I don’t know why it took the archeologists to tell us that the Roman emperor Caligula was a maniac.
Anyone who’s seen John Hurt’s Caligula in the 1975 British television series
“I, Claudius” would have guessed. It was
on cable again last week. If you haven’t read the Robert Graves
novel that series was based on, or the sequel “Claudius the
God,” you must. We’ll know things have gone too far
when Gee Dubya nominates his favorite horse for a federal judgeship. (Caligula got away with
that sort of thing, when he famously made his steed Incitatus a Roman senator.)
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From European Union headquarters comes word that an appeal by circus performers for an
exemption from work rules for workers in hazardous trades has been denied: They must wear
hard-hats and protective gear aloft. The image of trapeze flyers sporting such outfits is worthy of
Chuck Jones or Jim Thurber, take your pick. (Item courtesy of Mugs McGuiness, who has joined
my staff.)
