Thursday, September 20, 2007
Note to self
Dancing on the stage while the band is playing, finishing of by falling down from it (landing on my feet, though) is not a good idea.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Germany faces unexpected competition
While Germany is trying to strengthen its position as Europe's number one power it faces unexpected competition from France. According to a German study France may overtake Germany as Europe's most powerful economy, due to its current baby boom. Low birth rates has been a problem all over Europe for a while now, and if the French are able to turn the ongoing trend the country might become a strong opponent to German domination in Europe.
Still, the Germans have some time to respond to the French threat. It's not until 2025 that France is expected to have the strongest economy in Europe, and it's not until 2035 that it's estimated to have a bigger population than Germany.
Still, the Germans have some time to respond to the French threat. It's not until 2025 that France is expected to have the strongest economy in Europe, and it's not until 2035 that it's estimated to have a bigger population than Germany.
British troop withdrawal
The British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced last Wednesday that the country will start the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. The first soldiers will leave the war torn country in a couple of weeks, and by 2008 all British soldiers will have left the country.
This contradicts the Prime Minister's recent statements where he concludes that the Britain needs to play a somewhat more agressive role in a globalized role. It's not enough to wait for conflicts to solve themselves, to take responsibility for the world we live in and to interact where ever it's necessary is the task for Great Britain.
This contradicts the Prime Minister's recent statements where he concludes that the Britain needs to play a somewhat more agressive role in a globalized role. It's not enough to wait for conflicts to solve themselves, to take responsibility for the world we live in and to interact where ever it's necessary is the task for Great Britain.
På tal om ägarkoncentration, bakåtsträvan och det faktum att de inflytelserika positionerna i Mediesverige innehas av personer från kretser där alla känner alla. Niclas Rislunds artikel om sig själv i Dagens Media känns som ett större hot mot trovärdigheten och mångfalden i journalistiken.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Castro’s fall not likely to affect frosty relations
When Cuban leader Fidel Castro came tumbling down that podium, a chaos might be what one would have expected. When reports of his weak condition, extensive surgeries and hospital visits reached the news stands across the world, the singing and cheering exile-Cubans took to the streets of Miami, Florida. In the firm belief that they would be able to return to Cuba in the near future, they were certain of a coming shift of regime.
The strategy of US foreign policy has always been to get rid of Castro. In the first few years after his claim to power, attempts were made to relieve him from his duties. In recent years, the United States has just seemed content to sit and wait until life after Fidel. In the meantime they have tried to be in the best possible position to take advantage of the chaos that they expected to follow his fall.
Instead Fidel’s younger brother Raul Castro stepped up. Despite some minor changes and a few attempts to approach the US, in which he has been rejected, he has continued to govern the country much in the same way as his brother has done for over four decades. While allied with, so far happily spending Venezuela, the Cuban government does not really seem to need the US.
A tying of South American countries to Chavéz’ Venezuela is surely a development that the US government will try to prevent. Washington’s first response to the news of Castro’s illness was to prepare for a wave of refugees heading for Florida. A better response might have been to reconsider the embargo and other restrictions, which helps in providing a natural enemy for Raul Castro and his government.
President Bush is not yet willing to take the step, several presidents before him has failed to take. As long as the US is occupied with its war against terror and more concerned with its most recent enemy, the threat of global warming, getting on terms with the regime in Cuba is not likely to be on the top of the government’s to do list.
The strategy of US foreign policy has always been to get rid of Castro. In the first few years after his claim to power, attempts were made to relieve him from his duties. In recent years, the United States has just seemed content to sit and wait until life after Fidel. In the meantime they have tried to be in the best possible position to take advantage of the chaos that they expected to follow his fall.
Instead Fidel’s younger brother Raul Castro stepped up. Despite some minor changes and a few attempts to approach the US, in which he has been rejected, he has continued to govern the country much in the same way as his brother has done for over four decades. While allied with, so far happily spending Venezuela, the Cuban government does not really seem to need the US.
A tying of South American countries to Chavéz’ Venezuela is surely a development that the US government will try to prevent. Washington’s first response to the news of Castro’s illness was to prepare for a wave of refugees heading for Florida. A better response might have been to reconsider the embargo and other restrictions, which helps in providing a natural enemy for Raul Castro and his government.
President Bush is not yet willing to take the step, several presidents before him has failed to take. As long as the US is occupied with its war against terror and more concerned with its most recent enemy, the threat of global warming, getting on terms with the regime in Cuba is not likely to be on the top of the government’s to do list.
Medieeliten den nya adeln?
Efter att ha läst Eva-Lotta Hulténs reportage Den mediala klassen i det senaste numret av MEDIA i fokus förvånas jag mer över avsaknaden av kvinnor och förmågor utifrån på höga positioner i Mediesverige. Att ägarkoncentration även inom svenska medier följer den internationella trenden känns inte så konstigt. Inte heller att ett brett kontaktnät är en fördel för den som vill ta sig in på inflytelserika poster.
Det som saknas är naturligtvis kvinnor, yngre och invandrare, precis som på vilken tidningsredaktion som helst. Den som saknar de rätta kontakterna, rätt namn eller en förmåga att befinna sig på rätt plats vid rätt tidpunkt har inte helt oväntat sämre förutsättningar.
En del av problemet som förhindrar en förändring är det faktum att medan tidningarna övergår till tabloidformat och alltmer av journalistiken flyttar ut på internet i takt med utvecklingen av bloggar och läsarkontributioner förändras inte journalisternas arbetsmarknad. Du ska fortfarande göra några år på lokaltidningen innan ett jobb på någon av de större tidningarna kan komma på tal.
Med allt fler journalistutbildningarn ökar konkurrensen, vilket i säg inte behöver vara negativt och kan vara ett sätt att förändra mediemarknaden, åtminstone på de renodlade journalistiska posterna. Ägarförhållandena kommer att vara de samma med stora bolag som äger flera tidingar. Att det i vissa fall påverkar det journalistiska innehållet är tyvärr ett faktum.
Det som saknas är naturligtvis kvinnor, yngre och invandrare, precis som på vilken tidningsredaktion som helst. Den som saknar de rätta kontakterna, rätt namn eller en förmåga att befinna sig på rätt plats vid rätt tidpunkt har inte helt oväntat sämre förutsättningar.
En del av problemet som förhindrar en förändring är det faktum att medan tidningarna övergår till tabloidformat och alltmer av journalistiken flyttar ut på internet i takt med utvecklingen av bloggar och läsarkontributioner förändras inte journalisternas arbetsmarknad. Du ska fortfarande göra några år på lokaltidningen innan ett jobb på någon av de större tidningarna kan komma på tal.
Med allt fler journalistutbildningarn ökar konkurrensen, vilket i säg inte behöver vara negativt och kan vara ett sätt att förändra mediemarknaden, åtminstone på de renodlade journalistiska posterna. Ägarförhållandena kommer att vara de samma med stora bolag som äger flera tidingar. Att det i vissa fall påverkar det journalistiska innehållet är tyvärr ett faktum.
Böcker som jag nog måste köpa på bokrean
Orhan Pamuk
"Istanbul"
William S Burroughs
"Biljetten som ¬exploderade"
"Den mjuka maskinen"
"Novaexpressen"
J D Salinger
"Räddaren i nöden"
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
"Kräv er rätt! Om kvinnor, islam och en bättre värld"
Isaac Asimov
"Jag, robot"
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
"Kamrater på en irrande planet"
"Istanbul"
William S Burroughs
"Biljetten som ¬exploderade"
"Den mjuka maskinen"
"Novaexpressen"
J D Salinger
"Räddaren i nöden"
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
"Kräv er rätt! Om kvinnor, islam och en bättre värld"
Isaac Asimov
"Jag, robot"
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
"Kamrater på en irrande planet"
Estonian minorities deprived of political power
The Estonian Parliament, the Riigikogu, has 101 seats. The seats held by ethnic minorities adds up to less than ten percent, a huge misrepresentation of the demography of the population.
The main factor for the misrepresentation is the high percentage of ethnic minorities that don't have Estonian citizenship and therefore aren't entitled to vote. For example, among Russians who adds up to the largest part of the minorities, only 40 percent have Estonian citizenship.
Since there are fewer Russian voters, the political parties have been less eager to promote questions that are important for the ethnic minorities. One example is the question of the Russian-language high-school reform. For years the Estonian government has promised to introduce more teaching in Estonian, but since there are few Estonians willing to teach in these schools and the issue is low on the political agenda, the progress of the reform has been slow.
The low percentage of Russian voters also means that it is harder to run as a Russian candidate. Russian parties have been extremely weak since the independence from the Soviet Union and in 2003 elections, they failed to get into Parliament. The elections in 2006 is not likely to change the situation.
The main factor for the misrepresentation is the high percentage of ethnic minorities that don't have Estonian citizenship and therefore aren't entitled to vote. For example, among Russians who adds up to the largest part of the minorities, only 40 percent have Estonian citizenship.
Since there are fewer Russian voters, the political parties have been less eager to promote questions that are important for the ethnic minorities. One example is the question of the Russian-language high-school reform. For years the Estonian government has promised to introduce more teaching in Estonian, but since there are few Estonians willing to teach in these schools and the issue is low on the political agenda, the progress of the reform has been slow.
The low percentage of Russian voters also means that it is harder to run as a Russian candidate. Russian parties have been extremely weak since the independence from the Soviet Union and in 2003 elections, they failed to get into Parliament. The elections in 2006 is not likely to change the situation.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
A never ending Sunday
You wake up around 10 a.m., turn on your computer, prepare breakfast and make the bed. Around noon you realise you spent half the day in front of the computer. This doesn't stop you from spending another two or three hours browsing meaningless websites. Finally, around three, you brush your teeth and get out of your pyjamas. In an attempt to make something to eat you realise you have no food, and you drag yourself down to the local store. The weather is really nice, but why would you wanna stay outside longer than necessary? It's Sunday, for Christ sake! The day to be disgusting and stay in bed. So you get home, have a crappy lunch and end up in front of the computer again. Around seven you realise that you wasted yet another day, and you go to bed feeling totally fulfilled.
I will always remember this night...
as the night that we found out that our Dutch friend Victor, is a real gay magnet.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Things that really bugs me...
When your computer claims that you entered the wrong password. As if I wouldn't know my own password.
When the wine in the really fancy looking bottle tastes like crap.
"The page your looking for cannot be found". And the internet is down. Again.
You have nothing to wear.
When you really need a Henry, there's no Dutchies around.
People who leave there clothes in the dryer for hours.
When there's a bad connection on Skype.
And now I really should stop.
When the wine in the really fancy looking bottle tastes like crap.
"The page your looking for cannot be found". And the internet is down. Again.
You have nothing to wear.
When you really need a Henry, there's no Dutchies around.
People who leave there clothes in the dryer for hours.
When there's a bad connection on Skype.
And now I really should stop.
Jag vet i alla fall var jag kommer hamna om några timmar...
Har precis varit på Brugsen och köpt rödvin och mörk choklad .Helgen ser redan ljusare ut. Jag vet i alla fall var jag kommer att hamna om några timmar. På kollegiets bar med en massa nedgångna danskar. Fy för sören. Fredagkväll i Århus och inget att göra är inte det mest spektakulära man kan tänka sig. Hörde däremot att de skulle starta en klubb på Retro imorgon. Kan det vara värt att sätta sig på tåget hem till Malmö för?
I mitt otroligt spännande liv känns en klubbpremiär som värsta kvällstidningslöpsedeln.
I mitt otroligt spännande liv känns en klubbpremiär som värsta kvällstidningslöpsedeln.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Monday, February 5, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Simhallen som försvann
I dag slutade vi en halvtimme tidigare. Tur var det för jag orkade inte lyssna på diskussionerna om vad som kan anses vara en expert-källa och vad som är mer fokuserat på ett fall eller någon som har intresse av att synas och höras i medierna. I alla fall fick jag för mig att jag skulle försöka hitta simhallen i Brabrand. Jag vet att jag har cyklat förbi den en gång och sedan dess har jag varit på väg dit flera gånger, men alltid lyckats komma på någon ursäkt till varför jag inte behöver röra på mig just i dag.
Först blev det i alla fall en runda inom Bazaar, köpte clementiner och grapefrukt, och med cykelkorgen fullastad susade jag nerför backen längs 5:ans busslinje. Någon simhall hittade jag inte. Nu hittar jag inte den på nätet heller. "Sökningen gav inget resultat, kontrollera så att du har stavat alla namnen rätt" uppmanar de gule sider.
Det blir Matilde och research inför Baltikum istället. Och tvätt ikväll.
Först blev det i alla fall en runda inom Bazaar, köpte clementiner och grapefrukt, och med cykelkorgen fullastad susade jag nerför backen längs 5:ans busslinje. Någon simhall hittade jag inte. Nu hittar jag inte den på nätet heller. "Sökningen gav inget resultat, kontrollera så att du har stavat alla namnen rätt" uppmanar de gule sider.
Det blir Matilde och research inför Baltikum istället. Och tvätt ikväll.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Intet nytt
Ja, jag har tråkigt. Och det här är inte speciellt produktivt. Skulle kanske ta tag i de där middagsplanerna ändå.
Fortfarande...
ingen artikel. Och röran i mitt halvpåbörjade word-dokument är fullständigt oanvändbar. Det är fantastiskt hur oproduktiv man kan vara.
Ångest
När man skriver utrikespolitiskanalysartikel av USA:s förhållande med Kuba, efter Fidel Castro´s fall har man ibland inte tid att äta. Ångest kallas stadiet som jag befinner mig i efter att ha legat på sängen i en halvtimme, och innan dess vankat fram och tillbaka i mitt rum. Om jag någonsin blir färdig med den här artikeln ska jag unna mig en tur runt Skjoldhöj-kollegiet. Men först ska jag försöka bota min ångest.
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