Ancient poem deifies emperor Nero's wife

A just-deciphered ancient Greek poem discovered in Egypt deifies Poppaea Sabina, the wife of the infamous Roman emperor Nero, showing her ascending to the stars.

Based on the lettering styles and other factors, scholars think the poem was written nearly 200 years after Nero died (about 1,800 years ago), leaving them puzzled as to why someone so far away from Rome would bother composing or copying it at such a late date.

In the poem, Poppaea ascends to heaven and? becomes a goddess. The ancient goddess Aphrodite says to Poppaea, "my child, stop crying and hurry up: with all their heart Zeus' stars welcome you and establish you on the moon."?

Nero was one of the most infamous rulers who ever lived. Ancient writers say that he killed his own mother, Agrippina, and his first wife Octavia. He is also said to have killed Poppaea herself with a kick to her stomach while she was pregnant. If that wasn't enough, the well-known line ? "Nero fiddles while Rome burns" ? is an apocryphal phrase related to a great fire that ravaged Rome for six days during his reign.

Poppaea herself is also depicted in a less-than-positive light by ancient writers. When Octavia was killed, Poppaea was said to have been presented with her head. Some sources also speculate that she was the power behind the throne that encouraged Nero to murder his mother. [Top 12 Warrior Moms in History]

Headed for the heavens
The newly deciphered poem, however, shows a very different side to this ancient couple. In the poem, Poppaea is depicted being taken away by Aphrodite and told "your children for Nero (both deceased) you will guard them for eternity."

Poppaea does not want this, wishing to stay with Nero. "(S)he was downcast and did not rejoice in the offered (favor). For she was leaving her husband, (a man) equal to the gods, and she moaned loudly from her longing" part of the poem reads.

"The poet is trying to tell you (that) Poppaea loves her husband and what it implies is this story about the kick in the belly cannot be true," said Paul Schubert, a professor at the University of Geneva and the lead researcher who worked on the text, in an interview with LiveScience. "She wouldn't love him if she had been killed by a kick in the belly."

The poem records her ascending to heaven, mentioning all the planets known to the ancients including "the Cyllenaean star" (Mercury), "belt of the Aegis-bearer" (Jupiter) and "Rhea's bedfellow" (Saturn).

Her arrival among the stars is also triumphant, "under a clear (moon), the dance of the blessed (gods) she viewed." with her then going to the northern pole to watch over Nero "looking around for her husband under the darkness."

Deciphering the text
The story of the text's deciphering begins in the late 19th century with excavations at Oxyrhynchus by Bernard Grenfell and Arthur Hunt. During the time that the Romans ruled Egypt, Oxyrhynchus was a sizable town of about 10,000 people located in Upper Egypt. Among their discoveries, Grenfell and Hunt found hundreds of thousands of papyri in ancient dumps at the site. [See Photos of the Papyrus Poem]

Over the past 100 years, scholars have gradually been analyzing, translating and publishing the papyri. This particular text, along with many of the other papyri, is now at the Sackler Library at Oxford University. Schubert said that before he and his team began work, all they knew about this papyrus was that it was written in Greek and contained a poem; "we had no idea what it was going to be."

Why was it written?
As for why someone in Egypt would write or copy a poem like this so long after Nero's death, one possibility is that the poem itself was composed after Poppaea's death, but when Nero was still alive. Then, over a period of 200 years, the text was popular enough that it was retold again and again until someone in Oxyrhynchus wrote it down.

Schubert said that, although none survive, it is possible that deification poems like this were written for members of the Roman imperial family after they died. "There is a possibility that the poem we have here recovered actually belongs to this lost genre, but we can't be sure," Schubert said. He points out that a writer named Seneca wrote a satire that mocked the deification of a Roman emperor named Claudius.

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Another possibility, researchers say, is that a writer in the third century wrote this as a "poem of circumstance" when the wife of an Egyptian official died, using Poppaea and Nero as an example of two lovers separated by death. Yet another possibility is that this was part of a longer astrological poem. [The 6 Most Tragic Love Stories in History]

The text and analysis are detailed in the most recent volume of the series The Oxyrhynchus Papyri.

Follow LiveScience on Twitter? @livescience.? We're also on? Facebook? and? Google+.

? 2012 LiveScience.com. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48771790/ns/technology_and_science-science/

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Expedition Fatherhood: Furry Kids

Furball was our first child. We adopted him when he was six months old, right before our first Christmas as man and wife. We had looked for months for the perfect puppy to fill out our little family. We found him at a breeder in Missouri. He was a mess when we picked him up at the airport. It didn't take too long to figure out that he had a seriously nervous disposition. He whined and peed and chewed up carpets and tore up doors and blankets and boots and...well, you name it, Furball has eaten it. When I was still smoking, I used to get a kick out of wandering the yard, trying to figure out what he could have eaten to make his poop green or blue or fuzzy. Once, it was like a rainbow. Once, it was 3 feet long - I think it was from eating a sock. He seemed to be trying to knit a new one as he went.

We joke that he's our $5000 dog, but it's probably closer to about $8000. He's had to have sedatives for thunderstorms and anti-anxiety pills during construction projects around the area. He's had to have surgery for torn ligaments, and he has congenital nerve damage in his tail that causes him to have problems with moving his rear legs when it flares up. So right now he's on steroids, and we have a medicine box just for him.

We also have a huge spot in our hearts for the little doofus. He's not much different from our biological children. He just goes to a different doctor, and he chews up clothes instead of wearing them. But he's part of the family. And losing him would be an extremely difficult event. He's been here through it all. He helped Sweetheart keep in shape when she was pregnant with Princess and had to control gestational diabetes. He had to run to keep up with her walking, but he would keep up through 45 minutes walks, drag himself through the door and still be happy. I've seen that dog step on his tongue before, but there was no way he was letting Mommy brave the outside world without him by her side.

When I was recovering from thyroid cancer, he would be right beside me, keeping me company. And I don't believe it was only because Daddy gives him the best ear scratches. When I started having?seizures, he stayed near me and would do his best to alert us before I would collapse. I always thought it was a myth that dogs could detect epileptic episodes, but it's not.

Not a night goes by that he doesn't roam through the bedrooms at least twice (and I know because he often wakes me up) to check on the kids and make sure the house is secure. I'm not sure what the little fella would do if someone broke in, but I'm betting he would go out doing as much damage as he could to whoever threatened his family, same as I would.

I'm not stupid - I know he's not immortal. I dread the day I have to tell the kids he's gone. He's already given us several scares, and I've spent sleepless nights praying for him. I've done what it takes to keep him healthy and happy, and I always will. But I know the day will come when it won't be enough.

I say all this because Mom and Dad are there now. There little Monty is in critical condition due to kidney failure. The vets say he has a couple of months at most. They've already had to say goodbye to two furkids in the last six years. When Dusty passed on from old age, it tore all of us up. Then Baby pined away until she also succumbed to her years. Dusty was such a sweet old fella, and Baby was the first person in my wife's family to give me unconditional approval. And now Monty, who has been the Furball's buddy and is one of the kids' favorite playmates at Grandma's house. We're all in shock, and I'll admit, I'm terrified of telling the kids. We're all going to miss him.

Our furry kids burrow their way into our hearts and make up such a large part of our lives. They comfort us and protect us and give us their unconditional love no matter how upset we get when we catch them chewing up our new shoes. They rarely ask for anything more than a comfy scratch. Well, and a fresh baked biscuit.

I don't know how to say goodbye to such big parts of our lives. But I do know this. They will never be forgotten, and they will always be loved.

Source: http://expeditionfatherhood.blogspot.com/2012/08/furry-kids.html

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Debt Management Means Managing Your Finances | How Important ...

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If mounting debts are becoming an unbearable burden, then it is strongly advisable to seek advice rather than ignoring the problem. Debts can swiftly spiral out of control and they can have a negative impact on health and family life. There are many effective and practical solutions that can be put into place very quickly. This means that debts become manageable and a relatively normal life can be resumed. Debt management is a popular remedy for people having problems paying what they owe.

What is debt management?

Debt management is a process where creditors agree to accept a smaller amount of money each month. This system reduces the overall monthly burden and ensures that payments are much more manageable. From the creditors? perspective, they know they will be paid, albeit at a somewhat slower pace. This means that they will often hold off from taking more aggressive action to pursue payments, such as levying default charges or calling in debt collection agencies and bailiffs.

Who is debt management for?

Anyone who has very large debt repayments or anyone who does not have any spare income to make repayments, however small, should consider other potential routes to solving their debt problem. This solution is most helpful for people who do have some spare income but who have debt repayments that are beyond their current ability to pay. For example, a situation that is very common these days is couples who have taken out loans based on them having well-paid and secure jobs. Prior to the recession, it was easy to make repayments and there were never any issues about accepting credit and paying it back. However, in the gloomy economic climate, even the most secure jobs have become precarious and people are having their hours cut and pay is being frozen or reduced. This all adds up to many households having more money going out than they have coming in.

What about cutting back?

Of course it is possible to put together a stringent household budget and look at areas to cut back. But it is important to be realistic about how possible this is. It may be feasible to live on a very strict budget in the short term but longer term it can cause problems, not least because it is impossible to foresee every likely expense. It only takes a vital appliance to break down unexpectedly and the whole budget is thrown off course. More often, it can make sense to set up a sensible debt management plan which means that debts are still being paid off without the family having to suffer undue hardship.

Can I do it myself?

Yes, it is possible to set up debt management without any external assistance. Many people approach their creditors and negotiate more appropriate terms. However, some people find that approaching companies to whom they owe money can be a stressful and embarrassing experience. In addition, if the debts are with lots of different creditors, it means having to deal with many companies each month and remembering to make payments. This can be hard to coordinate and it is easy to slip up and miss a payment. Missing a payment risks invalidating the agreement with the company in question and they may then levy default charges or take more aggressive debt collection action.

Who can help me?

There are lots of organisations that specialise in setting up and managing debt management plans and you can find out more at www.directgov.uk. A debt management service will usually examine your budget to determine what repayments are possible. They will then liaise with all of the relevant creditors to negotiate a sensible repayment plan and set an agreement in place. In most cases, they will take a monthly payment from you and then distribute this to creditors on your behalf, meaning that you can rest assured that your debts are being paid off.

Debt management means managing your finances so that your creditors are satisfied that you are willing and able to repay them over a period of time. But more importantly, it means that you can have a reasonable standard of living and remove the terrible worry that being in debt can bring.

This article was brought to you by Paul O?Hara in association with the http://www.debtadvisoryline.co.uk, best UK debt management provider in 2008, 2009 and 2011.

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Source: http://www.howimportantisyourfinance.com/2012/08/21/debt-management-means-managing-your-finances/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=debt-management-means-managing-your-finances

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Online Business Booming | Article Directory Blog

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One of the recent booming online businesses are anything affiliated with generating leads for payday loan applications. The mystery to outsiders of this business of gathering information and selling to payday loan companies on an online auction is bringing big money in to a somewhat quiet industry. As with any other business, as the demand increases, there tends to be those with fraudulent practices who work their way into the system. There have been some red flags to the back end of the online payday loan industry and genuine companies are doing their best to protect it.

There have been a few leaks as to how the behind the scenes systems work, and it will give you an idea as to why scammers are trying to get into the system.

When a person applies for a loan to a non-lending company, the information submitted in the application gets tested for duplicate applications in a database. Once the information is proved to be authentic, it is sold in an online auction. Lending companies will bid to have a look at this person?s information and will have just seconds to decide whether or not to purchase it. Once a purchase has been made, the company will send an email to the potential customer in response to their initial loan request. If the first company passes on the customer, the value drops and a second company may choose to look. This continues until the information is sold or the applicant is rejected for a loan. There have been huge steps in this process to protect addresses and emails from leaking out.

Lenders and sellers are screened to get into the system, but there have been some fraudulent companies who have slipped by and have taken advantage of a customer?s personal information. Some lending companies who refuse to approve a loan are also set up to sell of the applicant?s information to a company who will process the loan. The lenders are looking for good clients to lend to and the expense to buy the access to this information is bringing in big revenue to lead generators.

The online payday loan lead generator business is definitely making a name for itself in the online business world. Their efforts to continue to keep fraudulent activity out and maintain a profitable business of auction type sales safe and secure is ongoing. Any person who feels like their information was retrieved by a person or company for fraudulent practices should file a report right away.

Source: http://blog-revenue-tips.com/online-business-booming/

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The reality of Android

While the trial between Apple (AAPL) and Samsung (005930) now wrapping up in San Jose, California has gotten the most attention over the past few weeks, it?s hardly the only legal battle these two behemoths are fighting. In another scuffle taking place with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, Samsung is defending its Galaxy Nexus smartphone against allegations that it copies Apple?s Siri voice assistant feature. There are plenty of interesting points and counterpoints emerging as the two companies exchange blows, but one in particular helps reinforce the stark contrast between perceptions of Google?s (GOOG) mobile OS on the Internet, and the reality of Android.

To read about Android devices on many blogs, in the comments sections of news sites and on social networks and forums, a recurring pain point users describe with regard to various phones from Samsung, HTC (2498), Motorola and other vendors is the presence of ?skins.? Users want stock Android, or so it would appear, and these additional UI and service layers created by vendors do little beyond hogging resources and slowing phones down.

As loud and widespread as these complaints are, however, the group making them is a clear minority.

Apple?s legal team recently argued that the Galaxy Nexus is a hugely important device, and Samsung stole iPhone features in an effort to help bolster sales.??This was the beat-Apple strategy,? Apple?s lawyer recently argued, according to Bloomberg. ?This was the top of the line, Cadillac phone they trotted out to compete with the iPhone.?

In its defense against Apple?s claims, Samsung pointed out a simple truth: the Galaxy Nexus is hardly a device that might help the company ?beat Apple.? In fact, in the grand scheme of things, the flagship ?pure Google? phone is pretty insignificant.

?This is a product that, at most, captured 0.5 percent of the market,? one of Samsung?s lawyers told the court. ?Nothing in the record here would support a finding of irreparable harm [to Apple].?

Samsung?s lawyer also pointed out that while Apple?s iPhone sales totaled?$16.2 billion in the June quarter alone, Galaxy Nexus sales amounted to just?$250 million during its first two quarters of availability.

Meanwhile, Samsung has sold more than 10 million Galaxy Note smartphones since its launch, and more than 10 million Galaxy S III handsets in less than two months. Both of these popular smartphones feature Samsung?s TouchWiz user interface layer.

Android is the most popular smartphone operating system on the planet, and as Samsung?s arguments in court help convey, ?pure Google??has precious little to do with the platform?s tremendous success.

Get more from BGR.com: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/reality-android-144530688.html

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Strikeforce?s Three Stars: Ronda Rousey, Ronaldo Souza and Miesha Tate

After an exciting night of fights, Ronda Rousey still distinguished herself as the biggest star. Here are Cagewriter's picks for Saturday night's three stars. Tell us yours in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

No. 1 star -- Ronda Rousey: What is there left to say about Rousey? She got Kaufman to the ground with ease and threw an armbar on in less than a minute. Before Saturday, Kaufman had only lost once. Rousey then turned her sights on Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, telling the former featherweight champ to come down to bantamweight. If it's physically possible for Cyborg to do is a discussion for another day. For now, just enjoy every part of Rousey's blistering performance.

No. 2 star -- Ronaldo Souza: With "Jacare's" world-class grappling credentials, it's easy to forget he has power in his hands, too. He quickly reminded Derek Brunson and everyone watching with a 41-second knockout.

No. 3 star -- Miesha Tate: One of the best fights of the night was on the prelims, as Miesha Tate and Julie Kedzie put on a memorable fight for three rounds. Tate was on the wrong end of an armbar in her last fight, but must have learned something about the submission move as she used it to submit Kedzie in the third round.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/strikeforce-three-stars-ronda-rousey-ronaldo-souza-miesha-142100171--mma.html

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The Heretical Way: Time For a Rant

It?s all about choice.?

Want to be celibate? Feel free to be celibate.?

Want to be chaste? Feel free to be chaste.?

Want to have sex in relationships? Feel free to have sex in relationships.?

Want to have one night stands and similar things? Feel feel to do so.?

Want to have a monogamous relationship? Feel free to have one.?

Want to have a polygamous relationship? Feel free to have one as well.?

Want a relationship that breaks society?s conventions? Go for it!

Want to be sexually liberated? Liberate yourself.?

I?m sure there are tons of other ones I could write and add to this list, free feel to add any that you think are important. I wrote this without sex and sexuality because no matter what sex or sexuality a person is, I believe that they deserve to have choices sexually and with relationships.?

If having multiple sexual partners if for you, then enjoy who you are but don?t expect everyone to be the same.?

If you want just the one sexual partner because that?s what?s right for you, then enjoy that choice but don?t expect everyone to make the same decision.?

Again, this could go on and on and on.?

Let us celebrate diversity and celebrate choice and the ability to choose.?

To me, choice is the most important factor. (And of course, with all of the above I am referring to consensual sex.)?

Source: http://thehereticalway.blogspot.com/2012/08/time-for-rant.html

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