Excess

Do we really need to go this far? Couldn't we have stopped long before we got this far? ...loooooong before?!

Swedish Christmas Market/Svensk Julmarknad

Sankta Lucia Dag

The celebration of St. Lucia takes place today in Sweden. She has been adopted from her native Italy because she is the saint of light and brought food to the poor before the Catholics burned her alive. Irony, no? Light, burning... Sorry, bad joke. Nevertheless, she has served as an important beacon in the darkness of the north at the darkest time of the year, like right now! We celebrate by singing songs, eating Luciabullar (safran rolls) and drinking glögg and other drinks (for many that means too many drinks). Last night I attended a concert with my newish Swedish friends Åsa and Jonas in an old church in gamla stan. Then we had a fika (a coffee, literally, but usually means take a break and eat something lite with some coffee, but then again, I didn't drink coffee) in an old cafe in a cellar that must have been some 400 or 500 years old. While I walked home sober, many were still refilling their drinks. Oh well... maybe next year.

When I woke this morning, they showed Lucia as it traditionally is, early in the morning with candles. I took this picture of the program on TV. The Lucia is the girl with the crown of candles.

Peace!

Istanbul Photos

I have yet to think much about my trip to Istanbul with my colleagues at Viktor Rydbergs Gymnasium, as I caught and came home with a cold and fever and have been pretty much working or sleeping since our return. As a result, I have little to say except that the people were quite hospitable and it was strange to be in a country which has so many people of a religion we've been conditioned to fear, even if these particular Muslims are quite secular, thanks to their famous leader Ataturk. Here's some photos:

Dominion/Mother Russia

I remember first hearing the Sisters of Mercy classic goth track (before goth was Goth)Dominion/Mother Russia back in high school and being haunted by its dark, murky message of impending doom. Oddly enough, I got that very same sense last night when I watched the following video about Putin's rising power even when he is supposedly stepping down or at least stepping over. I have always had a strict distaste for this man, and with all the news bubbling from over there, I've grown even more sceptical. Somehow my father has instilled a subtle lack of trust of Russia, perhaps due to his own upbringing during WWII. Nevertheless, this photo installation displays a garrish truth, which I'll leave for you to judge. Here is the link. To quote the compelling if not specious television series Twin Peaks, "Things are not what they seem."