Holy Roman Party XVII: Nanu Nanu - Total War Heaven Forum

Terikel Grayhair
Imperator
(id: Terikel706)

posted 15 May 2016 05:04 EDT (US) 2326 / 2504

Eurovision marathon complete.

Straya did damned well- congrats, Down Under. The girl could sing her ass off.

I am glad Russia did not win. Not because it is a smack in Putin's face, which I feel is why a lot of people voted for Ukraine, but because while the singing was good and the song itself catchy, it seemed most of the performance itself relied on the same technical graphics stuff that won last year. I know that emulation is the child of adoration, but still. Come up with your own gimmicks. Without the techno graphics, Russia's song was simply very good, but not exceptional. Third palce was deserved.

The Austrian chick was cute! By the gods, that song makes me happy. I don't understand a word of it, but it won't leave my head, either. Same with Douwe Bob's. A good number, but it sticks, and that increases its value. The only thing I remember about the Ukrainian winning song was that soldiers with guns came and killed everyone, then there was a lot of crying and wailing. I was wondering, who was doing the crying and wailing if the soldiers with their guns killed everyone?

It would have been cool if Sounds of Silence had won, though. That one sticks in my head, too.

|||||||||||||||| A transplanted Viking, born a millennium too late. |||||||||||||||||
|||||||||||||||| Too many Awards to list in Signature, sorry lords...|||||||||||||||||
|||||||||||||||| Listed on my page for your convenience and envy.|||||||||||||||||
Somewhere over the EXCO Rainbow
Master Skald, Order of the Silver Quill, Guild of the Skalds
Champion of the Sepia Joust- Joust I, II, IV, VI, VII, VIII

[This message has been edited by Terikel Grayhair (edited 05-16-2016 @ 04:18 AM).]

Awesome Eagle
Spear of Mars
(id: awesomated88)

posted 16 May 2016 17:07 EDT (US) 2327 / 2504

The Australian entry was pretty decent if i dont say so myself.

Good on Ukraine, they need some good news.

Currently buried under an avalanche of uni work. Multiple essays on the work. One on why Australia set up the RAN instead of relying completely on the Royal Navy, one on Gaius Flavius Fimbria- a general of the Sullan period and another Philosophy essay that i have to start. Needless to say, i am pretty busy these days with all that combined with work and housekeeping duties (On the plus side, i am making a stir fry tonight since my GF is out at night school. Good time to my self if i dont say so myself, and when i am on uni holidays it will by Total War nights)

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it- George Santayana
History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are- David C. McCullough
Wars not make one great- Yoda

Terikel Grayhair
Imperator
(id: Terikel706)

posted 18 May 2016 10:51 EDT (US) 2328 / 2504

Yeah, she was awesome.

Good luck on your uni paper. Words of wisdom: be thorough, and proofread!

Nothings sucks more than delivering a top-notch paper only to notice you misspelled the topic. (Not from personal experience).

|||||||||||||||| A transplanted Viking, born a millennium too late. |||||||||||||||||
|||||||||||||||| Too many Awards to list in Signature, sorry lords...|||||||||||||||||
|||||||||||||||| Listed on my page for your convenience and envy.|||||||||||||||||
Somewhere over the EXCO Rainbow
Master Skald, Order of the Silver Quill, Guild of the Skalds
Champion of the Sepia Joust- Joust I, II, IV, VI, VII, VIII

Pitt
Tribunus Laticlavius

posted 21 May 2016 04:45 EDT (US) 2329 / 2504

Fimbria was the violent barbarian who massacred Greeks and killed himself rather than fight Sulla, right?

From memory, his troops were kept in the east for a couple of decades, later fighting under Lucullus when he whipped Mithradates and Tigranes, then mutinying and letting those troublemakers recapture their lost territories.

"Into the face of the young man who sat on the terrace of the Hotel Magnifique at Cannes there had crept a look of furtive shame, the shifty, hangdog look which announces that an Englishman is about to talk French." - P.G. Wodehouse, The Luck of the Bodkins

Terikel Grayhair
Imperator
(id: Terikel706)

posted 21 May 2016 06:40 EDT (US) 2330 / 2504

That's pretty much how I remember him and his legacy as well.

Though it does pose to me a question: was he really that bad, or was that the victors writing the history and making him out worse than he was to justify their own advances (like what the historians of Vespasian's time did to Vitellius. He was painted as an obese oaf, but the two or three laws he did manage to pass in his few months in office were repeated 'by all good emperors').

|||||||||||||||| A transplanted Viking, born a millennium too late. |||||||||||||||||
|||||||||||||||| Too many Awards to list in Signature, sorry lords...|||||||||||||||||
|||||||||||||||| Listed on my page for your convenience and envy.|||||||||||||||||
Somewhere over the EXCO Rainbow
Master Skald, Order of the Silver Quill, Guild of the Skalds
Champion of the Sepia Joust- Joust I, II, IV, VI, VII, VIII

Pitt
Tribunus Laticlavius

posted 23 May 2016 07:01 EDT (US) 2331 / 2504

Vespasian and Titus (and indeed the four good emperors) had good propagandists (Domitian not so much), and in any event people may just have been glad peace was restored.

The beginning of Nero's reign was supposedly quite good too, but was generally ascribed to Seneca's influence.

Speaking of proofreading, I noticed I had misspelled a case in my written submissions shortly after filing them. The judge noticed. In my defence, the name had rather too many consonants and too few vowels in it.

"Into the face of the young man who sat on the terrace of the Hotel Magnifique at Cannes there had crept a look of furtive shame, the shifty, hangdog look which announces that an Englishman is about to talk French." - P.G. Wodehouse, The Luck of the Bodkins

[This message has been edited by Pitt (edited 05-23-2016 @ 07:31 AM).]

Terikel Grayhair
Imperator
(id: Terikel706)

posted 24 May 2016 02:36 EDT (US) 2332 / 2504

Vespasian and Titus were not in power long enough to go mad.

Vespasian died after ten years, while Titus croaked after about three- long enough to do something of note, but too soon to go mad or grow paranoid.

Poor Domitian was raised to be his much-older brother's supporter and little else. He was in power a long time- but like Tiberius and Claudius, toward the end he too lost his grip on his mind and descended into paranoia and phobias, which eventually got him killed. But even those who damned his memory once he was gone admitted he started out well.

|||||||||||||||| A transplanted Viking, born a millennium too late. |||||||||||||||||
|||||||||||||||| Too many Awards to list in Signature, sorry lords...|||||||||||||||||
|||||||||||||||| Listed on my page for your convenience and envy.|||||||||||||||||
Somewhere over the EXCO Rainbow
Master Skald, Order of the Silver Quill, Guild of the Skalds
Champion of the Sepia Joust- Joust I, II, IV, VI, VII, VIII

Awesome Eagle
Spear of Mars
(id: awesomated88)

posted 27 May 2016 17:19 EDT (US) 2333 / 2504

Fimbria was the violent barbarian who massacred Greeks and killed himself rather than fight Sulla, right?

From memory, his troops were kept in the east for a couple of decades, later fighting under Lucullus when he whipped Mithradates and Tigranes, then mutinying and letting those troublemakers recapture their lost territories.

That is the presentation of him in most Roman histories. However, the history by Memnon of Heraclea (SP?) holds a far more balanced opinion on the actions of Fimbria and his legions. What is not agreed on in the sources is how Fimbria came to command his legions (The previous encombant Flaccus was killed), how successful Fimbria was, his numerous victories (One could argue he caused more harm to Mithridates then Sulla in the first mithridatic war), and his legacy.

The Fimbrian legions were utilized by Plutarch and other Roman sources to continually degrade the character of Fimbria, since the Fimbrian legions are pictured as untrustworthy, mutinous and open to desertion.

SHould be an interesting piece of work when it is completed.

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it- George Santayana
History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are- David C. McCullough
Wars not make one great- Yoda

Pitt
Tribunus Laticlavius

posted 29 May 2016 05:20 EDT (US) 2334 / 2504

Memnon's history is fairly thin on the Mithridatic War, isn't it?

It's probably just one more of the issues we'll never be able to know with any real degree of confidence. Barring the unfortunately remote possibility of discovering some ancient historian's library.

"Into the face of the young man who sat on the terrace of the Hotel Magnifique at Cannes there had crept a look of furtive shame, the shifty, hangdog look which announces that an Englishman is about to talk French." - P.G. Wodehouse, The Luck of the Bodkins

Edorix
High King of Britain

posted 29 May 2016 05:56 EDT (US) 2335 / 2504

just one more of the issues we'll never be able to know with any real degree of confidence.

I feel like my entire degree has been about these things... graduating in about a month.

My four final exams are starting in a couple of days... not expecting to get the grade I would ideally like just because I am terrible at making myself revise. Wasted an entire day of revision watching cartoons on youtube yesterday.

[This message has been edited by Edorix (edited 05-29-2016 @ 06:04 AM).]

Awesome Eagle
Spear of Mars
(id: awesomated88)

posted 29 May 2016 21:21 EDT (US) 2336 / 2504

Memnon's history is fairly thin on the Mithridatic War, isn't it?

It is, but has some interesting points. Particularly, as i have said, when we compare the presentation of Fimbria by him then a another source such as Appian.

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it- George Santayana
History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are- David C. McCullough
Wars not make one great- Yoda

Terikel Grayhair
Imperator
(id: Terikel706)

posted 30 May 2016 03:54 EDT (US) 2337 / 2504

Good Luck, Edorix.

Study hard and stay away from here until you get your sheepskin, then you must come back regularly as you will have lost all reasonable excuses to stay away.

|||||||||||||||| A transplanted Viking, born a millennium too late. |||||||||||||||||
|||||||||||||||| Too many Awards to list in Signature, sorry lords...|||||||||||||||||
|||||||||||||||| Listed on my page for your convenience and envy.|||||||||||||||||
Somewhere over the EXCO Rainbow
Master Skald, Order of the Silver Quill, Guild of the Skalds
Champion of the Sepia Joust- Joust I, II, IV, VI, VII, VIII

[This message has been edited by Terikel Grayhair (edited 05-30-2016 @ 03:57 AM).]

Pitt
Tribunus Laticlavius

posted 30 May 2016 06:30 EDT (US) 2338 / 2504

Good luck Edorix.

It is, but has some interesting points. Particularly, as i have said, when we compare the presentation of Fimbria by him then a another source such as Appian.

I suspect the coverage in these other surviving sources is ultimately derived from, or heavily influenced by, Sull a's lost memoirs. Plutarch certainly had access to them and doubtless Appian too.

"Into the face of the young man who sat on the terrace of the Hotel Magnifique at Cannes there had crept a look of furtive shame, the shifty, hangdog look which announces that an Englishman is about to talk French." - P.G. Wodehouse, The Luck of the Bodkins

[This message has been edited by Pitt (edited 05-30-2016 @ 06:32 AM).]

Awesome Eagle
Spear of Mars
(id: awesomated88)

posted 30 May 2016 17:15 EDT (US) 2339 / 2504

I suspect the coverage in these other surviving sources is ultimately derived from, or heavily influenced by, Sulla's lost memoirs. Plutarch certainly had access to them and doubtless Appian too.

That is my belief as well. Plutarch mentions on numerous occasions that he is working with Sulla's memoirs as a primary source. Following the Sullan Civil War, i would argue that the pro-Sullan historical tradition is the only historical tradition that survives. I have seen an assertion by a scholar that it is possible Memnon's account of Fimbria and Mithridatic war could be working partially from the lost histories of King Juba II, which, if i understand the scholar correctly, did hold a more pro-marian perspective.

Either way, It should be an interesting essay once completed.

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it- George Santayana
History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are- David C. McCullough
Wars not make one great- Yoda

General Sajaru
Tribunus Laticlavius

posted 01 June 2016 06:11 EDT (US) 2340 / 2504

Good luck Edorix!

Dare I ask if you have anything lined up for the summer/going forward?

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction." - Ronald Reagan
"Judge them not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Pick up a rifle and you change instantly from a subject to a citizen." - Jeff Cooper
"I like my enemies like James Bond likes his martinis- shaken, not stirred."
My first book, The King's Own

Terikel Grayhair
Imperator
(id: Terikel706)

posted 04 June 2016 11:04 EDT (US) 2341 / 2504

Muhammed Ali has passed.

Once floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee, he was eventually brought low by respiratory illness.

He was an icon to his generation, and will be missed.

|||||||||||||||| A transplanted Viking, born a millennium too late. |||||||||||||||||
|||||||||||||||| Too many Awards to list in Signature, sorry lords...|||||||||||||||||
|||||||||||||||| Listed on my page for your convenience and envy.|||||||||||||||||
Somewhere over the EXCO Rainbow
Master Skald, Order of the Silver Quill, Guild of the Skalds
Champion of the Sepia Joust- Joust I, II, IV, VI, VII, VIII

[This message has been edited by Terikel Grayhair (edited 06-25-2016 @ 09:14 AM).]

Awesome Eagle
Spear of Mars
(id: awesomated88)

posted 05 June 2016 23:56 EDT (US) 2342 / 2504

We lost another good one...

Now is it just me, or do we happen to be losing alot of famous people this year? Or am i just noticing for once?

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it- George Santayana
History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are- David C. McCullough
Wars not make one great- Yoda

Terikel Grayhair
Imperator
(id: Terikel706)

posted 06 June 2016 11:59 EDT (US) 2343 / 2504

You are getting old and noticing obituaries more often as your subconscious subtracts your present age from their final one in a vain and unsuccessful attempt to determine how much time you have allotted.

It does not work that way. Especially for me. Subtracting my age from theirs results in negative numbers.

So it is a sign of maturity that you notice more the passing of others.

|||||||||||||||| A transplanted Viking, born a millennium too late. |||||||||||||||||
|||||||||||||||| Too many Awards to list in Signature, sorry lords...|||||||||||||||||
|||||||||||||||| Listed on my page for your convenience and envy.|||||||||||||||||
Somewhere over the EXCO Rainbow
Master Skald, Order of the Silver Quill, Guild of the Skalds
Champion of the Sepia Joust- Joust I, II, IV, VI, VII, VIII

Edorix
High King of Britain

posted 06 June 2016 14:16 EDT (US) 2344 / 2504

Thanks for the luck-wishing. Free at last!

Dare I ask if you have anything lined up for the summer/going forward?

Ahahahahahaha... you jest, I presume!

Absolutely no clue.

Pitt
Tribunus Laticlavius

posted 24 June 2016 00:12 EDT (US) 2345 / 2504

Interesting times for Britain and Europe.

"Into the face of the young man who sat on the terrace of the Hotel Magnifique at Cannes there had crept a look of furtive shame, the shifty, hangdog look which announces that an Englishman is about to talk French." - P.G. Wodehouse, The Luck of the Bodkins

Awesome Eagle
Spear of Mars
(id: awesomated88)

posted 24 June 2016 19:56 EDT (US) 2346 / 2504

And now it is spilling out into the world with the world economy feeling it.

But nonetheless tis' and interesting time to be alive...

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it- George Santayana
History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are- David C. McCullough
Wars not make one great- Yoda

Pitt
Tribunus Laticlavius

posted 25 June 2016 02:37 EDT (US) 2347 / 2504

The impact on the rest of the world is just stock markets getting the jitters and briefly panicking at the unexpected result.

Nothing has actually changed yet. To the extent it will over the next couple of years, I don't really see how it damages the real economy in the rest of the world.

"Into the face of the young man who sat on the terrace of the Hotel Magnifique at Cannes there had crept a look of furtive shame, the shifty, hangdog look which announces that an Englishman is about to talk French." - P.G. Wodehouse, The Luck of the Bodkins

Edorix
High King of Britain

posted 27 June 2016 05:54 EDT (US) 2348 / 2504

I am feeling (probably temporarily...?) a bit less patriotic than I have felt for many years... and quite a lot more uncertain about the future.

However I have high hopes things will be sorted out sensibly and relatively little will change for Britain's relationship with the EU.

I am really frustrated however by the denial of so many remain voters and the hysteria in the British press. There is a lot of talk of somehow ignoring/vetoing/redoing the referendum and it's all pure wishful thinking. Clearly, the only thing to do is go forward from here and do the best we can - indeed try to make the most of it.

I do believe that we will be able to make a sensible and mutually beneficial deal with the EU that preserves full access to the single market. Britain has most to lose, but punitive terms would I think be a truly Pyrrhic victory for the EU which would only exacerbate eurosceptic feeling in many of the continent's most important members.

The panic in this country is pervasive, and very excessive in my social circles. Many who voted to leave however are astonishingly oblivious - it really does underline just how polarised the country has become. Lower-class Leavers and middle-class Remainers (and of course I realise there are many who do not fit that generalisation, I was nearly one of them) really do not see eye to eye at all. They are living in different worlds.

Some opinions on topics which are key sources of hysteria among my friends and family:
1) Scotland isn't going anywhere, for half a dozen reasons at several levels (Scottish public opinion and the SNP's long-term interests, the UK government, the EU's accession rules...)
2) We will continue to have EEA membership one way or the other - i.e., even if it costs us control of migration from the EU as was promised. All parties know there would be an uncontrollable rout if we lost access to the single market; given the scale of the risk, I am quite confident that economic necessity would trump the Tories' need for border control (even if it were passed to another referendum) - if it does indeed turn out that this is the price of EEA access: Boris Johnson in any case has demonstrated that he is anticipating a continuation of full freedom of movement.
3) Johnson cannot be allowed to become PM. It would be a disaster for the country on every possible level, because he is an irresponsible lying incompetent; and also if course because the European allies we would need to be negotiating with would understandably/inevitably despise him.

Exciting times indeed.

[This message has been edited by Edorix (edited 06-27-2016 @ 06:03 AM).]

Terikel Grayhair
Imperator
(id: Terikel706)

posted 27 June 2016 12:25 EDT (US) 2349 / 2504

Thy kingdom totters, Edorix.

Let us hope, as thou does say, that sensible brains prevail and are not eaten by the ravaging horde of zombies mindlessly chanting their Victory cries or wails of despair that their side lost.

|||||||||||||||| A transplanted Viking, born a millennium too late. |||||||||||||||||
|||||||||||||||| Too many Awards to list in Signature, sorry lords...|||||||||||||||||
|||||||||||||||| Listed on my page for your convenience and envy.|||||||||||||||||
Somewhere over the EXCO Rainbow
Master Skald, Order of the Silver Quill, Guild of the Skalds
Champion of the Sepia Joust- Joust I, II, IV, VI, VII, VIII

Awesome Eagle
Spear of Mars
(id: awesomated88)

posted 07 July 2016 21:57 EDT (US) 2350 / 2504

I am back from a viking trip around the south pacific. How are we all?

I return to see what could shape up to be a hung Australian parliament. This is not good news

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it- George Santayana
History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are- David C. McCullough
Wars not make one great- Yoda