Showing posts with label Barack Obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Barack Obama. Show all posts

Friday, October 11, 2013

After years of Mainstream Media political reporters & columnists in U.S. being compulsive sycophants to Obama's White House, turning-off readers/viewers in droves, now their colleagues on U.S. national security beat have to deal with the karma -reality of (perhaps) being intentionally digitally monitored by Obama Administration. That's karma for you!; "Obama’s war on leaks has journalists and their sources on edge. ‘I worry now about calling somebody.’"; Damning CPJ report by Len Downie of Arizona State's Cronkite School & Washington Post and Sara Rafsky was released Thursday, but some say evidence is clear that MSM is still pulling-punches with Obama; @lendownie, @Cronkite_ASU, @CPJ, @pressfreedom, #pressfreedom

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Thursday, September 5, 2013

More on President Obama's historic trip to Sweden, and sharing some cold hard facts, anecdotes and lessons learned re Sverige; #obamainsweden, @Swedense, @CBildt, @AnnelieGregor, @hannawagenius, @davidlinden1


















Joint statement by Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and President Barack Obama: http://www.regeringen.se/sb/d/16999/a/222806

 More official photos! http://www.regeringen.se/sb/d/17736

 SVT's photo gallery of Wednesday's events: 
http://www.svt.se/nyheter/varlden/bildextra-obama-i-sverige

 SvD's account of Thursday morning's events so far:
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/live-obama-i-sverige-del-3_8488844.svd









Nima Sanandaji is spot-on in highlighting what so many others ignore, whether consciously or accidentally. There were unique factors present in Sweden that allowed a certain sort of culture and ethos to develop and flourish that were NOT possible in countries where transportation and social mobility was far better and where larger centers of industrialization could lure larger numbers of rural residents.

 In rural areas, especially during the many months of very cold weather, you absolutely needed to be able to trust and depend upon your neighbor, even if they were located quite a distance from you. Self-reliance and the bond of community, things so very much absent in current South Florida, with the predictable results we can see all around us:  
Sweden’s phenomenal growth can, besides business friendly policies, has much to do with the country’s unique history. Nordic countries were for a long period dominated by independent farmers who had great incentives to work hard in order to survive in the harsh and cold climate. The populations in these homogenous countries not only adapted very strong ethics relating to work and responsibility, but their culture also became characterized by social cohesion and high levels of trust.
http://www.newgeography.com/content/003909-swedish-lessons-obama

 Similarly...



Joel Kotkin correctly identifies another central aspect of what has made Sweden what it is and has made the areas of the U.S. that Swedish emigrants settled in more successful than others: 
Scandinavia's greatest strength may lie in its least political correct asset: its Nordic culture. Scandinavians' traditional interest in education, hard work and good governance serves them well both at home and abroad. It's not socialism that is primarily responsible.
After all, America's Scandinavians, although largely the descendents of poor immigrants also are pretty successful, earning more on average than their counterparts back home. 



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One of the differences I've observed first-hand between American and Swedish women who are interested in politics and foreign policy is that smart, funny and attractive women in Sweden who are interested in those areas aren't as snobbish or smugly elitist as Americans, like to talk more frequently and passionately about big ideas like freedom and liberty and NOT about how they became vegans, don't seek to win arguments based on painting themselves as victims of "society," don't talk incessantly about yoga, pilates or their career, but have no problem in making public their love for the occasional fast food snacks. 
Par exemple, Hanna Wagenius. http://missbesserwisser.blogspot.com/

 Nothing to do with Obama visit but I find this CUF video of hers droll and amusing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x5qvssI-IQ&feature=share&list=TLp16zPHqyoo0

 Puss och kram på dig!


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 http://anneliegregor.wordpress.com/
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For someone like me who is a longtime recycling enthusiast, one of the best things about Sweden is the average person's commitment to keeping the city and nature free of debris. 
You pay a few SEK for products packaged in recyclable plastic or aluminum, like sodas, at both stores and from vendors, but get your money back via self-serve machines when you recycle at stores. 
All of this gives people a real  financial incentive to return items to stores, as well as for others to pick-up any you see lying on roads or in parks and get that money, which is one of the reasons that Stockholm is SO CLEAN!
Though I'm a committed meat-eater, especially when it comes to pizza, this actually looks good enough to try next time I'm in Stockholm, at Kungstensgatan 62.
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Anyone wanting an accurate account of the problem in Sweden of the lack of successful Muslim assimilation in Europe ought to read my post of September 17, 2012 titled, re Fouad Ajami's Washington Post essay: Why is the Muslim world so easily offended?; What Muslim "moderates"?; Målmo as the European canary-in-the-coal-mine doesn't auger well for the success of Muslim "moderates" or assimilation efforts; #MUSLIMRAGE
http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/re-fouad-ajamis-washington-post-essay.html

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Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Updated; President Obama lands in Sweden, first bilateral visit by a U.S. president in history; Links to LIVE worldwide TV coverage of President Obama's trip in Stockholm, watch the press conference at 8:30 Eastern; #obamainsweden, ‏@usembassysweden, #stockholm

Above, screenshot of SVT's website promoting their LIVE news coverage of President Obama's visit to Sweden, which can be seen here, worldwide, on their Special Report version of their news show Rapport with hosts Claes Elfsberg and Marianne Rundström until about 11:20 a.m. Eastern Wednesday morning:

 1:30 p.m. Update: SVT has recorded this morning's events and has it as a 7 hour and 18 minute video that you can watch or skip ahead in to find something you find of interest: 
Extra Rapport: Obama besöker Sverige 10:00-17:20: Obama besöker Sverige - DIREKT. SVT följer USA:s president Barack Obamas besök i Stockholm. Gäster, samtal, bakgrund, analyser, pressträffar. Programledare: Claes Elfsberg och Marianne Rundström.
http://www.svtplay.se/video/1435951/extra-rapport-obama-besoker-sverige

 This LIVE broadcast can also be viewed on mobile phones if you are so inclined.
SVT's mobile streaming is among the best in the world.
Above, screenshot of TV4's website promoting their LIVE news coverage, which they are promoting as "around the clock" and they do seem to be doing more interesting stuff from what I can see and can also be seen worldwide.
http://www.tv4.se/nyheterna/klipp/live-obamas-bes%C3%B6k-i-sverige-2433617

 1:30 p.m. Update: TV4 is doing a great job today and as of this writing is still doing their LIVE coverage of the visit, but sometimes that consists of only streaming video of an exterior scene like the Grand Hotel with no sound until someone appears on screen to say something or or the cortege heads somewhere.
By the way, with their coverage, you can also see the TV commercials in Swedish and after awhile, you may find yourself having a sudden craving for Felix brand Tandoori meals -like me! 
http://www.lhw.com/hotel/Grand-Hotel-Stockholm-Stockholm-Sweden

I'm watching/listening to both of them, bouncing back and forth as I edit my promised post about some things that President Obama and most well-informed Americans don't know about Sweden -and should- but won't be hearing anything about from the dim-wits in the White House press corps.
That post should be online sometime today.

 Reminder, Sweden is six hours ahead of the Eastern time zone in U.S. & Canada.

 Schedule: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy/sweden-g20-trip-2013

Air%20Force%20One%20landar%20p%C3%A5%20Arlanda
TV4 video of Air Force One landing at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, which is about 40 miles north of Stockholm.


Barack%20Obama%20g%C3%A5r%20av%20flygplanet
U.S. Ambassador to Sweden Mark Brzezinski -Zbig's son, Mika's brother- and his wife Natalia
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/natalia-lopatniuk-brzezinski/still-trying-to-have-it-a_b_1713346.html
greets President Obama coming off the plane prior to his meeting the Swedish government dignitaries on the tarmac at Arlanda, including Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, below

Obama%20v%C3%A4lkomnas%20av%20Carl%20Bildt
TV4 video

H%C3%A4r%20passerar%20Obamas%20konvoj%20Upplands%20V%C3%A4sby
TV4 video: Här passerar Obamas konvoj Upplands Väsby.
Presidential convoy from Stockholm Arlanda Airport to the Grand Hotel in Stockholm down the E4.

As some of you know, per my once being part of an advance team for Walter Mondale, I was one of the passengers in one of the limousines in a Secret Service convoy from a private tarmac at Miami International Airport to the Eden Roc Hotel in Miami Beach, where we were going to be staying as part of a campaign visit, and we received the full heavy police escort, of course.
Trust me, THAT is the only way to go!
Prickskyttar%20p%C3%A5%20taken%20kring%20Grand%20hotel
TV4 reporter Ted Lundgren appearing on the Nyhetsmorgon program from the center of the security zone in and around the Grand Hotel, where policemen are patrolling and rooftop snipers are at the ready for security purposes
http://www.tv4play.se/program/nyhetsmorgon?video_id=2435597

Press conference is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Eastern U.S. time, where he will likely start by saying something like what Ambassador Brzezinski said at his swearing-in, "Det är en stor glädje och ära, att se den svenska närvaron här idag."

 U.S. Embassy in Sweden @usembassysweden 

The latest head's up from Stockholm I've received in the mail is...
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From: Mynewsdesk 
Date: 2013/9/4
Subject: Stockholms stad: Trafikhinder på Hägerstensvägen



Stockholms stad

Trafikhinder på Hägerstensvägen

Stockholms stad - Sep 04, 2013 10:37 CEST
Nu placerar Trafikkontoret tillbaka den höj- och sänkbara stolpe, så kallad pollare, som ska förhindra genomfartstrafik i rusningstid på Hägerstensvägen.
Pollaren – på Hägerstensvägen, mellan Axelsberg och Örnsberg – kommer att hindra bilister från att använda Hägerstensvägen som genomfartsväg under vardagar klockan 7-9 samt 16-18. Syftet med avspärrningen är att skona de boende i området från rusningstrafiken. Kollektivtrafik och uttryckningsfordon undantas förbudet.
Förbudet gäller redan idag men i och med de fysiska åtgärderna hoppas Trafikkontoret hindra de billister som ändå bryter mot förbudet.
Pollaren installerades första gången för ett drygt år sedan då den ersatte en vägbom. Pollaren blev dock påkörd och har tillfälligt varit ur funktion under en period. Utöver att den nu har reparerats så har Trafikkontoret även låtit sätta upp en trafiksignal samt tydligare förbudsskyltning på platsen.
– I och med dessa åtgärder hoppas vi att det blir en bättre efterlevnad och respekt för gällande förbud, säger Lotten Backström, trafikplanerare på Trafikkontoret.
Pollaren och trafiksignalen är planerad att tas i bruk under vecka 37.

Kontaktperson: 
Lotten Backström, trafikplanerare, Trafikkontoret:
Telefon: 08-508 26215 E-post: lotten.backstrom@stockholm.se

Download the attached files

Related material

Documents

Karta pollare Hägerstensvägen

Sep 04, 2013 10:37 CEST
Mynewsdesk Newsroom   Update your network on Mynewsdesk



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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Tonight I'll be posting and sharing some 'common knowledge' and common sense about Sweden on the eve of President Obama becoming the first U.S. president to ever visit it for a bilateral meeting. Yes, you will get fascinating factoids and amusing anecdotes you will be NOT be seeing over the next few days on TV or online, when Obama sees Sverige and Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt "Up-close and Personal" and later meets with other Nordic leaders; @sweden, #stockholm





Final approach on runway 26, Stockholm Arlanda Airport. 
Välkommen till Sverige -Welcome to Sweden.

To give you some perspective on how far north Stockholm really is, the air miles from Washington, D.C. to Stockholm, about 4134, is less than 50 miles farther than a flight from Stockholm due south to the Equator.



 Above, screenshot of early Monday's Aftonbladet online coverage on this week's trip.
Meanwhile, Dagens Nyheter has one of those great graphics they do, this time about the official limo, which always fascinates people no matter what country it is in:
http://www.dn.se/sthlm/grafik-sa-skyddas-obama-i-sverige/
SVT news video: Så skyddas Obama. 
This news segment about the president's protective detail, featuring comments by former Washington Post reporter and author Ron Kessler, ran during Monday night's evening news and is mostly in English.

On Tuesday night I will be uploading my blog post about some things that President Obama really ought to know about Sweden in advance of his flight to Stockholm on Wednesday, but which I'm pretty sure that he will not be briefed about by the State Dept., owing to certain cultural and myopic weaknesses.
But I've got it covered.

 Not so much a Top Ten list, per se, since I'm not sure how many things will make the list, but don't be surprised to see some things mentioned here that you didn't know, or thought you knew about Sweden -but didn't.

 But as just as a bit of a teaser, I'll remind you, again, that Sweden is NOT Switzerland.

 (Switzerland is where American actor, social activist and jet-setter George Clooney chooses to live, on Lake Como, and Sweden is where the shining example of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, a man who made a huge difference in the lives of tens of thousands of people, in that he made it possible for them to actually stay alive, quite contrary of the wishes of the Nazis.
But in a sign that no good deed goes unpunished, he died in a Soviet prison for his heroic efforts, yet lives forever in the hearts of his countrymen.)

 But Tre Kronor, the Swedish National Mens Hockey team did defeat Switzerland 1-0 in the IIHF Championships in May in the Gold Medal game played in Stockholm, which prompted lots of celebrating in the hours and days afterwards, including at Sergels Torg, one of my favorite places in all of Stockholm.


Tre Kronor på Kungsträdgården, Stockholm; The public celebration ceremony the day after winning the 2013 World Ice Hockey Championship 

Marcus Jerräng ‏@blisk: Samtidigt på Sergels Torg

 I listened to the game LIVE online via Sveriges Radio despite my lack of knowledge of the words for many hockey terms in Sweden, and watched the game when it was finally televised -NOT LIVE- in the U.S., but rather late the next night on NBC Sports Network with no build-up, which sucked.
SVT news video: Early on Monday morning Foreign Ministry Chief of Protocol 
Caroline Vicini appeared on SVT's Gomorron program and spoke about what events would be taking place and ironing-out things logistically so everything is smooth sailing. 

Here's a copy of the email I received last week from the City of Stockholm:

 Heavy traffic problems expected during President Obama's visit (Stockholms stad: Kraftiga trafikstörningar väntas i samband med president Obamas besök)

City of Stockholm

Heavy traffic problems expected during President Obama's visit

Stockholm - August 29, 2013 11:25 EDT
Following President Obama's visit to Stockholm on 4-5 September expected heavy traffic problems in many parts of the Stockholm area.
In particular, the inner city and the main roads to and from the airport will be affected.
Some parts of the city is completely closed to traffic. This applies primarily to the area around Nybrokajen, Harbour Street, Finland - Old Town, around the castle.
All modes of transport are affected: automobile, public transportation; mainly bus, plane and to some extent also boating.
Motorists urged to leave their cars at home and use public transport.
Public transport travelers are recommended to first use of rail transport ie subway and / or train.
All road users can expect delays.
Those scheduled travel days to / from Stockholm and Arlanda should contact their tour operator for details of current departure times
Current traffic information will be provided via Trafik Stockholm. Radio Stockholm and at the following websites:
Current traffic Trafik Stockholm, www.trafiken.nu
City of Stockholm, www.stockholm.se
Transport Administration, www.trafikverket.se
Police, www.polisen.se
SL, www.sl.se

Contact: Mats Freij, Traffic
Telephone 076 1226160
mats.freij @ stockholm.se 

Below is Police Dept.'s info page on changes to auto, bus, rail, bicycle and pedestrian traffic patterns related to the Obama visit.

Long story short, they want people to avoid going into downtown area if they can avoid it, and even encourage people to work at home if possible.

Because Stockholm is, of course, a series of many islands with connecting bridges and has an extensive subway system, the authorities will NOT allow any trains to run under areas where escorts are taking place, which means that train passengers, both local and regional, will be adversely affected.

Translation -strong possibility that train passengers can and will be stuck on trains for quite some time.
Just saying...

 Så påverkas trafiken under Obama-besök

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