Bigger than the eruption of Mount Vesuvius?

The Phlegraean Fields, or "burning fields" of southern Italy near Naples are, according to mythology, the home of Hephaestus and the site of the entrance to the Underworld. But this area is also the site of a huge subterranean caldera which is considered one of the world's most dangerous volcanic sites. And it's been pretty active lately, with the surrounding terrain rising and falling as much as 11 feet over the past ten years. Scientists fear that an eruption of this "supervolcano" could affect the entire planet, causing millions of deaths, enormous climate changes, and perhaps even a mini-ice age. Giuseppe De Natale, head of research at the National Observatory for Geophysics and Volcanology, wants to probe the underground caldera to determine how imminent is the risk of eruption. But other scientists fear that such a probe could actually trigger such an eruption. The mayor of Naples has blocked the research temporarily, and a meeting in Rome will discuss whether to move ahead with the probe or not. Read more here: http://www.newsweek.com/2010/10/20/should-scientists-probe-the-massive-volcano-under-naples.html

Peru's Vargas Llosa wins the Nobel Prize for literature

Manuel Vargas Llosa, one of the most acclaimed authors of the Spanish-speaking world, was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for 2010. He had previously, in 1995, won the Cervantes Prize, the greatest honor given to a Spanish-speaking author. Read the article here: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39550770/ns/today-books/

Roman helmet from Hadrian's Britain up for auction

A Roman ornamental helmet used in cavalry exhibitions was found in northern England and is now going on sale at auction at Christie's. The helmet includes a face mask with eyelashes, hair, and holes for the wearer to look through. Read the story here: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/10/06/england.roman.helmet/index.html?hpt=T2

Marcus Licinius Crassus and Capitalism

Crassus immediately came to mind when I heard about the homeowner in Obion County whose home burned while the firefighters watched -- he hadn't paid the fee! Turns out others were struck by the same thought -- read the article here:
http://dagblog.com/reader-blogs/firefighting-and-capitalism-marcus-licinius-crassus-obion-county-tennessee-7092

Ancient Stone Statues -- in Living Color!

Though we've all known for a long time that the ancient statues and buildings of Greece and Rome were not all "pure white," as they have now become, but actually seeing them in garish living color can be something of a shock! Check this out! http://io9.com/5616498/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked