Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2003/01/31/reg_fotw_star_feted/

Reg FoTW star feted in Finnish press

Ambassador, you spoil me

By Andrew Orlowski

Posted in Bootnotes, 31st January 2003 00:09 GMT

Poland's cultural ambassador to the Internet, "jpzr" has been feted in the Finnish press this week after he published his views of the country he left at Christmas.

The fellow was already a star amongst Register readers for this Flame of The Week.

Sometime at the end of last year, he left his employer Nokia to move to Germany, leaving behind this amazing, rambling rant about Finland.

Now the Finns have struck back, with a vicious parody of the original.

[Warning: like much great satire it is highly offensive, but it is one of the funniest things I've ever found on the Internet (sample: Polish inventions to the world cuisine include the Hamburger, which is a meat coupon in between two bread coupons; and the author - step forward, whoever you are - has the "jpzr" writing style licked.]

The original "Finland is lame" is countered with " SUPER Pooland!!!111!!! =l33t!"; and the ever evolving revision numbers of "jpzr"'s classic (it was Version 16 on Monday, and is now up to Version 29) is matched with a rotating blur of a revision counter.

Although "jpzr"'s talent for diplomacy has so far only been recognized in small technical communities, such as Java for mobile devices [sample - sample - sample] taking on an entire nation is an ambitious development.

"Do not piss off the Finns. We have very formidable way of showing our emotions. If someone is to diss the Finns, it is we ourselves," writes the author.

One fascinating footnote comes from a reader and former colleague, whose name we must not use:- "I used to live in the opposite block to 'jpzr'. The 'dog in the cold' photograph is taken outside our local grocery store in Tampere. I've a feeling it's his girlfriend's dog."

OK, that's enough. ®

Related FoTW

"Look in the mirror, Mr Piranha"