FOLLOW me on my popular Twitter feed. Just click this photo! @hbbtruth - David - Common sense on #Politics #PublicPolicy #Sports #PopCulture in USA, Great Britain, Sweden and France, via my life in #Texas #Memphis #Miami #IU #Chicago #DC #FL đŸ›«đŸŒđŸ“șđŸ“œ️🏈. Photo is of Elvis and Joan Blackman in 'Blue Hawaii'

Beautiful Stockholm at night, looking west towards Gamla Stan
Showing posts with label SVT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SVT. Show all posts

Saturday, July 9, 2016

In Sweden, Opposition Leader Anna Kinberg Batra has brought some much-needed fresh air and common sense into the public debate about civic responsibilities of migrants and newcomers to assimilate into Swedish society. #Almadalen


Anna Kinberg Batra (@kinbergbatra)
https://www.instagram.com/kinbergbatra/?hl=en
In Sweden, Opposition leader Anna Kinberg Batra has brought some much-needed fresh air and common sense into the public debate about civic responsibilities of migrants and newcomers to assimilate into Swedish society. #Almadalen
* Updated on July 20, 2016, see bottom!

 Even as we've recently learned to our dismay that the Democratic Party in the U.S. is now prepared to abandon its longtime policy of emphasizing that newcomers to the U.S. must, of course, learn to be able to communicate in English, Anna Kinberg Batra, the leader of the Swedish Moderate Party, as well as the leader of the Swedish opposition, has publicly reiterated the need for all migrants and newcomers to Sweden to actually learn Swedish, or be prepared to suffer meaningful penalties as a result.

 Which is to say, that perhaps the bad old days of countless government officials, patronizing academic elites and members of the news media consciously looking the other way when some migrants to Sweden just went thru the motions, and society was forced into pretending that all migrants were really doing the right thing, and that the problem of them isolating themselves wasn't real or have long-term negative consequences for Swedish society -besides causing great personal offense to millions of Swedish citizens paying the hefty freight for newcomers' housing and education- may finally be coming to an end.
That is, if Kinberg Batra becomes Prime Minister, and can institute some much-needed and long-overdue policy changes. 
IF.

 Anna Kinberg Batra spoke for many frustrated and open-minded people I know and respect in Sweden when she spoke at length at a press conference today at Almadalen, Visby, about what sorts of changes she wanted to see.
Stating that there's nothing wrong in believing that there is, indeed, something known as "Swedish values," she made this point clear by emphasizing that besides the numerous personal rights and opportunities that come with being a legal resident or citizen in Sweden, there were also personal & social civic responsibilities attached to being able to live and work legally in Sweden as well.
”Man ska inte kunna skolka sig in i Sverige” -One should not be truant in Sweden- said @KinbergBatra, and who could plausibly argue with this bit of self-evident common sense? 

 The job is the first important key to integration. Language is the other, she said.

 She also said that it was naive to believe that the migrant situation in Sweden, with its attendant costs and chaos, were over for good. 
Again, directly at variance with what many powerful special interest groups and non-profits in Sweden want the people of Sweden to believe is the case, lest they ask for more accountability in an area that has seen so many financial/oversight scandals the past two years.

When it comes to government benefits, Kinberg Batra "repeated previous demands that a ceiling should be introduced so that newcomers can not get more in income support and establishment of compensation than what they can get by working."
Again, common sense, but then that is exactly what has been in such short supply in Sweden for many years in the view of many observers, including your faithful blogger.
You can love Sweden but acknowledge that its longstanding problems are not going to solve themselves.

My friends in Sweden are, it goes without saying, VERY pleased to hear Kinberg Batra say these things publicly and draw a meaningful distinction with other politicians and political parties on this issue, as their enthusiastic emails to me have made clear since she gave this talk.






























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Update of July 20, 2016:
Since I first wrote and posted the blog post above, I have discovered a new tweet from Anna Kinberg Batra herself that has a helpful link to her comments, plus a video of the entire speech:

Anna KinbergBatrastaliAlmedalen: Plan förettstarkareSverige| NyaModeraternahttps://t.co/vhvzATihSE
&mdash">https://t.co/vhvzATihSE">https://t.co/vhvzATihSE
— Anna KinbergBatra(@KinbergBatra) July">https://twitter.com/KinbergBatra/status/752384238956216320">July 11, 2016
You can find those comments on the Moderaterna party website at
http://www.moderat.se/nyhetsartikel/anna-kinberg-batras-tal-i-almedalen-plan-ett-starkare-sverige


Anna Kinberg Batras Almedalstal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a9gybTvA_k

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Thursday, January 8, 2015

Poor news coverage in U.S. of terror attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris reminds us of what we've complained about for years: inferior news coverage of foreign news on U.S. TV networks! Save yourself the aggravation of watching PC and sanitized MSM newscasts and start watching Sky News and France 24's English service if you really want to know what's going on in France right now








As many of you know from my past blog posts here over the years, due largely to my own wide-ranging pursuits, interests and inclinations, I've been watching Sky News and France 24's English and French language service for many, many years and have been watching them again since 
this terror attack happened in Paris yesterday.

(And SVT, SVT Play, TV4 and TV4 Play in Sweden, too, of course. Especailly the morning news shows like SVT's Gomorron Sverige and TV4's Nyhetsmorgon both of which I watch when I can and whose daily newsletters I receive, just as I receive Channel 4 News' daily Snowmail. 
I'll even admit to a bit of a crush on TV4 presenter Tilde de Paula Eby! 
Then again, over the past five years or so, I've gotten VERY frustrated with BBC America's mediocre programming lineup that for so long has featured StarTrek-TNG episodes instead of the sorts of engaging and compelling news shows and documentaries that have recently aired back in Great Britain, which I'd much rather be watching.)

The news coverage of yesterday's Paris terror attack at the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo reminds us of what we've complained about for years: inferior news coverage of foreign news on U.S. TV networks. Save yourself the aggravation of watching PC MSM newscasts in USA that sanitize news and start watching Sky News and France 24's English service if you really want to know what's going on in France right now

I strongly encourage you to check these tow news outlets out so you can see and hear the facts 
for yourself and not be forced to wonder, as so many do, why the highly-edited and highly-sanitized 
versions of reality seen on US. network evening newscasts, especially important news in foreign countries, seem to leave out so many important and salient facts after they are edited out in London:

Want to know what's going on? 
Close your mouth, open your eyes and expand your news horizons.

Dave
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Thursday, May 8, 2014

Just 14 years ago today: debut single of HĂ„kan Hellström. (KĂ€nn ingen sorg för mig i Göteborg.) And now, everyone in Sweden ❤ HĂ„kan -he can do no wrong. :-); video from his AllsĂ„ng pĂ„ Skansen show last summer

Today is not just the first day of the 2014 NFL Draft or the second Semifinal of the Eurovision Singing Contest in Copenhagen, you know, it's also...






vackragavlestad YouTube Channel video: HĂ„kan Hellström - KĂ€nn ingen sorg för mig i Göteborg 
LIVE on SVT's AllsĂ„ng pĂ„ Skansen, Stockholm, Sweden. Uploaded July 9, 2013

The clip above is from the amazing one-hour LIVE SVT telecast from last July from the stage at AllsĂ„ng pĂ„ Skansen in Stockholm that was a special broadcast featuring HĂ„kan and some of his friends and special invited guests, like Helen Sjöholm, Anna JĂ€rvinen, Tomas von Brömssen and others.

 I watched that LIVE on my computer here in Hallandale Beach and it was, by far, the single most entertaining hour of music I heard all year, especially when you understand what most of the various elements in the show -and costumes in the audience- represent, both symbolically and emotionally to his fans. 



For instance, speaking of the amazing Helen, so often written about here on the blog the past seven years, here's a sublime Helen singing "Valborg."



vackragavlestad YouTube Channel video: HĂ„kan Hellström - "Nu kan du fĂ„ mig sĂ„ lĂ€tt" LIVE on SVT's AllsĂ„ng pĂ„ Skansen, Stockholm, Sweden. Uploaded July 9, 2013.
I call this video above of him singing "Nu kan du fÄ mig sÄ lÀtt" from the show, "The Adoration" for reasons that are quite apparent.
Years ago, in some of his public performances, HĂ„kan dressed onstage in a white sailor's uniform. It's sort of a common knowledge thing in Sweden.
Anyway, as you can see at 0:08 and 0:27, by the drawing and the girl in the sailor outfit herself, some of the girls haven't forgotten.
I guess there's just something about a sailor, eh?
And I don't mean Sailor Moon.

You can see the whole concert here, which I have watched from beginning-to-end probably a dozen times since last July, with just a brief appearance by AllsĂ„ng host MĂ„ns Zelmerlöw.
Phareed YouTube channel video: AllsĂ„ngsscenen Ă€r din: HĂ„kan Hellström (Live pĂ„ Skansen 2013) Stockholm, Sweden. Uploaded July 9, 2013. http://youtu.be/0upVoqUXc4Q
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Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Just like Swedish summers -short, sweet and sublime- Miriam Bryant singing "Summertime" from Porgy & Bess on SVT's "SommarkvÀll"; @MiriamBryant, @Zedd, #GeorgeGershwin


Steve Layton YouTube Channel:  Miriam Bryant sings the DuBose Heyward/George Gershwin classic from Porgy & Bess, "Summertime" on the August 10th, 2013 broadcast of SVT's "SommarkvĂ€ll" at The River Cafe, Göteborg, Sweden. http://youtu.be/5cVr9VKmmdo
Just like Swedish summers -short, sweet and sublime- Miriam Bryant singing "Summertime" from Porgy & Bess on SVT's "SommarkvĂ€ll"; 
@MiriamBryant, @Zedd, #GeorgeGershwin

 Why this song, now? 
Because sometimes you just need to hear an old song you've always known, and hear someone you've just begun to admire and appreciate over the past year, sing that song really well to remind you why you like them.
Miriam's voice is just perfect for this song.

I first saw her perform this iconic song the weekend after it first aired on Swedish TV, and was very keen on sharing it here, since it reveals another aspect of her range, but to be honest, I then sort of spaced it. 
It was probably the oppressive summer heat.











In any case, when I finally did remember, I thought it was probably long gone from the SVT website after a few weeks, as they are VERY punctual about their rights.
It they say it will be up for 30 days on their website after first being aired, that's it.
It will be gone by Day 31

But fortunately, someone thought ahead and placed it on YouTube for me to later see again and share with you today.

I've mentioned Miriam in five previous blog posts, but the ones that actually featured her were these two:

April 9, 2013 - If Miriam Bryant isn't on your musical radar yet, she ought to be ;) Miriam Bryant - Push Play (Official), Finders Keeper (Official); @MiriamBryant http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/if-miriam-bryant-isnt-on-your-musical.html

August 4, 2013 - Awesome! Miriam Bryant's musical talent is opening eyes and opening doors everywhere -even in the U.S.; video of Miriam performing LIVE Saturday night on TV4's Sommarkrysset at Gröna Lund in Stockholm, easily the best and most-compelling performance of hers I've ever seen; @MiriamBryant, @StereoscopeAB, @Zedd, #pushplay, #sommarkrysset, #happy
http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/awesome-miriam-bryants-musical-talent.html






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Monday, October 28, 2013

LIVE online TV coverage of #StormSt.Jude #StormenSimone hitting southwest Sweden, including Halland. Reports of hurricane strength in places. Öresund Bridge between Copenhagen and Malmö remains closed to traffic as of 8 p.m. Video of one-woman gang Nike Jacobson remaining steadfast as the winds howled


Above, my screenshot of Expressen reporter/camera operator Nike Jacobson keeping her cool and remaining steadfast while being buffeted by the high winds of Stormen Simone, as the following video shows:




More screenshots of mine from this afternoon my time, evening in Sweden.




Expressen has amazing multi-media tools to watch/read:

SVT had its usual good and comprehensive coverage at
http://www.svt.se/nyheter/sverige/livebevakning-av-stormen-fran-kl-13 but has now gone to regular news, while the other two remain LIVE.
Not sure if they will pre-empt afterwards.

Posted 2:55 p.m. Eastern U.S. - Will be updating thru the day as events warrant.
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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 pÄ 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"?; MĂ„lmo 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. GÀster, samtal, bakgrund, analyser, presstrÀffar. 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: HĂ€r passerar Obamas konvoj Upplands VĂ€sby.
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 Ă€r en stor glĂ€dje och Ă€ra, att se den svenska nĂ€rvaron hĂ€r 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 pÄ HÀgerstensvÀgen



Stockholms stad

Trafikhinder pÄ HÀgerstensvÀgen

Stockholms stad - Sep 04, 2013 10:37 CEST
Nu placerar Trafikkontoret tillbaka den höj- och sÀnkbara stolpe, sÄ kallad pollare, som ska förhindra genomfartstrafik i rusningstid pÄ HÀgerstensvÀgen.
Pollaren – pĂ„ HĂ€gerstensvĂ€gen, mellan Axelsberg och Örnsberg – kommer att hindra bilister frĂ„n att anvĂ€nda HĂ€gerstensvĂ€gen som genomfartsvĂ€g under vardagar klockan 7-9 samt 16-18. Syftet med avspĂ€rrningen Ă€r att skona de boende i omrĂ„det frĂ„n rusningstrafiken. Kollektivtrafik och uttryckningsfordon undantas förbudet.
Förbudet gÀller redan idag men i och med de fysiska ÄtgÀrderna hoppas Trafikkontoret hindra de billister som ÀndÄ bryter mot förbudet.
Pollaren installerades första gÄngen för ett drygt Är sedan dÄ den ersatte en vÀgbom. Pollaren blev dock pÄkörd och har tillfÀlligt varit ur funktion under en period. Utöver att den nu har reparerats sÄ har Trafikkontoret Àven lÄtit sÀtta upp en trafiksignal samt tydligare förbudsskyltning pÄ platsen.
– I och med dessa Ă„tgĂ€rder hoppas vi att det blir en bĂ€ttre efterlevnad och respekt för gĂ€llande förbud, sĂ€ger Lotten Backström, trafikplanerare pĂ„ Trafikkontoret.
Pollaren och trafiksignalen Àr 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

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Karta pollare HÀgerstensvÀgen

Sep 04, 2013 10:37 CEST
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