French language learning progress in 2023. Last year, in 2023, I continued French language lessons – online with the Duolingo app. I completed 2,407 lessons taking 17,214 minutes (286 hours). I learned a total of 1,242 new words and practiced writing 3,717 new sentences. This practice resulted in an average of 91% accuracy – endingContinue reading “French language learning progress in 2023”
Author Archives: MaNi
NEW PARIS BOOK IN PROGRESS IN 2024: THE KNOWN, THE UNKNOWN AND THE MORAL CONFLICT – Blog # 3
NEW PARIS BOOK IN PROGRESS IN 2024: THE KNOWN, THE UNKNOWN AND THE MORAL CONFLICT – Blog # 3. Every story has three elements: the known, the unknown, and the main character – i.e., the hero. In the planning stages of my next fictional novel, tentatively called The New Paris Book, set in Paris from 2020, IContinue reading “NEW PARIS BOOK IN PROGRESS IN 2024: THE KNOWN, THE UNKNOWN AND THE MORAL CONFLICT – Blog # 3 “
NEW PARIS BOOK IN PROGRESS IN 2024: THE CITY AND THE DRAGON – Blog # 2
NEW PARIS BOOK IN PROGRESS IN 2024: THE CITY AND THE DRAGON – Blog # 2. The new fiction book that I’m starting in 2024 – let’s just call in the New Paris Book – is obviously set in Paris. So, I need to set the scene about how the main character (semi-biographically me) arrived in Paris. Without going into detailContinue reading “NEW PARIS BOOK IN PROGRESS IN 2024: THE CITY AND THE DRAGON – Blog # 2 “
1924 Paris Olympics and “athletic literature” competitions: Johnny’s games, but not Jimmy’s
1924 Paris Olympics and “athletic literature” competitions: Johnny’s games, but not Jimmy’s This year, the 2024 Olympics will be held in Paris from 26 July to 11 August, followed by the Paralympics from 28 August to 8 September. It will be a hundred years since the 1924 Paris Olympics – its opening ceremony commenced onContinue reading “1924 Paris Olympics and “athletic literature” competitions: Johnny’s games, but not Jimmy’s “
NEW PARIS BOOK: LET’S GET STARTED IN 2024 – Blog # 1
NEW PARIS BOOK: LET’S GET STARTED IN 2024 – Blog # 1. Suggested and encouraged by friends, I have decided to commence writing another fictional book; this one a semi-biographical novel of my Parisian life. To begin, I asked myself why I should write another novel, and how I would build my story. The steps in my goContinue reading “NEW PARIS BOOK: LET’S GET STARTED IN 2024 – Blog # 1 “
Bordeaux red wine and Artificial Intelligence – a good blend?
Bordeaux red wine and Artificial Intelligence – a good blend? In an experiment, Artificial Intelligence (AI) could accurately identify which chateau 80 Bordeaux wines came from – with 100% accuracy! Mon dieu! On 5 December 2023, New Scientist’s Chemistry section reported on a recent study that showed a machine-learning algorithm was able to tell which estate 80 BordeauxContinue reading “Bordeaux red wine and Artificial Intelligence – a good blend? “
Le Chapeau de Mitterand (The President’s Hat)
Le Chapeau de Mitterand (The President’s Hat). Many people are defined by their hat. Take Napoleon, for example. Last month, on 19 November 2023, one of Napoleon Bonaparte’s black bicorne (two-cornered) hats – with a red, white, and blue cockade (the ribboned rosette of official office) – sold for a record price of nearly twoContinue reading “Le Chapeau de Mitterand (The President’s Hat) “
Paris in the fall
Paris in the fall. Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Sir Wallace fountains – drinking fountains in Paris
Sir Wallace fountains – drinking fountains in Paris. The Sir Wallace fountains – or Wallace fountains – are the iconic green drinking fountains across Paris. In 1872, philanthropist Sir Richard Wallace (1818-1890) aimed to bring free, clean, drinking water to the public, particularly the poor in Paris. His friend Charles-Auguste Lebourg designed the cast-iron fountain.Continue reading “Sir Wallace fountains – drinking fountains in Paris “
Mister Morris’ Columns – Parisian advertising
Mister Morris’ Columns – Parisian advertising. Around Paris, looming large, are many iconic Mister Morris’ Columns – decorative advertising pillars. In Paris green with its SPECTACLES sign on the ‘lid’ of the column, they advertise SHOWS. Initially theatre shows and now mostly cinema shows. Frenchman Gabriel Morris was a Parisian printer who specialized in postersContinue reading “Mister Morris’ Columns – Parisian advertising “