Ludus Latrunculorum

Hope everyone had a great holiday! I have not been in the mood to do much news/media reading in the last week so... how's about we learn about a game? One that proceeded, and perhaps in part gave birth, to chess?

Ludus latrunculorum was a very, very popular game amongst soldiers, and probably everyone else of the 'lower' classes, during the late Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. There is archaeological evidence for the game (here's a fairly recent find of a game board), consisting of the game boards and the pieces. There is a written evidence of the game, basically mentioning it being played by soldiers and others. But sadly, no writer discussed the rules of the game or how it was played in any detail.

A Ludus Latrunculum game board found after it was reused as flooring at the Roman fort of Vindolanda in Northern England from Archaeology.org

Don't have a lot to talk about as we are getting ready to go south (as rainbirds do) and catch some warmer weather for a few weeks.

Giving Thanks?

In our chaotic world it can be difficult to be thankful about the state of things. However, we can be grateful for the truce in Gaza and the hostage exchange. Too bad this isn't a permanent ceasefire, but merely a delay in the genocide perpetrated upon the Palestinians. One aspect is that this aggression has gone so far as to shock people awake to US and Israel's inhumanity. That story and more below the fold.

Afternoon folks!

I hope that you're all having a great, long fall weekend. This week we've got a blues album from Little Milton in I suppose the middle part of his career when he was recording for Chess records. After that we've got some live zydeco from Queen Ida. Then there's a bunch of blues rock - a double album compilation of early Fleetwood Mac with Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer, followed by a live album from Foghat. Then we go acoustic with a double live album from Doc & Merle Watson and we finish up with a change of pace - an album by Ghanaian musicians Osibisa.

Enjoy and have a great weekend folks!

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

a bit of local news from last week.

Switchblade soars: A Prineville man's long-sought dream of a 'flying sports car' has just had (2.27 min)