Mon Dieu, I Should Have Taken French

When you grow up in Los Angeles, as I did, taking Spanish is strongly recommended, and by "strongly recommended" I mean practically forced upon you. It's practical, they say. Everybody speaks it our here, they say.

I took Spanish. I can read it. If I'm paying attention, I can understand it. If I didn't fear sounding like Peggy Hill, I might even be able to speak it. But the truth is that, in my writing, I've never needed to know Spanish.

On the other hand, as someone who typically covers music, music gear and subculture sort of stuff, it would be helpful if I knew German, Japanese or French. It's unlikely that I would ever have to conduct an interview in a language other than English, but it would help with research.

Right now, I'm researching a story where I have come up with tons of information-- en francais. I never took French. All I know of the language is what I remember Miss Piggy screaming on The Muppet Show. Not good.

I'm aware of the website translating programs out there, but in my experience, none has ever translated a page to read like anything resembling English.  Roo, if you're reading this, I'm probably going to hit you up to help me make sense of some stuff.