Warfare today mirrors its state during Shakespeare’s time. Science delivered a period of transformation. As technology improved with the introduction of gun powder and the musket, the role of the armored knight and his physical strength lost its military usefulness.

Most of the custom made armor reflect the look of contemporary fashion. While these breast plates and helmets protected the wearer, they also served as vehicles for establishing social status and as a reminder of familial ties.

You can see these old suits in “Now Thrive the Amorers: Arms and Armor in Shakespeare” that runs thru September 9, 2008. The Higgins Armory Museum, the only museum dedicated to armor in the western hemisphere, lends from its collection of military treatises, fencing manuals, gilded arms and etched armor.

Three quarter armor, coats of arms, broad swords and rapiers line the walls of the Folger Great Hall. A free cell phone audio tour provides additional information on family ties, the day’s fashion trends, and Renaissance battle strategies.

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201 East Capitol Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
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Christmas has apparently come early for DC this week… not only do we get our postmark back, but now we’re also getting a quarter. (Now Santa, about that Congressional representation we asked you for…)

DC was left out of the plans for the State Quarter program when it was established in 1998, and with the last state quarter set to be released next year, DC and the U.S. territories have finally been granted their own spot on the back of a quarter. Here’s the template for the quarter design; what do you want to see on it? Those of you with mad Photoshop skillz can submit your proposed design to the Metroblogging DC Flickr Pool.

Last night at the 2007 Washington Post Blogger Summit (aka “Blogging Unplugged”.. where was Eric Clapton and his guitar?), the minds behind Washingtonpost.com and their advertising arm (WPNI) revealed their “skunkworks” project of a “Local Blog Directory”. As of all the sections of the get-together, this one generated the most lively discussion among attendees and the WaPo.com staff.

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One of the greatest things about living in the D.C. area is the people you meet around town and the random things you learn from them. I once shared martini’s with a woman who worked as part of an Accenture consulting team to the United States Postal Service. The project? Something about testing the feasibility of using SmartDust at the USPS as part of internal quality control process; dust-particle scaled, self-contained microelectromechanical devices spread onto random letters or packages would collect and monitor data about the delivery process. Seems the project was going well up until letters containing anthrax bacteria were mailed to the offices of two U.S. Senators. In the wake of "Amerithrax" it seems that dust went from "potential tool" to "potential threat."

Although the anthrax killed five people and severely sickened seventeen others, the culprit(s) behind the threat have not been found. Now it seems the attention given to the affair has bred at least one copycat terrorist. Today the Associated Press reported that

"A man suspected of mailing more than a dozen threatening letters containing white powder to Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Jon Stewart and other high-profile figures was in custody and awaiting a court appearance. Prosecutors were expected to file a criminal complaint against Chad Conrad Castagana, 39, in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Monday. He was arrested Saturday for allegedly conveying false information and sending threats by U.S. mail."

If Atlantic Monthly journalist Amy Waldman is correct, and "the United States is now prosecuting suspected terrorists on the basis of their intentions, not just their actions" - how is it that we are not bring terrorism- related charges against this man? Letters like these, while not physically harmful, create an environment of fear that poses no less danger than yelling "fire" in a crowded theatre.

People who mimic historical acts of terror should be charged as terrorists.

As a legendary cheapskate myself, I can’t help but think warmly of Jack Benny, who made joking about being thrifty a core part of his act. This short MP3 of a Jack Benny sketch (tweaked to be an answering machine message) has him responding to a armed robber’s demand of “your money or your life!” with “I’m thinking, I’m thinking!”

Now Benny fans are aiming for something cheap enough even JB would buy a few: a Jack Benny postage stamp. It’s hard to argue with their reasoning. Benny also made joking about being 39 - every year - part of his act. How better to celebrate him than with his image in a 39-cent stamp. Keeping with the theme, there’ll be a 39 man march in our fair city on Feb 14th, which would have been his 74th 39th birthday. Actual attendance won’t be limited to 39, nor only men. If you’re interested in participating follow the above link, or sign the petition or use a premade letter template to contact your congresscritter and/or the USPS’s stamp committee.

Now that’s sad, heartbreaking even. Little Susan Anne Catherine Torres passed away yesterday a month after she was born to her brain-dead Mom, Susan Rollin Torres.

Mom Torres was a 26-year-old researcher at the National Institutes of Health, who suffered a stroke in May after melanoma spread to her brain and she lost consciousness. While technically brain-dead, her family kept Mom Torres alive until she gave birth, and then without the bullshit circus of Terry Schaivo, she was allowed to die in peace after she was taken off life support.

Now her daughter has followed Mom into the great beyond, leaving Dad Torres with just one child - 2-year-old Peter - and a pile of medical bills. So sad. So sad.

Woohoo! The District just waived the entrance fee for kids at public pools. Instead of the rock-bottom $1, they can now scream by the gates and pee in the pools for free. Great! Now where will I go for a peaceful tan n’ nap when I can’t leech off Scott’s hospitality?

How about a week in Hawai’i? I could hang with the Mayor and make sure he’s really attending the annual convention of the National Association of Counties happening there this week. Wait! National Association of Counties?! What county does Mayor Williams represent? Google found a few erroneous references but that last time I checked, there are no counties in DC.

Hey, Mr. Mayor, how’s the pee-free pools there on the Big Island? And shouldn’t you be headed home now? Hint: The conference ended yesterday.