I’m working on a story about the cultural differences with the concept of time and I was wondering if you’d have some ideas. How does the Western concept of time differ from the Eastern one? Are the Germans always on time? Who’s always late? And so on.
Leave your ideas in the comments. Thanks!
I always thought that Finns were the only nation in the world where the crew cut was still alive and kicking dandruff. In fact, I still do. I think it’s because of the structure of Finnish hair: straight as an arrow.
What does that tell us about Finns? Well, for one, that they talk sraight, that they care less about style and more about how easy it is to take care of hair, and that they are fascinated by discipline. Not only that, Finns love discipline.
Well, maybe you can’t tell that just by looking at the number of crew cuts in Finland, so you’ll just have to trust me on this.
I take this knowledge with me to Gävle tomorrow when I go to meet Leif Boork, former Team Sweden head coach, and now coach of Brynäs in the Swedish Elite League. He’s known to be a straight shooter who runs a tight ship.
He’s got Sweden’s most famous crew cut.
Damn global warming. I was up visiting my dad the other day and thought that maybe we could go for a skate with him and my son. Like last year. Or, like every day during every holiday season between 1981 and 1986.
Naturally, without my son then, I was just a kid myself.
This is a blog entry I wrote for the NHL Blog Central, but, well, I know that not everybody visits nhl.com every day like I do. So, here it is.
A Swedish newspaper reported that the NHL is in talks with Jerry Bruckheimer about having the Hollywood blockbuster producer bring some marketing spark to the league operations. Bruckheimer’s movies have grossed over 10 billion dollars, so the man sure knows how to get some butts in the (movie) seats.
Why does negative feedback get stuck the brain faster and tighter than positive. You know, you write something, or wear something new. You meet people, people comment on your blog. The first eight slap you on the back and tell you you’re so cool, and you just shrug your shoulders and feel good. Then along comes the ninth one who says you suck, and you spend the rest of the day thinking about that one.
Why should that one person be right, when all other evidence points to the contrary?
It’s crazy.
I just want to claim this word, or the copyright to this word that I coined.
Engineerd.
Maybe it sounds better in Finnish: insinöördi (instead of insinööri).
You can use it, but remember where you heard it first. Right here.
These are things I’ve promised Hannes. (This is a living document, hopefully).
Oct 1, 2006: When he starts riding real horses, I will buy him a real whip.
Oct 3, 2006: I will buy him a new RisiFrutti to replace the one I ate yesterday.
Nov 3, 2006: We’ll do something fun tomorrow.
Dec 27, 2006: We’ll wash the car tomorrow.
Jun 21, 2009: I won’t wait another three years to make another public promise.
The key to being a grumpy old man is being completely self-centered and self-absorbed. If you have trouble getting into the zone, here’s your mantra: “The world is out to get me.” If that seems too grand, and not really you, try this one: “Whaddaya lookin’ at?”
Say that to the first person you meet today, and you can be sure you will instantly get into the right GOM frame of mind.
“Went to the gym last night, again.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, I’ve found this new thing, I do fifteen minutes with the ergometer, feels awesome.”
Testing … Testing … Never done this before … Trying to write a blog entry on the road.
Not sure if I can say that I am on the road, though. We’re on a ferry to Finland.
To the old country.
I can tell we’re getting closer. The waiters made sure to not look at the line of people wanting to get seated.
Maybe tomorrow I can hear the classic line, from 1999. “Is it OK if I go outside with a glass?”. Waitress’s reply: “I really don’t care.”