weekend

• Laid out and cut out the Regency corset. The pattern is (deceptively?) simple and used surprisingly little in the way of fabric - I hope I got the right size! I'll find out once I start assembling the mock-up.
  
• Did some new back exercises to try and relieve the lower back pain that has been bothering me since Thursday fencing (didn't fight the Kurgan again, but plenty of others, and think I overdid it). Results: no better, but at least I am no worse.
  
• Finished "The Culture of Fear" and was quite impressed. The author researched the statistics he was citing for accuracy and came to the plausible (IMHO) conclusion that our national panics over teenage shooters, plane wrecks, "epidemic" drug use, etc. exist because it's easier to create bogeymen than confront root issues (poverty, easy access/availability of firearms, guilt over childcare, or the lack thereof, etc.) I found it convincing, but didn't really tell me anything I didn't already suspect before. It's nice to read things that affirm your own point of view, but I should try to be more open to other points of view.
  
• D. played for and got - after many late nights, he solved our server problem, and we can use email regularly again. Say what you want about Micro$oft, I missed my Calendar and Address Book functions! Having them back makes me feel like I'm in charge again.