FEEL LIKE I'VE LOST AN ARM

My dear HTC Desire passed away last night, not wanting to turn on... This happen really suddenly yesterday. And now I'm using a old school Nokia. I have no idea what model this is. It's got colour, but not a camera or internet. Don't think it has mp3 ringtones either.

It feels so weird not have a touch phone and not being able to check Facebook/Twitter or my Gmail or google something random I wonder about. I've become so dependent on my smartphone it's weird.

Some doomsday experts say that if Facebook and Twitter were to shut-down unexpectedly, it would mean the end of the world. Well not sure if I agree 100%, but think it would be panic, violence and killings.

I mean, I still remember my first phone when I was 12. A Nokia 3310. It could send messages, ring and above all, had games like snake! Think I had up to three different phone covers and the bling bling you'd attach to it the started to blink whenever someone rang. Those were times.

I mean, I used my smartphone for everything. Mp3 player, camera, Facebook/Twitter, contacting, gaming, watching films and more. I can manage perfectly fine without most of it, but especially music player and camera is important to me. Believe it or not, I can actually survive with just Facebook on my computer.

And go back 30 years, or even just 20, and the general public didn't even have a mobile phone. How did people survive? Well I guess if it never had been then that is how you'd live really. I remember when my grandparents said they would never get a mobile phone. Well that didn't happen, my granddad have now got an iPhone and use it for work, emails, calender etc. and my grandma have got a nice Sony Ericsson and loves talking pictures and she's on Facebook. This really goes for both sides of my family really.

Anyway, I've bought a new one now online! HTC Desire S :D So sometime next week, I can get my music back. In the meantime I'm going to enjoy long battery life and FM radio with the Nokia.

Today's song: Carly Rae Jepsen - Call me maybe

MY LITTLE MIND: MY FAITH

Is there a God? This is a question that humans have tried to answer for thousands of years.

I will over several blogposts here and there, try to explain my believes and what I believe. Not just when it come to religion, but to other stuff to.

God? Odin? Allah? Zeus? Are they all the same or are they rivalling gods ruling over different realms and religions?

Christianity and Islam is two very big religions in the world at the moment. Each with its own holy religious texts and beliefs, God and the Holy Bible and Allah and the Quran. They are each represented in many places on earth and have a huge impact on people.

Sayings

In the Western world, that is often dominated of some sort of Christianity, people use sayings with religious words.

"God knows what's happened to..."

"To hell with it"

"Damn you"

"You just earned yourself a prime spot in hell"

"God have mercy"

Many of us use these sayings, if not everyday, then some time during the day. Have they just become a normal part of our life? Not dependent on religious beliefs, but on cultural beliefs? God bless America, a common phrase used by American politicians or God save the Queen in the UK. Even though you might not be religious, you most likely got faith in your life, be it in humans itself. I would argue most have some faith. Religion is all around us, whether we like it or not. Several countries today, but not as many as you'd think, have got a state religion. England, Wales, Scotland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland is the only major countries in Europe with a state religion. Ironically, even though the major religion in USA is Christianity (Protestant and Catholic) and Catholic in Ireland, both countries constitution forbids a state church.

My belief

What do I believe? Many of the people that know me, knows I'm the first person to disagree with happy glossy Christians, saying they are a bit over the top. Not because I disagree with their lifestyle. And it doesn't matter to me what believes people have. I strongly believe every person should have the right to believe in whatever they want. The thing I hate is when they try to shove it down my throat, Johavas witness "door salesmen" are amazing at this... That's what makes me angry.

But I do believe in something. I believe that heaven and hell exists. I do believe when I die I'll end up somewhere, not only pitch black darkness. Think how boring that would be!

I don't believe in one ultimate God, I think I believe there's several gods. For example Odin and Norse gods or Zeus and the Greek gods. One god for the different elements of life. Poseidon for water, Athena for love or Thor for lighting and thunder, protection and strength and Loki for mischief. I don't practice any religion in that sense. BUT I also believe in humans and the power of the individual.

Do you pray?

Do I pray? Hmmmm..... I have prayed like two times before to God, maybe, when I was a child and didn't know any better. But not in years really; I wouldn't say praying in the old fashioned Dear Lord, You that are in Heaven. Forgive.... Amen. More in the sense of talking or thinking really. I guess you could call it "praying" since I'm "talking" to a higher power. So yeah, I pray, but hardly in any way that resemble traditional prayer.

Rebirth?

A bit unsure what I think actually...

Are you getting married or burred in the Christian Church?

Over my dead body if I am! I have nothing against the church itself, but only the preaching the priest does... When he starts comparing the suffering of the person that have past with Jesus and spends 70% of the speech speaking of Jesus and not the person, that makes me angry. I don't mind hearing of Jesus, but the ceremony should be most about the one past away.

I want to get married outside I think. Either on a nice beach, on a cliff or somewhere else cool. My parents married outside the church and they had an beautiful ceremony. The "priest" told about how they met, they did their vows and my mum had imported a Scottish man to play the bagpipe. That's a proper wedding.

Big Bang or God/gods going "Abrakadabra" with their wands?

Well I truly believe that we originate from the Big Bang.  This is because of the scientific evidence we have today. But then, what was before Big Bang? No one REALLY knows.

Next My little twisted mind I'm going to talk about what supernatural creatures I believe in!

Today's song: Joan Osborne - One Of Us

THE MILE HIGH CLUB: The Return

Well here we are again. Travel time. I’m leaving Norway after another nice Easter holiday. How cool is this? I'm blogging from 10 000 meters / 36 000 ft! COOL! Norwegian <3

 It was very nice to see most of my family, I got a massive family, and friends. Even though it can be a tiny bit stress trying to cram that many visits into three weeks, I still love it. I also got to earn some money at Rimi (grocery store), so basically my visit didn’t cost me a penny. As usual I didn’t do half the amount of uni work I intended to do, but hey it’s a holiday. Just means I have to work hard over the next couple of weeks.

I do love coming home. It’s so weird seeing all the changes and also all the things that haven’t changed. I think it’s so fun just sitting watching Norwegian TV because I don’t have that much access to it in the UK. Especially commercials, so fun.

I love riding Flytoget/Airport Express train with its 170 kph / 100 mph (from outside the capitol), so nice and quick. Highspeed <3

It’s now about 8 weeks until I’m back in Norway for the summer break. Hopefully I’ll be earning loads of dough, which always comes handy. During the Easter I’ve applied to several media related jobs next to my Rimi position. Four places turned me down, but two places put me on their freelance list. So cross your fingers and toes for me. Also I’m planning on working on Mela festival in Oslo which I did last summer too. And whatever else comes my way.

When I was leaving now it had started to snow again… The picture you see above is from my good friend Christine (check out her blog here - Norwegian). But I’m not the slightest worried about my flight. After all we are Norwegians/Vikings. Since Oslo Airport opened in 1998, only 3-5 flight has been cancelled due to snow. Heathrow cancelled over 2500 flights in 2010 because of snow… (Learned that on Top Gear) That’s absolutely ridiculous.

As always, today’s song is Kelly Clarkson’s Breakaway. Which, for those of you that don’t know, are the words tattooed on my right foot. I always listen to that song when I leave home or come home. Love it!

Today’s song: Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway

MY NEW HOBBY: SHOOTING

(I was supposed to post this on Friday, but was trying to sort out that video without any luck)

When I was up visiting my grandparents I went shooting with grandpa. This was my second time shooting, but I'm still hooked. You might recall me writing about the first time I went shooting? I shot with a 22 calibre rifle. Lying down my best score was 48/50 and standing it was 43/50 (can't remember sitting). This was at a 15 meter/42 ft distance, where the 10 point is quite small.

Left: Britsh 5p Right: Norwegian 10 kroner

Anyway, I LOVE IT and planning on starting doing it in the summer when I get back to Norway. It's a miracle I haven't started shooting before... My parents, grandmother (mothers side), both my grandfathers, my aunt and both my uncles have done shooting for several years. My grandfather (farthers side) have been a National Champion several times and been on the National Team in the ski sport. My aunt she was a NC shortly after starting shooting. So I would say it's in my blood. And I think it's great fun!

Gotta get back to packing!

This song is AWESOME! I don't know about the rest of the world, but if you live in Norway you most definatly have heard this. It's being played on most radio channels all day.

Today's song: Train - Drive by
 

INSPIRATION ALL AROUND

I liked that film. Found it on Twitter from someone, can't remember who at the moment.

Like my new design? Cogito ergo sum is Latin and translates to I think, therefore I am. Liked it, so thought might as well use that. So took a coffee cup stain Photoshop brush (yes those exists) and found a picture of a crumbled paper sheet and volà!

I get inspiration from everything and nothing really. It can be something as random as a cold cup of coffee or empty beer bottle after last nights amazing party. My idea notebook is always nearby (or at least my phone). I try to note down the idea when I think of it, otherwise I'll just loose it.
Anyhoodle, these are four things that really inspire me!

Stumbleupon

Possibly the greatest internet creation after Facebook and YouTube (almost). Basically you stumble around on the web. You register, tick off your interests (photo, film, knitting, hiking, stamps etc.) and you click the magical button. It often shows you hidden treasures you might not have thought of or known of. Then you rate it, thumbs up or thumbs down, and the more you use it the more it adapts to you. So a great site if you want to do like Alice and go through the rabbit hole and into Wonderland (or "Stumbleland"). You haven't experienced internet before you've stumbled.

Running - (Or exercise in general)
Whenever I need to clear my head completely I go for a run. I love running in the forest, much better than flat hard tarmac. Even better if it's few people there. Just running to the beat of the music and occasionally stopping to listen to the forest. Or mid-day runs down at the beach. That's relaxation at its best.

YouTube

Who hasn't sat down in the evening thinking "I'm just going to watch that new video with Rihanna, then bed" Then suddenly it's 02:35 and you need to get up at 07:00. I've got three types of films/clips that glue me to the screen through the late hours. And often it's random stuff. Like I always end up watching talent show auditions or commercials for cars or coke. Nothing like a failed audition with a shout from Simon Cowell mixed with Coca Cola to put you to sleep. But in all this madness, I find inspiration. Maybe a tiny effect from the new Avengers trailer or the colours on Lady Gagas outfit.

This was last Easter at my friend Christianes place. Wine & cheese night with close friends, then randomly rushing to the movies. ("Wine, wine, wine)

Friends & family

The people around me inspire me. It might be simply from looking at their life or just talking and being with them that inspire it. Moments trigger thinking, thinking trigger ideas and ideas trigger life. A normal hanging out session might spark of the next top sitcom series of the century. I also value my friends and family for their honesty. They know you well, so who better to slaughter your newest product? 

Q: How about you? What inspires you?

You've probably heard this on the radio or in the clubs. The song is one of those summer songs you have on when at the beach getting a tan, haha! I found the music video first now. Thought it was quite funny actually.

Today's song: Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe

MY TWISTED LITTLE MIND: Small living

Small living.

Wouldn't it be great if people could use only the space they really needed? I've always liked different and alternative construction. I would be glued to the telly whenever a redecoration show or building show was on. I still am. Think my favourite must be Grand Designs on Channel 4 (UK) or TVNorge or MAX (Norway.) The exciting stuff people come up with to do is awesome. Bookcasestairs? Or moveable walls? Building something, especially woodwork, is really cool.

Ever heard of the woodland house in Wales?

That house is what people would call full size. But the way they built it.... REALLY fascinated me. It's pretty clear where they got their inspiration from, Hobbiton, the hobbit village in Lord of the Rings.

Another inspiring person is Jay Shafer, who's said to be the king of small living. He's the founder of the company Tumbleweed, which sells plans of small houses and can also build them. He's been living in small houses for years. In the clip below you get to see one of his houses.

Why would anyone want to consider living in a small house like that kid in that clip?

Well why not? You don't have to take up a mortgage you have keep paying down until you grow old. Not to mention the bills. With a house that small, the bills are cut dramatically. You can even go as far as to install solar panels on the roof, making it even cheaper. 

Austin Hay (the youngsters in the YouTube clip) - "Living small means less bills, living big means more bills" 


Already I live in a small house when I'm in Norway. My parents they made a small house, measuring 3m by 5m which is 15 m2/161 ft2. And I actually think this is quite spacious. But there isn't a kitchen or bathroom in here (only a fridge and glasses).

I think it sound awesome. Not having to be tied down because of a mortgage. Not having to spend tons and tons on electricity, council tax, water etc. And the independence! If you change jobs, relationships or simply get fed up with one place, you can move. (Yes I know you can't stay wherever you want) But to be fair, I don't know if I'd preferred permanent more. Not sure.

I've sent out an email to over 35 of Norways municipalities (kommuner) asking about taxes, permits etc. for both small houses that are permanent and also for moveable ones. So this will be exciting to see what they have to say! So yeah I'm actually dreaming of this. And if I ever do this in real life, which at the moment isn't the plan, I have to downsize a lot, haha!

But all this is just in my little head. If I'm ever going to do it, who knows. At least I've satisfied my curiosity, haha!

That's all from my twisted little mind. Ciao!


Remember this? 2,5 years ago this was everywhere! Catchy! Such a summer-party song.
Today's song: 3OH!3 - Starstrukk ft. Katy Perry

TIIIIMMMMMBBBBBEEEERRRR

My chess set is missing one dark horse, so I decided to make one myself. Not done yet of course, but need to get some fine sand paper first. And put on a dark varnish.

I'm making a wooden fighting stick. I used the knife to peel of the bark and let it soak in water for two days. Now it's left to dry for about a week. You thinking "Why is it in than lock-thingy there?" Because the stick was a bit bent at the top, so I'm using force to make it "dry straight" (haha!)

I'm going to make a video tutorial in a couple of weeks on how to make it, so tune in then.

Here you might been thinking "Why in the kaboosas world you want to make a wooden fighting stick?" Well I thought why not? Never tried it before and will be fun and good training. It has to be completely dry before you can put the varnish on, so it have to dry for a couple of weeks. So this will be exciting.

This is my favourite song right now. Really like the video!

Today's song: Katy Perry - Part of me