Building a simple ecosystem from scratch is actually quite a bit easier than attempting to correct an incredibly complex ecosystem that’s careening wildly off-course. Plus, repairing Earth is not a substitute for terraforming other planets. If we truly want to preserve Earth, it’s best to live elsewhere so we can…

Ned Kelly made armor+dusters happen a long, long time ago. It’s not his fault no one else has even come close to his level of badassery.

There are concerns about radiation, but let's not forget that radiotrophic mushrooms exist in Earth, so it's possible that they could evolve elsewhere too.

You could say they got themselves in a real bind.

Did you just justify Hayden Christensen's acting in a way that makes the prequels genuinely enjoyable? This is life-changing.

I just assumed he was remotely petting one with the Force.

In your experience, are there better ways of enforcing social order in prisons? Even if violence is still at its core, is there any part of the process that could be refined or developed to help both the prisoners and guards maintain the balance in a more effective way?

Hunters in the past used to thank their gods for the kill to show respect. He did the same. There's nothing wrong with that. The species isn't endangered and it wasn't a rare or otherwise taboo specimen. Hunting is a part of our history, and as long as he plans to use the meat, pelt, and so on, let him have his fun.

Or at least the ability to shoot wolves out of his sword pommel. I mean, give the man something to work with.

'Hung like a (sword on a) horse'.

I dunno, I'd want to be right in his face when I stab him so I can say "is that the sound your sister makes?"

It makes me sad that Landsknechts and Reislaufers aren't showcased more prominently in fiction. Those guys were characters.

Ah, I've held off on reading the books until the HBO series is over, so you may well be right. In the show, he definitely gets into at least one fight in which he is carrying a smaller sword.

If I'm not mistaken, that's not the sword he uses for self-defense. The only thing it ever seems to be used for is executions and other official duties, which makes sense; if all you have to do is lift a weapon and bring it straight down, the size and weight are a plus. Needle certainly isn't going to lop any heads…

And now, for your final test...make me a lemon cake.

All he wants is everything.

I wear a hardened leather cuirass for Dagorhir. Even though it's form-fitted, the corners curl from sweat and heat and can dig in pretty hard if you fall the wrong way. That boob plate probably wouldn't kill anybody, but it wouldn't be much more pleasant that running into the corner of a table.

I think the scientific basis of the assertion that less men in a society equals less violence is based on the finding that human civilization advanced significantly at roughly the same time as male testosterone levels begin decreasing, approximately 50,000 years ago. While it's a huge leap from 'lower testosterone was…

Dear Ocean,

I surrender.

P.S. fuck you

I've heard from more than one HEMA instructor about how they wish poleaxes and other small polearms were better documented. They were very versatile and, by many accounts, were far more common on the battlefield as main line weapons. Part of the reason why longswords are so popular among enthusiasts is because…