Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Working out in armour

It should not really come as a surprise...the Leeds armoury did some tests on people wearing armour. They discovered that it is really hard to do any aerobic activity in armour.

Trouble is...how would this test compare to, oh, say, a modern soldier doing the same thing whilst wearing all his kit? THAT might well be a valid comparison. This test merely shows that it is harder to fight while wearing armour than not wearing armour. Well duuuuuhhhhh!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14205147

Nice armour though. Wish we could see more of the results.





ip-location map zoom

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Songs about Iron Foundries

BRASS & IRON.
Robin Madge © 1985


CH. Brass and iron, smoke and fire,
Flames are rising ever higher.
Brass and iron, smoke and fire,
Watch the sparks fly to the sky.

If you come walking down our street
You'll hear the hammer's steady beat.
The sound, the smell, the light, the heat,
The foundry it is working.

There's a lad that stands by the foundry door,
Drawn by the smell and the bellows roar.
He comes to watch the metal pour
And watch the sparks go dancing.

The pattern maker stands alone,
Gives his chisel one last hone,
Then turns away from the grinding stone
To carve the wooden master.

The moulders work away with sand.
Around the pattern it is rammed,
Then on one side it's put to stand
To await the molten metal.

It's here are made those cogs and gears
That serve the miller through the years.
The caster stands in the heat that sears
To pour the molten metal.

If work at the foundry you should try
You'll find it makes you awful dry,
And in the boozer by-and-by
You'll drink away your wages.

Many more verses and the tune can be found here...
http://robinmadge.bandcamp.com/track/brass-and-iron
(and buy a download...its only a buck!)

Monday, July 11, 2011

More Osgoode Stuff

Link to the medieval festival I did yesterday http://www.megapixeltravel.com/2011/07/mediaeval-fair-at-osgoode-ontario-9th-july-2011/




ip-location map zoom

Osgoode Medieval Festival CJOH




http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080205/ott_highlights_noon/


I tried to use these three links but I don't know how to make them work here on blogger. Anybody have any idea? Otherwise you have to go to the above link, and hope the articles are still there.


javascript:changeVideo('','CJOH0708_leanne','00:00:00.00','00:04:03.00','497748','1')

javascript:changeVideo('','CJOH0708_leanne2','00:00:00.00','00:04:02.00','497764','2')

javascript:changeVideo('','CJOH0708_leanne3','00:00:00.00','00:04:05.00','497785','3')

This was the three four minute interviews we did on Victoria Island last Thursday. We almost melted away.
But... I think we looked pretty good!



ip-location map zoom