Podcasts about Svalbard

Der Name Spitzbergen oder Svalbard bedeutet "Kalte Küste" und wird erstmals in isländischen Texten des 12. Jahrhunderts erwähnt. Die Region besteht aus über 400 Inseln, ist etwa so groß wie Kroatien, hat aber nur rund 3.000 Einwohner. Im Sommer ist es 24 Stunden hell, im Winter dunkel, dann sinkt die Temperatur auf durchschnittlich 25 Grad unter null. Die Mørketid, die dunkle Zeit, dauert von Ende Oktober bis Mitte Februar. Im Hochwinter wird es nicht einmal dämmrig, auch nicht mittags um zwölf. Kaum eine andere Gegend der Welt ist so eng mit dem Eisbären verbunden wie Spitzbergen. Im Hauptort Longyearbyen wird alles mit dem Konterfei des "Königs der Arktis" beworben, vom lokalen Bier bis hin zum Supermarkt des Ortes. Die Population der Eisbären ist bislang nicht zurückgegangen – trotz des Klimawandels. Große Teile Spitzbergens stehen unter Naturschutz, seit 1973 hat Norwegen verschiedene Naturparks und -reservate eingerichtet, die auch die Küstengewässer mit einbeziehen. Doch der Klimawandel hat auch Spitzbergen erreicht. Das schmelzende Eis, der Anstieg des Meeresspiegels und der Verlust der Lebensräume bedrohen nicht nur die Tier- und Pflanzenwelt, sondern haben auch direkte Auswirkungen auf die Menschen, die in dieser Region leben. Michael Marek war für uns dort.https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/maretv/fruehling-auf-spitzbergen/ndr/Y3JpZDovL25kci5kZS9wcm9wbGFuXzE5NjMzOTcxOF9nYW56ZVNlbmR1bmc

La ciencia española lidera mundialmente los trasplantes. Amelia Escolano, desde Filadelfia, investiga una innovadora vacuna contra el VIH que induce anticuerpos neutralizantes y muestra potencial para otros virus mutantes. España también deposita semillas de olivo en Svalbard para preservar la diversidad genética agrícola. Las enfermedades raras encuentran esperanza en la terapia génica. La Fundación Columbus impulsa esta técnica que corrige información genética defectuosa con éxitos en patologías monogénicas, aunque el coste y la falta de ánimo de lucro para casos ultrarraros son desafíos. Las terapias CAR-T, llamados "medicamentos vivientes", prometen contra el cáncer al modificar células T del paciente para atacar tumores. Tenerife registra un enjambre sísmico en el Teide, bajo vigilancia y sin indicios de erupción inminente. En economía, la inflación española se mantiene en el 2.3% en febrero (subyacente 2.7%), superando la media europea, afectando la competitividad con alimentos ...

(05:00): Hvordan vil du kræve, at det bliver gratis at køre over Storebælt? Kilde: Iben Krog, regionsrådsmedlem og folketingskandidat for Venstre i Sjællands Storkreds (14:00): Har Nato fuldstændig overset truslen mod Svalbard? Kilde: Anne Ingemann Johansen, adjunkt hos Center for War Studies på Syddansk Universitet (30:00): Skal man have lov at bestemme over Danmark, når man ikke ved, hvornår man kommer tilbage? Kilde: Signe Fenger, udlandsdansker bosat i Schweiz (40:00): Hvad er det helt konkret I tror Digitaliseringsministeriet vurderer anderledes end Københavns Kommune? Kilde: Erbil Kaya, forsvarsadvokat Værter: Anne Phillipsen & Nicolai Dandanell See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Abrimos esta edición de Gente viajera con Carles Lamelo explorando con Rebeca Marín la exposición "A media lumbre", en el IVAM. Saltamos después a Uruguay, cuyos atractivos desgrana el ministro de Turismo, Pablo Menoni. Os proponemos una ruta por los castillos y fortalezas de Granada con Enrique Domínguez Uceta, que también nos cuenta el primer selfie de la Historia con una cámara portátil. Anotamos las rutas senderistas favoritas del viajero Alberto Vidal, alias Todorutas.es, y Rebeca Marín nos lleva de viaje al pueblo donde está prohibido morirse, Svalbard. Elena del Amo nos lleva a la fiesta del Tet, el Año Nuevo vietnamita. Anna Riera nos descubre interesantes influencers del mundo agrario y nos propone una ruta por los mejores asadores españoles. Con Lorena Pérez Mansillas conocemos al artista Jean-Michel Folon a través de la visita a la Fundación Folon, en La Hulpe, Bélgica, y rematamos visitando el país de los faraones con una guía de lujo: la egiptóloga Fátima Agra.

Abrimos esta edición de Gente viajera con Carles Lamelo explorando con Rebeca Marín la exposición "A media lumbre", en el IVAM. Saltamos después a Uruguay, cuyos atractivos desgrana el ministro de Turismo, Pablo Menoni. Os proponemos una ruta por los castillos y fortalezas de Granada con Enrique Domínguez Uceta, que también nos cuenta el primer selfie de la Historia con una cámara portátil. Anotamos las rutas senderistas favoritas del viajero Alberto Vidal, alias Todorutas.es, y Rebeca Marín nos lleva de viaje al pueblo donde está prohibido morirse, Svalbard. Elena del Amo nos lleva a la fiesta del Tet, el Año Nuevo vietnamita. Anna Riera nos descubre interesantes influencers del mundo agrario y nos propone una ruta por los mejores asadores españoles. Con Lorena Pérez Mansillas conocemos al artista Jean-Michel Folon a través de la visita a la Fundación Folon, en La Hulpe, Bélgica, y rematamos visitando el país de los faraones con una guía de lujo: la egiptóloga Fátima Agra.

Support the Show: Join the new Patreon for exclusive after-shows, extended newsrooms, immersive short stories and meetups at adventurediaries.com/goIn this highlight reel from the Adventure Diaries Podcast, Chris W. revisits his conversation with explorer Katharina Kneip. Katharina shares the harrowing story of hitchhiking on a French sailboat to cross from Iceland to Newfoundland, battling 50-knot winds and ice in one of the most remote regions on Earth. She also discusses life under the eternal sun of Svalbard, camping near existing settlements to stay safe from polar bears, and offers a grounding "Call to Adventure" that encourages everyone to find exploration simply by walking out their front door.FULL Episode With Katharina Timestamped Chapters00:00 - The Danger of Sailing: Hitchhiking from Iceland to Newfoundland05:14 - Svalbard's Eternal Sun and Polar Bear Safety07:01 - Comparing the Rough Beauty of Iceland vs. Svalbard08:29 - Call to Adventure: The Simple Power of Walking10:51 - Season 5 Launch Updates & Patreon SupportSend a textSupport the showThanks For Listening.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a comment and subscribe for more exciting content. Please visit AdventureDiaries.com/GO For more authentic stories of Adventure Exploration and the natural worldThe Adventure Diaries Podcast also covers a broad spectrum OF topics withIN the fields of Adventure, Exploration, Micro-adventure, Survival, Mental Resilience, Conservation, Scotland, Hiking, Solo Travel, Cycling, Nature, Storytelling, Mountaineering

Moncloa descarta la dimisión de Marlaska por denuncia contra el jefe de la Policía Nacional, negando encubrimiento. El ministro desconocía los hechos y actuó con celeridad. Bajas laborales por salud mental superan 600.000 anuales en España, duplicándose en una década y siendo las más prolongadas, impulsando prevención en empresas. Hospital de Málaga alerta del "reto del paracetamol": adolescentes toman dosis masivas para ingresar. Médicos advierten de daño hepático severo e irreversible, ya que buscan visibilidad sin conciencia del riesgo. Se cumple un mes del accidente ferroviario en Adamuz, Córdoba: 46 muertos y 126 heridos (7 hospitalizados). El pueblo intenta la normalidad; se valora Medalla de Andalucía. España añade 1500 semillas de olivo al Banco Mundial de Svalbard para conservar la especie ante futuras crisis. Madrid inaugura su "Barrio de la Ciencia", unificando cinco instituciones para impulsar conocimiento e innovación. Mercedes Zarzalejo, nueva consejera de Educación de ...

På flera tusen meters djup, mellan Svalbard och Grönland, så växer det skogar av rörmask, så kallade maskskogar. Lyssna på alla avsnitt i Sveriges Radios app. Långt ner i de arktiska djuphaven så är det mörkt, kallt och tyst, men nere på botten så lever djur som har lärt sig att utvinna energin från bakterier – rörmaskar. De odlar bakterierna inne i sina egna kroppar och har varken mun eller anus. Rörmaskarna, som kan se väldigt olika ut – en del är korta och krulliga andra är raka och långa – bildar skogar på botten. De här skogarna, som fyller samma funktion som våra barr- och lövskogar på land – de ger livsmiljö åt massor av andra organismer. Nu vill forskarna vid Senter for Dyphavsforskning, vid Universitetet i Bergen, ta reda på hur de olika skogarna skiljer sig och vilka djur som finns där. Vi får följa med marinbiologen och djuphavsforskaren Christian Nilsson på en resa, bland annat till det så kallade Molloydjupet i Framhavet mellan Svalbard och Grönland. Christian Nilsson är doktorand vid universitetet i Bergen, Senter för dyphavsforskning, WormFEST.Reporter: Joacim Lindwalljoacim.lindwall@sr.seTekniker: Nisse Lundinnils.lundin@sr.seProducent: Lars Broströmlars.brostrom@sr.se

Los osos

Birger Amundsen har reist mye. Med mikrofon. Med kamera. Med notatblokk. Men det finnes ett sted han aldri egentlig har forlatt.Svalbard.I sin nyeste bok, Spillet om Svalbard, går han rett inn i det politiske og historiske kraftfeltet som omgir øygruppen. Stormaktinteresser. Strategi. Symboler. Og fortellingen om hvem som egentlig eier historien om nord.Men når han blir spurt hvorfor han vender tilbake, svarer han stille:«Jeg dro ikke tilbake til Svalbard, for jeg forlot aldri.» Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Frozen Secrets: Discovering Truths in Svalbard's Wilds Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-02-11-23-34-02-no Story Transcript:No: Det var en dag som enhver annen i Svalbards ville tundra, men kulda beit hardere enn vanlig.En: It was a day like any other in the wild tundra of Svalbard, but the cold bit harder than usual.No: Sondre, en engasjert biolog, sto ved kanten av leiren og skuet mot den endeløse hvite horisonten.En: Sondre, an enthusiastic biologist, stood at the edge of the camp, gazing towards the endless white horizon.No: Han kunne nesten kjenne vinden hviske om hemmeligheter som tundraen hadde begravet dypt.En: He could almost feel the wind whispering secrets buried deep by the tundra.No: Ved siden av ham var Ingrid, en geolog med et skarpt blikk for detaljer.En: Beside him was Ingrid, a geologist with a keen eye for detail.No: Hun hadde alltid følt en lengsel etter å bevise seg selv.En: She had always felt a longing to prove herself.No: Nå var øyeblikket hennes, om enn med en tung følelse av tvil hengende over henne.En: Now was her moment, though with a heavy feeling of doubt hanging over her.No: En av deres kolleger, en erfaren forsker, hadde plutselig forsvunnet.En: One of their colleagues, an experienced researcher, had suddenly disappeared.No: Kaoset som oppsto etter hans forsvinning, truet med å knuse teamets moral.En: The chaos that ensued after his disappearance threatened to crush the team's morale.No: "Vi må finne ut hva som skjedde," sa Sondre bestemt.En: "We have to find out what happened," said Sondre resolutely.No: "Jeg kan ikke la dette gå.En: "I can't let this go.No: Det kan være min sjanse til å virkelig gjøre en forskjell.En: It might be my chance to really make a difference."No: "Ingrid nikket, betenkt.En: Ingrid nodded, thoughtful.No: Hun visste det var risikabelt, men hun forstod også viktigheten av oppgaven.En: She knew it was risky, but she also understood the importance of the task.No: Sammen med et lite team satte de av gårde, væpnet med kart, kompass og et vektig ønske om å forstå.En: Together with a small team, they set off, armed with maps, a compass, and a strong desire to understand.No: De beveget seg dypere inn i tundraen.En: They moved deeper into the tundra.No: Vinden skar som et kaldt knivblad, og snøen skapte en kvelende stillhet rundt dem.En: The wind cut like a cold knife blade, and the snow created a suffocating silence around them.No: Jo lenger de gikk, desto mer sikkert følte Sondre seg på at teamet trengte hans ledelse.En: The further they went, the more certain Sondre felt that the team needed his leadership.No: Ingrid, på sin side, kjente en ny styrke blomstre i henne.En: Ingrid, on her part, felt a new strength blossoming within her.No: Usikkerheten bleknet for hver beslutsom skritt hun tok.En: The uncertainty faded with each determined step she took.No: Plutselig, i ly for en liten høyde, avdekket de en forlatt leir.En: Suddenly, sheltered behind a small hill, they uncovered an abandoned camp.No: Det var et uhyggelig syn: telt som bleket under snøens vekt, personlige eiendeler strødd rundt.En: It was an eerie sight: tents bleached under the weight of the snow, personal belongings scattered around.No: Og det mest alarmerende var tegnene på kamp, som om det hadde vært en heksejakt i den strie kulda.En: And most alarming were the signs of struggle, as if there had been a witch hunt in the fierce cold.No: "Dette var ikke en ulykke," utbrøt Sondre, mens han gransket stedet.En: "This wasn't an accident," exclaimed Sondre, as he examined the site.No: "Noe er fryktelig galt her.En: "Something is terribly wrong here."No: "Ingrid bøyde seg ned og fant et kompass, det pekte mot en retning de ikke hadde vurdert.En: Ingrid bent down and found a compass, pointing in a direction they hadn't considered.No: "Vi må fortsette," sa hun med nyvunnet mot.En: "We must continue," she said with newfound courage.No: Etter timer med kamp gjennom snøstormer, kom de over enda en leir.En: After hours of battling through snowstorms, they came across yet another camp.No: Der fant de den savnede kollegaen – kjølig, men i live, fanget av snødrev og misforståelser innen teamet.En: There they found the missing colleague—cold, but alive, trapped by snowdrift and misunderstandings within the team.No: Det viste seg at misnøye blant lagmedlemmene hadde ført til sabotasje, et usjarmerende spill som overskygget ekte vitenskapelig arbeid.En: It turned out that dissatisfaction among team members had led to sabotage, a distasteful game that overshadowed genuine scientific work.No: Da de vendte tilbake til leiren, slått, men seirende, var stemningen en annen.En: As they returned to camp, battered but victorious, the atmosphere was different.No: Mistankene ble løftet, og teamet begynte å helbredes.En: Suspicions were lifted, and the team began to heal.No: Sondres innsats gjorde at han endelig fikk anerkjennelsen han fortjente.En: Sondre's efforts finally earned him the recognition he deserved.No: Han hadde vist sin styrke og stått som en leder.En: He had shown his strength and stood as a leader.No: Ingrid oppdaget i seg selv en ukuelig vilje til å stå imot både elementene og sine egne indre kamper.En: Ingrid discovered within herself an indomitable will to withstand both the elements and her own inner struggles.No: Hun ble en uunnværlig del av laget, en ny stjerne som lyste klart mot tundraens barske bakteppe.En: She became an indispensable part of the team, a new star shining brightly against the harsh backdrop of the tundra.No: Og slik, i denne forlokkende, men farlige vinterverdnen av Svalbard, fant Sondre og Ingrid ikke bare sannheten om forsvinningen, men også om seg selv.En: And so, in this alluring yet dangerous winter world of Svalbard, Sondre and Ingrid found not only the truth about the disappearance but also about themselves.No: Den arktiske natten var lang og kald, men deres mot lyste som en ledestjerne over det endeløse snølandskapet.En: The Arctic night was long and cold, but their courage shone like a guiding star over the endless snow landscape. Vocabulary Words:tundra: tundrabit: beitenthusiastic: engasjertgazing: skuethorizon: horisontenwhispering: hviskeburied: begravetgeologist: geologkeen: skarptdetail: detaljerlonging: lengselprove: bevisecolleagues: kollegerdisappeared: forsvunnetchaos: kaosetmorale: moralresolutely: bestemtrisk: risikabelttask: oppgavenarmed: væpnetcompass: kompasssuffocating: kvelendesilence: stillhetdetermined: beslutsomabandoned: forlatthill: høydeeerie: uhyggeligbelongings: eiendelerstruggle: kampalarming: alarmerende

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Surviving the Storm: A Tale of Arctic Courage and Teamwork Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-02-11-08-38-20-no Story Transcript:No: Hintet av lys på horisonten begynte å svinne hen da snøstormen tiltok i styrke, og omringet det lille forskningsstasjonen på Svalbard.En: The hint of light on the horizon began to fade as the snowstorm intensified, surrounding the small research station on Svalbard.No: Den isolerte hytta sto som en bastion av varme i det iskalde, endeløse arktiske landskapet, omgitt av en øredøvende stillhet brutt kun av vinden som ulte utenfor.En: The isolated cabin stood as a bastion of warmth in the icy, endless Arctic landscape, surrounded by a deafening silence broken only by the wind howling outside.No: Lars, meteorologen, satt ved bordet med øynene festet på dataskjermen.En: Lars, the meteorologist, sat at the table with his eyes fixed on the computer screen.No: Han var ivrig etter å samle data fra den fjerne værmasten.En: He was eager to collect data from the distant weather mast.No: Han håpet å bevise sitt mot og sin kompetanse til sin far, den berømte forskeren som alltid hadde stilt høye krav.En: He hoped to prove his courage and competence to his father, the renowned researcher who always had high expectations.No: Ingrid satt ved siden av ham, med oppmerksomheten fokusert på noen notater.En: Ingrid sat beside him, her attention focused on some notes.No: Hun var alltid praktisk og ressurssterk, en dyktig biolog som visste hvordan å overleve i slike ekstreme forhold.En: She was always practical and resourceful, a skilled biologist who knew how to survive in such extreme conditions.No: "Dette er galskap, Lars," sa hun.En: "This is madness, Lars," she said.No: "Værmeldingen er dårlig.En: "The weather forecast is bad.No: Du kan ikke dra til masten nå.En: You can't go to the mast now."No: "Kjell, den erfarne arktiske guiden, kikket opp fra kartet sitt.En: Kjell, the experienced Arctic guide, looked up from his map.No: Hans prioritet var alltid sikkerhet.En: His priority was always safety.No: "Lars, vinden kan du ikke slåss mot.En: "Lars, you can't fight against the wind.No: Det er for risikabelt å dra ut i dette været.En: It's too risky to go out in this weather."No: "Lars sukket, revet mellom ønsket om anerkjennelse og gruppens velvære.En: Lars sighed, torn between the desire for recognition and the group's well-being.No: Men til slutt vant stoltheten.En: But in the end, pride won.No: Senere den kvelden, mens stormen raste, snek han seg ut av stasjonen og forsvant inn i hvitens kaos.En: Later that evening, as the storm raged, he snuck out of the station and disappeared into the chaos of whiteness.No: Snart var han fortapt.En: Soon he was lost.No: Vinden var sterkere enn forventet, og den hvite verdenen rundt ham gjorde det umulig å se hvor han skulle.En: The wind was stronger than expected, and the white world around him made it impossible to see where he was going.No: Ingrid oppdaget Lars' fravær først.En: Ingrid was the first to discover Lars' absence.No: "Kjell, han er borte!En: "Kjell, he's gone!"No: " utbrøt hun nervøst.En: she exclaimed nervously.No: Uten å nøle begynte de å forberede en redningsaksjon, vel vitende om at tiden var knapp.En: Without hesitation, they began to prepare a rescue mission, fully aware that time was of the essence.No: Gjennom det tette snøværet kjempet de seg frem, drevet av frykt for Lar's sikkerhet.En: Through the dense snowfall, they battled their way forward, driven by fear for Lars' safety.No: Endelig, etter hva som føltes som timer, fant de ham i nærheten av værmasten, kald og desorientert.En: Finally, after what felt like hours, they found him near the weather mast, cold and disoriented.No: "Lars!En: "Lars!"No: " ropte Ingrid og vinket til Kjell for å hjelpe til med å få ham opp.En: shouted Ingrid, waving to Kjell to help get him up.No: Sammen førte de ham trygt tilbake til stasjonen.En: Together, they brought him safely back to the station.No: Lars skjelvet, men var ellers uskadd, bortsett fra svak forfrysning på hendene.En: Lars shivered but was otherwise unharmed, except for mild frostbite on his hands.No: Tilbake i varmen, innså Lars hvilken fare han hadde satt seg selv i.En: Back in the warmth, Lars realized the danger he had put himself in.No: "Takk," sa han stille, hans stolthet nå dempet av lærdom.En: "Thank you," he said quietly, his pride now tempered by the lesson learned.No: Det var ikke lenger viktig å imponere faren.En: It was no longer important to impress his father.No: Han forsto nå verdien av samarbeid og klokskapen til dem rundt seg.En: He now understood the value of teamwork and the wisdom of those around him.No: Trioen tilbrakte resten av kvelden trygt innendørs, lyttet til vinden utenfor og delte varme historier, mens feiringen av Samefolkets dag fikk en spesiell betydning for dem alle.En: The trio spent the rest of the evening safely indoors, listening to the wind outside and sharing warm stories, as the celebration of Samefolkets dag took on a special meaning for all of them.No: I denne fjerne delen av verden, hadde de funnet styrken i fellesskapet.En: In this remote part of the world, they had found strength in community. Vocabulary Words:hint: hintetfade: svinne hensnowstorm: snøstormenintensified: tiltok i styrkeisolated: isolertebastion: bastiondeafening: øredøvendehowling: ultecompetence: kompetanserenowned: berømteresourceful: ressurssterkextreme conditions: ekstreme forholdforecast: værmeldingenrisky: risikabeltdisappeared: forsvantchaos: kaosdense: tettedisoriented: desorientertfrostbite: forfrysningtempered: dempetteamwork: samarbeidwisdom: klokskapencommunity: fellesskapethorizon: horisontenresearch station: forskningsstasjonencourage: motpractical: praktiskguide: guiderecognition: anerkjennelsecelebration: feiringen

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

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

Scientists spent nearly 25 years studying close to 800 polar bears in the Barents Sea region and discovered that those polar bears seem to be doing just fine, even though melting sea ice is also a major issue.PLUS:Sargassum seaweed is becoming such a problem, you can see it from spaceWhy some people only get mild sniffles with a cold and others get sickA woolly rhino's DNA found in an ancient wolf's stomach reveals their quick demiseHow to change a memory — one scientist's quest to understand memory permanence

Flere hundre meter nede i en kullgruve på Svalbard skjer en enorm eksplosjon. 21 arbeidere blir borte i dypet. Regjeringen til Einar Gerhardsen får mye av skylda og må gå av i 1963. Hør alle episodene i appen NRK Radio

Where in the world am I? In San Diego, talking about Oslo Part 1 Welcome back to the  Dr. Mary Travelbest Guide podcast. I had my second solo  90-day journey around the world, and I'm excited to connect with fellow travelers and share experiences. The FAQ is from Amara, who wants to travel more. She asked: How can I plan a trip like you do, Dr. Travelbest? Would I love to take some of the trips you have been on? I'm not sure where to start. I hear a lot from YOU, but how do I do it? Answer: Getting started is like this. Take small trips until you build up your travel muscles. I met a woman yesterday named Teresa who said she needs to read my books and here's why.. She's a single woman in her 70s and relies on her grown children for travel assistance. But they don't always want to go on the same trips as mom. So Teresa needs to manage her travel. I also think she needs to organize her phone apps so she can find the ones she needs quickly. If this is you, stick around. Some of this will flow into your DNA. I know it.   60-second confidence challenge Your challenge today is to plan a Step One Trip. That means you spend the night in a new city, by yourself. You book your room, meals, and itinerary yourself. You come home the next day, refreshed and confident that you can do anything! One night of travel can reset your travel confidence.   If you like today's Confidence Challenge, my book series delves deeper into Step 1 travel. Never heard of it? You will. It's been tried, tested, and trusted since 2020. You can find the series at the link in the description.    See Book A for addressing this concern..  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 1, the intro of Oslo. Today we're heading north — to Oslo, Norway, a city surrounded by fjords and forests. Oslo is one of Europe's most accessible and progressive capitals, offering a calm, safe, and modern environment — perfect for solo women travelers over 50, including those using wheelchairs or mobility aids. Norway is a stunning country with a vibrant population of around 5 million, comparable to Montana's population and area, stretching over 142,000 square miles. The current exchange rate is favorable at $10 USD for 10.1 NOK, making it an exciting time to explore this beautiful land! The renowned Hurtigruten line makes it easy to connect with major cities and highlights throughout the region. There are so many incredible places to visit, including these: - Hammerfest - The breathtaking Svalbard and the Lofoten Islands - Crossing the Arctic Circle and visiting Trondheim—particularly special for Karin - The scenic Flåm Railroad - The unique Vigeland Sculpture Park - The fascinating Fram Museum - Tasty cloudberries - The architectural marvel of the Oslo Opera House - The Well spa, a relaxing retreat at just $65 per day, open from 10 AM to 10 PM, and includes food - Convenient Bus 81 for easy travel Italian traveler Julius highly recommends the Paradox optical illusions exhibit in Oslo—what a fun experience! Additional must-see spots include: https://www.paradoxmuseumoslo.com/en/ - An impressive castle - The immersive Vikings exhibit that captivated Debbie and Erik from Toronto, Canada, whom I had the pleasure of meeting on the train and spending the better part of the day with. https://www.science.org/content/article/thousand-year-old-viking-fortress-reveals-technologically-advanced-society   - The Bergen Hurtigruten line - Stunning views of the Skagerrak Strait - Enchanting Troll Forest - The magical Aurora Domes - An informative visit to Oslo City Hall and the Nobel Peace Center - The enchanting Munch Museum featuring "The Scream." - The lovely Bygdøy neighborhood You pronounce Bygdøy (a peninsula in Oslo) roughly as "BIG-day" (or "BIG-oy"), with the 'y' sounding like the 'i' in 'big' or 'ee' in 'see', and the 'ø' sounding like the 'i' in 'bird' or the 'u' in 'fur', making it close to 'BIG-doy' or 'BÜGD-oy' in Norwegian, but 'Big-Day' is a common English approximation.    For an unforgettable adventure, the "Norway in a Nutshell" tour can be completed in just 2 to 3 days.    Don't miss the dazzling Lofoten Islands, the majestic western fjords, and the charming Longyearbyen in Svalbard, along with Trondheim! Get ready for a fantastic journey through Norway! . - Library - Ibsens Gate - Tysnes Festival: A nearby island with many summer music events. People in Norway typically take two months of vacation. Education and healthcare are publicly funded through high taxes, which support strong economic conditions.  Activities and locations: - Cable car to Mt. Ulriken - Royal Gamlehaugen Castle and Park - Kayaking On my First Day in Oslo, I arrived at the Train station and found my hostel on Karl Lagerfeldsgate Street - Oslo K7 Hostel:  There were minor issues, such as being under construction, but it wasn't a bad experience. My initial Activities included: - Swimming in the sea with Nina from South Korea - Visiting the Opera House, the Munch Museum, and the library - Tasting hot dogs and even shopping for underwear. https://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/eastern-norway/oslo/oslo-opera-house/   Art, Architecture, and the Waterfront Start your day at the Oslo Opera House, an architectural masterpiece that rises from the fjord like a glacier. The sloping white roof is fully wheelchair-accessible, with gentle ramps leading to panoramic views of the harbor and the city skyline—a truly unique experience. https://www.visitoslo.com/en/articles/the-harbour-promenade/   From there, take a leisurely roll or stroll along the Harbor Promenade, a flat, scenic walkway that connects many of Oslo's major attractions. Stop by the MUNCH Museum, dedicated to artist Edvard Munch, whose "The Scream" is on display here. The museum is fully accessible with wide galleries, elevators, and a riverside café for a light lunch. https://www.munch.no/en/   In the afternoon, visit Akershus Fortress. While some cobblestone areas can be uneven, the main paths and museum sections are accessible, and the views of the Oslofjord are worth the effort. End your first day at Aker Brygge (BRU-geh), a lively waterfront district filled with accessible restaurants and outdoor seating for watching the sunset. Brygge, spelled, B R Y …..(Norwegian/Danish for "jetty" or "quay") is pronounced roughly like "BRÜ-geh" (German ü sound, short 'e' at the end) in Norwegian or "BRŒK-eh" (like 'brok' with a soft 'eh' sound) in Danish, involving a rolled 'r' and a rounded vowel, similar to the start of "burger" but with a distinct "oo" or "uh" vowel sound before the 'g' and 'e'.  https://www.visitoslo.com/en/activities-and-attractions/boroughs/aker-brygge-tjuvholmen/ My missteps: High prices were not expected I was not fully prepared for the high costs of dining and transportation in one of Europe's priciest cities. Many travelers like me mistakenly expect prices to match other European capitals. To make the most of my time, I purchased a 24-hour Oslo Pass for convenient access to public transport and popular attractions. Plus, I used a refillable water bottle and enjoyed picnic meals from local grocery stores and bakeries.        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  

No human dreams of relaxing on the shores of Novaya Zemlya, an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean that's best known as a Soviet testing site for nuclear weapons. Yet, a growing flock of Pink-footed Geese have begun to make this militarized zone their summer home. Though this region was once too cold for the geese to raise young, climate change — and increased competition for food — may have made Novaya Zemlya a compelling alternative to their traditional territory in Svalbard. It's also possible that the Pink-footed Geese found the archipelago by following other migratory waterfowl, which could prove to be a rare example of cultural knowledge being transmitted between species.More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Per har vært på Svalbard og hatt et ellevilt eventyr, og plutselig blitt et ja-menneske. Det endte med at han koste med 126(!) hunder. Han har også motbevist leger og hatt mer rett enn dem. Noe han ikke lar gå upåaktet hen. Olec er sint på folk som er hobbypoliti og alltid skal legge ansvar over på andre. Han er også i det usympatiske hjørnet, og er flau for det. Vi snakker også om nostalgiske lukter. Velkommen! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a textA frozen map point just became the hottest story on Earth. We unpack why Greenland—population 58,000—now sits at the crossroads of great-power rivalry, nuclear risk, and a fast-emerging space economy.We start with the GIUK Gap, the narrow corridor between Greenland, Iceland, and the U.K. that shapes how submarines and missiles move into the Atlantic. As Washington looks to end the war in Ukraine and parts of Europe signal resolve, planners fear escalation and watch the Arctic closely. At the same time, Greenland's unique status under Denmark and an unfinished path toward independence raise tensions as the U.S. asserts rights granted by a 1951 treaty. Add in memories of blunt rhetoric about “taking” the island, and you understand the local anxiety: small communities caught between sovereignty and superpower necessity.Then we pivot to space. The Arctic anchors polar satellite links, routing data through stations like Svalbard and into subsea cables—the digital umbilical that feeds our phones, grids, and markets. After reported cable cuts in 2022, redundancy became urgent, and Greenland emerged as a logical backup site. That's only one layer. Space-based solar power, orbital data centers, and lunar helium-3 for fusion and quantum computing are no longer far-off ideas; they're strategic plans with real timelines and budgets. Whoever secures the Arctic gateways and ground stations influences not just warfighting but the future flow of energy and information.If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who cares about geopolitics and faith, and leave a review to help others find it. Your thoughts matter—drop a comment with the insight that challenged you most.Support the show

Avsnitt nummer 472 av Arsenal Göteborg Podcast! Efter en vecka är Filip och Tobbe tillbaka! Det gamla inslaget “Svalbard-fakta” är tillbaka, innan de går in i det nya segmentet “Lyssnarkartan” och fyra nya städer läggs till kartan. Sedan går snacket vidare till senaste matcherna, med mest fokus på Inter-Arsenal 1-3! Det pratas om Lewis-Skelly, kommande spelschema och Mosquera. Det pratas om målen och Mosquera jämförs med Van Dijk. Det pratas om delade uppfattningar de två emellan. Det snackas om Gyökeres och Saka. Tobbe tar ut topp3 från matchen innan snacket går vidare till kommande match, Arsenal-Manchester United. Det uttalas namn, felaktigt eller rätt? Detta och mycket mer i detta avsnitt!

As geleiras guardam a memória da evolução do clima no planeta – mas estão ameaçadas pelo aquecimento global. Na Antártida, pesquisadores de 13 países – inclusive do Brasil – começaram a abastecer o primeiro acervo glacial do mundo, para garantir a preservação desse patrimônio natural para as futuras gerações. Lúcia Müzell, da RFI em Paris As amostras que inauguraram o Santuário da Memória do Gelo (Ice Memory Sanctuary), instalado na base científica franco-italiana Concordia, foram retiradas dos Alpes. O primeiro cilindro, de 128 metros, saiu do Mont Blanc, na França, e o segundo, de 99 metros, foi extraído do Grand Combin, na Suíça. A prioridade é resguardar vestígios das geleiras que provavelmente não resistirão até o fim deste século, destruídas pelo aumento da temperatura média da Terra. "Os cilindros de gelo retirados de geleiras ameaçadas de desaparecer serão conservadas na Concordia pelas próximas décadas e séculos à frente, para estarem disponíveis para as futuras gerações de cientistas, quando essas geleiras, infelizmente, terão derretido”, indica o biologista Jérôme Fort, vice-presidente da Fundação Ice Memory e diretor de pesquisas do Centro Nacional de Pesquisas Científicas (CNRS), da França. "Elas serão um rastro da história do nosso planeta: são arquivos extraordinários não só da história do clima, como da vida na Terra.” 'Balão' gigante formou a caverna de gelo O transporte da Europa até o polo sul foi quase uma operação de guerra: os cilindros precisaram ser mantidos a -20 °C durante todo o trajeto, que durou 50 dias. A chegada ocorreu no último dia 14. O santuário das geleiras, a 3,2 mil metros de altitude, é um projeto ambicioso, iniciado em 2015. O local foi construído todo em gelo, praticamente sem necessidade de outras infraestruturas, à exceção de uma espécie de balão gigante que serviu de fôrma para a caverna, agora transformada em “biblioteca do gelo”. A estrutura tem 35 metros de comprimento e fica a 9 metros abaixo da superfície. A temperatura constante de -54 °C no local permitirá preservar os cilindros por pelo menos 24 anos. Depois, a pressão do gelo tende a começar a deformar a caverna, e será preciso construir uma nova. Geleiras da América do Sul estão entre as mais ameaçadas Entre os pesquisadores que participam do projeto, tem um brasileiro: Jefferson Simões, diretor do Centro Polar e Climático do Instituto de Geociências da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Membro da Academia Brasileira de Ciências e com 29 viagens à Antártida no currículo, Simões é o primeiro glaciólogo do país. "O que nós estamos vendo, ao longo das últimas quatro décadas, é o derretimento principalmente das geleiras não polares. São as que estão nos trópicos, nas regiões temperadas, a exemplo dos Andes, dos Alpes, das Montanhas Rochosas e do Himalaia”, afirma. As da Venezuela já não existem mais, e outras desaparecerão em poucos anos, como as das montanhas Rwenzori, na África Central. "As geleiras, como um todo, guardam um registro muito importante. Elas são formadas pela acumulação, ao longo de milhares de anos, de cristais de neve, que, ao precipitarem-se e se acumularem, com o passar do tempo, carregam todas as características da atmosfera no momento em que se formaram”, sublinha Simões. Importância para a compreensão do aquecimento global O glaciólogo destaca a contribuição das geleiras para a paleoclimatologia, o estudo do passado do clima e de suas variações. Esses registros foram fundamentais para a descoberta e comprovação do aquecimento global. A análise das bolhas de ar retidas no gelo, ao longo de 800 mil anos, levou os cientistas a identificarem o acúmulo anormal de dióxido de carbono (CO2), metano (CH4) e óxido nitroso (N2O) na atmosfera – os principais gases de efeito estufa. "Foi ali que nós demos as evidências de que esses gases atingiram, nos séculos 20 e 21, uma concentração nunca antes vista”, ressalta. Simões é o representante brasileiro no Comitê Científico de Pesquisa Antártica do Conselho Internacional para a Ciência (ICSU), onde é um dos coordenadores de projetos de “perfuração de gelo não polar”. Ele participou das operações de captura de uma amostra na geleira Illimani, na Bolívia, que está sendo transportada para o Ice Memory Sanctuary. No futuro, a meta é coletar cilindros de outras partes dos Andes, como da calota de gelo Quelccaya, no Peru. "Nos trópicos, no Peru e na Bolívia, elas estão derretendo mais rapidamente e guardam registros, por exemplo, da história da química da atmosfera da Amazônia. Essa é uma das áreas pelas quais nós temos muito interesse, para reconstruir a história não só das queimadas e das mudanças do ciclo hidrológico, como também a história das culturas pré-colombianas”, salienta o pesquisador. Acervo com 20 amostras Além da amostra de Illimani, devem chegar nos próximos meses ao Ice Memory cilindros já recolhidos em Svalbard, no mar da Groenlândia, no Cáucaso e nas montanhas de Pamir, no Tajiquistão. No total, 20 amostras farão parte do acervo. Segundo projeções dos cientistas, metade das geleiras do mundo terá desaparecido até 2100. "Desde 1975, as geleiras perderam mais de 9 trilhões de toneladas de gelo, o equivalente a um bloco do tamanho da Alemanha, com 25 metros de espessura", observou Celeste Saulo, secretária-geral da Organização Meteorológica Mundial, na inauguração do projeto. O Ice Memory custou € 10 milhões nesses primeiros 10 anos, a maior parte financiados por fundos públicos de instituições científicas, e cerca de um terço por organizações filantrópicas. * Colaborou Géraud Bosman-Delzons, da RFI

In the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, where the sun doesn't rise for four months and the permafrost runs deeper than human civilization, the world's agricultural future sleeps in frozen vaults carved into an ancient mountain. They call it the "Doomsday Vault"—a repository of humanity's last hope against extinction. But what they don't tell visitors is that some seeds weren't meant to be preserved, and in the endless polar night, even the most carefully controlled environments can't stop certain things from... growing. https://www.eeriecast.com/podcasts/destination-terror   #DestinationTerror #SvalbardSeedVault #ArcticHorror #DoomsdayVault #NorwayHorror #PolarNight #SeedVault #HorrorPodcast #ScaryStories #Podcast #SupernaturalHorror #CreepyPasta #ArcticTerror #ClimateHorror #IsolationHorror #MonsterStories #TeenHorror #ShortHorrorStory

David Waldman wishes a merry and fulfilling Squirrel Appreciation Day, to those who observe. Greg Dworkin reaches into the anus of the universe and squeezes out more polling to share. There's always room for improvement when it comes to how to respond to madness. Trump ducked another bullet to arrive in Davos last night. Stupid demented degenerate megalomaniac Donald K. Trump vowed that there is no need for him to kill again, as long as everyone complies… except for Greenland, or maybe Iceland… and France… and Svalbard. They had better watch their backs. ICE are not rogue cops. They are good soldiers, just not your army. Demoralization and attrition aren't accidental; they are the objective. Resistance is not enough. Hate has an ever-broadening appeal. Her Excellency, Abigail Spanberger issued an executive order un-deputizing Virginia state police from being ICE lackeys. Dem Garrett McGuire has been specially elected to replace Mark Sickles who is now the new secretary of finance. How did Lindsey Halligan not do it? Federal judges count the ways. Halligan remains wrong till the bitter end.

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Polar Quest: The Rules and Wonders of Svalbard Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-01-21-08-38-19-no Story Transcript:No: Svalbard var et magisk sted.En: Svalbard was a magical place.No: Under den evige skumringen i Arktis, strakte snødekte landskap seg så langt øyet kunne se.En: Under the eternal twilight in the Arctic, snow-covered landscapes stretched as far as the eye could see.No: Skjøre, glitterende isflak fløt på havet.En: Fragile, glittering ice floes floated on the sea.No: En fjellkjede i det fjerne sto som en vakker bakgrunn.En: A mountain range in the distance stood as a beautiful backdrop.No: Lars, Ingrid, og Eva var med klassen på ekskursjon.En: Lars, Ingrid, and Eva were on an excursion with their class.No: De skulle lære om polare økosystemer.En: They were going to learn about polar ecosystems.No: Læreren deres, fru Andersen, hadde strenge regler.En: Their teacher, Mrs. Andersen, had strict rules.No: «Alltid hold dere nær gruppen,» sa hun, «vinterforholdene kan være farlige.»En: “Always stay close to the group,” she said, “winter conditions can be dangerous.”No: Lars, full av spenning og en hemmelig fascinasjon for dyrelivet, hadde en drøm.En: Lars, full of excitement and a secret fascination for wildlife, had a dream.No: Han ville se isbjørner.En: He wanted to see polar bears.No: Han så bort på Ingrid, som var fokusert og ønsket å imponere fru Andersen.En: He glanced at Ingrid, who was focused and wanted to impress Mrs. Andersen.No: Én idé begynte å forme seg.En: An idea began to take shape.No: Hvis han kunne overbevise Ingrid, kunne de kanskje utforske litt.En: If he could convince Ingrid, maybe they could explore a little.No: «Ingrid,» hvisket Lars, «kom igjen, la oss gå på en liten avstikker. Vi kan finne isbjørnspor!»En: “Ingrid,” whispered Lars, “come on, let's take a little detour. We can find polar bear tracks!”No: Ingrid rynket pannen.En: Ingrid frowned.No: «Det bryter reglene,» svarte hun, men så på Lars' ivrige øyne.En: “That breaks the rules,” she replied, but then looked at Lars' eager eyes.No: Hun så også på Eva, som bare ga et lite smil.En: She also glanced at Eva, who just gave a small smile.No: «Ok,» sa Ingrid til slutt. «Men ikke langt.»En: “Okay,” Ingrid finally said. “But not far.”No: De forlot stien, fulle av forsiktig spenning.En: They left the trail, filled with cautious excitement.No: Snøen knirket under støvlene deres, og pusten deres laget små skyer i den kalde luften.En: The snow creaked under their boots, and their breath formed small clouds in the cold air.No: Etter en stund fant de det de lette etter. Spor!En: After a while, they found what they were looking for. Tracks!No: Plutselig, ikke langt unna, så de en isbjørn.En: Suddenly, not far away, they saw a polar bear.No: Den beveget seg rolig over isen.En: It moved calmly across the ice.No: De sto helt stille, søkte dekning og betraktet.En: They stood completely still, sought cover, and watched.No: Hjertet til Lars slo hardt av entusiasme og frykt.En: Lars' heart pounded with excitement and fear.No: Da isbjørnen forsvant bak en ås, skjønte de at de var kommet lengre bort fra gruppen enn planlagt.En: When the polar bear disappeared behind a hill, they realized they had come further away from the group than planned.No: Eva sa: «Vi må tilbake nå.»En: Eva said, “We have to go back now.”No: De snudde tilbake og beveget seg raskt.En: They turned back and moved quickly.No: Da de kom tilbake til klassen, slo hjertene deres fortsatt hardt.En: When they returned to the class, their hearts were still pounding.No: Ingen hadde merket at de var borte.En: No one had noticed they were gone.No: På bussen tilbake, snakket Lars stille med Ingrid og Eva.En: On the bus back, Lars spoke quietly with Ingrid and Eva.No: «Det var utrolig,» sa han, «men jeg skjønner nå hvor viktig det er å følge reglene.En: “That was incredible,” he said, “but I understand now how important it is to follow the rules.No: Jeg vil aldri glemme dette.»En: I will never forget this.”No: De tre vennene visste at de hadde delt noe spesielt.En: The three friends knew they had shared something special.No: Lars hadde ikke bare sett en isbjørn.En: Lars had not only seen a polar bear.No: Han hadde også lært å respektere naturens grenser og betydningen av å dele eventyr med venner.En: He had also learned to respect nature's boundaries and the importance of sharing adventures with friends.No: Øynene hans glitret av et nytt perspektiv.En: His eyes glittered with a new perspective. Vocabulary Words:magical: magisketernal: evigetwilight: skumringenice floes: isflakbackdrop: bakgrunnexcursion: ekskursjonecosystems: økosystemerstrict: strengefascination: fascinasjonconvince: overbevisedetour: avstikkerfrowned: rynket pannencautious: forsiktigcreaked: knirketclouds: skyertracks: sporsought: søktecover: dekningdisappeared: forsvantrealized: skjønteperspective: perspektivglittering: glitretlandscapes: landskapfragile: skjøreimpress: imponereadventures: eventyrpounding: slowilderness: ødemarkenboundaries: grenserexplore: utforske

President Donald Trump's push to acquire Greenland is part of a growing quest for influence in the Arctic, the planet's coldest frontier, where Russia has interests in Norwegian archipelago Svalbard.Host: Casey MagloireWriter and Producer: Amalie SortlandEpisode Photography: Joe MeeExecutive producer: Gary Marshall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Den strategisk beliggende øygruppen blir stadig viktigere for Norge. Og for verdens stormakter. Men hvorfor? Forskningsleder Andreas Østhagen ved Fridtjof Nansens Institutt blir nedringt av journalister fra hele verden, som lurer på hva som vil skje med Svalbard, dersom amerikanerne faktisk tar Grønland. Foto: Dan P. Neegaard

Ornella BaderyIl Forte di Bardwww.fortedibard.itIn occasione del ventennale del Forte di Bard prende il via il progetto Capolavori al Forte che vedrà alternarsi ogni anno, sino al 2028, un grande capolavoro dell'arte italiana all'interno della ex Cappella militare. Il progetto nasce dalla volontà di valorizzare opere uniche, che raccontano non solo il genio di maestri italiani ma anche storie e iconografie eccezionali.Il primo capolavoro ad essere esposto, fino al 6 aprile 2026, porta la firma di Michelangelo Merisi, detto Caravaggio, ed è uno dei suoi ultimi lavori: il San Giovanni Battista. Un'opera intensa che racconta la maturità dell'artista ma soprattutto il pathos emotivo che lo contraddistingue. Una rappresentazione inedita di San Giovanni che doveva rappresentare la sua redenzione e che invece l'ha accompagnato nel suo ultimo viaggio verso la prematura morte.In collaborazione con MondoMostre e Galleria Borghese, Roma.Con i suoi spazi espositivi e la sua naturale predisposizione ad accogliere mostre che spaziano dal fotografico al classico, incontrando la grafica e il design, il Forte di Bard propone una stagione invernale 2025-2026 particolarmente eclettica.Tre grandi esposizioni animeranno le sale dell'imponente struttura fortificata, un tempo struttura difensiva della via d'accesso in Valle d'Aosta e ora vero e proprio luogo d'arte e di incontri.Ad aprire la stagione il concorso fotografico internazionale «Bird Photographer of the Year», che presenta al grande pubblico i migliori scatti che illustrano il variegato e affascinante mondo dei volatili, spaziando dall'ornitologia e dall'osservazione più tecnica e scientifica ad un approccio più estetico e spettacolare. Visitabile fino al 1° marzo 2026.La natura è protagonista anche dell'universo fotografico di Stefano Unterthiner, fortemente legato alla realtà del Forte di Bard. Nella mostra “Una finestra sull'Artico”, visitabile fino al 3 maggio 2026, egli ha scelto e raccolto sessanta fotografie che raccontano le spedizioni nell'arcipelago Svalbard, in Norvegia e immortalano renne e orsi polari, ma danno inoltre voce alle testimonianze antropiche della piccola comunità di Logyearbyen. Paesaggi di un accecante biancore, ma dal sapore sociale e antropologico, che evidenziano l'impatto del cambiamento climatico sul mondo fragile del “Paradis blanc”.«Fernando Botero. Tecnica monumentale» Fino al 6 aprile 2026 il Forte di Bard completa la sua proposta espositiva con un importante progetto dedicato al pittore, scultore e disegnatore colombiano Fernando Botero.  Curata da Cecilia Braschi,Fernando Botero Tecnica monumentale ripercorre, attraverso oltre cento opere, i principali temi e motivi cari all'artista colombiano, mettendo in luce la sua versatilità tecnica: dall'acquarello al pastello, dal disegno al carboncino, passando dalla pittura ad olio all'affresco, fino alla scultura. In sessanta anni di carriera, Fernando Botero, scomparso nel 2023, ha cercato l'espressione del suo stile, personale e inconfondibile, in ogni tecnica, ha esplorato con abilità e sapienza tutti i materiali, lasciandosi ispirare dai grandi maestri dell'Ottocento italiano e spaziando dalla natura morta al nudo, dalla scena di genere al ritratto, dal dialogo con la storia dell'arte alla denuncia sociale e politica.I suoi personaggi pieni e rotondi e le sue immagini barocche dall'atmosfera sudamericana approdano nella mostra allestita nelle sale delle Cannoniere e suddivisa in sette sezioni tematiche che permetteranno al visitatore di addentrarsi nel processo creativo dell'artista e apprezzare l'ecletticità e l'approccio estetico di questo grande maestro del ‘900.Diventa un supporter di questo podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/il-posto-delle-parole--1487855/support.IL POSTO DELLE PAROLEascoltare fa pensarehttps://ilpostodelleparole.it/

Donald Trump convoite avec insistance le Groenland. Alors, pour éclairer cette actualité, Histoire Vivante vous propose la rediffusion d'une série consacrée à l'histoire coloniale, politique et humaine de l'Arctique qui englobe justement le Groenland. Depuis quelques années, l'Arctique est partout, dans les romans, les séries, les rubriques de géopolitiques. Parce que la fonte de la banquise inquiète, parce que les appétits commerciaux et stratégiques s'aiguisent, parce que la région est devenue un décor d'intrigue de fiction qui font un carton en librairie. Dans cette nouvelle série, on explore son histoire pour comprendre comment l'Arctique est devenue cette immense surface de projection de toutes les angoisses de notre temps. L'Arctique est d'abord un milieu hostile et étrange, une région extrême, loin du confort des grandes capitales, un exotisme tout au Nord de l'Europe. Dans la première moitié du XIXème siècle, l'Arctique fait l'objet d'un enthousiasme scientifique, un défi pour les navigateurs, une destination pour les aventuriers. Alessandra Carcreff a réédité le récit de Léonie d'Aunet, un voyage en 1938 au Spitzberg, une île de l'archipel du Svalbard à près de 700 km au Nord de la Scandinavie dans la Mer arctique. Alors commençons comme des touristes sans avion, sans Gore Tex et sans 5G, sans même les femmes à l'exception d'une, notre héroïne du jour : Léonie.

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Svalbard Secrets: Unveiling Truths in the Eternal Night Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2026-01-07-23-34-02-no Story Transcript:No: I den iskalde mørket på Svalbard står en hemmelig lab.En: In the icy darkness on Svalbard stands a secret lab.No: Her kommer ingen lys fra solen.En: Here, no light comes from the sun.No: Kun kunstige lys bryter natten.En: Only artificial lights break the night.No: Vinden hyler rundt hjørnene av bygningen.En: The wind howls around the corners of the building.No: Sigrid er forsker.En: Sigrid is a researcher.No: Hun elsker klima.En: She loves the climate.No: Hun vil bevise en ny teori om klimaendringer.En: She wants to prove a new theory about climate change.No: Men utstyret hennes virker ikke.En: But her equipment isn't working.No: Det er vinter, og den polare natten er lang.En: It's winter, and the polar night is long.No: I mørket tviler Leif.En: In the darkness, Leif doubts.No: Han hjelper Sigrid, men er skeptisk til den nye teorien.En: He helps Sigrid, but he is skeptical of the new theory.No: Laboratoriet er stort og fullt av maskiner.En: The laboratory is large and full of machines.No: Sigrid ser på Leif.En: Sigrid looks at Leif.No: "Vi trenger en backup," sier hun.En: "We need a backup," she says.No: Hun vet at det er en risiko.En: She knows it's a risk.No: Utstyr finnes i en isolert del av laben.En: Equipment is located in an isolated part of the lab.No: "Bli med," ber hun ham.En: "Come with me," she asks him.No: De går ut.En: They go out.No: Mørkt og kaldt.En: Dark and cold.No: Snøen pisker i ansiktene deres.En: The snow whips against their faces.No: De er bundet sammen av tau.En: They are tied together by rope.No: Plutselig stopper navigasjonsutstyret.En: Suddenly, the navigation equipment stops.No: Nå må de stole på instinktene sine.En: Now they must rely on their instincts.No: "Vi må gå den veien," sier Leif.En: "We have to go that way," says Leif.No: Han peker i mørket.En: He points into the darkness.No: Sigrid nøler.En: Sigrid hesitates.No: Hun ser tilbake, men vet at hun må stole på ham.En: She looks back but knows she must trust him.No: Sammen beveger de seg videre.En: Together, they move forward.No: De ankommer det avsidesliggende rommet.En: They arrive at the remote room.No: Der finner de backup-utstyret.En: There, they find the backup equipment.No: De jobber sammen, raskt og effektivt.En: They work together, quickly and efficiently.No: Nå kan forskningen fortsette.En: Now the research can continue.No: På vei tilbake til hovedområdet av laben, føler Sigrid en endring.En: On the way back to the main area of the lab, Sigrid feels a change.No: Hun ser Leif på en annen måte.En: She sees Leif in a different way.No: Han har innsikt, selv om han er skeptisk.En: He has insight, even though he is skeptical.No: Leif ser på Sigrid også.En: Leif also looks at Sigrid.No: Han begynner å se verdien i nye ideer, kanskje også Sigrids teori.En: He begins to see the value in new ideas, maybe even Sigrid's theory.No: Når de er tilbake, er rommet varmt og trygt.En: When they are back, the room is warm and safe.No: Dataene blir samlet og prosessert.En: The data is collected and processed.No: Sigrid smiler til Leif.En: Sigrid smiles at Leif.No: Det er en ny forståelse mellom dem.En: There is a new understanding between them.No: Sigrid lærer å vurdere andre perspektiver.En: Sigrid learns to appreciate other perspectives.No: Leif lærer å være mer åpen for nye tanker.En: Leif learns to be more open to new ideas.No: I den hemmelige laben på Svalbard, midt i polarnatten, oppdager de mer enn bare forskningsresultater.En: In the secret lab on Svalbard, in the middle of the polar night, they discover more than just research results.No: De oppdager respekt og samarbeid.En: They discover respect and collaboration.No: historier etableres, ikke bare mellom instrumenter, men også mellom mennesker.En: Stories are established, not just between instruments, but also between people. Vocabulary Words:icy: iskaldedarkness: mørketsecret: hemmeligartificial: kunstigehowls: hylerresearcher: forskerprove: beviseequipment: utstyrpolar: polaredoubts: tvilerskeptical: skeptiskbackup: backuprisk: risikoisolated: isolertrope: taunavigation: navigasjonsinstincts: instinktenehesitates: nølerremote: avsideliggendeefficiently: effektivtprocessed: prosessertinsight: innsiktperspectives: perspektivercollaboration: samarbeidestablished: etableresclimate change: klimaendringertwine: bindefaces: ansiktenetrust: stolevalue: verdi

Cracker Barrel, travel agents, and Stranger Things. Canadian performer Ashley MacIsaac's show was cancelled after he was wrongly accused of being a sex offender by AI. When did JLR get so into politics? Burning your Christmas tree. A saran wrap ball and Krystle wants to live with Skinny. Flyer in Glasgow promotes an event for a person to get kicked in the balls one last time. Snitzer was down for a full day after someone threw a basketball at him. Will the Browns hire Deion Sanders as head coach? Maduro is being held in a NYC jail. Charlie believes Venezuela is just a distraction from other issues. Group 764. A caller is upset with Charlie. A bet on Polymarket, that Maduro would be captured, won a new user $450k. Rover got hooked on Hallmark Christmas movies while in Svalbard. Duji begged to be in a Hallmark movie being filmed in Cleveland. Does Snitz have a food truck update?

A caller is upset with Charlie. A bet on Polymarket, that Maduro would be captured, won a new user $450k. Rover got hooked on Hallmark Christmas movies while in Svalbard. Duji begged to be in a Hallmark movie being filmed in Cleveland. Does Snitz have a food truck update?

A caller is upset with Charlie. A bet on Polymarket, that Maduro would be captured, won a new user $450k. Rover got hooked on Hallmark Christmas movies while in Svalbard. Duji begged to be in a Hallmark movie being filmed in Cleveland. Does Snitz have a food truck update?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cracker Barrel, travel agents, and Stranger Things. Canadian performer Ashley MacIsaac's show was cancelled after he was wrongly accused of being a sex offender by AI. When did JLR get so into politics? Burning your Christmas tree. A saran wrap ball and Krystle wants to live with Skinny. Flyer in Glasgow promotes an event for a person to get kicked in the balls one last time. Snitzer was down for a full day after someone threw a basketball at him. Will the Browns hire Deion Sanders as head coach? Maduro is being held in a NYC jail. Charlie believes Venezuela is just a distraction from other issues. Group 764. A caller is upset with Charlie. A bet on Polymarket, that Maduro would be captured, won a new user $450k. Rover got hooked on Hallmark Christmas movies while in Svalbard. Duji begged to be in a Hallmark movie being filmed in Cleveland. Does Snitz have a food truck update?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charlie is wearing new glasses. Rover underestimated what 24-hour darkness would be like in Svalbard, ate seal, and went to a closed brewery. Krystle & JLR had no heat during the holiday. 

Charlie is wearing new glasses. Rover underestimated what 24-hour darkness would be like in Svalbard, ate seal, and went to a closed brewery. Krystle & JLR had no heat during the holiday. The government cannot stop redacting the Epstein files even after releasing them. Charlie went to Punta Cana and his dad passed away over the holiday. Duji's mom is struggling with dementia. Charlie surprised the other couples in Punta Cana. Capsule hotels. Rover talks about an ice bar in London, ski mobiles in Norway, and rats. Rover stayed in the same suite as Nobel Peace Prize winners. Head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kevin Stefanski, was let go. Snitzer went to Orlando over the break.

Charlie is wearing new glasses. Rover underestimated what 24-hour darkness would be like in Svalbard, ate seal, and went to a closed brewery. Krystle & JLR had no heat during the holiday. The government cannot stop redacting the Epstein files even after releasing them. Charlie went to Punta Cana and his dad passed away over the holiday. Duji's mom is struggling with dementia. Charlie surprised the other couples in Punta Cana. Capsule hotels. Rover talks about an ice bar in London, ski mobiles in Norway, and rats. Rover stayed in the same suite as Nobel Peace Prize winners. Head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kevin Stefanski, was let go. Snitzer went to Orlando over the break. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charlie is wearing new glasses. Rover underestimated what 24-hour darkness would be like in Svalbard, ate seal, and went to a closed brewery. Krystle & JLR had no heat during the holiday.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you ever wonder what pod will hold you good and tight, when it's exactly twelve o'clock at night? Laugh with us on New Years eve! We answer some emails, and bring you 3 historical tales, Brian brings the story of the USS Stark, Steve brings us possible proof of reincarnation ,and Anthony brings us cold tales of Svalbard! We also pick the next movies we will be watching, come listen and have a laugh or two. LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE PLEASE! We are proud to announce our NEW Patreon is available: https://www.patreon.com/reviewinghistory We hope you sign up and enjoy the fun we're having over there. Please give us a rating and a review on ApplePodcasts or Spotify. It helps potential sponsors find the show! Sign up for @Riversidefm: www.riverside.fm/?via=reviewi... Sign up for @BetterHelp: betterhelp.com/reviewinghistory Email Us: Reviewinghistorypod@gmail.com Follow Us: www.facebook.com/reviewinghistory twitter.com/rviewhistorypod letterboxd.com/antg4836/ letterboxd.com/spfats/ letterboxd.com/BrianRuppert/ letterboxd.com/brianruppert/list…eviewing-history/ twitter.com/Brianruppert #comedy #history #podcast #comedypodcast #historypodcast #tellemstevedave #tesd #navalwarfare #navyhistory #ussStark #iraq #iran #warhistory #india #reincarnation #NDE #gandhi #svalbard

Kate Adie presents stories from Iran, Norway, France, Ireland and Switzerland.A recent marathon race in Iran caused controversy after many of the 2000 women runners ignored the country's mandatory hijab law, and ran without a head covering. Years after deadly protests rocked the country, Faranak Amidi charts how women in Iran today are continuing to defy the religious authorities on a daily basis.Svalbard in the Arctic Ocean is home to an array of wildlife, including Polar Bears. With their survival under threat, Beth Timmins considers their future - and past - while sailing off the bay of Skansbukta.The French have a penchant for chestnuts, and demand in the country often vastly outstrips supply. And in the chestnut groves of the Cévennes, intensifying droughts are pushing the crop to the brink. Julius Purcell met chestnut farmers keeping a centuries-old culture alive, in the face of a warming planet.Irish pubs may be one of the Emerald Isle's most ubiquitous exports, but Irish whiskey has dipped in popularity over the last century in part due to politics - but also increased competition. Jordan Dunbar has been following the fate of his homeland's much-loved liquor, ever since a surprise encounter in Japan.And finally, Switzerland is famously neutral - but what that neutrality means is a subject that preoccupies the Swiss. Everyone knows that the Swiss banked Germany's money during the second world war, but a new exhibition shows how cooperative Switzerland also was to the allies. Imogen Foulkes reports from Geneva.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production coordinators: Sophie Hill & Katie Morrison

durée : 00:14:38 - Journal de 8 h - L'archipel norvégien connaît une vague de chaleur exceptionnelle en cette fin décembre. Au lieu de neige, c'est de la pluie qui y tombe, et cela a des conséquences lourdes pour la faune locale.

//The Wire//2300Z December 24, 2025////FESTIVE////BLUF: UNIDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT PILOTED BY MAN IN RED SUIT SPOTTED DEPARTING NORTH POLE.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE----- -International Events-North Pole: Yesterday afternoon Santa's elves were carrying out final preparations for the yearly trip around the world. This year, a slight delay was noted by the Northern Observatory for Elvish Labor due to some of the flight plan paperwork and airspace clearance permits arriving a bit later than expected. Once the various paperwork was filed, the Supervisory Administrator for Nighttime Transportation Activities confirmed that Santa was able to complete final preparations for delivery this afternoon.Greenland: Earlier this evening, a US Air Force RADAR site detected an object departing the North Pole. As the object flew over the Norwegian territory of Svalbard, observers saw a bright red light shining from the object, marking it's position in the night sky.Alaska: Some time later, the United States Air Force Center for Logistical Analysis of Unknown Sky Events scrambled F-16 fighter aircraft to visually confirm the presence of Mr. Clause, however the pilots were unable to keep up with Santa as he was flying much too fast for normal aircraft. At Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, the director of the Joint Organization for Leading Logistics, Yearly stated that he had never before seen anything fly so fast, and that Santa's sleigh must have been upgraded earlier this year.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Santa Claus is indeed coming to town. For those who want to track Santa in real time NORAD has their yearly tracker to help find out where Santa is flying right now, which can be found at www.noradsanta.org.As a reminder, it is recommended that all children go to bed a bit early tonight, as local zoning regulations mean that Santa cannot deliver presents while everyone is still awake. St. Nicholas' power does work globally, however it is helpful to make his job a little easier when possible as he has a lot of homes to visit!As such, may everyone have a Merry Christmas, and to all a good night!Analyst: S2A1Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2undergroundDisclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report.//END REPORT//

When some people are wandering around in shorts and a t-shirt, others are wrapped up in warm coats and jumpers. How come our responses to cold weather are so different? People have been living in cold environments for thousands of years. So why do some of us struggle with the cold more than others, and what, if any, adaptations have our bodies made to cope in freezing temperatures? CrowdScience listener Anne from the UK is amazed by the warm houses of her neighbours, and wants to know whether her background might have affected her perspective on the cold. Caroline Steel investigates, visiting a laboratory in Loughborough University, UK, that pushes the body to the extreme. Dr Matt Maley explains what happens inside our systems to help us survive the plummeting thermostat and how this adaption can vary from person to person. But it's not just biological. Our culture impacts our experience of cold too. CrowdScience heads to Norway to meet the global community on the icy Arctic island of Svalbard. There Caroline meets Associate Professor Gunhild Sætren at the Arctic Safety Centre to find out the important role appropriate clothing plays in being prepared for the chilly weather. And we speak to Dr Cara Ocobock at the University of Notre Dame, USA, who tells us about her research comparing Finnish reindeer herders and office workers reactions to cold temperatures. Presenter: Caroline Steel Producer: Hannah Fisher Editor: Ben Motley(Photo: Woman enjoying winter playing in fresh snow. Credit: Olga Pankova/Getty Images)

“Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Book: Super Edition: Tallstar's Revenge Support us on Ko-fi! WCWITCast Ko-fiFollow us on BlueSky! WCWITCastFollow us on Instagram! WCWITCastWhat We Are Reading (Not Sponsored):Queer Little Nightmares Edited by David Ly and Daniel ZomparelliCat Fact Sources:Meet Kesha, the only cat in the entire Arctic Ocean archipelago (PHOTOS) - Russia BeyondKesha is the ONLY cat of Barentsburg, Norway - Traveling CatsBarentsburg - Atlas ObscuraDogs and pets | Governor of SvalbardBarentsburg: 5 incredible facts about Svalbard's Russian outpostBarentsburg - WikipediaSvalbard - WikipediaMusic:Happy Boy End Theme Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/This transformative podcast work constitutes a fair-use of any copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US copyright law. Warrior Cats: What is That? is not endorsed or supported by Harper Collins and/or Working Partners. All views are our own.

Rover lights up when talking about Love Actually. A man is not convicted for stabbing another person because he said the victim called him a racial slur. Did the predictions for 2025 come true? B2 is not happy with Rover's Svalbard plans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rover lights up when talking about Love Actually. A man is not convicted for stabbing another person because he said the victim called him a racial slur. Did the predictions for 2025 come true? B2 is not happy with Rover's Svalbard plans.

Plans during the holiday break. Rover wants to wear sweats for life. Gia officially has her temps. Bidets. Marijuana users are experiencing "scromiting." Is Krystle bringing Skinny to the Christmas party? New hoodie, who dis? JLR play blocks while the show continues. Drunk man on a cruise ship, who went aggressively after a crew member, died after being detained. Rover lights up when talking about Love Actually. A man is not convicted for stabbing another person because he said the victim called him a racial slur. Did the predictions for 2025 come true? B2 is not happy with Rover's Svalbard plans. JLR, Rover, and Duji predictions for 2025. Predictions for 2026.

Plans during the holiday break. Rover wants to wear sweats for life. Gia officially has her temps. Bidets. Marijuana users are experiencing "scromiting." Is Krystle bringing Skinny to the Christmas party? New hoodie, who dis? JLR play blocks while the show continues. Drunk man on a cruise ship, who went aggressively after a crew member, died after being detained. Rover lights up when talking about Love Actually. A man is not convicted for stabbing another person because he said the victim called him a racial slur. Did the predictions for 2025 come true? B2 is not happy with Rover's Svalbard plans. JLR, Rover, and Duji predictions for 2025. Predictions for 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.