SCAtoday.net - Opinion

Neal Stephenson on Rapier vs. Katana...

Fri, 8 Aug 2008 17:33:21 -0400

Neal Stephenson reconsiders a storyline from his novel "The Confusion" in light of his recent experiences with rapier [and dagger].

Stonehenge should keep its secrets, opines essay

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:14:47 -0400

The recent discovery of graves at Stonehenge has led to a frenzy of speculation and proposed activity regarding the origins of the site. One commentator feels that the ancient structure should keep its secrets.

The Curmudgeon's Tale

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 08:06:06 -0500

On the premise that "snarky ranting is period," Baron Master Louis-Philippe Mitouard announces a new SCA-oriented discussion group called The SCA Curmudgeon.

Viscount Galen of Bristol's blog

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 18:24:22 -0500

Personal blog by Viscount Galen of Bristol of the Middle Kingdom, formerly of Ansteorra, Drachenwald, and Meridies.visit Viscount Galen of Bristol's blog

"50 key dates of world history" sparks discussion

Sun, 4 Nov 2007 10:38:32 -0500

What are the 50 key historic events in world history? Historian Richard Overy, editor of The Times Complete History of the World, thinks he knows.

Bloggers compared to the printing press

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 19:17:27 -0400

In the blog Cabinet of Wonders, Heather McDougal compares the free discussion of bloggers to the dissemination of information after the creation of the printing press.

"Myth of the Longbow" discussed on historical blog

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 19:49:36 -0400

On the military history blog Wapenshaw, there is a discussion of the "myth of the longbow," the belief that swords and armor were the stuff of knights while a bow was the weapon of the peasant.

Understanding of "distant past" key to modern civilization

Sun, 13 May 2007 19:14:59 -0400

Tom Holland, author of Rubicon and Persian Fire defends classical education in an article for Britain's The Guardian. Holland feels the study of the Greeks and Romans is necessary to understand modern democracy.

Staging Wagner's 'Tristan and Isolde'

Tue, 8 May 2007 19:11:20 -0400

"Staging Wagner’s 'Tristan und Isolde' is a notoriously treacherous proposition," begins Matthew Gurewitsch, as he examines many different versions of the story which have appeared on stage.

Gulf Wars: A 'Review' by a first time attendee

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 15:16:30 -0400

Siegfried Sebastian Faust, a first-time attendee at Gulf Wars XVI, has posted a review of the event on the Atlantia list, touching especially on how the war compares to Pennsic.

"The populace hath done spoken!"

Thu, 1 Feb 2007 07:45:08 -0500

Inspired by Asrune's post on a Celtic music forum, Lady Fionnghuala na Lamh-Bann, of the East Kingdom, set out to find "the most overplayed/ oversung songs that you hear CONSTANTLY around the SCA campfires", and surveyed the populace at large to find out which songs made the most people cringe in horror.

Latin and Greek are not dead

Fri, 26 Jan 2007 12:08:22 -0500

Cambridge Classics professor Mary Beard discusses the importance of the study of classical languages in an essay for the Guardian.

Renaissance Faire puzzles Pennsylvania student

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 13:20:46 -0500

In an editorial for the Kutztown University Keystone, journalism student Nate Carrick ponders what makes human beings turn to fantasy as an escape after a visit to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire.

DVD Review: "Opening Doors to Great Guest Experiences"

Tue, 5 Dec 2006 11:12:58 -0500

Folo Watkins, from the Middle Kingdom, participates in the SCA and other living history groups. He reviews Opening Doors to Great Guest Experiences, an instructional video aimed at helping museums create better exhibits and public demonstrations, and finds that it would also benefit living history organizations.

Rome -- the Eternal Source Material

Wed, 1 Nov 2006 12:21:44 -0500

An entertaining new essay by Allan Massie explores the continuing fascination of Rome for fiction writers and moviemakers -- and their audiences.