Reality Crashes My Brain

Vote Elder Party

2008-09-18T18:33:48Z

I'm not voting for the Lesser Evil....

Good News

2008-08-12T15:23:21Z

Hey.

Sorry I haven't been around much lately; I've been busy with mundane stuff.

Anyway, I though some of you might be interested in the good news I unexpectedly received in the mail yesterday:

It's listed on Amazon, too. I don't know why the publication date is so late, but that was a heck of a date to pick: On November 9, 1918, Philipp Scheidemann declared the founding of the Weimar Republic, Germany's first democratic government; on November 9, 1923, Adolf Hitler stood up on a table in a Munich beer hall and called for a "march on berlin" to overthrow the Weimar Republic and restore Germany's "honor"; on November 9, 1938 (15 years after the failure of the "beer hall putsch"), the Nazis violently attacked Jews in Germany in what came to be known as the "Night of Broken Glass" (Kristallnacht); and on November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall "fell" as Germans from East and West drank champagne and danced.

Neat, huh?

kriegshund @ 2008-04-29T21:57:00

2008-04-30T02:58:11Z

Reading Comics

2008-01-17T04:08:32Z

I'm a comics fan.

I have been for, well, decades. But I haven't followed them for years, er, a decade. Oh well. I was a fan just when comics "changed" in teh mid-1980s. I remember Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns and Daredevil, Alan Moore's run on Swamp Thing, Grant Morrison's run on Doom Patrol, Dave Sim's Cerebus, and Neil Gaiman's Sandman. And of course, there was Watchmen. (Yes, and I collected X-Men.) I was such a comics fan that even when I lived in Berlin - ostensibly to do research for my dissertation - I bought and read comics. When I returned, however, I stopped reading comics. Mostly, that was a factor of economics, but I never returned to them. I've spent a lot of time reading history and literature and preparing courses, I guess.

Recently, however, I've been thinking about comics again, and interestingly, they've begun to merge with my professional life. Last semester, one of my colleagues taught Art Spiegelman's Maus and asked to give a lecture on it. (That was really cool, by the way. Maus is an amazing story made even more powerful by the images Speigelman draws. What? You haven't read Maus yet? Why the heck not!? Go out and read it! Sheesh! Next ting you'll tell me is that you haven't read Watchmen. What...?) This semester, another of my colleagues is teaching Marjani Satrapi's Persopolis and I myself am teaching Keiji Nakazawa's Barefoot Gen. Are comics penetrating the ivory tower?

I'm seriously thinking about teaching a course, Perspectives on Contemproary Values, one of a series of "Perspectives" courses offered in the Humanistic Studies department at UWGB, using graphic novels. The potential is enormous, I think, to introduce students to a wide range of cultures and values as well as (IMO) an underappreciated medium. In fact, the most difficult thing about the course would be eliminating potential texts: Miller, Moore, Gaiman, Spiegelman, Nakazawa, Satrapi all would be high on my list, not to mention Will Eisner (A Contract With God, among others), Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez (Love & Rockets), Chris Ware (Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth), Charles Burns (Black Hole), and Dan Clowes (Ghost World).

Well, with that as justification, I've been poking around a bit here and there when I have time and the inclination. I recently found Douglas Wolk's new book, Reading Comics: How Graphic Novels Work and What They Mean (Da Capo Press, 2007). I don't think it will replace Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics, The Invisible Art as a basic examination of how comics work, but is a surprisingly good consideration of comics in general and several seminal artists and their work in particular. His chapter on Dave Sim is very good and demonstrates not only his knowledge of comics but of literature and literary theory. But, this isn't a stuffy academic tone. Wolk is a prefessional critic; he writes well, but for a popular audience. I highly recommend his work for those interested in comics and graphic novels. And, he maintains a blog: Lacunae.

So, if I do teach a course using graphic novels, what do you think I should teach?

Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!

2008-01-14T03:16:34Z

Disclaimer: I'm slow. I'm way behind the times, and I'm usually the last one to know things. (It's a history thing, I think....)

I just finished watching Firefly.

Who's the 他媽的渾蛋 responsible for cancelling this show!? I want more! Dammit.

That was by far one of the best things I've watched in a very long time.

Front Fell Off

2007-11-28T17:40:42Z

http://www.sivacracy.net/2007/11/front_fell_off.html

Darth Stewie

2007-09-14T16:27:20Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGyGlp8sEHo

September 23

Kneel Before Me!

2007-09-05T01:24:53Z

Yoinked from verymelm:

Check out the history and sci-fi scores! Oh, yeah!

Following...

2007-08-24T14:56:54Z

SCA Questionaire

1. Mundane Name: Clif

2. Mundane Job: Teacher

3. Persona name: Ulrich Kreer

4. How did you come up with your name? I'm embarrased to note that the name, originally, was inspired by the main character in Michael Moorcock's The Warhound and the World's Pain, Ulrich von Bek. Kreer, however, is an actual name, probably deriving from the German Kraeher, that is "crow-er" or "one who crows. I've found the name in records from the early 17th century, but it is also very close to my middle name, Greer, which was my father's mother's maiden name. There is some evidence that the English Greers may have been related to German or Dutch Kreers, it kind of works....

5. Where and when did your persona live? 1546 or there about, in Nuremburg

6. What is your Known World Location? Barony of Windhaven

7. What kingdom do you consider to be your home? Northshield

8. How long have you played? 6 years

9. How did you get started? I wanted to learn rapier and had wanted to join for many years, and in fact almost joined back in the East back around 1990. A few years ago, I decided to make it happen. There was no rapier in Windhaven, so I emailed Toshikage. He introduced me to Guillaume and convinced me to go to KWAR in Chicago that year. The rest is history....

10. Why did you join? I got to play with real swords.

11. Have you registered a name? No

12. Have you registered a device? No

13. What awards have you been granted? AoA, Horicon's Favor, Golden Amphitre, Purple Fret, Eisenwache, Queen's Glove

14. How many events do you attend each year? Recently, only 2 or 3....

15. What is the best event you have ever been to? WW IX

16. What is the worst event you have ever been to? Meh, some are better than others, but I usually find something in every event I attend. It's waht you make of it....

17. What event do you make it to every year? WW

18. What event do you refuse to go to? None I *refuse* to go to. Choices are generally made on the time I have, distance, where my firends are going....

19. Who is your favorite person to hang at an event with? Oh, lots of people, but Jock and Mateo are pretty high on the list.

20. What activities do you participate in? Rapier

21. What activity would you like to learn? Brewing

22. Are you a marshal? Rapier and C&T

23. How many tents have you had destroyed at events? 0; still have my first one

24. Has your garb ever caught on fire? No

25. Have you ever woken up in a strange person’s tent? No

26. Do you have a pavilion? No

27. Are you a peer? No

28. Do you ever want to be a peer? Not really.

29. Is it a coincidence that peer rhymes with beer? Yes. Everyone know rapier fighters are the drinkers....

30. Are you a squire, apprentice or protegee? Does cadet count? Otherwise, no.

31. Who would you like to be squired, apprenticed or protegee'd to? Hmm, I'm not sure. If I took up heavy combat, then it would probably be someone like LOGOS or Guillaume. I respect Siegfried a great deal, but I'm not sure I could be his squire. I like Kaydian very much, but again, I'm not sure that work out. Raito would be cool if I decided to go the Japanese route; I'd love to learn how to walk around the field punking people with a naginata. If Simon ever gets a laurel for brewing, I'd definitely like to be his apprentice!

32. What is your war cry? Tyrant

33. Have you ever been pulled off of the field for your safety? No

34. What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you in armour? Hmm, not a very funny person, I guess...

35. Have you read Corpora? No

36. Circlets, how do you feel? Meh, I never got one, but if other people like 'em, I don't care.

37. What household(s) do you belong to? Umm, it's *not* a household, but I belong to the School of Tyranny.

38. If you could change one thing about the SCA what would it be? More schtick.

39. What is your favorite part of the SCA? My friends.

40. What is your SCA Goal for the next 7 years? I haven't accomplished my original goals yet! Improve my fencing, learn how to brew, and maybe take up heavy combat so I can practice period techniques with longsword and halberd.

What Tarot Card Are You?

You are The Hermit

Prudence, Caution, Deliberation.

The Hermit points to all things hidden, such as knowledge and inspiration,hidden enemies. The illumination is from within, and retirement from participation in current events.

The Hermit is a card of introspection, analysis and, well, virginity. You do not desire to socialize; the card indicates, instead, a desire for peace and solitude. You prefer to take the time to think, organize, ruminate, take stock. There may be feelings of frustration and discontent but these feelings eventually lead to enlightenment, illumination, clarity.

The Hermit represents a wise, inspirational person, friend, teacher, therapist. This a person who can shine a light on things that were previously mysterious and confusing.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Yoga Update

2007-08-11T14:57:57Z

Well, it's been a month since I started my Yoga Practice, and I'm happy to say that I've kept it up pretty well. (One week, I was only able to practice once, but the other three weeks, I made all three practices I planned to do.) I did have to make one change: because Reclining Hero (Supta Virasana)("Saddle" in Yin Yoga) was so sternuous on my knees and ankles, I've replaced it with Camel (Ustrasana), which stretches the same groups of muscles without quite as much strain. I'm using Ujjayi breath to keep track of how long I hold a pose and to work various muscles further. I started out at about 8 breaths for each asana; I'm up to 12 breaths for each asana. Next week, I plan to increase the number of breaths to 14 for each asana with my ultimate goal being 20 breaths each.

I'm pretty happy with my progress. I can sink a little bit deeper into each pose, I can stay in each pose a little bit longer, and I feel a little bit more comfortable in each pose than I did a month ago. I also feel better in general. While I'm doing my practice, I focus on the asanas and my breath and for 25-30 minutes, I forget about everything else. It's very nice.

I've also decided to add a second practice starting next week. Ideally, I'll continue the Yin Yoga Practice three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) and the new, slightly more vigorous Vinyasa Practice twice a week (Tuesday, Thursday).

Vinyasa Practice:

Mountain (Tadasana)

Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana)[yeah, like I'll ever bend like that]

Wide-Legged Forward Bend (Prasarita Padottanasana)

Triangle (Trikonasana)

Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)

Downward-facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

One-Legged King Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana)

Supported Shoulderstand (Salamba Sarvangasana)

Plow (Halsana)

Corpse (Savasana)

If I can maintain this practice (especially once the semester starts), I'm considering a third practice (for Saturday?) that will focus on building toward Crow (Bakasana), which I've always wanted to do but never achieved. Well, but that's further down the line.

Wish me luck!

Fencing Dummy

2007-08-08T21:46:24Z

Well, I built a fencing dummy based on Ahlwin's design (Bob 1.0, Bob 2.0).

Here's my version:

Construction:

6' 2x6
4' 2x6
4" hinge
10" 1/2" galvanized pipe
3 1/2" floor flanges
24" torsion spring
3/4" wooden dowel
a couple 2x4 scraps for the braces
about 20 #10 1 1/2" screws (for the flanges and hinge)
about 4 #10 2 1/2" screws (for the braces)

total cost = about $25 (but I had a few things at home already)

For those of you less experienced with hardware (such as myself), the pipe and flanges can be found in the plumbing section, the torsion spring should be with garage door stuff, and the hinge should be with, well, hinge-y things.

My design is pretty much like Ahlwin's with a few changes. I'm using a 48" long piece of 3/4" dowel, which is a bit thicker and longer than Ahlwin's. I'm not sure it's a big difference, but the 3/4" piece fits snugly in the torsion spring and does not slip down into the galvanized pipe. The longer piece, I think, also better mimics a blade. However, the heavier weight and longer length meant that the spring bent much more than Ahlwin's: it was rather... limp. Therefore, I cut my spring down to 14" (rather than the 18" Ahlwin recommended for use with a 10" pipe). This means that is only 4" of flex (rather than the 8" Ahlwin recommended), but it still felxes nicely, and the snug fit of the dowel means I don't have to worry about it slipping out. Also, instead of mountig 6 flanges as Ahlwin did on Bob 2.0, I only mounted 3. After looking at Ahlwin's design, I realized that to simulate a right-hand or left-hand stance all I had to do was step to the left or right of the dummy. The three flanges are mounted a 2', 3 1/2', and 5' to simulate low, middle, and high guards. These are based on my own guard. They may need to be adjusted somewhat still.... It was very easy to construct.

This dummy works very well. I have already found it useful for practicing disengages, parries, ripostes, and counter-parries, and I have started practicing some period things in the high and low guard positions.

Thanks for the inspiring design, Ahlwin!

Now, all I need to do is name it. Paula suggested painting it purple.... Any other suggestions?

Tonight, on the Simpsons...

2007-07-29T00:33:00Z

www.simpsonizeme.com

The Guard of the Fool

2007-07-25T20:58:28Z

So, I had an “ah-ha” moment the other day. At practice on Sunday, I decided to fight from a low guard in order to learn its strengths and weaknesses. I based my stance on Joachim Meyer’s Low Guard (Underhut).

Meyer's Low Guard

Meyer describes his low guard to the right, center, and middle as the natural end point of cuts from above. The center low guard is formed with your right foot forward, your arm extended, your hilt low in front of your knee with your point extended toward the ground, as if you had cut at your opponent from directly above. (Meyer notes that this “guard” is seldom used as an actual guard.) The low guard on the right likewise starts with your right foot forward, your arm extended down along your right side, hilt to the right of your right thigh, tip down toward the ground, as if you had cut at your opponent diagonally from left to right (as in the first figure below). The low guard on the left also starts with your right foot forward but with your arm extended down along the left side of your right thigh (as in the second figure below). In this position, your blade naturally extends away from your thigh, almost perpendicular to it. Meyer compares this guard to his description of the Change guard in his description of combat with the Dusack, where he describes it as if you had cut against your opponent diagonally from right to left.

(Images courtesy of Higgins Armory Sword Guild)

Although Meyer does not describe it thus in his section of the rapier, the corresponding guard described in his section on longsword is called the Fool (Olber or Alber) – simple-minded – because no proper attack can be easily achieved from this guard without first parrying an opponent’s attack, and it is “truly the part of a fool and simple man, to allow someone to strike him without a prepared counterstroke” (Forgeng p. 53).

[Note the similarity between Meyer’s Left Low Guard and the “lazy” guard, as Mateo would put it, often used by certain Dons (*cough*Jock*cough*). See, Mateo? It isn’t “lazy”; it’s period!]

Well, the practice was useful in that a number of points were reinforced for me, such as the importance of distance: line up too closely in low guard, and your opponent has a serious advantage. Indeed, you are a fool.

But, it was this thought that suddenly reminded me a similar guard from Salvatore Fabris, a variation on his Third Guard.

Fabris' Third Guard Variant

To form this guard, Fabris shows to stand with your right foot forward (however, not so far forward as in Meyer), and without moving your feet, shift your weight backward away from your opponent. Your right arm should extend forward such that your hilt is forward of your right knee and the point of your blade extends toward the ground (as in the figure below).

(Image courtesy of The ARMA)

The main difference between Meyer’s guard and Fabris’ – and it is a big difference – is that in Meyer, the body leans forward, while in Fabris it leans backward.

Fabris states that the main purpose of this guard is to disengage your blade from your opponents’ – particularly useful against an opponent who likes to have constant contact with your blade (bloody Germans). This will make it very difficult for your opponent to “find” your blade, and if he does attempt it, you should be able to wound him easily. At the same time, however, it is a deceptive stance because it makes it seem like there is much greater distance between your opponent and you. Your opponent may decide to attack your seemingly exposed upper body. If he does so, you simply raise your blade and shift your weight forward (no footwork is really necessary); your blade should come into the path of your opponents’, thus parrying his blade, while your shifting weight will push your point toward him.

Fabris describes a very deceptive guard, one that can be used to mislead your opponent into a mistake, of which you can take advantage. It should be noted that one of the basic principles in Meyer’s rapier is deception. (Verfuehrung, literally “mis-leading”, but modern German translates it as “seduction”!)

I found that I was at times doing something similar from Meyer’s Low Guard. When my opponent moved into distance, I could raise my blade and lunge or slope pace to gain an advantageous angle against him.

The similarity between these two rather different guards reminded me of that old aphorism: “Who's the more foolish...the fool or the fool who follows him?”

Sources:

Salvatore Fabris, Art of Dueling, trans. Tommaso Leoni (Highland Village, TX: Chivalry Bookshelf, 2005).

Salvatore Fabris, The Science of Arms, Facsimile at The Association for Renaissance Martial Arts (ARMA). Accessed 7/25/2007.

George Lucas, Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope, Revised Fourth Draft, January 15, 1976, LucasFilm Ltd. Available at http://showcase.netins.net/web/ssinc/starwars/ANHScript.shtml. Accessed 7/25/2007.

Joachim Meyer, The Art of Combat, trans. Jeffrey L Forgeng (London: Greenhill Books, 2006)

Joachim Meyer, Fechtbuch, Facsimile at Higgins Armory Sword Guild. Accessed 7/25/2007.

Joachim Meyer, Fechtbuch, Images at Higgins Armory Sword Guild. Accessed 7/25/2007.

Meyer Notes 1 - Some Basics

2007-07-24T13:05:51Z

So, I started re-reading Joachim Meyer's The Art of Combat the other day, and as per the suggestion of one of my teachers, I thought I might take a few notes. I am interested currently in Meyer's description of the longsword and of the rapier.

I'm reading Jeffrey Forgeng's translation (Greenhill Books, 2006). A facsimile of Meyer's text is available here and the illustrations here, both courtesy of the Higgins Armory Sword Guild. A German transcription and images are available here, courtesy of Die Freifechter.

Division of Combat: Any combat can be divided into three parts: the Beginning, the Middle, and the End. The Beginning or Onset (Zufechten) is when one lays against the opponent, using cuts delivered from the various stances. The Middle or Handwork (Handtarbeit) is when one uses binds, winds, snaps, chnages, deceptions, etc. to strike at the opponent. [Note the assumption that the beginning cut is not expected to strike your opponent but that you will have to work after the onset to defeat him.] The End or Withdrawal (Abzug) is when one withdraws from the combat unharmed.

Division of Combatant - Longsword: The division of the combatant is important in that it defines the possible openings on your opponent and the appropriate stance to defend a particular area of your own defense. In longsword, the division of the combatant is rather simple: he is divided into four quarters: upper, lower, right, and left. This easily imagined by drawing a vertical line through the body from head to foot and then a horizontal line through the chest. Meyer further divides the combatant by drawing a second horizontal line through the eyes, thus dividing the combatant's head into four quarters as well.

(Image courtesy of Higgins Armory Sword Guild)

Division of Combatant - Rapier: In rapier, the division of the combatant is a little more involved. As before, the combatant is divided into left and right by a vertical line. However, two more vertical lines are drawn, one through each shoulder (as per the left-most figure in the first image below). Furthermore, three diagonal lines may drawn from left to right through the combatant, though the chest, the hips, and thighs (as per the center figure in the first image below). These three lines may also be drawn from right to left, creating a series of Xs through the combatant (as per the second image). Finally, three horizontal lines may be drawn through the combatant (as per the right-most figure in the first image below).

(Images courtesy of Higgins Armory Sword Guild)

The purpose of these lines is inprincipally to guide cuts against your opponent.

Division of the sword: The sword is first divided into two principal parts at its mid-point: the forte (Stercke) and the foible (Schweche). But, it may be further divided into four parts: the Grip (Hilt - Gefess), the forte, the middle - taken equally from the forte and the foible - and the foible. The blade also has a "front" and a "back". The "front" of the blade or Long Edge is the edge from your fingers extending toward your opponent (marked LAN.S. (Lange Schneide) in the image below). The "back" or Short Edge is the edge facing your thumb (marked KV.S. (Kurtze Schneide) in the image below).

(Image courtesy of Higgins Armory Sword Guild)

Yin Yoga

2007-07-17T20:37:09Z

I used to practice yoga regulalry about five years ago, but I stopped for time and money issues. At that time I was practicing with Kathleen Kelly-Hoffmann at the Bay Area Yoga Center in Green Bay, and I promised myself I would go back eventually. Unfortunately, I never did. And it has become painfully obvious to me. I feel I was in the best shape of my life and was much more calm emotionally than I am now. A lot has happened since then, and there is no one cause for my physcial condition now, but the absence of yoga is noticeable.

So, I've decided to try to return to yoga. I'm going to try to start and maintain a home practice rather than go back to Kathleen's center. (The fact is, I'm a little embarassed to go back, now.) To start I found a nice routine by Sarah Powers in the June 2007 issue of Yoga Journal. The practice is based on Yin Yoga, a simple, slow set of asanas (postures) designed to deepen motion in the joints and strengthen muscles.

Butterfly

Saddle

Sphinx & Seal

Child's Pose

Half Dragonfly & Dragonfly

Full Forward Bend (Caterpiller)

Savasana (Corpse Pose)

After a few times through, I may try to add in a few Dragons as they seem particularly useful for my rapier practice.

I did my first series today, and I can tell I'm way out of practice. I used to be able to do Saddle pose; now I can barely get a quarter of the way there. The series also suggests holding each pose for 3-5 minutes; I think I managed 30 seconds-1 minute each. I have a lot of work ahead of me, but it already feels good. I'm going to try to practice this three times a week.

Wish me luck.

Schtick

2007-07-11T15:49:51Z

I'm not very good at schtick. I tend to be rather shy, not very outgoing. Really, it's a miracle I'm in the SCA at all... but that's another story. However, schtick is one of the reasons I am still in the SCA. I joined the SCA almost six years ago. At that time, there was a lot of schtick going on. This was the time of the sheep trials and the balloon-dog defense, the first ARRG! with its battle between Jara and Windhaven for Ripon, the second ARRG! with the disappearance of Doctour Jock. As a recent acquaintance put it, I joined the SCA for the fencing; I stayed for the schtick.

Over the past few years, unfortunately, schtick in Northshield has faded. The Rapier-banter list is silent. There have not been any sheep trials or their like. Little time is spent developing personae and their relations with one another. This is disappointing; I really miss those earlier years. Oh, sure there are reasons for this decline. Those good at schtick have other obligations now; people have moved; mundane life interferes. Nevertheless, I miss it.

I saw a glimmer of hope, however, this past weekend, at Warriors & Warlords XIV. Otes brought to site several nerf blowguns. Almost immediately, Doc Jock organized an assault on the neighboring midrealm encampment. It was beautiful watching Mateo and Roland scamper for cover before the assault. It escalated after the assault. Sybil swiped the nerf darts. Jock kidnapped Miguel. Cookies and cordial appeared! A ransom note was delivered. A squirrel was kidnapped. Negotiations ensued. A squirrel was nearly hung! Booty was acquired.... That was fun. And beyond the fun, we met several new people - Miguel, Sybil, Janusch. (Marina we knew already.) Why has it become so difficult to have fun in the SCA these days?

Here are some rules for schtick, as stated by Mateo:

1) Never swipe essentials. (Food, fencing gear, sunblock (!) are out.)

2) Never, never go in someone's tent.

3) Stuffed animals make good hostages.

4) Play the game: an RBG is a "gun" even if it isn't loaded.

5) Have fun.