The first surprise was how well run it was: for a week, more than 3000 nerds where herded successfully between seminars, workshops, product displays and food. I guess I should have known that it would work smoothly since both Microsoft and the GCCEC have been hosting various events for years. I could almost see a set of quite subtle rules of crowd dymani8cs being manipulated and enhanced by the convention. Rather than feeling herded from place to place, it felt like walking from one end of the centre to the other was all your own idea. I need to investigate this further.

For the most part, I sat in on the case study seminars in which some business representative explained how they solved a particular problem faced by his or her organisation. Many of these problems are the same as those faced by places I’ve worked. On the whole, these were brilliant. The best included how the QLD Department of Communities IT transformed into a service-oriented function and the changes to the retail industry made by the emergence of social networking and the “always connected” community.

The other seminars pretended to be generic industry investigations into various matters. Without exception, these were nothing of the sort – they were bald-faced advertising for Microsoft products. Advertising is fine: that’s one of the purposes of the conference. I just wish they’d be honest and say that up front. For instance, one seminar titled “Scalability Standouts – They Biggest in the World and How They Did It.” What it should have been called is Microsoft SQL Server Book of Records. It was nothing more than a list of stats, eg: the size of the biggest active database in the world, the greatest number of transactions processed per second, etc. There was absolutely nothing about scalability or how they did it.

The second surprise was how many women were at the event. I expected it to be filled with hydro-cephalic smelly nerds but, while there was plenty of them, the changing face of the IT industry was on displace. Many lads were in suits and looked more like marketing guys than techies. The women were mainly int he “softer” parts of IT such as web development rather than the more nuts-and-bolts areas. I’m not raising that as a problem but just to sho the changing nature of the IT industry.

All-in-all, it was a very worthwhile event. I’m not sure I’d pay for it myself but I wouldn’t refuse a ticket if it was given to me.

I’m going to discuss this problem through an analogy to languages (another passion of mine, by the way). In this way, I hope to diffuse some of the emotion that seems to gather around this topic and hopefully make my argument a little more clear.

Dead languages such as Latin are called so because they are no longer spoken in the general course of life. They are no longer dynamic, living entities capable of change, development and growth. Living languages, on the other hand, are in a continual process of evolution as their speakers interact with each other to negotiate meaning and understanding. New concepts are adopted from outside the language and new forms are invented to adapt to changing conditions.

Context is the key difference. In what sets of circumstances is the language practiced? What alternatives communication strategies or other languages are applicable to these contexts?

Latin under the Roman Republic and Empire was a dynamic, evolving beast. Even during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, it maintained itself as the language of education, science and religion. New words, phrases and manners of expression in the language were invented to accommodate changes in social and political thought and the sciences. Only with the devlopement of popular media such as the mass printing of books and newspapers in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and radio and television in the twentieth was Latin toppled from its pedestal in favour of the vernacular.

Anyone today who studies Latin either does so out of nostalgia for the past or to use the language as a tool for some current endeavour.

The first group aim produces study groups who are concerned with the proper and correct (real or perceived) form of the language. Using the language can become entirely secondary to “understanding” it. At the end of a life time of study, you can stand tall and say proudly something along the lines of “I understand 100% correctly how Cicero spoke.” Good for you. To the outside world, you have achieved nothing other than becoming a hermit.

The second group aim to give the language a living context, a reason for existance and, more importantly, a way of attracting new blood into the fold of those who want to learn Latin. For the purists, usage of the language may not always conform to that of the great writers of Antiquity. It may destroy many of the features which the purists find most attractive. In the end, you may claim that you have introduced the language to many more people than the purist and that through your actions others have gained appreciation of Latin impossible without immediate contact with the language.

What does this mean for historical swordplay?

In brief, unless we can find a living context which we can wrap around historical fencing, it is dead. Studying the Masters and doing no more is nothing but navel-gazing. Even the annual displays of technical prowess so common at medieval and renaissance fairs do nothing to answer the fundamental question asked by the public: “Why do you do it?”

To my mind, competition is the obvious response. I kind-a hope it’s not the only answer but I can’t imagine another at this point (becauase I am a navel-gazer by inclination). Competition makes learning swordplay a dynamic and purposeful activity. It takes the teachings and techniques of the Masters and puts them to the test in a similar way to how they would have been tested during the period.

In this way, we answer the public’s question. Why? So we can use the techniques we study in a vital and living context.

More importantly, we have something to offer in return. It is only by showing others that what we do has value can we hope to inspire our passion into the next generation.

Title: The Hound of the Baskervilles
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Penguin Classics (2010)
Language: The finest English

A great novel or the Greatest Novel?

So far this year, I’ve read the book again, listened to an audio dramatisation and watched a couple of versions on video. This book hits all my buttons. It’s got a murder, hints of the supernatural, the relentless march of scientific logic and is possibly the best Scooby Doo mystery ever.

Here is a quick list of the aspects of it which tickle my fancy. Below that, there’s my view of several versions of the story in different media.

Oh, yes. There are spoilers but if you haven’t read this classic by now or know the story from the multitude of film adaptations, shame on you.

Holmes, the Sociopath

He is either incapable of or places absolutely no value on empathy. The emotions of other serve only to annoy him. He cannot understand why Watson is disappointed to think that all his effort of chronicle the events on the moor went unnoticed and unappreciated by Holmes. Or when he believes that his client has been eaten by the hound, his sole concern is how could he not have seen this coming. The only thing that matters to Holmes is the intellectual puzzle. Others only serve as data on which a conclusion can be calculated.

Watson, the British Bulldog

Watson is the epitome of the British Bulldog. He is loyal and doggedly determined to prove himself the equal of every setback and encounter. Watching him twist and turn as he confronts the conflicting duties of loyalty to Sir Henry and proving his worth to Holmes is magnificant. I also like the sheer physicality of the man. To check with the postmaster in the village of Grimpen, he undertakes “a pleasant walk of some four miles.” Perhaps it’s just that we are weak today but I’m not taking a round trip of about 13 kilometres (four miles there, four miles back) for anyone.

Class Struggle on the Moors

The lot of the serving class is truly despicable. Can you imagine telling your stuff “go to your room and we’ll talk about this in the morning”? Holy crap! I’m not sure what surprises me more, that the upper crust feel entitled to treat people like this or the fact the the servile classes accept it. No wonder anarchy was being actively promoted as a paradigm for civil society (cf. Joseph Conrad’s The Secret Agent). But the attitude survives. I remember my dad complaining of this when he spent some time there talking business improvement with steel mill owners in the 1980s.

Pathos

There are a couple of moments of genius in the story aside from the slow, inexorable development of the supernatural atmosphere. One is Mortimer describing how a “man of science” cannot countenance a belief in the supernatural but is unable to find an alternative explanation. There is a moment when Watson believes he may have to break up the fledgling romance between Sir Henry and Miss Stapleton in order to meet Holmes’ injunction to stick with Sir Henry to protect him from harm. The best occurs at the death of Selden, the murderer hiding out on the Moor and brother to the housekeeper at Baskerville Hall. This is one of the classic quotes of all time:

“Evil indeed is the man who has not one woman to mourn him”

Using Then-Current Supernatural Elements

The family curse, the demon dog, the sins of the father being visited on his descendants. All of these are common and, at the time, very current beliefs. Of course, the educated classes would not believe such rubbish but those benighted souls who lived in Cornwall and Devon definitely did. Everyone knew so. All the characters embody this scientific paternalism. On the other hand, the demon dog is a true piece of folklore throughout Britain. The mixture of real folkloric elements into this murder mystery is one of the key aspects of the work for me.

The Scooby Doo Plans

Best of all is the recognition that this novel contains not one but two Scooby Doo plans. First, there is the plan to use the legend of the Hound to kill Sir Henry. An enormous hound is made spooky by the application of phosphorus – “a cunning preparation of it” – to its hide. The sounds of its baying in the night scares the peasants. The braver peasants are cowed by the glowing form of the beast. That would be enough but no, Doyle’s genius chucks in another Scooby plan. To catch the perpetrator, Holmes dangles Sir Henry in from of both the villain and the Hound, regardless of the danger to his client. The only thing that is missing is Holmes throwing Watson a scooby-snack (Holmes, then, fulfills the role of Velma.)

Film and TV Versions to Look For

Among the rubbish, these treatments of the story stand out for one reason or another.

1939 – Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce - The classic Holmes; get this one if nothing else. I don’t like the characterisation of Watson as a bumbling fool but he does make the perfect foil for Rathbone’s precision.

1982 – Tom Baker - Holmes as barely controlled madman. It could almost be an episode of Dr Who.

1983 – Ian Richardson – Holmes as upper-crust manic genius. This is perhaps the best version of Holmes ever recorded and the one I reckon is closest in tone to Holmes as Doyle wrote him.

And for a complete whack-job version of the story:

1978 – Peter Cook and Dudley Moore – Don’t expect anything approaching the story other than in name only. I wore out my VHS copy of this film.

Audio Version

If you can find issue seven of the Orbis part-series “Talking Classics,” there is nothing better than listening to the subtle vocal characterisations of Peter Egan reading an abridged version of the story. I listen to this CD maybe once a year.

The fencing component of the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) are the group which closest approaches the philosphy of the Australian College of Arms (ACA) in that they emphasise the competitive nature of swordplay. I still have some problems with their rule structure and the sharp delineation between the different styles of swordplay (rapier, cut-and-thrust, heavy, etc) but that’s another story.

(The ACA has two dozen in Brisbane only. They have 30,000 members worldwide so they must be doing something right.)

From my point of view, SCA rapier fencing is in general characterised by a couple of key points:

• light weapons;
• a concentration on later Spanish or Italian geometry (Spanish destreza? Maybe. Not sure.);
• a very defensive attitude.

The weapons I saw in play were generally the lighter Darkwood practical rapiers. These swords are very manouveurable and agile. Only a couple of people that I saw used the much heavier Hanwei SH1098 ambiguous rapier that I use. Those who did tended to be the more experienced fencers in the group, judging by the coloured sashes with which they designate rank and expertise. Light swords are brilliant within their own context but, from experience, tend to have trouble outside it, say, when facing a much heavier sidesword or backsword.

The SCA fencing style, as is only fitting for rapiers, is very point-on-line – that is maintaining the tip of the sword pointing at the opponent and moving the hilt around the point in a cone-like manner to defend against attacks. The emphasis in on blade angulation and always attacking to the outside line. While the ACA train to these principles as well, it is dead interesting to experience people who train outside your own paradigm using your techniques against you.

One criticism I have of the SCA style is that in pratcise it tends to be very defensive. There are few who want to take the fight to their opponent. Most stand and wait for the other guy to act, take advantage of his mistakes. While this may be a valid strategy, I find it can get a little dull.

Which brings me to a couple of revelations:

1. Swordplay styles evolve into their rule systems.

Take, for instance, the idea of scoring points for hitting the opponent’s hands. In a real fight with sharp weapons, this means pretty much the end for one opponent. You can’t do much if you can’t hold a weapon. However, incorposting this idea into a sport fencing rule system leads to the practice of each fencer sniping at the other’s hands – they are the targets you can hit most easily while remaining at a safe distance. It puts paid to the entire body of swordplay principles which have been laid down since the earliest fencing treatise, Manuscript I.33 written around AD 1295. And it’s dull to watch. But while a rules system which does not award points for hits of the hands may encourage a style more in keeping with the historical manuals, is it any more realistic? The real issue here is that, despite having access to several hundred years of fencing treatises, we have little real idea of what a sword fight actually looked like.

2. The rapier only works against another rapier.

The rapier is a brilliant weapon system. I love it more than is socially appropriate. However, I’ve come to the realisation that it is only competitive against another rapier. It’s simply too easy to knock a rapier’s point off-line. If, say, a shorter sidesword sweeps off-line the point of a much longer rapier, in the time taken to withdraw and bring the point back on-line, the guy with the sidesword has done something very nasty to the guy with the rapier because he’s acting in Silver‘s “time of the hand.” The rapier is a subtle weapon which relies on blade angulation and geometry. If I fighting in a corridor, the rapier is the perfect weapon. If fighting on an open field, a more maneuveurable weapon is required.

Here’s a bunch of photos from Fencing Fest VII.

M.C. Escher - Ascending and Descending

This image represents endless effort with no possibility of reaching a goal or conclusion. No matter how fast you run, you never get to the end of the staircase and you’re forced to change direction all the time. You can’t even turn around and return to your starting point. You cannot stop to check your bearings as you’ll just get in the way of other hamsters on the treadmill. You are trapped. There is no escape. There is only a disturbing sense that you’ve been here before. And worse, some people are just standing around watching you, only barely amused by your struggle.

M.C. Escher - Relativity

Lack of communication is made manifest in this drawing. Everyone is content to do their own thing. Each person is acting perpendicual to every other person. No one is working toward a common goal. In fact, given the structual separation between everyone, no common goal is even possible. Some people sit on the outside looking in. Some are skiving off reading. Some (project managers, of course) have skipped out for lunch with vendors and are unlikely to be seen again today. Even when you meet someone on the stairs, you are travelling not only different directions but different planes of existence.

At least they pay well.

Period: Sword and Buckler

These cover the period before about AD 1400.

• Typical Viking-era sword
• Twelve inch buckler
• Later arming sword

Period: Longsword

Ranging from about AD 1400 to 1600.

• Longsword
• Federschwert

Period: Rapier

Covering the period from about AD 1500 to about 1750.

• Nine inch buckler
• Dagger (out of production)
• Extra blade
• Rapier

Miscellaneous

• Dussack (home-made)
• Rondel dagger

Protective Gear

• Mask
• Sabre Mask Cover
• ACA jacket (hand made)
• Welders gloves

“The theory of the evolution of man as known to scientists, then, must find a place for the emergence of man as a possessor of language as distinct from the so-called ‘highest’ species of anthropoid apes whose varied cries are not language (which implies thought) but only very fully developed conditioned reflexes. The gap between the highest anthropoid ape and the most ‘primitive’ man has not yet been bridged from this point of view of the emergence of language in what may be called ‘homo loquens,’ which is really the same thing as the familiar ‘homo sapiens.’ The hypothesis of some kind of creative act, therefore, may still be tenable in default of a better considering the origin of language.”

– Wrenn, p.6

There’s an instructive piece of circular logic here.

Language, he states, is a function of intelligence. The two concepts are inextricably linked in his and the popular mind. Homo Sapiens is Homo Loquensand vice versa; the two terms are equivalent. Both are also the defining characteristic which separates humanity as a species from other animals. Hence, any vocalisation produced by an animal cannot be language because animals are not the possessors of intelligence. Why else does he feel the need to re-enforce his point that the vocalisations of apes cannot be language because this would imply that they think?

But Wrenn has painted himself into a corner. He is at pains throughout the book to describe himself as an educated man and a scientist who studies language. He is a supporter of the theory of evolution, which (at the time) stated that change within and between species was a slow and gradual process. Yet to bridge the evolutionary gap between ape and human, and despite himself, he must admit the possibility of supernatural intervention. He accepts that the cause may be revealed to have been a “creative act” presumably by some external party.

Surely, the application of Ockham’s Razor to the problem leads to the conclusion that our currently accepted ideas of the exclusivity of intelligence and language cannot be correct? Isn’t it simpler to admit that animals possess intelligence (however we define it) and language (however we may define that term) than to call up visions of white-bearded gentlemen in the sky manipulating us?

This brings up another issue: is the idea we label intelligence really a binary concept. Is it really either present or absent in a species? If this is the case, how can we admit degrees of intelligence – individuals may be more or less intelligent than others – within the species. The problem for me with this idea is that we have no consensus definition of intelligence. If we cannot adequately define the term, how can we measure it? If we can’t measure it, it is the purest arrogance to make such statements about the differences between the human species and the rest of the animal world.

So, are animals intelligent? Do they posses language? In what degree? Until we have workable and agreed definition of both concepts, these questions will continue to prove difficult to answer.

(Of course, there was the embarrassing and pointless flailing about with swords by fat nerds in armour under the pretext of a tourney. I’ve spoken about them before and there’s no need to repeat myself.)

When we last went to the Abbey Festival six years ago, we didn’t have to wait in line for 40 minutes just to get the chance to pay out entry. We stood there watching holders of pre-purchased tickets cruise on by and into the event. Pre-purchasing tickets is a necessity next year. The only other complaint is that there was way too much to see in the one day we had available to us.

For me, the falconry and birds of prey spectacle was the highlight. A group in Melbourne (I forget their name. Link anyone?) presented a 30 minute piece showcasing the hunting talents of the kestrel, prergrin falcon, a couple of types of owl and a wedge-tailed eagle. The birds were put through their paces chasing furry lures, snatching them mid-flight and returning to their handler for a reward. The eagle was much bigger than I expected. The woman handling it appeared to have trouble at times lifting the animal on her arm. It’s wingspan was wider than she was tall. As a friend commented afterwards, it made every pet you’ve ever had seem small and worthless. I want one!

The jousting was, as always, lots of fun but I’m not entirely sure that it is a good choice for a modern spectator sport. People are too familiar with the Hollywood myth of spearing knights off their horses. The reality is a touch more prosaic. The aim of the participants is to break or preferably shatter the soft wood top metre or so of the lance against the other guy’s shield. This year included some international competition. One of the jousters hails from La Belle France. The other international was from New Zealand. The sound of horses thundering downt he list and the crack of lances breaking is just plain good fun.

The “Interview with Vlad the Impaler” was dead interesting. Steve Weier of the Order of Dracul impersonated the great man on the eve of battle to take the Principality of Wallachia for the third time in his long and bloody career. Vlad was outlining his life and reasons for his chroniclers, the auidence. Steve’s presentation left you with the impression of a man betrayed on every side. Vlad came across as a brutal and unsympathetic man but, at least, an understandable one. I reckon this interpretation of Vlad Tepes is probably accurate and definitely much closer to the mark than the mythic version we have inherited through popular culture.

Other events which were reported to be equally as good were:

• the archery in the far field,
• the demostrations by Prima Spada School of Fence,
• the seminar on spear fighting by the New Varangian Guard,
• the cannon firing by Historia Germanica and
• the medieval football game.

The archery and football were public participation events. There was also a bunch of hands-on workshops and activities in the encampments. More of this type of event is needed. Public participation spurs an interest history – something now terribly lacking.

I’ll be there next year without a doubt. If there’s any chance of it being as big as it was this year, I’ll be pre-purchasing a two day ticket.

The Italians turned away from a cutting style of swordplay way back in the days when two-handed (or hand-and-a-half) longswords were the common civilian and military weapon. The new style they adopted focussed on keeping steel between you and your opponents and the pointy bit always aimed at them. They soon realised that a lighter weapon was quicker and more maneuveurable than a longsword yet retained the ability to keep the point on-line, as we say. Over about a century, swords became thinner and lighter and the techniques they used changed to match and take advantage of the new weaponry. Gone were the large movements involved in swinging a 40+ inch blade with both hands in favour of a technique which relies on much quicker thrusts, geomoetry and blade angulation.

(But don’t think I’m going to get drawn into the stupid, stupid debate about cutting versus thrusting weapons.)

Here are the videos. They run 25 minutes in total.

Baby's First Photo

Kathi and I are having another baby. The bub is due to arrive around mid-January 2011. It’s too early to know whether it’s a boy or a girl.

Pauses for audience applause.

We’re excited and anxious like other expectant parents and, since our twin girls Charlotte and Marianne died 18 months ago, completely terrified. But this post isn’t about our baby, our missing angels or our co-mingled joy and terror. There are other parents in the same situation – having a baby after a stillbirth or neo-natal death – who need to know that they are not alone.

We’re having a baby and we’re thinking about bub’s first steps, first words, decorating the baby’s room, and all the other common dreams which pass through expectant parents’ heads. I don’t want anyone to think that we’re not experiencing that happiness which only new parents can feel. But our situation is different to the average. This is our third child but hopefully the first we bring home.

Charlotte Elizabeth and Marianne Patricia were born premature a little more than 18 months ago and lived for 11 and 12 days respectively. They were taken from us after a battle, fought for an amazing length of time for such little people, against Serratia Marcescans. Kathi held Charlotte in her arms when we turned off her life support. The next day it was my turn to hold to Marianne as she died. We cremated them together in the one tiny coffin and keep their ashes at home with us.

Charlotte Elizabeth - Day 3

Marianne Patricia - Day 3

These events colour our current experience in several ways.

First, we’re grieving a-fresh the loss of Charlotte and Marianne. Going through this pregnancy revives the memories and feelings we went through two years ago. They are again as new and as raw as they were then. The equilibrium we’ve struggled to achieve in the last 18 months has been completely upturned. We’re sure we’ll find a new equilibrium in time.

This is perfectly normal.

Second, we’re terrified of this baby dying as well, either in utero or shortly after. We know now only too well that there is no such thing as a safe or a sure pregnancy. Even afterwards, if/when we bring baby home, nothing is guaranteed. Doctors, nurses, counsellors quote statistics to us but they do not re-assure. A 99% chance of success means nothing because that implies a 1% chance of failure. When you’ve been part of the 1%, all of those little numbers seem incredibly large and pre-destined to occur.

This is perfectly normal.

Third, we are so fucking angry. We’re still and will forever remain angry about the deaths of Charlotte and Marianne. (To the god/goddess/demon/spirit/etc who killed my girls, I will find you and fuck you up. Be warned.) We’re angry that we cannot enjoy the growth milestones of our developing bub. Each monthly or fortnightly ultrasound or other test allows us a brief sigh of relief knowing that our bub still lives. Then the fear creeps in again. The happy Hollywood image of the pregnant couple lying in a field in the sun wondering what their child will become is all but unknown to us. More often than not, we are cowering in the dark imagining how our happiness will be shattered this time around.

This is perfectly normal.

To anyone who wants to comment with platitudes about trusting that all will be well, about finding strength to enjoy this precious time, about the miracles of modern medicine,  just don’t. You don’t understand and I sincerely hope you never do. Please keep your advice to yourself unless you have a bodycount of your own. Support, however, is very welcome – we need as much of it as we can get.

To anyone reading this who has buried a child and expecting another, take some solace from knowing that you are not alone. Please get in touch if you need to talk to someone who knows the score. Your feelings may be different from ours. Your thoughts are likely to be equally as wacky as ours yet still perfectly sane.

Here’s some books which may help.

• Pregnancy After Loss: A Guide to Pregnancy After a Miscarriage, Stillbirth or Infant Death
• Trying Again: A Guide to Pregnancy After Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Infant Loss
• Journeys: Stories of Pregnancy After Loss
• Stolen Angels: 25 Stories of Hope After Pregnancy or Infant Loss