A Naive Norwegian Viewpoint, Doctor Who Squee and Icon Meme

Bit of a chase going on in the Barents sea at the moment - Russian trawler flees Norwegian coast guard

Figures that it's the day we get a new government and they get a potential diplomatic row with Russia. Latest I heard was that we had five ships chasing it. My, my. This ought to be fun.

I watched a documentary today on Norwegian prisoners in "custody", as it's called and it got me thinking. Basically, in Norway, our longest punishment is 21 years. We do not have a life sentence. But we do have "custody", where prisoners deemed a danger to society is placed to attempt to rehabilitate them to no longer be a danger. (For instance, a repeat killer may get 10 years for the murder and then 5 years of "custody".) In custody, there are more rehabilitation offers than in normal prison. It also costs more money - but it's either having that or having an actual law of life sentence - putting people in prison and throwing away the key.

Should Norway get such a policy? There is occasionally debates on this and our unarmed police, and maybe we have a little naive country to run things the way we do. I was reminded of this when I went by the American embassy the other day, which is now fenced off and you have to pass through a security check and have your possessions gone through before being allowed in. I have to go through less than that to get access to our ministries.

Maybe we are naive, but in the end, I think maybe it's worth it. I don't want us to be a society where the key is thrown away. And even having some personal experience with being a victim, I wouldn't want that done even as justice for me. We may pay the price of our ways sometimes, but everything has a price. I think we're better off paying this one than to let go of the humanitarian angle.

Because once you start stripping away humanity, where do you end? Can you afford that price?

/naive, eternally optimistic Norwegian rant

In decidedly less serious news - Thanks to a tip of tioan (thank you!), I managed to get my hands on two Doctor Who books (Winner Takes All and The Monsters Inside. There's hand-holding and hugging and Pissed!Off Doctor and even alien bondage jokes. I may be in shiny heaven. The plots were a little so-so at times, but they definitely had their moments. And just to show when you've found a new obsession, you see it everywhere - Doctor Who gets on fanficrants

Nicked from gypsyjr

Take a look at my icons.
Comment with the following:
1. one that makes you automatically think of me.
2. one that you think I should TOTALLY use more often.
3. one that you don't get/needs more explanation/you have no idea why I have it.

Comment using an icon of yours that you LOVE, and tell me why you picked THAT one too.

If you're wondering how to get the icons to show up, piece of cake. Use the "img src=url" code in < >. The url you will get my clicking at the icon with your other mouse button and select properties. It'll show the url and you can copy and paste it. Simple, ne?

For example, this is one of my own favourite icons at the moment:

Code: < img src="http://www.livejournal.com/userpic/35923366/522606" > minus the spaces

(drumroll, please)

Notice anything new?

misscam

Oh yeah, adoralyna sprang a new layout on me today, adapted from an original by khalls_stuff. Shiny, n'est pas? I hadn't even asked. Thus, much squee and hugs for adoralyna. You truly are much too nice, babe. Adore ya immensely.

So, drinks are on me. Come break in my new digs. All topics allowed.

Quote that amused me of the day: (after I revealed I'd gotten others hooked on shiny new Doctor Who as well)
adoralyna hehe, you're like a drug pusher for fandom.