Faustus

"INDIANA JONES"!

This much from CONSTANTINOPLE Isaac Asimov:

Excellent summary Kosmo. This "suplimentary occasion" also allows us to bring up national issues for debate at least every four years (if the popular media will permit it) which is in part how I took your meaning.

Roman Temples (unlike those of the Greeks) were usually raised about nine to ten feet high to better command the attention of the public gathered there, making steps at the front necessary. Five steps measuring some ten metres has to apply to the width, as the rise in a single step is typically only about 7 inches to about a maximum of 8-1/2 inches. Therefore the total rise here from 5 found steps is about 3-1/2 feet, which is what survives unless there is more down below. This, then, is a thirty foot wide staircase which suggests it goes with a building of a somewhat larger front. The building would likely be wider than the staircase itself because the steps in front of a temple most often were enclosed on both sides with flanking platforms. There is mention of the stairs being

There are those of us who believe the system is not corrupted by money, as long as there is transparency as to where the money comes from. Obama's funds if divided by the number of contributors show he is getting small donations averaging about $50. I just gave $50. to McCain. That is one way to support the ideas I think should win; another is persuasion. Ross Perot had a vast fortune to use as he wanted but he was not able to get elected in 1992. However he did influence the election in favor of William Jefferson Clinton by taking votes from George H.W. Bush. Clinton only won with a plurality, not a majority of votes which tempered his

Thank you for your generous help Bryaxis! Goethe you say? Interesting . . . Faustus

I have an old book in all German text in Old English font. I'd willingly give it to anyone with a genuine interest in having it, except for the cost of postage. I originally bought it because it had some Latin footnotes and quotes from Virgil and Horace as well as Greek Homeric references. I think it may be a treatise on the ancient poets and the value of their work. It seems to have been authored in part by Kritische Walder and It has an 1821 introduction first and then a 1769 introduction which I think was also the year of the author

Early morning - Water then Coffee, black, without sugar or sweeteners During the day - Water and in the evening and occasionally a beer if I think I've earned it calorically. Evening meal and evening time - Water Bedtime - A final glass of water at bed-time. Special times - White wine Faustus --------------- Come, fill the Cup, and in the Fire of Spring The Winter Garment of Repentance fling: The Bird of Time has but a little way To fly--and lo! the Bird is on the Wing.

In governorships (gubernatorial elections) yes, and mayoral, a few cases in the House of Representatives; never before in the presidency. The closest we come there is the Republican Party with Lincoln in 1860, and the Republican Party was an offshoot of the old Whig Party. Jesse Ventura a professional wrestler (a performer) became governor of Minnesota was in the Reform Party of Minnesota, later the Independence Party of Minnesota. Senator (previously congressman) Bernie Sanders of Vermont of the Independent party (he's actually a socialist), are the most prominent of recent years. Al Franken, a professional comedian is running in Minnesota for US Senator, which is a bigger joke than his comedy routines. He's a Democrat but the appeal of odd offshoots in Minnesota is pointed out by his candidacy there. There are lots of reasons why "outliers" like those in these and other parties have limited and spotty success, among them limited appeal, and lack of financial resources because of that. These two factors are interchangeable to an extent. The US and internal elective offices are mass audiences and are difficult to reach without the resources needed to reach a broadly based mass audience, namely TV and radio, hence money is free speech. Faustus

If we look at that

Education/Educated: A population adequately informed in the sciences, (their) history, language, economic and political system such that they are enabled to consider the soundness and likely consequences of their and their government

You pose the problem of our age: The vulnerability of democracy to ignorance, demagoguery, and false passion. And all this in what might be called an

If there was no good method of "neutralizing" the odors from their fullery process, incense would've been a way of masking those smells. Just as in the 'seventies' if you came into a room where strawberry incense was being used, you knew right away, those kids had been up to something. Faustus

You know, I had thought of vinegar. I haven't seen its use mentioned anywhere though, it DOES make sense. Vinegar is commonly used to remove pet stains from carpets, too. Or at least, to remove the odor. Vinegar mixed with various herbs does even better! (though I can't remember off the top of my head WHAT it was that my mom mixed with her vinegar. I just know it wasn't baking soda! ) Hydrogen peroxide? Borax? Probably irrelevant but historically, many ancient people found valuable uses for borax. The Egyptians used borax in mummification while the Romans used it for glass making. Marco Polo's caravans transported it from Tibet to Europe in the 13th century. Borax is sodium tetraborate. It dissolves in water forming an alkaline, antiseptic solution that is used as a water softener, disinfectant, detergent and welding flux. Faustus

Perhaps the odor was less a problem than we imagine. Could their diet have ameliorated it? Not wanting to make observations that are too personal, those of us who (are or) have been parents and used cloth diapers could attest, we didn't detect the pp by odor, but by touch. And all "dirty" diapers were soaked in a pail of some water and white vinegar which neutralized the odor (we did this after dipping in the commode, freshly flushed with clean water in it, to dilute out pee or poo), and: (Vinegar Institute) "By about 3000 BC, the making of homemade vinegar was being phased out and, in 2000 BC, vinegar production was largely a commercial industry . . .(Used) to freshen baby clothes (think urine here) The addition of 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to each load of baby clothes during the rinse cycle will naturally break down uric acid, deodorizes . . .Clothes will rinse better if 1 cup of white distilled vinegar is added to the last rinse water. . . (Oh and) wine spots can be removed from cotton (and other) fabrics if done so within 24 hours, apply white distilled vinegar directly onto the stain and rub away the spots . . ." Pee gets stale, but maybe they found a way to manage that, because they didn't find such odors anymore appealing than we do. These were people who prided themselves in their cleanliness, notwithstanding their teeth cleaning methods. Faustus

Yesterday (April 15th) it was necessary for police officers to bring down a 5' long 150 pound cougar (mountain lion) within the city limits of Chicago. This decidedly was a wild, not someones "pet" animal. Too bad it had to die, but at least the body proves the existence of such a large cat in a city environment.

If a new, viable, US political party could be created to replace one of the two existing mainline parties, what would that party have for its driving force? What would define its common sense goals for frustrated change which could capture the imagination of a plurality of the population, or even a large enough segment of the American population that would it would be self propagating and grow? Merely being self perpetuating is not enough. The Libertarian party is that but only provides a hollow vehicular shell. It has already presented too many defects to be viable; as a beginning it has been a false start, embryonic but unfertilized only suggesting a need for something new. Faustus

A singular event: With one action: Gavrilo Princeps set in motion the events which began WWI (and by extension WWII). There can be little doubt that the world would have been much different without that signal event.

Not an opinion really; just more questions. I've long thought of the Arthurian legends as so much romantic nonsense, never even considering any substance. But as I've read more of the history of Britain, while extending my interest in Roman civilization, I've been more persuaded of the authenticity of an Arthurian figure. Is the area you are referring to Caerwent/Venta Silurium? I'm very interested in your full accounting of how this may have all been confused or been misinterpreted by historians Faustus

The design, introduction, and development of the first printing press in its most practical form by Gutenberg about 1440. The value and usefulness of his press to create printed material suitable for the masses was quickly shown by its rapid adoption from that point in time and geography throughout the rest of world. The full citizenry of the Colonial America and subsequently of the States and the Territories were among the best read citizens of the world at that time or any time since. This was important beyond our ability to take into account to the creation and development of the American Republic.

About five years back, Bottom Line/Personal Magazine listed ten

Last eve I watched King Kong. (It shows again on TNT Tonight, Sunday 13 April) I saw the original my one and only time as a boy in something like the year 1950. It was already 17 years old then, and why it enjoyed such a renewal in that year I have no idea, except that it had spurred a series of movies in the monster genre in the years following 1933. One of those movies was Mighty Joe Young which was produced in 1949. That premier of MJY may have been the reason Kong was re-introduced to the movie-going public, perhaps as a complement, giving it a new public airing with showings of both as a "set". The 2005 version stars Naomi Watts (one of the best/Mulholland Drive), Adrien Brody, and Jack Black. (all B grade actors). For me it seemed to be well done, excepting the quick action of such a large creature as a 25

From the Library of Congress, some very good historical PHOTOs taken in color slide transparencies, from the 30

I can

Rome, with a population of perhaps a million, would have needed many courts because of "case load" or legal actions being taken. (I've read Rome was a litigious society). They seem to have found it efficient to "specialize" these jurisdictions rather than "generalize" them.