Reasons, BBC, Paper Planes, Obamitos

My Favorite French Phrase au moment

 

"Tu as raison."

 

Literally, "tu as raison" means "you have reason."  It's another way of saying you're right.  For example:

 

"With suspending his campaign to appear decisive during this current Wall Street crisis and choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate, John McCain's campaign has been reduced to publicity stunts."

"Tu as raison."

 

Why I Love the BBC

 

When commenting on a story that a Brazilian football coach is going to fine any overweight player $160 per day per kilo, a BBC anchor said that the players will have to lose the weight or, like they say on Wall Street, face a financial "correction."  He was being a cheeky monkey after half an hour of coverage about the government bailout before the sports news.

 

Random Music Tidbits

 

I read that "Paper Planes" by M.I.A. is getting played in the States.  I'm not sure just how widespread it is – I'm only taking whatever-it-is-I-read's word for it – but I'm glad: it's a really good song, M.I.A. is intense and not someone who would usually become pop chart popular (she is popular among the hipster/indie music crowd), and it even uses a Clash sample ("Straight To Hell").  I was really surprised when I was flipping through The Essential Clash on my iPod and I heard "Paper Planes." 

 

A line from "Paper Planes" is even sampled in a new rap song called "Swagger Like Us".  I think the version I have is a remix, so I'm not sure who's the original artist, but it has Kanye, Jay Z, Lil' Wayne, and T.I.  T.I., I have to say, had the best verse, something I wouldn't usually expect when the other three dudes are better than he is.  And speaking of Kanye, I downloaded a new song called  "Love Lockdown," where he continues to love having his voice T-Pained.  He's apparently releasing a new album in December, just in time for my arrival.  Thanks, Kanye!

 

Little Obamas

 

One of the most amusing things I've heard about the elections from a Cameroonian:  Yotti has a frère that's in Germany (he's not really his brother) who's married to a white German lady.  They recently had a child, and Yotti told me that they made un petit Barack Obama.