For nearly two years, after being blessed by a local bishop, pork legs swayed in peace in the dry air of the cathedral’s north tower, bringing in much-needed funds and delighting charcuterie lovers. Then an inspector for the organization that oversees France’s architectural heritage stepped in.
After noticing a grease stain on the floor of the bell tower, as well as other infractions, the inspector ordered that the hams be taken down. They were a fire hazard, he said in a report in December 2023, according to cathedral officials. When the cathedral refused to remove the hams, the dispute escalated all the way to the country’s minister of culture, Rachida Dati.
The battle over the St.-Flour hams was widely derided as an example of how overzealous officials can quash innovative local initiatives. It also spoke to a larger issue that aging churches across France have been grappling with as they face costly reparations: Who is going to pay to maintain the country’s vast religious heritage?
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East of Eden by John Steinbeck is a sweeping and profound novel that delves into themes of good and evil, free will, and the complexities of familial relationships. Originally published in 1952, this modern edition from the Penguin Orange Collection pays homage to Steinbeck’s enduring legacy with a striking cover design.
The novel is set in California's Salinas Valley and spans multiple generations of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons. Their lives intertwine in a narrative rich with biblical allusions, particularly the story of Cain and Abel. Steinbeck explores the struggle of his characters to define their moral paths amidst a backdrop of love, jealousy, and betrayal.
What sets East of Eden apart is its philosophical depth, vividly drawn characters, and Steinbeck's masterful prose. The exploration of "timshel" (Hebrew for "thou mayest") as a concept of free will serves as the moral cornerstone of the story, offering a profound meditation on human choice and redemption.
The Penguin Orange Collection edition is ideal for collectors and new readers alike, emphasizing Steinbeck's relevance and the timeless quality of his storytelling.
The White Quail is a short story by John Steinbeck, originally published in his 1938 collection *The Long Valley*. It is a poignant exploration of control, idealism, and the fragility of human relationships.
The story centers on Mary Teller, a woman who meticulously cultivates her garden, envisioning it as a symbol of perfection and order in her life. Her obsession with the garden reflects her desire to control her surroundings and maintain an idealized existence. Mary's husband, Harry, struggles to understand her attachment to the garden and her emotional distance from him. The arrival of a white quail—a rare and beautiful bird—symbolizes purity and vulnerability but also introduces tension into their relationship, as Harry’s actions inadvertently challenge Mary’s carefully constructed world.
Steinbeck’s prose in The White Quail is precise and evocative, capturing the psychological complexity of the characters and the symbolic weight of the garden. The story offers a subtle critique of rigid idealism and the alienation it can cause, making it a compelling and thought-provoking piece within Steinbeck's body of work.
Literary influence: Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure
Literary critic Stanley Renner offers a brief comparative study between novelist Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure (1895) and Steinbeck’s “The White Quail,” detecting a “direct influence” with regard to their female protagonists.[14] Though the works differ greatly in scope, the portraits of Steinbeck's Mary Teller and Hardy's Sue Bridehead are “uncannily alike—in detailed resemblance, in attitude, and in the havoc they wreak in their relationship with men.” Their fear and loathing of carnal sexuality, emotional dissociation and narcissistic self-involvement emerge from a social context that encouraged the “idealization of womanhood itself.”[15] Both works expose “the pernicious consequences of sexual idealism in male-female relationships.”[16]
White Nights is a poignant short story by Fyodor Dostoevsky that captures the essence of longing, love, and the fleeting nature of human connections. Set in St. Petersburg during the ethereal summer nights, when the sun barely sets, the narrative follows an unnamed narrator, a lonely dreamer who wanders the city, reflecting on his isolation and unfulfilled desires.
One evening, the narrator encounters a young woman named Nastenka, who is also experiencing her own sense of melancholy. As they share their stories, a deep emotional bond develops between them. Nastenka reveals her struggles, including her unrequited love for a man who has promised to return but remains absent. The narrator is captivated by her vulnerability and beauty, and he quickly falls in love with her.
Over the course of their nightly meetings, the two develop a profound connection, sharing their dreams and aspirations. The narrator, filled with hope and yearning, believes he may finally find happiness through Nastenka. However, as the story unfolds, the complexity of their emotions and circumstances is revealed. Nastenka’s loyalty to her absent lover creates a tension that ultimately challenges the narrator’s feelings.
Dostoevsky masterfully explores themes of unfulfilled love, existential despair, and the ephemeral nature of human relationships. The backdrop of St. Petersburg's white nights serves as a metaphor for the fleeting moments of joy and connection that can exist amidst loneliness. In the end, White Nights is a deeply introspective tale that highlights the beauty and tragedy of love, leaving readers to ponder the complexities of desire and the human condition.
在數位時代,許多東西似乎都「過時」了。例如 compact disk CD,它曾經是歌曲匯集的商品,但是數位時代流行 Spotify, 聽友可以用租曲方式選擇自己喜歡的曲目,不必受 CD 製造商「一曲優選搭配九曲雜樂」的剝削。於是,在 Spotify 出現後,CD 業者大幅蕭條。幾年前我買新車的時候問銷售員:加裝 CD player 要花多少錢?銷售員回:蛤?現在還有人聽 CD 喔?這令我心生不滿,暗運內力於右掌,週邊無辜差一點格斃於掌下 ⋯。
但是等一下 ⋯ Spotify 是透過網路傳輸,中間經過空氣、基地台、伺服器等,其間音樂「飽受折騰」,即使是數位,其品質絕對受到摧殘。因此,雖然 CD 的曲目僵硬性已經眾所皆知,但是 CD 與 CD player 就是不會被淘汰,因為其音樂品質就是與數位傳輸不同。「廣播電台」也是一樣;雖然數位時代「媒體」種類已經爆炸,但是有些傳統媒體的特色就是不可能被取代。央廣就是這樣。
GRACE OF GOD: A family’s unwavering faith is manifesting in miraculous ways, as their entire home was destroyed except for the statues of the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph in a “remarkable” turn of events. “Our home is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and always has been,” Peter Halpin, the family patriarch, told @Fox&Friends. https://trib.al/YGuZT1L
The Dance of Nature. As the sun sets in Sassari Italy
The Art of Live block Sadi coloured printing
Hundreds of millions of years ago, Earth’s continents were not scattered as they are today. Instead, they were united in a massive supercontinent called Pangaea. As this supercontinent formed about 335 million years ago, immense tectonic forces brought landmasses together. These collisions caused the Earth’s crust to fold, buckle, and rise, creating a colossal mountain range that stretched across what is now North America, Europe, and Africa. This ancient range is known as the Central Pangean Mountains.
At their peak, these mountains were as majestic and towering as today’s Himalayas, with rugged peaks and vast ridges. The rocks that formed them were shaped by the intense heat and pressure of the collisions, transforming into hard, crystalline forms like gneiss and schist. This mighty range spanned thousands of miles, connecting what are now the Scottish Highlands, the Appalachians in North America, and the Atlas Mountains in Africa.
But time and tectonic forces didn’t let this mountain range remain whole. Around 175 million years ago, Pangaea began to break apart as tectonic plates shifted. The supercontinent split into smaller continents, and the Atlantic Ocean slowly opened, pushing North America, Europe, and Africa away from one another. This rift tore the Central Pangean Mountains into separate pieces. What was once a unified range was now scattered across different continents.
Today, remnants of this ancient mountain chain can still be found. The Scottish Highlands, the Appalachian Mountains, and the Atlas Mountains, though separated by vast oceans, share a common origin. Geologists have confirmed this connection through the study of similar rock types, ages, and structures across these ranges. These fragments of the Central Pangean Mountains stand as a testament to Earth’s dynamic history, reminding us of the incredible power of plate tectonics and the story of a world that was once whole.
"Watership Down" by Richard Adams is a classic novel that tells the story of a group of rabbits seeking a new home after one of their own, Fiver, has a prophetic vision of impending danger in their warren. The narrative follows Hazel, Fiver, and other rabbits as they embark on a perilous journey across the English countryside, facing various challenges and encounters with other rabbit communities and predators.
The story is rich in themes of survival, leadership, and the importance of community. As the rabbits navigate their way through different environments, they encounter different philosophies and societal structures, such as the authoritarian warren of Efrafa, led by the oppressive General Woundwort. This contrast highlights the value of freedom, individuality, and cooperation, as well as the struggles against tyranny.
Adams employs a unique blend of adventure, mythology, and ecological commentary throughout the novel. The rabbits have their own myths and stories, which enrich their culture and provide insight into their worldview. The book is also notable for its detailed descriptions of the natural world, creating a vivid and immersive setting.
"Watership Down" is not just a tale about rabbits; it delves into deeper philosophical questions about society, governance, and the relationship between nature and humanity. The novel has resonated with readers of all ages, making it a beloved work of literature that continues to inspire discussions about freedom, leadership, and the pursuit of a safe and happy life.
"This constant lying is not aimed at making the people believe a lie, but at ensuring that no one believes anything anymore.
A people that can no longer distinguish between truth and lies cannot distinguish between right and wrong.
And such a people, deprived of the power to think and judge, is, without knowing and willing it, completely subjected to the rule of lies. With such a people, you can do whatever you want."
"A Happy Death" (original title: "La mort heureuse") is a novel by Albert Camus, written in his early twenties and published posthumously in 1971. This work is significant as it lays the groundwork for themes explored in his later, more famous novel, "The Stranger."
The story follows Patrice Mersault, an Algerian clerk who embarks on a quest for happiness and fulfillment. Central to the narrative is the exploration of the "will to happiness," which reflects Camus's absurdist philosophy. Mersault grapples with the idea of creating his own happiness, emphasizing the importance of time and financial means in achieving a fulfilling life.
As Mersault navigates his existence, he ultimately decides to take drastic measures to attain his version of happiness, including committing murder. This act serves as a pivotal moment in the story, raising questions about morality, freedom, and the nature of happiness itself.
"A Happy Death" delves into existential themes, examining the human condition and the search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe. Camus's writing is marked by its philosophical depth and rich character development, making this novel an essential read for those interested in existentialism and absurdism. The work invites readers to reflect on the complexities of life, the pursuit of happiness, and the choices that define our existence.
This statuette depicts a kneeling man holding a stela inscribed with a hymn to the sun. An inscription on the back of the statuette identifies the man as Bay, who was a scribe working in the administration of the temple of Seti I, a post he probably held into the reign of Seti's son, Ramesses II. Complete statues of nonroyal individuals from this period are uncommon, and pieces of this fine quality are extremely rare. British Museum.
Following his profoundly influential study Orientalism, Edward W. Said turned his attention to the Western world, tracing the connections between imperialism and European art, literature and music. From Jane Austen to Salman Rushdie, from Yeats to media coverage of the Gulf War, Culture and Imperialism initiates a dialogue between culture and the political and economic fabric of its time. Vast in its scope and stunning in its erudition, this collection of essays remains as urgent today as it was on first publication.
所有心情:
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George Grosz (German, 1893-1959)
Eclipse of the Sun, 1926
Oil on canvas
The Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington, New York.
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