Not really sure if I (personally) would call these pretentious, but your mileage may vary (insert smiley here):
Month: April 2013
Hamas Threat to Roman Temple?
I’m never certain about stories such as this from this part of the world … from Arutz Sheva:
Israeli news outlets have ignored the imminent razing of an ancient Roman archaeological site by Hamas in Gaza, according to Israel Media Watch (IMW).
The terror group is building a military training site for terrorist purposes. To this end, it is partially destroying the ancient Anthedon Harbor—which includes the ruins of a Roman temple and archaeological remains from the Persian, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine eras, and has been nominated as a World Heritage site.
UN Watch has protested the silence of UNESCO on the matter, and IMW is asking why Israeli media is silent, too.
No Hebrew language Israeli news outlet reported the item at all, said IMW.
IMW explained that the news has ramifications for the security of Israel’s southern border, but also has value-related and cultural ramifications relating to Hamas’ global image and status.
It estimates that giving the story publicity, addressing questions to the Israeli government and a loud public protest could have stopped Hamas’s move.
“By remaining silent, Israeli media is guilty of journalistic malfeasance and becomes a de facto partner in the destruction by Hamas, and the threat the base poses to Israel.
UN Watch, an independent Geneva-based monitoring group, has sent a letter to UNESCO, calling on the international body to take immediate action to stop Hamas from bulldozing the harbor.
… not sure why Israeli media should be singled out on this if it is true; shouldn’t all media should be all over this? In any event, here’s UNESCO’s description of the site …

Classical Words of the Day
- admonish (Merriam-Webster)
- Parnassian (OED)
- titubate (Wordnik)
Latinitweets:
This Day in Ancient History: ante diem xiii kalendas maias
- ludi Cereri (day 8)– games in honour of the grain goddess Ceres, instituted by/before 202 B.C.
- Cerealia — the actual date of the Cerealia is uncertain, but it ‘reenacted’ Ceres’ search for her daughter Proserpina, with apparently all participants and spectators dressed in white.
- 69 A.D. — Vitellius is recognized as emperor by the senate in Rome
- … we also note today is the commemoration of an (undated) Roman soldier saint Expeditus
N.S. Gill |Birth of the Roman Emperor Gratian
Birth of the Roman Emperor Gratian
- via N.S. Gill/About.com.