Letters from Norway

This is the second podcast of two, exploring life in Oslo. In addition to a vibrant singles scene, the city also has a lot to offer outdoor enthusiasts, including The Vigeland Park. The episode also discusses resources and groups for Americans.

Intro (0:00 to 0:12)

Single Scene (0:13 to 5:50)

Oslo is quite good or corrupt, depending on your vantage point, when it comes to dating:

* Recommended Sites and Apps

* Sukker

* Tinder

* Match

* Middle Aged Escapades

The Great Outdoors (5:51 – 9:24)

* Oslo Winter Park

* Hiking and Outdoors

* The Vigeland Park

* Rowing (Crew) in Oslo

American Groups (9:25 – 13:48)

* Facebook Groups

* Americans in Oslo

* Americans in Norway

* Many others

* Churches

* American Lutheran Church

* Oslo International Church

* Political Parties

* Democrats Abroad

* Republicans Abroad

Summation (13:59 – 17:00)

* Oslo is what you make of it

* The Hotel California, “you can check out anytime but you really can’t leave.”

* The future

Intro (0:00 – 0:49)

* Short - Spontaneous podcast

* We took a short summer trip to the Ukraine

* Thank you for the support, we almost doubled listeners

Vienna, Austria (0:49 – 8:27)

* AirBnB Experience

* The Canadian Embassy, police station, abortion clinic and Schnitzel house – all in one.

Lviv, Ukraine (8:28 -23:11)

* History of Ukraine - Ukraine: A History 4th Edition

* The best steakhouse in Europe:

Meat and Justice (Restaurant and Steak House)

They raise their own beef, offering a very genuine and fresh taste.

* The Ukrainian Situation

* Overview

* The Story of 1776

* The EU will not cure Ukraine’s problems

* What to do if Russia invades

* Need for a Monarch

* Dating and Pickup Advice

Lublin, Poland (23:11 – 29:30)

* About Lublin

* Taking the Bus

* Getting Around

* Wizz Air

* Torp Airport Reality

Wrap Up (29:31 – 31:15)

This two-part podcast explores life in Oslo. Part 1 covers the undeniable reality. Although cold and expensive, life is what you make of it. The episode recommends the American style restaurants, offers life hacks, and discusses social groups.

PART I

Introduction (0:00 – 2:00)

* Oslo through my eyes. Stereotypes

* Expensive & Cold

* The reality is what you make of it here.

Places to Eat (2:01 – 7:14)

Where to find American food in Oslo

* Nighthawk Diner

* McDonalds

* TGI Fridays is luxury here

* Burger Joint

* El Camino

* Lucky Bird

Getting Around the High Prices (7:15 – 10:55)

* Other Markets

* Friends

* Shopping trips to Sweden

* Finn.no

Making Friends – The Oslo Social Scene (10:56 – 22:10 )

* Standing in Line

* Social Groups

* Inter-Nations (charge fees)

* Meetup Groups (free)

* It’s a Small World

* IT Meetups

* OWL – Oslo Writers League

* Norwegian language meetups

* Gym and Fitness

* Public Swimming Pools

* Nightlife

* Nox

* Horgans

* Resembles Bennigans

* English Comedy Nights

* Blå (Sunday Nights are Legendary)

Closing Thoughts (22:11 – 22:51)

Part 2 - next week.

Introduction (0:00 – 0:23)

Starting the Blog & Podcast (0:24 – 4:28)

* Inspirations

* Combatting Fake News

* Promoting the concept of National Values

* The spoken word is far more powerful than the written one.

* Goals

The Trump Factor (4:29 – 9:32)

* Washington, what matters, is now finally more important than Hollywood, which peddles escape from reality,

* Modern day Andrew Jackson,

* Key reasons why I voted for Donald J Trump,

* Where I disagree with the current US President.

Podcasting Experience (9:33 – 15:27)

* Learning the Business

* Mentorship and Guidance Experiences

* Growth Hackers

* Going it Alone: The Trial and Error Approach

* Setup

* GoDaddy Web Hosting,

* WordPress Website using the Verb Pro Theme,

* Blubrry Media Host (it’s American and you own all your IP),

* ATR 2100 USB Microphone/PC Computer (sometimes this goes on special for 50% off).

The Need for Funding and Sponsorship (15:29 – 17:16)

Our Growth Trends:

As of July 27, 2017

Looking for money to cover production costs, distribution, and marketing.

* Each production takes around 6-8 hours to research, record, edit and produce show notes,

* We would like to reach a wider audience, requiring advertising.

* There are other distribution channels, reaching SoundCloud, Alexa and Xbox listeners.

* We are also seeking guest interviews with others in the alternative media space.

* $10 per month on Patreon.

Wrap Up (17:17 – 18:00)

Bitcoin Address: 1TCENeNCPtxQS886fWgnyGpQo8jMuk51Z

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LettersfrNorway

References:

http://nypost.com/2009/08/21/blogger-may-have-a-past/

https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations-and-fashion-models/combating-fraud-and-abuse-h-1b-visa-program

http://heather.cs.ucdavis.edu/h1b.html

http://www.epi.org/blog/new-data-infosys-tata-abuse-h-1b-program/

 

Introduction: (0:00 to 0:43)

Continued from last week’s podcast.

Main Culprits to Health and Weight Issues: (0:44 – 6:00)

* The “Four Whites:”

* Flour Based Products

* Negative Effects of Refined Flour

* WebMD: The Truth About White Foods

* Sugar

* It is unavoidable but do your best, opting for fine chocolates over candy if possible (Lindt, Ritter, etc.)

* Harvard Medical School: Eating too much added sugar increases the risk of dying with heart disease

* 11 Weird Things Sugar's Doing To Your Body

* Salt

* It is everywhere and in almost every type of processed food.

* Harvard: Health Risks and Disease Related to Salt and Sodium

* White Rice

* The least worst of the four but refining calls into question the nutritional value and long term health effects.

* White rice is not bad but it’s generally better to opt for whole grain rice which includes the outer shell, high in fiber.

* Is Rice Healthy For Me? Does White vs Brown Rice Matter?

* Bottom line – the less processed the food the better.

The Need for Processed Food Taxation (6:00 – 7:08)

* I break from most all conservatives on this matter.

* Obesity, diabetes, and depression as a national crisis, killing the spirit of our nation.

* Mapping the Obesity Crisis in America

* Obesity making it difficult to field an army

* Therefore, I agree with Michael Bloomberg on:

* Soda and Sugar taxes,

* Calories printed on the menu and better labeling.

My Diet and Exercise Regiment: (7:09 – 11:27)

Diet

* A lot of fish (salmon, trout, cod, etc.)

Skrei cod (fish)

* Potatoes and wild rice.

* Vegetables: Broccoli, Carrots, and Asparagus.

* Fruits: Apple, Oranges, and Apples daily.

* Meat:

* Only grass-fed steaks.

* Although I like bacon, it is processed and not all that good for you.

Core Exercises

* Toe Raises

* Squats

* Planks

* Pushups

* Chair Dips

* Flutter Kicks

* Neck Exercises

Nordic Track Ski Machine

This is by far the best exercise, burning up to 500 calories an hour.

Introduction (0:00 – 1:36)

* Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or a nutritionist. I am only sharing my experiences.

* Compare and contrast healthcare and nutrition in both America and Norway.

Lessons from Norway (1:37 – 5:53)

* One of the most positive experiences, living in Norway, has been the transformation in my health and well-being.

* Back in the USA, I was overwhelmed with junk food.

* Stress eating from a demanding job and anxiety about what the future will bring caused me to gain massive amounts of weight.

* When I went back to visit, you could feel that Waffle House and Chinese Food, sucking the life out of you.

* It turns out that most issues in life can be cured by eating properly, drinking a lot of water, and light exercise.

Doctor Visits (05:54 – 12:32)

* Why Are People Going to the Doctor in the First Place?

* According to the Mayo Clinic in 2013, these were the top reasons for doctor’s visits. ( put them on my show notes)

* Skin disorders;

* Osteoarthritis and joint disorders;

* Back problems;

* Cholesterol problems;

* Upper respiratory conditions, excluding asthma;

* Anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder;

* Chronic neurologic disorders;

* High blood pressure;

* Headaches and migraines; and

* Diabetes.

* Most doctor visits can be attributed to a diet or exercise related issue:

* Obesity,

* Depression

* Diabetes

* Junk food vs. health food prices in Norway. Is that by design?

* Wasa Crisp Bread suggested instead of plain white and wheat bread.

* My doctor visit experience in Norway.

We Can’t Have It Both Ways (12:33 – 13:53)

* Do we get to eat whatever we want while living a sedentary lifestyle, expecting government-backed affordable health care?

* An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Industrialized Food Sector (13:54 – 19:22)

* The food industry is one of the strongest lobby groups out there.

* The need for regulation of the food industry.

A typical industrial chicken coop in America

* The only difference between regular chicken and organic chicken:

* http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carolyna-de-laurentiis/misleading-food-labels_b_2627388.html

* http://www.businessinsider.com/the-truth-about-humanely-raised-chicken-2014-12?r=US&IR=T&IR=T

* The reality for farmers who truly produce healthy chicken.

Wrap Up - (19:23 – 21:02)

Introduction:

This is a short and unedited podcast, responding to viewer mail. Matt, our sound editor, is off, enjoying the 4th of July Weekend. There are some pauses between sections where I took a break. I tried to remove those the best I could.

Letter and Chocolates from Jim

Jim, the name given to a Norwegian wishing to remain anonymous, wrote me a letter and even sent a donation that we are on the right track and I should keep up the good work. He listens to our podcasts while driving to work. He told us that the truth was refreshing. I was very happy. We met for a drink in downtown Oslo, discussing current events and monetary policy.

Before we started talking, he gave me a box of Anton Berg chocolates for my wife. Although working behind the scenes, she is becoming quite popular.

He told me that Norwegian media, in general, is very one sided and the opposition is too extreme, so much so their policies would be impossible to implement. There is nothing in the middle, taking into account reality. We hope to fill that gap with rational conservatism based on the principles of the American Founding Fathers.

I would like to thank Jim for his time and support. My wife sends her thanks for the chocolates. It’s really great to see that we are striking a chord with hardworking people.

Responding to Post about the 4th of July in Oslo Article

I received a valid critique on our Facebook Page from a local Democrat after posting a story about the 4th of July Picnic at Frogner Park, mostly making fun of the Democrats for living in the past, selling Hillary t-shirts and having Obama photos.

Nick,

I initially thought this page was going to be something a bit different than what the title suggested.

Did you think this was going to be a blog about Fjords and Bunads and how I am finding my way here? That assumption is partly true. I don’t write about the generic stuff. There are dozens of blogs out there doing that. They all talk about the same boring stuff, how Norwegians are anti-social and the weather is great in summer and sucks in winter. I want to talk about stuff that matters and affects us. We live in a democracy and everyone must be engaged to uphold it.

I liked the idea of an American perspective of living in Norway and their experience.

However, upon further review I see that it is fairly one-sided, misguided, and a baseless attempt to explain Norway and other topics.

Can you be more specific on what exactly where I am misguided and baseless?

I cite sources or my own personal accounts of what I have seen with my own eyes. I actually offer both sides of the story and what I think are the root causes. I have been living in Norway for the past four years, paying my taxes, taking the required language and social studies courses and passing the exams required for citizenship. I am not sure what is baseless in my explanations.

I go back to the US only once every two years and spend most of my holidays in my apartment. Therefore, I eat sleep and breath Norway.

Although you try to play it fair and balanced, (re: your voting record), I see this as primarily a far-right soap box in the making.

My voting record and background (Engineer with an MBA) should be inviting conversations from Democrats. Why did this Minnesota born, originally, hard left liberal turned to Trump. The short answer is that the Democrats decided to put the world’s problems ahead of American ones. The whole principle of elected leadership is that we delegate responsibility to represent or interests.

I saw Chicago go down the toilet with Obama in power. I studied at The University of Illinois at Chicago.

Introduction (0:00 to 0:58)

* Life in Norway as an American.

* Nick Kamran’s Norway Story.

* Recognition of donors, making this podcast possible.

Why Norway? (0:50 to 6:11)

* The first thing everyone asks me, “Why Norway.”

* There is a long and short answer to that question.

* The short answer will be answered in this podcast.

* The long answer is a book I am working on: “The Middle-Aged Man’s Guide to Divorcing in New York and Starting Over in Oslo.”

* I’m on page 278 or 86,000 words but still have a long way to go.

* The book is called, “A Middle-Aged Man’s Guide to Divorcing in New York and Starting Over in Oslo.”

* Choosing between four countries:

* Singapore,

* Qatar,

* Switzerland,

* Norway - The Minnesota Connection.

* Learning Norwegian on YouTube:

* Teacher from Kristiansand Teaching the alphabet:

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJCK_KYSXMM (Alphabet 1)

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGOH98ZtWoY (Alphabet 2)

* Karin the Norwegian Teacher:

* https://www.youtube.com/user/Crienexzy

* The American accent in Oslo

The Journey (6:12 to 13:26)

* The Leap of Faith.

* First day in Norway.

* Skilled job seeker visa process.

* Working as a nanny at middle age.

* Developing a routine to maximize the day.

* Early Morning – Gym (Evo Fitness),

* Late Morning – Job hunting,

* Afternoon - Norwegian School and chores,

* Evenings – babysitting and networking at the bars.

* Getting the job!

* It took exactly 3 months, 12, days and 10 hours,

* 153 applications, 5 interviews, and 2 offers.

* Courageous or Crazy: where is the line drawn?

Working in Norway (13:27 to 14:42)

* Characteristics of Norwegian Corporations,

* Various workplace scams I heard about or witnessed,

* This is a topic of a podcast by itself.

Becoming Norwegian (14:43 to 17:42)

* Permanent residency in Norway takes three years (refer to UDI.no).

* Norwegian Permanent Residency (PR) requirements for skilled workers.

* 250 classroom hours of Norwegian.

* 50 hours of social studies and history.

* Pass social studies and language examination.

* Compare and contrast to the American process.

* Talking to strangers in Norway and other social etiquettes.

Envy, Jealousy & the State (17:43 to 22:16)

* two words American’s hear but really don’t understand until they get to Europe.

* Personal information is public in Norway. There are several sites that tell the world where you live and even how much you make.

* Gulesider

* 1881

* Proff.no

* The Truman Show, starring Jim Carey, analogy.

* The state's agenda to disable human spirit and character, keeping people in their place.

* The tradeoff between government provided security and personal freedom...

My Thoughts on Bitcoin (0:00 – 12:50)

* Bitcoin is reminiscent of the Dutch Tulip Mania of 1634-1637.

* There are at least 10+ crypto coins out there.

* Perspective and analogy to the history of Social Media and Search Engines.

* Blockchain’s sinister origins:

* Chinese Bitcoin Theories (not in the podcast – added later)

* Bitcoin is a sponge to divert people from gold, which is truly out of the government’s control.

Gold and Silver (12:51 – 22:10)

* Precious Metals Overview

* An ounce no matter what is printed on it is still an ounce of gold and its’ value is defined by the weight. With paper money, the value is defined by what is printed on it.

* However, not all Gold and Silver are created equal.

* Differences between legal tender and bullion gold.

Legal Tender is gold issued by a government with face value, offering many benefits over bullion gold.

* Fintech - making Gold & Silver relevant

* BitGold or GoldMoney

* Precious Metals Point of Sale System or Cash Register to make direct metals transactions possible.

* Shared emails with

* Chris Duane at the Silver Shield/The Greatest Truth Never Told,

* Christian Garcia at Gold Sliver.com about this topic.

* Bitcoin and crypto coin food for thought.

Wrap Up (22:11 - 23:00)

* Economics is the collision between mathematics and psychology.

* Gold and silver need to become easy to transact before it returns to the mainstream.

* Gold and Silver are money and everything else is currency whether it be USD, NOK, EUR or electrons!

References:

Bitcoin Robberies

http://www.coindesk.com/hackers-steal-bitcoins-inputs-io-wallet-service/

http://www.thedailybeast.com/behind-the-biggest-bitcoin-heist-in-history-inside-the-implosion-of-mt-gox

Banks Pay Hacker Ransom in Bitcoins

https://futurism.com/banks-are-hoarding-bitcoin-to-pay-off-hackers/

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-06-08/jim-cramer-goes-batty-bitcoin-may-hit-1000000-act-now-its-too-late

Different Types of Bitcoins

http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/hottest-cryptocurrencies-to-know/

Introduction (0:00 to 58:00)

* Welcome message

* Acknowledgements

* Episode Inspiration

What is Money vs. Currency: (0:59 to 6:06)

* Personal Definition – a medium in which to store work or time.

* Technical Definitions

Reference: Hidden Secrets of Money by Mike Maloney

* The state and origins of paper currency.

Currency at one time was a voucher for gold that you could redeem at the nearest bank.

What is inflation? (6:07 – 11:05)

* The academic explanation (Refer to Peter Schiff and the Austrian School of Economics).

* My view on inflation:

* In 1865 Slavery never ended, it only changed form to include everyone.

* Transitioned from an ownership model to a pay per use one, like Uber is doing with cars., removing the ownership headaches.

* Governments, Central Banks, and Billionaires have a lot of time to think.

* Inflation concepts explained to millennials: “In Time” with Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried.

What is a Bank? (11:06 – 14:57)

* Definition

* Consequences on the meaning in light of negative rates and digital currency.

* Evolution from Savings & Loan to Bailout & Con

* Dividend stocks alternative.

Bitcoin (14:58 – 22:36)

* What is it?

* Analogies to social media & music mediums

* Origins, appearing during the 2009 financial crisis

* Benefits of Bitcoin

Even the largest bank in Norway, the most digital country in the world, has problems staying online.

* Bitcoin Bottlenecks & Weaknesses

* Wallets

* Repositories

* The analogy between Bitcoin and Wallets vs. Gold and Vaults.

* Most notable weakness – dependence on manmade infrastructure.

 

Part 2 Next Thursday

References:

Bitcoin Heists

http://www.coindesk.com/hackers-steal-bitcoins-inputs-io-wallet-service/

http://www.thedailybeast.com/behind-the-biggest-bitcoin-heist-in-history-inside-the-implosion-of-mt-gox

Banks Pay Hacker Ransom in Bitcoins

https://futurism.com/banks-are-hoarding-bitcoin-to-pay-off-hackers/

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-06-08/jim-cramer-goes-batty-bitcoin-may-hit-1000000-act-now-its-too-late

Different Types of Bitcoins

http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/hottest-cryptocurrencies-to-know/

China and Bitcoin

Is China Gaming Bitcoin? | China Uncensored

Modern Slavery

USA Today: Rigged – Forced into debt. Worked past exhaustion. Left with Nothing.