The neighbouring countries have enjoyed many great battles on the ice. They last met for gold at the 1998 world championship, won by Sweden. Three years earlier, Finland bested Sweden for the only world title in its history.

But for myself I do not regard mediumship very favourably.

“Whatchu got, man?” / “Reds, bennies, dexies, yellow jackets, demmies.” / “Yeah, demmies're good shit, man. I pay you. Fuck. I got money. I'm hurting inside. Got beat up. Where my money?”

This small but highly intelligent people deserve the more our attention, because it was the only one of all the Slavic States that had adopted a republican form of government, which it succeeded in maintaining by bravery and shrewd policy between powerful neighbors until it was swept away by the storms of the Napoléonic wars.