December 6th, 2009
I just finished re-watching Soylent Green (1973) a rather nice piece of 70’s dystopian sci-fi. The story doesn’t quite follow the Harry Harrison novel (Maker Room! Make Room! (1966)) but it has that distinct 70’s quality about it, from the time when we were last to scared for about over-crowding, destruction of the biosphere, climate change etc. It has a scene were two of the main characters eat a supper made out of Real beef and some warn-out vegetables, stolen from a scene of crime. And its the best meal they’ve had in a long time, or ever.
Funnily enough, the most modern thing in the film, an early arcade game Space War (1971) is the most dated thing in the film. I think one can draw a certain rule from here: If a technology is new, don’t portray it in any work claiming to be set in the future, you’ll just get it’s whole impact wrong and it ends up looking cheesy and dated.
The film was Edward G. Robinsons last, he died 9 days after his last scene. His last scene was a nice piece of 70’s cynical view of the future. Robinsons character goes to “home”, a place to have a nice, dignified death. You lie on a bed, you have 20 minutes to listen your favourite music and watch lovely landscapes. The main character, played by Charlton Heston, have to talk to him before he dies. According to IMDB, Heston was the only one knowing that Robinson was dieing of cancer, so his tears in the scene were real.
Another piece of nice 70’s cynicism of the future, were young women called furniture. Yes, they were part of an apartments facilities and Heston’s character casually has sex with one of them, in the same way he steals soap, booze and food from the apartment.
Ohh, 70’s, I miss you so…
Posted in Current Matters | 2 Comments »
November 10th, 2009
There was an important message on the company mail, stating that all company this-and-that -model phones would be changed. There was a three day window, Monday through Wednesday, at the beginning of the month, from 8 to 15, at the office to change it. I had one of those models. Since I’m on training this week I decided to leave early today to get it changed. As per the instructions I remove the SIM-chip beforehand.
Being such an organized person, I also remember to pack my climbing gear, sweatpants and my shoes, before I leave home.
I arrive at the office in time, only to hear that the change isn’t supposed to take place until _next_ month! Ok… I barely make it in time for my training (running in the sleet) and I plan to assemble my phone during the day, just in case somebody needs to contact me. At some point I remember I left the SIM-card at home. Ok. I also forgot my t-shirt at home and I didn’t feel like sweating in my work shirt, so I decide to stop by at home before going climbing.
Once I get back home, I start to unpack my bag just to notice that I had forgotten the damn phone at home in the first place! Just not my day. I doubt there is anyone as unlucky in the world as me is.
And I didn’t go climbing either.
Posted in Current Matters, Weather | 6 Comments »
October 8th, 2009
I met a friend at the shop and being such intelligent and well-thought young men we quickly engaged in some deep discussion about this-and-that. One subject we touched was blogging and the why of it. I explained that I don’t treat my blog as a diary and I certainly hope that none reads it like one. I certainly write for me, but with being aware that anyone at any point in future might read it.
If I were more logical and sensible I wouldn’t blog at all, for that reason alone. Whatever you will write will be misunderstood and -treated. Why take a risk like that? For the time being, for most intents and purposes, this blog doesn’t exist. That might change in the future but why bet on something like that? Blogging gives me an ample leverage to battle those nincompoops who insist that everything that exists has to be carefully recraft in Facebook. I have yet to come across ANY argument from them to join Facebook, just the amazement that I don’t, that this won’t, either, be a reason in itself for the foreseeable future.
So, why on Earth do I blog? I positioned myself up against a rather good question. Of course the real reason is exactly the same why people use Facebook, greet others, call other people with derogative names and wear provocative clothing. It is to get some (any) attention.
Posted in This Blog, personal | 5 Comments »
October 5th, 2009
One of my favourite Finnish authors, Veikko Huovinen, has died. Veikko had prose that had a distinct deliciousness to it. I always wondered about the apparent success of another Finnish author, Arto Paasilinna, who’s prose is so much poorer compared to Veikko’s.
My first contact with Veikko’s work was when there was a tv-series based on his short stories. One of them involved two men, quite bent on drinking alcohol, with the other one being somewhat older and richer. At one point these men left on a roadtrip together, stopping every now and then to buy some more booze. And not just your ordinary gutrot but more refined stuff.
The younger man grows more impatient during the trip since they are not touching the alcohol. He is left to imagine the drunkage taking place when they get to their destination, a recluse log cabin in Lappland or something. Instead of staying at the log cabin, the old man takes the younger man into the woods, which are a-plenty here in Finland, for long hikes. Instead of drinking all the alcohol, the old man proceeds to bury them! In the middle of nowhere! Expensive stuff!
All the accumulated booze is scattered in to the wilderness. Shortly after the trip, the old man dies and leaves the younger man the locations of all that booze… The younger man soon becomes a skilled orienteerist and a cross-country runner, with the occasional prize of a nice bottle of single-malt, instead of slowly drinking his brains out in his flat.
All the above paraphrased from memory. That was the story that sparked my interest (way-back when I was a kid) and made me ask one of his story-collections (”Matikanopettaja”) for Christmas. I was pretty much sold. I’ve been reading his stuff over the years, not really extensively, but enough to keep the fan-flame alive. Pretty much a year ago, one of the finest gentleman in the world, Sam The Bedrock, held his graduation party in Sotkamo, where Veikko lived all his life. We went to get a view to his house, overlooking a river. I took a photograph or two and in one of those photos, if you squint your eyes, you might just imagine seeing Veikko in the window looking outside, pondering… hmmm… pondering… about what…?
Posted in Current Matters, Nostalgia | No Comments »
October 4th, 2009
I have been re-watching The Office. David Brent is the manager of the office and is considered to be a prime example of a bad boss. He lies to his staff, his bosses, probably even himself. He exaggerates things, seeks blame on others and constantly offends people knowingly and unknowlingly.
But David is not a bad person. He is just totally lost on how to conduct himself in this world, either professionally, socially or with regards to women. The way things work for his asshole-but-more-attractive sales-rep friend Chris Finch is not the way it works for him. Professionally he is a living example of the Dilbert principle. Despite being somewhat inept as a boss, he has become one, probably on a fluke. Mistaking his position as his own achievement, David is simply blind to his own ineptitude. Being successfull all the time is dangerous.
David doesn’t receive our sympathy until he comes aware of all this and accepts it. This is why I feel for David Brent. The world is a confusing place and people make no sense, you might as well be working in a random number factory, in charge of the sufficient value distribution.
Posted in Social, personal | No Comments »
September 20th, 2009
It is that time of year when Winterists come crawling under their rocks to spoil everything for the rest of us. They put on their cardigans, woollen head gear, neck scarfs and mittens, just as soon as they thinks it’s “time for Autumn” or whatever is the current euphemism for these people. No coat is too heavy for them, no number of layers of clothing too small.
This phenomena has some serious implications. It is a well-known fact that temperatures get lower when people start wearing more clothes. This fact is backed by thousands of years of empirical experience. Also the opposite is a true fact. When people start to wear less in the Spring, the weather gets warmer. But the Winterists spoil it for everyone else by starting to wear wintergear as early as possible and hold on wearing them as late as possible, effecting the weather patterns of the whole universe.
Stop the Winterists before it’s too late! Wear your shorts and bikinis as late as you can to offset their influence! Remind people on various forums on the dangers that Winterists pose!
Posted in Concepts, Weather | 4 Comments »
September 13th, 2009
I don’t think I could have wished for a nicer day. I just got back from a fireworks display at the amusement park after spending a good few hours there on the day that was just enough to ask for for this time of year. Sunny and pleasant all day. A nice retribution for yesterday when I got literally soaking wet on a cycling trip.
The day went as planned. Some light computer gametry and coffee in the morning. Day at the amusement park. Retiring home for a pizza in the evening. Catching a fireworks display at night. There’s still some pizza left and a spot of heavy cider in the fridge.
It is shame that the supposed humans I know are such a bunch of pussies…
Posted in Current Matters, Hedonism, Nostalgia, personal | No Comments »
September 10th, 2009
Well, I have not received any counter-offers as to the programme for my looming incoming anniversary. It looks like the programme will be: Attend the local amusement park and dissober myself. Maybe somewhere in between I’ll engage in some self-inflicting debauchery as well.
…Or is it?!
Posted in Current Matters, Nostalgia, personal | No Comments »
September 6th, 2009
As faith (and not just faith, but to be honest, a whole bunch of natural laws and the accumulated experience of human kind to this moment) has it, I will turn 3-fucking-5 just week from today. My initial plan to celebrate this occurrence of maturing process is to spend it at Linnanmäki, the local amusement part down the street, after which I will promptly denounce sobriety.
If anyone of you bots out there would like to suggest something else, or even better, engage in the above mentioned activities with me, don’t hesitate to contact me. I have some monetary means at my disposal to take part in various kinds of arrangements. You have exactly one week! Can you handle it?! No! I asked CAN YOU HANDLE IT!?!
Posted in Current Matters, Nostalgia, personal | No Comments »
July 22nd, 2009
Hi all! I’m doing great, thank you for asking. My sense of humour is gradually returning to normal, which is good, since everybody thinks I’m a funny guy. I’ve just passed the middle of my summer vacation and the weather has been nominal. On every day that I’ve travelled it has rained, but there has been some sunshinage as well. Sometimes at the same time.
Not everything has gone according to plans, but in my mind the whole idea of a vacation is not to have too rigid a plans. How are you doing? I hope this entry finds you well. I hope you are currently wearing a bikini and preparing to send me all the photographs of yourself in them to me. For personal usage only.
I hope you a many ice lattes,
Yours, devoid of any sarcasm,
K.
Posted in Current Matters, personal | No Comments »