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!!!

Hyvä Blues, Hyvä Honka, Hyvä Honka!

Yep, I'm still alive even if my words have not found this site.

The Blues
My home town sports flagship teams in the sports I'm interested in are all in interesting situation. Blues in ice hockey, Honka in basketball and Honka in football (soccer for some of you). Let's bite them one by one...

Unfortunately the Blues are now out from this year's playoffs. JYP from Jyväskylä beat them 4-0 in quarter finals hence no excuses, better team won.

Now the players like Bracken Kearns can focus on their family & kids. I happen to know this morning he was rolling on the floor with his about 2 years old daughter. He apparently was more on top of the situation than Tuomo Ruutu last summer when he lost his kid for a while at Hoplop indoor adventure park in Espoo...

I'm glad I went to the first playoff home game as the 2nd one I missed for a different culture reason, Ystävän Risti concert at church of Espoonlahti, lead by a local music industry 2nd generation legend Ile Vainio.

Tapiolan Honka
My basketball club Tapiolan Honka with long and glorious history has been back in the top league for the 2nd season after a visit at the 2nd highest level. The drop was due to bad financial situation of the separated league team. Now the team is on the last place in the league and the last team is supposed to drop one level down.

But what does the Finnish Basketball Association do?
They decide to expand the league from 11 to 12 teams. It has not yet been (at least not published) how the extra spot will be filled, while my best quess is they will keep Honka up and rise the winner of the 2nd level.

Why to keep Honka even if they should be dropped?
Well, it is the biggest basketball club in Finland with 1000+ juniors and 1 of the 2 teams in the capital area in the league. The other team, Helsinki Seagulls, does not have such junior operations... This is why I'd put my money on Honka playing the league also next year!

FC Honka
Another great club FC Honka with sad stories around the flagship team that has been separated from the main club running the junior operations. The league team lost its place in the league and now they are kicking off a fresh start from the 3rd highest level with new background team (you can follow them at Twitter). The team with mainly young talents completed with some experienced guys willing to take the challenge to boost the club back into the spotlights.

To make a one-man-statement, I will most probably get a season ticket for the upcoming season. The price also should be at the level that I don't mind if I miss half of the games...

So... 3 sports, 3 clubs, 2 names, 3 different situations. I love sports!!!

Now I'm off to watch FC Honka juniors game, missing an overlapping Tapiolan Honka juniors game - which will be covered by another one tomorrow.

Have a sporty weekend!

Game Me - Pelaa Minua!

Most of us have seen the bad examples of so called Google translations. One would think that if you make a visible item with many languages on it to Heathrow airport terminal that you would bother to check with native speaker that all are proper language.

Great initiative, a piano on a hallway by the gates with a "Play me" recommendation on it. But why baby why didn't you check the other languages...? The Finnish one is a fantastically horrible example of the Google style translator; It says - converting it back to English - "Game me". And yes, I "gamed" it...

Eli lyhyesti;
Tollot ovat hyödyntäneet Google -tyyppistä käännöskonetta tarkastamatta tekstiä natiivilla ja lopputuloksena Lontoon Heathrown lentokentällä matkustajien soitettavissa olevaan pianoon on kirjoitettu "Pelaa Minua". Ja pelasinhan minä...

Hallelujah Baby, THESE are the priests we need!!!

My little boy is in a process to prepare for his confirmation this year. Like most teenagers, he is not thrilled about it and asks now and then questions that contain "why" element. Yep, for a reason :o)

May I present a priest that has got the X-factor that might change the view of some teens - as well as some adults. If this guy would perform a bit like this on Sundays at my home hoods, I would honestly consider dragging my not-so-large-ass-anymore once in a while to the show premises just to check this guy's message out!

Set the speakers properly, make sure you can take the 5 minutes for this, sit back and enjoy!!!

PS There is no trick in this so just listen and enjoy!

Wipe it clean - Hyvin pyyhkii!

Every one of us needs to use a wiper - toilet paper. In principle it makes sense to use a paper that is comfortable - soft and enduring enough. If in addition the paper brings joy or is otherwise good feelings via visual effect, why not...?

Hyvin pyyhkii!

Last Christmas jingles...

Skills - The Drummer Girl!

I appreciate skills in what ever it is. This time it is a young girl with drums. Check out at http://vitaminl.tv/video/224?ref=fbs

Rock @ Helsinki Tonight -

If you are at Helsinki tonight and want to listen to some rock - in fairly down-to-earth authentic environment, check out the Classic Cars Café at Jätkäsaari. The first band starts apparently at 9ish and the Texas Oil that plays apparently Hurriganes stuff starts at around 1030 pm.

The place is open also at daytime so pop in for a cup of coffee, beer, shot, pinball or what ever is you choise!

Positive New Year 2013 - Positiivinen Uusi Vuosi 2013!

I want to wish all of you a joyful, happy, successful etc year 2013!

Kaikille menestyksekästä, onnellista, hauskaa, loistavaa jne vuotta 2013!

...I guess I will continue entertaining you again this year. Stay tuned.

I've been watching the X-Factor USA, which runs in Finland few weeks behind the live shows. We saw tonight the final shows and the result show is only on Friday. That means please do not tell me the result - not that I would care that much...

There has been one song that blew me away, I simply loved it hence I will share it with you. The Beatles song performed by the Emblem3. Too bad they dropped out but let's enjoy this one - it gives a great positive twist to start the year!

This one is a version with a longer introduction and sound check.

...and here a recap without the extra blaablaa...

Have a fabulastic year 2013!

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!

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!

It's Culture Time - Football and Dance...!

The EuroCup 2012 in Football is on in Poland and Ukraine.We have already seen few surprises; Greece that was expected to be the weakest link played 1-1 with Poland, while the BIG BANG was from the red and white Danish dynamite that took 1-0 win against top 3 winner favorite Holland! I didn't see that coming...

Italia's Balotelli failed bad in his premium chance to score, while the substitute for him, Di Natale, scored a great goal against Spain only few minutes after he came in. The joy was short as Silva beautifully served Fabregas. For some reason the coach took Silva to the bend right after...

Great game with 1-1 result, but not as great as my son's game today ;o)

It has been a pleasure to follow him and the team develop in the hands of a great coach and supporting team. Today their good work was awarded with a rise to a higher league. I'm really looking forward to the upcoming games in the tournaments and the league.

Since life is not only sports, one should balance the culture with music and dance. Or what do you say?

...not bad at all.

By the way, who said a country boy is not pretty in pink...?

Grannies didn't win - Heja Sverige!

It was close, but not close enough! Still the grannies apparently won some cash to fix their home village church that Stalin had destroyed. Good for them!

I've been wondering why the Eurovision song contest has become a tradition that stuck. Years ago we had nights out with friends to watch them and have a party. Well, with kids and age that was not sustainable solution, but during the Brussels years it was a good way to keep up with the patriotism.

Not least when the Lordi came on - and won... That night we happened to have an American style baby shower party to go to. This time it was with men too. The host family was American-Armenian-Dutch, so Eurovision was part of the package. Somehow during the evening it became clear that the Lordi is winning and Madam Hostess was so happy as she was a big lover of Salmiakki Vodka!

I you wanna check what I've said about the Eurovision earlier, check it out from here.

God natt, sov gott!

Who's gonna win?

I said the grand moms will NOT win the Eurovision 2012 song contest, but now I claim the other:
I say they will win and make the similar protest win as Lordi few years ago!


Go grannies!!!

Eurovision Song Contest online commenting - or not?

I WILL TRY TO COMMENT ALMOST ON-LINE. STAY TUNED...

England;
Oh yeah - cool stuff! At least if you were at 70's digging this guy, just like my Mom - Enkeli Pumpernikkeli, the man... Too bad Äiti you are not here to enjoy this with us!
Pumpperi, sorry to say, but thanks for the song and welcome back next year - which you will not do I guess.

Hungary;
Hmmm... Who's gonna miss this one? Nice energy & Euro-pop, but where's the beef.

Albania;
C'mon, let's keep the Lords of the Rings out of this competition! Jacket from Simon Lebon or what was his name again...?

Lithuania;
Blindfolded? Well, good for you - you didn't miss that much. Gotta say it picked up towards the end, but max Top 10. Best piece the background dancers where ever they were behind the screne. 

Bosnia + Herz...;
Pretty, well thought  wind machine timing, fancy lights, soft lyrics - and a quaranteed Eurovision ballad. Sholder pads were HOT! That's it.

Russia;
 THE BABES!!! Incredible, these babes think they can reduce the drinking of our men by getting a new church in the village and singing. Good stuff, they have back-up vocals on-site in case one of them ends up in ...hospital/grave/parties... Top 5, if not the Lordi-type-surprise-winner!!!

I bet these ladies will make almost - not quite but almost - the same as Lordi did at 2006. These ladies are HOT and I said it when I heard about them for the first time. Go babes, leave the Euro-funk and stick to your guns!!!

Iceland;
Another standard Eurovision looking bunch - and not that surprising they have done their homework and are following the Ireland  (and actually previous Norway) winning feeling. Why won't they. Potential winner!

Cyprus;
Ok, the first sexy show of the night. Standard wanna-be-disco-hit with the looks, moves, rhimes etc. Best part the dancing babes...Can be Top 10.

 France;
Yes, quality is in place and catching tunes, but can one win the competition?Quite sad they didn't leave a true marker. I say NO.

Italy;
Boom-boom-boom: GO!
Wanna-be-Ms.Winehouse??? Good stuff that can have a chance to make it all the way. Still, no chance to make any Waterloo hits.

Estonia;
As boring as Finland, that did not make it to the final. Good night, sleep tight.

Norway;
Good for the Prince of Norway, not all of you can make it to the Eurovision, but what's new...? I can claim we have heard and seen similar stuff each year by 5-10 countries. He has well earned his spot on stage, just like each oil millionaire.
...ever heard Gaga's song "born this way"?
Still, Top 10.

SIDE COMMENTS...
Many thanks for the mid-talk-interview to Mr Engelbert Humberdikkkkkkkeli or pumpernikkeli....

...and now the hosting country Azerbaidzhan - or Azerbaijan in English;
Many thanks for a touching performance. Nice color play with the dress and all, but can the little man at the background make and break it again? Music does not stop it, so why won't we have another magic next year at the same arena? Still, I won't put my money in it.

Romania;
Video appeals me, but the music, interesting stuff. Sexy, show, Euro-pop-rythms, and traditional Eurovision themes. Many thanks, but no chance in the competition.

Denmark;
Music familiar from radio songa, visuals from other Eurovision performances along the years, pretty babes, nice haircut at the base and attitude at the drums, but sorry you will be out of Top 10.

Greece;
A-a-a-aaa-a-I've-got-a-short-skirt-why-won't-you-forget-our-economics...
Say-no-more: Entertaining Eurovision, but no chance for the playing lists or Top 10. Sorry.

Sweden;
I am looking for this one!!!
Hmmm, I think I heard this at the beach-type-night-club at Berlin yesterday. And if it was not that, then what's new here? Audience here sais the dance moves would also be potentially borrowed. Quality is high, particularly I love the fake snow - even if we would have the real one available - that makes me wanna go for the viking approach ;o) Heja Sverige, at top 10, but not all the way.

Turkey;
Thank you, lookes good and see you next year, sail safely!

Spain;
Another Ireland-type ballad with a voice, while I would have wished from this stunning looking lady a bit more lively show to hit the jackpot! Top 10 potential and why not for a future career. Hmmm, did we meet last August at Fuengirola?

Germany;
C'mon man, leave the hat away!
Teenager asked if this is Cold Play ...or what the heck it is. At least at the end, just like Lordi...? I heard Germany is the only world, that has been in all Eurovision competitions. Why?

Malta;
Nice footwork, fantastic lastname, but where is the real packet from the singer? Drummer and some others showed off, but perhaps you could have done a bit more than the shout-out, or what do you think? Sorry, out of Top 10.
Regards to my b-ball friend, u o me 1 game!

Macedonia;
Stop snoring!!! This is great if you are at all interested!
I am in the middle of reading the contingency of Snabba Cash & Stockholm, hence the language has got the extra tone. Music wise, I say a little chance for Top 10 if the Nightwish style appeals.

Ireland;
Before the start, Top 10.
...after the start: r u serious, same guys again? Any other changes?
Well, Johnny Logan won the shit several times and I will never forget the 5 am beer with him at a private gig somewhat 22 years ago.

Serbia;
I have many personal symphaties to the country, but never visited. Yet.
Heart touching show, that leaves the listener with the feelings. But why the zombies walking at the back? Good stuff, can make it to the top 10.

Ukraine;
Why did she come in her Las Vegas -type wedding dress and Kukkenhof-type of hair-piece?
Good pack, energetic guys on the trumpets etc. Nice!


Moldova;
Oh boy, have I increased my Moldova knowledge in the past days. This confirms that they have - just like all other countries - pretty women and capability to make music, but let's be realistic: Finland was out of the final and Moldova is out of the Top 10.

OK, I'll leave the final judging for the judges and decision fo buying the music for you. Still, please do not be stupid and do download the music only from the sites with credible background.


Kiitos - Gracias! Let the best song win...

C'mon Blues!

The day started with some more snow, that turned into a rain shower later on. That means the snow piles are getting smaller day by day. Patio still partly covered with a 1 meter high pile, thanks to the snow from the roof...

The sun was shining at one point, which is naturally a sign for THE ice hockey game tonight. The Blues is going head-to-head with Kalpa from Kuopio in the play offs. Kalpa won the first game after a good fight and I naturally expect the roles to change tonight. My kids will be in the arena but I will pass this one.

What a moment, my son put AC/DC's Highway to Hell on the player - not bad at all - and that song I dedicate to Kalpa's game performance tonight ;o)

Hyvä Blues!

PS I was just made aware of this song below. Not my favorite, but still I decided to share it with you for the lyrics - eli parasta biisissä on sanoitus. Ja niisäkin kiehtoi se tietty koomisuus...

PPS I bought some brickets for the bbq today so the season start is getting closer. Need to do some snow shoveling though at the patio as you can imagine.

The Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 is...

...not Finland!

I gotta admit this is a fact. Again. The only time this proved to be untrue was at 2006 when Lordi won the contest. And that will stay the same also after this year's contest.

After not watching that closely the qualifying rounds - that have been said to be a bit complicated - I was not that happy to see the "best" six that made it to the final of the qualification round. Sad but true, in my opinion, none of them have the potential for more than few random points from the actual games.

What is surprising, both members of the family who were follwing the show, agreed that the lady perfoming in the second(!) official language in Finland, Swedish, was a strong candidate. And I'd say luckily she made it, good luck for the games Pernilla!

...if this guy would have made it, I would have a heck of a lot of explanations to give even after Lordi...

No worries, the games are on again in May and we'll be watching, no matter if Finland will get zero points or not ;o)

By the way, The Rasmus made their come back with a new single "I'm a Mess", that I unfortunately can't link with this PC. The song was not first a slam-to-my-head, but it did have some catching elements...

Have a great weekend!

PS C'mon Blues, keep your head up - giving away the game 8 seconds before the end is not what we wish to see...!

Hey pig, gimme 5!

Little piggy, come here to eat and grow - Daddy's gonna eat you afterwards...

From piglet to Christmas ham in 6 months;

On Saturday Dec 3rd Helsingin Sanomat, THE main morning paper in Finland, had a story about a pig that they were monitoring from birth to meat. Of course the web version at hs.fi was shorter, so I should share some bits & pieces with you.

• June 3rd the male piglet number 301 was born at Pöytyä, Finland
• For the first two weeks, the piglet is fed with milk by the BIG mama pig that can weigh even 250 kilos
• At the age of 2 weeks, the pig weighs 3-4 kilos and starts to get proper food, starting with fodder
• When the pig is 4 weeks, he says bye-bye to mama pig and is separated also from the other sex. That is the male pigs and female pigs are grouped separately.
• When the pig is 3 months old, it is already 40 kilos and picks up almost one kilo per day
• The doom day for the pig number 301 was November 21st, while the weight was already 126 kilos.
• On November 22nd the pig had transformed from a pig into meat, that was getting ready to be eaten around the world: Majority - including a Christmas ham - in Finland, ribs in USA, front claws - etusorkat - in Malesia where they are treated as a delicasy.
• On December 24th somewhere in Finland the ham offered by the pig number 301 will be the centre point of a Cristmas meal

If you don't like the facts above, perhaps you should change the habit what you eat. At 2010 we Finns ate 71,9 kilos of meat per capita. Out of that, 34,8 kilos was pork = pig, 18,5 kilos chicken etc birds and 18,6 was from cows/bulls.

Here is some price info for the ones interested;

• Finnish ham; fresh 8-11 Eur / kg, frozen ~4 Eur / kg
• Turkey, Finnish as a whole, 4-6 kg; fresh 10-12 Eur / kg, frozen 6-12 Eur / kg
• Turkey fillet, Finnish; 14-16 Eur / kg
• Duck, Finnish as a whole, ~2 kg; fresh 28 Eur / kg, frozen 15-20 Eur / kg
• Duck fillet, foreign alien (Donald?), 0,35 kg; 24 Eur / kg

Is here in place the old saying "you are what you eat"?!? Here is a Finnish tribute song for a Christmas ham.

Luckily the singer, late Juice Leskinen was a handsome one.

Back to the pigs.

My mother used to stay up - or wake up when needed - to make sure the ham was properly cooked. A big one, in this case one around 10 kilos, took easily more than 12 hours. Nowadays we've had a smaller one for our family, even for a bit extended one, but still it takes hours to cook it and I have practiced it now for a couple of times. More I've been involved with putting the jacket on the ham, also a sort of an art that I am happy to practice more.

Since Mom is not around. And I miss her, of course more at this type of times where I have so strong memories connected! Joo, Äitiä ikävä...

My Mom loved the singer of this song, Vesa-Matti Loiri - who is not on top of my favorite list as a singer. Great artists and a sportsman in many areas. Another on in Finnish, enjoy.

5 nights to go before some kilos of pig's bum is on our table. Hyvää Joulun odotusta!!!

I feel good...!

One of the not-so-fun-or-enjoyable traditions in Finland is the joint voluntary day of the house community you live in, talkoopäivä. When preparing for the winter, it is quite important to clean up the yards particularly from the leaves, fix what's needed and move the necessary stuff to the storage.

Too bad the Blues lost their game against the league leading team Kalpa, where also Sami Kapanen - a former NHL star plays as a main owner of the team.

Still, it has been a heck of a day!

Groceries.

6 hours of outdoor work with 2 shirts sweated.

Common beneficial work done.

Arranged our outdoor shed and moved some stuff to indoor storage for the winter.

Sauna with wifey.

Best pizza in town avec olut.

Big couch with a glass of wine.

Bright sky with the stars.

Relax...towards tomorrow's soccer fan stuff.

...WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD...

Stink positive - and have a good day!

This is from Jaana's blog and got me to smile so I'll share it with yoy.

Kiitos Jaana!!!

Horror Story - Part 14

OMG - KAMALAA TAVARAA!

This is something none of us was hoping for...

And I must say this one is also beyond anyone of us was able to imagine.

Compliments by seiska.fi and my apologies for being so perv to share these with you ;o)