Sweden is the Dr. Jekyll of Europe

Swedes are probably one the most kind-hearted, sympathetic, kind, respectful/able group of people to ever roam the earth, it seems that all those years of being barbaric European overlords paid back in today's times. After a long history of the vikings, it appears as if God took Sweden by the ear and snipped its balls right off. Case and point, in modern war history, Sweden is known to Europe as one of the two countries (Switzerland) who chickened out during the fight against the dude with the weird mustache. The resemblance between Sweden's international reputation over the year and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is uncanny and is well deserved of ridicule and humiliation/compliment.

Although I wonder, would Sweden be an environment friendly, peace-loving, wine-guzzling country had it not been for their cowardly courageous decision a few decades back? Would they still be deemed as the alpha male of European history?

The days of yours when mead was water and raw meat was stripped off the poor howling arctic wolf's impaled body by meat-hungry Swedes.. nowadays, you see Swedes eating meatballs with cute little potato cutlets and salad.

Back then, men wore outrageous metal armors, leather vests, and that signature horned helmet that portray power and manliness, now they wear jeans tighter than a rope on a suicidal man's neck. What once was the epitome of MAN turned into the literal description of WOMAN. Could it have something to do with the cultural shifts over the decades? the successful feminist movement + the obsession with gender equality? Could it possibly be that women are indirectly running this country? That's another story.



_______Before Darin_______After Darin

Swine Flu Paranoia

The outbreak of the H1N1 virus took mankind from behind and put the entire world into universal panic, the media made sure that every one who is literate enough to understand the word "pig" and "death" are thoroughly terrified of a virus that has so far killed less people than a hamster with rabies.

All posh countries like Sweden immediately signed up to be the first ones to be provided with a vaccine for he flu, and by the time the vaccine was available; Swedish health authorities and media were overwhelmed by the arrival of the 'life-saving' vaccine.

Just this fall, Swedes stood in countless queues for hours just to get vaccinated and I for one found it ridiculous at first and told myself that something as weak as the swine flu virus will never be able to defeat my league of invincible immune system soldiers, but then I was brainwashed to get vaccinated anyway (no biggy).

But it's interesting to figure out how the swine flu alert affected the Swedish public. Of course the opinions and reactions to it vary demographically. Older folks see the virus as a way bigger threat than let's say... teenagers. They actually forbade handshakes and kisses on working places to avoid the transfer of the virus which is in fact stupid because it is a well known fact that the virus can be transferred by air, so simply BREATHING close to anyone is a potential threat.

Luckily enough, I haven't seen anyone wearing a surgical mask yet. I wonder how big this paranoia will be? Don't you? more updates on this later... =D