Free and Open Source Software – the next surge

Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) won its battle for mainstream acceptance many years ago. Now it’s everywhere. It’s running the Internet and providing the foundation for software giants like Amazon, Google, Facebook, Twitter and Apple. People are using FOSS like never before with Wikipedia being the biggest knowledge base in human history, Linux enjoying 83% market share on smartphones and 98.8% of the World’s supercomputers, Ubuntu users counting one billion, large corporations opting for FOSS, etc.

The next surge will come from security. There will be a backlash from politicians’ craving for a more controlled society. There is a continual push for invading the privacy of ordinary citizens by hollowing the security of software. The UK, China and the US are leading the assault on privacy by trying to make it mandatory for vendors to build backdoors into their encrypted software. This would mean that anyone using Unfree and Closed Source Software will be running software that is insecure by design. Enough awareness about this security threat will push companies in the direction of FOSS. And the ordinary citizen will follow.

Because – with FOSS, there is no vendor to strong-arm and bully into submission, and any backdoor will be open for all to see.

How-to-Remove-Backdoor.Mevade

Killing ads on Facebook

Simply add this to a custom CSS style sheet in your browser:

.ego_section,.mvs._5j5u._5jqk.clearfix,._54b-,div[data-referrer*="substream"] div[data-ownerid*="u_ps"],div[class="_4-u2 mbm _5jmm _5pat _5v3q _5sq8 _5x16"][data-xt-vimp*="log_initial_nonviewable"],._54b{display:none!important}

Any decent browser (like the one I use, “qutebrowser“), will have the option of using a custom CSS style sheet when rendering pages. The above code only affects Facebook and makes ads not show up.

You may of course use another ad-block system, but this is the leanest, less resource intensive and most elegant I have seen. Thanks to a3cAnton.

HP-41: The Periodic Table of Chemical Elements

Have your HP-41 right where it should be (in your hand) and unable to find the Internetz to look up nifty details of obscure chemical elements? Worry no more, the solution is here, the HP-41 program, “PERIOD”.

14LaAc_periodic_table_IIb

The program will display:

  • Atomic number, Name and Symbol
  • Group, Period and Block
  • Atomic Weight
  • Property (Alkali metal, Noble Gas, etc.)
  • Type (Gas, Liquid, Solid or Unknown)
  • Occurrence in nature (Primordial, From Decay, Synthetic)
  • Melting Point, Boiling Point (in Kelvin)
  • Year of discovery (“OLD” if known in ancient times)
  • Electron Configuration
  • Atomic Radius (empirical and calculated)
  • Origin (Big Bang, Cosmic Rays, Small & Large Stars, Large Stars, Large Stars & Super Nova, Super Nova and Man Made)

You will find the ROM pages, program listing and element details on the Github project page. It is also included in the HP Museum’s “HP-41C Software Library“. Enjoy πŸ™‚

A rather odd exchange with a scientologist

Most exchanges I have with current scientologists follow a predictable pattern. A scientologist needs to stay out of trouble – by any means. One should not look at any critical information, not surf around on the Internet where critical information could pop up, not engage in conversations with people who could be critical of Scientology and certainly not talk to anyone shunned by their church. When a Scientologist contacts me, the exchange usually dies out after a couple of messages.

Not this one. This is an odd one out, and I would appreciate your help in understanding what is going on in this e-mail exchange.

It started out with a question from “E”:

How is your FSMing going?

An FSM cycle I initiated:
After hearing of his breakup from his then wife Jodhi Meares, I wrote a letter to James Packer (a multi-billionaire Australian businessman) about Scientology (included in the letter was material about services available at the Flag Land Base and an FSM selection slip for services at Flag). I sent a copy of the selection slip to Flag via AOSH ANZO. The next I heard was that James was receiving Scientology services in Sydney and later he stated that the services he’d received had been “helpful.”

Best wishes for 2016

From the question “How is your FSMing going?”, we get this conversation:

G: Not too well :-/

E: What barrier have you hit?

G: My own interest in FSM’ing πŸ™‚ Two weeks after I attested OT 8 in 2006, I met with David Miscavige. That meeting helped me resolve many questions I had during my 25 years as a Scientologist. I then left the church. I found out that there are more Class XII auditors outside the church than inside – as most of the Class XIIs trained directly by LRH was expelled by the current management. Having discovered this, I was able to do my L11 and to fantastic wins.

E: Was there a time prior to your losing interest, where you were winning as an FSM?
What was discussed at the meeting (questions that were asked, replies that were given, etc)?

G: I used to be the top FSM in Norway, but after meeting David Miscavige in person, I decided that I would not again FSM for the church. Basically he violated a dozen or so LRH policies right in front of me. He tried to recruit me as the ED of Oslo Org right there on the spot and at the same time sacking the current ED which he admitted that he didn’t know. The way that conversation went was just about the weirdest I have experienced. I realized the church was indeed run by a dictator. If you want more details, I can give you more,

E: SPECIFIC MEETING INFO SOUGHT:

  1. When exactly it occurred (date).
  2. Where it took place (location).
  3. What time of the day or night it was held at.
  4. What day of the week it occurred on.
  5. If it took place inside a building (which one).
  6. If it took place inside an office (describe the interior).
  7. Whether you were given any refreshments (coffee).
  8. Whether anyone else was present.
  9. Whether the door was shut.
  10. Whether you were summoned to the meeting.
  11. The amount of time (notice) you were given to show up.
  12. Whether you were escorted to the meeting.
  13. The duration of the meeting.
  14. Whether anyone was outside the door when you left.
  15. Any other details that come to mind.

G: Wow – that was an interesting list πŸ™‚
You are thorough. It would be interesting to see the same thoroughness applied to a look into the church statistics. Like the number of Scientologists in the world.
Let me give you the story of my meeting with David Miscavige: https://elysianchakorta.wordpress.com/2009/08/21/when-i-met-david-miscavige/
(I also attached my “doubt write-up“)

E: Re the recruitment method which David Miscavige (unsuccessfully) attempted on you: He no doubt would have found this particular approach successful at various times in the past, thus he adopted it as his SOP (standard operating procedure).

G: No doubt.
What do you think of his approach?
And what do you think about the content of my Doubt write-up?

E: I prefer to look at the incident from the viewpoint of observing the technique you use to personally handle certain types of people. Let’s say I’m your boxing coach and I want you to be able to handle every type of opponent you meet in the ring with style, effectiveness and finesse and not let any of them land a punch on you. What I do after the match, is I ask you how you felt you went. You are really the final arbiter of how you performed. You determine whether you performed at 100 percent, 75 percent, 50 percent or 25 percent. Then — if you believe you fared below 100 percent — we look at what you could have done to fare better.

G: In the real world outside of Scientology – you are absolutely right. And this is exactly how I view that it should be done. See the attached article, it thoroughly validates your viewpoint. But in the world of Scientology, one is supposed to follow LRH’s word to the letter – especially the management of the church. And here is where the glaring outpoint with that meeting really shines.

Then out of the blue, he sent me this:

2016-01-17-120017_591x725_scrot

G: Before you send this anywhere, you should read the attached.

Then I sent him both Six months in the open and From Independent Scientologist to just me. He then read “all of Six months” and “most of Just me”, and sent me this:

Prerequisites to study
The most important prerequisite as far as I’m concerned is a Non-Oppressive Environment in which to study. As far as I’m concerned they can stick their f***ing academies up their asses. I FUCKEN HATE studying in Scn academies. Let me repeat that in case someone never heard what I said: I FUCKING HATE STUDYING IN SCIENTOLOGY ACADEMIES. I like to study WHERE I want and WHEN I want, without some fuckwit pissing me off with their bullshit. My favourite place to study is lying down in the park under a shady tree. Then i might walk off and go and buy an icecream. Then, there is a possibility that I will go back to study half-an-hour later — WHEN I FRIGGEN WELL FEEL LIKE IT. And if I don’t feel like it, I won’t. I hate being bugged by idiots around me, pestering and annoying me when I’m studying. It sends me wild. I am usually a fairly calm and easygoing person, but if there is one thing that brings out a FULLBLOWN RAGE in me it’s anything to do with being pestered while I’m studying. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

And then he actually sent his CSW to “David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board” via info@scientology.org – asking him to take me on as his personal recruitment consultant.

G: Please help me understand; What is your ambition in doing this? What were your thoughts after reading the two books I sent you?

He then sent me this link and this link, before I reiterated what he thought about my two books, whereupon he answered:

E: You are not OT VIII — you’re a False Declare.

G: That is a one way to deal with the cognitive dissonance. So, you think the tech in the church is faulty, since it would allow a person to go through all the Bridge with thousands upon thousands of hours of auditing and sec checks and courses and let through a false OT VIII declare?
Also, what would be your idea of a “correct” OT VIII?

E: It’s a matter of mathematics. Absolutes are unobtainable. There is always a blacker black or a whiter shade of white. The delivery lines have been under continual improvement from the day LRH gave his first session. There are so many variables involved, so many areas where breakdowns can occur. It’s not a matter of the tech being faulty; the delivery of it can always be more polished. Training has been under continual improvement. The ability of those working on the lines can always be lifted up a further notch. If you wish to disagree with the TRUTH I have revealed to you, fine.

G: What is the “TRUTH” you have presented to me?

And that is my answer to “E” just this morning.

What is your take on this exchange?

Update 2016-01-18:

The exchange continued…

E: I stated that: You are not OT VIII — you’re a False Declare. I also stated: If you wish to disagree with the TRUTH I have revealed to you,
fine. In other words, if it is your TRUTH that you ARE an OT VIII completion, well that is your truth.
You are free to keep on believing your own bullshit till the end of time if you so wish.

G: Really E, I don’t care if I am an OT 8 or not. I am who I am and I am jolly happy to be just that, me πŸ™‚
You seem aggravated by this conversation. Why? Is it because I do not conform to your expectation of an OT 8? Is it because you sent that CSW
even after having read all that I sent you? Is it that you admitted to hating to study in a Scientology Academy? Or is it something else? Please
enlighten me. Or better, gather the courage to speak your mind in the open by commenting on my blog or on that Facebook discussion.
I still find this exchange of ours interesting. You may want to follow (and comment) on this: https://isene.me/2016/01/17/odd-exchange/. In addition to my blog, you may want to check out my Facebook page where another set of comments regarding our exchange is unfolding.

This has been an interesting exchange. But I am struggling to understand your motivations. And since you didn’t seem willing to share your reasons for our exchange, or at least didn’t answer my questions about it, I thought I would get help from others. If you have balls, you can speak your mind on my blog or on that facebook discussion.

E: “I don’t care if I am an OT 8 or not”… No OT VIII completion would ever say such a thing. You are swimming in so much unhandled stuff that it’s not funny. Please send me the name of the person who signed off on your “OT VIII” cycle — so I can add them to the report I’m writing up.

G: You don’t know much about the upper bridge. There are literally dozens of people involved in verifying a person through OT VII and VIII. I spent 2,5 years auditing on OT VII with 4-6 sessions every day. And then there was the 6-month refreshers at Flag with verifications through auditing and sec checks and the course room. There were my supervisors, the Cramming Officer, the Qual Consultant, The Qual Sec, The D of P, The auditors, the FES-ers, Ethics Officer, Lead Ethics Officer and even the RTC was involved.

The OT VII End Phenomena Check is the most thorough action on the bridge with lots of people involved in seeing it through with all sessions video taped and checked by RTC. In itself it contains a huge Sec Check. Then there was the Sec Check for leaving Flag and then there was the Mother Of All Sec Checks… the OT VIII Sec Check aboard the Freewinds. Then there was the OT VIII cycle verified by the most highly trained and then there was another Sec Check. So, aboard the Freewinds for OT VIII, you have another set of MAA, Supervisor, D of T, D of P, auditors, Qual… you name it. You may start counting names πŸ™‚
You see, I discovered that the whole concept of the OT III case with Body Thetans and Clusters and the story about the Galactic Overlord Xenu is wrong. It is fiction. What we audited on these upper levels are not BTs – it is our own case. It is not separate identities that is beyond our creation, it is case purely of our own making. Now That is taking real responsibility for one’s own stuff. LRH tried to blame other beings. That may be one reason why he died as a mentally crippled man full of neurosis and using a psych drug before he died.
It seems you are having a rough time with our exchange. You don’t answer my questions. I answer your questions. Why this one-sided conversation?

Update 2016-01-19:

E: Then send me the names of ALL OF THEM — so I can add the lot of them to the report I’m writing up about your botched up cycle, in order to get them handled. No OT VIII “completion” should hereafter be allowed off the ship, to turn out like the piece of shit that you ended up as.

G: I cannot possibly remember the more than 50 names involved – many of the names I never even got (they were post names behind the scenes. And why
should I even try to remember? The church is disintegrating as we speak. There are less than 40 000 scientologists world wide and it is shrinking.
People are leaving the SO like never before. There isn’t much left to be corrected in the way it needs correcting. What needs correcting is David
Miscavige and his few minions. Remember, he was the one that wanted to put me on post as the ED of Oslo Org only two weeks after that “botched up
cycle” – so make sure to include him in that report. Also include yourself.

E: Would it be correct to say that you felt okay about OT VIII, right up until you returned for the OT Ambassadors photo shoot where the incident with Miscavige took place and something keyed-in?

G: No. Nothing keyed in. I’m jolly happy about all my services. But the fact of the matter is that the church is run by a dictator who physically abuses his juniors. And, as I told you, LRH got much of the upper bridge wrong. It works quite well, but not for the reasons you are told.

E: When exactly did you come to this conclusion?

G: After about 1000 hours of research – including interviewing people who had been physically abused by Miscavige and people who saw others get beaten.

In this last round of exchange, E also tells me something personal, upon which I answer:

G: As you know, I successfully coach people in all walks of life. I would love to help if I could. Let me know.

Hva er rollespill?

This is a “missing chapter” from my auto-biography “NittenΓ₯ttifire“. The publisher decided to take it out as it is not really relevant for my Scientology experience. Nevertheless, it’s a good introduction to Role-Playing Games, and so I post it here for reference. For those of you that can read Norwegian, enjoy πŸ™‚

“Eventyrerne gikk langsomt og forsiktig opp trappen mot andre etasje. Sagan var allerede sΓ₯ret etter strabasene i fΓΈrste og det var ikke trygt Γ₯ bevege seg omkring i tΓ₯rnet til en mektig magiker. FΓΈr en visste ordet av det kunne en magisk skapning komme frem fra skyggene for Γ₯ beskytte tΓ₯rnets herre mot inntrengere som dem. Eller, dersom de ikke var forsiktige kunne de utlΓΈse en mekanisk eller magisk felle eller en uhyggelig forbannelse.”

“Slitne og utrygge, Sagan gikk fΓΈrst, Chamax like etter. Han var kanskje den mest aparte i dette brokete selskapet. Med sine drΓΈye to meter, var han ikke blant de hΓΈyeste av sin rase, men den fryktinngytende ΓΈglemannen med klubbe og skjold og glinsende skjell som dekket hele kroppen kunne skremme livet av et vanlig menneske, en dverg eller en stakkars alv.”

“Bak Chamax fulgte halvgiganten. En overkropp over de andre og med bΓΈyd hode opp trappen. De tunge stegene skapte en lett nervΓΈsitet blant de andre i laget. Det var viktig at de kunne overraske den onde magikeren i etasjen over.”

“Markus var klar til sin livs utfordring. Det kunne lett bli en kamp der han ville fΓ₯ en avgjΓΈrende rolle. Lagets vismann og magiker festet grepet rundt sin stav mens han fokuserte pΓ₯ det hans mentor hadde lΓ¦rt ham. Det lΓ₯ magi i luften, og Markus hadde en tydelig skjerpet mine rundt ΓΈynene.”

“Tzirga dannet baktroppen. Hun var en mektig kriger som ikke var redd for Γ₯ tre inn i gladiatorringen mot muskelbunter langt stΓΈrre enn henne selv. FΓ₯ kunne behandle en stav slik som henne, og da tenker vi fΓΈrst og fremst pΓ₯ kampsituasjoner.”

“Og midt inne i denne gruppen av eventyrere tuslet det en hvit katt. Ildun strΓΈk seg lett inntil leggrustningen til sin eier, men Sagan var for opptatt med Γ₯ redde nΓ¦romrΓ₯det fra en ond fare til Γ₯ bry seg om sin fΓΈlgevenns behov for oppmerksomhet.”

Stein satt fremoverbΓΈyd ved andre enden av bordet. Han kikket ned pΓ₯ karakterarket og vurderte hvilken strategi han skulle bruke; Klubbe eller nΓ¦rkamp? De var fem eventyrere i gruppen og i tillegg til Sagan brukte ogsΓ₯ Runes karakter Chamax en klubbe i kamp. Det kunne bli trangt og farlig for de andre karakterene i det ΓΈverste tΓ₯rnrommet.

Tom satt der ganske sΓ₯ selvsikker. Med en slΓ₯sskjempe av en halvgigant som karakter, hadde han lite Γ₯ frykte i kamp mot en eneste opponent. Trodde han.

Henning og Cathrine diskuterte hvordan karakterene burde gΓ₯ inn i rommet og hvilken magi Markus burde bruke fΓΈrst. Cathrine var ogsΓ₯ usikker pΓ₯ om det faktisk var plass til Tzirga med staven i en kamp mot magikeren Soian Han.

Selv satt jeg bak skjermbrettet. TΓ₯rnet var tegnet ned til minste detalj. Soian Han var beskrevet pΓ₯ et karakterark akkurat som spillerkarakterene. Han burde vΓ¦re en god match for denne gruppen med relativt nye karakterer. Jeg hadde allerede skrevet opp hvilke besvergelser den onde magikeren ville benytte dersom han skulle bli overrasket, og i og med at spillerne klekket ut en god plan for Γ₯ innta tΓ₯rnet, ble Soian Han overrumplet.

Vi hadde lagt ut en matte pΓ₯ bordet. PΓ₯ denne var det tegnet tΓ₯rnetasjene, og det var plassert ut smΓ₯ metallfigurer, en for hver karakter. Spillerne forklarte hva nettopp sin karakter ville gjΓΈre som neste handling. De fungerte godt sammen som et lag der de satt rundt bordet og la sine strategier og taktikk.

“Sagen kjente forsiktig pΓ₯ den store eikedΓΈren til den ΓΈverste etasjen. Den var ulΓ₯st. Eventyrerne telte stille til tre. DΓΈren fΓΈk opp og Sagan stormet inn med Chamax hakk i hel. Halvgiganten kom trampende gjennom dΓΈren og fikk endelig rettet opp ryggen. Markus gikk rett inn og til hΓΈyre der han gjorde seg klar til sin fΓΈrste besvergelse. Bakerst i kΓΈen stod lagets kvinnelige kriger og lurte pΓ₯ hvordan hun skulle fΓ₯ gjort nytte for seg, for det var slett ikke plass til Γ₯ vifte rundt med en stav der inne.”

“Eventyrerne kom inn i rommet mens Soian Han var midt inne i et rituale. Det tok ikke mange millisekundene fΓΈr transen var brutt og magikeren fikk se innbruddstyvene – tre vilt fremmede gΓ¦rninger hadde tatt seg inn tΓ₯rnet hans. Med seg hadde de en stor ΓΈgle pΓ₯ to ben ifΓΈrt vΓ₯pen og rustning og en kjempe som sikkert var en erstatning for et esel.”

“Den gamle var ikke vond Γ₯ be. Besvergelser tok alltid litt tid Γ₯ forberede, og her var sekundene svΓ¦rt dyrbare. Soian Han hadde rett og slett ikke tid til Γ₯ kaste en forbannelse over inntrengerne. Han pekte pΓ₯ dem med sitt fremste vΓ₯pen, en hanske av jern som gikk i ett med hans hΓΈyre hΓ₯nd. Og med et ord pΓ₯ gammel-drakonsk skjΓΈt det en flammestrΓ₯le ut av fingertuppene og lyste opp hele rommet. Det var best Γ₯ fjerne monsteret fΓΈrst. Chamax ble truffet midt i brystet og gikk ned for telling. Sagan bykset frem og angrep magikeren med bare nevene. Klubben lot han ligge pΓ₯ gulvet i fare for Γ₯ slΓ₯ ut en av sine kamerater ved et uhell.”

Stein plukket opp terningen, la den i terningkoppen og ristet godt. Det smalt i bordplata og han lΓΈftet forsiktig for Γ₯ se hva resultatet ble. “Ha, jeg traff!” utbrΓΈt han fornΓΈyd. Jeg kastet en terning bak skjermbrettet for Γ₯ se om magikeren klarte Γ₯ hoppe unna. Som spilleder var det viktig Γ₯ vΓ¦re helt Γ¦rlig, selv om terningkastene var skjult for spillerne. Et Γ¦rlig spill var et spennende og morsomt spill. Terningkastet viste at magikeren ikke klarte Γ₯ komme unna angrepet.

Et nytt kast for Γ₯ bestemme hvor Sagans spark landet. I magikerens hΓΈyre ben. Et lite sukk kunne hΓΈres blant spillerne da det siste terningkastet viste at skaden ikke ble sΓ₯ stor som de hadde hΓ₯pet pΓ₯.

Dermed var det halvgigantens tur. Den lange og trege armen bommet da Soian Han tok et lite skritt til siden.

Markus hadde brukt noen fΓ₯ sekunder pΓ₯ Γ₯ gjΓΈre klar sin besvergelse.

Henning kastet terningen for Γ₯ se om magien var vellykket. Med Chamax i bakken, var spillerne glade for Γ₯ hΓΈre at Sagan nΓ₯ hadde ekstra magisk beskyttelse.

“Igjen pekte Soian Han pΓ₯ en motstander. Halvgiganten fikk ildstrΓ₯len rett i magen og falt om i smerter. Til tross for de kraftige lysglimtene i tΓ₯rnrommet sΓ₯ situasjonen ikke sΓ₯ lys ut for eventyrgjengen.”

“Tzirga fikk bedre plass nΓ₯ som ΓΈglemannen og halvgiganten lΓ₯ nede for telling. Og med Markus i bakgrunnen var det bare henne og Sagan som kjempet. Hun med en eikestav og han med armer og ben.”

“Sagan fikk inn et spark i mageregionen, mens Tzirga ga magikeren en vond venstre arm. En ny besvergelse fra Markus gjengjeldte den varme velkomsten og sendte en ildkule mot Soian Han. Den hadde langt mindre virkning pΓ₯ ildmagikeren enn det Markus var vant til. Likevel var Soian Han tydelig preget av smerter mens han pΓ₯ nytt pekte sin hanske mot et offer, og Tzirga fikk smake hans vrede.”

“Fortvilet av sinne langet Sagan pΓ₯ nytt ut mot magikeren og fikk gitt ham en saftig ΓΈrefik. Det begynte Γ₯ svartne for Soian Han. Han samlet seg i en siste kraftanstrengelse og fyret av et skudd mot sin argeste motstander. IldstrΓ₯len ble sΓ₯ kraftig at den flerret igjennom Sagans bryst og etterlot seg et stort gapende svart sΓ₯r tvers igjennom lΓ¦rrustingen.”

“Markus var nΓ₯ alene mot den mektige magikeren i tΓ₯rnet. Motstanderen var pΓ₯ randen av Γ₯ falle sammen og Markus fΓΈlte at han nΓ₯ hadde en siste sjanse til Γ₯ redde seg selv og sine venner fΓΈr ogsΓ₯ han fikk smake den onde hansken.”

Henning ristet kraftig og lenge pΓ₯ terningkoppen fΓΈr han satte den bestemt ned i bordet. Han lΓΈftet den opp og terningen viste at den magiske besvergelsen var vellykket.

“Soian Han vred seg i smerte der han falt om mens han forsΓΈkte Γ₯ mane fram den siste rest av trolldom til ingen nytte. Ildun tittet nervΓΈst frem fra bak eikedΓΈren og trippet frem til sin herre og mester. Sagan lΓ₯ der livlΓΈs og forbrent.”

“Markus gikk frem til Soian Han for Γ₯ forsikre seg om at han var dΓΈd. Han virket svΓ¦rt dΓΈd, men Markus tok ingen sjanser. Med de spinkle bicepsene trakk han hansken av hΓΈyrehΓ₯nden til liket. “Hm…”, tenkte han og forsΓΈkte om den passet hans egen. Hansken virket merkelig god Γ₯ ha pΓ₯ seg. Den strammet forsiktig, og deretter litt til. Markus ble nervΓΈs og forsΓΈkte Γ₯ fΓ₯ den av, men den magiske hansken hadde fΓ₯tt en ny eier, og den satt som stΓΈpt pΓ₯ Markus sin hΓΈyre hΓ₯nd.”

“Litt forfjamset over sin nye jernhΓ₯nd gikk Markus fra venn til venn for Γ₯ sjekke status pΓ₯ gruppen. De var alle forbrente, men kun en var borte. Sagan hadde mistet livet i Soian Hans tΓ₯rn. Markus var ingen lege, og han kunne ikke hjelpe sine venner der de lΓ₯ besvimte og skadde. Han lΓΈp sΓ₯ fort bena kunne klare ned trappene, ut inngangsdΓΈren, nedover veien og ut av porten til borgmuren.”

“I tre kilometer lΓΈp han. Alene og bekymret for sine venners liv.”

“Vel fremme i den Flandycanske borgen mΓΈtte han Lamar. Den vise mannen hadde rekruttert dem til det farefulle oppdraget. Markus rablet historien og Lamar desifrerte sΓ₯ godt han kunne. Kort etter bar det tilbake opp pΓ₯ fjellet der Lamar fikk se de skadde i tΓ₯rnrommet. Han forbandt de forbrente og konstaterte at Sagan var livlΓΈs.”

“Sagan hadde bodd i den Flandycanske grenseborgen i flere mΓ₯neder og hadde blitt en nΓ¦r venn av Lamar. Den gamle vise mannen hadde rukket Γ₯ bli glad i den intelligente krigeren med det tydelige potensialet. Han bestemte seg for Γ₯ ofre mye for vennskapet, og samlet sine magiske krefter om den ypperste av alle besvergelser; Gjenopplivingen.”

“I noe som minnet om en evighet holdt han sine hender pΓ₯ Sagan sitt bryst mens han mumlet uforstΓ₯elige ord pΓ₯ et eldgammelt sprΓ₯k. Hans magiske krefter fylte Sagans bryst med liv, helt til hjertet endelig igjen begynte Γ₯ slΓ₯.”

Eventyrerne fikk god medisinsk behandling og spillerne var godt fornΓΈyde med Γ₯ ha erobret tΓ₯rnet og fjernet den onde magikeren fra nΓ¦romrΓ₯det. Senere viste det seg at tΓ₯rnet hadde en meget spesiell kjeller med huler og ganger og med monstre av ymse slag.

Spillerne bestemte seg for Γ₯ annektere det som nΓ₯ ble kalt for Sagans TΓ₯rn. Fra denne nye basen utforsket de fΓΈrst tΓ₯rnets kjeller fΓΈr de dro ut pΓ₯ andre spennende og farefulle oppdrag.

Detaljene i denne historien er sikkert ikke nΓΈyaktige, men den gir et innblikk i en rollespillsesjon. Rollespill skulle gi meg mange Γ₯r med inspirasjon og moro.

Fail more

I just updated my LinkedIn summary. Here’s the new intro:

Geir Isene – Helping people fail

In order to improve, you need to succeed and learn from your successes. But you can learn even more from your failures. Don’t let your striving for success, doing your best and finding the perfect solution stop you from trying and failing and learning even more. Fear of failing can be the biggest obstacle to advancement. You should habitually go outside your comfort zone. Allowing yourself to fail is not enough. Actually failing is required. I help people fail.

Here is one take on why: