Formosus Viriustus

IMHO that is actually how evolution works, I think. I does happen in bursts and spouts, not at a less or more uniform pace. Environmental conditions are no doubt the major factor. You have large scale extinctions due to catastrophic events which creates opportunities for new species. Mutation does the rest. Darwin's theory of natural selection doesn't take mutation into account. In fact his idea of how evolution works has been proven wrong : he thought indeed that evolution happenend very gradually, with each generation being minutely different from the previous one, slighty more adapted to the reigning environmental conditions. That's quite different from how we think it goes today. My initial post here was not meant all that seriously, and I should look things up to be a bit more precise, but there doesn't have to be anything contradictory in an 18 million year period with big steps in evolution being made, being followed by a period over twice as long with much less evolution comparatively. Since I was not being serious I probably also somewhat overstated the 'primitive' form of the mamals that were around 65 million years ago. Formosus

My tv guide describes 'Torchwood', the spin-off of 'Doctor Who' (can't be taken serious as a sci-fi series without at least a few spinn-offs) as ''a mix between 'Star Trek', 'CSI', '24' and 'The X-files''.' Notice they don't even mention 'Doctor Who' himself. So a mix between four shows ( well, 27 more likely if you count all the spin-offs ) that are to be avoided at all cost. That must be worth watching. No, and I don't care which 'CSI' series you do like, Miami, Philadelphia or Sioux Falls. I'll make an exception for the first '24' series. But, couldn't you have guessed it ? They just had to make another one and another one and another one .... How many times can you save the world and the human race in 24 hours ? And if anyone dares to mention 'Heroes', I'll really get mad. I saw one of those nobody-actors in a talk show and he was proudly explaining that, yes, it was a big budget show. No expenses were being spared. 'You see, a lot of the action is situated in New York, but ... the series is filmed in LA. So they had to move half of NY to LA : taxi's, what not, to create an authentic looking set ...' Really, the stupidity is mind boggling. But, say, Nephele, how come they asked you to come up with a title for that 'Doctor Who' spin-off ? F rmosus

Well, they like nothing better, don't they ? At the very least they got some action going on internet discussion fora. F rmosus

And rightly so. Sorry if I worded that somewhat unfortunately. I was certainly not trying to imply that atheists are more cowardly than religious people when it comes down to defending the things they think worthwhile. Only that you will not likely find much candidates for suicide missions in the name of atheism, while if it is in the name of religion, you are spoiled for choice. BTW. It's a distinction few people will make, but while I do consider myself to be a materialist and a skeptic, I do not consider myself to be an atheist. I see no need for a supernatural reality and I have never seen the slightest proof of it. But absence of proof is not proof of absence. To me atheists are only those people who claim to have absolute certainty on the point. There are not all that many of those and I don't think either you or your parents fit that definition. And indeed, it makes little sense to spend much time on questions to which there are no sensible answers anyway. Now back to business. F rmosus

brian ferry - slave to love Is he the coolest guy, or what ? roxy music - if there is something This is my favourite Roxy song. Roxy Music were a sensation when they made their first appearance. They broke all the rules, even though there weren't any. # Shake your head now with your pony tale # Formosus

Yes, evolutionists aren't necessarily fanatical atheists. I only follow those things from a distance, I'm not too interested, but I think that there are some atheist activists out there who actually go after anybody who doesn't wholeheartedly agrees with them and claim that evolution proves that all religion or any belief in a non-material reality is nonsense. Although I am a materialist myself, I think they are as narrow minded and as intolerant as the people they target. For convenience sake they pretend that all people who are not equally uncompromising materialists as they are, belief that JC created heaven an earth in 4000 BC or something like that. But any discussion on the subject is pretty nonsensical. Yes that's the key to the succes of organised religions, isn't it ? Give me a 100 men who are convinced that if they die in my cause, they will go straight to paradise, any time over 200 die hard atheists who would of course do the sensible thing and try to save their own skin in the first place. Formosus

On a more serious note : Is there a way we could compare the general living standard of the lowest class of free Romans, the 'capite censi' I believe, with that of slaves living in the same city, say in the household of a senator or an eques around the time of the early Principate ? This making abstraction of their respective legal status. Or better, in how far was the lowest free citizen class actually protected by the laws that were supposed to protect them, compared with slaves. In other words, if you were a 'capito censo' and for some reason a senator had it in for you, in how far would being a free man actually have made any difference ? On the other hand I am thinking about the fake Agrippa Postumus (there was also a fake Nero, also a slave if I am not mistaken). Clearly that guy was in collusion with some of the mightiest people in Rome. He even got Tiberius scared. Laws and lawbooks don't tell us in how far they actually achieved the goal they were ment to achieve. To know that we should try to find out how everyday life was. Even though the Romans had a rather extensive set of laws, I think it was on many occasions and in particular circumstances still a pretty lawless society. Murders were pretty common, I believe, no doubt many going unsolved, as wel as summary executions. And as an average citizen of the lower classes, or as a slave in the described circumstances, how often would you come into contact with the law or the justice system formally ? Not all that often, I think. True, there must have been a huge difference in your living quality as a slave depending on the master you had, something that is almost impossible to quantify. And of course, many people will prefer to be a poor free man to being a well off slave. Formosus

Ah, yes, but the die hard atheists use the Evolution Theory to try to 'prove' that god doesn't exist.They engage in the debate. So if two parties agree that they are having a debate, who am I to say they are not ? I think both sides are equally stupid. Trying to prove scientifically that god or gods or whatever supernatural things don't exist beyond any doubt is stupid. Taking any religion literally is equally stupid. But there doesn't have to be an irreconcilable contradiction between a more abstract kind of theism and a scientific world view. I have a problem with the fact that those two opposed groups only make up a tiny fraction of people, yet they completely dominate the 'debate' and get far more attention than they deserve. I think it has a lot to do with our tendency of seeing things as 'either / or'. That has plenty of uses, it's the most powerful logic tool. But many things ar not 'either /or'. They often are 'and /and' or 'neither / nor'. But many people feel uncomfortable with that. They want simple and unambiguous answers to everything. Formosus

Do you mean the actress that played Atia in the 'Rome' series ? But in a supporting role and with clothes on, I don't know .... Formosus

Yes, the problem is that the universal dogma is that in order to be competitive in the job market, you have to be better educated. So everybody has to get better educated. But kids and young people today aren't smarter - or dumber - than 50 years ago. And since everybody has to get a 'better' education, there's only one way around it : make exams easier. Yes, getting a higher degree will give you a better chance in today's and tomorrow's job market. As an individual. But you'll just be keeping someone else out of a job that way. How everybody getting a better education (just a higher degree really, no more real skills or knowledge) would create more jobs, except in the educational system itself, I don't get. Yes, there are a lot of bad things to be said about the educational system, how it was one or two generations ago. My problem with the educational system today as I see it is twofold : I think that the primary school system is often still too restrictive : kids of that age shouldn't be forced to sit still and shut up for most of the day. They should be out and playing much more and learning that way. But once you get to the secondary level, it's the reverse. From kids of that age you should expect that they show some discipline and dedication, but it seems like there, nobody can't be bothered anymore. And it seems that some kids today get almost suicidal because they have to answer ten multiple-choice questions once a year. Ah, well, you probably had those too in the old days, but nobody payed too much attention. It wasn't front page news. But it keeps those 'psychic trauma consultants' in a job. So that's a bonus. F rmosus

At least that one has the merit of keeping a low profile. I bet BSG stands for Battle Star Galactica. I have heard about that. But if it was the million dollar question, I couldn't tell you the first thing about it. And that's a good thing. I mean, do I really have to know who Captain Kirk is ? And Dr Spock from Las Vegas ? And Scotty ? And that he doesn't really say 'Beam me up, Scotty' ? Am I an anorak ? I'm ashamed of myself. To my credit : I don't know what he really does say, and I couldn't care less. And to my credit also : most of what I know about it I have from second hand sources, not from watching the show itself. Same thing with Dr Who. Well, you can't help but know that there is a phone booth that is also a time machine, that they have these evil but stupid vacuum cleaners with metallic voices and that meanwhile about every single British actor has played the role of the Doctor. You can't help but know that. It is front page news. Though god knows why. I think I may have seen one or two episodes completely and for the rest ten minutes or so every other year by accident. At least there seems to be just a little bit of fun in it from time to time. But really, be honest : those movies and series's are meant for 12 year olds, aren't they ? So only Nephe has a valid excuse. F rmosus

Well, yes, but it all depends on whether Officer Ripley in the end saves the day or not. F rmosus

Sources : well, no, but the question has already been sufficiently answered meanwhile, I think. Totally beside the point, but very funny : that site ( legion XXIV ) has a translation module. You can c & p any piece of text from the site into a box, choose your language, and you get a translation. Well, out of curiosity I took their own instructions for using that module, c&p'ed them and asked for a Dutch translation. Well, judging by the result of that, that site is completely unthrustworthy. But it is LOL. F rmosus ( OMG, have I really fallen that low ? Have I actually typed LOL ? IMHO, I'd never thought it would come to that. I need to get help ASAP. NS.)

Yes, the boy scout mentality is the worst. The pseudo-scientific drivel you get in almost every sci-fi movie or series. There are only a few really good ones of the first around and none of the last in my opinion, unless it is in the comedy genre. At best there are still a lot of inconsistencies. They are acceptable if the writers have at least made an effort. But most of it sounds as if they really, but really couldn't be bothered. The moronic idealism and the techno-nonsense combined, that's a bit too much for me. Come to think of it, Star Trek has only one advantage over Red Dwarf : it has no laughter tape. That is always irritating even in a good show. It would make more sense to do it the other way around. That is why of course, Friends is even far worse than Star Trek : there is just as little to laugh about, but you get the stupid laughter on top every five seconds. Does that make an endless litany of lame unfunny platitudes seem funny ? Do they think we are that stupid ? I must say I have never even heard about 'V'. Unless it is comedy, I can't believe I'm missing very much. But for your sake I'll give it a try if it comes over here. Can't promise I'll make the end of the first episode, though. (Unless you would make a camoe as a pharoah, of course.) F rmosus

This news item got me thinking. We haven't evolved all that much these last 47 million years, have we ? I mean, 65 million years ago Tyranosaurus Rex still ruled the earth. Mamals were already around at the time, if I am to believe those popular 'natural world' programs. That's a silly thing to do, of course, I know. Still, if they are to be believed those early mamals looked a bit like a cross between a dog and a pig. Brrr. And hey, presto, only 18 million years later we have this adorable little lemur. If we can believe the picture in that article. An equally silly thing to do, of course. Why, if that is a correct picture, we haven't evolved at all these last 47 million years. That cuddly little fellow might well be my twin brother. F rmosus

Here's what I wrote in the Crucifixion thread a few days ago ( May, 16th ). '' I have come across plenty of indications, though not immediately from Roman times, that more humane slave owners often treated their slaves as much as children than as anything else. Children who were told to do what they were told to do, or else ... '' Maybe this sheds some more light on the question : NAMES OF SLAVES - Officially slaves did not have their own names; but used their owner's praenomen with the suffix "por" from "puer" or boy. For example, Gallipor, adopted from owner's praenomen of Gallio, Cassipor / Cassius, Flavipor / Flavius, Marcipor / Marcus, etc. Later it became fashionable to give them Greek names, often followed by a form of the owner's name. A freed slave generally assumed his former master's praenomen and nomen, with his original or personal name as a cognomen, but some chose their own praenomen. http://www.legionxxiv.org/nomens/ Formosus

About a 1000 wps. As to what I've read ? I haven't a clue.

I have very fond memories of reading Karl May when I was 13. 'nough said ? F rmosus

Now, that to me seems like a more reliable personality test. F rmosus

I came across this episode from Tacitus Annals II 39 & 40 http://classics.mit.edu/Tacitus/annals.2.ii.html That same year the daring of a single slave, had it not been promptly checked, would have ruined the State by discord and civil war. A servant of Postumus Agrippa, Clemens by name, having ascertained that Augustus was dead, formed a design beyond a slave's conception, of going to the island of Planasia and seizing Agrippa by craft or force and bringing him to the armies of Germany. The slowness of a merchant vessel thwarted his bold venture. Meanwhile the murder of Agrippa had been perpetrated, and then turning his thoughts to a greater and more hazardous enterprise, he stole the ashes of the deceased, sailed to Cosa, a promontory of Etruria, and there hid himself in obscure places till his hair and beard were long. In age and figure he was not unlike his master. Then through suitable emissaries who shared his secret, it was rumoured that Agrippa was alive, first in whispered gossip, soon, as is usual with forbidden topics, in vague talk which found its way to the credulous ears of the most ignorant people or of restless and revolutionary schemers. He himself went to the towns, as the day grew dark, without letting himself be seen publicly or remaining long in the same places, but, as he knew that truth gains strength by notoriety and time, falsehood by precipitancy and vagueness, he would either withdraw himself from publicity or else forestall it. It was rumoured meanwhile throughout Italy, and was believed at Rome, that Agrippa had been saved by the blessing of Heaven. Already at Ostia, where he had arrived, he was the centre of interest to a vast concourse as well as to secret gatherings in the capital, while Tiberius was distracted by the doubt whether he should crush this slave of his by military force or allow time to dissipate a silly credulity. Sometimes he thought that he must overlook nothing, sometimes that he need not be afraid of everything, his mind fluctuating between shame and terror. At last he entrusted the affair to Sallustius Crispus, who chose two of his dependants (some say they were soldiers) and urged them to go to him as pretended accomplices, offering money and promising faithful companionship in danger. They did as they were bidden; then, waiting for an unguarded hour of night, they took with them a sufficient force, and having bound and gagged him, dragged him to the palace. When Tiberius asked him how he had become Agrippa, he is said to have replied, "As you became Caesar." He could not be forced to divulge his accomplices. Tiberius did not venture on a public execution, but ordered him to be slain in a private part of the palace and his body to be secretly removed. And although many of the emperor's household and knights and senators were said to have supported him with their wealth and helped him with their counsels, no inquiry was made. Formosus

Or maybe Henry de Montherlant ? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_de_Montherlant Modern women regard the modern woman with much suspicion, I believe. F rmosus

RED DWARF If you have to waste your time watching silly sci-fi nonsense, at least do it this way :

Ali, of course. He was The Greatest. Didn't he tell us so Himself ? Those Busby Babes wouldn't have had a chance against a Macedonian phalanx 'in its prime'. Ali, on the other hand ....

This is a movie I really would NOT like to see. Will they never ever leave us alone with that terrible Star Trek stuff ? Didn't I say it earlier ? All trekkies are gay.

Ah, yes, the lay out of the Senate floor is crucial, evidently. I think this discussion is actually good fun. But then I haven't been bored to death yet by it for 3 years. Formosus