antti.vilpponen.net

So I went to Helsinki today to buy the camera. I ended up buying a 28-85mm objective along with a 70-210mm objective. The camera is a bit more harder to handle than I thought - but it just adds to the value (after all, someone said Lamborghinis arenÔø?t easy cars to drive :) ). I didn’t have a lot of time to play around it as I had to come to work. Another 10,5 hours to go… blah. This time I wish I’d be home sleeping as I’m pretty tired already - had to wake up at 6.40 and spent some 7-8 hours driving today… oh well, we only live once :)

More to come on the camera, that’s for sure!

Breaking down - I’m heading to Helsinki tomorrow to buy myself a Canon 10D. The guy called me back tonight about the used 10D that the other guy who had reserved the camera, settled for another camera. I’m not saying I will definitely buy it - but lets make this my summer trip down to Helsinki - for a day at least, I have to be at work 9pm…

I was also looking at a few lenses for the camera, either a CANON EF 28-80/3.5-5.6 or CANON EF 70-210/4 or CANON EF 35-105/3.5-4.5. I want something with a good zoom, so I might have to get the 28-80 and 70-210 lenses both. Damnit.

Uuh, just called to Rajala Camera about a Canon 10D - they have one coming on Monday and he will call me about the condition and the price. I’m buying it used as I’m able to save around 500€ which I could then again use to buy a 70-300 lens for example :)

On another note - I think I’ve partied for a month’s worth at least, no more bar hopping for me for a while.

Lessig was talking in Helsinki in May and here’s a clip of his talk. Thanks Jyri and the Aula Coop for organizing this!

The file is 50 megs, but its worth the wait - downloading it right now…

I added some dropdown menus to my site. All the categories, archives and the blogroll are now being shown in a box that expands, when clicked. It closes with a click on the X.

This magnificent piece of work has been remixed from the Joi.Ito.com website. I will still have to edit it into my needs - also it doesn’t work on all pages, so bare with me once again - thanks.

Just started using del.icio.us - a service on the internet for allowing “online bookmarking”. This is extremely useful when you use lots of different computers - which is not exactly the case with me, but still - it takes the load of my back to keep them categorized, etc. in my browser. After all, you only need them when you are online.

Here’s my del.icio.us links - http://www.del.icio.us/antti (yes! I managed to grab antti as my username!)

Nelson Pavlosky writes about SG1Archive.com, a Stargate fansite that has been closed down with the help of the new US patriotic act, on our mailing list - freeculture.

Federal charges were filed against Adam McGaughey, creator of the popular SG1Archive.com website - a fan website devoted to the MGM-owned television show Stargate SG-1. The charges allege that the website engaged in Criminal Copyright Infringement and Trafficking in Counterfeit Services. The charges were the culmination of a three-year FBI investigation, set in motion by a complaint from the Motion Picture Association (MPAA) regarding the content of the SG1Archive.com website.

SG1Archive.com is one of the most popular fan-run websites among the Stargate community. In addition to providing very active fan discussion forums, broadcast schedules, production news, and episode guides, the site heavily promotes the sale of the show on DVD. As of this writing, direct links from SG1Archive.com to Amazon.com have resulted in the sale of over $100,000 worth of DVDs. Many more DVDs have been sold to international fans of the show through sites like Blackstar.co.uk. Upon hearing this news, Stargate executive producer Brad Wright called the site “cool” - which Adam took as an endorsement of his work.

Hmm, doesn’t look very logical of the MPAA to shut down such a site - or have they taken a zero tolerance approach to all this filesharing and p2p -networks that is going around? Seems like it as well.

The full text is available at Why-war.com.

Today has been definitely the coolest day this summer - not by weather standards but by actions of other people. I’ll tell what happened. A few days ago a certain ambassador of a certain South American country checked in with a friend from a European country. And these guys were so cool from day one that I gave them the best service there was and managed to even change the other person to a better room - from which I earned nice tips of course ;)

But today they were leaving in the morning, the ambassador takes a long look at my face and thanks for everything I did, not sure I did anything that special, but nice. Then he still tips me a bit more for the service and we shake hands as he leaves - very happy of the stay of course. Before he leaves I tell him to book in advance for next year as we already have some days very full.

After 4 hours or so, we receive a call from Helsinki. A female on the other end asks for Antti from the reception - I answer, “speaking”. “This is Mr. xxxxx’s secretary - he wants to talk to you”, says the lady. The ambassador called me back and made a personal reservation for next year!!! Is this cool or what?! I mean its not a big thing, but these guys had the style to handle things and the fact that the ambassador himself takes the time to call me back… man I need a beer after this shift.

I think i’ll write more someday about this hotel life - but its the little things that make a difference.

Rock on South America! :)

Just received this from a friend:

An American tourist goes on a trip to China. While in China, he is very sexually promiscuous and does not use a condom all the time. A week after arriving back home in the States, he wakes one morning to find his “tool” covered with bright green and purple freckles. Horrified, he immediately goes to see a doctor.

The doctor, never having seen anything like it, orders some tests and tells the man to return in two days. The man returns a couple of days and the doctor says “I’ve got bad news for you. You’ve contracted Mongolian VD. It’s very rare and almost unheard of here. We know very little about it”. The man looks a little perplexed and says “Well, give me a shot or something and fix me up doc”. The doctor answers “I’m sorry, there’s no known cure. We’re going to have to amputate your penis. The man screams in horror “Absolutely not! I want a second opinion”. The doctor replies “Well, it’s your choice. Go ahead if you want but surgery is your only choice”.

The next day, the man seeks out a Chinese doctor, figuring that he’ll know more about the disease. The Chinese doctor examines his tool and proclaims “Ah yes, Mongolian VD. Vely lare disease”. The guy says to the doctor “Yeah yeah, I already know that but what we can do? My American doctor wants to operate and amputate my tool?” The Chinese doctor shakes his head and laughs “Stupid Amelican docta, always want to opelate. They make more money that way. No need to opelate!” “Oh Thank God!” the man replies. “Yes” says the Chinese doctor “You no worry! Wait two weeks. Dick fall off by itself! You save
money!”

I’ve put up the media files again. Enjoy your daily dose of end of the world once again!