I strongly maintain that we in this country would have more respect for advanced degrees if they came with a sword (and fancy hat), as is the tradition in Finland. Oh, you think I should read this whale.to page that overturns my 25 years of study and research? Say that to 3 ft of steel, sir.

My soon to graduate nephew said, Does add a whole new element to a Ph.D 'defense.'

Americans would have to make it an AR-15

We need this to happen and to be applied retroactively. I'm waiting for my sword and funny hat to arrive

I dunno, can the sword take & hold an edge? (Alternatively I'll be satisfied if the hat can be hurled as a weapon.)

A major portion of my thesis research was literally beheading hydras, is all I’m saying.

I wonder why hand guards are pointed both ways. Crossdraw vs straight draw based on handedness? Apathy because they're unlikely to need to draw!

Members of the French Academy also gets swords. Very appropriate for an institution whose purpose is to preserve the "purity" of a language.

If a sword had been on offer I might have finished my PhD…

I would have liked an axe.

The Finnish also produce a lot of good sword fighters