23. On insanities.

Do you know where your insanity is located? We've all got one. Some bigger than others, for sure, but we've all got one. Whatever size yours is, remember to let it out once in a while. Insanities have a tendency to grow if they're locked up for too long.

22. On bottled messages.

I suppose the most expensive version of a message in a bottle is NASA's Voyager-program. In 1977 they sent two unmanned crafts into space, containing disks which presented Earth, it's inhabitants, and their culture - meant as a greeting to other lifeforms out there. Maybe one day they'll come down from the heavens and save us from ourselves.

Wait a minute. I'm sort of preaching Scientology here... Does this mean I've become a victim of some new and ingenious, remote brain-washing techniques?...

Damn you, Tom Cruise!

21. The crazy screams of seagulls.

It used to be a part of the soundtrack at the shore - the crazy screams of seagulls. These days, the bird who hates eating alone has become rare in its natural habitat. If you want to see a flock of gulls these days, you go to their new habitat the garbage dump. Chances are, as an extra bonus you will also meet upon a few of the rats living there, but still...

Seagulls or not, I prefer the shore.

20. Warning: Contains bad jokes!

If this made you laugh, you may very well be stoned. Or drunk. Or both. Always aiming to please, I'm gonna tell you an old joke that I'm quite sure will bring another smile to your face, at the very least. IF you're stoned. Or drunk. Or both.

"There once was this guy who stranded on a deserted island. There were no other humans there, but loads of camels, so the castaway didn't have to worry about starvation. And in the beginning, his right hand took care of his sexual needs, but after a few weeks he got tired of masturbating and decided to fuck a camel.

The animals were used to him, and he could move close to one without problems. They were tall beasts though, so he had to dig up a pile of sand behind it to stand on. This spooked the camel into running away. The dude sighed, zipped his pants, and moved towards another camel. One month later, the small island was full of sand piles, and the castaway had the bluest balls in modern history.

Then, one fine day, a skimpily clad, beautiful babe floated ashore on his island. The castaway had never been happier. Finally he had someone who could hold the camels."

19. The stoner version.

While writing the pages where the two guys above appear, I didn't know what they looked like. I still don't know their names - to me they are Fat Festival Goer and Skinny Festival Goer. Then, starting sketching, I realized I could use these two characters as a homage to a couple of my childhood heroes. Not portraits, or even caricatures, but still with a certain likeness. That's what I aimed for, anyway. You may have already guessed who they are.

When I was growing up, TV had no color. You've probably heard of this, maybe you have considered it another urban legend, but it was true. Also, we were used to it. There were colors in the movie theater, but the TV-picture was gray. This meant that the NRK, Norway's sole television broadcaster in those days, could buy old movies, silent and not so silent, and probably cheap, to entertain us kids with. And a lot of grown-ups as well. There was just one channel to choose from, after all. Among these oldies were films by my personal favorites back then: Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton, and, as kind of seen above, Laurel & Hardy.

18. The perfect hunter.

Here in Norway, a rather original threat to the environment has revealed itself - the domestic cat. There's around half a million of them( to a human population of 4.7 million), and, though domesticated, they're still passionate and terrific hunters. They kill around five million birds a year, and now scientists also fear for rare amphibians and snakes. Basically, any animal smaller than itself, as with most predators, is considered prey.

But, before the cat-hunt starts, I hope they try to figure out just how many rats our tiny tigers kill each year. Somebody's going to have to take over their job.

17. The end is near.

Ah. The movie I was talking about the other day--- It's actually coming. In November. It's called 2012, and you can see a trailer for it here. Looks pretty kool, and John Cusack usually picks good scripts. 2012 is the year the Mayans and Sumerians have predicted the end of the world, as I'm sure you know. I did not know about this movie until today, though, but now I feel a bit safer, for since when was Hollywood able to predict the future?...

If the movie will be a big hit in the Philippines, which was just hit by yet another typhoon, is doubtful.

16. Dangerous times.

These days, it's probably not just me who feel like they're an extra in a huge and expensive Hollywood production of Mankind's Last Days. The earthquakes and tsunami in the south seas. Every day a new natural or man-made disaster. Or both. And us extras watch the news with shocked expressions, not knowing the plot twist that is going to bring on the happy ending everybody expects.

15. The wrath of the sky demons.

The People's story continues.

I was also planning yet another praise of bad weather, but, out of respect for the people in the Philippines, I'll shut up. http://article.wn.com/view/2009/09/26/Thousands_flee_heavy_Philippines_rain_flooding/