Månad: november 2007

Book Crossing

Johan Dahlberg 2 kommentarer

A few days ago I accidentally saw a bit of an episode of ”Anaconda”, a Swedish youth program. The episode was about the Internet and phenomenons such as YouTube and, something that fell into my liking, Book Crossing.

BookCrossing.comis the site we’re talking about here. Their idea is simple: people ”set books free” by just leaving them somewhere ”in the wild”, for example at a cafe or on a park bench. However, before doing so the book in question should be registered on the site, where you also leave information on where you leave the book. Then, people can find the book, either by accident or through the site.

When registering the book, you also get a so called BCID number. This number should be written on the inside of the cover of the book, or on an official BookCrossing label (to be glued or taped into the cover). When someone finds the book, he or she can register the catch on the site. The finder should then, if interested, read the book, and later set it free again. So in theory a book can travel around in a city, country and even across country borders.

Personally I’ve released only two books, both at my school. Along with the note with the BCID number I wrote and printed an instructions sheet to help make it clear to people what they should do with the book. Additionally, I placed a post-it note on the cover that further explained the situation and that the finder should look inside the cover for further instructions.

One of the books I placed was gone pretty fast. The other is still there, unfortunately 😦 That taught me that you should never leave a book where you’ll see it every day. It’s better to leave it where you’re not likely to return to it, and then never look back.

Today I was browsing the site and found that in Kamppi, a shopping mall in Helsinki, had three new books placed in the last 24 hours. I was going there anyway, so on the trip I looked for the book, which was supposed to be at some sort of recycling station. Found nothing 😦

Anyway, Book Crossing is a really cool idea, and although I guess not that many releases are actually caught, going hunting can be great fun 😀 I suggest you try it too. Perhaps we’ll even bump into each other’s releases…

Monster Trucks and Christmas Shopping

Johan Dahlberg 2 kommentarer

Some days you have nothing to say, some days there’s too much to narrow it down.

Yesterday (Friday – still 12 minutes ’til midnight (Saturday/Sunday) EDIT: Two days ago (it’s now one minute past midnight)) I was at a monster truck rally in Hartwall arena, Helsinki. I’d never believed I’d go to one of those, but a friend of mine had free tickets, and you can’t say no to that 😛 And to be honest, it was kind of fun. In fact, it was great! Without going into any details, I can now say I’m a Grave Digger fan.

But still, the trucks weren’t the top of the game – the motor-cross racers were! Amazing stunts! I almost thought they were going to knock their heads into the roof, and that’s saying something considering the size of the arena.

Another thing that happened yesterday was that I finally got my real driver’s licence, instead of the piece of paper I’ve had stuck inside my passport for the past two weeks.

Today was also an eventful day: the first day of Christmas shopping. The whole family went to Alberga, the second largest shopping mall in Finland, and it was packed with people. I guess I have to face the fact that Christmas is just around the corner. What I bought? A few CD’s (quite popular gifts, it appears) and some clothing in the form of a warmer jacket.

Oh, and who do you think was driving to and from the mall? Volvo is so much better than Citroën…

On our trip we also rented a movie – Man of the Year – which turned out to be decent, but not as funny as we’d hoped for. It is worth watching, though. Some great lines and an excellent performance by Robbin Williams. If US politics were really like this, the world would be saved!

To finish the day off perfectly, before I sat down to write this I noticed my Helium.com account balance has increased by approximately $32. Not that much, but quite good for the two easy-to-write articles the money was paid for.

Anyway, goodnight for now 😉

Call of Duty

Johan Dahlberg Lämna en kommentar

Warning: Nerdy material!

Many years ago (well, at least three), I used to hammer away on the keyboard along with one or two friends in what I call the second most social experience on the net (the first one being chat websites and similar pages): Online gaming. The very first game I played like this was Medal of Honor: Allied Assault. That feels like ages ago (five years, maybe). Later on it turned to Call of Duty, the best multiplayer I’ve ever seen! The action, the adrenaline and of course the friends you meet while playing. Imagine 30+ people running around on a way-too-small map, trying to find (and avoid) each other. It’s like an online game of hide and seek, except you never stand still.

Anyway, as I said that was at least three years ago. I used to beat the crap out of my opponents in Call of Duty 1 and 2, finishing first or at least top three almost every round. I even played in a clan and nearly joined a more professional one even. Even though e-sports were, and still are, on the rise, I never joined a clan playing for money, though. I can’t help wondering what would have happened if I did…

Now, for the past few years I haven’t played much online at all. At least not that type of games. CoD 3 never made it to PC (damn consoles), so that was never a motivation. But now, a few days ago, Call of Duty 4 – Modern Warfare was released. The big fan that I am, I bought it immediately – and I’ve still got it in me! I’m rising through the ranks like a rocket. My opponents fall like domino bricks, and once again I finish top three in nearly every round. Ah, what memories it brings back.

Now I just wish the old, real-life friends were here, so we could relive the days of teamwork, cooperation and expert-like communication we had in front of the screen.

Even though the game is set in modern times (thus the name, smartass), as opposed to WWII in the two previous games (three previous, if you count expansion packs), it still has the same unique feeling, sense of action, perfectly crafted maps and a vast armory. Add to this the new ranking system, challenges, and the fact that you can create your own class, and you’ve got an experience like nothing before. Oh, and the singleplayer game – magnificent! I love a game that can tell a good story.

But what on earth am I doing here? I want to keep playing. So see you soon, if not in-game or in real life, then at least here next time I post 😉

School Killings – In Finland (!)

Johan Dahlberg Lämna en kommentar

”It’s just something that happens in America,” we all thought.

Well, here we are. But I’m not going to bore you by repeating everything about the Jokela school massacre that has been all over the news for more than a day and a half now. Instead, let’s talk about the aftermath – in other schools.

Only hours after the shootings I know of at least one school who held an immediate ”crisis meeting”. That’s a good thing, as some students may have been in need of talking about what had just happened.

Today, the day after, I also believe most schools, if not all, in Finland have had some sort of moment in memory of the event and those who lost their lives. But what actions should schools that were not affected by anything else than what they heard on TV take besides perhaps a moment of silence? None, if you ask me, which is far from what happened at my school today.

The day started out with an announcement from the headmaster – candles were to be lit in every classroom and the day in general would be a quiet one. Good so far, but there’s more: A priest, the schools health care worker and several teachers were to be present in a separate room all day, a room to which students could come and deal with their emotions.

”What for?” is my question, and many others asked the same. Why would we need to talk about it as if we had been a part of it? Sure, discussing it might be good, but wasn’t this a bit exaggerated?

The shooting was discussed in every class and with every teacher for significant parts of the day. Some might need to talk about it, and it’s always good discussing it to get a broader picture of what’s happened. But psychological help? A priest? Additionally, the headmaster brought the subject up three times over the school speakers, and both a teacher and the priest held a speech/read a text for the school to listen to. Once is compulsory, twice is not bad, but three times? I just don’t get it.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe a time of grief is compulsory in a situation like this one, and the candles in the classrooms were a great idea. Even offering mental help might have been good for some. But seriously, offering mental help to such an extent, plus talking about it all day, was in my opinion going a bit too far.

I’ve even heard of schools in Sweden holding crisis meetings.

The Jokela school massacre is a sad thing, and it’s sad that such shootings have been brought to the northern countries of Europe, but I doubt that many, if any (except those directly involved, of course), are so mentally distressed by this they need more help than just talking to a friend or family.

If anything at all, I feel a lot worse by the situation than I did before.

Let’s have a minute of silence around a lit candle, but let’s also remember – and be thankful for – the fact that we were not directly involved. Save the counseling for those who need it and let’s move on with our lives – a bit wiser but not scared for our lives.

After all, it’s just something that can happen to everyone but us. Right?

A Snowy Day Is An Ill Day

Johan Dahlberg 4 kommentarer

On the downside…

I’m sick (have a cold) and winter is here.

…but on the upside…

I get to watch the snow fall from within a warm bed with a hot cup of tea in my hands.

Yes, winter is here (again), and although I don’t think the snow will stay for very long, it is the first day where you can actually look out a window and see a white garden. I want to have a snowball-fight! Too bad I’m sick 😦

Also on the positive side, today I’ve been published in a magazine for the first time. Not online, there I’ve been published many times before, but in a REAL magazine. Which one you ask? Volt, which is a Finnish-Swedish magazine coming out once a week as an add to the newspaper Hbl (the largest Finnish-Swedish newspaper around).

So I guess it’s not a bad day after all…