meme & asks

lirazel asked:

Tell me about a narrative of any kind--TV, movie, book, podcast, whatever--that has a beginning that just grabbed you. Especially if, once you've experienced the whole thing, you appreciate the beginning even more!

- Stargate: Atlantis. The pilot hooked me from the start (the realization that Atlantis was at the bottom of an ocean!) and then I was fascinated by the Wraith from the second the Keeper was on screen. The show did some interesting stuff with the Wraith, but as a whole I feel like it never entirely lived up to its promise (all alone in an alien city, in another galaxy and cut from Earth). Later as serialized story telling became the norm, I've come to the conclusion that Stargate: Atlantis would've benefitted from that format hugely. It could've tackled philosophical and moral questions without having to conclude a thing in one episode. And the Wraith and things such as Teyla's Wraithy abilities could've been explored even more. If there's ever an episode that screams to be a multi-parter, it's "The Queen". Yeah, I think SGA suffers a lot from being so episodic even though there are many continous elements and storylines.

- Lost. Got hooked right away! Saw the pilot two-parter on a Swedish tv chanel we had at the time, and immediately after the second part went on the internet and binged the rest of season 1 that was available over the night - I think it nine episodes were out at the time. I LOVED Lost through the whole series and was completely satisfied with everything including the ending. I loved the attention to characters instead of everything just serving the plot.

- Battlestar Galactica (2003). Scifi, "Are you alive?" and Tricia Helfer. Need I say more? And OMG!! it'll be 20 years next month that the mini-series aired!!! Still feels like it was only last week.

Friday 5 for November 3: Late again - http://f.riday5.com/2023/11/04/friday-5-for-november-3-late-again/

1. When did you last miss a scheduled appointment?

Not in years. But 15-10 years ago I missed a bunch of appointments or just meetings with friends/family without warning during several years because of my Crohn's symptoms (read: diarrhea), or had to cancel just 1-2 hours before.

2. What’s usually the reason you’re late for something?

I'm never late now. I can't remember the last time. Because usually they're things that if I'm late for them, I suffer as a result- like Doctor's appointments which are hard to get and the appointment is like two months away from the day I made it because they're too busy to get me in sooner unless it's an emergency; or the unemployment agency will punish you if you're late or miss an appointment by cutting off your benefits which means no money which means the next rent can't be paid. So I take steps to make sure I'm not late or miss my appointments.

3. What have you recently finished well in advance of a due date or deadline?

Last month's the goverment mandated job application to an employer.

4. In your daily life, what strategies do you use for not being in a hurry?

I try not to leave things for last minute. And when I need to be somewhere at a certain time, I leave early enough to make it in time - even if I have to wait outside or somewhere for half an hour.

5. What are you waiting for?

I'm not sure. The last 5-6 years I've felt like I'm in limbo, waiting for something. It's all about hanging in a loose noose, forced to being unemployed to get money to survive due to factually not being able to work, but not having the right illnesses to get on disability.

Friday 5 for November 10: When it’s time to change, you’ve got to rearrange - http://f.riday5.com/2023/11/10/friday-5-for-november-10-when-its-time-to-change-youve-got-to-rearrange/

1. If you could change one minor thing about your life right now, what would you choose?

Minor thing? I can't think of a minor thing I'd change. All the things I'd change would have a huge impact on my quality of life and reduce my stress by huge amounts or completely eliminate it. I can't think of a minor thing that changing would make a lick of difference.

2. What’s your favorite bubblegum?

Don't have one. I can't remember the last time I had bubblegum.

3. When did you most recently need an unexpected change of clothing?

Probably when I was dressed too lightly for fall weather and only realized it once I opened the frontdoor and felt the cold air. Would've been the last few weeks but don't remember exactly when.

4. Where do you keep your (currency) change?

In my wallet. If I've accumulated an unusual amount of coins, I might put an even amount of them such as 5 euros (in 10 and 20 cents) in a tiny coin purse and use them to pay for small things at the chemists.

5. When did you most recently need a change of scenery?

The only time I remember feeling like that was when I was living in Vantaa in the Greater Helsinki (metropolitan area surrounding Helsinki, the capital city of Finland) and studying in the library school. I lived in student housing which was an apartment of three bedrooms and a kitchen. There usually were only me and one other person living there, so the third bedroom was locked (we locked our doors when we weren't home). My housing mate often traveled back to her home town for the weekends, and if I didn't, I'd feel like the walls were closing in, having only my own room and kitchen to be in. I wasn't used to having that little space to live in. So I'd often go out on Saturday to the library or Akateeminen kirjakauppa in Helsinki just to browse and to get away from the student housing. Akateeminen kirjakauppa was a really good bookstore back then, with wide selections in all the genres and a big selection of English language novels. It's where I bought my very first English language novels ever, which just happened to be Star Trek novels! I'd also visit different town libraries because several towns make up the Greater Helsinki and town libraries are always the biggest libraries as well as these particular libraries being part of the capital city area and having lots of international users so they'd have good service and selection. I made use of those libraries a lot!

Almost late!

1 – International Day of Older Persons: David Bowie once said that ageing is an extraordinary process whereby you become the person you always should have been. Do you agree?

I think I do! I certainly am much more comfortable in my own skin now in my late 40s than ever before.

2 – World Architecture Day: Are you a keen observer of architecture, or do you mostly notice it when you see architectural oddities, e.g. a particularly ugly building, or a very unusual house design — that sort of thing?

I do notice architecture a lot! Even if a lot of my notice is on the "Oh my that's ugly!" or "Or that's very (old &) pretty!" side. I find modern architechture unattractive, and a lot of historical buildings a lot nicer to look at. I do appreciate it when TPTB do try to make a newly built building more attractive, usually with lively colors - mostly it feels like everything's made of either gray concrete elements here or gray glass and metal elements, so buildings that are painted with actual colors, sometimes several of them that go together, is great.

I'm also known to pause movies and tv shows to google building blueprints because I've gotten stuck on the thought "what the hell kind of floor plan is that" or "the carage being there and opening into the ktichen the way it does doesn't make any sense". Friends and The Golden Girls just to name two. When I rewatched The Tudors a few years ago, I googled the manors and castles featured in the show a lot.

3 – Virus Appreciation Day: OK, so it's been almost three years since Covid rocked the world. Is there ANYTHING you appreciate about that particular virus — well, maybe not the virus itself, but the impact it had on workplace arrangements, or social norms, etc.?

I'm glad that healthy people got some taste of what it's like to be chronically ill and severely limited in what you can do and what it's like when you spend most of your time at home. Too bad most people seem to have forgotten it already! Same with being unemployed and how the very basic unemployment benefits are really small.

We seem to have to gone back to what was before COVID-19 as far as work goes and forgotten all the lessons. Or so it seems to me looking in from the outside. I guess my circles do take a little bit more notice of things like the flu and not visiting each other when one very clearly in in the middle of it.

4 – Improve Your Office Day: Whether it's your home office or your at-the-office office, what changes would improve your office experience?

I would love to have a room to be an office at home! I live in an apartment that has a bedroom + living room/kitchen/office room. My "office" is about 1,5 meter length of wall where my office desk and chair is and if I had to use it for work, I'd be in fucking trouble because there's no room for my stuff and work's stuff in my apartment.

5 – Global James Bond Day: Are you a Bond fan (either books or films or both)? Who is your favourite Bond actor? Do you have a favourite Bond theme song?

I'm not a Bond fan. I like Daniel Craig because he's rough and totally different from the other Bonds who always came across as smarmy to me, and his movies and action scenes remind me of the Jason Bourne movies which I enjoy a lot. I headcanon that James Bond is actually a cover identity held by many different men over the decades, and Daniel Craig's character is just the latest one. When I watch his Bonds when can imagine most of the time that he's not Bond actually, but some other random secret agent. Craig's Bonds feel that different from the earlier Bonds to me and that makes me happy.

My favorite theme song is The Living Daylights by A-Ha, and I think it's a great song just on its own.

6 – Mad Hatter Day: Mad Hatter Day celebrates the Mad Hatter, from Alice In Wonderland and is the perfect opportunity for you to bring out your daft side. Do you have a silly side? Is there anything or anyone who always manages to get you acting silly?

Most people probably consider me being an active fan of various properties and of Star Trek in particular to be daft. I just call it being a nerd and fannish no more dafter than being a sports fan. I don't usually act silly.

7 – World Space Week: October 4-10 is World Space Week. How does the exploration of space benefit society? Do you think the money spent on space exploration could be better spent on the myriad problems here on Earth?

Space exploration can and will lead to new technonologies and scientific discoveries.

I think it could be spent better on the problems here on Earth, but I don't believe it would be. There's enough money to solve all the world's problems such as poverty or climate crisis - it's just that the people who have the money and power, don't have to will.

8 – International Podiatry Day: Do you try to reguarly take care of your feet, or do you tend to neglect them until something crops up -- dry, cracked heels, ingrown toenails, blisters, corns, etc.? Have you ever been to a podiatrist (or chiropodist depending on where you live)? Do you get pedicures regularly?

I clip my toe nails regularly. My feet are too dry and I should use lotion on them more often, but usually I can't be bothered. There's a inconvenient bit of skin that hardens on my left foot on the side at the top towards the pinky toe that hardens no matter what I do, so I have to deal with that all the bloody time. I think my left foot posture is incorrect because the hardening comes back in about two weeks if I manage to get rid of it. I've been to a pedicure/podiatrist once when I received a gift card and she got rid of the hardening a lot easier than I ever do. But otherwise I don't have the money.

9 – Canadian Thanksgiving Day: Canadian Thanksgiving is associated with the European tradition of harvest festivals. Does your country celebrate the yearly harvest with a festival or other form of commemoration?

It's called kekri here, and no it isn't a thing anymore. Kekri was celebrated in history; hundreds of years ago it was the most important celebration day of the year, and the year changed into a a new one in the fall instead of in December/January in the winter. Later in the 1900s kekri was merged with Christian All Saints' Day and Christmas but many of our Christmas/New Year rituals and traditions trace back to the ancient kekri celebrations actually.

10 – Shift10 Day: SHIFT10 Day was created to encourage shoppers to shift 10% of their spending into their local economies to support local businesses, farmers' markets, and other alternatives to big box stores. Do you try to shop locally as much as possible or do the ease and convenience of big box stores and online juggernauts like Amazon win out more often than not?

Amazon and foreign online shops wins a lot - a lot of my hobby stuff simply isn't available to buy in Finland, or the price is astronomical compared to buying the thing from abroad.

But for things like bread, cheese and other food stuffs I try to buy local (which all domestic is considered local here in Finland) and not say, milk from Sweden. For certain treats, such as certain breads, I buy from a bakery from my town. But thing is - I'd like to shop in smaller shops but we don't have them anymore. We have supermarkets and big box stores that belong to the three chains here (K-ryhmä, S-ryhmä ja LIdl). I shop in the smaller supermarkets the most. We don't have mom & pop general stores anymore - not since maybe the 1990s. Just the three chains, and a few specialty shops such as bakery, meat shop, cheese shop. These specialty shops are a lot more expensive than the three chains so most people I'd guess buy treats from them and for special occasions and not for-daily-breakfast type shopping.

11 – International Post Card Week: Did you ever trade or collect postcards? When was the last time you received one? When was the last time you sent a post card to someone?

Nope. My Mom sends me an Easter and a Christmas cards by mail every year so that's probably the Easter one I've gotten the latest. We do give (post) cards for events like birthdays but we don't send those to each other by mail.

I've no idea when was the last time I sent a post card by mail! I have a feeling I might have done it in the 1990s the last time...

12 – World Sight Day: How good is your eyesight? When did you last have an eye exam? Would you ever consider lasik surgery to improve your vision?

It's bad. I have glasses and I can't see much of anything without them, just fuzzy blobs. I had an eye exam about 1,5 years ago, and will have another one next Monday. I have type 2 diabetes and it's time to test my intraocular pressure because of that. After that is done, I'm going to get an appointment with an optician to check my eye sight. I think I may need prescription reading glasses now because my eyes get blurry after reading for a while and only sleeping seems to clear that. I love reading, but I've had to reduce the time I spend doing that and it's a bummer. And I think maybe new regular glasses are not too far in the future either. But probably reading glasses first.

I would consider Lasik but for the lack of money. But on the other hand I also hate the idea and I'm squemish thinking of somebody touching my eyes. So I don't know if I'd really go for it. On the other hand, my Mom had to had cataracts operated on on both her eyes. Before the cataracts, she had a really bad eye sight and very strong, thick prescription glasses. After the cararact operation her eyesight is almost normal - her vision improved so much! She does use glasses but doesn't need them all the time. So that's a great experience that gives me a positive look on eye surgery.

13 – Train Your Brain Day: Do you do any exercises aimed at (or claiming to) help keep your brain sharp and improve your memory?

Nope. Unless reading a lot of novels counts, or listening to music.

14 – Dessert Day! Who doesn't love dessert? Is a dessert a regular part of your evening meal, or more of a special occasion sort of thing? Or do you mostly indulge in dessert when you eat out? Do you have a favourite dessert to make? Do you have a favourite dessert to order when eating out?

Desserts have never featured in my family's meals. My parents' idea of a dessert was a fruit - an apple or an orange, or maybe a handful of grapes. I wasn't partial to fruits until later in life, so I usually skipped it. As still don't eat dessert as a grown up. I, having a sweet tooth, usually have desserts such as chocolate or strawberry pudding as snacks between meals. But I love grapes and also the fresh fruit salad which has grapes, melon, honey melon, pear and pineapple in it that I buy from the supermarket. So I also snack on fruits although not as much as is recommended per day.

I've never been able to eat a dessert when dining out - the restaurant portions are so big that I always get full from just the main meal and stop there.

15 – Mushroom Day: Do you like mushrooms? Do you have a favourite type of mushroom? In what dishes are you most likely to use mushrooms?

No. I think they are very suspect. I've never tasted a mushroom and don't intend to.

16 – Liqueur Day: Amaretto! Grand Marnier! Kahlua! Creme de Menthe! A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage made from a distilled spirit. Distillers flavor the spirit with fruit, cream, herbs, spices, flowers, or nuts. They may have fallen out of favour due to the increasingly broad selection of spirits available in seasonal, fragrant, and often curious flavors (vodkas and rums in particular), but they haven't disappeared. Have you ever had a liqueur? Do you have a favourite?

I don't alcohol so no. I've used some sherry and some chocolate liqueur in baking and puddings, but that's it. I did like the chocolate liqueur I asked my Mom to bring from the cruises she and her SO take regularly - I think it was called Mozart? I used it a lot for baking and puddings. But even that I didn't drink as-is, chocolate or no chocolate.

17 – Mulligan Day: Commonly used in games such as golf, the term ‘mulligan’ derives from the 1920s when Canadian golfer David Mulligan made a mistake during a game and retook his shot. Since then, to ‘call a mulligan’ means the chance to try again. Is there anything in your life you'd like a second chance at?

If I could, I'd choose to stay in the metropolitan area after I finished library school. That's the only place in the country where library jobs regularly open and the chance to land a regular library job is the best. But honestly, with low library salary and if I lived alone, I probably would have had to move away from the metropolitan area at some point due to the high cost of living there.

18 – International Legging Day: Do you wear leggings? If yes, do you wear them mostly when exercising, or do you wear them outside of the gym?

I wear them under the trousers in winter. I think those too are called leggings these days here.

19 – Free Speech Week: There is a lot of talk about the so-called "cancelling" of individuals who are known for espousing controversial views. Would a better way of framing it be "accountability" rather than "cancelling", with the emphasis being on the reality that free speech isn't consequence-free?

Probably.

20 – Information Overload Day: We've all likely suffered from this at some point in time, if not almost daily. What do you do to limit the flow of information coming to you? Do you put your phone on "Do Not Disturb"? Log out of your email client? Avoid social media? Read a book or go for a walk instead of watching the news?

I've put disable the notifications for almost all the apps on my phone. Only left a few such as the package app so I see immediately when happens with packages on the way to me, and text messages because I don't remember to check my text messages anymore because almost nobody sends them to me anymore instead of WhatsApp or e-mail. I hate it when social media or e-mail or news or shopping apps pop up reminders and notifictions all the fucking time so I disable that shit, and check when it suits me.

21 – International Walk to School Month: Did you walk to school as a child? Are parents today too over-protective to let their children walk to school?

I walked to my years 1-2 school, years 3-9 I took the bus as well as to the occupational school. To the library school I took the commuter train. On year 1 my Mom took the week the school started free from work and walked with me to the school in the morning, and came to fetch me when school was over. I think it was by day 3 I wanted to walk by myself because I've always been independent spirited! LOL I think she still did stay home all that week so she was there to receive me when I came home. Then after that, I'd go to the nanny who lived in the same apartment building (and looked after a handful of other kids of same age too) when I got home from school. By year 3, I didn't want to spend time at the nanny anymore at home doing my home work so it was changed to me just checking in with the nanny when I was home and then going to my home to have a snack and do my home work. These are fond memories - I always felt safe, but not stifled because I was never forced to be alone, or not be alone.

In Finland, yes. But most kids do walk, or take the bus by themselves once they are familiar with the route. I don't know the situation in other countries to say one way or another.

22 – Colour Day: National Colour Day focuses on the impact colour has on each of us. Beyond having a favourite colour, are there colours that evoke specific feelings or memories in you? Colours you avoid or dislike because they remind you of something you'd rather forget, or give off "bad vibes"? Is there a colour that immediately brightens your mood, or calms you? Do you decorate your home with lots of bright colours? How important is colour in your life?

Yellow. I don't like yellow, I never have. It's always felt too garish and too brutish. And tacky. Just nope all the way around.

The last several years getting color around me has become important to me. I made acrylic pour paintings and I've printed colorful art and hang it up on my walls. I never used to have anything on my walls - I lived inside my head so much I didn't need it.

I used to hate pink - it was such a girly girl color and I wouldn't be caught dead wearing it! But now I LOVE it. Not the very pale shade, but a good proper pink - such as #FC6C85, #F88379, #DE5D83, #F64A8A, #E0115F ... just to name a few! I still don't like to wear it, but things like wallets, hair pins, pens, inks... give it all to me!

23 – iPod Day: Have you ever owned an iPod (or other portable media player)? Do you remember those first songs? Do you still listen to them? What have you become in the days that have past, and do you smile with nostalgia or cringe with embarrassment as you remember your favorites from ages gone by?

I never did own a portable media player! I never had the money to buy one myself, and wanted other things more as birthday gifts etc. such as books! My first smart phone was my first portable media player... I think I got it around 2009 or 2012? And yes, I remember the first songs I put on it - I still listen to them regularly because they're among my favorites.

Sometimes I marvel that my music taste hasn't really changed since I was a kid - I've just added more stuff I like to it, but I still love the same songs as I did when I was 10 in 1984. I don't know - somehow I always thought I'd get boring and start to like "grown up" music... meaning the Finnish iskelmämusiikki grown ups were listening around me when I was growing up.

24 – United Nations Day: Is the UN still an important international player? Do you think the UN Security Council membership should be expanded?

Dunno. In theory, I think organisations where many nations work together for a common, positive goal is always a good thing. Whether it's effective and usable in modern times, I don't have the knowledge to say.

25 – International Artist Day: do you have any art in your home -- paintings, sculptures, etc.? Do you ever visit art galleries? Do you dabble in any type of art yourself?

I don't visit art galleries.

I have a tiny painting my Mom bought me as a birthday present ages ago, which is the only one I have that was bought from a physical store. I also have acrylic pour pour paintings that I myself have done, and I've printed some digital papers I've bought on Etsy and hung them up. I do fandom wallpapers in Photoshop as well as textures, and I used to make lots of icons. I also draw some, and do some watercolors. But it's more like crafts than art, I'd say!

26 – Mincemeat Day: Have you ever tried mincemeat (pie, or tarts)? Do you like it? Do you have an old family mincemeat recipe that gets dragged out in time for the holidays season?

Nope. I had to google mincemeat 'cause I didn't know what it was - fruit+meat fillings are not a thing here.

27 – Cranky Co-Workers Day: Do you have (or did you have if no longer working) any chronically cranky co-workers? Or maybe you were the cranky co-worker? When was the last thing you let yourself be cranky, and to voice your thoughts about something that annoyed you?

Back in mid-90s when I was doing the second on-the-job-traing which was required by the library school, one my of co-workers was noticeably cool and short with me. The training was for two months if I remember correctly, and I continued as a summer temp directly after. It was weird - while I was training, she was short and cool towards me, but when I was a summer temp, she was friendlier even though the only thing that changed was my title. Like Friday - still a trainee - cool and short. Two days later on Monday - started the summer temp job - friendlier. She was crankier than the others just in general, but that change in behaviour towards me from trainee/Friday to summer tem/Monday was almost funny. Maybe she didn't like having trainees around although she had nothing to do with training me.

28 – International Animation Day: What is your favourite animated film or TV series?

Don't have one. I do enjoy the old (like 1950s old) cartoons about the Pink Panther, the Road Runner etc. but generally I'm not into animated stuff.

29 – Internet Day and Cyber-security Awareness Month: Today is both national Internet day and Cyber-security Awareness Month. Are you, or do you try to be, fairly vigilant about how you use the internet, and keeping yourself safe online? Do you tend to use the same password across most sites? Have you ever suffered a malware infection?

I try to be safe and secure. I have both an antivirus and firewall softwares on all my devices, and I keep Windows and Android updated with latest updates. I use a password manager and use different, long passwords for all sites. I have had a malware infection but the last time was years ago.

30 – Haunted Refrigerator Night: Sometimes you forget about certain things that are in your fridge. And while you may have forgotten about them, they certainly haven't forgotten about you. Instead, they sit lurking in the back of the refrigerator waiting for you to delve into its darkest corners and unleash the disgusting rotten mess that lurks within those Tupperware sarcophagi. Is there anything lurking in the deepest recesses of your fridge that you're afraid to look at or deal with?

I don't usually have mysterious disgusting tupperwares but I do have a few things in there like pickled cucumber that's probably past its last use date, and jam jars with only a bit left like a two spoonfuls that aren't enough for anything and I don't eat jam as-is so I keep them in hopes I'll bake something I can shove the jam remains into and then it just never happens.

31 – Magic Day: Have you ever seen magic performed live? Have you ever tried to learn a few tricks yourself?

I think we went to see some magic show when I was a kid in school? I have very faint memory that that happened? Magic tricks bore me so nope.

The Friday Five for 27 October 2023 - https://thefridayfive.dreamwidth.org/121019.html

1. Which website do you go to more often than any other?

Technically gmail because I have my inbox always open in a tab as well as my phone. Other than that, probably https://www.yle.fi which is the national news site and Reddit which has both fandom subreddits and subreddits which talk about Finnish news.

2. Which website have you stopped going to, that you used to go to a lot?

Livejournal.

3. What is the weirdest or most unusual website you have bookmarked?

I don't think I have either types bookmarked. Others may think some of them are weird but I don't!

4. If you shop online, which online store do you buy from most often?

There's no one single online store I buy more from than any other. They are divided by product category; here are a few of my most used (but not necessarily more than a couple of times a year):

https://www.lumingerie.fi is the only shop I buy bras from.

https://fountainfeder.de/ is a shop I buy a lot of the fountain pen/ink stuff from and only one I buy ink samples from since Brexit. But it isn't the only shop I buy fountain pen stuff from.

Amazon UK and Amazon DE are the two I use the most for buying DVDs & Blurays and calendars/yearly diaries.

https://www.yliopistonapteekki.fi/ for things like vitamins and cosmetics when they're in a good sale.

5. Which online store do you browse but almost never buy from?

I browse Etsy a lot, and while I do buy from there, compared to the browsing, it's a tiny amount.

Friday 5 for October 27: Lessons - http://f.riday5.com/2023/10/27/friday-5-for-october-27-lessons/

1. What were your high school teachers wrong about?

I quit high school after three months and was absent most of those three months, so I'm answering this based on my primary/comprehensive school and the first year of vocational school (the first year was general education, the years after that were for training in vocations).

The teachers were completely wrong when they said that when the baby boomer generation retires, a mad number of jobs will open up and we will have no problems getting a job if we're even half way decent at what we do. They were so totally wrong.

Instread of steady jobs, there was a serious depression which started in 1990. Companies went under and unemployment was high. If you graduated to a profession during the depression or in the years immediately after it, what those people got were temp and part-time jobs at best, unemployment at worst. In the public sector jobs did more and more of cuts and offices, libraries, hospitals etc. run on minimal staff and people are only hired when it can't be avoided to this day. In the private sector the same, but the service industries such as restaurants, shops etc. only hire part-time and only bosses are full-time. And everywhere technology has taken over human work, so a lot of people who aren't cerebrally minded are unemployed because simple jobs don't exist anymore, and they are not up to reading to be engineers, doctors or coders etc.

2. Which high school subject (or specific lesson) turned out to be more useful than you expected?

I think history. I've many times been grateful for the general education I received about varius countries, their histories and their relationships to one another, and what ideas, events, sentiments lead to various historical upheavals. It's made following international news much easier when I know at least something about Russia's history, or Hamas or Israel or whatever.

3. From which high school courses do you remember most and least?

I remember history the most, I think. Just because I loved learning about Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece. Least - Chemistry and Physics. I feel like I never much learned anything, or at least don't remember much. Mostly I remember there being too few work stations and boys dominating them, so whenever we got to do experiments/see something work, boys got to do the thing and girls watch from the side :/ You can't really learn well when you don't get to do stuff yourself.

4. How many of your high school classmates are you still in touch with?

None. I didn't like school, and only had "school" friends, not ones that I wanted to spend any time with outside school. Of my real friends, one was in the same school as I but in a different class, and the rest went to a different school.

5. Which specific songs bring you back to specific memories of high school?

Not song, but band: Duran Duran. And not school itself, but rather singing Duran Duran songs after school with my friends, and doing my homework while listening to WIld Boys and Save a Prayer.

From last week:

friday 5 for october 13: capitalizing on opportunity - http://f.riday5.com/2023/10/13/friday-5-for-october-13-capitalizing-on-opportunity/

1. When did you last visit a building where legislation or executive governing take place?

The last time was when I went to the police station to collect my new ID. It was during COVID-19 but I can't remember whether it was in 2021 or 2022.

2. What do you carry on your person, in a bag, or in your car, just in case?

Don't have a car, but in my backpack I always have water, migraine pills, diarrhea pills and if I've been having a worse-than-normally bad bowels symptoms day/week/month, I also a carry a change of panties, trousers (and if it's autumn/winter, also winter leggins) in case I have an accident, and also plastic bag to carry the soiled clothes back home.

3. When did you last lower yourself (physically) through an opening of some kind?

Um... when I was a little kid and climbing on a kids climbing scaffolding thingy? Don't know what they're called in English. They're made of metal or ropes and taller than kids are.

4. How do you feel about the death penalty?

I don't feel much of any kind of way. My country doesn't have death penalty. I've never had to really think about it. Part of me mildly thinks there are crimes that deserve death as punishment, but also part of me thinks that if a person commits such a crime, then the society has failed them and that society has no right to take anyone's life.

5. Which vocalists most impress you with their ability to sing in the upper register?

Dunno about upper register, but I love Ofra Haza's voice. She sings "Love Song" without musical accompaniment and it's wonderful. Oh, Whitney Houston had an impressive upper register I thought! And Sarah Brightman has a wonderful voice too!

The Friday Five for 13 October 2023 - https://thefridayfive.dreamwidth.org/120779.html

1. Are you superstitious?

Nope. Although sometimes I wonder when I've lost something such as one of my cheese slicers, search for it for months with no luck, finally cave in and buy a new one - and then two days later, find the missing old one! Things like this seem to happen to often!

2. Which superstitions do you believe in and act on?

None.

3. What superstition does someone close to you believe in and act on?

None that I've noticed.

4. Do you take any extra precautions on Friday the 13th?

Nope. I don't normally even notice that "today's the day with the bad number of the month and the day of the week that combined is said to be bad" unless somebody points it out to me.

5. Do you secretly judge superstitious people?

Nope. Only if their superstitions affect other people negatively and then I judge them publicly.

I went to see my Mom and her SO and spent about 6 hours with them. We made good food: mashed potatoes and pan-fried vendace and it was delicious. The SO makes the best mashed potatoes and the potatoes were particularly flavorful/tasty this time so the mash was even better than usually.

I upgraded their Windows 10 laptop to Windows 11 - it had been nagging them to upgrade for about a year, and the  main reason we hadn't done it yet is that my laptop can't physically run Windows 11 (it's missing some needed component). Mom doesn't really understand things like upgrading programs etc. and almost everything being in English makes it worse (she doesn't speak English), so I have to give her computer support via telephone rather a lot, and it's easier when we have the same OS. But she's been getting fed up with the upgrade nagging, and I figure Windows 11 is still Windows so it shouldn't be too different. Worst case scenario I have to go over a little more often so not worse case at all!

The upgrade went quickly and smoothly! They have a very slow, basic internet connection so I connected their laptop to my smart phone's internet  and it only took about an hour to download the Windows 11 installation files. The upgrade itself kept all the files and settings so no reinstalling everything needed. I remember the times when upgrading Windows and reinstalling everything took a whole weekend! It's so painless now.

Yesterday was a really good day! Even my head didn't burst into a migraine even though it threatened to in the evening. Courtesy of Ajovy :mrgreen:

This week's questions over at f.riday5.com :-D 

1. How easily are you startled?

Not easily at all. I rarely get truly scared in real life and never watching a movie or reading a book.

2. What music do you find scary?

No music is scary. Music can and does contribute very much in a scary/creepy/tense scene in a movie but music by itself isn't ever scary to me.

3. When did you last attend a performance you didn’t think highly of?

I don't attend performances as a rule (money and migraine) and the very few ones are the ones I know I'll enjoy beforehand because it's a band or an artist or a play I enjoy already. So I'd have to go with the time in the 1980s when I was in school and we as part of the school curriculum went to see a handful of art performances. One of which was some ballet in the city theatre. I didn't think much of that one because I have never enjoyed ballet, and at the time I also didn't appreciate classical music.

4. What caused your most recent small cut or scrape?

I'm not entirely sure but I think I scratched myself in my sleep 2 nights ago. The whole episode was kind of weird because I just suddently noticed 6 short red scratches on the back of my right hand very late in the evening on Wednesday. I'd been doing stuff that day with my hands that I'd think I'd noticed the red velts during the 12 hours or so of writing, typing, emptying the dishwasher etc. I also don't think I did anything during the day to cause the scratches so I must've made the nail marks while sleeping the previous night. Maybe the velts just took unusually long to show up?

5. When was your ego most recently bruised, and what did you do to recover?

I can't remember.

Answers to Jo’s Daily Questions for September!

1 – World Letter Writing Day: Do you still write actual letters to anyone (email doesn't count!)? Did you have penpals when you were young(er)? Do you miss receiving actual letters in the mail (or any mail other than junk/flyers)?

No. No. Except for the two years I was doing library studies away from home town and when my Mom would write me letters sometimes (but we usually called), I've never gotten anything but bills via mail. So no, I don't miss it.

2 – Bring Your Manners to Work Day: Bring Your Manners To Work Day was created by The Protocol School of Washington to remind people of the importance of treating people with courtesy and respect in the workplace. How important is it to you to have fulfilling relationships both with colleagues and customers/clients? Have the challenges posed by COVID changed how you view the concepts of courtesy and respect in the workplace?

Can't really answer this. I haven't worked for the last 15 years due to being ill, and before that I only had short temp jobs where none of that mattered in a deeper way. It was always important to me to be professional and helpful as much as I could both with co-workers and the library customers, but I wouldn't call them fulfilling relationships? The jobs were too short for for the most part.

3 – World Beard Day: Beards -- yay or nay?

Most nay. But yay for Rory McCann's Sandor Clegane and mirror!Spock.

4 – Mouthguard Day: Have you ever had to wear a mouthguard, either because you practised a certain sport, or as protection because you tend to grind your teeth at night, or for some other reason?

Nope.

5 – Be Late For Something Day: Does the mere thought of "celebrating" this cause you anxiety? Should lateness ever be celebrated?

Shouldn't be celebrated. But I don't feel no kind of way about this day. When I was young I was always late when meeting friends etc. and just barely on time going to school or the doctor's or such. But for the last 20 years or so now, I'm always on time and actually early unless something unexpected happens out of my control.

6 – Fight Procrastination Day: Procrastination can really be the bane of our existence, with another day coming around the corner, there’s no real reason that we can’t put it off till tomorrow is there? What are some of the things you do to fight putting off those things you keep putting off? To-do lists? Setting your alarm for earlier? Enlisting friends or family to give you a hand?

I'm really good at procrastinating. I haven't found an effective way to combat it. The thing that ever truly has worked for me is deadlines set by outside powers, such as school. Because my grades depended doing the thing. Otherwise nothing else has ever worked for long but to-do lists and putting music on and just randomly starting to do the thing sometimes works. Mostly not.

7 – Buy A Book Day: Do you buy books or are you pretty much a borrower -- be it from the library or friends and family? What was your most recent book purchase? Did you buy it for yourself, or as a gift for someone else?

I'm a borrower! I read too much to buy everything even if I could afford to buy all the books - I'd literally need a bigger apartment with a dedicated library room were I to buy everything I read. I read at least 40 books a year. I'm currently at book 54 right now so who knows how many I'll read this year...

Library saves me because I can't really afford to buy books and anyway, I don't want to buy all the books I read. I can't even remember the last time I actually bought a physical book - it was before COVID-19, I know that. I've bought some ebooks since but can't remember which was was the most recent purchase.

8 – Star Trek Day: Star Trek speaks of a hope-filled future where our nationality no longer matters, and yet each of our personal heritages is still something we can be proud of. We are all citizens of the same quadrant of the galaxy, and at the end of the day that’s all that matters. Are you a Trekkie/Trekker? If you are at least somewhat "into" Star Trek, which series have you watched at least some of? Do you have thoughts on the JJ Abrams reboot films?

I'm a huge Star Trek fan! I don't call myself Trekkie/Trekker (I can never remember which is correct term!), but TOS and TNG informed a lot of my world view. It was shown here starting when I was around 9-10 years old, and ever since I've thought the Star Trek utopia is our future or at least something we should strive towards to. When I think of far future, I imagine that out civilization is something like in TNG. Although I've been losing faith the last several years, what with the rise of right wing politics.

JJ Abrams reboot films aren't Star Trek. They're just action/adventure dressed in Star Trek uniforms, props and ship design and nothing else. There's no heart. If you take the Star Trek uniforms away and change ship designs, you'd never know it's Star Trek - there's no message, or pondering of human nature. They're just a strings of action scenes.

9 – International Sudoku Day: Do you sudoku, or are you more of a crosswords puzzle person?

Neither. I can't do any of them.

10 – Arts in Education Week: Every year beginning the second Sunday in September, National Arts in Education Week celebrates the transformative powers of creative skills. Sadly, governments everywhere are cutting arts programs in schools, citing budget concerns, or to favour more "career-oriented" programs. Did you take any type of art courses in school (art, music, dance, etc.)? What benefits are there to arts education?

Art courses weren't offerent after primary education (after age 14). If you wanted to take them, you had to apply to a special art (music or painting) high school which the thought were that they were meant for people interesting in making a career in music or painting/graphic arts. If you went to a vocational or economic or library school like I did, no arts what-so-ever were included. I didn't realize it until I started trying to write fanfic about five years after finishing my library studies, but I didn't know how to write fiction anymore because all we practised after primary school were business analysis, business letter, job applications etc.

I've ever since thought that arts should be included in every school level, because they enchance creativity and reduce stress and just broaden people's experiences and thinking paterns. I've noticed a worrying trend of cutting funding and disparaging talk about any education and profession which doesn't lead directly to business productivity and making money. People need art to feel good!

11 – No News is Good News Day: From where to you get most of your news? Do you find the daily onslaught of usually pretty bad news overwhelming? Do you take, or have you taken, breaks from news – essentially avoiding all news as much as possible?

I read news mainly on https://www.yle.fi (Finland's national public broadcasting company) (which isn't commercially backed), and also my local newspaper's website (most of it is beyond paywall though), and also on hs.fi which is Helsinging Sanomat (capitol city's newspaper). I also read ku.fi which is The Left Alliance's newssite. In addition I read randomly at other sites. Occasionally I ask as birthday gift or some other gift a digital subscription to some paywalled news site.

Bad news do stress me some, such as the new government's plans on cutting employee rights and benefits and the benefits of the poor. The news don't overwhelm me though, and so far, I haven't taken breaks. I do pick what I read and how much though - such as I don't read Russia-Ukraine war news every day, just maybe once a week or when something big happens.

12 – Day of Encouragement: Are you the type of person who naturally tries to encourage others when they need it? Does anyone in your life do the same for you?

I am. Sure.

13 – Defy Superstition Day: From throwing salt over your shoulder if you spill some, avoiding stepping on cracks in the pavement, to worrying about black cats, the world is full of superstitions. Even if your rational mind knows these strange dictates have no influence on your life, are there any superstitions you do find yourself observing? Have you ever done something considered a superstition that actually happened, e.g. you broke a mirror and then had seven incredibly unlucky years?

Nope.

14 – Live Creative Day: Live Creative Day encourages us to let the world see our creativity all day long. How can you bring more creativity into your daily tasks, either at work, or at home?

I'm too tired to think what it could be.

15 – International Day of Democracy: How would you rate the health of your country's democracy and democratic institutions (assuming you live in one!)? What could be done to strengthen your country's democratic institutions?

I think it's pretty good. More people need to vote though.

I'm not sure, I'm not knowledgeable enough to say.

16 – Locate an Old Friend Day: Do you have an old friend with whom you've lost touch? Have you tried to find them via social media (e.g. Facebook, LinkdIn, etc.,) or asking other mutual friends about them?

I did have! I tried to find them on Facebook and other social media, but then they found me by sending me a letter a few years ago so now we write each other :D We don't have mutual friends so I couldn't try that way.

17 – Indoor Plant Week: This week marks the start of National Indoor Plant Week. Do you have indoor plants or do you prefer to do outdoor gardening? Do you have a green thumb, or do you seek out plants that are difficult to kill?

I don't have any indoor plants, and I don't do outdoor gardening. Whatever is the opposite of a green thumb, that's what I have. I even managed to kill a cactus.

18 – Read an Ebook Day: Are you partial to ebooks? What are some advantages of ebooks over other formats? What sort of ereader do you use -- kindle, kobo, tablet, other? Are there some types of books that really don't work as ebooks?

I read them but I'm not partial to them. I prefer a physical book over all other formats, but if I can't find one then an ebook is okay. Audio book is the very last option. I have an old Samsung tablet that I read the ebooks on. Fanfic I read on laptop, even if it is in a ebook format.

I think I wouldn't like non-fiction books as ebooks. I don't usually read non-fiction straight through but by leafing, and that's cumbersome with an ebook.

19 – Talk Like a Pirate Day: Do you have a favourite book, film, or TV show about pirates?

Nope. Never cared about pirates. Pirates of the Caribbean (the 1st movie) is good! It's really the only one that stands out for me. I can't even name others.

20 –Fried Rice Day AND Pepperoni Pizza Day: September 20 is both Fried Rice Day and Pepperoni Pizza Day. Which do you prefer? Do you make your own fried rice and/or pizza, or is it take-out only?

I've never had fried rice! I don't like pepperoni pizza either, I prefer other toppings. I usually buy a frozen pizza and then add more cheese and maybe other toppings. Sometimes I buy a frozen plain raw pizza bottom, top it as I wish and bake it in the oven. That's the best one! I never have take-out pizza (too expensive for me) and the one time I did, there wasn't enough cheese even though it was double cheese.

21 – World Gratitude Day: For what (or who) are you grateful?

My Mom! And that I live in a geographically safe place where I have no need to worry about natural disasters such as hurricanes, earth quakes etc.

22 – World Car-Free Day: Would it be possible for you to go entirely car-free today?

I go most days entirely car-free so probably. Depends on whether it's my shopping day, or whether I have a doctor's appointment etc. And when I can't go car-free, I use public transport. I don't own a car.

23 – Redhead Appreciation Day: Why are redheads frequently made fun of or maligned (e.g. some cultures have believed that women who have red hair are witches, there's a "Kick A Ginger Day")? Do you like red hair? Do you know anyone with red hair?

Are they made fun of? Can't remember ever having anyone in my circles who has a natural red hair. Those that dye I haven't heard made fun of.

I love red hair! I used to keep my hair dyed red when I was 15-30 years old. I haven't dyed my hair a lot since then, but when I do, it's red! Or red highlights. I'm very blond but Mom says when I was a kid my hair tinted tiny bit red so red fits my skin color.

24 – World Rivers Day: Do you live, or have you ever lived, near a river? Are the rivers in your area under threat from climate change?

I haven't lived on a bank of a river or anything, but I've live within about 5 kilometers of the Aura River my whole life. Every time I go to the city, I cross it. The city library is on its bank along with the catedral and the city center.

25 – Better Breakfast Day: What does your breakfast usually consist of, and in what ways do you think you could make it a better breakfast?

I could make it better by having it...

I've always had trouble with breakfast. I can't eat anything soon after waking up. I have to be up for 3-4 hours first. The only exception was when I worked in a library with too few staff and had to do a lot of shelving fast immediately after arriving work. After doing that for an hour, I was hungry and wanted breakfast.

26 – Piano Month: September is Piano Month. Did you ever take piano lessons as a kid (or even as an adult)? If yes, do you still play? If not, do wish you had? Did you learn any other instrument?

No and No. As I've gotten older, I started to wish I had. Never learned any instrument. In school where technically we were supposed to during music lessons, only the special orchestra and choir kids allowed to touch the instruments. But us normies weren't allowed and were treated as less important because we weren't in the orchesta or choir by the teacher. I didn't think much of it then (other than not respecting the teacher), but now it makes me mad. I've never been in a position financially to even consider taking lessons as an adult and I'm not sure it would have occurred to me had I been.

27 – World Tourism Day: When you visit a new place, do you hit all the main tourist attractions or do you prefer to travel off the beaten path? Do you live in a place that has any famous tourist attractions?

Depends on what they are! There are certain things I'm very much into (castles! I could visit all the castles, fortresses and ancient manor houses happily and not get bored). As an example, if I were to go to Paris - I would absolutely go to visit the Louvre and although I want to see the Mona Lisa, I might decide it's not worth it because I've heard there's always a huge crowd and it's so small that you can hardly see it because you can't get close enough.

28 – Good Neighbo(u)r Day: Are you a good neighbour? Do you even know your neighbours? Have you ever had any really bad experiences with a neighbour?

I'm the unknown neighbor! I'm a good neighbor in the sense that I don't have loud parties or play loud music/tv at night.

I don't know most of them other than to say "Hi! (or rather to nod as is more common)" to most. I did help an old lady who used to live next door a few times with her tv/digi box and she came to ring my bell a few times at night when she felt unsafe because upstairs some neighbors were screaming/playing loud music. I haven't had bad experiences with neighbors other than sometimes they play music/party/talk loudly all night and I can't sleep. But even that hasn't happend in a couple of years, so I think those particular neighbors have maybe moved, or settled down.

29 – Ask A Stupid Question Day: There's no such thing as a stupid question except for the one you choose not to ask. When you were in school, did you hesitate to ask questions because you were afraid they were stupid questions? Did you make fun of other students who asked questions that struck you as stupid? As an adult, do you still hesitate to ask questions you think are stupid? Do you find yourself secretly hoping someone else will ask the question so you won't have to?

Yes, but mostly I was quiet and didn't ask questions because I didn't want anyone to notice me and I hoped someone else would ask the question. I quietly thought the other kid was stupid if they asked a stupid question but I never said it outloud, maybe just mentally rolled my eyes.

As an adult, until my 30s, I hesitated to speak up. But I don't have that trouble much anymore.

30 – International Podcast Day: Are you a podcast fan? What are some of your favourites? How do you find out about new podcasts that might interest you?

I don't listen to podcasts. I just... audio/noise is feels uncomfortable to me, probably has to do migraine sensitivity even if I'm not having an attack. Just like light sensitivity is on all the time. And I can read the thing faster than they talk, so if there's a transcript, I'll read that but if it's audio only, I skip it. I've never liked to listen to radio either - I prefer music, or silence to talk radio.

My answers to today's question at thefridayfive@Dreamwidth

1. What's your favourite musical?

I haven't seen a musical since Moulin Rouge came out, but my favorite used to be Silk Stockings and Singing in the Rain. I also LOVE the song Roxanne from Moulin Rouge the movie. But as a whole, I think it'd have to be either Silk Stockings or Singing in the Rain.

2. Would you rather star in: a musical or movie?

Movie. I can't dance and my singing sounds like a cat being tortured to death.

3. Which actor do you think deserves to be in a musical rather than a movie?

Donno, don't care.

4. Which is bigger in your opinion, the Oscars or the Tony Awards?

Oscars just because I don't what the Tony Awards are. I assume for musicals considering the topic but don't know.

5. Should old musicals be shown in cinemas for those who didn't have the chance to catch it?

I'd LOVE it :D And I mean the musicals made in the 1940s and 1950s, none of this newer crap.

My answers to this week's question at f.riday5.com.

1. During which specific hour of the day are you likeliest to be happy?

Now that I'm just home due to being chronically ill, there is no particular hour because it can be just whenever. But back when I was working or in school, it was always around 8/9pm. Because the day's demands were completely finished or at least done for that day and I could just relax and think whatever.

2. Which food-beverage pairings do you feel strongest about?

I really love a ice cold milk and a just-right-fresh-not-at-all-brown banana. It's a tasty combo!

3. Do you enjoy (or have you enjoyed) socializing with coworkers?

Sure!

4. When did you last try something different (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) to drink?

Maybe three summers ago I made a sustained effort to learn to like coffee. I tried for three months because it's sort of un-Finnish not to like coffee but I kept disliking it as much as ever I did! Three months because I read somewhere that's how long it takes to get used to a new food. Yeah, never happened with me and coffee. I like the Paulig Frezza cold coffee drinks which have like 5% of coffee in it and the rest is milk and various flavors, but real coffee? It's a big fat NOPE.

5. What’s your favorite way to unwind after a long day of doing whatever you do during the day?

Reading! It's always been reading. I have to read for minimum of 10 minutes before lights out or I feel out of sorts and really weird. I usually read for longer than that (for hours often!), but 10 minutes is the minimum to put me in the right head space for rest and relaxation.