lets just ask, did we stay after the war like the Soviets did? Or can you say we left, except where we were asked to stay?

Thats the Evil USA for sure, be sure to not ask for our help again.

By the way I get to see the Finish Embassy in DC soon. Will let you know how I like it. Its web site is impressive.

I am after all, liked by some Finns.

I WORK for UM and still don’t get it. And yet, I’m wearing it.

Talk about hitting rock bottom.

Having worked a number of years in a resort setting we always said that the true definition of a tourist is someone who travels elsewhere only to complain that it’s not like home.

I always cringe when I hear about generalizations regarding the “typical” American. Though I am American, several generations over I like to think that I don’t really fit the stereotype. I’m intensely curious about other cultures and counties, language, , customs, music, and especially food. Though I do sometimes feel like I’m in the minority, especially depending on what part of the country I’m in. The more conservative areas tend to fall in line with the “USA is #1″ mindset. I found it interesting that Finn’s feel that chatting in a bank line or grocery store would be looked upon as phoniness. It’s just something that we do without any real forethought or agenda. I at least try to find out more about the country that I’m about to visit regarding customs and learn some basic words and phrases. I’m a big fan of Finnish music, Apocalyptica, Finntroll, Sonata Arctica, Kotiteollisuus and a few others. I hope to see some of these bands in their home county one day.

If any Finns care to find out about the US first hand, you’re always welcome here in Detroit.

BTW…the northern part of Michigan has one of the largest Finnish populations in the US. In the city of Hancock, street signs and some shop signs are in Finnish and English.

Law enforcement officials told The Associated Press that both guns were once seized in wrong cases in Memphis. The officials described how the weapons made their separate ways from an basis vault to gun dealers and to the shooters.

The use of guns that were once in observe protection to malign police officers highlights a little-known divide in gun regulation in the U.S.: Profuse cities and states ruin guns gathered in flagitious probes, but others rat on or customers the weapons in command to profit e avoid other guns or gain patrol equipment.

In incident, on the heyday of the Pentagon shooting, Pace 4, the Tennessee governor signed legislation revising shape law on confiscated guns. Once, law enforcement agencies in the federal had the option of destroying a gun. Under the new idea, agencies can only put an end to a gun if it’s inoperable or unsafe.

Kentucky has a nearly the same law, but it’s not clear how many other states from laws specifically designed to inspirit the protect sales marathon or career of confiscated weapons.

A nationwide review article via The Associated Squeeze in December set up that over the previous two years, 24 states — mostly in the South and West, where gun-rights advocates are only beefy — have planned passed 47 advanced laws loosening gun restrictions. Gun rights groups are making a greater application to pass favorable legislation in affirm capitals.

read more

I found this site accidentally, when I was trying to look for something on Pekka Himanen’s new report for the Finnish government.

I am Finn who has lived in Japan for over ten years. After reading the posts I thought this is exactly how I used to feel about Japan. Whenever I got back to Finland and saw Japanese tourist groups there, I wanted to go and bully them. Well, I never did it though , but what I want to say is that I experienced a very bad culture shock in Japan, actually several of them, and I just hated Japan, but what helped me was that I became an activist. I try to change Japan more foreigner-friendly now. And what is most important I try to change Japan with Japanese who think their country should change, too.

What I want to say here is that why not to try to change Finland. I am sure that there are Finns who would be happy to help you.

And what comes to racists, they are mostly rather uneducated people. Don’t waste your time on them. Just ignore them. If someone is violent against you, go to the police. Inform the tabloids. Make it public.
Don’t let Finland, or any other country for that matter, to ruin your life. You can make Finland a better place. As an expatriate Finn, I am surely happy, if you do so.

he does not apparently realize when he posts the same weird (“usa good/rest of the world = bad or obama is a commie”) stuff that he’s only making himself look dumb.

One could, I suppose, say that I look dumb and petty for even commenting on this, but it is Saturday and I have nothing better to do.

It is a shame that this blog has slowed down so much because almost every day I see a story in the news that would create huge traffic / controversy on here. Everything from asylum seekers to baby snatching to east german spies!!!

Where was the USA when the totalitarian Soviet Union attacked democratic Finland? The USA was happily allied with the totalitarian superpower and gave secret material help for it. Then they say that their (foreign) policy agenda is to “promote freedom and democracy”…

Don’t get me wrong – I am happy that the USA finally sent troops to Europe. But it is not self-evident that everything the USA did during the war was right. For me the Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union were just as unwanted powers – the latter was no better. The USA chose the latter and look what happened to Eastern Europe when the Soviet Union was backed by the USA. (Without the material help from the USA, the Soviets could have lost to the Nazis). Ofcourse the USA was the most desired power of these three.

When it comes to Finland, the only countries we can have relied on at the times of crisis have been moderately (economically) Sweden and full-bodied… Germany. Germany backed the Finnish independence three times (1917, 1918, 1941-44) – in 1917 it pressured Russia to give independence for Finland and the Baltic states. In 1993-4 Germany was the most important supporter of Finland in the EU negotiations. Now Germans are not benefactors but they share many similar interests.

That was history. But I see no reasonable reason why the USA would help Finland more likely than the EU. Finland is tightly connected to the other member countries politically, economically and culturally. In addition, the whole credibility of the Union is based on it’s ability to defend it’s area. The Treaty of Lisbon has a solidarity clause. The defence minister of Sweden has already declared in reference to the treaty that if Finland is attacked, Sweden will give military help. The EU has also the power to help.

USA is evil

enough said. Please don’t call us when you get invaded, we gave that up to the EU to help.

What are the chances the EU will help? Less than the USA helping I would say.

At yle teema.

How do distinguish a french pron flick for a art flick? In the art flicks it always rains…