Mogensthegreat

Colli and I used to have a dog that I consider to be the pinnacle of canines. He was a Border Collie/Australian Shepard mix who was smart, protective, loyal, and had two differently colored eyes. Colli named him "Shinden" after the Kyushu J7W Shinden aircraft, but I always called him Shinny. He would follow me and my siblings, particularly my sister around and would growl at strangers passing by in an effort to keep us safe. He lived to be quite old, as I recall, 16 or 17, and was blind and deaf for his last few years. I was maybe 4 or 5 when he died, I do not know how old Colli was when he got him.

I was recently introduced to the genre of folk metal, and some of it is actually quite good. It's interesting to see different bands of different nationalities and how they deal with the genre. For instance, Grai's songs are more towards the folk side of the spectrum, Tengger Cavalry (who include Throat Singing in much of their music) is more metal, and Heidevolk falls somewhere in the middle. They are Russian, Mongolian, and Dutch, respectively. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEQWNPhu81I

The East German flag is pretty cool, the hammer and compass give it a really distinctive look, and those colors are practically siblings.

Well, in Germany and (I think) Italy, anyone could carry a sword. In England, France, Spain, etc. only Knights (not men-at-arms) could carry swords. In those places, plebs carried knives.

Yeah, but more like a taboo-based restriction on what guns you can open carry.

Apparently the German Longsword tradition declined and was overtaken by the rapier tradition because the rapier was more inconspicuous, easier to carry, and less likely to provoke a confrontation.

Quite spoopy indeed.

I recently watched The Prince of Egypt, and I realized how stupendous, powerful, and beautiful all the music is. It illustrates exactly the emotion of each scene and all of it is has such a good impact on the quality of the film. All of the Hebrew verses are integrated perfectly in a way to only better each song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCteJY1-Zkk&index=11&list=PLrjhOUTfRro7ro9MjrNV_W5gwFCMbSxEu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaDD_SQ29wI&index=12&list=PLrjhOUTfRro7ro9MjrNV_W5gwFCMbSxEu

Oh, fencing. Used for so many hundreds of years to resolve quarrels, disputes, and arguments. There are so many writers talking about so many styles of so many schools with so many swords, it's hard to pick a favorite. My favorite, personally, is German longsword fencing, so much power and finesse is required.

Wolves are some of the most intelligent hunters that can be found. They have wonderfully complex social structures, and the method of attaining status is fascinating. They also have systems of relationships with other animals. http://www.wolfcountry.net/information/WolfPack.html I will quote the best part of that article: "Ravens - One of the most fascinating relationships between animals is the one that seems to exist between wolves and raven. The raven, scavenger of food of all types, will often follow wolf packs in hopes of morsels of food. and wolves have learned to watch for circling ravens as a sign of possible food below."

Snakes are absolutely beautiful animals, and a constrictors are deadly and in the most terrific and unique way, but no extant serpent compares to the Tzar of the squamates, the Titanoboa. It weighed 2500 lbs (13,135 kg), measured 42 ft (12.8 m) and killed by constriction with a force of 400 psi. Life-sized model from the Smithsonian Vertebrae of the Titanoboa compared to a modern boa vertebra (center) Somewhat silly video, but relevant:

An amazing song with an amazing refrain whose message must be delivered to my compatriots in adolescence.

Insane artists (or artists who go insane) are always better.

We Dutch know our painting.

Vas

All fine flags to be sure, but only ONE flag fell from Heaven Itself! The Dannebrog be praised!

Fine warriors all, from a society that flourished because of the unification brought on by the leadership of a great Dane by the name of Rurik.

Link's in the signature. Also here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harii

All fine examples of Danish art.

I can't find any history on it, but following traditional Danish heraldic design, my family crest is simple "Sølv og skaktavl rød", or white and red checkered.

Give the Corvids some love.

Religiously-driven military societies like the Aztecs and the Assyrians are few and far between, and my favorite are the German Harri or "Ghost Warriors" who prevented Roman incursion into Germania. They were one of the first fighting forces to employ full-body camouflage as well as they painted their shields and weapons black to prevent them glinting. The Harri forces were (theoretically) driven by Odin worship.