First, thanks to Ian Barrs, whose blog I linked to a few days ago, for his flattering review of The Year Of the Warrior today, at Man Of the West.
Below, behold the Saga of Bjørn. It’s well-done and funny, and even relatively authentic, considering the sort of thing it is. But the theology is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!
Gave me a chuckle, though.
The Saga Of Biorn from The Animation Workshop on Vimeo.
Tip: Eric at Grim’s Hall.
Today being Valentine’s Day, forever after known as the day two days after Dr. Hunter Baker sent Lars Walker a Kindle, I think it apropos to recall posts on this wonderful blog in which we’ve described the good doctor. You saw in Lars’ last post, Dr. Baker was labeled the “prize-winning author of The End of Secularism
Just the other day, Dr. Baker was “that unspeakable poltroon,” which is another word for “coward.” A while back, he was “our friend … (may his books always be in print).” And still farther back? Continue reading We (heart) Hunter Baker
Once there was a prince who upset an evil fairy and was turned into a fruitcake. Only if someone would love him enough to eat all of him would he turn back into a prince. He was passed around from family to princess to servant to family, but no one would eat him, and he remained a fruitcake forever.
December 21 is the anniversary of the death in 1028 of Erling Skjalgsson, hero of my Viking novels.
I know what you’re wondering. “How do I express my condolences?”
The best way I can think of is to order a copy of West Oversea.
Even if you already have one.
I know it’s what Erling would have wanted.
Now hear me, children. When Santa Claus comes down Santa Claus Lane, he’s gonna be looking for right-thinking children this year. D’you hear me? Orthodoxy. I mean you’d better have your doctrine right or Santa’s gonna put your name on the Naughty List.
Santa’s getting back to his roots this year, and that mean fighting Christian heresy. You got those seeker-shmeeker churches in your town? Those entertainment-driven dives posing as churches? Or you got those preachers who tell you to clean yourself up, pull up your own boot-straps before coming to God for forgiveness? Santa don’t play that. You got that junk going down in your house, and Santa will lay the Holly-Jolly upside your face.
So, you better watch out, punk.
Photo credit: Koyaanis Qatsi
On a day like this, fraught with historic significance, one that may alter the course of our republic, it is only meet and right that we should consider a topic of the greatest pith and moment.
I refer, as you must have already guessed, to the topic of nuts in food.
Philip over at the Thinklings has posted an essay that testifies both to his extreme good taste and his courage.
My wife has a theory, and I think she’s right. She says “Nuts are a girl thing.” I think you all put them there because it makes your food “nice”, or more impressive for company. So if you are making food for a gathering, it makes it more special to put nuts in it. Kind of like a bow on a present or getting out the nice china. If it’s for public consumption, you think that nuts make it better.
But you’re wrong. Us guys don’t like it. We just want the sandwich or the cookie. Nuts get in our way. OK, so maybe not everybody’s allergic. And maybe not every guy DESPISES nuts, but they are at least a nuisance. He eats your food in spite of the nuts, not because of them. Ask a guy why he eats your nut bread. It’s because it’s there. Ask him, “If I put out two brownies, one with nuts and one without, which one will you choose?” He’s picking the one without nuts. We deal with enough nuts in our lives: at work, on the road, in Congress. We don’t need ‘em in our dessert.
I cannot tell you with what pleasure I read this delightful, insightful think piece. All my life I’ve been choking down food containing nuts (or just skipping it altogether), and I’ve been secretly ashamed. Obviously everybody else likes nuts. I must be the strange one. Peculiar. Unnatural, perhaps.
But Philip informs me that not only is it normal to dislike nuts, it’s MANLY!
Even if the Republicans don’t take the House tonight, that makes me feel good.
Our friend Meg Moseley has tagged us over at her blog with the coveted Versatile Blogger Award. A Major Award of this caliber does not come without a price. Here’s what we’ve been asked to do:
1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.
2. Share seven things about yourself.
3. Pass on the award to up to fifteen deserving bloggers.
4. Contact the bloggers you chose for the award.
1. Thank you, Meg.
2. Are there seven things about myself I haven’t told you yet? Is there anything left unrevealed that won’t revolt the public and drive what’s left of our readers away? I can but try.
2.1 I weighed 5 lbs., 6 oz. at birth. I was underweight. In the time since then I have remedied that defect in rather magnificent fashion.
2.2 Technically, by the rules of primogeniture, I am the patriarch of my family, oldest son of the oldest reproducing son in the blood line (assuming you disqualify adoptees). This applies only to the Kenyon branch of the Walkers. My relatives Steven and John Book, who read this blog, come from a different branch, and so miss out on the benefits of my benevolent overlordship.
2.3 I do not care for bacon. Or much of anything smoked, really.
2.4 The first book I ever took out of a library was about early American explorers. I think it was called Explorers All, but I may be mistaken about that.
2.5 I like wristwatches with lots of little dials and functions. However I’ve given up wearing them, because they’re such a pain to keep regulated. (I still wear a watch, just not the complicated kind.)
2.6 I once punched a guy who’s dead now. The two facts are not related. Anyway, he deserved it.
2.7 Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever the hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people’s hats off—then, I account it high time to eat some chocolate.
3. I shall pass this on, as is my wont, to zero deserving bloggers. Why should I dilute such an honor by sharing it with lesser writers?
4. Done.
This photo has Going Viral written all over it (which is an ugly cliche serious writers should never use).
The photo was shot by Jim Tiller in Ormond Beach Fla., Wednesday morning, September 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Daytona Beach News-Journal, Jim Tiller)
1. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a hastily uploaded picture of a plane at the departure gate.”
2. “Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take.”
I love these. Read more at 501 Places