The Wanderer

House Final List

2009-10-13T20:28:33Z

Here's an updated to-do list.

Master bedroom:
~~- Wash bed linens~~
~~- Make bed~~
~~- Take old TV stand to garage to be stained~~
~~- Straighten up books to be readv~~
- Hang up artwork (Rush banner among other things)
- Steam clean floor again

Master bathroom
~~- Hang up curtains (I haven't found curtains I like so I'm using tabards for the moment :)~~
~~- On Thursday deal with inspections~~
- On Friday clean litter box and sweep

Library
~~- Put back area rug~~
~~- Put in rocking chair~~
- Replace doorknob

Hallway
- Steam clean again
~~- Vacuum and steam clean runner~~

~~Guest bathroom~~
~~- Put up Unicorn Tapestry pictures~~

~~Living room~~
~~- Staple down cables~~
~~- Move furniture and vacuum~~
~~- Move furniture and steam clean~~
~~- General straightening up~~

Kitchen/Dining room
- General cleaning
~~- Move Derdriu's lathing stuff~~
~~- Dust window~~
~~- Put stuffed animals back into window~~
- Make sure there's no icky stuff in the fridge :)
~~- Clean a few painty bits off of floor~~
~~- Sweep and mop, which must be done before mom shows up :)~~
- Shop for food for weekend, especially chili for Friday night so there's something warm and tasty for crashers. Of which there are lots.

Garage
~~- Set up camp bed for me~~
~~- Move chests to the side~~
~~- Organize beer fridge (especially important!!!)~~
~~- Sweep floor, though it's pretty clean~~
- Set up dog crate for Ginger
~~- Move other dog crate downstairs for Abigail~~
~~- Put last coat of paint on corner trim~~

~~Stairs~~
~~- Staple cabling down~~
~~- Desperate need for vacuuming~~

~~Downstairs landing~~
~~- Sweep and mop~~

Downstairs bathroom
- Get Joe to put stool back in place
~~- Install trim~~
~~- Clean mirrors~~
~~- Hang towels and place rug (waiting on floor to dry)~~

Washroom
- Laundry (duh)

Workroom
- Clean off mats
~~- Move end table to big room~~
~~- Set up cot for Derdriu~~

Basement main room
~~- Finish double bookcase~~
~~- Attach double bookcase to wall~~
- Install trim on south wall
- Install trim on door opening
~~- Put games/books on double bookcase~~
~~- Sweep and mop~~
~~- Make up futon~~
~~- Set up Derdriu's camp bed~~
~~- Move furniture to appropriate places~~
~~- Move tools to appropriate places~~
- Wipe everything down again
- General straightening up
- Put up artwork, esp. picture of Omega

~~Office~~
~~- Move extra boxes into closet~~
~~- Move 19in monitor to garage~~
~~- Organize printing area~~
~~- Re-setup network printing~~
~~- Sweep and mop~~
~~-Organize work area~~

Lawn
~~- Sweep driveway~~
~~- Sweep porch~~
~~- Sweep patio~~
~~- Sweep deck~~
~~- Put things out on deck/patio in appropriate places~~
~~- Clean firepit~~
~~- Get small bits of wood/paper/lighter ready in garage to put out for fire~~
- Set out chairs

For now, that's it :) I'm leaving Derdriu's room and office up to her, although I think they're mostly ready. The list is actually much shorter than it was this morning, though I'm sure I missed a bunch of things. What's great is other than the trim/bookcases along the south wall of the big room and in the basement bathroom, the construction is done.

House Stuff Part 3

2009-10-07T03:45:13Z

Here's an updated list in the past week or so.

Completed in last four days.
Stain remaining items for bathrooms
Clean west end of basement
Stain west end of basement
Paint ceiling and walls of west end of basement
Paint north wall of stair well
Replace mantel shelf (actually Fantastik cleaned off all the paint easily so I just cleaned it)

For those scoring at home (or if you're by yourself) this means I beat my timetable by two days. It didn't seem like I was doing much, but I kept puttering around and then all of the sudden the floor was done, and then the first coat was done, and well, I thought, how cool will it be if I finish the painting tonight?

Still To do list
Re-clean basement floor after painting
Install trim in basement
Clean trim around doors
Get countertop for washroom
Install basement cabinet
Miter and install trim (some mitered and installed, will probably take 2 hours total when the rest of the room is painted)
Clean house for crashers for the Scribal Symposium
Finish creating the workshop for the Symposium

Now I can add projects :)

Replace entertainment center setup. I've needed to do this for a while so I can organize my DVDs. I totally believe I'm not OCD, but I've stared at this mish-mash of DVDs too friggin' long. So friggin' long I've developed a "huge guy theory" and "serial crusher theory" as to why they're a mess. I've actually started this and have 2 of the 8 pieces completed. Only 6 need to be done to get the basic requirements, and 3 of those are like 15min projects. I suspect they'll get done tomorrow :)

Install bookcases. I have a hole in the wall where a speaker was put by the previous owner. I found two of the cheap Wal-Mart bookcases on Craigslist for $10 total so I'm going to do a wee bit of refurbishing and nail them to the studs to cover that hole. For probably $25 or so in parts, I'll have new bookcases and cover the big hole. Wheeeee.

Finish website for student medieval studies group
Contemplate seeing if I can do the stuff to the downstairs bathroom before Scribal. (i.e. repaint and replace medicine cabinet and lights with the contractor's help. I'm not going to worry about the trim. I may just clean it, but the downstairs bathroom has had a bunch of paint drops, stain drops, and sealant drops from all the projects and it just needs to be repainted.

Anyway, I'll be able to start moving stuff back into place tomorrow evening, which rocks.

House Stuff Part 2

2009-10-02T21:48:33Z

Here's an updated list in the past week or so.

Completed in last week or so
All but 2 pieces of basement trim painted
One corner of the basement trim installed
Upstairs bathrooms painted
Upstairs cabinetry and trim painted (except for several added items)
East half of basement electrical fixtures replaced
West half of basement electrical fixtures mostly pulled out
West half of basement floor 90% done (I hope to complete it tomorrow)
Some of the stuff has been moved back into place, and one corner of the room is actually essentially back to the way it will be.

Still To do list
Stain remaining items for bathrooms
Re-clean east end floor after painting
Install trim in basement
Paint trim around doors
Replace mantel shelf
Get countertop for washroom
Install basement cabinet
Clean west end of basement
Stain west end of basement
Paint ceiling and walls of west end of basement
Miter and install trim (some mitered and installed, will probably take 2 hours total when the rest of the room is painted)
Paint north wall of stair well
Clean house for crashers for the Scribal Symposium
Finish creating the workshop for the Symposium

If things go well, I will finish scraping the floor tomorrow. What will almost assuredly happen is that at some point on Sunday, if I don't finish tomorrow, I'm going to say "fuck it" and just start the remaining steps of the process. If I finish tomorrow, it will go something like this:

Saturday: Clean floor with TSP cleaner
Sunday: Stain the floor, stain the remaining bathroom items
Monday: Clean the excess stain, prime paneling on north stairwell wall, put on first coat
Tuesday: Apply topcoat to floor
Wednesday: Apply primer to remaining basement paneling and paint first coat
Thursday/Friday: Paint second coat in both basement and stairwell

If I don't get it clean tomorrow then this will move back a day, but hopefully by the end of next week the big parts of the process will be done downstairs plus both bathrooms upstairs should be completed by the end of next week. I have plans to do a little work on the downstairs bathroom, but I'm sort of doubting that will happen prior to Symposium.

Anyway, progress is progressing

House Stuff

2009-09-23T23:39:02Z

So, for those who haven't talked to me lately, it's because I've been working on my house.

Completed:
Back room floor cleaned
Back room floor stained
Back closet floor stained
Back room walls and ceiling painted
Back closet painted
Back room trim painted and reinstalled
Back room electrical fixtures replaced/repainted (with the exception of one outlet cover that seems to have disappeared. I expect to find it someday)
Essentially the back room is done

East half of basement floor scraped. This was a massively sucky project. There was an adhesive that had to be scraped up. The east end was the worst part because it adhered more then than the west end. Nevertheless, the west end scraping still sucks.
East half of basement cleaned
East half of basement stained
East half of basement walls and ceilings painted
Basement cabinet painted
East half of basement trim mostly painted

To do list
Polyurethane the cabinetry and trim for the upstairs bathrooms
Paint the upstairs bathrooms
Re-clean east end floor after painting
Re-install electical fixtures
Install trim in basement
Paint trim around doors
Replace mantel shelf
Get countertop for washroom
Install basement cabinet
Scrape west end of basement
Clean west end of basement
Stain west end of basement
Paint ceiling and walls of west end of basement
Finish painting trim
Miter and install trim

Oh, and move everything back into place so I can haz office.

I just had to look at this to see what I have already done because it seems like this is never-ending. Sigh.

Live-Blogging New York at Dallas 4th Quarter

2009-09-21T03:21:44Z

Big point to remember. The Cowboys are up because they're scoring TDs in the red zone, and the Giants are not.

DeMarcus Ware is amazing. What a play to tackle Jacobs there.

Well, that was crappy defense. No pressure on Manning and non-existent coverage. We're making Manning and his receivers look gooood.

24 points off turnovers for the Giants. Think that might be the story? The Cowboys would be dominating this game if the turnover ratio were essentially equal. Sigh. It's amazing they're in a game with a -4 turnover ratio.

Big 3rd and 7 here... Incomplete. I wonder what Romo was thinking here though. Crayton should have caught it though.

Need the defense to make a play here.

Wow. Great catch and throw by Manning and Manningham. Sigh.

First down because of missed tackles. The Cowboys have to stop this drive at a field goal or less or I don't think they can win.

I have to say I love how well they've stopped the run, but wow on the pass defense.

Great defense there. Holding it to a FG was big. Just a 6 point lead despite mediocre defense and a -4 turnover ratio. Somehow or another, they can actually win this game.

Jones seems to be returning kickoffs tentatively. I don't know if that's to set up blockers or what.

Over 200 yards rushing for the Cowboys. Huge hole for MB3. Not so much there.

Big play here... with a nice play there. First down to Witten. Really nice route.

Another good run by Barber. Really good cut. He pulls up lame but Felix finishes the drive. Looks like a pulled quad or hammy for MBIII but the Cowboys can take the lead.

The Cowboys have killed the Giants up front running the ball. 29 rushes, 251 yards, 8.7ypc, 3 touchdowns. Wow. Did not expect to be able to do that to a really good Giants defense.

Speaking of the defense, now it's up to the Cowboys' D. 3:40 to go.

Weird. Why decline the 15 yard penalty? It's like 2 yards of difference on the half the distance. Oh, because of where it happened.

1st and 20.

Wow. Ratliff in coverage. And he made a great play. LOL 2nd and 18.

Bleah. Nice play by Manning. Big 3rd down now. 3rd and 6.

Wow, the Giants wasted a bunch of time there to let it go to the 2 minute warning.

4 down territory, but got the first. They need about 30 yards now.

Need about 17. The Giants are probably going to be able to do this. Should have been a hold called there on Ratliff.

3rd and 4. Again 4 down territory.

Good timeout by the Cowboys here. Needed to stop the momentum and get them a breath.

Wow, another tip goes to the Giants. The bounces in their favor. And the Giants will win because of gifts and bounces. Good call by the Giants.

Bleah. The Cowboys dominate the game if they get 1 turnover or give it up 1 turnover less.

Two games. Still no sacks and no turnovers. Nearly 900 yards of offense against them. I'm shocked that the defense is playing so poorly. The offense does have 4 turnovers, but still puts up 31 points despite no gifts.

In the greater scheme of things, the big defensive plays will come. They'll win some games because of the defense at some point.

Sigh. Can't let those get away and that was a gift. You're welcome New York.

Live-Blogging New York at Dallas 3rd Quarter

2009-09-21T02:31:04Z

And we're back with 100,000 plus of our friends...

Nice coverage by the Cowboys. The special teams has been a bright spot so far in 2009.

Crap. Justin Tuck is hurt. I hate it when there are injuries.

Good run by Jacobs despite pretty good defense.

Even better run by Jacobs. Bleah.

I hate Cris Collinsworth. "The second half is all Brandon Jacobs." Two plays. Two plays, that's it.

No, the story is missed tackles by the Cowboys... oh wait, it's been three plays.

Wow, what happened at halftime in the Giant's locker room. Hamlin really screwed up. And we got away with 2 personal fouls on that play. The Giants have come out fired up.

At some point, the Cowboys defense will start making some big plays. Maybe not tonight... :(

Though that was nice defense there.

Wow, what kind of throw was that? Nice defense there once inside the red zone. Which gave the opportunity for a big break for the Cowboys. 3 free points back from the Giants. That sort of equalizes the Jones fumble on the kickoff.

Romo and Garrett have made a habit of making really good adjustments at halftime and owning the third quarter. Time to do that again.

9:28
105,121 attendance. Wow. Largest NFL attendance evah.

Wow, Jones nigh unto went all the way. Nice run there.

And Collinsworth may be right about the heat, because both defenses are missing tackles. I would have thought that would have kicked in later in the 3rd quarter though. I wonder if teams cool off at halftime too much at times.

That was a weird play, too short for the first down. However, nice punt by McBriar though Bradshaw should not have caught it.

Out of sorts start by both teams to the third quarter. Both teams wasted nice runs by their backs.

Nice tackle by Newman on Jacobs to cover a mistake by Spencer.

Liveblogging with a cat is challenging. Aesc says "Hi."

A great blitz to force a quick pass and a big 3rd down. But before that the Giants had to burn a timeout. That's four wasted timeouts by the Giants. Didn't matter in the first half. We'll see what happens later on.

2 down linemen and a great blitz to force a punt but a huuuuge penalty. Damn.

Wow. Penalties. Gifts to the Giants. Two mediocre penalties to create 40 yards of offense.

Great tackle by Newman to stop a first down. Nice stop. But the field position battle got switched. Sigh.

9:47
Tony Romo is just too pumped up I think.

Felix!!!!!! El Gato with 56 yards. And Marcus is somewhere yelling at the TV!!!!

And a good run by Barber.

Beautiful cutback by Barber. 1st and goal at the 2.

Giants sell out to stop the run and hold them on first down.

Wasted opportunity. Bad throw there.

W00000ttt!!!! A QB draw. They don't call that often. I can't remember them calling that at all last year.

One thing about the Cowboys this year is that they have yet to have any real huge plays on defense or special teams. What I mean is that all of the points they have put up so far (58) have come from normal field positions. I don't think they've started a single series yet on the other side of the 50. All of their points have come on long drives. This is a goooood offense.

Buehler with another touchback.

Olshansky sighting. Nice tackle there.

Wow. Missed opportunities on both sides. Should have been the first sack of the season but missed it allowing Eli to miss a wide open big play.

Good defense there leading to a mediocre punt. This might be the best field position of the Cowboys so far this year :)

Nice little taking advantage of what's there on a pass to Hurd. His first catch of the season.

Hey Collinsworth, Barber got hurt. That's why his numbers went down.

And we have a first down.

And now another gift to the Giants.

Damn. What a mediocre end to the quarter for the Cowboys. They had a chance to put the screws to the Giants there. Nice catch by Manningham, though the throw was mediocre. Had Manning put it in front of Manningham it's a touchdown.

Live-Blogging New York at Dallas 2nd Quarter

2009-09-21T01:24:27Z

OK so there's a comment to the 1st quarter blog, and it's spam. Sigh

Big sequence here.

Beautiful run blitz there to cause a 7 yard loss. 3rd and goal from the 12 because of a great play by Anthony Spencer.

Really nice hold by the Cowboys there, and that might be a bit of momentum... but still we're looking at 10 gift points to the Giants. Bleah.

It's neat how much the open roof looks like Texas Stadium.

Wow, I actually agree with Collinsworth. I do think the Cowboys are a bit too emotional and fired up right now.

Nice block by Cricket Anderson on Antonio Pierce there, followed by another solid run. So far, they've been able to run against the Giants pretty effectively, which I wasn't sure was going to happen. As I say, the NY front 7 is damn good.

I really like Marion Barber, but sometimes he needs to just go north-south and not look for the big run.

Nice patience by Romo and big gain to Austin with a face-mask on the end.

Great reverse by the Cowboys there. 1st and goal on the three. They took advantage of Mathias Kiwanuka's aggressiveness and speed to create a huuuugge hole for Crayton. Gotta love Romo there. Got out there for a block and made a great QB block. Got in the way without an actual collision :)

8:22
One thing about the Cowboys offense is that they change their personnel and formation every play. This is not the norm, but reflects the ideas of Jason Garrett who wants a lot of good targets coming from a lot of different directions. I suspect we'll see a play that will illustrate the clearing out of zones by Bennett and Witten, which is exactly the sort of thing Garrett likes to create.

Nice push by the Giants.

And a nice catch by Witten. The Giants actually played that really well, but Romo and Witten just out-executed them. Cowboys up 14-13 despite giving up 10 points on turnovers.

Right now, the Cowboys have had 12 runs to 4 people and 11 passes with 7 completions to 5 passcatchers but not yet a reception to the two leading receivers, Roy Williams and Patrick Crayton. Nice. That is what the Cowboys offense will look like in 2009.

8:31
OK, so this is a big defensive sequence to calm this game down.

Nice move by Mario Manningham, who is very good after the catch.

Really nice play by the Giants and Manning there, especially with the block by Ahmad Bradshaw. It was good defense and great offense.

Big 3rd and 5 here... and really nice coverage by Scandrick didn't give Manning a place to throw it.

Nice punt by Feagles. He's really good at the directional punting, of course, he's got like 80 years of punting experience.

Nice play by Michael Boley. Nothing really there on either play from the 4 by the Cowboys. And a nice play by Kenny Phillips to force a punt, because I think he gets a first down there.

Nice to have Mat McBriar back. 50 yard net punt there.

Wow, bad throw by Manning there because he had a lane to Smith for a nice play. The Cowboys may have a chance to put some points up before the half depending upon the punt.

Wow... huge mistake by Flozell there, and I hope that Tuck is not hurt. Well-deserved 40 yard penalty. GRRRR. Adams is a good LT, but he is penalty prone.

Nice catch and run by Williams. Got a first down and got out of bounds.

Good choice by Romo to throw it away there.

Wow, what a break for the Giants. Another pick-6 for the Giants on a fluke play. Or maybe not a pick-6, maybe just the INT. Probably be Giants ball near the 30. Sigh, what a weird fluky play. Really nice play by Kenny Phillips there.

Big sequence now, with a good tackle by Newman to start.

Nice play by Marcus Spears to knock it down to make a huge 3rd down.

Wow, all the bounces going the Giant's way right now. Bleah. Another fluky play, but again well done by Manningham.

And we've got 0 sacks and 0 turnovers by the Dallas defense in 3 halves. I did not expect that. That play works only because the Dallas blitz did not get to Manning there.

Well, a good first half for the Giants, who get 17 points off of turnovers to take the lead. Hopefully, the breaks will switch in the second half.

40 seconds with 3 timeouts still means the Cowboys have a chance to tack up some points.

Wow... what a picture from INSIDE the big TV

Nice little play and catch by Barber, leading to a salvage of 3 points. 20-17 after 3 gifts to the Giants. The Cowboys are giving the game away, and if they can get a break or two in the second half they will win.

Live-Blogging New York at Dallas 1st Quarter

2009-09-21T00:48:05Z

OK, so I'm going to try this and see what happens.

So far, the Giants had a nice start, but I see a number of encouraging things. The run defense was stout. The defense on the really long play was actually really good but the Giants executed it well.

I'm not also all that worried about the somewhat slow start on offense. The Cowboys and Tony Romo have been consistently slow starters.

3rd & 3 on second drive.... and a nice little swing pass to Tashard Choice for just enough for a first down.

7:48 update
I think the Cowboys will be getting a bunch of 7-9 plays this year with Jason Witten sitting in zones.

Nice play by Kiwanuka to stop a first down where Barber had a lane.

Wow, nice push by Choice to get another first down. The Cowboys will also have a lot of people contributing to this offense. I really really like the versatility.

And just as I say that, Marion Barber with a 27 yard run... lovely blocking at the point of attack and really good downfield block by Roy Williams.

And now an 11 yard pass to the 2 directed to Martellus Bennett.

Leading to an easy TD for Barber.

Let's see, that drive included passes to both TEs and had 2 RBs making key runs.

Very Nice

Dallas 7 NY 3

7:56
I said in my preseason predictions (http://rhodri2112.livejournal.com/30463.html#cutid1) that I thought the Cowboys would have one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. A lot of people thought I was crazy because we were losing the contributions of Terrell Owens. My thought, however, was that with 4 good WRs, 3 very good RBs, a great QB and 2 great TEs, that if they stayed healthy and the offensive line played well teams would struggle to figure out what to defend. I think I'm being proved right.

Nice play by Spencer, who needs to have a good year.

My biggest surprise from last year was the fact that the Cowboys had 0 sacks after leading the NFL with 59 last year. I think they'll have that many or more this year, but as yet still none.

Nevertheless, they're getting good pressure. Nice hit by Ware on Manning to cause an incompletion. Actually Bobby Carpenter on the body hit, though it looks like Ware hit his arm.

Basically I'm predicting a really good Cowboys team because I saw significant improvements to the offense, defense, and the special teams. Some of those improvements were just having some injured players coming back, like Felix Jones, but this is a good team in a lot of places.

This series has had two nice defensive plays to start by the Giants.

Make that three as Romo throws a pick-6. The Giants have a really good defense front 7, and it showed right there. However, Romo made a bad underthrow to Crayton there too.

8:05
Wow, not a good sequence for the Cowboys. What might have been a nice return turned into a fumble by Felix Jones.

2 turnovers this week to none last week. I believe that the Cowboys are a much better team, but giving the ball away....

Bradie James with a nice hit to hold up Jacobs, but Manning had protection and made a nice throw.

Good first down stuff of Jacobs, with a nice play by Brooking.

So far, it looks like what we expected in the first quarter. Two teams that will trade punches. The edge obviously to the Giants because of turnovers.

Health Care Reform

2009-09-10T20:21:06Z

So I don't want to get too much into health care reform. I suspect we all have our positions and are unlikely to dramatically change them based upon someone else's opinion.

But before you let your opinions solidify completely, we should all read this:
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200909/health-care
Because this seems to have a great deal of objective information.

Much of this matches, BTW, my own health care experience as an IT provider. The antipathy towards IT in the health-care industry is fascinating.

Oh, and both of my remaining grandparents died in 1999 because of illnesses contracted while at the hospital.

My response is that I will start asking how much everything costs in total dollars and not simply allow myself to remain ignorant.

rhodri2112 @ 2009-09-08T15:28:00

2009-09-08T20:30:17Z

Just for fun, and because I think I'm more able to research than some of the so-called professional prognosticators, here is my projection of the 2009 season. The record projections use the following format Overall (In the team's 6 games in their division, record in the 4 games against the first outside division, record in the four games against the second outside division, and then a projection of the remaining 2 games).

AFC West (Division Rank 7): This is the easiest division to guess, which means it will probably see the most turmoil. Still, unless the Chargers are absolutely ravaged by injuries, I just don't see them losing it.

San Diego 10-6 (Div 5-1, NFC East 2-2, AFC North 2-2, Other 1-1): This is one of the clearest favorites in the NFL, but not because this team is without flaws. What's up with Merriman? How healthy can LT be? However, their division is wretched and they'll feast on their rivals. Last year, they finished 8-8 with a goodly amount of injuries and problems, and yet that 8-8 record seems to have been unlucky given the 27.4 points per game scored and the 21.7 ppg allowed. I see regression to the mean even with the questions and at least 10 wins.

Denver 7-9 (Div 3-3, NFC East 1-3, AFC North 2-2, Other 1-1): The SportsNation Broncos blog has a post that asks the question: Is this a 3-13 team or a 13-3 team? I have to say I think the former is more likely, though I do think this will be a middle of the road team. Orton is not a bad QB, but he's not great and is probably a slight downgrade to Cutler. Their most explosive player, Marshall, is busily exploding at management. Their defense was 30th last year allowing 28.0 ppg. They've tried to strengthen the defense, but I don't think we'll see them allowing any less than 23 ppg in 2009 and that won't be enough to carry an offense that I think will score a point less per game than last year and end up around 22 per game. In terms of record, I think this is the most volatile team in the division, but I think the 7-9 is a very optimistic projection.

Oakland 6-10 (Div 2-4, NFC East 1-3, AFC North 2-2, Other 1-1): This is a mediocre team, there's no doubt about it. The weaknesses on the offensive line and in the linebacking corps prevent the top-flight talent at RB and CB from reaching their potential. I do think there are some signs of improvement, notably in JaMarcus Russell at QB, but I just can't see this team improve their record significantly. I do see this team making a few big plays and catching lightning in a bottle in a couple of games to beat some vastly better opponents, but they'll lose a lot of games they could win.

Kansas City 5-11 (Div 2-4, NFC East 0-4, AFC North 2-2, Other 1-1) This team went 2-14 last year, and 5 wins is a major upgrade. I see some positives here, as I think Todd Haley is great fit for this team. They have some talent at QB now, and they've got some other offensive talent, though they may very well have the worst offensive line in the NFL. They will struggle on defense to learn the 3-4, but I do think we'll see some improvement and I predict they will win 4 of their last 5 games. However, the 5 wins reflect the fact that they're in a bad division and while this team is headed for better days, they won't be all that much better in 2009.

AFC South (Division Rank 4): I really struggle with this division, but I see four teams with major questions and I do not see an elite team.

Tennessee 10-6 (Div 4-2, NFC West 3-1, AFC East 2-2, Other 1-1): The Titans went 13-3 last year and their +141 point differential suggests this was not a fluke. However, I do think there will be some regression to the mean and I think the loss of Albert Haynesworth will hurt them. I see them averaging around 23-24 ppg, just like last year, but I see a significant increase to the 14.6 ppg allowed from last year and that will bring them down.

Indianapolis 9-7 (Div 3-3, NFC West 3-1, AFC East 2-2, Other 1-1): Peyton Manning is probably the best QB in the game right now, especially given Brady's injury questions. However, the Colts only averaged a middle of the road 23.6 ppg last year. I think they'll actually improve here, as I think they'll be deeper in their skill positions than most expect, but I don't see much more than 1 ppg improvement to put them around 10th in the league. However, I think they'll fall back a goodly amount on defense some from 18.6 ppg. Last year they had a +79 point differential suggesting that 12-4 was a moderately lucky record. I think they'll be a +40 or so team, suggesting the new record will be about right.

Houston 9-7 (Div 3-3, NFC West 2-2, AFC East 2-2, Other 2-0): This team was 8-8 last year with -28 point differential, suggesting they were a bit lucky. Still, I think they've got talent on both sides of the ball with Ryan, Williams, and Johnson and I see some improvement, especially since they got one of the easiest set of 2 random opponents in the Oakland Raiders and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Jacksonville 6-10 (Div 1-5, NFC West 2-2, AFC East 1-3, Other 1-1): Jacksonville was probably an unlucky 5-11 given the -65 point differential in 2008. However, any team whose fans are excited trading for Luke McCown at QB has problems. I think Jack del Rio is a great coach, but the Jaguars offensive line, while it has a lot of upside, is very young. I think they've made some improvements on defense, but not enough.

AFC North (Division Rank 2): This division will have a heck of a fight at the top, and a lot of bleah at the bottom.

Baltimore 13-3 (Div 5-1, NFC North 3-1, AFC West 4-0, Other 1-1): I really like the Ravens. They went 11-5 last year but that might have been unlucky given the huge +141 point differential. I think they'll see a bit of a drop-off defensively with age, injuries, and the loss of DC Rex Ryan, but not much. Their offense will improve and offset that however, given that I think Flacco will get better so I think the Ravens will be in the +135 point differential range again and that will at least give them 12 wins.

Pittsburgh 12-4 (Div 4-2, NFC North 3-1, AFC West 4-0, Other 1-1): The Steelers were a great team last year with a +124 point differential, but they were a bit lucky at times. Their defense will again be really good, but I do see a bit of a smaller offense. I think they'll have a great year, and I think they'd win most other divisions, but the Ravens will be a great team.

Cleveland 5-11 (Div 2-4, NFC North 1-3, AFC West 1-3, Other 1-1): I like Eric Mangini, and think the Jets pulled the plug there a bit soon, but neither Brady Quinn nor Derek Anderson fill me with confidence at QB. They scored 14.5 ppg last year, and I see nothing on this team to make me really think they'll do much better than that in 2009. They've got the makings of a decent offensive line, but their skill position players are either old (Lewis), disgruntled (Edwards), or mediocre (Royal). They've got some players on defense such as D'Qwell Jackson, and I think they'll again be middle of the pack on defense. Yes, Joshua Cribbs will create 20-25 points with good returns, but he about did that last year. I give them one extra win this year, but nothing more. I think their victory on 10 December against the Steelers in one of the games greatest grudge matches will give Baltimore the division.

Cincinnati 4-12 (Div 1-5, NFC North 1-3, AFC West 2-2, Other 0-2): Carson Palmer is a great QB, but he may very well be the Archie Manning of the early 21st century. I do think Mike Zimmer will improve this team, but they are a year away from seeing results. They were 30th in point differential at -160 suggesting their 4-11-1 2008 record might have been a little lucky. Dallas fans know Zimmer's a good 4-3 defensive mind, and their defense was in the middle of the pack so this should stay about the same, Their offensive line is still pretty bad, which in a division with Baltimore and Pittsburgh is a bad sign for Palmer. Nevertheless, they should score more than the amazingly bad 12.8 ppg like 2008, but I can't see them beating any of the good teams they'll face in 2009.

AFC East (Division Rank 6): I think the Patriots will run away here, and then there's not much.

New England 13-3 (Div 5-1, NFC South 3-1, AFC South 3-1, Other 2-0): This team went 11-5 without Tom Brady last year and their +101 point differential suggests that wasn't a fluke. They get Brady back, and they add Galloway and other talent around him. I suspect their offense will start a bit slowly as all the pieces start working together, but 30 ppg is not out of the question, 5 ppg more than last year. I do think the transition on their defense will hurt them some, losing Vrabel, Bruschi, and Seymour in the same year, but I do not see much of a drop-off overall. I suspect that the Patriots will lose a game they shouldn't early on, but I see a juggernaut at the end of the year.

New York 8-8 (Div 3-3, NFC South 2-2, AFC South 2-2, Other 1-1):The Jets went 9-7 last year, though they were a little lucky to get that. Last year they scored 25.3 ppg and I just cannot see them duplicating that with Mark Sanchez at QB. Their defense was slightly below average in 2008. This defense will get better as Rex Ryan is really really good, but it will take some time so I don't see any major change overall in their results. I do think they'll win a game or two at some point that they shouldn't, most notably I think they'll beat the Patriots once, but they just won't improve enough in 2009 to have a winning record.

Miami 7-9 (Div 3-3, NFC South 1-3, AFC South 2-2, Other 1-1): The Dolphins were one of the worst division winner in 2009 with only a +28 point differential. I really think Sparano is a fantastic coach, but 11-5 in 2008 was regression to the norm from the 1-15 in 2007 and I think we'll see another correction here. There's a lot to like in a Parcells-run organization, but the Wildcat won't surprise anyone and they won't get all the bounces in 2009.

Buffalo 7-9 (Div 2-4, NFC South 2-2, AFC South 2-2, Other 1-1): Did you hear that Terrell Owens signed with the Bills in the off-season? They were a 7-9 team last year with maybe a bounce taking this team to 8-8. Yet, this is a team going downhill. I think their offense will go downhill in 2009 because while Edwards is serviceable at QB and Evans and TO are nice outside, Lynch is essentially a league average RB that gets the ball a bunch and their offensive line will be mediocre at best. On defense, their 21.4 ppg will stay about the same. I see them winning a game they shouldn't where TO goes ballistic, but they'll lose a game or two because their strength will be in the vertical passing game, which may have some issues with Buffalo's weather late in the season.

AFC Overall: The AFC is filled with haves and have-nots. The Patriots, Ravens and Steelers are all great teams, and the Titans, Colts and Chargers could also go to the Super Bowl, but their overall division rankings are low because aside from these teams there is a lot of nothing. I'm not completely happy with my assessments here because I'm not seeing enough change from previous years, though I do have 2 new division winners. Nevertheless, I just do not see where any of the other teams have closed the gap enough on the cream of the crop.

AFC Playoffs Round 1: Pittsburgh def. Tennessee, San Diego def. Indianapolis

AFC Playoffs Round 2: New England def. San Diego, Baltimore def. Pittsburgh

AFC Title Game: Baltimore def. New England

NFC West (Division Rank 8): This division is definitely rank, and I see a lot of turmoil here, but not a lot of quality.

San Francisco 9-7 (Div 4-2, NFC North 2-2, AFC South 2-2, Other 1-1): San Francisco? What the hell am I thinking? Well, I'm thinking they have a QB in Hill good enough to win a few games in ugly fashion, some other talent on offense, and a defense that is getting better. They were 7-9 last year. I think Hill brings the offense up to about 23 ppg and I think Singletary glares at his defense enough to bring them down to 21.5 ppg allowed. That should be enough to win the worst division in football by far.

Seattle 8-8 (Div 4-2, NFC North 1-3, AFC South 1-3, Other 1-1): I think the Seahawks will rebound from a justifiable 4-12 record last year. I think they'll have a better offense than the 18.4 ppg from last year, probably around 21-22 ppg. I also think they will improve on defense. Certainly there seems to be more excitement about the defense from Seahawks fans, but I don't see them going from 24.5 ppg to dominating. I think they might get to 22ppg allowed, and if they do, they'll go 8-8.

Phoenix 7-9 (Div 3-3, NFC North 1-3, AFC South 2-2, Other 1-1): Super Bowl losers have recently struggled to get to the playoffs and 2009 will be no different. The team had a +1 point differential and won their division. +1! They were the epitome of 8-8 team who scratched out a few extra victories. Fitzgerald is an incredible WR, but they have to have a lot go lucky in 2009 to have a good record, and frankly a lot went lucky last year.

St. Louis 4-12 (Div 1-5, NFC North 0-4, AFC South 1-3, Other 1-1): Umm, they have to get better because of regression to the mean, right? But the OLine won't give the skill positions any time to work, the defense won't be any better with all the changes there, and I think this is one of Detroit's few victories.

NFC South (Division Rank 3): This was the only division in 2008 where every team had a positive point differential, but Tampa Bay's demise brings this division down.

New Orleans 11-5 (Div 4-2, NFC East 2-2, AFC South 3-1, Other 2-0): New Orleans will not lead the NFL in scoring this year, but I think that's because New England will be so good. On the other hand, I think their mediocre defense from 2008 will only improve a little bit. I suspect that New Orleans will again be around the +70 point differential like in 2008, but that's not enough to be the dominant team some people are predicting. They did get a break playing Detroit and St. Louis as the other opponents, and I think that will give them the division.

Atlanta 10-6 (Div 4-2, NFC East 2-2, AFC East 3-1, Other 1-1): I think Atlanta will actually be better than New Orleans with Ryan getting more experience and more targets. However, I don't think they'll be that much better and they don't have as favorable schedule as New Orleans, so I think they'll lose the division by virtue of having to play Chicago and San Francisco as opposed to St. Louis and Detroit for New Orleans.

Carolina 8-8 (Div 4-2, NFC East 1-3, AFC East 2-2, Other 1-1): They won the NFC South in 2008 with a 12-4 record but with a fairly pedestrian +84 point differential. I cannot point to anything in particular where they will be worse, except this year they play the Easts, and both will cause the Panthers some problems. I see them splitting with the other contenders in the South, but not doing as well outside of the division.

Tampa Bay 2-14 (Div 0-6, NFC East 0-4, AFC East 1-3, Other 1-1): Wow, how the middle of the road have fallen. Tampa and Detroit will be playing for the first pick, and I have no clue who will, um... win, that pick. Tampa Bay will struggle to score 14 ppg this year, and their defense will regress from 20 ppg allowed to something around 24 ppg. That, my friends, is a -160 point differential and that is a bad team in an otherwise good division.

NFC North (Division Rank 5): This is much like the NFC South, with 3 good teams and 1 wretched one. However, I think this division is just a little less powerful than the South. The records may not show it, however, as their outside divisions are the AFC North and the NFC West.

Chicago 11-5 (Div 4-2, NFC West 3-1, AFC North 2-2, Other 1-1): I think the Bears are almost as a good as Chicago fans think they will be. Cutler will be an improvement at QB, though the offense was very respectable at 23.4 ppg last year. 25 ppg is probably what they'll average in 2009. I think their defense will improve to about 18 ppg from 21.9 ppg because their healthier than they have been recently. That's about +100 point differential, which makes them a very good team.

Minnesota 11-5 (Div 4-2, NFC West 3-1, AFC North 2-2, Other 1-1): Losing on tiebreakers to the Bears will be the Vikings, who I think are definitely more talented overall, but just filled with issues. This is the team that has the most volatility I think. They could end up at 13-3, but I could see them imploding and going 7-9. Favre has to be a dramatic upgrade over Jackson at QB, and by dramatic I'm emphasizing the turnovers here. Jackson and Frerotte combined for a 3.8% interception rate with 4 fumbles. Favre had a 4.2% interception rate with 5 fumbles. Favre brings more big plays, but he brings them to both sides of the field. If he plays well and takes advantage of possibly the third best WR corps in the NFL, this team will score a lot. However, he will give up some points, and I think the defense will give up more overall in part because of Favre. Could they be great? Yes. But I'm not ready to think the Vikings will pillage the North in 2009.

Green Bay 10-6 (Div 4-2, NFC West 3-1, AFC North 2-2, Other 1-1): I think we have another good team here, but not enough better to beat the two favorites. However, they will be the beneficiaries if the Favre experiment dies a hideous death. The Packers were very good offensively with 26.2 ppg in 2008, and I see no reason why Rodgers will not continue to lead them to points, The defense should improve some from 23.8 ppg, but it will be later in the year when you see that happen because they're transitioning to the 3-4 and they have some square pegs in round holes. Again, I see some incremental improvement, but nothing earth-shaking, though if the Vikings and Bears allow the Packers to stick around while they learn the defense, they could rue the last part of the season.

Detroit 2-14 (Div 0-6, NFC West 1-3, AFC North 1-3, Other 0-2): When winning 2 games constitutes a good season, you know you have a bad franchise. I'm not a big Stafford fan, but they play the Rams, Browns, and Bengals, and I think they take two victories out of these three. They're 0 for their last 17, though, and don't play a team I'm predicting to have a losing season until their 7th game, meaning they will probably be 0-23 when the Rams come to town. Get your tickets now.

NFC East (Division Rank 1): Top to bottom this is the toughest division in football, and I don't think it's close. This is the only division that could have any of the 4 teams win it, and not because the main favorite implodes, like I'm predicting of the Cardinals in the West. Nope, each team would be at least a contender in every other division, though I believe the Ravens and Patriots are the best teams.

Dallas 11-5 (Div 3-3, NFC South 3-1, AFC West 3-1, Other 2-0): OK, I admit it, I'm a Cowboys fan, so this is possibly a homer pick, but I don't think so. People are asking about picking up TO's production, and I see that getting picked up by Williams, Bennett, and Jones. People are asking about depth. Well, there's no doubt that injuries could hurt the Cowboys, but injuries could hurt every team. Last year's Cowboy team scored 22.6 ppg, but I think they'll be up in the 28 range in 2009. Why the difference? Well, last year prior to Romo's injury the Cowboys were averaging 29 ppg and I think this is a better offense overall. We'll see the Cowboys dominate time of possession, and they'll score a lot. I would not be surprised if they end up the 3rd most prolific offense in 2009 behind the New England and New Orleans. Defensively, they averaged a mediocre 22.8 ppg against despite leading the NFL in sacks. I think that will improve dramatically as well. First, the Cowboys have a better secondary than they have ever had and I think Phillips is just waiting to unleash this defense. Last year they had 59 sacks, I think they'll get another .5 sacks per game and have around 67 or slightly more than 4 per game. I also think that in 2009 that will translate into more turnovers. Finally, with the offense controlling the ball more, their opponents will have fewer opportunities to score. Last year, the prognosticators said that the only thing that could stop Dallas was their own mistakes, and indeed the mistakes the Cowboys made contributed to a mediocre season. Last year, the Cowboys not only played poorly, the bounces that had gone their way in 2007 didn't. I think, however, some of those bounces will even out in 2009 and I think they will play more disciplined and at least break even on special teams.

New York 11-5 (Div 3-3, NFC South 3-1, AFC West 4-0, Other 1-1): New York has a great team. They're great in the trenches, they have, if not a great QB, a very good one in Manning, good RBs, and a very good pass rush. However, I don't think they'll score 26.7 ppg like in 2008 because their WRs don't scare anyone and their RB depth isn't as good without Ward. I think their defense will get a little better (from 18.4 to 17 ppg) because of Umenyiora to offset the offense meaning they'll again be a +120 point differential team. I think they fall back a game because I think they will go 3-3 in the division and I think they will have a few more injuries in 2009. The injuries, by the way, seem to have already kicked in here.

Washington 10-6 (Div 3-3, NFC South 3-1, AFC West 3-1, Other 1-1): I think that the Redskins will have a similar improvement in defense with the addition of Albert Haynesworth. I also think they'll improve some on the 16.6 ppg they put up in 2008, however, this depends on keeping Jason Campbell's confidence up and that may be challenging given that they always seem to be ready to push him out the door. Campbell's underrated because he doesn't put up huge TD numbers, but 6 interceptions and 0 fumbles in over 500 pass attempts mean he is exceptional at protecting the ball.

Philadelphia 8-8 (Div 3-3, NFC South 1-3, AFC West 3-1, Other 1-1): This is probably even more surprising than the Cowboys pick, but I'm not drinking the Eagles kool-aid in 2009. The death of Jim Johnson, one of the greatest defensive minds ever, will hurt their defense. Even worse from an on the field perspective is the loss of Bradley at MLB and Dawkins in the back. I think they will give up around 23 ppg, which is a huge drop-off from the 18.1 of last year. Essentially, I think Dallas and Philly trade points given up from 2008 to 2009 and I also see a decline on the Eagles offense. Their offensive line, despite the addition of Peters, is not quite as good in my opinion, and I don't think Westbrook will be near as explosive. Maclin and Jackson are nice WRs, and they'll make some big plays, but I think the lack of a running game will make McNabb a target. Plus, if McNabb starts slow, what will happen with Michael Vick? The Eagles play 3 easier games in weeks 3-5, but if they stumble against KC, Tampa, or Oakland this could deteriorate. Frankly, in the 2009 Eagles I see all of the turmoil that surrounded the 2008 Cowboys, and I don't know as the Eagles have the talent to overcome it any better than the Cowboys did, especially with the injuries.

NFC Playoffs Round 1: New York def. San Francisco, New Orleans def. Minnesota

NFC Playoffs Round 2: New York def. Chicago, Dallas def. New Orleans

NFC Title Game: Dallas def. New York

NFC Overall: This is a much harder conference to predict. I'm predicting 4 new division winners, which might seem unlikely until you realize that change is much more common than consistency. None of the 2007 NFC division winners and only 2 of the AFC division winners won in 2008. This is also the conference that my predictions will go out the window quickest with injuries, which will happen. If Manning, Rodgers, or Brees goes down, those teams are sunk. If you see a Ware, Peterson, Urlacher, or Willis get hurt, those teams will struggle. And that's not even talking about the mid-level players who we only know if they're on our team, such as Kyle Kosier's loss for the Cowboys last year. I cannot, however, predict those injuries well, so I'm going to just have to go on the other evidence. Oh, and the Cowboys over New York because I think the New York offense will be good, but I think the Cowboys will be great and while the Giants are touted to have a great pass rush, they only had 42 sacks compared to 59 last year, and while the return of Umenyiora will cut that gap, I think the Cowboys will be even better at that in 2009.

That being said, however, I'm not sure I can predict the Cowboys over the Ravens in the Super Bowl. I'll be rooting for it, but I think that the Ravens are better than Dallas. I will say this, though, if it does end up a Cowboys-Ravens Super Bowl, the Cowboys do have a puncher's chance because of their pass rush.

The Camera Eye

2009-08-14T15:39:01Z

Using only song titles from ONE ARTIST, answer these questions.
Try not to repeat a song title.

Pick your artist:
Rush (duh)
And since there are so many Rush songs I’m actually putting extra answers to each question

Are you a male or female? Cinderella Man (New World Man)

Describe yourself: Malignant Narcissism (Best I Can, Beneath, Between & Behind, Finding My Way)

How do you feel? Out Of The Cradle (The Body Electric, Between Sun And Moon)

Describe where you currently live: Subdivisions (La Villa Strangiato)

If you could go anywhere, where would you go? Rivendell (YYZ, Xanadu)

Your favorite form of transportation: Red Barcheta (Ghost Rider)

Your best friend is: Analog Kid (Digital Man)

You and your best friends are: Armor And Sword (Making Memories)

What's the weather like? Vapor Trails (Ceiling Unlimited)

Favorite time of day: The Stars Look Down (Nocturne)

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called? The Camera Eye (Distant Early Warning, Natural Science)

Your last relationship: One Little Victory (Secret Touch, Closer To The Heart)

Your fear: The Enemy Within (Red Sector A, Witch Hunt, The Trees)

What is the best advice you have to give? Turn The Page (Show Don’t Tell, Leave That Thing Alone)

Thought for the day: Roll The Bones (In The Mood)

How I would like to die: Where’s My Thing? (Circumstances)

My soul's present condition: Workin’ Them Angels (Different Strings, The Main Monkey Business)

My motto: Test For Echo (Mystic Rhythms, Anagram For Mongo)

Monday of Pennsic War Week

2009-07-22T02:49:02Z

Hey all

We're going to do a memorial get together for Ternon de Caerleon under my shade fly the Monday of War Week. It will be at my tent in Calontir (N05).

If you have any stories or memories of Ternon to share, or just remember him, or just want to hear about the first fyrdman of Calontir, please come. We'll have beers, chat about him and his legacy, and then spread some of his ashes by the Runestone.

Again, this will be at my tent, on the Monday of War Week (3 August), starting 6ish.

Please pass this notice along appropriately, as I know there are many across the Knowne World who remember him.

Thanks

Calontir Crown

2009-07-11T18:32:11Z

Hirsch Ross Eichmann vs. Sean of the Chipendales (Had to win twice)
Valens of Flatrock vs. Ashir B-something Mongol (Had to win twice)

Hirsch vs. Valens in the finals
First Round (great sword): Hirsch
Second Round (sword and shield): Hirsch

Hirsch and Magda will be the 52nd King and Queen of Calontir

Taken at 2:14pm, Saturday 11 July for those who want to know when things actually happened.

1.
now someone owes me a hand massage.37 minutes ago from mobile web
2.
Hirsch and Magda, heirs to the Crown of Calontir.42 minutes ago from mobile web
3.
second round, sword and shield: very long round... hirsch won witha thrust.43 minutes ago from mobile web
4.
great swordsabout 1 hour ago from mobile web
5.
firsh round: hirshabout 1 hour ago from mobile web
6.
valons vs hirschabout 1 hour ago from mobile web
7.
ashir 1win, valons won, ashir outabout 1 hour ago from mobile web
8.
sean outabout 1 hour ago from mobile web
9.
hirsh wonabout 1 hour ago from mobile web
10.
semi finals: hirsh vs sean(must win twice) valons vs ashir(must win twice)about 1 hour ago from mobile web
11.
ashir won, angus out. next up semi finals ashir, sean, from the Loss tree and valons and hirsch from the Win treeabout 1 hour ago from mobile web
12.
sean won, angelo out, angus vs ashirabout 1 hour ago from mobile web
13.
angus won,cassandra out, sean vs angeloabout 1 hour ago from mobile web
14.
sean won, damian out, angus vs cassandraabout 1 hour ago from mobile web
15.
ashir won, colin out, sean vs damianabout 1 hour ago from mobile web
16.
angelo won, reimond out, ashir vs colinabout 1 hour ago from mobile web
17.
hirsch won, L tree: angelo vs reimondabout 1 hour ago from mobile web
18.
valons won, hirsh vs angusabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
19.
colin won, gustav out, 4th round sean vs valonsabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
20.
ashir won, alleadin out, colin vs gustavabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
21.
cassandra won, talbot out, ashir vs allaedinabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
22.
reimond won, aron 2&out, talbot vs cassadraabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
23.
angelo won, alma 2&out, aron vs reimondabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
24.
damian won, logan 2 and out, angelo vs almaabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
25.
angus won, L tree: logan vs damianabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
26.
hirsh won, colin vs angusabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
27.
valons won, ashir vs hirshabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
28.
sean won, aron vs valensabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
29.
angelo vs seanabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
30.
reimond won, gawain 2 and outabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
31.
logan bye, amba bye, gawain vs reimondabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
32.
damian won, iggy 2 and outabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
33.
iggy vs damianabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
34.
raudr is 2 losses and outabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
35.
tlbot won, cassandra bye, alaeddin byeabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
36.
angus won, talbot vs raudrabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
37.
colin won, angus vs ambaabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
38.
hirsh won, colin vs reimondabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
39.
ashir won, hirsh vs iggyabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
40.
valens won, logan vs ashirabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
41.
aron won, alaeddin vs valonsabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
42.
sean won, aron vs gustavabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
43.
sean wonabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
44.
sean vs raudrabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
45.
angelo wonabout 2 hours ago from mobile web
46.
win tree cassandra vs angeloabout 3 hours ago from mobile web
47.
end of first round. 2nd round: loss tree talbot-bye damian-bye gawain-byeabout 3 hours ago from mobile web
48.
angus wonabout 3 hours ago from mobile web
49.
gawain vs angusabout 3 hours ago from mobile web
50.
to clear up Colin the huscarl is fighting the byes. Sir Colin is in the tourney.about 3 hours ago from mobile web
51.
ashir wonabout 3 hours ago from mobile web
52.
ashir vs damianabout 3 hours ago from mobile web
53.
colin and calissa are fighting the byesabout 3 hours ago from mobile web
54.
all of the byes advance, go figure. its too much typing.about 3 hours ago from mobile web
55.
Angelo wonabout 3 hours ago from mobile web
56.
Angelo vs Talbotabout 3 hours ago from mobile web
57.
Valons and Suzanne - reaffirmed titles of protector and defnder of the heartland given banners of their arms.about 4 hours ago from mobile web
58.
marabel whynn - calon lilyabout 4 hours ago from mobile web
59.
eileen svenbrook - torseabout 4 hours ago from mobile web
60.
meabh anounced for pelicanabout 4 hours ago from mobile web
61.
the combatents and their consorts are lining up for court.about 4 hours ago from mobile web
62.
It is trying to rainabout 4 hours ago from mobile web
63.
Gawain vs Angus, Amba has a bye.about 4 hours ago from mobile web
64.
hirsh has a bye, Iggy has a bye, Colin has a bye, Reimond has a byeabout 4 hours ago from mobile web
65.
Gustav has a bye, Alaeddin has a bye, Valens has a bye, Logan has a bye, Ashir vs Damianabout 4 hours ago from mobile web
66.
the order is: Cassandra has a bye, Angelo vs Talbot, Raudr has a bye, Sean has a bye, Aron has a byeabout 4 hours ago from mobile web
67.
reminder; this is not official, and twitter does not have a spell checker. roise can't spell.about 4 hours ago from mobile web
68.
all byes will be fought, duplicate fights will not be altered, sheild rule is in effect.about 4 hours ago from mobile web
69.
the list is ready- Hans has dropped out due to lasik surgeryabout 4 hours ago from mobile web
70.
onsite and setting up.about 6 hours ago from mobile web
71.
On the road to fayetteville, AR10:59 AM Jul 10th from mobile web
72.
This is the aleksandr information network. stand by for Calontir Crown Tournament Updates.5:38 AM Jul 8th from TwitterGadget

My Response to Liam

2009-06-10T01:41:43Z

Greetings all,

I warn you, there’s an epic entry behind the cut, in full Rhodri style. I'm an academic, so I cannot say anything in two words where fifty will suffice :)

I responded to a post on liamstliam’s LiveJournal about his question to me about my opinion on fencing. My response was:

“I perceive fencing to have harmed the SCA as a whole, not simply Calontir.

Fencing promotes divisiveness, selfishness, and misogyny. I say this not because "fencers are bad" or "fighters are good" but because both the historical culture that fencing derives from and the nature of fencing in the SCA make people act more in those ways than if fencing did not exist.

Individual fencers are generally wonderful people, as are most people in the SCA, but fencing tears at all of our souls.”

Not surprisingly, this generated a lot of response. I thought rather than simply adding to Liam’s huge list of responders that I would simply put my response here and start a new thread.

First, some background about myself since most of the responders have no clue who I am. I started playing in the SCA in 1997 in Calontir. While I have only lived in Calontir per se, I have traveled a goodly amount throughout the Knowne World. I am now currently in the midst of my fourth full summer in Ealdormere. I have been to fighter practices in Calontir, Ealdormere, Ansteorra, Outlands, Atlantia, and the East. I have been to events, not counting wars, in Calontir, Ealdormere, Drachenwald, Ansteorra, Outlands, Meridies, Northshield, and the East. In terms of wars have been to Pennsic 8 times, Gulf Wars 8 times, Estrella 8 times, Trillium War 3 times, Armorgeddon 3 times, and Lilies 8 times. I say all this not to say that I’m better than anyone, nor that I am the most well-traveled person out there, but merely to point out that I am not simply a Calontir guy who has his head in purple sand and can’t see because of it. I do feel that I have some perspective of the SCA as a whole.

I have fenced before and in fact fenced some once I had joined the SCA, though not in the SCA context. I like fencing; in fact I like it a lot. It’s a great sport. My fencing has helped my fighting, and if you watch my fighting you can sometimes see the fencing influences in my style. Initially, I was all in favor of adding fencing to the SCA and was all in favor of doing work to bring it to Calontir. Even since my opinions have changed, I have brought water to fencers on the field at multiple events, and I have heralded fencing tournaments.

What changed?

Well, it happened as I traveled about the Knowne World. The first time I came up to Ealdormere in 2003 is when I started to see the “divisiveness, selfishness, and misogyny” that I referenced in my response to Liam’s post. I must emphasize that it was after I started leaving Calontir that my opinions changed on fencing. During the time that I was the most insular of Calontir loyalists that I have ever been I was in favor of fencing in the SCA but now with my horizons broadened I have become staunchly against it.

Having told you about my background, I will now proceed to first expand on the response to Liam’s comment, and then I will make specific responses at the end of the post to those good gentles who responded to me.

Divisiveness. Sadly, this is the easiest one to prove. The simple fact that we’re having a discussion with as much emotion and deeply seated opinions on both sides is merely one point. Given the vehemence of some of the responses to my post, I suspect some of you are going to be pre-disposed to dislike me. I find that sad. I try to be a genial, respectful, generous person. Liam and the others on the list who know me can attest to my success or failure in these attempts. I hope that no one dislikes simply because of my position on fencing, but if there are people who do not like me because of my position on fencing, as opposed to me being a jerk, then I consider that divisive. In short, I believe that the discussion on fencing in the SCA has hurt friendships that either existed or might have existed, simply because two people on different sides with deeply held convictions often struggle to overcome some of those feelings.

Divisiveness also extends to the resources available to the SCA. Many of you who responded are probably from larger kingdoms than Calontir, so perhaps you’re not aware of the resource challenges that fencing adds.

Both fighting and fencing need a fairly large area to fight in, and not every event can provide particularly large spaces, especially during inclement weather. This means that either fencers or fighters, depending upon who comes to the event in greater numbers, have to make do with less than the other. If 35 fencers come to fight at an event and they’re squished on to a small list field to make room for 16 fighters, then that is an inefficient distribution of resources and the fencers, in this case, have to make do with individually less space. Vice versa if the numbers are reversed. One can suggest that the events be held in sequence as opposed to parallel, but that rarely works smoothly as whichever goes first will almost surely go longer than originally scheduled, forcing the other to wait to start and either hurry to finish in time or force other things such as court or feast to be delayed. We all know “SCA time,” but there’s no need to add more things to mess with an event schedule.

Both fighting and fencing need waterbearing support. If this is done in the same room as the above situation suggests, that’s not a big deal, but if they’re in two separate places than the waterbearer in charge has to split his or her resources, which is not necessarily easy.

Most importantly, fighting and fencing need fighters and fencers. In smaller groups, there are simply not enough people to support both activities. Any division of effort tends to drastically hurt the ability of all to participate in either sport. If you have 4 people come to a practice, 2 to fence and 2 to fight, then you essentially have no practice at all. Small shires do not always have the ability to support both. I’ve even been to baronial practices in two kingdoms where the practice did not happen because there were neither enough fencers nor enough fighters to make it worthwhile. And this was with an out of kingdom person, myself, in armor and ready to go.

The traditional response to the above argument about resources is to suggest that fencing will bring in its own resources. More people will participate, for example, if fencing is allowed. Yet, while more people do participate, it does not seem to suffice to replace the entirety of the siphoned off resources, as evidenced by the failure of baronial, much less shire-level, practices. Also, waterbearing resources and field resources are finite, meaning that even with new participants, these might not be sufficient to provide for all of the resources.

For example, if there is fighting and fencing in two separate areas, then the waterbearers probably need two separate shade-flys or pavilions. Is the addition of, say, 10 new people who only do fencing worthy of forcing a barony of 50 other people to buy a new pavilion? If not, how about 20? What’s the break point? If there are 10 new people who come only because of fencing, are there also the 2-3 new people who will volunteer to provide them water and the 2-3 fencing marshals? Can you even get 10 people in a group that only play because of fencing? Not often, I suspect.

In shires and small baronies I can almost guarantee that the population level is such that a group simply cannot add enough population and financial resources to balance out those that fencing requires. They may, and often do, find enough resources to make things work, but I suspect often this requires more effort and sacrifice from all, not simply fencers, than if fencing did not exist.

For example, in my shire I’m the only warranted marshal. As a PhD student I barely have time to marshal the fighting I’m supposed to. There is no guarantee that adding fencing to my shire will automatically provide a marshal for fencing, meaning that either I devote more time to the SCA and less to my real life or fencing does not have a marshal in my shire. Just to let you know, my fighting has dropped from 5-10 times a month to 2 times a month while I’m working on my PhD. I simply cannot add another set of responsibilities to my life. You say that this is anecdotal evidence and my use of synecdoche is inappropriate. Perhaps you’re right, but my experience traveling to other groups suggests that my evidence is supportable.

There’s another point to this particular discussion on resource management which I will discuss when I get to selfishness below.

In short, fencing is divisive because we have different ideas on the issue and because fencing takes away from the resources that would have been devoted to fighters. How many resources should be devoted to fighting? How many to fencing? This is an argument that can never be answered completely, and one that will always divide us. Hence adding fencing is, almost by definition, divisive.

Selfishness. I said that fencing in the SCA has both from the historical culture fencing derives from and the nature of its implementation in the SCA promotes selfishness. Here’s how.

First, fencing is at its core a one-on-one martial art. It is a great martial art, and as I mentioned above I love it. But while there are fencing melees, those that I have seen generally boil down to many one-on-one bouts with the occasional two-on-two matches. The nature of the martial art does not lend itself to teamwork. It can be done, but what I’ve read of the fectbuchs had very little on teamwork, and more on body position, balance, and mental clarification. This was an art designed not for the battlefield, but for the duel.

Duels are, almost by definition, between individuals. Yes, you can have groups that hate each other, but that’s less about dueling and more about battles. It’s a subtle but important difference. This difference essentially is the difference between a soldier and a warrior. One can be both, but ask any serving member of the military the difference between the two. In short, the soldier can only succeed as part of a team, and a warrior can generally not work well with a team. Facing a team of soldiers, an equal number of warriors is outclassed because soldiers create something more than the sum of their parts. Fencing, as a dueling sport, trains warriors, not soldiers, meaning that they are trained as individuals.

And as individuals they are trained in the SCA to be selfish. I have had multiple fencers tell me that one of their favorite parts of fencing tournaments is the boasting about themselves and the insulting (in friendly fashion of course) of their opponents. I was shocked with what I heard on the fencing field at Pennsic when I was in hearing distance. Occasionally, there are times when heralds are set up to boast about the prowess of a fighter, but not routinely. The response when I asked was that this was part of the romantic culture that they liked, the dashing derring-do of the swashbuckling period...

Which was essentially a selfish period where fencers had a vested interest, most notably their lives, to be the proudest and brashest. Those can be survival traits, in that they can often either intimidate their opponents or get them angry enough to forget their proper movements. That being said, these are attributes that tend to promote selfishness. Not every fencer in period thought this way, but pretty much all fechtbuchs talk about seizing mental control of the fight and asserting your ego on the fight to be successful.

This is not to say that such feelings do not exist among fighters. They do, and I dislike it when I see a fighter act selfishly. No doubt that the tournament culture often breeds such selfishness. My statement was not to say that fighting cannot promote these things too. My statement merely said that fencing promotes selfishness, and it does. It is a me, me, me sport only.

Yet at least one part of fighting actively works to train teamwork, melee combat. This is emphasized in Calontir, but I know many groups across the Knowne World that work hard to place themselves in a larger context, to subsume their own personal glory to the success of the team. The Lion-Dragon group headed by Sir Jean-Paul de Sens in Ansteorra is one example (yes, I know JP fences, but I'll bet that his formative years in the SCA were primarily fighting) and I can think of a variety of others groups who emphasize teamwork.

Fencing melees, however, do not work well with groups. The reason why fighting has the ability to work in groups is because the weapon systems are sufficiently different to provide certain tactical situations where each weapon system is king. Sometimes it's spears, sometimes it's polearms, sometimes it's scutums, sometimes, it's smaller shields, and so on.

With fencing, there is essentially only one range, and that is of the sword. You say you can add firearms. Sure, and fighters can add combat archery. The tactical equations do shift, but not on the basis of the primary weapon systems. You say you can train next to another and work more smoothly in tandem. Indeed you can. But once you get past two on two, the range of the weapons simply is not sufficient to allow striking of the opponent on the far side of your partner. With fighting weapon systems, much larger individual teams that contribute to all of the combat can be created because of the length of the spear and nature of the surrounding weapon systems.

In terms of application in the SCA and how fencing promotes selfishness, as a Calontiri, I will relate some anecdotal evidence based upon the attempts to add fencing in Calontir. I have paid a goodly amount of attention to the subject of fencing in Calontir. Initially, as I said, I was in favor it, but starting in 2003 I have switched sides. I fully admit this is anecdotal, yet the experiences I have had in the Knowne World have reinforced this impression.

In any case, several times Conde Fernando Rodriguez de Falcon posted a 12-step program for the addition of fencing in Calontir. Basically, you follow these 12 steps, and you’ll bring fencing to Calontir. As of this point, no one has completed these steps. The primary stumbling block seems to be in the work of creating the rules, assembling the marshallate, and generating the infrastructure needed for fencing. In short, Fernando basically said that if you do the work, you can have the sport. No one has completed these tasks.

Fernando fully admits that whomever does this will face political challenges. This is not surprising given the history of the fencing issue in Calontir (see trimguy for a primer on fencing in Calontir) Nevertheless, anyone who wants fencing in Calontir must do the work themselves. A common thread from proponents of fencing in Calontir has seemed to be something along the lines of: “why won’t they let us have fencing?” but the real truth in response is: “why don’t you create it and give Calontir a reason to like it?” Many of the proponents of fencing who actually live in Calontir have not done the work, but instead expected the Earl Marshals to create the rules and the infrastructure for them. Not surprisingly, this has promoted the response of “why should I do a whole bunch of work for something I don’t like?” from many in Calontir.

In Calontir, at one point on the Calontir-fence YahooGroup, an anonymous poll was provided asking people’s position on fencing in Calontir. Here are the results:
I am IN FAVOR of Rapier Combat in Calontir. I am currently NOT ACTIVE in Calontir. I plan to be an ACTIVE participant. 2
I am IN FAVOR of Rapier Combat in Calontir. I am currently NOT ACTIVE in Calontir. I plan to be a CASUAL participant. 1
I am IN FAVOR of Rapier Combat in Calontir. I am currently NOT ACTIVE in Calontir. I do NOT plan participate. 0
I am OPPOSED to Rapier Combat in Calontir. I am currently ACTIVE in Calontir. I plan to be an ACTIVE participant. 0
I am OPPOSED to Rapier Combat in Calontir. I am currently ACTIVE in Calontir. I plan to be a CASUAL participant. 3
I am OPPOSED to Rapier Combat in Calontir. I am currently ACTIVE in Calontir. I do NOT plan participate. 10
I am OPPOSED to Rapier Combat in Calontir. I am currently NOT ACTIVE in Calontir. I plan to be an ACTIVE participant. 0
I am OPPOSED to Rapier Combat in Calontir. I am currently NOT ACTIVE in Calontir. I plan to be a CASUAL participant. 1
I am OPPOSED to Rapier Combat in Calontir. I am currently NOT ACTIVE in Calontir. I do NOT plan participate. 0
I DO NOT CARE if Rapier Combat is allowed in Calontir. I am currently ACTIVE in Calontir. I plan to be an ACTIVE participant. 0
I DO NOT CARE if Rapier Combat is allowed in Calontir. I am currently ACTIVE in Calontir. I plan to be a CASUAL participant. 0
I DO NOT CARE if Rapier Combat is allowed in Calontir. I am currently ACTIVE in Calontir. I do NOT plan participate. 0
I DO NOT CARE if Rapier Combat is allowed in Calontir. I am currently NOT ACTIVE in Calontir. I plan to be an ACTIVE participant. 0
I DO NOT CARE if Rapier Combat is allowed in Calontir. I am currently NOT ACTIVE in Calontir. I plan to be a CASUAL participant. 0
I DO NOT CARE if Rapier Combat is allowed in Calontir. I am currently NOT ACTIVE in Calontir. I do NOT plan participate. 0
I DO NOT live in Calontir. 3
I am IN FAVOR of Rapier Combat in Calontir. I am currently ACTIVE in Calontir. I plan to be an ACTIVE participant. 8
I am IN FAVOR of Rapier Combat in Calontir. I am currently ACTIVE in Calontir. I plan to be a CASUAL participant. 8
I am IN FAVOR of Rapier Combat in Calontir. I am currently ACTIVE in Calontir. I do NOT plan participate. 5

Total people who voted in favor of fencing: 24. That’s all who could be bothered to spend the few minutes to vote for fencing. Was every possible fencer on this list? No, of course not, but the list is essentially open to anyone, and only 24 people spent the less than 5 minutes it would take to log on to the group, become a member, vote, and leave the group. Was this publicized in the fencing community? I have no clue. If not, why not? Those in favor are pushing for something and were given the opportunity to get a bunch of friends to say they wanted it. This was their great chance to show that there was a great demand for fencing in Calontir.

The polls been open since March, 2007. Less than 20 people said that they would fence if Calontir had fencing. Only 4 of those said that they did not participate in Calontir but would if it had fencing. 4!

Let’s assume that there are actually three times that number (feel free to pick a reasonable multiplier). That’s still less than sixty potential fencers total. That’s 12 people only who would play if fencing was allowed. Assume they all bring a spouse. That’s 24.

24 people? These 24 people insist that the only way they’re going to play is if we let them do what they want to do? This seems selfish to me.

OK, so I will fully admit that these statistics are generally meaningless because of sample size but less than one quarter of those who happen to be on the list actually voted (41 out of 170) I personally voted Against but plan to be a Casual participant. If fencing is such a big deal in Calontir, why can't there be more than 30 people who would vote for it? Would you change your kingdom for less than 30 people?

Just out of curiosity, what is the percentage of people who fence at Pennsic as opposed to everything else? I'd be very curious to figure that number out and compare it to fighters.

In short, there is nothing in fencing that tends to promote working in groups, and both the historical background and implementation in the SCA tends to promote the one or few over the many. This is not to say that every fencer or fencing group is like that, merely that my experience suggests this to be the greater trend.

Finally misogyny. I have said this before and I have gotten a lot of “what the hell are you smoking, Rhodri?” Well, I have two responses to that. One, I mean it. Two, it’s some good stuff, wanna hit?

How many women fighters are there in your kingdom? I’ll tell you exactly how many there are in Calontir: none. You want to call Rhianwen a chick fighter? You go right ahead. Tell Her Majesty Sir Ariel that she’s not a fighter, but a woman fighter? How about going up to Cassandra? You go spout some crap about women-only tournaments to her. Please. But let me get marshmallows and popcorn first because the show's gonna rock.

In Calontir, people who fight are fighters, and our army includes not simply the fighters but the waterbearers, Soup Kitchen staff, and chirurgeonate. None of those titles have anything to do with gender.

Sadly, I have seen many instances of gender prejudice generating because of fencing. A fighter might say: “We should not authorize this person because she’s a small woman and will get hurt.” A fencer might say: “You should not fight, you should fence because as a small woman you’ll get hurt.”

I’ve heard both, or their equivalent, in multiple kingdoms from multiple fighters and multiple fencers.

Do I think most people feel this way? No, but this is a trend that I deeply despise. We probably all agree that such statements, from whomever, are wrong. Yet, it does happen, it's not a regional thing, it's not a proponent of fencing thing or a proponent of fighting thing, but rather it's something that has developed because some people perceive fencing to be a more woman-appropriate sport.

I have heard from women in multiple kingdoms that they have been discouraged from fighting. I have also heard from women that they have never felt so encouraged to fight as in Calontir. I believe that this difference is directly attributable to fencing.

So, look about your kingdom, and look at the number of female fighters as a percentage. Then come and watch the hats get taken off at Pennsic or Estrella or Gulf or Lilies.

I chose most of the words of my initial post with care. I did not say that fencing causes “divisiveness, selfishness, and misogyny.” I said fencing promotes those things. There is an important difference between those two words.

Those things are part of humanity, sad to say, and fencing in the SCA brings out but does not cause such behavior in both sides.

Let me reiterate. This is not a problem with fencers themselves. It is not a problem with fighters themselves. It is a problem with mixing the two cultures in the blender that is the SCA. It is a problem with mixing historical periods with vastly different viewpoints and cultures. Both sides are innocent. Both sides are guilty.

OK, some specific replies to responses on Liam’s thread:

liamstliam asked: “But it is fencing that you perceive has harmed the kingdom or the arguments about fencing?”

I believe fencing has harmed the SCA as a whole, because we have this divisive issue that gets people mad at each other over a hobby.

nomadwe said: Can you provide concrete examples of these, especially the last?

Edit: Oh, and I'm pretty sure that fencing doesn't tear at my soul, thanks very much. My soul likes fencing Just Damn Fine.

I tried to give some concrete examples, if those are not sufficient, I can elaborate further. As to the edit, it's not a question of your soul liking fencing, but rather that the simple fact that we are arguing so vehemently suggests to me that our souls are not at peace with this concept. If our souls are not at peace, then our souls are harmed. Maybe not yours directly, but I honestly feel that anything that hurts any of our souls hurts all of us.

The only argument that I truly find difficult to respond to is: “well so-and-so could do nothing if they could not fence.” I feel bad about that. That indeed tears at my soul. But how many people exist where such a statement is truly applicable? I refer back to the poll results. I feel very uncomfortable with the thought of saying to you: “change this just for me or those few like me.” I think, again, the placing of the few over the many hurts all of our souls, whomever does it.

math5 said: Is that a "Some of my friends are fencers?"

I think that's the most prejudiced comment I've seen here.

I responded to this on the thread, but my original post was specifically not: “some of my best friends are fencers.” I stated then, as I state now, fencers, like everyone else in the SCA, are generally wonderful people. I know some asshats in the SCA. Some of those asshats are fencers, some are fighters, some are artisans, etc.

My point was is that we, as a whole, are generally really good people. We may disagree on this argument, but we, as a whole, are really really cool. I wanted to distinguish my arguments from attacks on fencers themselves, but focus on my overall argument, which is that I think fencing has hurt the SCA.

silverstah said: Can you explain this more in detail? I don't see how fencing makes people act any more divisive, selfish, or misogynistic than any other activity commonly practiced in the SCA.

ferriludent said: I would like to hear more about your thoughts on this "divisiveness, selfishness, and misogyny" position, as well.

I hope I have in the above epic post, but if not, feel free to ask for clarification.

rufinia said: What the hell. I mean, really, what the hell. I can make the SAME argument against heavy fighting.

purpura said essentially the same thing.

The point I was trying to make is that the presence of fencing makes all of us as a whole, fighters and fencers, act worse. Individually, everyone here may each act just as well as they would have, but I'm referring to bell curve kind of generalities. I point out that you yourself said in another thread: "I think Calontir has its head up its ass." Is this your normal behavior, or has your vehemence on this issue pushed you a bit? Maybe it is your normal behavior, and I'm the last person to criticize saying something rude, but is everyone who says something like that not without emotional influence based on the argument?

Yes, Rufinia, you can make a similar argument about fighting and I probably will agree with much of what you say. It's the mixture of differing cultures that I struggle with, not the actual activity. Had fencing been the root of the hobby, and fighting was the newcomer, the positions would be reversed and I would say the same things about fighting as I do about fencing now. Essentially, your argument is that I as a fighter have to change my ways and sacrifice time and resources for something that I don't want. And, at least in Calontir, that seems to be a request from a smallish minority which explains much of why it's not there.

valr said: a bunch of things but since he was generally supporting my position I won’t really emphasize his here. However, this opened a new thread between him and soldiergrrl. The end result of their discussion is that probably the “sneering at Calontir” comment earlier in Liam's responses was probably tongue in cheek.

OK, fair enough. Believe me, I say enough tongue in cheek things that sometimes get taken wrongly. I am, not surprisingly, a mouthy bastard. However, my initial response was, essentially, I’m sorry you feel that way, but please come to Calontir and meet us at Lilies or join us under the pavilion at Gulf or Pennsic or wherever. Soldiergrrl made the point that my reply might have been more appropriate to follow the “sneering” comment, but I was actually responding to Liam’s specific question about my opinions, not really responding directly to her or her husband.

Nevertheless, assume that someone was “sneering at your kingdom.” Would you be happy about it? Whatever the reason? Even if you agreed? Even if it was tongue in cheek? Would you always respond well to that? Or would such a comment be likely to occasionally cause divisiveness?

The “sneering” comment is not a big deal in itself, but I have, indeed, had people be rude to me because I’m from Calontir and we do not have fencing. That is, no matter what you want to say, divisive.

math5 and valr asked about misogyny. I hope I responded to that. Again, if you’re unclear, please ask for a follow-up.

lumineaux said: Misogyny?!? In a Kingdom that has had just as many female Kingdom Rapier Marshals as male, I'm trying to figure out how fencing has promoting misogyny.

Selfishness? A huge number of our active high-level rapier fighters are also Pelicans for service to things above and beyond fencing. If anything, the need for fencers to be self-sufficient and independent has created a sub-culture of service within the East's rapier community.

I do Calontir the courtesy of letting it choose its own path and not "sneering" at them for their choice. Please do us the courtesy of refraining from ad hominem attacks when you don't know us.

Lumineaux raises a number of interesting and valid points. The misogyny wasn’t to say that women could not become Rapier Marshals. The misogyny has to do with a trend, again that I have seen personally from multiple fighters and multiple fencers in multiple kingdoms to direct women to become fencers because it’s “safer.” I personally think that such behavior, no matter who does it, is total crap. Sadly, it exists and it tends to promote (again, not cause) misogyny because it makes fighting more masculine and fencing more feminine, as opposed to simply two different sports.

That’s great to hear that a large number of your fencers have become Pelicans in service to their sport. Sadly, I have not seen enough of that thought process in terms of fencing in Calontir, though perhaps I mistaken. I’m perfectly willing to be proven otherwise, and I hope that happens in the future. I am always admiring of those people who sacrifice for the many as the Pelicans in this sub-culture in the East have proven themselves to have done so.

I am not sneering at any fencer or any kingdom. I am not making any personal attacks. I don’t think this is an issue that revolves around any one person. I am merely saying that fencing promotes such things, and while certain individuals and groups stand out and move away from these negative things, I believe that fencing has caused the center of the bell curve to shift on these issues in negative ways. In other words, I am specifically not attacking ad hominem, but rather I suppose ad rem or at the thing.

I'm also not telling any kingdom or person to change their ways. I simply was asked my opinion and I gave it, with no specific direction to any person or place to change something. There's no changing anything here, only that my preference is that the status quo remain the status quo.

Both rufinia and dulcinbradbury suggest that the gender balance is more on the fencing side than the fighting side because of upper body strength. No arguments, but that’s not the focus of my point on misogyny. Why do more women fight in your kingdom? Is it because they only wanted to fence, or because they were directed towards fencing away from fighting?

goldsquare says: You and I agree in many ways - but we certainly don't agree in degree or detail, my friend.

I used to fence, and am an Iren Fera, and I can assure you that the confraternity of feeling in both parts of our culture is near-equivalent. I think your comments go much too far.

I think the native issue here is that fencing has followed its natural migration, and is now in direct conflict and competition with the SCA's primary form of combat.

That is why I agree that it has harmed the SCA as a whole, and may continue to do so, despite ITSELF being a pleasant and harmonious activity with some of the same best sort of people you can find in the Shieldwall.

The origin is not in the sector of period it re-creates. The origin is that the SCA has bred a competitor to classical combat, and that competition while natural, has to stop.

Goldsquare might very well have phrased what it takes me a book to write in one post. I suspect that my clarification will remove at least some of his doubts on my position.

I reiterate. I like fencing. A lot. It’s a blast.

Nevertheless, in the SCA context it causes problems.

soldiergrrl said in response to goldsquare: I disagree and I feel that it would exclude a great number of our rapier inclined members.

There's nothing wrong with competition and it keeps everyone on their toes.

Granted, Ansteorran rapier fighters have worked long and hard to become valued members of our kingdom.

lady_guenievre essentially stole my response to Soldiergrrl: Rapier *inclined* - see, I have to wonder, and this is actually an impossible thing to know, if there *was* no rapier if we would still have these members or whether they would have just chosen armored as "the only game in town". To remove rapier *now*, would certainly be exclusionary. But if it had never happened? That's an entirely different question.

Moot point, of course...

This lead the two of them onto a much larger discussion. One of their points was the fact that the rapier community is much more female-friendly than the fighting community. I think that this is evidence for my misogyny point. In Calontir, we encourage everyone to participate in fighting, male or female, and show how no matter how big or strong you are you can contribute to the fighting success of the kingdom. I think Calontir, because it does not have fencing, tends to encourage women to fight more than any other kingdom. The fighter community is, from what I've been told, very female-friendly in Calontir. I certainly work to welcome any new fighter, no matter what, to Calontir as is not only my personal preference but duty as a fyrdman of Calontir.

Nevertheless, both raise a lot of good points. One other point I do want to address is that Silverstah says that she and her husband play in the SCA because they like the SCA. I’m glad they do, I’m glad they’re here, but the intellectualism, research, and scholarship combined with the martial art are not, of necessity, exclusive to the SCA.

There are a number of posts I’m going to skip over but I want to respond to lumineaux’s statement that in the East they’re glad they’re not shat upon. I reiterate, I am not saying that any individual is bad, only that the introduction of fencing exacerbated other things.

I say that because I have the perspective of a kingdom that does not have fencing while seeing how fencing works in other kingdoms. I feel that this gives me a better ability to see the forest, but of course you're welcome to feel that I'm not close enough to understand the trees.

Nevertheless, that post, and Lumineaux’s follow-up posts to Goldsquare emphasize the trials and tribulations that she has faced in her efforts.

That tells me that her efforts created some divisiveness in the East and that a lot of work was required to heal part of it, but given the vehemence of her position I don’t know if it’s completely healed yet or not. Lumineaux, I admire your work ethic.

Again, my comment assigned the blame to the activity in the SCA context, not to individuals and not to the activity as a whole. Individuals on both sides have done extremely rude things in the name of furthering their position. You might think my comment was another. I do not, given only that I specifically avoided ad hominem attacks and merely made a statement in response that I have at least some evidence to support.

soldiergrrl said: When we live in Calontir, I'm sure we'll end up at Lillies. However, I take horrible offense at your supposition that "fencing has harmed the soul of the SCA."

Personally, I think it's brought a grace and class to the society.

(And in case, it's not clear, the gentle who sneered at Calontir is my beloved husband, and yes, he's played in Calontir. We just happen to be Ansteorran down to our bones.)

You’re sort of proving a couple of my points, actually. You think it’s brought a grace and class to the society. I think that it has reduced much of the grace and class that brought me into the SCA, as evidenced by the simple fact that tongue in cheek or not, I hardly think that sneering at a kingdom reflects grace and class. Both of us are correct in our opinions here, we just have different preferences. It’s essentially the same as saying that you like red and I like blue (azure, a cadwalladr passant or, within a bordure engrailed or :) )

You don’t have to live in Calontir to go to Lilies, by the way. For example, I know a bunch of people who are leaving the greater Toronto area for Lilies in a few days. I'm very jealous as I’m in Toronto right now and can’t get back to Lilies because of a class.

As an alternative, come to the Calontir encampment at Pennsic and I’ll give you a beer or cider. I’ll probably be at the next Gulf too. And I offer beer or cider to any and all that come around (if they’re over 21 of course)

OK, I think that’s all the responses to my post. I will follow with a few concluding statements.

First, I have generally declined to respond to all of the comments in the two posts of Liam. I suspect you all think this is long enough :) However, hopefully this has answered some questions.

I hope that those of you who read through this epic will realize that I am not against fencers, but against fencing in the SCA. It’s a subtle but real difference. Do I actively work against fencing? Nope, that horse done left the barn though I will freely admit I wish we’d shut the door. I was, however, asked my opinion so I gave it.

I am sure that the vast majority of the people who have responded to my post are friends that I have not yet met. I hope that many of you come visit me at Pennsic and we can debate this in a proper forum, over beer. To find me, come to N05, I’ll be the first tent in the Calontir courtyard along the road. I have a shade-fly, big coolers, and lots of bags for the empties :)
I’m perfectly willing to come visit you and drink your beer too (right Liam?). I’ll be there on the first Saturday so I’ll be there the whole time to discuss things and I love a good argument (not the automatic gainsaying of everything I said :) ).

Rhodri

PS No balloons were harmed in the making of this post

PPS If you offer me a beer, I prefer pale ales in the heat of Pennsic

PPPS Mad Anthony Wayne: "He'd charge hell, but only if you plan it."

PPPPS Wyrd bith ful araed

PPPPPS Think about where's man's glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends

PPPPPPS Did I not warn you about epics?

PPPPPPPS Some will sell their dreams for small desires, Or lose the race to rats, Get caught in ticking traps, And start to dream of somewhere to relax their restless flight

PPPPPPPPS Free Luna!!!!

Hwilum hildedeor blædhorn wynne grette

2009-04-02T13:15:41Z

holme's scroll text behind the cut.

Hwæt we Gar-folca in geardagum
ðeodcyninga ðrym gefrunon
Hu ða æðelingas ellen fremedon.
Hwæt, we have heard of the Spear-folk,
How those princes, the people-kings,
In past-days performed great deeds
And how in those time there came a queen of legend

Đa cwom Mærwynn forð swa cwen Calontires
Then came Mærwynn forth as Calontir’s queen
The elf-shining lady approached with keen thought
She was well-traveled in the earth’s wide lands
She ran the woods with stags and rose high on falcon’s wings
And more than Calontir included her amongst their kin

Hwilum hildedeor blædhorn wynne grette
At times the battle-bold one grasped the trumpet with joy
And filled the halls with flowing heart-songs
To make the mighty on mead-benches weep
And then lift their souls soaring with sparrow’s songs
At other times she with warp and weft wove cloth
That she then used to clothe those around her
She took wrack-stained clothes and wove new garments
For lords and thegns and kings and ceorls

Seo gestrynde snyttro cræft þurh fyrngewrito gefrigen
Heoldon higeþancum hæleða rædas
She acquired wisdom through ancient writings
That preserved memories of mankind’s knowledge
The regard of her craft was such that she was given wreaths
And from far and near folk came seeking her guidance

And when spear-proud princes of wide lands
Came striding steel-clad and strong
Into the high soaring halls of Calontir
This queen came gliding in glittering array
To give these æðelings their gift cup saying
Onfoh þissum fulle, freodrihten min
“Accept now this cup noble lord”

Seo wæs rumheort mid mearum ond maþmum,
She was generous with gifts and horses
Many were the high-folk who held her rings
And wore them proudly as priceless gifts

And then in those raven-thirsting times
She marched mighty before mail-warded hosts
Ne hyrdan meahte man sið ne aer
on egstreame idese lædan
on merestræte mægen fægerre
One might neither before nor since have heard of
A fair queen leading a finer looking force
On the sea-tide of the swan-road

But now in the time of Ariel and Martino
We can only recall this royal heart and ask:
Hwær cwom maððumgyfe Hwær cwom bunegyfe
Where now the ring-giver Where now the cup-giver
For We would send her to wyrd with gold and gifts
Woven suits of mail and water-stained swords
Steel faced helms studded with boar shapes
And bowls and buckles and bright rings and cups
That her mind-song shall burn brightly for her bold souls
We name her royal-kin now and forever
She in the old language shall be Hlæfdige
In the tongue of today’s heroes, a Countess
Thus We bring joy to joyful-named memory
And say about this rose-heart Đat wæs god cwen
Here in Our court held in Our lofty hall
On the XXVIIIth rising of Hreðmonað
In the XLIIIrd year of Our society

The Dangers of Peer Pressure

2009-04-01T23:49:11Z

The peer in question is trimguy. One result behind the cut, the other coming later.

Katrei's Pelican Scroll Text
Since human memory is short and does not suffice for a crowd of things, the authority of those rulers who preceded Our age, have decreed that great deeds were to be written down which the progress of fleeting time generally removes from the knowledge of men.

And We, Luther rex and Mærwynn regina, have seen great deeds from Our subject Katrei Grunenberg that We command to be written so that they never be removed from human knowledge.

We have seen that she has followed the advice of Roger Bacon, who has said that only through experience can mankind truly revel in the truth of things. Hence, she has helped make a place for Our newer artisans to gain new experience creating works that make Us joyful.

We have seen that she has completed the course of study required for a degree of Medicine by the ancient and noble University of Paris. That she has learned from the works Galen and Theophilus and Hildegard of Bingen and Nicholas of Salerno and of others.

We have seen that she has then cared for the sick of Our realm. That she has compassionately cared for and treated the sick according to her judgment and the circumstances of that time.
She has ensured that the sick in her care never lacked for light, be it day or night, that they might be healed quicker.

We have also seen that she has not only provided such care for the people in the time of Our reign and Our predecessors, but that she has also provided help to all whom she has encountered. All kingdoms and lands in the Knowne World have benefitted from her efforts, and she is recognized from Eastern forests to Western deserts.

Hence, We, Luther rex and Mærwynn regina make it known to the faithful of Our kingdom and those of good will in realms throughout the world that, on the petition of our beloved Order of the Pelican, we have decreed that Katrei Grunenberg be elevated and joined to that beloved Order and receive all patents and titles deserving of that Order.

Henceforth, she shall have the right to ascend or go down the rivers of Our realm under Our protection for her persons and goods, and on other waters in other parts of Our kingdom that she might continue to heal Our subjects. If anyone presumes to use force against her or to injure her, he or she will be deprived of Our favor forever. In order that these rules may be safe and secure We have ordered Our seal to be put to this charter on the 28th day of March, Anno Societatis XLIII, in Our Barony of Forgotten Sea.

Memety-Meme

2009-03-11T23:15:39Z

I'm having a very good day, which I did not expect this morning, so I'm responding to fineum

People who have been tagged must write their answers on their blog and replace any question that they dislike with a new, original question.

Tag eight people. Don't tag who tagged you.

1. Make a list of 5 things you can see without getting up:
- books, usually poetry these days as I seem to only read novels in eBook format these days
- a stationary bike that glares at me waiting for some, any, use to break its ennui
- white, white, and more white…
- a variety of things that are not white sitting on a table waiting for me to put up on the wall
- usually the face of a cat wanting attention

2. How do you style your hair?
Yeah, I spend hours each day "styling" my hair.

3. What are you wearing now?
Jeans and a sweat shirt.

4. If you could spend an hour with any one person of your choice (be they dead or alive) who would it be?
The writer of Beowulf

5. Do you nap a lot?
I can’t sleep a full night for whatever reason anymore, so virtually every day

6. Who was the last person you hugged?
Hmmm…. been a bit, Derdriu perhaps?

7. What's your current fandom/obsession/addiction?
The SCA keeps me wanting to go back. When I lose some passion for one or another aspect, a new aspect always pops up that renews my energy. What I have never lost a passion for, and cannot imagine ever losing, is the joy of knowing the friends I have make there.

8. What was the last thing you ate today?
Flat Branch nachos.

9. What was the last text message you received?
Life is Bleah….

10. What websites do you always visit when you go online?
LiveJournal, Facebook, Pandora, my Blogs (especially Blogging the Boys, Baseball Prospectus, Global Futbol, Michael Yon, Gay Patriot, SCAToday, Neo-neocon, and Minor League Ball.

11. What was the last thing you bought?
Besides lunch? Hmmm…. an automatic cat box off of Craig’s List

What are you listening to right now?
My Paddy Rock station on Pandora, currently Ballad of the Graywood Hotel by Hazy Looper

What do you think about before you go to bed at night?
What I want to get done tomorrow, and my general hopes and dreams

14. What is your favourite food?
Ask me when I’m hungry and I’ll tell you what I want at that moment.

15. What is your favorite weather, and why?
Fall – I love the warm sun with the contrast of the cool air, the bouquet of color, the smell of leaves and the sound they make under horses hooves. (fineum said it better than I could)

16. If you could play any musical instrument, which one would you play?
Anglo-Saxon lyre

17. How are you?
2009 has generally been sucky, but today has been very good.

18. If you could make a movie, what genre would it be?
Probably science fiction.

19. Say something about the person who tagged you:
One of the strongest souls I have ever met.

20. What was the weirdest dream you've had recently?.
Something about defending a line of battle with a friend from high school… who I have no reason to attach to any military thought.

Tagging: bernina2000de, cantigajoy, elasait, liamstliam, okobojii, mahault, evil_fionn, trimguy

Jubilation

2009-03-02T18:00:18Z

Well, I'm home from a great weekend. In some ways it was very frustrating. There was an academic conference in Kansas City that I wanted to go to because it was loaded this year with great speakers. Also in Kansas City on Saturday was Benjamin Bagby performing his version of Beowulf. Sigh.

Because while those were good and important things to do, this weekend was also the 25th Anniversary Jubilee of the Kingdom of Calontir. This is something that only happens once, and there were going to be a variety of history projects on display. I hate when there are multiple things on the same weekend :(

But the event itself made it all worthwhile. I had written a poem about an event in Calontir's past to enter into the Bardic Competition in Crown Tournament, but circumstances prevented that competition from happening, and I have sort of just sat on this poem, because I wanted to enter it into something, and there was conveniently enough a Legends of Calontir Competition at Jubilee. I was one of three winners, and I got a really spiffy Viking Age glass bead necklace made by HE Sorcha. Sigh, more bling :)

I had decided not to fight because of wanting to be fresh to perform that poem, but also because I had two other big things in my plans for the day. Mathurin set up his "recording studio" in the Sanctuary and had people tell stories of Calontir's history throughout the day. I sat and listened to this, catching some things that I did not know. I contributed two stories myself, the Pennsic Peasant Rabble and the Gulf Wars Tag and Release stories. The only problem was a lack of time for so many of the early participants in the kingdom to come down and speak. I think I'm going to suggest to Mathurin to do that again at Lilies where a bunch more might be able to tell their memories of the past.

My big project, however, started in December or so. Derdriu and I were talking and she mentioned something about doing 10-20 or so of her wooden cups that she makes by turning them on a lathe. I love these cups. They're small, but they are beautiful.

She said she wanted to do these cups so Her Majesty Maerwynn could give them out at Gulf Wars. So my reaction was, heck, why only do 10-20. Why not do 120 or so that she can give them out to all who go to Gulf.

Derdriu looked at me like I was crazy. I get that look a lot from people so I know what it looks like.

She suggested that I talk to her Laurel, Master Edward, with I think the expectation that he would tell me that this was not feasible. Ooops. He liked the idea too. So we started figuring out the nuts and bolts.

The main thing was to get more hands on the project, so I went to other artisans for help. I basically said, hey, do you want to help me make the queen cry in a good way?

Everyone I asked was excited about the project. Maerwynn is well-loved. Vasilia, Olga, and Sisuile made something like 60 ceramic cups of a similar design. Lief made 10 or so leather cups. Tatiana made 10 of her own lathed cups. And Derdriu "only" had to do 49 plus 2 special ones for Their Majesties. I think we ended up at slightly more than 120, and if there are more than that at Gulf Wars, Derdriu will make some more to cover the extras.

From December to the present, I had talked to Maerwynn a number of times, and while I can keep a secret, I wanted to just hint that she had something special coming up. I dropped hints that something cool was going to happen. Derdriu and I had teased her at one point with "we know something that you do not." When Maerwynn and I went to Flogging Molly last Tuesday, she specifically asked me if what I'd been hinting about would happen at Jubilee. I lied. I totally lied. I said, yes, I was on the court docket to talk about Gulf Wars, but not the special thing. Lie lie lie.

Before Jubilee I had asked TRMs Chamberlain Winnifred if I could present these in court after explaining the project. Knowing that this would be a huuuge court, I was good with her saying no, or maybe putting me in the morning court on Saturday. But Winnifred insisted on the evening court because more people would be there and she knew people would like this.

So I spent a goodly amount of Saturday organizing the details. I'm sure Edward and Derdriu think I did too much organizing, and they'd be right. Nevertheless, the time came, and we all got up there with some cups to show off, and I addressed the crowd.

I got up and explained about the role of cup-giving to Anglo-Saxon queens. Maerwynn had served the cup to Luther and others at all of the feasts of this reign, and this had been a magical thing to me because of its rightness, and this had been part of my inspiration of this project.

So, I followed the explanation of cup-giving with something about how we had thought she was a true and proper Anglo-Saxon queen, and that we wanted her to be remembered as such. That we had made 120 or cups for her to give to her army at Gulf Wars. That we wanted all who receive one of these cups to remember, every time they use them at a feast or whatever, Maerwynn as the cup-giving queen of Calontir.

I couldn't look at her while I was saying this. I glanced back once, and I about lost it. I barely managed to say my spiel before crying. I looked back and she was crying. Derdriu said she was crying too.

There were other great moments at court, especially Conna getting a standing ovation while receiving her Baronetcy and Conna and I giggling in happy fashion while we and the other Lilies were watching Lucia get her Lily. Nevertheless, the court moment for me was looking at Maerwynn's face as I handed to her the two cups that were for her and Luther.

I was getting ready to leave for dinner, when Maerwynn sent for me to speak at the start of feast. To explain, while she was giving the cup for the last time, the process. I dredged up some lines from Beowulf about Wealhtheow and then as she was presenting the cup explained more about the diplomacy aspects of the process. I had kind of thought about doing this earlier in the reign, but never got the appropriate lines from Beowulf, but I think people liked it nonetheless.

After dinner, Lyriel was very kind to drop some of us off at the post-revel and drive my car back to their house. I knew Fernando would be at the post-revel and I knew he'd be driving a "late bus."

And I'm really glad too, it was a great post-revel. There were something like 550 people at the event, and the post-revel was packed. The singing hadn't started when I got there at 11ish, but we started soon enough. The singing lasted until 5am.

At various points, there were so many people it was difficult to sing, but around 3ish or so there was a bit of an exodus. I had not thought I would be able to do any of my poetry, because there's a certain noise threshold that the singing circle has to be under for it to work, but with that exodus there was a chance. I performed my Rose Poem to Maerwynn for the last time for her as a queen. I don't know as I'll ever match the performance I gave at Charlemagne's Oktoberfest, but I did pretty well and we both cried a bit again. Later I got to do the Battle of Arrowsburh, the Siridean's Breach poem. I think it went pretty well. A bunch of drunk people liked it enough to generally pay attention, so that's a good thing.

Anyway, as I said, we left the post-revel at like 4:55, which Fernando noticed. He started driving us home a different route, because, well, his favorite donut place opened up at 5am. I have a good knight.

So that's the event, and despite the options, I made the right choice. I will never forget the look on Maerwynn's face when I handed her the cups.

The Oscars

2009-02-23T21:08:24Z

OK, for the first time in probably 20 years I watched the Oscars. I got free beef stroganoff so it wasn't a bad trade.

Who knew Hugh Jackman was that talented? I certainly didn't. I was, however, disappointed that at no point adamantine claws didn't just shoot out of his tux.

The people who made Slumdog Millionaire were so enthusiastic and happy and it was very fun to hear their speeches. Good for them.

I thought Kate Winslet's speech was great as well, because again you had someone who appreciated the honor.

I enjoyed the commentary about the actors instead of the film clips for the best performers.

It's too bad the jokes are so stilted, though, and the only performer that I thought was really funny was Steve Martin. Tina Fey did OK opposite him, but the timing of everyone else was just wretched.

In fact, the funniest line from the night was the Japanese guy who won some tech category saying: "Domo arigato Mr. Roboto."

Still, it was an enjoyable time because of the excitement of so many recipients.

Unfortunately a person had to bring it down, and that person was Sean Penn. He and I are actually on the same side of the gay marriage issue. Legally, I think gay marriage being illegal is unconstitutional based on the 14th Amendment. Ethically, I think that being faithful and honest in the relationship is far more important than the genders involved. It's not like heterosexual couples have all that great a track record staying together right now, as my divorce among millions proves.

But Sean Penn's a jerk. First of all, I have always hated it when actors use the Oscars as a forum for their political views. Second, he could quite easily have stated his position in a positive manner: "I was pleased to have the opportunity to portray a famous gay leader who did so much for his community. I hope that my portrayal can help more people support gay rights issues like gay marriage." Instead, he gave an ad hominem attack on those against gay marriage. This doesn't help. I can definitely say that if you argue with me about my position, and you lay out coherent reasons, I can indeed be convinced. You tell me that I'm going to be ashamed and that my grandchildren will be ashamed of me I'm going to tell you to go to hell.

So, even though I agree with him on this one issue, Sean Penn, please shut up. Your speech left a bad taste after what had been a joyful and happy evening.

My Turn

2009-02-19T21:05:44Z

-Describe me in one word- just one single word. Positive or negative.

-Leave your word in a comment, before looking at what words others have used.

-Copy and paste the meme to your journal to find out how people describe you when limited to one word.

Super Bowl

2009-02-02T04:33:59Z

Well, the dishes are in the dishwasher washing, the trash is in the bag, and on Tuesday my trash men are going to grumble about how many bags I put out at the curb.

My 4th Super Bowl party at my house was another success. People ate wayyyy too much (including me) and yet there are more leftovers than I could eat. I sent one set of lasagna home with a friend, and foisted a bunch of junk food on one of my friend's students.

And yet, I'm a wee bit grumpy. This is two Super Bowls in the last three years that have included the Steelers, which in and of itself is not an issue. What is an issue is that this is two Super Bowls in the last three years where the Steelers won and were egregiously assisted by questionable refereeing decisions. Any of three clearly illegal blocks on the interception return prior to the half should have been called. One that really irritated me was the face mask called on the Cardinals defensive back when the Steelers receiver was doing the same thing at the same time... especially since the NFL made this a priority to call because they didn't like the way Cowboys RB Marion Barber was running.

Sigh.... I hate it when the referees influence a game, and they essentially owned the third quarter. I have to compliment the Cardinals for their resiliency and their mental toughness when it seemed like every time they made a good play, the referees called a penalty.

Sadly, this would have been a great game, but for the referees. I don't know that the Cardinals would have won if the referees hadn't helped the Steelers, only that it's a shame that they were so prominent in a game that had a chance to be a classic, and now will just go down as a good Super Bowl, just as the Steelers-Seahawks game is essentially forgotten.

Nevertheless, it was a great party. I have tons of jelly beans (black licorice and yellow banana and red cherry and white coconut) to take to Estrella. Before Estrella, I don't have to cook given that I have lasagna, and olives, and cheese, and...

Anyone want to help me eat leftovers? ;)

To the Seaaaa!!!!!

2008-12-11T13:44:22Z

Reply to this post, and I'll tell you one reason (at least) why I like you. Then put this in your own journal, and dive over the falls....

Hope

2008-11-05T20:12:39Z

Today everyone seems full of hope. I am full of hope too.

I am full of hope that, as my friend Delric predicts, that Obama will feel himself compelled to be a centrist president and mitigate the far liberal and socialist viewpoints that his voting record suggests he espouses.

I am full of hope that the things that he will be most liberal on are the things that most of America, I think, wants or at least wants to stop discussing. Things like same-sex marriage and other personal freedoms.

I am full of hope that he will recognize that he is in a long-term war, a war not started by the United States, but by an ideology that has long recognized that freedom of speech, freedom of religion, equality between the sexes, human rights, and democracy prevent that ideology from achieving its goals. That ideology is fundamentalism, whether it's Christian or Muslim or pseudo-scientific theories that have reached such ideological status despite the lack of or the twisting of the actual evidence.

I am full of hope that Obama will handle the challenges of inimical foreign powers well, challenges that even Biden explicitly said will begin happening within six months of Obama's inauguration, unlike the person that Obama is most often compared to, Kennedy.

I am full of hope that Obama will emulate one of Kennedy's best decisions, a strong commitment to space exploration.

I am full of hope that Obama will realize that there are no easy answers when it comes to producing energy and that our entire civilization is dependent upon reliable energy. I further hope that he will recognize that current plans for clean, renewable energy, which we all want more of, often have serious and major unintended consequences and find new ways around those problems.

I am full of hope that my Democratic friends, who are good people and generally centrist, will not find their find their vision corrupted by a person whose track record seems radically different from theirs, despite both being called Democrats.

I am full of hope that Obama fulfills all of his campaign promises, even if they do not always fit the traditional liberal viewpoint, such as his vow to protect the Second Amendment.

I am full of hope that I was wrong and that history will prove me as being wrong.

I am full of hope that the hope wafting in the air will bring good things.

I am full of hope that Obama will be remembered in America as a great President and I will work to help as best I can.

Today, I am full of hope, because hope is all Obama has ever shown me.

Such Friends

2008-10-28T00:01:17Z

So Eddie and Mia are flying back to England tonight from the Vikings event here. As we left lunch and hugged each other Eddie said something about how this was the hardest part of any trip, the saying goodbye.

I started thinking about the truth of that statement. Then I thought about the greatness of life to have the opportunity to have those sad moments, for without the great friendships there is no sorrow at parting.

So for all those people who I have hugged at the ends of Pennsic, Estrellas, and Gulfs. For all those people that I have spent hours saying goodbyes and hugging at smaller events, or at conferences or wherever, I have but to turn to Yeats for something to say to you all:

"Think where man’s glory most begins and ends,
And say my glory was I had such friends."

I usually don't like posting political stuff here...

2008-10-23T07:12:37Z

But this is pretty important in my opinion:
http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/081017light.html

What Orson Scott Card, a Democrat, says here has been one of my greatest frustrations with the 2008 election process.

I have no problem with people voting whichever position they choose in an election, that's their right as an American. What I do have a problem with is the current process of disseminating information to allow people to make an informed choice. Right now, I see that it's a GIGO process.