viking fridays – naked, i was a nobody.
September 19, 2008
Two wooden stakes stood on the plain,
On them I hung my clothes,
Draped in linen, they looked well born,
But, naked, I was a nobody.
- The Hávamál
The Vikings. Wise men of the North. Who knew they were more than horned helmets, axes and severed heads?
I’m sure eventually I’ll run out of quotes from the Hávamál, yet it continues to amaze me… obviously our society has done nothing but plagiarize the works of the Norsemen.
No wonder they got ticked off and went pillaging…
Save us, oh Lord, from the wrath of the Norsemen indeed.
So what are they saying this week?
The clothes make the man.
Mark Twain said it like this:
- Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.
(Was Mark Twain a Viking? Or were the Norsemen after his head for stealing their words?)
And how true that can be, during a job interview, a performance appraisal, or just your day-to-day dealings with people.
Even on the weekend, I tend to shave every day and try to dress well. You never know – that lady you saw standing in line at the coffee shop – she might be interviewing you next week. Or she might be your next client.
So if you’re going out to chop heads this weekend, make sure your sword is polished (shut up Friar), colour coordinate your belt and your tunic, and make sure your helmet sits straight upon your head.
Now – watch this video (warning: crazy Viking metal), and go kick some ass.
@Brett
“….make sure your sword is polished”.
heh heh heh.
heh heh heh.
Is that the same thing as someone who “chafes the rod?” (*)
(*) Now, before anyone gets too upset, I got this expression from the Discovery Channel during a segment of “How’s it Made?”.
I feel this undeniable urge to go and watch The 13th Warrior tonight.
I know its cool to put rings in your face and impress your friends, and I hate to say it but… if that barbell in your nose falls out while working on my server, it won’t be good.
Its nasty to have to conform when all you want to do is look cool and be free but we all have to eat so we all have to have jobs (or clients),so dress to kill, make a killing, retire early then you can wear a viking helmet shopping and it won’t matter.
Happy Friday!
Damn, I wanted to be the first to comment. Darn you Friar! We’ll have to have a duel when we next meet.
@Friar,
I wrote that line that way to see if I’d get a rise out of you
@Francis,
You know what? Me too. Great movie. I’ve not seen that Beowulf movie yet, I wonder how that is?
You’ve got it there – dress for success, you can wear a blue Mohawk when you’re 60…
You and Friar will have to have a duel to the death on TrackMania…
@Francis – omg, I LOVE the 13th Warrior!!!! Almost watched it this week as a matter of fact.
@Brett – sorry, got sidetracked. Rarely happens. Anyway, I try not to leave the house looking like a schlump, ever. I just think it’s respectful to myself to take the time to spruce up a bit before heading out into public. Now, I do have to admit to a couple of beer runs looking (and smelling) not so fine to the local épicerie this Summer when the Lion was working on the outdoor kitchen construction and needed a cold drink NOW.
Urban Panther’s last blog post..Half light
@Brett
Awww…I suck at TrackMania!!
PS. Funny how people already know I’ll make smart-ass comments (today Writer Dad asked me to behave too!).
@Brett
Related to your topic, though….
Seems the Vikings preceeded Mark Twain’s famous quote by about 1000 years.
Makes me wonder…all these self-help gurus, life coaches, motivational speakers, inspiring us with famous quotes and fancy buzzwords…..
Just how much of all their advice is new and innovative? And how much has already been around for hundreds (if not thousands) of years?
Bet you it’s been right under our noses, all along.
@Friar,
You’ll have to practice then! It’s free, and your computer can handle it…
I know what you mean. Lots of this stuff is already out there and hundreds or thousands of years old (the Vikings, the Greeks, the Bible, the Smurfs even…)
@Friar and Brett
My buddy name is eyetaeguy. I’ll see on track. But beware, I bought a joystick. I still crash a lot but now I do it smoothly!
I friend of mine is from Ireland but he went and had his DNA tested. Turns out he is 80% Norse! So he is moving to Norway. Those Viking planted their seed everywhere.
13th Warrior is based on the book “Eaters of the Dead”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eaters_of_the_Dead
Francis
Re: the clothes thing. I’m in big, big trouble…
Re: polishing your sword, chafing the rod and Friar sucking at TrackMania…it’s getting a rise out of *me*.
(I’m bad on Fridays…my apologies)
Karen JL’s last blog post..Which Animation Student Are You?
@Karen JL,
Hey, you look sharp in your blog photo! And no need for apologies, we’re all big kids here and the innuendos make it fun sometimes
besides, as you say, it’s Friday!
@ Brett – when your bra is the most expensive piece of clothing you own…you’re in big, big trouble.
(I think that was an over-share)
Karen JL’s last blog post..Which Animation Student Are You?
@Karen JL,
Well, I toyed around with the idea of starting a “confessional blog” a long time back… why not do it here?
I don’t know Brett… I think some naked people have definitely influenced society over the years. Wouldn’t it be a fun challenge to try to come up with nude culture influencers? Heheh.
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..Behind the Scenes: Writing as a Business
Melissa,
I suppose you’re right about that – maybe the people wearing the orange paint are a good example of that
though I don’t recommend going to a job interview or a client meeting dressed like that.
(Well, I suppose it depends on the job…)
@ Melissa – Yeah, I don’t think Ghandi was wearing Prada. Not naked, but still.
Karen JL’s last blog post..Which Animation Student Are You?
LOL this so reminds me of when I was walking into the Botanical Gardens to meet some friends… dressed casual as in ratty jeans and a t-shirt with an owl on it saying “Who gives a hoot?”. Who should be walking out of the entrance but one of the managing directors of the company I worked for at the time… standing there chatting to her thinking “please don’t read my shirt, please don’t read my shirt”. Made me think twice about slogan tees since
Scribbles’s last blog post..Why I’ve been a little quiet recently…
@Francis,
Frak… the spam filter got your comment – yeah, I read “Eaters of the Dead” and loved it. That’s cool about your friend, and I wonder sometimes about our family… I mean, Eden wants to move to Norway, and I blog about Vikings… hmm…
Hey, remember this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8dqzTl0vUI&feature=related
Wouldn’t want everyone to think all I listen to is music about smashing stuff.
@Scribbles,
Yes, I know what you mean… the one time I wore a Trailer Park Boys t-shirt out for breakfast, I met a former VP of my company (who had since moved on) and he gave me his card (headhunting, I guess?) – I didn’t exactly feel good about my garb that day! Oh well, he still talks with me…
Ha! It all comes back to rocking the shoes (or boots)! Vindication for fashion, from a reliable source. Going to steam the cape and polish the boots.
Holy crap, Viking Friday went by without my noticing. No wait – that’s not what I meant. I meant I’m getting to the point when I don’t know what day it is, never mind the fact that I wished you a happy Friday yesterday. Brain’s not making connections lately. I’ve been talking to my sister in England about stuff and the month and everything and totally didn’t connect with the fact that two of her three kiddies have birthdays this month. That I missed.
SIGH.
steph’s last blog post..Friday Focus
@Karen
Polish the boots….heh heh. Before or after we polish our swords?
Friar’s last blog post..Things I am Ungrateful For.
@Friar, why the boots first of course!
Hey if you’re gonna chop some heads you should look good doing it. 
Brett! Wherefore art thou, zombie-slayer?
steph’s last blog post..Friday Focus
The Vikings finally got one wrong. Clothes are overrated. Who were they kidding anyway, they smelled like rancid fish most of the time?
Seriously, I coach on the phone and I went 2.5 months this summer without having to put on long pants. Judge me by my deeds not my appearance please.
I don’t like metal but that video rocked! Except I have no idea what he was saying.
Tom Volkar / Delightful Work’s last blog post..Finding Your Business Sweet Spot
@Tom
If’ you’re an academic, you can get away with it a bit more.
Scraggly beard…mismatched shoes, stupid out-of-style hat.
In fact, bad appearance is not just tolerated, but EXPECTED.
(I mean, how smart can a PhD be, if they don’t look like an Absent-Minded Perfessor?)
Friar’s last blog post..Watercolors: From Sea to Shining Sea.
@Karen Swim,
That’s right, isn’t it! I wonder if I should wear my toe shoes to an interview…
@steph,
Hey – that’s a good thing, because it means that you are *extremely focused* on what you need to do – Viking Fridays will always be here when you get a break! If you spent too much time surfing about rather than working on EQ, I’d have to send some Vikings to your house to set you straight
(Don’t worry, they’re nice guys, they’d probably just make you a cup of tea.)
Oh, and tales of zombie horror are coming right up…
@Friar,
How did I know you’d say that?
@Tom,
Until next week, when I reveal that the Vikings invented the internet and digital communication
You’re right though – that’s one definite advantage of self-employment and all of the technological marvels we have at our fingertips.
And you raise a good point – judge us by our content, not our covers. If only “big business” and the corporate world could learn this. Perhaps that’s why I don’t like it so much anymore…
That’s one of those videos that makes me want to go lift heavy objects and so forth.
And since you asked (lyrics):
There is Fenris grim
His jaws are open wide
The serpent rises from the waves
Jormungandr twists and turns, mighty in his wrath
The eyes are full of primal hate
Thor, Odin’s son, protector of mankind, ride to meet your fate, your destiny awaits
Thor, Hlódyn’s son, protector of mankind, ride to meet your fate, Ragnarök awaits
Vingthor rise to face the snake with hammer high
at the edge of the world
as lightning fills the air
as Mjöllnir does it’s work
the twinfold serpent roars in pain
Thor, Odin’s son, protector of mankind, ride to meet your fate, your destiny awaits
Thor, Hlódyn’s son, protector of mankind, ride to meet your fate, Ragnarök awaits
Mighty Thor, grabs the snake
firmly by its tongue
lifts his hammer high to strike
soon his work is done
Vingthor slays the guardian snake
leading to the death
twilight of the thundergod
Ragnarök awaits
twilight of the thunder god
twilight of the thunder god
twilight of the thunder god
twilight of the thunder god
(Thank the gods for lyric sheets…)
@Friar,
If you’re an academic, or if you work at the Factory…
@Brett
I could’ve sworn the lyrics were
GRRAHGH URGHHHHH
GRRHHHAAAGHHHH GHHHH
RRHGHR
RAAARRRGHHH!!!!
Friar’s last blog post..Watercolors: From Sea to Shining Sea.
Ok I hadn’t even gone anywhere bad until you warned Friar! That made me laugh, which was a good thing cuz I have needed a good laugh all day!
Great post, I wish more people paid attention to their appearance more often!
Jenny’s last blog post..Don’t Laugh At…
@Jenny,
I’m glad you got a good laugh out of that one… I admit, I had to bait the Friar – it’s just too much fun to get the Friar going…
Actually..
My wife and I used to live part of the year in a clothing-optional community.
The lack of clothes doesn’t make you nobody – it makes everyone equal. There’s no “class” in a naked society.. and that’s in spite of the fact that some of us had much more expensive homes than others – we were still “equal” because we were naked.
A little strange, yeah. But true.
Tony,
That’s an interesting counterpoint that is very true.
Perhaps people are more honest when there’s nothing to hide?