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The Old Country Newsletter – Goda Nyheter
Your Weekly Newsletter from Sweden!
Philip Hannes
February 21, 2025
Good morning!
It’s Friday, February 21.
Got any big headlines lately? Any global conflicts that demand attention? Any long-standing alliances rattled to their centuries-old foundations? Any of the core values of the shared West that have been tossed out the window the last few day?
No?
Well, that’s good—we (you) had you (us) worried for a minute there!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Philip & Hannes
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Your Weekly Swede-ish
Attribution: Rob Croes / Anefo, via Wikimedia Commons
Carl Eric Wickman - The founder of Greyhound Lines
When you see a grey bus drive by, you might identify it as an all-American Greyhound bus, but the company's founder was a 27-year-old Swedish immigrant. Greyhound Line was founded by Carl Eric Wickman (1887–1954), who emigrated from Dalarna, Sweden to Minnesota in 1905, where he found work in a mine. After being laid off in 1914, Wickman switched careers and became a car salesman. However, selling cars wasn't his true calling, as he struggled to sell his first product, a Hupmobile from Hupp Motor in Detroit.
The model had seven seats, and resourceful Wickman offered to drive his former colleagues to the mine in the morning and back home in the evening. A trip cost 15 cents, equivalent to 36 kronor in today's value. With slow horse-drawn wagons as the alternative, Wickman's "line bus" quickly gained popularity. By 1927, Wickman had established several routes, and in inexpensive, unpainted buses, he could transport passengers from New York to California.
The company is said to have been named Greyhound after one of the drivers saw his bus reflected in a shop window and thought it looked like a greyhound dog. By 1936, the bus company had become the largest in the USA with several hundred buses. Today, Greyhound Lines operates 123 routes with over 2,700 destinations.
Statistics you didn’t ask for
Recent surveys indicate a significant shift in Swedish public opinion regarding Elon Musk and Tesla. A Novus survey conducted in January 2025 revealed that only 11% of Swedes held a positive view of Tesla, a decline from 19% in a similar poll conducted earlier that month. Conversely, negative perceptions increased to 63% from 47% during the same period. This change in sentiment is attributed to Musk's controversial political engagements and Tesla's labor practices in Sweden. Notably, Tesla's refusal to engage in collective bargaining with Swedish trade unions led to prolonged strikes, further impacting public perception. Additionally, Musk's public support for polarizing political figures has influenced Swedish consumers' views, contributing to a decline in Tesla's market share in the region.
School Minister Unveils New Grading System
School Minister Lotta Edholm. Attribution: Wikimedia Commons
School Minister Lotta Edholm and investigator Magnus Henrekson have unveiled a new proposal that could transform how Swedish students are evaluated by replacing the traditional A-F scale with a numerical system from 1 to 10.
The idea behind the new system is to ensure that grades and merit values more accurately reflect students' knowledge. Henrekson’s proposal aims to counteract grade inflation and create a fairer, more consistent standard nationwide. Under the new scale, grades will range from 1—indicating “less than acceptable knowledge”—up to 10 for “excellent knowledge.” Notably, there won’t be a fixed “fail” mark, a move intended to help more students qualify for upper secondary school.
In addition to the grading overhaul, the proposal introduces national final exams for ninth grade. These digital and centrally marked tests in key subjects—Swedish, English, and mathematics, along with one exam each in social studies and natural sciences—will account for 30 percent of the merit value used in high school admissions.
Edholm stressed the urgent need for reform, emphasizing that current grades often fail to capture students’ actual abilities. The changes also extend to revising curricula, enhancing student health initiatives, and regulating teachers’ instructional time to improve working conditions.
The government’s plan promises a more transparent and equitable evaluation system, one that better prepares students for future academic challenges.
In other news
🚓 Criminologist Leif GW Persson praised the police response to the mass shooting at Campus Risbergska in Örebro, saying they acted exactly as expected and that criticism of their actions was unfounded. However, he noted some unresolved issues—such as conflicting statements about when the scene was secured—and emphasized that clearer communication with the public is needed.
🚽 The government has proposed a change to the accessibility requirements for new student housing, reducing the mandate from 100% to just 20% of the units being fully accessible. Infrastructure and Housing Minister Andreas Carlson argues that this will allow for more flexible and space-efficient construction—resulting in smaller facilities like student toilets—though critics say it risks marginalizing people with disabilities.
🪖 Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that holding elections in Ukraine is not feasible at the moment due to the ongoing Russian invasion, general mobilization, and emergency laws, though he believes Ukraine, like all democracies, wishes to hold elections when circumstances allow. He also emphasized that Ukraine must be let to engage strongly in future peace negotiations, noting that it is not clear if Russia genuinely seeks peace, contrary to common assumptions.
Would you like to feel closer to Sweden? A perfect way to do that would be to have a look at Swedish broadcasts, either current or past. SVT Play is an online streaming service provided by Sveriges Television (SVT), the Swedish national public television broadcaster.
To watch it, one has to be in Sweden – or have access to a VPN provider that can connect to a remote server located in Sweden. Like NordVPN, which sponsors this segment of the newsletter.
By using NordVPN, you can access what SVT Play has to offer – including current news, documentaries about emigrants, live broadcasts from nature events, and much more – by simply connecting to a server in Sweden. Follow the link here to get 74 % off for your first two years and three months (!) of usage. By doing so, you also help support the distribution of this newsletter.
Tre Kronor Wrap Up Four Nations with 2-1 Victory Over USA
Attribution: Elite Prospects.
Sweden closed out their Four Nations campaign by defeating the United States 2-1 in Boston, a win marked by a classic goal from Jesper Bratt—even though the result had little bearing on the tournament’s final outcome.
After an early shock from USA’s Chris Kreider, which sent the American team into a brief lead, Sweden quickly responded as Gustav Nyquist leveled the score. Then, with the game poised delicately, Jesper Bratt delivered the decisive blow. “I tried to aim where the goalie couldn’t see,” Bratt explained after slotting home the winning goal. His strike not only secured a victory in the closing match but also brought Tre Kronor to a total of five points—matching Canada’s tally—despite their earlier exit from tournament contention.
Earlier in the competition, when Canada defeated Finland 5-3, it was clear that Sweden’s journey was effectively over. With two overtime losses already on record, the final game was seen as largely inconsequential by both teams. Yet, Sweden’s win allowed them to finish the tournament on a positive note. Expert Håkan Loob praised Bratt’s performance, noting that while the team showed flashes of brilliance, some key players like Elias Petterson and William Nylander could have stepped up further.
Word of the week
KROSS [KRAWSS]
Swede Hollow: The Book That Tells Their Story
Attribution: Amazon. Cover of Swede Hollow by Ola Larsmo.
Last week, we received numerous comments and reactions to our episode on "Swede Hollow" in St. Paul, Minnesota. The story of the Swedish slum provides a contrast to the usual narratives told. In response to the interest in this place, its people, destinies, and lives unfolding here, we would like to take this opportunity to recommend a book by the Swedish author Ola Larsmo (translated by Tiina Nunnally), who has dedicated extensive time to investigating this location.
Based on the stories he has gathered from his visits and research, Larsmo has penned a novel depicting life in the creek. In the book, we encounter Swedish-Americans facing a reality marked by harsh working conditions, illness, and sudden outbreaks of raw violence. But together, they build a life on the outskirts of the burgeoning industrial city of St. Paul, scorned and exposed to the contempt of the world around them, but still holding onto dreams of "making their way up to the street."
By clicking here, you can learn more about the book and order a copy for yourself. Beyond acquiring an incredible book, it's also a wonderful way to show support for our newsletter, as a portion of each sale will contribute to supporting our efforts.