An amusing look at Finland in foreign media 2005-

From Helsingin Sanomat writer Ritva Liisa Snellman, a must read.... an excerpt (the whole article covers many more topics, from Conan to Matti):

Things may come and things may go, but one subject never goes out of style: you cannot have a year without foreign journalists writing about Finnish drinking.
Estonian newspapers continued to sigh and tut-tut about male binge-drinking and the consequences, and about the ugly, fat Finnish women.
In the Serbian and Montenegran papers, Finnish drinking habits continue to prompt amazement. What is it that makes a nation turn to drink when things are so good at home?
In Slovenia they wrote that it is no shame to be seen drunk in Finland. Because alcohol is expensive, people produce home-made white lightning on stills. Readers were also generously given a recipe for the moonshine.

News in brief

• Suspects in custody over Porvoo Church arson
• ECJ protects EU citizens from US seizure of personal information for flyers. FinnAir expects little change.
• See the capital city: (more) Helsinki by webcam
  

Art

Off topic perhaps, but too good not to share. One part Dali, one part Escher, and one part wow. Rob Gonsalves is one of my new favorites. His book. Couldn't find his personal site though, only places to order (expensive) prints. If anyone knows of a better place to get prints or posters, let me know.
I can link this post back to Finland, however, by promoting also my favorite of today's artists, Kaj Stevall. This Swedish-Finn's artwork never ceases to amaze and amuse me. No wikipedia page yet exists for him it seems. I'll work on that.

Clippings - 29 May 2006

• NATO question should not be addressed til after Parliamentary elections, says Lipponen
• More fire: Porvoo Cathedral fire to be investigated as act of arson.
• Two suspects in custody in murder case of University of Helsinki economics professor Tikka
• Baltic nations becoming Scandinavia's India (in Norweigan, sorry)
• To be determined: The effects of speaking visibility on Finnish (and Euro) Paliamentary elections
  

Jeah, I was there

2006 eurovision winner song Lordi - Hard rock halleluja was sung at helsinki 26.05.2006 and breaking Guinnes World Record (50 000) by 80 000 singers.


(thanks to ryan for bringing this to my attention)

Photos from the crowd:

Eurovision + YouTube = Jes!!!

For your enjoyment

Lithuanian Parody


Lordi with finnish commentators and finnish subtitles


UK (I actually liked the school girls singing, the rapping sucked though)


Romania (This one was in my top three as well)


more to come when i have time to search for the ones worth seeing.

Lordi 5 days later

It may be nearing a week since Lordi took Eurovision for Finland, but the party isnt over yet! Tomorrow is the citywide party in Helsinki, to be televised live nationally (afterparty in Onnela!). Ill try to get some pictures.

Rovaniemi, Lordis Lapland home, is planning to name a square after the band. Various other places have promised commemoration. Meanwhile many are trying to unmask the band (literally). The only time Ive ever seen them speak was during an interview with MTV Finland. It was funny hearing a monster talk to a Finnish VJ in English with a Finnish accent. Still, generally the band refuses to talk and absolutely will not appear publically without the costumes. And why should they, after all? Its much easier to believe them as demons when you dont know who it is behind the mask.

The best thing about the whole situation though: Making Lithuania eat their words! "We are the winners... of Eurovision!"

Frinnish

It's probably a bad sign that the first thing I thought when seeing this badge:





was "Kill Denmark" (Tue the imperative from the French Tuer, to kill and Tanskaa the Finnish partitive for Denmark). Actually it means exactly the opposite, "Support Denmark," Tue coming from the Finnish verb tukea. If I'm already meshing the languages there's no hope for me when I continue my French studies in the fall, especially since I'm adding Swedish to the mix. This is why we should start language study earlier in the US...

Did I mention....

FINLAND WON EUROVISION! Yeah, it's old news now but I haven't been home to post. My deprived readers in the US may not know about the contest, but let's just say it's a big deal, and it's been joked for years that hell would freeze over before Finland ever won the contest. Wonder how the devil looks in a fur lined parka...

Finnish weather explained

+15°C / 59°F
This is as warm as it gets in Finland, so we'll start here.
People in Spain wears winter-coats and gloves.
The Finns are out in the sun, getting a tan.

+10°C / 50°F
The French are trying in vain to start their central heating.
The Finns plant flowers in their gardens.

+5°C / 41°F
Italian cars won't start.
The Finns are cruising in cabriolets.

0°C / 32°F
Distilled water freezes.
The water in the Vanda river (in Finland) gets a little thicker.

-5°C / 23°F
People in California almost freeze to death.
The Finns have their final barbecue before winter.

-10°C / 14°F
The Brits start the heat in their houses.
The Finns start using long sleeves.

-20°C / -4°F
The Aussies flee from Mallorca.
The Finns end their Midsummer celebrations. Autumn is here.

-30°C / -22°F
People in Greece die from the cold and disappear from the face of the earth.
The Finns start drying their laundry indoors.

-40°C / -40°F
Paris start cracking in the cold.
The Finns stand in line at the "grilli-kioski".

-50°C / -58°F
Polar bears start evacuating the North Pole.
The Finnish army postpones their winter survival training awaiting real winter weather.

-60°C / -76°F
Korvatunturi (the home for Santa Claus) freezes.
The Finns rent a movie and stay indoors.

-70°C / -94°F
The false Santa moves south.
The Finns get frustrated since they can't store their Kossu (Koskenkorva vodka) outdoors.
The Finnish army goes out on winter survival training.

-183°C / -297.4°F
Microbes in food don't survive.
The Finnish cows complain that the farmers' hands are cold.

-273°C / -459.4°F
All atom-based movent halts.
The Finns start saying "Perkele, it's cold outside today."

-300°C / -508°F
Hell freezes over.
Finland wins the Eurovision Song Contest.

Finnish Karaoke!!!

So, I finally did it. I sang karaoke, and in Finnish nonetheless. Together with Brunke, Miriam and Misi the fear was overcome and we had a great time doing it... even if the people listening ran out with their ears bleeding. here are some highlights- enjoy=)

Estonia II

Yesterday was another trip to Estonia. Not as many pics this time, as it had been done before, but there were a couple worth sharing. See the other posts from today for the most eventful part of the trip.

Yes, I know it's immature but no, I couldn't help myself




Misi with our divine desserts


The view from our perch


Watch your step?


Turning the tables on our personal paparazzi

Maria Danced!!!

I know i know, it seems preposterous to put those two words together, however I assure you it happened and I have the video to prove it. The Finnish gentleman sitting next to us aboard the ship had happy feet and seeing Maria just sitting there he pounced on the opportunity and we helped him get her up outta the chair and on the dancefloor. As expected, she had great rythm and was quite a good dancer indeed. See for yourself:

Ring a round the rosey for adults: The Finnish Humppa

Aboard Eckero line, taking in the local culture. You gotta see this. I'm going to teach it to all the ballroom people when i go home for certain!

The World's Biggest Hedgehog

After wandering around town lost for about an hour and a half I finally regained my bearings (I only ripped my pants a little jumping over the fence...) I saw this thing run across the street. It was so big if couldda been a porcupine! So why did I try to pick it up? Who knows... maybe cause it was 5 am and there was nothing else to hold my attention.

Vappu

The only holiday where I can honestly say the WHOLE TOWN is partying. Young and old alike, celebrating the coming of summer. Was great weather.

Sunset

A beautiful sunset bringing Vappu day to a close