Panem et Circenses

Today is the third day of the GA SummerFest 2014 and - among other things happening all day long - the Empire of Romanum will give us all a treat with a gladiators tournament.

The title of this post translated to English means "bread and games" and refers to the practice in ancient Rome of providing free wheat to Roman citizens as well as costly circus games and other forms of entertainment as a means of gaining political power.

BYOB ("bring your own bread") and the games will be supplied by Romanum. This event will be a lot of fun, I am sure.

As always when visiting role playing sims dress accordingly and respect the rules (although they may be a bit more lenient about them at this time).

I hope to see you all there!

You own personal chariot to the games at the Colosseum Arena (SLurl).

What Friends Are For

I was given this picture by Parvin, a warrior of Gor, that I met and talked with during the last Second Pride festival.

The picture shows Parvin eating dust after he has been defeated by Timmy, a gladiator from Rome with the bulkiest body I have yet seen, in one of the jousts between the warriors of Gor and the gladiators of Rome. The jousting was a new and interesting element introduced at this years festival. According to Parvin his dear and loving friends had taken the picture to rub his nose in the defeat. And isn't that exactly what friends are for?

It reminded me that it is said that in ancient Rome: as a Roman general was parading through the streets during a victory triumph, standing behind him was his slave, tasked with reminding the general that, although at his peak today, tomorrow he could fall, or — more likely — be brought down. The servant is thought to have conveyed this with the warning, "Memento mori" (Remember that you will die!).

Friends are there to support us, encourage us, comfort us, care for us and love us, but also to cut us down to size and remind us of who we are if and when we risk forgetting it.