How can you be a serious political scientist while blogging?

This weekend I had a very interesting conversation with a lawyer and economist. Having heard that I had a blog she asked me how I could be a serious graduate student in political science while blogging. It is easy to associate a blog with so-called "pink bloggers" (rosabloggere), such as Sophie Elise in Norway and celebrities like Kim Kardashian.

I am no great blogger that can live off income from advertising on the blog. My blog is only an insight into a normal life. I have traveled a lot, and it is nice to be able to share these experiences. In addition, I think it is fun to show people that political scientists do more than analyzing statistics and writing articles in newspapers. There is a huge diversity of different people with different interests.

Maybe I do not fall within the norm of a serious scientist. The economist I spoke with pointed out that having a blog can count negatively in a job search process. I see this point, but at the same time, I think that there could be worse things than writing a blog. For example, provocative and stalling photos on Facebook might be more negative. However, to be on the safe side: Dear future employer, if you read my blog after googling my name, I hope the fact that I write about more than politics, do not mean you will not hire me.

Nail polish art! DIY: How to make a white purse awesome!

The only things you need are a purse, nail polish, a pencil and some creativity.

I have some nail polish including som old OPI colours, that I never use. Instead of throwing these away, I decided to use them on something other than my nails. This is the result.

Refugees and municipality merging / Bosetting av flyktninger og kommunereformen

There are currently a debate about merging municipalities (kommuner) in Norway. Today we have 428 municipalities, but the government wants to reduce this number to improve services. The smallest municipality in Norway is Utsira. This municipality has only 206 inhabitants. The government established an expert committee in 2014 to evaluate the municipality’s situation. This expert committee concluded, among other things that it is favorable with at least 15,000 residents in each municipality.
Another ongoing debate not only in Norway, but also all over the world, is receiving refugees. The increasing number of refugees going to Europe makes it hard to accept everyone. In Norway, rules allow municipalities to decide whether they will accept refugees. In contrast to Sweden where refugees themselves are choosing where to stay, or Denmark where municipalities are required to take a number of refugees.
It is challenging to reach an agreement in these two cases, but I have an idea. Utsira does not want to merge with other municipalities, and perhaps one solution would be to increase the number of residents in the small municipality. What if Utsira accept 14,800 refugees. Then the municipal population will be above the minimum requirement of 15,000, and many refugees will be able to move from national reception centers. This is obviously not a serious recommendation, but an invitation to see solutions across debates and policy areas.

Blueberry trip

Blueberries are why we Norwegians make our annual picking trip. Picking blueberries is sort of a tradition in Norway. Every autumn Norwegians walk around in the woods to eat and collect berries. It's completely free.

Earlier people battled for the best blueberry spots, but now there are fewer who take the trip into the woods and it is therefore more than enough for everyone. Today, there are also lots of blueberries that are not being picked, but my grandmother told me that the forest during WW2 was empty for blueberries, because nearly everyone wanted these small berries full of vitamins.
Fact: Blueberries are chock-full of flavonoids, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by preventing blood clots.

Today one can of course just go in the freezer counter at the supermarket to buy blueberries. I still recommend you to take a blueberry trip. It is a wonderful and fun experience.

Pride parade Oslo 2015

Today Oslo and Norway celebrates that all people are of equal worth, regardless of sexual orientation. I vas very touched by the parade. Seeing the joy, unity and pride among participants vas great. Happy Pride! #Prideparade #Prideparade2015 #Oslo

Oslo Botanic Garden

The Botanical garden is located near the city centre, about 15 minutes' walk from Oslo Central Station. This is a lovely place to have a walk. The garden is small compared to those in other countries, but still worth visiting. Among other things, there is a special Viking-section in the garden. Here you can see which plants Vikings cultivated. To get to the garden you need to go in the direction of Tøyen.

Tips! Use the benches if you want to sit. You'll be chased away if you decide to settle on the lawn. :)
Here are a few spring pictures from the botanical garden.

Visit Oslo - Old-town and the Ekeberg hill

Oslo has much to offer. If you ever visit the city you should take a trip to the old town and the Ekeberg hill. Oslo has throughout history both changed name and location. After a fire in 1624, king Christian IV determined that the old Oslo should not be rebuilt. The new town was placed close to the Akershus Castle, and was named Christiania. In 1925 the city got its old name Oslo back. From Ekeberg restaurant there is a breathtaking view of Oslo from the east side