Famous(?) Finns

[moomin]

Here's one vote for Tove Jansson!

[Mercator]

I knew 6, but only remembered the 6th after taking the poll.

But I know a few others:
Veli-Matti Lindström and Matti Hautamäki

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by kassiopeia
Not even Finns seem to know who this Martti Talvela characther is (myself included).

Guess they're like those Americans who can't find their state on a map!

Talvela is the greatest Finnish opera singer of the century, a wonderful bass. He was world-reknowned for his performances and quite popular at the major opera houses around the world. He was tapped to manage Finland's largest opera festival and opera house.

He died in 1989, at 56, dancing at his daughter's wedding. He was a huge man, 6'7" and built like a bear:

http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Talvela-Martti.htm

http://projects.locotech.fi/ondine/recordinfo.phtml?noban=0&recordid=184

2nd link has a couple of sound clips.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

What about Aaarsi Aaarshol?

[Stefu]

There was a guy called Arsi in our upper elementary school.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

I hope to God he didn't emigrate to Britain.

[Stefu]

I hope he does. He's apparently read Mein Kampf (and not in "delving in mind of psychopath" or "books that have influenced people" sense) and once wrote a Finnish essay on how all blacks and gypsies and Russians are evil.

[Meticulous Man]

LOL Well, what would you expect of someone presumably from Joensuu

[Stefu]

[SnowFire]

Hmm, Googleing some of these people afterward found this absolutely incredible site devoted to extolling the wonders of Finland! http://virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/ Check out some of these quote from "The Finnish Way of Life:"

" The Fenni live in astonishing barbarism and disgusting misery: no arms, no horses, no household; wild plants for their food, skins for their clothing, the ground for their beds.."

"They try to cultivate the mind a little there, but bears and wolves come so close in winter that all thought is of necessity concentrated on how to attain a tolerable physical existence."

"Serious, reserved and fond of a retired life." Descibres Stefu perfectly, eh?

"Nature´s unhappy stepson..."

"The Finns also have a bent for drink, even though there is no wine here whatsoever, except for illicit tavern keeping, which is harshly suppressed. But, all the way to St. Petersburg, the Finn will drink himself into forgetfulness, lose his money, horse, bridle, and return home poorer than a church rat."

[Winston]

Plus all Finns carry knives and keep a year's supply of vodka in the shed.

[-=Vagrant=-]

"Their character can tolerate cold and toil and what many a nation would consider to be insufferable famine."
Christian Friedrich Weber
Das veränderte Russland
1721

A nation which has fought so valiantly for its independence deserves respect.

Joseph Stalin, 1879-1953


I like those quotes from Virtual Finland. Food is for losers!

[Stefu]

Yes, we're rough, unkempt barbarians. And we're proud of it, dammit, except for Lenita Airisto. Dig these Finnish proverbs.

[The Eliminator]

Can't believe you forgot Jari Kurri and Esa Tikkanen!

[Meticulous Man]

Could only have 16 options. I chose Teemu Selänne to represent the Finnish NHL players.