Gladmat = Happy Food

Gladmat = Happy Food or is it Food With a Happy Smile :oD

Opened Wednesday July 28, 2010 at Noon,

and I was there, humgry...

Wandering up & down the entire length of all the tents at Gladmat/Happy Food...

Passing these 2 lucky Cruise Ships moored in the harbor,

following my nose & my food fantasy desires....

First off Chocolates--why not start with after dinner chocolates?!
at the Praline Chocolatier tent...



a perfect pink place to consume said chocolates...

Next the BBQ tents - Grill Kongen Craig, the King of the Grill (Norway)

He has numerous cookbooks in Norsk sadly, along with a new line of grill meats in the local Rema 1000 grocery stores, after closing his restaurant - Craigs (right after we moved here, went to make reservations one night only to find out over the phone--due to economic circumstances they were shutting down, what timing?!)

& of course BBQ accessories, grill seasonings (including one called Cajun, which I'm told has prob. half as much Cayenne red pepper in it as you'd find for real in true Cajunland - but that's to be expected with Norwegian taste buds) - plus of all the things for the Gladmat especially Texas wood chips (did not price these goodies in Kroners...)

in photo that's him in the black to the left, Grill Kongen Craig, with a dish towel in his right-hand pocket & his ball cap full of pins from being awarded all sorts of BBQ honors I'm sure along the years here & back in the USA

It's a shame he can't bring back in some real beef with him sometime, like ship an entire train car over maybe--or someone teach the farmers how to grain feed & raise beef cows rather than milk cows here in Norway, Please?!

(note: photo borrowed from http://www.fasett.no/ -

the design company, for Idsoe's new look/identity & branding...)

But we can get good cuts of pork (like loins) to grill, but have to visit Idsøe's famous old time butcher to buy good bacon (or Bratwurst, made German style) & chicken pieces you can get too--but ups and downs on that being good & I could swear sometimes my eggs smell like fish?!

For more about Craig Whitson see...

Link: http://www.craig.no/

(Note: also read more in my earlier blog posts in the archives - I think I found the Weber teams & not just Denmark, but there's one for Norway too which the Grill King has coached...)



Next tent, next door - how convienent is that, the Weber tent & trailer
making? pizza! they were just there I think to sell grills - again did not price said grills,

but they were giving away free hats & keychains so snagged 1 each (can't pass up free?!)

Plus we already own a Weber & have before & will again...

Link: http://www.webergrill.no/ (or for English http://www.weber.com/)

yet another ship moving around in the harbor...
is there food on this one too? maybe, maybe not...

but not on this ship spotted from the other side of the harbor,

it's selling what? wool carpets?! of all the things at a Food Festival -
just pull up your boat & start selling carpets made of local sheep's wool, oh why not...

another boat docked to a smaller floating dock,
that is selling food at tables - Scandic, or that's the name of the restaurant...

but find it's also a hotel chain as well--though where in Stavanger? hmmm...

(my answer from Googling--June 2011 there will be one opening in Forus)

uptop on board are 2 or 3 chefs in high white chef hats cooking over grills or portable gas stoves - the banner says Scandic, Stay Smarter... (their motto from their webpage)

Link: http://www.scandichotels.com/

next stop, dessert (Yes, after the chocolates) - healthy choice,
organic ice cream...tried pear & raspberry scoops in a cup for I think 40 Nok

found out they're selling cartons of the Isrosa at Ullandhaug organic farm & at the organic green grocery near the ferry terminal, or across the street...yum & even better when you can tell yourself it's good for you--yeah right?!

and a Diner, a Festival Diner--at the Food Festival...

grilling out the back of a red/white VW Volksvagen--of course?!

the menu for the Festival Diner includes:
James Dean burgers & Olivia, The Captain & Festival Burger...

followed by Fish & Chips that were not priced--so I think you get Fresh shrimp instead
(or was that the Sushi? Yes, why not that too at the Festival Diner...will try this all another visit to the Food Feast, I mean Festival at the Gladmat--Happy Food, or is that Happy Eater?!)

Did not photograph the girls serving in the red/white skirts with their white tops that on the back is printed "Enjoy" (found that word though on their FB fan page) - if the girls were only on roller skates, that would of been just perfect...

At least one evening they had planned a Grease show, would of loved to have seen that - am still awaiting photos being posted on their Facebook page or better yet a YouTube video to show up instead to see some of that 50's singing & dancing Norsk style?!

Find them on Facebook at: Festival Diner - på Gladmat Festivalen 2010 i Stavanger

after the full/stuffing day, walk back thru old town Stavanger -
pass the flowers - some food for the eyes instead - at the curbside doorsteps of the old wooden houses there, thinking to yourself it feels like summertime now (maybe except for the lack of heat)

a rooster weathervane tops one of the old houses as the sky is no longer sunny...

on to Tasta & home for the sun setting--a picturesque end to a yummy foodie day at the Gladmat/ Food Festival - Stavanger, Norway

Find Gladmat on Facebook or at their Link: http://www.gladmat.no/

*****MAP OF GLADMAT*****

http://media.gladmat.no/files/gladmat-kart-2010.jpg

(If I'd only found this map sooner?!)

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Note: Started Wednesday, continues on until Saturday (when I return for more yet...)

Thursday I took no photos, but ate more food (if that's possible?!)

And the consumption list follows:

• Empanada (with egg in it, never had that before)
• Naan bread (with green garlic spread inside, another never had before)
• Skwered meat off the stick & a battered shrimp
• Pralin chocolates (again)
• Cortado (aka espresso with milk) to digest at Benk KaffeBar under Afternblad's tent
• Organic strawberry with Kefir smoothie (non-dairy)
• Spring (?) water (there was a tent, the carrot & water tent - I call it)
• Baklava

Hmmm...was that all?

I can't remember--all I know was that I had a very happy tummy?! mmm... ;o)

Link for Benk Kaffeebar in Sandnes: http://www.benkkaffebar.no/

& their Blog: http://benkkaffebar.blogspot.com/

Friday - Skipped, to rest (& eat the day before brought home leftovers instead)

Saturday - rained & still went anyways, but again no wet photos...

Short consumption list:

• Benk Kaffebar for another Cortado (if they could only start up shop in Stavanger?!)
• e-Bun for sweet meat grilled on a stick & of all the things--Black Angus beef Sliders (the beef it says comes from Aberdeen) & where is this Cafe/Bistro/Galleri? but in Rennesoy, an island--worse than driving to Sandnes for a good coffee, now I have to drive thru one of Norway's longest tunnels & off to an island in order to get a good (real beef) burger?! Ugh?!
• Annette's Fish & Chips, because I didn't have any (actually) while in London over the weekend (but took this home as more leftovers for Sunday--so that's good eats from Thursday until Sunday due to Gladmat, Happy Food indeed?! mmm...)

Link for e-Bun: http://www.ebun-mat.com/

(Note: I've met the owner lady at a coffee & she was grilling under a tent in the rain herself at Gladmat--I think you work harder as an owner than anyone in the shop probably?! We'll have to make a Burger Run, or would that be Pilgrimage, out to the island of Rennesoy just to keep her in business making Black Angus Burgers?! Where's the Beef--in Vikevag?!)

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Stats: 250,000 people to 300,000 people were reported to have gone to Gladmat this year

Photos: 1st one at the top is from the City of Stavanger, all others are mine - except the 2 Rema 1000 Kongen Craig grill food ads & Idsoe Butchers

GI Joe hits the beach at the Norsk Barne Museum

Description

G.I. Joe is a concept built around toy figures of american military personel made by the toy producerer Hasbro.
Hasbros original G.I. Joe from 1964 was an answer to Mattels Barbie, and was produced in the same size (30 cm høy) with changeable cloths.
Hasbro called the new doll for an "Action figure".

Hasbro sold the original action figure through the whole 60-ies, parts of the 70ies, and in 1982 Hasbro rereleased G.I. Joe for a new generastion: G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero that was 3 ¾ inches - 10 cm tall.
The figures become soon very popular, and after some time this action figure was also introduced in Norge, with the name Action Force: Internastional Heroes.

The Barbie exhibition is on display to the end of this year.

Hours
10/10/2009 - 30/12/2011 Tuesday - Saturday 11:00-16:00
11/10/2009 - 30/12/2011 Sunday 12:00-17:00

Link to article...
http://www.regionstavanger.com/en/WHATS-ON/All-events/?TLp=370077&Actionhero-treats-Barbie=


Contact:

Location
Norsk Barnemuseum

Address:
Sølvberget
phone
51 91 23 93
51 91 23 95
e-mail
barn@stavanger.museum.no
webpage
www.norskbarne.museum.no
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Collector's Exhibition " G. I. Joe - action figure " .

Hundreds of figures are exhibited in display cases with natural environments such as desert, jungle, snølandskap (snow landscape) and sea, and supplemented with boats and aircraft.

See also in this television element of the exhibition. *

NRK Rogaland demonstrated this proportion 03/11/2009 .**

** link to NRK video/interview... http://www.nrk.no/nett-tv/arkivert/114412/

* link to Aftenbadet newspaper video/interview, only found on Norsk Barne Musuem...
http://www.norskbarne.museum.no/
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photo of 25th Anniv. line from Hasbro

A little blurb about who/what GI Joe is...

Hasbro toy company's first "action figure" was introduced (1964) with the name of G.I. Joe.
They were 12" tall and represented the four branches of the military:
Army, Navy, Air Force & Marines.
The toyline was dedicated to one character named G.I. Joe and later on,
the line featured vehicles, accessories, talking soldiers and 6 foreign soldiers.

Link to the official site... http://www.hasbro.com/gijoe/en_US/

The 12-inch G.I. Joe was licensed to several countries:

to the UK company Palitoy, appearing as Action Man
to the Spanish company Geyper appearing as Geyperman
in Germany as Action Team
in France as Group Action Joe
in Brazil as Falcon

Link to Wikipedia, where you can read more than you ever wanted to know...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.I._Joe

Note: except the action figure vs doll debate or GI Joe vs Barbie (or would that be Ken)
& forget when they all got together, though there have been some fairly recent (Nissan car)
commercials that are pretty amusing involving Barbie & GI Joe...

Link to one commercial...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8QKK5IDSXE&feature=related

...further GI Joe vs Barbie antics or 'projects'

The Barbie Liberation Project...
is a droplifting project that dates back to the doll-and-action-figure boom of the 1980s.
“Taking advantage of similarities in the voice hardware of Teen Talk Barbie and the Talking Duke G.I. Joe doll, er, ‘action figure,’ they absconded with several hundred of each & performed a stereotype-change operation on the lot” before returning them to the shelves.
The result? G.I. Joes planning dream weddings and Barbies yelling war cries.

(I would of loved to have gotten one of these as/for a gift by mistake, just for fun?!)

Note: borrowed this above blurb from the http://www.weburbanist.com/ webpage & an article called "Shop Drop and...What?" about some creative shopdropping art projects, or that's what they're calling them, under their guerilla action & art, subadverts/counter ads (I don't want to know anymore?!)

...by the way Barbie is a Mattel toy, their link is... http://www.barbie.com/
(it seems you can't talk about GI Joe without talking about Barbie too?!)

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Kabang 2010 expedition - Stavanger to Oslo

From Stavanger to Oslo in steinalderbåt/Stone(age) Boat from Thailand


Kon -Tiki Museum** and the Ten Thousand Images is Friday 23 July started with a maritime expedition, called " Kabang 2010 " along the Norwegian coast.
Start the Destination Stavanger with the station in Oslo.
" Kabang 2010 " to test the sailing characteristics of the Thai traditional boat Kabang .

Kabang is constructed of a log with a table on pages which makes it capable of sailing the open sea.
The boat belongs originally an advanced maritime technology and Stone(age) is a type of boat that may have been used in Norway in the bronze age.
The expedition is a maritime archaeological experiment, it should include testing of the boat is seaworthy in Norwegian waters.



Sjønomader/Sea Nomads

The expedition would like to engage in cultural exchange between the Norwegian maritime history and Mokenfolket , which is sjønomader/sea nomads who live on Mu Kho Surin Islands in northern Thailand and Burma. Both cultures have lived with and the sea for thousands of years.

Traditionally, living on Mokenfolket kabangbåtene/Stone Age Boat nine months of the year , and live by fishing.
They are excellent divers who often are under water for 6-8 minutes at a time.
Mokena - people is one of the last hunter -gatherer societies, and has taken care forgot boatbuilding traditions from the dawn of time .

Nguk and Ngui , brothers of Gatale family, going to Norway to sail kabangen and share experiences about living on and off the sea with Norwegian maritime culture.
All along the route will be arranged meetings between Gatale brothers and Norwegian archaeologists, Norwegian bårbyggere , local maritime centers and the public.

Start Shots from Stavanger

The expedition will start on Friday 23 July at . 12.00 in the harbor in Stavanger, on the quay at the Maritime Museum .

It also sets the Maritime Museum*** , Stavanger Museum and Archaeological Museum****, UiS*, with boats. Archeological Museum (AM) will provide a copy of a Dugout from the Stone Age.
Archaeologist Olle Hemdorff (AM) will tell a little about båtvitenskap in pre-history and compared the two prehistoric båtene/boats. Stokkebåter/Stokke boats is in fact also made from a hollowed tree trunk , a construction method known throughout the world.
In the Nordic countries are shuffling boats the earliest -known craft .
In Denmark , we have found a number of log boats from the Stone Age.
The oldest of these is over 6000 years old.
Rock carvings in East Åmøy
From Stavanger go trip over to East Åmøy where Bitten hill from the Museum of Archaeology will tell and show the rock carvings from the Bronze Age with båtmotiv/ boat motif .

Rogaland's largest collection of rock art is located on the approximately 6 km ² large island just outside Stavanger on Randaberg , where most of the figures represent the ship.
East Åmøy the collection point for all of Rogaland in the Bronze Age.
3000 years ago cut you here important religious, political and social symbols into the rock.
See film carvings on the East Åmøy +

Moreover, sailing

25. July kabangen arrived at the list where the expedition will visit the largest field with stone carvings from the Bronze Age on Penne farm.
Here kabangen carried / dragged across country on the list Eide, a distance of 900 meters.
This was a route that was used at least in Vvkingtid and perhaps later.
This is done in cooperation with the Norwegian Maritime Museum and researcher Frode Kvalø and Vest-Agder County list and the county archaeologist Franz Arne Styelgard .
Kabang 2010 will be an attraction at the Tall Ships Races in Kristiansand between 29 July and 1 August.
The boat will be on land so visitors can study the boat and speak with Mokenbrødrene Nguk and Ngui. Kabang 2010 is also on the Wooden Boat Festival in Risør 5 -8. August .
The conclusion of the expedition 's 12 Aug. Bygdøynes .

The expedition is documented by a film crew , documentary to be shown for the first time during the international conference and film festival "Early Mon/Man and the Ocean " in Oslo in September 2010.

Practical info

Contacts: Project Reidar Solsvik...
E -mail reidsols@kon-tiki.no,
Project manager Christian Lien Jensen...
and filmmaker Rune Wiik...
Sailors : Nguk ( Hook ) Gatale , Ngui Gatale .
Both are Mokenfolk and have grown up with the culture
on board the boat that sjønomader/sea nomads .
Tanit Noischoun participate as a translator.

Homepage: http://www.moken-projects.com/

Sailing from city center Friday 23 July at . 12.00 ,
at the pier at the Maritime Museum in the harbor. Welcome!

*Article link on University webpage...
http://www.uis.no/nyheter/article26396-12.html

**Kon Tiki Museum link...
http://www.kon-tiki.no/Presse.php
(Note: press release about the Kabang 2010 or Thailand Stone Age Boat)

Expedition Schedule:

23.7 Leave the harbor in Stavanger. Press Conference
23.7 Sailing to Hafrsfjord , Stavanger
25.7 Penne Farm, Lista , bronze carvings
25.7 Lista Eide, dragging the boat over Lista Eide
29.7 Kristiansand. The Tall Ships Races ++
5 - 8.8 Risør. Wooden Boat Festival
12.8 Bygdøynes . Finally ,
Press Conference (Kon -Tiki Museum / Norwegian Maritime Museum

++ link to The Tall Ships 2010 Race...

http://www.hartlepooltallships2010.com/index.php?p=Event+Information&s=The+Tall+Ships


photo of tall ships from webpage

Note: link to one of Norway's Tall Ships, a full rigged training ship, from Oslo in the Regatta is the Christian Radich... http://radich.no/ and another full rigged ship is the SØRLANDET & it's link... http://www.schoolship.no/

***Maritime Museum/Stavanger Museum link...
http://www.stavanger.museum.no/default.aspx?ChannelID=1151


Note: their 2 sailing vessels still in use...



Anna of Sand


Wyvern

**** link for Arkeologisk/Archeological Museum article about Kapang 2010...

http://am.uis.no/forside/nyheter/article26396-4729.html


my photo of rock carvings from Tau
on the way to Pulpit Rock

+ link for Arkeologisk Museum - ipod movie about the rock carvings on the island of Åmøy...

http://am.uis.no/aktuelt/article14601-4727.htm


Note: on Wikipedia there is a list of all known (put up on Wiki) rock carvings in Norway...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rock_carvings_in_Norway

(Note: now that would be an coastal expedition of a different kind, to find them all & photograph them all too--is there a book yet?!)
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Village Prison & Grafitti Art

the prison yard a prisoner's room

Inside the World's Most Humane Prison

Photos 1 - 11 Inside Halden Prison, Norway (aka the Village Prison)

the kitchen the tv room

Related Photos included with Time Magazine Article:

"Sentenced to Serving the Good Life in Norway"

Time Magazine Article Link...
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2000920,00.html

Photos by Trond Isaksen / Statsbygg



Work of Art

To ease the psychological burdens of imprisonment, planners spent roughly $1 million on paintings, photography and light installations.
According to a prison informational pamphlet, this mural by Norwegian graffiti artist Dolk "brings a touch of humor to a rather controlled space."
Officials hope the art — along with creative outlets like drawing classes and wood workshops — will give inmates "a sense of being taken seriously."

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1989083_2137368,00.html#ixzz0tvykJ3Hz

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Alot More about Dolk Lundgren - Grafitti Artist...

http://www.thegiant.org/wiki/index.php/Dolk



Mushroom Girl - Dolk Lundgren

Note: one of my fav of his - but think he's mostly got his street art in Bergen or Oslo or further up North Norway (or maybe Berlin or Barcelona or ??) but not in Stavanger, except for maybe when they had the NuArt Grafitti / Street Art Festival here (in 2007 or 2008 or ??)

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Island Prison Norway

Bastoy prison is based on an
idyllic island


Bastoy prison says on its website that its philosophy comes from an old Indian saying: "We don't own nature. We borrow and manage it in our lives, thinking about our descendants."

Bastoy Prison webpage: photos & information - such as history, construction, rehabilitation of buildings, projects & economics...
http://www.statsbygg.no/prosjekter/prosjektkatalog/585_bastoy/html/foto/f_01.html

Under the history section you can read how it use to be a deliquent youth institution, for boys & girls...

Photos here borrowed with their descriptions from...

Deutsche Welle, Germany Article link: http://www.dw-world.de/

Norwegian Prison Prepares Inmates for the Outside World
The island of Bastoy in the Oslo Fjord is one of Europe's most
unusual prison facilities. Inmates there live and work in
conditions that authorities hope will prepare them for a normal
life after they get out....


From Time Magazine Article...

Sentenced to Serving the Good Life in Norway
By William Lee Adams / Bastoy, Halden and Oslo Monday, Jul. 12, 2010

The seagulls begin squawking at 6 in the morning and the cigarettes cost too much, but Lars, 41, knows there are worse places to call home.
On Bastoy, an island 46 miles (74 km) south of Oslo, he and 124 other residents live in brightly colored wooden chalets, spread over one square mile of forest and gently sloping hills.
Besides enjoying views of the surrounding fjord, they go horseback riding and throw barbecues, and have access to a movie theater, tanning bed and, during winter, two ski jumps. Lars' neighbors often conceal the reasons they are there, but, as in any small community, word gets around....

Despite all its trappings, Bastoy island isn't an exclusive resort: it's a prison. Arne Kvernvik Nilsen, Bastoy's governor and a practicing psychotherapist, describes it as the world's first human-ecological prison — a place where inmates learn to take responsibility for their actions by caring for the environment.
Prisoners grow their own organic vegetables, turn their garbage into compost and tend to chickens, cows, horses and sheep.
They also operate the ferry that shuttles a number of them to school and jobs on the mainland, make their own dinner (they're allowed to use knives) and chop wood (using axes and chainsaws).

Although authorities carry out routine drug tests, the prison generally emphasizes trust and self-regulation: Bastoy has no fences, the windows have no bars, and only five guards remain on the island after 3 p.m. and on weekends.
"They are among the worst criminals in Norway. They are murderers, they are rapists, they are Hells Angels," says Nilsen. "But they keep the whole society alive and running."....

In an age when countries from Britain to the U.S. cope with exploding prison populations by building ever larger — and, many would say, ever harsher — prisons, Bastoy seems like an unorthodox, even bizarre, departure.
But Norwegians see the island as the embodiment of their country's long-standing penal philosophy: that traditional, repressive prisons do not work, and that treating prisoners humanely boosts their chances of reintegrating into society.

"People in other countries say that what Norway does is wrong," says Lars, who is serving a 16-year sentence for serious drug offenses. "But why does Norway have the world's lowest murder rate? Maybe we're doing something that really works."....

Within two years of their release, 20% of Norway's prisoners end up back in jail.
In the U.K. and the U.S., the figure hovers between 50% and 60%.
Of course, Norway's low level of criminality gives it a massive advantage.
Its prison roll lists a mere 3,300 inmates, a rate of 70 per 100,000 people, compared with 2.3 million in the U.S., or 753 per 100,000 — the highest rate in the world....

John Pratt, a professor of criminology at New Zealand's Victoria University of Wellington and an authority on Scandinavian prisons, believes that the secret to the low crime levels in Norway and its Nordic counterparts is strong welfare systems that reduce poverty and inequality — key drivers of criminality.
Studies show that countries and states investing more in education, health and social security typically spend less on their prison systems.

Last year, California spent 11% of its state budget on its prisons — more than it put into higher education. "For marginalized populations in Anglo countries, the prison increasingly acts as a kind of surrogate welfare state," says Pratt.
"That's not only much more expensive than running a welfare state, it's also brutalizing and often degrading — and that has negative consequences for everyone."




The prisoner's cottages must
be maintained by the inmates
themselves


It Takes a Village

Thirty-six percent of prison places in Norway, including all of those at Bastoy, are classified as low-security....

"At some point in the future, these men will live in the community," says Knut Storberget, Minister of Justice and the Police. "If you want to reduce crime, you have to do something other than putting them in prison and locking the door."....

On April 8, Norway took that strategy to a new level by inaugurating Halden, a maximum-security prison... "the smaller the difference between life inside and outside the prison, the easier the transition from prison to freedom." With that in mind, architects designed Halden to mimic a small village as a way to remind prisoners they are still part of society....

"The punishment is to be in prison, not to lose your rights as a citizen," says Terje Moland Pedersen, the Deputy Minister of Justice.

Building on its so-called "normalization principle," the prison expects inmates to spend most of their day out of their cells....

Strong relationships between prisoners and guards also help with rehabilitation....
The respect they get from prisoners stems, for the most part, from appreciation, not fear.....



Taking care of horses teach
prisoners responsibility

Shared Values

Criticism of Halden has been muted, but it does exist. At the moment, foreigners account for 32% of Norway's prison population, and Per Sandberg, deputy leader of the conservative Progress Party, worries that Halden's high standard will lure more organized crime to the country.....While he's not thrilled that the government spent $1 million outfitting Halden with art, his main complaint is that foreigners shouldn't exploit the welfare system: "Halden should only be for Norwegian criminals."

...In Halden, the local community sees the prison as an opportunity for jobs, not as something to fear. The majority of Norwegian prisoners don't pose a serious threat to society....Bastoy's policy on escapees demonstrates how little people worry about criminals out in the community. Nilsen, the governor, makes a deal with inmates when they arrive. "If you run away, please telephone us as soon as possible so we know you are O.K. and won't need to make use of helicopters,'" he says, noting there have been just three incidents in the past two years....

The national media's portrayal of crime also helps foster tolerance for Norway's prison system. Newspapers rely on subscriptions rather than newsstand sales, so they don't depend on sensational headlines. And the writing style is less emotional, more pragmatic, than in other countries.....In Norway, acts of extreme violence are seen as aberrant events, not symptoms of national decay.

Some prisoners are in charge

of livestock

Beyond the Walls

Despite the exceptional conditions in Norway's prisons, it's still a challenge for someone who's incarcerated to learn how to live in freedom. Thomas Mathiesen, co-founder of the Norwegian Association of Penal Reform and professor emeritus at the University of Oslo, says amenities shouldn't blind people to that reality....

....The government is also keen to set up more so-called "open prisons" like the Sandaker facility in downtown Oslo. Situated on the ground floor of a residential apartment building, Sandaker houses 16 inmates who work in the city during the day and return to the apartment in the evening.....allowing convicts to spend the last stretch of their sentences at the facility helps ease their transition from imprisonment to freedom.

Residents pay rent, clean their own clothes, take out cell-phone contracts and have access to the Internet — many for the first time in their lives. "Prisons are like bubbles. They're safe, you always have food, you know what to expect," Oster says. "Here, you have to face reality and prepare yourself mentally and practically for life on the outside."....

Back on Bastoy, Lars has been thinking about life on the outside for nine years — the first eight in a high-security prison, and the past year on the island....
Sure, he now knows that cows are more affectionate than horses, but that doesn't make up for having to watch his four children grow up from afar. "It makes you tired," he says, pointing out that he has to be counted by guards four times a day, submit to random drug tests and return to his chalet by 11 p.m. every night. "I'm grown up now," he says. "I'm too old for this."

But he still has two years to go before parole. In the meantime, he runs a bicycle-repair shop in a converted shed and organizes group sessions for prisoners who want to become better fathers. He's active in the community, but says he won't miss it. "I don't know if I'll commit crime or do drugs again," he says taking a drag on a cigarette. "I hope not. I don't want to visit this place again."

If Norway's prisons fulfill their promise, he won't have to.

Time Magazine Article Link...
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2000920,00.html

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Binkie/Tutt Tree Chopped Down

Tutt = Binkie, Baby Pacifier, Soother, Nummy...

Tutt (Binkie) tree cut down

The familiar "Tutt Tree" (Binkie Tree) - roe where several hundred children have disposed of the bag (binkie) by hanging it up - was cut down by unknown vandals on Friday night.


Posted 10.07.2010 at 4:14 p.m. Updated 07/10/2010 at 4:22 p.m.



All branches of the rowan berries tree - which is not far from the Rogaland Art Museum in Mosvannspark - is cut down.

The ten things that are full of Institute (Binkies) lay strewn across the path of Mosvatnet, but was cleared to the side of surprised and sad walkers Saturday morning.

If you have suggestions for a continuation of the tradition by Tutt (Binkie) Mosvatnet - enter it in the comments under the article!


Known symbol

Vandalism generally is sad, but this is particularly sad since Tutt (Binkie) tree has been an important symbol for many children in Stavanger, "said hiker Marianne Higson to Rogaland Avis.
Saturday she was out and ventilated dog Dylan, and was horrified when she saw the broken tree.
Hundreds of institute (binkies) attached to things that are now cut down and is next to the trail.
The tree has been a welcome help for parents who are struggling to get kids to stop Tutt (binkies.) I also think it's almost have been a little piece of art in nature, "says Higson.

Clearly planned

It does not look like random vandalism, because it is used saws to get the worn wood.
It is definitely planned.
Someone sawed halfway through the branches and then broken them off, "said Sollid Eirin Naess in Nature and sports service.
She is the supervisor for park maintenance in Eiganes / City and takes care of the branches and the bag (binkies) today.

Read more about what the park manager Torgeir Sørensen Esig to do with Tutt (Binkie) Tree in Monday's edition of Rogaland Avis.


READ ALSO:
Daring to rest, 10/07/1910 - 16:20
Bewildered tree 03/18/1910 - 15:08
Tutt Action 18/03/1910 - 7:17

*Votes were taken for these 2 Questions:

Tutt (Binkie) Tree

1) What should be done in Tutt (Binkie) case?
a) Bag should be hung up in a new tree.
b) It should be made a mailbox bag that Santa Claus can empty regularly.
c) Finally, there will be an end to this nonsense Tutt (Binkie.)

Number of votes: 261
(*My vote: a) but maybe plant a real tree in a huge planter, or put up an artistic/fake tree, inside the Rogaland Art Museum foyer)

2) Do we need a tuttetre/Tutt tree (Binkie tree) in Stavanger?
a) Ja / Yes
b) Nei / No
c) Vet ikke / Do not know

Number of votes: 1571
(*My vote: a) Yes - Ja is Norsk by the way)

*Votes were registered & Closed

Newspaper Article Link:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=no&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rogalandsavis.no%2Fnyheter%2Farticle5188721.ece
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Note: this after surviving earlier the Tutt Witch, who came & took all the binkies down to put in the bin/trash can (claiming some such nonsense about the tree not being able to breathe) - the Momma's came back after that & will again?! (or in Norway that would include the Poppa's too?!)

Moods of Norway - pink boat sinks in Bergen

Moods of Norway boat sank at the wharf in Bergen



Here is the boat at the wharf in Bergen.
The boat sank completely to the bottom.
Photo: Thorgrim Holte

A boat belonging to the fashion makers Moods of Norway is partially submerged at the pier in Bergen.

The police were notified that the pink boat began to sink at about 24:00 this morning.
“The boat is on the bottom, and only part of the wheelhouse is now above water” says operations manager at the Hordaland police district, Terje Hilland, to Dagbladet.
No one on board
He says that the Fire Department sent divers into the boat, but there was none on board.
Half two should get a ferry to hoist up the boat.
The ferry is a bit delayed, but it should be on the way now” said Hilland to Dagbladet at 15.20.
Right now the ferry tried to raise the boat, but had problems.
According to a Dagbladet photographer, an on-site rescue boat had something in the propeller on the way to raise Moods boat.

Not a PR stunt

The boat came from Stavanger to Bergen on Friday after having been at a store opening in the oil city, according to Bergens Tidende .
The plan was that it would be in Bergen rest of the summer.

According to the Dagbladet photographer on site, the ship had problems already in Stavanger.
In Bergen, they borrowed electricity from a building under construction, but someone had pulled the plug, so the pumps which pumped the water stopped working.
There have not yet succeeded at Dagbladet to connect with the designers behind the famous Norwegian clothing brand.
BT.no has received several inquiries from people who think this is a PR stunt, which is rejected by the finance manager and founder Jan Egil Flo.
No, this is by no means a PR stunt. I can promise you.
This we would could done without” he told Bergens Tidende
According to NRK ’s reporter on the spot, oil or fuel leaked from Moods boat, and port authorities have put out booms.

Source: Dagbladet
July 6th, 2010

Dagbladet Article Link:
http://blog.norway.com/2010/07/06/moods-of-norway-boat-sank-at-the-wharf-in-bergen/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: want to put out a call for any old typical wooden fishing boat to be donated & then for volunteers to go paint it pink--I would love to be on this project, then would hope to if not meet the 3 clever guys who run Moods of Norway (or their grandma) next best would be their coupons to go shop with?! But lately I've caught the Seasonal Sale in Stavanger Sentrum & received 50% off some Moods of Norway clothes I'm going to give as gifts, not saying to who - was bummed the baby clothes weren't on sale though, not fair?!

Here's to Happy Clothes & a Pink Boat Afloat too?!

Gladmat video - The Muppets: Pöpcørn (Swedish Chef) - Food Festival July 2010

http://www.youtube.com/ - The Muppets: Pöpcørn
Note: posted on Gladmat/Happy Food Facebook page - Food Festival July 2010 Stavanger, Norway

Description:

Muppets Studio - July 2, 2010
[CAPTIONED]
(c) 2010 The Muppets Studio, LLC
Official Website: http://muppets.com
Official Twitter: http://Twitter.com/MuppetsStudio
Official Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/muppets

*Note: my personal fav on The Muppets - the Swedish Chef, esp chasing chickens but here chasing shrimps is OK too...he could of been based on a real chef, in Sweden, Lars "Kuprik" Bäckman - which testifying to that he's been visited by The Travel Channel & I've seen that show, where he had a Swedish Chef puppet of course too?! (read more of this argument under Wikipedia, Swedish Chef - Inspiration, even Julia Child got in on this?!)

Also read there are actually Swedish Chef Translators...Börk Börk Börk!

Food Festival Link: http://www.gladmat.no/

(*Note: posted for entertainment value I'm sure - maybe they embrace him for his cooking & is he Scandinavian? close enough!)

Gladmat Video - Food Festival July 2010

http://www.youtube.com/ video Greater Stavanger

Note: posted on Facebook Gladmat/Happy Food, July 2010 - Food Festival Stavanger, Norway

Description:
"A modern and international university: University of Stavanger - http://www.uis.no/. Dramatic Landscapes. An interesting history. Charming small houses and wooden architecture. A vibrant city. Numerous festivals. Culinary magic. The centre for oil and energy. Innovative industry. International business communities."

Food Festival Link: http://www.gladmat.no/

(*Note: the food festival or Gladmat/Happy Food is in this video of Greater Stavanger - under the description am guessing it would be covered under 'numerous festivals' & 'culinary magic,' which am not so sure of that magic part)

Gladmat School

Gladmat School Spring 2010

Gladmat school is the matglade/food happy amateur.
We introduce an evening activity in collaboration with the Culinary Institute of which we have called matverksted/food workshop.
Each of matverkstedene/food workshop is a 3-hour participatory activities around a theme food professionals.
The chefs will hold a demonstration around the evening's theme, where then all participants will learn practical on the kitchen counter.
In each of the workshops will serve a simple meal within the theme and everyone will be able to take home what they have prepared.

In addition to conducting matverkstedene/food workshop we Gladmat school in our "normal" form, where the chef starts with the theory before you split into groups and create their own dishes eaten together.
You get recipes and go through the compendium of the cook.

(photo borrowed from http://www.craig.no/)

Gladmat School: Barbecue Course at Craig*

Who does not dream of learning more and especially impressed by the grill?
Along with the BBQ King Craig we will learn to prepare, cook and grill good meat, fish and vegetables - here, the possibilities are great.
Time and place: May 31 or June 1 in the outhouse with Helle & Craig, 1923 at Hafrsfjordgt Våland Price: NOK 1350, - per person Duration: At 17 to 22 (approx) *Sold out*

Gladmat School: Cheese and wine courses with a summery feel, on 14 June

If you thought that enjoy evenings with wine and cheese was something that went out of fashion in the 80 century, you're wrong.
New generations "hedonist" grow up across the country, and cheese and wine is certainly the shot.
It is not just red wine suitable for cheese - and we'll help you find the right wine to the perfect cheese.
Trainer Kenneth Myklebust from Cheese Compagniet.
Time and place: 14 June at Jatta High School at. 18 to 22 (approx) price NOK 1350, - registration to post@gladmat.no or call 906 97 101 906 97 101

AUTUMN 2010 - we are working with the program and put out as soon as it's ready!

Remember, we tailor courses for businesses...

contact us for an offer on post@gladmat.no or 51 87 45 79 51 87 45 79
Check out our website www.gladmat.no.

See more Food Festival info on Gladmat Link: http://www.gladmat.no/
*See more GrillKongen Craig at his webpage: http://www.craig.no/

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Note: photo borrowed from Gladmat webpage, Images - this is what I'd hope all the classes end with...winners & champagne?!

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Gladmat/Food Festival

Biggest Food Festival in Nordic Countries
Gladmat Stavanger, Norway - Summer 2010, July 28-31
200, 000 guests over 4 days

This year The Gordon Ramsay Show, July 30-31



Description:
Gordon Ramsay & Stuart Gillies...keeps 6 mat/food shows on Gladmat summer.
Welcome! It will also show at 1630 and 1800.

Tickets... + fee ordered on www.scanticket.no
More info on www.gladmat.no
For more info about the famous swearing chef: www.GordonRamsay.com

Pizza Final, July 29



Decription:
The final takes place with Wenche Andersen, Tore Guest Country mfl on the jury
Ceremonies: Alex Rosén
Sign up for: http://www.dinmat.no/

The rules are simple.
Pizza must be based on:
• Yeast dough
• Norwegian tomatoes
• TINE pizza ost/cheese (*TINE, local dairy coop)
...the recipe is for 4 people.


Johansens fristelser og Totlands tartar/
Johansens temptations & Totlands tartar, July 28-31



Description:
Britt Synnøve Johansen and Heine Totland offers Gourmet entertainment, 4 course dinner based on local ingredients are served by the Norwegian Junior National Association of chefs! (Tickets at http://www.linticket.no/)

Note: all photos & descriptions borrowed from Gladmat Facebook page

Their Add'l Note:
Classes all year long at Gladmat Food Academy* (see more next post)

Gladmat Link: www.gladmat.no
(Google Translate: Glad Mat = Happy Food)
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