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Norway/Bergen people?

Hey Hey!

To make it real quick, I’m coming to Bergen, Norway, for Erasmus. I’m staying 10 months and will be studying at the Bergen University (Faculty of Humanities).

I’m 22 and from Italy, was just wondering if among you people there was someone from Bergen? for infos and whatnot? Also I will be learning Norwegian so having someone to chat with and practice would be cool!

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Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way Where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say.

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all friends from work, in fact...

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just like the old times--

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Surprise, Ragnarok’s here ! ;)

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and the shadow of the day will embrace the world in gray...

We’ll miss you.

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Reblog this if you’re ok with people instant messaging you out of the blue.

Like, starting random conversations, discussing head cannons, feel free to message.

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Hello to all of the Linkin fans.

This is a very sad day for all of us who grew up with the band, with Chester’s voice resounding in our head through our struggles as teenagers and as we grew older. We loved them immensely. We loved him immensely.

I won’t forget him, and never will any of us. His music will go on.

Please, all of you guys, remember that depression is serious. very much so. it can destroy your life, but it is possible to get help, to get out of it. it’s not just blind optimism, it’s the truth as I know it, for I’ve fought against this and although there can be weakness and pain, please remember that life, your life, is worth it. every minute of it.

If you’d like, I thought we could reblog this post adding (as a gif or lyrics from the song, picture etc.): a song who made you love the band - could also be your favorite one - and the last one from LP you listened to. Or just add them to your own post, and you can use the hashtag   #thank you chester  ^^

mines were “Numb” and “Final Masquerade”

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"Moi, je ne m’exprime jamais comme les autres ! Je ne fais rien comme les autres! Mais j’en suis bien fatigué ! Bien fatigué !..." ~ Erik aesthetic in black, silver and ivory + spirit animal: Arabian wolf ~

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"when a man", continued Raoul,"adopts such romantic methods to entice a young girl's affections. .." "The man must be either a villain, or the girl a fool: is that it?" ~Christine Daae aesthetic in pale blue and earthy brown + spirit animal: mountain bluebird ~

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“Chrstine, you must have been dreaming.”

~ Meg Giry aesthetic in gold, black and white + spirit animal: white dove ~

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Discussion prompts : M/F writers with Romance and the Fantasy genre.

Of course, as the title suggests, I’m only talking about the Fantasy genre. Sci/Fi may also be included. Recently I’ve been reading two fantasy novels, one from a male author and the other from a female one. Just a quick premise: with this post I don’t mean to say that one is not as good as the other or is way better. Not at all. What I found is, in many cases they have a different take on the genre. Each with its flaws and good points. I will say this; If I can be honest, I myself am a woman, but in all my life as a reader I’ve always found difficult to find a female author I really liked. Again, it’s not a way to criticize female authors, I’m not against feminism and I care for women’s rights and their fights. This has nothing to do with it, it’s a matter of personal likings. My issue with many fantasy novels written by ladies it’s mainly one: the Romance. I know. I know. Not all fem. writers are about smooches, unrequited feelings and over the top love stories. J.K Rowling, Susanna Clarke, Suzanne Collins, Anne Rice,Robin Hobb are my favorite examples of this and are all writers I adore. All of them chose a take on their Fantasy and Sci Fi novels that was unique and made me love them. Their books, for me, are practically flawless. Yet, I have to confess that most times the books and sagas I enjoy more are those written by male authors. The simple reason for this is that it’s mostly in their books that I find the type of Fantasy I like. I want epic, I want magic, I want dark and gritty times and the great euphoria of victory, I want mistery and adventures, I want villains that can draw you in and make you say “I want to know you” , I want hope, I want fear, I want a long long road to walk alongside the protagonists, I want characters that can give me something, characters I want to know inside and out, that I want to love and hate. Romance actually comes very nearly at the bottom of my requirements for a Fantasy.

But romances are great of course. A good one gives even more depth to the novel and creates terrific conflicts. Good male fantasy authors are, from my experience, great at epic, building characters in depth (often huge casts of them), and are all for the adventure and great conflict. Yet a little romance is nice, and here the authors (one exception being made for Robert Jordan) I had experience with had the same approach to it as that of a striking-looking grizzly bear finding himself on a frozen lake with thin ice. Little grace and smoothness, cute in an awkward way. When the protagonist is a male one I have to adapt to his perspective on the object of his affections and sometimes it’s more difficult than reading something in a woman’s point of view. The main thing I’ve noticed is male authors tend to, sometimes, almost worship the protagonist’ s lady: she’s absolute perfection, the proper image of a goddess, while also being strong as a trunk and wild. Traits that are all very admirable of course, but realistic? Err. Not so much? Maybe male readers don’t feel that way. I’d have to ask some of them. Or you can tell me! The fact is, when I read the interactions between the male pr. and his love interest I almost feel that it would be better to skip that altogether and just plunge back into the action.

On the other hand we have other issues. Fantasy + Female writers + romance = I never know what I’m getting into. Strong points: good female writers have the same elegance and “power” in narrative as any male author. That is not in question and I never had anything to complain about a good fem. writer’s world-building and characters layout.

Again, the issue starts with romance: Worst cases I had were some very cheesy and fanfiction-worth romances (Angelini’s “Starcrossed” and following novels and others books of the same league - sorry not sorry: the romance was ridiculous and palm-face worthy) with a “sweep me off ma feet you hottie you” approach. Ok, it’s fantasy. But there are some things that need to stay realistical. Come on. The other scenarios I most encountered were: • a very good start: the male character is fascinating enough, giving the reader a real “I want to know how this relationship will play out” feeling; story is good, characters too, the protagonist is likeable and you can sympathize with her. Then, the big turn off: they end up together and all is said and done by the end of the first book if you’re lucky, or barely after like 200 pages. With other 2 or 3 more books programmed for the saga. I mean, it just doesn’t work for me: what am I supposed to look forward to then? You burned the rope too soon sister. Really ruined the hype. Have some patience and build it up please! Take time away from the couple and give me some action and adventure, don’t just submerge me in feels. At least make me hold my breath until the second book no? • opposite turn off: also good premises, this time the author takes her time with the love-building, makes you hold your breath and squeal with excitement. Until there’s a sudden rush and slam! You find yourself at the end of it all and evidently the author was either really fed up and just wanted to put an end to it or there were pressures from somewhere else - editors -; all the same there’s this quick epiphany for the lovers that leaves you with a feeling that there’s something missing (Trudi Canavan’s The Black Magician Trilogy is one such saga). OR: you wait and wait and wait… aaaaaaand nada. There may be an epiphany but it all ends in one of the two pulling a Divergent or just making a totally different choice for some greater good or for other delusional thinkings and it all just goes to Hela together with your patience. I mean, there’s a limit to everything you know? I can understand the Divergent ending, but lately this is becoming a trend. DON’T write a sad ending just because it feels more serious and you believe the readers will symphatize. 8 out of 10 we’ll just huff and mentally ask what were you playing at. The “happy ever after” may be a little exasperating and nobody is expecting you to keep to it just to make us feel satisfied, BUT there is such a thing called “Balance”.

And balance is something I don’t often find when it comes to romance, be it written by male or female authors.

But this is my thinking! If somebody feels like it, please intervene! :) tell me your thoughts, what books and authors you thought had a good or bad approach to romance or fantasy? Would you recommend some of them?

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Please everyone. Help if you can!!!! It's really unfair and sad :(

UPDATE on my cat Merlin (he was hurt by local teens because I helped my fellow LGBTQ neighbours when they were harassed by the kids): This is an example of the rocks found on the balcony and in the backyard, that were used to hurt Merlin, my cat. They chose them extra sharp it seems. Merlin was at the emergency over night. He will be transferred from there to a place (animal hospital) where they can actually check his head with x-ray. The costs for just yesterday night getting him seen was 250 POUND. They said it would be more transferring him and X-ray would be a new bill, at the new place. So I will have to pay the 250 Pound plus transferal costs today. Please keep sharing and donating! I’m begging you!

I want to address a few point that were brought up: Insurance for Merlin isn’t really possible for me. He was insured last year, but he is really old so there are only schemes that don’t really cover everything. I had looked into it last june, but the levels I could have afford monthly didn’t cover emergency etc, just flee and vaccines. Calling the cops. WAS DONE!!! Thank you for asking. I called them when they assaulted US, the neighbours and yesterday night. They said they can’t do much about the Merlin situation because I don’t have witnesses and didn’t see their faces. But they note it down. They treat all this as a hate crime. Cameras, I can’t install them, I have no money for that. The police will be asked if they can do that on the street. I am not allowed to arm myself. The yard is open to over 7 houses with doors. Keeping Merlin and letting him go outside was never and option or worry. He is an outdoor cat for over 12 years, nothing ever happened till this year. Please keep donating and spreading this post. He needs all the support for his X-Ray and it would break my heart if we would fail at the costs. Me being lgbt shouldn’t mean is life ends.

it would break my heart.

Please help, I don’t have enough to go to emergency with him - please help : PayPal “for Merlin” in pound, send to friend/family: Galadraeluk@yahoo.co.uk <<<<-