History, Culture, Math and the Superbowl

Roman Numerals? What the heck does Exel Vee Aye Aye mean anyway? Does anybody really know?

The Superbowl may be one of the few places where we count above three in Roman Numerals anyway. I assume this is a subtle reference to the gladiatorial aspects of the contest. Which reminds me of this:

A man “lies crumpled on the sand … Behind him a dark trail leads back to the spot from which he has just been dragged. Looking closer, we notice something slightly odd about the figure crouching over the wounded man. His posture does not suggest a doctor attempting to staunch bleeding, or even to check heartbeat or pulse. Look a little closer still, and you may be inclined suddenly to reel back or to close your eyes. The man sprawled at such an odd angle beside the injured [man] has his face pressed against a gaping tear in [his] throat. He is drinking blood fresh from the wound…” Why? Well, to cure his epilepsy, of course. The date is 24 AD, the injured man is a gladiator, and the man drinking the blood must have bribed his way to the front of the line because he’s getting what a lot of other people in Ancient Rome routinely sought. A nice blood meal, for medicinal purposes, of course.

Worker’s Rights and the Superbowl

The 49ers are in the Superbowl. The Packers, the Rival Team for us Minnesotans Wisconsin, are not, but they were in the playoffs. The former is named after miners, the latter is named after factory workers. Let’s not forget the workers and the importance of unions!

Birds, Birding and the Superbowl

Mike over at 10,000 Birds points out that a bird-named football team has only ONCE ever won the Superbowl, although lots of bird named teams have been a post-season threat. This year, the Falcons and the Ravens were both in the playoffs and there was a distinct chance they’d play each other. Unfortunately, it did not work out that way. But, at least we’ve got one bird in the bowl.

A bird in the bowl is worth two in the playoffs, I guess.

Anyway, you need to know that the next I and the Bird NeoWebCarnival will be on Ravens.

Archaeology, History and the Superbowl

And, I have to mention the Vikings. They were in the playoffs, and I have to say that no one really expected that. They did better than planned. Next year, they will be in the Superbowl and they will win. I hope they beat the Saints.

But let’s not get too emotional about it all. After all, being a Viking is just a job, as my friend Martin Rundkvist tell us, though I can’t figure out where the heck he said that.

Spontaneous Pornography, Neologisms and the Superbowl

Janet Jackson’s Costume Failure. Say no more.

Social Justice and the Superbowl

The 49ers are from San Francisco. You would think that a team from San Francisco would be more sensitive to LGBTA issues, but I guess not. One of the team members, maybe two, have said very anti-gay things recently, even though they participated in an “it gets better” video production. At least one of the players did not know he was helping gay people, and is now regretuful.

I have relatives in DC and one of them is from Baltimore.

For the above reasons I’ll be supporting the Ravens. They’re from Baltimore, right? Should be a good game!

Have you read the breakthrough novel of the year? When you are done with that, try:

In Search of Sungudogo by Greg Laden, now in Kindle or Paperback
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