What's In a Name

Another challenge or list if you will.

YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet & current car): Kitty Golf

YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fav ice cream flavor, favorite cookie): Chocolate Ginger Thins

YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name): Akom

YOUR DETECTIVE NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Blue Cat (I like that!)

YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Elisabet Södertälje (not to much fun...works better with English names)

YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first): Koman (could be a Star Wars name!)

SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put "The" first): The Pink Moijito (haha, I like it, I wonder what my superpower is!)

STRIPPER NAME (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne, favorite candy): Oui Licorice (yes, could probably be a stripper)

WITNESS PROTECTION NAME (mother's & father's middle names): Edit XXX (as my dad has a double Christian name but no middle name)

Can you resist finding out your stripper name?!!

Another List

1. Take the book nearest to you and open page 18 - what does it say on line 4? "It's made up, it' as simple as that"

2. Stretch your left arm as long as you can, what do you touch? An armchair

3. What was the latest you watched on TV? Austin Powers 3

4. Without looking, guess the time: 18.10 (it is 17.57)

5. Besides the computer, what can you hear right now? A film with Zach Braff

6. When were you last outside last and what did you do? Drove to Ica and bought some stuff for dinner (and earlier today we took a walk in our wellingtons in the woods here at the country house)

7. What did you look at before you began this survey? At the other blogs on my roll (and Facebook)

8. What are you wearing? Jeans and a green T-shirt

9. Did you have a dream last night? Actually something with Britney Spears (who was a mess in my dream too, just like in real life) and Angelina Jolie, but I was happiest when Brad Pitt showed up

10. When did you last laugh? Watching Austin Powers earlier

11. What are on the walls of the room you are in right now? Windows, two pictures with old maps of the Stockholm archipelago

12. Have you seen something strange lately? That Austin Powers film

13. What do you think of this challenge? A good blog posting when you cannot think of something else to blog about

14. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Bourne Ultimatum

15. If you were a multimillionaire, what would you buy? A house in Stockholm, a green car and a flat or a summer place abroad somewhere (and give some to charity)

16. Tell something about yourself that people don't know? I'm really very lazy

17. If you could change ONE thing in the world, without taking into account politics and guilt, what would it be? The brains of men who beat or rape women and little children

18. Do you like dancing? It's alright but I'm not too good at it

19. George Bush? Can't wait until he's gone!

20-21? What would you name your children, boy and girl? Isolde and Julius

22. Would you consider living abroad? I have lived abroad and I would love too again!

23. What do you want God to say when you come to heaven? "You're late!"

Anyone is welcome to answer these very same questions!

A Bit of Sicko in the Swedish Healthcare System

Johanna Graf is always so spot on! I agree with her completely so I have translated her post:

"Unfortunately I have to throw up...
...because this is one of the most tasteless things I have heard. A private children's hospital is opening at Sophiahemmet in Stockholm [where] children of parents who have paid into a private child insurance can receive care. In a web survey carried out by [the tabloid] Aftonbladet it is admittedly a majority who thinks it is wrong with privately financed [through insurance] children's healthcare, but alarmingly many who still think it is a good idea. Maybe they have fallen for the insidious talk that is always brought out when private care is the topic; "But, if more people pay for their care themselves, the pressure on the public health service will be relieved and it can work better".

But think one step further! What do you think happens to the private caretakers' willingness to pay for care they no longer need, or need less and less often? What happens with the strength of a tax system where some, often those who are less willing to pay, do not think that the quality of the service that they are getting for their money is good enough, och therefore join another [health] insurance system?

In the particular case with private children's hospitals one can also quietly ask oneself what will happen with children who are born sick and in all likelihood have not yet been - or would never be - granted a private insurance?

This with private children's insurances is already today a chapter to itself. My middle son gave the wrong answer during a hearing test at the children's health centre and is still to this day, at age 16, not granted a full child insurance with our insurance company. And I have heard a lot worse stories. NO to such a society!

In the long term one could ask why all of us together must pay for their expensive medical training if many doctors only devote themselves to help those who pay the most for their services?

To be very clear, so that no one goes mad now: What I'm criticising is NOT private care, but private insurances. (It is the same thing with the education system: It is not the free-standing schools that is the problem, it is the financing system that moves tax money around in an eternal moving merry-go-around that is very financially unsound.)

It makes me happy that it is not only Social Democrats who criticise these systems. Also the Swedish Association of Health Professionals is a warning voice: "The risk is that the cleavages in society increase, that those who cannot afford to pay receive worse care and that the public health service cannot be financed at the same level as today."

Less that three years to the election, but there are unfortunately a lot that can be destroyed before then."

The Super List

1. When did you get up today? 10ish (it's Sunday and we went to a party last night)

2. Diamonds or pearls: Pearls (diamonds are beautiful too but I would have to make sure they weren't conflict diamonds)

3. Latest film you saw at the cinema? Bourne Ultimatum

4. Favourite TV show? Heroes, House, Two and A Half Men

5. What did you have for breakfast? Home-made juice, tea, bread and croissants

6. What is your middle name? Elisabet

7. Your favourite food? Indian

8. What food don't you like? Brown beans

9. Favourite crisps? Don't eat crisps that often but either salt & vinegar or sour cream & onion

10. What is your favourite CD at the moment? Either Salem el Fakir or Sofia Talvik

11. What car do you drive? The Golf my boyfriend and his sister share

12. Favourite sandwich? Ciabatta with pecorino

13. What human characteristic can't you tolerate? Cynicism

14. What are your favourite clothes? Jacket (i.e. suit jacket)

15. If you could go anywhere on vacation? Mauritius or somewhere like it

16. Favourite brand? I go more on if I like the item

17. Where do you want to retire? Stockholm but with flats in NYC and London and maybe some place warm

18. Favourite time of the day? Evening when I just have come home from work

19. Where are you born? Södertälje, Sweden

20. What is your favourite sport to watch? Football

21. Coca cola or Pepsi? Coke

22. Football or ice-hockey? Football

23. Are you a morning or night person? Both or neither

24. Pedicure or manicure? Pedicure

25. What did you want to become when you were little? Lawyer

26. Best childhood memory? So many

27. Been to Africa? No, but I'm going in December!

28. Ever rolled someone in toilet paper? No, I think that's just done in the US

29. Been in a car accident? No, but witnessed one

30. Favourite day of the week? Friday

31. Favourite restaurant? Depends on what I want to eat

32. Favourite flowers? Roses and tulips

33. Favourite fast-food restaurant? Lebanese one I can't remember the name

34. Do you own a bike? Yes, an old one that hopefully doesn't get stolen

35. Who sent you the latest e-mail? Sarah (not counting Facebook)

36. In what shop would you choose to max your credit card? Furniture and design

37. Bedtime? Too late, usually 11pm

38. Last person you shared a dinner with? Shared? Well, I had a buffet with 30 others at a 30th birthday party last night

39. What are you listening to right now? Savage Garden

40. Favourite colour? Blue

41. How many tatoos do you have? NONE

It's All Relative

On this site you can find out how your income compares to the rest of the world. I was No 59 million in the world but that still makes me within the 1% richest in the world. Gives you some perspective those days you're mad at your boss for not giving you that raise that you deserve, and makes you think how you can help someone out there.

Those Americans!

Kids drink too much soda and not enough good stuff, such as milk, so what do we do?

We carbonate milk! The result is Refreshing Power Milk or E-moo, served in American schools but also for sale in stores.

What will they think of next?!

What about a Swedish invention, caviar cream (Swedish bread spread made of fisheggs, which is tasty but probably sounds weird to the non-Swede) WITH BANANA!!! Yuck! Well, I haven't tried it yet and I don't think I ever will!

Early Dementia?

I had this great idea for a blog post at work today but now I can't for the life of me remember what it was about!

Does the same thing happen to you?

Yes, Why Do They?

So why do "normal" people get tattoos?

It used to be the thing to do among sailors, prisoners and bikers but now tattoos are (maybe not as common but) common among lawyers, doctors, teachers and other "regular" people, and among men and women alike. And the tattooers were of a similar "breed".

Tattooing used to be the preserve of people who were too lazy to work and too scared to steal. Nowadays you have got proper artists.

According to the article tattoos were popular among the upper class in the 19th century, at least discreet ones. After that they became associated with macho, working class culture but now they are gradually becoming a middle class domain. The difference is instead in the motifs people choose.

That may be so but I'm still not getting one. I like the piece of advice given at the end of the article:

Fashions change but tattoos are forever.

You Have to Watch This Guy

Don't forget to watch Part 2 of his performance!

The Different Worths of Tax Money

Continuing on the issue of the difference between cheating the system and cheating the system, Åsa Petersen writes really well in Aftonbladet today:

"The radio news reveal cheating with household services [and the right to make tax deductions on hired services, introduced a few months ago]. Half of the companies called up by the radio station are prepared to write something different on the receipt so that the client can request a tax reduction for household services [such as cleaning, baby-sitting, gardening]. For example, you are allowed to make deductions for hedge trimming, but not for pruning trees. The tree is [conveniently] shrunk to a bush on the receipt.

Minister for Enterprise, Maud Olofsson (Center party) is not particularly worried about tax evasion. 'I choose not to see it as a huge problem. I realise that when you implement such a reform, it was like that with the [deduction for building and construction] also, it takes a while before you have a completely serious market. Before customers learn what demands to pose and before companies know how to act.'

Stop for a moment. The companies and the customers know exactly 'how to act' to cheat. They have read the rules and agree to write bush instead of tree, removal cleaning instead of removal transport, on the receipt.

The tax authority cannot do much to stop the cheating. To control all receipts is an administrative impossible. Maud Olofsson instead has her hope set on 'consumer power': 'It is important that the customers, that is, citizens who buy the services, are careful with posing demands. If we are going to buy these services it must be white, we are not going to cheat these rules.'

What if representatives for the government reasoned similarly when it comes to cheating with [other tax money]. 'It is not increased control that is needed in the social security system. Cheating with [temporary parental leave for caring for a sick child] and sickleave pay is not a big problem. The insured just has to learn what demands to pose on the Insurance office: to never get compensation for something they are not entitled to.'

That would be something. If Minister for Social Security Cristina Husmark Pehrsson said that. No, that will never happen. The Alliance government actually separates people from people. People with big resources, those who have big incomes or can afford to buy household services, can avoid closer scrutiny by the Tax Authority. People who on the other hand are sick or need to stay at home caring for a sick child are subjected to tougher controls. In addition new guidelines are coming that will narrow the sicklistings. Society cannot pamper those with migraines or those who have had heart attacks.

Cheating with welfare benefits is according to that logic worse than tax evasion. "Those down there" are assumed to have worse morale and fewer rights than "those up there". This "those down there" must be controlled, disciplined.

Please set about preventing evasion. But if so, consider all evasion with our common resources equally serious. That Maud Olofsson does not see incorrect receipts as "a huge problem', IS a huge problem."

I so agree with Åsa.

I Love Frappuchino!

This was the best possible result! I just love frappuchinos (or frappacino or whichever is the correct spelling)! I drink one or two coffees (regular, not frappé) a day but in the morning and late evening I prefer tea. So it's not a perfect analysis as I would say my coffee addiction is slightly higher than low and I drink it because I like the taste and I don't take sugar. It's just my coffee drinks I like sweet.

You Are a Frappacino

At your best, you are: fun loving, sweet, and modern At your worst, you are: childish and over indulgent You drink coffee when: you're craving something sweet Your caffeine addiction level: low

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Proportionality

Lately several international newspapers have covered the fact that Sweden welcomes large numbers of Iraqi refugees. A recent article in the New York Times asks: how can the US, ultimately responsible for the outflow of refugees from Iraq (or at least deeply involved, depending how you see it), let other countries bear the burden?

Extracts:
Many are restarting in Sweden. Between January and August this year, Sweden took in 12,259 Iraqis fleeing their decomposing country. It expects 20,000 for all of 2007. By contrast, in the same January-August period, the United States admitted 685 refugees, according to State Department figures. The numbers bear closer scrutiny. In January, Sweden admitted 1,500 Iraqis, compared to 15 that entered the United States. In April, the respective numbers were 1,421 and 1; in May, 1,367 and 1; and in August 1,469 and 529.

When Tobias Billstrom, the migration minister, says, “Yes, of course the United States should do more”, you can feel his indignation about to erupt like milk boiling over. He notes that given the huge population difference, Sweden’s intake of Iraqis “is the equivalent of the U.S. taking in about 500,000 refugees".

Full article here.