Most countries on the American continent are considered banana republics, with the exception of the United States and Canada. And it’s a sad development, where we see formerly rich countries like Brazil, for example, turning into corrupt and unmanageable societies. Even Argentina might have become a more successful society if it were not haunted by …   →

Many Swedes now live in a dysfunctional environment, with explosions, crime and high taxes but weaker social services. And more and more people are starting to wonder whether it wouldn’t be better to live in a warm shitty country than a cold and dark one? There are many countries in the world with half-assed public …   →

Before I had time to really reflect, I had impulsively bought a plane ticket to Krakow. It didn’t cost very much, thanks to the new low-cost airlines that have taken over the market, and it was a direct flight, with no annoying stopovers, to the airport named after the Polish Pope John Paul II. An …   →

The Angles were a North Germanic people who lived somewhere between present-day Denmark and Germany, and the origin of the name has often been associated with fishing or sea bays. When they arrived in the British Isles around 4-500 AD, they were met by Celtic tribes who were defeated and slowly pushed westwards into present-day …   →

I like walking, and have been doing it for a long time, from long walks in Stockholm to beach walks in faraway lands. Many people put on their tracksuits and jog as an excuse to get outside, or go for a bike ride at breakneck speed along newly constructed bike lanes. You kind of have …   →

Although it is an annual tradition to contribute predictions for the coming year, I humbly acknowledge that I am not very good at this art form. Reality is often crazier or more unpredictable than I can imagine. But shame on you, one day you’ll get it right. Events we already know about are the World …   →

I like to look up obscure videos on Youtube that coincide with my own interests. It’s as far from linear TV as you can get; it’s often about enthusiasts talking in detail about various things, it’s not uncommon to have two-hour explanations and discussions. You avoid the choppy, time-pressed format and can sink into a …   →

What constitutes a nation? Is it its people, culture, habits and customs or its legal framework – or all of it? On whose authority did the ancient legislators act, Lycurgus, Solon or the Fathers of the American Constitution? There was obviously already a people seeking their services, but perhaps not united or unified? The Constitution …   →

Now that electricity and petrol are becoming painfully expensive, there’s every reason to reassess your personal spending. The first thing you notice is all those little monthly payments that are automatically deducted, Netflix, games, apps, media subscriptions etc. When it all adds up, it becomes quite a lot, even though each payment may seem small …   →

The concept of conspiracy theory is said to have been launched by the CIA after the assassination of John F Kennedy. There were lots of different ideas floating around about who or what had killed the young president. And remarkably many mistrusted the current theory of the lone gunman and Marine veteran Lee Harvey Oswald, …   →

Abortion is constantly brought up as a talking point in debates, especially in election years. And often the right positions itself against, and the left for. In progressive European countries the issue is rather lukewarm, with many parties advocating the right of abortion; in other countries, the issue is debated more vociferously. In concrete terms, …   →