I am going to be in Helsinki for a week starting September 11th. I’m visiting my brother who is studying at Helsinki for the summer. Unfortunately, I’m not quite sure what to do while there. I know blogs are not the place for this kind of comment but I’m trying to find any avenue for information. I don’t swim so that may take out alot of possibile Finnish adventures. You can email me at rayuku@yahoo.com …Thanks for this blog.

In Norway the tax records are available in the Internet for 2 weeks a year.

In Iceland, they are public as paper versions in the tax office 4 days a year. There is an man in Heimaey who makes sure he is the first person there each day, and sits there for the full four days out of protest. He is quite a hero for privacy protection, in my books.

In Italy, the idea was tried and caused quite an uproar, from which the backlash is still being felt. The mafia got their shopping list, if not from Italian Tax Authority web site during the few hours it lasted, then from e-Mule. I wonder how many people will be endangered from that bit of stupidity? I suspect the idea had a corrupt (mafia) background there in Italy, as well as many Italians I have talked to. It could have been the press wanting it as well. The press goes into a shark feeding frenzy in Norway and Finland when the tax circuses begin.

It still makes this verosirkus exactly what it is… a violation of your privacy

Just need to get about 30 rolls of 6×6 film developed and heat up the scanner.

No other country has this problem:
http://www.verosirkus.net

People stare straight ahead and don’t acknowledge the existence of other people around them.

ha ! Remember about that guy that was found dead after two years in Punavuori ?

I guess we now know why

There was a sense of people being connected to each other. There were families out having fun in the nights. People were always quite polite and considerate to each other. If you stop to look around with a map in your hand, chances are someone will offer help. It is a positive experience to be around Italian people. It feels good to be around them, even if they are strangers.

In Finland, when I go to the city, I feel hate and hostility coming off people. People stare straight ahead and don’t acknowledge the existence of other people around them. There is not much of a sense of connection between people, even if there is a sense of sameness everytwere. One doesn’t feel so bad about smashing a beer bottle or destroying things in a city where you don’t feel good living and don’t feel good about the people you live around. Out where I live in the country, it is different, people are genuinely friendly there.

Also, in Italy there is that “coperto” thing they always add to your bill.

And oh, every law abiding country on earth has that problem with financial privacy you mention that is why there are places like San Marino, Bermuda and Mauritius to hide your money.

It would be interesting to know how much Finnish money is hidden in San Marino. It is my understanding that Finland has lots of problems with financial privacy, so people put their money in other countries.