The Walrus, a Canadian magazine published their list of 'The Saddest Music In the World'. This led me to wonder what would be my choices for the saddest songs. It was a long list and I realised they were more miserable/depressing than sad. However, I present to you here a top 5 of what I found to be the most miserable/depressing songs I know. Altogether I will present to you at least three of these lists because I couldn't just narrow it down to one single top 5.
Note: This is by no means my attempt to find THE saddest songs ever, this is simply my humble opinion based on music I listen to/ have listened to in the past.
Here is Top 5 Most Miserable/Depressing Songs because I went through my teenage angst between 1998-2002 (in no particular order).
Nebel - Rammstein
I thought this was possibly the saddest, most depressing, miserable - you name it - song even before I found out what the lyrics actually mean (needless to say I don't speak German). It's a fanmade video since the song was never a single and thus doesn't have an official video.
In the End - Linkin Park
Oh come on! Who hasn't been depressed by this one when they were young? It just adds to all the pain a teenager by default feels. And in the end it doesn't really matter.
From Sarah With Love - Sarah Connor
This is a bit of a silly choice and I definitely am not a fan of the song. The reason this is here is that I want to add in a silly little anecdote about an ex. My first boyfriend, after he'd broken up with me and told me he was going out with this other girl he sent me the lyrics to this song. And I was all like why?! What does this mean? Do you want to rub it in me? To this day I still don't understand why he thought it'd be a good idea. (In case this all doesn't make any sense I was very much depressed and heartbroken because of our break up for a long time.) Maybe he thought I could identify myself with the lyrics (which makes sense in a way) but as if I wasn't feeling horrible and sorry for myself to begin with. Did he really need to add to it all? Also, I think the lyrics are a bit stupid and I don't really get the meaning of the song. Pff, I say. Anyway, this is why this song made it to the list.
My Immortal - Evanescence
I bet this is pretty self explanatory. Oh what I'd give to relive the countless hours that were once spent feeling angsty and miserable and depressed (and OMG everything was just so HARD back then) listening to this. Or alternatively 'Hello' from the same album. I managed to tie this back to the above mentioned ex-boyfriend (seriously, I bet I would've been a lot less miserable if it wasn't for him), don't ask me how. Although, I suppose it's more or less obvious. Forgive me for the single version on the embedded video, it has that cheesy, horrible guitar solo that's NOT in the album version.
The Scientist - Coldplay
I had a hard time deciding between this one and 'Trouble' but ended up with this mainly because I relate it to the final episode of Cold Feet. It's the saddest thing ever and oh so miserable and depressing.
Thursday 24 April 2008
Wednesday 23 April 2008
Top 5 Miserable Songs, pt I
The Walrus, a Canadian magazine published their list of 'The Saddest Music In the World'. This led me to wonder what would be my choices for the saddest songs. It was a long list and I realised they were more miserable/depressing than sad. However, I present to you here a top 5 of what I found to be the most miserable/depressing songs I know. Altogether I will present to you at least three of these lists because I couldn't just narrow it down to one single top 5. Therefore, here is Part I: Top 5 Most Miserable/Depressing Songs in general.
Note: This is by no means my attempt to find THE saddest songs ever, this is simply my humble opinion based on music I listen to/ have listened to in the past.
Baby Mine - from Dumbo
Can you really argue with this one? Although, I suppose it's more the context of the film that makes it so sad and depressing.
Hurt - Johnny Cash
I realise this is originally a Nine Inch Nails song, but since I'm not familiar with it and I think Johnny Cash just sounds so incredibly depressing, I chose this one. I think it speaks for itself really.
How Can You Mend a Broken Heart - Al Green
So depressing. Also has links to at least one movie, which to me makes it even more depressing as it is featured in Notting Hill when Hugh Grant is just well depressed and heartbroken.
(It's Hard) Letting You Go - Bon Jovi
Oh gosh, I remember when These Days came out and I was just about to turn 9, I think, and I used to lie in the middle of our living room floor feeling sad listening to this when no one else was home. I didn't even understand the lyrics back then, but I thought it was the saddest thing I'd ever heard back then. It still is pretty damn sad, if you ask me. It's a fanmade video because it was never released as a single and thus doesn't have an official video.
Transatlanticism - Death Cab for Cutie
This is my 'I feel so sorry for myself'-song. I'm forever grateful for the lovely Miss Maija for introducing me to it, even though it is definitely up there with if not the most depressing songs as such, then definitely up there with one of the most depressing songs I know. This is what I listen to when I think I'm miles apart from the boyfriend even though he's in the next room. It's just that kind of song. It's a fanmade video because it was never released as a single and thus doesn't have an official video.
Bubbling under (these won't be included in any of the other top 5s, yet any of them could've easily replaced any of the above five songs):
Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton
Ain't no Sunshine - Bill Withers
Suicide is Painless - Manic Street Preachers
Street Spirit (Fade Out) - Radiohead
Nothing Compares 2U - Sinead O'Connor
Note: This is by no means my attempt to find THE saddest songs ever, this is simply my humble opinion based on music I listen to/ have listened to in the past.
Baby Mine - from Dumbo
Can you really argue with this one? Although, I suppose it's more the context of the film that makes it so sad and depressing.
Hurt - Johnny Cash
I realise this is originally a Nine Inch Nails song, but since I'm not familiar with it and I think Johnny Cash just sounds so incredibly depressing, I chose this one. I think it speaks for itself really.
How Can You Mend a Broken Heart - Al Green
So depressing. Also has links to at least one movie, which to me makes it even more depressing as it is featured in Notting Hill when Hugh Grant is just well depressed and heartbroken.
(It's Hard) Letting You Go - Bon Jovi
Oh gosh, I remember when These Days came out and I was just about to turn 9, I think, and I used to lie in the middle of our living room floor feeling sad listening to this when no one else was home. I didn't even understand the lyrics back then, but I thought it was the saddest thing I'd ever heard back then. It still is pretty damn sad, if you ask me. It's a fanmade video because it was never released as a single and thus doesn't have an official video.
Transatlanticism - Death Cab for Cutie
This is my 'I feel so sorry for myself'-song. I'm forever grateful for the lovely Miss Maija for introducing me to it, even though it is definitely up there with if not the most depressing songs as such, then definitely up there with one of the most depressing songs I know. This is what I listen to when I think I'm miles apart from the boyfriend even though he's in the next room. It's just that kind of song. It's a fanmade video because it was never released as a single and thus doesn't have an official video.
Bubbling under (these won't be included in any of the other top 5s, yet any of them could've easily replaced any of the above five songs):
Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton
Ain't no Sunshine - Bill Withers
Suicide is Painless - Manic Street Preachers
Street Spirit (Fade Out) - Radiohead
Nothing Compares 2U - Sinead O'Connor
Tuesday 22 April 2008
Birmingham
The other day I went shopping in town. I went to the big shopping centre first and did a bit of general shopping and then walked to Fiveways and did my food shop in the big supermarket there. As I was walking through the town and past the canals I had this weird feeling of some sort of nostalgia, I suppose. I have an odd like-hate relationship with this city. Like-hate because the feeling very rarely, if ever, goes up to love.
After the first year of my studies I've not gone to town all that often, partly because it's not a walking distance away anymore and partly because I realised if I don't go there I won't use that much money. And now, whenever I go I don't tend to walk far from either of the two stations I use, one for the cinemas and the other for shopping. And it is the area in between the stations, the area that I only border on both sides, that is the nicest in town. It is so nice around the canals and the park kind of area (which has a name but I've blissfully forgotten it) between the Symphony Hall and the Paradise Forum. That's where I feel like this city is actually an alright place. But when usually I'm just in the shopping hell that is the Bullring and the high street area around it where I most often go, I just get this feeling of anxiety and/or depression whenever I'm there.
Hm, this post isn't going anywhere, I suppose there's not really a point to it. I leave you with a photo of the view from my room. It was taken on a sunny day when they sky was an amazing shade of blue. I like that plant that is on the wall of the next house, it makes the view from my window a lot better than just looking at a white brick wall.
After the first year of my studies I've not gone to town all that often, partly because it's not a walking distance away anymore and partly because I realised if I don't go there I won't use that much money. And now, whenever I go I don't tend to walk far from either of the two stations I use, one for the cinemas and the other for shopping. And it is the area in between the stations, the area that I only border on both sides, that is the nicest in town. It is so nice around the canals and the park kind of area (which has a name but I've blissfully forgotten it) between the Symphony Hall and the Paradise Forum. That's where I feel like this city is actually an alright place. But when usually I'm just in the shopping hell that is the Bullring and the high street area around it where I most often go, I just get this feeling of anxiety and/or depression whenever I'm there.
Hm, this post isn't going anywhere, I suppose there's not really a point to it. I leave you with a photo of the view from my room. It was taken on a sunny day when they sky was an amazing shade of blue. I like that plant that is on the wall of the next house, it makes the view from my window a lot better than just looking at a white brick wall.
Sunday 20 April 2008
Dinner Party
Yesterday I hosted my first (and most likely last) ever proper dinner party in Birmingham. There were three of us, my friend Matt, me and the boyfriend, so it wasn't a big one, but a dinner party nonetheless.
I tried to create a Spanish style menu, so for starters we had my pseudo-tapas selection;
Cantaloupe melon with Serrano ham
Olives in garlic-basil marinade
Toasted baquette slices with garlic and tomato
This is what it looked like (well the melon and ham with the tomato that was to be rubbed on the toast).
The main we had was homemade paella. In reality it was somewhere between a chicken risotto and paella, but who cares. Sadly, when I got back from Finland I forgot to take paella seasoning with me. It's a mix of spices that my family always brings home from holidays in Spain. It gives paella it's awesome colour and taste. I also completely forgot to put the peas in the paella, I think they are a very nice extra in it, but oh well.
For desert we had a dark chocolate fondue (this is where the Spanish theme sort of ceased to exist) with Cantaloupe, kiwi, green grapes, strawberries, banana and marshmallows. It was amazing. I thought it was a good thing to have a dark chocolate fondue, it didn't make it as sweet as it would've been had been made of milk chocolate.
After a short digestion break we had cheese; French Brie, Dutch Gouda and a Roule, with crackers, bread sticks and homemade oaty biscuits.
Along with all the food we drank a bottle of Cava, a very nice bottle of red Rioja (2001), and an Argentinian Pinot Grigio (I couldn't find a Spanish white where I was shopping, so I figured South American will do). Just to make sure I don't sound too cocky, I don't really know much about wine.
What made me very happy was that I think I managed to make our living room look alright. It's amazing what a difference a table cloth (even if it's just an unironed bed sheet in reality) can make. We had to sit on the floor as we don't have a proper dining table and had to use the coffee table instead. But I think it was more or less a success and in the end the cushions on the floor were quite comfy (perhaps all the wine consumed had something to do with that.
I leave you with a picture of what the table looked like (sadly, it was impossible to find three similar plates for starters, but then again, we are students).
I tried to create a Spanish style menu, so for starters we had my pseudo-tapas selection;
Cantaloupe melon with Serrano ham
Olives in garlic-basil marinade
Toasted baquette slices with garlic and tomato
This is what it looked like (well the melon and ham with the tomato that was to be rubbed on the toast).
The main we had was homemade paella. In reality it was somewhere between a chicken risotto and paella, but who cares. Sadly, when I got back from Finland I forgot to take paella seasoning with me. It's a mix of spices that my family always brings home from holidays in Spain. It gives paella it's awesome colour and taste. I also completely forgot to put the peas in the paella, I think they are a very nice extra in it, but oh well.
For desert we had a dark chocolate fondue (this is where the Spanish theme sort of ceased to exist) with Cantaloupe, kiwi, green grapes, strawberries, banana and marshmallows. It was amazing. I thought it was a good thing to have a dark chocolate fondue, it didn't make it as sweet as it would've been had been made of milk chocolate.
After a short digestion break we had cheese; French Brie, Dutch Gouda and a Roule, with crackers, bread sticks and homemade oaty biscuits.
Along with all the food we drank a bottle of Cava, a very nice bottle of red Rioja (2001), and an Argentinian Pinot Grigio (I couldn't find a Spanish white where I was shopping, so I figured South American will do). Just to make sure I don't sound too cocky, I don't really know much about wine.
What made me very happy was that I think I managed to make our living room look alright. It's amazing what a difference a table cloth (even if it's just an unironed bed sheet in reality) can make. We had to sit on the floor as we don't have a proper dining table and had to use the coffee table instead. But I think it was more or less a success and in the end the cushions on the floor were quite comfy (perhaps all the wine consumed had something to do with that.
I leave you with a picture of what the table looked like (sadly, it was impossible to find three similar plates for starters, but then again, we are students).
Friday 18 April 2008
The world is full of McIdiots
A thing that pisses me off more than many other things combined:
People leaving their rubbish on the tables in fast food restaurants.
I really do not see what is so difficult in taking the tray/bag with your rubbish to the bins provided. That's right, there are BINS provided FOR YOU to take your rubbish IN THEM after you've finished eating. Today I failed to resist temptation and had lunch in an evil multinational fast food chain "restaurant" and I can't even begin to describe how much it annoyed me that during prime lunch time when the place was buzzing with busy people eating their unhealthy meals there were people taking up more seats than they needed and leaving their rubbish behind.
The worst thing is that in the past few years the people that seem to be doing this most has changed from loud and rebellious teenagers to middle to upper-middle class people (especially men) dressed office style. These people are usually between the ages 27-40, in their fancy clothes (read: boring black suits), who think too highly of themselves (read: think they're too good to clear up after themselves). I wonder if they actively think that surely there's someone working [their ass off on minimum wage] who's meant to do all the cleaning. I just feel like shouting to these people that YOU'RE MEANT TO TAKE YOUR RUBBISH TO THE BINS YOURSELVES! THAT'S WHY THEY'RE THERE! Pff.
And really, between two people (with no bags, note) YOU DO NOT NEED MORE THAN TWO SEATS! Especially during the busy lunch hours, there's no reason why people should take up more seats than there are people. It really, really frustrates me when people are looking for seats and there are two people taking up tables for four, for example. The situation may be different in a fancy restaurant, but in a fast food place you take up one seat per person, thank you very much. When it's not busy, it doesn't really matter. The worst thing is that many times if you walk up to people taking up many seats and ask if you could possibly take a seat at that table (with no intention to talk to or otherwise bother the people, you just want to eat your food) they look at you with contempt, seemingly saying why should I do ANYTHING for you? Pff, I wish everyone was as loveable and well-mannered as I am.
Pseudo-rant over.
People leaving their rubbish on the tables in fast food restaurants.
I really do not see what is so difficult in taking the tray/bag with your rubbish to the bins provided. That's right, there are BINS provided FOR YOU to take your rubbish IN THEM after you've finished eating. Today I failed to resist temptation and had lunch in an evil multinational fast food chain "restaurant" and I can't even begin to describe how much it annoyed me that during prime lunch time when the place was buzzing with busy people eating their unhealthy meals there were people taking up more seats than they needed and leaving their rubbish behind.
The worst thing is that in the past few years the people that seem to be doing this most has changed from loud and rebellious teenagers to middle to upper-middle class people (especially men) dressed office style. These people are usually between the ages 27-40, in their fancy clothes (read: boring black suits), who think too highly of themselves (read: think they're too good to clear up after themselves). I wonder if they actively think that surely there's someone working [their ass off on minimum wage] who's meant to do all the cleaning. I just feel like shouting to these people that YOU'RE MEANT TO TAKE YOUR RUBBISH TO THE BINS YOURSELVES! THAT'S WHY THEY'RE THERE! Pff.
And really, between two people (with no bags, note) YOU DO NOT NEED MORE THAN TWO SEATS! Especially during the busy lunch hours, there's no reason why people should take up more seats than there are people. It really, really frustrates me when people are looking for seats and there are two people taking up tables for four, for example. The situation may be different in a fancy restaurant, but in a fast food place you take up one seat per person, thank you very much. When it's not busy, it doesn't really matter. The worst thing is that many times if you walk up to people taking up many seats and ask if you could possibly take a seat at that table (with no intention to talk to or otherwise bother the people, you just want to eat your food) they look at you with contempt, seemingly saying why should I do ANYTHING for you? Pff, I wish everyone was as loveable and well-mannered as I am.
Pseudo-rant over.
Thursday 17 April 2008
Cinema, pt. II
OMG! I've spoiled someone's cinema experience !
Last night I went to the cinema with two friends to see Shine a Light. We got there quite early and there were only two people in the screen room before us. They were sitting in the best seats (in my humble opinion) at the right row, right in the middle of it. Therefore we obviously took the second best seats, a row below them, right in the middle of the row. In other words, right in front of them. Now, this is the kind of cinema that is nicely designed so that people's heads won't bother you even if they sit a row below you. However, as we were sitting down and sorting out our finances and stuff and one of us went to use the facilities, I heard the couple talking about changing seats. Then the lady spoke to us in a very polite manner yet very bitchily saying something along the lines of 'you know we were just sitting here, in this big empty cinema and suddenly there are heads in front of us. We were a bit like there's this big empty cinema and these people have to sit right in front of us? We thought about changing seats but then we figured we were here first.' I was in a very good mood and was all 'oh, sorry, we'll move, it's ok.' All the while thinking, WOW I didn't know we weren't allowed to sit wherever we wanted.
So where do we move? The obvious choice is to move behind this couple, as that'd be the next best row and for sure, we want to sit in the middle of the row. And so we do. Guess what happened then? That's right, they move. That's when I got really frustrated (I kept it all inside though, as I don't tend to confront people I don't know unless they're playing loud music in the library ). So this couple had payed for about 10 seats around them? Just because they were there first no one else was allowed to have good seats? WTF?!
If there is an unspoken rule about cinema seats that says you're not allowed to sit in front OR behind (really, BEHIND?!) people, please do tell me and I'll make sure I won't do so again. But really, it's not like we were loud or kicking their seats or anything like that. I'd say that couple was a prime example of people making things too hard and thus causing discomfort for not only themselves but also others (if you know what I mean). Glory for positive thinking, I say.
Seriously, what pisses me off the most is the fact that we were being really nice and moved but even that was not good enough. They made me feel really bad even though I felt like I'd done nothing wrong. PFF. I hate people.
Last night I went to the cinema with two friends to see Shine a Light. We got there quite early and there were only two people in the screen room before us. They were sitting in the best seats (in my humble opinion) at the right row, right in the middle of it. Therefore we obviously took the second best seats, a row below them, right in the middle of the row. In other words, right in front of them. Now, this is the kind of cinema that is nicely designed so that people's heads won't bother you even if they sit a row below you. However, as we were sitting down and sorting out our finances and stuff and one of us went to use the facilities, I heard the couple talking about changing seats. Then the lady spoke to us in a very polite manner yet very bitchily saying something along the lines of 'you know we were just sitting here, in this big empty cinema and suddenly there are heads in front of us. We were a bit like there's this big empty cinema and these people have to sit right in front of us? We thought about changing seats but then we figured we were here first.' I was in a very good mood and was all 'oh, sorry, we'll move, it's ok.' All the while thinking, WOW I didn't know we weren't allowed to sit wherever we wanted.
So where do we move? The obvious choice is to move behind this couple, as that'd be the next best row and for sure, we want to sit in the middle of the row. And so we do. Guess what happened then? That's right, they move. That's when I got really frustrated (I kept it all inside though, as I don't tend to confront people I don't know unless they're playing loud music in the library ). So this couple had payed for about 10 seats around them? Just because they were there first no one else was allowed to have good seats? WTF?!
If there is an unspoken rule about cinema seats that says you're not allowed to sit in front OR behind (really, BEHIND?!) people, please do tell me and I'll make sure I won't do so again. But really, it's not like we were loud or kicking their seats or anything like that. I'd say that couple was a prime example of people making things too hard and thus causing discomfort for not only themselves but also others (if you know what I mean). Glory for positive thinking, I say.
Seriously, what pisses me off the most is the fact that we were being really nice and moved but even that was not good enough. They made me feel really bad even though I felt like I'd done nothing wrong. PFF. I hate people.
On a completely different note though, Keith Richards is such a DUDE!
Wednesday 16 April 2008
'I did not send sexual texts to that woman... Ms. Tukiainen' - On the SMS scandals of ex-FM Kanerva and PM Vanhanen
I was going to write this post ages ago, but I didn't know how to tackle it.
The thing is, I'm utterly disappointed in Finnish people. (Well not entirely, but anyway.) I view Finland as a free and open-minded society where people can be who they want to be without much judgement from other people. Obviously this does not seem to be true when it comes to politicians. For some reason, it seems that politicians are not allowed to have private lives.
The reason I was first going to write this post is this story: 'Finnish FM loses job over texts' So, the story goes that Foreign Minister Kanerva sent over 200 texts to an erotic dancer (OMG!) from, wait for it... his work phone! Oh dear. He should be decapitated for that! NO. So what if he did? It is a very unfortunate thing that this woman decided it was a good idea to give the texts to a yellow press magazine. It probably was for herself, she's got a lot of free publicity out of it. She also ended up causing the FM to lose his job. She must be well proud of herself. (Lately she's been crying in the press saying 'I didn't want this to happen'. Maybe she should've thought about it before she handed the texts to a third party.)
Anyway, what frustrates me more than this dancer giving the texts to a magazine, is the way the gossip press industry works. I know a few people who would want to be journalists and I've even considered it myself, and it just amazes me how people end up working in these magazines and papers. Is it just that when you're not able to get a job as a proper journalist, you've just got to take what is given to you? I just don't understand that total lack of respect for people's privacy.
Right, going back to ex-FM Kanerva texting from his work phone. To me it doesn't matter, I know there are people out there who think it's wrong because it's TAX PAYERS MONEY that pays for that phone. I might be wrong but I've understood that there's only a monthly 'allowance', which is not very big, from the state towards the phone bills. And even so, I bet there are many people out there who misuse whatever benefits they get from their jobs. I know people who have a company car with all the gas payed etc. who use that car for much more than just driving to and from work. Similarly, I do know many people who use their work phones for private stuff. Shockhorror! But a Minister doing that?! That's just unacceptable. PFF.
Another thing that people have commented is that ex-FM Kanerva should not have denied sending the texts in the first place. This maybe true, but take a moment to think about it... In the end, they were private messages that were not meant to be read by anyone else than the two involved (Tukiainen and Kanerva), I'd say he was just trying to defend whatever privacy he had left there. And then when he did admit to sending texts he said that they weren't about erotic in nature,OMG ! LIAR!! Again, I can completely understand he simply tried to hold onto that thin veil of privacy he at that point had left. Maybe, in hindsight, it would have been better for him to admit the texts and the nature of them in the first place, but really, do we care that much? I know I really don't. I still think that whatever texts he sent were private and had nothing to do with his ability to work. And here people will say 'Oh but he cancelled his participation in a meeting in Estonia!' Again, can you really blame him? At that point the media had been after him for about two weeks already, and it really wasn't a major meeting. The texting itself in no way prevented him from doing his job.
Now, the thing is, he had been in the tabloid before about texting to models, dancers and whatnot unnecessary "celebrities". So maybe that was why this thing got so big. Still, it is my firm belief that whatever texts he's been sending and is sending at the moment are his private texts and even if he works for the government, we have no right to know what he'stexting and to whom. What makes this whole scandal even more ridiculous that no one knows what this woman texted back to Kanerva. They've only published a few of Kanerva's texts and we've got no idea how Ms. Tukiainen replied to them. My guess is there has been heavy flirting going on both ways.
The newest thing now is that the editor-in-chief of a Sweden based Finnish newspaper has published texts that the Prime Minister Vanhanen sent to his girlfriend over a year ago. This is possibly even more ridiculous given that she was his GIRLFRIEND at the time. Of course there has been erotic texts back and forth. That's what happens in a normal relationship. PFF.
The most ridiculous thing is that the opposition now has started to say that the government can't be trusted (note: link in Finnish), there are too many scandals and that the weight is too much on private lives. Who can be blamed for this? Surely it is the press. We all make mistakes in who we trust and let close to ourselves. I'd guess most people know at least one person who has betrayed their trust, it's just very unfortunate that it happens to a public figure and ends up in the press. This just frustrates me SO MUCH. As we live in the 21st Century, I'd like to think that people should be free to live outside a nuclear family type of relationships and that people were allowed to be in contact with their sexuality. Sex is the most natural thing there is and it can only be a good thing that people actually talk about it with each other etc. However, I still think that discussions between two people, be it through texts, e-mail or face to face, should be the private property of those two involved and without theconsent of both parties should not under any circumstances be published.
There, I think that's it. Please do comment, as I'm sure at least some of you reading this won't agree with myself.
Oh, I also want to note that I don't want to affiliate myself with the politics of either ex-FM Kanerva or PM Vanhanen. I have met ex-PM Kanerva personally a few times, but the last time I've met him must have been almost 10 years ago now. I've got no real personal link to him though, it just happens that we've been in a few social events at the same time. This post is purely about the ridiculousness of pseudo-celebrities, unhealthy interest in politicians' private lives and the bloody press.
The thing is, I'm utterly disappointed in Finnish people. (Well not entirely, but anyway.) I view Finland as a free and open-minded society where people can be who they want to be without much judgement from other people. Obviously this does not seem to be true when it comes to politicians. For some reason, it seems that politicians are not allowed to have private lives.
The reason I was first going to write this post is this story: 'Finnish FM loses job over texts' So, the story goes that Foreign Minister Kanerva sent over 200 texts to an erotic dancer (OMG!) from, wait for it... his work phone! Oh dear. He should be decapitated for that! NO. So what if he did? It is a very unfortunate thing that this woman decided it was a good idea to give the texts to a yellow press magazine. It probably was for herself, she's got a lot of free publicity out of it. She also ended up causing the FM to lose his job. She must be well proud of herself. (Lately she's been crying in the press saying 'I didn't want this to happen'. Maybe she should've thought about it before she handed the texts to a third party.)
Anyway, what frustrates me more than this dancer giving the texts to a magazine, is the way the gossip press industry works. I know a few people who would want to be journalists and I've even considered it myself, and it just amazes me how people end up working in these magazines and papers. Is it just that when you're not able to get a job as a proper journalist, you've just got to take what is given to you? I just don't understand that total lack of respect for people's privacy.
Right, going back to ex-FM Kanerva texting from his work phone. To me it doesn't matter, I know there are people out there who think it's wrong because it's TAX PAYERS MONEY that pays for that phone. I might be wrong but I've understood that there's only a monthly 'allowance', which is not very big, from the state towards the phone bills. And even so, I bet there are many people out there who misuse whatever benefits they get from their jobs. I know people who have a company car with all the gas payed etc. who use that car for much more than just driving to and from work. Similarly, I do know many people who use their work phones for private stuff. Shockhorror! But a Minister doing that?! That's just unacceptable. PFF.
Another thing that people have commented is that ex-FM Kanerva should not have denied sending the texts in the first place. This maybe true, but take a moment to think about it... In the end, they were private messages that were not meant to be read by anyone else than the two involved (Tukiainen and Kanerva), I'd say he was just trying to defend whatever privacy he had left there. And then when he did admit to sending texts he said that they weren't about erotic in nature,OMG ! LIAR!! Again, I can completely understand he simply tried to hold onto that thin veil of privacy he at that point had left. Maybe, in hindsight, it would have been better for him to admit the texts and the nature of them in the first place, but really, do we care that much? I know I really don't. I still think that whatever texts he sent were private and had nothing to do with his ability to work. And here people will say 'Oh but he cancelled his participation in a meeting in Estonia!' Again, can you really blame him? At that point the media had been after him for about two weeks already, and it really wasn't a major meeting. The texting itself in no way prevented him from doing his job.
Now, the thing is, he had been in the tabloid before about texting to models, dancers and whatnot unnecessary "celebrities". So maybe that was why this thing got so big. Still, it is my firm belief that whatever texts he's been sending and is sending at the moment are his private texts and even if he works for the government, we have no right to know what he'stexting and to whom. What makes this whole scandal even more ridiculous that no one knows what this woman texted back to Kanerva. They've only published a few of Kanerva's texts and we've got no idea how Ms. Tukiainen replied to them. My guess is there has been heavy flirting going on both ways.
The newest thing now is that the editor-in-chief of a Sweden based Finnish newspaper has published texts that the Prime Minister Vanhanen sent to his girlfriend over a year ago. This is possibly even more ridiculous given that she was his GIRLFRIEND at the time. Of course there has been erotic texts back and forth. That's what happens in a normal relationship. PFF.
The most ridiculous thing is that the opposition now has started to say that the government can't be trusted (note: link in Finnish), there are too many scandals and that the weight is too much on private lives. Who can be blamed for this? Surely it is the press. We all make mistakes in who we trust and let close to ourselves. I'd guess most people know at least one person who has betrayed their trust, it's just very unfortunate that it happens to a public figure and ends up in the press. This just frustrates me SO MUCH. As we live in the 21st Century, I'd like to think that people should be free to live outside a nuclear family type of relationships and that people were allowed to be in contact with their sexuality. Sex is the most natural thing there is and it can only be a good thing that people actually talk about it with each other etc. However, I still think that discussions between two people, be it through texts, e-mail or face to face, should be the private property of those two involved and without theconsent of both parties should not under any circumstances be published.
There, I think that's it. Please do comment, as I'm sure at least some of you reading this won't agree with myself.
Oh, I also want to note that I don't want to affiliate myself with the politics of either ex-FM Kanerva or PM Vanhanen. I have met ex-PM Kanerva personally a few times, but the last time I've met him must have been almost 10 years ago now. I've got no real personal link to him though, it just happens that we've been in a few social events at the same time. This post is purely about the ridiculousness of pseudo-celebrities, unhealthy interest in politicians' private lives and the bloody press.
Sunday 13 April 2008
A Tribute to Marimekko, pt. II
I spoke about A Tribute to Marimekko in an earlier post. I ended up buying that long dress and here is a photo of it!
In other news, lately I've been playing on Guitar Hero III and Mario Kart Wii a lot. I very much like Guitar Hero and Mario Kart Wii isn't bad, but it does get a bit repetitive and is frustratingly difficult at times. On the harder settings it seems to be not about how good you are but more about luck. Which is a bit odd given that it is a computer game after all. Oh well. I think it might be time for some Wind Waker action for a change.
I promise I'll do a proper whine in a bit. As it is revision time, I'm sure there'll be plenty of procrastination going on.
In other news, lately I've been playing on Guitar Hero III and Mario Kart Wii a lot. I very much like Guitar Hero and Mario Kart Wii isn't bad, but it does get a bit repetitive and is frustratingly difficult at times. On the harder settings it seems to be not about how good you are but more about luck. Which is a bit odd given that it is a computer game after all. Oh well. I think it might be time for some Wind Waker action for a change.
I promise I'll do a proper whine in a bit. As it is revision time, I'm sure there'll be plenty of procrastination going on.
Saturday 12 April 2008
Snow, pt. II
As promised, here's some photos of SNOW in Manchester the morning after I arrived. There's only two and they're not too good but anyways.
This first photo is of the front garden, it's a lot better than the other one. I like the light on the first photo, it gives it that weird spring-like feeling you get when the sun is warm and bright yet there is snow on the ground. And the birds are singing, obviously. No matter how pretentious it sounds I think you can almost hear the birds when you look at this photo. (I SO think too highly of myself.) This was the first time during my 3 years in the UK when I've got that feeling here. It made me feel like home.
This one is cut from a photo of the back garden. It's not very good (the photo, I mean) and that's definitely the best bit of the photo. As it was on he dark side of the house there wasn't enought light and I was lazy and instead of opening the window I took the photo through it and there's all sorts of reflections on the photo. But that bit is alright. I really like the table and chairs set in he garden.
Thursday 10 April 2008
A Tribute to Marimekko
Oh dear. Today saw the launch of A Tribute to Marimekko. It caused a weird nationalistic feeling to take over me and I took a train at 10am to be in store shortly after it opened. As I was walking through the shopping centre to the H&M store I realised I walked faster and faster in this weird shopaholic state of mind. I HAD to make sure I'd get whatever I wanted. I'm not even sure why I got so excited about it. Did I really want clothes that had prints my Gran used to have for curtains so much? Maybe it is just that I have pretty much always liked especially the 1960s Marimekko designs and for once they'd be in my price range.
Obviously, when I got to the store I was faced with the reality that I was not in Finland and I didn't have to fight for the garments. I doubt there was a que outside the store before 10am when it opened. Anyway, I did enjoy being able to go through the clothes taking my time and I felt an odd sense of superiority when 'stupid English people obviously did not realise how cool Marimekko is'. To be honest though, I didn't find the line amazing, although there was this one dress (I tried to find a picture but could only find this. It's the long black and white one.) I'd decided I wanted in advance. With my luck though, the store had about 15 of those dresses all sizes 8 and 10 (that's 34 and 36 European). WHY?! Because I'd set my mind to it, I tried the size 10 one anyway, just to see if I had false hopes for that dress. I didn't. I think it's amazing and luckily there were my sizes in another store a couple of blocks away.
I didn't buy it. For some weird reason the dress that was actually my size didn't look as nice I thought it would have (mainly because it's a halter neck and with my boobs I can't feasibly wear it without a bra). Oh well, there was also this shorter dress that I liked and I can't decide whether they are worth it SO the boyfriend will have to come with me to the store and decide for me. (I'd hate to be my boyfriend.)
Also, as an addition to the library post below. I can't stress how much I HATE the people who leave their stuff on a desk for hours (there have actually been instances where I've been at the library at 9am and there were someone's stuff lying around until they came back at 11.30am) just because they know that if they take their notes and books and whatnot with them they'll lose their spot. That is just not on! These people effectively take the places away from people who would actually want to study there and then. I can understand going for a 20-30 min lunch or a cigarette break but really more than half an hour is just not acceptable. Especially during revision time when the library is actually FULL.
Obviously, when I got to the store I was faced with the reality that I was not in Finland and I didn't have to fight for the garments. I doubt there was a que outside the store before 10am when it opened. Anyway, I did enjoy being able to go through the clothes taking my time and I felt an odd sense of superiority when 'stupid English people obviously did not realise how cool Marimekko is'. To be honest though, I didn't find the line amazing, although there was this one dress (I tried to find a picture but could only find this. It's the long black and white one.) I'd decided I wanted in advance. With my luck though, the store had about 15 of those dresses all sizes 8 and 10 (that's 34 and 36 European). WHY?! Because I'd set my mind to it, I tried the size 10 one anyway, just to see if I had false hopes for that dress. I didn't. I think it's amazing and luckily there were my sizes in another store a couple of blocks away.
I didn't buy it. For some weird reason the dress that was actually my size didn't look as nice I thought it would have (mainly because it's a halter neck and with my boobs I can't feasibly wear it without a bra). Oh well, there was also this shorter dress that I liked and I can't decide whether they are worth it SO the boyfriend will have to come with me to the store and decide for me. (I'd hate to be my boyfriend.)
Also, as an addition to the library post below. I can't stress how much I HATE the people who leave their stuff on a desk for hours (there have actually been instances where I've been at the library at 9am and there were someone's stuff lying around until they came back at 11.30am) just because they know that if they take their notes and books and whatnot with them they'll lose their spot. That is just not on! These people effectively take the places away from people who would actually want to study there and then. I can understand going for a 20-30 min lunch or a cigarette break but really more than half an hour is just not acceptable. Especially during revision time when the library is actually FULL.
Wednesday 9 April 2008
Library
As it is revision time again and I'm trying hard to spend my days in the library (because for some reason I don't get any work done at home), I've come to remember how ANNOYING people can be in the library.
Note: the following is inspired by my personal experiences in a campus library.
Now, if I'm working in an area that is not one of the 'quiet study' areas I should be prepared to deal with people chatting etc. HOWEVER, it really ANNOYS me when people seem to be unable to turn their mobiles on silent or beep or at the very least turn the volume of their ringtone down. PFF. Fine, talk on the phone with a low voice but does the ringing really have to be loud enough for people to hear it in the next room as well? And still, even if talking isn't exactly banned in these areas, is it really that unimaginable to try to keep your voices down just a tiny bit. In a large room, with a high ceiling and 60+ people in there the noice accumulates even when people keep their voices down, so imagine what it sounds like when people don't even bother to do that. I just hate that kind of total disregard of other people. And again, I do understand it is not a 'quiet study' area, but still, there are many people trying to study. It is not the 'talk as loudly as you can' area either. PFF.
This post would be a bit pointless if all there was would be that paragraph above, thus, there is MORE.
All of the above is also true in the 'quiet study' areas. I do not understand what is so hard in keeping quiet. I can bring myself around to accepting short discussion to make plans for study breaks with friends etc. as long as people keep their voices down. But especially during revision time when the library is full of people studying WTF is wrong with people?! When you see an area full of people who have burried their heads in their books do you not understand that you are then not in a room where you chat with your mates. When these rooms are generally actually quiet all the douche bags gossiping about who slept with Jonathan next door last night infuriate me. If you want to talk to your friends the corridor/staircase is not more than 30 seconds walk away GO THERE, that is where you can talk as much as you want and pretty much as loudly as you want. Same thing with your mobile. If someone calls you, either don't answer it or take it to the corridor. PFF.
Oh, and one more thing. Be my guest and spoil your hearing before the age of 25 by listening to your mp3-player on full volume, but please do it somewhere else than in the quiet library rooms. If I want to listen to music while I study I want it to be what I've chosen myself. I will (and I have in the past) come up to you if you try to impose your annoying party tunes on me by having the volume of your player so loud that I can hear it 3 cubicles away clearly enough to sing along. If it makes me a bitch, so be it, but you should have some consideration to your fellow library goers. PFFF.
--------
On a completely different note, I flew to Manchester on Saturday (5 April) and in the evening it snowed! And it did so again on Sunday. I took some pictures but I don't have my camera with me now. If any of them worked out fine I'll post some here later.
Note: the following is inspired by my personal experiences in a campus library.
Now, if I'm working in an area that is not one of the 'quiet study' areas I should be prepared to deal with people chatting etc. HOWEVER, it really ANNOYS me when people seem to be unable to turn their mobiles on silent or beep or at the very least turn the volume of their ringtone down. PFF. Fine, talk on the phone with a low voice but does the ringing really have to be loud enough for people to hear it in the next room as well? And still, even if talking isn't exactly banned in these areas, is it really that unimaginable to try to keep your voices down just a tiny bit. In a large room, with a high ceiling and 60+ people in there the noice accumulates even when people keep their voices down, so imagine what it sounds like when people don't even bother to do that. I just hate that kind of total disregard of other people. And again, I do understand it is not a 'quiet study' area, but still, there are many people trying to study. It is not the 'talk as loudly as you can' area either. PFF.
This post would be a bit pointless if all there was would be that paragraph above, thus, there is MORE.
All of the above is also true in the 'quiet study' areas. I do not understand what is so hard in keeping quiet. I can bring myself around to accepting short discussion to make plans for study breaks with friends etc. as long as people keep their voices down. But especially during revision time when the library is full of people studying WTF is wrong with people?! When you see an area full of people who have burried their heads in their books do you not understand that you are then not in a room where you chat with your mates. When these rooms are generally actually quiet all the douche bags gossiping about who slept with Jonathan next door last night infuriate me. If you want to talk to your friends the corridor/staircase is not more than 30 seconds walk away GO THERE, that is where you can talk as much as you want and pretty much as loudly as you want. Same thing with your mobile. If someone calls you, either don't answer it or take it to the corridor. PFF.
Oh, and one more thing. Be my guest and spoil your hearing before the age of 25 by listening to your mp3-player on full volume, but please do it somewhere else than in the quiet library rooms. If I want to listen to music while I study I want it to be what I've chosen myself. I will (and I have in the past) come up to you if you try to impose your annoying party tunes on me by having the volume of your player so loud that I can hear it 3 cubicles away clearly enough to sing along. If it makes me a bitch, so be it, but you should have some consideration to your fellow library goers. PFFF.
--------
On a completely different note, I flew to Manchester on Saturday (5 April) and in the evening it snowed! And it did so again on Sunday. I took some pictures but I don't have my camera with me now. If any of them worked out fine I'll post some here later.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
