dilettante.info

Chester and Sophie making sure the squirrels are staying in line...

Thurs, Jul 21

» For when you just can't remember the name of the Norse Snow-Shoe Goddess (it's Skadi): GodChecker.com.

FYI, I found this site when I was searching for a name for my new Pullip Paja doll. She's very blonde and Nordic looking and she needs an appropriate name.

Mon, July 18

» Me likey crazy magnets: I went into a little gift shop with my Mom on Friday and fell in love with the magnets from Ephemera, Inc. They don't have an online store, but you can download their 7.9MB PDF catalog to see all their wacky goodness. Here's a small selection of my personal favorites:

Tues, July 12

» Must pre-order...compelled to acquire...can't stop myself...

Get out! A new Pullip doll in a sheep/knitting theme! She even comes with a little stuffed sheep, knitting needles and 2 balls of yarn.

Mon, July 11

» Great joke sent by my friend Lou:

A lobbyist, on his way home from work in Washington, DC, came to a dead halt in traffic and thought to himself, "Wow, this traffic seems worse than usual."

He noticed a police officer walking between the lines of stopped cars, so he rolled down his window and asked, "Officer, what's the hold up?"

The officer replied, "The President is depressed, so he stopped his motorcade and is threatening to douse himself with gasoline and set himself on fire. He says no one believes his stories about why we went to war in Iraq, or the worsening deficit and economy, or that his tax cuts will not help anyone except his wealthy friends. So we're taking up a collection for him."

The lobbyist asks, "How much have you got so far?"

The officer replied, "About 100 gallons, but a lot of folks are still siphoning."

Tues, June 21

»Yet another silly Viking filk from the Norsefolk2 email list! This time it's written by Dick Eney: Fevronia claimed that there was no way to do a clean version of "Bend Over, Greek Sailor", and I considered that as a challenge. First, we go to the other end (ahem) of Europe, and this is...

THE BALLAD OF THE NORMAN BRAG

I am a fierce Viking, my heart's hard and black
My distant ancestors tied Rome in a sack
I never once thought that I'd settle on shore
But I'll take what is sent me by Odinn and Thorr
La la la la la!

[chorus]
Come on, pretty damsel, and revel with me
When we get together there'll be harmony
Come on, pretty damsel, and revel with me
When we get together there'll be...harmony
La la la la la!

I exercise power wherever I rule
I'm shrewd and I'm strong and I'm nobody's fool
I won't let my vassals and peasants grow fewer
And that's why I exercise _droit_du_seigneur_!
La la la la la!

[chorus]

My townsmen are weird for they won't use a blade
When they want some gold they will get it in trade
But there's still a lot to be said for their class
It's simply a matter of profit and lass!
La la la la la!

[chorus]

The _Hvitkristr's_ brides are as cute as can be
When I get the chance I will grab two or three
But I treat 'em right because if they complain
I'll have to do penance all over again!
La la la la la!

[chorus]

My karles are the best that you'll find near or far
Their girls are good workers wherever they are
They're rightfully proud of the way they maintain
The frolics they have at the yearly Beltaine!
La la la la la!

Come on, pretty damsel, and revel with me
When we get together there'll be harmony!
Come on, pretty damsel, and revel with me
I'll show you how we can make two...into three!

[And that's something else that Greek sailor doesn't do...]

Thurs, Jun 9

» Viking Stuff: From Yahoo! Groups Norsefolk2 List, a 1995 Scientic American article about Egil, the son of Skalla-Grim:

Egil's Bones: An Icelandic saga tells of a Viking who had unusual, menacing features, including a skull that could resist blows from an ax. He probably suffered from an ailment called Paget's disease.

Egil, the son of Skalla-Grim, is the most memorable Viking to appear in the Old Norse sagas. Born in Iceland in the early 10th century, he participated in Viking raids and adventures throughout Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the east Baltic lands, England, Saxony and northern Germany. Fierce, self-willed and violent, Egil Skalla-Grimsson was also a fine poet and a man with a sense of ethics. [more]

» MORE Viking stuff: That article about Egil was posted on Professor Jesse Byock's UCLA Viking Site. He's quite an impressive guy and currently holds several positions at UCLA:

Professor of Old Norse/Icelandic and Medieval Scandinavian Studies, UCLA
Director, Old Norse/Icelandic Studies Program, Department of Germanic Languages
Professor, Archaeology Program UCLA and member of the CotsenInstitute of Archaeology
Member at UCLA in: the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies; the Program in Indo-European Studies, and the Center for Folklore and Mythology

I will definately be checking out his site more often and plan on reading a couple of his books too. In my next life I'm going to be an archarologist/anthropologist...

Tues, Jun 7

» It's about damn time us Viking gals had our own damn song! This lovely little filk showed up on the Ostvik Yahoo! Group last Sunday and I laughed so hard I just about wet myself:

"Viking Queen"
by Asa Gormsdottir mka Eve Harris
Sung to the tune of "Dancing Queen" by Abba

1. Freya's night and the drink is low,
Need someone to overthrow.
Tired of weaving that war cloak?
Cattle are a pain?
Take off that apron dress,
Open your armour chest....

CHORUS:

You are the Viking Queen
Hyped on mead,
Brood of seventeen!
Viking Queen, Valkyrie,
Beat on your favourite Sweyn (oh yeah)
You can drink, you can fight,
Husband's in fear for his life.
Oooo, swing that axe,
Hack and cleave!
Run from the Viking Queen!

2. Amber beads and a foreign blade,
Husband's back from the Volga trade.
Confiscate his longship, chain him to the plow,
Show him you're no brood sow!
Look who's in power now...

(CHORUS)

3. Oseberg ship for when you die,
Treasure hoard and the flames run hi-igh.
Valhalla's no motel*, gotta pay the freight,
Arm rings and silver plate.
Plunder, don't hesitate...

(CHORUS)

*NB from TSivia: there is indeed a hotel on the side of the highway within Toronto called the "Valhalla Inn", hence the humour of that comment!!

Mon, Jun 6

» I am officially over the whole poncho thing. So don't ask me to make you one or I'll scream.

» I saw it this weekend and can't help but agree with this guy: "Star Wars Episode III: a steaming pile of Sith" George Lucas sucks, but Ewan McGregor looks hot in this one.

Sat, Jun 4

» I've started my Indian Summer Jacket (I cast-on May 29) and I've already finished the back panel! I'll try and take some pictures today to show the cute little intarsia medallion on the back (pic on right is from the pattern).

Fri, Jun 3

» Not only have I jumped on the Blythe bandwagon, but I've already started buying custom-made clothes for her. Check out this adorable all-black set (dolls not included obviously) that I won on eBay today from Wooly Rockers in the UK:

Thurs, June 2

» Always remember...pillage THEN burn: From the Whitby Today site: Vikings invade the town

WHITBY Abbey was inundated with hordes of axe-wielding Vikings over the weekend who as well as slaughtering each other also demonstrated their cookery skills.

The weekend kicked off with Viking Fire and Fury which saw 700 people queuing up to get into the Abbey grounds for a firework display. [more]

<<Back