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Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Overwintering Rosemary in Zone 6
Time to report on my experiment in keeping a rosemary plant alive through a zone 6 winter. Last fall I assembled one of Tamar and Kevin's instant mini-greenhouses, made from two window well covers, for my rosemary plant. I had previously done a little homework to find a variety of rosemary noted for its hardiness, relative to other rosemary varieties. I settled on the un-euphoniously named Arp rosemary, said to be hardy in zone 7, or only half a zone off our bit of earth.
I drilled a few small holes for ventilation at the top of my greenhouse and began covering the rosemary in November. It came through the hard frosts of late fall just fine, retaining its green leaves fresh and ready for the picking. I was pretty sure the truly cold temperatures of winter would send it into dormancy, and they did. I could see no new growth, and the leaves took on a somewhat dull tone.
The question was, would protection from the wind and direct contact with snow be enough to let it survive? With such a small space protected, there wouldn't be much advantage, if any, in terms of temperature. A greenhouse large enough for a person to walk around in would certainly do the trick. But this greenhouse was essentially a flimsy cloche; not thick enough or big enough to hold heat overnight. All I could do was wait out winter's harshness and see how the rosemary fared.
Our big dump of snow came towards the end of January, and we've had snow on the ground ever since. The snow covered the mini-greenhouse completely for several days. I went out and scraped off some of the snow, to allow a little light in to warm up the space inside. I suspect the snow that had built up around the sides then acted as insulation.
We're nearly to the end of February now. Historically the coldest month of the year here is January, though we often see more snow in other months. We're still seeing overnight temperatures substantially below freezing. But we should only be headed into temperatures that trend warmer. Today I checked the plant under there and found it looking fine. It still has a wonderful scent, and the thicker stems are supple under my testing fingers. They bend without breaking. The color of the leaves is still dull green. But green they are. I'm pretty confident saying that the rosemary has survived with the help of this protection. The plant will probably need the shelter of the mini-greenhouse for at least another six weeks though.
Now that I know I can keep rosemary alive through a zone 6b winter, I wonder how much farther north this would work. Any northern type gardeners out there tempted to try?
To keep this particular plant over the long term I'll have to keep it pruned such that it fits under the cover. Or else start new plants each year. There's enough room under there right now to accommodate another plant. I may add some early peas in the next couple weeks. But after the peas are done I might try planting some flat-leaf parsley alongside the rosemary, and see if parsley can also make it through next winter with a bit of shelter. Home grown, nutritionally dense fresh parsley would be mighty welcome through the winter months.
Of course, a little success gets me scheming about other things I could plant, other non-hardy stuff I could drag into my hardiness zone by adding a few more shelters. While it was ridiculously easy to make this mini-greenhouse from two window well covers, it wasn't exactly cheap. Not by my standards anyway. I bought the heavy-duty ten-year covers, and I think it ended up costing about $30. I expect they'll last even longer than ten years, since I'll store them in the shade for most of the year. But I'm still going to keep an eye out for any other materials that might be repurposed for the cause. I'm thinking an old skylight or the globe of a street lamp might do the trick, if I ever came across something like that in a dumpster. I could also experiment with straw bales again. I have plenty of salvaged storm windows to work with as lids for straw bale frames, and overwintered straw bales make such nice mulch in the spring.
36 comments:
- Tovar@AMindfulCarnivore said...
Oh, for the balminess of Zone 6. Zone 4 here. It was 10 below zero last night. Keeps populations down, though: ticks, humans, and more. ;-)
- February 22, 2011 at 1:24 PM
- Wendy said...
I'm a little cooler than you are in hardiness zone 5b. I love rosemary and have often lamented the fact that it won't overwinter ... I guess it's not necessarily a "fact", though, is it?
I think your little experiment will be on my "to try" list for next winter. Imagine if we could overwinter a plant like Camellia Sinesis in Maine? Ah! Homegrown tea ;). - February 22, 2011 at 1:48 PM
- Judy T said...
I may be game to try this next year. I'm in 5a. I think our coldest this winter was -18. I'm not sure how much the window wells would give against that. I've always had terrible luck bringing my rosemary in for the winter. I always seems to die on me. Strange because I do well with everything else.
Judy - February 22, 2011 at 2:22 PM
- denimflyz said...
I have your experiment on this year's list. I am in zone 5 Nebraska. I have never been able to keep Rosemary going, inside or outside.
I look forward to what I can do. Thank you for your insight on this project.
We are still quite cold here. And now we are getting changes with the winter/spring and now we are dealing with ice. - February 22, 2011 at 2:54 PM
- M L Jassy said...
Warm wishes from substropical Sydney. Your rosemary plant must be thanking you for the warm winter palace.
- February 22, 2011 at 3:46 PM
- Paula said...
I think the idea of the snow insulating it is right on. Rosemary is a mediterranean plant, so it can withstand some cold. I should think that with snow over most of it (in your mini greenhouse or some sort of cloche), and maybe a tiny spot at the top kept clear so that it would act like a solar tube, you could keep it alive just about anywhere.
- February 22, 2011 at 3:53 PM
- El Gaucho said...
I'm in Zone 3, North Dakota, not sure it would work here as we get snow on the ground and it stays for 3-4 months. Could be a fun experiment though, there's nothing like fresh rosemary.
- February 22, 2011 at 4:15 PM
- The Mom said...
I'm also 6b. While I've considered doing that, I'm nervous about when it gets really big. I would imagine that just keeping it out of the wind is the biggest thing.
- February 22, 2011 at 6:28 PM
- cookiecrumb said...
I LURVE your mini greenhouse. Yeah, it's a bit spendy. But it opens you to thinking. Streetlamp globes? Do you have an architectural salvage place to shop at?
- February 22, 2011 at 7:05 PM
- Bureinato said...
I'm in zone 5 and keep it in a pot as a houseplant. It's survived several years this way. It's in front of a south facing sliding glass door in the winter, and out on the deck in the summer. This way I have fresh rosemary all year long :)
- February 22, 2011 at 7:52 PM
- meemsnyc said...
This is such a great experiment!!
- February 23, 2011 at 12:40 AM
- Unknown said...
This is a great idea! I could see it working in lots of applications. I'd have to figure out how to keep it from blowing away.
I have rosemary in my yard, along with lavender, and a few other perennial herbs and they do fine uncovered with snow, but we're only in zone 7. - February 23, 2011 at 12:56 AM
- Hazel said...
We don't use hardiness zones here, probably because there's so little variation between areas other than north = colder and by the sea = windy.
I've just found a zone map of the UK though, and I'm zone 8!
No wonder my rosemary survives the winter! My bay tree looks a bit unhappy after the very cold (for us) temperatures we've had this winter, but it's in a sheltered spot by a south facing fence, so I think it'll be ok.
Hurray for the Gulf Stream!
Oh, and I agree with the Mom about the wind being the main problem.
Did you know the Japanese use a brushing technique to harden off seedlings instead of putting them outside? You probably did, but I'd never heard of it until I read about it the other day.
I've found this online http://www.gardenguides.com/3024-bracing-up-hardening-off-transplants.html
If you scroll down almost halfway he starts talking about thigmomorphogenesis, which is the same principle; movement of air over the plant strengthens it. You can have too much of a good thing though, so lots of cold wind would probably finish your rosemary off. - February 23, 2011 at 2:15 AM
- Kate said...
Tovar, balminess is a relative quality. See El Gaucho's comment.
Wendy, I tried this particular experiment in my garden, which has little shelter from wind. I'd like to play around with the idea in a much more sheltered location next winter. I'm thinking I might have at least one spot which is effectively a zone or more warmer than the rest of the property. Have you got any microclimates to work with at your place?
fullfreezer, I had bad luck bringing rosemary indoors too, until this winter. (I hedged my bets, you see.) A friend recommended I mist my indoor rosemary plants frequently with a spray bottle, and it really has seemed to help with all my indoor plants this winter. You might see if that works for you.
denimflyz, cool! See my tip to fullfreezer for the indoor plants, but I'd love to hear back from you about the outdoor experiment. I'd be happy to link to anyone who tries the experiment, whether successful or not.
Mitzi, I just want to put you on notice that the northern hemisphere is coming for your warm weather. Real soon too. :) Thanks for the good wishes.
Paula, that was pretty much my thinking too. It's nice to have proof of concept, but I don't really consider it all that impressive to have succeeded here in zone 6. I'm curious to see how well it works for those in colder places.
El Gaucho, brrr! I'm not sure it would work there either. Please let me know if you try this experiment, even if not with rosemary, and even if not successful. It would be a very useful service to link to people trying this in various places.
The Mom, I suspect that rosemary can take some serious pruning. But I also suspect that you need to keep at it regularly, rather than letting it get huge and then doing a radical hack job. If you use rosemary a lot for cooking, it should happen naturally.
Cookiecrumb, hiya. I can't take credit for the greenhouse idea. All praise goes to Kevin and Tamar. But yeah, it's pretty nifty. As for streetlamp globes, I'm just remembering an amusing episode from my Berkeley high school days. If we had an architectural salvage place to shop at, we certainly would do. I like to frequent dumpsters on construction sites though, so a girl can hope.
Bureinato, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
meemsnyc, wanna give it a go yourself and report back?
Amy, I had thought it might blow away too, but the shape of the greenhouse itself seems to be reasonably aerodynamic. You can sort of align it with the direction of the prevailing wind. I didn't do anything to hold it down, but there is a bit of edging that could be buried in mulch if need be.
Hazel, yes, I remember looking at a zone map for the British Isles, and it's almost entirely one zone, as I recall. Though Cornwall was significantly warmer. I had never heard of the Japanese hardening plants off by brushing. But it makes sense to me. The Japanese seem like they put a lot of thought into horticulture, so there's much to be learned from them, I'm sure. Thanks for the link. - February 23, 2011 at 6:33 AM
- lori said...
here in Michigan we are in a zone 5(a? b?,I don't know). Last fall I covered the entire garden with leaves. Imagine my surprise when I went outside during one of those rare 45 degree days last week to discover Rosemary, chamomile,and parsley! Of course they are now buried under a foot of snow again this week......
- February 23, 2011 at 9:55 AM
I am an avid dumpster diver and I prefer to hit universities at the end of the semester when everyone is moving out. Last year I got ten water cooler jugs with no specific plan they just seemed useful at the time to throw out. I cut the tops off some and used them overwinter plants and next year when I anchor them down better I bet they will work great and for free.
- February 23, 2011 at 9:45 PM
- Ottawa Gardener said...
Love it. When I lived in the UK rosemary and bay laurel all grew outside. I think I"d need to do more to keep rosemary alive overwinter as I'm Z. 4 but at least I get to harvest over winter from my inside plant. But I do miss just going outside for some sprigs.
- February 24, 2011 at 1:37 PM
- Kenny Point said...
I'm in zone 6 also, didn't even attempt to over winter rosemary this year but I am waiting to see if my globe artichokes survived.
- February 24, 2011 at 2:05 PM
Mine still seems to be alive (or is it just dried out?) after a winter in the cold greenhouse, which was often down into the single digits this year. I plan to cut most of the stems off when spring finally arrives and let it put all its energy into new growth instead of reviving the old.
- February 24, 2011 at 4:06 PM
- Kate said...
lori, I've heard of people doing that with leeks and other crops left in the ground to overwinter. I tried it once though and had a real problem. Rodents loved the leaf piles over the leeks. They went in and ate the roots. I din't know because they were all still standing upright, looking fine. Until I went to pull a few out. Hope your crops fare better than mine did.
Kevin, good score! I keep meaning to go sniff around the campus dumpsters just at semester's end. But I've never managed it so far. Ah, well. There's always this year.
Ottawa Gardener, oh yeah. You'll need to do much more to pull those plants through a zone 4 winter. If you try it with rosemary, be sure to pick a variety that's as hardy as possible. I found quite a range when I was looking.
Kenny, I've never tried artichokes. I like them, but my impression is that they're fussy, take up a lot of space, and don't produce all that much food. What's been your experience?
Emily, that sounds like a good strategy. Thanks for the tip. I'll try that. - February 25, 2011 at 7:34 AM
- Tamar@StarvingofftheLand said...
Kate -- I only just now saw this post (it's been a busy week), and I'm delighted that the rosemary survived!
We put rosemary in our hoophouse in the fall, and it seems to have survived as well. I think we're on the cusp of the rosemary survival zone (my climate is similar to yours - I'm a cold 7), and one layer of something makes the difference between life and death.
I'm going to make sure I have robust rosemary -- along with sage and anything else that might survive -- in the hoophouse next winter. - February 27, 2011 at 12:48 PM
- Unknown said...
Very tempting to try indeed! Zone 5 is where it's at here. I'll be thinking of this come this fall.
- February 27, 2011 at 8:11 PM
- Kate said...
Tamar, a hoop house is on our agenda for this year too. I know I'm going to have a terrible time deciding what perennials get space in there. Ours will be tiny. Minuscule by most standards, so every inch of space will be at a premium. That said, I'm sure some herbs will be given space. Sage is one of my absolute favorites. Do you know of any that are particularly hardy? I may have to look into that...
RR, I encourage you to give it a try. I'd be very happy to link to any post about the success or failure of this technique in various climates and hardiness zones. Please get back to me if you try it and write about it. - February 28, 2011 at 7:57 AM
- suburban farm girl said...
hmmmm this makes me think, with the Australian winter on its way (WAY WAY milder than anything you guys get). We do get frost and as cold as -4 C haha please dont laugh at me!
However the plants still wont like the frost and our version of freezing temps. Might try something like this in a month or two - March 8, 2011 at 3:47 PM
I put rosemary in a pot in my unheated greenhouse last November. So far it is in that dull flexible state that you described. Still smells great though. I will let you know more later.
- March 9, 2011 at 5:46 PM
- Kate said...
Suburban Farm Girl, hey, below freezing is below freezing. That's colder than some parts of the US see on anything like a regular basis. I hope this technique works for you if you try it.
Kristi, thanks for the info, and I look forward to hearing anything else you have to report. - March 10, 2011 at 6:51 AM
I was able to overwinter rosemary into a biannual for several seasons with different store bought rosemary plants. And no protection here in NJ. They did well with protected growing conditions near oregano. They all lasted through the first winter, but never the second. Maybe some protection would extend their lives
- June 10, 2011 at 9:01 PM
I have had a rosemary plant in the ground in zone 6 for about 7 years now. It is planted right up next to the house on the south side. We prune ever year mostly to give rosemary as gifts. Good luck with your little plant I have grown quite attached to mine, especially when it flowers!!!
- June 30, 2011 at 2:00 PM
I overwinter rosemary in zone 5. Unheated hoop house - I sink the pots into the soil (hoop is for winter greens so no tables, just good soil. If it gets really cold I cover them with remee. I have also overwintered it in a cold frame, in a sunny semi-protected spot. Rosemary will also overwinter in the house if you put it in a plastic pot, very sunny window and water well weekly - don't let pot sit in a saucer of water- raise it up with gravel.
- March 22, 2013 at 1:11 PM
I overwinter rosemary under a wood frame covered with plastic that i lean against the south side of my house. I am zone 6 and my rosemary does very well like this. I dig up my plants in early fall and put them in pots so i can move them easily to harden them off for winter because they don't get much sunlight once they go under the plastic. Then in early to mid December I replant them against the house and keep them covered for the winter under the lean-to, watering once every two weeks or so
- August 8, 2013 at 12:58 AM
- Unknown said...
Brilliant. I am in zone 6b and have been searching for rosemary success stories. This cold frame sounds like a perfect solution. Thanks!
- December 24, 2013 at 8:25 AM
- email@example.com said...
I know this is an old thread, but I am excited about my success and am hoping it will be helpful to someone.
I searched in vain for a way to keep rosemary alive through the winter, and after two years in a row of bringing a plant inside in the fall only to watch it die, I stumbled across a way by accident.
Last fall when my rosemary plant died, I took a cutting from my friend's healthy plant and put it in a jar of water on a sunny south-facing windowsill to root. After it grew roots, I thought it looked so happy, why take it out and stick it in a pot?
So I just left it...all winter. I didn't do anything to it other than top off its water, which became quite green with algae. It grew a massive root system in its jar, and it even blossomed purple flowers. It's "parent," my friend's plant, did die over the winter, incidentally. Now it's nearly April and it still looks wonderful, and as soon as all danger of frost is past, I will plant it in the ground, then take another cutting from it next fall! - March 31, 2014 at 9:32 PM
I'm in zone 5 and overwintered parsley with no protection at all. It grows by the southern edge of my house and it hunkered down and waited out the chill. In the spring it started growing gradually and is now bigger than I have ever grown. We have harvested several times with no die back at all. I will be planting it elsewhere in my garden to see if I can duplicate the results this growing season.
- May 7, 2015 at 2:30 PM
- Unknown said...
I live in Grand Forks British Columbia, Zone 4. I keep my Arp Rosemary bush in a glazed pot in an unheated greenhouse. I also wrap an electric blanket around the pot and wrap a heavy blanket around the electric blanket.
We have -20 Celsius some days but my Rosemary is strong and healthy. I also make a tent of frost covers that make the space more contained. I have had great success and my Rosemary is very happy.
My first year with the Rosemary I kept it in a south window in the house but it did not fare very well. It loves the cold as long it is well covered with the roots being kept warm. This is the second winter in the unheated greenhouse. I do believe the electric blanket makes all the difference. - December 21, 2016 at 11:16 AM
- Roxane said...
Just a thought....
Did you know that a greenhouse in a greenhouse adds a zone and half? It is what I use in my greenhouse in the winter. Adding another cover on the inside is very easy, it does not have to handle the weather like the outer greenhouse covering does.
- April 27, 2017 at 9:08 AM
- Unknown said...
HI, I am afraid to say I lost my Rosemary this past winter. It was so cold even my electric blanket stopped working and my Arp Rosemary died. I am keeping the branches and will start over again. I live in Zone 4 and this past winter was one of the coldest on record. -28Celsius
- April 27, 2017 at 5:36 PM


text:
Modern biblical study is not only a literary and theological enterprise but also a historical discipline. The term "history," however, is hardly univocal. The six books covered here illustrate some of the approaches involved in writing about the Bible and history. They show that in the context of biblical studies today, the word history can refer to the development of an idea or theme, how the Bible came to be, the nature of biblical history, the concrete setting of a specific biblical writing, the social and religious milieu in which biblical people lived and the effects that certain biblical texts have exercised. (Click on book title to get price at Amazon.com.)
One form of historical study involves tracing the history of an idea or concept. To describe Alan F. Segal's Life After Death: A History of the Afterlife in the Religions of the West (Doubleday, 866p, $37.50) as a tour-de-force is an understatement. In his survey of early maps of the afterlife in our foundational Western religious texts, Segal, professor of religion and Jewish studies at Barnard College, Columbia University, in New York, seeks to show the connections between visions of the afterlife and the early scriptural communities that produced them, and to explore why people wanted an afterlife of a particular kind and how those beliefs changed over time. His massive work covers all the key texts from ancient Egypt through the rise of Islam, with several fascinating side trips to our own day. If you are looking for an objective, comprehensive and encyclopedic treatment of afterlife expectations in antiquity and some of their implications for today, this is the book for you.
After a 23-page introduction, Segal describes the climate of immortality in antiquity (in Egypt, Mesopotamia and Canaan, and First Temple Judaism), traces the movement from that climate to the self (in Persian, Greek and classical, and Second Temple Jewish views). Then he considers visions of resurrection and the immortality of the soul (in apocalypticism and millenarianism, religiously interpreted states of consciousness and sectarian life in New Testament times) and sketches the path to modern views of the afterlife (in Paul, the Gospels, the pseudepigraphical literature, the Church Fathers and their opponents, the early rabbis and Islam). He concludes that our "immortal longings" are mirrors of what we find of value in our lives and serve to motivate our moral and artistic lives.
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The strength of Segal's mammoth work lies in his remarkable ability to produce fresh and stimulating readings of the classic texts about life after death. He is always readable and engaging, and proves to be a wise guide as he leads readers through some very difficult material. The weakest sections are those that push too hard the alleged correlations between afterlife expectations and socioeconomic conditions, and so tend toward circular reasoning, special pleading and social-science reductionism.
The Bible itself has a history. In How the Bible Became a Book: The Textualization of Ancient Israel (Cambridge Univ. Press., 257p, $27), William M. Schniedewind, professor of biblical studies and Northwest Semitic languages at the University of California in Los Angeles, provides an excellent example of how a historian acts as a detective by calling upon evidence from archaeology and ancient Near Eastern history to illumine how, why and when the Hebrew Bible came to be written down. He also sensitizes us to the momentous social and religious implications involved in transforming an oral culture into a written text.
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In Schniedewind's view, the exile and the Persian period were mainly times of editorial activity and preservation, along with the composition of obviously later biblical books like Ezra-Nehemiah and Chronicles. While early Christianity and rabbinic Judaism began as primarily oral movements, they both soon succumbed to the attractions of textualization. That process was greatly advanced by the early Christians' adoption of the codex (book) format. And the oral traditions of the rabbis were eventually collected into the huge corpus of rabbinic literature.
The phrase "the Bible and history" evokes in many people today the question, Is there real history in the Bible? Writing for a general audience, Barbara E. Organ, who teaches at the University of Sudbury in Canada, in Is the Bible Fact or Fiction? An Introduction to Biblical Historiography (Paulist, 176p, $16.95 paper) examines some aspects of the biblical historical books not so much to specify what actually happened as to identify the kind of historiography that the writers were undertaking. Her goal is to uncover the literary style and purpose of the biblical authors in order to determine their ideologies and understand their message better. To do so, she compares the parallel accounts about the Jerusalem conference and Paul's conversion in Acts and Paul's Letter to the Galatians, contrasts the treatments of the Maccabean revolt in 1 and 2 Maccabees, and considers the narrative of ancient Israel's history from Deuteronomy to 2 Kings. She explores how the biblical authors wrote their histories, the kind of history that they thought they were writing, how history was perceived in the ancient world, the authors' aims and sources, their flexibility in composition and the roles of literary style and theology/ideology in their works.
In approaching the topic of fact and fiction in the Bible, Organ illustrates the need for reflecting on what we mean by history and what we can expect from ancient texts like the Bible. If we read the historical books literally as chronicles or annals, we miss their literary sophistication and theological depth. If we read them according to the conventions of modern historiography, we impose impossible demands on these books. But when we read them according to the conventions of ancient historians like Herodotus and Thucydides, we can better appreciate the sources they had, the freedom with which they used them, and their goal of imparting moral lessons and entertaining their readers. Organ wisely observes that the more we read the biblical histories in their own literary and historical contexts, the more we realize their creativity and integrity, their complexity and richness.
Historical study of the Bible includes clarifying the particular situation in which a writing was composed. In Paul's Rhetoric in Its Contexts: The Argument of Romans (Hendrickson, 469p, $24.95 paper), Thomas H. Tobin, S.J., professor of theology at Loyola University Chicago, argues that Romans is not an abstract theological treatise but rather an occasional letter addressed to a particular situation in mid-first century A.D. In his exposition of Paul's argument, Tobin is concerned not only with what Paul said (theology) but also and especially with why (history) and how (rhetoric) he said it. Thus Tobin interprets the letter with reference to three contexts: the Christian community in Rome, Paul's experience of Christ and his career as an apostle, and Paul in relation to the church at Rome.
According to Tobin, Paul was primarily trying to persuade the Roman Christians about the validity of his teaching that Christians are not obligated to observe the Mosaic Law. Even though most of the Roman Christians were Gentiles, they had developed a deep respect for the Jewish way of life and so needed to be convinced that Paul's gospel would not lead to moral disarray. In writing to them, Paul sought to explain his controversial convictions about the equal status of Jews and Gentiles, righteousness by faith apart from observance of the Law, and the ultimate place of the Jewish people in God's larger providence. To do so, Paul alternated expositions (calm explanations of the common grounds between him and the Roman Christians) and arguments (lively diatribes aimed at responding to suspicions and objections about Paul's gospel).
Tobin's learned and fresh reading of Romans in its original historical setting, while not for the fainthearted, is readily intelligible, and always clear and logical in its arguments. Drawing on his own academic specializations, Tobin makes abundant use of the writings of Hellenistic Jewish authors (especially Philo) and of Greek and Roman philosophers and rhetoricians. The exegetical highlights include how Paul in Romans was rethinking and modifying his more extreme statements in Galatians, how the "I" of Romans 7 describes the experience of Gentile Roman Christians seeking to observe the Mosaic Law, and how Paul in Romans 9-11 struggled with the ultimate fate of non-Christian Jews. This remarkably illuminating study illustrates the value of analyzing a biblical writing in its particular historical situation.
One of the tasks facing historians of early Christianity is to describe and interpret the social and religious world in which Jews and pagans became part of the Christian movement. The phenomenon of conversion has been the topic of many excellent historical and theological studies. But every convert was at the same time an apostate or defector from paganism or Judaism. Paul is the classic example of one group's apostate becoming another group's convert. And of course, there were some who became Christians and then went over (or back) to Judaism or paganism.
In Leaving the Fold: Apostates and Defectors in Antiquity (Fortress, 158p, $25), Stephen G. Wilson, professor of religion at Carleton University in Ottawa, draws attention to the range of evidence for apostasy among Jews, Christians and pagans, respectively, in antiquity up to and just beyond the time of Constantine. He uses the terms "defector" and "apostate" to describe those who considered themselves or were considered by others to have abandoned the main practices and/or beliefs of the religious community, in extreme cases even turning against it. Wilson concludes that the range and variety of defectors are striking and that in many cases defection is defined more by actions than by beliefs, even in the supposedly more belief-oriented Christian tradition. If there is a difference between the two terms, it is that defectors go out with a whimper, while apostates go out with a bang.
The topic of apostasy is complicated by problems of definition (who sets the boundaries and applies the label?) and evidence (since religious and philosophical movements welcome and boast about converts but are embarrassed by defectors). Yet, as Wilson shows, there is enough evidence to show that "leaving the fold" had a more prominent role in the religious life of the ancient world than has been previously recognized.
Why did people in antiquity defect or apostasize? Most of the reasons are familiar from our own modern experiences: pressures due to family ties and intermarriage, excessive regulation of lifestyle and rigid demands, social dissaffection with other members and especially with leaders, intellectual doubts, intense new philosophical and/or and religious experiences, and the search for upward social mobility. Especially poignant are the accounts of those Jews and Christians who apostasized during persecutions, out of fear of torture and death or the prospect of financial and social ruin. We know such cases in passing from the New Testament (in Hebrews and Revelation) and also from Pliny the Younger's letter to the emperor Trajan about the proper treatment of Christians in the early second century. It is also striking that in "paganism" the most serious defections took place not in religious cults but rather in "schools" devoted to philosophy and medicine. Wilson has performed a good historical service by gathering the ancient evidence pertaining to apostasy and interpreting it in an objective and illuminating manner.
An important development in biblical studies is known as "effective history" (Wirkungsgeschichte in German). In The Bible in History: How the Texts Have Shaped the Times (Oxford Univ. Press, 389p, $35), David W. Kling, associate professor in the department of religious studies at the University of Miami, explores eight cases in which specific biblical texts have shaped Western history and history has shaped the interpretation of these biblical texts. Kling's eight case studies concern the following biblical texts and historical persons, movements or institutions: "follow me" (Mt 19:16-22) and the rise of monasticism; "upon this rock" (Mt 16:18-19) and the papacy; "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth" (Song 1:2-4) and Bernard's writings on love of God; "the righteous will live by faith" (Rom 1:16-17) and Luther's search for a gracious God; "love your enemies" (Mt 5:43-44) and the Anabaptists and the peace tradition; "let my people go" (Ex 8:1) and the exodus in the African American experience; "filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:1-4) and the roots of Pentecostalism; and "one in Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:28) and women's ministry and ordination.
Kling treats each topic with abundant references both to biblical interpretation (ancient and modern) and to ecclesiastical and secular history. He has many good stories to tell, and he tells them very well. His informative and often entertaining survey illustrates a fascinating approach to biblical studies and to history in general. He shows how at certain "right" moments the "right" biblical text met the "right" person or group, and how the results have influenced the course of Western and, in particular, American history.
History is a multifaceted discipline. As these books show, it can greatly illumine the multifaceted book that we call the Bible.

subset: commoncrawl


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Mushroom Kingdom
This article is about the kingdom. If you were looking for the heavy metal band, see The Mushroom Kingdom
| ||
Official languages | English, Japanese, italian, Gibberish | |
Capital | Toad Town | |
Largest City | Mushroom Corner City | |
Monarch | Princess Peach | |
UN Delegate | Mario, Luigi | |
Established | 1985 by King Toadstool & Princess Peach |
The Mushroom Kingdom is a magical land full of mushrooms that can only be accessed through pipes found throughout Brooklyn, Italy and Japan. Various attempts have been made to extend public transportation links to other pipes around the Earth but funding for this has been scarce. Due to lack of funding, it was learned that one can enter the Mushroom Kingdom through simple means; the consumption of Magic Mushrooms. The Mushroom Kingdom is noted for its lush green fields, waterfalls, and killer population of mushrooms. It is also the headquarters of Mario and his endless army of Toads.
Access to the Mushroom Kingdom[edit]
There are numerous ways to enter the Mushroom Kingdom. The first and likely most common is the speed pipe; a sewage pipe built underground in Brooklyn, Italy, and Japan. These pipes are not available to the public. Only Mushroom Kingdom citizens living outside the region are authorized to use them. Lack of immigration has caused a great dive in the economy in recent years.
Another more convenient, though expensive, way to travel the Mushroom Kingdom is the Teleporfiocchunuculolium more commonly know as the Warp Zone. Warp zones take place in many of Nintendo's Mario plots and are currently being perfected. They are likely to become a scientific breakthrough although they are not legal for trade in or off the island due to high radioactivity. Work is being done to produce a "greener" version of the warp zone.
History of the Mushroom Kingdom[edit]
The Mushroom Kingdom was founded in 1883 while a middle aged French men named Vince Pollivure, was looking for a new place to grow his shrooms. He then found the land and planted his first shroom field. It took 4 weeks for the shrooms to take off and take over the land. They began forming buildings and houses. Vince was amazed at his shroom feild, he then decided that it was no longer a field, it was a city. The he named it, Bondu. The city continued to grow and no one had no clue how it was doing this. The shrooms didn't act like this in Paris, but it had to do with the soil and other stuff. After 27 years of the Bondu being a city, Vince died. He consumed too many shrooms and died. His son, Bonclair, took over and renamed the city after his dad Vinceland. Everybody thought it was stupid and banished Bonclair from Vinceland. The people renamed the city, Shitty Homes and Retarded Outlaws Over Math. (A.K.A) SHROOM. SHROOM, then became town by a midget who created the first Mushroom Person, Koomba. Koombas at the time were the most feared creatures in all of SHROOM. Everyone decied to hang the midget and they did. 10 years later the first nuclear boom was invented. SHROOM also, changed it's name to the Mushroom Kingdom, once Princess Apple took control. She was a 21 year old lady who gained her power from her rich father. She was assassinated 3 weeks after she gained power. Then Princess Peach II, took control 2 days after Apple. Princess Peach II gained power from her "pure awesomeness" That's what a lot of the Mushroom Kingdomites claimed that's how she became queen. She died 14 years later from a heart attack. Princes Peach III, is now the ruler right now.
Mushroom Kingdom Music and Culture[edit]
Sports are also very popular within the Mushroom Kingdom. Kart racing, tennis, baseball, soccer and melee fighting are just a few among the sports popular among the citizens of the mushroom kingdom. Kart racing especially has been known to attract denizens from all over the Mushroom Kingdom, because of its elaborate races and tournaments.
Gambling makes up a major component of the Mushroom Kingdom culture and economy, it helps to facilitate the spread of gold coins throughout the surrounding areas. Magical items like leaves, fire flowers, and invincibility stars are also up for grabs at these official houses of gambling.
The Mushroom Kingdom has also had a rich musical tradition since the earliest days of its founding. Electronic music is a popular genre enjoyed by the citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom.
The Mushroom Kingdom is divided into several distinct provinces by sudden natural variations in the climate, all encompassing their own unique set of citizens.
Grass Land[edit]
World 1-1 is what surrounds Princess Peach's castle, it consists mainly of lush green fields, long brick roads, boxes and brick highways suspended in the air. The waterfalls and streams that flow through the area generally do not have bridges over them, leading to the need to jump over them or plunge to certain death. Furthermore, there are many small mushroom towns dotted about that have gambling houses to obtain items of worth. Some say that Grass Land is, in fact, part of the Mushroom World others say its part of India. They are lying vicious commie robot ninjas from the future that wish to slander the image of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Desert Land[edit]
Extending beyond the borders of Grass Land, the Mushroom Kingdom also encompasses a large desert that is difficult to travel during the summer months of the year, though it is generally acknowledged by citizens that it can be quite delightful during other periods during the year. Pyramids and other artifacts, possibly of an older civilization, mark this area. Occasionally during the hot summer months, the Livid With Rage Sun will come down to catch a breeze or two, resulting in having to jump over him or be burned to a crisp. Some say that Desert Land is, in fact, part of the Mushroom World others say its part of Egypt. They are lying vicious commie robot ninjas from the future that wish the slander the image of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Water Land[edit]
Located off the northern coast of the Mushroom Kingdom, this is a recently colonized area of the fledgling kingdom. Small towns are located throughout the area but it is generally difficult to travel from one to another without the aid of a Frog Suit or other form of aquatic transportation. It is also well known for the dangerous native Big Bertha fish, which can swallow humans whole. Some say that Water Land is, in fact, part of the Mushroom World others say its part of the ocean. They are lying vicious commie robot ninjas from the future that wish the slander the image of the Mushroom Kingdom .
Giant Land[edit]
This island province is one of the most dangerous areas in the Mushroom Kingdom. Due to it's geographic inaccessibility, it has become a scientific breeding ground for grossly mutated creatures and citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom. There are also many BALCO test labs here. The R.F.A. heavily patrols the border between this area and the rest of the Mushroom Kingdom to prevent any attacks by the mutated creatures. Some say that Giant Land is, in fact, part of the Mushroom World where as others say its part of China. They are lying vicious commie robot ninjas from the future that wish the slander the image of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Sky Land[edit]
Flight was pioneered by Mario in his early adventures to the Mushroom Kingdom. The colonization of Sky Land is a result of continued progress in this field. Sky Land was colonized in A.D. 1990. It is generally believed that this was done as part of a large government project to promote tourism throughout the Mushroom Kingdom. Gambling, drugs, and prostitution are rampant in Sky Land due to the tourism. Recently, legislation to stem the tide of "moral decay" has been proposed by the Mushroom Council. Some say that Sky Land is, in fact, part of the Mushroom World others say it is part of Canada. They are lying vicious commie robot ninjas from the future that wish the slander the image of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Ice Land[edit]
Another attempt of the Mushroom Council to extract tourism money from otherwise uninhabitable lands, the province of Ice Land is almost completely covered in snow and ice. While several ski lodges and a track devoted to the Super Kart Tournament were founded here, Ice Land is generally not popular due to its extremely cold climate. It is kindly referred to by most tourists as "Slip-y Slide-y Ice world." Some say that Ice Land is, in fact, part of the Mushroom World, others say its the Artic. They are lying vicious commie robot ninjas from the future that wish the slander the image of the Mushroom Kingdom others say its part of Greenland.
Pipe Land[edit]
One of the projects of Dr. Von Fungi was to create a massive public transportation system that would extend throughout the Mushroom Kingdom. The central hub was to be on an atoll at the southern border of the Grass Land, so that local and international travel would be easily accessible to the public. As with most government projects, the result was complete and utter chaos. Pipe Land has become a confusing mass of pipes who have no logical pattern to their destinations. There have been cases where people have gone missing for years and been presumed dead, only to later turn up in pipe land. Reform legislation has been proposed by the Mushroom Council but no funds have been earmarked for the coming fiscal year. Some say that Pipe Land is, in fact, part of the Mushroom World. They are lying vicious commie robot ninjas from the future that wish the slander the image of the Mushroom Kingdom some say its part of London's sewers.
Dark Land[edit]
The headquarters for Bowser and his Koopa army, Toads who don't pay their electricity bills reside here. It is filled with lava, so you better be careful not to fall in unless you want to end up soup. It is also filled with many doomships. Some say it is part of the Mushroom World but others say it's inside a volcano in Hawaii. They are lying vicous commie robot nigas from the future that wish to slander the image of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Yoshi's Island[edit]
An island located off the south-west coast of the Mushroom Kingdom. Officially called the Yoshi Republic. Often called Level 1, Retard Land or Japan. It is inhabited by a sophisticated, advanced race known as the Yoshi. Around 1180 AD, the enslaved Yoshis desired independence. After training for several months on Age of Empires II, the Yoshis staged a bloody revolt against their mushroom overlords. The Yoshi Republican Army and the Mushroom Imperial Army fought for ten years in a bloody Nintendo Revolution. Casualties in the Mushroom Army were so high that Princess Peach eventually decided to piss on the whole campaign, and the Toads simply left Yoshi's island. The Yoshis were quickly forgotten about, and nobody even knew that they existed until 1991, when the "Super Nintendo" age arrived. Yoshi's island is one of those countries that's just there, kinda like Poland.
The Mushroom Kingdom trades principally in mushrooms. Compared to a neighbouring country called "The Bean Bean Kingdom," the Mushroom Kingdom economy is amazing, 10 Bean Bean Kingdom coins is worth 1 Mushroom Kingdom coin.
The Mushroom Kingdom also holds a significant amount of gold coins that are used to bankroll the large construction projects that are constantly occurring throughout the Mushroom Kingdom. There are red coins which are worth 2 gold coins and blue coins which are worth 5 gold coins but nobody heard of them until 1996.
See Also[edit]


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Monday, April 19, 2010
Romancing Miss BrontëThe title of Juliet Gael's novel might sound strange to modern readers with little knowledge of the Brontës' lives. 'Romancing Miss Brontë'? They must think, picturing old maids, huge skirts, strange hairdos, dainty teacups and the like. Old things all of them not conducive to romance in their eyes. And yet that is the apt title of Juliet Gael's novel in which she tells the story of the adult Charlotte Brontë with special attention to her love life, which was more intense - though at times somewhat one-sided - than meets the eye. Highly varied too.
A Novel
Written by Juliet Gael
Random House
Format: Hardcover
On sale: April 27, 2010
Juliet Gael begins her narrative with the arrival of the new Irish curate in Haworth, a Mr Nicholls, and interestingly enough allows the reader only a few glimpses into the most important - at least in literary terms - love story in Charlotte's life. M. Heger, Brussels, her letters to him, his (few) letters to her are all summed up quite briefly, though intensely, drowned as they were by Branwell's affair with a married woman and his subsequent all-absorbing despair. So rather than being told the Brussels story, it is sort of assimilated into Charlotte's character.
It is the Charlotte with this emotional baggage that reads Emily's 'rhymes' without permission and the one who becomes the driving force behind their first literary efforts. The turmoil outside matches the secret, shared turmoil inside, and Juliet Gael has done a great job of bringing to life the Parsonage during those hectic months. Tabby, Martha, John Brown and the curates, with Arthur Bell Nicholls among them, are given plausible voices and personalities that can only be the result of much reading and research on Ms Gael's part. The Brontë family is quite well re-created, with Patrick and Anne as perhaps the two most stereotypical. Patrick is not Mrs Gaskell's(1) Patrick, thank goodness, but neither is he the father reclaimed by modern biographies. And his limited income is a tad too exaggerated towards poverty.
Juliet Gael doesn't dwell on the past except for what's absolutely necessary and even then, the flashbacks - if flashbacks they can be called - are brief and factual. Their imaginary worlds, their mother, their aunt, their sisters Maria and Elizabeth, etc, are all explained away rapidly and hardly ever mentioned. These seemingly important pieces of the Brontë chess turn out to be quite expendable pawns here, which has a refreshing effect. Readers unfamiliar with the Brontë story won't notice anything is missing and readers well acquainted with Brontë biography will simply and effortlessly fill in the gaps. What's important is that Gael's threedimensional characters are infused with them, though the reader may not know it.
This concise way of putting characters on the stage means that hardly anyone needs to be left out: Charlotte's friends and their families, Charlotte's literary acquaintances, local people from Haworth (some of them created ad-hoc, though), etc., are all there because of Juliet Gael's offhand way of introducing them. The author herself admits in the Author's Note that, 'it was tempting to omit some of the characters who impacted her life [...] but it would have meant sacrificing a deeper and more complex portrayal'. And she does seem to have taken it to heart, given how well it works.
That's why we have sorely missed James Taylor in the narrative, particularly when the narrative pays special attention to details pertaining to Charlotte's love life with a particular focus on her relationship with Arthur Bell Nicholls and with her publisher, George Smith, but her relationship with this employee of Smith, Elder is totally omitted when it would have made for an interesting complication. Charlotte Brontë exchanged familiar letters with James Taylor but was repulsed by him (especially his nose) when face to face. James Taylor was sent to work in India for Smith, Elder but before he left he sort of proposed to Charlotte, asking her to wait for him until he returned five years later. What's surprising (or not(2)) is that Patrick Brontë - so set against her marrying Arthur - was totally in favour of this. In our opinion, Charlotte's refusal, Patrick's attitude, etc, would only have enhanced the story being told, rather than take from it.
Another unexploited mention would be Arthur's 'Irish fiction'(3). Nothing is known about what Charlotte meant there or if it had anything at all to do with a lover, but this being a fictional account, Arthur Bell Nicholls might have been given a sweetheart - or even his own cousin Mary Anna, whom he married after Charlotte's death and which Juliet Gael depicts as adoring Arthur - something to enliven things further. As it is, the letter is quoted and no explanation given, thus confusing the reader.
Instead of those two, we have a fictional Miss Dixon who doesn't really work as a character, and indeed all she seems to do is look tenderly at Arthur. While we understand that she is meant to make Arthur seem all the more constant and true and loyal, we would have much preferred either seeing this story a bit more developed or the above-mentioned reality-inspired detours.
But what's important about this novel is the way Juliet Gael depicts Arthur Bell Nicholls. Long time readers of this blog might have noticed that this half of BrontëBlog has a soft spot for Arthur Bell Nicholls and is always trying to vindicate him. That's why reading Juliet Gael confess in the Author's Note that she 'took enormous pleasure in bringing Arthur to life and giving him his due in the story' almost made us cheer. And while relatively little is known of Arthur's personality, Juliet Gael seems to have done pretty well fleshing him out and bringing him to life. This is not to say that we are given a decaffeinated or rosy version of the man because his well-known traits such as his religious intolerance or his stiffness with strangers are there, as are his goodness, his respect for Charlotte's work(4) and first and foremost his love for Charlotte. Juliet Gael doesn't make the mistake of turning him into a Brontë-novel character, which we know he wasn't, but she tries to be as accurate as possible and as coherent with the image she has of him.
She is also very accurate when it comes to historical details. While the book is easily readable and not heavy on unnecessary descriptions, Juliet Gael seems quite at home with the rituals, conventions, etiquette and daily life of the 19th-century. All, no doubt, due to much research and used not to overwhelm the reader with it but to help him understand the context. The scenes with the conventional Smith family are a joy to read because of their richness and their - paradoxically enough - simplicity. Haworth and the surrounding and all-important moors are just as well described and we laughed out loud at the following tale-telling description of Ellen Nussey's arrival in Haworth for a visit:
'She carried a new parasol the shade of pale mint, although she knew the wind might well ravage it on the walk back to Haworth.'An effort seems to have been made in order to let the Brontës do the talking. Parts of the dialogue are taken straight out of letters, prefaces, novels, etc. carefully so that they don't contrast too much with the rest of the dialogue. And while we appreciate this for obvious reasons, we also feel it's somewhat awkward, particularly for the Brontëite able to spot these quotations. It's as if the Brontës tended to repeat themselves. At other times, though the message is correct, the way of speaking is too unnatural. Timid Charlotte blurting out , 'perhaps you confuse virtue and convention, gentlemen. Conventionality is not morality, and self-righteousness is not religion' (from the preface to Jane Eyre) in a dinner full of literary critics after the publication of Shirley is strange both because it sounds like written language and because the critics would have already read that in the second edition of Jane Eyre.
The letters quoted - with the exception of those from Arthur Bell Nicholls, which are made up, as Juliet Gael clarifies in the Author's Note - are quite true to the originals; edited and added to minimally, with sadly one disastrous instance(5).
The book is told in the third person by an all-seeing narrator that initially seems to belong to the same time as the story being told but at times sounds too much like an oracle from the future. We could have done without the - fortunately scarce - instructive commentaries such as these:
But we mustn't judge Charlotte and Branwell too harshly for their fantasies. They lived in a time of straitjacket morality when the slightest quiver of the flesh gave cause for outrage. A time when the most lauded novels of the day portrayed repentant heroes who, in moments of deep remorse, vowed to never again watch a game of billiards! Denial of human desire was the battle cry of the day.
With characteristic determination and insight far ahead of his time, [Patrick Brontë] spent hours poring over medical journals. . .It's like a voiceover coming from somewhere else and it belittles the reader a bit to be spoken to thus.
In spite of that - or even because of that - Romancing Miss Brontë is the perfect middle ground between more fictional retellings of the Brontës and fact-full biographies. It tells the Brontë story with a profound respect for reality but makes it lively enough that it can be read curled up on the sofa with a good cup of tea at hand.
(1) Elizabeth Gaskell is mostly referred to both in the main story and the epilogue as 'Lily' or 'Lily Gaskell', which we found somewhat ennervating. As far as we know, only her husband and - at a stretch - very intimate friends addressed her that. She is often referred to as 'Mrs Gaskell' even today, so the term of endearment at this point wasn't really to our taste.
(2) Much has been said and written about Patrick's favourable attitude to James Taylor's proposal, especially as opposed to his furious attitude towards Arthur Bell Nicholls's. His pride and social class awareness may have come into it, but also Charlotte's age and the fact that five years later she would have had fewer chances of bearing children, which Patrick was (correctly) afraid her constitution wouldn't stand.
(3) Charlotte to Ellen Nussey, 18 December 1852:
You must understand that a good share of Papa's anger arises from the idea--not altogether groundless-- that Mr. N. has behaved with disingeniousness in so long concealing his aims--forging that Irish fiction &c.(4) While it is impossible to tell and while it is known that Arthur was highly respectful (and proud) of his wife's literary achievements, the attitude and dialogues seem at times a little forced. But that is fine by us, since this is Juliet Gael's perception of Arthur. What surprised us, then, is the fact that the epilogue says,
When George [Smith] expressed an interest in publishing The Professor--which he had resolutely refused to publish in Charlotte's lifetime--Arthur and Patrick rejected the idea on the grounds that the same story had been sucessfully told in Villette. But forces conspired against them, and Sir James [Kay-Shuttleworth] swept down on the parsonage one day and in his determined, insensitive manner managed to wrest the manuscript from Arthur's hands.It is true that Sir James took the manuscript when on a visit with Mrs Gaskell (who had invited him along in the first place for his 'determined, insensitive manner') but it was Arthur who gladly edited The Professor for publication, neither he, Mrs Gaskell or George Smith wanting to allow Sir James to edit it in keeping with Charlotte's opinion of the man. Arthur only edited out a few things and Mrs Gaskell - who was trying to wash Charlotte's image - privately complained to George Smith that he could/should have edited it more.
So when Arthur's attitude to his wife's literary status is so highlighted we wonder why this is told so misleadingly.
(5) Charlotte's letter to Robert Southey of 16 March 1837 says,
My Father is a clergyman of limited, though competent, income, and I am the eldest of his children. He expended quite as much in my education as he could afford in justice to the rest.Juliet Gael as edited the letter to say,
I am the eldest daughter of a clergyman who has sacrificed his small means so that I might be educated in Brussels.Which is a bit of a blunder given that Charlotte and Emily wouldn't leave for Brussels until 1842.
Categories: Books, Charlotte Brontë, Fiction
7 comments:
I haven't read this book yet and I was wondering whether I should do so. I recently read "The taste of sorrow" which was really very good (I though I wouldn't like it because I have read several biographies and I am quite a purist) and then I read "The secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte" which had its good moments but I was disappointed seeing Charlotte applying Jane Eyre sections to her life (for me CB' s voice was always distinguished from her heroines) and sometimes felt more modern than it should. However, now that I saw your weekly quote of this particular book: "...Charlotte concealed an acerbic mind and ruthlessly harsh opinions on the weaknesses of the human species..." I am quite sure I won't like it. Charlotte Bronte may have been tart and abrupt sometimes, but she was known of being generally kind and honest as a person and her Jane Eyre always surprises me with its tenderness. I can see the sentence "ruthlessly harsh opinions on the weaknesses of the human species" better applied to Emily and still with great reservation as we don't know if she approved the example of her heroes in Wuthering Heights or was just depicting a state of mind.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I'm glad you liked The Taste of Sorrow, which I found amazingly good.
And secondly, we chose the weekly quote precisely because it doesn't depict Charlotte as one of her heroines. The way she is described was - to me anyway - just right. Charlotte's letters and her opinions on people in them show this very clearly. She was harsh and sometimes judged people (whether rightly or wrongly) too fast. This is particularly true of the letters belonging to the period in which Romancing Miss Brontë takes place.
That doesn't negate the fact that she was honest and kind or means that she said in public the things she wrote in private letters to intimate friends or acted upon them.
Do take a longer look at the book if you can, you may like it even if the quote clashes with your idea of Charlotte.Which is also why I think that the verb 'concealed' (in the weekly quote) is quite appropriate too, by the way.
Even if it's years before Romancing Miss Brontë begins, her words on her pupils at Roe Head come to mind now, for instance. Those, to me, were certainly 'acerbic and ruthlessly harsh'.I have a difficulty trying to explain what I mean. I know Charlotte was not one of her heroines (or she would be closer to Lucy Snowe than Jane Eyre who would perhaps be an ideal self for her) and I also admit that at times she was prejudiced against some people, but "ruthlessly harsh" is too much. For me a great deal of what she felt was natural/justified especially at the Roe Head period. She was a talented woman (a special needs person in a way - because charismatic people enter that category when they are too far ahead in intelligence for their age and tend to get bored and impatient when not occupied properly) plus a very determined to succeed person and her options were very very limited. She possessed the gift of a great use of language and she had to pass two hours trying to explain the difference between a verb and an article to young ladies who were not motivated at all (while knowledge for her was always very important). It was like forcing Picasso to draw only colorless squares. This was frustrating especially as she saw her best years pass and no way out of that situation. This also explains her behavior towards Branwell. Because he had the opportunities she was never offered and he took it all and threw it out of the window, while she was desperate of finding some action to surpass her frustrated love. What I am trying to say is that she was no more cruel to others than she was to herself (and she tended to criticize and expose/accept her own weaknesses) and that if sometimes it seemed so it wasn't willful as "ruthless" makes me understand.
ReplyDeleteWell, we will have to conclude that as Karen Joy Fowler wrote in The Jane Austen Book Club, "each of us has a private Austen", only in this case it's a private Charlotte Brontë.
As I said, reading her letters (particularly those written after Anne's death and before her engagemente to Arthur) I don't see that description is wrong at all, but as with living people, not all of us form the same impressions.
I do agree, however, with what you say about Charlotte being hard on herself and seeing her own faults only too clearly (her drawing of herself in that letter to Ellen Nussey written from Brussels is enough to see that).Yes I had the same thought today, that there are many ways to comment and interpret the actions and words of a person you know, let alone for someone you have never met. I guess we all tend to project things from our personality to understand others and fill the gaps.
I forgot to say that I like Arthur too :) .- Anonymous1/27/2012 02:26:00 am
As someone who knew nothing about the lives of the Bronte sisters before reading this, I was surprised at how bleak the story was. I sympathize a lot with Charlotte. Arthur Bell Nichols was endearing in the beginning, but after he proposed he got steadily more infuriating. He had his heart in the right place, but was a bit of a control freak and couldn't quite comprehend that Charlotte was essentially settling for him. But I felt the most for her father, and thought it was incredibly disrespectful for Arthur to marry his cousin, of all people, after Charlotte died. I'm aware that it is a true story, which only makes it more heartbreaking. I suppose this kind of relationship was normal for its time, but nevertheless was a terribly bleak and sad story to read about.
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text:
A DNS hijacking attack left Twitter temporarily affected for about an hour early on Friday.
The initial attack has left many users scratching their heads while spreading the belief that Twitter's servers themselves were commandeered by hackers in the name of the "Iranian Cyber Army".
Not so.
It now seems that Twitter's DNS records were altered. That means surfers trying to reach the website directly via name resolution services were thrown over towards a fake domain, while the site itself and micro-blogging applications that plugged into Twitter's API - such as TweetDeck or mobile phone apps - were unaffected by the attack.
A status message on Twitter's blog explains:
As we tweeted a bit ago, Twitter's DNS records were temporarily compromised tonight but have now been fixed. As some noticed, Twitter.com was redirected for a while but API and platform applications were working. We will update with more information and details once we've investigated more fully.
Rik Ferguson, a security consultant at Trend Micro, explained that this type of DNS hijacking usually involves compromising the systems at the registrar responsible for the DNS records of the victim company before altering the relevant DNS records, in a blog posting here.
"These changes mean that when you or I type a web site address into our browsers, we are directed not to the real web site but to a second site, set up by the hackers, in this case the 'Iranian Cyber Army'," Ferguson writes. "This has the net effect of making it look like, in this example, servers belonging to Twitter were compromised when in reality that was not the case.
"These sorts of attacks are usually limited to hacktivism activities like this one today, but imagine the potential to criminals if they could pull this off against any site requiring log in credentials, such as PayPal, eBay, MSN, Facebook," he added.
Twitter was far from the only web site affected by the compromise. Other less high-profile sites also displayed the content posted by the previously unknown Iranian Cyber Army.
The attack against Twitter and other web sites follows a spate of attacks against registrars over the last month or so, according to defacement archive Zone-h.
Surfers getting hijacked more commonly arises as the result of malware on client PCs, but the latest run of attacks shows that compromised DNS records can also be a problem. "Companies should be monitoring their DNS resolution on several servers to become aware as early as possible when this kind of attack takes place," Ferguson advised. ®


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At a Glance
Date Filed:
Case Description
In the Matter of Randall, the INS invoked the McCarran-Walter Act's ideological exclusion provision to force Margaret Randall, a prominent poet and essayist who was born in the United States, to leave her family and her home. Randall, who has written primarily on women's issues and Central America, live for more than 20 years in Mexico, Cuba, and Nicaragua. When she took out Mexican citizenship in order to secure employment to support her three young children, the U.S. revoked her citizenship.
In 1984, while residing in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with her family, Randall applied for a green card (permanent resident alien status) on the basis of family ties. Ordinarily, such an application would be granted as a matter of course, but Randall's was denied because of her criticism of certain U.S. policies, including intervention in Central America and Vietnam, and her support for the revolution in Nicaragua. An INS district director read five of Randall's 40 books, and found that Randall did not deserve to stay in the U.S. because her writings "go far beyond mere dissent." In a subsequent deportation hearing, INS attorneys argued that Randall should be forced to leave the U.S., because she had never written any material which was supportive of free enterprise. The McCarran-Walter Act – a law which had also been used to keep a number of writers such as Pablo Neruda, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Dario Fo, Graham Greene, Carlos Fuentes, Farley Mowat, and Angel Rama from entering this country because of their political beliefs – made such ludicrous assertions relevant.
The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) represented Randall in the deportation proceedings instituted by the INS and challenged the district director's denial of permanent resident status. CCR also filed a federal lawsuit on her behalf in Washington, D.C. In the latter case, Norman Mailer, Alice Walker, Grace Paley, Arthur Miller, Toni Morrison, Kurt Vonnegut, Rose and William Styron, and others joined as co-plaintiffs. The circuit ruled, over a strong dissent, that Randall's challenge to the constitutionality of the district director's decision was premature, because it could be renewed in another court when Randall exhausted the immigration administrative process. In June 1989, the Supreme Court refused to review the case.
In the deportation proceedings, an immigration judge in El Paso, Texas, ruled in August 1986 that Randall should be deported because her writings advocate the "doctrines of world communism." The judge explained that, but for his belief that her writings violated the McCarran-Walter Act, Randall was, in all other respects, eligible to remain here. The CCR appealed this decision administratively to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). On July 27, 1989, the BIA terminated the deportation proceedings, ruling that Randall should not have been stripped of her citizenship as a result of taking out Mexican citizenship. Citizenship is a constitutional right, and can only be given up voluntarily. The BIA ruled that Randall had acted under economic duress and therefore is still a U.S. citizen.


text:
Happy Easter Monday everyone!
This is the last day of Easter holidays, so I hope that you've
enjoyed them with your family and that you had some nice
Easter treats :)
I had such an amazing weekend, I couldn't wish for better.
My city is finally blessed with lots of sunshine and warm
weather, so I've been spending lots of time outside in long
walks throughout the city and in the nature.
This weekend, in 6 days only is the opening evening of my
exhibition! There's so much to do before that, but I'm so excited
and fuelled with energy :)
I'm now getting ready to go for a nice morning walk and a
coffee/ brunch later on.
The sun is shining and that's all I can think of, so therefore,
bye-bye laptop for now and hello outdoors :D
Enjoy this day sweets!
I'm wearing: Skirt and leather jacket- Zara, Shoes - Calvin Klein,
Bag - Guliver, Blouse - Limited edition Conscious collection by H&M,
Rings - Tiia Vanhatapio, Earrings - Tory Burch


text:
Religious Factors May Influence Changes in the Brain
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found an apparent correlation between religious practices and changes in the brains of older adults.
They measured changes in the volume of the hippocampus, an area of the brain involved in learning and memory. All human brains tend to shrink with age, with different brain regions shrinking at different rates.
Shrinkage (atrophy) in the hippocampus has been linked with depression and Alzheimer's disease.
The researchers found that Protestants who did not identify themselves as born-again had less atrophy in the hippocampus region than did born-again Protestants, Catholics, or those having no religious affiliation.
Study participants who reported having had a religious experience that changed their life were also found to have more atrophy in the hippocampus than those who did not.
The study measured relationships between religious factors and changes in the volume of the hippocampus over time in older adults. In standardized interviews, 268 people aged 58 to 84 were asked about their religious group, spiritual practices, and life-changing religious experiences.
Changes in the volume of their hippocampus were then tracked, using MRI scans, over a period of two to eight years.
The study was published recently in PLoS ONE (Public Library of Science ONE), an open-access science journal.
Authors Amy Owen, PhD, and David Hayward, PhD, research associates at Duke University Medical Center, said these findings were not explained by other factors related to hippocampal atrophy, such as age, education, social support from friends and family, being depressed, or brain size.
In addition, other religious factors (such as prayer, meditation, or Bible study) did not predict changes in the volume of the hippocampus in this study.
The authors speculate that stress might play a role in their findings.
"One interpretation of our finding -- that members of majority religious groups seem to have less atrophy compared with minority religious groups -- is that when you feel your beliefs and values are somewhat at odds with those of society as a whole, it may contribute to long-term stress that could have implications for the brain," said Owen, who was lead author of the study.
"Other studies have led us to think that whether a new experience you consider spiritual is interpreted as comforting or stressful may depend on whether or not it fits in with your existing religious beliefs and those of the people around you," Hayward said. "Especially for older adults, these unexpected new experiences may lead to doubts about long-held religious beliefs, or to disagreements with friends and family.
"Several studies have found that, for many people, belonging to a religious group seems to be related to better health in later life, but not all religious people experience the same benefits. This study may help us to understand some of the reasons for those differences," Hayward said.
While this stress may be a plausible interpretation of the findings of this study, the authors caution that not enough detail is known about the mechanics of how stress affects brain atrophy.
This study is among the first to examine religious and spiritual links to changes in volume of specific areas in the brain, and is the first to explore religious factors such as life-changing religious experiences.
Rather than suggesting that particular religious experiences or groups should be avoided or promoted, the emphasis of this study was to help clarify possible relationships between religion and the brain.
Learning which factors are associated with hippocampal atrophy is valuable, as previous research has established that smaller hippocampal volumes are related to health outcomes such as depression, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease in older adulthood.
This study was funded by National Institutes of Health grants MH54846, MH60451, and MH70027, and the John Templeton Foundation.


text:
EAST LANSING — Michigan State University is trying to turn one of its oldest science buildings into a model of energy efficiency under a new $7 million project at Anthony Hall.
Anthony Hall opened in 1957, and the Michigan State trustees voted Dec. 14 to begin work on improving its energy use.
The university says the goal is to cut energy consumption by 37 percent and says the work will pay for itself in 10 to 13 years.
The project's features include more efficient air ventilation in laboratories, cooling tower improvements and a conversion to direct digital climate controls.
The work is part of the Better Buildings Challenge, a national initiative that promotes the construction and retro-commissioning of more energy-efficient buildings nationwide.


text:
The 49ers have suspended running back Brandon Jacobs three games without pay. And even though he's not happy to be playing for the 49ers, he's even more not happy to be not playing for the 49ers, especially since he will now be getting not paid by the 49ers.
According to Mike Garafolo of USA Today, Jacobs will be filing a grievance aimed at securing his reinstatement, receiving his pay, or getting released by the 49ers.
With Jacobs earning a base salary of $950,000 in 2012, he'll lose more than $167,000, if the suspension is upheld.


text:
Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey headlined a Chattanooga fundraiser Monday for state Senate Republican nominee Todd Gardenhire.
In return for a $250 suggested donation, several Republican elected officials and a few dozen supporters heard speeches, rubbed elbows and enjoyed a multicourse meal at the downtown Mountain City Club.
The Gardenhire campaign didn't fill up the dozen or so tables it reserved, but a staffer said the lunchtime meeting likely exceeded a goal of $10,000.
The fundraiser and public show of Republican unity stands in contrast to the situation Gardenhire's 10th Senate District opponent finds himself battling.
Democratic nominee and Chattanooga City Councilman Andraé McGary in a Sunday Times Free Press story lamented the fact that the seat's sitting Democrat, Sen. Andy Berke, won't endorse him. Berke is running for mayor and avoiding partisan endorsements that allies say could endanger his own fundraising efforts for the nonpartisan March city elections.
Asked if McGary's endorsement issues helps Gardenhire, Ramsey grinned.
"Can't hurt anything," he said.
Tennessee Senate Democratic Party spokesman Matt Anderson said top legislators are supporting McGary, but he isn't aware of any upcoming fundraisers.
McGary confirmed that when describing the help he's getting from Nashville.
"Assistance with messaging and strategy only," he said. "No fundraisers."
GOP officials controlled the redistricting process this year and left their mark on the 10th Senate District, eliminating historically liberal Marion County and adding conservative parts of Bradley and Hamilton counties.
Among those at Mountain City Club on Monday were Senate Pro Tempore Bo Watson, R-Hixson; Rep. Richard Floyd, R-Chattanooga; Erlanger Health System trustee Russell King; and Hamilton County Commissioners Jim Fields, Marty Haynes and Larry Henry, all Republicans.
The candidates' campaign finance disclosures covering July, August and September become public this week.
Contact staff writer Chris Carroll at firstname.lastname@example.com or 423-757-6610.


text: Those who want to get rid of old, unwanted prescription drugs will soon be able to do so year-round at many pharmacies throughout the state. The Yellow Jugs Old Drugs Program works together with local pharmacies and the Indiana Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force to provide secure drug disposal. Pharmacies across Indiana will receive letters this week inviting them to join the program, which was started by the Great Lakes Clean Water Organization in 2008. The organization says 71 percent of people misusing prescriptions obtain them from friends or relatives and about 78,000 children under 5 years of age are treated for poisoning in emergency rooms as a result of accidental poisoning in the U.S. each year. For a list of participating pharmacies visit www.greatlakescleanwater.org or www.bitterpill.in.gov.


text:
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous
Narrated by `Abdullah We were with the Prophet while we were young and had no wealth whatever. So Allah`s Apostle said, "O young people! Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty (i.e. his private parts from committing illegal sexual intercourse etc.), and whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power."
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text:
Our superior website designs handsomely promote each client's image and our continuous development in technical excellence provides ease of navigation and a feature rich experience. We cannot show all of our work here but hope this selection will serve to demonstrate that we are masters of our art.
- Cherry Tree Preserves
A full e-commerce site with bespoke modules to forward completed sales alerts to franchisees. Individual branches of the site can be edited with the protected logins for the CMS.
- Fox Tailoring Bournemouth
Bournemouth's first visiting tailor. A unique service providing professional advice when and where it's needed home or office. A standard of tailoring usually sought in Saville Row.
- Tiien Thai Restaurant
Tables can be booked on line and bespoke modules on the ecommerce allow ordering of takeaways online, these are delivered to the kitchen via fax and direct to the manager's iPad.
- Apex Companions
One of three websites created for Apex Companions to promote care in the home. We also provided a web application to manage and filter online job applications saving valuable time and money.
- Coffee@Work
Coffee@Work are vending experts and wanted a website to showcase the wide range of snack and drinks machines which they supply across the U.K. Downloads for each machine are made available from leading brands.
- Best Restaurants Bournemouth
Following on the success of Tiien Bournemouth, this site promotes all three restaurants in the group which are highly rated. Visitors can book online at their selected venue online.
- Carolyne Moran
The site displays a range of traditional paintings in mixed media. 28 originals are featured in the gallery - some for sale and others are available as greetings cards or postcards.
- Compton Acres
The South's finest privately owned historic gardens. Information is provided on opening times, cost of admission and regular updates on current events planned within the beautiful ten acre site.
- Cranfield Trust
A liquid website first created for an audience with minimum screen sizes and to enlarge easily for professional size screens.The site is updated regularly by client with our CMS.
A simple holding page with a contact form to provide core information to visitors and to enable this client to take orders whilst the main site is under construction.
- Forest Products
A client for over ten years. This promotional website is full ecommerce with over 80 products available on line - labels designed by our team. Regular site updates keep the promotions fresh.
- Glenhurst Manor
This website enables users to take a tour of this luxury retirement home with unparalleled levels of service. They can see what accommodation, facilities and activities are available and answers a range of frequently asked questions.
- Isabel's Restaurant
French and English cuisine is available and menus are displayed online. There is also a gallery to show new visitors the candlelit dining rooms and basement dining room with French doors to the garden.
- Money4Business
A two page site to promote the professional services of this financial consultant. Case histories and testimonials of successful projects are currently being developed.
- Oxford Sunblinds
This site promotes a family run business and displays a range of made to measure blinds and shutters with a flash gallery. There is also an impressive live feed of client testimonials.
A feature rich website with an intuitive and easy to use content management system essential for the owners who wish to keep right up to date with their news and current client activities.


text:
In Werth's last three full seasons with the Phillies, he hit 87 home runs and averaged a .279/.376/.513 line while playing anywhere from excellent to very poor defense according to UZR. That makes him a good, not great, player on the wrong side of his career peak. Werth has been about a five win player over those three seasons which, dollar wise, would be worth between $21-23 million per year. But in giving him $18 million a year, the Nats are paying him for past performance and not what he'll do going forward. It's hard to imagine that Werth will be performing at an $18 million level when he's 37 and 38 years-old. Unless, of course, he finds some kind of magic cream that's the equivalent of the Fountain of Youth and Power. But that can't exist, right?
The Nationals aren't a great fit for the soon to be 32-year-old outfielder either. Boras sold Washington two once-in-a-lifetime prospects in back-to-back years in Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper. Strasburg got off to a hot start in 2010 before his elbow had to be reattached with Tommy John surgery. I have a pair of pants older than Harper. I don't fit in them anymore and it's curious why I still own them but still... Strasburg and Harper won't join Werth until 2012 and there is no telling how effective they'll be once they do so. And Ryan Zimmerman is going to want to get paid after his contract is up in 2013. It just seems like the wrong time to make such a bold and expensive move with what the Nats are trying to build.
Nats' GM Mike Rizzo lip-synced the explanation of the signing while Boras moved him around like the good puppet he is...
"For elite players like this to come to Washington, D.C., obviously we have to extend the contract," Rizzo said. "We understand where we're at in our process. Someday in the very near future, we hope that we will not have to give extra money, extra years to acquire a player."Some extra money is one thing, your soul is another. The obvious fallout from this is that Carl Crawford's price tag now starts at eight years and $140 million. And Cliff Lee won't even talk to you for less than six years and $150 million. And the upper torso of Vlad Guerrero now wants two years and $20 million.
Rizzo praised Werth's athleticism, his base-running acumen, his ability to play center field as well as right. He raved about Werth's offensive improvement, his increased patience at the plate. He described Werth as a late bloomer whose best days are still ahead.
But hey, there is good news Nats fans! The always excellent Joe Sheehan reminded us on Twitter that the last time Boras got seven-years and $126 million for a good player, that team won the World Series just four years later. That player was, drumroll please....
Barry Zito