Phineas and Ferb know Latin!

Tomorrow is the Disney Channel premiere of the full-length movie "Phineas and Ferb Across the Second Dimension." If you already have Friday plans or don't subscribe to cable television, the DVD release is August 23rd.

As it turns out, Phineas and Ferb apparently are Latin students, because one of the songs on the soundtrack (already available on Amazon.com and presumably, iTunes) is entitled "Carpe Diem!"

Coldplay Knows Latin! Really!

At about two minutes and forty seconds into their new video "Christmas Lights," you'll see Coldplay performing on a stage with the words "Credo Elvem Etiam Vivere" ("I believe Elvis is alive...") lit above. Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay is not only a talented vocalist and musician, but also a Classics scholar, having taken first class honours in Greek and Latin from University College London.

Exeunt Omnes! Platinum Members Only!

Stephen Colbert presented a special report on the Colbert Report last night. It was so special, it was broadcast for "Colbert Platinum members only." All other viewers were instructed to leave the room while the segment broadcast, with the instructions "Exeunt omnes!" (A stage direction meaning "All get out," or "Everyone leaves.")

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Monty Python's Contribution to Classics Education

Apparently, the members of the Monty Python got so fed up with people uploading all their material to YouTube, they have decided to take revenge upon their fans! In response, they've created their very own Official Monty Python YouTube Channel and have placed high quality clips from their movies and television shows there, along (of course) with links for you to purchase full CDs and DVDs.

So, here you go, from the Official Monty Python YouTube Channel, every Latin teacher's favorite Monty Python clip, "Romans, Go Home!"

You've probably watched it a thousand times on YouTube before, but at least now you can do so with a clear conscience!



And as a bonus, "What Have The Romans Done For Us?"

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief!

Fans of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series of books will be happy to know that the first trailer for the upcoming film The Lightning Thief has been released! (The trailer's release was apparently set to coincide with the premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which opens today!)

Stephen Colbert Shows off his Latin pronunciation skills!!

On Monday evening's episode (June 22, 2009) of the Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert interviewed Simon Schama, a professor at Columbia University and author of The American Future: A History and A History of Britain. Professor Schama quotes Cicero at the beginning of the interview, pronouncing the ancient orator's name with a "soft C" sound, prompting Mr. Colbert to correct the pronunciation with the "hard C" sound of the Classical pronunciation. Mr. Colbert also asserts that he knows who the Romans are! Enjoy!

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The Thirteenth Labor of Hercules

It's Friday!  Enjoy this "news" article about the 13th Labor of Hercules brought to you by the Onion!

Happy Pi Day!

The Ides of March are coming tomorrow, but today is Pi Day! The Greek letter π is of course the symbol for the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle, equivalent to 3.1415926535...

We can't let the mathematicians have all the fun. Classicists love the number π because it's also a Greek consonant letter!

Pi day is celebrated every March 14, the fourteenth day of the third month, or 3/14.

To find out more about Pi Day, visit the Official Pi Day website, where you can find out all about the history of pi, discuss the number pi, send an e-card, buy pi stuff, get ideas for your own pi party, and much more! There are also some great lesson ideas at the Teach Pi website.

You can also listen to a wonderful BBC Radio 4 program all about Pi.

A lesser known, and less-often celebrated mathematical holiday is Square Root Day.

Stephen Colbert, Latin Scholar

Stephen Colbert interviewed Carl Wilson, author of the book Celine Dion's Let's Talk About Love: A Journey to the End of Taste last week, about the concept of "good" and "bad" taste in popular culture. Stephen manages to work in an apt Latin proverb!

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You can also listen to Stephen sing Felicem Natalem Diem (Happy Birthday, in Latin) to Pope Benedict XVI in a clip from a previous show.

The Playmobil Romans Know Latin!

Our Playmobil Roman Arena set arrived! We bought the smaller set and decided to get some extra Roman soldiers nd gladiators to go along with it. Plus the Roman family, which we will name Caecilius, Metella, Quintus and Caecilia.

While wrapping the arena to put under the Christmas tree, we realized that the parchment that the Caesar character holds has some actual Latin on it. It's a list of Latin maxims including "Alea iacta est," "Dum spiro, spero," "In hoc signo, vinces," "Repetitio est mater studiorum," "Primus inter pares," "Fiat lux," "Quod erat demonstrandum," "De gustibus non est disputandum," and several others.

Very, very cool! Excellent attention to detail!

Io Saturnalia!

Today is December 17, the day that the ancient Romans began celebrating their week-long winter festival, Saturnalia, during which time schools and businesses closed, fans attended gladiator games, presents were exchanged (especially candles, according to William Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities), and parties took place at all levels of Roman society.

Sound familiar?

Of course, not everyone celebrated the Roman winter holiday by gaming or feasting. Pliny the Younger writes in Epistula II.17 about withdrawing to his sitting room to read and study quietly while the rest of his household made merry.

For Christmas and Saturnalia ideas, see previous Latinteach blog entries labeled Holidays.

More Christmas and Saturnalia Suggestions!

Ancient Roman nobility enjoyed feasting on stuffed dormice. However, it's likely that your students would prefer these chocolate Christmas Eve Mice from A Taste of Home cooking magazine. If you're looking for an authentic recipe (the ancient Romans didn't have chocolate), A Taste of Ancient Rome by Ilaria Gozzini Giacosa (translated by Anna Herklotz) includes one.

By the way, Caroline Lawrence, author of the Roman Mysteries series has completely redesigned her website. Your students will enjoy the first installment of her new online newsletter "Dormouse." This month features a fun quiz with questions that show the parallels between our modern Christmas celebration and the Roman Saturnalia.

Doctor Who in Pompeii!

The fourth series of Doctor Who will start on BBCAmerica starting this weekend! What does Doctor Who have to do with teaching Latin? Well, a famous character from the Cambridge Latin Course will be guest starring in the second episode later this month!

In Episode 2, The Fires of Pompeii, which airs on Saturday, November 22, 2008, the Time Lord Doctor and his companion, Donna, find themselves in the doomed ancient city in 79 AD . (If you miss it, don't worry. BBCAmerica will carry seemingly constant re-runs and you can also download individual episodes on Itunes after the first run of each new episode.)

By the way, The Official BBC Doctor Who site has Series 4 The Fires of Pompeii wallpapers for your computer desktop!

Stephen Colbert cantat!

Stephen Colbert sang "Happy Birthday" to his mother -- in Latin -- on Comedy Central's Colbert Report TV show last night (Thursday, November 6, 2008, last segment of the show).

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Last April, he sang "Felicem Natalem Diem" to celebrate Pope Benedict XVI's birthday.

Gladiator Sandals Are The Summer 2008 Fashion Statement

The New York Times reports on shoe and sandal fashion this week, advising that gladiator sandals are very, very in.

You can get a simple pair of Gladiator Sandals at Old Navy for about $19.95. Piperlime, a San Francisco-based accessories company, also carries a wide selection of caligae-inspired shoewear in a range of prices.

Top Shop, a British-based clothing and fashion chain, carries a knee high version for 50 pounds, or approximately $100.

Speak Latin and Impress a Knight!

A Latin quote from last weekend's episode of Robin Hood on BBCAmerica. The gang is looking for the Thesaurus Patriae ("Treasure of the Nation", a take-off on "National Treasure") Djaq, the female Saracen warrior, translates the meaning of the phrase and a rather impressed knight declares, "She speaks Latin! WHAT A WOMAN!"

On a previous episode ("Get Carter!") Robin Hood has seemingly been slain by an assassin, who prays in Latin over the outlaw's apparently dead body, as Robin's friends carry him into the city of Nottingham. Upon arriving at the castle, the Sheriff of Nottingham dismisses the retinue, growling "Enough with the gobbledygook! Exeunt!")

You'll also occasionally hear some Latin on the new series of Doctor Who, so it is possible that many of you Latin and Classics majors may have a future with the BBC! Keep studying!