The truth about jousts

Going to Renaissance Fairs is fun. One of my favorite parts is attending the reenactments of medieval history. I love seeing folks fight in period dress, especially tournament-style jousting. Granted, what we as modern folk, observe at fairs today is only a simulation of the ancient event. Back in the day, only men competed in the mounted joust (it was considered war games). Liability prevents most venues from putting on a melee.  Does that mean today’s games are ‘fake’? Absolutely not! Participants can be injured. Legitimate organizations require verifiable training of their members before they are allowed to strap on the armor and mount a horse in front of the cheering crowds.  Multiple attempts have been made to turn jousting into a sport that anyone can enter in many countries. Alas, the cost of the events for both the producer and the athletes, have resulted in a failure of any single authorizing agency to maintain a steady season.

annual National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

As A Public Safety Dispatcher, one of my pet peeves is the general lack of recognition of the work we (dispatchers) do. Too many field personnel take dispatchers for granted - until we're needed. When the need for help is put out, who gets the assistance to you? Who digs for information and finds that driver's license, address, or background information? Most likely  it is the dispatcher. Who obtains the descriptions during the call that allows you to ultimately catch the bad guy? Who calms the panicked caller trapped in the wrecked car or burning building until help arrives?


Do I need to say it?

Coco's first adventure at the dog park

Last week Coco and I went to the Sparks Marina to check out the dog park. Now that my fur baby has been spayed, chipped, and licensed, she is good to go for adventuring. We were fortunate in having a beautiful day. The winds were keeping the early warmth to a manageable level, which was good as I had been fighting an ongoing migraine for the last few days.

I refuse to let a migraine keep me down unless I'm praying to the porcelain Goddess, which I wasn't (thank you!). Coco is a puller and I was testing out a new harness. It is called the "Easy Walk'. It is a tangle of straps to figure out at first but it DOES work. The strap configuration allows free movement but better control of the dog.

Great for me and Coco.

Countdown to the NHL trade deadline

The 29th day of February is significant as the extra day in a leap year and the last day NHL teams can trade players. The biggest day of movement for players and one many dread. Who will get that phone call?

say what??

what doesn't kill us


WILL DRIVE US CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guest Blogger Pete Klismet, Jr.

Welcome to retired FBI law enforcement officer Pete Klismet. Pete is a fellow member of the Public Safety Writers Association. Pete is guest blogging about his career in law enforcement and his writing. I hope you enjoy the interview and please check out Pete's books!

Welcome to my blog, Pete. Please read on to see the interview questions.

My favorite books

 

I’ve seen a lot of ‘must-read’ lists recently so I thought I would add mine tot he mix. The books in my recommended list are in no particular order.  I read some of the books when I was younger. Most have impacted me in some form or another.  I have notes attached to most of them.

Comments?