Chirac's Mouse

First things first: the answer to the "Mystery Photo of the Day" is a shot sent to me by my friend Ann-Marie Rosland. She is seen here sporting full bee-keeping garb during a course she took in which she learned the mysterious ways of apiculture. I wonder if she had the opportunity to wear a "bee beard" like you always see in the Guiness Book of World Records ?

A funny story regarding President Jacques Chirac and computers my French prof told us in class this week. Apparently in 1996 Chirac took a series of classes on computer technology, designed to bring him up to speed on the internet, personal computers, and the like since he did not use them personally. The French word for "mouse" --like the mouse you use on a computer to move the cursor around--is also the French word for mouse, "un souris." During an interview, however, Chirac mistakenly referred to the computer mouse as "un mulot"--a related member of the rodent family (see below). As a result of this gaffe he was often ridiculed for being out-of-touch and technologically incompetent.