12 posts tagged “sverige”

I wonder if Vox is fixing its problems. I have been trying all morning to get the compose screen up, and here it is, after a couple of hours (as opposed to days). The only problem is, two hours on, the inspiration for writing the post has kind of left.
   Let’s see what I’ve put up lately that I had an intention to mention: how about this guy in a Chevy Camaro Transformer costume? Watch on: there’s a bit of a surprise. (Thanks to Tanya for this one.)

I assume this is México from the cars on sale, which includes several Chevrolet-badged Daewoos from Korea.
   Meanwhile, this was an oddity from a few days back. I would have loved to have commented on this site, but putting an ad (it’s the scenic view) in front of the comment box (which did not disappear even after you clicked on it) is not smart:

Ad over comment box

   Mind you, they are not alone in having fumbles. Our Lucire site had some problems, thanks to a cars.com ad that messed up our layout:

Cars ad forcing wider column

Cars ad forcing wider column (widened ad)

I thought this was nice: a performance of ‘Att angöra en brygga’ by the Chicago Nordic Choir at the Swedish American Museum in Andersonville, Ill. The American accent on some of the words is cute.

[Cross-posted from Lucire] When Hummer is the least fashionable brand on the planet, other SUV manufacturers can take one of two directions: trim down and look responsible, or go sporty and offer those who don’t mind poorer mpg figures a real alternative. BMW has taken the latter. (Continued at Lucire.)

I still think Monica Zetterlund is unbeatable but as far as covers go, Charlotte Perrelli does a good job of the hit ‘Gröna små äpplen’—this is a 2007 video.

Lina Hahne, Fröken Sverige 2007

7 comments

[Cross-posted from Lucire] The search for the next Miss Sweden has begun.
   My own affiliation with this pageant—Fröken Sverige to use its name in its native language—began six years ago, and I am happy to say this year I will be far more involved. I will let the publicity machine talk about my role in due course. (I will remain a judge at Miss New Zealand.)
   But for now, let me announce that the pageant is open and accepting entrants. The winner will go on to Miss Universe 2009 at Atlantis Paradise Island, Nassau, in late August.
   After protests grounded the pageant in Sweden some years ago, it was retooled to reflect modern women, though during the past year, Miss Sweden was, according to the organization, a ‘dormant project.’
   It continues, ‘The Board of Directors have spent this time evaluating and collecting impressions and inspiration from around the world—all in order to further develop the concept.
   ‘During this time intensive pressure from various channels and interests have shown that Miss Sweden is missed and more and more people have raised their voices asking that the pageant continue. Just now, when in these somewhat darker times, it is more important than ever to brighten up the world with hope, engagement and all the positives that Miss Sweden represents. We think it is important that we once again place in focus sound role models who create faith in the future and trust in one’s own abilities.’
   The role-model angle is important and it is one I have always borne in mind, ever since I began judging beauty pageants in 2007.
   I have always said to entrants that the interview is ‘80 per cent’. While the points don’t add up that way, judges place a great deal more on the entrant’s intelligence and initiative far more than we are given credit for.
   It may be fairer to say that after an interview, I can usually pick who could win with 80 per cent certainty.
   In New Zealand, interviews can last 20 minutes with each candidate. After speaking with a former Miss Israel, Gal Gadot, who is in the new Fast and Furious film, I understand that she was subjected to eight to ten minutes per judge—and there were eight to ten of them.
   Sweden, too, has a very involved procedure when it comes to interviews—if it didn’t, I doubt that the first winner of the retooled pageant, Josephine Alhanko, would be a young woman with two masters’ degrees with an ambition to get a doctorate.
   For those who wish to be a part of one of pageantry’s most successful competitions, Miss Sweden is now accepting applicants at www.frokensverige.se.
   In the words of my friend, Panos Papadopoulos, the initiator of the pageant and the man behind Panos Emporio, ‘For those who are interested in participating the recruitment of the New Miss Sweden is an adventure that proves that one can conquer the world with the right attitude. New Miss Sweden gives endless possibilities for talented young women to realize their dreams. One year of important and inspirational work awaits. Everyone else can take joy from this fairy-tale of success and be a part of the festivities that surround it.’

Where is the most inspirational place you have been?
Submitted by Seventh Rain

Stockholm. Everything fitted perfectly for me there: meeting one of my closest friends, Stefan Engeseth; seeing a social democracy at work; appreciating the people and the culture; and even learning a few words of the language. What a great and beautiful city.