Euro-Trash Tuesday - 5/31

In NGC's inaugural Euro-trash Tuesday, we join A Guide To Midwestern Culture to share the European experience with America, the West Virginia of Europe (which may say more about Europe than West Virginia - I don't know).

This was a tough week. There are two excellent possibilities.

First, the biggest news out of Europe is the devastating referendum loss Chirac and the EU suffered in France. France voted "NO" by nearly 55% to the EU Constitution. The concern now is that other countries' voters will follow suit. Apparently, they needed France to lead the way.

This outcome is apparently devastating to Chirac, someone who opposed the War in Iraq for purely financial reasons. Now, I don't know much about politics in France, primarily because it just isn't that important except to the large number of unemployed people caused by their self imposed socialistic policies, but I applaud any trouble Chirac has politically. He deserves it.

That said, I don't think that this outcome reflects increasing intelligence in France. This, from the story linked above:

Constitution critics successfully portrayed the charter as enshrining pro-market policies that would cost French jobs and put business interests ahead of social concerns.

So, the French are voting against a Constitution that has pro-market policies. Which they need, as reflected by the results of their country's socialistic policies: a poor economy and 10-year highs in unemployment. Uh, OK. Chirac and the French deserve each other.


More indicitive of the Euro-trash name, however, is the newest chart topping pop song in England. The winner is -- a cell phone ring.

The ring tone is based on a song that was recorded in Sweden nearly a decade ago by 17-year-old Daniel Malmedahl, using the high pitched revving of a two-stroke motorcycle, The International Herald Tribune reported Saturday.

The taste of the British is proven yet again.

The newest pop sensation in England.