Gotta catch 'em all

On the very same day that I posted about my joy in seeing Anni Sinnemäki I was walking down the street with Teija and who should come walking in our direction than no other than Terhi Kokkonen, former singer of Ultra Bra and currently of Scandinavian Music Group along with a few other former Ultra Bra members. She was absolutely beautiful in person, the quintessential example of class. Im starting to think that perhaps i need to try to catch a glimpse of them all in the next week before i leave, if its so easy ;)

Seeing an Idol

Posts have been scarce lately, I know. Sadly my time in Finland is coming to an end, so I have been busy out getting the most of the end of my stay (this time). Of course its not fatal, because I will be coming back for a much longer time after graduating in May.

I couldn't let this topic go by without mentioning, though. The other day when I was on the tram a few seats away was sitting this lady you see on the left, Anni Sinnemäki. I suppose for many people reading this the name doesnt have much meaning, but the life this woman has led and continues to lead is one I can help but idolize. Ultra Bra was a very popular band in Finland in the 90s and even into theearly part of the new millenium, during the time i was here in high school. I became familiar with their music then, and was immediately a fan. The sound of the music is so unique, and the lyrics very full bodied. I get tired of so much mainstream music containing empty and tired lyrics, so whenever i find music that can have some deeper meaning I am of course very pleased. Anni Sinnemäki wrote the lyrics to a large part of Ultra Bra's music. She was the author of the lyrics to all of my favorite of their songs.

Towards the end of the groups existence (disbanded in 2001, so sadly i was never able to nor will i ever be able to see a live performace) Anni ran for and was elected to the Finnish Parliament as a representative of the Green Party. From rock star to parliamentarian- who wouldve thunk... She fights hard with her party to protect the rights of all citizens and improve conditions for all. I feel very lucky to have been able to cross paths with such a great person.

Finland to the head

Finland today steps up to the presidency of the EU. Should be an exciting month for me to see how the EU presidency functions from an internal p.o.v. Visit the website of the presidency [here]

Moved!

The last fewdays have been extremely busy with organizing a move, so the posts havent been coming, as you have probably noticed. The move is now, for most intents and purposes, complete. Once I set myself up at the new place I will upload the pics from midsummers and whatever else is on the camera in the hundreds of pics stored on the card and post the better ones. Finally I can breath again, for a few days. Then more moving, then leaving, then more moving when I return to university in the end of august. What a scary thought.

Off to Midsummer

Leaving in less than 2 hours to go and celebrate midsummer (Juhannus) with my friends Topi and Hanski. We are headed to Seinäjoki via Tampere. Not quite sure what will happen or what we will do, but expecting quite a good time. There will certainly be a post after. Enjoy your midsummer!

Another week in the life... minus spam

This weekend in Helsinki there was a huge Samba festival that was capped by a parade down Esplanadi around Stockmans onto Mannerheimintie. It was quite a sight. Ive never seen such scantily clad women in public (save the German tourists who thought that just because they were in Scandinavia they could take all their clothes off and make out on the beach...) shaking it to the whistling men on the parade route. As long as they enjoyed it...

After this I spent a day at Seurasaari with Hanski and Topi. The island is full of old buildings that have been transported from all over Finland to show what life was like at various times in history in Finland. It is truely worth a visit, as was evident by the massive number of tourists present.

Topis elf hut


My elf hut


Our kitchen. Watch that first step


Nice to know I am not the only black sheep... heh.






Who can ID this bird?


Juhannuskukia


King of my own island!


Tempting fate


Maggots or worms or something. The attack a tree, eat all its leaves. They serioulsy cover the entire tree.


No trip to Seurasaari is complete without a picture of a squirrel

Shake and bake

I haven't tanned well (in terms of sun tan) since I was about 12. So you can imagine my surprise when after 2 hours on the beach I removed my shirt to find a farmer's tan like no other. I started thinking that there must be something fundamentally different about the sun in the northern climbs to cause this (other than the fact it shines 24 hours a day). After being out for a couple more hours yesterday and getting burnt (!) I decided it was worth looking into. Turns out that it's unsurprisingly an effect of a new (post-1980) thinning of the ozone layer in the north pole region. This may be the first time that I can legitimately say that I've experienced the effects of (human) damage to the planet. I found this article on the situation. Here is a picture (shown above) of the cloud doing the damage. A more technical scholarly article comparing and predicting. Finally the Finnish meterological institute and their joint research project with Argentina.

Full of hot air?

Finnish researcher Hannu Rintamäki from the University of Oulu has recently presented findings that show the extroverted individuals are able to faster adapt to cold temperatures, and more resiliant to succumbing to early hypothermia.

"The extrovert type of people do react more quickly and correctly to environment," Rintamaki told this week's International Congress on Circumpolar Health in Novosibirsk, Russia. "They increase heat production quickly, and response by heart rate quickly. But also they have higher level of stress."

If this is indeed the case, coupling this information with the fact that Finns are some of the most extroverted people in the world would lead one to believe that for the first few weeks of winter all Finns are walking around in a delirious state of hypothermia. Maybe that's where the reputation of the "crazy Finn" comes from...

Kekkonen's grave

On a walk through the graveyard we stumbled across the grave of former president Urho Kekkonen. Bio [here].

Columbus to be sold!

Some of you may remember my dismay when I found Columbus had followed me to Finland. Well, now it seems that Columbus has been sold. The former owner, Paulig (the one and same Presidentti coffee manufacturer) has closed a sale with Citycon for a hefty 80.1 million euros. Paulig will use the funds from the sale to build a new roastery. Let's hope Citycon does something to make the place less ugly.

Kaiken lisäksi lähellä

An American, a German and a Swede walk into an R-kioski... ok, couldn't resist the opportunity for the set up. A typical awkward social interaction in Finland: yesterday me and a couple exchange student friends pop into the R-kioski to grab some ice cream and pop before heading to the beach. Talking in English in an empty store, the cashier of course notices that we are not all Finn. When I approach the register to pay the nice woman greeted me with a friendly "Hi" at the same time as I greet her with a jovial "Moi." Not sure what to take of one another, we both look at our feet, chuckle nervously, and hurry the transaction along without another word.

Topping the list

Not sure who complied the complete list of stats, but Kev brought them to my attention through this site. My interest in the page is not, however, the low ranking of the US in many dimension, but instead the high ranking of Finland. Hyvää suomi!

USA Ranking of Student Reading Ability: #12
(#1 Finland and #2 South Korea)- OECD PISA 2003

USA Ranking of Student Problem Solving Ability: #26
(#1 South Korea and #2 Finland)- OECD PISA 2003

USA Ranking on Student Mathematics Ability: # 24
(#1 Hong Kong and #2 Finland)- OECD PISA 2003

USA Ranking of Student Science Ability: #19
(#1 Finland and #2 Japan)- OECD PISA 2003

USA Ranking on Journalistic Press Freedom Index: #32
(#1 Finland, Iceland, Norway and the Netherlands tied)- Reporters Without Borders 2005

USA Ranking on Political Corruption Index: #17
(#1 Iceland and #2 Finland)- Transparency International 2005

USA Ranking on Environmental Sustainability Index: #45
(#1 Finland and #2 Norway)- Yale University ESI 2005

USA Ranking on Infant Mortality Rate: #32
(#1 Sweden and #2 Finland)- Save the Children Report 2006

Slovenia entering the Eurozone

Slovenia has been approved for entry into the Eurozone on 1 Jan 2007 in the first enlargement since Euro notes began distribution 1 Jan 2002.

Preparing for the Presidency

As many of you probably know, Finland will for the second time take the head of the EU when it takes over the presidency next month. Holding the office is no easy task, and much work continues to go into stampping out a definate agenda. Constitutional Treaty, "widening and deepening," etc. The latest to come across my radar, however, come from a statement by the US ambassador to Finland:

"We believe Finland can play a crucial role in convincing Russia that it has more to gain than to lose by becoming a modern-day reliable supplier of energy."

With Finland making the shift to nuclear energy, the question of improving relations with Russia in order to coerce the nation into a role of "reliable energy supplier" seems way out in left field. While Finland historically has been and can certainly continue to be in a unique role in negotiating relations between Russia and the rest of the western world, Finland's EU presidency certainly shouldn't be overshadowed by it.

More...

Once more to Tallinn

Back Wednesday night. If there's anything left to post about the town, you'll see it after.