Thank Netflix for 'The Roman Empire,'

which is basically the very interesting story of Julius Caesar, as told in his own interesting writings and those of his fascinating contemporaries.  Starting with the Commentaries on the Gallic Wars, which should be dry as dust, and are, contrarily, riveting, lively and full of soldierly insights.  As we approach the Ides of March in the historical drama, and the assassination conspiracy pustulates, we do bethink us of another top-down, conspired-at assassination, two thousand and six years later, and note that the grief we feel, and the sense of loss and indignation at our betrayal, is the same both for Caesar and for Kennedy: As Jacqueline, with her husband's brains fresh-spattered on her, exclaimed (speaking for all real, patriotic, Constitutionalist Americans), "How dare they do this to us!"

What she meant of course, was "How dare these troglodytic, business-as-usual, corporate worshippers of the violent status quo raise their hand to us who are in every way their moral, ethical, esthetic and intellectual superiors!"  She wasn't asking a question. And she was absolutely right.