Stolen from FB. No idea if they're true translations but aren't they fun.

A few useful sentences in Old Norse:
useful if you happen to be in Iceland

1. Ek sé svangan man takka ost.
I see a hungry man stealing cheese.

2. Elfar hat knifr.
The elves have knives.

3. Oxi mín heit Baldr.
My axe's name is Baldar.

4. Nu deir ðu, Olave!
Now you die, Olaf!

5. Úlfar heit ok vargar.
Wolves are also called wolves.

6. Dvergarnir foera konunginum gylltan baug.
The dwarves bring the King a golden ring.

7. Veistu um bílalúgu þar sem ég get keypt svið og jarðepplamauk?
Do you know a drive-through where I can buy a sheep's head with mashed potatoes?

You know that eye of newt recipe, Do Not eat the newt.

How a Deadly Camping Trip Revealed an Arms Race Between Snakes and Newts
Snakes' incredible resistance to newt poison started before either creature even existed.

By Matt Soniak AUGUST 11, 2016

Left, a common garter snake and right, a rough-skinned newt. (Photos, from left: Sharon Day/shutterstock.com; Yuval Helfman/shutterstock.com)

On the West Coast, newts and snakes are locked in an arms race—a tit-for-tat battle of adaptations for better weapons in the former and stronger defenses in the latter. It’s a textbook example of coevolution, and it came to light because of an urban legend.

Three friends, the story goes, went hunting in the Oregon Coast Range one weekend and never came home. Police later found them dead at their campsite with no signs of violence or struggle. They also found a fourth body: a rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa) that had been accidentally boiled with the water used to make a pot of coffee.

Edmund “Butch” Brodie Jr. first heard about the mysterious deaths in the 1960s as an undergraduate at Western Oregon University. He’d gone to his biology professor looking for a research project to work on, and the professor told him the tale—which he’d heard growing up—and suggested Brodie look into whether or not the newts were poisonous.

( Read more... )

Expecting Part 7 – Arrival?

Left, a common garter snake and right, a rough-skinned newt. (Photos, from left: Sharon Day/shutterstock.com; Yuval Helfman/shutterstock.com)

Title: Expecting Part 7 – Arrival?
Continues from Picnicking Part 6
prior Andy & Simon drabbles
Author: charisstoma
Word count: 548

This is what Andy was reading
“Simon, are there any newts around here?” Andy looked over at his husband and answered himself, “Don’t know, love. Why don’t you look it up yourself.” “Okay I’ll do that,” and he pulled up another window on his laptop.

“What?” Simon blinked. “What did you say?”

Andy’s “Nothing Simon. Go back to doing whatever,” was interrupted by arms sneaking around him and a snuffling behind his ear.

“Sorry love. Was reading about baby care. Little guy might turn to human right away or stay snake or with a combination of both parents features. Think of it a little snake with tiny little arms on him.”

Simon had a bemused smile on his face. Quite adorkable in Andy’s opinion.

“I was asking you and am now looking up newts that might be in this area.”

“Newts,” Simon’s mouth took on a grimace. “Nasty tasting things. Still edible though.”

“SIMON! They’re poisonous. What if the baby gets ahold of one?”

“Probably get a tummy ache and won’t do that again.”

( Read more... )