hear!

Skullduggery among poets is the talk of Britain.

And an ex-Guantanamo detainee tries to adjust to life in Paris.

Maroc in Paris

Sign in an old doorframe, Merci, Paris.

Thank you for your lovely comments about my Moroccan-themed window reflections posts. Some readers apparently skimmed the posts too quickly and had the mistaken impression the photos were taken during an actual journey to Maroc. While I have been to Morocco, I was not there last week! The series of photos were taken at Galeries Lafayette, Paris.

In my Ready for Adventure? post, I offered a prize from Morocco and a prize from France, the latter worth 200 euros. The winners drawn from le chapeau are Maia (Morocco) and Leau (France). Felicitations to both of you! Please email me your mailing addresses and I'll get your packages off toute de suite via La Poste.

Scroll down the page for an additional post today.

Memorial Day

Notre Dame de Grace, Montreuil-sur-Mer, France.

"Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die." - Dwight D. Eisenhower

Today we honour the memory of all those servicemen and women who fought - many sacrificing their lives - in the name of freedom. In practically every town and village in Northern France, the town square is centered by a memorial honouring those soldiers who helped liberate France in World War II, as well as those in fought in WWI and other wars.

While this memorial is religious, thanking "Notre Dame de Grace" for protecting the city in 1939-45, another memorial to soldiers who lost their lives is in the town square (below). Alas, I couldn't get a better angle of the memorial, as cars were parked directly in front of it.

As Western leaders continue to try to justify infringing on our civil liberties "to protect us from terrorists," let us remember Benjamin Franklin's words in 1759 in Philadelphia: "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

Taking liberties

If you are interested in law and human rights, you might find the film Taking Liberties well worth your time. It's about events in Great Britain, but the same principles apply around the world.

Les fleurs de Mai

Bouquet of roses, Merci, Paris.

Piviones and assorted flowers, Merci.

A single blossom, Merci.

Flower boxes in a courtyard, Merci.

Lavender allium, Hotel de Ville, Boulogne-Billancourt.

Window boxes for Claudia's Flowerbox Faceoff, 3rd arrondissement, Paris.

Peony in a teacup, my apartment.

Today the Cannes Film Festival will announce its 2009 prize winners. And the French Open tennis championship begins at Roland Garros, Paris.

Guess who's coming to dinner?

Di Overton admiring luxurious lingerie at Merci, Paris.

My fabulous friend Di, her partner Harvey and daughter Charlotte will be our dinner guests this evening. Following the Moroccan theme of this week's blog posts, the food will be - Moroccan! (Luckily, I have a very obliging chef).

On Wednesday, Di and I went to the charming complex that comprises Merci, Paris. Check back later for more photos at Merci and elsewhere. Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

A suggestion of something more

Vitrine, Galeries Lafayette, Paris.

This is my favorite photo of this week's Moroccan-themed series. I focused the camera lens on the signed art depicting a traditional tribal costume. But the reflection of arched windows and a wrought iron balcony across the street hints at the ambience of a Moroccan city, rich with history. In my view, the reflection lends an element of imagination that didn't exist in the costume drawing. But some readers may prefer photos without the distraction of reflections. What do you think?

For another post today, read Distorting the View.

Distorting the view

Vitrine, Galeries Lafayette, Paris.

Notice how this Islamic pattern overlay distorts the view through a plate glass window? You may be interested in these three examples of efforts to "change the view:"

A fascinating 100-second video at Talking Points Memo: Dueling speeches.

Joan Walsh's Wild Dick Cheney at the Neocon Corral. I ask again, why is anybody listening to the former vice president, as he continues to tout the failed policies of the Bush administration??!!

Glenn Greenwald's excellent article about the sometimes contradictory statements in Obama's civil liberties speech.

La magie du Maroc

Oh the dazzling sights and sounds of Maroc!

A little girl peers into a shop window.

Tree branches holding lanterns and candles.

Decorative birdcages are popular...

...whether or not one keeps a bird.

...or three or four.

An assortment of silver, brass and glass candlesticks of various styles and heights.

A globe light fixture by Yahya, who sells his work in a boutique at 61 rue de Yougoslavie, Passage Ghandouri, in the heart of Gueliz, Marrakech.

A traditional costume.

Perhaps a walk and browsing in bookstores?

Wall of mirrors.

Golden bougeoirs.

After carrying all those heavy parcels, shall we visit the hammam?

Would you like some cool and refreshing cucumber water with mint?

Tea, then more sightseeing and shopping?

After all that shopping, sightseeing and exploring, have you worked up an appetite?

Let's have dinner at a restaurant featuring these beautiful place settings created by Myriam Mourabit.

Hmmm, spicy chicken couscous! Bon appetit!

Tea after dinner?

Photo of birds in a cage at Merci, Paris.
Photos of cucumber water and spicy chicken couscous at my home in Paris.
All other photos, vitrines, Galeries Lafayette, Paris.

------------------------

Did you hear about this New Zealand bank's mistake? When living in Jordan, I was expecting a transfer of funds from my employer in the UK. The accountant, who was converting dinars into pounds into dollars, mistakenly sent $210,000, rather than $21,000. As it was deposited into my personal account, technically the money was mine to keep.

I phoned my boss, who was traveling and left a message saying, "I knew you were pleased with my work and planning to give me a bonus, but I never expected anything like this!" About an hour later, he phoned me from Spain, desperately charming, to make sure I returned the money. Of course I did! But in the week of bureaucrarcy required to transfer funds back to the UK, I made about $1000 in interest and got a big bonus. And I received two marriage proposals. Ha ha!

Ready for adventure?

Passports ready? Don't forget your bag.

Let's load up the caravan.

We'll need comfortable, yet stylish clothes for warm temperatures: nothing too exposed; modesty is a plus in this Islamic nation.

Have you guessed where we're headed? In this country, the cities are colourful, noisy and crowded, but vast expanses of land are occupied by undulating sand dunes of the Western Sahara.

Many Moroccans believe that jinns play a role in everyday life. Morocco moves to its own multi-cultural rhythm, with strong influences from the Moors, Africa, Spain, Europe and the Middle East.

Seeing stars, in the cobalt blue colour predominant throughout Morocco.

Lanterns in various Islamic shapes and sizes are found in virtually every corner of Morocco.

You can never have too many lanterns.

It's been a long journey. Shall we accept an invitation for tea?

What a selection of tea glasses! Maybe we can take some home?

Oh, my head is spinning with all her suggestions of what to see, where to eat, what to do! I'm thinking we need a month, just to hit the highlights!

Isn't it charming to see a child dressed in a traditional costume?

Hmmm, after our busy day, perhaps it's time to take a break. Let's meet back here later to discuss what to see next. Meanwhile, leave a note (in the comments section) for a chance to win a prize from Morocco PLUS a special prize from France worth 200 euros!

Suggested reading: The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca and In Arabian Nights - A Caravan of Moroccan Dreams, both by Tahir Shah; The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles and La Prisonniere by Malika Oufkir.

Photos, vitrines at Galeries Lafayette, Paris.

L'invitation au voyage

Come with me on a magic carpet ride. Can you imagine our destination?

If you are contemplating packing a caravan full of clothing and supplies, we can take a nomadic route.

Get your passport and travel essentials together. I'll meet you back here later!

Photos, vitrines at Galeries Lafayette, Paris.

Model girls

On Saturday at Les Passages, hundreds of excited young girls and their anxious moms were lined up, hoping to be "discovered" at a beauty event hosted by New York's Elite Model Management.

Why isn't there this kind of excitement at science fairs or events that actually require more clever and creative thinking? Why must the focus for females always revolve around physical attributes??!! It would be a wonderful thing if self-esteem was fueled by one's accomplishments and intentions, not simply one's looks. As my grandmother always said, "Pretty is as pretty does."

At last, some real progress for women in Kuwait.

Scroll down the page for another post today.

Gunnar Pettersson's collection of treasures

Black Forest bears from Germany at Gunnar Pettersson's stand #514 at the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille. The brocante ends at 7 p.m. today.

More Black Forest examples. If you missed the opportunity to visit Monsieur Pettersen's stand at Bastille, you'll have another chance at brocantes at Chatou in September and Bastille again in November.

A Morrocan bust on a wooden base.

Scientific and mathematical instruments and decorative frames.

"Vaseline" glass.

Hand-painted wooden boxes.

Souvenir treen from various regions of France.

More wooden treen, originally used primarily to hold toiletries.

Provencal pots for storing duck fat.

These little volumes are actually flashlights.

Seashell frame on an antique mercury glass mirror.

A shell-encrusted box.

A decorative beaded glass frame, mercury glass candlesticks and cranberry glass.

A porcelain menu placard for dinner parties.

An assortment of enameled objets d'art behind glass.

Frames galore in a glass case.

A handpainted wooden frame.

Decorative trays with vintage glassware.

The way we live

Paris apartment, May 16, 2009.

This is the first of a series of vignettes of everyday life.

Bon weekend!

Orange and yellow Gerbera daisies to brighten your weekend. Click photos to view detail.

And here's something to think about...

Not in my backyard

Meanwhile, it seems the DEMOCRATS are forcing Obama to rethink holding trials at Guantanamo Bay! From the New York Times: "...and in a clear rebuke to Mr. Obama, Democratic leaders refused to include $80 million the White House had sought for closing Guantánamo. Senate Democrats also said the administration must provide a plan for relocating more than 200 detainees still held at the prison. The Senate Appropriations Committee advanced its version of the military spending bill Thursday with the $80 million but banned the transfer of detainees to the United States."

Spineless charlatans, these elected officials. While some Dems dodge their responsibilities in this shameful example of passing the buck, hundreds of probably-innocent people continue to languish in prison, without charge and with few human rights extended.

So before we all get up in arms about Obama not closing Guantanamo immediately, let's remember who is stopping him from closing it: his fellow Democrats. Pathetic.

P.S. Don't forget, it's the last weekend at the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille. The brocante is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with stands brimming with curiosities and charm lining both sides of the Canal St. Martin. Purchase your ticket for eight euros at the main entrance at Place de la Bastille.

Weighing the balance

Louis-Phillipe scales with the original weights used to measure gold (more weights are in a small compartment beneath the wood piece on the right). I purchased this rare example from Gunnar Pettersson at the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille, as an anniversary present for my husband. Visit Monsieur Pettersson at Stand 514 for many intriguing finds, daily through Sunday, May 17th at Place de la Bastille.

Since returning to Paris, I've been trying to catch up with deadlines and email. Am still feeling very much in the breakdown/breakthrough mode I wrote about recently. So please bear with me, as I try to get back on track. I'm also bothered by a carpal tunnel issue in my left hand, so any posts will be brief.

Meanwhile, some news of note:

The bright and light

The Cannes Film Festival opened and French television has full-blown coverage, with virtually non-stop interviews and photo ops.

Is the "French Elvis" really bidding adieu to his fans?

The dark

Blame the victim. This is just wrong, on so many levels.

A humanitarian disaster is brewing in Sri Lanka.

President Obama, what are you thinking??!! Surely you learned what NOT to do from your predecessor's bad judgment!!

And why is anybody listening to that torture-loving and fear-mongering former vice-president Dick Cheney? Seriously: enough is enough!

Industrial charm at Bastille

Remember the American folk song " I've Been Working on the Railroad?" As children, we learned it in music class.

Industrial furnishings at Cedric Grare's Art Atypique stand at Bastille.

Specimens, both from nature and hand-forged.

An iron star on a stand against a backdrop of 19th-century gilt mirrors and frames.

Painted driftwood sculptures remind me of Native American feathers.

A 1960s jukebox in good working order.

I was captivated by two identical oeil de boeuf leaded-glass windows at Nina Nattaf's Les Impedimenta stand at Bastille. Iron cross bars help support the glass in each window, which - despite their age - have sustained only one tiny crack. The wood frames encasing the 19th-century treasures are four or five inches thick. The windows came from a chateau in Burgundy, France.

Check back Thursday for more photos of the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille, currently underway. The event is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Sunday, May 17th. Get your tickets for eight euros each at the main entrance on Place de la Bastille. The brocante extends along both sides of the picturesque Canal St. Martin.

Anges et Démons at Bastille

The inimitable Sophie Pretalat's Anges et Démons stand at the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille is filled with precious and rare objects, mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries. Mme. Pretalat's unique style and her amazing collection of antiques have been featured in numerous books and magazines in France.

Visit Anges et Démons at Stand 403 along the Canal St. Martin, facing Place de la Bastille. The brocante continues from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Sunday, May 17th. Tickets are available at the main entrance at Place de la Bastille. Take the Metro Line 1 to Bastille or Metro 5 or 8 to Bastille or Quai de la Rapee. Bus lines 76, 86 and 91 go to Bastille and parking is available at the Opera.

I brought home a couple of 19th-century mercury glass candlesticks to replace some that were shattered. Last October a guest accidentally knocked five antique mercury glass candlesticks and a painting to the floor. Two candlesticks survived the incident; thankfully, the painting sustained only minor damage.

Check back later for more photos of the brocante at Bastille.

Happy Mother's Day!

My daughter Jordana is pictured with her grandmother Cherie last Saturday at Jordana's wedding in Savannah, Georgia. See more wedding photos here and here.

Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful Mom and all the mothers out there who make a difference. Thank you for all you do!

Wedding photos

My daughter Jordana Noelle is pictured just before walking down the aisle on Saturday, May 2 at her friends' home in Savannah, Georgia.

Jordana's stepfather David escorted her down the aisle. Here he steps aside, as the marriage vows begin.

Jordana and Keith recite their marriage vows, including a poem by Kahlil Gibran.

The happy couple. Jordana designed her own dress, made of dotted Swiss bought in New York. Her espadrilles are Christian Louboutin.

A private moment.

Jordana's friend Alisa pours champagne brought from Paris into French crystal champagne flutes, a gift from the bride's parents.

Jordana takes a break after the initial wedding festivities.

Evening in Savannah, with Spanish moss dripping from the trees.

Chinese lanterns illuminate the wedding celebration.

Even a decorative birdcage is lit with votive candles. Jordana's friend Sarah, who is in charge of creative displays for a popular retail store in Madison, Wisconsin, decorated the birdcage and draped the wooden arch with tulle and lights. The groom's stepfather built the arch. He presented it to Jordana's friends, as thanks for hosting the wedding.

The guestbook with handmade paper from Paris, enhanced with flecks of gold and glitter and an 18th-century French tulle and satin jewelry pillow.

First dance, as the disc jockey plays Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic."

Cutting the cake.

The cake is from Florida; assorted cupcakes are from a bakery in Savannah and napkins are from Paris. Tables were decorated with colorful floral tablecloths from Anthropologie and centered with bouquets of purple tulips, Jordana's favourite flower. About 50 friends and family members from all across the United States (and France) joined in the wedding celebration, including two of Jordana's former classmates at the American School of Paris.

Jordana and their dog, wearing a bowtie for the occasion.

Thank you all for your warm wishes for Jordana and Keith!

Update Saturday, May 9: And a special thank you to David (pictured with his trusty Nikon) who has been a wonderful father to Jordana. He has been very supportive of her accomplishments. He also helped me keep my sanity in the flurry of last-minute wedding preparations and travel arrangements.

While in Savannah, David made a few side trips for bird-watching and has some fantastic photos of birds and alligators (!), that I'll be posting next week.

And seven years ago today, we got married in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Tonight, we'll celebrate at dinner with champagne, a 1998 Chateau de Chantegrive Bordeaux and duck with sour cherries, cooked by the resident Chef, of course! And he brought me white roses, my favourite.

In search of the unusual

A quirky industrial lamp at Cedric Grare's Art Atypique stand at the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille, Paris. I would have snapped this up for my desk, if not for the 950 euros price tag!

This was Opening Day for the popular Antiquites Brocante at Bastille, Paris. It was lovely to see some old friends, as well as beautiful antiques and collectibles. I have some unusual finds to show you, but it will take time to post all the photos.

Haven't had a chance yet to go through all Jordana's wedding photos; hope to do that later tonight and post more on Friday. Thank you all for your lovely comments for the previous post, featuring Jordana in her wedding dress. Both Jordana and I really appreciate your felicitations and good wishes.

The Antiquites Brocante at Bastille continues from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through May 17th. Stands positively bursting with fabulous treasures and conversation pieces extend along both sides of the Canal St. Martin. Tickets for eight euros each are available at the main entrance on Place de la Bastille.

Savannah: la belle mariée

The beautiful bride: My daughter Jordana Noelle, wearing the dress she designed. She is pictured just before her wedding on Saturday, May 2 in Savannah, Georgia.

Check back later for more photos of the happy occasion and of Savannah. Meanwhile, a coat Jordana designed is featured in a full-page advertisement for SCAD in the May issue of In Style magazine (page 34, American edition).

And my photograph of melting snow droplets on a pine tree is on the cover of It's for Your Benefit magazine in Alberta, Canada. It's my first cover, so I was thrilled to find a copy of the magazine waiting in my mailbox.