youngmrp

So I am thinking....

Any of the TSD or UHC spring revolvers
(I am a big fan of the TSD UA934 6" and the UHC 939 Snubnose. Unfortunately, the really cool looking ones are gas powered.)

The UHC Super 9 or X-9 spring sniper rifle, with the rotary shell magazine
(There is no model that is really satisfactory. This is close since it uses the "shells" and looks reasonable. I've seen a few pics of the non-black, but I can't seem to find one for sale. Unhappy with this as my option, a rifle is still a necessary part of western gun culture.)

Actually, I just found one:
http://www.amazon.com/Tactical-Super-Sniper-Rifle-airsoft/dp/B0029WJYIG/ref=sr_1_63?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1259143080&sr=1-63
No scopes, or at least you'd need to find something similar to what they used in 1860.

Shotguns are tricky. I can either find an ok looking one that doesn't use the shell mechanisms, or a shell mechanism that looks obviously modern. There is one sawed off double barrel, but I think it was a custom job. I also worry that the higher power guns will break the paintballs inside the barrel. ewww

Good stuff.....I may get the snubnose sooner than later just so I can play around. The rifles would require more commitment.

So the more I watch Mr Eastwood, the more I wish there was a *cool* western reenactment group. Something that behaves like the SCA. Most of what I've seen on the interweb are crowd-pleasin', rootin-tootin buffoonery. Much like in the SCA, I am not really that concerned with pleasing the mundane world. I want to enjoy my time by...and I hate saying this...living the dream.

I would looove a group that played the same idea as Pennsic only based on 1860-1900ish. Tents are still cool, or we could do the car port houses I've been mulling over. As far as combat systems, much of that depends on how inclusive the scenario. There could easily be fencing (only small sword, so anti-epee folks can suck it!). Gunfighting would be the real deal, and I think it could be safely reproduced. I posted earlier about the airsoft revolvers. They make paintballs to fit those guns, and they are cheap. You can buy a gun, ammo, and mask for under $100. I know the plastic spring loaded (maybe gas-powered) guns are nothing like their real world counterparts, but we tolerate the use of rattan for swords. There are only a few revolver models around, so everybody would be using the same equipment mostly. Wouldn't that be a shame? Easy standardization? My major concern is that there is no real substitute for the winchester. We can have pistols and shotguns, but you do really need the rifle. The closest I could find was a german WWI bolt action army rifle. Not quite the same. I am not sure If there would be a safe way to include hand to hand in the larger shootouts. Rubber knives/bayonets I suppose...

I can see crazy melee scenarios like wagon raids, bank robberies, town dust-ups, messenger runs, free-for-alls, etc etc. Paintballs would be pretty decisive, so the honor system would not need to be so heavily relied upon. With some effort, you could produce some interesting terrain. Towns, forts, wagon forts, native villages. Hell, we could incorporate equestrian activities to reach all kinds of craziness. A buffalo hunt would be awesome, though I'd hafta think hard about how to do it...

Again, depending on how crazy we want things, you could allow for individuals to assume personas as army (union or confederate) and your classic movie roles (the outlaw, sheriff, mexicans, native americans, chinese I suppose, etc etc.) I would want things to err on the side of reality, so not everyone can be "no name." I would hope for some balance; last thing we need is everyone being a bad guy. I, of course, would want to be some sort of local law enforcement. Or perhaps the east-coast cop sent to impose some order...

I'll have to mull on it s'more...

So I've been watching the classic Eastwood westerns on Hulu these last few nights. Awesome! The audio tracks are oddly out of sync, but I've watched so many dubbed foreign films that I am hardly bothered. I loved the soundtrack to "For a Few Dollars More," except for the whistle/mouth-harp/weird chanting theme. I love the modified Indio theme with the organ solo when the Indio character is about to kill the fellow who ratted on him. That was so cool! In many ways I believe the old western world can be the source of fantastic stories, but there have been too many crappy movies and books (Navajo Joe, anyone?)

Now I want one of the ultra-rare revolver action paintball guns from the 80s. I'm told they are only accurate to about 50-70 feet, but that's already 3 times the effective range on our RBGs.

I know many of the Eastwood films are based on Kurosawa's films (which are some of my favorites!), but I think they make enough effort to be unique. I actually liked Indio's past and theme, though it may have been a little clunky.

So being a chronic over planner, and excessively paranoid, I was way ahead of schedule getting to the airport. My flight was at 6am. That means I wanted to be there by 4am. I wasn't going to ask anyone to drive me at that awful hour, so I would be taking the bus. Busses don't run that early, so i would have to catch a buss from the night before. The last 28X leaves Oakland at 11pm-ish. It was a holiday, so that was more like 10:30. I didn't want to throw all my chips on that gamble, so I opted to catch an earlier bus. All said and done, I caught a bus to the airport at 9:45.

Less than an hour later, I was at the airport. No problems, I would check-in and head to the terminal/airmall. I wander in and notice all the shops (before the check-ins) were closing. Odd. I head up to the check-in counter only to discover that my flight company closes the desk at night. It would not open until 4am. Awesome. I could have used the computerized check-in, but I didn't want to drag my large bag through security. So I instead spent 5 hours in the rent-a-car lobbies.

Sometime around 1am I became hungry. Non of the shops on this side of the security check were open. I asked some of the maintenance crew, and they told me that my only bet was the Sunoco at the way far-ass side of the parking lot. Fine. Whatever. Of course, you can't just leave something lying around in the airport, So I had to take my heavy bags with me. I managed to find a shuttle to take me out to the gas station, so that was nice. I stocked up on gross pre-fab food and went out to the shuttle stop where, theoretically, I could summon another bus to come get me. I pressed the button and waited. I soon found out that the heater didn't work, and often merely shocked anyone who touched it. More awesome. A few cold minutes later, I saw no motion on the horizon and assumed i would not be getting a ride back. So I shouldered my bags and food and began to plod my way back to the terminal. Several rent-a-cops in their patrol cars eyed me up suspiciously, but noone stopped. I was very happy to return to my seat in the lobby. Only 2 more hours until check-in.

Just before 4, I start heading up to the desk. At some point in the night, a group of 70 people had camped out in front of the desk. They were all going to Milwaukee on a 7:30 flight. When the attendants finally showed up, I discovered that it would take upwards of 20 minutes for each check-in. 70 people x 20 minutes = 1 missed flight. Fortunately, another attendant showed up and opened a non-70 people line. This, of course, pissed of the 70 people. I had little sympathy for their annoyance, since they failed to have any plan regarding this organized trip thing. Five minutes later, I was heading towards the flight terminals.

The rest of my flights were easy. I had a little time to kill in Atlanta, but not enough to get into trouble. Things went smoothly and I was in Cali by 1pm (their time.)

Next Part: Pre-Saturday!

So I am back from California.

I learned quite a bit of technique.

I learned philosophy.

I made yet more friends throughout the kingdoms.

I learned where my path has to go.

I am waaay to cool for school.

And awwaaaaay I go!

Really...if you sit and stare long enough, anything will eventually make sense.

Except if that thing is any of you guessing what I am specifically referring to.

If anyone DOES guess correctly, then they may have the first successful piece of fruition.

So my epic plans for the day were interrupted when I learned there would be a "party" at my house tonight. So we had to clean up everything. Awesome. I mean...it needed to be done...but still. So now I've been productive for a few hours. Time to goof off, methinks.

I think after some sleep, I am going to play video games all day. At some point, I need to fuss with a hodge-podge of rapier furniture in the hopes of producing a functional weapon. Really, I can only do so much without a welding torch. And a really small rat-tail file.

Then it's study study study. Exciting times we live in.

Since we are learning about Will's views and thoughts tonight...

I haven't slept well for weeks, averaging about 4 hours a night (day). This has all sorts of effects on things. I think I finally figured out what was causing me trouble. So...I am a compulsive planner who constantly revises everything. However, my follow through is usually very lack luster. This has recently been displayed by my control of finances over the lest few months. I have much pondering to do followed by iron-willed conviction before I see it through. All I really want is to comfortably sleep 8 hours right now.

Will's ultimate goal and hope for the fencing community is that it will always be hard and difficult. You have to claw your way up the food chain. Anyone who contributes towards this goal gets my support and respect. Anyone who doesn't? I usually don't spend much thought on them (which is not totally true since Will overthinks everything).

This unfortunately leads to social issues I'd rather not see or deal with.

For whatever reason, me+fencing=destroyed gear. My swords do alright, but I tear through shoes and garb. I am about to rip the buttons off the top half of my doublets, and the slops/breeches are tearing in every direction. Obviously, they haven't made a fabric or design that can keep up with my skillz.

I need to do some thinking about how I want my gear to function...and then learn how to sew so I can make it happen.

So whay have all of the few shows I actually watch decided they are too cool to actually write new episodes?

Someday, I think, I will be a viking...or maybe a finn...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAsqh_t24PM&feature=related

Edit: I'm pretty sure that was the Rapier Champs tourney...

Nothing exists in a vacuum.

Things are always simple, just rarely conclusive.

This further strengthens my theory that the secret to drawing LJ comments is to talk without saying anything.....

Lame. Waaaaay lame.

and in other news: Awesome!

So I'll admit that I watch the show Fringe. Although they deal with outlandish technology, there is always a basic truth to it. Well, at least it started that way. The current season is getting more and more far-fetched without trying to explain itself at all.

I loooved the season one episode where the bad-guys used some sort of matter-resonance device to make solid matter permeable. That's conceivable, if not anytime soon. I especially liked how they "researched" the formula through perfection of math-derived phenomenon, like music. The show also had the reoccurring memory interface based on serious hallucinogenic drugs. Also conceivable. Genetic hybrids? Sure.

Now they are doing silly stuff like shape shifters with mercury for blood. They waste their "Mr. Wizard" moments on easy stuff, lie the "particle exclusion" theory. Duh! Everyone knows that one. I understand that the bad-guys are supposed to have the "technology far advanced enough to seem like magic" thing going on, but really? Crystalline people bombs? Bleh!