So this is what having your country attacked by terrorists feels like.
Norway hit by deadly bomb and shooting attacks - BBC
And what kind of terrorist is it that targets kids?
And what kind of terrorist is it that targets kids?
A day of true summer
Yesterday was the third warmest day on record up here, reaching 28C at the meteorology institute and breaking 30C several places :) (Unfortunately one of those places was the store I work in, which is where I spent half the day yesterday. I went to work in jeans, but after three hours I felt compelled to go buy a skirt to wear instead)
It's not that I mind the usual summer weather - anything above 15C is nice, and 20C is great - but walking around yesterday without feeling any desire for long sleeves, seeing the heat haze on the horizon (even the growing rainclouds), being able to stand barefoot outside our door and feel warmth radiate from the concrete under my feet...
It was awesome.
It's not that I mind the usual summer weather - anything above 15C is nice, and 20C is great - but walking around yesterday without feeling any desire for long sleeves, seeing the heat haze on the horizon (even the growing rainclouds), being able to stand barefoot outside our door and feel warmth radiate from the concrete under my feet...
It was awesome.
A love letter to the Norwegian coastline
Hurtigruten is probably one of the best-known things about Norway, sailing from Bergen on the west coast to Kirkenes in the far northeast, a trip that takes 134 hours. This weekend, there are cameras on board, filming every minute on the trip and broadcasting it non-stop both on one of the national channels and on the internet. (Right now they are just about at the arctic circle - oh, literally, they are, right now as I type they're passing the globe statue at the circle. Heh :) )
Other than the occasional interview or commentary, and some bits of suitable music, the only sound is that of the engine, the waves, and whatever activities are going on. The weather has been beautiful at least since Trondheim, the nights have not been dark (and the sun won't set for the remainder of the trip) and we've seen all the different landscapes they pass as viewed from the boat itself. There was a beautiful sunset last night just after midnight.
Also, people along the route have been assembling on islands and skerries to wave. They've been met by people in national costumes in ports, and people have been driving their own boats alongside the Hurtigrute, waving flags. The tourists who happened to pick this particular trip are lucky - they might as well have been taking the trip on may 17, except this time the special attention is lasting for five days instead of one.
To make this extra special for me, a family friend is on her way here on the boat, to disembark tomorrow. I can tell she should be having a wonderful trip :)
(And now I want to take the trip myself even more than I've wanted to in the past :) )
Other than the occasional interview or commentary, and some bits of suitable music, the only sound is that of the engine, the waves, and whatever activities are going on. The weather has been beautiful at least since Trondheim, the nights have not been dark (and the sun won't set for the remainder of the trip) and we've seen all the different landscapes they pass as viewed from the boat itself. There was a beautiful sunset last night just after midnight.
Also, people along the route have been assembling on islands and skerries to wave. They've been met by people in national costumes in ports, and people have been driving their own boats alongside the Hurtigrute, waving flags. The tourists who happened to pick this particular trip are lucky - they might as well have been taking the trip on may 17, except this time the special attention is lasting for five days instead of one.
To make this extra special for me, a family friend is on her way here on the boat, to disembark tomorrow. I can tell she should be having a wonderful trip :)
(And now I want to take the trip myself even more than I've wanted to in the past :) )
Six years
Today is our sixth wedding anniversary. And just like that sunday, the sun is shining from a lightly clouded sky.
There shall be pancakes.
There shall be pancakes.
Revelation of the day
Contrary to my beliefs, frangipane is not some weird exotic fruit, but instead a substance I already know (and love) but could only name in Norwegian...
YMM indeed V
The first thing I heard about the movie adaptation of comic-book Thor was that omg Heimdall was played by a quite un-vikingly black guy?!1!!one!!
I recently read a review of the movie in a Norwegian paper. The reviewer seemed to regard the movie as a quaint view of the old Norse mythology, expressed surprise that Asgard was now a gaudy planet and that Loki had the villain's role he had(in short, didn't seem aware that it was based on a comic book and not quite so much the actual mythology), and considered the whole thing a silly, entertaining romp.
And with all the racefail kerfuffle I have seen so far, I was very amused to see the reviewer list as a plus that Heimdall was played by 'the smoking hot Idris Elba' - with no mention of colour :)
I recently read a review of the movie in a Norwegian paper. The reviewer seemed to regard the movie as a quaint view of the old Norse mythology, expressed surprise that Asgard was now a gaudy planet and that Loki had the villain's role he had(in short, didn't seem aware that it was based on a comic book and not quite so much the actual mythology), and considered the whole thing a silly, entertaining romp.
And with all the racefail kerfuffle I have seen so far, I was very amused to see the reviewer list as a plus that Heimdall was played by 'the smoking hot Idris Elba' - with no mention of colour :)
Opposite Weather Land
I have developed a theorem that states that whenever the two largest 'national' newspapers wax enthusiastic about anything pertaining to the weather that supposedly applies to the entire country, this place will be experiencing the opposite.
Case in point: for the past two days, the newspapers have been going on about the heat wave we all are apparently enjoying, and talking about how this hot spring weather is going to last a while.
Here, it snowed on those same two days.
(I must admit, though, that I didn't mind when we had a mild spell this winter while the newspapers were bemoaning the cold snap we all were being crushed by)
Case in point: for the past two days, the newspapers have been going on about the heat wave we all are apparently enjoying, and talking about how this hot spring weather is going to last a while.
Here, it snowed on those same two days.
(I must admit, though, that I didn't mind when we had a mild spell this winter while the newspapers were bemoaning the cold snap we all were being crushed by)
Entry tags:
Universal grammar? No thank you.
I don't believe in universal grammar. I find there's something very unsatisfying in the whole idea that our grammar features should be something imprinted in our brains the same way the blueprint for our eyes or skin are; I prefer the notion that we acquire language from our peers and parents, and that the reason we struggle to learn new languages past our formative years is due to the lessened plasticity of the brain (blindfold a child from birth until seven or eight, and its eyes will never learn to see). Why should humans have genetic grammar constructs if apes and birds do not?
I read an article in the Economist today about a recently published paper (link to summary) that concludes that it is nuture and ancestry that dictates how we speak, not nature. We do not genetically inherit our 'universal grammar' elements, but learn them from family and peers.
I always enjoy it when a scientific theory I support gets a good solid boost :)
I read an article in the Economist today about a recently published paper (link to summary) that concludes that it is nuture and ancestry that dictates how we speak, not nature. We do not genetically inherit our 'universal grammar' elements, but learn them from family and peers.
I always enjoy it when a scientific theory I support gets a good solid boost :)
Spring still on hold
Got about four inches of snow yesterday, halting the progress of the snowmelt (only two feet to go at the official measuring point, down from five feet three weeks ago)
Hopefully the past three days have been winter's last hurrah, as the sky seems to be looking like spring again today...
Hopefully the past three days have been winter's last hurrah, as the sky seems to be looking like spring again today...
Spring, what is that?
We are past the vernal equinox, and up here we therefore have More Daylight Than You.
We also have the blizzard that hit yesterday and made everything look like the day after tomorrow.
It is now -7C and it looks like the snow levels are back up to about 1 meter, if not more. And the tiny budding colt's foot that I saw in the narrow strip of dirt between the outer wall and the snow banks on Monday is quite buried. (Sorry, flower, but you should have known better. Try again in a month or so.)
We also have the blizzard that hit yesterday and made everything look like the day after tomorrow.
It is now -7C and it looks like the snow levels are back up to about 1 meter, if not more. And the tiny budding colt's foot that I saw in the narrow strip of dirt between the outer wall and the snow banks on Monday is quite buried. (Sorry, flower, but you should have known better. Try again in a month or so.)
It could have been so much worse
And anywhere else on the planet, it would have been.
Japan’s Strict Building Codes Saved Lives
The thing I can't get over is the video of a flood of wood and debris and burning buildings, inexorably flowing over a larger and larger area of farmland, and the cars that were trying to flee from it.
Japan’s Strict Building Codes Saved Lives
The thing I can't get over is the video of a flood of wood and debris and burning buildings, inexorably flowing over a larger and larger area of farmland, and the cars that were trying to flee from it.
Happy Christmas!
We got about 5 inches of snow overnight to cover up the hard icy stuff we've been carefully walking across for much of the month. The clear sky is gone, of course, but one cannot have everything :)
My christmas is otherwise well stocked with tree, cookies made last night (due to first batch being prematurely devoured), loving husband, and peaceful feeling in the heart. This year has not been the best, but I have high hopes of it going out on a good note :)
My christmas is otherwise well stocked with tree, cookies made last night (due to first batch being prematurely devoured), loving husband, and peaceful feeling in the heart. This year has not been the best, but I have high hopes of it going out on a good note :)
Whee
Happy birthday to me, I live in a tree, and shout out with glee, happy birthday to me.
(Yes, my brain is weird. Carry on.)
I've been wanting a day with clear skies for so long that I can't recall how long it's been, and other than a thin haze, it looks like I might get one today. It's cold, though; -3C in downtown, and it's usually colder here.
The day will be spent visiting the state archives and learning stuff about genealogy :)
(Yes, my brain is weird. Carry on.)
I've been wanting a day with clear skies for so long that I can't recall how long it's been, and other than a thin haze, it looks like I might get one today. It's cold, though; -3C in downtown, and it's usually colder here.
The day will be spent visiting the state archives and learning stuff about genealogy :)
No news like good news
After 70 days, all 33 trapped Chilean miners are rescued
Here's hoping they won't have too many problems as they restart their lives!
Here's hoping they won't have too many problems as they restart their lives!
And so it begins
It is just past 8 pm.
There's a couple of inches of snow outside, and it is currently snowing/hailing/sleeting.
I need to make more weather icons.
There's a couple of inches of snow outside, and it is currently snowing/hailing/sleeting.
I need to make more weather icons.