Local news

[xptrinity]

Favourite pastime of a large number of people in the past several days: Take it to the streets, protest against whatever takes your fancy, throw stuff at police, scream your lungs out, get beaten by the cops. Don't know what exactly is happening here, but I don't like it much.
(Not that I like the government and the cops)

 

[papajohnny]

Slayer is coming to Belgrade on 25th June, the exactly same date when my faculty entrance exams (or college exams, or whatever the name) are...

Yeah, it feels so good when the universe shoves it up your... ahem.

 

[Eurynome]

^^ Bummer. ^^

The city of Helsinki is considering the construction of a new bridge, although currently there's hardly enough cash in the coffers to renovate the old ones (in Turku, one bridge collapsed the other year, and most of ours here aren't in much better shape). Anyway, eleven architects have submitted their designs and some of those look actually quite nice. You can vote for your favorite here.

 

[xptrinity]

The government has resigned. People are still rioting.

 

[xptrinity]

Slayer is coming to Belgrade on 25th June, the exactly same date when my faculty entrance exams (or college exams, or whatever the name) are...

Yeah, it feels so good when the universe shoves it up your... ahem.

Don't be too sorry. Looks like you would have gotten only about half of Slayer, having in mind the current disagreements with Lombardo.

 

[papajohnny]

Don't be too sorry. Looks like you would have gotten only about half of Slayer, having in mind the current disagreements with Lombardo.

Yeah, that is quite funny actually. One day after the announcement that they're making concert in Serbia, they kick Lombardo out. Guess we bring bad luck

On the serious side, I don't feel that bad about it anymore. I mean, it's not that I am listening to Slayer actively anymore. Two years ago or so I liked them a lot more than I do today - their music is still okay, but the band as a whole has lost a lot of its appeal to me.
Still, they're considered legends of metal, would be too bad to miss them live. On top of all, and perhaps the worst, all of my buddies will be going, so I'll be the only one staying behind.

But what can I do. Priorities are priorities. Besides, the whole thing with Lombardo made it kinda easier - reading about it, the conflicts within the band and the apparent a-hole behavior from some of the band members (if you give merit to Lombardo's statement) ruins the picture of the whole band.
On the other hand, it could be just comforting myself.

In the end, I just hope I do the exam well. Finish that, and a world of possibilities opens up.

 

[xptrinity]

We got a new Patriarch. Not that I care much, but the televised show was definitely worth it. I wonder where they get all these fancy clothes and bling from.
In other news, people are still rioting. Don't ask me what they want. - I don't know. But I do want the new Aston Martin and Havelock Vetinari for prime-minister

 

[Saara]

The daylight is longer now and sun shines, it means that during next weeks it is the best weather to do ski or ice skate as it is nice temperature like -5...-10C and seeing the sun shining makes me feel happy or at least better. I do love winter and even the darkness but now I already seek to the coming summer and for all fun we are going to have. How do you see the coming spring? Here is a lots of snow and it is pure winter, 2 nights ago it was -27C but the days are lighter and it is not so cold days.

 

[xptrinity]

Quite spring-like here already. The snowdrops have come and almost gone, the pussy willow is in bloom, the street cats sing love songs all night and I notice some of the trees are already budding.
It's +10-12 and sunny during the day, but at night it still gets around 0. But we didn't have proper winter this time anyway, quite unlike last winter when we had plenty of snow and it was quite cold throughout.

 

[papajohnny]

Quite spring-like here already. The snowdrops have come and almost gone, the pussy willow is in bloom, the street cats sing love songs all night and I notice some of the trees are already budding.
It's +10-12 and sunny during the day, but at night it still gets around 0. But we didn't have proper winter this time anyway, quite unlike last winter when we had plenty of snow and it was quite cold throughout.

Same around here (I wonder why and how is that possible? )

I'm a bit pissed that there was almost no snow this winter. I love walking through forest when it is snowing, and I had to miss on that one this time.
Oh, climate change, how I love thee...

 

[xptrinity]

I love it when it's snowing - so pure, quiet and beautiful. I'm always as happy as a child can be, when we get the first snow. But we didn't have much snow this winter, at least not in the city.

--------------

What do you tell a friend whose wife has unexpectedly passed away two days ago, at the age of 26, leaving behind a loving husband and two little girls?
I am in shock

 

[xptrinity]

While we're still on the subject of the Harlem Shake. A high school teacher in Plovdiv (second largest city) got sacked because he organised a mass Harlem Shake thing in the school yard. Mind you - it was on a Sunday and voluntary. Yes, the Harlem Shake is a stupid passing fad, but some of the school principals here obviously need to take the sticks out of their butts and be a bit more modern.

 

[papajohnny]

What do you tell a friend whose wife has unexpectedly passed away two days ago, at the age of 26, leaving behind a loving husband and two little girls?
I am in shock

That's really horrible. How did it happen?

I don't think you could tell him anything. Anything he is not already aware of. Just staying with him and helping with anything is what I gather would be the best. You cannot do much beyond that...

While we're still on the subject of the Harlem Shake. A high school teacher in Plovdiv (second largest city) got sacked because he organised a mass Harlem Shake thing in the school yard. Mind you - it was on a Sunday and voluntary. Yes, the Harlem Shake is a stupid passing fad, but some of the school principals here obviously need to take the sticks out of their butts and be a bit more modern.

Hahaha. I don't think something different would happen here, if such events took place.

I mean, if I was a principle if I was a principle in that school I don't think I'd be happy with such behavior either - I'd perhaps sanction teacher in some way - but get him sacked? That's really over-the-top.

Wait, that's a high school. No, in that case I wouldn't do anything.

 

[Eurynome]

What do you tell a friend whose wife has unexpectedly passed away two days ago, at the age of 26, leaving behind a loving husband and two little girls? I am in shock

There's no proper words... as papajohnny said, being there for him is the best thing you can do. My condolences...


But what's that Harlem thing about, did I miss something while I was in Sweden? Not that it sounds like something I would have been desparate to see/hear...

 

[xptrinity]

There's no proper words... as papajohnny said, being there for him is the best thing you can do. My condolences...

Thanks!

But what's that Harlem thing about, did I miss something while I was in Sweden? Not that it sounds like something I would have been desparate to see/hear...

It's the new global idiocy in the vein of Gangnam Style, but it's mercifully shorter. People in carnival costumes and masks dance like idiots for 30 seconds to the tune of something called "Harlem Shake". It's all over YouTube - just search for the term and you'll get a better idea

In other news, Google Street View is finally live for Bulgaria, as well. Favourite pastime of the nation since last night is snooping around. As the popular humorous site The Non!News already noted today: now you absolutely don't need to go offline and leave home - we already had a lovely 40-minute stroll in the park with Google Street View.

I am not in the least bit surprised that I am in it, after I was photographed in Helsinki back in 2009. Now there I am, in a park near home, on a hot August afternoon. I remember I took pity with the poor chap on the Google trike.

 

[Tuuletar]

I really don't know if it's winter or spring here, since the weather is pretty inconstant. It was sunny and calm morning, but suddenly it started to snow and wind was blowing (yesterday the wind was blowing even harder, though). And again sun is shining, don't know how long it lasts before next change. Spring is my favourite season anyway - even though I love the good sides of winter, on March I always start to anxiously wait for melting of snow, first coltsfoot and first migratory birds.

EDIT: Yes, it snows again.

 

[Tuuletar]

Yesterday was one busy and tiring day, but at least it was worth it! So, I partied the opening ceremony of my first exhibition (arranging an exhibition is one thing we have to do at this school) ever.
The name of the exhibition means basically “Journey to north” and the theme is kind of "imaginary world", since my idea was to show nature, animals and people in the spirit of old Finnish mythology. I challenged myself to paint human beings as well, since I haven’t painted or drawn them much and I want to practise them as well. This is the first step…

The exhibition lasts for two and half weeks. There are mainly canvas paintings, but some other stuff as well. They’re for sale, too.

Here are some out of the 20 works. If interested, you can see more of them here.
(And @ Eurynome, some of those paintings below are already partly familiar to you… )

As for the later night in the bar - when I ordered a drink, right away Majestic Beast started to play; way to go!

 

[Saara]

You are very talented! Wow to your exhibition! I wish I could draw but NO, the same with singing, NO,NO! So I make jewels.

 

[xptrinity]

The first storks have arrived. (scroll down for video) Winter is now officially over

 

[Luoto]

Club Teatria has just reserved a new location. It's expected it will move there in 2015 at the latest, although it may have to leave the current place already sometime next year.

And in weather news, the winter's new record low was reached last night: -38,2 °C in Taivalkoski, Northern Ostrobothnia. At the same time it snowed 40 centimeters inside 24 hours in Southern Ostrobothnia, which is exceptional.