Hmm...I am getting worse and worse at this blogging stuff...
So much has happened since last time I blogged and I'll try not to make this into a novel.
Last weekend was crazyness. Almost all the Norwegians at the entrepreneurship program went to Las Vegas for a weekend of fun. And even though I know that everything that happens in Vegas is supposed to stay in Vegas I'll try you guys a brief summary of the event. No pictures yet, but I'll try to find some decent ones and post later this week.
Seven of us left SFO on friday afternoon and amazingly, due to misunderstandings, we lost Peder at the airport. Kind of a bad omen for the weekend, but fortunately he got himself on the next plane and joined the rest of the crew some hours later.
I have a friend from high school in Minnesota, Chris, that works as a teacher in Vegas and another friend from Minnesota, Tyler, that flew down there as well. Tyler was there for one night only and Friday we went down to downtown Las Vegas. This is seperate from the more wll known strip and you can get a lot more for your money. I can truly recommend the penny slots at Le Bayou. As long as you play and tip you can pretty much get as many free drinks you can handle. In fewer words Norwegians and free alcohol is not always the best combination.
Later we went to two different night clubs, Rok and XS, and the latter was by far the most fun one. A huge club over at Wynn Encore that really rocked. Got a little tired towards the end and stumbled into bed at around 4.30ish.
I was as usual up way before the others on Saturday morning and, as the g33k I am, spent a couple of hours doing some schoolwork before Pål and I went to play poker. It was just a small 22-player $35 freeze out at the Luxor and I finished on the bubble (4th) but at least it was a couple of hours of great fun and I got unlucky at the end. Lost with full house against straight flush.
At around six most of the guys met to have dinner and we followed that up with a stretch hummer ride up and down the strip. The hummer ride ended at Ceasar's Palace where we clubbing at Pure. Somehow we got fooled doing table service, which pretty much means that you pay an amount up front to get in front of the line, get three bottles of liquer+mixers and get a VIP table. It seemed expensive to pay $150 to get into a club, but since you didn't spend much money after that the night was cheaper than the first one.
The coolest thing about Pure was the fact that DMX was hosting and did a full set of old classics. He might have been drunk or high, but it was an awesome concert at the whole club was bouncing. I was dead tired after the concert and went home early at around 3am still singing DMX songs....
Next morning was poker again, we did the same tournie, and I finished 3rd this time. At least I cashed and can brag about doing that in Vegas. This time I was a little lucky during the tournement and hit both four of a kind and straight flush along the way.
In total Vegas was a little expensive, but a whole lotta fun. I think most of the crew had lots and lots of fun, and so did I. The next couple of weeks will include a lot of schoolwork, the business plan we're doing is due august 12th....
Pictures will be posted later...
torsdag 30. juli 2009
mandag 20. juli 2009
Can't wait for the season to start
August 9th seem so far away...
The pre-season/silly season is a little bit nerve wrecking. There is the excitement of signing players you expected to get (Valencia), the excitement of the surprise signing of players you would never guess would wear the right red jersey (Owen), and the utter disappointment of players signing with other clubs then your own (Benzema, Ibrahimovic, and on and on and on). But what it all boils down to is the increasing anxiety of the upcoming season: Will the team perform like last year? Will the loss of Ronaldo haunt us forever (like Beardsley haunts the scousers)?
The first pre-season matches have led me to believe we will be as strong as ever. History has shown that when the biggest names have left Old Trafford others have excelled (Cantona/Beckham/van Nistelrooy) and I have absolutely no that in the abilities of Sir Alex to create another winning team and bringing number 19 back to Old Trafford.
I know 3-2 and 2-0 over a composition of Malaysias best 11 aren't the most impressive results ever, but we are winning matches (compared to teams which names will not be mentioned) and our strikes are scoring goals. The fact that Rooney, Macheda and Owen (2) have all opened their scoring accounts is significant. What is even more important is the fact that they are scoring scrappy goals. After van Nistelrooy left us we have struggled to get a pouncher in the area that can get the rebounds and tap in the easy goals. Owen is that kind of a striker, Rooney is getting better and better at it, and it seem like Macheda might have learned a thing or two from Solskjaer last year at the reserves.
So hopes are high for the coming season. I do not really feel that the other top teams have strenghtened their teams. Liverpool has signed Glen Johnson - which kind of surprised me considering the season Arbeloa had last year - but he will have an impact and create more width for the scousers. Chelsea has signed Yuri Zhirkov - the phenom from Euro '08 - but I am unsure if his impact will really bring the blues closer to the title. He might give them another option on the left side, but I will argue that both Ashley Cole and Joe Cole gives them better options on left back and left winger. Arsenal - if they can be considered a top team based on last year - has signed Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax. The 23 year old defender might an unknown entity for many has proven to be a steady central defender and should give Arsenal another alternative and might give them a little more confidence in defence (Arsenal (37) let in a high number of goals last season compared to United (24), Liverpool (27) and Chelsea (24)) .
While Chelsea and Liverpool have not sold any significant players, both Arsenal and United have. Even though Adebayor did not have the best of seasons for the gunners last season he had an impact and presence in every game he played. The questions is if Arshavin can keep up the form he had at the end of last season when more pressure will be put on him. Bendtner, van Persie and Vela should also be able to produce goals so my prediction is that Arsenal will not kick themselves for selling him when the season starts.
United on the other hand has had significant losses without really filling the needs so far. The sale of Ronaldo might come back and haunt us, but it was the right thing to do. He was not happy at the club and nobody wants players that want to leave (Beckham/van Nistelrooy). Just as significant is the loss of Tevez to City. It is typical for Ferguson though. No player is bigger than the team and we are not willing to pay players insane amounts in wages. I believe that if Tevez had really wanted to stay at United he could have. When the negotiations fell down earlier this year it was because Tevez wanted the same wage as Ronaldo....
To complete my analysis I do not think the other teams in the Premier League are stronger than they were a year ago, but United might be weaker. I do not believe the gap between number one and number four will be 18 points this season. I do not believe the gap between number one and number seven will be 37 points this season. But I do believe the top four will be United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.... in that order...
The pre-season/silly season is a little bit nerve wrecking. There is the excitement of signing players you expected to get (Valencia), the excitement of the surprise signing of players you would never guess would wear the right red jersey (Owen), and the utter disappointment of players signing with other clubs then your own (Benzema, Ibrahimovic, and on and on and on). But what it all boils down to is the increasing anxiety of the upcoming season: Will the team perform like last year? Will the loss of Ronaldo haunt us forever (like Beardsley haunts the scousers)?
The first pre-season matches have led me to believe we will be as strong as ever. History has shown that when the biggest names have left Old Trafford others have excelled (Cantona/Beckham/van Nistelrooy) and I have absolutely no that in the abilities of Sir Alex to create another winning team and bringing number 19 back to Old Trafford.
I know 3-2 and 2-0 over a composition of Malaysias best 11 aren't the most impressive results ever, but we are winning matches (compared to teams which names will not be mentioned) and our strikes are scoring goals. The fact that Rooney, Macheda and Owen (2) have all opened their scoring accounts is significant. What is even more important is the fact that they are scoring scrappy goals. After van Nistelrooy left us we have struggled to get a pouncher in the area that can get the rebounds and tap in the easy goals. Owen is that kind of a striker, Rooney is getting better and better at it, and it seem like Macheda might have learned a thing or two from Solskjaer last year at the reserves.
So hopes are high for the coming season. I do not really feel that the other top teams have strenghtened their teams. Liverpool has signed Glen Johnson - which kind of surprised me considering the season Arbeloa had last year - but he will have an impact and create more width for the scousers. Chelsea has signed Yuri Zhirkov - the phenom from Euro '08 - but I am unsure if his impact will really bring the blues closer to the title. He might give them another option on the left side, but I will argue that both Ashley Cole and Joe Cole gives them better options on left back and left winger. Arsenal - if they can be considered a top team based on last year - has signed Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax. The 23 year old defender might an unknown entity for many has proven to be a steady central defender and should give Arsenal another alternative and might give them a little more confidence in defence (Arsenal (37) let in a high number of goals last season compared to United (24), Liverpool (27) and Chelsea (24)) .
While Chelsea and Liverpool have not sold any significant players, both Arsenal and United have. Even though Adebayor did not have the best of seasons for the gunners last season he had an impact and presence in every game he played. The questions is if Arshavin can keep up the form he had at the end of last season when more pressure will be put on him. Bendtner, van Persie and Vela should also be able to produce goals so my prediction is that Arsenal will not kick themselves for selling him when the season starts.
United on the other hand has had significant losses without really filling the needs so far. The sale of Ronaldo might come back and haunt us, but it was the right thing to do. He was not happy at the club and nobody wants players that want to leave (Beckham/van Nistelrooy). Just as significant is the loss of Tevez to City. It is typical for Ferguson though. No player is bigger than the team and we are not willing to pay players insane amounts in wages. I believe that if Tevez had really wanted to stay at United he could have. When the negotiations fell down earlier this year it was because Tevez wanted the same wage as Ronaldo....
To complete my analysis I do not think the other teams in the Premier League are stronger than they were a year ago, but United might be weaker. I do not believe the gap between number one and number four will be 18 points this season. I do not believe the gap between number one and number seven will be 37 points this season. But I do believe the top four will be United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.... in that order...
Sailing, eating and beer pong
Almost monday and I have had another interesting weekend in the Bay Area.
Friday was a totally relaxing evening. A little BBQ and a little poker. Fredrik lucked out and won, but it was great fun and we were to tired to go out.
On Saturday Innovation Norway hooked us up with sailing in the San Francisco Bay and it was a great day for it (besides the fact that it was too sunny and we all got sunburned - again). We sailed for three ours and got great views of both Golden Gate Bridge, Sausolito, Tiburon and San Francisco. I must admit that I am usually not that big of an boat person, but the whole sailing experience was totally relaxing and is highly recommended.
After the boat trip we had a few hours of relaxing before dinner at a small italian restaurant on Green Street, Vicoletto. The restaurant in itself didn't look that impressive from the outside, but the food was pretty decent. If anybody ever visit the place, however unlikely, I can recommend the Gorgonzola salad and the Veal Vicoletto.
As the truly model student that I am I had decided not to drink during our boat trip and the restaurant visit (I was driving), but somehow we ended up having a party at our apartment. It didn't start until close to 11 pm, but the party really rocked. A perfect college party with lots of music, people and beer pong.
The party ended, an hour after the old man (me) went to bed, when the cops came and threw the remaining partyers out of the jacuzzi. The total tally for the party was more than a 100 cans of beer, some Jägermeister (Go Daniel Go), some Baccardi, some Whiskey, two complaints by George the local security guard and one relocation (from our place to Fredrik, Andreas, Ole M and Kjetils place). Lots of fun, but must admit I was a little tired this morning.
Today I have pretty much been lying on the coach watching movies and sports on television and working on the marketing part of our business plan. A pretty ineffective day, but at least I got some work done.
and one more thing...
Go watch Brüno!
That man has no limits what so ever - Run to the movies...
Fredrik losing in beer pong...
San Francisco by the sea..
A bunch of Norwegians at Vicoletto
Vikings on a boat...
Friday was a totally relaxing evening. A little BBQ and a little poker. Fredrik lucked out and won, but it was great fun and we were to tired to go out.
On Saturday Innovation Norway hooked us up with sailing in the San Francisco Bay and it was a great day for it (besides the fact that it was too sunny and we all got sunburned - again). We sailed for three ours and got great views of both Golden Gate Bridge, Sausolito, Tiburon and San Francisco. I must admit that I am usually not that big of an boat person, but the whole sailing experience was totally relaxing and is highly recommended.
After the boat trip we had a few hours of relaxing before dinner at a small italian restaurant on Green Street, Vicoletto. The restaurant in itself didn't look that impressive from the outside, but the food was pretty decent. If anybody ever visit the place, however unlikely, I can recommend the Gorgonzola salad and the Veal Vicoletto.
As the truly model student that I am I had decided not to drink during our boat trip and the restaurant visit (I was driving), but somehow we ended up having a party at our apartment. It didn't start until close to 11 pm, but the party really rocked. A perfect college party with lots of music, people and beer pong.
The party ended, an hour after the old man (me) went to bed, when the cops came and threw the remaining partyers out of the jacuzzi. The total tally for the party was more than a 100 cans of beer, some Jägermeister (Go Daniel Go), some Baccardi, some Whiskey, two complaints by George the local security guard and one relocation (from our place to Fredrik, Andreas, Ole M and Kjetils place). Lots of fun, but must admit I was a little tired this morning.
Today I have pretty much been lying on the coach watching movies and sports on television and working on the marketing part of our business plan. A pretty ineffective day, but at least I got some work done.
and one more thing...
Go watch Brüno!
That man has no limits what so ever - Run to the movies...
Fredrik losing in beer pong...
San Francisco by the sea..
A bunch of Norwegians at Vicoletto
Vikings on a boat...søndag 19. juli 2009
Pictures from the last weeks...
Our great office! I am in the cubicle back left....
Wine tasting in Sonoma County with our boss Maher and his family.. Chardonney grapes at one of the winerys.
Maher and his daughter. This is from the early stage of the wine tasting...got a little boring for the little girl after a while.
Me as a Berkeley tree hugger...
We are trying to teach our co-workers the basic Norwegian words....
Jazz hands..
Maher and his daughter. This is from the early stage of the wine tasting...got a little boring for the little girl after a while.
Me as a Berkeley tree hugger...
We are trying to teach our co-workers the basic Norwegian words....
Jazz hands..
torsdag 16. juli 2009
The half-blood prince
Just came back from the movie theater and felt like giving a short review of Harry Potter and the Half-blood prince. It was a worthy intermediate film before the two last films - but the wait will be boring. The next movie isn't schedualed until next summer and there is bound to be some sort of a delay along the way...
I must say that it is impressive keeping up the good standard of the movies in the series so late in the series. The books are of course by far better, but I get kind of a Lord of the Rings feel to the franchise...
I must say that it is impressive keeping up the good standard of the movies in the series so late in the series. The books are of course by far better, but I get kind of a Lord of the Rings feel to the franchise...
onsdag 15. juli 2009
Wine-tasting in Sebastopol
And then is was Wednesday again....
Since last time I wrote there has been quite a lot going on and I have been keeping busy. I will try to summarize some of it...
The days leading up to last Saturday was filled with a lot of work in regards to the group project we are doing here at Berkeley. We had to present a preliminary business plan for our company on Saturday and we had to prepare (more or less) for that. It went OK, but we kind of realize that we will have to continue to work (more than we want to) on the plan in the weeks to come.
This last weekend (+ Monday) Anita (my co-worker) and I went with my boss Maher and his family up to their house in Sebastopol. It was a really nice, relaxing weekend with a little bit of wine and champagne tasting on Sunday. If anyone ever visits the Sonoma area I can recommend going tasting. First of all it is a really fun experience to check out some of the many hundred winerys in the area, and second of all many of them are free....
Yesterday and today has been all work so far, but at least I am going to check out the latest Harry Potter movie tonight...
Tomorrow is another day of school and I have way to much to read before then....
Since last time I wrote there has been quite a lot going on and I have been keeping busy. I will try to summarize some of it...
The days leading up to last Saturday was filled with a lot of work in regards to the group project we are doing here at Berkeley. We had to present a preliminary business plan for our company on Saturday and we had to prepare (more or less) for that. It went OK, but we kind of realize that we will have to continue to work (more than we want to) on the plan in the weeks to come.
This last weekend (+ Monday) Anita (my co-worker) and I went with my boss Maher and his family up to their house in Sebastopol. It was a really nice, relaxing weekend with a little bit of wine and champagne tasting on Sunday. If anyone ever visits the Sonoma area I can recommend going tasting. First of all it is a really fun experience to check out some of the many hundred winerys in the area, and second of all many of them are free....
Yesterday and today has been all work so far, but at least I am going to check out the latest Harry Potter movie tonight...
Tomorrow is another day of school and I have way to much to read before then....
torsdag 9. juli 2009
Another week of work
So it's Wednesday and half the week is gone... so fast...
Last weekend was a blast. When I wrote my last post I didn't really have that much planned for the weekend, but it was a certainly an eventful one...
Friday the few of us that were left in Mountain View spent the evening pretending to be Bruno in the jacuzzi and scaring of both Ukrainians and Hawaiians. The evening was rounded up with about an hour at tiny bar downtown Mountain View that us Norwegians have named "the hole in the wall" - I don't think anybody really knows what it is called... And Ole doesn't really remember much at all...
On the 4th of July we, Fredrik, Kim Aage, Ole and I went to this crazy houseboat party organized at some local Norwegian fireman's place. It was pretty sweet to be able to stand on the roof of the boat watching the fireworks go of while there where thousands of people cramming together on the pier.... Kind of a surrealistic experience... I'll try to steal some pictures from the others to post... We were all kind of tired from fridays Mountain View adventures so the night didn't last that long - Ole drove us home sometime between 1 and 2 am.
Sunday was pretty uneventful with tennis during the day and a trip to the movie theater during the afternoon. We saw Public Enemies which turned out to be a pretty crappy movie, but at least Fredrik got to eat a large popcorn with extra butter. Some consolation for the total trashing he got in tennis I guess...
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week has been going fast. Work is really good at the moment and I am given a lot of responsebility. Finally I some of the fruits of all my boring research is showing and I am starting to get some grasp on the partnership/affiliation program Faculte is going to run.
It is also great news that Notodden finally got three points in the Norwegian 1. division and that they are clear of relegation again.
Manchester United have also signed their third player (unless you count youngsters) this week. Bordaux's 20-year old striker Gabriel Obertan is ready for the reds and hopefully he will be a great addition to the squad. My expectations for him this first season are not that high, but he is a great prospect and could hopefully be developed by Fergie into a future star.
Last weekend was a blast. When I wrote my last post I didn't really have that much planned for the weekend, but it was a certainly an eventful one...
Friday the few of us that were left in Mountain View spent the evening pretending to be Bruno in the jacuzzi and scaring of both Ukrainians and Hawaiians. The evening was rounded up with about an hour at tiny bar downtown Mountain View that us Norwegians have named "the hole in the wall" - I don't think anybody really knows what it is called... And Ole doesn't really remember much at all...
On the 4th of July we, Fredrik, Kim Aage, Ole and I went to this crazy houseboat party organized at some local Norwegian fireman's place. It was pretty sweet to be able to stand on the roof of the boat watching the fireworks go of while there where thousands of people cramming together on the pier.... Kind of a surrealistic experience... I'll try to steal some pictures from the others to post... We were all kind of tired from fridays Mountain View adventures so the night didn't last that long - Ole drove us home sometime between 1 and 2 am.
Sunday was pretty uneventful with tennis during the day and a trip to the movie theater during the afternoon. We saw Public Enemies which turned out to be a pretty crappy movie, but at least Fredrik got to eat a large popcorn with extra butter. Some consolation for the total trashing he got in tennis I guess...
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week has been going fast. Work is really good at the moment and I am given a lot of responsebility. Finally I some of the fruits of all my boring research is showing and I am starting to get some grasp on the partnership/affiliation program Faculte is going to run.
It is also great news that Notodden finally got three points in the Norwegian 1. division and that they are clear of relegation again.
Manchester United have also signed their third player (unless you count youngsters) this week. Bordaux's 20-year old striker Gabriel Obertan is ready for the reds and hopefully he will be a great addition to the squad. My expectations for him this first season are not that high, but he is a great prospect and could hopefully be developed by Fergie into a future star.
fredag 3. juli 2009
A weekend of relaxation
As most of the other norwegians travel south towards Los Angeles, Joshua Tree and St. Barbara I am finding my self in a total state of relaxation here in Mountain View. While the others probably are stuck in 10 hours of traffic I will bee playing tennis and lying poolside...
It is of course 4th of July weekend and I do not really know what I will be doing tomorrow, but I do not worry... I am pretty chill at the moment.
So what else is new? Yesterday was school and that was pretty ordinary... although I have found my favorite place in California. It is calles Yoghurtland and the sell yoghurt icecreams buffet style.
Last night I went to Blockbuster and rented five movies: Frost/Nixon, Slumdog Millionaire, The Wrestler, Gran Torino and Fired Up (I needed a light crappy high school movie as well). I have seen the two first so far and Slumdog is a really feel good kind of movie. It also contains one of my new favorite songs: M.I.A. - Paper Planes.
On another note I am a little stunned and a little excited of the signing of Michael Owen. Nothing would be more fun than him scoring the winner against the scousers on Anfield in October....
Word out
It is of course 4th of July weekend and I do not really know what I will be doing tomorrow, but I do not worry... I am pretty chill at the moment.
So what else is new? Yesterday was school and that was pretty ordinary... although I have found my favorite place in California. It is calles Yoghurtland and the sell yoghurt icecreams buffet style.
Last night I went to Blockbuster and rented five movies: Frost/Nixon, Slumdog Millionaire, The Wrestler, Gran Torino and Fired Up (I needed a light crappy high school movie as well). I have seen the two first so far and Slumdog is a really feel good kind of movie. It also contains one of my new favorite songs: M.I.A. - Paper Planes.
On another note I am a little stunned and a little excited of the signing of Michael Owen. Nothing would be more fun than him scoring the winner against the scousers on Anfield in October....
Word out
onsdag 1. juli 2009
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