AAkvavithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akvavit

ANow that people dye their hair a lot, it is more common (then again, some people with dark hair do occasionally dye their hair blonde as well).

AWell it depends on what you want to do. I am a history student, getting my Bachelors in History and studying Scandinavian History for my Masters and Ph. D. I wand to teach at a University and write/complete research. But this is really intense, history is in general. You have to know that it is what you are going to do, because you have to dedicate everything to it. They do not teach Scandinavian Studies at the undergrad level (a few schools do, but that is almost always modern Scandinavian languages, not history). You can't do anything with a degree in languages, unless you go into linguistics or get a translation certification. First of all start reading. If you are interested in Scandinavian History pick up Gwyn Jones' History of the Vikings, it starts from the very beginning and goes through the end of the Viking Age, and also Else Rosedahl' The Vikings. If you are interested in something more modern just go to your public library and start reading about your chosen subject. You will have to start learning one of the languages, if you are going to study Scandinavia you will be required to have a good mastery of at least one of the Scandinavian languages (and you'll end up learning another as well). If you would like to know anything just ask me, I'll try to help the best I can!

AIt can be hard to tell someone's hair color here, because so many people dye it (and often darker).. but it's fairly common. Dark blonde/light brown is probably most common in Scandinavians, but dark brown is more common than light blonde, at least in adults.When you include immigrants (and you should, because ~20% of the population are immigrants in some major cities), dark brown is very common.

Ayes.

AI have a good impression of them. I've never been out of the USA, but almost visited Sweden once a few years ago. It is an area of the world I'd like to visit. Most of these are guesses...just the impression I get. I don't know much about their infrastructure or economy. They seem to be peaceful. For food I've heard about meatballs, thats about it. There is better music there, with a lot of great metal bands coming from the area and becoming fairly popular there. There is a lot of open space in places and it is cold a lot. The culture as a whole seems to not be very religious, which is a great thing and keeps them from having the silly political problems that the US has.

AMetal has always been seen as a Satanic ritual right? Well in some cases it is Satanic, but in most cases these people are Pagan, such as I. Metal to them is a revolt against Christianity because it is forced on them from birth in a Nordic culture... hence the cross being right on all of their flags.Alot of these artists see it to be their calling to become advocates of metal music, such as Varg Vikernes.. a convicted murderer but also my hero. His belief is that everyone has individuality.... a Pagan belief... and if people are forcing Christianity on Pagan children they can and WILL revolt, with music, church burnings, and murders

AThe main difference I can see is that the Nordic countries actually really are using a reasonably socialist economic system. Most coutries that implement socialism do so in name only in order to win the support of the ignorant poor working class, but what they implement is something entirely different. Examples:United Soviet Socialist Republic (Now Russia): Actually a communist dictatorship. Elections were a facade, usually with only one name one the ballot. Everything was controlled from the top down, and the so-called socialist benefits were only doled out to communist party members. I understand that the general populus was not even allowed in to the communist party stores. Political arrests were common. Political prisoners disappeared in the middle of the night and were worked to death in Siberia.Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazis): Not socialist at all. One socialistic program was begun in the auto/roads industry. Workers were promised a car after working X years. But no cars were ever actually given. It was just a ploy to enslave the people for Hitlers purposes. No socialist benefits were ever given to the people.United States: Most of you have been led to believe that the bank and auto company bailouts are socialism. But this couldn't be further from the truth. It is an example of Plutocracy (rule by the wealthy for the benefit of the wealthy). Socialism is supposed to benefit the entire population somewhat equally. Have you or anyone you know received some benefit, even so much as a tax cut, as a result of these bailouts? No. They weren't socialist actions. They weren't intended to benefit the American people. They were a way for some very wealthy people to grab money out of the public coffers.The problem with "socialism" is that what you usually get is not really socialism at all.