Monday, February 13, 2006

Monday, February 13th, 2006:
Toilet paper in Sweden

What I think:

Chris from Scotland wrote to me and pointed something out that he noticed during a recent visit to Gothenburg. It was one of those things that you notice when you first move here, but just get used to and eventually forget about. It's about toilet paper in Sweden.

Now, the Swedes are very efficient when it comes to recycling; so much more so than in the UK (see my entry for December 30th). Although I find all this recycling a very noble thing, I feel that there is no need to make something look & feel that it's made from recycled material, unless absolutely necessary.

The bogs (US/CAN: cans/johns) in many offices, bars/pubs/clubs, and even hotels here in Sweden have thin, uncomfortably rough, textured toilet paper in their bathrooms (unbleached, of course, to give that true recycled look).

Personally, I don't see "dropping the kids off at the pool" as something to look forward to, or to savour or enjoy. Nor do I find it necessary to have a triple-quilted, cottony pampering as an integral part of my visit, but what I don't need is to finish off the experience with a near-sandpapering of my bottom.

I'm convinced that it's totally possible for companies to remain responsible to the environment, without making people have to suffer a scraped bum in the process. Toilet paper manufacturers should be reminded that part of their responsibility is also to ensure that their customers have happy behinds.

It's time that the Swedish government did something about it. That's what I think.

The news today (oh, boy)
From the world outside:

UK: Blair Wins ID Card Vote: The Government has won the first two Commons' votes on controversial ID cards. The first victory was on whether to make the cards compulsory, following further legislation. The second, more contentious, was on whether it would be compulsory to register individuals' details on a central database.
From Sky News

US: Northeast digs out from snow: New York buried in white stuff; airline travelers suffer delays: Residents were digging out Monday from a winter storm that dumped more than two feet of snow on some parts of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states, forcing travelers around the country to change their plans. The storm snarled air traffic nationwide Sunday as several major airports shut down for much of the day, affecting more than 2,000 flights. Most airports had reopened by sundown, except New York's LaGuardia, which resumed service at 6 a.m. ET Monday.
From CNN


Sweden: Palme evidence 'was destroyed': Police destroyed evidence that may have been linked to the still unsolved 1986 assassination of Swedish prime minister Olof Palme, a new documentary about the murder alleges, reports said Monday. The film, titled "I Saw Palme's Murder", claims that four months before the crime police found the same type of bullets used in Palme's shooting at the home of an acquaintance of the main suspect, the Expressen daily reported.
From The Local - Sweden's news in English



2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maybe u gotta a kiddies arse :)

10:08 pm  
Blogger Mark Base said...

What remarkable wit!

7:49 am  

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