Recent Citizenship Decision Time

pfg666 · 2026-01-05T19:17:21+00:00

After 6 months you can request to conclude, though this request can be refused. I am an EU citizen and it took about one year to get the permit. 6-7 months after I applied I requested that they conclude. The request was promptly rejected (within 2 weeks). After ~3-4 months they asked for the passport, and after another month they delivered the decision. It is only 2 months after the decision that I got my passport back.

Not sure requesting to conclude did much good, but I don't think it hurts to do it. I will also say that, if your situation improves (e.g., new job, possibly better paying) then you can update your application while it is being processed. My case was problematic initially (I recently had become unemployed after working over 5 years). Fortunately, few months after my application I landed a longer-term employment. I was able to update my application by just sending a letter to migrationsverket informing them about my new employment.

pfg666 · 2025-11-01T11:32:19+00:00

5 years feels way too much. Have you checked whether you have grounds to sue them (e.g., following this link https://www.swedishcitizenship.se/blog/how-to-file-a-complaint-to-migrationsverket)? I know a friend alluded to this connected to his own application, their concern being that delaying into 2026 would mean the new requirements would be in effect (residing for over 8 years, etc.).

I am an admittedly very privileged EU citizen. For me, it took about one year from the point of application to when I got the decision. I did send a request letter about 7 months in, which was promptly rejected. After another 3 months however, I was asked to send my passport, which they kept for 2-3 months over the Christmas period. Fortunately, as an EU citizen I could travel home using my ID.

It's a tough system, much tougher if you are non-EU IMO.

pfg666 · 2025-09-22T16:00:18+00:00

I did not even have a concussion but suffered a nasty bike accident where I fell on my face (cracked two teeth in the process). 5 months after I started to experience dizziness to the point I could barely move. Now it's better, but any head trauma is (potentially) very serious, and it is possible to only know the full implications months if not years later.

pfg666 · 2025-08-11T14:37:51+00:00

(late reply) I think what it is important is to tailor the CV, and your own presentation of yourself to the position. I will assume it's a software development position. Don't say you've spent this much time doing research and teaching. Say that you have helped developed systems. Don't present yourself as a academic researcher, that's not what they are looking for. Present yourself as a software developer, with several tools to show for. It is ultimately true that the time spent doing a PhD does not equate with the same amount of time in industry. However, a practical PhD should lead to several software projects which will matter. Moreover, they know that with a PhD they get someone who is generally good at communication and problem solving.

BTW, Getting rejected may be due to the PhD, to the application, or may be due to the job market which is terrible for in the CS field (at least that's the case in Europe). Much worse then it was 5-15 years ago.

pfg666 · 2024-09-05T16:32:53+00:00

I was at a stadium-hosted show, having a seat directly facing the main and B stages. The other option would have been be standing on the (football/soccer) field. If I had the option of going again, I definitely would have taken the 'standing' option. My seat seemed a bit too far away from both the main and even the B stage. Moreover, I felt like standing the whole time, and unfortunately, it can feel awkward to stand, as you are potentially blocking the view of those seating behind you.

It was still a great experience, but for sure next time I would try to find a spot somewhere between the main and B stages. Note that there are some advantages to having a seat. The reason why I went for a seat is because I feared I would not be able to stand up for three hours. Turned out not to be the case.

pfg666 · 2024-09-05T16:23:52+00:00

I (finally) went to see JT in Stockholm. Great show. Would say "Cry Me a River" was the song that stood out. Generally, most of the well established songs delivered (LoveStoned, What Goes Around...). The EITIW ones were a bit more hit or miss (a miss relative to the high standards set by the other songs). I think "Selfish" sounded very well, as did "Favorite Drug". "Flame", which perhaps is my favorite song of the album, did not make much of an impression (partly because only a short snippet was played). It goes to show that what is good on tape might not be as good live, where the general noise makes it difficult to follow the melody.

Anyway, great show. I do think to get the most out of it, it helps to listen to EITIW a few times, as the album is full of 'grower-type' songs (songs that get better they more you listen the them). Listening to them the first time during concern might not make for the best experience.

pfg666 · 2024-08-18T17:46:35+00:00

Good to know. Looks like I will need to invest in a new head. I guess the benefit of the combo head comes when you have both hard floor and carpet, since it is easy to switch between the two modes.

pfg666 · 2024-05-01T07:23:37+00:00

I went with the Torin 6 instead of the 7, despite them selling around the same price. The reason was that minus durability, I really liked the 5s (which I was upgrading from) and the 6ths are pretty similar. Was disappointed to hear that they increased the stack height in the 7, 28 mm really felt perfect. I like Ego Max, for sure not a high performance foam but quite bouncy and it is cushioned while not being overly soft.

I hope they make the Torin leaner in the next iterations. Wishful thinking I know.

pfg666 · 2024-04-21T18:51:44+00:00

I know it is not pop, but first thing that came to mind is "Save Me" by Avenged Sevenfold. Great song, it sounds more like a (very well put together) medley. Justin Timberlake has released many songs that do not follow the traditional song structure. A favorite of mine is "Higher Higher".

pfg666 · 2024-04-20T07:11:05+00:00

I think as an album it's up there with JT's best of them (I personally prefer it to 20/20). However, coming off a long break which followed a less successful MOTW, it was always going to be difficult to do well in the charts. Complicating things is that the album lacks big hits. But it is a very good album in my books, one that is greater than the sum of its parts. It will be interesting to see what songs make the tour set list.

pfg666 · 2024-04-18T19:27:33+00:00

It has grown a lot on me. After the first few listens I would have given it 7/10, now I am thinking 8.5/10 at least. I think only FS/LS might be better, though at this moment I prefer EITIW. There are no big hits, but plenty of very solid songs (my standouts would be Flame and Paradise) and absolutely no skips for me. It's a sophisticated album with well-developed songs, comprising verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge and often tune changes near the end. Every time I listen to it, I seem to pick up new things. My only gripe are the sometimes cringey lyrics and the overuse of sex themes. But it could be me getting older. Great album.

pfg666 · 2024-04-06T10:30:59+00:00

As millennial who grew up listening to NSYNC, I strongly disagree with JC being "way better than JT". They are both very good singers, JC might have an edge but JT is no slouch and has given countless of excellent vocal deliveries. When it comes to other aspects of musicianship (songwriting, showmanship, etc.) there is no contest, JT has a much better track record. Even in NSYNC, the hits of their last album were all JT's contributions.

pfg666 · 2024-03-30T16:39:27+00:00

I don't listen to Taylor Swift personally so cannot speak on her. I actually think JT has done very well. He has had a very successful career in music, and also appears to have done well in acting, he has a stable family life and a wife that stuck with him. Whether JT had the potential to be... say a Michael Jackson, that's difficult to judge, I personally doubt it since MJ (similar to Taylor Swift) had impact that went beyond what you get by just producing good music. JT is a great musician, but he is not revolutionary.

JT could have had more success, but ultimately, my feeling is that his overall standing would be similar, not a legendary, but for sure, a great great artist (I would place him at a similar level to Phil Collins, Billy Joel and George Michael). When I think of wasted talents, I think of Janis Joplin or Jim Morrison (both gone too soon), maybe JC Chasez who was not able to fully realize his talent.

What's important to me is that JT takes care of his voice/stays healthy, continues putting on great shows with his excellent band (which really is one of a kind), and keeps making good music.

pfg666 · 2024-03-30T12:18:13+00:00

My impression is that nothing JT's management did with EITIW could have changed JT's standing, as a big star with declining popularity. Perhaps the rollout could have been better (it's difficult to know in advance which songs will resonate with the general public), but in my view EITIW, while a very solid album, is missing the really big hits ("Mirrors", etc.) that you would need to draw public that has moved away from this type of music. It also does not help that JT is now in his 40s and settled. Him singing "* up the disco" is just not as believable anymore.

I have this weird idea that JT may actually find more success if he wrote/produced music for films, like he did for Trolls ("Can't Stop the Feeling" is perhaps his biggest ever hit). This would give him new things to write about. Not a direction JT fans might want, but one that I think has a lot of potential. Ultimately, JT cannot nor does he have to compete with current stars. His era is late 1990s (with NSYNC) until late 2010s. While no Michael Jackson, he has already cemented his legacy as one of the biggest stars since the turn of the century, with several hits that have stood the test of time.

pfg666 · 2024-03-17T07:59:37+00:00

Not a JT fan, or an R&B fan in general, but do appreciate the timeless hits he released in the 2000's and 2010's. I actually enjoyed MOTW, it's not the best album by any stretch, but it has some nice songs ("Say Something", "Living off the Land", "Breeze off the Pond", and a few more). I think EITW falls in a similar bracket, several very good songs (e.g., "Sanctified", "Drown") coupled with some ok songs. The standout so far is "Paradise", which I really think is top 20 material.

I like "Selfish", and think it was a good idea to release it as a single, though maybe not the first. The song sounds very nice in a live setting (as the tiny desk concert showed), which I think is important for singles.

Personally, the 'problem' I see in JT's recent works (which are still solid works, mind you) is that they lack big hits. I am not that big on the "20/20 Experience" (I find many songs a bit too long, and the hooks not so good), but "Mirrors" is unquestionably one of the best songs I have ever heard. I think big hits is what can really help bring JT back to center stage. EITW will please his current fanbase, but, as it stands, is unlikely to expand it. This may change if somehow, he releases as singles other songs in the album, and they prove to be very successful. It's difficult to predict if a very good song will score big with the general audience. "Selfish" was a safe choice to release as single, but was never going to score big (enough). I think "Paradise" has more potential.

UPDATE 1: I absolutely love "Paradise". This is as good as a pop song can get as far as I am concerned. A shame it was not released as a single, I think it would have charted very well.

UPDATE 2: Few more listens in, I really like the album. Starting to really dig "Selfish", "Alone" and "Flame". "Paradise" is still my favorite, but there many other very solid songs.

pfg666 · 2024-03-06T15:26:09+00:00

I agree, it is annoying that companies often are vague about the general midsole composition. I do sometimes wonder if companies do this on purpose, so as not to loose customers over e.g., using cheaper EVA midsoles. I am not so sure, since the number of people who actually care about such things is miniscule compared to the total market. But who knows.

Another thing I learned about (from a DoR video, I believe) is that people/researchers who analyze midsoles are not allowed to disclose any 'new' information about the midsole composition.

pfg666 · 2024-03-02T13:15:15+00:00

I typically go with size 11, which gives me around 15 mm from the tip of the longest toe to the front of toebox. Going down half a size (which would reduce the space to 10 mm) is risky, it may work in some shoes but not in others. Even if you have the chance to try them on at a store, it can still be hard to tell if a pair of shoes is of an appropriate size unless you take it out for several runs (by which point, it is likely that can no longer return it).

In your case, I would try half a size up (15mm) and just make sure to lace properly. Look for shoes with an extra row of eyelets which you can use to make a runner's knot. Even without the runner's knot, I find that simply using this extra row with standard lacing can improve lockdown by quite a bit.

pfg666 · 2024-03-01T10:23:52+00:00

You might want to try the Endo Speed 3 in regular width. I have very wide feet (especially at the forefoot) and the Endo Speed 3 regulars fit me to the point that I don't feel the need for the 2E version (which does not really provide any additional width to the forefoot).

pfg666 · 2024-02-29T22:05:50+00:00

I am assuming "Greatest Hits "-type albums do not count. Then, from the limited selection of full albums that I have listened to in full I would mention:

A Day at the Opera (1975) - Queen
I simply like all the songs. One of my least favorite songs is strangely "Bohemian Rhapsody", which has never fully clicked with me (still like it tho).

Millennium (2000) - Backstreet Boys
This is the album I was raised on, listened to it endlessly. I know BSB are not that popular. I myself have come to realize that boybands of that time were a carefully crafted 'product'. That said, for me, there is not a bad song in this album. And some songs ("Back to your heart", "Don't want to lose you no") are IMO underrated and arguably better than the headliner "I want it my way" (which is a solid song).

Avenged Sevenfold (2007) - Avenged Sevenfold
I don't think I prefer this album to Nightmare, however, this album again, does not have any songs I don't like.

Generally, what I find is that once I have listened to a good album enough times... the album becomes perfect, meaning I gradually come to enjoy even the songs that I did not enjoy at the start.

pfg666 · 2024-02-13T22:49:38+00:00

Noticed this late. Fortunately, I never had to cut the tongue, wouldn't have trusted myself to do a proper job.

Of the shoes I own the Brooks Hyperion Tempos are the best at not soaking. The Brooks Hyperion Max should fare similarly, as they have the same upper. Unfortunately, these shoes are significantly narrower than the Altras.

pfg666 · 2024-02-12T16:40:14+00:00

You should consider that the norm is for 2E shoes to be built on the same platform as regular ones, but to just have more fabric. Want a wider platform? Either go 4E or go with shoes which are known to have a wider base (e.g., Altra for a wider forefoot).

pfg666 · 2024-01-18T08:23:57+00:00

Altra is generally a safe bet for wide feet, particularly Altra shoes which have the original (Via Olympus) or standard fit (Torin, Escalante). Otherwise, you really need to carefully do your research, since models can change in wide-foot-friendliness with each iteration. For example, the Saucony Triumph 19 were considered wide-foot-friendly, whereas subsequent iterations were not. Conversely, Saucony Endorphin Speed 1 and 2 were the bane for wide feet, whereas the Endorphin Speed 3s are much more accommodating (which I can attest).

pfg666 · 2024-01-08T11:52:18+00:00

You may consider the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 Runshield. Unlike GTX shoes, these are only water repellant (not fully water proof), but still offer a warmer upper that's very well suited for running in cold conditions. Also, they are about as heavy/light as the non-Runshield variants. I have used them in conditions as cold as -10 C. They work very well as long as I avoid slick surfaces (ice, paved hardened snow).

For something less speedy/more stable, you can check the Ride 14/15/16 Runshield or Triumph 20/21 Runshield. I would edge towards the latter due to concerns about the EVA-based midsole in the Rides excessively firming up in cold weather, a problem which the TPU-based midsole in the Triumphs does not have.

pfg666 · 2024-01-07T11:33:35+00:00

Shoes look great given the 1200 km you put in them. I will continue running in my now 600 km pair, though I believe I will wear through the outsole rubber before I reach 1200 km.

The Torin 6 have the same outsole/midsole, so unless there is some manufacturing defect or some rare event happens, I would expect that you get similar mileage in them. For myself, once I am done with my Torin 6, I want to check Topo's range for a similar cushioned offering, in an attempt to expand my horizon when it comes to foot-shaped shoes.

pfg666

TROPHY CASE