As usual, this year’s Christmas catch was modest, and I don’t mind at all. This year, I got a large tea cup, two mugs, two small plates (which goes with several tea cups I already have with a similar design), some licorice/cinnamon tea (Pukka brand, not pictured) that was actually quite good, a small bath towel, a concrete @-sign decoration (which unfortunately broke the second after I had opened it due to bad packaging, also not pictured), a luxury soap with bath towel, a fleece hat, a scarf, and some DVDs. Out of DVDs, I got Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows parts 1 and 2, Hodejegerne (a Norwegian thriller released earlier this year), Cars 2 (Blu-ray+DVD edition), and the two first seasons of NCIS. All of these DVDs were on my wishlist, but I’m going to exchange Cars 2 and one of the last Harry Potter films, since already got Cars 2 about a week or so before Christmas, and I got two out of Deathly Hallows part 2. No biggie, though, as they’re in “exchangeable” condition (sealed). And, as usual, I got another thing I wanted, which is on my list every year: Time spent with family.

I can’t help but notice a disgusting trend recently making rounds of well-deserved ridicule around the Internet, though. Namely, the high number of spoiled brats who complain about getting or not getting an iPhone/iPad/iPod, laptop/MacBook or even car, or getting the wrong one of these. I’m simply baffled that people can be that selfish and spoiled to feel depressed about something so materialistic when there are people in the world who don’t have a great life. People who don’t have a home, who don’t have a family, who don’t have enough food or clothes, who don’t have safety and security, who don’t get presents, or even a combination of these. And I’m not just talking about people in poor and/or war-torn countries in the so-called second or third world, but also domestically in the so-called Western civilization. There are people who spend Christmas alone, not because they choose to, or because that happened to be the case this year, but because they don’t have anyone to spend it with, even if they desperately want to. There are people who consider “a great Christmas” to be shelter and food for the day, or maybe even the whole week, and when I see people complain about such high-priced gifts, I feel like whacking them with a clue stick. I mean, at least you got something! If you don’t like it, you still have to option to exchange it for that other thing you might’ve wanted!

When it comes to helping those in need, I feel that organizations like the Salvation Army does help a lot. I may not agree with them in religious or political terms, but I do believe they do a lot of great work for the less fortunate people in the local community (in terms of food, heat, and to some degree, shelter). I did contribute my small share to their Christmas kettle in the weeks leading up to Christmas. It wasn’t much on the larger scale of things, but I did at least contribute something, and I hope they will keep doing the good work they do. And they do it without pushing religion onto those they help, which is a big reason I like their work.

To sum up, be thankful for what you have, be even more thankful for other things you get, and hope the new year only have good things in store for us. And to make my wish a little early: Happy New Year!

To me, Christmas is a winter tradition. Jesus don’t really have that much to do with it, other than what people make of it. About one and a half millennia ago, the church decided that the birth of Jesus was to be celebrated in December, corresponding with the already-existing winter solstice festival (Yuletide). In fact, the Norwegian word for the Christmas time is “Jul” (pronounced roughly the same as the word “Yule”), and I stand by it. Like I said, it’s a winter tradition for me and my family, and I celebrate it with joy. Not the parts that have to do with Jesus (although I understand that some people might want to keep connecting this time of year to his birth), but with the togetherness, generosity, light and warmth that comes with this tradition.

On Christmas Eve, we go through the same ritual as ever; mellow out, eat candy, watch some traditional TV shows we always (and only) do on Christmas Eve, pay my respects to my gone grandparents (on my father’s side) at their grave, Christmas dinner with “svineribbe” (pork ribs) and “fåreribbe” (mutton ribs) together with my family, coffee/tea and Christmas cookies afterwards, relaxing together and finally, opening presents.

It’s only a few days away now, and my Christmas shopping is also at its end. I only have a few small gifts left to buy, and I’m still waiting for another item to arrive. All in all, I think I have a good handle on things. If not, I’ll be stressing out on Friday for that gift that’s supposed to be in the mail by now.

In any case, I’d like to wish you all a Merry Christmas! God Jul! Buorit Juovllat! ¡Feliz Navidad! Buon Natale! Joyeux Noël! Hyvää Joulua! Frohe Weihnachten! С Рождеством! Vrolijk Kerstfeest!

Later in the day, after coming home, I tried finding out what the hell this thing was, and reading the inside cover (where the title, copyright and ISBN is listed), I found a reference to the Hare Krishna movement (by its offical name, ISKCON). I mean, if you found your religion, I’m fine with it, but please don’t go around pushing your agenda on random strangers like that. Most people find it annoying.

I’ll keep the book, though. It’s likely to collect dust at the back of my shelf, I might pull it out some time, just to get a more thorough understanding of that religion (which would be around the same time I get my own Bible and Koran for my bookshelf). I’m not taking the trouble to walk around with it, trying to find the guy again so I can return it, it’s just not worth the extra effort.

On the brighter side of this week, I just got the “Stand-Up Revolution” DVD (with Gabriel Iglesias, aka. “Fluffy”, and his friends) I ordered from Amazon.com two weeks ago.

It has 2 DVDs in it, has the complete  8 episodes of the show from Comedy Central, and has Fluffy himself, plus 18 of his stand-up comedy friends (according to the cover). While I’m writing this, I’m about half-way through the whole thing, and I’m enjoying every second of it!

If you ever come across Fluffy’s stuff, I can recommend it 100%. I’m just sorry I missed out while he was in Norway last month (it was in Bergen, and I found out about it only a few days before the show). I hope I’ll be able to meet him in person some day, though.

In other news, Christmas time is off to a start, and present shopping is officially well into it’s second lap. I already have two presents down, and several others to go.

I’ll get back with an update later, I guess.

Also, the more perceptive of you would notice that this list only goes up to 95. That’s because that while I was going down the list, I found some numbers missing. If you want to pitch in your own questions, do let me know, either in the comments or on my contact page.

Anyway, here goes.

1. The last thing you drank: Red Bull from a can
2. The last person you called: A work colleague (on my way to work)
3. The last received SMS (text message): Lene (my oldest little sister).
4. The last song you listened to: Blue Man Group – Booty Shaker Finale from New York (at least that’s what I think it’s called)
5. The last time you danced: Monday, I think (if you can truly call it dancing)

YES OR NO:
6. Would you have a relationship with someone of the same gender as yourself: No (just not my kind of bag, babe)
7.  Have you ever cheated on your partner: Nope
8. Have you ever taken something from your parent(s) without them knowing: Yes
9. Have you ever eaten something poisonous: Yes (in the sense that I’ve eaten something that’s poisonous to me, aka. something I’m allergic to)

EITHER OR:
10. Dancing or singing: Singing
11. Coke or Pepsi: Yes, please
12. Strawberries or raspberries: Strawberries
13. Facebook or Myspace: Facebook
14. Black or white: Black

THIS YEAR:
15. Have you made any new friends: Oh, yes. Thanks to the fan meet in New York.
16. Stopped falling in love: Not at all
17. Laughed until you cried: Oh, yes

JUST NOW:
18. Met someone who’s changed your life: Unfortunately, no
19. Found out who your real friends are: No
20. Found out that someone has been talking behind your back: No
21. Kissed someone from your top friends list: No

TRUTH:
22. How many children would you like: 3
23. Do you have any pets: No
24. Do you want to change your name: Not really (but I wouldn’t mind adopting a stage name)
25. How did you celebrate your last birthday: At home with my family
26. When did you wake up this morning: Around 8:30
27. What were you doing at midnight last night: Taking a cab home from the office
28. Mention something you CANNOT wait for: The Christmas spirit, and the next paycheck
29. The last time you saw your dad: About a month ago
30. What would you change in your life: Where I live, and my bank account (the two go closer together than you’d actually realize…)
31. What are you listening to right now: The background noise from the server room at the office (server fans)
32. Have you ever talked to someone named Victoria: Yes, but that was a long time ago
33. What’s hitting your nerve right now: Not being able to leave work earlier than this
34. What is your real name: Look around, and you’ll figure it out eventually
35. Relationship status: Single, unfortunately
36. Sign: Aquarius
37. Boy or girl: Boy, sort of (“man” would be the technically correct answer, though)
38. Age: 31
39. High school: Skarbøvik Ungdomsskole (equivalent level to high school)
40. College: Fagerlia videregående skole, allmenne fag (equivalent level to college)
41. Hair color: Black (slightly brighter during the summer, though)
42. Long or short hair: Short
43. Height: 171 cm (or about 5 feet 7.5 inches)
44. Are you infatuated by someone: Yes, a little bit
45. Piercings: None
46. Tattoos: None
47. Left-handed or right-handed: Right-handed

WOULD YOU:
48. Kiss a friend’s girlfriend: Nope, too much respect
49. Sleep alone under the open sky: Yes, but it depends on the weather
50. Dump a friend in front of your girlfriend: No (and it’s more hypothetical at this time)
51. Streak across the court at a sports event just to get on TV: No chance in hell
52. Spend a whole day shopping: No
53. Kiss someone of the same gender: I’d be fine with it
54. Touch the chest of someone of the same gender: I’d be fine with it
55. Exposed yourself to someone you love on the web: No
56. Named a child after yourself: No
57. Run 10 km (a little over 6 miles) just to see someone you love: No (at least not at my current health – I’d walk that same distance, though)

RIGHT NOW:
58. Eating: Nothing
59. Drinking: That same Red Bull I mentioned earlier
60. Going to: Go home from the office
61. Waiting for: A chance to stop working today
62. Listening to: Nothing special (aside from that background noise)

YOUR FUTURE:
63. Want children: Oh, yes
64. Want to be married: Not necessary (but would be willing to if my future partner really wants it)

THE BEST ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX:
65. Lips or eyes: Eyes
66. Kiss or hug: Kiss
67. Taller or shorter: Shorter (but not that important)
68. Older or younger: Younger, or around the same age as myself
69. Romantic or spontaneous: A little bit of both
70. Nice tummy or nice arms: If I had to choose, the tummy
71. Tattoo or piercing: Not something too obvious or visible of either
72. Careless or careful: Somewhere in the middle, leaning towards careful
73. Relationship or just friends: Relationship if possible (but I’d rather have them as friends than not at all)
74. Troublemaker or holding back: Again, somewhere in the middle, leaning slightly towards holding back

HAVE YOU EVER:
75. Kissed a stranger: Yes
76. Drunken strong alcohol: Yep
77. Lost your glasses/lenses: Yes, but a long time ago (they were recovered, though)
78. Sex on the first date: Preferrably no, but if the mood between us is juuust right, I’d be up for it
79. Broken someone’s heart: Not that I know of
80. Had your heart broken: Not really
81. Been arrested: No
82. Declined an invitation to a date: No. Then again, I would have had to received an invitation to be able to decline it…
83. Cried when someone died: Oh yes (who doesn’t?)
84. Liked a friend who’s a girl: Yes

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
85. Yourself: Yes
86. Miracles: Not really
87. Angels: Nah
88. Heaven: In the biblical sense, no… in the afterlife, … umm… not really
89. Santa Claus: Nope
90. Kissing on the first date: Yes (if the conditions are right)
91. Love at first sight: Oh yes

ANSWER HONESTLY:
92. Is there someone you’d like to be in a relationship with right now: Not someone in particular, no
93. Have you ever had more than one girlfriend at any given time: No, but I’ve never had one girlfriend at any given time, either (kindergarten doesn’t count)
94. Do you think it’s possible to be faithful forever: Possible, yes. But not everyone is cut out for it…
95. Do you dare answer all of these questions: Already have.

I recently became aware of another website that the head author above newsletter (Randy Cassingham) maintains, which I found to be very useful to a lot of people.

If you want to know how to reduce the impact of spam (including unsolicited e-mail and chain letters), I can highly recommend the Spam Primer. It tells you (amongst other things) how to distinguish mail from friends and mail from spammers (even if they appear to come from your friends), what to do and not to do, and how to avoid becoming a part of the spamming problem.

The whole website takes a little less time than reading a paper-based daily newspaper (15-20 minutes, depending on your reading speed), from start to end.

So before you as much as touch another e-mail message, please read and understand the Spam Primer, and be part of the solution rather than the problem!

Let me just guide you through my experience, shall we?

Components to install:

• 500 GB Western Digital Scorpio Blue harddrive (SATA interface), replacing a 250 GB harddrive
• 2 GB  Apacer DDR2 RAM (SO-DIMM interface), replacing a 1 GB RAM module (upgrading from 3 GB to 4 GB)

Installation media (all from the Microsoft Partner Network):

• Microsoft Windows 7 Professional, 32-bit, DVD
• Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010, DVD
• Microsoft Visio Professional 2010, DVD
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise, DVD (only used to install the client software)
• Microsoft Project Professional 2010

In addition, I had downloaded an installation file for Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Professional. The day before, I had received full license keys from my boss, who had to fetch them from the Microsoft Partner Network website (using his login). You know, so it’s all official, and not pirated.

Tools used:

• Philips head screwdriver, long (for the smallest screws)
• Philips head screwdriver, wider (for the slightly larger screws)
• Flat head screwdriver (to pry open the lid after unscrewing)
• Kama Connect IDE/SATA-to-USB adapter (to transfer data out from the old harddrive)
• Small soft towel (to minimize pressure on the laptop screen while pushing down to screw/unscrew)

And, of course, plenty of lights and patience. Speaking of which, additional supplies:

• Lethal Weapon 1-4 on DVD (to pass time while everything is being installed)

From the time I started clearing my workspace (read: desk) so I could replace the hardware properly, and until Windows 7 and Office 2010 was installed, including all updates from Windows Update, about 6 hours had passed. And since I started about half an hour past midnight, I was going strong-ish until about 7am Saturday morning. On any given Saturday morning, I’m usually asleep at this time, but I stayed up all night on this one. Most of Saturday was spent transferring documents, pictures, music and web files (local copies of websites I’m working on), but these could be left pretty much unattended, so I was able to have a little social time with my family.

I did snap a few photos during the Friday night upgrade (hardware and base software install) using my phone camera, and they’re all up on my Flickr account, in their own photo set.

Also, by the time I got to the office, I had received an e-mail from my boss with the license keys I had requested. The upgrade is on for this weekend!

When I left the office today, I made sure to make a print-out of the license keys and take the installation DVDs/CDs with me home, just in case I had the time and the urge to perform the upgrade already today. Needless to say, I never got the time to do something about it today.

I did, however, do a test disassembly of my laptop after I got home, just to get a complete overview of where the components were located, and what screws to unscrew when the time finally comes (and, of course, to be even more sure that I had the right components and equipment to get through the upgrade).

Then again, I was able to perform a backup of all the games and software I can’t get anywhere else before I went to bed, just to be even more prepared.

I’m looking even more forward to get started on Saturday.

I finally got a message from the postal service that it was almost here:

Meaning, the package is ready to be picked up tomorrow. And since I just found out that the downtown post office had spent the last few days moving to another location, which would become just a few minutes away from where I work, it won’t even be a detour during my lunch break.

I might even get brand new software for my upgrade from my workplace, too. Today, the laptop has Windows Vista Ultimate and Microsoft Office 2007 Ultimate, amongst other things, and through my office, I have access to Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2010. I just have to ask my boss for the license keys, and it looks like I’ll go for the Windows 7 Professional and Office Professional Plus 2010 editions, since our company’s subscription package includes more than one license for these two. Our company only has one single license for the Ultimate edition of Windows 7, and I don’t want to be the one hogging this particular one. Besides, the differences between “Professional” and “Ultimate” aren’t that much of a deal anyway.

If I get the license keys secured before the weekend, I’ll be spending the weekend upgrading and reinstalling software, and start next week with a renewed laptop.

I’ll keep you updated on my progress. Or, at least somewhat, since my laptop won’t exactly be online while I’m doing this.

Bildet lyver ikke, taklyset på dette toalettet skinte faktisk blått, og det så ikke ut som noen hadde gjort noe godt vedlikehold på flere år. Det var faktisk såpass ille at jeg måtte bare ta noen bilder av dette, for å belyse dette skammens toalett. Det var fortsatt tagging med tusj på områder av vegg, dør og tak (!), og det var tydelige merker etter ting som tidligere har hengt på veggen av forskjellige typer dispensere. Såpedispenseren så ut som den var kjøpt på billigsalg, og papirholderen ved vasken var tom, så jeg måtte tørke hendene med toalettpapir.

Og hvor mye måtte jeg ut med for dette? Hele 10 kroner. TI KRONER. For dette. Det var egentlig ikke verdt pengene. Det var heller en siste utvei for å unngå våte flekker i buksa.

Hvis de virkelig har tenkt å gjøre seg fortjent til disse ti kronene, må de gjøre drastiske forbedringer på hele opplevelsen, og det trenger ikke koste så grusomt mye heller. Jeg vil tro at folk flest, som meg, vegrer seg for å bruke dette toalettet uten at det er en skikkelig nødssituasjon. Jeg liker fargen blå, men ikke som eneste lyskilde. I håp om at de som eier og/eller driver dette toalettet leser dette, vil jeg foreslå følgende:

• Skift lysfargen til hvitt eller en varmere farge. Jeg vet at enkelte bruker dette blåe lyset for at sprøytebrukere ikke skal bruke toalettet som et sprøyterom (og blåfargen skal gjøre det vanskelig å kunne se blodårer), men det gjør det vanskelig for alle andre også. Og sprøytebrukere kan enkelt ha med seg en lommelykt for å gjøre sitt likevel.
• Ny maling på dør og tak. Dette for å fjerne grafittien som er der.
• Skikkelig rengjøring av vegger. Bruk gjerne Jif Baderom eller andre vaskemidler beregnet på fliser, og bruk stålsparkel eller isskrape i metall for å skrape vekk rester av utstyr og dispensere som er fjernet. Dere må nok gå over alle vegger i flere omganger, både med vaskemiddel og verktøy.
• Fikse låsemekanismen i døren, og merke denne bedre. Akkurat nå står det et lite skilt om hvordan man låser og åpner døren fra innsiden. Problemet er bare at det er to låsemekanismer der, og dette skiltet sier ingenting om hvilken man skal bruke. Det er mer intuitivt å bruke dørhåndtaket for å åpne døren fra innsiden, fremfor å krongle seg gjennom en låsemekanisme. Jeg anser meg selv som noenlunde lettlært, men jeg måtte bruke et minutt eller to på å finne ut hvordan jeg skulle komme meg ut, og det selv med “instruksjonsskiltet” på døren. Selve låsen må forbedres, og gjerne skilte med piler hvilken retning som må vris for å åpne døren.
• Såpedispenser og papir. En såpedispenser på et slikt toalett skal helst stå i stil med resten av inventaret, og da holder det ikke med en dispenser fra Europris eller First Price som står på selve vasken. Det må også etterfylles med papir av alle slag; sørg for at der er nok toalettpapir, gjerne med en ekstrarull montert like ved dersom det skulle gå tomt, og sørg for at det alltid er fullt med tørkepapir til hendene. Dersom dispenseren bruker en stabel med tørkepapir, slik det så ut til i dette tilfellet, fyll alltid på til topps, selv om det ikke er tomt i holderen.
• Oftere vedlikehold. Det bør komme noen innom for å vaske og sjekke tilstanden minst én gang for dag, hver dag det holdes åpent (og er tilgang til toalettet). Ved hvert vedlikeholdsbesøk, etterfyll med papir og såpe, og vask gulv, toalettskål og håndvask (skjønt, ikke nødvendigvis i nettopp den rekkefølgen), og da både i og rundt de to sistnevnte.
• Skift ut myntapparatene. Det ser ut som disse myntapparatene man putter på for å få tilgang til toalettet var plassert der på 1980-tallet, og har ikke vært skiftet ut siden. Jeg vil tro at det er kommet mer moderne apparat i dag, som også kan veksle mynt der dette er nødvendig. Dette er ikke så nødvendig å skifte ut, men det kan i det minste være en idé å skifte ut etiketten på myntboksen med noe av litt nyere dato, og fjerne gamle etiketter fullstendig.
• Se gjerne om det går an å senke prisen litt. Hele 10 kroner virker litt kunstig høyt, spesielt når nærmeste kjøpesenter tar 5 kroner for adgang til sine toaletter.

Jeg vil tro at en slik oppussing vil koste rundt tusenlappen i materiell (ikke medregnet timesarbeid) per toalett, men dette vil forbedre kundeopplevelsen betraktelig, og gjøre at man føler at det er verdt prisen man må betale. Det skal ikke så mye til.

Min første melding er da som følger (med bare noen få endringer i formateringen):

Hei,

Jeg leste i dag på VG Nett to artikler som omhandlet strenge vilkår i NRK-lisensen. Den første artikkelen handlet spesifikt om to personer som hadde vært utsatt for brann der deres TV-apparater hadde gått tapt i brannen, og som møtte liten vilje fra lisensavdelingen i NRK til å yte service for noen som gikk gjennom en tøff periode. Den andre artikkelen håndterte de strenge lisensvilkårene på litt mer generell basis. Etter å ha bekreftet mine mistanker ved en gjennomlesing av de faktiske lovene og forskriftene rundt dette, la jeg igjen en svært irritert kommentar under den førstnevnte artikkelen. Jeg vil gjerne gjenta min kommentar her (lettere omskrevet), adressert til de sentrale organene og personene rundt denne saken, inkludert de to journalistene som sto bak nyhetssaken hos VG Nett.

Først av alt, her er lenker direkte til de artiklene det gjelder:

• VG Nett: NRK krevde lisens for utbrente TV-er
• VG Nett: NRK om lisensavgiften: – Det finnes ingen formildende omstendigheter
• Lovdata: FOR 1980-10-23 nr 8798: Forskrifter om fjernsynsmottakere

Jeg vil også si at dette ikke er første gang jeg hører om en slik sak, og det gjør meg provosert at ingen hos NRK, Medietilsynet, Kulturdepartementet, eller tilsvarende politisk hold klarer å se at noe må gjøres med slike strenge vilkår – jeg tenker bare på at til og med straffeloven har formildende omstendigheter.

Det er veldig trist at lisensavdelingen i NRK ikke klarer å yte service for de som har vært utsatt for noe som husbrann. Spesielt dette stusser jeg på (sitat):

“Nilsen fikk klar beskjed om at hun skulle ha gitt beskjed før lisensperioden startet 1. januar.”

Jeg kan bare tenke meg hvordan en slik beskjed hadde foregått; “Hei, jeg skulle gjerne ha stoppet lisensavgiften min, ettersom huset mitt kommer til å brenne ned 18. januar, altså om fire uker.”

Det er rett og slett høl i hodet (for å bruke et slikt uttrykk) at det skal være såpass strengt og uvilje hos NRK på slike hendelser.

Jeg leste også gjennom hele den forskriften som Freddy Lysfjord siterer en paragraf fra, og jeg synes det er skremmende at det er absolutt null slingringsmonn i loven med tanke på ting som er utenfor vår kontroll. Selv om du skulle bli utsatt for brann eller naturkatastrofer som ødelegger mottakeren helt, eller blir utsatt for lengre ufrivillig sykehusopphold (ulykker, koma, osv) eller dø, så må du betale lisensavgiften (selv om du ikke er i stand til å betale noe som helst av regninger). Det er ingenting i loven som gir fritak fra lisensavgiften i slike tilfeller, og dette burde ha vært gjort noe med for lengst.

Og jeg må nesten sitere en av de mer tåpelige utsagnene fra Freddy Lysfjord, avdelingslederen i NRK Lisensavdelingen:

[..] ”Men dersom en person dør før ny termin begynner er vedkommende selvsagt ikke lenger avgiftspliktig for den nye terminen.”

Kort sagt, hvis en person dør for eksempel 3. januar eller 5. juli, er vedkommende avgiftspliktig for neste periode? Hvem skal i så fall betale denne avgiften? Gjenferdet til denne personen? Hva med å bruke §5d i forskriften om fjernsynsmottakere? Hvis man er død, vil man da ikke kunne regnes som noen som ”varig er sterkt funksjonshemmet slik at det er vanskelig for dem å bevege seg utenfor boligen eller å få kontakt med andre”? Man vil da være såpass funksjons-”hemmet” at man ikke kan bevege seg noen steder (verken innenfor eller utenfor noen som helst bolig), og til tross for påstander fra såkalte ”klarsynte”, tviler jeg sterkt på at den døde kan få kontakt med noen som helst. Dette er da å sette denne problemstillingen helt på spissen, ettersom generelle avtalesammenhenger vil avslutte et kontraktsforhold på en skånsom måte dersom den ene parten skulle falle fra.

Ettersom NRKs lisensavdeling sier at det ikke finnes noen formildende omstendigheter, burde det ikke egentlig ha vært tilgang til nettopp formildende omstendigheter i lovforskriftene for slike tilfeller? Man kan jo ikke kreve at å kontakte NRKs lisensavdeling skal være en av de første tingene man må gjøre i forbindelse ekstreme forhold som brann og naturkatastrofer? De som har vært utsatt for slike ekstreme hendelser, og også pårørende til ulykkesofre, sykehuspasienter og avdøde, har gjerne andre og viktigere ting å tenke på enn å avbestille NRK-lisensen for neste periode.

Men også med tanke på at per i dag, må alle, etter at de siste senderene av analoge TV-signaler ble slukket, ut med et månedsbeløp til en eller annen signalleverandør (enten det er digitalt bakkenett, kabel-TV eller parabol) for å i det hele tatt motta signaler (eller kjøpe en signalboks fra RiksTV for å kun motta NRK-kanalene), mener jeg også at NRK-lisensen i sin nåværende form har utspilt sin rolle. Jeg mener da også at lisensen enten blir fjernet helt og/eller blir bakt fullstendig inn i månedsprisen man betaler til RiksTV, Canal Digital, Get, Viasat, eller en av de andre leverandørene. I sistnevnte tilfeller kan det da også være tilfeller der det er muligheter for redusering eller frafall av lisensdelen av denne månedsleien i spesialtilfeller (blant annet de unntakene som nevnes i §5 i dagens forskrift).

Dere som har kultur og medier som sentrale virksomhetsområder trenger virkelig å få gjort noe med dette snarest.

Med vennlig hilsen,

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