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Europe
The Dutch befriend US and UK
2004-11-27
From Cicada
In a further blow to US efforts to broaden the involvement of other countries in Iraq, the Danish parliament has voted overwhelmingly to bring their 500 troops home.

Well, that would be the eager announcement of world news outlets if it was indeed the case. Instead, the parliament voted overwhelmingly to extend the mission by six months. Therefore expect the development to pass by with nary a mention.
Posted by:plainslow

#13  "Dammit Olaf, how many times do I have to tell you: First rape, then pillage, then burn!..."
Posted by: mojo   2004-11-27 8:14:16 PM  

#12  Danish, Dutch.... well, they're both D's.
Posted by: Unegum Whaimp3886   2004-11-27 5:19:31 PM  

#11  Pray for 3 days of stratiform rain.
Posted by: Shipman   2004-11-27 3:01:12 PM  

#10  Their faces became [s]wollen and changed color. A great rage developed in which they howled like wild animals and cut down anyone in their way, friend or foe alike. Afterward their mind became dulled and feeble for several days."

Sounds like Rum and Ripple, my favorite drink, I call it Cripple.
Posted by: Red F   2004-11-27 3:00:03 PM  

#9  "Pass me some more of those cool mushrooms, Olaf."

It has been suggested that Vikings consumed fly agaric to produce their berserk rages ... "Going berserk occurred as follows: The Norse took the mushrooms so that the effect came on during the heat of battle or while at work. During the berserk rage they performed deeds which otherwise were impossible. The rage started with shivering, chattering of the teeth, and a chill. Their faces became [s]wollen and changed color. A great rage developed in which they howled like wild animals and cut down anyone in their way, friend or foe alike. Afterward their mind became dulled and feeble for several days."

Viking 1: "Are they all dead yet?"

Viking 2: "Nope, you're still alive ... [hack]"

From Bartleby's Dictionary:

"When we say that we are going berserk, we may not realize how extreme a state this might be. Our adjective comes from the noun berserker, or berserk, which is from the Old Norse word berserkr, “a wild warrior or champion.” Such warriors wore hides of bears, which explains the probable origin of berserkr as a compound of *bera, “bear,” and serkr, “shirt, coat.” These berserkers became frenzied in battle, howling like animals, foaming at the mouth, and biting the edges of their iron shields. Berserker is first recorded in English in the early 19th century, long after these wild warriors ceased to exist."

Another etymology of the term that I've heard traces back to a meaning of "without armor." As mentioned above, the Vikings would enter battle clad only in leather jerkins. Considering how properly hardened leather could turn aside blade strokes and unpointed arrow shafts, such light weight gear may have represented an advantage. It is little wonder that the term "berserk" became associated with maniacal, raving, unarmored, hallucinating Norsemen.

To this very day, a traditional Scandihoovian Christmas tree decoration consists of small red mushrooms with little white dots on their caps hidden amongst the foilage.

"Ja, mon. Good 'shrooms."
Posted by: Zenster   2004-11-27 1:22:37 PM  

#8  That explains why the Vikings liked to raid costal towns.... munchies!
Posted by: CrazyFool   2004-11-27 1:10:59 PM  

#7  Dave - to continue (and motivate):

"Um, dude, they have like munchies 'n stuff."

*bezerker mode ON*
Posted by: .com   2004-11-27 12:42:36 PM  

#6  Who dat? Is he a Viking doper?

Lol - using that phrase, instantly brought Roddy Piper to mind, lol! I wonder why, heh?
Posted by: .com   2004-11-27 12:29:42 PM  

#5  "Nobody even wants to know what happens when you have hash-smoking Vikings."

Viking #1: Yo, Ingmar, check out the village, man...

Viking #2: Whoa... far out, man!

Viking #1: Hey, let's, like, raid it, man!

Viking #2: Uh... raid what?
Posted by: Dave D.   2004-11-27 12:29:24 PM  

#4  Randy Moss?
Posted by: Shipman   2004-11-27 12:18:38 PM  

#3  Lol, Zen - now that's a visual, lol!
Posted by: .com   2004-11-27 12:13:34 PM  

#2  Thank you .com, you beat me to it. Nobody even wants to know what happens when you have hash-smoking Vikings.
Posted by: Zenster   2004-11-27 11:59:57 AM  

#1  Hey, mixing Dutch and Danes can be dangerous. See the warning label!
Posted by: .com   2004-11-27 11:31:56 AM  

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