#The Voice of Finland 2017

[eurovision-facts]

Eurovision Fact #744:

Aksel, who was supposed to represent Finland in 2020 before the contest's cancellation, found notoriety in Finland after his participation in The Voice of Finland in 2017.

His fame was further bolstered when he was featured on the award-winning song "Jättiläinen" by the band Pyhimys.

[Source]

Participants of Rotterdam 2020: Aksel, Eurovision.tv.

[sc0tters]

Fights and Feelings | Mikko Rantanen

summary: when Mikko sees you with one of his teammates he realises that he wants to be more than just your friend.

request: yes/no

trope: friends to lovers

warnings: swearing

word count: 1.36k

authors note: here is the first avs player I’ve written for and I’m happy to say that this was really cute. If you want to read more of the celly then you can check it out here!

Mikko didn’t know how much longer he could keep quiet.

Tonight was the third night in a row that you were coming home because you were spending the night with Nathan. The Canadian had gotten the chance to take you on a date and he made sure to make the most of it before Mikko changed his mind.

The two of you had been living together for the last year and a half after your lease on your previous apartment ended. In 2017 your coffee order got mixed up with his and from the moment he offered you a conversation whilst you both waited for the second one, you haven’t looked back.

Your giggle could be heard from down the road as Nathan shut the passenger door to his car when you got out “you don’t have to walk me back again!” You smiled as the Canadian wrapped his arm around your shoulders “but I liked doing this.” Nathan shot back as he helped you back up the steps.

It was icy in Colorado not just because Mikko had seemed to be avoiding you but also because it was reaching the end of October so with that the cold front was rolling over Denver “I should go so I don’t wake Mikks up.” You sighed knowing that your best friend was still awake as he couldn’t sleep without knowing you were in the house.

Nathan nodded ignoring the disappointment that coursed through his veins “I’ll see you sometime soon?” His voice was hopeful as you smiled “of course, have a nice night MacKinnon.” You mumbled leaning up to press a kiss to his cheek.

That broke Mikko’s heart as he watched you through the ring camera as he sat on the couch “have a nice night?” Mikko repeated your words as he watched you walk into the living room.

You nodded as you slid your sneakers off of your feet “you finally done being an ass?” You shot back raising your eyebrow as you hinted back to the entirety of the morning.

Mikko hadn’t spoken to you at all, and if he did it wasn’t more than basic conversation. To you it seemed that he merely didn’t like that you were going out with his teammate. Once Nathan was a good friend of his but now Mikko couldn’t say two nice things about the Canadian as he seemed to worry that he would break your heart “I am just looking out for you y/n!” Mikko groaned as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

He watched as you crossed your arms “I’m not twelve Mikko.” Very rarely did you ever call him by his actual name as you usually settled for a nickname “besides he’s a good guy.” The addition was softer as you looked at the ground.

It made Mikko get up from his seat “he’s my teammate, I know him better than you do.” If his mother knew what he was doing she would have been on the next flight over from Finland “there it is again!” You complained shaking your head.

You felt hurt that your best friend couldn’t be happy for you as you finally found a guy who could treat you well “I am sorry but why can’t you just act like you are happy that I’m happy!” You felt like you were going in circles with him as you weirdly craved his approval.

The hockey player groaned “because I don’t want to stand here and watch you get hurt!” Mikko yelled causing you to shift back a few paces “then you don’t have to.” Venom laced your voice as you turned around and marched yourself to the front door.

Mikko sighed as he watched you open the door “where are you going?” The hockey player asked as he placed his hand on his hip “far away from you.” The response came from your lips as quick as you shut the door behind you making sure that you grabbed your car keys beforehand.

Tears clouded your eyes as you drove off not really knowing or caring where it was that you landed up at. Rain began to fall around you all as you continued until your eyes couldn’t take it anymore “I know it’s late but can I come in?” You begged knocking on the door as tears streamed down your face.

It might not have brought you as much comfort as he might have thought but Mikko had the worst night of his life. He slept on the chair in your room as he hoped to see you if you came back. Right after you left was the first time that he truly realized the potential for consequences due to his actions. The hockey player called Emily, a girl you worked with in the hopes that she could tell him where you were. Of course she didn’t but rather left him with the message that if he truly had no clue where you were then maybe he wasn’t as good of a friend as he once thought.

Practice had gone horribly as Nathan made sure to go tough on the boy until Gabriel was there to put an end to the fight that the boys almost had “enough you two!” He groaned standing in between his teammates in order to stop them from hitting each other.

All they did was glare at each other as their drama went beyond the team dynamic “what the hell are you playing at today!” Mikko grumbled as he spat at his teammate “maybe you should be asking y/n that.” As those words left Nathan’s lips Mikko’s clenched fist swung at his teammate.

You made your way into the arena as your sandals hit the floor “what are you doing here?” Mikko looked up from his icepack to see you stood there “Gabriel didn’t want you going home alone.” You grumbled crossing your arms .

It took him seconds to get up and follow as you spun on your heel “wait up!” He complained grabbing his duffel bag as he made sure to follow you “look let’s just get you home so I can leave again.” You should have said no to the captain, you would have told Gabriel that you had better things to do but instead you didn’t want to say no because you didn’t want to leave Mikko.

Even as you were irritated at him you watched his bruised hand brush over your thigh “I’m sorry.” He mumbled locking his pinky with yours.

The gesture made your heart swell “for punching him or for being a dick?” You sent him a glare as you pursed your lips together.

Mikko felt his heart pound as you walked back to your car. He weirdly didn’t have an answer for you which caused you to both sit in pure silence.

Orange and yellow leaves painted the windows of your car all the way until you drove him back to the house.

You chewed at the inside of your cheek as you turned to Mikko “I think we should take some time apart.” You gripped your hands around the steering wheel as you sighed.

The hockey player clicked his tongue “wait.” He stopped himself as he looked at you “I love you.” Mikko blurted out causing you to go silent.

Scanning his face for any part of a lie yet it was clearly all true “I’m should go.” Mikko sighed as he went to unlock his door but you were all too quick and beat him to it as you kept it locked.

Mikko furrowed his eyebrows as he frowned “look you clearly aren’t interested in what I said so just let me-” his complaint was short lived as your lips locked into his.

It took him a few moments before Mikko kissed you back letting his hand hold your head as it kept you there “Mikks-” you moaned as his tongue slid over your lower lip.

You felt his other hand go to your waist “wait,” you pulled away “I love you too.” Your words made him laugh “you think I didn’t get that from the kiss?” Mikko ran his fingers over your cheek.

[lageografiademicamino]

UMK 2024 Song Review - Sara Siipola

The hype is very real around Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK), the Finnish national selection for Eurovision and the race to Malmö continues with a ballad this time!

Sara Siippola - Paskana

Sara Siipola is fairly a new name in the sky of Finnish female artists. She kind of popped out of nowhere making a record deal with Sony Music in 2019 and releasing her first singles which were fairly successful. She also released her debut album "Kaunis Kun Itken" two years later and last year she was seen in popular music tv-show "Tähdet, Tähdet".

Still never heard of of her before and the artist announcement did nothing to me.

Paskana is power song that gives no hope. It's very raw lyrically and vocally.

It's a modern ballad with immediate hook. The song itself is not a traditional power ballad but does instrumentally push its boundaries. The electronic beat has 80's sound which also reminds many of the Russian girl duo t.A.T.u's sound. R'n'b beat separates it from an average ESC ballad and makes this super easy to listen.

Sara's voice can be compared to Amy Winehouse's being capable of interpreting the painful text brilliantly. The topic of being "paskana" which is translated as fucking wreck, is easily relatable. Social media quickly filled on Monday night with heartfelt comments from people around the world crying and feeling this song.

This is simply captivating - you can't pass this without stopping to listen to this and feeling what she sings. This will translate across language barriers.

ESC doesn't allow swearing so in case of winning UMK Sara would have to find another title for her song which might be a difficult task. There have been hopes of her translating this into English or pieces of it but I do hope this masterpiece remained in Finnish. Also this would differ quite a lot from our previous ESC entries. The last time we heard a female ballad from Finland was in 2017 with NormaJohn.

In a scenario where she didn't win UMK she might be the next Bess (Ram pam pam, 2022) or Kuumaa (Ylivoimainen, 2023) which either were the winning acts but made the biggest hits of their careers with the help of UMK. Reactions have been positive everywhere you go and her UMK videoclip has already been viewed over 240 000 (more than Sexmane) times. She's on her way to stardom!

What do you think of the third UMK24 track and would you vote for Sara Siipola to go all the way to Malmö? UMK final takes place on February 10th!

[skimblestrap]

1986 Helsinki tidbits

I've made it my lifes mission to find out everything I can about Helsinki 1986 apparently. Well, maybe it has something to do with the fact it's literally the best non-rep in Finland (in my humble opinion. sorry but Tampere 2017 and Lahti 2007 do not look good)

Anyway, here's some characters!

Skimbleshanks (Tom Pöysti) and Mistoffelees (Harri Heikkinen)

Would love to see more of Misto, I'm intrigued by his curly hair... AND I want to hear a recording of Skimble, his actor has a very pleasant voice. (Also: Skimbles Finnish name, Toppa-Roy, directly translates to Sugarloaf-Roy :) )

Mungojerrie (Langry Chellaf), Victoria (Helena Haaranen (?)) and Rumpleteazer (Maire Alho (?))

Only thing I have to say is that Mungojerrie was played by a famous circus actor!

Munkustrap (Arto Rintamäki) and a cat I can't identify.

Nothing more to say than Munk is bald and that other cat looks really cool (It might be Demeter but I really can't say. It's Impossible to find pictures of most of the actors)

[autumnleaffay]

A mountain for my heart

This will be a small NorFin AU based on a lovely petition by Norwegians to gift Finland the summit of mountain Halti for the 100th anniversary of Finnish independence 🇧🇻🇫🇮

~~~~~~~~~~

It was a warm summer day in 2017. Finland was not surprised when Norway wanted to go for a hike. The location, tho, was an interesting choice.

"We could have taken the easier route from my land, but knowing you, I decided we take the longer way from Kilpisjärvi."

Oh yes, they where hiking up to the highest point in his entire country, the mountain Halti.

They have been taking the hike at a slow and relaxed pace. Of course, they could have done the 50km hike in a day or two. But they decided to have more time off and enjoy nature.

Today was the 4th day, and the last 10km of the hike.

The two have been hiking in a joint silence, just enjoying each other's presence.

Finland's mind began to wander. He reminisces about the past, the adventures, and the misfortunes of the past. What have the two of them experienced.

Two nations with different backgrounds, but still so similar.

Both used and controlled by their conquers. Both have experience with famines and hard ships.

Both scared by the scorched earth retreat of nazi Germany.

But still, there was a difference.

Norway got his independence peaceful. Every norwegian was in favour of the common goal.

Finland? He had to fight. Fight against the russification. Against losing himself. Having no one to rely on except himself.

And then, when independence was gained, his own people fought.

White against red.

Pain and suffering.

His heart ripping apart-

"Hei, earth to Finland. Are you there?" Norway's soft voice pulled him out of his spiralling memories.

"I-I.... I just remembered our, my, past."

Norway face showed that he understood. After the second world war the two have been growing closer. Eventually, they finally opened up about each other's feelings.

The norwegian extended his hand towards his finnish beloved: "Come, we are close. I have something for you."

Finland became curious, as he took Norways hand and followed him. Norway was right. The finnish-norwegian border soon came into their view.

A stone pillar symbolising the highest point of his country.

The two men stopped as Finland reached for the pillar with his free hand. He took a deep breath.

This was him at his tallest, but it was not the summit. The summit belonged to Norway, just on the other side of the border.

Was this a symbol? Did this mean that he could never reach the summit quite like Norway can? Will he forever be second?

A soft kiss was placed on his cheek.

Silently, he let himself be guided the 200m to the true summit. To Norway's land.

Finland took a shaking breath. He wanted to ask something, but the words stuck in this throat.

On top of the summit was a Finnish flag, his coat of arms, salmiakki, and a pack of Kvikk Lunsj.

"Nor-"

"Elskede, Rakas, my beloved! Thought the constitution written by my people about my land don't officially allow a change of our border, I want to gift you the summit of Halti. I the personification of the kingdom of Norway here by give the mountain Halti to the personification of the Republic of Finland, to my dearest, to my heart."

Only the wind was a witness to the tears shed on that mountain. Only the wind keeps the memories of the two northern nations.

Only the wind will hear the whisper.

Suomi, Finland in my heart. Forever.

~~~~~~~

Hi! Welcome to the new year!

I loved the petition from some norwegian citizens to gift the summit to Finland back in 2016. Unfortunately, it was decided against that due to the norwegian constitution.

(Other mentioned history was the scorch earth policy, where the Nazis destroyed as much land as possible when they lost at the end of ww2)

And yes, the last line is from Alexander Rybak's song, Suomi, with a slight change in lyrics based on me having misheard them for the first couple of listenings.

Link: https://youtu.be/zn1U4movCxY?si=aSNGv4yI1nGEheHu

[nerdy-prude]

Imma rant about a show I haven't ranted about here before; Ducktales! (The new version)

I really like the 2017(?) Ducktales. The show looks nice, voices are great, storyline is interesting and jokes are funny. I find most episodes highly entertaining but there is one episode spesifically that was just a huge dissapointment. S3, ep 3; "Double-O-Duck in you only crash twice!"

After quick research it has come to my atenttion that Double-O-Duck is a character many fans knew already. Having this information earlier might have made my watching experience a bit nicer than what it was.

You see, the person who did the title translations in Finland, was clearly out for blood. They translated the name Double-O-Duck as Double Duck.

I have read through countless amount of Donald Duck comics and my favorites have always been the ones were our loveable, clumsy and unlucky protagonist is secretly working as a spy called Double Duck! We get those unlucky, clumsy moments but also action scenes, cool bad guys, plot twist and the good old fashioned spy movie feel that is created by suits, gadgets and secret names. Whats not to love?

So there I was, browsing trough Disney plus, when I saw new episodes had finally come. I read trought the titles and what do I see? I spy episode with a character that is suposedly Double Duck! I did not, however, read the description as I didn't want to get the slightest bit of spoilers.

You can imagine my disapointment when the episode was nothing, NOTHING like I had expected and I do mean that in the worst way possible.

It wasn't that the episode was bad, I just couldn't shake off my dissapointment. I really tought I'd see Donald get his own episode where he can be pretty much the cooles Duck alive! There are some good Donald episodes where he shows off his adventure skills but this would have been his own little secret. Double Duck means a lot to me. I loved, no I still love those comics. I remember playing this Double Duck game as a kid that I just loved. The game is no longer a thing, just a memory. And when I finally tought my fave spy was gonna get shown on screen, welp, I ended up dissapointed and sad.

[tilbageidanmark]

MOVIES I WATCHED THIS WEEK #201:

The best films of the week: 'A taxi driver', 'Sudden fear', 'Sharper', 'The eloquent peasant', 'Rocks in my pockets', 'If anything happens I love you', 'Windy day', 'Late autumn', 'The big wait'.

2 BY KOREAN DIRECTOR JANG HOON, BOTH WITH STAR SONG KANG-HO:

🍿 A TAXI DRIVER (2017), my first by director Jang Hoon, is one the five best Korean films I've ever seen. What style! What a balance of emotional complexity, technical proficiency and political subtext! It's based on true events which happened during a perilous time in South Korean history. Song Kang-ho (The father in 'Paradise') is a street-smart taxi driver, who takes a German journalist into Gwangju and witnesses with him the student uprising and massacre that occurred there after the 1980 Coup d'état. Maybe even better than Scorsese's 'Taxi Driver'?... 10/10.

🍿 Jang Hoon directed only 4 features, and all were huge money makers in Korea. But his 2010 SECRET REUNION disappointed me greatly. It was just a standard police action film revolving around a North Korean sleeper cell of trained assassins, and it was unremarkable. 2/10.

🍿

"Who are you? Another relative? You have broken 18 dicks! I'll kill you, all gorillas, all policemen and all the Dutch"

THE SUNDAY WOMAN is an unusual Italian comedy about a murder investigation. An eccentric architect is bashed on the head with a large stone phallus, and the clueless police force is scrambling to solve the high-society death.

It's definitely worth watching for the star power of "Commissioner" Marcello Mastroianni (with his sexy baritone voice), Jean-Louis Trintignant as a secret gay patrician and Jacqueline Bisset as the radiant, bored wife of a wealthy businessman. Also for the unmistakable score by Ennio Morricone's.

The director's ambiguous style makes the confusing 'Chinatown'-like plot even more convoluted. It's also wonderful to see the streets of Turin as they were in 1975. 7/10.

🍿

2 OF DIRECTOR DAVID MILLER'S (??) BEST FILMS:

🍿 How come I never even heard of the stylish, smashing Noir thriller SUDDEN FEAR from 1952?? Milf'ish Joan Crawford is a rich and successful San Francisco playwright, who falls for younger actor Jack Palance, while he schemes to murder her for her inheritance. He looks here like one of the greatest film villains, with his chiseled jaw and piercing eyes, and his side-lover Gloria Grahame is just gorgeous. (Interesting side note: Crawford mentions that there were 2,174,000,000 people in the world at that time. Mmmm...) 9/10.

🍿 "If it didn't take men to make babies, I wouldn't have anything to do with any of you..."

LONELY ARE THE BRAVE is a 1962 new revisionist Western with Kirk Douglas as the "last" old-fashioned cowboy, a rugged individual and independently free. He's a 'Rebel without a cause', a freewheelin' ranch hand who refuses to join the contemporary society of mortgages and driving licenses. Unfortunately, he's now roaming a modern New Mexico which is filled with highways, Jeeps and helicopters. It's obvious that it's going to end up badly. Still, I did not expect the symbolism of his horse getting hit in a rainstorm by a long-hauling truck carrying toilets. (and chauffeured by Archie Bunker!). With young wife-of-a friend Gena Rowlands.

🍿

HEAVY TRIP, (2018), a sweet comedy from Finland about 'Impaled Rektum', a Heavy Metal band from a small rural town which after 12 years of practicing, still have never played a live gig. I have absolutely zero interest in "symphonic post-apocalyptic reindeer-grinding Christ-abusing extreme war pagan fenno-scandian metal" or any other kind, but this was highly entertaining. Its mood reminded me of "Miss little sunshine", even though story wise the two had no connection whatsoever. 7/10.

🍿

THE GETAWAY, Sam Peckinpah's suspenseful action-thriller of a Texas bank heist and Lovers on the run. Starring real-life, super-cool married couple Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw. Also co-starring both "Virgil Sollozzo" and "Al Nery" (which makes sense as this too was filmed in 1972), as well as Silm Pickens.

Also with Quincy Jones' distinct jazzy score, highlighted by Toots Thielemans' mournful harmonica sound. In Peckinpah's usual misogynistic manner, there are multiple incidents of guys slapping women around, including the otherwise-loving McQueen. Also, the famous bad guy who kidnap a meek husband and his naughty wife, and then humiliates him by sleeping with the wife in front of him. I've seen a similar story multiple other times, but can't remember where. Re-watch���️. 8/10.

RIP, Quincy Jones!

🍿

THE ELOQUENT PEASANT (1969) is the most unusual film I saw this week. It's an Egyptian morality tale based on a 4,000 year old story from the 'Middle Kingdom' of Egypt. A poor peasant is robbed by a noble man of all his possessions, and he's seeking justice from a Pharaoh, by applying flowery arguments to make his case. His language skills are so appreciated by the ruler, that he delays his verdict, just so he can hear him speak longer. It's composed in the most beautiful Technicolor brushes, and has a striking, radiant look. It was restored and preserved by Martin Scorsese's 'World Cinema Foundation' (together with the director's 'The Night of Counting the Years' which is next on my list).

🍿

ANYTHING FOR HER (2008) is a French thriller by a first time director. Diane Kruger and her husband are an ordinary couple with a kid, when she is suddenly arrested for a murder she didn't commit, but is wrongly convicted for it and is sentenced to 20 years in prison. The first two acts are okay, but unremarkable. The last suspenseful 30 minutes are dynamite!

🍿

FILMS WITH 100% SCORE ON ROTTEN TOMATOES X 2:

🍿 ROCKS IN MY POCKETS (2014), "A funny film about depression", is the most amazing adult animation feature from Latvia I've ever seen! I simply cannot understand how come there are original and amazing masterpieces like this out in the world which are completely off the radar. For. ex., it was submitted by Latvia as their official entry for the 87th Academy Award, but was not even nominated.

The trailer is all one needs to see before deciding if the movie is right for them. 💯 score on Rotten Tomatoes. 10/10! [*Female Director*]

🍿 Re-watch ♻️: IF ANYTHING HAPPENS I LOVE YOU won the Oscars in 2020. A married couple is wordlessly grieving the death of their 12 year old daughter [in a school shooting]. Inspired by (and reminiscent of) the Dutch 'Father and daughter' which also won the Oscars (in 2000). 💯 score on Rotten Tomatoes. It's Devastatingly Sad.

🍿

Re-watch of the clever thriller SHARPER. An excellent long-com game, equal to the best of the 'Grifters' genre (in spite of the final, improbable twist). With an exceptional score that includes both Talking Heads and Cole Porter at the right moments. 9/10. ♻️.

🍿

PUT OUR MÄRTA FIRST OR AS LUCK WILL HAVE IT is a traditional Swedish comedy from 1945. I watched it only because I was led to believe that it was some "obscure science-fiction comedy about drag queens", but it wasn't. It's obscure all right. But the sci-fi element was limited to a 2006 opening scene, with an old man telling his granddaughter the story about a hero from 1945, and the rest of the movie is just a flashback. The exact cross dressing plot was later used better on 'Some like it hot': 2 unemployed musicians can only get a job with a traveling women's band, so one of them has to dress up as a woman. [it even has some important scenes on a train, just like Wilder's!]. Unsurprisingly it morphs into a straight-up feminist message film, a-la-Tootsie, with a call for equal rights and free love. But it is told in a very dated, low-brow, broad comedic style. The director, Hasse Ekman, was apparently the most acclaimed Swedish director after Sjöström and before Bergman. 2/10.

🍿  

WHO KILLED JAZZ (Documentary, 2021) is a skillfully-made and impressionistic analysis of the economics of the live jazz music scene. The genre as a whole still flourishes, but the musicians themselves cannot make a living in it. Recommended.

🍿  

ITALIAN POETIC REALIST VITTORIO DE SETA IN 1955 X 3:

🍿 ISLANDS OF FIRE, a wordless natural documentation of fishermen and villagers on the island of Stromboli during a volcanic eruption in 1954. He did 10 ethnographic shorts like this during this time.

🍿 THE AGE OF SWORDFISH, another awesome story of Sicilian fishermen spear-fishing a large swordfish, a custom that disappeared around that time. 8/10.

🍿 PEASANTS OF THE SEA is even more brutal; A fleet of boats capture a large school of Tuna, and kill them all in an orgy of blood and guts. CW. 9/10. De Seta was really talented.

🍿

“Ouch-e-megouch!"

MAGIC TOWN (1947) was the last movie I anxiously watched the night before the election, while being depressed by opposing polls predicting the winner. It was recommended because city slicker James Stewart played a public opinion pollster (for time on film) who moved into Small Town USA, believing that there he can find a perfect reflection of the country as a whole. But this Frank Capra-lite was terrible all around, with a lame-ass romance, and reactionary politics, including the outlandish proposition in one of the polls that "79% favor a woman for president" [Screenshot Above]. Ridiculous! 1/10.

🍿

A BUNCH OF SHORTS:

🍿 BORED ON EDUCATION (1936), my first 'Our gang' episode, and the only one (Out of 220) to win an Oscar. The series was notable for featuring black & white children acting as equals during the Jim Crow era. I didn't realize that the series lasted for 22 years, and employed many sets of kids replacing others who grew out of their roles.

🍿 WINDY DAY (1968) was an adorable animation about two cute little sisters who chatter over each other's as they play and playact, in the cutest, most natural voices. 9/10.

🍿 GOD OF LOVE won the Oscars in 2010. It's a quirky independent comedy in a French New Wave style. A goofy-looking, young Brooklynite lounge singer receives an anonymous box of 'Love Darts' and becomes a local Cupid. Cute. 7/10.

🍿 LATE AFTERNOON (2017) a tender Oscar-nominated Irish story about an old woman who doesn't remember much of anything anymore. 10/10. [*Female Director*]

🍿 In LUCKY FISH (2022), two Asian-American girls exchange glances across the tables at a Chinese restaurant, and then meet by the magical gold fish tank to kiss. Pretty adolescent and not very deep. [*Female Director*]

🍿 PORTRAIT OF GOD (2022), a short horror story about a religious girl who prepares a presentation about a painting of God. Everything I don't like about the Horror genre is here: The eerie soundtrack, the mystical questions that remain unanswerable, the scary jump-cuts, the implied danger, the ambiguous undertone of evil. It's all so unnecessary. 1/10.

🍿 THE BIG WAIT (2023) is a lovely Australian documentary about a couple who lives alone in the middle of nowhere, and maintains a 6-cabin B&B in pristine condition, for visitors who hardly ever come there. 8/10.

🍿 MNEMONADE, a brand-new A.I.-generated short about the Sands of Time and an old woman with dementia. It's not quiet yet there, but as I said a year ago here, I'm sure that within a year, two max, we'll start seeing 'Good' A.I. features, and that in 2025, I'll be viewing some of them. (Via).

🍿

(ALL MY FILM REVIEWS - HERE).

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 7.10

Holidays

Armed Forces Day (Mauritania)

Army Day (Albania)

Battle of Britain Anniversary Day

Battle of Poltava Day (Russia)

Beatles Day (Liverpool, Hamburg)

Capybara Appreciation Day

Chronic Disease Awareness Day

Clerihew Day

Cumin Day (French Republic)

Don't Step On A Bee Day (UK)

Flag Day (Mongolia)

Global Energy Independence Day

Gospel Day (Kiribati)

His Masters Voice Day

International Glut1 Awareness Day

International Safewords Day

Lá Cuimhneacháin Náisiúnta (National Day of Commemoration; Ireland)

Lady Godiva Day

London Bridge Falling Down Day

Merchant’s Festival (Elder Scrolls)

Minion Day

Naadam Day (Mongolia)

National All American Pet Photo Day

National Caleb Day

National Contour Day

National Fish Farmers Day (India)

National Kitten Day

National Lineworker Appreciation Day (Canada)

National Stella Day

National Transplant Financial Coordinator Day

Natto Day (Japan)

Nikola Tesla Day

Oils and Concentrates Day

Police Radio Day

Protogeneia Asteroid Day

Rhodes Day (Rhodesia)

710 Day

Silence Day (Meher Baba)

Srebrenica Memorial Day

Stay Away From Bees Day

Teddy Bear's Picnic Day

Telstar Day

Uniwaine (Senior Citizens’ Day; Kiribati)

U.S. Energy Independence Day

World Airway Disorders Day

World Miniature Golf Day

World Shuvit Cancer Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Beer Distributors Day

National Piña Colada Day

National Pizza Day (Brazil)

Pick Blueberries Day

Independence & Related Days

Bahamas (from UK, 1973)

Federal Republic of New Potato Land (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Wyoming Statehood Day (#44; 1890)

2nd Wednesday in July

National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving (Montserrat) [2nd Wednesday]

Weekly Holidays beginning July 10 (2nd Week of July)

Sweetheart Days Festival (Minnesota) [2nd Wednesday; thru Friday]

Festivals Beginning July 10, 2024

American Cheese Society Annual Conference (Buffalo, New York) [thru 7.13]

European Balloon Festival (Igualada, Spain) [thru 7.14]

EXIT (Novi Sad, Serbia) [thru 7.14]

Love International Festival (Tins, Croatia) [thru 7.16]

Mad Cool Festival (Madrid, Spain) [thru 7.13]

Ossipee Valley Fair (South Hiram, Maine) [thru 7.14]

Riddu Riđđu (Manndalen, Norway) [thru 7.13]

Sandcastle Contest (Belmar, New Jersey)

Tangomarkkinat (Seinäjoki, Finland) [thru 7.14]

Vegan Summerfest (Johnstown, Pennsylvania) [thru 7.14]

Winona County Fair (St. Charles, Minnesota) [thru 7.14]

Woody Guthrie Folk Festival (Okemah, Oklahoma) [thru 7.14]

Feast Days

Alice Munro (Writerism)

Amalberga of Maubeuge (Christian; Saint & Widow)

Amalburga (Christian; Saint & Virgin)

Antony and Theodosius Pechersky (Christian; Saints)

St. Bathilda (Positivist; Saint)

Camille Pissarro (Artology)

Canute IV of Denmark (Christian; Saint)

David Teniers III (Artology)

Day of Holda (Goddess of the Underworld; Anglo-Saxon, Norse)

Feast Day of Knut the Reaper, Hela, Holda and Skadi (Norse)

Feast of Translation of Saint Maclovius, Bishop of Saint-Malo (Christian; Confessor)

Feast of The Seven Brothers (Januarius, Felix, Philip, Silvanus, Alexander, Vitalis, and Martialis; Christian; Martyrs)

Felicitas of Rome (Christian; Martyr)

The First Sermon of Lord Buddha (Buddhism; Bhutan)

Giorgio de Chirico (Artology)

Hela’s Day (Pagan)

Joe Shuster (Artology)

Kanute IV, King of Denmark (Christian; Martyr)

Knut the Reaper's Day (Norse; Scotland)

Marcel Proust (Writerism)

Mel Blanc Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Millennial Fairy Olympics, Day 5 (Shamanism)

New Robe for Athena Day (Ancient Greece)

Otto Freundlich (Artology)

Pina Colada Day (Pastafarian)

Reach Out and Touch a Green Leaf Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Reg Smythe (Artology)

Ronnie Cutrone (Artology)

Rufina and Secunda (Christian; Martyrs & Virgins)

Rusty (Muppetism)

Septic Bralu Diena (Ancient Latvia)

Seth Godin (Writerism)

Seven Brothers (Christian; Martyrs)

Sixto Rodriguez (Humanism,)

Tita or Tatata Ita (Muppetism)

U Festinu (a.k.a. Feast of St. Rosalia; Palermo, Italy) [thru 7.15]

Viaticum of Llefoed Wynebglawr (Celtic Book of Days)

Victoria, Anatolia, and Audax (Christian; Saints)

Wickerwork Giants Parade & Festival (Douai, France)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Fatal Day (Pagan) [13 of 24]

Prime Number Day: 191 [43 of 72]

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [39 of 57]

Premieres

Ball Four, by Jim Bouton (Sports Memoir; 1970)

The Brave Little Toaster (Animated Film; 1987)

Cocky Cock Roach (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1932)

Cool World (Animated Film; 1992)

The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham (Novel; 1951)

Do Way Diddy Diddy, by Manfred Mann (Song; 1964)

Escape from New York (Film; 1981)

The Fox and the Hound (Animated Disney Film; 1981)

Greyhound (Film; 2020)

A Hard Day’s Night, by The Beatles (Album; 1964)

Heat Wave, by Martha and the Vandellas (Song; 1963)

Homesteader Droopy (Tex Avery MGM Cartoon; 1954)

The Hot Spell, featuring Farmer Al Falfa (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1936)

Lethal Weapon 4 (Film; 1998)

I Got You Babe, by Sonny and Cher (Song; 1965)

I Love You Beth Cooper (Film; 2009)

In Search of Lost Time, by Marcel Proust (Novel; 1927)

In the Midnight Hour, by Wilson Pickett (Song; 1965)

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (Film; 1985)

Minions (Animated Film; 2015)

Moon (Film; 2009)

Mother Necessity (America Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1976)

New Maps of Hell, by Bad Religion (Album; 2007)

Ode to Billie Joe, by Bobbie Gentry (Song; 1967)

The Oily American (WB MM Cartoon; 1954)

The Old Guard (Film; 2020)

Once Upon a Mouse (Disney Cartoon Documentary; 1981)

The Outpost (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1942)

Palm Springs (Film; 2020)

Parachutes, by Coldplay (Album; 2000)

Pi (Film; 1998)

Pink Valiant (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1968)

She Wolf, by Shakira (Album; 2009)

Small Soldiers (Animated Film; 1998)

Smoke Signal (Animated Film; 2018)

Son of Schmilsson, by Harry Nilsson (Album; 1972)

Summertime, recorded by Ella Fitzgerald (Song; 1936)

Tempted, by Squeeze (Song; 1981)

Trouble with Lichen, by John Wyndham (Novel; 1960)

Unnatural Death, by Dorothy L. Sayers (Novel; 1927) [Peter Wimsey #3]

Up N’ Atom (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1947)

The Wayward Pups (Happy Harmonies Cartoon; 1937)

We Are the Champions/We Will Rock You, by Queen (UK Song; 1977)

Your Hit Parade (TV Series; 1950)

Today’s Name Days

Engelbert, Knud, Raphael (Austria)

Feliks, Srećko, Viktorija (Croatia)

Amálie, Libuše (Czech Republic)

Knud (Denmark)

Saima, Saime, Saimi (Estonia)

Saima, Saimi (Finland)

Ulrich (France)

Knud, Engelbert, Raphael, Sascha (Germany)

Amália (Greece)

Amália (Hungary)

Armando, Marziale, Pietro, Rufina (Italy)

Lielvardis, Lija, Olīvija, Uve (Latvia)

Amalija, Eirimė, Gilvainas (Lithuania)

Anita, Anja (Norway)

Aleksander, Amelia, Aniela, Filip, January, Radziwoj, Rufina, Samson, Sylwan, Sylwana, Witalis (Poland)

Amália (Slovakia)

Cristóbal (Spain)

André, Andrea, Anund (Sweden)

Anthony (Ukraine)

Emanuel, Emmanuel, Gage, Immanuel, Manuel, Manuela (USA)

Emanuel, Immanuel, Maos, Manuela, Ulla, Ulrich, Ulrika, Ulrike (Universal)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 192 of 2024; 174 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of week 28 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 4 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Xin-Wei), Day 5 (Yi-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 4 Tammuz 5784

Islamic: 3 Muharram 1446

J Cal: 12 Red; Foursday [12 of 30]

Julian: 27 June 2024

Moon: 21%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 23 Charlemagne (7th Month) [St. Bathilda]

Runic Half Month: Ur (Primal Strength) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 21 of 94)

Week: 2nd Week of July

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 20 of 31)

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Roy Eappen and Ian Kingsbury

Published: Jun 28, 2023

A federal court last week struck down an Arkansas law banning the provision of sex-change procedures—off-label “puberty blockers,” opposite-sex hormones and surgery—to minors. In the June 20 ruling, Judge James M. Moody Jr. repeatedly cited the Endocrine Society, the professional organization of physicians who specialize in hormones. He wrote that the society has “published widely-accepted clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of gender dysphoria” that “were developed by experts in the field” and “are recognized as best practices.”

In truth, over the past decade transgender activists have co-opted the Endocrine Society and other professional organizations to promote such treatments for adolescents and even young children. Their guidelines are based on flimsy evidence, giving the appearance that invasive and irreversible treatments are beneficial for young patients despite a growing body of evidence to the contrary. The guidelines have been used by lawmakers in states such as California and New York to endanger children—and now by judges to block state efforts at protecting youngsters.

A few days before Judge Moody’s ruling, we attended the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, of which one of us (Dr. Eappen) is a member. We found that endocrinologists are aware of the society’s failings and rue its elevation of transgender activism over medical expertise and patient needs.

The Endocrine Society endorsed medical “transition” for young people in 2017. It published the “clinical practice guidelines” for the “treatment of gender-dysphoric/gender-incongruent persons” that Judge Moody cited. At the time, there was little good research on this issue, and the Endocrine Society admitted the guidelines were largely based on evidence of “low” or “very low” quality. The society nonetheless recommended that some children receive a “hormone regimen that will suppress the body’s sex hormone secretion, determined at birth and manifested at puberty.”

At this year’s meeting, we had frank and fruitful discussions with endocrinologists who provide hormonal treatments to kids with gender dysphoria, as well as some who don’t. Without exception, they acknowledged that the society’s evidence base for pediatric gender transition is weak, at best. Yet while they’re aware of the guidelines’ shortcomings, they’re afraid to voice their concerns. The society’s full-throated endorsement of gender-affirming care implied condemnation of anyone who holds differing views. Medical professionals are being cowed into silence and coerced into providing treatments they know are dangerous to children.

Perhaps the most telling interactions were with European endocrinologists, who were there to discuss the latest research and treatments in the specialty. Those we spoke with expressed surprise that the U.S. hasn’t banned, or at least severely restricted, such treatments for adolescents and children.

England, Sweden and Finland have all taken this path, and Norway is likely to follow. Belgium, France, Ireland and Italy are also raising concerns. These countries are following the science, which shows that the claimed benefits of hormonal intervention for young people fail to outweigh the risks.

Most disturbing, endocrinologists on all sides of this debate told us that practitioners aren’t complying with the precautions set forth in the society’s guidelines. Despite the document’s call for careful mental-health screening and its acknowledgment that most cases of childhood gender dysphoria naturally resolve during puberty, endocrinologists recognize that some of their peers are rushing young patients to irreversible hormonal treatments. Every endocrinologist we spoke with supports doing more to ensure that these guardrails are enforced, and many favor erecting new ones.

Judge Moody’s ruling cites the Endocrine Society’s guidelines in a lengthy section titled “Findings of Fact,” which is essentially a recitation of transgender ideology. A trial judge’s findings of fact are all but unreviewable on appeal. By allowing ideologues to hijack their organization, endocrinologists are making themselves complicit in a scientifically baseless movement that inflicts serious harm on children’s physical and mental health.

Dr. Eappen is a practicing endocrinologist in Montreal and a senior fellow at Do No Harm. Mr. Kingsbury is Do No Harm’s research director.

[ Via: https://archive.is/TPpis ]

Published: Jul 9, 203

Stephen Hammes’s response (Letters, July 5) to our op-ed (“The Endocrine Society’s Dangerous Transgender Politicization,” June 29) proves our point: The Endocrine Society is ignoring the dangers that sex-change treatments pose to children.

Dr. Hammes, president of the Endocrine Society, leaves out that the society’s pro-sex-change guidelines are based on “low” or “very low” quality evidence. He says nothing about the growing number of progressive European countries that are abandoning America’s model of gender-affirming care following systematic reviews of the evidence.

Dr. Hammes says that “2,000 studies published since 1975” support gender-affirming care. Yet many of these studies show negative results or nonresults, while all suffer from methodological problems like selection bias or a lack of proper control groups. These failings make it impossible to say whether drugs and surgeries were superior to less invasive alternatives like psychotherapy or even placebos. All but two dozen studies involved adults who transitioned as adults, not children, meaning more than 1,900 of the studies Dr. Hammes cites have no bearing on this issue. The layman may be impressed by the large number, but evidence-based medicine is concerned with the quality and reliability of research, not its quantity.

If Dr. Hammes is so confident in the Endocrine Society’s guidelines, he should have no problem launching a systematic review of all risks and benefits of hormonal interventions. It is more than warranted, six years after the guidelines were released. Until then, states have no choice but to pass laws to protect children from well-intended but harmful practices.

Roy Eappen, M.D., and Ian Kingsbury, Ph.D. Do No Harm Montreal and Marblehead, Mass.

[ Via: https://archive.is/2wUMl ]

==

Quality matters, not quantity. Someone claiming to be a scientist should really not be making an Appeal to Popularity.

[child-of-hurin]

Other versions of that scene I want to archive here:

Tosca - Te Deum (AMARTUVSHIN ENKHBAT) Teatro di San Carlo (2020)

The grotesque penitents, Scarpia's dog, the living statue in the precarious stone structure... I love it. (Also, I haven't posted a Scarpia whose voice I didn't like, but this one is just absolutely gorgeous)

Ambrogio Maestri "Tre sbirri, una carrozza…Va Tosca" (Te Deum) Opening Gala Firenze

Love this more traditional production still putting a little at the end by having the revolutionaries stage a (futile, but unnerving) demonstration and capturing the priest. Also love Scarpia grasping the cross at the end...

And this is not production related, but I love the twisted camera angles slowly untwisting. Hell yeah

Jared Ice - Va, Tosca! (Te Deum) (2017)

These costumes just look to me like they were designed by Tom of Finland idk we stan. You could not convince me this Scarpia wants Tosca for herself tho and I'm writing Scarpia/Cavaradossi fanfic in my mind as I watch this... I do like the choir being hostages forced to pray immensely, I think it's a very inspired choice

"Va, Tosca" (Tosca) Te Deum - Thomas Cannon 2017

Set in the Spanish civil war! A thousand points for that alone! A small detail, but Scarpia bowing politely to the priest and simply continuing his depraved daydream feels right. I also love the inconstancy -- Scarpia smiles, frowns, then smiles again, etc, etc, just to end on (what looks like) a sensual daydream. Sometimes the most banal is also the most terrifying in context.

[gaymer-hag-stan]

So, I have a list of Eurovision songs from 2004 onwards ranking which entries did the best based on average score.

This year's Loreen, Käärijä, Noa Kirel and Marco Mengoni all made the list

1. Norway - 2009 - Alexander Rybak - Fairytale - 78.6%

2. Sweden - 2015 - Måns Zelmerlöw - Heroes - 77.9%

3. Portugal - 2017 - Salvador Sobral - Amar pelos dois - 77%

4. Sweden - 2012 - Loreen - Euphoria - 75.6%

5. Ukraine - 2022 - Kalush Orchestra - Stefania - 67.4%

6. Austria - 2014 - Conchita Wurst - Rise Like a Phoenix - 67.1%

7. Ukraine - 2004 - Ruslana - Wild Dances - 66.6%

8. Sweden – 2023 – Loreen – Tattoo – 66.5%

9. Finland - 2006 - Lordi - Hard Rock Hallelujah - 65.7%

10. Russia - 2015 - Polina Gagarina - A Million Voices - 64.7%

11. Serbia and Montenegro - 2004 - Željko Joksimović and Ad-Hoc Orchestra - Lane Moje - 62.6%

12. Bulgaria - 2017 - Kristian Kostov - Beautiful Mess - 62.5%

13. Italy - 2015 - Il Volo - Grande amore - 62.3%

14. Denmark - 2013 - Emmelie de Forest - Only Teradrops - 61.6%

15. Finland – 2023 – Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha – 60%

16. Greece - 2004 - Sakis Rouvas - Shake It - 60%

17. Italy - 2021 - Måneskin - Zitti e Buoni - 57.4%

18. Russia - 2006 - Dima Bilan - Never Let You Go - 55.8%

19. Netherlands - 2014 - The Common Linnets - Calm After the Storm - 55%

20. France - 2021 - Barbara Pravi - Voilà - 54.7%

21. Serbia - 2007 - Marija Šerifović - Molitva - 54.4%

22. Ukraine - 2016 - Jamala - 1944 - 54.2%

23. Russia - 2008 - Dima Bilan - Believe - 53.9%

24. Germany - 2010 - Lena - Satellite - 53.9%

25. Russia - 2012 - Buranovskiye Babushki - Party for Everybody - 52.6%

26. Israel - 2018 - Netta - Toy - 52.4%

27. Australia - 2016 - Dami Im - Sound of Silence - 51.9%

28. Netherlands - 2019 - Duncan Laurence - Arcade - 51.8%

29. Bosnia and Herzegovina - 2006 - Hari Mata Hari - Lejla - 51.5%

30. Azerbaijan - 2013 - Farid Mammadov - Hold Me - 51.3%

31. Greece - 2005 - Helena Paparizou - My Number One - 50.4%

32. Sweden - 2014 - Sanna Nielsen - Undo - 50.4%

33. Russia - 2016 - Sergey Lazarev - You Are the Only One - 49.8%

34. United Kingdom - 2022 - Sam Ryder - Space Man - 49.7%

35. Italy - 2019 - Mahmood - Soldi - 49.1%

36. Spain - 2022 - Chanel - SloMo - 49%

37. Azerbaijan - 2011 - Ell and Nikki - Running Scared - 48.4%

38. Ukraine - 2007 - Verka Serduchka - Dancing Lasha Tumbai - 47.7%

39. Switzerland - 2021 - Gjon's Tears - Tout l'univers - 47.3%

40. Ukraine - 2013 - Zlata Ognevich - Gravity - 46.9%

41. Sweden - 2022 - Cornelia Jakobs - Hold Me Closer - 46.7%

42. Turkey - 2004 - Athena - For Real - 46.4%

43. Belgium - 2015 - Loïc Nottet - Rhythm Inside - 46.3%

44. Ukraine - 2008 - Ani Lorak - Shady Lady - 45.6%

45. Iceland - 2009 - Yohanna - Is It True? - 44.3%

46. Serbia - 2012 - Željko Joksimović - Nije ljubav stvar - 43.4%

47. Cyprus - 2018 - Eleni Foureira - Fuego - 43.2%

48. Greece - 2008 - Kalomira - Secret Combination - 43.2%

49. Malta - 2005 - Chiara - Angel - 42.1%

50. Russia - 2007 - Serebro - Song #1 - 42%

51. Azerbaijan - 2009 - AySel and Arash - Always - 42%

52. Norway - 2013 - Margaret Berger - I Feed You My Love - 41.8%

53. Australia - 2015 - Guy Sebastian - Tonight Again - 41.8%

54. Italy - 2011 - Raphael Gualazzi - Madness of Love - 41.4%

55. Iceland - 2021 - Daði og Gagnamagnið - 10 Years - 41.4%

56. Israel – 2023 – Noa Kirel – Unicorn – 41.3%

57. Sweden - 2011 - Eric Saade - Popular - 40.5%

58. Cyprus - 2004 - Lisa Andreas - Stronger Every Minute - 40.4%

59. Sweden - 2004 - Lena Philipsson - It Hurts - 40.4%

60. Armenia - 2014 - Aram Mp3 - Not Alone - 40.3%

61. Italy – 2023 – Marco Mengoni – Due vite – 39.9%

62. Ukraine - 2021 - Go_A - Shum - 39.9%

63. Latvia - 2015 - Aminata - Love Injected - 39.7%

64. Armenia - 2008 - Sirusho - Qélé, Qélé - 39.4%

65. Romania - 2006 - Mihai Trăistariu - Tornerò - 38.7%

66. Russia - 2019 - Sergey Lazarev - Scream - 38.5%

67. Sweden - 2006 - Carola - Invincible - 38.2%

68. Russia - 2013 - Dina Garipova - What If - 38.1%

69. Moldova - 2017 - SunStroke Project - Hey Mamma - 38%

70. Switzerland - 2019 - Luca Hänni - She Got Me - 37.9%

71. Turkey - 2010 - Manga - We Could Be the Same - 37.2%

72. Belgium - 2017 - Blanche - City Lights - 36.8%

73. Lithuania - 2006 - LT United - We Are the Winners - 36.4%

74. Norway - 2008 - Maria - Hold On Be Strong - 36.1%

75. Turkey - 2009 - Hadise - Düm Tek Tek - 35.9%

76. Romania - 2010 - Paula Seling and Ovi - Playing with Fire - 35.5%

77. United Kingdom - 2009 - Jade Ewen - It's My Time - 35.1%

78. Sweden - 2017 - Robin Bengtsson - I Can't Go On - 34.9%

79. Ukraine - 2011 - Mika Newton - Angel - 34.8%

80. Sweden - 2019 - John Lundvik - Too Late for Love - 34.7%

81. Romania - 2005 - Luminița Anghel and Sistem - Let Me Try - 34.6%

82. Norway - 2019 - Keiino - Spirit in the Sky - 34.4%

83. Austria - 2018 - Cesár Sampson - Nobody but You - 33.9%

84. Italy - 2017 - Francesco Gabbanni - Occidentali's Karma - 33.9%

85. Germany - 2018 - Michael Schulte - You Let Me Walk Alone - 33.7%

86. Israel - 2005 - Shiri Maimon - HaSheket SheNish'ar - 33.7%

87. Latvia - 2005 - Walters and Khaza - The War Is Not Over - 33.5%

88. Serbia - 2022 - Konstrakta - In corpore sano - 33.3%

89. Greece - 2013 - Koza Mostra feat. Agathon Iakovidis - Alcohol Is Free - 33.3%

90. Turkey - 2007 - Kenan Doğulu - Shake It Up Şekerim - 33.1%

91. Hungary - 2014 - András Kállay-Saunders - Running - 33.1%

92. Finland - 2021 - Blind Channel - Dark Side - 33%

93. Denmark - 2010 - Chanée and N'evergreen - In a Moment like This - 32.6%

94. Ukraine - 2006 - Tina Karol - Show Me Your Love - 32.6%

95. Moldova - 2005 - Zdob și Zdub - Boonika bate toba - 32.4%

96. Bulgaria - 2007 - Elitsa Todorova and Stoyan Yankoulov - Water - 31.7%

97. Azerbaijan - 2010 - Safura - Drip Drop - 31.7%

98. Serbia - 2008 - Jelena Tomašević feat. Bora Dugić - Oro - 31.7%

99. North Macedonia - 2019 - Tamara Todevska - Proud - 31.7%

100. Azerbaijan - 2019 - Chingiz - Truth - 31.4%

Full YouTube playlist

Semi Full Spotify Playlist because some songs are just not on Spotify 😭😔😞

[x--daughters-of-darkness--x]

BUTCHER BABIES' CARLA HARVEY To Sit Out European Tour

BUTCHER BABIES co-vocalist Carla Harvey will sit out the band's upcoming European tour with FEAR FACTORY and IGNEA in order to undergo emergency surgery on her left eye.

Harvey shared the news of her absence from the trek earlier today in a social media post. The 47-year-old singer, who co-founded BUTCHER BABIES in 2010 with fellow vocalist Heidi Shepherd, posted a photo of her performing with her bandmates, and she included the following message: "Here's a picture of a girl in her happy place; unfortunately i won't be in that happy place on the upcoming @butcherbabies Euro run. Love you all but i have to sit this one out!

"I have a history of problematic vision and I had to have a major surgery about 10 years ago in my right eye for a retinal detachment. On our summer tour the telltale symptoms repeated themselves in my left eye. I've been hoping to avoid major surgery but it is clear that it must be done. My emergency surgery will include a healing process of laying face down for a number of days with a gas bubble in my eye."

Carla added: "This is the first time in fifteen years i won't be able to join my friends on stage but right now my health and sight take precedence for me. While I am gutted that I cannot make the tour the risk of me waiting till after a tour to do such a surgery is too great and includes permanent vision loss. The beauty of having two vocalists is that Heidi can cover for me until i'm better!

"Hoping to make it out for part of this euro run...go to the shows, have a blast and support my bandmates for me! I'll see you soon!"

In the comments section, Shepherd voiced her support for her bandmate, writing: "Sending all the love and healing. We'll hold down the fort while you heal. We need those beautiful eyes to work!!! Love you!"

BUTCHER BABIES' tour with FEAR FACTORY and IGNEA is scheduled to kick off on October 27 in Nottingham, United Kingdom and conclude on December 16 in Helsinki, Finland.

BUTCHER BABIES released a double album "Eye For An Eye..." and "…'Til The World's Blind", in July. The double album celebrates the tenth anniversary of BUTCHER BABIES' critically acclaimed debut, "Goliath", released on July 9, 2013 via Century Media Records.

BUTCHER BABIES' previous album, 2017's "Lilith" was produced by Steve Evetts (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SEPULTURA, SUICIDE SILENCE) and marked the band's recording debut with drummer Chase Brickenden, who replaced Chris Warner in 2016.

In July 2019, longtime BUTCHER BABIES bassist Jason Klein announced his departure from the band. He has since been replaced by Ricky Bonazza.

[metalmessage]

Radiant, enchanting & uplifting!

Action: KATE NORD Base: Casperia • Italy Genre: Symphonic Fantasy Metal Title: Compass To Your Heart’s Desire FFO: Nightwish, Epica, Enya Format: Album Label: Independent Release: Dec. 16, 2022

🌐 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙤 & 𝙋𝙍 Action: 𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗚𝗘 ᴳᴸᴼᴮᴬᴸ • 𝐸𝓈𝓉. 2001 https://www.metalmessage.de/PR_KATE_NORD_en.php

Bulletpoints: • Deeply soulful, upliftingly visionary debut album • Sensational clear, operetta-like female vocals • Inspiring noble mix of Melodic, Power & Symphonic Metal

https://www.youtube.com/embed/9f1yYLIXZ78 [ Embrace The Cold • Lyric Video ]

Kate says about the song: „This is a dark and epic story about facing difficult times and the struggle to keep going nonetheless. ‚Embracing the cold‘ is not about giving up or bending to your circumstances, but is rather a metaphor for radical acceptance of your situation and trying to make the most out of what you have. Embrace the cold, to find your way back to the sunlight!“

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qeen4n2uWZ8 [ Compass To Your Heart’s Desire • Album Teaser ]

KATE NORD is a classically trained Finnish singer/songwriter who creates high quality SYMPHONIC FANTASY METAL in central Italy.

With her versatile, impressively clear as well as amazingly soprano strong exceptional voice, this fabulous golden throat can easily compete with the best and most famous of the entire guild.

LINE-UP: Kate Nord • Vocals, Keys, Orchestration Francesco Mattei • Guitars Andrea Arcangeli • Bass Omar Campitelli • Drums

„Compass To Your Heart’s Desire“ is KATE NORD’s debut album as a solo artist, with a special guest solo by Timo Tolkki, popular by Finnish Power Metallers Stratovarius.

TRACKS 01. Recitative To The Moon 01:47 02. All Alone 03:28 03. The North Wind And The Troll 03:50 04. Embrace The Cold 02:59 05. Wither And Rust (feat. Timo Tolkki) 05:04 06. Dream Of Daylight 05:37 0. Breathe In The Night 03:43 08. Dance Of The Fairies 02:58 09. Aeternam Vale 04:24

„Compass To Your Heart’s Desire“ is inspired by Scandinavian folk tales about trolls and fairies and the illustrations to these tales, such as the works of John Bauer, as well as fantasy novels as well as the works of the world famous fantasy grandmaster J. R. R. Tolkien.

„Compass To Your Heart’s Desire“ is embedded in wonderfully powerful Heavy/Power Metal sounds with slamming drums and furious distortion guitars, often bursting with fully melodic, catchy outbursts.

FLASHBACK: Her first release as a solo singer was a cover of Howard Blake’s „Walking In The Air“ in 2017.

Kate’s musical resume includes formal studies in classical singing in both Finland and Italy. She began her music studies in Porvoo, Finland with pianist Diana Bärlund, who also taught former Lordi keyboardist Awa (Leena Peisa).

Kate already appeared as a lyricist of the Italian Progressive Power Metal ensemble Noveria since the band’s formation in 2013. She was also featured as a guest vocalist on Noveria’s album „Forsaken“, released 2016 via Scarlet Records.

MEDIA FEEDBACK:

98 / 100 ➤ „… a stunning album … a must for any fan of (female fronted) Symphonic Metal … fantastically beautifully composed and arranged … goosebumps … beauty and purity … phenomenal voice … incomparable … if you think Tarja Turunen is the best female singer, then Kate Nord comes right after!“ (Musika)

95 / 100 ➤ „… very melodic, harmonic structures … a good album full of first-line classic elements … KATE NORD’s beautiful voice is unique with a clean, white and soft register! Excellent soprano!“ (Darkzen Dragon)

9 / 10 ➤ „With a good sound … style influenced by Nightwish, Xandria, Amberian Dawn, including her soprano skills … intense songs … very emotional and melancholic … brilliant vocal performance … very outstanding … an exquisite album … recommended from start to finish …“ (Locos Por El Power Metal)

9 / 10 ➤ „… an exhibition of classical vocals … outstanding … has a unique ability to transport emotions … very well produced … KATE NORD sets a very high bar in terms of individual performance … very promising … Symphonic Metal fans can be very excited about ‚Compass To Your Heart’s Desire‘ …“ (Metal Temple)

80 / 100 ➤ „… reminds me of a good Nightwish, Epica, Within Temptation … so good for those who prefer something more melodic, clear and beautiful rather than something heavy and aggressive … Timo Tolkki is a guest musician … I can recommend it to those who like opera and classical music, and it is also suitable for those who listen to pop music, as a few songs are quite catchy …“ (MariMetal)

7,5 / 10 ➤ „… will not fail to appeal to fans of formations such as Epica and Nightwish, but also to those who are not generally accustomed to sounds of this kind, resulting in an effective product that is worth giving a chance.“ (Heavy Metal Webzine)

7,5 / 10 ➤ „… turned out quite pompous … immediately the intro shows their skills in all facets … the voice is clearly focused … very harmoniously kept … everything sounds like from one cast … who likes Nightwish, Within Temptation, Epica or the soundtrack to ‚The Lord Of The Rings‘ (keyword: Enya), should definitely listen in here!“ (Crossfire)

7 / 10 ➤ „… brings back memories of glorious Nightwish times with Tarja as the front woman … musical treat …“ (Metal DE)

7 / 10 ➤ „… varied vocals that give you goosebumps especially in the middle registers … fantastic melodies … KATE NORD’s songwriting talent is beyond question on this album … from brisk to gloomy, bombastic to dreamy and classical to Metal, the artist glides through the stylistic elements with her songs and skillfully combines them into a coherent, entertaining album … fans of female fronted Metal and Symphonic Metal may heartily enjoy!“ (Der Hörspiegel)

➤ „… practices her soprano voice with bravura … opera-inspired … stunning classical content … imagine Nightwish mixed with Rhapsody Of Fire with female vocals taking classical singing to the extreme … this is it.“ (Metal Addicts)

➤ „This album is awesome, Symphonic Metal with touches of Progressive and Power Metal, masterfully executed, with great arrangements and beautiful vocals … excellent work …“ (Metal Pedia)

➤ „Tremendous listening experience … even if I don’t like to draw comparisons, in the case of KATE NORD some with Tarja are obvious, after all they both have the same home … so if you like to be enveloped by symphonic sounds and enchanted by a beautiful voice, this is the right address!“ (Metalmamas Neuigkeiten)

➤ „… a promising debut and an artist to keep an eye on if female-fronted Symphonic Metal is your thing.“ (Sea Of Tranquility)

➤ „… this is tightly packed … good production … soul piercing through every line and riff … KATE NORD’s singing voice is clear in every word, in every syllable, and she is the clearest of all … her high voice is no different from a graceful fairy goddess … great … her throat is the best … as for the symphonic part, it is both elegant and beautiful, changing depending on the song … everything can make happy … truly heavenly …“ (Noisewriter) etc. Credits [ Logo: Nicolas Spreutels ] [ Pic: Marco Savi • SPF Produzioni ] [ Artwork: Nicolas Spreutels ]

[longformeditions]

LE023 Lieven Martens Deo Gratias Triginta Sex

Lieven Martens (Lieven Martens Moana, formerly Dolphins Into the Future) is a composer and observer. Through various recording techniques he creates a conceptual form of programme music that travels beyond the pure description. His works are narrative stills and personal impressions; encounters with objects and thoughts; equally embracing and denying external theories; using the inconveniences of certain techniques and circumstances as the potential creative force; citing history without trying to be a keeper of the tombs of tradition. Amplified with text and pictures, the exotic viewpoint now and then takes a central position. In various ways this hybrid concept is a conductor for questions, critique, adjustment, or for mere amplification. Over the past few years he has been performing all over the globe. From Mexico City, to Tokyo, Niigata, Lisbon, Lecce, Honolulu, Brussels, et al. Between 2009 and 2012 he released several albums under the Dolphins Into the Future moniker on various record labels (Not Not Fun, USA; Fonal, Finland; NNA Tapes, USA; et al). His first LP under his birth name—titled Music From the Guardhouse—was produced by KRAAK (Belgium) in 2013. In 2015 he self-published a compilation of outtakes and sketches produced on various formats, called Songs of Gold, Incandescent. In March 2017, Idylls came out on Pacific City Sound Visions (USA) in co-production with his own Edições CN. And in October 2017, the prolific EM Records from Japan released Three Amazonian Essays, a modern classical reinterpretation of the Spanish cult classic Amazonia by Finis Africae. These albums received critical acclaim from the music media. Next to these activities, Martens runs a private press on which he releases records and editions; and he has been writing commissioned music for ensemble, submitted music for national radio, for film, and for art exhibitions. Furthermore, he’s been presenting his work in the form of lectures at music and art schools. Martens collaborates with fellow artists like Francesco Cavaliere, Roman Hiele (as Hiele Martens), Floris Vanhoof, Spencer Clark and Mia Price (aka Miaux). He also hosts a monthly radio show on the internationally acclaimed LYL Radio from Lyon and Paris, France. In 2016 he received a grant from the Flemish Department of Culture

Artist notes: Johannes Ockeghem (1410–1497), born in Saint Gislain, Hainaut, Belgium, wrote one of our nation’s greatest hits. Deo Gratias is a canon for 36 singers and apparently he wrote this particular song as kind of a joke or game; quickly “between the soup and the potatoes” as we would say in Dutch. Some say Ockeghem had in mind that a much larger number of people should perform this piece, but it was considered too complicated to find enough experienced singers, to make the piece correct measure-wise, et al.

Let’s open Logic X Pro and try and see if we could help Ockeghem to make this vision a (simulated…) reality.

Since this is a creation for deep and/or extended listening I selected a sligtly longer version of the song rendered by Paul Van Nevel and the Huelgas Ensemble, and layered and sequenced this 36 times in row. Every new sequence starts more or less according to Ockeghem’s original transcript. Small detail… in the version of the Huelgas Ensemble no more than 18 voices are singing contemporarily. As soon as the first voice of the fourth (bass) chorus reaches its final note every voice freezes at its current line in the melody.

The layering of these sounds in the computer let the overtones shine and the human breathing and whistling create pretty rhythmic parents. The project shows that Ockeghems original idea is kind of genius—however you layer this music, the final result, be it a bit dense and somewhat congested drone, is still very harmonic. Inspiring.

At first I started cutting, trimming and pitch correcting parts, making the piece a more correct rendition of the original four canon idea. But then I realised that the best manner to execute this version is to keep it simple and short, between the forementioned ‘soup and potatoes’. So here goes with all the gentle flaws…

At certain points you hear the same part overlaid eleven times. Thus 11 × 18 singers = 198 singers! Here’s to making Ockeghem’s grand vision come to (simulated) life.

Deep listening is: Thinking Listening Enjoying Creating Manifesting Realising All of the above None of the above

[brookston]

Holidays 7.10

Holidays

Armed Forces Day (Mauritania)

Army Day (Albania)

Battle of Britain Anniversary Day

Battle of Poltava Day (Russia)

Beatles Day (Liverpool, Hamburg)

Capybara Appreciation Day

Chronic Disease Awareness Day

Clerihew Day

Cumin Day (French Republic)

Don't Step On A Bee Day (UK)

Flag Day (Mongolia)

Global Energy Independence Day

Gospel Day (Kiribati)

His Masters Voice Day

International Glut1 Awareness Day

International Safewords Day

Lá Cuimhneacháin Náisiúnta (National Day of Commemoration; Ireland)

Lady Godiva Day

London Bridge Falling Down Day

Merchant’s Festival (Elder Scrolls)

Minion Day

Naadam Day (Mongolia)

National All American Pet Photo Day

National Caleb Day

National Contour Day

National Fish Farmers Day (India)

National Kitten Day

National Lineworker Appreciation Day (Canada)

National Stella Day

National Transplant Financial Coordinator Day

Natto Day (Japan)

Nikola Tesla Day

Oils and Concentrates Day

Police Radio Day

Protogeneia Asteroid Day

Rhodes Day (Rhodesia)

710 Day

Silence Day (Meher Baba)

Srebrenica Memorial Day

Stay Away From Bees Day

Teddy Bear's Picnic Day

Telstar Day

Uniwaine (Senior Citizens’ Day; Kiribati)

U.S. Energy Independence Day

World Airway Disorders Day

World Miniature Golf Day

World Shuvit Cancer Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Beer Distributors Day

National Piña Colada Day

National Pizza Day (Brazil)

Pick Blueberries Day

Independence & Related Days

Bahamas (from UK, 1973)

Federal Republic of New Potato Land (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Wyoming Statehood Day (#44; 1890)

2nd Wednesday in July

National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving (Montserrat) [2nd Wednesday]

Weekly Holidays beginning July 10 (2nd Week of July)

Sweetheart Days Festival (Minnesota) [2nd Wednesday; thru Friday]

Festivals Beginning July 10, 2024

American Cheese Society Annual Conference (Buffalo, New York) [thru 7.13]

European Balloon Festival (Igualada, Spain) [thru 7.14]

EXIT (Novi Sad, Serbia) [thru 7.14]

Love International Festival (Tins, Croatia) [thru 7.16]

Mad Cool Festival (Madrid, Spain) [thru 7.13]

Ossipee Valley Fair (South Hiram, Maine) [thru 7.14]

Riddu Riđđu (Manndalen, Norway) [thru 7.13]

Sandcastle Contest (Belmar, New Jersey)

Tangomarkkinat (Seinäjoki, Finland) [thru 7.14]

Vegan Summerfest (Johnstown, Pennsylvania) [thru 7.14]

Winona County Fair (St. Charles, Minnesota) [thru 7.14]

Woody Guthrie Folk Festival (Okemah, Oklahoma) [thru 7.14]

Feast Days

Alice Munro (Writerism)

Amalberga of Maubeuge (Christian; Saint & Widow)

Amalburga (Christian; Saint & Virgin)

Antony and Theodosius Pechersky (Christian; Saints)

St. Bathilda (Positivist; Saint)

Camille Pissarro (Artology)

Canute IV of Denmark (Christian; Saint)

David Teniers III (Artology)

Day of Holda (Goddess of the Underworld; Anglo-Saxon, Norse)

Feast Day of Knut the Reaper, Hela, Holda and Skadi (Norse)

Feast of Translation of Saint Maclovius, Bishop of Saint-Malo (Christian; Confessor)

Feast of The Seven Brothers (Januarius, Felix, Philip, Silvanus, Alexander, Vitalis, and Martialis; Christian; Martyrs)

Felicitas of Rome (Christian; Martyr)

The First Sermon of Lord Buddha (Buddhism; Bhutan)

Giorgio de Chirico (Artology)

Hela’s Day (Pagan)

Joe Shuster (Artology)

Kanute IV, King of Denmark (Christian; Martyr)

Knut the Reaper's Day (Norse; Scotland)

Marcel Proust (Writerism)

Mel Blanc Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Millennial Fairy Olympics, Day 5 (Shamanism)

New Robe for Athena Day (Ancient Greece)

Otto Freundlich (Artology)

Pina Colada Day (Pastafarian)

Reach Out and Touch a Green Leaf Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Reg Smythe (Artology)

Ronnie Cutrone (Artology)

Rufina and Secunda (Christian; Martyrs & Virgins)

Rusty (Muppetism)

Septic Bralu Diena (Ancient Latvia)

Seth Godin (Writerism)

Seven Brothers (Christian; Martyrs)

Sixto Rodriguez (Humanism,)

Tita or Tatata Ita (Muppetism)

U Festinu (a.k.a. Feast of St. Rosalia; Palermo, Italy) [thru 7.15]

Viaticum of Llefoed Wynebglawr (Celtic Book of Days)

Victoria, Anatolia, and Audax (Christian; Saints)

Wickerwork Giants Parade & Festival (Douai, France)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Fatal Day (Pagan) [13 of 24]

Prime Number Day: 191 [43 of 72]

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [39 of 57]

Premieres

Ball Four, by Jim Bouton (Sports Memoir; 1970)

The Brave Little Toaster (Animated Film; 1987)

Cocky Cock Roach (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1932)

Cool World (Animated Film; 1992)

The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham (Novel; 1951)

Do Way Diddy Diddy, by Manfred Mann (Song; 1964)

Escape from New York (Film; 1981)

The Fox and the Hound (Animated Disney Film; 1981)

Greyhound (Film; 2020)

A Hard Day’s Night, by The Beatles (Album; 1964)

Heat Wave, by Martha and the Vandellas (Song; 1963)

Homesteader Droopy (Tex Avery MGM Cartoon; 1954)

The Hot Spell, featuring Farmer Al Falfa (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1936)

Lethal Weapon 4 (Film; 1998)

I Got You Babe, by Sonny and Cher (Song; 1965)

I Love You Beth Cooper (Film; 2009)

In Search of Lost Time, by Marcel Proust (Novel; 1927)

In the Midnight Hour, by Wilson Pickett (Song; 1965)

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (Film; 1985)

Minions (Animated Film; 2015)

Moon (Film; 2009)

Mother Necessity (America Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1976)

New Maps of Hell, by Bad Religion (Album; 2007)

Ode to Billie Joe, by Bobbie Gentry (Song; 1967)

The Oily American (WB MM Cartoon; 1954)

The Old Guard (Film; 2020)

Once Upon a Mouse (Disney Cartoon Documentary; 1981)

The Outpost (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1942)

Palm Springs (Film; 2020)

Parachutes, by Coldplay (Album; 2000)

Pi (Film; 1998)

Pink Valiant (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1968)

She Wolf, by Shakira (Album; 2009)

Small Soldiers (Animated Film; 1998)

Smoke Signal (Animated Film; 2018)

Son of Schmilsson, by Harry Nilsson (Album; 1972)

Summertime, recorded by Ella Fitzgerald (Song; 1936)

Tempted, by Squeeze (Song; 1981)

Trouble with Lichen, by John Wyndham (Novel; 1960)

Unnatural Death, by Dorothy L. Sayers (Novel; 1927) [Peter Wimsey #3]

Up N’ Atom (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1947)

The Wayward Pups (Happy Harmonies Cartoon; 1937)

We Are the Champions/We Will Rock You, by Queen (UK Song; 1977)

Your Hit Parade (TV Series; 1950)

Today’s Name Days

Engelbert, Knud, Raphael (Austria)

Feliks, Srećko, Viktorija (Croatia)

Amálie, Libuše (Czech Republic)

Knud (Denmark)

Saima, Saime, Saimi (Estonia)

Saima, Saimi (Finland)

Ulrich (France)

Knud, Engelbert, Raphael, Sascha (Germany)

Amália (Greece)

Amália (Hungary)

Armando, Marziale, Pietro, Rufina (Italy)

Lielvardis, Lija, Olīvija, Uve (Latvia)

Amalija, Eirimė, Gilvainas (Lithuania)

Anita, Anja (Norway)

Aleksander, Amelia, Aniela, Filip, January, Radziwoj, Rufina, Samson, Sylwan, Sylwana, Witalis (Poland)

Amália (Slovakia)

Cristóbal (Spain)

André, Andrea, Anund (Sweden)

Anthony (Ukraine)

Emanuel, Emmanuel, Gage, Immanuel, Manuel, Manuela (USA)

Emanuel, Immanuel, Maos, Manuela, Ulla, Ulrich, Ulrika, Ulrike (Universal)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 192 of 2024; 174 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of week 28 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 4 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Xin-Wei), Day 5 (Yi-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 4 Tammuz 5784

Islamic: 3 Muharram 1446

J Cal: 12 Red; Foursday [12 of 30]

Julian: 27 June 2024

Moon: 21%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 23 Charlemagne (7th Month) [St. Bathilda]

Runic Half Month: Ur (Primal Strength) [Day 2 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 21 of 94)

Week: 2nd Week of July

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 20 of 31)

[beardedmrbean]

For the first time, The Rainbow Police of Finland — an LGBTQ+ police association — participated in the Helsinki Pride March held on 29 June.

The association was formally established in 2020 by current and former police officers as well as civilian workers at Finnish police departments. About 30 members of the group participated in the event.

"It is really important to show that we, as a minority, have always been a part of the police force. This is the first time, we stepped forward publicly as a united front," said Noora Halmeenlaakso, president of the Rainbow Police of Finland.

Halmeenlaakso, who lives in Helsinki, has participated in the capital's Pride march numerous times as a private citizen and once in an official capacity. Halmeenlaakso said personally, last Saturday’s Pride was the most meaningful.

"If our visibility has an impact helps a police officer to decide not to change their career or retire before they're brave enough to live their own life, that's a big deal for our community," said Halmeenlakso, who is a Detective Senior Sergeant at the National Bureau of Investigation.

Not all reactions were positive

While the reception to the Rainbow Police’s presence at the Pride event was generally positive, there was some opposition seen, including a few instances of people raising their middle fingers in their direction.

“We fully understand that the presence of police officers in the parade might cause negative feelings for some. That’s why it is important to explain what we stand for," Halmeenlaakso said.

The association did not announce its intention to participate to the public in advance.

A few years ago, Seta, Finland's human rights advocacy group for sexual and gender minorities, emphasised that visible representation of sexual minorities in the police force would improve service to the LGBTQ+ community.

In response, in 2017, Finnish police participated in Helsinki Pride for the first time, with uniformed officers joining a float organised by the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman's office to both engage with the community and help prevent hate crimes.

Gender and sexual minority crimes still underreported

Halmeenlaakso pointed out that gender and sexual minority crimes are still under-reported because victims do not always believe that police would treat them fairly.

"In order to build trust in the police, more people need to know we exist. This is also one of the reasons why we wanted to be seen at Pride," Halmeenlaakso said.

The association aims to promote equality for sexual and gender minorities within the police organisation and in all police activities, including during training, and bringing minority voices into a conversation.

"It is important that as many people as possible can see themselves in the police. We're not all straight white men," Halmeenlaakso said.