Thursday, November 30, 2006

Britney Spears and more on the ancient computer

I'm not sure if I should be allowed to laugh at this, because that just seems mean-spirited. Nevertheless, Britney Spears on Antigone (more at Christie's). To be fair, I've seen worse spelling and grammar (unfortunately!).

Perhaps this is just even funnier to me because Troy the Musical (two more days left!) includes a Britney Spears song.

In more enlightening news, there's more on the Antikythera Mechanism (the ancient computer) at Nature, as well as a podcast that includes a reproduced sound of the machine (about 2/5s of the way in).

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Lots of links!

Firstly, remember the world's oldest computer? Well, more study has been done on it, and it seems quite exciting!

-BBC: Ancient Moon 'computer' revisited (includes lovely pictures!)
-NYT: An Ancient Computer Surprises Scientists (includes a picture also, but more in the BBC)

There's also a BBC article on "Man held for 'pharaoh relic' sale. They believe it's possible he really has the hair of a pharaoh.

Lastly, there's a (relatively) new-ish blog, the Persepolis Fortification Archive Project. I'm going to have to update my links soon (I keep saying this!) and hopefully remember to include this and a few others.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Randomness

Hmm, I'm not hugely in a blogging mood today, as I've just (well, a few hours ago) finished another drafty draft of my paper. My brain is scattered, and I'm sure my draft is too. But no worries--another week left to revise it!

I'm at that point, though, where the more I pick at it, the worse it will probably get. That, of course, means it's time to step away for a day or two.

And I forgot to mention in my review of BBC's Ancient Rome that I wish they had shown Nero's "marriage" to Pythagoras rather than Sporus. Ok, so Sporus gets him sympathy points for missing Poppaea (except not really, because Sporus was castrated), but the Pythagoras wedding is so much more entertaining!

Lastly, here's one I'm stealing from rogueclassicism: Why we are all becoming 'Latin lovers'

Monday, November 27, 2006

In between the coughing . . .

A couple things from Classics-L today.

Apparently, BBC radio is airing a reading of a comedy on building the Trojan Horse, called The Horse, which can be found here.

There is also a nice article on the 300 here.

Sunday, November 26, 2006

BBC's Ancient Rome

Well, I finally got to watch the episodes today (although I probably could have picked a better time for my screening!), and overall, I thought it was pretty good. It's not HBO's Rome's entertainment level, but that wasn't its purpose. On a strictly general educational level, I think the show works pretty well--and, in fact, better than I was expecting (and my expectations had gone up once I realized Mary Beard was consulting, so that is actually saying something).

The DVDs start with the Caesar episode, which is, quite frankly, rather disconcerting if you're familiar with HBO's Rome. As I recall, they specifically did not start with this when they aired it, which was certainly wise of them. To heighten the confusion, they had Karl Johnson (HBO's Cato) playing Marcellus and actually arguing with their Cato (Crispin Redman). I personally prefer Karl Johnson's Cato, but at least they had a better black toga for Cato in this BBC version. They also had an actor who looked so much like HBO's Pompey (Kenneth Cranham) that the group of us was actually convinced they were one and the same, but was really somebody else entirely it seems--one John Shrapnel.

One thing that I especially noticed in this episode but was true throughout all of them, though, was that all subtlety of action was gone. It really had to be, since they were condensing years of action into one hour. It was particularly striking in the Caesar episode, though, because HBO's Rome had had 12 episodes to cover what BBC covered in one hour. Thus Ciaran Hinds (HBO) could really milk it and be the kind of Caesar you'd actually follow while Sean Pertwee (BBC) just seemed like a mean tyrant. Besides which, it's just generally difficult to match Ciaran Hinds' Caesar.

The next episode was Nero, whom they portrayed as initially quite sympathetic but then later a raving lunatic--and I do mean he had seriously insane expressions on his face quite frequently. Poppaea was actually quite lovely as well. The biggest problem with this episode is that they were filming the gladiator scenes in what looked so obviously like the Colosseum--which was supposedly yet to be built! They thankfully did not call it the Colosseum, but for anyone who's actually familiar with the Colosseum, it was quite confusing!

Then was the Jewish War and the Flavians (curiously missing Domitian altogether, but the episode was really about the Jewish war more than the emperors themselves). It was either this episode or the one before it where we had a brief flash of the senate that accidentally included Karl Johnson (who earlier played Marcellus). I'm sure they meant it to be a generic senate shot, though. I can't recall much on this one, actually, except a few questions in the group on Roman warfare.

The fourth episode on the DVD was the Gracchus episode, which had some interesting moments. As Mary Beard pointed out, it has the wonderful corpse of Tiberius' father (actually, they do a nicer painted-up corpse of Poppaea in the Nero episode too). It also has rich moments between Tiberius and his mother, Cornelia. There is, of course, the perpetual problem of Gaius being left out. I think a nod could have been made to him, but it might have been equally awkward to then have to leave him when the hour was up.

The fifth episode was Constantine. Nothing severely anachronistic that I can remember (I always fear there will be crosses or something), but they certainly did not miss the opportunity to play up the Christian aspects. I thought the little toy models for the battle plans were funny, but maybe I was just loopy from my fifth hour of staring at a screen.

The final episode was "The Fall of Rome" with the sack of Rome. I'd almost argue from the way they portrayed each of these episodes, any of them could be argued as "the beginning of the fall of Rome." I actually had a hard time seeing where they were trying to show the rise of the Roman empire. I assume they meant starting with Gracchus and continuing with Caesar, but both of these were depicted as extremely destructive episodes in Roman history to be quite honest.

My two general "complaints" for the series:
1) stirrups?!
2) Eeeevery single episode seemed to need to include a woman looking extremely distraught and furious and thus egging men into action by calling for someone's destruction with mad fury in their eyes. Many of these made sense, but the strangest one was the random woman who collapsed as the Goths were marching off somewhere just so Alaric could come up to her so that she could tell him with mad fury in her eyes to destroy Rome. There is also, inevitably, some male figure purposely misguiding the emperor of each episode for his own evil (or just stupid) purposes. Again, many of these had reason, but it became a bit formulaic.

Anyway, overall, the series dealt much more with real history than I've come to expect from television shows, even if some of it was questionable. At the very least, I could see a person walking away wanting to know and learn more, though, and trying to grapple with the questions presented. In that sense, I do believe this series succeeds. Plus, it was pretty good entertainment, even if there were a few more battle scenes than I can usually stand.

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Library theft and Seven Wonders

I thought this was sad: Library worker allegedly took rare books.

I'm always a little torn when I see things like this. On the one hand, at least they have good taste, but then I sort of wonder why people with such good taste would want to steal such rarities from the public.

Of course, a cynic would point out to me that these things have more to do with money than "good taste." I refuse to believe it! Somebody who dedicates their time to working with such antiquities must do so because of good taste, I insist!

Yes, I realize I'm quite a deluded person at times.

Also, click here to vote for the new 7 wonders of the world. Options include the Acropolis, Colosseum, and Petra, amongst other gorgeous sites.

Friday, November 24, 2006

Troy the Musical

Just a reminder, dear readers, that next week is Troy the Musical at Cambridge!! Details can be found here. Please do come, if you are able. Everything goes to charity!

Tickets are £5. You may also want to call to researve tickets (07947582634), since the rumour is that the show is selling quickly.

And don't forget the special guest star is Nigel Spivey! You KNOW you want to be there!

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Ursula Le Guin

It always makes me happy when science fiction authors acknowledge Classics, such as Ursula Le Guin does in her acceptance speech for the Maxine Cushing Gray award. I've always looked upon science fiction (loosely broadening this definition to include comic book superheroes also) as modern mythology, and thus I find the two heavily intertwined. It's nice when other people acknowledge that (directly or indirectly, as the case may be).

And if there's any doubt, we always have Lucian's Vera Historia. That piece never ceases to astound me. I need to reread it some day.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Corbett lecture with Sarah Broadie

Glaukôpis is so pooped right now that she wonders why she decided to do NaBloPoMo. November is always a busy month (not helped when one comes down with colds)!

Anyway, Glaukôpis attended the Corbett lecture today featuring Sarah Broadie. She spoke about Plato's Timaeus-Critias dialogues and talked about the how they depicted the cosmos, the rational souls, and Atlantis. Quite an interesting lecture, though Glaukôpis confesses she has not read these dialogues in quite some time and is thus not in an especially good place to comment much.

Glaukôpis occasionally regrets not having been a philosophy major also in undergrad, but Glaukôpis really wanted to graduate someday and did not want to be an undergrad for six years. In fact, there are many things Glaukôpis wanted to study in undergrad, so her family is probably glad she managed to restrict it to three majors.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

David Grene memoir

My lovely professor back at UMD sent me this link to David Grene's (yes, of those Grene & Lattimore Greek tragedy translations) Of Farming and Classics: A Memoir.

Amazon.com: Of Farming and Classics: A Memoir

I think it's really quite nice that he has a published memoir. I'd even run out and get it now, except that I don't have $30 or time to read it. How sad! But hopefully some of you dear readers do!

Monday, November 20, 2006

An Ancient Muse and Crying Wolf

Loreena McKennitt released a new CD called An Ancient Muse.

The blurb: “Tell me, O Muse, of those who travelled far and wide”

Aptly, it is an echo of Homer’s timeless Odyssey that introduces Loreena McKennitt’s seventh studio recording, the latest volume of a project she describes as “musical travel writing”. This time, the journey takes her in search of the Celts’ easternmost paths, from the plains of Mongolia to the kingdom of King Midas and the Byzantine Empire. Along the way, she muses on the concepts of home, of travel in all its incarnations, of the cultural intermingling that underpins human history and our universal legacies of conflict and hope.

Recorded at Real World Studios and featuring a host of acclaimed musicians, the album proffers a treasure trove of instruments, from harp, hurdy-gurdy and accordion to oud, lyra, kanoun and nyckelharpa (the Scandinavian keyed fiddle). Highlights include the seductive rhythms and Silk Road influences of first single “Caravanserai”; “Penelope’s Song”, a paean to steadfast love; and Loreena’s musical setting of Sir Walter Scott’s poem of star-crossed romance, “The English Ladye And The Knight”. Together, the nine songs that comprise An Ancient Muse conjure up a wide world’s worth of human stories that are as unique as they are unforgettable.





Unrelated, Mary Beard posts Crying wolf about the wolf-and-twins bronze in Rome. Either way, I'm not certain people would stop wanting to see it. It's still a famous and old piece of art, and frankly, it's a symbol of Rome. It's been such for so long that I don't really see people abandoning it just because we're now considering the possibility that it's not as old as we "thought" it was. Or maybe this is just wishful thinking on my part. I'm rather fond of the wolf. And people really are quite fickle.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Stonehenge

I got this from rogueclassicism, and this part rather bothers me:

“In the case of Stonehenge, I suggest that the presiding deity was a prehistoric equivalent of the Greek and Roman god of healing, Apollo. Although his main sanctuary was at Delphi in Greece, it is widely believed that he left Greece in the winter months to reside in the land of the Hyborians – usually taken to be Britain.

I hadn't heard that about Apollo, but even that aside, it does bother me a bit when other gods are referred to as "equivalents" to certain Greek and Roman gods. Yes, syncretization went around all over the ancient world, but it's a rather Graeco-Roman-centric view, in my opinion. None of these gods, even between the Greeks and Romans, were exact "equivalents." At best, they were "similar" or "not unlike." There isn't a perfect paradigm of gods in each culture that lines up with the Greek or Roman gods. And if there is, there shouldn't be (well, it wouldn't be perfect anyway).

But that aside, certainly an interesting theory.

And now Glaukôpis is glad that blogging is done by typing rather than speaking. For her sore throat has grown quite painful, and she suspects her hacking up of lungs would scare her dear readers away quite quickly.

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Off to London

I'm off to London to see Evita today. This really has nothing to do with Classics, except that last time I was listening to it, I kept comparing it to Greek tragedy.

Methinks this is a sign that my brain has been eaten by Greek tragedy--well, that and the odd dreams I've been having!

Friday, November 17, 2006

Oedipus Max

Feeling rather under the weather today, so this'll be short.

But in light of the Medea Project, I found this article called Oedipus Max: Four Nights of Anguish and Applause in Sing Sing about a play put on my male inmates.

You might also find interesting (if you missed it earlier) Mary Beard's thoughts on visiting prisons.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Being a Classicist

It seems to me that Classicists tend to gain one of two reputations:
1) Old, Stuffy, Too Serious, Pretentious (and/or Boring), and Living in the Past.
2) One Word: Crazy.

Sometimes, I think, when we get too bogged down in our texts or our studies or whatnot, we exude 1. We take ourselves too seriously, and we really come off as dickheads (or we study tragedy too long, take it too seriously, and have disturbingly strange dreams ;-)).

Seriousness is a good thing, particularly when it comes to studying, but I think sometimes we all need to take a step back and remember not to take ourselves and our work so seriously that we forget why we're doing it and why we love it--and I mean the real love we have of antiquity, not the love of pretentiously knowing more Latin and Greek than the rest of the world. Sometimes we just need to enjoy that Plato's Socrates really is a Funny Man (c'mon, he's talking about the bloody Laws actually talking to him!) and worry less about . . . the things we worry about.

Sometimes we need to make crazy musicals about Troy or dress up and play Roman or even just walk into our Classics departments wielding lightsabers.

Sometimes, we just need to take a moment to sit back and talk about something else and not worry so much about that strange use of the subjunctive in [Pick-a-Text].

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Amarna Exhibit

Ohh, Amarna exhibit at University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology!! And how close I was to doing their post-bac program. Eheu. Maybe I can squeeze in a trip when I get back to the U.S.

I shouldn't really complain. I had forgotten until yesterday (when I friend pointed it out to me) that I can now do spiffy things like take day trips to spiffy places like Rome. And Paris!

Yes, I had sort of forgotten that being in England means the rest of Europe is as easy to access as NYC is back at home!

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Latin Day!! And fish!

It's LATIN DAY at the University of Maryland today! To all those going: have fun! To all those performing: break a leg!

Honestly, I'm jealous. I miss Latin Day! And I'm so excited! And I'm not even anywhere near there!

Everyone should have a Latin Day. Oh well, at least there's Troy the Musical to look forward to.

Also, here are a couple articles on the Roman shipwreck with fish sauce (well, bones).

And now I'm hungry, but that has nothing to do with fish sauce.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Mehercule!

Apparently, I suck at being a girl, even in Latin. Here's a lovely article on ancient swearing--once again from Classics-L.

Perfect for that mid-semester stress!

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Mid-semester blues

Either it's been a slow news day, or I'm just not paying proper attention. Probably both. Or I'm forgetting something--which is also likely.

But in my efforts to keep up with NaBloPoMo, I shall write a bit about what I've been up to.

Honestly, it's mid-semester blues time--the time when homesickness strikes hardest and you wonder what, exactly, you're doing here. I have to keep reminding myself why I'm in grad school right now, rather than taking a year off. I'm also, of course, tired of my paper topic and spending almost more time thinking about future paper topics. Typical.

And, of course, while I don't miss my six or seven classes in a semester during undergrad, I do miss many of the people--both friends and professors. And, obviously, I miss my family and my birds.

There's really nothing for it but to slug on. And I'll be home for Christmas, though not the Saturnalia.

How are the rest of you holding up? I don't "hear" enough from my dear readers!

Oh! I can make this post a bit more useful. Borders coupons!

-20% off any book, CD, or DVD at Borders UK valid through the 30th (they've also been giving me free chocolate!)
-20% off at Borders US but only valid through tomorrow, the 13th

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Holiday shopping for a Classics geek?

The Unemployed Philosophers Guild!

In case anyone wants to buy me anything (haha) . . . but seriously, things you may find of interest:
-Shakespeareana (I own and love the Shakespearean insults mug, personally)
-Fruediana (personally, I could do without Freud)
-Descartes mug (click it! It's hilarious)
-the Socrates little thinker
-Birth of Venus pillow (it sings "Pretty Women", which is sort of creepy)
-philosopher finger puppets, including Plato!
-Here's looking at Euclid! t-shirt (bad puns are always a must for your Classics geek)
-Sisyphus watch

Friday, November 10, 2006

Academia in Drama and more on BBC's Ancient Rome

Literally as my friend was just telling me (jokingly) there should be a TV show about Classics departments rather than another law or doctor show, this popped into my mailbox from the Classics-L list. Apparently, academia really is dramatic.* Although I'm not sure anyone would actually tune in to a TV show about Classics academia. Can you imagine the viewers? "Why aren't they talking about Shakespeare?!"

Although, I have always wondered why, in CSI-whatever, Horatio's friends don't pick up skulls and say, "Alas, poor Yorick, I knew him, Horatio."

In completely unrelated news, Mary Beard has posted about the panel discussion I mentioned the other day. I was hoping she'd post about it, which is why I didn't provide quite as much as I might otherwise have done.

*Edit to add: I suppose the play Proof by David Auburn is another example of academia in drama, and that is, honestly, one of my favourite modern plays.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

HBO's Rome

For a nice preview of next season (thanks much to a friend for showing this to me), click here.

There are also a couple blogs about the show's status up on the official site.

Anyway, I was rewatching an episode today while doing some other things, and while I was re-impressed by how much detail had been accurate, they actually goofed up on something a lot more noticeable! They were using a couple bird species (macaws and cockatiels--a cockatoo too, but I think it was an umbrella cockatoo, which was a little more likely) from the New World and from Australia. Maybe there is something I'm missing, but I don't think the trade routes extended that far! But then, I don't know a lot about bird species and trading of them at that time. Anyone have any ideas? Specifically, I saw a blue and gold macaw and some cockatiels.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Father Foster and 300

Exciting news, Father Foster is teaching Latin again! Where would we be without him?? There's even a nice audio link at the bottom of the post!

In completely unrelated news, if you haven't seen the trailer for 300, you can see it here (thanks to Bronteana for showing me the video!):



It is, um, interesting.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Ancient Rome and Google Ads (unrelated!)

Even after hearing about numerous problems with GoogleAds, I decided to give them a go anyway. A few of you have actually decided to click here and there lately (thanks!), and it seems that the moment you actually start making a bit of money here, they decide to disable your account.

If I've twisted anyone's arms into clicking ads, my apologies.

I appealed their decision, but I don't know if it's worth it. And of course by talking about this here, I've probably discouraged anyone from ever clicking again!

Edit to add: These shouldn't be confused with the Amazon ads, which have been working quite nicely and, I hope, productively to your experience.

Anyway, on to more fun things!

I just got back from a wonderful discussion panel on Ancient Rome, the Rise and Fall of an Empire with Mark Hedgecoe (director and producer), Simon Baker (researcher and author of the book--link will be below), Professor Mary Beard (history consultant).

I haven't actually had the chance to view the series myself, but it was a very interesting look at what goes into making a docudrama and why certain choices were made. Obviously, the order of the series is a major outrage to many historians. Their excuse about the need to draw in an audience with the first episode actually seems dismally valid. Poor Tiberius Gracchus just isn't going to get the same following as the emperor who fiddled while Rome burned.

I can't really speak on other choices, since I haven't seen the series, but it seems like the series has its ups and downs. I do now know there's a lovely Roman funeral, at least!

I think, however, the reason I'm generally tempted to judge this more harshly than HBO's Rome is simply because this is a series claiming to be history more so than entertainment. The entertainment focus gave HBO's Rome more leeway, and it still managed to impress many of us with the details they decided to include anyway (that were, honestly, above and beyond what most other Rome entertainment shows tend to include).

But I also agree with the panelists here that there is, to some extent, a need to captivate an audience that might not otherwise watch. It's easy to say, "Well, the actual history is riveting enough, if portrayed well!" True, but you also need a line that'll bring in the general audience in the first place. And with a little bit of luck (and good storytelling), the rest will suck 'em in for good!

I also have to agree that this is, hopefully, not the be-all-end-all and is just a starting point for further research and discussion. But maybe that's hoping for too much.

There was also very interesting discussion on the choices of episodes, which I imagine can't have been an easy process. I am, however, a little bummed that Zenobia didn't make the cut. If they wanted more women, she would have been ideal. And I'm probably biased, but I think she was significant enough to have made the cut as well--if only to show the flavour and the reach of Roman society that a woman like Zenobia could have come so close. At any rate, she is an ideal candidate for dramatization.

Anyway, it was a very interesting and informative session. I don't know that I'll necessarily be easier on adaptations now (I think I'm already pretty "easy" compared to many others!), but I do believe I'll be approaching them with more understanding for why choices are made.

Still, I'd like to see really historically accurate dramatizations done with great writing, big budget, and great actors solely with historians in mind for an audience. Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?

-Ancient Rome DVD (available only in the UK at the moment)
-Simon Baker's book (Amazon UK)

For the U.S.:

Monday, November 06, 2006

Robert Fagles' Aeneid

I got this very lovely article from a very lovely friend: Beloved Greek translator tries Latin epic

It's an interview with Fagles on his translation of the Aeneid, and it has a wonderful bit specifically on translating arma virumque cano. I think it's a must read for any student pondering translation choices.

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Reason #3464556728992 to learn Latin



This was Wednesday's Get Fuzzy, but I kept forgetting to post it. Lucky me! Because I don't have much to say today.

Reason #45748395967905789653 to learn Greek is so that you don't make movies of Elektra (the comic book character) with inappropriately used Greek letters. Ow. Painful.

And learn it early, because learning it later only means you get stuck playing catch up. Honestly, if you'd told me just two or three years ago that I'd be studying Greek tragedies in Greek in grad school right now, I would have laughed at you. I'm tempted to laugh now.

Saturday, November 04, 2006

300 and Troy the Musical (again)

So apparently, Gerard Butler is going to be in the movie 300 as Leonidas. The official website, including pictures and a production blog, can be found here. Although, I have to wonder that the cast list is still "coming soon" on the official website when IMDB already has it.

I'm not sure what to make of Gerard Butler as Leonidas. Last thing I saw him in was The Phantom of the Opera. That displeased me for reasons that are irrelevant to this blog. But since then, he's also been Beowulf (I know, why haven't I seen that yet?) Praefect Cassius Chaerea (and hey, Courtney Love as Caligula . . . I don't make this stuff up!).

Anyway, another tidbit I forgot to mention yesterday in my haste. Troy the Musical will also feature Nigel Spivey as Helenos. Now you have to be there, don't you?

Friday, November 03, 2006

Troy the Musical

No, it's not the Australian musical of the Trojan War, Paris, but Cambridge has its very own Troy the Musical which will be showing Nov 30-Dec 1. Proceeds go to Hand in Hand.

For more information, visit the website!

See? I told you it would be exciting! And now I must scurry off, because I'm on borrowed internet time . . .

Thursday, November 02, 2006

A few things I've been meaning to post

These are a few days old, just because I keep getting too busy to post what I want to post! And it doesn't help now that my internet is dead in my room. But I am making efforts to keep up with NaBloPoMo despite that obstacle.

Firstly, a 'Tower of Babel' translator has been made, basically allowing a person to mouth words in their own language and have them come out in another language. Considering how imperfect our current translating technology is (and I mean typed words), I'm skeptical about this. At any rate, it's certainly no real replacement for truly understanding another language. That said, did anyone else think of Star Trek's Universal Translator when they say this??? Or am I the only crazy one?? Because it's really the same thing. And I'd be willing to bet these guys were inspired by the UT (indirectly or otherwise).

Also, for the Latinists out there, here's Free Latin, a lovely resource of Latin games, software, and other aids for Latin teachers in particular.

And here's an article on on a newly discovered Aristotle bust that is being called the "best-preserved likeness ever found." I wonder about that. For all we know, all this arist got right was the hooked nose. I know, I'm far too skeptical about random things.

Lastly (and I'll be SHOCKED if you haven't read about this one yet, but just in case), the brothel at Pompeii has reopened! I was stupid and somehow "forgot" to take a peek last time I was there. Don't ask me why. But I guess I made up for it by actually getting to see the wonderful Pan & Goat statue. It's seriously one of my favourite statues ever. I have strange tastes. But it's so delightfully crafted! The expression on the goat's face is priceless.



Anyway, stay tuned for an exciting update tomorrow!

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

NaBloPoMo! And more.



Since I can't afford to do NaNoWriMo, I've decided to do NaBloPoMo. This means, for an entire month, you lucky readers will (probably) actually get daily updates from me!

There may be a kink in my evil plan come mid-month, because I'm not sure what kind of internet access I'll have during my short trip to London. But we shall see. I wonder if it counts if you write it on a certain day but don't get it online until the next day. hm.

Anyhow, my week of inactivity on the blog made me think that this might actually be a good idea. I feel remiss in my blogging duties. Yes, I realize how silly that thought sounds when one has papers to write and such, but blogging here is actually a nice way for me keep thinking and writing about Classics without getting too bogged down in my current research. It's a good but productive way to take a break.

And now for a fun across-the-pond story. So we finally got to noun declension in German today, and I'm looking at the list thinking that something just feels a little off. Then, I suddenly realize, oh, right, because accusatives butt in front of genitives on this side of the pond! I had heard stories of this but had sort of forgotten, considering I'm past stage that in both Latin and Greek. I'm quite glad, though, that I've done two languages past that stage already, otherwise I'd be liable to get confused. But now I'm at the point where I think less of lists and more of function, even in languages I'm just starting to learn. Thankfully!

Speaking of that, here's Monday's Get Fuzzy comic that made me laugh in about ten ways.









Lastly, over at In the Middle, Eileen Joy has posted about her new book and its modern political intersection. There is, of course, debate over whether or not historians should be involved in the modern world. But I have to wonder why we're studying history if not to learn from the past and, when it's suitable, to apply this knowledge to the present. That is, after all, what makes us living, conscious creatures. As they say--what have the Romans done for us? But also--how can we take that and improve? (I know, not as catchy. :-P)