Monthly Archives: November 2007

in english

Recommended book: The Undercover Economist

After reading Freakonomics some time ago, I had decided it was time to read another book on economics for the layman (yes, I've encountered economics courses during my studies, but was thinking about something that my wife, who has not often come across such issues, could also read).  Therefore, I picked up this book by Tim Harford, one of my favourite FT columnists.  His blog, linked above, is also a blast.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book myself, and I would definitely suggest anybody with a little bit of curiosity to pick it up.  The chapter on underdeveloped countries, in my opinion, should be read by pretty much everybody who cares about these issues, especially those of us who are from or live in one of those places.

en español

La vida del inmigrante

Un amigo me mandó este artículo.  Me quedo con el párrafo referenciado abajo:

"Tengo la impresión de que cualquier ser humano que, por necesidad o elección, se va de su tierra en la edad madura para vivir en otro sitio ajeno, perdiendo sus códigos, su acento, sus amigos del alma, su familia y sus libros y discos de adolescencia, se convierte en otra persona a la fuerza. Y esa otra persona no es ya de ninguna parte. Pero tiene un pariente cercano en cualquier inmigrante, tiene historias comunes con todos los que se han ido. Yo tengo más temas en común con un senegalés que llegó a España en patera que con un francés que vive en París. Somos muchísimos los que estamos en otra parte, los que ya no tenemos en el bolsillo la llave de la casa de nuestros padres. Los inmigrantes somos un país sin bandera y sin himno, pero nos reconocemos por la calle y sabemos cuánto nos cuesta cada día no olvidar de dónde vinimos, de dónde somos."

in english

Sauna

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One of the best things about Finland is sauna. The word itself, as many a Finn will point out, is the only one in their language that has been adopted internationally (beats "bastu" in my book).  There is a certain etiquette to be followed while in sauna, and it is indeed an integral part of the culture, to the point where the most serious discussions and the closest relationships (no sean malpensados, canijos) will take place there.

The language also has certain words that have their origins in sauna.  For example, löyly means steam, but the kind of steam that comes from throwing water at the sauna stove.  Furthermore, in line with unfortunate recent events, verilöyly, composed of the words "sauna steam" and "blood", gives a very grisly picture to the listener and accordingly means massacre.  Saunakalja is used for beer drunk in sauna and they even have a saying that "Jos ei sauna, viina ja terva auta, niin tauti on kuolemaksi", or "If sauna, alcohol and tar don't help, then the disease is deadly".

Now you know: in order to understand Finnish culture one has to experience and feel sauna.

in english

Language differences

Shouldn't take you this far.  The gist of the story is that the distributor of a Mexican horror film in Spain wants to dub it to "Spanish from Spain", regardless of whether the plot takes place in Mexico.  You don't see Brits dubbing American movies or vice versa, do you?  Subtitles, maybe, but it shows how unprepared and unwilling Spaniards are to listening other usages of the same language, regardless of whether they have a much larger number of speakers than those in Spain.  Don't even get me started on their foreign language proficency (or lack thereof).

Absolutely ridiculous.

in english

Tabasco relief in Finland

The Mexican Embassy in Finland has published the following data of a bank account to which people living in Finland can donate funds earmarked for helping our brothers and sisters suffering the aftermath of the horrible floods in Tabasco.

Bank:                           Nordea

Account Holder:         Embassy of Mexico

Name of account:      Aid Tabasco/Ayuda Tabasco 2007

Account number:       182030-17582

I will publish the SWIFT & IBAN codes of the account as soon as I get them.  Many thanks to the embassy personnel that set this up in coordination with Tlatelolco over the weekend (the funds will be sent directly to Mexico City.

Update: The Mexican Embassy in Belgium also has an account, and in that case they have the information needed for overseas deposits.  All deposits to the accounts provided by Mexican embassies will be consolidated in Mexico, so it doesn't really matter where you donate, but that you do if so you wish.  Your contribution is really appreciated.


Bank: Banco Bilbao Vizcaya BBVA

Account number:  642-0021207-62

Account name:  AYUDA TABASCO 2007

Address: Franklin Roosevelt 94. 1050 Brussels.

Branch: Main branch, Brussels, Belgium.

IBAN:  BE51 6420 0212 0762

BIC: BBVABEBB

in english

Verosirkus

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One of the few things I really don't agree with regarding the way things work in Finland is the whole tax circus every year. Not only do I find it extremely sad that a whole country can be built at the same time on the principles of equality and jealousy of your neighbour, but I find it appalling that this information is public without my permission.

Furthermore, since this info is available in the net, it's an enormous security risk, it's a disaster waiting to happen.
How long before we see a Finn (or a Finnish resident) being held for ransom or worse on a trip abroad with his captors perfectly aware of his/her total ability to pay?

It is a breach of my privacy, my rights and it is reckless. When will they understand?