fredag 8. januar 2010
torsdag 24. september 2009
My life at the moment...
...is kind of busy. I've always wondered why everyting has to happen at the same time... It always does. Why??? I have three weeks to write three 5-page essays, the subjects are: grammar, american civilization and american literature. I HAVE to meet to the deadline in time - AND PASS THE TASKS - in order to take the exams.
I'm feeling the pressure bigtime. In addition to all of this I have to read grammar. Grammar, grammar and more grammar. The worst part is how difficult these pages are, I've never encountered ANYTHING as difficult as advanced english grammar. Gee, just hope I'm able to suceed on the exam.
And of course, there's a lot to do at home too: be a friend, be a brother and family member, work out (new programs just arrived, johoo) and last but not least; work! My job at Meny is perhaps not the most exciting one, but it's good money and man do I need them as a student??? OH YES.
Kia Kaha!
I'm feeling the pressure bigtime. In addition to all of this I have to read grammar. Grammar, grammar and more grammar. The worst part is how difficult these pages are, I've never encountered ANYTHING as difficult as advanced english grammar. Gee, just hope I'm able to suceed on the exam.
And of course, there's a lot to do at home too: be a friend, be a brother and family member, work out (new programs just arrived, johoo) and last but not least; work! My job at Meny is perhaps not the most exciting one, but it's good money and man do I need them as a student??? OH YES.
Kia Kaha!
onsdag 9. september 2009
Back to blog-ing?
More than two months have passed since last time I updated this blog. I've decided to start blogging again about my life at the University of oslo (where I take varied courses in English) and other stuff... Stay tuned for updates!=)
onsdag 1. juli 2009
Michael Jackson
Last thursday I recieved the breaking news stating that the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, was death after suffering from cardiac arrest. To me, a huge fan, it was really hard to realize that a great idol of mine no longer excisted. A great singer, composer, dancer and producer - in other words a complete entertainter - is no longer with us.
Jackson was, as mentioned, without doubt one of the greatest artists of all time. Beginning his career as a five year-old, his musical repertoar spands over five decades, including 56 awarded songs, 13 number-one-hits and more than 750 million albums sold. His first studio-album "Thriller", provided the world with more than 7 number- one-hits, and is the world's most selling record being sold in more than 109 million copies.
Jackson's excentric personality has made him a target for the tabloids his entire life, causing him to have no private life. This situation finally made Jackson withdraw from his career, his last tour was the "HIStory Tour" which ended in 1997. He released the album "Invincible" in 2001, but was not an immediate success.
However, Jackson was scheduled to make the ultimate comeback with his tour "THIS IS IT", a series of 50 concerts which were intened to be held in 02 arena, London, premiering this summer on July 13th. I was lucky enough to get tickets to this event, and now it really hurts knowing that with the death of Michael, the world has not only lost an artist of outstanding character, but I will never have my dream of watching him perform live achieved. A dream which for many years seemed impossible to achieve suddenly became a goal possible to reach when I got the tickets. It was almost to good to be true.
And as it turned out, it was...
And as it turned out, it was...
mandag 29. juni 2009
I'm back
Hi! This blog was originally made because blogs were an important part of our curriculum at school last year. Now, that the school is over, it is no longer mandatory to update this journal. I've chosen to do it anyway. My plans for this blog in the future is to update it with important news (like I've done the whole time), scientific articles about something that captivates my interrest (also like I've done this entire year) AND non-important, trivial posts that may not have any serious aspects by it at all (New from this day on). My posts will provide text with a combination of seriousness and objectivity, but also my thoughts and mood of the day as well as personal meanings and emotions.This blog hasn't been updated since the end of term, but now I'm starting up again.
Oh, it sure was a nice feeling writing on this blog again.
... just hope there are some people out there who wants to follow it?
Oh, it sure was a nice feeling writing on this blog again.
... just hope there are some people out there who wants to follow it?
tirsdag 2. juni 2009
Important aspects of the American political system
The following paragraphs will explain different aspects concering the American political system. Let's start with federalism:
FEDERALISM is a keyword in modern, western politics and is basically a political philosophy. Normally the term describes a system in the government in which sovereignty is divided constitutionally between a central authority and other political units like states (or provinves). The system contribute to a democratic way of leading. In our case, the United States is most important, and federalism in the United States is the evolving relationship between state governments and the federal government of the United States. Watch Fred Thompson talk about the imortance of federalism:
THE CONGRESS is the bicameral (bicameral: several houses) legisalature of the federal government of the United States (wikipedia). As said, the congess consists of two houses: the senate and the house of representatives. Both senators and representatives are chosen through direct election.
THE SEPARATION OF POWERS
The French philosopher Charles de Secondat Montesquieu and his declaration "De l’esprit des loix" from 1748, is widely acknowledged as the philosophical and idealistic foundation of the principle of the separation of powers.
Montesquieu disliked the fact that the legislative power often acted as the executive one as well, and he worked hard to prevent this; for one thing he wrote an assertion stating: “When the legislative power is united with the executive authority in one and the same person (or in the same higher organ of a state), no freedom can be found because there will be tyrannical leaders who create laws only to execute them in a tyrannical way”.
His views and visions were a reaction to France’s more noble community’s massive waste of money and state resources. Montesquieu himself was exceedingly critical to the way that the king and his associates – richer persons like businessmen and the aristocracy– had governed the French state. His declaration and public disparagement of the state were both the forerunner and the actual triggering factor to the French revolution.
He introduced the world to a new way of dividing powers in a state, and I intend to discuss both the advantages and disadvantages (if there are any), of the principle of separation of powers.
WHAT THE PRINCIPLE INVOLVES
Here’s the deal: there are three branches: the executive, the legislative and the judicial. The executive branch is the governor. The executive’s job is to carry out the laws and make sure they are obeyed. Branch two: the legislative. Think legislature! Their job is simply explained: they are making laws. Thirdly, the judicial branch, made up of courts and judges. Their job is to make sure that the laws are fair.
So, what it is that makes this system special and has done it ever since 1789, is the fact that the US government actually works because these branches balance each other out. If one division goes too far, the others can simply pull it back. Let me exemplify it this way: each branch is responsible and conscientious for the things the other branches are not. Not only responsible, but so in charge that none of the other branches can do the other thing. For example; the executive branch can not make a law, the legislative branch can not decide whether a law is reasonable for everybody or not, and the judicial branch can not carry out a law.
There are some real benefits for you and me with this sort of deal. Think about it: if every branch could do the job of every other branch, then one could possibly take over. In other words, in a scenario like that, you would only need one branch, which means no more democracy. And no democracy is no good.
So, the next time somebody says that one branch or another should step in and set another branch aright, like telling the court how to do justice, think about what’s at stake; the answer to that is basically everything.
ARE THERE ANY DISADVANTAGES AT ALL?
I have discussed the principle of separation of powers with lots of different people lately, and when it comes to whether there are any disadvantages connected to this system or not, the opinions seem to differ. There are no known disadvantages of this system, but after several discussions I have decided to mention two aspects that may appear and be looked upon as if they were disadvantages.
1. Costly
Running and administrating the three branches of the state is often considered to be far more expensive and resource-demanding than maintaining one single government like in a unitary state.
2. Time-consuming
The branches are independent of one another, but sometimes new laws, requests and initiatives have to be negotiated through lengthy consultations between the three branches. Bureaucracy equals to slow processes.
The principle of separation of powers, which is the foundation of both the Norwegian and American state and constitution, is doubtlessly a system with more advantages than disadvantages. The system confines corruption and prevents any abuse of authority. The principle ensures that the execution of power is dispersed on three independent authorities.
One of the most popular benefits with this system is the fact that some of the power belongs to the people itself. They elect senators for the senate, and representatives for The House Of Representatives.
SOURCES:
(1): Wikipedia Norge - http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maktfordelingsprinsippet
(2): Wikipedia US - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_powers
(3): Den norske domstol – http://www.domstol.no/DAtemplates/Article____3060.aspx?epslanguage=NO
(4) http://www.chateaulabrede.com/img/gallerie/esprit_des_lois.jpg (bilde 1)
(5) US election – www.uselection.com (bilde 2)
FEDERALISM is a keyword in modern, western politics and is basically a political philosophy. Normally the term describes a system in the government in which sovereignty is divided constitutionally between a central authority and other political units like states (or provinves). The system contribute to a democratic way of leading. In our case, the United States is most important, and federalism in the United States is the evolving relationship between state governments and the federal government of the United States. Watch Fred Thompson talk about the imortance of federalism:
THE CONGRESS is the bicameral (bicameral: several houses) legisalature of the federal government of the United States (wikipedia). As said, the congess consists of two houses: the senate and the house of representatives. Both senators and representatives are chosen through direct election.
THE SEPARATION OF POWERS
The French philosopher Charles de Secondat Montesquieu and his declaration "De l’esprit des loix" from 1748, is widely acknowledged as the philosophical and idealistic foundation of the principle of the separation of powers.
Montesquieu disliked the fact that the legislative power often acted as the executive one as well, and he worked hard to prevent this; for one thing he wrote an assertion stating: “When the legislative power is united with the executive authority in one and the same person (or in the same higher organ of a state), no freedom can be found because there will be tyrannical leaders who create laws only to execute them in a tyrannical way”.
His views and visions were a reaction to France’s more noble community’s massive waste of money and state resources. Montesquieu himself was exceedingly critical to the way that the king and his associates – richer persons like businessmen and the aristocracy– had governed the French state. His declaration and public disparagement of the state were both the forerunner and the actual triggering factor to the French revolution.
He introduced the world to a new way of dividing powers in a state, and I intend to discuss both the advantages and disadvantages (if there are any), of the principle of separation of powers.
WHAT THE PRINCIPLE INVOLVES
Here’s the deal: there are three branches: the executive, the legislative and the judicial. The executive branch is the governor. The executive’s job is to carry out the laws and make sure they are obeyed. Branch two: the legislative. Think legislature! Their job is simply explained: they are making laws. Thirdly, the judicial branch, made up of courts and judges. Their job is to make sure that the laws are fair.
So, what it is that makes this system special and has done it ever since 1789, is the fact that the US government actually works because these branches balance each other out. If one division goes too far, the others can simply pull it back. Let me exemplify it this way: each branch is responsible and conscientious for the things the other branches are not. Not only responsible, but so in charge that none of the other branches can do the other thing. For example; the executive branch can not make a law, the legislative branch can not decide whether a law is reasonable for everybody or not, and the judicial branch can not carry out a law.
There are some real benefits for you and me with this sort of deal. Think about it: if every branch could do the job of every other branch, then one could possibly take over. In other words, in a scenario like that, you would only need one branch, which means no more democracy. And no democracy is no good.
So, the next time somebody says that one branch or another should step in and set another branch aright, like telling the court how to do justice, think about what’s at stake; the answer to that is basically everything.
ARE THERE ANY DISADVANTAGES AT ALL?
I have discussed the principle of separation of powers with lots of different people lately, and when it comes to whether there are any disadvantages connected to this system or not, the opinions seem to differ. There are no known disadvantages of this system, but after several discussions I have decided to mention two aspects that may appear and be looked upon as if they were disadvantages.
1. Costly
Running and administrating the three branches of the state is often considered to be far more expensive and resource-demanding than maintaining one single government like in a unitary state.
2. Time-consuming
The branches are independent of one another, but sometimes new laws, requests and initiatives have to be negotiated through lengthy consultations between the three branches. Bureaucracy equals to slow processes.
The principle of separation of powers, which is the foundation of both the Norwegian and American state and constitution, is doubtlessly a system with more advantages than disadvantages. The system confines corruption and prevents any abuse of authority. The principle ensures that the execution of power is dispersed on three independent authorities.
One of the most popular benefits with this system is the fact that some of the power belongs to the people itself. They elect senators for the senate, and representatives for The House Of Representatives.
SOURCES:
(1): Wikipedia Norge - http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maktfordelingsprinsippet
(2): Wikipedia US - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_powers
(3): Den norske domstol – http://www.domstol.no/DAtemplates/Article____3060.aspx?epslanguage=NO
(4) http://www.chateaulabrede.com/img/gallerie/esprit_des_lois.jpg (bilde 1)
(5) US election – www.uselection.com (bilde 2)
tirsdag 26. mai 2009
To first year students
Dear First Year Student!
I hope you are satisfied with your choice of High School, nevertheless can I promise you a great time here at Sandvika. You are probably a bit anxious about beginning on a new school, but do not worry, the next three years will almost certainly be the best three years of your life.
As you soon will experience you have no limitations when it comes to using the internet. You are free to visit Facebook, MSN and so on if you want to, but my advice to you is to pay attention during classes as well as using your pc to take notes. I guarantee that this simple, but still effective method will save you for lots of work later and improve your grades =)
These years will change your life and you'll discover who you really are=)
Enjoy your time at Sandvika!
K.
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