#also Finland is the only Nordic country I have not been to :((

[ifindus]

What do you think of NorFin?

I think it's a nice pairing! Not something I often explore myself as I don't really have a lot of personal experiences, connections, or references to Finland and there's not really that historical aspect that often draw me towards ship. However, Finns and Norwegians do have many common values and interests, especially when it comes to nature and outdoorsy life, so I can see how the ship is appealing to people. At the very least they are good friends in modern day.

[korvessa]

Bojan & Käärijä timeline: LIVERPOOL

1.5.

They all arrive to Liverpool, Käärijä has his first rehearsal

2.5.

Joker out has their first rehearsal

Käärijä’s ja Bojan’s dinner date and intagram live. During this the rest of the Joker out were doing interviews in their hotel and Bojan very proudly tells this to Jere

Here’s some instagram stories from their date

3.5.

Käärijä’s second rehearsal. Also tiktok-live. He was asked which country he would give 12 points. First he’s so frustrated because “you can only give to one country the 12 points, that’s meaannn” but obviously his answer was:

4.5.

Käärijä had a meet & greet press conference. The birth of ”The Bojan”

may 4th was also the famous boat day!

5.5.

Joker Out has their second rehearsal

Käärijä had a livestream with Katri. Obviously Joker Out and Bojan mentions.

Nordic party where Joker out sneaked to

6.5.

Joker Out’s interview and Käärijä living rent free on Bojan’s mind. (He was asked if people stops him on the streets to take selfies, ”not as much as Käärijä tho, I blame his hair and pants 🥰”)

Famous babyseal interview.

Käärijä, his dancers and Bojan playing never have I ever. THIS was the birth of the “ARE YOUU”.

7.5.

Turquoise carpet day!

Käärijä’s and dancers ig-live. Jere keeps saying Carpe diem when he means turquoise carpet.

Käärijä interview, wild Bojan in the backround saying hi to the dancers

8.5.

Bojan, Kris and Jan visited in Käärijä’s sauna, here’s Yle’s video, here’s some more videos

I have come to a conclusion that this video of bojan and jere doing this carpe diem -thing is from the same day as they are wearing the same clothes.

9.5.

1st Semifinal

This fucking interview. Some highlights:

- Kris saying that Jere said to them that if Joker Out won’t get to the final, käärijä will NOT perform there either!

- live reaction when the interviewer said that Finland is on first place on Joker Out’s monthly listeners -list on spotify

- Bojan said he wanted to go to Käärijä’s sauna today too but it was too full.

- Bojan tries to say ”hyvää päivää” (good afternoon) in finnish but fails. Some people try to claim he said ”hyvää vittua” or ”hyi vittu” but I really think he accidently said ”hyvää yötä” (good night). Because I think it’s cute that jere would teach him all those finnish sayings.

- Bojan telling about the snus proposal. He was genuinely surprised and only realized that it was a joke after he saw everyone filming. Then he pretended to took the snus for the Content. Says he once tried snus but threw up the whole night. (Then tried to impress jere in Tavastia and used snus, what a loser)

- fanfiction talk… Kris asks if there’s fics about Jere and Bojan. Bojan doesn’t know. (Or so he says)

- this fucking thing that Bojan said about Jere:

”We bonded over that childish energy that we both have. Käärijä is a very nice guy. He’s been very busy in this eurovision season, everybody wants a piece of him and I think it was quite necessary for him to find someone to like, kind of relax and put his mind off stuff”

Joker out reacting to semifinal 1 qualifiers

10.5.

Bojan had this interview where he kept saying ”Jere” instead ”Käärijä” to random interviewers

Also another interview where he talked about his and Jere’s friendship. This was his face:

11.5.

Second semi final (SSF)

Jere watching Joker Out Bojan perform

12.5.

Dress rehearsal

Whatever this was:

Did Jere just hang out the whole day under the Slovenian flag?

13.5.

Final

[kanelia]

honestly the intensity and even vulgarity of the backlash ive seen to the notion that it's worthwhile to talk about moc on white women rape has made me lose my last shred of respect for the average intersectional 'radfem', as well as my willingness to take their words in good faith by default. if making your own post, no derailment from other women's own issues, is inherently unacceptable because it paints moc in a bad light for committing rape, where is the feminism at all lmfao. and by the way, doesn't this line of reasoning sound oddly familiar? like, perhaps, we've already heard it applied to some begendered demographic of men, maybe?

I have now watched for the past 7 months the tumblr radfems share antisemitic disinformation and historical revisionism, so them clutching their pearls over this latest racism drama has made me roll my eyes a bit.

Whether people would like it to be true or not, it is quite well documented that in Norway, Sweden and Finland, men immigrating from certain countries are overrepresented in sex crime statistics despite being such a small minority. Obviously, there are some natural explanations to this like that the majority of people we have taken in from those countries are young men (a major brainfart), and everyone knows men integrate worse than women and love to commit crimes. However, from what I have understood, it does not entirely explain the phenomenon. Then what does? Is our police more willing to pursue sex criminals that are not natives? Maybe. Does the culture of these men have an impact? Psychologists who have talked to these men seem to think so. However, we do not really know because it is so difficult to research or even talk about this topic without getting caught between far-right and far-left. Far-right obviously uses this to justify their racism towards people of colour. Far-left, on the other hand, gaslights and screams 'racism' at anyone who tries to touch the subject. It is almost impossible to find objective analysis. Ayaan Hirsi Ali wrote a good article about this.

The thing with tumblr radfems and other lefties in general is that (no matter if they actually are American or not) they tend to have such an 'americanised' point of view when it comes to race, women's rights, social issues, and history. They seem to have this weird black-and-white (no pun intented) thinking where the whole world is a sort of extension of American society and people are monoliths based on their skin colour. All nations with the mostly white populations are some oppressor/coloniser/slaver states and non-western nations with a mostly black or brown populations are constant victims of 'whites' no matter how much they discriminate against their women, minorities and neighbouring states. And when you bring up certain subjects, they instantly think about their own Western white men versus their own Western men of colour - not men from the most gender equal countries in the world (I would like to point out the USA is only on rank 43 when it comes to gender equality while 4 out of 5 Nordic countries are on top 6) versus men who immigrate to these countries from the countries ranking the lowest when it comes to women's rights. Then they come to some pretty ridiculous conclusions like 'culture does not have an impact, it is all about class', 'you must think white men [the monolith] rapes less' and 'do you know what vikings did 1000 years ago'.

It is a little funny how everyone here seems to recognise the impact of male and female socialisation and how misogyny is largely learned, but simultanously likes to pretend an average man brought up in ultra religious conservative third-world country, where women are not even allowed to go to school or work or where rape cases are resolved by making the woman marry their rapist, has the exact same attitude towards women as an average man who has been brought up in a country with female presidents and prime ministers. Are we also supposed to pretend that if a man from the times of 'hysterical women just have wandering uteruses and should not vote' time travelled here, he would look at women from the same point of view as a modern man? If there are no cultural differences, aren't we supposed to come to the conclusion that actually it is just as bad for women everywhere? If yes, then what are the comparisons about gender equality between countries based on?

If I, as a Scandinavian woman, went ahead and claimed I face the same amount of misogyny in my everyday life as, for example, a Sudanese woman, I would be just blatantly lying and soon receiving some pretty angry anons. I have been told a few times that I am privileged compared to women living in the African countries or in the MENA region. And I agree. But what is my privilege as a Nordic woman based on? What or who makes it worse for women in these other countries? I thought we all agreed it was a 3 letter word starting with an m and ending with an n. Why are we suddenly pretending there is no connection?

This does not obviously mean men are better or worse because of their ethnicity, skin colour or what is in their blood. However, they are a product of their environment. Everyone knows that in certain countries the more extreme levels of misogyny are more common. It is one of those things that we are for some reason now supposed to pretend we do not know, but everyone knows it. Pointing this out most certainly does not mean Nordic men do not rape (they very much do) or that Nordic men are not misogynistic (they very much are), but compared to some of the worst countries for women in the world, Nordic countries are still among the best places for women to live. Not because of our men are somehow naturally 'better' or some crap, but because we have been historically lucky when it comes to our foremothers being able to advance women's rights. And, in my opinion, no matter how 'white' our women are, they still have a right to ask questions and express their worry over what kind of impact men, coming from cultures with non-existent women's right, are going to have on our societies. It is a valid question and I wish women would talk more about this from their native perspective. However, after seeing how rapid this topic gets every time, I do not think we are that far yet.

This is a difficult and sensitive subject, but there are still more than just two ways to approach it. It is not that either you are a racist, who thinks men's misogyny is based on their skin colour, or you must think an environment or culture has no impact whatsoever on how men treat women.

[ravensofskyhold]

Ruoska 2nd verse analysis

Aka why there's a reference to a 20+ year-old sports scandal in this song that on the surface is about BDSM.

(Fuck you Kä for making me write a 1500+ word analysis on a reference in one verse of a song and also for forcing me to learn more about Lahti 2001 than I've ever wanted. /j)

Okay, I was already having thoughts about the second verse of Ruoska, which has lots of references to the doping controversy of FIS Nordic World Ski Championships held in Lahti in 2001 aka the biggest sports doping scandal in Finland. The MV gave new context for that part and made the use of the whole reference make a lot more sense to me, enough to develop those thoughts into a semi-coherent analysis (I'm not kidding about this being semi-coherent, I've spent most of the day writing this. You've been warned.).

This analysis does require me to talk about The Lahti 2001 doping scandal a lot. I’ve decided to focus on what I remember from the aftermath of it, especially the Finnish public opinion and reaction, as it is the most relevant part of it for this analysis. So if you’re not familiar with the topic, I recommend reading a short summary of the facts which can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIS_Nordic_World_Ski_Championships_2001#Doping_controversy

In the MV, there’s this about 20s pause between the first chorus and the second verse, where the song just stops and people looking at their phones form a circle at the edges of the spotlight (where Käärijä and Erika are) and hate comments aimed at both of them are shown on screen.

After the pause, we get the second verse:

“Lunta on tullut tupaan niin paljon et tarvii sukset / Gotten so much snow in the house that I need skis

On luokkaa Kari-Pekka nää ahdistukset / At level with Kari-Pekka with these anxieties

Et taloyhtiössä on kosteudenmittaukset/ That the housing cooperative takes humidity measurements

Kun rappukäytävän portailla on hemon virtaukset/ When there's massive tides* on the stairs in the stairway”

[link/credits to the translation]

*added context to this line that gets lost in translation is that the substance flowing down the stairs in the stairway is called “hemo” in the original lyrics. Now, I’ve interpreted it to be either blood/hemoglobin or Hemohes (which is the brand(?) name of the banned blood plasma expander substance that people were caught using in the Lahti 2001 doping scandal. Either way, this detail is relevant enough for this analysis.

-----

The idiom "tulla lunta tupaan" (to get snow in the house/living room) means to get misfortune, but I think I've seen it also used to mean getting (excessive) adversity/criticism for something (wrong) you've done (from the public, usually).

There certainly is something fucked up and rather telling that from what I’ve seen, many of Finnish fans old enough to remember Lahti 2001 (me included) needed only to hear "skis" and "Kari-Pekka" to get the doping scandal reference. After all, this is a rather subtle (as in, only Kari-Pekka Kyrö’s, one of the head coaches of the ski team, first name is mentioned in the song!) reference to a scandal that happened over 20 years ago. But it also tells you how big of a deal that doping scandal was for Finns, especially since it happened in cross-country skiing aka one of our pride and joy sports, and how much (perceived) shame was involved on national level.

And oh boy, did that sense of national shame get projected back to the public opinion about the people involved in the scandal. The scandal did have massive and long-lasting repercussions on the careers and the reputations of the people involved in Finland, way beyond the official disqualifications and suspensions. These people went from being celebrated athletes and ski team members that everyone was proud of to being mostly, or even only, remembered for being caught using doping. Their past (and future) achievements suddenly didn’t either matter anymore or, thanks to the doping scandal, were regarded with suspicion.

There’s also a layer added to this by the media’s role and involvement in all this that I’m not going to get into here. Only thing from the media side I’m going to point out is that big part of kicking off this incident was the investigation and subsequent article by Helsingin Sanomat crime journalist that revealed damning evidence of the systematic use of doping substances in the Finnish ski team.

The point is, yes they did wrong, and yes they did deserve the (official) consequences to their careers and a hit in their public images, but everything else? The figurative lashing (pun intended) they got from the media and the public? The media and the public refusing to forget and move on from that incident years after the fact and in the process probably not letting them move on from it properly, either? Being remembered only for your mistakes? That was excessive, way out of proportion to what the crime in question was.

Bringing this back to the song, the MV, and the artists:

This reference, especially with the MV context just made me think of the topic of public opinion of celebs and how quickly it can turn against you, even if you’re currently seen as a “hero” of sorts, like Finland’s ski team was in 2001 or Käärijä is now.

It also made me think of how Finns often tend to be jealous of other people's success (the good ol’ belief that there’s a finite amount of luck/happiness in the world and so other people having luck/success is to blame if you don’t have it is still deeply ingrained in us even if we don’t realize it). Like, there are always people who hate someone more successful or famous than them simply because they are successful/famous.

Also, there's often a sense of schadenfreude involved from certain parts of the public when someone famous does something bad/wrong. Something that (in public perception) "justifies" the negative turn in the public opinion on that person, regardless of how bad/wrong the thing actually was and if the reaction is actually proportionate to it. And especially in famous people’s case, there are always people who are just waiting for them to misstep, to fall, just so they can go “see? I knew they were a bad person all along, that’s why I disliked them!”. Or hell, we’ve even seen people who are constantly waiting for the moment a famous person does something that can be twisted into a controversy, or even hounding them to do something or react to something in a way that paints them in a negative light.

Now, I don't think the hate comments seen in the MV are comparable to what happened after the doping scandal (nor that are they meant to be that), and I don’t claim to know what kinds of hate Käärijä and Erika get usually but I doubt that’s comparable either. But there are some noticeable, if much smaller scale, similarities to some controversies they’ve been a part of and the media/public reaction to those. Which does make the doping scandal an effective reference to use to get the point of (often excessive) negative reactions/comments to everything you do across.

So, when the hate comment pause happened in the MV and the second verse started, it felt like the missing puzzle pieces fitting into their places, and being able to see what the second verse is trying to say. Or my interpretation of it, anyway.

The first line is rather straightforward, mentioning getting enough "snow" (aka adversity/criticism/hate, not misfortune like I thought before) into their lives ("house" in the song) that they need equipment/tools ("skis") to help them wade through it, just to keep living their lives.

The line mentioning Kari-Pekka, and anxiety at the same level as his, is interesting. Because on the one hand, he did take the blame for the doping scandal and was, according to his own words, “the most hated man in Finland” at the time. On the other hand, he did get a lot of publicity and was offered a job as a crisis consultant to teach people how to lie believably, because he appeared so calm, collected, and confident in the media during the scandal. So, while on the surface this line is about having a lot of anxiety due to the hate they’re getting, well, the dude whose anxiety levels they’re likening their own to doesn’t seem (to appear) anxious at all despite shouldering most of the blame and hate for such a big scandal, does he? Hell, he got job opportunities thanks to how not-anxious he appeared in that situation.

And the following lines, I've interpreted to be about other people having to acknowledge the damage from those hate comments seeping into their own lives as well because, depending on what "hemo" is interpreted as, either the cause of that hate (hemohes) or a rather visible representation of the pain caused by the hate (blood) is flooding the stairway now. The pain or the cause of the hate others have let into their living spaces/lives is out in the public space now. And going by the next line “Ja mä tahdon jäädä siitä kiipeliin (kiipeliin)/ And I want to get in trouble for it (in trouble)” it’s happening they intentionally let it out into the public in the first place, because they want to get in trouble for it?

There’s something fascinating about that. About acknowledging that they’re getting hate anyway, so they might as well intentionally and publicly do things that people are going to send them hate for. But also acknowledging the hate they’re getting and making other people acknowledge it as well, refusing to keep it hidden and letting it rot only their own lives.

And then continuing that yeah, we’re getting whipped/hated on for everything we do, but

[nordickies]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but could you tell us more about Åland? 😅 What even is it? Is it a country, a state/province, or something else? (sorry, I have never heard of it before joining the Hetalia fandom)

I love your art, and I would love to see more of your OCs in the future!😊

Hello, anon! Don't worry, that's not a stupid question at all! I'm willing to bet most people are in the same situation as you, so I'd love to help out.

Åland Islands are an autonomous and demilitarised region of Finland. This self-governing region is made up of over 6,700 islands; only of which 65 are inhabited.  In addition, there are around 20,000 smaller islands and skerries! The biggest island on the archipelago, and where 90% of the population lives, is Fasta Åland; which is only 45 km long and 55 km wide. The Åland Islands are connected to mainland Finland via the Finnish archipelago and its island clusters. But Åland's easternmost point is only 40 km away from mainland Sweden. The capital, Mariehamn, is located at an almost exact midpoint between Turku and Stockholm.

Up until the 19th century, roads were sparse, in bad shape, and thus practically useless in Nordic countries. The fastest way to transport resources, people, and information was by waterways. Thus, Åland acted as a vital connection between Sweden and Finland, especially when those two countries used to be one massive kingdom. Over the centuries, the islands developed a unique identity, shaped by the isolating harsh nature and influences from both the West and East.

Even though Åland is part of Finland, its only officially recognized language is Swedish. Since 1921, The Åland islands have had special privileges provided by the hembygdsrätt, which roughly translates to "home regional right." Simply put, a person is required to obtain this right before it's possible for them to own property on the island, vote in the local elections, or run a business - having Finnish citizenship is not enough. These rights were created to protect Ålandic identity during a time when Sweden and Finland fought over who the islands should belong to.

To be granted hembygdsrätt, certain conditions must be met; you must have Finnish citizenship, have satisfactory Swedish language skills, be registered in the Åland islands, and have lived in Åland for at least 5 years. Alternatively, if one of the parents has this right, it is also inherited by their child. However, you can also lose hembygdsrätt if you lose Finnish citizenship or live outside of Åland for more than 5 years.

Due to its location in the middle of the Baltic Sea, Åland has always been critical, and powers in the area have wanted to control it; it has been occupied by Swedes, Finns, Danes, Germans, Russians, French, and the English. This geopolitical importance is a reason why the islands have been demilitarized since the 1850s after the events of the Crimean War. Also, while Finland is a military conscription country, Ålandic men (with hembygdsrätt) are exempted from this duty.

Åland is not a sovereign country, but it has self-governing rights and its own government. Åland joined the Nordic Council in 1970 and has two representatives in it. Åland also held a separate referendum, and in 1995, it joined the EU at the same time with Sweden and Finland. Åland has a special status in the European Union, as it's considered a "third territory," meaning it's not part of the EU's value-added tax (VAT) or excise duty area.

Ålanders have a strong and separate national identity, even though they have a Finnish passport and speak Swedish as their native language. However, the separatist movement barely exists nowadays, and Ålanders generally don't see a reason to change the status quo. All the granted special laws and privileges by Finnish and international law are perhaps more helpful and prospering to this tiny island than seeking full independence.

As of December 2019, in a survey conducted by Åland Gallup, 78% of island residents supported Åland continuing to be a self-governing region of Finland. It has been a trend in gallups for decades at this point. Being part of Sweden was the least popular option, only getting 4% support, and becoming a fully integrated part of Finland got 5% of the support. 9% of respondents would support the full independence of Åland. In a survey by the Statistics and Research Institute of Åland (ÅSUB, 2008), 90% of the respondents stated that they were Ålandic and 60% felt that they were "completely Ålandic." On the other hand, only a quarter of the respondents considered themselves "completely Finnish," and one-fifth considered themselves "Swedish at some level." The option "European" was more popular than "Finnish," "Swedish," or "Finnish-Swedish". In the ÅSUB 2018 survey, most responders also felt a higher sense of belonging to "Nordic countries" than they did to "Finland" or "Sweden." Another interesting statistic: In Åland Gallup's May 2019 survey, 80.4% of Åland's residents said they would support Finland, and 19.6% said they'd support Sweden if Finland and Sweden were facing each other in an ice hockey match.

I could go on about the Ålandic history and what makes its identity unique, but let this be a quick introduction to this place! Feel free to ask more if you're interested. I could have simply answered it's not a country, but I think that would leave out a lot of important context. Maybe this also explains why I think Åland should have a separate personification from Finland. I hope this helps even a little bit!

[andiatas]

I would love to know more about your thoughts on the Danish Royal Family. Is it that you dont like Margrethe or Fred or you are neutral?

I'm not sure what prompted this but thank you for the ask, nonnie! The easy answer is that I'm Swedish & it's in the DNA of Swedes & Danes to hate one another. There, ask answered!

Okay, no, to be serious. There is this joke amongst the Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Åland, Iceland, Faroe Islands & Greenland) that Denmark is the USA of the Nordics & among the Scandinavian royals (Sweden, Norway & Denmark), the Danish have always been my least favourites. I'll post a deeper discussion around my thoughts under the cut & people; remember that these are my personal opinions. I'm not talking facts or trying to be objective here.

Not just the fact that they've done some questionable things (the same could be said for many of the European royals), but it has always struck me weird how borderline worshipped the Danish royals are - especially Margrethe & Mary. It reminds me a bit of the stan culture around some singers & bands where the fans don't simply like the person; they adore them & to the level where you're not even allowed to criticise the person. Then we have Margrethe's approval rating - in a democratic country (Denmark) & its territories (Greenland & Faroe Islands), there is no way someone can continuously have around 80% or higher approval rating.

Up to 2022, I didn't necessarily dislike them & I had no personal issue with Margrethe. The Danish royals weren't my cup of tea, but I found Margrethe very cool as a person & I still do to some extent. There was this public narrative of Frederik, the golden boy, Mary, who could do nothing wrong & Joachim having difficulty finding his role & purpose in the family. As someone who has grown up with Nordic tabloid culture, I assumed it was a Victoria vs. Madeleine situation where the tabloids make a hen out of a feather & try to create drama where there is none. Then that statement around the titles of Joachim's children was published & all the puzzle pieces came together for me...

Now I've seen a lot of people here on Tumblr point towards Nikolai & claim it's all his fault. But that guy has been working as a model under the name of Prince Nikolai since at least 2018. Maybe even earlier, I can't remember. But anyway, the only time his grandma told him off was when he was doing ad work for some car brand & used his royal title. If his modelling career was the problem, Margrethe would have done something years ago & not suddenly, out of the blue, make a decision in autumn 2022.

No, for me, the puzzle pieces all fell together. Joachim struggling to find his place within the Royal House & no one really helping him carve out a position for himself; it being public knowledge that Margrethe favoured his first wife; Marie saying that it wasn't her or Joachim's choice to move to Paris & they weren't happy about it; Marie being painted as the bitter step-mother who wouldn't allow Nikolai & Felix to be with their father & instead, they were kept close to their grandmother; & yeah, the car crash that was Margrethe stripping Joachim's children of their titles a.k.a. she legally changed her grandchildren's names behind their backs without talking to them about it. These are just some instances from the last couple of years that were at the top of my mind.

I've mentioned it in messages to @cambridgemadness @lizisanamimal & @world-of-wales (maybe other people as well, sorry if I forgot to mention you), but to me, it feels very much like Margrethe favouring one son over the other & also doing everything she can to coddle him. It's not just the Nordic tabloids pitting family members against one another. It's very much based on Margrethe's behaviour & her leadership.

[homunculus-argument]

While I'm no furry, I found a brief video about the anime that came as close to making me one that I ever got, a defining cornerstone of my Weird Kid Childhood: Silver Fang.

(content warning: an american trying to pronounce japanese names)

While I originally clicked on it for nostalgia's sake, I was surprised when the guy actually specifically mentioned Finland. I was aware that Ginga Nagaberoshi Gin was more popular in the Nordic countries than in the more western west in general, but the popularity isn't all that surprising in hindsight.

While I could quite confidently say that the entire concept of anime was largely unheard of in Finland in the 80s and 90s (please don't come at me to let me know that your mom knew what anime was in -86, I'm talking about normies here), and besides being heavily censored, the finnish release also sported a notoriously, hilariously bad dub (you could make a drinking game out of it), one element it has that I believe struck a cord to the finnish audience was the sense of familiarity in it.

The anime starts in a snow storm, with an old man with a gun in the wilderness, hunting a bear with his dogs. My own grandfather owned and bred karelian bearhounds, and hunting with them was such a big cornerstone of his life that the fact that one of his bitches used to belong to Finland's 8th president's personal doctor ended up being mentioned in the obituary article my grandfather was honoured with in one of the most notable hunting magazines in the country.

The protagonist of Silver Fang is an akita, depicted on the left. The karelian bearhound - also excellent for hunting moose, which was what my grandfather mainly focused on - is on the right. And if their personalities are as similar to each others' as their appearance is, the only reason why Ginga Nagaberoshi Gin could not have been set in Finland is because Finland has no mountains.

[naturalrights-retard]

Religious zealots have come out in full force in recent weeks. European nations are now realizing that they made a grave mistake by opening their doors to countless migrants who do not share the same culture or values. Reuters reported that Nordic governments are now planning to deport immigrants who have not established legal residence.

Denmark has only allowed enough refugees into their borders to meet the United Nations quota and has received harsh criticism for not leaving its borders open. “The Swedish government is truly looking at how the Danish government has worked with both fighting organised crime but also on migration issues,” Sweden’s Minister of Migration, Maria Malmer Stenergard said. Finland, Iceland, and Norway have also agreed to collaborate with their Nordic neighbors to purge invaders from their lands.

This is another issue with the concept of the European Union. Brussels decided that these nations were obligated to allow foreigners into their borders. Nations like Poland and Hungary have been condemned for their “far-right” policies by preventing a mass influx of migrants. Poland’s MP Dominik Tarczynski has been extremely outspoken about forbidding Muslims, in particular, from entering his nation.

Poland has one of the lowest levels of unemployment in the Eurozone, and permitting in immigrants under the guise of “skilled workers” is unnecessary. The European Union is run by the globalist elites who are pushing for open borders. Yet another reason why individual European nations are questioning their position within the union as Brussels is pressuring all nations to adopt their ideologies.

I mentioned in another article that nearly 70% of violent crime in France is committed by migrants. There are extreme risks involved when mixing cultures that do not align. Henry Kissinger recently came out and said the EU made a “grave mistake” with their open immigration policies. “It was a grave mistake to let in so many people of totally different culture and religion and concepts, because it creates a pressure group inside each country that does that,” Kissinger stated. This comes on the heels of pro-Hamas, not pro-Palestine, protests emerging across Germany. In fact, violent protests are emerging across all of Europe. “The Middle East conflict has the danger of escalating and bringing in other Arab countries under the pressure of their public opinion,” Kissinger noted.

We will see more mass deportations as civil unrest grows and countries become serious about securing their borders amid a rise in crime and violent protests. No one is willing to accept the people of Palestine after what happened after Syria. There may need to be negotiations or repercussions for origin countries that refuse to accept their own people back. This will become an extremely hot topic as countries begin to select who can stay and who must leave.

[someone-you-do-not-know]

Hey 👋

I'm here with a random ask of the week 🌷

If dennor were on a vacation together, where would they go? Would they take someone with them? Like Iceland, bc you know, it's their kid-

Okay, it depends a little on how much time they have off and the season – so have waaaaay too many headcanons about this!

If they only have a few days off, like one or two, they drive or take the train, either to someplace fun in their own countries, Sweden, or Germany. Denmark really loves amusement parks, if they have a day off during a World Meeting, he will go to the nearest amusement park. His favourite amusement park is also the world's oldest – Bakken in Kalundborg, Denmark, but he loves all the ones in Denmark, of course. His favourite rollercoaster ride is really embarrassing though. It's this one called Wildfire, and it's been named the best in Europe and thirdbest in the world in 2018 – BUT IT'S IN KOLMÅRDEN, SWEDEN (I've tried it though, it really is great). If Norway gets to pick, they usually go out into nature, either hiking in the mountains, fishing, visit the beaches or forests, go kayaking, etc. That is, unless it's winter – then it's skiing every single time. Norway is great at skiing, obviously, especially cross-country skiing. They're very unlikely to visit any historical sites, since they already lived through it, and for these shorter trips, they're more likely to just be the two of them.

Now, if it's a week or more, the world IS THEIR OYSTER. So we need to divide these into seasons:

Spring: In spring, they both have a few days off for Easter, but this is family time, so usually they celebrate with a Easter Lunch together with the other Nordics and just hang out together at one of their homes all five of them. They also go visit other European countries (mostly their fellow protestants, because they think the catholics can get a little prickly around Easter – Denmark claims it's because of the whole Lent thing). If they have a bit more time off, they might also visit Iceland, The Faroe Islands, and Greenland (both should have their own representations, because their history and culture is very different from Denmark and they actually have self rule nowadays).

Summer: Now, you gotta understand. Europe has a lot of time off during summer and of course the nations would too. So there's a lot of options presenting themselves. A week in one of Denmark's many vacation houses near the beaches, going on a train trip through Europe, getting a house boat and sail the nearby seas, taking a plane to the south of Europe and becoming as red as a shrimp in 0.5 second ... The possibilities are endless. Iceland occasionally go with them, and if they're in a vacation house, they get a lot of visitors – especially Germany, Sweden and Finland (Iceland just moves in with them without asking). But they do as much as they can during summer

Autumn: In fall, there's only three options. Either, they go to South Europe or they go to either Thailand or the USA. But 7 out of 10 times, they go to Spain, and they often bring the other Nordics along. Spain is the tourist destination. If it's not mainland Spain, it's Gran Canaria or Mallorca. Spain is definitely their favourite vacation place. Spain isn't entirely sure how much he likes that they visit him year after year after year. Sure, he likes the money the tourism generates, but he's never really sure how much he should be around them and he needs vacation too! How else is he going to visit his favourite half of a nation?

Winter: Christmas and New Year's Eve are some more holidays all the nordics celebrate together, and here, they usually decide to stay near the mountains (meaning not in Denmark) – so they can go skiing! I mentioned skiing earlier, and it is an activity all Nordics enjoy – alpine, cross country, snowboard, you name it, they do it. Finland and Iceland especially like snowboarding, whereas Sweden and Norway are more likely to do cross country. Denmark really likes alpine, and is probably the weakest skier among them – which makes the others tease him endlessly, but he's still pretty good. Just wasn't born on skis like the rest of them. Norway is really good at off-piste – Sweden is too tall to do it as well as Norway, and Denmark is afraid he'll fall (and also tall), so that's one thing Norway, Finland, and Iceland does together.

As you can see, there really is a lot of different vacation types they like to do!

[weirdthoughtsandideas]

I do think Silver Fang/hopeanouli was more popular for the 90s kids, as back then everyone got VHSes and it got sold/rented in every store that had videos. So it got a cult status for those who grew up with it. Then it depends for the 00s kids. Some people I know born in the early 00s know exactly what it is, others have never heard of it.

I think you should do a survey if people know about it or not, I think it can be funny.

I know in Sweden too there's been so many shows in the 80s/90s that they dubbed but never aired on tv, and only released on vhs, so those shows got to be cult classics for those that happened to own them, while others never heard of them. With animes especially it seems like in the Nordic countries, they all dubbed a handful of eps of several animes and released on VHS (because, I know in Sweden's case, the television network "didn't understand" animes back then so they never aired them on TV, so you only could get them on tape. They have aired Moomins, Sailor Moon and Pokemon on tv ofc, but that was not until later), and the dubs are often hilariously bad but charming.

I do wonder if your knowledge also has to do if you like animes or not. I mean, as kids we might not have realized it was animes and just thought of it as "animated shows" (didn't know 90s moomin was an anime until really late lol), but I think if you're more into anime you're more likely to know it possibly.

I've asked my swedish friends born in the 00s, and lots of them have heard the name Silver Fang but fewer has watched. But when seeing people online, the 80s and 90s kids from Sweden seem to talk about it like it's very well known, just like finnish people who grew up at the same time. Apparently in Finland they have also translated the manga, so it seems to be the most popular there since they didn't translate the manga anywhere else in the nordic countries.

Anyway! Yeah! Let's do a poll!

"European" includes all european countries that is not the 4 already mentioned. I know Iceland is a nordic country too, but I realized I had clogged up the polls lol (and I think most people voting will be from Finland or Scandinavia, so they got the most options), so now Iceland is included with the rest of Europe.

[beardedmrbean]

Aamulehti carries a STT news agency report that Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on Wednesday expressed her dissatisfaction with Finland's preference for defence cooperation within Nato with the other Nordic countries rather than the Baltic states.

"I really hope that Finland will also look south and not only north, because from a defence and security point of view, the threat in the Baltic Sea is huge," Kallas told Finnish journalists in Tallinn.

Finland has indicated that it wants to be part of the Nato command structure based in Norfolk, Virginia along with Norway and possibly Sweden.

Kallas, who has been described as a "hawk" for her positions on Ukraine, said that as a new Nato member, Finland should not be overly cautious about dealing with Russia.

"Nato exists as a deterrent to Russia and as a show of strength," she reminded her listeners.

"We have the right to defend ourselves, don't even think about (possibly provoking Russia). We should not behave as if Russia is stronger," she said.

The report says that Kallas compared Russia to a school bully who only stops if the target of the bullying finds friends who defend him.

"Ukraine did not provoke Russia. Weakness provokes Russia," the Estonian prime minister said.

Orpo on the defensive

Finland's Prime Minster Petteri Orpo (NCP) was at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, where the composition of his right-wing coalition government came under sharp attack, reports Hufvudstadsbladet.

During a debate there, Spanish MEP Iratxe García Pérez, the leader of the Socialist and Democratic Group (S&D), sharply criticised Orpo's coalition government.

"Your alliance with the far right is the real threat to our democracy and the European project. This is why the future of the European Union is at stake," said García Pérez.

Danish MEP Nikolaj Villumsen of the Left Group (GUE/NGL) joined in, saying, "normally I would happily and proudly welcome a Nordic prime minister. Today I can't do that. The Europe you represent is not the Europe I want."

In her remarks, García Pérez made special mention of the Finns Party ministers Riikka Purra and Wille Rydman.

"Are you proud of your finance minister when she poses on social media with a big pair of scissors and expresses satisfaction with cutting people's income and social security?" García Pérez asked about Purra.

Orpo rejected the criticism.

"There are no far-right parties in my government. The Finnish government is for the rule of law, for democracy, for equality, for Ukraine and for the EU," Orpo said.

Scams abound

Finland is again seeing a spate of online scams, writes Ilta-Sanomat, and reports that Marko Erämaa of the National Bureau of Investigation says that even after scammers empty people's bank accounts, they often continue to use their personal information in more scams.

Just since December, there have been new scams circulating messages purportedly from the national tax office, the national insurance institute Kela, and the police.

Typically these originate from a Finnish phone number, with a text referring to a tax refund or fine, and the recipient is asked to take some action via a link.

According to Erämaa, these scams have drained more than a million euros from bank accounts in Finland in just a couple of months.

Meanwhile, Iltalehti warns readers of fake job offers circulating on the WhatsApp instant messaging service.

The messages have promised the recipient flexible working hours, a good salary and tells them that the job does not require any previous work experience.

The messages reported in Finland have been mainly in English, but some messages in Finnish have also been reported.

These messages may also often ask for some personal information, such as bank details, passwords or various documents. Some ask the person targeted to install some remote access software on their device.

And, Maaseudun Tulevaisuus says that recently, a large number of scam text messages have been sent in the name of the police, supposedly related to traffic offenses.

For example, these scam text messages may claim that the recipient has to pay a speeding fine and directs them to do so via a link in the message. Other messages simply refer to more general vehicle offenses and provide a link to click on for more detailed information.

As Maaseudun Tulevaisuus points out, police in Finland do not send the public text messages about traffic fines or penalties.

Yes, more snow

Iltalehti advises readers not to out away their snow shovels just yet, as they may come in handy this weekend.

The weather for the rest of the week will be rainy, the paper reports, with the rain turning to snow – possibly up to 20cm of fresh snowfall in the south of the country.

The further north you go, it points out, the more likely it is to snow.

Over the weekend, Lapland will enjoy sunny, briskly cold weather, but in the south precipitation will continue and turn to snow.

[suomeen]

Chapter 1: Discomfort zone

As the war started, the world opened up to embrace Ukrainians. But I didn’t go. The second day of war, when things looked pretty bad, I went to my sister who lives in a village in the heart of Ukraine. There we stayed in a small house with 8 people for a month and a half, until it felt safe enough to return to Kyiv.

Back then I got several concerned messages from foreign friends, offering help. One person offered to help me relocate to Germany, another even offered to stay at their house in England. I turned them down. I wasn’t desperate. I still had a home and didn’t feel eligible to go. I was also feeling excessively optimistic about the future. A few months ago, I looked back on those offers and seriously thought if I should have left back then. There was so much more support. And, as pragmatic as it may be, it was a window of opportunity. But the truth is, I was not ready.

After nearly 2 years of war, people grew weary of supporting us. And frankly, it was partly our fault. I heard lots of stories of our people acting entitled and rude, getting into fights for handouts, seemingly indifferent to the real suffering back home. And then there are a lot of us. By some estimates, 9 million people left Ukraine to go mostly for Europe. Over time, counties began to close up, the payouts and privileges got cut down. So, by the time we contemplated leaving, there weren’t many good options. The only countries who were still truly welcoming were the Baltic and Nordic countries. One of the most supportive ones was Finland. Sure, not as it used to be. At the start of war, Ukrainians could enjoy free trains and public transport and even things like zoo tickets. Little by little, it got cut down. Still, Finland was accepting Ukrainians and granting temporary protection almost to anyone with a UA passport. But the main reason for choosing it was that Mum had a friend in Finland who recently married to a local man. She had been telling us to come for a long time, offered her help, but we didn’t listen. 

For a long time, I resisted the idea of going abroad. It was too scary, too uncertain. Moving to a richer country out of convenience seemed wrong, even if a lot of people did it. And yet, things at home have only kept getting harder. There were more and more air attacks and explosions and the Winter was only beginning. The thought of leaving began to resurface.

I was desperately trying to cling to my comfort zone – my room, my PC, my things… Until there was no more comfort left. There’s no peace of mind when you sit in your corridor listening to killer drones fly in the skies above. Still, I had to ask myself “Do I deserve protection? Have I suffered enough? Sure, I heard explosions and sirens all day, had drones and missiles flying over my head, but the chances of me being actually killed are low. Surely, this isn’t for me. There are so many people who need this more.”

And then there was the guilt of leaving your country in crisis. But I realized that there was nothing I could do to help it. I admire the soldiers, the medics, the volunteers and everyone dedicating their lives to protect and help others. But I couldn’t be one of them. I don’t have it in me. I would be broken by trying. I was already broken by these two years. And I have battled depression and anxiety for most of my life. Things were hard for me and, just as I was starting to feel like maybe they might actually get better for once, it all broke down. 

Sidenote: I was the happiest I ever was in my life just before the war started. And it’s not like I won a lottery. I just got a job that I loved, that paid modestly but fairly and my health was alright. Of course, the war wasn’t a complete surprise. We have been anticipating and dreading it for months. We have joked about it at work just days before. One of our team members was Russian and I remember I made a joke about the invasion. Another colleague told me it was too much. Yeah… I was the closest to that Russian boy. He seemed very nice. Talked about wanting to work for Red Cross. Funny that, since I am now living under the protection of Red Cross here in Finland. When the war did start, all the guys from work wrote to me, asking if I was ok and if I needed help. Except the Russian boy.

It was even harder coming down from that high. But perhaps, it gave me a little reserve of resilience, a little joy I collected, like an extra life to spend. So, when shit went down, I was strangely calm and collected. I still was the first year. We were riding the high of our initial success. But hope is a volatile resource. After two years, there was nothing but burnout.

Initially, I rejected the though once again. It was too drastic and it felt like I’d just be swapping one type of stress to another. And, in a way, that was true. Though in the end, hearing sirens all day is not the same as asking strangers for directions.

But the last straw fell when I was trying to find a job. I got completely burnt out at my last job the previous year. Not to get too into it, but it paid very little and required me to write Economist-grade texts in a few hours. I remember sitting in the corridor, listening to explosions and worrying I had a text about Taylor Swift’s dogs to finish. Then came the blackouts. I was physically falling ill from the stress. So I quit. But there was nothing part-time and I couldn’t even get jobs I was ridiculously overqualified for. I tried to find something reasonable for months, but it was just no use. Finally, I passed a test for the country’s major TV channel, 1+1. They offered me a translation job. Except it wasn’t official in any way and the pay would only come some 2 months later. Also, the project was some MTV trash. I came up to my mum then and she said it wasn’t worth it. So I went “You know what? Fuck it! Maybe we should just go. It can’t be worse than this.”

So I catapulted myself out of my comfort zone way across 4 countries.

Finland threw a lifebuoy and I grabbed it.

[vanilla-cigarillos]

Sámi Folklore and Magic

The Sámi (sah-me) are the traditionally Sámi-speaking people inhabiting the region of Sápmi, which in modern times encompasses large northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and of the Kola Peninsula in Russia. This area was formerly known as Lapland, and the Sámi have historically been known in English as Lapps or Laplanders, but these terms are regarded as offensive by the Sámi, who instead claim the area's name in their own languages. The Sámi are primarily known for their relationship with the culture of nomadic reindeer herding. For several complex reasons that I won’t get into here, reindeer herding is legally reserved for only Sámi people in some regions of the Nordic countries.

Learning about my culture has been a very wonderful, eye-opening experience for me and I want to share what I’ve found! 

The Sámi, within the circles of people who know them, are recognized for three specific forms of magic. These are divination, drumming, and “gand”. Sámi people and their craft were believed to be very powerful by sagas.

Saivu and Noaidi:

Saivu is a term that typically means “another world”, as well as the being who live there. A noaidi refers to a person with the ability to communicate with spirits, travel to other worlds, and potentially even tell the future. The drum was one of the most critical tools for noaidi carrying out these spiritual tasks.

Faith and Mythos:

There is no set limit to the gods traditionally held in Sámi culture. Norse and Sámi mythology influenced each other frequently, and thus there are many notable similarities between the two. I.e. Both hold a belief in the figure of Thor.

Mythical creatures are a critical part of Sámi culture. Many today still believe in underground spirits, and figures of legend are still described through generations. Stállu (troll giants) and Čáhcerávga (river spirits/sea monsters) are used in stories to scare children from dangerous behavior on the ice or near other dangerous places. 

Joik

Joiks are Sámi song traditions used to aid a noaidi in achieving a trance, especially so in pre-Christian dominance. Joiks also have function outside of such spiritual traditions and rituals. They are also used to calm and call to reindeer, and narrative joiks are powerful tools in storytelling.

The Drum

Meavrresgárri - North Sámi

Gievrie - South Sámi

Runebomme - Norwegian (Comes from early misunderstanding that the symbols represented on the drums were runes, newly appearing name is Sametromme)

Many drums are made of a wooden frame (South Sámi) or a hollowed bowl (North Sámi). Each are personalized, with the backs of these drums being decorated with various amulets of silver, animal claws, teeth, or bones. Whenever the drum is hit, the pointers move around and indicate to the symbols on the drumskin. Through this, noaidi are able to tell the future and communicate with gods and spirits. Drums are also powerful tools to aid in putting noaidi into a trance. 

Gand

Originally claimed to be a “soul” or spirit that a person practicing Sámi sorcery could control/send out. This could be to gain information about distant lands, or even to cast harm onto others. By those who feared Sámi magic, gand was typically known as a malicious “projectile” of sorts that sorcerers could use at intense speeds and vast distances.

Healing:

Noaidi were believed to be able to heal people by retrieving their souls from the world of the dead. Traditions of noaidi healing are still in use to this day. Stemming bleeding, stopping someone’s bleeding through chanting, rituals and other forms of witchcraft) are still used not only in Sámi tradition but also throughout Norway as well. 

Much of Sámi culture isn’t known by those outside of the culture due to much of it being received through oral tradition. It’s very important to respect the closed aspect of the culture, while still learning about important cultural aspects that preserve Sámi people’s place in the world. 

[usafphantom2]

With NATO membership imminent, Sweden and the US sign a new defense cooperation agreement

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 08/12/2023 - 00:07in Military

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, and Swedish defense minister Pal Jonson signed a bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) on December 5, strengthening military ties between the two nations, which will allow bilateral exercises and new joint acquisitions and will further pave the way for Sweden's integration into NATO.

The agreement “will allow greater defense cooperation, such as the legal status of U.S. military personnel, access to areas of deployment and the pre-positioning of military material,” said Pentagon spokesman Brig. General Patrick S. Ryder told reporters: "The DCA also creates the necessary conditions for U.S. military support when requested and is therefore an agreement of great importance for both countries." More details were not provided immediately.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Sweden and Finland, who have long been neutral, applied to join NATO and, although Finland has been admitted to the alliance, Sweden's accession awaits the approval of Turkey and Hungary.

Jonson, speaking on December 5 with the Atlantic Council, refused to provide a schedule on when he expects the final obstacles to Sweden's accession to be eliminated, only saying that this will be "soon".

B-1 bombers first landed in Sweden in 2023.

“Turkey has granted Swedish guest status, saying that it is not if we are going to become members, but when... and we hope that this will be resolved as soon as possible,” Jonson said.

About the DCA between the US and Sweden, Jonson said: “This will make our close partnership even closer. It will create better conditions for U.S. forces, both to use Swedish territory as a preparation and base area, as well as for exercise, and it is also a deterrent. Therefore, the DCA will be a new cornerstone in our bilateral cooperation."

He later said that the U.S. military presence in Sweden “is important” for NATO integration and that the DCA will guide U.S. investment in the region.

Jonson's observations focused on how Sweden will integrate its armed forces into NATO and argued that Stockholm is already highly aligned, both operationally and technically, with NATO standards.

As an example, he cited last year's "Silver Arrow" exercise with the U.S., saying that it was Sweden's largest exercise in 25 years and highlighted the need to pay attention to logistics and maintenance, and the ability to "fight for a long time".

He noted that the Nordic countries of Norway, Finland and Denmark already work together militarily and all now have DCA with the U.S., which should accelerate and improve NATO interoperability in the Scandinavian region.

Sweden was one of the first members of the Partnership for Peace (PFP) - sometimes called "NATO Light" - created during the Clinton administration to establish a path for NATO membership for other European countries and for the former Warsaw Pact nations. The PFP has defined a series of steps, from joint exercises to common equipment and training standards, necessary for membership, and Sweden fully embraced all of them, Jonson said, and sent its troops to serve alongside NATO forces in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Libya.

“We are linked to NATO's regional plans,” he said, and Sweden offers not only state-of-the-art land, air and naval forces and grassroots opportunities, but also experience in Russian intelligence issues.

"Intelligence is also an asset that I think we can bring to the table, to the alliance," Jonson said. "Sweden has a lot of Russian experience. We have strong capabilities in our intelligence communities. We have sensors that can work on our submarines and also on our surface fighters and also on aerial sensors."

T-7A jet developed by Boeing in partnership with Saab.

Sweden, despite having a population of only 10 million inhabitants, also has a defense industry capable of building armored vehicles, submarines, corvets and combat and command and control aircraft, and is manufacturing 155 mm ammunition for Ukraine, along with Denmark and Norway. The SAAB JAS39 Gripen is a frequent competitor to the U.S. F-16 and F-35 in international competitions, and its GlobalEye airborne alert and control system often faces Boeing's E-7 Wedgetail. SAAB is a partner of Boeing in USAF's T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer, and Sweden's Gripen fighters carry US-made AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles and are powered by GE Aerospace F414 engines.

Sweden is “fully in favor” of NATO's objectives that each member devote two percent of its gross domestic product to defense and 20 percent of that amount to new equipment and research and development, Jonson said.

“Sweden doubled its defense budgets by 2024 compared to what we were in 2020,” he said. "In five years, we have doubled [expenditures]... and next year we will reach 2.1 percent of GDP and we also have an upward trajectory."

In addition, Jonson said that Sweden spends “actually 56% when it comes to acquisitions. Therefore, we obtained a very good score in terms of investments and also in innovation."

NATO membership will give Sweden greater security to deter a possible aggression by Russia, which continues to wage war against Ukraine, and Jonson said that Sweden also wants to do its part to prevent Russia from a series of new attacks.

"If Russia succeeds in this war, I fear that other countries neighboring Russia, such as Moldova and Georgia, will feel increasing pressure and that there will also be increasing pressure on the Alliance. Therefore, be sure that the United States has a partner in Sweden who shares the unity of purpose of supporting Ukraine for as long as necessary,” he said.

Russia outlined plans to regroup from losses in Ukraine and “return with a greater force” in 2026, Jonson added, which will require vigilance and will not diminish support for Kiev from NATO and the European Union. There is a “window of opportunity” for NATO to maintain the pressure to ensure a desirable outcome in the war, he added.

Most of the Swedish electorate – 65-70 percent – supports NATO membership, Jonson said, and 88 percent of the seats in parliament were won “by those who want to join,” Jonson said. They recognize that Russia's aggression is an immediate danger and requires an "evolution" in thought.

“Sweden is no longer being defended within Sweden,” he said.

Tags: Military AviationFlygvapnet - Swedish Air ForceJAS39 GripenNATO - North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationsaabUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air Force

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has work published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[gwendolynlerman]

Things that in Sweden and Denmark that surprised me

I just came back from a 5-day trip in Sweden and Denmark and since I did a similar post when I returned from Finland last month, here is a list of things that surprised me from these countries.

Some of these are common to the three countries (and probably Iceland and Norway, but I haven't been there yet), so I've grouped them together.

Disclaimer: This is my perception as a foreigner from Spain, a country whose culture is quite different from that of Nordic countries (which of course are not a monolith), that has only visited certain cities in these countries, so some things might not be representative of the whole country. I also generalize, but of course there might be exceptions to my statements.

On a final note regarding national languages, Danish sounds deeper and more German-like, while Swedish is very sing song-y. (I've actually fallen in love with Swedish, so I guess that's another language that I gotta learn now 🤷🏻‍♀️ I'm actually currently doing the Duolingo course, but I'm considering studying the language more seriously.)

Denmark, Finland, and Sweden

Doors are usually very heavy and are opened by turning the latch while moving the door handle.

Nordic people generally wear minimalist clothes in neuter tones and dress comfortably but fashionably. Many women wear tennis shoes with skirts to go to the office. (I don't know whether they change into heels when they arrive, though.)

There are life preservers next to any body of water (rivers, lakes, moats, the sea, etc.).

Denmark and Sweden

Green traffic lights for pedestrians last for an incredibly short amount of time. Sometimes one cannot even cross a whole street without them turning red before. Also, they don't warn you before they're about to turn red, which is such a pain in the ass. This is especially the case in Denmark.

People cross the street despite the traffic light being red. (We absolutely do this in Spain, it just shocked me that people from Northern Europe do it as well, because it's a big "no" in Germany.)

Finland and Sweden

Gender-neutral bathrooms in hotels and public places

Lots of Italian restaurants

People seem to love salty licorice (even salty licorice sweets that taste like wine, which imho are disgusting, but hey, to each their own 🤷🏻‍♀️)

Denmark

There are many more national flags in the streets than in any other Nordic country that I've been to, which suggests that they are more nationalist. (Nothing wrong with that, just a remark.)

Just like in Germany and unlike in Sweden (where Volvo is the most common brand), Volkswagen is one of the most common car brands.

Denmark is cheaper than Sweden, but since the Danish crown (DKK) is stronger than the Swedish one (SEK) and the euro, it's actually more expensive for tourists from Sweden and the Eurozone.

While automatic checkouts are ubiquous in Swedish supermarkets, they are way less common in Denmark.

Sweden

People speak really quietly among themselves while on the street, so it probably seems to them that we Spaniards are always shouting 😂 (We've got a reputation for being too loud lol)

There are not many supermarkets, but instead lots of convenience stores, including 7-Eleven. (There are also many 7-Eleven in Denmark.)

Many embassies don't have a plaque, but instead have giant flags of their country hanging from the facade. In Spain, there is normally a fence around the property and flags are placed on poles.

Local elections were scheduled to take place one day after we left the country and there were candidate banners hanging all around the city (both in Stockholm and Malmö), just like in any other country. However, we also saw what we think were politicians having rallies on the street and chatting with electors.

The "Free the Nipple" movement is especially powerful in Sweden, since many women were not wearing bras.

Trains and train stations are older than in Denmark, where panels are digital and not analogical (at least in Copenhagen).

Sweden is largely a cashless society in which many stores don't accept cash.

Tobacco is normally sold in small round containers that include something like nicotine patches that are placed in the gums. However, not many people smoke.

Undercover police cars are Volvo SUVs, which is hilarious imo. I mean, how can you take the police seriously when they ride around in the same car as suburban moms?

Bins in public places are not separated depending on the type of waste material, as in Finland and Germany.

Sweden is probably the most vegetarian- and vegan-friendly country in Europe and I love that.

[lil-scout-precure]

Eurovision Semi-final 1 Personal Reactions in resumee:

Spoilers of Eurovision 2023 SemiFinal ahead

Opening (and the First Interval act with Alyosha and Fergusson): To cite Shrek in Shrek 2: "Could you please not make any Ukraine homage emotional and heart-breaking...FOR FIVE MINUTES?!" 😭😭😢 (for the Opening only: I wish LatAm countries would be so dedicated in making such arrangements for hosting any event like they do in Liverpool TmT)

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Norway: The song still majestic and strong as her spirit, but something's off with Ale (whistle note and finale)...In the name of the Nordics, please save her, televote ;m; T-T

Malta: They revamped the 8-bit sprites to not get sued by Nintendo, right? Also, CARBOARD DESTINY IS BACK and that SLAY! Deserves to be saved from 2nd spot death curse :,)

Serbia: HE BROUGHT THE FLOWER AND THE GUNDAM MECHA!! :DDD Luke, to the finals, now. Obligatory.

Latvia: The same staging as the Supernova version. But still have some energy. Well, only time will tell if they're saved...

Portugal: Where's the sofa and heart engines from Festival da Canção? ._. Still, EATING THE ENTIRE STAGE WITH HER CLASS...Loving it and wishing it to go to the finals :)

Croatia: A teeny weeny softer than the original Dora 2023 version. But still the same insane Let 3 in stage XD. Even the rocket finale was improved :D. I swear if they don't get into the finals...

Switzerland: The suit is fine, at least original with the pyro effects and the choreo. Not as good as Gjon, but at least better than the last year's entry and maybe, MAYBE it can make it. No guarantee though

Ireland: Still the lower key pitch upsets me. But the staging WAY BETTER than the studio and Eurosong versions and with more style. Fearing for them, still.

Israel: My GOSH, Noa Kirel and Israel. We asked you for a competitive song in the sight of three Nordics slaying, not a MASTERPIECE. 🤯😦 If the rumors of the dancebreak part of Solo are really true (not seen the rehearsals before the semis to avoid spoilers), they gonna need A FRICKING MIRACLE, cause Noa just raised the bar to the arena's ROOF 😂. Directly to the finals, assured!

Moldova: The closest we can have to a well-done Fulenn successor in staging and style and all ;w;. The flute guy making justice to the Sax Guy from Sunstroke Project (NF runner-up), and ready to battle Loreen again like in 2012! (the coincidence she came up next in the running order of the semis) Please let this happen!

Sweden: SHE BROUGHT THE (panini press) LED SCREEN!! 🥰🤩😍How do you say "Mother" in Swedish? Cause she just made it like MelFest... ;w; (the postcard of her relaxing in the lake just nails her vibes). The world will be ON FIRE if she flops TwT

Azerbaijan: Not my favorites of the semi roster (they would have been safer in the second semi, tbh) or the entry list in general. But they sang good and with nice vibes? Yup. They just give some band vibes like Gorillaz (my mutuals can agree on this, as they told me that and I see they're right). They gonna need a lot of luck to get to the finals, still.

Czechia: Not what I expected (still attached to the studio version videoclip ;w;), but my gosh: They can SING perfectly in live! Loved the outfits, the entire vocal harmony and the performance. (The braid part reminded me of the Nasci María live staging for Portugal somehow). I will cry if they are gone from the finals. Please, one chance. ;w; 😭🥲

Netherlands: Fearing for them since the pre-parties performances and with some HOPE for the semis. 😣😔 Still, they gave their best and looked just so happy at the end. 🥲. Well, you made your best, even if you don't make it

Finland: My mutuals and most of all Europe said already everything about him. But I'm gonna repeat it: HE JUST HYPED THE FINAL SPOT! The improvements to the UMK choreo, the wild vibes... Getting him out of the finals is a national if not a continental punishable CRIME. Don't make that mistake, televote, he gave you the SHOW.

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Rita Ora segment: Damn, UK. You brought the best of the best to perform in the intervals. Like Madonna in the Super Bowl, but way better! :D

The Graham Norton resumee of Eurovision: Very self-aware of the bad luck UK got during the recent millennia but still knowing their best hits in earlier years ;w;. Also, the mentions of the best Ukrainian entries and Kalush is appreciated. (Not to mention the homage to Sam Ryder's ROYAL talent)

The Timur reaction clip: I've never seen so much passion in a victory not from LatAm's football fans. Beautiful O,W,O

The Dustin the Turkey moment: Where is this dude from? (minutes after searching for Ireland 2008 entry: They took the "Eurovision weird level" seriously XD)

The Måns and Filomena segment: Need to make that game for the friends rn. (Poor Måns, he thought Achille qualified in Torino...We feel your pain ;w;)

The Italy-France-Germany segments: La Zarra just as France-class as she can be, LOTL being just almost like Maneskin at this rate in charisma, and Marco being a sweetie...FUCK NO, NOT THE SPOILERS FROM THEIR PERFORMANCES! (mutes and changes broswer tab view) 😭😭

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The moment of truth:

Croatia: THEY DID IT! THEY DID IT! They will bring the traktor! ;w;

Moldova: YES! We need Loreen and the 2012 return will be complete!

Switzerland: I know I said there maybe could go but HOW IN TARNATION?

Finland: KAARIJA STANS, TODAY IS NATIONAL CRAZY AND PARTY DAY! Finland 2024 is nigh!

Czechia: MIRACLES EXIST...GRACIAS, DIOS, you gave them a chance! Go, Vesna!

Israel: Of course she had to be selected! :D If Solo EVER makes it to the finals, they're probably screwed XD

Portugal: Madre mía, this is a lucky day. My favs are into the finals!! (well...most)

Sweden: OFFICIALLY, MOTHER HAS RETURNED TO EUROVISION!! THE RETURN IS COMPLETE! (Wins either her or Kaarija, I will be happy nevertheless. They're both incredible)

Serbia: LUKE HAS BEEN SAVED! 🥲🥲Serbia again to the finals with the surreal and out-of-box slaying. Konstrakta would be so proud of him... TwT

Norway: THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Thank you, televote! ;W; 😭😭😭. Now I won't be sad in these semis. (almost) ALL MY FAVORITES INTO THE FINALS! :DDD

Ps: Could we please swap Malta or Latvia in exchange of Switzerland, pretty please?

Now to wait the second semis...Not as excited for them like in this one (except for Austria, Australia, Georgia, Armenia, Estonia and Slovenia), but still interested (bring Ruslana, plz ;W;)