personal

Answers to this week's questions at thefridayfive @ DW

1. Would you ever go "under the knife" (or laser, or dental pick) for cosmetic purposes? What and why, and would it really be worth it?

I'd so much love to get a breast reduction! Although in my case it'd be most likely categorized as a medically necessitated, not entirely cosmetic, as it would relieve my back pain and make things like running more easy and simply just not having boobs in the way would be so much easier to do pretty much anything. But any other surgeries for purely cosmetic purposes... nope. not interested.

2. Describe your dream home, including location, design, and who/what’s in there with you.

I don't have a clear image of what my dream home would be like, or the location. But it'd be a lot bigger than my current home - I'd have a guest room so I can have my Mom or closest friend stay overnight without problems, a living room, a craft room, a home movie theatre/tv room, an office, a library, a gym, a pool, a patio, a utility room and a well-equipped kitchen. And effective air conditioning in every room considering summers are getting unbearably hot for longer and longer even here in Finland. Ideally it'd be situated on the outskirts of a city, so I could get into nature within a couple of minutes by walking, but also only about 30 minutes from the city center by bus. Public transport must be good and the stop close by (no more than a minute or two walking, ideally not even that like I currently have). And also, no neighbors within seeing distance.

I'd also have a few staff: a cook (because I don't like cooking!), a cleaner and if I had a garden, then also a gardener. The interior design would include a lot of wood and be rustic looking, and recently I've been admiring the jewel colors a lot of UK tv series show in characters homes. It'd be elegant, harmonious and calming. And things like couches and table and carpets would all fit each other, instead of a random collection bought when absolutely necessary for the least amount of money. I also might have rooms following themes - so maybe living room is rustic, library sort of Ancient Egyptian, office futuristic sci-fi or something!

3. You have one month to travel the world, all expenses paid. Where do you go and what do you do once you arrive?

London, Egypt, Paris, the Grand Canyon... Although a month is such a short time, I'd probably choose one place and stay there for the month and just make short trips around there.

4. What scares the bloody heck out of you? Would you face it down if someone paid you? What’s your price?

There's nothing that scares "the bloody heck out of" me. But there aren a lot of things I wouldn't do no matter how much you paid me such as handle exotic poisonous snakes, wresting with alligators or go on reality tv show or whatever.

5. And of course, you’re stranded on an island. What five simple items do you have with you? How do you survive? Anyone in particular you’d like to be stranded with? What would they bring to the table?

I'd have to have my eye glasses so I can see, and also my medications to keep me functional - that's more than five items already! I would hope I have a knife, but I never carry one with me so I can't imagine I would if I got stranded by surprise. I'd also better have some person with me knows knows flora and fauna because I don't except for some local berries. Frankly, I don't think I'd fare well at all if I was alone and had to survive on my own for more than a day or two. In theory I know how to make a fire without matches, but whether I'd get it to work in practice is anyone's guess.

Jo over at Dreamwidth put together a list of daily questions for 2023 again  😀 Here’s my answers to April questions.

1 – International Firewalk Day: Have you ever done this strange practice? Would you like to try it?

Nope, never done it. Maybe?

2 – Peanut Butter & Jelly (Jam) day: do you like this typical American sandwich? What flavour jelly (jam) do you favour?

I don't like peanut butter - it's much too sweet so I never buy it. And don't like most store bought jams, I rarely buy those. I've never even tasted the two together just seem like disgustingly sweet plus I don't think I'd like the textures of them together. Peanut butter & jam sandwich is a thing here at all.

3 – Fish Fingers and Custard Day: to celebrate Doctor Who’s strange culinary experiment this day was declared fish fingers and custard day. Would you ever try this? What odd combinations of food do you like?

I don't think I would try it. Doesn't seem like a appealing combination of flavors and textures to me.

Ever since I was a kid I've loved dipping mettvurst in either banana yoghurt or strawberry yoghurt. These days I prefer to dip it into strawberry yoghurt by a slight margin.

4 – International Carrot Day: In your opinion, what's the best way to cook and eat carrots?

None. I only like them raw and as-is (only washed and peeled).

5 – First Contact Day: As all Trekkies know, 5th April 2063 is the date that Zephram Cochrane (and Earth) first made contact with extraterrestrials (the Vulcans). Do you think we will ever make first contact with extra-terrestrial beings? If we do, do you think the knowledge that we aren't alone in the galaxy/universe would unite Terrans, or cause further divisions?

Just so you know - Terrans are the humans from the evil Terran Empire in the Star Trek Mirror Universe. Not us.

Seriously though - I'd like to think humans would unite, but I don't trust it it would happen.

Also, the way things have been going the past several years, as luck would have it, if we make first contact soon it's bound to be with meat eating aliens who came to Earth because Humans are a food source....

6 – Plan your epitaph day: what message would you like your headstone to send out to the future?

Nothing. I want to disappear and be forgotten when people who knew me also have died.

7 – World Health Day: Founded in 1950 by the World Health Organisation. What could you start to do today that will have a positive effect on your health?

Eating on schedule, rather than more or less randomly.

8 – Zoo Lovers Day: Do you think zoos do an important job in teaching and conservation or do you think it is time to stop keeping animals in captivity?

I don't think they're important in general education when you're a kid. But I don't know about veterinary schools etc. I don't know enough to say one way or another.

Technically I'm for stopping keeping animals in captivity. But on practical side, I think many species would go extinct because of pollution and hunting and poaching.

9 – Name Yourself Day: Maybe you always felt like your name didn’t reflect who you are, or maybe you just want to try something new. If you could re-invent yourself for one day by choosing a new name, what name would you choose?

I've actually thought about this seriously but I haven't decided on a name - I'm not fond of my name, but no other name feels like "me" either. Not that my name feels that either. So I guess it's as good as any.

10 – International Safety Pin Day: Invented in 1849, where would we be without them? Or do you think there is less of a place for them in modern life than there was in the past?

Well, I know I need one for my backpack to keep the chest strap closed after the plastic clicky thing broke. So I vote still necessary!

11 – Eight Track Tape Day: Eight Track Tape Day recognizes an era that was here and gone in a short 20 years. Are you old enough to remember eight tracks? Some technologies, like the Betamax, never caught on even though they were the superior product. Can that be said of eight tracks?

I've never seen Eight Track Tape anywhere. When I was a child (I was born in 1974) cassette tapes and LPs were common, and I don't remember seeing Eight Tracks at our friends/neighbors/families homes, and I did pay attention because I've always been wanted to see what music people have on their shelves. I remember casettes and LPs being everywhere, but not a single eight track. So I don't know if it was ever a common thing here. Finnish Wikipedia about "8-raita" is only a few sentences and not much info, so I'm inclining towards "not really to thing" here.

I do remember a small number of people and schools having a Betamax instead of VHS, or in addition to it until VHS took over.

12 – World Hamster Day: Did you know there are 24 different species of hamsters? Have you ever had a hamster as a pet?

I'm sure I learned that in school, but I had long since forgotten the fact. And nope, never had any pets as a kid.

13 – Scrabble Day: when was the last time you played scrabble? Was it on a board or an online version?

I don't know if it was scrabble but we played a word game when I was a kid so 35+ years ago. You had to think of words with only the letter the cubes you had had on them, and they had to be real words. The dictionary was in heavy use those times!

I haven't played anything like it since. I'm not into games.

14 – Look Up At The Sky Day: go and have a look out the window at the sky and tell us what you see (if anything!)

Bright sunlight, bright light blue sky, some clouds.

15 – World Art Day: what is your favourite piece of art? Have you ever seen it or only admired it in pictures?

I don't have a favorite visual piece or sculpture or like that. My favorite pieces of art are music and writings. I've never heard them performed live.

16 – Garden Month: Do you have a garden, or access to a community garden? Is your garden all flowers, or do you grow herbs, vegetables, berries, etc.? If you live in an apartment, do you have a balcony garden?

I could make my tiny backyard (sort the size of a balcony) a tiny garden if I wanted to. But I don't.

17 – International Bat Appreciation Day: Have you ever seen a bat in the flesh? Real bat or Batman, which is better?

I don't think I have. Batman if it's the Gotham tv series, otherwise I don't care.

18 – Pinata Day: Has whacking a paper mache model for reward featured much in your life?

Never done it. It's not a thing here.

19 – Banana Day: are you a fan of bananas? In your opinion, what is the best way to eat bananas?

I wouldn't say a fan, but I like them fine and I eat them quite a lot. They're easy to eat and fulfilling. I love a fruit salad with bananas, apples, oranges and pineapples. It just takes so much slicing that I can't be bothered to make it often. I just eat the bananas straight up (after peeling), often because it's more for the sake of having to eat something than for pleasure of it.

20 – Volunteer Recognition Day: Do you do any volunteer work? Do you belong to any organizations or use any services that are very dependent on volunteers, even if you don't do any volunteering yourself? In some places, students are required to do some volunteer work for school credits. Do you think this is a good idea?

I can't do volunteer work as long as I'm unemployed - the unemployment agency is likely to decide I'm working and don't qualify for unemployment benefits even though I don't get paid for the volunteer work. Yeah, it's draconian. And you can't ask for permission before-hand because your benefits are immediately put on hold while they consider whether it's allowed or not which takes a few months during which you don't have income. And I wouldn't trust that they won't make it mandatory is the desicision is yes, which would mean it wouldn't be volunteer anymore and I wouldn't be able to stop without their okay and be accountable to them to work all the hours agreed upon.

I don't belong or use any volunteer services.

I don't think it's something Finland should do - we don't have volunteers working in places like hospitals or libraries and that's as it should be. People should be paid for their work. There are some animal shelters that use volunteers, I think, and things like "company for old people" volunteer services. Our society is not at all setup for having tens of thousands of students needing to do volunteer work every school year. I also think that that if job is worth doing, it's also worth being paid for. There's already too much pressure from the employers for workers to work for free in the form of various unemployment related rehabiliation services and health/social rehabiliation services where the unemployed and even sick are forced to work for no pay (if they refuse they'll lose their benefits) in businesses and businesses running on these unemployed people with no intention to give steady jobs as the original idea was.

21 – Coin Week: Have you ever, or do you still, collect coins? With the move to cashless payments, do you handle coins much these days? Do you have a jar full of useless coins stashed away somewhere?

Haven't collected, no.

I do still have coins - somehow they always amass! Once my wallet is full of them, I count them out and make a point of paying small purchases in places like the chemist with them or loading my bus card with them. Sometimes I also just ask the chemist if they want to exchange my little coins for bills or bigger coins. Usually they're happy to have more small nomination coins because they need the change. There's less need to do this now than even a decade ago but it still happens a few times a year.

22 – Earth Day: this is the 53rd Earth Day. What one thing do you think every citizen of Earth should pledge to do to save our planet?

I don't think there's any one thing - people's circumstances vary too much. But no flying, or at least stopping flying for fun is one that should be easy for a lot of people.

In everyday life, more recycling is something a lot of people could do.

23 – World Book Night: World Book Night aims to change the way adults view reading by encouraging them to take the time to read during the night, when they have more time. Do you do most of your reading during the day or at night? Do you wish you had more time to read during the day? What are the main pros and cons of doing most of your reading at night?

I admit I do most of my reading in the evening or at night. Even though my days are free. Ever since I got ill, I've found reading during the day makes me too sleepy (because I'm so tired) so I avoid it. And the last few years my eyes have started to get weird after reading for while (focusing gets hard, and things get blurry) so I try to read mostly before sleeping so that my eyes get rest after reading. But sometimes my eyes are the same odd blurry and it's hard to focus first thing in the morning even so.

I don't know that there are particular general pros to reading at night, but a definite con is that I'm likely to get so swept up in a book that hours pass in a flash and suddenly it's 4am and you haven't even tried to sleep yet and there's only 50 pages left surely you can finish then right now... when I was working that was a really bad con!

24 – Firefly Day: Not the insect but the short lived TV programme! Were you a fan of Firefly or did it pass you by? If you have no interest in it have you ever seen a real Firefly?

I watched it when it aired. It had Nathan Fillion in it and I've never liked him but it was scifi so I had to watch it. It was okay but I couldn't and still can't understand why it inspired such hype for such a long time.

25 – World Penguin Day: How would you celebrate world penguin day?

None.

26 – International Chernobyl Remembrance Day: Are you old enough to remember the disaster happening on this day in 1986? If you are what do you remember and if you aren’t what do you know about it?

I was 11 when it happened. I don't really remember it happening. I don't remember whether I talked about it with my parents or saw it on the news at the time or whether we talked about it in school. I also don't remember my parents hiding like newspapers or tv news from me, so I'm sure I heard about it - just did not grasp that it was a BIG THING. It certainly didn't make any kind of an impression on me at the time. Also, my Dad's brain cancer was diagnosed in 1986 and it was operated on for the first time quickly after the diagnosis. Dad's illness (the tumor kept coming back and he was operated on 3 times in as many years) took very much of our attention and energy until his death in 1989.

My first actual memory of Chernobyl is from a few years later when we learned about it in school along with WW2, Russian-US relationship, cold war and nuclear history. I remember there was a lot of worry about whether the radiation would get to Finland etc., but I can't remember whether I heard that when it was happening in 1986 or if it was something I learned later that it had been a worry.

27 – Morse Code Day: spell out your username in morse code

.. -. - --- - .... .. ... ... .... .- -.. --- .--

(I cheated - I used a translator)

28 – Global Pay It Forward Day: Paying it forward is what happens when something wonderful happens to you on the part of a stranger, and all they ask for in return is for you to pay it forward, to do something for someone when they need it in the future. Has that ever happened to you?

Nope...

29 – International Astronomy Day: Have you ever looked through a telescope or gone to a planetarium? Do you have a favourite celestial body?

Planetarium was a favorite place of mine when I was a kid, and we went several times. Both with school and I with my parents.

The Carina Nebula is my favorite; it's so beautiful.

30 – International Jazz Day: Jazz, love it or hate it?

I don't know! Whenever I go searching for jazz pieces I hate them. But then there's still certain type of instrumental music and song (always heard in a tv show/movie) that I love, and some say they're jazzy/bluesy so I have no idea what they are! Or whether I like jazz or blues or not.

This week's questions over at f.riday5.com

1. What’s your best karaoke song? If you have never participated in karaoke, what would you sing first if you were forced to?

I've never participated in karaoke and don't want to, but if a loaded gun is held to my head... Eläköön elämä by Sonja Lumme.

2. How extensive is your ramen experience?

Nonexistent.

3. What are your five most-used emojis? If you aren’t an emoji-user, which emojis do you see in mainstream communication the most?

I use the emojis from https://emojipedia.org and I think I use these the most: 🥰🔥😍 ❤️ ✨

4. How do you feel about sudoku puzzles?

I don't. Word puzzles stump me; sudoku puzzle especially so.

5. When did you last consume soy sauce or tofu?

Tofu - I think the only tofu thing I've ever tasted is tofu ice cream. That was probably at least 15 years ago if not more? I didn't hate it or even dislike it, but I also didn't care for it. More of a "meh" experience.

Soy souce - whenever was the last time I made meatballs. It was during this winter, but I think back on the 2022 side of it. I can't remember exactly.

Finland becomes a Member of NATO tomorrow, Tuesday April 4, 2023.

I was against joining NATO my entire life, life most Finns, until Russia invaded Ukraine. That changed my mind in a single week. But, I appreciate being a peace builder and unallied country - which we won't be anymore starting tomorrow - and so now I'm feeling conflicted. I'm glad we're joining NATO, but kinda not.

So many things have happened in the last three years that I never thought I'd see in my life time.

I'm won't be making more posts about Finnish politics and this won't turn into a political blog, never fear... but I have to say this.

Finland had general election yesterday, and two right-wing parties won and centre-left social-democratic party became third. (More behind the cut).

The biggest party is Kokoomus (National Coalition party), a right-wing party. They want to cut everything. The second biggest party is Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party)  which is a racist, populist right-wing party. I'm terrified and horrified.

The third biggest party is SDP (centre-left social-democratic party), which was the biggest party 4 years ago and has been the Prime Minister party since then. This leftist current government has done such a good job the last four years and for once the poor haven't been punished for existing, and have even been helped a little. And there's been significant investments for things like education, health care (completed a social welfare and healthcare reform that all the previous governments had failed at the previous 20 years). There has been a feeling of hope these last four years - that people matter, not cutting all expenses and making the poor poorer while heaping money on the rich.

I don't get why people who cried and wailed the last time these two right-wing parties were in power (2015-2019) voted now for them again. All the polls showed that majority of the people are satisfied with the current government even just a month before the election. But somehow people want to be kicked while already down, cuts literally everywhere, evermore worsening health care, education etc. and voted these two parties the biggest? When the populist party didn't even mange to put together a political programme for the election?? How? Maybe we as a people are masochists? Honestly it's starting to feel like it.

I have to admit though, that of all the parties, Kokoomus and Perussuomalaiset are the best in advertising. Not just before elections, but all the time. TPTB that back Kokoomus also own all the notable Finnish newspapers and news medias except for like two small ones run by leftist parties. And the national broadcasting company has Kokoomus or just right-wing people in the positions of power these days and Kokoomus or their backers are able to set a lot of the themes that are discussed before the elections and just in general. Perussuomalaiset on the other hand have mastered social media, such as Twitter and Tiktop like no other party. Of course their content is complete shit, but they're out there talking to people and not using big, fancy university words.

The government negotiation are predicted to be difficult, because the voting percentages of the big three parties differ by less than 1% so no one party of the three have clear power. I hope for Kokoomus and SDP lead government - SDP should be able to stop the very worst of what Kokoomus will want.

I fear we'll get Kokoomus and Perussuomalaiset lead one though. Perussuomalaiset only care about one thing - curbing humanitarian and most of the labor immigration. Slowing down green transition is also  quite important to them. Kokoomus is for immigration and for green transition, but if Kokoomus gives in in those two things at least some, Perussuomalaiset would happily do what Kokoomus says in other issues. As we saw in the 2015-2019 government. But they need a medium/smaller party too, to form a majority, and a lot of the others have said that they won't or it's unlikely they'll join a government with Perussuomalaiset (quit rightly so) in it. And most of the medium/small parties were in the current government and lost last night.

So however the government negotiations go, it's going to be interesting with a potentially awful result for everyone not in the owning class.

The voter turnout was 71,9%. Not good. More people need to vote.

Answers to this week's question at thefridayfive@Livejournal - https://thefridayfive.livejournal.com/212901.html

1. How often do you send greeting cards?

I never send them physically via mail. And I only buy physical ones for my Mom... but I bring it with me when I visit on the celebrations. Sometimes if for some reason she's not having a birthday celebration, like once when they had had to book their holiday trip abroad for that time due to various things, I also sent her an e-card on her birthday, and then gave the physical card when the celebration was actually had later on.

There's a few other people I send e-cards to on appropriate days. And even more people who I send text messages or a WhatsApp message.

In fact, text messages took over the physical cards in my circles a lot starting around 2005.

I've never believed in sending cards to people/family I never see except randomly maybe once or twice a year while visiting a friend or family just because it used to be a custom to do that. I remember when I was a kid, our family would get like 70-100 Christmas cards not just from close or distant family but also from almost random people - people Mom had worked with a decade earlier or had gone to school with even more time ago and had seen maybe twice since. When we'd visit my cousins or our family friends, they'd all similar amount of cards from people they had no contact with other than those Christmas cards. So was very much the custom to send Christmas cards back and forth in the dozens back then. I never saw the point in that. And to be honest - it got expensive sending like 50 Christmas cards in December when you were a student or unemployed or temping/part time. So I very quickly pared it down to people I actually interact with regularly. And then text messages and e-cards came along quickly after that.

2. What is the most creative card you’ve ever received?

I don't remember. I usually get typical cards that can be bought on any store; sometimes they're decorated with stickers but that's about it.

3. What is the most creative card you’ve ever sent?

The cards I used to make with one parent when it was for the other parent, or the cards we made in school. This was about 40 years ago and I have no recollection at all of what I made, other than I made some!

I sometimes do make a card in Photoshop if I'm feeling like it, using clipart, stock photography, pretty fonts, gradients etc. but it's not something that I do often.

I've been thinking that I would like to/should try and make a watercolor card some time for Christmas - there's some designs that look easy enough that I should be able to make them! But it hard to time it because of my health issues - so far I haven't been up for it near the end of a year, so I'd have to paint it whenever I can... be that March or July! It's just that I never think about Christmas and Christmas cards until about late November earliest.

4. Do you believe the days of sending post cards are behind us?

I think as a general custom, yes. News keep telling me that the number of mailed cards has severely declined, along with other paper mail. I believe there'll always be people who like to send/receive physical cards, or people who'll like to make cards themselves, but I think a lot/mostly it's moved on to text messages, WhatsApp and e-cards already and will do so in the future even more.

5. If you could get a post card from anywhere, where would it be?

I've always enjoyed receiving cards in the post when my friends or Mom are on a holiday abroad. Often the cards of a local attraction they visited and when they're back home I love looking at the card along with the photos they took while they're telling me what the thing was like in real life and what they liked and didn't like about it. Never mind that usually the post card arrives after they've returned from the holiday already!

I'm disappointed how little 7of9 has had screen time in S3 - I do like her personal plot this season and general personal arc in all through the three seasons of PIC very much, but she's had so little to do this season! And a lot of it has been stuff any character could do. I feel like PIC has forgotten that she has a vast knowledge in science and scientific experience and PIC is mostly treating her as an action hero :-| But the personal stuff she has had, has been good.

There's a few spoilers behind the cut.

Finally Amanda Plummer got something more to do! She was very good in that scene, I felt so bad for her and her fellow prisoners when she recounted her experience as a Federation quinea pig and subject of torture! It sounded very much like a Section 31 type of thing. The way the Vadic hand-thing spoke in this episode makes me think it's something other than a Changeling. It said "you and your kind". Unless it's an original form Changeling and those consider these Vadic's evolved Changelings as alien, and also felt like inferior.

Disappointed how little Crusher has screen time, and that she does so much of her science stuff off-screen. I get it - there's so many other things that need attention, but I'd like her to do science like she did in TNG. That's where she's in her element. Not as an action hero. Also still not used to her not having red hair! Couldn't they have given her red hair but kept those white streaks?

Were Crusher and Picard actually going to murder Vadic, who was their prisoner at the time, in cold blood if Lore hadn't taken the ship over?! It certainly looked and sounded like it! Which is totally out of character for Star Trek and these characters. Or was that supposed be some kind of ruse? I hope I'm being stupid here, and missed something. I get the trap for Vadic was for her to board, be taken prisoner and then to question her. But how could they have known Lore would take over the ship just in time to stop them from murdering a prisoner? I'm really hoping I missed something or that I'm being stupid. But I don't like it when shows create suspension by leaving the viewer out of a critical bit information the hero has, when until then, the viewer has been privy to all the information the hero has, but now things go bad and the baddies have won, but then! a clever plot twist is revealed and it was all planned by the hero - and the tired twist is always that the planning just wasn't shown to the viewer and it's in the end of a scene we did see, and the scene was just cut short. It's a cop-out. But I'll also hate it if it turns out that that Picard and Crusher really were going to murder a prisoner in cold blood, because that's not Star Trek. So whatever it is, the writers have some digging to do to get out of this in a smart way.

So disappointed that Data and Brent Spiner are back. Data and related was already used so much in TNG and the movies, and PIC then went ahead and over did it in every way. How many times has Data had a meaningful death scene now?? Time to put the character away. And high time for stop using Brent Spiner and to keep expanding the Soong family. Everything to do with Data, the Soongs, Lore and related has been imagined and re-imagined so many times that it's completely overdone. There's nothing interesting left. Just drop them already! It makes the world seem tiny when it's always Data and the Soongs. :evil:  :-| 

I wonder if Deanna is going to be on at all. Only three episodes left and she's only had what, three?, cameos.

Jack has grown on me and so has Sydney. Whenever Jack's eyes go red and he goes into action scene mode I'm reminded of Terminators from that franchise but also of Pah-Wraiths but also of random other demon/alien things from random other scifi sources. Courious what's going on with him. The season has really made it look like he's some kind of alien changeling or or a creature or something, and not just an accidental human pregnancy. Which did sound weird from the first I heard that, considering the people involved and the world they live in.

I'd love a Star Trek series about USS Titan with Shaw, 7of9, Sydney and the other bridge personnel shown. Is that one officer Vulcan or Romulan?? I think she acts more like a Romulan. As long as they turn the lights on! So that I don't have to fiddle with the contrast and brightness every time. I'd be into character work with Shaw and his Borg trauma and 7of9's trauma and how they deal with all that comes from their respective pasts. While hopefully going on episodic adventures with new, cool space phenomenon that doesn't threaten the very existence of life everywhere, or diplomatic or scientific missions. Kinda like TNG! That's my wish, anyway.

I've said this before and I'll say it again - every time I watch a S3 episode, I'm going "Turn the lights on! I can't see anything!". It's sotten bad that if this wasn't Star Trek, I'd have stopped watching many episodes ago just because it's so badly lit. I've dropped a few tv shows and movies because of that before, and it always makes me sad because all the hard work of the writers, actors etc. goes to waste because of a bad lighting choice. And the darkness also makes me wonder what are they trying to hide by not letting us see? Used to be bad creature effects but that was in the 80s. What are they trying to hide now? As far as I can tell, the special effects are good. If it weren't hows like Vienna Blood, Law & Order (old and new), The Bay, Gotham or I don't know, Beyond Paradise, I'd think there's something wrong with my laptop screen! Sadly, Star Trek: Picard season 3 is one of the worst lit tv I've ever seen and it's ruining it for me very much. If PIC were properly lit, I'd enjoy the ride much more! Come on, I want to enjoy the ride!

Jo over at Dreamwidth put together a list of daily questions for 2023 again  :-D Here’s my answers to March questions.

1 – World Compliment day: Do you think there is still a place in the modern world for unsolicited compliments?

Sure! Why wouldn't there be?

2 – World Book Day: What are you reading at the moment or what have you just finished reading?

The most recent book I finished is Network Effect by Martha Wells. I loved it! I've enjoyed all the Murderbot stories I've read, but this one is my favorite because it's novel length and so things had time to breathe and I could spend more time with Murderbot and its comrades. Network Effect left me hungry for more Murderbot novels! So sad I'd already read all that's come out so far.

I'm currently reading Kultti by Camilla Läckberg & Henrik Fexeus. I've also started on The Death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware but I'm not sure I'll finish it.

3 – What if cats and dogs had opposable thumbs day? This is a fun one, what do you think our furry companions would be doing if they could open the cans themselves?

Our Beagle would have eaten herself sick. She had no stopping sense!

4 – International scrapbook industry day: Have you ever made a scrapbook? If you were to start a scrapbook today what would you put in it?

I've never made one! I've admired them a lot ever since I got into stationery a few years ago, so many look so very pretty. I wouldn't start a scrapbook - it seems to me that the things you put in one need to mean something to you, and my life being very boring and stable, with only "exciting" things beings usually on the negative side, there isn't anything I'd like to make commemmorate like that. And all those stickers of girls and unicorns and boys and book pages etc. mean nothing to me so there's no point of making spreads like that when they have no meaning to me. But they do look very pretty and artistic.

5 – Fun facts about Names Day: Does your name have a meaning? Were you named after somebody? How old do you think your name is? This could be your first name or surname.

According to Google, my first name comes from Latin origins and means pious or reverent. I wasn't named for anyone. I've no idea how old it is.

My last name literally is "deep pond" in Finnish but written all together (deeppond) and the Finnish word for "pond" in my last name is an old dialect word not much used anymore.

6 – Start of the British Pie Week! What is your favourite savoury pie? How about your favourite sweet pie? Is a pasty lid on top of a casserole really a pie?

Savory/salty pie - either the ham/pineapple/blue cheese pie or chicken/bacon/zucchini pie.

Sweet pie - I like both an apple pie and a strawberry pie, but I haven't found a clear favorite recipe.

Casserole is not a pie, no matter what.

7 – Cereal Day: What cereals do you like? If you had cereal for breakfast this morning what was it? What was your favourite as a child?

I've never been big on cereal. I don't usually have any at home and when I do, it usually goes old and I have to throw it away. I buy whatever takes my fancy at the time. I liked the sugar crusted one the best as a kid, but we didn't buy it often because nobody really cared for cereal in my family.

8 – International Women’s Day (March is also Women’s History Month): This was first celebrated in 1909, have you ever celebrated it? How do you think women should be honoured on this day?

I don't care - it's the other 364 days of the year that matter.

9 – Professional Pet Sitters Week: Have you ever engaged the services of a professional pet sitter, or do you usually rely on family or friends to take care of your pets when you're away? Have you ever done any pet sitting for anyone? Would pet sit for any type of pet, or would you limit your services to one specific type of animal (e.g. only cats, or only dogs, etc.)?

We only had a dog for 10 years back in 1994-2004, or more pricely, my Mom did. She never hired a professional pet sitter, didn't need to. I took Caro whenever they went on a holiday and I loved to do it :D

None of my friends have had a pet since we got all grown up, so I've not needed to think about it. I think I'd sit for a friend's pet if I felt like I knew it well enough and felt comfortable and confident enough to take care of it, that I'd recognize if something is out of the ordinary with it. I think i'd be okay for cats and dogs, snakes and lizards and reptiles are no-go and other pets like a bird or a bunny, maybe but would depend on how familiar I am with the pet.

10 – Middle Name Pride Day: not everyone has one, do you? Is there a story behind your middle name or why you don’t have one?

I do have a middle name. There's a small story to it - my Mom and Dad picked this one because it's similar to my Mom's middle name, and means sort of same thing. My Dad didn't have a middle name and I always felt that was kind of odd as a kid - most people that I know well enough to know, have one.

11 – World Plumbing Day: We take indoor plumbing for granted – until there's a problem with it. Have you ever suffered a major plumbing emergency? Have you ever tried to fix a plumbing issue on your own? Did you succeed?

No emergencies. Just the occasional leaking faucet, most recently yesterday. The maintenance man installed a new faucet today because the old one was so old fixing it would've cost as much as a whole new one.

12 – Craft Month: Do you enjoy being creative? What crafts do you participate in? What crafts would you like to try out?

I do enjoy it a lot! And among all the negative things/stressors in my life, it's something that gives me breathing room! I actually closed about a dozen fansites I owned because I wanted to free up more free time, brain power and physical energy to being creative. Being a spoonie I couldn't keep doing all I did having only a limited amount of energy every day, and had make choices on what I wanted more in my life.

I paint with acrylics (and acrylic pouring), paint with watercolors, draw, write (both on the computer and by hand on notebooks) and play with alcohol inks. Occasionally I make A5 notebooks with Tomoe River paper and I would love to do them a lot more, but I don't use them up fast enough to do them as much I'd like. I also do a lot of stuff in Photoshop such as wallpapers. I've been very tired again since October and the physical craft stuff has taken a back seat a lot since then, but I want to do more of it again. I feel better when I do!

I'd love to try out things like craft jewellery making - but I can't sell them (can't risk losing my unemployment benefits) so there's no point because I could never use say all the necklaces or bracelets one package makes (dozens) all by myself. Same with bookbinding which I'd like to do as well.

13 – Good Samaritan Day: Have you ever been a good Samaritan for a stranger? Has anyone ever been one for you? Do you think people are less likely to help out these days than in the past?

Not with money, but I've donated a few websites of mine to new owners. And a few empty top level (so .com or .net) domains I happened to own but had never ended up doing anything with when a few fansite makers were sad that all the top level domains for the celeb were taken. I've also taught a lot of people who want to screencap the same way I do, and I've also helped a lot of people just in general with how to do various things on their computers.

A few times people have donated me money to pay for my hosting bill when I was having money problems while waiting for the bureacracy to do its thing and I was without income, transferring from one status to another (say, long sick leave to unemployed or something like that). It was years ago but I'm still very grateful to those people who helped me!

In my experience people want to help as much as ever, it's just that for me at least, asking has always been difficult! Whether it's online or you need help with something physical in real life. People usually want to help.

14 – Crowdfunding Day: Did you know it dates back to the 19th century although the modern resurgence dates from the mid 1990s? Have you ever donated to a crowdfund? Have you ever asked people to donate to you?

Didn't know that! I thought it was an internet thing!

I have donated a little to a few crowdfunds: the "What We Left Behind: Star Trek Deep Space Nine Doc" crowdfund and the "The Star Trek Voyager Documentary". One was a fountain pen friendly notebook that didn't meet its goal.

15 – Brutus Day: Et tu, Brutus? Have you ever (figuratively) stabbed someone in the back? Has someone stabbed you in the back (also figuratively, unless someone actually stabbed you in the back)?

I don't think so, on both accounts. If I stabbed somebody in the back, I didn't realize it.

16 – Sleep Awareness Week: Poor sleep is heavily linked to weight gain, decrease concentration and productivity, increase the risks of heart diseases and strokes, is connected to depression, and can affect emotional and social interactions. Do you get enough sleep most nights? Do you suffer from any sleep-related problems, e.g. insomnia, sleep apnea, etc.? Do you try to stick to a regular sleep routine (same time to bed and waking up), even on weekends?

Sleep has been difficult for me since I got ill. Before that it slep easily but required 9 hours of sleep to be able to get up in the morning without it feeling like torture.

*Technically* I get enough sleep on most nights/days now too - but it isn't refreshing. I feel as tired waking up as I do falling asleep. I do suffer from insomnia - sometimes more and sometimes less - and waking up several times, and seeing dreams. I can't keep a regular sleep schedule because migraine often keeps me awake at night, or I have keep running to the toilet in the middle of the night when I'm having a bad Crohn's time. So often I end up sleeping during the day because of those things. And I also need to sleep immediately after a migraine attack, preferably for 8 hours or it comes back, no matter what time of day it is.

And then yet sometimes I just can't sleep. Sometimes for several days. Four days is the longest I've gone without sleep.

17 – Saint Patrick’s Day: is this something you celebrate or is it just another day for you?

Just another day. I don't even know when it is - I guess today because the question is today's question? It's not a thing here in Finland.

18 – Quilting Day: The oldest known quilting dates from 3400 BC! Has anyone ever made you a quilt or have you made your own? Have you ever bought a hand-made quilt?

Nope, on all accounts.

19 – International Read To Me Day: created to boost literacy this day isn’t just for children. When was the last time you read out loud to someone? What was it you read? Did someone read aloud to you when you were a child? Some couples read to each other – if you have a significant other, is this something you do?

I don't remember if I've ever read aloud to anyone! Except for things like recipe ingredients when baking together, or a bus time table or a short bit of notable news, sure. But not "real" reading.

My Mom and Dad read aloud to me since I was a baby until I could read myself. A bedtime story was read every night, but also in addition to that they read to me at other times - it was one of our favorite ways to spend time together. Read a book and talk about it.

20 – International Day of Happiness: this was created by the United Nations to spread the idea that happitalism rather than capitalism should be spread around the world. Is happiness a choice? What makes you happy? What little thing can you do to make someone else happy? Did anything occur this month that made you particularly happy?

I think for any person to able to be happy requires that their basic needs are being satisfied in the long term. Not being rich, or even well off, but having enough money not to worry about paying for things like rent, food, medication, clothes, shoes, phone, electric bill etc. and to be able to save a little money in addition to being able to pay for all the basic necessities without problems every month year in year out. Because if you have to worry and stress about any of that stuff for a long time (more than a month or two), you can't be truly happy in my personal experience. That is the requirement for happiness, and that's why happiness can't be a choice until all those basic needs are satisfied.

21 – International Fragrance Day: Many public spaces, at least in North America, have scent-free policies in place due to the number of people who are negatively affected by perfumes and other scented products. Are you negatively affected by other people's colognes/body sprays/after-shave, etc.? Do you use scented products yourself?

I prefer fragrance free environments.

I use mostly non-scented products. Partially because of my allergies, but also because some scents can trigger a migraine attack ever since my migraine became chronic. And I've never been fond of strong scents in general, such as perfumes. It also really depends on the kind of scent the thing has - if it's heavy or strong that bad. But a light fresh one can be okay. If applied lightly, and not bathed in it.

Usually things like hand lotions, body washes, soaps, shampoos or antiperspirants don't bother me when others use them - I just can't/prefer not to use a lot of them myself. The "extra" scents like perfumes can be a problem for me. Occasionally a product smells so strongly I just can't use it. Most recently, I think it was shortly before COVID-19, I bought a blueberry scented hand soap from a brand I hadn't bought before (or since!) and it smelled so strongly and kind-of-bad that I had to immediately rewash my hands with another soap to get it off my hands. I gave the smelly hand wash to my Mom so at least it didn't go to waste, but it was so bad that if I hadn't had someone to give it to, I'd have to have thrown it away (which I also hate to do because it's waste).

I don't like anything that smells up the home/office. So no air fresheners or "relaxing scents" for me.

22 – World Water Day: 783 million people across the world don’t have access to clean water. What water related activity could you do to celebrate this day? Pledge to conserve water? Go swimming? Donate to a water charity?

I'll just drink water straight from the tap! Apparently having clean tap water is rare, even though there's nothing else here.

23 – Peanut Month: do you like peanuts? Peanut butter?

Nope to peanut butter.

I like salted peanuts, and honey salted peanuts. But I only get a hankering for them a couple of times a year, so I don't have them regularly.

24 – International Waffle Day: How do you like your waffles? Will you be celebrating today by eating any?

I've never eaten waffles. They weren't a thing in my family when I was a kid, and then I never got around to getting waffle iron although I've always been curious about them and wanted to taste waffles.

25 – Good Hair Day: apparently GHD straighteners were invented in Yorkshire in 2001 and the GHD stands for Good Hair Day - who knew? Describe your hair. What was your hair like as a child? When do you think your hair was at its best?

My hair is straight, very blond, very fine and there's a lot of it but it's so fine it always feels and looks like it's thin. Except when it has literally just been washed. It gets greasy fast and if its short, needs to be washed every day. If its shin length or longer, needs to be washed every other day. It's always been like this.

I think it's at its best now, actually. I'm really happy with the short hair cut I've got going on now.

No, actually, my hair was at its best when I was in hospital for a week in 2014 and had liver and other problems. It didn't get greasy at all for two or three weeks at that time, and it looked and felt very good. But that actually wasn't good because my body was so out of whack that liver failure was possible. So good hair at that time doesn't count. It was weird that my hair was so good at that time! Then it went right back to its usual self when the liver problem was solved.

26 – Spanish Paella Day: yum or yuck?

I didn't know what this is but after googling... yuck. Too many ingredients I find suspect even as-is, or would never eat together.

27– World Theatre Day: what was the last thing you saw performed in a theatre?

I have no idea! I'm not really into theatre, I prefer movies and tv shows and books. I can't even remember whether I've been to the theatre after my and my best friend's 1997 London trip. On that trip we did go to see a performance, but for life of me I can't remember what it was.

28 – Salt Awareness Week (UK): The recommended intake for salt is 6g per day, pick a meal today and share how much salt there is in it.

I don't know (or care) how much salt is in my foods/meals. It's not something I keep track of.

29 – World Piano Day: have you ever taken piano lessons? What is your favourite piece of piano music or song?

Nope, never.

I have two loved-above-all-others instrumental piano pieces:

The Leftovers soundtrack by Max Richter, especially: the tracks The Departure (particularly all Season 1 versions) and The End Of All Our Exploring.

The other one is The Piano soundtrack, composed by Michael Nyman: the tracks The Sacrifice, Deep Into The Forest, The Promise and The Heart Asks Pleasure First.

But both albums in whole are wonderful!

Another instrumental piece I love is Porz Goret by Yann Tiersen.

A piece with vocals: I LOVE the piano version of Sarah McLachlan's Possession.

30 – Virtual Vacation Day: if you could go away right now where would you go?

I'm not feeling it right now. I think I'd stay right here.

31 – Crayon Day: have you any fond memories of using crayons? What were your favourite colours?

I only have the vaguest sort of impression of getting the colors all over my hands and fingers when coloring with them and the colors being difficult to wash off... but I have no clear memory of crayons at all.

Answers to today's questions at thefridayfive@livejournal

1. Will you be doing anything special for St. Patrick’s Day or is it just another day for you?

I've no idea what or when that is, so just another day!

2. What is your ancestry and do you do anything special to celebrate it?

I'm Finnish. That's as far as I care. I know my Mom's father's family was of Russian origin but I'm not sure how many generations back because I'm pretty sure even he was born in (Russian ruled) Finland, but I don't know more details about that and I don't think my Mom knows either. Mom's father died in the early 1960s, a decade before I was born and adopted by my Mom and Dad. It just never factors into anything.

I don't know or care anything about my biological family's origins.

3. If you found a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, how much of it would you spend on play and how much would you tuck away for another rainy day?

I wouldn't spend for play as such, but I'd be forced to use for every day living because having savings/investments/property means one isn't entitled to the benefits that I am currently entitled to most of the months of the year - benefits that help me to pay things like electricity bill, my medications and doctors' bills. I'd only get the unemployment or sick leave allowance, and those are too small to even completely cover my rent and food for a month. So I'd put as much as possible to savings, but be forced to also use it for simply surviving.

4. Have you ever traveled to the home of your ancestors, providing you don’t already live there?

I live here. We did visit Moscow in 1984 when I was ten, but it was just a tourist thing - didn't have anything to do with family origins. It just never factors into anything, like I said.

5. Have there been any surprises in your family tree?

Nobody in my family has done any genealogy research on our family as far as we know. But what I do know, no surprises. But we don't keep in touch a lot/at all so maybe someone has and we just don't know about it. Nobody on our side of the family cares.

Answers to last Friday's question at f.riday5.com :-) 

1. What do you usually reach for when you need just a little bite?

Usually chocolate if I want something sweet. If I want an actual food, a drinkable yoghurt.

2. How frequently do you visit convenience stores?

I guess my closest grocery store is technically a convenience store because it has somewhat limited selections and sells no clothes etc. but still has plenty of choice in food brands etc.? It's a very common type of shop here, part of a supermarket chain called K-Supermarket - the next biggest type is the hypermarket which also sells garden stuff, small(ish) electric appliances, clothing, some books, cosmetics etc. in addition to food stuffs. But all the shops here which sell groceries sell the same brands, even if they have just a tiny selection basics.

I go shopping in my local store 1-3 times a weeks; it's my main shop. Then there's another shop of this same type and size but by S Group called S-Market, that I also go regularly to because some products are a little bit cheaper there and the fresh bakery breads selection there is different from my local shop and currently better. This shop is located in the city center and I usually go there when I also go to the library. But I try to shop a lot in my local store so that it stays and isn't closed because then there won't be any stores close by and probably also the other serviced in the building will get eventually closed down (post office, the chemist, restaurant etc.). Both shops have a nice fresh fish and meat counter, but in the S-Market it's a lot bigger with also things like cheese and grilled chicken and fruit and vegetable salads. I love this because for a while there fresh fish and meat counters were non-existent except in the very big hypermarkets and even then, often not very good. But they seem to be making a return so I guess I'm not the only one who missed them!

I go the huge hypermarkets only about 3-4 times a year these days because I don't have a car and so have to take the bus and the whole trip always takes 2 hours minimum or 3 hours depending on which hypermarket I go to, even though the actual shopping itself usually takes only 20 mins. The bus trip each way take so much time that I don't want to do it often - when I go to a hypermarket, I'm always after some particular product my local shop doesn't have or, after several rarely bought products (flour, cleaning stuff) my local shop does have but it'll be a little bit cheaper to buy all of them from the hypermarket than my local shop. Back when I had a car, I generally shopped in a hypermarket once a week. Hypermarkets are usually a little cheaper than the supermarkets but reaching them can take a long time if you don't have a car or don't live right beside them. But if they are conveniently located or you have a car, they are the best place to shop at for the prices and the selection.

3. What’s your favorite chip?

Potato chip? Either the classic Taffel Sips The Original (flavoured only with salt) or Taffel Sips Broadway (sourcream & onion). Depends on the day.

4. What’s your favorite candy bar?

Fazerina by Fazer and/or Fazermint by Fazer. I can't decide! I buy both of them as much, I think. I also love Pätkis, also by Fazer, almost as much as Fazerina and Fazermint.

5. What are some hard candies you especially like?

I'm not huge fan of hard candy and almost never buy it... but I LOVE Monpensiers Fruit Drops. I don't think I've seen these fruit drops being sold anywhere but in tax-free in airports and on the Helsinki/Stockholm and Turku/Stockholm cruise ships. Before COVID-19 I used to ask my Mom to get them for me sometimes when she and her SO went on the 24 hour cruise to Stockholm. They used to do that 5-6 times a year so he could buy his topacco on the ship because it's a lot cheaper there than in shops here in Finland. So I'd ask Mom to get me certain chocolates, chocolate liquor for baking and these fruit drops sometimes for me.

Answers to today's questions at thefridayfive 

1. Do you plan to watch the Oscars broadcast this Sunday?

Nope. The broadcast is on in the middle of the night in my time zone and I don't care enough/too sickly to stay up literally until the morning. (Unless I have insomnia that night - then I may watch if I remember it's on.) I'll watch some clips later on if anything interesting happens!

2. Have you seen many of this year's Oscar-nominated films?

I haven't seen any of them. Everything Everywhere All at Once is on my list of things-to-watch-sooner-rather-than-later because Michelle Yeoh and the genre but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

3. Which movie is your pick for Best Picture?

I've no idea! The only one I know something about is Everything Everywhere All at Once, and can probably sort of guess about Top Gun: Maverick (if it's anything like the original and a typical Tom Cruise fare) and Avatar: The Way of Water (again, if it's anything like the original). The others I've only heard the name of but don't know anything about them.

4. What are some of your other picks to win Oscars?

I hope Brendan Fraser wins Best Actor because he's been really great in all the recent roles I've seen him in. And either Michelle Yeoh or Cate Blanchett Best Actress just because those two are wonderful actresses I'm quite familiar with who always turn in an amazing performance.

5. What is your favorite movie of all time?

The first thing that pops into my head whenever this question is asked is The Last Of The Mohicans, followed immediately by The Piano. Although I really don't have just one favorite movie of all time - more like a favorite movie in a genre.