Soft Girl Trend

 Finally some good news out of Sweden;)

 Sweden has a global reputation for championing gender equality, so why are young women embracing a social media trend that celebrates quitting work?

Yeah, why indeed?:))))

Sweden, Yes?

 Definitely:

According to preliminary official figures, immigration fell by 15% year-on-year during the early part of 2024.

Emigration rose by 60% over the same period, from January to May, while asylum applications continued to fall and reached their lowest level since 1997.

In 2023, emigration increased among people born in Iraq, Somalia and Syria. In 2023, net immigration figures for people born in these countries were negative. According to preliminary statistics from Statistics Sweden, Sweden has negative net immigration up to May this year.

 Meanwhile, in Germany:

Germany’s Christian institutions play a pivotal role in mass immigration, through the message they preach in parishes all the way to their efforts in funding the transfer of migrants to Germany.

Now, the Catholic Diocese of Trier is calling for monthly donations to fund another ship to bring illegal immigrants to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea. Catholic faithful are being called upon to fund the operation of the Sea-Eye 5 “rescue ship.”

“Sea rescue is a Christian and humanitarian duty,” said Trier’s Vicar General Ulrich Graf von Plettenberg.

European aristocrats, screwing peasants since year 801...

 

Sweden Vindicated

 Just as we are heading into the new wave of restrictions and lockdowns, comes this article from Daily Mail:

How Sweden swerved Covid disaster 

They actually have less corona deaths than the majority of the European countries:

Sweden has suffered fewer Covid deaths than most of Europe and is still recording lower infection rates, according to figures that suggest its lockdown gamble has paid off. 

The Scandinavian nation became an international outlier last year when it defied scientific advice and refused to follow the rest of the world in shutting down society to curb the virus' spread. 

 Or rather, may be the science wasn't (isn't) settled?

Not only has Sweden's economy bounced back faster than any other country in the EU, latest data shows that it has also fared better than most in terms of lives lost during the pandemic.

Sweden has suffered almost 1,500 confirmed Covid deaths per million people, according to Oxford University-based research platform Our World in Data, which is lower than the European average (1,800).

The UK — which has endured three national lockdowns and several regional fire-breakers — has recorded 2,100 per million, for comparison, while Belgium and Italy both have rates above 2,000.

It probably also has to do with the fact that they have fewer obese people running around, as according to our data the average BMI of those hospitalised is 30 (not you aren't healthy at any size, sorry).

When looking at excess mortality during the pandemic, Sweden ranks just 21st out of 31 European countries with 5 per cent more deaths since March last year than would be expected. Britain, Italy and Spain, on the other hand, have each suffered around 10 per cent more deaths than average during Covid...

 Sweden also has a lower infection rate currently than most EU nations, with just 100 per million people testing positive daily compared to 800 in Austria, nearly 700 in Belgium and Ireland, and 500 in the UK. 

They just basically let the disease run its course, with some common sense measures:

Although Sweden chose not to lock down completely early in the pandemic, it did introduce stricter legally-binding curbs last winter as cases and deaths rose.

These included a ban on groups of eight or more people, limits on numbers in gyms and shops and an 8pm curfew on pubs and restaurants. 

We had gyms closed which probably contributed to the rise in bmi, btw. Children certainly became plumper during lockdown. As of now, you aren't even allowed to practise indoor sports unless vaxxed or in possession of a negative test, which surely won't improve the health situation any further, but who cares?

While Sweden appears to fared done better than continental Europe during the pandemic, it has performed significantly worse when compared to its closest neighbours.

 Norway and Finland, for example, have suffered about 200 Covid deaths per million people since the virus was first seeded on the continent — seven times lower than Sweden's toll. 

In Denmark the rate is around 400. All three nations have had tougher restrictions during much of the pandemic, which are likely to have played a role.

It all depends on your priorities, I guess. (Mental) health and well-being of younger people was probably at least just as important to the Swedish as extending life of (obese) boomers with comorbidities. 

Cambridge University epidemiologist Raghib Ali told MailOnline: 'Whether you think Sweden's strategy was a success story comes down to which countries you compare it to.

'If you think it should have a similar rate [of Covid deaths] to its neighbours Finland, Norway and Denmark or other countries like Germany and the Netherlands?

See above.

Dr Ali said that one takeaway from Sweden's voluntary lockdown system was that it shows the power of people's small behavioural changes.

'Although Sweden didn't have a Government-enforced lockdown, it did have a type of voluntary lockdown that was well-adhered to.

'What we've learned from Sweden - and the UK - is that people's voluntary behaviour can get countries over a peak without mandated restrictions, even though they alone cannot prevent big outbreaks.' 

The takeaway is that people are much more inclined to follow reasonable restrictions/commands than unreasonable ones. Push them too hard and the chance is they will rebel. 

Also the real crisis is obesity. People can't help getting older (we all will) and obviously the elderly are entitled to good care, but you don't have to be obese. 

I wonder if Sweden offers asylum to refugees from Western Europe?

The Real "Trad"

 There have been autistic discussions online about what does it mean for a woman to be fully "trad". Now look girlies, here's an example:

 

Seriously though, not everybody's close ancestors were subsistence farmers:)

There Is More Support For Homemakers Than You Think

 Even in Sweden:

 "half of 9,000 surveyed women said they wanted to become housewifes if they had the chance, but 7/10 said society shouldn't accept this"

Cognitive dissonance much?:)

Which Country Is The Most Liberal?

 Sweden, according to this diagram from the World Values Survey. Somehow I'm not surprised! I do still love IKEA and Swedish meatballs. Just ate them today. Yeah, I get in touch with my bugman side now and then:) Honestly with ALL the Christmas markets cancelled this year, the only place to visit in the Advent period is IKEA so I'm planning to go there soon...

Was It Really, Sweden, Yes?

 The big corona debate continues.

Here is the link to an article praising Swedish approach to dealing with the virus, though I'd like to call your attention to the discussion below it which is probably more interesting (and at times, quite heated) than the article itself.

The situation in my neck of woods at the moment is as follows: everything got opened, though to attend many places like some zoos, for instance, you need to make an appointment online beforehand. Restaurants are open. You are asked to wash your hands before you go inside or you are at least, given such a possibility in many places. You are still expected to keep 1.5m distance everywhere you go, which many people don't do. All touristic places are full of tourists.

The new cases started surging, but they are also testing more so it's not clear what's going on. The numbers are updated once a week and the media are getting quite hysterical about the 2nd wave though our Center of Disease Control say that they aren't currently worried.

Now about the big mask controversy. The chief of our CDC has basically said many times that wearing mask doesn't really work yet they have been required in public transport since June. Now the mayors of two major cities where the cases continue growing have decided to make masks mandatory in busiest areas which many people are against, while others are for, while law professors say it's unconstitutional.

I haven't used public transportation since February and have never worn a mask so far though I bought a pack when they started selling them back in May. I probably need to buy more because I've heard that in Germany which we are planning to visit soon they are apparently required in restaurants. Some people come from a bus/metro stop and keep wearing them but most don't. People I talk to are all skeptical about the vaccine, many say they will refuse it.

How are things going in your place? Please feel free to share!

Corona News 3, Schools And Immune System

Some good advice from Sweden, from the Golden One.

In other news, though parents are officially allowed to keep their kids from school now, schools are still not closed, unlike in many other European countries, which brought with it a lively discussion about the 2 income family model and its consequences for society. An opposition leader posted a list of parties which voted for and against school closure. All the established parties, left, right and "Christian" were for keeping school open.

Those who voted for closing of schools were an interesting crowd: Muslim and Christian fundamentalists, immigration restrictionists (we have 2 varieties, for working class and a more sophisticated one), and a party for animals which is, surprisingly, quite good on many issues.

Now I have been following discussions on Twitter where people talk about how capitalism is detrimental for traditional family, as it's all about maximising profits, and I chiefly agree with many of their arguments. However, mainstream socialism, as we know it from the 20th century, supports the same two income model, as also proved by their voting patterns.

The conclusion: we need the Third Way. Fundie Catholics are right, distributism is probably the way to go!

Take care all of you and whatever happens, don't forget to wash your hands!

UPDATE:

As of now, all schools and nurseries are closed till 3 April, for the parents working in "essential" professions there will be care facilities functioning in school buildings. Our neighbours are organising volunteers to help the elderly, the sick and those who need childcare. My housekeeper offered to bring medicines around. I'm quite proud of them all.

Vikings Weren't S*xually Progressive

You don't tell me! TV shows are full of lies and propaganda??? Who would have thought...

Swedish Police Investigate A Crime

WARNING: language (swearing)

Sweden Strikes Again

I think I'm going to create a Sweden label to keep up with all the wonderful things happening in that feminist paradise. Here is the latest from Daily Mail:

An Afghan migrant who molested a 12-year-old Swedish girl was initially not reported to police - because her mother was dating him.

Abdul Dostmohammadi, 18, was living with his 45-year-old girlfriend in Sölvesborg, southern Sweden, when he sexually molested the 12-year-old. 

When the girl told her what had happened, the mother refused to report him to police as she feared he would be sent back to Afghanistan, court documents reveal.

I'm sure it's all perfectly normal. A 45 year old woman, an 18 year old guy (if he was, in fact, really 18, but I'll go along with the official narrative).

According to this article, the mother is a glorious #MeToo feminist, yet she apparently had no problems with her "boyfriend"s actions:

The mother, who is said to be an active member of the #Metoo movement against sexual harassment, continued her involvement in her Afghan boyfriend's destiny. Fria Tider reported that she wrote in a Facebook group against the deportation of Afghans, and that she had a "wonderful kid" who no longer had a permanent residence, asking if fellow feminists would want to take him in. 

Keep in mind the above happened after sentencing, but I guess she just felt generous and wanted to share her boytoy around and spread the wonders of diversity at the same time.

The one who reported the molester to the police was the girl's father:

The perpetrator was allowed to stay in the family home, which the girl said 'felt weird'.

Four days after the incident, the girl asked to stay with her father, after which she told her older sister about the events, who in turn told their father.

He reported it to police and spoke to the 45-year-old, who 'had not wanted to report 'because she was scared Dostmohammadi would have to leave Sweden if they did'.

In a traditional community, both the boyfriend and the mother would get a harsh sentence, but Swedes are much more enlightened that that, since the chief offender got
100 hours of community service and his accomplice apparently nothing at all. We all still have much to learn from that shining beacon of human progress, Sweden.

Sweden yes!!!!