The Longhorn has landed…
@ 12:09 pm Huomenta and howdy! Just wanted to quickly introduce myself before my first official post. I’ll be guest-blogging as Megsu, a native old New Orleanian, who has spent a lot of time in the great Lone Star State of Texas, and now have (usually) happily resided in Helsinki for about 4 years. Helsinki is about as far as you can get culturally from my roots, and I find myself residing somewhere in the middle of the two cultures–but it makes for some interesting and hilarious situations. I hope to add some spice to Phil’s already wonderful blog, writing with a female perspective, and representing the Southern U.S. Kippis!
Welcome aboard, Megsu !!!!!
Comment by Phil — Mon, Dec 1st, 2008 @ 12:17 pm
I am very sorry about NOLA.
Comment by v.i.lenin — Mon, Dec 1st, 2008 @ 12:26 pm
Hey! Finally someone who will turn Sirkus Pelle into a real Mardi Gras! Welcome onboard!
Comment by Martin-Éric — Mon, Dec 1st, 2008 @ 3:01 pm
Can you tell me whether Michael Moore’s documentary “Sicko” is realistic or not? I haven’t got a simple answer from anyone else yet.
Helsinki doesn’t get THAT far from new orleans, it has a lot of live music, great food and cool people.
I suppose this should ease off the homesickness a bit
http://www.storyville.fi/
Comment by Michael Moore — Mon, Dec 1st, 2008 @ 9:58 pm
New Orleans was in the top 3 of places to go in the States for me. Sadly, it may never return to its former glory.
As for Storyville, I doubt that partyin’ with 30 drunken MPs (and perhaps one sober one) from the National Coalition quite measures up to the real thing.
Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Mon, Dec 1st, 2008 @ 10:39 pm
“Helsinki doesn’t get THAT far from new orleans”
Heh, my experience is limited to New Orleans of the 80’s, but one defining difference was that in Helsinki, that bald baroque cupboard at the door usually bounces you out while in New Orleans, they bounce you in.
Comment by Antti rn — Mon, Dec 1st, 2008 @ 10:56 pm
“Sadly, it may never return to its former glory.”
It will. It’s New Orleans.
“As for Storyville, I doubt that partyin’ with 30 drunken MPs (and perhaps one sober one) from the National Coalition quite measures up to the real thing.”
Heh. I’m sure it won’t measure as the real thing, but it’s the closest you can get in Finland. Sober in a place trying to have the New Orleans atmosphere? That was a joke right?
Ya know, that kind of place here is equal to that “European” place in the US that has “European” cuisine and tries to be as European as possible. Of course it can’t be the real thing. But being close is what makes it “European”.
“one defining difference was that in Helsinki, that bald baroque cupboard at the door usually bounces you out while in New Orleans, they bounce you in.”
I’ve been bounced in quite often in Finland actually. To be honest there’s way too many places in Finland where you get that kind of treatment. I’m quite surprised that can happen in a Nanny State like Finland.
Comment by Michael Moore — Tue, Dec 2nd, 2008 @ 1:45 am
welcome megsu!
Comment by Olli — Tue, Dec 2nd, 2008 @ 1:51 am
Oh yeah forgot to mention that it’s the customers who make the place being what it is. I honestly think all the Americans in Helsinki should make Storyville “their place”. That would be the best shot to make it better. A little New Orleans in Helsinki wouldn’t harm anyone now would it? It already has the music, now all it needs is the customers.
Comment by Michael Moore — Tue, Dec 2nd, 2008 @ 1:59 am
“It already has the music, now all it needs is the customers.”
Dude, are you the marketing manager for Storyville, or something?
The music there does not represent Finnish jazz, which it should. It is an embarrassment, since all progressive jazz cats need to travel to get paid, not counting Juttutupa on Wednesday nights.
The food is the only thing in Storyville worth a nod. I was there for a wedding, and the jambalaya tasted like they actually imported the andouille sausage, but they probably made due with Spanish chorizo or salsicha of some sort.
Maybe they order it through Vii Voan?
Comment by El Gabacho Chingón — Tue, Dec 2nd, 2008 @ 2:45 pm
Sorry, but there is really nothing I can think of in Finland or in Scandinavia that even slightly reminds me of New Orleans, especially not food, music or people. If I had to pick some European cities that have a similar feel, Venice, Rome, Catania, and Sevilla would be worth mentioning, but please lets keep oranges with oranges and apples with apples. Storyville and Helsinki have their own identity, and their own quality and charm, that really has absolutely nothing to do with anything in New Orleans. It is a difficult place to define, understand, and describe, but it is definitely different than many places I’ve ever visited, and even very different from the rest of the United States.
Comment by Megsu — Tue, Dec 2nd, 2008 @ 3:49 pm
#10
It’s not only jazz they have there, as you can see on the website.
#11
I didn’t say the food, music and people are similar to New Orleans. I said there’s good food, music and people in Helsinki, just like there is in New Orleans. I suppose that goes for a lot of cities though. But the bands playing in Storyville do play New Orlean influenced music and sometimes do have bands from there.
I sense you don’t have an answer to my question either then?
Comment by Michael Moore — Tue, Dec 2nd, 2008 @ 5:01 pm
#11
…and Storyville would be one step closer to New Orleans if it had customers like yourself, right?
Comment by Michael Moore — Tue, Dec 2nd, 2008 @ 5:04 pm
Michael Moore, while he can be commended for bringing attention for various issues, uses shock value and exaggeration to do so. The U.S. Healthcare system works for different people in different ways. Depending on what kind of job and insurance company you have that you pay into, HMO, PPO, etc. determines what kind of coverage and care you get. You probably haven’t gotten a good answer to your question because there is no black and white answer. There are private hospitals, federally funded hospitals, state hospitals, hybrids of those, public corporations, and they are obliged to serve all kinds of patients that may or may not have coverage. The onus of patient care responsibility falls on the patient, so there isn’t one entity responsible. You are directly responsible for your own health care, and even then, in certain cases, there are exceptions where you are not covered by your insurance. Hope this helps point you in the right direction to finding context to answer your question, but I’m not sure if it does.
And I’m afraid me visiting Storyville if I were to do so doesn’t make the atmosphere more authentic, even if the food and decor and ambience could be spot on. When in Rome….
Comment by Megsu — Wed, Dec 3rd, 2008 @ 12:43 am