Rolf Devinci

Purchased a copy of The Bronze Lie by Myke Cole from Osprey Publishing. The premise of the book is questioning the myth of Spartan warrior supremacy through a honest and accurate accounting of Sparta's role in ancient Greece. Well researched using archival, literary and archeological sources Myke examines the influence Sparta had upon Greece, the victories won and defeats suffered in the constantly changing geopolitical arena that was ancient Greece. Sparta's power and influence, like all empires, ebbed and flowed over the course of time. An excellent and refreshing look at the militarism of Spartan society not the Hollywood mythos of Frank Miller's fictional 300 that has so enraptured modern sensibilities. Color plates included along with some maps to support the text. A basic knowledge of ancient Greece and the various city states is helpful but not necessary.

With May coming to an end and summer around the corner the 2023/2024 ball hockey season has finished. It was a shortened transient season of play due to continued renovations of our venue. Fortunately we were able to source a replacement recreation centre to salvage a few months of play. Between my continued recovery from my 2021 accident and an extended layoff due to venue renovations I really struggled physically during and after our games. That led to self doubt about my ability to effectively play goal at a level I expected of myself. I was ready to retire. I possess a love for the game and having ceased cycling upon advice of my neurosurgeon I decided to explore options that might mitigate the physical demands of goaltending and extend my involvement in my remaining sporting passion. Compression socks definitely helped my sixty one year old calves and Achilles tendons. A refocus of my strength training regimen to include frequent "leg days" strengthening my lower body; c...

Finally picked up the latest updated edition (2017) detailing the history and search for the missing Franklin expedition searching for the Northwest Passage in 1845. A captivating read published by Greystone Books that definitively solves the mystery of the fate of the HMS Terror and HMS Erebus. In an easy to read format this book uses 19th century sources, Inuit oral histories, modern forensics and archeological excavations to determine the underlying causes of the tragedy. Included are chapters detailing the forensic examination of three crewmen preserved in the permafrost and a brief chapter addressing the recent discovery of both shipwrecks. If you like Maritime history this book is a must read.

Being a fan of the Arthurian legend since childhood I was intrigued by Artorius and the book's premise that the roots of the legend lies with a second century Roman officer. Published in 2022 by Amberley this is an enjoyable read. Malcor and Matthew present a compelling argument backed up by in depth research, logical assumptions and convincing speculations. Purchased via Amazon the hard cover book details the life and career of Lucius Artorius Castus in an easy to read chronological format compete with illustrations and photos.

 Legions of Rome - The Definitive History of Every Imperial Legion by Stephen Dando-Collins. Purchased on Amazon this hardcover edition published by St. Martin's Press does not disappoint. Slightly oversized this book is definitely an impressive work of research. Not only does it offer chapters on the history of each imperial legion it also discusses the manpower, organization and tactics of the Roman empire. It also addresses the history of specific battles in detail.  To compliment the text are numerous illustrations, photos and maps. For such a grandiose subject it is an nformative, enjoyable and pleasant read. It is a fantastic resource and a must have for any fan of Roman history. Highly recommended.

 Purchased Gioal Canestrelli's Celtic Warfare from Amazon.  Published by Pen & Sword this is an excellent analysis on a subject that is often overlooked - the examination of Celtic martial culture from the fifth century BC to the first century AD. Too often the Celts of Europe are considered supporting actors and often overshadowed by the Roman empire. The irony being the influence the Celts had within the Roman world in terms of arms, armors and culture. The book is well constructed with bright white crisp pages and an easy to read text. It possesses an attractive cover art and comes with color plates depicting the evolution of Celtic military panoply. It also has numerous supporting illustrations of the text which is very helpful for the reader. Easy to read and follow as the author has presented the research in a nice chronological order. Great read. Recommended.

 Having purchased an actual straw archery target to replace my worn out DIY target bags I decided to take the plunge and acquire an archery specific backstop netting. Made from a tightly knitted synthetic fabric it was marketed as a netting to stop field point arrows. Currently I was using some kind of felted material as part of a permanent backstop which was showing its age after many years exposed to the elements. I liked the idea of a portable netting that could be carried to a location and set up between two trees or poles. It could add some diversity to my shooting and roving of the woods. A extra large beach bag would complete the ensemble of netting and target and let me discreetly transport both to a shooting location. The question was whether it would perform as advertised so off to the woods I went to do a product review. Using some paracord and the preholed grommets it was simple to hang the tarp as instructed with the bottom unsecured so it could billow and absorb the i...