Gaius Octavius

An enemy surging into close gaps, would be subject to 'flank' attack, as Hannibal's elephants were at Zama.

Somewhere, (I think), an almost complete standard was recently unearthed. Teutoborg?

Evan Hadingham is senior science editor of PBS's NOVA series. The NOVA program "Secrets of the Parthenon" airs January 29, 2008. 'Nova' will probably re-air the program next week on WLIW. If anyone finds it on the internet, please advise. ---------------------------------- "Perhaps none of the Parthenon's mysteries stirs more debate than the gentle curves and inclinations engineered throughout much of its design. There is hardly a straight line to be found in the temple. Experts argue over whether these refinements were added to counter optical illusions. The eye can be tricked, for instance, into seeing an unsightly sag in flat floors built under a perched roof like the Parthenon's. Possibly to correct this effect, the Athenians laid out the Parthenon's base so that the 228-by-101-foot floor bulges slightly toward the middle, curving gradually upward between 4 and 4 1/2 inches on its left and right sides, and 2 1/2 inches on its front and back. One theory holds that this slight upward bulge was built simply to drain rainwater away from the temple's interior. But that fails to explain why the same curving profile is repeated not only in the floor but in the entablature above the columns and in the (invisible) buried foundations. This graceful curve was clearly fundamental to the overall appearance and planning of the Parthenon. And then there are the columns, which the Athenians built so that they bulged slightly outward at the center. This swelling was termed entasis, or tension, by Greek writers, perhaps because it makes the columns seem as if they are clenching, like a human muscle, under the weight of their load. Again, some scholars have long speculated that this design might compensate for another trick of the eye, since a row of tall, perfectly straight-sided pillars can appear thinner at the middle than at the ends." Taken from the above article. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Then there are people who claim that the pyramids, and Incan, Aztec, and Mayan edifices were constructed by 'aliens'!

Assuming that they still exist, wouldn't parish records tell who, (which classes), tended to die as a result of 'plague'?

If only the most of the rest of the Forum knew what you are going on about!

Kosmic, and the Sarmatians?

Dr. Sir Humbert Wexford-Lorick of the Hookermann Institute, in Indiana, has a working theory that the climate is not changing, rather the mean temperature of humans has decreased by 0.7786 degrees Fahrenheit, thus making it feel hotter than it actually is. This is a result of an over supply of 'free radicals' which must, (according to his theory), be completely eliminated. See: http://www.healingdaily.com/conditions/free-radicals.htm

Were there any naval stations in the Maeotis or the Caspian Sea? If I recall correctly, there was a Roman fort on the coast of Yemen, if so, was this to support a naval station there?

Assume for a moment that during Tiberius' reign, an Asiatic enemy used its fleet to attack the Empire from the Black Sea. Would Augustus be blamed for not providing a navy, (from the left overs of Actium at least), to protect the Empire?

Can't think of one. Can only say that gold notes were discounted in many instances, and on occasion, bankers were known to print up a few more notes than they had backing for.

tflex, it has been a long time since I have seen so lucid, factual, and cogent an exposition. I congratulate you. You would win an Oxford debate hands down. Who is paying those liberal, left wing, commie, hippie, tree hugging, perverted, environmentalists? They must be exposed for what they are. Tobaccos' doctors had it all right. That above mentioned crowd is trying to take away the pleasure of smoking. 'More doctors smoke Camels, than any other brand!" It's not pollution and smoking that causes cancer and emphysema - it's ones life style. When a hunk of ice the size of Rhode Island rips off of the Ross Ice Shelf, Saudi Arabia can tow it to one of their ports for fresh water. When glaciers melt away, the oceans will become less saline. Solves the fresh water problem. We all know that one pop from Pinatubo, Krakatoa, Mt. St. Helens, or Pele, causes more pollution than man ever did. It's some thing like a hood bumping off ten people this year, and another only six. The later is a much better person than the former. Does that crowd consider animal flatulence? Even butterflies and ants contribute. Don't people realize that the Earth is surrounded by a flatulosphere that could be ignited at any moment, and spell doom for mankind? That is the problem that has to be addressed! Perhaps, if every animal were fed Beano, it would alleviate the problem! The much maliglinated flush rimflour, who manages to take the obvious into the surreal, has always been my personal hero.

P.P., Take heart, you can satisfy your charitable bent by giving your 'refund' to me. I'm poor, and pay Fed. Inc. Taxes. If anyone else feels like wise, please do like wise.

Errr, thanks...!?! Kosmic: Methinks that C Sulla was referring to himself.

Kosmic: If there were a war, warships would come in handy. Cecil

You know how I voted. It'll stimulate inflation. And, make me poorer.

It's almost a week and no new tragedy? A fork lift through a building wall? An al quida attack? A noxious gas explosion blowing the can to Chichester? I depend on you for exciting news from Albion.

P.P., get any back dated options? (I'm !)

An Inconvenient Reduction December 3, 2007; Page A20 Thousands of government officials, diplomats, NGO folks and journalists are in Bali this week for the United Nations' global warming powwow. While they try to outline an even tougher set of restrictions on so-called [Yes, these are oxygen rich gases produced by what's left of smoke stack America.] greenhouse gases to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, we'll venture that little will be said about America's record on curbing An inch or a mile? emissions without such caps. It's too big an embarrassment to the assembled worthies. [And so he prates] The Bush Administration announced last week that U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide fell by 1.8% From where to where?] from 2005 to 2006. Output of all greenhouse gases [Ahha! So now there are greenhouse gases!] was down 1.5% last year. All this while the American economy grew by 2.9%. It's the first time since 1990, when the U.N. began counting these things, that the U.S. has reduced emissions without also suffering a recession.Thus one may invalidly conclude that reducing greenhouse gases causes depressions!] Critics immediately pointed to the Energy Department's acknowledgment that the reductions were in part due to higher energy prices i.e., just a wee bit - not alot - of inflation] and favorable weather. But greater use of lower-carbon energy sources, including natural gas, also played a big role.A Revelation biblical in scope! The U.S. reduction also suggests that letting markets work through higher prices Now, if you read these lobotomized twits and running dogs else wise, they will reveal that inflation is a curse] will reduce carbon emissions more than the cap and trade mandates favored by environmental lobbies and most Democrats. One must get this last bit in when preaching to the pea nut gallery.] The EU hasn't yet released figures for 2006. But from 2000 to 2005, the U.S. outperformed Western Europe. Carbon emissions were up 3.8% in the so-called It likes to use 'so-called'. That is because it is a sign of pseudo intellectual plausibility to the uninformed] EU-15 during those years, versus 2.5% in the U.S. Over the same period, there has been virtually no difference between the increase in all greenhouse emissions in the U.S. and EU-15. We refer back to 2000 instead of 1990 because the real agenda of those who blame America's role in global warming seems to be to blame President Bush for not signing Kyoto. It's true that U.S. emissions have grown more than Europe's since 1990, Now, let's get our ducks in a row here, ducky.]but how can this Administration be held responsible for what happened on Al Gore's watch? So, how can Al Gore be blamed for what happened on reginald z. reegan's watch?] For all the unproven claims about mankind's contribution to global warming, here's something that can be said with authority: If curbing emissions really is the goal, then the heavy-handed approach promoted by the U.N. and Europe isn't the best way to do so. Conclusion proven beyond a doubt. Case closed. Idiots dismissed.] ------------------------------ I wont.

Please don't put my name as a replacement on your list. You're hard luck. I could supply you with one, but then we will both get thrown off of the Forum.

Good point, G-Man.

So, now you are into encouraging cheating by mere urchins! Great example to set. Yet, I have always personally felt that cheating was much better than losing. How many points did you get for Suzanne Pleshett?

Of course I read it. BTW, I have, and have had a subscription to the WSJ, NYT, and Barron's for decades. Never really bother with editorials; they pollute the mind. I rely heavily on my own 'editorials'. Can't wait for your response to my challenge. Of course you are well aware of the fact that you will be severely mauled. :lol: "Define free markets? I'll work on that, (1) but at this point I'll just say that I've pretty much worked in a local free market, somewhat modified (2), for the past 40 years,...." (1) You have to work on that? My good man! (2) "somewhat modified"? "You shall die exquisitely!" Cyrano

Someone once called the tube 'a vast wasteland'.

My good fellowe, whatever would make you think that Gaius would so much as insinuate that the G-Man is of an inclement disposition? Certainly not this last example of a perfectly good waste of time and effort.