k&k episode 314 - the one where the learn the truth about French history, according to Stephen Clarke... and stuff...
We've still got Stephen Clarke in the studio for episode 314, and he continues to regale us with tales from his upcoming book, 1000 Years of Annoying the French - including dubious battle strategies, the taking of Calais, the truth behind Napoleon's height and Joan of Arc's demise, how Louisiana got sold and the secrets behind Sarkozy's recent visit to England. We then discuss why the French are so proud of their language, the evolution of written French in letters, emails and text messages and the immortels behind deciding what's French and what's not.
This episode was brought to you by the word "une bataille" (a battle).
Guest : Stephen Clarke, author of A Year in the Merde, Talk to the Snail, and many more books, including the up-coming 1000 Years of Annoying the French.
k&k episode 313 
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Just my .02...
On D-Day, reading up on it this year the Queen wasn't snubbed. In fact the French governement had not planned on doing anything for the anniversary but it was Obama's idea to do something (war theme etc). The only real main event was the American one at Colleville sur Mer, for the 60th there were celebrations at all the major locations by all the countries that participated which was organized by the French gov in parternship with the Allied countries. The press (especially the UK ones!) decided to be a drama queen about this and say the Queen was snubbed and not invited when it was more Obama than anything else!
As far as written French goes I have to say I am horribly shocked at work (I work with mainly British customers) with the AWFUL spelling in the emails and letters sent in to us! No caps, no punctuation, horrible use of apostrophies, sometimes no verbs and even mistakes such as 'are' instead of 'our'!!! It is so embarassing to read, these are people who are generally well educated, in there 40's and 50's and wealthy enough to have a second home in France and they do not take the time or make the effort to write a normal email. I agree with Stephen that if it were not for America English would not be a world language, especially considering the horrible spelling and grammar of "proper" English! Yikes!