Nero's revolving dining room, er, ceiling

Nero's revolving dining room has been unearthed by archaeologists in Rome says AP.
It seems to fit in with Suetonius' account in the Lives of the Caesars but the impression given by all the news coverage is that the actual room moved.



But it is more likely that the roof revolved (see Graves' translation of Suetonius below). It's a great discovery but it's sloppy journalism.



For more on Nero, and he was quite a guy, go here.

Don't look for blame, look for change

In The Guardian Simon Jenkins says it is all to easy to blame the police in cases like that of Fiona Pilkington.
He claims that we need stronger local institutions to moderate the behaviour of so-called feral Britain. Jenkins contrasts the response here to the likely reaction in France or Italy.
It's refreshing to see someone moving beyond the blame game and on to what we should do to avoid it happening again and again.
We have to try.

Readers lead and The Sun follows

So The Sun has declared for the Conservatives.
But this looks like more a case of following the tide of public opinion rather than seeking to lead it.
Nobody wants to be on the losing side and The Sun has put its chips on blue and taken them away from red.
Spin the wheel.

Staffordshire hoard dig criticised

There has been some measured, and not so measured, criticism of the dig that unearthed the Staffordshire hoard.
Archaeologists exposed the seventh century gold after a metal detectorist came across the finds in a farmer's field.
All well and good so far, but now the amateur video of the dig has surfaced to be met with a barrage of less than complimentary comments about the way in which the excavation was carried out.



Paul Barford has an excellent blog on the Portable Antiquities Scheme and has a balanced and considered piece on the dig.
He says: 'This video creates the impression of an extremely unprofessional excavation and as a British archaeologist, frankly I am ashamed.
'Basically the video shows the objects being dug up by these archaeologists like potatoes.'
As Paul adds, questions need to be asked about what went on in Staffordshire and why.
Our heritage is at stake.

Is drug running really easy money?

The Independent's Tom Sutcliffe claims that the drug bust by HMS Iron Duke is likely to make people think: 'Just look at how much this stuff is worth, it seems to say, and how relatively easy it is to hide it. Isn't this a business you should be thinking of getting into?'
It certainly did nothing to attract me to the 'glamour' world of international drug smuggling.
But what I found more concerning was the trouble that the gunners on the Iron Duke had in hitting a stationary target back in July.
Just look at the ammo they used - couldn't they just have pulled the plug?

Not so brave Kevin Maguire

You have got to admire the Daily Mirror's Kevin Maguire.
Today he declares that: 'Gordon Brown will lead Labour into the election'.
Unequivocal stuff that could so easily come back to haunt him, you might think.
But of course, if it does come off the Mirror, and Kev, can say 'I told you so' or conveniently forget about it if it doesn't.
It's a win-win situation, so maybe he's not quite so brave after all.

Political party scrappage scheme

The government is to extend its political party scrappage scheme.
The scheme, which started in May, gives voters £2,000 off a new party if they trade in one at least 10 years old.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson is set to announce the move, which has been called for by the electorate, in his Labour Party conference speech.
Voters have urged Chancellor Alistair Darling to extend the scheme to help save democracy amid concerns that faith in politicians would fall sharply without continued incentives to boost credibility.
"It is far from certain that consumer demand for politics can remain at these levels without government and industry providing incentives to replace older parties," said a Floating Voter.
"There are, therefore, clear risks that the recent upward trend will go into reverse once the current scrappage scheme expires."
With apologies to the BBC.