Greetings, Ann! Cute kids! I notice you haven't been active at Atheist Nexus since Nov. <sigh> Sometimes it can seem a bit fragmented, with different groups for every interest. Please consider a group for socializing, where we talk about whatever's on our minds, Hang With Friends. :D You might feel more at home.

This sounds interesting. I am sure it is difficult to compare what is more or less benificial between our countries in terms of health care and quality of life. A lot determines on how a person views their disposition. I watched a movie on health care by Michael Moore called "Sicko" and it made countries like Great Britian, France and Canada look favorable compared to what America offers in terms of health. It is sad that health care is not a top priority among all governments.

I don't know much about Estonia, do you have dual citizenship of Finland and Estonia? I heard that families get treated well when having children. For example, there are benifits of time off to care for new borns and health care. Here in America there is a debate about how much health care should be afforded by the government. It seems that the people do not want our government to be responsible for the peoples health care that the people should be responsible for their own. The problem is that there are so many people who fall short of being able to afford enough health care for themselves. Class society seems to keep us hostage. The people here say that giving health care by the government is a socialist ideal and unAmerican.

Good to hear from you. I was interested in your homeland Finland. I hear it is much more people friendly, let's say, than American conservatism.

hi

Wow--Lappeenranta! My wife's parents live there (Sammonlahti) and we go there every other year. Mina en puhu viroa mutta puhun vahan suomea (too lazy for umlauts--sorry!) Nahdaan myohemmin!

I remember, but cheap or 'free gift' webcams are easy to come by nowadays. I think I even saw one enclosed in a magazine.

Cute. Is your new profile pic a webcam autoportrait?

And it took me two years to realize my laptop had a webcam. I could have been an artist much sooner. Sad!

No, it was done by a neophyte (me), using my laptop's built-in webcam.

Tere ka sulle!

Hello, Ann :) Thanks for accepting my friend invite. Lovely photos. :)

Beautiful "new" photo Ann...

Bonjour! Come stai?

Hi Ann :) Great to hear from you again! I haven't been to Estonia before but hopefully this year me and my wife could finally visit it. You are a wonderful people :) Please do keep in touch. My regards as well to your family. Cheers!

Thanks for adding me :) I met my wife Katrin Tiivoja online. Sounds funny but yeah.. :) I met her online. We're married for almost seven years now. Her dad is currently here in the Philippines for a visit and a holiday. I also have a friend here in our town who is married to a Finnish guy. Small world. Feel free to keep in touch. You can emaile me at b_ronta@yahoo.com.ph Olge tublid!

Tere, Ann! Can I add you to my list? I'm married to an Estonian from Polva. We have a daughter. We are still here in the Philippines but planning to go back soon to Estonia. Ciao.

Welcome to Atheist Nexus, the world of fine reasoning and rational sense.

Terry Meaden
founder of the group "ORIGINS: Universe, Life, Humankind, Religion, Darwin..."
This busy group has good discussion and writing, and about 100 science video clips including 10 recent Stanford University lectures on evolution. The ORIGINS group seeks to understand the mysteries of the universe and 'the sky', and how life and everything began.

Well, to be honest, I know absolutely nothing about Estonia. I ran across Arvo Part when I was in college, and have liked his work ever since. I also think I once had an Estonian liqour, or wine, or something like that, though my memory is fuzzy.