D&D in the New Yorker

You may have seen this already: a rather glowing writeup in The New Yorker (by a fan and DM) of the modern resurgence of tabletop D&D.

Dungeons & Dragons seems to have been waiting for us somewhere under the particular psyche of this generation, a psyche that may have been coaxed into fantasy mania by the media that surrounded it. Many were seeded with “Harry Potter” books as children, raised with the “Lord of the Rings” movies (and more “Harry Potter” in cinematic splendor), and brought to blossom in adulthood by “Game of Thrones” on television. Let us not forget the imminent return of “Stranger Things,” a show in which something akin to Dungeons & Dragons not only literally lurks in the wings but is also played by the central characters.

The New Yorker: The Uncanny Resurrection of Dungeons & Dragons

Anniversary of William Tell's Shot

710 years ago today: under threat of execution by the Lord of Altdorf, William Tell shoots an apple off he son's head with a crossbow. (A second quarrel was on hand for the Lord if the first didn't work.)

Wikipedia: William Tell

Testing Crescent-Headed Arrows

Mark Stretton posts test results of using a crescent-headed arrow to hunt game, slice sails, and cut ropes holding heavy weights in the field. Interesting stuff! Warning: Includes photos from shooting the carcass of a goose for testing purposes.

Mark Stretton: Did the Crescent Arrow Head Cut Rope & Ship Sails?

Staff Sergeant Reckless

For Veteran's/Armistice Day: Remembering Staff Sergeant Reckless, the highest-ranking war horse in the U.S. Military, earning two Purple Hearts in the Korean War.

Wikipedia: Sergeant Reckless

Please Stand By

So us professor-types are hip-deep in a rising tide of work for the academic semester. In my case, I've burned through my backlog of articles to present on the blog and upcoming posts will be irregular at best from now through the holidays (as well as comment replies, emails, these papers on my desk, etc.). I wish I had more time! Hope you have a successful back end to 2017 and hopefully we'll get some interesting stuff coming up soon thereafter.