Jehova's Witness paid me a visit tonight (unsolicited of course):
JW: "I have a text here called the Bible that you may have read."
Me: "Well, I think I have heard of it, it rings a bell..." Duh!
No, I was polite and after about three "no thank you, I'm not interested", off they went.
I can't see anyone who would actually invite them in and on top of that, join, but since they are still doing house calls, it must be successful somehow because why would they otherwise keep on doing it??
Another one of these religious sects (which is what they really are) that I cannot understand anyone would join is the Scientology Church. How come all (okay, many) celebrities are drawn to it? After the Tom Cruise debacle of this year many stars have fallen from my sky.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Monday, September 26, 2005
The Envy of Europe
I wrote earlier about the fact that I always get the question from my international friends "why is Sweden doing so well?" or "how can Sweden have such low unemployment when the rest of Europe has such high rates?", while at the same time Swedish media and the right-wing bloc make it look like Sweden is in deep crisis.
Here's an article on this very topic, titled The Envy of Europe (thanks to Eric for the link).
"Just as scientists marvel at how such an unwieldy insect can actually fly, European leaders want to know how Sweden and its Nordic neighbors, so heavily laden with cradle-to-grave welfare systems, float high above the struggling economies of much of the rest of the Continent."
It tells a more realistic and nuanced story than the dark picture painted by the right-wing.
Here's an article on this very topic, titled The Envy of Europe (thanks to Eric for the link).
"Just as scientists marvel at how such an unwieldy insect can actually fly, European leaders want to know how Sweden and its Nordic neighbors, so heavily laden with cradle-to-grave welfare systems, float high above the struggling economies of much of the rest of the Continent."
It tells a more realistic and nuanced story than the dark picture painted by the right-wing.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Air flight tax
Since a few weeks ago travellers flying British Airways (BA) can choose to pay a voluntary fee towards projects that compensate for the flight's emissions, and other airlines might follow suit soon.
I think it's a great idea! Did you know that if we divided the number of flights the global population could do without doing any damage to the environment (i.e. status quo or sustainability) , each person would only be able to do a one-way flight between London and New York in a lifetime*. So I have already taken up 20-30 people's lifetime allotment of flights! Sure, most people in the world don't and will never have the opportunity to fly places, but still, the amount of time the rest of spend in the air... it adds up.
BA cooperates with the environmental organisation Climate Care. In this first trial round, passengers may choose between supporting low energy lightbulbs for poor households in South Africa, which reduces the amount of coal burnt, or energy efficient cookers in Honduras, which reduces forest devastation.
The only thing that worries me is the fact that a DN poll showed that almost 70 % would not want to pay such a fee. They don't want to pay a fee that equals the amount they spend on a cup of coffee or a lunch (depending on the distance). Don't they understand that this is an investment in their children's future?
Other airlines are very positive towards the initiative. Passengers are less so, as indicated by the DN poll, maybe because the EU as well as the Swedish government is simultaneously discussing a tax on airplane fuel. According to the Swedish government's (together with the Greens) proposal, a tax would mean 50-100 kronor on top of the price of a one-way ticket. Personally I think subjecting jet fuel to Kyoto and the emissions trading is more interesting than a tax. The airlines themselves, including US companies, are lobbying the European Commission to go with this option rather than taxation. Whatever happens I hope the money goes towards the environment, be it specific environmental projects or towards environmental research and development.
* Stockholm-Paris = 350 kilo greenhouse gases; Stockholm-New York = 1 tonne
I think it's a great idea! Did you know that if we divided the number of flights the global population could do without doing any damage to the environment (i.e. status quo or sustainability) , each person would only be able to do a one-way flight between London and New York in a lifetime*. So I have already taken up 20-30 people's lifetime allotment of flights! Sure, most people in the world don't and will never have the opportunity to fly places, but still, the amount of time the rest of spend in the air... it adds up.
BA cooperates with the environmental organisation Climate Care. In this first trial round, passengers may choose between supporting low energy lightbulbs for poor households in South Africa, which reduces the amount of coal burnt, or energy efficient cookers in Honduras, which reduces forest devastation.
The only thing that worries me is the fact that a DN poll showed that almost 70 % would not want to pay such a fee. They don't want to pay a fee that equals the amount they spend on a cup of coffee or a lunch (depending on the distance). Don't they understand that this is an investment in their children's future?
Other airlines are very positive towards the initiative. Passengers are less so, as indicated by the DN poll, maybe because the EU as well as the Swedish government is simultaneously discussing a tax on airplane fuel. According to the Swedish government's (together with the Greens) proposal, a tax would mean 50-100 kronor on top of the price of a one-way ticket. Personally I think subjecting jet fuel to Kyoto and the emissions trading is more interesting than a tax. The airlines themselves, including US companies, are lobbying the European Commission to go with this option rather than taxation. Whatever happens I hope the money goes towards the environment, be it specific environmental projects or towards environmental research and development.
* Stockholm-Paris = 350 kilo greenhouse gases; Stockholm-New York = 1 tonne
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
So that's why I don't get much done!
On a recent business trip I passed time on a BA flight by reading their in-flight business magazine, where I came across an interesting column by Viv Groskop, "All in a week's work". It starts:
"Mastering the working week is a delicate balance between industry and indolence. Thanks heavens for Tuesdays, or we'd never get anything done."
All week we count down to Friday, 5-4-3-2-1! Monday is the first day after the weekend. We're more tired than rested and need the day to "get ready" for work. Apparently it has even been proven that fewer emails are sent and received on Mondays than any other day of the week. This works for phone calls too so don't make any important calls on Mondays.
Wednesdays is the worst day of the week. Suddenly you realise that Oh, my God, it's already Wednesday and I haven't done half of what I should do this week! The weekend isn't so close but it's still too late to achieve that which you had originally set out to do before the weekend. "Most Wednesdays are paralysed with indecision. Should you work really seriously and hard or should you just postpone everything to next Monday when you'll have a clear week ahead of you again?" Needless to say, most opt for the latter.
Thursday, you are beyond the crisis stage; there's not even a need to panic. You just have to accept that it will have to wait until next week. Thursday is also the day when you can take a sick-day without anyone getting suspicious. If you are at the office, don't those drawers need to be cleaned out? And what about those business card from that conference; they need to go into the CRM.
"Fridays are obviously a joke. To all intents and purposes they are the first day of the weekend, which just happens to be spent in the office." Meetings held on Fridays are pointless. Sometimes important things happen and you'll almost think it's Tuesday, but then you remember and calm down.
So Tuesdays are the only days when actual work is done. Why? Because: "It is the day you realise that you did not do anything on Monday and already a fifth of the week has passed. But, unlike with Wednesdays, it's not too late." So Tuesday is the busy, busy day. You make 27 calls and send 89 emails...
"Mastering the working week is a delicate balance between industry and indolence. Thanks heavens for Tuesdays, or we'd never get anything done."
All week we count down to Friday, 5-4-3-2-1! Monday is the first day after the weekend. We're more tired than rested and need the day to "get ready" for work. Apparently it has even been proven that fewer emails are sent and received on Mondays than any other day of the week. This works for phone calls too so don't make any important calls on Mondays.
Wednesdays is the worst day of the week. Suddenly you realise that Oh, my God, it's already Wednesday and I haven't done half of what I should do this week! The weekend isn't so close but it's still too late to achieve that which you had originally set out to do before the weekend. "Most Wednesdays are paralysed with indecision. Should you work really seriously and hard or should you just postpone everything to next Monday when you'll have a clear week ahead of you again?" Needless to say, most opt for the latter.
Thursday, you are beyond the crisis stage; there's not even a need to panic. You just have to accept that it will have to wait until next week. Thursday is also the day when you can take a sick-day without anyone getting suspicious. If you are at the office, don't those drawers need to be cleaned out? And what about those business card from that conference; they need to go into the CRM.
"Fridays are obviously a joke. To all intents and purposes they are the first day of the weekend, which just happens to be spent in the office." Meetings held on Fridays are pointless. Sometimes important things happen and you'll almost think it's Tuesday, but then you remember and calm down.
So Tuesdays are the only days when actual work is done. Why? Because: "It is the day you realise that you did not do anything on Monday and already a fifth of the week has passed. But, unlike with Wednesdays, it's not too late." So Tuesday is the busy, busy day. You make 27 calls and send 89 emails...
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Broken English
Just have go give you some highlights from the book Broken English by Stewart Clark!
"Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to the this technical mess."
Swedish politician opening an international trade fair on technology (fair is mässa in Swedish).
" Dear friends, we are the same guys as before, although we have lost our pricks."
When Götabanken blev Gota Bank. The little dots on the o which makes the Swedish letter ö are called prickar in Swedish.
"Bowels in sauce" and "Chicken in spit".
On restaurant menu in Greece. Sorry?
"In case of fire, please stuff a towel under the door and expose yourself at the window."
Hotel sign in Norway. Yes, we are all nudists in Scandinavia...
Sign: "Any person (except players) caught collecting golf balls on this course will be prosecuted and have their balls removed."
Tough measures..
Book title: "Correctly English in 100 days"
Says it all..
"The skier took off with a tremendous fart."
Comment on televised ski jumping. Fart in Swedish is speed.
"Excuse me, what is the fart limit?"
Swedish tourists in England, see above.
"Buttered saucepans and fried hormones"
Menu in Japan. Are those testosterone or estrogen?
"Guests are requested not to smoke or do other disgusting behaviours in bed."
Sign in hotel room in Japan. I agree, it is a disgusting habit!
"Pain and wine included"
From menu, in France I assume..
"Do not put foreign bodies into the lavatory."
Sign on a SAS airplane. Are domestic bodies fine? What about when you're on international territory?
"Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to the this technical mess."
Swedish politician opening an international trade fair on technology (fair is mässa in Swedish).
" Dear friends, we are the same guys as before, although we have lost our pricks."
When Götabanken blev Gota Bank. The little dots on the o which makes the Swedish letter ö are called prickar in Swedish.
"Bowels in sauce" and "Chicken in spit".
On restaurant menu in Greece. Sorry?
"In case of fire, please stuff a towel under the door and expose yourself at the window."
Hotel sign in Norway. Yes, we are all nudists in Scandinavia...
Sign: "Any person (except players) caught collecting golf balls on this course will be prosecuted and have their balls removed."
Tough measures..
Book title: "Correctly English in 100 days"
Says it all..
"The skier took off with a tremendous fart."
Comment on televised ski jumping. Fart in Swedish is speed.
"Excuse me, what is the fart limit?"
Swedish tourists in England, see above.
"Buttered saucepans and fried hormones"
Menu in Japan. Are those testosterone or estrogen?
"Guests are requested not to smoke or do other disgusting behaviours in bed."
Sign in hotel room in Japan. I agree, it is a disgusting habit!
"Pain and wine included"
From menu, in France I assume..
"Do not put foreign bodies into the lavatory."
Sign on a SAS airplane. Are domestic bodies fine? What about when you're on international territory?
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Hotdog, only 100 euros!
Today I came across an extraordinary offer in one of the Stockholm tube stations!
"Hot dog 999 kronor" (€107; $133)
It obviously caught my interest, urging me to read further. Turns out it's a UNDP campaign - by PR firm Futurniture* - drawing attention to the fact that more that a billion people in the world live on less than 200 kronor (€22; €27) a month. If this was the situation in Sweden, a hot dog would cost the equivalent of 999 kronor. I think this is a great way to expose the issue of global inequalities and poverty!
You can buy your hot dog** at Norrmalmstorg Thursday-Saturday this week (September 15-17). The proceeds go to charity. Look for a Willy Wonka-looking stand.
* Futurniture is also the creator of the Government's "Knark är bajs" campaign
** Price includes toppings
"Hot dog 999 kronor" (€107; $133)
It obviously caught my interest, urging me to read further. Turns out it's a UNDP campaign - by PR firm Futurniture* - drawing attention to the fact that more that a billion people in the world live on less than 200 kronor (€22; €27) a month. If this was the situation in Sweden, a hot dog would cost the equivalent of 999 kronor. I think this is a great way to expose the issue of global inequalities and poverty!
You can buy your hot dog** at Norrmalmstorg Thursday-Saturday this week (September 15-17). The proceeds go to charity. Look for a Willy Wonka-looking stand.
* Futurniture is also the creator of the Government's "Knark är bajs" campaign
** Price includes toppings
Sunday, September 11, 2005
September 11
September 11 is one of those dates I will never forget. Obviously because of 9/11, the World Trade Center attacks, four years ago today, but also the murder of Anna Lindh, Sweden's Foreign Minister, two years ago. Anna Lindh was a role model, not just for us in the Social Democratic party, but for many Swedes in general and people abroad, and she was the natural successor to Göran Person, the Prime Minister. Now two years on there's still no real heir, a fact that's perhaps not causing the party's problems but definitely not helping the situation.
You can read more about Anna Lindh and her memorial fund here.
You can read more about Anna Lindh and her memorial fund here.
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