I played when I was in he states for high school. I loved it. My cousin coaches and refs. She played all through high school. It is a great sport. Just tell her to duck if the ball is heading for her head :D

Well the five largest groups this year are from (in descending order): Syria, Eritrea, stateless, Somalia and Iraq. I am sure some of them are skilled, but none of them speak Swedish which means that they have to learn Swedish before they can get a job. It does put a burden on our tax system because we house, feed, clothed and school them until they can do so themselves. I personally don't mind and neither does the majority here, but a growing vocal minority do mind and that is impacting our political system and our politics which I do NOT like. They do have children. There is a shortage of teachers who teach Swedish as a second language. But we manage.

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!

How do you know we don't do that? I lobby my congress woman (who does a great deal of what I already want) and I don't live in the US (although I am a US citizen). I DO live in a country, which, proportionately to it's size takes FAR more asylum seekers each year than the US does. Here is the most up to date stats As you can see we are doing our fair share here and quite frankly many people in MY country are getting VERY tired of taking in refugees from conflicts that the US has meddled in and then left. Thankyouverymuch.

Not well, see my answer above for my issues with it. I think we in the northern parts of Europe could do more. I am not saying we are doing it right in Europe right now. Not by any streach of the imagination.

I don't actually like the law about having to seek asylum in the first EU country as I think it places an unfair burden on countries such as Italy and Greece who have suffered under the economic problems. It was one of the big issues for me in our recent EU elections and will play a part in our coming parliamentary elections. I actually think Sweden could take more refugees.

My understanding is that they show up without proper documents to stay here you can apply for asylum. It is difficult to enter Sweden illegally as our neighbours can come and go as they like without visas. According to European legislation you have to apply for asylum in the first EU country you reach. If you are coming to Sweden any other way than by air you almost have to pass through some other European country. If you come by air you have to show your passport and therefore the asylum process is started. You can also enter the country and then start the asylum process. You don't have to do that at the border. It isn't really an issue that we discuss here as we have a process that people go through. While they are going through that process we help them financially so that they have a place to live, food to eat, clothes to wear, and schooling for their children. We (as a country) believe that this is our responsibility as citizens of the world.

How do you mean legally? Are they showing up with their asylum claim processed? No Are they showing up with visas or visa waivers? No They are simply showing up at our borders. We don't call them legal or illegal, we simply call them asylum seekers and we determine if they can stay in our country once they are here. They become illegal once their claim has been denied. Right now no one from Syria is having their claim denied, nor I think is anyone from Somalia (I could be wrong there but I am to lazy to look it up right now :))

Welcome to the world my friend. Europe has had this "problem" for years. We are learning to cope. Sweden took 4000 unaccompanied minor refugees last year. Not so many in sheer numbers but consider that this is 4% of our population, and the 52,000 are 1.5% of the US population you might understand the scale. Our numbers are also up by almost 50% in a years time. This on top of about 50,000 other asylum seekers last year. Our numbers this year are much higher due to the conflict in Syria, anyone coming from Syria gets automatic asylum here right now. Last year one of our largest groups came from Somalia, many of whom are illiterate in their own language. But to answer your question, probably not, BUT I think individual communities can probably care for smaller numbers. If each state takes 1100 of those children you have soon spread the 52,000. And as others have said, many of these children actually have relatives in the country. Not all need to go into the foster care system, at least not long term.

Which is why they are being moved to other parts of the country. Or at least were before some people so kindly decided to protest this /sarcasm

In Europe we have a lot more of the refugees from Africa, while Australia has a lot from Asia. Geography would explain a the difference in where refugees are going. Although in Sweden we have a large percentage of teenage Afghan boys.

But under current laws in those countries and states that allow euthanasia the otherwise healthy depressed teen or middle aged man would not be allowed the medically assisted suicide He can take my place during the summer. I LOVE the heat :) I live n Sweden where we have universal healthcare. I've never had to wait for an emergency. My friends teen daughter (adopted from China despite my friend being able to have more biological children for those keeping score) found a lump in her breast. She got a doctors appointment that day. She had a mammogram and biopsy 5 days later and the results within a week (just a fibroid). All this to a grand total of no monies paid. I could keep giving examples so your vague friends had to wait is rather moot Agree and this needs to be repeated a gazillion times Again this needs to be repeated

And here is another definition http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brain%20washing 1 : a forcible indoctrination to induce someone to give up basic political, social, or religious beliefs and attitudes and to accept contrasting regimented ideas I think this definition shows that parents CAN brainwash their children. I have seen nearly grown children of parents who follow a very strict interpretation of the Bible give up dreams because their parents convince them that this is what the Bible tells them to do. This particular family went from fairly main stream to very radical fundamentalism in a few years. I would say their kids are definitely brainwashed

Blueberries are also constipating

Dalarna :)

Well since I'll be going to Sweden in two weeks too I won't be jealous ;) for me it is going home, I'm in the US for two weeks for my holiday :)

One of My colleagues, on those days when she hates her job, dreams of working in the candle and napkin section :) We took our retail students to IKEA for a field trip this year :)

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy read by Stephen Fry

For me? No. My closest one is half an hour away, across the street from the mall. My second closest one is IN a mall. IKEA is becoming part of my regular shopping. At my closest one people often stopp for luch on their way to go skiing as it is on the road to one of the major skiing destinations. But I'm in Sweden ;) Which brings me to... When I lived in Edinburgh I would go to IKEA and buy food when I was feeling homesick :)

Thank you for the information Alice and those who posted the schedule

See this is is my thinking, yes we didn't get vaccinated against all the illnesses because the vaccines didn't exist. I can understand those who use a delayed schedule but part of me also worries about a bit of a slippery slope. I figure the vaccines are done at those times for good reasons

I'm not in the US, what are kids getting besides those?

As someone who has permanent health problems due to a childhood bout of Pertussis I cannot share this article to often. Vaccinating isn't just about protecting you it is also about protecting others.

I thought this was pretty common knowledge. But I suppose a reminder in the summer is good.

Well I'm reading Percy Jackson. :)