Yawn...

Thank goodness school starts soon so I can finally get some rest. The downside of working in an university canteen located right in the middle of Helsinki city centre is that when the lectures begin after summer and the city is flooded with new students they all want to eat at our place even if there are, what, 24 other restaurants to pick from. All conveniently located in the various campus areas I might add. No one'd have to travel all the way to the centre just to get something to eat but there they are, the students, patiently standing in an almighty queue waiting to be fed.

This happens every year. The first couple of weeks when the schools all start we get something like 2000 customers per day before things settle down and people find the restaurant closest to them. And every year it seems to come as a surprise that many of our workers are also students who need to stop working and go back to school, add to that the flu epidemic currently playing merry hell everywhere and the result is yours truly pulling more 10-hour shifts than would be healthy.

Good for them I don't have a life. And at this rate I'm never going to get one.

And just to make this day perfect I unfortunately couldn't read one customer's mind and got called a 'fucking girl.' Nice to see the fine traditions of proper conduct of behaviour and good manners upheld amongst our finest. Amazing how many creative ways of murdering someone you can come up with within 10 minutes.

On a more positive note, the campaign of clogging Rammstein management's mail box seems to have paid off at least in some way, they have posted a lame-ass explanation re. the closure of rammimages.com site on the official site (and also released the cover art for the first single from the upcoming Rosenrot-album. I've been sniggering ever since I saw it). I can proudly say that I did not shrink away from duty when the time came for action, no sir. I sent the management a letter which would make my English teachers proud (not that anyone'd read it, but it was there doing its bit in causing havoc in someone's inbox) and signed the petition. There are times when even cynical old me has to admit that there is power in people. Even if rammimages would never return in any shape or form, the band and its managers know how their fans and customers feel about how they dealt with one of the most popular fansites and one of the most popular webmistresses.

Oh, and if I was a bit too outraged to form any coherent sentences in the previous post, the whole story of Minx vs. Rammstein GbR can be read here.

And a second oh, the rumour goes that Depeche Mode might visit Finland. The date/s should be decided very soon. I'll keep my eyes peeled and you posted...

Right. Off to shower and then I'll make myself a nice cup if tea and wait for tonight's episode of Sex and the City.

Today's link for fun and entertainment: The Rocky Horror Picture Show (in 30 seconds and re-enacted by bunnies).

And a random Laibach quote just because: "They are Laibach for kids, we are Rammstein for adults."

¤&%%#/)/&!

vent.

[ censored ]

*Deep breath*

Rammstein's management has closed down the rammimages.com site. Apparently they sent a cease and desist note to the webmistress, using all sorts of official legal terms about copyright infringements and effectively made her take down the biggest and the best source of Rammstein photographs there was.

No one knows why. Maybe someone peed on the management's morning cereal, or their spouses have headaches.

There was some moron who burned some of the photos on a CD and sold it on eBay (who in their right mind would buy it? All the pictures were easily accessed and for free download on the rammimages.com site... stupid is what stupid does, obviously) and it just might be that the management is reacting to that case - shutting down one fabulous website instead of hanging the one selling the photos by his ankles and hitting his head on the floor. Which, IMO, would be what he deserves.

The fact is, that most of the photographs were taken by unprofessional photographers on a public venue, which as far as I understand gives the copyright of said photos to them. So if they want to publish them on the internet, line the walls of their apartment with them or make them into a huge kite and use them for lightning research Rammstein management should have nothing to say about it - as long as nobody else is making any profit.

I should have become a lawyer instead of a cook...

/ vent.



But before I go to sleep:

Rise up!
Rise up!
Resistance won't be stopped!

United we stand!

Rammsteinfans of the world, unite!

I'm a dangerous rebel element, acting alone in the gloom of the night, striking terror into the
hearts of the unwary managers worldwide by publishing Rammstein photos on blogs.

So there. I'm mentally sticking out my tongue at yer.

Party's Over..

Last day of vacation, and I have spent it trying to figure out how to navigate my school's brand new website. I think I have succesfully enrolled on some courses, but time will tell whether I've managed to find the correct buttons to push. I mean, they could have published the new site a couple of days earlier, not now when there's a week to go before the school starts. I've already found at least two broken links (naturally they are the ones needed to find the list of the free-elective courses) and developed a pretty good headache.

Nevertheless, hope springs eternal. I still face the horrendous possibility that I might actually graduate a year earlier than the average student of Haaga Polytechnic. Knock on wood...

But I haven't spent all my day worrying about school, no, I have indulged in on of my favourite ways of entertainment; pointless tests.

You are like Animal
A Crazy, unpredictable, rambling fool who thrives on parties, perversions, caffine and sugar. A welcome guest at any party but not marriage material.


*Ahem*

No comments.


Today's top tracks:

Depeche Mode: I Feel You, Higher Love, Stripped
Die Apokalyptischen Reiter: Baila conmígo, Warum?

Alrighty, Then

Let's try this again. I have slept for more than 5 hours straight, caught up on what's been going on during my absence and generally tried to cope with the culture shock of being back home again.

There really isn't a way of summing up the entire trip in a few words, but I'm going to try.

The festival is held on an island right in the middle of Budapest. The variety of entertainment, food and people is simply amazing. No matter where you go, there's always something worth watching. Out of more than 400 bands I managed to see (or only hear, some of the bands performed in huge tents which were usually so full of people that staying outside and just listening to the show was the easiest option) Korn, Basement Jaxx, The Hives, Good Charlotte, Sentenced, a bit of Accept, Hellacopters, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Turbonegro and some random hardcore punk band performing in a Hare Krishna tent - like I said, the there wasn't a dull moment.

There was a drink bar called Zen Cafe where all the Finns hanged out, and by hanging out I mean the occasional dancing on the tables, conveniently located right next to the main stage. They sold wine in pints and drinks in buckets so no wonder it was the most popular place among us.

So that's what we did at nights. Daytime, however, was spent roaming the sights and museums of Budapest. I got to see Mary of Hapsburg's dress, for example, and the lights, sculptures and sounds in the labyrinth beneath the Buda Castle were a bit scary experience for one with a slight hangover. I repeat, if you have the chance to visit Budapest, go there. It's absolutely worth a visit.

From the labyrinth. It's been transformed into a trip into the mythological history of both the entire mankind and Hungary itself. A bit scary, but absolutely wonderful experience.


The party pictures are here, the others here (these are not in chronological order, the photobucket system threw a temper tantrum at me when I started organizing the pictures into files - as the blogspot is doing right now, it's refusing to add any more pictures into this post. Go figure).

Anyways. One helluva party, one helluva city. It just might be that I have to go to the Sziget-festival again next August.

Night Of The Living Dead

I'm back from the Sziget-festival in Budapest. I'm tired, confused, in awe, missing it all and really glad to be back home at the same time.

We went by bus through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to Poland where we spent a night in Cracow, continued through Slovakia to Hungary and to the festival. A week there and then the same journey back.

Budapest is an awesome city. Me and H spent the days roaming the museums and the nights roaming the festival island, slept a little and started again. Saw plenty of good bands. Met plenty of cool people. Trust me, you haven't been to a festival if you haven't been to the Sziget.

I'll put up some pictures later, as well as a more detailed saga of the great journey. Right now I'm really too confused to do anything sensible.

O tempora o mores!

I saw an actual, real-life Segway today. Righ in the middle of Helsinki, when I was on my way to harass yet another unfortunate young man in a camera shop to sell me more memory for my digital camera (bought one yesterday. 's very pretty). Some day I will see all salespersons regardless of gender running away from me when I enter any store selling anything technical. I don't speak that jargon and thankfully the young men I have encountered so far have always translated the numbers and letters into hours/number of songs/number of pictures which I do understand.

But back to topic. I had to spend nearly ten minutes to try and pick up my jaw from the ground after the Segway had wheeled by. It took me a while to recognize it, too, probably because there wasn't a keyboard attached to it.

I mean, this is bloody Helsinki! A city big enough to offer its residents all comforts and services they might require, but still small enough for everything to be within a walking distance. And a city with a pretty magnificent public transport system as well, I might add. Why would anyone need a Segway here? You can't even pick up chicks with it, unless you both are circus acrobats.

Like Carrie B. would say: I couldn't help but wonder, had we as species grown too lazy to walk? Have we grown past the need to use our legs for more than showing them, provided that they fill the criteria for show-worthy legs? Or are we really such a vain species that ruining a new pair of shoes by walking in them is too much to bear? Is walking as a method of transport last season?

I have to admit I love all things technical despite the fact that I'm a bit ignorant when it comes to finer detail about them. I love how my computer, for example, makes my life so much more easier, keeps me entertained and connected to people I would otherwise have a chance to talk to only a couple of times a year, and I simply couldn't imagine living without my cellphone and the mp3-player. They aren't essential to my physical well-being but I'd have hard time trying to live without them. But buying a gottverdammtes Segway goes a bit too far even for me.

A more eloquent writer could point out how in Segway, and in the act of purchasing one, culminates the whole degeneration of the Western world and capitalism, how it symbolizes the ever-deepening gap between the developing countries and the rich hemisphere and so forth and so forth. What I will say is, legs were put where they are and designed as they are designed for a purpose. The only acceptable way of using a Segway is to put some kind of musical instrument on top of it and let it be driven around by a skinny man in lederhosen, fishnets and a helmet to point out the more ridiculous aspects of our way of life.

I will go now and play with my new toy.

Goodyear Blimp Is Gone

I got home yesterday from work to find out that my fighting fish had died - probably of old age, but I wouldn't put eating himself to death past him. Hence the nickname Goodyear Blimp. Pretty things they are, the fighting fish, but unfortunately they don't live for very long. I don't think I'll get another one, I've been considering buying a small herd (if that is what fish do) of these:

I'll just have to find out a bit more about them and probably test the water to find out that it wasn't something in it that killed the poor fighting fish so that the new residents wouldn't die as well.

Workwise, my decision to get the hell out of the entire hospitality- and restaurant business got a bit stronger today when I got yet another surprise 10.5-hour shift. I went there at 7.30, was supposed to get out at three but as one of the workers fell ill I had to stay to finish his work. I'm tired now but come payday I'll be much happier.

Besides, 2 more days and I'm officially on holiday. I love that word. Holiday. So full of high hopes and promises of being able to sleep at least until noon (which doesn't mean that you'd have had any decent amount of sleep. Who said you'd have to be in bed before midnight?).

But alas it's not yet time to summer fun and picnic frolics and off to bed I must go.

More fun and frolics: The making of Keine Lust.

Today's top tracks are by A Customer: What's that? Risotto? Oh, it's noodle wok.. Gimme that, then. And the ever so popular: What're those? Feta cheese crepes? So it's not a dessert, then, is it?

And by Feeling B: Artig, and Mix mir einen Drink and also Lied von der unruhevollen Jugend.

I go away, I come back..

First things first, let's get the formalities done before anything else.

I promised Till Lindemann-sized thanks to those who helped me in the cooking of the feast for the cudgel war, so here you are:

Please note my amazing skill and prowess in photoshopping. As an afterthought I should have made him say danke instead of thank you but I can't be arsed to go through the motions once more. If the wrong language bothers you, just squint your eyes or take a magic marker and write over the text in the picture.

That photo got me thinking, however, what would you think people'd say if I turned up in that outfit to the next event where I'm supposed to cook? Not a good idea? At least it'd be somewhat unique, though documenting it to any even remotely medieval time period might prove to be challenging...

But yes. The event came and the event went away, good friends and cool people were met, fun was once again had in generous quantities, as was alcohol which I promised myself I woudn't consume more than a couple of beers and a very small bottle of white wine which are required medicine after a hard day at work. Somehow I seldom manage to go through a day in the kitchen at events without quite a many people offering me something to drink. I fully endorse this idea and would like to see the noble tradition to continue in the future as well.

After a month of partying on every weekend I have started to notice some signs of wear and tear on me. Yesterday I got home, ate a little, checked my emails and favourite forums and decided to take little nap. Nine hours later I woke up, washed up, turned off the lights and went back to bed. At 6.30 when my alarm clock went off I was just as tired as I was when I started. Whoever said that older people need less sleep than the young was wrong.

I suddenly realized today that I have only about a month to go before school starts and there are about a thousand things to do before it. Why couldn't I be one of those people who take care of everything well before the deadline is even visible in the horizon instead of leaving it all to the last possible evening? I guess I need to start buying Martha Steward's books. Or better yet, I could hire a secretary to handle all the trivial little matters of my life so that I could concentrate to the important stuff, like surfing the Internet, hanging out with friends and enjoying the occasional cold beer. He could do the cleaning and laundry as well, and prepare some light snacks whenever I felt peckish. And if he had some skill as masseuse I'd be happy to offer employment though the actual pay I could offer would be something in the lines of nice words and compliments.

It's nice to dream, though.

Today's top tracks:

Clawfinger: Biggest & The Best

Sepultura: Roots Bloody Roots

Danzig: 1000 Devils Reign

Insane Clown Posse: Please Don't Hate Me (yes, I listen to them occasionally, and quite like the experience).