Chaos in France

[tango15]

One crazy person kills another...no sane person would visit Paris these days.
A British tourist is reportedly among several injured.

I note there are 3 dead in the bombing of a Catholic Mass in the Philippines.
Another customer of the Alloa Snackbar responsible.

It's not race - we have a fair few Philippinos working in the fish plants here, and there is nothing but friendship. All Catholics, of course, same as most here.

Agree 100% re Filipinos/Filipinas. I've me them all over the place, including the Philippines, and as a race they are, without exception, some of the nicest (and happiest) people I have ever met.

[llondel]

I have a meeting in February next year. What with terrorists, bed bugs, and ludicrous prices for travel, hotels, and food, I'm thinking twice about going.

Better than thinking about going twice...

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

some of the nicest (and happiest) people I have ever met.

Yup, they fit in right well here.
Polite AF too.

I donated a couch gratis to a couple of them setting up home. They get that a lot.

I think I'd like to visit the Philippines one day.

[OFSO]

The people in charge of Paris have just tripled the tourist tax as of January first. For top hotels it is now nearly €15 a day I believe. Bedbugs included.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Can I still get stabbed visiting the Eiffel Tower?
Wouldn't want to miss that!

[Dushan]

Don't know about stabbings, but better watch your stuff in the subway. My sister had her phone stolen on her birthday, a few days ago, and she is a "native".

[OFSO]

I am not going to my conference there in February. Dark, damp and depressing. My secretary there said to me "don't blame you !"

[Dushan]

Dark, damp and depressing.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. It once used to be known as the "City of Lights".

[G-CPTN]

Don't know about stabbings, but better watch your stuff in the subway. My sister had her phone stolen on her birthday, a few days ago, and she is a "native".

Are mobile 'phones so desirable? or does it depend on make and model?

Or are they stolen because of their content (banking details)?

[Rwy in Sight]

My sister a French literature graduate working in the IT payment sector (to connect with the posts just above and the thread) has lost her business phone value unknown. Her IT colleagues assured her, that given she uses a PIN lock her financial data security is practically assured 99.9% chance of no data breach. It seems mobiles block attempts to use devices to guess locking codes. And it is good to have the IMEI code (*#06# to display) handy to declare it to the police as to block it and render the mobile suitable only to be used as paperweight

[Dushan]

Don't know about stabbings, but better watch your stuff in the subway. My sister had her phone stolen on her birthday, a few days ago, and she is a "native".

Are mobile 'phones so desirable? or does it depend on make and model?

Or are they stolen because of their content (banking details)?

I can't se the value, as it was an older, small phone. It was locked so safe from getting into for data or even to wipe it and resell. Furthermore they can be "wiped" remotely, but that has to be set up properly.
The only value I can see for a stolen iPhone would be to sell it for parts, but that's a long term value. Can't see a pickpocket getting into that. Maybe someone gives him $20 for it.

[1DC]

The French subway has a bad reputation for pickpockets, the popular tourist spots have many organised young gangs working the trains and stations

[Dushan]

I once had two Gypsy punks try to get to my BlackBerry in a holster on my waist, under my jacket. Not even in the train but in the long tunnel between two trains in the Franklin D. Roosevelt station. They were unsuccessful. Unfortunately, for them, the tunnel is sloped a bit and it is easy to slip and fall.