Patrick Anderson, President of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., has announced a change to Corpora separating the Web minister’s office from the Chronicler’s office.

Patrick Anderson, President of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., has announced the optional collection of birth date information on SCA membership forms.

Godric has announced that Their Majesties of the West Kingdom have placed Lady Rosairo De La Torre on vigil to contemplate elevation to the Order of the Pelican.

A pottery workshop for the mass production of oil lamps dating to the 2nd century C.E. has been discovered near Modena, Italy. The complex created pottery lamps which bear the brand name stamped on the bottom. (photo)

Rhapsody, a subscription-based music webcast service, has added a Ren Faire channel that features music from the Middle Ages and Renaissance in a continuous Internet audio stream.

Whereas Baron Cathal and Baroness Caroljane and all our subjects of the Barony desire a merry winter celebration of artistic endeavours so do we make bold to present an invitation to you all and sundry to accept the bountiful hospitality of the South Downs beginning on the eve of the feast of St. Jarlath, being 31 January, A.S. XLiii or 2009 in the Gregorian, and there attend the MidWinter Arts & Sciences Faire.

The Barony of Wastekeep welcomes you to the An Tir Kingdom Arts & Sciences Championship, where the next A&S Champion of the Kingdom will be chosen. Whether you are a rising talent or experienced old hand, competitor, judge, or onlooker, you will be part of the most challenging competition of the Kingdom.

Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority report that a 5th century Byzantine bathhouse has been discovered in Zikhron Ya‘aqov, Israel. The "magnificent" structure is well-preserved and believed to have belonged to a private residence. (photo)

Max Planck Institute scientists report that they have once again glimpsed echoes of a supernova chronicled in 1572 by Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe. The event was bright enough to be visible during the day. (photos and video)

New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art is for lovers! Lovers of art of the Italian Renaissance, that is. The museum will sponsor Art and Love in Renaissance Italy, an exhibit that "promises romance, desire, youthful beauty, ritual, expensive gift items and possible sex in the land of Romeo and Juliet." Roberta Smith of the New York Times has a review with photos.

As Winter tightens its grip on the land, our attentions turn to the Arts and Sciences to occupy us indoors until the return of warmer weather. The Baron and Baroness of Lochmere invite the artisans of Atlantia and abroad to a Gathering of Guilds, and hope to encourage marvelous collaborations between the various arts. Their Excellencies will be choosing their Arts and Sciences Champion, and other displays, competitions, and classes will be organized. All are welcome to come, display their works, and mayhap learn a new skill!

The New Year has arrived and with Estrella fast approaching it is time for our Kingdom to dance and revel so "Welcome one and all to our Kingdom 12th Night!"

The quiet clicking of knitting needles, the smell of freshly baked bread, the laughter from a circle of embroiderers and off to one side the sounds of wood being planed and a distant hammer on an anvil…… Village sounds? Yes, and no – these are the sounds of the artisans and crafts folk of Atlantia, preparing their entries for ….. Kingdom Art & Sciences

At the next Gulf Wars, the Kingdom of Gleann Abhann will host the First Annual Known World Barbecue Championship.

The BibliOdyssey blog has created a page displaying "Five Centuries of Board Games."

While it may not be the true Holy Grail, an international congress held November 7-9, 2008 at the Catholic University of Valencia, Spain declared that the artifact "has tremendous cultural value due to its impact on history and literature."

The Annual Christmas Toy Tournament was held in the Barony of the Flame on the 6th of December, AS XLIII. Gentles in attendance have provided online photo albums and videos from the event.

Ingvild reports that Lady Anne Claxton of Grimwith Shire in the Kingdom of An Tir has created a set of playing cards based on the only known complete set of playing cards from period times, a 15th century deck owned by The Cloisters in New York City.)

A 7th century inscription in stone by an Arabic traveler may help solve a mystery about the Qur'an pondered by scholars for centuries: Why was the text seemingly written without diacritical marks?

On December 6, 2008, Majesty Morgen of Rye, Queen of Aethelmearc, invested Kieran MacUrsus and Katherine Wert as the fifth Baron and Baroness of the Barony of Blackstone Mountain.

Researchers have been poring over more than 30,000 photos taken over the past 60 years for hints to the real nature of Hadrian's Wall. So far, the study has revealed "2,700 previously unrecorded historic features."

The traditional Celtic crosses of Monasterboice, Ireland are crumbling away. Now experts are formulating a plan to save three of the "crosses, recognised as the best in Europe for their period."

Ianuk has posted an album of photos from the recent Coronation in the Principality of the Mists (West Kingdom).

Scotland's Crown Office each year gets the honor of collecting rare artifacts discovered by archaeologists, metal detectorists and treasure hunters into a Treasure Trove. This year's finds include a Bronze Age sword and the first Roman tombstone discovered in nearly 200 years.

Join Their Royal Magesties Gunthar and Elizabeth in Their Serpentine Lands as the rightful Heirs to the Stellar Throne are chosen. A delicious seasonal sideboard will be prepared by Herrin Hedwig von Luneborg and Lady Anne atte Rydeforde. Stay on Sunday to prepare for the invading Triskelian forcise of Trimaris with a chivalric and rapier war practice, including combat archery and siege engines. The site is beuatiful Pedigo Park in Livingston, TX. Camping is available and there are restrooms, showers, and electrical outlets available.

The holiday season is fast upon us and you are hereby invited to join in the festivities and merriment of Barony of Gryphon's Lair annual 12th Night Celebration. The winter winds are descending from the north and it's time to settle in the Great Hall with friends and family from far and wide, to share in the warmth of camaraderie and fellowship. Come experience the hospitality of the Lair's populous during this, their High Court event!

Mechthild zur Drachenhoehle has posted photos from the recent Midrealm Bardic Madness X on the Northshield website. The photos include participants from the Midrealm, Northshield Calontir and Atlantia.

Paganus Grimlove reports that a trailer containing SCA gear, tents and merchant gear owned by Lady Mercy of the Healing Hands was stolen recently in Ontario, California.

The Viking Society for Northern Research has digitized most of its back issues of publication beginning in 1895 and made them available for free on its wensite.

Dame Anita de Challis, SCA Internal Publicity Deputy for Estrella War XXV, would remind all attendees of the upcoming War that a number of deadlines are fast approaching.