Toby makes in his blog the revelation of the day regarding intercultural communication. Finnish department store Stockmann has decorated their most prominent window at the flagship department store around sports with the slogan: V for Victory. The window´s major photo illustrates the victory sign made famous amongst others by Winston Churchill (pic) and Richard Nixon.
Or - as Toby well points out - that is what they were supposed to do. In the picture at Stockmann the hand is turned the other way than Churchill´s - i.e. in the picture the palm faces the person showing the sign -, which translates in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and a number of other places as Up Yours or F--- You. I am just waiting to see the confused English couple on a holiday in Helsinki standing in front of the display.
Oops. Well, it´s not like they would be selling S/M-themed puzzles in the toy section or something. Oh sorry, that happened already.
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Project North
Just to set the record straight: my brother is way more street cred than I am. He has just published a new MTB documentary, Project North, with their collective, Dirt & Street Productions. With the risk of sounding biased, I think it is a great statement that they show amazing Nordic landscapes in their films. And hey, he is the only one in my immediate circle with a clothing sponsor, a chocolate sponsorship, energy drink sponsor and a national championship. And they have been even featured in French magazines so time to make room in the "Finnish wonder" spotlight, Nightwish.
And hey, the movie is distributed free of charge. Download it here.
And hey, the movie is distributed free of charge. Download it here.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Stretch...and relax
Holidays do have their downsides, not many, but a few. One of them - at least for me - is that exercise does not even cross my mind when living my freedom to the full. And when the routine including the gym hits you in the chilly Amsterdam, it is not a pretty nor comfortable sight.
As my working day today stretched until seven, I decided to go straight from the office to the gym and to the Pilates class. I tried it for the first time a few weeks back and it was tough but fantastic. But going in with no training for weeks and a few visits to Fatburger in California led to the instructor asking me at one point:
"You seem very stiff. What have you been doing?"
"Nothing, I think that is the problem."
"Nothing?"
"Well, eating."
Pilates class is interesting. The stretches are so tough that people start unconsciously breathing really loud and hard. At first people find it a bit embarrassing and awkward but after the time the class sounds like a birth clinic. Funny indeed.
I have found this sporty type from myself only during the last few years. I absolutely hated sports in school as I managed to convince myself that the slightly stubby kid with thickest of the thick glasses was good only for being the pride and joy of the Finnish language teacher. I kind of regret it now that the way sports was taught in school made me take this long before I realised that by training regularly I could become good in something that I actually enjoy.
As my working day today stretched until seven, I decided to go straight from the office to the gym and to the Pilates class. I tried it for the first time a few weeks back and it was tough but fantastic. But going in with no training for weeks and a few visits to Fatburger in California led to the instructor asking me at one point:
"You seem very stiff. What have you been doing?"
"Nothing, I think that is the problem."
"Nothing?"
"Well, eating."
Pilates class is interesting. The stretches are so tough that people start unconsciously breathing really loud and hard. At first people find it a bit embarrassing and awkward but after the time the class sounds like a birth clinic. Funny indeed.
I have found this sporty type from myself only during the last few years. I absolutely hated sports in school as I managed to convince myself that the slightly stubby kid with thickest of the thick glasses was good only for being the pride and joy of the Finnish language teacher. I kind of regret it now that the way sports was taught in school made me take this long before I realised that by training regularly I could become good in something that I actually enjoy.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Texan is a state of mind
Me and ryan going through the devils playground on the guadalupe
Originally uploaded by texasgunnut07
Two days in Texas. One full day to go. What is Texas now? Breath-taking scenery. Christian radio stations. Vineyards. Some of the kindest and generous people I have ever met. "So you're a yankee? But you can become a Texan by just saying so." Beer. Tubing down the Guadalupe river (see picture). "I am not sure if joining the United States was a good idea." More than 40 degrees Celsius. Rufus Wainwright sweating like a pig performing Judy Garland songs in drag outdoors in the music capital of Texas. Air-conditioning. Democrat history. BBQ. Fireflies. Gasoline 1,99 dollars per gallon. Female governors. Fried okra. Taco Cabana. Y'all and you guys. "You speak five languages. Dear if I would speak five languages, I would get so mixed up in my head that I could not get a word out." Pride. Fish tacos and margaritas. Big Bend. 2 days in a car to get across the state of Texas.
They say often that Americans know little of the others and simplify too much. Dear, it goes both ways.
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