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	stella_polaris 2007-02-04 03:32 pm UTC (link)
	Atheists are the least respected minority in America? That's so weird. Here it's the other way 'round, sorta. You tell people you believe in God and most people will go "Really? That's interesting!" and then look away and not talk about it anymore. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	come_love_sleep 2007-02-04 03:40 pm UTC (link)
	It's true, though. I had a long discussion on it with my atheist boss, the other day--he brought in a recent newspaper with a big spread on it, lots of surveys and such that seem to support the claim. "Least likely to EVER be elected," at the very least. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	stella_polaris 2007-02-04 04:02 pm UTC (link)
	Now that's LOL-worthy to me, because at the moment we have a female president who used to be the chairman of the Finnish Sexual Equality movement, and is, apparently, an Atheist. At least I've never heard her refer to God in any of her speeches. (Also, her look-alike is Conan O'Brien.) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	vigilanterodent 2007-02-04 04:53 pm UTC (link)
	Query! Is Conan really as big in Finland as he likes to joke he is? (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	stella_polaris 2007-02-04 05:15 pm UTC (link)
	Yeah. Yeah he is. His show does so well that the channel airing him here actually airs the episodes with just a few days' delay. They don't do that in Finland with too many shows. We like him here. It started with the Sweden Sucks thing. The fastest way to a Finn's heart is through mocking Sweden ;) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	vigilanterodent 2007-02-04 07:13 pm UTC (link)
	That is charming. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	judyhazeleyes 2007-02-04 06:15 pm UTC (link)
	The more I hear about Finland, the more I love it a little bit. (Although Norway owns my heart thanks to Sondre Lerche. But still! A Conan-looking feminist president? Bestill my heart!) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	stella_polaris 2007-02-04 06:31 pm UTC (link)
	Feminist, that too, but the sexual equality movement is more about gay rights. There has been some speculation about whether the President herself is, in fact, bi, but we'll probably never know for sure. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	judyhazeleyes 2007-02-04 06:32 pm UTC (link)
	Ah, gotcha! Man oh man, how's her stance on immigration? Does she like Canadians? starts packing (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	happiestsadist 2007-02-05 05:17 pm UTC (link)
	Everybody likes Canadians. beams lovable Canadian smile (Reply to this)(Parent)

	minibalrogmum 2007-02-04 10:45 pm UTC (link)
	Norway likes you too, in its fjordy ways. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	mmanurere 2007-02-04 09:38 pm UTC (link)
	Meanwhile, here in the U.S. two of the three branches of government are controlled by people who think that their version of conservative Christianity is grounds for governance, and the third is run by wimps. So, how does Finland treat literature professors? (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	stella_polaris 2007-02-04 10:08 pm UTC (link)
	Also, we can choose from more than just two parties that are the complete opposites of each other! Literature professors are welcome to come and try their luck here :D (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	dragonfangirl 2007-02-05 12:29 am UTC (link)
	I wish we could choose from two parties that are complete opposites of each other. Instead, we get two parties that are pretty depressingly identical. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	(Anonymous) 2007-02-05 03:47 am UTC (link)
	Man, I was already in love with Finland and this whole thread is only fueling it. Now I really do have to visit there hugs her travel guide -Sage (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

stella_polaris
2007-02-05 03:30 pm UTC (link)

Come, come!

Although here's a tip. If you ever do come here, and you're not planning on going to North, then I come during the summer. The Finnish winter is wonderful and beautiful when it actually arrives, but for example, this year we had to wait until mid-January for real winter. Rain and darkness for two and a half months. Not good. If you want to see that, then go to London.

So come during the summer, summer always arrives, and it's never suffocatingly hot, and the Finnish nature is at its best in July-August!

/end marketing speech.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - (Anonymous), 2007-02-05 07:32 pm UTC

	the_mouse 2007-02-05 06:07 am UTC (link)
	Dammit, must you make it more appealing? I already want to move there/visit because of the man in my icon, must you make me want it more?! (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - (Anonymous), 2007-02-05 06:36 am UTC

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the_mouse, 2007-02-05 07:06 pm UTC

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the_mouse, 2007-02-06 02:25 am UTC

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the_mouse, 2007-02-06 04:40 pm UTC

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stella_polaris, 2007-02-05 03:26 pm UTC

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the_mouse, 2007-02-05 07:08 pm UTC

	nekoama 2007-02-04 03:46 pm UTC (link)
	I would figure that Scientologists would be the least respected out of the lot. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hallidae 2007-02-04 09:38 pm UTC (link)
	If mockery is truly a sign of respect and envy as some people claim, then they're the highest on the food chain. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	minibalrogmum 2007-02-04 10:48 pm UTC (link)
	Same here. Really, religion here is considered private and anyone who doesn't treat it like that gets treated a bit like someone who doesn't like skiing. * *A weird phenomena your parents have warned you against, but you're not entirely sure isn't just a myth. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	stella_polaris 2007-02-04 11:02 pm UTC (link)
	Ughhhh cross-country skiing. When I got out of primary school I promised myself I would never ski another inch. Btw, Norway FTW, totally. I spent a week in Valdres a year ago, stayed with an LJ friend. It was perfectly awesome. (Some pics, if you're interested.) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

minibalrogmum
2007-02-04 11:16 pm UTC (link)

Who needs to ski when you can watch it on telly and ogle the men/women/both (whatever's your pleasure) and feel superior about beating Sweden?

Nice pics! I admit to totally bias, but Norway really has some shiny, shiny sights. The whole Nordic region has a rough beauty to it that never fails to make me feel at home, really. (Except maybe sometimes at six in the morning a January morning with wind and -15 and pitch dark.)

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caoilte
2007-02-06 05:58 pm UTC (link)

I spent a week in Oslo and the south islands a few years back with an internet friend, and loved it. My son is totally obsessed with Norway and wants to live there.

*has tons of pics too* :)

I liked the islands - Oslo was a bit too confusing for me and I'm more of a country-ish person at heart anyway, even if it's frustrating living without proper working internet connectivity...*grumbles*

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	wrongly_amused 2007-02-05 12:57 am UTC (link)
	Yep. They did a survey awhile back, and apparently on the list of people most parents would be least inclined to accept their child marrying or finding trustworthy were atheists. I have to admit, I was somewhat surprised. I didn't think it was all that big of a deal until then. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	jenny_atrox 2007-02-05 07:32 am UTC (link)
	I am packing my bags and moving to this magical land in which you live right now. (Reply to this)(Parent)

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