Swedes set up 'ultimate Viking movie'

Thanks to Eric for finding this:

"After years of ridicule and misrepresentation, the Vikings are on their way home. Plans are well under way for what the Swedish company Fladenfilm is calling "the ultimate Viking movie". The $30m version of Frans G Bengtsson's bloody Nordic saga The Long Ships (which is due to shoot in 2013) will comprise two feature films and a television series. What is different about this project is that it is being made by Viking nations – the Swedes in combination with their neighbours."

The complete article may be found at the Independent.

Blog Recommendation: Trolldom & Hoodoo

Thanks to Aluric for referring me to this blog. Trolldom and Hoodoo has many fascinating articles on the survival of Swedish folk magic and beliefs among immigrants to the U.S., including Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois, with emphasis on their parallels with and possible influence on the practice of Hoodoo or "root" in those areas. Many of these beliefs and practices date to pre-Christian times. Article topics include trolls, use of dreambooks (or "Drommebogs"), and use of magical herbs. Some articles are in English, while others are in Swedish. The blog's URL is http://trolldomhoodoo.blogspot.se/

Swedes set up 'ultimate Viking movie'

"After years of ridicule and misrepresentation, the Vikings are on their way home. Plans are well under way for what the Swedish company Fladenfilm is calling "the ultimate Viking movie". The $30m version of Frans G Bengtsson's bloody Nordic saga The Long Ships (which is due to shoot in 2013) will comprise two feature films and a television series. What is different about this project is that it is being made by Viking nations – the Swedes in combination with their neighbours." Read the full story at the Independent.

Northern Lights make impressive show

Wikimedia Commons

From spaceweather.com:


"The CME that hit Earth gave us some nice, colourful and easy-moving auroras," says photographer Antti Pietikäinen of Muonio, Lapland, Finland, who enjoyed the show with his two dogs.

Also in the Finnish Lapland, Chad Blakely says "the auroras exploded all over the sky. If this is a sign of things to come the rest of the season should be fantastic!!"

Several amazing photos from various contributors have been posted to the Space Weather site. More can be viewed at Lights Over Lapland.

Website on Uppåkra

Many thanks to Jeff Wolf  for finding this, a site about archaeological digs and research at Uppåkra, a town dating back to the first century CE (possibly earlier) which controlled West Scania and was a major religious and commercial center before and during the Viking era. Many exquisite items, including an image of Odin, a bird brooch, and the enigmatic Winged Man of Uppåkra have been found here. The Swedish version may be found here. The English version of the original site may be found here.

Seemingly drunk Swedish moose found stuck in tree

My grandmother used to tell me about a tornado that hit her parent's farm once. It slammed a cow into a tree and then slammed the outhouse into the cow. Poor critter. Story excerpt and link follow:

"A seemingly intoxicated moose has been discovered entangled in an apple tree by a stunned Swede." Read the fully story here.