Sweden

So here we are, two weeks into the new year, and we've had about 2 days of sunshine here in the Rockford area. Okay, maybe not two full days of it, but two days with some sunshine. Are you okay with that?

It's just not the holidays until a 43 foot goat finds itself under attack by arsonists.

There is a chance to be on a reality show in Sweden for people from Rockford with Swedish Heritage.

In the interests of full disclosure, I must tell you that I am married to a woman of Swedish decent (how did I find someone like that in Rockford?). Around holiday time, I've come to expect things like krup kakar, lutefisk, vörtbröd, and, if I play my cards right, glögg. At no time, however, in 25 years of marriage, has she suggested we set fire to a goat.

If you're a long-time Rockford resident, you're probably aware that Rockford boasts more people of Swedish ancestry per capita than anywhere else in the world. If you're one of many who can trace your roots back, why not take a minute and call a "random Swede?"

Here in Rockford, we've got SwedishAmerican Hospital (including the SwedishAmerican Heritage Center) . We also have the Stockholm Inn, the Erlander Home Museum, The Rockford Swedish Historical Society, the Midsommar Festival, the Svea Sonner Singing Society, and more people whose last name ends with the letters s-o-n than most any other place in the world outside of Sweden.

This incident could've ended much differently, and very badly. But, luckily for the young boy whose safety harness failed in the midst of an amusement ride in Sweden, a quick thinking and quick acting carnival worker saved the day. Take a look at the unnamed man's heroics: According to reports, the boy was in good spirits afterwards and completely unhurt...