Ursus

I will be submitting a full review later, but short version: this book grew out of a set of papers submitted to a scholarly research conference and is NOT for a casual reader. However, it is still an interesting read provided you are sufficiently interested in comparative civilizations. While Rome and China had some appreciable differences, their histories up to about the 5th century are eerily similar.

Now that I think about it, I spent a $100 to confirm what I already more or less knew: that my ancestors were from Western Europe. Oh well, at least I now have the science to back up the family tree. :-) And you get neat facts like this: M343: Direct Descendants of Cro-Magnon Fast Facts Time of Emergence: Around 30,000 years ago Place of Origin: Western Europe Climate: Ice sheets continuing to creep down Northern Europe Estimated Number of Homo sapiens: Tools and Skills: Upper Paleolithic Around 30,000 years ago, a descendant of the clan making its way into Europe gave rise to marker M343, the defining marker of your haplogroup. You are a direct descendent of the people who dominated the human expansion into Europe, the Cro-Magnon. The Cro-Magnon are responsible for the famous cave paintings found in southern France. These spectacular paintings provide archaeological evidence that there was a sudden blossoming of artistic skills as your ancestors moved into Europe. Prior to this, artistic endeavors were mostly comprised of jewelry made of shell, bone, and ivory; primitive musical instruments; and stone carvings. The cave paintings of the Cro-Magnon depict animals like bison, deer, rhinoceroses, and horses, and natural events important to Paleolithic life such as spring molting, hunting, and pregnancy. The paintings are far more intricate, detailed, and colorful than anything seen prior to this period. Your ancestors knew how to make woven clothing using the natural fibers of plants, and had relatively advanced tools of stone, bone, and ivory. Their jewelry, carvings, and intricate, colorful cave paintings bear witness to the Cro-Magnons' advanced culture during the last glacial age.

https://genographic....phic/index.html For $100 American, you can trace one side of your family's genetic history (maternal or paternal if you are male, maternal if you are female). I sent in mine before Halloween and just got the results back. I am from Haplogroup R1b, M343. I am descended from Cro-Magnon man who went into western Europe 30,000 years ago. My genetic markers are most in common with people from southern England, Ireland and Spain. I shall be doing my maternal lineage next.

When I went through a Celtic phase a few years back, I looked far and wide for discussion fora on ancient Celtic Europe. I am afraid I didn't find anything ... the few Celtic forums I found were about modern Celtic nationalism (or else they were about some professional sports team in Boston). I think a better idea would be simply to start discussions or add to existing discussions on the Celtic/Germanic subforum here at UNRV.

Here is one on Ancient China: http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php? They actually make you take an exam after a certain point before you are allowed to be a full member. Talk about hardcore.

I remember someone from this forum tried to start something on Ancient Greece. I'm not sure how that turned out, or even what the link was. If you look through the archives you might find a link.

Life is stranger than fiction, sadly. A few years ago another Asian scientist created puppies that glow in the dark, by inserting a luminescent gene in them from some sea creature. This is all done for "science." But in 20 years I can see companies selling singing mice and glow-in-the-dark puppies to every kid in America for Christmas. Bioengieneered lifeforms for commercial use (and eventually military use). I'm not a Luddite, but I think this sort of thing is going to have dire consequences down the line.

Japanese scientists genetically engineer a rodent that tweets like a bird: http://www.news.com.au/technology/sci-tech/scientists-breed-a-mouse-that-sings/story-fn5fsgyc-1225974667195 I have a very bad feeling about genetic manipulation ....

If the Romans invented fruitcake, I will to have to reassess their legacy.

I picked that up when I was 23. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. After the first 3 chapters I decided the book and I were not going to get along at all. I still don't see what all the fuss about Tolkien is about.

A year later, have you completed your 2010 goals? What are your goals for 2011? (If I had goals for 2010 they got lost by having to learn a new career. My personal goals for 2011 is to advance further in work with more technical courses. I have no Romanophile related goals other than to read any especially interesting books that may come out).

I watched "Curse of the Golden Flower" a Chinese language movie. Beautiful film, but the plot is weird.

The standard textbook for Latin seems to be Wheelock. I found it boring as all hell. If I were in a class where the professor used Wheelock, I'd have to drop out, too. Unless you really, really enjoy reading Cicero's dry lectures, I would not touch it with a ten foot pilus. I had more success with other textbooks, principally Latin Via Ovid.

If I remember correctly, Brumalia was a late Roman, Eastern Roman resurrection of the Lesser Dionysia of Ancient Athens. But however it is, a holiday of theater productions and merry phallic processions would be a nice counterpoint to the current season. And to throw in yet another holiday, Plutarch mentions that in Ancient Egypt there was a festival to Isis on the Winter Solstice. Something about leading a bull around her temple 7 times.

Goldsworthy's bio is long and very detailed. It was criticized for not offering a novel reassessment of Caesar, but the author himself stated that was not really what he was trying to do with his book. Where his bio really shines is the military history side of it, a large chunk being devoted to the Gallic Wars. If your book focuses on the Galic Wars, then this is probably the bio for you. However, Goldworthy offers no opinions on how Caesar would have handled a dragon.

I celebrate Festivus.

Yep, but ironically I haven't gotten to watch any of it myself. Doesn't sound like I am missing much, though.

It's a prequel. The lead actor is not returning because of medical reasons, and so this is what we get till the producers figure out whom to replace him.

I probably won't get to see this till it comes out on DVD 6 months later. But still, I am excited.

Nat Geo ranks the top 10 weirdest newly discovered biological species, including the Yoda bat, the SImpsons Frog, and the terrifying squidworm: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/12/photogalleries/101207-top-ten-weird-new-animals-2010/

National Geographic "When Rome Ruled" Sunday, December 12, 8pm http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/when-rome-ruled/all/Overview

You might want to ask the UK types, but I think a large map of Roman Britannia with all the important towns, forts, battles, and religious centers might go over well there. Edit: and seeing the poll after I initially posted, that's what I voted for.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Parthia Strangers in a Strange Land The Eagle and the Dragon The Dragon Legion And my personal favorite: Scutum and Silk

This is a travesty. Even if (so I hear) a lot of Italians don't care about the ancient Roman legacy, it seems to me the economic benefit of a world renowned tourist attraction would prompt better care than this.