Sunday Multi-tasking: I'm watching the 2010 Swedish election returns LIVE on SVT -AND the Dolphins at Vikings ballgame!

Sunday September 19, 2010
1:33 p.m. Eastern

Dolphins 7, Vikings 0 after first quarter

I had a lot of very interesting things I'd worked on the past few weeks that I was going to run here in conjunction with today's national legislative election in Sweden, for seats in the Riksdag, but due to the many computer problems I've experienced the past 7-10 days -and already running behind schedule today!- rather than post them all here, and maybe miss some of the evolving info and analysis on the election returns, or any of the ballgame action, I'm going to wait until later today, perhaps during the Giants-Colts ballgame to post.

Plus, by then, though it will likely be very close, an actual winner should've emerged, though most experts I've read expect that Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's Moderates will not have a huge lead over its three centre-right coalition partners.


If you're curious to see how they cover the returns, or even if they rely on the same election night visual cliches, you can watch the Swedish election returns LIVE via SVT's complete coverage right here: http://svt.se/2.129956/valet_2010

That SVT site has been crashing a lot today already due to heavy demand, so I've also been watching TV4's coverage, so I don't miss anything important.
In fact, while it's just my opinion, their reporters seem to be hustling a little bit more than SVT's. http://www.nyhetskanalen.se/val2010/

Use your own best judgment and switch back and forth, compare and contrast.

At 2 p.m. Eastern our time, 8 p.m. in Stockholm, they just showed the folks over at the Sweden Democrats HQ, Sverigedemokraterna, jumping up and down after they reached 4.6%.
They are definitely going to get some seats in the chamber for the first time.
http://svt.se/2.128339/1.2153509/valu_sd_in_i_riksdagen

As of 3:54 p.m. Eastern they were up to 6.3% of the vote nationally.

The SD's message is clearly resonating with even more fed-up Swedish citizens than the condescending hipper-than-thou news media thought -and feared!

Seriously, news media, you continue to ignore self-evident problems and appease the un-civil in society, and then you are shocked that the populace wants changes?
Really?

Have you never heard of cause and effect?

Thanks for finally paying attention, late as it is, but guess what?
Many Swedes don't care what you think and definitely don't care for your smug attitude and your bias.

Rhetorical question: Am I talking about the news media situation in the U.S. or Sweden?
Both!

Because she was going to be out-of-town in Karlstad, one of our faves, super-talented singer Molly Sandén voted early on Friday. Molly posted the photo of herself -below- on her blog after she placed the correct color paper ballot in here official voting envelope and licked it, after voting for the first time, since she just turned eighteen-years old rather recently.

It's sometimes hard for me to believe that this really sweet and down-to-earth super-talent is only eighteen, because she has so much confidence and poise when performing, and has been doing so for years.

http://mollysandenblogg.blogspot.com/

Thumbs-up for voting!

See Molly's post on voting at: Nu har jag röstat!
http://mollysandenblogg.blogspot.com/2010/09/nu-har-jag-rostat.html

http://svt.se/

SACC New York will be hosting Swedish Election Watch Party at Aquavit on Sunday from 1-5 p.m.

A few days later than I originally planned, I can now finally share some interesting news that some of you out there may want to take full advantage of this Sunday, even while I can't make the scene there myself.

Far from the sweltering heat and humidity all around me here in South Florida, the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce (SACC) is organizing an election watch party at Aquavit on the day of the election to the Riksdag, September 19, from 1 to 5 pm.

The election coverage will be screened in Aquavit's private dining room.

Swedish Election Watch Party
includes smörgåsbord brunch with choice of one Danish Mary, Alliansen, Rödgrönt, Carlsberg beer or juice
SACC members: $45 plus tax and service
Members of Young professionals: $33 plus tax and service

Aquavit
65 East 55th Street, New York City
Sunday, September 19, 1 - 5 pm

Reservations are taken for seating from 12 noon to 2:30 pm.
The Swedish election coverage will be broadcast from 1 pm to 5 pm.
RSVP by September 18 to Aquavit at 212-307-7311.

And for you Giants and Colts fans in the Tri-State area, remember, kickoff for their game in Indy is Sunday night at 8:20 p.m., so you have plenty of time to be cool and sophisticated in Midtown in the afternoon, and then get home and throw on your respective Manning brothers jerseys afterwards, though I honestly don't know how your Doritos and homemade ranch dip will taste hours after your smörgåsbord adventure.
You are on your own there.http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/preview/NFL_20100919_NYG@IND

I like the Colts 31-19.

Given the renown of the restaurant, I shouldn't be surprised to see some TV video of this event via SVT and TV 4 next Sunday night or the usual post-election analysis the following day, and you can be sure that I will look for it via their website.

Or, maybe someone will channel Bergman and Hallström and film some of the scene and share it with the world via YouTube.

I certainly hope so!

As it happens, until this week, there was a very cute TV4 promo animation of the candidates jousting in full knight regalia at http://www.tv4.se/ but because of the delay in my getting this post up, they seem to have pulled it already.

Special thanks to Filip Enocson of SACC New York and Peter Klein of Aquavit for their kind assistance and the Election Watch Party graphic at the top.

Filip and Peter's respective websites are http://www.saccny.org/ and http://www.aquavit.org/restaurant/newyork/index.asp

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I'll have more to say about the election over the next two days, with some videos as well, but until then you may want to check out The Local's Guide to the 2010 Swedish Elections at:

http://www.thelocal.se/28800/20100908/
Their 2010 election campaign webpage is at: http://www.thelocal.se/election2010/

http://www.thelocal.se/

http://www.riksdagen.se/templates/R_SubStartPage____21764.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/user/zagatbuzz