Mowgli1647545497

True. And that is the arguement one most hears, yes. Passionately often. But I tend to agree with the growing voices that say other cultures dropped their practical swordsmanship when guns became de riguere, and that japan's isolation and cultural circumstances awarded them the luxury of allowing them to continue to polish and specialize theirs. Are oriental swordsmanship techniques and manufacture better than others today? I won't argue hard against that. But were they better in say 1100AD than say their contemporary viking, arab, and european manufacturing and usage counterparts? I no longer beleive that. Paul Chens are excellent moderns swords for the money. And his replicas show real attention to detail. My brother in law bought a Paul Chen Schiavona last summer and its really nice. I have a Del Tin Antiche war sword thats pretty nice, I'll see if I can take a picture of it. Its 56" total length (hand and a half pattern) and yet is under 5 lbs. You'd like it, it'd be your size.

Anyone here know how to call activex com objects or controls from java? (Not j++ cuz I need it to be runnable without the microsoft's jvm, if possible) I need to capture a click event in an html page. I've got a panel that encapsulates the browser (jdic) but it's interface doesn't give me access to the click events. Help is appreciated. I'll buy a beer and lunch to whoever can pony up how this dang thing is done. [ 03. February 2005, 09:48 AM: Message edited by: Mowgli ]

I'll see your decade and raise you two. All kidding aside - I reread my own post to be sure and I didn't see where I was bashing anything. Far from it. I admit I do get zealous about overcoming hype - of any kind. Hype of P51 Mustangs. Hype of Tiger Tanks. Hype of US Submarines. Hype of Japanese swords. Etc. Its like blood in the shark tank - I see it and I have a preternatural disposition to go after it. So I was taking the opportunity of this thread to throw in some real data, which I haven't linked to here yet, granted, that unfortunately contradicts alot of what is accepted historical fact here in the US. I am also debating the statement that japanese metallurgy was ahead of all others for 7 centuries running, and "lightyears" ahead throughout or up to the industrial revolution. I'm also echoing what historians are starting to say in greater numbers, that for the past 50+ years western pop culture has been awash in misinformation and disinformation about this thats colored our perceptions, andthey are far from unbiased. It really took off in the mid seventies. I know, I watched it happen - I got swept up in it: Blindly just accepting that samurai Nihontou, specifically japanese were the epitome of the sword form and that damascus steel was better than anything else there is. Thats the the status quo in pop history today, and I like to dig deeper and uncover the truth. But theres ALOT of monetary and passionate ediface in place resistent to contradictory evidence. If I can find my stuff from Ewart Oakeshotte, the acknowledged expert on historical swords and swordmaking the world over (r.i.p. 2002 - I think), I'll post him. Also Richard Stein, a highly noted Japanese sword historian and authority. But for now, an article in the Japan Times. I'll take a bit to quote another Japanese sword authority, G. S. Murray Threipland: and The point is - people who've studied this for decades are starting to realize - and slowly opening their mouths about it, that in fact its our lack of understanding of other cultures' ancient martial arts and technology rather than an innate superiority of one that has perhaps colored these lopsided perceptions. Japanese martial history is a living history with an unbroken link to its past. Thats something a study of no other culture benefits from. And its led to drawing premature conclusions when comparing the state of ancient contemporary tech - one of which you have an unbroken link to and an abundance of existing examples of (not to mention living breathing bragging practitioners) and the other to which you have almost nothing survivng pristine examples and are only now rediscovering the breadth and depth of. BTW - You're also invited to come check out a 13th century Epee d'guerre from La Rioja I've had since 1979, its pretty nice. And my friend from Aomori hasa pretty nice 17th century shoto. I'll find some links or cut n paste or scan my books if I can't find em on the web. I do remember one anecdote off the top of my head, and that was that following Polo's visit, both chinese and japanese swordsmen sought after, collected, and coveted european rapiers and some persian falchions. [ 03. February 2005, 02:21 AM: Message edited by: Mowgli ]

CTS-V in it? No. $#%& ^*^$ ## @(*&(^$ %%$# I can't catch a break with that game: my last three cars have been ignored by it: 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX 2003 Ford SVT Cobra 2004 Cadillac CTS-V Sucks to be me. ... and I'll still buy it the day it comes out.

I think you're buying into a whole pile of recently rewritten history. Granted by now its overwhelmingly pervasive, almost to the point of just being accepted as fact, but is it the truth? Nope. When I get home tonight I'll forward a few links - if I can find them, that may dispell some of the pop-culture-spawned misinformation surrounding this. "Pop History" I've heard it called somewhere. Again, its to few people's benefit to learn the truth, mainly because who cares really, and also there's a whole industry of folks who make a buck (and often their livelyhood) by allowing such legends to grow, ala: Mr X: "I deal in samurai swords - why in the world would I say anything to lower their aura." Mr Y: "I teach martial arts - why in the world would I do anything to lower its aura." Gimme a few hours and I'll get you some interesting reading. Did youy read the link above that I provided? You can get to a goodly amount of dispassionate material from there with a little looking too. EDIT: I actually found one article without too much difficulty. Here you go. [ 02. February 2005, 03:50 PM: Message edited by: Mowgli ]

The Passat cant? Or you're saying there's none you want to?

I know we could go book it there at his place, but its more fun with more folks.

Does anyone know if we have a dyno day or some such event scheduled for this spring? Does Bryan even hang out in here anymore? I want to lay down a baseline and figure by spring it'll have gotten its first oil change and at least 1k miles on it, so it seems a good time.

Ohhhh. That sucks! I was definitely sweating it the day I bought it - that Saturday they got roughly 4 inches at the dealership literally in the time it took to buy the car. Had to drive back in that mess. Guardrails, ditches, oncoming traffic, cars in my rearview - all seemed to beckon "hit me, lose control and come over here for a gentle meeting of the sheetmetal." Great way to enjoy a first drive, eh? Sorry to hear about your Volvo, MrMeanr. I woulda sobbed like a schoolgirl.

That one flew right over my head.

All my vehicles run on methane I collect from pigshit fermenting in my basement. True story.

+5.7 I think I had that as a wallaper in 1996

+5.7 I think I had that as a wallaper in 1996

lol

Congratulations on the house buy!

You have a PM

Do you have to crack something open and plug that in? Or am I thinking wrong?

Oh I forgot to mention, I did alot of my searching and negotiating over emails n such. One of the finalists emailed me "lets not loose the $1,500" (referring to a cashback incentive) and in another one that he "will not loose this deal for not working the best possible numbers". Um yeah, okaaay. He loosed the deal. As a rule I try to not give money to retards.

See above - editted it - and sent you a PM [ 30. January 2005, 10:52 PM: Message edited by: Mowgli ]

I traded in the SVT. Remember how I said I use my cars? The Cobra was used. I mean it was well taken care of mechanically/maintenance/etc but there was definitely more than normal wear and tear. 27,000 miles on the odo. [ 30. January 2005, 10:49 PM: Message edited by: Mowgli ]

It is cushy. But I think its more the placement that I really appreciate. Its back where my arm is bent using it, whereas with the Cobra I was arm straight with a little shoulder english on it to reach 5th (and I have a 34inch sleeve). But you know, they probably coulda stuck a baseball bat in a bowl of mud and I woulda liked it more. I can't tell you how many 2-3 shifts I ground in the snake. I will also say the pedals in this thing, if you're wanting to heel-toe, you can forget it. Ain't happening. The Cobra had it all over this for heel-toe. BUT - I now won't continue to build up my bulging leg left tricep muscle now that I'm using a clutch not made for King Kong.

3,850lbs. My seat of the pants is its slower than the Cobra. But I'm only at 113 miles on the engine so I'm still breaking it in. It seems to initial turn in quicker but I think they're neck n neck on holding a turning G. A cool thing on the CTV-V is its got a G meter built into the dash below the tach - you can call up a display of instantaneous as well as peak Gs. I've hit so far .68 left turn and .64 right (gimme a break its one day old). Brakes are right there - 14 inches brembos to the Cobra's 13s I think handles the extra pounds. Seats could use side bolster and side lat adjustability like the Cobra's, and I'd appreciate a little longer seat for under my legs. But the overall feel is more comfortable for long rides, the lumbar is better, and the headrest is better. The stereo has more doodads n stuff which is nice. I'm not going to bet its louder than the Mach460 but I haven't cranked it up. But I'd be surprised if it could keep up at high volume. Still, its a Bose so it sounds great at low to mid volumes. and its got a ton more to play with. The vents are nicer, and the heating and ac controls have alot more adjustability. It doesn't have a good new car smell but I think thats just the exhaust pipes getting a rude awakening on their wintertime burnin. The traction control is orders of magnitude better than the orwellian system on the Cobra. I know all my Cobra brothers probably hated that thing as much as me. A cool thing on th eV is that hte control to turn TC off/on is a thumbswitch right on the steering wheel (the regular CTS's switch is in the glovebox). Lol are they giving me a hint? Apparently CTS-V's suffer from wheel hop isses on launch like the Cobras, but I'm a ways from finding this out, call me back when I break it in... The shifter is SO MUCH BETTER than the Cobra's it disgusting. But I think I was one of the folks that hated the Cobra's shifter and its placement more than most (I'd swapped it out in favor of a MGW unit anyway). But, I gotta ask - WTF WAS GM THINKING WITH THIS FRIGGING SKIPSHIFT?!? But I really don't have alot to tell - its all first impressions and stuff. Gimme a summer. Anyway thx for the thumbsup and all. ...Oh and that LS6 sounds sweet. [ 30. January 2005, 10:04 PM: Message edited by: Mowgli ]

Cool vid. But I'l be devil's advocate and say I'm willing to bet you could put any piece of 1 inch deep tempered metal in there with a decent bevel in the front and achieve the same results. Krupp CK55? 50CrV4? Balony. The Japanese actually sent their engineers to the US and Germany order to learn how to make high quality steel for armor for their battleships before the turn of the century. I see an opportunity for dispelling some hype around japanese swords, swordsmenship, armor, and the men who used them. So I'll take it. smile.gif Too many Jean Claude Van Damme movies and sword sales on Home Shopping Network pertpetuating the myths makes kittens die. Read and get angry. Whole lotta dead kittens in America. Thanks Hollywood and the glut of hometown dojo gurus for that. Poor dead kittens. I had a coworker from Aomori once tell me when we were chatting about junk like this that he couldn't fathom how unbelievably gullible American people are around this whole samurai&sword subject. He said there are a lot of "Barnum and Bailey" people who make a good living because of these legends. He also told me his friends used to drool over rapiers from Toledo Spain, and moorish blades... [ 30. January 2005, 09:17 PM: Message edited by: Mowgli ]

+1 And I was using all my old Navy swear words, oh yeah. But my mantra is "I drive my cars, no sitting in the garage getting wiped down with a diaper for them", so I guess I had to put my money where my mouth was. Still sucked though. The bitch is - I woulda made it back fine before the snow hit had those "..." at the dealership not taken forever. So anyway - all that stuff I used to argue on nere about Cobras being great n all. I take it all back I've joined the opposing team. I will give them all your secrets for a dolla. [ 30. January 2005, 10:47 PM: Message edited by: Mowgli ]

Sigma Platform 4 doors LS6 400hp engine Tremec T56 6speed manual 3.73 geared limited slip IRS 0.9G skidpad 4.6sec 0-60mph 13.1sec quartermile Gobs of doodads inside Trunkmonkey