Eurovision song contest, sauna, karaoke, tango, Moomintrolls, salt licorice (salmiakki), kicking serious ass on the ice, coffee, Nordic walking, self deprecation, alcoholism, Conan O'Brien, secretly envying Sweden, slightly less secretly hating Russia; shamefully puking over the nicer parts of Estonia, hiking in Lapland, grilling sausages, mobile phone product development; berry picking, aggressive deforestation of other countries; wife-carrying, picking mushrooms, overachieving, playing air-guitar, ice-fishing, swimming in lakes, quiet self-pity, and a shot of Koskenkorva vodka.
Other realistic, small nations who are insecure about their long-term prospects but who nevertheless try to improve equality, tame globalization, and ensure a clean environment for all.Large nations who can respect sovereign autonomy without attaching strings to the deal are welcome to get in touch (hear that, NATO people?!).Santa Claus, Tarja Halonen, Veeti Kallio and Mr. Lordi need no appointment, of course!
Lordi, Laila Kinnunen, The Rasmus, The Crash, HIM, Fintelligens, Ultra Bra, Leningrad Cowboys, Olavi Virta, Bomfunk MCs, Niko Ahvonen, Nuspirit Helsinki, Pikku-G, Paula Koivuniemi, Neljä Ruusua, Jane, Five Corners, Anita Hirvonen, Urbaani Legenda, Taiska, Jari Sillanpää, Värttinä, Nylon Beat, Darude, Carola, Antti Tuisku, Nightwish, Karita Mattila, Redrama, Vicky Rosti, Janita, Jori Hulkkonen
The Tough Ones, The Boom, Restless, Lovers and Leavers, Young Gods, Ambush, Little Sister, Deserted Houses Empty Gardens, anything by Aki Kaurismäki, not so much by Renny Harlin.
YLE1, YLE2, MTV Nordic, Extreme Duudsonit, Suomen Robinson, Isoveli, pornoa,
Devoted reader of the Helsingin Sanomat, Aku Ankka, Kuvalehti, Hymy, Iltalehti and Oho!.Sometimes pick up copies of Anna, Napakymppi, Hufvudstadsbladet Suosikki, or Hiidenkivi.And of course I flip through Uutislehti 100 before using it to pick up doggie poo poo or offering it to a drunk to use for bedding.Favorite books include Seven Brothers by Alexis Kivi, The Egyptian by Mika Waltari, Popular Music from Vittula by Mikael Niemi, and of course the Kalevala
Mr. Lordi, Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, Linus Torvalds, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Jussi, Urho Kekkonen, Tove Jansson, Paavo Nurmi, Jean Sibelius, Suomi-neito, Lars Levi Laestadius, Maiju Gebhard, Arto Saari, Armi Kuusela, Alvar Aalto, Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld, Mika Häkkinen, hymy-pojat, Minna Canth, Edvard Westermarck, Helene Schjerfbeck, Nils-Aslak Valkeapää, hockey players everywhere