Warning

...to those of you who blog at work or about work. I have neither blogged about work nor posted at work (except for once or twice at the end of the day) but I occasionally comment on other weblogs while at work... Bad me.

Oh no

...I've been spammed, here on my poor, innocent blog! I have deleted the comments so you don't need to be tempted by offers on how to increase your credit or buying a new home insurance.

This calls for drastic measures. No, don't worry, not shutting down, just adding a word verification step in the comments. It will just take you an extra second to comment, that's it!

Real Action Movie

Stockholm experienced a spectacular security transport coup yesterday, described by witnesses "as something out of a Hollywood action blockbuster".

DN writes: "Warlike scenes played out in [the Stockholm suburb of] Hallunda at lunchtime when four people geared with automatic weapons robbed a security transport van belonging to the security firm Securitas. Moments before blowing their way into the van at Eriksbergåsen in Hallunda, the robbers put three cars on the fire on the motorway and placed nails on the road to prevent coming traffic. More cars were set ablaze on roads in the vicinity."

I actually lived 5 mins from the scene for a few months two summers ago. Go figure.

It seems like a very planned robbery. This incident is just one in a long row of attacks involving security vans (one group actually broke into Securitas' own facilities using a tractor). Who will want to take on these type of jobs if this continues? Do the police have to start protecting the security vans? Luckily some of the people involved in yesterday's incident have been arrested.

Royal Encounter

Today the Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf was involved in a accident in a round-about, albeit a minor incident. He apparently ran into the car in front of him.

It doesn't look like the other driver will press charges though. He said:
- Nah, it was just a small traffic incident. Of course it was a bit surprising when I saw that it was the King. We talked a little bit and asked each other how it was and stuff.

Probably the guy is just happy to have a story to tell his family, grandchildren, friends, etc. However, in a poll in Aftonbladet, over 77 % thinks the police should have questioned the King and tested whether he was under the influence, as is customary at any accident scene.

Team Aniston

I've been a lazy blogger lately...though frequent visitor on other people's blogs. Found a hilarious site through Defamer: Automaddox.

Unique spam

I recently received a version of Nigerian spam that I have not encountered before. The swindler incorporated my family into the story. Little did he know that my surname is one of a kind. My grandfather made up and registered the name (Komheden) with the Swedish authorities back in the 1950s. As a result my family (four people) are the only ones with this name in Sweden and the rest of the world. So the following text did not fool me:

ATTN: ASSISTANCE OF A RESOURCE PERSON REQUIRED TOREALIZE THIS FORTUNE.

I am Barr. Patrick Diallo, an attorney at law and anotary public. On the 25th of April 2002, my client Mr. Mark Komheden, his wife and their only son were involved in a plane crash (Egypt air boeing 747 which crashed out side Tunis). Unfortunately they all lost their lives in the event of the accident, since then i have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives and this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts to locate any member of his family, hence I contacted you. Icontacted you to assist in repatriating the money andproperty left behind before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where my client lodge these huge deposits. Particularly, the bank where the deceased had an account valued at about U.S $28.5million U.S dollars. Consequently, the bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within a short time.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over some years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you share the same surname so that the proceeds of the account valued at U.S$28.5 million can be paid to you for both of us to share the funds; 50% to me and 45% to you, while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require. I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to backup the claim. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me through this my e-mail to enable us discuss further. Thanks for your kind co-operation

Barr. Patrick Diallo.

(Un)employment

Just spent a week in England where I was asked: "It's really amazing that Sweden has this well-developed welfare state and still can maintain excellent economic growth and such low unemployment." Low unemployment? It's approaching 6 % and if you believe the debate in Sweden you'd think Sweden was going under. (My friend thought 6 % was low.) Interesting addition to the debate...