by Ric Erickson

Number 1.45:- Metropole Paris - Monday, 30. December 1996:- It is not only in France that New Year's Eve is called Saint Sylvestre. A glance at my antique French dictionary tells me it is certainly a Saint's Day, but I do not know which one it is supposed to be because there were three Sylvestres, and all of them were Popes.

They were the following: Sylvestre I, born in Rome, Pope from 314 to 335; Sylvestre II, born in the Auvergne in 938, Pope from 999 to 1003; and Sylvestre III, born in Rome in 1000, and Pope in the years 1046 and 1046. We should try and remember Sylvestre II, about two years from now.

For the here and now, tomorrow is 'Saint Sylvestre' and tomorrow night is New Year's Eve 1996. The 'here' is the world and my hope for you all tomorrow night, is that you be cool and glide smoothly into 1997, so that you arrive in this 'new' time period with the idea that each and every day may be the most important in your life. Although there are 365 days a year, you only get one shot at each one. Make it count.

Metropole's Readers are Tops

Metropole's readers have made the strain of doing Metropole a pleasure, and I thank you for coming along on this trip with me. If you have more affection for Paris than for Metropole, I do not mind - because Paris is all things to all people, but Metropole reflects myself and what its readers seem to want, and there are large parts of Paris which are unable or unsuitable to be crammed in.

Metropole's Interactive Readers are Tops

Metropole readers who write seem to be a spontaneous group of scribes. Those who initially write, usually do so as soon as they read an issue, or while they are reading one - which is reflected in spelling and syntax - but, hey! do not worry. This IS the Internet, and we all know that most of us have only had a few years or months of being able to reply instantly, and not all of us have really nimble typing fingers. This reminds me that I should look for my style guide, soon, one of these days - because I think that style is as important as syntax and spelling.

Spelling is a nightmare. Between getting three-letter common English words wrong and double-checking fairly long French proper names - and deciding which version to use when it comes to Paris' place names - plus trying to be consistent with the either-or of English versions: English, American, or TransAtlantik - writing for the whole wide world is a _______. (I don't want to use 'headache,' but I can not think of any other word.)

Metropole Thanks Parisians for Being Parisians

A lot of the reports in Metropole could not have been done without the assistance and cooperation of Parisians - and I am thinking of the people who deal with the press and other nuts, who work in the museums, at the Tourist Office, in the various administrations, and especially all the unofficial helpers who talk to me - the working SNCF train people, policemen, street cleaners, barmen and ladies, workers in shops, and ordinary people casually met while cruising the streets and alleys of the capital.

Without Our Host, No Metropole

Metropole would not be on the Internet at all without the technical help and expertise of its host, WebFrance International, and its head push, Linda Thalman, who is assisted by the shy Pierre who knows the inside out of UNIX, whatever it is. Linda also comes up with ideas for Metropole subjects which I poo-poo on sight, and then go out and do. Linda can also spell a lot better than me and she often quietly fixes clunkers, but wonders who Joe Stella might be. When she wonders, then so do I.

Out With the Old, In With the Numbers Change

Issue number 1.01 of Metropole went online on Friday, 23. February 1996. This is issue 1.45 and the last issue of 1996 and the last issue of the '1' series.

The next issue, the first of 1997, will be numbered 2.01, with '2' representing the year and the following numbers the week of the year.

I have borrowed this idea from 'Wired' magazine. Although they have dropped it from their covers, they still use on their contents page. If you don't know the week's number, just remember that '.01' represents the first issue of the year, '.26' will be about the beginning of July and '.52' will probably be the last issue of the year.

Metropole Issue Interruption

Due to technical reasons and simple fatigue, there will be no new issue of Metropole on Monday, 13. January 1997. It means that the next issue, the first issue of 1997, will carry the double issue number of 2.01/2.02. Metropole issue 2.03 will appear on Monday, 20. January 1997 as usual.

Yours Sincerely - Oops, Regards That Is

Nobody has asked for this, but I am feeling particularly nervy today, and apropos of nothing other than having a 'face' to write to, I place here my photo. Younger readers are not to take it seriously, and I sincerely hope that no older readers will ask for autographed copies.

It is a recent photo. It was taken by Norman Barth, so it is not even mine. Note: photo of Ed by Norman Barth©1996. Before Metropole existed, there was a thing called 'Ric's Paris Reports' and they were featured in Norman Barth's huge Paris Web site, 'The Paris Pages,' and some of Metropole's present features are re-published there from time to time. For details about Paris, you should consult 'The Paris Pages.'

For a lot more about what's going on now in Paris, you should stick with Metropole. I hope you will and if you already do, thanks.