Goran Rosenberg gets August Prize 2012
Swedish Author Goran Rosenberg is the winner of the prestigious Augustpriset (August Prize) 2012. It is a literary prize that has been given out since 1989 by the Swedish Publishers' Association, and it is given in the categories Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Children’s and Youth Literature. “I’ve put Södertälje södra on the map,” said the happy winner. His book is called “Ett kort uppehåll på vägen från Auschwitz” (A short break on the road from Auschwitz). “This means a lot to me,” Rosenberg continued. “This is the book I had to write if ever I was to write a book. It’s a story that’s been chafing on my past.” The book tells the story of Rosenberg’s father’s way from Auschwitz to Södertälje in Sweden. Apart form his father’s, it is also a general tale of people who survived the holocaust. Rosenberg calls it a “childhood memoir”. “It’s about a boy and his father and the boy trying to get as close as possible to his father,” he said. Göran Rosenberg was born in Södertälje in 1948, and is a Swedish journalist and author who has worked at Sveriges Radio (Swedish Radio) and Sveriges Television (Swedish TV). The August Prize is named after author August Strindberg. This year’s winner in the Non-Fiction category was Ingrid Carlberg’s book about Raoul Wallenberg “Det står ett rum här och väntar på dig…” (A room here is waiting for you), and Nina Ulmaja won for best Swedish children’s book with her “A B C å allt om D” (A B C and everything about D). Previous winners of the August Prize include Lars Ahlin, Sven Delblanc, Henning Mankell, and Sven Nordqvist.

No Chris at Nobel
You won't see Princess Madeleine's fiance Chris O'Neill at the upcoming Nobel gala at Stockholm’s stadshus. The American businessman has changed his mind and turned down the invitation, citing it collides with his work. What would have been his debut of sorts, will now be delayed. “He won’t come to Nobel,” confirms Ulrika Näsholm at the royal Swedish court’s press information. The Nobel festivities are something that Swedes (and non-Swedes) usually look forward to, since it’s a certain way for sure to catch up with the royalties, and to see what they are wearing. “I regret this, but look forward to future Nobel celebrations,” says Chris O’Neill via Swedish daily Aftonbladet. Näsholm also confirms that Princess Madeleine will partake in this year’s Nobel gala.

Children with their own cell phones
The reality for Swedish children is getting more and more digital. A new study shows that 63percent of all children between ages 4-11 have access to smart phones, and 37% already have their own smart phone. The study, which was made by TNS Sifo and commissioned by Telenor, also confirms previous studies: That the use of mobile phones, tablet computers, and Internet is crawling down the ages. “Something that’s been reinforced by this study is that the development has gone so extremely fast and I think it can continue some more. When you look at the really young ones, who were polled in this study, then it becomes very clear that what’s of interest are the games rather than the communication possibilities that comes with the phone,” says Jonas Lindström, Marketing Manager for mobile services in Sweden at Telenor. If you compare children in middle school with children in primary school, you can tell that more kids have phones at an earlier age today. Nearly a third of today’s primary school children had their own mobile or smart phone when they were seven years old already. Of the children who are today in middle school, fewer than a tenth had their own phone at the same age. Lindström says that the questions parents frequently ask Telenor are related t the cost in terms of subscriptions. “The second challenge is linked to security and to be able to block certain material. The development in these areas is very fast, there are certain products out that give parents the possibility to block porn and other adult material.” So far, the majority of the parents in the survey have yet to begin using this type of functionality; only 25 % say they have actively blocked things on their children's smart phones. Games are the most popular activity on smart phones and tablets. A new tablet or phone is also what most children between 7 and 11 want if given the choice between that and other things, like toys, money, clothes, travel, or candy. A total of 1000 parents and 650 children participated in the study.

Rasunda items for sale
Many an AIK fan shed a tear when their classic home arena of Råsunda was torn down last Sunday. Others however, decided to take a bit of grass or a chair with them as a souvenir. But die-hard AIK supporter Lennart Johansson went further than that; he took a urinal with him. This urinal is now for sale on Blocket (the Swedish version of Craigslist). “I’m selling this unique three-men urinal from Norraövre,” Johansson’s ad reads. “It’s is well-used, guaranteed, and in good shape.” Johansson told Metro.se that the urinal was the oddest souvenir he could think of. His wife was not as impressed though, as the urinal had its particular scent. So after having scratched the idea of turning it into a flower-box, the couple decided to sell it. Johansson says the most important thing is not who pays the most money for the urinal, but that the buyer is an AIK supporter. “I wouldn’t sell it to anyone who wasn’t,” he says. (AIK is an abbreviation for Allmänna Idrottsklubben and a Swedish, Stockholm based soccer club)