Pertinax

Nephele: thank you again, and i will be interested to hear what you make of the audio version. Kosmo:the three field system does not need to be more labour intensive, however the key variable in the context of `"what happens next" after the plague has de-stabilised the existing agricultural status quo , was could some area actually function as a basic agricultural provider to support urban communities?.It wasnt just the destruction of the labour force and the consequent under utilisation of "Southern" soils , rather the three field sytem allowed better nitrogen fixation by enforced rotation/fallow (and the fallow follows a lack of persons to cultivate), on land capable of supporting "easy growing" staples (I mention oats which were treated as a weed ).The "North" achieved a reasonably stable (if probably undermanned) agriculture producing dull staples, whereas the "South" was paralysed by "total systems failure".Rosen is swift to point out that recovery from the plague episodes took perhaps 500 years!

The compliments and interest engendered are gratefully noted. Some references that might be useful to Asclepiades regarding likely morbidity/mortality issues: Hordern (in M Mass ) "Mediterranean Plague in the Age of Justinian (Cambrige Companion to the Age of Justinian) 2004 Biraben and le Goff " Plague in the Early Middle Ages" (in Biology of Man in History..Forster and Ranum) 1975. Christie Infectious Diseases and Clinical Practice (1969) as quoted in Scott and Duncan Biology of Plagues CUP (2001) Hollingsworth " Historical demography" cited in Stathakopolous "famine and pestilence in The Late Roman empire and Early Byzantine Empire.(Ashgate 2004)

A new resource page has appeared at the Ashmolean Museum's website : http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/ Presently of the Antonine period , but looking to be the basis of a much bigger resource.Im sure some of you will find this very exciting , as I do.

Thank you Moon , thats rather useful to me.

Traffic Bollard Spoiler I did attempt to watch an episode , but just drifted away from the screen (sober). I do not wish to spoil my Keith Michell inspired version of Good King Henry , its part of the cultural territory of my youth.Ive found myself in a similar quandry with Robin Hood (Prince of Modern Liberal Inclusivnesss) , who is forever Richard Greene. However , I was interested to see that viewers have noted the following inappropriate items on set : a modern concrete traffic bollard, victorian gates (near the Albert Hall exit of Hyde park ), and a splendid Tudor central heating radiator. Henry's armour in the Tower is robust, in modern sporting terms one would suggest a hefty prop-forward from a Rugby team or perhaps one of your "Fullbacks" (large running back?) from The NFL. http://www.burbage-jun.leics.sch.uk/HTML%2.../p95_armour.jpg

Ok , we had the usual "lets film at night to make the extras go further", but I thought this was a decent pen-portrait. It concentrated everything on the siege of Toulon, but it was coherent . A big improvement on the previous Roman effort. I thought Young Napoleon was reasonably well cast.I didnt cringe with embarrassment as I did with the Roman series.Also I recognised a street in Malta that I know, (which was nice).

Some off the cuff answers: Rosen's figure regarding mortatlity is actually a hefty downgrade of many 19th and 20 th C estimates, the actual figure is in many ways irrelevant in the context of the structural economic damage suffered by the Byzantine society ..most importantly the "freezing" of agricultural production.Learned journals of the time give detailed descriptive information of the outbreak, the episode is noted as the first "properly recorded " plague. The Y Pestis mutation from the Pseudo "mainstream" is meticulously documented, (check my blog for a previous specific entry on this particular area) The society was hit from top to bottom , Justinian himself suffered and recovered, morbidity was centered on the less wealthy (lower immune function via diet ) but mortality was so severe that the whole economic edifice was paralysed. Persia was fatally weakened , indeed the sub thread to the book is the destruction of Sassanid power , Europe suffered dreadfully , but its "fortune" was that the previously unattractive northern landscappe was able to accomodate the three field system as the nascent underpinning of subinfeudated land tenure. The road from this to nation state is a long one , but Rosen sees the scene is set for the possibility of statehood via what becomes feudal tenure.The rise of Islam is especially important in the context of populations unaffected (or less severely affected ) by Y pestis. Dont forget this "episode" was at least 200 years of ebbing, deadly epidemics, not just the first huge onslaught. Its late at night here now so thats my interim answer, im happy to take up the thread again. The book should be available via amazon edit: For me one of the most fascinating things was the "jump" of the infected flea species from the egyptian rat to the black rat , how on earth did the mutation make such a critical "decision" to go for a much more widespread host? Sheer chance and reproductive ferocity I must suppose.The mutation from Pseudo tubercolosis to pestis needs a book of its own.

That is indeed quite startling, what is the given reason for this enforced nudity?

This is the best part, because you could go home at last. The horse seems unhappy. http://youtube.com/watch?v=QwfKbSiKH0Y My only question is , why did Morrisey from the Smiths ( may only resonate with UK members) take the part of Longinus?

Even worse than I remembered, a prequel to the Jerry Springer special "I married my Horse" (I speak only the truth) , but not as moving. Now I must burn my PC screen and bury its ashes. In clip number two I see that Malcolm has borrowed Peter O'Toole's dicition (no Up Pompeii double entendres please) most particularly from his Lawrence of Arabia speech " greedy , babarous and cruel"

I remember this ironic comment: " Sir John Gielgud said he was "unaware of any sex or violence in the filmscript "after an initial reading of his salary cheque. I remember being very bored by the excess of the whole thing, my impression was that someone was trying very hard to be as naughty as possible to display how liberal they were (and failing horribly).It was a relief when Malcolm's head was finally lopped off and we could go home.

How did I get this ancient? Thank you all.

LW as regards Ostara, do you have a personal opinion on the "weight " of this festival , as it is very "neo-pagan" (rather than those of more hoary pedigree and specific purpose , (like say ,Beltaine "ner cast a clout till may be out " being a folk saying here, that is , shed no garment till the may blossom has appeared around beltaine)? I have no agenda here I am speaking conversationally, in case you were worried that I was "looking for controversy".

GO is obviously a keen follower of Doctor leech , from Blackadder... "Edmund: Look, am I paying for this personal abuse or is it extra? Doctor Leech: No, it's all part of the service. I think you're in luck though. An extraordinary new cure has just been developed for exactly this kind of sordid problem. Edmund: It wouldn't have anything to do with leeches, would it? Doctor Leech: I had no idea you were a medical man. Edmund: Never had anything you doctors didn't try to cure with leeches. A leech on my ear for ear ache, a leech on my bottom for constipation. Doctor Leech: They're marvelous, aren't they? Edmund: Well, the bottom one wasn't. I just sat there and squashed it. Doctor Leech: You know the leech comes to us on the highest authority? Edmund: Yes. I know that. Dr. Hoffmann of Stuttgart, isn't it? Doctor Leech: That's right, the great Hoffmann. Edmund: Owner of the largest leech farm of Europe. Doctor Leech: Yes. Well, I cannot spend all day gossiping. I'm a busy man. As far as this case is concerned I have now had time to think it over and I can strongly recommend a [in chorus] course of leeches. Edmund: Yes. I 'll pop a couple down my codpiece before I go to bed. Doctor Leech: No, no, no, no. Don't be ridiculous. This isn't the dark ages. Just pop four in your mouth in the morning and let them dissolve slowly. In a couple of weeks you 'll be beating your servant with a stick, just like the rest of us. " Ahh Dr Hoffman..

Diuretic, not laxative.

To add to what ive mentioned via msn: best natural painkillers are white willow and valerian, the best spinal painkiller is (believe it or not) St John Wort (but this can clash with or potentiate other chemical medicines), If the nerve pain is more toward the c6/c7 areas scutelleria would be useful. Sciatic pain caused by acidity (as aopposed to postural problems) responds to an alkaline diet (plain veggies to you! No food you actually like) and a mix of Yarrow and Burdock tinctures (astringent and anti-histamine respectively). A lot of people dont drink enough water , and modest dehydration doesnt help spinal pain at all. As you may know standing up straight is the least loading on the spine, sitting doubles it and slouching at that keyboard not only increases the load a lot further , but it causes strong shearing forces that can make disc movement worse(prolapse). I have heavy accupressure/massage every week and try to sauna as often as possible.Sleep with a very smal pillow or cushion trapped between the knees , lying on one side ..this is awkward at first , but helps keep the back pain free at night. Never sleep with a woman who weighs twice as much as yourself, she'll steal all the duvet (what did you think I was going to say?).

Hendrick's Gin is needed.

If the King looks anything like Akhenaten (who's recorded appearence is quite unusual to say the least http://allanmatthews.8m.com/egypt/museum/akhenaten1.jpg if I recall it is suggested that he suffered a chronic /congenital lack of vitamin D, (which is surprising given his possible exposure to ultraviolet) potentially leaving one open to osteoporosis, rickets and schizophrenia) then we may be a little closer to determining if he was indeed Akhenatens son. The reference to his "beautiful bick teeth" is a bit disconcerting. [A modern footnote from a piece on Rickets in developed countries: "Chronic vitamin D deficiency is often misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia because its symptoms are so similar: muscle weakness, aches and pains"]

She was big on poisons, id be very surprised if she didnt use what was a celebrated late Victorian murder weapon. Some more info: tartar emetic (the brand name) can be hidden in food , but it tastes very bitter ..I recall a woman trying to poison her loving husband by spiking his coffee, the bitter taste caused him to reject it, she then tried antimony paste on a sandwich which made him very ill , but was rumbled and prosecuted for attempted murder. The effects appear similar to arsenic poisoning, "gastric fever" , jaundiced appearence and anemia with complaints of dizziness , loss of appetite and a very dry throat. Catherine De Medici and the Borgias used antimony as a weapon of choice alongside arsenic.

Enjoyable MPC. Whilst I draw the line at the interpretation of entrails for Divine signification I am certainly happy to sacrifice animals for culinary and spiritual reasons.

Are you using haemetite beads?

You could get a "lazy wind" , that is one that will cut right through you! Im sure AC will comment , but Id have to say pack your best woolies and some hefty boots the weather could be cruel.

Alas, we are talking aft. Interestingly the skin flushes violently and body temperature rises quickly upon ingestion of around 10 mg of antimony, likewise blood raeches the "extremities", like some modern medications for , er, "strength".

Decency forbad I mention the pooping.

This item is most timely: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol...icle2764607.ece who could resist the City anyway?