This year Helsinki marks its 200th anniversary as Finland’s capital, and on Tuesday it got a special happy birthday message through the medium of dance. Hundreds of dancers joined together for a flashmob in the city centre, startling passers-by.

via Flashmob dancers celebrate Helsinki’s 200th birthday | News | YLE Uutiset | yle.fi.

Pernilla Karlsson – När Jag Blundar (Eurovision 2012 Finland)

The Finnish ESC Song 2012, sang in Swedish, Finlands 2nd official language.

Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu – Finaali

via Pernilla Karlsson – När Jag Blundar (Eurovision 2012 Finland) – YouTube.

Finns’ exodus from the country’s dominant Evangelical Lutheran Church is shrinking the pool of possible godparents. The church has started counselling parents on what to do when their children’s godparents, traditionally meant to provide religious guidance, leave the church.

via Godless godparents new headache for church | News | YLE Uutiset | yle.fi.

President Tarja Halonen says she participated in decisions concerning cutbacks to the defence forces. Speaking on the YLE programme Ykkösaamu, she defended the cuts noting that an army garrison could not form the basis for the livelihood of a municipality.

via President supports defence cuts | News | YLE Uutiset | yle.fi.

A single lucky winner could take home a record 11 million euros in Saturday’s national lottery draw.

To date, the largest single win of eight million euros went last spring to a resident of Forssa in south west Finland. This year’s largest payout of ten million euros was divided equally between two winners.

via Record 11 million euro lottery draw | News | YLE Uutiset | yle.fi.

Finland has little to offer investors, according to a report released on Wednesday. The study says Finland’s problems include high taxation, lengthy bureaucratic processes and labour market policies that discriminate against foreign professionals.

via Study: Finland unattractive for investors | News | YLE Uutiset | yle.fi.

On Thursday high school seniors around Finland celebrate penkkari — a yearly tradition marking the final day of school before the start of matriculation exams. Seniors now have around a month to prepare for exams, which start on March 12 and end some two weeks later.

via Seniors party before sitting for final exams | News | YLE Uutiset | yle.fi.

According to Finland’s Ministry of Justice, 99.1% of the votes have been counted. Niinisto was ahead of the nation’s first openly gay presidential candidate Pekka Haavisto, 62.6% to 37.4%.

via Finland’s former finance minister leading presidential election in early results – CNN.com.

Wasn’t it only a year ago that Helsinki was being highlighted on CNN for its great work in coping with the snow? Since then a lot has changed it seems as mayhem took to the streets of Helsinki during the first week of February, trams backed up for miles in the city centre, and snow ploughs unable to clear pavements for early rising commuters. (Me Included)

But so much for the new government now, who know we would have appreciated Mari Kiviniemi back at the realm, she seemed to be a more hands on Prime Minister than this Katainen fellow does altogether.

Here is a piece for last Fridays HS.fi below:

More snow and a continuation of the intense cold of recent days are bringing serious problems for transport, both public and private, in Southern Finland.

In Uusimaa the driving conditions are extremely treacherous in parts, as driving powdery snow reduces vi  sibility and road surfaces are very slick.

All railed traffic in the capital is having problems. Numerous commuter and long-distance train departures have been cancelled, the Helsinki Metro is suffering from problems with automatic doors and brakes, meaning that trains are not keeping to their normal timetables, and trams are unable to operate on their normal routes.

via Helsingin Sanomat – International Edition – Metro.

Check out the vital Finnish stats here, about Facebook Marketing in the Nordic country.

How Finland Uses Facebook – Infographic « PlanMill: Accelerating Your Success!.

Design. Design. Design. Aesthetics fuel a new cool.

The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design has designated Helsinki the World Design Capital for 2012.

Design has long been part of the city’s DNA, but in recent years the scene has been increasingly energized: the official Design District has ballooned to encompass 25 streets and nearly 200 design-minded businesses, which range from shops selling housewares and furniture to boutique hotels and clothing stores. Design has infiltrated the restaurant scene as well, notably the elegant Chez Dominique and the hot newcomer (and Michelin-starred) Olo.

On top of all that is the spectacular new $242 million Helsinki Music Center. Student ensembles from the Sibelius Academy — the sole university in Finland devoted exclusively to music — will perform in the striking glass-walled space, and both the Vienna Philharmonic and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestras will give concerts in 2012. INGRID K. WILLIAMS

via The 45 Places to Go in 2012 – NYTimes.com.

It seems like every other week there is a new report, index or research that states Finland is number 1 or at least in the top 10. This is a really great honour for this amazing Nordic country.

Finland has come out as joint top in the Press Freedom index, sitting next to their Nordic partner Norway.

Congrats to Finland and its freedoms.

World Press Freedom Index 2011: U.S. and U.K. drop | Mail Online.

There were quiet many slips and falls during January as the winter finally arrived, but it wasn*t only the Helsinki folk who were sliding all over the place, but the beloved public transport system too.

Winter is the season for tram delays as idiots drivers don’t properly park their cars, that we are used to seeing. However we are less use to seeing buses sliding all over the place and carshing in such focal places.

Check out the below image of car crash in Kamppi area, Helsinki during Mid January.

Nokia announced a lost on profits during January Financial Statements, however claimed to sell well over 1 million Lumia devices since their launch in November 2011. Nokia Lumia goes on sales in Finland during February and in preparation, the marketing spend on Online, In Stores and even outdoors has been phenomenal for Finland standards.

Check out the cool Nokia Lumia window displace promotion at Stockmann department store in the heart of Helsinki.

While the USA were up in arms regarding SOPA, Finland quietly took action on illegal downloading during January with the restriction of the website “The Pirate Bay” Continue Reading