Open Thread Monday

Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high. Take a look it's in a book a reading rainbow…

I haven't watched it in years, but am very sad to hear "Reading Rainbow" is gone.

Sorry Buckwheat—but now I'm looking….

Check out Peter Robinson's Uncommon Knowledge at National Review Online; he has just begun a week-long series of interviews with Michigan's Thaddeus McCotter—it's a don't miss!

Sent them to friends of mine in MI; one reports that the Dems have a big target on TM, so if you can afford to support congressmen from other districts (I sent money to Bachman last fall) consider sending some his way—he will need the help.

Morning Cris – I was actually thinking this one might have been "The Robe" which was a vastly superior movie. It's hard to tell from just looking at the clip

Which one was filmed in black and white?

This should be good news, since the last one was pretty awesome: Stallone is going to do Rambo V.

"Variety says the storyline for the fifth film revolves around Rambo fighting his way through human traffickers and drug lords to rescue a young girl abducted near the U.S.-Mexico border."

Not entirely original but very timely, given how these private narco-armies are in the news more and more. They are probably better armed and trained than the Burmese army by now.

I'm sure you're right. I actually went and looked for a crappy faux-biblical epic starring Richard Burton and filmed in black-and-white, and came up as empty as Teddy Kennedy's conscience.

Here ya go
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.45...

So who knew Van Jones AKA green jobs czar helped Arianna Huffington AKA Puff HO, run for Governor of CA.
http://www.boomfox.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=3...

Good question as to whether the Burton photo is from "The Robe" or "Cleopatra." Both were in color and "The Robe" was in "Glorious Cinemascope." I'm betting it is from "The Robe" (1953) since Dick looks like he's channeling Marlon Brando right out of "Streetcar Named Desire." My mother was English and had friends who lived in Port Talbot, Wales near the village where Burton (born Richard Jenkins) hailed from. My parents met several members of the Jenkins family and said that they were the nicest most down-to-earth people imaginable. Everyone remembered Burton fondly and he frequently returned home to hold court in the local pubs visiting old friends and telling juicy show-biz stories.

Scarborough: Obama Admin Must Have Signed Off On Lockerbie Terrorist Release
On today's Morning Joe, Scarborough left no doubt that he believes the Obama administration acquiesced to the release by the British government of Abdelbaset Al Megrahi, the convicted Lockerbie murderer and terrorist.
Scarborough was reacting to reports suggesting that, contrary to initial claims, the release was done at the behest of Gordon Brown's British government, and was not an independent move by Scotland.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/mark-finkelstein/200...
/nothing to see here…move along

Robinson's interview with McCotter is terrific. McCotter's explanation of how the GOP has moved away from its philosophy is excellent. I enjoy listening to McCotter speak. Young, intelligent, responsible leader–listening to him gives me hope for the future. I'll be tuning in the rest of the week to learn more.

Caligula–thought about him Saturday. Wonder if he left a trail of dead women and waitress sandwiches?

the ''Robe' it is…

And Burton was pretty good in a not very good fiilm. Still, it's central Christian theme is compelling and it is better than 'Cleopatra' by a long shot.

Drunken, hammy sod yes- but a memorably good one…

I hope he's right. I spent a majority of my life as a left leaning independent, and only completely broke away from them by the democrats appalling, un-American, down right treasouns actions during the early years of the Iraq war. So I don't have a lot of experience with republicans. But what I've seen over the last 8 years does not fill me with confidence.

Considering the bar, at this point is simply to not be democrats, the GOP had better come up with something and soon.

This is going to be very interesting. If it proves to be true then Barry really is an idiot. (not that he isn't)

**SPOILER:** Given that Pullo ended the series as essentially the Roman Mafia Don (not a position good for long life) and Vorenus likely died, not much chance either would have been heading to Judea.e. **END SPOILER**

They would likely be long dead. Remember when the series ended, Augustus had just become emperor, and would reign for about 40 years. It was Tiberius who dealt with Jesus, and that was late in his reign. Interesting you refer to Vorenus' philosophy–I saw him as a very conservative, very religious man throughout the series: he was the one praying and sacrificing devoutly, and it semed to me he definitely regained his (pagan) faith at the end. In the old "I, Claudius" series, I remember the Roman officials pretty much tossing off a comment about some preacher from the boonies who started a cult that would "never amount to a thing." I doubt the average Roman was aware of Jesus at all during His lifetime. Personally, I've always thought the Roman Empire collapsed on its' own corrupt self; Christianity played a much smaller role than old Hollywood would have us believe. By the time Constantine converted what was left of the Empire was a fractured mess.

Isn't there suppose to be an exemption for Acorn Employes?? Just kidding!

but really, how can this be enforced? Is it going to be a question on the Census forms? (check here if you own more firearms than bathrooms?

The sponsor of this should be force to read 'Unintended Consequences' TWICE

All valid points. The Empire had reached stable and defensible frontiers — at least in Europe: the Rhine, the Danube and just below the Scottish highlands — the Parthian border was always in flux. But the biggest problem was that the legions became less and less "Roman." Legionnaires stationed at far-flug outposts "went native" and instead of Romanizing barbarians in military service or using them in an auxiliary role (which the legions had always done), the Empire started hiring barbarian mercenaries — who were neither assimilated into Roman culture, nor trained in Roman military discipline and tactics — for its defense.

I happen to agree with both you and maatkare on this one. The question is did the "moral decay and corruption" lead to the multiculturalism and failure to control the border or was it the other way around?

As I said at the end of the post, I realize they would either be dead or extremely old by the time of Christ and the Apostles. However, if Xena and Hercules can jump around in time, why not Vorenus and Pullo. Actually, I'm kidding on that time travel deal. My post was more of a what if scenario rather than something that could occur in the logical time frame of the originial series.

Personally, I don't think Vorenus is dead. Pullo implies that but it clearly leaves the door open to continue the series or perhaps a made for tv movie.

How are you defining 'multiculturalism,' which wasn't a concept in the Roman's day? Are you just using it as a euphemism for conquering lots of ethnic groups? I think history shows that empires, no matter how efficient and ruthless, can't hold onto such vast territories without some level of assimilation occurring and 'weakening' of the initial drive to conquest. Happened to the Spartans, Mongols, Alexander the Great, Romans, etc. Holding millions under your thumb gets harder as the centuries go on! After a while the crucifixions and mass, punitive slaughtering just lose their 'umph,' especially when your men are killing their wive's families, not just bunches of faceless barbarians.

I will not be convinced until I see the lifeless body. : )

What got the Christians in trouble was not that they had another god. The Romans had many gods and welcome them all so long as the followers paid tribute to Caesar as god. The Christians refused and suffered for their refusal.

As someone else suggested.. even thought Stallone's not having Rambo go after Jihadists, he's been going after groups that while not so obvious, have been among some of those "organizations" that we've all considered a threat to US Security…

I never saw the Romans as pro-assimilation, just pro-pay your taxes and shut up. Worship as you wish, just build a few bathhouses and aqueducts and we'll get along fine. Rome itself stayed very Roman; it was the far-flung empire that frayed, and an inefficient central government didn't keep up. IIRC, Citizenship wasn't given out lightely until much later on. (remember in "Rome" the disgust among the old, aristocratic senators when Caesar brought in toga-clad, long-haired celts & gauls as senators; ugh!) Personally, I don't think it's possible to expand your borders forcibly without some cultural blowback. The Roman brought their demise on themselves over time, but has any group of people ever conquered the world so efficiently wearing leather mini-skirts??

Metamucil in the eyes to blind their opponents.

That is the final scene from 'The Robe'. It is where Marcellus (Burton) is brought on trial before the Emperor Caligula on charges of treason because Marcellus had become a Christian. The beautiful Jean Simmons is also in that scene and the ending is a real tear jerker. (Trust me, I weep over this scene every Easter.)

Dude, Pee Wee Herman can eat MAATT DAMON for breakfast.

Jet powered scooters/wheel chairs. What are they called again? I always tune out those commercials.

Picture the great chase in Seinfeld where George was getting all kinds of special perks at the office because they thought he was disabled, and one was a scooter.

Sort of hard to avoid when you insist on conquering the known world, no? Other factors: their bloated bureaucracy, slave-driven economy which left most of the citizens out of work, and oh, yes, a string of nutty, inbred, hereditary rulers. Or maybe it was the lead.

That is one possibility, but we must not project our ideas of self-determination and nationalism into that age. As Bennett Marco said, the Roman Empire was mainly overthrown from outside forces, basically migrating/invading peoples they couldn´t or wouldn´t stop from moving into the Empire, taking over land, shrinking the tax base, while the elites were unable to deal with them. The kings that partly replaced the Roman Empire were not indigenous. Spain, North Africa and Italy ended up under the rule of Germanic tribes. What did the locals have to say about that?

ah, the AARP high tech weaponry!

Yes, that chase was a classic!

Wow! You guys smell MUCH worse than the last guys! ;-D

Thanks! BTW, "Rome: the Complete Series" hits dvd & blu-ray Nov. 17th according to dvdreview.com. I already own both seasons, so unless it comes with a Pullo in the arena playset, I'll prob. stick with the sets I have.

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