Tuesday, October 18, 2011

A modern man


I took advantage of the last day of sun (they said it would start raining today) to take a photo of a statue of Vauban, located in the Invalides gardens. Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban (his full name) used to live under the reign of Louis the 14th (to which he was an adviser) and is known for having designed almost unbreakable fortifications in many places in France (about 100). From what I read he also suggested to change the tax system, which created a big scandal at that time. What he did sounds strangely similar to what some of our today's politicians (we're are in pre-election times at the moment) suggest: protect France (not with fortifications, but with tariffs), change the tax system... Tools and methods change, but the problems to solve remain the same throughout the centuries !

8 comments:

  1. It's that same time here...The blame game!

    Kris

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  2. I love the patina on that statue -- it's so surreal. Here in the US they have a program on PBS called "Antiques Road Show". The art appraisers are always emphasizing that one should not remove the patina on old statues, etc. It diminishes the value of the artwork.

    I have been watching the French Primary on French TV the past and present week. It was a first for you.

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  3. Something about the look on his face and those long steely fingers. Just the sort to snip away at archaic tax regulations.

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  4. this article is very interesting. congratulation to the writer!

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  5. LOL The first thing that popped into my head when I read the title: "He is the very model of a modern major general". And now reading your description, he probably was and is! As far as politics are concerned, I'm so tired of them already and our elections are not for another 13, yep 13! months!! Argh.

    Hope your day is just peachy, wherever you are!

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  6. I love the impact Vauban had on the French forts around the country. There's actually an exhibit inside the museum at les Invalides of the old models used to design the forts which inlclude the surrounding terrain and architecture. Next to these are modern day satellite photographs and it's amazing how exact Vauban was without all of the sophisticated equiment of today.

    It's an exhibit that many miss, so if you come to Paris, try to make time to see this.

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  7. Modern man has a nice haircut ;)
    Did you use a flash?

    Oh, on the other side I have an ancient man: http://ljubljanaphotoblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/ancient-man.html

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  8. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.
    or to put it another way,
    Everything's the same (even) under the sun (king)

    (Groan)

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