Friday, December 23, 2005
Winter break....
So, Christmas is indeed upon us. To an extent I still wish I'd have the enthusiasm depicted below. Now, it's all gone to gluttony's way and getting intoxicated on alcohol more expensive than necessary... I'll keep this simple and just post a couple of strips from my all time favorite comic. As usual, all the required disclaimers and cliches about merry christmas etc should be added here but I'll save you from the trouble of reading them. Don't eat and drink too much.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Jesus is coming!
I have seen the light! To be fair, it was a neon light in a shop window, in the shape of a duck, but nevertheless I took it as a profound and deeply spiritual experience. That to me was a sign that we have finally not only crossed the line but advanced so far that we no longer remember which way the line is.
Now, this doesn’t mean that I have found the church or even faith (although I do enjoy a healthy bit of fundamentalism, where ever I encounter some). To me Christmas is just like the other holidays, another way for supermarkets to sell people all kinds of junk they don’t need (I mean, honestly, who really needs a popcorn machine? How hard is it to put oil and popcorn kernels in a pan!?!).
What I’m getting at is how far from the original concept of Christmas we have allowed ourselves to be taken. If a visitor from outer space landed on Oxford Street in central London a few days before Christmas, it might be a pretty damn hard job for him (him, because aliens coming to our planet are always portrayed as male on tv, sorry, that’s just how it is) to figure out what was going on. If I was a betting man I would put good money on him NOT guessing that people are preparing to celebrate the birth of a man who talked about being nice to others and not to worry about one’s earthly possession too much because it would all be sorted after this life ended (and no, this is not a time for Lennon joke!).
I predict that our friend from outer space would think that we are preparing for a draught, famine, or a proper orgy, by stocking up on food, drink, and questionable underwear. If he, however, decided to gain a better understanding of the situation (in the true spirit of inter-galactic investigative journalism), he might sneak into a home of a local family and witness the human practise of Christmas. There he would encounter Christmas pudding, oven baked, winged life-form served with stuffing, and finally conclude that the whole point of the ritual was to poison your nearest and dearest.
Depressed after uncovering the dark secret of human Christmas, he would find the nearest pub, drink himself into a stupor, and in the end be beaten up by a gang of thugs who had noticed his strange accent. On the way back to his home galaxy he would walk around his flying saucer and curse the mankind (except that Branson fella, who is nice enough to help people escape the planet, even if it’s just for a while).
Summa summarum: if I was Jesus, I would be pretty pissed off. I mean, imagine having a cracking birthday for a couple of millennia, and then in the matter of a few years people start to identify Christmas with neon ducks and Ann Summers sales.
I’m telling you, we have one angry birthday boy in our hands here. Someone find him a party hat, quick!
Now, this doesn’t mean that I have found the church or even faith (although I do enjoy a healthy bit of fundamentalism, where ever I encounter some). To me Christmas is just like the other holidays, another way for supermarkets to sell people all kinds of junk they don’t need (I mean, honestly, who really needs a popcorn machine? How hard is it to put oil and popcorn kernels in a pan!?!).
What I’m getting at is how far from the original concept of Christmas we have allowed ourselves to be taken. If a visitor from outer space landed on Oxford Street in central London a few days before Christmas, it might be a pretty damn hard job for him (him, because aliens coming to our planet are always portrayed as male on tv, sorry, that’s just how it is) to figure out what was going on. If I was a betting man I would put good money on him NOT guessing that people are preparing to celebrate the birth of a man who talked about being nice to others and not to worry about one’s earthly possession too much because it would all be sorted after this life ended (and no, this is not a time for Lennon joke!).
I predict that our friend from outer space would think that we are preparing for a draught, famine, or a proper orgy, by stocking up on food, drink, and questionable underwear. If he, however, decided to gain a better understanding of the situation (in the true spirit of inter-galactic investigative journalism), he might sneak into a home of a local family and witness the human practise of Christmas. There he would encounter Christmas pudding, oven baked, winged life-form served with stuffing, and finally conclude that the whole point of the ritual was to poison your nearest and dearest.
Depressed after uncovering the dark secret of human Christmas, he would find the nearest pub, drink himself into a stupor, and in the end be beaten up by a gang of thugs who had noticed his strange accent. On the way back to his home galaxy he would walk around his flying saucer and curse the mankind (except that Branson fella, who is nice enough to help people escape the planet, even if it’s just for a while).
Summa summarum: if I was Jesus, I would be pretty pissed off. I mean, imagine having a cracking birthday for a couple of millennia, and then in the matter of a few years people start to identify Christmas with neon ducks and Ann Summers sales.
I’m telling you, we have one angry birthday boy in our hands here. Someone find him a party hat, quick!
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Friendship
Recently I made a little trip to Finland of which I mentioned about here as well. One of the things that was brought up was the ability to feel 'comfortable' and 'free of car key comparisons'. Well, I've been meaning to write about this for a while as all the things I said earlier turned out to be as I thought they would. So, this kinda made me wonder about friendship in general.
It was really good to see the old bunch after a long while. Of course, there are always some who can't make it due to family stuff or other carefully laid out excuses. Nevertheless, all the people who showed up for the party enjoyed themselves immensely. A brilliant night with sauna, swimming pool, food and ludicrous amounts of ethylic substances in liquid consistency - not forgetting the best part - the friends.
Sharing a small town background and football as a serious hobby for over a decade, we have all wondered off to various ways. Some are engineers, some bankers, some electricians and ther's even a bloody officer (I dare not say a gentleman...) in the crowd. Some have kids, some dont, and those who have them it seems that even their kids get along just fine when they meet, just like their parents do. So, friendship, how do you get to know that you share that with someone?
First, you need to have something in common that you all believe in. This is the single most important tenet of friendship. You must all believe that by sharing your time and thoughts with certain person/people, you will find a level of fulfilment out of it. So, it is a selfish thing then? Not exactly, but close. Of course we want to be with 'good' people, rather than 'bad' people but even most of the good people don't make the cut to become real friends. And this is the important part - how does one find 'real' friends to amend the gap left there once the brother/sisterhoodhood of the youth has gone their own way and you're left on your own in a new place?
I'm finding it difficult and this is not only because of living in a different country. People are just as 'good' and 'bad' here as they are elsewhere and even the cultural differences are not as massive as one might think. One of the things must be that I've failed to meet people that truly share my beliefs, be them about the society or the latest alcopop in the market. I guess my point is that when you meet a person you might become friends with, you will know that instinctively by the things that you share an understanding about. Maybe it is then, that here in UK where people are more prone to small talk and chatter than in Finland, it is more difficult for me to find my way through that initial barrier. Don't take me wrong, I'm becoming rather competent in this weather-talk (to a frightening extent!) but maybe the next thing to learn would be finding a way through. Maybe that'll take another seven years...
Right. Just a few thoughts this time. The good people writing to this blog all share something with me and that makes me feel good. Thanks for your friendship!
It was really good to see the old bunch after a long while. Of course, there are always some who can't make it due to family stuff or other carefully laid out excuses. Nevertheless, all the people who showed up for the party enjoyed themselves immensely. A brilliant night with sauna, swimming pool, food and ludicrous amounts of ethylic substances in liquid consistency - not forgetting the best part - the friends.
Sharing a small town background and football as a serious hobby for over a decade, we have all wondered off to various ways. Some are engineers, some bankers, some electricians and ther's even a bloody officer (I dare not say a gentleman...) in the crowd. Some have kids, some dont, and those who have them it seems that even their kids get along just fine when they meet, just like their parents do. So, friendship, how do you get to know that you share that with someone?
First, you need to have something in common that you all believe in. This is the single most important tenet of friendship. You must all believe that by sharing your time and thoughts with certain person/people, you will find a level of fulfilment out of it. So, it is a selfish thing then? Not exactly, but close. Of course we want to be with 'good' people, rather than 'bad' people but even most of the good people don't make the cut to become real friends. And this is the important part - how does one find 'real' friends to amend the gap left there once the brother/sisterhoodhood of the youth has gone their own way and you're left on your own in a new place?
I'm finding it difficult and this is not only because of living in a different country. People are just as 'good' and 'bad' here as they are elsewhere and even the cultural differences are not as massive as one might think. One of the things must be that I've failed to meet people that truly share my beliefs, be them about the society or the latest alcopop in the market. I guess my point is that when you meet a person you might become friends with, you will know that instinctively by the things that you share an understanding about. Maybe it is then, that here in UK where people are more prone to small talk and chatter than in Finland, it is more difficult for me to find my way through that initial barrier. Don't take me wrong, I'm becoming rather competent in this weather-talk (to a frightening extent!) but maybe the next thing to learn would be finding a way through. Maybe that'll take another seven years...
Right. Just a few thoughts this time. The good people writing to this blog all share something with me and that makes me feel good. Thanks for your friendship!
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
And then what?
Ok, yes, it's nice to go to the office pre-Xmas celebrations, I guess the reason for that is unknown, but almost everybody does so in the Western world. I live somewhere in the West, therefore I have gone to a boring pre-Xmas dinner.
This week is also full of other stuff to do. Tomorrow I will more or less try to teach something about feminism in a bar at 10am. Besides of that I will have to hand back essays to my students (including their marks of course). I was tempted to go to the supermarket and get some chocolates and/cakes for my students, but I have decided not to. Could that be my only display of appreciation for their hard work during the term? Or should I be honest and tell them that they have been so bloody lazy that sometimes I've felt like leaving the classroom? Should I tell them that they did so bad in their essays that I was appalled? Should I confess to them that the marks I am giving them are actually false and that I was asked to increase them?
What else? Oh yes, nice minced meat pies and mulled wine this week too. I don't even remember when was the last time I had that stuff, but I guess I will indulge myself into them because there might not be anything else to do at that time of the day. That could be solved of course if I go to the library or to a computer lab, but then again, I will be able to do that during all the holidays if I please to do so.
That last part leads me to my whole point of this blog. What happens after all this meeting and 'partying'? Meeting friends and others, for days and days...for most of them to go away in the Xmas holidays. For a month there won't be anyone that can help to kill the time over a beer or two. There will not be any excuse not to work. There will be no excuse whatsoever to justify watching a really bad movie in the cinema. It will be just me for days and days of not talking to someone, not even having that sort of email conversations. Nothing, zero, nada, rien.
And yet, yet...there is that light in between the long tunnel. My family in law are coming over for Xmas, and I guess I should see that as a nice thing to wait for. Yes, I do like to wait for nicer things to come and I shall enjoy the days of silence...but I am not always so balanced neither positive. Coping sounds more like it.
This week is also full of other stuff to do. Tomorrow I will more or less try to teach something about feminism in a bar at 10am. Besides of that I will have to hand back essays to my students (including their marks of course). I was tempted to go to the supermarket and get some chocolates and/cakes for my students, but I have decided not to. Could that be my only display of appreciation for their hard work during the term? Or should I be honest and tell them that they have been so bloody lazy that sometimes I've felt like leaving the classroom? Should I tell them that they did so bad in their essays that I was appalled? Should I confess to them that the marks I am giving them are actually false and that I was asked to increase them?
What else? Oh yes, nice minced meat pies and mulled wine this week too. I don't even remember when was the last time I had that stuff, but I guess I will indulge myself into them because there might not be anything else to do at that time of the day. That could be solved of course if I go to the library or to a computer lab, but then again, I will be able to do that during all the holidays if I please to do so.
That last part leads me to my whole point of this blog. What happens after all this meeting and 'partying'? Meeting friends and others, for days and days...for most of them to go away in the Xmas holidays. For a month there won't be anyone that can help to kill the time over a beer or two. There will not be any excuse not to work. There will be no excuse whatsoever to justify watching a really bad movie in the cinema. It will be just me for days and days of not talking to someone, not even having that sort of email conversations. Nothing, zero, nada, rien.
And yet, yet...there is that light in between the long tunnel. My family in law are coming over for Xmas, and I guess I should see that as a nice thing to wait for. Yes, I do like to wait for nicer things to come and I shall enjoy the days of silence...but I am not always so balanced neither positive. Coping sounds more like it.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Three down, two to go...
Christmas parties that is. It seems that everyone is having them. Companies, clubs, and even the gym I go to has one for it's customers (that's definately one to miss, though. Self-obsessed, pumped up idiots getting drunk together, no thanks).
In general, I'm all for parties, and these pre-Christmas things are mostly quite ok. But when you have at least one event every week it starts to get a bit dull. Of course, these things are much more bearable when they are organised by people who are together from their own free will, like clubs and gatherings of friends. But when it's these corporate Christmas parties, that Nygard already mentioned in his last post, that's when you can kiss the fun goodbye.
It's not an awful lot of fun to try to smile to your superiors and their stories of golfing in this or that exotic country. Nor is it a great delight to have a conversation with the office drunk, who can't quite decide whether he loves or hates you, and instead just shouts incoherently in your ear. To top it all up you have to try to stay relatively sober and normal or you know there will be no end of the gossip in the office the next week. So, I think it's quite enough to have Christmas once a year.
Looking at the bright side, though, once these compulsory celebrations are over, it's only a little while until Chistmas holidays and the much needed freedon from work and everything that comes with it.
Hang in there, it won't be long!
In general, I'm all for parties, and these pre-Christmas things are mostly quite ok. But when you have at least one event every week it starts to get a bit dull. Of course, these things are much more bearable when they are organised by people who are together from their own free will, like clubs and gatherings of friends. But when it's these corporate Christmas parties, that Nygard already mentioned in his last post, that's when you can kiss the fun goodbye.
It's not an awful lot of fun to try to smile to your superiors and their stories of golfing in this or that exotic country. Nor is it a great delight to have a conversation with the office drunk, who can't quite decide whether he loves or hates you, and instead just shouts incoherently in your ear. To top it all up you have to try to stay relatively sober and normal or you know there will be no end of the gossip in the office the next week. So, I think it's quite enough to have Christmas once a year.
Looking at the bright side, though, once these compulsory celebrations are over, it's only a little while until Chistmas holidays and the much needed freedon from work and everything that comes with it.
Hang in there, it won't be long!
Monday, December 05, 2005
Christmas time, corporate hospitality, can't go wrong with this... or can you?
Finally, something to actually post about! Well, don't get too excited just yet, it's only a small novelty toy after all... This (via Engadget) is a must get for all office dictators out there. I've seen it in action and man, can this boy cause some bemused looks on people's faces. I still don't have one myself but it's only a matter of time this will become an irreplaceable asset in my armoury. Beware, all of you!
On the more down to earth kinda way, it's been hectic in the office. I've been tasked with more things than ever before which has made me wonder if somebody from the office is actually reading this blog (hope not...). Somehow it's all been ok, as I do prefer to do something instead trying to kill time.
My new bosses (a large mobile phone operator) took us to an 'evening of recognition and rewards' a couple of weeks ago. It was your typical day: early start, business breakfast mingling with all the people you've never met before, then moving on to the infamous ice-breaker (luckily, they did not use any fat penguins) and yet another business lunch. All good so far but hey, where's the catch? I'd call it a mild case of brainwashing, to be careful. Everything and everyone was so bloody happy working for this multinational that it made me feel sick and no, it was not the free food and alcohol on offer, but the entire 'one happy family' thing. To conclude, a good day out of the office with all expenses paid with a nice overt agenda of turning us all into well-oiled machine making gazillions of cash.
So, there is all I have to say for today. I hope to be back shortly and all the other useal disclaimers and cliches. Enjoy your Christmas parties for you know that it's going to be the only 'free' thing you'll be getting from your employer.
So long
On the more down to earth kinda way, it's been hectic in the office. I've been tasked with more things than ever before which has made me wonder if somebody from the office is actually reading this blog (hope not...). Somehow it's all been ok, as I do prefer to do something instead trying to kill time.
My new bosses (a large mobile phone operator) took us to an 'evening of recognition and rewards' a couple of weeks ago. It was your typical day: early start, business breakfast mingling with all the people you've never met before, then moving on to the infamous ice-breaker (luckily, they did not use any fat penguins) and yet another business lunch. All good so far but hey, where's the catch? I'd call it a mild case of brainwashing, to be careful. Everything and everyone was so bloody happy working for this multinational that it made me feel sick and no, it was not the free food and alcohol on offer, but the entire 'one happy family' thing. To conclude, a good day out of the office with all expenses paid with a nice overt agenda of turning us all into well-oiled machine making gazillions of cash.
So, there is all I have to say for today. I hope to be back shortly and all the other useal disclaimers and cliches. Enjoy your Christmas parties for you know that it's going to be the only 'free' thing you'll be getting from your employer.
So long
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