UPDATED! At this point I don’t even know if I should laugh or cry.
Posted by Adrenalynn on 14 January 2010
So it turns out nobody wants me to quit writing Norwegian. I’m kinda disappointed here, so If you disagree please speak up and vote on the right – and until I get enough of you to agree with me I’m practicing civil disobedience. So there.
My town apparently has the most polluted air in Europe these days, which is bad. Really, really bad. And the past week they’ve been trying to get people to avoid driving in the downtown area, because it looks like this:
So far I’ve been completely on board with all the measures that have been taken to get the levels down fast. Like closing off downtown parking lots and offering free buses instead; or like restricting certain lanes to be used only by buses or cars with two or more people. But this- this is a whole new level of silliness, even for politicians. Starting tomorrow, only cars with license plates that end with an odd number are allowed to drive within the city on odd numbered dates. And consequently, only cars with an even number at the end can be used on even numbered dates. Which means that I’m extremely thankful that my house, day care and work place are all just outside of The Forbidden Zone, or I would have had to spend three hours getting to day care and work every other morning. Like I suspect many will. I am speechless.
Update: Surprise! Common sense has prevailed, and the madness has come to an end after only one day. Frankly, I thought our politicians were a little dumber than this. I’m actually just a little bit disappointed.
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Perhaps you should all stop eating cheese and beans? Oh wait. I see now. It’s the cars that are causing the pollution.
The solution is simple. Buy another car with a different number at the end. Good for you, good for the economy and good for the climate (as you’ll be complying with the madness).
Hi Dave; the cheese and beans ban is scheduled for next week if all else fails.
It should make for some interesting personal ads though! “Odd numbered man looking for even numbered lady for some quality one on one time. Must like stick”.
Dating will never be the same…
Hi Neri; LOL! This certainly opens up for a whole new dating scene!
We have two cars – both with odd numbered plates. Guldehinn and her husband have two cars aswell – both with even numbered plates. Yes, we did manage to put two and two together – and last night Guldehinn got one of our cars, and I returned home with one of their cars. So we can still drive every day wherever we want to…
.-= keekaboo´s last blog post: Etterbildet… =-.
Hi Keekaboo; Somehow I’m not sure that’s what they were aiming for…
Poor you, having to live in such a polluted city.. Didn’t know it was so bad until I saw JR’s link on Facebook.
.-= Ingalill´s last blog post: Siste bloggpost? =-.
Btw, I voted for both English and Norwegian because I like to have choices, but if you feel so strongly about writing in English you should do so, no matter what we, the readers, think. (Respect to you for value our opinions, though)
.-= Ingalill´s last blog post: Siste bloggpost? =-.
Hi Ingalill; thankfully I live just outside of such a polluted city
And thanks for the support, I’ll keep it in mind!
Blimey and there was me complaining because the council hadn’t bothered to grit our icy roads.
Will think of you next time it snows A x
Hi Tara; there are bigger problems than icy roads or not being allowed to drive your car wherever you want, so I’m trying to have that in mind! But I do appreciate it, though
If you think Bergen is polluted, you should come to Bombay sometime. Bergen would seem like Heaven.
Hi Winston; I can imagine! I guess we all just see what’s outside of our own window and don’t think too much about anyone else! I’ve definitely felt more grateful for what I have and where I live in these past few days. I hope all is well over there!
just to add in, just use on of the online translators! Write in English, use the translator and then we can all have all sorts of fun reading bad Norwegian that makes no sense!
Hi Neri; awesome idea!!
i’m voting for neri’s suggestion! and it could be that someone who we can’t name have voted for norwegian several times – maybe all of the times, and i can’t write this in norwegian because then (s)he’ll know i’m telling on him/her…
Hi Keekaboo; I get the feeling I should know who you’re (very subtly) referring to…?
I’m not referring to anyone. I don’t know anything. And if I knew, I would not be able to tell you. All I’m saying is it’s POSSIBLE to do such a thing – and as long as it’s POSSIBLE, someone might take advantage of it – and you should not trust the poll. Trust the comments, where all the suggestions have a name. And seriously – I REALLY like Neri’s suggestion. Online translation can make your posts double funny – first funny as you intended in english, and then bad-translation-funny in norwegian. I might start translating my blog to english with an online translation tool…
.-= keekaboo´s last blog post: En dom jeg er veldig enig i! =-.
Hi Keekaboo; seeing the awesomeness that came out of your experiment with online translation on your blog totally made my day, so I just might do that