We Talk Friday (WTF) This is a semi-regular series that I will run on Fridays to hold discussions on a current topic from the week gone. The aim is to keep them light and conversational, though some might

After a little bit of warmth for a day or two, we are back to typical Finnish summer weather, where it is cool and raining. And it looks like it is going to stay this way for the next week at least, which

What makes a good character? I am not talking about for a book or a movie, but I suspect that there would be a lot of overlap. But I wonder what kinds of people are interesting to interact with and spend

There are lots of different sports and many of them favour particular types of body traits. For instance, while there is no height restrictions in basketball, it helps to be tall. and while there are no

Parentally-sourced trauma. I was writing about the bio-pic Michael and how traumatic childhoods might be a driving force for some people to develop brilliance in a skill, but I am unsure how many parents

We went to the movies tonight to see Michael, a bio-pic telling the early days of Michael Jackson, and it was pretty good! It doesn't get into any of the scandal and focuses on his early career, and I

Imagine having a conversation with a good friend of yours, and you tell them about your weekend, the things you did and the people you talked with, how it made you feel, and what it might mean to you -

I think I said last week that when we went to the beach we met some friends, and we had arranged to watch the F1 race today, if nothing came up to stop us. And this time, nothing did, so I made some pre-race

This will be a weekly Sunday hangout between friends, where everyone else is also invited to join in on the conversations. A Sunday party for Hive users to interact and just talk crap about whatever happens

Immigration is a touchy subject. There are many reasons it is so contentious, as there are cultural issues, employment issues, language issues, crime issues.... blah blah. But, there are also many reasons

Blemish Canvas clean, ready for perfection Possibility seen, devoid of protection Smooth and serene, lacking disruption Future foreseen, absent corruption. Under the layers, troubles boil Handful of players,

We Talk Friday (WTF) This is a semi-regular series that I will run on Fridays to hold discussions on a current topic from the week gone. The aim is to keep them light and conversational, though some might

I was reading an article from Australia where a teenage boy threw an unknown twelve year old into water, even though the kid was saying he couldn't swim. Of course, it was all caught on camera by the teen's

Don't revel in another's misfortune. But it might be funny. I was waiting for the buses to arrive and pick Smallsteps up from her camp trip, and I was early, so I sat on the stones in the town square under

1000-yard Stare The "thousand-yard stare" is a blank, unfocused gaze caused by dissociation. It happens when the brain psychologically disconnects from reality to cope with acute stress, emotional

Yesterday, a friend of mine added an article about a planned massacre in the city in which we live, that was thwarted and the boys (18 and 16) are on trial. This terrifies me. Not just because it's in

Yesterday, I called out to the elderly neighbours, but they weren't home, so I went ahead and did the same as what I have a couple tines before. I trimmed their side of the hedge. It isn't a hard job for

With Smallsteps out of the house for a couple nights, my wife and I took the opportunity to try a pinchos restaurant in the city. Some friends have gone and on my wife's side it has got great reviews,

Smallsteps is off. Along with three bus-loads of nervous kids, many whom have also never stayed overnight away from family. In a pleasant surprise for Smallsteps, when we arrived to the meeting location,

Other than with family, Smallsteps has never stayed away overnight. But tomorrow, she will head to a camp, sleeping in a tent surrounded by trees in the forest - like a horror movie. She is both excited