Should there only be one company making gear?

I was heading over to the Thai joint to pick up some Phad Thai the other day and almost ran off the road going under a highway overpass. There are some large park-and-ride lots that are empty on the weekends, and some group of large armored men (and women?) were pairing off with large swords and shields going at one another in about half a dozen mock-battles. It was quite a sight as they were all wearing a full body of very convincing reproduction fighting armor from head to toe. Big-ass swords and shields too - definitely not toys! I almost thought a film was being made, but there was no trucks or crew to be seen, just the fighting couples! It was dusk and the lights were just coming on out there. Really bizarre! Oh, and Nrchy in armor add's a whole new dimension to that Quizno's match-up I mentioned earlier!

Marco

Nrchy ... have you had AIDS, ebola or syphilus recently ?
On the other hand in 13th century britain 1/3 of the population was killed by plague, and in some towns 2/3 of the population.

I have had burst appendix and a staph infection in my arm. I'd have been dead twice over if I'd been born 200+ years ago.

Seandtaylor99... Though Nrchy may not be infected, if you'd asked that
question in South Africa, or perhaps Thailand you'd find that the figures
are likely close, if not surpass those you quote for 13th century Britain.
I'd hazard to guess that many of those infected may eventually prefer to
be dead as opposed to living with the results of a compromised immune
system and the disease it may bring. I'd also make a guess that if 13th
century Britain had the medical resources to combat the plague, and the
medical system were similar to our insane version of same here in the
good ol U.S.A, most of those people would still be dead because they
could not afford to be treated (much as many folks with AIDS in the U.S.
cannot afford the meds). Thank you Pharmaceutical corporate greed,
and the stranglehold that the powerful (read: wealthy) medical
establishment has on our country.

Comparing treatable ailments to AIDS or Cancer for which there is still
no cure (and most certainly affecting large populations around the
world) is ludicrous. Also, in spite of medical advancements that you
mention, people are dying all over the world from infections and
diseases just as treatable as those you survived. Glad you made it BTW
as a burst appendix is a very serious matter.

Marco

I guess my point was that not everyone died during the middle ages, and not everyone is dying of these terrrible diseases today, but for the ones who are affected the result is the same. There are more bad diseases around today than there were then. How is that for a ringing endorsement for medical science!

AIDS, so one theory goes is an offshoot of antibiotic resistant syphylus. There are many diseases that have gone underground for a short period to return as stronger strains that are resistant to the ubiquitous antibiotics found today. We haven't cured much really, just made it stronger, while peoples immune systems are worse than their stereo systems!!!

Even the meds for AIDS don't cure it, they just drag out the life of the poor unfortunate who has to be treated.

I must commiserate with you on the appendix issue though. I had mine out at four years old in Austria. Quite an adventure as I recall.

Marco ... completely agree. I think it's obscene that we spend so much money on boner pills, statins and diabetes meds when children all around are dieing of easily cured diseases, and when malaria, TB, and AIDs are killing so many. There have been many occasions where I have not purchased audio equipment because I just couldn't live with myself dropping $100 on a cable, knowing that MSF could save many lives with the money. Perhaps audiogon could have a charitable donations section ?
Also as a British citizen living in the US I feel in a good position to compare socialized versus privatized medicine. My conclusion is that both systems could work well, and both are utterly screwed up in the UK and US, in the UK by vast layers of incompetent management (thanks Mrs Thatcher !) and in the US by political backhanders and savage greed. Fire all the managers on both sides of the atlantic and let the doctors and nurses run healthcare.

Nrchy, I don't think it's the medical SCIENCE that is failing us, but rather the vested interests. Science has shown quite clearly that if we all went vegetarian (or greatly reduced meat), reduced refined carbohydrates to a minimum, and exercise moderately that our national health would be greatly improved. But then there's more money to be made in urban sprawl, SUVs, Big Macs, and the resulting medical care (statins, bypass, chemo etc etc). I am a big believer in taking care of my own health and only go to a doctor as a last resort.

That said, when the staph infection had my right forearm swollen to twice its normal size, and I was in some degree of discomfort (British understatement !) I was rather glad for IV antibiotics and painkillers. Tofu and brocolli just wasn't going to cut it on that occasion ! :-)