Would ObWi would be better if there were many more threads, like LGM or BJ?
I realize that you weren't asking me. But IMHO anything over 1 per day is way excessive. There might be special cases. But in general there really aren't enough of us commenting here to make it necessary.
So I’m asking the UKians if the whole thing is a farce or reflects stubborn attitudes to anything on the left. Or both.
Or, just for completeness, stubborn attitudes of anyone on the left. Not saying that the left is particularly inflexible. Just that, given how far away we are, that's also a possibility.
Michael, I did get the pillow, and I can see why it works perfectly for you and many others. And it sometimes works well for me, but not always. I can't really say why. I had to take a fair amount of the hulls out because it was too full and unwieldy to begin with, and since then I use it intermittently. In fact, I alternate between three pillows, changing when the pain starts coming back. It's not perfect, but it's a hell of a lot better than it was.
On other matters, unfortunately I was too late for the Black Friday Apple TV deal, but I will be keeping my eye on it. I may cancel my Netflix sub after I finally get round to watching The Ballad of Wallis Island, since I normally watch nothing on there from one month to the next, and if I do I'll probably get Apple.
The novel variations in winds around the pole are having consequences in lots of places. In California, we've had some unseasonably warm spells. But the serious issue is rain/snow. Lack of. Last winter we got enough to refill the reservoirs. But we're heading for no rain for at least the first half of December, and that's usually the month with the precipitation.
cleek, that was the point. No work requirements though. The anona was not sufficient for a full family anyway. And rents in Rome were extremely high too (worse than NY City).
Well, full time work in several jobs and still in need of food assistance is indeed a parallel. A major difference is that any politician proposing cutting the anona would have quickly met a sticky end. And actually cutting it almost killed an emperor or two. The threat level is not yet as high in the US.
Btw, 'deserving poor' almost required "...". The main criteria were not necessarily actual need (again one could see parallels).
A discussion of early Christianity needs to consider the practices and institutions of Second Temple Judaism in addition to those of Rome. And those include the tzedekah, which was a mandatory tithe for helping the poor as well as travelers.
It was administered through religious institutions - the temple, and then synagogues during the early Rabbinic period - but there was no clear line between those religious institutions and civic or municipal government. To the degree that the Jewish community was self-governing during Roman occupation, the religious institutions *were* the government.
Ha - I've not seen any of the series, although I know everyone says they're great. I try to limit the platforms I subscribe to, and actually I watch very little TV compared to most people, but I imagine I'll weaken at some stage...
russell: Jackson Lamb is a great creation and character, and someone a joe would definitely want on their side. But the Rodmeister - what bliss he is in all his deluded glory. Have you read all of them, including the Slough House adjacent "The Secret Hours"?
"Simply loving the image of Imperial Rome as an anarchist collective!"
But all the decisions of the emperor must be ratified by a simple majority of the collective for purely internal decisions, but by a two-thirds majority for external decisions.
On “Open Thread”
Would ObWi would be better if there were many more threads, like LGM or BJ?
I realize that you weren't asking me. But IMHO anything over 1 per day is way excessive. There might be special cases. But in general there really aren't enough of us commenting here to make it necessary.
On “It’s Your Party, you can cry if…”
So I’m asking the UKians if the whole thing is a farce or reflects stubborn attitudes to anything on the left. Or both.
Or, just for completeness, stubborn attitudes of anyone on the left. Not saying that the left is particularly inflexible. Just that, given how far away we are, that's also a possibility.
On “Open Thread”
I wish it were summer...
"
lj, is it your belief that ObWi would be better if there were many more threads, like LGM or BJ?
"
A proper Open Thread! Oh frabjous day!
Michael, I did get the pillow, and I can see why it works perfectly for you and many others. And it sometimes works well for me, but not always. I can't really say why. I had to take a fair amount of the hulls out because it was too full and unwieldy to begin with, and since then I use it intermittently. In fact, I alternate between three pillows, changing when the pain starts coming back. It's not perfect, but it's a hell of a lot better than it was.
On other matters, unfortunately I was too late for the Black Friday Apple TV deal, but I will be keeping my eye on it. I may cancel my Netflix sub after I finally get round to watching The Ballad of Wallis Island, since I normally watch nothing on there from one month to the next, and if I do I'll probably get Apple.
"
The novel variations in winds around the pole are having consequences in lots of places. In California, we've had some unseasonably warm spells. But the serious issue is rain/snow. Lack of. Last winter we got enough to refill the reservoirs. But we're heading for no rain for at least the first half of December, and that's usually the month with the precipitation.
"
First snow...
On “Am I missing something?”
cleek, that was the point. No work requirements though. The anona was not sufficient for a full family anyway. And rents in Rome were extremely high too (worse than NY City).
Well, full time work in several jobs and still in need of food assistance is indeed a parallel. A major difference is that any politician proposing cutting the anona would have quickly met a sticky end. And actually cutting it almost killed an emperor or two. The threat level is not yet as high in the US.
Btw, 'deserving poor' almost required "...". The main criteria were not necessarily actual need (again one could see parallels).
"
To the degree that the Jewish community was self-governing during Roman occupation, the religious institutions *were* the government.
The Christian nationalists would be ecstatic to implement that model. Even if they reject the bits about caring for the poor.
"
A discussion of early Christianity needs to consider the practices and institutions of Second Temple Judaism in addition to those of Rome. And those include the tzedekah, which was a mandatory tithe for helping the poor as well as travelers.
It was administered through religious institutions - the temple, and then synagogues during the early Rabbinic period - but there was no clear line between those religious institutions and civic or municipal government. To the degree that the Jewish community was self-governing during Roman occupation, the religious institutions *were* the government.
"
but the Roman anona was only for the deserving poor and their number was limited by law (and excluded migrants).
just like the US.
"
Thanks lj, will check that out today!
"
cleek, but the Roman anona was only for the deserving poor and their number was limited by law (and excluded migrants).
"
Gary Oldman as Lamb is worth the price of admission.
Ho is perfectly cast as well FTM.
"
GftNC, AppleTV is 50% off for Black Friday if you want to do a binge. There are some other shows that are pretty good to binge thru as well.
"
Ha - I've not seen any of the series, although I know everyone says they're great. I try to limit the platforms I subscribe to, and actually I watch very little TV compared to most people, but I imagine I'll weaken at some stage...
"
"Have you read all of them"
I've only seen the series on Apple TV. The books are in my queue.
And yes, Roddie Ho is non-self-aware perfection.
"
russell: Jackson Lamb is a great creation and character, and someone a joe would definitely want on their side. But the Rodmeister - what bliss he is in all his deluded glory. Have you read all of them, including the Slough House adjacent "The Secret Hours"?
"
"Simply loving the image of Imperial Rome as an anarchist collective!"
But all the decisions of the emperor must be ratified by a simple majority of the collective for purely internal decisions, but by a two-thirds majority for external decisions.
Might have worked better.
"
Roddy Ho is my fave
Team Lamb here. The man is my shadow self. Or maybe not so shadow.
In early Christian times, there was no state or welfare, so I think that you can argue that, actually.
Followed by:
The Christian tradition is about communities and families and charity, not about compulsory taxation in order to pay welfare.
Somebody needs a theological / historical clean-up on aisle three.
"
no state and no welfare?
what is the whole "Render unto Caesar" thing about, if not about paying taxes to the state?
and no welfare? they had a whole goddess dedicated to the distribution of grain and they named their welfare system after her.
"
Pontius Pilate was known to be an Antifa wanna-be after none of the kids from Occupy Wall Street wanted him hanging around.
"
Simply loving the image of Imperial Rome as an anarchist collective!
"
lj: yes, I loved that!
"
Re Badanoch, this by Stephen Bush via Zoe Williams in the Grauniad
There was no state. Who does she think crucified him, an anarchist collective?
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.