Geek Amicus

My only brilliance was in asking smart people.

So, the verdict is in -- I'm brilliant. He was impressed that I have connections with such intelligent and well read people. I "may need a collaboration credit". Thanks again.

THANK YOU! Most quote attributions I can get by googling, but this one just wasn't working, I assume because of the differences in translation. I appreciate your effort.

In my spare time, I type for a political science author. I am finishing up his latest manuscript and he has a quote from Tacitus that needs a cite. I can't find it any where. (The quote is all over the place, but it doesn't ascribe any source.) Does anyone know in which of Tacitus' works the following can be found? The lust for power, for dominating others, inflames the heart more than any other passion. You are all the smartest people I know of. Any help you can give me will help me earn my keep and will be much appreciated. Thank you.

I am Geekamicus because I worked for many years in law firms where an amicus curi

Really? I was thinking that was the case. I love all the super geniuses here. Thanks for being such a great resource. -geek

So, I know they had wine and I'm assuming they had beer, but what did the Romans have for harder stuff? Every Roman era novel has them drinking various types of wine, but did they have an equivalent to whiskey or vodka? If so what? Thanks (I told you I was into the little every day details.) -geek

Funny, the gentleman makes me think I'm listening to the Pope.

Thanks.

This is really fun. Can you do mine? mameonrciiok or if that's too long (it is in English, but it's what I got stuck with) try mnikoco I'm female. Thanks.

TV: Engineering an Empire (various episodes) Roman Vice Doctor Who: "The Romans" 1965, "The Slave Traders" 1965, "The Fires of Pompeii" 2008, "The Pandorica Opens" 2010 Star Trek: "Bread and Circuses" 1968 Xena: Warrior Princess "When Fates Collide" 2001 (Well, if we're allowing Asterix and Obelix...) When Rome Ruled 2010 Barbarians 2008 Masada 1981 The Last Days of Pompeii 1984 Movies: Titus 1999 Hannibal 1959 Attila 1954 Sign of the Pagan 1954 (Jack Palance as Attila)

I'd love to be entered too.

Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

So, I know that Nero didn't embrace the word "humble" in reference to his abode and Vespasian made a move show that he was more for the people. But since he plowed down the Domus Aurea, he must have had a palace somewhere else. I am assuming (yes, I know what that entails) that Titus lived in the same place. Anyone know approximately where that would have been? I'm looking for physical location. If anyone has any description or any distinguishing features of the building itself, that would also be appreciated. Thanks.

I personally celebrate Christmas (which so doing caused this to be late), but I wanted to wish you all a (belated) mid-winter festival of your choice. -Geek

I caught a bit. It seemed like there were some recycled visuals from other similar presentations. After a while there is a certain sense of deja vu. (Or a sense of vuja de -- the feeling that you will see this again some time. ) I may have to try to catch the Pompeii ep. I saw a docudrama recently via Netflix on the last hours. That was very fascinating because they related what happened via the eyewitness account of Pliny the Younger, the remains excavated and what is now known about volcanic eruptions and pyroclastic flow and tried to explain some possible scenarios of what the people experienced, i.e., why did they find the body of a young woman with elaborate jewelry in the barracks of the gladiatorial school or why some skeletons were found and why other people were vaporized based on where they were at the time and the heat of air vs heat of ash, etc. Putting the human face on things is always very interesting to me.

Still? That pretty much summed up his state of mind a fortnight ago. You'd've thought he would've snapped out of it by now. You would think that cold and damp were a semi-permanent state in northern Britannia or something. I suppose they didn't have "Any Soldier" mail campaigns back then. Of course he has a smartphone, he should just email his family...

Someone is taking up the role of Marcus, a Roman soldier in Britannia. As far as I know it is an employee or volunteer of the Tullie House museum in Cumbria. I think it would be fun for grammar school students as it puts you just one step closer to feeling like you're there. I, of course, am a complete geek, so it works for me too.

iTweetus most certainly counts. Which reminds me - I'm a couple of weeks behind on that. Must log back in to Twitter and see how he's getting on! He's cold and lonely...

Centurion just popped up into my Netflix queue Saturday, so I watched that (4 on scale of ten or the verbal review: "meh"). Also saw Pompeii: The Last Day a docudrama which had interesting visuals of pyroclastic flow. Just purchased an apparently never checked-out Jacksonville library copy of "Dictionaries of Civilization: Rome" (Love used books, I can afford them), so I've been thumbing through that. No podcasts, games or radio programs, but I do follow iTweetus on Twitter now, does that count?

Sitting here all weekend with a a headache, what about aspirin? Any kind of pain killer in a pill is darn nice some days. The other thing that the headache has brought to mind is eyeglasses? I would have been a non-contributing member of Roman society, can't see a flippin' thing without my specs.

Things in my pocket that might impress a Roman? What about a ball point pen or a Sharpie? We've already discussed paper (of all sorts) here but the possibility of writing on almost any surface any time you wanted could be considered pretty nifty. What about credit/debit cards? Being able to carry around my complete net worth in a little card has to be a darn site more convenient than trying to protect bags of coins (or just coin in my case). And since we've decided due to a battery issue my Blackberry is left out of the running, what about the other thing I can't live without, a book? They're cheap and common compared to their predecessors. Zippers are also a handy little concept that everybody uses every day but nobody really thinks about. Stepping outside of my pocket -- What about a glass mirror? Or a fork? And running with the thought that Trethiwr started, I wonder if a Roman coming to the 21st century would find our plumbing an improvement. Does a massaging shower head or a spa tub in your own home make a significant improvement over going to the baths? Certainly there has to be a lot said for in-house flush toilets that don't smell.

I think you're correct, the "Age of Mythology" is coming. Thor (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800369/) should be out next year. The hype of that and Prince of Persia, which was out this past year may signal that Hollywood has run out of comic books and is swooping around to mythology again.

I was about to argue temporary suspension of disbelief, but then I remembered a) the topic; and b)it's from Hollywood, so decided to just agree with you.

Oh come on now, it didn't suck. The original 1981 movie was a high point in my then young life. Where else could I have seen such a vast array of award winning actors chew historical scenery while the lives of the gods played out before me in all that tacky stop-action glory? True, the remake doesn't have Ray Harryhausen, but on the bright side, it doesn't have Harry Hamlin with long hair and a dress either. Once you get down to the basis of he story, it rings reasonably true. I mean just because your father is Zeus, doesn't mean he can't be a putz. Ok, it does suck, but it's true that Mads Mikkelsen does look fetching in his little battle skirt.