USA Politics (redux)

[Karl Henning]

I guess we need a Finland: the happiest country thread.

[Karl Henning]

Russian Support for Trump's Re‑Election Detailed in Intel Report

[Florestan]

Sorry about that. Maybe you shouldn't come here then?

The last thing I have in my mind is going to Finland. 

Don't get me wrong, I firmly believe it's an admirable country in so many respects. It's just not the right country for me personally. That said, I'd very much like to visit it.

The things foreigners living in Finland complain about are:
- Dark cold winters
- Things can be expensive (especially if you come from a country where stuff is cheap)
- Restrictions of buying alcohol
- Crazy difficult language
- People seem cold at first before you get to know them (Finns are rather introverted and don't do smalltalk so Americans feel strange here)

As I said, I could put up with Finnish as I'm natively endowed for learning foreign languages. All others are big turn-offs for me.

But then again, people and countries being different is alright with me. If everyone everywhere would be the same the world would be unbearablingly boring.

If you ever want to visit Romania, just let me know. You are most welcome and I'll do my best to convert you to our way of life.  (Valid for all GMGers actually)

[71 dB]

Have you ever wondered why is it that social-democracy works perfectly well, smoothly and virtually unopposed in Scandinavia only? I have, and I have come to a conclusion in this respect but I'm not going to open this can of worms. I'd better stick to beer and wine.

This is an interesting question. What we must remember is no country has a "pure something" system. Cuba is not 100 % pure communism. About 20 % of their economy is capitalistic. The US is not 100 % capitalistic. The US has "socialistic" services such the the fire department, because privatized fire department doesn't work (yes, it was tried in the US). Countries that are very far from Scandinavia can have political structures similar to Nordic countries. I believe for example Latin American countries such as Chile have tried to become "social-democratic" in the past, but the US has intervened and put a right-wing puppet dictator in power because the US wants political and financial power in these countries just like in the middle East.

Enjoy your (cheap) beer and wine, but watch out your liver. 

[Florestan]

Enjoy your (cheap) beer and wine, but watch out your liver. 

Well now, please, don't you ever think I'm any match for Sibelius. 

[71 dB]

I guess we need a Finland: the happiest country thread.

BTW, Finland also ranks #1 on The Global Food Security Index.   

[Florestan]

BTW, Finland also ranks #1 on The Global Food Security Index.   

Finland is the greatest country in the world where I wouldn't want to live. 

[DavidW]

I guess we need a Finland: the happiest country thread.

The face of happiness.

[MusicTurner]

The face of happiness.

Though lesser known, there's also this, uber-happy one, however:

[Florestan]

The face of happiness.

Hah!

[71 dB]

The last thing I have in my mind is going to Finland. 

Don't get me wrong, I firmly believe it's an admirable country in so many respects. It's just not the right country for me personally. That said, I'd very much like to visit it.

Well, you are welcome if you desided to visit in the distant corona-free times. Summer (July) is the best time to come here weather-wise.

As I said, I could put up with Finnish as I'm natively endowed for learning foreign languages. All others are big turn-offs for me.

Just be warned: Learning Finnish "fast" is not a thing. No matter what linguistic genius you are. Many foreigners working and living in Finland never really learn the language beyond the basics and just use English at work. Determined people willing to work for it learn it with time. One person who had had Finnish courses to learn Finnish told the first thing their Finnish teacher said to them in the beginning of the first lecture was "Why are you doing this to youself?" 

Learn Finnish for 2 Months - HOW HARD IS IT?

https://www.youtube.com/v/19kFiiQLYvI

But then again, people and countries being different is alright with me. If everyone everywhere would be the same the world would be unbearablingly boring.

Yeah, and you can have a good life almost anywhere and not everybody inside a given country are equally happy/unhappy.

If you ever want to visit Romania, just let me know. You are most welcome and I'll do my best to convert you to our way of life.  (Valid for all GMGers actually)

I almost never travel, but it's good to know I'd be welcome if I someday enter Romania, thanks! 

[Florestan]

Now that you started me, here are my top three faces of happiness, in no particular order.

[71 dB]

The face of happiness.

Most of the time Finns DO look like that because our culture is introverted, but when Finns win the World Championship in Ice-Hockey Finns look completely different!

ICE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP TO FINLAND 2019 (WTF: Welcome To Finland #14)

https://www.youtube.com/v/24pySkBn7gM

[Florestan]

Well, you are welcome if you desided to visit in the distant corona-free times. Summer (July) is the best time to come here weather-wise.

Just be warned: Learning Finnish "fast" is not a thing. No matter what linguistic genius you are. Many foreigners working and living in Finland never really learn the language beyond the basics and just use English at work. Determined people willing to work for it learn it with time. One person who had had Finnish courses to learn Finnish told the first thing their Finnish teacher said to them in the beginning of the first lecture was "Why are you doing this to youself?" 

Learn Finnish for 2 Months - HOW HARD IS IT?

https://www.youtube.com/v/19kFiiQLYvI

Yeah, and you can have a good life almost anywhere and not everybody inside a given country are equally happy/unhappy.

I almost never travel, but it's good to know I'd be welcome if I someday enter Romania, thanks! 

All points duly noted, Poju. Thanks.

[Florestan]

Most of the time Finns DO look like that because our culture is introverted

If you ask me, it's got something to do with the climate. 

[Fëanor]

...
Just be warned: Learning Finnish "fast" is not a thing. No matter what linguistic genius you are. Many foreigners working and living in Finland never really learn the language beyond the basics and just use English at work. Determined people willing to work for it learn it with time. One person who had had Finnish courses to learn Finnish told the first thing their Finnish teacher said to them in the beginning of the first lecture was "Why are you doing this to youself?" 

Learn Finnish for 2 Months - HOW HARD IS IT?

https://www.youtube.com/v/19kFiiQLYvI
...

That's hilarious, but based on all I've heard Finnish is painfully difficult to learn.  Finnish is a Uralic, not Indo-European, language, but then I'm told that Lithuanian and Russian are also extremely difficult though Slavic Indo-European.

... At my age it would be impossible to learn any of them.

[Florestan]

... At my age

Oh, come on! You're not 180, are you? 

[ritter]

It's a sign of normality, and a great relief, that nowadays US politics seem to be have reverted to being so boring (which should be read as a compliment in this context), so as to turn the thread dedicated it into one in which the wonders of Finland have been discussed for the past  three pages. Hallelujah! 

[Florestan]

It's a sign of normality, and a great relief, that nowadays US politic seems to be have reverted to being so boring (which should be read as a compliment in this context), so as to turn the thread dedicated it into one in which the wonders of Finland have been discussed for the past  three pages. Hallelujah! 

Emmenez-moi au bout de la terre
Emmenez-moi au pays des merveilles
Il me semble que la misère
Serait moins pénible au soleil!

[ritter]

"Kennst du das Land, wo die Zitronen blühn,
Im dunkeln Laub die Goldorangen glühn,
Ein sanfter Wind vom blauen Himmel weht,
Die Myrte still und hoch der Lorbeer steht?
Kennst du es wohl? Dahin!
Dahin möcht' ich mit dir,
O mein Geliebter, ziehn".

Good evening Andrei, Poju and all...

....
Il me semble que la misère
Serait moins pénible au soleil!

That'a a great (and IMO) very true quote. I always say it to the German bosses of the company I work for...