Charles, thanks for posting this photo. I've never been to Nova Scotia, but I've explored some old forts in Ontario and Quebec and loved their history and atmosphere.

Best wishes to Mrs. Walter!

Great post. You've reminded us of this thread's true purpose, and who we should all be remembering and honoring for their sacrifice. It's not my intention to derail this thread, but I wanted to mention a few things: a) The Polish intelligence services made initial progress in breaking German secret codes, including ULTRA, during the 1930's. Following the fall of Poland in 1939, Polish intelligence shared their code-breaking information with British intelligence, who then launched an ultimately successfully effort to crack ULTRA. Today, Americans tend to forget the huge and critical role played by Russia in defeating Germany during WW2. Russia suffered 40-50 times more fatalities than America did during the war. The Russians lost more lives in single battles (Stalingrad, the Kiev cauldron, etc.) than the Americans lost during the entire war. On D-Day, the Germans had roughly 75-80 percent of their armed might deployed against the Russians in the East, roughly 5 percent of their armed might deployed against the Western Allies in Italy; and roughly 15-20 percent of their armed might deployed against the Western Allies in France. c) Finally -- and I realize this may be controversial -- it's important to remember the tens of thousands of Boer women and children who died in British-run internment camps during the Boer War. (in South Africa)

How true. So beautiful and majestic. WOW is the right word.

Yes, this should have been a choice. I've known (at least) two people who were transformed into Zep fans by watching SIBLY and the Rain Song in TSRTS -- "Jimmy Page....electric guitar...."

Hi lipslikecherries, Everything is interesting to me, too. Your approach sounds perfect -- just read whatever you find most interesting or know the least about. I'm currently interested in early American history and the Jefferson-Hamilton debate. As a Virginian, I tend to be more partial and sympathetic to Jefferson, (I was born in Charlottesville, lol) and to his ideas and ideals. But at the same time, I highly respect Hamilton. He was extraordinarily brilliant and capable. More than a few European observers regarded Hamilton to be the greatest man of his age -- even greater than Napolean.

Archery? Tall ships? The market? Sounds like a great day.

Hi Layla. Welcome to the forum.

Lipslikecherries, which historical periods are you most interested in? The most deeply moving ending to any book that I've ever read was Dickens, Tale of Two Cities ....Sydney Carton holding the French girl's hand on the way to the guillotine, etc

I barely have time to read anymore, but the last book I read was H.P Lovecraft's "At The Mountains of Madness" which I enjoyed. I'm going to have some more free time soon, and I'm planning to read Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina."

Achilles Last Stand...but Tea For One is close.

Here's a good one. As a young child I would sometimes accompany my parents on trips to my grandfather's farm, where huge piles of dried-out horse and cow manure would be piled up high to be used as fertilizer in the fields. I liked the smell of the manure, although I didn't realize what it was I was smelling until I got a bit older. Even today the smell of dried manure brings back happy memories from childhood. Other smells I like include the ocean breeze, freshly cut grass, rain/rain storms, gasoline, and cigarette smoke. (even though I don't smoke cigarettes.)

Hi John. Welcome to the forum.

I'm a casual Bond fan -- I've seen most of the Bond films. My favorite Bond is Roger Moore. Daniel Craig is a close second. My favorite soundtracks are from Octopussy and Live and Let Die.

I think many Zep fans have a wide variety of musical tastes and interests, and hail from a wide variety of musical genres/backgrounds. Many Zep fans are big into classic rock -- others are into arena rock, prog-rock, or acoustic/folk -- and some are into heavy metal. Many heavy metal fans view Zep's music as being too non-aggressive, mellow and soft. As you know, Zep was never a heavy metal band. (The term "heavy art" would be a more apt description for Zep's "heavy" music.) Jimjam, have you listened to Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, or Jimi Hendrix?

Oasis did have some good tunes. Funny story: I remember back in '96 or '97 I was in a London pub when I got into a friendly debate with three local girls who were absolutely convinced that Oasis would become bigger than the Beatles. They were all saying "You just watch! Oasis will be more popular than the Beatles ever were, and more respected too!" Lol.

Hello Jimjam, welcome to the forum.

Hahaha -- it's true. My favorite name on this thread is Harmony Rain -- that would be a cool name for a daughter. Lol.

Cool video -- I'm glad you shared it.

I agree -- it's most unfortunate.

I agree -- I don't think Taurus sounds like Stairway It's interesting how (British) elves are typically thought of today as being rather short, odd-looking beings with misshapen ears, etc. This image stands in sharp contrast to the depiction of elves in much of Scandinavian folklore and mythology, where Nordic elves look almost exactly like humans and are often drop-dead gorgeous to boot: Numerous stories of Viking warriors hooking-up with beautiful elf-maidens, etc. Also, Scandinavian elfin mythology dates back at least 2,000 years.

Hi lipslikecherries, If you're convinced you witnessed a truly bizarre and inexplicable event - and if you're friends and family have seen the video and agree -then you might indeed want to consider posting it on youtube.

Thanks for posting this interview. These days, it's easy to forget how controversial and "scandalous" men like Blake and Byron sometimes were back in their time. Also, I don't think you'll have any problems "getting through" Nietzsche's books or understanding the basics of his philosophy. Just be deeply thankful that you aren't reading something like Kant's "Critique Of Pure Reason." Lol.

What an interesting thread. I don't have much to add, but I will mention a few things. Blake was well known for his mystical and spiritual visions, which he experienced his whole life. (Even as a toddler, he saw an angel's face peering in at him through his nursery room window.) It's obvious that many people in the 60's and 70's were using music and hallucinogens to experience and explore the same mystical visions -- and alternate/astral realities -- which Blake seemed to experience naturally. The romantic poets were the rock stars of their era: They were exploring the worlds of nature and experience, the worlds of feeling and sensation, and most of them died young. Lord Byron, in particular, seems to have embodied the rock n roll spirit and lifestyle: He was famously expressive, sensual, fearless, hedonistic, etc. Another towering figure of the romantic age whose art, I believe, is similar in some respects to Led Zeppelin's, is Richard Wagner. Plant once called Page the "Wagner of rock."