Artanis, what is going on in Norway...

[Artanis]

Originally Posted by Nerdanel

i too do hope the paintings will be found and returned to the museum. i heard that there were no alarm-systems around these paintings, that it was rather easy for the thieves to take them. is that true? (not trying to blame anyone else but the thieves here, just wondering)

Originally Posted by jerseydevil

I'd like to know how the hell anyone can go into a museum in broad daylight and steal two world famous paintings.

Because the security sucks. That's the answer. And it is not the first time Scream is stolen. Ten years ago it was taken from the National Gallery during the night. The thieves climbed in through one of the windows, using a ladder! It's incredible. One should think we learned from that incident, but obviously we did not.

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by jerseydevil

I didn't want to start a thread "what is going on in Sweden" so here is this...

There is in fact such a thread. I will post my reply there.

What's up with Sweden?

EDITED by FM: I've merged the posts related to Sweden with the thread linked by Jon.

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

There is in fact such a thread. I will post my reply there.

What's up with Sweden?

EDITED by FM: I've merged the posts related to Sweden with the thread linked by Jon.

I forgot there was the "what's up with Sweden" thread until I posted. Then I was too lazy to go in and edit. Didn't really think it mattered much anymore.

[BeardofPants]

Oh, so it's okay to muddle up two european countries, but we can't do it to NY and NJ?

Damn, now I gotta go to the other thread and comment. *Me feels lazy, also*

I can NOT believe that after last time's incident, that the security wasn't tight on those pieces.

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

Oh, so it's okay to muddle up two european countries, but we can't do it to NY and NJ?

No you may not do it with NJ and NY.

[Radagast The Brown]

But what can someone do with a 40,000,000£ picture? He can't sell it... as people know now that it's stolen. What does he worth from it?

[Artanis]

Originally Posted by Radagast The Brown

But what can someone do with a 40,000,000£ picture? He can't sell it... as people know now that it's stolen. What does he worth from it?

Well they might hope for a ransom. Give us an incredible amount of money and you'll get the paintings back. Or - give us money and we will refrain from destroying the paintings. That's what we're most anxious about, we do not want the paintings to be harmed in any way. This is more important right now than getting them back actually.

[Jonathan]

Not really news about Norway but whatever...
Artanis and Falagar, do you like oysters?

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/eu...eut/index.html

Norwegian crowned oyster-opening champion

GALWAY, Ireland (Reuters) -- A minimum of blood and grit helped Norway unseat Sweden as world oyster-opening champions on Saturday as contestants from 18 countries vied to prepare the prized shellfish as quickly and neatly as possible.

"It's the classic trade off between speed and quality," explains Terry Brennan as he peers through a magnifying glass.

"Grit in the oyster, that's a penalty right there," the chairman of the panel of seven judges adds.

Damage to the oyster's flesh, failure to detach it from the shell or traces of human blood also mean penalties for the knife-wielding competitors who have come from as far afield as Estonia, the United States, Australia and Japan.

The trick is not to rush things, according to the new world champion who opened his 30 oysters in 2 minutes 39 seconds and incurred just 22 seconds in penalty points.

"Keep your cool, don't stress," advises Ola Nilsson, winner and head chef at a Michelin-star restaurant in Oslo. "You have to find a rhythm and if you just go for speed you lose."

But Gerry Grealish, a three-times title holder turned judge, believes there is more to Scandinavian oyster opening skills.

"The northern Europeans have developed a better technique," says the local dairy farmer. "We use an ordinary single blade knife and they use a double blade which means they can open the shell and release the oyster in the same move."

Sweden's Hans Johannesson was the competition's fastest opener but came in second overall as judges penalized his presentation. A slower Sam Tamsanguam from the United Kingdom was placed third despite an impressively clean array of oysters.

Oyster worship
Thousands have gathered here in Galway to celebrate a new season for oysters which, according to Elizabethan cookbook writer Henry Buttes, are "unseasonable and unwholesome in all months that have not the letter R in their name."

Along with France's Belon oysters, those found along Galway's Atlantic coast are the best and most expensive in the world says Michael Kelly who supplies the delicacy to restaurants in London, Berlin and Canada.

"It's the flavor which comes from the right mix of fresh and salt water," he says. "Water that's so pure you can walk down into the sea and eat them straight from the beds."

Some of the 10,000 visitors at this weekend's festival believe their own varieties are at least as good though.

"Galway's are on a par but you can't beat a Bluff oyster," says Suzanne McKenzie of those from her native New Zealand.

But either way, Michael Kelly's Galway variety sell for 4 euros ($4.92) a piece in top Zurich restaurants.

That is a far cry from the shellfish's humble culinary origins where, in the words of English novelist Charles Dickens, "poverty and oysters always seem to go together."

[Artanis]

Hehehe - a WC in oyster opening. There's a WC on almost everything.
I think this one is quite funny too:
Wife carrying WC
Completely dominated by the Finns.

[Falagar]

To be honest, I've never tasted oysters (and can't say I've ever wanted to either ), but we do have a few good chefs around. I believe one of them won the WC in cooking once.

Pssst! Nice sig, Artanis! Where did you find the translation?

[Nerdanel]

Originally Posted by Artanis

Hehehe - a WC in oyster opening. There's a WC on almost everything.
I think this one is quite funny too:
Wife carrying WC
Completely dominated by the Finns.

actually, though it's a finnish sport, just like throwing mobilephones and rubberboots, some estonians are the champions now, IIRC..

[Nothing]

[QUOTE=Falagar]Lardal...never heard of it. Sounds like a tiny village, with probably a few hundred citicens...

I think it maybe is supposed to be Lærdal.

http://www.laerdal.kommune.no/index....=om/index.html

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by Falagar

To be honest, I've never tasted oysters (and can't say I've ever wanted to either ),

A biut late - but I can't believe you haven't tasted oysters. Oysters on the half shell are awesome. There is a clam bar on the boardwalk in Seaside that I usually go and have some good oysters.

[Something]

[QUOTE=Nothing]

Originally Posted by Falagar

Lardal...never heard of it. Sounds like a tiny village, with probably a few hundred citicens...

I think it maybe is supposed to be Lærdal.

http://www.laerdal.kommune.no/index....=om/index.html

There is a place in Norway called Lardal:
http://www.lardal.com/No_Adds_No_New...asp?CatID=1081

[Falagar]

Lardal, Lærdal...no big difference. Even had similar populations.

Originally Posted by Nothing

I think it maybe is supposed to be Lærdal.

http://www.laerdal.kommune.no/index....=om/index.html

2200? Not far off then.

Originally Posted by jerseydevil

A biut late - but I can't believe you haven't tasted oysters. Oysters on the half shell are awesome. There is a clam bar on the boardwalk in Seaside that I usually go and have some good oysters.

I'll have to check it out then. I'll try to remember next time I happen to pass by a seafood-restaurant.

[Jonathan]

Happy 17th of May all Norwegians out there! Hope today's national day puts a big smile on your faces

For those who didn't know, this year marks the 100th year of Norways full independence.

[Pytt]

Full independence from Sweden

Early up to go marching! The weather could have been much better, but it is ok.

Happy 17. May!

[Something]

Happy May 17th.
Have fun!

[Artanis]

HURRAH!
Thanks Jon. It's been a wonderful day so far. The weather is perfect, bright sun up till now but not too warm for wearing a national costume (wool). Merry children's parade, balloons, hot dogs and ice cream.

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

happy 17th of may

if it's independence day, where's will smith killing aliens