Deppert.se

Interesting and well written article about the education system, and a project that sounds very reasonable and promising. Found here, at the economist webpage.

A little bit different Swedish webshop: muminmuggar.se

Today I cast my vote for the pirate party. I did it because I believe the internet should be as free as possible. Of course it is used for bad things, but I am convinced the good that has come from the internet is far greater then the bad. Of course there are risks with the internet, and some kind of regulation are and will be needed, but the aim should be to make internet the most free it can be. And that does not happen if nobody tells those in charge that it matters.

So I voted pirate, because I believe the pirate party is the modern version of the green parties. When those came to power in the 70’s, it was because people got an intererst in the enviroment, and that the future matters. This is the same struggle, but in a different way. The internet has given rise to much good, but above all it gives hope. Hope that all the great problem humanity faces can be solved by colaboration. Hope that the world will be a better place for our children.

And the internet also proves that the best way to get innovation, is to let people be free. Both the radio, the TV and the mobilephone industry had more or less the same ground works as the internet, an international network. But somehow, I still only use the TV for watching shows, the radio to listen to programs, and the telephon for making calls. Oh wait, now I’m lying: I listen to the radio on the internet, I watch shows over the internet, and I call people over the internet. Using my telephon for all that.
So I guess the internet won. And that is what I want to preserve. I do not want to go back, and use the internet for only emailing people.

It is very interesting to see just how much Helsingborg turns into a place that looks and almost feels mediteranian when the sun comes out. Seems like everybody goes nuts, and spents all there free time at the beach / harbour.

Right now there is a beach-handball turnament right outisde my apartment (with nice music as well), and the beach is just full of people. And the car-parking situation is truly crazy.

I must say, it all is very charming, and it makes me feel bad for having to give up the apartment I share right now. It truly is one of Helsingborgs best spots. In the summer.

The reason why I so seldom watch movies. 2 hours of my life I would like to have back.

Note: hard to believe that the first movie is 10 years old by now!

Tuesday was a special day at SHIP, as we were host for the Scandinavian Mini Seedcamp, an british event that gives help and the possibility of venture capital to start-ups.

This event is actually quite big, as the usual hosts are a little bit bigger cities lite Berlin och Paris. But, if you convince people that Helsingborg is nothern Copenhagen, it seems to work. Feedback so far has been that people where happy with it.

It was an interesting experience. The best part for me was the night before, when everybody had a welcome snack and beer at Helsing Bar. It was fun to just mingle and talk to the different people that had come here for this event. The start-ups where mostly swedish, but some danish and isreali (guess they didnt fit in anywhere else) guys where also present. From the swedish point of view some more famous IT people, but also totaly unknown ones.

The mentors however where from all over Europe. Most british, but also german and others. There background was quite mixed, some worked for companies in the IT sector and had jobs relevant for the future trend in IT, other had participated at earlier Seedcamps as start-ups and where now mentors, and other still had more or less just happened to talk to the right person at the right time.

Overall the event was about 20 teams pitching there ideas for the mentors, who where about 50 people. These provided insight and knowledge. And then some of the teams had a chance to qualify for the big SeedCamp in London, and a chance to win venture capital for there start-ups.

Overall it was a bit like the “idee-forum” we have with FENA every week. Just instead of 2 hours it was a 12 hour day, a little bit more organized, and all the participants were a bit more experienced. But almost the same…

I just heard that applications for seedcamp berlin have started. Now that I know what it is, I must say I am intrigued to participate.

Just another quick link to the serious problem we face with credibility.

This post is also in swedish, because it refers to a concert the chorus I am in will have. If however you happen to be in Helsingborg the 15th of may you are warmly welcome!

En kort notis bara: fredagen den 15:e maj, kl 19.00, kommer Helsingborgs studentkör ha en konsert på Rådhuset. Liknande som förra året, kommer det vara i rådhusets stora sal, med sittplatser och servering av vin och småplock för den som vill.

Kören har den senaste tiden haft en ny körledare, Ilze, och detta blir den första egna konserten med henne. Upplägget blir liknande förra året, men med många nya låtar så klart.

Det kostar 50 kr för vanliga, och 20 kr för studenter. Är man intresserad är det bara att höra av sig.

The following post is in swedish, because it is about a local restaurant. Not much use of the information for anybody not living in Helsingborg :)

Både denna och förra helg hade jag nöjet att vara äta på Pålsjö krog, som ligger endast någon 100 meter från min nuvarande lägenhet (så länge som jag nu kommer vara kvar där).

Vill egentligen bara säga att det rekommenderas. Första gången var det med föräldrarna på sena eftermiddagen, och det blev en enklare rätt från menyn. Inte särskild imponerande.
Den andra gången blev det dock brunch. Och det är stans bästa brunch enligt mig. Inställningen var att det skulle vara dyrt och lite för fina saker för att vara roligt, men resultatet var ett hyfsat pris (149 kr, vilket är marginellt dyrare än de flesta andra), och ett riktigt bra utbud. Många varma rätter, lite lyxigt som crepes eller panpizza, och mycket kallskuret. Mozzarella med tomat var min favorit.
Och sen rabarberpaj med vaniljgrädde som dessert. Äntligen ett ställe som inte bara har våfflor (för ikke-våffel fantaster som mig).

Så vill bara rekommendera det, nästa gång man tar en promenad i pålsjö skog eller längst landsborgspromenaden.

This post is in english, because it feels bad for all the german and foreign readers, to only be able to follow my sisters journeys.
And I thought I could try to sharpen up my english as well.

I have now, since mid-January, had the café at SHIP, here in Helsingborg. It is a very charming café, some tell me the coolest in town, and I do like it very much. Thats what makes it all fun so far.

Looking back at my first 3 month, or almost 4 now, I can tell that it has been a quite different experience compared to what I expected. My assumption had been that it would not bring me very much new experience, since I had:
1) run a café before
2) had my own business before
3) worked with students as costumers before

I had however not run a conferens center before (the café is also host and reception to the 7 conferens rooms at SHIP). But I figured that wouldn’t be hard to learn.
That proved to be true.

However, what I did learn was alot of personal boundaries. I am still not “ready” with finding my own daily routines, and I still feel that a lot of time is “wasted”. I can’t say on what exactly, but I come to SHIP early every day, leave late, and seem not to have accomplished much in between. Which always feels bad, because there are tons of things that I want / need to do. More marketing is needed, better selection of products, better routines for the staff. Everything can be improved, and some are quite urging.
But I have learned to live with that feeling, and not let it bother me in my daily life.

If I would summarise the experience with the café so far it would be:
+ Learnt to better understand my own boundries
+ Practical experience with delegation
+ Better sense for business (at least a little)
+ Learnt that daily routines are essential for getting things done

- Spent alot of time
- Spent alot of energy. I have never felt so socially tired as I do now.
- Not really earned any money.

As my old boss, and also café owner told me: Experience is always good, and always cost money, time and energy. The key is to get the experience as cheaply as possible.

With that in mind I will see what happens after this summer. Nothing is decided yet, but I have signaled my interest to continue – until the end of the year at least.