Today was a big day—it was the day I got a link on Instapundit.

I’d noticed that people (usually publishers) send Glenn Reynolds books—often in the Fantasy and Science Fiction fields—and he posts an Amazon link. So I sent him a book, along with a short note mentioning my blogging credentials, and crossed my fingers. Today it paid off.

We sold off our entire Amazon stock within a very short time. Unfortunately, our Amazon stock wasn’t very large. But still it’s something. Maybe I’ll acquire another influential fan or two.

What’s that you say? Not enough Viking content in this post? Well, we can’t have that.

Here’s a video of a couple Scandinavian musicians doing a song called “Ormen Lange,” which I’ve liked for a long time. I first heard it done by a Norwegian folk group called “Vandrerne,” but their version doesn’t seem to be online. The Vandrerne arrangement was a little more processed, and I frankly prefer it, but this isn’t bad.

The song is a “ring dance” song from the Faeroe Islands. The title, “Ormen Lange,” means “The Long Serpent,” and it refers to King Olaf Trygvesson’s great war ship, which I believe I mention in The Year Of the Warrior. In the tradition of Faeroese ring dance songs, this seems to be a very long one. Only the first few verses are here—they tell how King Olaf calls his men to join him in a voyage in his ship, and his men enthusiastically respond that they’ll willingly follow him “into war or peace.” Then they launch the ship and set sail, with the king at the helm. I assume the full version goes on to tell about Olaf’s death at the Battle of Svold.

The chorus goes:

“The dance glimmers in the hall, and we dance in a ring.

Gladly ride Norwegian men to battle (the assembly of Hild).”

My recent lack of book reviews is not because I haven’t been reading books. I’ve been reading a very long book for a while (one I enjoy, but which is taking forever). However, I’ve interrupted that to read a shorter book that someone has asked me to review (more on that anon). I also read a technical manual for a piece of equipment I’m in the way of acquiring. There will be reviews, in time (not of the technical manual, of course). Until then, I vamp.

Tonight’s vamp is Sonja Henie, who was born April 8, 1912.

Norwegians are ambivalent about her, even after all these years. On one hand, she was perhaps the greatest Norwegian celebrity of all time, and a world-beating winter sports athlete. Norwegians will forgive a lot in a world-beating winter sports athlete.

On the other hand, she knew Hitler personally (her husband did business with him), and got along with him quite well. She even gave him the straight arm salute once. Although as a Hollywood celebrity she supported the American war effort, she never lifted a finger to support the Norwegian resistance, something that left a very bitter taste.

Also she was by all accounts alcoholic, narcissistic, and promiscuous. You’ve heard the expression that starts with a vulgar “b” word, and ends with “on ice?” She could have been the inspiration for it, if she wasn’t the inspiration in fact.

Personally, I generally don’t go for the round-faced look, so she never did much for me in the movies.

In other news, Anthony Sacramone posted a new item at Strange Herring, apparently in response to my legendary powers of persuasion.

It’s not a funny piece, but we take what we can get.

Meanwhile, our people have him under surveillance.

The redoubtable Anthony Sacramone, most amusing of the Lutheran bloggers (OK, it’s a low bar) has done it again. And I don’t mean that in a good way.

His recently resurrected Strange Herring blog hasn’t been updated since March 27. And we all know what that means. Mr. Sacramone has lost interest again. He’s only been back at it since February, and already the Herring languishes like a dead… well, like a dead herring.

I suppose I ought to be grateful for what I can get. I try to be clever on this blog, but I’m seldom hilarious. I’m not capable of the consistent high level of mirth that Sacramone generates when he’s on. No doubt it takes something out of a fellow. Perhaps it causes an amusement deficiency in him, forcing him to retreat to a basement hideaway and read Sylvia Plath while depilitating himself with salad tongs, until his system regenerates itself.

At least Doktor Luther In the 21st Century is still tweeting. I don’t tweet myself, or follow tweets, but I read Doktor Luther’s here.

I shall note that today was the actual beginning of spring, for me. It was the first night I have taken my walk by the lake since last fall. The temperature was almost sixty, which is a little cold for me, but a real man would probably call it perfect. I returned home without any injuries that I’m aware of, so let the revels begin!

I shall wear the ends of my trousers rolled, I think.

Got word today that Brandywine Books will shortly be added to the BBOV (Big Blogroll ‘o Vark) of the Aardvark Alley blog. Aardvark Alley is an orthodox Lutheran blog, specializing in meditations on the church calendar, though they branch out into other subjects from time to time. I doubt we’ll make the coveted “Confessional Lutheran Blogs” list, since we harbor a Calvinist (not to mention a pietist Lutheran), but any mention over at AA (gee, that looks wrong) will doubtless steer a better class (Lutheran) of readers to our site.

Mark Steyn is getting back into blogging mode. Today he takes a surgical saw to the American abortion culture. Remember “Doctor” Kermit Gosnell? How is it that a monster like that has faded utterly from public consciousness within a couple weeks?

Ever since Roe v Wade, proponents of a woman’s “right to choose” have warned us against going back to the bad old days of rusty coat hangers and unsterilized instruments from money-grubbing butchers on the wrong side of town. Now, happily, the back alley is on the main drag, and with a state permit framed on the wall.

Read it all.