Hyvää päivää/Good day! The “virtual” spring session of Finnish language classes will start on Monday, March 30, at 6 PM and will run for consecutive Mondays, ending on May 18. Email Lorna for details.
Classes are held on line w/ZOOM software.
To register, please contact Lorna Sulin at LDSULIN@verizon.net or 978 407-9690, FCSP, PO Box 30, Fitchburg, MA 01420.
Kiitos/Thank you! and Stay Safe!
Finland has a new government, headed by Social Democratic Party vice chair, Sanna Marin. The administration is Finland’s 76th.
At just 34 years old, Marin, the former Minister for Transport and Communications, is now the world’s youngest premier. Her cabinet consists of 12 women and seven men. All leaders of the five-party government coalition are women.
President Sauli Niinistö appointed the new administration shortly after 3pm on Tuesday, at the same time accepting the resignation of the previous government led by SDP chair Antti Rinne.
Rinne had been premier for just six months before tendering his resignation over his mishandling of a labour dispute between postal workers and their state-owned employer, national mail carrier Posti. Rinne and his government continued in a caretaker capacity until Marin’s formal appointment on Tuesday.
On Oct. 14, 2025, Microsoft will officially end public support for Windows 10 — that means no more software updates, security patches, or technical support for your Windows 10 computer, no matter how well it still works.
Don’t worry: If you’re using a Windows 10 PC right now, it’s not going to magically stop working next year. So, what to do?
2. Ride it out with Windows 10…“Trying to secure an outdated operating system is hopeless,” said Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer of the Finland-based cybersecurity group WithSecure. When new patches and updates are released for Windows 11, he says, attackers will reverse-engineer those releases to see if the same vulnerabilities exist in Windows 10 as well.
“Most of them will, and users running Windows 10 will be attacked,” he added
3. if you’re one of those people whose PC simply won’t play nice with Windows 11, it might be worth considering buying a new computer outright.
4. Ditch Windows altogether….a,) In the past, we’ve found success with ChromeOS Flex — free software or b.) there’s always Linux — distributions like Mint and Ubuntu are relatively easy to get started with ( best of all; it’s free and Finnish – from Linus Torvalds).
From the Washington Post 08/25
“All these connected devices, all these ‘smart’ devices in our networks. And I should know because I am the father of the Hypponen Law, which tells you that whenever something is described to you as ‘smart’ what you should be hearing is… it’s vulnerable.”
Mikko first tweeted his law, which triggers over 60,000 search results on Google, almost 7 years ago, in December of 2016. And it seems to become truer every day.
Even the FBI and Interpol have tried to make the case to internet users that they should not assume these connected devices are safe just because they don’t have a keyboard.
Copy of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Refugees was due to be returned to Helsinki’s central library month after USSR invaded Finland
By one of those so called “honest” Finns?😉
Enjoy
Bob H
—
TITLE: The Finnish Long Drink_
_ROLE DESCRIPTION: Our Finnish person should be able to speak with a
Finnish accent. They are quirky, quick-witted, warm, fun-loving, funny,
might have a comedic flair along with their friendly and happy
personality. They should enjoy conceptualizing and creating content as
well as working a creative team from an agency and brand to develop
ideas. They should have the understanding of setting up shots properly
with good audio and lighting._
_SHOOT LOCATION: Talent’s location. Matt @ Stuart Stone Casting
323-866-1811 ext 2
https://stonecasting.tv
Finnish & Cooking Classes in Spring 2025
Hei kaikki/ Hello Everyone
It is time to sign up for March Finnish classes!
(And yes, you are allowed to sign up for following months already, too, lol)
If you need some help with Suomen Mestari 1 chapters 7-8, (word types, locations, partitiivi in “mass-words” and post positions, and a little bit of the object) please join Finnish Basics starting 3/6, Thursday evenings.
On Sundays Sanakirja continues at 6PM and Listen & Understand at 6.30PM
Hauskaa kevättä kaikille, toivottavasti nähdään kursseilla!
Happy Spring Everyone, I hope to see you in class soon!
Saija
MAALISKUU/ MARCH
Sanakirja
Sunday Evenings 3/2-3/23 at 6.00-6.30 PM EST $35
30 minute weekly class about vocabulary given, making your own sentences. You will be given sentences in English and you will translate them in Finnish.
Listen & Understand
Sunday Evenings 3/2-3/23 at 6.30-7.00 PM EST $30
30 minute weekly class with listening exercises, texts and questions provided a week ahead. You will hear the same text 3-4 times, and then you can answer the questions.
Finnish Basics VOL3 jatko
Thursdays 3/6-3/27 at 7.30-8.30 PM EST $80
Beginner-level online class using the book Suomen Mestari 1. Chapters 7-8. Continuing where Finnish Basics was left in chapter 7.
HUHTIKUU/ APRIL
Sanakirja
Sunday Evenings 4/6-4/27 at 6.00-6.30 PM EST $35
30 minute weekly class about vocabulary given, making your own sentences. You will be given sentences in English and you will translate them in Finnish.
FINNISH FOR BEGINNERS 4/3-5/29 at 7.30 PM
Suomi-koulu of New England additional class starting from the Beginning!
If you missed the first round, here is your second chance! We will start Suomen Mestari 1 from the beginning on Thursday nights. 9 weekly lessons in April-May.
$150 FFB members, $180 non-members
Easy Reading
Sunday Mornings 4/6-4/27 at 10-11 AM EST , $80
New texts with syllables helping your pronunciation and getting your emphasis right when speaking Finnish.
Below are the classes offered IN PERSON. Fitchburg, Weston and West Newton.
SAIMA PARK, Fitchburg MA, March-June
3/31-6/9, 3 groups!
Advanced 3-5:00 PM (includes 4:30-5:00 coffee)
Beginners 4:30-6:30 PM (includes 4:30-5:00 coffee)
Advanced Beginners 6:30-8:15 (includes 6:30-6:45 coffee)
TUITION $80, members $75
SUOMI-KOULU of NEW ENGLAND, Weston MA, March
Saturday 3/29 at 10-12 Baking Korvapuusti!
$30/ person
Join us to bake traditional korvapuusti from scratch and go home with warm baked goods!
SCANDINAVIAN CULTURAL CENTER, West Newton MA, April
4/4-4/25 Off to Finland!, Fridays 6-7.30 PM, $150, members $100
Travel phrases, Helsinki hotspots ja Handy tips. If you are planning to travel to Helsinki/ Finland this Summer, this is for you!
SAIMA PARK, Fitchburg MA, May
5/4 at 10-1 Baking Nisu/ Pulla/ Kahvileipä
$30/ person, $25 for members.
Join us to bake traditional nisu! We will be doing this from scratch, going over the history of this lovely baked good while we bake.
If you wish to try to bake korvapuusti (cinnamon roll) as well, please let us know and it will be added to the list!
Dwight Swanson is doing research on Finnish-American home movies and films for a presentation at Finnfest this summer, and one of the centerpieces is going to be the films of George Bergroth. Dwight writes: “I saw them in the documentary that Judith Lindstedt did about Bergroth, and they are the best that I have found anywhere. I have been trying to find out where the original films have ended up, since Judith only ever had VHS copies. I would like to find the films to help get them preserved or at least digitized in a higher resolution, if possible. I have been in touch with Marita Cauthen, Charlie Huse, and Marian Flinkstrom, but so far keep running into dead ends, since none of them seem to know where the films might be.
If ANYONE has any leads about the location of the films (or at least the video copies, since I haven’t seen all of those), I would greatly appreciate it.”
Sincerely,
Dwight Swanson 804-320-1217
The Viipuri Library, one of the great early masterpieces by architect Alvar Aalto, used to be in Finland. Since 1940, it has been in Russia. The library didn’t move; the border did….
Ten specially-trained dogs are starting work at Helsinki Airport, using their noses to sniff out passengers with Covid-19.
It’s part of the City of Vantaa’s efforts to test new ways to reduce the spread of the virus, with the canine coronavirus detectors able to smell the virus with almost 100% accuracy during tests conducted by the University of Helsinki.
“We are among the pioneers. As far as we know no other airport has attempted to use canine scent detection on such a large scale against Covid-19” says Airport Director Ulla Lettijeff from Finavia. More at https://newsnowfinland.fi/domestic/covid-19-sniffer-dogs-start-work-at-helsinki-airport
US women now have universal suffrage Tennessee legislature has ratified the 19th Amendment to the Constitution - - Conservatives are trying to prevent ratification Nashville, Tenn. Aug. 19th - The Tennessee House yesterday opted to join, with 50 votes in favor, 46 against, the Senate’s Friday decision of 25 votes in favor and 14 against to ratify the proposed 19th Amendment to the US Constitution. Tennessee is the 36th state that has ratified the amendment granting American women universal suffrage. The amendment becomes the law once Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby officially declares it ratified. The Democrat and Republican votes of the Tennessee House were as follows: In favor: 35 Democrats and 15 Republicans; against 34 Democrats and 12 Republicans. Absent were one Democrat and two Republicans. In the Senate, 18 Democrats and 7 Republicans voted in favor; against three Democrats and one Republican. An effort to repeal the ratification The Speaker of the House Walker, who is one of the most vehement opponents of women’s suffrage, at last moment changed his vote from a “nay” to a “yes” to make it possible, according to Parliamentary rules, to readdress the ratification, and if possible to repeal it. He has two days to present his proposal. The proponents of women’s suffrage are determined to be present to prevent all repeal efforts. The proponents have only a two-vote majority, thus the opponents are hoping to get a couple of the supporters to miss the session or to get a couple of the absentees to join them. The proponents of women’s suffrage say they are certain that there will be nothing to prevent millions of American women to cast their ballots in the Nov. 4th elections. The opponents no doubt will try to filibuster the enactment with lawsuits, but the general opinion strongly supports universal suffrage, and according to the suffragettes they will be nullified. Translated by Marita Cauthen 15.08.2020 https://www.raivaaja.org/RAIVAAJA_PDFS/1920-08-23r.pdf
The Three Smiths Statue in Helsinki, Finland, wore masks last week amid the coronavirus pandemic. The country has tapped into its stockpiles to fight the outbreak. Credit…Kimmo Brandt/EPA, via Shutterstock
STOCKHOLM — As some nations scramble to find protective gear to fight the coronavirus pandemic, Finland is sitting on an enviable stockpile of personal protective equipment like surgical masks, putting it ahead of less-prepared Nordic neighbors.
The stockpile, considered one of Europe’s best and built up over years, includes not only medical supplies, but also oil, grains, agricultural tools and raw materials to make ammunition. Norway, Sweden and Denmark had also amassed large stockpiles of medical and military equipment, fuel and food during the Cold War era. Later, most all but abandoned those stockpiles.
But not Finland. Its preparedness has cast a spotlight on national stockpiles and exposed the vulnerability of other Nordic nations.
When the coronavirus hit, the Finnish government tapped into its supply of medical equipment for the first time since World War II.
“Finland is the prepper nation of the Nordics, always ready for a major catastrophe or a World War III,” said Magnus Hakenstad, a scholar at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies.
Though year after year Finland has ranked high on the list of happiest nations, its location and historical lessons have taught the nation of 5.5 million to prepare for the worst, Tomi Lounema, the chief executive of Finland’s National Emergency Supply Agency, said on Saturday. More at https://dnyuz.com/2020/04/05/finland-prepper-nation-of-the-nordics-isnt-worried-about-masks/
