Dream electric or Nightmare jolt?
Helping in their own little way.
Making a point.
While not the age of knights and grand quests, people dream.
Of swords. Of lightning. Of saving the day.
An honorable quest is worth any struggle.
(Picot 1786-1868.US public domain: photo reprod.Artist life+100/ Commons.wikimdeia.org)
Jedi Knights trump the Lone Ranger and Roy Rogers.
Horses, guns, and fistfights aren’t the same.
Can’t hold a bullet to a fine light sword.
Duels, fencing, and sword induced swagger suggest an elegance – a savoir-faire.
Always a fool for a gallant man with a sword.
(“La Belle Dame Sans Meci” c.1890 Dicksee.1853-1928.US Public domain:artist life+70/expired copyright/ Commons.wikimedia.org)
Metal detectors, current dress, cubicles, and small cars may have melted demand.
Yet under cover of video games and Renaissance Fairs, the wistful keep swords alive.
Perhaps an updated version will steel those cutting edge trendsetters.
Cut into sword ownership resistance.
En guarde.
Enter Jonathan Johnson who created an electrified double-edged sword.
It’s a stunner: the old becomes new again.
Rechargeable – just like a Tesla.
Article, pictures, and video. (Words fail to describe. Go look.)
Can chivalry be far behind?
One can only hope.
Could a “Guide to Civil Manners and Courtly Love” be included in the instruction booklet?
Will Ivanhoe become fashionable?
(Gehrts,1855-1921.US public domain:photo reprod/ artist life+90/ Commons.wikimedia.org)
Any fears of a criminal crowd of current Musketeers terrorizing the mall?
Poor cops.
If it’s not one thing, it’s another.
Of course schools will have to re-write codes of conduct again.
No finger or pencil sword play, children!
Child’s play since before 1898
(WM Morrison.Library of Congress/US public domain:expired copyright/publication date/ Commons.wikimedia.org)
If only those scientist could really reconstructing dinosaurs from scrapes of DNA so there would be some sort of dragons…..
Well, they want people to put down those video games and get more exercise.
(Should be worth a government research grant.)
Airlines need not be concerned about passengers welding jolts.
Preemptive strike by the TSA: no knives longer than 3 inches.
But they shall allow that symbolic miniature: An acknowledgement of dreams.
Image is everything.
(Turn off that video game you dolt. Get real. Carve something for amusement.)
That’s right. I said when pigs fly.
(Pan-Am flight attendant, 1970. By Atherton/Flickr/ Commons.wikimedia.org)
What would Darth Vader say?
Electrified,
Phil, the Philosopher of the Hedge.
The only way to travel. Considering the price of gas and all the air travel regulations.
(Vasnetsov,1848-1926.US public domain: artist life+100/ Commons.wikimedia.org)
YouTube Videos:
DIY Taser sword. Rechargeable! An energizing video.
Student builds Taser Sword and tries it out on friend.
Pretty. Harmless. In pink.
(Classic Swiss Army knife. swissarmy.com)
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Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge 
Boy, I don’t know. Box cutters took control of the planes on 9/11. Couldn’t 3-inch knives do the same? Not all passengers are ready to jump on others who appear threatening. And taser swords? Sometimes I wish people could put their creative skills to inventing things that actually improve our lives and the health of our world.
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While pilots are secure, flight attendants must deal with angry or drunk passengers – that is something of a worry – people don’t seem to have much self control when told “no” these days.
Those taser swords are a hoot. (Don’t think those will be allowed on planes at all) Thanks for stabbing a remark
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I saw the taser sword earlier this week and didn’t know what quite to make of it. The practical side of me furrowed it’s brow a bit while the whimsical geek had a “huh, that’s neat”. I was also surprised to hear about allowing knives back on planes. My friends who were discussing last night only had one thing to say, “couldn’t they just let us have our water bottles back instead? I get dehydrated on long flights.” Those are my random thoughts for the day. Now to go mourn the loss of that hour. Hour, I never knew you, but I do miss you already.
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(This actually supposed to be last Friday’s post, but Alpos needed immediate attention so it got shoved back)
Another sign it must be spring: wackiness has arrived.
We all mourn the loss of water bottles – someone suggested carrying an empty water bottle until past security, them filling it from a water fountain – which might work – after flu season and people aren’t spreading germs like crazy…and if the fountains look clean. Why don’t the airline have a water cart so you can fill up at the gate (saves them from service on the plane) – and how much could it cost…maybe check a bag and get a coupon for free water bottle at the gate?
Seems like there should be some easy answer….when dehydrated, people get cranky.
Thanks for pouring your thoughts here
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That stewardess is scary looking! Reminds me of something out of the avengers (with Diana Ross & Patrick McNee).
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She’s intense – and the exit sign is right there…a word to the wise? Thanks for flying along
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That Pan Am stewardess is bizarre. Did they really wear hats like that? I guess I never flew Pan Am.
Hadn’t seen the taser sword but I did see the cell phone case with the built in stun gun. The sword would be cool in my video games. The cell phone case … I can see a lot of women wanting one of those.
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Those stun gun cell holders can really get people charged up. Not such a dumb idea since most have there phones in hand when walking around.
Couldn’t stop laughing at the taser sword. And have to admit that uniform hat is a looker . Pan Am was considered elegant flying.-That uniform was just one of many I found..will have to share the other vintage fly girls.
Thanks for buzzing over to chat
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I flew PanAm back in the 70s. There was nothing better. Well, except whatever I flew from Dakar to the Canaries. I don’t remember the airline’s name, but I remember being given hot towels before dinner with silver tongs. And Madeira as an apertif. Goooooood grief. How the mighty have fallen.
It’s true, though. PanAm was it – the single non-stop between New York and Monrovia. They may look dorky now, but those people understood service. Not only that, PanAm flew in the strawberries and champagne every Friday for the weekend parties at the embassy. No palm butter and foufou for those folks!
As for the sword and etc. – I’m tired of everything being weaponized. Even words. Just tired, I tell you! Kids on the street used to have fun battling with words. Playing the dozens, they called it. It was a little out there, but there was plenty of cleverness. Now, there’s just a cleaver.
I think I need sleep. We’ll chalk the grumpiness up to the time change. 😉
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Oh, you were so lucky: PanAm was THE elegant airline for so long. (Back when passengers dressed up to fly and were polite.)
We have to hope people calm down and stop seeing “Danger, Will Robinson” everywhere. Looks like more need to go outside and play.
(Daylight savings time – ugh. Molly apparently thinks we have to get up at 2 am every night now – says she heard it on the news…sometime..at least the sun is out, it’s cool and clear and we actually go a minute or two of rain…FYI – it was drizzling at 2 am this morning)
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Taser swords are something new to me. But I have a friend who is a flight attendant and I am for keeping all sharp objects in checked bags. Too many people combine anxiety meds with alcohol and the outcome is often ugly. Besides who among us wants to be in line for security checks while the TSA measures blade length?
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People are so cranky now when flying. If a mega church’s minister’s wife gets so nasty they are pitched from the plane..not too sure the less saintly should be counted on to remain calm, sober, and sensible?
Hey – if they have to measure the blade length, who’s going to bring the bandaids – you know they’re gonna need them! Thanks for mentioning that – very sharp comment!
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Methinks tis the knight who is the fool. 😉
“I saw pale kings and princes too,
Pale warriors, death-pale were they all;
They cried—’La Belle Dame sans Merci
Hath thee in thrall!'”
Nevertheless, this is the weirdest thing I have seen in a long while. Wow.
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HA! I think you’re right. Thanks for wandering over to ponder
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TSA is making a mistake …. and let the arguing begin at security checkpoints (as if it’s not slow enough)
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You may be right about the security point complications. Those knives are going to have to be opened and examined. People are going to be mad/rushed and be grabbing open blades. Who hands out the bandaids? Maybe they will have a special line for knife and bat-type object owners…oh, wait, not enough people as it is….(couldn’t be a conspiracy…let’s just give them what they want and suffer the pain of their opinions….)
Ugh, think I need more sleep…do not even want to think about the mess
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Well said …. good luck on a nap! 😉
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The last time I flew anywhere was 1979 or so. And that was in a private plane. Earlier memories are of passengers knitting (YIKES!! pointy weapons!), guitar-playing teenagers (strings for garroting!), knives for steaks (obvious), a “stewardess” (yes) wearing an Easter Bunny costume on a long flight (she could’ve had a bomb in her ears!), runway drinks on demand during the big air traffic controllers strike, and circling Omaha for what seemed like hours while we waited for the runway to be plowed during a blizzard — and no one complained. I can only imagine what it’s like to travel now. I’m still getting used to the idea that people don’t “dress up” in fancy clothes anymore to fly.
Some of the TSA regs baffle me. There are so many other ways to cause big trouble, if someone wants to.
High-flying post!~
::applause::
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All the wonders of flying in yester-years! We used to even get all dressed up to meet or see someone off at the airport. More formal, but also more polite and lots of considerate people. (That is so over)
Seriously. Getting a little tired of all the noise over nothing. (But wait – someone will get slashed by a knife and we’ll get the waving finger in the face and “We told you so. We know what is best for you.”)
Thanks for hitting the runway for here
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Okay, so, I cannot buy a gun because of my mental health issues. Can I have one of these?! Please . . . . please . . . . please!
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It may just be fuzzy thinking but how kind of TSA to realize the mystique of swords (genetic? The fascination exists from early childhood). So kind to allow a comforting version of them on board. Finally they are on our side? Recognizing a basic human calling?
Yes, Darth Vader would so approve of electric double edged swords for all. (maybe then people would start being more polite, too!)
Thanks for getting a charge over this
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Nuts. Just nuts. And not the paltry bags of it served on planes. Just another reason to give up airplane travel.
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Just when you think it can’t get any nuttier. (Can’t blame it on Spring Fever) Thanks for packing up a comment to deliver
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After watching the movie Cowboys & Aliens on the weekend, I’m wondering when we’ll hear the same thing about a live rather than prop Wrist Blaster http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SuperWristGadget that does double wear as jewelry 😉
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Oh, amazing. People are getting so inventive. Just saw a man from CO whose invented pepper spray ponytail hair ornaments – his wife and daughter wear them while jogging trails. Actual looks OK.
Keeping an eye out for the next development
Thanks for buzzing over
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Electrified sword? Good gosh, nothing good can come of that. (And if my seven year old sees it, he’d want one, of course. Pencils, rulers, sliverware – doesn’t matter what it is- becomes a sword fighting toy for him. Ugh.)
I think it’s a mistake for TSA to relax the guidelines for prohibited items. I don’t see how those things are less of a danger now than they have been in the past.
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With the new door protecting pilots, I’m not worried about planes being overwhelmed. Little knives are much of a threat to pilots
But there are so many angry and drunks out of control – who think they are sooo special – it’s more worrisome that some fool will start waving one around.
MAny TSA agents do not have good judgement and this is one more item that will hold up check points…and with the knives having to be opened and examined, someone is bound to get cut. Great….more time wasted. Just pack the knives in checked bags.
And there isn’t room on board for golf clubs, bats, ski poles and such – check those at the gate and let airlines store in a locker them until landing and passengers de-plane.
That electric sword was bound to happen. Ever since Star Wars and super heroes, imaginations have been brewing ideas. (Those guys looked like big kids goofing around)
Kids always play swords or guns, and so much is seen on TV, games movies, it’s no surprise. It isn’t a big deal for most – if a kid seems obsessed with it that’s a signal for a parent to see what’s going on. Parents talking with kids and keeping an eye on their children might make a difference?
We’ll see how it all shakes out. Thanks for charging up a comment
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LOL. If only chivalry would make a comeback. Love your take on the TSA mini swords. How can a pocket knife be less dangerous than toothpaste?
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My eye! My eye! It burns! Oh, sorry. We never knew how dangerous toothpaste can be? So glad someone is making us safe…..we haven’t a brain in our heads….think that left with chivalry? Thanks for making a point here
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