Sweden's indiginous northern population - the Sami, commonly called Laplanders in English - speak a language, Sami, which is a bit unlike the other official minority languages of Sweden (Finnish, Romany Chib, Meänkieli, and Yiddish).



Shakespeare's Hamlet has been translated into Sami. It can be seen at the theater next to the Ice Hotel, up at Jukkasjärvi. I wonder what it could possibly sound like?



The Swedish phrase for the day is att vara eller inte vara. It means to be or not to be.



- by Francis S.

On the one hand, it's so easy being an expatriate because I don't need to have an opinion about politics: I can't properly keep up with what's going on in the States, and the Swedish system is impenetrable. Without the requisite nuances, I can't make a proper decision, so I just sort of slide by without choosing sides.



On the other hand, it's awful as an expatriate to have to constantly explain to dismayed Swedes the actions of the American government.



No matter what the leaders of the various governments of Europe say or do, the fact is that the European people, by and large, are wondering what the hell George W. Bush thinks he is doing and why there is no opposition from the American public.



The Swedish word for the day is skeptisk. It means, of course, skeptical.



- by Francis S.

Sweden is really hard on one's liver. Because, of course, any decent social gathering involves consuming mass quantities of alcohol. I remember my first office party in Stockholm, being taken aback that not only was it acceptable to get shitfaced, it was required. And since everyone gets completely bombed, from the CEO down to the little old lady who works in accounting and never says a word to anyone, there's no need to be worried about any embarrassing acts that may have been committed over the course of an evening or a weekend-long retreat. Everyone is guilty, guilty, guilty, so it all equals out in the end.



For a foreigner, (uh, except if you're Finnish or Russian) the most difficult thing to remember is that you are a pathetic lightweight in comparison, so don't bother trying to keep up with the Swedes. Worse, everyone will be on time for work the next morning no matter how hungover they are, so don't even think about sleeping it off.



I'm still recovering from last night's drink with a former co-worker who was laid off in December. I helped her find a new job, and we celebrated at WC, our neighborhood bar. There are few things worse than riding the subway in the morning with a hangover, no matter how minor it is.



I made it in by 9:05.



The Swedish word for the day is färdig. It means finished.



- by Francis S.

Top-notch investigative blogging reveals questionable behavior by some Bloggies judges. Oh, the juicy anecdotes and salient detail, not to mention actual photos of alleged culprits.



Am I rescinding my nomination? Not on your life!



Think of what we could do if we focused our energies on something, um, important.



The Swedish word for the day is syrlig. It means acerbic, alias my competitor, which would be, uh, min konkurrent in Swedish. Are you confused now?



- by Francis S.

For Philo, who says I have been derelict in one aspect of my Swedish lessons: Swedes are not so big on swearing - most of their oaths are rather mild, and nearly all of them seem to involve the devil somehow. My favorite is fan också! It means devil, too!



Aren't Swedes just the cutest things?



- by Francis S.

This damned nomination is making me a bit crazy, sitting just behind my chair where I can't see it and staring at the back of my head, snickering under its breath and casting voodoo spells. I'm trying to ignore it, but I can't, so I may as well acknowledge it and mention at least two people - Tinka and Mig - who should be on that list in my place. They're my writing idols. Not to mention any number of people on the links at left, too many to list. So go, read what they have to say.



The Swedish word for the day is självklart. It means obviously.



- by Francis S.

Have you ever played 1000 blank white cards? When I first read about it, I knew it was a game for me. So, I made everyone play it on New Year's Eve. Me, the American editor, the guy from the Goethe Institute, the South African publicist and 20 Swedes.



The basic rule of the game is that there are no rules. You get blank cards, you write what you want on them. Like for instance:



Obsessed with elves - at least you're not a plushie. Minus 100 points

It's pleather - plus 200 points

Traffic jam - everyone hit the person on their left.

Traytables in their full upright and locked positions - minus 100 points if you're allergic to nuts.

Leopold von Sacher-Masoch - pinch yourself for 500 points.

Subscription to Playboy - but you read it for the high-quality writing. Minus 500 points.

Morning woody - plus 200 points all men. Women discard a card and draw a new one.

Nose candy - Everyone stick their little finger up their noses. Plus 500 to the deepest nostril.

Old fudge - Do you dare to eat it? It's a month and a half old... all players stand together in the bathroom.



The playing took a strange turn when the actress, who had been extremely drunk already when she had arrived at the party, got a little too enthusiastic when someone played the card that read Strip mall - everyone take off an article of clothing.



The Swedish word for the day is kortspelare. It means cardplayer.



- by Francis S.