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I have been reading The Japanese Sword Column and thought it may be of niche interest to other Soylentils. It is written by Paul Martin, a noted British expert of Japanese swords. From the introduction:
Along with cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji, the Japanese sword has become one of the enduring symbols of Japan. It has experienced centuries of warfare, evolved through Mongol invasions, survived the introduction of the musket, the end of the samurai era, modernization, and confiscation and destruction by the Allied forces following World War II. They are an anachronism in modern society, yet they continue to be made. They are an integral part of Japanese culture.
Today, I feel very fortunate that we have access to Japanese swords and can observe the artistry of blades that were previously only accessible by Japan's ancient military and social elites.
I particularly enjoyed the July 25th article, The Changes in the Shape of the Japanese Sword. The articles are short, update infrequently and have plenty of pictures of museum-quality swords. A good fit for those with a casual interest in the subject.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday October 10 2017, @02:13PM (1 child)
Waco? There were no soldiers at Waco. The people in the compound relied on the walls to protect them. Poor fools - they should have had at least a field engineer among them, to explain that the walls were no defense, whatsoever. In fact, events proved the walls to be a greater danger than anything. If those people were relying on guns, there was remarkably little shooting from those guns.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday October 10 2017, @04:03PM
Kind of the point. They weren't looking to hurt anybody. They got massacred for wanting the means to defend themselves.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.