It is not THAT serious - stink positive!

C'mon Finns, chill out - it is not so serious that you would have to kill yourself! The only thing that serious would be that you would have killed someone else - which then requires you to take responsibility and stand up for your acts. A chicken would kill him(her)self.

Finnish main magazine www.hs.fi tells that the level of Finns making suicide has dropped to the level of 1960's, which is good. The bad thing is that we are still multiple vs other Nordic countries. Another one is if at 1960's all suicides were registered as such - you know the world was a bit different back then.

Oh boy, please focus on the positive things and let the bad ones come & go without major harm. There is something good in everything!

Joo, hyvä homma, että itsemurhien määrä on pudonnut 1960-luvun tasolle, mutta jokainen on liikaa. Hieman ryhtiä elämään, nukkukaa yön yli - ei se niiiin vakavaa ole!

Stink positive, people!

Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain... NOT!

Yesterday morning we woke up with a nice -15 C and a sun shine. During the day the temp climbed up to -1 by late evening and today we started with a sad +3 C. I hate the slid - loskapaska! I have said many times that I rather take -20 C than +1 C (which means slid - loskapaska).

Now all the light snow packs up and becomes heavy, causing problems to the rooftops. I am glad that with few Euros I get the snow work outsourced to a person I'd give the money anyway: My son.

I just heard of a problem in my office, luckily the system is set so that it does not require my involvement...

Have a great day, I return to work task list!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...!

Regards from Santa - Terveisiä Joulupukilta!

Helsinki Airport is currently - and surprisingly - the place in Finland with most snow. 66 cm, equals to 25,74 inches. I had a great morning; sleeping until 11 am, chill quick b-fast with a slice of bread and ham. Then outside to clear the yard from the snow. Almost an hour of good sweat and fresh air does wonders.

Also remember that enjoying outdoor is not limited to the time of the year.

I love winter!  

...let's see what will I say in a month, after getting fed up with the bloody snow shoveling ;o)

Loistavaa Joulua - Fabulastic Christmas!

Yesterday was THE Christmas night for us Finns. For me it meant food & home preparation, last minute shopping, relaxing with the family, visiting friends & family as a Santa's helper, fantastic meal, family time with talks and games, presents from Santa, more talks with the family - and 20 hours of snowing.

Today started with a nice breakfast, then some snow work and a fresh walk, Christmas sauna, some more snow work and now a moment at the sofa to share with you the sauna break moment.

Have a fantastic Christmas

-

Loistavaa Joulua meille kaikille!

The end is not here!

The end of the world did not happen yesterday and hence we are going to a direction of more light. In Helsinki the sun rises already at 09:25 and goes down at 15:14 - 5 hours 49 minutes of official daylight. Up north the sun will stay down for weeks, last year the darkness ended Jan 17th at Utsjoki...

One can go mad from it.

Stay home to cook your Christmas ham - it's too expensive to go to the restaurant as the (already high prices) have increased by 40% since 2000. At the same time the shop prices have rised by 13% says Iltalehti... Or do you think up to 20 Euros is a fair price for a mojito? 19,90 at the Hard Rock Cafe Helsinki.

2 nights to go!

Njet Parkering

If someone has thought the Horror Story -series has made someone feel bad, I'm not sure how this one will impact. Who knows, I might be invited to the Russian Embassy...

I came across with a blog that is very local at Lappeenranta, Finland. It is a small city next to the Russian border and hence they have many Russians visiting. It has got some veeeery positive impacts on several areas - and on the other hand it also enriches the local parking culture.

Good or bad - you can judge yourself. One example was today at Helsinki City centre, where always-busy-street Northern Esplanad, Pohjoisesplanadi, had a Range Rover from beloved neighboring country double parked in front of the Stockmann book store, Akateeminen Kirjakauppa. Busy-as-standard street became even more busy...

Anyways, check out the blog from Lappeenranta and make your own judgements.
http://njetparkering.blogspot.fi/

...here is a taster borrowed from the site.

As said, make your own mind about these, while I'd say park nicely as the Santa's helpers are on the move! Let's see if the end of the world comes today as estimated. I hope not, as I have not yet eaten enough Christmas goodies...

3 nights to go!

Soooo Smart - Horror Story Part 17

What can I say, she is on top of everything else soooo smart. How else can you describe a person who posts that her music(?) producer is in Miami and uses the pic + quote below?

And then some reporter writes about it in media...
And then some fool writes about it in a blog...

http://www.stara.fi/2012/12/17/johanna-tukiainen-facebookissa-kurt-cobain-on-musatuottajani/

4 nights to go, be good!

No-no-noooo... - Horror Story Part 16

This is too much even for my taste. One can not get enough bored to enjoy something like this. One of them carries a passport with a "Male" tag and the other with "Female" tag - but why...? I can tell you the Christmas elves are not looking this with a happy face with only 5 nights to go.

http://www.seiska.fi/viihdeuutiset/_a523773/johanna+tukiainen+sekoili+homokampaajansa+kanssa+laivalla++video/

They claim to planning to have a baby and another in a year or so. Be aware!

Kauhusta huolimatta;

Hauskaa Joulun odotusta!!!

Horror Story Part 15

Oh boy, Johanna Tukiainen has not left us alone - or what can be the reason she was the #6 ranked of people googled in Finland during 2012? She was at more interest than our new president Sauli Niinistö and Justin Bieber...

1. Robin
2. Petri Nygård
3. Pekka Haavisto
4. Jussi Parviainen
5. Johanna Tukiainen
6. Sauli Niinistö
7. Justin Bieber

The list can be found from here http://umami.fi/ajankohtaista/news/vuoden-2012-suosituimmat-google-haut/ and the

Lahti City Christmas Market - Laheen Joulutori

I was in Lahti today. It's one of those small-medium size cities in Finland with somewhat 100.000 people. It's a city with sports, business and apparently as the main reason for existance manufacturing of furniture.

We should not forget the beverage / beer manufacturing that I wrote a saaaaad story about back at December 2009. ...strange, I've been doing this for years... Anyway, I was there today and I met the Santa Claus - Joulupukki!

First I was not sure if he was the real or only a helper, but dear friends well noted that "C'mon Mika, he recognized you and hence waived at you. He must have been the real one!". I agree. He sent his regards to the ones who are true believers.
The Santa was at a Christmas market in the city market square. They had a lot of Finnish stuff, mainly hand made - I also did a bit of shopping - and lots of food and glögi, the sweet non-alcoholic glühwein as you are not allowed to sell alcohol in Finland in such places. Same in Sweden...

The best positive surprise for me was though the guys that sold the German currywurst with a small bread - the one I call a hotdog for MEN!

The soft spot was the Lahti Men's Choir singing a traditional christmas song "Sylvian Joululaulu", in few Finnish votes selected as the most beautiful christmas song ever.

Hyvää Joulun odotusta - Still some nights to go!

Hyvää Itsenäisyyspäivää Suomi - Happy Independence Day Finland!

This fantastic, strange, fascinating, country with unique, peculiar, interesting people and unique, challenging, ever changing athmosphere and climate is celebrating 95th birthday today!

Here is a fantastic clip of Finland, giving you a glimse of what we have. Have a look, make sure your loudspeakers are ON, sit back and enjoy! Welcome for a visit, I love this country!

Hyvää Itsenäisyyspäivää Suomi - Happy Independence Day Finland!

PS Old stories of the same topic via this link.

Today we went to get some food from the shop, among others baguettes. First my wife took one and then I went to get another. Honestly I didn't even look at the price of the one I took, but from the receipt I noticed one was 1,75 € and another 0,75 €.

When we got home, I came across with an old receipt from Mercadona, Spain. There I had also bought 2 kinds of baguettes: regular and artisan one - Barra de pan and Barra integral. Their prices were 0,45 € and 0,52 €. I can tell you there is no size or quality advantage for Finland to justify triple the price level so what is it? And why was there more than 1 Euro difference between the 2 ones from the same shop? When I look at them, I can't see any genuine difference to justify more than double value.

Well, they are going to taste good anyway tonight. Some salami, Manchego cheese and prosciutto Italiano will crown the evening...

Fabulastic Winter Storm!

Wow, what a wind and a snow bliz! 10 minute average wind has been measured at 29 meters per second, not bad at all. I'm glad I've not been a pilot today, or would you have wanted to land on this airstrip this morning with a +/-30 meters per second blowing wind and visibility at few hundreds of meters?

No worries, the visibility got soooooo much better in some hours and the planes started to come in. As you can clearly see, there is a plane next to the corner of the building.

Great snow during the day. At some places even more than 0,5 meters and due to the wind, some open places almost clear - as you can see from the pic above. Now at 0730 pm the snow flakes have grown to more 1-2 cm. Temp is down to -8C so it seems the winter is here.

And please, do NOT send the +-degrees here, I hate the slid!

GO WINTER!

GO WINTERLAND!

GO SNOWLAND!

GO FINLAND!

Today it's the last moment get or to fix an advent calendar - joulukalenteri. Many in Finland have a tradition to make it something with small items that make small or bigger kids happy. Or adults.

For some tips, check out the blog of TSUPUKKA, it's in Finnish and very much recommended to check out even if you would not speak a word!

Have a fabulastic weekend you all!

PS I'm glad I've got a sauna at home!

Go and check out Christmas Helsinki!

There are sooo many views to Helsinki, even if it is a relatively small city where in the centre everything is in a short walking distance.

To continue a bit from the shopping trip with a snack & drinks, we also visited a sneaker shop www.popot.fi where they happened to be making also a radio show for the Basso radio www.basso.fi. Here is a taster of their shoes for kids and adults.

They also sell MÄHÖNEN -kalsarit, the world famous in Finland boxers!

If I'd be a smoker, I would have stepped in this veeeery old tobacco shop at Aleksanterinkatu.

Well I didn't. Instead I enjoyed this bottle-percussion-player one block down the street. Cool stuff...

They opened again on Sunday the Christmas Street at Aleksanterinkatu. The street is lit with zillions of led lights and Stockmann department store also reveiled their traditional Christmas window. Also the market place is open for both tourist stuff and the meat pie lihapiirakka at the market cafe. Check them out if you are on the hoods...

Be good, the Santa's helpers are on the move!

PS I have not yet heard a single Christmas song, which is good. I do appreciate them, but not in November...

Oh Belgium, I miss your peculiarity - Belgian omituisuuksia

There are good things in Belgium, but apparently the beer, wine and fries are only half as good as the ones in Finland. Or what could be the reason for me paying twice as much vs in Belgium for a 0,5 liters pint of Hoegaarden, 16 cl of house red wine and a small bowl of fries?


I paid in a Belgium style bistro restaurant Belge in Helsinki 8,50 Euros for the beer, 7,80 for the wine and 6,60 for the fries. In a similar place in Brussels it would have been somewhat half the price. Perkele.

Millä kielellä Belgiassa - Belgian language?

Well, not all things are in place in Belgium - even though they recently stopped collecting more days for their world record of we-don't-have-a-government-in-place -time. Big part behind that has been the language barrior and wanna-be-different -culture connected to it.

But what is the language they speak in Belgium, in addition to French?
Here is an article from Finnish newspaper about the language that is Dutch, not Flemish. I claim - and so do most non-Flemish people - that "Flemish" is just a dialect of Dutch. The Flemish people don't use their throat sounds as harsh as the Dutch do and some words are a bit different, but still it does not make it a different language. Or does it?

Hmmm, should they now change the name of "French" spoken in Belgium into "Valloon" language...?

Should we in Finland change the name of Swedish language that is spoken here into "Coastish", as majority of the Swedish speaking areas locate by the coast...?

Happy Fathers' Day - Hyvää Isänpäivää!

Today is the Fathers' Day in Finland. In my case it has consisted a morning of houseful of teenager at sleepover, a little bit of domestic work, storing the patio furniture for the winter, carpool driving for the football practice, talks with other parents, great meal with the family, making a pie that I have not yet tasted, and soon it's my privilidge to do what I love; I'll go to play basketball!

I love it almost as much as the guy in the clip...

I am a happy man with two fantastic children. I will do my best to earn their respect and love - every day!

Enjoyable day for all of us!

Hyvää Isänpäivää meille kaikile!

The Belgian winter was here

I've told you also earlier that the winter lasts for 2 days per year. Normally it comes in 2 waves; some day it starts snowing and it's all gone by next morning - and another day it comes again with the same drill.

We had one this week in Lahti. And actually Turku, Finland - Suomen Turku - had their one few weeks ago. In the morning the south-east part of the country - excluding Helsinki - got somewhat 5cm of snow that during the day became slid. By morning, it was practically all gone.

In Helsinki we also got snow, but not enough in a right temperature for it to stay. That happened 3 years ago, the first fall after out return from Belgium, that a permanent winter came to Helsinki area already mid November. That had not happened for years so no one was expecting it. Hence some of our garden stuff was under the snow all winter...

My winter started today as I got the winter tyres with spikes for my car. The other one has had ones already for 1,5 weeks, but now also I have downgraded the joy of driving...

Have a great weekend you all!

Let's go Outlet Shopping in Helsinki!

I needed a new winter jacket and I had been hunting for one since last winter. I need it for both downhill skiing - slalom, as well as for general outdoor usage. As I sweat enough when doing sports, I didn't want one with goose warming or so. Just a cover, but with good technical enablers like how much moist does it let through, is there snow blocks on the weist and wrists, what kind of pockets etc.

Yesterday I found one - and it was a bargain!

I thought I was after something when I saw a jacket with a starting price of 600 Euros at a local Intersport store with -50% discount and some extra discount for opening day. It was a bit like Formula 1 class of ski jackets: Halti Kalle Palander -collection with all the bells & whistles. When they didn't have big enough, I was dissapointed and started to hunt one both online and via Halti manufacturer.

It's a Finnish company so it is easier than average.

Well, I faced a good customer service via phone at Halti and was directed to their Outlet at Lauttasaari, Helsinki (contact & opening hour details below). Oh boy how wrong I was about the "best option for me". There were two other extremely good options that were not as "hot" from cold resistance aspect. That is these other two were true cover jackets without filling.

At the end - with a help of the extremely professional, friendly and nice staff, I bought myself a cover jacket with a separate "inner jacket" that can be taken off and if preferred used separately - a bit like a fleece jacket, but not from fleece material. And it was cheaper than what I was first aiming at :o)

Go & get yours, the winter is coming...!

Here below are few tips of the factory outlets in Helsinki area. 
If you read this today, Nov 3rd, and wanna go shopping immediately, remember that they are closed today due to the holiday...

AARIKAN TEHTAANMYYMÄLÄ Nokiantie 2-4 C, Vallila, Helsinki. Ma-pe klo 9-17.
- Interior design mainly

ADIDAS OUTLET Edellisen kauden Adidas-tuotteita. Valimokuja 2, Tammisto, Vantaa. Ma-pe klo 10-19, la klo 10-16, su klo 12- 16.
- Sports gear from last season

BRAND OUTLET WAREHOUSE Kauppakeskus Ruoholahti. Ma-pe klo 10-20, la klo 10-18, su klo 12- 18.
- Mainly fashion

ECCO OUTLET Kauppakeskus Tammiston Tähti, Vantaa. Ma-pe klo 10-19, la klo 10-18, su klo 12-17.
- Shoes

F-OUTLET. Merkkisoittimien outlet F-Musiikki Itäkeskuksessa. Korsholmantie 2, Helsinki. Ma-pe klo 10-18, la 10-15.
- Brand instruments

FARKKUJEN VARASTOMYYNTI Sahaajankatu 35, Herttoniemi, Helsinki. Ti-to klo 11-17, pe klo 11-18, la klo 10-14, ma suljettu.
- Jeans

FRIITALAN OUTLET Friitalan uutuuksia ja yksittäiskappaleita, kuten nahkatakkeja, kelsiturkkeja, hameita, housuja, kenkiä, laukkuja, lompakoita, käsineitä, nahkapaloja. Ylästöntie 9, Tammisto, Vantaa. Ma-pe klo 10.30-19, la 10.30-16, su 12-16. 
- Fashion & accessories(?)

GUESS OUTLET Valimotie 25, Pitäjänmäki, Helsinki. Ma-pe klo 11-18, la klo 11-16.
- Fashion

HALTI OUTLET Hitsaajankatu 14, Herttoniemi. Vattuniemenkatu 23, Lauttasaari. Ma-pe klo 10-18, la klo 10-15.
- The one I was at, winter & outdoor sports fashion

HALVAN TEHTAANMYYMÄLÄT Valimotie 27, Tammisto, Vantaa. Ma-pe klo 10.30-17.30, la klo 10-16. Höyläämötie 9, Pitäjänmäki, Helsinki. Ma-pe klo 10-17.
- Candies

KALEVALA KORUN TEHTAANMYYMÄLÄ Strömbergintie 4, Pitäjänmäki, Helsinki. Ma-pe klo 9-17.
- Jewellery

LORELLA OUTLET Linnanrakentajantie 6-8, Herttoniemi, Helsinki. Ma-pe klo 10-18, la klo 10-15.
- Fashion

LUHTA Vaatteita, jalkineita, laukkuja ja kodintekstiilejä. Porttisuontie 4, Porttipuisto, Vantaa. Ma-pe klo 10-20, la klo 10-18, su klo 12-16.
- Fashion

LUMENEN TEHTAANMYYMÄLÄ Lumenen ihovoiteita ja meikkejä. Lasihytti 1, Kauklahti, Espoo. Ma-pe klo 11-18, la klo 10-16.
- Cosmetics

MARC O’POLO FACTORY OUTLET Vaatteita, alusasuja, kenkiä. Hitsaajankatu 10, Herttoniemi, Helsinki. Ma-pe klo 10-18, la klo 10-14.
- Fashion & shoes

MARIMEKON TEHTAANMYYMÄLÄ Vaatteita, sisustustekstiilejä, laukkuja. Kirvesmiehenkatu 7, Herttoniemi, Helsinki. Ma-pe klo 10-18, la klo 10-16.
- Fashion + much more, go there!

MR BIG OUTLET Isojen miesten vaatteita. Hitsaajankatu 7, Herttoniemi, Helsinki. Ma-pe klo 10-18, la klo 10-15.
- Fashion for MEN

NANSO GROUP OUTLET Vaatteita koko perheelle. Sähkötie 2-6, Tammisto, Vantaa. Ma-pe klo 10-19, la klo 10-17
- Fashion

STOCKMANN OUTLET Muotia sekä kodin ja urheilun tuotteita, jotka siirretty uutuuksien alta pois. Valimotie 11, Tammisto, Vantaa. Ma-pe klo 10-20, la klo 9-18, su klo 12-18.
- Everything for fashion, home & sports

VALLILA OUTLET. Valimotie 27, Tammisto, Vantaa. Ma-pe klo 10-19, la klo 10-16.
- ...I guess this is interior

Tourism Tip: Kasvihuoneilmiö

Election day in Finland: Municipal election. The weather has been fantastic for a nice stroll to give your statement. -1C and bright, sunny day. We got about 1 cm of snow on Friday morning, but that did not last. Let's see how the results will be - for now it seems there are no major surprises...

Then I've got a tip for you all, a combination of travel, shopping, flea market, cafe and good feeling;

 

Next to the highway #1 in Finland is a shop + cafe called Kasvihuoneilmiö. If you are into "stuff", you must go there. One weekend last summer there was a small sample of "Jeans Museum" - Farkkumuseo of Finland.

It is less than an hour drive from Helsinki down town and worth driving there for a tour in the shop and a meal - or a waffle.  

Here is a link to their home site. Signs can be found by the road so you will  loose your track. If you are not in a hurry, I recommend to drive the old #1-road, what ever it is numbered nowadays...

Elämää!

Pahoittelut hankalasta luettavuudesta, homma lähti käsistä alkutekstin teknisistä syistä, mutta älä anna sen häiritä - liian paljon asiaa hyvään visuaaliseen kuntoon hierottavaksi.
MIKA 
****
Tom Lundberg kirjoitti taas mielenkiintoista ww.positiivarit.fi -sivustolla, tällä kertaa iästä ja asenteestamme siihen. Jostain syystä juuri samana aamuna kun tuon näin, metin, että olenko vanha - ja heti perään mitä vanha tarkoittaa. Minulla enemmän harmaita hiuksia. Helpommin
vyötärölle - ja muuallekin - kertyviä ylimääräisä kiloja. Vauhdin hiljenemistä ...ehkä. Lasten kasvamista. Lisäksi viisastumista, kokemuksesta oppimista, entistä enemmän valintojen tekemistä - ymmärrystä ja rohkeutta jättää tekemättä jotain, mitä en halua tehdä

Mikä minusta sitten tulee isona?

Vietin viime viikonlopun pidennettynä 17 "aikuisen" ja 17 varhaisteinin seurueessa
ulkomaan reissulla. Kyse oli nuorten urheiluturnauksesta, joten mukaan liittyi mm. haastavia 

olosuhteita niin käytössä olevien puitteiden kuin sääolosuhteiden osalta. Tämä luonnollisesti 

herättää erilaisissa ihmisissä erilaisia tunteita, jotka heijastuvat käyttäytymiseen.

Mukaan mahtui myös loistavia hetkiä maailman parantamista niin isossa pyörässä kuin meidän

lähiympäristön - ja tässä tapauksessa ennen kaikkea kyseisten urheilijanalkulasten tekemisen

ja olemisen puitteiden kehittämistä. Oli loistavaa nähdä ja kokea, että meistä niin monella on

tekemisessä aidosti mukana myös leikkimielisyyttä. Uskon, että osa läsnä olleista on vahvasti

linjalla "...kauheaa, kun Mika ei osaa käyttäytyä kuin aikuinen...". Niin, "aikuinen" ei 

varmaankaan olisi eilen illalla sohvalla leffaa katsoessa päätynyt kevyeen painiin vieressä 

istuvan varhaisteinipoikansa kanssa. 

Minä päädyin ja olen siitä erittäin iloinen - samoin kuin painikaverini, mutta myös puolisoni. Tai

ehkä hän on kuitenkin hieman kateellinen kun en paininut hänen kanssaan...

Onneksi meitä on erilaisia ihmisiä. Kuten viittasin, myös tuossa reissussamme oli erilaisia

tilanteisiin suhtautumista. Iloisena voin todeta, että missään kohdassa ei tullut pojilta eikä 

vanhemmilta mitään ylilyöntejä tai muutakaan, mitä olisi ollut aihetta lähteä puimaan jälkikäteen. 

Pelien lomassa sattui ja tapahtui, mutta se oli loistavaa joukkueen ja yksilöiden 

kasvamisprosessia. Pojat saivat niin peliteknisesti, pelin kovuudessa, pelin nopeudessa

kuin henkisesti oppia, joka on korvaamatonta. Korvaamatonta on myös ne hetket, jotka he 

viettivät kentän ulkopuolella keskenään, kehittäen ja kasvattaen toivottavasti elämän läpi

kestäviä kaveruussuhteita.

Moni minun tällä hetkellä läheisimmistä kavereistani on vanhoja pelikavereitani. Miehiä, jotka 

olen oppinut tuntemaan poikina fudis- ja/tai koriskentällä, viettäen yhdessä tuhansia tunteja 

kentällä, pukukopeissa ja katsomoissa. Monien pelikavereiden kanssa vietimme aikaa myös 

muualla, kasvaen yhdessä aikuisiksi. Yhden kanssa olin samalla luokalla, toisen kanssa jossain 

vaiheessa samassa koulussa, mutta ne olivat enemmän sattumaa kuin syytä yhteiseen 

loppuelämään. Uskon, että kaikista tärkeimmät hetket yhteen kasvamisen suhteen olivat

pukukopissa - useimmiten treenien jälkeen jopa tunteja - sekä ties missä muualla yhdessä koetut

tapahtumat.  

Mukaan mahtuu best manin ja kummin roolit, vierailua toiseen maahan muuttaneen kaverin 

luokse, yhteisiä etelänlomia ja hiihtoreissuja, telttailua, bileitä, ravintolailtoja, leffoja, pelejä, 

tyttöystäviä, eroja, vaimoja, lapsia, kaikkea elämän kaaren asioita... 

Se, mikä on ehkä jopa hämmästyttävää, on olematon avioerojen määrä tässä urheilun 

kautta syntyneessä lähipiirissäni. Ehkä tähän voi samalla iloksi todeta, että myös todellisten

päihdeongelmien tai kuolemien määrä on nolla. Oli minulla muitakin kaveripiirejä nuoruudessani 

ja siinä ryhmässä lukemat ovat aivan toista luokkaa. Mikä johtaa mihin ja miksi meistä on tullut 

sitä mitä olemme on mysteeri, mutta uskallan väittää, että urheilulla on positiivinen vaikutus 

loppuelämään. 

Yhtään väheksymättä yksilölajeja, joissa urheilija on vastuussa vain itsestään ja

itselleen, uskon joukkueurheilun tuovan ehkä jopa monipuolisemman kasvuympäristön lapselle

ja nuorelle. Urheilijan - tai lapsen - täytyy kantaa vastuu itsestään huomioiden myös joukkue. 

Valmentajan käskyjä on kuunneltava ja toteltava, taito, josta on hyötyä niin kotona, koulussa kuin

työelämässä. Muiden huomioon ottaminen. Omatoiminen harjoittelu. Suunnitelmallinen 

valmentautuminen ja valmistautuminen. Ravinnon merkitys tekemiseen. Kamppailu 

menestymisestä. Pelin ja muiden pelaajien kunnioittaminen. Onnistumisen ja voittamisen ilo.

Tappion käsitteleminen ja siitä oppiminen. Teon ja seurauksen suhde tuhansien tapahtumien 

kautta. 

Ehkä juuri näistäkin syistä minä edelleen pelaan, vaikkakin leikkimielellä omaksi ilokseni. Jäin - 

ainakin toistaiseksi - pois yhden joukkueen peleistä, koska niitä ei ollut enää kiva pelata. Käyn 

edelleen todella mielelläni saman jengin treeneissä, mutta kun peleissä tuli liian usein huono 

fiilis, halusin muutosta. Tähän liittyy hyvin paljon muiden pelaajien kunnioittaminen, joka usein 

puuttui. 

Niin, palaan ajatuksissa viime viikonloppuun ja syystä tai toisesta - vastaanottaja tehköön 

halutessaan yleistyksiä - Baltian ja Venäjän joukkueilta näytti puuttuvan vastustajan 

kunnioittaminen. Fudista ymmärtävät tietävät, mitä voi seurata kun tulee vauhdilla napit edellä 

vastustajan jaloille. Englantilainen joukkue pelasi kovaa, mutta reilusti. Tässä onkin se jutun ydin:

Kovaa pelaamisella ja rumasti pelaamisella on ISO ero. Minä olen pelannut ja pelaan kovaa. 

En tiedä mikä minusta tulee isona, mutta en kuitenkaan halua kasvaa aikuiseksi. Huomennakin 

aion mennä pelaamaan - kovaa, pitäen hauskaa, peliä ja muita pelaajia kunnioittaen. 

Joskus jopa lapsenomaisella innolla.

On aivan loistavaa olla nuori, toivottavasti en koskaa kasva mieleltäni aikuiseksi! 
 

Onneksi en ole yksin, vai mitä pidätte herrasta nimeltä Chuck Berry, joka on syntynyt vuonna 

1926 ja lähes ysikymppisenä rundaa ympäri maailmaa rokkaamassa. Wikipediassa lisää ja 

musaa youtubesta, Rolling Stonesilla on vielä matkaa...

Taidankin tänään istua syyskylmälle terassille ja käydä juttelun toisen ikinuoren, Faijani, kanssa. 

Onneksi hän(kin) on aina jutteluetäisyyden päässä - poutapilven reunalla ;o)  

Mannerheim & Vampire

For some reason I only this morning realized the link between the Mannerheim -movie "producer" Erkko Ego-grower Lyytinen and the "vampire" story I posted in Finnish;

The main producer, who's salary we Finnish taxpayers pay, is from the very same format as the sad case "cultural producer" Mr Tom Lundberg writes about in his column - the one I posted for you in here. Sorry,  in Finnish - except my brief PS-explanation to non-Finnish-speakers.

Enjoy the Sunday & Monday tomorrow.

Don't follow Garfield...

Battle Mannerheim vs Litmanen

I have seen today two somewhat documentary or autobiography movies, one partly and another fully paid by us, the Finnish taxpayers via Finnish broadcasting company YLE;

• "Kuningas Litmanen" about football player Jari Litmanen

• "Suomen Marsalkka" about soldier and president of Finland Carl-Gustaf Mannerheim
  http://www.suomenmarsalkka.fi/
  

Let's talk about the Marshal first;

It sucks!

The storytelling does not have any clear clue and it goes on for the full 41 mins without any real drama to the viewers.

Looking at ti from a quality point of view, as a movie even I can see it is low quality - and my view is supported by the media reviews as well as it can be seen in the "Making the..." documentary. Perhaps there is a link with the output and the fact that the local producer started his career in this project as a driver. Yes, the man who was the taxi-man for these Finnish guys.

On top, the ones who have studied the history more, have pointed out multiple errors in the fact telling - and honestly I was not able to find anything new from the historical or person point of view. To me that was the biggest dissapointment.

What was this then all about?

Please someone smarter tell me!

...the only motivator I've seen is that the YLE producer Erkko Ego-grower Lyytinen tries to boost his career - and ego. He says we should see the character Mannerheim from another angle. Unfortunately I was not able to link enough as there were too many contradictions and at the same time the content was very weak.

Enough of that, watch it and make up you own mind.

Kuningas Litmanen - King Litmanen;

I recommend it to all who are even a bit intersted in football or sports!

This movie lasted for almost 2 hours and when it ended, I felt like "gimme more, keep it coming...!". When the man himself goes to the places he has lived his football life and is interviewed about things he has never spoken about earlier, there is a clear additional value.

All of us can go to Youtube to watch the goals.

It is not often that you hear players like Xavi, Carles Puyol, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Danny Blind, Ronald and Frank de Boer, or Steven Gerrard talking such positive about another player. Litmanen played his biggest successesin Ajax in Holland, followed by not-that-great periods in Barcelona, Spain and Liverpool, England. He also did visits to Sweden and Germany.

My son is a young BIG football player and a fan, watching the world class players and knows a lot about them. After the movie I asked him "Did you know Litmanen was that good?". He said "No I didn't!".

Go and see it!

Tom Lundberg: Oppitunti Vampyyreille. Osa2

Päähän paijaaminen ja pumpulissa kasvattaminen on ihan ok, mutta jossain vaiheessa on aiheellista ottaa realismin oppitunti. Ennen kuin se on liian myöhäistä. Etenkin ensimmäisen kappaleen esimerkit yhteiskunnan toiminnasta pelottavat nyt kasvavan sukupolven jaloimpien tähtien osalta.

Lue ja mieti itse, onko kaikki hyvin...?


MIKA

PS Sorry guys, another one in Finnish - this is about what's behind the incidents where a 23 yrs old woman has never heard about a tax card that is needed if you work - or that a student who is about to become a "cultural producer" thinks that no one should be obliged to earn a living for them selves, as that is what the society is for...

====

Tapasin viime viikolla 23-vuotiaan naisen, joka ei tiennyt, mitä verokortti tarkoittaa. Luin sanomalehdestä kulttuurituottajaksi opiskelevan nuorukaisen haastattelun. Hän ilmoitti, ettei kenelläkään ole velvollisuutta elättää itseään, se kuuluu yhteiskunnalle. Sain äsken veret seisauttavan lisäverolapun, istu ja pala!

Kuntavaalien lähestyessä puhuvat päät televisiossa hokevat sanaa ”hyvinvointiyhteiskunta”, joka on yhtä epämääräinen kuin ”kestävä kehitys” ja ”rakennemuutos”. Verouudistuskin tarkoittaa sitä, että vampyyrit kuppaavat taas eläkeläisiltä. Kun hallitus lakkauttaa liikkuvan poliisin, se merkitsee ”hallintouudistusta”.

Nuorten syrjäytyminen saa päättäjien huulet heilumaan kuin myrskytuulessa. Kyseessä on mittava ongelma, jonka ymmärtämättömät hoitaisivat suitsait vain verorahoilla. Presidentin syrjäytymistyöryhmän raportille ”Ihan tavallisia asioita” ilkutaan mediassa. Negatiivisuus on realismia, kun välittämisestä tuli poliittinen lyömäase. Kummalla puolella se sydän sijaitseekaan?

Arkadianmäellä mesoaa levoton tonttujoukko, joka kuvittelee joulupukin painavan seteleitä. Se arvostelee jyrkästi materialismia ja työntää samaan aikaan kätensä muiden taskuun. Sellainen hyvinvointiyhteiskunta, jossa ihmisillä on ainoastaan oikeuksia, on kuitenkin saapumassa tiensä päähän. Vapaamatkustajat kysyvät kiivaasti, mitä valtio tekee heidän hyväkseen. Mieluummin tulisi kysyä, mitä he itse tekevät valtion (muiden) hyväksi.
Vastaus useimpiin yhteiskunnallisiin haasteisiin on työssä. Tuhannet yrittäjät työllistävät paitsi itsensä, myös koko joukon palkansaajia. He kantavat työllään ja investoinneillaan vastuuta omasta ja muiden hyvinvoinnista. Yritysten luomasta arvonlisästä yhteiskuntaan syntyy jakovaraa, jolla julkista sektoria pidetään yllä ja vähempiosaisista huolehditaan.
Velvollisuuksien ohella vapaalla ihmisellä on oikeuksia eli vapautta. Sen hintana on vastuu, jolla rakennetaan huomista. Teemme työtä ja työllistämme, hoidamme velvollisuutemme – ja tietysti maksan itsekin lisäveroni mukisematta. Kunnallisvaaleissa vaikutan äänestämällä ehdokasta, joka ei ratsasta poliittisella alkemialla. Tieto, osaaminen ja ymmärrys edistävät ja pitävät yllä hyvinvointia, jossa raha ei ole ratkaisu kaikkiin ongelmiin.

Asenne on.

-Tom Lundberg
http://www.positiivarit.fi/tl270912

Sanan Säilä Vilahtaa

Muut meni yli, Muhammed ali

Muut löi swingin, Vladimir putin.

Muut otti taksin, John lennon.

Muut valitsi kaidan tien, Lea laveen.

Muut oli kasvot kameraan päin, Markus selin.

Muut sai töitä, Teuvo loman.

Muut oli outoja, Eppu Normaali.

Muut oli ankkoja, Riki Sorsa.

Muut halus Eevan, Kofi Annan.

Muut oli harakoita, Kaisa Varis.

Muut piti näpit kurissa, Pekka Kouri.

Muut kesti, Jerry Lewis.

Muut oli leppäkerttuja, Wilson Kirwa.

Muut osti hehkulampun, Tomas Ledin.

Juhannus oli valoisa, Vappu pimiä.

Muut sylki pois, Leslie Nielsen.

Muut oli ahvenia, Sanna Kiiski.

Muut oli lihaa, Arno Kasvi.

Muut oli koiria, Sakari Orava.

Muut sisusti huoneen, Riitta Salin.

Muut oli noitia, Jarno Trulli.

Muut oli metsiä, Kiira Korpi.

Muut oli mökkejä, Väinö Linna.

Muut halus Kalevin, Aira Samulin.

Muut oli takkoja, Eppu Nuotio.

Muut oli loivia, Miina Äkkijyrkkä.

Muut söi nätisti, Markku Puputti.

Muut sanoi: "Pekka". Anneli Sauli.

Muut oli virsuja, Paavo Lipponen.

Muut oli jokia, Jarmo Koski.

Muut olivat savua, Rakel Liekki.

Muut olivat kolmioita, Jarkko Ruutu.

Jaffa by Hartwall - I love it!

Hartwallin keltainen Jaffa - the Original one with orange flavor (or appelsiini as we Finns say), is fantastic! For some reason it was THE drink for us when we were kids and had stomach flue. Well, it became something that I at least wanted also if I had a regular flue, but I of course didn't get it always and there was no good reason why I should have.

Short while ago we bought a 12-pack of 0,33 liter Jaffa's and my daughter said it was the first time ever she had Jaffa from a can! Talking about the culture of giant bottles and metal can taxes...

This pic is a genuine travel pack for 5 people, all of them only 0,5 liter bottles.

To get a bit deeper info about Jaffa at Wikipedia, check this, while if you wish to get some real info, go to the Hartwall pages in here.

Enjoy cold - Nauti kylmänä!

C'mon Helsinki, you can do it!

I am so happy that the mobile cafe Camionette, that I wrote about earlier, got a permit to operate for 2012 season. Some reviews from here.

There have been also others with the same ambition but there seems to be difficulties to find the fixed spots for these mobile cafe's/kiosks. This summer the previous Camionette's place was occupied by a train-style cafe serving creppes. Sorry, I have not tried them as I don't recall passing by a single time this summer.

But does Helsinki have difficulties to find places for mobile kiosks...?
Well, one would think that they are mobile so you can always require capability to operate mobile. Water tanks, aggregators etc can be organized so that a mobile kiosk is a mobile one and does not need to be in fixed place - like Helsinki at the moment seems to think.

Let's hope it will be fixed since these are the initiatives that make our cities live. Here is an old article by YLE about the "byrocracy and difficulties" around the topic.
http://www.yle.fi/alueet/helsinki/2011/09/helsinki_etsii_myyntipaikkoja_liikkuville_kioskeille_2904898.html

Plussa-, Ykkösbonus- ja S-Etukortti lopetetaan!

Vai lopetetaanko?

Kannattaako osuusliikkeen pitää pyörimässä 300 miljoonaa Euroa, siis 300.000.000 Euroa = karkeasti 2 miljardia Euroa, siis about 2.000.000.000 vanhaa markkaa maksavaa "etujärjestelmää", jonka pitäisi tuottaa "omistajilleen" - siis meille vihreän kortin omistajille - mahdollisimman halpaa ruokaa?

Seuratkaa maailman rohkeiden kauppojen esimerkkiä ja kaatakaa pöhöttynyt järjestelmä!

Jos epäilette sen kannattavuutta, pienen pieni esimerkki on taas löytynyt ruokakorivertailuista;
http://www.taloussanomat.fi/raha/2012/09/04/halvimman-ruokakorin-sai-ilman-bonuskorttia/201236863/139?rss=13

Jos joku haluaa lisää faktaa, kurkkikaa vaikkapa muita ruokakorivertailuita - tai pohtikaa, miksi joku Suomeen menestyksellä rantautunut ketju ei moisia käytä. Ja silti pärjää hienosti kilpailussa...

Hietsu @ Helsinki

While I went to say hi to a special person, I snapped two photos at Hietsu, Hietaniemi Cemetary at Helsinki.

This is one of the favorites that I often pass by: Old iron fence with a rusty bench inside. Even if it would be never used, it gives the image and thoughts of sitting down and talking to your buddy over there.

 
I guess this one is still waiting for a bit bigger stone, as it is a resting place for Mr Harri Holkeri, former top politician in Finland. 

I must take time some day soon to post some pics and stories from Spain. Hasta la proxima, Amigos...!

You should be jealous! ...NOW WITH PHOTOS...

I WASN'T ABLE TO INSERT PHOTOS OVER THE WEEKEND, SO HERE THEY ARE...!   ####   Finland is beautiful!   I guess we don't have too many countries where in less than 30 mins drive from the city centre you are in a wilderness where you have deers, bears and so on. Yep, national park next door from Helsinki.

Some of you guys out there would recognize the view as you've had the pleasure - or should I say the privilidge - to visit. 

A weekend at a summer cabin can mean many things, but in the one I'm at it means also some work. 

Imagine a christmas tree. A BIG one. Times two. With a base of over 2 meters circle (...around the tree). A storm knocked one down and hence we put it in pieces and dragged it down from the forest about 50 meters down. Luckily no need to go uphill. 

Then there is a need to chop them into smaller pieces...

Well, after the sauna, swim in a lake that is still warm = ~17C, a great meal and a few drinks one sleeps great. Or at least one should. How could I get the host's mom to change these girly ones to something that woul do what they are supposed to do...?

Well, sleeping is a waste of time anyway...

Let's talk a bit about sports;

BIG hands for team Finland for kicking some Belgium arse yesterday on a basketball court. Luckily my main man Seba Bellin was not with them :o) Niiiiiice job guys!!!

Have a fabulastic weekend, enjoy the moment!