With plans underfoot for myself and a number of friends to once again attend the Pa Ren Faire, I thought it might be cool to share some photos taken from previous faire visits. See you there!

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2004 Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire

2005 Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire

I just discovered pictures from the 2006 Faire came out too blurry to post here, but I did have some pictures from when a few of us went last year:

Looking forward to posting more pics (and maybe videos) of the 2008 version in the coming weeks. Huzzah!

I dread making a post like this, as I can’t help but think it’ll be the kiss of death if I say how well things are going.

But things are going better on the business side, as my apparel business is doing much better. And I’m looking at my next bulk shipment, which I expect to be more profitable than this last.

The eBay store is doing fairly brisk business and I hope to expand the line such that I can start bringing in thousands each week in sales. I’m looking to set aside at least $10,000  over the next two months and then start planning for my move.

I thought I might get a six month lease for some apartment here in Pennsylvania and then do some light trading and maybe keep a side business running in wholesale until the cold weather hits.

But it’s going into September now and such a lease would trap me here through all of another crummy Pennsylvania winter. So instead I’m looking at just packing up and heading to Florida. I can’t wait to get into sunshine weather every day  and get back on a boat.

So.. hate to say it.. cringing when I do.. but things are getting better!

I was a big fan of last year’s 3:10 To Yuma, so getting another promising western this year is music to my ears. Here’s the trailer for Appaloosa starring Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris, Jeremy Irons, and Renee Zellweger… looks great. Appaloosa hits theatres October 3, 2008.

Article courtesy of Popoholic

Here’s a really cool short video, done by Star Wars fan Michael Horn, of various Star Wars vehicles participating in “Imperial Fleet Week” in San Francisco. Horn says he “shot everything on my junkie DV camera, did motion-tracking and comping in After Effects, and basic sound design in Final Cut.”

A great new single that’s kicking my ass is the latest from Mötley Crüe, off their new Saints of Los Angeles album. It’s the title track and, for my money, the best Crüe single since Primal Scream back in the 90s.

Most of the great 80s and early 90s bands seem to think it’s more important to “reinvent” themselves and change their sound in a futile attempt to appeal to every new fad that comes along. Meanwhile, the best keep doing what they do best and let the audiences find them.

Mötley Crüe clearly are back and I’m here to help you find them all over again:

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Every so often I come across a new personal hero. Christopher Hitchens.. Richard Dawkins.. and now Pat Condell. I’ve always admired those who have a facility for expressing complex ideas in very clear and articulate ways. It’s something for which I have striven personally my entire life.

Mr. Condell has made a series of excellent video blogs on YouTube and I’d like to feature at least one of them here today. As I’ve written before, every so often someone can come along and convincingly make your own arguments better than you can yourself.

Well, can it? Before you answer, take a look at the short video below, available on YouTube, that the journalist Dale Hurd posted on CBN, the Christian Broadcasting Network, a few days ago.

Don’t let the word “Christian” frighten you: this is not a proselytizing documentary but rather an educational one. Any devoted Merchantprince readers know how I feel about organized religion altogether, so trust I’m not steering you wrong on this one.

And be sure to check your blood pressure before watching; it’s the kind of thing that’ll have you wanting to don chainmail, sword and shield. It seems we stopped at least one Crusade too few.

I might have preferred Indiana Jones or Aragorn, but I guess I’m more Neo than I realized. Just so long as no one makes me star in two crappy sequels, then I’m down with the cool shades and being able to fly.

Find out Which Movie Hero Are You at LiquidGeneration.com!