Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose

 

The saying in the title  - the more things change, the more they stay the same - is attributed to the 19th century French writer, satirist and journalist Alphonse Karr, anti-vivsectionist and domino player who in his later years became an avid flower grower and is credited with having started the trade in cut flowers along the French Riviera.  He was created Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur.  Such trivia help (slightly) to lighten the tedium in prospect with another month of limited movement and even more limited human contact.  In the middle of that, if we are not mistaken, Donald Trump will shortly no longer be US President and we rejoice at that, especially with our American friends and family, looking forward to the resumption of positive news on international agreements on climate, and more.  So maybe things will change visibly - at least we are going to be distanced from downright hypocrisy and unpleasantness.

So, for now, a few cartoons from recent days.  To begin with an image of a  divided America (and increasingly divided societies in Europe too)

Then, Macron struggling like leaders the world over to balance the consequences of the pandemic with the need to keep economies afloat

from which follows the catastrophic effect of lockdowns on small businesses (and large ones too)

Then a multilayered one - the teacher asks the class to open their books at the chapter on laïcity, the strong French principle of secularism.  This is much in people's minds following terrorist attacks, but so is the government's attempt to restrict people to 'essentials' in shopping so pupils reply that they hadn't brought that book because they thought it was not essential.  The heading, 'Rentrée délicate' also refers to the contested wisdom of sending children back to school in the first place.

And finally, Sean Connery's arrival at the Pearly Gates.

Autumn garden