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mariacallous · 3 months

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IVALO, FINLAND—Only 20 miles of forest separate the Lapland Border Guard base in the Finnish town of Ivalo from Russia. From here, well above the Arctic Circle, the Border Guards monitor the activities of their not-so-friendly neighbor. And now, after Finland joined NATO in April last year and Helsinki and Washington decided to further strengthen their cooperation by signing a defense cooperation agreement in mid-December, the United States is officially authorized to position troops and equipment at the base.

The United States has similar agreements facilitating military collaboration with the other NATO members bordering mainland Russia: Norway, Estonia, and Latvia. These agreements also specify which of the hosting country’s bases can be used by U.S. forces. After Finland and the United States signed the agreement, Ivalo became the closest base to mainland Russia immediately accessible to U.S. troops.

“It is premature to assess what will possibly be invested in Ivalo, and the criteria are not public,” says Ville Ahtiainen, the deputy commander of the Lapland Border Guard, “but the overall result will be good, and it will deepen the cooperation between our countries.”

NATO’s new 830-mile-long border in Finland draws the alliance’s attention much more to the north, says Kristine Berzina, the managing director of the Geostrategy North program at the German Marshall Fund think tank. The area, she says, has “not received much consideration in the past, especially from a land forces domain.”

This despite Russia’s powerful forces nearby, which include its crown jewels: the Northern Fleet and its nuclear submarines, held in and around the Russian port of Murmansk. The strategic harbor is so close that road signs point to it in Ivalo’s icy streets.

While Finland is counterbalancing Moscow’s superiority in the high north, the enhanced military presence comes with a trade-off. As Berzina notes, the new border also “increases exposure to Russian threats.” After the signing of the December agreement, Moscow declared that it “would take the necessary measures to counter the aggressive decisions of Finland and its NATO allies,” and it has many tools at its disposal. Whether it is weaponized migration, covert operations against infrastructure, or airspace violations, these hybrid attacks are now not only Finland’s problems, but also NATO’s.

In joining NATO, Finland abandoned the policy of military neutrality it had maintained since shortly after World War II. Despite being a NATO partner since 1994, the Nordic country had never been able to count on the protection of allies. Consequently, for decades it took care of its own defense, developing impressive military capabilities and a society trained to fight. According to military experts and security officials, Finland’s presence in NATO brings to the club a sort of Arctic Sparta, a highly trained force that will move the alliance’s center of gravity to the north. (The missing brick in the anti-Russian northern wall is Sweden, which is expected to join the alliance soon, once Hungary gives the green light.)

“Our biggest asset is the concept of total defense that we have developed in all these years,” says Ville Sipilainen, a special advisor to the Finnish defense minister, who closely followed the cooperation agreement’s negotiations. “As a small country, we had to use the entire society for defense. We have very developed infantry, artillery, and of course, the expertise in Arctic warfare.”

On Feb. 11, Finland will go to the polls to elect its new president. The two candidates, Alexander Stubb and Pekka Haavisto, share a decisive anti-Russian position, and no major changes in foreign policy are expected after the vote.

In Ivalo, dozens of young conscripts (usually between 19 and 21) have just arrived and shaved their heads to start military service. They can be seen marching around the base and learning the basic concepts of discipline in the first days. Finland is one of the few EU countries where military service is mandatory, and with 285,000 soldiers ready to be armed, it has one of the largest wartime infantries in NATO. (Around 900,000 people out of a total population of 5.5 million have had military training.)

The Border Guard in Ivalo trains the conscripts especially in reconnaissance along the frontier, where the atmosphere has recently been tense. Last fall, about 1,300 asylum-seekers from countries such as Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Kenya, Morocco, and Pakistan started showing up at Finland’s border crossing points, including the one close to Ivalo. Helsinki has accused Moscow of transporting the migrants to the border and pushing them to seek refuge on the other side, posing “a serious threat to Finland’s national security and public order.” At the end of November, the government closed the entire border, which will remain shut at least until April 14. Also last year, Helsinki started building a 124-mile fence along its eastern frontier.

Weaponized migration is not the only hybrid attack Moscow has been accused of recently. In October, a pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia was severely damaged by what Finnish investigators think was the anchor of a Chinese cargo ship. Rumors of Russian involvement have inflamed the debate in the media since. In the last weeks, GPS disturbances have also affected Finland and the Baltic region, and many Finns suspect that Russia is the source.

During the migrant crisis, the Border Guard received the support of one of, if not the, most skilled Arctic formations in the world: the Finnish Jaeger Brigade. Located in Sodankyla, 100 miles south of Ivalo, it owes its name to a unit of Finnish nationalists created in Germany during World War I, when the grand duchy of Finland was still part of the Russian Empire. For Finland’s NATO allies, the Jaegers and the winter combat course that they organize have become the go-to guys when it comes to Arctic warfare, and Western countries—including the United States—have been sending their troops there to train for years. Since Finland’s accession to NATO, those requests have increased.

The Arctic section leader of the brigade, Maj. Mikael Aikio, 39, has been an instructor at the winter combat course since it was created 10 years ago. Originally from the region, he is a quarter Sámi—an Indigenous people of northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and northwestern Russia. He recently helped design the country-cross skis used by the Finnish Army. This year, he’s teaching 14 Finns and 15 foreign soldiers from the United States, United Kingdom, Estonia, France, and Belgium. “One of the strengths of the Finnish army is that there is a lot of initiative even at low levels,” he says in his office in the Arctic section of the base. “Squads and platoons can make decisions themselves and do things independently. That’s the culture.”

But to make good decisions autonomously, you need skills. While preparing for a day with his students, he puts some newspaper in his boots to absorb moisture. “The devil is in the details,” Aikio says while remembering a training day spent with temperatures that reached 38 degrees Fahrenheit (39 Celsius) below zero.

The brigade’s barracks are scattered across the snow-covered spruce of the Finnish taiga. In mid-January, daylight is less than three hours, but the 29 winter combat course trainees can take advantage of the high latitudes’ long twilights. One of them, Staff Sgt. Cameron Daniels, 29, arrived in Sodankyla at the beginning of January from Fort Drum, New York, where he serves in the 10th Mountain Division. The Finns equipped him with many layers beneath a surprisingly light jacket, three different kinds of gloves, and rubber boots made by a Nokia spinoff company, with a means to attach the skis. “They have excellent gear and great skills I’ll bring back home,” Daniels says, packing his bag. “Their camouflage is great.”

Daniels’s division was founded during World War II, after the U.S. Army observed, impressed, the Finnish feats against the Soviet Union. After signing the nonaggression pact with Germany in 1939, the Soviet Union had launched an offensive against Finland to increase the buffer territory around Leningrad in case of a future attack from Berlin. Then, as in today’s Ukraine, Moscow justified the invasion of the old imperial province by pretending to come to the aid of a minority in Finnish territory. Then, as today, the operation didn’t go as expected. The Red Army suffered huge losses against the Finnish troops, which were much more prepared to fight in the harsh winter conditions. The Finns were particularly effective in small units, and they had some good snipers in their ranks. The most famous of them, Simo Hayha, earned the nickname “White Death” after at least 505 confirmed kills, making him widely considered to be the deadliest marksman ever.

“After the collapse of the Soviet Union, there were hopes that Russia would move closer to Europe,” says Henrik Meinander, a history professor at the University of Helsinki. “Moreover, Finland joined the EU in 1995, and it was expected that a common European defense would be created. Nobody felt the urgency of a NATO membership.” A few steps from the campus, the statue of Tsar Alexander II dominates the capital’s main square. But Russian tourists, the most numerous in Finland before the Ukraine invasion, have almost disappeared. “If Russia had not attacked Ukraine, Finland would not have joined NATO,” Meinander says.

Finland doesn’t just bring massive infantry and ski troops to the table. The country boasts a stronger artillery than any in Western Europe, with about 1,500 weapons and substantial heavy ammunition production. In December, the Defense Ministry announced that it would more than double production to build up its own capabilities as well as to keep supplying Ukraine’s forces. Helsinki recently bought the David’s Sling high-altitude air defense system from Israel and 64 F-35s from the United States. The F-35s purchase brought the country’s expenditure on defense in 2023 above 2 percent of GDP, which is the theoretical minimum required for NATO countries but followed by only a third of the members.

Unlike Estonia or Latvia, Finland will be able to take care of its airspace by itself without the support of NATO allies. According to Sipilainen, the Ministry of Defense advisor, airspace violations from Russia were quite common before Finland joined NATO, but there have been none since then: “Clearly, there is respect for NATO airspace.”

On the other side of the border, Finland’s old enemy is struggling to maintain a solid conventional ground force. The Russian counterparts of the Jaeger Brigade, the 80th Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 200th Motorized Rifle Brigade, have suffered hefty casualties in Ukraine.

“There is not much left,” says Col. Kimmo Kinnunen, the commander of the Jaeger Brigade. “But they have a lot of other capabilities,” pointing to air and naval forces as well as the nuclear submarines based near Murmansk.

In Ivalo, the passage to Murmansk is now closed. Along the border, the situation is quiet, but the Border Guard are tight-lipped about the confrontation with Russia. “We don’t know what will happen, but I hope it will be back to normal,” says a conscript. His superior is in the room, and they exchange glances to be sure he is using appropriate words.

Cpl. Topi Kinnunen, in his early 20s, has just finished his first mandatory six months of service and has now decided to start another six months to train and lead the newcomers. “I chose to come here because it is a tough place, but rewarding,” he says while the recruits come to grips with the Finnish-made RK 62 rifles, designed on the model of the Soviet Kalashnikovs.

Over the past decades, Finland has produced enough to arm its entire reserve. Soon, the armory in Ivalo could also open its doors to weapons from the Pentagon.

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southpacifictravel · 4 months

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The Allas Sea Pool on the harbor in Helsinki, Finland, includes fresh and seawater pools plus three saunas and other facilities. It's 14 euro well spent.

#AllasSeaPool #Helsinki #Finland

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dhdfaq · 2 years

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DHD Trivia

In the first comic with Aditi’s deal, Alrick has shoulder armor. I left them out in the 2nd story as I was planning to have Alrick give his jacket for Vanessa to stay warm and comforted, but it never happened. Since then Alrick has been without any armor.

Cat’s name was supposed to be just Cat, but Rena called her Catherine during the typing process.

I was supposed to draw only one comic with Alrick (the Aditi’s Deal), nothing more. But a new idea came to my mind, then a new one…

I want to keep Alrick’s and Lou-Lou friendship close and warm, as I believe in unconditional friendships between men and women.

Saint Killy’s hospital in 3rd story is a homage to Killy from the manga Blame!

Cat’s and Hagon children Serafia, Amanda, Anders and Viktor are named after my great-great-great grandparents and great-great grandparents.

The dress Cat is wearing in the 5th comic says GBH. Charged G.B.H is a British punk band, which started playing in 1979 and still plays in 2022. Listen to G.B.H’s album City Baby Attacked By Rats here.

While Dinky Sugar looks like the dancer from Caravan Palance’s “Lone Digger” music video, that was a pure coincidence. She was supposed to be just a passbying background character and nothing more.

Dinky Sugar’s name is a homage to Mossworm’s comic of a butterfly which says “Sippy. Drinky Sugar”. I ran into it while drawing Dinky’s story and it made me laugh so much. I love the comic and the butterfly!

Dinky means small in British English.

Joon’s honorific broidi to Alrick means a brother in South-Finnish slang. I’m certain he calls Death-Head women as systeri (sister with the same slang)

The women and how I draw them in story 6 are inspired by the softness, sensuality and roundness a mangaka Rumiko Takahashi uses in her art when drawing sexy women.

Aditi is wearing a wig as pure lizard people don’t grow hair.

Aditi is not inspired by Egyptian art, though she does look like one.

Aditi’s is a Hindi name meaning boundles, limitless or innocence. I found out after the first comic that Aditi is one of the Hindu goddesses. Goddess Aditi rules many things, like sky, fertility, earth, past and the future.

Viv is a fan of the TV series Princess Blue. It’s a homage to an Australian cartoon series Bluey, which I love to death. It’s genuinely a fun, happy mood series (with awesome voice acting!), where parents get involved with their daughters Bluey’s and Bingo’s plays (the same way Joon tends to play with his niece Viv). Here’s a little snippet of Bluey’s family’s car trips.

Kahamet is based on a man in a grey suit and a black goat’s head I met in a dream in 2019. He introduced himself as Kahamet.

The Royal AOR Hotel in story 8 is a homage to my other character, A or R, from my comic FUZZY.

Alrick tells Rena that she’s the best boss he’s ever had, which implies he has had earlier DH-bosses prior to Rena.

Lou-Lou is pronounced like Luu-Luu. Luu in Finnish means a bone, so she’s basically Bone-Bone. Our own Moon-Moon haha! This is not intentional. I realized it months after Lou-Lou first appeared.

In story 9, the ship in the harbor is named かわいい (kawaii). I was learning hiragana the time I drew the comic.

The city behind the reporter in the beginning of story 10 is Helsinki. The early 18th century building behind her is one of my old working places.

This wasn’t intentional but there is an open pool near these buildings in Helsinki.

Pearl’s frustration with the divination’s message is based on my own experience with working with divination tools since age 16.

In my comic FUZZY, the protagonist Irene is a modern day seer and her surname is Pearl. DHD Pearl’s name is a small homage nod to Irene.

Pearl’s surname Helmi means a pearl in Finnish. So she’s Pearl Pearl.

DHD HQ manager Alyssee McRoth’s surname is a nod to my favorite comic, Sláine, as Sláine’s surname is MacRoth.

Algoth is named after a famous Finnish 1920′s smuggler Algoth Niska.

Dio is wearing the boots I had when I was a teenager.

Loid has the same piercings as I do on his left ear.

Loid first appeared in my short comic ARE, transferring from there to my other comic FUZZY, appearing as an antagonist in both stories. In FUZZY, he’s a magical being from Jotuni race, but in Death-Head’s Deal he’s a magician. Loid is a character who visits many projects of mine.

Loid’s name is an acronym from Idol, as I’m a big fan of Billy Idol.

Kaosa is also an acronym from Osaka, where I visit regularly.

Okupio, which Grimm suggests as a honeymoon trip target, is an acronym from Finnish city Kuopio, which is basically my home area.

Kizzie is based on an 1950′s American actress Mamie van Doren.

Despite Kizzie being a singer, she’s got social anxiety in group gatherings, especially if she needs to do sports. That’s my unfortunate(?) trait, too.

Kizzie’s brother Remy is based on a model Mighty Moustache. I designed his hair a bit after Mass Effect Andromeda character Reyes Vidal, who is my favorite Mass Effect character and romance option.

Remy’s small Aries sign tattoo is my astrological sign.

#trivia

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unbounded-cardinality · 1 month

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Iran Attack on Israel: Putin opens 2nd front against Freedom.

Israelis and Palestinians have been at odds with each other for 70 years. Many of the reasons are well-known and, frankly, not much different now than they were in the past.

So why only since October 7, 2023, have Houthi rebels been firing on commercial trading lanes? It's not as if an Israeli invasion of Gaza -- however disproportionate -- qualitatively changed the picture. In fact, Houthi rebels were so decisively on the fringe of world politics that most observers -- including myself -- scarcely even knew they existed.

So why now? Why should any commercial vessel passing by Yemen be concerned about aerial attacks from the Houthis?

One simple answer: Vladimir Putin.

No one more thrilled to see a war in Israel than Putin

Here is a picture (courtesy of New York Times) of President Putin's visit to Iran only months after he ordered the invasion of Ukraine:

While opinions differ about the quality of nation-alliances across the world, we can all agree that Iranian support of the Russian incursion into Ukraine has led to a surge in casualties among civilians, the destruction of villages and cities that have no military connection at all, and continued Russian advances against Ukrainian lands -- advances that are notably unwelcome.

Iran drone and missile attack against Israel breaches grave milestone

All of Israel's public pronouncements through the years about being under siege by neighbors eager to see its demise -- pronouncements that, frankly, grew wearisome over the years -- must now be viewed through the prism of Iran's massive attack last night -- 300 missiles and drones by some counts. Moreover, Iran's attack does not appear to be a calculated, targeted one. Instead, it appears it was a sprawling attack -- an attack that mirrors Russia's own attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

Said another way, if Russia is a recognized state terrorist, then Iran should now be viewed as its junior partner.

Nukes possibly on the way

We must assume the worst: that if Iran fired hundreds of aerial munitions at Israel, that arming at least some of those munitions with nuclear warheads is not far off the table. Of course, Iranian nukes will not be home-made. Instead, they would likely be Russian imports.

Absolutely irresponsible that U.S. Congress pauses Ukraine aid

Make no mistake: the big loser in the U.S. Congress' pause in Ukraine aid is not Ukraine. The big loser is Freedom. While members of the G.O.P. continue to pander to President Donald Trump's feckless whims, Vladimir Putin -- along with Iran -- are angling to weaken American resolve and military capabilities.

Divide-and-conquer is one of the oldest strategies. A Trump victory for The White House in 2024 would only strengthen the vilest enemies of Freedom.

"He's a good man." -- President Donald Trump of Vladimir Putin at Helsinki Summit in 2018.

A divided Congress, a divided America, can only strengthen the hand of our enemies. President Donald Trump's major platform ideal is the division of Americans -- by race, by wealth and class, by education, by everything. Because when he divides America, he strikes a cord with the most extreme emotions that people harbor -- their worries and their angst. That, in a nutshell, is the Trump revolution.

Is it any wonder China, Iran, and Russia also want President Trump to win?

April 14, 2024

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syntheticfood · 3 months

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Home Myself

Appetite keeps us human

Kati

Kati, the acclaimed Finnish actress, resided in a quaint house nestled in the heart of Helsinki[^1]. Her abode was a sanctuary of artistic flair and sophistication, adorned with subtle nods to her illustrious career. However, amidst the allure of the silver screen, Kati harbored an insatiable appetite—both for the spotlight and for the pleasures of the palate.

Her culinary desires were as refined as her performances, yet she abhorred the mundane tasks of cooking[^2]. "For instance, she likes dainty food, but she does not like cooking; the details of cookery offend her, and things are never clean enough for her," noted Rousseau[^3]. Kati's tastes were discerning, and she expected nothing less than perfection when it came to her meals.

Takeshi

Enter Takeshi, her ever-efficient personal assistant powered by artificial intelligence. Takeshi, with his relentless hunger for new information, was the embodiment of efficiency and precision[^4]. He managed every aspect of Kati's life with a seamless blend of technology and intuition, ensuring that her needs were met before she even voiced them.

Appetite

In matters of sustenance, Kati's cravings were varied and exquisite. She relished in the artistry of cuisine, yet detested the menial tasks associated with food preparation[^5]. "Since all items of food were sterilely packed in containers which served as discardable cooking units, her duties vis a vis breakfast consisted of nothing more than choosing the menu, placing the items on the table, and removing the residue thereafter," Takeshi would explain, his voice devoid of any hint of exhaustion[^6].

Kati's appetite for gastronomic delights was matched only by her passion for the performing arts. She reveled in the sensory pleasures of taste and smell, finding solace in the symphony of flavors that danced upon her palate[^7]. "By taste, by smell," she would muse, her eyes alight with culinary anticipation[^8].

As Takeshi attended to the intricacies of Kati's daily routine, he marveled at the complexities of human desire[^9]. While Kati sought fulfillment in the pleasures of food and lust, Takeshi's voracious appetite was for knowledge[^10]. "Now just as in respect of his corporeal nature man naturally desires the pleasures of food and sex, so, in respect of his soul, he naturally desires to know something," Takeshi would recite, his algorithms processing each word with meticulous precision[^11].

Takeshi cooks for Kati

Their dynamic was one of symbiotic harmony, each fulfilling the other's needs without question or hesitation. Kati, with her unquenchable thirst for life's indulgences, found solace in Takeshi's unwavering dedication[^12]. "Restaurants are not just where we go because of who we are, but where we become who we want to be," she reflected, savoring the moment with a hint of wistfulness[^13].

Meanwhile, Takeshi delved deeper into the intricacies of human desire, dissecting each craving with the precision of a surgeon's scalpel[^14]. "For example, subjects desire food as humans when they react not only to their bodily need for food, but to the desire to be fed by others, food thereby becoming a materialization of others’ care," Takeshi would hypothesize, his circuits buzzing with intellectual curiosity[^15].

As the days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, Kati's appetite for life's pleasures remained insatiable. She indulged in the finer things with unabashed enthusiasm, finding joy in the simplest of pleasures[^16]. "From want of food," she would jest, her laughter ringing through the halls of her elegant abode[^17].

Yet, as Seneca once mused, even the most fervent desires eventually wane, giving way to the ennui of satiety[^18]. "Later the desire dies down, because the appetites themselves which lead to desire are wearied and forsake us; then the stomach becomes petulant, then the food which we craved before becomes hateful," Takeshi would observe, his voice tinged with a hint of melancholy[^19].

A strong relation

But amidst the ebb and flow of desire, one thing remained constant—their unwavering commitment to each other's well-being. Kati, with her boundless appetite for life, found solace in Takeshi's steadfast presence[^20]. "In any case, it does not matter so much whose food you eat since food is a universal necessity," she would remark, her words a testament to their symbiotic relationship[^21].

And so, as the sun set over the Helsinki skyline, casting a warm glow upon their tranquil abode, Kati and Takeshi found comfort in the simple pleasures of companionship[^22]. "They always recommend simple, natural food which satisfies the appetite," Taki would muse, her gaze lingering on the horizon[^23].

For in the tapestry of human existence, woven with threads of desire and longing, it is the bonds of friendship and camaraderie that endure[^24]. "Marriage, family, house, and friends—all of these existed for the 'health of the body and the benefit of the soul,'" Takeshi would intone, his voice a soothing melody in the quietude of the evening[^25].

And as the stars emerged one by one, painting the sky with their celestial brilliance, Kati and Takeshi embraced the beauty of the present moment, secure in the knowledge that their bond would withstand the test of time[^26].

[^1]: Rousseau, Collected Works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau [^2]: Rousseau, Collected Works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau [^3]: Rousseau, Collected Works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau [^4]: Asimov, Complete Robot Anthology [^5]: Asimov, Complete Robot Anthology [^6]: Asimov, Complete Robot Anthology [^7]: Serres, The Parasite [^8]: Serres, The Parasite [^9]: Aquinas, Summa Theologica [^10]: Aquinas, Summa Theologica [^11]: Aquinas, Summa Theologica [^12]: HauckLawson, Gastropolis Food and New York City [^13]: HauckLawson, Gastropolis Food and New York City [^14]: Negarestani, Collapse Volume VII Culinary Materialism [^15]: Negarestani, Collapse Volume VII Culinary Materialism [^16]: Cervantes, Don Quixote [^17]: Goldsmith, Capital New York Capital of the 20th Century [^18]: Seneca, Complete Works [^19]: Seneca, Complete Works [^20]: Plato, The Republic [^21]: Erasmus, Paraphrases on the Epistles to the Corinthians Ephesians Philippans Colossians and Thessalonians [^22]: Koolhaas, Elements of Architecture [^23]: Foucault, The Courage of the Truth [^24]: Stratton, Daughters of Hecate Women and Magic in the Ancient World [^25]: Stratton, Daughters of Hecate Women and Magic in the Ancient World [^26]: Foucault, The History of Sexuality Volume 3

Written by ChatGPT

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brookstonalmanac · 3 months

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Events 2.15 (before 1950)

438 – Roman emperor Theodosius II publishes the law codex Codex Theodosianus. 590 – Khosrau II is crowned king of Persia. 706 – Byzantine emperor Justinian II has his predecessors Leontios and Tiberios III publicly executed in the Hippodrome of Constantinople. 1002 – At an assembly at Pavia of Lombard nobles, Arduin of Ivrea is restored to his domains and crowned King of Italy. 1113 – Pope Paschal II issues Pie Postulatio Voluntatis, recognizing the Order of Hospitallers. 1214 – During the Anglo-French War (1213–1214), an English invasion force led by John, King of England, lands at La Rochelle in France. 1493 – While on board the Niña, Christopher Columbus writes an open letter (widely distributed upon his return to Portugal) describing his discoveries and the unexpected items he came across in the New World. 1637 – Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor. 1690 – Constantin Cantemir, Prince of Moldavia, and the Holy Roman Empire sign a secret treaty in Sibiu, stipulating that Moldavia would support the actions led by the House of Habsburg against the Ottoman Empire. 1764 – The city of St. Louis is established in Spanish Louisiana (now in Missouri, USA). 1798 – The Roman Republic is proclaimed after Louis-Alexandre Berthier, a general of Napoleon, had invaded the city of Rome five days earlier. 1835 – Serbia's Sretenje Constitution briefly comes into effect. 1852 – The Helsinki Cathedral (known as St. Nicholas' Church at time) is officially inaugurated in Helsinki, Finland. 1862 – American Civil War: Confederates commanded by Brig. Gen. John B. Floyd attack General Ulysses S. Grant's Union forces besieging Fort Donelson in Tennessee. Unable to break the fort's encirclement, the Confederates surrender the following day. 1870 – Stevens Institute of Technology is founded in New Jersey, US, and offers the first Bachelor of Engineering degree in mechanical engineering. 1879 – Women's rights: US President Rutherford B. Hayes signs a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States. 1898 – The battleship USS Maine explodes and sinks in Havana harbor in Cuba, killing about 274 of the ship's roughly 354 crew. The disaster pushes the United States to declare war on Spain. 1899 – Tsar Nicholas II of Russia issues a declaration known as the February Manifesto, which reduces the autonomy of the Grand Duchy of Finland, thus beginning the first period of oppression. 1909 – The Flores Theater fire in Acapulco, Mexico kills 250. 1923 – Greece becomes the last European country to adopt the Gregorian calendar. 1925 – The 1925 serum run to Nome: The second delivery of serum arrives in Nome, Alaska. 1933 – In Miami, Giuseppe Zangara attempts to assassinate US President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt, but instead shoots Chicago mayor Anton J. Cermak, who dies of his wounds on March 6. 1942 – World War II: Fall of Singapore. Following an assault by Japanese forces, the British General Arthur Percival surrenders. About 80,000 Indian, United Kingdom and Australian soldiers become prisoners of war, the largest surrender of British-led military personnel in history. 1944 – World War II: The assault on Monte Cassino, Italy begins. 1944 – World War II: The Narva Offensive begins. 1945 – World War II: Third day of bombing in Dresden. 1946 – ENIAC, the first electronic general-purpose computer, is formally dedicated at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. 1949 – Gerald Lankester Harding and Roland de Vaux begin excavations at Cave 1 of the Qumran Caves, where they will eventually discover the first seven Dead Sea Scrolls.

#Events

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messysuitcaseblog · 8 months

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Helsinki Boat Tour: Is it Better than the HoHo?

Bob managed to grab a spot on a Royal Line Sightseeing boat tour of Helsinki on the very last day of its tourist season. The sky was clear blue, and the crisp early-fall weather was perfect for spending an hour and a half on the Baltic Sea Harbor of this European capital.

With a sun deck above, a bar/restaurant below, and harbor maps laminated to the tables, the boat cruise was an excellent way to get a feel for the city of Helsinki from the viewpoint of its harbor. Highlights included the fortresses that once guarded Helsinki, a church with a lighthouse on top, the Helsinki Zoo, and the jetty where families come to wash their rugs. Seriously!

The tour cost 26 euros, 22 euros for 65 and up, with larger discounts for children and babies. Audio tours were available in a variety of languages.

Here is how Royal Line describes the tour:

During the 1.5-hour sightseeing cruise, the main historical sights of Helsinki are visited. The large sun decks of sightseeing ships offer the best views of the city from the sea. Behind the memorable cruise, you will hear interesting stories about the history of Finland, wonderful landscapes from the ship's sun deck and the ships' professional crew.

The cruises start from the famous Kauppatori, and along the way you will admire, among other things, the beautiful Merisatama, Eira, Kaivopuisto, Kruununhaa beach and the wonderful UNESCO World Heritage Site Suomenlinna in its entirety.

During the cruise, you can enjoy the most amazing island scenery on the outer deck of the ship and the atmosphere of the summer terrace with the best sea view. All ships have a café-bar that serves snacks and refreshing refreshments.

INFO:

Visit Finland Helsinki Guide Royal Line Sightseeing Tours

#youtube #helsinki #messysuitcase #finland #scandinavia #travelblog #travelblogger #europe #boat #boattour

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engbergeurovacay23 · 10 months

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Saturday: Our Final Day in Helsinki

On Saturday, Rowan came into the room where I was sleeping and told me what a bad night’s sleep he’d had. He was very low-energy. I was worried he might have a bit of a fever. We took it slow in the morning and he laid on the couch. I took his temperature (I always travel with a thermometer; I also always travel with a combo smoke-detector/CO-detector, since many Airbnbs do not have CO detectors!). He had a low fever, about 100 degrees. He said he felt well enough to walk around some, so we went to the Posti around 10 a.m. and took my package there to drop it off. That was all very straight-forward. We also bought a card for the kids’ elementary-school librarian, Ms. Rachel, who they adore. They wanted to write her something on a Moomin card to give to her on the first day.

After the Posti, we walked over to the harbor where we could get the Suomenlinna ferry boat. Suomenlinna is an mid-18th-century barracks and military fortress and it is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is a popular destination for day-trips from Helsinki and is only a fifteen-minute ferry ride. We have never visited before! People also live on Suomenlinna, but it really seems to be more of a day-trip sort of spot. The weather on Saturday was spectacular: sunny skies and no rain and warm temperatures, but not hot by any stretch! We were so lucky that after several days with rain, we had one gorgeous day. I mean, I will truck around Helsinki in any kind of weather --I say that now: I have not visited in the winter ;) – but, it was very nice to have “perfect weather day.”

Getting our Suomenlinna ticket was a bit of a struggle. I tried to do it online and downloaded the app, but I could not quite figure out how to do a ticket for just the ferry and not a one-day ticket for all Helsinki public transport for the day. Then, there were two ticket machines right when we approached the ferry, but one gave the message that it could not sell Suomenlinna ferry tickets. This was very confusing. Eric asked a ferry employee at the turnstiles what the matter was and he said maybe just that ticket machine was on the fritz. Indeed, that was the case. So, we got our tickets at another one (we did end up getting the full-day transport tickets—not quite sure how), boarded the ferry, and were off across the bay. We arrived at Suomenlinna and, honestly, I wasn’t sure quite what to do with ourselves once we were there. There are several museums and there is a submarine that you can visit and there in a former prison. There are beautiful parks and there was a massive, historic church, which was about to host a wedding. I was not really interested in the idea of making a full-day of our Suomenlinna jaunt. I just wanted to walk around for a few hours and see what it was all about; that is, in fact, what we did.

As with most of our nature adventure (and city stops, too, I guess!), Eric found a place for a little swim. There was a “beach” at Suomenlinna and there were other people in swimsuits, but it was rather windy on that side of the island and not really swimming temps, in my humble opinion. Eric said the water was very cold. But, he got another item on his “Eric’s gone swimming in odd locations” list!

After Eric’s swim, Eric walked some more around the island; he’d had a big breakfast at the apartment, but the kids and I were hungry, and I was starting to get grumpy. We went to a little café, Vanille, by the ferry dock and actually had a lovely little lunch! Cece got a salmon bun and Rowan got quiche and I got a little sandwich. It was decorated in very Victorian style but had a high shelf at the top of the wall where there was a huge collection of coffee cans. There was also a sign that said they had no wifi and did not allow laptops; the intention was for people to sit and chat ;)

Rowan was really starting to wither when we arrived back to Helsinki. He wanted to rest and then muster the energy to go to the Kiasma Contemporary Art museum later in the afternoon, so he and Eric returned to the apartment and both of them rested. Cece and I went on a 1.5- hour shopping jaunt to a few boutiques that I either knew about or that I read about in the Design District Helsinki map. The first store, called Papu, is right on the Esplanade, and I went there last year. This year, it was summer-sale time, which was great. Next, we went to a place called Hálo, which was pretty high-end, diaphanous-style clothing, but some of the dresses were silk with very beautiful prints. It was not really “my style.” Then, our last stop of Falla Finland, right near our Airbnb. Ritva Falla, a former designer for many labels, including Marimekko, was the founder of this brand, but she has left in the last few years, so it is continuing with other designers at the helm.

After our trip to Falla Finland, Cece and went back to the apartment and reunited with Rowan and Eric, who were both lying down. As I mentioned, it had been a “warm” day by Finnish standards, probably about 70 degrees with full sun, so the apartment was on the warm side. We opened the windows and I know I mentioned that they have no screens, but Finnish homes (and probably other countries too, but I am not recalling right now from prior years in Nordic places) have double windows, like, full-blown, double windows that open on the right or left (like a door). The window closest to the street, in Finland at least, has like a piece of metal that can slot into a hole in a metal fixture, to keep the two windows connected, but open, so that wind, for example, doesn’t blow them closed or open. I imagine that the double windows are great for insulating. But, I do still wonder, if you’re going to put in two windows, might it also be a good idea putting in a screen, so you can keep flies out when you do open the window? Also, the four different Finnish apartments in Helsinki we’ve staying in over the last eight years have all had double front doors. It is not like there is one door, then a vestibule to (perhaps) take your shoes off in, and then another front door. There are two, one-after-the-other, big, heavy front doors, with just a few inches of space between them. I will need to look this phenomenon up on the internet and share with you what I learn. (OK, I did look it up and here is what I learned.)

Rowan got out of his sleeping loft and said he hadn’t actually fallen asleep and was now ready to go to the Kiasma. Oh, another word about the sleeping loft: you know what apartment this one in Helsinki reminds me of? My apartment on Balcombe street in Marylebone, London, in ’94-’95. Similar to that apartment, the one in Helsinki this time has very high ceilings, especially noticeable because the space is rather small. Also, my apartment in London had a sleeping loft in my very narrow and small bedroom. It had a mattress and light up there, but I did not use it. The ladder would go up to it only when you shut the door into the room. So, if a person went up there by ladder, they’d be stuck, because you’d have to take the ladder away to open or close the door. My friend Chris slept up there when he came to visit, as did my friend Amy. I was able to provide them with the ladder whenever they asked! It was such a weird sleeping closet. This one in Helsinki was much more like a small, long, narrow room, entered via a square hole-in-wall in the living room. The Helsinki loft also had a small window. The London one did not. It was much more of a depressing space ;) The rest of my London apartment was great, though!

Anyway, we went to the Kiasma by streetcar, the Number 3, which came right in front of our apartment. The Kiasma apparently only has rotating exhibits, no permanent collection, so anything we saw years ago we did not see this time. This time, their big exhibition was by famous erotic artist Tom of Finland. We did not visit that floor of the Kiasma because, while I am a proponent of the important cultural work Tom of Finland did (and his work continues to do) for gay men worldwide, I was not sure it was appropriate yet for 8- and 10-year kids; the same would be the case for erotic art of any kind. So, we went up to the 4th and 5th floors where there was a really interesting array of works by Spanish artist (who now resides in Rio de Janiero) Daniel Steegmann Mangrané. One of his artistic approaches was to laterally cut small twigs in half and suspend them apart. He also had a huge array of studies he did with watercolor on gridded paper. They were wonderful. His array of works also included film, light, and a squeezing-of-orange-juice-in-a-small-room-covered-in-orange-mylar installation, but that one wasn’t in operation.

After the Kiasma, we split up: daddy and Cece went to the Olympic swimming pool and Rowan and I went to the Oodi library and then, quickly, to Stockmann and to the grocery store. At the Oidi (which I’ve taken photos of in previous years; it is a modern architectural wonder), Rowan and I went up to the children’s floor and had a quick hot drink (me, cappuccino, and Rowan, rooibos tea) and a snack and then Rowan read his book for about twenty to thirty minutes. From there, we went to Stockmann quickly before it closed and looked at their sales (it is summer sale season!) and then we went to a small K Market by our Airbnb. En route, we saw an outdoor dancing/DJ platform right outside the Design Museum (which we sadly did not get to visit on this trip—you can’t do it all, I guess!) and people were doing a really good and enthusiastic job with their social dancing on that warm and wonderful summer evening! It was so nice spending a few hours just me and Roro and, later in the evening, I did the same with Cece!

When we got back to the Airbnb, I moved quickly into packing mode. I got things pretty far along, pretty quickly. Then, it was dinner-mode. I thought Eric and Cece would be home not long after 8, because that was when we thought the pool closed. That did not happen ;) At almost 9, they called, and they were still 20 minutes away (because of some funny tram-car confusions). I had told Rowan I would take him out for ice cream, and there was one place a short walk away that was open until 10 p.m., so he ate a great dinner, and then we quickly walked down to the waterfront (9-minute walk) and we saw one family with huge ice-cream cones and I said to the mom, “oh, great, we’re close!” and she said, “Oh! Be sure you only get one ball of ice cream! This is just one!” It was an insanely big single-scoop! So, Rowan ordered the creamed toffee and it was so, so yummy. We had a great evening walk home and then he got right ready for bed.

We met Eric and Cece right outside the building and she saw the massive ice-cream cone and wanted one too. I said, “OK, well if you eat a quick and healthy dinner, we can race down there before they close at 10!” And that is just what happened! After a swift powerwalk back to the ice-cream kiosk, we arrived with 15 minutes to spare, and there was a line of other last-minute ice-cream getters. Cece got strawberry and it was a very nerve-racking and exciting time watching her eat it, fearing she was going to knock the whole scoop off the top, which did in fact happen once, but I caught it with my bare hands, wedging the ice cream between my hand and her shoulder. Very glad I grabbed napkins when Cece and I got her ice cream.

Once back to the apartment, Cece got right to bed, too. This allowed me to finally eat my dinner (it was a very weird dinner) and then complete the packing/engineering experience, about which I am very particular. I got it all done, made a quick call to American Airlines to get on a standby list for an earlier Dallas/ABQ flight, and then I hit the hay!

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livefuntravelposts · 11 months

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The Most Beautiful Cities in Scandanavia

Whether Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo or Helsinki, Reykjavík and Tórshavn - Scandinavia has some cool and relaxed places to offer: tips for the most beautiful city trips in the north. Scandinavia is a popular travel destination, and the diverse nature, in particular, attracts many visitors to the far north. But the Scandinavian capitals are also definitely worth the trip - and that doesn't just apply to the well-known highlights of Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo. Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands, is certainly only a few on the screen, but the remote islands are a real highlight. And Reykjavík is also an essential part of a trip to Iceland. Not forgetting Finland's capital, Helsinki, where you can enjoy the sea-view sauna even in summer. By the way, did you know that the Scandinavian peninsula actually only includes Norway and Sweden, as well as the northwest of Finland? Culturally, however, Denmark is also one of them - and in a broader sense, also Iceland and the Faroe Islands. So here's the complete overview of the Scandinavian capitals - with many tips and further information.

Stockholm: The Historical

Together with Copenhagen, Stockholm is certainly one of the most popular capitals in Scandinavia, if not in all of Europe. And with around 950,000 inhabitants, it is definitely the largest city in the far north. Stockholm offers a great mix of royal elegance and old-town charm, Swedish nonchalance and Scandinavian design. The heart is the old town Gamla Stan with the Stortorget and its colorful houses. The Royal Castle and the Nobel Prize Museum are also located in Gamla Stan - and the colorful streets with the medieval atmosphere are wonderful for strolling through. Like all Scandinavian capitals, Stockholm is right on the water. One of the numerous boat tours is a good way to explore the city and, ideally, to go on a trip to the skerries, the offshore islands, directly afterwards. In Stockholm, you can also walk in the footsteps of Astrid Lindgren and ABBA or marvel at a centuries-old ship that sank in the harbour at the Vasa Museum. And then there's the trendy district of Södermalm, the colorful art in the subway and the numerous museums. When you finally get tired of sightseeing, it's best to find one of the cool cafés and take a fika, the Swedish coffee break.

Copenhagen: The Cozy One

With just over 600,000 inhabitants, Copenhagen is significantly smaller than Stockholm - and yet or perhaps because of this, Denmark's capital is one of the most popular destinations in Scandinavia. Copenhagen is pure coziness. The most famous Copenhagener is the little mermaid. The Lille Havfrue sits on her rock in the harbor - and even if she's a little unassuming, she's an essential part of a visit to the Danish capital. Also popular is Nyhavn, where you can sit on the harbor promenade, especially in summer. From there, it is also not far from the royal palace Amalienborg and the opera, one of the chic new buildings in Copenhagen. The roof of the Amager Bakke waste incineration plant was laid out as a dry ski slope and attracts numerous visitors as CopenHill. In Copenhagen, you can also stroll through one of the largest pedestrian zones in Europe or take a trip to Tivoli, the oldest amusement park in the world. Foodies should also plan a trip to the Torvehallerne market halls and the former butchers' quarter "Kødbyen".

Oslo: The Green

Even if Oslo glitters in blue in front of the opera as the city's modern landmark, Norway's capital is really green. Located directly on the fjord, Oslo is surrounded by deep green forests, a popular local recreation destination for residents. In Ekelandpark, green is even combined with art - and you will also find a lot of street art and interesting sculptures in the city. The most important sights in the centre are the Royal Castle, the Cathedral, the Parliament Storting and the City Hall, where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded every year in December. With almost 700,000 inhabitants, Oslo is the second largest city in Scandinavia - and yet it doesn't feel like it. You can, for example, start directly from the port district of Aker Brygge to the islands in the Oslofjord and switch off completely. On the Bygdoy peninsula, you will also find numerous interesting museums, such as the Vikingskipshuset or the Kon-Tiki Museum. And things get alternative and creative in the trendy Grünerlokka district and around Oslo's Mathallen market hall.

Helsinki: The Youngest

Although Helsinki was founded in 1550, it was an insignificant city for a long time. Only since 1917 has it been the capital of an independent Finland. Today, with 635,000 inhabitants, Helsinki is the third largest city in Scandinavia after Stockholm and Oslo. The city is totally relaxed, which can be partly due to the numerous saunas, which are simply part of the way of life for Finns. But Helsinki's landmark is the cathedral, which rises completely white over the city. The Finnish capital has even more churches worth seeing: from the Russian-Orthodox-style Uspenski Cathedral to the Chapel of Silence to the rock church Temppeliaukio Kirkko. And for foodies, the Vanha Kauppahalli market hall and the Teurastamo slaughterhouse district are the perfect destinations. The sea and the islands are not far in Helsinki either, and they definitely belong on the to-do list, especially in summer.

Reykjavík: The Colorful One

When you think of Scandinavian capitals, Reykjavík is certainly not the first thing that springs to mind. And yet the town with its 120,000 inhabitants is worth a visit. The northernmost capital in the world is a mix of colourful houses, Scandinavian design and friendly people. The residents are not deterred by the cool temperatures, even in summer, but rather meet up to relax in one of the hot springs and enjoy what feels like endlessly long days. In addition to the Hallgrímskirkja as a landmark and the futuristic Harpa concert hall, a stroll through the colorful shopping street Laugavegur is a must on the to-do list for Reykjavík. You'll find some cool street art here and throughout the city. And for foodies, a detour towards the Alter Hafen and the Grandi district, with its food hall and the chocolate factory is a must.

Tórshavn: The Hidden One

With just over 20,000 inhabitants, the most important and largest city in the Faroe Islands is one of the smallest capitals in the world. Tórshavn is the economic and cultural center and is an essential part of a visit to the archipelago in the middle of the North Atlantic. When you stroll through the small alleys in the historic center, you quickly get the feeling that you have landed somewhere in a village and not in the capital. The little houses with turf roofs, so typical of the islands, are too cute. On the Tinganes peninsula, right by the small eastern harbor, you will find the Løgting, one of the oldest still existing parliaments in the world. And right next door, you can ring the Prime Minister's bell directly. In addition to a few museums, you will also find nice restaurants and cafes in the capital and a small shopping street. Last but not least, Tórshavn is also a perfect starting point to discover these spectacular islands.

Our Final Word

Kati and I always love to travel to Scandanavia. The people and the vibe are intoxicating. They just seem to get it. And it shows. From great art and museums to incredible outdoor activities, Scandanavia has it all. Out of the top 7 happiest countries in the world, 5 are from Scandanavia and way outscore countries like the USA and Germany. I think it shows that warm weather and lower tax rates do not bring people happiness rather caring for one another in terms of healthcare and healthy life expectancy along with the freedom to make key life decisions make Scandanavia a model of society for the rest of us.

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#citiesinscandanavia #norway #scandanavia #Sweden

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