| It’s another one of those week’s where We’re all over the place – we just about circle the world with this edition … and happily so.
Cutting Class from your couch?
PC MAG (New York, New York) 11 June 12 Author Neal Stephenson Solicits Funds for Sword-Fighting Game (Chloe Albanesius) TG DAILY (Portland, Oregon) The cyberpunk sword-fighting techniques of Neal Stephenson (Shane McGlaun) We have Neal Stephenson redux; this time seeking development-funding for his sword-based video game known as 'Clang'. “To goal with Clang, he said, is to provide gamers with a "historically credible" way to became a knight or a samurai from the safety of their PC.”
Lost and still lost.
PRESS AND JOURNAL (Aberdeen, UK) 06 June 12 Police plea over claymore stolen from island castle (Rita Campbell) A historic (1745?) 3.2 ft black claymore has been stolen from Duart Castle, the Clan Maclean stronghold on Mull.
A natural combination?
CHINA DAILY (Beijing) 31 May 12 History flows through Grand Canal (Zhuan Ti) A sword museum and an umbrella museum in the same city? What could swords and umbrellas possibly have in common? A cultural coincidence … We think not! .
Kiwis declare culture war against Canucks?
SCOOP (Wellington, New Zealand) 29 May 12 Jousting to replace hockey A Regional Sports Park Trust has decided to abandon hockey as the anchor sport for the its future and wants to build a world-class jousting field with supporting amenities. The local mayor comments: “We see ourselves trading up … a big, sturdy lance that can inflict mortal wounds for a little stick that nicks ankles”
History in your back yard
SAANICH NEWS (British Columbia) 24 May 12 On guard for history Once you’ve toured the Academie Duello’s Sword Museum and discussed the pros and cons to each of its swords through history; you can meander over to the Lt.-Gen. E.C. Ashton Armoury Museum over in Saanich and do the same with theirs!
Cheat! But cheat with the very best fighting kit!
BONHAMS (London, UK) 22 May 12 Flintlock sword-pistol once owned by Admiral Lord Nelson's close friend, for sale at Bonhams Looking for that perfect ‘Canadian content’ gift for that Green Cord that can’t get through a bout using just skill and has to resort to throwing something at you? Or maybe for yourself – and watch the look of surprise when your opponent realises he’s brought a knife to a … well, you know the rest. Watch also for the surprised looks on all the by-standers surrounding you two during your bout - particularly those standing behind your opponent!
More Slavs in more melees.
ВО СЛАВУ РОДИНЫ (Minsk, Belarus) 02 May 12 Здесь побывало прошлое в гостях In Grodno, there is an annual festival to respect national sacrifices during ‘The Great Patriotic War’ (WWII). This year the Martial Arts Club ‘Aridan’ put on a display of traditional Slavic sword, spear, pole arm fighting techniques – and finished with a demonstration of historical knife and unarmed combat. The festival is a combined effort by WMA, SCA-similar and modern martial arts groups working in cooperation to introduce their civic population to their shared cultural heritage of history, valour and honour. |