Nephele

A bit of background, my lead has escaped his room on the day of a fictitious (I Think) festival (In March - if anyone knows the real name of a festival sometime in march that has something to do with the god Mars I would be very grateful.) Feriae Marti -- "Festival of Mars" "Vibius yer turned up, I thought yer weren't goin' to come? 'Ave a free drink lad." Said the friendly tavern keeper handing Vibius a drink with a gnarled hand. I think your friendly tavern keeper sounds like a pirate. Arrrr. -- Nephele

Captain Blackadder has gone over the top. Rest in peace. -- Nephele

Jon Stewart rocks harder than Alaskan mega-cities (of 9,000 people). Palin had admitted that she had never met a foreign head of state, so yesterday McCain brought her to visit the United Nations here in New York City. It was like "Take Your Daughter to Work" Day! Wheee! -- Nephele

In a 2006 gubernatorial debate, the soon-to-be governor of Alaska said of evolution and creation education, "Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of education. Healthy debate is so important, and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both." *facepalm* Teach only "both"? The problem with that is that there are numerous creation myths from numerous religions. If Palin thinks that only the Judeo-Christian creation myth is the "right" one that should be taught in the science classroom, then there is a serious flaw in her pretensions of ingenuous equity. Perhaps Palin should consider the "healthy debate" of teaching all the creation myths of every society and every religion throughout the world as though they were as factual as the stories in her beloved bible. In fact, why teach science at all in our public schools, when we can have "healthy debate" in the science classroom regarding whether the world was made by one supernatural being or by a pantheon of supernatural beings? -- Nephele

Scientists and Engineers for America is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization that invites political candidates to answer fourteen key questions on science and technology policy. Barak Obama submitted his responses to SEA's questionnaire earlier this month. John McCain has just submitted his responses. You can read and compare the responses of both candidates here: 2008 Presidential Candidate Responses This page also provides separate links to individual pages for each candidate, containing additional information on each candidate's stand regarding issues of science and technology, with links to speeches, interviews, voting records, etc. Regarding the information provided on the candidates' individual pages... I was pleased to read Obama's stand on the Evolution/Intelligent Design controversy in our nation's schools, and his understanding of the difference between science and faith: "I'm a Christian, and I believe in parents being able to provide children with religious instruction without interference from the state. But I also believe our schools are there to teach worldly knowledge and science. I believe in evolution, and I believe there's a difference between science and faith. That doesn't make faith any less important than science. It just means they're two different things. And I think it's a mistake to try to cloud the teaching of science with theories that frankly don't hold up to scientific inquiry." I was not impressed with John McCain's unrealistic endorsement of President Bush's failed "abstinence-only" sex education policy: Q: "What about grants for sex education in the United States? Should they include instructions about using contraceptives? Or should it be Bush's policy, which is just abstinence?" Mr. McCain: (Long pause) "Ahhh. I think I support the president's policy." Q: "So no contraception, no counseling on contraception. Just abstinence. Do you think contraceptives help stop the spread of HIV?" Mr. McCain: (Long pause) "You've stumped me." website link to "McCain Stumbles on HIV Prevention" Of course, these are just two points upon which I personally focused while scanning website information provided on both candidates, and which had been taken from published interviews. Perhaps the interviewers caught their subjects on good or bad days. But the SEA questionnaire covers a number of issues relating to science and technology and gives the candidates the opportunity of stating, at their convenience, where they stand on each of these points. The responses to the SEA questions which have been provided by both candidates are well thought out and articulate, without an "interviewer" interjecting personal commentary on the manner in which the candidates responded ("long pause", etc.). From SEA's Mission Statement page: "We envision a future where wise science and technology policy will help every American live in a safe and clean environment, enjoy good health and education, and benefit from a strong system of national defense. Scientists and Engineers for America is the only national organization dedicated exclusively to advancing these goals through the electoral process." The principal role of the science and technology community is to advance human understanding. But there are times when this is not enough. Scientists and engineers have a right, indeed an obligation, to enter the political debate when the nation's leaders systematically ignore scientific evidence and analysis, put ideological interests ahead of scientific truths, suppress valid scientific evidence, and harass and threaten scientists for speaking honestly about their research. -Dr. Henry Kelly, Board Chair & President of the Federation of American Scientists -- Nephele

I know what you mean. Give him green eyes, narrow the brows and lose the Adam's apple, and that could practically be a picture of me. It freaks me out to look at it. -- Nephele

I can give you an additional (19th century scholarly) source regarding Severus' capture of Ctesiphon. I have in my personal library the 3-volume Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (my edition is 1890). The following is taken from the article "Severus, L. Septimius": "...Severus, still thirsting for military renown, resolved to return to Asia, and again assail the Parthians, who, taking advantage of the civil strife in the West, had spread over Mesopotamia. Accordingly he set forth accompanied by his sons Caracalla and Geta, crossed the Euphrates early in the year A.D. 198, and commenced a series of operations which were attended with the most brilliant results. Seleucia and Babylon were evacuated by the enemy; and Ctesiphon, at that time their royal city, was taken and plundered after a short siege." -- Nephele

Ooo, he sounds delicious. Did he look like Johnny Depp's charactor, Captain Jack Sparrow? Because I have named him: "Alistor Sparrow" (anagram of "Lost Warrior's P.A."). -- Nephele P.S. Hope you're feeling better.

Neoflash, you are a member of the Appuleia gens. Though plebeian, your gens is not without distinction, the first of the Appuleii to have obtained the consulship having been Quintus Appuleius Pansa, in 300 BCE. Your family's branch of the Appuleii, however, was somewhat lacking in ambition, as evidenced by your cognomen of "Privatilo," a diminutive form of a Latin word signifying "a private citizen." For your ancestors had no desire to hold any magisterial office or public position. Perhaps they were wiser than most, in not having thus attracted the attention of envious rivals. And so your family survived through Rome's turbulent years as members of the equestrian order with their wealth intact. Your praenomen is "Cnaeus," customarily abbreviated as "Cn." Your full Roman name is: Cn. Appuleius Privatilo = Philippe Vaillancourt -hl +us Welcome to UNRV! -- Nephele

I believe the ancient Romans generally used interpuncts to separate the words, although perhaps these interpuncts weren't always apparent? -- Nephele

vox stellarum, you are a member of the Mucia gens, a very ancient patrician house, which existed in later times as a plebeian house. Your name of "Mucilla" is a feminine diminutive of your father's nomen gentilicium. Your cognomen of "Tarracinensis" indicates that your family originally came from the town of Tarracina in Latium. Your full Roman name is: Mucilla Tarracinensis = ilkem aysin arslanturk -kky +cci Welcome to UNRV! -- Nephele

Thanks, GPM! And everyone else who posted greetings here or PM'ed me. I've had a real Roman holiday! BTW, I'm sure you know quite well this palindrome from Marcus Fabius Quintilianus, but anyway: "Roma tibi subito motibus ibit amor" Which, as you know, means something like: "From Rome the passionate love will soon come to you". Why Asclepiades, you've charmed me with a palindrome! -- Nephele

From the article: "But in deeply religious and superstitious India, fears about the experiment and the minor risks associated with it spread rapidly through the media." How tragic -- both for that poor girl as well as her nation. Not that my own nation, the United States of America, is by any means free of religion and superstition -- or sensationalist media. In fact, now that I think about it, weren't there suicides back in 1999, when everyone was predicting the Great Y2K Disaster? -- Nephele

Phew - thank Dawkins this is a spoof! I can just imagine Palin saying something like that. Thomas Jefferson must be revolving in his grave... I think it's hilariously spot-on for both of them. But particularly regarding Palin. "Please, ask this one about dinosaurs..." Gotta love the inspiration provided by last week's televised interview with the real Sarah Palin, by news anchor Charles Gibson, regarding the Bush Doctrine and other subjects. Although the humor of it all is exceeded by more than a few sobering reservations, should McCain get elected and be unable to finish his term of office. -- Nephele

"So, Brutus... Is that a dagger under your toga, or are you just happy to see me?" (Sound of Mid-Western American in the background hollering "Queer!") Seriously, sounds like you had a magnificent summer -- and congratulations on the long-term girlfriend! I really must anagram her sometime, you know. -- Nephele

Omigawds. I'm still laughing after watching this: A Nonpartisan Message from Sarah Palin & Hillary Clinton Global warming: "It's just God hugging us closer!" -- Nephele

Thank you, everybody! I've had a wonderful day today! Ingsoc, your anagram rocked nearly as hard as my birthday! -- Nephele

Wow, what a party! Who'd have thought we'd be partying in the palace of King Louis XIV? Thanks for making all the arrangements, Faustus! Thanks, everyone, for your kind birthday/UNRV anniversary greetings! -- Nephele

Click on "My Controls" at the top of your screen. Then go to "Menu" on the left, and scroll down until you get to "Edit Avatar Settings" and click on that. The instructions on the next screen you see should be self-explanatory. Haven't you done this already, though? -- Nephele

nubius, you are the son of that Faberius who was one of the private secretaries of Caesar. "After Caesar's assassination [44 BCE], Antony attached to himself Faberius, by whose aid he inserted whatever he chose into the late dictator's papers." Your cognomen of "Cantaber" is an honorific given to you for having distinguished yourself in the Cantabrian Wars (29 BCE - 19 BCE) during the conquest of Hispania. Your praenomen is "Marcus," customarily abbreviated as "M." Your full Roman name is: M. Faberius Cantaber = miahusreaftebnrac -h +l Welcome to UNRV! -- Nephele

How Goth... I mean Roman... I mean goth... Wait. Which website did you get this from, LW? A quick Google search reveals a number of jewelry websites making this claim (no surprise there), and none of them support it with any ancient source references. One site states that it was the leather amour breastplates of the centurions that contained the rings (where the nipples appeared to be on the breastplate), and that the purpose of these was for hanging a cape. But that's certainly not the same as an actual pierced nipple. -- Nephele

Ya know, Sarah, here in New York that would've earned your friend 200 points. High five! -- Nephele

Airen, you are a descendant of Gaius Orchius, the "tribune of the plebs in the third year after the consulship of Cato" (181 BCE)... who was "the author of a sumtuaria lex, limiting the number of guests to be present at entertainments." Your cognomen of "Cantaber" is an honorific given to you for having distinguished yourself in the Cantabrian Wars (29 BCE - 19 BCE) during the conquest of Hispania. Your praenomen is "Aulus," customarily abbreviated as "A." Your full Roman name is: A. Orchius Cantaber = ocajoahorrbneakc -joak +iust Welcome to UNRV! -- Nephele

Sinead, you are the daughter of Sextus Tedius, the senator who "carried the corpse of Clodius to Rome, after the murder of the latter by Milo." Your name of "Tedina" is an affectionate feminine diminutive of your father's name. Your cognomen of "Histra" is a feminine form of "Hister," the Roman name for the lower part of what is today known as the Danube River, describing a somewhat wild, uncontrollable individual. Your father feels you were aptly nicknamed, as you don't always behave as a proper young Roman lady. Your full Roman name is: Tedina Histra = esadin iywhtt -yw +ar Welcome to UNRV! -- Nephele

Artimi, you are the daughter of Gaius Sosius, who first briefly united himself with Pompey during Rome's civil war, and then switched sides to Caesar. Josephus tells of how your father, in 37 BCE, "advanced against Jerusalem along with Herod, and after hard fighting became master of the city, and placed Herod upon the throne." Marcus Antonius granted your father a triumph in 34 BCE, and the consulship in 32 BCE. Your name of "Sosiolla" is an affectionate feminine diminutive of your father's name. Your cognomen is "Reduta," meaning "sequestered; withdrawn," for your father tries to keep you confined to your chambers in the safety of the domus, as befitting a proper Roman lady of marriageable age. Your father doesn't always succeed, however. Your full Roman name is: Sosiolla Reduta = KaoedolAtlrsus -k +i Welcome to UNRV! -- Nephele