and now for something completely different...a smile!

Take a look at this video that I found linked to on OneGoodMove.org.

update: looks like the video has been removed...too much traffic perhaps.

Pay no attention to this foolishness, as it may cause you to think.

No bites on that last one, eh?

That's me, 6 years and 30 pounds ago...just before getting out of the game.
Check out those ears!!!

°

Tree and I took advantage of a nice evening last month to work on some "sword and shield" techniques against his bokken. Sword and shield is my favorite weapon configuration for many reasons. I prefer a buckler sized shield and a short-blade (21" or less) "sword" as these play to my strengths,
speed being chief among them.
Here, I am using two limbs of applewood to build wrist and forearm strength as well as train some of the stabilizer muscles needed to support those fast twitch fibers.
Also, I've been playing with the sword and shield techniques realized with two bastons of different length. This is both more realistic (I have access to two blunt weapons more frequently than I do a long blade and rubbish bin lid) and challenging. Normally, I steer clear of any system requiring the mid-weapon grip. It puts your hand on a silver platter for your opponent. However, as I investigate further into subtlety in movement, I find this grip more appealing. I don't think I'd stake my health or life on it in combat, but it is an intriguing configuration.

A man of letters

Wooster has posted about some videos uploaded by Sadhu of his extraordinary calligraphic skill!!!

Oh, by the way, Laura and I almost found ourselves taken in by American Idol this time around! The auditions almost weren't enough, so let's get this out in the open:
I want TAYLOR and/or PARIS to win!

Okay, that's enough of that frightening departure into the world of the masses.

This Cheney thing is absurd! The man has spent the last thirty years perpetrating the worst kinds of evil and people are just now giving him shit for accidently shooting some lawyer?!? Listen kids, if this is the best you can come up with to complain about when it comes to papa Dick, you are in a COMA!

Not much else to report right now. My juices haven't been flowin' lately. See Amanda's latest post for a much more comprehensive description of this dynamic that is plaguing the two of us.

Not dead yet!

Here's hopin' my issues with Blogger are resolved for now. I've lost three posts so far and last night they had a downtime, so I couldn't even get on.
Anyhow, Websense has blocked our access to most blog servers, citing them as "message boards and clubs" so I am cut off from about 70% of my blogging time.
Don't worry, I assure you that I only used my federally mandated 15 minute breaks and my lunch break to do such things. *yeah....okay*
Latest news:
I had my hair cut by Silvio Dante of the Sopranos. He said his name is Vince, but I think I know Sil when I see him. He did a pretty good job of cutting my hair, but I didn't let him use the straight razor.
Work is putting me through my paces, but somehow I keep landing on my feet and rankin' up praise points in all the right places.
Laura and Tree are great....took a look at Tree's school next year....EXPENSIVE, but extraordinary.
I'm officially on the ballot for Midway City Council this year. Wish me luck, there's a city to save.
....and, as usual, I've thrown this up over the course of hours, in between shows and family time...so, now it's late and I've gotta go.

Shalom