Paris launches smile campaign to woo tourists | Oddly Enough | Reuters

"Faced with a fall in tourist numbers due to the financial crisis and a reputation for unfriendliness, the Paris tourist board has made a simple request of the city's residents: smile."

It doesn't seem like a major change. Instead of ridiculing foreigners to their faces, the Parisians can simply offer a fake, plastic smile, then ridicule us and mimic us behind our backs. That's the American way, and it's always worked for us, by golly!

In fact, making fun of foreigners may be our true national pastime. I know it's the only way I can get through an Oscar broadcast.