Roundup

An American journalist visiting Finland seems to have to seen the Northern Light, and wants America to follow in Finlands Footsteps. The article makes a perfectly valid presentation, though I am tempted to (as always) request a more refined take on it all. Sweden, like Finland, is privy to all the wonders of social democracy, and there is nothing a Swede could complain about in life, everything is taken care of. But, in my opinion, that is not exactly a good thing. Let's try a metaphor. Because they are so well fed, they don't know hunger, and because they don't know hunger, they lack the imagination to dream up new recipes. Essentially, the problem I've been observing up here is that mediocrity stifles creativity. Why am I supposed to excel, if I'm just going to get taxed to tell anyway? Money isn't everything, it isn't, but when there is literally no benefit to pursuing an ambitious career, people are just as well working part time, and that's terrible for innovation and regional development.

Twenty-five percent of the Swedish work force is continually on sick leave. That's freaking disgusting. Now I don't want to sound harsh, but I disapprove of situations such as the following: someone takes two years of sick leave because they need time to get over the death of their brother. Removing yourself from your day to day and crying into a pillow for two years is not doing anything productive. People need to get on with their lives.
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Seeing as I was in Copenhagen only yesterday, I found this essay on the importance of public spaces very on the mark.

They are the starting point for all community, commerce and democracy. Indeed, the future of the human race depends on public spaces - they are, after all, where young men and women meet and court.

The piece examines the role of these spaces in modern sprawled urbanism.
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And then there's always a good read on energy policy, now isn't there. The UK government and Nuclear lethargy, which discuses how nuclear power has come to embody many of today's fears about the use of technology.
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To round out the roundup, here's a accesible read on the science of intelligent design.
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Oh, and I've added a site feed..!