tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post4319836172927358161..comments2024-03-18T21:09:10.627-05:00Comments on Every goddamn day: 03/19/24: Something about SwedenNeil Steinberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-45498488551329110072021-02-02T16:13:17.821-06:002021-02-02T16:13:17.821-06:00Ben Hecht, in his autobiographic "Child of Th...Ben Hecht, in his autobiographic "Child of The Century," related instances of Carl Sandberg being, while an adequate poet, an unreliable newspaper reporter.<br /><br />TomTomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09641357239788323783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-27698307647699162912021-02-02T14:16:44.389-06:002021-02-02T14:16:44.389-06:00And "The Inferno," another fabulously ri...And "The Inferno," another fabulously rich book, takes place in Hell, but it doesn't incline me toward shopping there! ; )<br /><br />I didn't even recall the Swedish heritage of Mr. Walgreen, just that he started the operation in Chicago. Jakashnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-89503109082071560132021-02-02T13:36:55.766-06:002021-02-02T13:36:55.766-06:00My first wife was a six-footer, of Norwegian desce...My first wife was a six-footer, of Norwegian descent. Her father was from Duluth and was six-six...or five-eighteen, as he liked to say. He painted his front door to look like a Norwegian flag, and he marched as Uncle Sam on stilts in his town's July Fourth parade, which made him about nine feet tall. Quite a sight.<br /><br />We used to eat creamed herring, which I still like. He even served me lutefisk once. It contains lye, and tastes like boiled Elmer's Glue, mixed with fish chunks, and the cook's spit. But I wanted to be polite, so I choked it down. <br /><br />Also heard a lot of Norwegian humor. Mmostly jokes that poked fun at the alleged wimpiness of the Swedes, who ruled Norway from 1814 to 1905. Lines like "Ten thousand Swedes ran through the weeds, chased by one Norwegian." Pretty sure Garrison Keillor also used that line on his radio show...many times over. Grizz 65https://www.blogger.com/profile/02892702223228764894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-78418637777066685412021-02-02T13:26:25.675-06:002021-02-02T13:26:25.675-06:00In defense of CVS, the entire plot of "The Me...In defense of CVS, the entire plot of "The Mezzanine," by Nicholson Baker is that a young man breaks a shoelaces and goes to the CVS to buy another one. It's a fabulously rich book, and has always inclined me toward CVS, despite its lack of Swedish provenance. Neil Steinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-44452553037192751442021-02-02T12:47:42.197-06:002021-02-02T12:47:42.197-06:00I, too, love this exchange. I thought the emails ...I, too, love this exchange. I thought the emails were charming -- he made his points in a witty and forthright manner, while still interjecting tidbits to indicate his familiarity with our host.<br /><br />Obviously, this is personal to him, and a personal interest often drives more compelling commentary. But he hits the nail on the head when he himself notes, with regard to the fleeting nature of immigrant recognition in a melting pot like Chicago: "You can say that about many ethnic communities."<br /><br />For instance, in much the way that Andersonville maintains "ever-diminishing connections to Swedish culture," Lincoln Square ain't quite the German enclave it used to be, either. Fortunately, one may still sip some glogg at Simon's, which is more than can be said for quaffing a Weissbier at the Huettenbar, alas. You can get the crepes with ligonberry jam at Svea, but good luck savoring a thuringer with sauerkraut from the real Chicago Brauhaus... (not sure what the present operational status of these spots actually is, it should be noted.)<br /><br />But, c'mon Mr. Swede. "You’re probably a CVS shopper anyway." Them's fightin' words! : ) Jakashnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-50659012375269779152021-02-02T11:59:04.893-06:002021-02-02T11:59:04.893-06:00This kind of reminds me of "Something about P...This kind of reminds me of "Something about Polk," an attempt by James Thurber (whom Neil likes, as do I) to get a fan base started for James K. Polk. Sweden probably has more going for it than Polk; Thurber had to make up a burn by him on Abraham Lincoln.Bitter Scribehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04645909858616987997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-55508629429225172542021-02-02T10:21:54.263-06:002021-02-02T10:21:54.263-06:00My goodness.
On the recommendation of my eldest s...My goodness. <br />On the recommendation of my eldest son I'm reading Blackwater by Jeremy scahill. The first chapter delves into the history of Holland michigan a place which by all indications is to be avoided. Home to the DeVos family. Yeah that one and one Erik Prince the founder of Blackwater. Now that's so.wthing to be proud of for Mr.Swede. <br /><br />Anyway the swedes, irish , poles and italians haven't gone anywhere. Mostly their all just mixed together and long moved to the suburbs to get away from now people. <br /><br />I've all of the above ethnic heritage commonly refered to as american mutt. <br /><br />Never understood the pride of where you came from. Glad to be here. FMEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06829632906445535928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-76233169601196899142021-02-02T09:09:07.462-06:002021-02-02T09:09:07.462-06:00Wonderful repartee! I hope I can join in. I have...Wonderful repartee! I hope I can join in. I have 2 claims to a particular interest in Sweden: first, the tenants who lived in the basement apartment of the house my mother and father bought on 78th & Coles in the late 40s were named Nordstrom. They spoke with the distinct Swedish accent that John Wayne once put on for a non Western movie, but told me that they had almost forgotten the Swedish language, having lived so long in Chicago. Second, my family name by some accounts comes from "Norse Hrothrekr (see Roderick)." And as a bonus, I love Swedish pancakes and Swedish meatballs, even though I don't get to eat them very often.<br /><br />john tatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10088632798195131329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-73029746352812681152021-02-02T08:19:14.688-06:002021-02-02T08:19:14.688-06:00Carl, my cousin, you are off base. As an Irishman ...Carl, my cousin, you are off base. As an Irishman with green eyes, black hair and O positive blood, genealogists say I probably have Viking genes and Neil allows me to participate here, despite bearing traits of the Norse barbarians.JPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08613528527379198505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-79049982817644058212021-02-02T07:37:23.354-06:002021-02-02T07:37:23.354-06:00I'm particularly fond of IKEA, myself. Does t...I'm particularly fond of IKEA, myself. Does that count?LBSTGMGRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01738370789147394125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-65147944668715550762021-02-02T06:38:17.751-06:002021-02-02T06:38:17.751-06:00Beautiful. Carl is a regular contributor. I can ...Beautiful. Carl is a regular contributor. I can tell by his well thought out writing. I remember I said I live by a private golf course that would never allow me in, and he correctly said it was the Bryn Mawr CC. Carl is quite brilliant. No Carl Spector.Connellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18406704590565406630noreply@blogger.com