Eating Muffins in an Agitated Manner

Deluge

Posted by Sari

Well not a real deluge, but for a Finn the weather yesterday in New Jersey was shall we say wet on account of Jeanne dumping last of her rain on us. I stayed in the library as long as possible hoping that rain would stop but of course it didn't. I did have my umbarella, but it was very little use, I was basically soaking wet when I got home, the rain was warm though, which was very eerie and tropical. I was terribly worried about the computer, but even though the rest of the backpack needed to be stuffed by newspapers to dry out, my toy was OK. Shoes, however were so wet they still are a bit moist and defenitely stinky. I wonder what would happen if I threw them into the dryer... just kidding.

Family matters

Posted by Sari

You all know already that my mother is mad, right? Not mad, mad but, you know, mad. I am sure you remeber the easter incident with the pouring of blood out of the riding boot, and I probably forgot to mention, but she missed my MIL's birthday because she had fallen from a horse on her face and cracked two ribs and her collarbone. So, I sort of figured she was the one with all the "pain is thing of the mind" genes.

Turns out I was wrong, wrong, wrong. My dad, the real historian in the family, got another prize, this time from UKK foundation. On his way to accept the prize he managed fall and break his ankle. And of course he did not get himself to a hospital right away, oh no, he went to accept the prize and hung around in the cocktail party before checking in. And poor me here in a furren country have to hear about this via IMS message from dear hubby because Kexy don't believe SMS messages can actually reach over the Atlantic... I mean really!

Saturnuksen sotavaltias - Krigsherren av Saturnus

Posted by jukkahoo

I had two points I wanted to make, but now I don't seem to remember what the other one was...?

Ah welllll... I'll just babble about the Motion Picture then.

Some of you may know (most of you, actually) that last year we made a little film called Kalliovuorten prinssi (Prince of the Rockies). A genuine Finnish Western with a horse and all. 'twas relatively cheap to make (as the production company of Flamemountain Films beared the brunt) and a lot of fun, even when it may have looked and sounded like we weren't enjoying ourselves to Petri and Hannele. It was fun.

We decided to make another one. Thie time we wanted to make a science fiction film, but with a difference. You see, a sf-film has a tendency of needing to look a bit different, maybe even a LOT different. But as that would have cost quite a lot of money, we (and I'm being very liberal with this "we" here, since most of this is really work of one very enthusiastic and dedicated film-maker, Petri Hiltunen - who of course, is the numero Uno childrens entertainment comic illsutrator in Finland according to Harri Römpötti) chose to make a 1950's -style motion picture. In glorious black and white, with silly monsters on a stick, stop-motion (well, this never actually happened) and miniature spaceships etc.

Warlord of Saturn - an Epic Movie of the World of the Future, the Ammazing Year of 1982!

A smallish plot explanation:

Dosentti Arimo Kaskelotti has invented a new transuranic heavy element, arimoniitti. He calls up on his old dear friends; adventurer and Gentleman from Huopalahti, Jouni Kaartinen and the ever-inginnious engineer extraordinaire, Lauri Mutteri. Together they start up with Arimo's spaceship and head towards Saturn, which according to dosentti Kaskelotti, is an Earth-like planet under a thick cloud of fumes that cover the planet thus creating an atmosphere of tropical splendor.

But Saturn is not uninhabited! There is life and plenty of exitement and danger! And love...!

"Do we really have bring with us to space that symbol of Man's bestiality?"

It's just something like Edgar Rice Burroughs could've written, if he'd have the necessary skill. And just what the Finnish film-makers should have done at some point. But noooo-o.

"Gigantic nuggets!"

Petri said in his opening statement at the premiere, that like Tolkien wanted to give his beloved England a national epic, he wanted to give Finland a classic sf-film from the 1950's. And verily this is it.

"They seem to speak our language."

It may be a bit rough (the budget was only €50, after all) and none of the cast were real actors, and many scens were filmed only once á la Ed Wood jr., but it feels, looks and sounds like a Real Deal. Talking about the sound, that is the only real problem. It is bad, but all things considered, it's really not that big a thing in contrast with the glory of rest of the film. Even if I, dosentti Kaskelotti say so!

"Leave my life-work in peace, you damned beast!"

The premiere was a hit. The GooGooMuck clubroom was packed (I counted 43 people at some point and few people arrived after that) and judging by the amount of laughter during the show and smiles after it, I'd say it was a rousing success. Petri spoke little about the making of film both before and after the feature presentation, and people has quite a few questions afterwards. I was very taken by the appreciation that was thrown to my own direction. Thruth to tell, I was very pleased. Still wouldn't hold my breath about this fan club idea that was pitched in restaurant Daily, after the repeat show later in the evening for all late-comers and Real enthusiasts.

"Ah, the air is breathable!"

I sincerely hope Warlod of Saturn will be available with English subtitles some day in the future. I actually think this has every possibility of being a small cult-hit in selected fandom circles. It's quick-paced, fun and decent movie for all lovers of warm-hearted and appreciative turkey/comedy.

More random observations

Posted by Sari

1. I made a record of squirrel sightings this morning: twenty-one from the way from Hibben to Firestone. And American squirrels still look evil to me, it's the little tufts of fur missing from their ears that does it.

2. For some reason Princeton undergrads get hugely expensive-looking mountain bikes to ride on campus and then adjust the saddle so low it is painful to watch them struggling up the hill.

3. I am still in awe of Whig hall, a building with neo-classical greek facade and a functionalist side wall. There is a reason, of course, the original built in the turn of century caught fire in 1969 and one of the walls had to be rebuilt and designed. But it still looks just plain bizarre when you look at it.

4. There are not that many campuses in the world were you can think to yourself: I see they've moved the Picasso, I wonder if that Henry Moore is still where it was...

5. The not so wonderful experiences in America: a trip by bus on a hot day to a chock-full mall where the only restaurants are McDonalds in WalMart and a Subway.

6. Hibben-Magie is a perfect example of how a house is the basic living unit in America. It is like a huge number of nice two-storey semi-detached (or rivitalo is closer maybe) apartments piled on top of each other. Stairwells lead to balconies running the whole length of the building where the doors to apartments are. Even when you are living in a flat you have to pretend it is a house.

7. It is very bewildering to read news from Hesari online: floods, earthquakes, raids in night-clubs, escaped convicts with hostages... Are you sure you are in the Norden and I am in the States?

Teknologia rulettaa

Posted by Sari

Minä en kuulkaa koskaan ole tajunnut niitä ihmisiä joista olisi kiva elää ennen hammashoitoa ja antibiootteja. Uusin asia josta en haluaisi luopua on tämä langaton intternetti, on se vaan lesoa istua kahvilassa aamukahvia ja bagelia nauttien ja surffata samaan aikaan verkossa. Tunnen oloni niin teknologiamyönteiseksi ettei mitään rajaa.

Suosittelen muuten Paneran unikonsiemen bageleita. Ovat mainioita.

Did the earth move?

HS says you guys had an earthquake around Baltic Sea. Golly! So did you feel it?

Here the weather is sunny and warm and the last of Ivan's wind and rain blew away already on Sunday. Flying in on Saturday was less fun as there was fair bit of turbulence. Which reminds me, one of the in-flight movies was Troy. And I watched it. Well, almost all of it. I suppose that watching the movie from the tiny screen on aeroplane does not do justice to the movie but even so, that was torture beyond words. Silly scenery, awful acting, still more awful dialogue, crappy plot obviously "based on some of the things this Homer-guy wrote about but not really", and if that was the face that launced a thousand ships...

NY review of books has an erudite if a bit long-winded review of the film which nontheless sometimes hits the nail right on:

What sets the climax of the Illiad in motion is the killing of Achilles' beloved companion, Patroclus, at the hands of Hector—another loss, but this time one that propels the sulky hero back into vengeful action. Fueled, no doubt, by a desire to expunge the vaguest hint of homoeroticism from the proceedings —by classical times, the debate wasn't so much whether Achilles and his beloved Patroclus were doing it, as rather, as in Plato's Symposium, who was doing just what to whom—Benioff makes Patroclus Achilles' "cousin," a bizarre choice that (particularly in an era when family ties have never counted for less) has increasingly hilarious results as the action progresses. Watching Troy, you'd think that there was no higher value for the Bronze Age Greeks than cousinage. "He killed my cousin!" Achilles shrieks at Priam when the latter comes begging for his son's body at the end of the story. "You've lost your cousin, now you've taken mine," a mournful Briseis (in this version, Hector's cousin) tells Achilles. "When does it end?" This film's notion that entire civilizations were destroyed because of excessive attachment to one's collateral relations is, surely, a first in world myth-making.

Parnasso

Posted by Sari

Pahoitteluni umlautien puutteesta, tallaista tama on suuressa maailmassa...

Lukeeko kukaan kyseista opusta? Viimeksi kun lehtea vilkaisin se vaikutti menneen kulttuurisukupolven pystyynkuolleelta jaanteelta ja unohdin koko lehden olemassaolon. Lentokonelukemista etsiessani huomasin Seutulan R-kioskissa laystakkeen "koulunumeron" ja paatin kokeilla, lahinna siksi etta kannessa hymyili viehkosti Flavia Bujor, Ennuskivien mahti -fantasiaromaanin 12-vuotiaana aloittanut ja 14-vuotiaana julkaissut kirjailija.

Ja yllatyin positiivisesti. Ei Parnasso nyt tamankaan numeron pohjalta vaikuta maailman trendikkaimmalta kulttuurilehdelta mutta sisalta loysi loputtomien saarikoskiveijomeri aritikkelien lisaksi ihan mielenkiintoisiakin juttuja.

Ensinna tietysti kansikuvajuttu eli Bujorin haastattelu. Nuorten kirjoittamat fantasiat ovat muutamana viime vuonna olleet jonkinlainen juttu. Bujorin lisaksi mainetta ja mammonaa on kerannyt esimerkiksi Christopher Paolini, ja onhan noita ollut Suomessakin. Keskimaarin nama teokset ovat aika kamalaa fantasiahuttua jonka genren pohjamudista nostaa vain se etta henkilohahmojensa ohuudesta ja juonirakenteensa ennalta-arvattavuudesta huolimatta julkaisukynnyksen ylittaneilla nuorilla on lahjoja. Usein kuitenkin jaa miettimaan olisivatko teokset olleet yhta kiinnostavia ellei tekijan ikaa olisi voitu kayttaa markkinoinnin apuvalineena.

Oli miten oli, fantasiaa nuoret tuppaavat nykyaan kirjoittamaan, ja mikas siina. Quest-fantasia on profiloitunut nuortenkirjallisuudeksi ja kukapa sita paremmin pitetaisi mista ahmimisikainen varhaisteini pitaa ellei toinen samanmoinen. Trendissa on koko genren kannalta kuitekin jos nyt ei ongelmallista niin minua hairitsevaa. Otetaanpa vaikka nyt 16-vuotias Bujor, joka toteaa haastattelijalle joka kysyy aikooko lukiolainen jatkaa fantasian kirjoittamista: "Fantasiamaailma on kuollut minulle nyt. Olen muuttunut paljon siita, kun oli 12-vuotias. En kirjoita samoin. En ajattele maailmasta samoin."  Nykyaan Tolkienin sijaan Bujor mainitsee suosikeikseen Sartren, Shakespearen, Proustin ja Boris Vianin. Eiko olisikin todella vinhaa jos sen sijaan etta fantasiamaailma olisi tytolle kuollut, han pystyisi nakemaan mahdollisuuksia upottaa uusia vaikutteitaan ja visioitaan fantasiagenreen ja kirjoittaa jotain kiinnostavampaa kuin tarinan kolmesta teinitytosta jotka ennustuksen pohjalta yrittavat pelastaa maailman?

Varauksettomamman hyvaksynnan minulta saa jo pitkaan fanittamani tieteen popularisoija Kari Enqvist joka "Karjistaen ja yleistaen" pohdiskelee Parnassossa eri tieteenlajien edustajien luonteenpiirteita. Tata mielta han on humanisteista:

"Matematiikasta, filosofiasta, tahtitieteesta ja fysiikasta minulla on omakohtaisia kokemuksia, ja siksi pystyn jossakin maarin asettautumaan naiden alojen tutkijan nahkoihin. Humanisteista puhuttaessa olen tuuliajolla. Tassa lahestymme kartoittamatonta mannerta, jonka viidakoista kuuluu kylla rytmikasta rummutusta merkkina jonkinlaisesta jarjellisesta elamasta...  Siella jossain odottaa mielemme Kongo, mielemme Sambesi, toislakisten ajatusten, kartoittamattomattomat joet, joiden ylajuoksulla vaanivat vain hulluus ja kasittamattomat sairaudet: lassa-kuume, unitauti, postmodernismi. Ja jos matkaamme sinne englantilaisbwanoina hellekyparat tiukassa ojennuksessa, leiritulilla joudumme kuuntelemaan pimean viidakon uumenista kantautuvia vaikeasti tulkittavia pelottavia aania. Kuiskaamme toisillemme: "Humanistit ovat levottomia." Sina yona emme paljoa nuku, ja omissa maailmoissaan liihottelevan ja siksi kaytannon asioissa helposti hoynaytettavan matemaatikon panemme ase kadessa vahtiin."

Hee.

Princeton calling

posted by Sari

Random observations:

1. Customs and entry officials were nice, friendly and professional. Props to them.

2. What's with low-carb bagels? I mean Isn't bread supposed to be one of the more important sources of carbohydrates in our diet. This Atkinson thing is going way overoboard.

3. Cells are everywhere. Compared to three years ago, everybody and his cousin has a cell. Yay.

4. Princeton is pretty much what it was, few shops have changed owners, varsity is still doing its endless rounds of renovations but otherwise, nothing much has changed.

5. I had forgotten the absence of blue-laws. Even the library admission office was open on sunday so I got my access card right away. So does this mean I have to start working right away?

6. If you want to contact me, do so via university e-mail address.

More coherent thoughts later, I am off to have a frappucino,

Going to America, Part Deux

Posted by Autonomous Collective

Just a quickish announcement: Sari is going to Princeton, NJ for 4 weeks. She leaves this Saturday (yes, that's the 18th!) and will be back in late October.

Hopefully she'll have opportunities to keep on blogging, too.

Snif.

Jag heter Lukas Högdahl!

Posted by jukkahoo

My Swedish name is Lukas Högdahl.
Take The Swedish Name Generator today!

Äikeä hauska nimenmuutoskeneraattori. Kyl maar kaikkie pitää tätki kokeilla!