Podcasts about Oslo

Before Delta Force captured Nicolás Maduro, Bryan Stern went on a secret mission in Venezuela. The veteran and Purple Heart recipient was there to extract opposition leader María Corina Machado, who had been living in hiding for her own safety. Bryan was trying to get María to Oslo to accept her Nobel Peace Prize. This daring operation – named Operation Golden Dynamite after Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite – involved land, sea, and air. This is just one of many high-stakes evacuations Bryan has conducted through his nonprofit organization, Grey Bull Rescue. Sasha and Bryan sat down to discuss the operation, just a few days after he returned from Venezuela. Subscribe to Sasha's Substack, HUMINT, to get more intelligence stories: https://sashaingber.substack.com/ For more information about the International Spy Museum, visit: https://www.spymuseum.org/ And if you have feedback or want to hear about a particular topic, you can reach us by email at spycast@spymuseum.org. This show is brought to you by N2K Networks, Goat Rodeo, and the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. This episode was produced by Flora Warshaw and the team at Goat Rodeo. At the International Spy Museum, Mike Mincey and Memphis Vaughan III are our video editors. Emily Rens is our graphic designer. Joshua Troemel runs our SPY social media. Amanda Ohlke is our Director of Adult Education and Mira Cohen is the Vice President of Programs.

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Unlocking Ancestral Secrets: A Young Historian's Quest Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-02-17-23-34-02-no Story Transcript:No: Om vinteren, når snøen dekker Oslo som et mykt teppe, glitrer Vikingeskipsmuseet som en perle ved sjøen.En: In the winter, when the snow covers Oslo like a soft blanket, the Vikingeskipsmuseet glistens like a pearl by the sea.No: Inne i museet, mellom majestetiske skip og vikingarv, står Astrid.En: Inside the museum, among majestic ships and Viking heritage, stands Astrid.No: Hun er en ung historiker.En: She is a young historian, passionately devoted to exploring her family's past.No: Lidenskapelig opptatt av å utforske sin families fortid.En: Her greatest wish is to prove that her ancestors were great among the Vikings.No: Hennes største ønske er å bevise at hennes forfedre var storheter blant vikinger.En: Lars, an older museum curator, is skeptical of Astrid's claim.No: "Vi trenger håndfaste bevis," sier Lars, og rister på hodet når Astrid spør om hjelp.En: "We need solid evidence," says Lars, shaking his head when Astrid asks for help.No: Været er ugjestmildt.En: The weather is inhospitable.No: Vinden hyler utenfor mens isen klorer på vinduene, men Astrid lar seg ikke stoppe.En: The wind howls outside while the ice claws at the windows, but Astrid is not deterred.No: Hun bestemmer seg.En: She makes a decision.No: Denne natten vil hun snike seg inn i museets restrikterte arkiver.En: This night, she will sneak into the museum's restricted archives.No: Mikkel, en venn av Astrid, advarer henne.En: Mikkel, a friend of Astrid, warns her.No: "Det er risikabelt," sier han med uro i stemmen.En: "It's risky," he says with concern in his voice.No: Men Astrid er bestemt.En: But Astrid is determined.No: Hun vil finne sannheten.En: She will find the truth.No: Natten omfavner Oslo, og museet ligger stille.En: Night embraces Oslo, and the museum lies silent.No: Astrid puster dypt, tripper gjennom korridorene som en skygge.En: Astrid takes a deep breath, tiptoeing through the corridors like a shadow.No: Hun kjenner lukten av gammelt treverk og lær.En: She smells the scent of old wood and leather.No: Det beroliger henne.En: It calms her.No: I arkivet er det mørkt, men Astrid har med seg en lommelykt.En: In the archive, it is dark, but Astrid has brought a flashlight.No: Hun leser hyller fulle av gulnede papirer.En: She reads through shelves full of yellowed papers.No: Fingrene hennes glir over titalls bøker og dokumenter.En: Her fingers glide over dozens of books and documents.No: Så, i en støvete, gammel bok, finner hun det hun leter etter: Et kart med hennes slektsnavn, innrisset som en hemmelig beskjed fra fortiden.En: Then, in a dusty old book, she finds what she is looking for: A map with her family name, inscribed as a secret message from the past.No: Spente fingre blar forsiktig gjennom manuset.En: Excited fingers carefully flip through the manuscript.No: Hjertet hennes banker raskt.En: Her heart beats rapidly.No: Her står det—hennes forfedre var ikke bare vanlige vikinger.En: Here it is—her ancestors were not just ordinary Vikings.No: De var oppdagelsesreisende!En: They were explorers!No: Hennes forfader ledet et ekspedisjon over ukjente hav.En: Her forefather led an expedition across unknown seas.No: Dokumentet er gammelt, men det er ekte.En: The document is old, but it is genuine.No: Med dokumentet i hånden, drar hun tilbake til Lars' kontor.En: With the document in hand, she returns to Lars' office.No: "Se her!" utbryter hun, mens morgenlyset begynner å gradvis fylle rommet.En: "Look here!" she exclaims, as the morning light gradually begins to fill the room.No: Skepsisen i Lars' blikk forsvinner sakte, erstattet av forundring.En: The skepticism in Lars' eyes slowly disappears, replaced by astonishment.No: Astrids funn er betagende.En: Astrid's discovery is captivating.No: Historien hennes blir anerkjent, og beviset er uomtvistelig.En: Her story is acknowledged, and the evidence is undeniable.No: Astrid står der, stolt og selvsikker.En: Astrid stands there, proud and confident.No: Hun har bevist sin families arv.En: She has proven her family's legacy.No: Endelig kan hun fortelle historien med hode hevet.En: Finally, she can tell the story with her head held high.No: Hun smiler mot Lars og Mikkel.En: She smiles at Lars and Mikkel.No: Vinteren utenfor er kald, men i Astrids hjerte brenner ilden av en seier.En: The winter outside is cold, but in Astrid's heart burns the fire of victory.No: Hun er ikke bare en historiker.En: She is not just a historian.No: Hun er en del av historien selv.En: She is part of history itself. Vocabulary Words:majestic: majestetiskeheritage: arvhistorian: historikerancestors: forfedreskeptical: skeptiskevidence: bevisinhospitable: ugjestmildthowls: hylerdeterred: stopperestricted: restrikterterisky: risikabeltconcern: urocorridors: korridorenecalms: beroligerflashlight: lommelyktinscribed: innrissetmanuscript: manusordinary: vanligeexplorers: oppdagelsesreisendeexpedition: ekspedisjonseas: havgenuine: ekteastonishment: forundringcaptivating: betagendeacknowledged: anerkjentundeniable: uomtvisteligconfident: selvsikkerlegacy: arvvictory: seierpart: del

The Great Heathen Army: the cool, or terrifying, name given to a huge Norse army that landed in England in the middle of the 9th century and stayed for 13 years, devastating the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. The Viking leaders are semi-legendary, cloaked in the mythology of the Norse and the scaremongering of the Anglo-Saxons. Was the army really led by the three sons of the infamous Ragnar Lothbrook, as depicted in Assassin's Creed Valhalla? What were they trying to achieve? And after Alfred the Great, would the Great Heathen Army have considered itself successful?Matt Lewis is joined by Dr Caitlin Ellis, Associate Professor of Nordic Medieval History at the University of Oslo. She'll be the guide to lead us on our quest for answers!Listen to our previous episode about the time Viking invaders nearly killed their nemesis, Alfred the Great.Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Watch these interviews and exclusive videos on our YouTube channel.Hosted by: Matt LewisEdited by: Michael McDaidProduced by: Robin McConnell, Matt LewisSenior Producer: Anne-Marie LuffProduction Manager: Beth DonaldsonExecutive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen BennettMusic:The Fate of East Mercia by Sarah SchachnerRivers and Fjords by Sarah SchachnerIf you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here.Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kronprinsessan av Norges son blev en del av kungafamiljen men aldrig av det norska kungahuset. Nu anklagas han för bland annat våldtäkt och riskerar många år i fängelse. Lyssna på alla avsnitt i Sveriges Radios app. Marius Borg Høiby är fyra år gammal när hans mamma Mette-Marit gifter sig med den norska kronprinsen Haakon. Sedan dess har han levt ett liv i offentligheten samtidigt som hans roll varit otydlig, han är en del av familjen men har ingen titel och är inte en del av kungahuset. I tonåren började han kallas för partyprinsen då han ofta syntes i Oslos uteliv. När han nu närmar sig 30 är han åtalad för 38 brott, varav fyra våldtäkter, och bland annat misshandel i nära relation och narkotikabrott. Han har erkänt några av brotten men nekar till våldtäkterna och flera av de andra åtalspunkterna.I avsnittet hörs journalisten och hovreportern Ebba Kleberg von Sydow, författaren och journalisten Hilde Sandvik, samt den grävande Dagbladet-journalisten Torgeir Krokfjord som är en av författarna till boken ”Vita linor, svarta får”.Avsnittet gjordes av Sally HenrikssonProgramledare och producent: Vendela LundbergTekniker: Fredrik NilssonResearch: Pilar LeguisamoProgrammet släpptes i februari 2026 och gjordes av produktionsbolaget DIST för Sveriges Radio.Ljudklippen kommer från Sveriges Radio, SVT, NRK, VG, Det Norske Kongehus, Sky News, Hola tv, TV4.

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Lars' Frosty Quest: Unlocking Dreams at Oslo's Winter Fest Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-02-16-08-38-20-no Story Transcript:No: Lars pustet dypt inn den kalde vinterluften idet han steg inn i Vigelandsparken, kledd i sin tykke ullfrakk.En: Lars took a deep breath of the cold winter air as he stepped into Vigelandsparken, dressed in his thick wool coat.No: Snøen knirket under hans støvler mens han beveget seg blant de store skulpturene.En: The snow crunched under his boots as he moved among the large sculptures.No: Parken var forvandlet til et vinterlandskap, med hver skulptur dekket av en tynn kappe av frost, som gjorde dem nesten magiske å se på.En: The park had been transformed into a winter landscape, with each sculpture covered in a thin layer of frost, making them look almost magical.No: Det var vinter skulpturfestival i Oslo, og folk hadde strømmet til fra hele byen.En: It was the winter sculpture festival in Oslo, and people had flocked in from all over the city.No: Barn lo og lekte i snøen, og en svak duft av nykokt gløgg hang i luften.En: Children laughed and played in the snow, and a faint scent of freshly cooked gløgg lingered in the air.No: Lars var spent, men også litt nervøs.En: Lars was excited but also a bit nervous.No: Han håpet å møte Ingrid, den berømte kunstneren.En: He hoped to meet Ingrid, the famous artist.No: Lars hadde med seg sin skissebok.En: Lars had brought his sketchbook.No: Den var fylt med hans egne tegninger og ideer.En: It was filled with his own drawings and ideas.No: Han ønsket å vise Ingrid hva han kunne.En: He wanted to show Ingrid what he could do.No: Kanskje han kunne få en læreplass hos henne.En: Maybe he could get an apprenticeship with her.No: Han drømte om å bli en stor skulptør en dag.En: He dreamed of becoming a great sculptor one day.No: Inne i parken var det en skulptur som fanget oppmerksomheten hans.En: Inside the park, there was one sculpture that caught his attention.No: Det var en enorm figur laget av is, med intrikate detaljer som fascinerte de forbipasserende.En: It was an enormous figure made of ice, with intricate details that fascinated the passersby.No: Mens han beundret den, så han plutselig Ingrid i mengden.En: As he admired it, he suddenly saw Ingrid in the crowd.No: Hun sto og studerte skulpturen nøye.En: She was standing and studying the sculpture carefully.No: Lars svelget nervøst og begynte å gå mot henne, men akkurat da merket han noe som fikk hjertet hans til å synke.En: Lars swallowed nervously and started to walk towards her, but just then he noticed something that made his heart sink.No: Skisseboken hans var borte!En: His sketchbook was gone!No: Han lette febrilsk i lommene og ryggsekken, men den var ingen steder å finne.En: He searched frantically in his pockets and backpack, but it was nowhere to be found.No: Og Ingrid hadde forsvunnet også.En: And Ingrid had disappeared too.No: Fortvilet sto han der, men så la han merke til noe merkelig.En: Desperate, he stood there, but then he noticed something strange.No: Rester av små, fnugg-formede ledetråder var plassert ved foten av is-skulpturen.En: Remnants of small, snowflake-shaped clues were placed at the foot of the ice sculpture.No: Lars så nærmere og oppdaget en liten lapp på bakken: "Oppdag kunsten, følg sporene.En: Lars looked closer and discovered a small note on the ground: "Discover the art, follow the tracks."No: "Med et bankende hjerte besluttet Lars å følge sporene.En: With a pounding heart, Lars decided to follow the tracks.No: Han gikk fra skulptur til skulptur, hver med en ny ledetråd som ledet videre gjennom parken.En: He went from sculpture to sculpture, each with a new clue leading further through the park.No: Mens han gikk, kjente han en blanding av frykt og spenning.En: As he walked, he felt a mix of fear and excitement.No: Hva skulle han finne i enden av disse sporene?En: What would he find at the end of these tracks?No: Til slutt, etter å ha dechiffrert den siste ledetråden, kom Lars til et avsidesliggende område av parken.En: Finally, after deciphering the last clue, Lars came to a secluded area of the park.No: Der, omringet av magisk belysning fra islykter, sto Ingrid.En: There, surrounded by magical lighting from ice lanterns, stood Ingrid.No: Og i hendene hennes - Lars' skissebok.En: And in her hands - Lars' sketchbook.No: "Ingrid!En: "Ingrid!"No: " utbrøt Lars, hans stemme fylt med lettelse.En: exclaimed Lars, his voice filled with relief.No: Hun smilte varmt til ham, "Tegningene dine er veldig imponerende, Lars.En: She smiled warmly at him, "Your drawings are very impressive, Lars.No: Du har stor talent og en unik stil.En: You have great talent and a unique style."No: "Lars kjente hvordan musklene i nakken slappet av.En: Lars felt the tension in his neck muscles release.No: Alt han håpet på, var virkelig.En: Everything he had hoped for was real.No: "Vil du lære hos meg?En: "Would you like to learn from me?"No: " spurte Ingrid med mild stemme.En: Ingrid asked in a gentle voice.No: "Jeg kunne trenge noen med ditt blikk for detaljer.En: "I could use someone with your eye for details."No: "Lars nikket ivrig, fylt med en ny trygghet i sitt hjerte.En: Lars nodded eagerly, filled with a new confidence in his heart.No: Han hadde ikke bare fått tilbake sin dyrebare skissebok, men også en sjanse til å følge drømmen sin.En: He had not only gotten back his precious sketchbook, but also a chance to pursue his dream.No: Varene lå i hans egen evne til å stole på seg selv og være åpen for nye muligheter.En: The key lay in his own ability to trust himself and be open to new opportunities.No: I den kjølige vinterluften, blant skulpturene, tok Lars' kunstneriske fremtid form, som en ny begynnelse i snøen.En: In the chilly winter air, among the sculptures, Lars' artistic future took shape, like a new beginning in the snow. Vocabulary Words:crunched: knirketflocked: strømmetapprenticeship: læreplassintricate: intrikatefascinated: fascinertefrantically: febrilskremnants: resterdeciphering: dechiffrertsecluded: avsidesliggenderelief: lettelseimpressive: imponerendeexcited: spentnervous: nervøsscent: dufttracks: spormagical: magiskecaught: fangetadmired: beundretsank: synkedisappeared: forsvunnetclue: ledetrådpounding: bankendegentle: mildtalent: talentconfidence: trygghetopportunity: mulighetlanterns: islykterunique: uniktransformed: forvandletprecious: dyrebare

Live fra John Dee i Oslo 20:00Billetter: https://rekommandert.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vi går inn i fremtiden, så hva tar vi med oss, og hvordan bestemmer vi oss for at noen ting får bli med videre, mens andre ting blir satt igjen på historiens veiskulder? Og hvordan utvikler vi en by uten at utviklingen gjør byen ugjenkjennelig for alle oss som har kjent den lenge? Og blir vi noenganger så glade i det vi har at det hindrer oss fra å se hva vi behøver? Dette og mye annet snakker Byantikvar Ellen Hole og Alexander om i denne episoden av Byggekunst.  Ellen Hole har vært Oslos byantikvar siden våren 2023 – den 10. i rekken. Ellen har bakgrunn som kjemiker og konservator, og gikk til byantikvaren fra å være avdelingsleder for bygg og spesialrådgivning i Sweco. Hun har også arbeidet ved Norsk institutt for kulturminneforskning, som konservator og leder for konserveringsavdelingen Byantikvaren er Oslo kommunes faglige rådgiver i alle spørsmål som gjelder bevaring av arkitektoniske og kulturhistoriske verdifulle bygninger, anlegg og miljøer og arkeologiske kulturminner. Vi arbeider for at byens verneverdige kulturminner tas vare på som en naturlig del av all arealplanlegging, byggevirksomhet og forvaltning av det fysiske miljøet. Byantikvaren driver også utstrakt formidling til et bredt spekter av målgrupper. Samtalen bygger delvis videre på panelsamtalen fra Oslo Urban Week i 2025, med tema "Vi tager hva vi haver", som du også kan høre lenger ned i podkastlista. Send oss dine kommentarer og spørsmål til atr@lpo.no, og følg oss gjerne på Instagram!   

Har du opplevd å ikke bli kvitt en infeksjon – selv etter antibiotika, kostendringer eller gode tiltak?I denne episoden dykker vi ned i noe av det mest fascinerende innen mikrobiologi: hvordan bakterier og sopp faktisk kommuniserer med hverandre.Vi snakker om quorum sensing – bakterienes eget språk – og hvordan de bruker dette for å bygge biofilm sopp kommunisere samarbeide og beskytte seg mot både immunforsvar og behandling. Biofilm er et slags beskyttende lag som gjør at mikrober kan overleve både immunforsvar, medisiner og behandling lenger enn vi skulle tro. Biofilm finnes overalt: som plakk på tennene, slimlag på tarmen og det grønne belegget som fester seg på en båt i vann. Når mikrober går sammen og danner slike beskyttende strukturer, kan de bli mer motstandsdyktige – og noen ganger mer aggressive-Hvorfor ligger noen infeksjoner “latent” i kroppen?-Hvorfor blusser de opp igjen?-Og hva kan vi gjøre selv for å støtte kroppen i å bryte ned disse strukturene med hacks og tipsVi utforsker hvorfor infeksjoner kan ligge i dvale, blusse opp igjen og hva du selv kan gjøre for å støtte kroppens evne til å bryte ned biofilm og gjenopprette balanse.En nerdete, men viktig samtale om mikrobiologi, immunforsvar og hvorfor det noen ganger handler mer om samarbeid mellom mikrober – enn om én enkelt bakterie.Finn Eva her: @eva.helhetshelseTakk til vår samarbeidspartner:Oslo skinlab: Osloskinlab.no: rabattkode: BiohackingDesember @osloskinlabThe recipe: rabattkode: biohackinggirlsBoken vår BIOHACKING, - 21 uker på BESTSELGERLISTEN den finner du her:https://www.ark.no/produkt/boker/hobbyboker-og-fritid/biohacking-9788205611474Nysgjerrig på neste Biohacking Weekend 21 og 22 mars 2026? https://www.kongresspartner.no/no/biohacking-weekend-2026Redigering: Torgeir Johansen/Micdrop Media

De gesprekken tussen formateur Rob Jetten en zijn beoogde ministers en staatssecretarissen zijn begonnen. Deze week ontvangen zij een integriteits- en geschiktheidsonderzoek, met onder meer aandacht voor cv's en financiële belangen. Politiek verslaggever Floor Doppen benadrukt dat dit het laatste moment is voor kandidaat-bewindspersonen om te 'biechten' en hun geheugen te toetsen op juistheid van hun gegevens, zoals zichtbaar werd bij beoogd staatssecretaris Nathalie van Berkel.Op de Veiligheidsconferentie in München klinkt een mildere toon uit Washington, maar blijft de Amerikaanse boodschap richting Europa streng. Volgens Europa-verslaggever Michal van der Toorn erkenden Europese leiders het belang van de transatlantische band, terwijl concrete stappen beperkt bleven tot kleine handreikingen en voorstellen, zoals het EU-vetorecht ter discussie stellen en meer samenwerking op defensiegebied.Verder versterkt de Israëlische regering de controle over de Westelijke Jordaanoever met een nieuwe wet, waardoor kolonisten makkelijker land kunnen kopen. De Europese Commissie noemt de wet in strijd met de Oslo-akkoorden en wereldwijd nemen de zorgen toe over mogelijke formele annexatie van Palestijns gebied door Israël.Deze omschrijving is met AI gemaakt en gecontroleerd door een BNR-redacteur.Over deze podcastBNR Nieuws Vandaag is de podcast met daarin BNR Ochtendnieuws en BNR Avondnieuws. Je krijgt 's ochtends vroeg en aan het einde van de werkdag in 20 minuten het belangrijkste nieuws van de dag. Abonneer je via bnr.nl/podcast/bnrnieuwsvandaag, de BNR-app, Spotify en Apple Podcasts. Of luister elke dag live via bnr.nl/live.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Love in Oslo: A Bold Leap on Valentine's Day Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-02-15-08-38-19-no Story Transcript:No: Det var en iskald februardag i Oslo.En: It was a freezing February day in Oslo.No: Kontorene til Vegsela AS var fylt med lyden av tastaturklikking og dempet prat.En: The offices of Vegsela AS were filled with the sound of keyboard clicking and muted conversation.No: Store vinduer lot et bløtt, grått lys skylle inn over skrivebordene til de ansatte, som pakket seg inn i varme klær for å holde kulden ute.En: Large windows allowed a soft, gray light to wash over the employees' desks, who bundled up in warm clothes to keep the cold out.No: Sindre satte seg ved sin dataskjerm og prøvde å fokusere på rapportene.En: Sindre sat down at his computer and tried to focus on the reports.No: Han var en midt på treet leder, men følte ofte vekten av ansvar hvile tungt på skuldrene.En: He was a middle-of-the-road manager but often felt the weight of responsibility bearing heavily on his shoulders.No: Bak smilet skjulte det seg en ensomhet, en lengsel etter noe mer enn bare arbeid og rutiner.En: Behind the smile, there was a loneliness, a longing for something more than just work and routines.No: I det siste hadde tankene hans kretset mye rundt Astrid, kollegaen med det smittsomme smilet og den lune latteren.En: Lately, his thoughts often revolved around Astrid, the colleague with the infectious smile and warm laughter.No: Det nærmet seg lunsjtid.En: Lunchtime was approaching.No: Mange gikk til kantina for å varme seg med en kopp kaffe, mens Sindre ble sittende og fundere.En: Many went to the cafeteria to warm up with a cup of coffee, while Sindre remained seated, pondering.No: Han så på klokka, markedet hadde gått opp i dag.En: He looked at the clock; the market had gone up today.No: Kanskje det var et tegn?En: Perhaps it was a sign?No: Senere, mens arbeidsdagen nærmet seg slutten, tenkte Sindre på hvordan han kunne be Astrid med seg ut.En: Later, as the workday was nearing its end, Sindre thought about how he could ask Astrid out.No: Det var Valentinsdagen, en anledning han vanligvis lot passere.En: It was Valentine's Day, an occasion he usually let pass.No: Men i dag kjentes det annerledes.En: But today felt different.No: Kanskje var det tiden for å være modig?En: Perhaps it was time to be brave?No: Etter en lang dag med møter og notater, sto Sindre i heisen, klar til å dra hjem.En: After a long day of meetings and notes, Sindre stood in the elevator, ready to go home.No: Tilfeldigvis steg Astrid også inn.En: Coincidentally, Astrid also stepped in.No: Hun smilte varmt, noe som fikk Sindre til å føle seg både nervøs og glad på samme tid.En: She smiled warmly, making Sindre feel both nervous and happy at the same time.No: "Heisene her er alltid så trege," lo Astrid, og Sindre nikket enig, hjertet hamret.En: "The elevators here are always so slow," laughed Astrid, and Sindre nodded in agreement, his heart pounding.No: I stillheten som fulgte, bestemte han seg.En: In the silence that followed, he decided.No: Han tok et dypt pust og sa: "Astrid, jeg tenkte... siden det er Valentinsdagen, kanskje vi kan spise middag sammen i kveld? Jeg skulle uansett handle etter jobb, så kanskje vi kunne lage noe godt?"En: He took a deep breath and said, "Astrid, I was thinking... since it's Valentine's Day, maybe we could have dinner together tonight? I was going to shop after work anyway, so maybe we could make something nice?"No: Astrid så overrasket, men glad ut.En: Astrid looked surprised but pleased.No: "Det høres hyggelig ut, Sindre. Jeg blir med," svarte hun med et varmt smil.En: "That sounds nice, Sindre. I'll join you," she replied with a warm smile.No: Lettet og lettet over svaret hennes, kjente Sindre at hjertet ble betydelig lettere.En: Relieved and elated by her answer, Sindre felt his heart become significantly lighter.No: De gikk sammen ut i den kalde oslolufta, og for første gang på lenge følte Sindre håp og glede.En: They walked out together into the cold Oslo air, and for the first time in a long time, Sindre felt hope and joy.No: Kanskje var dette begynnelsen på noe mer – ikke bare for Valentinsdagen, men for fremtiden.En: Perhaps this was the beginning of something more—not just for Valentine's Day, but for the future.No: Fra den dagen av forstod Sindre at sårbarhet bar med seg en verdi han aldri tidligere hadde utforsket fullt ut.En: From that day on, Sindre understood that vulnerability carried a value he had never fully explored before.No: Han oppdaget kraften i å våge å vise følelser og ønsket at dette skulle bli et vendepunkt i hans liv.En: He discovered the power of daring to show emotions and hoped that this would be a turning point in his life.No: Den kvelden, mens snøen dalte stille over hovedstaden, var det som om også hans verden ble lysere og mer lovende.En: That evening, as the snow fell quietly over the capital, it was as if his world also became brighter and more promising. Vocabulary Words:freezing: iskaldmuted: dempetbundled: pakketresponsibility: ansvarbearing: hvilelonging: lengselapproaching: nærmet segpondering: funderterelieved: lettetelated: lettetvulnerability: sårbarhetexplored: utforsketdaring: vågeemotions: følelsercoincidentally: tilfeldigvispounding: hamretsignificantly: betydeligpromising: lovendereports: rapporteroccasion: anledningsmile: smildesk: skrivebordunderstood: forstoddiscover: oppdagetpower: kraftturning point: vendepunktcapital: hovedstadengray: gråttfocus: fokuserebrave: modig

This week's new albums: Playboy Manbaby | Gluecifer | Sargent BakerAlso: Hardline weather, guitar flavours, bipolar oscillations, on the ‘Sky, Insta reels in audio form, brain downloads, inside you there are two EPs, bands you missed, shouts to Oslo, diatribing about the state of the world, Surf Coast roadies, Giants of Science, left tenants, horse under water, slow burners, Newgurgitator, bogan masking, explaining Australian music to Australians, #BeesoReadsPressReleases, talking to kids, explaining the world, the F1 movie, every sports movie, incentive structures, failure is always an option, it's always the KANGZ, expansion fees, making sure you don't have to go to the US, the dangers of downhill, what it sounds like when you record before Zimbabwe beats Australia, a festival of joke sports, the same dudes, getting deported to Mudgee, massive backhanders, accidentally pre-empting Lando, electric horses, range anxiety and club vs state. 2:14  Playboy Manbaby6:54  Gluecifer10:48  Sargent Baker15:30   Next week's albums27:01  After Dark - F1, NBA, T20WC, FIFA, F1 again, AFL originNext week's new albums: Keli Holiday | Demob Happy | Dream Nails Spotify playlists: Album review playlist | 2025 review archive | Doc and Beeso's 2025 mixtapes | All our playlistsThe list: Our previous review albums and year-end top fivesFind us on: Spotify Podcasts | Apple Podcasts | RSS feed for other appsSocials: Beeso on Bluesky | Doc on BlueSky | Pod Facebook | Pod email

I denne episoden av «Snakk med Silje» har jeg besøk av Benedikte Moltumyr Høgberg som er professor i rettsvitenskap ved Institutt for offentlig rett på Det juridiske fakultet ved Universitetet i Oslo. Hun er ansett som en av Nordens ledende eksperter innen konstitusjonell rett (grunnlovsrett) og har vært professor siden 2012.Vi snakker om hennes kritiske innlegg om endringene i Sivilbeskyttelsesloven, som ga regjeringen omfattende fullmakter over sivile i krisesituasjoner. Vi diskuterer også manglende mediedekning, korrupsjon i Norge, Epstein-saken, pandemihåndtering, demokratiets utfordringer og beredskap for mat, medisiner og strøm i en potensiell krise. Benedikte deler tanker om hverdagsdemokrati og oppfordrer til å presse redaktørstyrte medier til å ta tak i viktige saker.► DONASJONERVipps: Søk opp “Snakk med Silje” eller bruk vippsnummer: 806513Bitcoin lightning adresse: psykologsilje@bb.noPayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=LZBFC3PKM8ECAInternasjonal bankoverføring:BIC: DNBANOKKXXXIBAN: NO9015068887892► KANALERSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3XIJBJlX8FyZkyluivEch7Apple podkaster: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/snakk-med-silje/id1684607083YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SnakkMedSiljeSubstack: https://open.substack.com/pub/psykologsilje► SOMEInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/psykologsilje?igsh=MW84MDE0MWplc2FwbA==TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@psykologsilje?_t=8oc3HBC1r4z&_r=1Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/psykologsiljeTwitter: https://x.com/Silje_SchevigLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silje-schevig-243750101?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app► KAPITLER00:00 Start02:28 Velkommen til Benedikte 03:26 Endringer i Sivilbeskyttelsesloven 07:44 Medienes rolle 12:00 Taushetsplikt og DDR-regler 16:00 Pandemihåndtering og manglende demokrati 24:00 Maktkritikk og psykologi 34:00 Korrupsjon i Norge 42:00 Epstein-saken og Asle Toje 52:00 Kildekritikk og ungdom 1:00:00 Beredskap og selvforsyning

Sikandar Siddique forklarer nu, at hans udlejer i København slukkede for strømmen for at presse politikeren ud. Og det har været svært for Sikandar at finde et nyt sted at bo. Derfor har han boet hos familien i Herlev. Kidnapningen af Nancy Guthrie på 84 år fylder alt i USA lige nu. Hendes datter Savannah Guthrie er vært på The Today Show og vil gøre alt for at få hendes mor hjem igen. Vi ringer til Heinel i Washington om den suspekte kidnapningssag. Vi vender også Marius-retssagen i Oslo, et ubehageligt interview med Ghita Nørby og Nina fra Gift ved første blik, der er sprunget ud. Din vært er Ditte Okman og i panelet sidder chefredaktør Jonas Kuld Rathje, chefredaktør Per Kuskner og underholdningsjournalist Nikolaj Vraa. Programmet er produceret af Sarah Bech. Lyt til nye episoder af Det, vi taler om hver fredag kl. 14. Følg Det, vi taler om på Facebook og @ditteokman på Instagram. Vært: Ditte Okman Video: Katrine Strangholt Producer: Sarah Bech Redaktør: Andreas Østergaard Link til video: https://www.youtube.com/live/ofmFlwHTY7gSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Valentine's Odyssey: Sigrid's Journey Home Through Snow Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-02-13-08-38-20-no Story Transcript:No: På en kald februardag i Oslo, hvor snøfnuggene danser i luften, står Sigrid på Oslo Metro Station.En: On a cold February day in Oslo, where snowflakes dance in the air, Sigrid stands at Oslo Metro Station.No: Klokken tikker, og hun er utålmodig.En: The clock is ticking, and she is impatient.No: Temperaturen biter, men Sigrid har noe viktig å gjøre.En: The temperature is biting, but Sigrid has something important to do.No: Det er Valentine's Day, og hun har lovet å være til stede på familiemiddagen.En: It's Valentine's Day, and she has promised to be present at the family dinner.No: Foreldrene hennes og broren Einar venter der hjemme.En: Her parents and brother Einar are waiting at home.No: Stasjonen er full av mennesker i tykke vinterjakker.En: The station is full of people in thick winter jackets.No: En arktisk vind sniker seg inn og minner alle om vinterens grep.En: An arctic wind sneaks in, reminding everyone of winter's grip.No: Folk haster forbi, alle med et mål, men Sigrid er spent og bekymret.En: People rush by, each with a goal, but Sigrid is excited and worried.No: I dag vil hun prioritere familien.En: Today, she will prioritize family.No: Så skjer det.En: Then it happens.No: Lyset flimrer, før det slukker helt.En: The lights flicker before they go out completely.No: En strømstans dekker hele stasjonen i mørke.En: A power outage covers the entire station in darkness.No: Folk roper og mumler.En: People shout and mumble.No: Sigrid ser på klokken.En: Sigrid looks at the clock.No: Forsinkelser kan ikke skje nå.En: Delays can't happen now.No: Hun må bestemme seg raskt.En: She has to decide quickly.No: Vente på metroen, eller finne en annen vei?En: Wait for the metro, or find another way?No: Sigrid puster dypt, trekker skjerfet tettere rundt halsen og tar en beslutning.En: Sigrid takes a deep breath, pulls her scarf tighter around her neck, and makes a decision.No: Hun skal gå.En: She will walk.No: Turen gjennom Oslos snødekte gater vil være kald, men familien er viktigere enn å vente i stilltiende frustrasjon.En: The journey through Oslo's snow-covered streets will be cold, but family is more important than waiting in silent frustration.No: Stegene hennes er raske gjennom snøen.En: Her steps are quick through the snow.No: Gatelykter lyser tynne striper over fortauet.En: Streetlights cast thin stripes over the sidewalk.No: Bilene tuter forsiktig mens de glir sakte gjennom den glatte isen.En: Cars honk cautiously as they glide slowly over the slippery ice.No: Sigrid kjenner hvordan kulden kryper opp armene.En: Sigrid feels the cold creeping up her arms.No: Hun holder motivasjonen oppe ved å tenke på familien sin.En: She keeps her motivation up by thinking of her family.No: Kari, moren, har sikkert lagd noe godt til middag.En: Kari, her mother, has surely made something good for dinner.No: Einar vil gi henne et ertepust når hun endelig kommer fram.En: Einar will tease her when she finally arrives.No: Hun tramper opp trappene til familiens leilighet.En: She stomps up the stairs to the family apartment.No: Døra åpner seg, og der står moren hennes med et stort smil.En: The door opens, and there stands her mother with a big smile.No: "Sigrid, der er du!En: "Sigrid, there you are!No: Vi trodde ikke du ville klare det.En: We didn't think you'd make it."No: " Sigrid føler lettelse over å være hjemme.En: Sigrid feels relieved to be home.No: De setter seg rundt bordet, omfavnet av varme.En: They sit around the table, embraced by warmth.No: Middagen er fylt med latter og historier.En: The dinner is filled with laughter and stories.No: Det er da Sigrid skjønner noe viktig.En: It is then that Sigrid realizes something important.No: Familie er uvurderlig.En: Family is invaluable.No: Finne balansen mellom arbeidets krav og hjertets lengsel.En: Finding the balance between the demands of work and the desires of the heart.No: Kvelden ender med klemmer og varme ord, og Sigrid vet at hun har gjort det rette valget.En: The evening ends with hugs and warm words, and Sigrid knows she made the right choice.No: Arbeid kan vente, men kjærligheten til familien hennes er det som teller.En: Work can wait, but the love for her family is what counts.No: Valentine's Day blir en påminnelse om hva som virkelig betyr noe.En: Valentine's Day becomes a reminder of what truly matters.No: Sigrid føler seg takknemlig.En: Sigrid feels grateful.No: Hun lover seg selv å gjøre mer tid for de hun bryr seg om, ikke bare på spesielle dager, men alltid.En: She promises herself to make more time for those she cares about, not just on special days, but always. Vocabulary Words:snowflakes: snøfnuggeneimpatient: utålmodigbiting: biterarctic: arktisksneaks: snikergrip: grepprioritize: prioritereflicker: flimreroutage: strømstansdelays: forsinkelserscarf: skjerfetjourney: turenslippery: glattecreeping: krypermotivation: motivasjonentease: ertepuststomps: tramperapartment: leilighetrelieved: lettelseembraced: omfavnetinvaluable: uvurderligbalance: balansendemands: kravheart's desires: hjertets lengselreminder: påminnelsecounts: tellergrateful: takknemligpromises: lovercares: bryrcautiously: forsiktig

Fulham has officially "audaciously" pivoted from mid-table safety to European ambition with the £27 million capture of Oscar Bobb. In this episode, we dissect why this "Norwegian wunderkind" is the perfect tactical wildcard for Marco Silva's attacking system.We journey from his silky-skilled beginnings in Oslo to his time as one of Manchester City's "crown jewels," where he racked up a staggering 10 goals and 8 assists in just 22 youth appearances. We discuss how Bobb's low center of gravity and "slippery, inventive" playstyle will mesh with veterans like Willian and Andreas Pereira at Craven Cottage. Is this the move that sees Fulham polish another diamond, or will the Premier League's physicality be too steep a test? Oscar Bobb transfer, Fulham FC news, Manchester City academy, Premier League wonderkids, Marco Silva tactics.

It's Awards Season yet again. Here on the Holmes Movies Podcast that means, it is time for the Alternative Oscars episodes! AKA the Anders and Adam-emy Awards: Each episode for this series we pick a different year in Oscars history and attempt to correct the record, stripping the undeserving of their garlands while recognising those who were cruelly overlooked.This time, we will be casting our eye back to… the 51st Academy Awards. The event celebrated all the films released in the year of 1978. The event was held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California on April 9th 1979. The host was the legendary Johnny Carson.It was a bittersweet ceremony as it was the last public ceremony of The Duke himself John Wayne, who would pass away a few months later from cancer. He was there to announce and give the award for Best Picture. It was also the year when Laurence Olivier was awarded with an Honorary Oscar for his achievements and contribution to screen acting and the art of film. The 51st Academy Awards was the ceremony where Michael Cimino's film The Deer Hunter won big. It was awarded Best Picture and Best Director along with Best Supporting Actor for Christopher Walken. Along with Heaven Can Wait from Warren Beatty and Buck Henry, The Deer Hunter got the most nominations. Did The Deer Hunter deserve Best Picture? And what is up with the person dressing up in a full duck costume? Listen to this episode and see how we would have done things. Be sure to check out our Monument Valley Film on our YouTube Channel.Anders's screenwriter work can also be seen at work in the horror, car chase thriller Delivery Run, co-written with & directed by Joey Palmroos. The film has been released digitally and also in select cinemas in the US and the UK. In Finland it was released on Apple TV after finishing its limited cinema run and was the Number 1 film for multiple weeks. You can read a review about it here on the Fangoria website. The film is now available to watch in the other Nordic territories like Sweden, Oslo and of course Denmark. If you live in Denmark, you can watch the movie here on Apple TV by clicking this link.Follow us on our Instagram page. For obvious reasons, we are no longer on Twitter. You won't find us there. Perhaps we will make a BlueSky account, so keep an eye out for that.Follow our Letterboxd page where you can see what we were recommending to each other over the course of the Covid-19 Pandemic.Check out our blog and read Anders's recent review on David Lynch's brilliant film Mulholland Drive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joachim Trier, co-writer Eskil Vogt, and an all-star cast including Stellan Skarsgård, Renate Reinsve, Elle Fanning, and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas talk about the making and meaning of SENTIMENTAL VALUE — the multiple-Oscar-nominated juggernaut about a filmmaker whose daughters grapple with the ways his art intersects with their messy real lives. In this special episode, Rico learns about how the movie echoes in the filmmakers' own lives… and the ways it does (and doesn't) fit into the whole tradition of “meta-movies.”SENTIMENTAL VALUE arrives exclusively on MUBI from February 13 in the UK, Ireland, Latam and India. Coming soon to Turkey. THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD is now streaming on MUBI in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, France, Italy, the Netherlands and India. OSLO, AUGUST 31ST is now streaming on MUBI in the US, the UK, Ireland, France and the Netherlands. To stream some of the films we've covered on the podcast, check out the collection Featured on the MUBI Podcast. Availability of films varies depending on your country.MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI makes, acquires, curates, and champions extraordinary films, connecting them to audiences all over the world. A place to discover ambitious new films and singular voices, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs. Each carefully chosen by MUBI's curators.

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Friendship and Focus: Navigating Exams in Oslo's Winter Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-02-12-08-38-19-no Story Transcript:No: Erik satt ved et lite, slitt bord i skolebiblioteket i Oslo.En: Erik sat at a small, worn-out table in the school library in Oslo.No: Store, frostede vinduer slapp inn dempede lysstråler fra den snødekte byen utenfor.En: Large, frosted windows let in muted beams of light from the snow-covered city outside.No: Det var kaldt, og lukten av gamle bøker blandet seg med svakt kaffeduft i rommet.En: It was cold, and the scent of old books mingled with a faint coffee aroma in the room.No: Rundt ham satt andre studenter, dypt konsentrert om bøkene sine.En: Around him, other students sat deeply focused on their books.No: Men Erik følte seg ikke like fokusert.En: But Erik didn't feel as focused.No: Han visste at eksamene nærmet seg raskt.En: He knew the exams were fast approaching.No: Å få et stipend var viktig for ham, og han ville være best mulig forberedt.En: Getting a scholarship was important to him, and he wanted to be as prepared as possible.No: Problemet var at kompisen hans, Lars, ikke forstod alvoret.En: The problem was that his buddy, Lars, didn't understand the seriousness.No: Lars, med sitt alltid bekymringsløse smil, prøvde nok en gang å vise Erik en morsom film på telefonen.En: Lars, with his ever-carefree smile, was once again trying to show Erik a funny video on his phone.No: "Se på denne, Erik!" sa Lars og lo.En: "Look at this, Erik!" said Lars, laughing.No: "Bare et øyeblikk, Lars," svarte Erik, med en anelse frustrasjon.En: "Just a moment, Lars," responded Erik, with a hint of frustration.No: Men Lars ga seg aldri og fortsatte sitt forsøk på å underholde.En: But Lars never gave up and continued his attempts to entertain.No: Samtidig satt Signe ved et bord ikke langt unna, men Erik la merke til at hun var mer stille enn vanlig.En: Meanwhile, Signe sat at a table not far away, but Erik noticed that she was quieter than usual.No: Hun kastet blikk på klokken og virket fraværende.En: She glanced at the clock and seemed distracted.No: Erik bestemte seg for å forandre strategi.En: Erik decided to change strategy.No: Han visste at han måtte gjøre noe før det ble for sent.En: He knew he had to do something before it was too late.No: Han reiste seg og gikk bestemt bort til Signe.En: He stood up and walked decisively over to Signe.No: "Signe, kan vi prate?" spurte Erik.En: "Signe, can we talk?" asked Erik.No: Hun nikket og reiste seg langsomt.En: She nodded and stood up slowly.No: De fant seg til rette i et rolig hjørne av biblioteket.En: They settled into a quiet corner of the library.No: "Hva er det som foregår?" spurte Erik, bekymret for venninnen sin.En: "What's going on?" asked Erik, concerned about his friend.No: "Jeg har hatt mye å tenke på med denne personlige essayet," innrømmet Signe, tydelig stresset.En: "I've had a lot on my mind with this personal essay," admitted Signe, clearly stressed.No: "Unnskyld at jeg har vært fjern."En: "Sorry I've been distant."No: Erik så på vennen sin med forståelse.En: Erik looked at his friend with understanding.No: "Jeg visste ikke," sa han rolig.En: "I didn't know," he said calmly.No: "Kan jeg hjelpe deg?"En: "Can I help you?"No: Signe smilte svakt.En: Signe smiled faintly.No: "Det ville bety mye."En: "That would mean a lot."No: De forlot biblioteket og fant en ledig klasserom.En: They left the library and found an empty classroom.No: Der, i stillheten, kunne de begge arbeide - Signe med essayet sitt og Erik med eksamenslesingen.En: There, in the silence, they could both work—Signe with her essay and Erik with his exam reading.No: Dagen gikk raskt.En: The day passed quickly.No: Sammen klarte de mer enn de kunne alene.En: Together they accomplished more than they could alone.No: Erik innså at han ikke bare trengte å fokusere på sine egne mål, men også være der for vennene sine.En: Erik realized that he not only needed to focus on his own goals but also be there for his friends.No: Da kvelden kom, var de begge takknemlige.En: When evening came, they were both grateful.No: Erik hadde lært at å hjelpe andre ofte gir mer enn å bare følge sin egen vei.En: Erik had learned that helping others often gives more than just following one's own path.No: Snøen utenfor lyste opp i mørket, og Oslo lå stille under vinterens teppe.En: The snow outside lit up in the darkness, and Oslo lay quietly under the winter's blanket.No: De to vennene pakket sakene sine tilfreds.En: The two friends packed their things contentedly.No: Erik skjønte at løpet mot eksamen handlet om mer enn bare karakterer; det handlet om de menneskene han delte veien med.En: Erik realized that the race towards the exam was about more than just grades; it was about the people he shared the journey with. Vocabulary Words:frosted: frostedemuted: dempedemingled: blandetfaint: svaktfocused: konsentrertscholarship: stipendapproaching: nærmetfrustration: frustrasjonseriousness: alvoretdistracted: fraværendedecisively: bestemtconcerned: bekymretadmitted: innrømmetdistant: fjernfaintly: svaktsilence: stillhetenaccomplished: klartegrateful: takknemligepacked: pakketcontentedly: tilfredsrealized: innsåexam: eksamensnødekte: snow-coveredklokken: clockbekymringsløse: carefreeunderholde: entertainforandre: changefor sent: too latepersonlige: personalvinterens: winter's

Kos dere med en Valentine's Special!

Dischingthun var bare én av mange fra Norge som deltok ti den transatlantiske slavehandelen og det dansk-norske koloniveldet. Med i studio for å diskutere Danmark-Norge som kolonimakt er Hanne Østhus, førsteamanuensis i historie ved Universitetet i Oslo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Skandinavian Folklore and Feast Days.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.Syv Slags Kaker. (or, Seven Sorts of  Cookies)December 22nd – Evening, Five Days LaterJorunn said, “Well, Gunnar, we are back at our starting point, and this concludes the tour. We got off to a rough start on the first day, but since then, I have enjoyed spending time with you. After my mom got divorced, I stopped dating. Sure, I went out in mixed groups with my friends, but I cannot remember the last time I went somewhere, by myself, with a man. The divorce made me lose all confidence and trust in men. Why enter a relationship, and give my heart to a man, knowing it is going to fail? My father hurt my mother and me so badly, that neither of us have recovered. You were so wonderful to me this week, and showed me that not all men are like my father.”Jorunn looked at me with pleading eyes, “I don’t want this tour to end. I don’t want you to leave. Can you please stay in Oslo at least a few more days?”Jorunn didn’t want me to go. And I didn’t want to leave her either. I replied, “Jorunn, I cannot think of anyone or any place I would rather be than here in Oslo, with you.”Jorunn said, “It’s still early enough that we may be able to find seating without a reservation. I know a great place for seafood.”“Lead on,” I replied.Jorunn and I discussed the now-completed tour while enjoying a delicious dinner at a small kafé. I offered suggestions for the tour, but otherwise let her know I enjoyed seeing Norway, and I told her what a wonderful guide she was. After returning to America, I promised to recommend her tours to everyone I knew.As I looked over the dessert menu, I asked Jorunn, “I’m willing to stay a few more days. Are there any other Norwegian Christmas traditions or activities worth doing over the next few days?”“If you put down that dessert menu, there is one called Syv Slags Kaker. I baked seven kinds of cookies to celebrate Jul. If you come to my house, we can have coffee and you can sample all seven kinds.”“That sounds great,” I replied. Jorunn was inviting me to her home. She was beautiful and funny, and I admit I developed fantasies about her as I watched her vlog videos back in the nursing home. Heck, I even created new fantasies over the last week. She was much warmer toward me at the end of the tour. In Tromsø, we shared a blanket as we rode in a sleigh pulled by an actual reindeer. But after the Nutcracker ballet, I held back and did not cross any lines. Could a 56-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman have a sexual relationship? I managed to keep up with Jorunn all week and didn’t see any reason not to. I reached below the table to carefully re-position myself before standing up.We made our way to the Train Station and rode to Jorunn’s neighborhood. As we walked to her house, I noticed many homes with a lighted star in one of the windows.“What are those stars,” I asked.“They are a tradition in Norway. A star is lit on the first Sunday of Advent to help guide the Three Wise Men.”We stopped in front of a modest house. There was no star in the window, but I saw sheaves of oats hung from one of the trees. I was familiar with the tradition of putting out something for the birds in the frigid days of December. As we stepped inside, I was suddenly surprised. “Hi, Mom! I would like you to meet Gunnar Larsen.”“Good evening, Mr. Larsen. Jorunn has been sending me text messages all week about your exciting travels. I hope you enjoyed your tour. My name is Leah.”This was not what I expected. I hoped to be alone with Jorunn. The family resemblance was striking and quite apparent. Leah’s straight hair was a bit shorter than Jorunn’s but matched her daughter’s pure blonde color. Her blue eyes stood out from her attractive face. She was wearing a multi-colored Norwegian Dale sweater and green trousers. I possessed absolutely no experience telling how old Norwegian women are. She must be in her forties but looked younger.I said, “I enjoyed Jorunn’s tour very much. Your daughter is quite talented in many ways. Please, call me Gunnar.”Jorunn said, “Gunnar was asking about other Jul traditions and activities here in Norway over Christmas. I thought Syv Slags Kaker would be a good one, and your cookies are the best ones in Oslo. I’ll make us some coffee.”Leah looked at me, “Please sit Gunnar. How much longer will you be staying in Norway?”I replied, “About two more weeks. I wanted to celebrate the New Year here before returning to America.”I talked about the completed tour, and she seemed interested enough that I rambled on.“I really enjoyed visiting Lillehammer. It brought back memories of watching the 1994 Winter Olympics, probably my favorite one. The music was fantastic, and the woman who sang the Olympic Hymn at the opening ceremony possessed such a wonderful voice.”Leah replied, “Her name is Sissel Kyrkjebø. She is still extremely popular today, and we consider her a national treasure. I was 18 at the time, and worked at those Olympics.”“I’d love to hear more about that,” I replied. “It was nice to see many of the venues still being used. I also enjoyed the Olympic Museum in Maihaugen, which told the history of the 1994 Olympics. I was surprised to learn that Norway has won more Olympic medals than any other country. But the highlight for me was riding the chairlift to the top of the Lysgårdsbakkene ski jump. The views were amazing. I can’t imagine anyone being brave enough to make such a jump.”“I agree with you on that!” laughed Leah.I continued, “We also flew to Tromsø, and I got to see the Northern Lights. We can sometimes see them in southern Minnesota, but they were much more impressive here with the clear Norwegian air. Jorunn and I took a ride in a sleigh, pulled by actual reindeer. Reindeer are much larger than I thought. We visited a Sami farm, where we ate reindeer stew and learned about the Sami culture.”“I’ve never been, but I hear it’s really fun,” replied Leah.“Bærums Verk was also a highlight. You may already know that the town dates to the 1600s. I loved the old buildings and cobbled streets. Although the Christmas Market was small, I found it unique, with artisans selling handmade crafts. It was nice to see the old crafts like glassblowing, ironwork, and woodworking.”Jorunn returned with a large tray, holding coffee and cookies, and we began sampling.Leah asked, “Did you take Gunnar to Pepperkakebyen in Bergen? It’s a marvelous gingerbread village in my hometown. There are over 200 small gingerbread houses, and with the tiny lights turned on, it looks so real.”Jorunn replied, “A week goes by quickly, mamma. There is only so much time. The gingerbread houses are very nice, and I have fond memories of going there with you.”As we continued talking and munching cookies, I looked around at the decorations. There was an advent calendar, wreaths, angels, gnomes called nisse, hearts, stars, and candles. The decorations looked more natural, perhaps a bit less commercialized than in America. There was a real tree, complete with its wonderful pine smell, a star at the top, garland, tinsel, ornaments, and white lights.I looked at Leah, “I noticed that you don’t have a Christmas star in the window as many of the other houses do.”Leah replied, “I found my former husband in bed with another woman. I immediately divorced him. Among the many things he took from Jorunn and I, was our Christmas Star.”Leah sounded deeply hurt and from more than just the missing star. After tasting the last of the seven cookies, Leah asked how I liked them. “The waffle-like Krumkaker was probably my favorite. We tried making them in Minnesota, but yours turned out so much better. And, of course, the Pepperkaker gingerbread stars were great.” I held up another cookie and said, “I don’t know the name of this one, but it was also excellent.”Leah replied, “That one is Serinakaker, a Norwegian butter cookie.”I realized the inevitable, “It is getting late. Thank you both, Leah and Jorunn, for a wonderful evening. I need to get back to my hotel and figure out what to do over the next few days.”I saw Jorunn look at her mother, who nodded. As I stood up, Leah did too. “Nonsense, Gunnar. I won’t have it. Come, spend Christmas with Jorunn and me! Nearly everything in Oslo shuts down in the afternoon on Christmas Eve and stays closed until the 27th. No restaurants or shops will be open. I have an unused bedroom upstairs. Come celebrate Jul with us.”I caught the signal between mother and daughter and wondered if this was pre-planned. But spending Christmas alone in my hotel sounded almost as bad as spending it alone in the nursing home. It was an easy decision. “I accept.”Leah said, “Good. I’ll stop by your hotel tomorrow and help you move your things. Perhaps we can have lunch as well at one of the restaurants along Karl Johans gate.”“It would be my pleasure, ” I replied. “Let’s say, about 11:00 AM”Little Christmas EveDecember 23rd - MorningIt was December 23rd, known in Norway as Lille Julaften. Spending Christmas with Leah and Jorunn created a problem for me. I needed to find at least one Christmas present for each, just in case they bought a gift for me. I got up early and headed out to search. Reflecting on last night, and indeed, the last week, it ended up being far simpler than I feared. I soon found a gift for each, along with reusable cloth gift bags in Christmas colors.I heard a knock on my hotel door and opened it. Leah stood there, holding a coat over her arm. She was wearing a traditional Norwegian folk costume called a bunad. Her blonde hair, simply styled, was highlighted by two attractive braids.I smiled and said, “What a pleasant surprise. You look like you just stepped out of a fairy tale.”She looked past me into the messy room, then took a step toward me and surprised me with a kiss on my cheek. She stepped back and started laughing. “It didn’t work. I am a fairy tale princess, but you are still a frog! It looks like we have some work to do cleaning up your lily pad.”As Leah entered the room, I said, “I already packed a small bag, enough for a few days.”Leah walked over to the pile of clothes from my week-long trip. She picked up a shirt and sniffed it. Then she pulled a wool sweater out from the pile. “Keep your wool sweaters away from the rest of your dirty clothes. Wool is harder to clean and may pick up the smell. Let me see what else you packed.”Leah dumped out my small gym bag onto the bed and then began tossing things aside. “This won’t do. We need to take all of your clothes back to my house and wash them.”Fond memories returned. Whenever we went on a trip, Solveig would always dump out my suitcase and re-load it with other clothes. Solvieg would also pick out clothes for me to wear whenever we dressed to go out to weddings or a party.Leah said, “Don’t expect me to wash them for you. I have other things to do to get ready for Christmas. You’ll have enough free time you can wash them yourself. We will gather everything up after we come back from lunch.”What a woman! I can see where Jorunn inherited her strong personality. We left my hotel, and Leah took me to one of her favorite kafés. As we walked, Leah’s bunad drew eyes, and attracted smiles, as if she were a magnet. As we waited for our food, I asked Leah about her bunad.Leah replied, “I don’t get to wear my bunad very often. I usually wear it for National Day in May, and for weddings and baptisms, but I haven’t been to many of those lately. Christmas is also an acceptable time to wear it.”Leah wore the traditional white blouse with a silver neckpin. Her vest was bright red with a handmade breastplate. Her navy skirt was trimmed with intricate embroidery, and covered in front by a white apron. Around her waist and running down the front was a decorative handwoven belt.“I grew up east of Bergen, in the Hardanger region, so my bunad is in the Hardanger style. While details may vary, you can tell where someone is from by which style of bunad they are wearing. It would not be proper to choose a bunad from a different region simply because you prefer a different color.”“That’s a lovely silver brooch you have on. It looks very old.”“It was my grandmother’s. Norwegians have a spiritual connection to silver, and silver brooches are handed down for many generations. One day, it will be Jorunn’s.”The food was excellent. I have not eaten a bad meal here in Norway. Leah was a great conversationalist, and she freely shared her humor and wit. Her stories from the 1994 Olympics were fascinating, and even though Jorunn and I were just there, I wanted to go back. I learned Leah worked as a radiology technician at a local hospital here in Oslo and took the entire holiday off. The meal finished too quickly, and we returned to my hotel.As we gathered my assorted clothing, I saw one of my socks on the floor, so I walked around Leah to pick it up. Turning quickly, I found myself face-to-face with her. We stared at each other for a moment, then moved at the same time. Our lips came together, and we kissed. Not a gentle kiss, but a passionate one, long and deep. Intentions were clear on both sides.We separated. Leah said, “I have not had sex since divorcing my husband nearly three years ago. That bastard took away more than my Christmas Star, he took away my trust in men. I am forty-seven years old. I never go out on dates, because I’m afraid to open my heart again to another man. Jorunn texted me every night for the past week and would send short videos she took during the day. She kept repeating how much fun she was having with you, and how nice a man you are. I know it sounds funny, but after watching and reading what Jorunn sent me, I feel like I already know you, and have made it past the first date. I know you lost the woman you loved. I cannot replace her in your heart, but if you are ready, I would like to share mine.”This was unexpected. “When I was in Minnesota, I watched Jorunn’s vlog almost every night. She is so sweet and funny and does such an excellent job. Even though I never met Jorunn, I felt like I knew her. To use your dating analogy, it’s one of the reasons I picked her as a tour guide. I felt comfortable with Jorunn and was too afraid to trust another tour company. When I came to Norway, I left my past behind. It is time for me to find something, or someone, to love.”Our bodies came together, and our lips re-joined. Any fears of rejection vanished as I locked my lips onto those of this beautiful Norwegian woman. Our tongues danced with each other, while our hands moved quickly over each other’s bodies.“Help me take off my bunad,” pleaded Leah.Together, we unclasped, unbuckled, unbuttoned, and untied, removing one layer at a time of the intricate bunad and laying it over a chair. It was like slowly opening the best Christmas present I have ever gotten, as more of Leah’s body slowly revealed itself to me. Her breasts were small, but firm, and went well with her slender frame. I forgot how delicate a woman’s features are, and Leah’s body was perfect in every way. Below her waist, I found a mound of pure blonde hair, barely darker than the color on her head.“I have no other words, you are truly a gorgeous woman, Leah.”“Thank you, Gunnar. Now it’s my turn to have fun.”Leah approached me. With small steps, she moved gracefully. She lifted my pullover shirt, pausing as it obscured my eyes. “Don’t take your shirt off. Just enjoy the sensations.” In the darkness, her fingers teasingly played with the hairs on my chest. A fingernail flicked back and forth over my nipple, drawing it to an erection. Moving lower, Leah unbuckled my trousers and slid them down, taking my knickers with them. I was not yet erect, but moving rapidly in that direction. Cool fingers wrapped around my cock and lifted, while a single fingernail twirled against my ball sack. Her tongue dragged across the tip of my cock. Then, Leah’s hands moved behind me to cup and squeeze my bum cheeks. Her warm breath washed over my cock.Leah stood and pulled my shirt the rest of the way off, and I stepped out of my trousers. We remained like this, both naked, looking longingly at each other. Leah reached up and touched my hair. “You have just a touch of grey. I like that. Few mature men are as blessed as you, with a firm, lean body. I see all kinds of patients. You look like a forty-year-old.”I suppose that was one benefit of eating the low-fat, low-sugar, and tasteless nursing home food. I lost nearly thirty pounds. “I am older than I look, and you should know that I had a stroke two years ago. I am doing much better, but still have a balance issue, and sometimes slur my words."Slurring your words might just be because you have a lazy tongue. Perhaps we can find a way to fix that later.”For a moment, I wondered what she meant, then hoped my notions might come true. Leah dropped to her knees directly in front of me and ran a finger along my nearly erect shaft. “It feels so nice to touch a real one again. What a lovely cock you have.”I said, “I’m sorry. I don’t have a very large penis.”Leah laughed, “Anything more than a mouthful is just wasted. Now let’s begin. I will say a Norwegian word, and you repeat it. Listen carefully to my pronunciation and maybe we can fix your American accent.”Leah said, “Penis.” Then she grabbed my cock with her right hand.This might be fun, so I replied, “Penis!”Leah whispered, “Rub.” Then she began gently sliding her hand along my shaft. Without any lubrication, there was quite a bit of friction.I replied, “Rub!”Leah said, “Lick.” Leah extended her tongue, and starting near the base, began leaving wet trails along each side of my glistening cock. The warm softness of her tongue brought me to full erection.It felt fantastic, and I gasped out, “Lick!”Leah said, “Suck.” She opened her mouth wide and took in the head of my cock, using her tongue to tease the underside. Bringing her lips together, I felt the insides of her mouth pressing inward and squeezing tightly against me. When her suction began, she pulled the head of my cock deeper into her mouth. Leah’s head pulled back ever so slightly, allowing her soft lips to glide over me until my cock was almost freed. But not quite. Using the extra room, Leah teased my opening with the tip of her tongue. From the way her tongue easily twirled around, I was certain I contributed my pre-cum.Then her suction pulled me deeper into her mouth. She look

Skandinavian Folklore and Feast Days.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.Syv Slags Kaker. (or, Seven Sorts of  Cookies)December 22nd – Evening, Five Days LaterJorunn said, “Well, Gunnar, we are back at our starting point, and this concludes the tour. We got off to a rough start on the first day, but since then, I have enjoyed spending time with you. After my mom got divorced, I stopped dating. Sure, I went out in mixed groups with my friends, but I cannot remember the last time I went somewhere, by myself, with a man. The divorce made me lose all confidence and trust in men. Why enter a relationship, and give my heart to a man, knowing it is going to fail? My father hurt my mother and me so badly, that neither of us have recovered. You were so wonderful to me this week, and showed me that not all men are like my father.”Jorunn looked at me with pleading eyes, “I don’t want this tour to end. I don’t want you to leave. Can you please stay in Oslo at least a few more days?”Jorunn didn’t want me to go. And I didn’t want to leave her either. I replied, “Jorunn, I cannot think of anyone or any place I would rather be than here in Oslo, with you.”Jorunn said, “It’s still early enough that we may be able to find seating without a reservation. I know a great place for seafood.”“Lead on,” I replied.Jorunn and I discussed the now-completed tour while enjoying a delicious dinner at a small kafé. I offered suggestions for the tour, but otherwise let her know I enjoyed seeing Norway, and I told her what a wonderful guide she was. After returning to America, I promised to recommend her tours to everyone I knew.As I looked over the dessert menu, I asked Jorunn, “I’m willing to stay a few more days. Are there any other Norwegian Christmas traditions or activities worth doing over the next few days?”“If you put down that dessert menu, there is one called Syv Slags Kaker. I baked seven kinds of cookies to celebrate Jul. If you come to my house, we can have coffee and you can sample all seven kinds.”“That sounds great,” I replied. Jorunn was inviting me to her home. She was beautiful and funny, and I admit I developed fantasies about her as I watched her vlog videos back in the nursing home. Heck, I even created new fantasies over the last week. She was much warmer toward me at the end of the tour. In Tromsø, we shared a blanket as we rode in a sleigh pulled by an actual reindeer. But after the Nutcracker ballet, I held back and did not cross any lines. Could a 56-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman have a sexual relationship? I managed to keep up with Jorunn all week and didn’t see any reason not to. I reached below the table to carefully re-position myself before standing up.We made our way to the Train Station and rode to Jorunn’s neighborhood. As we walked to her house, I noticed many homes with a lighted star in one of the windows.“What are those stars,” I asked.“They are a tradition in Norway. A star is lit on the first Sunday of Advent to help guide the Three Wise Men.”We stopped in front of a modest house. There was no star in the window, but I saw sheaves of oats hung from one of the trees. I was familiar with the tradition of putting out something for the birds in the frigid days of December. As we stepped inside, I was suddenly surprised. “Hi, Mom! I would like you to meet Gunnar Larsen.”“Good evening, Mr. Larsen. Jorunn has been sending me text messages all week about your exciting travels. I hope you enjoyed your tour. My name is Leah.”This was not what I expected. I hoped to be alone with Jorunn. The family resemblance was striking and quite apparent. Leah’s straight hair was a bit shorter than Jorunn’s but matched her daughter’s pure blonde color. Her blue eyes stood out from her attractive face. She was wearing a multi-colored Norwegian Dale sweater and green trousers. I possessed absolutely no experience telling how old Norwegian women are. She must be in her forties but looked younger.I said, “I enjoyed Jorunn’s tour very much. Your daughter is quite talented in many ways. Please, call me Gunnar.”Jorunn said, “Gunnar was asking about other Jul traditions and activities here in Norway over Christmas. I thought Syv Slags Kaker would be a good one, and your cookies are the best ones in Oslo. I’ll make us some coffee.”Leah looked at me, “Please sit Gunnar. How much longer will you be staying in Norway?”I replied, “About two more weeks. I wanted to celebrate the New Year here before returning to America.”I talked about the completed tour, and she seemed interested enough that I rambled on.“I really enjoyed visiting Lillehammer. It brought back memories of watching the 1994 Winter Olympics, probably my favorite one. The music was fantastic, and the woman who sang the Olympic Hymn at the opening ceremony possessed such a wonderful voice.”Leah replied, “Her name is Sissel Kyrkjebø. She is still extremely popular today, and we consider her a national treasure. I was 18 at the time, and worked at those Olympics.”“I’d love to hear more about that,” I replied. “It was nice to see many of the venues still being used. I also enjoyed the Olympic Museum in Maihaugen, which told the history of the 1994 Olympics. I was surprised to learn that Norway has won more Olympic medals than any other country. But the highlight for me was riding the chairlift to the top of the Lysgårdsbakkene ski jump. The views were amazing. I can’t imagine anyone being brave enough to make such a jump.”“I agree with you on that!” laughed Leah.I continued, “We also flew to Tromsø, and I got to see the Northern Lights. We can sometimes see them in southern Minnesota, but they were much more impressive here with the clear Norwegian air. Jorunn and I took a ride in a sleigh, pulled by actual reindeer. Reindeer are much larger than I thought. We visited a Sami farm, where we ate reindeer stew and learned about the Sami culture.”“I’ve never been, but I hear it’s really fun,” replied Leah.“Bærums Verk was also a highlight. You may already know that the town dates to the 1600s. I loved the old buildings and cobbled streets. Although the Christmas Market was small, I found it unique, with artisans selling handmade crafts. It was nice to see the old crafts like glassblowing, ironwork, and woodworking.”Jorunn returned with a large tray, holding coffee and cookies, and we began sampling.Leah asked, “Did you take Gunnar to Pepperkakebyen in Bergen? It’s a marvelous gingerbread village in my hometown. There are over 200 small gingerbread houses, and with the tiny lights turned on, it looks so real.”Jorunn replied, “A week goes by quickly, mamma. There is only so much time. The gingerbread houses are very nice, and I have fond memories of going there with you.”As we continued talking and munching cookies, I looked around at the decorations. There was an advent calendar, wreaths, angels, gnomes called nisse, hearts, stars, and candles. The decorations looked more natural, perhaps a bit less commercialized than in America. There was a real tree, complete with its wonderful pine smell, a star at the top, garland, tinsel, ornaments, and white lights.I looked at Leah, “I noticed that you don’t have a Christmas star in the window as many of the other houses do.”Leah replied, “I found my former husband in bed with another woman. I immediately divorced him. Among the many things he took from Jorunn and I, was our Christmas Star.”Leah sounded deeply hurt and from more than just the missing star. After tasting the last of the seven cookies, Leah asked how I liked them. “The waffle-like Krumkaker was probably my favorite. We tried making them in Minnesota, but yours turned out so much better. And, of course, the Pepperkaker gingerbread stars were great.” I held up another cookie and said, “I don’t know the name of this one, but it was also excellent.”Leah replied, “That one is Serinakaker, a Norwegian butter cookie.”I realized the inevitable, “It is getting late. Thank you both, Leah and Jorunn, for a wonderful evening. I need to get back to my hotel and figure out what to do over the next few days.”I saw Jorunn look at her mother, who nodded. As I stood up, Leah did too. “Nonsense, Gunnar. I won’t have it. Come, spend Christmas with Jorunn and me! Nearly everything in Oslo shuts down in the afternoon on Christmas Eve and stays closed until the 27th. No restaurants or shops will be open. I have an unused bedroom upstairs. Come celebrate Jul with us.”I caught the signal between mother and daughter and wondered if this was pre-planned. But spending Christmas alone in my hotel sounded almost as bad as spending it alone in the nursing home. It was an easy decision. “I accept.”Leah said, “Good. I’ll stop by your hotel tomorrow and help you move your things. Perhaps we can have lunch as well at one of the restaurants along Karl Johans gate.”“It would be my pleasure, ” I replied. “Let’s say, about 11:00 AM”Little Christmas EveDecember 23rd - MorningIt was December 23rd, known in Norway as Lille Julaften. Spending Christmas with Leah and Jorunn created a problem for me. I needed to find at least one Christmas present for each, just in case they bought a gift for me. I got up early and headed out to search. Reflecting on last night, and indeed, the last week, it ended up being far simpler than I feared. I soon found a gift for each, along with reusable cloth gift bags in Christmas colors.I heard a knock on my hotel door and opened it. Leah stood there, holding a coat over her arm. She was wearing a traditional Norwegian folk costume called a bunad. Her blonde hair, simply styled, was highlighted by two attractive braids.I smiled and said, “What a pleasant surprise. You look like you just stepped out of a fairy tale.”She looked past me into the messy room, then took a step toward me and surprised me with a kiss on my cheek. She stepped back and started laughing. “It didn’t work. I am a fairy tale princess, but you are still a frog! It looks like we have some work to do cleaning up your lily pad.”As Leah entered the room, I said, “I already packed a small bag, enough for a few days.”Leah walked over to the pile of clothes from my week-long trip. She picked up a shirt and sniffed it. Then she pulled a wool sweater out from the pile. “Keep your wool sweaters away from the rest of your dirty clothes. Wool is harder to clean and may pick up the smell. Let me see what else you packed.”Leah dumped out my small gym bag onto the bed and then began tossing things aside. “This won’t do. We need to take all of your clothes back to my house and wash them.”Fond memories returned. Whenever we went on a trip, Solveig would always dump out my suitcase and re-load it with other clothes. Solvieg would also pick out clothes for me to wear whenever we dressed to go out to weddings or a party.Leah said, “Don’t expect me to wash them for you. I have other things to do to get ready for Christmas. You’ll have enough free time you can wash them yourself. We will gather everything up after we come back from lunch.”What a woman! I can see where Jorunn inherited her strong personality. We left my hotel, and Leah took me to one of her favorite kafés. As we walked, Leah’s bunad drew eyes, and attracted smiles, as if she were a magnet. As we waited for our food, I asked Leah about her bunad.Leah replied, “I don’t get to wear my bunad very often. I usually wear it for National Day in May, and for weddings and baptisms, but I haven’t been to many of those lately. Christmas is also an acceptable time to wear it.”Leah wore the traditional white blouse with a silver neckpin. Her vest was bright red with a handmade breastplate. Her navy skirt was trimmed with intricate embroidery, and covered in front by a white apron. Around her waist and running down the front was a decorative handwoven belt.“I grew up east of Bergen, in the Hardanger region, so my bunad is in the Hardanger style. While details may vary, you can tell where someone is from by which style of bunad they are wearing. It would not be proper to choose a bunad from a different region simply because you prefer a different color.”“That’s a lovely silver brooch you have on. It looks very old.”“It was my grandmother’s. Norwegians have a spiritual connection to silver, and silver brooches are handed down for many generations. One day, it will be Jorunn’s.”The food was excellent. I have not eaten a bad meal here in Norway. Leah was a great conversationalist, and she freely shared her humor and wit. Her stories from the 1994 Olympics were fascinating, and even though Jorunn and I were just there, I wanted to go back. I learned Leah worked as a radiology technician at a local hospital here in Oslo and took the entire holiday off. The meal finished too quickly, and we returned to my hotel.As we gathered my assorted clothing, I saw one of my socks on the floor, so I walked around Leah to pick it up. Turning quickly, I found myself face-to-face with her. We stared at each other for a moment, then moved at the same time. Our lips came together, and we kissed. Not a gentle kiss, but a passionate one, long and deep. Intentions were clear on both sides.We separated. Leah said, “I have not had sex since divorcing my husband nearly three years ago. That bastard took away more than my Christmas Star, he took away my trust in men. I am forty-seven years old. I never go out on dates, because I’m afraid to open my heart again to another man. Jorunn texted me every night for the past week and would send short videos she took during the day. She kept repeating how much fun she was having with you, and how nice a man you are. I know it sounds funny, but after watching and reading what Jorunn sent me, I feel like I already know you, and have made it past the first date. I know you lost the woman you loved. I cannot replace her in your heart, but if you are ready, I would like to share mine.”This was unexpected. “When I was in Minnesota, I watched Jorunn’s vlog almost every night. She is so sweet and funny and does such an excellent job. Even though I never met Jorunn, I felt like I knew her. To use your dating analogy, it’s one of the reasons I picked her as a tour guide. I felt comfortable with Jorunn and was too afraid to trust another tour company. When I came to Norway, I left my past behind. It is time for me to find something, or someone, to love.”Our bodies came together, and our lips re-joined. Any fears of rejection vanished as I locked my lips onto those of this beautiful Norwegian woman. Our tongues danced with each other, while our hands moved quickly over each other’s bodies.“Help me take off my bunad,” pleaded Leah.Together, we unclasped, unbuckled, unbuttoned, and untied, removing one layer at a time of the intricate bunad and laying it over a chair. It was like slowly opening the best Christmas present I have ever gotten, as more of Leah’s body slowly revealed itself to me. Her breasts were small, but firm, and went well with her slender frame. I forgot how delicate a woman’s features are, and Leah’s body was perfect in every way. Below her waist, I found a mound of pure blonde hair, barely darker than the color on her head.“I have no other words, you are truly a gorgeous woman, Leah.”“Thank you, Gunnar. Now it’s my turn to have fun.”Leah approached me. With small steps, she moved gracefully. She lifted my pullover shirt, pausing as it obscured my eyes. “Don’t take your shirt off. Just enjoy the sensations.” In the darkness, her fingers teasingly played with the hairs on my chest. A fingernail flicked back and forth over my nipple, drawing it to an erection. Moving lower, Leah unbuckled my trousers and slid them down, taking my knickers with them. I was not yet erect, but moving rapidly in that direction. Cool fingers wrapped around my cock and lifted, while a single fingernail twirled against my ball sack. Her tongue dragged across the tip of my cock. Then, Leah’s hands moved behind me to cup and squeeze my bum cheeks. Her warm breath washed over my cock.Leah stood and pulled my shirt the rest of the way off, and I stepped out of my trousers. We remained like this, both naked, looking longingly at each other. Leah reached up and touched my hair. “You have just a touch of grey. I like that. Few mature men are as blessed as you, with a firm, lean body. I see all kinds of patients. You look like a forty-year-old.”I suppose that was one benefit of eating the low-fat, low-sugar, and tasteless nursing home food. I lost nearly thirty pounds. “I am older than I look, and you should know that I had a stroke two years ago. I am doing much better, but still have a balance issue, and sometimes slur my words."Slurring your words might just be because you have a lazy tongue. Perhaps we can find a way to fix that later.”For a moment, I wondered what she meant, then hoped my notions might come true. Leah dropped to her knees directly in front of me and ran a finger along my nearly erect shaft. “It feels so nice to touch a real one again. What a lovely cock you have.”I said, “I’m sorry. I don’t have a very large penis.”Leah laughed, “Anything more than a mouthful is just wasted. Now let’s begin. I will say a Norwegian word, and you repeat it. Listen carefully to my pronunciation and maybe we can fix your American accent.”Leah said, “Penis.” Then she grabbed my cock with her right hand.This might be fun, so I replied, “Penis!”Leah whispered, “Rub.” Then she began gently sliding her hand along my shaft. Without any lubrication, there was quite a bit of friction.I replied, “Rub!”Leah said, “Lick.” Leah extended her tongue, and starting near the base, began leaving wet trails along each side of my glistening cock. The warm softness of her tongue brought me to full erection.It felt fantastic, and I gasped out, “Lick!”Leah said, “Suck.” She opened her mouth wide and took in the head of my cock, using her tongue to tease the underside. Bringing her lips together, I felt the insides of her mouth pressing inward and squeezing tightly against me. When her suction began, she pulled the head of my cock deeper into her mouth. Leah’s head pulled back ever so slightly, allowing her soft lips to glide over me until my cock was almost freed. But not quite. Using the extra room, Leah teased my opening with the tip of her tongue. From the way her tongue easily twirled around, I was certain I contributed my pre-cum.Then her suction pulled me deeper into her mouth. She look

Skandinavian Folklore and Feast Days.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.Syv Slags Kaker. (or, Seven Sorts of  Cookies)December 22nd – Evening, Five Days LaterJorunn said, “Well, Gunnar, we are back at our starting point, and this concludes the tour. We got off to a rough start on the first day, but since then, I have enjoyed spending time with you. After my mom got divorced, I stopped dating. Sure, I went out in mixed groups with my friends, but I cannot remember the last time I went somewhere, by myself, with a man. The divorce made me lose all confidence and trust in men. Why enter a relationship, and give my heart to a man, knowing it is going to fail? My father hurt my mother and me so badly, that neither of us have recovered. You were so wonderful to me this week, and showed me that not all men are like my father.”Jorunn looked at me with pleading eyes, “I don’t want this tour to end. I don’t want you to leave. Can you please stay in Oslo at least a few more days?”Jorunn didn’t want me to go. And I didn’t want to leave her either. I replied, “Jorunn, I cannot think of anyone or any place I would rather be than here in Oslo, with you.”Jorunn said, “It’s still early enough that we may be able to find seating without a reservation. I know a great place for seafood.”“Lead on,” I replied.Jorunn and I discussed the now-completed tour while enjoying a delicious dinner at a small kafé. I offered suggestions for the tour, but otherwise let her know I enjoyed seeing Norway, and I told her what a wonderful guide she was. After returning to America, I promised to recommend her tours to everyone I knew.As I looked over the dessert menu, I asked Jorunn, “I’m willing to stay a few more days. Are there any other Norwegian Christmas traditions or activities worth doing over the next few days?”“If you put down that dessert menu, there is one called Syv Slags Kaker. I baked seven kinds of cookies to celebrate Jul. If you come to my house, we can have coffee and you can sample all seven kinds.”“That sounds great,” I replied. Jorunn was inviting me to her home. She was beautiful and funny, and I admit I developed fantasies about her as I watched her vlog videos back in the nursing home. Heck, I even created new fantasies over the last week. She was much warmer toward me at the end of the tour. In Tromsø, we shared a blanket as we rode in a sleigh pulled by an actual reindeer. But after the Nutcracker ballet, I held back and did not cross any lines. Could a 56-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman have a sexual relationship? I managed to keep up with Jorunn all week and didn’t see any reason not to. I reached below the table to carefully re-position myself before standing up.We made our way to the Train Station and rode to Jorunn’s neighborhood. As we walked to her house, I noticed many homes with a lighted star in one of the windows.“What are those stars,” I asked.“They are a tradition in Norway. A star is lit on the first Sunday of Advent to help guide the Three Wise Men.”We stopped in front of a modest house. There was no star in the window, but I saw sheaves of oats hung from one of the trees. I was familiar with the tradition of putting out something for the birds in the frigid days of December. As we stepped inside, I was suddenly surprised. “Hi, Mom! I would like you to meet Gunnar Larsen.”“Good evening, Mr. Larsen. Jorunn has been sending me text messages all week about your exciting travels. I hope you enjoyed your tour. My name is Leah.”This was not what I expected. I hoped to be alone with Jorunn. The family resemblance was striking and quite apparent. Leah’s straight hair was a bit shorter than Jorunn’s but matched her daughter’s pure blonde color. Her blue eyes stood out from her attractive face. She was wearing a multi-colored Norwegian Dale sweater and green trousers. I possessed absolutely no experience telling how old Norwegian women are. She must be in her forties but looked younger.I said, “I enjoyed Jorunn’s tour very much. Your daughter is quite talented in many ways. Please, call me Gunnar.”Jorunn said, “Gunnar was asking about other Jul traditions and activities here in Norway over Christmas. I thought Syv Slags Kaker would be a good one, and your cookies are the best ones in Oslo. I’ll make us some coffee.”Leah looked at me, “Please sit Gunnar. How much longer will you be staying in Norway?”I replied, “About two more weeks. I wanted to celebrate the New Year here before returning to America.”I talked about the completed tour, and she seemed interested enough that I rambled on.“I really enjoyed visiting Lillehammer. It brought back memories of watching the 1994 Winter Olympics, probably my favorite one. The music was fantastic, and the woman who sang the Olympic Hymn at the opening ceremony possessed such a wonderful voice.”Leah replied, “Her name is Sissel Kyrkjebø. She is still extremely popular today, and we consider her a national treasure. I was 18 at the time, and worked at those Olympics.”“I’d love to hear more about that,” I replied. “It was nice to see many of the venues still being used. I also enjoyed the Olympic Museum in Maihaugen, which told the history of the 1994 Olympics. I was surprised to learn that Norway has won more Olympic medals than any other country. But the highlight for me was riding the chairlift to the top of the Lysgårdsbakkene ski jump. The views were amazing. I can’t imagine anyone being brave enough to make such a jump.”“I agree with you on that!” laughed Leah.I continued, “We also flew to Tromsø, and I got to see the Northern Lights. We can sometimes see them in southern Minnesota, but they were much more impressive here with the clear Norwegian air. Jorunn and I took a ride in a sleigh, pulled by actual reindeer. Reindeer are much larger than I thought. We visited a Sami farm, where we ate reindeer stew and learned about the Sami culture.”“I’ve never been, but I hear it’s really fun,” replied Leah.“Bærums Verk was also a highlight. You may already know that the town dates to the 1600s. I loved the old buildings and cobbled streets. Although the Christmas Market was small, I found it unique, with artisans selling handmade crafts. It was nice to see the old crafts like glassblowing, ironwork, and woodworking.”Jorunn returned with a large tray, holding coffee and cookies, and we began sampling.Leah asked, “Did you take Gunnar to Pepperkakebyen in Bergen? It’s a marvelous gingerbread village in my hometown. There are over 200 small gingerbread houses, and with the tiny lights turned on, it looks so real.”Jorunn replied, “A week goes by quickly, mamma. There is only so much time. The gingerbread houses are very nice, and I have fond memories of going there with you.”As we continued talking and munching cookies, I looked around at the decorations. There was an advent calendar, wreaths, angels, gnomes called nisse, hearts, stars, and candles. The decorations looked more natural, perhaps a bit less commercialized than in America. There was a real tree, complete with its wonderful pine smell, a star at the top, garland, tinsel, ornaments, and white lights.I looked at Leah, “I noticed that you don’t have a Christmas star in the window as many of the other houses do.”Leah replied, “I found my former husband in bed with another woman. I immediately divorced him. Among the many things he took from Jorunn and I, was our Christmas Star.”Leah sounded deeply hurt and from more than just the missing star. After tasting the last of the seven cookies, Leah asked how I liked them. “The waffle-like Krumkaker was probably my favorite. We tried making them in Minnesota, but yours turned out so much better. And, of course, the Pepperkaker gingerbread stars were great.” I held up another cookie and said, “I don’t know the name of this one, but it was also excellent.”Leah replied, “That one is Serinakaker, a Norwegian butter cookie.”I realized the inevitable, “It is getting late. Thank you both, Leah and Jorunn, for a wonderful evening. I need to get back to my hotel and figure out what to do over the next few days.”I saw Jorunn look at her mother, who nodded. As I stood up, Leah did too. “Nonsense, Gunnar. I won’t have it. Come, spend Christmas with Jorunn and me! Nearly everything in Oslo shuts down in the afternoon on Christmas Eve and stays closed until the 27th. No restaurants or shops will be open. I have an unused bedroom upstairs. Come celebrate Jul with us.”I caught the signal between mother and daughter and wondered if this was pre-planned. But spending Christmas alone in my hotel sounded almost as bad as spending it alone in the nursing home. It was an easy decision. “I accept.”Leah said, “Good. I’ll stop by your hotel tomorrow and help you move your things. Perhaps we can have lunch as well at one of the restaurants along Karl Johans gate.”“It would be my pleasure, ” I replied. “Let’s say, about 11:00 AM”Little Christmas EveDecember 23rd - MorningIt was December 23rd, known in Norway as Lille Julaften. Spending Christmas with Leah and Jorunn created a problem for me. I needed to find at least one Christmas present for each, just in case they bought a gift for me. I got up early and headed out to search. Reflecting on last night, and indeed, the last week, it ended up being far simpler than I feared. I soon found a gift for each, along with reusable cloth gift bags in Christmas colors.I heard a knock on my hotel door and opened it. Leah stood there, holding a coat over her arm. She was wearing a traditional Norwegian folk costume called a bunad. Her blonde hair, simply styled, was highlighted by two attractive braids.I smiled and said, “What a pleasant surprise. You look like you just stepped out of a fairy tale.”She looked past me into the messy room, then took a step toward me and surprised me with a kiss on my cheek. She stepped back and started laughing. “It didn’t work. I am a fairy tale princess, but you are still a frog! It looks like we have some work to do cleaning up your lily pad.”As Leah entered the room, I said, “I already packed a small bag, enough for a few days.”Leah walked over to the pile of clothes from my week-long trip. She picked up a shirt and sniffed it. Then she pulled a wool sweater out from the pile. “Keep your wool sweaters away from the rest of your dirty clothes. Wool is harder to clean and may pick up the smell. Let me see what else you packed.”Leah dumped out my small gym bag onto the bed and then began tossing things aside. “This won’t do. We need to take all of your clothes back to my house and wash them.”Fond memories returned. Whenever we went on a trip, Solveig would always dump out my suitcase and re-load it with other clothes. Solvieg would also pick out clothes for me to wear whenever we dressed to go out to weddings or a party.Leah said, “Don’t expect me to wash them for you. I have other things to do to get ready for Christmas. You’ll have enough free time you can wash them yourself. We will gather everything up after we come back from lunch.”What a woman! I can see where Jorunn inherited her strong personality. We left my hotel, and Leah took me to one of her favorite kafés. As we walked, Leah’s bunad drew eyes, and attracted smiles, as if she were a magnet. As we waited for our food, I asked Leah about her bunad.Leah replied, “I don’t get to wear my bunad very often. I usually wear it for National Day in May, and for weddings and baptisms, but I haven’t been to many of those lately. Christmas is also an acceptable time to wear it.”Leah wore the traditional white blouse with a silver neckpin. Her vest was bright red with a handmade breastplate. Her navy skirt was trimmed with intricate embroidery, and covered in front by a white apron. Around her waist and running down the front was a decorative handwoven belt.“I grew up east of Bergen, in the Hardanger region, so my bunad is in the Hardanger style. While details may vary, you can tell where someone is from by which style of bunad they are wearing. It would not be proper to choose a bunad from a different region simply because you prefer a different color.”“That’s a lovely silver brooch you have on. It looks very old.”“It was my grandmother’s. Norwegians have a spiritual connection to silver, and silver brooches are handed down for many generations. One day, it will be Jorunn’s.”The food was excellent. I have not eaten a bad meal here in Norway. Leah was a great conversationalist, and she freely shared her humor and wit. Her stories from the 1994 Olympics were fascinating, and even though Jorunn and I were just there, I wanted to go back. I learned Leah worked as a radiology technician at a local hospital here in Oslo and took the entire holiday off. The meal finished too quickly, and we returned to my hotel.As we gathered my assorted clothing, I saw one of my socks on the floor, so I walked around Leah to pick it up. Turning quickly, I found myself face-to-face with her. We stared at each other for a moment, then moved at the same time. Our lips came together, and we kissed. Not a gentle kiss, but a passionate one, long and deep. Intentions were clear on both sides.We separated. Leah said, “I have not had sex since divorcing my husband nearly three years ago. That bastard took away more than my Christmas Star, he took away my trust in men. I am forty-seven years old. I never go out on dates, because I’m afraid to open my heart again to another man. Jorunn texted me every night for the past week and would send short videos she took during the day. She kept repeating how much fun she was having with you, and how nice a man you are. I know it sounds funny, but after watching and reading what Jorunn sent me, I feel like I already know you, and have made it past the first date. I know you lost the woman you loved. I cannot replace her in your heart, but if you are ready, I would like to share mine.”This was unexpected. “When I was in Minnesota, I watched Jorunn’s vlog almost every night. She is so sweet and funny and does such an excellent job. Even though I never met Jorunn, I felt like I knew her. To use your dating analogy, it’s one of the reasons I picked her as a tour guide. I felt comfortable with Jorunn and was too afraid to trust another tour company. When I came to Norway, I left my past behind. It is time for me to find something, or someone, to love.”Our bodies came together, and our lips re-joined. Any fears of rejection vanished as I locked my lips onto those of this beautiful Norwegian woman. Our tongues danced with each other, while our hands moved quickly over each other’s bodies.“Help me take off my bunad,” pleaded Leah.Together, we unclasped, unbuckled, unbuttoned, and untied, removing one layer at a time of the intricate bunad and laying it over a chair. It was like slowly opening the best Christmas present I have ever gotten, as more of Leah’s body slowly revealed itself to me. Her breasts were small, but firm, and went well with her slender frame. I forgot how delicate a woman’s features are, and Leah’s body was perfect in every way. Below her waist, I found a mound of pure blonde hair, barely darker than the color on her head.“I have no other words, you are truly a gorgeous woman, Leah.”“Thank you, Gunnar. Now it’s my turn to have fun.”Leah approached me. With small steps, she moved gracefully. She lifted my pullover shirt, pausing as it obscured my eyes. “Don’t take your shirt off. Just enjoy the sensations.” In the darkness, her fingers teasingly played with the hairs on my chest. A fingernail flicked back and forth over my nipple, drawing it to an erection. Moving lower, Leah unbuckled my trousers and slid them down, taking my knickers with them. I was not yet erect, but moving rapidly in that direction. Cool fingers wrapped around my cock and lifted, while a single fingernail twirled against my ball sack. Her tongue dragged across the tip of my cock. Then, Leah’s hands moved behind me to cup and squeeze my bum cheeks. Her warm breath washed over my cock.Leah stood and pulled my shirt the rest of the way off, and I stepped out of my trousers. We remained like this, both naked, looking longingly at each other. Leah reached up and touched my hair. “You have just a touch of grey. I like that. Few mature men are as blessed as you, with a firm, lean body. I see all kinds of patients. You look like a forty-year-old.”I suppose that was one benefit of eating the low-fat, low-sugar, and tasteless nursing home food. I lost nearly thirty pounds. “I am older than I look, and you should know that I had a stroke two years ago. I am doing much better, but still have a balance issue, and sometimes slur my words."Slurring your words might just be because you have a lazy tongue. Perhaps we can find a way to fix that later.”For a moment, I wondered what she meant, then hoped my notions might come true. Leah dropped to her knees directly in front of me and ran a finger along my nearly erect shaft. “It feels so nice to touch a real one again. What a lovely cock you have.”I said, “I’m sorry. I don’t have a very large penis.”Leah laughed, “Anything more than a mouthful is just wasted. Now let’s begin. I will say a Norwegian word, and you repeat it. Listen carefully to my pronunciation and maybe we can fix your American accent.”Leah said, “Penis.” Then she grabbed my cock with her right hand.This might be fun, so I replied, “Penis!”Leah whispered, “Rub.” Then she began gently sliding her hand along my shaft. Without any lubrication, there was quite a bit of friction.I replied, “Rub!”Leah said, “Lick.” Leah extended her tongue, and starting near the base, began leaving wet trails along each side of my glistening cock. The warm softness of her tongue brought me to full erection.It felt fantastic, and I gasped out, “Lick!”Leah said, “Suck.” She opened her mouth wide and took in the head of my cock, using her tongue to tease the underside. Bringing her lips together, I felt the insides of her mouth pressing inward and squeezing tightly against me. When her suction began, she pulled the head of my cock deeper into her mouth. Leah’s head pulled back ever so slightly, allowing her soft lips to glide over me until my cock was almost freed. But not quite. Using the extra room, Leah teased my opening with the tip of her tongue. From the way her tongue easily twirled around, I was certain I contributed my pre-cum.Then her suction pulled me deeper into her mouth. She look

47 years ago today, Iran was declared an Islamic republic, after a year-long revolution that toppled a Shah and sent shockwaves throughout the world. And this anniversary sees the regime in its fiercest fight for survival yet. Last month, hundreds of thousands of Iranians rose up in protest, demanding change, before authorities brutally cracked down. The government itself admits to more than 3,000 deaths, but the real number could be in the tens of thousands, according to human rights groups. The violence and intimidation continue even in prison. Detained Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi has been viciously assaulted, according to the Nobel Committee, whose leader Jørgen Frydnes joins from Oslo.  Also on today's show: Former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen; Sara Khaki & Mohammadreza Eyni, co-directors of Oscar-nominated Iranian documentary "Cutting Through Rocks"; Scott Galloway, professor at the NYU Stern School of Business    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bonus: Pluto-prat   Marius Borg Høiby er tiltalt for en rekke alvorlige lovbrudd, inkludert fire voldtekter, mishandling i nære relasjoner, og brudd på besøksforbud. Rettssaken i Oslo tingrett startet 3. februar 2026, og han anses som uskyldig inntil en eventuell dom foreligger. Han erkjenner delvis straffskyld for vold og trusler, men nekter for de mest alvorlige anklagene. Kilde: NRK, Morgenbladet og Se og Hør

Einerseits stand sie jahrelang in engem Kontakt mit dem Sexualstraftäter Jeffrey Epstein, andererseits muss sich ihr Sohn aktuell wegen Vergewaltigungsvorwürfen vor Gericht verantworten. Der Druck auf Norwegens Kronprinzessin Mette-Marit ist riesig. In der Bevölkerung wachsen die Zweifel, ob sie überhaupt norwegische Königin werden kann. Arne Bartram aus dem ARD-Studio Stockholm kennt Norwegen gut und erzählt in dieser 11KM-Folge, was für das norwegische Königshaus auf dem Spiel steht und warum die Erschütterungen für das ganze Land so gewaltig sind. Alle neuen Entwicklungen zu den Epstein-Files findet ihr hier: https://www.tagesschau.de/thema/epstein Um den Epstein-Skandal ging es schon in früheren 11KM-Folgen, beispielsweise um die Verstrickungen ins britische Königshaus: “Epstein-Affäre: Der gefallene Prinz Andrew”: https://1.ard.de/11KM_Prinz_Andrew_Epstein Warum US-Präsident Trump seinen Widerstand gegen die Veröffentlichung der Epstein-Files aufgegeben hat, hört ihr in der 11KM-Folge “Epstein-Akten: Trump und die Verschwörung, die nie endet”: https://1.ard.de/11KM_Epstein_Akten Diese und viele weitere Folgen von 11KM findet ihr überall da, wo es Podcasts gibt, auch hier in der ARD Audiothek: https://www.ardaudiothek.de/sendung/11km-der-tagesschau-podcast/12200383/ An dieser Folge waren beteiligt: Folgenautor: Marc Hoffmann Mitarbeit: Claudia Schaffer, Lukas Waschbüsch Host: David Krause Produktion: Viktor Fölsner-Veress, Lorenz Kersten und Jürgen Kopp Planung: Nicole Dienemann und Hardy Funk Distribution: Kerstin Ammermann Redaktionsleitung: Yasemin Yüksel und Fumiko Lipp 11KM: der tagesschau-Podcast wird produziert von BR24 und NDR Info. Die redaktionelle Verantwortung für diese Episode liegt beim BR.

Sledges, Corkscrews, and other fears.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.Once at the starting point, we both sat down on our sledges. I was grateful only a few others were preparing to ride, but gasped again when I saw how youthful their faces were. I doubted anyone here was over thirty years old. I wondered whether Jorunn was punishing me, or perhaps was hoping I would voluntarily quit the tour.“I don’t know if I can do this, Jorunn. I’m afraid.”Jorunn looked me in the eye with a grim look on her face.“Afraid is coming home with my mother, and finding my father sleeping with another woman. Afraid is watching how he broke apart my family and wondering how my mom and I would go on. Afraid is me cutting off my father and not wanting to ever see him again.”“Afraid is quitting a dead-end job and trying to earn a living as a vlogger in one of the most expensive countries on earth. Afraid is checking every morning for clicks, likes, and followers, and finding out the numbers did not change.”“Afraid is starting a private small-group tour company, all by myself, and weaving my way through the many regulations, laws, and insurance requirements. Afraid is knowing I have to book at least one trip a month just to cover those costs.”“Afraid is taking a group of six to Svalbard for a glacier hike in early summer, and spotting a polar bear less than 200 meters away lumbering towards us. Afraid is watching our guide fire off the last of her flares, but seeing the bear still coming. Afraid is the look in our guide’s eyes as she reached for her rifle.”“You don’t need to be afraid of sledging, Gunnar. What you need to be afraid of is being too afraid to try sledging. Meet me at the bottom of the hill. Either make the run or turn in your sledge and take the Metro down the hill.”I watched Jorunn push off and head down the run, then thought about her words. I lived a good life in Minnesota, meeting Solveig in college and then stepping right into a lifetime job with the 3M company. Adventure was going to our lake cabin where the only challenges were fighting off mosquitos, and figuring out how to remove burnt marshmallows off the end of a stick. After our first child, Solveig and I stopped doing anything like sledding, and instead sat and watched our kids having all the fun.What am I doing here in Norway? Why am I here? Jorunn answered that question for me. I pushed off and started my run.I fought my way down the mountain, and as I approached the end of the run, I was happy to see it level off. I saw Jorunn standing next to her sledge, her small camera pointed at me. I raised both hands over my head, waved, then yelled, “I did it!” I coasted to a stop three meters past her.Jorunn ran up to me, and as I stood, she hugged me. “I’m proud of you Gunnar.” As we hugged, under the clear blue skies and chilly temperatures, I closed my eyes and went back 35 years to a small hill in Minneapolis, where I hugged Solvieg after sledding. Jorunn released me and stepped back.I yelped, “It was wonderful! I kept to the side as other people whizzed past me. A few sections were bumpy, and my teeth rattled. The only time I was scared was when there was a steep drop-off on one side. Don’t you use guardrails in Norway?”“You may have seen a few small concrete walls, but we believe in personal responsibility here in Norway. If you cannot manage a sledge, you should not make the run. The authorities do monitor the conditions and sometimes close the run when it is too icy.”“Does that mean you believed in me? Believed I could make it down the hill?”“There is nothing wrong with you, Gunnar. While I was waiting here at the bottom of the hill, I read about your Iron Range in Minnesota. You are rusty. There is a Wizard of Oz Museum there. You are the Tin Man. This tour is the Oil Can. Figure it out. The Oil Can only works if you pick it up and use it. Stand tall and walk proudly for as long as you can. If you fall, get up and keep going.”It was an interesting way to look at life. I was only 56 years old, but for the last few years, I acted like I was 80. I still have many years to go sledging, if only I was not afraid to try.I turned to Jorunn. “Let’s go again!”Pea SoupDecember 16 - Mid-DayAfter three more runs, Jorunn and I turned in our sledges and ate lunch at the beautiful Frognersteren Restaurant on top of the hill. I followed her suggestion of a thick pea soup with meatballs and potatoes. It was delicious. As we sipped hot chocolate, it felt good to be alive again.“A week ago, I was in a nursing home in Minnesota. After my wife died, no one visited me, not even my adult children. I was alone. It was a terrible place, run by a terrible nurse. I had to get out. I made plans with my lawyer, then walked out the front door and got on a plane to come to Norway. What’s the worst place you have ever been?”“Dublin, Ireland. After the divorce, my mother and I were struggling financially. We had gone from living a comfortable life to living paycheck to paycheck. I saw a post on the Internet for a job as a body double for a Vikings television program. I wasn’t sure what a body double did, but it paid well for a short gig. I took all my clothes off while a dozen people stared at me and took photos and videos. I hadn’t been naked in front of any man in over a year, since before the divorce. They must have liked me because I got the part, and they flew me to Dublin. The next morning, I went to the studios. I sat there in a robe while they cut and styled my hair to match the actress I was portraying. Then off to the makeup department, where I removed my robe while they applied fake tattoos and full body makeup so I would look dirty in all the right places.”“After lunch in the studio, the costume department placed me in a white linen tunic. When it was time to film, they told me to stand in front of the lead actor while he lifted the tunic off me and tossed it aside. He was much older than me, and with his beard, he reminded me of my father. He exuded the same swagger as if the world revolved only around him. I would be fully exposed to him, and to the camera crew, who were filming me from behind. They told me to act submissive and let the lead actor hug me. It took several takes and a few tweaks before the director was happy.”“Next, I was ordered to lay down on a stylized Viking bed covered with furs. The sex scene was to be filmed twice. Once for television, then for an unrated video release. The make-up people gave me a once over, then thankfully positioned a flesh-covered patch over my vagina. In the first shot, I was naked, but the lead actor remained fully clothed. He stood and positioned himself between my legs, and they told me to keep my vagina pressed tight against his crotch as he bucked against me. We needed to make the audience believe we were having sex while showing them nothing. I remained in this position while they adjusted the lighting and camera angles, and beneath his trousers, I felt the lead actor’s erect cock pressed against me.”“The director yelled, ‘Action’. Once again, they told me to be submissive, and let the lead actor take charge. He started humping against me. Looking up at him, he was still a handsome man, and I wondered how many women around the world dreamed or fantasized about being in the same place I was. I wasn’t one of them, but I understood this was why they hired me, so I accepted it. Like earlier, it took several takes. The director would review the shot and make small adjustments each time. After the last take, I saw a large wet spot on the front of the lead actor’s trousers.”“Then it was time for the unrated scene. A host of costume and make-up people swarmed around the actor while I lay there naked. This time, he was to be naked as he approached the bed. The camera angle was off to the side to avoid full frontal and he used his left hand to shield his erection, thankfully contained in a flesh-covered sock. The scene began with the lead actor approaching me, and once in position, he began humping against me. His covered cock slid against the covering over my vagina, but the sensations passed right through. My nipples became erect, and I felt my wetness building.”“After several takes, the director was happy, and we moved on to the last scene for which I was needed. In this one, the lead actor would be laying on top of me, his arms extended and propping himself up with his hands placed on either side of my body. This scene was more challenging because it needed to be mixed with prior facial cuts shot separately with the lead male actor and lead female actress. The scene would be filmed from several angles including above and below. As the director reviewed the earlier footage, the makeup people worked on my face and hair.”“The next thing I felt was the lead actor lying on top of me, his body pressing his erect cock against the patch covering my vagina. I wanted to turn away, but he told me to look at him because it would help him release his creative juices. I feared the possible double entendre. Here I was, face-to-face with the avatar of the man I hated more than anyone, the man who destroyed our family. When the director was ready, he said to go at it and try to simulate real sex. He yelled 'Action’. I was sweating under the lights, and the patch covering my vagina began to slip, aided by the movement of the lead actor’s covered cock. As my pussy became more exposed, I was afraid his cock might slide into me, so I yelled 'Cut!’. Everything stopped, and I pushed him off.”“That was enough. I yelled I was through, gathered my things, and headed for the front door. I paid my own way back to Oslo, and thought about filing a protest, but later learned what they did was mostly proper. Most sex scenes are between two body doubles. It is rare, but sometimes a lead actor will film such scenes if they have it in their nudity clause. I had a new appreciation for body doubles, but my own acting career lasted one day, and looking at the final scenes after release, I was on screen for eight seconds, and no one knew it was me!”I said, “Wow. We have something in common. The nursing home did everything properly, but like you, I couldn’t stand it any longer, so I headed for the front door. I’m sorry for your terrible experience.”Jorunn shook her head, “Don’t be sorry. The experience ended up changing my life for the better. After I got back to Oslo, I swore to never work for anyone else again. I wanted to direct my own scenes, so I started doing vlogs. That led to the creation of my tour company. As things turned out, I walked out one door and right into something I loved. Plus, I walked out wearing this really cool, braided leather Viking headband I have on now. You are halfway there. You have walked out the front door. Now you must find something, or someone, to love.”A profound statement from someone so young.SpikersuppaDecember 16 - AfternoonI noticed the sun getting low on the horizon. Jorunn caught my glance and said, “The sun sets early here in Oslo, around 3:30 in the afternoon. In some of the northern cities, it set last month and will not rise again until spring.”I didn’t want to spend the rest of the day looking at museums, and flushed with my success on the hill, I took a chance. “Do you ice skate?”Jorunn replied, “I do, but not very well.”I said, “If you know of a skating rink with lights, maybe we can go there and skate.”“There is a nice lighted one in downtown Oslo called Spikersuppa,” said Jorunn. “When the sun goes down in Oslo, the twinkling lights are turned on, bringing with them their magic. The ice-skating rink is close to the Christmas market, which is our agenda for tonight.”“That sounds great to me,” I replied.We took the T-bane back to downtown Oslo and arrived as the sun was setting. There weren’t any clouds, but the multi-layered horizon was still beautiful. Orange along the bottom, and above it, increasingly darker hues of blue and purple, before turning to black in the night sky. After leaving the train station Jorunn and I walked along a pedestrian-only street named 'Karl Johns gate’ passing high-end stores and restaurants. Jorunn either pointed to, or mentioned, notable downtown buildings such as the Royal Palace, Parliament, the National Theatre, the Grand Hotel, and the original University of Oslo buildings. We also passed the brilliantly lit Freia clock, associated with the long-time Norwegian chocolate maker, and the unofficial symbol of Oslo.We rented skates and then stepped tentatively onto the ice. It wasn’t a big rink, and fortunately, not crowded. In the middle was a frozen water fountain. Christmas music was playing and twinkling lights glowed all around us.“I played ice hockey in Minnesota when I was in high school, but haven’t skated since.”“My father used to take me to figure skating lessons when I was young, but I stopped. I kept falling when trying to do spins.”“Maybe we can help each other out. Have you ever tried ice dancing?”Jorunn laughed. “No! Never!”“Neither have I. But a wise woman once told me that I should not be afraid of ice dancing. What I should be afraid of is being too afraid to try ice dancing.”Jorunn smiled, “A very wise woman, indeed! Let’s try it and see what happens.”I remember watching the wonderful British duo of Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean ice dancing in their last Olympics in 1994. The Olympics were here in Norway, in Lillehammer. I was not about to try any lifts or spins, but I reached my right arm behind Jorunn and placed my hand on her right hip. Taking her left hand in mine, I held her left arm across my body.“Ready?” I asked.Jorunn nodded, and together we pushed off. Right. Left. Right. Left. We moved slowly, side-by-side, in a steady rhythm, and made it around the rink making only a few wobbles. After three more passes, my ancient muscle memory awoke, and I wanted to do more. We separated and I joined my right hand to her left. “We can take longer strides and skate a little faster this way.”After another trip around the rink, we added a slow weaving pattern. Coming out of the last turn, I told Jorunn, “Here is your chance to be a figure skater. I’ll hold your hand. Try a spin.”I skated slightly just ahead of Jorunn, then pulled her forward so she would have enough speed. I raised her hand into the air as she went past, and she started spinning. She yelled, “I’m doing it.” And she was, at least until her speed slowed and she fell into me. “Dam toe pick!” she yelled. With her arms around me, our eyes met. Then she wrinkled her nose, her signature facial expression on the vlogs indicating she didn’t like something. Just as quickly, her face lit up and her big smile glowed. “I’m laughing too hard inside. That was such fun!” She burst out laughing and I joined her. We finally broke the ice, here on the ice.Jorunn separated from me and said, “It is time for Christmas Market.” I helped her up and we turned in our skates. The nearby lights and sounds beckoned.The Christmas MarketDecember 16 - EveningThe sun set long ago and was now just a memory. It was completely dark, but downtown Oslo turned into a Christmas wonderland. There were twinkling lights on almost every tree, with the large and stately buildings surrounding us outlined in white lights to accompany their dramatic uplighting. Oslo was so different than Minneapolis. In downtown Minneapolis, 30-year-old buildings were being torn down to build taller ones in the same location. Here, the buildings were massive, centuries-old, covering an entire block, and they were still in use, letting everyone appreciate the history and architecture. Jorunn and I saw glass-covered buildings in Oslo, with their clean modern architecture, but this was the heart of the city. The life, the pulse, and vitality of Oslo all sprang from here.Towering above everything at the Christmas Market was a brilliantly lit Ferris wheel, each spoke outlined in white lights. I looked at Jorunn and she nodded. She took my hand, and we ran for the Ferris wheel, artfully dodging between the growing number of people.When we boarded, we found each of the seats enclosed in a glass bubble, possibly as a safety measure, or just as likely, protection from the cold. One of the benefits of this was being able to move around a bit, which afforded us a 360-degree aerial view of downtown Oslo. We paused near the top, where Jorunn pulled out her camera.Jorunn said, “It’s rather romantic up here. We should do a selfie.” She sat down right me. “Kiss me. On the lips. Just a quick one. I have the timer set for three seconds. We’ll put our lips together and hold them for a few seconds until the flash goes off.”“Jorunn, I am much older than you. I don’t think it will look very romantic.”“Gunnar, you’re not too old to kiss someone. And if I need to, I can do a little digital touchup, or just flash a quick cut. It will be perfect.”“How do want me to kiss you? Do you want my eyes open or closed? Should I look at the camera or…”Jorunn quickly reached behind my head and pulled me to her. As our lips met, I closed my eyes, and my mouth responded. I felt her softness and a quick tease as Jorunn’s tongue glazed over my lips. A flash went off. But Jorunn did not separate, nor did I. I opened my eyes, and saw that Jorunn’s eyes closed. As our lips pressed together, it felt so warm and comfortable.We separated, and Jorunn said, “Perfect!” Then she looked at the photo just taken. I thought about the sequence of her words and her actions. Jorunn switched over to video and began doing her vlog. She was speaking in English. Immersed in Norwegian for three days, it almost sounded like a foreign language to me. When Jorunn finished, I asked her why she didn’t record her vlogs in Norwegian.She surprised me by continuing in English. “Norwegians already live here. Who would watch my videos if I recorded them in Norwegian? If someone in Norway wants to see the view from the top of this Ferris wheel, they will come here and ride it. People from every continent watch my videos and speak at least some English. It used to bother me when I would get comments on my videos complaining I spoke with a Norwegian accent. Now I just laugh.”I asked her, “Every continent? Including Antarctica?”“Yes. The Norwegian Polar Institute has a year-round research station in Antarctica named 'Troll’. Their mission is to study the polar regions and the effects of global warming and pollution. It’s not a tourist destination, but they have talked to me about possibly going there. They want to do more outreach, to spread the word to younger audiences on social media. I have followers there, but we haven’t been able to work out the permissions and details. The

Sledges, Corkscrews, and other fears.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.Once at the starting point, we both sat down on our sledges. I was grateful only a few others were preparing to ride, but gasped again when I saw how youthful their faces were. I doubted anyone here was over thirty years old. I wondered whether Jorunn was punishing me, or perhaps was hoping I would voluntarily quit the tour.“I don’t know if I can do this, Jorunn. I’m afraid.”Jorunn looked me in the eye with a grim look on her face.“Afraid is coming home with my mother, and finding my father sleeping with another woman. Afraid is watching how he broke apart my family and wondering how my mom and I would go on. Afraid is me cutting off my father and not wanting to ever see him again.”“Afraid is quitting a dead-end job and trying to earn a living as a vlogger in one of the most expensive countries on earth. Afraid is checking every morning for clicks, likes, and followers, and finding out the numbers did not change.”“Afraid is starting a private small-group tour company, all by myself, and weaving my way through the many regulations, laws, and insurance requirements. Afraid is knowing I have to book at least one trip a month just to cover those costs.”“Afraid is taking a group of six to Svalbard for a glacier hike in early summer, and spotting a polar bear less than 200 meters away lumbering towards us. Afraid is watching our guide fire off the last of her flares, but seeing the bear still coming. Afraid is the look in our guide’s eyes as she reached for her rifle.”“You don’t need to be afraid of sledging, Gunnar. What you need to be afraid of is being too afraid to try sledging. Meet me at the bottom of the hill. Either make the run or turn in your sledge and take the Metro down the hill.”I watched Jorunn push off and head down the run, then thought about her words. I lived a good life in Minnesota, meeting Solveig in college and then stepping right into a lifetime job with the 3M company. Adventure was going to our lake cabin where the only challenges were fighting off mosquitos, and figuring out how to remove burnt marshmallows off the end of a stick. After our first child, Solveig and I stopped doing anything like sledding, and instead sat and watched our kids having all the fun.What am I doing here in Norway? Why am I here? Jorunn answered that question for me. I pushed off and started my run.I fought my way down the mountain, and as I approached the end of the run, I was happy to see it level off. I saw Jorunn standing next to her sledge, her small camera pointed at me. I raised both hands over my head, waved, then yelled, “I did it!” I coasted to a stop three meters past her.Jorunn ran up to me, and as I stood, she hugged me. “I’m proud of you Gunnar.” As we hugged, under the clear blue skies and chilly temperatures, I closed my eyes and went back 35 years to a small hill in Minneapolis, where I hugged Solvieg after sledding. Jorunn released me and stepped back.I yelped, “It was wonderful! I kept to the side as other people whizzed past me. A few sections were bumpy, and my teeth rattled. The only time I was scared was when there was a steep drop-off on one side. Don’t you use guardrails in Norway?”“You may have seen a few small concrete walls, but we believe in personal responsibility here in Norway. If you cannot manage a sledge, you should not make the run. The authorities do monitor the conditions and sometimes close the run when it is too icy.”“Does that mean you believed in me? Believed I could make it down the hill?”“There is nothing wrong with you, Gunnar. While I was waiting here at the bottom of the hill, I read about your Iron Range in Minnesota. You are rusty. There is a Wizard of Oz Museum there. You are the Tin Man. This tour is the Oil Can. Figure it out. The Oil Can only works if you pick it up and use it. Stand tall and walk proudly for as long as you can. If you fall, get up and keep going.”It was an interesting way to look at life. I was only 56 years old, but for the last few years, I acted like I was 80. I still have many years to go sledging, if only I was not afraid to try.I turned to Jorunn. “Let’s go again!”Pea SoupDecember 16 - Mid-DayAfter three more runs, Jorunn and I turned in our sledges and ate lunch at the beautiful Frognersteren Restaurant on top of the hill. I followed her suggestion of a thick pea soup with meatballs and potatoes. It was delicious. As we sipped hot chocolate, it felt good to be alive again.“A week ago, I was in a nursing home in Minnesota. After my wife died, no one visited me, not even my adult children. I was alone. It was a terrible place, run by a terrible nurse. I had to get out. I made plans with my lawyer, then walked out the front door and got on a plane to come to Norway. What’s the worst place you have ever been?”“Dublin, Ireland. After the divorce, my mother and I were struggling financially. We had gone from living a comfortable life to living paycheck to paycheck. I saw a post on the Internet for a job as a body double for a Vikings television program. I wasn’t sure what a body double did, but it paid well for a short gig. I took all my clothes off while a dozen people stared at me and took photos and videos. I hadn’t been naked in front of any man in over a year, since before the divorce. They must have liked me because I got the part, and they flew me to Dublin. The next morning, I went to the studios. I sat there in a robe while they cut and styled my hair to match the actress I was portraying. Then off to the makeup department, where I removed my robe while they applied fake tattoos and full body makeup so I would look dirty in all the right places.”“After lunch in the studio, the costume department placed me in a white linen tunic. When it was time to film, they told me to stand in front of the lead actor while he lifted the tunic off me and tossed it aside. He was much older than me, and with his beard, he reminded me of my father. He exuded the same swagger as if the world revolved only around him. I would be fully exposed to him, and to the camera crew, who were filming me from behind. They told me to act submissive and let the lead actor hug me. It took several takes and a few tweaks before the director was happy.”“Next, I was ordered to lay down on a stylized Viking bed covered with furs. The sex scene was to be filmed twice. Once for television, then for an unrated video release. The make-up people gave me a once over, then thankfully positioned a flesh-covered patch over my vagina. In the first shot, I was naked, but the lead actor remained fully clothed. He stood and positioned himself between my legs, and they told me to keep my vagina pressed tight against his crotch as he bucked against me. We needed to make the audience believe we were having sex while showing them nothing. I remained in this position while they adjusted the lighting and camera angles, and beneath his trousers, I felt the lead actor’s erect cock pressed against me.”“The director yelled, ‘Action’. Once again, they told me to be submissive, and let the lead actor take charge. He started humping against me. Looking up at him, he was still a handsome man, and I wondered how many women around the world dreamed or fantasized about being in the same place I was. I wasn’t one of them, but I understood this was why they hired me, so I accepted it. Like earlier, it took several takes. The director would review the shot and make small adjustments each time. After the last take, I saw a large wet spot on the front of the lead actor’s trousers.”“Then it was time for the unrated scene. A host of costume and make-up people swarmed around the actor while I lay there naked. This time, he was to be naked as he approached the bed. The camera angle was off to the side to avoid full frontal and he used his left hand to shield his erection, thankfully contained in a flesh-covered sock. The scene began with the lead actor approaching me, and once in position, he began humping against me. His covered cock slid against the covering over my vagina, but the sensations passed right through. My nipples became erect, and I felt my wetness building.”“After several takes, the director was happy, and we moved on to the last scene for which I was needed. In this one, the lead actor would be laying on top of me, his arms extended and propping himself up with his hands placed on either side of my body. This scene was more challenging because it needed to be mixed with prior facial cuts shot separately with the lead male actor and lead female actress. The scene would be filmed from several angles including above and below. As the director reviewed the earlier footage, the makeup people worked on my face and hair.”“The next thing I felt was the lead actor lying on top of me, his body pressing his erect cock against the patch covering my vagina. I wanted to turn away, but he told me to look at him because it would help him release his creative juices. I feared the possible double entendre. Here I was, face-to-face with the avatar of the man I hated more than anyone, the man who destroyed our family. When the director was ready, he said to go at it and try to simulate real sex. He yelled 'Action’. I was sweating under the lights, and the patch covering my vagina began to slip, aided by the movement of the lead actor’s covered cock. As my pussy became more exposed, I was afraid his cock might slide into me, so I yelled 'Cut!’. Everything stopped, and I pushed him off.”“That was enough. I yelled I was through, gathered my things, and headed for the front door. I paid my own way back to Oslo, and thought about filing a protest, but later learned what they did was mostly proper. Most sex scenes are between two body doubles. It is rare, but sometimes a lead actor will film such scenes if they have it in their nudity clause. I had a new appreciation for body doubles, but my own acting career lasted one day, and looking at the final scenes after release, I was on screen for eight seconds, and no one knew it was me!”I said, “Wow. We have something in common. The nursing home did everything properly, but like you, I couldn’t stand it any longer, so I headed for the front door. I’m sorry for your terrible experience.”Jorunn shook her head, “Don’t be sorry. The experience ended up changing my life for the better. After I got back to Oslo, I swore to never work for anyone else again. I wanted to direct my own scenes, so I started doing vlogs. That led to the creation of my tour company. As things turned out, I walked out one door and right into something I loved. Plus, I walked out wearing this really cool, braided leather Viking headband I have on now. You are halfway there. You have walked out the front door. Now you must find something, or someone, to love.”A profound statement from someone so young.SpikersuppaDecember 16 - AfternoonI noticed the sun getting low on the horizon. Jorunn caught my glance and said, “The sun sets early here in Oslo, around 3:30 in the afternoon. In some of the northern cities, it set last month and will not rise again until spring.”I didn’t want to spend the rest of the day looking at museums, and flushed with my success on the hill, I took a chance. “Do you ice skate?”Jorunn replied, “I do, but not very well.”I said, “If you know of a skating rink with lights, maybe we can go there and skate.”“There is a nice lighted one in downtown Oslo called Spikersuppa,” said Jorunn. “When the sun goes down in Oslo, the twinkling lights are turned on, bringing with them their magic. The ice-skating rink is close to the Christmas market, which is our agenda for tonight.”“That sounds great to me,” I replied.We took the T-bane back to downtown Oslo and arrived as the sun was setting. There weren’t any clouds, but the multi-layered horizon was still beautiful. Orange along the bottom, and above it, increasingly darker hues of blue and purple, before turning to black in the night sky. After leaving the train station Jorunn and I walked along a pedestrian-only street named 'Karl Johns gate’ passing high-end stores and restaurants. Jorunn either pointed to, or mentioned, notable downtown buildings such as the Royal Palace, Parliament, the National Theatre, the Grand Hotel, and the original University of Oslo buildings. We also passed the brilliantly lit Freia clock, associated with the long-time Norwegian chocolate maker, and the unofficial symbol of Oslo.We rented skates and then stepped tentatively onto the ice. It wasn’t a big rink, and fortunately, not crowded. In the middle was a frozen water fountain. Christmas music was playing and twinkling lights glowed all around us.“I played ice hockey in Minnesota when I was in high school, but haven’t skated since.”“My father used to take me to figure skating lessons when I was young, but I stopped. I kept falling when trying to do spins.”“Maybe we can help each other out. Have you ever tried ice dancing?”Jorunn laughed. “No! Never!”“Neither have I. But a wise woman once told me that I should not be afraid of ice dancing. What I should be afraid of is being too afraid to try ice dancing.”Jorunn smiled, “A very wise woman, indeed! Let’s try it and see what happens.”I remember watching the wonderful British duo of Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean ice dancing in their last Olympics in 1994. The Olympics were here in Norway, in Lillehammer. I was not about to try any lifts or spins, but I reached my right arm behind Jorunn and placed my hand on her right hip. Taking her left hand in mine, I held her left arm across my body.“Ready?” I asked.Jorunn nodded, and together we pushed off. Right. Left. Right. Left. We moved slowly, side-by-side, in a steady rhythm, and made it around the rink making only a few wobbles. After three more passes, my ancient muscle memory awoke, and I wanted to do more. We separated and I joined my right hand to her left. “We can take longer strides and skate a little faster this way.”After another trip around the rink, we added a slow weaving pattern. Coming out of the last turn, I told Jorunn, “Here is your chance to be a figure skater. I’ll hold your hand. Try a spin.”I skated slightly just ahead of Jorunn, then pulled her forward so she would have enough speed. I raised her hand into the air as she went past, and she started spinning. She yelled, “I’m doing it.” And she was, at least until her speed slowed and she fell into me. “Dam toe pick!” she yelled. With her arms around me, our eyes met. Then she wrinkled her nose, her signature facial expression on the vlogs indicating she didn’t like something. Just as quickly, her face lit up and her big smile glowed. “I’m laughing too hard inside. That was such fun!” She burst out laughing and I joined her. We finally broke the ice, here on the ice.Jorunn separated from me and said, “It is time for Christmas Market.” I helped her up and we turned in our skates. The nearby lights and sounds beckoned.The Christmas MarketDecember 16 - EveningThe sun set long ago and was now just a memory. It was completely dark, but downtown Oslo turned into a Christmas wonderland. There were twinkling lights on almost every tree, with the large and stately buildings surrounding us outlined in white lights to accompany their dramatic uplighting. Oslo was so different than Minneapolis. In downtown Minneapolis, 30-year-old buildings were being torn down to build taller ones in the same location. Here, the buildings were massive, centuries-old, covering an entire block, and they were still in use, letting everyone appreciate the history and architecture. Jorunn and I saw glass-covered buildings in Oslo, with their clean modern architecture, but this was the heart of the city. The life, the pulse, and vitality of Oslo all sprang from here.Towering above everything at the Christmas Market was a brilliantly lit Ferris wheel, each spoke outlined in white lights. I looked at Jorunn and she nodded. She took my hand, and we ran for the Ferris wheel, artfully dodging between the growing number of people.When we boarded, we found each of the seats enclosed in a glass bubble, possibly as a safety measure, or just as likely, protection from the cold. One of the benefits of this was being able to move around a bit, which afforded us a 360-degree aerial view of downtown Oslo. We paused near the top, where Jorunn pulled out her camera.Jorunn said, “It’s rather romantic up here. We should do a selfie.” She sat down right me. “Kiss me. On the lips. Just a quick one. I have the timer set for three seconds. We’ll put our lips together and hold them for a few seconds until the flash goes off.”“Jorunn, I am much older than you. I don’t think it will look very romantic.”“Gunnar, you’re not too old to kiss someone. And if I need to, I can do a little digital touchup, or just flash a quick cut. It will be perfect.”“How do want me to kiss you? Do you want my eyes open or closed? Should I look at the camera or…”Jorunn quickly reached behind my head and pulled me to her. As our lips met, I closed my eyes, and my mouth responded. I felt her softness and a quick tease as Jorunn’s tongue glazed over my lips. A flash went off. But Jorunn did not separate, nor did I. I opened my eyes, and saw that Jorunn’s eyes closed. As our lips pressed together, it felt so warm and comfortable.We separated, and Jorunn said, “Perfect!” Then she looked at the photo just taken. I thought about the sequence of her words and her actions. Jorunn switched over to video and began doing her vlog. She was speaking in English. Immersed in Norwegian for three days, it almost sounded like a foreign language to me. When Jorunn finished, I asked her why she didn’t record her vlogs in Norwegian.She surprised me by continuing in English. “Norwegians already live here. Who would watch my videos if I recorded them in Norwegian? If someone in Norway wants to see the view from the top of this Ferris wheel, they will come here and ride it. People from every continent watch my videos and speak at least some English. It used to bother me when I would get comments on my videos complaining I spoke with a Norwegian accent. Now I just laugh.”I asked her, “Every continent? Including Antarctica?”“Yes. The Norwegian Polar Institute has a year-round research station in Antarctica named 'Troll’. Their mission is to study the polar regions and the effects of global warming and pollution. It’s not a tourist destination, but they have talked to me about possibly going there. They want to do more outreach, to spread the word to younger audiences on social media. I have followers there, but we haven’t been able to work out the permissions and details. The

Seit letzter Woche steht Marius Borg Høiby, Sohn von Norwegens Kronprinzessin Mette-Marit, in Oslo vor Gericht. 38 Anklagepunkte werden verhandelt. Es geht um Drogendelikte, Vergewaltigung und Körperverletzung. Adelsredakteurin Antonia Barbarino war im Prozess vor Ort – mit ihr spricht Lilly Burger in einer neuen Folge BUNTE Menschen darüber, wie sie ihn erlebt hat, über die Verteidigungs-Strategien und viele weitere wichtige Details. Außerdem: Gloria Burkandt vertraut mit Ex-Google-Chef Eric Schmidt gesichtet, Gil Ofarims fragwürdiger Dschungel-Sieg und Prinzessin Kates Statement zu Skandal-Prinz Andrew. Im Horoskop fragen wir die Sterne, wie gut Kim Kardashian und Lewis Hamilton matchen.

Jaktturer, Frogner-leiligheter til halv pris, vennetjenester og ferier til eksotiske strøk. Det er kanskje mer korrupsjon i Norge enn vi liker å tro, ifølge økonomiprofessor Jo Thori Lind. Han tar til orde for mest mulig åpenhet som motgift, selv om mirakelkuren ikke finnes.I samtalen: Jo Thori Lind, professor ved Økonomisk Institutt, Universitetet i OsloProgramleder er Gro Lien Garbo

Sledges, Corkscrews, and other fears.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.Once at the starting point, we both sat down on our sledges. I was grateful only a few others were preparing to ride, but gasped again when I saw how youthful their faces were. I doubted anyone here was over thirty years old. I wondered whether Jorunn was punishing me, or perhaps was hoping I would voluntarily quit the tour.“I don’t know if I can do this, Jorunn. I’m afraid.”Jorunn looked me in the eye with a grim look on her face.“Afraid is coming home with my mother, and finding my father sleeping with another woman. Afraid is watching how he broke apart my family and wondering how my mom and I would go on. Afraid is me cutting off my father and not wanting to ever see him again.”“Afraid is quitting a dead-end job and trying to earn a living as a vlogger in one of the most expensive countries on earth. Afraid is checking every morning for clicks, likes, and followers, and finding out the numbers did not change.”“Afraid is starting a private small-group tour company, all by myself, and weaving my way through the many regulations, laws, and insurance requirements. Afraid is knowing I have to book at least one trip a month just to cover those costs.”“Afraid is taking a group of six to Svalbard for a glacier hike in early summer, and spotting a polar bear less than 200 meters away lumbering towards us. Afraid is watching our guide fire off the last of her flares, but seeing the bear still coming. Afraid is the look in our guide’s eyes as she reached for her rifle.”“You don’t need to be afraid of sledging, Gunnar. What you need to be afraid of is being too afraid to try sledging. Meet me at the bottom of the hill. Either make the run or turn in your sledge and take the Metro down the hill.”I watched Jorunn push off and head down the run, then thought about her words. I lived a good life in Minnesota, meeting Solveig in college and then stepping right into a lifetime job with the 3M company. Adventure was going to our lake cabin where the only challenges were fighting off mosquitos, and figuring out how to remove burnt marshmallows off the end of a stick. After our first child, Solveig and I stopped doing anything like sledding, and instead sat and watched our kids having all the fun.What am I doing here in Norway? Why am I here? Jorunn answered that question for me. I pushed off and started my run.I fought my way down the mountain, and as I approached the end of the run, I was happy to see it level off. I saw Jorunn standing next to her sledge, her small camera pointed at me. I raised both hands over my head, waved, then yelled, “I did it!” I coasted to a stop three meters past her.Jorunn ran up to me, and as I stood, she hugged me. “I’m proud of you Gunnar.” As we hugged, under the clear blue skies and chilly temperatures, I closed my eyes and went back 35 years to a small hill in Minneapolis, where I hugged Solvieg after sledding. Jorunn released me and stepped back.I yelped, “It was wonderful! I kept to the side as other people whizzed past me. A few sections were bumpy, and my teeth rattled. The only time I was scared was when there was a steep drop-off on one side. Don’t you use guardrails in Norway?”“You may have seen a few small concrete walls, but we believe in personal responsibility here in Norway. If you cannot manage a sledge, you should not make the run. The authorities do monitor the conditions and sometimes close the run when it is too icy.”“Does that mean you believed in me? Believed I could make it down the hill?”“There is nothing wrong with you, Gunnar. While I was waiting here at the bottom of the hill, I read about your Iron Range in Minnesota. You are rusty. There is a Wizard of Oz Museum there. You are the Tin Man. This tour is the Oil Can. Figure it out. The Oil Can only works if you pick it up and use it. Stand tall and walk proudly for as long as you can. If you fall, get up and keep going.”It was an interesting way to look at life. I was only 56 years old, but for the last few years, I acted like I was 80. I still have many years to go sledging, if only I was not afraid to try.I turned to Jorunn. “Let’s go again!”Pea SoupDecember 16 - Mid-DayAfter three more runs, Jorunn and I turned in our sledges and ate lunch at the beautiful Frognersteren Restaurant on top of the hill. I followed her suggestion of a thick pea soup with meatballs and potatoes. It was delicious. As we sipped hot chocolate, it felt good to be alive again.“A week ago, I was in a nursing home in Minnesota. After my wife died, no one visited me, not even my adult children. I was alone. It was a terrible place, run by a terrible nurse. I had to get out. I made plans with my lawyer, then walked out the front door and got on a plane to come to Norway. What’s the worst place you have ever been?”“Dublin, Ireland. After the divorce, my mother and I were struggling financially. We had gone from living a comfortable life to living paycheck to paycheck. I saw a post on the Internet for a job as a body double for a Vikings television program. I wasn’t sure what a body double did, but it paid well for a short gig. I took all my clothes off while a dozen people stared at me and took photos and videos. I hadn’t been naked in front of any man in over a year, since before the divorce. They must have liked me because I got the part, and they flew me to Dublin. The next morning, I went to the studios. I sat there in a robe while they cut and styled my hair to match the actress I was portraying. Then off to the makeup department, where I removed my robe while they applied fake tattoos and full body makeup so I would look dirty in all the right places.”“After lunch in the studio, the costume department placed me in a white linen tunic. When it was time to film, they told me to stand in front of the lead actor while he lifted the tunic off me and tossed it aside. He was much older than me, and with his beard, he reminded me of my father. He exuded the same swagger as if the world revolved only around him. I would be fully exposed to him, and to the camera crew, who were filming me from behind. They told me to act submissive and let the lead actor hug me. It took several takes and a few tweaks before the director was happy.”“Next, I was ordered to lay down on a stylized Viking bed covered with furs. The sex scene was to be filmed twice. Once for television, then for an unrated video release. The make-up people gave me a once over, then thankfully positioned a flesh-covered patch over my vagina. In the first shot, I was naked, but the lead actor remained fully clothed. He stood and positioned himself between my legs, and they told me to keep my vagina pressed tight against his crotch as he bucked against me. We needed to make the audience believe we were having sex while showing them nothing. I remained in this position while they adjusted the lighting and camera angles, and beneath his trousers, I felt the lead actor’s erect cock pressed against me.”“The director yelled, ‘Action’. Once again, they told me to be submissive, and let the lead actor take charge. He started humping against me. Looking up at him, he was still a handsome man, and I wondered how many women around the world dreamed or fantasized about being in the same place I was. I wasn’t one of them, but I understood this was why they hired me, so I accepted it. Like earlier, it took several takes. The director would review the shot and make small adjustments each time. After the last take, I saw a large wet spot on the front of the lead actor’s trousers.”“Then it was time for the unrated scene. A host of costume and make-up people swarmed around the actor while I lay there naked. This time, he was to be naked as he approached the bed. The camera angle was off to the side to avoid full frontal and he used his left hand to shield his erection, thankfully contained in a flesh-covered sock. The scene began with the lead actor approaching me, and once in position, he began humping against me. His covered cock slid against the covering over my vagina, but the sensations passed right through. My nipples became erect, and I felt my wetness building.”“After several takes, the director was happy, and we moved on to the last scene for which I was needed. In this one, the lead actor would be laying on top of me, his arms extended and propping himself up with his hands placed on either side of my body. This scene was more challenging because it needed to be mixed with prior facial cuts shot separately with the lead male actor and lead female actress. The scene would be filmed from several angles including above and below. As the director reviewed the earlier footage, the makeup people worked on my face and hair.”“The next thing I felt was the lead actor lying on top of me, his body pressing his erect cock against the patch covering my vagina. I wanted to turn away, but he told me to look at him because it would help him release his creative juices. I feared the possible double entendre. Here I was, face-to-face with the avatar of the man I hated more than anyone, the man who destroyed our family. When the director was ready, he said to go at it and try to simulate real sex. He yelled 'Action’. I was sweating under the lights, and the patch covering my vagina began to slip, aided by the movement of the lead actor’s covered cock. As my pussy became more exposed, I was afraid his cock might slide into me, so I yelled 'Cut!’. Everything stopped, and I pushed him off.”“That was enough. I yelled I was through, gathered my things, and headed for the front door. I paid my own way back to Oslo, and thought about filing a protest, but later learned what they did was mostly proper. Most sex scenes are between two body doubles. It is rare, but sometimes a lead actor will film such scenes if they have it in their nudity clause. I had a new appreciation for body doubles, but my own acting career lasted one day, and looking at the final scenes after release, I was on screen for eight seconds, and no one knew it was me!”I said, “Wow. We have something in common. The nursing home did everything properly, but like you, I couldn’t stand it any longer, so I headed for the front door. I’m sorry for your terrible experience.”Jorunn shook her head, “Don’t be sorry. The experience ended up changing my life for the better. After I got back to Oslo, I swore to never work for anyone else again. I wanted to direct my own scenes, so I started doing vlogs. That led to the creation of my tour company. As things turned out, I walked out one door and right into something I loved. Plus, I walked out wearing this really cool, braided leather Viking headband I have on now. You are halfway there. You have walked out the front door. Now you must find something, or someone, to love.”A profound statement from someone so young.SpikersuppaDecember 16 - AfternoonI noticed the sun getting low on the horizon. Jorunn caught my glance and said, “The sun sets early here in Oslo, around 3:30 in the afternoon. In some of the northern cities, it set last month and will not rise again until spring.”I didn’t want to spend the rest of the day looking at museums, and flushed with my success on the hill, I took a chance. “Do you ice skate?”Jorunn replied, “I do, but not very well.”I said, “If you know of a skating rink with lights, maybe we can go there and skate.”“There is a nice lighted one in downtown Oslo called Spikersuppa,” said Jorunn. “When the sun goes down in Oslo, the twinkling lights are turned on, bringing with them their magic. The ice-skating rink is close to the Christmas market, which is our agenda for tonight.”“That sounds great to me,” I replied.We took the T-bane back to downtown Oslo and arrived as the sun was setting. There weren’t any clouds, but the multi-layered horizon was still beautiful. Orange along the bottom, and above it, increasingly darker hues of blue and purple, before turning to black in the night sky. After leaving the train station Jorunn and I walked along a pedestrian-only street named 'Karl Johns gate’ passing high-end stores and restaurants. Jorunn either pointed to, or mentioned, notable downtown buildings such as the Royal Palace, Parliament, the National Theatre, the Grand Hotel, and the original University of Oslo buildings. We also passed the brilliantly lit Freia clock, associated with the long-time Norwegian chocolate maker, and the unofficial symbol of Oslo.We rented skates and then stepped tentatively onto the ice. It wasn’t a big rink, and fortunately, not crowded. In the middle was a frozen water fountain. Christmas music was playing and twinkling lights glowed all around us.“I played ice hockey in Minnesota when I was in high school, but haven’t skated since.”“My father used to take me to figure skating lessons when I was young, but I stopped. I kept falling when trying to do spins.”“Maybe we can help each other out. Have you ever tried ice dancing?”Jorunn laughed. “No! Never!”“Neither have I. But a wise woman once told me that I should not be afraid of ice dancing. What I should be afraid of is being too afraid to try ice dancing.”Jorunn smiled, “A very wise woman, indeed! Let’s try it and see what happens.”I remember watching the wonderful British duo of Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean ice dancing in their last Olympics in 1994. The Olympics were here in Norway, in Lillehammer. I was not about to try any lifts or spins, but I reached my right arm behind Jorunn and placed my hand on her right hip. Taking her left hand in mine, I held her left arm across my body.“Ready?” I asked.Jorunn nodded, and together we pushed off. Right. Left. Right. Left. We moved slowly, side-by-side, in a steady rhythm, and made it around the rink making only a few wobbles. After three more passes, my ancient muscle memory awoke, and I wanted to do more. We separated and I joined my right hand to her left. “We can take longer strides and skate a little faster this way.”After another trip around the rink, we added a slow weaving pattern. Coming out of the last turn, I told Jorunn, “Here is your chance to be a figure skater. I’ll hold your hand. Try a spin.”I skated slightly just ahead of Jorunn, then pulled her forward so she would have enough speed. I raised her hand into the air as she went past, and she started spinning. She yelled, “I’m doing it.” And she was, at least until her speed slowed and she fell into me. “Dam toe pick!” she yelled. With her arms around me, our eyes met. Then she wrinkled her nose, her signature facial expression on the vlogs indicating she didn’t like something. Just as quickly, her face lit up and her big smile glowed. “I’m laughing too hard inside. That was such fun!” She burst out laughing and I joined her. We finally broke the ice, here on the ice.Jorunn separated from me and said, “It is time for Christmas Market.” I helped her up and we turned in our skates. The nearby lights and sounds beckoned.The Christmas MarketDecember 16 - EveningThe sun set long ago and was now just a memory. It was completely dark, but downtown Oslo turned into a Christmas wonderland. There were twinkling lights on almost every tree, with the large and stately buildings surrounding us outlined in white lights to accompany their dramatic uplighting. Oslo was so different than Minneapolis. In downtown Minneapolis, 30-year-old buildings were being torn down to build taller ones in the same location. Here, the buildings were massive, centuries-old, covering an entire block, and they were still in use, letting everyone appreciate the history and architecture. Jorunn and I saw glass-covered buildings in Oslo, with their clean modern architecture, but this was the heart of the city. The life, the pulse, and vitality of Oslo all sprang from here.Towering above everything at the Christmas Market was a brilliantly lit Ferris wheel, each spoke outlined in white lights. I looked at Jorunn and she nodded. She took my hand, and we ran for the Ferris wheel, artfully dodging between the growing number of people.When we boarded, we found each of the seats enclosed in a glass bubble, possibly as a safety measure, or just as likely, protection from the cold. One of the benefits of this was being able to move around a bit, which afforded us a 360-degree aerial view of downtown Oslo. We paused near the top, where Jorunn pulled out her camera.Jorunn said, “It’s rather romantic up here. We should do a selfie.” She sat down right me. “Kiss me. On the lips. Just a quick one. I have the timer set for three seconds. We’ll put our lips together and hold them for a few seconds until the flash goes off.”“Jorunn, I am much older than you. I don’t think it will look very romantic.”“Gunnar, you’re not too old to kiss someone. And if I need to, I can do a little digital touchup, or just flash a quick cut. It will be perfect.”“How do want me to kiss you? Do you want my eyes open or closed? Should I look at the camera or…”Jorunn quickly reached behind my head and pulled me to her. As our lips met, I closed my eyes, and my mouth responded. I felt her softness and a quick tease as Jorunn’s tongue glazed over my lips. A flash went off. But Jorunn did not separate, nor did I. I opened my eyes, and saw that Jorunn’s eyes closed. As our lips pressed together, it felt so warm and comfortable.We separated, and Jorunn said, “Perfect!” Then she looked at the photo just taken. I thought about the sequence of her words and her actions. Jorunn switched over to video and began doing her vlog. She was speaking in English. Immersed in Norwegian for three days, it almost sounded like a foreign language to me. When Jorunn finished, I asked her why she didn’t record her vlogs in Norwegian.She surprised me by continuing in English. “Norwegians already live here. Who would watch my videos if I recorded them in Norwegian? If someone in Norway wants to see the view from the top of this Ferris wheel, they will come here and ride it. People from every continent watch my videos and speak at least some English. It used to bother me when I would get comments on my videos complaining I spoke with a Norwegian accent. Now I just laugh.”I asked her, “Every continent? Including Antarctica?”“Yes. The Norwegian Polar Institute has a year-round research station in Antarctica named 'Troll’. Their mission is to study the polar regions and the effects of global warming and pollution. It’s not a tourist destination, but they have talked to me about possibly going there. They want to do more outreach, to spread the word to younger audiences on social media. I have followers there, but we haven’t been able to work out the permissions and details. The

Aydin Imani joins us with a live recording of his session from the Fragments event series in the heart of Oslo, Norway. Some words from Aydin on the event - "This recording comes from our final @frgmnts gathering of the year in Oslo. It was a night shaped by reflection, curiosity, and the quiet satisfaction of having shared many meaningful moments over the past months. We wanted to end the year in a way that felt honest and fitting for where we were at the time. It was our first all-nighter of this kind, held in a new space, with a sense of curiosity and anticipation in the room. As the opening set, my idea was to mark a transition from the warmth of summer into a more introspective period, moving toward darker tones and colder days ahead in Norway (especially) . The dance floor felt warm, intense, and foggy. Smiles came easily, and that feeling stayed with us throughout the night. The set moves through different emotional shades, balancing playfulness and drive with moments of weight and inner tension, always aiming to keep the energy rolling and alive. Looking back, this night definitely stands out as a personal highlight. Seeing Fragments grow into something that resonates, offering people a space to reflect and feel free, made it especially meaningful." Follow : https://soundcloud.com/aydinho767 Tracklist : 1. David Reina - Floating 2. Dorisburg & Efraim Kent - X-Files Groove 3. s.soo - VIII (Kambium remix) 4. DJ Deep - Mandrum Main 5. DJ Deep - Progression 6. Obscur - Resonance 1 7. Einox - Meta 8. Maeksll - Staub 01 9. Concrete Gold - Coersive Dub 10. Distant Echoes - Perspective 11. Toki Fuko - Bismuth 12. Shoal - Howlin` 13. Daniel (i) - Beneath Tension 14. Elle - Guardiarsi Indietro (Vayu Interpretation) 15. Ev Darko - Time Train (Deep Spelle Remix) 16. Decoder - Borderland 17. Sciahri - Evaporation 18. Rise 1969 & Unclear - Dimethyltrypamine (Unclear Remix) 19. Vardae - Junction (Original Mix) 20. Impelling Shadow & Carara - Magnatic Field 21. Maara - Unstable 22. Arkan - Attraction 23. BLANKA (ES) - Somebody 24. Antonio Ruscito & Luigi Tozzi - Heat 25. Obscur - Superficial 26. Feph - Off 27. SPF 50 - Kinetic Ritual 28. Yrsen - Dissonance Theory 29. Einox - Symptom 30. Feph - No deltas 31. DJ Sodeyama - Blank (Original Mix) 32. Psyk - Resonant Modulation (Erik Luebs Remix) 33. Connor Wall - Hubble 34. Rene Wise - Cutting Thick 35. Okocz - Fern me 36. Alpha Tracks - Summer-2025 (Danya Remix Upstairs Version)

I sit down with Dr Mev Dominguez, Project Group Leader Inherited and Familial Cancer at the University of Oslo and Director of the Predi Lynch Project.  Starting in May 2025, lasting for 6 years, there are 28 partners from 16 European countries acting and working together.  Liquid biopsy every year, urine, MSI plus, vaginal swabs, and stool samples will be compiled over 27 clinical centers.  Important factors include social and financial acceptability.  Open for lynch syndrome patients over age 35 but no cancer for the last year.  A biobank will be created, and analysis will be done using AI.  Everything should be followed via the Predi-lynch.edu web site.  

İsrail'in Batı Şeria'daki işgalini derinleştirmeyi hedefleyen ve Oslo Anlaşması'nı ihlal eden adımları Türkiye, bölge ülkeleri ve AB tarafından kınandı. 2025'te Türkiye'nin nüfusu 86 milyonu aştı.Bu bölüm Google hakkında reklam içermektedir. Modern ilişkilerin karmaşasını Enis Arıkan'ın enerjisi ve yapay zekâ Gemini'ın yaratıcılığıyla çözen Enis ile Aşk Kliniği, 14 Şubat'a özel dijital ve eğlenceli bir deneyim sunuyor. Ayrıntılı bilgiye buradan erişebilirsiniz.

Epstein-filerna har utlöst en lavin som verkar kunna dra med sig allt i sin väg: den norska självbilden, kungligheter och kanske även Keir Starmers karriär. Lyssna på alla avsnitt i Sveriges Radios app. I Storbritannien har avgångskraven mot premiärminister Keir Starmer haglat när skandalen kring den tidigare partikollegan Peter Mandelsons Epstein-kontakter vuxit. Regeringens stabschef och kommunikationschef har avgått men frågan är om det räcker – hur länge kan Starmer klamra sig fast vid sin post? Epsteinstormen drar också in över Norge där både kungahus och utrikesdepartement nu krishanterar. Hör Ekots reporter Trygve Ulriksen Skogseth som den senaste veckan grävt djupt i den enorma mängden Epstein-dokument. Har det värsta från filerna uppdagats eller kan den norska självbilden få ytterligare anledning att skälva? Samtidigt finns exempel på fler europeiska höjdare som dragits in i skandalen, men som hamnat i skuggan när medier riktat sitt främsta sökarljus mot London och Oslo. Medverkande: Nina Benner, Londonkorrespondent, Andreas Liljeheden, Brysselkorrespondent, Trygve Ulriksen Skogseth, utrikesreporter Ekot.Programledare: Parisa HöglundProducent: Therese RosenvingeLjudklipp: House of Commons, VG, BBC.

The Homeland calls for Gunnar, And So Does Love.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.‘You are the Tin Man. This tour; is the Oil Can. Figure it out.'A recently widowed Norwegian American plans his escape from a Minnesota nursing home to travel abroad and join a ‘Christmas in Norway Tour’. While battling his fears, he meets a beautiful young tour guide and her divorced mother, who years later, still bears scars from her unfaithful husband’s affair. This story is about overcoming those fears to let healing begin. This story picks up after that, and shows the lingering effects of a husband’s extra-marital affair on his family. This is also a Christmas story, so expect to travel to locations in Norway, encounter Norwegian Christmas traditions, and maybe even get sprinkled with pixie-dust!“A man has only one escape from his old self: to see a different self - in the mirror of some woman’s eyes” - Clare Booth LucePrequel: The Ruined ChristmasOslo, Norway - Three Years AgoMy name is Jorunn. As a Norwegian landsby girl, Mamma and I spent Christmas week in Bergen, visiting her family and celebrating my 22nd birthday. We decided to leave Bergen two days early so that Pappa would not have to celebrate New Year’s Eve alone. During the week, while we were away, Pappa told us how he missed us.We arrived back home in mid-afternoon, just as the sun was setting, and saw our Christmas Star lit up in the window. After entering the house, we heard Pappa moaning upstairs and went up to see if he was all right. Opening the bedroom door, we saw him humping a strange woman!“What are you doing?” shouted Mamma.Pappa replied, “Leah, you’re home early.”“Who is this woman?”“She’s just a slut. She means nothing to me.”The woman yelped, “I am not a slut! I am a happily married woman.”Mamma yelled, “I can see what keeps you happy.”Pappa yelled back, “I still love you, Leah. Let me get rid of this slut. She’s only here because I was lonely. We can talk.”Mamma replied, “You can talk to my advokater. We’re through! How can I ever trust you again, you bastard? Do you realize what you have done to our family!”Mamma began sobbing and ran down the stairs.Pappa looked at me and said, “Jorunn, none of this would have happened if your mother hadn’t come home early and seen us.”I looked at Pappa and saw his slime-covered beard slick with the woman’s juices. “You’re wrong Pappa. It did happen. Mamma and I just wouldn’t have known. You said you didn’t want to be seen by us. That works both ways! I don’t ever want to talk to you or see you ever again!”I ran downstairs to Mamma, and with our suitcases still in the boot, we drove to a friend’s house.Gunnar and Nurse RatchedDecember 13 - MorningMinneapolis, Minnesota - Present DayI pressed the button on my cell phone and hung up after talking with Roger Mans, my long-time friend and attorney. My two adult children texted a few days ago they wanted to visit me here in the nursing home. I had not seen them since the funeral of my wife, Solveig, and that was two months ago. Their plan was for me to sign their power of attorney forms, giving them full control over me and my affairs. But my plan was different, and now was time to put it into place.Two years ago, at just 54 years old, I had a stroke. A devastating paralysis left me needing a lot of care, and therapy to regain my mobility, speech, and other functions.I realized Solveig was unable to care for me at our home. She tried with all her heart, but she was also fighting her own battle with cancer, and undergoing her own rigorous treatments.So I decided to enter a nursing home, while I continued to get rehab. I wanted a facility with a stroke recovery unit. This limited my nursing home choices. The only thing making life bearable here, was Solveig faithfully visiting me, and sneaking an occasional home-cooked meal past the head nurse and her staff. Sadly, Solveig succumbed to the cancer while I was still a resident at the ‘Bethel Retirement Center'. At Solveig’s funeral, my children promised to visit often, but as usual, I could never count on them for anything.Without my wife here to check on things, my decent clothes never came back from the laundry, and instead, the staff returned excuses. I put on old sweatpants and an old sweatshirt. It would do for now. I prepared myself for this day by walking the halls of the nursing home, attending physical therapy sessions, and taking care of myself without help from the staff. Still not fully recovered, but like my clothing, it would do for now.I said goodbye to Alfred, my shared roommate. He nodded, wished me luck, and said he would love to go with me. I felt sorry for him. He was a great storyteller but needed to use his walker, and physically, he required the kind of care they provided here.I walked down the hall to the nurse’s station and found Molly Turner, the rather brusque chief nurse, and her two assistants sitting behind it. “Good morning, Nurse Ratched,” I said.“Good day to you, Gunnar,” she replied.“I’m checking out,” I said.“Be serious, Gunnar. No one ever checks out of a nursing home, unless they are flat on their back with a toe tag.”I looked at her and smiled, “I only hope that will be your Fate, Molly.”“That’s not a nice thing to say, Gunnar. Now, return to your room or I will have dietary take away your rice pudding for a week.”The rice pudding here was a pale imitation of the riskrem, which Solvieg would make every Christmas. I would miss it this year. I gave Nurse Ratched a one-fingered salute, then walked toward the exit. There was a scramble of squeaky chairs and shouts behind me, and I heard their footsteps closing in on me. As I pushed the two doors open to the main lobby, there was Roger, standing next to the nursing home administrator. I walked up to my lawyer, and shook his hand, “Thank you, old friend.”I turned to see a stunned Nurse Ratched. “Allow me to escort Mr. Larsen back to his room,” she meekly pronounced.The nursing home administrator said, “That won’t be necessary, Molly. Mr. Larsen is leaving us. He isn’t taking anything with him. You may clear out his room and get it ready for the next resident.”I looked Nurse Ratched in the eye and saw the fires of hell blazing within. Then, it was my turn to smile back.All my therapists had agreed that my rehab was successful. My speech skills were quite restored. My left arm and leg took longer to restore. But it was good enough to ditch the wheelchair, then the walker, then the cane. What really set me back was the grief of losing my wife, and the guilt of not being there when she needed me most.Gunnar’s HouseRoger drove me to my house. I hadn't been there in two years. It looked pathetic. No one bothered shoveling the snow on the walkway, and I feared what my children may have done to the inside. I found the hidden key I placed under a rock years ago and used it to enter through the front door. The living room and dining room furniture were mostly gone, or should I say, stolen. They had rifled through the small office nook next to the kitchen, with papers scattered over the kitchen countertops and floor.I turned and said, “You’re going to have your work cut out for you, Roger.”“This is exactly what you said would happen, Gunnar. Our firm will take care of it for you.”I opened a small drawer in the office nook and thankfully found my passport intact. It was useless to my children. I went to the master bedroom and saw the dresser drawers partially opened, with clothes scattered all about the floor. On top of the dresser was Solvieg’s jewelry box. I opened it, and few things remained. I was glad to see the gold charm bracelet I gave her 35 years ago for Christmas. She wore it a couple of times, then stopped, complaining it turned her wrist green as the fake gold coating wore away. But she kept it all these years. A worn-out trinket to my children, as precious as the Sauron’s Ring of Power to me. I picked it up and put it in the pocket of my sweatpants.I went into the walk-in closet and picked out some clothes, tossed them into an old gym bag, and said, “I’m done. We can go.”Roger said, “The locksmith and security company will meet me here this afternoon. Once they are done, your children will no longer have access.”“I’d rather not have an auction of whatever is left in the house. I don’t think Solveig would have liked that. Once you go through the papers, just throw everything left in a dumpster and haul it away. Whatever the two pirates plundered will be the only inheritance they will ever see from me.”Miller And Mans Law OfficeRoger and I next went to his office. I said hello to Jane, the long-time receptionist. I have always suspected that Jane knows everything that goes on here, and secretly runs the whole place, not unlike the way Nurse Ratched does in her domain. However, Jane does so with more efficiency, happiness, and joy for both clients and staff.Jane asked, “Can I get you anything, Gunnar?”“I’d love a cup of decent coffee, and an Apple Fritter if you have one.”“I’ll bring them to Roger’s office. Two creams and no sugar, if I remember right.”“Perfect, as always, Jane.”We went into Roger’s plush office, and I sat down in a chair more comfortable than any I sat in for the last two years.“Are you actually going to go through with this?” Roger asked.“Every bit of it,” I replied.I signed multiple papers, removing my two children as beneficiaries from my life insurance and investment accounts. I also gave Roger limited power of attorney to sell my house and dispose of its possessions.Jane arrived with the coffee and Apple Fritter. “Norway? Why would anyone want to go to Norway in December?”“Did Roger spill the beans?” I asked.Jane replied, “Every piece of paper that comes into this office passes through my hands. I opened your travel visa when it came in.”“Jane, I can’t spend Christmas here in Minnesota. The bitter wintry weather pales in comparison to the cold hearts of my own two children. The further away from them I am, the better. I’ve never been to Norway and have always wanted to see the 'home country’ of my ancestors.”Like I said, Jane knows all. The coffee tasted great, and the deep-fried Apple Fritter, one of Nursed Ratched’s 'prohibited foods’, was outstanding. Roger slid me a packet labeled 'Gunnar - Norway’. As Jane left, I opened it and looked at the contents. As planned, there was an international cell phone with a different number, a stack of krone, and three new credit cards bearing the name of a fictitious business. I handed Roger my old cell phone.“We’ll dispose of this for you. Your children will have no idea where you are unless they hire a private detective with exceptionally good connections. Legally, they have no rights to any of your assets, so even if somehow they track you to our law office, they will not get past Jane.”I believed Roger on that.“The tour company you asked us to sign you up with seems pretty sketchy. Their contract looks like something generated off a free online legal site. We reviewed it, it is crude, but legal and binding. If you back out, they still get paid. Why did you pick this tour company? There are many larger and more reputable companies we might have booked you with.”“It’s silly, Roger. I know it’s only a one-person company, run by a young vlogger in Norway. It was terribly boring in the nursing home, so I would spend evenings watching her videos as she traveled around Norway visiting various places, and leading small groups of tourists. It looked like the people were having fun and she made me laugh. Watching her videos was one of the few things that brought me any happiness.”“Why did you reserve for four persons?” asked Roger.“I wanted to make sure her Christmas in Norway tour wouldn’t be canceled. She has a four-person minimum.”“You won’t get those other bookings back, even if more people are going.”“I don’t need the money, Roger, but I do need this tour.”“How about clothing? You don’t have many clothes in that gym bag, Gunnar. Do you want to stop somewhere before we get to the airport?”“No. I’ll travel light. It’ll be easier when going through airport security. I’ll buy more clothes when I get to Norway.”“How about after you come back?”“I’m going to someplace warm and sunny. Maybe visit a mouse in Florida. I’ll be in touch if I need anything while I’m in Norway, and call you when I get back in three weeks.”Jorunn, The Tour GuideDecember 15 – Morning, Two Days LaterI spent yesterday shopping for the new clothes I would need. The tour is a mix of city and outdoor activities, so I bought a basic wardrobe, along with good walking shoes, snow pants, a warm jacket, and gloves. I ate lunch and dinner at two smaller restaurants. The food was good, but I felt lonely eating by myself, in a city I didn’t know, in a strange country. I missed Solveig very much and wished she were here with me.The next morning, I walked to the nearby hotel where the tour group would be meeting and followed the “Christmas in Norway Tour” sign to a small room off the lobby. There she was! Jorunn. My vlogger! She was about as tall as I am, at least when I can stand straight, with long blonde hair parted in the middle, clear blue eyes, and her signature radiant smile. She wore a Norwegian Dale sweater and brown pants.Jorunn spoke to me in Norwegian. “Excuse me, sir, this room is reserved for a tour group.”I hobbled closer. “Yes, and I’m one of the people taking the tour.”“We have a pretty active schedule for the next seven days, from December 15th through the 22nd. Do you think you are well enough to take this tour?”I wasn’t sure if I was, but I didn’t want to tell her that. “I won’t slow you down,” I replied.“What is your name?” she asked.“Gunnar Larsen.”She opened a small notebook and flipped through the pages. “It says here you are in a group of four. I see three other names. When are they coming?”“There won’t be any others from my group. One of the names is my recently deceased wife, the other two are my estranged adult children. I’m all there is.”Jorunn looked puzzled. “Only four people in total signed up, including you, all from your group. If the others aren’t coming, then you will be the only one. I don’t… I can’t… I mean, I have reservations I cannot cancel. You’re going to cost me a fortune whether I go through with the tour or not.”I replied, “The contract states that you have a four-person minimum. I am paying you in full for all four people. You won’t lose any money.”Jorunn smirked and looked like she was thinking. “I don’t know if you’re some kind of dirty old man, but if I agree to continue this tour, you should know that we will have separate rooms every night and there will be no sex of any kind. Judging by the way you look; I hope you can at least wipe your own butt!”“Your terms are acceptable. I had a stroke two years ago, but I have mostly recovered. I can walk, talk, and listen. I have trouble with my balance at times and sometimes slur my words. If you think something is too strenuous for me, I am willing to skip that part of the tour.”“Well, Mr. Larsen of Minnesota, you need to sign some release forms. As stated in the contract, I get to film the tour group for my vlogs, so I expect smiles when I am filming you. For now, go help yourself to breakfast. There is coffee, brunost, bread, and milk. Enough to feed four. Don’t expect me to serve you, and if you don’t know how to use a cheese sliver, learn fast.”She looked puzzled earlier but was now the confident Jorunn with whom I spent virtual evenings. I was delighted we worked this out. Smiles would not be a problem.OsloDecember 15 - MorningJorunn left the room and returned shortly with a small basket of food. “We have a lot of brunost left over, so I am going to make us a food packet for lunch called matpakke. I have a place in mind where we can sit and picnic.”“We will use the Vy app and Oslo Pass and travel by train and Metro. But today, we will mainly walk around Oslo. You will need to check into this hotel under the tour name if you have not done so. We will be in Oslo for two nights. The prepaid room is part of your tour package. I will try to cancel or change some reservations. Meet me back here in one hour.”I went back to my hotel to retrieve my belongings, then checked into the one Jorunn requested. It was not as nice as the one I left, but it was clean, and I did not want to make a fuss on the first day. I purchased a surprising amount of clothing yesterday and needed to make two trips to bring everything over. Then I returned to the meeting room and found Jorunn waiting.Jorunn and I walked from the hotel to Oslo Central Station and took a tram to the Vigeland Sculpture Park. Jorunn told me it is the world’s largest sculpture park made by a single artist, Gustav Vigeland, with over two hundred sculptures combining the human form with an element of fantasy. Most figures were naked, with a mix of vagueness and rather notably open precision. The most prominent sculpture was a 17-meter-high monolith consisting of 121 intertwined human figures clambering to the top, carved from a single stone block. We spent over an hour walking the grounds, and while it was interesting, I told Jorunn that I didn’t see much in the way of Christmas here.A combination of walking and a short bus ride brought us to the grounds of the Akershus Fortress. Constructed in the 13th century, it protects the waterfront and Oslo harbor. Also on the site was the restored Akershus Castle, which was formerly a residence of prior kings of Norway. Jorunn said it serves today as an entertainment and event center for the Norwegian government, and this close to Christmas was not open to the public.I found it challenging to walk the grounds of the Fortress, as there were steep inclines mixed with stone steps and cobblestone paths. Remnants of a prior snowstorm still lingered in shady areas and under arches, making the footing treacherous. We did stop at places offering magnificent views of the city of Oslo, the bay, and the fjord, and several ramparts still bore cannons. Jorunn was rather businesslike and did not seem to be enjoyin

The Homeland calls for Gunnar, And So Does Love.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.‘You are the Tin Man. This tour; is the Oil Can. Figure it out.'A recently widowed Norwegian American plans his escape from a Minnesota nursing home to travel abroad and join a ‘Christmas in Norway Tour’. While battling his fears, he meets a beautiful young tour guide and her divorced mother, who years later, still bears scars from her unfaithful husband’s affair. This story is about overcoming those fears to let healing begin. This story picks up after that, and shows the lingering effects of a husband’s extra-marital affair on his family. This is also a Christmas story, so expect to travel to locations in Norway, encounter Norwegian Christmas traditions, and maybe even get sprinkled with pixie-dust!“A man has only one escape from his old self: to see a different self - in the mirror of some woman’s eyes” - Clare Booth LucePrequel: The Ruined ChristmasOslo, Norway - Three Years AgoMy name is Jorunn. As a Norwegian landsby girl, Mamma and I spent Christmas week in Bergen, visiting her family and celebrating my 22nd birthday. We decided to leave Bergen two days early so that Pappa would not have to celebrate New Year’s Eve alone. During the week, while we were away, Pappa told us how he missed us.We arrived back home in mid-afternoon, just as the sun was setting, and saw our Christmas Star lit up in the window. After entering the house, we heard Pappa moaning upstairs and went up to see if he was all right. Opening the bedroom door, we saw him humping a strange woman!“What are you doing?” shouted Mamma.Pappa replied, “Leah, you’re home early.”“Who is this woman?”“She’s just a slut. She means nothing to me.”The woman yelped, “I am not a slut! I am a happily married woman.”Mamma yelled, “I can see what keeps you happy.”Pappa yelled back, “I still love you, Leah. Let me get rid of this slut. She’s only here because I was lonely. We can talk.”Mamma replied, “You can talk to my advokater. We’re through! How can I ever trust you again, you bastard? Do you realize what you have done to our family!”Mamma began sobbing and ran down the stairs.Pappa looked at me and said, “Jorunn, none of this would have happened if your mother hadn’t come home early and seen us.”I looked at Pappa and saw his slime-covered beard slick with the woman’s juices. “You’re wrong Pappa. It did happen. Mamma and I just wouldn’t have known. You said you didn’t want to be seen by us. That works both ways! I don’t ever want to talk to you or see you ever again!”I ran downstairs to Mamma, and with our suitcases still in the boot, we drove to a friend’s house.Gunnar and Nurse RatchedDecember 13 - MorningMinneapolis, Minnesota - Present DayI pressed the button on my cell phone and hung up after talking with Roger Mans, my long-time friend and attorney. My two adult children texted a few days ago they wanted to visit me here in the nursing home. I had not seen them since the funeral of my wife, Solveig, and that was two months ago. Their plan was for me to sign their power of attorney forms, giving them full control over me and my affairs. But my plan was different, and now was time to put it into place.Two years ago, at just 54 years old, I had a stroke. A devastating paralysis left me needing a lot of care, and therapy to regain my mobility, speech, and other functions.I realized Solveig was unable to care for me at our home. She tried with all her heart, but she was also fighting her own battle with cancer, and undergoing her own rigorous treatments.So I decided to enter a nursing home, while I continued to get rehab. I wanted a facility with a stroke recovery unit. This limited my nursing home choices. The only thing making life bearable here, was Solveig faithfully visiting me, and sneaking an occasional home-cooked meal past the head nurse and her staff. Sadly, Solveig succumbed to the cancer while I was still a resident at the ‘Bethel Retirement Center'. At Solveig’s funeral, my children promised to visit often, but as usual, I could never count on them for anything.Without my wife here to check on things, my decent clothes never came back from the laundry, and instead, the staff returned excuses. I put on old sweatpants and an old sweatshirt. It would do for now. I prepared myself for this day by walking the halls of the nursing home, attending physical therapy sessions, and taking care of myself without help from the staff. Still not fully recovered, but like my clothing, it would do for now.I said goodbye to Alfred, my shared roommate. He nodded, wished me luck, and said he would love to go with me. I felt sorry for him. He was a great storyteller but needed to use his walker, and physically, he required the kind of care they provided here.I walked down the hall to the nurse’s station and found Molly Turner, the rather brusque chief nurse, and her two assistants sitting behind it. “Good morning, Nurse Ratched,” I said.“Good day to you, Gunnar,” she replied.“I’m checking out,” I said.“Be serious, Gunnar. No one ever checks out of a nursing home, unless they are flat on their back with a toe tag.”I looked at her and smiled, “I only hope that will be your Fate, Molly.”“That’s not a nice thing to say, Gunnar. Now, return to your room or I will have dietary take away your rice pudding for a week.”The rice pudding here was a pale imitation of the riskrem, which Solvieg would make every Christmas. I would miss it this year. I gave Nurse Ratched a one-fingered salute, then walked toward the exit. There was a scramble of squeaky chairs and shouts behind me, and I heard their footsteps closing in on me. As I pushed the two doors open to the main lobby, there was Roger, standing next to the nursing home administrator. I walked up to my lawyer, and shook his hand, “Thank you, old friend.”I turned to see a stunned Nurse Ratched. “Allow me to escort Mr. Larsen back to his room,” she meekly pronounced.The nursing home administrator said, “That won’t be necessary, Molly. Mr. Larsen is leaving us. He isn’t taking anything with him. You may clear out his room and get it ready for the next resident.”I looked Nurse Ratched in the eye and saw the fires of hell blazing within. Then, it was my turn to smile back.All my therapists had agreed that my rehab was successful. My speech skills were quite restored. My left arm and leg took longer to restore. But it was good enough to ditch the wheelchair, then the walker, then the cane. What really set me back was the grief of losing my wife, and the guilt of not being there when she needed me most.Gunnar’s HouseRoger drove me to my house. I hadn't been there in two years. It looked pathetic. No one bothered shoveling the snow on the walkway, and I feared what my children may have done to the inside. I found the hidden key I placed under a rock years ago and used it to enter through the front door. The living room and dining room furniture were mostly gone, or should I say, stolen. They had rifled through the small office nook next to the kitchen, with papers scattered over the kitchen countertops and floor.I turned and said, “You’re going to have your work cut out for you, Roger.”“This is exactly what you said would happen, Gunnar. Our firm will take care of it for you.”I opened a small drawer in the office nook and thankfully found my passport intact. It was useless to my children. I went to the master bedroom and saw the dresser drawers partially opened, with clothes scattered all about the floor. On top of the dresser was Solvieg’s jewelry box. I opened it, and few things remained. I was glad to see the gold charm bracelet I gave her 35 years ago for Christmas. She wore it a couple of times, then stopped, complaining it turned her wrist green as the fake gold coating wore away. But she kept it all these years. A worn-out trinket to my children, as precious as the Sauron’s Ring of Power to me. I picked it up and put it in the pocket of my sweatpants.I went into the walk-in closet and picked out some clothes, tossed them into an old gym bag, and said, “I’m done. We can go.”Roger said, “The locksmith and security company will meet me here this afternoon. Once they are done, your children will no longer have access.”“I’d rather not have an auction of whatever is left in the house. I don’t think Solveig would have liked that. Once you go through the papers, just throw everything left in a dumpster and haul it away. Whatever the two pirates plundered will be the only inheritance they will ever see from me.”Miller And Mans Law OfficeRoger and I next went to his office. I said hello to Jane, the long-time receptionist. I have always suspected that Jane knows everything that goes on here, and secretly runs the whole place, not unlike the way Nurse Ratched does in her domain. However, Jane does so with more efficiency, happiness, and joy for both clients and staff.Jane asked, “Can I get you anything, Gunnar?”“I’d love a cup of decent coffee, and an Apple Fritter if you have one.”“I’ll bring them to Roger’s office. Two creams and no sugar, if I remember right.”“Perfect, as always, Jane.”We went into Roger’s plush office, and I sat down in a chair more comfortable than any I sat in for the last two years.“Are you actually going to go through with this?” Roger asked.“Every bit of it,” I replied.I signed multiple papers, removing my two children as beneficiaries from my life insurance and investment accounts. I also gave Roger limited power of attorney to sell my house and dispose of its possessions.Jane arrived with the coffee and Apple Fritter. “Norway? Why would anyone want to go to Norway in December?”“Did Roger spill the beans?” I asked.Jane replied, “Every piece of paper that comes into this office passes through my hands. I opened your travel visa when it came in.”“Jane, I can’t spend Christmas here in Minnesota. The bitter wintry weather pales in comparison to the cold hearts of my own two children. The further away from them I am, the better. I’ve never been to Norway and have always wanted to see the 'home country’ of my ancestors.”Like I said, Jane knows all. The coffee tasted great, and the deep-fried Apple Fritter, one of Nursed Ratched’s 'prohibited foods’, was outstanding. Roger slid me a packet labeled 'Gunnar - Norway’. As Jane left, I opened it and looked at the contents. As planned, there was an international cell phone with a different number, a stack of krone, and three new credit cards bearing the name of a fictitious business. I handed Roger my old cell phone.“We’ll dispose of this for you. Your children will have no idea where you are unless they hire a private detective with exceptionally good connections. Legally, they have no rights to any of your assets, so even if somehow they track you to our law office, they will not get past Jane.”I believed Roger on that.“The tour company you asked us to sign you up with seems pretty sketchy. Their contract looks like something generated off a free online legal site. We reviewed it, it is crude, but legal and binding. If you back out, they still get paid. Why did you pick this tour company? There are many larger and more reputable companies we might have booked you with.”“It’s silly, Roger. I know it’s only a one-person company, run by a young vlogger in Norway. It was terribly boring in the nursing home, so I would spend evenings watching her videos as she traveled around Norway visiting various places, and leading small groups of tourists. It looked like the people were having fun and she made me laugh. Watching her videos was one of the few things that brought me any happiness.”“Why did you reserve for four persons?” asked Roger.“I wanted to make sure her Christmas in Norway tour wouldn’t be canceled. She has a four-person minimum.”“You won’t get those other bookings back, even if more people are going.”“I don’t need the money, Roger, but I do need this tour.”“How about clothing? You don’t have many clothes in that gym bag, Gunnar. Do you want to stop somewhere before we get to the airport?”“No. I’ll travel light. It’ll be easier when going through airport security. I’ll buy more clothes when I get to Norway.”“How about after you come back?”“I’m going to someplace warm and sunny. Maybe visit a mouse in Florida. I’ll be in touch if I need anything while I’m in Norway, and call you when I get back in three weeks.”Jorunn, The Tour GuideDecember 15 – Morning, Two Days LaterI spent yesterday shopping for the new clothes I would need. The tour is a mix of city and outdoor activities, so I bought a basic wardrobe, along with good walking shoes, snow pants, a warm jacket, and gloves. I ate lunch and dinner at two smaller restaurants. The food was good, but I felt lonely eating by myself, in a city I didn’t know, in a strange country. I missed Solveig very much and wished she were here with me.The next morning, I walked to the nearby hotel where the tour group would be meeting and followed the “Christmas in Norway Tour” sign to a small room off the lobby. There she was! Jorunn. My vlogger! She was about as tall as I am, at least when I can stand straight, with long blonde hair parted in the middle, clear blue eyes, and her signature radiant smile. She wore a Norwegian Dale sweater and brown pants.Jorunn spoke to me in Norwegian. “Excuse me, sir, this room is reserved for a tour group.”I hobbled closer. “Yes, and I’m one of the people taking the tour.”“We have a pretty active schedule for the next seven days, from December 15th through the 22nd. Do you think you are well enough to take this tour?”I wasn’t sure if I was, but I didn’t want to tell her that. “I won’t slow you down,” I replied.“What is your name?” she asked.“Gunnar Larsen.”She opened a small notebook and flipped through the pages. “It says here you are in a group of four. I see three other names. When are they coming?”“There won’t be any others from my group. One of the names is my recently deceased wife, the other two are my estranged adult children. I’m all there is.”Jorunn looked puzzled. “Only four people in total signed up, including you, all from your group. If the others aren’t coming, then you will be the only one. I don’t… I can’t… I mean, I have reservations I cannot cancel. You’re going to cost me a fortune whether I go through with the tour or not.”I replied, “The contract states that you have a four-person minimum. I am paying you in full for all four people. You won’t lose any money.”Jorunn smirked and looked like she was thinking. “I don’t know if you’re some kind of dirty old man, but if I agree to continue this tour, you should know that we will have separate rooms every night and there will be no sex of any kind. Judging by the way you look; I hope you can at least wipe your own butt!”“Your terms are acceptable. I had a stroke two years ago, but I have mostly recovered. I can walk, talk, and listen. I have trouble with my balance at times and sometimes slur my words. If you think something is too strenuous for me, I am willing to skip that part of the tour.”“Well, Mr. Larsen of Minnesota, you need to sign some release forms. As stated in the contract, I get to film the tour group for my vlogs, so I expect smiles when I am filming you. For now, go help yourself to breakfast. There is coffee, brunost, bread, and milk. Enough to feed four. Don’t expect me to serve you, and if you don’t know how to use a cheese sliver, learn fast.”She looked puzzled earlier but was now the confident Jorunn with whom I spent virtual evenings. I was delighted we worked this out. Smiles would not be a problem.OsloDecember 15 - MorningJorunn left the room and returned shortly with a small basket of food. “We have a lot of brunost left over, so I am going to make us a food packet for lunch called matpakke. I have a place in mind where we can sit and picnic.”“We will use the Vy app and Oslo Pass and travel by train and Metro. But today, we will mainly walk around Oslo. You will need to check into this hotel under the tour name if you have not done so. We will be in Oslo for two nights. The prepaid room is part of your tour package. I will try to cancel or change some reservations. Meet me back here in one hour.”I went back to my hotel to retrieve my belongings, then checked into the one Jorunn requested. It was not as nice as the one I left, but it was clean, and I did not want to make a fuss on the first day. I purchased a surprising amount of clothing yesterday and needed to make two trips to bring everything over. Then I returned to the meeting room and found Jorunn waiting.Jorunn and I walked from the hotel to Oslo Central Station and took a tram to the Vigeland Sculpture Park. Jorunn told me it is the world’s largest sculpture park made by a single artist, Gustav Vigeland, with over two hundred sculptures combining the human form with an element of fantasy. Most figures were naked, with a mix of vagueness and rather notably open precision. The most prominent sculpture was a 17-meter-high monolith consisting of 121 intertwined human figures clambering to the top, carved from a single stone block. We spent over an hour walking the grounds, and while it was interesting, I told Jorunn that I didn’t see much in the way of Christmas here.A combination of walking and a short bus ride brought us to the grounds of the Akershus Fortress. Constructed in the 13th century, it protects the waterfront and Oslo harbor. Also on the site was the restored Akershus Castle, which was formerly a residence of prior kings of Norway. Jorunn said it serves today as an entertainment and event center for the Norwegian government, and this close to Christmas was not open to the public.I found it challenging to walk the grounds of the Fortress, as there were steep inclines mixed with stone steps and cobblestone paths. Remnants of a prior snowstorm still lingered in shady areas and under arches, making the footing treacherous. We did stop at places offering magnificent views of the city of Oslo, the bay, and the fjord, and several ramparts still bore cannons. Jorunn was rather businesslike and did not seem to be enjoyin

The Homeland calls for Gunnar, And So Does Love.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.‘You are the Tin Man. This tour; is the Oil Can. Figure it out.'A recently widowed Norwegian American plans his escape from a Minnesota nursing home to travel abroad and join a ‘Christmas in Norway Tour’. While battling his fears, he meets a beautiful young tour guide and her divorced mother, who years later, still bears scars from her unfaithful husband’s affair. This story is about overcoming those fears to let healing begin. This story picks up after that, and shows the lingering effects of a husband’s extra-marital affair on his family. This is also a Christmas story, so expect to travel to locations in Norway, encounter Norwegian Christmas traditions, and maybe even get sprinkled with pixie-dust!“A man has only one escape from his old self: to see a different self - in the mirror of some woman’s eyes” - Clare Booth LucePrequel: The Ruined ChristmasOslo, Norway - Three Years AgoMy name is Jorunn. As a Norwegian landsby girl, Mamma and I spent Christmas week in Bergen, visiting her family and celebrating my 22nd birthday. We decided to leave Bergen two days early so that Pappa would not have to celebrate New Year’s Eve alone. During the week, while we were away, Pappa told us how he missed us.We arrived back home in mid-afternoon, just as the sun was setting, and saw our Christmas Star lit up in the window. After entering the house, we heard Pappa moaning upstairs and went up to see if he was all right. Opening the bedroom door, we saw him humping a strange woman!“What are you doing?” shouted Mamma.Pappa replied, “Leah, you’re home early.”“Who is this woman?”“She’s just a slut. She means nothing to me.”The woman yelped, “I am not a slut! I am a happily married woman.”Mamma yelled, “I can see what keeps you happy.”Pappa yelled back, “I still love you, Leah. Let me get rid of this slut. She’s only here because I was lonely. We can talk.”Mamma replied, “You can talk to my advokater. We’re through! How can I ever trust you again, you bastard? Do you realize what you have done to our family!”Mamma began sobbing and ran down the stairs.Pappa looked at me and said, “Jorunn, none of this would have happened if your mother hadn’t come home early and seen us.”I looked at Pappa and saw his slime-covered beard slick with the woman’s juices. “You’re wrong Pappa. It did happen. Mamma and I just wouldn’t have known. You said you didn’t want to be seen by us. That works both ways! I don’t ever want to talk to you or see you ever again!”I ran downstairs to Mamma, and with our suitcases still in the boot, we drove to a friend’s house.Gunnar and Nurse RatchedDecember 13 - MorningMinneapolis, Minnesota - Present DayI pressed the button on my cell phone and hung up after talking with Roger Mans, my long-time friend and attorney. My two adult children texted a few days ago they wanted to visit me here in the nursing home. I had not seen them since the funeral of my wife, Solveig, and that was two months ago. Their plan was for me to sign their power of attorney forms, giving them full control over me and my affairs. But my plan was different, and now was time to put it into place.Two years ago, at just 54 years old, I had a stroke. A devastating paralysis left me needing a lot of care, and therapy to regain my mobility, speech, and other functions.I realized Solveig was unable to care for me at our home. She tried with all her heart, but she was also fighting her own battle with cancer, and undergoing her own rigorous treatments.So I decided to enter a nursing home, while I continued to get rehab. I wanted a facility with a stroke recovery unit. This limited my nursing home choices. The only thing making life bearable here, was Solveig faithfully visiting me, and sneaking an occasional home-cooked meal past the head nurse and her staff. Sadly, Solveig succumbed to the cancer while I was still a resident at the ‘Bethel Retirement Center'. At Solveig’s funeral, my children promised to visit often, but as usual, I could never count on them for anything.Without my wife here to check on things, my decent clothes never came back from the laundry, and instead, the staff returned excuses. I put on old sweatpants and an old sweatshirt. It would do for now. I prepared myself for this day by walking the halls of the nursing home, attending physical therapy sessions, and taking care of myself without help from the staff. Still not fully recovered, but like my clothing, it would do for now.I said goodbye to Alfred, my shared roommate. He nodded, wished me luck, and said he would love to go with me. I felt sorry for him. He was a great storyteller but needed to use his walker, and physically, he required the kind of care they provided here.I walked down the hall to the nurse’s station and found Molly Turner, the rather brusque chief nurse, and her two assistants sitting behind it. “Good morning, Nurse Ratched,” I said.“Good day to you, Gunnar,” she replied.“I’m checking out,” I said.“Be serious, Gunnar. No one ever checks out of a nursing home, unless they are flat on their back with a toe tag.”I looked at her and smiled, “I only hope that will be your Fate, Molly.”“That’s not a nice thing to say, Gunnar. Now, return to your room or I will have dietary take away your rice pudding for a week.”The rice pudding here was a pale imitation of the riskrem, which Solvieg would make every Christmas. I would miss it this year. I gave Nurse Ratched a one-fingered salute, then walked toward the exit. There was a scramble of squeaky chairs and shouts behind me, and I heard their footsteps closing in on me. As I pushed the two doors open to the main lobby, there was Roger, standing next to the nursing home administrator. I walked up to my lawyer, and shook his hand, “Thank you, old friend.”I turned to see a stunned Nurse Ratched. “Allow me to escort Mr. Larsen back to his room,” she meekly pronounced.The nursing home administrator said, “That won’t be necessary, Molly. Mr. Larsen is leaving us. He isn’t taking anything with him. You may clear out his room and get it ready for the next resident.”I looked Nurse Ratched in the eye and saw the fires of hell blazing within. Then, it was my turn to smile back.All my therapists had agreed that my rehab was successful. My speech skills were quite restored. My left arm and leg took longer to restore. But it was good enough to ditch the wheelchair, then the walker, then the cane. What really set me back was the grief of losing my wife, and the guilt of not being there when she needed me most.Gunnar’s HouseRoger drove me to my house. I hadn't been there in two years. It looked pathetic. No one bothered shoveling the snow on the walkway, and I feared what my children may have done to the inside. I found the hidden key I placed under a rock years ago and used it to enter through the front door. The living room and dining room furniture were mostly gone, or should I say, stolen. They had rifled through the small office nook next to the kitchen, with papers scattered over the kitchen countertops and floor.I turned and said, “You’re going to have your work cut out for you, Roger.”“This is exactly what you said would happen, Gunnar. Our firm will take care of it for you.”I opened a small drawer in the office nook and thankfully found my passport intact. It was useless to my children. I went to the master bedroom and saw the dresser drawers partially opened, with clothes scattered all about the floor. On top of the dresser was Solvieg’s jewelry box. I opened it, and few things remained. I was glad to see the gold charm bracelet I gave her 35 years ago for Christmas. She wore it a couple of times, then stopped, complaining it turned her wrist green as the fake gold coating wore away. But she kept it all these years. A worn-out trinket to my children, as precious as the Sauron’s Ring of Power to me. I picked it up and put it in the pocket of my sweatpants.I went into the walk-in closet and picked out some clothes, tossed them into an old gym bag, and said, “I’m done. We can go.”Roger said, “The locksmith and security company will meet me here this afternoon. Once they are done, your children will no longer have access.”“I’d rather not have an auction of whatever is left in the house. I don’t think Solveig would have liked that. Once you go through the papers, just throw everything left in a dumpster and haul it away. Whatever the two pirates plundered will be the only inheritance they will ever see from me.”Miller And Mans Law OfficeRoger and I next went to his office. I said hello to Jane, the long-time receptionist. I have always suspected that Jane knows everything that goes on here, and secretly runs the whole place, not unlike the way Nurse Ratched does in her domain. However, Jane does so with more efficiency, happiness, and joy for both clients and staff.Jane asked, “Can I get you anything, Gunnar?”“I’d love a cup of decent coffee, and an Apple Fritter if you have one.”“I’ll bring them to Roger’s office. Two creams and no sugar, if I remember right.”“Perfect, as always, Jane.”We went into Roger’s plush office, and I sat down in a chair more comfortable than any I sat in for the last two years.“Are you actually going to go through with this?” Roger asked.“Every bit of it,” I replied.I signed multiple papers, removing my two children as beneficiaries from my life insurance and investment accounts. I also gave Roger limited power of attorney to sell my house and dispose of its possessions.Jane arrived with the coffee and Apple Fritter. “Norway? Why would anyone want to go to Norway in December?”“Did Roger spill the beans?” I asked.Jane replied, “Every piece of paper that comes into this office passes through my hands. I opened your travel visa when it came in.”“Jane, I can’t spend Christmas here in Minnesota. The bitter wintry weather pales in comparison to the cold hearts of my own two children. The further away from them I am, the better. I’ve never been to Norway and have always wanted to see the 'home country’ of my ancestors.”Like I said, Jane knows all. The coffee tasted great, and the deep-fried Apple Fritter, one of Nursed Ratched’s 'prohibited foods’, was outstanding. Roger slid me a packet labeled 'Gunnar - Norway’. As Jane left, I opened it and looked at the contents. As planned, there was an international cell phone with a different number, a stack of krone, and three new credit cards bearing the name of a fictitious business. I handed Roger my old cell phone.“We’ll dispose of this for you. Your children will have no idea where you are unless they hire a private detective with exceptionally good connections. Legally, they have no rights to any of your assets, so even if somehow they track you to our law office, they will not get past Jane.”I believed Roger on that.“The tour company you asked us to sign you up with seems pretty sketchy. Their contract looks like something generated off a free online legal site. We reviewed it, it is crude, but legal and binding. If you back out, they still get paid. Why did you pick this tour company? There are many larger and more reputable companies we might have booked you with.”“It’s silly, Roger. I know it’s only a one-person company, run by a young vlogger in Norway. It was terribly boring in the nursing home, so I would spend evenings watching her videos as she traveled around Norway visiting various places, and leading small groups of tourists. It looked like the people were having fun and she made me laugh. Watching her videos was one of the few things that brought me any happiness.”“Why did you reserve for four persons?” asked Roger.“I wanted to make sure her Christmas in Norway tour wouldn’t be canceled. She has a four-person minimum.”“You won’t get those other bookings back, even if more people are going.”“I don’t need the money, Roger, but I do need this tour.”“How about clothing? You don’t have many clothes in that gym bag, Gunnar. Do you want to stop somewhere before we get to the airport?”“No. I’ll travel light. It’ll be easier when going through airport security. I’ll buy more clothes when I get to Norway.”“How about after you come back?”“I’m going to someplace warm and sunny. Maybe visit a mouse in Florida. I’ll be in touch if I need anything while I’m in Norway, and call you when I get back in three weeks.”Jorunn, The Tour GuideDecember 15 – Morning, Two Days LaterI spent yesterday shopping for the new clothes I would need. The tour is a mix of city and outdoor activities, so I bought a basic wardrobe, along with good walking shoes, snow pants, a warm jacket, and gloves. I ate lunch and dinner at two smaller restaurants. The food was good, but I felt lonely eating by myself, in a city I didn’t know, in a strange country. I missed Solveig very much and wished she were here with me.The next morning, I walked to the nearby hotel where the tour group would be meeting and followed the “Christmas in Norway Tour” sign to a small room off the lobby. There she was! Jorunn. My vlogger! She was about as tall as I am, at least when I can stand straight, with long blonde hair parted in the middle, clear blue eyes, and her signature radiant smile. She wore a Norwegian Dale sweater and brown pants.Jorunn spoke to me in Norwegian. “Excuse me, sir, this room is reserved for a tour group.”I hobbled closer. “Yes, and I’m one of the people taking the tour.”“We have a pretty active schedule for the next seven days, from December 15th through the 22nd. Do you think you are well enough to take this tour?”I wasn’t sure if I was, but I didn’t want to tell her that. “I won’t slow you down,” I replied.“What is your name?” she asked.“Gunnar Larsen.”She opened a small notebook and flipped through the pages. “It says here you are in a group of four. I see three other names. When are they coming?”“There won’t be any others from my group. One of the names is my recently deceased wife, the other two are my estranged adult children. I’m all there is.”Jorunn looked puzzled. “Only four people in total signed up, including you, all from your group. If the others aren’t coming, then you will be the only one. I don’t… I can’t… I mean, I have reservations I cannot cancel. You’re going to cost me a fortune whether I go through with the tour or not.”I replied, “The contract states that you have a four-person minimum. I am paying you in full for all four people. You won’t lose any money.”Jorunn smirked and looked like she was thinking. “I don’t know if you’re some kind of dirty old man, but if I agree to continue this tour, you should know that we will have separate rooms every night and there will be no sex of any kind. Judging by the way you look; I hope you can at least wipe your own butt!”“Your terms are acceptable. I had a stroke two years ago, but I have mostly recovered. I can walk, talk, and listen. I have trouble with my balance at times and sometimes slur my words. If you think something is too strenuous for me, I am willing to skip that part of the tour.”“Well, Mr. Larsen of Minnesota, you need to sign some release forms. As stated in the contract, I get to film the tour group for my vlogs, so I expect smiles when I am filming you. For now, go help yourself to breakfast. There is coffee, brunost, bread, and milk. Enough to feed four. Don’t expect me to serve you, and if you don’t know how to use a cheese sliver, learn fast.”She looked puzzled earlier but was now the confident Jorunn with whom I spent virtual evenings. I was delighted we worked this out. Smiles would not be a problem.OsloDecember 15 - MorningJorunn left the room and returned shortly with a small basket of food. “We have a lot of brunost left over, so I am going to make us a food packet for lunch called matpakke. I have a place in mind where we can sit and picnic.”“We will use the Vy app and Oslo Pass and travel by train and Metro. But today, we will mainly walk around Oslo. You will need to check into this hotel under the tour name if you have not done so. We will be in Oslo for two nights. The prepaid room is part of your tour package. I will try to cancel or change some reservations. Meet me back here in one hour.”I went back to my hotel to retrieve my belongings, then checked into the one Jorunn requested. It was not as nice as the one I left, but it was clean, and I did not want to make a fuss on the first day. I purchased a surprising amount of clothing yesterday and needed to make two trips to bring everything over. Then I returned to the meeting room and found Jorunn waiting.Jorunn and I walked from the hotel to Oslo Central Station and took a tram to the Vigeland Sculpture Park. Jorunn told me it is the world’s largest sculpture park made by a single artist, Gustav Vigeland, with over two hundred sculptures combining the human form with an element of fantasy. Most figures were naked, with a mix of vagueness and rather notably open precision. The most prominent sculpture was a 17-meter-high monolith consisting of 121 intertwined human figures clambering to the top, carved from a single stone block. We spent over an hour walking the grounds, and while it was interesting, I told Jorunn that I didn’t see much in the way of Christmas here.A combination of walking and a short bus ride brought us to the grounds of the Akershus Fortress. Constructed in the 13th century, it protects the waterfront and Oslo harbor. Also on the site was the restored Akershus Castle, which was formerly a residence of prior kings of Norway. Jorunn said it serves today as an entertainment and event center for the Norwegian government, and this close to Christmas was not open to the public.I found it challenging to walk the grounds of the Fortress, as there were steep inclines mixed with stone steps and cobblestone paths. Remnants of a prior snowstorm still lingered in shady areas and under arches, making the footing treacherous. We did stop at places offering magnificent views of the city of Oslo, the bay, and the fjord, and several ramparts still bore cannons. Jorunn was rather businesslike and did not seem to be enjoyin

Boosting a Natural Molecule (NAD+) Reverses Alzheimer's Brain Damage in New Study University of Oslo & Ullevaal University Hospital (Norway), February 8, 2026   One of the key drivers of brain dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the protein tau. Under normal conditions, tau helps maintain the internal structure of neurons, supporting the transport systems that allow nerve cells to function properly. In Alzheimer's disease, however, tau becomes abnormally modified and begins to clump together. These aggregates interfere with normal cellular transport, damage neurons, and ultimately contribute to memory impairment. Now, an international team of scientists has identified a previously unrecognized way to protect the brain from this degeneration. Their research shows that increasing levels of the naturally occurring molecule NAD⁺ can counteract neurological damage linked to Alzheimer's disease.  Previous research has suggested that boosting NAD⁺ using precursor compounds such as nicotinamide riboside (NR) or nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) can produce beneficial effects in animal models of AD and in early-stage clinical studies. However, the biological processes responsible for these effects have remained poorly understood,” explains first author Alice Ruixue Ai. The new study reveals that NAD⁺ works through a previously unidentified RNA-splicing pathway. This pathway is regulated by a protein called EVA1C, which plays an essential role in the process of RNA splicing. RNA splicing allows a single gene to produce multiple isoforms of a protein, and one isoform may show distinctive effects on the other isoforms. Its dysregulation is one of the most recently acknowledged risk factors for AD.        

Episoden kommer (litt) på etterskudd fordi influensaen tok oss, men vi stiller likevel – live-ish fra Jernbanetorget – for å holde kjærlighetsskuta flytende og skilsmissestatistikken på avstand. Vi leser tilbakemeldinger på «én eller to?»-babypraten, får en nydelig talemelding fra en 17-åring i Trondheim som vil på liveshow, og slipper turnényheter (inkludert en trist Stavanger-oppdatering og ekstra Oslo-show på Carls). Og så: Narvesen-dramaet. Twix, banan, roping gjennom kiosken og en liten runde på selvkritikk. Til slutt hjelper vi en lytter som savner gnisten i et ti år langt forhold – med lavterskel tips som (kanskje) ikke innebærer swingersklubb.

Hva om ett av de kraftigste biohackene for energi, hormonbalanse og stressregulering ikke er et kosttilskudd men varme? I denne episoden møter vi Siw Hansson Kaulbach, gründeren bak Radiant Health. Hun deler sin personlige reise fra IBS, utmattelse og ME-mistanke til å bygge et norsk selskap som i dag er markedsledende i Norden på infrarød varme. Det handler om hvordan kroppen kan begynne å reparere seg selv når den får riktige signaler og hvorfor varme er langt mer enn velvære.vi snakker om:Flåttbitt, diagnostikk av borreliose, hvordan boreliose oppfører seg i kroppern, hvordan håndtere dette.Hvorfor varme er et av de mest undervurderte biohackene, og hvordan det hjalp SiwHvordan infrarød varme påvirker mitokondrier, sirkulasjon og nervesystem.Sammenhengen mellom varme, stressrespons og hormonbalanse.Hvordan og hvor ofte skal man ta badstue.skal vi bruke bindere?Hvorfor mange med utmattelse og IBS responderer på varme.Hva biofilm, avgiftning og sirkulasjon har med varme å gjøre.Hvordan varme kan støtte kroppens egen reparasjon.Hvorfor restitusjon er like viktig som trening.Hvordan gå fra “overlevelsesmodus” til regulert nervesystem.Siws oppdagelse av herpes virus.Siws reise fra helsekrise til gründereventyr.Fremtidens varmebehandling innen longevity og performance.Det nyeste, LumaRed Wrap!!EMF og elstråling?Du finner Siw her: https://radianthealth.noinsta:@radianthealth_saunaTakk til vår samarbeidspartner:Oslo skinlab: Osloskinlab.no: rabattkode: BiohackingDesember @osloskinlabThe recipe: rabattkode: biohackinggirlsBoken vår BIOHACKING, - 21 uker på BESTSELGERLISTEN den finner du her:https://www.ark.no/produkt/boker/hobbyboker-og-fritid/biohacking-9788205611474Nysgjerrig på neste Biohacking Weekend 21 og 22 mars 2026? https://www.kongresspartner.no/no/biohacking-weekend-2026Redigering: Torgeir Johansen/Micdrop Media

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Bridging Worlds: Love Blooms in Oslo's Winter Garden Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-02-08-23-34-02-no Story Transcript:No: Vinterens kalde pust fylte luften i Oslo Botaniske Hage.En: Winter's cold breath filled the air in the Oslo Botanical Garden.No: Sindre, Kaja og Jens trasket forsiktig gjennom snødekte stier, omsluttet av vinterens magiske atmosfære.En: Sindre, Kaja, and Jens carefully trudged through snow-covered paths, enveloped by the magical atmosphere of winter.No: Sindre kastet et blikk på Kaja.En: Sindre glanced at Kaja.No: Han håpet at dagens utflukt til den årlige vinterhagefestivalen kunne gi dem en sjanse til å finne tilbake til hverandre.En: He hoped that today's outing to the annual winter garden festival could give them a chance to reconnect.No: Kaja gikk med et tankefullt uttrykk, hennes kunstneriske sjel konstant på leting etter inspirasjon.En: Kaja walked with a pensive expression, her artistic soul constantly searching for inspiration.No: Hun var usikker på hva fremtiden ville bringe for henne og Sindre.En: She was uncertain about what the future would bring for her and Sindre.No: Jens var ved hennes side, alltid støttende, men uvitende om at hans tilstedeværelse noen ganger kompliserte ting.En: Jens was by her side, always supportive, but unaware that his presence sometimes complicated things.No: De stanset ved et område med sjeldne planter som Sindre hadde gledet seg til å vise Kaja.En: They stopped at an area with rare plants that Sindre had been excited to show Kaja.No: "Dette er en alpin primula," sa han, med kjærlighet i stemmen.En: "This is an alpine primrose," he said, with love in his voice.No: "Den blomstrer midt i vinterens grelle kulde.En: "It blooms amidst the harsh cold of winter."No: "Kaja nikket, men øynene hennes virket et annet sted.En: Kaja nodded, but her eyes seemed elsewhere.No: Hun ønsket å forstå og sette pris på Sindres verden, men hun var fortsatt revet mellom hans strukturerte vitenskapelige metode og hennes frie, kreative ånd.En: She wanted to understand and appreciate Sindre's world, but she was still torn between his structured scientific method and her free, creative spirit.No: Jens betraktet plantene med Kaja.En: Jens observed the plants with Kaja.No: De begynte å snakke om farger og former, Kaja med glød i stemmen.En: They started talking about colors and shapes, Kaja with excitement in her voice.No: Sindre trakk pusten dypt, følte et snev av sjalusi, men også bestemthet.En: Sindre took a deep breath, felt a twinge of jealousy, but also determination.No: Dette måtte være hans sjanse til å knytte et bånd.En: This had to be his chance to forge a connection.No: Som kvelden falt på, begynte snøen å dale sakte fra himmelen.En: As evening fell, snow began to gently descend from the sky.No: Et teppe av hvit magi dekket den botaniske hagen, lysene strålte som stjerner over trærne.En: A blanket of white magic covered the botanical garden, the lights shining like stars above the trees.No: Kaja sto stille blant snøduskede planter, og Sindre visste at dette var øyeblikket.En: Kaja stood still among snow-dusted plants, and Sindre knew this was the moment.No: Han gikk bort til henne.En: He walked over to her.No: "Kaja," sa han forsiktig, "noen ganger ser jeg ikke naturens kunst før jeg ser den gjennom dine øyne.En: "Kaja," he said gently, "sometimes I don't see the art in nature until I see it through your eyes."No: "Kaja vendte seg mot ham, fanget av ordene hans.En: Kaja turned to him, captivated by his words.No: "Det finnes skjønnhet i struktur også," sa hun med et lite smil, forståelse i blikket.En: "There is beauty in structure too," she said with a small smile, understanding in her eyes.No: De sto der i stillhet et øyeblikk, snøen falt rundt dem.En: They stood there in silence for a moment, snow falling around them.No: Kaja visste at hun kunne finne inspirasjon i Sindres verden, at vitenskap og kunst ikke alltid trengte å være motpoler.En: Kaja knew that she could find inspiration in Sindre's world, that science and art did not always have to be opposites.No: "Sindre," sa hun endelig, "kanskje vi kan finne en måte å bygge en bro mellom våre verdener.En: "Sindre," she finally said, "maybe we can find a way to build a bridge between our worlds."No: ""Jeg vil gjerne prøve," svarte Sindre, lettelse og håp i hjertet hans.En: "I would like to try," Sindre replied, relief and hope in his heart.No: Jens betraktet dem fra avstand, glad for at de hadde funnet en åpning, og han gikk for å la dem ha dette øyeblikket alene.En: Jens observed them from afar, happy that they had found an opening, and he moved away to let them have this moment alone.No: Vinterhagen i Oslo var nå ikke bare et sted for bevaring av planter, men også for å bevare og utvikle kjærligheten mellom Sindre og Kaja.En: The winter garden in Oslo was now not just a place for plant preservation, but also for preserving and developing the love between Sindre and Kaja.No: Med snøen som deres vitne, bestemte de seg for å utforske hverandres universer, sammenføre kunst og vitenskap for å skape noe vakkert og nytt.En: With the snow as their witness, they decided to explore each other's universes, uniting art and science to create something beautiful and new. Vocabulary Words:trudged: trasketenveloped: omsluttetpensive: tankefulltinspiration: inspirasjonuncertain: usikkersupportive: støttendecomplicated: kompliserterare: sjeldnealpine: alpinprimrose: primulaharsh: grelleappreciate: sette pris påstructured: strukturertescientific: vitenskapeligecreative: kreativetwinge: snevjealousy: sjalusidetermination: bestemthetdescend: daleblanket: teppedusted: snøduskedecaptivated: fangetbeauty: skjønnhetstructure: struktursilence: stillhetunite: sammenføreforge: knytteuniverses: universerwitness: vitnepreservation: bevaring

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Discovering Winter's Hidden Magic in Oslo's Botanical Garden Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-02-08-08-38-20-no Story Transcript:No: Vinterluften var klar og kald i Oslo denne Valentinsdagen.En: The winter air was clear and cold in Oslo this Valentine's Day.No: Astrid trippet lett og ledet vennene sine gjennom snøen i den botaniske hagen.En: Astrid walked lightly and led her friends through the snow in the botanical garden.No: De hadde pakket seg inn i tykke skjerf og varme jakker for å nyte dagen.En: They had bundled up in thick scarves and warm jackets to enjoy the day.No: Astrid, en ivrig botanikkstudent, hadde et spesielt mål for øye.En: Astrid, a keen botany student, had a specific goal in mind.No: "Se her," sa Astrid og pekte mot en gruppe trær dekorert med røde bær.En: "Look here," said Astrid, pointing to a group of trees decorated with red berries.No: Snøen dekket grenene, og solen ga et varmt lys.En: Snow covered the branches, and the sun cast a warm light.No: "Er det ikke vakkert?En: "Isn't it beautiful?"No: " Ingrid tok fram kameraet sitt, mens Lars rynket på nesen i skepsis.En: Ingrid took out her camera, while Lars wrinkled his nose in skepticism.No: "Vinter?En: "Winter?"No: " spurte Lars med et lite smil.En: asked Lars with a small smile.No: "Jeg vet ikke helt om dette er min greie, Astrid.En: "I'm not really sure this is my thing, Astrid."No: "Astrid lo litt og dyttet ham vennlig.En: Astrid laughed a little and gently nudged him.No: "Du må bare vente og se.En: "You just have to wait and see.No: Det er skjønnhet her, jeg lover.En: There's beauty here, I promise."No: "De vandret videre, og Ingrid fanget små øyeblikk med kameraet sitt.En: They wandered on, and Ingrid captured small moments with her camera.No: Alvedronningen i denne vinterverdenen var Astrid, som stolt delte sin kjærlighet for naturen med vennene sine.En: The fairy queen in this winter world was Astrid, who proudly shared her love for nature with her friends.No: Lars ristet på hodet av henne, men klarte ikke å skjule smilet sitt.En: Lars shook his head at her but couldn't hide his smile.No: Snart nådde de det delen av hagen som Astrid hadde gledet seg til å vise fram.En: Soon they reached the part of the garden that Astrid had been eager to show.No: Her var planter som trosset kulden.En: Here were plants defying the cold.No: Noen hadde fargerike stammer, mens andre hadde snøkrystaller glitrende på blomstene sine.En: Some had colorful stems, while others had snow crystals glittering on their flowers.No: Det var en stille magi i hagen.En: There was a quiet magic in the garden.No: Ingrid stoppet, fascinert av en spesielt vakker busk.En: Ingrid stopped, fascinated by a particularly beautiful bush.No: "Lars, kom og se," ropte hun og vinket ham nærmere.En: "Lars, come and see," she called, beckoning him closer.No: Lars kom motvillig, men ble stille da han så synet.En: Lars came reluctantly but fell silent when he saw the sight.No: Det var noe uventet, noe som fikk ham til å tenke annerledes om vinteren.En: It was something unexpected, something that made him think differently about winter.No: Astrid gliste bredt.En: Astrid grinned broadly.No: "Hva tror du nå, Lars?En: "What do you think now, Lars?No: Er det ikke litt verdt det?En: Isn't it a bit worth it?"No: "Lars nikket ettertenksomt.En: Lars nodded thoughtfully.No: "Kanskje du har rett.En: "Maybe you're right.No: Jeg ser litt av skjønnheten du snakker om.En: I see some of the beauty you're talking about."No: "Ingrid knipset noen bilder og smilte fornøyd.En: Ingrid snapped some photos and smiled contentedly.No: Hun visste at hun hadde fanget et spesielt øyeblikk som ville få porteføljen hennes til å skinne.En: She knew she had captured a special moment that would make her portfolio shine.No: De tre vennene ble stående i stillhet og tok inn den rolige, vakre atmosfæren.En: The three friends stood in silence, taking in the calm, beautiful atmosphere.No: Solen begynte å gå ned, og hele scenen ble blendet i et mykt, gyllent lys.En: The sun began to set, and the whole scene was bathed in a soft, golden light.No: Astrid følte seg lettet og glad.En: Astrid felt relieved and happy.No: Hun hadde klart å vise dem vinterens undervurderte skjønnhet.En: She had managed to show them winter's underrated beauty.No: På tilbaketuren snakket Lars om hvordan dagen hadde endret synet hans.En: On the return journey, Lars talked about how the day had changed his perspective.No: "Vinteren har sin sjarm," sa han, "og nå vet jeg hvorfor du elsker det, Astrid.En: "Winter has its charm," he said, "and now I know why you love it, Astrid."No: "Ingrid var også begeistret.En: Ingrid was also thrilled.No: "Dette vil bli et fantastisk tillegg til porteføljen min," sa hun takknemlig.En: "This will be a fantastic addition to my portfolio," she said gratefully.No: Astrid smilte, glad for at hun kunne inspirere sine kjære venner.En: Astrid smiled, glad that she could inspire her dear friends.No: Mens de gikk ut av hagen, var Astrid sikker på én ting.En: As they left the garden, Astrid was sure of one thing.No: Hun hadde med seg to nye vinterskatter i form av vennskap og minner.En: She had gained two new winter treasures in the form of friendship and memories. Vocabulary Words:botanical: botaniskeeager: ivriggoal: målberries: bærbranches: grenerscarves: skjerfnudge: dyttetfairy: alvedronningcapture: fangereluctantly: motvilligfascinated: fascinertbush: buskperspective: synportfolio: porteføljeunderrated: undervurdertdefying: trossetcrystals: krystallerglittering: glitrendeexpected: uventetmagical: magishine: skinnethick: tykketrembling: trippetcontentedly: fornøydchange: endretscenery: scenenquiet: stilleatmosphere: atmosfærencharms: sjarmtreasures: skatter

An airhacks.fm conversation with Kabir Khan (@kabirkhan) about: first computer was a ZX Spectrum 48K with rubber keys, playing Bomb Jack as a memorable early game, growing up in Norway near Oslo with lots of outdoor activities including skiing and swimming in warm fjords, discovering multimedia kiosks at Tower Records in Piccadilly Circus as career inspiration, writing a Java applet dissertation visualizing Motorola 68000 CPU instruction processing with animations, early programming in Basic on the ZX spectrum including a hardcoded cookbook application, learning Pascal and the revelation of understanding what files actually are, first job writing an HTTP server in C++ on Windows NT using Winsock, implementing Real-Time Protocol streaming for multimedia content, working at a consultancy learning multiple programming languages including Active Server Pages ASP and Microsoft Transaction Server MTS, going freelance and building a Java-based exhibition industry booking system, using JBoss with EJB3 for the second version of the exhibition system, getting JBoss support and being impressed by their expertise, contributing to JBoss Mail and JBoss AOP as open source contributions, meeting Sacha Labourey at a JBoss partner event in Norway who advised focusing on AOP, joining JBoss in September 2004 when the company had only about 50 people, meeting Marc Fleury and having pizza at his house in Atlanta, the Red Hat acquisition of JBoss in 2006, leading the JBoss AOP project and standardizing interceptor chains, working on the JBoss microcontainer for JBoss 5 which was over-engineered and slow, joining the team that rethought the server architecture leading to Wildfly, working on WildFly core server management and domain management, the recent move of the runtimes division from Red Hat to IBM, current work on Agent-to-Agent (A2A) protocol, quarkus being the Java reference implementation for the A2A specification published by Google, Agent-to-Agent Protocol as a standardized protocol for agent-to-agent communication using JSON-RPC REST and grpc, agent cards as capability advertisements similar to business cards, benefits of smaller specialized agents over monolithic AI applications including better traceability smaller context windows and flexibility with different LLMs, comparison of agent architecture to microservices where smaller agents are preferable unlike traditional services where monoliths can be better, upcoming episode planned to deep-dive into A2A with Quarkus and opentelemetry for agent traceability Kabir Khan on twitter: @kabirkhan

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Reunited by Snow: An Oslo Tale of Family and Rediscovery Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-02-07-23-34-02-no Story Transcript:No: Sander stod foran den historiske bygningen til Oslo Naturhistoriske Museum.En: Sander stood in front of the historic building of the Oslo Naturhistoriske Museum.No: Han pustet dypt inn.En: He took a deep breath.No: Den kalde vinterluften fylte lungene hans med en klarhet han hadde savnet.En: The cold winter air filled his lungs with a clarity he had missed.No: Snøen lå som et tykt teppe over bakken, og solstrålene ga den gamle fasaden et gyllent skjær.En: The snow lay like a thick blanket over the ground, and the sun rays gave the old facade a golden hue.No: Dette var stedet han hadde valgt for å gjenforenes med søsknene sine, Lina og Emil.En: This was the place he had chosen to reunite with his siblings, Lina and Emil.No: Sander hadde vært borte fra Oslo i mange år.En: Sander had been away from Oslo for many years.No: Arbeid i utlandet hadde tatt ham langt fra familien.En: Work abroad had taken him far from his family.No: Han følte nå en uro i magen.En: He now felt a nervousness in his stomach.No: Ville Lina og Emil, som hadde vokst opp mens han var borte, se ham som en fremmed?En: Would Lina and Emil, who had grown up while he was away, see him as a stranger?No: Lina var først ute.En: Lina was the first to arrive.No: Hun kom gående over den snødekte plassen med raske skritt, skjerfet viklet tett rundt halsen.En: She walked across the snowy square with quick steps, her scarf wrapped tightly around her neck.No: "Hei, Sander!En: "Hey, Sander!"No: " ropte hun og kastet seg om halsen hans.En: she shouted, throwing her arms around his neck.No: Sander pustet lettet ut.En: Sander breathed a sigh of relief.No: Hennes gjensynsglede lyste i snøen som kastet tilbake lyset fra solen.En: Her joy at seeing him again lit up the snow, which reflected the sunlight.No: Kort tid etter kom Emil, med en stor lue som nesten dekket øynene.En: Shortly after came Emil, wearing a large hat that almost covered his eyes.No: Han hadde alltid vært den stille av de tre.En: He had always been the quiet one of the three.No: "Hei," sa Emil med et forsiktig smil.En: "Hi," said Emil with a cautious smile.No: Sander la en hånd på skulderen hans.En: Sander placed a hand on his shoulder.No: "Hei, Emil.En: "Hi, Emil.No: Jeg har savnet dere.En: I've missed you."No: "De gikk inn i museet.En: They went into the museum.No: Luften var lun og fylt av forventning.En: The air was warm and filled with anticipation.No: Utstillingene var både imponerende og lærerike.En: The exhibits were both impressive and educational.No: De gikk forbi skjelettet til en dinosaurus, og Lina tok bilder med mobilen.En: They walked past the skeleton of a dinosaur, and Lina took pictures with her phone.No: "Se, Sander, husker du da vi pleide å late som vi var dinosaurer?En: "Look, Sander, do you remember when we used to pretend we were dinosaurs?"No: " spurte hun leende.En: she asked, laughing.No: Sander smilte.En: Sander smiled.No: "Ja, jeg husker.En: "Yes, I remember.No: Jeg pleide å være den største og mest klossete.En: I used to be the biggest and clumsiest."No: "De gikk videre til en utstilling om Norges naturlandskap.En: They moved on to an exhibit about Norway's natural landscapes.No: Her stoppet de foran en skjerm som viste en film om de store forandringene i naturen.En: Here they stopped in front of a screen showing a film about the great changes in nature.No: Sander så sin mulighet.En: Sander saw his opportunity.No: "Vet dere," begynte han nølende, "jeg har sett mye av det samme i andre land.En: "You know," he began hesitantly, "I've seen much of the same in other countries.No: Jeg har reist til steder som USA, Australia, og Japan.En: I've traveled to places like USA, Australia, and Japan.No: Naturen der er både merkelig og vakker.En: The nature there is both strange and beautiful."No: "Lina og Emil lyttet med store øyne.En: Lina and Emil listened with wide eyes.No: Sander fortalte om sin favorittreise til Australia, der han så kenguruer hoppe i solnedgangen.En: Sander told them about his favorite trip to Australia, where he saw kangaroos hopping in the sunset.No: Han beskrev de enorme skogene i Canada og fargene i Ildsjøen i Japan.En: He described the vast forests in Canada and the colors of the Ildsjön in Japan.No: Søsknene fulgte ivrig med.En: The siblings followed eagerly.No: De lo da han fortalte om hvordan han mistet kartet i en jungel og måtte spørre en lokal som bare snakket fransk.En: They laughed when he told them about how he lost his map in a jungle and had to ask a local who only spoke French.No: Mens de gikk rundt i museet, så de på en utstilling av gamle fossiler.En: As they walked around the museum, they looked at an exhibit of old fossils.No: Emil, som nesten aldri snakket, spurte plutselig: "Hvordan føles det å være langt fra Norge?En: Emil, who almost never spoke, suddenly asked, "How does it feel to be far from Norway?"No: "Sander ble litt overrasket, men takknemlig.En: Sander was a bit surprised but grateful.No: "Det er både spennende og ensomt," svarte han ærlig.En: "It's both exciting and lonely," he answered honestly.No: "Men det er godt å være hjemme nå.En: "But it's good to be home now."No: "Et maleri i museet fanget plutselig alles oppmerksomhet.En: A painting in the museum suddenly caught everyone's attention.No: Det viste Norges fjordene med fantastiske farger.En: It depicted Norway's fjords with magnificent colors.No: Alle tre sto i stillhet.En: All three stood in silence.No: De følte en felles ærefrykt for noe større enn dem selv.En: They felt a shared awe for something greater than themselves.No: Da de forlot museet, gikk de sammen gjennom den snødekte parken.En: As they left the museum, they walked together through the snowy park.No: Latteren deres fylte luften.En: Their laughter filled the air.No: Sander kjente at varmen fra båndet deres overvant kulden.En: Sander felt the warmth of their bond overcoming the cold.No: Han hadde fått visshet om at til tross for tiden fra hverandre, var de fortsatt en familie.En: He had gained assurance that despite the time apart, they were still a family.No: De fortsatte turen, og Sander visste at han ikke lenger trengte å frykte avstanden.En: They continued their walk, and Sander knew that he no longer needed to fear the distance.No: Hans nærvær, hans historier, og hans kjærlighet var det som betydde noe.En: His presence, his stories, and his love were what mattered.No: Familie kunne alltid finne sammen igjen, uansett hvor mange vintre som hadde gått.En: Family could always find each other again, no matter how many winters had passed. Vocabulary Words:historic: historiskeclarity: klarhetnervousness: urofacade: fasadenreunite: gjenforenesanticipation: forventningcautious: forsiktigexhibits: utstillingeneimpressive: imponerendeeducational: lærerikeclumsiest: klossetehesitantly: nølendevast: enormegratitude: takknemliglonely: ensomtfjord: fjordeneawe: ærefryktmagnificent: fantastiskeassurance: visshetsiblings: søsknenelungs: lungenegathering: samfunnscarf: skjerfetlaughter: latterennostalgia: nostalgiabreathed: pustetreflection: kastetsunset: solnedgangenjungle: jungelbond: båndet

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Secrets Under Snow: An Artistic Odyssey in Oslo Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-02-06-08-38-20-no Story Transcript:No: Henrik vandret gjennom Vigelandsparken.En: Henrik wandered through Vigelandsparken.No: Vinteren hadde dekket parken i et lag av lett snø.En: Winter had covered the park in a layer of light snow.No: Solstrålene skapte lange skygger på de isete gangstiene.En: The sun's rays created long shadows on the icy pathways.No: Henrik, en nysgjerrig kunstner, elsket å besøke parken.En: Henrik, a curious artist, loved to visit the park.No: Skulpturene ga ham ideer og inspirasjon.En: The sculptures gave him ideas and inspiration.No: En dag, mens han beundret en av de store skulpturene, la Henrik merke til noe under en stein.En: One day, while admiring one of the large sculptures, Henrik noticed something under a stone.No: En liten, gammel konvolutt lå der.En: A small, old envelope lay there.No: Den så ut til å ha ligget der lenge.En: It seemed to have been there for a long time.No: Nysgjerrig plukket Henrik den opp.En: Curious, Henrik picked it up.No: Konvolutten bar preg av tidens tann.En: The envelope showed the ravages of time.No: Han åpnet den forsiktig og dro ut et gulnet papir.En: He opened it carefully and pulled out a yellowed paper.No: Brevet var skrevet med sirlig håndskrift.En: The letter was written in neat handwriting.No: Setningene var kryptiske og forvirrende.En: The sentences were cryptic and confusing.No: Det var referanser til hendelser Henrik ikke kjente.En: There were references to events Henrik didn't know.No: Han kunne ikke la være å undre seg over hva det handlet om.En: He couldn't help but wonder what it was about.No: Med brevet i hånden bestemte Henrik seg for å besøke sin gamle barndomsvenn, Signe.En: With the letter in hand, Henrik decided to visit his old childhood friend, Signe.No: Hun var en lokal historiker og visste mye om parkens historie.En: She was a local historian and knew a lot about the park's history.No: "Signe," sa Henrik da han traff henne, "jeg har funnet noe merkelig.En: "Signe," said Henrik when he met her, "I have found something strange.No: Kan du hjelpe meg med å forstå dette?En: Can you help me understand this?"No: "Signe så skeptisk ut.En: Signe looked skeptical.No: "Kanskje det bare er en spøk," sa hun, men hun leste nøye gjennom brevet.En: "Maybe it's just a joke," she said, but she read the letter carefully.No: Til tross for sin tvil, bestemte hun seg for å hjelpe Henrik.En: Despite her doubts, she decided to help Henrik.No: De begynte å undersøke brevets ledetråder.En: They began to investigate the clues from the letter.No: De tilbrakte flere dager med å studere gamle dokumenter og bøker om Oslo.En: They spent several days studying old documents and books about Oslo.No: Brevet gjorde referanser til en glemt tid i byens historie.En: The letter made references to a forgotten time in the city's history.No: Dette var en reise tilbake i tid, en verden de så vidt kunne forestille seg.En: This was a journey back in time, a world they could barely imagine.No: En kald morgen, etter flere timers leting, fant de noe under en statue i parken.En: One cold morning, after several hours of searching, they found something under a statue in the park.No: En gammel dør, godt skjult av snø og is.En: An old door, well hidden by snow and ice.No: Med forsiktige bevegelser åpnet de døren og fant en hemmelig sjakt.En: With cautious movements, they opened the door and found a secret shaft.No: Der, under Vigelandsparken, ble brevets hemmeligheter åpenbart.En: There, under Vigelandsparken, the secrets of the letter were revealed.No: Det førte dem til en glemt del av byens gammel historie.En: It led them to a forgotten part of the city's old history.No: Henriks forståelse for kunst ble dypere.En: Henrik's understanding of art deepened.No: Historien preget nå hans nye verk.En: History now influenced his new works.No: Han følte en sterk sammenheng mellom fortiden og nåtiden.En: He felt a strong connection between the past and present.No: Signe, derimot, innså verdien av nysgjerrighet.En: Signe, on the other hand, realized the value of curiosity.No: Sammen hadde de avdekket en skjult hemmelighet.En: Together, they had uncovered a hidden secret.No: På slutten av dagen sto de i stillhet, omringet av Vigelands skulpturer, mens snøen fortsatt falt lett.En: At the end of the day, they stood in silence, surrounded by Vigeland's sculptures, while the snow still fell lightly.No: Med et nytt perspektiv beundret Henrik og Signe hvordan fortid og nåtid var knyttet sammen, akkurat som kunsten i parken.En: With a new perspective, Henrik and Signe admired how the past and present were intertwined, just like the art in the park.No: Her, midt i Oslos hjerte, hadde de funnet både svar og inspirasjon.En: Here, in the heart of Oslo, they had found both answers and inspiration.No: En ny æra av forståelse og respekt for historien hadde begynt for Henrik, mens Signe lærte at historien også kan være spennende gjennom nysgjerrige øyne.En: A new era of understanding and respect for history had begun for Henrik, while Signe learned that history can also be exciting through curious eyes. Vocabulary Words:wandered: vandretcovered: dekketlayer: lagshadows: skyggercurious: nysgjerriginspiration: inspirasjonadmiring: beundretnoticed: merke tilenvelope: konvoluttravages: tidens tanncryptic: kryptiskeconfusing: forvirrendereferences: referanserhistorian: historikerskeptical: skeptiskinvestigate: undersøkeclues: ledetrådersearched: letinghidden: skjultcautious: forsiktigeshaft: sjaktrevealed: åpenbartforgotten: glemtinfluenced: pregetconnection: sammenhenguncovered: avdekketintertwined: knyttet sammenera: ærarespect: respektexciting: spennende

Where in the world am I? In San Diego, talking about Oslo, Norway, Part 2.  Welcome back to the  Dr. Mary Travelbest Guide podcast. A few months ago, I returned from a 90-day journey around the world, and I'm excited to connect with fellow travelers and share experiences. The FAQ is from Tabitha, who complained and then asked a question: I don't want to share a room because I use a sleeping device that makes a lot of noise. How can I save money on my travel without putting someone else out of their sleep?   Answer:  Sharing a room is a blunt instrument for saving money. If your sleep setup creates friction, the more brilliant move is to optimize timing, location, length of stay, and amenities—not to sacrifice privacy.   Here are seven tips for you, Tabitha, and listeners: ​​ 1. Question where the money is going Before changing lodging, look at the most significant cost drivers: Are you paying for location prestige you don't actually use? Are you staying more nights than needed? Are you locking yourself into inflexible dates? Often, lodging costs drop sharply one or two transit stops away from tourist cores. 2. Choose private rooms in shared properties Many hostels, guesthouses, and homestays offer private rooms with shared kitchens or bathrooms. You avoid roommates entirely. Prices are often 30–50% lower than hotels. Kitchens reduce food costs, which adds up fast. 3. Stay longer, pay less Weekly or monthly rates can dramatically undercut nightly pricing. This works exceptionally well for apartments, apart-hotels, and extended-stay properties. Even adding an extra night can lower the average nightly rate. Ask: Is speed costing me money? 4. Travel slightly off-peak. You don't need to travel in miserable weather to save money. Shoulder seasons often offer the same experience at lower prices. Midweek stays are consistently cheaper than weekends. Airfare and lodging both benefit from this shift. 5. Rethink room features you don't need Be skeptical of "comfort upgrades": Do you actually need daily housekeeping? A view? A large room when you're out most of the day? Smaller, simpler rooms are quieter, cheaper, and often better for sleep devices anyway. 6. Use points and cash together If you collect hotel or credit-card points: Use points for expensive nights. Pay cash for cheaper ones. This hybrid approach stretches value without compromising privacy. 7. Pick accommodations built for solo sleepers Some properties quietly cater to solo travelers: Business hotels Capsule-adjacent private rooms Budget chains with excellent soundproofing These are designed around individual sleep needs, not social lodging. Confidence Challenge in Oslo: If you're new to traveling with accessibility needs, your challenge may be trusting yourself to explore independently. Oslo's infrastructure is excellent, but navigating it alone in a foreign country can feel intimidating. The confidence builder is this: Norwegians are incredibly respectful and willing to help — they'll assist you if you ask, but they'll never intrude. Trust that combination of independence and quiet support.   If you enjoyed today's Confidence Challenge, my book series delves deeper into trusting your decisions when traveling solo. Get educated. Learn and do in that order. . You can find the series at the link in the description.    See Book A for addressing this concern. Step 5 travel Find it on the website​​ at https://www.5stepstosolotravel.com/ or on Amazon. It's a several-part series. Today's special destination is Oslo, Norway, Part 2 in more depth.   Oslo, Norway, is a breathtaking city embraced by stunning fjords and vibrant forests. Known as one of Europe's most welcoming and forward-thinking capitals, it offers a serene, safe, and modern atmosphere that's ideal for solo women travelers over 50, including those who use wheelchairs or mobility aids.   Explore Parks, History, and Nordic Design Kick off your adventure at the magnificent Vigeland Sculpture Park, one of the largest sculpture parks globally created by a single artist. With its wide, smooth paths, it's easy to explore at your leisure. The park's tranquil ambiance is just perfect for reflection and appreciation of its artistic beauty.       Visiting the Vigeland statues in the park reminds me of Versailles, France. Took Tram 15 directly there. The park features statues of babies, women, and faces, as well as a lovely rose garden. The park is open every day, all hours, and never closes.  My friend from an earlier trip to Sweden that week, Margaret, and her sister drove to Portebakken and Krikkleiva. Notable landscapes included white birch trees and blue skies with clouds. - Weather: 26-28 degrees Celsius.  We had an incredible experience visiting a museum dedicated to the Oslo tragedy involving homegrown terrorism that occurred in November 2011. Here are some highlights that genuinely stood out during our visit: - Exploring the beautiful moss and unique plants at Sundvolden, an outdoor museum just a short 30-minute drive from Selte, was a delightful experience. https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/sundvolden-hotel/279615/   - It was exciting to travel around in a Skoda electric car, showcasing Norway's commitment to sustainability. https://www.skoda-auto.com/emobility/electrified-models - Interestingly, Norway's independence from the EU economically, thanks to its rich agricultural and fishing resources, allows it to prioritize its own interests without contributing to the EU's financial struggles. Next time to see in Oslo….. - A trip to the renowned Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, only 45 minutes away, is definitely a must-see.  Explore Cobenhill, an eco-friendly destination featuring a ski slope, lifts, hiking trails, and a climbing wall, located near the waste-to-energy plant.    Check out The Fram Museum, where you can dive into the incredible tales of Norway's polar explorers. The museum is fully wheelchair accessible, with ramps leading to a replica of the historic polar ship Fram. Just a stone's throw away, the Kon-Tiki Museum awaits, accessible and showcasing Thor Heyerdahl's remarkable voyages.     For a delightful lunch, mentioned in Part 1 on Oslo, why not try one of the local seafood cafés on the scenic Bygdøy (bug-day) Peninsula? Enjoying outdoor seating with stunning fjord views is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the local flavor.   Stroll along Karl Johans Gate, the city's vibrant main pedestrian street filled with charming shops, cozy cafés, and historic architecture. This lovely avenue leads you right to the Royal Palace, surrounded by inviting gardens and easy-to-navigate pathways.   Hop on a tram—most of Oslo's public transportation is low-floor and incredibly wheelchair-friendly—and soak in the enchanting city lights dancing on the water!       My missteps: Language barriers.   Can't pronounce the names, so just do your best as someone from the USA.  Most people speak English. Can't speak the language? Use Duolingo for practice, then keep trying. Fake it until you master it, and apologize in the meantime. People will appreciate that you tried. Thanks for listening, and I'll see you on the next journey.   AI was used to select some of the suggestions for this episode.   Connect with Dr. Travelbest 5 Steps to Solo Travel website Dr. Mary Travelbest X Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Page Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Group Dr. Mary Travelbest Instagram Dr. Mary Travelbest Podcast Dr. Travelbest on TikTok Dr.Travelbest onYouTube In the news  

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Lost in a Snowstorm: A Norwegian Forest Adventure Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-02-05-23-34-02-no Story Transcript:No: Den kalde vintervinden blåste gjennom de høye trærne i skogen like utenfor Oslo.En: The cold winter wind blew through the tall trees in the forest just outside Oslo.No: Snøen lå tykt på bakken, og hele landskapet var omgjort til et hvitt eventyr.En: The snow lay thick on the ground, and the whole landscape was transformed into a white fairy tale.No: Lars, Ingrid og Sofia var på en skoleekskursjon til skogen, alle ivrige etter å utforske naturens underverk, selv i den bitende kulden.En: Lars, Ingrid, and Sofia were on a school excursion to the forest, all eager to explore the wonders of nature, even in the biting cold.No: Lars gikk foran gruppen, full av energi og ønsket om å vise de andre hva han var laget av.En: Lars walked ahead of the group, full of energy and eager to show the others what he was made of.No: "Følg meg," sa han med et glimt i øyet.En: "Follow me," he said with a twinkle in his eye.No: "Jeg vet veien og vi skal finne noe spennende!En: "I know the way, and we're going to find something exciting!"No: " Sofia smilte bredt, hennes entusiasme smittsom og lysere enn noen solstråle.En: Sofia smiled broadly, her enthusiasm contagious and brighter than any sunbeam.No: "Ja, tenk om vi finner noe helt spesielt!En: "Yes, imagine if we find something really special!"No: " gle det fra henne.En: she exclaimed.No: Ingrid gikk bak de to, mer stille og observant.En: Ingrid walked behind the two, more quiet and observant.No: Hun visste at skogen kunne være farlig, spesielt nå som vinden begynte å tilta.En: She knew that the forest could be dangerous, especially now that the wind was starting to pick up.No: De gikk dypere inn i skogen, snøen knirket under skoene.En: They went deeper into the forest, the snow crunching under their shoes.No: Lars ledet an med sikre skritt, men Ingrid merket at alt begynte å se likt ut.En: Lars led with steady steps, but Ingrid noticed that everything was starting to look the same.No: Trærene var så lik hverandre, snødekket så jevnt.En: The trees were so similar to each other, the snow cover so even.No: Hun kjente et snev av uro.En: She felt a hint of unease.No: Plutselig begynte snøen å falle tettere, og en voldsom snøstorm dukket opp fra ingenting.En: Suddenly, the snow began to fall more densely, and a violent snowstorm emerged out of nowhere.No: Den bitende vinden feide over dem, gjorde det vanskelig å se noe som helst.En: The biting wind swept over them, making it difficult to see anything at all.No: Lars stoppet opp, usikker for første gang.En: Lars stopped, uncertain for the first time.No: "Vi må finne et sted å under oss!En: "We need to find somewhere to shelter!"No: " ropte Sofia, stemmen nesten druknet av vinden.En: shouted Sofia, her voice almost drowned out by the wind.No: Ingrid trakk pusten dypt og prøvde å holde hodet kaldt.En: Ingrid took a deep breath and tried to keep a cool head.No: "Vi må snu," kalte hun ut til Lars.En: "We need to turn back," she called out to Lars.No: "Vi har gått for langt.En: "We've gone too far.No: Snøen dekker sporene, vi kan ikke fortsette.En: The snow covers the tracks, we can't continue."No: "Lars tvilte, ønsket fortsatt å bevise noe.En: Lars hesitated, still wanting to prove something.No: Men i sitt innerste visste han at Ingrid hadde rett.En: But deep down he knew that Ingrid was right.No: Han nikket, motvillig men anerkjennende.En: He nodded, reluctantly but acknowledging.No: "La oss dra tilbake.En: "Let's go back."No: "Sammen, og med Ingrid som veiviser, begynte de sakte å rygge tilbake, mot de mer kjente stiene.En: Together, and with Ingrid as the guide, they slowly began to move back towards the more familiar paths.No: Ingrid brukte sin kunnskap om terrenget, navigerte gjennom snøen med en ro som betrygget de andre.En: Ingrid used her knowledge of the terrain, navigating through the snow with a calmness that reassured the others.No: Etter en stund nådde de ut av stormens grep, trøtte men trygge.En: After a while, they reached out of the storm's grip, tired but safe.No: Lars så på Ingrid, så takknemligheten i øynene hennes.En: Lars looked at Ingrid, saw the gratitude in her eyes.No: "Takk," sa han, forsiktig.En: "Thanks," he said, cautiously.No: "Jeg burde ha lyttet tidligere.En: "I should have listened earlier."No: "Ingrid smilte lett, glad for å være trygg igjen.En: Ingrid smiled lightly, glad to be safe again.No: "Vi klarte det sammen," svarte hun enkelt, og hjertet sank.En: "We made it together," she replied simply, and her heart sank.No: De kom tilbake til startpunktet, kalde men håpefulle.En: They returned to the starting point, cold but hopeful.No: Lars lærte at ekte lederskap handler om mer enn å gå foran.En: Lars learned that true leadership is about more than leading the way.No: Det handler om å lytte, samarbeide og gjøre det som er best for alle.En: It's about listening, cooperating, and doing what's best for everyone.No: Fra den dagen husket han alltid viktigheten av å lytte til andres råd – spesielt fra de som kjenner veien best når snøen dekker alle spor.En: From that day on, he always remembered the importance of listening to others' advice—especially from those who know the way best when the snow covers all tracks. Vocabulary Words:biting: bitendeexcursion: ekskursjontwinkle: glimtenthusiasm: entusiasmecontagious: smittsomobservant: observantdense: tettviolent: voldsomemerge: dukke oppuncertain: usikkershelter: underdrowned: druknetreluctantly: motvilligacknowledging: anerkjennendeterrain: terrengetnavigating: navigertecalmness: roreassured: betryggetgratitude: takknemlighetcautiously: forsiktigsank: sankfamiliar: kjenteacknowledge: anerkjennecooperating: samarbeidefairy tale: eventyrlandscape: landskapwind: vindentracks: sporenedangerous: farligprove: bevise

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