This could be a logo for the site

An octopus may have strong "arms", but those big old swords are a bit over the top for that little guy.

Change the swords to hockey sticks and he could be a mascot for the Red Wings!

Those swords appear to be in the style favored by the Vikings. This may explain how the western world could have been terrorized by Scandinavians.

Could explain a lot of puzzling things about the Vikings, in fact. Maybe Odin's eight-legged horse Sleipnir was no horse? Maybe those "horns" depicted on helmets were really tentacles?

"Thrice is he armed who hath his quarrel just"

And eight times he who gets his sword in 'fust'!

Not this one? Oh, that may or may not be safe for work. It's stick figures but there's an extra "stick" on one of them.

I already see the creationist headline :

"Well known Biologist and blogger PZ Myers has officially adopted a violent logo that clearly shows atheism is the work of the devil. Therefore, a group of peaceful Christian protesters decided to go eat some calmar at the local chinese restaurant."

That logo somewhat reminds me of the divinity with eight arms in Sinbad the Sailor.

I guess this is a vision of the future... when the octopus will evolve out of water and steal our darn sword collections.

Hey! whatever happen with the horrorscope? It was fun! :(

Love it.

To what swap meet do I send my order form?

That would be perfect placed over the window of your dungeon door, PZ.

I don't think so, Apikoros. I think of viking weaponry at less pointy. And they usually have groove rather than a ridge down the blade.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viking_sword

No Zodiac? Ophiuchus was skipped! How will we know if it's safe to practice snake handling?

It's a cool image, but I think we should leave the violent symbolism to the Christians.

It looks like they left the sheet sitting in the drier too long.

What, no more horoscopes? Bummer.

I think, Sili, that Apikoros is more focusing on the hilt and pommel. Straight quillions and that shape pommel are indicative of late 9th-early tenth century Scandinavian design. It's true that most viking era blades have a fuller, rather than a central ridge, but depending on the size of the original, fullers may have been too difficult to make.

That could be the stage backdrop for the Slayer reunion tour.

"Thrice is he armed who hath his quarrel just"
Well, it depends if he has a repeating crossbow, doesn't it?

I for one welcome our new sword-wielding cephalopod overlords

PZ needs to set some high fundraising bet, and if we meet it he has to get this as a tattoo.

Sili and Avenel--
Yes, I was looking at the hilts and seeing a Petersen type H, or maybe a multilobed pommel if I squint.

I am so happy not to be the only sword geek on this forum.

Besides, cephalopod Vikings would be totally cool! Way better than cephalopod pirates!

*sniff* I miss the horrorscopes, too...

Chris @ 21 - I love it! That would make an awesome tattoo.

Oh man, so many attacks per round....

Uh oh, PZ, I'm afraid you've created a huge demand on yourself with your AtHeOROSCOPE predictions. You might want to follow James Randi and just write one ambiguous and flattering reading and give it to everyone under different sign names. Everyone will think you're metaphysically gifted!

O R'LYEH?

It's cool, but I still prefer the Octopus of Secularism destroying the world.

Too tall. Would never fit on a banner.

I'd always thought an image of two pocketwatches deep in the throes of a passionate mating experience.

perhaps å la Magritte

Artgasm!

Still, the squid has the advantage. He could hold this fellow off with 8 swords, and still have two appendages to spare for a dirk and dagger.

I for one welcome our new octopus overlords.

Aia aia! Ctulhu ftaghn!

"Besides, cephalopod Vikings would be totally cool! Way better than cephalopod pirates!"

Uff ya, here comes Olaf Eight Legs and Sven Squidson! Hide the lobsters and the aquavit!

J.G. Wentworth. It's your money, use it when you need it!

(wtflogo: http://www.jgwfunding.com/images/JGWlogo_green.gif)

Yeah... R'lyeh!

Damn! That is absolutely beautiful! I love it! A Pharyngulan crest!

So, PZ, when will this crest be made available for auto stickers, patches, posters, key rings, lapel pins, bookmarks, etc? I'll be waiting impatiently!

NO W-IA IA!

Fhtagn. Needs a bigger octopus.

#13, I was going to say the same thing. Astrologers always leave out the ophiuchuses. I predict we will suffer from numerous venomous bites and a slow, painful death.

You might like these nice little doggies, PZ.

No horoscope for Derry and Tom's?

Former SCA person. Fond of swords, also of Octos. I WANT ONE.

I might be able to cook up a hot graphic version of that into a real logo.

Before anyone goes modifying this for a real logo, might I suggest locating the original artist? That is an awesome piece and someone should get credit for it.

It's Cthulhu ... with swords.
Bonus *big grin*
Not as classy, but worthy of an honorable mention?
http://www.horhaus.com/weblogs/archives/v3/calamari.jpg

Four Swords forming an Octothorpe is way over the top. An Octopus forming two octothorpes with swords is just redonk.
I like it ;)

#24: Yeah, octo-wielding knocks dual-wielding right out of the park, doesn't it?

It looks sharp!