Tag Archives: Sweden

See it before it burns

Posted on November 29, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

The annual giant Swedish holiday goat [live YouTube, Bluesky] is built and (currently) standing. Now well-guarded and protected, the goat has not been destroyed or burnt down since 2021 (although damaged in 2023 by jackdaws). This contrasts with 1969 to 1980 where the annual roll-call … Continue reading →

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The fight against Fascism is never ending

Posted on November 9, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

His Millennium trilogy was a worldwide hit. But to the Swedish author, it was only ever a sideshow to his true life’s work: fighting fascism, racism and rightwing extremism. Today marks the 20th anniversary of the untimely death of Stieg … Continue reading →

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Sweden not Switzerland

Posted on November 1, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

​ Sweden Launches Campaign to Stop Tourists Confusing It With Switzerland – A funny video from Sweden’s tourist board to help people distinguish between the two countries. Yes, it’s hard to believe that people confuse the two European countries, but it’s … Continue reading →

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How Clean Is Yours

Posted on October 20, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranks 180 countries on climate change performance, environmental health, sanitation, and ecosystem vitality from the cleanest to the dirtiest in the world. There are few surprises in thie top ten list described in the short … Continue reading →

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Here Be Monsters

Posted on September 28, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

The Carta Marina (Latin for map of the sea) is the earliest known map of the Nordic countries with details and place names. The map was created over a 12 year period by the Swedish cartographer Olaus Magnus (1490–1557) and the first … Continue reading →

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Signs of Hope

Posted on September 17, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

TheHope Signs initiative was created by Gothenburg Book Fair and advertising agency Nord DDB, and sees authors such as Jojo Moyes, David Lagercrantz, Lauren Groff, and Anthony Doerr sharing their thoughts on global warming for climate crisis demonstration placards. Printed on the … Continue reading →

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Another Tolkien Surprise

Posted on September 15, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

As a collector and bookseller, I’ve seen many versions and editions of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved novel The Hobbit over the years. However, it wasn’t until recently that I was aware of Swedish and Finnish language editions that were illustrated by the anti-Fascist … Continue reading →

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All Aboard

Posted on March 9, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I love a good story about a creative way to bring books to people. Thanks to the town of Norrtälje  all residents in Stockholm’s far-flung archipelago of islands have access to free reading materials by way of the Bokboten library. … Continue reading →

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Lowdown in Sweden

Posted on August 22, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Perspicacious followers of TBTP may recall a short story from a while back about the World’s Smallest Bookstore. Now the folks from the aptly named AnonyMouse street art collective have returned with the World’s Smallest Record Shop. Located in the … Continue reading →

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Wild Horses

Posted on January 28, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Chances are if you have ever visited Sweden you came home with at least one souvenir Dala wooden horse. When American street artist Shai Dahan moved to Sweden a few years ago to live and work, he decided that the … Continue reading →

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