A Day at the Psychologist

Any resemblance to real or fictional characters is purely coincidental.

Frasier: So you are having trouble with a depression you say?

Ruben: Yes, you could say that. Not 'sad-sad' but a little depressed, yes.

Frasier: And why is that do you think?

Ruben: Well, it started out about a year ago when I graduated from High School. I got a quite good grade, above average, but it didn't grant me a place at medical school…

Frasier: Ahh, medical school… where you learn the essence of intelligent thinking, achieve a deeper knowledge, you stop being someone and become something! – I still remember when I went to Harvard, one of the most excellent…

Ruben: Excuse me Dr. Crane, could we stick to my problem?

Frasier: Yes yes, of course – your grade didn't grant you a place at medical school…

Ruben: So I decided to do a retake and now I have the maximum grade possibly achievable in the Swedish school system but I am still not granted a place at medical school. I know I don't have the best result on the University Test…

Frasier: I'm sorry Ruben, I must stop you there. What is a University Test?

Ruben: Well, it's rough translation from Swedish: Högskoleprovet. It is a test that is supposed to test logical thinking, mathematics, languages, and specific words.

Frasier: A bit like the English UKCAT then?

Ruben: Yes, you could say. But with tricky words you're supposed to know – like sanguine or…

Frasier: You don't know – what sanguine means?!

Ruben: Maybe the opposite of genuine, I don't know. But the point is…

Frasier: For heaven's sake, no wonder you weren't let in to medical school. Sanguine is everything you're not at the moment: cheerful and confident! Ruben, listen to me: Maybe you're not sad because you're not granted a place at medical school but you are sad because you think you want to go to university, when in fact you don't.

Ruben: What do you mean?

Frasier: I mean, you can manage just fine without any education. In Sweden, for example, you can enjoy a high salary as a manager without any particular education, and since you're a man you will earn more than any woman, even if they've gone to university. Maybe university is not for you.

Ruben: Well, that's true but I've always liked to think of myself as a doctor, or neurologist to be specific…

Frasier: I'm sorry, but I can't see that happening – so will you trust me, Ruben. Will you do that? Trust me? You do not want to go to university.

Ruben: But…

Frasier: Will you trust me?

Ruben: Ok, sure – university is maybe not for me. Thank you Dr. Crane.

Frasier: My pleasure. Oh, I see our time's up. I'll see you next week.

We won’t get fooled again

Lately, many angry columnists in Swedish papers have written about the new FRA-law, which makes it legal for military authorities to listen to civilian communications. Their writings have not so much created a debate, as converted people to hateful rebels who spam the government with protest e-mails.

...[A]s long as you don't write "Bombing, 1800, Stockholm Central Station" in your
e-mail header you'll be just fine.

I, on the other hand, was prepared since this law has been discussed since 2005 (when the previous government ruled the country). People who think this came unexpectedly should think again, although I can agree that the FRA-law has been hushed down a bit, which could be perceived as worrying, but I am not worried and here's why:
What people seem to think is that the government will use information collected from citizens to control us. I am pretty confident that no Gestapo constables will come knocking our doors, angrily pointing at an e-mail which possibly could be perceived as a threat against the nation. Those of you who are afraid of the possible privacy infringements that the new FRA-law leaves in its wake can take a deep breath; they will not read your love letters. Can you imagine how much information is exchanged between people in Sweden? Can you imagine how little manpower (or in this case computer power) FRA really has? They can't even theoretically interpret all this information exchanged between people. This will not be 1984 or any other police-state-oh-my-god-dictatorship movie, and as long as you don't write "Bombing, 1800, Stockholm Central Station" in your e-mail header (which actually a wannabe-rebel, writing in the local paper, suggested everyone should do) you'll be just fine. So please don't get fooled by what this law implicates.

Speaking of fooled; the iPhone (3G version) has now come to Sweden. No need to get too excited though as you will pay around 8 000 SEK ($1 350, £680 or €850) in total. Seems a bit too much for a phone with touchscreen (yes, I hear you Apple fans screaming "it's not just a phone, it's a revolution", but to me it's just another phone).
Have a great holiday and for those of you who didn't get it: We won't get fooled again is one of The Who's best songs.