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Culture-Clash

Still sweating the Swedish

Thursday, 19 November 2009 10:08 P GMT+01

I spent all of yesterday afternoon at a conference of women entrepreneurs...Swedish women entrepreneurs. My boss arranged it as an "inspirational"activity for our department, but for the most part I was mainly inspired to only ever attend conferences

Kallbadhus Reunion

Sunday, 8 November 2009 3:00 P GMT+01

One my favorite former ex-pat pals was passing through town on Saturday and had arranged a mini-reunion with those in her former circle who are still living in Malmö.

Kallbadhus conflict...

Wednesday, 23 September 2009 9:34 A GMT+01

Saturday morning was sunshiney and warm, just begging for us to get outside and enjoy it before the Swedish autumn sets in. To my surprise and delight, Dr. Darling, suggested we go to the kallbadhus.

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Shazzer's iPhone 3GS saga update

Sunday, 26 July 2009 9:40 A GMT+01

For once, waiting appears to have paid off...even though doing so nearly drove me around the bend. With each passing day there were more news stories about Apple not being able to keep up with demand for the new iPhone 3GS.

Relationship Rescue for Obama and "Teh Gays"?

Friday, 3 July 2009 2:42 P GMT+01

There's a GREAT piece by Michael Rowe posted at The Huffington Post right now in which he likens the relationship of LGBT Americans with the Obama White House as being that of a battered spouse. Pretty insightful stuff. From the article:"On

Tech-support with a twist!

Monday, 29 June 2009 12:36 P GMT+01

This past weekend marked the third one in a row in which we entertained out-of-town guests...not a record by any means, but kind of stressful none-the-less.

Irony is often lost on Swedes

Wednesday, 24 June 2009 12:04 P GMT+01

My Swedish “hometown” of Malmö has been in the country’s news a lot lately for reasons that my American readership will likely find somewhat entertaining.

Midsummer Weekend Survived

Sunday, 21 June 2009 12:38 P GMT+01

Today marks the summer solstice for 2009, but Swedes have been celebrating since Friday. They have a talent for conveniently re-scheduling their holidays so that a 3-day weekend results.

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Tales from the Commute: Nightmare Edition

Thursday, 18 June 2009 8:32 A GMT+01

It all started a week ago Tuesday when my monthly commuter card mysteriously disappeared from its specially designated pocket on my backpack. Which of course I didn't realize until I was already sitting in the Quiet Car on the way to Landskrona.

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National Day face-off, Sweden vs. Denmark

Saturday, 6 June 2009 11:25 P GMT+01

I am in the middle of another 3-day weekend thanks to the back-to-back scheduling of Denmark's and Sweden's National Days.

Miss CA was HOT until she opened her mouth

Friday, 24 April 2009 9:05 A GMT+01

The New York Times is asking if the recent hullabaloo over Miss California’s fielding of a question on same-sex marriage during the Miss USA Pageant is a sign of a broad social shift on the issue of equal rights for gay people.

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Some random observations of Iceland

Sunday, 19 April 2009 8:55 A GMT+01

I did do a bit of blogging during our recent Iceland trip , but there are a couple of things I haven't had time to share yet.

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Of course the naked golfer had to be Swedish

Sunday, 15 March 2009 8:36 P GMT+01

I’ve long maintained that Europeans in general (with the exception of the Brits) and Swedes in particular have a very casual and frankly, much healthier attitude toward nudity than Americans do. Pro golfer Henrik Stenson helped prove that point durin

Officer, I'd like to make a citizen's arrest!

Thursday, 26 February 2009 9:54 P GMT+01

While passing through Malmö’s Central Train Station this afternoon, I walked past a woman puffing away on a cigarette while talking to a police officer in a clearly marked NO SMOKING zone. It took every ounce of restraint I could muster not to interr

A Valentine's Day to sneeze at...

Sunday, 15 February 2009 3:05 P GMT+01

For those curious about whether or not the Hallmark Holiday that is Valentine's Day is celebrated by Swedes, the answer is yes.

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Now this is community art...

Thursday, 5 February 2009 3:50 P GMT+01

How incredibly cool is this? Street artist/photographer JR has covered the rooftops of one of Kenya’s largest slums with the faces and eyes of women who live in the area (Kibera in Nairobi).is water resistant

Washington weather weenies

Thursday, 29 January 2009 5:40 P GMT+01

Barack Obama evidently ruffled some feathers in Washington, DC yesterday when he expressed surprise that his daughters’ schools were closed due to inclement weather. Obama: Washington needs “Chicago Toughness” I have to say, as a city kid who burned

My adopted country ROCKS!

Saturday, 24 January 2009 7:35 A GMT+01

Sweden to allow gay marriage in May It appears that there is now enough of a majority in the Swedish parliament to make gender-neutral marriage the law of the land later this Spring.

The mysterious physics of tinsel

Sunday, 11 January 2009 7:38 A GMT+01

This season’s Christmas tree was a bit bigger than previous years’, so I had to break into my precious stash of unopened packages of imported tinsel to supplement the recycled stuff. It was a good call because the boughs absolutely sparkled, but abou

Epiphany always is one

Tuesday, 6 January 2009 10:25 A GMT+01

Today is the Swedish holiday I always forget about, Trettondedagen Jul (literally "the 13th Day of Christmas"), AKA the Christian Feast Day Epiphany.

Clearly Swedish design prowess...

Tuesday, 23 December 2008 12:04 A GMT+01

?does not extend to Christmas decorations. This display, which we?ve creatively dubbed ?The Big Lamp?, has been floating around Malmö for the last couple holiday seasons.

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The real question for Californians...

Tuesday, 4 November 2008 10:48 A GMT+01

I haven't really blogged much about California's Proposition 8, primarily because I think it's appalling...not to mention completely un-American ...to put a civil rights issue up to a vote.

Same punchline, different joke

Saturday, 26 July 2008 9:33 A GMT+01

Summer-like weather has finally arrived in southern Sweden, prompting Dr. Darling and I to take a stroll in the sunshine when I got home from work this afternoon. Malmö is a great city for walking, and we took one of our favourite routes along t

Sometimes, it's the little things...

Friday, 18 July 2008 11:56 A GMT+01

This morning, I cracked open a specially-imported original scent Sure Solid anti-perspirant/deodorant stick, which means: Today I smell like an American!

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Happy Birthday America

Friday, 4 July 2008 10:29 P GMT+01

Here in Sweden it's just Friday. And my birthday. But mostly just Friday. So what were my favorite presents?Cap'n Crunch and Miracle Whip.Don't ever under-estimate the value of breakfast cereals and condiments that are difficult to find