TresSugar

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.

Huh? STDs Make Some Men Feel More Manly

TresSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:00:00 -0700

I came across a Swedish study out earlier this week that is just too good to pass up. Get this: a significant number of young men in Sweden consider contracting an STD to be an affirmation of manhood, rather than a serious health issue.

None of the young women in the study (not surprisingly) considered an STD diagnosis as a sign of their "success with the boys." The study did find something both genders had in common: hesitation about using condoms. The young women feared upsetting their partner by asking him to use one, and the young men worried that taking out a condom would make them look as if they assumed they would get lucky that night.

While I don't think we should stigmatize people with STDs, it doesn't seem good for anyone to glorify preventable diseases. Do you find the study's results shocking or predictable?

Say What? It's Pop!

TresSugar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:00:00 -0700

"We want Pop to grow up more freely and avoid being forced into a specific gender mold from the outset. It's cruel to bring a child into the world with a blue or pink stamp on their forehead."

The 24-year-old mother of a Swedish 2-year-old named "Pop" explains why she won't reveal whether her child is a boy or a girl. The parents dress the child in dresses and pants and never use personal pronouns when referring to Pop.

Average Relationships Stress Men Out

TresSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:00:00 -0700

The better a woman's love life, the less stress she feels at work. For men, it's not as simple. A new study out of Sweden revealed that men who say they're in good or bad relationships have less stress at work than those in "average" relationships.

The woman behind the study explains what she learned about men:

"When we talked to the men, they said that when it's in-between, you have to put more effort into it. You keep doing that until the relationship either becomes better or hopeless. When you get to that point, it doesn't really affect your health anymore."

It sounds like an effortless relationship is ideal for male anxiety levels: either it's so good, they don't have to do anything, or it's so bad, they don't care enough to do anything. As long as they don't have to give the relationship too much attention, they're feeling better.

Do you define an "average" relationship as one that requires effort? What do you think this study reveals about some men?

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First Class Upgrade? Swedish Hostel Sets Up in 747 Jet

CitizenSugar — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:00:08 -0800

Next time you jet over Stockholm, Sweden you may consider spending the night at Jumbo Hostel, an old Pan Am jumbo jet that has been converted into a hostel. Economy class beds go for $40 a night. For that price you get to share a room, flat screen TV, and luggage compartment with two other friendly ~~flyers~~ sleepers.

If you're the type of person that can never sleep on an airplane, you might want to upgrade to the more spacious cockpit, which goes for $420 a night and offers a panoramic view of the airport. As for the overall experience, a spokesperson for Jumbo Hostel told me that "the reaction from our guest have been 99.9% positive," and that the onboard atmosphere is "very tranquil."

Would you stay in this novel hostel? If you can't get on a real plane to Sweden you may be in luck - the company will expand with a franchise program starting this year. Sleeping pills and eye cover not included.

View 10 Photos ›

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Reply All? Swedish Government Checking Citizens' Emails

CitizenSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:00:27 -0700

She looks so happy checking her email in her Ikea-esque room! Too bad if she was actually in Sweden, she'd be hopping mad that her government was checking her email for her. A new law that provides the Swedish government the right to read all emails and listen to all phone calls crossing the country’s borders has outraged its citizens - who've harnessed build-your-own-irony and filed 2 million protests - online. The petition arrives as EU countries debate whether or not to grant governmental authorities previously unheard of domestic spying powers over their own citizens.

Unlike the United States, many European nations have already had the experience of their government spying and for hardly honorable reasons. “It looks too much like the Stasi,” said one Swedish citizen referring to the East German police during the Soviet Union’s influence in that country. The "you've got mail, and we can read it" law, which passed the Swedish Parliament by 142-138 votes gives their National Defense Radio Establishment (FRA) the right to scan all international phone calls, emails and faxes without court order beginning in the new year.

Proponents for the new law said, “The information is needed to evaluate, and meet, outside threats against Sweden.” And went on to stress the need to protect Sweden against terror attacks similar to those in New York, Madrid and London. Is checking inboxes the way to keep terrorism in check?

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Just Like US! Europe Deals with Wiretapping and Immigration

LibertySugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:03:27 -0700

Americans hear a lot about immigration and warrantless wiretapping, thanks to this presidential election; but Europe deals with these issues as well.

Sweden, upon fresh approval from parliament, will now allow its intelligence agency to spy on internationally bound emails, phone calls, and faxes (people still fax?) without a warrant. Outraged critics compare Sweden's new plan to the actions of China, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.

Moving on to all of Europe, and its immigration problem, the EU just passed legislation that allows governments to detain undocumented migrants for as many as 18 months, and ban them from EU territory for five years upon release.

Despite the intention to find decent minimum standards for migrants while maintaining a tough-on-illegals image, human rights groups criticize the law as severely flawed. The EU had the difficult task of forming a united immigration policy. France's current detention limit is 32 days, Germany's 18 months, and still other members have no limit.

Do Sweden's actions suggest that governments have a need to spy without a warrant, or a sign that the world needs new moral leadership? Should EU standards be a compromise or an aspiration? Is it possible to compromise human rights?

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WTF Is Sweden On?!

GiggleSugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:15:00 -0700

A few weeks ago, I stumbled across a nonsensical Swedish McDonald's commercial. Today, I stumbled across six nonsensical Swedish McDonald's commercials. They're all part of the same funked-up ad campaign. And they're all pretty damn effective, if you ask me.

Progress in Iraq Gives UN Secretary General Hope

LibertySugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:00:00 -0700

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon shed a positive light on the situation in Iraq, yesterday.

As more Americans disapprove of their country's effort in Iraq, the UN leader said that Iraq was stepping back from the abyss, but warned the situation remains fragile. He said:

There is new hope that the people and government of Iraq are overcoming daunting challenges and working together to rebuild their country.

Over 100 countries are currently meeting in Sweden to discuss the International Compact with Iraq, a five-year UN created international agreement on Iraq put together a year ago.

While the Secretary General gave words of encouragement, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki encouraged neighboring countries to engage in some good-hearted debt forgiveness. Iraq has $60 billion in debt, owed mostly to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The new Iraq wants a fresh financial start to help its reconstruction efforts.

Of course humble decreases in violence do not mean the rebuilding of Iraq is complete, but this cautious celebration of Iraq's progress may give Iraq the political momentum it needs to take the next step forward. Will praise from an international figure like the Secretary General of the UN have political implications back in the US?

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Kid Thinks She Can Speak Swedish

GiggleSugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 16:00:00 -0700

Shhh! Elisa can't speak a lick of Swedish, but we'll let her think otherwise. According to her mom, 4-year-old Elisa woke up one morning and, out of the blue, claimed to be bilingual. Watch her (kinda-sorta-maybe) impersonate a Swede and flaunt her newfound language skills below. Cute, no?