Well, he just lost the Northeast... [orichalcum]

Breaking new ground in hedging, Bill Richardson claims to be both a Red Sox and a Yankees fan.

I'd like to have more support for Richardson. He's got lots of foreign policy and governmental experience and seems like a nice guy and is from a minority background. But the man seems to have extraordinarily low charisma for a trained diplomat.

I also still remain confused about the depth of Hillary Clinton's support, given that I have a hard time locating hard-core Clinton fans.

Lots of grading to do. Amusingly, my class's Wikipedia articles have already changed the Google results for a variety of my own common research topics.

Meanwhile, my students remain confused about Constantine's family tree. Not that I blame them - what possessed him to name his sons Constantine, Constantius (II, after his father), and Constans? Even in Latin it's not much better.

The Romans needed more names. If I ever have a time machine, after I do the important things I'll give the Romans an extra two dozen first names and the Welsh and Czechs some real vowels.

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well, no one ever accused Constantine about not having enough hubris!

GO YANKS! *ducks and runs*

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Hey, I got no problem with the Yankees. But then, I cheer for the Greens (Roman Empire joke).

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They do say the Yankees' attitude is "Bow before the glory of Rome." :-)

And so they should. :) Besides, the Greens had professional cooks who gave their fans lavish banquets after the races. Where are my lavish banquets, George Steinbrunner?

Even better than hot dogs!

Who were the Greens? A team? A group that sponsored racers?

So, all over the Roman Empire, there were four teams, two main ones, the Blues and Greens, and two lesser ones, the Reds and Whites. If you did well on the Blue chariot racing team in Podunkopolis, your contract might get bought by the Green or Red (or Blue) team in Cosmopolis, and you'd switch loyalties. Blues and Whites would generally work together, as would Greens and Reds. Within a city, the teams served not just as factions of fans but as de facto clubs and political associations, patronizing dancers and chefs as well as chariot racers. So, essentially, the sponsor group, but also the racers themselves.

And where was he in 2003-4, I ask you! Dude, I've tried to be both a Red Sox and Yankees fan. I was very ecumenical for a little while, and then it totally failed. It's just not possible!

Also, while you're giving the Romans some new names, could you please spare a few for the early 12th century? There are entirely too many Williams.

Good luck with the grading! *wave pompoms* Rah rah! you can do it!

Heck, just go back 25 or 30 years and post signs at a few North American hospitals noting that the names "Emily" and "Elizabeth" have sold out, and will not be available again until next year.

Right. Williams banned from the 12th century, Katherines from the 15th and early 16th, Emily, Elizabeth, and Emma from the late 20th, to's getting an extra 'o.' And "Johns" restricted to one per kindergarten, everywhere.

I may need a bigger time machine.

I do remember the admissions department saying that "Ben" was the most popular name in my college class. I'm not quite sure why parents of our social-economic stratum decided why that name was so cool circa 30 years ago, but they did.

Of course, "David" seems to have been reasonably popular for the past 3,000 years. It never really became the number 1 name, but it seldom fell below the top 10 either.

I totally agree on the low charisma. Richardson gave a speech at the Presidential Scholars thing in 1997 when he was Secretary of Energy, and I remember being pretty unimpressed. One of us asked some penetrating question, and he acted like he couldn't believe something that smart could come out of our mouths. Dude, it's a bunch of smart 18-year-olds anxious to prove themselves. Did you expect "What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?" He definitely talked down to us. I realize it's only one speech, but I've gotten a bad vibe from him ever since.

The Wikipedia assignment is a great idea. Good luck with the grading.

After you give the Romans more names, and the Welsh and Czechs real vowels, do you think you could make 'to' and 'too' the same word? Because I really *like* grammar and that distinction pisses me off.

I would give pretty much any high-level cabinet post to Bill Richardson. And if a plane then hit the White House and knocked out everyone else in line for succession to the Presidency, I'd be entirely comfortable with him as President. But I'm afraid that's the only way he's getting there...

What amazes me is how much money no-hoper or slim-hoper presidential candidates still manage to raise...

I'm not saying he wouldn't be a good President. He just doesn't seem to be a very good candidate.

orichalcum

Well, he just lost the Northeast...

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