World news III

Scots is nice but there are different sorts of Scots; Sean Connery's isn't nice, but I guess that's because it's had the piss ripped out of it so much

Finns fuming at Brownlee's comments
By John Weekes
5:30 AM Sunday Mar 25, 2012

A top minister has sparked a near-diplomatic incident after suggesting Finns are uneducated, unemployed murderers who don't respect women.

Speaking in Parliament, Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee rejected Labour's plans to model the economy on Finland, "which has worse unemployment than us, has less growth than us, can hardly feed the people who live there, has a terrible homicide rate, hardly educates its people, and has no respect for women."

Ari Hallenberg, Finland's consul-general in Auckland, said Brownlee's comments were inaccurate. "I think it would have been better left unsaid," the diplomat said.

He was considering calling the Finnish embassy in Canberra to complain, and said Finnish media would also take issue with Brownlee. "This will create a storm when the comments go back to Finland."

According to the OECD, Finland has the best education system in the world.

Elina Vaisanen from the New Zealand Scandinavia Business Association said the comments were outrageous - and the Finnish economy could teach Brownlee plenty. "You get a hell of a lot more money selling a Nokia than a couple of sheep."

Vaisanen acknowledged Finland might have more murders, but said random acts of violence were very rare. "You get a few school shootings every once in a while, which nobody is proud of. But you get nutters everywhere. But over there, I don't know anyone whose house would have been burgled. Here, I don't know anyone who wouldn't have been burgled."

On Friday, Brownlee said the debate on Finland and the Labour leadership was essentially humorous - though within humour, there was satire, and within satire, some truth. He said the debate should not have offended Finns.

Brownlee said New Zealand had made progress towards becoming a high-value manufacturer but conceded there were "some aspects of Finland's economic policy that you'd have to say are admirable".

According to the OECD Better Life Index, Finland's murder rate is nearly twice that of New Zealand. It also has worse unemployment and health provision.

But on economic indicators such as income, life satisfaction and work-life balance, Finland is ahead of us - and for education, is rated best in the world.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-57410135-10391698/adam-west-gets-star-on-walk-of-fame/

about time!!

http://articles.marketwatch.com/2012-06-13/commentary/32196919_1_euro-crisis-spanic-bailout-money


It could happen, Finns are pretty upset with the whole situation. Its bit like holding on to a sinking ship and at the same time throwing money on it.

They broke the news 'gently" earlier, this week. they made it sound so..."airy" It kinda came to this: Spain is in shit and needs help. But, we're not gonna own their asses like Greece. We just need 100 billion for the banks" That was it. That's what europe said. And now, the truth rears it's ugly head: Spain needs WAAAAY more help than that. 100 billion is not gonna cut it. it's Greece and Ireland all over again. If we get out, now; we might come out of this smelling like roses. the Netherlands are still doing okay but, they can't pretend everything is cool for much longer. Economic growth is still not increasing and if we carry on like this; we're in for some really tough times.

Screw the system, I say. Let's go back to just being Europe and allow each country to implement changes on their own accord. That whole 'united'-shit is about greed, anyway. The reality is that just because we share a coin, doesn't mean we're a Union. We're not, never have been. same with money. So; let's stop pretending this to be anything other than a money issue. I was all for helping out Greece, Italy and Ireland but, the last year has shown us that, Brussels and pro-EU countries do nothing but, lie. The Netherlands got slammed down by Brussels for painting "too pretty a picture and not coming up with ANY PLANS.Ha! that sure showed them. Our government has fallen and I hate to say this but,I'm leaning towards the right for upcoming elections.:We need to help ourselves before we can help others. Let's step out of the euro!

bailout money never works! So fucking ridiculous we have these idiots running all these countries of the world who have no clue how economics works! They just make things worse and at our expense, because it is our taxpayer money they are throwing away! people all over the world need to get mad about this bullshit!

darkeyes80 wrote:

They broke the news 'gently" earlier, this week. they made it sound so..."airy" It kinda came to this: Spain is in shit and needs help. But, we're not gonna own their asses like Greece. We just need 100 billion for the banks" That was it. That's what europe said. And now, the truth rears it's ugly head: Spain needs WAAAAY more help than that. 100 billion is not gonna cut it. it's Greece and Ireland all over again. If we get out, now; we might come out of this smelling like roses. the Netherlands are still doing okay but, they can't pretend everything is cool for much longer. Economic growth is still not increasing and if we carry on like this; we're in for some really tough times.

Screw the system, I say. Let's go back to just being Europe and allow each country to implement changes on their own accord. That whole 'united'-shit is about greed, anyway. The reality is that just because we share a coin, doesn't mean we're a Union. We're not, never have been. same with money. So; let's stop pretending this to be anything other than a money issue. I was all for helping out Greece, Italy and Ireland but, the last year has shown us that, Brussels and pro-EU countries do nothing but, lie. The Netherlands got slammed down by Brussels for painting "too pretty a picture and not coming up with ANY PLANS.Ha! that sure showed them. Our government has fallen and I hate to say this but,I'm leaning towards the right for upcoming elections.:We need to help ourselves before we can help others. Let's step out of the euro!

ITA Rodney, I agree with you. Get rid of the European Union. The continent unions were only created to be the stepping stone to a one world government.

Not sure about that whole world-domination, thing. It would'nt work. Europe for one, is too diversified. It's all about money and they're pretty open about it.
Remember when the EU countries were asked about a possible european constitution? Hell 2 tha NO! It would never work.
such NWO-stories often find their origin in mob-controlled countries. Y'know the kind of country where you're told you live in the most democratic country in the world but, you only get to choose between 2 candidates.from 2 parties. no grey-area.

haha, yea I know what kind of countries you speak of! It is a good thing europe is too diversified. I hope you are right about that, but I think that the elite families and bankers of the world dont see it that way and they are still trying for the one world gov anyways.

I just find it funny how tight they were about the economics in the beginning. WTF happened to the fact that if you do not grow, you pay?? Oh yeah, when the big countries could not do grow, it was no longer an issue. Fucking bitches.

I also thought they made a mistake by taking in... well, wrong kind of countries. I mean people from Greece get paid more IF they show up to work. IF.

The EU was advertised as this "hands across Europe" type of thing. But, everybody knew-from the beginning-that this was just a new way of making money. Everytime Brussels tries to pass a law; countries rear-up in shock.LOL
Greece was like fucking heaven, man. I would be so good at being Greek. i should've gone to Athens instead of London...or Crete. oh! The sea, those wonderful white and blue houses. I can pass for the mediteranean-type so; no weird baltic-racism-shit. some hot Kostas-guy by my side. oh yeah...*Quagmire head-bop*

Those Greeks had it going on when the Euro came. They must have thougt; let's milk this cow and enjoy the good life. they'll help us when it all goes tits-up. and don't forget; the major players have earned a SHITLOAD of money by selling their produce in Greece! The Greek people will be fine. the state owes a lot of money. But the greeks themeselves, hardly owe any money to their government. They've gone through worse.

I really liked the euro thing though. I hate changing money.

I'm not liking it so much. I was a lot richer when I paid in guilders. One of the most stable currencies in the world. It hardly went up or, down. You could always trust the guilder.

The euro is way more fun. But it cannot be trusted. At least; not in Greek, Italian, Spanish or, Irish hands.

are the Finns stepping out of the euro-zone, then? Bet those True Finns are happy?

Well the fact is that we are in a hands of euro lovers, they kind of want to stay in. True Finns are in the opposition, they cannot do anything about it.

We're euro-lovers, too. The Dutch equivalent and open anti-Islamic party PVV were in government but, it fell. and it doesn't look like they'll be in government. back to opposition. They want to get rid of it.which is fine by me. but, i don't want my country to be led by them. Mark Rutte(my husband)'s party is doing well and has some ideas but, he likes that euro way too much to let it go. Plus it also makes him look like a racist when he agrees with PVV on anything.:P The most horrible thing is that the Social party is coming out highest in the polls. SOCIALISM!???? during a crisis!!!??? are you mad!!!!???There is no money to get social! Stupid deluded people

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/jul/24/finland-triple-aaa-rating-moodys-eurozone ("How Finland keeps its head above eurozone crisis")

"Finland – home of reindeer, pickled fish and Nokia – is now the only eurozone country with a stable triple-A credit rating, according to Moody's."


I am sure we will be dropping soon too. But WE DO NOT HAVE polarbears here.

We're dropping, too. This whole "stepping out of the eurozone-thing, doesn't seem half that bad. We paid billions to help Greece-eventhough, they're doomed to drop out within 18 months. The only way to make it work is to give all power to Brussels. But, nobody wants a United States of Europa. and neither do I. That would be a fate worse than communism.

Funny how less "social' i'm becoming the more it becomes clear that some countries weren't playing by the rules and now WE get pick up after the pieces. Before, when I wasn't as clued up, i was all like; We need to srick together. Now, I'm like; Nu-uh! I like being social but, not when people piss money away on banks and loans.

I personally thought the Euro was a dumb idea from the beginning. I was always very pleased that England didn't want a part of it.

It was a dream really, idealistic dream and sometimes they are also, dumb. But hey, shit happens.

Like communism; it sounds like a good idea but, the reality....It was a bit naive to think that countries like Spain and Greece would play by the rules the major players were aware of their trackrecord; they allowed said countries to do things on credit in exchange for selling their wares on the Greek and Spanish market for a mere pittance. Greed won out. To think that, the EU member states would form one strong economy and share everything...I mean; at the end of the day; we're not a unified nation, never have been. Why then, should we be that responsible for eachothers economies?

Not exactly news but power of make-up!

http://www.vogue.it/en/people-are-talking-about/vogue-arts/2012/08/bobbe-s-half-drag-shots

Wow. I love those dragnames, too

Maddelyne Hatter is my favourite

Its also says loads about so-called beauty. Maybe they should ban make-up in beauty queen contests.