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Chronicle

This is a meme that's been going around a while now. I'm not generally into these, but this one is more interesting than most. So, here goes:

10 years ago I was in the 8th grade in school. I had just found goth rock and live action role-playing. I was socially inept geek (I'm better now: I'm socially capable geek). Back then I was known as the walking encyclopedia, who knew everything about everything. I wonder if my current friends would consider that as my main characteristic? Anyway, I had planned my future: I was going to university to study computer science to become a programmer. Didn't happen.

5 years ago I was spending the last months of my compulsory military service, which I didn't do in the army. Instead, I was working in the Jyväskylä university student association, doing the basic office work. I was slowly discovering board games. I had already met Johanna and I spent most of my weekends using the free train tickets courtesy of Finnish state to visit Tampere. My plans had changed. Even though I had already cleared the exams to go to university of Jyväskylä (majoring in computer science), I applied to university of Tampere and information studies. I think I wanted to become a librarian - or anything else, but not computer science. Moving to Tampere was my priority number one, anyway.

3 years ago I studied hard and got an internship in the university library. I'm still there. We're slowly reaching written history and the first blog entries. That summer we moved with Johanna to our current apartment.

Year ago we were planning our wedding. I attended a course in XML, which inspired my master's thesis (or pro gradu). I also visited Helsinki to meet my future side employer, Marektoy.

So far this year I've worked hard: I've studied, worked at the library, translated games, updated web sites, written articles.

Yesterday we had pleasant evening with lasagne, good wine (Gazela, Portugese green wine) and good cider (Cidre Pays d'Auge, soft and smooth French cider).

Today I've been working hard: I finished my cross-language information retrieval exercises and two translations and wrote an article and a letter.

Tomorrow will begin a new week of hard work.

27.02.2005 klo 17:26 | Be the first to comment | TrackBack (0)

Resident Evil: Apocalypse

Resident Evil: Apocalypse isn't much of a movie, but hey - it was fun, it had lots of action and... well, that's about it. I had no previous experience of the earlier movie or the games, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this one. Nothing I'd recommend to anyone, but fine for quick entertainment.

27.02.2005 klo 17:18 | Be the first to comment | TrackBack (0)

Job update and security issues

I'm still working at the library (see I got a job!). I had to give up the card index in December, but continue to work at the circulation desk. I first got January (because January is very busy, almost as bad as September) and then February and March. I think the University isn't technically allowed to keep on hiring me for short periods like this, since my job isn't a temporary project - they should strive to employ people for longer periods.

However, I'm still very temporary. Their excuse is that I'm still here to help them survive the busy period. Except that's not true, the library isn't really that busy anymore. But hey, it's not that I mind, because I like to have to a job. I'm not going to complain about it to anyone who would care, I'll just whine and pout in my blog.

That's fun, so let's continue: recently they installed new self-service machines. The new machines require the user to both flash their library card and enter a five-digit PIN code that's also used to access the library web services. Earlier the card was enough. This, I reckon, is because of security issues.

Which would be nice, except: it's still possible to use someone else's card, just walk to the circulation desk and that's it. It's not like we're checking everyone's ID or anything. Second, users must type their PIN code on a touch display that's set up high on top of the machine, so everyone behind their back will see the code as they type it in. Third, the new system confuses the heck out of people, who don't know what a PIN code is and even if they know it, they generally spend a lot more time with the machine than before.

I think the new system is pretty daft. It's not like anyone actually benefits from the upgrade (except the company who sold the library the new program). It's a fine example of totally pointless security, too - it's like a state-of-the-art gate in a fence that has huge holes in it just few meters from the gate.

19.02.2005 klo 11:17 | Comments 3 comment(s) | TrackBack (0)

Stepford Wives, The Machinist

The day before yesterday we saw the new The Stepford Wives. The idea (a community, where men are men and women are simply perfect) is clever, but the execution didn't work. There are immense plot holes and the movie is just too bland. However, the movie scores points for creating a perfect Stepford - the pastel-coloured world is simply amazing and very convincing (and at the same time rather nightmarish - I wouldn't want to live in a place like that!).

Yesterday we had a dinner-and-a-movie setup and saw The Machinist. It had probably less than ten people watching it, which is a shame, because it's a brilliant movie.

Christian Bale, thin as a skeleton, makes a strong role in a movie that would've been original if Memento and some other movies were never made. But hey, nevermind, it's a clever movie and works well even if it's not the most original thing ever.

I'm not telling you anything about the plot, as I don't want to spoil it, but one thing I can tell: it's indeed quite clever and full of more or less subtle hints that all work out in the end. There's very satisfying wrap-up that brings it all together, making the movie quite coherent in the end. If you're into psychological thrillers and movies like Memento, you'll love The Machinist.

18.02.2005 klo 08:44 | Be the first to comment | TrackBack (0)

Alien vs Predator, people vs sharks

The first match-up of the weekend was Alien vs Predator, pitting poor humans against two classic killers from outer space. The setting was interesting - but I'm not spoiling it - but the movie was disappointment. Or not really, because we didn't expect much. It's a typica special effects action movie, nothing more. Certainly it's nothing like the original Aliens movies (I haven't seen Predator movies so I can't compare).

Another kind of horror story was a small budget film Open Water. It's based on true events and tells a story of a couple who go diving and get abandoned on the open sea. What's worse is they're not alone: there's lots of god's creatures in the sea. Like sharks. The sharks in this movie are real, too, and not CGI monstrosities.

Open Water is almost minimalistic movie that works quite well, especially because they had a clue and made it short (80 minutes). It's not excellent, but it is quite depressing. If you're afraid of the sea and it's creatures, this intimate and gloomy movie will give your phobias a boost.

14.02.2005 klo 15:05 | Be the first to comment | TrackBack (0)

Hellboy

Hellboy matched expecations: light, brainless action blast with a more-interesting-than-average occult Nazi theme. Good, but far from excellent. Since we haven't read the comics, possible mistakes didn't bother us. Anyway, it's worth a look, if one's looking for an easy action movie.

7.02.2005 klo 08:27 | Be the first to comment | TrackBack (0)

Dinner and cocktails

Last Thursday I took a train to Helsinki to visit the Kyöpelit gala, which is organised by Pelit magazine, the most notable games magazine in Finland. They have a big vote for the best games of the year and Finnish game industry association FIGMA presents the awards for the best selling games. I was lucky enough to get an invite through a competition in the magazine.

It was interesting, though I'm not on my own territory in a fancy event like that. I don't mind wearing a suit and a tie - I quite like it, actually - but mingling with strangers is another thing. I didn't have many insightful conversations with interesting industry people - I had few words with the first Finnish academic, whose doctoral thesis was about games and the editor in chief of Pelit. About board games, naturally.

It was an interesting event, nonetheless. The awards were dead boring - Halo 2, Half-Life 2, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, EA Games collecting tons of gold and platinum, all very predictable. Still, it was good fun and while I won't be at all sad if I don't get an invite next year, it was something I didn't have to regret.

4.02.2005 klo 23:18 | Be the first to comment | TrackBack (0)