Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Salman Rushdie Issues Statement Against Terrorist Attack In Paris

“Religion, a mediaeval form of unreason, when combined with modern weaponry becomes a real threat to our freedoms.”



AP John Bazemore


Religion, a mediaeval form of unreason, when combined with modern weaponry becomes a real threat to our freedoms. This religious totalitarianism has caused a deadly mutation in the heart of Islam and we see the tragic consequences in Paris today. I stand with Charlie Hebdo, as we all must, to defend the art of satire, which has always been a force for liberty and against tyranny, dishonesty and stupidity. 'Respect for religion' has become a code phrase meaning 'fear of religion.' Religions, like all other ideas, deserve criticism, satire, and, yes, our fearless disrespect.




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Haruki Murakami Wants To Give You Some Advice

Murakami is here for you.



ASSOCIATED PRESS PETR DAVID JOSEK


The website, named 'Murakami-san no tokoro' or 'Mr. Murakami's place' will solicit problems from fans of the surrealist, whose novels are published in dozens of languages around the world.


The publicity-shy writer will pen answers to queries, offering his opinions and advice on how to tackle all manner of difficulties, said Shinchosha Publishing.


Via theguardian.com




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5 Great Books To Read In January

A roundup of recent favorites we’ve reviewed in the BuzzFeed Books newsletter.



Chris Ritter / BuzzFeed



Knopf



Louis Kapeleris




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Joan Didion Is The New Face Of Céline And It's The Best Thing Ever

Just playing it as it lays, NBD.


This is Joan Didion, author of Goodbye to All That, Slouching Toward Bethlehem, The Year of Magical Thinking, and a slew of other fantastic books and essays.


This is Joan Didion, author of Goodbye to All That, Slouching Toward Bethlehem, The Year of Magical Thinking, and a slew of other fantastic books and essays.


Read them all. Really.


The LIFE Images Collection / Getty Julian Wasser


She's also basically the original Cool Girl.


She's also basically the original Cool Girl.


Those sunglasses! That searing gaze!


The LIFE Images Collection / Getty Julian Wasser


The one-time Vogue editor honed her classic look as a reporter in the '60s and '70s.


The one-time Vogue editor honed her classic look as a reporter in the '60s and '70s.


It's also when she famously developed her simple but ridiculously effective packing list, which she catalogued in her collection of essays, The White Album.


Her secret?


"Two skirts, two jerseys or leotards, one pullover sweater, two pair shoes, stockings, bra, nightgown, robe, slippers, cigarettes, bourbon. Bag with: shampoo, toothbrush and paste. Basis soap, razor, deodorant, aspirin. prescriptions, Tampax, face cream, powder, baby oil."


That's it.


John Bryson/The LIFE Images Collection / Getty Images


Which is why it totally makes sense that she was named the newest face of luxury French brand Céline.


Which is why it totally makes sense that she was named the newest face of luxury French brand Céline.


Yaaaaaaas!


Courtesy of Céline




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25 Snapchats From Hogwarts Professors

Everyday I’m Dumblin’.



Warner Bros. / Colin Heasley for BuzzFeed



Warner Bros. / Colin Heasley for BuzzFeed



Warner Bros. / Colin Heasley for BuzzFeed



Warner Bros. / Colin Heasley




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Someone Has Vandalized Mark Twain's Grave

There are currently no leads into the disappearance of Mark Twain’s plaque from Woodlawn Cemetery.



The Mark Twain House & Museum



Adventures of Huckleberry Finn


Signet Classics




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