Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

Viking festival in Gudahagen

Reporter Mikael Rasmussen alias Artist Razz visited the Viking Market at Gudahagen sacred site in Näsum, Skåne, which celebrated its 15th anniversary last weekend. In true Viking spirit, the market offered quality handicrafts, food, culture and, of course, the occasional Viking roar.

Published 5 October 2024
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4 minute read

During the weekend of September 14th and 15th, the Viking Days became more of a Viking festival with jesters, musicians, merchants, lecturers and ordinary people, a crowd-pleasing, family-friendly market offering quality crafts, food and culture.

Here you could find honey, herbal ointments, pungent spices, and solid wood and blacksmithing crafts. The range of handmade clothing, leather bags and headdresses added to the atmosphere. All the senses were stimulated by the occasional clash of swords, the beautiful sounds of instruments such as drums, fiddles, cranks, and strong, clear male and female voices.

In an enclosure, the audience could participate in Strong Man and Strong Woman. For example, it was a show of strength to lift a cannonball, place it on a meter-high standing log, and immediately drop it back to the ground. The competition was to see how many times they could lift the ball. Another element was to lift a heavy log, hold it with outstretched arms, wait for a signal from the judge, and then repeat the lift with the addition of taking one step backward.

In another enclosure, the audience could see and hear Vikings fighting energetically, wielding swords with fervor and charming presence in period armor. The Viking warriors offered Viking roars, mighty blows and fragrant energy, so that it felt as if we were back in the hard, cruel and final 1000s of the Viking Age.

Other elements offered during these days were lectures on the chosen theme: funerals and the funeral procession. How did it happen? Was it like in the Hollywood movies? What does a Viking grave look like? Yes, there were many questions, but the answers were also explained by archaeologist and lecturer Andreas Forsgren, who vividly described the various scenarios that it is unlikely that the body was placed on something like a ship, then set on fire and finally sent out to sea. No, I don’t think any of the neighbors wanted to see burnt bones floating to a neighboring beach.

Instead, the Viking bodies were buried in the ground and then they made some kind of stone structure. In modern times, we can see this in certain places, like this sacred site, where the Viking festival took place, the archaeologist said.

After the lecture, more powerful experiences were offered, such as beautiful, majestic horses like the Shire horse. This allowed Viking visitors to meet the largest horse breed in the world, weighing around 900 kilograms. They demonstrated incredible riding and carriage pulling skills.

The carefully chosen location for this Viking market was the setting for respect, friendliness and the thinking process. The stalls were also uniformly presented and the next act on the program was a juggler juggling knives, axes and apples.

The show continued and the performance ended with a fire show where the juggler extinguished the torches in his pants. The torches are extinguished and the juggler bows to an enthusiastic audience.

As the day progresses, it’s time for some good food. Visitors can choose from modern grilled and boiled sausages, kebabs, game and even chili con carne, which is also available in vegetarian versions.

Yes, the day contains many stimulating delights. Handicrafts include fine drinking glasses, beautiful glass jewelry, woodwork, fine lambskins, and in total there were about 120 vendors with high quality cultural handicrafts. There was also plenty of music, with many strong voices in solo singing, choirs, and choral singing with Viking harmonies by, among others, a Viking and medieval interpreter with the artist name Medvind. With a slight headwind, the audience was treated to good theatrical and dramatic performances, with the band members dressed in historical costumes, mastering the medieval instruments, the voices complementing each other, and surprised with dramatic acting that really transported the audience from the present to the Viking Age.

What makes it even more interesting to really listen and watch Medvind is that they write most of the lyrics and music that they perform. They touch on many topics that the Vikings of the Viking Age and the Middle Ages were concerned with, such as beer, brandy, the church, gods, warriors, millers and bakers. The really beautiful compositions, both delicate and beautiful in their melody, are Bittra Droppar and Vädjan. The repertoire also includes Brandagall, Pastor Rynkles Skål, Beer and Drinkjom. The music is poetic, entertaining and authentic.

The day draws to a close and the Viking celebrants, dressed in medieval costumes, have given their grateful visitors and audience an unforgettable, powerful experience. The jesters, musicians and craftsmen of the night will probably want to move on to their own more private Viking celebrations in the evening, with mead, Amanita muscaria and all sorts of erotic experiences, which the rest of us will then hear about in the songs that will be performed, and perhaps tempt us to become Viking celebrants ourselves.

See you next year in Gudahagen and thank you for a well organized Viking Festival 2024!

 

Mikael Rasmussen alias Artist Razz

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Three criminal networks responsible for half of gang violence in Sweden

organized crime

Published yesterday 10:05
– By Editorial Staff
Rawa Majid, Mikael Tenezos and Ismail Abdo lead the groups that have committed the most violent crimes during the year.
3 minute read

Foxtrot, Dalen and Rumba – three criminal networks and their leaders bear responsibility for nearly half of all gang violence that has led to personal injuries or deaths in Sweden during 2025.

Despite extensive police operations following the major wave of violence in 2023, the same gang leaders continue to control their organizations and instigate violent acts from abroad, according to an internal situation report obtained by Bonnier newspaper Expressen.

The police report identifies three main actors: Foxtrot led by Rawa “Kurdish Fox” Majid, the Dalen network headed by Mikael “The Greek” Tenezos, and the Rumba network under Ismail “Strawberry” Abdo.

“There are over 50 mapped networks in Sweden that are assessed to have very high violence potential. In light of this, it is remarkable that only three networks are involved in nearly half of the violence that leads to personal injuries and/or deaths”, the police write.

Conflicts between the three networks have somewhat subsided since the 2023 wave of violence, which is reflected in statistics showing a sharp decrease in gun violence, but police simultaneously warn that this does not mean the networks have been weakened. Both Foxtrot and Dalen have instead focused on drug trafficking and carry out violent acts for payment.

Released on bail – now arrested again

The Rumba network is reported to have been weakened since leader Ismail Abdo was arrested by Turkish police in early July 2025. The arrest is considered a major success for Swedish police, as the network is suspected of extensive weapons smuggling and a long series of violent acts.

Abdo had previously been arrested in Turkey in May 2024, when he was armed with a loaded pistol and wearing a bulletproof vest. But he was released after paying the equivalent of approximately €550 in bail.

Smuggling hand grenades from the Balkans

Foxtrot, which is assessed to be the most violence-driven network, has according to police “an established logistics chain for smuggling weapons and hand grenades from the Balkans”. The network has carried out several attacks per month during 2025, primarily to strengthen its position in the drug market.

Among the notable incidents is a series in western Sweden where a shooting and four arson attacks were carried out after the network’s accomplices stole over 30 kilos of cocaine. In another case, three bombing attacks were carried out against a person’s relatives as pressure for that person to start dealing Foxtrot’s narcotics.

Rawa Majid, who left Turkey in autumn 2023, remains at large. Reports have claimed that he was detained in Iran and he has also been accused of orchestrating attacks against Israeli targets in Europe on behalf of the Iranian regime.

In January, Majid’s uncle was murdered in Husby, a Stockholm suburb. In an interrogation, Majid’s father said his son had promised not to seek revenge.

— He promised me not to do anything, the father said. When police asked where the son got information about who ordered the murder, the answer was: “He knows everything”.

Police assess that “a critical dependency for the Foxtrot network’s use of violence is likely the strategic persons who are located abroad”.

New wave of violence expected

Mikael Tenezos, the former hockey talent who leads the Dalen network, is in turn wanted in absentia but controls his network from Mexico. Despite repeated appeals from Swedish authorities, most recently in February 2025, he has not yet been arrested.

The Dalen network dominates drug trafficking in northern Sweden, with Gävle as the new central distribution point. The network also carries out violent acts for payment, primarily threats, violence and debt collection for financial criminals. The weapons used have largely come from the Rumba network’s smuggling from Turkey.

Police warn of the risk that a new major conflict could break out if Foxtrot and Dalen clash in the drug market. Both networks are assessed to have the ability to quickly scale up and carry out multiple violent acts in a short time.

Gävle restaurant shooting: Arrested 13-year-old known to police

Deteriorating safety

Published 6 October 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The image is an archive photo.
3 minute read

The arrested 13-year-old suspected of Friday’s restaurant shooting in Gävle, Sweden, was previously known to both police and social services. The incident has sparked strong concern among local residents and led to increased police presence in the area.

Police and social services have confirmed that the suspected 13-year-old is not unknown to authorities and acknowledge having had previous contact with the boy. He is now suspected of six counts of attempted murder and aggravated weapons offenses.

Information from social authorities shows that the boy has connections to a criminal group in Gävle, which has once again highlighted the vulnerability of children and young people and their involvement in gang crime.

Several local residents have expressed their fear and frustration about violence directed at the public in media interviews, calling for both immediate action and long-term solutions.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer are reportedly scheduled to visit Gävle on Monday. During the visit, they are expected to meet with police, municipal representatives, and visit the crime scene on Södra Kungsgatan where six people were injured.

The visit is intended to demonstrate the government’s commitment and willingness to show support, while also reviewing the security situation in Gävle.

Translation: “As I said. We have a f*cking uphill battle to walk, when this is what someone writes to their caseworker at social services after just having shot six people, with unclear outcome regarding survival.

‘Check the news hehe’“.

Translation: “The suspected 14-year-old behind the mass shooting in Gävle Sweden is linked to a local gang in the Sätra district, G15. The gang has previously been involved in several shootings”.

Police: Clear picture of the sequence of events

Following Friday’s shooting, police have increased their presence in the area to create safety and stability.

This type of incident creates insecurity, which is why we will continue to be visible and available to the public in places where many people move around, says a representative from the investigation section in Gävleborg County.

The investigation is ongoing at full capacity, and police report that they have a clear picture of the sequence of events.

Meanwhile, responsibility for the boy now also lies with social services, which must decide what measures should be taken. It remains unclear whether the arrested boy will continue to be held in custody.

Friday’s serious violent crime in Gävle has once again focused attention on the problem of young people involved in serious crime and gang criminality. Municipal representatives in Gävle have promised to intensify efforts to support vulnerable youth and prevent them from falling into criminal paths.

Six people were injured in the shooting. All were taken to hospital by ambulance, and three of them are still receiving hospital care. The injuries are mainly to the lower body, but police report that none of the injured have life-threatening injuries. The injured are young adults, and one or more are under 18 years old.

YouTubers invest in their own businesses – ad revenues are unpredictable

Published 6 October 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, has the world's largest YouTube channel with 442 million subscribers.
2 minute read

More and more YouTube personalities are reducing their dependence on ad revenue and brand partnerships and instead building their own business empires. The reason is that advertising income is unpredictable and can disappear overnight when the platform changes its policies.

YouTube has evolved into a gigantic platform that has contributed over $55 billion to the US GDP and created more than 490,000 full-time jobs. But despite the platform’s success, many of the most successful content creators have realized that it’s risky to rely solely on ad revenue, writes TechCrunch.

Many of the biggest channels have now transformed into vertically integrated media companies with product lines, physical stores and consumer brands that can survive algorithm changes. In several cases, these side businesses are growing faster than the YouTube channels themselves.

MrBeast leads the development

Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast with 442 million subscribers, is the platform’s most aggressive entrepreneur. His chocolate brand Feastables generated around $250 million in revenue in 2024 with over $20 million in profit – significantly more profitable than his YouTube content which lost approximately $80 million the same year. The first product sold over one million units and generated more than $10 million within 72 hours.

Donaldson also runs the food brand Lunchly, the toy series MrBeast Lab, the burger concept MrBeast Burger and the analytics platform Viewstats. Now he plans to establish his own mobile network.

Coffee and energy drinks as goldmine

Emma Chamberlain, with over 12 million subscribers, launched her coffee brand Chamberlain Coffee in 2019. In 2023, the brand reached approximately $20 million in revenue and in January opened its first physical store. Revenue is expected to grow by over 50 percent in 2025 and reach more than $33 million.

Logan Paul created the energy drink Prime together with KSI, which surpassed $1.2 billion in sales in 2023. However, sales have declined sharply, particularly in the United Kingdom where revenue fell by approximately 70 percent between 2023 and 2024.

Children’s audience and beauty products

Ryan’s World, hosted by 13-year-old Ryan Kaji, has expanded its brand through toys and clothing that reportedly generated over $250 million in revenue in 2020.

Within the beauty industry, Michelle Phan has founded the subscription service Ipsy and the makeup brand EM Cosmetics, while Huda Kattan built Huda Beauty which generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Other well-known makeup brands from YouTube influencers include Jeffree Star Cosmetics and Tati Beauty, showing that the beauty industry continues to be an attractive area for content creators who want to build their own business empires.

Swedish Police: Children killed while carrying out bombings for criminals

Deteriorating safety

Published 2 October 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Police urge parents to be present in their children's lives - both physically and digitally.
2 minute read

The number of bomb attacks in Sweden has increased dramatically – and increasingly, children are being exploited by criminal networks to carry them out.

Swedish police are now sounding the alarm after several young people have been injured and at least one killed while handling hand grenades and explosive charges.

The increase is dramatic. Up to August this year, 119 detonations have occurred in Sweden, compared to 76 during the same period last year, and increasingly it is children and teenagers who are carrying out bombing and arson attacks for gang criminal clients.

There are several documented cases where young people have been seriously injured, and at least one death has occurred when young people have handled explosives and flammable liquids.

— Handling flammable liquids and explosives can be deadly or cause, for example, serious burns, hearing damage or blown-off hands, emphasizes Dan Windt, operational coordinator at the Swedish police’s national operations center.

Hand grenades at preschools

Due to the ruthless exploitation, the Swedish Police Authority has launched a social media campaign targeting young people. The message is clear: never take assignments from criminals and never handle explosives – it is life-threatening. Police also urge parents to be vigilant and recognize warning signs.

— Parents and other important adults need to continue being present in children’s lives both physically and digitally. Ask lots of questions and ask for help. Contact social services in your municipality if the child is contacted by criminals, or alert police at such an early stage if you suspect your child is about to commit a crime, so we can prevent it together, Windt continues.

Many of the bombings have been carried out with smuggled hand grenades used for both revenge and extortion. On several occasions, unexploded hand grenades have been found in residential areas – even at or near preschools.

— An explosive charge or hand grenade can look many different ways. If you discover a suspected dangerous object, you should under no circumstances touch the object, keep a safe distance, warn others and alert police by calling 112, Dan Windt concludes.

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