The New Neighborhood

Over the weekend I moved to Södermalm, the southern island of Stockholm where I spent most time as a kid growing up. In fact, this place is sort like home as my grandfather grew up within two blocks of my current apartment. I am on a bluff that looks over the water and the photos that do look out on the water from on high were taken from the balcony of the new place. I am only renting a room here, but it's a choice part of town. The housing market is so tight here that even the room I rent is hot property.

Here are some photos from the new locale (click on any or all of the photos to enlarge):

A Walk on a Rainy Day in Autumn, in Photos

All of the following photos were taken in the part of town, Södermalm ("Southern Rock," it's an island) where I now live. Cheers!

American in Stockholm

If you can read this article, you would soon know that Charlie Davies, an American playing football here in Stockholm just yesterday scored a hatrick from my club here. This may mean nothing to the most of you, but I happen to think it's pretty cool. He came from Boston College to Stockholm towards the beginning of this year and scored in his debut, which was a cup match. Alla hylla Charlie!

MTV Ad in Sweden

I wish I could explain how funny this is to me. If you do not understand Swedish, you might imagine what Johannes is saying in light of the clear disgust he displays. The fact that this is on ordinary TV in Sweden makes it that much more liberating for somebody who has grown up within the prim and austere confines of the regulating and strangling FCC. Mind you, I am not in favor of unnecessary profanity on TV, but being treated like an adult with the expectation that we act like one in return, even as a 14- or 16-year-old, always provides a great sense of dignity and self-worth.

The Morning Commute

I rode my bike today for what may be the last for some time. Soon after I took this snapshot, my pedal fell off again, further elucidating the fact that the my right crank (a Eno one-speed) continues to strip itself of threading. Ugh! I just bought these last spring for a good deal and felt lucky to have such a good brand of crank. Nevertheless, the shot shows the waterway between Solna, from where I'm moving, and Danderyd, a northern kommun where my school stands up on a hill. More on my new school later. Nevertheless, I do get to take in some of nature's beauty on the way to school. Once I move to Söder (the southern, inner-city island of Stockholm), I'll have a longer and less aesthetically pleasing ride. Tunnelbana here I come!

Kanye West & Peter, Björn and John Live Together

Here my two musical worlds collide as Chicago's Kanye West blends his boasting with Stockholm's Peter, Bjorn and John's ubiquitous "Young Folks," recorded live at Gothenburg's Way Out West festival in the western port of Sweden. I am somewhat nonplussed with overall performance, but I enjoy seeing people experiment, mix it up and generally work out of their comfort zones. I suspect that is exactly what will keep these acts alive while their peers fade into the past like yesteryear's flannels and Air Jordans. Peace.

Hilarious Bergman Spoof

I recently came across this spoof while reading a letter to Camille Paglia on Salon.com. Bergman is considered holy by many, myself included; yet, I am glad that even a group who holds him so sacred would also be able to laugh at him (unlike some other religious groups).
Here it is.