Sorry, but your opinions are not interesting.

[71 dB]

Going backwards, he says people are self-regulating up there, don't need outside pressure (like the nanny state) to do the right thing.

Some people are bad at self-regulating their alcohol consumption. 

He said it was already cold in October when he went for an exam. Business and computers.

Yeah, but it isn't much colder now.

Warm for him were the good study conditions, reasonable tuition fees rather than the crushing ones in the US. There may be some other social incentives but he is mum about them.

No crushing tuition fees, but the taxes are high.

As for climate change, maybe the tilt of the planet is shifting. If you didn't have snow, there was some in the Sahara Desert, albeit a rarity:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4051448/A-unlikely-white-Christmas-Villagers-stunned-snow-falls-Sahara-time-37-YEARS.html

The tilt of the planet is shifting? You must be joking. 

Sahara stole our snow! 

So of course one can´t use that as a layman´s logic of "hey, this morning there was snow in Sahara, global warning - supported by 98 % of the word´s scientists and science data - is a hoax".

It's surprisingly common for people to confuse local weather with global climate.

[The new erato]

It's surprisingly common for people to confuse local weather with global climate.

+1

[zamyrabyrd]

Some people are bad at self-regulating their alcohol consumption. 

This can happen anywhere. It's really easy to slip into bad habits. Denial has a way of reinforcing them, like "who me?" Yes, me! Anyone! This is compounded when coming from a background when the juice is not only a staple of family dining (Italian homemade wine) but becomes a more than lurking background figure in social interactions, usually negative. I had to put a complete stop to it around here about a year ago, for medical reasons, not only myself, but saw the way things were going, quickly downhill without my being aware of it. Just lucky, I guess, to get out in time.

Sahara stole our snow! 

This picture reminded me of an orange dessert with powdered sugar on top. Not sure, if it really isn't and someone is not pulling our legs.

[71 dB]

This can happen anywhere.

Yes, but alcohol + a Finn = high risk of problems. 

I don't use alcohol myself except occasionally a little in social situations. It annoys me how much other people talk about alcohol and how much they drink it. Drinking too much is often considered a positive thing which is crazy. People who don't drink alcohol need to explain themselves and feel different. Your son may get annoyed about this if he is not into heavy drinking. If he is, then he is coming to the right place. 

Does your son drink coffee? He will after he has spend a few months in Finland.  Nobody drinks more coffee than Finns and our normal coffee is quality stuff from high quality beans. Finland is the only country in the world that has coffee breaks at work written in the law.

It's really easy to slip into bad habits. Denial has a way of reinforcing them, like "who me?" Yes, me! Anyone! This is compounded when coming from a background when the juice is not only a staple of family dining (Italian homemade wine) but becomes a more than lurking background figure in social interactions, usually negative. I had to put a complete stop to it around here about a year ago, for medical reasons, not only myself, but saw the way things were going, quickly downhill without my being aware of it. Just lucky, I guess, to get out in time.

Well, good to hear you where able to put a stop to it.

This picture reminded me of an orange dessert with powdered sugar on top. Not sure, if it really isn't and someone is not pulling our legs.

Well, dessert has only one 's' more than desert which is the letter both 'sugar' and 'snow' starts with.  0:)

[Herman]

I read the opening post with great interest and sympathy, like many others. And the only conclusion one can have is you definitely belong here as one of GMG's core participators.

In addition, one of GMG's strengths is it's international membership. Sure, the language is English, but is not a British or 'Merican congregation.

[71 dB]

I read the opening post with great interest and sympathy, like many others. And the only conclusion one can have is you definitely belong here as one of GMG's core participators.

Well, thanks! I never thought this thread would be this successful and live this long.

I think creating this thread has helped me to find my way over here. 

In addition, one of GMG's strengths is it's international membership. Sure, the language is English, but is not a British or 'Merican congregation.

The internet tends to make discussion boards international. 

[Herman]

Well, thanks! I never thought this thread would be this successful and live this long.

I think creating this thread has helped me to find my way over here. 

The internet tends to make discussion boards international. 

Not always; a number of fellow classical music boards are very very US-centric. If memory serves it was one of the reasons GMG was started a long way back, by its Australian founder.

[71 dB]

My January has been frustrating. The pipe repair starts in my flat come next Monday and I have been "getting ready" for it. This last week I am without running water! So fucking frustrating and difficult. Ricercar Consort Bach BWV 1079 has not arrived, ordered it 29 December. I have not bought anything this year. Life seems to useless right now. Fucking pipe repair!!!!!!!!!!

[zamyrabyrd]

My January has been frustrating. The pipe repair starts in my flat come next Monday and I have been "getting ready" for it. This last week I am without running water! So fucking frustrating and difficult. Ricercar Consort Bach BWV 1079 has not arrived, ordered it 29 December. I have not bought anything this year. Life seems to useless right now. Fucking pipe repair!!!!!!!!!!

My inner piping is problematic, less amenable to repair. I'd rather be dealing with sink plumbing. At least they don't cause tummy aches. We have water supply problems but are ready for them with bottled water to drink and jerry cans for washing and any other use.

[71 dB]

My inner piping is problematic, less amenable to repair. I'd rather be dealing with sink plumbing.

Maybe...  ...my flat is 30 square meters. I have to "empty" it, about 25 square meters must be empty because it's "working area". Now, my stuff takes space, my 2200 CDs alone take space. I don't have a car nor a place to take the stuff except the attic. It is a challenge. There will be a lot of concrete dust. I must protect electronics etc. from the dust.  I am not in Germany, where pipe repairs take 2 weeks. This is Finland where it take 2 months! So maybe it is not the same as inner piping is problems, but I am fed up nevertheless.

At least they don't cause tummy aches. We have water supply problems but are ready for them with bottled water to drink and jerry cans for washing and any other use.

I have a water source just outside my flat, but doing things without running water is difficult.

Yesterday I was in the sauna of the housing cooperative. It was warm and there's running water but no lights. I had my bicycle light with me. Dark sauna!

[zamyrabyrd]

This is Finland where it take 2 months! So maybe it is not the same as inner piping is problems, but I am fed up nevertheless.
I have a water source just outside my flat, but doing things without running water is difficult.
Yesterday I was in the sauna of the housing cooperative. It was warm and there's running water but no lights. I had my bicycle light with me. Dark sauna!

Yikes, two months is a long time! I get fidgety when water is cut for a day and electricity for a few hours.
Washing kitchen utensils is the most problematic, takes a lot of water.

I stumbled by chance on this yesterday:
https://www.youtube.com/v/KN3PBFxV3Xw&t=242s