Archive for December, 2007

Talking dirty with the Ladies of the Lake

Media: December 17th, 2007 by PR

Residents of Sweden may have seen posters for West End Star, a new reality TV show to find the next star of the Monty Python musical Spamalot. The show is in London but the producers turned to Sweden for the role of The Lady of the Lake.

The Daily Telegraph’s Marc Lee met the ten wannabees.

There’s the show jumper (Viktoria), the opera diva (Petra), the rock chick (Nina), the check-out girl (Karin), the student (Josefine), the waitress (Susannah), the pro (Divina), the mother (Sandra) and the sisters (Linda and Jenny).

Before long, the talk turns to sex.

“Why is it,” demands Viktoria, “that the British think Sweden is full of blonde girls all running around naked?”

Another wonders why we Brits are so uncomfortable discussing sex. (I have no sensible response.) “I remember my first time…” says Jenny with a wistful smile.

“I haven’t done it yet,” claims Nina, mischievously. “And I’ve only done it once,” says Sandra, pointing to the seven-week-old baby she’s cradling in her arms. In a disastrous attempt to change the subject, I inquire about the one word of Swedish included in the publicity material: what exactly is slutcasting? Stony silence: it seems by mispronouncing it so expertly, I have insulted everyone.

Rush Limbaugh stands up for dismembered lion

Miscellaneous: December 14th, 2007 by JS

We were a bit puzzled this morning to get emails from angry Americans (few of whom were located in Sweden). We were (I think) thrilled to discover that the reason for their interest in Sweden was that The Local had been quoted on Rush Limbaugh’s radio talk show.

Limbaugh – for those unfamiliar with his work, he’s a particularly red-blooded conservative political commentator – was rather taken with our story about the Swedish army’s castration of a heraldic lion.

This was, Limbaugh said ‘another illustration of the chickification of culture.’

‘Is that how you get gender equality? You emasculate a lion? Why not just put boobs on the female lions? What do you have to go and take away the penis for,’ Limbaugh asked.

When done railing at the removal of the lion’s penis, he moved on to the women who caught fire during a hemorrhoid operation. But that’s another story…

If you feel like shelling out 7 bucks for a month’s subscription, you can hear the whole show here.

Sweden welcomes more African footballers

Sport: December 11th, 2007 by PO

The Swedish Football Federation has finally given the all-clear clubs in the country to play as many non-European players as they like. The decision was applauded by Helsingborg, a club with five African players on its books. BBC Sport has the story:

Helsingborg director Bo Nilsson told BBC Sport that the decision is a victory for his club.

“We are pleased. The decision is fair and it is a respect for international law. Before there was discrimination,” he added.

Liberia defender Jimmy Dixon who plays for Malmo FF welcomed the ruling as a one of the best things to happen to African footballers.

“It will give more opportunities to African footballers in Sweden. Before it was hard to make it,” Dixon said.

Video: Building the Icehotel

Architecture, Tourism: December 11th, 2007 by PO

The Times has a video report from the construction of the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi:

The hotel is in Swedish Lapland, a magical region that’s a good match for Narnia for around four months of the year. The fir trees are dusted white, street lamps glow all day with only a glimpse of subdued sunlight over midday, and children glide down the streets on foot-propelled sledges.

Swedish Idol runner-up – Amanda Jenssen

Music, Swedish Life: December 7th, 2007 by PO

Amanda Jenssen lost the final of Idol 2007 by a whisker. Here are the three songs she performed in the final…

… and an earlier performance of Baby Can I Hold You Tonight.

Should she have won? Or was Marie Picasso a worthy victor? Or maybe the competition should be scrapped, never to return?

Swedish Idol winner – Marie Picasso

Music, Swedish Life: December 7th, 2007 by PO

Marie Picasso wins Idol 2007. The first song she performed in the final was All By Myself:

And here is an earlier performance of her second song, I’ll Be There:

Was the Swedish viewing public right to give her the nod? Should Amanda have won? Or is the whole thing a pile of steaming garbage?