@DerHasisttot too

The book is repetitious (Annoying filler) and also speculates every now and again--however, that speculation is clearly an educated guess. Take Caligula's death. Everyone knows he was assassinated. However, the author speculates that he had himself killed.

First, Caligula thought himself a god, so death wasn't really bad--in fact it was the next step since he was pretty much at the top. Hard to do more than become a god. So, his list was done, and it was all downhill.

Second, he had a wicked going away party. A boat decked out with gold floorboards, a week long orgy, then the final day. That day he got in front of everyone in the arena, had his favorite gladiator bugger his ass and then had that irreplaceable stud executed during climax.

Third, he had placed an incompetent man to replace him--of course it was speculated that the man just played the retard so he would survive. For Caligula it was hard to look bad when you had a stuttering fool replacing you.

This timeline was very convincing to the author so he noted what he thought. But he noted it may not have been the case because, as we have noted, the past was tainted by people who hated those emperors and by time itself. In fact, the author notes their tainted testimony multiple times. What more can the author do besides that?

Of course people don't care about those notes, do they?

Oh, and watching the History Channel version--there is not much of a difference... In fact, I think he cheated and took material from that rendition.

>> ^alien_concept:

>> ^DerHasisttot:
Hehe. Reminds me of a lecture I once attended, roughly translated: "Never trust a book about Nero: Ancient propaganda."
Edit: Not even Tacitus is a credible source, he used hearsay, had an own agenda, emphasised and left out facts.

@ lawdeedaw: I looked up the book on amazon, and I tend to trust the bad reviews there because they are the least likely to be written by a publicist or the author; according to the bad review, the book is not accurate. Of course this mustn't be true.

I guess most ancient history can never be truly accurate. Historians surely would gather every source they could and puzzle it together. I wonder what is accurate and how that guy on amazon knows for a fact, haha

>> ^sepatown:

Speaking of little-known female artists with an old-timey feel, you might like this: http://videosift.com/video/Lana-del-Ray-Video-Games


Glad you pimped that. An arresting, lovely voice.

Worth every promote. I like this rendition better than the original, which says a lot for the talent of Wende Snijders. Moreover, the fact that it's a woman singing gives a very particular twist to the lyrics (I love when covers do that. See this song for another example).

Good rendition, gave it an upvote. Not quite fitting for the blues channel though.

*nochannel

*rocknroll *obscure *music *livemusic

>> ^cracanata:
all good and funny till the rendition came into discussion, seriously, can we really make fun of that?
I think we can. If you hum a few bars, I will give my best rendition possible.:)

all good and funny till the rendition came into discussion, seriously, can we really make fun of that?

Is that an SNES rendition of yakety sax?

For fucks sake. Anthony! You're a congressman. You can not send out digital renditions of your junk and expect it to not become public. I thought you were smarter than that. You were doing good work damnit! /sad

Far better than the Hendrix rendition, IMO.

Glen Greenwald on Rendition (which often results in torture). The president should not have the power to unilaterally render anyone foreign or domestic to another country for any reason.
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2009/02/09/state_secrets

It is not the presidents place to strike down Habeas Corpus or reinstate it is left up to the SCOTUS to interpret whether the writ can be removed or not. How that relates to the consensus of the people I still don't understand.
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2008/06/12/boumediene

Whether or not the Executive Branch actually abides by the writs of the constitution is another thing entirely. The branches can do whatever they wish until another branch or the people file complaint against them and the checks and balances actually take place.
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2009/04/11/bagram

The above links and points are merely my interpretation of things evident during Obama's presidency they are wholly my opinion and therefore could be wrong. He inherited power and did not return it which is typical of any one holding the POTUS, and appears to be using that power (see any number of Greenwald's articles on Obama and Civil Liberties).

Everyone, all US citizens need to stop believing shit and actually use some critical thought. Belief without thorough review of evidence is faith, and faith is much more fallible than evidentiary claims. Even if those evidentiary claims are interpreted wrongly, which mine might be.

>> ^dystopianfuturetoday:

Obama went into office with the intention of ending torture, restoring Habeas Corpus, ending the patriot act, ending the war in Iraq and creating public health care system.

I doubt he actually believes that -- I think he is forestalling the argument that some believe we ARE safer. That's just my guess though.


>> ^entr0py:

I'm really surprised Ron Paul actually thinks that policies like the patriot act make us safer, even if he thinks it's not worth it. Policies like warrantless wiretapping, extraordinary rendition, water torture and unlimited "detention" without trial have only made us into villains. Much of the world's outrage at our behavior is justified, and some of that rage will translate into further attacks.

I'm really surprised Ron Paul actually thinks that policies like the patriot act make us safer, even if he thinks it's not worth it. Policies like warrantless wiretapping, extraordinary rendition, water torture and unlimited "detention" without trial have only made us into villains. Much of the world's outrage at our behavior is justified, and some of that rage will translate into further attacks.

Reddit was completely trashing the music, but I thought it was a pretty good rendition of the often-covered song.

13 more comments have been lost in the ether at this killed duplicate.

*isdupe
>> ^paul4dirt:

dupeof=http://videosift.com/video/Imaginative-Girl-Spins-A-Yarn