Key West

Key West is my new favorite place in the world! It is a mixture of Honolulu and Provincetown with charming little shops, old buildings, lovely restaurants, happy people, and the ocean within a short walking-distance from anywhere. There are beaches here (although sand was brought in by people, because this is a coral island), but the biggest attraction is the the old town with Caribbean spirit, and slow, easy pace that draws you into exploration. Ernest Hemingway loved it here - I can understand why. I have to come back and do more exploring when I have more time.

The people of Key West seceded from the United States some time ago - hence the Conch Republic. It's a fascinating story of independent spirit and good humor.
You can read more about it here. I feel like I would like to join the Conch Republic. (A conch is a large shell.)
---T

Pääsiäinen tulee

Suomessa valmistaudutaan pääsiäisen viettoon. Tänne tullessani en edes osannut ajatella, että kaupat, ravintolat ym. ovat kiinni useamman päivän näin juhlallisen kirkkopyhän kuluessa. Amerikassa ei ole pääsiäisestä tietoakaan, mitä nyt muutamia pääsiäismunia löytyy kaupasta ja voi ostaa kaikkea kivaa siihen liittyvää. Juhlapyhiä ei vietetä, sillä ne eivät kuulu amerikkalaiseen ("separation of church and state") kulttuuriin. Työpaivät kulkevat samaan tahtiin kuin kaikkina muina viikkoina. Ainoa uskonnollinen juhlapyhä Amerikassa on joulupäivä. Kaikki muut pyhät liittyvät presidentteihin tai muuhun maallisen juhlan viettoon.
--- T

Dog Kills Boy

A rottweiler killed a ten-year old boy in Elimäki, Finland on Sunday. He was playing outside in the yard when the family's own dog attacked him. The family owned two rottweilers, who have both been euthanized since the incident. The newspaper says that the boy was a new member of the family and thus the dogs were trying to establish who's boss.
So sad.

DOG

Havaintoja Suomesta

Olen pikavisiitillä Suomessa...

Täällä ollaan paljon pitemmälle digitalisoiduttu kuin meillä Amerikassa. TV:ssä mainostetaan Nokian N95 puhelinta jolla pääsee nettiin kymmenellä eurolla kuukaudessa, mistä vain. Onhan meilläkin Seattlessa sen tapaisia puhelimia, mutta verkko ei ole niin laaja, hyvä tai halpa. Meillä on vielä lankapuhelimia (kännykän lisäksi) suurimmalla osalla. Suomessa niitä hävitetään hurjalla vauhdilla. Onko sitten hyvä tai huono asia, en tiedä.

Suomen blogit ovat enimmäkseen viihdettä, sanoo Helsingin Sanomat tämän paivan ledessä.
Lue
44/50 blogista on viihdettä Suomessa. Käsitöitä, muotia, ym. Juttu on mielenkiintoinen Amerikasta käsin. Suomessa asiat menevät ilmeisesti niin hyvin, ettei kansalaisjournalismille ole paljon vetoa eikä tarvetta. Amerikassa kansalaisjournalismi kukoistaa mielestäni juuri siksi, että ihmiset ovat niin tyytymättömia maansa hallitukseen ja peloissaan tulevaisuuden puolesta. Blogeista on tullut yksi konstruktiivinen tapa tuoda mielipiteitään esille.
- T

Monster for President

According to an Obama aide Hillary is a MONSTER who'll do anything to win. Well, I say:

MONSTER FOR PRESIDENT

Read it here

Open Letter to Keith Olberman

Keith,

I have been a faithful viewer of Countdown for about a year and a half. I have loved your no-nonsense approach to politics. You spoke up to George W. Bush when nobody else dared; you were courageous and funny, and your suits and your haircut are nice.

But since the democratic presidential campaigns heated up this winter your antipathy toward Hillary Clinton has become just too much to bear. You love Barack Obama, that's clear, but for God's sake give Hillary a break. She is not as evil and conniving as you would like to think. Why do you frame every conversation about her so negatively?

I have not been able to watch Countdown for the last two, three weeks because of your overly obvious bias against Hillary Clinton. Yes, I support her but I also think Obama is a decent candidate. I just think that Hillary is better qualified at this time.

When people run for office they try their best to paint the opponent in less favorable light. It has been done for years - Hillary is not the first one to do it. Obama has done his best to paint Hillary in dark colors ("You are likable enough") - why is it bad only when Hillary does it?

Tonight I tried to watch Countdown again (I miss the show) but my stomach was in knots listening to you frame Hillary in such harsh, pessimistic terms. According to you she has hit the new low by "preferring McCain over Obama" with his lifetime of experience. Have you ever thought that maybe what she means is lifetime of experience. Both McCain and Clinton are quite a bit older than Obama and have experienced many more things in this world than Obama - that alone teaches one humility and understanding that only comes with age. It does not mean that Hillary agrees with McCain's politics or thinks that his politics are better that Obama's. (And no, it doesn't mean that every "old" person is wise, but it gives an opportunity to be wise.) And for a position such as president of the United States we do want life experience.

Keith, give Hillary a break! I know you can and I know you think you should!

Thanks, T

My Grandmother

Jenny Emilia Kallinen was born a hundred years ago today. She was my grandmother. She grew up in Tervola, a small town in Northern Finland near the Kemi river. She was the third of five children. Her two younger siblings died of the "Spanish influenza" in 1918.

Jenny's family was poor and she was able to go to school for only four years, even though she was smart. Secondary school was far away and expensive. She married my grandfather, Emil Moberg, in 1928 and my mother was born a year later.

My grandmother learned to be frugal and tidy in all things. She saved everything neatly in her closets and cleaned her home thoroughly and regularly. She had experienced hard times through civil war, depression and World War II. She believed in God but was not overly religious.

I had a special bond with my grandmother because I lived with her for a while when I was six years old. She taught me many things including how to tell time and how to save money. She also showed me the importance of forgiveness.

My grandmother passed away in 1984, but I still remember her fondly, and she often comes back to me in my dreams. Her life was not easy or simple; she had health problems, and after my grandfather died in 1956, financial difficulties. But she persevered through it all, and learned to enjoy small things.

Congratulations, Jenny!
--- T