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Headline of the Week

"Les Pièges d'Internet" was the Le Parisien's big headline on Saturday. The paper is schizoid because on Fridays it has a regular report about all of the Internet's nifty aspects, and often promotes commercial Web sites that it has decided to condemn in Saturday's issue for being likely to rip users off.

Cyclist escapes getting squashed.

According to the paper, on an obviously slow Saturday, we have to beware of hackers, pirates, viruses, sex maniacs, and commercial Web sites. All doom, all gloom, and they forget to say most of it is tedious and boring.

Laurel Avery Quits Being Missing

Laurel returns this week with a new episode of her Paris Journal, which is published in this issue as number 46. Because of preparing for an upcoming gallery exhibition, Laurel's journals probably won't be a weekly feature for a while. In addition, Laurel may have a bit of paperwork to do for the government.

Last Week's Café Metropole Club 'Report'

If your periods of doing useful stuff are still intermittent you may have enough spare time to take a look at the latest version of the 'Geopolitical' Meeting' report. The meeting had few highlights other than fulfilling the life–long dream of Lodi, New Jersey's Karen Scott. As advertised, she became a club member in a trice.

The coming meeting of the Café Metropole Club will be on Thursday, 27. May. The Saint's Day of the Week will be Saint–Augustin de C. 'De C' stands for Canterbury, which he founded in England before dying sometime around 605 of unknown causes.

A few minor and unimportant details about the club can be found on the 'About the Club' page. The virtual club membership card on this page is still free as air and continues to be worth as much, no matter where you are.

This Was Metropole One Year Ago

Issue 8.22 – 26. May 2003 – the issue began with the Café Metropole headline, 'Men with Naked Ties.' The 'Au Bistro' column's headline was, 'In 6 Words, Tour Eiffel Lights Up Again in June.' The issue's feature was titled, 'The Key to Cable–Access is the Garbage Room Door.' The repeat Scène column was stilled titled, 'Choo–Choo Champs–Elysées.' The Café Metropole Club update for 29. May was titled the "I have a Thing for Macaroons" report. There were another four new 'Posters of the Week' and Ric's cartoon of the week was captioned, 'It's Roland "Swivel-Neck" Garros Time Again.'

This Was Metropole Two Years Ago

Issue 7.22 – 27. May 2002 – this week's Café Metropole column was kind to pals, with 'George Visits Jacques.' The 'Au Bistro' column's headline asked, 'Europe Needs Immigrants?' The Café Metropole Club update on 30. May was headlined as the "Where Are All the Flower Stalls?" report. There were four new 'Posters of the Week' again, and Ric's cartoon Caption of the Week has the caption, "Eddie, Wake Up!"

'Countdowns' – Suspension Continues

If nostalgia grabs you, you can find the 'countdowns' in a recent issue by clicking here. Do not, I remind you again, forget to subtract 14 days from all count–down dates.

One Major Birthday

It was a mere 121 years ago today that the Brooklyn Bridge was formally opened, thus creating the possibility for one of the new world's first major public works to be offered for sale for $5. Thursday, 24. May 1883 was a bright sunny day perfectly suited for a New York party with a cast of tens of thousands, and many many more spectators.

Special trains were put in service to bring the curious from Philadelphia and New Jersey, while many more came by boat from Long Island Sound and Staten Island. But most people walked from Manhattan, and many more from Brooklyn, of course. Some businesses in the city closed at noon to enable their employees to get caught up in the military parade, or see the sight of a greater part of the US Navy waiting to salute the bridge with salvos of cannon fire.

The 7th Regiment escorted the President, the Governor, the Mayor and 'other more or less distinguished guests' riding in 24 carriages down Broadway to the approach of the bridge, where 50 big policemen had replaced the construction barricade that had been in place for many years.

President Arthur and Mayor Edson were in the first carriage. The whereabouts of the Governor is not known, and the passengers of the other 23 carriages are not lost, but forgotten. That the President was cheered and received applause, is all we need to know. When there was almost a runaway horse, it looked like the mayor was going to jump ship but he regained his wits in time.

By 13:30 the procession managed to reach City Hall. The luminaries descended from their carriages, and it is here that Governor Cleveland was not cheered because nobody noticed him. Finally the band struck up a lively march and the regiment moved towards the bridge at 13:50.

The President and the Mayor, walking arm–in–arm, almost walked over a black fellow who was carrying a yellow water bucket and a rack of glasses. He did not take offense, thinking the crowd was cheering for him. The procession reached the bridge, followed by undistinguished guests who had tickets. The real ones were free, and the police turned back those with unreal $2 ones.

The Brooklyn Bridge, when it was only 118 years old.

The US Navy ships lined up across the mouth of the East River were the Tennessee, close to the Wall Street ferry, the Kearsarge, Yantic, Vandalia, Minnesota, and the Saratoga, close to Governor's Island. The band played 'Hail To the Chief.' Shortly after 14:00, the Tennessee fired the first cannon, followed by 20 others.

The procession passed the centre of the bridge and reached the Brooklyn side, where it was joined by Mayor Low who locked arms with Mayor Edson. After this a very good time was had by all except those undistinguished guests from Manhattan who could not get through the mass of people in Brooklyn, overjoyed to be joined to the continent at last.

2004 is Barely Worth Mentioning

As of today there are 214 days left this year. This is more or less the same number of 'days left' as at this time last year but 14 less than were in this spot the last time the 'countdowns' were here. Time just keeps ticking itself away, although with all the background noise around everywhere you have to keep time yourself to keep track of it. This is a sort of double– time.