MetaFilter posts tagged with Finland and Sweden

Northern Lights

the man of twists and turns — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 12:42:31 -0800

The Nordic countries are reinventing their model of capitalism

International pop

LSK — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 11:14:08 -0800

"Euphoria", which won the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest (previously), is a #1 in several countries, including Ireland, Austria, and Switzerland Of course, it's not the only song charting internationally that you might never hear on US radio. It should come as no surprise that one can readily find international hits online. For instance - Sweden, #4: Panetoz - Dansa Pausa Sweden, #9: Mange Makers - Drick Den This doesn't purport to be an exhaustive list, but rather a jumping-off point. Finland, #1: Robin - Frontside Ollie Finland, #8: Haloo Helsinki! - Jos mun pokka pettää Norway, #10: Michel Teló - Ai Se Eu Te Pego Italy, #2: Emma Marrone - Cercavo Amore France, #1: Gusttavo Lima - Balada France, #3: Tacabro - Tacata (also a hit in many other countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden) Japan, #1: AKB48 - Manatsu no Sounds Good Israel, #2: גלעד שגב ומירי מסיקה - קולות הלב

Iceland is the one that sparkles

Diablevert — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:18:01 -0800

Scandanavia And The World: A web comic of outrageous national stereotypes bluntly portrayed by cute little cartoon bobbleheads, that will nonetheless help outsiders learn to differentiate among the Nordic countries. With explanatory text.

"I want to marry a lighthouse keeper..."

Blazecock Pileon — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:23:06 -0800

The strange story of Market Island

78 78s

carter — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:00:29 -0800

78 78s - In Search Of Lost Time - is a streaming mix of beautiful 78s from around the world, collected and curated by Ian Nagoski. "I started sifting through boxes of junky old 78s that no one else wanted about 15 years ago, and almost right away, I made a rule: Anything that wasn't in English, buy it." Ian's projects have been discussed here before.

Welcome to the Evil Federated Empire of Europe

desjardins — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:05:57 -0800

Europe according to... is a project to map stereotypes of European countries according to other countries and groups of people. Similarly themed, less pretty: The World According to... America Americans (another) The United States of America George W. Bush Ronald Reagan (another) France India Canada Finland Singapore Taiwan China Australia The United States According to... Europe The Rest of the World (another) Japan Californians New Yorkers Utahns Miscellaneous North America According to Canadians Europe According to Sweden How Americans See Europe How Americans (?) See Australia Africa According to the Rest of the World

They shoot bunnies, don't they?

filthy light thief — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:26:18 -0800

There is contention in Sweden over the use of rabbit cadavers as bioenergy to provide heat in Värmland. The rabbits are invasive species, initially pets that were released into the parks in the city of Stockholm. Lacking any natural predators, the rabbits thrive on vegetation, eating their way through the city's central parks. The culling last year set a local record with nearly 6,000 rabbits removed from Stockholm's parks, mostly from Kungsholmen. Some concerned citizens have formed a group, Vilda kaniners värn (Society for the Protection of Wild Rabbits, Google translation). They speak out against the culling and provide alternatives to killing the rabbits, citing methods used in Helsinki (including plant protection) as more humane alternatives. (Biofuel details and more after the break.) Helsinki has had invasive rabbits since 1995, where the first appeared in Arabianranta and Kyläsaari, according to a 2005 article. The rabbits largely die out over winter, only to flourish in the spring. In 2005, they weren't reported as a nuisance, but the population increased in 2006 and 2007, to the point of costing hundreds of thousands of euros for the replacement of thousands of individual plants suffering from damage caused by rabbits, even eating holes in Olympic Stadium football nets. In 2008, the tactic was to catch rabbits in nets and humanely put down after being anaesthetised using carbon dioxide, and they were then given to researchers for further studies. The stable rise of the rabbit population introduced predators into Helsinki, such as lynxes and foxes, though there is not enough suitable habitat for these larger predators to keep the rabbits in check. Last winter, 500 rabbits were culled by the city's rabbit control program, and more recently captured rabbits have become food for large birds, big cats, wolverines, and bears at the Helsinki Zoo. (Helsinki's rabbits are the source of many more stories at Helsingin Sanomat.) As noted in the BBC article on the topic, Kovex (Google translation), a subsidiary of Danish group Daka Biodiesel, has worked on making animal waste into biofuels through the Biomal program, which followed from the mass disposals BSE-related animal waste.

The Dark Edge of the North

tellurian — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:48:27 -0800

Carta Marina - From 1518 to 1519, Olaus Magnus made a journey across Sweden. On his journey, he encountered fish the size of elephants, sea serpents, demons and a tribe of pygmies.