March 2012
68 posts
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February 2012
121 posts
“Man was formed of dust, slime, and ashes: what is even more vile of the filthiest seed. He was conceived from the itch of the flesh, in the heat of passion and the stench of lust, and worse yet, with the stain of sin. He was born to toil, dread, and trouble; and more wretched still, was born only to die. He commits depraved acts by which he offends God, his neighbor and himself; shameful acts...
The WEASEL, finding the lair of the basilisk, kills it with the smell of its urine, and this smell, indeed, often kills the weasel itself. The AMPHISBOENA has two heads, one in its proper place, the other at the tail; as if one place were not enough from which to fling its venom. DRAGONS. These go in companies together, and they twine themselves after the manner of roots, and with their heads...
“In Arabic, the word “bayt” translates literally as house, but its connotations...”
– An excerpt from Anthony Shadid’s House of Stone, his forthcoming memoir excerpted on the New York Times. Beautiful, beautiful writing. (via arabstateofmind)
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