O-kay! Time to roll up the proverbial sleeves and get to work!
- There's a new litter of baby Border Collies on the
Puppycam,- I set myself a
Johari window for you guys to use and analyze me, so go ahead and analyze to your heart's content,
- Make your own South Park character
here, the one on the right is me (and it's pretty accurate, too, I worked 11 hours yesterday)
- I found a searchable
Calvin and Hobbes database,
- Scraping from the bottom of the barrel, go to
verjnuarmu.net to see young men expressing themselves by dressing up like it was halloween and playing surprisingly good rock. Click kuvat -> videot -> and the image on the page to stream the video. They are playing here in Helsinki on Saturday, I'm going and if anyone wants to join me you're welcome.
- And finally to the point:
Shakespeare or the Bible?Shakespeare, no doubt about it. Never been much into religion, and while there are several exciting and gory stories in the Bible, I think that Shakespeare just said it better.
We are such stuff as dreams are made on, rounded with a little sleep. Well, who's to say we aren't?
A word you like?This is a difficult one. Um. In which language?
If I have to pick just one, I'll take
tuli, fire.
Most romatic moment in fiction?I'm not that big on romance, either. It probably doesn't count as romance per se, but I've always been somewhat impressed how in
Kalevala the blacksmith Ilmarinen had to, in order to marry his heart's desire, plough the viper-infested field, kill the wolf and the bear of the netherworld, and catch the pike who also resides there. He succeeds, and the reluctant mother has no choice but to agreed to the wedding.
And there's always the famous love poem in
Kanteletar which might be overly quoted and a bit passé, but I like it.
Should my treasure come
My darling step by
I'd know him by his coming
Recognise him by his step
Though he were still a mile off
or two miles away
As mist I'd go out
as smoke I would reach the yard
as sparks I would speed
as flame I would fly;
I'd bowl along beside him
pout before his face
I would touch his hand
though a snake were in his palm
I would kiss his mouth
though doom would stare him in the face
I'd climb on his neck
though death were on his neck-bones
I'd stretch beside him
though his side were all bloody
Most over-rated writer?
Dan Brown. The Da Vinci Code was entertaining enough, but for gooness sake, Dan, cliffhangers are like garlic! Excellent in moderate amounts, but if used as the sole topping on a pizza digesting becomes difficult.
Favourite book in translation?
Umberto Eco's The Name Of The Rose. Love the movie, too, but the book is one of my absolute favourites.
Best meal in English literature?
I'd say the serving of roast mutton with clootie dumplings, followed by chocolate delight with special secret sauce Nanny Ogg prepares for the Ankh-Morpork Opera bigwigs in the book Maskerade. The after-effects of said meal included much embarrassment and icy baths. Read the book if you want to know more. You'll like it.
Most under-rated writer?
This is where I have to reveal the extend of my recent period of not reading enough books. Maybe, in the context of literature being a serious art form and such, and pure entertainment must be frowned upon, I'd say
Marian Keyes. I like her way of writing; the novels seem to be all light-weight and comical, but all the time there are big and difficult issues being dealed with. I bought Under The Duvet from Berlin and enjoyed every page of it. She's very witty and intelligent and has a sense of humor I like.
Favourite children's book?
This is easy!
Uncle Fedya, His cat And His Dog by
Eduard Uspensky. Defintely. A book full of gentle anarchy and humor, talking animals, crazy cows and tractors running on food. Uncle Fedya, who really is a small boy, runs away from home because his parents won't let him have Mr. Matroshkin, the talking cat, as his pet, sets up home in a little village and has an adventure after another, while almost driving the village postman insane. I must have read it a thousand times when I was young, I've seen it played in theatres several times and it still hasn't lost its sparkle, so to speak. If I ever have children, that's the book I'm going to read them.
Book by your bedside now?
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett.
Sexiest book?
Another difficult one. I can't remember any of their titles, but I like the collections of black&white erotic photographs.
So, the ball is in your field now. I'm curious to see your quys' answers.
Today's soundtrack:
Godsplague:
Hell Raisin' Beer Drinkin'
Rammstein
: Spiel mit mir
