The Obama icon on sale

Less than four weeks before Barack Obama is inaugurated as America’s 44th president, he is everywhere – in the American stores. I just came back from a trip to Washington DC and Mexico City, and was amazed to see all the Obama products on display in DC. Obama is the new guy on the t-shirts, … Continue reading →

Supercities and an interesting project

Next week, I’m heading to Mexico City, one of the world’s largest cities with about 19 million citizens. It will be the largest city I’ve visited, with about 1 million more people than another big place I’ve been to,  New York (I’m using the metro numbers). I’m going to a wedding and is very curious … Continue reading →

Swedish surveillance of Norwegian emails

Two new Norwegian reports about the Swedish surveillance law, the FRA-law, are available today. You find both here (in Norwegian). I haven’t had time to look at them yet, but will do that later.

Blogging competition

European Journalism Centre has launched a blogging competition, “Think About It”. The goal is to  get Europeans to THINK ABOUT IT and to express their views on Europe through an online blogging competition. More info here.

More on the Belgian Defense Minister

Bruno Waterfield in the Daily Telegraph (who also has a blog – thanks for the link, Bruno) has  written an article about the incredible story of the drinking Belgian Defense minister Pieter de Crem on a cancelled meeting in New York and the blogging barmaid (I wrote about it here). (Via Linda_Margaret on Twitter) If … Continue reading →

Lessons learned from mySociety

I have an article (in Norwegian) about mySociety, eDemocracy, digital tools and how Norwegian politicians are considering using these tools in Magasinet, Dagbladet today. Let me know if you have any opinions on these matters. Talking about mySociety  –  a Romanian web site about how members of the European Parliament vote (similar to mySociety’s TheyWorkForYou) … Continue reading →

Three social media developments: Bild, European Citizens’ Consultations and Norwegian Facebook debate

Bildt, Germany’s largest newspaper, is partnering up with Lidl to sell cheap digital cameras to citizen journalists; EU has released a new citizen “portal”; Norwegian debate: can journalists be “fan” of politicians on Facebook? Bild wants to expand by using citizen journalists. According to Herald Tribune, potential Bild-citizen journalists can buy a digital camera at … Continue reading →

Will this phone change my life?

That’s the question I’m asking myself half jokingly these days. Or I could have said: iPhone, therefore I am. You see, I got myself an iPhone, even though it’s terribly late for those of you who are early adapters. I’m also aware everyone else is trying to kill iPhone, but I will give it a … Continue reading →

The Belgian Minister of Defense’s encounter with a “dangerous” blogger

A drunk Belgian minister in New York on a cancelled meeting, a blogging waitress, a phone call, a lost job, a Facebook group – blogging is “dangerous”. It is a really fascinating story that has been unfolding in the Belgian blogosphere lately, and it is quite juicy since it involves the Belgian Minister of Defense, … Continue reading →