Heil the Sun - without snow...

The sun is a rare visitor at this time of the year in Finland. Today it made a visit to an empty marina and picked up the level of the view - and mind naturally. The sun is fairly down at 1:30 pm :o(

As you can see, no boats left to die in winter ice & snow. Hopefully in few weeks this will be all frozen. Most years it is already at this time frozen and would crush all possible boats left in.

Tomorrow the last day of the year and up North in Lapland only some weeks to go before the sun comes up again.

PS Game Day Blues-SaiPa 18:30

http://blues.fi/component/bluesnews/1173?view=uutinen

...should I stay or should I go...?

Wipe it clean - Hyvin pyyhkii!

Every one of us needs to use a wiper - toilet paper. In principle it makes sense to use a paper that is comfortable - soft and enduring enough. If in addition the paper brings joy or is otherwise good feelings via visual effect, why not...?

Hyvin pyyhkii!

Last Christmas jingles...

Loistavaa Joulua – Joyful Christmas!

On aika rauhoittua jälleen, viihtyä ja nauttia antaen aikaa ystävilleen. 

Mennyt vuosi on paljon tuonut, nautintoja, iloja ja huoliakin suonut. 

Kalat, laatikot, kinkku ja mädit odottaa, turha tässä painoa oliskin pudottaa. 

Vuoden vaihdetta kohti leijutaan hyvillä mielin, seurana uros tai enkeli sievin. 

Ei posti meiltä sulle korttia tuo, siitä fyrkat meni tulevan lasten sairaalan luo – anteeksi meille suo. 

Perhe on iloiten leppoisasti koolla, ruokaa ja juomaa nauttien talkoolla. 

Nautitaan ja iloitaan, iloitaan ja nautitaan, Joulupukkiakin viihdytetään – tietty myös sitä oikeaa.

Kynttilöistä valoa, joulun iloa, loistavaa Joulua kaikille, myös meille!!!

Without crappy poetry I am glad to notice anther year with lots of experiences is getting towards the end and it’s time to enjoy and relax with family and friends. Let’s enjoy the tastes, sounds and people. If you were expecting a Christmas card from us, too bad. The little money we didn’t spend on them is donated to support the new children’s hospital in Helsinki, Finland.

Nyt Herra Tammisen sika on uunissa ja Glögiä suonissa. Christmas ham is in the oven and glögi, the sweet glühwein, mulled wine, running in my veins.

HYVÄÄ JOULUA!

JOYFUL CHRISTMAS!

Take the effort - it will have an impact!

As I said in my previous post, if you take the effort to notice people, help out or do something that is valuable to others, it will have a positive impact! Often it is about small things and sometimes you get something back - on top of a good mind.

Like happened to me.

The other day I was driving home and saw in front of me a car changing its lane insanely and crashing another car. For a second I wondered if they need help or if my involvement is needed, concluding that I should take the effort to help out. I made at least one person very glad!

It appeared that the quilty driver was not with Finnish origin and was not happy to admit it was his fault, as well as the innocent driver had no clue what she should do and had no documents to report the accident for insurance. I stated shortly what I saw, gave the "victim" some tips, gave the insurance form and a pen. Since I had to leave for an appointment, I gave her my contact details and asked her to contact me if needed.

Well, she didn't contact me directly but a courier rang my doorbell two days later and this is what I got:

It was quite a big packet as you can see from the tennis ball comparison. And this is what I found from inside:

The "victim" lady had sent me a flower and a thank you -note. Apparently my little effort was very valuable for her so it paid off. Small input, big positive impact...

While we are on traffic topic, I want to share a picture and the feeling from the shortest days of the year.

Today it felt that the sun did not raise at all (and actually it didn't in Lapland at Northern Finland). It was gray and rainy all day, hard wind and sooo sad looking pre Christmas day. Perkele. Most of the time people post only the shiny, nice images and tell positive stories - just like I prefer to do as I try to act via positiveness. But if something is shitty, I think it's ok to say it.

Luckily the gray day was gray only at weather, joyful Christmas is 2 nights away :o)

Have a great moment, soon the Santa, Joulupukki, is here! Hauskaa Joulun odotusta!!!

PS Be aware of the fake Santa...

1 second effort - Lifetime impact!

I take my hat off to Charlie Coyle at Minnesota Wild NHL team. He took 1 second of his time and positively distracted himself at the game warm up to notice a young fan - small wave and a life time impact.

I bet the young man will remember this for life. People, small deeds do matter!

Open the door to a lady - or others. Say good morning. Say thank you. Help out without being asked. If you are a star, notice the fans. There will be a time when your name and face is forgotten... If you want to be a star, notice the potential fans.

All it takes is a bit of an effort... Have a great weekend! 

6 Joulukuuta 2013 Suomi 96 vuotta - December 6th 2013 Finland 96 years!

Corrected: "...Year 1917 Finland separated..."
----
Tomorrow December 6th is the Independence Day of Finland. Year 1917 Finland separated from Russia and started to develop a life of it's own. I guess someone at Russia - or later at Soviet Union - started to have doubts regarding the decision and hence they started a war against Finland at 1939, the famous Winter War.

This is how Wikipedia describes the winter war in brief;
"The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland in 1939–1940. It began with Soviet invasion of Finland on 30 November 1939, and ended with the Moscow Peace Treaty on 13 March 1940."

Tomorrow the Finnish broadcasting company YLE shows again a classic movie about the second world war time in Finland, the Unknown Soldier - Tuntematon Sotilas from 1955. Wikipedia briefing at here and Youtube taste below.

Tomorrow's annual President's reception will be held at Tampere, since the precidential palace is under renevation. No dancing but a concert instead. Let's see what kind of a party it will be.
...and in case you are wondering, NO I am not going, it is always televized.

Let's finish off with a "music video" from the 1955 movie, a clip of Finlandia, composed by Jean Sibelius.

Hyvää 96. Itsenäisyyspäivää Suomi 

-

Happy 96th Independence Day Finland!

PS To check out my older posts about Finland's independence, click here.

PPS It's only 19 days until Santa Claus, Joulupukki, comes over. Welcome Christmas!!!

Cubs & Kids Dance a´la Finland - Soo soo, ei saa!

Check out the pictures in linked site. Three bear cubs in Finnish forest are performing a dance in a style that I wish the photographer would have had a video camera instead...

http://m.nydailynews.com/1.1525187#bmb=1

Well, we have also a bit different cubs making stunts. Check out these Finnish kids at YouTube. The kids are 1, 6, 7, and 10 years old. 

There is a piece of news about them at Iltasanomat.fi - in Finnish of course: http://www.iltasanomat.fi/videot/hyvaolo/vid-1288623506217.html

Let the kids play, they are meant to do that! So what if they hurt a bit now and then...

Have a great weekend!

More skills - Amazing trick!

This guy is unbelievable, how can you set some cards into certain order and then talk your way through a deck of cards...?

Ladies and Playboys, James Galea from Down Under - Australia:
http://www.flixxy.com/australian-magician-james-galeas-unbelievable-trick.htm

Have a great gray November weekend you all!!!

Skills - The Drummer Girl!

I appreciate skills in what ever it is. This time it is a young girl with drums. Check out at http://vitaminl.tv/video/224?ref=fbs

November in Finland - Blackout!

So today the sun didn't come up at all. Rainy. Windy. Dark. Cold. Even too windy for candles outside.

Or technically an optimist would say it did shine, even if behind the gray rainy clouds but still. A pessimist or a realist would say it didn't and hence it became a standard November day in Helsinki area, Finland.

Yesterday was something else...!

Even if the mild wind was freezing by the seaside at down town, in sun it was warm and niiiice!

What was specifically great, was that I got to use the sunglasses! Perhaps for the last time before March.

A pessimist will never be disappointed ;o) Have a great gray November!
...or go to Lapland at Northern Finland, they have snow but the sun will go down soon - for months...!

Damn I love winter. And summer. And spring. And autumn now and then.

Hyvää Isänpäivää - Happy Father's Day!

Today is the Father's Day in Finland and I love this!

Sleep fairly late, chill in bed waiting for a fabulastic breakfast to be prepared, kids - who are not that small any more - come to get me up for the breakfast and then chilling at the table. I've enjoyed some great food, drinks, discussions, reading, music and it still continues. Heck, I took the laptop here and I'm writing this by the table :o)

I don't know the reason, but in Belgium they celebrate the Father's Day in spring. When living there, it was great since we naturally celebrated the day both when the Belge did, and also when the Finns did. For some other reason the Mother's Day was the same in Finland and Belgium...

Here is an example of the great language of Finnish, compliments by a Facebook group thisisfinland, also online at www.thisisfinland.fi.

Hyvää Isänpäivää meille kaikille!!!

From Movember to November

May I introduce...

Movember Göran

Movember Horst

Movember Adolf

November Mika

If you want to support the movement but don't have anyone to direct it for, here is an option:
http://fi.movember.com/mospace/5171681

Movember

Movember - a good cause and some fun with facial hair - or genital hair if you choose so...

Years ago I've done my part of facial hair and am not sure if I'll join the moustache project. If you are interested, the Finland pages - at least one option for the cause - can be found at http://fi.movember.com/, also in English...

Poronkäristys - Sautéed reindeer - Renskav - Finnbiff

I ate Rudolph! You know, the red nose reindeer. Extremely delicious :o)

Noooo, of course it was not Rudolph, it was his cousin...

Sautéed reindeer, or poronkäristys as we Finns call it, is quite easy to make. What requires most work is peeling the potatoes for the mashed potato. And what makes it even more difficult, is that the potatoes used for it are small and curvy almond potatos from Lapland, puikulaperuna.

Peeling 2 kilos of them is the hardest part, but you are allowed to do it while you are consuming the beer listed in the recipe...

I prepared to feed 4-6 people with 1kg of reindeer and 2 kilos of puikulaperuna for the mashed potato. Also 2 cans of dark beer is needed for the reindeer plus 3 beers per hour for the cook.
...this is something I failed to do as I started the cooking before noon, wanting to keep my mind and body clear for babysitting.

Actually she is not a baby as she is a BIG girl, way over 1 year old and in less than 2 months she will again meet the Santa Claus, Joulupukki. The real one from Korvatunturi at Lappland - not any commercial nonsense story from North Pole...

Back to the reindeer - here are few tips for cooking you might value;

• When making the mashed potato, save some of the boiling water to moist it. It holds quite a lot of the taste. Be brave with the butter & salt, and don't forget to add some sugar. If you wanna go wild, try adding some goat cheese and honey.
• For reindeer, don't save with the quality of the meat! Again, be brave with salt & pepper. And please, no lager beer or other watery one, use good dark beer!
• Use juniper berries, katajamarja. At least in Finland you can get them in any market at least by Santa Maria spice company. From the Santa Maria -link you have access also for other Finnish specialties at www.suomikauppa.fi...

Bon appétit - Hyvää ruokahalua!

 

What a day!

After some renovation & paintwork until fairly late last night, some wine was well deserved. Today has been a great day after a good long sleep (that is waste of time anyway...);
...After a quick small bite a quick workout at the gym.
...Cycle back home (in rain) for a breakfast & shower, to go out for the household community yard work, "talkoot", which is traditionally followed by BBQ snacks & drinks outside. Since it was raining, this was done covered by the rain at the car shelter. Niiiiiice!
...Sauna!
...Siesta!
...Chill out & light up ~30 candles, in- & outdoors.
...Prepare the best pizza in town.
...and now...
EL CLASICO!!!
Barcelona - Real Madrid, Barca leading 1-0 with a goal by Neymar at his el Clasico debut.

And writing this is the half time show :o)
To give you a taster of the home team, check out the ad by the home team sponsor.

To finish off, here is something closer to my preference...

Hala Madrid!!!

What to do in Tallinn?

A LOT!

If you have never been in Tallinn, Estonia or your experience is based on the Old Town trips, here is a page you should visit: http://www.tourism.tallinn.ee/eng/fpage

There is so much to see, do and enjoy in and around the city. Price level is fair when you go outside the touristic Old Town and you get to experience more the real, genuine and authentic Estonia. In many ways you can still see and feel the impact of the Soviet Union time at some places.

I also recommend to make a trip to one of the nearby cities like Pärnu, Rakvere with it's spa, Tartu etc, as everything is close. Shopping is good, many sports and activity options, great restaurants and comparing to Finland, you get more for the money you spend.

It's a small country with many places to go and a lot to do...

For some pictures and what I have written earlier about Tallinn, click here.

Wet-wet-wet & Ice hockey

Yesterday morning I grabbed myself up and pushed me out for a walk - despite of rain. I gotta say it was again great, fresh cold air, not much traffic, road workers hiding somewhere indoors from the rain, schools on fall holiday - and colors were still great so wet-wet-wet weather didn't bother me...

 

Today we get to enjoy sunshine and it is again Blues home game day! Let's see if the Blues can continue yesterday's positive playing and slowly start picking up their position from the bottom of the table. It's also possible that I'll find myself from the Blues arena today. Special game with a pink theme to support the battle against breast cancer - hence even higher likelyness to go to the game.

 

What is surprising, my daughter is the biggest booster to go to the game as she is a BIG fan! She just told me that Teemu Selänne of the Anaheim Ducks scored a goal in the NHL game against Phoenix Coyotes, and another at shoot out. Not bad from a guy who is 43 years old...

 

For tickets to the Blues game, click here.

 

Have a great weekend!

Why, baby why...?

Below you will find a link to a page with pictures that have one common theme in my mind: WHY?
http://vivas.fi/mita-ihmetta-ja-miksi-31-aivan-taysin-kasittamatonta-kuvaa/

Here is a taster...

Regards from Winterland, I just told you it is fall time. Well, it's Finland and things can change fast. This is a fresh pic by www.iltasanomat.fi showing the cool status from about 300 km from Helsinki.

Winter - right around the corner...!

The Fall - It's Here!

I'm not the only one who has noticed the time of the year - and enjoyed taking photos. Great pics on Facebook, on media and blogs, like Tsupukka's http://tsupukka.blogspot.fi/

If you have never tried, you should go out and find yourself a tree with yellow leafs ...or leaves or how ever you write it, I chose leafs from Toronto Maple Leafs... with branches coming down. Take a stick, go below the tree and it the branches enjoying the rain.

Put on rubber boots - and buy ones if you don't have them - and go out and kick the leafs. Let's hope you won't hit dog shit.

And if your kids take the effort to rake the leaves, let them make a big pile and then break it - or jump into it.

Enjoy the fall!!!

Tarkkana mitä kirjoitat

Mikäli sinulle maksetaan kirjoittamisesta, oletus on, että olet ammattilainen. Näin ollen loppuun asti miettimättömiä lehtiotsikoita ei pitäisi syntyä - vaan kyllä niitä kuitenkin syntyy...! Alla maukkaita esimerkkejä, ei kuitenkaan tältä vuodelta...

Sorry folks, these are just something one can not translate into English. These are foolish press titles where the message leaves some space for imagination.

----
Nainen kestää heikosti peräänajoa.
Otsikko Aamulehdessä 29.1.

Jollei haudasta oteta yhteyttä, hautaa hoidetaan 25 vuotta veloituksetta.
Turkulainen 28.8.

Väkivalta parisuhteessa on asia, jonka eteen kannattaa tehdä töitä.
Vantaan Sanomat 22.9.

Mies löi liikuntarajoitteista miestä pankkiautomaatilla.
Otsikko Koti-Kajaanissa 15.1.

Rattijuoppo kaahasi sataa poliisia karkuun.
Otsikko Warkauden Lehdessä 31.3.

Olutrekka ojaan Iissä. Alkoholilla ei ollut osuutta turmassa.
Helsingin Sanomat 4.5.

Linja-autossa oli yli 50 ihmistä. Mukana oli myös kolme opettajaa.
Helsingin Sanomat 14.4.

Valintatalo avaa kirkon kylässä ensi torstaina. Uusittu myymälä poikkeaa
ratkaisevasti entisestä.
Otsikko Luoteis-Uusimaassa 11.6.

Eliel Saarisen tien tunneli on kaikkiaan yli puoli kilometriä pitkä.
Umpitunnelissa kuljetaan 350 metrin matka.
Helsingin Sanomat 12.10.

Oravan löytyminen ei vielä tarkoita sitä, että niitä pesisi lähistöllä.
Se tarkoittaa vain, että kuollut yksilö on liikuskellut alueella.
Savon Sanomat 2.7.

Hakijaryntäys Espoon hautausmaille.
Otsikko Espoon seurakuntasanomat Essessä 11.3

Ne, jotka ovat päivittäin jutelleet vainajan kanssa selviävät tablettilääkityksellä.
Savon Sanomat 7.1.

Malmin hautausmaan liikenne yksisuuntainen.
Ilmoitus Helsingin Sanomissa 24.12.

Vuodepotilaan syöminen voi olla hankalaa.
Otsikko Sydän-Satakunnassa 8.12 .

Etelä-Karjalan ensimmäinen krematorio tuotantokäyttöön.
Otsikko Etelä-Saimaassa 15.5.

Mika Lahti kaatoi keilat naisia paremmin.
Otsikko Helsingin Sanomissa 10.1.

Työkaverinsa rintoja kähminyt sai jättikorvauksen.
Otsikko Ilta-Sanomien lööpissä 5.2.

Kauppiaan sydän on lihatiskillä.
Otsikko Kauppalehdessä 23.2.

Huonokuuloisten maailmankongressissa huippupuhujia.
Kuulonhuoltoliiton tiedotteen otsikko 13.5.

Eurot näytettiin etukäteen vain sokeille.
Otsikko Aamulehdessä 31.12.

Oppilaiden tasapuolinen kohtelu epäkohta peruskoulussa ja lukiossa.
Otsikko Itäväylässä 24.6.

Äkillinen tulva vaikeutti autojen kulkua Vammalan kävelykadulla.
Tyrvään Sanomat 5.8.

Kokenut metsästäjä ei huomannut vaimoaan ampuessaan tiheässä taimikossa riekkoa.
Ilta-Sanomat 24.9.

Lahdessa kuollut ampui poliiseja.
Otsikko Pohjalaisessa 4.8.

Liian pienissä liiveissä rinnat pursuavat kupin reunan yli ja liukuvat ylöspäin
selässä.
Iltalehti Online 18.9.

Miina Kenttä omaa luokkaansa tyttöjen seipäässä.
Otsikko Helsingin Sanomissa 18.8.

Myydään. 2 langatonta lankapuhelinta.
Ilmoitus Helsingin Sanomissa 8.9.

Hän on joutunut mielisairaalaan, koska tappoi 12-vuotiaan äitinsä ja tämän rakastajan.
Kansan Uutiset 27.3.

Ikaalisten Ampujat panostaa nuoriin.
Otsikko Pohjois-Satakunnassa 16.6.

Sairaankuljettajan arkeen kuuluu väkivallalla uhkaaminen eri muodoissaan.
Pohjolan Sanomat 19.11.

Kymmenen hevosen emäntä myös ravaa itse, ja onpa voittanut Suomen mestaruudenkin.
Itä-Häme 8.3.

Alkosta halutaan piristystä Pöytyän liike-elämään.
Otsikko Auranmaan Viikkolehdessä 3.9.

Miehet ovat tavallisen näköisiä nuoria miehiä. Havainnoista voi ilmoittaa lähimmälle
poliisille.
Helsingin Sanomat vankikarkureista 26.7.

Challenges

I must say I like the ad below, but is the message at the end well thought? Are they facing challenges because they suck? Or is it because the market situation is bad? Or are they just lousy comparing to competition?

I don't really care that much, while I am in a situation or position to make them face challenges even more

Bite that!
...and think before you post an ad or name a car. Think for example why Nissan Pajero did not make a breakthrough in Spanish speaking markets...

Have a great weekend you all!

PS Something little to ease up your weekend. I might have posted this earlier too, but it is damn too good to be forgotten...

Help Desk / Employee of the Month?

I think this guy should have been promoted, not fired. This is a true story from the WordPerfect Helpline which was transcribed from a recording monitoring the customer care department. Needless to say, the Help Desk employee was fired however, he is currently suing the WordPerfect organization for "Termination without Cause."

 

This is the actual dialogue of a former WordPerfect Customer Support employee (now I know why they record these conversations);

 

"Rich Hall, computer assistance; may I help you?"

 

"Yes, well, I'm having trouble with WordPerfect."

 

"What sort of trouble?"

 

"Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away."

 

"Went away?"

 

"They disappeared."

 

"Hmmm. So what does your screen look like now?"

 

"Nothing."

 

"Nothing?"

 

"It's a blank; it won' t accept anything when I type."

 

"Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out?"

 

"How do I tell?"

 

"Can you see the C: prompt on the screen?"

 

"What's a sea-prompt?"

 

"Never mind, can you move your cursor around the screen?"

 

"There isn't any cursor: I told you, it won't accept anything I type."

 

"Does your monitor have a power indicator?"

 

"What's a monitor?"

 

"It's the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have a little light that tells you when it's on?"

 

"I don't know."

 

"Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that?"

 

"Yes, I think so."

 

"Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it's plugged into the wall."

 

"Yes, it is."

 

"When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one?"

 

"No."

 

"Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable."

 

"Okay, here it is."

 

"Follow it for me, and tell me if it's plugged securely into the back of your computer."

 

"I can't reach."

 

"Uh huh. Well, can you see if it is?"

 

"No."

 

"Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over?"

 

"Oh, it's not because I don't have the right angle, it's because it's dark."

 

"Dark?"

 

"Yes - the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window."

 

"Well, turn on the office light then."

 

"I can't."

 

"No? Why not?"

 

"Because there's a power failure."

 

"A power.......a power failure?.... Aha, Okay, we've got it licked now. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff your computer came in?"

 

"Well, yes, I keep them in the closet."

 

"Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to the store you bought it from."

 

"Really? Is it that bad?"

 

"Yes, I'm afraid it is."

 

"Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them?"

 

"Tell them you're too fucking stupid to own a computer."

Back in normal weather!

This morning we had at Helsinki area +1C, so almost at freezing point. Many cars had some ice on windows so it was a cold night. What proved we are back at normal September level with weather, was the sleet that came down from the sky several times during the day. No, the streets were not icy but still.

If you are interested to check out the local weather, go here.

Tonight it is estimated to go below zero, down to -1C. Hooray, winter is coming and we have less than 3 months before the Santa Claus, Joulupukki comes for a visit!
 

Food tips for Helsinki area

I had again a pleasure to visit the German restaurant Zinnkeller in Helsinki. Food was good, beer was cold and tasty - all topped with great company. I have told you about my favorite dish also earlier, but here it is:

Or was...I had the garlic snails as a starter and they were fantastic too. No photos available as I was concentrating on the meal. Good food by German founder, now in 2nd generation.

Check it out, they have had also several ice hockey national teams visiting so it is tested by many nationalities. GO!
http://www.kolumbus.fi/zinnkeller/

Another tip is at Tapiola, Espoo: www.sushiart.fi
The name speaks for it self, but to clarify: Japanese kitchen and sushi. If you go for takeaway and are driving, you can stop in front.

It's not the cheapest option, while I still have not found anything good+cheap.

One more for the road:
30 meters from SushiArt is Kilim for Mediterranean kitchen. Great buffet and alacarte, genuine kitchen as the owner is Turkish. www.kilim.fi
 

Hetty - My hope to fall in love with vacuum cleaning?

I do NOT like vacuum cleaning. At all. My wife knows that too and hopefully she appreciates that I did it about 2 weeks ago.

This all might change as I have found Hetty!

Hetty could be my babe for Saturday afternoon, but still, I'm not sure even if they claim she is silent...
If you wish to make out with Hetty, check out online at least from Tesco at UK.

Finland Number Quiz - Suomen Lukupähkinä

Many of you have noticed that Finland has got a pretty good basketball team for a country of ~5 million people. Slovenia is the only country that I can think of with better success rate. What else you know about this god forsaken country in far corner of Europe?

 

"Everyone" knows in Finland we have hard headed people with good school system, veeery dark at winter time, shitloads of snow, extremely cold, damn expensive, high suicide rate, high consumption of coffee and alcohol, pretty blonds, sauna in every house and short summers.

 

Let's see how well you know Finland in numbers - Kuinka hyvin tunnetkaan Suomen lukuina?

QUESTIONS:


How many lakes we have in Finland, size of over 500 m2?
Kuinka monta yli 500 neliömetrin kokoista järveä Suomessa on?





How many islands we have both at the sea area and inland lakes?
Kuinka monta saarta Suomen merialueilla ja sisävesillä on yhteensä?





Which percentage of Finland's land area is covered with forest? 
Kuinka monta prosenttia Suomen maapinta-alasta on metsää?





How many kilometers is the road network in Finland all together?
Kuinka monta kilometriä on Suomen maantieverkon koko pituus?





How many operating airports are there in Finland?
Kuinka monta lentoasemaa Suomessa on?

Answers a bit lower. 

Vastaukset alempana.

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

A bit more...

Vielä vähän...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

ANSWERS - VASTAUKSET:

187 888



179 584




77%




78 000 km (year / vuonna 2009)




28

Basketball European Championships 2013 overachiever: Team Finland!

Even if it seems Finland is not going to make the top 8 and still are playing home team Slovenia, I claim Finland has overachieved in the games! Losing a bit over 20 points to Spain, current 2 time European Champion, is not bad. If the shooting % would have been closer to normal, the result would have been even less painful - but winning Spain would have needed a true miracle.

As said before (see previous posts), making it through from their group winning Russia, Greece, Turkey and Sweden was something nobody expected!

When we face the sports award gala 2013, I would say 2 category wins are already given: Team of the Year and Coach of the Year: Men's basketball team and coach Henrik Dettman. If the miracle of making final 8 would have happened, it would have been the Sports Performance of the Year.

Thank you www.iltalehti.fi for the pics...

Tomorrow evening Slovenia - Finland, then the "Wolves" return home - hopefully understanding they have played extremely well.

HYVÄ SUOMI!!!

Viva Finlandia - Hyvä Suomi, kick some Spanish ass!

It is only days since I was in Finland - Spain football game, where the stronger candidate took what was expected: A win for Spain. In less than an hour we are in a similar situation, it is EuroBasket, European Basketball Championships and Finland is playing Spain. If Finland wins, it is a BIIIIG surprise as Spain is THE team in Europe.

B-ball is a fantastic game and hence there is a chance for surprises. Finland has won Greece, Greece has won Spain, which in theory means Finland should win. NOT!

Finnish media has listed some tips for the audience, if you understand Finnish, check this out:
http://yle.fi/urheilu/huovinen_vs_poikola_espanja_on_paha_-_katsojavinkeissa_gasolia/6831472

The following is from www.yle.fi;

Katsojavinkit

1. Seuraa missä kohti kenttää Espanjan huippusentteri Marc Gasol (13) pelaa hyökkäyksessä? Sijoittuuko hän vapaaheittoviivan tienoille vai korin alle.
2. Muuttuuko hyökkäysasetelma ja laskeeko hyökkäyksen tehokkuus Gasolin ollessa vaihdossa?
3. Seuraa sitä, miten Espanjan takamiehet ajavat korille. Päättyykö ajo   korintekoyritykseen vai hienoon vapauttavaan syöttöön pelikaverille?
4. Ricky Rubio (9) on yksi maailman parhaista takamiesten puolustajista, varsinkin pallottoman pelaajan puolustajana. Puolustaako hän Petteri Koposta? Jos puolustaa, edessä on kahden huippupelaajan mittelö.

Short, free translation:
1. Follow at which part of the court Spanish top center Marc Gasol (13) plays in offence? Is he located by the free throw line or closer to the basket?
2. Does the play set in offence change or is the effectiveness decreasing when Gasol is at bench?
3. See how Spanish guards (the shorter guys who control more the ball) penetrate to the basket. Does it end with an attempt to score a basket or with a niiiice pass to a team mate who has a chance for a free shot?
4. Ricky Rubio (9) is one of the best defenders of guards, especially a player without a ball. Does he defend Petteri Koponen (11) from Finland team? If so, we are about to see a battle of two fantastic players!

...if you wish to follow the stats online, it's here.

 

LET THE GAMES BEGIN...

HYVÄ SUOMI!

 

 

Unfu****gbelievable Team Finland, Basketball is FANTASTIC!

AAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUU, we won world ranking #4 Greece by 9 points and continue to the  next level together with Italy and Greece - HYVÄ SUOMI!!!

Check out the stats from http://live.fibaeurope.com/www/Game.aspx?acc=1&gameID=23831&lng=en or if the link is closed, from http://www.eurobasket2013.org/en.

We are about to face teams like world class Spain and Slovenia, that is playing in hype in front of fanatic and fantastic home crowd. I gotta say we ought to take our hats off for the Finnish supporters that have traveled on site in BIG numbers all the 2233 km that Google Maps say is from Helsinki to Koper.

I LOVE THIS GAME!!!

I AM PROUD / HAPPY TO BE A FINN - AS ALWAYS!

Today I can say I am more than happy to be a Finn, Finnish citizen living in Finland. I know that only some weeks from today I am fed up with the darkness, gray and wet weather. 

To put things in perspective, at that point we are only going towards the time of the year when it feels the sun does not come up at all here in Southern Finland. For the guys living in Lapland, Northern part of Finland, it is not only "it feels like it" since up there the sun stays below horizon for ~2 months. Tough, hence we should better understand why we have one of the highest alcohol and coffee consumption in the world, as well as extremely high suicide rate. 

Why am I happy then?

Let's not talk about the small home tasks, but I'm happy to say I have also used the vacuum cleaner this weekend. 

WEATHER;

It is September and for example the average temperature last year was +12C. We have had all weekend +22 to +24C, sunny and nice. Fantastic!!!

FOOTBALL;

On Friday I got to see one of the best football teams and world class top players perform: Finland - Spain at Olympic Stadium of Helsinki. The goal opportunities were close to equal, Finland having two first ones, while Spain used their chances better and won 0-2. 

Today I got to enjoy my son play a football game in sunny Lahti city. The game was played right next to the statue of Jari Litmanen at Kisapuisto. 

Second game after his fairly long injury, HE IS BACK and I love to watch his games!

BASKETBALL;

Team Finland in Basketball, the "Wolves", lost yesterday their game against Italy, making a GREAT COME-BACK today and WON RUSSIA in the EuroBasket games after 2 overtimes!!! To put things in perspective, Russia has got 143,5 million people vs Finland's 5,4 million. Russia's latest big win was Olympic bronze at 2012 vs Finland has never ever won a medal in big games. GREAT GAME & WIN that takes Finland to the second round!!!

Seasons are starting at many levels so I also get a chance to watch some other games of interest to me. I myself need to be off the b-ball court for over a week so I gotta focus on other sports to consume the energy - no worries. 

FOOD;

Yesterday I got to enjoy the best pizza in town with good company. As some of you know, that pizza is served at our place. Today I BBQ'd ~15 steaks, no need to say more I guess? 

PEOPLE;

In addition to the ones mentioned above, several good moments, e.g. my daughter found a special dress for a special occasion to come. Today included an ad-hoc visit to a should-wear-a-suit-event wearing an outfit out of scope, feeling still good as the option was to stay out and see the key people in worst case only in a year or so. I also have had time for myself, which is good - thank you for the supporting / surrounding team :o) 

Don't you think that all has been sugar & honey covered with flowers, while I will not let the downturns to impact too much. Dang, I will make my best to turn challenges into success stories...!

Have a fabulastic week you all!!!

Hyvä Suomi - Go Finland, Basketball HEAT IS ON!

The Europen Basketball Championships are played at the moment in Slovenia and we have heard some strange messages from there up to Finland;

Finland WON team Turkey, the World Championship silver medalists!!!
...for the record, Finland has got zero medals from the European or World Championships in basketball so it was a BIG win.

Today Finland played Sweden and the first quarter was some fireworks with 27-27 result. Well - the second round was totally different, with 21-4 for Finland and the total game win 81-60.
http://www.eurobasket.com/European-Championships/games-schedule.asp?League=1&LName=European Championships

HYVÄ SUOMI - GO FINLAND!!!

Important Information for Men and Women!!!

The follies which a man regrets most, in his life, are those which he didn't commit when he had the opportunity.

Typeryydet, joita eniten katuu elämässään ovat niitä, joita ei tullut tehtyä kun niihin oli tilaisuus.

- Helen Rowland, A Guide to Men, 1922

 

...my kind of a Lady, too bad she passed away before my time!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Rowland 

Finnish Flash Teemu Selänne, 43, NHL Star Is Back!

He is back!

If you wonder what's so special about it, in addition to being 43 years old and the oldest player in NHL - still one of the best in the world, check this out...

...already earned his entry to the NHL Hall of Fame!

RESPECT!!!

Cyclomaniac?

I wouldn't say I am maniac for cycling, particularly when some lunatics make 100km trips per day. For me 10 km has been ok, 20 km quite a lot since when I'm on the bike, I work hard and go more or less at maximum speed. With 10-20km trips I've still been able to collect 550km for this season that started in May and ends somewhat in September.

One limiter has been my capacity to bear the saddle. It is nasty, up until now the 20km has felt a lot, even if I'd have energy and stamina to continue, legs saying "let's continue" while the pants say "I wanna go home". Up until now, since I bought cycling pants with the soft part enabling me to extend the trips. Yesterday I did 28km and was ok to continue...

So if your ass limits you from making longer cycling trips, go to the shop!

The summer is still here - at some level

Most of us were sure the summer was over already 2 weeks ago. No way, we've had fairly good days in Finland scale - like today with mainly sun in south with ~19C. That's good for this time of the year.

Yep, I know you guys in Brussels or even further down low will enjoy the summer for months... In today's agenda golf tasters, indoor bandy a.k.a. sähly, kayaking, warm up in sauna and few glasses of wine on top.

Have a fabulastic weekend you all!!!

Maanantai

If you feel like Donald Duck / Aku Ankka / Kalle Anka below, too bad for you - I don't! You have a full week ahead to make good things in your life...!

Have a fabulastic day!!!