caldrail

Todays post on my blog is something of an obituary. My computer, a veteran of many hardware changes, has finally succumbed to a nasty virus and expired yesterday aged nine. One point of view is that it's merely a machine, one that can - eventually - be replaced. Up to a point that's correct, assuming you can afford one that is equally reliable and capable over just short of a decade of hard use. The issue isn't the hardware however, but the software collected on it's hard drive. Over the course of nine years you collect files that become important to you. More than that, I have projects on that hard disk going back eight years, and even with the many backups I've made, reassem,bling the jigsaw is going to be a long job and pieces will be missing. I can imagine some people will be already muttering "Ahh diddums" and dismissing my own personal disaster as inconsequential compared to their own petty dramas. I have no choice but to regard that attitude as one displayed by petty people. Look at it like this. I've seen many natural disasters reported on television and for me, the result is always a two dimensional image of something I haven't experienced. I can sympathise with the victims of course, even offer a tiny donation to help if I feel so moved, but I'm comfortable in my own little world just like everyone else. My recent loss might not be quite on that sort of scale, but I do now have some appreciation of what the loss feels like. Ah but there's no comparison is there? Between the loss of loved ones and the homes they lived in, to the final gasp of consumer electronics. In a sense, there is. My work on the PC is essentially creative, apart from an occaisional game or episode of Star Trek to ease the boredom. Creative work is something to admire (or perhaps criticise) when it's finshed and on public display. Music, art, lierature - in a small way I have contributed such things to the public arena and had others bubbling in my semiconductor driven cauldron. These things don't always happen magically on the spur of the moment. All to often, it takes hours of work to approach the end you're trying for, and more hours of work when you fail to achieve it and begin again. It might even take years in some cases, and for me, that's a familiar obstacle to the ends I've sought. When your work is taken away by circumstance there's an emptiness inside you. It's a difficult void to fill. The inspiration you had to begin with might not be there any more. It's been my experience that the second attempt is never as fresh as the first. Starting again from scratch not only requires something of the original conception, inspiration, and desire, but also the discipline to wearily tread the same old path. To those who sneer at what I've written, to those malicious characters who've set out to destroy my work, I simply smile and remind myself that they've proven me a better man. Inspiration of the Week There was a guy on these forums some time ago who suffered a similar loss to mine, probably even a worse one. I offered a poem by Rudyard Kipling, written around the turn of the 19th/20th centuries, and still as applicable today. If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream -- and not make dreams your master; If you can think -- and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two imposters just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools; If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!" If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings -- nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -- Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And -- which is more -- you'll be a Man, my son! Well, perhaps I did breathe a word about my loss. Such is the modern world, where the internet has become something of a global meeting place and a venue for painting portraits of our otherwise insignificant lives. But then again, if it helps someone else cope with their own loss and 'petty drama', surely that is something good to come from it?

Despite the threat of heavy rain it looks like this years RIAT airshow at nearby Fairford will go ahead. It's a huge and popular event. Ticket admittance only this year just in case they need to reimburse everyone. I don't much like fariford as a flying display. The prospect of seeing lots of aircraft you can see every day of the week doesn't appeal, especially since you have to pay a heavy ticket entry and face aggravation on the roads getting in and out. But to anyone whio is going there, I hope the show is a good one. Musing About Museums I wrote this back in 2004, but given the the theme of this post I thought it was worth repeating... Yesterday I got the opportunity to visit the RAF Museum at Hendon. It was an interesting visit. To wander around and see these aeroplanes preserved is a curious thing when you realise that most of them were once considered state-of-the-art military hardware even if only for a short while, and that young men were asked to risk their lives operating these machines. Although the museum has to be congratulated for doing a great job in presenting their displays, I could not help but feel saddened by it. Why? The answer of course is that I visited a mausoleum. A graveyard. These aircraft were built to fly. Now they're stuffed and put behind glass like dead animals. Something important has been lost. The exhaust stains, paint rubbed away from edges, the sound of mechanics at work, the banter of competitive aviators, the reluctant wheeze of an aero engine starting up , the smell of hot oil, burnt metal, fuel , cordite, leather, grease, sweat, and that sudden growl and rumble of a flypast. There are places that preserve some of these things, like Shuttleworth, Duxford, or the Confederate Air Force (whatever they call it these days) by operating these old warbirds. Thats great... although I think the demands of showbusiness have sanitised it somewhat. But none of these preserve an essential quality. That elusive atmosphere of men about to go to war. That Spitfire Sound Many years ago I was out walking my dog along the old railway line. It was a pleasant day out in the countryside and the view across the valley was always a refreshing change from urban life. Then I heard an aeroplane behind me. A low, rich droning sound that immediately sparked some recognition. That's a Merlin engine! I was right. The restored spitfire flew directly ioverhead travelling west. It's funny how engine noise has a character. The moving parts and exhaust stack form a symphony all of their own. For small engines the sound is often nasty and high pitched. But those old aero engines are something else. It's an interesting fact that of the all the complaints about aircraft noise generated by those townies silly enough to move house next to an operating airfield, it's the World War Two vintage planes that get the least. Twenty eight litres of Rolls Royce Merlin has a satisfying rumble overlaid by a sandy propellor noise that really does stir something inside you. Well, at least it stirs something in me. That's what I want from an air display. To see and hear something I can't get anywhere else. For a few hours, I want to be in a past age and witness something fantastic - old aeroplanes flying again.

Of course there is our old friend, wikipedia... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_helmet

Can you trust statistics? Anyone who watches the tv news or reads the papers every morning is bombarded with facts and figures, most of which are selected to prove a point. As a schoolkid I once had a maths leasson that illustrated how the display of statistics can affect your perception of the result. The latest statistics about crime are in the news. Murders are down by 17% to a twenty year low, despite the shock horror stories about knife wielding kids stabbing crowds of teachers to death. What is on the rise, according to the figures quoted, are burglaries, shoplifting, and pickpocketing. There's an internet cafe not far from where I live. I don't go there too often, there are cheaper ways to log on, but last night the need to access the internet cropped up and the library was shut. The owner pointed me to a screen beside the aisle and during my hour of surfing the world wide web, one of the other customers nipped out fairly sharpish. Didn't think too much of it at the time. I did later when I discovered a five pound note had left the confines of my pocket. I'm beginning to trust statistics a whole lot more. Software of the Week My latest experiment in the world of computing is a utility I picked up from the internet. It's a freeware text editor specially designed for story writers, and whilst the interface is a little dry and unwelcoming, it does the job well enough. What I discovered by chance though is that it can access a speech engine, so I can have my work read back to me by a virtual Steven Hawking. Unfortunately for some reason "Microsoft Sam" doesn't record any sound on my system so I'll have to spare you a recording of the first two paragraphs of my epic science fiction tale... Hope you're not too disappointed...

Between the very early monarchy (Pre-Republic) and the late empire the Roman helmets were largely bowl shaped. The attic style, with its flat brow plate and crest, so often seen in tv and film, was ceremonial in nature and not generally used in battle. The problem then is detail. The style of neckguard, the presence of a raised lip along the brow, the cheekflaps, and decoration are all indicators. Greece & Rome At War by Peter Connolly has lots of full colour illustrations and includes a development chart.

Some years ago I wrote a piece on another site condemning the European Union as a dictatorship in the making. Not necessarily because it is at the moment, so to speak, but because its construction lays the groundwork for those those wishing to rule without accountability. I had said that Ireland would be forced to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon regardless of their previous vote - as the recent pressure on them demonstrates. There was also an interesting letter in the local paper this morning from a gentleman who clearly (and understandably) supports the UK Independence Party, in which he focuses attention on clauses in the Treaty of Lisbon that effectively remove any right to withdraw from its membership or rulings after a certain date. Thats a disquietening thought. I was pleased to seee however that German judges have ruled against the European Union, saying in effect that national member states have the right to decide their own affairs and that the European Union does not legally impose its own constitution over them. Sadly, the reality is that the power brokers in Europe want their dictatorship and will continue to build their political ideal at our expense. I don't remember who said it, but an observant man once declared that "All that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing". Here though is the problem. What can a good man do? If he attempts anything proactive, he runs the risk of breaking the law, or perhaps even worse, imposing his own views on people who don't agree with him. Europe has had some glaring examples of such political folly within living memory, and whether we agree with the European Union or not, it is happening here, only this time it's being set up behind closed doors so good men don't notice. More Town of the Week It seems our neighbouring town is getting tired of the media attention. The headline in the local paper this morning is Please Leave Us Alone. Of course the civic leaders are complaining about the invasive presence of media crews every time fallen servicemen are repatriated, but I also notice that not only our media-hungry Prime Minister is praising the town and it's people - David Cameron, his opposition rival, has done so too. Last Night Outside My Home I couldn't help it. The monotonous self imposed diet of mine has finally reached levels of culinary boredom I wouldn't wish on a prison inmate. I'd had enough. So, without wishing to spend much cash, I popped across the road to the kebab shop and paid for a box of chips (that's fries for anyone who who hasn't experienced english cuisine). Small change, and a welcome relief from bread and water. I was about to cross the road when two cars trundled down the hill, otherwise empty of traffic at that late hour, at slow speed. The car behind carried two young ladies, and the driver blasted her horn at the car blocking her way. I see. It's after dark, the horn is being used abusively, and she's driving too close to the car in front. She stayed two feet behind the other car all the way down the hill. Why didn't she simply overtake? It was safe to do so even at legal road speeds. No, that wasn't good enough. She wanted the car in front to move out of her way. What an attitude!

Is it just me, or is there a change in the way our conflict in Afghanistan is being reported? The sad loss of eight soldiers in one day is something very revealing about modern warfare and our perception of combat. On the one hand, there are persistent calls for our troops to receive the equipment they so badly need. On the other, politicians are bemused and tell us this equipment is there. Further, an army spokesman said very clearly to a suspicious reporter that the army had the equipment they needed. More importantly, he stressed that the types of equipment issued meet their needs. We now see operations in Afghanistan in terms of protection. No-one likes to hear that our boys have been killed, but the perception of the public is that somehow they can be made invulnerable by armour, both vehicle and personal, or perhaps that overwhelming firepower and ordnance is enough to keep an enemy at bay. The reality of the battle out there, as suggested by the army spokesman, is that you can have too much protection. A study of military history shows the arms race making cycles between light fast-moving troops and heavily armoured crustaceans. The peculiar thing is armour reaches a point where it becomes an encumbrance, and no longer protects the soldier in the expected way. That is what our modern army draws attention to. However good kevlar jackets or ceramic plates may be at stopping bullets, they don't protect absolutely, and remain very heavy for a soldier already loaded with substantial amounts of ammunition and sundry items. Instead, the army spokesman spoke of the need for soldiers to remain hidden. If the enemy doesn't see you, he doesn't shoot you. That after all, is why the Taliban have survived for so long. Town of the Week Wootton Bassett isn't far from where I live, and also happens to be the nearest town to Lyneham Airbase, where the bodies of the dead soldiers are returned to home soil. With the untimely death of eight soldiers, once again the people of Wootton line up along the street and honour the funeral procession. Despite my misgivings about media representation, you do sense a genuine emotion from the people seeing so many military coffins passing their way. The thing is, I also note that the deaths have been accentuated. A tragic event, countered by the story of sacrifice by one soldier shot while attempting to rescue a wounded comrade, but one that has received an extraordinary coverage considering the almost regular bylines of another death in Afghanistan that have scrolled across our news programs since the conflict began. It is of course war - armed violence - and inevitably there are casualties. I'm not heartless. My thoughts go to the families and friends of the fallen. Yet in the past this sort of event has been portrayed as a reason to pull out, as if casualties in warfare are unpalatable at all, surely a reflection on modern values. This recent reporting marks a change. It supports the military efforts of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the pursuit of their duty. No bad thing, provided it doesn't become jingoistic, yet I sense a political move behind it. How better to avoid criticism before the polls than to project the soldiers in such a manner? That our servicemen deserve our respect isn't the issue. It's the creation of a media bandwagon with which to ride out a looming election that bothers me.

Did they or did they not vote on political issues? Your question then is not whether the Roman Consitution was democratic, but to what extent it was. Some might argue that our modern democracies only pay lip service to the concept. So therefore what Polybius points out is not the existence of democracy, but a comparison with the greek-inspired ideal. I'm still suprised that people see recruits joining the legions to enjoy their politcal rights. There isn't any such connection in Roman society. In the Republic, a person was entitled to volunteer because his politcal rights existed. In the empire, it was a job with good health care, retirement perks, and the potetial to add wealth. The political power of the legion is limited to threat of violence or the influence of its commander. However, the exercise of that power is ethically borderline and technically mutiny against the Senate and the people of Rome. Since an individual joining a legion has no choice but to obey orders or follow the crowd, how could he exercise his political will within such a restrictive military organisation?

I can imagine my mother enthusing about this stuff too (no inference intended A!). Nothing wrong with it at all, if that's the sort of music performance that appeals to you, but for me it's all a little sanitised and sugary. I'll stick with rock music

An interesting statement. Was it indeed the case that the poorest classes of Rome sought political influence by service in the Legions? The republican armies, prior to the Reforms of Marius in 106BC were essentially a citizen militia, raised annually or at the most for the duration of a campaign. They did so because service to Rome was both expected and respected. Not all volunteers were chosen for service, and not all the chosen always served. Much depended on circumstance. The democratic institutions of ancient Rome were far reaching and Polybius describes them ably, although we should be aware that he does so without going into intricate detail as he says himself. Polybius makes the point that the lower classes were well represented, that they had a part to play in government, and clearly the Roman public were not entirely disatisfied with the organisation of the state even though at times they had gripes over its policies. The post-Marian legions were very different, with a more regimented order of battle and service conditions lasting as much as twenty five years. The real motive for joining the legions during this period was to escape poverty. The legions offered a living, if a somewhat risky one, with decent medical care and substantial perks for serving soldiers, not to mention a primitive pension scheme and grants of land on retirement. Should conflict break out, it was expected that Roman troops would loot and pillage enemy towns when the opportunity arose. Their commanders, whilst keen to ensure a minimal standard of discipline and behaviour, were well aware of the nature of their men and regarded their bloody looting after a siege and assault as just punishment upon the defeated. It is also true that Roman soldiers were not averse to theft from the general public. The image of imperial troops marching on Rome with a general determined to be emperor is perhaps misleading. Whilst the rank and file were sometimes devoted to their generals and wished to see them on the throne as emperor, they did so for selfish motives rather than the good of the plebeian classes as a whole. In the late empire the political unity of Rome begins to fragment as taxation rises and the emperors turn to displays of magnificence to retain their authority instead of relying on traditional status. Even then, the plebs of Rome did not rise up in indignation as we might expect of modern populations, but instead simply withdrew from Roman administration. The late armies were different' The old larger independent legions were a thing of the past, undoubtedly a good thing if you happen unsure of power, and the introduction of almost pyramidical armies composed of smaller legions as regimental formations meant that command of these troops was better controlled politically. Whereas the Principate had relied on division of military strength between individuals to retain a balance of internal power (a process that failed as we have seen) in much the same way as the traditional division of levies between two consuls in Republican times, the Dominate preferred a smaller number of replaceable generals commanding armies much closer to the pattern we understand of our modern day. Noticeably however, there is a great deal of difference in the performance of troops in these late armies. Vegetius moans about their poor standards, and Ammianus Marcellinus tells us that fresh recruits were better motivated at the time of Adrianople. He also mentioned that the Emperor valens stayed at Melanthia after leaving Constantinople making frequent speeches to persuade his army to go on campaign at all. The discontent of the common soldier of this time is mentioned by other historians - Zosimus provides us with a damning description though perhaps that can be forgiven for being written a century or two after the event. Nonetheless, despite this lack of military will, there is no popular uprising. Any involvement of the legions in political change is merely one of direct presence in events, and then usually led by ambitious and charismatic generals as opposed to the will of the common soldiery whose goodwill was often manipulated by crafty politicians. It worth pointing out that Roman generals were politcal appointees, not necessarily chosen for their abaility to lead armies, but their influence within the ruling classes. What we should see therefore is a state with a carefully arranged balance of influence between the social classes that allowed the prerogatives of the high-born, and permitted the say of those of lower station. There was no revolution aimed at removing these institutions during the course of Rome's 1200 year reign as the seat of power, rather that the person at the helm be replaced for someone more convenient to those who were not satisified - which was usually a minority such as a legion or two. Some might point to Spartacus as the leader of a true working class rebellion. This is of course modern myth making. The identification between marxist principles and the campaigns of Spartacus are obvious, but inherently flawed. Spartacus did not revolt to lead the common people to freedom - he escaped a death in a violent spectacle in the arena for his own survival and enrichment as a bandit, a life he already had experience of. That many of the common folk rallied to his cause shouldn't suprise either. Many were slaves escaped harsh and cruel treatment in the same way that slave revolts had already ocurred in Sicily. The revolt of Spartacus was, in effect, a local revolt that gathered strength like a snowball. More importantly, Spartacus never attempted to establish an alternative Roman state. He merely escaped the one that was set to punish him for his banditry and then attempted to profit from the hordes that saw him as an easier life. In short, the common folk of Roman society had enough institutional say. In later periods, they felt less need to express it, bought off with free food and entertainment. When the power of Rome faded in the west, the common folk turned their backs and tried to manage their own affairs.

One of the changes in lifestyle enforced by the lack of motor transport has been my shopping habits. Rather than load up a car boot with my weekly needs I must now carry stuff home manually, so I shop lightly and more often. I pop in for odds and ends almost every day now. yesterday it was to restock my supply of soft drinks, which I can obtain at a bargain price, plus the advantage of getting an arms, shoulder, and legs work out as I climb the hill laden with plastic bottles filled with liquified sugar. The level of service has declined a little. The problem isn't really the staff who cheerily assist even the worst whingers known to mankind. It's the issue of plastic bags. The government, rightly or wrongly, has decided we must use less, and does all sorts of things to encourage us to bring our own bags. Do they really think I'm going to go about my business with two orange Sainsbury's plastic bags stuffed into my pocket? Unfortunately, the need to use less of them means that the supermarket checkout assistants never fill your bags for you. They just ask if you're using you're own and if not, throw a few at you to get on with. The lady at the checkout till made her requisite greeting and said "You need two bags with those don't you?" I was stunned. Yes, that's right. I do. You're getting good at this. "Oh" She replied with a gracious smile, "I've seen you packing those bottles before. Always two to a bag." Well done. If only her colleagues were as observant. Especially since I've been shopping there for six years now. Greeting of the Evening With my window open to the street below I hear all the people walking past on their way from pub to club to shrub. Usually it's a bunch of lads in the midst of a singing contest, but last night a young lady shouted hello. How very sweet of her. I should mention that her parents really ought to have told her that you shouldn't talk to strangers, but I guess being known to everyone is the price you pay for being officially famous. Still, at least she was polite and didn't mock or denounce my character. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. Well what else did you expect me to give her? Babies? Am I supposed to rush downstairs and chase her along the street declaring undying love? I perform music for the general public you know. I leave the demonstrations of reproductive behaviour to my neighbours... Today We Look Through... The Square Window My neighbours across the road aren't what you'd call shy. They like to leave the curtains open when engaged in certain adult activities more usually performed in private. I caught a glimpse of their sex lives last night when I opened the window to let some fresh air in. I'm sure they enjoy a rich and fulfilling intimate relationship, but it looked dreadfully dull from my vantage point. Well its no good complaining. If you don't want me to see, close the effing curtains you wally.

The main cause of the reforms was the personal experience of Marius while consul. Unable to raise a legion organised according to the traditional pattern by the lack of veterans available to him, he simply organised a basic legion armed more or less uniformly with swords as if they were all Principes. He found it a more convenient arrangement that simplified training, as he realises that only one training schedule was needed, that a uniform standard of training could be applied to all legions instead of the inconsistent tarining provided ordinarily, and that other legions were already being raised and treated in this manner increasingly. The lack of performance was of no direct concern - that could could be remedied by one means or another in the Roman tradition, and the performance of their troops had varied over time anyhow - something Marius would have been keenly aware of. Although the current standard wasn't the issue, he saw that an improvement could be made to the legions generally instead by employing professional soldiers rather than annually and sometimes hastily raised levies.

You might be forgiven for thinking I live in the past. After all, I do talk about my career in music a lot and naturally the ignorance of those who haven't the talent or inclination to risk all for fame annoys me a great deal. But all these reminisences aren't really the point. I do live in the past, just not the past you might expect. Let me explain. In our modern world, we live according to timetables. The workplace dominates our daily schedule, but domestic and social issues often force regular activity as a matter of course. We even entertain ourselves according to schedules too. Our lives are essentially gridlocked into a regulated urban enviroment. This stems from the days of the industrial revolution. Mill owners paid their employees by the hour for the first time in human history, with strict adherence to the clock as a tool of authority. This came as quite a shock to the average worker at first. Prior to the industrial revolution people got out of bed when they darn well chose to, governed by the rising and falling of the sun, the changing of the seasons, and whether there was anyone around with a big stick. Does this sound familiar? It should do. Welcome to the world of the unemployed. Although I like to retain a routine as much as possible - we are creatures of habit - I have nonetheless reverted to some extent to the mindset of those pastoral days in our past, when life was at a slower pace. The pace of my life is almost stationary these days. I feel like a tv character, stood in front of the camera whilst the busy street scene unfolds at fast forward, people buzzing around like flies, clouds rushing overhead. I move only to avoid a snail sliding down the pavement on his slimey way. Watch where you're going, you maniac! Yesterday morning I woke from my slumber. The sunshine was evident from the bright glow through the curtains. Being so used to a fixed routine I automatically got out of bed, got dressed, got washed, got brushed, and went about my business totally unaware I'd awoken four hours early. Failure of the Week The list of recent failures of domestic and electronic appliances in my ome over the last month has become impressive. My computer, my keyboard, my fridge, and now my gas boiler (the reason I logged on late this morning). The claims advisor asked me how I was doing when I sat down to sign on. I gave her a woeful tale of endless stress and expensive repairs. She nodded, "Yes my cooker doesn't work either" She said. Talking about living in the past, if this sort of thing carries on I'll be burning twigs to keep warm this winter, agonising over whether I should finally succumb to hunger and eat my last turnip. On the other hand, I could just make a phone call. Oh hi... I have a gas boiler that's not working. The display says... "Sorry mate, but we don't work for your letting agent no more. You'll have to phone their office" Oh... Right... So it isn't dangerous then? Oh... He's hung up... So later the gas fitter turned up and quickly diagnosed my ailing boiler as suffering from lack of gas. Some idiot with a dodgy brain cell had turned the supply off overnight for a laugh. Clearly that person needs a busier lifestyle.

A lot depends on how you see the Roman Republic. The much illustrated excess of the Principate colours our view of Roman society as a whole (I've been just as guilty - MPC has whacked me over the head a few times regarding this point ) but somewhat unfairly. Now whereas some people regard the Principate as a turning point in Roman culture underpinned by the change in administration toward an autocratic style that would evolve toward monarchial emperors in the late empire, and expressed by the raw and decadent lifestyles of the Pax Romana, But I don't believe this was a sudden change. Instead, the evolution of Roman culture took place from it's lowest point, the disaster of Cannae. Before that, Rome was identifiably a more moral place. I doubt it was a democratic paradise at all, but the Hannabalic War had squandered much of Rome's agricultural produce and indeed no small quota of the available workforce. An estimate of one seventh of working age males had died. Once the Romans had forced the fight into Africa by threatening Carthage directly, there was at last an opportunity, following eighteen years of campaigning, to restore Rome's economic strength. Evidently they succeeded, and by the time Polybius writes his history around 150BC he clearly sees Rome as a vigorous nation and one to be proud of in terms of political structure representing the needs of all voting classes (slaves of course need not apply). It's entirely plausible that the Senate generally agreed with those sentiments. They had restored Rome's fortunes from the brink of disaster and had grown confident enough to look at their punic rivals was some scorn, as a nation that had withered from its great past, and one that merely stood as an obstacle to Roman peace. It is therefore, the weakening of Carthage that encourages Rome and it's growing confidence to embark on a campaign to end their rival permanently - to end the long running rivalry for good. In doing so, the rival sea-power had been extinguished. In terms of politics then Rome had reached the point at which it could dominate the Mediterranean. Having fought a bitter series of wars to survive it no doubt felt justified in doing so. Further, the warfare of ancient times was profitable unlike the need for expensive technologically advanced forces of modern times. There was wealth and status to be had from large scale conquest. Was it inevitable that Rome would become the Principate. Interestingly, Polybius said yes, it was inevitable, a step in the evolution of a state and he wrote that a century or more before Augustus assumed the power behind the Senate. Certainly the temptations of becoming a conquest state were huge and without the restrictions of a balance of power, what reason had Rome for not evolving that way? It should be remembered however that the generals and their private armies of the late Republic were not entirely vassals of the state - they were acting on their own initiative for political gain at the expense of the state if need be. I have similar leanings to Polybius regarding this question. It was inevitable that Rome would change as a society at some point. Whether the Principate was inevitable or not is harder to justify. Rome was a competitive culture and with increasing wealth and status to be had from military ventures, the power struggles would have been difficult to prevent, especially by a Senate that had grown more self-serving and lazy on success. The Principate may not have been inevitable therefore, but certainly it flourished in conditions that favoured it.

Now that I've paid out a wad of cash for the keyboard repair I've rediscovered some enthusiasm for playing it. For me, th keyboard was always secondary. It seemed a passive instrument because it was fixed in place, which is a strange attitude considering I was a drummer by trade and drum kits are even more static. I think though it had to do with energy. As a young person I had all the same youthful angst and frustrated anger that everyone else has at that age. Therefore I used to thrash out power chords on an electric guitar or traumatise audiences with assault and battery on the drums. Now that I'm a little older and wiser... Oh all right, now that I'm much older and just as much an idiot as I ever was, I've come to realise just how versatile modern polysynths and sequencers can be. If you know what to do. I don't, so I've delved into those arcane manuals that I never took much notice of twenty years ago. The woman across the road was busy in domestic chores and from her vantage point in the kitchen window spotted me about to lay down some tracks in my makeshift recording studio. She looked genuinely taken aback. Where music is concerned, talent will out, but practice makes perfect. I was practising my keyboard playing well into the night. Thing is though eventually your self discipline erodes after constant repitition and you get an urge to experiment, to push your boundaries, to try something new. That happened, and I ended up playing an hour long freeform jazz funk jam to my virtual ryrthmn section. Jazz funk? I can't believe I've sunk to such depths... My evolution as a musician is complete. Having drained all my inspiration and desire to express myself musically, I wandered to the back of the house and opened the window to let some fresh air in. It was raining. The sound was genuinely pleasant and relaxing after bombarding my ears with brash electronic tones and textures for hours on end. With the weather keeping louts indoors, it was a calm and peaceful evening. Okay, that's enough of being at one with the universe.... Back to the keyboard, I've had a killer idea for a song... What's New Through The Catflap? Jaguar have just unveiled their latest humdinger golf caddy. Just thought you might like to know, in case their star-studded press launch has escaped your attention. No, I don't want one either. New Religion Of The Week The aftermath of Michael Jackson goes on. I understand a chinese group are going to create a replica of his Neverland home to commemorate his career. I wonder... Will they charge money at the door?

The last twenty hours have been pretty much a treadmill of non-eventfull tedium. I hope you'll understand therefore if I delve into my stars for today in the hope that commercial journalism will reveal my future! If I have one, that is, I am unemployed in the midst of the worst recession since World War Two. Unfortunately my daily horoscope merely tells me that my difficulties with technical details shouldn't stop me from pursuing my vision. That's an ethereal pep talk if ever I've heard one. Oh hang on, what's this? What is my Moon Sign? Just answer all these simple drop-down choices and the secrets of the lunar influence will be mine... Oh all right then... Moon Sign For Dummies It turns out my moon sign is Gemnini. You gotta love this description... On the day you were born, the Moon was in Gemini. There is no puzzle you can't work your agile brain around and no problem you can't talk your way out of. Emotionally, your feelings flit around, and you are a real chameleon when it comes to how you feel about yourself, your friends and lovers, and life in general. You are very flirtatious when it comes to your love life, because you really love interacting with everyone you come in contact with. Interacting? Lets not get too carried away, hmm? Forecasts of the Week The other forecasts are of course commercial. For a small monthly fee I can find out about... Love Tarot - A lot of flirting expected perchance? Are We Compatible? - This is a bit pointless unless your chat up line revolves around the concept of asking what star sign she is. Summer Forecast - Mostly sunny but occaisional wet moments? I don't need to pay for that. Karma Love Report - Err... Has someone been videotaping me?... The Wheel of Fortune - More dole payments followed by bills in the post? Here today, gone tomorrow. Figured this one out for myself. Fortune Cookie - I thought you got these for free with biscuits in resteraunts? The Queen of Hearts - Yes I'm serious. Besides being a famous celebrity depicted on playing cards and reprints of Alice in Wonderland, she now works as an agony aunt. For a fee of course. The lady has to earn a living after all. The Crystall Ball - With this option I can find out out what my intended lurve partner is thinking (though it warns me not to get hypnotised - good advice). What's the point of this? Clearly it's intended for young girls but these days they don't agonise for long without forcing the issue with a mobile phone. Soul Mate Tarot - Find out how well you mesh with your soul mate... Well, assuming you have one, surely you already know? What a pointless excuse to extract cash. Astrological Spread - Not something for your sandwiches apparently, but an annual forecast of things to come. I already know that, Gordon Brown is still Prime Minister. Yes/No Tarot - Am I at a crossroads in my life? Am I in need of an answer to a sudden and fearful dilemma? My dilemma is shall I pay for this service?.... I think I'll make a decision and not pay for a web program to do that for me. African Bonecast - I'm not kidding. Rediscover the source of our divinatory practises...It seems our ancient ancestors in the Eden of the African Bush regularly logged on the internet and decided who would be ostracised for having the evil eye. I Ching - Discover what the ancient chinese oracle has to say about facing your future with wisdom and serenity... There used to be a time when people walked barefoot on rice paper for years to get stuff like this. Wisdom?.. Not paying for it. Serenity?... Not worrying about it. Your Chinese Portrait - Do I want a different point of view on the dynamics of my personality? Do I want to expand my self knowledge? Actually, I want to expand my bank balance, if that's okay with confucius. I'm running out of patience. There's pages of this stuff. Tree of life, Zodiac Love Cards, Celtic Cross Love, The Runes, Gold Tarot, Eye of Horus, Minchiate Tarot, Career Tarot, Celtic Cross Career, Magic Love Tarot, and last but not least, your 2009 horoscope. Just in case you have any money left.

Image is so important isn't it? We all manufacture an outward mask and appearance to some extent, in order to project ourselves to the rest of the world. Yet human society is a sort of analog of the natural world. Our very behaviour is moulded by primeval instinct and we adjust our appearance in these displays of shape and colour to communicate to others of our species what sort of individual we are. I came out of Lawns and turned along the main road through Swindons Old Town. For some reason or other a number of office types were waiting outside the bank, replendent in suits and business attire. The men stood in twos and threes, engaged in serious discussions about life, the universe, and promotion prospects. The women sat together over a mobile phone, busy being girly despite the expensive fashions, hairdo's, and makeup. It was a scene worthy of a David Attenborough commentary. Unfortunately you'll have to make do with mine. It just so happened I wasn't in any particular need to be fashionable yesterday. Instead, it was a mish-mash of cheap streetwear and military surplus, for that rebellious individualism that is very much part of me. The dominant males of the office world lined up along the street passed scornful looks at my garish fashion sense. You could sense the arrogance of individuals who were psychologically empowered by membership of their own competitive and wealthy tribe. It seems my value as a human being is being judged on an outward appearance. That's a common idea, that you should dress for success. It's all about conformity and display, very primitive instincts that have found new modes of expression in modern culture as fashion and the working ethic. As a more enlightened member of the human species (albeit a somewhat scruffier one) I prefer not to associate with such self important peacocks. Of course they wouldn't associate with me either so there is no conflict of interest there. And it wasn't just the men. The women barely looked up and those that did wrinkled their noses in distaste. Some would say that was only to be expected given my appearance. I would say it was only to be expected given their tribal values. Even if I dressed in the same clothes, my differences in attitude and demeanour would soon have me labelled as an inferior specimen in their eyes. To me that doesn't matter, because I don't see them as superior or worthy of respect. You know, I don't like that Jesus and his christian legacy for similar reasons, but I will say this about the man. He was right about wealth. For all its comfort and potential it doesn't make you a better man. Having lost a comfortable lifestyle, I can see the difference. They of course would sneer or raise their eyebrows at the thought that being wealthy makes them no better, given the access to luxury their wallets provide, but in what way are these arrogant office types any different from the drunken oiks I hear outside in the street on a saturday night? None whatsoever. Apart from a tailor made suit. Music Critic of the Week Relaxing in my front room watching endless repeats of Star Trek on tv yesterday afternoon I heard a voice out in the street. "Oh look, now he thinks he can play a keyboard." He said. Spot on mate. However, if you'd been watching, you might have noticed I'd been playing keyboards since 1987. I even played a few gigs with a synthesizer perched awkwardly on the side of my drum kit. Of course, that may well have been before you were born.

Yesterday there were three women in my life. Now before you mock or pour scorn on that innocent statement, sex was not involved... Now before you click onto another webpage is bored disillusionment and contempt at my failure to have wild passionate sex at every possible opportunity and boast about it afterward, I would like to point out that it is possible to have a warm, fulfilling, rewarding, platonic relationship with the opposite sex. It's just a little less expensive and genuinely less exciting. It goes a bit like this. The first lady I ecountered yesterday was at the Job Centre. She very kindly went to get another jobsearch booklet for me and smiled sweetly when I thanked her and left. She didn't try to chat me up, or fish for compliments, or even attempt to get a date from me. And you're disappointed? The second woman in my life was a dog owner I encountered in Lawns Wood, by the bottom lake. Her dog had decided to go for the World Canine Endurance Swimming Record (I was a witness, Guiness Book Of Records please note) and paddled furiously after a flock of ducks calmly swimming away in no great urgency to avoid a homicidal (should that be duckacidal?) dog in the water. I have never seen a dog so deliriously happy at swimming. It was literally wagging it's tail as it swam, and every time the owner called to her dog to please come back to dry land it turned the other way and made another fruitless attempt on duck's lives. I had a little chat to the lady whilst she waited for her dog to get tired. Oh come on. You really think the dog was going to listen to me? The third woman was a fresh faced young lass newly arrived from Birmingham in a vain attempt to get me to sign up for charitable contributions for deaf kids. A worthy cause, but since I live on charity for the time being, I couldn't help her. She had come a long way for that conversation on my doorstep so we had a pleasant little chat before she realised she had thirty seven other addresses to cover that evening. Now some of you might believe I missed some opportunities in these encounters. Possibly. But then again, I hadn't shaved. Without those expensive gel bottles and those curiously effete body sprays I was helplessly unsexy, a fact made worse because I don't own or use the latest top secret razor, with sixteen cutting edges and microchip terrain following radar. Never mind because... Revelation about the Secret Life of Caldrail (of the week) Sorry, not telling you. It's a secret.

Today I thought I'd upload a few pics taken from my back window. Vistas of weather and early evening sunshine. I like them. I've Been Fired! My job searching course has now changed. Instead of two sessions a week of two hours each, I now have to wade through a single four hour marathon of trawling through endless internet job sites looking for jobs within reach. Given the average attention span of a human being past his teenage years is a maximum of twenty minutes, I think you can understand what an endurance trial that is. There are ways to avoid the ennui of constant job searching. One is a pleasant Slovakian woman - such ordinary pleasures are a welcome relief. The other is simply to act like an idiot. Now I don't necessarily mean go into some visual comedy routine - though I have done that - but simply to entertain yourself in ways you hadn't thought of. Amongst the offers on display on my computer monitor was an offer of a CV review. Well I've had plenty of those already, but this one picqued my interest. It came from a consultancy company who deal with people earning

He wanted to go back to the moon? Good grief, Vincent Lunardi was a selenite spy? What a revelation! Seriously though, I don't know what his motive was. Because the book is very rare and in extremely good condition for its age, it's protected in glass case and not available for reading. However, this link provides an entertaining insight into the man and his aerial adventure... http://www.printsgeorge.com/ArtEccles_Aeronauts4.htm

Man the Hunter must live by his instincts. The smallest detail of his enviroment can make the difference between life or death in the wild animal infested wilderness in which he survives by wits alone. The Swindon Library isn't exactly a wilderness, though you do get a few animals inhabiting the computer cubicles, and if I were honest the most deadly thing in there is a boring book. My primeval hunting instincts were aroused by the realisation that everything was quiet... Too quiet... And so it turned out to be. Having ascended the stairs to the hallowed halls of the second floor I discovered all the computers were down for scheduled maintenance. That was why no-one bothered to turn up. Good grief, who goes to a modern library to read books? Rare Books of the Week In fact, Swindon's main library does have some rare books on display in a glass case. One is an account of the first ever balloon flight in England, made by Vincent Lunardi in 1784 in front of a huge crowd. He was secretary to the Neapolitan Ambassador in Britain and one suspects he found his lucrative job incredibly boring. Either that or the Kingdom of Naples was attempting bomb London in a startlingly prophetic adventure. Had Lunardi also invented a bomb, we might well have been in trouble. Another is a suprisingly pristine copy of Jules Vernes first ever book, Five Weeks In A Balloon, published in 1863. One wonders where he got the inspiration. Of course five weeks is a long time to be stuck in a balloon with an Italian politician, so I guess Jules Verne spiced the story up a little and turned him into a mad dictator hell bent on taking over the world. It is interesting that James Bond was fighting the same kind of villain a century later. Double Oh Seven is of course the modern personification of Man the Hunter. And so literary evolution brings us full circle back to page one. Oh brilliant. That means someone is going to reinvent Harry Potter all over again...

A few weeks ago I had my keyboard in for repair. Now I have one that works, I decided it was time to invest in a stand for it. It isn't really for pose value at all, I'm more concerned about heaps of boxes all over the floor with long bundles of audio cables going back and forth. Far better, I think, to make my home a little safer by arranging to put my instrument to one side. I've been to the local music store about this twice already. They've been a little unwilling to supply me with a stand that meets my needs when there's a nice expensive one propped up against the wall. Despite the repeated promise from the salesperson that he'll ring me when he gets one in, I just know he's gambling that I'll get impatient. He was absolutely spot on. Having lost my patience with his 'wait and see' tactics, I nipped on the internet and found one that suits my purposes just fine for half the asking price of his. It's these little moments of smugness that make the world seem a better place. Irony of the Week There is of course someone else who wants to be smug other than the music salesman and myself. I find it incredible how far some people will stick their nose into my business. Have they got no life of their own to worry about? Usually I find this out because they want to annoy me by revealing that they know what I'm up to. This particular lady wants me summoned before a judge in a criminal court, charged with spending money I'm legally entitled to, minding my own business, and failing to demonstrate public depression over my circumstances. You see, for some people, unemployment is something that must resemble a jail sentence or they get upset at the apparent freedom to sit on my backside. It is ironic that not sitting on my backside is the entire reason she's noticed I'm doing something. So by sticking a spanner in my works, she can can feel superior, and if I'm not mistaken, smug as well. The great irony of course is that since I'm not doing anything remotely illegal it's entirely possible her actions will make me a good deal more smug than she is.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Caldrails Top Ten Show, where the latest hits are revealed to the unsuspecting audience.. Counting down to this weeks number one... 10 The Veronicas Untouched What a mess. A mix of this, that, something else, and I'm not sure if the band knew they were playing the wrong gig. 9 Dizzy Rascal Bonkers (Down 3 places) Can't say I ever liked Rap music. Can't honestly say I like this one, even if it does have a sense of humour and no-one gets shot in a drive-by. Stop buying it everyone. With a bit of luck it'll vanish from the charts altogether. 8 Daniel Merriweather Red (Down 1 place) An australian singing sensation no less. Well... He does have a good voice, and at least the A&R man found him something reasonably ballad-like to sing. 7 Pixie Lott Momma Do (Oh oh Oh oh ) (down 5 places) Blonde. Sort of a budget Britney Spears. Oh... Yes, the song. Bland. Sort of a budget Britney Spears song. 6 Agnes Release Me (down 2 places) "Pop Songs For Dummies" sold an extra copy I see. Madonna did all this years ago. Quite pleasant though. 5 Kiri Hilton Knock You Down Apparently this woman wrote songs for Britney Spears. I'd like to tell you more, but I've already forgotten this one. 4 Lady Gaga Paparazzi (up 4 places) Comes complete with an interesting video. Good melody, shame about the electropop. 3 Black Eyed Peas Boom Boom Pow Oh no. The sound keeps sticking. Must be a dodgy CD. 2 David Guetta & Kelly Rowland When Love Takes Over (last weeks No1) Now this one is a dance track but for some reason I actually liked it a little bit. No... I can't remember it. This Weeks Number One 1 Laroux Bulletproof (This weeks No1 and Laroux's first) Woah. Ugly. Couldn't the record company afford a stylist? Come back Gary Numan, all is forgiven. Career Move of the Week Forget playing it. Criticise it. Average earnings for critics are well above the national average for dole seekers. So pick up the phone now and change your life... I might as well face it. I've been watching too many adverts for professional training. On the other hand, perhaps when someone complains I'm not being fair to hard working musicians and producers, at least I'll be able to point to a certificate and say I'm qualified to criticise. That said, watching Beyonce in concert at LA was interesting. Pretty much all the glitz you'd expect from a high profile pop starlet who can fill stadiums with dance routines. Hard work I imagine. Funny thing is though, for all it's obvious composure and professionalism, the show left me feeling somewhat cold. Why? I think it was the autonomic nature of the show. It was so well rehearsed and performed, by Beyonce herself, her elasticated dancers, and the anonymous musicians exiled to the shadows at the back of the stage. The human element had been dialled out for fear of a mistake or blemish to mar the perfection of the evening. It didn't suprise me that she stopped the band at one point and demanded applause from the audience. There was simply nothing to get excited about. No drama, no emotion. Just switch on the tv and watch the show...

Right. Now for another glimpse into the daily life of Caldrail, or perhaps an in-depth shock expose of goings on in my local community, or failing that, a commentary on world events? Well I would... But I can't. My daily life isn't something I've gotten yet, as I was unpolitely reminded by yobboes in the street last night. The screams of party girls and the drunken demonstrations of manliness (as perceived by ape descended lifeforms) is of no suprise to regular readers of this blog and certainly not shocking if you're acquainted with the average working class Briton. As for world events, it's all gotten completely depressing. Browsing the headlines on the net just now tells me that North Korea has just launched seven more satellites into the Pacific, another African has hitched a ride on an airliners undercarriage and discovered how cold it gets at thirty five thousand feet, bits of airliner are being found everywhere, people are being found dead years after phoning a helpline, and basically there's a lot of shooting going on. That leaves me with a quandary... What do I write about today? The weather? It's warm and humid. Like yesterday. And the day before. And the day before that. And... Well okay, you get the message. It is summer after all. Just the right conditions for a ride in an open topped sports car! I know. What about cars? Surely some rare and exotic vehicle has cruised past leaving me envious and wishing I really was a rock supergod? Ahhh... Nope. Basically the most interesting thing over the last twenty four hours was having my job search reviewed and being told they couldn't think of anything else to write about me. Busker of the Week On the main shopping street through Swindons busy Saturday afternoon was that old guy, outside the card shop (as he always is), giving a bravura solo performance on his harmonica. He's blissfully happy. Sadly the shoppers grimace and wander past pretending not to notice him, apart from a small child who seems utterly entranced by this geriatric Pied Piper of Swindon. My worry is that this childs musical education is now forever distorted by his experience. Luckily the kid is too young to write an entry in his blog about it.

Dreams are funny things aren't they? They say your mind works things out at it's leisure during your slumber. Last nights big feature dream in widescreen imagery was me and someone else robbing a till from a shop. I can't remember the details of how this all started, but we went in, my colleague threatened the shopkeeper (I think he had a gun or something) while I stood there gormless until I realised I was supposed to take things from the till. Anyway, having committed this virtual and dastardly crime, we rushed out into the street where our yellow van and it's 'flower power' paint scheme waited across the street. I suggested we didn't drive it, but instead found a dark corner to hide in until the heat was off (you can sort of tell I don't commit crimes like this in real life). And the outcome of this sorry tale of criminal outrage?.... Never got there. The garage across the yard opened for business and I woke to the sound of wheel nuts being loosened. Well, if I've learned one thing from my sleepy fantasy, it's that I'm a really crap crook. Waving Goodbye To The Heat Is our current heatwave over? Weathermen predict cooler temperatures for the week ahead following a wave of thunderstorms crossing the West Country as I speak. Earler this morning the clouds were indeed heavy and grey. Now they're white and hazy. Have I missed the storms? Or more to the point, have the storms missed me? The End Is Nigh Recent reports suggest Britain could be suffering 100,000 new cases of Swine Flu every day by August. Well thats wiped out the population of Britain in two years. One does hope that the treatments are effective (especially as bogus tablets are now in circulation) and that the virus isn't in a bad mood. If it is, this could be my last blog entry ever. Assuming anyone out there is still alive to read it. What a nightmarish vision of the near future.... On the other, I suppose it is remotely possible that Mr Burnham was none too good at maths. Or using calculators. Or maybe he just dreamt those numbers up?