Life, the Universe and Everything

I've been working on a post for a while now and have had a hard time finishing it up, but I wasn't sure why. And today it hit me: I can't finish it because I know it won't work. Oh, all the steps are there and the all make sense, but the whole process just won't work in Artemisia right now. It would have worked 10 years ago and it might work some time in the future, but it won't work today.

The post was on how to have successful regional fighter's practices and while everything I said was valid, Artemisia is currently lacking the one thing it needs to make them work: infrastructure. Yes, we have the marshallate, but their primary concern is safety with education a distant second. And the Ministers of Arts and Sciences have their hands full enough with all of the other areas of study to try and commit to any real concerted effort to promote fencing. Sure, the armored fighters don't mind us tagging along with them, but again, we're a secondary concern to them.

What we need is a guild: a kingdom-wide organization dedicated to teaching and promoting fencing. That's why it was easier 10 years ago to have successful regional fighter's practices: we had Blackwing. Not only did that mean we had a group who could coordinate things across the kingdom, but we had a standardized book to work from, even when we worked at a local level. Yes, Blackwing had its problems, but it gave us an infrastructure that made it easier to spread knowledge throughout the group and the kingdom.

I'm not saying we need to bring back Blackwing. I know if I did, somebody 'd say, "Great! Thanks for volunteering!" And let me tell you, the quickest way to kill off a project like this would be to put me in charge. I mean, it helps if whoever you pick to lead something actually likes people. I also recognize that The Blackwing Company had a bad connotation to some people and if our goal is to promote fencing and learning, we don't want to start off alienating people. But I do think we need some sort of group that is dedicated to promoting fencing in Artemisia.

I'd love to see a fencing guild return to Artemisia, but despite my occasional fantasy, I have to be honest enough with myself to say I'm not the one to organize it. If someone does, though, I'll be right there.

Veterans Day 2009

It's no secret that SCAdians are a little... well... odd. In the SCA, we all look forward to war. For us, it's a chance to get together with old friends and meet new while spending the days fighting, knowing that even though we may be killed, we'll be back to fight again.

Outside the SCA, that's not true. In a real war, people are killed. For real. And quite often, the dead are the lucky ones. But still, there are those who answer the call, fighting for friends, family and country. They see and do things that most people just can't imagine, and what most people consider remarkable, they consider business as usual. Soldiers, sailors and airmen all do what needs to be done.

In the United States, there are two days each year dedicated to our fighting men and women. One, Memorial Day, is dedicated to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives in service to their country. The other, Veterans Day - today - is the day to recognize and remember all who served their country, whether in peacetime or war.

Veterans are all around us. The old man down the street, the clean-cut kid in your English class, maybe even your English teacher. There is no easy way to spot them, but they are there. And if you do spot one, thank him or her.

And whether you do or not, I hope you'll join me in praying for peace. Praying for the end of war. Praying to no longer need rough men who stand ready in our defense. War may be human nature, but I, for one, pray that we can rise above it.

A Baker's Dozen

At Harvest Court, there was a minor scandal when it was discovered that there was a gentle present who'd never seen Boondock Saints (Gasp!). Now, true, Boondock Saints isn't a period movie and it doesn't really have any great moral message to be passed on, but if you're going to spend any time in the Brotherhood encampment, it's one of those movies you have to see. It seems just about everyone has a list of must-see movies and most of us in the Society have our own mini-list of must-see SCA movies. I'm no different, and I thought it might be fun to list some of my must-see movies. I've arranged these movies in the order I think they should be watched by new fencers. And you may notice that I've left out a lot of the usual must-see movies (Highlander, Monty Python's The Holy Grail, Braveheart, etc.), but that's because they are the usuals.

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) - When most people thing of Robin Hood, they think of Errol Flynn.

The Three Musketeers, The Four Musketeers, Return of the Musketeers (1973,1974,1989) - These three movies have to be combined into one entry as not only do they have the same cast throughout, but all three were written and directed by the same people, giving the series a wonderful sense of continuity.

The Princess Bride (1987) - Well, duh. Not only is this movie fun and well written, it contains one of the best fencing scenes since Errol Flynn crossed swords with Basil Rathbone in The Adventures of Robin Hood.

Knight Riders (1981) - Yes, this one is slow and campy, but it gives a wonderful insight into the honor and fealty of the S.C.A. If nothing else, it's worth it for speech Alan gives Morgan after he splits off.

The Man Who Would Be King (1975) - If for no other reason than Sean Connery's crown is made of foil grips. This movie is based on a story by Rudyard Kipling and tells the story of an army deserter who sets himself up as a king and the results of his deception.

Ladyhawke (1985) - Most people focus on the story of Navarre and Isabeau, which is a pretty standard love story, but what I like is the story of Phillipe's (the Mouse's) and Father Imperius' redemption.

Henry V (1989) - Or just about any of Kenneth Branagh's Shakespeares. Great acting, great costuming, great locations, great sets, what more is there?

The History of the Word: Part I (1981) - Where else can you cover a couple thousand years worth of history. This movie's probably most famous for the Spanish Inquisition and the French Revolution.

Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993) - Really, you should see most of Mel Brooks' other movies first, as Mel unabashedly stole from them when he made this one. Like The History of the Word, this movie doesn't really contain any deep message, but it is a fun time killer and might just give you a line or two for your next event.

The Three Musketeers (1993) - The Disney version. Porthos is such a wonderful boor in this one, but the main reason I included it is that it makes a wonderful lead-in to The Man in the Iron Mask.

The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) - This is another redemption story, but unlike Ladyhawke, this is the redemption of lost glories.

Like I said, these are a few of my must-sees. What are some of yours, and why?