Since we’ve been talking about Russell Crowe, I was delighted to see this story over at Dirty Harry’s Place, which reports that Crowe recently made the decision to be baptized. For all I know his theology is far off the mark (or not), but I’m a Lutheran and so believe that baptism in itself possesses efficacy by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Though the state of the Lutheran church today doesn’t provide a lot of evidence, I have to admit.)

And since all of you are passionately interested in the Vikings, I should note that this month’s Smithsonian Magazine includes a cover story about The Sea Stallion of Glendalough, the largest replica Viking ship ever built, which sailed from Denmark to Ireland a while back, and will soon be returning to Denmark.

(The Sea Stallion, by the way, is a copy of a shipwreck found in Denmark. To the amazement of archaeologists, they gradually came to realize that it was a) one big ship, rather than two smaller ones, and b) built in Ireland (this determined by analysis of the wood). There were lots of Vikings in Ireland during those centuries.

The Art of Manliness is asking readers to vote on whether swearing is manly. A rousing discussion has ensued.

I just had to link to this column in the New York Post by Ralph Peters (who, if you’ve been paying attention, is also Owen Parry, author of the Abel Jones mysteries). It harmonizes so well with my own attitude toward my generation, that I have to (metaphorically) wave it around, yelling, “See! See! I’m not the only one who thinks this way! An actual smart guy agrees with me!”

The real reason for my scorn for my fellow Boomers is, of course, founded in my deep, seething resentment over the fact that they got a lot of sex in the ’60s and ’70s, and I didn’t. (Also in the ’80s, ’90s and ’00s.) But that doesn’t make me wrong. If you despise Dan Brown, for instance, not because he writes lousy, heretical novels, but because he once gave you a wedgie in high school, your contempt is nonetheless well placed.