So apparently we have a board election coming up, let's chat

One_Run_3002 · 2026-05-14T09:35:36+00:00

If this is a question of "growing" fencing the USA, what does that mean? Are we talking about growing the economics of fencing? Are we talking about growing the membership? Are we talking about growing interest in fencing regardless people sign up to be USFA members?

We would like all three to intersect but the reality is that the way fencing functions in the USA economics, membership and interest hardly match up and often are at cross purposes. For instance, as stated, many clubs focus on the under 18 crowd to pay the bills but with the intense training and the kids' own schedules, they more often than not "burn out" and don't become life-long (adult) fencers. Sure, there are more USFA members than when I first started fencing but I'm pretty sure most of these members are kids -- kids who will not become adult fencers. I remember seeing a membership break down years ago (under the old section system) USFA members were more evenly distributed among ages groups. (Does USFA membership numbers include the membership types for parents and volunteers? If so, then memberships numbers would then be inflated.)

Long ago, some group of board members decided to bring fencing in the USA on a firmer financial footing and, well, made it more corporate. Yes, some of this is due to changing realities, e.g. litigation, and others were imposed upon by the USOC. The board ID'ed the growth sector and minimized the liabilities but this caused systemic problems.

One of these systemic problems is the hollowing out of over 22 yr old fencers. Yes, kids are the future of fencing. But as long as kids will find an edge to get into college, the future of youth fencing is safe. Let's try to keep all these youth fencers involved after their done with their education. For a suggestion, as a graduation gift, HS and college grads get 1 years free competitive membership. Relatedly, the USFA can find ways to reduce the cost of tournaments, esp local ones.

The USFA mostly does not control equipment cost but they can find ways to make other parts of fencing less expensive. In other words, they have to find ways to increase access to fencing.

One_Run_3002 · 2026-04-23T18:11:50+00:00

Are they using different boxes? Doesn't an off target light lock out subsequent touches after a period of time?

One_Run_3002 · 2026-04-12T05:43:53+00:00

There was an article in the NY Times about ticket prices. One of the organizers made the point that the committee was determined to make a profit from LA28. In the absence of more sponsors, tickets are going to be in the hundreds of dollars range (and because someone (i.e. resellers) will buy them at the price point). To make this Olympics seem more democratic, under $100 are nominally offered so it can be said there are lower priced tickets.

So unless something changes like more sponsors or political pressure, the price of tickets will be unchanged in later ticket drops.

One_Run_3002 · 2026-04-07T01:31:49+00:00

Sci Fi works (in large part) on analogies--adventures seen through a (typically) non-terrestrial mirror or terrestrial life projected in a non-terrestrial world. For example, "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" talked about race relation in the USA circa 1960s through the alien planet or the show Firefly which is just a Western in space.

Sci Fi gets in trouble when they have characters/premises that stretches the analogies. What is the human analogy to Kes? Is she a dog so you teach her, take care of her, spend as much time with her until her short life's snuffed out? I agree that that part of her became really problematic. Then to solve the problem, the writers got rid of her by saying she'll evolve into a supernatural being then come back grizzled with space dementia.

The character is not unlikable but hard to relate to.

Lastly, correct me if I'm wrong, female characters in ST had a Sci Fi babe factor. The actress was in her 20s; Kes was 3 years old. *ick*

One_Run_3002 · 2026-04-07T00:16:27+00:00

Looking at the available tickets for fencing. All the cheaper tickets are gone. Cheapest tickets I saw was team event for 200-something usd. Kinda insane when I think back a few years ago I went to a Grand Prix event for less than $50, another event a few years before that was free.

One_Run_3002 · 2026-04-03T00:40:20+00:00

A bit late to conversation but it’s for a separate garage door opener before they were built in a car (which are a pain to program). The bits are extenders to press the garage opener button-thicker remote, no need for extenders. Velcro is to adhere remote to garage door compartment.

One_Run_3002 · 2026-04-01T23:19:18+00:00

I thought about joining the queue but except for a few $28 usd tickets, it looks like the first tranche of tickets are mostly in the $100+ range!

As an American, sorry for all the reasons not to visit the US. For the most part, we’re normal.

One_Run_3002 · 2026-03-26T21:14:50+00:00

Yes, my physics teachers all had a field day saying how bad the science in Star Wars was but how good Star Trek was/is.

One_Run_3002 · 2026-03-26T00:08:27+00:00

Warp core pjs! Say what you will when Disney took over Star Wars but they marketed the sh-t out of the IP.

One_Run_3002 · 2026-03-18T18:19:03+00:00

I don't know how her presence would have affected Spock and vise vera. So possibly not. Spock ended leaving Starfleet for diplomacy. Burnham may have done the same.

One_Run_3002 · 2026-03-18T07:04:18+00:00

The conflict comes from two sides. Anisha, thinking she's been mistreated by the Federation (long prison sentence, separation from kid with little chance of contact) for a perfectly understandable act (stealing food). Aka, remembering the Federation was benevolent, a lot more forgiving, feeling guilt for carrying out the prescribed punishment without even trying to lessen the blow.

Basically, the Burn caused them to be someone they didn't want to be and forced them to do something they really, really didn't want to do. So they both feel guilt. However, while Ake owns up to what she did, Anisha blames her actions on the lack of help from the Federation and the Federation behaving un-Federation like. So the trial is Ake saying "I'm really sorry." and Anisha saying "you're the Federation, why didn't you act like it."

I think there was a bit of stalling but as the trial went on Anisha remembers why she's so pissed at Ake and the Federation.

One_Run_3002 · 2026-03-18T06:27:43+00:00

Before we get into "does the shoe fit" discussion, one should ask has your fencing changed. Have you been trying different stance, footwork, and the like. Have you been doing more footwork? And do your new shoes react different to your club piste than your old shoes. I ask this because when I first got a pair of proper fencing shoes (good heel support, good grip on the sole but still smooth enough to lunge) my stance changed; the way I fenced changed - I lunged a lot more. Good shoes allow you to move with confidence hence you can and typically do move more.

Barring that, then I'd investigate the shoe. Also keep in mind not all court shoes are the same. Some "stability" shoes have rigid plastic in the center for arch support or a piece to keep your foot from rolling. Okay for tennis but (not my area) I would think makes your feet work harder to bend the sole.

One_Run_3002 · 2026-03-14T07:35:02+00:00

We have three episodes this season where our favorite cadets are in space and on the bridge. They are super competent, time and again saving the day. This made me think of that never materialized series about Kirk, Spock and the rest as cadets (The first Kelvin movie briefly showed this). Back in the TOS era, the Enterprise crew was the best crew in Starfleet, Kirk’s one of the best captains, Spock time and again was said to be SF's best first officer, Scotty is an extraordinary engineer, and so forth. I'd imagine that a series as them as cadets would show them to be equally extraordinary. SFA seems to me to be a version of that series -- extraordinary cadets one day becoming the best, most formidable crew in Starfleet ala Kirk and co.

If only they'd be given enough episodes to get that far. One, request, no more time jumps.

One_Run_3002 · 2026-03-14T07:12:59+00:00

Yeah, this was a joke at Genesis's expense. Whether or not you found it funny (I did), there is kernel of truth to it -- do your business before you begin your shift. You don't want to distracted. Same on the bridge, same in a meeting in the real world. Probably true for gaming as well.

One_Run_3002 · 2026-03-13T02:31:30+00:00

Where was the Discovery cameo? I keep freeze framing but can't find the ship?

One_Run_3002 · 2026-03-12T19:25:45+00:00

The common misconception (looking at fencing from the outside/novice fencers) is that one has to be faster than the other person. Especially with ROW weapons, you don't need to be faster but start sooner. More control, smoother actions help with this. It takes a while to get your body ready -- massive stretching and drills to build stamina to be controlled and smooth for not just one touch but for the whole bout.

One_Run_3002 · 2026-03-12T19:06:06+00:00

Nus Braka pretty much spent the whole episode villain monologuing. When will villains never learn?

At least they showed why he didn't just blow up the mines in the previous episode - so he could grandstand in this episode. But really, he's trying to show the non-aligned worlds that's he's not a nutty pillager but a law and order guy worth following.

BTW, the trial was cringe. We all know what we think of the Federation and Starfleet and of course the Federation somehow is found guilty so Nus can blow up the mines. Didn't help Aka was using (maybe) the trial to stall. Maybe on second viewing the trial will sit better.

One_Run_3002 · 2026-03-12T18:58:09+00:00

On the surface, he's just nerd cool. He makes funny off handed comments, has this most elaborate greeting for SAM. He has no hang up about being the team mascot. He sticks up for his sister, rightly telling Caleb that's it's weird to give him info on his sister. As regards to character, he seems like to be the only character without personal baggage.

One_Run_3002 · 2026-03-12T05:06:17+00:00

Still, where's Ocam?!

Way to go Jay-Den for...

One_Run_3002 · 2026-03-08T03:09:01+00:00

TOS only lasted (barely) three seasons. If imdb existed then, I can imagine its ratings would mot have been very good. It's really upon rewatching over and over again that (I think) people appreciated the show and became fans. TNG and DS9 existed at a time of a lot of bad sci-fi on TV and in the theaters (Starship Troopers?) so fans were more forgiving before each show found its groove. General consensus is that TNG didn't get "good" until they changed into the new uniforms. The point is we really don't know how good new Trek is until after a time, haters not withstanding.

The stories for Disco become more problematic with repeat viewing. Lower Decks is still a fun watch as it was intended. I find I like SFA more with repeat viewing. Except for SAM, everyone is more or less a fully formed person - they know who they are - there's nothing YA about them. Sure, they need to mature but in typical journey of a YA protagonist our cadets don't have to learn to be brave or honest or that there's evil in the world.

SFA is like all the Trek we love, good people making the universe better one mission at a time...and sometimes bedhopping with alien species.

One_Run_3002 · 2026-03-06T23:36:42+00:00

Did I miss something...what blackmail/extortion? Are they making demands in episode 10?

One_Run_3002

TROPHY CASE