I have had several hits from people searching for different combinations of the words “Bjørn Eidsvåg Lisa Nilsson Mysteriet deg”. This is interesting. As an example, the unfortunate person who searched for the song’s lyrics on google had only one hit – this page. Which is a pity, because the lyrics are not here. I could put them up, but I’m afraid that would be infringing copyright somewhat. I can, however, wholeheartedly reccommend buying the album (Tålt). Platekompaniet have it at a reasonable price. I can also tell you that I will be at the concert in Oslo on 8 December, and I hope to see you there. Bjørn Eidsvåg in concert is, in my experience, worth catching.
Another thing I can wholeheartedly recommend (it’s so nice when one does not have to keep splitting off chunks of one’s heart, isn’t it?) is “Bend it like Beckham”. It’s the perfect film. Just the right amount of humour, just the right amount of sentiment, just the right amount of romance and just the right amount of “message”. Go see it. Have a laugh. Enjoy the exquisite cutting-room work towards the end.
I went to the film with Pia, who I hadn’t seen for ages (or, at least, years). We used to be in student politics together, way back when, and it was great fun meeting up again. It’s always a kind of relief to reaquaint myself with people with whom it’s possible to have real conversations. They are few and far between. One should cherish them like the treasures they are and not – stupidly – lose touch. I was also delighted to realise that this means I now know someone in Oslo who will be sincerely pleased to get an invitation to play TP (rather than pretend to want to play the game in order to humour me – cut it out, people, I can tell the difference. I might not be able to tell you’re lying the first time you say “That’d be fun!” but I can pretty much tell after you’ve answered a couple of questions wrong whether you hate it because it makes you feel stupid or love it for the fact that you just learnt something. They are both valid reactions, but the former takes the fun out of the game and I’d rather you just said “could we do something else instead, please”). This is excellent news. I am chuffed to bits (except my heart, which is whole, and wholly in favour of Bjørn Eidsvåg and Bend it like Beckham – sorry, I got carried away. I will stop now).
More from the excellent news department: This is the week when Linda and I get to see (and, more importantly, hear) Les Miserables at Oslo Spectrum. This is excellent in several ways. Firstly, the simple fact of going to see Les Mis again, even if it is the concert version. Also, Linda will be here all weekend, which can’t be other than ecxellent, whichever way you look at it. Thirdly, it means I have to tidy the flat, which I never seem to get around to except when I’m having visitors.
We’ve had the Les Mis tickets since March, the first day they went on sale. When turning over a leaf in my diary last week to check the possibility of a meeting tomorrow, I almost jumped at seeing “LES MISERABLES” is large letters in the Friday slot. It’s been “ages away” for so long (since March) that it’s hard to believe it’s only a couple of days now… There is only one thing which could ruin the weekend, but that would ruin it indeed. Linda and I are of one mind on this one: If Javert is not up to scratch we’ll probably scream (with fury, not delight). Surely he will be? I have no idea who’s slated to sing Javert, but they can’t be so cruel as to get a nicompoop for the part, surely? Hm, quick search reveals person slated for Javert is Michael McCarthy, about whom I know nothing. However, at least he plays the role in London, which must be a good sign. Also, he’s Irish, which has to be good. With that background I will at least be spared a Javert with a Scandinavian accent. The possibilty had worried me. An uncredited quote on the official webpage says “…voice as smooth, dark and rich as a pint of Guinness”. Which sounds nice. Very nice, in fact – just thinking about the impliactions gave me a tingling sensation down my spine. Let’s hope it’s true, then.
My cup floweth over with excellent news today: Nettavisen reports that for women, both alchohol and coffee actually improves your memory. Both results come from American research, in the case of the one on alchohol the project has been running for 12 years. I quote (though translated): “The teetotallers had the worst test results, whereas those who drank regularly – even large amounts – did best.” Coffee also makes you smarter (if you’re a woman) – the women in the study who drank between 1 cup a month to 5 a day did much better than those who had no coffee. Education, hormone treatment and ** did not have any marked effects on the results. However, the researchers found no proof that coffee has the same effect on men’s brains. Interesting. Up to five cups a day? It doesn’t say anything about what happens if you drink more. Does that give you overload and cause decline, I wonder?
Tinka linked to the typelogic site in passing, for which I’m grateful. I’ve done several of the type description tests and always out as INTJ, and this site has excellent explanations of the different types. The INTJ characteristics are certainly eerily familiar. It is, interestingly, the same type as Jane Austen. The question is: How do they know? Which of the various perceptions of Jane Austen is this profile based on? The fact that Mr. Darcy is listed as a fictional INTJ may tell us something, but I’m not entirely sure what.
Voice in my head: We’re back to Alanis Morisette after a short break (courtesy of Shania). My mental jukebox has been playing selections from Under Rug Swept all weekend. Currently it’s “At that particular time”.