Friday, October 31, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

The last warrior-king of the North

On November 30, 1718, Karl XII was killed under mysterious circumstances during the siege of Fredriksten Fortress. Even today, "the young hero king" remains one of the most debated personalities in Swedish history and is often highlighted as an example of courage and sacrifice.

Published November 30, 2024 – By Editorial staff
The body of Karl XII of Sweden is brought home from Norway.

Karl XII, one of Sweden's most legendary kings, whose reign was marked by military triumphs and a dramatic, mysterious death, continues to fascinate both historians and the Swedish public. His short but eventful life is a tale of courage, sacrifice, and a tragic final act.


This article was originally published on The Nordic Times on December 2, 2023.


Born in 1682, Karl XII ascended to the throne at the age of fifteen following the death of his father, Karl XI. He was the last monarch of the Swedish Empire, an era built up by his predecessors, and a king of his time, deeply influenced by military culture and a profound sense of duty to his kingdom.

His reign quickly became dominated by the Great Northern War, where his leadership and military prowess were put to the test. His most famous triumph was the Battle of Narva in 1700, where a smaller Swedish force defeated a Russian army more than three times its size. This victory, achieved through what is often described as tactical brilliance and personal courage, cemented Karl XII's reputation as one of history's great military leaders.

In the following years, Karl XII continued to lead his country in war against several European powers. He was a combative monarch, personally leading his troops in the field and often participating in battles. His tactics and courage on the battlefield made him a feared opponent and a symbol of Swedish strength and resilience.

Karl XII in the Battle of Narva. Painting: David von Krafft

The Battle of Poltava in 1709 marked a fateful turning point well-known to most Swedes. The Swedish army suffered a crushing defeat against the Russians under Peter the Great. This setback was followed by a period of difficulties and defeats. Karl XII spent several years in exile in the Ottoman Empire, a time when his kingdom simultaneously struggled to maintain its position as a European superpower.

Mysterious death

The death of Karl XII on November 30, 1718, during the siege of Fredriksten fortress in Norway remains one of the greatest mysteries in Swedish history. The details surrounding his death are still disputed and have given rise to many theories. According to some reports, he was hit by a bullet in the temple while observing enemy positions, leading to immediate death. There has also been speculation about whether the king died in an accident, an assassination, or perhaps even a murder organized by his own in some form of conspiracy.

According to investigations carried out by Finnish researchers as recently as 2022, it is most likely that Karl XII was killed by canister shot ammunition made of iron with a diameter of over 20 millimeters. They also consider it likely that the bullet was fired from the enemy in the Norwegian fortress.

Karl, who had no wife or known children, was succeeded by his sister Ulrika Eleonora, who soon abdicated in favor of her husband Frederick of Hesse. They also had no heirs, and the next Swedish king became Adolf Frederick of the House of Holstein-Gottorp. The warrior king's death definitively marked the end of Sweden's status as a great power, and the country became a less influential actor on the European stage.

Hero king or tyrant

More than 300 years after his death, Karl XII is still remembered in many circles as a bold, self-sacrificing, and uncompromising leader. His military exploits have been praised for bravery and strategic genius, but the exhausting wars have also been criticized for draining the kingdom's resources and leading to its decline as a superpower. Historians usually say that Karl's death marked a definitive end to an era and the beginning of a new phase in Swedish and Nordic history.

Karl XII is often regarded as one of Sweden's most important monarchs. Photo: Alexey M/CC BY-SA 4.0

The life and death of Karl XII have inspired numerous cultural and literary works. He has been portrayed as both a hero king and a tyrant, and his decisions and personality have been analyzed and debated for centuries. His sudden death is a legend in itself and continues to attract new generations of history enthusiasts.

In summary, it can be said that Karl XII's reign was a time of dramatic changes in Sweden and Europe. His military achievements and personal sacrifice, along with the mystery surrounding his death, make him one of the most memorable and discussed figures in all of Swedish history. His life and death are not only a part of the national memory but also an important chapter in European military history.

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Billy Idol’s new album is a celebration of punk rock

Billy Idol celebrates punk and delivers, as always, a fine mix of distorted guitars and caveman roars on his latest album Dream Into It.

Published October 26, 2025
Billy Idol will perform at Summerside 2025 in Grenchen, Switzerland.

Those of us who have missed and remember White Wedding, Rebel Yell and Mony Mony can rejoice that disco-punk-rocker William Broad, alias Billy Idol, is finally releasing a thoroughly crafted full-length album.

The title track that names the entire album also opens the record's nine tracks, forming a long-awaited album with songs that create a timeline through Billy Idol's 69-year-old life.

Billy has chosen to categorize the album's melodies into a part I and a part II. Dream Into It provides a pleasant start while the second track, titled 77, is a tribute to the year when punk broke through, which was also the starting point for Billy Idol with his early band Generation X. The best song in part I is the energetic and confident John Wayne.

The arrangements are tasteful with guitar solos created by longtime collaborator Steve Stevens. Part II opens with an interesting collaboration with female rock front woman and I Love Rock 'n Roll icon Joan Jett in the aptly titled Wildside.

It's a cool album both musically with occasionally recurring delicious synth lines, which are sometimes beautiful and sometimes impactful. Steve contributes with effect pedals so that the songs at times flow and soar away, reaching more dimensions and thereby going deeper, even giving goosebumps.

Cool guitar solos

The musicians who contributed are Billy Idol as lead vocalist and backing vocalist, Steve Stevens on guitar and backing vocals, Tommy English on synth, guitar and backing vocals, Chris Chaney on bass and Josh Freese on drums. Some melodies feature guest musicians including Glen Sobel with drums on the song Dream Into It, Joe Janiak on keyboard in Dream Into It, I'm Your Hero and Still Dancing. Nick Long contributes guitar on the songs 77 and Wildside.

The entire paper sleeve breathes punk rock with elements of fresh synth lines and cool guitar solos. Cover photo is by David Raccuglia. Art Director design by Shepard Fairey and Studio Number One. The cool CD sleeve also protects the CD with an extra disc sleeve just like an LP record has, and the same shocking pink color recurs throughout the sleeve.

Hard and soft

The best track after listening through this work of art is John Wayne. The composition has that delicious, captivating Billy Idol energy and features another artist collaboration with vocals by Alison Mosshart.

It would feel motivating and liberating if Sweden Rock or Time To Rock (major Swedish rock festivals) would treat their audiences to this rock icon meeting in 2026.

Billy masters this art of moving between sensualism, eroticism, and then transitioning to distorted guitars and caveman roars, yet always in incredibly stylish chord and harmony progressions. There's balance between hard and soft, sensual and bombastic.

In summary, we can note what a success factor it became to cross the punky Generation X chromosomes with disco, rock, blues, soul, funk royal Bill(y) chromosomes.

A final tip for those who want to get to know William Broad, alias Billy Idol, is to read the autobiography: Dancing With Myself.

One can only conclude, Billy Idol – in the service of music!

 

Mikael Rasmussen alias Artist Razz

 

 

Dream Into It is Billy Idol's ninth album and was released on April 25, 2025 by Dark Horse Records.

Diddy challenges conviction after four-year sentence

Published October 21, 2025 – By Editorial staff
The prosecutor had requested 11 years in prison – the detention lasted 14 months.

Rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs was sentenced in October to four years in prison and fines for prostitution-related crimes. Now the 55-year-old is appealing the conviction.

It was last year that it emerged that a number of women had accused Diddy of, among other things, serious sexual assault and human trafficking. In September last year, Combs was charged with racketeering, sex trafficking, and pimping, and he was arrested in New York City.

In May this year, the trial against Combs began, where the rapper was already acquitted in July of the most serious charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering.

In early October, he was convicted of what is called "transportation for the purpose of promoting prostitution" after transporting two women, one of whom was his then-girlfriend Cassandra Ventura, across state lines for prostitution purposes. Combs was sentenced to four years and two months in prison, supervised release for an additional five years, and $500,000 in fines, reports BBC.

Diddy's lawyers have announced that they will appeal the conviction, reports The New York Times. However, it remains unclear on what grounds.

The prosecutor sought 11 years in prison, while the defense sought 14 months – of which 13 months had already been served as Combs had been held in custody.

Battlefield 6 breaks sales records – hailed as the series’ comeback

Published October 18, 2025 – By Editorial staff

After the failure of Battlefield 2042, the game series is now delivering a decisive comeback. Battlefield 6 sells over seven million copies during the game's first three days and receives glowing reviews from Swedish gaming media, who believe the game finally delivers what fans have been waiting for.

At the same time, the game, like previous titles in the series, suffers from typical Americanization that at times contributes to a silly impression.

Electronic Arts can confirm that Battlefield 6 has become the biggest launch in the series' history. During the first three days, over seven million copies were sold, while 172 million matches were played online and 15 million hours were streamed on various platforms.

We never take moments like these for granted, so I want to express our sincere gratitude to our global Battlefield studios and the passionate community that has helped us reach this point, says Vince Zampella, head of the Battlefield series.

The success is remarkable considering that its predecessor, Battlefield 2042, received devastating criticism for its technical problems at launch. To turn the tide, Electronic Arts invested in Battlefield Labs, a program where players could influence development through continuous feedback.

Byron Beede, general manager for Battlefield, emphasizes the strategy's importance:

From the initial concept through the implementation of Battlefield Labs and into the record-breaking open beta, we have been obsessed with player feedback.

Swedish reviewers impressed

Swedish gaming magazine FZ gives the multiplayer portion high marks and highlights how different player classes complement each other. The review notes that the game succeeds even when you're not dominating: "Even when I don't go 28-0 in a match and dominate opponents, it's fun to play," and summarizes the experience as "a bullseye and a powerful comeback for the series," according to reviewer Joel.

GameReactor is equally enthusiastic and calls the game the series' rebirth. The reviewer highlights the large-scale battles for up to 64 players and the extensive environmental destruction. "It's fast, brutal and penetrates concrete in a way you won't soon forget," writes GameReactor and concludes: "Saddle up, lock and load - Battlefield is back."

Typical Battlefield scene where players get the opportunity to fight on land, water and in the air. Photo: EA

Campaign functions as introduction

The single-player campaign receives more mixed reviews. FZ describes it as "a fairly generic military story" that nevertheless functions well as an introduction to multiplayer mode. GameReactor is somewhat more positive and emphasizes the campaign's visual quality: "When we maneuver vehicles across large surfaces in environments that are among the biggest I've experienced in a game of this type during the later part – while all hell breaks loose, then Battlefield Studios also shows what this is all about."

Technically stable but silly experience

On the technical front, reviewers are unanimous. FZ reports that the game runs completely stable: "Not once have I noticed anything like that (lag, editor's note) on console."

GameReactor confirms the quality and states briefly: "On the technical side, there is very little to complain about."

Among the more typical elements in modern game titles, Battlefield 6 also features typical Americanization, and the game has symptomatic multicultural elements of minorities with macho culture and NATO character, which at times makes the experience silly and flat.

Facts about the Battlefield series

Battlefield is a series of first-person shooter games developed by Swedish game studio DICE and published by Electronic Arts. The first game, Battlefield 1942, was launched in 2002 and became known for its large-scale multiplayer battles with up to 64 players and the ability to use vehicles such as tanks, helicopters, and fighter jets.

The series has since released numerous titles set in different time periods, from World War I and II to modern and futuristic warfare. Among the most successful games are Battlefield 3 (2011), Battlefield 4 (2013), and Battlefield 1 (2016).

Battlefield 2042, released in 2021, became a commercial and critical failure due to technical problems and lack of requested features. Battlefield 6 is the series' sixth numbered main game and marks a return to modern warfare.

Unjabbed: For singles who didn’t take the COVID vaccine

The criticized covid vaccinations

Published October 12, 2025 – By Editorial staff
"Don't give up. Anything worth achieving needs work", is the message from Unjabbed's founder Antonetta.

After conventional dating apps didn't meet her needs, Antonetta decided for various reasons to start a dating site for people who didn't take the COVID vaccine. On Unjabbed.net, people can meet others seeking love or friendship.

In 2023, Antonetta chose to use a popular dating app in an attempt to find love. Since she wanted to find like-minded people, she was also open about not having taken the COVID vaccine. This resulted in Antonetta's account being repeatedly deleted. She doesn't know why her account was removed, but she suspected it was related to her honesty about the COVID vaccine. Instead, she tried another app and chose not to explicitly state that she hadn't taken the COVID vaccine, but used various hints such as "believe in natural health", "avoid synthetic chemicals", and "seeking people who took the red pill". There she got a bunch of matches, but no one understood her hints and most of those she talked to had taken the COVID vaccine.

In the wake of this, Unjabbed.net was born, a dating and friendship site for those who didn't take the COVID vaccine. Since 2023, it has attracted thousands of members from several countries, but users are primarily from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. In Sweden, there are a few hundred members at the time of writing. Worth noting is that the site only exists as a website, not an app. The app that exists with the same name is from a different creator, according to Antonetta.

Several dating sites also participated in marketing COVID vaccine campaigns during 2021, according to Antonetta. For example, Tinder created labels where people could fill in whether they had taken the COVID vaccine or not. After the site launched, she received responses from members that they had also had bad experiences on conventional dating sites.

"After starting unjabbed.net, several members told me they couldn't find anyone on conventional dating apps and as soon as they said they were unvaccinated they were either insulted or had their accounts deleted or felt their accounts were being hidden in search results or restricted in some way", Antonetta tells The Nordic Times.

Financially challenging

Starting a new dating site is not always an easy path. To be visible, you need marketing and advertising - something that costs a lot of money. The site was free until last year when they chose to introduce a membership fee to afford reaching out to other singles who didn't take the COVID vaccine. However, Antonetta wanted the amount to be affordable compared to many other dating sites and apps, which can cost up to 60 dollars for three months, and also charge for sending messages.

"Our website just charges $16 USD for a whole year and we don't charge for individual messages".

The advantage of charging is also that many people think twice before creating an account, and it also prevents spam, says Antonetta. However, it's possible to create a free account as well, but you don't have all the features on the site.

Several have found love

Despite unjabbed.net being relatively newly started, Antonetta says she has received messages from people who found each other on her site.

"One couple donated 50 dollars to us and told us they had met on our website and are now married. A woman contacted us and said she's getting married to the man she met on our website. So it works!"

Tips for finding the right match

If you're planning to create an account, Antonetta recommends both writing something about yourself and having photos. If you want to be more anonymous, you can, for example, upload a picture in sunglasses or similar. She also suggests writing something that can create a conversation.

"People can write anything. What are their thoughts on the future of the world? What line of work are they in? What are their hobbies? Favorite places in the world to visit? Funny stories", she suggests.

She also advises that it's more advantageous to write to people in your own country than outside the border. It partly signals that you've given up hope in your country, but it's also very difficult to make long-distance relationships work. Furthermore, she also suggests spreading information about the site in your own city; there may be singles who didn't take the COVID vaccine but missed that there's a dating site for this purpose.

There is hope

Finding like-minded people can be difficult, and even though more and more people show understanding for those who chose not to take the COVID vaccine, there are still many who believe it was wrong not to take it. At the same time, Antonetta encourages unvaccinated singles to dare to go out and talk to people they meet in stores, in town, or on the bus. You never know who you might meet there. Finally, she also wants to say that you shouldn't give up hope on love.

"Don't give up. Anything worth achieving needs work".

Number of members at the time of writing on Unjabbed.net by country

  • USA: 1349
  • United Kingdom: 872
  • Canada: 984
  • Australia: 249
  • New Zealand: 68
  • France: 501
  • Germany: 705
  • Italy: 234
  • Belgium: 142
  • Switzerland: 70
  • Spain: 76
  • Portugal: 42
  • Denmark: 129
  • Norway: 204
  • Sweden: 479
  • Netherlands: 1019
  • Japan: 25
  • Ireland: 63

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