(Goethe)
I think it's a mistake to ever look for hope outside of one's self. Arthur Miller
Yesterday, we attended a concert by Tuomari Nurmio and 22-Pistepirkko in Nosturi. They both played very well, but somehow everybody seemed tired, or maybe it was the cold weather. Nobody was not dancing, or singing along. Or maybe it was just that everyone was so impressed even though there was not anything new to see or hear. We are all growing old.
Today, after some 8 hours of lonely work in the National library, I went to see Tunnel of the Eye in the KOKO theater. It was a strange event: part dance, part lecture, part songs, parts improvised video art, and even some mime in dark. Interesting, yet disturbing. I am glad I saw it, even though I really did not enjoy it while I was seeing it.
Just to record some prices I pay often now-a-days:
Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new at all. Abraham Lincoln
In random order, 5 a day.
TV is choked with shows in which amateurs compete with each other: Idol, Talent, Dance with Stars, choir singing, etc. They draw huge audiences. Why is it that low quality sport does not draw huge audiences? Would it not be more interestng to see me and my brother play soccer than Beckham and Ronaldo? Why is that it is only sport where experience, skill and talent is appreciated by the mob?
A nice day at the office. I am trying to find ways to reduce application costs of my customer by 10%. Not easy, since there are hardly any completely unnecessary applications, nor are there many expensive ones. And any savigns will require significant investments. But I am trying my best.
I am also involved in Sofigate's internal business development. And I am seriously considering PhD work on ICT management. Let us see whether I am able to turn my plans into reality.
In all, this year is going to be more interesting work-wise than 2009 was: more customers, more difficult tasks. The only downside is the need to travel to Espoo every day. It is too far and public transit from here to there is really cumbersome and sparse.
In my dream I was offered high quality cocaine. I accepted the offer, naturally. I was really surprised when I did not feel anything. Nothing happened, I was not happier, more energetic, did not feel dizzy.
After waking up I realised that one has to experience things in real life before dreaming about them. Of course, one can dream about dragons and unicorns, but one cannot imagine feelings one has not felt before.
Men often oppose a thing merely because they have had no agency in planning it, or because it may have been planned by those whom they dislike. Alexander Hamilton
Rather scary thing happened to me. I was standing at the Helsinki railway statios, wathing at scores of people waiting for trains that were late by hours. Suddenly I felt a rush of happiness and peace. It might be that it was because I did not have to wait for a train, but could instead take a tram home. Or maybe I was just happy after meeting good friends, attending an interesting concert (Swell Season performed yesterday at Kulttuuritalo), and studying an art exhibition at Taidehalli. Or maybe it was just because I had had decent breakfast. Anyway, I was so happy, so glad to be alive and with all my friends.
I did not end up spending the whole 2009 in Helsinki.
In July, we (me and S) spend two lovely weeks in Berlin. We stayed at Henni's place in Prenzlauer Berg; spend quite some time in Bier Gartens; rode our new bicycles around the Berlin area; visited some museums; saw important architecture and old movies and met many friends. It was as if the whole Helsinki had moved to Berlin for a few weeks.
During the autumn, from September to December, I spent five weeks in Sweden. 4 weeks in Stockholm and one week in Ljunby. Business trips, but I managed to spent way too much time and money on food and beer.
I also visited NYC, Boston, MIT and Long Island in October. I also took the trains (Lakeshore limited and California Zephyr) from NYC via Chicago, Denver and Salt Lake City to SF. And then spent some 10 days in CA; meeting Kumar and his friends, walking around the city, riding trams and cable car, admiring the bridges, drinking at Toronado, etc. A great journey.
In July, I and my brother took a cruise on MS Kristina Brahe and visited the Finnish archipelago.
Not bad at all. Some journeys and great fun, as they say.
Take a look at the listings. Links at the top of the page. Many events, not so many books.
