| The internet is awesome. |
[Sep. 9th, 2009|04:27 pm] |
The awesomeness of the internet always seems to increase in direction proportion to how desperately I need to finish a chapter. Therefore, today the internet is truly fascinating. Here's a selection.
The folks at Science-Based Medicine thoroughly debunk flu vaccine scare-mongering. I think the key sentence is this one near the end: "The same [vaccine opponent] pointed out that shots hurt and that alone should tell you something." Some people will go to great lengths to rationalize their fear of getting poked.
I want this T-shirt and this one.
Lost worlds of the North Sea.
The Canadian Council on Learning has published a map of literacy levels in adults across the country. It's interesting to see that in Toronto it coincides roughly with the maps of average household income and homicide.
Okay, back to the chapter. |
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| Fun en français |
[Jun. 10th, 2009|03:15 pm] |
I was going to write a review of the International Swordfighting and Martial Arts Convention, which was awesome as usual, but I didn't find the time, and then I didn't write any other posts because I hadn't written the ISMAC review yet, and somehow it's now two weeks later. So, um, yeah: I learned stuff at ISMAC.
Meanwhile, during this afternoon's research procrastination research, I've run across some cool stuff.
Here are the records of the fencing masters' guild of Paris. The masters didn't really incorporate until 1567, so most of the content of the book is a few centuries late for my academic or martial purposes, but it has some nifty records nonetheless.
And here's a collection of thirteenth-century regulations for the craft guilds of Paris. Among the things I learned are that urban fast-food outlets weren't allowed to sell meat on the third day after it had been cooked and that armuriers apparently made gambesons and other bits of light harness, but didn't work in steel. The armourers' regulations are seriously awesome. There's all kinds of stuff about types of cloth and whalebone and the correct metal for rivets. I'm resisting the urge to translate them this very afternoon, but they look like a good procrastination project for another day. |
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| With Fire and Sword |
[Apr. 29th, 2009|04:22 pm] |
The other day Matt3 lent me his DVD of With Fire and Sword, a big-budget epic historical movie made in Poland.
I feel like I should say something profound and analytical about it, but all I have to say is *Squee!* Blood and horses! Twue wuv! *Squee!* Awesome seventeenth-century costuming and sets! Fur hats! Feathers! Fortresses! *Squee!*
Here, see for yourselves:
It's a good thing I'm not a guy. If I were, I'd be tempted to see if I could grow a mustache that I could tuck behind my ears. |
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| Whimsy |
[Feb. 20th, 2009|04:30 pm] |
This image, found via ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) kalivor and this site, makes my day.
And speaking of housing, if anyone knows of a nice one-bedroom apartment for rent in Toronto, I'm looking at the moment. |
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