Ukraine winning this year's Eurovision is a foregone conclusion even BEFORE the show start though. How can it not be. And with Turin stopping a few voting anormally/rigging (Estonia, Georgia, and some other countries iirc) by Russian hacking group only ensured a Ukraine win.

With that, Norway and a few entries might've though "F*ck that, let's have some FUN! If we can't win ESC this year, we might go for the win on the viral/meme award instead."

Naw, previous to the fucking idiot at 1600 completely botching the Covid response and turning America into the laughingstock of the world, a US passport would have gotten me to Lyon, France, where I had a job waiting. Thank fuck Estonia wants my start-up in their country, which at least offers me a way into the EU and away from this unspeakable shithole.

It doesn't work because there is an intrinsic group think personality in the Nordic region. Most people in that region that were born and raised there are very sensitive to profit making and ostentatious displays.

Which means that people are glad to simply 'get by'. There is not a mass drive to be better than your neighbor or own more toys than them. Of course there are outliers, but the bulk of Scandinavians are very used to the accepted norm. They are more willing to accept massive tax rates because they know they will be taken care of by the government. They aren't necessarily concerned about 'getting rich'.

Contrast that to other areas, especially the USA, and you will find out that it would never work here because we are an individualistic nation. Even the bluest liberal wants to be rich here. It's more cutthroat, more selfish, than you will find in a Scandi nation.

Another huge reason it would never work is that they do not spend anywhere near the percentage of their budget on defense that we do. Denmark spends about 20 billion per year on defense. Norway, an oil rich Scandi nation that is considered one of our most important NATO allies, spends about 6 billion. Less than 1.2% of their GDP. This is one thing that Trump was actually right about. We spend around 700 Billion, roughly 3.5% of our current GDP.

"Half the alliance — 16 of the 29 countries — don’t even spend 1.5 percent (of gross domestic product) let alone 2 percent that we all agreed on four years ago (at a NATO summit) in Wales,” Michael Fallon, who served as secretary of state for defense from 2014 to 2017, said. In 2017, only the U.K., Greece, Poland and Estonia reached the 2 percent target.

Whether that level of spending is needed is another argument altogether. I personally think we overspend way too much on defense, but regardless it is a huge factor as to why we can't offer the same level of 'socialism' that the Nordic nations do. If we spent the same percentage as Norway, we would be saving close to 460 billion dollars a year that could be applied to other programs. Such as paying for college for qualified students or trade school for ones that are not college minded. Or providing benefits to new mothers that we currently don't.

I would downvote this video just to shut up this guy. What shortsighted stupidity.

That guy from Kansas who is on a field trip to Estonia is there to demonstrate NATO commitment. No "massive numbers", no "offensive threat to Putin".

This guy speaks of the "border" with russia like its some desert wasteland where NATO and russian troops can move in and out at will. These are civilised countries with hundreds of millions of people living in them, currently in a defensive partnership with the USofA. I wonder what the "good deal" will be that the clown gets to sell out.

Poland doesnt even border the main part of Russia, only the Kaliningrad exclave.

Also dont forget that all these other countries also contribute troops to NATO. The only thing that the clown has right is that they should be contributing more.

Also, this was a story in a mainstream UK paper today (the Sun). Reproducing it here because I wouldn't give the pricks another click:

WHERE THE BREX WAS WON Streets full of Polish shops, kids not speaking English… but Union Jacks now flying high again
People from Portsmouth, Plymouth and Boston revel in their relief at EU exit
BY BEN GRIFFITHS AND RYAN SABEY 26th June 2016, 2:11 am

VOTERS in Britain’s most Eurosceptic towns spoke of their relief at Brexit saying: “We’re elated.”

The anti-Brussels fervour was greatest in Boston where 75.6 per cent opted for Leave.

Single market too far … a corner shop in Boston, Lincolnshire
One in six of the Lincolnshire town’s 65,000 population are Eastern Europeans — the highest percentage in the UK.

Yesterday a buzz was back in its medieval centre where High Street stores are flanked by Polish and Lithuanian shops. Crosses of St George and Union Jack flags were adorning pubs and homes.

Caterer and mum-of-five Sally Shuttleworth, 58, said: “I’ve never been so elated as when I saw the Brexit result come in.

“Boston is an example of how Britain has lost its identity with all the Polish shops.

“We need tighter border controls. Immigrants are hard workers but there is too much pressure on the system, on schools, and hospitals.

“You could tell by the number of people streaming out of polling stations that the vote meant a lot to the town.”

In January the Boston area was named the most murderous place in England and Wales, with 15 cases per 100,000 people.

It also has the unwanted title of least integrated town in the UK.

Elation … Retired agricultural mechanic Ron Holmes, revealed: “I’m delighted. The whole town is.”
Translators are employed at Park Academy primary school where half the children speak Eastern European languages.

Retired agricultural mechanic Ron Holmes, 69, added: “I’m delighted. The whole town is.

“Whether you think the EU or immigration is right or wrong things have to stop in Boston.

“It is crippling the UK and we had to deal with it once and for all and vote out.

“The EU wasted money on so many things. They should have put the money in places like Latvia and Estonia to build them up so those people would not want to come here. We should never have joined the Common Market in 1975. I remember it well. Now we have finally put it right.”

Variety … the town of Boston has many shops and eateries catering for Polish tastes
Locals yesterday talked of celebratory parties, extra busy pubs and cheering in the streets.

There are around 1,200 people, mostly Brits, out of work in the town and many hope the result might see a change in fortunes.

Jobless Paul Cook, 53, said: “I don’t think people in the South realised how important this vote was to us.

“It is brilliant that we have voted out. We have had enough of the EU telling us what we can and cannot do. Not being able to control who comes in the country is a big problem. Now we can hopefully get a points system that will allow skilled people in.

“I’m hoping it will free up more roles for British-born people.”


There ya go. Racism is now acceptable in public discourse.

ECtHR: Estonia website liable for readers’ offensive online comments

Forum operator held liable for comments posted by user, even after operator removed comments in question, yet not quick enough apparently.

Dafuq!? Why would they open this can of worms?

That's not a swing, this is a swing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=gI1uus5F5C8

These "village swings" as they were called were quite commong in eastern Finland and Estonia. They could be, and were, swung all the way around as here, only you'd be standing... Couldn't find footage of that, unfortunately.

Nowadays they're somewhat rare, as they're considered dangerous due to the rather great momentum you can achieve with a big swing. Also, as there is nothing to guarantee the swingers actually stay on the swing, you could get mangled pretty badly if things went wrong.

Incidentally, the Baltic countries apparently have a competitive swinging scene, where the objective is to sping as long as swing as possible fully around. The current men's record holder is one Andrus Aasamäe from Estonia, having managed the feat on a swing with a length from the pivot of 702 cm...

Okay then, lets arbitrarily exclude everything that's not part of the so-called "first world" -- which leaves the U.S. "empire" and its satellites/provinces.

"Regulated" how? What specific "regulations" did you have in mind? (You have an "out" by saying that it has to be the "right regulation," so, pray tell, what is the "right" regulation?)

And ultimately, so what? Is Greece better off because it is more "regulated" (whatever that means)? Or because it has less "inequality?" Or is Greece now no-longer part of the "first world?"

And by "Europe," do you mean the EU (have you seen Europe's economy lately)? How about Switzerland? Are they more "regulated" (whatever that means)?

In case you have noticed, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, the UK (most of the EU, really) isn't doing that great right now, is it?

Edit: Let me know of the specific regulations you have in mind that will make everyone equal (like the Greeks, apparently). Hint: Just "regulations" does not mean anything without context. Do you mean to say that the EU has more laws than the U.S.? I wouldn't think of the U.S. as being a "deregulated" or an "unregulated" place. Would you? I live in California where the legislature is just now reviewing no fewer than 400 new laws to implement. I doubt that many (if any) Swiss cantons have more laws and regulations than California. Or Luxembourg. Or Estonia (which, by the way, is Europe's most recent economic miracle: a country with one of the freest -- albeit not perfectly free -- markets, relative to other countries).

Or perhaps you mean the Scandinavian countries (which I contest are not as "regulated" as you might think)?

*wilhem @1:03
Interesting political commentary...
The giant woman is Tarja Halonen, president of Finland.
The giant man is Andrus Ansip, prime minister of Estonia.

lol at hairy armpits.

It's called Kiiking Boise, a favourite pastime in Estonia ^Upvoted^

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiiking

*Obscure
*Sports
*Actionpack
*WTF
*promote
*quality

We spend proportionally less that everyone on newluke's table except Estonia and Switzerland. The problem is that the "only cut revenues, never raise them ever" philosophy of the last 30 years means that the government only takes in about 15-20% of GDP while it spends 25-30. We definitely need to bend the cost curve on health care and wrap up these wars. I'm sure there are also plenty of opportunities to defund minor federal programs that aren't doing much good. However, even if we do all this it won't balance the budget. Unless we want to stop having an army, or stop providing health care of any kind to the poor or elderly, or stop paying social security (while still collecting the taxes for it), we'll need a lot more revenue to get defects to a sustainable level.

Your video, The Simpsons, if Set in Estonia, has made it into the Top 15 New Videos listing. Congratulations on your achievement. For your contribution you have been awarded 1 Power Point.

Wait, they have television in Estonia now?

Looks very good,thanks. One minor thing: The country list in the preferences looks kind of half sorted:
* Estonia
* Egypt
* Western Sahara
* Eritrea
* Spain
* Finland
and so on.

Edit: Oh, yeah and *quality