28. november 2002

For some weird reason... I decided to type the following into google: revenge of the thanksgiving turkey. 8:31:01 PM    comment []

Weird Inventions I am probably not the only one that raised an eyebrow when I read about Vipon, a tampon. Not only a tampon, mind you, but "the world's only patented tampon." Actually, what is remarkable about it is that it is a vibrating tampon. This is not a sex toy, apparently, but an FDA approved medical product to easen menstruation cramps. According to Wired, "no sexual effects have been noted." Hmmm. And, of course, the designer of this product is a man. He is also, according to people who know him, a man with a great sense of humour. I can believe that. 8:23:29 PM    comment []

Independent Commission? You appoint a commission to investigate the worst disaster to happen to your country in decades, one that the most powerful security and intelligence organisations in the world failed to prevent. This commission should leave no stone unturned. As its leader you want to appoint a man of impeccable creditentials, a man whose morality, integrity and honesty is beyond dispute. He should not have too close ties to those he is about to investigate, and be acceptable to both sides of the political spectrum. You appoint Henry Kissinger. What is wrong with this picture?  1:38:21 PM    comment []

Terror Attacks in Kenya Two serious simultanous attacks at Israeli interests in Kenya: A car bomb exploded outside a hotel frequented by Israeli visitors, causing an unknown number of casualties. At the same time one or two missiles were fired at an Israeli airliner carrying 261 people. The plane was not shot down, but may have been damaged. Attacks against passenger flights with shoulder-mounted anti-aircraft missiles have been a horror scenario for a long time. Al Qaeda no doubt is in posession of such weapons, and this may have been a first attempt to use them. 8:41:52 AM    comment []

Happy Thanksgiving! ...to all of you Americans who read this I am kinda jealous at all the American holidays. We have a lot of them in Norway too, but between Whitsun (sometime in May) and Christmas there are none! 8:19:42 AM    comment []

Norwegian Double Agents Fooled Hitler Certainly yesterday's news, but only revealed now as British WWII documents are declassified: Two young Norwegians operated as double agents in Britain, successfully conning Hitler's government into believing that the allies planned to invade Norway. This tied up substantial German forces in Norway, forces that remained inactive thoughout the critical phase of Operation Overlord and until the capitulation in 1945. The agents Helge Moe (codenamed Mutt) and Tor Glad (Jeff) also executed fake sabotage operations in the UK, convincing the Germans that they had inflicted serious damage on the country by essentially blowing up junkyards. CNN (or perhaps AP) has misunderstood the story completely. Here it is alleged the agents were captured and turned by British intelligence. In fact, the two men were Norwegian patriots, and contacted British intelligence immediately upon arrival in Britain. 8:04:05 AM    comment []

Bloggers Block I have been metablogging more than I've been blogging today. I'll get back with more serious content tomorrow. On the other hand, I had a great time and a few pints with some very good friends today, and that always counts for a lot. 6:55:01 AM    comment []

Pornography addiction revisited The Reverse Cowgirl picked the "sorry for being addicted to pornography" cards off this blog yesterday, and today she posted a brilliant reply card you just have to see! (slightly adult content) 6:23:51 AM    comment []

Literacy ranking UNICEF has done a ranking of literacy in 14 and 15 year old school children, which revealed significant differences. In Europe, Finland excelled, the UK did fairly well, and Norway and Denmark did badly. The US ranked as #18 of the 24 countries in the table. For Norway: I have my very clear theory of why: we harass our school children with two just-too-different written languages, for stupid historical reasons. 3:54:07 AM    comment []

Need to have some fun here... Sorry if you have to stand on your head to read it. 2:47:23 AM    comment []

Britain Censors Bush Ad An ad for a satiritcal animated TV programme has been banned for making fun of US President Bush. The UK advertising watchdog banned the ad, which showed Bush trying to play a video cassette in a toaster, for being offensive. 2:25:51 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2002 Jan Haugland. Last update: 01.12.02; 02:52:34.