Politics: Bush is the worst president!

Do you need arguments for your dinner conversations on politics?
George W Bush is sure to provide them! He is a fellow who's good at topping lists.
I foud two nice ones - When people were asked in an AP-AOL News poll to name the villains and heroes of the year, Bush topped both lists, in a sign of these polarized times. In another story, Bush tops the list as the US worst president. The non-US world could not agree more. Have we ever seen a "world's-most-powerful-politician" who can't even make an unprepared speech without sounding like a four year old? Who has started more wars and intervened negatively in more non-US politics without a hint on what's going on? When will the american people take responsibility for the person they put in charge? This guy really does not have a clue.

If you have a list of GOOD THINGS Bush has done - please write a comment!

Politics: Somalia är i krig...igen

Till slut exploderade krutdurken Somalia, igen. Ethiopien har gått in med trupper och flyg som stöd till den svaga Transitionsregeringen (TFG). Jag kommenterade detta i Godmorgon Sverige den 27e december. Du kan se programmet här.

Economy: Swedes X-mas shop for Ghana's GDP

Swedish x-mas shopping spree breaks record level this year with more than 52 bilion swedish crowns. That is more than African Ghana's gross domestic product. Scary. And yes, we still celebrate christmas because a special kid was born...

Read about this in the news here (in swedish).

And - let's say some prayers in between the Donald Duck at 4 o'clock and the overloaded dinner table at 6, ok?

once, life was easy...

Music: CHAMBAO

Second Spanish group out is CHAMBAO.

8 man strong, with the marvelous Flamenco vocals of Mari, CHAMBAO, from Malaga have launched 3 CDs, of which "Mi Primo Juan" from the CD "Pokito a Poko" is so cool you just can´t let it go. I admit, there is some of the flamenco-wailing going on, but just enough to add the spice you need.

More clearcut Flamenco influences than ESTOPA, they still represent this to me very exciting mix of traditional and modern.

You can not afford to miss this group! Just listen..., and don´t forget I told you!

Music: ESTOPA

My taste in music is characterized by twists and turns, without any longer committment to any specific genre or artist, but with a personal history of 7 years living in latin coutries, spanish influences in music have stayed strong for a long time. Even though mainstream artists like Shakira or Juanes have managed to get attention even on the Swedish market, the Spanish and Latin American music scene is extraordinary full with undiscovered gems. So, I would hereby like to share a couple.

Formed in 1999. The duo “ESTOPA” made up by brothers David and José Munoz is extremely popular in Spain and have launched 5 records to date. Accordinf to themselves theyt make “streetmusic”. Flamenco-rock with lyrics approaching punk. Alcohol and marijuana romanticism fills the room with smoke when “Vino Tinto” or “Ke Pasa” from the CD “Destrangis” is on loud

Check out their site, and don´t forget I told you!

Books: Årets viktigaste bok har publicerats!

Lagom till julen publiceras boken "Drottning Silvias festklänningar och de Kungliga Smyckena". Författare är journalisten Cay Bond och Göran Alm, chef för Bernadottebiblioteket. I boken avslöjar drottning Silvia ALLT i samtal med journalisten Cay Bond, om sina festkreationer under trettio år!

Det kan helt enkelt inte bli mycket mer spännande!

Göran Alm, berikar dessutom bilden genom att lyfta på locket till drottningens smyckeskrin, genom att presentera de smycken som bärs vid högtidliga tillfällen.

Vad mer kan man önska? Detta är helt klart årets viktigaste Svenska bok!

Politics: Chinas involvement in Developing Countries

Swedish development cooperation is based on some kind of basic ethics and solidarity. A human rights based perspective that everyone in the world share the same value and rights to health, education and non-exploitation. I do not say that on top of this is a filter of Swedish politics. Priorities for involvement might be made on a basis of where Sweden have earlier relations or wants to establish a future partnership, but it is still governed by a "fight poverty" - focus. Other countries have a much lighter luggage of morals to carry when engaging in a fragile, or developing state. The chinese make enormous investments in infrastructure in the developing world - roads, buildings etc, but only after having signed agreements on oil or metal concessions!

Read about the new Super Power of Development Cooperation in this report from the Chr. Michelsen Institute

Politics: US new president will be black, and have a name lika Osama

Barack Hussein Obama is black, and has a name almost like US nemesis number 1. He is born on Aug 4, 1961 and is quickly advancing in popularity for the Presidential Elections on November 4, 2008 with his magnetic personality. Wonders still happen! Who knows, maybe we'll even see a change in US warprovoking policies in the third world?