Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Are Rome's attractions scarce goods? If people are paying for their time at attractions then they may feel less compelled to pick up after themselves or act with decorum (although good Catholics may feel guilty if they don't).

- Elon Musk says he will pay the legal fees of anyone who truthfully accuses Jeffrey Epstein or his clients of abuse.

- Did seem like more of a bug than a feature.

- Kid Rock from last night's Turning Point Show.

Some Memes You May Enjoy

Many a truth is said in jest.

- Heh Heh

- The more things change.

- Said basically every parent ever.

- I feel seen

True 2,000 Years Ago - True Today

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Modern war tells us to get used to disappointment. "The best Ukraine can hope for is a result similar to the deal Russia reportedly offered before all the killing started: Crimea and the Donbas to Russia; no to Kyiv joining NATO; yes to Ukrainian membership in the European Union."

- 5 Reasons Men Spend so Much Time Thinking about the Roman Empire. I don't have any Raman themed T-shirts but I do like reading books about Rome.

- Great work by Data Republican on how politically connected NGO's are taking 90% of the tax dollars. I've been following her for a while - she does great work.

- ACC nearing resolution with Clemson and FSU to end litigation.

Pax by Tom Holland

"Their warriors rather than standing and fighting as legionaries did, like men, would instead wheel and wheel again on fast-galloping horses, firing arrows over their shoulders as they sped away. All more disgraceful, then, that twice the Parthians should have routed a Roman invasion force. The first, launched in the final decade of the free republic, had been annihilated outside a city called Carrhae. Crassus, its commander, had lost thirty thousand men, seven eagles, and his own head. Two decades later, when Mark Anthony led a second attempt to subdue the Parthians, he had managed to survive the ensuing debacle with his head still on his shoulders - but again lost thirty thousand men. Augustus, preferring diplomacy to war, had negotiated the return of Crassus' lost eagles and an enduring peace... All these factors, to a man of Trajan's fearless cast of mind, were bound to furnish matter for thought." - Pax: War and Peace in Rome's Golden Age

The above from Pax by Tom Holland. A very enjoyable book that detail the famous Roman Pax that lasted surprisingly much less time than may generally be thought. Times in Rome had always been tumultuous though much so during the Pax. Enjoyed the book and would recommend it.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Truth

- Very cool: Roman roads reimagined as subways.

- Still voting Oden

- Interesting: "Hunter Biden's lead criminal defense attorney asked a federal judge on Tuesday for permission to withdraw from the case because he could now be called as a witness."

How the First Roman Triumvirate was Formed

In 60 BCE, two years after he had returned to Rome, Pompey was frustrated that the Senate had noy formally ratified the eastern settlement, instead procrastinating by confirming it piece by piece, not en bloc. And, as any general then had to do, he was looking for land on which to settle his ex-soldiers. Marcus Licinius Crassus, who has finally led Roman troops to victory against Spartacus and was reputedly the richest man in Rome, had recently taken up the  case of a struggling company of state contractors. They had bid far too much for the tax rights of the province of Asia, and Crassus was trying to get them permission to renegotiate the price. Julius Caesar, the least experienced and least wealthy of the three wanted to secure election to the consulship of 59 BCE and major military command to follow, not merely the policing duties against brigands in Italy that the senate had in mind for him. Mutual support seemed the best way to achieve these various aims. So, in an entirely unofficial deal, they pooled resources, power, contracts and ambition to get what they wanted in the short term - and in the longer. - SPQR by Mary Beard

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- I would so watch this. Somebody should buy the exclusive rights now! 

- Pat Forde on how despite all the stories about the lack of TV revenue the Pac-12 and ACC continue their success.

- The thing you learn on the Internet - F1 racing is now arguably a more valuable property than the NHL.

- A day in the life of a Roman legionary

Heh Heh

HT View from Lady Lake

What Was Day in the Life of a Roman Legionary like?

Interesting look at the lot of a Roman legionary.

More of an overview than a detailed look at an average day but interesting nonetheless. 

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- "Peaceful" Protests. Borepatch with a nice historical parallel to the world we're living in.

- Interesting bit of history. I had never heard of Varosha.

- The Chinese government is evil. Even The Atlantic has come around to that conclusion.

- Statement by Jeff Bezon to the US House Judiciary Committee. Interesting but long read.

-  Good for Trader Joe's

- The evidence is mounting that the virus came from the Wuhan Institute for Virology.

The Ides of March

Today is the Ides of March - famous because it is forever connected with the murder of Julius Caesar back in 44 BC. Less historically well known is the fact the Caesar was only murdered because Lucius Vorenus wasn't there to protect him.

Rome was a very underrated series.

The Ides of March

Today is the Ides of March - famous because it is forever connected with the murder of Julius Caesar back in 44 BC. Less historically well known is the fact the Caesar was only murdered because Lucius Vorenus wasn't there to protect him.

Rome was a very underrated series.

The Ides of March

Today is the Ides of March - famous because it is forever connected with the murder of Julius Caesar back in 44 BC. Less historically well known is the fact the Caesar was only murdered because Lucius Vorenus wasn't there to protect him.

The Ides of March

Today is the Ides of March - famous because it is forever connected with the murder of Julius Caesar back in 44 BC. Less well known is the fact the Caesar was only murdered because Lucius Vorenus wasn't there to protect him

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Yesterday was the Ides of March - famous because it is forever connected with the murder of Julius Caesar back in 44 BC. Less well known is the fact the Caesar was only murdered because Lucius Vorenus wasn't there to protect him... Interesting behind the scenes look at the making of Mad Men... Maybe the worst part of Saint Patrick's Day is the fat guy in a kilt - you run into one every year. You know the guy who talks about the "breeze" no matter the weather and of "dangling shillelaghs" all in an attempt to get you to ask if the guy is wearing any underwear. You know the guy...  Bad family structure defeats good economic numbers... How come ham has a pinkish color while pork sausage is brown? Same meat different colors. Why? How come I never thought about this before?... 15 back-stabbing facts about Brutus. What was compelling to me was how many of those historical facts were woven into the HBO series Rome... If feel like I've missed something important having never read Terry Pratchett. Maybe time to order the first Discworld book?... Interesting interview with Bill Simmons... Would you eat the moon if it was made of ribs? Harry Caray would...

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting and thoughts I'd share.

Game of Thrones casts Ciaran Hinds as Mance Rayder (the King Beyond the Wall). Ciaran Hinds is probably best known for playing Caesar in the HBO series Rome. I'm a little torn by this casting since I like Hinds but he's nothing like what I had pictured in my mind after reading the books.

Heh heh - Karl Rove endorses Joe Biden for Democratic VP

The economics of bank robberies. Bottom line - you'd probably make out better being a taxi cab driver.

Heh heh - sports books taking action on when Tim Tebow will replace Mark Sanchez as starting QB.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Sometimes I lay in bed after waking up - waiting to be energized enough to get up and at 'em. During this waiting time I think with my eyes closed and this morning I was thinking that the Dodgers really don't have the starters to go far in the playoffs. It looks like Bill Plaschke was thinking the same thing. Both the Phillies and Cardinals have a 1-2 punch that could knock the Dodgers out in the first round... This morning I was also thinking how funny it would have been if someone had hacked the White House web site so that those "turn in suspicious activity regarding health care information" emails went to Randall.Flagg@WhiteHouse.gov. That would seem fitting... On this day in 44 BC - Cleopatra of Egypt declares her son Caesarion co-ruler as Ptolemy XV. What she didn't reveal was that the boy's real father was Titus Pullo... Today would have been Albert Spalding's 159th birthday. If you like history and you like baseball - Albert Spalding should be your cup of tea... Of course football coaches tend to be Republicans.

"You aren't entitled to anything. You don't inherit anything. You get what you earn—your position on the team," Mr. [Lou] Holtz said. "You're treated like everybody else. You're held accountable for your actions. You understand that your decisions affect other people on that team... There's winners, there's losers, and there's competitiveness."

Not entitled to anything? Quick someone report Lou Holtz to flag@whitehouse.gov! As a side note - I'm pretty sure Rich Kotite was a Democrat... I didn't know that Keanu Reeves is Canadian. That explains a lot... Happy 61st birthday to Nate "Tiny" Archibald. Hard to believe that Tiny is that old... Happy VJ Day!