《魔鬼的野餐：环球禁忌美食之旅》，[加] 高泰若著，木夏译，商务印书馆，2025年9月版，368页， 60.00元 新年伊始，选择一部什么样的书来翻开新年阅读的第一页呢？在"重回越秀山边"的新年献词中，我们说 在新的一年更需要的是勇敢——勇敢地在常识的土壤里，播种出属于我们的自由之花。这就让我想到了 一部关于禁制、权力与以挑战禁忌维护自由的书，虽然看起来只是关于"美食"的书。 加拿大作家高泰若（Taras Grescoe）在七个国家旅行了一年，写出这部《魔鬼的野餐：环球禁忌美食之 旅》（The Devil's Picnic: Around the World in Pursuit of Forbidden Fruit，2005；木夏译，商务印书馆， 2025年9月）。他的这次旅行写作有明确的目的，了解和调查一些国家对于某些"美食"的禁忌、管控、 法律惩治以及相对应产生的反禁忌行为，这是一部非虚构作品。但不是一般的旅途见闻、风土人情叙事 的旅行纪实，而是在七个国家围绕各自的核心主题深入采访、现场体验和在历史与现实之间深度思考的 研究性写作的产物。在另一方面，该书主题带有的挑战性与探索性与作者的自由原则、批判意识 ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the skepticism surrounding Bitcoin, particularly in light of Tucker Carlson's claim that it was created by the CIA, highlighting the broader distrust in government and financial systems in the U.S. [3][5][9] Group 1: Bitcoin's Origins and Public Perception - Tucker Carlson suggests that Bitcoin's emergence was too coincidental and clean, implying it is a state-sponsored project, although he provides no evidence for this claim [3][5] - The article notes that Bitcoin was launched in 2009 amidst a financial crisis, promoting a narrative of decentralization and freedom from bank control, which resonates with public sentiment [3][5] - Carlson's mixed feelings about Bitcoin reflect a common public sentiment: a desire to believe in the technology while fearing potential manipulation [5][10] Group 2: Regulatory Environment and Market Dynamics - In 2021, approximately 12% of U.S. residents held crypto assets, and regulatory measures have since increased, including the requirement for exchanges to report user transactions [7][9] - Bitcoin's price movements have closely followed U.S. monetary policy, rising to $60,000 during periods of quantitative easing and dropping to $16,000 after interest rate hikes, questioning its independence from the dollar system [7][9] - The largest holders of Bitcoin are institutional investors, with U.S. institutions controlling about 7% of the total supply, indicating that the narrative of Bitcoin as a "people's currency" may be misleading [10] Group 3: Trust and Control in Financial Systems - The rise of conspiracy theories around Bitcoin reflects a broader distrust in the financial system, exacerbated by rising national debt and inflation concerns [9][10] - The article posits that while Bitcoin's technology may offer decentralization, true trust is rooted in human narratives and control, rather than technology or state assurances [12] - The discussion raises questions about the future of trust in a world where algorithms may dictate skepticism and belief, challenging the notion of who can be trusted [12]

最近国内又是一波新冠流行的高峰期，笔者的家人朋友中招的不少，作为一个至今仍然注意防护的人来说，看到社交媒体上一大 堆"原来新冠还没有消失"的言论，总会容易一种无奈。 不过最近，有一位著名的人物生病的消息，似乎更有新闻学价值，那就是美国前总统拜登，宣布自己被确诊了前列腺癌，并且已经 伴有了大规模的骨转移。 平心而论，前列腺癌是那种老年男性很容易得的癌症，拜登的年龄更属于高发期。而前列腺癌因为它一些独特的特性，就算出现了 转移，治疗空间往往也是比较大的。但是如果结合其他一些新闻，那拜登患癌这事透出的味道就变得很不对了。之前在任上时，拜 登的身体健康状况一直是被怀疑的焦点，而美国官方说法则是怒斥这都是特朗普粉丝和右翼媒体造的谣，一直声称拜登健康得很。 这种联想有其合理性，虽然肿瘤发展的过程存在着巨大的个体差异，但总归有一个局部到扩散的过程。美国是全球较早展开前列腺 癌筛查的国家，对于这一套流程应该说是很熟悉了，拜登自然也不是没机会享受医疗检查的homeless，相反他接受的是美国最优秀 的医疗服务。类似PSA（前列腺特异性抗原）这样的基本筛查，自然是不在话下。 虽然有人可能会辩解，说指南上说，70岁以上的人不推荐进 ...