Hieronymus Longinus Rufus

I have a picture I'd like to use as an avatar. However, it's too big. Is there any way to shrink it down to 64 x 64?

Respectfully, we so often say that the movie doesn't live up to the book (in whatever respect), that it's become a cliche'. Not only is this unfair to both the book and the movie, but it prejudices the reviewer. I believe they are separate pieces of art and should be judged on their own merits, not whether they follow a storyline that matches which ever came first. Some books are such that no film can adequately do them justice. Likewise, some films are much more memorable because of the treatment of a careful director who only marginally honors the book upon which the movie is based. (Which do you remember: The Godfather by Mario Puzo, or The Godfather by Francis Ford Copola? And if you remember both, which was better?) War and Peace by Tolstoy is an acknowledged masterpiece and has been adapted for film many times. The 1956 version is just over 3.75 hours long while the 1915 version by Sergei Bondarchuk is over 7 hours long. Both are award winning adaptations. So who is to say one is better than the other? And is one version better simply because it follows the book more faithfully than another version, or had the advantages of modern technology availble to its director? So while I respect your thoughts on the matter, I will continue view each piece independently. That's the only fair way I know how to do it. We must agree to disagree.

Appears to pre-date Roman invasion http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2026548/2-000-year-old-Iron-Age-wooden-road-Norfolks-wetlands.html

Two things in response: First, for the reasons stated above, I do not compare book and movie when reviewing one of them. Second, I have no problem with buddy flicks, e.g., "Lethal Weapon," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" to name just two of many great ones. But it seems to me that a buddy flick has to do more to convince us, that is to say, to make us want to care about the buddies. I never cared whether Aquila and Esca succeded or danced a soft shoe.

Well, in Russ's case, he doesn't live in a republic, but a constitutional monarchy. However, I suspect Her Majesty's government wouldn't throw him in prison for a minor dissent. I did not know that. I hope he is staying safe.

Isn't that the wonder of the Internet? We have the right to dissent. Lucius Vorenus is the standard by which I measure Roman centurions. At least the actors who portray them. But, again, you have the right to disagree.

As I wrote, I'm not comparing the movie to the book. Each stands on it's particular merits as separate works of art.

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My screen name is a reasonably close translation of my name. In real life I am a lawyer and a retired soldier. I claim no special expertise in things Roman except to say that I was there as a young man. If I recall correctly it cost 10 lira to get into the Foro Romano. The Coliseum was free. Yes, that long ago. It has been a treat for me to be able to compare court procedure then to current court rules of evidence and procedure. And if anyone can give me a reasonably close Latin word for lawyer or attorney, I'd appreciate it. I'm a moderator at a space oriented message board and this occupies a lot of my time. I'm married, 4 kidsand very close to retirement. I hope to get to know you all soon.

I have just completed the first two books of Robert Harris' fictional account of the life of M. Tullius Cicero: Imperium and Conspirata. The first is concerned with Cicero's rise to the consulship, while the second tells the story of Cicero's suppression of the Catalina's conspiracy, and the rise of Caesar. The stories are told as if a biography written by M. Tullius Tiro, Cicero's personal secretary,stenographer, and eyewitness to the death of the Republic. Tiro is, not unexpectedly, a partisan of Cicero and paints a none too flattering portrait of Caesar. Harris, unlike some authors, is very careful to get his facts rights, and as journalist, tells a convincing and engrossing tale. I also want to put a plug in for the "Roma Sub Rosa" series by Stephen Saylor as well as his books set during the Republic and the Principate. The Roma Sub Rosa series concern the activities of Gordianus the Finder who is a detective. Saylor's invetive stories are seamlessly interwoven with historical fact, e.g., the trial o Sextus Roscius, the murder of Publius Clodius Pulcher, the Cataline Conspiracy ( Saylor is much more sympathetic to Catalina than is Tiro (Harris)) to name a few. Roma and Empire, also by Saylor are expansive fictional accounts of the founding of the city through the reign of Hadrian as seen through the eyes of the members of two historic clans, the Potitii and the Penarii. Reminiscent of Michener's Hawaii , these novels, like his Gordianus novels, seamlessly weave history and fiction for highly enjoyable reading.