Medieval Helmet Cam

I never thought I'd see a helmet-cam video outside of the large SCA events like Pennsic or Estrella War. But here is a recent helmet-cam video uploaded to YouTube by a chap named grahamfield who appears to be a member of the Medieval Combat Society.

Unlike the SCA, the Medieval Combat Society has a very small membership base (over 60 members!), plays with live steel and has a very narrow focus of reenactment: only the 14th Century during the period of King Edward III of England. Too bad they are all the way over there in England - I'd like to see their events firsthand. They have some fascinating links on their website as well.

Before you click play, do turn DOWN your volume first - the announcer in the background is yelling through an obnoxiously bad speaker.



More searching on their website finds even more videos.

Living History through the eyes of mental_floss

mental_floss is not just a slick magazine, it's a great online resource for those of us who like to think we are smarter than the average bear. In fact, from their "What is mental_floss" page:

For the record: mental_floss magazine is an intelligent read, but not too intelligent. We're the sort of intelligent that you hang out with for a while, enjoy our company, laugh a little, smile a lot and then we part ways. Great times. And you only realize how much you learned from us after a little while. Like a couple days later when you're impressing your friends with all these intriguing facts and things you picked up from us, and they ask you how you know so much, and you think back on that great afternoon you spent with us and you smile.

And then you lie and say you read a lot.

So, I've just discovered them: they are funny, and intelligent. How did I find this oasis of smartness in an otherwise vast ocean of internet pablum? Why, they've blogged about Living History of course! And you know I just love to blog about things that make the SCA look good. OK, I blog the bad press too, but only if it's funny...

They touch on Celts, Vikings, Romans, SCA, and even the Revolutionary and Civil Wars! So does that mean that re-enactors are now considered smart? Will "living history" enter the lexicon of coolness?

For all I knew, we were just the nerds who played D&D too much as kids. But now I'm smart. AND cool!

Are you one of those dark ages types who likes to get smarter by actually reading real printed materials? Well, then check out the magazine mental_floss today! I bet you'll get a bonus to your intelligence, and if you play your cards right, you might even get to level up!