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Articles by Bob Lyons
Cloud complexity didn't happen by accident
A blue digital cloud containing lots of symbols on a dark blue background. Cloud computing should make businesses more focused on their business, not more focused on their cloud. That distinction has gotten lost. A company that has moved its operations to the public cloud and then deployed significant engineering capacity to manage that environment has not simplified anything. It has traded one operational cost for another. Around 2012, moving to public cloud was genuinely good advice.
Letter: ‘Magnificent Ruin’
Recently, South Dakota’s Sen. John Thune was among the 35 Republicans who voted to block a proposal to create a bipartisan inquiry into what led a violent mob of Trump supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Sen. Mike Rounds did not vote. “To be at peace with robbery is to be an accomplice to it” wrote Edmund Burke of the French Revolution. The Republicans who voted to block the bipartisan investigation have become accomplices of the mob invaders of our Capitol.
Letter: Dakota ‘Machinations’
My great uncle, Richard F. Lyons, son of Irish immigrants, was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Sioux Falls, July 4, 1889, which created Sen. Mike Round’s South Dakota as part of an organized plan by the Republicans to cement their power in Congress. The intent to divide the Dakotas was not a mystery at the time.
Lille – the best cultural sites and restaurants - The Good Life France
Vieux Lille, the old town of Lille, is a place of fanciful Flemish facades. Where bars, bistros, boutiques and shops line the cobbled streets which wind their way labyrinth-like around the central Place du Général de Gaulle, known as the grand’Place. Outdoor cafés abound in the ancient city centre, art of all kinds adorns the streets and you could visit a different museum in and around Lille every day for two weeks and still not see them all.
La Couronne | the restaurant in Rouen, Normandy that inspired Julia Child
The Norman city of Rouen is brimming with historical gems. Located just a 90-mile drive northwest of Paris, Rouen is perhaps best known for its 4th-century Gothic cathedral that so inspired Impressionist painter Claude Monet. In addition to its architecture, Rouen has a reputation as a great center for the literary arts. Authors Gustave Flaubert and Pierre Corneille were born in this city.
What to do in Lyons-la-Foret, Normandy - The Good Life France
Lyons-la-Foret is a picturesque village, hidden in the heart of one of the oldest and largest forests of Normandy, where the beech trees are several centuries old. Like many pretty villages in Normandy, there are magnificent half-timbered houses, pink brick or tinted cob style, typical of the region and mostly dating from the 17th to the 18th century.
Le Touquet Paris-Plage, Northern France - The Good Life France
Le Touquet Paris-Plage is a small seaside resort on the beautiful Opal Coast of northern France. Architecturally it has a mix of British Edwardian and French Belle Epoque styles. Combined with a zest for outdoor living (and its own microclimate), swanky shops and excellent bars and restaurants. It’s a brilliant place for a weekend break (or longer).
What to see and do in Manche Normandy - The Good Life France
The majority of people who arrive at the port of Cherbourg in La Manche in Normandy, hit the road and head south. Or the Loire Valley, or somewhere else. Sometimes they stop at Mont Saint-Michel en route, and who can blame them, it’s one of the most famous sites of France. But, this Norman department has plenty to offer visitors who stay.
Top ten things to do in Versailles - The Good Life France
Versailles, just 12 miles from Paris is home to the most famous castle in the world. But there’s more to this fabulous town than the chateau and most visitors miss out. Here are our top 10 things to do in Versailles… Palace of Versailles Of course you can’t go to Versailles and not see the world famous chateau created by King Louis XIV after he visited the Chateau of Vaux-le-Vicomte and was inspired (and jealous of) it’s beauty.
The most delicious French goats milk cheese
Less than an hour from Calais, but deep in the belly of rural France in the lovely Seven Valleys lives a cheese producer. She is famous in these parts for the delicious goats milk cheese she makes and organic bread that she bakes in her authentic wood oven… Valerie Magniez is an artisan cheese producer – some call her the goat lady. On her little farm in the village of Hesmond, Valerie’s goats outnumber the people.
Art and Gardens Festival Amiens - The Good Life France
From the middle ages, Amiens in Picardy, northern France, has been famous for its hortillonnages. This is the name given to the market gardens which line the network of nine waterways which run through the city. These watery arteries give Amiens a unique atmosphere. You really have a feeling that you are in the most beautiful countryside right in the centre of a busy metropolis.
Family-friendly holidays in northern France - The Good Life France
If you’re wondering where to go this year for a quintessential French holiday that’s a real family pleaser then look no further! Just across the English Channel you will find long golden sandy beaches, rock pools where you can fish for shrimp and mussels, discover secret inlets and see seals sunbathe.
The Pyramid at the Louvre - The Good Life France
When it comes to innovation in architecture, Paris has long been a leader and in the last 150 years, dozens of architectural gems have made it famous for originality and boldness. Just a few include the Eiffel Tower, Pompidou centre, the Louis Vuitton Foundation and La Grande Arche in the Défense business district. These new designs have sparked controversy and debate, often intensely disliked before being accepted.
The Transhumance of Provence - The Good Life France
The people of Provence have been raising sheep for centuries. You see flocks of them all over the countryside, grazing under the watchful eye of shepherds. But Provencal summers are scorching hot and sheep have heavy wool coats so they’re moved to cooler pastures. The transhumance in Provence The answer to dealing with the heat, is the transhumance, the great migration of sheep to cool mountain pastures for the summer.
Butte Bergeyre | A secret village in the heart of Paris
When you visit Paris and want to see it at its hidden best, it’s worth seeking out the charming inner city village of Butte Bergeyre in the 19th Arrondissement. Not many people know of it, not even Parisians. It is a hidden enclave in the city, where you’ll discover beautiful houses in streets perched high up surrounded by what were once limestone workings. The village was built in the 1930’s on the site of the once famous Bergeyre rugby stadium, named after a player who died in 1914.
The very best markets in France - it's official! - The Good Life France
Everyone loves a French street market – from the visitors who flock to France to experience the good life to the locals who shop at their favourite each week. There are markets in almost every town and village. From the grand street marchés, to covered markets called Les Halles, to authentic street markets of Paris and in tiny villages where there may be only a few stalls, but everyone has their favourite. In 2018, a contest aimed to discover – which is the most loved market of the French?
The best rooftop hot spot bars and restaurants in Paris
Over the last few years rooftop venues have been popping up all over the capital. They make for a brilliant place to enjoy the great outdoors with views that seriously impress. We think these are some of the best rooftop hot spots in Paris: At the top of the Eiffel Tower, the Champagne Bar serves Champagne while you take in the incredible views of Paris, seen from a height of 276m.
Josephine Baker Chateau des Milandes
If you are ever travelling in the area known as the Perigord region, within the Dordogne department of France, don’t miss out on a visit to the Chateau des Milandes once the home of Josephine Baker, the legendary American entertainer… The Chateau des Milandes is a very imposing, privately owned house surrounded by its own estate – it is also a very exclusive monument to twentieth century French culture.
Reasons to love France | Paris is always a good idea
Paris is always a good idea says author Mark Pryor as he shares his reasons to love Paris… Mark’s best selling Hugo Marston mystery sellers are set in Paris including The Bookseller, The Sorbonne Affair and The Paris Librarian. True story: a year ago I ran into my friend David at the courthouse where I work in Austin and as we talked, he shook his head ruefully. “I bought my wife The Bookseller,” he said, “and now she wants to go to Paris. Insists on it.” I shrugged.
Chateau Vaux-Le-Vicomte in Photos
Vaux-Le-Vicomte is a chateau with a dark past. It was once the home of a favoured Minister of Louis XIV who only got to enjoy its beauty for a very short while. Nicolas Fouquet was the Finance Minister of the King and a man who appreciated the finer things in life. He commissioned the design, décor and landscaping of the Chateau from three of the greatest names of his time.
Jardin du Luxembourg the perfect Paris Park
If you’re in Paris on a Sunday and you visit the Jardin du Luxembourg, you’ll certainly feel like a local as it’s one of the favourite parks for Parisians… The Jardin du Luxembourg is situated in the 6th arrondissement between the Quartier Latin and Saint Germain des Pres. It was created upon the initiative of Queen Marie de Medici in 1612 and has gardens which are split into French and English styles and cover 25 hectares of land.
Guide to Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, Picardy, Hauts de France
Saint-Valery-sur-Somme is located at the heart of the Picardy coastline nestling gently at the mouth of the Somme. The town is charming, authentic and has a rich history. William the Conqueror stopped off here to collect soldiers en route to conquer England and Joan of Arc was held here on her way to Rouen, a little over an hour away by car. The prison where she is said to have spent a night is still there, on the edge of the walled medieval part of the town.
5 historic and brilliant bars in Paris
I love this little market on Boulevard Magenta, built in 1866 it has a village-y vibe going on. It’s so normal, such a part of everyday life for Parisians in the area. It’s very close to Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est (less than 10 mins walk). It is great for a beer or glass of robust red wine; there are several restaurants (including a gluten free one) and seafood stalls where you can scoff a plate of oysters washed down with a glass of white wine.
The Best Panoramic Views in Paris
Paris is panoramic; fact. From the Eiffel Tower to the Arc de Triomphe, Musee d’Orsay and the Montparnasse, everywhere you look there are sights to be seen from every angle. We’ve travelled high and low in search of the best panoramas in Paris. From historic forts, to riverside art galleries, skyscrapers and rooftops, there’s a wealth – and breadth – of places to go to find those unique perspectives.
New Tank Museum to open in Cambrai northern France
In June 2017, the famous World War One tank known as ‘Deborah’ will begin her final journey to a purpose-built new home at the soon-to-be completed Cambrai Tank 1917 museum. Deborah, a 26-ton female Mark IV British tank, is the star exhibit at the new museum dedicated to the Battle of Cambrai, which will open on November 26, 2017, one hundred years after the battle in which Deborah and 475 other British tanks fought.
The Chateau de Fontainebleau Ile de France
If walls could talk then those at the Chateau de Fontainebleau would have plenty to say. Just 55km from the centre of Paris this immense palace simply oozes history… This incredible place has more than 1500 rooms and is the only royal and imperial chateau in France that has been continuously inhabited for eight centuries.
Musee Camille Claudel Opens in France
“There is always something absent that torments me.” Camille Claudel, letter to Rodin, 1886 Being a muse is not as easy as it looks. With the opening of France’s first national museum dedicated to the talent of Rodin’s long-suffering assistant and mistress later this month, Camille Claudel (1864-1943) is finally getting the recognition that she has long deserved.
The Enigmatic Pei Pyramids of Paris
President Francois Mitterand of France was a great instigator of modern planning and architectural ideas for Paris. During his tenure, he was the originator of many post war features including the apparently dead straight ‘Triumphal Way’. This alignment of celebrated structural icons stretches from the Louvre as far as the Grand Arch, some 10 kilometres away, in the La Defense district.
The Science Museum in Paris
There is a shiny oasis in the north east corner of Paris that presents practical science for now and for all our futures. It is the largest science museum in Europe. The ‘Cite’ des Sciences et de L’Industrie’ is a showcase of modern revolution and a capacious chasm depicting life beyond our present experience. About five million people pass through the Cite’ each year. This museum is in the Parc de la Villette and is one of over thirty Cultural Scientific Centres in France.
Take a walk on the wild side in Paris on the Petite Ceinture
Get off the beaten track by getting on the beaten track! Take a walk on the wild side on the abandoned railway tracks of Paris, known as the Petite Ceinture. The first urban railway in Paris ran on a line that encircled the city, carrying steam trains through the arrondissements, the districts of the City. Long before the metro arrived, the track ran over tiny metal bridges, and through streets at an underground level.
Auvers-sur-Oise in the footsteps of Van Gogh
Auvers-sur-Oise in Picardy, northern France, needs little introduction as the last place that Vincent van Gogh lived and painted in 1890, during the last seventy days of his life. Located northwest of Paris; a mere 30 minute train ride to this quaint, picturesque artists’ village, it is here – that if only for a brief moment, one can glimpse what stirred Vincent van Gogh’s artistic vision and inspiration.
5 Brilliant Free Museums in Paris
Most museums are free in Paris on the first Sunday of the month (except during summer months when some of them charge) but there are few that are free all year round. You may have to pay for access to temporary exhibitions but here are 5 great free museums in Paris that are well worth a visit. An architectural jewel of the 19th century, this museum has a magnificent collection of paintings, graphics and etchings from antiquity to the 20th century.
5 Off the beaten tourist track things to see in Paris
Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world, welcoming approximately 16 million annual visitors. For many travelling to the City of Light, it isn’t their first visit, but whether it’s your second or fifty-second trip, Paris has so much to offer and there’s always something new to discover.
Top Chefs in Paris France
Gastronomy is an essential component of French culture, history and society, so much so that it was declared an “intangible cultural heritage” by UNESCO in 2010. French cuisine is officially amongst humanity’s most cherished cultural treasures. During the French Revolution, aristocrats fled from France leaving their chefs jobless and with the gem of an idea to open restaurants, many of them in Paris, so that they could earn money – a hugely popular move.
Pere Lachaise Cemetery Paris
In the east of Paris is the largest city cemetery, Pere Lachaise. Nowadays it is the resting place of around 1,000,000 people and some say it is the most visited cemetery in the world. The name of the cemetery comes from Pere Francois de la Chaise, confessor to Louis XIV who lived in a Jesuit house in the centre of the tract. Pere Lachaise started out as a very small burial ground. People did not wish to end up there because it was too far from the City centre.
The very French baguette of France
Ask most people what is the most French thing they can think of – some will say the Eiffel Tower, some will say a beret, some will say Paris. However, many will say it is the baguette, the long, crispy, delicious loaf of bread that just seems to be the epitome of French-ness. To the French the baguette, the word actually means “wand”, is a ritual and more than 10 billion baguettes are produced each year in France, that’s a staggering 320 baguettes per second.
Ten Incredible Facts about Paris France
Paris is the most popular tourist destination in the world. Newspapers and magazines the world over write about it, it’s on our TV screens and in films, books, paintings, mugs, place mats, music and a whole heap more places. We think we know it well but there’s always something to surprise! 1. Paris is the most densely wooded capital in Europe. Every tree is measured and logged. There are two forests – Vincennes and Boulogne and 400 parks and gardens. 2.
10 Year Old Has Enlarged Liver Special Diet Needed
My cat Princess had x-rays and blood tests done. He has an enlarged liver.He had severe gingivitis which spread to his liver. The Vet removed his back teeth. Which has seemed to slow down his ailing condition. He needs a special prescription cat food. To help his liver heal and rebuild. It will cost $4.25 per day to maintain his diet. I absolutely can not afford to do this without all of your help. I will need to travel once a month to buy his food. Round trip bus fare will cost $22.00.
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