From Top to a Flop - or Staying Brave, 2 stories!

Yesterday I came across with 2 stories that were in similar nature;
One day a sportsman on top of the world, fame, glory, success, fans, money and so on.
The second day everything is gone, no more sports, no fans, no glory, no money.

Ice hockey professional Hannes Hyvönen opened a blog where he opens up in his first post, revealing the drastic change from the high fly to the deep dive. As he is a former Blues-man, he is one of the good guys ;o)
The blog of Hannes can be found here.

NBA all-star player and Olympic winner Vin Baker has opened up about his life changes, how he lost over 100 million dollars and getting rid of alcohol etc. Short story of his life change in Finnish at www.Iltalehti.fi can be found from here.

Two different stories, yet quite alike. Hats off to these brave men who speak about their challenging life phases openly. The key is to be honest to yourself, some people do not like it and that is totally OK, we can't please everyone.

On the other hand, if most people tell you that some elements in your behaviour are wrong, there is a pattern with the story, and in addition the actions / words you do or say - or you leave undone / unsaid - lead into similar unwanted results, take a deep breath, talk first to a mirror, then to some good people and think if there is something you should change yourself!

Use the mirror - and not just to see what you have left behind or running away from...!

...Damn I'm still glad I have not needed to follow their path, it would suck to wake up one morning and realize you had it all and you lost it - for one or another reason. 

Eurovision is not Punk!

Finland tried to make the same trick as we did at 2006 when we made history by having the first ever hard rock song (by Lordi) to win the Eurovision song contest - and the first and so far (and many years to come) the only Finnish winner of the contest! This time we tried to do the trick with punk song - and that's not all, it was performed by a band called Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät - a band made up of members with learning disabilities.

BBC - among many other world media - wrote about them, link is here, and a photo by BBC below;

For their performance, check out Youube...

This time I don't have favorites, let's see how high will my interest be when the show kicks off at 10 pm Finnish time, that is 8pm UK time and 9 pm Brussels time - in about an hour!

Let the games begin!!!

Noloa Vaalimainostamista - Shameful Election Promotion

Eduskuntavaalit 2015 lähestyvät ja vaalikampanjointi käy melko lämpimänä. Eri ehdokkaat yrittävät luovasti monin keinoin päästä näkyviin saaden nimensä ja numeronsa positiivisesti muistiin.

Positiivisesti!

Ehdokas René Hursti, sosiaalityöntekijä, Perussuomalaiset, vaalipiiri Helsinki, sinä epäonnistuit!

Se saatoit olla sinä itse, joka homman mokasi - ei se, että minä puolueesi edustajalle ääntäni antaisin, mutta joku muu ehkä sen tekee. Ainakin TV-kuvan perusteella se saatoit olla sinä tai sitten joku, joka on ihastunut tyyliisi.

Kuvan oikeassa alakulmassa oleva numeroituun huomioliiviin pukeutunut henkilö oli valveutunut, jokin tieto opasti liivimiestä liikkumaan juuri oikeaan kohtaan näkyäkseen TV-ruudussa MTV3:n Huomenta Suomi -lähetyksen haastattelussa, josta nämä kuvakaappauksetkin. Parhaat palat näkyy noin 18-22 minuutin kohdalla.

Joku kollegasi sentään ymmärsi ekan näkyvyyden jälkeen siirtyä muualle, ettei joka kuvassa ole joku liivimies pyrkyrinä...

In a nutshell, if you aim to use special marketing / promoting actions, do it with good taste and understand that too much is too much! 

Itsenäinen Suomi 97 vuotta - Finland's 97th Independence Day

Today Finland has been independent for 97 years. Again Tuntematon Sotilas -movie is on TV and the President's reception is back in Helsinki now that the palace has been renovated.

To secure we can celebrate Finland's independence also in the coming years, there has been discussions if Finland should join NATO or not. I myself see more benefits than down sides or risks, or one could think joining would be the best insurance ever...

Regarding the NATO topic there is a good column at local newspaper - naturally in Finnish.

More about Finland's independence in my old posts.

Suomen mahdollisesta NATO jäsenyydestä on käyty yllättävän vähän rakentavaa keskustelua. Asiaa voisi ajatella siltä kantilta, että se olisi paras mahdollinen turvallisuusvakuutus, joka jo sinällään tuo rauhallisuutta. Uusi Suomi ja Arno Kotro pohtii asiaa eri kanteilta kolumnissaan:
http://arnokotro.puheenvuoro.uusisuomi.fi/181775-voi-halonen-ja-tuomioja-minka-teitte

Hyvää Itsenäisyyspäivää meille kaikille!

FIFA Football World Cup 2014 - Let the games begin!!!

We have only some minutes to the kickoff of the football World Cup 2014 in Brazil!

There are so many interesting players to follow, some known to the big public and on top several rising stars. I'm really looking for the games - even though I will watch only some games from the 64 available ones...

The Finnish broadcasting company YLE www.yle.fi shows all the games in public TV channels in Finland and on top they have pretty good online services. If you understand Finnish, check the pages out.

My favorite is Spain. 6 years ago I was lucky enough to be in Spain when they won the EuroCup 2008 and I can tell you the party was BIG. And that was only the first one from the 3 championships in a row 2008-2010-2012.

If Spain fails, my second vote goes to childhood favorite Brazil, the hosting team. They have excellent players and home crowd, but also huge pressure to perform. 2nd is not enough for them...

The dark horse for me is Belgium with young stars. I hear Belgium is going bananas with the game fever and assumingly the (fool) Belge expect them to be in top 4. No way I say, max positions 5-8 so out from the quarter finals.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN, VIVA ESPAÑA!!!

Let's Change the World!

"Let's make the world into a better place - and enjoy the ride"

I guess all of us - or at least majority of us who have some sort of order between our ears - agree with the statement above. Any idea where it is from...?

Anyone?

Somebody?

Are you sure you have not seen those words somewhere...?

...if you think you have not, please scroll up the screen and have a look at the left column at the top.
Yes, I have said so some years ago and I agree with my statement still today - and most likely always.

The reason taking this up is the aphorism I came across with in Facebook - the unsocial media. It is along the lines of my own thought above.

Call me naive or stupid, but I trust the good guys will win at the end!
...and at least I have a bit better mind from doing the best I can!

Have a fabulous + fantastic = fabulastic weekend, it is unexpected summer in Finland!!!

Social Media makes us Unsocial!

Look up from you phone and LIVE!

As the name states, the video I linked is a video everyone needs to see - and think about the message. And act based on it! If you think of it - after seeing the video - this might be the most important 5 minutes of the rest of your life if you choose to change something in your behaviour.

Can you afford not to try?

Social media is something that is unsocial - it has become anti-social one since too often you see people, "friends", physically together but mentally so far apart. Mobile devices have made many positive things possible in social life. When internet, Facebook, games etc came along many addictive negative aspects were enabled.

Let's take a positive step towards living together, a good start is to invest the 5 minutes and then talk - you know like face-to-face in spoken words person-to-person - with a real human, not via electronic devices.

http://blog.petflow.com/a-video-everyone-needs-to-see/

...and now, put down your tech-device and start living ;o)

Have a fantasic life!!!

HBD2U+ME

Puzzled...?

Happy
Birthday
To =2
You =U
And =+
Me
...got it?

Many of us have mixed feelings regarding the Facebook birthday wishes. While I at myself highly appreciate each and every wish, greeting, thumbs-up and message I got today - over 100 of them so THANKS, there is still a good reason to question if it is worth all the fuzz.

For the record: You are NOT entitled to be annoyed or at any level be pissed with me for not recognizing your Facebook birthday! I prefer to greet face-to-face, on phone, with SMS, or if via Facebook it is mainly via private message. But no, I send those only veeeeery seldom so please do not expect one.

Still, I wish again to thank each and every one of you who sent a greeting one way or another! You thought of me and took the moment to tell it to me, highly appreciated! Special wishes go to Finland and Belgium to the ones who also celebrate today - gelukkige verjaardag!

As many of you have also noticed, many businesses use the information they have about us, including the birthday info. I got a message from SAS, the airline, where they in form of congratulations wish to sell me their services and if I buy, I am awarded with 1000 extra frequent flyer miles. Yippekayeeeee or something...!

Those of you who are in Finland, did you check the flagpoles? Yes, we have had the flags up for my Birthday!!!

To all of you who happen to have a birthday this year 2014:
Happy Birthday - Hyvää Syntymäpäivää!

A picture tells more than 1000 words!

FANTASTIC!!!

That is the first English word that comes to mind when thinking of the pictures on the site linked below. The second word would perhaps be AMAZING or OVERWHELMING... Some of you might need a tissue, just make sure you read the titles when ever they are available. For some I'd really wish to get them, particularly to get to know what is the story behind - or at least the cover of the story.

Take in minimum 5 minutes to check the pictures, have a thorough look at them, read the headlines and let your mind fly!
http://news.distractify.com/people/complex-humans/?v=1

These two were my favorites;

LIFE IS...!!! 

Have a great weekend you all!

Daycare Show North Korean Style - Pohjois Korealainen Päiväkoti Esitys

Everyone should have a right to express their own opinion. Unfortunately for some people in some countries doing that causes problems, but I hope me telling you guys this doesn't mean I will end up in rehabilitation camp in North Korea.

Finnish tabloid paper's online version Iltasanomat TV posted a video taken in North Korea. It is about daycare children, perhaps 4-6 years old, singing as a choir in a show. Something quite surprising appears at the back during the show. Check it out from this link, wait first for about 10 seconds to view the commercial.

There is in the article also some pictures from the show. The kids also performed a play where brave North Korean soldiers capture evil spies. In the pictures the spies wear helmets, just to clarify to the non-Finnish-speakers.

Talking about brain washing from child age...

...eli lyhyesti sama Suomeksi.

Pohjois Korealla on vakuuttava tyyli muokata jo lasten ajatusmaailmaa ja toimintaa. Näin ainakin on tulkittavissa Iltasanomien jutusta, jossa videolla ja kuvilla, sekä paikan päällä olleen henkilön viestillä värittyy melko vahva valtiojohdon vaikuttamisen tahto.

Päättele itse, juttu löytyy täältä.

PS -17C expected for tomorrow in Southern Finland and -30C up North in Lapland, COOL...!

 

6 Joulukuuta 2013 Suomi 96 vuotta - December 6th 2013 Finland 96 years!

Corrected: "...Year 1917 Finland separated..."
----
Tomorrow December 6th is the Independence Day of Finland. Year 1917 Finland separated from Russia and started to develop a life of it's own. I guess someone at Russia - or later at Soviet Union - started to have doubts regarding the decision and hence they started a war against Finland at 1939, the famous Winter War.

This is how Wikipedia describes the winter war in brief;
"The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland in 1939–1940. It began with Soviet invasion of Finland on 30 November 1939, and ended with the Moscow Peace Treaty on 13 March 1940."

Tomorrow the Finnish broadcasting company YLE shows again a classic movie about the second world war time in Finland, the Unknown Soldier - Tuntematon Sotilas from 1955. Wikipedia briefing at here and Youtube taste below.

Tomorrow's annual President's reception will be held at Tampere, since the precidential palace is under renevation. No dancing but a concert instead. Let's see what kind of a party it will be.
...and in case you are wondering, NO I am not going, it is always televized.

Let's finish off with a "music video" from the 1955 movie, a clip of Finlandia, composed by Jean Sibelius.

Hyvää 96. Itsenäisyyspäivää Suomi 

-

Happy 96th Independence Day Finland!

PS To check out my older posts about Finland's independence, click here.

PPS It's only 19 days until Santa Claus, Joulupukki, comes over. Welcome Christmas!!!

More skills - Amazing trick!

This guy is unbelievable, how can you set some cards into certain order and then talk your way through a deck of cards...?

Ladies and Playboys, James Galea from Down Under - Australia:
http://www.flixxy.com/australian-magician-james-galeas-unbelievable-trick.htm

Have a great gray November weekend you all!!!

Why, baby why...?

Below you will find a link to a page with pictures that have one common theme in my mind: WHY?
http://vivas.fi/mita-ihmetta-ja-miksi-31-aivan-taysin-kasittamatonta-kuvaa/

Here is a taster...

Regards from Winterland, I just told you it is fall time. Well, it's Finland and things can change fast. This is a fresh pic by www.iltasanomat.fi showing the cool status from about 300 km from Helsinki.

Winter - right around the corner...!

Tarkkana mitä kirjoitat

Mikäli sinulle maksetaan kirjoittamisesta, oletus on, että olet ammattilainen. Näin ollen loppuun asti miettimättömiä lehtiotsikoita ei pitäisi syntyä - vaan kyllä niitä kuitenkin syntyy...! Alla maukkaita esimerkkejä, ei kuitenkaan tältä vuodelta...

Sorry folks, these are just something one can not translate into English. These are foolish press titles where the message leaves some space for imagination.

----
Nainen kestää heikosti peräänajoa.
Otsikko Aamulehdessä 29.1.

Jollei haudasta oteta yhteyttä, hautaa hoidetaan 25 vuotta veloituksetta.
Turkulainen 28.8.

Väkivalta parisuhteessa on asia, jonka eteen kannattaa tehdä töitä.
Vantaan Sanomat 22.9.

Mies löi liikuntarajoitteista miestä pankkiautomaatilla.
Otsikko Koti-Kajaanissa 15.1.

Rattijuoppo kaahasi sataa poliisia karkuun.
Otsikko Warkauden Lehdessä 31.3.

Olutrekka ojaan Iissä. Alkoholilla ei ollut osuutta turmassa.
Helsingin Sanomat 4.5.

Linja-autossa oli yli 50 ihmistä. Mukana oli myös kolme opettajaa.
Helsingin Sanomat 14.4.

Valintatalo avaa kirkon kylässä ensi torstaina. Uusittu myymälä poikkeaa
ratkaisevasti entisestä.
Otsikko Luoteis-Uusimaassa 11.6.

Eliel Saarisen tien tunneli on kaikkiaan yli puoli kilometriä pitkä.
Umpitunnelissa kuljetaan 350 metrin matka.
Helsingin Sanomat 12.10.

Oravan löytyminen ei vielä tarkoita sitä, että niitä pesisi lähistöllä.
Se tarkoittaa vain, että kuollut yksilö on liikuskellut alueella.
Savon Sanomat 2.7.

Hakijaryntäys Espoon hautausmaille.
Otsikko Espoon seurakuntasanomat Essessä 11.3

Ne, jotka ovat päivittäin jutelleet vainajan kanssa selviävät tablettilääkityksellä.
Savon Sanomat 7.1.

Malmin hautausmaan liikenne yksisuuntainen.
Ilmoitus Helsingin Sanomissa 24.12.

Vuodepotilaan syöminen voi olla hankalaa.
Otsikko Sydän-Satakunnassa 8.12 .

Etelä-Karjalan ensimmäinen krematorio tuotantokäyttöön.
Otsikko Etelä-Saimaassa 15.5.

Mika Lahti kaatoi keilat naisia paremmin.
Otsikko Helsingin Sanomissa 10.1.

Työkaverinsa rintoja kähminyt sai jättikorvauksen.
Otsikko Ilta-Sanomien lööpissä 5.2.

Kauppiaan sydän on lihatiskillä.
Otsikko Kauppalehdessä 23.2.

Huonokuuloisten maailmankongressissa huippupuhujia.
Kuulonhuoltoliiton tiedotteen otsikko 13.5.

Eurot näytettiin etukäteen vain sokeille.
Otsikko Aamulehdessä 31.12.

Oppilaiden tasapuolinen kohtelu epäkohta peruskoulussa ja lukiossa.
Otsikko Itäväylässä 24.6.

Äkillinen tulva vaikeutti autojen kulkua Vammalan kävelykadulla.
Tyrvään Sanomat 5.8.

Kokenut metsästäjä ei huomannut vaimoaan ampuessaan tiheässä taimikossa riekkoa.
Ilta-Sanomat 24.9.

Lahdessa kuollut ampui poliiseja.
Otsikko Pohjalaisessa 4.8.

Liian pienissä liiveissä rinnat pursuavat kupin reunan yli ja liukuvat ylöspäin
selässä.
Iltalehti Online 18.9.

Miina Kenttä omaa luokkaansa tyttöjen seipäässä.
Otsikko Helsingin Sanomissa 18.8.

Myydään. 2 langatonta lankapuhelinta.
Ilmoitus Helsingin Sanomissa 8.9.

Hän on joutunut mielisairaalaan, koska tappoi 12-vuotiaan äitinsä ja tämän rakastajan.
Kansan Uutiset 27.3.

Ikaalisten Ampujat panostaa nuoriin.
Otsikko Pohjois-Satakunnassa 16.6.

Sairaankuljettajan arkeen kuuluu väkivallalla uhkaaminen eri muodoissaan.
Pohjolan Sanomat 19.11.

Kymmenen hevosen emäntä myös ravaa itse, ja onpa voittanut Suomen mestaruudenkin.
Itä-Häme 8.3.

Alkosta halutaan piristystä Pöytyän liike-elämään.
Otsikko Auranmaan Viikkolehdessä 3.9.

Miehet ovat tavallisen näköisiä nuoria miehiä. Havainnoista voi ilmoittaa lähimmälle
poliisille.
Helsingin Sanomat vankikarkureista 26.7.

Challenges

I must say I like the ad below, but is the message at the end well thought? Are they facing challenges because they suck? Or is it because the market situation is bad? Or are they just lousy comparing to competition?

I don't really care that much, while I am in a situation or position to make them face challenges even more

Bite that!
...and think before you post an ad or name a car. Think for example why Nissan Pajero did not make a breakthrough in Spanish speaking markets...

Have a great weekend you all!

PS Something little to ease up your weekend. I might have posted this earlier too, but it is damn too good to be forgotten...

Help Desk / Employee of the Month?

I think this guy should have been promoted, not fired. This is a true story from the WordPerfect Helpline which was transcribed from a recording monitoring the customer care department. Needless to say, the Help Desk employee was fired however, he is currently suing the WordPerfect organization for "Termination without Cause."

 

This is the actual dialogue of a former WordPerfect Customer Support employee (now I know why they record these conversations);

 

"Rich Hall, computer assistance; may I help you?"

 

"Yes, well, I'm having trouble with WordPerfect."

 

"What sort of trouble?"

 

"Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away."

 

"Went away?"

 

"They disappeared."

 

"Hmmm. So what does your screen look like now?"

 

"Nothing."

 

"Nothing?"

 

"It's a blank; it won' t accept anything when I type."

 

"Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out?"

 

"How do I tell?"

 

"Can you see the C: prompt on the screen?"

 

"What's a sea-prompt?"

 

"Never mind, can you move your cursor around the screen?"

 

"There isn't any cursor: I told you, it won't accept anything I type."

 

"Does your monitor have a power indicator?"

 

"What's a monitor?"

 

"It's the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have a little light that tells you when it's on?"

 

"I don't know."

 

"Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that?"

 

"Yes, I think so."

 

"Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it's plugged into the wall."

 

"Yes, it is."

 

"When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one?"

 

"No."

 

"Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable."

 

"Okay, here it is."

 

"Follow it for me, and tell me if it's plugged securely into the back of your computer."

 

"I can't reach."

 

"Uh huh. Well, can you see if it is?"

 

"No."

 

"Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over?"

 

"Oh, it's not because I don't have the right angle, it's because it's dark."

 

"Dark?"

 

"Yes - the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window."

 

"Well, turn on the office light then."

 

"I can't."

 

"No? Why not?"

 

"Because there's a power failure."

 

"A power.......a power failure?.... Aha, Okay, we've got it licked now. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff your computer came in?"

 

"Well, yes, I keep them in the closet."

 

"Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to the store you bought it from."

 

"Really? Is it that bad?"

 

"Yes, I'm afraid it is."

 

"Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them?"

 

"Tell them you're too fucking stupid to own a computer."

Viva Finlandia - Hyvä Suomi, kick some Spanish ass!

It is only days since I was in Finland - Spain football game, where the stronger candidate took what was expected: A win for Spain. In less than an hour we are in a similar situation, it is EuroBasket, European Basketball Championships and Finland is playing Spain. If Finland wins, it is a BIIIIG surprise as Spain is THE team in Europe.

B-ball is a fantastic game and hence there is a chance for surprises. Finland has won Greece, Greece has won Spain, which in theory means Finland should win. NOT!

Finnish media has listed some tips for the audience, if you understand Finnish, check this out:
http://yle.fi/urheilu/huovinen_vs_poikola_espanja_on_paha_-_katsojavinkeissa_gasolia/6831472

The following is from www.yle.fi;

Katsojavinkit

1. Seuraa missä kohti kenttää Espanjan huippusentteri Marc Gasol (13) pelaa hyökkäyksessä? Sijoittuuko hän vapaaheittoviivan tienoille vai korin alle.
2. Muuttuuko hyökkäysasetelma ja laskeeko hyökkäyksen tehokkuus Gasolin ollessa vaihdossa?
3. Seuraa sitä, miten Espanjan takamiehet ajavat korille. Päättyykö ajo   korintekoyritykseen vai hienoon vapauttavaan syöttöön pelikaverille?
4. Ricky Rubio (9) on yksi maailman parhaista takamiesten puolustajista, varsinkin pallottoman pelaajan puolustajana. Puolustaako hän Petteri Koposta? Jos puolustaa, edessä on kahden huippupelaajan mittelö.

Short, free translation:
1. Follow at which part of the court Spanish top center Marc Gasol (13) plays in offence? Is he located by the free throw line or closer to the basket?
2. Does the play set in offence change or is the effectiveness decreasing when Gasol is at bench?
3. See how Spanish guards (the shorter guys who control more the ball) penetrate to the basket. Does it end with an attempt to score a basket or with a niiiice pass to a team mate who has a chance for a free shot?
4. Ricky Rubio (9) is one of the best defenders of guards, especially a player without a ball. Does he defend Petteri Koponen (11) from Finland team? If so, we are about to see a battle of two fantastic players!

...if you wish to follow the stats online, it's here.

 

LET THE GAMES BEGIN...

HYVÄ SUOMI!

 

 

Shoes Against the Laws of Physics

I thought we had seen them all - or at least the most - but what did I know. Nada...

http://www.iltalehti.fi/viihde/2013073017309357_vi.shtml

It seems playmates do what ever it takes to get attention - as well as they seem to have forgotten the style rules.

Ice Hockey on a Billboard

As a paying spectator or TV watcher, would you prefer to watch an ice hockey game that is played on a billboard? I know I wouldn't.

...it's anyway too hard to follow the puck now and then...

Naturally the laws of economy play a role in pro sports, while there is still several levels to satisfy the needs & wants that the teams and sponsors have. I was veeeery surprised to see the new ice hockey ring of the Kärpät in Oulu, Finland. It is so "shocking" that even a high profile ice hockey blogger Puck Daddy a.k.a. Greg Wyshynski has taken a notice about it.

Also Finnish tabloid has taken this on their agenda;
http://www.iltalehti.fi/smliiga/2013072917307076_sm.shtml
http://www.iltalehti.fi/smliiga/2013073017308930_sm.shtml

Here is a pic via www.suomikiekko.com - make your own call...!

 

Horror Story Part 18 - The End(kö)?

Dear Friends,

There is a good chance that the horror story is getting closer to the end. Or is this only a kick for a new begin? The main character of the story will be behind bars for 60 days if there are no surprises in second level of legal process.

http://www.seiska.fi/Viihdeuutiset/Johanna-Tukiaiselle-ehdoton-vankeustuomio/1005725

Please be aware that you open the link at your own risk - it contains material that can change your image of "glamour girl" forever...

PS Kiitos jälleen Ts., olet hyvin varmistanut, ettei minulta mene näitä elämää suurempia uutisia ohi!
PPS T, sinä kaipasit uutisia ja tässä sitä on - toivottavasti tämä ei murra luottamustasi naiskauneuteen...

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!