In the News

In the News: Five Things

Each week, our editors will highlight a handful of Swedish stories that catch our attention.

Passing Gas on Pitch = Red Card

Why don’t farts play in soccer tournaments? Because they always end up getting expelled. Get it? A Swedish soccer player was given a red card by the ref after passing gas on the field, says The Guardian.

Hearing Voices

In quite possibly the most frightening way possible, audio artist Håkan Lidbo installed voice boxes “to make overpasses less seedy, less scary” in five of Stockholm’s subways. Ozy.com explains that you can “sing to the box, in any pitch you want, and it’ll sing back,” and “when nobody sings to the tunnel, it sings to itself, composing its own melodies based on the notes most commonly sung to it.” Not disturbing at all.

Ibra to Join Manchester United

The International Business Times reports that Zlatan “As a person I’m 20 out of 10” Ibrahimovic will join Manchester United. In one melodramatic episode of Sex in the City, Carrie reminded viewers, “Don’t forget to fall in love with yourself first.” Ibra never forgot. Even though he’s retired from international play, Sweden’s most celebrated and self-loving soccer player will play in the 2016-2017 season.

More Fika in Philly

I like big (cardamom) buns and I cannot lie, you Swedish-Americans cannot deny… According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Swedish espresso bar Konditori is opening two shops in Philadelphia. #NoCarbLeftBehind

She Ran Across Iran

Swedish runner Kristina Paltén spent 58 days in 2015 running 1,144 miles (about 20 miles a day). Pretty impressive stuff. More impressive is that she ran across Iran. Per GearJunkie.com (which features a short video of her experience), she did it because of the beautiful nature, the long distance and her own prejudices against the country. Our feet are tired just writing this.