Estonian Workforce Gives Stunning Vote-of-No-Confidence to Corrupt Managers

According to a piece in The Baltic Times on Friday, Estonians don't trust their managers. A poll conducted by Enterprise Estonia found that only 15% of the Estonian population believe in "the honesty and ethical nature" of managers.

Oddly enough, the poll also found that managers tend to think more highly of themselves than the rest of the population does.

And a third of those polled found the predominant management style to be "confrontational" and "authoritarian".

Old habits die hard in post-Soviet Europe.

Happy Birthday, Cyberwar

Estonia is readying its army of nerds in preparation for the one-year anniversary of Russia's rogue cyber attacks on Estonian Government websites and services. According to the Guardian, senior officials in Estonia are expecting a repeat performance this April.

Estonia is set to spearhead NATO's cyberdefense initiative with the "Cyber Defence Center of Excellence," to be created in Tallinn next month.

Calling all Lvl 70 Night Elf Druids!

See for yourself.

Estonian Security Official Tempting Fate?

Bin Laden knows his cue when he hears it. And after last week's comments from an Estonian security official, he may yet decide to single out the Estonian infidels. Here's Security Police Commissar Andres Kahar on Bin Laden's most recent threat to spank America's War of Terror sidekick, the EU, for coloring outside the lines of a Muhammad cartoon:

"As the threat was intended for the whole European Union, pertaining to all
residents of EU member countries, including Estonia, the Security Police will
certainly not leave it unnoticed. But we do not currently forecast an
increase of the threat of terror in Estonia." (emphasis mine)

Ooooh snap! He's askin' for it!

BREAKING: 2008 Presidential Race Hinges on Estonian Contest

No way! Apparently back in 2004, Senators John McCain and Hillary Clinton got wasted in Estonia and totally almost hooked up.

According to NYT's Anne Kornblut (?), McCain led a Congressional delegation to Estonia in the racy summer of '04. Clinton, then serving her first term as a Senate noob, tried to seem cool by proposing A VODKA DRINKING CONTEST!!!!! OMFG!

And no one remembers shit! Writes Kornblut: "Memories are a bit hazy on who drank how much."

Clinton's spokesman commented: "What happens in Estonia, stays in Estonia."

You know what that means....oh yeah...you know.......

Here's the article, in case you prudes ain't buyin it.

Inflation Nation

According to new information from the Bank of Estonia, economic indicators here paint a sobering picture. From the Baltic Times:

Official figures reveal that the Estonian Consumer Price Index (CPI) basket became 0.4% more expensive in February, bringing year-on-year price growth to 11.3%. One grain of comfort is that the month-on-month price increase was considerably slower in February compared to the 2.2% increase in prices in January.

"Economic cooling, seen in the rapid decline in the volume of retail trade and industrial production, contributes to the easing of domestic price pressures. Compared to end-2007, wage growth has slowed, but the goverment should stimulate a further slowing with the help of fiscal policies," said Eesti Pank economist Martin Lindpere.

Bummer.

Paul-in-Tallinn

Estonia successfully and (sigh) peacefully beat back America's own Ron Paul Revolution on the frontlines of Tallinn earlier this week.

Summoned by a flashmob, five (that's right, five) Paulbots (a.k.a. Paultards, or Paultardobots) stormed the Town Hall Square of Tallinn's Old Town neighborhood, held up a sign, realized that no one else in Estonia knows who the f*** Ron Paul is, and quickly dispersed.

UPDATE: Estonian Ministry of Defence did not return calls for comment.

Neato!!

I'll add a permanent link later, but for now, check out this super-advanced website about Tallinn (Estonia's capital city, idiot).  It's got a virtual tour of the city, and a 24-hr webcam that broadcasts live.  You can watch Estonians walking down the street!!!!!

Go digital infrastructure!

Here's the link.  You'll prob. need an updated flash player.

Estonians Gather to Celebrate Bush Departure

Here's a painfully long video of Air Force One on the runway in Tallinn airport. See if you can watch long enough to see the plane actually taxi and take off! I sure couldn't.

MAIDEN POST!!!!!!!

Ok. It worked.