+ULFBERH+T

Interesting PBS program about Viking swords. Of the 44 inspected in modern times, 33 were fake. The fake ones were spelled incorrectly. (The last "+" was in the wrong spot.) They also had about 1/3 the carbon of the real ones, making them brittle.

"In a world of mud and trees and rock, you have the polished metal. And that was different."

I love near the end, how the letters appear, seemingly through magic, after the acid wash. Amazing, what some dude in Wisconsin can make. (Only $7,500, if you're interested.)

http://www.doorcountyforgeworks.com/NOVA.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXbLyVpWsVM

Dead Sara/Muse

Concert Lighter: FGS Bayern D183

Everyone needs a Concert Lighter. That is, a lighter used just for concerts. I'll confess to taking this one to work. (I needed to shrink some "heat shrink" material, and thought this would be a cool way to do it.) But this puppy is for special occasions. After a quick stop to pick up fluid and flints, I'm on my way to the Dead Sara / Muse show tomorrow. No one I work with has ever heard of D.S. Most have never heard of Muse. WTF? Anyway, here's the embed for Dead Sara's version of Janis Joplin's "Blue Was the Feeling For You."