The Local's Blog

Americans prefer Sweden!

Miscellaneous: September 27th, 2010 at 4:37 pm by DL

A story circulating on the web over the weekend argued that most Americans actually preferred a system of wealth distribution similar to Sweden’s.

The poor and the rich, Democrats and Republicans are all equally likely to choose the Swedish model.

The article, which appeared on a progressive news blog, is based on a study which attempts to get views from “regular” Americans concerning debates about wealth distribution and inequality in society.

According to the study, 92 percent of Americans preferred “Swedish-style” wealth distribution over the current situation in the United States.

CNN highlights Sweden alongside Malaysia for ‘fine island groups’

Swedish Life, Tourism: September 13th, 2010 at 4:09 pm by VT

At first glance, Sweden and Malaysia appear to have little in common given the vast differences in their climates. However, CNN highlighted both countries for a Friday report on some of the world’s finest island groups.

Swedish voters could end country’s love affair with Social Democrats

Miscellaneous: September 13th, 2010 at 4:02 pm by VT

The AP suggests Swedish voters may be ready to spurn the Social Democrats for a second consecutive term in a story on Sunday.

Swedish women narrowly top Denmark in Women’s World Cup football playoff

Sport, Swedish Life: September 13th, 2010 at 4:00 pm by VT

The Sweden women’s football team narrowly topped Denmark in Women’s World Cup playoff action on Saturday in Gothenburg at Gamla Ullevi, winning 2-1.

Stanley Cup champion Niklas Hjalmarsson goes for a hearty Swedish meal in Chicago

Miscellaneous, Offbeat, Sport, Sweden abroad, Tourism: September 13th, 2010 at 3:54 pm by VT

Hockey defenceman Niklas Hjalmarsson of Eksjö east of Jönköping, winner of the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks last season, has a taste of home at the aptly named Tre Kronor in the Windy City’s Northwest Side on Friday.

NHL predicts continued HV71, Djugården battle for Elitserien supremacy

Sport, Sweden abroad, Swedish Life: September 13th, 2010 at 3:47 pm by VT

The NHL website gave a sneak peek on Wednesday of the upcoming Elitserien season, which begins this week, coming strongly in favour of defending champion HV71 from Linköping and runner-up Djurgården in the race for the 2011 title. Writer Bill Meltzer also took note of talent that has left the league to play in the NHL in the upcoming season and looked back at Swedish stars from years past.

City living can drive people crazy, says Swedish study

Health, Miscellaneous, Swedish Life: September 13th, 2010 at 3:40 pm by VT

A study conducted by a Welsh researcher of more than 200,000 Swedes in their late 20s and mid-30s suggests increased social fragmentation in large cities may partially explain why psychotic disorders are more common in urban areas, researchers have suggested, the findings, published on Tuesday, show.

Swedish singer José González interviewed by CNN

Music, Swedish Life: September 10th, 2010 at 6:31 pm by DL

Following on the heels of CNN’s interview with Swedish singer Robyn earlier this week, the cable news channel turned its attention to Gothenburg native José González, who, despite his Argentinian origins, revealed he feels Swedish first and foremost.

Stieg Larsson prophecy of Sweden Democrats prophecy may come true

Miscellaneous, Politics: September 10th, 2010 at 6:27 pm by VT

Bloomberg suggests Stieg Larsson’s Stieg Larsson prediction a decade ago that the Sweden Democrats would first enter parliament in 2010 may come true, Bloomberg wrote on Friday.

Dolph Lundgren vs. Unicorn

Film, Marketing, Media, Miscellaneous, Music, Offbeat, Swedish Life, Technology: September 10th, 2010 at 6:02 pm by VT

These were uploaded on Thursday:

Dolph Lundgren grills a unicorn

Dolph Lundgren loses his head

Just in case you missed it the first time, here’s Lundgren’s rendition of Elvis Presley’s “A Little Less Conversation” at Melodifestivalen in February.

Hollywood Millennium’s Lisbeth spotted in Stockholm prepping for film

Books, Film, Marketing, Media, Miscellaneous, Opinion, Swedish Life, Tourism: September 9th, 2010 at 12:44 pm by VT

Rooney Mara was spotted on the streets of Stockholm on Wednesday going to a gym and heading to a language school, where she is reportedly learning to speak English with a Swedish accent, the Daily Mail reported on Thursday.

CNN hits the Millennium trail in Stockholm

Architecture, Books, Business, Film, History, Marketing, Media, Miscellaneous, Offbeat, Society, Swedish Life, Tourism: September 9th, 2010 at 12:30 pm by VT

CNN follows the flocks on tourists on the Millennium tour of Stockholm on Wednesday.

Swedish street prostitution cut in half thanks to law

Economics, Miscellaneous, National, Opinion, Politics, Swedish Life: September 9th, 2010 at 12:26 pm by VT

Street prostitution has been cut in half, “a direct result of the criminalization of sex purchases,” the Christian Science Monitor wrote on Tuesday.

Robyn waxes poetic on Sweden in CNN interview

Miscellaneous, Music, Swedish Life: September 9th, 2010 at 12:24 pm by VT

Swedish singer Robyn appeared on CNN on to talk about her love for Sweden and how the country inspires her music.

The New York Times goes House Hunting in … Stockholm

Architecture, Miscellaneous, Sweden abroad, Swedish Life: September 9th, 2010 at 12:17 pm by VT

The New York Times goes House Hunting in … Stockholm and profiles a 4.5 million kronor ($620,000) two-bedroom apartment in Östermalm in its Great Homes and Destinations section on Tuesday.

‘Passion’ leads Martha Stewart to Stockholm

Miscellaneous: September 5th, 2010 at 11:21 am by DL

Martha Stuart, America’s “most trusted guide to stylish living” headed for Stockholm this weekend, according to a September 3rd blog post. She’ll be spending a few days in the Swedish capital to attend the GRID 2010 conference, put on by Bonnier, one of the biggest names in publishing and media in Sweden.

As Martha puts it:

The theme this year is “It’s All About Passion,” a subject very dear to me.

And as we all know, nothing screams ‘passion’ more loudly than Stockholm in September!!!

Alexander Skarsgård naked on Rolling Stone

Film, Media, Miscellaneous, Sweden abroad: August 31st, 2010 at 6:57 pm by VT

True Blood’s Alexander Skarsgård appears naked on the cover of Rolling Stone with real-life newlywed co-stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer.

Tiger Woods divorce triggered run on krona?

Economics, Offbeat, Sport: August 30th, 2010 at 3:09 pm by VT

Citigroup traders cheekily suggest that Tiger Woods’s divorce settlement could have triggered a on the krona last week, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Quirky art and herring tasting in western Sweden

Opinion, Swedish Life, Tourism: August 30th, 2010 at 11:50 am by VT

Chicago Sun-Times’ David Hoekstra visits Sculpture at Pilane in Tjörn, one hour north of Gothenburg, and takes part in a herring tasting at Salt & Sill, a restaurant and floating hotel on the Marstrand Fjörd.

Långholmen hosts the Tartan Army in Stockholm clash

Miscellaneous: August 10th, 2010 at 12:53 pm by PVS

The braves of Långholmen, The Local’s partner football club in Stockholm, will be entertaining the travelling faithful of Scotland’s Tartan Army this evening in an international friendly that is set to be the social event of, well, this evening.

A Långholmen select eleven, featuring faces from The Local past and present, will be lining up to represent Sweden against the Tartan Army in a match in aid of Min Stora Dag – a Swedish children’s charity. The game will kick off at 7pm at Östermalm’s IP (T-bana Stadion behind Djurgården’s home pitch).

Pre-match festivities will begin in the Southside pub on Hornsgatan on Södermalm at 5pm and will continue afterwards with discounts for anyone who can muster an approximation of a highland brogue.

So dig out your sporrans, tune up your vocal chords, and come down to Östermalms IP for a feast of football to lift the spirits ahead of Wednesday’s full international.