#finnish national selection

[eurovision-revisited]

1996 Oslo - Number 12 - Jasmine - "Niin Kaunis On Taivas"

Finland and YLE had missed 1995 due to relegation, and now wanted to try something a little different. They went to a live broadcast with live phone-voting and live music. Instead of a fully open competition to qualify, they got the music industry to select the songs leading to some better know names performing, but perhaps they weren't putting forward their better songs. There was also a catastrophe with the phone voting. The lines were opened after the first act leading to accusations of unfairness. They also got jammed, overwhelmed by the response. The problems were such that they had to delay announcing the winner until the Monday after the competition by which time the news of who had won had leaked to the press, and bizarrely, on teletext.

That winner was Jasmine. A Romani singer from Helsinki singing a song from a recently deceased songwriter (Timo Niemi) who had been a member of Rio - a band who were also competing in the same contest. Despite the controversy and the problems with the phone vote, the results was clear. Jasmine got roughly twice the number of votes as her nearest rival.

Niin kaunis on taivas (The Sky is So Beautiful) is a Western tinged ramble under the night sky, full of stars, with your loved one by your side, keeping you warm. It's gentle and warm, and is accompanied by one of NRKs many uses of TV effects in an attempt to enliven the verses, which only distract slightly in this case. Another weird thing is that Jasmine apparently disliked the make-up and hairstyling of the Norwegian production so much that just prior to going on-stage, she decided to remove them and perform with very little make-up and unstyled hair. She also had to perform straight after the eventual winner of the contest.

The result of all of this chaos both in selection and on the night was that Finland just scraped through the audio-selection final in 22nd place and then finished last on the night in Oslo, garnering nine points. It didn't deserve this fate. It's a beautiful if simple song of love that it would be wrong to forget.

Jasmine, perhaps unsurprisingly, didn't enter the Finnish selection again, but did tour all over Europe as well as releasing several singles and a couple of albums.

[grantmentis]

Women's Hockey Roundup: October

Woof, I fell off of these for a while. Blame baseball and college! Anyway, I'm going to just do what happened in women's hockey in October (and maybe the last few days of September) for all leagues. This is only confirmed news and games, so rumors are not included

If you're new, i recap the top stories from around club play women's hockey (so not collegiate) and try to give more detail on european women's hockey, since that's less reported on in north america :-) Feel free to add if i miss anything!

PWHL (USA/Canada)

The PWHL schedule has been released! We have a few TBD's in venues, most likely for playing select games in bigger venues or neutral sites. we do not currently have streaming/television info, so stay tuned for that. There will be a preseason, but not open to the public.

Training Camp Begins November 12, with preseason/mini camps The 19-22. New York's training camp roster is here. Boston's is here. Minnesota's is here. Montreal is here. Ottawa's is here. Toronto's is here.

Nov. 27: Deadline to finalize rosters of 23 players and 3 reserves

Abigail Boreen signed a three year deal with the Montréal Victoire. She played with the Minnesota Frost last year, including in the playoffs, as a reserve player.

Ronja Savolainen signed a three year deal with the Ottawa Charge. She played with Luleä most recently and is a star of the Finnish national team.

Sarah Lefort, most recently with Montréal Victoire, has announced her retirement

The PWHL has begun the process of expansion for 2025-2026, targeting two new cities

SDHL (Sweden)

Fanni Garát-Gasparics signs with Brynäs IF, though is still rehabbing the injury she sustained last year with the Ottawa Charge

Dutch national team legend Savine Wielenga signs with Leksands IF

Rookie Reece Hunt of Luleä is out for the season with a torn knee ligament

Frölunda general manager Kim Martin Hassons is extended to 2028, and head coach Erika Holst is extended to 2026. Frölunda has been massively successful thus far this year, currently in second place in the standings and coming off a big win against firs place Lulëa

While Luleä and Frölunda are at the top of the table, MoDo is making noise in third place, having won six of their last eight.

A couple key story lines: -> Finish National Team forward, Elisa Holopainen (Frölunda) is lighting the league on fire in her first year in the SDHL. She has 9 goals and ten assists in 13 games -> We have a few wonderful comeback stories this year. Hanna Olsson (Frölunda) is back to her old self after missing most of last year with injury, with 16 points in 13 games, good for fourth in the league. Erica Reider, (Luleä) who did not play for two seasons, looks like she never left, currently leading all defenders i the league in points. And Kassidy Sauvé (SDE), who missed almost two full season's with a hip injury, currently leads all goaltenders in save percentage. -> MoDo Hockey is being powered almost entirely by a youth movement: top producers Ebba Hedqvist, Adéla Šapovalivová, Mira Hallin, and Lovisa Engström are all 18 or younger and playing prominent roles on the 3rd place team

Auroraliiga (Finland)

Canadian Emma Hall joins KalPa after playing in the NDHL (Sweden's second division) last year

Kärpät will retire the number 20 in honor of long time legend Saija Tarkki. After 21 seasons with Kärpät as well as the Finnish national team, Tarkki retired in 2019. She will be honored Novembe 23rd.

A Couple key storylines: -> 18 year old Czech forward Barbora Juříčková i having a breakout year with HPK, already surpassing her point total from last season with 22. She joins Emma Ekoluoma (Ilves), who was a star on the U18 Finnish team last year, as one of the young players to keep an eye on in this league -> Kiekko-Espoo sits at the top of the table, with Ilves right behind. Last year's champions HIFK are feeling the loss of several star players and sit in fourth place. -> Sister's Jennika , Joanna and Jatta Ojala all played for the same team together for the first time at the top level for Team Kuortane

SWHL A / Postfinance Women League (Switzerland)

Not technically league play, but since they play in this league too ill put it here: EV Zug won the EWHL Euro Cup, which is played at the beginning of the season including select club teams across europe! They bear the German league's Memmingen to do so. Noemi Neubauerova, who is set to play with the Toronto Sceptres when the PWHL game begins, scored the game winning goal

Sponsor PostFinance announces that in 2025/2026, they will only financially support men's club teams that have a women's counterpart

Nadine Hofstetter of EV Zug is out three weeks with a broken finger. She is one of the team's veteran defenders who also plays for the Swiss national team. Vanessa Ryhner, Nina Harju, and Julia Näf are also out with injury for EV Zug, though Rhyner should be back any day now.

ZSC Lions Fraun is hit with injuries: Slovakian forward Tereza Lahova is out for the year with injury, and Aurela Thalmann and Alena Polenská (aka Alena Mills) are also injured. They are calling up Univ. of Saskatchewan alumni Sophie Lalor

A few storylines: -> Elizabeth Lang (HC Davos Ladies) is leading the league in points in her rookie year and scoring at a goal per game pace. She graduated from University of Calgary last year -> Lara Stalder (EVZ Women's team) continues to do Lara Stalder things and is tied with Lang in goals, but newcomers Michaela Pejzlová (HC Ambrì-Piotta Girls) and Clara Rozier (SC Bern Fraun) who were stars in last year's finnish league are close behind. The top scorer race for this league will be exciting, and that's not to mention old friends like Rahel Enzler and Estelle Duvin, among others. -> HC Davos Ladies is currently at the top of the standings, but EV Zug and SC Bern Frauen are very close behing them -> 18 year old Ivana Wey (EVZ Women's Team) has been off to a blistering hot start, a lot of hype surrounding her after a strong performance at both u18 and senior worlds. Another interesting young player is Lucie Tenenbaum, an American set to play at Minnesota State next year but is spending this year in Switzerland. The 18 year old has 5 goals and two assists with HC Davos Ladies so far

EWHL (Central/East Europe)

EV Bozen Eagles are currently dominating the league, with the help of players such as import Kristin Della Rovere, who has 16 points in 9 games. The Bozen eagles are part of a larger plan to help get italy's women's national team ready for the 2026 olympics

HK PSRZ Bratislava are undefeated thus far this season, after winning last year's title.

Canadian USport alumni are thriving in this league; Cassidy Maplethorpe, Hannah Tait, and Lauren Nicholson among top goal scorers

Slovak Ema Tothova continues to be the young player to watch, after her breakout seeason last year the 17 year old forward has 10 goals in five games. She is also competing in a boy's league in Slovakia while playing in the EWHL

OTHERS

watch this space for Czech forward Adéla Mynaříková to mak the u18 team this year. She's 15 and just steamrolling people in the Czech top league, with 15 goals and 5 assists in 8 games playing against a lot of grown adults

Norweigan forward Une Bjelland Strandborg, who was arguably one of the best NCAA DIII players of all time and graduated last year, is killing it in Germany's league with newly added Austrian team HK Budapest. She has 7 points in 6 games

[because-its-eurovision]

UMK 2024 IS HERE!

WHAT: Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (Contest for New Music) abbreviated UMK, Finland’s national Eurovision selection

WHEN: Saturday 10th of February at 21.00 Finnish time (20.00 CET)

WHERE: Live from Nokia Arena in Tampere, Yle TV1 & Yle Areena

Commentary available in Finnish, Swedish, English, Ukrainian, Russian, Northern Sami and Inari Sami, Finnish Sign Language and Finland-Swedish Sign Language

HOSTS: Pilvi Hämäläinen, Benjamin & Viivi Pumpanen

RUNNING ORDER:

1. Sini Sabotage - Kuori mua

2. Cyan Kicks - Dancing With Demons

3. Jesse Markin - Glow

4. Mikael Gabriel x nublu - Vox Populi

5. Sara Siipola - Paskana

6. Sexmane - MANIA

7. Windows95man - No Rules!

OPENING ACT: KUUMAA & Benjamin

GUEST ACT: Käärijä & Erika Vikman

VOTING: 75% public vote, 25% international jury

Voting via Yle App (one free vote), text message or calling (1 €/vote, unlimited)

PS. All performances, including the opening and interval acts, will be uploaded to UMK’s YouTube channel. Full show will also be available for re-watching at Yle Areena.

[mycupofrum]

Ten people I want to get to know better

Thank you for tagging me @brinkworth @diamondmeadow @snarky-magpie and @sc0rpiflow3r!

Last Song: Hotter Than Hell by Dua Lipa (gym playlist song 😁)

Favorite Color: Red, blue (different shades, especially maroon and navy blue)

Last TV show: Lioness S2 and The Day of the Jackal.

Sweet/Spicy/Savory: Savoury

Relationship Status: Single

Last Thing Googled: Iron tablets

Current Obsession: Drawing on my iPad. Prongsfoot, Jilypad, Drarry.

Looking forward to: UMK 2025 (Finnish national selection for Eurovision).

No pressure tagging: @lilacella @sorenphelps @arliedraws @forestdeath1 @plecotusauritus @heartofspells @groundzero-v @soopsiedaisies @fiendishfyre @roalinda

[tenebrare]

Random musings from TV

Been watching Finnish military themed drama - "Conflict" and I would like to point out to some mainstream American show writers: This is how you write strong female leads (there's 2) and NOT write complete girl boss shit like in True Detective latest season. I fucking hated True Detective last season and even with FFW button it was boring badly done over the top snore fest. I hope HBO never shows shit like this on my selection ever again. Solid 1/10 season for a series that had 2 10/10 seasons (1st and 3rd) A good protagonist goes trough lessons and hurdles. In "Conflict" one of the female leads does series of bad decisions. She is over confident and suffers personal loss due it (an actual loss, not some artificial thing she can shrug off). She does not immediately 'get over it' - she learns to overcome the loss trough focusing on survival, revenge and her responsibility over her 2 surviving comrades as she is commanding officer afterall. Neither of her 2 companions is stupid or ignorant tag-alongs(the stupid ones get off the picture like in 1st moments) - foreigner born, but Finnish guy and American are offering her support forming a good team which starts off slightly dysfunctional, but they understand that there is no "I" in a team. She becomes less arrogant and goes trough personal growth in extreme situations - making her and her surviving 2 team mates extremely relatable and likeable. Team members as characters serve a purpose to counter her line of thoughts and give feedback to her decision making and actions. If viewer has an opinion, those 2 characters on occasion represent hose. They are not there to fill a space or minutes on screen, they are there to help her character to grow. None of them, not her, her team nor the other female protagonist (president) would survive without the 'teams' and people around them. Trough the growth especially the officer earns respect of the viewer and you start hoping she'll survive the ordeal while show makes clear that no character is safe from capture or death. President is accompanied by the classic 'stupid old man' foreigner minister, but even that pairing is based on reality - this is how a Finnish PM was - often too much in Tik Tok rather than in politics and crisis (COVID at time) - so it makes this pairing interesting as in many occasions the annoying old man is right, but yet this pairing shows that both extremes are bad for the community and nation. One has to come down from her celebrity status and other has to stop being stuck in some sort of old-mans-club. Dysfunctional pairing that completely deserves one another. Also Finnish Tv makers manage to make you feel sorry for every person lost. The good and bad guys alike. No the evil mercenaries are not 'obviously Russian' - they are from various countries from Europe and there is no lecturing about good and evil, there is story of characters, politics and how big countries like USA and Russia see small nations (Finland has only 5 mil population, i believe). I think this series deserves more recognition just because of its depth and actual quality. More so the premises of the 'Conflict' is based on real events from 2014 (no, it didn't occur in Finland though, but if you see the show you know which actual military conflict its based on and the series do follow the methodology of the actual take over pretty closely) Also on other note - been working on a Pin+Kirsty doodle, although I still suck at doodling Kirsty. I am trying ... while watching The Conflict.

[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!

[travelladiesapp]

Safest Countries for Solo Female Travelers

In an ever-changing world, the perception of travel has evolved, brimming with powerful, courageous women who explore the globe solo. This leap into the unknown can be both exciting and intimidating, but with a careful selection of destinations, safety does not have to be forfeited for a memorable adventure. This article highlights the five safest countries that can promise solo female travelers an experience enriched with culture, stunning views, warm hospitality, and most importantly, safety

Japan

Known for its technological advancements juxtaposed against a backdrop of well-preserved, rich history, Japan tops our list. The country is renowned for its exceptional levels of safety, making it ideal for solo female travelers. Japanese people are gracious hosts and uphold values of respect and humility that define their culture. Public transport is reliable and operates accurately to the minute, and streets are generally illuminated and populated even at night. From the scenic beauty of cherry blossoms in Kyoto to the fascinating city life of Tokyo, your journey through Japan is expected to be unforgettable.

Iceland

Widely recognized as one of the most gender-equal countries globally, it comes as no surprise that Iceland is the second on our list. Boasting incredibly low crime rates, the Land of Fire and Ice provides not just safety but also the captivating beauty of its natural wonders. Whether it's the Northern Lights, the Blue Lagoon, or the majestic waterfalls and geysers, Iceland delivers a thrilling adventure for travelers, always within a safe environment.

Finland

Another Nordic country that ranks high in safety is Finland. Finnish people are generally quiet but very polite and respectful, and criminals are few and far between. The bustling city life of Helsinki, combined with the serene landscapes of Lapland, makes Finland a great destination with ample cultural immersion or relaxation, depending on your preference.

Canada

For solo female travelers seeking English-speaking destinations, Canada arrives as a safe haven. Canadians are renowned for their friendly disposition, and the nation flaunts an impressively low crime rate. Its cities, such as Vancouver and Toronto, are clean and safe, with efficient public transport systems. Moreover, the spell-bounding beauty of the Canadian Rockies, Niagara Falls, and the charm of Quebec add variety to the discovery journey.

Portugal

Often touted as one of the friendliest countries in Europe, Portugal is a hot spot for solo female travelers. With its safety record, gorgeous coastline, captivating history, delicious cuisine, and welcoming locals, Portugal has so much to offer. The Portuguese people uphold the values of hospitality and are always willing to extend a helping hand to tourists, ensuring your stay is safe and enjoyable.

[spacenutspod]

Credit: NASA With Finland’s signing of the Artemis Accords on Tuesday, NASA celebrates the 53rd nation committing to the safe and responsible exploration of space that benefits humanity. The signing ceremony took place on the margins of the Aalto University’s Winter Satellite Workshop 2025 in Espoo, Finland. “Today, Finland is joining a community of nations that want to share scientific data freely, operate safely, and preserve the space environment for the Artemis Generation,” said NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free, who provided pre-recorded virtual remarks for the ceremony. “By signing the Artemis Accords, Finland builds on its rich history in space, excelling in science, navigation, and Earth observation. Forging strong partnerships between our nations and among the international community is critical for advancing our shared space exploration goals.” Wille Rydman, Finland’s minister of economic affairs, signed the Artemis Accords in front of an audience of Finnish space officials and workshop attendees. “Finland has been part of the space exploration community for decades with innovations and technology produced by Finnish companies and research institutions,” said Rydman. “The signing of the Artemis Accords is in line with Finland’s newly updated space strategy that highlights the importance of international cooperation and of strengthening partnerships with the Unites States and other allies. We aim for this cooperation to open great opportunities for the Finnish space sector in the new era of space exploration and in the Artemis program.” NASA and Finland have a long history of collaboration, and most recently, Finland is contributing to the upcoming Intuitive Machines-2 delivery to the Moon under NASA’s Artemis campaign and CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative. Intuitive Machines will deliver a lunar LTE/4G communications system developed by Finnish company, Nokia. Its U.S. subsidiary, Nokia of America, was selected as part of NASA’s Tipping Point opportunity through the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, to advance a lunar surface communications system that could help humans and robots explore more of the Moon than ever before. The Finnish Meteorological Institute also provided the pressure and humidity measurement instruments for the Environmental Monitoring Station instrument suite aboard the Curiosity Rover, operating on Mars now. In 2020, the United States, led by NASA and the U.S. Department of State, and seven other initial signatory nations established the Artemis Accords, a set of principles promoting the beneficial use of space for humanity. The Artemis Accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements including the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices for responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data.  Learn more about the Artemis Accords at: https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-accords -end- Kathryn Hambleton / Elizabeth ShawHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600kathryn.a.hambleton@nasa.gov / elizabeth.a.shaw@nasa.gov Share Details Last Updated Jan 21, 2025 LocationNASA Headquarters Related Termsartemis accordsNASA HeadquartersOffice of International and Interagency Relations (OIIR)

[beardedmrbean]

Papers across Finland buzzed this weekend about the Independence Day gala hosted at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki on Friday.

As is tradition in Finland, tabloids Ilta-Sanomat and Iltalehti lauded the best-dressed at the gala.

Model Sofia Ruutu was selected by IL readers as the best dressed at the gala, but a dress gifted to former Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) from the First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yulia Svyrydenko, also received praise.

IL's fashion columnist astutely noted that the dress worn by Finnish National Ballet Dancer Violetta Keller drew inspiration from a Finnish design classic, the 1947 Chanterelle glass vase by Tapio Wirkkala.

Besides the outfits, the Finnish papers highlighted that there were many differences between this year's Independence Day gala and those of yesteryear.

This was President Alexander Stubb's first time greeting over 1,000 honoured guests after 12 years of Sauli Niinistö taking up the role as principal hand-shaker.

With the change in host, the Presidential Palace saw some notable updates to the gala. Newspaper Helsingin Sanomat pointed out that one of the most notable changes to the event was its lighting.

This year, dimmer, warmer red tones lit up the Presidential Palace for the event. The paper's website featured photos showing how this year's lighting looked compared to years' past.

Henrika Pihlajaniemi, an architecture and urban lighting professor at the University of Oulu, spoke to HS about the updated lighting choice.

Pihlajaniemi said that in the past the lighting has been clean, fairly conventional and relatively bright. In previous years, the Presidential Palace was the focus, as the lighting has not played such a big role and was considered more of an afterthought.

Pihlajaniemi described this year's lighting as more atmospheric. She added that the warm light was intended to create a sense of approachability, celebration and dignity, which she viewed as positive.

Finland's ambassador to the US

Business daily Kauppalehti interviewed Leena-Kaisa Mikkola, Finland’s new ambassador to the US.

Mikkola has quickly transitioned into her role in Washington after serving as ambassador to China since 2021. Her tenure began in September, and since then, Donald Trump's election as US president has meant her team needs to establish relationships with the incoming administration.

"I have heard from colleagues during the last Trump administration; access to various people was good. I think we will continue to have a good dialogue," said Mikkola.

Mikkola, a seasoned diplomat with prior postings in Israel and expertise in China and the Middle East, emphasised Nato's importance in strengthening ties between Finland and the US.

She noted that membership in the alliance has enhanced Finland’s visibility and access in Washington, particularly in defence and economic collaboration.

Trade promotion is a key focus of her work, with projects like the ICE Pact aimed at bolstering Arctic cooperation and Finland's shipbuilding industry. She highlighted the growing significance of the US as one of Finland's top trade partners, driven by shared strategic interests.

As tensions between the US and China rise, Mikkola noted that it is important for Finns that the two major powers maintain a dialogue.

Colder conditions later this week

Rural-focused newspaper Maaseudun Tulevaisuus wrote that this week starts with dry and sunny weather across most of Finland on Monday. However, Lapland will experience heavier cloud cover and snowfall, with accumulations of up to six centimetres. Temperatures will range from +1 to -7 degrees Celsius.

Overnight into Tuesday, westerly winds will strengthen to moderate or brisk levels. Milder air will flow into Finland from over the Scandinavian Mountains, raising daytime temperatures to between 0 and 5 degrees. Light precipitation may occur in northern Lapland and parts of western North Ostrobothnia, mostly as rain.

Starting Wednesday, colder air will flow in from the northwest. The weather will remain mostly sunny and dry, with occasional snow showers in the north. Temperatures in the south and west will still stay above freezing, but the cold will intensify later in the week. By Thursday, parts of Lapland could see temperatures drop below -10 degrees.

On Friday or during the weekend, increasing cloud cover and snow are expected to spread from the west. Frostier conditions will be more likely nationwide as the week progresses.

[eurovision-del]

Finland have definitely become one to watch in recent years, so going into Eurovision season they were one of the countries I was most excited for! With UMK happening this weekend, here's my ranking of the competing songs:

Mikael Gabriel & Nublu – Vox populi

Sini Sabotage – Kuori mua

Jesse Markin – Glow

Cyan Kicks – Dancing With Demons

Sexmane – Mania

Sara Siipola – Paskana

Windows95man – No Rules!

Despite being just seven songs, this was a super hard selection to rank – honestly you could ask me tomorrow and I’d probably switch them around again. This is a very even competition in my eyes - every song is good in its own way and I enjoy them all, but there's no standout. I was in a weird position after my first listen through all these songs when they were released where I felt really positive about this selection, but then struggled to recall any individual song. A couple of weeks to get familiar with them all has definitely helped.

Right now, I think my favourite is Vox populi. It’s a super fun track, their style of Eurodance with the slightly rockier guitars and drums creates this fantastic energy – it’s great pump up music. It’s also pretty cool that it’s bilingual, with a rap verse each in Finnish and Estonian. In fact, we’ve got a fair amount of rap and hip-hop here which I love to see, since I feel they're genres that go underrepresented in Eurovision and national finals in general. Even better, they’re all very distinct from each other. Kuori mua is another rap track, but it couldn’t be any different, with the attitude it exudes and its super slick beat. I love the sharpness of it all, and how it mixes in the piano in the second half to create a more positive sound, lifting some of the tension but keeping all the energy.

The overall production level in all these songs is great – this whole selection is high quality and just sounds good to my ears. The one slight exception is No Rules, which I feel goes a bit too heavy on the fake eagle screeches, although it very much fits the overall tone of the song. This one slight annoyance, and the fact that I preferred Vox populi when it comes to Eurodance, was what made it end up at the bottom of my list, but I honestly feel bad about it – it’s still a very fun song and does what it’s doing  well. I didn’t want to rank any of these songs last!

Because the songs are so even, I couldn't even suggest what deserves to win this Saturday. It's going to all depend on performance for me. Finland are never going to do better than last year's Eurovision result, but UMK has honestly become one of the best national finals over the past few years, and I hope this is enough to keep up the qualification streak they're on.

[baublekute]

OC Interview Questions: Valerie Rose Barrère

Tagged by @ghostoffuturespast thank you! Love these little games and writing practices. Also needed to think how my V would actually answer these questions...

[Mama Welles' on a Saturday night.]

V (reading a book on the couch with her feet up): "What are you two giggling about over there? It's suspicious and I don't like it." Misty (cuddling with Jackie on the opposite end of the couch): "Oh, we decided to make you a dating profile." V (initial confusion followed by a bit of rage): "A dat… The fuck?" Jackie (with the laptop): "You need some action, hermana." V: "No. Absolutely not. Delete that shit right now." [Jackie gives V his best puppy dog eyes.] V (waiting a moment): "Uggh. Fine… I'm gonna regret this." Jackie: "Heh, wasn't actually sure that was gonna work." (straightening himself out to look more serious) "Nickname?" [V gives Jackie a bombastic side eye.] Jackie: "Oh right!" (Types the letter as he says it) "V." Misty: "Height?" V: "5ft 3in." Jackie: "Gender?" V: "Seriously, Jack?" Jackie: "What? I don't want to assume." V (sighing, realizing he has a valid point): "Sure. Female." Misty: "Orientation?" V: "Straight I guess?" Jackie: "Nationality and… or… ethnicity?" V: "Uhh, my mother was Scottish/French and I think she said something about my father being Finnish. Anyways, born and raised in Heywood." Jackie (speaking the words slowly as he typed his version): "White. Very white. Heywood born and bred." Misty: "Star sign? I know this one already. Sagittarius." [Updating to Libra - forgot it's actually been official, and I stick with a lot of canon] Jackie: "Favorite fruit?" V: "Honeydew melon." Misty: "Favorite season? Autumn, right?" V: "You got it." Jackie (using his most delicate voice): "Favorite flower?" V (sharply): "Snapdragons." Misty: "Your favorite scent?" V: "Oh man… I have so many… cedarwood, jasmine, sandalwood, bergamot, books…" [Misty nods in agreement, thinking of her favorite incense in the shop.] Jackie: "Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?" V: "Tea usually. I'm… selective when it comes to coffee." Jackie (types and mutters): "Psh. I'll say. Can never bring you coffee anymore." Misty: "Average hours of sleep?" V: "9 to 10. I get cranky with less." Jackie: "You sure do." V (annoyed, raised voice): "Do you want me to finish these questions or not Jackie?" Jackie (puts his hands up in surrender): "Alright alright… I take it you didn't get your beauty sleep… princess." [V punches Jackie pretty hard in the arm.] Jackie (rolling over holding his bruised arm, laughing): "Oww…ahah… oww. Heh." V: "Misty, if you'd please take the rest of the questions… unless you want to drag an oversized bodybag out the door." [Jackie flashes V a stupid grin.] Misty: "Dog or cat person?" V: "Hmm… It feels like cheating to say both. Maybe I lean towards dogs. It's been awhile since I've seen one though." Misty: "Dream trip?" V: "Europe maybe? I don't know if there's anything left of my parents over there but I guess I'm curious." Misty: "I'd love to go back to Poland one day. Favorite fictional character?" V: "Probably… Edmond Dantes from The Count of Monte Cristo. It was one of my mom's favorites." Misty: "Number of blankets you sleep with?" V: "Zero or one… It's just too damn hot." Misty: "Aaand last one." V: "Oh thank god." Misty: "A fun fact?" V: "Uhhh. I guess… I enjoy retro video games?" Misty: "OK. Published." V: "Now will you two leave me be?" [bing.] Jackie (throwing himself at the computer): "Ooh! Look! Matches already, chica!" V (snatching the computer out of Jackie's hands): "Wait what? Lemme see." [V scrolls a bit, the reflection of the screen lighting up her face in the dark room.] V: "No. Noo. Definitely not. No." Jackie (takes the computer back): "Lemme take a look… I'll find you someone... Here! This guy looks promising, huh?" (excitedly turns the screen to face V.) V: "Oh. Damn. Lemme take a closer look… Nah. What a damn shame. He's NCPD."

[eurovision-revisited]

The Best National Final of 1996

1996 is a good year for national finals, and there's competition for which is the best. I'm going for De Gouden Zeemeermin - the weird one-time only name for the Belgian National Final. It has much to recommend it: Variety, Quantity and Controversy (as always).

It was a multi-stage competition starting with forty songs split into four heats of ten from which only the top three qualified for the final. That's a harsh start. The range of musical genres and styles is wide, the presentation is fun and pacy, the audience is very involved. One of the acts is Enzo, the boyband with the abs. The crowd has a significant number of fans and screamers, and they've got a good draw as the penultimate act. After there performance, there are not only screams but boos! The final was determined by the usual panel of regional juries, this time with 25% of the vote only. Alongside them were a press jury who also had 25%, then an expert jury with 50%. Who exactly they all were I don't know, but there results feel like a bit of stitch up. The regional jury and the expert jury gave Lisa del Bo maximum marks leaving only the press jury to side with Enzo. And this is after Enzo had beaten Lisa into second place in the heat they'd been in.

Outrage!

The public opnion squished by the juries again, and with more than a hint of conspiracy. I love Lisa del Bo and her song is in my 26 for the year, but it's definitely not her strongest. But then Enzo's Mooi isn't a great song either. It's more about the abs. Belgium, always with the good selections, always poor choosing the winner.

Also good is the first Skopjefest in North Macedonia. Again lots of variety and some surprisingly good singing. That they didn't make it into the actual Eurovision final, falling in the qualification round must have been hugely discouraging after such a good event.

Kdam is once again Kdam, and thus full of choreography and a few stunts. It's probably the most consistently fun national final of them all. Again Israel after having a wonderful national final, failed to make it through the qualification.

Finland was experimenting with televoting and had several teething problems. Phone lines going down, voting opened to soon. It was a catastrophe of the proportions that makes headlines in the national press. When the results were finally released a few days later than they should have been, at least there wasn't any controversy as to who had won.

Euro Laul in Estonia had at least a quarter of the finalists missing leading to the weird sight of one singer singing a duet with their partner on a screen, and in one case there was no one there at all leading to the producers to have to improvise with some camera angles and a drumming stagehand. It does have some good entries in it despite this.

Overall the quality is up, the variety is vastly improved over 1995. Somewhere in the back of my head I can hear Terry Wogan telling me that the broadcasters were under instructions to make the finals less ballad-based and more commercial this year and it feels like they succeeded in that.

For instance, Germany's Ein bißchen Glück managed to send the outstandingly commercial Leon with his environmental banger Planet of Blue. He didn't make it through the qualification round either, much to everybody's surprise. Germany tried something different and they were punished.

That's the problem with 1996. So many of the broadcasters tried but their efforts all got stymied by that audio-qualification round to reduce the numbers. The system for 1997 meant that many of these countries were relegated in 1997. There was now Belgian, Finnish, Israeli, or Macedonia finals from the line up. Romania also got left out. The EBUs 1996 experiment backfired badly.

[peppy-jester]

Respond to the following prompts out of character, then tag others you'd like to get to know a little bit better.

Roleplayer name: Beanie

Roleplayer pronouns: She/Her, They/Them. But I'm okay people using any pronounce, don't get my panties in a twist. Loving how few of my online friends calls me 'dude'. So go wild~

Muse name(s): Fizzarolli on this blog. Mammon @unhinged-greedAnd there is a dead multimuse blog, don't know what I'm gonna do with it.

Preferred communication: Discord or IM's. Both used mostly chatting, maybe random roleplays happens there what I don't wanna bring to here.

Experience: Just had a random discussion with my friends about this.. I've been roleplaying ever since 2007? Started in one Finnish forum roleplay which was get this.. All Boys School. And bit after that I was asked to join in Prince of Tennis (as Kikumaru) and Sergeant Keroro (as Tamama) rpc in Deviantart.

Preferred roleplay type: I like writing longer replies, multipara that is but shorter roleplays are also more than fine. I just let my muse take control while writing~

Pet peeves & dealbreakers: -Shipping. Okay hear me out! Yes I love shipping! Hell at times fanon and crack ships are better than canon, but my god shipping is NEVER the first thing in my mind! You see me shipping Fizz with Asmodeus of course, doesn't mean I am gonna ship with EVERY Asmodeus. Same goes with Blitzø, where I love BlitzFizz as a ship I fucking love them as best friends! The ones who shares one braincell at times! I hate forcing people to ship with you just because you want your canon or OC muse to be fucked by ANY of my muses. Just respect this. I'm not into mature themed unless drama~ Mammon is not up for shipping unless it's with Asmodeus and there is only one I'm shipping him with.

-Ship wars being one as well. I let people ship who they want (unless pedo) and I don't go and harass anyone over ships.

-Also people not reading the rules! I literally can see when people haven't done this. And as a deal breaker, people who keeps evading my blocks! If I blocked even ONE of your blogs do not evade the blog just to jump in on another just to pursue contacting me IC or OOC. I am selective for a reason.

-Sharing your own opinion should be legal and not something you get attacked over by batshit crazy fans. I have so many things that I hate about Canon Helluva Boss, people would witch hunt me down if I shared them lmao.

-People stealing ideas is another thing. Sure there isn't too many original ideas but I mean like I've been planning some stuff with mutuals just so they ghost me and pursue those ideas with another person with same muse. Like, thanks. Highly appreciate this!

-Spreading OOC drama. Just stop. Leave me alone. I'm here to have fun because life itself sucks ass.

There are lot more but... shhh, let me just stop here :')

Best time to write: For me it depends on my work schedule more than time of the day. When it's my day off I'm here writing replies (unless dead tired, I'm sleeping) all day long. But absolute best time for me is earlier in the morning or later at evening/night.

Are you like your muse? . . . . Our cooking skills matches. One reason I prefer to buy food that is easy to warm up in a microwave or in oven. Also we ain't straight in this house~

Tagged by; @hellsmayflower

Tagging; @rapid-as-sass-in-nation-team @blitzbuckz @blitz0craze @houseofasmodeus @the-delightful-temptation @infxnatum @strikers-saloon and whoever wants to do this ;;

[because-its-eurovision]

so confused by YLE being like we'll pull out of ESC is the EBU don't ban Israel but also being like UMK will still go ahead. why still do UMK if the whole point of UMK is to pick an act for ESC.

UMK is no longer just a national selection of our Eurovision representative, it is the biggest music show of the year.

Ever since Cicciolina became a huge hit, UMK has become the show to take part in if artists want to remind the large audience of their existence or make the final breakthrough. For the last three years the most streamed Finnish songs on Spotify have been UMK entries. In 2022, more Finnish viewers watched UMK than Eurovision final. In 2023, UMK was the most viewed tv program of the month with more than two million people tuning in.

By now, the contestants have been chosen and will be released in three weeks time. The final versions of their entries have been recorded, they have been styled, the music videos are done, the performances are already being rehearsed, YLE has reserved the biggest arena in the country and sold it out twice. There is no reason why they wouldn't go forward with the show regardless if Finland ends up taking part in Eurovision this year or not.

[usafphantom2]

IMAGES: For the first time, B-1 bombers join the largest Nordic air exercise

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 06/06/2023 - 12:00 in Military

A pair of B-1 bombers flew over the North Sea on June 5, participating in a broad air exercise in the Nordic region.

As part of the Arctic Challenge Exercise 2023, the B-1s of Dyess Air Base, Texas, flew over the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and integrated into the F-35 of the U.S. Air Force and the Royal Norwegian Air Force, as well as United States Navy Aircraft.

“The U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy routinely conduct operations in the Far North alongside Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian air forces and naval, and the Arctic Challenge provided enhanced opportunities for NATO allies and partners to integrate with U.S. strategic bombers and Ford aircraft carrier class in a new environment,” said a U.S. Air Forces press release in Europe.

The B-1s are in Europe as part of a deployment of the Bomber Task Force at the RAF Base in Fairford, United Kingdom. Since they arrived two weeks ago, the aviators and the aircraft have been busy. On May 23, a B-1 was intercepted by a Russian fighter in the Baltic Sea region. On May 30, a bomber flew over Bosnia and Herzegovina, in a demonstration of support amid the ongoing unrest in the area. And on June 1º, a B-1 integrated into the allied forces during a small strength exercise in France and Belgium.

His participation in the Arctic Exercise Challenge, however, marks his greatest training opportunity so far - and the first time American bombers have flown in the biennial exercise since it began in 2013.

In addition to the B-1, the U.S. Air Force is flying F-35 and F-15 from the 48ª Fighter Wing of Lakenheath RAF Base, UK, in the exercise, as well as KC-135 from the 100ª Air Refueling Wing of the RAF Base of Mildenhall, UK, and the Maine National Air Guard.

Sweden is leading the exercise, with aircraft also stationed in Norway and Finland. The USA, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and the Czech Republic sent personnel and aircraft.

"By training and performing realistic exercises in the Far North, such as the Arctic Challenge Exercise 2023, U.S. forces and allied and partner nations improve skills, adjust interoperability, nurture important relationships and adapt to the inherent challenges posed by the struggle in the extreme conditions of the Arctic," said a USAFE press release.

Tags: Arctic Challenge ExerciseMilitary AviationB-1B LancerUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air Force

Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Daytona Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work around the world of aviation.

Related news

ARMAMENTOS

Poland signs agreement to purchase Hellfire AGM-114R2 missiles for its AW149 and Apache helicopters

06/06/2023 - 17:00

MILITARY

KC-Y: Lockheed Martin selects LMXT aircraft engine

06/06/2023 - 15:00

MILITARY

Leonardo updates AWHero drone with new engine and radar

06/06/2023 - 14:00

ARMAMENTOS

Netherlands selects AARGM-ER missiles for its F-35 fleet

06/06/2023 - 13:00

MILITARY

Ukraine may receive F/A-18 Australian Hornets fighters

06/06/2023 - 11:25

MILITARY

DGA receives second Rafale B360 aircraft for the French Air and Space Force

06/06/2023 - 09:00

homeMain PageEditorialsINFORMATIONeventsCooperateSpecialitiesadvertiseabout

Cavok Brazil - Digital Tchê Web Creation

Commercial

Executive

Helicopters

HISTORY

Military

Brazilian Air Force

Space

Specialities

Cavok Brazil - Digital Tchê Web Creation

[erdariel]

Hi! This is a bit random, but I’m always really interested by your Finnish posts, and was wondering if you have any recommendations for learning more about your country?

Any stories/bits of art or music that are particularly special?

No need to answer this if it’s intrusive or anything, of course!

Hello! Let me see... This post gets quite long, so I'll put my recommendations under a readmore! To be honest, most of them are just random Finnish stuff, not necessarily specifically oriented to teach anything about Finland, but it's something.

Any other Finns can reblog and add stuff if you've got better recommendations than I have, btw!

Music-wise I suppose it depends on what kind of music you like - if you're into metal music, there's a lot of Finnish metal bands and I think some of them even sing in Finnish, but it's not a genre I personally listen to a lot. What I myself listen to is frankly a mess that doesn't make any sense, but here's a couple relatively well-known Finnish songs that I personally occasionally listen to (the method of choosing was random "whatever comes to mind first"):

Autiotalo by Dingo

Rakkaus on lumivalkoinen by Yö

As for stories - I have to admit I read shamefully little Finnish literature. One thing that comes to mind, however, is Maria Turtschaninoff's Red Abbey Chronicles fantasy series! I heard of them from a friend and read them some years back, and personally I really liked them. I don't know that they'll tell you particularly much about Finland as a country, but I like them as books. And Moomins, of course - I haven't read the books since I was a child, and I've never seen the entirety of the 90s anime adaptation because we didn't have a tv when I was a kid, but they're lovely stories, and if they don't tell you about Finland as a country as such, they're still a big part of Finnish culture.

I suppose I could also point you towards some classics of Finnish literature (Seven Brothers by Aleksis Kivi, The Unknown Soldier by Väinö Linna, that sort of thing) but I also don't read a lot of classics, and I try to keep to a rule of never recommend books I haven't read and/or don't like personally, so I can't actually recommend them as such, all I can state is that they are classics of Finnish literature that exist and are set in Finland (of the two I mentioned, Seven Brothers is set in the 19th century in rural Finland, it's fairly comedic in tone, and generally held to be the first novel actually written in Finnish, while The Unknown Soldier follows a machine gun company throughout the Continuation War; so in terms of that, expect a number of violent deaths and all of that) and I'm relatively certain there are English translations of them (though whether those are easily available anywhere, that I cannot say)

Speaking of classics, there's Kalevala. You should be able to find one or two different English translations of it in Project Gutenberg. Now, with Kalevala there's a whole can of worms regarding cultural appropriation of Karelian culture and stories that I do not understand thoroughly enough to explain it properly, but I don't think there's any argument that it shaped the Finnish culture and national identity when that was still in the process of being created in the 19th century.

As for artwork, I don't have a lot of specific ones in mind, but you could take a look at the Finnish National Gallery's website and see what stuff there speaks to you!

You can also search for specific artist's works on the website, so here's for example pictures of the works of Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Hugo Simberg, Albert Edelfelt, and Eero Järnefelt, to name a few of our famous painters (note: i haven't refined those searches beyond selecting for a given artist, which means the search result includes a lot of sketches and stuff, but if you like, you can further refine the search to only show you paintings, for example).

Personally, I quite like the bunch of Hugo Simberg's paintings that portray Death (as in death as a character, pretty much the black-robed skeleton type). The most famous of those, I think, is this one, the Garden of Death: