Famed French-Swedish actor Max Von Sydow, who acted in well-known hits such as The Exorcist, Flash Gordon, and Game of Thrones, has died at the age of 90.
His family announced that “with a broken heart and infinite sadness,” the Swedish-born actor died over the weekend.
Carl Adolf von Sydow was born on 10 April 1929 in Lund, southern Sweden, and became interested in acting at an early age after watching a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This prompted him to start an amateur theatrical group with some of his friends at school, before moving to Malmö. There, he began his career at Malmö City Theatre, where he met the chief director (at the time) Ingmar Bergman. Von Sydow would go on to appear in a total of 11 Bergman films in his lifetime.
Von Sydow acted in more than 100 films, including Father Lankester Merrin in The Exorcist, Lor San Tekka in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, as well as countless other roles in films such as James Bond’s Never Say Never Again, Minority Report, and Shutter Island. He also starred on HBO’s Game of Thrones as Three-eyed Raven, for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
The actor is known for taking on a variety of roles in his life. In fact, he once said, “What I as an actor look for is a variety of parts. It is very boring to be stuck in more or less one type of character.”
Von Sydow received two Academy Award nominations in his life, for performances in Pelle the Conqueror (1987) and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011).
Director Edgar Wright wrote perhaps one of the most poignant tributes, posting on Twitter: “Max Von Sydow, such an iconic presence in cinema for seven decades, it seemed like he’d always be with us.”
“He changed the face of international film with Bergman, played Christ, fought the devil, pressed the HOT HAIL button and was Oscar-nominated for silent performance. A god.”
Annika Sörenstam, Swedish pro golfer and 10-time major winner of the LPGA Tour, is set to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The White House recently announced that Sörenstam, along with Gary Player (only one of five players to win the men’s career Grand Slam), will be honored on March 23 by President Donald Trump.
“It is an overwhelming feeling. I am grateful, I am humbled, I am moved, and I am blessed.” Sörenstam wrote in a tweet after the news broke.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award given by the president of the United States to people who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors”.
Sörenstam and Player will join Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Charlie Sifford, and Tiger Woods as the only golfers to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The Swedish-born golfer completed her LPGA career with 72 tournament victories and was one of the most dominant female players of her era. She earned The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year award three consecutive years between 2003 and 2005.
“This is America’s highest civilian award and definitely the most distinguished award I have ever received. My reaction was a wave of emotions. Definitely goosebumps. Then gratitude, pride, and humility,” Sörenstam said.
When Joeseph Kendrick, and Ingrid Bergstrom-Kendrick, were brainstorming name choices for their son before he was born, they could only agree on Ford.
“We wanted to give our child an older name, a traditional one from my family. So we looked through my father’s family tree and found Ford there. We thought that name was really cool and wanted to bring it back,” stated Joeseph Kendrick. However, the Swedish government didn’t.
Swedish law states, in part: “First names shall not be approved if they can cause offense or can be supposed to cause discomfort for the one using it, or names which for some obvious reason are not suitable as a first name.”
Shortly after Ford was born, his parents submitted the usual paperwork to register his birth and name. In Sweden, parents can face fines if they fail to register a name for their child, to the Swedish Tax Agency, within three months of birth. They got a response within a couple of months, but Bergstrom-Kendrick says she was so confident about the name that she actually misread the letter and thought it had been approved. She filed it away, only to realize months later while cleaning through paperwork, that the name was actually rejected.
The reason for the rejection? Swedish officials say that it sounds too much like a surname.
The family took their appeal to the Swedish Supreme Court and are awaiting a decision.
Although the baby’s legal name is Bengt Bergström Kendrick, he must currently be referred to by “X” or “Boy” in official documents while the investigation is pending. Likewise, Ford cannot get a passport because he has no actual legal name.
This isn’t the first time that the Swedish naming law (known as the namnlagen) has hit the headlines. A couple in Sweden made international news in 2007 when the country rejected the name Metallica for its baby girl. The parents, Michael, and Karolina Tomaro appealed and won that case.
However, the most famous case dates back over 20 years ago, when a baby boy was named Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116 (Yes, we’re serious). His name, pronounced Albin, was specifically chosen by his parents in order to protest the Swedish naming law.
Five years after “Albin” was born, his parents were fined for not giving him an acceptable name. The parents appealed and lost, and when they tried to change his name to simply “A,” they were rejected again — the law doesn’t allow one-character names, either.
Sweden isn’t the only country to enforce strict laws with names. It’s Nordic cousin, Iceland, will automatically reject a name if it contains a letter that does not appear in the Icelandic alphabet (the letters C, Q, and W, for example).
As for Ford? Bergstrom-Kendrick says her son will use that name whether or not it gets official approval. He’s already 13 months old and knows that’s his name.
“To change it now would be very confusing for him. And plus, we really like it.”
This article was originally published on November 16, 2018.
As many Scandinavians do, Martin Hansson left his hometown to study at college in the United States. A decade later, he has made the U.S. his new home and blends his Swedish heritage together with his love for New York by being the face of Volvo Studio Manhattan.
Volvo Studio Manhattan is the Volvo downtown concept store that opened recently on 565 11th Ave in Manhattan. With Martin Hansson at the lead, they are focused on a more hands-on, in-person approach, by engaging more with communities. A frequent supporter and member of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce, New York, and their initiatives, and a valued Corporate Friend of Swedes in the States, Martin is serious about building a personal connection with Volvo’s audience, and showing people exactly why they are one of the most beloved and trusted Swedish heritage brands in the world.
Volvo Studio Manhattan x Swedes in the States Fika Pop-Up. Image credit: Swedes in the States
Volvo Studio Manhattan is the only Volvo Studio concept in the United States. How does it differ from Volvo dealerships?
We are fortunate to be one of Volvo’s five studio concepts in the world (Stockholm, Warsaw, Milano, and Tokyo are the others). At our Manhattan studio, people can shop for a new or pre-owned vehicle, or service their current car, just like any other Volvo Dealership. However, where we set ourselves apart is our big focus on events and community involvement. We work hard with trying to increase the awareness of Volvo’s brand, not only Manhattan but also the greater NYC area. We usually host a handful of events every month, and it can be everything from a Fika Pop-Up with Swedes in the States to a hiking experience with Fjällräven to professional networking events.
Martin Hansson & guests at Volvo Studio Manhattan x Swedes in the States Fika Pop-Up. Image credit: Swedes in the StatesVolvo Studio Manhattan x Swedes in the States Fika Pop-Up. Image credit: Swedes in the States
When did Volvo Studio Manhattan open its doors, and how have Manhattanites received it?
Our showroom has been open for just over a year now but Volvo itself has had a presence in Manhattan and the surrounding area for quite a while. Our new showroom is in a brand new location, and it has a very Scandinavian/Swedish feel to it which our customers seem to enjoy. It’s great to see that the love for cinnamon buns and Swedish candy, along with our awesome line-up of vehicles, is something that a lot of people in and around Manhattan truly appreciate.
Tell us about how you came to the U.S?
It’s hard to believe, but this summer I have been in the U.S. for ten years. I moved to Dallas, TX, in 2010 with two friends from Gävle to study and play soccer at college. I haven’t looked back since that day and have been fortunate enough to explore a lot of different parts of this wonderful country.
What do you miss the most about Sweden?
In the past, it was usually food-related, but living in the NYC area has been helpful when coping with cravings for Swedish candy. Having two IKEAs within a 20-minute drive helps a lot as well. So, I would have to say that the one thing I miss more than anything right now is the Swedish summers. There is definitely something special with summers in Sweden.
What do you love the most about New York City?
It has to be the people. I love how the city is a melting pot of people from all over the U.S., and the world. You never know who you will bump in to. In New York, an exciting conversation is usually never far away. I think that the city, at times, gets a bad reputation for people here being rude but I’ve managed to meet some amazing people willing to help others become successful in a very unselfish way.
What has your experience been like representing one of Sweden’s most beloved brands in the United States?
I’ve spent over 1.5 years with Volvo now, and it’s incredible to see the love that our customers have for Volvo. It’s hard not to be proud of that.
We have a lot of exciting things in the pipeline in regards to electrification and sustainability. People are paying close attention to sustainability and are, just like I am, looking forward to a very exciting couple of years to come for Volvo.
As a Swede, how do you connect with Volvo’s brand image?
Volvo has been my first opportunity to work for a Swedish company in the United States, and it definitely feels a bit like coming home. I love the fact that we always strive for that higher purpose in what we do. It’s not just about selling cars, but also about improving people’s lives. We have a significant focus on safety and sustainability, which is apparent in everything we do, from our marketing to our products, for example. I believe that’s a very Swedish trait, and because of it, I enjoy what I do in a way that I’ve never experienced working for an American company in the past.
Which is your favorite Volvo car?
Like most Swedes, I enjoy our wagons, so if I had to pick one, it would be the V60 Cross Country. The 2020 model offers a lot of exciting upgrades, and I can’t wait to take one of them on a road trip soon.
Over this past weekend, one of Sweden’s most famous races took place.
The 96th Vasaloppet (the Vasa race), is an annual long-distance cross-country ski race held on the first Sunday of March. The course is 90 kilometers (56 mi) long, starts in the village of Sälen, and ends in the town of Mora in the middle of Sweden.
Interestingly, Vasaloppet is the oldest cross-country ski race in the world and the one with the highest number of participants.
The race was originally inspired by a famous journey made by King Gustav Vasa. It followed a similar route from Mora to Sälen and happened when he was fleeing from Christian II’s soldiers during the winter of 1520–1521. What made it notable was that King Gustav was fleeing on skis.
The first prize for winning the Vasaloppet is a garland, a 20-kilogram trophy and 96,000 SEK (about $10,000 USD).
Most participants come from Stockholm county (2,464 participants), Västra Götaland (2,406), and Skåne (736) this year. There are also plenty of participants from neighboring countries, including Norway (1,213 participants), Finland (547) and Denmark (539).
This year, Petter Eliassen from Team Ragde Eiedom and Lina Korsgren from Team Ramudden, won the 90 km long Vasaloppet respectively.
“I had an amazing day and amazing skis,” says Korsgren.
It’s a match made in fashion heaven: Daniel Kulle, former president of H&M’s North America branch, has been brought in to revive Forever 21 as its new CEO.
Mr. Kulle, who worked at Hennes & Mauritz AB for more than two decades, will be taking over as Forever 21’s Chief Executive Officer this year.
Daniel Kulle’s story is an inspirational one: He started working as an Area Controller in his native Sweden’s H&M store before moving through the ranks to become President of H&M North America for over nine years. In fact, his career has many times been called “an American dream”.
Authentic Brands already has Mr. Kulle’s agenda filled with plenty of important to-dos. As the new CEO, he will mainly be focusing on improving the store’s e-commerce and making the company more environmentally friendly. This is nothing new for Mr. Kulle, as he was part of many eco-friendly initiatives during his time at H&M. Likewise, he oversaw the opening of more than 600 new stores across North America and an impressive gain of sales to $4 billion during his tenure at H&M. Mr. Kulle will also oversee new in-store events and expand Forever 21’s loyalty program, as well as new partnerships with other top brands.
Although it may seem like a tough job, Mr. Kulle seems to be excited to face the challenge.
“We have to get everything going again because there’s been some bumps in the road,” Kulle said in an interview. “It’s going to be a lot of work, a lot of things need to be done, but we have the ambition to go toward a much more purpose-driven company,” he said.
With his new job, Kulle will be relocating from New York to Los Angeles, to be based out of Forever 21’s west coast headquarters.
In the next photo, she continued her trip by posing in a bathtub, perhaps in a fancy resort or at a typical Bali villa.
To make it more authentic, she even geotagged each Instagram photo with Bali’s coordinates.
However, the entire thing was fake. In reality, Nataliya actually went to her local IKEA store and strategically took photos to make it look like she was in Bali.
The message? “Sometimes, people want to lie about who they are,” she said in a video, “It’s not hard to do. I think this video has a lesson. Don’t trust everything you see on the internet!”
This leads us to the question: Would you have spotted the fake trip at IKEA? Let us know in the comments!
Sproud, a disruptive pea-protein milk, to launch in U.S. in four delicious flavors
If one of your goals is to be healthier in 2020, you might want to try Sweden’s hottest new export.
Sproud, a vegan brand from Sweden, is planning their launch in the North American market this year. The brand was originally created in 2018 by a group of entrepreneurs based in Malmö.
Sproud is made from peas, which uses less water than traditional dairy or almonds, making it one of the most sustainable plant-based proteins. The product has a 365-day shelf life and does not need to be refrigerated – this reduces the product’s carbon footprint by a third and significantly reduces unnecessary waste.
Sproud is already getting noticed: In recent taste tests, Sproud’s pea milk was rated as better than the current leading brand by more than three-quarters of the participants.
Maria Tegman, the Global Brand Director for Sproud, notes “At Sproud, we are passionate about great taste and sustainability and we are ‘So Proud’ to be bringing Sproud to the United States and Canada. The North American consumer response to the brand has been great and we are excited to be able to deliver them a more sustainable and planet-friendly product than other dairy alternative milk.”
Sproud will be available in selected retailers (such as Whole Foods) and on Amazon this April. The product will come in four varieties – Original, Unsweetened, Chocolate and a professional formula developed for and by baristas in a 1 liter (33.8 oz) pack.
Would you try Sproud? Let us know in the comments below!
A recent study published by Sweden’s Board of Health and Welfare(Socialstyrelsen), is making rounds as a hot topic amongst Swedes. The topic? Over the past 10 years, between 2008 and 2018, there has been a 1,500% rise in gender dysphoria diagnoses among 13- to 17-year-olds born as girls.
Gender dysphoria, also shortened to GD, is officially defined as the stress a person feels due to a mismatch between their gender identity and the gender they were born into.
The rise in gender dysmorphia follows an interesting trend. Just a year ago, there seemed to be few official obstacles in the way of young people who wished to undergo gender reassignment treatment.
However, in the autumn of 2018, the government, under pressure from an LGBT group, proposed a new law that would reduce the minimum age for sex reassignment medical care from 18 to 15, remove all need for parental consent, and allow children as young as 12 to change their legal gender. A few months later, Christopher Gillberg, a psychiatrist at Gothenburg’s Sahlgrenska Academy, wrote an article in the Swedish newspaperSvenska Dagbladet, that warned about the effects of hormone treatment and surgery on children and called it “a big experiment” which could result in one of Sweden’s worst medical scandals.
A while later, a television program did an investigative piece on the team at Stockholm’s Karolinska University hospital, which specializes in treating minors with gender dysphoria. That particular unit of the hospital had been heavily criticized for carrying out double mastectomies (removal of both breasts) on children as young as 14. They were also accused of rushing through patients and failing to consider whether there were other underlying psychiatric or developmental issues with the patients that might better explain the unhappiness with their bodies. The Karolinska team fired back, saying it carefully assessed each case.
Swedish authorities are starting to respond. The bill that would have lowered the minimum age for sex reassignment surgery was shelved before it had the chance to be debated in parliament. The Swedish Board of Health and Welfare was ordered to reassess the evidence, and the report is due soon, on March 31st.
The same report from the Board of Health and Welfare also found that 32.4 percent of 13 to 17-year-olds with gender dysphoria registered at birth as women also had diagnoses for anxiety disorder, 28.9 percent had depression, 19.4 percent had ADHD, and 15.2 percent had autism. Various reports have found that trans people often have higher levels of depression and anxiety due to undergoing the difficult experience living in a body that clashes with their gender identity, particularly when many in society (such as their parents and/or friends) do not accept their identity.
Such is the case with Aleksa Lundberg, a trans woman, activist, and actress, who is fighting for more research into the topic.
Last October, she apologized for not having been sufficiently open about the depression she had felt after her operation. “I would probably not undergo corrective surgery if I had the same choice today,” she wrote. “And I want to apologize to those who perhaps needed to hear that story earlier.”
Ever felt the desire to leave everything behind to embark on new adventures somewhere else? Say, in Iceland? If so, take a look at these houses and apartments to help you get started (or just to fuel your daydreams)!
Since you loved our article featuring Swedish homes for a million dollars, we decided to continue the series with Iceland.
This farm is located in peaceful Hróarstunga in eastern Iceland, close to the Ring Road. The farm has one big farmhouse as well as three summer houses which can be rented out to tourists passing through.
Keflavík is an isolated town with a population of about 8 000 and is popular with musicians and artists, which will make sense as soon as you lay eyes on the beautiful surroundings. This house is facing the sea and is located next to a government-operated lighthouse and comes with 600 hectares of land. (Adipex) Hiking enthusiasts will be happy to hear that are several hiking trails of varying difficulty around Keflavík.
Thought it was impossible to find a large house with a view, in a central location, complete with a sundeck and jacuzzi? And for a reasonable price on top of that? Think again, because this house has it all!
If you have a passion for cooking, this just might be the house for you. The kitchen is newly renovated and equipped with an oven, double fridge, dishwasher, and all the counter space you could ever need. When it’s time to eat, make sure to take advantage of the green backyard and have dinner outside.
The apartment is spacious and modern looking with an open floor plan. There’s plenty of natural sunlight coming in through the many windows, and the large balcony provides an excellent opportunity for some outdoor relaxation or socializing.
Maybe you didn’t have plans on starting a B&B before, but you’ll surely consider it when you see this building for sale for less than a million bucks. The six apartments on the bottom floor can be rented out while you get the entire top floor to yourself. There’s also an outdoor area with a jacuzzi and room for a BBQ set-up and outdoor furniture.
This is a great deal as you get twelve buildings for the price of one! There is a residential building along with 9 cottages as well as the main building and reception building for operating the resort. The main building was built in 1927 to be used as a school and has a large dining room and a cozy fireplace.
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