The streets are for us, one way or another

To whom are the streets built for?
For us of course.

Who should then decide how do we use them?
Daaaaa, us.

Well tell me then why couldn't we make a good, car free day happen also in Helsinki, Finland? As I said, it is possible and doesn't require any super initiatives. No, it is not easy but if it would be - anyone could do it.

I hope you checked out the blog comments from last Saturday 22nd Jan. A gentleman who - according to Google search - seems to be THE man for the car free and sustainable environment stuff, gave few links to the topic and checking them out I became even more convinced that we should take this seriously over here too.

No, we don't need to do it all at once but let's stop fooling around with the wanna-be-car-free-days like we have had so far in Helsinki and let's make it real! It is fun to be stuck in a traffic lights like below.

During our Brussels years we were on our bikes every year and cycled around the city. I can tell you it was truly fun going down town and cycle in places where normally we need to be aware of cars all over. During the first years our youngest one was 6 years but still 30 km cycling was a piece of cake for him too.

It's a bit like eating an elephant: you eat it in pieces. Or a version I heard - claimed to be a Brazilian one: You eat a gorilla in monkies.
...This one beats me, it must be hell of a lot better in original language. If someone knows how this should go, please inform us!

Here are few pics from the last car free day in BRU we (for now) have had the pleasure to enjoy.

This is Brussels Bourse down town, few blocks from the Grand Place. Veeeery busy road normally.

Across the road from Bourse, you can get non-Belge Churros. Muy bueno!

 As you can see, it is not only bicycles that conquer the streets: Horses in front of the Royal Palace.

 The trams and buses were operating free of charge. At the back is the art nouveaux building of Musical Instrument Museum of Brussels, worth a visit. My kids and wife did, I didn't and regret it. In minimum one should go for the view on top, cafe should be good and as we are in Belgium it means a good selection of beers for a break :o)

 If you wondered the cover of the building on the left, here it is from the front. Apparently Magritte Museum - please don't ask what it is but I think the kids said it is worth a visit. They are asleep now so can't check it...

 This one is another cover down the road at Sablon. Why should you cover a church tower with boring pic if people can enjoy a nicer view while renovation is on. By the way, if you wonder who in Finland could do these - big or small, easy or difficult, I know the man for the job.

 One neads a break once in a while, and what could be better than sitting down on a sunny terrace with a view and few beautiful Nordic looking ladies nearby...?

 And on the other hand, it is also good to have a French red and Belge blond at hand.. However, the Belge blond doesn't beat a Nordic one.

 The police is also fully in, or can you challenge the attitude of this guy putting on his roller skates?

Guys, I would have really, and I mean REALLY wanted to see the drivers of this tandem. It requires some personality and appearance to drive this beast!  

 Anyways, I wish to see busy roads in pedestrian and bicycle - or horse - usage in Helsinki. We have the Helsinki City Marathon on August 20th, why not make that a day of Run-Walk-Cycle / Juokse-Kävele-Pyöräile???

Please don't start thinking why not, but rather "how can we make it happen"!

Let's finish with a pic taken from the same spot where we one of the days said hi to the King and Queen of Belgium.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I guess I really need to start lobbying a REAL car free day for Helsinki.

From top of my head I came up with 5 names = people I personally know in Finnish Parliament, City authorities and surrounding city politics so I need to step on it. In addition there are multiple people who should be interested. Not least our Foreign Minister who used to live in Brussels for years and was a member of the Flying Finns, Brussels Track & Field Club. 

Be aware or rather spread the word!

What a feeling...!

Too bad I can share this feeling only by words.

After a busy day running around, shopping etc I decided to go by myself to one more shop for a certain item. Luckily I needed to go to the toilet when I got to the mall. Public toilets were at the other end but here was a small, nice cafe.

Went to the loo and got myself a treat: half a panini and a beer. Bryan Adams at the back and the break made the magic. S, too bad you are not here...
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This is PS later on the day;
I'd say this song tells a bit about the feeling. Also in other ways this is a song that brings chills on me. BIG basketball memories...

Car free city - is it possible? Organized properly or ad-hoc?

I claim it is, despite of the pitiful efforts that the Helsinki city authorities have made towards the car free day in Europe. Actually I think it is a Global initiative at some level.

Why the heck we Finns - or in this case my dear fellow countrymen responsible for the event - try to follow the rules or guidelines so strictly that the end result is lost in circumstances. or what do you think about the Helsinki way to organize a "Car Free Day in Helsinki";

• The official EU day is on Tuesday
• Helsinki decides to have their own car free day at the same day, a normal busy office/work day
• The public transport is slightly discounted
• Less than 10 blocks area in the city centre is decleared as "car free"
• Despite of the "car free" area, you can drive to the offices, shops, garages etc inside the area

No wonder the day has not had any meaning. But how about Brussels car free day then;

• The day is always on Sunday in September when the weather is still good (for Helsinki I'd recommend late August)
• Driving a car is forbidden in the whole city, including about 5 km outside to the ring road
• If you must drive due to work or other reason, you must in advance apply for a permit from the police - like we had to do once
• Public transportation is free
• The streets are taken over by people, festivals, bicycles, runners, horses and so on. It becomes a true car free day!
• http://www.dimanchesansvoiture.irisnet.be/accueil

You don't need to invent the wheel again, just investigate during one of the what-ever-you-go-to-Brussels-for-trips what the Brussels people have done. Then localize it to Finland. Sounds simple, and that's what it is - if we have the will!

At the moment we live about 10 kilometers from the city centre, but I can tell you if a proper car-free day would happen in Helsinki we would definitely drive down to the city and enjoy the streets!!!

Coming back to the question in the title;
Yes, a car free city is possible at least for one day in a year! But it does not come for free, all of us need to chip in...

Hmmmm, today the Belge people decided to organize something close to such day - with a bit different objective but we could call this an ad-hoc car free day. Or do you think these guys would welcome a car on this street?

Belgium has been without a government for 224 days, that being a record in Europe. People organized a demonstration against the situation, let's see if it makes any difference. I don't see a real long term solution to be realistic as certain basics are not in place. Flemish and Valloons - the Dutch (or "Flemish speaking" as they claim) speaking and French speaking Belge - seem to have so different view of the current problems and solutions.

The status and importance of Brussels doesn't make it easier, as Brussels is a French speaking city in the middle of Dutch speaking area. And believe me, the language barrior and with it mentality difference between these two parties is BIG.  

Uutinen Belgian hallituksen puutetta vastaan järjestetystä mielenosoituksesta löytyy täältä Helsingin Sanomien sivulta.

To read guardian.co.uk's report, click here.

Naughty Saturday night fun

Sisters Mary Catherine, Maria Theresa, Katherine Marie, Rose Frances & Mary Kathleen left the Convent on a trip to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City and were sight-seeing on a Tuesday in July. It was hot and humid in town and their traditional garb was making them so uncomfortable, they decided to stop in at Patty McGuire's Pub for a cold soft drink.

Patty had recently added special legs to his barstools, which were the talk of the fashionable eastside neighborhood. All 5 Nuns sat up at the bar and were enjoying their Cokes when Monsignor Riley and Father McGinty entered the bar through the front door.

They, too, came for a cold drink when they were shocked and almost fainted at what they saw ...
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Sorry about this, it was just too hilarious!

PS The slid has frozen and became ice. That means we have had icy and bumpy roads - and the ~5cm fresh snow last night added a nice new flavor to it. But like I have said, it's great to be able to drive instead of only steering :o)

Few more milestones

Ladies and Playboys,

We have received few milestones;

• 100th visitor from the Kingdom of Sweden
• 6000 pageviews
• 2400 total unique visitors
• 42 out of 51 US States "collected"
• 4th visitor from Indonesia (so what...?)

Thank you for the visit - Gracias por su visita!
...I guess the story will continue.

Comeback of the slid...Loskapaskan paluu

Despite of my wishes, the slid is back. Last night's snowfall turned into icy rain and in the morning the car was covered with 5cm thick snow with an ice layer on top. The whole car was covered with ice, even the plain parts.

I'd say the positive thing was the Webasto-type gasoline heater that had melted the ice on top of main windows.

The day continued with mild rain (water...) so we can again expect icy roads and broken legs/arms/hips later this week.

If you wish, you can check the road cameras with temperature of road (tie) and air (ilma) from here. Just click one of the blue camera images and go...

Hus hus, loska pois!

PS I have heard the term slid from Americans, describing the watery snow that was on Belgium roads during their wanna-be-winter. If the term is incorrect, please inform!

Hello Sun, my old friend! Hyi loskapaska...

Today ended the sun-free period in the northest part of Finland, Utsjoki. Since Nov 27th the sun has stayed below the horizon...

The sun was above the horizon luxurious 10 minutes. If the sky was clear, people might have seen the sun properly from high places, like on top of a fell (a small mountain / big hill).

Already on Saturday the sky was glowing red. This image is from last year, compliments by YLE.

Next week the day gets longer pretty fast; Already on Monday the sun is up for over an hour. The lengthening continues day by day, until mid May the sun will not go down any more.

The white nights, nights without the night continuous days, or how ever you want to call it, continue late July when the days again start to shorten until late Nov.

This is a strange, beautiful country we live in! And I love it!

OK, about a week ago I was hating the weather; The slid was back - Loskapaska oli palannut!

It was raining pure water on and off for 2-3 days and temp was somewhat +2-3 C. The roads became like Belgium in the winter time. And now I mean the 2 half days of winter that Belgium normally has. This year I have understood they had for few days a proper winter.

...and now they are back to dull fall-type of season they call winter, just because the calendar says so...

In few days the beautiful images in southern Finland dissapeared, including Marge Simpson -lookalike BBQ at the backyard, behind one of the candle lamps. Same thing with these sticky snowfalls hanging from inch-by-inch iron bar.

Well, this pile is not as big any more but it is still there.

Same thing with the snow on top of bushes - I had to strip them from the snow before the rains came. Othewise the branches would have snapped... Let's see how these fellows survive the winter.

Now the we are back below freezing point, all the wet slid has frozen into icy bumps on the roads so it is again fun to drive - instead of just steering from one place to another.

I love winter - still!

C'mon guys, where are the ÄÖÜØÅÑ etc?

As you might notice I have made some changes on the blog layout, hope you find the important(?) stuff for you. Don't mind the little hick-up on the right column (if it is visible for you). More changes to come later on.

Then to the topic of the day...

It took me only seconds to get the signs ÄÖÜØÅÑ in the text. And on top access to ЯЮЩΛŨŊŞŠĦÆÆß is as easy.

Based on this, how the heck can it still be so difficult to show names in sports events as the names are? In Tour de Ski's final in Germany they had ä-letters which was positive. But that is more an exception than rule.

Hanno Möttölä was the first Finnish basketball player in NBA. When he played in University, he was Mottola, but when he was negotiating a contract to play for Atlanta Hawks, he wanted to have the dots on the shirt and became again Möttölä.


Teemu Selänne, the Finnish Flash, plays in NHL for the Anaheim Ducks. He is Selanne in the rink, but then again he missis the dots only in one letter. Neither did Sami Hyypiä have any dots while he played in Liverpool.

But now that he is in Leverkusen, the dots are back...

By the way, Selänne just turned 40 and is playing a gooood season again!

All data-guru geeks around the world, please unite and try to make it possible to get the names on TV as they are on the passport!

PS 700:s suomalainen vieras on käynyt, kiitos luottamuksesta!

1 blog year in numbers

I've had the flag counter now for a year and here are some key numbers that it shows;

• 5.626 pageviews from...
• 90 different countries (if we count Åland / Ahvenanmaa in even though I criticized it earlier
• 2198 unique visitors = IP addresses
• 31,4% of visits has been from Finland, showing 691 different visitors (again IP addresses), from US 13% / 289 visitors, and 5% / 89 from GB
• For some reason the size or population of the country doesn't quarantee the number of visits, since I have 19 visitors from Serbia and 18 from lovely country next door, Russia...
• Record 31 visits and 64 Flag Counter views per day
• The most exotic country name that has visitid is in my mind Turks and Caicos Island

...someone has also visited from countries like Republic of Korea, Malta, Iceland, Iran, Azerbaijan, Rwanda, Moldova, Iraq and French Polynesia...

Let's have a drink for it, the Finnish way...!

Thank you for the visit! Gracias por su visita! Tack för besöket! Kiitos käynnistä!

...and welcome again - tervetuloa uudestaan!!!

Thank you TV4 Finland - Kiitos Nelonen!

Last weekend I was complaining about the commercial breaks and splitting a movie in too many pieces. To read it, scroll down or click here.

Tonight another commercial channel in Finland, TV4 or Nelonen is showing a Beck -movie and they had the first commercial break only after 35 minutes. That's the way I like it. If needed, keep the commercial breaks a bit longer but don't split a movie into too many short stips.

Thank you - Kiitos!

Hauskoja kielikuvia?

Sorry folks, it's just impossible to translate these bits about Finnish language. "So not!" said a former multi-medalist ski jumper Matti Nykänen...

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Tässä on teille hieman kielikuvia.

Ja hieman toisenlaisia kielikuvia löytyy täältä.

Eli Jyväskylän Yliopisto on kerännyt kielikukkasia lähinnä median tuottamista otsikoista. Tässä on poimittuna muutama suosikkini;

• Poliisi tutkii yhä kuolleena löydetyn miehen liikkeitä.
  Helsingin Sanomat 24.6.2010
• Poliisin tietoon tapaus tuli vasta perjantaina aamuyöllä. Paikalta otettiin naisen lisäksi kiinni kolme ihmistä.
  STT 6.2.2010
• Huumekuski ei pysähtynyt piikkeihin.
  Otsikko Karjalaisessa 20.9.2010
• Lehtokertun tuntee siitä, että sillä ei ole mitään silmiinpistäviä tuntomerkkejä. Puruvesi 19.7.2010

Hyvää Loppiaista!

I f...ng love & hate Stieg Larsson Millenium - mostly LOVE IT!!! Toisin sanoen: Hyi MTV3 Suomi!!!

I wish to thank Finnish TV's MTV3 for showing Stieg Larsson's Millenium trilogy, THANK YOU to MTV3 Finland but especially a GIANT THANK YOU to Mr Stieg Larsson for the late contribution!!!

However, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, is it possible for a commercial TV-channel to make it without splitting a fantastic movie experience into pieces...?

MTV3 Suomi, voisitteko ystävällisesti lopettaa paskamaisen HYVIÄ elokuvia rakastavien televisionkatsojien pahoinpitelyn? OK, ehkä tuntuu tiukalta puhua meidän kaikkien puolesta mutta jos voisitte ottaa ohjelmistoon leffan näyttämisen leffana - EIKÄ YHDEN LEFFAN PILKKOMISTA 4 OSAAN JA ZILJOONAAN MAINOSKATKOON - mutta rakas MTV3 voitko kertoa miksi kuitenkin teette sen...???

Verkko (online)- tai muita virtuaalisia palveluita käyttävien asiakkaiden pahoinpitely runsain mainoksin maksuttomassa tuotannossa ei ole sekään aina hyvällä mallilla, mutta toivoisin että TV-kanaville tuotava materiaali tarjoiltaisiin katsojaystävällisessä muodossa.

Sitä ei mielestäni ole se että yksi leffa on pilkottu 2:een sunnuntaiosaan, jotka kukin on paloitelut siten että välissä on 25 min uutiset/urheilu/sää -osio, jonka lisäksi on riittävän monta mainoskatkoa. Nam!

Sorry guys, I'm just damn annoyed about Finnish commercial TV3 to show a fantastic Stieg Larsson's Millenium trilogy split into 6 weeks and each of the 3 movies into 2 parts one week in between. And each of these 2 parts are split so that you have in the middle 25 mins for news, sports and weather - not to forget the commercials... PERKELE! That's not how I wanna watch the TV.

Perhaps some do. But I doubt only few especially over the Xmas/holiday period - eli ehkä jonkun mielestä tuo on hieno aikataulutus mutta en usko että he saavat kovin suurta vuosikokousta aikaan.

One comment quoted from our network in Facebook: "This is a discrimination of a movie! Commercial breaks are fine,  but how do you justify - with a good audience heart - a 25 min break for news, sports and weather?"

...I just love to start the New Year with a positive feedback ;o)

PS this time I have not read the books but and I can tell you I should have - and yes, they have been recommended!!!