Woohoo. I'm finally writing again. Saying that, I feel like there's very little to celebrate. I've been ill with a cold for a good two and half weeks and it is really starting to piss me off big time. Maybe after the weekend I'll feel better, maybe not. Time will tell.
Anyhow, it's once again time for the winter olympic games and this time in Torino. Being a Finn I guess it must be passed along in the mother's milk that at least to certain extent you just have to be watching sports, and in particular winter sports. Makes sense, if you remind yourself that winters in Finland are rather long and summers, well they usually make an attempt to arrive just to realise that it's already time to go before the fun really begins. This may be a slight overstatement but you get the picture.
Winter, nevertheless, offers a variety of sports possibilities and pastimes. Take skiing for example, Finns have never really been interested in alpine skiing as a competitive sport before the last few years. I'm tempted to blame this on the older generation who simply can not understand that you can call something like that a sport where you are being taken up the slope by machinery and come down using the force of gravity.
Most of us who have tried alpine skiing know that this is not the case but you have to remember that crosscountry skiing is a whole different story altogether. It's said to be one of the most demanding endurance sports there are and for a reason. Last time I was on a pair of x-countries was probably in the army during my national service and that's a shame, for it really is one of the best forms of exercise you can do.
This dichotomy should not prevail and it appears that alpine skiing is finally gaining some respect (not to mention snowboarding, freestyle skiing and, of all mother earth's things, curling!). This is largely thanks to two or three successful skiers who have finally brought Finnish alpine skiing to the top. Today, it appears that first Finnish alpine skiing medal has become reality. I rest my case. Did I forget to mention there are no mountains in Finland?
Now curling, there's a weird 'sport'. I'm not sure if I'm too old-fashioned to call it a sport. Sure, you need good skills to throw the stone accurately and good arms to swipe the ice clean in front of the sliding stone. But a sport?
Hype is currently the closest thing I'd use to describe the interest curling has raised over the last few days. Finland is in the olympic final against Canada and almost 1.7 million people are expected to watch this on telly. Traditionally, only ski jumping or ice hockey get such figures.
Just to create a little more contrast, Canada has one million people curling players whereas Finland has one thousand and yet, they are in the olympic final. Man, something's truly wrong or maybe 'Uusis' really is the coolest man on the planet (Finland skipper). Madness, but hey it's all good albeit I don't see people actually getting fit doing this.
Ok, that does it for the day. I still feel quite ill and fed up with my job but that's a different story so until then, adios.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Confession: Couldn't resist the temptation
Honestly I was not planning to write anything about this, but the hell, I started elsewhere and this space will not be the exception. Amen.
Yes, it is about St. Valentine's Day. Well, this day really does not matter much to me, although the media's influence and the selling of 'The Best Ever Break-Up Songs' and Tesco Value roses, or the Student Union's roses, affect the people's pockets in the island. Mieheni barely looked at me when I told him this morning 'Happy Valentine's Day', and I thought that such would be the most effort I will put into this 'tradition'. Come on, I even had the radio off to avoid hearing to all sorts of stories and songs and things about the day. But few minutes ago, I turned the radion back on.
Indeed, all changed when the first thing that appeared in my computer screen, and I literary mean that it appeared, one email from my father... There is always someone out there who will remind you about those things you bitterly want to forget about; not because you are lonely or unlovable, but because those things have acquired other meanings for you. And because simply, I like to complicate everythinggggg.
Anyway, what my father reminded me, once again, is that it doesn't matter what i think of this day. In his normal casual ways, he described how he, my mother and siblings went to celebrate the day in advance on a Sunday brunch. Yes, they went to the nice buffet place that Nygard likes. Ah, yes, dad also said that he and mom will go today, again, out for brakfast. Later, I received a text message from my boss and friend, reminding me about the date.
So that's it? Shouldn't this insanity stop here? Should I move on with my day and begin working on the outline of the last chapter of my thesis? Or should I be part of this imaginary chain? Yeah, I will be today's prophet, my own of course, but just for today.
So far I have written an email to my siblings, cousin, aunt, uncle and his partner. My grandad, other aunt and mother don't read emails, although they like chatting with me in the msn every now and then. But because the family are the people who most likely would expect me to write them on this day, I decided to write to my best friends and even attach a silly photo of mine, why not?
Lastly, I made my confession here with all the intensions of making you part of the same thing. Whatever happens after this, it will not be my responsibility, but what you decide to make of it. Just as I did.
Yes, it is about St. Valentine's Day. Well, this day really does not matter much to me, although the media's influence and the selling of 'The Best Ever Break-Up Songs' and Tesco Value roses, or the Student Union's roses, affect the people's pockets in the island. Mieheni barely looked at me when I told him this morning 'Happy Valentine's Day', and I thought that such would be the most effort I will put into this 'tradition'. Come on, I even had the radio off to avoid hearing to all sorts of stories and songs and things about the day. But few minutes ago, I turned the radion back on.
Indeed, all changed when the first thing that appeared in my computer screen, and I literary mean that it appeared, one email from my father... There is always someone out there who will remind you about those things you bitterly want to forget about; not because you are lonely or unlovable, but because those things have acquired other meanings for you. And because simply, I like to complicate everythinggggg.
Anyway, what my father reminded me, once again, is that it doesn't matter what i think of this day. In his normal casual ways, he described how he, my mother and siblings went to celebrate the day in advance on a Sunday brunch. Yes, they went to the nice buffet place that Nygard likes. Ah, yes, dad also said that he and mom will go today, again, out for brakfast. Later, I received a text message from my boss and friend, reminding me about the date.
So that's it? Shouldn't this insanity stop here? Should I move on with my day and begin working on the outline of the last chapter of my thesis? Or should I be part of this imaginary chain? Yeah, I will be today's prophet, my own of course, but just for today.
So far I have written an email to my siblings, cousin, aunt, uncle and his partner. My grandad, other aunt and mother don't read emails, although they like chatting with me in the msn every now and then. But because the family are the people who most likely would expect me to write them on this day, I decided to write to my best friends and even attach a silly photo of mine, why not?
Lastly, I made my confession here with all the intensions of making you part of the same thing. Whatever happens after this, it will not be my responsibility, but what you decide to make of it. Just as I did.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Future will be great!
This post obviously shouldn't be here, considering the previous post. But here goes anyway, it's too good to give it a miss... and besides, I would not have money to buy this anyway.
I've been expecting for things like this for long and finally, it seems, vision becomes reality (apologies to Nokia's marketing team from whom the sentence is borrowed from).
Beer, the ultimate beverage, and the Japanese. Now, here we have an equation that can't go too badly wrong (unless you're a Japanese having drunk a few too many) if you think about future. The samurai warriors have come up with an ingenious invention that I wish will decorate my living room one day. Just look at it - refridgerator space for six cans of beverage of your choice, and an automatic pouring system delivering the perfect glass with a nice head every time at a push of a button (though I'd like to see it try and pull a perfect pint after a good old shakeup trick).
Ahh, the future will not be too bad after all as technology is coming to meet the social demand of us beer drinkers to the dot. Hence, us beer drinkers need to stick together always. Who knows what's waiting to come out from the pipeline!
Typing's making me thirsty. Hmmm... wonder what I should drink to quench this thirst?
[via Oh Gizmo]
I've been expecting for things like this for long and finally, it seems, vision becomes reality (apologies to Nokia's marketing team from whom the sentence is borrowed from).Beer, the ultimate beverage, and the Japanese. Now, here we have an equation that can't go too badly wrong (unless you're a Japanese having drunk a few too many) if you think about future. The samurai warriors have come up with an ingenious invention that I wish will decorate my living room one day. Just look at it - refridgerator space for six cans of beverage of your choice, and an automatic pouring system delivering the perfect glass with a nice head every time at a push of a button (though I'd like to see it try and pull a perfect pint after a good old shakeup trick).
Ahh, the future will not be too bad after all as technology is coming to meet the social demand of us beer drinkers to the dot. Hence, us beer drinkers need to stick together always. Who knows what's waiting to come out from the pipeline!
Typing's making me thirsty. Hmmm... wonder what I should drink to quench this thirst?
[via Oh Gizmo]
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Sad World We Live In
This is a quite accurate depiction of today's world. A British stencil artist Mantis has managed to capture the essence of contrasting worlds in a very touching way. Need or want, you decide?
I've nothing more to say.
[via Gizmodo]
Monday, January 30, 2006
Little Bird Flying
This is the bull named Pajarito, Little Bird weighting 503 kilos. It jumped towards the sitting area of the Plaza Mexico, in Mexico City, just seconds after it entered the bull fighting ring. The poor thing injured six persons and created terror in the arena. Pajarito was killed asap and the bullfight continue for the pleaseure of the rest of the blood thirst audience. Ole!
http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2006/01/30/
Friday, January 27, 2006
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Techno Thriller, part 1.
I just tried to add the Opera Mini browser button to the blog unsuccessfully. First, let me just say that if you want to consider using www through your mobile phone, this is the best place to start - all you need to do is to open your phones native browser and enter mini.opera.com and the app will be downloaded and installed in minutes. The best part is that the software is fully free, you only pay for approximately 100kb of data for the download.
Once installed, this little marvel will render most websites readable and fully enjoyable using Opera's own server. This means that your data charges will be reduced significantly as the server reduces the size of the website to accommodate your mobile phone's screen. Mini should work on most of the java-enabled handsets out there. I've used the browser mostly for testing purposes and have to say that it is definitely good and fast to use.
Secondly, I'm quite disappointed at myself for failing miserably trying to add the button on the right sidebar. I guess it should show there but my purpose was not to move the whole bloody bar like that. Maybe someone who actually knows html could advise on where do I add the script. Another lesson learned: do not attempt to do things that you have no clue about without consulting with more capable people first.
So, if you're interested in mobile internet and want the best possible surfing experience, look no further. Note to self: I should definitely stick to the things I know something about.
Until someone fixes the blogs appearance, my apologies to all.
Once installed, this little marvel will render most websites readable and fully enjoyable using Opera's own server. This means that your data charges will be reduced significantly as the server reduces the size of the website to accommodate your mobile phone's screen. Mini should work on most of the java-enabled handsets out there. I've used the browser mostly for testing purposes and have to say that it is definitely good and fast to use.
Secondly, I'm quite disappointed at myself for failing miserably trying to add the button on the right sidebar. I guess it should show there but my purpose was not to move the whole bloody bar like that. Maybe someone who actually knows html could advise on where do I add the script. Another lesson learned: do not attempt to do things that you have no clue about without consulting with more capable people first.
So, if you're interested in mobile internet and want the best possible surfing experience, look no further. Note to self: I should definitely stick to the things I know something about.
Until someone fixes the blogs appearance, my apologies to all.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Just another day...
As with so many previous posts, today's one will most likely be full of complaining, bitching and nearly relentless repetition of old jokes. Here's just a little recap to start with: I should have been more explicit in my previous post about my year 2005. Now one might come accross reading it like a list of things I managed to waste my little money on. This was not the intention, honestly. It is funny, nevertheless, that most of the things that really sprang to mind in the process of writing it were more or less what some more educated people might call consumer commodities. It does go without saying that we all suffer from the same fetish but at least it was not my intention to come accross like a bourgeois pig.
Blah, I shouldn't really care about that but wanted to get that off my chest.
If you're one of the more observant kind, you might notice that this post is, once again, written during the glorious corporate working hours. I gladly take any opportunity to use the time they pay me for to do all things random, such as blogging. Now, and please don't laugh, this is serious, this kind of behaviour can be seen as tactical action against my employer - using their time and their means of production for my own good (?) purposes. I believe a certain continental philosopher actually called this something like 'la perruque' - the wig (this is the time when the more observant ones will once again realize that I've lost the plot). Obviously any tactical action taken will always be only a part of a grander strategic goal and this is the question I, indeed, pondered upon: What and where are my strategic goals in life?
So far, I've managed to leave behind the safe haven provided by the family and the Finnish state. All the tactical actions I have taken until now have taken me to my current situation (yes, I know, this is self-evident) but at no point has it become clearer where will these choices take me eventually. Moreover, I'm not alone anymore making all the decisions that might affect the strategic outcome. The equation is just getting more complicated all the time and my inside tactical centre is getting more confused. Where will we end up eventually, who knows...?
Hell with this! I need gadgets and trips abroad!!! Speaking of which, Granada was rather nice. Should not come as a great surprise that one of the main attractions there was the local drink and food. The great thing about Granada is pretty simple: show up in one of the many nice bars, order a beer and get a free snack to go with it. Yes, that's right, you still get a free snack of great Andalucian variety (paella, chorizo, olives, omelette, etc) with a beer. A word of warning though, or two. The Granadians can be a bit tricky so always check your bill before paying and keep a track of how many canas (a small glass of beer) you have ordered. Secondly, if you spend more that four days, be prepared to be craving for something else to eat. As good as it is, there are limits for everything. In sum, a nice city with gorgeous mountain scenery, the great Alhambra fortress and good tapas (food).
I'll be back - as I keep promising...
Blah, I shouldn't really care about that but wanted to get that off my chest.
If you're one of the more observant kind, you might notice that this post is, once again, written during the glorious corporate working hours. I gladly take any opportunity to use the time they pay me for to do all things random, such as blogging. Now, and please don't laugh, this is serious, this kind of behaviour can be seen as tactical action against my employer - using their time and their means of production for my own good (?) purposes. I believe a certain continental philosopher actually called this something like 'la perruque' - the wig (this is the time when the more observant ones will once again realize that I've lost the plot). Obviously any tactical action taken will always be only a part of a grander strategic goal and this is the question I, indeed, pondered upon: What and where are my strategic goals in life?
So far, I've managed to leave behind the safe haven provided by the family and the Finnish state. All the tactical actions I have taken until now have taken me to my current situation (yes, I know, this is self-evident) but at no point has it become clearer where will these choices take me eventually. Moreover, I'm not alone anymore making all the decisions that might affect the strategic outcome. The equation is just getting more complicated all the time and my inside tactical centre is getting more confused. Where will we end up eventually, who knows...?
Hell with this! I need gadgets and trips abroad!!! Speaking of which, Granada was rather nice. Should not come as a great surprise that one of the main attractions there was the local drink and food. The great thing about Granada is pretty simple: show up in one of the many nice bars, order a beer and get a free snack to go with it. Yes, that's right, you still get a free snack of great Andalucian variety (paella, chorizo, olives, omelette, etc) with a beer. A word of warning though, or two. The Granadians can be a bit tricky so always check your bill before paying and keep a track of how many canas (a small glass of beer) you have ordered. Secondly, if you spend more that four days, be prepared to be craving for something else to eat. As good as it is, there are limits for everything. In sum, a nice city with gorgeous mountain scenery, the great Alhambra fortress and good tapas (food).
I'll be back - as I keep promising...
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Bring it on!
I know I have a tendency to complain about most things I encounter in my life, so this should be refreshing change: the year 2005 was actually not too bad!
It didn’t really seem to have such a hot start, though. In the first hours of 2005 I was alone in my flat in Jakarta, drinking the Christmas leftovers of some truly awful cheapo vodka.
From then on, however, things got much better. I spent a couple of months travelling in Southeast Asia, without even catching malaria. Hurray!
After I returned home from my holidays I had a letter waiting for me. It was a “thanks-but-no-thanks” reply to a job application I had posted before my travels. Well, alright then, I’ll find something else, I thought. But then the phone rang and the same people who had sent the rejection were now asking if I was interested in working for them, something else had come up that would suit me, they said. So, here I am now, quite enjoying the job I didn’t really even apply for.
Not so much changed in my personal life last year. I still keep on living in sin with my lovely girlfriend, which is nice.
I still judge people for little faults that I’m totally happy to allow for myself. But that just humane isn’t it. And if not at least it’s good fun. And if there is one thing we should do this year is bring back the fun in fundamentalism!
So, a good year it was. Not all sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll, but enough of each to keep me going. Now I’m ready for the new year, so bring it on! If it’s as good as the last I have no fear.
It didn’t really seem to have such a hot start, though. In the first hours of 2005 I was alone in my flat in Jakarta, drinking the Christmas leftovers of some truly awful cheapo vodka.
From then on, however, things got much better. I spent a couple of months travelling in Southeast Asia, without even catching malaria. Hurray!
After I returned home from my holidays I had a letter waiting for me. It was a “thanks-but-no-thanks” reply to a job application I had posted before my travels. Well, alright then, I’ll find something else, I thought. But then the phone rang and the same people who had sent the rejection were now asking if I was interested in working for them, something else had come up that would suit me, they said. So, here I am now, quite enjoying the job I didn’t really even apply for.
Not so much changed in my personal life last year. I still keep on living in sin with my lovely girlfriend, which is nice.
I still judge people for little faults that I’m totally happy to allow for myself. But that just humane isn’t it. And if not at least it’s good fun. And if there is one thing we should do this year is bring back the fun in fundamentalism!
So, a good year it was. Not all sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll, but enough of each to keep me going. Now I’m ready for the new year, so bring it on! If it’s as good as the last I have no fear.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Another year gone, what's next?
He-hey, we're back. Now that it's new year and all, I've seen a few blogs with a listing of things from the year gone and for the year to come and I thought that why the heck not. My listings, however, are not exhaustive and conclusive, on the contrary. I can only list things from last year that I remember and want to remember and what comes to predicting the year to come - I'll leave that to Madam Marie and other professionals and stick to less educated guesses and dreams myself...
Things from my 2005:
- Three pairs of socks thrown away as toes started to make their way out from the wrong end.
- Several hundred cans of lager (mostly XXXX as it's often the cheapest but also Carling and Foster's) have found their fizzy way in to my body leaving the good old rex ethyl in action before leaving the body behind in slightly, well at least a little, different form .
- Few angry and pathetic posts about boredom at work and market capitalism in this 'blog', which was started this year as well
- Moved from my old desk in the office to new one (bigger and better, hurray!)
- Got rid of my old Nokia 6600 (my first S60 handset, what a great piece of engineering)
- Replaced 6600 with N70, need I say more?
- Some guitar strings replaced
- Still trying to learn how to play the 'Tele'
- bought a car (my first ever actually)
- two days of corporate hospitality (No, I'm still not brainwashed)
- A couple of trips:
Budapest - nice city with reasonable prices and excellent thermal baths
Lake District (UK) - beautiful scenery and decent hiking, too many tourists though
Yllas, Lapland (not the home of the lapdancing) - Family occasion with plenty of good skiing and great weather. (Xinola's first ever ski trip!)
A couple of shorter visits to Finland to meet family and friends
Champagne, France - Nice little extended weekend in good company and some fizzy drinks.
- Some people were also kind enough to visit us here. Thanks to all those who made it.
- Went ice skating after a seven year break (great fun!)
- Struggling with the cold climate and an old victorian house (ongoing).
- New decent music found. Great and not so great films watched
- Going to theatre in London for the first time.
Things to look forward in 2006:
- A trip to Granada
- A holiday in Mexico and maybe a visit to Finland
- Spring
- Summer and the World Cup!
- Xinola's thesis finished
- Moving to a new house?
- hopefully more visits from friends and family
Things to be afraid of in 2006:
- Gas bill
- George W. Bush's administration and all neo-con/neo-liberalist policies of our current realm (ongoing from several previous years around the globe)
I think that'll do for now but I'll be amending my lists as I remember more things. Now, I think it's time to put some Flaming Sideburns on, they rock!
Things from my 2005:
- Three pairs of socks thrown away as toes started to make their way out from the wrong end.
- Several hundred cans of lager (mostly XXXX as it's often the cheapest but also Carling and Foster's) have found their fizzy way in to my body leaving the good old rex ethyl in action before leaving the body behind in slightly, well at least a little, different form .
- Few angry and pathetic posts about boredom at work and market capitalism in this 'blog', which was started this year as well
- Moved from my old desk in the office to new one (bigger and better, hurray!)
- Got rid of my old Nokia 6600 (my first S60 handset, what a great piece of engineering)
- Replaced 6600 with N70, need I say more?
- Some guitar strings replaced
- Still trying to learn how to play the 'Tele'
- bought a car (my first ever actually)
- two days of corporate hospitality (No, I'm still not brainwashed)
- A couple of trips:
Budapest - nice city with reasonable prices and excellent thermal baths
Lake District (UK) - beautiful scenery and decent hiking, too many tourists though
Yllas, Lapland (not the home of the lapdancing) - Family occasion with plenty of good skiing and great weather. (Xinola's first ever ski trip!)
A couple of shorter visits to Finland to meet family and friends
Champagne, France - Nice little extended weekend in good company and some fizzy drinks.
- Some people were also kind enough to visit us here. Thanks to all those who made it.
- Went ice skating after a seven year break (great fun!)
- Struggling with the cold climate and an old victorian house (ongoing).
- New decent music found. Great and not so great films watched
- Going to theatre in London for the first time.
Things to look forward in 2006:
- A trip to Granada
- A holiday in Mexico and maybe a visit to Finland
- Spring
- Summer and the World Cup!
- Xinola's thesis finished
- Moving to a new house?
- hopefully more visits from friends and family
Things to be afraid of in 2006:
- Gas bill
- George W. Bush's administration and all neo-con/neo-liberalist policies of our current realm (ongoing from several previous years around the globe)
I think that'll do for now but I'll be amending my lists as I remember more things. Now, I think it's time to put some Flaming Sideburns on, they rock!
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
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Don't try this at home
It's been three days and a couple of hours since I stopped smoking. And I'm hating it!
It's not the first time either. I've been on and off cigarettes for the past 15 years. The longest break I had was a couple of years. but somehow I always get back into the old habit. You know how it is: you're in a pub, everyone else is smoking so it doesn't really make a difference if you have one, and so it goes. The next day you just finish the ones left in the packet. Then you just get a packet of ten, just for special occasions. And after a couple of days every coffee break is a special, bloody occasion.
So I'm a veteran of failed attempts to quit smoking. And now I'm trying again. The difference is that this time my reasons are quite different from before. There are, naturally, some of the same factors that you encounter in a country like Finland every winter: at some point you just start feeling like a mug standing outside in the rain or snow, freezing your ass off, and sucking on fag, while other are enjoying healthy life indoors.
But this time there is another reason. More pressing than the usual ones. Now I'm simply fed up of going for a cigarette at work, not because of the facilities (which are crap by the way, but as a smoker you learn to live with that) but because of the endless whining and whinging that goes on there. I mean, half the fun of having a fag at work is that you can have a break from your work. But when you go out and all that people are talking about is how horrible their jobs are, it's just too much for me. I'm not kidding, it's like the old Monty Python sketch about the moaning yorkshiremen: "Oh, my job is so shite, I have to work 20 hours a day for 10 cents per hour". "You have it so good. I have to work round the clock, and they don't even pay me". "But that's nothing, I have to work 30 hours a day, 8 days a week, and pay to even get into the building!" It's fun for the first couple of days but then it starts to get to you.
So, it's no more cigarettes for moi. I will start a new, healthy life, free from all the moaning and whinging. Maybe as an added bonus my blood circulation will return to normal and my hands and feet will stop feeling so bloody cold all the time.
That's the plan, anyway. I'll let you know if I fall off the wagon.
It's not the first time either. I've been on and off cigarettes for the past 15 years. The longest break I had was a couple of years. but somehow I always get back into the old habit. You know how it is: you're in a pub, everyone else is smoking so it doesn't really make a difference if you have one, and so it goes. The next day you just finish the ones left in the packet. Then you just get a packet of ten, just for special occasions. And after a couple of days every coffee break is a special, bloody occasion.
So I'm a veteran of failed attempts to quit smoking. And now I'm trying again. The difference is that this time my reasons are quite different from before. There are, naturally, some of the same factors that you encounter in a country like Finland every winter: at some point you just start feeling like a mug standing outside in the rain or snow, freezing your ass off, and sucking on fag, while other are enjoying healthy life indoors.
But this time there is another reason. More pressing than the usual ones. Now I'm simply fed up of going for a cigarette at work, not because of the facilities (which are crap by the way, but as a smoker you learn to live with that) but because of the endless whining and whinging that goes on there. I mean, half the fun of having a fag at work is that you can have a break from your work. But when you go out and all that people are talking about is how horrible their jobs are, it's just too much for me. I'm not kidding, it's like the old Monty Python sketch about the moaning yorkshiremen: "Oh, my job is so shite, I have to work 20 hours a day for 10 cents per hour". "You have it so good. I have to work round the clock, and they don't even pay me". "But that's nothing, I have to work 30 hours a day, 8 days a week, and pay to even get into the building!" It's fun for the first couple of days but then it starts to get to you.
So, it's no more cigarettes for moi. I will start a new, healthy life, free from all the moaning and whinging. Maybe as an added bonus my blood circulation will return to normal and my hands and feet will stop feeling so bloody cold all the time.
That's the plan, anyway. I'll let you know if I fall off the wagon.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Just in case...
..you are as bored as I have been lately:
Click here only if you are ready to switch your brain off for a good while and stare at your screen.
If that doesn't do it for you try this
Go nuts!
Click here only if you are ready to switch your brain off for a good while and stare at your screen.
If that doesn't do it for you try this
Go nuts!
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Feared 'Chaveller'
The next are quotes from The Independent
http://travel.independent.co.uk/news_and_advice/article327167.ece
"When chavs first burst on to the scene in their tacky tracksuits, designer baseball caps and oversized jewellery, Middle England shuddered.
"A few years later, those concerns have been justified. Chavs have indeed taken over their world.
"Taking upward mobility to new heights, the "chaveller" has become such a common figure abroad that the middle classes are opting for some of the most far-flung locations in the world to avoid them. According to the UK and European Travel Report, instead of heading for the beaches of Spain or Portugal, the chav-allergic tourist is more likely to explore countries such as Mozambique or Libya.
"According to the report, the rise of cheap air fares has propelled the "chav" around the world. The trend has gathered pace because "chavellers" feel more able to quit their well-paid jobs or trades, knowing they can pick them up again when they return home."
Oh dear, I have sometimes dreamed about doing something like working for a while, saving money, leaving my job and then go for a nice treat somewhere to then come back to look for another job and so on and so forth. I actually did not have a clue that such category was assigned to the chavs...At least they are enjoying some of that sort of freedom that many of us can only dream about.
Well done for the chavs! (Be aware that this comment is limited to the content of this article and not to the rest of the chavs' activities/attitudes)
No more comments.
http://travel.independent.co.uk/news_and_advice/article327167.ece
"When chavs first burst on to the scene in their tacky tracksuits, designer baseball caps and oversized jewellery, Middle England shuddered.
"A few years later, those concerns have been justified. Chavs have indeed taken over their world.
"Taking upward mobility to new heights, the "chaveller" has become such a common figure abroad that the middle classes are opting for some of the most far-flung locations in the world to avoid them. According to the UK and European Travel Report, instead of heading for the beaches of Spain or Portugal, the chav-allergic tourist is more likely to explore countries such as Mozambique or Libya.
"According to the report, the rise of cheap air fares has propelled the "chav" around the world. The trend has gathered pace because "chavellers" feel more able to quit their well-paid jobs or trades, knowing they can pick them up again when they return home."
Oh dear, I have sometimes dreamed about doing something like working for a while, saving money, leaving my job and then go for a nice treat somewhere to then come back to look for another job and so on and so forth. I actually did not have a clue that such category was assigned to the chavs...At least they are enjoying some of that sort of freedom that many of us can only dream about.
Well done for the chavs! (Be aware that this comment is limited to the content of this article and not to the rest of the chavs' activities/attitudes)
No more comments.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Useless...
That's me. Haven't been able to write again for good two weeks. This time it truly feels like I have nothing to say. Been busy at work, tired at home and generally wondering what the hell do I want to do with my life.
It all goes back to work, as always. As I'm currently in a situation that I have no job description (but a mountain of work on my desk) I'm supposed to figure out how to place my position in frames and perhaps, even give it a name. Now, it's not that I'm incapable of inventing fancy titles and all that bull, it's rather that I currently run three different projects, out of which none have a thing in common with one another, and that makes the framework question a bit less feasible than it already is.
To be honest, I shouldn't be writing about this stuff as I know that it's utterly boring and useless information for anyone possibly reading but it's how I feel, honestly.
I'm going to visit my homeland this weekend as Ryanair was kind enough to sell me a ticket for £26 return. It should be fun as it's one of my best friend's birthday party as well. Nice too see the 'old faces' after a while. In fact, this is what I am really looking forward to - seeing all the guys (and now their better halves as well) from the past and realizing that we are still all the same. No uncomfortable feelings and superficially polite comments about each other's jobs, no comparison of the 'keys for the cadillacs' and most importantly - no necessity to appreciate how great it was that England beat Argentina on Saturday. I'll report on this occasion later, with a huge likelyhood proving myself entirely wrong on how the 'old faces' were...
This is turning out to be a much longer post than I anticipated and therefore I might as well mention a few words about our recent trip to Champagne. This was a very nice trip made with a couple of friends from the university years. None of us had been really keen champagne drinkers but as we were about to spend three days in the heart of the region, it would have been a waste not to sample some of the local product. Scenery was truly nice and specifically Epernay and the Marne valley were really nice. And just how lucky were we - it was above 2o degrees all the time as well!
Well, even if I'm not sure yet what is so great about champagne, at least I can now tell how it's been made and what are the different varieties etc. Actually, I have to admit that some of the vintage stuff was quite nice, if a bit dry to my liking. After all, a really nice break with nice company - that's enough for me.
Next time, I'll be sure to get some interesting stuff here and maybe whine a little bit less about the job. Well, just maybe...
It all goes back to work, as always. As I'm currently in a situation that I have no job description (but a mountain of work on my desk) I'm supposed to figure out how to place my position in frames and perhaps, even give it a name. Now, it's not that I'm incapable of inventing fancy titles and all that bull, it's rather that I currently run three different projects, out of which none have a thing in common with one another, and that makes the framework question a bit less feasible than it already is.
To be honest, I shouldn't be writing about this stuff as I know that it's utterly boring and useless information for anyone possibly reading but it's how I feel, honestly.
I'm going to visit my homeland this weekend as Ryanair was kind enough to sell me a ticket for £26 return. It should be fun as it's one of my best friend's birthday party as well. Nice too see the 'old faces' after a while. In fact, this is what I am really looking forward to - seeing all the guys (and now their better halves as well) from the past and realizing that we are still all the same. No uncomfortable feelings and superficially polite comments about each other's jobs, no comparison of the 'keys for the cadillacs' and most importantly - no necessity to appreciate how great it was that England beat Argentina on Saturday. I'll report on this occasion later, with a huge likelyhood proving myself entirely wrong on how the 'old faces' were...
This is turning out to be a much longer post than I anticipated and therefore I might as well mention a few words about our recent trip to Champagne. This was a very nice trip made with a couple of friends from the university years. None of us had been really keen champagne drinkers but as we were about to spend three days in the heart of the region, it would have been a waste not to sample some of the local product. Scenery was truly nice and specifically Epernay and the Marne valley were really nice. And just how lucky were we - it was above 2o degrees all the time as well!
Well, even if I'm not sure yet what is so great about champagne, at least I can now tell how it's been made and what are the different varieties etc. Actually, I have to admit that some of the vintage stuff was quite nice, if a bit dry to my liking. After all, a really nice break with nice company - that's enough for me.
Next time, I'll be sure to get some interesting stuff here and maybe whine a little bit less about the job. Well, just maybe...
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