Christmas Martin reports that she has created an album of photos from War Practice in Sun Dragon which took place recently in the Kingdom of Atenveldt. The photos have been posted on Flickr.

Vito Franco of the University of Palermo thinks Mona Lisa is sick, that is, she suffered from "worryingly high levels of cholesterol." Franco bases his observations on a "xanthelasma – a subcutaneous accumulation of cholesterol – in the hollow of the Mona Lisa's left eye, and a tell-tale lipoma, a fatty tissue tumour, on one hand."

Juelda reports that Syr Aleksandr Yaroslavovich Vyetcikov has been invited into the Order of the Pelican by Their Majesties of Calontir.

In 1602, when he created the first Chinese map to name the Americas, Matteo Ricci was a Jesuit missionary living in Bejing. His map is currently on display at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. (photo)

Merchants will open a day earlier, and close a day earlier, at this year's Pennsic War than they have in years past.

Viscountess Elashava bas Riva, Chronicler of the Kingdom of Northshield, shares photos and memories from the recent Twelfth Night celebration.

Shadow has posted several albums of photos taken during a recent European trip featuring closeups of artifacts in various museums. The photos are available on her SmugMug website.

Isolda Jourdan reports that she has created an album of photos from the Atlantian 12th Night which took place January 9, 2010 in the Canton of Falconcree. The photos have been posted on PicasaWeb.

The Lady in the Tower, a new book by Tudor scholar Alison Weir, looks at the last four months in the life of Henry VIII's second wife, Anne Boleyn. Janet Maslin of the New York Times has the review.

Diane de Poitiers, mistress of King Henry II of France, was known for her youthful looks, which kept the interest of the king, twenty years her junior, but did her vanity and desperation lead to her death? Experts believe they did.

A dispute over loaned  SCA armor was the subject of a recent Judge Judy television show.

Archaeologists working in Noisy-le-Grand, a suburb of Paris, have discovered two burial grounds dating to Merovingian and Carolingian times. The site is believed to contain more than 300 graves.

In an article for the physorg.com website, Traci Thomas looks at the origins of skiing, from the swift Norse god Ullr to its depiction in an 11th century Swedish rune stone.

The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is seeking candidates for the position of Society Chronicler. The current Society Chronicler’s warrant ends in August 2010. In order to ensure a smooth transition, applications for the position of Society Chronicler are now being accepted.

As of Feburary 1, 2010, for a limited time only, the third edition of the Known World Handbook is available for only US$10!

Recent analysis of skeletons from Wharram Percy, a village on the Yorkshire Wolds, shows that the thick bones of the medieval women demonstrated a life of hard labor which built up their strength.

What did Shakespeare do during the "lost years?" Father Andrew Headon, the vice-rector of the Venerable English College in Rome believes the playwright spent the years in the Eternal City and was a "secret Catholic."

A 13th century stone cross, once thought to be a gatepost in Dartmoor, England, may have served as a signpost for parishoners to attend church, according to Win Scutt of City College Plymouth. The cross was constructed from a two-meter long block of granite.

Maeve shares an album of photos from the recent 12th Night Investiture 2010 in the Kingdom of Lochac. The photos are available on her Flickr website.

The latest film version of the Robin Hood saga is scheduled to debut in theaters May 14, 2010. The film is directed by Ridley Scott and stars Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett.

Two experts from the University of Mainz in Germany are using the latest computer technology to try to decypher the "invisible" inscription on a 3th century Roman altar. The stone was discovered in the River Tyne in 1672, but has never been legible. (video)

A broken water main near the medieval burial site in York city centre washed human remains into the street on Christmas Day. The flooding occurred next to All Saints Church, where parisoners have been buried since the Nomrna Conquest.

Brian O'hUilliam reports that, at the recent Steppes 12th Night event, Kainin Tepesa was offered elevation to the Order of the Pelican by Their Majesties Owen and Ginevria of the Kingdom of Ansteorra.

A recent study of pig and cattle bones found near Stonehenge has led researchers to believe that it was the site of huge winter solstice feasts. Experts believe animals were herded to the site and then slaughtered to feed celebrants.

Romans may have brought more than forts and paved roads to England during their occupation. They may have brought a healthy diet. (photo)

Master Andrixos of the Kingdom of Calontir reports that Their Majesties have elevated Baron Dolan Madoc of Harlech to the Order of the Laurel.

Billing itself as the "world's largest book club", the LibraryThing web site offers a venue to share your latest bibliophilic discoveries. In the History section is a group devoted to SCA folk.

Bjarn Eðwarðarson í Jórvík reports that Lord Kennric Maur, inspired by Mistress Rolynnda of the Azurestone, was the victor of the recent Coronet Tournament in the Principality of Oertha, Kingdom of the West.

If tests support their suspicions, experts from Bristol University have identified the oldest remains of an English royal. She was Eadgyth (pronounced "Edith"), sister to Athelstan, effectively the first king of all of England, who won a decisive battle circa 937 against the Scots and Irish.

Dame Katharine of Cate Hall of the Estrella War XXVI Media Office, requests that those considering attendance at the upcoming War take heed of the words of Their Majesties of the Kingdom of Atenveldt.