bookofjoe

France Channel

I happened on France Channel by accident while noodling around on Prime Video's seemingly endless list of available subscription channels.

Not surprisingly, it features French films.

Browsing, I happened on quite a large number of movies that I've seen and and thought were excellent on Netflix/Prime Video/Apple TV/Max et al.

I also found a number I'd never heard of that looked like they might be really good.

I signed up for a free trial and watched a few and added a number of them to my Watch List, then took a flutter and went full Monty, subscribing for $7.99/month.

I'm still subscribed after a year.

Interestingly, France Channel is not among the zillion channels available on Apple TV+ or in the Apple TV App Store, though it is available as an iPad OS app so I suppose you could use AirPlay to watch movies on your TV if you chose to go that route.

Wild Mandarin Duck

Photographed on a lake in the UK by David Slater.

FunFact: In 2010 this duck appeared in a Windows wallpaper/screensaver.

Rhodia Mouse Mat Notepad

Like it says: "A mouse pad you can write on!"

Can your mouse pad let you do that?

Didn't think so.

Rhodia's one of those classic French brands: it has manufactured exquisite pads, notebooks, and their ilk since 1932.

I've always been struck by how both Hermès — perhaps the most iconic of all French brands — and Rhodia settled on orange as their signature colors, though the shades are quite distinct.

Features and Details:

• 9"W x 7.5"H

• 30 detachable sheets

• Smooth, satiny 80-gram Clairefontaine paper

• Non-slip non-stick backing on base keeps pad in place

• 25 squares/inch grid format, printed in signature purple

• Paper is attached at bottom and left side of pad so it won't curl as you use your mouse

$12.95.