Time for some in-house updates as I owe you all a brief note explaining the relative silence here. There are two reasons really. The first one is that there is quite a bit of activity on the business side and my clients deserve my time above all else. There simply hasn’t been the time to do any meaningful blogging.

More or less related is the second reason. I have decided to not only do a full Peaktalk redesign and upgrade – currently in the works with the help of our good friends at Sekimori – but once that is complete to change the nature of the site. It will revert to fewer updates, longer pieces and a broader range of subjects. So stay tuned, a rebirth is in the making.

There was a time when the Eurovision Song Contest was a major event that had European households glued to their TV-sets. It was also the time when the Dutch and Israeli judges would give each other the maximum allowable number of points irrespective of the quality of the song in question which usually was quite poor.

No longer, although it can still create some controversy today. Despite its quality problems, there were definite gems and the best Eurovision song in my mind was France's entry in 1977: Marie Myriam with "L'oiseau et l'enfant" or for the non-French speaking contingent, "The Bird and the Child". A vintage French chanson:

Thirty years ago Marie Myriam was the winner, the last time France won.

My column with some video is up at PJM here.

Bruce Bawer's column, Europe's Champion of Liberty, is here.

UPDATE: For the Dutch-speaking contingent, here is an interview with Fortuyn recorded five years after his death. It is both amazing and accurate. Of course, these sort of recordings reflect the 'what if' and 'we miss him' sentiments, which are still very present in Dutch society.

A record turn-out in France today and the possibility of dramatic change. Interestingly, the mechanics of Fortuyn's political impact resemble that of Sarkozy's who is also viewed as an anti-establishment outsider:

Throughout his life, Nicolas Sarkozy, 52, has fit awkwardly into the comfortable club of French leadership, like a brassy character actor dropping one-liners in the midst of a regal drama. In photos taken a decade ago, he stands out from the crowd like an awkward interloper: Surrounded by fellow ministers, he has always looked and acted like an outsider.

[...]

Mr. Sarkozy has sold himself and his policies as a violent break from French traditions — “ le rupteur,” he called it at first, then softening it to a “ tranquil rupteur” this year after advisers said it would upset voters.

[ ... ]

What has shocked France the most, driving half the country away from Mr. Sarkozy in fear and the other half cautiously into his arms, is that he is talking about things that have not been part of French politics since the Second World War: ethnicity, religion, morality, and, above all else, the importance of order and discipline.

France too has been served with a wake up call from a maverick. The Dutch example has shown that the larger parties after Fortuyn's death acquired parts of his agenda and gently tried to push the country back to the way things were before. Let's see if the French are able to effect lasting change.

UPDATE: Sarkozy is the projected winner according to The Times:

Polling does not end in France until 8pm (7pm UK time), until which time it is illegal to publish exit polls in France, but two Belgian media organisations ran unofficial estimates from the French Interior Ministry’s political intelligence service showed Sarkozy grabbing 53-54 per cent of the vote in today's second round.

Lots more here.

And Fausta: Sarko-O-O!