Author: Jouke Gaastra
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Review: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
What Is This Book About Never Split the Difference was written by Chris Voss, a former FBI hostage negotiator. The book draws on his experience negotiating in some of the highest-stakes situations imaginable, kidnappings, bank robberies, and international crises, to argue that the same techniques work everywhere: job negotiations, business deals, and even buying a…
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Seven Summits of Norway, Peak 1: Glittertind on Ski’s
Glittertind is the second-highest peak of Norway, and therefore part of our plan to climb the seven highest peaks of Norway. The initial plan was to organise the trip ourselves, heading up in late spring or summer. But then we came across a guided DNT ski touring (randonée) trip over Easter. It would mean an…
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Norwegian Skiing Terminology Explained
They say Norwegians are born on skis. And honestly, after living here for a few years, I believe it. Even Norwegians who say ”oh no, I don’t really ski” will outrun any foreigner who dares to consider themselves an intermediate cross-country skier. What Does “Going Skiing” Actually Mean? In the Netherlands (and much of Western…
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About this page Msc. Risk Analysis Governance Track 2023 – 2025 at UIS
On this page I will share my essays, notes, and summaries on Risk Management during my studies in Stavanger from 2023 to 2025. Join the conversation and let me know your thoughts, if the material was helpful, what’s missing, or if you’d like to add your perspective. #Sharing Is Caring!
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‘The Effective Executive’ by Peter Drucker: How Relevant Is It Today?
Initially, I did not expect too much from this book. Published in 1966, and filled with examples from companies and governments that no longer exist in the same form. I have read of newer books on productivity and effectiveness, and I assumed this one would feel dated. I was wrong. The Effective Executive turned out…
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Ferry Review Oslo – Kiel with Color Line
Last year, I took the Oslo-Kiel ferry for the first time. With my blog post on the ferry between the Netherlands and Norway being one of my more popular blog posts, it only makes sense to write about the only ferry that currently sails between the European mainland and Norway. I am a bit of…
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6 Personal Websites That Make You Want to Build Your Own
A month ago, I wrote about why everybody needs a personal website. In short, it’s a serendipity vehicle, a credibility tool, a learning accelerator, and a piece of digital real estate you own yourself. This post is the natural follow-up. Because the next question is: what should it look like? I like browsing other personal…
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The Trumf Bonus: A Way to Save on Norwegian Groceries
Groceries in Norway are expensive. So it is worthwhile to take a moment and look into the loyalty programs of different supermarkets. With Trumpf, you can save 1% on all you buy at the supermarkets owned by NorgesGruppen.
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Book Review: This is Strategy by Seth Godin
It was on the Tim Ferriss Show that I first heard about Seth Godin. I was interested right away because Seth has had one of the earliest blogs and has been posting consistently since the internet began. He is a great storyteller and marketing expert, so when I saw his audiobook on Spotify, it was a no-brainer…
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Building a Home Server: Taking Back Digital Autonomy
Everything I know about computers comes from YouTube tutorials, forums, and whatever LLMs tell me. What I lack in formal training, though, I make up for in curiosity. I’m intrigued by how technology works and how it shapes our society. I’ve written about our digital footprint, and the more I think about it, the more…
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Why Everybody Needs a Personal Website
Most content about personal websites and blogs focuses on which platform to use or how to optimise for SEO. That’s where the affiliate money is. But the more interesting question, and the one that gets asked a lot less, is why you should have a personal website in the first place. I’ve been running my…
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Climbing the 7 Highest Peaks on Norway in 2026: Costs, Planning and Preparations
For many, January is the month when summer holiday planning begins. The same applies to us. We started looking into when and how we can best climb the seven highest peaks of Norway in 2026, and what equipment we need to do so.
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Blogpost På Norsk; De Rare Nederlandere
I am currently enrolled in a B2 Norwegian course. And now I have to put what I’m learning into practice. So here it goes, a blogpost in Norwegian explaining some of the stranger Dutch habits, at least, from a Norwegian perspective that is.
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9 Things I Didn’t Regret Buying in 2025
With 2026 now upon us, it’s time to look back at the purchases that made a difference. Some are practical, others are a bit indulgent, but all of them passed the ultimate test: I’d buy them again. 1. MacBook Air – Coolblue (Netherlands) – €1729.- The most expensive thing I bought last year. But my…
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My Duolingo 2025 Rewind: Three Years, 16 Hours, and Some More Strange Sentences
My Duolingo streak just passed 1102 days. That’s three years of daily Norwegian practice without breaking the chain (with some help from streak freezes though). As with every app nowadays, Duolingo provided me with a 2025 review. The Numbers According to Duolingo, I’m now a “top 9% learner.” That surprised me. I do exactly one…
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Latest Frameworks for Assessing Strength of Knowledge (SoK) in Risk Analysis: Academic Insights and Practical Methods
Modern risk definitions recognise that risk isn’t just about probability and consequence; it fundamentally involves uncertainty. This uncertainty can be operationalised through probability (P) and the Strength of Knowledge (SoK) assessments. Within the industry, a risk definition including an aspect of uncertainty has generally been incorporated. ISO 31000, for example, defines risk as “the effect…
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Open Source Geographical Data in Norway: Essential Knowledge for Professional and Personal Use
When I moved to Norway three-ish years ago, I quickly learned that understanding geography here means more than just looking at the distance between two points. Because of fjords, mountains, ferries, and tunnels, the shortest distance between two points is rarely a straight line. It makes sense that Norwegians measure the ‘distance’ between two places…
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Monte Carlo Simulation Explaind Simply
“Must have experience with Monte Carlo simulation.” I see this line often in risk management job postings. It appears in course descriptions, textbooks, and LinkedIn skill endorsements. Yet, few people actually understand what’s happening. I get it. The mathematics can look complex. But the basic concept is actually not so difficult. Building my own Monte…
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Live music in Stavanger: Where to find it
I’ve been looking around for bars with live music. It’s challenging to locate these spots when you are not ‘in the scene’. These small live acts will often be published only as a Facebook message, if published at all, and the rest is typically spread by word of mouth. I can’t be the only one…
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Gym Progress Tracking: Why Paper Beats Apps
I’ve been going to the gym consistently for years. Three times a week, rarely missing a session, feeling like I was putting in the work. But the truth was that my progress was rubbish. I was stronger than when I started, but not to the level I should have achieved with that level of consistency.…