Language galore - NCIS and NCIS:LA style: the best jokes

A frequent topic I write about here is languages; the perils, pitfalls and joys in discovering the English language as an English undergraduate student (cue in "What to do with a B.A. in English") and when European languages are messed up on American TV. I have always had a great love for languages and they fascinate me. How they work, how they are connected and how they influence our view of the world. And for this venture of mine, the NCIS franchise has proven to be a minefield. It challenges my language skills and gives me much to think about. Today's topic is a collection of my favorite language moments from both shows.

I have already expressed my appreciation of the language tool that Ziva's use of idioms is and when they are corrected. I can honestly say it has not only taught me new idioms but also explained some old one's to me. Idioms, slang and colloquialism are the hardest parts of a language to grasp properly and it continues to challenge me. So I certainly appreciate it this aspect of NCIS.

This video is one of my favorite one's on youtube and I watch it regularly and laugh.

My favorite language scenes from NCIS are:
-In an episode of season 3 when Ziva tells Abby: "Don't worry Abby, sometimes it's hard to see the jungle through the ferns".  I just love it how Ziva says iit consolingly and no one has any clue what she means.
-When Ziva and McGee have the following conversation in an episode of season 8 and Ziva is sitting in a tree while McGee phones her:
McGee: 'How are you?'
Ziva: 'I am up a tree'
McGee: 'Well, then this will only confuse you further'
Ziva: 'Who said I was confused?'
I laughed so hard over that and it taught me a new idiom!
-And "Living off the griddle" is a classic

I love it how the NCIS script plays with language and has little language gems in every episode. The script is always masterful but this pushes it to the next level in my opinion and shows that the script is always well thought it. I always feel like I learn something from an NCIS episode or just have a laugh about how language works. I am a sucker for clever language jokes and NCIS is a treat in that regard.

NCIS:LA is more focused on the use of foreign languages. It it both fun and excruciating at times to watch the actors pull off all sorts of languages. When they do it badly, it is terrible. When they do it well, it is great. Kensi definitely has the best language skills but I always get just a slight delight from hearing Sam speaking with an extremely thick accent in Japanese and Arabic. And Deeks seems to have a strange love for German as a language for some odd reason without speaking it. And he has the worst accents possible so it is absolute gold every time he tries to use another language than English.

My favorite moments have been
-Deeks speaking with a German accent in episode 4x15 and pretending to be Conan the Barbarian. Rarely, if ever has the German accent sounded so badly or so awesome. I loved that scene and I have the feeling the actor relished being able to speak with a terrible accent.
-Eric trying to sound German in season 4. As he is meant to be half-German it was awesome. Not to mention, he pulled of a delightfully creepy and robotic accent which I loved.
-Deeks trying out his British accent in season 2 - as he described it 'a mix between Mary Poppins and Jack Sparrow' - whatever it was, it was awful and hysterical.
-Deeks trying out his German in episode 4x17 trying to figure out if "slon" was a German word. I was eerily reminded of my own near non-existent German skills. I detest German as a language as it sounds simply awful but I have been using bits and pieces of the language since youth and still do and it is fun to play with. And I use basic German words in my everyday conversations.
-In season 3 Kensi says the very simple sentence: "Bien sur, mon ami" when asked whether she could speak French and Deeks replies: "I love it when you speak dirty". Kensi's reaction is hysterical.
-In 4x20 'Purity' when Deeks attempts to speak French and says 'Mon Dieu' in a very growly amd harsh manner - sounding like a stereotypical French male or a truck driver speaking French. Kensi corrects him of course with the right pronunciation but Deeks continues using his awful pronunciation.
I laughed so hard at the scenes where they incorporate French. I speak French  somewhat and I used to love the language and find it so romantic. That is until I started studying it and discovered that not only did I hate the spelling but also how it sounded and the grammar was like a thorn in my side. I now fall under the 'detest French' camp and it has lost much of its former splendor in my mind. And French does not sound so good after all. It is not a romantic language in any way in my opinion. But it still has the very romantic image stuck to it and I love the little jab NCIS:LA took at it. It used a very simple sentence which means "of course my friend/dear" and a non-French speaker thinks it sounds dirty. A definite treat for French speakers!

So a hobby linguist like me continues to love how TV plays with languages.

Language galore - The 'European' culture of subtitles and dubbing - Part 1:How do we navigate so many languages?

Europe as a continent is a melting pot of countries and one distinctive trait about it is that it has an extremely big variety of languages. Very few European countries share a language, only two or three at the most and many European languages are limited to one country. So in order for us to be able to communicate and interact with each other, we simply have to study other languages. It is near impossible therefore for Europeans, not to know other languages. And in some cases, Europeans need to know several languages.

I for instance am armed with my native language, near-fluent speaker of another Scandinavian language and am comfortable with the rest of them, fluent in English,  good Spanish skills and French. My knowledge of those languages has given me access to cultures, countries and languages that would otherwise have been harder for me to access. I am comfortable with Scandinavian languages and English and am able to understand both Italian and Portuguese. Yet, beside those language skills I very little experience with Southern-European, Eastern-European, Slavic, Balkan or Slavic languages. The reverse would be true for any person from that area.

This video explains it pretty well. We simply have to go bilingual or multilingual. And I love the jab at the English one-language speakers :)

But instead of trying to learn all the European languages as that is impossible, us Europeans have had to get creative when it comes to accessing culture and material from countries whose language we do not speak. And therein enters the culture of subtitles and dubbing.

We have figured out a genius way to be able to watch shows from other countries. Here in Northern-Europe we use subtitles. We use subtitles in our native language with every single show that is not produced in our own country and does not involve our language. We use subtitles on anything and everything involving a foreign language on TV, no matter what it is. And this is something everyone is used to and no one questions. Every single person learns to read and gets comfortable with subtitles very easily and early. I was young   when I got used to reading subtitles and it has not stopped since. If given the choice, I prefer having subtitles, even if I understand perfectly the language that is being spoken. It is just more comfortable and it is what I am used to. Being used to reading subtitles has given me the chance to be able to watch TV and film material  from all over the world and I love that. It has given me access and the chance to enjoy material I otherwise couldn't have enjoyed. I personally prefer watching TV shows and films in the language they were produced and find it preferable to dubbing.

In the rest of Europe the tables are turned. They are all over dubbing material which is otherwise known as "the best thing ever to make fun of and laugh over" and "the nightmare of every language student". And that will be covered next.

When torture becomes a sickly source of entertainment

One things that has set my blood boiling is depicting torture or attempts at torture on TV crime dramas. Or as CIA calls them, "enhanced interrogation technique". I am adamantly against all such depictions and find it horrid that people would use such a serious thing as a sickly source of entertainment and suspense. Torture is a serious human rights issue and is to be treated as thus. Never, ever should it be depicted on TV or in film or used as a disgusting source of entertainment. I know the phrase "depicting does not mean endorsing" but still. Such a serious violation of human rights must be treated with the greatest care and seriousness possible. 

Then there enters a series like NCIS:LA which at times loses its footing and all sense of respect and seriousness at times. Scenes of torture or attempts at them have now been depicted occasionally. In no case was it ever necessary for the show to use such scenes. It was just a sick, disgusting way of adding suspense and drama. I find myself staring in disbelief at the screen when such things happen. I get angry. I am going to be absolutely clear in stating that I do not believe in any way that the people involved in the show are endorsing such an act in any way. But the fact that they use such scenes sickens me. It serves no purpose and in my opinion belittles the series, turning such a serious human rights violation into entertainment on TV. 

There are certain scenes I cannot watch from NCIS:LA. I was terrified when I saw in episode 3x14 that Sam was about to waterboard  a suspect. He had a cloth and a water bottle ready. Waterboarding is a known "enhanced interrogation technique", a terrible torture device that is known to have been used in Gitmo to interrogate suspects. I couldn't believe I was seeing this on the show. Why on earth did they decide to include this scene? How on earth did they believe it was okay to show Sam to be willing to torture someone?

And I ave already mentioned my sheer disgust with the torture scenes in episode 4x24. 

NCIS:LA is a show that works on steroids, it embellishes and twist and turns reality. So naturally, boundaries are going to be broken, things are going to be controversial. But there are certain lines that should never ever be broken in my opinion. Shows should have a moral regard for certain things and be careful how they treat them. Because while TV is not reality, it is based on reality and depicts it in a certain way. And reality demands and needs to be treated with respect, sensitivity, care. Because in reality, real human beings are inolved and their suffering should never be made light. 

It worries me that perhaps we have become immune to the terror, human rights and moral  in regards to torture. It has become a source of entertainment, aimed at scaring the viewers and making them react without any regards to making them aware of the incredible seriousness of it. 

It is sickening. 

Knocking my head against the wall - The unrest on Sweden

For the past few days there have been serious riots in Sweden's capital Stockholm in neighborhoods where much of the inhabitants are immigrants. The riots have been bad and there has been much unrest. People are very uneasy over this and it is a cause of concern. The riots are believed to be partly a rise against and objecting the increasing gap between the rich and the poor and lack of proper education and vocational possibilities for Swedish immigrants, particularly those of Middle-Eastern and African origin. These events have led to a serious discussion in Sweden about immigration, the changing Swedish identity, how immigrants have assimilated into society and what must change in order for events like this not to occur again.

That is what is going on here. 

The reason I am hitting my head against the wall is because of how the media handles things. 

-US and UK have issued travel warnings. Can I ask why? It is not like the whole of Sweden is in a state of turmoil and the country is still very much a safe place to visit. It is much bigger than its capital Stockholm and it is a safe and beautiful country that offers much to travelers.. 

-NBC news reported that the riots in Sweden very challenging its happy image. Did I miss something? The last time I checked, Sweden was not especially marketed as the happy place. And it is not. Sweden is in many ways a wonderful country but it is not perfect. It has problems just like any other country.

NBC-News 

-And again rises the constant, ever troubling conversation about socialism. Because obviously the roots of the problem lie in the fact that Sweden is a welfare state like all other Nordic countries. Because, taking care of people apparently causes riots. I have been raised in a welfare country my entire life and it is something I firmly believe in. People here are safe and well taken care of if something happens. Living in a welfare country does not mean that people do not work hard or expect everything to be handed to them. It means that the state provides them with necessary services they might need that are paid for both with tax money and by the state. It means a better health system, good public schools, safe environment, people can get all sorts of live-saving benefit payments and they can rest assured in the fact that if something happens they will not be on their own. It means that people take care of each other! I am proud to belong to a part of the world that offers this and pay my taxes gladly because I know it benefits me and those around me. It is a strong part of the culture of every Scandinavian country to work hard and do your job and help others. Scandinavia has some of the highest standards of living in the world and its welfare society is amazing.  It is one the best places to live.
-And of course the conversation about Muslim immigration always rears its ugly head at times like this. People actually blame the riots on Muslims and I read countless comments stating that if only the Muslims hadn't been allowed to emigrate then we wouldn't be facing this problem. The last time I checked, white and Christian Scandinavian had no trouble attacking each other and causing ruckus. Breivik is a clear example of that. Muslim immigration has to the largest extent been peaceful and most people have integrated successfully. The presence of Muslims here has added much to the culture and its depth and made society more colorful. It has been pretty much nothing but a good thing. There are many Muslims living where I live and I can safely say that not once has their presence affected my life negatively in any way or been a threat to me. And I know that most other people would say the same. I enjoy the fact that the Scandinavian identity is changing so much, our society and culture are becoming more colorful and that we are able to have successful immigration.

I love Scandinavia. I truly do. But the way we behave sometimes and how we react to events can make me want to scream. There are definite problems we are facing and need to address but it is still a good place, a wonderful place. We will get through it. So I'd appreciate it if the media could calm down and if USA and UK could stop trying to create hysteria. Because it does not help anyone.

Letter to NCIS:LA producers - the implication of your focus on Russia

Dear producers of NCIS:Los Angeles

I really like your show. I look forward to watching it and I grin and laugh while also I also get caught in the action. I enjoy following the roller coaster the characters are on and seeing them evolve and change and how they connect with each other. I love watching old episodes and they always make me laugh. Simply put, your show brings a smile to my face. It really is a good show

But it also frustrates me regularly. There are many ways in which you deal with things which I do not like. Some of it are little things which are of small consequence but others are big matters which I feel you handle inadequately. One particular area in which I feel your handling of things detracts from the show is the way in which you use Russian characters, Russian history and the country's relationship with America.

I have noticed the particular focus you have put on Russia as the source for your story lines and your villains. It seems to me that almost every villain or evil agent from abroad you have on your show is Russian. In my opinion, there are not only far too many villains from that country but they are also vapid characters. Many of them do not even speak with a proper Russian accent. It is never explained why Russian sleeper agents are so many or why they would in particular concentrate on attacking America. Their motivation is never properly explained. There has never been a normal Russian character, they are always portrayed as criminals. This shows, in my opinion, not only a lack of creativity which is sad to see on a show that is at other times bursting with creative energy, but also lack of sensitivity towards Russia and its history.

I am not trying to excuse Russia's actions but what I mean to say is that Russian history is incredibly complicated. It is a country that has a lot to recover from. The actions of Russia throughout history have affected many European countries very badly and the impact is still felt today. The Soviet Union effectively wiped Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia off the map and those countries suffered for years and are currently recuperating. Stalin imprisoned and killed over 20 million people from this area, Finland too The same can be said for Poland, Ukraine, Belarus and for Russia itself. It are those countries that have been affected the worst by Russian history. So to me, knowing this, I get a bitter taste in my mouth when I see that NCIS:Los Angeles seems to thrive on the possibility that Russia would always be trying to attack USA. I am aware of the history of the Cold War and the precarious connection between Russia and America.
However, the cold war was more about threat than anything else. More than 20 million lives weren't lost, people were not sent to prison camp and countries were not wiped off the map. So, the constant focus on Russia wanting to attack America is a simplification of a very difficult and complicated history and does disservice to those that were truly affected by Russia's actions. America was not affected nearly as bad as some European countries were.

Another thing which I would like to point out is the fact that Russia is not only a country with a difficult and complicated history and past but it is also an incredibly culturally diverse and rich country. I am a lover of Russian culture and it never seizes to amaze me how much there is to discover and know and the beauty of it. Russian classical music, ballet, architecture, cuisine and literature are at the forefront of their field. Russia has some of the world's finest culture and heritage and it is a joy to discover. This depth and magnitude of Russia is forgotten and ignored when a series presents a simplistic and narrow view of its people and history.
I'd also like to point out that the largest part of Russian people are, like everyone else, peaceful, tax-paying, law-abiding citizens that work hard and do their best. Presenting such a view on a nation of 150 million people does them no service and is demeaning.

What I would personally like to see is not only a shift in focus but also balance. It it fine to portray Russians as long as it done with care and not always opting for the same stereotype. The strong focus on Russia has diminished the show in my opinion as it is often the sole source of story lines that have all become alike and boring,. In my opinion, shifting the focus and portraying normal Russian characters every once in a while and offering a more positive view of the country is a far more feasible option than refusing to move on and continuing to use Russia as the source for everything,

I am not Russian. I do not know the language and I have never been there. I was however brought up with Russian classical music and it remains close to my heart. I am very interested in the country and culture. I know the history. I am Scandinavian and European that comes from a country that engages in positive communication with Russia. So this does concern me.

Whether you change this or not, I hope you at least give thought to what you are doing and that your viewers notice such things.

Wishing you all the best, with kind regards

Anna - A NCIS:Los Angeles aficionado from Scandinavia

The roundup of Scandinavian references on TV

As an overly proud and egotistical Scandinavian I am always on the lookout for references to my own darling home place on TV. And this year proved to be very sad when it came to referencing or acknowledging Scandinavia on the TV shows I watch.

The roundup is following

Criminal Minds - 0

Castle - 0

NCIS - 1

In episode 10x12 I believe, when they were hunting for Bodnar. They were trying to find a mysterious assassin and it turned out it was actually a Swedish man. I laughed so hard when I discovered that. They managed to reference the bad exchange rate, pronounced the word 'krona' right, got a Scandinavian last name completely right and truthfully, I was a bundle of delight listening to them. It is not often that TV shows opt for a Scandinavian assassin. So I did definitely enjoy that

NCIS:LA - 2

In episode 4x17, Deeks is in a spa and says he expects Viggo Mortensen to jump out of nowhere and start pummeling him. How on earth did he get that idea into his head? More importantly, how in the world did the writer think of this? Because as I´ve written before in the post "The Viggo Mortensen of it all", he is not known for hiding out in spas and randomly attacking people. Unless this is meant to be some very strange and unorthodox reference to the fact that both Deeks (and the actor himself) and Mortensen are Norwegian-Americans I am not getting it.

And on the case of explaining jokes. I am still trying to figure out the Gesundheit joke from episode 2x08.

In episode 4x02 the happy little Norwegian in me got very delighted when Deeks suggested to Kensi that they should travel together to Norway, the land of his ancestors. So finally it was established that: the character is Norwegian-American who happens to have the least Norwegian name ever. So for future reference: "Dear NCIS:LA people. I am delighted that you have a Norwegian-American character. I say here are never enough Scandinavians on TV. But the next time you decide to have a character with an established Scandinavian ethnicity it does not hurt to have an ethnic last name as well. Because 'Deeks' is very much not a Scandinavian name :)"
And I would really like to see Kensi and Deeks travel to Norway. It'd be interesting to say the least to see them trying to navigate the weather, the cultural oddities and most of all the language.

So NCIS:LA wins the price for having mentioned Scandinavia two times and NCIS is in second place. But those instances did definitely nurture the ego of many Scandinavians. It actually happens regularly here than whenever a Scandinavian country is mentioned in famous films or on TV, people clap and cheer and act delighted. Yes, that is how crazy we are. But I would not have it any other way.

Eurovision Part 3 - The Scandinavian psyche

So Eurovision was last night and surprise, surprise Denmark won! It was a great song and the leader singer was wonderful so she absolutely deserve it. on the other hand, this is the 4th time in ten years that a Scandinavian country has won. Is there perhaps a conspiracy going on?

This is a huge boost to the Scandinavian ego. As I have written earlier, Scandinavians are notorious for our overly large egos and pride in our countries. Scandinavian countries are neither big, much populated nor very powerful. So while our egos are large they are also incredibly sensitive. So for us, Eurovision and winning it is showing off to the world and proving ourselves as something to be reckoned with. We can win Eurovision and host it with aplomb. We. Are. Awesome!

The Scandinavian psyche can be hard to understand, even for those of us that were born here and grew up here. I am personally proud of where I come from, I love my country and feel happy to be able to live here.  I love the culture, the language and the odd little things that make this home. There are so many things that are great about Scandinavia and make it a wonderful place to be in.. But because we are small, at the fringes of Europe geographically and were for the longest time economically disadvantaged as well (my country f.ex. was very poor until the 1950's), we were never a superpower and did not make our voice heard or influence much in history or international matter. We were to busy focusing on trying to survive So now when we are at a better advantage than before we feel that must constantly be proving ourselves all the time, shouting out that we exist and that we matter.

We've developed overly large egos to compensate for the feeling of that we do not matter. It is a funny place to be in for us. Knowing that you come from,what you consider to be a great place, where there is so much going on and is filled with such wonders. And yet you know that in the large scope of things, your country and place which you hold dear does not matter. At the end of the day, it does not influence the world or anything. It is just a place where people live. No more.

That's why Eurovision is so important to us. We get to show off ourselves and shout out to the world:"Look at us! We are cool!" and most importantly: "We are here, we matter, please notice us".

And there is always the lingering question: "Do people really notice us or are we just desperately trying to trick ourselves into thinking that they do?".

Sympathy and empathy have nothing to do with race - an angry outburst about racism

One of the things media and news outlets are horrifyingly good at is deciding what people are worthy to be written about and who not. One of the most tragic things about media is the fact that when a Caucasian person dies, is kidnapped, has an accident, survives, has a heroic story; the media is careful to report on it and give it much coverage. Whenever something happens to a Caucasian person the media is all over it When the same happens to a person of other races the media does not care nearly as much. The coverage is much less and interest in reporting on the case fades quickly.

This makes me want to scream. The way the media reports on people based on their skin color. The lighter the better. The darker you are, the less you matter. Sorry, but the media only cares about the white. It is hypocrisy at its worst and I HATE it.

But there is one thing I also hate. When people decide not to care about news or what has happen abroad in the world or bad accidents based on skin color. Because many people are guilty of the same hypocrisy. They do not care about others unless the people are the same race as themselves. This can apply anywhere.
BUT, that does not mean everyone reacts to news like that. It is not as if all Caucasian people care only about Caucasians, All black people care only about black, all Hispanic people care only about Hispanics, All Asians care only about Asians and all native/indigenous people care only about indigenous people. So we have created a nice stereotype that states that people only care about others that are of their same race, the rest does not matter one bit.

The world is more complicated than that and human nature is as well. People all over the world love, respect and have sympathy for other people irregardless of their skin color and ethnicity. They react to sad news from all over the world with sympathy and respect and express condolences and offer support. They are aware of the media bias and fight back.

So it makes my blood boil when I read blogs from people that state they don't care or will not offer their sympathy for other accidents or terror attacks where white people are involved. They will not do it because the media/people do not care about when people of other races die.

It makes me wonder whether people watched the terrorist events in Norway in 2011 and decided 'Nah, Norwegians are mostly white so I don't care'. Or whether people watched the collapse of the factory building in Bangladesh and decided 'Nah, they're brown, I do not care'. Because, people's death only matters based on their skin color.

Can I just scream?!

First of all, all shootings, terrorist attacks, accidents, natural disasters warrant our sympathy no matter where they happen or who was involved. A persons life is worth so much and they are so loved no matter where in the world you go. When a person is shot or killed it is always a tragic, horrifying event. The same applies for any person that inhabits this planet. Race has nothing to do with the tragedy of losing a human life. Every human death that is unnecessary and uncalled for is tragic and deserves our sympathy. Every human life is worth the same, irrespective of what the media blasts out.

You see, I am white so I shouldn't care. I should only care about white people and what happens to them.  Because some stereotype has decided that I, because I am white, care only about people that share the same skin color. And I should not notice the media bias because of course white people matter more than brown or black. Except I do not. So excuse me if the Bangladesh victims are on my mind. Excuse that I cannot forget Rehtaeh Parsons or Audrey Potts. Excuse if the death of Trayvon Martin still affects me.

People all over the world are sorry that they do not apply to that neat little stereotype. They are sorry that they see beyond skin color and race and care about people because they exist, because they are alive and have the same right as everyone else.

Except, no one is ever going to apologize. Because this is a fundamental step towards reaching a more equal world. Loving and caring for others is what makes us human.

Racial problems and racial tension is very prevalent and affect our society. But if we are going to continue this charade we are never going to get anywhere. We will never reach a world where races can live together in harmony and respect if we continue deciding that our sympathy only lies with people of our race. Sympathy, empathy, respect, outreach and love are the tools we need to care for and about each other and reach a better world without racism.

Gender equality on TV - the less of females, the better?

I am a big analyzer and observes, well over analyzer and observer is perhaps more descriptive. I focus and take mental notes on certain matters and issues on TV, mull them over and then write them here. One issue which I take particular note of is the characterization and handling of female characters. I am a feminist and observing those things is both interesting and highly frustrating.

The TV shows I write about here are both good and bad in my opinion when it comes to representing and portraying female characters. The topic of this post will be looking and gender representation on the NCIS franchise and specifically how the females are always a minority.

NCIS:LA - A show I love watching and laughing over but frustrates me regularly. NCIS:LA did not have the exact best track record of female characters in season 1. It was pretty much all male and testosterone.
Callen - the lone wolf male
Eric - the geek male
Sam - the navy male
Nate - the psychology male
Dom - the rookie male
Five males in all

and then flitting in the background
Kensi - the sole female swimming in an ocean of male agents
Hetty - the legendary matriarch.

This makes the gender ratio 5/7 which is terrible if you ask me. I have previously written about how Kensi felt underdeveloped and vapid as a character in the 1st season. I suspect that a part of it stemmed from the fact that there was so much focus on the male characters. Kensi seems to have been added only because they desperately needed a female character, not because of what she could add to the show as a character. The same goes for Hetty. As a result, their characters felt very unrealistic and thin for most of the first season. It was not until season 2 that the writers and producers caught on. Two male characters were thrown out. Secondly of all Nell Jones emerged. Not only did it balance more the genders but she was also from the beginning a realistic and well crafted character. I enjoyed her from the start and still do. Secondly Kensi emerged as a real character and became a force to be reckoned with and it added a lot to the show. Hetty rose from the ashes and became the wonderful character she is today. The female characters all came to the foreground of the show and it changed it for the better. As much as I enjoy the male characters I can only take so much of them only all the time. That is the reason why I watched entire season 2 first before I finished watching season 1. In my opinion, it is in season 2 that the show hit its stride character wise and it has continued since then.

Now the gender balance is 4/3 which is better. The female characters are still a minority but they are an integral part of the show and they have been developed extremely well. I for one enjoy them immensely, particularly how they are all portrayed as strong and a force to be reckoned with but still realistic. And I enjoy the fact that Hetty is their leader. They trust her and depend on her and her advise and it is refreshing to see a woman in the role of the leader and being a legend.

NCIS: Their track record of female characters is even worse. The female characters have never been more than 3 and always a minority. The gender balance has switched from 3/2, to 4/2 (season 1-2), to 4/3 (season 3-5), to 5/2 (season 6-9) to the current 6/2 (season 10). That means that there are currently whopping two female characters on NCIS. The rest is all males. So there is one quarter of females and three quarters of males.

And the list goes
Gibbs - the quiet, caffeine addicted marine
Tony - the movie-watching, humorous agent
Palmer - the autopsy gremlin
Ducky - the ever wise Scottish autopsy man
McGee - the nerdy agent
Vance - the intimidating leader

Females
Ziva - the female agent that is a force to be reckoned with
Abby - the happiest goth
And former Kate - the sarcastic agent

NCIS would therefore never win the female representation on TV award. But to be honest, this gender balance does not impact the show so much. The key lies in the fact that Ziva and Abby are extremely well developed and strong characters. They are an integral part of the show and have always been. The female characters have always been front and center on the show. It in parts makes of for the lack of female characters, they are given such attention, thought and space as characters and have always been consistently developed and portrayed. When watching old NCIS episodes I am always astounded by the strength of the female characters and how incredibly well they've been done. Ziva and Abby as characters have always been good, realistic, well-nuanced and at the front.

This is where NCIS and NCIS:LA differ in my opinion. It took NCIS:LA a while to get the stride of their female characters and how they should be portrayed. And realizing that the actresses they had could more than handle portraying great female characters. They have more than risen to the challenge in my opinion. The females seemed to be at the beginning like ornaments or objects that needed to be there out of necessity to appease people, not because they could add to the show. But as I've written that changed much and all for the better.

NCIS on the other hand hit its stride straight in the beginning and the female characters were strong and focused from the start. They were few but they were key characters and added greatly to the show. And that has continued to this day.

Thoughts on Finale - NCIS

The NCIS finale was absolutely awesome. I loved watching every second of it and I was reminded yet again why I enjoy this series so much. Everything was perfect, the storyline, the acting, the characters. It was crackling with quiet intensity and I got completely caught in it.

Good:

-Abby's proposal of bi-weekly elevator meetings. I laughed so hard at that scene. Abby is such a wonderful character and she was great in the episode. 

-Abby's computer game. Yet again I laughed.

-Palmer and Breena are going to adopt! The scene with Ducky and Palmer was incredibly sweet and a lovely moment in a heavy episode. I am looking forward to seeing how they will work this story line out. I adore all scenes with Ducky and Palmer.

-A Tiva moment. That was an another incredibly sweet moment and I could not help but "awww" at it and how they expressed their feelings towards each other. Things will continue to be messy but these two will always be a pair to watch and I enjoy their relationship. Such a mess but so sweet.

-The scene with McGee and DiNozzo discussing his latest fling. I laughed when DiNozzo kissed him proudly and McGee was not too thrilled. The acting was spot on and so enjoyable to watch. When it comes to strange in office humor, NCIS has got it down. It is always one of the highlights of each episode for me.

-Seeing Gibbs having nightmares and talks with Mike Franks. It was nice to see a part of Gibbs' psyche and how he was handling things and that he was affected.

-Ziva proclaiming it was about her family. It was a strong and emotional scene.

-The end scene. I love Fornell's character and I am so curious to see how this will play out and what on earth has been going on. All of them going rogue is entirely new and it'll be great to see it continue.

-Parsons was the perfect villain and the actor who played him was awesome. He was the perfect office psychopath and manipulator but he was a different kind of villain. It is not always you see the villain in a suit.

The NCIS finale was a true treat to watch and wonderful. The acting was great and the plot was engaging and had me right in. And most importantly it was filled with character moments, a good dose of drama and humor. When I was done watching my first thought was "Wow"!. 

Thoughts on Finale - NCIS:LA

When they pull out all they got on NCIS:LA they really go all the way. And the finale was no exception. It was pumped NCIS:LA on steroids. It had all the necessary ingredients but frankly, I was both frustrated and  liking it. It had both good and bad.

Bad
-The crazy Russians yet again except this time there were more of them, paired with a crazy French man. I am starting to think the writers need new a new focus because this formula is getting tired. And to lay the focus off Russia. And stop introducing crazy French people all the time. It is getting very tired and annoying to be honest.
-Saying that Russia, UK, India and China had talked together and stated they did not know who blew up the  nuclear weapon. Did I miss the memo of UK apparently owing nuclear weapons and wanting to blow them up in Mexico? Because honestly I was flabbergasted. The UK does not own or operate nuclear weapons. I can not answer for India, Russia or China but I find it unlikely and I will say, why on earth would they blow it up in Mexico? Last time I knew none of these countries had bad communication with Mexico. And why risk moving a nuclear weapon across continents?
- How on earth could Janvier write so beautifully on his eyelids? It was way to well done to be very believable
-Torture scenes. I could not watch them and I am surprised they went for them. They most definitely wanted to amp up the drama but doing so by depicting torture scenes is wrong on so many levels. Just plain wrong. I know depicting does not mean endorsing but it puts a bitter taste in my mouth knowing torture is being used as a sickly source of excitement and drama on TV. It should never be.
-Why on earth did they dig up Janvier in the first place? They already knew he was a dangerous psychopath and would manipulate them. They were well aware of what he was capable off and still he was dug up. I know it set for more action but still.... it seems stupid.
-Sam disliking Deeks and his reason why. Because he is not Navy and his character? I was completely lost on that one, not to mention it makes Sam seem awfully petty.
-The music score was not to my liking.

Good
-Kensi and Deeks kissed. That scene made me laugh. Ranging from Kensi throwing a rant about his communication skills to her surprised reaction. It was sweet and hilarious.
-My favorite antagonist Granger returned!
-The russian biker women were interesting. Very tough and intimidating.
-Aunjanue Ellis returned. She is a wonderful actress and I am happy she is playing Sam's wife. Her performance was great and she is definitely playing the part right.
-The acting was of high caliber and incredibly good. It was a treat to watch and it was obvious everyone worked hard.

All in all the episode was a mix for me. It was exciting and dramatic but it felt overdone and embellished and just did not feel right somehow.
And yes to be honest, the constant stream of crazy Europeans bothers me. Europe is in shambles right now due to economic troubles, poverty, the economic collapse, tension between nations, distrust with the European Union, the Euro is not doing well and many countries are dealing with the terrible downside of economic trouble, especially Greece and Spain. So frankly, I do not believe that anyone here has the time or the inclination to plot against USA. Not when things are so bad. There is enough to deal with here at the moment, will be for a long time and the focus will be on fixing that. There are enough issues going on here to last for decades. Not to mention that it's been less that 20 years since there were terrible civil wars going on in many European countries and everyone is trying to recuperate from that and move on. So pulling out the 'crazy European' card every single week does not only get very tiring but is also highly unrealistic and it detracts from what is otherwise a great series. In my opinion, it shows a certain lack of imagination and creativity which is sad to see in a series that has at other times been highly impressive with their creativity and exploration of various story lines. I am hoping this will even out next season and that the focus will shift.  Thankfully NCIS:LA has not dipped into Southern or Northern Europeans yet and hopefully they never will. Because enough is enough.

Random tidbits
-I sighed when Kensi told Deeks she couldn't understand what he meant with the green-eyed monster. It is a metaphor for jealousy! Still nice though and yes, it'd be frustrating communicating with someone that insists on using metaphors all the time. I know it'd freak me out
-Do you need sunscreen in Iran?
-You gotta love the Russians speaking in English all the time with each other with a heavy accent.
-Tim Murphy does make an excellent villain and an exceedingly creepy one and he did his part wonderfully.

Respect and sensitivity - realizing that there is real life, real tragedy, real people beyond the TV facade

One value which I strive for in my life and actions is respect. Respect towards myself, society, other people, different cultures and traditions, children, languages, life and reality. I consider the virtue of respect to be one of the most important ones to strive for each and every day and in everything I do. Not that I always manage to do it but I try. I believe it is extremely important.

As I watch my favorite TV shows Castle, NCIS, NCIS:LA and Criminal Minds I am both entertained and challenged. There is always at the back of my mind the thought of that what they are dealing with, what they take on and turn into fictional material is based on reality, often a sad and terrible reality. It is easy to turn terror, sadness, panic, tragedy and pain into fictional storytelling on TV. But I always wonder, do the TV producers and the actors realize that what they are dealing with is real. Do they acknowledge or think of the fact that what they portray, glamorize, judge or even mock on their shows isn't fictional. It is reality. And reality needs to be treated with respect. Because it sometimes seems they forget.

I like both NCIS shows very much. But I can help but get a bitter taste in my mouth every time I read an article about the rise of homeless army/navy veterans and what they are up against when they return from a war-torn place. I am in no way supportive of the institutions of armies or navies. I oppose them. But I also see the people behind it and I acknowledge that they sacrifice and risk everything to protect. An army/navy veterans have saved people, protected and made places safer. Here in my area, soldiers died to protect my own country. None of them was from it and they still came here and protected us. They have lived a more difficult reality that most of us will ever experience and seem the worst of mankind. And yet they return and often find themselves facing another terrifying reality of homelessness, being without a job, very bad mental illness and dealing with the shock of returning. It sickens me.

I think about the fact that the actors are paid very generously to pretend to those people. To pretend to have army training, to have been in a war torn country, to have made endless sacrifices, to risk their mental health, well being and their family. They get paid for pretending to have been involved in a terrifying reality when those that were truly involved often do not get what they need or even the acknowledgement. When TV takes on those things they turn into something else than what they are. Respect and sensitivity is forgotten and ignored for the sake of entertainment.

How can that be right?

How did we come to the place that it matters more to pretend to be involved in a terrifying reality rather than having actually been in that reality?

Somehow we managed to turn reality into a showmanship, where fiction matters more than what is really going on.

This plays in with respect and sensitivity. When portraying people and dealing with matters such as war, soldiers, conflict and whatever is connected with that it needs to be done with respect and sensitivity. And sometimes, that is lost in my opinion. It is easy to throw out words and reference events when it's fiction but there needs to be constant recognition and respect towards the reality that fiction is taken from.

And sometimes I wonder. Do we realize that or are we happy to continue pretending and refusing to see what is right in front of us? Have we lost our respect for reality for the sake of being entertained?

I hope with all my heart we haven't.

When media manages to point out racial problems with humor

Racial matters are something that concerns both me and those I know and we try our best to navigate racial issues with sensitivity and respect. Racial issues are not a very big where I live and in general, racial integration has generally gone well here in Scandinavia, Scandinavian countries now have multicultural and ethnic societies that work peacefully and people live together in harmony. It is one of our greatest source of pride. I am not saying that there aren't problems because there certainly are. Racism exists everywhere and it's a challenge to battle it. Scandinavia is no exception when it comes to racism. I regularly feel like hitting my head against a wall about the things that go on here. But on the whole things have been positive here and people are accepted.

But that does not change the fact that racial matters need to be discussed, pointed out and people need to be aware of how they influence our daily lives and society. And most importantly, how we can battle against racism. One of my personal favorite ways of pointing out and dealing with racial matters is through humor. Humor can manage to be socially aware and point out racial issues without being disrespectful or insensitive. It is a fine balance and requires great care but it can be managed. It provides not only humor but shows also valid concern.

My personal favorite videos that deal with racial matters are the following

Key and Peele - I LOVE them! They are so funny and always make me laugh. I appreciate how their comedy deals with sensitive issues in a humorous but socially criticizing manner. They provide both laughter and food for thought. They are just so incredible and their humor is spot on.
My personal favorite video from them is 'Suburban Zombies'. It made me laugh so hard when I first saw it. I´ve shown it to some friends and we all love it. Watching it leads to discussion about racial matters every time. It is a video that both makes me laugh and reminds me of the absurdity and seriousness that is going on.

Another absolute favorite is the Funny or die video dealing with the immigrant regulation laws in Arkansas and the view toward Hispanics. It also pokes some much needed fun at the need for 'nannies'. It is satire, irony, social criticism all rolled into one delightful package filled with subtext and poking fun at stereotypes. My favorite is America, South-America = Mexico, Africa = Mexico, Asia and Europe = Not Mexico. I laugh every time I watch it but I am also reminded of what people are up against. And it is terrible.

I cannot display the video so CLICK HERE!

Reckless Tortuga has this awesome video which I discovered recently. It is direct in it's criticism and very sarcastic but it makes some excellent points. It's necessary to watch and contemplate.

Eurovision Part 2 - a display of Europe's "finest" and European languages

The 1st semi-final of Eurovision is coming up next Tuesday and I am getting really excited. The songs this year are so many absolutely amazing and great to listen to. But they also offer a display of the craziness that goes on here. Where else would you find a display of such random and nonsensical music but precisely in Eurovision. It seems that every year the European nations go on a competition to see who can show the strangest performances and have the weirdest song. And every single year the countries try to outdo each other. The most recent trend is electric-pop and crazy techno music along with a weird dance performance thanks to "Euphoria" that won last year.

This year Romania pulled out all the stops and decided to have an opera/techno inspired song inspired with some weird dance moves. But the singer has an incredible voice

We also got this gem from Finland which is a glee-inspired pop song about gay marriage. I've been told by one relative that the song sounds like a Bratz pop song and I have to agree.

Norway decided to go for electric-pop this year... Not a very wise decision if you ask me but the singer is good.

And Denmark decided to go for a Sweden 2012 inspired performance with the whole shebang, floating dress, weird dance moves and they even put the tin flute in to go Irish. I am eerily reminded of Sweden 2012 every time I watch the performance. But the singer has an incredible voice and great energy.

And who can forget last year's Russian Babushkas. Only in Eurovision do you find something like this

And this song  from Finland won Eurovision in 2005. Yet again, displaying Europe's finest, or should I say, the Nordic cool?

But another trend this year which I love is the fact that 50% of the songs are sung in the native language of the country they represent. Europe is an entire content with incredibly many and varied languages. In recent years, most people have sung in English as that is the language most likely to be understood by the majority of the watchers. Except, only 2 countries in Europe have English as a native language. and English isn't spoken as widely in Europe as people generally think. Knowledge of English isn't always desired and is even resisted in many areas (I´ll explain that later when I delve into the culture of subtitles, dubbing and just how much we love our languages). And it's not always the case that the performers know English properly. So instead of singing in a language they are not comfortable with they use their native one. And that lends depth to the performance and makes the singer so much better.
Plus, doing this is a beautiful display of one of Europe's assets, the incredible linguistic variety that exists here. It is one of the things I love about it. And I personally love the songs which are performed in languages I do not understand. I am a linguistic nerd to say the least and linguistic variety is something to be treasured and used. And people here are very proud of their national tongue and want to keep it and show it to others. So singing in one's native language is a strong example of national pride.

Iceland is going for a song in Icelandic this year. It is a minority language spoken by a very small people so very few will understand it. But the song is nice

Israel has an amazing song in Hebrew. It really is a beautiful language.

Estonia had an amazing song last year called "Kuula" which means listen and it was one of the most popular songs. I love it

Serbia one in 2007 with an incredible song in Serbian. I do not understand the lyrics one bit but the song was very popular here and everyone loved it. It was a song that was strong without understanding the language.

And Serbia's song last year was nothing short of amazing. I can listen to it endlessly. And it was in Serbian!

Eurovision is a strange animal and many more things. But it displays also passion and love for music and as I've said before. For a continent as divided and complicated as Europe is but still very much for cooperation, it is wonderful that we are able to share and participate in it and show not only our national pride but also cheer for others. It brings people together all around the world.

Being a cellist is the work undercover gig ever, NCIS:LA! - Note from a classical musician

I am a classical musician and nerd and a big lover of music and instruments. And I observe and notice all sorts of things.I am paranoid about my own instrument and am very careful about handling it, cleaning it and taking it anywhere. It is my 'baby' and I do not want anything to happen to it. I have even had a nightmare about my instrument being wrecked. Horror scenes for classical musicians including losing your instrument  having it stolen, leaving it out in the sunshine, a child playing it and travelling abroad.

So watching last episode of NCIS:LA was a 'horror' for a classical musician like me. In one of the last scenes they have Kensi go undercover as a cellist at some plaza. Great plan to have some pretend to be a busking musician except they completely wrecked it in my own, classical musician, opinion.

1)Cellos are extremely large and hard to carry around. They have to be treated with great care. Their are not instruments you just pop in your car and go. They take up space and it takes time to get them into the car. Somehow I am not seeing people like Kensi and Deeks pulling something like that off.

2)It has been stated several times that Kensi does not play an instrument. So why on earth have her pretend to be a cellist? Cellos are extremely hard to master and they sound terrible if not played right. It's not like ukulele which requires very little knowledge to be played. Having cello played badly is like listening to a hundred cats getting choked (only violins are worse).

3)One of the key rules of classical musicians is to be paranoid about their instrument when it comes to weather conditions. Especially string musicians as the stringed instruments are extremely sensitive to all change in atmosphere. My own instrument throws a temper tantrum every time it has to encounter cold/heat changes and un-tunes itself. Even a slight change in temperature makes it freak out. I would never leave it out in the sunshine or play it outside.
So Kensi playing a cello in bright sunshine, not a good idea in any way.

4)Another extreme musician paranoia is leaving your instrument unattended. That is something no musician would ever do as it might be stolen. In rehearsals I always have my music box in sight and my instrument rarely leaves my side when I travel with it. Yes, I helicopter parent it but for a good reason. String instruments are high quality and cost a lot of money and are valuable items to steal.
So Kensi running away from her instrument is not a good idea. Anyone could come and take her cello away.

5)Why on earth do the NCIS:LA people have a cello handy for undercover missions? It's not like it's a weapon or that it can be used for defense.It's a large, bulky instrument that requires great care.

But they did do one thing right - the cello was placed on a stand so at least it was not on the ground! That shows some thinking at least.

I'd personally recommend owing a bunch of ukuleles. They are cheap, easy to play, can be left behind, require only minimal instrumental care and have a lot of incredible Hawaian music behind them which is wonderful to play. Not to mention, a lot of  people play them and they can be played badly.

This scene made me laugh and shake my head over. And it's one of those odd things I like about NCIS:LA, the silly mistakes they make.

TV Finales and personal requests for next season

Next week all my TV shows are coming to a close. And by the looks of it, there will be some pretty intense finales and I am a tad excited to see them.

NCIS - They will delve into the manhunt for Gibbs and how the team reacts to it. NCIS has been a treat in the last few episodes and I have been at the edge of my seat every time I watch it. The story line has been wonderful and it's been great how the writers have worked with it. And it'll be wonderful to see a Gibbs heavy season finale. The promo does not show much but it looks like this will be an awesome ride and I am very excited to watch it.

NCIS:LA - This time they will be delving into the the stolen nuclear weapons and bringing in an old adversary to sell them and everything will go crazy by the looks of it. Because of course it is an excellent idea to bring in a crazy French man that has tried to kill you and convince to sell nuclear weapons to a crazy Russian. As enjoying as the nuclear weapon story line has been, this seems a bit too much. NCIS:LA has a way with blowing story lines out of proportions and embellishing things so I just roll along. It's their thing and I gladly admit I enjoy seeing them exaggerating everything. It's so silly it becomes fun to watch and shake my head over.
The promo looks very exciting however and I think it´ll be a treat to watch. Of course, Kensi and Deeks will kiss and Sam will end up being thrown into a pool (and hopefully not drowning). I enjoy action sequences (minus the guns) so I am looking forward to it and NCIS:LA has often produced very exciting episodes.

Castle - Castle has been on a roll this season and it has been awesome. Castle is definitely at their strongest yet and it's been a treat to tune into finely made TV every week. Every episode feels almost like a little film. The finale looks great. It'll be nice to a get a more personal finale and see how things shake out. I personally would tell Beckett to go for the job and that she and Castle could have a long distance relationship (although that would not work on TV). I find it strange that Castle is not willing to support Beckett in her career. I know personally from my own life that long distance relationships can well work. I am excited to see how this will turn out and setting the tone for next season.

For next season I hope for
Castle - Everything will continue as it has been. Castle is going from strength to strength and it's a treat to watch such high quality TV. So I am 100% ready for whatever the producers have planned. But I definitely want to see more of Lanie and Esposito together. I adore Lanie's character and I want to see more of her. I also want to see more of Ryan's personal life and how the pregnancy will play out. What I'd want to see next season is simply more focus on the other characters. They are all such fun and an integral part of the show

NCIS - Can we get Tiva going any time soon?  What I'd love to see would be more of Palmer. He is such a fun character. I also want more focus on Abby and McGee and Tony and what they do. NCIS does character episodes so incredibly well and I want to see more of that. But NCIS is pretty much perfect as a show so no complaints. Just keep the awesomeness rolling and bringing me more laughs!

NCIS:LA - More of Nell and Eric please! They are the best pair I have seen of nerds on TV and such enjoyment to watch. And please introduce less crazy Europeans if possible. And shift the focus from Russia and Eastern Europe. It does get weary to watch enemies from Russia, Chechnya and France over and over again. Along with a good dose of Germans regularly for good effect. The world is bigger than that, not to mention it feels like the constant focus is on Russia as an enemy. It was during the Cold War but there are more than 20 years since and USSR has seased to exist. Things have changed and it's time to recognize that. Other than that the humor has been spot on this season and the character developments excellent so continue that!

When TV teaches English

I have expressed my annoyance before with the word "comfortable" and how on earth it should be pronounced in English. TV shows have proven to be quite the linguistic tool for me and I've enjoyed the linguistic challenges I get from watching TV. Last night NCIS answered my request. I watched episode 10x23, "Double Blind" and loved it. But what made me laugh was the fact that the word "uncomfortable" was said two times within a very short period of time. So I could finally here the way it is properly pronounced. Thank you to NCIS!

And life goes on in TV language land. NCIS:LA proved to be another linguistic tool. The country Montenegro was mention, although it was first called Monaco (they were referencing a James Bond film that takes place in Montenegro). I couldn't help but laugh when Kensi not only corrected it but asked Deeks to say where it was. He got it right, it is indeed in Europe, but it did sound like he wasn't completely sure and Kensi picked up on that. Sometimes you just gotta love the geography puns.

This interested me for several reasons. First of all, in my language we do not refer to the country by the name of Montenegro. We use the translated version of the name in my language. That sounds completely different from the title Montenegro so it took me a moment to connect the two. But I did and the reason why I know where Montenegro is, is because of Eurovision. I have been watching Eurovision snce I was little and that includes watching the countries giving out points every single year. Eurovision is such a tradition here that every Scandinavian knows the phrase "Country, 12 points" in both French and English.  And every year I've heard the phrase "Serbia and Montenegro" together. So that's why I know where it's located on the map. But this year Serbia and Montenegro are competing separately. 

The same goes for the country Belarus. Belarus is Russian for "white Russia". And in my language we refer to the country as "White Russia" not by the traditional title. So a few years back when I was looking at a map of Europe from an American geography atlas I got frustrated when I saw the name Belarus and I did not know what country it was. After some googling I discovered it was the country that I call "White Russia".

And another language reference I completely enjoyed was in episode 2x17 of NCIS. Ducky was explaining to origin of the phrase "red herring" and what it means. I thought his explanation was very interesting and it highlighted one of my favorite points of language, how much is behind each word and the history. I loved the explanation of that people used red herring to train dogs for fox hunting to smell and then they'd drag red herring over the tracks of a real fox to see whether the dogs would be fool and hence the phrase.
Then I realized I didn't know what the word herring actually meant. I always connected it a fowl of some sort but it turns out it's fish.

So for an English major, I still have a lot to learn. But I love it. Discovering and using language gives me great joy and I love learning new things and how the English language continues to surprise me. And watching TV does help. And I have discovered the reason why. I learned English mostly through the medium of reading so  I am very strong in that area. English on TV is more colloquial and that is not an area I am as strong in.

Eurovision - Part 1

The next two weeks will be very exciting for me in TV land. First of all the two final episodes of all my favorite series will be airing. But more imporantly, EUROVISION IS FINALLY HERE!! Next week will be a dream come true for a Eurovision fan like me as there will be the two semi-finals and then the all time final. And it's taking place here in Scandinavia, in the lovely country of Sweden. To say we are getting overly excited here in the North would be an understatement.

For those who do not know Eurovision is an annual song contest held here in Europe in which most European nations send in one song and compete to win the competition. The nation that wins each year hosts the competition the following year. This is a very big and exciting venue in which each European country gets to display some of their finest artists and music for all of Europe to see. The competition takes six days on total and is aired over entire Europe. It is a matter of national pride for every nation to send in their best song and make sure it does well. In most European countries there is an in-country song competition to decide which song should be sent to represent the country. This is a very big event and the excitement for it begins in early January and starts building up until the semi-finals and final in May.

Eurovision is a strange animal. In a continent so divided and frustrating as Europe is, it is a wonder we can all come together and enjoy a song contest and lay aside our differences for just a little while (or pretend to at least). A lot of European countries have been at war with each other and there is a great deal of resentment and even hatred between many European nations which makes it tricky to host such a competition. But somehow, every year we manage it to do it.

Every country is desperate to win because not only is it a big honor but it also gives the country an excellent opportunity to introduce itself and its culture the year it hosts. There is also great national pride and patriotism involved in Eurovision. Every person that watches wants his/her country to win or at least do well no matter how good or bad their song is. You are proud of your country and you want it to do well. Also, considering the fact that many European countries are former colonies of other European countries that did not always treat their colonies well, many people want their country to do well to show the former colonists that they can manage without them. It becomes a display of national pride and patriotism. And even if we are able to lay aside our differences for a little while the resentment between countries still comes up.

Eurovision is a spetacle, each year the songs get stranger and the performances get more dramatic and weird. Everyone is always trying to outdo one another. Watching Eurovision is like watching a competition for the strangest performance in the world. Sometimes there are no words for the things that are seen on stage, only shaking of the head.

Eurovision is a massive event but the strange thing is that it is really only popular in Northern-Europe and Eastern Europe. Scandinavian LOVE Eurovision and its a major part of our culture.If you are a Scandinavian, you love Eurovision. It is a cultural event which unites millions of people but still divides us all the same. It shows the unity of Europe but at the same time the glaring differences between countries.

Favorite news outlets

I am interested in news. I grew up in a home where the radio was constantly on and I got used to hearing the news all day long. News hour and listening to news became a part of life. I like being on top of things and knowing what's going on (in part due to the fact that nothing ever happens in my area). But at the same time, I've had to develop media literacy and savvy and realize what's behind the news and how subjective news outlets can be (FOX news f.ex). I got a pretty rough crash course in media literacy a few years back and it's stuck with me ever since and did before.

So when I listen to and get caught up on news I try to go for the reporters and the news outlets I trust the most and feel that convey the most balanced view on the subject. I don't have the luxury of being able to do so when it comes to radio stations since my area only has a few Scandinavian news outlets and they're not so good as well as BBC. But when it comes to TV and online I go for the news outlets I trust the most.

And my favorite English news outlets are:
NBC - I started following NBC news online only a few months back and so far I have been impressed with the way they follow news. I am particularly impressed with how detailed their news are and well researched but also the fact they take a balanced view point to things and report objectively on them. I also love the daily photo section on their website.

Al Jazeera - This is one of the best news outlets in the world in my opinion. They report unflinchingly on both the good and the bad that goes on in the world and are unafraid to show the underbelly of various things which other news outlets might not show. I enjoy the focus they have on Middle-Eastern news and what goes on there. I am particularly impressed with how they report things in an open and true manner and they focus on things that really matter. I am always impressed when I watch their news hours and I enjoy reading the blog section on their website as it is always interesting and has valuable and thoughtful topics.

BBC - I grew up listening to the BBC and it has been my favorite news outlet for years. It is a British news outlet but in my opinion they never fail to report openly and unflinchingly on matters and I am always impressed with them. If I need a live feed on some event I go on BBC. I trust them to deliver the best news and with the rightest information. My particular favorite BBC news program is the American news hour. I tune into BBC every time I turn the television and I regularly listen to it on radio as well. My family and friends all trust the BBC most as a news outlet and will continue to do so.

And one day I will write about the intolerable insanity of Scandinavian news outlets.

Women in Comedy - They are funny!

One of my most favorite TV shows of all time and gave me a lot of good memories and laughter is "Smack the Pony". It is an old British comedy sketch show in which three spectacular female actors wrote, performed and produced one quality sketch after another. I was raised on a very heavy diet of British humor and this show made me laugh over and over again. I still grin when I think back to the best scenes of the show. It is difficult to put into words how much I loved it and how much it made me laugh. I have very fond memories of it.

At the time I was devoutly watching it, I didn't give a second thought to the fact that the show was entirely made by women. There was one male actor that showed up regularly but otherwise all the roles, all the material, all the production was in the hands of women. And they created a wonderful show. Three awesome women together created one of the best sketch shows I have ever seen.

This struck me recently when I was listening to and laughing over the stand-up comedy of Shappi Khorsandi and Andi Osho. Those are both genius British stand-up comedians and my favorite one's at the moment. I have likewise also listened to Tina Fey's and Amy Poehler's monologue at the Golden Globe over and over again and it makes me laugh each and every time. It it a bad idea to listen to them while studying at the Uni library because last time I did I had to stifle my laughter and people kept glancing at the mad person that was always giggling.

I love comedy. I love things that make me laugh. It does not matter to me whether the comedian is a male or female, only whether he or she makes me laugh and makes me happy. But it seems to be a very common and persistent notion in today's world that women just can't be funny. Sketch shows and comedy produced and played by women in still not being accepted and people view it with apprehension. The majority of stand up comedians and comic actors today are males (particularly white males). Women trying to get on in the business and show their material run into wall after wall and good old fashioned sexism because of the persistent notion that females simply can't be funny.
It's mind blowing that it's 2013 and people are still struggling with accepting the notion that women can be funny. It still seems to be a new thing that women can be funny.

Sexism, patriarchy, inequality is still well and alive today and it seems that it´ll continue for a while if we are still struggling with the notion that women really can be funny to the same caliber and even better than men.
This is making my brain go in circles and will continue to do so.

But here is some comedy from my favorite female stand-up comedians!
Shappi Khorsandi is an absolute genius. Her stand up comedy is brilliant but also socially critical.

Andi Osho is a genius and I love how bold her comedy is.

Tina Fey's and Amy Poehler's monologue was pure genius.

And the anthem of my youth to quote Deeks on NCIS:LA - Smack the Pony!

Lessons learned from TV - the silly edition

These past couple of days I have learned 'important lessons' when it comes to TV

1)I finally learned how to properly pronounce the word 'pneumonia' after watching episode 5x01 of NCIS where Palmer and Ducky discuss the fact that DiNozzo had pneumatic plague at one point.
The word 'pneumonia' is one of the most annoying words in the English language when it comes to pronouncing. I would have have gone for pronouncing the 'pn' sound together (which sounds awful) or simply swap the 'p' sound for an 'f' sound which is not much better. But now I finally know it is pronounced like 'newnomia'!

Sometimes, watching TV shows brings along the added bonus of getting a free language/accent lesson.

2)It is always a very very bad idea to be eating food while watching shows. Today I re-watched episode 4x22 of NCIS:Los Angeles and I laughed so hard I could barely eat and had to take special care I wouldn't accidentally spit all the food out because of laughter

And I also rewatched episode 8x04 of NCIS with Tony being the face of the new NCIS brochure. Again I was eating and again I almost spit all my food out from laughing.

3)NCIS:LA producers seem to have decided that Russia and Ukraine would be the focus of their series along with the USSR. Rarely, if ever, have I heard some many references to Russia and USSR, seen so many Russian characters or had so many plot lines centered on something connected to Russia or Eastern Europe than on NCIS:LA. It was very clear in episode 4x22 when Hetty recounted an old urban spy legend about Ukraine and it sounded like she had recruited orphans from Ukraine to become NCIS agents. It is kind of strange they decided to focus on this particular area of the world and I wonder what made them decide to do it. Because, to be honest, they could at times do a much better job of representing those countries at times.

4)In episode 3x06 of Castle, Rick happily refers to the glacier that was meant to lead to the center of the earth in "Around the world in 80 days" as Sneffels. Sorry pal but the pronunciation is waaaayyyy off and this scene probably had a few Scandinavians wincing. But I wont criticize, seeing how I am still hating the word 'comfortably'

And here is an excellent article on typecasting on TV and stereotypes in TV characters - How to navigate stereotypes

And this one from Jezebel - Retta talks race

Gun culture on TV - American vs. Scandinavian views on guns

This is a heavy topic. Very heavy but it's something to tackle. Gun culture here is completely different from gun culture in America. Scandinavia is extremely strict when it comes to gun laws and gun ownership. Police offers here do not carry guns on them when on duty. Gun ownership is very rare among people. In anything, most people are afraid of guns and don't like them. Those who own guns all have to register with the police and gun ownership is very heavily monitored. I once researched the possibility of me taking a gun training course. It turns out I'd first have to register with the local police and put in an application with recommendations from two people and a certificate of good health from my doctor. If the police where to approve my application after a thorough background check I'd be allowed to take the course. But I'd still have to pass it with a grade higher than 75% and I'd need to register with the police.

This is very, very different from gun culture in America and for those of us that view American gun culture from the outside it is something that concerns us. The seeming worship of guns, the importance placed on owning a gun for self protection (from what?), the lack of background checks when it comes to weapon buying, the constant referral to the 2nd amendment as the right to own a gun for self protection and the alarming number of school shootings and the dangers easy access to gun makes.
It is culture we do not understand and are very strongly against.

So when terrible incidents such as school shootings take place, the seemingly crazy gun culture in America becomes a topic of discussion here in Scandinavia and people discuss hotly how wrong the seeming reverence towards guns is. And the craziness of demanding gun ownership for self protection based on the 2nd amendment. We view the gun culture as a very big social problem in America. We respond very strongly to it and view our own attitude towards guns and gun ownership as being a better one. I am going to be brutally honest and say that we consider ourselves superior to American culture in this regard.

These opposing views are best represented in the following clips - This is a FOX news clip concerning the gun ownership of police offers. And yes, we are democratic.

and the reply by a Norwegian man.

So for me, being a part of and agreeing with a culture that is so strict when it comes to gun ownership and is resistant towards guns, viewing gun culture on TV is interesting.

First of all, I always find it strange when the first thing the characters do when facing a situation is whipping out their gun. In my country, the police wouldn't do that. The local police has a special team trained in facing situations where guns are required for protection. You never see police officers carrying arms. Something like that would scare people. In fact, people carrying guns scares me. It seems strange to me that it is the first instinct of the characters to pull out their weapons when there is no need for it. And to constantly aim it at people when there is no threat. That, I do not get.

Secondly, I have zero knowledge of guns. I'm barely able to tell the most basic difference between different types of guns. I had no idea ballistics were considered to be a valid tool in forensics. I had never imagined there were so many different kinds of guns and bullets. It is a science unto itself. So when TV characters spout out gun fact after gun fact my eyes glaze over and I have no idea what they are talking about.

Thirdly I close my eyes when shooting scenes happen most of the time. I am still not comfortable when guns are being shot on TV. Pulling out the gun is one things, using it is completely another. It makes me wince. I will never like it. If that makes me the worlds biggest imp so be it.

Fourthly I am still wondering how in the world the gun scenes are constructed. Do they use real bullets? Are there always paramedics present in case something goes wrong? Who puts the scenes together? Is it possible for the actors to be dislike using guns?

And fifth - why the constant shooting? Is there a demand for constant shooting scenes or is it just for the sake of trying to making the shows more exciting?

Today I found this gem - This is the reason for why Obama really is a great president. He wants to make a change in gun laws and I am guffawed it did not happen.

Obama's speech concerning the gun legislation that was overruled

And for the record - having families that have been shattered by gun violence weigh in on such an important issue is not emotional blackmail or manipulation. It is a reality check for those that are in power to see the terrible effect of gun violence. And don't the families deserve to have a say in a matter like this? Does the opinion of the public not matter?

Do I believe people have the right to protect themselves? Absolutely. I do so 150%. But I also firmly believe in people's right for protection and to me a part of that protection lies in heavy gun control. It helps keep people safe. This is something I continue to try and wrap my head around and as do other people I know. But I will say that I am glad to have grown up in my culture where guns are not a part of people's daily life and people do not depend on guns for safety. I am blessed to live in an incredibly safe place with a wonderful police force that keeps everyone safe. It is not something I would change for the world and I know no person that would.

If it ain't terrorism - it ain't worth writing about

Two days ago I was reading a local news website when I saw the terrible news that an explosion had happened in the middle of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. Four persons died and many were injured. The explosion was traced to a gas leak in the building. My heart goes out the the victims and the injured and their families.

Several days after the terrorist attack in Boston there was a terrible explosion in Waco, Texas with many deceased and many people injured. The death toll was more than that of the Boston marathon. I was saddened too by that accident.

But what amazed me was the response of the media. I scoured American media websites looking for any reports on the explosion in Prague and found one minor article on NBC news. Since there have only been minor articles posted on the incident.

The same goes for the Waco explosion. It was featured more in media for the first two days but then there were no more reports of it. None.
Obama has not commented on it or even visited the site, there has been no outpour of grief in the media or from the public. there have been no national memorial services held.
And I wonder why

There was a a great response to the events in Boston where three people died, two Americans and a Chinese citizen and an outpour of grief. Yet I noticed one glaring disparity. All the grief was directed towards the two Americans that died, in blogs, media, everything (save one article on NBC) I have seen articles on remembering the Boston victims where the Chinese citizen that dies wasn't even mentioned! Was her death somehow less significant and less worthy to be remembered because she wasn't an American?

And what about the victims of Waco? I have yet to see any remembrance of the events that happened there that have changed a community for ever. It is somehow as if it isn´t really worthy of the time of the media or of the public to acknowledge these events or offer their support.

And what about the explosion in Prague? It had the same death toll as the events in Boston and yet it is barely mentioned on the news. It is as if it does not matter.

The best reason I can think of why the events in Prague and Waco are not mentioned more in media and why people just don't seem to care is because these were not acts of terrorism. In both cases, things occurred because of a tragic accident. And apparently, accidents are not worth our time or worth the media writing about because they are not news of sensation. There is no terrorist to be hunted down, no impending national security danger, no people to blame. Only hurt, terror, loss, communities left in ruins and wounds that will never fully heal.

But ya know, unless it's terrorism it just ain't worth writing or caring about. People's death doesn't matter, communities ruined doesn't matter, terror and pain doesn't matter if it's caused by an accident. Then it's insignificant and not worthy of our time. There were earthquakes in Pakistan and in China at the same day the Boston events happened and media barely cared.

It is frustrating beyond imagination knowing we all live in a world where media only cares about news when it's sensational, when victims only matter when they die due to terrorism. Anything beyond that are insignificant deaths not worth reporting or caring about. Because we are only affected by sensation it seems. The rest is insignificant.

And in case you think I am only down on American media. Trust me, the media in my own country is even worse.