Question du Jour #6

Pictured above are Nick's and my toothbrushes. Mine's the one on the right, sitting in the little white charger. We have two of them, but Nick suggested that we keep just one [charger] in the bathroom and share it, so that we could use our second step-down (or maybe it's step-up) transformer for other American appliances. I had a hard time with this, because I like to have my toothbrush charging at all times when it's not in my mouth. Similarly, I am most at ease when my laptop is plugged-in, and get anxious when Nick wants to use my adapter because his computer is about to switch over to reserve battery power. I think these are two distinct personality types: fearful of scarcity vs. trusting that the plenty will be there when needed and, if I'm being honest, this comes up all the time, not just in the realm of home electronics. So what about you?

Are you a leave-it-charging or a run-down-the-battery-first sort of person?

Question du Jour #5

What, in your estimation, are the odds that a Nick Gorevic would steal the identity of a Nicholas Gorevic (or vice versa) and try to open a cell phone account?

How about if they're both married to the same person?

Question du Jour #4

Pictured above is a short piece of French dental floss. See how it's fuzzy on the lefthand side (you may have to click to zoom in)? This is what happens to it when it is used. I tried both squeezing and wetting a fresh piece to see if that would cause the transformation, since that, as far as I can tell, is what happens to something that passes between one's teeth. But no change. So...what I want to know is:

How and why does something that I would slice cheese with become something I would crochet with?

Question du Jour #3

Kind of mind-blowing, right? Think of all the vet bills we could pay...Okay, so here's the question:

If you were going to pay 1250 € for a cocktail--take this as a given--what would be in it?

Question du Jour #2

I took the photo above when I was at the movies this morning. It's a finger provocatively tracing the edge of a pint or so of Häagen-Dazs, showing how unctuous it is, after a pretty lady has been sitting on the floor, making eyes at said pint. So here's the question:

Does sex really sell ice cream?

Question du Jour #1

What is with French doorknobs in the middle of the door?

Makes absolutely no sense in terms of everything I know about simple machines--levers, fulcroms, and the like. Anyone?

New Feature!

Regular readers of A Year of Kir (that's right, I'm talking to both of you) will have noticed that the consistency of my posting has been a little spotty. Anyone who has ever had class with me--sorry, guys--or met me, for that matter, knows that I ask a lot of questions. And so, in order to reward the former for their fidelity and regale (?) the latter with more of the same, I'm introducing the Question du Jour. The topics will generally relate to France or our life here, or something else entirely. Some questions will have actual answers and others will not, but either way, I want to hear ("hear") your thoughts! So comment early and often. Postulate, set me straight (rhyme!), inventate (okay, poor attempt--but really, just make things up if they're entertaining)...Or don't, and I'll just hang out here and wonder into the void...which is sort of what I've been doing already. Enjoy, and first question soon to come!