TresSugar

Flashback: Abba Wishes You a Happy New Year!

GiggleSugar — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 04:00:00 -0800

There are many awesome retro Christmas songs. Bowie singing with Bing Crosby. Johnny Cash singing with June Carter. The Peanuts gang telling us what the true meaning of Christmas is. But there's only one New Year's song, in my book. That's right, it's the four blondes from Sweden singing "Happy New Year." Here they are pronouncing "champagne" with a cute accent, wearing blindingly shiny lip gloss, and musing on what it will be like in ten years - or 1989! Ahhh, good times.

Flashback: Abba's "Happy New Year"

GiggleSugar — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 04:00:00 -0800

How much do I love Abba? I cannot begin to tell you. Here, I'll let them explain it themselves. But first, to get an idea of how old this is, notice that at one point she sings about what things will be like in another decade, or "the end of '89." Wowzers. Happy New Year from GiggleSugar!

Flashback: Abba's Dancing Queen

GiggleSugar — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 01:00:00 -0700

The lyrics. The lipgloss. The Swedish accents. You'd have to pry "Abba's Greatest Hits" from my cold, dead hands. All hail Agnatha Benny Bjørn and...Frida?

The Next Abba?

GiggleSugar — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 08:53:53 -0800

Emma sent this video in marked as "worst video ever." As a big fan of Abba, polyester, and funky dance moves, I'm not sure I can agree with that. Oh, and the tune is out of this world.

Front Page: No Return to Talks, China Increases Military, Kenya

CitizenSugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:02:34 -0800

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas refused yesterday to officially commit to restarting the suspended peace talks with Israel. Condoleezza Rice met with Abbas hoping to encourage a return to the table. Some Bush administration officials contend that his refusal gives Hamas, the militant Islamist organization, a victory by allowing it to stop Arab-Israeli peace negotiations. Meanwhile, fighting between Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Israel continues. Palestinian medical officials said a girl less than a month old was killed in the crossfire.
China has increased its military budget by a substantial amount for the second time in as many years. The new budget is 17.6 percent higher than last year, at $59 billion. The Pentagon raised questions about the spike that came just weeks before a presidential election in Taiwan, the self-governed island where China claims sovereignty. A spokesman for the Chinese legislature said the build up does "not pose a threat to any country," but warned that the island of Taiwan would "surely pay a dear price" if they were to take steps China viewed as a declaration of independence.
More evidence has emerged linking the Kenyan government to the violence that erupted after December's elections. Kenya's current president, who is a member of the Kikuyu tribe, met in his home with members of the banned Kikuyu militia. Witnesses spoke of non-Kikuyu homes being marked, apparently by the militia, then gangs with machetes attacked people who were from other ethnic groups. The Kenyan government is now trying to establish a coalition leadership to ease violence.

Front Page: Peace Talks to Resume, China Upholds One Child

CitizenSugar — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 07:06:37 -0800

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, said today that he intends to resume negotiations on a plan for peace with Israel. The agreement came after a visit from US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and heavy pressure from the United States. He did not set a date to resume talks and faces great political pressure at home to stay away from the table if the Palestinian death toll continues to rise from Israeli attacks on Gaza. Recent reports show that conditions in Gaza are the worst they've been in 40 years.
China is now denying suggestions that it is about to change its controversial one-child policy. The Family Planning Chief said that the rule limiting families to one child, or two in rural areas, will remain in place, though the rules have been blamed for a gender imbalance as families are eager for sons rather than daughters. The Director of the State Population and Family Planning Commission said, "Changes to the family planning policy now could lead to population rises, posing higher pressure on China's future development."

First Openly Gay Bishop Ordained in Sweden

TresSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0800

Swedish meatballs. IKEA. Abba. Free health care and education. As if those riches weren't enough for one nation to hoard, now comes the news that over the weekend, Eva Brunne, above left, was ordained as Sweden's first openly gay bishop. Another female pastor, Tuulikki Koivunen Bylund, was also ordained as Bishop of Härnösand in northern Sweden. Around 75 percent of Swedes belong to the Lutheran church.

Brunne, 55, is in a civil union partnership with another woman and both of them are the parents of a three-year-old child.

Did I mention that Sweden also allows same-sex couples to adopt children and was one of the first countries to marry gay people in a major church? Yeah, I'll stop now, but I could go on. Sweden seriously has it going on.

Front Page: US Bombs Somalia, Abbas Stops Peace Talks

CitizenSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 06:53:17 -0800

The US fired missiles on an Islamist-held town in southern Somalia this morning. A US military official said the attack was "a deliberate, precise strike against a known terrorist and his associates." Three missiles hit Dhoble town, reportedly killing six people and wounding 20. Islamist insurgents took the area last week and reports indicated a leader, Hassan Turki, had been present in the area. The US is accusing the Somali Islamists of giving a safe haven to those responsible for the 1998 attacks on its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas suspended peace talks with Israel yesterday following renewed violence in the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 100 Palestinians since last Wednesday. Hamas has continued its campaign of rocket strikes against Israel, prompting reciprocal attacks on the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said "with all due respect, nothing will prevent us from continuing operations to protect our citizens." US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is set to visit the region this week, and the latest reports say Israel has begun to withdraw from the five-day offensive, while warning their response is not over.

Très Bizarre: Rammstein Box Set, Now With Bonus Dildos!

TresSugar — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:00:00 -0700

Did I mention that the dildos are purportedly molded from each band member's well . . . member?

I love the over-the-top German industrial metal band Rammstein the way I love over-the-top band Abba - with a serious dose of irony. You can never tell if their shtick is for real or tongue-in-cheek, but either way, I like to dork out to them on my way to work.

Well, it turns out that their new box set Liebe Ist Für Alle Da comes with a metal case filled with handcuffs, lube and six pink dildos that are supposed to "reflect the sizes of the six members’ wienerwursts" as Daily Swarm put it. Ha! I guess this is one way of getting close to the musicians you love! Is this better than a personally autographed photo?

Front Page: Hillary To Drop Out, 9/11 Tribunal, Abbas to Meet With Hamas

CitizenSugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 07:00:36 -0700

Hillary To Drop Out: Hillary Clinton will endorse Barack Obama on Saturday, ending her 17-month campaign for the White House, according to aides. Her decision was influenced by Democrats' urges to leave the race and allow the party to come together around Obama. She is going to express support for Obama and party unity at an event in Washington, June 7. One adviser hinted that Clinton would concede defeat, congratulate Obama, and proclaim him the party’s nominee- looking forward to do what was needed to assure his victory in November. Obama told reporters of his plans for Clinton, “we’re going to have a conversation in the coming weeks.”

9/11 Tribunal: Five top alleged al Qaeda prisoners, including September 11 mastermind suspect Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, began appearances before a military commission this morning after extended time in CIA prisons and battles over the court itself. All the defendants were just arraigned before a military court at Guantanamo - all five are accused roles in the 9/11 attacks, responsible for the death of nearly 3,000 people. They all face potential death sentences if convicted. Mohammed has been forthright with his involvement - in a written statement read at a March 2007 hearing, at which he was present, he said he was responsible for the attacks "from A to Z."
Abbas to Meet With Hamas: Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president called late yesterday for a resumption of dialogue with the Islamic militant group Hamas. In a short address, Abbas, expressed the plan as part of his desire to restore national unity. Hamas took control of Gaza in June 2007. The move could halt peace talks with Israel, who only met with Abbas after he broke away from Hamas. Israel has refused to have direct contact with the group, considering it a terrorist organization, and has threatened to cut off talks with Mr. Abbas if he rejoins forces with Hamas.