X: Oslo-being/Oslo-værende

Oslo has been conquered and my walk her is approaching the park (i.e walk in the park). The capital’s first couple of weeks with my presence enclosed two moving-ins, commencing of my master degree, comeback for the volleyball team (Division 1), work (DinSide, Norwegian consumer page) and joining up with several friends. To realize that I actually possess heaps of acquaintances here, took a while. An apology is hereby announced to all those friends living in Oslo with whom I haven’t met yet.

The longer one postpones something, the more forces are needed to prepare for action. An undying principle. There has not been a day since I came, without a set schedule, but to update my blog has been hacking my mind repeatedly. I’m finally getting there, starting to feel on top of things again.

Oslo pictures will be coming soon.

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Oslo er inntatt og stegene mine blir gradvis tryggere. Mine første to uker i hovedstaden har i store linjer inneholdt to innflyttinger, oppstart av mastergrad, comeback for volleyballaget (OSI H1), jobb (DinSide), og gjenforening med en rekke kjente. Å innse at jeg faktisk har en drøss av bekjentskaper her, tok litt tid. En beklagelse kunngjøres herved til alle Oslo-beboende jeg ennå ikke har gjenforentes med.

Jo lenger tid man utsetter noe, jo store mobilisering trengs det for å ta til. En evigvarende læresetning. Nå har jeg ikke hatt en dag uten program, men det å oppdatere hjemmesiden har hacket seg inn i mine planer mang en gang. Nå er jeg endelig i gang, og begynner å føle meg ovenpå ting igjen.

Oslobilder er under arbeid.

X: Hunting high and low

Solid, reasonably priced accommodation is the easiest thing to locate in Oslo. I have been lucky this fall – twice.

It started in Grønland (central part of town). With no questions asked, this very companionable drummer boy (from my part of the country) whom I’ve don’t really know, gave me shelter. It was really a deal through a mutual friend – whose wife for whom I was the best man this summer. His apartment is 50 square meters on the fourth floor – with bathroom in the hallway (own room) and showers in the basement. I am a light sleeper, and getting rest behind a curtain/drapes in the entry was not optimal for sleep or study.

A SMS sent to me by coincidence (or was it?), became the solution. A state church (evangelical Lutheran) congregation (Grefsen) lease an apartment in their “congregation center” at good rates. The three bedrooms are offered to (three) youth who agree on spending a couple of hours in the service of the church. I’m very pleased five days after I got the key and moved in. For NOK 2100 (US $ 325) a month I get 18 square meters for my self and share living room, kitchen and two bathrooms with a guy and a girl – who both seem very nice. The deal includes a fully furnished apartment, electricity and wireless Internet. My congregation work will deal with this Christian sports group (www.krik.no) and Sunday school. I was planning to get involved in some kind of Christian work anyway, so this was an brilliant opportunity for me.

An extra bonus is the fact that a friend from childhood, John Olav, is living in the second floor in an apartment with his fiancé Rannveig.

En solid tak over hodet til en fornuftig pris er ikke det enkleste å oppdrive i Oslo. Jeg har vært heldig siden jeg kom - to ganger.

Come visit!

PS: Thanks to A-ha (with whom I was on a concert Saturday) for inspiring me for the song title.

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Det startet på Grønland i Grølandsleiret. Uten spørsmål fikk jeg husvære hos Andreas Eriksen. Den svært så omgjengelige trommisen fra Finnsnes har jeg møtt et par ganger opp gjennom årene, men er mest en felles bekjent av meg og ekteparet hvis bryllup jeg var forlover i tidligere i sommer. Leiligheten hans på femti kvadratmeter ligger i fjerde etasje med do på gangen og dusj i kjelleren. Jeg våkner lett, og å sove bak et forheng i gangen (inne i leiligheten) ble ikke helt optimalt for søvn og arbeidsmuligheter.

En SMS sendt meg tilfeldig, ble løsningen. Grefsen menighet leier ut tre hybler til rimelige priser mot noen timer med arbeid i menighetens tjeneste. I Glads vei trives jeg nå godt etter fem dager i kjelleren til Grefsen menighetssenter. For 2100 kroner i måneden får jeg 18 kvadrat for meg selv og deler stue, kjøkken og to bad med to andre; Åshild og Torgeir. Vi har ikke hatt mye tid sammen så langt, men jeg har utelukkende gode inntrykk. Med i ordningen følger full møblering, strøm, og trådløst Internett. Mitt engasjement vil sannsynligvis gjelde lokallaget til KRIK og søndagsskolen i menigheten. Jeg tenkte uansett å involvere meg i kristent arbeid på et vis, og dette var en prima sjanse.

En ekstra bonus er at barndomsvenn John Olav Taylor fra Brøstadbotn bor sammen med sin kjære forlovede Rannveig i en leilighet i andre etasje!

Kom på besøk!

PS: En takk rettes for øvrig til A-ha (som jeg var på konsert med) for bruk av sangtittel.

X: Master start

Wednesday August 17, marks the begining of my two years as a master student in media studies. I am one of 23 students who was admitted and accepted the position this semester. The main campus (Blindern) of University of Oslo http://www.uio.no/english/ is where I’ll be taught in my two subjects this fall; “Master’s thesis seminar” and “Media and globazliation” both seem exciting so far.

The degree consists of four electives (within media), one lecture course and the master thesis itself. As for now, I’m thinking about a thesis to test whether the Norwegian press is alienating Christianity.

I’m keen on going on exchange. If it’s going to be reality, I will go next semester. Mexico has been and is still in the limelight. But Guadalajara, which I aimed to go to (because of my friend Flavia), does not work out. I wish to go to Latin-America because of language, but will have to study in English (or German, Swedish or Norwegian) since my Spanish is not capable of studying at master level. If not in a Spanish-speaking country, my uni has several deals worldwide. And as long as my subjects are approved (by the University of Oslo) and the foreign uni admits me, I can go anywhere – but than I would have to pay tuition. There will be a information meeting on Thursday regarding exchange. September 15th is the deadline for applying for the exchange programs.

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Onsdag 17. august markerte starten på mine to år som masterstudent i medievitenskap. Jeg er en av 23 studenter som ble tatt opp dette semesteret og endelig takket ja. Forskningsparken på Blindern til Universitetet i Oslo er hovedtilholdssted for mine to emner denne høsten. ”Masteroppgaveseminar” skal brukes til å forme oppgaveideen, mens ”Media and Globalization" vel sier seg selv – undervises for øvrig på engelsk med hovedsakelig internasjonale studenter. Begge virker som spennende fag etter et par forelesinger.

Mastergraden består av fire valgfri emner innen media, et foredragsseminar og ellers selve mastergradsoppgaven. Jeg tenker en oppgave hvis hypotese prøver å svare på om norsk presse er kristenfiendtlig.

Om jeg skal ha utenlandsopphold, vil dette skje til våren, om jeg følger foreslått oppsett. Mexico har vært og er fortsatt i søkelyset, men Guadalajara som jeg prøvde meg på først (på grunn av god venninne der) ser vanskelig ut. Jeg ønsker meg til latin-amerika for språkets del, men må studere på engelsk på grunn av at spansken ennå ikke er godt nok til å studere på masternivå. Men utland blir det nok ganske sikkert uansett. Universitetet har mange avtaler rundt om i verden, og så lenge jeg får fagene godkjent, kan jeg i grunn studere hvor jeg vil (men da mot skolepenger). Torsdag er det orienteringsmøte angående utveksling. 15. september er fristen for å søke til universitets programmer.

120.000 A-ha-opplevelser

Frognerparken kokte i kveld. 120.000 mennesker fikk med seg en gratis helkveld sponset av vårt alles kjære Hydro – hva nå en det er de egentlig gjør. Jeg kom meg ned til Ravi og DJ løve spilte opp til nisjepop, som oppvarmsingsband til selvesete A-ha; Norges største band på verdensbasis. Sammen med Marit & Arnhild hjemmefra og Jan Ove fra journalistutdanningen, fikk jeg så ribbeinene dunket. Det er greit å bo i Oslo for slike hendelser, sannsynligvis den største konserten i Norgeshistorien hva publikumsantall angår.

En veldig fin måte å ikke bruke penger på.

E: Children's prayers 2

This is the second part of a selectin of kids' messages to God. Read the first part also.

¤ Dear God, Did you mean for giraffes to look like that or was it an accident?
= Norma =

¤ Dear God, In bible times, did they really talk that fancy?
= Jennifer =

¤ Dear God, Please send Dennis Clark to a different summer camp this year.
= Peter =

¤ Dear God, Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they each had their own rooms. It works out OK with me and my brother.
= Larry =

¤ Dear God, I keep waiting for spring, but it never did come yet. What's up? Don't forget.
= Mark =

¤ Dear God, My brother told me about how you are born but it just doesn't sound right. What do you say?
= Marsha =

¤ Dear God, If you watch in Church on Sunday I will show you my new shoes.
= Barbara =

¤ Dear God, Is Reverend Coe a friend of yours, or do you just know him through the business?
= Donny =

¤ Dear God, I do not think anybody could be a better God than you. Well, I just want you to know that. I am not just saying that because you are already God.
= Charles =

¤ Dear God, It is great the way you always get the stars in the right place. Why can't you do that with the moon?
= Jeff =

¤ Dear God, I am doing the best I can. Really !!!!
= Frank =

E: Fresh in Grefsen (Oslo)

I moved again. Hence, life has been a bit busy. In the middle of it all I'm studying, practicing (volleyball), working, catching up with friends and more. I am happy in Oslo though, and will share from past incidents in few days. Hopefully by the end of this weekend.

My new Oslo address is as follows:

Sindre Storvoll
Glads vei 47
0489 Oslo
Norway

Check out these maps:
With a flag: interactive or as an image
With a pin: interactive
With a dot: as an image

E: Children's prayers

A recent e-mail was titled 'too cute'. Here is the first half proving why.

¤ Dear God, please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now.
= Amanda =

¤ Dear God, Thank you for the baby brother but what I asked for was a puppy. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up.
= Joyce =

¤ Dear Mr. God, I wish you would not make it so easy for people to come apart I had to have 3 stitches and a shot.
= Janet =

¤ God, I read the bible. What does beget mean? Nobody will tell me. Love,
= Alison =

¤ Dear God, How did you know you were God? Who told you?
= Charlene =

¤ Dear God, Is it true my father won't get in Heaven if he uses his golf words in the house?
= Anita =

¤ Dear God, I bet it's very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it.
= Nancy =

¤ Dear God, I like the story about Noah the best of all of them. You really made up some good ones. I like walking on water, too.
= Glenn =

¤ Dear God, My Grandpa says you were around when he was a little boy. How far back do you go? Love,
= Dennis =

¤ Dear God, Do you draw the lines around the countries? If you don't, who does?
= Nathan =

X: Too organized?/overorganisert?

I am a systematic natural, on the verge to become neurotic. I dislike broken or postponed appointments, latecomers and untidiness. This does not apply to all areas of my life, but much of it needs to be organized. It has been years since I woke up one morning without anything scheduled, often several things simultaneously.

This way of life relishes efficiency, but might stir me up a tad too much. I do understand that someone find me a bit dramatic because of my timed life. But not until today I speculated about whether I actually start to get on my own nerves at times.

A complete life does not contain everything.

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Jeg er en systematiker av rang, på grensen til nevrotisk. Jeg liker ikke at avtaler brytes eller forsinkes, at noen kommer for sent eller at noe er uryddig. Dette gjelder ikke på alle områder, men mye i midt liv må være organisert. Det er mange år siden jeg våknet en morgen uten et dagsprogram. Dødtid bør forholde seg død. Jeg gjør gjerne flere ting på en gang.

Denne væremåten gjør meg effektiv, men kanskje mer oppjaget enn nødvendig. Jeg forstår at noen kanskje vil finne meg litt vel dramatisk på området, men i dag funderte jeg på om jeg faktisk begynner å bli sliten av meg selv.

Et komplett liv inneholder ikke alt.

E: Soon and very soon

Things are still crazy busy down in Oslo. I am very close to get settled and will provide more updates in few days. Very brief from last week:

- I started practicing volleyball with my old div 1 team OSI
- I started uni. My subjects this semester will be a master thesis preperation class and one named "media and globalization" (actually in English)
- I have reunited with a lot of friends and met a few new ones
- I moved in with a friend of a friend in a part of Oslo named Grønland (last Sunday). Today however, I was offered a place with a local church a little north of uni (10 minutes by bike) where I will get a cheap rent if I work a few hours each week with the youth.
- Last night I went to an outside church service downtown, which was also attended by Rigoberta Menchu, the Nobel Peace Price winner from Guatemala
- I have my first lecture in 11 minutes and gotta go.

E: A racist airborne story

This is a true story that place on a BA (British Airways) flight between Johannesburg and London.

A white woman, about 50 years old, was seated next to a black man. Obviously disturbed by this, she called the air Hostess.

"Madam, what is the matter?" the hostess asked.
"You obviously do not see it then?" she responded. "You placed me next to a black man. I do not agree to sit next to someone from such a repugnant group. Give me an alternative seat."
"Be calm please," the hostess replied. "Almost all the places on this flight are taken. I will go to see if another place is available."

The Hostess went away and then came back a few minutes later. "Madam, just as I thought, there are no other available seats in the Economy class. I spoke to the captain and he informed me that there is also no seat in the business class. All the same, we still have one place inthe first class."

Before the woman could say anything, the hostess continued: "It is not usual for our company to permit someone from theeconomy class to sit in the first class. However, given the circumstances, the captain feels that it would be scandalous to make someone sit next to someone so disgusting."

She turned to the black man, and said, "Therefore, Sir, if you would like to, please collectyour hand luggage, a seat awaits you in first class."

At that moment, the other passengers who were shocked by what they had just witnessed stood up and applauded.

Skatter i helvete

Siste sak DinSide publiserte med min byline omhandler kinesiske ritualer for avdødde.

Klikk her for å nøste opp mine tidligere publiserte artikler i DinSide.

X: Boy in Oslo/Oslogutt

Late last nite I moved into my new home downtown Oslo (Grønland). I came to a city I've explored over the scope of two years (fall 2002-spring 2004), but a lot still felt completely new.
For now my address is

Sindre Storvoll
Grønlandsleiret 53b
0190 Oslo
Norway

I share a 50 square meter apartment with a cool drummer dude I don't really know yet (friend of a friend). He appears like anything but trouble though. :)

Wednesday is the orientation meeting for my master program.
I will write more as soon as I get online at home.

Norsk Barnehjelp på trass

For et par dager siden fikk hustanden en telefon fra Norsk Barnehjelp. Mannspersonen på andre siden av linja promoterte prosjekter i Sudans hovedstad; skoler og hjem i Khartoum. Av medfølelse og interesse, sa jeg meg villig til å donere. Dette har jeg nå også gjort etter å ha mottatt barnetegninger og voksengiroer i posten.

Det jeg ikke likte like godt, var at da jeg sa meg villig, var det plutselig lite valgfrihet igjen. Jeg fikk ikke sjansen til kun å få oppgitt et kontonummer og bestemme summen selv, da giroer på 300 og 600 kroner virket som eneste utvei. Jeg takket dermed ja til den ene. I en bisetning ble det sagt noe om frakt/administrasjon eller lignende før samtalen var over. Da giroen kom, som også hadde streng betalingsfrist, akkumlerte denne ekstrakostnaden seg til 79 kroner ekstra.

Jeg har ikke noe imot å bruke penger på trengende i Sudan, og 79 kroner er ikke mye. Men jeg syntes det ble noe overrumplende ved det hele. Jeg støtter per i dag også andre bistandsprosjekter, men følte ikke telefonsamtalen ga mersmak. Neste gang vil jeg være den som ringer.

X: New thoughts/nye tanker?

Earlier than the master studies commence, one is to turn in a draft for a thesis. After brainstorming, consideration and discussion with acquainted media minds, I decided to explore the Christian-aloof press. My outline suggested comparing the coverage and angling of religious matter in the two main tabloid newspapers, followed by qualitative interviews. I had it all laid out.

Then, a day or two before deadline, I was told that “Agenda 3:16” (Christian magazine in Norway) had done something most comparable to my idea. It was true. Even if their investigation they conducted was not comprehensive enough, it still took the air out of the famous balloon.

Throughout the years I have given this concept a lot of thought. Whose idea is it, if someone has already thought your thought before you – even thought you were unaware of it? Can it be considered a new thought if you didn’t share it first? In other words; do we ever compose a new thought? In my definition we do. A part of having intelligence ropes in composing new connections and concepts. This happens to everyone to some extent, the same was as we all are introduced to talk or riding a bicycle.

Time will tell if the University of Oslo agrees with my line of thought. ;)

PS: My suggested alternative thesis regards travel journalism. I wish to research on whether this topic has journalists who let the source usage vacate more than for other areas.

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Før masterstudiene tar til, må man skrive et utkast til oppgaveidé. Etter litt myldring, vurdering og diskusjon med noen mediehoder, bestemte jeg meg i korttekst for å skrive om det kristenfiendtlige media i Norge. Jeg leverte en skisse der jeg foreslå å sammenligne VG og Dagbladet for en viss periode og måle omfang og vinkling av det religiøse stoffet for å teste min påstand. Dette skulle følges opp med kvalitative intervjuer av relevante pressefolk. Den røde tråden var tykk og lang.

Men så fikk jeg nyss i at Normisjonens Agenda 3:16-blad hadde gjort noe tilsvarende. Det stemte. Selv om deres undersøkelser ikke var iverksatt lenge nok til å dokumente noe særlig, var ideen på en måte brukt opp – i alle fall tatt brodden ut av.

I årenes løp har jeg tenkt en god del på nettopp dette. Hvems idé er det om noen har tenkt tanken før deg, men du selv ikke visste om dette før du pønsker på det selv? Kan man kalle det en ny tanke om du ikke var først? Med andre ord; tenker man i det hele tatt noe nytt? Jeg mener vel egentlig det. En del av det å tenke og ha tilgang på intelligens innebærer å resonnere frem nye koblinger og konsepter. Dette skjer med alle, på samme måte som man lærer å snakke eller sykle. Så får vi se om universitetet i Oslo følger resonnementet. :)

PS: Alternativet mitt er enn så lenge angående reisejounralistikk. Jeg ønsker å undersøke hvorvidt journalister som skriver reisestoff lar kildebruken feriere mer enn for andre emner/innhold.

Brassefotball på nett

DinSide publiserer flere av mine søramerikanske opplevelser, denne gangen om brasilianske fotballdrømmer.

Tidligere saker kan spores opp via denne lenken.

X: Summer thoughts/Sommertanker

This month and a half back in my home village Brøstadbotn (in the township of Dyrøy), I have worked close to two dozens shifts in the living assistance department. The work consists in assisting elderly almost capable of taking care of themselves. Nearly twenty of these are night shifts (10pm to 8am). Even if things can be pretty crazy and hectic at times, it’s generally a slow-pace atmosphere. That allows thinking space. Here are some of the thoughts I’ve had the last couple of weeks.

• When one check on old people, it is not sufficient to verify that their eyes are closed and that they lie still. One has to listen very carefully or go really close to ensure that they breathe as well. That they wouldn’t is extremely rare (only once per person :), but you never know.
  
  
• A human being can be exposed for just about anything regarding coldness, heat, accidents, nutrition (or lack thereof) and still amazingly survive without any noticeable damages. On the other hand, the tiniest scratch can paralyse you for life. We are very robust, yet so fragile.
  
  
• My sister’s boyfriend (Kim) brought up the query of why white people’s hair lightens in the sun while the skin darkens. About so I wonder too. I am positive that there’s a perfectly reasonable scientific explanation for it. But until it’s been revealed to me, I prefer to philosophize.
  



• I watched the Norwegian Andreas Thorkildsen settle for silver in the javelin final tonight of the World Championship in track & field. That made me think of all the sports I didn’t or will never try. How can I know for what sport I have the most potential? And if everyone were to try out for every sport and then make the cut for who should go for it – how skilled would the champions be then? At least I am convinced that they would through that spear beyond that 100 meter mark again (the current record is 98.48 meters with the new models).

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Denne sommeren har jeg jobbet nærmere to dusin vakter i hjemmetjenesten i Dyrøy Kommune. Arbeidet medfører å assistere eldre mennesker som nesten klarer seg selv. Nærmere 20 av vaktene er nattevkater (kl 22-8). Selv om det kan være full rulle og sto ståhei til tider, er det stort sett en stille atmosfære. Det gir rom for å tenke. Her er noen andre tanker jeg har hatt de siste ukene.

• Når man har tilsyn med gamle mennesker, holder det ikke å sjekke at de har øyene igjen og ligger rolig. Man må høre godt etter eller gå nokså nærme for å forsikre seg om at de også har åndedrett. Det er så å si alltid tilfelle, men man kan aldri vite.
  
  
• Mennesket kan på en side utsette seg for nesten hva det skal være av kulde, varme, fall, krasj, næring eller mangel på sådan og overleve uten en skramme eller varige men. Samtidig kan et lite slag eller en skramme lamme deg for livet. Tålsom, men samtidig så skjørt.
  
  
• Min søster heter Ingvild og har en kjæreste som heter Kim. Han tok i dag opp spørsmålet om hvorfor hvites hår ikke blir mørkere, men lysere av å være i sola (i motsetning til huden). Det lurer jeg også litt på. Det er helt sikker en kjempelogisk, naturvitenskapelig forklaring. Men inntil noe er bevist for meg, liker jeg å filosofere.
  
  
• Jeg så Andreas Torkildsen kaste spyd til en sølvmedalje i friidretts-VM i Finland i dag. Jeg tenker en del på alle idrettene jeg ikke har prøvd eller hatt muligheten til å delta i. Hvordan kan jeg vite hvilken jeg er best egna for og har mest potensiale i? Hvor bra ville ikke nivået vært i hvilken som helst idrett hvis alle hadde prøvd den for å finne ut hvem som hadde størst talent og så kun latt disse trene/konkurrere? For eksempel i spyd som er svært lite utbredt. 100-meters grensa ville nok fort blitt forbigått (på herresiden).
  
  
• NORSK BONUS: Hvorfor har ingen tenkt på bunadsbikini? Spesielt i sommermånedene renner klagene inn om temperatur, tranghet, pris og redsel for å grise på seg. En bikinimodell vil være billigere, enkel, temperert i varmen og simpel å holde ren.

E: Wise advice 2

I received an e-mail recently with a list of simple, yet powerful recommendations for everyday life. Here are the last 10. You can read the first 10 by clicking here.

11) Talk slowly, but think quickly

12) When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

13) Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk

14) Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze

15) When you lose, don't lose the lesson

16) Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions

17) Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship

18) When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it

19) Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice

20) Spend some time alone (not too much, I would add)

X: Cool tickets/riktige billetter

A few tickets for the Coldplay concert(Oslo, October 31st) had not been picked up, and were re-launched online this morning at 5am. By 6 they were sold-out again. There is a great advantage by working night shifts, as I was up, online and able to get two tickets for the front, middle section. One for me and one for the girl for whom I was the best man (more about the wedding here). AND, in addition to being in the very best located area, it's also in the area where the bride's best maid has gotten tickets. A merry reunion.

Now I have one ticket for sale (look for red spot), if anyone's interested; area 114, row 10, seat 12.

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Et par billetter til Coldplay-konserten(Oslo, 31. oktober) ble gjenlansert på nett i morges klokka 5. I løpet av en time var de nok en gang revet vekk. Det er flere fordeler med å arbeide som anttevakt, for eksempel at jeg var våken og på nett slik at jeg fikk sikret meg to billetter med best plassering; i midten, fremme ved scenen. En til meg og en til hun jeg var forlover for (les/se mer om bryllupet her). Ikke nok med det; den andre forloveren har fått billett i samme feltet.

Nå har jeg en billett til overs, om noen skulle være interessert; felt 114, rad 10, sete 12.

E: Melbourne gratitude

I jotted down some thoughts last night for all the wonderful friends I got (and physically left, for a bit) in Melbourne.

Distance doesn’t have to be distant.
Time apart doesn’t have to be absence.
Different languages don’t have to distort communication.
Rarity in meeting, concentrates quality.
Fewer new memories make the old ones last longer.
Challenges make stronger.

Melbourne is afar, yet so real.
My year down under is over, but the experiences won’t ever go away.
Practicalities prevent frequent gatherings, but not multiple friendships.
I returned as myself - an improved one though.
A possible future return to those I miss is impossible to dismiss.
And sooner or later I will have the chance to repay by hosting in Norway.

E: Wise advice

I received an e-mail today with a list of simple, yet powerful recommendations for everyday life. Here are the first 10.

1) Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully

2) Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other

3) When you say, "I love you," mean it

4) When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye

5) Be engaged at least six months before you get married

6) Believe in love at first sight

7) Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much

8) Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely

9) In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling

10) Don't judge people by their relatives

E: Fast Fun Facts 2

This is the continuation of Fast Fun Facts

• Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:
o Spades - King David
o Hearts - Charlemagne
o Clubs - Alexander, the Great
o Diamonds - Julius Caesar

• 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

• PERSON-ON-HORSE STATUES: If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.

• Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.

• Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of their birthplace

• If you were to spell out numbers, you would have to go until one thousand to find the letter “A”.

• Bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers are all invented by women.

• Honey is the only food that doesn't spoil?

• SLEEP TIGHT: In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase. "Goodnight, sleep tight."

• HONEYMOON: It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month ....which we know today as the honeymoon.

X: Coldplay afterall/alikevel!

After hours of sorrow and despair from experiencing ticket sell-out, I was able to purchase one of the precious few that bounced back online for unknown reasons. I was only able to get a seat halfway back; Area 114, row 10, seat 12. I did not get access to one of the desired standing/jumping area in front of the stage), but I can't complain. And if I don't wanna go by the end of the day (before October 31st), I can always sell it (probably with profit).

I'm still on a quest to find myself a better position and a ticket for another friend. So the announcement earlier today is still valid ;)

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Timevis med sorg og fortvilelse ble avløst i et billettkjøp. Et fåtall billetter ble av uviss grunn gjenlansert, og jeg slo til. Jeg fikk kun sete plass halveis bak i Spektrum; Felt 114, rad 10, sete 12. Dette i motsetning til en ønsket stå-/hoppeplass ved scenen, men jeg skal ikke klage. Og om jeg bestemmer meg for å ikke gå, er det ikke noe problem å få videresolgt billetten - selv med fortjeneste.

Likevel er jeg fortsatt på utkikk etter en bedre plassering og en billett for en annen venn. Så utlysningen tidligere i dag står ved lag ;)

Sambarier i Rio

Den nettbaserte DinSide Reise publiserte i dag mine tasterier fra Rio de Janerio. Les de her.

Tidligere har forbrukersiden lagt ut diverse artikler med min byline fra Australia og Singapore, samt noen guider. Mer er i vente fra Brasil, New Zealand og Malaysia.

X: Hot with/med Coldplay

Coldplay will perform in Oslo on 31st of October. The tickets were issued this morning at 9 am. A good friend of mine, Camilla, bought one right after and encouraged me to buy one too. When I logged on at 10, it was sold out entirely. I returned from night shift at 8 am. But even if I had a few important tasks to take care of in the morning, it could easily have been postponed a few minutes.

It kind of sucks, as I didn’t realise until afterwards how eager I really was to rock with the British lads. The U2 experience reinforced that desire.

If anyone knows of a spare ticket, I know of a willing buyer ;)

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Coldplay har konsert i Oslo Spektrum 31. oktober. Billettene ble lagt ut for salg i morges klokka 9. Min gode venninne Camilla (Isaksen) kjøpte like etter og oppfordret meg snart etter til å gjøre det samme. Klokka 10, da jeg logget meg på, var det helt utsolgt. Jeg kom fra nattevakt klokka 8, og selv om jeg hadde en del å gjøre på morgenkvisten, kunne jeg enkelt utsatt det noen minutter. Litt kjedelig, da jeg ikke før etterpå innså hvor gira jeg virkelig var for å dra. Opplevelsen på U2 konserten har nok mye av skylda for det.

Hvis noen skulle ha en billett til overs, vet jeg om en villig kjøper ;)

E: What is love (asking a kid)?

Love from a Kid's Point of View

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth."

"Love is when someone hurts you, and you get so mad, but you don't yell at them because you know it would hurt their feelings."

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is okay."

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."

"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."


"What Is Love-From a Kid's Point of View," LightSinger