Finnish Nationalist Bill Tuomala (of Exiled on Mainstreet and Rocks Off fame), writes in to comment on the reported preferred method for Chileans and Argentineans to pan a film: the hoisting of Molotov cocktails:
For some sick reason when I read your recent post on Che, all I could think of was: "Yep, my people over in the old country invented (or at least named) the Molotov Cocktail!" I love this entry from Wikipedia. Specifically the "Safety" part, which doubles as a 'Molotovs For Dummies' instructional:
Despite the crudeness it is tricky for an amateur to make an effective Molotov cocktail. The main failure is in over-filling the bottle. A full bottle will not ignite quickly when it breaks on impact (but has a longer burning potential). For a device to explode rapidly on impact the bottle is only one half to two-thirds full of mixture. One difficulty of mention is not paying attention to carefully wiping the bottle down to remove all traces of the internal flammable liquid from the external parts of the bottle prior to lighting the rag. Another is to mistakenly use the ignition rag to stopper the bottle.
Other difficulties come with the proper fixing of the stopper in the mouth of the bottle (it must be airtight to prevent fumes from escaping), the proper fixing of the rag (use metal wire to securely fasten it. Also, a short rag is better), the possibility of mishandling after the rag is ignited, and the use of inappropriate bottles, such as short-necked, wide-mouthed, too fragile or too tough.
Maybe it was the Molotov Cocktail that kept Finland out of the Warsaw Pact post-WWII?
Well, it was either that or the Paasikivi Doctrine, defined in the Wikipedia entry for Findlandization (which sounds like it might have been Rudy Perpich's secret plan to evacuate the Iron Range, with honor):
Finland's foreign relations were guided by the Paasikivi doctrine, emphasizing the necessity to maintain a good and trusting relationship with the Soviet Union. To this end, Finland signed an Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance with the Soviet Union in April 1948. Under this pact, Finland was obliged to resist armed attacks by "Germany or its allies" against Finland, or against the Soviet Union through Finland, and, if necessary, ask for Soviet military aid to do so. At the same time, the agreement recognized Finland's desire to remain outside great-power conflicts, allowing the country to adopt a policy of neutrality during the Cold War. Hence Finland did not participate in the Marshall Plan and took neutral positions on Soviet overseas initiatives. By keeping very cool relations to NATO, and to western military powers in general, Finland could fend off Soviet preludes for affiliation to the Warsaw Pact.
A little bomb throwing here, some appeasement of evil there. Yep, that sounds like every Finn I know.
UPDATE: Tuomala responds.
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