Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Semper Finlandia, At Least for Now

So when Simon (a.k.a. Simonian) got back from Wolverhampton (whose denizens, I'll have you know are Wilfrunians, but don't hold me to the spelling, mate) less than a fortnight ago (do they still say "fortnight"? they just did), he was generous enough to bring back with him, just for me, the July 4 issue of The Guardian, which I've enjoyed browsing through, in what we now call "hard copy," but which we used to call, simply, "a newspaper." A grand paper. Great for style, snappy writing, and intelligent takes on the issues of the day, including, ahem, a story on page 13 informing us that Finland, which will be holding the EU presidency for the next six months, is publishing weekly news bulletins in Finn--, excuse me, Latin. Yup. See for yourself:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/eu/story/0,,1812166,00.html

Plus Nuntii Latini (the News in Latin) is on every Sunday night on YLE, the Finns' radio station:

http://www.yleradio1.fi/nuntii/id50.shtml

This, of course, gives new meaning to Classic Rock.

Can the Holy (or Unholy) Finnish Empire be far behind? Or ahead?

Just so we all know, the Finnish language is not related to Latin.

What do Latinas such as J Lo or Salma think of this Latin-Finnish-EU thing?

With major league baseball becoming more international, will umpires (Wholly Roamin' Umpires -- couln't resist) call balls and strikes in Latino to be fair to all?

Mia Lahti is the editor of the Finnish EU presidency's website. Isn't that something you say in Starbucks?

And will the folks in Finland care for an Age Quod Agis mug, shirt, thong, hat, boxer shorts, postcard, or sticker from the wantonly and shamelessly promoted Laughorist Store?

Good night, and "arma virumque cano qui Trojae ab oris" something something something.

13 comments:

Unknown said...

I cut melons and look at nekkid boobies on the internet. This El-lattino stuff is way over my head. LOL But, I read your blog every day.. Right down to the Finnish. And I will take a samll Lathi to go.

Later Yall.

Unknown said...

ooops typo.... that's SMALL Lathi

proof read before posting... got to remember that... proof read before posting. I should be spanked.

Later yall.

Pawlie Kokonuts said...

Will,
Thanks for chiming in, and no, I can't say that in Latine (Latina?).

Limeball,
Excellent erudition, there. Unparalleled. A cup of Lahti to go?

MC, You should be spanked, but I'm afraid you'd like it too much.

jbwritergirl said...

I am currently available for all spanking chores.

PK, Limeball, sounds like something that happens shortly after ingesting a margarita.

Macoosh said...

congrats on the bestest blog of the day, buddy!!! keep writing and keep readin!!! :)

Army said...

Congratulations on being the Bestest Blog of the Day!! I tip my hat to thee.

jbwritergirl said...

Whee-HaH! You're a top dog, one of the best, congrats!
jb

Andrew McAllister said...

But how do you leave a comment in a hard copy newspaper? Okay, I can do this ... bear with me. So you get a pen ... ummm, and you write in the margin ... and then ... absolutely no one sees it. Good thing we're over here in the Blogosphere.

Congrats on being the Bestest Blog of the Day!

PhoenixHearse said...

YAY for getting Bestest Blog!

Anonymous said...

To One and Awe:
Thanks for the congrats --- and thanks to Blogmeister BG for my 15 minutes in the sun (tho' today the shade felt pretty darn good). It's all downhill from here. (Incidentally, William Safire about a hundred years ago wrote a column about that expression; things going "downhill" can be a positive or a negative, depending on use. English. Go figure.) Speaking of figures [here I go again, with the parens, or brackets], Ralph Keyes, in The Quote Verifier book, says that that "15 minutes of fame" quote by Andy Warhol is one of "the most quoted, and misquoted, observations of modern times." Keyes notes that the original Warhol quote came from a catalog for a 1968 Stockholm show. For those keeping score, it goes like this: "In the future everybody will be world-famous for fifteen minutes." Hmm. does that mean everybody at the same time? Or is it your turn now? Anyway, thanks again to everybody, both those folks I hadn't heard from before and loyal readers as well.

arb® said...

here by way of bestes blog.

peace.

Anonymous said...

Ab...thanks for "stopping by words on a nonsnowny morning," to paraphrase Rob't Frost on a hot day....I'm overdue for blogging....maybe tonight

arb® said...

what's wonderful is when someone makes a reference i know. creates a feeling of connection. i've loved that poem since high school when i first read it.

for those of you not familiar, here it is:
"stopping by woods on a snowy evening"
Whose woods these are I think I know,
His house is in the village though.
He will not see me stopping here,
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer,
To stop without a farmhouse near,
Between the woods and frozen lake,
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake,
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep,
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Words, and Then Some

Too many fled Spillways mouths Oceans swill May flies Swamped Too many words Enough   Said it all Spoke too much Tongue tied Talons claws sy...