Copasetic Flow

This is by far, the coolest use for a vacuum cleaner I've ever seen! Tim 'Tool Time' Taylor would be green with envy. Here in Sweden, people don't take their trash to the curb anymore. That's very old school. Here... it gets sucked to the curb! Meet the DISAB P210/9-1812 . This bad boy can produce up to -900 mbars of vacuum using 200 kW to service your trash disposal needs! You simply put your trash in the handy indoor receptacle: And... a few days later, a DISAB P210/9-1812 will literally suck it out of the building! These guys are elusive. I spotted the first one two weeks ago, and even today, I could only get video of the hose retraction. Hopefully I'll get better footage soon!

The weather's still trying to make up it's mind here in Stockholm. Last week there was snow on the ships in Ringvagen Chanel, but the sun was making its way back out by Saturday!

Anybody else see anything odd here, (like an eye in the clouds above the buildings on the right)? Or do I just need more coffee this morning?

While wondering around Stockholm, I found a building that had what appeared to be Scottish Rite symbols on its entrance. It is the home of the Tempel Riddare Ordens in Stockholm. Of course, wikipedia had the anwer . It turns out that this is an organization that probably has Masonic roots and was founded in the United States in 1845 as part of the temperance movement. It was originally known as the "Marshall Temperance Fraternity" and promoted complete abstinence from alchoholic beverages. It now exists only in Scandanavia and is know as Tempel Riddare Ordens. Another Masonic tie: From the Charge of the Entered Apprentice Degree: "... and [a duty] to yourself, in avoiding all irregularity and intemperance, which may impair your faculties, or debase the dignity of your profession. ..."

This week's Business of the Week is: Nirvana Design Group Where you can get: Now, this is an awesome place to work! Web design, fashion, photography, and kite surfing all in one place! Talk about one stop shopping! And speaking of kite surfing, here's a few kite surfers in Tel Aviv, about this time last year.

Yesterday, I added a little curiosity entry about a school I came across in Stockholm. The northern side of the school was emblazoned with what appeared to be several Masonic symbols. I wondered what it was, so I did a little digging, and here's what I found. First, here are references to the sources: Symbols of Growth: The Decoration of Swedish Schools 1890-1920 from Article 4, Inferno Volume VIII, 2003 1 THE SWEDISH CONSTITUTION, Nordic Esotericism in Baroque Splendour by W.Bro Alex G. Davidson The school pictured is the Adolf Fredrick Folkskola. The school and the symbols are mentioned in the 'Decoration' article: "The towering north edifice is emblazoned with blue and gold shields representing school subjects, each pierced by a beam of light from the sun and burning torch motif. The theoretical (older) subjects orbit around the sun, whilst the practical (newer) subjects emanate from the torch. The torch was a subtle play on the name of this district of Stockhol...

Dateline March 14th, 2008: Stockholm, Sweden I just spotted this on the side of a school here. How many Masonic symbols can you find? :) Does anyone know more about what this is?