Olof Palme 1927-1986
Kjell Östberg
Kjell Östberg’s biography about Olof Palme paints a bright picture of its main character and also of Swedish society.
The book charts the main events of Palme’s life: his early life, time spent in university, military service, work for the international student association and his rise in the Social democratic party.
Obviously Palme had an advantage in the fact that he was born into one of the powerful families of Sweden. Even though Palme was well connected, and any lesser man would have only used these to advance in life, Palme worked hard all his life. He read voraciously, he was an avid writer and speech giver, and he followed closely what was happening around him in Sweden and outside in the wider world.
Among many things from which OP is remembered he is best remembered from his opposition to the Vietnam was and his work for the developing world. It was interesting to learn that during the Vietnam war Palme advised Swedish generals to maintain contact with the U.S. military. It would have been bad policy to break contacts completely.
The book is an impressive work on one the most intriguing politicians of the 20th century. It also gives a good overview of the issues that had centre stage in Swedish politics during Palme’s time.
When Palme was the PM and struggling with numerous problems at the same time, he is reported saying: “One hell at a time.”
Näytetään tekstit, joissa on tunniste book. Näytä kaikki tekstit
Näytetään tekstit, joissa on tunniste book. Näytä kaikki tekstit
keskiviikko 28. heinäkuuta 2010
tiistai 6. heinäkuuta 2010
Ben Elton books
High Society
Funny and sad story about British society where drugs are everywhere and how they destroy people’s lives and an MP’s career.
Among the characters are a rock star who fuels his life with alcohol and drugs; a girl who is caught smuggling drugs from Thailand; another girl who sells herself for drugs; and an MP who is trying to get all drugs legal.
In the book politicians talk about drugs as if they are great authorities on the subject. They use words like ‘smack’ and ‘crackwhore’ like they know what they are talking about. Just as politicians talk about unemployment and poverty as if they have actual experience what it’s like to live with a limited budget.
Coming back to the suggestion of Mr Paget it would be interesting to see what would happen if drugs were legalised. What if they were taxed by the government like tobacco and alcohol are?
Meltdown
The book is about the financial crisis and how it affects people’s lives. There is a banker who makes an obscene amount of money; another banker who buys a whole street in London and starts to renovate the buildings only to get into deep trouble because he loses his job; and other people who are affected by the crisis in different ways.
All in all an entertaining story with some nice dialogue, for example:
“A crack whore and her pimp are the perfect business model. No, I’m serious, capitalism in its purest form. The free market operating as it should. Supply and demand. Goods and services. Management and labour. I fail to see a moral dilemma. For fuck’s sake, let them get on with it.”
“You know what?” said Jimmy. “Screw the Big Happy Baby Book. That book is fiction! It’s written by a childless fantasist. I have shown Cressida a hundred turds! I’ve cooed over them, pinned medals on them, placed them back in the potty on velvet cushions and stuck her on top of them and the little bitch still prefers to shit on the floor. All right?!”
“Mrs Thatcher was a goddess and Unions the spawn of satan.”
Funny and sad story about British society where drugs are everywhere and how they destroy people’s lives and an MP’s career.
Among the characters are a rock star who fuels his life with alcohol and drugs; a girl who is caught smuggling drugs from Thailand; another girl who sells herself for drugs; and an MP who is trying to get all drugs legal.
In the book politicians talk about drugs as if they are great authorities on the subject. They use words like ‘smack’ and ‘crackwhore’ like they know what they are talking about. Just as politicians talk about unemployment and poverty as if they have actual experience what it’s like to live with a limited budget.
Coming back to the suggestion of Mr Paget it would be interesting to see what would happen if drugs were legalised. What if they were taxed by the government like tobacco and alcohol are?
Meltdown
The book is about the financial crisis and how it affects people’s lives. There is a banker who makes an obscene amount of money; another banker who buys a whole street in London and starts to renovate the buildings only to get into deep trouble because he loses his job; and other people who are affected by the crisis in different ways.
All in all an entertaining story with some nice dialogue, for example:
“A crack whore and her pimp are the perfect business model. No, I’m serious, capitalism in its purest form. The free market operating as it should. Supply and demand. Goods and services. Management and labour. I fail to see a moral dilemma. For fuck’s sake, let them get on with it.”
“You know what?” said Jimmy. “Screw the Big Happy Baby Book. That book is fiction! It’s written by a childless fantasist. I have shown Cressida a hundred turds! I’ve cooed over them, pinned medals on them, placed them back in the potty on velvet cushions and stuck her on top of them and the little bitch still prefers to shit on the floor. All right?!”
“Mrs Thatcher was a goddess and Unions the spawn of satan.”
lauantai 12. kesäkuuta 2010
Helsinki Day
The day began at the City Hall. The mayor of Helsinki, Jussi Pajunen was there to open the Helsinki Day. Free coffee and rhubarb pie was on offer. However, I got a corner piece and there were just few flakes of rhubarb. The beggar lady of Aleksanterinkatu, the one who with an outstretched arm says ‘sir’ or ‘ma’am’ was there too. She was wearing dirty clothes but at least the cafeteria people gave her several pieces of pie.
They gave out free books at the City Hall. I took the following books
Helsinki – Fille de la Baltique, Matti Klinge and Laura Kolbe.
Helsinki – Tochter der Ostsee.
Helsinki – Daughter of the Baltic.
Urban Guide Helsinki, Helsinki City Planning Department.
Finland – A Cultural Guide, Pirkko-Liisa Louhenjoki-Schulman and Kaius Hedenström.
I have the Klinge/Kolbe book already in Finnish but it’s good to have it in other languages as well.
I returned to the City Hall in the afternoon to listen to lectures and talks. While I was eating a homemade sandwich a little boy came near me and asked (in Finnish), looking very solemn, what am I eating. Bread, I said to the mite. When he heard my reply he started to smile mischievously, ran to his father who was nearby and said to him ‘he’s eating bread’. Spies are so young today.
Then I went to the Central Rescue Station. It was a bit difficult to take pictures because of the cramped space. However, it was bloody exciting to see fire engines!
Finally, there was the samba parade. For a moment there was a threat of rain but in the end there was sunshine which was nice because the performers had put a lot of time and effort on the show. I watched the whole show which lasted about an hour.
They gave out free books at the City Hall. I took the following books
Helsinki – Fille de la Baltique, Matti Klinge and Laura Kolbe.
Helsinki – Tochter der Ostsee.
Helsinki – Daughter of the Baltic.
Urban Guide Helsinki, Helsinki City Planning Department.
Finland – A Cultural Guide, Pirkko-Liisa Louhenjoki-Schulman and Kaius Hedenström.
I have the Klinge/Kolbe book already in Finnish but it’s good to have it in other languages as well.
I returned to the City Hall in the afternoon to listen to lectures and talks. While I was eating a homemade sandwich a little boy came near me and asked (in Finnish), looking very solemn, what am I eating. Bread, I said to the mite. When he heard my reply he started to smile mischievously, ran to his father who was nearby and said to him ‘he’s eating bread’. Spies are so young today.
Then I went to the Central Rescue Station. It was a bit difficult to take pictures because of the cramped space. However, it was bloody exciting to see fire engines!
Finally, there was the samba parade. For a moment there was a threat of rain but in the end there was sunshine which was nice because the performers had put a lot of time and effort on the show. I watched the whole show which lasted about an hour.
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