Surfing toddlers
A study done by Medierådet (the Swedish Media Council) shows that younger and younger kids use the Internet, even though regular playing is preferred. The study looked at children in two groups, one where the age was 2 to 5, and the other where the age was 5 to 9. Their parents had to answer questions on a form. Says Ann Katrin Agebäck, administrative director at Medierådet: “One conclusion is, that the kids today who use Internet is younger than ever. It’s amazing how quick they are to pick up the technique, it’s as if they’re born right into it.” She says that a study made in 2005, showed the average age of Internet debut as 9 years – today it’s 3 to 4. One reason is that a lot of such young kids have their own products. 13% of the younger group (2 to 5 years) have their own TV while 17% of the older group (5 to 9) have their own computer. In spite of all new technology, when the parents in the older age group answered what their kids did after school, the most common activity was still “playing”, after which came “watching TV or DVD” and “be with friends”. The study took place in February and May 2010.

The Microchip
(A.k.a. the solid integrated circuit) The device that would change the world as profoundly as any invention of the 20th century - the Microchip - was introduced to the public by Texas Instruments in 1959. The extent to which it would revolutionize everything from rockets, satellites to our daily lives and that of our children, has become evident over the last 10-15 years, however.

Gold found in Solberg
A piece of gold the size of a fingernail and weighing about 3 grams, has been found near Solberg in Ångermanland (a province in the north of Sweden). “We are certainly not spoiled with discoveries like this one,” says geotechnician Leif Bildström. “The biggest piece was 4 millimeter (0.157480 ") but it didn’t even weigh 1 gram.” People used to pan for gold in this area in the 17 and 18th centuries, and the small piece that was now found gives hope for more.

USA welcomes investigation on secret surveillance in Sweden
The United States welcomes an investigation about the American Embassy's methods of surveillance in Sweden. This says P J Crowley, spokesman for the American Foreign Ministry, to Sveriges Radio. “We are ready to answer any questions concerning our security measures around our embassies,” he said at a press briefing in Washington. Chief prosecutor Tomas Lindstrand decided yesterday to initiate an investigation on whether or not the USA is guilty of illegal intelligence activity.

Cornelis – a lonely genius
Meet Amir Chamdin - his film “Cornelis” will premiere this coming Friday. Say “Cornelis” to a Swede and he or she knows exactly whom you’re talking about. There is only one Cornelis. Cornelis Vreeswijk (1937-1987) was a singer-songwriter, poet and actor born in the Netherlands, who emigrated with his parents to Sweden at age 12. He was educated as a social worker and had hopes to become a journalist but music sidetracked him, and for that we are eternally grateful. His humor and social engagement continues to give him fans. But back to Amir and his film. With the pale, pastel colors of the 1960’s Amir captures how the young social worker transforms into the famous singer and poet of truth. “This is an idea that grew,” says Amir, who at first only planned to make a film about the last years in Cornelis’ life, when he realized he wanted to make a film about his entire life. “Why was he so loved? Why was he so hated? Where did his destructive lifestyle come from? I know more about him today, yet I don’t know exactly who he was. He was full of contradictions, he was never black or white.” Cornelis Vreeswijk drank a lot and fiddled with prescription drugs, but he also wrote poems and texts and made 38 records in little over 20 years. You cannot do that if you are lacking in discipline. Amir thinks Cornelis destructive lifestyle was a fear that everything would be over tomorrow, that his popularity would wane. As a child Cornelis spent time at a sanatorium without his parents and his family eventually returned to Holland - events like these colored him for life. “There are recurrent themes in everything he wrote,” continues Amir. “God, death, heaven, hell and women.” Amir also has the feeling nobody was ever really close to Cornelis, though he had many friends. “This is really a film about loneliness,” Amir says. “About an extremely lonely man, who created things straight from the heart." In the film, Cornelis is played by Hans-Erik Dyvik.