Still summer?

I've been out walking with my camera and enjoying the sunny and nice weather. It's warmer than usual at this time of the year and it's strange to be able to feel the summer in the end of September. It might change any day, so we have to enjoy it as long as it is here. Here's one of my photos from today.

Indian summer in Oslo (Photo: Norwegianblogger)

A jazzy evening

I never knew Burt Bacharach could sound like this! That was my reaction after a concert at Norway's new National Jazz Stage, Cosmopolite here in Oslo. The Swedish singer Rigmor Gustafsson rocked, or rather jazzed the house with smooth, interesting, challenging and great versions of Burt Bacharach’s songs and old hits by Dionne Warwick. I never knew "Close to you" or "Raindrops keep falling on my head" could sound like jazz standards. Her musicians brought the songs to new heights: Jacky Terrasson, Sean Smith and Eric Harland made yesterday's evening an interesting one. Yesterday I understood once more how much jazz is about articulation and holding back. In "Close to you" she held back every word, and you could really sense how all the girls in town really, really wanted to be close to that guy :) . Yesterday was Rigmor's first concert in Oslo; I hope it's not her last! Today I bought her album at iTunes, so I guess she'll be with me the next weeks. Here's Rigmor through my lens:


Rigmor Gustafsson and Jacky Terrasson Trio in Concert, Cosmopolite Oslo, September 2005 (Both photos: Norwegianblogger)

Crash - what a movie!

Last week I saw the movie Crash with Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Brendan Fraser, Matt Dillon, Ryan Phillippe and Jennifer Esposito. Wow, that movie was a ride! You never knew what was going to happen or who’s the good or bad guy, in one moment a hero, in the next a criminal. Sometimes it felt really uncomfortable, because it plays with a lot of our emotions and presuppositions. Scary! It also made me think about how often we view each other as characters more than real people. The images we make of our family and friends are stuck in our minds and are hard to get rid of. If you look one way, you’re supposed to act that way. If you’ve done that, you are like that! There is of course some truth in this, but at the same time: We are incredibly complex and consist of layers and layers inside; of emotions, of thoughts and of diverse roles and expectations. With one person we behave in one way, with another we act differently. I’ve often experienced that some think of me as a quiet and an almost shy person, while others think of me as a crazy, talking machine :). What’s the truth? Perhaps both, depending on the situation or the person I’m with? Maybe we’re supposed to live in that tension, not knowing 100 % who we are or how we are perceived? All in all: the movie shows us real people in real situations, and it shows people, all of them – that are in need of grace – from each other and from loving arms at the end of the road. I guess that's where we all need to be, knowing that each individual's life is a mix of being heroes and villains in the confusing state of living.

Justice for the World - UNDP

For my work I went to the launch of the UNDP Human Development Report 2005 this week. Crown Prince Haakon, Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, Minister of Development Hilde Frafjord Johnson and UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) / UN representative Moez Doraid was present at the launch. The report focuses on three measurable dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life, being educated and having a decent standard of living. In that way it presents a broader view of a country's development than does income alone. Norway was once more No. 1, and can in some ways be regarded as one of the best countries to live in. I don't dispute that, but the report reveals more important things than making Norwegians filled with pride. Children are dying - more than three times the victims of the tsunami in Southeast Asia dies every month. The rich becomes richer, and the poor becomes poorer. If we, living in the rich countries of the world (the 10% that uses 90 % of the resources), decrease our part of the resources with 2%, we could be rid of extreme poverty. But are we up for it? I hope we are - I hope I am!

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik at the launch of the Human Development Report 2005 (Photo: Norwegianblogger)

Terracotta warriors

Yesterday I was looking into the eyes of warriors from 210 BC. A strange experience. At the historical museum here in Oslo there's an exhibition of several artefacts from China, among them are two terracotta warriors and several smaller figures. It's not the grandest of exhibits, but it's worth the entrance fee. I went with some of my colleagues, and we had a great time. The artefacts are placed in a setting of sounds, lights and visual effects. It's kind of interesting to see the contrast between the old artefacts and the super modern surroundings.
















China Exhibition, Historisk Museum, Oslo (All photos: Norwegianblogger)