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Swedish Pirate Bay Shanghaiing to North Korea?: Hoax

Monday, March 4th, 2013

Swedish piracy is testing the rule of law in the social media-sphere. The Swedish file-sharing website has announced they had found refuge in North Korea.

I think they may have demanded a “Parlez”.

pirate bay

Well, their announcement did make you wonder if they were trolling or failing their political geography lessons. They mentioned the Republic of Korea (aka South Korea, or the good guys who bring us Samsung) but announced from Pyongyang, the capital of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (aka North Korea where Dennis Rodman just hung with his hommie, the despot).

I am no expert, or even very savvy on this topic, but the flurry of WTFs and similar expressions of disbelief did catch my attention.

A little poking around on Twitter turned up some more knowledgeable sleuths than I could ever be. Gizmodo’s position seems to doubt the validity of the move and refer onwards to super geek Will (in the most positive definition of geek) who can discern the routes of several acronyms even under the cloak and stealth of a Harry Potter invisibility cape.

It is all right there Will points out, “It is actually pretty easy if you have an understanding of BGP and BGP transit links.”

And if you do, you can follow the transit link trail here.

So, what do I know? Not much, but as the saying goes, “If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.” Not that I have an opinion about whether a move to North Korea is good or bad for Pirate Bay, but the wow, shock and awe factor of a move like that would be absolutely delicious to observe with a box of popcorn.

Mythbusters would say, “BUSTED”.

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Tags: north korea, pirate bay, south korea
Posted in Swedish politics, Swedish products | No comments »

Hen: What’s in a pronoun?

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

Is it a boy or a girl? Normally, that excitingly anxious question is reserved for the imminent arrival of a new born baby. But it is nearly equally exciting when awaiting the announcement of the Nobel Prize for Literature. The announcement will come today at 1pm Stockholm time (7am EST).

The current buzz is focused not as much on who, but on whether the author is a man or a woman. The internet is awash with blips and blurbs about how it’s time for another woman. Only 12 of the 108 Nobel Literature Prizes handed out since the start in 1901 have gone to women.

With the raging debate (the use of a “raging debate” with any topic in Sweden always makes me giggle. No debate ‘rages’ in Sweden. Some controversial debates heat up to high simmer) over the usage of the constructed gender neutral preposition “hen” (see The Local’s article) I found the first applicable usage on the cover of yesterday’s SvD:

hen

The proponents for and against the introduction of “hen” in mainstream Swedish should not be waging war over a replacement of the traditional gender specific “han” and “hon” (he and she) but instead adding it to the language and ousting “man” (one) as the neutral and replacing it with “hen”.

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Tags: 2012, gender neutral preposition, hen, literature, nobel prize, sweden
Posted in Swedish culture, Swedish politics | 4 comments »

Stockholm sighting: Urban assault on “pink army”?

Thursday, May 10th, 2012

Obama came out in support of gay marriage and Swedes like it. Probably because Sweden legalized gay-marriage in 2009 and prior to that recognized same-sex registered partnerships already in 1995.

Rush Limbaugh said on his show yesterday, “the president of the United States is going to lead a war on traditional marriage”.
This was a sighting yesterday in Stockholm near Slussen. Could this be a counter-assault on the pink army? Has Limbaugh taken the war on the “pink army” to the streets of Stockholm? I think the ‘enemies of traditional marriage’ are about as ominous as this little band of preschoolers.

pink army photo by Carolina Åkerlind.

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Tags: gay marriage, obama, pink army, rush limbaugh, slussen, stockholm, sweden, war on marriage
Posted in Swedish culture, Swedish politics, stockholm | 4 comments »

Children bashing politicians, literally. Earn candy prizes.

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

Bash a politician’s face. Score some candy. That was the children’s activity planned by the Left Party in Malmö during the May 1st Labor Day events. Complete with thug-in-training baseball bats.

Not sure if I should weep or wail with laughter over this new political-decision-gone-wild moment. In the picture, the face of Anne Lööf, leader of the Center Party, is the “decoration” on the piñata filled with goodies.
bashing

According to one of the organizers, Patrik Strand, “We had [Fredrik] Reinfeldt and [Anders] Borg, too. I think it looked like fun and afterwards candy and play money tumbled out,” quoted in an article in Sydsvenskan (in Swedish).

Well, I can suppose it’s not the same as slicing into a cake’s vagina. But what is the message the children are supposed to learn? If you don’t like their politics it’s ok to take a baseball bat to their heads? After all…you will get candy!

It seems the bar is exceptionally low for political party involvement or there’s absolutely no budget for political PR advisers. It’s a trite phrase, but it applies here:
What were they thinking?

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Tags: anders borg, anne lööf, labor day, malmö, patrik strand, pinata
Posted in Swedish politics | 12 comments »

Scandinavian solidarity: Swedish minister sings to annoy killer on trial.

Friday, April 27th, 2012

Norwegians are pretty much Sweden’s cousins with cod, coastline and oil. When the right-wing, white supremacist (pick your own version of evil white guy who hates non-white) Anders Breivik, killed 77 people, most of them young adults and teens, in Norway last summer, all Swedes mourned with their cousins.

norway

Yesterday, about 40,000 people joined voices to sing together. Their purpose: to annoy Breivik. They sang
“Children of the Rainbow” by Norwegian folk singer Lillebjørn Nilsen. It is Nilsen’s adaptation of “My Rainbow Race,” written by American folk singer Pete Seeger.

The satisfactory charm of the protest was the reason behind why they chose this particular song. During the ongoing trial, Breivik had cited the song as an example of Marxist influence on Norwegian culture saying the song was “typical of brainwashing Norwegian student.”

In the Norwegian version of the song the chorus goes, “Together, we will live, each sister and each brother, small children of the rainbow and a green earth.”watch the event on YouTube. According to TheLocalNorway

The Swedish Cultural Minister, Lena Liljeroth, more likely in the news these days over her infamous FGM political gaffe, was among the community singers.

Liljeroth could use some good press about now. I just hope she didn’t sing in blackface.

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Tags: breivik, children of the rainbow, lena lijeroth, my rainbow race, pete seeger
Posted in Swedish culture, Swedish politics | 8 comments »

Opening a dialog: “I never imagined I would ever receive so much praise for saying that people should be allowed to be more racist”

Thursday, September 29th, 2011

The American Club of Sweden just held its first of a series of Intercultural forums. This evening’s topic was “America, Sweden and Violent Extremism.”

It was a very interesting panel (the link above lists the participants) and a great number of interesting elements around how to prevent the existence, rise and spread violent extremism (right, left and Islamic) in our societies (both the US and Sweden). Without trying to summarize the panelists’ viewpoint, one common point of agreement they all shared was the importance of the open dialog.

open dialog

During the Q&A follow up, an audience member opened up what became an opinion floodgate. He pointed out that open dialog requires that the speaker can say whatever is on her mind without fear of retribution. He reminded us all that in Sweden, Swedish anti-hate laws (hets mot folkgrupp) curtail the individual’s opportunity to, and he pardoned his language, “be an asshole in public.” In less colorful words, it’s against Swedish law to express hateful opinions about specific groupings of people.

It triggered a flurry of eager participation to join a collective dialog (ironically).

The event was unfortunately limited in time so the discussions perhaps didn’t satisfy many people’s interest in the contradiction of Sweden’s strong belief in opening a dialog to prevent the rise of violent extremism while simultaneously restricting the same extent of free speech extended to citizens of the US.

Many people thanked the audience member who highlighted the contradiction to which he replied “I never imagined I would ever receive so much praise for saying that people should be allowed to be more racist.”

It’s not exactly what he meant, but it is one way to boil it down.

There’s a difference between hate speech intended to incite violence and expression of hate in its ugliest form. Sweden needs very seriously to review its current laws restricting expression of opinions even when they are disgustingly racist or hateful. It is only when we are allowed a dialog can we refute and hopefully, persuade.

You can’t open a dialog if you won’t let people speak.

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Tags: acs intercultural forum, american club sweden, violent extremism
Posted in Swedish politics | 3 comments »

Swedish mainstream shop: Alternative lifesytle?

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

When homosexual wedding greeting cards are unceremoniously displayed in mainstream shops we’ve shaken the “alternative lifestyle” label tagged on to gay marriage. At least in Sweden.

Same-sex marriages have been legal since May 1, 2009 and registered same-sex partnerships were recognized already from 1995.

I found these cards on display at one of my favorite stationery [chain] stores,
Ordning & Reda
wedding cards .

Now you have all options covered for your next wedding invitation needs.

Just don’t drive yourself nuts by converting the 30kr cost of the card (OK, if you have to, it’s just under $5.)

Oh, and if you’re attending a gay wedding, I highly recommend buying the Leatherman Multitool for the happy couple. Especially if it’s already on their gift registration list.

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Tags: gay marriage, leatherman multitool, ordning & reda, ordning och reda, sweden, swedish gay marriage
Posted in Swedish culture, Swedish politics, Swedish products | No comments »

Norway bombing/shooting: “Don’t mess with my baby brother”

Saturday, July 23rd, 2011

Sympathetic outpouring for Norway from Swedes and anyone I know linked to Sweden is all over my social media regarding the bombing/shooting in Norway Friday afternoon (TL article link.)
CNN 1

While the attacks took place in Norway, Sweden is shaken as if the bombs were on Swedish soil. Norwegians are readily regarded as brothers and sisters to Swedes (as described by blogger CC Champagne this evening — link to entry).

Indeed, even foreign minister, Carl Bildt, tweeted earlier this evening, ”Terrorism has struck. Police confirms bomb in Oslo. We are all Norwegians.”

I’m still glued to CNN and BBC and Swedish news sources. I’m currently fascinated by the CNN need to untiringly speculate about the potential for an Al-Qaeda link despite repeated reports from all media that the man in custody is a 32-year old ethnic Norwegian. After all…a blond Norwegian could be sympathetic to Muslim extremism.

*insert saddened sigh*

Now, I know I don’t know who (if anyone) is behind this sole suspect but I’m guessing it’s a domestic protest. If you really want to cling to a fanatical Muslim connection you can hold out for a desperate hope to connect a very obviously political motive (well, of course the blond Norwegian could be protesting Norway’s involvement in Afghanistan or its ties to Danish/Swedish cartoons) I suppose you still have hope.

People will be trying resolutely to make this about crazed “others” rather than crazed “us.”

After all, “We are all Norwegians.”

For what it’s worth, I think it’s funny to hear the clarification that the Norwegian man is white and ethnic over and over again.

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Tags: Anders Behring Breivik, bbc, CNN, norway attacks, norway bombing
Posted in Swedish culture, Swedish politics | 11 comments »

Right on Red in Sweden: Right on!

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

I never thought I would see the day that turning right on red while driving would ever come to Sweden, even if only as a discussion. Dagens Nyheter had it as a front cover story in yesterday’s newspaper. (The Local’s article in English)

The story came on the heels of the previous day’s news about the Stockholm government’s proposal (or at least discussion opener) to allow bicyclists to drive through red lights in certain circumstances. The idea is that many bicyclists already do this and that it would make traffic flow better. Not sure if I agree with that.

On the other hand, coming from Boston, no one would be surprised if it were suggested that I might (not admitting anything here) regularly, daily even, already partake (purely for scientific purposes) in both activities.

Right on red is the driving rule that I miss terribly from driving in N. America and in Boston. I sort of miss the ability to pass on the right when on a highway too, but I can adjust to that one easily enough since cars don’t hog the travel lane like they do on Yankee Division Highway ( old Rt. 128 –NO one knows it as Yankee Division Highway) or anywhere on I-95 or the Pike.

But I digress (no stop sign posted.)

I doubt this traffic law will ever be enacted in Sweden, but I would really love it if it did.

Though the arguments against all point to greater chaos on Stockholm’s streets. I doubt that. As much as it should be admirable that Swedes are highly law abiding, the pedantic sticking to what a motorist or bicyclists “thinks” the rules are or ought to be (that’s worse) causes heaps of chaos.

I still subscribe to the Bostonian mentality of driving/biking…communicate, work it out and flip ‘em off (if need be;) but just get out of the way!

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Tags: dagens nyheter, köra höger mot rött, right on red, stockholm, stockholm traffic, sweden, swedish traffic
Posted in Boston blend, Swedish culture, Swedish politics | No comments »

Japan’s Tsunami Swamps Sweden’s Nuclear Power Push.

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

The devastating wave of destruction after Japan’s 8.9 earthquake last Friday has figuratively reached Sweden’s shores. As the world sits glued to watching the explosive developments of Japan’s troubled nuclear power plants, Swedish anti-nuclear protesters are harnessing their own reactive fuel to reclaim the tiny plots of ground the pro-nuclear movement has recently enjoyed. One of Sweden’s largest daily newspapers opened with an article “Kärnkraft har ingen framtid” (Nuclear energy has no future).

Several of Sweden’s shut down reactors are coming back on line as we speak and there has been wind in the sails for talks about further developing the capacity of nuclear energy.
ja kärnkraft

There’s no doubt that the future of Sweden’s nuclear power plants is in jeopardy as we await the fallout of the precarious situation of the damaged reactors in Japan.

It’s already on record that I’m not a bunny hugger and it’s probably obvious that I support the development of nuclear energy. So I sit with everyone, watching, listening and trying to discern which bits of “expert” information presented by the many media sources are reliable and which are riding the wave of sensational fear. Sometimes I am assured that this is all going to be contained. Sometimes I am very scared.

Which is the accurate outcome? I don’t know. What I fear most is that when this is settled and the factual reports (and I will presume they’re honest and accurate) come in, will we be able to interpret them for what they say if they demonstrate a manageable result or at we already at a point of no return to nuclear energy development in Sweden?

Edit: And it seems there is indeed a push to scare Swedes about the frights of nuclear plants when you have a comment like this: (link to article)

“There are places in Sweden where a similar accident could cause a blast equal to 15,000 Nagasakis,” said Göran Bryntse, head of the Swedish Anti-Nuclear Movement (Folkkampanjen mot kärnkraft) which is planning demonstrations for Wednesday evening.

Makes me want to ask him: Where and how exactly?

Edit 2 (March 16th). My new nuclear hero is Ian Hore-Lacy who is the Director of Public Communications for the World Nuclear Association. Listen and watch to how he explains on Bloomberg TV the circumstances in the reactors and assures there is nothing more to fear.

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Tags: ian hore-lacy, japan, kärnkraft, sweden, tsunami 2011, world nuclear association
Posted in Swedish politics | 8 comments »