Notre-Dame de Paris

Yesterday evening we got the devastating news that the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, France, was aflame. The fire was initially so ferocious and violent that it was feared that the cathedral would burn down completely.

Firefighters inside the cathedral
Photo by Yoan Valat

Today we received the sad news that the spire and the oak roof had collapsed, but also the wonderful news that both towers were safe, the structure of the building undamaged and the rosetta windows still intact. All the treasures and artifacts had been removed safely and the copper statues that were normally a part of the collapsed spire had been removed a week prior. It seems the stone ceiling of the cathedral prevented burning timbers from falling into the cathedral. The heroic efforts of the 400 firefighters had been successful.

Of course, the usual Islamophobic ghouls came out yesterday and declared that this was yet an example of Islamic terrorism in its war against Christianity. The cause of the fire is awaiting an inquest, but it is believed that it can be attributed to ongoing renovation work around the collapsed spire.

Two French billionaires have already announced plans to pledge a total of €300 million towards renovation and repairs.

The Notre-Dame is a unique treasure of immense cultural and historical value for Europe and the World.

Seduces Me

Dancers: Caryl Meredith & Adam Magic

Choreography: Caryl Meredith 

Music: "Seduces Me" (Celine Dion) and "TipToe Out the Back" (Dan Lebowitz )

Filming & editing: Pia Klaar 

Happy Halloween!

"Trick or Treatin'" by Tomais Ashdene

We don't traditionally celebrate Halloween in Sweden. It's only existed here since sometime during the 1990's, mostly as a result of some clever marketing targeted at small children and teenagers. The only places I know of that celebrate it are daycare centers.

I am still on the fence whether the tradition will stay with us or not, but as there is money involved in the sales of costumes, makeup and - last but not least - pumpkins, it may follow and grow with the kids now being indoctrinated with it. So we shall see... However, I am hoping not, because there is so much about this holiday that - in Sweden - just screams alien invasion and commercial greed.

To those of you who love the tradition, who have grown up with it and to whom it is a part of your cultural heritage I wish you all a very

H A P P Y    H A L L O W E E N !

The Immoral Elite

"Tintin in Congo"

The past week we had a storm among the narrow minded Swedish "cultural elite".

The cause of the uproar was that Behrang Miri, the artistic director of the children and youth section at Kulturhuset of Stockholm (The Culture House), decided to move the Tintin books by Remi Hergè from the children and youth section to the adult section.

Miri´s reason for doing so, was that the Tintin books reflect racist and discriminating caricatures from a colonialistic perspective. In his view the fact that the books have lately been provided with a preface explaining that they are written during a time with other values ​​is not enough. In his opinion this was not something children should be exposed to alone.

Thw news of the move made the so called "cultural elite" of Sweden explode on Facebook, Twitter, blogs and you name it. These ethnic Swedes and other Westerners cried "censorship" at the top of their lungs and took upon themselves the right to tell those who are subjected to demeaning and insulting depictions and characterisations how, when and at what they could rightfully react. They should be ashamed of their words and actions in this bruhaha and are themselves part of the problem and not of the solution. Stupid twats!

Even more shameful is the fact that the direction of the Kulturhus, instead of backing their artistic director in his decision, caved in to the outcries and pressure from their buddies and cronies and moved the books back. Ignorant racist bastards!

Nasty Habit

(via Pink News)

Turin´s GLBT Film Festival promotional video exposes the last remaining taboo. I think we can all agree on that this shows us a truly nasty habit which unfortunately is far to common.